Cornwall, 1786, hungry Mary Broad is sentenced to death for stealing a lady's picnic but 'mercifully' allowed to join for life first governor Phillip's founding shipload to start a penal colony at Botany Bay in New South Wales. On board, she fails to be recruited as 'comfort maid' by gentleman marine infantry Lieutenant Ralph Clarke, but gets the job to save her after near drowning, then loses it again by arrogance and becomes pregnant by male convict William 'Will' Bryant. Pioneer life is a relative relief, especially for able fisherman Will's privileged crew. Harvests are disastrous and Mary becomes Ralph's lover, but only to steal his key for Will's elaborate escape party preparations.
—KGF Vissers