Back in England, Major Gray learns that Mary plans to speak against slavery in front of Prince Frederick at the Christmas concert at court, where she has been asked to perform. As he is chained, Thomas confronts John about his choices ("Nowhere Left to Run"). The Princess tests John's loyalty, pressuring him to sell Thomas as a slave bound for Barbados. John uses his knowledge of the slave business to help Peyai to break up African families and assign slaves to ships. Captain Newton prepares to sail to Sierra Leone ("A Chance for Me"), and Mary asks him to give John a letter. Peyai sends a letter to Captain Newton demanding ransom. Meanwhile, Mary performs with the town choir ("Sing on High") and learns from Captain Newton that the Harwich has been lost ("Tell Me Why"). John defies her ("Welcome Song") and is chained to a post and saved from starvation by a young slave girl, Yema. John and Thomas are captured In Sierra Leone, by African warriors and their Princess Peyai, a ruthless slave trader, who threatens to kill John. John falls into the sea, and Thomas dives in to save his master ("Battle at Sea"). John's carelessness allows a French warship to defeat the Harwich, whose crew is killed. As a cousin of George II, he must introduce Mary to the King to obtain royal consent to the marriage ("Expectations"). At her home, Major Gray proposes to Mary. Mary struggles with her feelings for John ("Shadows of Innocence"). Thomas, the Newton's house slave, attempts to intercede on John's behalf, and Captain Newton sends him on the ship as well. Harwich When his father refuses to help him, and John breaks all ties with him ("Never"). Meanwhile, John is press-ganged into the Navy aboard the H.M.S. She agrees to begin a relationship with Major Gray to act as their spy. The next day, Mary meets with the abolitionists they relate plans to undermine the slave trade ("We Are Determined"). Major Gray scornfully points out that his soldiers, rather than John and his civil authorities, retrieved the slave. Redcoat soldiers drag in two badly beaten abolitionists and the pregnant slave, also beaten.
John drinks too much and offends everyone, including his father and Mary. Mary, John and Gray all attend a Christmas ball where Mary performs a song that John wrote ("Voices of the Angels"). Mary's mother encourages her to pursue a relationship with the handsome and aristocratic Major Gray, who is interested in Mary. She talks with her black maidservant, Nanna, about how Nanna became a slave and lost her daughter ("Yema's Song"). Mary is secretly invited to join an abolitionist group. Mary encourages John's better nature, singing a song he wrote for her years ago ("Someone Who Hears"). John argues with Mary he still suffers from the loss of his dear mother at age eight. John is humiliated and is tasked by Major Gray to find and retrieve the slave.
A commotion ensues when a slave is freed by a group of hooded abolitionists Mary gives up her cloak to conceal the young woman and aid her escape. The cargo is African slaves ("The Auction"). John and his friend Haweis begin the day's auction without the Captain.
John's father, Captain Newton, a wealthy slave-trader arrives he is angry that his son has rejected his plans for him ("Truly Alive"). His childhood friend, Mary Catlett, an aspiring singer, is angry that John abandoned his musical education to seek adventure at sea. It is nearly Christmas, 1742, and young Englishman John Newton returns from the sea ("Prologue").
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