When aircraft engineer Tom Howard is made redundant, he sinks his payoff into a failing shipyard. The first episode of the family saga starring Jan Harvey and Maurice Colbourne.

Tom discovers that Lynne has hijacked The Barracuda, and she refuses to return. Jan decides to go to the bank on her own if Ken won't agree to financing.

Frere decides that Ken's becoming a liability and schemes to squeeze him out. Polly inadvertently creates a potential problem for Abby. A defensive Bill questions Tom's design specifications.