The Choice

Veteran lifeguard Jack ‘JD’ Darius was a rookie at Baywatch years ago, before moving to Daytona Beach. Now he’s back at Baywatch to apply for the vacant Lieutenant position. His competition is a smart, confident, and ambitious young woman, Taylor Walsh, who is also applying for the job with the recommendation of the Chief. Because of his absence, Mitch insists that JD go through qualifying tests with the rookies, so JD reluctantly joins them for pier rescue training with a dummy victim. Skylar, disoriented when she slips off the pier, gets caught in the current that drags her toward the pilings and has to use the dummy as a shield to keep from getting smashed against the pilings. Mitch sends JD in to help her out, but the situation brings on unpleasant memories of a pier rescue in Daytona that went wrong, resulting in the death of the young man he was trying to save. When JD freezes up, Newman has to come in and save Skylar.

Safe, but shaken, Skylar takes comfort from Mitch telling her she did everything right. JD speaks up and tells them that the decision to use the dummy as a shield is much harder when it is a real victim, but Mitch insists that a lifeguard must follow the book when making a rescue. Later, Sky asks JD why he froze in the water and he confides in her about his pier experience. Meanwhile Mitch, concerned with JD’s actions, calls JD’s old boss in Daytona to find out the real story. When Mitch confronts JD about the pier accident, JD gets angry and leaves Baywatch.

While JD is packing up his stuff to leave, he sees a fisherman in his boat get caught in the surf because his motor has broken down. JD breaks into an empty tower, calls in the accident to Baywatch, and rushes into the water to save the fisherman. When notified by headquarters, Mitch and Taylor respond.

As JD reaches the fisherman, the current is pulling them both towards the rocks. Breaking the rules, JD puts himself between the hazard and the victim, is knocked out, and sinks to the bottom. Mitch and Taylor reach the site and Mitch dives to find JD while Taylor goes to rescue the fisherman. JD is tangled up in his rescue can harness, and Mitch has to struggle to get him free. Although the fisherman escapes harm, JD isn’t breathing. The team watches anxiously as Mitch and Taylor perform CPR on JD.

Mitch finally has to make a tough decision about the Lieutenant position. Although JD has the experience and qualifications, he has lots to work out personally that make him a less viable candidate. Mitch needs someone he can count on, and the job goes to Taylor. In her first official act, Taylor hires JD as a Baywatch lifeguard.

Michael Berk
Executive Producer