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It was the last evening of 1972. Jean and Dominic, as planned, were sitting in front of the television. James Onedin was on the quayside beside his boat as a horse-drawn carriage approached. Out stepped his wife.

"I guess this is supposed to be Liverpool again,” said Dominic watching James greet Anne at Bayards Cove just a few hundred yards away.

Then they were both on board preparing for a long voyage, James unaware his wife is pregnant. They have to bring back tea from China.

Change of scene. A steam ship is in view. Down in the engine room and there is Compton Castle's engine ticking back and forth. The pressure gauge has dropped to 20. The stoker has been negligent. He realises this and shovels in more coal. The pressure returns. A bearing starts to squeak and his attention is diverted. The pressure is 80. Still the bearing takes precedance and the pressure rises to 200. A pipe bursts and steam pours over the stoker. He is badly scalded. ( See bottom of page.)

"That would never happen," said Dominic. "Harry would never have had a faulty pipe or a squeaky bearing or let the pressure drop. Still the engine room looked good didn't it, gleaming as ever?

We are back on Onedin's sailing boat returning to England loaded with tea. They are going through stormy seas. A trunk falls from a shelf on to Mrs Onedin. She needs medical help. James is winning the race but realises now his wife is pregnant and hurt. They are nearly home.

"Mr Baines," he shouts to his skipper, "we will not wait to pick up the pilot, sail her in yourself."

"We must sir, harbour regulations. Fogarty will claim the race."

"Mr Baines, sail her into port."

"James, the race was yours."

"I'll not lose you or the child."

The ambulance is waiting for Anne when they land.

A horse-drawn carriage pulls away.

They are home now

"I'm afraid it will be a difficult birth Mrs Onedin," says the doctor. "Breathe in slowly and deeply."

The family waits in the hall in silence. Then they hear a cry.

"James you're a father," and the family rush to shake his hand. "Congratulations."

The doctor comes down.

"You can go upstairs now.”

James rushes into the bedroom. His wife is dead.

"I'm sorry," says the doctor. "I did warn her, as God is my witness, less than 12 months ago in this very room I told her, no children."

"You have a daughter. It's a lovely little girl."

James ignores his child, and looking impassively into the distance, walks out of the house. He is next seen wandering along the quayside at Bayard's Cove. Then, looking out to sea, the episode closes to the familiar sounds of Khachaturian's music from 'Spartacus.'

"Well that's a nice cheerful end to the year," said Jean, "and I couldn't quite see where the steamboat fitted in either.”

"I'm not sure I could, but we weren't watching that closely. How about us going to Bayard's Cove later and see the new year in there? If James is still there we can ask after him”

" Very funny, but yes. I don't feel like staying in to watch the Judy Garland film. Let's go to a pub and join in the celebrations. I need a bit of cheering up. What a thing to put out on new year's eve.”

"The Castle or the Seven Stars?”

" Shall we decide that later? Let's have a walk along the quayside first. I could do with some fresh air.”

Nearly midnight now. Dominic's head was full of whether the new year would start as he had hoped.

Having given out and received good wishes in plenty, they left the noise of the pub and were soon at the part of the quayside where a few hours earlier James Onedin had forlornly stood. There was noise but it was distant and in a way comforting.

"I like to hear the hubbub of happy folk, but not so loud that we can't feel the serenity of this spot."

There were a few other folk around, similarly in quiet reflective mood. Dominic and Jean were now sitting on a bench looking over to Kingswear. The water lapped around few small dinghies. A passing couple shouted Happy New Year and asked if by any chance they had seen the captain of the Charlotte Rhodes. Then, laughing, they walked off into an alley between the quayside houses and up the steps back into the town.

Then at last there was silence .

"Dominic, the new year has arrived."

For a few moments all was quiet. The waters still lapped. Distant laughter echoed. The lights bobbed in the reflections of the water and Dominic took Jean's hand.”

"I want to marry you. Will you be my wife?

Her face lit up in surprise.

"Well. Will you? Please, please say yes.”