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"Tugboats, as you know, it is our solemn and ancient pledge to keep the harbour open, through wind, or rain, or snow....or...or ice."
— The Dispatcher
TheDayIceCametotheBigHarborHeader
The Day Ice Came to the Harbour
Director(s)

Robert D. Cardona

Writer(s)

Jeff Rosen

Narrator

The Harbour Master
(Denny Doherty)

Air date

July 19th, 1993

Previous episode

Theodore the
Vegetable

Next episode

Theodore's Bad
Dreams

The Day Ice Came to the Harbour is the eleventh episode of the first season and the 1st episode pulled from airing.

Plot

The tugboats awaken to see the Big Harbour covered in ice. They are quite surprised, as well as the Dispatcher. The last time there was ice in the Big Harbour was over 100 years ago. The Dispatcher reminds the tugs that their ancient pledge is to keep the harbour opened through wind, rain, snow, or ice. But Pearl and Petra's hulls are too thin and not as strong as the tugs' hulls. However, to keep the Big Harbour from closing, the Dispatcher tells the tugs that the pride of the Big Harbour rests on them, as they are in charge. They are thrilled about it, seeing as how no pilot boats will be around. And they go to work.

George and Emily go to move Bobby Barge. Emily suggests she should be up front because she can steer better in the ice. George thinks of it but insists he should be in front. So, George pulls Bobby and crashes through the ice with Emily pushing. Foduck brings Bonnavista barge to the salvage yards. Theodore and Hank pull Phillip and Fillmore across the harbour because the ice is really thick, and they can't get across on their own. As the sun begins to set, Hank suggests he and Theodore should go out again. Theodore wonders if they're allowed, but Hank insists seeing they're in charge. And so, they do.

Foduck, George and Emily are heading back to the dock pretty tired, but the Dispatcher tells them that an oil tanker named Olympia is coming into the harbour and asks if they can do it. George says yes, but Emily wonders where Theodore and Hank are. The three ocean tugs don't wait for them and go to greet Olympia. George and Emily tie their lines on to the oil tanker and take her to the oil refinery while Foduck leads them like a pilot boat. Then the Dispatcher radios that an ice breaker ship named Inverness is coming to clear ice, and that all ships and boats need to return to the dock as soon as possible. Foduck suggests he should take charge, but George insists on staying in charge. So Foduck continues acting as a pilot boat.

Theodore and Hank are still playing around the ice acting as ice breaker ships. Meanwhile, George is starting to feel very hot pushing the ice around and pulling Olympia. Emily soon sees that he's billowing smoke and she and Foduck tell him to turn off his engines before he damages them. He does so, and just in time, because Theodore and Hank aren't paying attention to what they're doing. They soon see the three ocean tugs and stop. Then they all start arguing how who should've done what and what should've been done when. Then they hear Inverness' horn far out in the ocean. They know they have to get out of her way, but they're still a long way from the oil refinery. Then the tugboats know they didn't do what they were told to do and admit it's their fault. Then Inverness' blasts her horn. And she's getting closer to the tugboats. Then they come to the conclusion they should all work together. So, Emily takes the lead as she can steer around ice easily, George pushes as he is the strongest, Theodore and Hank help push on the side, and Foduck continues acting as a pilot boat leading the way and shining his fire fighter light.

Soon the tugboats lead Olympia into the Big Harbour just as it got dark, and try to dock her at the oil refinery, but the ice keeps pilling up every time they push. Then they hear Inverness' horn getting closer to the harbour. They soon start thinking they let the harbour down. The tugs look at Theodore, seeing as how he always comes up with a plan. But Theodore is daydreaming saying he and Hank were pushing the ice around. They soon start thinking all is lost. But that's when Theodore does have a plan. If he and Hank were pushing the ice around the harbour, then they should push it at the oil refinery, that way they can dock Olympia. And that's what they do. Theodore and Hank push the ice out of the way, and George and Emily push Olympia into the dock while Foduck directs everyone. At last, Olympia is docked. Inverness blasts her horn to warn the tugs to clear the way, and the tugboats head back to the dock honking their horns in happiness. Even though they're tired, they couldn't wait to tell everyone about their adventure. Which would have to wait until the next day, as they fall asleep.

Characters

Trivia

  • The Icebreaker Inverness was only mentioned and never seen. Inverness is the name of another cargo ship in a later episode.
  • This is one of few episodes where the Harbor Master mentions himself: he relates that he was the one who made the decision to keep the Big Harbour open.

Goofs

  • In the scene where Theodore and Hank are done towing the ferry twins and deciding to explore the ice, Hank's lifeboat looks like it is about to fall off his deck.
  • In various scenes, the tugs' mouths are peeling off.
  • When George, Emily, and Foduck set off to meet Olympia, George's propeller can be seen through the water.
  • In the final scene when the tugs are supposed to be sleeping, Emily's and Theodore's eyes are cleary open.

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