[Music]
funding for this program was provided in
part by the corporation for public
broadcasting and by the financial
support of viewers like you
reach for the speed
reach for the whistle go where the rail
may run
reach for the words
reach for the story
follow the rainbow sun
to a shining time station
where dreams can come true
[Music]
yes sir
uh may i have your attention please
i'm sorry to report but the trains still
aren't running what is the problem don't
tell me the trains can't run in a little
cold weather oh no the trains are fine
but this frost took us all by surprise
and some of the switches along the
tracks are frozen so what do we do wait
here a week until the weather warms up
oh no no as soon as the switches are
shifting properly then we'll be up and
running again in the meantime thank you
all for your patience
what do you say there he is
oh schemer you fortune telling genius
[Music]
i just love this man why if it hadn't
been for you and your miracle gizmo i'd
have lost my entire tomato crop
what miracle gizmo i'm talking about
your fortune-telling machine yesterday i
dropped by popped in a nickel to k*ll
time
and bingo
i got the nitty-gritty from the great
beyond a sudden change in the weather
takes steps to avoid disaster
which i did
not that i'm superstitious but i
skedaddled back to my farm covered my
tomatoes with burlap fired up the smoke
pots and
boom how boom
boom
comes the frost
tomatoes all over the valley are
freezing up but my little beauties are
nice and soft thanks to you and your
machine scheme
[Music]
are you saying that
my machine actually
predicted the future
from where i stand that's the deal
can a machine really tell the future oh
no dan it was just a coincidence shame
on you miss jones i bring into the
arcade a machine that can predict the
future and you sneer and gear shame on
you
ladies and gentlemen an actual machine
that can predict the future awaits in my
arcade who will be the first to put a
nickel in
[Applause]
hey slots baby it's like snow dome city
outside live what what do you mean so
what like if everyone is stuck at the
station that means more nickels in the
box
and you know what that means you said it
oh
here comes someone man make like the
snow and drift
[Music]
oh yeah yeah i know the trains can't run
and so the passengers are hanging out at
the station and that means they're
putting money in the jukebox right
wrong
we can't get upstairs and play right
wrong
they probably got ten different songs
they want to hear right wrong 10
different times they're not putting
money in our jukebox they're putting
money into schemer's fortune-telling
machine what that piece of junk
yes that piece of junk schemer told them
the machine can tell the future
but that's wrong that's right what let's
go
good news from a trusted advisor be
prepared
to act on it um
oh well obviously the trusted advisor
is me
well don't just stand there act on it
now
give me some advice i've been thinking
about getting a new hairdo lately do you
think i should do it
definitely
oh
thank you schemer
see you later folks
stan
holy
it is freezing i was outside helping
billy but i had to come in my nose was
turning to ice
i've been helping up and down the line
too when someone isn't looking you know
and reaches for a tool and suddenly
finds it's a little closer than he
thought that's me i've given a helping
hand by pushing it closer it's the least
i can do considering
considering what mr conductor
considering that i know the person who's
responsible for this sudden frost i
asked him not to do it but he never
listens
told who
jack frost who else he's the one who
made it so cold out there
well thanks to jack frost everybody
thinks schemer can see the future
you see jenny got this fortune that said
look out for bad weather and now it came
true oh that was just a coincidence jack
frost planned all this a long time ago
you know what's funny he loves to
confuse people with cold weather but
personally he's really a very warm
individual
well right now he could be schemer's
best friend
do you think i should take that new job
two yes should i win the lottery uh the
possibility of it you're right cara all
those people believe what schemer's
telling them but that's what happens
when you get impatient you rush into
something before you're really ready
does thomas ever get impatient oh indeed
he does in fact one time he got so
impatient he left his conductor behind
we conductors don't like to be left
behind
i'll tell you all about it
[Applause]
thomas the tank engine is very proud of
his branch line he thinks it is the most
important part of the whole railway his
two coaches annie and clarabelle agree
with him
annie can only take passengers but
clarabel can take passengers baggage and
the conductor
they're both old and need new paint but
thomas loves them very much
as they run backwards and forwards along
the line they sing songs to each other
when thomas starts from a station he
sings oh come along we're rather late oh
come along we're rather late and the
coaches sing we're coming along we're
coming along
[Music]
they don't mind what thomas says to them
because they know he is trying to please
sir topham hatt and they know too that
if thomas is crossed he's not crossed
with them
[Music]
one day they had to wait for henry's
train which made thomas very cross
how can i run my line properly if henry
is always late he doesn't realize that
sir topham hatt depends on me
thomas whistled impatiently he wanted to
leave but he had to wait for henry's
passengers
[Music]
at last henry kane
[Music]
where have you been lazy bones
oh dear my system is out of order no one
understands my case you don't know what
i suffer
rubbish said thomas you're too slow you
need exercise
the conductor blew his whistle and
thomas started so quickly that he left
him behind
the conductor waved his red flag to stop
thomas but thomas was well on his way
steaming out of the station
come along come along puff thomas
but clarabel didn't want to come i've
lost my nice conductor i've lost my nice
