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""If you ever think of leaving the Z-Stacks..."/(cutting off) "What? Are you crazy, today was today. Okay."/"Oh... yeah... well, just a thought."/"Yeah. Well you think too much...""
Ten Cents and Zebedee before parting ways.

High Winds is the eleventh episode of TUGS.

Plot

One windy day, an evil tramp steamer named Johnny Cuba was posing an threat to Bigg City Port, but everyone was too busy worrying about the forecast for high winds to take any notice, including Ten Cents and Sunshine.

In the heart of Bigg City Port, O.J. tells Ten Cents and Sunshine to bring in Scuttlebutt Pete, who is dredging in the bay. Ten Cents and Sunshine see Zebedee passing through with several cargo barges, and they greet him, even though he was worried about the high winds. One of his barges comes loose. Ten Cents and Sunshine help him secure it against their inclinations. Zebedee equally grudgingly thanks them, but he knows that if Captain Zero heard about it, he'd be furious.

Out in the estuary, Johnny Cuba sees the way is clear, and decides to slip into port, to meet his “business pals” - fellow gangsters, presumably humans. The Coast Guard sees him and prepares to inspect him as he is suspected of smuggling, but Johnny Cuba deliberately runs him into some rocks. Nearby, Zebedee is looking for ships that may need a tow, and soon sees Johnny come into view from around the corner. Johnny orders Zebedee to bring him into the harbour. Zebedee tries to make excuses, for reasons which are explained later, but Johnny Cuba won't take no for an answer. Zebedee reluctantly tows him to the disused docks, where he will later meet his friends.

It is now revealed that years ago, something happened between Captain Zero and Johnny Cuba, so Zebedee cannot tell the Captain about him, as he has already helped him. As Zebedee tries to find a way out of his difficult situation, he sees Ten Cents and Sunshine struggling to secure Scuttlebutt Pete. He needs to get home before the storm breaks, but the wind’s too strong for the switchers to handle. Ten Cents calls to Zebedee for help. Zebedee is obliged to help as he owes them one. He kindly helps secure Scuttlebutt, but hopes Captain Zero does not find out.

Later, thinking no one is about, Zebedee steals a coal barge, but a suspicious Top Hat sees him and goes to check with Captain Star. Zebedee brings the coal to Johnny, and begs him to let him carry out his orders. Johnny Cuba finally agrees, but wants him back that night.

Further away, Warrior speaks to Big Mac about how Sally Seaplane told him that Hercules has the Princess Alice in tow, who has been damaged at sea. They go to tell O.J., so they can all help bring her in.

Out in the estuary, Zebedee finds the Coast Guard trapped on the rocks. The Coast Guard tells Zebedee about Johnny Cuba. Zebedee takes him to Lucky's Yard for repairs. From Zebedee's reaction at the mention of his name, the Coast Guard correctly guesses that Zebedee has helped Johnny Cuba, but decides to be lenient with him because he has helped him as well.

Zebedee meets up with Zorran, who says how he’s supposed to be out answering distress calls. Zebedee tries to explain, but Zorran has found out he has been helping the Star Tugs. Zebedee just steams away from him. Zorran eagerly anticipates the Stars (excluding Top Hat) docking the Princess Alice. It’s very difficult and dangerous work, due to the high winds and furthermore her damaged rudder, which means she cannot assist. All seems lost when the Stars start to lose her, and any second will be crushed between her and the quayside. They desperately need another tug. The Fire Launch is unable to help, as he is on standby in case of fire. Despite being reluctant at first, Zebedee readily darts in, and saves the ocean liner, much to Zorran's shock and disgust.

Once again, Zebedee meets up with Johnny Cuba, as ordered. Just as Johnny is about to give more dirty work, Hercules shows up and upon meeting him, says Johnny shall be taken to the authorities. Johnny tries to escape, but Zebedee finally plucks up the courage to stand up to him, and prevents him from escaping by blocking him in. Johnny gets what he deserves and is held by the authorities, who give official thanks to both Zebedee and Hercules.

