When Falcons Cry

**When Falcons Cry** is the third story of the third set of *Between the Lines*. It was originally published on September 4th, 2023.

## Plot

Mr. Percival informs his engines that the Thin Clergyman has written a book about Sir Handel and Peter Sam's first days on the line. The book will be *Four Little Engines*, and there is to be a small celebration at Lakeside to mark the occasion.

Some days later, the party marking the release of *Four Little Engines* takes place. Whilst the engines are all excited, many details regarding Sir Handel and Peter Sam's past (particularly their old manager Jacob Hockings) had to be sanitized for children. But Sir Handel notices that the more touching moments between him and Peter Sam have been omitted. Although Sir Handel hopes that the Thin Clergyman shows his good side in the books soon, that turns out to be wishful thinking. Two subsequent books are published about the Skarloey Railway within the next couple of years; one focusing on the arrival of Rusty and Duncan and the return of Skarloey, and the other focusing on Peter Sam and Sir Handel’s respective modifications and the return of Rheneas. Neither book shows Sir Handel as having sympathetic qualities to him, much to his frustration.

Seven years after *Four Little Engines* is published, the newest book about the little engines, *Very Old Engines*, which is mostly focused on Skarloey and Rheneas' early days is about to be published. When the Thin Clergyman gets to the first part of *Happy Birthday, Skarloey and Rheneas*, the engines are shocked that the story doesn't even mention Sir Handel having a reaction to Duke supposedly being scrapped. Then, the Thin Clergyman reads out a bit when Sir Handel pretends to be ill and the Thin Controller threatening to have him taken to pieces and have that be put on on television. This prompts Mr. Percival to snatch the book off the Thin Clergyman, who gets a telling off from the little engines for the way he's portrayed Sir Handel in the books. Sir Handel then goes in a full-blown rant because of all the trauma he and Peter Sam went through. Everyone looks over, horrified at Sir Handel and his crew get him away from the crowd. Peter Sam tells the Thin Clergyman off for playing favourites and he and the other engines leave. Mr. Percival gives the Thin Clergyman a warning before shoving the books back into his hands and leaving as well.

Bear is surprised to see Sir Handel raced past Crovan's Gate without stopping. The other little engines and the coaches arrive as well and explain what had happened. Bear is furious at this and Ruth hopes the book doesn't actually get published with that offending bit. Unfortunately, the book is published as it is. The engines, especially those who were around at the time, are angry at this and all agree to try and support Sir Handel.

Meanwhile, Sir Handel is pulling Gertrude and Millicent, but both coaches are running almost empty. Amongst the few passengers on board are Annabelle and Paul Percival, as well as their newborn daughter, Alice; Penny and Pansy are also there. When Sir Handel explains what happened, the Percivals are all shocked. Annabelle is furious but Paul reminds her about their daughter. Annabelle quickly apologises to Alice. Pansy suggests that Sir Handel should see Mrs. Kyndley, to which Sir Handel agrees.

Annabelle waits until Paul takes Alice home. Then, he confronts the Thin Clergyman about his latest book and how Sir Handel's train was almost empty because of it. When the Thin Clergyman points out that Sir Handel is the tougher of him and Peter Sam, Annabelle reveals that neither of them can stomach that kind of humour, especially since Bertram was scrapped in front of them. This shocks the Thin Clergyman and after Annabelle storms out of the room, the Thin Clergyman heads outside to his car, seriously thinking about what he had done.

Sir Handel is upset thinking that he should just stick to the quarry as a result of most of the passengers refusing to get on his trains. But the engines all assure him that they'll be with him and all agree that the offending part of the book needs to omitting. Then Annabelle arrives with her aunt Amanda Hatt and a draft of a book entitled *Skarloey and Rheneas' Early Years*. Annabelle reads the book to them, which cheers the engines up. Sir Handel starts to cry when Annabelle mentioned that he and Peter Sam were excited to pull the Television Train but regretted that Duke may not have been there to see it. The engines don't notice a man in his car witnessing the whole meeting.

In his home, the Thin Clergyman is at the desk, suffering from writer's block. He isn't sure how to fix the mistake he's made with Sir Handel's character. Then, he remembers that he's been meaning to write about Duke's rediscovery and starts typing busily into the night.

Sir Handel has his appointment with Mrs. Kyndley, who agrees that there is a fine line between keeping things too real and making stuff up for the sake of the story. When Sir Handel wonders what the Thin Clergyman has against him, Mrs. Kyndley asks Sir Handel if he's said anything to provoke him. Then Sir Handel remembers he had had a nightmare about Hockings and was about to tell the others when Mr. Percival arrived to inform about their special visitor. Unfortunately, despite protests from the others and attempts from Mr. Percival to get the Thin Clergyman to leave, harsh words were spoken.

