Frederick Douglass and Mary Shelley join forces to destroy an institution that has terrorized both of their lives – American slavery. 

Genre – Historical fiction, Horror, Social justice

Comps – 12 YEARS A SLAVE, GOTHIC

SYNOPSIS:

Young, fugitive slave Frederick Douglass delivers an early version of his famous. "What to the slave is the Fourth of July'" in London, 1845. It is seen and felt through powerful oratory skills that Douglass was not only a witness to the horrific events of slavery, but was also a victim. He whips up the emotion of the crowd.

Mary Shelley, near the end of her life, is in the audience and enthusiastically enjoys his moving speech. She requests to meet him backstage. In the dressing room after his performance, Douglass is torn to the point of tears. Should he stay in London where he is a free man and a celebrity, or return to America where there is a bounty on his head and the threat of re-enslavement or death could occur at anytime.

Douglass meets with Mary, not knowing who she was other than a fan of his autobiography. Although there is a large gap in ages and cultures, they bond over their condemnation of slavery. Douglas asks about how her disdain came to be.

Flashback

Mary shares her story of her terrifying experience as a teen in 1815, visiting America. Accompanied by her servant and British citizen, Adamly - a black freeman, highly educated, that works for Mary's family. The opportunity to get a science article published in the London Times, the young writer is set up to interview Thomas Jefferson on the Fourth of July. Mary is a fan of his various inventions, but also his perceived dedication to freedom and democracy.

Slavery had been abolished in Britain before she was born and witnessing the treatment of Africans at Monticello, including Adamly, sends her fleeing from the ex-president's estate - disillusioned and angry.

This scene is observed by Victor Franklin, son of famous inventor, Ben Franklin. He invites her to his estate so she can still get her article done. He is not only an inventor, but also a doctor. Adamly is against the idea and wants to go back to the UK, ASAP. In a action she regrets for the rest of her life, she over-rides his wishes and they both venture to Victor's mansion as a storm brews.

Kind at first, slowly Victor shows himself to be a mad scientist. His dream is to creates a ‘re-usable slave’ from African bodies, using his dad's (Ben Franklin) lightning experiments to bring them to life. Victor uses deception to murder Adamly and use his brain, to power his creation. The experiment backfires and Victor pays the ultimate price as Mary barely escapes alive. She bases her classic novel 'FRANKENSTEIN' on this experience.

End of flashback

Douglass now realizes that he is sitting with the world famous author and is humbled by her interest in his cause. That is not the only surprise. It turns out that she arranged for him to come to London for the speaking tour. As Douglass thanks her, another surprise ,brings tears to his eyes. She has paid the money needed to allow him to become a free man, no longer a fugitive slave on the run. Devastated, Douglass is speechless. To further show her dedication to ending slavery, she will finance him to start a newspaper , travel for speeches and publish more books. She feels guilty about the death of Adamly and this act will help compensate for her ill-timed defiance to him, which led to his death. Overcome with emotion, Douglass makes a pledge to use this gift and fight the monstrous sin of slavery with all of his soul.

1865

Afterwards, a fearless , gray-hared Douglass, ... Even more famous, struggles to light a lantern in an office. He speaks on the news that the South is willing to surrender, but they insist on keeping the institution of slavery active in those states. Douglass argues that although many more may die if the offer is rejected, the abomination of slavery cannot continue into our nation's future. He urges his friend to not cease the war until they offer an unconditional surrender, which would include the abolition of slavery, forever. As the lantern is lit, we see that the room is the oval office. The man Douglass speaks to is his friend … Abe Lincoln. The president thanks him for his counsel and pledges to not stop this war, until all men are free.

FREDERICK AND MARY DESTROY A MONSTER