In 1856, the slave Samuel Woodward (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his family flee the Monroe Plantation near Richmond, Virginia. Aided by a secret network of ordinary people known as the Underground Railroad, the Woodward family make the perilous journey north to Canada and freedom. However, the notorious slave hunter Plimpton (William Sadler) is on their trail, determined to capture them at any cost. With his family’s future on the line, Samuel is forced to make the choice between freedom and revenge. Samuel’s fight for freedom echoes back one hundred years to another man’s struggle for survival. In 1748, John Newton the captain of a slave-trading ship sails for Africa with a cargo of slaves, bound for America. On board is Samuel’s great grandfather. The voyage changes Captain Newton’s life forever and paves the way for a legacy that will directly impact Samuel, and inspire millions for generations to come.