Most-quoted character in Tugs: in 56 of its 133 quotes Most scenes with: Ten Cents (23), Sunshine (18), O.J (14)
Lines by Captain Star 7
Captain Star
[narrating] Bigg City Port, never ceased working: Operations carried out throughout the night were continued in the early mornings. Goods stacked high along the Docksides were brought into port; by Road, and by Rail. The Lorries and Wagons were then reloaded with cargo from incoming Tramp-steamers, Ferries and Liners, for delivery to Inland cities and towns. 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 non-stop and round the clock. The lifeblood of the whole operation was Coal; without this dirty stuff, Industry would've ground to a halt! On this very busy day; Big Mac arrived at the Briefing, having worked all night.
[narrating] 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, ha ha, I had no difficulty in convincing them, that my Star tugs should get the contract for delivering the steel.
[Outro, VHS version] The accident was caused by a few hasty words and bad temper. 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.
[Outro, TV version] 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.
[narrating] It was the year of the big heatwave. Old sailors like me'll never forget it. Many incoming ships had sickness aboard and flew the yellow flag to show they needed medical examination for possible infectious disease. Now if this proved correct, they had to stay at anchor out of port and fly the chequered flag showing they were in quarantine for 40 days, and warning all shipping to stay clear. By 6:30 this morning it was already feeling hot, and tempers were getting short.
[narrating] The Bigg City Port was in the grips of winter. It had come earlier than expected, and with it came the fog. None of us like fog, but in those days, it was worse: Tugs had no radio and no radar. Long periods of fog had a way of conjuring up old sea stories and superstitions among the boats of the harbour. I remember Big Mac returned quite late. He'd been working all day with Scuttlebutt Pete who'd been telling him old sea stories, of strange things that happened when fog was around. As he passed derelict buildings, they seemed to take on ghostly shapes. They groaned and creaked as if they were alive. As Big Mac got close to an old warehouse, he heard a whisper which grew louder….
[narrating] The 1920's. Bigg City Port was the biggest harbour in the world. It was a time of change and great opportunity. Nobody knew it better than the hardworking tugs, whose strength and big hearts made them popular with everybody from Tramp Steamers to Ocean Liners. Important jobs in the port often kept them working night and day. My tugs, the Star Fleet were no exception. I had three Harbour tugs: O.J., a paddle-steamer. Warrior and Big Mac. A Railway tug; Top Hat. One little Switcher; Ten Cents. And Hercules; my Oceangoing tug. They were a good crew, striving to be the best in the port. Not always succeeding, but proud of their work. I remember the day we got our first big break. It started like most, at dawn.
[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.
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.
[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.
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!
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.
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!
[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!
[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.
Tugs · 133 quotes
Captain Star
