Transcript/Daisy and Billy

**Narrator:** It was a dark, frosty December morning on the Arlesburgh branch line and Daisy woke up yawning a tired yawn. But she was surprised to see Ryan still in the shed.

**Daisy:** “Ryan? Whatever are you doing here? You usually leave for your goods train half an hour earlier than me.”

**Narrator:** Ryan coughed hard before answering.

**Ryan:** “Sorry, Daisy, I can’t help it. I think there’s something clogged up in my boiler. Or it could be in my smoke box.”

**Daisy:** “Oh my. It must be all of this frost and ice. Not only are they bad for my swerves, but they must be bad for your boiler.”

**Ryan:** “No I- (cough) I think it must be-”

**Daisy:** “Come on. We must tell the Fat Controller at once.”

**Narrator:** While Daisy was kindly pushing Ryan to the nearest repair yard, she found the Fat Controller in Knapford Yards.

**Daisy:** “Sir? I say, Sir. We have an emergency.”

**Ryan:** “Well, I wouldn’t really call this an emergency Daisy.”

**The Fat Controller:** “Ryan? What’s wrong with your voice? Do you feel ill?”

**Ryan:** “Well, you see, Sir, my crew, they hadn’t had time to clean out my smoke box for the past few days. They’ve been helping the family out with their house bills. You know how it is, Sir?”

**The Fat Controller:** “Hmm, I quite agree. And now all those ashes are making you cough like mad. In that case, you must go to the Steamworks immediately. I’m sure the workmen will clear out any stiff areas.”

**Daisy:** “But, what about Ryan’s jobs, Sir? I can’t pull trucks AND pull passengers. Think of my poor little springs.”

**The Fat Controller:** “I shall have to find a spare engine. I’ll just make the arrangements and hopefully, the engine will be at Arlesburgh when you get back.”

**Daisy:** “Oh, thank you, Sir. Right, come on then, Ryan.”

**Narrator:** Daisy was sorry to see Ryan in such a state and sorry that she had to be away from her best friend for a while. Ryan felt the same way for the rail-car. But they both knew that Ryan was in good, trustworthy hands at the Steamworks. And, um, hooks too. As Daisy was rolling her way back to Arlesburgh Yards, she was wondering who the replacement engine will be. True to the Fat Controller’s word, he was already at the shed, waiting for Daisy. Daisy never recalled seeing this engine before. He was a little orange tank engine.

**Daisy:** “Um, hello there. I don’t recall seeing you before.”

**Billy:** “I don’t think I know you either. I’m Billy. I’ve actually worked here on Sodor a while ago, but, I don’t think you were there.”

**Daisy:** “I have worked here long before then. I’ve just never *seen* you before.”

**Daisy:** “So, you’re the engine substituting for Ryan, are you?”

**Billy:** “Oh, yes! The Fat Controller sent me. I can’t wait to start work. Uhh… what am I to do?”

**Daisy:** “Ohh! “As you can see, I’m a diesel railcar, designed for carrying passengers to and from this branch line.”

**Narrator:** She rolled forward, showing off her windows and interior to prove her point. Billy was amazed by her uniquely designed body. She reversed, getting back on topic.

**Daisy:** “Ryan, on the other hand or in this case, you, are to do the freight work. Delivering goods to the harbour and villages.”

**Billy:** “Oh, good. That’s the kind of job I like.”

**Daisy:** “I’m late for my morning run, so I must be off. You’ll find your trucks over in the sidings.”

**Narrator:** And she purred away to Harwick. But Billy, being new to this recently built branch line, didn’t know where the sidings were.

**Narrator:** When Daisy rolled through the yards on her way to Arlesburgh West, she could still see Billy’s trucks in the sidings.

**Daisy:** “I’m sure he’ll find them eventually.”

**Narrator:** But the trucks were still there on her way back to Harwick.

**Daisy:** “Okay, where is he?”

**Narrator:** Then, she can hear some men shouting in the distance and what sounded like Jerome and Judy’s voices. She rolled over to the source and was very surprised to see Billy face down in a small hole in the ground. The two cranes were lifting him out of the crevice.

**Daisy:** “Billy?! Whatever are you doing?! This part of the line is off limits for a reason!"

**Billy:** “Sorry, Daisy. I didn’t know where the sidings were and… this was the first place I looked.”

**Narrator:** Daisy said nothing. As soon as Billy was on the rails again, Daisy took him to his trucks.

**Daisy:** “There are your trucks! Some wood to take to the harbour and some chocolate powder for Harwick Village.”

**Billy:** “What are they for?”

**Daisy:** “I don’t have time to explain. My passengers have been held up long enough.”

**Narrator:** Billy decided to deliver the planks of wood first. As he parked his flatbeds next to Captain Calles’ Ship, he noticed something very unusual indeed.

