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Munitions

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"A little wakewasher like you doesn't tell me what to do."
— Hercules to Bluenose

Munitions is the fifth episode of TUGS.

Plot

The towing in and replenishing of naval munitions vessels is a difficult and dangerous task. One such vessel, the naval tramper Kraka-Toa is towed into the Old Docks by Hercules. The journey from the base up the coast had been rough and worse for Hercules, Bluenose the officious naval tug is in Bigg City Port watching over the Kraka-Toa’s stay. Bluenose attempts to give Hercules a series of orders, but is just reminded Hercules is under Captain Star’s jurisdiction. Hercules pushes Bluenose aside and goes for a rest at the Coal Depot.

While passing O.J., he tells Hercules that Bluenose has also shouted at him over the position of some buoys. Just before Hercules leaves, O.J. points out the Kraka-Toa’s grim task; taking munitions and fuel on board at the same time. After Bluenose shouts at O.J. again, the paddler comments what he thought since he was a young tug that tugs should “work together and not fight each other”. Bluenose then attempts to order the Fire Chief about, but is unsuccessful.

At the Star Dock, Captain Star tells his tugs that they would be doing jobs for the Navy. Top Hat isn't too thrilled about it, because it meant Bluenose would be around and he would bark orders at them. Upriver, the Z-Stacks are collecting explosives from the Munitions Factory for Kraka-Toa. It’s a dangerous operation but worth a great deal of money to Captain Zero. Zorran is put in charge of making sure Zebedee and Zak run on schedule and don’t make any risky mistakes, including letting Bluenose order them about. Bluenose is also delivering a barge of fuel barrels to Kraka-Toa and en route, he scrapes Ten Cents' brand-new petrol barge, bragging to the switcher about how “above” him he is. Once he leaves, Ten Cents mutters to himself Bluenose is worse than the Z-Stacks.

Night falls. At the Old Dock, Big Mickey and Kraka-Toa are surrounded by barges filled with munitions, explosives and fuel. With the help of dock lights, Big Mickey is transferring the last of the munitions from Zorran’s barge to Kraka-Toa after the other Z-Stacks' barges have been unloaded. No issues have occurred until the dreaded arrival of Bluenose. He demands to be unloaded first, but Big Mickey continues his assignment. Ten Cents is after Zorran in the schedule. Ignoring every warning from O.J. and showing no care about taking dangerous risks, Bluenose steams through and attempts to shove Zorran’s barge out of the dock, knocking off one of the barrels on a barge and starting a fire in the process. Ten Cents, O.J, Zorran, Zebedee, and Zak are put in peril, and quickly back away from the flames, while Bluenose's engine fails. Risking his life, Ten Cents bravely tows him to safety. The fire expands with continuous explosions to Kraka-Toa’s freight and Big Mickey’s dock. Big Mickey rotates to get clear of the tugs and his dock collapses, sending him sinking into the sea bed. While grateful for Big Mickey, the tugs are left with an exploding dockside. O.J. reminds everyone that the Fire Tug will come, but Zak remarks the Fire Tug may not be enough to fight the entire burning tramper.

In the city, Top Hat is towing Frank and Eddie. They see the lights of the fire from the Railhead and think it’s a dockside celebration. While they argue over who’d be invited, the Fire Chief and Sunshine pass by telling Top Hat to tie off his barges to help out with the fire. But Top Hat complains he can't right now and has his hands tied with Frank and Eddie and threatens them that he'll set fire on their tracks if they don't do what he tells them to do.

Back at the Old Dock, Kraka-Toa's aft hull has blown up and the fire is spreading throughout the dockyard, leaving the tugs helpless. Puffa is standing nearby and the tugs alert him of the fire just in the nick of time. However, after Puffa evacuates, the Star Line petrol barge catches fire. Ten Cents goes to take it out to sea before it can explode and take out all the tugs.

Meanwhile, Warrior is pulling Lord Stinker to the dump dock. Then Lord Stinker points out the light flickering in the distance. And reminds him of the old saying "Red Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight." But Warrior reminds him that the sun already went down and the light is at the north rather than the west. Then he thinks of only one reason why there's flickering lights: fire. So he sets off and leaves Lord Stinker behind. Sunshine and the Fire Chief finally arrive at the Old Dock and set to work fighting the fire. With the arrival of Warrior, the Fire Chief orders him to contain the fire spreading to the Oil Yard. The Z-Stacks think Warrior will fail. Warrior is hit square in the face by a bit of debris and Sunshine struggles to stop the spreading fire with his fire barge. Eventually, the Fire Chief orders Warrior to move out, but he refuses to. He is looking after Puffa, who has been badly stung. So the Fire Chief has Zorran help out to save Kraka-Toa. Even though Zorran thinks the fire barge he is given may not be much help.

