Sat, Sep 11, 1999
Reverend Daniel Cooper arrives on Hope Island to reopen the Community Church and encounters rejection and distrust from some of the locals, especially from Alex Stone, the beautiful and feisty owner of the local tavern The Widow's Walk. Daniel also clashes with Brian Brewster, an arrogant and ambitious entrepreneur who wants to turn the Community Church into a Las Vegas type attraction to draw tourists to Hope Island. The island's one and only police officer Kevin Mitchum is devastated when he learns that his father Jake is showing the first signs of Alzheimer's.
Sat, Sep 18, 1999
Molly and Kevin's relationship hits a snag when Kevin implies that he may not want children. Daniel provides Kevin with a direct opportunity to test his parenting skill so that he can make a more informed decision on the matter. Another couple facing problems is Melinda and Mark. They got married when they found out Melinda was pregnant. Since then, they have been constantly bickering, about their parenting of now 18-month old Michael, their relationship and their general life together. Mark made the unilateral decision that their collective lives would be easier if he just spent time away, hence he has been away from his family for the previous 5 months working as a commercial fisherman. Melinda and Mark's problems may be a manifestation more of non-communication and fear than of not being in love with each other and their son. Meanwhile, a two-week old baby boy is abandoned on the Hope Community Church's doorstep. Daniel convinces Kevin not to report the abandonment until social service's regular visit to the island in eleven days hence while Kevin tries to locate whoever the mother. The islanders all help out to take care of the baby they have named Moses. But the tenth day has arrived and Kevin still has not found Moses' birth mother. And Daniel starts a non-audition choir at the church, which may be a problem since Brian loves to sing but can't sing and doesn't know that. The other choir members have to try and figure out a way for Brian to quit, especially since Father Mac and Daniel have agreed to a joint choir performance. Father Mac sees this as a competition as does Daniel's choir, but Daniel's choir knows how good and disciplined the Catholic choir is and thus they want to rid themselves of their weakest link. They leave the task to Molly, who doesn't want to hurt her father's feelings.
Sat, Sep 25, 1999
Daniel befriends a dying retired judge, but has difficulty giving him spiritual comfort after the judge confesses to a painful secret. After 17 years of silence between Ruby and Bonita Vasquez, Daniel gets them to start speaking to each other again, but mother and daughter end up constantly fighting. Alex and Molly hatch a plan to bring back to Hope Island the man who broke both Ruby and Bonita's hearts to get them to stop fighting.
Sat, Oct 2, 1999
Nub's discovery of an old journal belonging to Hope Island's founder Holloway Brewster turns the community upside down, as it hints of pirate treasure buried somewhere on the island. Daniel agrees to help Callie with her typing until her injured hands heal, which includes writing love letters with her internet suitor.
Sat, Oct 9, 1999
Brian is running for mayor of Hope Island, uncontested. Alex learns that his motive is to turn the island into one large real estate development. Because of this, Callie talks Alex into running against Brian. This move places Molly into a difficult position, both as a friend and an employee. On the friend side, Molly has to choose between voting for her father or her best friend. On the professional side, the Widow's Walk has been without a cook for a month already and Molly has been run ragged doing all the work, more of which will happen during the mayoral campaign due to Alex's absences and Callie's campaign plan. Molly is feeling unappreciated which may affect both her employment status and friendship with Alex. A savior may come in the form of Russian immigrant Boris Obolenski, who is new to the island. Boris is a Jack of All Trades including knowing how to cook for a large number of people. He unilaterally decides to take over service in the kitchen. He may have to do more work at the Widow's Walk depending on Molly. With the campaign, Alex realizes that one issue she faces is a dislike of public speaking which may be in direct conflict with being an effective mayor. However after the mayoral debate, Alex and Brian come to a compromise to achieve both their life goals. Meanwhile, Daniel hires Boris for his painting skill to paint the church exterior. From this job, Daniel learns the hard way that Boris is on the island waiting for his fiancée to arrive. Daniel later learns the full story behind Boris' stay on the island, the story and Alex's speech at the debate which leads to Boris' stay being a little longer than he first anticipated.
Sun, Oct 17, 1999
The Reverend Daniel Cooper reluctantly agrees to direct the annual play for Hope Island's Community Theater and has to deal with the needs and egos of the cast members. The unexpected arrival on Hope Island of Daniel's wife Stella, a stunning blonde Las Vegas showgirl, complicates matters even more.
