High Tide (TUGS episode)

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"High Tide" was the seventh episode of the British children's television series TUGS.

[edit] Plot

Big Mac arrives to the briefing covered in coal dust from working all night. Top Hat and Warrior tease him for it, until Captain Star begins the briefing. He sends Top Hat to pick up Lord Stinker, Sunshine to help Ten Cents, and OJ to pick up a new propeller from Lucky's Yard, where Sunshine will help after finishing his work with Ten Cents. Big Mac & Warrior are sent to pick up steel, & Captain Star warns them to be careful, as the highest tide in years was taking place.

As Big Mickey, the port's largest crane, was preparing for the move to the new location, Big Mac & Warrior run into Zebedee and Zak, who are competing for the steel contract. Big Mickey loads the steel, and Big Mac & Warrior begin their trip to the new steelworks location. Shortly after, Zebedee and Zak decide to cut through the canal, seeing as it's too narrow for the Star Tugs & them to go through at the same time. Big Mac & Warrior find out about this, but they don't worry about losing the contract, because with Zebedee's tall load, the high tide, & low bridges, the Z Stacks were sure to get their just deserts!

Meanwhile, Top Hat is also going through the canal with Frank, Eddie & Lord Stinker. He spots the two Z Stacks, and they argue over who will pass, & who will turn back. Zebedee & Top Hat decided to both try to go through, and find out who'll make it through, but then Top Hat backs away, seeing that Zebedee's load will hit the railway bridge. Zebedee can't reverse, and he winds him ramming the railway bridge. As he and Zak go for help, Puffa, pulling the mail train makes way toward the bridge, which was weakened by Zebedee's steel. Top Hat has an idea. He plans to prop the bridge up with Zebedee's load. The steel is put into place, and it holds up long enough for The Goods train to pass. Right after, though, the steel collapses, followed by the bridge, just as the goods train makes its way to it. Lord Stinker has an idea: to attempt to catch the train by waiting in front of the broken rail. His idea works, and no damage comes to Lord Stinker, the goods engine, or its wagons. The steel company wasn't happy about the damage done by the Z Stacks and the Star Fleet were given the steel contract as the bridge was rebuilt.

[edit] Notes

This was Big Mickey's first major speaking appearance. He later appears for the last time on Munitions.
Only episode to feature Zak as the main character.
When the train plunges into Lord Stinker, he dosen't budge an inch.
This episode doesn't feature Captain Zero, Hercules and Zug. (However Captain Zero was mentioned)
Cameos by Zorran, Zip, Izzy Gomez, Scuttlebutt Pete' and Mighty Moe.
2nd episode to have "High" in its title, the 1st was "High Winds"
Only episode not to feature Ten Cents as the main star.
Captain Star explained how Bigg City Port worked.
First appearance of Lord Stinker.
Sixth appearance of Frank & Eddie
Cameos by Princess Alice And The Duchess.
Zorran makes a cameo, at the beginning, we see Zebedee pushing a barge, and in the next shot, we see Zorran, you can tell be the falling that has tilled backwards which is Zorran's Flag.
Puffa makes unnamed cameos throughout the episode; he pulls the mail train which successfully makes it across the crippled bridge. He also pulls two passenger trains; once when Captain Star is telling us about the bridges over the canal, and his whistling interrupts Top Hat, who is trying to make the Z-Stacks let him through.