Short synopsis: Oliver discovers a barrier where a rock comes loose and dirt slowly starts to slide down. He quickly reports it to Miss Jenny who agrees to close the site until the area has been expected. Nelson takes workmen to inspect the site and all the machines continue on with their work, except for Max and Monty whose careless behavior leads them into the site...which leads to disaster!

Moral: carelessness can lead to trouble/different can be good

(Scene starts with morning over Cronk quarry zooming over with the machines at work)

It was a bright early morning at the quarry. Miss Jenny's machines were busy at work at the construction site that runs through Cronk. They were widening roads and digging up dirt to make sure that there was room in the area for construction of new sites all around. Ned the steam shovel was busy loading Max and Monty full of rubble.

(Oliver pours rubble roughly into Max's trunk)

Max: Oi! Careful there, bumble bucket!

Ned: Sorry, Max. It's only rubble after all. (slowly pours rubble into Monty's trunk)

Monty: More!

(Ned pours more rubble into Monty's trunk)

Monty: More!

Ned: I think that's quite enough for now, Monty.

Monty: More and hurry.

But Ned didn't budge. He understood Max and Monty well and he wasn't going to let them take advantage of him. So he just strolled the other way.

Max: Pfft! Shabby steam shovel.

Monty: Come on, Max. I'll race to you to the construction site.

Max: I'll get there before you, Monty.

Monty: (racing away) Last one there billows hot air!

So the race was on...before their operators could return.

(Max races after Monty. The operators return and shout at them but it's too late. The two dump trucks race past Kelly)

Kelly: Max! Monty! Watch where you're going!

Ned: (rolling up beside Kelly) Those two are probably going to get themselves in even more trouble someday with their carelessness.

Kelly: (sighing) When will they finally learn.

(Scene cuts to the machines in the yard)

Later that afternoon, Miss Jenny came to see her machines. She had stern words for Max and Monty.

Miss Jenny: I am very disappointed in you two. You could have caused an accident by racing around the quarry like that; and without your operators too.

Max: We're sorry, Miss Jenny.

Monty: It won't happen again.

Miss Jenny: (sighing) Not the first time I've heard that from you two. Who knows what to believe with you? Anyway, I need to get back to my office and you all have work to do, so please, continue.

(All the machines go back to work as Miss Jenny walks back to her office)

Throughout the afternoon, Max and Monty seemed to be more on their best behavior. The last thing they wanted after all was to spend another night locked up in their sheds.

(Scene cuts to Jack and Alfie at the digging site)

Meanwhile, Jack and Alfie were busy digging up hole at the digging site. This was their favorite job.

Jack: Digging is great fun, isn't it, Alfie?

Alfie: More digging means more dirt. More dirt means more fun.

(Jack and Alfie laugh as they continue digging. Isobella rolls by when Alfie accidentally drops a pile of dirt near her. Dust pours out)

Isobella: Oi! Mind my paint!

Alfie: Oh, sorry, Isobella.

(Isobella rolls his eyes as she strolls on. Kelly comes into view)

Kelly: Don't mind her, you two. Isobella's always fussy about her paint.

Jack

And (chuckling) We know, Kelly.

Alfie:

Once the dirt piled up, Marion came along and filled up her shovel.

Marion: Oh, how much I like digging. It's my favorite job after all.

Jack: Ours too. What are you doing here at the construction site, Marion?

Alfie: Shouldn't you be at the Clay Pits?

Marion: Oh, the Clay Pits is not so far from here and Timothy has got things under control with the twins so Miss Jenny asked me to help with some digging here. A set of rails can be really useful in a time like this, right?

Jack: I guess so, Marion.

Once the dirt was all cleared, Patrick brought some concrete so that it could be laid around and Buster got to work at widening it out into roads.

(Scene cuts to Oliver the excavator resting with Miss Jenny coming into view)

Later, Miss Jenny came to see Oliver the excavator. She had important news for him.

Miss Jenny: I have a special job for you to do, Oliver.

Oliver: A special job? Really? What is it, Miss Jenny?

Miss Jenny: I need you to do some demolishing on the empty buildings around the quarry. We need to make some room in case of any more construction around this quarry. And you, Oliver, are very capable of doing the job.

Oliver: Sure thing, Miss Jenny. I'll go ahead and get my wrecking ball fitted.

Miss Jenny: Excellent. I knew I could rely on you.

