Trapped
Based upon the episode by Chris Tulloch
Adapted by Jonathan Downs, Rachel Ravens and Zack Wanzer
There were times, believe it or not, when the Stars and Z-Stacks took on a big job together. One of those times was when timber and tanning bark had to be brought down from the sawmills Up River. And this year, it was especially important that they worked together.
But Zug was making heavy going of towing an old hulk on its last journey to the breaker's yard Up River. On the way, he passed Zak and Zip, who were towing barges of lumber back to Bigg City.
"Hi, Zug!" Zip called.
"Hey, Zug!" Zak called. "Zorran's going mad waiting for you. Where you been?"
"Captain Zero told me to take this old rust bucket to The Breaker's Yards," gasped Zug.
"You'll see Zorran at Mittsville before you get there," sighed Zak. "He's not gonna like it."
"I'm only carrying out orders," Zug retorted. "Zorran can't blame me!"
"Ha! Don't you believe it!" Zip said.
An alligator tug called Billy Shoepack worked Up River, delivering essentials like gasoline, ropes, fuses and dynamite from Mittsville to the logging camps. Why an alligator tug? Well, you can see he's just as low in the water, and in Billy's case, just as dangerous.
On this particular day, Shoepack arrived at the logging camp, where Big Mac and O.J. were waiting for their barges to be loaded for the trip back to Bigg City.
"Ah, look who's here!" said O.J. "It's Shoepack the Alligator Tug!"
"Hey, Star Tugs!" Billy called. "Don't you wish you carried something more exciting than wood?"
"No thanks," Big Mac replied. "Just get that stuff away from here. You're welcome to it."
"Dynamite's exciting stuff!" Billy said excitedly. "Makes lovely big bangs! Fairly harmless if you know how to handle it, like I do."
"You're not unloading next to us, are you?" O.J. asked, worriedly.
"'Fraid so, O.J.. But don't worry. If it goes up, we all go up!"
"Eh?!" Big Mac gasped.
"No, it's safe. Only joking."
"You'd better be."
In Mittsville, halfway Up River, Zug was struggling with the old tramp steamer towed behind him and was worried about meeting up with Zorran. Unfortunately for him, the harbour tug was waiting and was not impressed with the switcher.
"What are you doing with that?" snapped Zorran. "We're all on log detail, remember?"
"Sorry, Zorran. I did remember," Zug replied, "but Captain Zero said to take it to the Breaker's Yard on my way."
"On your way? It's a mile further up river. I've been waiting for you like I'm anchored here till I rust!"
"Oh yeah, but we've got to do what the Captain says, Zorran. Unless they get it today, they won't take it. They have a lot of breaking up to do."
"Including you, if you don't get moving!"
"I can't go any faster," Zug replied. "See, the current is really strong against me. You can see that."
"Alright then," Zorran said, moving forward. "Let's get it there and get rid of it as fast as we can."
"Oh, thanks, Zorran," Zug sighed with relief.
"Never mind the thanks!" Zorran snapped as he positioned himself behind the tramper. "Get going! Get speed up! Full steam! Come on! Come on!"
Zorran and Zug set off up river, but Zug was struggling to keep up with Zorran's speed.
"Don't push so hard, Zorran!" pleaded Zug. "I can't keep ahead!"
"Go faster! More steam!" Zorran ordered.
"I haven't any more!" Zug insisted.
"Pull! Your tow's going slack!"
"I can't hold it!" Zug cried in alarm. And he was right. The speed of the current, combined with Zorran's speed, was causing friction and the tramper started moving sideways.
"Pull tight, Zug, you fool! Pull!" Zorran called.
"I'm trying as hard as I can! It's no good!"
"Hold it, hold it!"
"It's got to go!" Zug screamed as the tramper slewed across the river and became grounded between the two steep banks, cutting off the river.
"It's blocked the river!" Zug exclaimed.
"Course it's blocked the river, you idiot!" snapped Zorran.
"I'm trapped on this side! What can I do?"
"Wait there and claim salvage!" Zorran replied, backing away.
"But help could be ages getting here!"
"You've got company, all the Stars are on your side!" Zorran said, a sudden realisation dawning on him. "I've had plenty of time to see who was there, haven't I? That means that the Z-Stacks have got all the harbour to ourselves, haven't we? Heh heh heh! Captain Zero will be pleased."
"Don't leave me here!" Zug begged.
"Sorry, Zug, but we'll have to manage without you," Zorran said, laughing maliciously as he left. He was keen to take advantage of the Stars being trapped at Up River.
Zug wasn't alone for long as Top Hat and Sunshine arrived with their barges and were shocked to see the tramper across the river.
