Moral: everyone needs help sometimes/too much of anything is not good
Short Synopsis: Daisy enjoys both passengers and goods, and when Ryan is in need of repair at the SteamWorks, she vows to run the whole Arlesburgh-Harwick branch line herself. However, Donald and Douglas are sent to work in Ryan's place and Daisy constantly rejects their help...until she gets into a mix-up with her passengers.
(Scene starts by zooming in over the Arlesburgh-Harwick branch line with Ryan passing Daisy with his goods train. They greet each other by whistling and honking)
Ryan and Daisy run one of the busiest branch lines on the Island of Sodor. The line itself runs from Harwick and all the way up to Arlesburgh and back. There is lots of sights to see, making it a very popular tourist attraction indeed.
(Daisy takes her passengers up the line towards Calles Cavern and stops there)
From Calles Cavern, with all it's historical feature and mystique…
(Donald and Douglas pass by each other at Arlesburgh Harbor with Duck and Oliver passing each other on the next track)
…up to Arlesburgh Harbor, with all it's sight and natural beauty…
(Ryan passes Skiff by Skiff's Railboat Tours)
…to Skiff's Railboat Tours, where Skiff himself shows tourists all there is to see. Running back down to Harwick, Ryan and Daisy take great pride in running the line and know every part of it quite well.
(Ryan and Daisy pass each other at Arlesburgh Harbor. Next scene shifts and zooms in to Ryan and Daisy at their shed, Sir Topham Hatt walking up)
One morning, Sir Topham Hatt came to see the two engines for his weekly inspection. The workmen found that Daisy was in good working order, but the foreman expressed concern over Ryan.
(The foreman confers quietly with Sir Topham Hatt, who then sighs and turns to Ryan)
Topham: I'm sorry, Ryan, but it seems that your cylinder's been damaged.
Ryan: (confused) Damaged, sir?
Topham: Well, for the first time too since you arrived on my railway. The heavy workload's done it finally. You must report to the SteamWorks immediately for repairs.
Ryan: Right away, sir. It is my first visit after all. I'm very excited. Could you possibly tell me what it's like, Daisy?
Daisy: (jokingly) Hmm…hopefully not dark or oily like what we have at the DieselWorks.
(Ryan and Daisy share a laugh and Sir Topham Hatt slightly chuckles too before clearing his throat and continuing)
Topham: Quite amusing indeed. (sighs) Well, anyway, I've also yet to inform you, Daisy, that the DieselWorks in Vicarstown seems quite busy and most of my engines have their own work to do down by Knapford.
Daisy: Oh, that's no problem, sir.
Topham: Um, no, no, not at all. But I'm considering sparing an engine or two down from Duck's branch to help out. Maybe Donald or Douglas. Or both perhaps depending on the amount of goods traffic.
Daisy: (chuckles) Not to worry, sir. I don't mind carrying goods these days. I can do it all on my own.
Topham: (doubtfully clearing his throat) Um, that won't be necessary, Daisy. Thank you.
Daisy: Necessary? Why not? I can haul. It's not that bad for my swerves after all.
Topham: Yes, I know that, but you can't deliver goods and look after your passengers at the same time. As one of my engines, you should be able to figure that out by taking it one step at a time.
Daisy: (rolls her eyes, arguably) I assure you, sir, that managing two duties at a time is NOT a problem.
Topham: (sternly) Now, that's enough! I will be sending down help to manage Ryan's work and that's final. Now run along. (coughs, then shoots Daisy a reminding look) Your passengers are waiting after all.
(Daisy rolls her eyes and honks as she rolls out of her shed)
Ryan: (whistling) Good luck, Daisy. (chuffs away out of the sheds)
Ryan was excited to pay his first visit to the SteamWorks, but Daisy wasn't so keen to be given help instead of having the responsibility all of her own. She came to a hard stop at the platform where the line started. She was in a huff as she waited impatiently for her passengers.
Daisy: (honking) All aboard! No time to waste now. Come on. (sighs heavily as the confused passengers board the train) Lots and lots to see…(last door bangs shut and Daisy quickly shuts her eyes at the sound and opens them in surprise)…and do. (honks and rolls away)
And she rolled away to the goods yard. Whether or not an engine was going to help her, Daisy was going to do as much as she possibly could to make both Ryan and Sir Topham Hatt proud…even if it meant disobeying orders.
(Scene shifts and zooms in over to the goods yard. Daisy backs up to tankers of milk, tar and fuel as the shunter walks up to her)
Shunter: (surprised) Oh, good morning, Daisy. Quite a surprise to see you in the goods yard. What brings you here?
