Moral: overconfidence can get the better of you/it takes time to learn the ropes/second chances pay off if you learn from your first mistake
Short Synopsis: Duck and Diesel express contrasting views on handling trucks and coaches, and everyone agrees with Duck. Devious Diesel plots his revenge by causing an accident for Duck among the trucks and as a consequence, he is held responsible for Duck's work as well as his own. Diesel, dismissing advice, handles the trucks well, but knows nothing about slip coaches...and causes confusion and delay among the passengers!
(Scene begins with the Red Balloon flying at sunrise before zooming over the view of seagulls flying over Arlesburgh Harbor)
It was high summer. The level of vacationers has been booming since the start, and the engines kept busy taking passengers to and fro from destinations far and wide. It surely was the busiest time of the year, especially for Duck and Oliver, as they pulled their faithful coaches about the branch line.
(Duck stops at a red signal and Oliver stops on the line across at a set of points. They whistle at each other)
Duck: Oh, dear. I think Alice and Mirabel have carried more passengers this morning than they have all summer long.
Oliver: I know. So have Isabel and Dulcie. Isn't it spectacular?
Isabel: We'd like to think so.
Dulcie: The more, the merrier. That's what we'd say.
Duck: (chuckles) Well, it appears to me you three have been busy. It is August after all. High summer is always like this.
Alice
And So we've noticed.
Mirabel:
Duck: Yes. Well, I believe I've heard Sir Topham Hatt talking about arranging for my slip coaches to be in service once more. About time too.
Oliver: But what will you do about Alice and Mirabel then?
Duck: Oh, not to worry. I'm sure they'll be looked after.
(Duck and Oliver's signals turns green and they whistles as they carry on)
Alice: (chuckles) We sure hope so, Duck.
Mirabel: Oh, yes. Who would ever think otherwise?
Duck: (chuckles) You too worry too much. Why would I ever want to replace such splendid and faithful coaches like you?
Better yet, the level of goods traffic has been increasing on the Little Western as well, as Donald and Douglas pulled trucks in and out of the yard every day to places far and wide across the Island. At Tidmouth Station, Sir Topham Hatt was conferring with the stationmaster, checking off the order of goods needed to be delivered to the mainland.
Topham: (thinking) Hmm. Now let me see. Surely one big engine can't make multiple trips and back to the mainland all in good time. I'm probably going to need two.
Stationmaster: Capital idea, sir.
(Scene fades out on Sir Topham Hatt thinking harder, before shifting to Diesel and Paxton making their way along the line)
Since most of the engines were busy enough with their jobs as it was, Sir Topham Hatt decided that the DieselWorks in Vicarstown was the best place to spare an engine. In no time at all, Diesel and Paxton were making their way along the line.
Paxton: Should we really be going so fast, Diesel? We have just about enough time left before Sir Topham Hatt is expecting us at the junction.
Diesel: We're nearly there, Paxton. And the sooner we get there, the better. We are modern diesel engines, remember? The speed we go at, there's absolutely no time to waste. We will arrive at that silly Great Western line of theirs and improve it. (as they stop at the junction side-by-side) There is absolutely nothing we can't do to prove that.
Oliver: (whistles as he pulls in) Prove what, Diesel?
Diesel: Nothing! What's it to you, Great Western?
Oliver: (raising an eyebrow) This is our line, Diesel, and if I catch you causing any trouble, Sir Topham Hatt will be the first to know.
(awkward silence)
Paxton: Um…how are you this morning, Oliver?
Oliver: (sighs) Doing just fine, Paxton. I'm glad you're here after all.
(Diesel snorts. Duck, Donald and Douglas pull into the junction, whistling)
As soon as the other engines arrived at the junction, Sir Topham Hatt was ready to make his announcement.
Topham: Ah, you're all here. Splendid. Welcome, Diesel and Paxton, to the Little Western branch line. The reason why I've called you both here was because for a special reason of course. Donald and Douglas will be taking a few trips to the mainland and back with a heavy goods train, and, as promised, the slip coaches will officially be back in service for high summer once more.
