A former inmate rebuilds his life through honest work and love, ultimately sacrificing himself to save a child from criminal exploitation.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
From Gutter to Government
Jamey Meadows navigates post-prison homelessness by securing a census taker position. He faces criminal pressure from his past but firmly chooses a legitimate path to rebuild his life.
Key Events
Prison Release & Homelessness — Jamey exits prison, destitute and living on the streets. Characters: Jamey MeadowsLocation: New York City Streets
Census Taker Employment — Takes a menial government job to rebuild his life. Characters: Jamey MeadowsLocation: New York City
New York Streets — The desolate setting for Jamey's initial homelessness.
Location: New York City
Census Work Routine — Jamey's legitimate daily grind to stabilize his existence.
Location: New York City
Lessons in Language and Love
During his rounds, Jamey meets Chun Hua and begins paid English lessons. Their interactions evolve into a chaste romance, marked by shared songs and growing companionship.
Census Interview with Chun Hua — Jamey conducts an interview and meets the young Chinese woman. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Chun Hua's Residence
English Lessons Begin — Meadows starts paid colloquial English instruction sessions. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Apartment
Singing the Nursery Rhyme — They bond emotionally while singing the title song together. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Apartment
Chun Hua's Apartment — The intimate space where lessons and romance develop.
Location: New York City
Shadows and Kidnapping
A criminal gang raids Chun Hua's home, kidnaps her baby for ransom, and triggers a city-wide pursuit. Jamey intervenes, stealing the infant to protect him from the gang.
Key Events
Singing the Nursery Rhyme — They bond emotionally while singing the title song together. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Apartment
Chaste Love Affair — Their innocent relationship deepens, drawing neighborhood suspicion. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Various Locations
Gang Breaks In — Criminals search the home for valuables but find nothing. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Chinese Residence
Baby Kidnapping — Gang abducts the infant for ransom, unaware of his true value. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Residence
Jamey's Rescue Plan — Jamey takes the baby to protect him from the pursuing gang. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: City Streets
The Hudson Crossing
Jamey navigates a rowboat across the river to reach Chun Hua, only to be shot while shielding the child. He dies heroically, leaving Chun Hua to carry his secret legacy abroad.
Key Events
Jamey's Rescue Plan — Jamey takes the baby to protect him from the pursuing gang. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: City Streets
Gang Pursuit — Jamey evades the gang while racing to reach Chun Hua. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: City Streets
Hudson River Crossing — Steals a rowboat to navigate the river and reunite with her. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Hudson River
Shooting at the Dock — Jamey is shot in the back while shielding the infant. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Riverbank
Jamey's Death — He succumbs to his wounds before coastguard rescue arrives. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Riverbank
False Heroism Narrative — His brother is publicly celebrated for foiling the kidnapping. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Police Station
Return to China — Chun Hua and the baby depart; she alone holds the truth. Characters: Jamey Meadows, Chun HuaLocation: Airport
Rowboat — The vessel symbolizing escape and the final tragic journey.
Location: Hudson River
Story Breakdown
Rebuilding Foundation — Jamey's transition from homelessness to legitimate employment
Prison Release — Arriving destitute in New York City
Census Job — Securing government door-to-door work
Romantic Development — The gradual formation of a bond with Chun Hua
Language Lessons — Paid English instruction sessions
Shared Songs — Bonding over the nursery rhyme
Criminal Threat — External danger disrupting the peaceful routine
Gang Raid — Criminals searching the residence
Infant Abduction — Kidnapping for ransom purposes
Rescue Mission — Jamey's active intervention to protect the child
Baby Theft — Taking the infant from the gang
City Pursuit — Evading criminals through streets
River Climax — The final confrontation and tragic sacrifice
Rowboat Crossing — Navigating the Hudson River
Fatal Shooting — Jamey falls while shielding the baby
Legacy Resolution — The aftermath and preservation of truth
False Heroism — Brother receives public credit
Secret Keeper — Chun Hua departs with the truth
Jon Bon Jovi plays Jamey Meadows, a man newly released from prison who has found himself homeless on the crazy streets of New York City. Slowly, he must try to build his life up from the gutter. Resisting constant offers from his brother, played by William Forsythe (Dick Tracy, The Rock, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigalo) to rejoin the insidious world of crime, Meadows takes a menial job as a door to door census worker. Among his many encounters throughout this job, he meets a young Chinese immigrant who is just as unhappy in her life as he is in his. These two slowly hit it off and a relationship gradually begins to develop between them. Can Jamey Meadows learn to live in this new life, or will the temptations of his old ways drag him back to where he started?