Ten Cents makes it out to sea with the petrol barge, with each moment getting deadlier. The blistering tanker is now starting to smoke and ready to go off. Ten Cents starts reversing, but the petrol barge explodes. The sight reaches as far as the Old Dock. Sunshine is concerned for Ten Cents, but is ordered to stay put by O.J.

The burning Kraka-Toa starts to capsize. All hope of saving her is lost, and the Fire Chief orders everyone to get clear. The naval tramper is completely destroyed by her dangerous freight and with one final blast from her smokestack, she keels over. O.J. surveys the state of the Old Dock in complete ruins, but the Fire Chief finds it nothing compared to how far the fire could have spread without Sunshine and Warrior's efforts containing it. Top Hat finally arrives after deliberately putting his own job first, and mockingly laments that he was too late to save the day. The Z-Stacks mock his selfishness in return.

The next morning, Ten Cents has not returned and is assumed lost. Before everyone can salute the brave tug, a familiar whistle is heard in the near distance and Ten Cents appears out of the fog, covered from stem to stern in soot and burn marks. Ten Cents explains how he was immobilized due to the explosion flooding his engine and that Grampus towed him to safety. Grampus tows a disgraced Bluenose away, who had come out of seeing the fire he caused traumatized.

Deleted Material

Early Writing Stages

Early during the development stages for episode ideas, the plot of the episode would've had a munitions barge hitting a dock, causing a huge fire to start along the water front engulfing piers and docks. The fire tugs and fire engines try to fight the fire, but to little effect. It's decided to create a fire break by blowing up the Star Dock with Ten Cents and his crew sent in to lay the charges. The other Star Tugs who've been helping to pull barges and people away from the fire are dismayed to see their dock suddenly explode. When the fire is put out, Captain Star gives a motivating speech to his tugs; "There is no time to rest, get yourselves hosed down - I've bought out the next two log floes which need bringing down from the timberline and the lumber yards. We are going to come out on top."

Later on, during the early scripting stages, the plot would seem to have been largely the same. This time, specifying that the accident was caused by minor carelessness at the Munitions Factory, and needing to stop the fire before it heads to the city.

In the latest version of the story known pre-filming, due to the pompous attitude of the Navy and carelessness of a harbor tug, a Naval Supply Ship explodes, setting fire to the Naval and old docksides of the city. Sunshine bravely saves a ferry from being engulfed in flames, and Top Hat bravely saves the city from the threat of a burning gasoline barge. With the fire under control, the Star Tugs mourn the loss of Ten Cents, who was caught in an explosion at the Estuary moving an oil barge. The air is suddenly filled with joyful whistles as a blackened and battered Ten Cents steams into his berth.

Unresolved Storylines

In the episode, there are a handful of story elements that never quite get followed up on.

In the 20 minute version of the episode, Captain Star's ending narration mentions O.J. playing a contributing factor in the events leading to the fire "Bluenose was right in his way as were Ten Cents and O.J. were right in there's, but common sense from all three would've prevented the fire starting". Earlier on in the episode as well, O.J. can be seen setting up marker buoys near the old dock area, which Captain Star also mentions. Also during Captain Star's briefing, he warns the tugs to not use any shortcuts and to "-use the official entry. You all know the Navy." It's been theorized that these two elements were expanded upon in an extended version of the episode, but were cut out when they edited the 20 minute cut.

There is also the odd detail of Captain Star saying that the Star Tugs are to be taking the munitions, the ammunition, equipment, weapons, and that the Z-Stacks are carrying the explosives, despite none of the Star Tugs at the briefing ever seen taking any. Right after saying this, he assigns the tugs jobs that have nothing to do with the Navy with the exception of Ten Cents, Warrior, Top Hat, Sunshine, and Big Mac. It's speculated that this may have been an leftover detail from earlier drafts of the script that was overlooked during the various revision stages.

