Thomas the Trackmaster Adventures Episode 14: One of the Team

Episode 14: One of the Team

Stanley returns to Sodor after many years, and works hard on Thomas' branchline. James and Daisy doubt his ability, but when they have a mishap each, will they regret making fun of Stanley?

Characters:
 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * James
 * Percy
 * Toby
 * Molly
 * Stanley
 * Daisy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Henry (does not speak)
 * Gordon (does not speak)
 * Mavis (does not speak)
 * Annie and Clarabel (non-speaking roles)
 * Spencer (mentioned)

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Part One
Narrator: Thomas' branchline is the most famous part of Sodor. It consists of Percy, Toby, Daisy, Mavis, Emily, Molly, and Thomas himself. Recently, trucks were overloading in the sidings. Molly and Percy worked hard, but the work was too much. Sir Topham Hatt came to see them.

Sir Topham Hatt: I know you work hard, but you do need another engine to help.

Narrator: Percy and Molly agreed with him. Later in his office, Sir Topham Hatt was looking through photographs of his engines. He gasped when he looked at something. A picture shown a white tank engine with red wheels, and the nameplate reading "Stanley" on his boiler.

Sir Topham Hatt: How can I have forgotten this engine?

Narrator: Next day, he spoke to his engines at Tidmouth Sheds.

Sir Topham Hatt: Years ago, we built a six-wheel saddle-side tank engine, in 1932. I want all of you to make him feel welcome. {to James} I mean you too, James.

James: {grumpily} Yes, sir...

Narrator: In the distance, a whistle blew. The tank engine puffed into the sheds. He looked very smart.

Sir Topham Hatt: This is Stanley. He is to help out on Thomas' branch line with the goods work.

Stanley: Hello, everybody.

Thomas: Hello, old friend. It's been years.

Emily: You know of this engine?

Thomas: Of course, I do. We're old friends.

Sir Topham Hatt: Thomas, show Stanley around Sodor today.

Narrator: Thomas showed Stanley how Sodor changed while Stanley was away. You see, in 1947, Stanley was withdrawn from service because he was breaking down, so he was concealed from the world to avoid scrap. They returned to Ffarqhuar, where Sir Topham Hatt was waiting. Thomas, Percy, Toby and Emily were impressed.

Toby: That's a good attitude to have from Stanley. I reckon he'll do fine here.

Sir Topham Hatt: Stanley, you are a versatile sort of engine. You're strong like a main line engine, but you can work on the branchlines as well. If you pass your trial, you'll primarily be hauling goods from Ffarqhuar as well as the main line. Can I count on you to work hard?

Stanley: Yes, sir!

Sir Topham Hatt: Excellent. Thomas and Toby will show you all you need to know.

Narrator: Stanley was as good as his word. He had a spectacular work ethic and never failed to finish a job on time. Thomas, Percy, Molly, Emily and Toby were quite impressed, but Daisy wasn't.

Daisy: He's nothing but a show-off! He rolls around like he's more important than us all, yet he's nothing but a mere goods engine. He's got nothing to be so proud of.

Molly: He's just eager to impress Sir Topham Hatt, Daisy. He knows it.

Thomas: He only wants to pass his trial.

Daisy: He's conceited and silly!

Thomas: You're the one who's always going about like you're better than us!

Daisy: I'm not stupid like Emily!

Emily: Who's Emily?

Molly: She was talking about you, idiot.

Emily: Oh, right, Marie.

Molly: Molly.

Narrator: Daisy didn't care though, she just snorted and went on her way. She later met James at Elsbridge.

Daisy: That white tank engine thinks he's better than all of us.

James: I remember him. He believed he was better than me back at the sheds.

{Stanley puffs up pulling a goods train.}

Stanley: Hello, you two.

James: Humph.

Stanley: What's wrong, James?

Daisy: You're thinking you're the best engine on Sodor.

Stanley: What do you mean?

James: Stop showing off, or you'll {beeping noise}!!

