Tugs quotes

Captain Star

[narrating] One night out at sea, Ten Cents and Sunshine spotted a tug they'd never seen before. His name was Boomer. He was just drifting. Realising he could be in trouble, they approached him cautiously. His engine was stopped, maybe even broken down. A towline drooped in the water and his rigging was scrappy. No flag flapped in the breeze. It seemed… no one owned him.

Keep away. Just leave me alone. Please!

Look, we can't. You're drifting in busy sea lanes. That's dangerous.

Even better.

Yep, we'll have to take you in.

Just leave me be, I don't want any help.

Why? Why not?

Because, well- Because I'm a jinx. I'm bad luck, nobody wants a jinx.

Oh, Rubbish! There's no such thing as a jinx.

Oh, isn't there? You'll soon find out! Stand off me!

Look, jinx or not, we have to take you in. Shipping lanes have to be kept clear!

Aye, Captain Star'll do something.

No, he won't. Nobody can. Jinxes just happen. I just shouldn't have been a tug…

Er… Have you always been like this?

My name used to be Captain Harry. It was good then in those days. Then I was sold. They painted out my name and called me "Boomer". Ever since then; nothing but trouble.

Captain Star

Who's he, Ten Cents?

Oh, it's Boomer. We found him drifting out in the Estuary.

Captain Star

Oh, what's up?

Well, He says, er- He says his engine's not working.

(to Boomer) You'll be all right now, son….

Captain Star

I see. Sunshine, go pick up the coal barge and we'll try starting him up.

Yes…(whistles) sir.

Here, I think Boomer's taking on water.

Hey, Boomer, what's so funny?

Ha-ha, I'm sinking! Just what I wanted!

What? Look, we're gonna make it to Lucky's, even if I sink with you!

Cut free, cut free! I'm sinking, save yourselves! [stops before he's fully submerged] Huh?

Oh well, that's lucky! He's come to rest on that old sunken garbage barge!

Look, you stay here. I'll go and get a rescue crane….

Hey, maybe the jinx has stopped now, eh? You're still afloat.

No, it hasn't. It's still here, alright. I wanted to sink, but instead, I land right on top of an obstacle that doesn't let me! All I want to do is Sink and become a Home for the Fishes. Then I won't jinx anyone…

Be sure to get that barge under Boomer as soon as you can. He's heavy, and I don't want to hold him too long!

O.J.

Be careful now. You have to guide the cranes, so they can lower the tug onto that raft.

Right. Yeah, yeah, I see it O.J. Right it's up ahead, Sunshine.

Aye aye.

Steady as she goes.

Huh?

What's going on? What's he doing?

Get your own lights onto that rig, quick! That's it!

Ah, good.

It's alright, I've got it again, Big Mac! Straight ahead!

OI!

Oi, don't push! Hard astern! What you doing?!

What? Ow!

What is going on?!

Oh! Ah! Hold tight! Whoa! Ah!

Oh, flipping heck!

Help! Sunshine!

Captain Star

[narrating] That was enough for Captain Zero. He got rid of the unhappy Boomer. Well, I took him back intending to use him for simple jobs where Nothing could go wrong.

See you, Boomer! If you need any help sinking, let me know…

I've just been thinking…

Yeah, thinking what?

I've just been thinking that you might jinx Boomer.

No, I don't!

You do.

How?

Look, every time he's working and we've gone past; you've sounded your hooter.

So? It's called being friendly.

Not if it always causes an accident, and it always does. Just think: The Ammunition barge, Mighty Mo, the Rope, the Engine…

Th- Wel- That's coincidence, not jinxed!

Call it "anything you like", but it seems to coincidence Boomer when you do it.

Yeah? Well I'm gonna go and speak to Boomer about it. Look, You coming?

Captain Star

Right, switchers, you can show Boomer where the Schooner is. We have a contract to tow her out to sea. I reckon Boomer can do that, seeing there's no engines to break down, to catch fire, no crane hawsers to snap, no ammunition to explode or buoys to sink. Just plain sail. And if Boomer breaks down, then the sail can more likely pull him!

Very droll, sir, very droll.

Look, come on, before he changes his mind.

Okay, but DON'T toot!

Boomer, what's happened?

Lightning, that's what happened. But that fire object didn't believe me. He thought I was going too fast and a spark flew out of my stack, but it's not true. (scoffs) Anyway, I can't be bothered to argue anymore.

You must have done something….

I did nothing!

O.J

Lightning? Well, it's possible, I suppose. But on such a nice day as this?