Daisy: Ryan is in need of repairs. So I'm handling all the goods traffic in his place.
Shunter: Mmm, strange. Sir Topham Hatt never told me you were coming. I only arrived few minutes ago so it figures. (sighs, after Daisy smiles and looks at the tankers behind her) Well, if you're here for the tankers, I might as well just couple you up. It's your responsibility otherwise after all. (walks up and couples up to the milk tanker)
Daisy: Thank you, sir.
(The shunter walks away, as Donald and Douglas pull into the yard, whistling)
Douglas: Hello, Daisy. (confused as he sees Daisy's train) Why are you coupled up to those tankers?
Daisy: (sighs, rolling her eyes) Did Sir Topham Hatt really send you two down to all this goods work?
Douglas: Begging yer pardon?
Donald: (chuckles slightly) Ain't it obvious and in plain sight?
Daisy: Don't you both have your own work to do on that little old Great Western line of yours, or something?
Donald: (indignantly) Aye! That's "Little Western" to you!
Douglas: (firmly) Hush, Donald. (looks over to Daisy) In all rationality, Daisy, you're just lucky we're here. The goods traffic over on Duck's branch line isn't half as bad as it is here.
Daisy: I assure you BOTH that I will handle my passengers and goods just fine.
Donald: (half-suppressed laugh) Aye. Is that as much as you can pull then? Let's make a bet and see if you'll come back for more.
Douglas: No, Donald. That won't be necessary. I kindly suggest you let us take those tankers for you, Daisy. You can never be too careful with how much you can handle.
Daisy: I'll be back for more. Just you wait and see. (kindly) Perhaps you'd both like to handle the trucks.
Douglas: (sighs) Alright, you win.
Donald: Yeah. The trucks know better than to play tricks on us.
Douglas: But don't say we didn't warn ya about those tankers. Sir Topham Hatt will most definitely not approve…
Donald: (chuckles) Say no more, Donald. Let the lassie figure it out for herself. (jokingly, looking at Daisy) She seems very much on top of things after all.
(All three startle as Daisy's passengers start complaining)
Passenger #1: Oi! What's going on?
Passenger #2: Where the devil are we?
Passenger #3: I say, what's the holdup?
Donald: Told you so. (exchanges amused glances with Douglas and they both laugh)
Daisy ignored the twins, and she went on her way. She didn't mind handling goods traffic every now and then, and would often give Ryan a helping hand whenever she had fewer passengers.
(Scene fades on Donald and Douglas laughing and shifts to the SteamWorks, zooming on in Ryan)
The SteamWorks was about it's usual bustle, though the men wasted no time with having Ryan's cylinder mended. But there was other work to as well, and the job was taking an awful long time.
(Ryan sighs to himself, as Victor chuffs up beside him)
Victor: I'm sorry, Ryan. I know you're anxious to get back to work, but the SteamWorks isn't full of hustle and bustle for nothing, you know.
Ryan: (sighs) It's not that, Victor. It's Daisy. She believes she can handle all the work on the branch line herself, but Sir Topham Hatt doesn't agree.
Victor: And that is exactly we're in a need of a helping hand at some point. Daisy can't handle her passengers and the goods traffic all on her own. That's the same reason Kevin and I work together. We're a team.
(Instrumental snippet of We Make A Team Together begins as the scene fades out on the SteamWorks and shifts back to the branch line)
Deep down, Ryan knew that Victor was right. Daisy, on the other hand, had no problem so far with the decision she was making. She delivered milk to the dairy…and fuel and tar to the depot…and she stopped at all the right stations on the way. For Daisy, it felt good to be responsible in two positions at once.
(Scene shifts to the coal yard with Daisy pushing trucks under the coal chute)
Daisy had one last station to stop at before running her next passenger train to Arlesburgh. However, she decided to take some coal trucks first.
(Donald whistles as he pulls in with coal trucks on the line across from Daisy's)
Donald: (teasingly) Winning the bet, are we now?
Daisy: Ha! You admit it. (Donald expresses a confused look) You see? Hauling goods as well as passengers is a specialty for us diesel railcars, you know.
Donald: (curiously, looking through Daisy's window) Oh, really, now? Is that a fact?
Daisy: Yes. I've always had the confidence that I'd be able to manage this branch line for myself at some point.
Donald: Is that so? (grinning) Try telling that to your passengers then.
Passenger #1: Why! Another holdup!
Passenger #2: What's the big idea?
Passenger #3: Come on, now.
