The loss of her mother at a very young age left a lasting mark on Gretl. This is her story of how she finally overcame her loss.

A senior, majoring in education at the University of Vienna is persuaded to fill in for a friend who is a governess to seven children.

Georg von Trapp, a navy man could use these words to describe his life. This is Georg's story. His life has had more downs than normal. He feels cursed. He wonders how his latest crisis is going to end.

Against the backdrop of the impending German Anschluss a dismissed postulant comes to the home of the SS Battleship von Trapp. Neither the postulant nor the ship's captain has recognized their destiny. In this confusion is a sixteen year old girl who seizes the opportunity to forge a motherly-like relationship with this young woman who has arrived on board their floundering ship.