(Oliver rolls away with Miss Jenny waving after him)

At the fitters yard, the men worked hard to get Oliver's wrecking ball fitted on properly. It took quite a bit of time for them to remove his shovel and have his wrecking ball ready but Oliver didn't mind. He knew that he had all afternoon to do the jobs he liked best. Max and Monty rolled by.

(Max and Monty race to a stop beside Oliver)

Oliver: Careful, you two. It's quite dangerous racing around the quarry like that. Where are your operators?

Max: On break! What's it to you, old timer?

Oliver: Easy, now. Just wondering. And just remember our motto: safety first.

Monty: Pfft! What nonsense! At least Max and I don't need to wait for our operators to prepare us for their work!

Max: We don't switch between tools like you do!

Oliver: Now, now, having different tools is an ability that makes me really useful.

Monty: Yeah, maybe...for digging dirt.

Max: And knocking buildings down.

Monty: Or maybe destroying them recklessly.

Max: (chuckles) Good one, Monty. Come on, let's get out of here before our operators come back.

Monty: Right, Max. Let's go.

(Max and Monty race speedily away. Oliver feels hurt by their jokes)

Oliver was usually an engine who liked to advise his friends and support them in a spot of bother. But Max and Monty's jokes can get to anyone, eventually.

(Next scene continues with Oliver's wrecking ball fitted on. He slowly exits the fitters yard with the workmen waving after him)

It wasn't long before the workmen finished with fitting the wrecking ball on Oliver. He exited the fitters yard, still feeling very sorry for himself. He stopped by a ruined building. Kelly was there, picking up fallen objects with his crane. He could see Oliver was upset.

Kelly: What's wrong, Oliver?

Oliver: Wrong, Kelly?

Kelly: (chuckles) Why, yes. You look down.

Oliver: (sighs) Oh, I bet you know this already, Kelly, but nobody likes being the subject of Max and Monty's jokes, right?

Kelly: Um, right. Don't worry, Oliver. It happens all the time. (rolls away)

Kelly knew she had to find Max and Monty right away and make them apologize to Oliver. Oliver rolled slowly up to the building and his operator quickly got his wrecking ball in place.

(Oliver's wrecking ball is aimed several times towards the building)

In no time at all, the ruined building was in smithereens. The workmen cheered for Oliver but he just rolled sadly away. He was still thinking about what the dump truck twins had said. Not even the cheerful sight of Buster the steamroller could cheer him up.

(Buster honks his horn as he stops beside Oliver)

Buster: Hello there, Oliver. You alright?

Oliver: (sighs) I'm fine, Buster. Sometimes I just feel like putting an end to Max and Monty's jokes.

Buster: Oh, just ignore those two. They tease me all the time.

Oliver: They do? So why do you put up with it?

Buster: Oh, because I know that over half the things they say aren't true. They make fun of me all the time for being a steamroller but I don't listen to them. I know that being a steamroller may be a little different than having to roll around on wheels all the time but I'm proud of it. It's my differences that make me special. Just like how you switch between tools to do your jobs. Gotta go now, Oliver. Goodbye. (honks and rolls away)

Buster's words made Oliver feel a lot better. But still he also kept thinking about what Max and Monty had said.

(Scene cuts to Max and Monty at the workmen's hut)

Meanwhile, Max and Monty were waiting at the workmen's hut for their operators to be done with their lunch break. The two dump trucks had just received a big telling off from the foreman for leaving their operators behind and they were still fuming when Kelly rolled in. Max and Monty decided to cheer themselves up by teasing him.

Max: Oh, look, Monty. It's the quarry's equivalent of a breakdown crane.

Monty: Looking for the Rescue Team, are we, Kelly? Or are you going fishing? The quarry's no place for that, you know.

(Max and Monty laugh)

But Kelly didn't let Max and Monty's jokes get to him this time. He was cross enough with them for causing trouble towards Oliver and he spoke severely to them.

Kelly: You both need to stop making cruel jokes towards the rest of the Pack! I've had it and so has Oliver! You really hurt his feelings with what you said to him!

Max: Oh, Kelly! What do you always have to have a soft spot, huh?

Monty: It's not our fault the old timer can't take a joke!

(Kelly rolls his eyes)

Kelly didn't feel it was worth it anymore talking to Max and Monty and she just rolled away. Meanwhile, Oliver had just finished with some demolition sites on numerous parts of the quarry and was heading back towards the yard. He noticed a barrier up ahead with two cliffside in between so his operator decided to slow him down and heighten his wrecking ball up to the very top.

