Look who's here! The Z-Stacks' hero!
Hiya, Zebedee! Congratulations.
Captain Zero's over the moon now Johnny Cuba can't get at him.
Yeah. Thanks for helping us with Scuttlebutt Pete.
Just forget about that, will you? Captain Zero wouldn't be pleased to hear about that….
TCTen Cents and Sunshine
[in a slightly sarcastic manner] Oh dear…
Yeah, nor Zorran neither.
We won't tell, don't you worry, kidda.
You'd better not, I've had enough troubles today…. Well, I'll see you fellas, eh?
Oh, Zebedee… If you ever think of leaving the Z-Stacks…
What? You crazy? Today was today, okay?!
Oh. Yeah, well… Just a thought.
Yeah? Well you think too much…
After that day, things continued much as they were. But Zebedee showed that everyone must have a good streak in them somewhere. Even Z-Stacks!
You know, it never fails to amaze me. Every day, I see something new. Today it's the sight of a floating sack of coal, no less! [laughing]
If you'd been shifting coal, you'd be dirty!
(sniffing Big Mac for a second) Well, at least you don't smell, that's something. (Laughs mockingly with the others)
Course he don't smell, Top Hat. Coal don't have a smell!
I know it doesn't, Warrior, but he could get a hose down before coming to join us. We Star Tugs have a reputation to keep up! Even you, Warrior, after a day in the garbage yards, don't look too scruffy!
All you worry about is keeping that piece of glass on your eye clean!
Not only my monocle, all of me!
'Cause you always get out of nasty jobs, don't ye?
Alright, alright, cut the backchat! Ah- At least one Star Tug's already been working.
Ha! Well, we can see that!
Yeah, that's enough, Top Hat! You go and stretch your neck with car ferry duties, then take the garbage barge to the city dump.
Garbage? Me? Do I have to put up with this?
I have to put up with you, Top Hat.
Top Hat, why do I always have an argument with you? Now move out, come on.
Yes sir. Of course. I'm so sorry.
Oh well, here goes. (Breathes in) Really?! Some people are so tiresome…
(laughs shortly) Y'know, to be fair to him, he does work as hard as we do, really.
We know. It's just his attitude gets too much sometimes.
Well, well, well. The Star tugs. 'Ere, What time d'you call this, eh? You needn't've bothered. There's no work for you. We've got it all sewn up.
We've as much right to go for this contract as you have.
Think you'll do a better job, big mouth?! You ain't got no chance! Three against one, see, no chance!
What do you mean, three against one? There's only two of ya.
Well, you don't do much 'cept get in the way, Warrior, so we count you on our side. Heh heh heh. Can't stop here all day, we've work to do.
Zak's engine doesn't sound too healthy, Warrior. Hey, Big Mickey, how about a real fast load up?
BMBig Mickey
I'm ready for you! I heard what they said. Hope you beat 'em to it!
See, we're catching 'em! …hello, what are they up to?
They're heading for the canal.
I know that. That's it, they're taking a shortcut!
Alright, we'll follow 'em!
No, we won't. They won't get through, it's high tide.
Bridges, Warrior, bridges!
High tide, high load. [The Goods Engine crosses a bridge pulling three wagons]
Ten out of ten. They won't get that load under, will they? Let them go. They'll have to come back, and we'll be out of sight!
Go into reverse if you please, it's MY Water. [A Passenger Train crosses the bridge pulling two carriages]
I repeat, it is MY WATER!
You've 5 Seconds to back up!
What, Well, so have YOU then…
1! Get to the bridge fast, Zeb, and you’ve got him!
Watch my wake! That Star's met his match!
[narrating] Both Zebedee and Top Hat put on full power and surged forwards towards each other and the bridge.
Top Hat, look at his load!
He's going to hit! Hold on, I'm going into reverse!
He's backin' up! Didn't I tell you, Zak?
Didn't even make a fight of it! (laughs, but stops) Oh no…. I see why now; the bridge! Zeb! REVERSE ENGINES! QUICK!!!
Oh no! I- I can't stop! Ooooh, no! …help!
That's real Zero thinking, dummy.
I s'pose Zak an' I'd better go and get some help…
(hears an engine's whistle) That’s a mail train, isn't it? Oh dear, the bridge! It's… It's… Wait a minute! I've got it! If I can get that steel rig under the bridge; maybe it'll hold while the train gets across. It's worth a try.
Don't waste time cutting me free. Take me with you.
You'll take that risk, Stinker?
Of course I will, it's only rubbish.
[narrating] Top Hat's idea was to try and prop up the bridge, if he could get the steel rig into place before the train got there. It was signalled through, so there was no way anybody could stop it.
(Top Hat and Lord Stinker pulls the steel rig's barge into place)
[narrating] The bridge was weakened by the accident. Top Hat could only hope his idea would work. There was no way of warning the train!
(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.)
