Episode 103: Let the Water Run

Fraggle Rock
Air Date	January 24, 1983
Written by	Jocelyn Stevenson
Director	Perry Rosemond

Sprocket can't take his bath, because Doc has turned off the water pipes to fix the boiler in his workshop. Unknown to Doc, this also cuts off the Fraggles' only water supply. Headstrong Red Fraggle is preparing a swimming show all by herself, refusing her friends' offers of help -- but when the Fraggle Pond empties and doesn't refill, she finds she can't fix it alone. Meanwhile, Junior Gorg tries to get water for Pa's bath, but his well is also connected to the empty Fraggle pool.

Fraggle Facts

• The Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs rely on The Pipebangers for water. The Pipebangers strike pipes in Fraggle Rock with sticks to make the water run. The banging disturbs Doc, who empties the boiler in his workshop and supplies the underground caverns with water. The Fraggle Pond, in turn, is the well from which the Gorgs derive their water supply. The interconnectedness of the different worlds goes completely unnoticed by their inhabitants, however.

Notes

• Although the Pipebangers only appeared in this episode, they were also used in the original demo version of the show's theme song, which was included during the "Dance Your Cares Away: The Evolution of the Theme Song" bonus feature on the DVD release of the fourth and fifth seasons.

International versions

• French version: Doc discovers an elaborate mechanical coffee maker which belonged to his Uncle Georges. This device can produce tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Doc attempts to set the machine up, occasionally distracted by the tapping on his pipes, and hooking it up to the water supply as a source. Croquette assists by baking a pastry, to accompany their coffee, but gets impatient and eats the entire thing. When Doc and Croqette finally prepare to enjoy their hot beverages, the machine confounds them by churning out chunks of ice.
• German version: The sequences with Doc are identical to the North American version, apart from the different language and actor. Uncle Matt's postcard is also identical to the North American version.
• UK version: The Captain notices that the water pipes in the Lighthouse have frozen over so immediately sets to fix them, although he is interrupted a number of times by Gobo's interference in trying to get Uncle Matt's postcard, and later the Captain's umbrella.

Songs

• "Do It on My Own"
• "Pipe Bangers Theme"
• "Please/See/Feel the Water Run"

Supporting Cast

• Archbanger Fraggle (Jerry Nelson)

Video releases

• Where It All Began (HIT!, 2004) -- DVD only (opening sequence cut on the Special Edition DVD)
• Fraggle Rock: Complete First Season (HIT!, 2005)
• Fraggle Rock: Complete Series Collection (HIT!, 2008)
• The Best of Red (Lions Gate Entertainment, 2012)

International episode titles

• Denmark: "Løb kære vand" (Running dear water)
• Finland: "Red ja vesihyppynäytös" (Red and the Water Jumping Show)
• France: "Rendez-nous l'eau !" (Give Us Water!) (Video title "Au Fil De L'eau")
• Germany: "Red liegt auf dem Trockenen" (Red Lies on Dry Land)
• Netherlands: "Kom water kom" (Come water, come)
• Japan: "水がない たいへんだ" (The No-Water Disaster)
• Norway: "La vannet renne" (Let the water flow)
• Poland: "Niech popłynie woda" (Let the water flow)
• Portugal: "O Mistério da Água" (The mystery of water)
• Spain: "Deja el agua correr" (Leave the water running)
• Sweden: "Vips Vattenmaskerad"

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