Oliver: You know, sir, I don't think this barrier looks very safe.

Operator: I know, Oliver, old boy. But it's the best shortcut to get back to the yard. The best you can do here is just be careful. Remember...

Oliver

And His ...safety first!

Operator:

Oliver: (chuckling) I know. I know.

The barrier got darker as Oliver trundled slowly between it. He tried keeping his wrecking ball down below in fear of something coming down between them. But no matter how slowly they went, Oliver couldn't control the movement of his wrecking ball, which slowly swayed around as he continued through the barrier.

Oliver: Psst, sir! I can't control my wrecking ball. It's just swaying around on its own.

Operator: No fear, Oliver. We'll be out of here soon.

Oliver: (sighing) Hopefully soon enough.

Then there was trouble. Oliver's wrecking ball eventually banged into the left cliffside. Oliver was shocked. He came to a complete stop and looked around.

Operator: (chuckling) Everything alright, Oliver?

Oliver: (shaking) Um, n-n-no, s-s-sir. I think we hit the barrier. Big time.

Operator: Oh, nothing to worry about. Just a small hit won't affect anything. (finishes his sentences as a sound from the barrier is heard to be rolling down)

But he said it too soon. Oliver and his operator could hear a small sound was heard from up the cliffside.

Operator: (nervously) Or maybe not too much.

Then suddenly, a rock tumbled down on the ground. Oliver reversed to a halt in a surprise. Then dirt slowly moved down from the barrier.

Oliver: I told you, sir, that journeying through this barrier could be risky.

Operator: You're right, Oliver. I guess I might have to inspect this small mess and see what we can do about it.

And so that's what he did. Oliver's operator took a quick look at the fallen rock then looked up the cliffside to see more dirt slowly making it's way down. After that, he looked farther down the trail to see the end of the barrier and then he turned back towards Oliver.

Operator: I'm afraid we have ourselves a little dilemma, here, Oliver. We're almost at the end so I guess it's safe to proceed but you must be careful with your wrecking ball before something else comes down.

Oliver: Yes, sir. I will.

And so Oliver and his operator made their way slowly through once more until they reached the end of the barrier of the other side. After that, Oliver returned quickly to the yard when the machines were all being refueled. Max and Monty were impatient to get back to their operators at the workmen's hut but the men seemed to be taking their time with the fuel drums. Oliver spoke up to his fellow machines.

Oliver: Listen, all of you: I have a quick warning to make. Don't go through the old barrier down the site there. It's very dangerous as my operator and I just discovered.

Max: How would YOU know, old timer?

Monty: Yeah! Maybe you caused it a problem with one of your silly old tools! (laughs as he races off with Max racing after him)

And the two of them raced off without even waiting to refueled.

Jack: Max! Monty! Your fuel!

Kelly: Don't mind them, Jack. They'll learn their lesson the hard way once time really kicks in.

Oliver: I'm afraid that time might have to do with the fact that they ignored me about the barrier.

Alfie: Does Miss Jenny know about this, Oliver?

Oliver: No, not yet. But my operator just went to tell her. They'll be back soon.

And they were. Miss Jenny first turned towards Oliver.

Miss Jenny: Well done for discovering that barrier, Oliver. Your operator told me everything. Nelson, you must take the workmen to investigate the site. Meanwhile, I want all the rest of you to stay out of plain sight of this barrier and just get on with your ordinary jobs.

The Pack: Yes, Miss Jenny. (all honk their horns as they all race off back to their jobs)

And soon they were all refueled and ready to get back to work. Oliver had his shovel fitted back on and went straight back to digging. Nelson picked up the workmen and set off for the barrier. Meanwhile, all the other machines carried on with their work. But Oliver was a little worried. What if some machine such as Max or Monty could race into the site and cause even more trouble. All of Oliver's safety precautions would've been revealed for nothing. His good friend Oliver the Great Western engine came along with his break van, Toad.

Oliver (engine): (whistling) Hello there, Oliver.

Oliver (Pack): Oh, hello, Great Western (chuckles slightly)

Oliver (engine): You look a little nervous. Whatever's the matter?

Oliver (Pack): Oh, my operator and I just discovered a barrier down the site here. And I'm not sure that all the machines might have taken in mine or Miss Jenny's warnings about the dangers of it. It's a good thing the workmen have gone to discover it.

Oliver (engine): Oh, dear. I do hope nobody gets hurt.

