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"I think we're ALL best friends!"
— Theodore
BestFriends56
Best Friends
Director(s)

Robert Cardona

Producer(s)

Andrew Cochran

Writer(s)

Kathy Macellan

Narrator

The Harbour Master
(Denny Doherty)

Air date

July 31th, 1993

Previous episode

The Great Harbour
Clean Up Contest

Next episode

Theodore and the
Big Harbour

Best Friends is the nineteenth episode of the first season, as well as the 4th Episode pulled from airing

Plot

Emily was returning from France when Theodore shows up. He's eager to learn how her trip went. But she told him when she got there, she wanted to rest her tete ('Head' in French). But soon, after her nap, she was ready for a fete ('Party' in French as well). Theodore thinks they're wonderful words. And Emily has been to so many places around the world. He tells her that she is his best friend, which makes Emily smile.

Later, Hank is showing him around the harbour. He usually likes to make things fun when he gives a tour. So, he challenges Theodore to a race. He makes the quickest turns, and wins the race as he reaches Bedford Buoy, and has him spinning around. Theodore is impressed and tells Hank he is his best friend, which he always wanted, and asks Hank to teach him fast turns as well. Hank says he will after he got done with his job, and they agree to meet at the sandy beach later on and practice doing fast turns. Then when Theodore practices, he sees Foduck at the shoreline. He's using his sonar and warns Theodore that there's an underwater sandbar where he's at and needs to warn the other tugs. As he turns to leave, Theodore notices his new red lifeboat on his stack, and thinks it looks great. Foduck tells him he was given it so that everyone will know that he's a firefighting tug, and he's very important. Theodore ponders over the lifeboat and asks Foduck if he can try it on. Foduck isn't too sure. Tugboats always need to have a lifeboat at all costs. So, he suggests doing a trade for the afternoon for Theodore's lifeboat for his. Theodore is happy to hear this and tells Foduck he is his best friend. And he shows Theodore how the sounds of his sonar machine helps find things underwater. But as they leave, Theodore can't help but to think he forgot something.

Hank had finished moving Barrington barge and was looking for Theodore, because he promised to practice doing speed turns with him. Theodore and Foduck are floating together looking for sandbars. Theodore feels important with Foduck's bright red lifeboat on his deck. Then he sees Hank racing towards them. And he seemed worried when he found Theodore. Because he wasn't at the sandy beach to practice speed turns, and he might have got lost. Foduck tells Hank they were practicing finding things underwater with his sonar. Hank asks if Theodore wants to practice speed turns with him. And that's when Theodore knew he had forgot something. He had promised to practice with Hank, but he also said he would look for things with Foduck. And then Hank sees the red lifeboat on Theodore's deck. Theodore explains he and Foduck traded lifeboats, and Foduck tells him they're best friends. Hank feels hurt and is quiet. But tries to stay cheerful and suggests practicing quick stops by himself. Theodore is concerned that Hank isn't too upset about him not being his best friend and asks him if it's okay that he's not. Hank says 'sure'. But he hurries off. Theodore wonders if he really meant what he said. Hank didn't want Theodore to see he was about to cry and hides himself with tears coming from his eyes.

Later, George is telling the other tugs about his latest adventure on the high seas when the Dispatcher interrupts and tells them that three big ships had arrived at the same time. And all of them have to bring them in as soon as possible. But Hank is still missing. The Dispatcher tells the tugs to find Hank immediately. And they do right away. Theodore has found Hank right away. And he seemed stuck on the sandbar Foduck found earlier. Theodore knows he'll get stuck too if he gets too close. He tries to get his attention and tells him he's needed for a big job. But Hank doesn't answer. Theodore asks if he's okay, but there's still no reply. Then Theodore has a bad thought, and races to find help. He finds Emily at the cove and tells her he found Hank, but he won't answer. And he's probably angry with him. Emily is concerned and asks why. Theodore tells her that Hank was his best friend, but Foduck was his best friend too. Emily thought he was her best friend. That is until she saw the red lifeboat on his deck, and now feels betrayed. Theodore asks if she's angry with him too. But before she can answer, George and Foduck arrive and tell them they found Hank as well. The three V-tugs head towards Hank. Except Theodore. He thinks Hank is angry with him and doesn't want his help.

George, Foduck and Emily button on Hank and pull hard. But Hank isn't budging. He got himself completely stuck on the sand bar. Theodore is watching and blames himself for what happened to Hank because he wanted things for himself. George calls to Theodore's help, and Theodore buttons on and pulls with the others. Then Hank begins to move slightly. And with one big pull, Hank is finally free from the sand bar. All the tugs cheer and Hank thanks Theodore, as he felt the difference with him pulling. Emily asks how he got stuck, and he explains that he wasn't paying attention where he was going. He was practicing quick stops, and that he was at full speed when he was going into the cove. And then he mentions that he was thinking about Theodore not being his best friend anymore. Theodore asks if that was the reason he didn't answer when he called him. But Hank said he couldn't hear Theodore because he was facing the wrong way. Theodore is relieved to hear that. But the other tugs are facing him and want to know who Theodore's best friend is. After giving it some serious thought, he tells them they're all best friends. And they all happily agree. Then Pearl the pilot boat arrives and tells the tugs they need to bring in the three ships right away, for a wind was coming. And they all head to the ships as best friends.

Characters

Trivia

  • The episode received a book adaption called 'Theodore's Best Friend'.
  • Another language is spoken by the narrator - French.
  • George was the only tug Theodore hadn't claimed as his best friend in this episode.
  • At the end of the next episode, Hank was showing Theodore around the Big Harbour and in this episode he is still doing so. Which means that this episode takes place right after the next episode.
  • The scene when Hank bumps into Bedford is used in the opening theme.
  • This episode shares its name with the Series 12 finale of Thomas and Friends in 2008, 15 years after this episode aired.
  • Pre-filmed footage from the next episode is used.

Goofs

  • Hank said that he didn't hear Theodore because he was facing the wrong way. But when Theodore was calling him, Hank moves his eyes as if he did hear Theodore.
  • When the tugs are struggling to pull Hank off the sand bar, Theodore is floating right behind them but in the next shot, he is several yards away.
  • When Foduck tells Hank that he and Theodore are best friends, Theodore is smiling.

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