A repentant ex-con is compelled to commit a murder to repay the man who protected him in prison, but experiences an acute crisis of conscience when he falls for a mysterious beauty who recognizes the good buried deep within him. When Charlie (Stephen Dorff) was doing time, The Buddha (Willem Dafoe) kept him safe from harm. Now Charlie is back on the streets, and The Buddha needs a favor. Meanwhile, as Charlie prepares to commit a crime that could land him back behind bars, sympathetic lost soul Florence (Michelle Monaghan) walks into his life. Florence isn't fooled by Charlie's macho swagger, but when the job goes awry, he's the only one who can protect her from the coming storm. Now, with his last chance for redemption finally within reach, Charlie's shady past returns with a vengeance.