“Pirates of Deadman’s Island” is episode twenty-three of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “Billy the Kid”, Doug and Tony arrived on a ship being attacked by pirates. They got captured and were brought before the pirate captain, Beal. The other ship’s captain was dealt with first. They have been captured by Barbary pirates (though they look more like European pirates of an earlier time; it turns out their depiction is even more inaccurate than it looks). Beal examines Doug and Tony and says they are no sailors. Perhaps they are wealthy. Doug says they have no money. Beal thinks someone will pay a ransom. Tony has relatives in Philadelphia, but they’re not born yet. Doug promises to pay Beal back if he lets them go. No money, no friends; Beal orders them shot.
A boy, Armando Del Giddeo, is brought before Beal. He says he’s the nephew of the king of Spain. Who will pay a ransom. Beal is pleased. Doug asks Armando if he will guarantee their safety. Beal isn’t interested. Armando tells Beal to stop. Armando will need servants, if he’s to be taken care of like Beal said, and Beal will be busy with his ship. Beal agrees. Doug and Tony ask Armando where they are. He isn’t sure. As to when, it’s April 1805.
General Kirk is working late at Tik-Toc when Ann brings a Dr Ben Berkhart to see him. Kirk says he’s fine. From tomorrow, Kirk will be someone else’s problem; Ben is retiring. Ann has got a fix.
Doug and Tony wake up Armando that night to flee into the interior. Unfortunately, they’re on an island and are easily caught. Beal wants one of his men to kill them both slowly. They are fighting when another ship arrives, the Sheba Queen. At Tik-Toc, Ben arrives on his last day.
Doug and Tony are approached by Armando. According to Beal, two American naval boats are approaching. The Sheba Queen arrived to warn Beal. Tony wonders what the American navy is doing there. Doug tries to remember history and Tony says it’s the Barbary Coast War (actually, the First Barbary War; the line, ‘To the shores of Tripoli’, from the Marines’ Hymn of the USMC, refers to this war). They will shell the beaches. Doug and Tony are planning to take a dory out to sea to be rescued by the Americans when Beal’s mate, Hampton, arrives.
General Kirk wants the image turning off to save power. Ray has pinpointed the date to April 10th, 1805. Captain Stephan Decatur will fight a battle against a group of Barbary pirates on a small island stronghold, causing great destruction and loss of life.
Doug and Tony are set to work filling sandbags with Armando. They lure the two guards over and knock them down, escaping again. And, once again, are quickly caught. Doug and Tony are staked to the beach to be drowned by the rising tide. The naval ships shell the shore and the pirates are knocked down. Armando takes a sword and goers to cut Doug and Tony free. Only for them to be easily caught for a third time.
Dr Berkhart, who has never been seen before, is bemoaning the lack of job opportunities for 60-year-old doctors. When he mentions how many lives he could save back in 1805, it becomes pretty obvious what’s going to happen to him.
Though pretty much every episode opens on what appears to be a cliff-hanger, as Doug and Tony end up in trouble in the latest time period they’ve arrived in, this one is a bit different.