(Duck, Donald, Douglas, Oliver and Paxton whistle and honk in excitement, while Diesel just scoffs)
Topham: Anyway, with the work there is to do on this branch line, we can only handle so many coaches among the level of passengers at a time, so…Oliver, you will continue with your own coaches as well as your run to the ballast quarry, Duck will take the slip coaches and handle his own trucks, of course, Paxton will take Alice and Mirabel in his place and Diesel, you will shunt trucks in the yard and eventually pull them in the twins' place. (sternly) I assume you'll be on your best behavior. I can't have you working on this line otherwise.
Diesel: Oh, yes, sir. Recently, I've had quite a knack with the trucks.
Topham: (looking carefully at Diesel) I see.
Duck: (eyeing Diesel suspiciously) Mmm, sure…
Topham: Well, anyway, I reckon you all know your positions. As for me, I have a railway to run. Good day, engines. (turns and walks away)
Diesel was quite confident that he was going to treat the trucks in a very similar manner as usual, but Duck knew very well of his tricks and was not impressed.
Duck: Let me remind you, Diesel, that here on the Great Western, everything runs like clockwork. You'd better not do what I think you're going with those trucks.
Diesel: Don't think for one second that I don't how to handle trucks, Duck. It's no different for me than pulling coaches, and I believe you'd find how much better I am at doing that than you are.
Duck: Oh, really? Is that so? Then tell me, Diesel, how is it that I have my own two sets of coaches as well as my branch line yet you don't?
(Oliver, Donald and Douglas snicker quietly while Paxton expresses a slight grin, which turns to a serious expression once Diesel looks crossly over at him)
Diesel wasn't going to let Duck win the debate against him.
Diesel: If you don't see a reason as to why Paxton and I were called to work on your little old Great Western line today, Duck, then you are clearly mistaken. We diesels know everything about every last piece of track around this railway. We are modern and revolutionary, and we have come to your yard to improve it.
Douglas: Nonsense!
Diesel: (surprised) Come again?
Donald: Hush yer pistons, oily wheels! Ye'll never know as much about trucks or coaches as Duck and he happens to run this branch line himself.
Duck: (politely) Thank you, Donald. I can settle this with Diesel in the most Great Western of ways.
Diesel: OR…we can settle the revolutionary diesel way, Duck. I can haul trucks and coaches twice as fast as you can.
Oliver: (sighs) I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Duck on this one, Diesel. As much as his Great Western ways of doing things may get a little repetitive, it doesn't stop us keeping this line running in good time.
Diesel: Oh, really? Well, I can prove to all of you how I can improve this branch line by hauling at the speed I go at.
Duck: (surprised) Oh? Well, as revolutionary as you are, Diesel, perhaps you can prove it by shunting trucks for my train.
Diesel: No problem, Duck. I'll have those trucks ready for your silly old goods train in no time. Just you wait and see.
Duck: Thank you, Diesel. That would be most kind of you. (whistles and goes back to work, the rest of the engines, minus Diesel, doing the same)
Diesel: (to himself) No, Duck. Thank you. (rolls backward and switches before heading out of the junction) I'll show that Great Western fuddy-duddy just what working with trucks is really like, and everyone will see that he doesn't do it as good as me. (laughs as he heads towards the yard)
Duck had apparently been Diesel's sworn enemy since he arrived on the Island, but Diesel was an engine who believed that engines of his class did everything better than steam engines, and he had a devious plan in an attempt to prove his point.
(Diesel arrives in the yard and sees a line of trucks standing ahead of him on his track before speeding up towards them)
One-by-one, Diesel was going to bump all the trucks in line for Duck's train, certain that they would get back at their engine anyway.
Diesel: (bumps the trucks fiercely, laughing) Take that, you silly trucks!
