(Top Hat and Lord Stinker had manage to save the mail train by propping the steel rig under the bridge and it holds up long enough for the mail train to pass.)
Well done, Top Hat. You saved the-
Oh, LOOK OUT!
(the rig keels over & falls into the water.)
This is terrible!
(without the steel rig, the bridge starts to buckle, then they hear another engine whistle)
Oh, no, I know that whistle!
(Little Owl the goods engine makes it's way towards the bridge just as it breaks apart completely with it now sloping down into the water)
We can't save this one! It’s IMPOSSIBLE!
No it’s not! Push me under that rail, quick!
What? Oh yes, I see. I get the idea! Right!
(he shoves Stinker through the debris so that the rails lead to his hold)
If this doesn’t work, you’ll be in danger yourself, Stinker!
I know. Don’t remind me. Just get me under the end of that rail!
(pushed Lord Stinker into place, and Stinker's idea works, Little Owl lands safely in Stinker's hold, its wagons veer into the canal.) It’s worked, Stinker! You’re a smelly old genius, nothing less!
Hmm, took some brain to save that train…
I’ll never complain about your smell again.
Rubbish can be valuable stuff.
[narrating] To run a fleet of tugs, you have to prepared to take on any job. One of the most difficult and dangerous was handling the big Naval Munition Ships. On this day, I remember Hercules had towed the naval tramper, Kraka-Toa, in from the base up the coast. Usually, a familiar and safe routine, but it had been a rough journey, real rough. And as if that wasn’t enough, he had to suffer Bluenose; the officious naval tug.
Attention! Attention! You! Hercules!
'Attention' nothing. I'm finished here, old darling. Moving out.
Oh, no you don't! Not til' I check things out!
Check all you like, sweetheart. I'm needed elsewhere.
You're under Navy jurisdiction! Obey orders, and wait til I've made my inspection!
I am under jurisdiction; Captain Star's. A little wakewasher like you doesn't tell me what to do!
Aha! We'll see about that, laddie! Hercules, here! Wait! Stay right where you are! That is an order!
Upstart civilian! I'll get you in a Naval convoy one day and I'll teach you a lesson or two! And then you'll know what orders are all about!
Now listen, you two: Towing this lot's the tricky bit. Zak, move off first.
Go slow and don't take any nonsense from the Star mob. Show them explosives don't scare us. If they come too close, just-
Yeah… but with your hooter, dummy. No silly games, okay? You don't have to be that brave.
And watch out for the Naval twerp Bluenose. Your job is to deliver that barge directly to Naval tramper, Kraka-Toa. If Bluenose gives you different orders, ignore him and refer him to me. Just keep it steady. Keep flying that danger flag! Zebedee! Next!
That Bluenose told me he was in charge and that I must obey orders.
You are; Mine, remember that.
I'll remember that, Zorran, sir….
Eat your heart out, Star Stacks. This trip's worth twenty garbage barges, ferry trips or girder tows. Heh… if we don't get blown up. Right, easy does it…
(is loading the final munitions into Kraka-Toa during night time.) I'll be glad to get rid of this lot…
I'm coming alongside! Move aside! You, with the circle on your funnel, move!
(irate) Eh? What, mean me, mister, do you?
Yeah, you, mister! Move that barge! My load's first.
You shouldn't move a barge that's being unloaded.
Get pensioned off, old timer! This is my pool, I say what goes!
Go and draw your pension, O.J., you're past it!
Shut it, the paddler's right. We're not moving that barge, mister!
(The munitions fire has started, thanks to Bluenose bumping Zorran's barge to move it out of the way.)
BMBig Mickey
Emergency! Emergency! Clear the area immediately!
STAY STILL, AND OBEY ORDERS!
(The munitions begin to explode.)
Move out! Move out! Save yourselves! Ten Cents, cut your barge rope, and pull free.
My barge is clear, but Bluenose is blocking the way!
I know what to do. Stay still, and don't panic!
Oh, come on, Bluenose, cast off, let's get outta here!
I can't! I CAN'T! (A big explosion comes dangerously close.) I CAN'T!
O.J.! His engine's out! I'm going in to help!
Don't be a fool, Ten Cents! Get out of there!
He's got himself into this! Leave him!
It's too dangerous, Ten Cents!
You're coming with me, Bluenose!
BMBig Mickey
Keep going, Ten Cents! Keep going! The tramper's on fire! It'll blow any second!
(Ten Cents starts pulling Bluenose away.) Don't you move me! I've got my--hic! My orders, and my orders say I am loading fuel there!
You can load all you want after I get you out of here. Hey, O.J.! What should I do with him?
Put him at the back, out the way, we don't want any more of his orders.
Oi! This is a mutiny! Take me back immediately! Obey orders! Obey orders! Orders is orders!
(Not seconds after Ten Cents has moved Bluenose, alarm klaxons start to blare in response to the fire. Worse yet, Big Mickey's dock erupts in flames, beginning to come apart.)
Oh no! Big Mickey's dock is going up!
Move out, everyone! He's going over!
BMBig Mickey
Stay where you are! I'll jib clear!
