In 1849 Georgia, a brilliant, enslaved nurse must outmaneuver her abusive owner – a prominent doctor threatened by her medical genius – to win her freedom, the right to marry a free Black carpenter, and start her medical practice.

SYNOPSIS:

Why this story?

While other films about this era follow the journey of an enslaved person's battle for freedom, too many "render Black people as merely Black bodies onto which the sins of this ragged country are violently mapped" (A.J. Bastien, 2020). By contrast, Linda, the Black protagonist in this screenplay, is far more dynamic and greater than the suffering forced on her. Instead of reaffirming the violence with which everyone correlates this topic, this story highlights Linda's inner strength and life poignantly. This story reveals a rarely explored aspect of slavery: the complex dynamics between enslaved medical practitioners and white doctors. It also reflects current conversations about women in medicine facing harassment and professional barriers. Equally relevant then as it is today, this story explores the contradiction of one's skills being both valued and suppressed.

Synopsis

Linda, a gifted, self-educated nurse enslaved by Doctor Flint, dreams of practicing medicine and marrying her childhood friend Nate, a free Black carpenter in Savannah, Georgia. Though Doctor Flint allows her to study his medical books and assist with patients, his "generosity" masks a darker purpose – he's grooming her for his perverse sexual desires while refusing all offers to purchase her freedom.

As Doctor Flint's sexual advances escalate and his wife's jealous cruelty intensifies, Linda finds solace in medically treating Georgia's white community, primarily the children. Her medical brilliance emerges when she saves Kate, the daughter of notorious slave hunter Matthew, from Doctor Flint’s botched attempt to treat her. Linda’s reputation grows among the white communities, though each successful treatment risks exposing her owner’s medical incompetence and enraging him to respond violently.

When Nate returns with enough money to buy Linda's freedom, Doctor Flint's obsessive refusal forces Linda toward a desperate escape plan. On her perilous journey to Savannah, she discovers an underground network of allies: the many white patients she once treated, their families, and eventually even Matthew himself, who chooses to repay his daughter's life by helping Linda evade capture.

Doctor Flint relentlessly chases after Linda and nearly captures her; however, she uses her cunning to outwit him with a series of correspondence she has secretly mailed from the Northern states, thus sending him on an underground railroad wild goose chase that results in his demise when the northbound ship he travels on founders in a storm.

Yet Linda's triumph is bittersweet. Though free from Doctor Flint, she faces new battles as an educated Black woman in the South that would relegate her medical practice to the shadows. Determined to walk in the same sunshine as white doctors, Linda and Nate begin their fight for professional recognition, refusing to let her healing gifts be diminished by prejudice. This opens the door for a sequel in which Linda’s fight against social injustice for a legitimate medical career could be explored in even greater detail.

Audience Appeal

No Man’s Property is a fast-paced and tense story with real-life characters that are easy to root for or against and a plot that holds the attention until the end. It is a relevant story that offers a fresh perspective on slavery, a condition that tragically persists today in the form of human trafficking and forced labor. It breaks away from traditional male-dominated narratives in the action thriller genre, appealing to a broader audience, centering on a female protagonist who maintains her humanity despite dehumanizing circumstances. It demonstrates how knowledge and education can be tools for liberation and illustrates the power of allies across racial lines choosing conscience over convention.

Audiences everywhere will empathize and root for Linda as she perseveres and turns the tables on her captor. Linda is a strong, complex female protagonist who challenges the enslaved woman as a victim stereotype and showcases an empowering role model for viewers. She is a good representation and symbol of resistance and independence.

This film is perfect for action thriller audiences who appreciate films like "12 Years a Slave," "Belle," and "Harriet." It will also draw medical drama fans who enjoy shows like "The Knick" that explore historical medicine. Audiences who appreciate romance woven into historical narratives will be drawn to this film. It has franchise potential.

This story takes place in a rural setting, with few locations and six main characters. Despite being a period piece, it is designed to be budget-friendly.

NO MAN'S PROPERTY