Pirate (TUGS episode)

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"Pirate" was the second episode of the children's series TUGS. The title referred to the focus character of the episode - a 'pirate' called Sea Rogue.

[edit] Brief Synopsis

Engineering parts need to be taken to Scuttlebutt Pete the dredger. Ten Cents is given the job on this day. He delivers the barge loaded with the parts, and after encountering Zip and Zug, moors the barge – and sees a mysterious figure moving in an old building…

That foggy night, an unknown tug steals Ten Cents’ barge.

Zip and Zug find it is missing the next morning, and are sure Ten Cents stole it. They go to tell Captain Star, who tells how he has already received a complaint from the client, and orders Ten Cents on dredger detail with Scuttlebutt Pete as punishment.

As Ten Cents is working with Scuttlebutt, Grampus, the Midget Submarine, pops up. He says how he has heard the whole story, which Ten Cents certainly does not find amusing! Zak and Zebedee happen by, and taunt Ten Cents. Sunshine, who has just arrived, informs Ten Cents he has to do more work for the Z Stacks, which is part of the punishment. Ten Cents must tow an oil barge. After more taunting from Zak and Zebedee, he heads off.

That night, Grampus can’t sleep due the loud music coming from the Bridge Café Band, and goes out for a nosey round the harbour. He encounters the unknown tug, who stole the barge the previous night, which Ten Cents was blamed for. Grampus sees he is stealing Ten Cents’ oil barge, and worries who it could be. Through the night, even more barges still, disappear.

The next morning, a big meeting is held between the Star Fleet and the Z Stacks, on how to try and catch the “Pirate”. Captain Star and Captain Zero have come up with a plan, which will see all the tugs going out in pairs to camp out in designated areas, to try and spot and nick the Pirate.

In an old warehouse, the “Pirate” tug is being ordered by two sinister, green-eyed tugs to steal another barge. He must do so to keep his uncle from being sunk. Grampus sees everything, luckily not being spotted.

That night, Captain Star and Captain Zero’s big plan is put into action.

Top Hat is paired with Warrior, which he is not in the least bit happy about!

Ten Cents and Sunshine are paired together. Sunshine tells Ten Cents not to worry. Grampus suddenly emerges and tells them about what he saw and that their “Pirate” is a tug called Sea Rogue. Ten Cents and Sunshine are very surprised.

Also paired are Zip and Zug, who see Ten Cents and Sunshine leaving their posts with Grampus, out to find Sea Rogue, but think they are out to steal barges! Zip and Zug gain chase.

The green-eyed tugs put out lightships, lighthouses, and cover up bell buoys to remain undetected.

Meanwhile, Sea Rogue is found by Ten Cents and Sunshine. He explains about his uncle. They come up with a big plan to capture the villains.

Zip and Zug find the old warehouse and are chased out by the green-eyed tugs! Grampus goes to save Sea Rogue’s uncle. Ten Cents, Sunshine and Sea Rogue take the chance to charge the villains, and put their green lights out once and for all! Warrior sees that something is going on, and ends up knocking a flare barge which has been set up, upon moving forward!

The next morning, Warrior and Top Hat take the villains away, Grampus goes off for a nice rest, and Sea Rogue and his uncle head for home. Nearby are Zip and Zug. They boast to Ten Cents and Sunshine that nothing scares them. Zug then clumsily bumps into a flare barge behind him, and both he and Zip run away in fright, which Ten Cents and Sunshine find a great joke.

[edit] Notes

First and only appearances of Sea Rogue, his uncle (However his model was later used for Boomer) and the Green eyed tugs.
First appearance of Grampus, Mighty Moe Scuttlebutt Pete, & Wreck' the life buoy.
Cameos by Frank, Eddie, Big Mac, Oj and Zorran.
The first time we see another tugboat in the series except the main fleets the Fire Tug, Bluenose, Bille Shoepack and Boomer.
First explosion in the series
This is the only time we see Zip's 'open - mouthed' face.