(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?
TCTen Cents
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.)
TCTen Cents
Sorry, Cap'n. We've been at the water docks.
You know the scrap yard dealers are looking for useless tugs, don't you? Now, next time you're late; I'll ask them what they offer for a couple of switchers. Understand?!
TCTen Cents
Yes, Cap'n, but-
Ten Cents, O.J's engine's playing up. He's at the fire station picking up your barge.
Now if he's alright, join the others waiting for schooners and trampers getting clearance from quarantine.
TCTen Cents
Understand, Cap'n!
One for you, Sunshine: Bring in the tramper, Nantucket.
No wisecracks, just get moving!
He wouldn't really sell us for scrap, would he…?
Ten Cents Not unless we were late every day. I hope not, anyway…
Aw no, Ten Cents, what happened?
TCTen Cents
Well, don't gawp! Go and get the emergency services, fast as you can!
[narrating] Burke and Blair had a second go at me. Hah, they never give up.
About O.J….. That ancient engine of his is finished and so is he. Isn't he, Mr. Burke?
We don't sit around our breakers' yard watching our staff turn old boats into scrap. do we, Mr. Blair?
Always on the lookout for who's next to go. That's our business, and O.J.'s top of our list…
TCTen Cents
Oh, good. Here comes the Coast Guard.
If you're waiting for clearance on the schooners, forget it. They're quarantined!
Suspected microbonic plague aboard. Sorry, fellas.
TCTen Cents
Captain Star will be pleased, I don't think.
To think how I flogged my engine to get here fast.
And all for no purpose, it turns out.
Well, I think I'll go take a look-see anyway.
TCTen Cents
You're not going back then?
Err, Zug maybe. I'll mosey around here, see if there's a breeze out in the estuary.
Don't you need me, Zorran?
TCTen Cents
He's up to something. I'd like to know what. You know, I never trusted that Zorran.
Top Hat Ah, but… Sunshine's gone out to bring in a tramper.
Ah, Zorran will know about it for sure.
TCTen Cents
He wouldn't try and take it off him, would he?
Well, of course the villain would. Who'd see him do it out there?
Right then! Ten Cents, you and I'll go see fair play.
TCTen Cents
Aye-aye, sir!
Oh dear, I don't know…. I do believe they see themselves as Sir Francis Drake.
TCTen Cents
He put on max speed, Cap'n, to save me from quarantine!
My engine's only good for scrap, Captain, we all know that.
You're right there. And I'm afraid, O.J., for you it means- …What's that about quarantine, Ten Cents?
TCTen Cents
Well if it hadn't been for O.J., I could've been in quarantine, now. Out of action for forty days!
Aye, he saved Ten Cents, Cap'n, it's true.
Yes, don't. You'll have me in tears…
TCTen Cents
But honestly, Captain, you've gotta believe us, we're only reporting the facts!
Very commendable, but it's one side of the facts, isn't it?
Ahoy, Captain Star, sir! Can we again offer our services?
We happened to see the subject of our previous visit being towed in.
Old O.J., in a worse state than ever, wouldn't you say, Mr. Blair?
Finished, you could say. For a quick sale, let's say; 150?
TCTen Cents
That's not for O.J.?! Captain, you can't sell him!
I'm not going to, he's not for sale, now go!
Ah well, if that's your attitude, you fork out for engine and refit!
Ten Cents, tow O.J. to Lucky's Yard. New engine, complete refit!
TCTen Cents
Yes sir, Captain Star, sir! Yeah, right, at once, sir!
Thanks, Captain! I'll see you never regret it.
Sunshine, he doesn't need your help. We've got to make money to pay for this! Now, er… get on with your garbage collecting, right away!
Er-Yes, Captain Star, sir! At once, sir!
I wouldn't try that little fella on a tramper that size, it might crush him! [cackling]
TCTen Cents
Oi! Zorran? Where's the salvage team? We can't do this on our own! Oi, come back here!
I'll do the best I can, Ten Cents.
TCTen Cents
Huh? Oh, yeah, of course. Come on, Little Ditcher, you can do it…
[narrating] Ten Cents suspected that Zorran had only pretended to alert the salvage crew. He wanted to keep the Stars trapped up river.
Ooh, You got a problem there, Zorran.
Hey, Zug! Zug! Doesn't Zorran look funny, eh? Stuck up on those rocks!
Well, er- I suppose that er- heh… heh heh… (Zug desperately tries not to laugh, but can't help himself)
Stop laughing! Stop laughing, it's not funny!
Well, we think it is! Don't we, Zug?
Alright, joke's over. Back and pick up our barges. Problem solved.
Thanks to me, you didn't believe I'm an expert, did you?
Well, there was an element of luck, I suspect, but I must say, I am quite impressed.
Well, I can't play any more games with you. I've got real work to do.
[narrating] For once in his life, Shoepack had done a great job.
Never mind him. What about me?!
TCTen Cents
In trouble, Zorran? Looks like you got crushed instead of Little Ditcher!
[narrating] [Chuckles] The only thing Zorran succeeded in doing that day, was trapping himself instead of the Star Tugs!
