This is the only 3 part episode in Season 1 and this review covers all three. The McCoy's (Bonnie McCoy first seen five episodes earlier in "Love and Sandy") boat has been swept away in a storm injuring Mr. McCoy and setting adrift their baby elephant Esmay. Porter helps nurse Mr. McCoy back to health in time for his unpaid dock fees to be demanded by the rapacious dock owner Mr. Simpson. When it is apparent that the McCoys cannot pay, Simpson demands Esmay as collateral.
Sandy tries to divert attention as they try and hide Esmay but in the end Simpson grabs the robe and tries hauling Esmay to his boat - trouble is Judy the chimp has taken control of his boat and Esmay yanks him into the water as Judy races off and eventually crashes the boat.
Simpson returns determined to take Esmay so the boys and Bonnie escape with Esmay and Judy in tow determined to see if the animal circus in neighboring Southport might consent to Flipper and Esmay joining the circus to raise money to pay the debt. On the way, Flipper gets grounded in the low tide. Sandy runs through treacherous swamps to get help while eventually Bud and Bonnie find a way to get Esmay to pull Flipper across a sand bar to deeper water. Porter and McCoy are hunting for their kids - Sandy gets trapped in an alligator infested mangrove swamp and the newly released Flipper points Porter to rescue him.
The McCoys finally make the money to pay Simpson but Judy runs off with Simpson's satchel with the money left sitting in his car and Simpson accuses McCoy of theft and he is arrested causing McCoy to not be able to report for his new job. The kids arrange a cool show for the locals with Flipper, Judy and Esmay performing and Bonnie singing with her guitar. Some magic Flipper footage. Right at the end it becomes clear Judy stole the satchel and of course McCoy can be released. The families have the kind of farewell at the dock you'd expect from close friends.
These episodes progress 15 year old Sandy's crush on the older Bonnie into a full blown romance - Luke Halpin is a natural playing a love smitten teenager - and yet somehow the scriptwriters could not quite bring themselves to let them have an kiss on-screen!
Sandy tries to divert attention as they try and hide Esmay but in the end Simpson grabs the robe and tries hauling Esmay to his boat - trouble is Judy the chimp has taken control of his boat and Esmay yanks him into the water as Judy races off and eventually crashes the boat.
Simpson returns determined to take Esmay so the boys and Bonnie escape with Esmay and Judy in tow determined to see if the animal circus in neighboring Southport might consent to Flipper and Esmay joining the circus to raise money to pay the debt. On the way, Flipper gets grounded in the low tide. Sandy runs through treacherous swamps to get help while eventually Bud and Bonnie find a way to get Esmay to pull Flipper across a sand bar to deeper water. Porter and McCoy are hunting for their kids - Sandy gets trapped in an alligator infested mangrove swamp and the newly released Flipper points Porter to rescue him.
The McCoys finally make the money to pay Simpson but Judy runs off with Simpson's satchel with the money left sitting in his car and Simpson accuses McCoy of theft and he is arrested causing McCoy to not be able to report for his new job. The kids arrange a cool show for the locals with Flipper, Judy and Esmay performing and Bonnie singing with her guitar. Some magic Flipper footage. Right at the end it becomes clear Judy stole the satchel and of course McCoy can be released. The families have the kind of farewell at the dock you'd expect from close friends.
These episodes progress 15 year old Sandy's crush on the older Bonnie into a full blown romance - Luke Halpin is a natural playing a love smitten teenager - and yet somehow the scriptwriters could not quite bring themselves to let them have an kiss on-screen!