conductor she saw
and he tried to tell thomas what had
happened we haven't a conductor we
haven't a conductor but he was hurrying
and wouldn't listen
annie and clarabel tried to put on their
brakes but they couldn't without the
conductor where is our conductor where
is our conductor they cried but thomas
didn't stop till they came to a signal
bother that signal said thomas what's
the matter
i don't know said his driver the
conductor will tell us in a minute
they waited and waited but the conductor
didn't come
beep beep beep where's the conductor
whistle thomas
we've left him behind saab danny and
clarabel together
[Music]
everyone looked
and there he was running as fast as he
could along the line with his flags in
one hand and his whistle in the other
he was very hot so he had a drink and
told them that thomas had left them
behind
i'm very sorry said thomas we all make
mistakes replied the conductor
look the signal is down we can go let's
make up for lost time
[Music]
annie and clarabel were so pleased to
have their conductor again that they
sang as fast as you like as fast as you
like to thomas all the way
they reached the end of the line quicker
than ever before
[Music]
at least thomas said he was sorry i
don't think schemer sorry about anything
i'd better have a little talk with jack
frost before this turns into bigger
trouble
supporting the arts brings ample
benefits
boy talk about your obvious
that means put all your money into music
right behind you
in the jukebox
here they come children boku nickels
that schemer he wouldn't know the truth
if it came and hit him in the nose yeah
well maybe but you know some people will
believe anything right tax as long as
it's what they want to hear rex yeah but
that doesn't make it right um
can we discuss this later right now we
have a job to do namely turkey and the
straw
as i was going down the road entire team
and a heavy load crack my whip and the
leader sprung that says day day to the
wagon tongue turkey and strong
turkey and hay
rolling twisting
i went out to milk and i didn't know how
i milked a goat instead of a cow a
monkey sitting on a pile of straw
winking his eyes at his mother-in-law
turkey and straw
turkey and
[Music]
in the straw
came to the river and i couldn't get
across paid five dollars for an old
blind heart wouldn't go ahead nor he
wouldn't stand still so we went up and
down like an old saw mill turkey
[Applause]
[Music]
straw
uh somebody call my name
to think that schemer can predict the
future and i didn't even think he could
predict his own
birthday no no no now listen midge
schemer cannot predict the future nobody
can predict the future no his machine
got lucky now everybody thinks that he
has special powers well he does no no no
mitch he doesn't it was just luck
oh
schemer
you may now address me as
el skeemo
that sounds like a city in california
but have it your own way are you really
on the level
what level
my dear quaint small town busybody el
skimo is on a level high above that of
mere mortals i have joined the cosmic
dults
of the universe and now
for a mere nickel you may hear me speak
of the future future future future
future oh speak to me future future
future speak to me oh boy now i've heard
everything everything everything yes i'm
sensing some negative vibrations in the
neighborhood it let us be on our way no
no no no no listen schemer
this is the most outrageous thought that
you have ever pulled and listen to me
these people trust you and you're
cheating them out of their money
oh
mouth off to el skimo now listen el
chito
the passengers in this station are my
responsibility
and i am going to tell them the truth
about you
mr was my public oh wait now listen
everybody please listen
i'm sorry but this man is a fake he
cannot predict the future so please
don't waste your money on him how do you
know yeah what about the tomatoes
yes yes what about the tomatoes
listen
there's no law against telling a bunch
of suckers what they want to hear
[Music]
ah
your home is your domain
nature will submit to your design
does this mean what i think it means
maybe possibly a chance oh scheme of
reno or whatever your name is you see
i have got this big patch poison ivy out
back which is driving me crazy and if i
read this right this means i should go
out there with my beer hands and pull it
all out and show it who's boss am i
right
[Music]
definitely
dog excuse me excuse me excuse me stacy
oh stacy
i got a date with my poison ivy no mitch
please don't listen to him
[Music]
boy you three look as low as the
temperature
schemer's still at it mr conductor i
know and jack frost thinks it's really
hilarious he says watching all these
people falling for schemer's story is
even more fun than seeing cars get stuck
in snow drifts
yeah well if only the trains would start
running and everybody would leave and
this whole thing would just fade away
and then all those people out there who
believed in schemer will feel
embarrassed it's like the time when
gordon and henry were embarrassed
because they believed in all their
bragging about themselves but i suppose
no one wants to hear about that of
course we do
well then what are we waiting for
[Applause]
edward was getting old his bearings were
worn and he clanked as he puffed along
he was taking empty cattle cars to a
market town
[Music]
the sun shone bird sang
but edward was heading for trouble
come on come on he puffed oh oh screamed
the cars edward puffed and clanked the
cars rattled and screamed
some cows were grazing nearby they were
not used to trains the noise and smoke
disturbed them
as edward clanked by they broke through
the fence and ran across the line
a coupling was broken and some cars were
left behind
[Music]
edward felt a jerk but didn't take much
notice he was used to cattle cars
bother those cars he thought why can't
they come quietly
he was at the next station before either
he or his driver realized what had
happened
when gordon and henry heard about the
accident they laughed and boasted fancy
allowing cows to break your train they
