Boomer quotes from Tugs

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.

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…

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!