Noah has returned to the Macon Plantation after his first escape attempt and begins to organize the Macon 7 escape using the "Freedom Map" he's acquired while held by Slave Catchers. John meets William Still and begins his and Elizabeth's journey into the Underground Railroad. August pretends to help a runaway slave escape slave catchers. Tom begins his run for Senate.
The Macon 7 meet to plan their escape only to find Cato is going with them. Noah asks Rosalee to run with them. John and Elizabeth learn how the Underground Railroad works. Tom meets on the plantation with the men he needs to impress to get the nomination. Facing more desperate life on the farm, August decides to enlist the help of his son, Ben, to go after runaway slaves.
John and Elizabeth receive their first "cargo" and meet her ex-fiancé, Marshal Kyle Risdin, throwing a serious wrench in their plans for the Underground Railroad. The slaves enlist Rosalee's help to steal Tom's official seal as they continue to prepare for the big escape.
With Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and Noah (Aldis Hodge) on the run following her attack on their overseer, the fate of the other escapees depends on Cato (Alano Miller). An escaped slave jeopardizes the Hawkeses’ future.
With a reward making their escape more difficult, the runaways look for a new path to freedom. Tom (Reed Diamond) and Suzanna (Andrea Frankle) try to turn Pearly Mae (Adina Porter) against her family and friends.
The road takes its toll on August; at the same time, the runners are trapped in a floating coffin; and Ernestine struggles to maintain influence.
As Sam (Johnny Ray Gill) protects his little brother when he’s moved to work in the fields, Elizabeth (Jessica De Gouw) makes a fateful decision in order to protect Moses’ daughter, Boo.
Rosalee (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) and Cato (Alano Miller) engage in deception to help the wounded Noah (Aldis Hodge). Tom (Reed Diamond) is pressed to do whatever it takes to secure support for his Senate race.
Rescuing a member of the Macon 7 turns into a deadly mission; John and Elizabeth challenge each others' choices.
Everyone must pay for their sins when the day of reckoning arrives.