Mr. Perkins: Hello there. I'm Mr Perkins, remember me? Welcome back to the Engine Driver's Common Room here at Knapford. Us engines drivers do our best to make the Fat Controller proud, and we are really useful, just like our engines! Like our engines we also need rest to ensure we are working at our best. And this room is the perfect place, with comfy seats, tables and a kitchen with a kettle. There's also these magazines for us to read and as I have nothing to do I'm reading one. The magazine I'm reading is very funny, it's about-
The telephone starts ringing.
Mr. Perkins: Excuse me for a moment.
He answers the Telephone
Mr. Perkins: Hello Knapford Engine Driver's Common Room, Gilbert Perkins speaking. Sir Topham Hatt, sir! It's a pleasure to speak with you sir. Yes sir, our visitor have arrived and I've explained to them how useful us driver's are. You want me to... Yes, sir of course sir... right now, sir? Only it's almost... Of course, brilliant idea sir. Have a good day too, sir.
He turns back to the viewer.
Mr. Perkins: That was the Fat Controller! He wants me to take Edward to Brendam Docks and collect some passengers from a ferry. It's been a while since I've driven Edward, I usually drive Thomas. It's almost dinner time but the Fat Controller says that if I leave as soon as possible I'll have time to eat it at the Docks.
He grabs his bag and searches for something.
Mr. Perkins: Luckily for me, Mrs Perkins always makes the most delicious... Oh dear I've forgotten my lunch! I've even forgotten my tea! This is a disaster, an engine driver without his lunch is like a engine without coal, not Really Useful! Hold on...
He rushes over to the Kitchen and looks through the cupboards.
Mr. Perkins: Bread, peanut butter, everything I need to make my own lunch! While I'm doing that why don't you visit Edward. I'm sure he has a story to tell you.
Edward and Gordon: Written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
One day Edward was at the shed where he lived with the other engines. They were all, except Thomas, bigger than Edward and boasted about it.
"The Driver won't choose you again" said Gordon "He wants strong engines like us!"
But the Driver and Fireman felt sorry for Edward.
"Would you like to come out today?"
"Oh, yes please!" Said Edward.
So they lit his fire, made lots of steam and Edward puffed away. The other engines were very cross at being left behind. Edward worked hard all day and the Coaches thought he was very kind, and the Driver was very impressed.
"I'm going out again tomorrow!" Edward told the other engines that night "What do you make of that?"
But he didn't hear what they thought, for he was so tired and happy that he fell asleep at once. The next morning Edward woke up to find that nothing had changed, Gordon was still boasting.
"You watch me little Edward as I rush through with the Express, that will be a splendid sight for you. Goodbye little Edward, look out for me this afternoon!"
Edward went off to do some shunting. Edward liked shunting, it was fun playing with trucks. He would come up quietly and give them a push! Then he stop and the wily trucks would go bump into each other.
"Ugh" they cried "What ever is happening?"
Edward played till there was no more trucks, then he stopped to rest. Presently he head a whistle. Gordon was very cross, instead of nice shiny coaches he was pulling a lot of very dirty trucks.
"A goods train, a GOODS train" he grumbled "The shame of it, the shame of it, oh the shame of it."
Edward laughed and went to find some more trucks. Then there was trouble!
"Gordon can't get up the Hill" the Porter called to Edward's driver "Can you take Edward and push him please." They found Gordon half way up and very cross. His driver and fireman were talking to him severely.
"Your not trying!"
"I can't do it" Gordon said "these noisy trucks hold an engine back so. If they were coaches now that would be different." Edward's driver came up.
"We've come to push."
"No use at all!" Said Gordon.
"You wait and see" replied Edward's driver. They brought the train back down to the bottom of the Hill.
"I'm ready" said Edward.
"No good" grumbled Gordon. They pulled and pushed as hard as they could.
"I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it" puffed Gordon
"I can do it, I can do it, I can do it" puffed Edward. Edward puffed and pushed, and pushed and puffed as hard as ever he could. And almost before he realized it Gordon found himself at the top of the Hill.
"I've done it! I've done it! I've done it!" He said proudly. He completely forgot about Edward and didn't even say thank you. Edward was left out of breath and far behind. He went on to the next where he found the Driver and Fireman were very pleased by him. The fireman gave him a nice long drink, and the Driver said
"I'll get out my paint tomorrow and give you a nice new coat of blue with red strips, you'll be the smartest engine in the Shed."
Mr. Perkins: You're back. Edward was really helpful, wasn't he? Yes indeed, and I've got my lunch ready to go, my bottle of milk and my sandwich are in this bag, along with a nice juicy apple, and now I must go. Well, thanks for visiting, and I hope to see you again soon. Goodbye!