Raised as a slave, Danny (Jet Li) is used to fighting for his survival. In fact, his "master," Bart (Bob Hoskins), thinks of him as a pet and goes as far as leashing him with a collar so they can make money in fight clubs, where Danny is the main contender. When Bart's crew is in a car accident, Danny escapes and meets a blind, kindhearted piano tuner (Morgan Freeman) who takes him in and uses music to free the fighter's long-buried heart.