Characters

Locations

Cast

Trivia

  • Like some other episodes such as Regatta, Munitions would face some slight changes and cuts between what was originally filmed and what was released. Various lines in this episode appear to lead to nothing as well as get no payoff (such as the unexplained risk of using the shortcut instead of the official entry and who from the Star Fleet delivered the munitions to the Kraka-Toa).
    • In addition, it’s believed that O.J. originally had a larger role where he would end up contributing to the events leading to the fire, which is hinted at by Captain Star's ending narration in the 20 minute cut, grouping O.J. in with Ten Cents and Bluenose "Bluenose was right in his way as were Ten Cents and O.J. were right in there's", "But common sense from all three would've prevented the fire starting".
  • The 20-minute cut includes a briefing at the Star Dock, Zorran and O.J. arguing with Bluenose at the Old Dock, Top Hat disobeying the Fire Chief to argue with Frank and Eddie, Warrior and Lord Stinker seeing the fire from the Garbage Yard and Zorran being brought in to help contain the fire.
  • This episode features the only named appearance of Kraka-Toa.
  • The original name of this episode was "The Bigg Bang".[1]
  • The scene of Zorran's barge catching fire uses a close-up model of a barge, as it would've been difficult to film a fire in such a small model.
  • A deleted scene from High Tide is used.
  • Big Mac does not appear in the 15 minute cut.
  • This episode marks Big Mickey, the Fire Tug, and Eddie's first speaking roles.
  • This episode marks Frank's first and only speaking role.
  • This episode marks Bluenose's last appearance
  • The following scenes were either removed or altered in the 15 minute cut:
    • Much of the dialogue in the episode is shortened.
    • Captain Star narrates some extra scenes which are not in the VHS version.
    • During Hercules' conversation with Bluenose, the word jurisdiction is replaced with orders.
    • O.J.'s comments on Bluenose after he passes him are slightly shortened.
    • Alternate music is played as Bluenose leaves the Fire Station, transitioning into the opening cue of the Munitions Factory scene.
    • Zorran's line as he leaves the Munitions Factory is not only shortened (but rerecorded);
      • 20 Minute Cut: "Eat your heart out Star Stacks. This trip's worth twenty garbage barges, ferry trips or girder tows. If we don't get blown up. Right easy does it."
      • 15 Minute Cut: "Eat your heart out Star Tugs. Right easy does it."
    • The shot of Bluenose passing the Coast Guard Dock, calling out to Ten Cents is removed. As a result, the fade between this shot and Zorran leaving the Munitions Factory is also removed.
    • Bluenose's exchange with Ten Cents is shortened, removing lines where Bluenose makes threats to Ten Cents.
    • The shot of the Fire Chief and Sunshine passing by Top Hat is extended. Both of their lines calling to Top Hat is also rerecorded.
    • In the 15 minute cut, music is heard in the background during the fire but only various bits of the music is heard in the VHS version such as when Kraka-Toa finally sinks.
    • Captain Star has two different ending messages:
      • 20 Minute Cut: "The accident was caused by a few hasty words, and bad tempers. Orders may be orders but they don't supersede common sense. Bluenose was right in his way, as were Ten Cents and O.J. right in theirs. But common sense from all three would have prevented the fire starting. Always respect fire. If you don't, it will destroy you, your surroundings, and your friends."
      • 15 Minute Cut: "That all happened because of a few hasty words and bad tempers. Orders may be orders but they blinded Bluenose from using simple common sense, and from keeping level headed. So a tiny incident grew into a big disaster, and the old dock was left in ruins. We should have the greatest respect for fire. Just think what might have happened to Ten Cents and his friends just because Bluenose didn't."
  • Whereas with other episodes, in which the crew aimed to conclude filming by 15 days, the filming process of Munitions was delayed by 4 weeks. Former TUGS model-maker Jeremy King was asked by the Sodor Island Forums some details about filming this episode; "Ross King supervising the explosion of lots of wax and balsa scenery for about 4 weeks. Fireballs were petrol and rubber dust mixed with black powder. Terry over-cranking the camera as much as he could". When asked if the pyrotechnics were a problem in the studio, he replied "No. We opened the doors to clear the air and kept going!".
  • According to Chris Tulloch and Jeremy King, the bit of debris that hits Warrior during one of the explosions wasn’t in the script. Editor Phil Sanderson noticed the piece hit Warrior during post-production and had the ingenious idea to add a sound effect as well as an additional line of Warrior exclaiming about being hit.[2]
  • The wagon Puffa was pulling was originally used in the second season of Thomas & Friends. This wagon is based on a Lynton and Barnstaple railway open wagon.
  • Events from High Tide are mentioned in the 20 minute cut of the episode.
  • Although Munitions was broadcast in 1989, the 20 minute cut was released on VHS in 1988.
  • In front of the Coast Guard in the opening scene, a wagon reading 'STAR' can be seen, a possible link to The Star Fleet.
  • The shot of Hercules towing Kraka-Toa into port is one of the scenes used for episode title cards in the finalized opening credits. A deleted scene of Hercules towing Kraka-Toa into port was also shown in the opening sequence of the episode Sunshine.
  • Fire Tug's first speaking role.
  • The Munitions logo was later seen in the Thomas & Friends Series 5 episode (Toby's Discovery).
  • The klaxon sound was later used in the Thomas & Friends Series 24 episode (Emily to the Rescue).
  • Most of the explosion sound effects originally came from various films between 1950's and the early 2000's and in some of the Gerry Anderson television shows including Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90 and Terrahawks.
  • The sound of Puffa's wheels slipping when he tired to move originally came from the film "The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery" when the girl students stopped an Austerity tank engine to collect the goods van with the stolen money from the gang of robbers.
  • The plot of the episode is most likely inspired by the real world event known as the "Black Tom Explosion" when the Johnson Barge No. 17 was sabotaged by German spies and exploded in New Jersey port whilst carrying 100,000 lbs of munitions, detonating even more explosives on the quayside.
  • Going by production order, this is the eighth episode of the series.
  • There's debate as to whenever or not Big Mickey survived his fall. In the airing order of the series, High Tide comes after Munitions, both of which feature Big Mickey. The Star Briefing in the episode being cut from the aired 15 minute cut however may imply the episode order was changed between filming and airing. This seems to be support by the later 15 minute version having narration absent from the original 20 minute version, which has added additional dialogue from Captain Star assuring the audience of Big Mickey's survival. Big Mickey can also be seen appearing in the background of several episodes, but at Lucky's Yard instead of the Steelworks. Some speculate this may be a different crane, others think that it is Big Mickey.
  • At one point the writers of Tugs sketched out a direct sequel to "Munitions" called "Rebuild," which would have depicted the Tugs rebuilding the dockside after the munitions fire, with the pressure and exhaustion causing conflict among the Star Tugs.[3] The concept appears to have not made it past the initial story sketching pages, as a full synopsis was never written.


