(Gordon rests in a siding by Knapford Station, his eyes shut)
Gordon was having a nice long rest in a siding by Knapford Station. He was very proud to be the Island's only express engine, but frequently, he would wonder what else could be more important in life.
Gordon: (to himself) Sometimes,…(yawning comfortably)…it's really tiring to be such a large and splendid engine. One does have to keep appearances as so. (mumbling quietly) Like me, in fact.
(Henry reverses past a set of points and switches on the line beside Gordon)
But Gordon's peace and quiet didn't last too long.
(Gordon startles at the sound of Percy and James' whistle and Toby's whistle as they all pass each other through the yard.
Henry: (whistling loudly as he stops beside Gordon) Hello there, fatface!
Gordon: Why! What cheek! (Henry chuckles as he backs down to the station) That Henry! He's far too big for his wheels! Fancy speaking to me like that! ME! (letting off steam angrily) ME who never had an accident. (scoffs)
Percy: (whistles as he stops by Gordon) Just out of curiosity, Gordon, aren't jammed whistles and burst safety valves meant to accidents?
Gordon: (indignantly) Jammed whistles? Burst safety valves? Why, no indeed, little Percy. High spirits, I tell you, they might happen to any engine in particular, but to come off the rails like Henry did, well, I ask you: is it right?
Percy: (confused) Um…
Gordon: Is it decent?
(Percy whistles as he chuffs away)
Percy had no idea how to answer Gordon's question, and set off to fetch the express. Sir Topham Hatt had other plans for an engine to take the train, and the passengers were already arriving at the platform.
Henry: (whistles) Hello again, Gordon. Guess who's taking the express this afternoon?
Gordon: (surprised) I beg your pardon, Henry?
Henry: (proudly) Me, of course. (cheekily) And this time I won't burst any safety valves OR get stuck on any hills. (chuckles)
Gordon: (rudely) Well you'd better good care of yourself, Henry. You may be going through a few tunnels, but it's not the Flying Kipper you're pulling, you know…(Henry gasps in shock)…so mind you keep on the rails, won't you?
Henry just ignored Gordon and backed down to his coaches. Once the guard's whistle blew, he set off in a huff. It wasn't quite the honor to be reminded of his own accidents, but Henry knew where he was going, and kept in mind to be quite careful with the express after all. Gordon yawned and went back to sleep.
(Gordon snores away as time passes. Suddenly, he wakes with a sudden jolt and startles)
But unfortunately, that didn't last very long either.
Gordon's Driver: (walking out of the cab with the fireman) Wake up, Gordon. A special train is coming and we're going to pull it.
Gordon: (sleepily) Is it coaches…or trucks?
Gordon's Driver: (sighs) Trucks, I believe. Edward will be bringing them from the goods yard shortly.
Gordon: (suddenly awakes, shocked) Trucks?! (groans)
Gordon's Fireman: Not to worry, Gordon. I'll get your fire ready in no time.
Gordon: (groaning) O the indignity. The shame.
But Gordon's driver and fireman ignored his complaints to get his fire ready. However, as the fireman stoked up his firebox, it didn't seem to be making much heat. The driver was also concerned.
Gordon's Fireman: It seems though Gordon's fire is slow to start. A little push to the turntable will most likely help it burn nicely.
Gordon's Driver: Indeed. We must telephone for an engine of availability to take him there at once.
(Original song Slow To Start, in Gb major, begins with an instrumental intro as Gordon pulls out of his siding in time for Edward to arrive.
In no time at all, Gordon switched out of his siding and Edward arrived to push him to the turntable.
Edward: (buffering up) Come on, Gordon. Let's roar up that fire of yours and have you facing the right so you can start your journey with that goods train.
Gordon: (grumbling, as Edward pushes him forward) I won't go! I won't go!
Edward: (struggling with eyes shut and pushing Gordon along) Don't be…silly, Gordon. (catching his breath) You can't always do the jobs you like best, you know.
(Gordon groans as the lyrics to the song start)
Gordon's fire is slow to start
Slow to start
Slow to start
Stoked up with coal but slow to start
Gordon's fire is - slow to start
(Song shifts into chorus as Gordon and Edward continue towards the nearest turntables, grumbling and panting respectively)
Edward knows just what to do:
Push him through - to the turntable well
Will Gordon learn that jobs aren't always to your enjoyment
Only time will tell
Gordon's fire is slow to start
Slow to start
Slow to start
Edward's helping him to a start
So he won't be…,
-while on his journey…,
Slow to start
Slow to start!
At last, they both managed to reach a nearby turntable by the school. Edward was uncoupled and backed away before heading back to his branch line.
Edward: (whistling) Good luck, Gordon!
(Gordon's crew hop off his cab to turn the table round)
Gordon: (to himself) Humph! Big, strong engines like me don't need good luck. (as the turntable turns) I'll show them. Dirty TRUCKS are below my specialty for sure.
His fire was now burning nicely and making lots of steam, but Gordon was so cross that he didn't care what he did. He waited till the table was half way round. By the time it was, Gordon moved a little bit forward to his intention to jam the table.
(Gordon moves forward and jams the table but gasps in surprise as he rolls accidentally forward towards the embankment)
His plan worked, but unfortunately, he rolled a bit too far and through the fence leading down to the embankment, slithering into a ditch.
Gordon: (hissing) Oosh! Get me out! (wailing) PLEASE, get me out!
But his wheels churned the runny mud, as his driver and fireman walked up to the scene.
Fireman: (sighs) Not a hope. And we saw you by the way. I only meant to light your fire up, but not for this to happen.
Driver: You're stuck, you silly great engine! Don't you understand that? (Gordon shoots back a look of dismay) Ah, well. We'll just see what Sir Topham Hatt can do about this. It serves you right after all for being so careless.
Gordon: (groans) O the indignity.
And so Gordon's driver phoned ahead to Sir Topham Hatt's office.
Topham: (picks up the telephone as it rings) Hello. (chatter over the phone, surprised expression) Oh…(chatter continue)…I see. (chatter continues) Oh, dear. (sighs) Well, if the special's waiting, we might as well have Edward take it. (chatter ensues) Oh, Gordon, yes. (sighs) Well, leave him where he is. We haven't time to bother with him now.
(Scene shifts back to the ditch with a family of toads croaking crossly at Gordon. Some boys are chattering nearby too)
Meanwhile, back on the other side of the ditch, a group of schoolboys had spotted Gordon and were now chattering and teasing him.
Boy #1: Coo! Doesn't he look silly?
Boy #2: (chuckling) Yes. They'll never get him out.
Boy #3: Silly old Gordon. He's fallen in a ditch. (chuckles with the other boys)
Boys: (singing, altogether) Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch
Fell in a ditch
Fell in a ditch
Silly old Gordon fell in a ditch
All on a Monday morning
Just then, the school bell rang for the end of recess. The boys ran off, still laughing and singing…and Gordon lay in the ditch all day as the hours passed. At last, he gave up hope.
Gordon: (sighs sadly) Oh, dear. I shall never get out. Who will pull the express now?
(Scene fades out on Gordon in the ditch and to nighttime, beginning the next chapter)