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This article contains the full transcript of the 7th TUGS episode 'High Tide':
[Open to a wide shot of a Bigg City Port in day time. Zebedee steams past the camera tows a barge. Sunshine steams pass him with a tramper in the opposite direction and Warrior, Zip and Izzy Gomez are stationary next to the pier.]
Narrator (told from Captain Star's POV):
- Bigg City Port never ceased working.
- [Cut to Little Owl reversing with a wagon down the track.]
- Operations carried out throughout the night were continued in the early mornings. [Cut to Zebedee pushing a barge past Izzy Gomez] Goods stacked high along the docksides were brought into port by road and by rail. [Cut to Izzy Gomez being unloaded. Cut to Little Owl pushing wagons over a bridge] The lorries and wagons were then reloaded with cargo from incoming tramp steamers, ferries and liners for delivery to inland cities and towns. [Cut to Little Owl pushing waggons past a tramper and a conveyor belt loading a barge with coal] Everyone and every method of transport played a part in moving goods into and out of the port. The work of our tugs was an important link in the chain. It was nonstop and round the clock. The life blood of the whole operation was coal. Without this dirty stuff, industry would have ground to a halt.
- [Scene cuts to O.J., Top Hat, Warrior and Sunshine next to the Star Tugs & Marine Co. building waiting to be briefed. Big Mac pulls up alongside them, covered in coal dust.]
- On this very busy day, Big Mac arrived at the briefing having worked all night.
Top Hat: You know, it never fails to amaze me. Every day I see something new. Today it's the sight of a floating sack of coal, no less.
[O.J., Top Hat, Warrior and Sunshine laugh.]
Big Mac: If you’d been shifting coal, you’d be dirty!
Top Hat: [sniffs] At least you don't smell. That’s something.
[O.J., Top Hat, Warrior and Sunshine laugh again.]
Big Mac: Look here, Top Hat…
Warrior: Course he don't smell, Top Hat. Coal don't have a smell.
Top Hat: I know it doesn’t, Warrior, but he could get a hose down before coming to join us. We Star Tugs have a reputation to keep up. Even you, Warrior, after a day in the garbage yards don't look too scruffy.
Warrior: Oh.
Big Mac: All you worry about is keeping that piece of glass in your eye clean!
Top Hat: Not only my monocle, all of me!
Big Mac: Course you always get out of nasty jobs, don’t you!
Captain Star: Alright, alright, cut the back chat. [O.J., Top Hat, Warrior and Sunshine laugh] At least one Star tug's already been working.
Top Hat: Well, we can see that!
Captain Star: Yeah that's enough, Top Hat. You go and stretch your neck with car ferry duties, then take the garbage barge to the city dump.
Warrior: That’ll be nice for ya (you).
Top Hat: Garbage? Me? Do I have to put up with this?
Big Mac: I have to put up with you, Top Hat!
Warrior: Yeah!
Captain Star: Top Hat, why do I always have an argument with you? Now move out. Come on.
Top Hat: Yes, Sir. I do apologize. I’m so sorry.
Warrior: Bye, Top Hat.
Top Hat: But I don't see why...
Big Mac: Get on with it!
Top Hat: Ah well, here it goes. [Sets off] Really, some people are so tiresome.
Sunshine: (Chuckles) You know, to be fair to him, he does work as hard as we do really.
O.J.: We know, it's just his attitude gets too much sometimes.
Captain Star: O.J., load up the new propeller from Lucky's Yard and take it to the liner in dry dock. Sunshine, Ten Cents needs your help over at the storage depot. When you've finished go and help O.J.
[Sunshine sets off.]
O.J.: Don’t waste any time, Sunshine. I'll need all the help I can get with that propeller.
[He sets off.]
Sunshine: Okay, O.J. We’ll be there.
Captain Star: Warrior, Big Mac, your job's the most important. You know we're competing for the Steel Company's contract. Show that Star Tugs can handle big steel loads better that Z-Stacks. Warrior, see that you get your loads across the bay without any mishaps. Be careful, don’t forget it's a very high tide today. Don't try anything rash. Off you go.
Big Mac: Right, quick washdown. Then we'll show those Z-Stacks, eh Warrior.
Warrior: Yeah, we will. I'll hose you down as we travel along, Big Mac. That'll save a bit of time, eh. (Chuckles)
[Cut to Ten Cents and Sunshine outside the Melon Produce Company. Lots of crates are floating on the surface due to the high tide flooding the quayside.]
Narrator: It was a high tide, highest in years. Ten Cents and Sunshine found the quayside flooded, and they would have to work twice as hard to rescue their barge load. [Scene cuts to Big Mickey loading up barges at the Steel Company] On the other side of the harbour, the Steel Company was preparing for its move to its new works across the bay. Big Mickey was the yard's biggest crane. [Cut to shot of a high steel rig on a barge. The camera moves back to reveal Zebedee is attached to this barge and Zak is next to him with a low load] He had just finished placing a very tall and heavy bridge section onto a barge. It was now loaded and ready to move off. The Z-Stacks were in charge of this operation.
