In 2001, Frank Carver, a young gangster for a mob enforcer named Max, witnesses his boss execute a former ally.

While walking, he is met by Joey, now an adult, who reveals that he is a recovering addict and has sold his car to pay off his drug debts.

That night, after checking in to a lavish hotel, Frank, against his doctor's orders, tracks down his friend Q, who was also involved in Max's crime syndicate.

Simone turns out to be a prostitute and has sex with Frank in his suite, but ends up developing romantic feelings for him after he explains to her the deal he made with Sleepy and how it affected him.

Despite his son's last wishes, Frank locates Max at a nearby assisted living center, where he has been in a medically induced coma for the last 15 years.

He explains that Joey had become an unstable drug addict and was going to snitch on Max's gang to the police, forcing Q to cover his tracks.

"[8] Noel Murray from Los Angeles Times similarly criticized the plot, action sequences, and development of underworld characters.

... Cage plays even the blandest pulp material with soul and gusto, as though the pathetic grudges of a petty criminal were the stuff of epic drama".

[9] Sean Boelman of Popaxiom gave the film a mixed rating of 2.6/5, writing that: "A Score to Settle is a ton of fun for what it is.