Trucks: (falling in line) Ow! Ow! Ow! That hurt, Diesel! Stop that!
Oliver: (whistling as he backs up to his trucks, suspiciously) Just what do you think you're doing with those trucks, Diesel?
Diesel: What every engine should be doing, Oliver. Trucks deserve to be bumped, wouldn't you say?
Oliver: Not unless they're actually being a nuisance, Diesel.
Diesel: Hmph! Well, to me, trucks are always a nuisance whether you're working with them or not.
Oliver: Those trucks will pay you out, Diesel. They don't like being bumped, and if you keep this up, you're going to cause trouble on our branch line.
Diesel: Why would I want to do that? I've come to improve it.
(Oliver rolls his eyes and whistles as he rolls away with his trucks)
Diesel: Huh! Silly Great Western engines. Thinking they're better than all the others. I'll show them by the end of the day that it's diesels who are best. (speeds up being a line of trucks and bumps them into line)
The trucks felt so cross with Diesel that they were determined to get back at him. Unfortunately for Duck, who had just arrived in the yard, the trucks considered tricks on one engine to be no more justified than another.
(Ducks whistles and buffers up to his trucks, as the shunter couples him up and Diesel rolls up alongside, honking his horn)
Diesel: What did I tell you, Duck? Did I or did I not manage to get your trucks ready all in good time for your train?
Duck: You sure did, and I don't think it's easy enough to say this, but I'm impressed. But…
Diesel: (surprised) But?
Duck: …Oliver and I would usually rather stick it to the Great Western Way of doing things. (guard's whistle blows) After all, it keeps us on track. (chuffs away)
Diesel: (to himself) Oh, yes. They will keep him on track alright.
And Diesel got to work at shunting trucks for his train.
Duck pulled the trucks along the route of his branch line. But the trucks were still very cross.
Truck #1: (quietly) We couldn't pay Diesel for bumping us.
Truck #2: (quietly) Let's pay Duck out instead.
Truck #3: (quietly) Yes, yes. One engine's as bad as another.
But Duck heard nothing, as he carried on with his goods train. The route took him along by the coast and he stopped at every station to drop off goods before making his way again. By the time they reached Arlesburgh, the trucks waited till Duck reached a slope leading downwards through a lake town village.
Trucks: (quietly) Ready? (louder) Now!
And before Duck had realized it, the trucks had pushed him down along the tracks down the slope. Duck was overwhelmed.
Duck: Oh, dear. Oh, my. Help!
Trucks: On! On! Faster! Faster! Faster!
Duck: Whoa! Whoa-a! (gasps as he sees Paxton crossing over at the level crossing) Watch out, Paxton! (wails as Paxton gasps in surprise, hurrying the coaches over)
Alice: (gasps) My, my!
Mirabel: I say!
Paxton: (rolls his eyes giddily, then stops) Duck?! What's the matter?
Duck: (wailing out of sight) These trucks! (heads into sight of Skiff's Railboat Tours) Look out, Skiff!
Skiff: (gasps) Oh, no! (shut his eyes, as Duck passes him on the opposite line) Ahh! (opens his eyes in surprise) What in the name of Arlesburgh was that?
The trucks pushed Duck on and on by the quayside.
Duck: Help! Help!
Finally, his driver was able to apply the brakes, but it was far too late. Duck gripped his wheels tightly against the wheels. Sparks flew out from both side, and as they rounded the next bend, Duck's coupling snapped and he surged into the water.
SPLASH!
Duck's driver and fireman had jumped clear before the crash, but the trucks felt rather amused.
Trucks: What do you know? A duck in the water? (laugh giddily, as Duck groans in dismay)
In no time at all, Oliver and Paxton brought Rocky to clear the mess, and Diesel arrived to pull the unhurt trucks away. Sir Topham Hatt was not very happy.