Toad: Don't worry, Mr. Oliver. I'm sure Miss Jenny takes your warning seriously about this.

Oliver (engine): (confused) Um, I'm not the one who made the discovery, Toad.

Toad: (sighs and chuckles) I know, Mr. Oliver. I wasn't talking to YOU. Of course no effects there, right?

Oliver (engine): Of course not, Toad. Anyway, we best be heading back to Duck's branch. See you later, Oliver. And don't worry. The workmen know what they're doing. (whistles and chuffs away)

Toad: Goodbye, Mr. Oliver.

Oliver (engine): (chuckles) I'm right here, Toad.

Toad: (sighs) I know, I know. I was talking to the other one. You're not the only Oliver on Sodor, you know.

(Oliver (engine) and Toad chuckle as they disappear down the tracks and Oliver (Pack) smiles slightly as he returns to his work)

At the barrier entrance, Nelson watched as the workmen put up signs labeled DO NOT ENTER! on both sides of the barrier, warning machines not to enter the area. A few of them even proceeded into the barrier to look around for rocks that have either fallen or come loose. They had found quite a few and reported it back to the foreman at the barrier's entrance.

(Jack rolls up alongside Nelson)

Jack: I'm pretty sure these workmen know they're doing. Don't you, Nelson?

Nelson: Quite so, Jack. The foreman just gave these men clear instructions to walk in and out of the area and so far, it's been proven that it's unsafe for machines to proceed.

Jack: That's nice. I better get back to digging. I do, after all, need to shovel the dirt into sight so that Alfie can dig it up and make good use of it. (reverses and rolls away)

Nelson continued to eye the barrier cautiously. He saw how the workmen had done their inspection on the area and were getting ready to canvas it up and make it safe for machines to pass.

(Scene cuts to Max and Monty at the site. Jack and Alfie are also there)

Meanwhile, Max and Monty were running low on fuel and the fuel drums had been placed away. Their operators had gone for a short break and Jack and Alfie were nearby, digging dirt.

Alfie: Yes, Max and Monty. Can we help you two?

Max: You better you can! Monty and I are running low on fuel!

Monty: What's the quickest way to get to the next compartment? These men here will take their time and it will take longer for us to get home!

Jack: (sternly) The next fuel compartment is available through the barrier. But you can't go through.

Alfie: (sternly) Yeah, both Miss Jenny and Oliver have declared it unsafe. That's the workmen are canvasing it up and...

Max: Oh, to ruins with that old-fashioned excavator says! Oliver's always causing delays with the way he swings his wrecking ball!

Monty: Yeah, and we're sure one time through the barrier won't cause any effect! That is...if we hurry! Come on, Max! (races away)

Max: (races after Monty) I'll get there before you, Monty!

Jack and Alfie were shocked. Max and Monty had raced away just as their operators had come back. Oliver saw the commotion and raced over.

Max's Operator: Oi, Max!

Monty's Operator: Monty! Where have they gone?

Jack: Towards the barrier.

Oliver: (shocked) What?!

Alfie: You heard him, Oliver. There's no way of controlling those two.

Oliver: (worriedly) I better stop them before they dig into even more trouble! (races off)

Jack

And Wait, Oliver!

Alfie:

But Oliver didn't hear them. He had just discovered a safety hazard that might be an impact on the quarry and he wasn't going to let Max and Monty get into trouble by ignoring it.

(Scene cuts to the barrier entrance with Nelson standing by with the workmen walking out of the area)

At the barrier site, the workmen had just finished making final inspections and were making plans to canvas up the barrier and make it safe. Nelson watched as they gathered together to confer over it. Then, he heard a set of wheels coming from up the site. He looked over to see Max and Monty racing in sight at a tremendous speed.

Max: I'll get there first!

Monty: No! I will!

Max: No! I will!

Monty: Let's see then, shall we?

(Max and Monty race towards the barrier)

Nelson: Max! Monty! Stop!

But it was too late. The two dump trucks had already disappeared into the darkness of the barrier.

Nelson: (sighing) When will those two learn?

Max and Monty raced through the barrier. They thought the whole journey to be exhilarating. But not for long. Suddenly, the two naughty dump trucks came to a complete stop just between the two cliffsides.

Max: Bother! I'm out of fuel!

Monty: Me too!

Then they heard a strange noise coming from both directions of the barrier. Then a rock tumbled down before him and landed with a thud. The two dump trucks gasped back in surprise. All the racing around they had done had caused a landslide to occur from both sides of the barrier.

