Diesel's Day Off

***Diesel's Day Off*** is the fourteenth episode of the ninth series.

## Plot

One day, The Fat Controller announced to his engines that a new tank engine called Percy had arrived on Sodor and tells Diesel that he was being given a day off after his recent spell of busy work. Diesel decided to spend his day off by going to the washdown and then to Bluff's Cove. On his way there, Diesel saw the new steam engine, struggling to shunt some trucks of roof tiles. Percy tells Diesel that he couldn’t shunt the trucks, so Diesel decided to help Percy, even though it was his day off. Afterwards, Diesel set off to the washdown.

But Percy was far from happy - he didn’t want to take the trucks of tiles to the school because he was a lazy engine. Diesel soon arrived back from the washdown and Percy decided to take full advantage of Diesel's free time. Percy asked Diesel to show him the way to the school. Diesel helped Percy by telling him where to go when they reached a junction. But again, Percy was not pleased as he watched Diesel heading towards Bluff's Cove. Then, Percy decided to play another trick. He blew his whistle to attract Diesel's attention. Diesel came back and Percy pretended that his safety valve was overheating. Diesel decided to help Percy again by finding another engine to help him.

Percy was fed up that his trick had backfired on him. Then Percy decided to run away from his work so that another engine would have to take the trucks of tiles for him. And Percy reversed only caring about getting far away from his work. But as Percy reversed faster and faster, he derailed and ends up wheel-deep in mud (and even leaking water). Again, Percy called for help, but no one was around to assist him this time.

Nearing Bluff's Cove, Diesel heard urgent news from Dennis at a signal box. The workmen were waiting for Percy's delivery at Bluff's Cove School and didn’t know where he was. Diesel knew about Percy's whereabouts and set off to find him. When Diesel found Percy stuck in the mud, he was very surprised and puzzled; as he thought Percy had broken down at the junction. A very shamefaced Percy told Diesel the truth about his true nature. Naturally, Diesel was angry at Percy for lying to him and taking advantage of him, but after seeing he was in real trouble, he decided to help him one last time.

Together, they both got the trucks of tiles to Bluff's Cove School. The Fat Controller was cross with his new steam engines behaviour. Percy promised the Fat Controller and Diesel that he would try to be a Really Useful Engine from now on.

## Characters

* Diesel
* Dennis
* Percy
* Sir Topham Hatt
* Troublesome Trucks (*do not speak*)
* BoCo (*cameo*)
* Class 40 (*cameo*)
* Diesel 10 (*cameo*)
* Diesel 199 (*cameo*)
* Daisy (*cameo*)
* Express Coaches (*cameos*)

## Trivia

* This episode has a similarly to the eighteenth episode, Thomas' Day Off from the ninth series of *Thomas & Friends*.
* This episode marks two things for Percy:
	+ His first and only appearance.
	+ His only leading role in an episode.
* This episode has similar plot elements to that of the third series episode, Trust Diesel.
* The story has a similarity to the classic fairytale, *The Boy Who Cried Wolf!*.