Violence

An investigative reporter undercover in Los Angeles who infiltrates the United Defenders to build a case for her Chicago magazine. She is sharp, determined, and initially credulous, but her exposure to the UD’s brutality hardens her resolve. Her memory and moral clarity become pivotal as the truth about the organization emerges. Her courage drives the investigation toward exposing the group's crimes.

A tough, resourceful figure who tails Ann and is revealed to be an undercover Los Angeles detective. He distrusts the UD’s rhetoric but believes in uncovering the truth, becoming a crucial ally to Ann. He helps connect the investigation to the broader network behind the organization. His partnership with Ann accelerates the move toward exposing the UD.

The UD’s violent enforcer who uses intimidation to keep members in line. He embodies the coercive tactics at the heart of the organization’s scams. His interactions reveal the brutality underlying the facade of a veterans’ aid group. His clashes with Ann and Steve escalate the film’s tension and danger.

The charismatic leader who cloaks the UD’s operation in the rhetoric of veterans’ assistance while siphoning funds. He is calculating, confident, and adept at manipulating public sentiment. His schemes are designed to provoke protests as a cover for violent actions and silencing dissent. He drives the plot toward a climactic confrontation with the truth.

Sally, Joe Donahue’s wife, searches for her husband at the UD, embodying the personal stakes of the organization’s crimes. Her letters to Joe, hidden in Stalk’s room, become a key link in the evidence chain. She highlights the human cost of the UD’s manipulation on families. Her presence intensifies the drive to uncover the truth.

A veteran who discovers the UD’s scam and attempts to leave, triggering the chain of events that leads to murder. His defection exposes the organization’s true nature and catalyzes the investigation. His death becomes the incident that reveals the UD’s brutality to others. His fate anchors the film’s moral stakes.