Brief

In the 1780s, Deborah Sampson, eager to serve in the Revolutionary Forces, disguises herself as a man and becomes one of the War of Independence's greatest soldiers.

What We Liked

Being the true story of a bold and daring woman who disguised herself as male to fight for the Revolutionary Forces during the War of Independence, DEBORAH SAMPSON offers insights into a past era and culture when feminism was a distant dream and the future was filled with hope. The script offers a nice balance between drama and action as it moves between moments of Deborah's personal life and relationships, and vivid scenes of intense the intense violence and chaos of war. With the power of feminism in today's society, coupled with the fact that even now women and LGBTQ+ people are still fighting for equality in society and the military, make this a hot-topic film that merges feminism, drama and the action of war into a fascinating biopic sure to interest a modern audience.

Film: A feature film is the ideal format for DEBORAH SAMPSON, and this script is already written as one. If fleshed out and turned into an epic war biopic with a high budget, it could the blockbuster hit of the summer, bringing to mind the massively successful BRAVEHEART (1995). What makes this script more unique and appropriate for today's diverse, progressive audiences is the film's focus on one woman's desire to fight for her country, a notion highly relevant in modern society where women are still fighting for equality and equal treatment in the military. With the script's mixture of high-stakes battle scenes, scenes of drama that cover Deborah's personal life and relationships, and the immersive nature of the script as a period piece, DEBORAH SAMPSON is a film with something to offer for almost everyone.

TV: DEBORAH SAMPSON would make a unique and gripping TV series as it follows Deborah Sampson from idealistic youth to Revolutionary soldier to wife and mother, interspersing vivid scenes of thrilling battle with scenes of Deborah's personal life and relationships. Viewers would eagerly tune in to watch the stakes gradually raise until the War of Independence is won and Deborah is honored as a hero and legend-in-the-making.

Key points:
1) Feminist theme is highly relevant today
2) Combines high-stakes action and drama effectively
3) Based on a true, gripping story
4) It has been a while since a big-budget war epic was released and there is a place in the marketplace for this
5) A unique perspective on a much-covered historical period

Synopsis

1770, PLYMPTON, MA: YOUNG DEBORAH SAMPSON (10) and her six young siblings listen anxiously as their parents argue and their father leaves the family forever.

Deborah’s grandmother explains to her that this is the new world and it is an exciting place to be and that great things are to come. The children are sent away to live with various family members.

At 15 years old, Young Deborah works on a farm. She is friendly with the house slaves, and lives in a ranch in the colony of Middlesex. The widow who owns the ranch is old and frail. One night she leaves an envelope beside sleeping Deborah, looking sad.

Deborah attends the widow’s funeral.

Deborah meets JEREMIAH THOMAS in his home. He reads the letter written by the widow, which tells him about Deborah’s skills. Deborah says she will miss the cooking of her colored brothers and sisters, which rattles Jeremiah. His slave MARIANNE goes to pick up Deborah’s bag but Deborah picks it up and says she carries her own things, and that she likes the slave’s name.

Deborah walks around the house, checking it out. She meets BENJAMIN THOMAS JR. in the living room, and then his sister MATHILDA, who makes fun of Benjamin.

ONE YEAR LATER: On the farm Jeremiah teaches Deborah, now 16, how to create good soil by digging with his hands.

Deborah is fetching supplies in the town when an explosion goes off and mayhem ensues as everyone panics and runs. Nearby battle commences as the British fight the Americans. That night, everyone is safe at home. Jeremiah is relieved Deborah is okay.

FIVE YEARS LATER: Jeremiah and the family bid 18-year-old Deborah goodbye as she goes off out on her own.

Deborah arrives at the town center of the Shawmut Peninsula. Wounded soldiers pass by.

Deborah arrives at Boston New College. PROFESSOR HUNTINGTON greets her, impressed by her knowledge. Later, Deborah goes to a tavern, seeking the manager who is supposed to hire her. Soldiers and a rich man debate slavery. Deborah tells them that all people are created equal.

1781, MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA: At a busy enlisting center, Deborah is disguised as a man and none of the men notice. She gives the enlisting officer a fake male name but a nearby enlistee notices her and the enlisting officer removes Deborah’s cap – her braids fall down and the disguise is broken. Some days later, Deborah goes to a different enlisting office, this time not disguised, and pretends to need to collect a uniform for a fake brother. She manages to get a uniform for her exact size.

1782, BELLINGHAM, MA: Deborah, as Robert, fights with fellow soldiers against the Redcoats, shooting from afar. She fires and hits a redcoat.

Months later, Deborah, as Robert, leads thirty infantrymen on an expedition. Deborah is shot in the leg. She does not allow the men to take off her trousers to treat the wound, and instead flees into the forest where she digs out the bullet with a knife and tends to the wound.

1783, PHILADELPHIA, PA: On the battlefield Deborah and revolutionary soldiers are fired upon by canons. Deborah fires at a distance, killing the redcoat lieutenant. Big battle commences.

Meanwhile, French GENERAL JEAN BAPTISTE arrives on a battleship. The French command center sends a letter to GEORGE WASHINGTON, who reads it and points at a battle map and says that Charleston and Savannah will end the war.

In hospital, Deborah is eager to fight but the doctor tells her that they are about to win the war. Deborah writes a letter to her siblings telling them of her experience in the war and how she disguised herself as a man.

Later, GENERAL PATTERSON calls Deborah into his office. He says that what she did is remarkable and she will be discharged honorably as history remembers the unconventional. Years later, Deborah has married a local farmer in Plympton, MA, and they have two young kids.

About The Author

Sigal Erez is an actress, screenwriter, and film producer born to a Moroccan/Jewish family. She best known for her starring role as Miranda in the 2000 American film Across the Line.