Rutherford Calhoun, as a newly freed slave in New Orleans, is in a continual search for excitement and adventure when he meets prim and proper school teacher Isadora. To escape the commitment of a married life he hops on the ship Republic only to find out that it is a slaver ship headed to Africa. Amongst a revolt of the slaves on the ship, Calhoun must come to terms with himself and the kind of life he wants in this tale of the African American life.