It is soon dusk, and the weather is now lovely and calm. Ten Cents and Sunshine happen upon Zebedee, who is watching the sunset, and tells them how happy Captain Zero is to have Johnny locked up. While Ten Cents and Sunshine give him further thanks for helping out with Scuttlebutt Pete, Ten Cents offers Zebedee a place among the Star Tugs, but Zebedee declines, saying that "today was today" and leaves for the Zero Dock.

Characters

Cast

Deleted Scenes

See: Deleted Scenes

Trivia

  • According to Chris Tulloch's biography page on his website, he recounts that this episode was written in a day as a replacement for another episode about Hercules rescuing three ocean liners from an accident of which the original script was deemed impossible to film, due to the scale and dimension of water tanks in the story.[1] However, David Mitton was away supervising the editing of other episodes and Robert D. Cardona suggested Tulloch direct the episode.
    • This would later inspire Tulloch to write and direct another episode (Trapped).
  • This is the first and only episode to feature Johnny Cuba (although his model was later reused in different episodes).
  • This is the only time in the series when a Z-Stack is both the focus character and the story's protagonist.
  • During the docking, the Princess Alice has one of her lifeboats lowered on her port side.
  • Stock footage is used from Regatta and Munitions.
  • This episode marks the final appearances of the Princess Alice, Coast Guard, Scuttlebutt Pete, Big Mickey, Fultan Ferry, and Captain Zero.
    • This also marks Captain Star's last visual appearance.
  • This episode marks Zebedee, Coast Guard and Scuttlebutt Pete's last speaking roles.
  • The ending shot of Zebedee chugging into the sunset is the one seen during the director's credit in the intro for fifteen minute episodes.
  • Top Hat is the only Star Fleet member who doesn't/does not help the others with the Princess Alice.
  • There are several scenes only seen in the photo book adaption:
    • Captain Zero giving his tugs salvage orders.
    • Ten Cents and Sunshine bringing fuel to Lillie Lightship (from footage seen in "Regatta").
    • Johnny telling Sunshine to scram.
    • Ten Cents and Sunshine talking to the Coast Guard about Johnny Cuba.
    • Sally Seaplane telling Warrior about the Princess Alice (only mentioned in the episode).
    • Towards the end, Captain Zero scolds Zebedee for helping the Star Tugs with the Princess Alice, as well as the rest of his tugs for not getting any salvage. The Coast Guard then appears, and explains to Captain Zero about Zebedee and Hercules with Johnny Cuba. He thanks Zebedee, and leaves.
  • The Japanese title of this episode translates to "ゼベデーとギャング" (Zebedee and the Gangster).
  • According to Chris Tulloch, this was either the third or fourth episode filmed. As Pirate was the third, this was the fourth.

Goofs

  • At the beginning of the episode, when Sunshine comments about the rising sun, the shot of the dawn sky is actually stock footage from Munitions. A visible clue that gives this away is that it is night-time in the top-right corner of the screen.
  • Throughout the episode, the Princess Alice can be seen hidden behind the derelict buildings on Johnny Cuba's side.
  • When Zebedee returns with the coal barge, the derelict quayside buildings near to Zebedee vanish for the remainder of the episode.
  • Ten Cents, Sunshine and Scuttlebutt Pete agree to keep the fact that Zebedee helped them a secret, but later, Zorran somehow knows about it.
  • When Zebedee is talking to Zorran, two of Zorran's side fenders can be seen wiggling.
  • When Zebedee helps the Stars with the Princess Alice, he says "This is two you owe me, switchers!", but it would actually only be one.
  • The Fire Tug said that he couldn't/could not help the Princess Alice because he was needed in case of fire, but when Zebedee leaves, the Fire Tug is helping the Princess Alice.
  • At the end of the episode, Zebedee asks Ten Cents and Sunshine to keep the fact that he helped with Scuttlebutt Pete from Zero and Zorran, but by that point, Zorran already knew.

References

External links

IMDb favicon High Winds at the Internet Movie Database


Tugs

Series 1

Series 2 >>


#01 Sunshine #05 Munitions #10 Jinxed
#02 Pirate #06 Warrior #11 High Winds
#03 Trapped #07 High Tide #12 Up River
#04 Regatta #08 Quarantine #13 Bigg Freeze
#09 Ghosts
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