When a young pregnant woman (Emma Stone) tries to commit suicide, she's nearly successful, but is brought back to life by unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). Renamed Bella, she has to begin her life all over again, learning how to walk, speak and behave like a refined member of society, with the help of one of his students, Max (Ramy Youssef).

Dr. Baxter wants Max to marry Bella, but she has a mind of her own and first wants to go off on adventures. She runs away with an unscrupulous lawyer, Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), who wants to keep her all to himself. Free from the prejudices of her times, Bella grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.