Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned

In Los Angeles, the hot-tempered can-collector Socrates "Socco" Fortlow is an ex-con who has served a long sentence for killing a man and a woman. Now he is trying to build a new life and find a job, but he's discriminated against for his age, color, and background. His only friend, Right Burke, is dying of cancer. He also helps a young woman who is having problems with her husband. Then he meets a young boy named Darryl and finds that he lives with an uncaring foster family and has just witnessed the murder of another boy by a small-time criminal. Socco helps the boy to grow up while helping Burke and trying to find work at a supermarket.