Sir Handel then realises that his brash outburst towards the Thin Clergyman that gave him the idea for his portrayal in the books and wishes he had chosen his words more carefully before thinking. Mrs. Kyndley then suggests that he and the Thin Clergyman have a heart to heart talk. Sir Handel promises to do that the next time he sees the Thin Clergyman, unaware that he'll see him sooner than he thinks.

At Crovan's Gate, the Thin Clergyman is tired being being up so late and his friend, Teddy is concerned for this. The Thin Clergyman insists he's fine but doesn't notice he is heading for the edge of the platform. Fortunately, a voice and a loud whistle warns him in time. The Thin Clergyman races back as the engine comes up to the platform and is surprised to see Sir Handel. The Thin Clergyman thanks him for saving him. The two then have their heart to heart talk and apologises to each other. The Thin Clergyman promises to talk with the engines better for future installments, starting with his latest one, *Duke the Lost Engine* and that *Very Old Engines* is republished with changes regarding Sir Handel. Sir Handel then tells the Thin Clergyman that he needs to get to bed so Teddy drives him home.

There is a second book launch for *Very Old Engines*, with the appropriate changes made to the last story. Annabelle reads the new version to the engines and the engines are pleased with the changes.

When *Duke the Lost Engine* is published the following year, the engines highly praise that book too. From then on, the Thin Clergyman runs his books through the engines first, and any mistakes (most notably in *Branch Line Engines*) are always corrected with a second copy to avoid repeats of this incident.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Emily
* Bear
* Skarloey
* Rheneas
* Sir Handel
* Peter Sam
* Rusty
* Duncan
* Flyer
* Duke
* Fred
* Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice (only Ruth, Lucy and Beatrice speak)
* Gertrude and Millicent
* Amanda Croarie Hatt
* Mr. Peregrine Percival
* Wilbert Awdry
* Teddy Boston
* Paul Percival
* Pansy Percival
* Penny Percival
* Annabelle Percival
* Alice Percival
* Mrs. Kitty Kyndley
* Duck (mentioned)
* Donald and Douglas (mentioned)
* Oliver (mentioned)
* Bertram (mentioned)
* Ten Cents (mentioned)
* O.J. (mentioned)
* Sunshine (mentioned)
* Sir Bertram Topham Hatt (mentioned)
* Captain Star (mentioned)
* Jacob Hockings (mentioned)

## Locations

* Skarloey Engine Sheds
* Lakeside
* Crovan's Gate

## Voice Cast

### Official

* John Hasler as Thomas
* Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, Skarloey, Sir Handel and Mr. Peregrine Percival
* Rob Rackstraw as James and Wilbert Awdry
* Nigel Pilkington as Percy
* Teresa Gallagher as Emily
* Ben Small as Rheneas
* Steven Kynman as Peter Sam
* Matt Wilkinson as Rusty
* Tom Stourton as Duncan and Teddy Boston
* Jules de Jongh as Amanda Croarie Hatt

### Fan chosen

* Bill Barretta as Bear
* Linda Ballantyne as Flyer
* Colm Feore as Duke
* Marÿke Hendrikse as Fred
* Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Ruth
* Bailey Gambertoglio as Lucy
* Sarah Hyland as Beatrice
* Maia Mitchell as Gertrude
* Maisie Klompus as Millicent
* Tom Holland as Paul Percival
* Emma Myers as Pansy Percival
* Natalia Tena as Penny Percival
* Bonnie Wright as Annabelle Percival
* Kari Wahlgren as Mrs. Kitty Kyndley

Undecided for characters who speak

* Baby Alice Percival

## Trivia

* The title is a reference to the 1984 Prince song "When Doves Cry".
* There is a reference to the *TUGS* episode *Quarantine*, when Skarloey and Rheneas compare Captain Star threatening O.J., Ten Cents and Sunshine to the Thin Controller threatening to take Sir Handel to pieces in *Very Old Engines.*

## Continuity

* Sir Handel and Peter Sam's arrival on the Skarloey Railway is a nod to *Never Be Alone*.
* Skarloey's return and Rusty and Duncan's arrivals are nods to *Skarloey the Little Old Engine*, as is Peter Sam's accident at the incline, and Skarloey and Rheanes' early years.
* Sir Handel and Peter Sam getting upgrades is a nod to *Funnels and Wheels*, as is Sir Handel's confrontation with George.
* Rheneas' return is a nod to *The Importance of Passengers.*
* Skarloey and Rheneas' 100th birthday and Duke's rediscovery are nods to *The Duke of Sodor*.
* Bertram being scrapped right infront of Sir Handel and Peter Sam is a nod to *The Peel Godred Chronicles*.

## Links

* DeviantArt
* Fanfiction.Net (Chapter 3)