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In
the middle of the African desert, Andrew snaps photographs of Sudanese
slaves toiling in the hot sun. Back in the United States, young Thomas
Cooper is upset that his mother, Senator Katherine Cooper, has to return
to work in Washington D.C. Monica is horrified to see the pictures that
Andrew took, and wonders why the angels aren't in the Sudan. Tess indicates
that Thomas is the little child that will lead them there. In Washington,
Dr. Jospeh Akot, working with Andrew and Monica, approach Kate about the
problem of slavery in the Sudan, but Kate, espousing the Sudanese government's
position, denies its existence. They persuade her, however, to keep the
pictures, and she relents, stuffing them into her briefcase. Back home
Thomas discovers the disturbing pictures and reads Dr. Joe's letter, which
says that slaves can be bought and sold for fifty American dollars. Thomas
is moved by one of the pictures in particular, of a small Sudanese boy,
who Thomas names Sam after his older brother who died before Thomas was
born. Thomas pleads with Kate to rescue Sam, but she tells him that the
issue is too complicated. Thomas sneaks the picture of Sam and takes it
to school, where Tess, his substitute teacher, encourages him to talk
about it during "show and tell." Led by Thomas, and with the help of Dr.
Joe and the angels, the class begins to raise funds to buy the freedom
of Sudanese slaves. Meanwhile, Kate, facing a tough re- election campaign,
is given the financial support of a large candy company, on the condition
that she remain uninvolved in Sudan, a country that, if undisturbed, will
continue to manufacture candy ingredients at a low cost. This makes the
situation particularly tough for Kate when Thomas and the childrens' efforts
receive media interest. She argues with her husband James, who supports
Thomas, thereby embarrassing Kate. Their fight comes to a head when James
accuses Kate of never forgiving him for the death of their son, Sam, who
died because they never had health insurance. Indeed, Kate wears a locket
with a picture of Sam in it around, tormenting James everyday. Kate argues
that if she supports Thomas, she may not be re-elected, and then she cannot
help anyone. She returns to Washington and receives criticism for her
son's actions from her campaign contributors. Monica arrives with James
and Thomas, who gives his mother the several thousand dollars he raised
to travel to the Sudan and purchase slaves. Still Kate refuses to go,
crushing Thomas' hopes of rescuing Sam, and inciting her politically uninvolved
husband to vote -- against her. Kate angrily confronts Monica for helping
with this effort. Monica reveals herself to be an angel and tells Kate
that she is the one God is calling to go to the Sudan to witness the abuses.
Convinced, Kate travels with the angels and Dr. Joe to the Sudan, and
buys the freedom of many slaves. When all of the money is spent, Kate
sees one captive person left -- Sam, the little boy from Thomas' picture
-- and tearfully exchanges her precious locket for the boy's freedom.
Back in the U.S., James and Thomas are proud to hear that Kate has publicly
testified to the existence of slavery in the Sudan.
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