Last Chance

*Last Chance* is the fourth episode of *Sodor II*, and the eleventh episode overall. It was released on September 16, 2023.

## Plot

At the Blue Mountain Quarry, Diesel meets Paxton for the first time since he returned to Sodor. Expecting a cold reception, Paxton is instead ecstatic to see him. Diesel apologises for his past manipulation and bullying, and Paxton immediately forgives him, having always considered him a friend. The two happily sing songs while they work, and reminisce about the good times. Before he leaves, Diesel tells Paxton he really enjoyed working with him again, and that they should do so more often; Paxton agrees.

A commercial for Maxwell Steel Company airs on television, presented by Hurricane; Frankie appears briefly in the ad, but her face is censored. The end card of the commercial advertises that Sodor outlets are on their way.

The Flying Scotsman returns from his months-long repair job at the Steamworks. Watching the commotion, Duck and Diesel discuss the financial blow his repair would have caused, and Diesel expresses concern that he will be the first to go should the railway lose more money; Duck reassures him this won't happen due to his status as a hero. Scotsman spots Diesel and approaches him, tearily thanking him for saving his brother during the Branch Line Incident.

At the Ffarquhar Quarry, Duck talks with Thomas, who is taking a train to the Docks; Thomas is standoffish towards Duck due to him being friendly with Diesel, and he departs for the Docks. Upon arrival, he is approached by Perry, who had stowed away in his brake van. Perry poses as a reporter and asks to interview Thomas about the Branch Line Incident, claiming interest in a different perspective to the popular one that hails Diesel as a hero. Thomas points out that Diesel stayed at the Smelter's Yard on the night before the incident, instead of alerting the other engines straight away. He theorises that Diesel was in on the plan, and yearns for a way to expose him. Perry says he shouldn't wait for Diesel to slip up, and that he should make the first move instead.

Later, Duck arrives at the shunting yards to arrange a goods train, only for the Troublesome Trucks to insult him with a song about the time he tried to crash Diesel. Diesel denies he had anything to to with the song, and attempts to rationalise Duck's past actions towards him with a monologue about his own misdeeds. He says that Duck mocking him when he first came to Sodor sent him down a rabbit hole of lying, bullying and manipulation, and ultimately understands why Duck didn't believe he had reformed when he returned to Sodor. Perry overhears this conversation.

Thomas is visited by Perry in his shed. Perry suggests the next step should be crashing Duck; even after intense guilt tripping from Perry, Thomas refuses to hurt his friend. Perry then reveals that he's already staged the crash, which will happen the following morning at the Blue Mountain Quarry. He tell Thomas about his current status as a fugitive of the FBI, and informs him of his past job of scrapping engines. He threatens to do the same to Thomas if he says anything, and promises that he'll never see him again if he doesn't.

The following morning, Duck crashes at the Blue Mountain Quarry, causing a bridge to collapse onto him. Thomas is woken up by his driver, and tries to warn her about Duck's crash; he is cut off before he can do so, as his driver tells him it has already happened and that they need to go and help him. Thomas arrives at the quarry with the breakdown train, and Duck insists that he'll be fine. Thomas insinuates to Duck that he knows it was Diesel, but refuses to admit it. The Fat Controller overhears his comment and asks him to elaborate.

The Fat Controller goes to Ffarquhar Quarry to speak to Diesel. While he doesn't accuse Diesel, he tells him Duck's trucks said it was Diesel's idea, and that the security cameras were turned off so they have no evidence. Due to the cost of the damage, the Fat Controller has to sell him. He gives him a choice; be sent back to the Other Railway, where he will be destined for scrap, or instead be sold to an anonymous buyer who is specifically interested in purchasing Diesel. As he leaves Sodor, he says goodbye to Duck, then tells Thomas that he knows P. T. Boomer was involved. This puzzles Thomas, who is unaware that Perry is P. T. Boomer. Paxton greets Diesel as he passes, but he does not respond.

Perry returns to the Mainland and visits Diesel 10. He takes off his helmet, which shocks Diesel 10. To reassure him, Perry gives a friendly wave to Constable Sam, explaining that he is now bribing the cop to keep quiet. Diesel 10 expresses his anger towards Diesel for betraying him, and Perry reassures him that he will be scrapped soon. Contrary to Perry's belief, Diesel finds himself inside the Box with a camera in front of him; Bill tells him to join the club. Meanwhile, Thomas is picking up passengers, when he spots a man with the same hairdo as Perry and panics, thinking it's him.

## Cast and Characters

The episode features:

* Mr.Oily516 as Thomas and Paxton
* C. Junior's Magic as Duck
* Enterprisingengine93 as Perry
* Jonathan Asiamah as Skarloey, the presenter and a truck
* RailMaster63 as Toby
* Jason's Junction as Butch and a mechanic
* steakandcake as BoCo
* Skye as Mavis and a truck
* Spo0derGlen as Clarabel and Thomas' driver
* TankEngineStudios as Constable Sam

All uncredited speaking roles are voiced by CyberRusty99.

* Diesel
* Hurricane
* Paul Maxwell
* Flying Scotsman
* Cameraman
* Donald and Douglas
* Billy
* Hugo
* Stepney
* The Fat Controller
* Diesel 10
* Bill
* Midwestern Man (*voice only*)
* Frankie (*does not speak*)
* Henrietta (*does not speak*)
* Winston (*does not speak*)
* Luke (*cameo*)
* Mighty Mac (*cameo*)
* Duke (*cameo*)
* "The Rock" (*cameo*)
* Chester (*cameo*)
* Gordon (*cameo*)
* Charlie (*cameo*)
* Rebecca (*cameo*)
* Duchess of Boxford (*cameo*)
* Thumper (*cameo*)
* Dennis (*cameo*)
* Toad (*cameo*)
* George (*cameo*)
* Trevor (*cameo*)
* Salty (*cameo*)
* Derek (*cameo*)
* Cranky (*cameo*)
* Ben (*cameo*)
* Emily (*cameo*)
* Rosie (*cameo*)
* Annie (*cameo*)
* Elizabeth (*cameo*)
* Caitlin (*cameo*)
* Peter Sam (*cameo*)
* Rocky (*cameo*)
* Ryan (*cameo*)
* Jack (*cameo*)
* Terence (*cameo*)