19x13 - Slow Stephen

[bunniefuu]

[whistle toots]

[upbeat pop music]

[children] ♪ 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

[whistle toots]

[male narrator] "Slow Stephen."

Stephen usually works at Ulfstead Castle...

but sometimes, he goes on special journeys

to take visitors on tours of the island of Sodor.

In his early days, he was so fast,

they called him "The Rocket."

When people hear that Stephen is out and about,

they always want to see him.

[cheering]

There he is, Daddy!

That'’s The Rocket!

That'’s me, young man!

I fly like the wind!

[narrator] But although Stephen is still known as The Rocket,

he'’s not actually that fast anymore.

[whistle blows]

In fact, these days he'’s one of the slowest engines

on Sir Topham Hatt'’s railway,

which can be a problem for some of the other engines.

That old, slow engine shouldn'’t be allowed on the main line.

[train engine chugging]

[whistle toots]

Out of my way, you silly little engine.

You'’re too slow to be really useful!

[whistle toots]

[train engine chugging]

[train engine chugging]

[bridge rattling]

[train engine chugging]

[bridge rumbling]

Oh, what was that?

[train engine chugging]

Oh, it'’s probably nothing.

[chuckles] Gordon'’s so fast he'’s got me rattled.

[bridge creaking]

[narrator] Later that day,

Stephen met Thomas at Knapford Station.

Hello, hello, hello!

[whistle toots]

Any passengers for The Rocket?

[giggling]

[whistle toots]

Come on, Stephen.

Get out of my way!

This is my line.

I really don'’t understand why anyone would

want to go slowly on you when there are faster

and far more splendid engines available.

You'’re just jealous because they'’re not

taking photos of you, James!

Humph!

He'’s only joking, James.

Oh, have either of you ever heard a strange noise

as you cross the suspension bridge?

No, I'’m usually going too fast to hear anything

but the sound of my pistons pumping.

Hmm, I haven'’t heard anything either, Stephen.

Oh, all right.

Never mind.

[whistle toots]

[narrator] Stephen had to cross the suspension bridge again

on his way to Brendham Docks.

He kept listening for the strange noise,

but he didn'’t hear anything this time.

Hmm, silly old me. I must have imagined it.

[whistles toot]

[train engine chugging]

[metal scraping]

[narrator] He stopped at Brendham Docks

to collect some passengers from a cruise ship.

Welcome to Sodor, everyone!

My name is Stephen, but you can call me The Rocket!

For obvious reasons.

[cheering]

Wow, Stephen.

You'’re a very popular engine.

Thank you! Thank you! I thank you!

[whistles toot]

[narrator] As Stephen headed back to Knapford,

he had to cross the suspension bridge for a third time.

[metal scraping]

Wait a minute.

There'’s that sound again.

[bridge rumbling]

[metal scraping]

[gasps] Oh, no! The bridge must be damaged.

[narrator] Stephen raced to get his passengers

safely to the other side.

Once he was over the bridge,

Stephen steamed towards Knapford

as fast as his pistons could pump,

which unfortunately wasn'’t all that fast.

[panting]

Thomas! Thomas!

Emergency!

What'’s wrong?

The suspension bridge is damaged!

-[gasps] -That sounds very dangerous.

What about Gordon?

Clarabel'’s right!

The express will be here any minute!

We need to stop him crossing the bridge.

I'’m going to go across and stop Gordon.

Thomas, no!

You can'’t!

It'’s too dangerous.

They'’re right, Thomas.

I'’m lighter than you.

It'’ll be less risky if I go.

[whistle toots]

[train engine chugging]

[whistle toots]

You stay here and block this side.

Be careful, Stephen!

Don'’t you worry!

[train engine chugging]

[train engine chugging]

[gasps]

Oh!

[whistle toots]

Oh, no!

I can'’t bear to look.

What'’s happening?

He'’s stuck!

And the bridge is breaking!

Come on, Stephen!

Just a little bit further.

[panting]

I'’m huffing my hardest!

[whistle toots]

[train engine chugging]

Come on, old boy.

You can do this.

[grunting]

[metal scraping]

Whoa!

[whistle toots]

Express coming through!

[train engine chugging]

Hold on!

Oh!

[whistle toots]

Get out of the way!

Clear the tracks!

Stop, Gordon! Stop!

[whistle toots]

[gasps]

[brakes screeching]

Out of my way, you silly little engine.

You'’re too slow to be really use...

[crashing]

[bridge rumbling]

[metal screeching]

Oh, Stephen!

You... you saved me

and my passengers.

I... I...

[laughing] I think he means,

"Thank you, Stephen!"

[narrator] Sir Topham Hatt came to inspect the damage to the bridge.

Well, now.

You two certainly did avert a terrible disaster.

Stephen took the biggest risk, sir:

crossing the bridge to stop Gordon.

Well, we'’re very proud of you both.

You'’re not really useful engines today.

You are really useful heroes!

[narrator] And while the suspension bridge was being repaired,

all the engines had to cross it as slowly as slow Stephen.

[whistle toots]

Come on, Gordon!

[laughs]

Rocket coming through!

[Stephen laughs]

[groans]

[narrator] And the amazing story of Stephen'’s bravery

brought even more visitors to Ulfstead Castle than before

and made old, slow Stephen more popular than ever.

[whistle toots]

[whistle toots]

[upbeat pop music]

[children singing]

[whistle toots]

[whistle blows]

[children singing]

[whistle tooting]

[upbeat pop music]