Topham: (sighs heavily) Oh, dear. This has caused a great deal of delay in the goods traffic. Diesel, once the mess is cleared, I want you to finish delivering these trucks at ONCE. Oh, and please, be careful with them too.
Diesel: Yes, sir.
Topham: Now, Duck, would you mind telling me precisely how this happened?
Duck: (as Rocky lowers him onto his flatbed) Well, sir. It all came to me as a surprise. You see, sir, I had no trouble with the trucks at all until we reached the quayside. Then they started pushing me down the slope, and that's where I went out of control. (Sir Topham Hatt thinks over and looks hard at Duck as he continues) But, sir, they seemed to have pushed me for a reason. I could've sworn I didn't bump them at all.
Topham: (surprised) Oh, now. (startles and looks over as Oliver speaks up)
Oliver: Yes, Duck. You didn't bump the trucks, but I know exactly who did because I saw do it myself, and he ignored my warning. Isn't that right,…Diesel?
Duck: (gasps in shock, then glares) Diesel?!
(Diesel whimpers and groans slightly)
Topham: Diesel! I might've known it would've been you. So YOU caused all this trouble knowing that Duck was going to pull this train, even though you knew very well how trucks can get to playing tricks on any engine in particular.
Diesel: Hmph! Well, I had a very good reason for doing so, sir. I wanted to prove to these engines how a diesel engine like me could come to their yard and improve it. So I decided to challenge Duck and see how well he could handle trucks after all.
Duck: Huh! Not a first time you did something like this to me either.
Topham: (gives Duck a serious look then looks over at Diesel) I am very disappointed in you, Diesel. Your actions were nowhere near necessary. For your punishment, YOU will handle all of Duck's work while he is being mended as well as the jobs you've been given beforehand to make up for the accident you have caused. Since Duck's repairs will a couple of days, I hope it will teach you a great deal, since I can't risk sending you back to the DieselWorks at this point in time. But Oliver and Paxton shall keep a very close eye on you.
Diesel: (sighs sadly) Yes, sir. (honks his horn as rolls away with the trucks as Oliver and Paxton haul Duck away aboard Rocky)
Duck was sent to the SteamWorks to be mended, while Diesel finished the journey with Duck's trucks before running his own goods train along the route of the Little Western. All the way, the trucks were being very cheeky, and made Diesel even more cross.
Trucks: (singing) Trucks are moving on the line
Rattling with ease'll
Get that engine every time
Pop Goes The Diesel! (laugh)
Diesel: Quiet! (bumps the trucks crossly)
Diesel took his troubles mostly out on the trucks as he usually would, but he knew deep down that he put himself in the position he was. Meanwhile, Oliver and Paxton had finished their passenger duties all in good time. The coaches were very impressed, and Alice and Mirabel were especially pleased to have gone out with Paxton. As Oliver got ready for his goods train, Diesel arrived, ready for the passenger run that Duck was meant to be doing.
Diesel: Are those slip coaches of Duck's ready for me yet?
Oliver: No. Perhaps you should fetch them yourself, Diesel. It makes sense after all since YOU put yourself in the position of pulling them.
Diesel couldn't believe what he had heard.
Diesel: You're just lucky, Oliver, that I came to your silly little "Great Western" line to keep the yard in an orderly fashion, and I just pulled two long goods trains to prove it.
Paxton: I wouldn't mind shunting the slip coaches for you, Diesel.
Oliver: No, Paxton. You and I have your own trains to pull. I have to take those trucks up to the ballast quarry and then handle the rest of the goods that the twins were meant to be taking, and you have to pull Duck's coaches as well as mine. (looking over to Diesel) Diesel, on the other hand, needs to learn that fetching his own train is the benefit of being really useful. (whistles and chuffs away)
Paxton: (sighs) I'm afraid he's right, Diesel. I have to fetch coaches for my own train, while you must do the same. (honks and rolls away)
Diesel: (scoffs) Huh! I'll shunt my own coaches. (rolls backwards) I'll show them all just how a modern diesel like myself can make a keen impression. (chuffs into a siding and backs hard into the slip coaches, bumping them and waking them to a start)
Slip Coach #3: Oh, I say. What was that?
