In this early version of the pilot, Russell Wong stars as Tom Ballard who is a bounty hunter who moonlights during night as job while keeping his day life seperate. ObviouslyMany things have obviously changed from here to the pilot that actually aired. The teens were no originally incorporated in the pilot nor was he suppose to wrongfully be accused and to be in prision in Hong Kong. He was just a ex-cop who quit the force oringinally.
Framed and wrongly incarcerated in Hong Kong, undercover narcotics cop Tom Chang was stripped of his career, his wife and the right to see his daughter. Intent on restoring his life and relationship with his now pre-teen daughter, Tom returns to San Francisco to take over a martial arts school from his mentor, and meets a group of students who desperately need his guidance. Tom finds his hands full as Tory plots to find her father's killer, Trip tries to defend himself against his abusive father and Allie tries to make a move on an oblivious Bryan.
Trip will be killed by his convicted father's former associates unless he can collect money from a criminal located in a dangerous part of town. Meanwhile, Tom is battling his way to his daughter's heart through the court system. Allie is hesitant to try out for the high school dance team, but Bryan's encouragement helps build her confidence.
Tom faces his biggest challenge yet after new student Nick sweeps into town and immediately drags Bryan into a ""fight club"" scheme that lands them both in more trouble than they can handle. As if that wasn't enough, while Tom is out shopping for a birthday present for his daughter (guest star Valerie Tian) he meets an interesting new woman who has a startling connection to one of his students.
Tom is left with nowhere to live after Master Li's errant son Jing comes home to make amends and takes over the dojo and Tom's classes. Allie and Nick discover Jing has a hidden agenda forcing Tom to decide whether to tell Master Li the truth or honor the tradition and remain silent. Meanwhile, Trip asks Tory for a date.
After Allie's ex-boyfriend is stabbed, police accuse Nick of the murder, so the gang set out to prove his innocence - with the exception of Trip who isn't so sure Nick's bad boy ways are completely behind him. Meanwhile, Claire is caught shoplifting and calls Tom instead of her mother.
Allie meets a handsome photographer (guest star Jonathan Cherry) who asks her on a date, but Tori discovers the guy has a dangerous past and sets out to save Allie before it is too late. Meanwhile, Tom is threatened by Beth's new husband (guest star Martin Cummins) and Bryan gets a job as a bouncer at a new nightclub with seedy patrons.