[narrating] He was soon back at the Star Dock….
Slow down! You know better than to travel in fog at that rate of knots!
You alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost.
I…. I, Well, I saw something…. I… er… No, I can't tell you, you'll only… laugh.
Oh, come on, we weren't even serious.
Well… I have seen ghosts!
Ghosts! You know Scuttlebutt's story about those tugs that sank in the Great Storm of 1912?
[jokingly] And they come back to get you….
TCTen Cents
Oh, Big Mac… You're not taking Scuttlebutt's story for real, are you?
Aye, well I'm not going out there again 'til the fog lifts.
Ha, Well I never thought I'd hear that from a harbour tug!
Well, he- He could have seen something…. There could be ghosts! You never know…
Don't be ridiculous. Really…
[narrating] Ten Cents and Sunshine were taking fuel out to Lillie Lightship.
Ohhh, how're we gonna find her in this?
TCTen Cents
O.J taught me to wiggle, to keep the breeze on the same cheek all the time. That way we'll beat the currents, sail in the right direction. She can't be too far away now.
What's that? That sounds like ice breaking. It can't be, can it? Oh, I don't like it, Ten Cents, what's happening?!
TCTen Cents
How should I know? It's weird! [the ghost fleet appear in front of them] Look!
Ohhh….. jeepers creepers! Aww, oh, we're for it! Our number's up… It is! They've come to get us!
[narrating] An early sun had burned off the fog, but Top Hat was still asleep where he'd tied up.
D- Oh! Go away, ghosts! No, don't hurt me! Please! Please! I- Oh, Grampus…
What are you doing here, Top Hat? What's this about ghosts?
Did I say 'ghosts'? Oh, I must've been dreaming. I lost my bearings in the fog and moored here for the night….
[chuckling] Here? That is funny.
You're only 500 yards from the Star Tugs Pier! It's there! Look!
Listen everybody, I've seen Ghost Tugs for myself!
We've all seen them. Ten Cents and Sunshine have seen a Galleon too.
But these were ghosts, I assure you! I saw them! Really! Silent! Phantoms of the sea!
TCTen Cents
So, you admit ghosts exist now, Top Hat?
Ghosts? What's that about, m'dears, hmm?
TCTen Cents
Yeah. White Tugs, and a big galleon!
You're all going crazy! Seeing things that aren't there! [laughs]
I'm not sure. I don't know what I saw now….
Well, I'll tell you: They're the White Fleet, down here from Northern waters on a trail of an iceberg. These Tugs sail, at times, with engines off, listening for cracking ice. There was a wooden galleon frozen in this iceberg which must have melted in our warmer water. That's why you saw the Old Vessel bob up to the surface. I doubt you saw Neptune, Sunshine, he's for fairy tales. You let the fog get to you, m'dears! [laughs]
TCTen Cents
Hercules, behind you!
Well that's your ghostly galleon.
[narrating] They watched with embarrassment as Burke and Blair towed away the rotting galleon. Later on, Star Tugs found they could laugh about it. But they never forgot the fog, that nearly sent them Crazy!
How'd you get past that fire barge, Ten Cents?
'Ere, what's up with you two?
Ah, well, we blocked them up the creek to save the fuel contract for you, Zorran!
TCTen Cents
We only went for the light barge!
Huh?! You IDIOTS! We needed that light here, didn't we? To get Vienna in, for US, as well as for Them. Now, what's this about a fire barge? Have you taken one from its station?!
We only jammed it a little way!
Well, get back up there quick before the Fire Chief gets there!
TCTen Cents
Fire Chief won't be pleased with you two! 'Ere, it'll take 'em all night to get that fire barge free.
Aye, it will, aye-aye. Maybe they should've thought of that when they jammed it in.
TCTen Cents
Oi, Puffer, you in trouble?
No, you are, Ten Cents! Sunshine's trapped in a log jam!
Well, he's up at the lake!
TCTen Cents
Oh, right! I'm on my way! Thanks!
Good luck, old kid! You'll need it!
Naagh, Can't shift 'em, Sunshine, no matter what I do.
[coughs] Don't worry, I'm okay. The smoke from me stack seems a bit heavy though.
I'm afraid that smoke's not coming from your stack.
No, I, er- I didn't think it actually was.
I've gotta get you out of there, fast!
How long d'you think it'll be before it bursts into flames?
Never timed it!
(The logs start to heat up with fire around Sunshine, just then, Ten Cents arrives, whistling urgently.)
Ahh, Ten Cents!
TCTen Cents
Ohh, how'd this happen?
Never mind how, swing 'round and try to push the logs clear, we've got to get Sunshine out!
TCTen Cents
Aw, no! It's Billy Shoepack with his dynamite!
Aw, tell him to clear off, Ten Cents. Flames and dynamite don't mix!
TCTen Cents
Look, get outta here Billy! One spark from this landing on your dynamite, and we could all go up!
'Hang on, Hang On, 'ow did you get in that mess?
[Sarcastically] On Purpose Shoepack, just for the fun of it. On yer way man!
Tugs · 133 quotes
