SYNOPSIS:

Based on actual events “355” is a sweeping but intimate story set against the war-torn American Revolution. It centers around a young woman by the name of Betty Floyd, daughter of a wealthy Shipping Merchant Parker Floyd. A head strong individual she becomes romantically involved with Nathan Hale. Hale an early patriot in the war becomes a spy for Washington behind enemy lines. He learns early of a double agent working among the Americans a John Anderson , AKA Major John Andre, a British offcer and spy. Hale learns he has been working with a Piggy Shippen a loyalist and later fance of Benedict Arnold. But before he can relay the news to Washington he is caught and hung. Betty witnesses this and becomes enraged, then in a seemingly unrelated event the City of New York is set ablaze by the British. Her fathers business is destroyed and he is killed in the process. In a matter of 24 hours Betty’s life has been turned upside down. Fueled by hate and the thought of revenge she approaches Washington who informs her Nathan was spying for him. At first she blamesWashington but ultimately she realizes that the British are the real enemy and asks to take Nathan’s place as a spy. Washington is put off by the idea, but Major Tallmadge, Washington’s chief spymaster realizes the advantages of having a woman as a spy and recruits her giving her the code name 355. Betty now starts working the inner Circles of the spy ring set up by Tallmadge. With her father’s man servant Benjamin, a Free Black man by her side she quickly engages what is going on. She operates from a clothing store by a fellow spy Hercules Mulligan, in now besieged New York. As luck would have it, one day Major Andre wanders into store with Peggy Shippen on a pretense for buying cloth for a dress. Betty sees this as her opportunity to get close to Peggy and Andre she convinces them that she is quite dressmaker, Peggy hires her on the spot The next day Andre takes Betty to Peggy’s home in the country. While Peggy changes clothes, Betty searches and finds a letter by Peggy written to the British, telling of strategic location of Washington’s camp. Betty warns Washington. When British General Clinton and his men arrive at the location for a surprise attack, Washington and his men are gone. As the story progresses, Betty discovers Peggy is getting information from Benedict Arnold. Hapless he has been doling out information of strategic importance in his personal letters to Peggy. But there is another broker working against Washington. Betty learns this person is Andre who has been posing as Anderson. Peggy has been seeding this information to Major Andre for money and privileges. Andre develops affection for Betty. Betty uses this to her advantage to milk information out of him and pass it to Washington. But Katherine, Betty’s best friend, was Andre’s former lover. She becomes jealous. She too is also a spy for the British. Distraught, Katherine goes to Andre’s home to try to get him back. Andre now despises and suspects her of being the one giving British information to Washington. Betty overhears them. Listening she learns that it was Andre and Katherine who burned down her father’s shipping company. When Katherine threatens to tell Betty, Major Andre is enraged that his cover will be blown. In a fit of rageAndre strangles Katherine to death. Betty walks in on the scene. Wisely she accepts Andre’s lie of killing Katherine in self defense and helps him dispose of Katherine’s body. Peggy Shippen marries Benedict Arnold, and Betty marries John Andre, and war between America and Britain thickens. In the mean time Benedict Arnold has not been paid for two years during the revolution. Peggy seizes this opportunity to turn him completely. With the aid of Major Andre and the offer of permanent wealth, Peggy convinces Benedict to agree to their terms. The British plan to take Washington’s stronghold, West Point, NY which would permanently defeat the Americans. Andre, disguised as Anderson, will deliver the information from Arnold Benedict on how to take West Point. Betty discovers the plot when visiting Peggy. She also discovers that it was Peggy who had Andre and Katherine burn down her father’s shipping company. Betty must warn Washington. Colonel Cunningham, a British Colonel and friend of Andre, is suspicious of Betty and has her followed. Betty writes all she has learned in a message and has her servant, Ben, to deliver it to Washington. When Andre leaves to meet Arnold, Betty prepares to run away, but Cunningham suddenly appears and begins questioning her. After a struggle he arrests her. In the meantime Major Andre with the plans to take West Point is captured by Washington and executed. Now the plan to take West Point is foiled and any hope the British have in winning the war. Benedict Arnold is now on a run for his life and escapes to England. Now the tide of war turns in favor of the Americans. Betty is held as prisoner of war. Washington and Tallmadge search for her. Nine months later the war between America and England is coming to an end. Washington, Tallmadge, and Betty’s servant Ben finally find where Betty is being heldon a prison ship in New York harbor. They sneak on board where they find Betty chained to a post, pregnant, and in labo. Washington, Tallmadge, and Ben help Betty deliver her baby. Because of the awful conditions on the ship and Betty’s exhaustion problems occur and she starts hemorrhaging. Unable to save her, she quietly dies and her baby is born into an new nation. Lost to history this unknown heroin saves the nation we know and love today.

355