17x23 - The Afternoon Tea Express

[bunniefuu]

-[birds chirping] -[train whistling]

[opening theme song]

♪ They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight ♪

♪ Shunting trucks and hauling freight ♪

♪ Red and green and brown and blue ♪

♪ They're the Really Useful Crew ♪

♪ All with different roles to play ♪

♪ 'Round Tidmouth Sheds or far away ♪

♪ Down the hills and round the bends ♪

♪ Thomas and his friends ♪

[smoke hisses]

[soft music]

[narrator] "The Afternoon Tea Express."

[train whistles]

Stephen is one of the oldest engines on the Island of Sodor.

He collects things for the Earl and the castle.

And he shows visitors around the estate.

But Stephen is very slow.

[train whistles]

Move along slow coach.

[soft music]

[narrator] One morning, after Spencer had dropped

the Duke and Duchess off for a visit to the castle,

he saw the Earl talking to Stephen.

Stephen, I have a special job for you.

Once a week, I need you to collect scones from the bakery

and cream from the dairy.

They are for our afternoon teas at the castle tea rooms.

Oh, yes, sir.

I'll be Afternoon Tea Express!

The visitors will wait a long time for their afternoon tea

if Stephen is doing the job!

I'll have you know, they used to call me the Rocket,

because I was so speedy!

Pah! Compared to a horse and cart, maybe.

[train whistles]

[narrator] This made Stephen very cross!

I'll show Spencer.

I'll be the fastest Afternoon Tea Express there ever was!

[soft music]

[narrator] So Stephen collected scones

from the bakery.

[train whistles]

And cream from the dairy.

[train whistles]

[cow mooing]

As he puffed back to the castle,

Stephen thought he was going very fast.

Make way, Afternoon Tea Express coming through!

[train whistles]

[narrator] But Gordon didn't think Stephen

was going very fast at all!

Hurry up, slow coach.

The real express is trying to get past.

[train whistles]

But I'm going as fast as I can.

Well, I can't wait all day for you!

[narrator] So Gordon puffed right up behind Stephen.

And gave him a push.

Gordon! What are you doing?!

Whoa, careful! I'm an antique you know!

[train rumbling]

[narrator] Gordon pushed Stephen faster

than he had ever been before!

And when they got to the castle junction,

Gordon slowed down so Stephen could change tracks.

Now that's how an express goes.

[train whistles]

[narrator] Stephen was cross.

When Stephen got to the castle,

Spencer was very surprised to see him.

My, my Stephen, that was quick!

You really are the Afternoon Tea Express!

Yes, see, Spencer, I can be speedy.

I'm still the Rocket! Peow!

-[train whistles] -[soft music]

[narrator] Each week after that,

when Stephen collected the scones and the cream,

he got one of the engines to push him.

One day he was pushed by Thomas.

The next day he was pushed by James.

[train rumbling]

And another day he was pushed by Emily.

[laughs] Wahay!

[narrator] Stephen always got the cream and scones

to the castle on time.

Everybody called him the Rocket again.

Hooray for the Rocket.

-Well done! -[people applauding]

[soft music]

[narrator] One day, the Earl had a very special job for him.

Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt are coming for afternoon tea

at the castle today.

But we are out of jam!

So I need you to collect some more jam

from the docks for me.

Yes sir, I'll be back in no time!

[train whistles]

[soft music]

[narrator] Stephen puffed as fast as he could.

And he collected his truck from the docks.

It was filled with lots of barrels of jam.

There was strawberry, raspberry and even apricot jam.

[train whistles]

But when Stephen puffed back towards the castle,

he couldn't find anyone to push him.

Oh, no, this is where I normally see Gordon.

[soft music]

And this is where I normally find Thomas.

What am I going to do?

[train whistles]

[narrator] The castle was still a long way away,

and it would take Stephen a very long time to get there.

Oh, no, it will be dark by the time I get the jam to the castle.

[narrator] But then Stephen found Spencer.

What are you doing here?

I thought you were the Rocket.

Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt are waiting at the castle

for their afternoon tea.

[narrator] Stephen had an idea.

Maybe you could push me to the castle, Spencer.

Oh, I am far too busy to push an old bucket of bolts

like you around.

[narrator] Stephen was very old and very wise.

That's why he knew exactly what to say to Spencer.

No, don't worry, Spencer.

I don't think you could push me fast enough, anyway.

[train whistles]

[narrator] This makes Spencer very cross.

I'll show you what fast is.

[narrator] So Spencer buffered up behind Stephen.

[train whistles]

Now you really will be the Afternoon Tea Express.

[narrator] Spencer pushed Stephen faster than Emily.

He pushed him faster than Thomas.

Spencer even pushed Stephen faster than Gordon had.

Faster! Faster!

[soft music]

[narrator] Spencer pushed Stephen

right up to the castle junction.

Thank you, Spencer.

[narrator] But as Spencer released him,

Stephen realized he had a problem.

[tense music]

Oh, no! I'm going too fast!

[narrator] Stephen's driver and fireman tried

to apply the breaks but it was too late.

He bumped into the buffers at the end of the track!

[Stephen groans]

The barrels of strawberry, raspberry

and even apricot jam flew into the air.

Then smashed to the ground.

[barrels thud]

[soft music]

-Urgh! -Ooh!

Ew!

Oh-oh.

[narrator] Luckily no one was hurt.

But Sir Topham Hatt was very cross.

So was the Earl.

Stephen! What is going on?

Oh, I'm so sorry,

I got Spencer to push me so I could go fast.

Stephen, I chose you because you are reliable.

Not because you are fast.

Sorry, sir.

Maybe I don't need to try being speedy anymore.

No, Stephen, you don't.

But what am I going to do about the afternoon teas?

I know, sir!

I have to go back and get some more jam,

so why doesn't everyone hop on board

and they can have an afternoon tea

and a tour at the same time!

[narrator] Everyone thought this was a grand idea.

[soft music]

So Stephen gave the guests

a very slow and gentle ride to the docks.

He collected the jam.

And the passengers all enjoyed their Afternoon Tea Tour.

-[people applauding] -[indistinct chatter]

[soft music]

Peeeow!

Slow train coming through,

and it's the Afternoon Tea Express.

[smoke hisses]

[closing theme song]

[train whistles]

[children singing]

[closing theme music]