Just hope Mickey gets it right, otherwise he'll sink us all!
(More explosions occur.)
(Mickey keels over as the dock beneath him collapses.)
Ahh, he's done it. He's falling sideways.
(Mickey tumbles into the water with a huge splash, and sinks underneath.)
[narrating (TV version only)] And lying in shallow water saved Big Mickey from both fire and explosion.
That was too close for comfort!
It took real skill to make that move.
He saved us all for sure… but the fire's getting out of control!
They'll have heard the siren for sure. The Fire Tug'll reach us any minute. Just wish he were here now….
Fire Tug won't be much good… LOOK AT THAT TRAMPER!
(Kraka-Toa has caught fire, and is starting to be blown apart by her load.)
Someone's having a dockside celebration.
Oh, no, if there was a party, I would have been invited.
FFrank
Perhaps they don't need a long-necked highbrow. (he and Eddie laugh)
Very droll. They certainly won't want lowlifes like you there. I say, what's that?
Emergency! Emergency! Get them tied off and follow on, Top Hat! Might need all hands!
[VHS version] Yeah, follow on, Top Hat! Fire at the old dock!
[TV version] Yeah, Top Hat, follow on! Fire at the old dock!
I'd love to join you, but these two are in a right state!
Always our fault, eh, Frank?
FFrank
Never 'is, eh, Eddie?
He could take us along. D'like to see a fire.
The only fire you're going to see -- I can tell you this for a fact -- is the one I will set under your tracks if you DON'T GET A MOVE ON!
BFBoth Frank and Eddie
(Sarcastically) Ooooohhh!
The Aft hold has blown, now the fire will really spread.
Cor! They were really big explosions!?
There's more to come yet! Just you wait, she was nearly fully loaded before that Naval twit arrived. What's on board'll rip her apart.
Isn't there anything we can do?
Like what, dummy? Anyway, you've done your bit. Just sit back and watch.
But it's spreading! And that means Puffa, the dockside will go up!
You're right Ten Cents. Come on everyone, shout and warn Puffa!
(The tugs shouts to Puffa to go on and he does just missing an explosion, however as Puffa makes it out, a small warehouse explodes)
(the fire hits the Star Line petrol barge and catches fire)
That's all we needed! The petrol's caught fire!
And that tank's fully loaded! I must try and get it out to sea!
Don't do it, stay back! If that blows, it'll take you with it!
That!
(Warrior, while distracted, accidentally causes Lord Stinker to hit the dockside.)
It's -- ouch! Be careful! It's a red sky. "Red sky at night: sailors' delight.".
The sun went down ages ago. And that's north, not west!
(A slight pause.)
BWBoth Warrior and Lord Stinker
FIRE!
Hey, the building's on fire now! Oh, I can't seem to stop it! It's- Oh!
(the building explodes)
Just keep flaming water on it Sunshine! Stop the spread! Stop the spread!
(the oil tanks then starts exploding)
Warrior, get out of there! It's going to blow!
I can control it, sir! Don't worry!
(he spectates the explosions with surprise.)
Wow!
(One explosion sends a piece of debris into Warrior's face!)
Ooh! That bit hit me!
Move back Warrior! Move back!
No sir, I've gotta look after Puffa. He's a mighty valuable and good friend. Got to look after you're friends you know.
Okay, Warrior. Here Zorran, give me a hand with this fire barge. We got to try and save that tramper.
Huh. Can't see this barge doing much good mister. Ha. But, you're in charge.
Go on Zorran. Show them who's a real hero.
(The dockyard fire has gone down, successfully contained, but Kraka-Toa has been completely destroyed by her payload. Her hull and decks obliterated, she capsizes with a last, dull blast from her smokestack.)
Phew… just look at the state of the dockside!
Yeah, but that's nothing compared with what could have happened. If Sunshine and Warrior hadn't contained the fire, it could've easily spread to the city. Well done, all of ya'.
(is now on the scene, just seconds late to contribute.) Oh, dear. Seems I'm too late to save the day. What a pity!
Heh. Well, well, well! Get a drift of that, will you, lads?! Top Hat, all dressed up and nowhere to go! (He laughs mockingly, alongside Zak and Zebedee.)
(Morning. Ten Cents hasn't returned from pushing his flaming petrol barge out to sea to prevent it exploding in the harbour.)
Ten Cents should have been back by now…
We must all salute a very brave tug, who saved us fr-…
(A familiar tugboat's horn is heard.)
Hey, I know that whistle! It's--! IT'S TEN CENTS!
(Ten Cents emerges from the morning fog, being pulled by Grampus. He is covered in ash, and is battered, but alive.)
Ten Cents, what a mess! What happened?
Well, just as I started reversing, it blew to smithereens! Nearly took me with it. Lights went out, water in me engine… didn't know if I could make it back. But thanks to Grampus, I did.
Hey, you're the luckiest tug around, lad!
And probably the bravest, too!
Well, I've been used for a few strange jobs before; but never have I brought in a switcher, and taken away… a twitcher! (He tows Bluenose away while laughing.)
