FULL EPISODE SYNOPSIS (spoiler!)
Boston, 1835. David Robinson no longer feels fulfilled working as a shipping clerk for his father-in-law, Oscar Wyss. David dreams about moving west in a covered wagon. His wife Elisabeth is not very enthusiastic about this idea. However, she speaks with her father about this matter. With his help David's wish for a change is fulfilled by a position as manager in a new office of Oscar Wyss's shipping line in Canton, China. The rest of the family, the eldest child Ernst, an aspiring writer, the eldest daughter Joanna, a life-loving young woman and the youngest daughter Christina, still a child and full of energy, are excited by the prospect of moving to China.
Soon all trunks are packed and the voyage begins on the Fury, one of the ships owned by Oscar Wyss. Her captain "Carry On" Chisolm is famous for carrying on under full sails even in the worst weather. Part of her crew are the cabin boy Billy, an orphan; a young man called Ben Thomas who used to work as a shop assistant before running away to sea; as well as a pair of shady brothers by the name of Seth and Jed Parsons. Jed is an old sea dog and has lost a hand that has since been replaced by a hook, giving him a somewhat sinister appearance. The Robinsons are not the only passengers on board. Emily Chen, a rich young Chinese woman and her governess, Miss Brown, are also travelling to Canton. Miss Chen does not share meals with the Robinson family and discourages every attempt to have a conversation with her.
Elisabeth is shocked when she finds out that the entire family must share a small cabin. Still, she insists that the trunks that hold their more valuable belongings as well as some food that she has packed in case the food in China is not to their liking are stored in their cabin as well.
The weather is fine and they make good progress on their journey. 78 days out of Boston they are sailing across the Indian Ocean, an area where pirates are to be expected. Another ship is sighted and Captain Chisolm orders all sails to be set in spite of stormy weather. By night fall a fierce storm is raging.
While the Robinsons are dining with the Captain, Seth Parsons tries to enter their cabin to rob them. The door is locked, however. On the floor next to the door Seth finds one of Elisabeth's handkerchiefs that she has lost. He picks it up and returns to his brother. Jed takes the handkerchief from him and gives him a key to the cabin. Seth returns to it and starts searching the trunks. He is caught by Elisabeth who returns unexpectedly after an argument with the Captain. Seth grabs her and covers her mouth with one hand to stop her from screaming. But David had followed his wife and frees her. When he strikes the thief once, Seth stumbles backwards and falls against a wall in such an unfortunate way that he breaks his neck. The children arrive, as do Jed Parsons and Ben. Jed Parsons accuses David of murder. The Robinsons take refuge in their cabin. The storm worsens and the officers call to abandon ship. Jed Parsons seizes his chance and obstructs the cabin door of the Robinsons, to prevent them from escaping. David and Ernst manage to break open the door eventually but when they struggle on deck they find that everyone else has already left the ship.
The next morning the Robinsons find much to their surprise and relief that the ship has run aground near a tropical island. They work together to build a makeshift raft and bring all their trunks and chests on deck as well as the family dog Bruno and all the other animals, mainly hens and pigs, that are an board. Crossing the bay on the raft, Christina falls into the water and disappears. Her father dives after her but is unable to find her. Elisabeth despairs. When they reach the island, David and Ernst begin looking for Christina along the shore, but in vain. The dog Bruno finds her eventually and his barking attracts another survivor. Billy, the cabin boy, finds the unconscious girl and carries her back to her family who is overjoyed at her safe return.
Others have survived as well. Jed Parsons and Ben Thomas have escaped the storm in one of the rowing boats and have also reached the island.
After spending an uneasy night under a makeshif shelter Elisabeth demands that a proper shelter is built. But before they begin working on that, David, Ernst and Billy undertake another journey with their raft out to the wreck to salvage more useful things from it.
While the men are away Elisabeth and her daughters look for a suitable location for their new shelter. In the forest they come across a river. Joanna and Christina take a refreshing bath as their mother walks on alone and eventually finds the perfect spot. Someone is watching the girls by the river unnoticed. When the women return to the beach they discover that someone has stolen some food from their trunks.
Parsons and Ben discover the Robinsons, but are not yet seen themselves. Later, Parsons suffers from a fever and Ben nurses him. One of the chests from the wreck is washed ashore and found by Ben. It contains a telescope, the Fury's log as well as a few supplies.
Ernst, David and Billy load as many things as possible onto the raft. Billy gets trapped in one of the cabins of the wreck. Ernst and his father come to his rescue and all three manage to escape to the raft before the Fury eventually starts to sink to the bottom of the bay.
Upon their return Elisabeth informs her husband, Ernst and Billy about the food theft. When they eat their lunch Billy notices that they are watched. He and Ernst leave the family under a pretence oand sneak around to the person that has been watching them. It turns out to be Emily Chen who has also survived. After initial surprise she is welcomed into the family. When the matter of doing chores arises Emily plainly refuses to help. Elisabeth makes it clear that Emily is to help or otherwise might quickly be left to fend for herself.
Some time later Ernst, Billy and David look at the spot that Elisabeth has chosen for their new shelter. They like it and decide to built a treehouse there. David confides that he finds the challenge of surviving on a tropical island exciting. Work on the treehouse moves on apace and the Robinsons are settling in on the island.
Parsons's feverish delirium lasts for three days. He is grateful to see that Ben has not abandoned him. Still Parsons is possessed by his thought of revenge. He forces Ben to take an oath to help him take his revenge on David Robinson, before they start exploring the island.
Finally the treehouse is finished. Just as the family is moving in Parsons and Ben find them. Parsons attacks David. Ernst fetches the pistol and musket that they have salvaged from the Fury and manages to send Parsons and his reluctant accomplice Ben running for their lives.
|