Scrap

Scrap is the seventh episode of the first season of Stories from the Smelting Shed.

## Synopsis:

Albert Priestly is a crooked Scrap Dealer who cares nothing for anyone else and whose only goal in life is to make himself money but one day, Albert will come to regret his decision..

## Plot:

### Intro:

The Fogman greets the Viewer and comments on how money is the root of all evil and how, in his line of work, he has seen many a soul who has ignored this advice. He then invites the Traveler to listen to the tale.

### Story:

The Fogman talks about how, despite the Island being home to many persevered forms of traction, people of influence such as the Fat Controller must still face facts that nothing lasts forever, the Fogman then explains this is why Sodor has scrapyards, some highly reputable and some not so.

We are then introduced to Scrap Dealer Albert Priestly, a man so crooked, not even his fellow crooked Dealers are willing to deal with him. The Fogman then goes on to tell us about how there used to be private railways on Sodor that once belonged to wealthy Sudrians and how they were forced to sell them off to companies such as the NWR and the SKR. Word reaches Albert that Sir Topham-Hatt is closing down branchlines that once belonged to private citizens and decides to make a bit of money by pilfering what scrap metal he can lay his hands on, so takes his more honest Son, Harry, to a nearby former private line, due to be torn up the next day.

Harry is reluctant to do so, especially when his Father informs him he'll be selling back the stolen rails to a crooked Foreman in the NWR's Track Maintenance Department but, dutiful to his Father, assists in the theft. Unbeknownst to the pair, a few hours later, the Crew of a Local Stopping Train, concerned they are behind schedule, convince the Signalman to let them use the old line as a short cut, totally unaware of what has become of the track. The Local proceeds down the line and, unable to stop in time, flies off the rails and into a marsh where it is submerged.

The Local is eventually missed and recovered but all lives have been lost; later, Albert is at work in his yard when Iron 'Bert rolls in, towing the rusty engine and it's coaches. 'Bert's Driver informs Albert that, with the closure of the "Toy Branchlines", most Scrapyards across Sodor, even Kildane, are at capacity and thus, the engine and coaches are his. Albert signs for them and 'Bert departs.

Albert celebrates his latest acquisition but it is short lived, as the engine comes to and denounces him as the "Murderer" who doomed her train by removing the section of track she came off at. Albert simply sneers and jeers that the engine knowing of his actions is of no concern, as it isn't as if she could inform the Police whilst in her condition but the engine is unfazed, informing Albert she has no intention of informing the Police and states that, matter of fact, Albert will be reporting to the Police HIMSELF! Albert mockingly supposes that the engine is going to MAKE him to which, the engine replies that she WILL, with a little help from her Crew and Passengers, whose spirits have become trapped in the confinement of the train.

Albert then hears a whispering and a knocking and notices that the lights of the coaches have come and, what's more, he can see the silhouettes of people inside; as he looks on, the shadows suddenly become energised and frantic, pounding at the windows and shoving one another out of the way, all the while screaming and crying out for help. The engine then begins to laugh maniacally, proving too much for Albert who drops to his knees and screams!

He wakes to find Harry looking over him, who reports that he got home to find his Father, crouched on his knees in the middle of the yard, screaming his head off; Albert tries to pass it off as a result of " 'aving too much t' drink" and orders his Son to pull him to his feet, muttering that he'll get even with the engine for trying to mess with him. Harry is puzzled by what he means and quires these statements to which Albert becomes irate and indicates where the engine is standing but is horrified to see the siding is empty, with no sign an engine had ever been there. Albert immediately orders Harry to forget he said anything.

Albert tries to forget and continue as normal but the impact the engine and it's Passengers left is too damning and he eventually hands himself into the Police, giving full chapter and verse on his illegal activities. He also turns his back on his crooked dealings and even dealings of a legit nature, fearing that, if it looks as if he is veering off the straight and narrow, he shall get another visit from the Scrap Engine.

Outro:

The Fogman concludes that money has value but the desire for it should not lead you astray. The clock then strikes the hour, the Fogman bids the Viewer farewell and vanishes into the night.

## Cast:

* Fogman/Albert Priestly: Flashstudiosguy
* Harry Priestly: Mandedhawk
* Conned Customer: Conno
* 'Bert's Driver: CalebtheOriginalCJC
* Scrapped Engine: Skye

## Trivia:

* Albert and Harry Priestly are inspired by the BBC's classic Rag and Bone Father and Son Duo, Albert and Harold Steptoe.
* The incident where the engine and her train sink into the marsh as the result of two crooked Scrap Merchants is taken from the Sodor Island Forum Audio Adaption of 'Duncan gets Spooked'