Daisy: (gasps, as the passengers grumble) My passengers? Oh, no. I'm going to make them late. So much to do, so much to see, and no time to ease my axels either. (honks her horn) Goodbye, Donald. (rolls away)
(Scene fades out on Donald's smug face, and shifts to Daisy hurrying along the view of the branch line)
Daisy felt she had no time to lose, as she hurried along her route through Harwick. She had much intention to make her coal deliveries on time to the harbor. However, the passengers all had a very uncomfortable ride along the way.
(The passengers inside bump up and down in their seats and grab on to the metal bars, one mother holding her child close against the window)
At least, Daisy had made her way round and reached the station at the end of the line, where the relieved passengers got off. They were not happy.
Passenger #1: I say! What a ride, that was!
Passenger #2: How 'bout our money back?!
Passenger #3: Pfft! Call this a railway?!
(The mother holds her child tight beside her as they walks away. Daisy rolls her eyes and honks as she rolls away)
Daisy ignored the passengers and set off. She didn't quite enjoy their complaints, but she felt she didn't have the time to bother with them, as she still had a journey to run to the harbor. (the passengers all shout at the ticket window until the stationmaster's whistle blows) However, the passengers all told everyone what a bad railway it was, and the stationmaster had to endure most of the complaints. (the stationmaster lays his head down over his head in frustration) For that reason, he phoned ahead to Sir Topham Hatt to inform him of the situation.
Topham: (picks up the ringing telephone) Hello? Oh, hello there. (gasps, as he hears the chattering over the phone) Oh. (listening hard) I see. (nodding his head, as the chattering continues) Yes, yes, well, not to worry. I'll be right over. I think I know the solution to all this. (chattering finishes up) Yes, well, thank you. Goodbye, now. (hangs up the phone, sighing heavily)
Sir Topham Hatt knew that any complaint from the passengers could mean trouble for his railway, and he left for the branch line immediately.
(Sir Topham Hatt hops into his car before slamming the door shut and rolling quickly away)
Meanwhile, work was running rather smoothly on the branch line. Donald picked up flour from the mill…and took it to the bakery…, while Douglas delivered metal pilings and scrap to the foundry…and picked the a herd of sheep to take back to the farm. Donald was also there, dropping off cattle.
(Scene zooms in on Donald and Douglas at the farm as the herder and his dog exit Douglas' brake van and get to work and unloading sheep from the cattle trucks)
Farmer: Thank you, Donald and Douglas. Both my cattle and my sheep will be nice and safe in their dens now for the day. (concerned) But I'm still concerned over how my pigs are getting on.
Donald: I'll collect them, sir.
Farmer: (surprised) Oh, um, thank you, Donald.
(Donald whistles as he rattles away. Douglas sighs and expresses a look of concern)
Douglas: I'd better see how Daisy's getting on, sir. I reckon she'll be in trouble eventually if she keeps this up mixing goods traffic with her passengers.
Farmer: Splendid idea, Douglas. It takes one engine with much overconfidence to make a mistake all at once, now, doesn't it?
Douglas: (sighs) I couldn't agree more. (whistles) Goodbye, sir. (races away, his cattle trucks rattling after him)
Douglas forgot all about his empty cattle trucks, as he raced on his journey along Daisy's route. Donald, on the other hand, managed to pick up the pigs from around the fields…and return them safely to the farm. Afterwards, he returned his cattle trucks to the yard. He was surprised to see Sir Topham Hatt's car pull up.
(Sir Topham Hatt walks out and slams his car door shut. Donald gasps in surprise as he storms up to him, looking very serious)
Donald: Oh, good day, sir.
Topham: (sighs) I'm afraid it isn't such a good day, Donald. You and your twin have worked your hardest and I'm proud of you both. But Daisy's finally done it. There's been a little mix-up with her passengers.
Donald: (listening carefully) Ah, I see. Well, you know, Douglas and I warned the lassie, and we knew this would come eventually…
Topham: (holds his head down and signals his hand up) Yes, yes, I appreciate that, Donald. I really do. But that's important right now. What's important is that we find Daisy at once.
Donald: Oh, well, sure thing, sure. Hop on board. (whistles as Sir Topham Hatt hops on board and leans his head out his cab as Donald races away)
Donald and Sir Topham Hatt raced up the line at full steam in pursuit of Daisy. Meanwhile, the diesel railcar herself had stopped by the Arlesdale railway to deliver enough coal supply for the smaller engines to fill up on and takes to stations far and wide. Oliver was there too, picking up a load of ballast.
Daisy: (honking as the workmen unload a couple of her coal trucks) Good day, Oliver.
Oliver: (surprised) Hello, Daisy. It's funny seeing you here. What are you doing with all those coal trucks?
