05x23 - Busy Going Backwards

[bunniefuu]

(cheerful music)

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Toad the

Brake Van was feeling sad.

Everywhere he looked he

could see engines and coaches

moving steadily forwards.

(cheerful music)

(whistle blows)

They all looked

confident and cheerful.

One day, he decided

to talk to Oliver,

the Great Western Engine.

"I'm always going

backwards, Mr. Oliver,

"but I have forward

thinking views.

"By, I could be a leader,

if you know what I mean."

"You can't be a leader

without train to follow you.

"You don't have a

train," Gordon said.

Toad felt sadder still.

Oliver wanted to help.

"You're a very useful

brake van, Toad.

"You help me brake, and you

keep my freight cars in order

"when we go down hills."

"I know, Mr. Oliver, but

it would be so exciting

"to go forwards for a change

"instead of only seeing

things sliding away from me."

The freight cars

were cross with Toad.

"Who's he to start complaining?"

"He's lucky to be able

to look after us."

"Let's teach him a lesson."

(cheerful music)

(whistle blows)

The freight cars decided

to carry out their plan

when they reached Gordon's Hill.

When they were

nearly at the top,

they played their tricks.

Ready, steady, go,

and they jerked at a

coupling, which broke!

"We're making your

wish come true, Toad!"

"Follow the leader,"

yelled the freight cars.

Toad was still in

a state of shock,

so he didn't know what to think,

and he couldn't

ask the conductor;

he had jumped clear!

(dramatic music)

"Faster, faster, as

fast as you want!"

screamed the freight cars.

Suddenly, Toad found it fun,

but the fun was soon over.

A crossing lay ahead and

the gates were closed.

Toad couldn't stop!

Worst still, Toad now realized

he was on the wrong track.

There ahead was Gordon!

The signalman changed

the points just in time.

(dramatic music)

"On, on, faster!"

cried the freight cars.

Suddenly, he saw James

pulling a long, slow train.

"Oh my goodness!"

"Buh, help, save me!"

A quick-thinking shunter

did, just in time.

"What was that?"

exclaimed James.

The signalman warned

the stationmaster

at the next station.

"There's a runaway coming."

"We'll send him

into the sidings."

"Help, help!" called Toad again.

Toad saw some buffers.

"Those'll stop me!"

But the points to the

buffers weren't set!

"No no, I'm back

on the main line!"

Meanwhile, Oliver was

racing to the rescue.

"I must catch Toad, I must."

Toad sped past Henry.

(whistle blows)

More danger lay ahead.

Men were working on a bridge,

but they had been warned

about the runaway Toad

and his freight cars.

They diverted him

onto old sidings

straight into a muddy pool.

(gurgling)

(coughing)

"Stopped at last."

Oliver arrived, and when he

saw Toad, he could only smile.

"A pond is the only place

for a Toad, I suppose."

That night, Toad

spoke to Oliver.

"I'm sorry Mr. Oliver if I

caused you an embarrassment."

"That's all right Toad.

"So, what do you think

of going forwards?"

"It was fun," decided Toad,

"but from now on, I'll be happy

"to look forward to the future,

"busy going backwards,

so to speak."

(upbeat music)