Nothing is as it seems and everyone is a "player" in this hard edged “can't-look-away” political /crime /thriller.

The story focuses on a fifty-something male afflicted with “PTSD,” (post-traumatic stress disorder). He is JESSE COLE (Ivan Rogers), a cool and calculating, yet austere, vice detective incarcerated for a crime he did not commit. Fresh out of the penitentiary, and with no doubt in his mind he was set up, Jesse returns to the streets of Indianapolis from which he came. It was here that eight years prior, he alone was conducting a covert drug raid. At the proper time, his backup arrived, and the “bust”was made. Nefarious drug dealers “BLUE,” “LEE-LEE,” and JAVIER were apprehended in the sting and jailed . . . so Jesse Cole thought.

Now, back on the streets in present time, Jesse embarks on a mission to find out who is responsible for having him wrongfully incarcerated and why. He rekindles a friendship with KENNY ODEM, a hip streetwise Indianapolis undercover vice cop whom he mentored when he was on the force. Jesse’s investigation first takes him to MATT HEWLESTER, a retired ex-cop buddy who worked in the evidence room at the police station. With a little bit of “roughing up” by Jesse, Matt confesses he was paid and forced into switching evidence to implicate Jesse. But by whom and why? He won’t tell. He instead chooses suicide as a way out. Jesse then turns to Kenny for help, but in lieu of Jesse’s past and his current standing in life, Odem refuses. Frustrated and with no other leads in sight, Jesse takes a moment to reflect.

It is late night. Jesse is sitting in a coffee shop sipping coffee. A few tables down from him sits thirtyish sexy and “salvaje” street Latino female, STEFANA CASTRO. With an exchange of glances it is evident there is chemistry between the two. Through minor “chitchat,” she lets Jesse know she is waiting for her “ride.” It is then that a very expensive looking S.U.V. arrives to pick her up. When Jesse sees who the driver is, he is slammed into reality! It is Javier! But, not the slick and slimy cut throat Latino drug dealer he once knew, but a well dressed, well groomed Javier. Jesse gets the license number of the vehicle as it drives away. Jesse goes back to Odem for help. He asks him to do a check on the license number. Odem reluctantly grants his request. The DMV shows that Javier is really Detective CARLOS VILLARAIGOSA. With this knowledge and an address, Jesse visits Javier’s home only to be met at the door by Stefana. Jesse learns Javier is her boyfriend and he will not be back for several hours. He also finds out Stefana has a strong sexual attraction to him. They take the time to make love. After that Jesse lets her know that he wants a meeting with Javier.

The next night, late, Jesse sits in the coffee shop. In walks Javier. Through heated conversation we learn Javier is not just Carlos Villaraigosa, but Detective Carlos Villaraigosa. Jesse is now even more angered and wants to know why he has been in prison all these years, and Javier is free on the streets. Javier’s answer is for Jesse to ask his former employers which we learn was not only the police department, but secretly the Mayor of the City of Indianapolis, KELLUM VIVERET and the Prosecutor, DANIEL TRACE.

As it turns out Jesse was receiving money from both Viveret and Trace that they obtained from bogus taxation for a sports stadium to be built and salaries for “ghost employees“ of the City. Jesse was taking the money, buying drugs, then selling them on the streets for a profit and splitting the proceeds among himself, Viveret, and Trace. Unfortunately, Jesse became greedy and unmanageable. He learns the Mayor and the Prosecutor had him set up and sent to prison. Jesse’s healthy curiosity now turns into an unhealthy desire for revenge in the form of psychologically distorted reality and dark emotions coupled with raw and outlandish behavior.

“The Payback Man” is a cinematic verite' on how, in a flash, one man loses his career, respect, and compassion for those who have wronged him!