Quarantine (TUGS episode)

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"Quarantine" was the seventh episode of the children's series TUGS. The title referred to the main focus of the story - the newly introduced Quarantine regulation in Bigg City.

[edit] Brief Synopsis

It is the year of the big heat wave. Many incoming vessels with sickness aboard must fly the “yellow flag”, to show they need to have a medical examination. If they are found to be infected, they must dock away from port and fly the “chequered flag”, to show they are under quarantine for the compulsory 40 days, warning no-one to go near.

O.J.’s engine is acting up badly; smoke is pouring from it and everything. Burke and Blair, the two scrap dealer tugs, have already tried to make an offer to Captain Star!

Ten Cents and Sunshine arrive late at the Star Pier for the 6:30am meeting that day, which Captain Star is not too happy about at all. After a pep talk, Captain Star informs how O.J. is picking up their barge they were supposed to collect at the fire station! If O.J. is alright, the two tugs are then to join the others, ready to take away vessels cleared from quarantine.

O.J., picking up the fire barge which is to be taken to the ferry pier, is once again noticed by Burke and Blair. At the same time, the Fultan Ferry nears by, on its regular run. O.J. sees a motorboat approaching fast. O.J. reverses out of the way just in time – but he goes out of control straight into the Fultan Ferry, with his barge. The Fultan Ferry now has a large hole, causing her to list.

Ten Cents tries to save the Fultan Ferry with a line, but fails. It’s too late, and she sinks. Sunshine arrives, and Ten Cents says for him to get the emergency services on the scene.

At the Star Pier, Burk and Blair try with Captain Star again to buy O.J. Captain Star promptly refuses!

Back at the scene of the Fultan Ferry, the Fire Chief arrives, and cranes have their grapples attached to her. Grampus pops up, and says the ferry is lying fairly level on the sandy bed below. The Fire Chief promptly orders Mighty Mo to start hoisting the ferry. Z Stacks turn up, in the likes of Zorran and Zug, who make fun of the Star Tugs present about the accident, and are pleased that there will be less Stars able to work on quarantine duty.

Although when Zorran and Zug arrive at the quarantine zone, Top Hat, O.J. and Ten Cents are there, of whom left straight away after the Fultan Ferry was rescued. The Coastguard shows and informs all the vessels are being quarantined. Suspected Microbonic Plague is aboard. Ten Cents knows Captain Star won’t be pleased in that there are no vessels to tow. Zorran says he’ll stay anyway and have a look round. Ten Cents knows he’s most likely up to something.

Sunshine is eyeing a tramper which has a yellow flag up, meaning it has not yet been examined. He makes sure not to go too close. But then, the tramper starts to lower its flag, which Sunshine is very concerned about. Nantucket, the tramper, asks Sunshine to give him a tow, of which Sunshine refuses to, and quickly steams away. Zorran sees Sunshine by, and asks what he was doing. Sunshine says he’s on “secret work”. Zorran continues to be difficult. Thankfully, Ten Cents and O.J. turn up. Upon learning about Nantucket lowering its yellow flag, Zorran thinks it a golden opportunity and rushes off. Ten Cents gives chase, determined to beat Zorran to it. O.J. luckily stops Ten Cents, worsening the condition of his engine in the process, and explains Nantucket would certainly not have been inspected then. All the while, Burke and Blair pass, noticing O.J.

Zorran arrives to Nantucket, while Ten Cents and Sunshine give O.J. a tow back to the Star Pier.

Ten Cents and Sunshine tell Captain Star all about O.J.’s bravery, when Burk and Blair show up yet again, who offer Captain Star 150 pounds for O.J. Captain Star says that O.J. is not for sale, and instead tells Ten Cents to take him to Lucky’s Yard for a new engine and complete refit (and tells Sunshine to get on with his garbage collecting!)

Back at the Quarantine area, the Coastguard has found out Nantucket. He also tells Zorran that he is now infected and must get quarantine flags up! Burk and Blair pass Zorran, and say they will check him later for rust!

Zorran ends up filling his full 40 days!

[edit] Notes

First and only appearance of Nantucket (the infected Tramp Steamer)
The Fulton Ferry's only main focus appearance, although it made numerous cameos.
This episode introduced & featured Burke and Blairs only major speaking appearances including there dialogue
Hercules, Big Mac, Zebedee, Zip, Zak and Captain Zero are not featured in this episode
Cameo by Warrior
This is the second & only episode in which Warrior is not the Main/Central character.
This is the only episode where Big Mac is absent.
Watch clip here [1].