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"A mermaid! A mermaid! I saw a real live, real mermaid!"
— Hank
MermaidHeader
Hank and the Mermaid
Director(s)

Robert D. Cardona

Producer(s)

Andrew Cochran

Writer(s)

Jeff Rosen

Narrator

The Harbour Master
(Denny Doherty)

Air date

July 12th 1993

Previous episode

Different Strokes -
Different Boats

Next episode

True Blue Friends

Hank and the Mermaid is the sixth episode of the first season.

Plot

During the morning work meeting, the tugboats receive news that a shipwreck had been found at the bottom of the Big Harbour. George thinks he can pick it up with his tow line, but Foduck tells him it's a large ship. Hank is excited hoping there will be treasure. As Theodore adds there used to be pirates around the harbour, and hopes it could be a pirate ship. Hank tells a tall tale about seeing ghost pirates on Willy's Island. And that makes all the tugs laugh. The Dispatcher sends Theodore and Hank to pick up Bonnavista barge to pick up the site where the old wreck is, which excites the two small tugs. Theodore and Hank talk about it even more, and wonders if it's a Viking ship. Theodore dreams that he may become famous if it is a Viking ship, and he picks it up, it might get him his V-Word and calls himself "Theodore the VIKING."

Theodore and Hank arrive to Bonnavista's dock. Hank asks her if the shipwreck is a Viking ship, but she's doubtful and believes it maybe just a sailing ship. They arrive at the sunken shipwreck where a marker buoy marks the spot. Theodore and Hank want to help and see the old wreck for themselves. But Bonnavista says she doesn't need their help, which makes them sad, and they go back home. As night falls, a storm is blowing in and it's keeping the tugs awake. They're all thinking of the shipwreck. Foduck thinks the ship is down 412 fathoms deep. And they keep thinking what Bonnavista is going to fine. Hank thinks it's a giant lobster with a nose like an elephant, and that makes the other tugs laugh again. Then the wind starts blowing harder and they tie themselves to the dock.

Next morning, Hank goes to see Bonnavista, who is just waking up. Theodore is already there and are both eager to learn what she found. She tells them she was raising part of the old ship, but she lost an important piece during the storm. Just as she's about to tell them what it is, Pearl (mistaken for Petra) whistles for them. So, the two tugs go to work quite disappointed. Later when Hank finishes his work, he goes to see what was washed up on the shore. Then he sees something that leaves him stunned. A mermaid is swimming in the water. He goes to tell the others what he saw, and they follow him. But when they get to the shore, there's nothing in the water. They think Hank is telling another story and go back to the dock. But when Hank sees the mermaid again, he tries to get their attention. But this time, they ignore him. Leaving Hank depressed.

Hank keeps telling himself he knows he saw the mermaid. He drifts to the shipwreck site where Bonnavista is still at. She found more pieces of the old shipwreck, but Hank is less excited than he was before. However, Bonnavista is still missing the important piece of the shipwreck. But Hank is still not paying attention. He is about to leave her, but she wants to know if Hank has seen anything. Hank tells her he saw a mermaid, but everyone thinks he's making it up. Bonnavista is excited about this and asks Hank to take her where he saw the mermaid, much to his surprise. Hank takes her to the place where he seen the mermaid. And the mermaid appears. Hank is excited about it, but Bonnavista explains that the mermaid is really the ship's figurehead that she was looking for. And when Hank said she has green hair, it's really just seaweed stuck to the figurehead. And also, because he can see the mermaid sometimes, it's because the tide was carrying it in and out. Now Hank is even more miserable. He thinks no one is ever going to believe him again. But Bonnavista has an idea to cheer him up.

During the afternoon, the other tugs are at the dock when they hear Hank's horn. They see him taking Bonnavista home with the pieces of the shipwreck but are stunned to see a mermaid on Hank's bow. It's really the figurehead tied to his bow, but the other tugs think it's a real mermaid. And they follow him forming a grand parade and tooting their horns. And Hank starts singing Yo Yo Yo, which he mistakes for Yo Ho Ho.

Characters

Trivia

  • This episode is Bonnavista's official debut after a cameo in The Dark and Scary Cove, which also makes her the only speaking barge in Season 1.
  • Emily references Pinocchio when she teases Hank about his tiny nose.

Goofs

  • Bonnavista is mistaken as "he" in one part.
  • Pearl is mistaken for Petra.
  • In the first shot of the scene at night, Theodore and Hank are floating on the Ocean Tug side of the dock. But in the next shot, they're instantly back on the Harbour Tug side.

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