The Lost Islands: episode guide

01 - 06 | 07 - 13 | 14 - 19 | 20 - 26

Captured

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Episode 1.01
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Bill Hughes

The five children wake up on their ship, the United World, following the storm to find themselves stranded on the wrong side of a reef in a lagoon near an island. After going ashore to scout out the island, the kids return to the ship to discover that someone has stripped the ship of all their supplies. The kids spend the night on the island but while they are sleeping, they are abducted by unknown assailants, waking the next morning inside a makeshift prison inside a cave. The soon meet Jeremiah Quizzel who tells them they are on the island of Tambu, the isle of the Q people, ruled over by "he who lives forever". He also tells them that they were taken by a "dreadful scoundrel", the evil Prime Minister, Rufus Quad. After missing out on a chance at rescue when a search plane flies overhead, the Prime Minister and his two assistants pay them a visit. Tony makes a valiant attempt at escape and following his recapture, the kids learn the almighty Q has ordered that must all die for trespassing on the island. Facing being drowned as the cave fills with water (and crabs) from the incoming tide, a mysterious girl arrives with a knife which allows them to escape.

The Snake Pit

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Episode 1.02
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Bill Hughes

Having escaped their imprisonment, the kids follow the mysterious girl back to a tree house where they find the remains of their ship and most of their belongings. The girl introduces herself as Helen Quinn, telling them that the people on the island live in a valley, that they must remain in, and that only she and her brother know the way to the tree house. Taking the kids back to her village, Helen explains that her people came to the island almost 190 years ago on a convict ship headed from Portsmouth harbour to New Holland. There was a mutiny and during a storm the ship was wrecked on Tambu. Today is tax day and their leader, the Q, who is more than 200 years old, comes to the valley. The kids hide in the bushes and witness the tax collectors at work. Later, Helen tells them that her brother, Jason, refused to pay his taxes and is about to be sent to Malo, another island, from where no one returns alive. The kids again meet Jeremiah Quizzel, who they learn is the personal servant of the Q. After hearing Jeremiah tell them about Malo and the Q, Tony and David follow Jeremiah hoping to discover where the Q lives, but the path is a dangerous one with many traps...

The Treasure of Tambu

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Episode 1.03
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Bill Hughes

Listening to a news report on their radio, the kids learn the search for them has been discontinued and they've been given up for dead. The kids shift their focus to devising a plan to rescue Helen's brother before he is sent to Malo. David suggests that Jeremiah will bring one of the Q's robes which they will use to impersonate the Q and order the guards to release Jason. When time comes, the plan almost works but one of the guards reveals the deception but using their radio and a flare gun, the kids are able to frighten the guards and escape with Jason. To show her appreciation for rescuing her brother, Helen brings the kids some yellow stones of "no value" her people wear for decoration... or as Mark reveals, gold Spanish doubloons! Helen says there is a legend of many boxes of them hidden somewhere in the valley. The sighting of a ship offers a chance at rescue.

The Volcano's Secret

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Episode 1.04
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Peter Maxwell

Having missed another chance at rescue when an airplane passes overhead, the kids begin to build a raft so they can leave the island. With Jason Quinn still hiding out in the caves on the far side of the volcano, Aaron runs away from the village in an attempt to find his brother. Helen, Tony, David and Mark leave the tree house to go after Aaron. Jeremiah has also gone in search of Aaron who has ventured under the volcano. After overhearing the Prime Minister and his men making plans to question Helen about the five children, Anna goes to the village to stand in for her absent friend. In the caves under the volcano, Aaron encounters a hermit who asks him if he is the son of Adam Quinn. The Hermit explains that he and Adam Quinn were prisoners together on Malo. Fleeing from the Hermit, Aaron is rescued by Jeremiah and is soon reunited with Jason. The rest of the kids are close behind and after a short visit, they return home... travelling around the volcano.

With: Cornelia Frances as Elizabeth Quinn, Wallas Eaton as Mr. Quilter, Ted Ogden as Hermit

The Winds of Change

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Episode 1.05
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Peter Maxwell

With the barometer showing story weather and a hurricane warning issued on the radio, Tony tries to alert his friends who have gone fishing or are on the other side of the island with Jason. Tony finds Jeremiah and despite his reassurances that there are no storms his time of year, Tony asks him to warn everyone in the valley so they can prepare for the storm. No one in the village believes Jeremiah's warnings about an imminent storm and he quickly finds himself locked up by the Prime Minister for daring to assume powers that belong to the Q. When the storm does come as predicted, Jeremiah is brought before the Q to explain how he knew the storm was coming. Not satisfied with his answer, The Prime Minister orders he be hanged. Helen pleads for Jeremiah's life but once at the gallows, Jeremiah admits to the Prime Minister and the assembled villagers that is was the Q himself who told him about the storm. Jeremiah's life is spared. Meanwhile, Anna and Mark survive the hurricane at sea on their raft while Su Ying and David find refuge in the caves with Jason.

With: Ron Haddrick as the Q, Cornelia Frances as Elizabeth Quinn, Ted Ogden as Hermit

Malo

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Episode 1.06
Written by Michael Laurence
Directed by Bill Hughes

In search of pitch to improve the raft, David and Mark return to the caves beneath the volcano. There they encounter Jason who tells them that the previous night the old hermit tried to kill him! Searching for his friends, Tony is cornered on a cliff top by three guards. To escape, he jumps into the ocean but injures his ankle in the fall. In the caves, Jason subdues the hermit who tells them his story: he was a prisoner on Malo with Jason's father, Adam, where the two devised a plan for one to escape and return to rescue the other. The hermit was the one to escape but fearing for his life having killed a guard during the escape, he never returned. Encouraged to learn his father may still be alive, Jason return with the others to the ship where he informs his mother they are making plans to go to Malo to rescue his father. Aaron's truancy has his schoolmaster, Mr Quilter, upset. He brings his concerns to Mrs Quinn but Aaron cannot be found — he has stowed away on the raft taking the boys to Malo. Arriving at Malo, the boys make camp for the night. In the morning, Jason is gone... setting off by himself to search for his father. He soon returns but Mark has already gone in search of him. Jason returns with good news, he's seen a list of prisoner's names, a list that includes his father's. The boys set off to search for Mark.

With: Cornelia Frances as Elizabeth Quinn, Wallas Eaton as Mr. Quilter, Kent Strickland as Master Quimby