TREATMENT

Imagine a cold night in 1852 and you're a slave wanting to escape. With your entire family. This is the dilemma facing Samuel Woodard and his family. They want to be the first slave family to cross the Mason-Dixon line.

But it won't be an easy task. Hot on their trail is the preeminent and best slave hunter in the states – a man known only as Plimpton, who has never lost a slave he pursued. The plantation's owner coaxes him out of retirement for one last hunt.

The first musical number is 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' sung by Big Hand, a slave. [Note: The choreography is critical in this movie and will be handled by a 4-person team of musical choreographers who have worked on films like 'Chicago' and 'Dreamgirls']

The chase begins.

As Samuel's family escape to Richmond, they meet up with Thomas Garrett, a Quaker who will help lead them to Canada. Garrett is a real-life historical figure who risked his life to help the escaped slaves.

Disguised as the slaves of Garrett, they pass the checkpoint into Richmond, set up by Plimpton.

Plimpton begins to understand it won't be an easy task to capture them as the battle of intellect begins.

At the first safe house, Samuel's grandmother tells him the story of John Newton, the slave-trader who lived 70 years prior.

We flashback to Newton as he sings the third musical number 'Who is God?' at a tavern in England.

Newton leaves the tavern early in the morning drunk. He sees his daughter waiting for him and scoffs at coming home. His father and wife await him and they engage in a fierce argument over slavery. Newton affirms he will captain a slave ship.

As we cut back to our present story, Plimpton's men now surround the safe house where Samuel and his family hide.

After arresting another group of slaves from Missouri in the safe house, Samuel and the others escape. They make their way to a train station where they meet a group of musicians who sing the fifth musical number: 'If I Get My Ticket, Lord/Do Lord O Do Lord'.

As the train takes off, Plimpton's men capture Miriam. Vanessa screams at Samuel to let her go back, but the train continues on to the Mason-Dixon line.

They make their way to Philadelphia and enter a church where the congregation sings 'I'll Fly Away'. They rest briefly at a Philly safe house where Samuel's grandmother continues with her story on John Newton.

We flashback to Newton on the slave ship and discusses his lack of belief in God to Ozias, an African assistant. After Newton leaves, Ozias sings the soulful and powerful song, 'A City Called Heaven'.

When we are brought back to the present story, Plimpton's men catch up with Samuel in Philadelphia. Garrett devises a scheme where they put on theatrical makeup to make Samuel look white. They then march down the street as if in a funeral procession – Garrett in the coffin.

They all celebrate again escaping from the clutches of Plimpton by singing the 8th musical score, 'Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior', an uplifting, spiritual ballad.

We now flashback to John Newton and Mary having another dispute over slavery. Newton accidentally pushes Mary who suffers a severe cut on her face. The children tell Newton to leave. Newton begins to feel the conviction of his soul.

At the port, Ozias sings 'Yes, We All Agree' a powerful, uplifting Gospel song. Newton expresses misgivings about his job to Hubert, the owner of the ship, but gets quickly scolded and threatened with a lawsuit.

In the present, Samuel and his family make it to New York and meet up with Frederick Douglass, the real-life historical figure.

Plimpton's men enter the church where Douglass speaks, but they get swiftly tossed out after a fiery speech from Douglass. Undaunted, Plimpton gets a search warrant and comes back on Christmas Eve.

At the service a former slave sings 'How Great Thou Art' to a mixed congregation. The Federal Marshal so moved by the song rips up the search warrant leaving Plimpton again without recourse.

Samuel continues to drink heavily. He's found drunk by Garrett outside the church. Willie and his gang now capture them and bring them to Plimpton. Samuel cuts through his ropes and he and Garrett escape, but without Miriam again.

At the next stop before Canada, Samuel's grandmother explains what happened next to John Newton.

We flash to a violent storm. Newton's men try to maintain course, but to no avail. Newton goes to his cabin and writes a final letter to Mary. He then falls on his knees and gives his life to the Lord. The seas become calm, but Ozias dies. Newton begins to write 'Amazing Grace'.

Samuel's grandmother dies after telling the story with her final words that she really was going to find freedom at last.

Plimpton's men make one fi nal chase to the Canadian border. Garrett and Samuel outmaneuver them and make it across.

At the Canadian border, the unthinkable happens.

Samuel exchanges himself for Miriam. As he crosses the border to head back to the plantation, Plimpton decides to let him go.

As they leave, Vanessa asks him why he did that to which Samuel replies, "No one is beyond redemption."

Samuel becomes tear-eyed as he says good-bye to Garrett. "Why did you help us?" Samuel asks.

Garrett replies, "It was the right thing to do. Jesus said we're suppose to love our neighbors, but words and action are two different things, I suppose. I chose action."

Vanessa sings 'I Saw the Light' medley as they make their way to freedom.

In Canada, a Reverend tells Samuel about the final chapter with John Newton.

We flash to the past where John Newton stands before the congregation a new man and with the choir sings the song he wrote "Amazing Grace" to the astonishment of Mary and his father.

Final Captions:

• John Newton fought the rest of his life to end slavery joining forces with William Wilberforce to abolish slavery in England.
• Thomas Garrett died in 1889 and saw the end of slavery in his lifetime. At his funeral, former slaves took his coffi n on their shoulders and carried it uphill to the gravesite.
• Fredrick Douglass continued the fight to end slavery until after the Civil War.