A Christmas Surpise for Carter

A Christmas Surprise for Carter is a Thomas and Friends episode idea made by BiggestThomasFan.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Sam
 * Beau
 * Chief the Union Pacific ALCO FEF-3 type Tender Engine
 * Ari the Scarlet Cab-Forward Engine
 * Brian the Orange Southern Pacific class GS-4 Engine
 * Edna/The American Diesel
 * Natalie
 * Billie, Marvin and Peach the Red and Orange Coaches
 * Carter

Ending Segment Only
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Reg (stock footage)

UK and AUS

 * John Hasler as Thomas
 * Nigel Pilkington as Percy
 * Rob Rackstraw as Sam
 * Kerry Shale as Beau and Marvin
 * Glenn Wrage as Chief
 * David Menkin as Ari
 * Peter New as Brian
 * Teresa Gallagher as Edna, Natalie, Peach, Annie and Clarabel
 * Jules de Jongh as Billie

US

 * Joseph May as Thomas
 * Christopher Ragland as Percy
 * Rob Rackstraw as Sam
 * Kerry Shale as Beau and Marvin
 * Glenn Wrage as Chief
 * David Menkin as Ari
 * Peter New as Brian
 * Teresa Gallagher as Edna, Natalie, Peach, Annie and Clarabel
 * Jules de Jongh as Billie

Transcript
Opening Clip

Thomas: Christmas is a time to think of those in need. When Percy and I were in America, we all could see that Carter was in need to get into the Christmas spirit. So we thought of a way to help him out. (Whistles) All aboard for a big adventure!

Episode

Thomas (narrating): It was Christmastime. On the American Railway, me, Percy and the other engines were very busy with extra jobs.

Percy: Goodness! It seems like there's even more mail here than there is back on Sodor, even at Christmas.

Thomas: Well, America is a lot bigger than Sodor.

Percy: Good morning, Carter!

Thomas: Merry Christmas!

Carter: What's merry about it? I always have so much work to do around this time of year. I'm always lifting and loading constantly. It's like it never stops. Christmas always makes me feel tired and unappreciated.

Thomas: But Christmas is a time to think of others. There are so many people you're helping by loading and unloading all that cargo.

Carter: A likely story.

Thomas: But... Oh!

Percy: Come on, Thomas. We don't want to be late, do we?

(Thomas and Percy puff away)

Thomas: I do feel a little sorry for Carter.

Percy: Me too. Is there anything we can do to help him?

Thomas: I don't know, Percy.

Thomas (narrating): Later, Percy and I met Ari, and told him about Carter.

Ari: Carter always feels grumpy around Christmastime because of the extra work. Plus, hardly anyone wishes him a merry Christmas since they're all too busy.

Percy: I wish we could do something to cheer him up.

Ari: So do I, Percy.

Thomas: Maybe there is. What if we give him a special Christmas surprise?

Percy: I like the sound of that.

Ari: Yes, good thinking, Thomas.

Thomas: But first we'll need to plan out what we're going to do.

(Fantasy sequence)

Thomas (voice over): We should get a tree and decorate it for him.

Thomas: Hello, Carter. I've brought a tree here for you.

Carter: For me? You shouldn't have.

Ari (voice over): How about being in some carolers too?

Carolers: Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.

Percy (voice over): And we should give him a present too.

Carter: A gift for me? I wonder what's inside.

(Carter lifts the top of the gift off, and pulls out...)

Carter: A big teddy bear? This is very sweet! Thank you, very much.

Ari (voice over): I don't think he'd like a teddy bear, Percy.

(Back to Thomas, Percy and Ari)

Ari: We should give Carter a gift, but it should be something he'll love. I may have some things in mind for him. I'll get it.

Thomas: And I'll collect the Christmas tree.

Percy: And I'll see about getting some carolers to sing to Carter.

Thomas (narrating): It wasn't easy getting a big Christmas surprise ready, but we were determined to make Carter's Christmas special.

Thomas: That tree would be perfect.

(A workmen cuts the tree down, and it's loaded onto Thomas' flatbed)

Thomas: Now to pick up some decorations for the tree.

