Johnny Belinda

Belinda MacDonald is a deaf-mute young woman living on a farm in rural Nova Scotia with her father Black and Aunt Aggie. The family resents her presence, often calling her 'Dummy,' yet Belinda's intelligence remains evident to those who look past her silence. Dr. Robert Richardson, a physician who recently moved to town, befriends her and begins to help.

Dr. Richardson quickly recognizes that Belinda is intelligent despite her disability. He teaches her American Sign Language and helps her learn to read, unlocking new possibilities for her. Their growing bond becomes a quiet center of the early story.

Stella, the doctor's secretary, is drawn to Dr. Richardson but cannot have him. She becomes resentful of Belinda when she senses his affection for her. The rivalry sets the stage for future conflicts.

Laughlin 'Locky' McCormick visits the MacDonald farm intoxicated and rapes Belinda while she is alone. The assault leaves her pregnant with Johnny, a son she loves. The incident seeds gossip that will plague the town.

Belinda gives birth to a son named Johnny. The birth becomes a flashpoint for gossip, and the town questions who Johnny's father is. The doctor offers to marry Belinda to quiet the rumors, creating more tension with Black.

To quiet the gossip, Dr. Richardson offers to marry Belinda, hoping to legitimize Johnny and protect them. Black rejects the idea, arguing that the doctor does not truly love Belinda. The family continues to face boycott and judgment.

After the mounting pressure, Dr. Richardson accepts a position at a Toronto hospital and leaves the community. He writes to Belinda that he will return for her and Johnny, though the separation weighs on everyone. Belinda clings to the hope of his return.

Locky visits the MacDonald farm under the pretense of purchasing barley but mainly wants to see Johnny. He boasts to Black that Johnny is his child, revealing himself as the father.

Black follows Locky after the confrontation and warns him to stay away. A violent fight on a seaside cliff ends with Locky throwing Black into the sea, killing him. The town later covers the death as an accident.

With Black dead, the town endorses Locky and Stella and they celebrate their upcoming marriage. Belinda and Aggie struggle to keep the farm afloat as the community turns on them.

The town, urged by Locky, declares Belinda unfit to raise Johnny and awards custody to Locky and Stella. Farmers boycott the MacDonald flour mill, making it almost impossible for the family to earn a living.

Belinda and Aggie plead for Johnny's safety and for Belinda's motherhood. Stella begins to see Belinda as a capable mother and urges Locky to treat her fairly, arguing that the baby should remain with Belinda.

When Locky returns to retrieve Johnny, Belinda acts to defend her son and fires a shotgun, killing Locky. The act is framed as self-defense of her home and family.

Belinda is arrested and faces a murder trial. Dr. Richardson testifies that Belinda was protecting her property and family, a defense the court initially struggles to accept due to prejudice.

Stella blurts out that Locky had confessed to raping Belinda on the day he was killed, changing the course of the case. Belinda is cleared of murder and leaves town with Johnny, Dr. Richardson, and Aggie.