Narrator: This made Stanley very upset. He didn't feel useful at all.

Sing-a-Long Segment
{Cut to Thomas and Emily on a stage.}

Thomas: Well, folks, here comes the part of the series that I like best: the sing along! That's when all of you viewers join in and sing the lyrics of the next song along with us. Where'd that prop man go to? Yoo-hoo! Oh, prop man!

Emily: At your service!

Thomas: {puzzled} You're the prop girl?

Emily: Yeah! I heard he's on vacation, I'm filling in for him!

Thomas: Oh. Now this next sing along tune has a lot of punch in it! So I would like you to decorate this stage, with something that really fits the mood!

Emily: Lucky for you - I got just the thing! {exits}

{Emily re-enters with a kangaroo with boxing gloves.}

Thomas: What in blazes is that?!

Emily: It's the punch you said you wanted! Go on, Buffer.

{The kangaroo punches Thomas in the face, Thomas leans to his side.}

Emily: That's it, Buffer! Cool it! You're due back at the circus in five minutes. So, hop to it girl!

{Emily and the kangaroo exit the stage, leaving Thomas with a black eye.}

Thomas: And a-one, and a-two, and a- Oh, that Emily!

The Beatles: Asked a girl what she wanted to be She said baby, can't you see I wanna be famous, a star of the screen But you can do something in between

Baby you can drive my car Yes I'm gonna be a star Baby you can drive my car And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl that my prospects were good she said baby, it's understood Working for peanuts is all very fine But I can show you a better time

Baby you can drive my car Yes I'm gonna be a star Baby you can drive my car Yes I'm gonna be a star Baby you can drive my car And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl I can start right away When she said listen babe I got something to say I got no car and it's breaking my heart But I've found a driver and that's a start

Baby you can drive my car Yes I'm gonna be a star Baby you can drive my car And maybe I'll love you

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah Beep beep'm beep beep yeah Beep beep'm beep beep yeah Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

''{Cut back to the stage. Thomas' eye is fully healed.}''

Thomas: Well, now, that was pretty darn good I must say! Of course, I expect you'll do even better on this next song that's coming up. Particularly you children out there! So let me hear it this time, eh?

Emily: Thomas, I got to know what kind of song this next sing along's gonna be so I can set the stage prop.

Thomas: Well, I guess you might call it a romantic ballad.

Emily: Ballot, eh? Well, I just got the thing! {exits}

Thomas: This time, I want you kids out there to really sing out-

Emily: All right, Thomas! Here it is! {brings a voting ballot}

Thomas: A voting booth?!

Emily: That's right, Toms. You said a ballot!

Thomas: Not ballot, you clod! Ballad!

Emily: Ah, that's quite another thing all together! {dresses up as a ballet dancer}

Thomas: Now, what on earth is that for?

Emily: Ballet! I'm a ballet dancer! {giggles}

Thomas: Ohh, {sighs} let's have a go at it, folks.

The Beatles: She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

You think you lost your love, Well, I saw her yesterday. It's you she's thinking of And she told me what to say.

She says she loves you And you know that can't be bad. Yes, she loves you And you know you should be glad.

She said you hurt her so She almost lost her mind. But now she said she knows You're not the hurting kind.

She says she loves you And you know that can't be bad. Yes, she loves you And you know you should be glad. Ooh!

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah And with a love like that You know you should be glad.

You know it's up to you, I think it's only fair, Pride can hurt you, too, Apologize to her

Because she loves you And you know that can't be bad. Yes, she loves you And you know you should be glad. Ooh!

She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah With a love like that You know you should be Glad!

With a love like that You know you should be Glad!

Part Two
Narrator: Later that afternoon, Stanley was still upset about what James and Daisy had said about him.

Edward: Don't mind James or Daisy, Stanley. They're in one of their moods lately.

Stanley: {sobbing} Maybe I'm not fit to work on this railway at all.

