Episode 1: 'Crossing the River', ITV, tx. 9/1/1984

Mayapore, India, 1942. British troops are engaged in fighting back the invading Japanese army from the colony's borders. Gandhi and his Congress party are on the verge of launching the Quit India movement, which demanded that the British leave India immediately. The British residents of Mayapore know that their time in India is drawing to a close. In this scenario lands Daphne Manners, an aristocratic young woman from England, who is a volunteer nurse. She is immediately drawn into the cantonment social life of the town. She lives in the grand old MacGregor house as a guest of the patrician Lady Lily Chatterjee.

Hari Kumar, an Indian born but England raised journalist with the Mayapore Gazette and Ronald Merrick, the local Captain of police vie for Daphne's attentions. She is charmed by India and is drawn to Hari but he keeps his distance from her. Ronald proposes to Daphne but is rebuffed.

Soon, the Quit India movement is officially launched and violence breaks out all over India, including in Mayapore. Daphne goes missing and Ronald arrests Hari in connection with her disappearance.