Don't be Silly, Billy Transcript

**Narrator:** It was a starry night on the Island of Sodor. Percy puffed into Ffarquhar Sheds, as he finished his last branch line train of the day. Thomas told Percy and Toby some important news.

**Thomas:** “I have to go to the Mainland for a steam gala tomorrow.” said Thomas.

**Percy:** “Tomorrow? But we’re going to be busy. We need your help.”

**Narrator:** Just then, the Fat Controller arrived. He had news for Percy.

**The Fat Controller:** “Ah, Percy. While Thomas is away, I need you to meet his replacement at Brendam Docks tomorrow morning.” said the Fat Controller.

**Percy:** “Yes, Sir! What’s he like?”

**The Fat Controller:** “I’ve been told that he’s a very hardworking engine. So, we should have things go smoothly tomorrow. I’ll let you know when you will be looking after him.”

**Narrator:** Percy was excited to meet him. The next day, Percy headed straight to Brendam Docks. He wanted to be helpful as he could.

**Percy:** “Hello. Have you seen the new engine?” he asked Salty.

**Narrator:** But before Salty could respond, the new engine raced around the bend at a high speed. He was very excited to start work.

**Billy:** “Hello.” said the new engine. “I’m Billy.”

**Percy:** “Hello, Billy. I’m Percy. I’m here to show you around the island.”

**Billy:** “You? You’re not the boss of me. Where’s your controller?”

**Narrator:** This made Percy sad.

**Percy:** “The Fat Controller’s very busy with paperwork today, and he asked me to show you around our railway.”

**Billy:** “Pah!” he scoffed. “What could an engine like you help me with? I’m at least five times better than you could ever be.”

**Narrator:** Just then, Salty spoke up.

**Salty:** “But Percy knows this line like the back of his buffers. You’re new to the island, and you wouldn’t know where things would be.”

**Billy:** “Hmm, I suppose. But he’d better not stop, or get in my way.” and the two engines puffed away.

**Narrator:** Soon, they arrived at Ffarquhar. Percy could see that Billy looked as if he was out of breath.

**Percy:** “Looks like you could do with some coal and water.” Percy said.

**Billy:** “Pah! Perhaps you do, but we important engines can go further than silly engines like you.”

**Narrator:** Billy looked at some trucks and coaches in the yards.

**Billy:** “Now, which train is mine?” he said.

**Narrator:** This made Percy cross.

**Percy:** “If you’re so important, than you should already know!”

**Billy:** “As if you know which one.” he retorted.

**Percy:** “Actually, I do. The fact that the shunter’s standing over there fastening the couplings. Not to mention, there’s a line of trucks that are shunted AND the fact that most engines that are ready to be sent out for the day, first depart the station over there.”

**Narrator:** Billy puffed crossly to the trucks and then he coupled up to them. Then he steamed off.

**Percy:** “Good riddance.” thought Percy. “Now I can get on with my own jobs.”

**Narrator:** Percy returned to Brendam Docks to pick up his own train.

**Salty:** “Where’s Billy?” asked Salty.

**Percy:** “No idea. Last time I saw him, he coupled up to some trucks and then he told me how much better he was.”

**Salty:** “Oh, dear.” said Salty.

**Narrator:** Percy was starting to feel a bit worried.

**Percy:** “What?”

**Salty:** “Well, first of all, Billy is a pilot engine. He’s never taken a train of trucks before, and I doubt that he’s not aware of signals.”

**Narrator:** Suddenly, Percy realised his mistake.

**Percy:** “Oh, no! He could get lost on the other side of the island if he’s not careful!” he gasped, and he rushed off straight away.

**Narrator:** Percy was right about the current situation. Billy was speeding down the Main Line, and he didn’t know that he used up a lot of coal and water. Then, he came to Crosby and saw James pulling a local Main Line train.

**Billy:** “Pah! What is he doing? I’m the important engine around here.” he said, as he rushed past a red signal, and came to a stop by a signal box. “I’m on the wrong track. You should switch me onto the middle line. It’s… erm… controller’s orders.”

**Narrator:** The signalman was very surprised. So he did what Billy told him. He didn’t want to disobey the Fat Controller.

**Billy:** “Much better.” said Billy, as he started off.

**Narrator:** He hadn’t gotten very far, as he heard a whistle. It was Percy. He was shocked to see Billy on the other track.

**Percy:** “What are you doing on that line?!” shouted Percy.

**Billy:** “*I'M* where I should be. Important trains go on the middle line.”

**Percy:** “But the express runs on the middle line, and it’s heading your way!”

**Narrator**: Just then, they heard Gordon’s whistle. Percy had no time to explain. He quickly coupled up to Billy’s train.

**Billy:** “What are you doing on this line?! You’re not even…”

**Percy:** “I’m getting you out of trouble, before you cause an accident.” puffed Percy, as he slowly pulled Billy out of the way.

**Billy:** “How dare you pull me! I’ll tell you what to do, not…”

**Narrator:** But suddenly, Billy was interrupted by Gordon as he watched him speed around the curve.

**Gordon:** “My goodness!” he exclaimed.

**Narrator:** Gordon’s driver applied the brakes, but Percy managed to pull Billy onto the other track, just in time to prevent a near collision. Percy was worried what Billy would say to him. But instead, he felt rather silly.

**Billy:** “I’m sorry I was rude to you.” he said. “I’m not important as I thought. If it wasn’t for you, I could have ended up in a nasty accident.”

**Percy:** “It doesn’t matter how important we are. None of us small engines know about the rules of the railway. We’ve both learnt that the hard way. I once ended up on the Main Line just like you, and Gordon came to a sudden stop right in front of me, all because I was on the wrong track.”

**Narrator:** Billy was surprised, and he did no more as they continued down the line.

**Billy:** “Really? Then what happened?”

**Percy:** “Well, I was so frightened, I raced away as fast as I could and I ended up in a siding in Cronk. But it turned out that I prevented a nasty accident.”

**Narrator:** One week later, Thomas returned.

**Billy:** “Well, I guess this is it.” puffed Billy sadly. “I suppose I’ll be going back to the Mainland. But, I can see that I’ve learnt a lot here.”

**Thomas:** “Oh?” asked Thomas. “Like what?”

**Billy:** “Like how the railway works to keep us safe, not to give a status.”

**Narrator:** Thomas and Percy laughed.

**Thomas:** “I wonder when Gordon, Henry and James will learn that one?”

**Billy:** “And,” added Billy quietly, “one important thing to know is that a quieter engine can sometimes mean a more important one.” he said, as he looked at Percy.

**Narrator:** Percy didn’t know what to think.

**Percy:** “You-you don’t mean me, do you?”

**Billy:** “I certainly do.” smiled Billy. “You know the line, and there’s no job you can’t do.”

**Percy:** “Well,” blushed Percy. “I try my best.”

**Narrator:** The engines said goodbye, as Billy puffed back home.

**Billy:** “I really wish the engines on the Mainland were serious about work as you two are.”

**Narrator:** Thomas and Percy looked at each other and laughed. They both found out that Billy was a hard worker and hoped they’ll meet another engine just like him.