Slip Coach #2: Is that you, Duck? You're usually more gentle than that.
Slip Coach #1: No, it isn't. It seems like we have a new engine pulling us.
Slip Coach #2: A new engine? But who?
Diesel: Don't ask questions there's no need knowing the answer to. That silly Great Western engine of yours at the SteamWorks and I'm pulling you three cattle coaches in his place. Now, come along! (pulls the coaches roughly out of the siding, causing them to back into each other) And no chitter chatter either! (pulls them speedily along the line, as they groan all the way)
Slip Coach #1: Oh, my. What a horrid engine.
Slip Coach #2: Indeed.
Slip Coach #3: I have a bad feeling about this one.
But Diesel just ignored the slip coaches and pulled them sternly into Tidmouth Station.
(Diesel comes to a hard stop by the platform, as Oliver whistles and pulls up on the line next to him. The passengers begin to board the slip coaches)
Oliver: You must be careful with those coaches, Diesel. First off, they're not meant to be bumped…(Diesel rolls his eyes)…and second off, when you reach the station, you must slow down before you reach the platform. That way, the guard can…
Diesel: (sighs heavily) I think I know enough about looking after coaches, Oliver. Any engine can do it.
Oliver: I don't believe you understand, Diesel, how little you know about slip coaches. If Sir Topham Hatt knew, he would…
Diesel: Oh, nonsense. You silly Great Western engines think I can't manage! (guard's whistle blows, and Diesel honks as he rolls out) After all, if Paxton can do it, then why can't I?
(Oliver sighs in dismay as he watches Diesel leaves the station)
Oliver made his delivery to the ballast quarry, while Paxton dropped off passengers there to take see the small engines and their railway, before taking them around to sights across the branch line once more. But back on the line, the slip coaches were having a very rough time with Diesel, as he raced at a tremendous speed, and the passengers were bouncing up and down in their seats.
Slip Coach #3: I say. I don't think Diesel knows how to use slip coaches.
Slip Coach #2: No, he doesn't. And he's also traveling awfully fast.
Slip Coach #1: We're approaching the first station, Diesel. You might want to slow down a bit.
Diesel: Quiet! (bumps them fiercely)
Diesel raced in and out of the tunnel, as Tidmouth Hault was up ahead. The guard applied the brake, but it was too late as Diesel was going so fast that he raced through the station.
Slip Coach #3: (as he stops just past the platform) Diesel! My passengers can hardly make it to the platform now! (the passengers jump out into the field and walk over the station, grumbling)
But Diesel didn't hear about what went on as he was plain out of sight. The other two slip coaches did though.
Slip Coach #1: Um, Diesel. I think there was a small mishap back at Tidmouth Hault.
Diesel: Oh, keep quiet and let's carry on! You wouldn't want to upset your passengers now, would you?
The slip coaches were rather shocked. They did not trust Diesel at all. The route eventually led Diesel towards Haultraugh. Paxton was there, picking up and dropping off passengers.
Slip Coach #1: We're approaching Haultragh now, Diesel. Please, slow down.
But Diesel didn't listen as he sped towards the station. (the guard inside the second coach applies the brake) Paxton could see him coming down the line.
Paxton: Stop, Diesel! Stop!
But it was too late.
(The second slip coach slides speedily into the station past the platform, as Diesel carries on)
Slip Coach #2: Diesel! (as the passengers get out and grumble, walking to the platform) Oh, no. Not again.
Paxton: Diesel!
But Diesel still paid no attention as he carried on. It was long before Diesel reached the coast by Bluff's Cove. He was feeling very pleased with himself, but the last slip coach was rather worried.
Slip Coach #1: The passengers don't like having to walk all the way through the field to the platform, Diesel. I highly suggest you stop here before we have even more trouble.
