Damage

John Brickner is released on parole after serving four of seven years for second-degree manslaughter. He relocates to Seattle and takes a daytime construction job while working as a bar bouncer at night. This new city life marks the start of his attempt at a fresh start.

At a post-work meeting, Veronica Reynolds explains that she petitioned for his parole. She reveals that her eight-year-old daughter Sarah needs a heart transplant and that John should cover the $250,000 operation. Her plea ties his freedom to a personal obligation he never anticipated.

With the help of bar waitress Frankie, John tracks down promoter Reno Paulsaint and is offered a corridor into underground fighting. He initially declines, wary of criminal trouble despite the promise of six-figure earnings. The door to a dangerous new world begins to open.

The very next day, John is fired from his construction job but proves his worth by saving his boss from a heart attack. The heroic act demonstrates his physical prowess and earns him reluctant respect. This incident nudges him toward the fighting path.

John finally enters the underground fighting tournament and defeats his first opponent, starting a rapid ascent through the ranks. Each victory increases his earnings and notoriety, drawing more attention from Reno and his backers. The fights become a vehicle to fund Sarah's transplant.

As John rises in the ranks, Reno reveals he owes a syndicate $150,000 and must pay within a week or they will hurt Frankie. The looming deadline merges street-level danger with John’s rising fame. The pressure to save others tightens around his new life.

After winning a gruelling fight, John rushes Veronica to the hospital when he finds her unconscious in her apartment. She has attempted suicide after learning no donor heart could be arranged. The crisis forces him to confront the personal stakes behind his choices.

During a later fight, John defeats his opponent but forfeits the match when he discovers it is to the death. Reno loses his wager and is roughed up by the syndicate as punishment. The line between sport and survival becomes dangerously blurred.

The next day, tycoon Veltz—owner of John’s former job—offers to cover either John’s wager or Reno’s debt. In gratitude for saving his son-in-law’s life from a heart attack, Veltz promises to bail him out. John chooses to clear Reno's debt, prioritizing the safety of his ally.

On the following night, John faces and defeats the defending champion Wendell Timmons. It’s revealed that Deacon, a Reno ally, covered John’s stake in the fight. The win cements his status in the underground circuit.

With the debt resolved and his profile growing, John covers the payment for Sarah's heart transplant. The personal sacrifice validates his parole-influenced journey and his commitment to Veronica and Sarah. Reno’s world remains a threat, but John’s resolve has grown.

After the transplant payment, Reno approaches with another deal, indicating the ongoing entanglement with the underground world remains. John remains cautious but recognizes his life has forever changed due to his choices. The story closes with John walking forward, bound to a debt as much emotional as financial.