Max: (moaning) We're in trouble now.

Monty: Big trouble is more like it.

(Scene cuts back to the site with Oliver stopping beside Nelson)

Nelson: Oliver!

Oliver: Hello, Nelson. Have you by any chance seen Max and Monty arrive yet?

Nelson: Why, yes. They've headed into the barrier. I didn't know what they were thinking, nor their operators.

Oliver: They've left them behind again, Nelson. I was the one who discovered this mess and now I must prevent it from actually happening. (races into the barrier)

Nelson: Wait, Oliver! Don't! You'll get into trouble as well! OLIVER!

But Oliver didn't hear Nelson. He just continued his way into the barrier.

(Scene cuts back to Max and Monty)

Meanwhile, Max and Monty were wishing that they had never gone into the barrier in the first place. The landslide was getting closer and closer but was Oliver.

Max: We're going to get crushed if we don't get out of here, mate!

Monty: Help! HELP!

By this time, Oliver was racing right around the corner until he finally came into sight of Max and Monty.

Oliver: Max! Monty! (rolling forward)

Max: Oliver?

Monty: What do you're doing, mate?

Oliver: What does it look like? (raises his shovels and covers it over Max and Monty) I'm getting you two out of here.

Max: You'll never do that in time!

Monty: You'll just make it worse, mate! You're a silly old steam shovel, remember?

Oliver: Well, this "silly old steam shovel" is getting you out of here.

Max: Pfft! Let's see how you'll do that then.

Monty: Yeah, show us.

The landslide started to roll down and Oliver lifted his shovel up, which kept it from falling over Max and Monty. The twins looked up in surprise. Then Kelly came into sight. Miss Jenny was on board.

Kelly: Oliver!

Oliver: (grunting) Kelly! Get the twins out of here! Quick!

Kelly: But I can only reach Max from here! Nelson's on his way over.

Kelly pulled Max away and out of the barrier while Nelson arrived and got ready to pull Monty away.

Nelson: Let go, Oliver! We're all safe now! Let's go!

Oliver: (grunting) I can't. It will only make it worse!

Nelson: Just do it, Oliver! Trust me on this one!

Oliver couldn't hold it much longer anyway. The landslide hit the ground but as Nelson pulled Monty quickly away from under, a huge rock toppled over them.

Oliver: Look out! (reaches his shovel out to catch the rock into it) Phew! I did it.

Nelson: Well done, Oliver! (pulls Monty away)

And so three machines made their way back into the yard where Max was being refueled and the men were getting ready to the same for Monty. Oliver was worried about what Miss Jenny would have to say about his venture into the sight. He did, after all, break the motto of safety first, even though he discovered the barrier in the first place. But Miss Jenny wasn't cross with Oliver. She was smiling.

Miss Jenny: Spot on, Oliver! You'd make a mother proud.

Oliver: You're not cross with me, Miss Jenny? I didn't use the "safety first" motto in this rescue attempt after all.

Miss Jenny: Oh, that's no matter to me, Oliver. What matters is that you had a reason for going into the sight and helping out a friend. You also risked your boiler to do so too. As well as your smart paintwork. (chuckles) And that's why, Oliver, you deserve yourself a new coat of paint.

Oliver: (gasps) A new coat of paint? Thanks, Miss Jenny.

The Pack: (honking their horns) Hooray for Oliver!

All of the other machines cheered for Oliver. Except for Max and Monty who just snorted. But Miss Jenny had stern words for them.

Miss Jenny: (severely) Not much of the same I can say for you two. You caused a lot of trouble by racing into that barrier at a dangerous speed. And without your operators there too. You'll be spending the next few days in your shed.

Max and Monty felt very ashamed. But the rest of The Pack just cheered.

(All of the machines cheer as Max and Monty roll back to their shed)

Buster: (rolling up to Oliver) What did I tell you, Oliver? Different can be good, right?

Oliver: Why, yes, Buster. I mean, I basically saved the day just tool among the numerous ones that I have. I think that proves that they actually are special. Ah, well, I was always proud of them to start with.

Kelly: You should be. It's that difference you have from us that makes you special, Oliver.

(The machines honked their horns loudly in agreement)

All of the machines agreed. And Oliver, for the first time all day, felt very special about having to use different tools now and then.

(Scene zooms in to Oliver and then fades to white smoke)