Diesel: (as he approaches the station) Oh, what is it with you coaches? You're just like that silly Great Western friend of yours. Thinking I can't manage. Huh!
At the platform, Oliver was dropping off goods when he saw speeding down the line.
Oliver: Slow down, Diesel!
The guard applied the brake on the last slip coach, but Diesel didn't listen to what Oliver had said…until he saw Sir Topham Hatt on the platform.
(Sir Topham Hatt stands on the platform, glaring at Diesel with his hands on his hips. Diesel gasps in surprise and grips his wheels hard, stopping at the station)
Diesel: Sir.
Oliver: Diesel! Look out!
Diesel: Huh? (startles as the last coach bumps hard into the back of him, bringing them both to a complete stop)
(The passengers exit the coaches, grumbling as they step onto the platform, Diesel and Oliver watching in surprise while Sir Topham Hatt sighs and groans, putting his head down and nodding)
Passenger #1: I say! Call this a railway?
Passenger #2: Huh! What a ride, eh?
Topham: (sighs) Diesel, what on earth have you done now?
Diesel: W-w-well, you see sir. It wasn't my fault, sir. You see, sir, I saw you on the platform and I thought you might want to talk to me and this slip coach bumped into the back of me…
Topham: No, Diesel! ENOGUH of your excuses! It wasn't the slip coaches' fault, Diesel! It was YOURS! Luckily Oliver and Paxton didn't have to look after too long for you to run your goods deliveries all in good time, WHICH I was pleased to hear by the way, but now I understand that you can't handle passengers, and you know absolutely nothing about slip coaches. (Diesel expresses a sigh of dismay and remorse, Oliver observing carefully) I thought that setting you responsible for Duck's work as well as your own would teach you a lesson for the best, Diesel, but I was wrong, and with the phone calls I've been receiving from the stationmasters regarding complaints about my railway, I regret that decision completely.
Diesel: Oh, p-p-please, sir. Give me another chance. I promise I'll prove myself. These "slip coaches", sir, they just need a little getting used to…, sir.
(Sir Topham Hatt thinks hard with hesitation, but startles when Oliver speaks up)
Oliver: (sighs) I can't believe I'm saying this, sir, but for the first time, I think Diesel is right.
Diesel: (confused) What?
Slip Coach #1: (gasps) What?
Topham: (curious) Speak up, please, Oliver.
Oliver: Well, sir. I tried warning Diesel about how to handle the slip coaches but I think it comes to show, sir, that sometimes it takes time to learn the ropes. (awkward silence) On this occasion, of course, it doesn't really excuse his behavior, but still…
Topham: I think, Oliver, that you have made your point well. Besides, I can't risk sending Diesel back to Vicarstown now. You think you can help him learn how to manage slip coaches?
Oliver: Well, of course, sir. For starters, Diesel, you must slow down before entering each station. Not too much to stop at the platform, but just about enough time for each slip coach to reach the platform so that the passengers can exit the coach safely. Oh, and don't go too fast on your route, otherwise our passengers will have an uncomfortable ride and complain about the railway. Can you manage that, Diesel?
Diesel: Mmm, I'll try. (Sir Topham Hatt clears his throat and looks at him sternly) I mean, I can do it. I'm pretty sure I can do it this time.
Oliver: (sighs) Let's hope, Diesel.
Slip Coach #1: That's the only thing I can do. (chuckles nervously)
Topham: Very well, Diesel. But this your last chance. Carry on, if you please.
Diesel: Y-y-yes, sir. (honks and reverses down the line, as Oliver whistles and carries on with his goods train)
Diesel reversed down the coastal route of the Little Western, as Paxton pulled his passenger train on the line beside him until he switched tracks near the route to make it to Bluff's Cove all in good time. Diesel picked up the other the second slip coach from Haultraugh and carried on back towards Tidmouth Hault.
Slip Coach #2: Um, what is going on now? Where is Diesel taking us?
