River of No Return

Written by Michael Berk


A relative’s mysterious drowning death finds Mitch, Hobie, Eddie, and Shauni traveling to California’s gold country for a whitewater rafting adventure they’ll never forget.


When Mitch learns that his eccentric Uncle Alex drowned while mining on the American River in Northern California’s gold country, he takes a brief vacation to settle the affairs of the crusty old prospector. Eddie and Shauni accompany him in hopes of resolving their relationship–Eddie’s impending year abroad in the Australian lifeguard exchange program–and the possibility that Shauni might be pregnant.


A local sheriff leads Mitch and the gang through Alex’s ransacked cabin, but has no clues as to how he drowned–he only knows that his body was washed into “The Devil’s Mouth,” an underground river at the foot of treacherous rapids. Atattered will leaves only more mystery, bequeathing to Mitch a valued treasure map at “the secret spot,” a spot of which Mitch has no recollection. Hobie can’t wait to find what he’s convinced is buried gold treasure, and everyone heads to the river for a day of whitewater rafting. To Mitch’s surprise, their river guide is CJ Parker, a stunningly beautiful ex- Baywatch lifeguard who followed her heartbreaking boyfriend to gold country.


At Baywatch headquarters, rookie lifeguard hopefuls are participating in the annual qualifying swim. They include Matt Brody, Malibu Colony rich kid and son of Hollywood superproducer Aaron Brody. Matt hopes to become a lifeguard and get out from under his father’s shadow. Also competing is East Coast swimming standout and Malibu newcomer Summer Quinn, who has moved west along with her mother Jackie, a struggling singer/songwriter. Together, they want to start a new life far away from Jackie’s abusive ex-boyfriend jed, who has secretly followed them cross-country.


Back up north, Mitch and the others set off downriver and enjoy the thrills and spills of whitewater rafting. When they eddy out to a campsite that looks familiar to Mitch, he rediscovers “the secret spot” and unearths a treasure map. Mitch and the others are ecstatic-but unknown to them, evil dredgers Lonny and Drew lurk nearby and hatch a murderous plot to steal the map!

Written by Michael Berk
A whitewater rafting vacation turns deadly when Mitch, Hobie, Eddie, Shauni and CJ are pursued by murderous miners in California’s gold country.
After escaping death at the hands of the dredgers and navigating Class V river rapids without paddles, Mitch, Hobie, Eddie, Shauni and Cj doggedly pull their raft ashore and catch their breath. Shauni’s brush with death convinces Eddie to propose marriage, but Shauni reveals to Eddie that she’s not pregnant after all, and that he doesn’t have to marry her. Undaunted, Eddie affirms his love for Shauni, and in a tearful scene, insists that he wants to marry her and bring her with him to Australia. Shauni accepts, and they tell the others, but their shining moment is cut short when Hobie suddenly yells out that he’s discovered one of the clues written on the map. Together, the group starts searching the area. Eventually, they come upon a hidden underground crypt, and Mitch is lowered down 60 feet to the bottom.


Inside, Mitch discovers a number of artifacts, but most importantly, the “boot.” He rapidly sends the huge gold nugget up to the others and begins to climb back topside, when Lonny and Drew reappear and claim the nugget at gunpoint. Eddie, Shauni, Hobie and CJ are helpless to act as Lonny seals Mitch in the crypt, ordering them into a raft at gunpoint, and sending them towards The Devil’s Mouth.

Back at headquarters, rookie contenders Summer Quinn and Matt Brody wait in line with hundreds of other qualifying swim participants. Suddenly, Jed appears and threatens Summer. Matt and his friend come to Summer’s defense, but Jed is obsessed, and vows that he’ll be back. Making good on his boast, he reappears a few hours later at Summer and Jackie’s trailer, and attempts to ram it off a cliff with his pickup. Matt, on his way to visit Summer, arrives just in time to prevent a tragedy, and he and Summer become fast friends. Later in the action-packed qualifying swim, they both make the cut, as does CJ, whom Mitch has convinced to come back to Baywatch.

Nearby, Eddie and Shauni exchange wedding vows in an intimate beachside ceremony. As Mitch and Hobie look on, the young lovers say “I do” and make plans to move to Australia to start their life together as man and wife.

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