[Zebedee and Zak hear Big Mac's hooter.]
Zak: Well, well, well, the Star Tugs. [Big Mac (who is now clean) and Warrior come into view] 'Ere, what time do you call this, eh? You needn't have bothered. There's no work for you. We've got it all sewn up.
Zebedee: Yeah. You said it, Zak.
Big Mac: We've as much right to go for this contract as you have.
Zak: Think you'll do a better job, big mouth? You ain't got no chance. Three against one, see. No chance.
Warrior: What d'you mean three against one? There's only two of ya (you).
Zebedee: Well, you don’t do much 'cept get in the way, Warrior. So, we count you on our side. Can't stop here all day. We've work to do.
Zak: So long, losers! (Laughs)
[His engine makes spluttering noises as he and Zebedee set off.]
Big Mac: Zak's engine doesn't sound too healthy, Warrior. [Reverses over to Big Mickey] Hey, Big Mickey, how about a real fast load up?
Big Mickey: I'm ready for you. I heard what they said. Hope you beat them to it.
Big Mac:
- We will, no problem.
- [Scene fades to him and Warrior preparing to leave. Big Mac is towing a low load and Warrior is towing a high steel rig identical to the one Zebedee was pulling.]
- You be careful, Warrior. That's some high load you've got there. Just take it easy. We'll catch those Z-Stacks, you see if we don't!
Big Mickey: You're all loaded up, guys. Good luck.
[Big Mac and Warrior set off.]
Big Mac: You can bet on it. Thanks, Big Mickey.
[Scene cuts to Big Mac and Warrior out in the harbour. Cut to Zebedee and Zak stopped near the entrance to the canal. Smoke is billowing from Zak's engine. Big Mac and Warrior are visible nearby in the background.]
Zebedee: Told you about your engine, Zak. You should've had it seen to.
Zak: Nothing wrong with it! Anyway, I've got an idea to fool those two. Listen, if we cut through the canal we'll get there first. Got to. If they follow us, they can't get past because it's not wide enough, right?
Zebedee: Brilliant, I don't know how you do it. Hey, let's go. Wait till we tell Captain Zero how we beat them.
[Cut to Big Mac and Warrior.]
Big Mac:
- See, we're catching them.
- [He and Warrior notice Zebedee and Zak heading towards the canal.]
- Hello, what are they up to?
Warrior: They're heading for the canal.
Big Mac: I know that. That's it, they're taking a shortcut!
Warrior: Alright, we'll follow 'em.
Big Mac: No we won't. They won't get through. It's high tide.
Warrior: So what?
Big Mac: Bridges, Warrior. Bridges.
Warrior: So what?
Big Mac: High tide, high load.
[Cut to brief shot of Little Owl pulling wagons over a bridge crossing the canal.]
Warrior: Oh yeah, bridges!
Big Mac: 10 out of 10! They won't get that load under, will they? Let them go. They'll have to come back, and we'll be out of sight.
[Scene cuts to Puffa crossing the railway bridge over the canal with a passenger train.]
Narrator:
- Several bridges spanned across the canal, the lowest one carried the railway. [Cut to shot of Zebedee heading down the canal] The Z-Stacks hadn't connected their tall load with the tide, the highest of the season. [Cut to shot of Top Hat heading towards the other entrance of the canal, with Frank on his starboard side, Eddie on his port side, and Lord Stinker in front of him] Top Hat was coming towards them from the opposite direction, with a wide load, as well as the garbage barge. [Cut to shot of Zak heading down the canal] There was no way the Z-Stacks and the Star Tugs could pass each other.
- [Cut to shot of Top Hat, Lord Stinker, Frank and Eddie near the railway bridge.]
- When they did come face to face someone was going to have to go back the way they came. They would first see each other at the bend leading to the railway bridge, which had the lowest arch over the canal. Top Hat stopped when he saw the Z-Stacks.
Top Hat:
- Go into reverse, if you please! It's my water!
- [Cut to brief shot of Zebedee and Zak near the railway bridge. Puffa crosses the bridge with a passenger train and blows his whistle.]
- I repeat, it is my water!
Zak: We're heavier!
Top Hat: My load is wider!
Zebedee: You've 5 seconds to back up!
Top Hat: Right, well, so have you then!
Zak: Right, 5!
Eddie: They mean it, Top Hat.
Top Hat: I am coming through! [Cut to brief close up of Frank] 4!
Zebedee: So am I! 3!
Top Hat: We'll see! 2!
Zak:
- 1!
- [Cut to close up of Zebedee's stern, the water churns as he revs his engine.]
- Get to the bridge fast, Zeb, and you’ve got him!
Zebedee: Watch my wake! That Star's met his match!