Slip Coach #1: Shh! It's alright. I do believe Diesel knows what he's doing now.
Diesel didn't know what to say, but fortunately, he didn't have to say anything as he knew now that the slip coaches believed in him. As they reached Tidmouth Hault, Diesel buffered up to the last slip coach, and was on his way again.
Slip Coach #3: I say. You think we'll be alright with Diesel?
Slip Coach #2: I sure do hope so.
Slip Coach #1: As far as I'm concerned, I think he's been taught a great deal now about how to handle passengers.
As soon as Diesel returned to Arlesburgh Junction, more passengers boarded the train and it was time for another journey to begin.
(Diesel honks as he leaves the station, the slip coaches gliding along after him)
Diesel went about the route of the branch line once more and was able to stop at all the right places. First, he slowed down as he exited the tunnel close to Tidmouth Hault.
Slip Coach #3: (as he stops at the platform and the passengers get out) I say, much better.
In no time at all, the slip coaches were very impressed with Diesel's change in behavior.
Slip Coach #2: Well, now. He's learning a lot, isn't he?
Slip Coach #1: You're doing fine, Diesel. A capital improvement.
And for the first time all day, Diesel couldn't have felt more proud of himself. He finished his journey through Haultraugh…and along the coast by Bluff's Cove, where the slip coaches made it to the platform all in good time. The passengers were most pleased, and everyone said how much of a splendid line it was indeed.
By the end of the afternoon, Diesel had brought the passengers back to Arlesburgh aboard the slip coaches to the yard, where Donald and Douglas had returned with their goods train. They couldn't believe what they had seen.
Donald: Oh my, Douglas! Can ya believe what you're seeing?
Douglas: Och aye! I'd never thought I'd see the day. Diesel pulling coaches?
Diesel: Not just coaches, you two. Slip coaches. I've learnt a great deal about them too. You can't go too fast along the line or slow down too much to be used to them. I know that now.
Slip Coaches: So we've noticed. (chuckle)
(Diesel grins slightly and honks his horn as he leaves the Junction. Scene fades out on Donald and Douglas looking at each other, impressed, and cuts to the yard with Diesel backing the coaches into a siding)
Diesel returned the slip coaches to the yard, and was very gentle as he backed them into their siding. Paxton had finished his journey with Alice, Mirabel, Isabel and Dulcie.
Paxton: (surprised) Oh, Diesel. Um, how was your run with the slip coaches then?
Diesel: To be honest, I think it turned out rather well, Paxton. Learning how to pull passengers may be harder than I thought it was, but I'm glad to have learnt how to do so all in one day. It truly fulfills our revolutionary potential. (chuckles, Paxton chuckling after him)
Paxton: It's easy, Diesel. Just be kind and gentle, like how I was with these Great Western coaches and they've taken a liking to me right away.
Diesel: Well, I wasn't really most kind to these coaches, but…
Slip Coach #1: We forgive you completely, Diesel.
Slip Coach #2: Yes, indeed. Thank you for a marvelous day, Diesel.
Slip Coach #3: Ah, yes. It turned out to be rather splendid. Perhaps we can do it again sometime.
Diesel didn't know what to make of this. He didn't like to say thank you too often, but luckily he didn't have to as he had earned the respect of the slip coaches anyway.
Diesel: Um…sure…perhaps…
(Diesel and Paxton honk as they leave the yard. Next scene cuts and zooms in to sunset over Arlesburgh)
Diesel and Paxton waited at Arlesburgh Sheds with Oliver and the twins, as Sir Topham Hatt arrived.
Topham: It's been a very busy day on the branch line, and even without Duck or the twins, I think that Oliver and Paxton have managed splendidly and I'm very proud of you both. This progress shall keep up indeed until Duck is mended.
Oliver
And Thank you, sir.
Duck:
Diesel, having learnt a great deal, didn't think that he would be given any praise in spite of all the trouble he had caused. But then, Sir Topham Hatt turned to him.
