It's hard to know what the gulf is - the gulf between how pre-teen boys see romance and how teen boys see it or perhaps it was the gulf between Flipper and Miss Kathryn Terrence - Porter's new girlfriend. This is the first (and only) genuine romance that Porter has despite some pretty women being on the show and liking Porter. Bud and Sandy react completely differently. Sandy thinks Miss Terrence is awesome, is thrilled for his father's relationship and thinks her luxury apartment would be cool to live in. Bud is resistant on all fronts seeing her as not accepting of Flipper, not wanting to even go and have a meal with her and anxious for his father to not marry. This leads to a sweet and tenderhearted discussion over the subject and the loss of Mrs Ricks between Porter and Bud. The show does an awesome job at showing the tight bond Porter has with his sons.
Mysteriously the plot veers in a completely different direction as Bud paddles off on his board and is caught in a weather change. Sandy is worried about Bud and heads out in the skiff where he finds Porter gallivanting about on the launch with his girlfriend. Bud hides in a cave from the rough waves while Porter follows Flipper to the cave. Flipper eventually manages to tow Bud out and Kathryn is the first to dive in the water to help retrieve Bud which endears her to Bud.
Kathryn tells Bud that she and Porter are just friends. The episode ends with the boys covered in paint as they paint a boat and, since we never see Miss Terrence again, we can assume the romance went nowhere. This episode features a rare occurrence: Porter, Sandy and Bud all dressed in suits and ties - evidence of a time when eating out or social visiting necessitated such formalities even in tropical south Florida.
Mysteriously the plot veers in a completely different direction as Bud paddles off on his board and is caught in a weather change. Sandy is worried about Bud and heads out in the skiff where he finds Porter gallivanting about on the launch with his girlfriend. Bud hides in a cave from the rough waves while Porter follows Flipper to the cave. Flipper eventually manages to tow Bud out and Kathryn is the first to dive in the water to help retrieve Bud which endears her to Bud.
Kathryn tells Bud that she and Porter are just friends. The episode ends with the boys covered in paint as they paint a boat and, since we never see Miss Terrence again, we can assume the romance went nowhere. This episode features a rare occurrence: Porter, Sandy and Bud all dressed in suits and ties - evidence of a time when eating out or social visiting necessitated such formalities even in tropical south Florida.
