In 1650 on the Caribbean island of San Pietro, a pirate named Black Jack Savage (Steven Williams) is hanged. The ghost of Black Jack remains on the island and haunts his former residence, Blackbird Castle.
Over 300 years later, in New York City, billionaire Barry Tarberry (Daniel Hugh-Kelly), the owner of Tarberry Enterprises, is indicted for insider trading and stock fraud. While out on bail, Barry gathers his available assets and goes into exile on the island of San Pietro.
There he pays $300,000 to the island’s corrupt governor-general Herve Abel Vasquez (Bert Rosario), for immunity. Abel’s niece, Reya Montegro (Roya Megnot) – who runs Vasquez Realty for her uncle – sells Barry the haunted Blackbird Castle for $1,500,000.
The ghost of Black Jack Savage only appears to the current owner of Blackbird Castle, and Barry learns that Black Jack killed 100 people as a pirate and is now cursed to remain on Earth until he can save an equal number of lives to make up for those he took.
Jack’s spiritual guide, Larry (Scotty Gallin), advises Barry that he is also doomed to spend all of eternity in Hell for his bad deeds and so agrees with the ghost that they will form a partnership to save lives, splitting the credit and good karma for each life they save – 51% to Jack, 49% to Barry. It’s the only chance Barry has to save his soul, and it’s Jack’s only chance to find eternal peace.
Black Jack fears “Snarks” (ghostly creatures in a different dimension) – “Little Dirt Bags” that will send him to Hell if he leaves the castle. If the Snarks catch Jack, they can transport him to hell by bringing him to the roots of the tree where he was hanged (the roots lead to Hell).
Stories relate their bumbling efforts to save lives.
Assisting Barry and Jack (although he doesn’t know about Jack) is Logan “FX” Murphy (Steve Hytner), a brilliant scientist who once worked for the Pentagon as a defence specialist. He wears a NASA cap and carries a seven-ton generator in the back of his car to power his various inventions – including ‘The Blackbird’, a high-tech speedboat that Barry uses to battle crime (he hides the boat at a secret dock near the castle).
Each episode of this short-lived NBC series concluded with a tally of the number of lives left to save. By the time the series was cancelled, there were still 89 Lives left to save.
Barry Tarberry
Daniel Hugh-Kelly Black Jack Savage
Steven Williams Logan “FX” Murphy
Steve Hytner Danielle St. Clair
Roma Downey Governor-General Herve Abel Vasquez
Bert Rosario Reya Montegro
Roya Megnot Marla Lance
Mary Kay Adams
