James in a Rush Skript PDF

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS
“James in a Rush”
Written by
Moritz Sacher

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
FADE IN: “James in a Rush”
Henry, Murdoch and Douglas are passing by each other with
their goods trains under a bridge.
STORYTELLER
The engines on the Island of
Sodor always like to be busy.
At another place in the countryside Duck puffs along the
rails with the Slip Coaches.
STORYTELLER (CONT’D)
They like to be really useful.
Suddenly Duck passes James, pulling Edward behind him.
Duck and James blow their whistles. <TOOT TOOT!!>
STORYTELLER (CONT’D)
And they like to help others.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SODOR STEAMWORKS - DAY
James shunts Edward into the Steamworks.
STORYTELLER
One morning James shunted Edward
into the Sodor Steamworks.
Edward’s wheels were shuttling.
EDWARD
Thank you for bringing me here
James. But I’m still a bit
worried.
JAMES
(puzzled)
What do you mean Edward?
EDWARD
I have to pick up an important
goods train from the docks and I
mustn’t be late for it.
Victor puffs over to the two engines.
VICTOR
(smiling)
Don’t worry Edward. I will have
you puffing perfectly again by
lunchtime.

2.
JAMES
I must go now Edward. See you
later.
James blows his whistle, as he rolls away backwards.
<TOOT!!>
STORYTELLER
And James clickety-clacked off
down the track to see the Fat
Controller.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. VICARSTOWN STATION - LATER
Merlin, Frankie and Hurricane are waiting inside the
station.
STORYTELLER
The Fat Controller was waiting
for James at Vicarstown Station.
So were Merlin, Hurricane and
Frankie, the Steelworks engines.
They wheezed and heezed with
excitement.
James puffs into the station.
MERLIN
Oh! Hello there James.
FRANKIE
(excited)
We’ve been waiting for you! Oh.
This will be fun.
The Fat Controller makes a <CLEARING THROAT>.
THE FAT CONTROLLER
(smiling)
And I have a very important job
for you James.
STORYTELLER
James puffed with pride.
Yes, sir.
JAMES
THE FAT CONTROLLER
There is important freight at
Brendam Docks. It must be loaded
into trucks by lunchtime. I want
you to work with Merlin, Frankie
and Hurricane together and show
(MORE)

3.
THE FAT CONTROLLER (CONT’D)
them how to be really useful on
my railway.
The Fat Controller walks away.
MERLIN
Lead the way James.
HURRICANE
(smiling)
We are right behind you.
James blows his whistle, as steams off with Hurricane,
Merlin and Frankie. <TOOT!!>
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - SHORTLY LATER
James and the three Steelworks engines wheeze through the
countryside.
STORYTELLER
But James’ firebox flickered and
flared.
JAMES
(thought)
Edward said he has to pick up
some freight from the docks too.
Maybe me and the other should
shunt it for him.
STORYTELLER
But James wasn’t so sure, as he
and the three Steelworks engines
huffed and puffed towards
Brendam Docks.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BRENDAM DOCKS - LATER
STORYTELLER
Soon the four engines approached
the docks. Frankie, Hurricane
and Merlin hooted and tooted.
They had never seen anything as
exciting as this.
FRANKIE
(amazed)
Wow! I’ve never seen a harbor
like this before.
Suddenly Merlin, Hurricane and Frankie look up to Cranky.

4.
MERLIN/HURRICANE/FRANKIE
(curious)
Who’s he?
MERLIN
I did see him on my first day on
Sodor, but I still didn’t ask
his name.
Cranky looks serious.
JAMES (O.C.)
This is Cranky.
We go down to Cranky’s hook, swinging in the air.
James races away.
STORYTELLER
Cranky creaked crossly.
JAMES
Cranky, this is Frankie, Merlin
and Hurricane. Please show them
how to load cargo. I must go
now. I’ll be back soon.
STORYTELLER
And before Cranky could creak
again, James had already huffed
hurriedly away.
CUT TO:
EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - SHORTLY LATER
STORYTELLER
James whooshed and whirred
towards the Steamworks.
JAMES
I must go and ask Edward, if the
important freight is his goods
train.
James continues racing.
CUT TO:
EXT. SODOR STEAMWORKS - THAT SAME DAY
James approaches the Steamworks.
STORYTELLER
But as James approached the
Steamworks building, he stopped.

5.
JAMES
I must hurry, I must go back. To
make sure the cargo is right on
track.
James hurries backwards down the track.
STORYTELLER
And with that, James raced and
rattled back to Brendam Docks.
CUT TO:
EXT. BRENDAM DOCKS - LATER
Cranky lifts Hurricane up. James stops in surprise.
STORYTELLER
At the docks, James could not
believe his eyes. Cranky was
lifting Hurricane towards a big
ship. Hurricane wasn’t happy.
HURRICANE
This is not supposed to happen.
STORYTELLER
James was horrified.
JAMES
(shouted)
Cranky! What are you doing?
STORYTELLER
Cranky crackled.
CRANKY
(cranky)
You said I should show them load
cargo.
JAMES
I didn’t mean load engines!
CRANKY
Maybe it would have been easier,
if you had stayed here. It’s
your job to show them what a
really useful engine can do. Not
me!
STORYTELLER
James gulped and gurgled. Then
he had an idea.

6.
JAMES
Cranky! Please put Hurricane
back down.
Cranky is looking curious at James.
JAMES (CONT’D)
Then we will all work hard to
get the freight loaded.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BRENDAM DOCKS - SHORTLY LATER
As Hurricane is back on track, James waits, while Cranky
lowers some cargo onto his flatbeds.
STORYTELLER
Later James waited and whooshed,
while he worked with the
Steelworks engines.
JAMES
First you watch, then you wait.
Until your trucks are full with
freight.
James shunts his loaded trucks away. Hurricane and Frankie
<LAUGH>.
FRANKIE
You are funny James.
HURRICANE
I’m the next one now.
Hurricane rolls forwards.
CUT TO:
EXT. BRENDAM DOCKS - NOON
Edward puffs into the docks.
STORYTELLER
By lunchtime Edward puffed
proudly into Brendam. There was
a line of trucks waiting.
EDWARD
Well done James. You and the
others got my train ready.
STORYTELLER
James shuddered with surprise.

7.
JAMES
That’s what I was wondering all
day Edward. You said you had to
pick up a goods train.
CRANKY
And it’s the one that you four
engines shunted for Edward.
STORYTELLER
And everyone giggled and
jiggled. Except James, who just
grinned.
FADE TO
BLACK:
THE END