"Oh, good heavens! What on earth?! We can't get down river!" Top Hat exclaimed.
"It's not my fault. What can I do?" Zug replied.
"Well, we're never gonna get that cleared today," Sunshine sighed.
"That means we're stuck up here," moaned Top Hat.
"Aye, probably. Are you alright, Zug?" Sunshine said.
"Zorran and I were taking it up river, when the tide slewed it across and jammed it," Zug explained.
"Aye, once it starts to go you cannot stop it," Sunshine said, understandingly.
"We found that out," Zug agreed.
"It's put the blinkers on getting back to Bigg City," Top Hat sighed.
"And it'll hold up delivery," Sunshine said. "Right, Ah'll go back up river and warn the others. Ah'll see if I can find a crane while Ah'm at it."
"Be as quick as you can, will you?" Top Hat called as Sunshine headed back up river.
Big Mac and O.J. had just left the logging camp when they came across Sunshine.
"Big Mac, O.J.!" she called. "There's been an accident. Zorran and Zug were taking a tramper across the river when the tide slewed it across and jammed it. Now it's a barrier trapping us, Top Hat and Zug on the wrong side."
"That's all we need!" grumbled Big Mac. "I often wonder if other harbors have these sorts of problems."
"Settle down, Big Mac!" O.J. urged. "We'd better go and assess the situation."
"Ah'm goin' to find a crane," Sunshine replied, continuing on her way. "Ah'll meet you back there."
At Mittsville, down river from the blockage, Zorran was surprised to discover that not quite all the Stars were trapped. There, coming with a barge, was Ten Cents.
"Well, well, well. Hello, Ten Cents," Zorran said nervously.
"'Ere, what are you doing here?" Ten Cents asked.
"I thought you were at the logging camp."
"Yeah, wrong again, Zorran!" Ten Cents retorted. "I was pulled out for this special delivery to Mittsville, machinery for cutting timber. Warrior and Hercules were called away to help a tramper out at sea."
"I thought all of the Stars were at Up River," Zorran said to himself.
"'Ere, what's been happening, Zorran?" Ten Cents asked.
"Er… there's been an accident," Zorran replied. "Er… an old tramper's jammed across the river."
"What? Aw, you mean no one can get through?" Ten Cents exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's right. You've got it, Ten Cents. Oh, my you're quick."
"Oh no! We'll get behind schedule!" Ten Cents groaned. "Warrior and Hercules are out at sea and Big Mac, O.J., Top Hat and Sunshine are trapped up river!"
"And Zug, the fool," Zorran replied.
"I'll tie my barge off and get off up there," Ten Cents said. "Zorran, are you going back to port to get help?"
"Of course, to tell Captain Zero; don't fret," Zorran fibbed, as he headed off down river.
"Tell Captain Star, won't you?"
"Of course."
"And salvage! And Warrior and Hercules if they're back."
"Captain Star, Captain Zero, the salvage team, Warrior and Hercules. Leave them all to me!"
Of course, Ten Cents had a feeling that Zorran was lying, but he was more worried about his friends to dwell on that.
Billy Shoepack was heading down river when he spotted a familiar face coming towards him.
"Hello; it's Sunshine!" Billy called. "How's life in Bigg City Port, eh, Sunshine?"
"Billy Shoepack!" Sunshine said, pleased to see her old friend. "It's great to see ya! Life's goin' great in Bigg City. Say, where's the biggest floating crane around here? Is there one still at Top Town?"
"Afraid not. It was scrapped. What did you want it for?"
"There's been an accident. An old tramper's slewed across the river, and trapped us up here. Do you know anybody who could help?"
"Right here! See that case?" Billy said, motioning towards something on his barge.
"Yeah…" she realised what it was. "Oh no! Not dynamite, Billy!" she groaned in dismay.
"What do you mean, 'oh no?' That'll blow a hole in any tramper. I've always wanted to blast someone out of trouble! Useful stuff, dynamite. Great fun too!"
"Sounds dangerous," winced Sunshine.
"Ah, you're not scared are you?" asked Billy. "Come on. Where's your sense of adventure?"
"Well, as long as you're careful," Sunshine replied, still unsure.
"Don't worry," Billy replied. "I'll be very careful. Now come on."
With that, the two tugs headed back to the scene of the accident.
Ten Cents came up to the blockage and saw the water level on his side getting lower.
"Oh no; this is serious," he said worriedly. "I hope everyone is alright. Anybody there?! Anybody on that side?!"
"Ooh! I say, hello!" Top Hat called as he raised his head above the tramper. "Have you come to save the day, Ten Cents?"
