Ep 1. Chasing the Dream

The show House of Bond follows the life of Australian business tycoon Alan Bond, recounting his rags-to-riches story and his eventual downfall. In the first episode of season 1, titled "Chasing the Dream," we are introduced to a young Alan Bond living in Perth, Western Australia in the 1950s.

Alan is depicted as a go-getter from a young age, unafraid of hard work and determined to make something of himself. We see him working at a gas station during the day and studying at night to obtain his high school certificate. He is driven by a desire to escape his humble beginnings and become a success.

Alan's first step towards achieving this dream is his move into real estate. He begins by buying cheap blocks of land in Western Australia, dividing them into smaller lots, and selling them at a profit. This enables him to accumulate enough capital to begin investing in more significant projects, such as hotels and shopping centers.

The episode also introduces us to some of the key people in Alan's life, including his close friend and business partner Peter Beckwith, as well as his wife Eileen and their growing family. We see Alan and Eileen's courtship and marriage, and witness her unwavering support for him throughout his business ventures.

As Alan's success grows, so does his ambition. He becomes fixated on winning the America's Cup, a prestigious sailing race that had never been won by an Australian team before. Alan makes it his mission to bring the cup home, pouring all of his energy and resources into building a world-class yacht and assembling a winning team.

The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Alan and his team setting sail to compete in the America's Cup. The viewer is left wondering whether they will be successful in their quest to make history and cement Alan's legacy as a true Australian hero.

Overall, the first episode of House of Bond sets the stage for an epic story about one man's rise to power and subsequent fall from grace. It is a compelling and dramatic portrayal of a complex figure who had a profound impact on Australian business and culture.