**Billy:** “Is that… a sailboat.. on the rails?”

**Narrator:** He puffed forward to get a better look, before the workmen could uncouple his flatbeds.

**Narrator:** Skiff had stopped near the quay. Captain Joe was having his tea break when Billy puffed by.

**Billy:** “Am I going crazy, or am I seeing a sailboat on the rails?”

**Narrator:** Skiff chuckled warmly. By now, he was used to this question.

**Skiff:** “Yeah. I do look very strange, but I’m quite useful. Me and Captain Joe usually sail around the harbour, inspecting the docked boats. And when the weather is warmer, we give holidaymakers a lovely sail over the sea.”

**Billy:** “Oh, cool! You can really float on water? Can I see?”

**Skiff:** “Well, the water is a bit too nippy, this time of the year. Maybe-”

**Daisy:** “Billy! What are you doing gossiping with Skiff? You still have work to do.”

**Billy:** “But I-”

**Daisy:** “You can go back and uncouple your trucks for a start!”

**Billy:** “But Daisy, I really wanted to see…”

**Narrator:** But Daisy rolled away before he could continue. Once Billy uncoupled his flatbeds, he rushed back to the yards to collect the chocolate powder. It was to make lots of hot chocolate for the villagers. Billy took his trucks up the line, with no mistakes and no distractions. He thought he was finally doing a good job. But, when he arrived at Harwick, there was a long queue of shivering villagers, waiting outside the station café. As soon as the cashier heard Billy’s whistle from outside, he stormed onto the platform.

**Café Cashier:** “It’s about time! What took you so long?! My customers have been waiting ages for their hot chocolate!”

**Narrator:** Billy looked down at his buffers. His hopes were crushed. Billy was still feeling bad about himself as some station staff unloaded the chocolate sacks. It wasn’t long before Daisy rolled into the opposite platform and could see Billy’s expression.

**Daisy:** “What’s wrong? Is everything alright?”

**Billy:** “I delivered this chocolate powder like you said, but that man was cross with me. He said this delivery was late, for some reason.”

**Daisy:** “Oh you silly Billy! You were supposed to deliver the chocolate first and then the wood, so that the villagers could have their hot chocolate as soon as possible.”

**Billy:** “Well how was I supposed to know that? You didn’t tell me beforehand. You only told me to deliver them!”

**Narrator:** Before Daisy could reply, she thought for a moment and then, she could understand what he meant. She looked over to him in disgrace.

**Daisy:** “Actually, you’re right. Maybe I should have told you about the order.”

**Billy:** “I usually tend to forget certain things, you see. I would forget to fill up on coal and water or get easily distracted by things around me.”

**Daisy:** “And I’ve been working with Ryan for a while now, an engine who knows these jobs and this branch line, inside and out, that I thought you didn’t need any help.”

**Narrator:** Both engines felt ashamed about each other. So Daisy, feeling the most responsible, decided to make amends.

**Daisy:** “Tell you what, Ryan is due back from the SteamWorks in a few days. After my final passenger run, I’ll give you a tour of the branch line. I will make sure you will do a really useful job.”

**Billy:** “You will? Oh, thanks, Daisy.”

**Narrator:** So that evening, Daisy took Billy along the branch line, showing him all the goods stops and the types of freight he was to deliver, in the right order of course. And for the next few days, while he still needed to remember a few things, Billy’s deliveries were closer to being on time, with no further distractions from his surroundings. When Ryan was as good as new, he went to meet up with Daisy and Billy at Arlesburgh Harbour.

**Daisy:** “Ryan! How are you feeling?”

**Ryan:** “Ohh, much better thanks. It feels so great to be breathing properly again. Did anything bad happen while I was away?”

**Billy:** “Not really. But with Daisy’s help, I think I did a good job.”

**Daisy:** “Even though we now have a weak bit of ground that needs filling up.”

**Narrator:** Before Billy could return to the Main Line, he heard a familiar voice coming from the ocean below.

**Skiff:** “Ahoy, Billy. t’s quite cold out here, but what d’you think of my sailing?”

**Billy:** “Wow! That is unbelievable. I really want to do that myself.”

**Narrator:** And he puffed backwards towards Skiff’s port rails.

**Daisy and Ryan:** “What?!”

**Narrator:** Ryan watched in confusion as she tried to stop the poor little silly Billy.

**Daisy:** “Billy! Don’t! You get back here right now! BILLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!”