Dr. Keith Ricks is the head of the BAL Harbor dolphin Research Center. With a low budget he struggles to keep his studies of dolphin communication going. Fortunately for the institute, The US Navy contributes a large amount to the center however one of their scientists is sent to help with the research. A Naval scientist named Pam Blondel. She has studied "echo location" for the navy and has a great interest in dolphin studies. Keith however resents having the military involved in his research.
     Pam also brings her son Mike who is not thrilled to be there. He soon realizes that the only thing keeping him in this new place is the dolphin that the center is studying. Mike releases the dolphin into the open sea thinking that he would be able to leave.
     When Keith learns of the "escape" of their dolphin, He orders an all out search for her as he realizes that she will not survive in the wild.
     Meanwhile Mike comes across Maya (a strange girl in an uninhabited beach club). Maya takes him out to swim with the wild dolphins. He develops a fascination with one of them ( The leader of the group of dolphins who will not come near anyone).
     Later Keith explains to Mike how he used to feel out of place and how his interest with dolphins began. He used to have a pet dolphin named "Flipper". " Yeah, I know. Dumb names ran in my family..They called me Bud." he told the boy.
     Realizing how much trouble the missing dolphin and the entire research center is in. Mike decides to sneak out and try to find her. But in doing so he ends up in the ocean with his leg caught in a buoy while the tide is coming in. The only witness to this is the one wild dolphin who Mike was fascinated with earlier. The dolphin swims to the shore and gets Maya's help and she goes to get help.
     Meanwhile Keith and Pam find the missing dolphin using an invention which mimics the dolphins sounds. As they bring her back Maya finds Keith and leads him to Mike who is now almost entirely trapped under water.
     As Keith struggles to free Mike it is the wild dolphin who ends up freeing him.
     As the show concludes Mike begins to "fit in" at the center and decides to call his new friend "Flipper".

Flipper scenes, characters, and logos are a trademark of SGM Productions in association with Tribune Entertainment Last Modified: March 25, 1998