05.A Big Surprise For Percy (Michael Brandon)

## Transcript

* Michael Brandon: A Big Surprise For Percy. Percy was working in the coal yards. He was feeling bored and lonely with only the silly freight cars for company.
* Driver: Cheer up, Percy.
* Michael Brandon: Said his driver.
* Driver: Sir Topham Hatt has told us that we must be here again tomorrow. We've just got to get the best out of a bad situation.
* Percy: I'll try, sir.
* Michael Brandon: Sighed Percy. Next morning, the freight cars began teasing Percy.
* Cars: Percy, Percy, green and small, he's no use to us at all, around the yard to puff and blow but on a hills, he's oh so slow!
* Percy: Be quiet!
* Michael Brandon: Then he took the freight cars to the coal hopper to be loaded up. Percy still felt glum as he puffed up to the top of the hill. He parked his freight cars and then set off back down the mines. Not even a cheerful sight of Bertie the Bus could bring a smile to Percy's face.
* Bertie: What's the matter, Percy?
* Michael Brandon: Asked Bertie.
* Percy: Nothing exciting ever happens. That's the matter.
* Michael Brandon: Sighed Percy.
* Percy: It's just coal coal coal and cars cars cars. I'm bored bored bored.
* Bertie: Excitement is surprising.
* Michael Brandon: Observed Bertie.
* Bertie: You never know when it'll happen. Otherwise, it wouldn't be exciting. Tootle peep.
* Percy: It would be surprising if something surprising happened.
* Michael Brandon: Muttered Percy. Later, he stopped by the water tower for a drink.
* Toby: Hello, Percy. How are things?
* Michael Brandon: Asked Toby.
* Percy: Boring.
* Toby: Well, why not have a few spins on a turntable? You'll like that.
* Michael Brandon: Said Toby.
* Percy: I think it just make me feel giddy.
* Michael Brandon: Percy's driver interrupted.
* Driver: Stop gossiping, you two.
* Toby: Cheer up, Percy. You soon know about cars than any other engine. That'll be exciting.
* Michael Brandon: Called Toby. The freight cars were still grumpy and there was more of them then ever.
* Cars: You much too small to pull one of us. We want another engine who would be struggling at the hill all night! All night, all right, you can puff and blow, but on a hill, you're still slow! Ha, ha!
* Percy: Slow yourself!
* Michael Brandon: Stuttered Percy.
* Cars: Temper, temper.
* Michael Brandon: Laughed the freight cars. Percy decided to simply carry on.
* Driver: Go to it, Percy.
* Michael Brandon: Shouted the driver. The freight cars were still joking.
* Cars: Too slow, more power, here all night, tomorrow too!
* Percy: Be quiet!
* Michael Brandon: Said Percy angrily. Then there was trouble ahead. A coupling farted.
* Cars: Surprise, surprise! Catch us if you can!
* Percy: Oh, no!
* Michael Brandon: Cried Percy.
* (The freight cars speed away from Percy and pass Bertie)
* Bertie: Oh, no!
* Michael Brandon: Percy's driver phoned the signalman and the yard foreman told Sir Topham Hatt what was happening.
* Yard Foreman: They're heading for the big hill! It'll slow them down but they roll back again right into the village.
* Sir Topham Hatt: Then we just have to stop them, don't we?
* Michael Brandon: The chase was on.
* (Sir Topham Hatt and Bertie go after the runaway cars)
* Michael Brandon: As they approach the hill, they overtook the freight cars. Sir Topham Hatt and Bertie screeched to a halt, and waited on them near the top. The hill slow the freight cars right down to a stand still. Then the workmen put wooden blocks quickly behind their wheels so they couldn't roll backwards. The freight cars were now secured. Just then, Percy arrived.
* Bertie: Well, what do you think of that?
* Michael Brandon: Joked Bertie.
* Bertie: A good chase is always exciting.
* Percy: It was certainly a surprise.
* Michael Brandon: Decided Percy.
* Percy: And you are right, Bertie. A really useful engine should never be surprise by surprise.