The episode starts with a man named "Riptide" Roger Peltyn flying over the beach with his helicopter. He keeps bothering the lifeguards. He tells everyone about the fantasies he has about Donna, he calls J.D. the "Daytona pier hugger" and he bothers Newmie during his workout. Lt. Taylor Walsh watches everything on TV and gets upset. She storms out of headquarters and tries to force him to leave by waving her arms. Mitch sees this from the TV in the weight room and runs out to stop her. He knows that this is exactly what "Riptide" wants. Taylor tells Mitch that "Riptide" must have a spy at Baywatch. Otherwise he can't possibly know so much about the lifeguards.
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.