Hallie Stephenson, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, SUNY Purchase, Discovery Prize Honorable Mention

Project Type: Pilot

Genre: Historical Thriller

Length: 60 minutes

Field of Science: Chemistry, Engineering, Botany, Toxicology, Medicine

Stage: Development 

Synopsis: 

Child genius Abel is born in the 1780s in London and practices chemistry with her father. She becomes an expert on poisoning and explosives, using her talents to help her father with his illegal poison business and eyeglass shop. Decades later, Abel is convicted of double homicide by poison and boards a detention ship headed to the colonies of Australia. Her guilt distances her from the other inmates, and she becomes a target of combative convict Pennon. In an effort to help diabetic convict Thomasina survive on the ship, Abel reluctantly agrees to a sexual relationship with the ship’s Captain.

Abel utilizes her knowledge of chemistry to navigate life at sea. She bonds with fellow inmate Brygida by finding solutions to deal with the lack of feminine products on the ship. While Abel endures her time with Captain Kull, her relationship with Brygida deepens. The other inmates on the ship begin to resent Abel for the Captain’s special treatment of her. Abel discovers she is pregnant with the Captain’s child.

One night, Abel enrages Captain Kull by threatening to jump off of the ship. The Captain threatens to maim her and kill Brygida if she does not stay in line. Fearful, Abel designs a bomb to use as a distraction in an escape attempt. On the night of the escape, Abel is overcome with guilt about her past and fails to detonate a bomb. Pennon sabotages their escape by detonating the bombs inside the guard’s quarters. Abel tries to escape in the chaos when the Captain discovers her pregnancy. Fleeing from the Captain, Abel jumps into the ocean, and gives birth to her baby on a large piece of driftwood from the damaged ship. Abel falls unconscious, later waking up on a deserted beach without the baby. She hears the baby’s cries in the distance.