In 18th-century England, the slave trade was a popular get-rich-quick scheme, and it is the heart of darkness that pulses through the Mobil Masterpiece Theatre production of A Respectable Trade. Philippa Gregory wrote the screenplay based on her novel, in which a well-bred but penniless young woman named Frances (Emma Fielding) marries a Bristol shipping merchant (Warren Clarke). Josiah Cole is boorish and unsophisticated, but Frances sees a simple honesty in him that convinces her to leave her uncle's manor for a leaky warehouse on the wharf and wifely duties she did not anticipate. Her husband's "respectable trade" turns out to be human cargo, and he expects Frances to train the slaves for service in upper-class households. But Frances must learn hard lessons as she develops an affection for Mehuru (Ariyon Bakare), an educated, compassionate man who is one of the slaves in her care. Thankfully, the plot is far more complex than the historical romance this quick summary might suggest. A Respectable Trade is as much the story of a greedy man reaching too high as it is the tale of a forbidden passion. The dramatic tension between all of the major characters makes for compelling viewing--it's quite easy to watch all four hours in one sitting. Gregory's screenplay and the performances elicit sympathy for each character's plight as the video approaches its memorable conclusion. --Larisa Lomacky Moore
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