After spending several years in a mental institution, Charlie emerges with a vivid obsession - he's convinced that a long-lost Spanish treasure is buried somewhere under the California suburbs. Armed with a wide array of seemingly disconnected clues and an antiquated metal detector, he embarks on a quirky quest to discover the fortune. His return throws the routine life of his pragmatic teenage daughter, Miranda, into chaos. Having dropped out of school to work and maintain a semblance of normalcy in their lives, Miranda is initially skeptical and frustrated by her father's eccentricity and wild goose chase, which she sees as another of his whimsical notions that distracts them from the harsh realities they face.

Despite her reservations and the practical challenges of daily life, Miranda finds herself gradually drawn into Charlie's treasure hunt. The search becomes not just about the pursuit of riches but also a journey that starts to bridge the gap between a neglectful father and his long-suffering daughter. As they decode riddles and dodge obstacles, Miranda begins to appreciate the adventure's escapism from their financial woes and the mundane. Their quest fosters an unexpected camaraderie, allowing them to rediscover their relationship. Together, they navigate the eccentric communities of Southern California, with each clue bringing them closer not only to potentially altering their fortunes but to each other.