Topham: I am especially proud of you, Diesel. You have learnt much lesson about coaches all in the course of one day, and the passengers have seen much improvement in their visit to this branch line for that matter. That is why I've decided that Paxton will look after Alice and Mirabel, and you, Diesel, will continue doing Duck's work until he returns.
Diesel: (surprised) Really, sir? You're giving me Duck's work? Even though I've caused his accident and displayed bad behavior amongst the trucks and the slip coaches?
Topham: None of that matters now, Diesel. The reason why I have not sent you back to the DieselWorks is because I realized you knew nothing about slip coaches at first, and I decided that a second chance would do you good…ahem…, if you would've been able to learn from your first mistake, that is, which you have. And that's what is really important about your experience.
(Duck, Donald, Douglas and Paxton whistle and honk as they cheer in agreement. Diesel lets a slight grin)
The other engines couldn't have agreed more, and Diesel hadn't felt more confidence, especially from having learnt a really useful lesson.
Over the next couple of days, everything ran like clockwork on the Little Western once more, as the engines took goods and passengers to destinations far and wide along the route of the branch line. Diesel became better and better at pulling passengers, and the slip coaches found every journey with him to be a pleasure after all. At last, Duck had returned from the SteamWorks, and his friends were quick to give a rousing welcome back.
(Duck whistles as he arrives in the yard beside Diesel)
Oliver, Donald,
Douglas And Duck! (whistle and honk loudly)
Paxton:
Duck: (chuckles) Hello there, fellow engines. Feels good to be back. I am most pleased to have heard that the branch line had been under good management…(looking sharply over at Diesel)…despite a few, um, slip-ups, that is.
Diesel: (sighs) I confess, Duck. I did get myself into a difficult situation by causing that accident and I've learnt very much about handling branch lines over these past couple days.
Duck: (surprised) Diesel, you don't have to apologize to me. (chuckles) Sir Topham Hatt told me everything and it was a pleasant surprise to hear that you've gotten on well with my very own slip coaches. That's why I forgive you.
Diesel: (speechless, a little red in the face) Oh, um, well, um, eh…
(Duck, Donald, Douglas, Oliver and Paxton all chuckle as Paxton groans in embarrassment)
Diesel was secretly proud of himself, but he couldn't bring himself too far to admit his feelings.
Diesel: (watches in surprise as the engines laugh) Huh! Yeah. (chuckles slightly as the scene fades out to white smoke)
Well, here you have it, guys: Diesel Slips Up. The outcome didn't turn out as mind-blowing to me as I've expected it to be, but neither have some of my other stories I was excited about writing, and they turned out to be as successful as I've hoped. This is perhaps the longest story I've ever wrote. It was fun writing Duck and Diesel together in a story and one that focuses on their rivalry. I know that the first part of the episode looked sort of wasted for that matter, but the meaning of the title would be that Diesel would continuously make mistakes throughout the episode, especially by getting himself into his own situation, and eventually learning from it, and the Slip Coaches eventually came into display hence the title. I may portray his villainous side again in future, but this was just a little stroll at the good side of his character. Series 18 may have done it with more subtlety in Disappearing Diesels and Series 19 may portrayed it in both episodes rather simply yet effectively, but I'm glad to have done something different with Diesel rather than just making him only an antagonist. I know I've been using TFC character a lot lately, but I really don't see how much I can build much of a conflict and a resolution without a controller being there, and I usually have a logical reason for it too. It may be a bit of a while before I write my next Adventure Begins followup Adventures Of Edward, since I'm quite busy with college, but for now, look out for that as well as...
- Picture Perfect (I had Porter in mind from the start, but I think I might bring Samson into the mix)
- A Jack Of All Trades
- Ryan's Ghostly Tale
The deadline for each of these stories will be set at random over the next two months or so, the last one obviously for Halloween, but until, stay tuned!