Island in the Sun

On the fictional Caribbean island of Santa Marta, the four couples and their unequal relationships expose the social divide between the white ruling class and the native population. Maxwell Fleury wrestles with an inferiority complex, Sylvia's jealousy, and the allure of Euan, Jocelyn's suitor. The stage is set for romance, ambition, and hidden rivalries to play out over the spring.

During a quarrel, Maxwell strangles Hilary Carson and attempts to cover his crime as a robbery. The act stems from Maxwell's paranoia about his wife's fidelity and his need to prove himself. He then tries to hide the murder, setting off a murder investigation.

Colonel Whittingham, the island's cautious police chief, investigates the apparent robbery turned murder. He drops hints to Maxwell and connects the crime to crime and punishment motifs from Dostoevsky. The case tightens the net around Maxwell as the truth edges closer.

A visiting American journalist, Bradshaw, writes an exposé confirming Maxwell's paternal grandmother was part black. The revelation becomes a political weapon that threatens Maxwell's carefully curated image. The story lands during Maxwell's campaign on Santa Marta.

At a campaign rally, Maxwell publicly embraces his newfound mixed-race identity, seeking to connect with voters on equality. The black crowd is egged on by David Boyeur and jeers erupt as his rhetoric backfires. The moment exposes the fragility of his political stance across the island.

Humiliated by the crowd, Maxwell renounces his black heritage and lashes out at everyone there. The reversal marks a pivotal turn away from his previous posture and toward a more desperate resolve. The incident deepens his isolation and foreshadows his downfall.

Jocelyn learns she is pregnant by Euan, complicating her plans for marriage and status. She contemplates the hurdles posed by social expectations and her own future. The pregnancy becomes a source of tension for both families.

Jocelyn's mother reveals that her father was not Julian Fleury but a white Englishman, altering Jocelyn's lineage and social standing. The revelation reshapes Jocelyn's prospects and the meaning of family on the island. It further complicates Euan's path to marriage and legitimacy.

Cornered by Whittingham, Maxwell confronts his fate and contemplates suicide before deciding to surrender to the police. His decision marks the collapse of his plans and the end of his bid for power. The breaking man faces the consequences of his past actions.

Jocelyn and Euan wed, then board a plane to England for a new life. Margot and Denis also marry and follow, heading to their own life abroad. The island's characters are sent toward distant futures as colonial ties and social barriers remain unresolved.

Mavis Norman presses forward with her campaign to be serious with David Boyeur, hoping for political and romantic alignment. David's response is cautious and rooted in racial and societal constraints. The mismatch underscores the collision between personal desire and collective identity on the island.

David rejects Mavis's advances, insisting he must remain within his own race to be accepted by his people. He walks back to town alone as dusk settles over Santa Marta, leaving Mavis to face the consequences of the moment. The scene closes with a quiet, poignant ending for their relationship.