"If I can," replied Ten Cents. "I'll have to get back to Mittsvile for a crane. The water level is falling this side. Must be building up on your side, is it?"
"So it appears, yes," Top Hat replied, noticing the higher water level.
"I'll be back as soon as I can then," Ten Cents called as he headed back for Mittsville.
"Right, well, do hurry up!" Top Hat called.
Big Mac and O.J. arrived not long after Ten Cents left and assessed the damage.
"What a mess, isn't it?" O.J. sighed. "Captain Star will go mad!"
"Well, I did tell him, O.J.," said Top Hat. "Working with Z-Stacks just doesn't work."
"It wasn't my fault! Ask Zorran!" Zug insisted.
"One of Zorran's little schemes," grumbled Big Mac. "I thought as much."
"Never mind that," O.J. interjected. "Let's try and make a plan to get out of here."
"Now for the voice of experience," Top Hat muttered.
"Tell you what; we'll make a battering ram," suggested O.J.. "Lash up three or four barges."
"Yes?" Top Hat said, in an unsure tone.
"Well, they're heavy with logs already!" replied O.J.. "Then we'll get behind them and ram the tramper!"
"That's a great idea, O.J.," Zug cried excitedly.
"And it might work," agreed Big Mac. "Let's try it!"
"Well, I'll try anything. However unlikely," Top Hat said with resignation.
Back down in Mittsville, Ten Cents found Little Ditcher, the A-frame crane. The majority of Little Ditcher's work was dredging up the river at Mittsville or oyster fishing in the estuary. Despite her size, she was a part of the Salvage Team and used for salvage operations that required more than one crane.
"Hey! Little Ditcher!" Ten Cents called.
"What's up, Ten Cents?" Little Ditcher replied.
"There's been an accident up stream. I'll need your help to drag a tramper out of the way."
"I've been dredging. Just wait for my pulley to go back in place and I'm yours."
The tugs got the lashed-up battering ram pointed at the tramper and took up positions for maximum impact.
"Right," said O.J.. "Nobody pushes until I give the word, then keep going, even when it hits. Ready. Steady. GO!"
Big Mac, Top Hat and Zug pushed the battering ram towards the tramper at full-speed.
"Keep going!" O.J. urged.
The ram hit the tramper, causing a huge dent in it. This caused the barges to go sideways. Poor Zug was thrown to the side and got stuck between the tramper and a barge.
"Help! I'm trapped!" he cried in alarm.
"What? Well, no more than the rest of us, hmm," Top Hat snarked.
"I hope I won't get sucked under."
Fortunately, they didn't. The tramper buckled, but didn't move. The Stars and Zug could only hope that help would come soon. Though they never expected who Sunshine brought.
"We're here, O.J.!" Sunshine called as Billy Shoepack blew his whistle.
"Good heavens! What's that?" Top Hat exclaimed.
"Hiya, fellas! Heard you needed a nudge!" Billy said, coming up alongside.
"I thought Sunshine had gone for a crane, not an alligator," Big Mac muttered.
"Yes, Sunshine, haven't you got someone else coming?" O.J. asked.
"Er…"
"We don't need anybody!" Billy replied. "I have enough dynamite to blast the… Oh, great, it's already dented! I'll blow it apart for you, easy! You'll all get through!"
"Or be blown to kingdom come?" Top Hat retorted.
Back at Mittsville, Little Ditcher had gotten her pulley back in place.
"Ready when you are, Ten Cents."
"Yeah, right, I'll…" Ten Cents began, when he heard the sound of Zorran's hooter. "What's he doing back here on his own?"
"I wouldn't try that little fella on a tramper of that size. It might crush her!" Zorran called, as he passed by.
"Oi, Zorran!" called Ten Cents. "Where's the salvage team? Or Warrior and Hercules? We can't move this on our own… Ugh! Come back here." he groaned in frustration as he disappeared out of sight. "Typical Zorran…"
"I'll do the best I can, Ten Cents," Little Ditcher said.
"Huh? Oh yeah, of course…" Ten Cents said as he went to get himself lashed up to Little Ditcher. "Come on, Little Ditcher, you can do it."
Zorran headed back towards the tramper, unaware of Billy Shoepack's plan to blow the tramper apart.
Sunshine pulled Zug clear, as Shoepack set up the dynamite.
"Ready for the big bang?" called Billy.
"This could be a disaster. O.J.," Big Mac muttered.
"We've already got a disaster," O.J. replied, referring to the ship.
"Here we go; Billy Shoepack's big moment!" Billy called excitedly.
