Duck Comes to Lunch

Narrator: Duck the Great Western Engine has worked his line for a couple of years and knows it perfectly.

Duck's Driver: "You know just where to stop, Duck. I bet you could almost manage it without me."

Narrator: Duck had already become conceited. he didn't realize that his driver was clowning around with him. later on, he boasted to the other engines.

Duck: "My driver says that I don't need him right now."

Thomas: "Don't be so crazy."

Rosie: "I would never go without my driver. I would be terrified and nervous."

Duck: "Ha! I'm not terrified!"

Percy: "You wouldn't dare!"

Duck: "I would then. you'll all see."

Narrator: The very next day, the fire lighter came by. Duck drowsed comfortably and the warmth spread right through his entire body. Thomas, Percy, Toby and Rosie were still asleep. Duck suddenly remembered.

Duck: "Silly stick-in-the-muds. I'll show them. my driver said I could manage without him. I'll just go right out. then I'll stop and wheesh! that'll make them jump right up and down."

Narrator: Duck thought he was being super clever. really, he was only moving around 'cause a careless cleaner had meddled with his entire body. he soon found his terrible and horrible mistake. he tried to wheesh, but he couldn't even do that. he tried to stop, but he couldn't even do that either. he just kept rolling right along. he didn't dare to look right at what was coming up next. there was the yard manager's house. the yard manager was just about to have a lunch meal.

Duck: "Horrors!"

Narrator: Duck shut his eyes.

[Loud Crash!]

Narrator: The house rocked back and forth, broken glass tinkled and plaster was everywhere. Duck had collected a shrub on his travels. he peered right into the room right through its leaves. he couldn't even speak. the yard manager was super furious and his wife picked up her plate.

Yard Manager's Wife: "You clumsy great engine! just look what you did to our lunch meal. now I should need to cook up some more!"

Narrator: She banged the door. more plaster fell. but this time, it fell right on Duck. Duck felt super depressed.

Narrator: Workmen propped up the house with super strong poles and put a path right through the entire garden.

Meanwhile, Bill and Ben arrived.

Bill: "Don't worry about it, Duck,"

Ben: "we'll have you right back on the rails."

Narrator: Bill and Ben, working super hard, managed to haul Duck back to safety. bits of fencing, a shrub and a broken window frame festooned his front which of course was terribly twisted. the tank engine twins laughed a bit and left him there. Duck was in a super big disgrace. there was even worse to come around.

Fat Controller: "You're a super naughty engine, Duck."

Duck: [Mumbling A Bit] "I know, kind sir and ma'am. I'm terribly sorry, kind sir and ma'am."

Narrator: Duck's voice was mumbled right behind his shrub.

Fat Controller's Wife: "You must go to the works and have your front mended,"

Fat Controller: "it'll be a super long job."

Duck: "Yes, kind sir and ma'am."

Fat Controller: "Meanwhile,"

Fat Controller's Wife: "a diesel engine will do your hard work."

Duck: "A d-d-d-diesel engine, kind sir and ma'am?"

Fat Controller: "Yes, of course Duck,"

Fat Controller's Wife: "diesel engines always stay in their diesel homes 'til they're wanted,"

Fat Controller: "diesel engines never go right off to lunch meals in yard manager's houses."