(Daisy explains herself as her doors bang quietly shut and her passengers look about the ballast quarry in amazement. Daisy is too busy talking to Oliver to see this)
Daisy: It shouldn't be that hard to find out, should it, Oliver? Ryan's been sent for repairs and I'd thought I'd fancy the responsibility to handle the goods traffic all on my own whilst looking after my passengers.
Oliver: (looks all around, worriedly) Mmm. Well, are you sure that's such a good idea?
Daisy: (raising an eyebrow) Come again?
Oliver: Oh, you know with the risk of your passengers being late and all. You can only focus on so much to carry at a time. That's my philosophy at least, and it's probably the same reason why Sir Topham Hatt spared the twins from our branch line, leaving me with the trucks and Duck with the coaches, you see…
Daisy: (rolls her eyes and sighs heavily) If I'd had the energy to explain this to Donald and Douglas, then I think I'd have the same nerve to tell you: this is my branch line and I can handle the work on my own…
Oliver: (concerned, looking at Daisy's empty interior as she continues) Um, Daisy?
Daisy: Let me finish, Oliver. Please…
Oliver: But, Daisy?
Daisy: (sighs) I'm sorry, Oliver. I haven't the time to chat. I shouldn't keep my passengers waiting. (honks and rolls away)
Oliver: Daisy! (looks in shock as the passengers run over, waving and shouting)
What Daisy hadn't realized was that she was giving a tour of her own branch line leading to the harbor, and that her passengers mistook the Arlesdale ballast quarry for one of the sights along the way. Her driver didn't see that coming either. The passengers were all very cross now, and Oliver couldn't have felt more worried.
(Oliver watches the grumpy passengers in concern as he backs down to his ballast trucks. Douglas whistles as he pulls up with his empty cattle trucks)
Douglas: Oh, hello, Oliver. Have you seen Daisy recently?
Oliver: (sighs, looking over at the grumbling passengers) Take a look for yourself, Douglas.
Douglas: (gasps in shock) Ooh, well, oh my. What a silly railcar she oughta be to leave her passengers about like this.
Oliver: That's exactly what I was thinking before she pulled in with those coal trucks.
Douglas: Coal trucks?
Oliver: Yes, I'm afraid. She must be taking them to all the stations around the harbor.
Douglas: Well, I can't say I'm surprised. I must catch up with her before it's too late. (whistles loudly) All aboard! Next train to Arlesburgh.
(The passengers chatter in surprise as they walk towards Douglas and board the empty cattle trucks)
The passengers were all confused, but they did figure that traveling in Douglas would be the best way to get the harbor.
Douglas: (whistles) Goodbye, Oliver.
(Douglas thunders away, leaving Oliver in confusion. As he backs up to his trucks, Donald pulls in, whistling while Sir Topham Hatt leans his head out of the cab)
Donald: Good day, Oliver. Have you seen Daisy pass through here by any chance?
(Oliver gives him a funny look and sighs. Scene fades out and shifts to Douglas racing along the line)
Douglas was in a hurry to get Daisy's passengers to Arlesburgh, even if they did have an uncomfortable time bouncing and sliding about in his cattle trucks. Daisy arrived at Skiff's Railboat Tours, where some of her passengers would get off and ride aboard Skiff to see the sights of the harbor.
Skiff: You're right on time, Daisy. (confused) But what are you doing with all those coal trucks?
Daisy: Ryan's in need of repairs today, Skiff. So I decided to handle the goods traffic while running my passenger train as well.
Skiff: Hmm. That seems very organized. But how come my passengers haven't started transferring to my mast yet?
Daisy: (puzzled) I'm not so sure, Skiff. (honks loudly) All aboard for Skiff's Railboat Tours!
But nobody got out. Daisy grew more and more puzzled, as Skiff inched further and looked inside her windows.
Skiff: Um, I don't want to cause any offense, Daisy, but it seems your passenger interior is empty.
Daisy: What?
(Douglas whistles as he pulls in and raises an eyebrow at Daisy)
Daisy: (surprised) Douglas? What are you doing here? I thought you and Donald were working down at Harwick.
Douglas: I just came along to make sure you were staying out of trouble, Daisy. But I was surprised to find a group of stranded sightseers down by the ballast quarry.
Daisy: The ballast quarry?
(The passengers get out and hop aboard Skiff's mass. Daisy watches in shame and sighs)
Douglas: Aye! Ye left them there, ya silly great railcar! So I had to take them up in these…cattle trucks!
Donald: (whistling as he stops behind Douglas) And that's not all!
Daisy: Donald?
Donald: But I must say, it doesn't look like yer winning the bet now, does it? (laughs and chuckles but stops when Sir Topham Hatt exits his cab and looks at him, than at Daisy, who is surprised to see him)
Topham: So…this is how capable you are of managing things on your own, is it?
