In the first episode of the series we meet dashing David Grief (Snow), Captain of The Rattler, and his Polynesian partner, Mauriri Lepau (Naufahu). It's the turn of the 20th century and these two men are adventurous traders working out of beautiful Tahiti. The island they frequent most is Matavai, where Grief's girlfriend, Lavinia (King), runs a tavern that caters to sailors and any number of interesting/infamous visitors. This is also the island where Mauriri's wife and children live. Enter Isabelle Reed (Blakely), a lovely English woman who is accused of murdering her French lover. Grief takes a special interest and tries to prove her innocence.
An exotic black pearl finds its way to Matavai. It is said to have supernatural powers and fills Lavinia with dread. David and Mauriri, however, are more interested in the fortune they will earn when the captain of a ship promises them a great commission if they can find the pearl. Others are also looking for the pearl, including Isabelle who arranges for her freedom. However, she does not keep either for very long.
Isabelle is captured by Lieutenant Morlais (Wright) and sent to a horrible island prison. Before leaving she passes Rev. Trent (Lee) a locket and tells him to give it to David Grief as a keepsake. Inside is a picture of Isabelle along with a clue ... It is believed Isabelle may know the whereabouts of some stolen gold. Grief and Mauriri are led to believe she may be innocent of her crime (of killing her lover) and plan a prison break.
When two villians murder a priest and steal from his church, Grief, who was a good friend of the man, decides to avenge his death.
A strange religious cult comes to Matavai. It's leader, who fancies himself a Christ figure, decides Clare (Kimberly Joseph) should be one of the women who has his children. Grief, Mauriri and Isabelle to the rescue!
While on a Tahitian island negotianting for horse trade, Isabelle finds herself in the middle of a Blackbirding (slave trade) attack. She is knocked unconscious but the island chief believes she is an accomplice. Grief and Mauriri arrive just in time to save her life and it is up to the three to recover the native men who have been stolen or, the chief promises, what is left of his own warriors will come for Isabelle.
A woman who was once Grief's fiancee arrives on Matavai with her husband, a union activist.
William Reed (Peter McCauley), Isabelle's older brother whom she has not seen since she was a little girl, comes to Matavai. What begins as a joyful reunion turns to fear when Grief and Mauriri realize that he is running from something dangerous.
What starts off as a rescue at sea of a young man quickly turns to intrigue when Grief and Isabelle discover Buru Hai is an unwitting accomplice in an unscrupulous arms shipment. Meanwhile, Mauriri is out of action when he falls and breaks his leg.
Grief finds himself attracted to Veronica Gray, assistant to archeologist Paul Kelstrom. Mauriri, however, feels the archeologists are stripping Tahiti of their natural wealth and heritage. Danger is on the horizon.
Isabelle falls prey to a scam run by a con artist named Walsh. Duped into thinking there may be gold on a piece of property, she not only loses her own money but also that of Trent's church when he trusts her judgment. With Grief and Mauriri's help she tries to get back what was lost.
Having lost a wager, Grief escorts a group of three Americans, two men and a woman, travelers. Unknown to him, they are outlaws.
When an Irishman named McCoy arrives on Matavai he enlist the aid of Grief, Isabelle and Mauriri. He wants to capture a sadistic prison warden name Frayne who tortured him horribly while he was imprisoned. There is money to be earned for the venture but Isabelle takes a special interest in the man's cause because of her own time, having been tortured while she was imprisoned for Marcel's murder.
Steven DeGuerre, a boyhood friend of Lavinia's and Mauriri's, returns to Matavai as a successful businessman. Grief suspects something unsavory is afoot and while investigating he is shot! Isabelle, however, is there to mend and comfort him ...
Mauriri has visions of Grief being killed! Isabelle, meanwhile, loses a horse and is determined to bring him home, resulting in she, Grief, Mauriri and a doctor being captured by natives who believe in a centuries-old legend about of horse-demon.
During a boat trip celebrating Rev. Trent's birthday, the Rattler runs aground, stranding all the main characters on an uninhabited island. Mauriri is badly injured, adding to the tension. Meanwhile, Grief and Isabelle find themselves at odds when she discovers the man she thought was her friend working to outdo her on a shipping contract.
The introduction of evil and seductive Jenny Duval. And there is much rejoicing! The episode has to do with Lepers and a land grab.