(Thomas' driver and fireman collect some decorations, and Thomas takes them and the tree to San Francisco Docks. The tree is put up nearby Carter, and decorated)

Carter: Oh, that's a nice Christmas tree. I've never seen one like that before.

Thomas: I'm glad you like it, Carter. It's just for you.

Carter: Thank you, Thomas.

Thomas (narrating): Meanwhile, Percy is trying to find some carolers when he met Peter and his coaches.

Brian: Good morning, Percy. Merry Christmas!

Percy: Merry Christmas, Peter! And to you as well, Billie, Marvin and Peach.

Billie: Thanks, Percy.

Marvin: We're going to have a holly jolly Christmas.

Peach: Especially with these carolers.

Percy: Did you say carolers?

Peter: That's right, Percy. We're taking these carolers to sing to different people around the railway.

Percy: That's perfect! Could you bring them to the docks at San Francisco when you get a chance? It's for Carter.

Peter: Of course, Percy.

Percy: Thanks.

Thomas (narrating): And Ari was trying to decide on the best gift for Carter.

Ari: I'm sure there's something along the railway that he'll like.

Thomas (narrating): Then he had to make a delivery at the workshop. And that's when he saw them.

Ari: Green paint cans! I know Carter would love to have a new coat of paint.

(A workman walks up)

Ari: Excuse me, can I have some of the green paint cans, please? It's for Carter the Crane. He would love to be repainted.

Workman: Of course, Ari.

Thomas (narrating): Soon, it was the evening before Christmas. And we were ready to give Carter his surprise.

Carter: I'm glad this is the last ship of the day. I'm exhausted.

Carolers: We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Carter: What's that?

(Brian and his coaches pull up with the carolers)

Carolers: We wish you a Merry Christmas! We wish you a Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!

Carter: It's Christmas carolers!

Ari: Carter, I have a special Christmas gift for you. It's cans of green paint!

Carter: Oh, thank you, Ari. I've really needed a new coat of paint for quite a while now.

(Thomas, Percy, Sam, Beau, Chief, Natalie and Edna arrive)

Thomas: Carter, me, Percy and Ari all wanted to give you a special Christmas surprise to cheer you up.

Percy: So Thomas brought that tree to you the other day.

Carter: Oh, so that's why you brought that tree. Thanks again, Thomas.

Percy: I asked Brian and his coaches to bring carolers to sing Christmas carols to you.

Ari: And the green paint was my idea of a gift.

Carter: Thank you all. I've never had a good Christmas before. I hardly ever got a 'Merry Christmas' from anyone, and I never understood why Christmas is a special holiday, but now I see that it's a time to be kind to others and give to those in need. And I can honestly say that this has been the best Christmas ever!

Thomas, Percy, Ari, Sam, Beau, Chief, Brian, Natalie, Edna, Billie, Marvin and Peach: Merry Christmas, Carter!

Thomas, Percy, Ari, Sam, Beau, Chief, Brian, Natalie, Edna, Billie, Marvin, Peach and the Carolers:


 * Hark! the herald angels sing,
 * "Glory to the new-born King!
 * Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
 * God and sinners reconciled.

(Carter joins in)


 * Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
 * Join the triumph of the skies;
 * With th' angelic host proclaim,
 * "Christ is born in Bethlehem."
 * Hark! the herald angels sing,
 * "Glory to the new-born King!

Ending Segment

Thomas: Have you ever helped a friend get into the Christmas spirit? Me and my friends have helped others many times.

One time, Percy tried to help Reg get into the Christmas spirit by finding a gift for him. Even though Reg was happy to make his own decorations out of scrap, he was happy that Percy was trying to help him.

When Percy and I were on the American Railway, the two of us, along with Ari, gave Carter a special Christmas surprise. He was very happy about this, and it helped him get into the Christmas spirit.

It's good to help someone feel better at Christmastime, and it can make you happy to. After all, it's better to give than to receive.

Clarabel: Come on, Thomas.

Annie: It's time to go.

Thomas: See you next time. (Whistles and puffs out of Vicarstown Station)