"I hope so, for all our sakes," Top Hat sighed.
"Stand by!" Billy called, rushing back and began counting down. "Ten, nine, eight…"
"I hope we're far enough away," Big Mac said with concern.
"…seven, six, five, four…"
"We'll soon know," Top Hat replied.
"…three, two, one… FIRE!"
The fuse went out, but nothing happened.
"What's happened?" Billy asked, puzzled.
"Ah don't know," Sunshine replied, just as surprised. Normally, Billy's dynamite went off without a hitch.
"You tell us," muttered O.J..
"Probably the fuse got damp, that's all," Billy suggested. "One volunteer to go and see?"
"What do you mean, one volunteer?" Big Mac grunted.
"Yes, what for?" Zug asked, nervously.
"To take a look while I fix another fuse wire!" Billy replied.
"Cor! Pull the other one, Shoepack!" Big Mac retorted.
"Yes, it's best if an expert looks at it," O.J. agreed.
"But it seems you will have to do," Top Hat said.
"Right, leave it to me!" Billy said as he went to check the dynamite. "None of you move."
"Anyone going to move?" asked Top Hat. "I'm not going to move." He and the others began to wonder how it was that Billy Shoepack hadn't blown himself up before this.
"I was dead right," Billy said, examining the dynamite. "Just a wet fuse."
"Or it was never fixed properly," Big Mac muttered.
"No problem," Billy replied. "It'll go this time, sky high!"
"Sky high is too high, by far," Top Hat muttered.
Back on the other side, Zorran came up towards the tramper and was pleased with himself.
"Great, couldn't be better! Forget it, Ten Cents! No A-Frame's gonna shift that an inch!"
"Ready for the big spectacular?" Billy asked the other tugs, having reset the dynamite, unaware that Zorran was getting close to the tramper.
"Yeah, come on, get on with it," O.J. urged.
"Here we go!"
"Yes, three, two, one, go!" Big Mac said quickly.
"Don't rush me, I do the countdown," Billy replied, rushing back and starting his countdown again. "Ten, nine, eight…"
"Zug!" Zorran called.
"…seven, six…."
"Zug?"
"…five, four…"
"Answer me, you fool!"
"...three, two, one… FIRE!"
This time, the dynamite went off on cue and the tramper broke open. Because of the built-up pressure, a sudden flow of water came rushing through the gap.
"Ugh! What's happening?!" Zorran exclaimed in shock. The flow of water was so strong it pushed Zorran back and Billy was pulled towards the fast flowing water.
"Geronimo!" Billy cried excitedly. "What a sight! What a bang! Brilliant!"
Billy went right over the makeshift waterfall he had created, and Big Mac, O.J., Top Hat, Sunshine and Zug followed suit, but the water level was starting to even out.
As the water continued to rush, Zorran found himself swept on top of some rocks. Eventually, the flow of the water subsided and all the tugs gathered to the rocks Zorran was stuck on.
"Ooh, you've got a problem there, Zorran," Big Mac chuckled.
"Oh yeah?!" Zorran snapped.
"Hey, Zug! Zug!" Sunshine called, breaking into a fit of giggles. "Doesn't Zorran look funny, eh? Stuck up on those rocks?"
"Oh, well, I suppose that…" Zug began as he started to laugh as well.
"Stop laughing!" snapped Zorran. "Stop laughing, it's not funny!"
"Well, we think it is, don't we, Zug?" Sunshine said.
"Yeah…" Zorran glared at Zug. "No."
"Alright, joke's over," O.J. called. "Back and pick up our barges. Problem solved."
"Thanks to me!" Billy replied. "You didn't believe I'm an expert, did you?"
"Yeah, that's true," Sunshine said.
"Well, there was an element of luck, I suspect," Top Hat admitted. "But I must say, I am quite impressed!"
"Well, I can't play any more games with you," Billy said, as he headed back Up River. "I've got real work to do!"
"Bye, Billy!" Sunshine called.
"For once in his life," said Big Mac, "Shoepack's done a great job."
"Never mind him!" snapped Zorran. "What about me?"
"In trouble, Zorran?" Ten Cents called, floating with Little Ditcher. "Looks like you got crushed instead of Little Ditcher!" Indeed, the only thing that Zorran had succeeded in doing that day was trapping himself instead of the Star Tugs.
The End
Author's notes: Once again, thanks Johnathan for the assistance. Pretty straightforward adaption this time around. Only real changes are Hercules and Warrior's absence being explained, a few minor dialogue changes here and there and plugging up the fourth wall break near the end of the episode. Next time, the 4th of July celebration is interrupted by an emergency...