Sun, Oct 24, 1999
Nub thinks that he's spotted a mermaid out in the water. Brian, whom he tells, wants Nub to speak to a psychiatrist. Luckily for Nub, Dr. Karen Dunbar, a psychiatrist, is vacationing on the island. She is there to get away from work, she who is questioning her commitment to her profession. Nub ends up helping Dr. Dunbar as much as she helps him. Meanwhile, Boris is not following Alex's menu and is making Russian food regardless of the wants of Alex or the Widow's Walk's customers. And talk around the island starts to focus once again on the man living out in the woods (and has been there for three years). Rumors have abounded as to his past, such as having mob connections, or being with the C.I.A., or being a test pilot, or being a bank robber. Besides his past, many on the island associate him with something akin to a boogeyman. The only person on the island with whom he has had any connection whatsoever since his arrival is Ruby, who only knows his name is Samuel and that he wants to be left alone. Daniel makes it his business to find out more about this mysterious bush man before others may take vigilante action against the stranger.
Sun, Oct 31, 1999
Daniel is hoping to purchase classic motorcycle parts that were bequeathed to Father Mac three years earlier, Father Mac who wants to keep them to rebuild a motorcycle for himself. With a little prodding on Alex's part, both Kevin and Molly, without each knowing what's in the other's heart, are hoping that they'll get engaged. Kevin is looking for the right moment to pop the question, but all his proposal plans get thwarted. But more than anything, everyone is hoping for a quick and speedy recovery for Nub. From cleaning out a pigeon infested barn, Nub contracts a potentially life threatening respiratory ailment due to the strong concentration of contaminated bird droppings. All hope that the best medical attention and some prayers will work in Nub's favor. Nub does whatever he needs to to survive if only to be able to drive Brian's newly acquired 1958 El Dorado convertible.
Sun, Nov 7, 1999
Harry asks Alex out on a date. Ruby Vasquez and the Angledogs, Hope Island's resident matchmakers, conspire to set up the newly-divorced Reverend Daniel Cooper with the just-dumped Delores McMaster. Kevin tries to make extra money to buy Molly's engagement ring by becoming an annoying door-to-door salesman under the guidance of Brian Brewster, much to Molly's dread and disapproval.
Sun, Nov 14, 1999
Boris is holding a series of dance classes. Some of the islanders have specific reasons for taking the classes: Molly and Kevin want to learn to dance for their wedding, and Dylan wants to learn so that he can ask his classmate, Rebecca, to the school dance. The classes have an unforeseen consequence for Father Mac. Meanwhile, Roy, a local fisherman, has his boat impounded for issues surrounding his drinking problem - a problem he does not admit to - and is ordered to take 20 hours of counseling. With the only Alcoholics Anonymous program located on the mainland, Daniel, who does not have any experience doing alcohol counseling, offers to hold the counseling sessions for Roy. Daniel quickly learns that he is in over his head and enlists the assistance of someone on the island who has some experience in this area. The two need to make Roy admit that he is indeed an alcoholic and to get him to talk about why he drinks.
Sun, Nov 21, 1999
Non bird lover Father Mac is asked by one of his parishioners, Mrs. Hamilton, to look after Dee-Dee, her talking gray parrot while she's away. Father Mac has more problems with Dee-Dee than just her incessant talking. Meanwhile, Kara Sommers has returned to Hope Island for a short visit with her mother Jo before heading to Houston. Kara is in line for a spot in the space program as a food scientist aboard a shuttle mission. Jo, the local baker, is excited for her daughter until she hears that a complete background check on Kara needs to be done. Jo is hiding a secret past, one that she has never told her daughter and one that she vows is solely guilt by association. But Jo is not ready for this information to be made public and asks Daniel for his assistance and guidance in the matter.
Sun, Nov 28, 1999
The annual version of the Hope Island School's bachelor auction is taking place. To save himself the embarrassment of previous years when he has been bought for a pittance, Brian, using Boris as his front, buys himself for $100. With his winning bid for Brian, Boris wants something out of his slave. Ruby and Bonita buy Daniel, who they want to mind the store for them while they make a day trip to the mainland. During Daniel's watch of the store, someone steals Ruby's prized memento. And against atheist Alex's wishes, Daniel buys Father Mac for her to help her clean out her attic. Sitting among all of Alex's old possessions, Father Mac feels that Alex needs to come to terms with her father's memory. Her father walked out on the family when she was six, which was mostly the reason for her losing her religious faith. Meanwhile, Kenny's mother recently passed away. He has run out of money left to him by his mother and does not understand the need to live within the means of his social welfare cheques. Kenny, who has a fondness for old movies and flowers, will be institutionalized unless Daniel can find him a job on the island. Finding him a job may not be a problem, but Kenny holding the job may be more of a challenge.
Sun, Dec 12, 1999
Daniel's refusal to perform a ritual for Hope Island's fishermen is blamed for a bad fishing season. Boris Obolenski runs away to escape the KGB agent he saw in a dream. Nub runs away from the fishermen who wants his secret for catching fish. Daniel's rabbi friend Arnie struggles through a crisis of faith and runs away to Hope Island.