Anything's possible with Boomer, he really is jinxed.

Captain Star

[narrating] After the schooner incident, I decided there was only one thing for it: I had Sunshine take Boomer to Lucky's Yard with strict instructions that he was never to be used as a tug, ever again, no matter what!

Top of the morning, Ten Cents! Morning, Sunshine!

Is that really you, Boomer?

Indeed it is!

Well… A houseboat…. Don't you feel…sort of silly?

Not one bit! Not at all! It's what I always wanted to be! Now, hurry up you two, I want to get upriver to my new mooring.

Captain Star

[narrating] When they found it, it was a tree-lined bank, and it was clearly marked; Dun Tugging.

My, my, home sweet home at last!

Oh, you'll like it, here. Lots of nice trees to keep you cool in the summer.

It's all I ever wanted, thank you both. I'm sorry if I got you into trouble.

Ah, that's alright. Well, let's hope the jinx left ya'.

It's what it did to others that worried me the most.

Well, time to go. We'll come to visit you some time, huh?

Thanks. Thanks both of you. Thanks for everything.

Oh, you shouldn't have done that!

Oh, I'm sorry…!

Oh no!

Oh no!

THE JINX!

No, it's gone. It's over, that proves it. If I were still jinxed; the tree would have crashed down on me. Or one of you two, more likely!

Yeah. Yeah, you're right!

Yeah, great. Er, See you soon!

Bye. Bye! Look after yourselves.

Aye, ta-ta Boomer

Yeah, see ya' later, Boomer.

Take care.

Captain Star

[narrating] For Ten Cents and Sunshine, it was back to work as usual. But for Boomer? Well, he'd found his ideal place in the world. (chuckles) And he was very happy there, because the jinx… had gone!

Captain Star

[narrating] I remember a time, we'd all had a long hard day, but there was still one more job to do, and as Ten Cents was the first tug home, he got it. Engineering parts were needed to go to Scuttlebutt Pete the dredger, so they could start work first thing in the morning. I knew Ten Cents wasn't too happy, not because it was late; but because the Z-Stacks were on the same job.

Hey up, Zip! Look what the wind's blown in! Goody Two-Screws!

Ahoy, Zug! 'ere where do you want this barge from the engineers?

Too late for today, mate!

Too late? You don't need this till morning!

We might have!

No point now! It'll be dark soon!

Don't bug me, I've had a busy day. Now where'd you want it?

Real Eager Beaver Zip! Isn't he?

Well, got a reputation to live up-to, Zug. One of the best Tugs in the Harbour…

Yawn yawn! All work and no play makes Ten Cents a Dull tug!

Look, D'ya want this or do I take it back?!

Moor it by the Old Quay. If you're not too worn out?! (Both Z Switchers laugh loudly)

Aha! This looks like what I'm after: Engineering parts.

Captain Star

[narrating] Unseen, unheard, the dark stranger hitched on Ten Cents' barge and slipped silently into the mist. Zip and Zug were in for a surprise the very next morning.

Captain Star

What's going on out there?

Oh, er- Captain Star, sir- Uh- Ten Cents didn't deliver our barge last night!

I did! You know I did!

You did not! It's not there! It's not- It's not there!

Captain Star

Alright, that's enough! I've already had a complaint from the clients. On your way now.

Er- Right, sir!

Have a nice day, Ten Cents!

Captain Star

I don't expect slip-ups like this from you, Ten Cents. The owners claim their barge is missing, never delivered.

That's not true, sir. It was my last tow of the day. It was!

Captain Star

Ten Cents, I have to take the client's word.

Sir, please, at least let me-

Captain Star

No. I'm putting you on dredger detail, with Scuttlebutt Pete.

Aw, no, sir! Not that! There's-

Captain Star

Ten Cents? GO.

Oh, hi, Scuttlebutt….

You look gloomy this morning, Ten Cents. What's up?

Oh, nothing.

I hear you've lost a barge.

Oh, you would be the first to know, wouldn't you?

It's no secret. Talk of the harbour.

Well, it's bound to be, once you know.

Grampus

I've heard the rumour.

Grampus, what do you know about it?

Grampus

Well, you've lost a barge.

Don't waste time, do you, Scuttlebutt?

Aye, rumours are his speciality.

Was only trying to help. The more who know about it, the sooner you'll be in the clear.

I am in the clear! Get that clear!

Naughty, naughty! Temper, temper!

Lose his stack if it wasn't screwed on!

Oh, one of these days!