Thomas: Don't take it too seriously. Ever since Gordon and Spencer set their speed records, James has gained and attitude and thinks he's better than all of us.

Narrator: Meanwhile, there was trouble. Daisy was making her afternoon passenger run to the junction where the mainline stopping train would be waiting. It was a very special train. An organization of railway enthusiasts were taking photographs that were going to be put into a railway magazine. Daisy was eager to make herself look good. She climbed the hill near Elsbridge with relative ease, but halfway up, something went wrong.

Daisy: Driver, driver! I-I don't feel right! I think I may b-be o-overheating!

Daisy's driver: Oh, bother it all!

Narrator: He applied the brakes and turned the engine off, but it was too late. Smoke billowed from under Daisy, and she completely broke down.

Daisy: Ohhh! I'm ever so hot!

Daisy's driver: Well, there's nothing I can do. We'll call for help.

Narrator: Stanley was miserably shunting at the quarry with Mavis. But his heart wasn't in it. The manager came to see him.

Manager: Daisy's stalled further up the line with the enthusiasts' special, we need you to go bring her to the junction!

Narrator: Stanley smiled a little, and he set off to find Daisy. When Stanley arrived, Daisy was still fuming crossly. Stanley being her only means of getting to the junction didn't improved her mood.

Stanley: {teasing} Had a breakdown, have we?

Daisy: {sarcastically} Ha ha.

Stanley: We all have bad days now and then. C'mon now, there's no reason to sit around like this!

Narrator: Stanley pushed from behind, while Daisy stayed in front, grumbling furiously. When they arrived at the junction, James was waiting with the enthusiasts' special coach. He had a great laugh when he saw Daisy being pushed by Stanley.

James: Well, Daisy, you've already proved what Sodor's diesels are worth. Now let me show you the power of steam!

Narrator: James closed his eyes snobbishly, sticking his nose in the air, but he realized he wasn't moving as he'd intended. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke.

James: Well? Am I going to move or not?

James' driver: The regulator's jammed. We aren't going anywhere at this rate!

Narrator: The driver, fireman, foreman, stationmaster, and even one of the passengers tried to fix James' regulator, but the only succeeded in breaking it off!

James: {yells in pain}

Enthusiast: A rusty gear's behind this, I'll wager. No matter, though, there's another engine over there being that railcar, he can take us to Knapford, I suppose.

Stanley: I'll try my very best, sir!

Narrator: Stanley shunted James and Daisy into a siding and buffered up to the coach. When everything was in order, he set off quickly to make up for lost time. James and Daisy exchanged looks, half in embarrassment, half in disgust. When Stanley arrived at Knapford, she was surprised to be greeted by Sir Topham Hatt. He looked very pleased.

Sir Topham Hatt: Well done, Stanley! "For you actions today, I have decided to allow you to stay; you have passed your trials!

Stanley: {overjoyed} Yes, sir, thank you, sir!

Sir Topham Hatt: You will begin your proper schedule next week after your timetables are properly arranged. In the meantime, I have booked you to have a new coat of paint of white with red stripes at the works.

Narrator: Stanley could barely contain his happiness! Meanwhile, Sir Topham Hatt spoke severely to James and Daisy.

Sir Topham Hatt: James and Daisy, I am not pleased with your attitude towards Stanley. For punishment, James, you are shunting on Thomas' branchline for a month, and Daisy will stay in her shed, until she learns to be a really useful engine.

Narrator: James and Daisy groaned. Stanley had now begun his regular service on the railway. He mainly hauls goods trains on Thomas' branchline, but takes Annie and Clarabel when Thomas is ill or away, but he is allowed to help with main line trains from time to time. No one ever has a bad thing to say about him, except James and Daisy, who next time will see him, they hopefully will have learned not to be so mean.

THE END google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);==Fun Facts==
 * First appearance of Stanley.
 * Sing-Alongs: Drive my Car by The Beatles, She Loves You by The Beatles