Daisy: (stuttering, nervously) N-n-n-no, sir. (Donald and Douglas express smug looks towards her) I-I-I-…
Topham: (sighs) I don't want to hear ANY of your excuses, Daisy! I told you not to worry about the extra goods traffic; I informed you that I was sending an engine or two down to manage it in Ryan's place; and YOU deliberately disobey me! Now, look what's happened: you've left the sightseers behind; Donald and Douglas will now be late with their goods trains; and on top that, I don't like passengers complaining about MY railway! And YOUR passengers don't like being bounced about like peas in a frying pan!
Daisy: (sighs) I'm very sorry, sir, and my fellow passengers. I thought I could manage this all on my own, but I can't. The responsibility isn't as easy as I thought, but carrying passengers and being able to pull is nowadays an ability I enjoy to pursue. But it just made me confusion and delay. I'd also like to apologize to Donald and Douglas. (The twins listen hard as she continues) I am very pleased that you two were able to make the time and help me. If it weren't for you, my passengers would have never made it in time for Skiff. Please, can you help me put everything right?
Donald: Aye! We'd be happy to.
Douglas: All's forgiven, lassie. Why, my twin and I, we make mistakes all'a the time. (teasingly, to Donald) Don't we?
Donald: (scoffs) No, we don't! Or at least I don't!
Douglas: Mmm, sure.
Donald: What's a'that supposed to me?
Topham: Ah, ahem…(hopping back inside Donald's cab) If you two don't mind, I still have a railway to run, so please, carry on.
(Skiff leaves Skiff's Railboat Tours, as Donald and Douglas as they pull out and continue on forward respectively. Daisy honks her horn as he carries on with her passengers and coal trucks)
Daisy continued with her passenger run around Arlesburgh Harbor. People came and went as she stopped at each station, delivering coal along the way. Donald and Douglas, on the other hand, finished all the goods traffic down by Harwick, while Sir Topham Hatt returned to his office down by Knapford. Daisy, Donald and Douglas had finished their jobs all in good time, and bringing her passengers back down to Harwick, Daisy felt very pleased with herself as she had indeed rediscovered her true place on the railway. That evening, Ryan had just returned from the SteamWorks, with his cylinder working in good order again. Daisy joined him at the sheds, while Donald and Douglas stopped to visit them by on the way back to THEIR sheds.
Douglas: Welcome back, Ryan.
Donald: (jokingly) Aye! Even though you give a lot of extra work to do!
(Ryan laughs along with the twins, while Daisy lets out a slight chuckle as well and sighs)
Daisy: It's good to have you back, Ryan. I've learnt a lot today about the importance of sticking to one job at a time.
Ryan: Oh. Did you now, Daisy?
Donald: (cheekily, before Daisy can reply) Aye! She did. (chuckles)
Douglas: Shh! (whispers) Hush yerself, lad! She has more to say.
Daisy: (sighs) What I've also learnt today that much of anything is not so preferable, especially when others are given the chance to help you, and that's where I learnt that we all help at times. Thank you very much, Donald and Douglas.
Donald: Oh, no problem.
Douglas: Any time.
(Sir Topham Hatt walks up between the shed and Donald's line, clearing his throat)
Topham: Well done, Donald and Douglas, for all your hard work today in the goods yard, and as for you, Daisy, I can't help but say how proud I am of you for learning your lesson and making up for your mistakes. I have received many calls and it's nice to hear how my railway was running smoothly once again, and it will continuously with Ryan back in full steam once more.
Ryan: Thank you, sir. My first visit to the SteamWorks wasn't so bad after all.
Daisy: That's good to know, Ryan. (jokingly) What did I tell you, eh? Better than our oily old DieselWorks.
Ryan: (half-suppressed laugh) Right, Daisy.
Daisy: Well, I guess we've both learnt a very important lesson today. In future, I will accept help whenever the time calls for it. After all, even a "highly-spring and up-to-date" diesel like me needs help sometimes.
(Daisy, Ryan, Donald and Douglas and Sir Topham Hatt chuckle. Scene zooms out as Donald and Douglas leave, and Sir Topham Hatt walks back to his car and drives away)
Next Up:….Henrietta Helps Out
Moral: everyone has a talent for different things/different can be good
Short Synopsis: Toby and Henrietta make a great pair and mean much to each other, but Henrietta wishes for a slight change than constantly looking after Toby, who can obviously handle his work independently. Toby understands her very well and arranges for her to Mavis' break van. However, Iron 'Arry and Bert cause trouble for Mavis amongst the troublesome trucks and Henrietta stops a nasty accident just in time!