When Matt is out water-skiing, he sees a young woman being swept into the ocean. When he has rescued her, she tells him she lost all her money in the water and that she needed the money for her audition. She wants to become an actress. She introduces herself as Rachel Henderson, and Matt feels sorry for her and loans her $100.
This long-running series follows the adventures of a team of lifeguards on the crowded beaches of Los Angeles County. Veteran lifeguard Mitch Buchannon watches over the younger lifeguards that come and go with each passing season as they keep the beaches safe for vacationers. Frequently he must take action to save them from the raging seas and from the raging tempers that sometimes flare up between the young guards in this stressful job.