T.O.M Gets Lost

**TOM Gets Lost** is the fifth episode of Bertha.

A magnet fries TOM’s circuitry when he plays with a magnet and now, he is nowhere to be seen! The workers must try and find him or else Bertha will no longer work.

## Plot

Bertha is hard at work making building bricks. TOM is helping Roy sort the blocks whilst Nell and Flo pack them into boxes. The workers were pleased with TOM’s ability to sort out the shapes, saying that he is learning and getting better at it. Roy even jokingly said that the robot might take over Ted’s job (but it might take a few more circuits and wires to do so).

Due to how well TOM is handling the job, Roy suggests to Ted to he should speed up Bertha to see how quick TOM is at sorting the shapes. At a quick pace, TOM swiftly puts the building blocks in their box before passing it down to Nell. However, Nell mentions that she is running out of boxes to pack the bricks which had Bertha temporarily stop making them. Roy wrote a note and passed it to TOM to give to Panjit, saying that they need more boxes. TOM, with the note in hand, happily wandered off.

TOM arrived at the dispatch department with the note in his hand, however Panjit was busy on his forklift so the robot had to wait for him to finish unloading. Out of curiosity, TOM came across a table full of tools and became interested with one of them - a magnet. But because TOM is made of metal, the magnet got stuck to him! In a panic, TOM tried to take it off as it was messing up his circuits. Panjit soon finished unloading the goods and met up with the robot, not realising that he was damaged by the magnet. He had got the note for more boxes (which are in the shed outside) and had sent TOM back to Bertha. But TOM does not know which way to go with a magnet stuck to him.

TOM unintentionally bumped into Mr Duncan with Panjit’s note still in his hand. Mr Duncan thought the note was for him and read that Bertha needed more boxes. He did not know what boxes the machine needed as he only had greasy and stained wooden boxes. Mr Duncan collected as many as he can so he can take them to Bertha. TOM then bumped into Mrs Tupp, who was preparing the tea trolley for the tea break. The magnet had swiped the spoon of the tea lady’s hand which startled her a bit when she got it back, not noticing the magnet on his body. She had been given the note for more boxes but she too was unsure about what types of boxes Bertha needed. Mrs Tupp only had cake boxes, but still went back to her kitchen to search for them.

On the factory floor, the workers was still busy making building bricks and had used up all the boxes they had. Ted stopped Bertha, but wondered where TOM is since he usually does not take that long to deliver a message. Panjit then arrived on his forklift with the extra boxes. The workers became concerned when they learned that TOM was not with Panjit and that he was sent back to Bertha when he got the note. When Flo spoke about the possibility of TOM being lost, Bertha started to become worried. This prompted Nell, Panjit and Roy to look around the dispatch department, leaving Flo and Ted with Bertha.

Mr Duncan came in with a wagon full of the greasy wooden boxes. Ted was puzzled as to how he got the note since it wasn’t for him. Mr Duncan explained that TOM brought him the note asking for more boxes. This created a confusion, and the foreman demanded for TOM to be found.

In the manager’s office, TOM gave Miss McClackerty the note for more boxes. Knowing that Bertha can’t exactly use a box of envelopes, she had a word with the manager. The robot bumped into the desk and accidentally took a few paper clips with the magnet. Mr Willmake suggested that Bertha had used up all the boxes and that they needed extras, which means that they had to order a lot more. TOM left the office with Mr Willmake expressing how amazing robots are.

Bertha was still upset about TOM being missing and is refusing to work until her son is found. Ted tried to comfort her as Mrs Tupp brought the jam-stained cake boxes to him. When she too learned about TOM getting lost, she joined in the search party.

In the design office, Mr Sprott and Tracey were trying out the new building bricks that they had designed. They kept trying to make it into a house but the bricks keep falling over. Tracey suggests that they should add pegs and slots onto them, almost like Legos but Mr Sprott rejects the idea since bricks should be smooth all around.

The pair then hear a strange noise. It wasn’t from Mr Sprott’s watch or Tracey’s computer. It was TOM, holding the note for more boxes. Unlike Mr Sprott, who believes that the note was for them, Tracey was confused as to why TOM was here, since he was programmed to go to the dispatch department and back. At last, she noticed the magnet stuck to him and TOM is all right again. Tracey explained to Mr Sprott how magnets upsets TOM’s circuitry and how he can go all wrong with one of them. The magnet had also picked up some extra metal: a screwdriver from the dispatch department, a spoon from the kitchen and paper clips from the office. Tracey takes TOM back to his mother and the magnet gives Mr Sprott an idea.

Roy and Nell looked everywhere for TOM but they couldn’t find him. Ted noted that they can’t start work again until the robot is found (as Bertha is still refusing to work). Miss McClackerty notified Ted that she had got his note and that she ordered a lot more boxes from the manufactures which will be delivered by tomorrow. Ted informed her that they have enough boxes and realised that TOM has gone around the whole factory with the same note. They don’t know what to do with the extra boxes.

At long last, TOM is reunited with Bertha. Tracey informed the staff that she found him in the design office with the note for more boxes and explained how one magnet upsets TOM’s circuits. Later, Mr Sprott came down to Bertha and asked Ted how many building bricks has Bertha yet to make. After the number was given, Mr Sprott announced that after the order, they should start on his latest design - building blocks with magnets in them. Tracey applauded the idea, knowing the manager will be pleased. Before heading back up to the office, Tracey advised TOM to keep him away from the magnets when they make the next blocks.

## Characters

* Bertha
* T.O.M
* Ted Turner
* Roy Willing
* Nell and Flo
* Panjit
* Mrs Tupp
* Mr. Willmake
* Miss McClackerty
* Tracy James
* Mr Sprott
* Mr Duncan

## Trivia

* This is the first episode to have T.O.M.’s name in the title, the second is the final episode, T.O.M's New Friend
* This episode is rumoured by fans to be the pilot episode, due to the lanky animation and character design changes.

## Goofs

* When T.O.M. first encounters the magnet, it originally sticks to his arm, but seconds later it has moved centrally to his body.