Goofs

  • Captain Star says that the Z-Stacks were upriver at the munitions factory but they are near across from the Liner Dock in the first two shots of the factory. This is due to these shots being reused footage from a deleted scene in High Tide.
  • Despite being stated as being located upriver, the munitions factory itself appears as a background building during shots of Ten Cents, O.J. and Bluenose spectating the fire.
  • When Top Hat turns his head and asks Warrior: "Me?! How could you suggest such a thing?" his monocle falls off, although this may have been intended for comedic effect.
  • It’s never told in the episode who delivered the munitions to the Kraka-Toa since each Star Tug was given a different job for the day, related or unrelated to the Navy.
  • Though the Star Oil Barge was shown to be catching on fire when the dock Puffa had been stationed spreads its flames towards it, earlier shots from the moment the initial Kraka-Toa fire starts show the Star Oil Barge is already ablaze.
  • When Big Mickey falls into the water multiple goofs are present. For a frame, a hand can be seen pushing him. When he hits the water wires can then be seen coming out from under him, and during the splash, the end of the set can be seen.
  • During the first initial blast, one of Bluenose's lifeboat arms is knocked over as a result of the explosion. It stays broken up until after Ten Cents tows him away from the fire, by the end of the episode his lifeboat arm is mysteriously back in place.
  • When Captain Star says: "The Z-Stacks were up river at the munitions factory." Zebedee is seen in the background in the port. However in two shots later, Zebedee is with Zorran at the munitions factory.
  • A model of a 1934 Ford Model B is seen at the munitions factory despite the fact the series is set in the 1920s.
  • After the fire starts, O.J. is seen backing up but in a later clip, he is seen backing up again.
  • In the scene with Grampus starting to tow Bluenose away, the top of the set is visible in the reflection on the water.
  • Zorran goes to help the Fire Tug with the fire barge, but when it cuts back to Zebedee, Zorran is still beside him.
  • In the first scene of this episode, the Coast Guard is not in front of Kraka-Toa, but two shots later he is.
  • When Zorran backs away from the fire barge, his face is dirty but in a close up of him when Kraka-Toa sinks and when Top Hat arrives, his face is clean.

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/talesbiggcity/status/1451950091154214925
  2. ↑ Jeremy King describes the unscripted moment.
  3. ↑ [1]
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