A former inmate navigates criminal debts, family secrets, and personal redemption after returning to society.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Return from Captivity
Chance returns home after five years in prison, immediately facing a mob debt and discovering he has a son. His release is complicated by lingering criminal ties and family obligations.
Key Events
Chance Returns Home — Chance arrives back after five years in prison, determined to change his life. Characters: ChanceLocation: Hometown
Prison Background Revealed — Context of Chance's incarceration and his father's criminal leadership is established. Characters: ChanceLocation: Prison/Flashback
Debt Crisis Emerges — Chance's release is marred by a debt owed by his best friend to a local mobster. Characters: ChanceLocation: Local Area
Ex-Girlfriend Visit — Chance visits his ex-girlfriend, confronting his past relationships. Characters: ChanceLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Ex-Girlfriend's House — The central location where Chance discovers his son and meets Pearl. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Mobster Debt — The financial obligation that drags Chance back into criminal danger. Characters: ChanceLocation: Local Area
Aryan Brotherhood Legacy — The criminal empire led by Chance's father that haunts his return. Characters: ChanceLocation: Prison
Father's Life Sentence — Context of the father's murder conviction and leadership role is revealed. Characters: ChanceLocation: Prison
Best Friend's Plea — Chance is forced to assist his best friend with the mobster debt. Characters: ChanceLocation: Local Area
Shattered Past
Visiting his ex-girlfriend reveals a new family dynamic and a strained relationship with his criminal father. The mobster debt creates ongoing pressure and danger.
Key Events
Ex-Girlfriend Visit — Chance visits his ex-girlfriend, confronting his past relationships. Characters: ChanceLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Son August Discovery — Chance learns he has a son named August, shifting his priorities. Characters: ChanceLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Meeting Pearl — Chance encounters Pearl, a friend of his ex-girlfriend, during this pivotal visit. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Father-Son Reconciliation Attempt — Chance tries to make peace with his father, the Aryan Brotherhood leader. Characters: ChanceLocation: Family Compound
Ex-Girlfriend's House — The central location where Chance discovers his son and meets Pearl. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Ex-Girlfriend's House
Meeting Pearl
Chance encounters Pearl, whose presence becomes a catalyst for his desire to change his life. Their connection marks a shift from his criminal past toward personal reform.
Key Events
Mobster Threat Looms — The local mobster's debt creates ongoing pressure and danger for Chance. Characters: ChanceLocation: Underground District
Reform Decision — Inspired by Pearl and his son, Chance commits to leaving his criminal past behind. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Community
Navigating New Reality — Chance balances his new responsibilities with the lingering threats of his past. Characters: ChanceLocation: Town
Life Reform Commitment — Chance fully embraces his new identity and responsibilities. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Community
Path to Redemption
Chance commits to reforming, confronting his past debts and family ties to secure a future with Pearl and his son. He breaks free from the cycle of violence.
Key Events
Brotherhood Opposition — Chance faces direct opposition from his father's criminal organization. Characters: ChanceLocation: Prison/Family Compound
Protecting August — Chance takes decisive action to shield his son from the dangers of the Aryan Brotherhood. Characters: ChanceLocation: Safe House
Final Confrontation — Chance resolves the mobster debt through a direct and dangerous confrontation. Characters: ChanceLocation: Warehouse
Path to Redemption — Chance secures a future with Pearl and August, stepping away from the cycle of violence. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: New Beginning
Life Reform Commitment — Chance fully embraces his new identity and responsibilities. Characters: Chance, PearlLocation: Community
Story Breakdown
Prison Release Arc — Chance returns home after five years, carrying the weight of his incarceration and his father's criminal legacy.
Five-Year Incarceration — Context of Chance's time in prison and his desire to reform.
Father's Criminal Legacy — The Aryan Brotherhood leadership and murder conviction that haunt Chance.
Debt Crisis Arc — Chance's release is immediately complicated by a financial obligation tied to his best friend.
Best Friend's Obligation — The debt owed to a local mobster that drags Chance back into danger.
Local Mobster Threat — The ongoing pressure and violence associated with the criminal underworld.
Family Revelation Arc — A visit to his ex-girlfriend uncovers a new family dynamic and shifts Chance's priorities.
Ex-Girlfriend Visit — Chance confronts his past romantic relationship and its consequences.
Son August Discovery — Learning about his son forces Chance to reconsider his future path.
Pearl Connection Arc — Chance meets Pearl, whose presence becomes a pivotal influence on his personal transformation.
Initial Meeting — Chance and Pearl connect at the ex-girlfriend's house during a critical moment.
Catalyst for Change — Pearl's support and friendship inspire Chance to commit to a sober life.
Father-Son Conflict Arc — Chance attempts to reconcile with his estranged father while navigating the Aryan Brotherhood's influence.
Aryan Brotherhood Ties — The criminal organization led by Chance's father that threatens his freedom.
Attempted Reconciliation — Chance's efforts to make peace with his father and break the cycle.
Redemption Journey Arc — Chance fully embraces his new responsibilities and secures a future away from crime.
Life Reform Commitment — Chance's decisive break from his past and embrace of personal growth.
Future with Pearl — Chance builds a stable, hopeful life with Pearl and his son August.
When Chance (Brian Presley) returns home after five years in jail, he is determined to escape his past, start a new life and make peace with his father, (Ed Harris, Golden Globe® winner), who is the head of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang and serving a life sentence for murder. Upon his release, his dreams of a crime-free future begin to disintegrate when he is forced to assume his best friend's outrageous debt to a local mobster. Despite being thrust back into a world of organized fighting, drug dealing and ties to corrupt police agents, Chance falls in love with Pearl (Academy Award® nominee Taraji P. Henson) and the prospect of living a normal life seems almost within reach. But will he be able to escape the crimes of his father and his past?
