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Teenage Billy Stanyon faces the loss of his parents in a sailing accident, only to discover that he was adopted. Billy then sets off on a journey to find his biological parents that takes him across Europe.
1981
Six months before his 18th birthday, Billy Stanyon's mother and father die in a sailing accident. They leave him a flute, some letters, and the knowledge that they were not his biological parents.
Billy visits his birth mother's old house in London, where he encounters fugitives from an anti-apartheid demonstration.
Billy meets the mysterious Vincent Whitaker, who accompanies him to Munich where an ex-client of Whitaker's takes them to Lake Chiemsee. Frau Gruber tells Billy his mother was killed whilst crossing the Hungarian border, along with her own son. But is she telling the truth?
Now in his final term, Billy learns his birth father, Jerry Toff, defected to Britain in 1955 and married, then later divorced, a glass heiress. Along with his best mate Spike and other classmates, he has a run-in with a local motorcycle gang.
An unannounced visit to his father's ex-wife Charlotte in Scotland reveals that Billy has an older half-sister named Pamela. He learns little other than that his father and Charlotte met when he worked as a stable lad on her father's estate.
Billy seeks help to pursue his goal of becoming a professional flautist. Meanwhile, a runaway family take refuge in his seaside cottage.
Billy visits France where he learns more about his parents and helps his hosts' son fulfill a family tradition.
Spike arrives unexpectedly. Billy offers to put him up for the night, causing friction between him and Mr Whitaker.
Frau Gruber sends Billy his father's ring, prompting him to return to Lake Chemsee for answers. However, she will only tell him that the search for his natural father only spells peril.
Billy befriends a teenage runaway who stays the night with him at his seaside cottage. Meanwhile, Mr Whitaker receives an unexpected home visit from Miss Price.
An unannounced visit by Mrs Dalgleish, originally from Hungary but now the colourful and wealthy widow of a financial tycoon, affords a few more details about Billy's birth parents.
In Salzburg to audition for a music scholarship, Billy finds himself followed by Hilda Gruber. Instructed to kill him, she chooses instead to tell him that it was his father who died fleeing Hungary, not Karl Gruber.
1982
Billy's relationship with classmate Julie threatens his hard-won place at the academy. Mr. Whitaker and Dr Jolland travel to Salzburg to learn why.
Billy and Julie's time together at the seaside cottage comes to an abrupt halt when a stranger comes between them. Gunter Walser and Mr Whitaker arrive with news about Helga Gruber.
During a visit to the cottage, Miss Price reveals just a little of her past, while Mr Whitaker's acceptance of a sailing invitation inadvertently thwarts an attempt on Billy's life.
Through a local villager, Billy learns that Karl Gruber was responsible for the boat explosion. He decides to return to the Salzburg Music Academy, not just to resume flute lessons but also in the hope of luring Gruber out into the open.
Having lost his scholarship, Billy needs to support his studies. He takes a job as a waiter in a cafe, little knowing that the owner is the very man he has been searching for.
Mrs Dalgleish returns with a message from Kurt: "Stop looking for him." After being told he already knows him, by another name, Billy finally realises who Kurt is.
Billy confronts Karl and at last learns the full story of how, and why, his parents died.
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Benedict Taylor
Billy Stanyon
Paul Rogers
Vincent Whitaker
