Barriers

Jan 4, 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.

Jan 11, 1981

Billy visits his birth mother's old house in London, where he encounters fugitives from an anti-apartheid demonstration.

Jan 18, 1981

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?

Jan 25, 1981

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.

Feb 4, 1981

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.

Feb 8, 1981

Billy seeks help to pursue his goal of becoming a professional flautist. Meanwhile, a runaway family take refuge in his seaside cottage.

Feb 11, 1981

Billy visits France where he learns more about his parents and helps his hosts' son fulfill a family tradition.

Feb 15, 1981

Spike arrives unexpectedly. Billy offers to put him up for the night, causing friction between him and Mr Whitaker.

Feb 18, 1981

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.

Feb 22, 1981

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.

Feb 25, 1981

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.

Mar 1, 1981

Mar 4, 1981

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.

Jan 10, 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.

Jan 17, 1982

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.

Jan 24, 1982

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.

Jan 31, 1982

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.

Feb 7, 1982

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.

Feb 14, 1982

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.

Feb 21, 1982

Billy confronts Karl and at last learns the full story of how, and why, his parents died.