Narrator: Both Zebedee and Top Hat put on full power and surged forwards towards each other and the bridge.
Lord Stinker: Top Hat, look at his load.
[Cut to shot of the steel rig getting closer to the bridge.]
Top Hat: He's going to hit! Hold on, I'm going into reverse!
Lord Stinker: Oh!
Eddie: Oh help!
Zebedee: He's backing off! Didn't I tell ya (you), Zak?
Zak:
- Didn't even make a fight of it!
- [He starts laughing (but immediately stops when he looks up at the railway bridge).]
- Oh no. I see why now. The bridge, Zeb! Reverse engines, quick!
Zebedee:
- Oh no, I can't stop!
- [The steel rig hits the bridge.]
- Oh no! Oh help!
[A section of the bridge falls as Zebedee manages to stop.]
Top Hat: That's real Zero thinking, dummy!
Zebedee: I suppose Zak and I better go and get some help.
[As he and Zak set off Puffa's whistle can be heard in the distance. Scene cuts to Puffa chugging down the line with a mail train. Scene cuts back to the railway bridge and Puffa's whistle can be heard in the distance again.]
Top Hat: That’s a mail train, isn't it? [Looks up at the railway bridge] Oh dear, the bridge! It's... It's... Wait a minute! I've got it! If I can get that steel rig under the bridge, maybe it'll hold while the train gets across. It's worth a try.
Lord Stinker: Don't waste time cutting me free. Take me with you.
Top Hat: You'll take that risk, Stinker?
[He unties Frank and Eddie, and pushes Lord Stinker towards the bridge.]
Lord Stinker: Course I will, it's only rubbish.
[Scene cuts to brief shot of Puffa. Cut back to Top Hat pushing Lord Stinker next to the barge with the steel rig.]
Narrator: Top Hat's idea was to try and prop up the bridge, if he could get the steel rig into place before the train got there. [Cut to shot of Puffa getting closer to the bridge] It was signalled through, so there was no way anybody could stop it!
[A rope is attached between Lord Stinker and the barge with the steel rig, and Top Hat pulls back as hard as he can.]
Top Hat: Pull!
Narrator: The bridge was weakened by the accident. Top Hat could only hope his idea would work. There was no way of warning the train!
Top Hat: [gets the steel rig into place just in time. Cut to Puffa rolling on to the bridge (whistling loudly). Puffa slowly goes over the damaged section of the bridge and reaches the other side safely] Phew! That was lucky!
Lord Stinker: Well done, Top Hat. You saved the...
[At that moment the steel rig starts to keel over.]
Top Hat:
- Oh! Look out!
- [The steel rig crashes into the water.]
- This is terrible!
- [The bridge starts breaking apart. Little Owl's whistle is heard in the distance.]
- Oh no! I know that whistle!
Eddie: It's the goods train!
[Cut to shot of Little Owl pulling the goods train. Scene cuts to the bridge collapsing, and sparking with the rails leading into the water. Scene cuts back to Little Owl getting closer to the bridge. Scene cuts back to Top Hat.]
Top Hat: We can't save this one! It's impossible!
Lord Stinker: No it’s not. Push me under the end of that rail, quick!
Top Hat:
- What? Oh yes, I see! I get the idea! Right!
- [He turns Lord Stinker round so that his front-end faces towards the tracks]
- If this doesn't work, you'll be in danger yourself, Stinker!
Lord Stinker: I know, don't remind me! Just get me under the end of that rail!
[He is placed into position at the end of the tracks. Little Owl rolls onto the bridge, slides down the tracks and lands safely in Lord Stinker's hull, while the rest of the train tumbles down into the canal.]
Top Hat: It's worked, Stinker! You're a smelly old genius, nothing less!
Eddie: Hmm, took some brain to save that train.
Lord Stinker: Oh, I say!
Top Hat: I'll never complain about your smell again!
Lord Stinker: Rubbish can be valuable stuff!
[Cut to Ten Cents and Sunshine outside the Melon Produce Company. The tide has subsided and the sun is beginning to set.]
Ten Cents: Cor! Yeah well, that's been a hard day. But we're all cleared up now.
Sunshine: Yep. I bet everybody else had a really easy day waiting for the tide to go down.
Ten Cents: Yeah. Yeah, I bet Top Hat delivered Lord Stinker, then moored up somewhere quiet.
Sunshine: Yeah. Somehow, he always manages to take it nice and easy.
[Cut to the canal the following morning. Mighty Mo lifts the steel rig out of the water. The camera pulls back to show Zebedee and Zak are also helping to clear up the mess.]
Narrator: Next day, work started on the bridge. There was no serious damage to the goods engine and its wagons were easily recovered from the canal. The Steel Company weren't pleased with the damage the Z-Stacks had done to their steel rig. However, it came out alright in the end. The Steel Company got the contract for repairing the bridge and I had no difficulty into convincing them that my Star Tugs should get the contract for delivering the steel.
THE END