At the age of sixteen, Miranda has already had to live with her share of disappointments; abandoned by her mother, she's dropped out of school and been supporting herself as an employee at McDonald's while her father, Charlie, resides in a mental institution. Upon dad's release Miranda's world is once again thrown into chaos when he becomes obsessed with the belief that ancient treasure is buried underneath a local retail store and while reluctant she decides to help in his madcap quest. 'King of California' is a quirky, darkly comic, but redemptive, take on the dysfunctional modern American family dynamic.