The Vicarstown Gambit

*The Vicarstown Gambit* is the second episode of *Sodor II*, and the ninth episode overall. It was released on December 30, 2021.

## Plot

The Deputy Director of the FBI attempts to call Paul Maxwell to confirm whether his special agent has arrived in Sodor yet; Paul does not pick up, as he is on the mainland. Splatter and Dodge had requested his presence so they could ask him if they could make regular visits to Crewe Works, to which he begrudgingly agrees. Meanwhile, P. T. Boomer visits Diesel 10 in his shed; he is told not to remove his helmet, as they are being watched.

Flora meets Ben at the Docks; after learning that Flora works at Great Waterton and wishes for a change of scenery, Ben suggests that they swap jobs for a while. Flora agrees, and successfully requests it from the Fat Controller. The following morning, Ben receives some bad news about his brother. Marion comforts him; she tells Flora to give him some space, but does not say why.

Flora, disappointed that the opportunity fell through, is elated when she is asked to cover for Oliver and take a goods train to Crewe Works. She is, however, warned about how intense the Troublesome Trucks can be, and to watch out for Scruffey, their ringleader. Toad, her brake van for the trip, tells her about the time Oliver pulled Scruffey to pieces, but Flora flatly tells him she won't do that. She sternly tells the trucks to behave themselves, which tips them off that she's inexperienced. They make a plan to behave themselves on the way to Crewe, then cause trouble on the way back. Toad overhears their plans.

They arrive at Crewe, where Flora is moved into the siding next to Bill. She tells him how Ben is feeling, and Bill says they have been apart for months. Bill claims to be feeling alright, saying that Splatter and Dodge have kept him company throughout the past week. He tells her that the North Western Railway is out of money, and that it will be a few more weeks before they can resume his rebuild. He then states that while he loves his brother, he does not forgive him for causing his crash. Flora's crew are instructed by the manager to move her somewhere else so that she isn't "mistaken for scrap."

Toad warns Flora of the trucks' plan, and tells her they are most likely to make their move on Vicarstown Bridge; they apply their brakes to make her stop on the bridge to prevent ships from passing through. Flora devises her own gambit; leave earlier at a time with no scheduled traffic, deliberately stop on the bridge, and wait there while the trucks get bored. This works almost exactly as planned. Later, at the shunting yards, Scruffey angrily confronts Flora about her plan. He then insults her friends, suggesting that both Toby and Bill will be scrapped soon, and that Ben will be branded as a murderer. This prompts Flora to angrily ram into him, crushing him to pieces.

That morning, the Fat Controller despondently tells her to remain working on her branch line from now on. She returns to find Ben taking her passengers. She tells him she went to Crewe, and he asks her if she saw Bill. The episode ends before we hear her response.

## Cast and Characters

The episode features:

* Spo0derGlen as Flora
* Mr.Oily516 as Toad, Timothy and a truck
* steakandcake as BoCo and Flora's driver
* Enterprisingengine93 as Dennis
* RailMaster63 as Toby
* ThomasFan2005NL as Marion

All uncredited speaking roles are voiced by CyberRusty99.

* Paul Maxwell
* Diesel 10
* Bill and Ben
* The Fat Controller
* Scruffey
* Crewe Works manager
* Deputy Director of the FBI (*voice only*)
* Splatter and Dodge (*do not speak*)
* Perry (*does not speak*)
* "The Rock" (*cameo*)
* Bertie (*cameo*)
* Henrietta (*cameo*)
* Elizabeth (*cameo*)
* Chester (*cameo*)
* Merlin (*cameo*)
* Rebecca (*cameo*)
* Fergus (*photo only*)
* Henry (*photo only*)
* Bulgy (*photo only*)
* Thomas (*photo only*)
* Jeremy (*photo only*)
* Spencer (*photo only*)
* Oliver (*mentioned*)
* Constable Sam (*indirectly mentioned*)