17x09 - The Switch

[bunniefuu]

[train horn honks]

[joyful music]

♪ 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 ♪

[narrator reading title]

[train horn honks]

Millie, the narrow gauge engine,

loves her job at Ulfstead Castle.

She loves being a Really Useful Engine

and doing whatever needs to be done on the estate...

running errands for the groundskeeper...

and showing visitors around the castle grounds.

[train horn honks]

Luke is also a narrow gauge engine,

and he loves his job at the Blue Mountain Quarry.

He feels right at home in the noise and the dust.

He loves collecting crushed stone and carrying boulders.

He really loves whooshing through the dark tunnels

and bursting out the other side.

One day, Luke was given a job

that took him out of the quarry...

to Ulfstead Castle.

Hello there!

[train horn honks]

Hello. My name's Luke.

I've come with the stone for the castle.

Great! Well, I'm the Earl, and this is Millie.

Bonjour.

She'll show you where to take the stone.

[train horn honks]

[giggle] You've got a smudgy face.

[chuckles] Oh, yes.

Well, it's quite dusty over in the quarry.

Why don't you stay here for the rest of the day?

I could show you around.

I'd love to, but I should really return to the quarry.

I have work to do there.

I have work to do, too.

I deliver plants to the groundskeeper,

and there are visitors to take 'round the park.

That sounds great,

but I have more of these stones to move.

They're very heavy.

I have to pull heavy loads, too.

Like, supplies for the estate.

Ah, good for you!

Well, I'd better rush back to the quarry.

Anyone can rush.

Sometimes I have to be quiet and patient.

Oh, I know how to be patient.

[narrator] And then an idea flew into Luke's funnel.

Oh, I know!

Why don't we switch places?

What? Swap duties?

Just for the day.

So I can see what it's like to do your job in the quarry.

And I can see what it's like to do your job at the castle.

[narrator] The Earl thought Luke

and Millie's plan sounded fun,

but first, he had to speak to Mr. Percival.

Mr. Percival says a switch sounds like an excellent idea.

[narrator] Millie puffed up to Blue Mountain Quarry.

She was curious.

She was also quite nervous at what she might find there.

Meanwhile, Luke set to work at Ulfstead Castle,

full to the top of his funnel with confidence.

Are you sure this a good idea?

Mr. Percival has approved it, Rheneas.

Can you take these cars over to Owen, please, Millie?

No problem, Peter Sam!

[Millie grunting]

I knew it! Give the cars to me!

[Millie continues grunting]

[chuckles] Well done, Millie.

[narrator] Meanwhile at Ulfstead Castle...

Is that it?

I can pulled that easily.

This load is ever so light.

Now to find the Groundskeeper's Lodge!

[narrator] But all Luke could see was green trees

and green grass.

Green, green, green.

Everywhere looks the same around here.

[narrator] Luke was used to the busy quarry,

full of dusty machines and tumbling stone,

not big open spaces.

Luke found himself back where he'd started.

He traveled the full loop of the estate.

Wait, what?

I've been all the way around the park,

but where was the Groundskeeper's Lodge?

[narrator] Millie was pulling her load through the quarry

when she came to the mouth of a tunnel.

-[train horn honks] -[Millie yelps]

What's the hold up?

Sorry! I'm not used to going into tunnels.

[narrator] The tunnel seemed like a small

and dark space compared to the castle grounds.

Well, I can't hang around all day.

Get going!

I... I'm not sure that I can.

I can give you a push if it helps.

No, I can do it.

Here I go.

[train horn honks]

[Millie laughing]

I love tunnels!

[narrator] Later on, Luke had been given a different job,

pulling sightseer's around the estate,

but there was a deer on the track.

Hmm. If I want to be a Really Useful Engine,

I should get that deer out of the way.

[train horn honks]

[Passengers] Aww!

Here you go, Luke.

Oh, hello there.

Luke's doing my job today, and I'm doing his.

My name's Millie.

Oh, pleased to meet you, Millie,

but can you take this load of gravel off me?

[Millie coughs]

[train horn honks]

[Millie yelps, coughs]

Off you go then.

[narrator] Back at the Earl's Estate,

Luke was speeding through the grounds.

Luke! It's not a race.

The passengers don't like being bounced around

like peas in a pod.

Again, again!

Sorry, sir.

You've got to learn to take things a bit easy.

You wouldn't have spent so long looking

for the Groundskeeper's Lodge

if you'd only gone a bit slower.

[narrator] At the quarry,

Millie had learned that she was stronger than she realized,

that she wasn't afraid of tunnels...

and that she didn't mind a little dust.

While Luke realized that there was so much

to see at the park...

[Passengers] Aww!

[narrator] And the best way to see it all

was to keep his eyes open and take things smooth and steady.

Luke had finished his day's work

and was leaving when he saw Millie.

[chuckles] You've got a smudgy face!

[giggles] Well, it's quite dusty over in the quarry.

Did you like it there?

Yes! I loved the tunnels!

And the noise!

So exciting!

How about you?

Well, it was very peaceful and beautiful, but...

[both] I can't wait to get home!

Me, too!

[both laughing]

Bye, Millie!

Au revoir!

[narrator] Millie and Luke were glad to be heading back

to their old jobs, but they were both very happy

to have made a new friend.

[theme music playing]

[train horn honks]

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Thomas He's the cheeky one ♪

♪ James Is vain but lots of fun ♪

♪ Percy Pulls the mail on time ♪

♪ Gordon Thunders down the line ♪

♪ Emily Really knows her stuff ♪

♪ Henry Toots and huffs and puffs ♪

♪ Edward Wants to help and share ♪

♪ Toby Well, let's say, he's square! ♪

♪ 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 ♪