Cornwall, 1786, hungry Mary Broad is sentenced to death for stealing a lady's picnic but 'mercifully' allowed to join for life first governor Phillip's founding shipload to start a penal colony at Botany Bay in New South Wales. On board, she fails to be recruited as 'comfort maid' by gentleman marine infantry Lieutenant Ralph Clarke, but gets the job to save her after near drowning, then loses it again by arrogance and becomes pregnant by male convict William 'Will' Bryant. Pioneer life is a relative relief, especially for able fisherman Will's privileged crew. Harvests are disastrous and Mary becomes Ralph's lover, but only to steal his key for Will's elaborate escape party preparations.

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The escapees' party has got away in one boat, ill-prepared, and after bitter bickering decides to risk sailing to the Dutch Indies. Despite lack of wind, they finally reach Timor. There they pretend to be shipwrecked rich Englishmen and live in luxury on credit for years. When lieutenant Clark passes the island on his way home, he discovers the escaped criminals. William is killed resisting arrest, the rest caught and put on trial in London. The public and press sympathize with the adventurers.

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In Timor, Mary and the other men enjoy the luxury of freedom under false identities. However, fate conspires against them as Clarke stops there on his way back to England.

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