Quarantine (TUGS episode)

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"Quarantine" was the eighth 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.

1 Plot
2 Notes
3 Featured Characters
4 Credits

[edit] Plot

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 anchor away from port and fly the “chequered flag”, to show they are under quarantine for the compulsory forty days and warning no-one to go near.

Burke and Blair - the two scrap dealers - have their eyes on O.J., whose engine has been acting up lately. They have already made an offer to Captain Star for him, but so far, O.J. is not for sale.

Ten Cents and Sunshine arrive at the Star Pier, late for the early briefing. After threatening to scrap them, Captain Star informs the two switchers that they were supposed to collect a fire barge from the station across the harbour, and that O.J. is already taking care of it. If O.J. is alright, Ten Cents and Sunshine are then to join the others, ready to take away vessels cleared from quarantine.

Meanwhile, O.J., on his way to the ferry pier with the barge, is watched by Burke and Blair. The two scrap dealers delight at the sound of his choking engine. At the same time, the Fultan Ferry follows an intersecting path, on a regular delivery. O.J. suddenly spots a motorboat rapidly approaching him from the distant harbour entrance. At first, he thinks nothing of it, then it is right on top of him. O.J. reverses out of the way just in time, but his unexpectedly engine spins him, swinging his barge into the Fultan Ferry. The ferry now has a large hole, causing her to list.

Ten Cents, on his way out to meet O.J., sees the situation and tries to save the Fultan Ferry with a tow-line. But he is forced to cut the rope and the ferry sinks to the bottom. Sunshine arrives, not too far behind Ten Cents, and is sent to get the emergency services.

At the Star Pier, Burke and Blair make a second attempt to purchase O.J. The captain refuses.

Back at the scene of the Fultan Ferry, the Fire Chief arrives and cranes are put into position to raise the sunken ferry. Zorran and Zug arrive to blame O.J. for the accident, and gloatingly express their delight that there will be fewer Star Tugs available for quarantine work.

When Ten Cents and O.J. arrive at the mouth of the harbour, they find Top Hat and the two Z-Stacks still waiting. The Coast Guard informs the tugs that all ships waiting to get in are suspected of Microbionic Plague, and have been quarantined. Ten Cents is surprised when Zorran sends Zug home and says that he himself will go further out. Ten Cents, knowing Zorran, suspects foul-play.

Sunshine is out of port, looking for the tramper "Nantucket", when he spots the tramper (flying a yellow flag). He makes sure not to go too close. The tramper lowers its flag. As Sunshine moves closer, Nantucket asks Sunshine to give him a tow. With no customs boat in sight, Sunshine hurries away, not wanting to risk being infected. Zorran sees Sunshine on his way out and asks what he is doing. Ten Cents and O.J. quickly come to Sunshine's aid. Sunshine explains that the tramper's yellow flag was pulled down. Zorran tries to seize upon this "golden opportunity" by simply rushing out to the tramper immediately. Ten Cents gives chase, determined to beat Zorran to it. O.J. follows Ten Cents (doing considerable damage to his engine in the process), and stops him. Burke and Blair briefly pass. O.J. brushes off the two switchers' concern for his burnt out engine, telling them that they both could have been quarantined.

Zorran triumphantly reaches Nantucket, while Ten Cents and Sunshine are forced to tow O.J. back to the Star Pier. Ten Cents and Sunshine try to explain to Captain Star what happened, when Burke and Blair show up yet again and make their final offer for O.J. Captain Star turns them down, and instead tells Ten Cents to take him to Lucky’s Yard for a new engine.

Back at the Quarantine area, the Coastguard arrives and orders both Zorran and Nantucket to put out quarantine flags. Burke and Blair pass Zorran and snigger at his dilemma. Zorran ends up quarantined alongside Nantucket for a full forty days.

[edit] Notes

First appearance of Nantucket (the infected Tramp Steamer)
The Fultan 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, Zebedee, Zak are not featured in this episode
Cameos by Warrior, Big Mac, Zip (appears at the beginning with Zug) and Captain Zero.
This is the second episode in which Warrior is not the Main/Central character.
At the beginning, when Captain Star says the temperature was hot, you can see Zug and Zip in the background and Ten Cents's bumper briefly comes into the screen, this shot was used in "High Winds", but this was a different camera angle, and Zebedee had vanished or the screen was probably Zebedee's Point-of-View.
Big Mac makes a small minor cameo appearance, at the beginning at the Star Dock when Top Hat complains about the heat, Warrior appears next to Top Hat, but when O-J chugs away, it is now Big Mac.
According to tv.com, this episode actually aired before "Trapped" because the Rusty Old Tramper appears in this episode and it was blown up in "Trapped".