One of the endearing features of the Flipper TV series was how producer Ivan Tors introduced up-and-coming actors. Previous episodes featured future stars such as Burt Reynolds, Barbara Feldman (Get Smart), Marshall Thompson and Cheryl Miller (Daktari). This episode features 26 year old Martin Sheen as an orphaned drifter named Phil caught illegally fishing in Coral Key Park by Bud.
Porter had been conducting an experiment with mollusks and a seal had eaten 1/3 of them but when Sandy finds mollusk husks right near Phil's camp site, Porter arrests Phil. At first the boys believe Phil's claims of innocence and find out about his complex past involving a juvenile home. This all changes when, in desperation over Porter finding out about his prior record and charging him, Phil locks the boys in the laundry at the Ricks' where Bud is trying to develop his underwater photos.
Phil takes off in the skiff but Porter arrives back to unlock the trapped boys and he and Sandy pursue Phil in a cool chase scene. Just when its looking really hopeless for Phil, salvation comes from Bud printing the one picture that isn't overexposed showing the seal eating one of Porter's experimental clams! This absolves Phil and the episode ends with lots of warm fuzzies as the Ricks' help Phil on his way to a new life.
The underwater scenes with Flipper and the seal are really lovely and graceful and for once its not Bud who has messed up!
Porter had been conducting an experiment with mollusks and a seal had eaten 1/3 of them but when Sandy finds mollusk husks right near Phil's camp site, Porter arrests Phil. At first the boys believe Phil's claims of innocence and find out about his complex past involving a juvenile home. This all changes when, in desperation over Porter finding out about his prior record and charging him, Phil locks the boys in the laundry at the Ricks' where Bud is trying to develop his underwater photos.
Phil takes off in the skiff but Porter arrives back to unlock the trapped boys and he and Sandy pursue Phil in a cool chase scene. Just when its looking really hopeless for Phil, salvation comes from Bud printing the one picture that isn't overexposed showing the seal eating one of Porter's experimental clams! This absolves Phil and the episode ends with lots of warm fuzzies as the Ricks' help Phil on his way to a new life.
The underwater scenes with Flipper and the seal are really lovely and graceful and for once its not Bud who has messed up!
