Percy and Toby arrive at Elsbridge station, feeling worried for Thomas after he had been sent to be repaired, following his accident with the stationmasters house. Sir Topham Hatt waits for the engines in order to introduce to them Daisy, the diesel railcar, who will help run the branch line while Thomas is away. Percy asks if she will leave after Thomas returns and Sir Topham Hatt responds that it depends on her performance. Regardless, he expects Percy and Toby to make her feel welcome her and help her get settled in. The two engines happily agree, so they start by taking Daisy to the engine shed for a rest. Arriving at the engine shed, Daisy snobbishly tells Percy and Toby that she thinks the shed is "dreadfully smelly" and states that anything smelly is "bad for her swerves." This makes Percy and Toby cross, but the two carry on and take her to the carriage shed. Daisy prefers it, but asks what the "rubbish" is next to her. The "rubbish" turns out to be Annie, Clarabel and Henrietta, whom are greatly offended by this, and refuse to stay where they're insulted. Percy and Toby, even more cross, are forced to take them out of the shed and stay up half the night trying to soothe their hurt feelings.
Percy and Toby end up feeling exhausted the next morning, while Daisy wakes up feeling full of energy as she goes to the station to take her first set of passengers. When she arrives, Daisy starts showing off, bragging about how she's the latest built diesel and tries to persuade the passengers that she is much better than Annie & Clarabel. Her attitude soon changes when she sees Toby coupling a milk tanker behind her. Enraged, Daisy refuses to take it and, despite her driver's arguments, she begins to violently shudder, she lurches backwards as well and even blows a fuse. Everyone argues with her, but to no avail. Daisy then explains that her fitter ordered her to never take any cars because she is highly sprung and pulling is bad for her swerves. No one at the station believes her excuse and they start to wonder why Sir Topham Hatt brought an engine with such an attitude and feeble work ethic to the Island. Daisy is greatly insulted by the remarks and attempts to fire back at the passengers, but now, with everyone running late, the crew is left with no choice but to uncouple the milk tanker, leave it behind, thus letting Daisy to enjoy her journey by taking only the passengers. As she runs, Daisy chuckles at how well her story worked and decides that she will do only the work she wants to do. But she says it to herself.
Big thank you to EmilyGreenEngine for creating a Ringo Starr US adapation of the story!
24 апр 2022
