The Black Terror

6 x 60min Drama Series

The Black Terror

The slave who found freedom in the ring

Premise:

The true story of a freed American slave who becomes the most famous boxer in Georgian London, but can never attain the nobility he craves...

Overview:

Belle meets Rocky in a hard hitting drama set in the gritty, bipolar world of Georgian Great Britain, where a freed American slave has to fight his way through the London underworld as a bare-knuckle boxer while at the same time battling to gain entry into the rarefied sphere of the aristocracy.

The Story:

This is the story of a man with an unbreakable spirit but an unattainable dream; a man who craves the respect of his adopted land, but needs the love of a father figure. BILL RICHMOND, born into slavery in New York, is 13 years old when he is freed by the British Army during the Revolutionary War. Made a hangman, he is befriended by Lieutenant-General HUGH PERCY (34) who, having been saved by him in battle, makes Bill his ward.

We first meet Bill in York in 1796. It is clear that the life he hoped for when Percy took him to England twenty years ago has not materialised. Instead, Bill is a cabinet-maker fending for himself in our doggedly racist country. Yet Bill retains his pride, a fatal floor that leads him into trouble and consequently the world of bare-knuckle boxing, a sport mesmerising every tier of British society, and which Bill sees as a way to gain the respect he desires.

So begins Bill's rise through the ranks. Although he is loved by a servant girl, he has set his sights much higher. He attains the sobriquet The Black Terror and with each successful, bone-crunching bout, he gains more money, greater fame and nobler friends. However, no matter how high he rises in London's rarefied society, he cannot gain what he really wants. He will never be truly respected by nobility nor have the unconditional love of Percy, the only man who cared for the American slave boy all those years ago.

The Lead Role:

Most of the story takes place when Bill is in his 30s, by which time his unusual history has formed a unique, somewhat cocky character. It would be perfect for a British actor such as David Oyelowo or an American. But there is also the opportunity for a young actor to play the humbler, teenage Bill, who is freed from slavery and put to work as an army ostler and hangman.

Episode Guides:

Episode 1

Bill, a black cabinet-maker, escorts Mary, a black maid, to the York races, where he hopes to meet Hugh Percy. Flashbacks reveal that Bill was taken under the wing of Percy during the Revolutionary War. But Bill is not allowed into the grandstand to meet the duke and is provoked into boxing a racist soldier instead. Bill wins but refuses to box for Lord Camelford, a wastrel who wants to patronise him. Flashbacks reveal that Bill could fight when he came to England as Percy's ward but was told by him that to do is ungentlemanly.

Bill refuses to fight for the cronies of the soldier he defeated, so when his workshop is ransacked - and a jewellery box he was making for Mary is smashed - it is clear that the cronies did it. Flashbacks reveal that the teenage Bill wanted only to become a gentleman so was sent to boarding school. It remains unclear how he became estranged from Percy. Unable to secure a bank loan after the break-in, Bill feels he has no choice but to join Camelford and earn money by fighting against the men who ruined him.

Episode 2

Bill, unaware that the break-in at his workshop was orchestrated by his patron, Lord Camelford, is preparing to fight against the best boxer in Yorkshire. Mary, wanting to stop it, travels to see Percy at Alnwick Castle. Flashbacks reveal how Bill struggled at a posh boarding school and how his relationship with Percy began to break down due to both Bill's pride and hot- headedness, as well as Percy's keenness to please his new fiancée.

Percy is not at Alnwick Castle and Mary is stonewalled by his wife, Frances. Flashbacks reveal that it was France's influence that turned Percy against the young Bill. Bill discovers much is riding on his fight, with members of the Yorkshire underworld betting against him because Camelford has led them to believe that Bill will throw the fight. When Bill wins, he must flee to London. Mary follows him. Flashbacks reveal that Bill tried his hardest to please Frances by selling his only possession to buy her and Percy a wedding gift.

Episode 3

Bill has had false charges laid against him in an attempt to return him to York so is even more reliant on Camelford. Mary suspects Camelford is responsible for their ills and seeks the help of Percy. Flashbacks reveal that Bill failed to win Frances' favour with his wedding present, and Percy saw it too late, allowing Frances to persuade Percy that the unsettled Bill is a lost cause.

Camelford frees Bill from the false charges but lets him know he is in his debt. He also finds Mary a job as a maid, separating her from Bill. Percy watches unimpressed from the shadows as Bill wins another fight. The next fight is against a boxer patronised by one of Percy's enemies and, thinking this will please Percy, Bill invites him. Percy, who is still against boxing, does not come to the fight but Bill wins, takes on The Black Terror sobriquet. He now has some money and fame, and even the interest of a rich white woman. Meanwhile, Camelford reveals his true nature by forcing himself on the isolated Mary.

Episode 4

Flashbacks reveal Percy apprenticed Bill as a cabinetmaker in York against his will. In the present, Bill watches Tom Cribb pulverise a challenger, but still wants to fight him for the national championship. Camelford will arrange it if Bill provides services that drag him deeper into London's underworld. At the same time, he is dating a white widow and being introduced into polite society. However, when he finally meets Percy again, he learns that the duke is unimpressed. Bill responds that he does not need his approval anymore.

Bill must defeat just one more opponent in order to face Cribb for the national championship. Mary is returning to York but visits Bill one last time to warn him that Camelford is a malevolent force. Bill refuses to believe it, suspects Mary is bitter over his new relationship, and she is too ashamed to admit he raped her. However, Bill learns Camelford is calling in his favour: he wants Bill to throw the next fight and forego his opportunity to fight Cribb.

Episode 5

Bill is ready to throw the fight for Camelford and forego his shot at Cribb but, just before the fight, he learns that Camelford masterminded the burglary in York that led to them joining forces: Mary was right, Camelford has been using Bill all along. Bill wins the fight he is meant to throw, leaving him with powerful enemies. Yet, he has a shot at the national championship.

Bill persuades Percy to help him escape the clutches of Camelford and the criminals but must open up a boxing academy to teach boxing as an art in exchange. Bill is now free to fight Cribb, a fight billed as the biggest in boxing history. They end up fighting in front of 10,000 spectators but no-one wants to see an American Negro defeat their white champion. Bill takes Cribb further than anyone before him but his only real chance of winning is to knock out Cribb. Despite Percy's backing, he fails to do so and is deemed the loser.

Episode 6

Bill, having failed in the ring, is socialising with aristocratic clients excessively. He enjoys his increasing social standing but it his want to take revenge on both the boxing fraternity and on Camelford that fire him. Percy believes Bill should be thankful for what he has and move on but when the Prince of Wales becomes a patron, Bill persuades him to call for a new, fair fight to take place, so giving Bill his shot at beating Cribb for the championship.

Bill is out of condition and when he learns that his clients see him as a curiosity rather than an equal, he decides he needs to concentrate on his boxing. He visits Mary to learn what Camelford did before fomenting a feud between Camelford and a skilled duellist. Camelford is then killed.

Bill fights Cribb again but is beaten again. Percy falls ill and dies, causing Bill to fall into a deep depression before Tom Molineaux arrives at his academy and asks to be trained. Tom, an ex-slave who eschews the aristocracy, has the ability to take on the white dominated world of boxing and win....