wouldn't dare do that to us we'd show
them
old toby was cross
you couldn't help it edward they've
never met cows i have and i know the
trouble they are
[Music]
some days later gordon rushed through
edward station
mind the cows hurry hurry puffed gordon
don't make such a fuss don't make such a
fuss grumbled his coaches
a long stretch of line lay ahead in the
distance was a bridge
it seemed to gordon that there was
something on the bridge his driver
thought so too
gordon he said and shut off steam
said gordon it's only a cow
shoe
he moved slowly onto the bridge but the
cow wouldn't chew she had lost her calf
and felt lonely
she said sadly
everyone tried to send her away but she
wouldn't go
henry arrived
[Music]
what's this a cow i'll soon settle her
be off be off
henry backed away nervously
i don't want to hurt her
[Music]
at the next station henry's conductor
told him about the cow and warned the
signalman that the line was blocked
[Music]
that must be bluebell said the porter
her calf is here looking for her mother
percy will take her along
[Music]
at the bridge bluebell was very pleased
to see her calf again and the porter led
them away
[Music]
not a word
keep it secret whispered gordon and
henry to each other they felt rather
silly
but the story soon spread
[Music]
well well well chuckled edward two big
engines afraid of a cow
afraid rubbish said gordon we didn't
want the poor thing to hurt herself by
running up against us
we stopped so as not to excite her you
see what i mean my dear edward
yes gordon said edward
gordon felt somehow that edward saw only
too well
[Music]
gordon and henry sort of tricked
themselves didn't they
that's what happens when you brag too
much schemer always brags about how
great he is i wish he'd trick himself
wait a minute that gives me an idea but
we better act fast because el skimo is
getting more popular every minute listen
he's a dream shining time station to him
give shiny time
[Music]
okay here's the plan oh but it better
work because if it doesn't things could
be worse than they are now
okay
you have to do it
[Music]
ah some of my lambs have returned home
teamer people k*lled them that's i'm
explaining to you
i took your advice and i pulled out that
whole patch of poison ivy well it did
not submit to my design all it did was
make me break out all over oh
and i had that hairdo you told me to get
and do you know what happened do you
know what happened i predict you're
going to tell me
wow
[Music]
hell schemo shall explain i'll explain
silence ordinary people
i shall all contact you degrees beyond
the machine shall issue a note and the
great el skimo shall interpret it
what do you want else chemo
it's a it's a talking machine
well what do you know about that
tell us the future old talking machino
you cannot see the future nor can i
no one can see the
future it's a it's a machine that has a
sense of humor it's joking i appreciate
your sense of humor let us all laugh
you told these people lies to get their
money
shame on you
well i made up i i made a few guesses it
didn't work out so well but
you twisted around my messages your
predictions are all wrong you are a
phony oh no no i mean
what about ginny's tomatoes ginny's
tomatoes are you kidding
that was a coincidence
that is the last time i ever spent one
cent in your arcade you phony
it's the machine it's it's inhabited by
an evil spirit i have schema i never did
believed it anyway yeah i knew he was a
fake all along wait wait who are you
going to believe wait what you got to
believe
you know this wasn't all schemer's fault
what do you mean well none of those
people had to do what schemer told them
to do
they did it on their own that's right
then they did but they should have known
better than to listen to everything that
schemer said sometimes people don't use
common sense and speaking of common
sense you'll be fine just trust me let
me know
are you going to apologize to everyone
don't forget apologize er eskimo
the train is here let's go what about
the region you should be ashamed of
yourself yeah you should be run out of
time no wait wait i'll predict something
good for you stay around i have some
good news for all of you oh something it
is in the future we all have futures and
of course you want to see what your
future is so stay with el skimo and i
believe i fell for his line of oohy
i've never been so embarrassed that all
my life
ginny why don't you come back to my
place and we'll get embarrassed together
oh good
okay i apologize i'm sorry steady stay
on the set of choice
[Music]
[Music]
everybody thinks i'm no good yeah well i
wonder why you think it's because you
lied cheated and stole their money
what's the reason for everybody to be
mad at me
is it
okay
little schemer
are you ever gonna pull a stunt like
this again
no miss jones okay
but it was kind of fun while it lasted
schemer
i didn't hear that
it is i the spirit of the machine
i'll come back to haunt you if you ever
trick people like that again
no don't do that please don't do that
don't you want me to tell you the future
no no not one of the future businesses
are completely out of the future
i predict you are going to take a trip
[Music]
reach for the speed
reach for the whistle go where the rail
may run
reach for the words
reach for the story
follow the rainbow sun
to a shining tide station
where dreams can come true
waiting there for
[Music]
hopes to hold on to who knows how far
you'll go
to a shining time station
where dreams can come true
your own
imagination
waiting there for you
funding for this program was provided in
part by the corporation for public
broadcasting and by the financial
support of viewers like you
[Music]
this is pbs
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03x08 - Fortune Teller Schemer
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A local named Horace Schemer, simply referred to as Schemer, runs the station's arcade and serves as the series' comic relief.
A local named Horace Schemer, simply referred to as Schemer, runs the station's arcade and serves as the series' comic relief.