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- “Percy, why do you want to be Gordon? You're perfect being Percy and that's what I want you to be!”
- ― The Fat Controller
Being Percy is the eleventh episode of the fourteenth series.
Plot
It is a busy day at the docks and Percy needs to get to his mail vans, but no one takes any notice of him. Then, Percy observes Gordon, who thunders into the docks blowing his whistle. Gordon demands that Salty get out of the way of the express. This gives Percy an idea and later when he wants to leave the docks with his mail, he demands that everyone moves out of his way, just like Gordon.
Later, Percy spots slow, old Toby on the track ahead. This means that Percy has to go slow, too. He orders Toby to move aside, but Toby is so surprised by Percy's outburst that he stops completely. Percy then watches Gordon fly past on the express line. Percy gets an idea and switches onto the express line at the next junction to be just like Gordon.
Percy feels very proud and rushes through Maithwaite station - without stopping to collect his mail. At Maron, Percy meets Allicia Botti, who is waiting for Gordon to take her to the Fat Controller to have a meal. Percy wants to be as good as Gordon, so he tells Allicia Botti to climb into his cab and he will take her to Knapford. Instead of dropping off Allicia Botti at Knapford, however, Percy steams proudly by. But there is trouble ahead.
Gordon and Percy are steaming straight towards each other on the same line. Gordon orders Percy to make way for the express, but Percy stays where he is and tells Gordon to make way for the mail. Neither engine gets out of the way and neither can stop in time. As Gordon approaches, he quickly veers into a siding, where he smashes the buffers and derails. Percy is upset because he is responsible for Gordon's derailment and wants to put things right.
First, he takes Allicia Botti to Knapford and apologises to Miss Botti and the Fat Controller. Next, he puffs quickly to the Search and Rescue Centre, where he asks James to help pull Rocky to rescue Gordon. Soon, Gordon is back on the rails and Percy sets off to collect and deliver the mail. Finally, Percy puffs sadly to Knapford, where the Fat Controller is waiting for him. The Fat Controller asks Percy why he wants to be Gordon when he is perfect being Percy, and all the other engines agree. Percy is now happy to be himself.
Characters
- Thomas
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Toby
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Allicia Botti
- Salty (does not speak)
- Rocky (does not speak)
- Cranky (does not speak)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Harold (cameo)
- Captain (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Blond-haired Engineer (cameo)
- The Maithwaite Stationmaster (cameo)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- The Teacher (cameo)
- The Ginger-haired Boy (cameo)
- Edward (stock footage cameo)
- Henry (stock footage cameo)
- Emily (portrait cameo)
Locations
- Brendam Docks
- Maithwaite
- Maron
- Knapford
- Sodor Search and Rescue Centre
- Kirk Ronan Junction
- The Coal Hopper
- Great Waterton (poster)
Cast
UK
- Ben Small as Thomas and Toby
- Keith Wickham as Gordon, James, Percy and the Fat Controller
- Jules de Jongh as Allicia Botti
US
- Martin Sherman as Thomas and Percy
- Kerry Shale as Gordon, James and the Sir Topham Hatt
- William Hope as Toby
- Jules de Jongh as Allicia Botti
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth series.
- Stock footage from Percy's Parcel, Time for a Story and Toby's New Whistle are used.
- The plot is similar to the eighth series episode, As Good as Gordon.
- This episode marks the last of a few things:
- Allicia Botti's last speaking role and the last time she is referred to by name.
- The last time to feature Jules de Jongh as part of the UK cast until the special, The Great Race which was as a singing voice, as well as the last episode until the twentieth series episode, Engine of the Future to feature Jules de Jongh as part of the UK cast.
- Gordon's last derailment until the twenty-fourth series special, World of Tomorrow.
- This is the only other episode where Percy is seen carrying Allicia Botti, the first being the sixth series episode, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak.
- Gordon and Percy nearly colliding with each other is somewhat similar to the events of first series episode, Percy Runs Away.
- This episode marks the first appearance of Salty since the twelfth series episode, Henry Gets It Wrong.
- This is the only episode written by Rachel Dawson.
Goofs
- In one scene, the bird watcher can be seen at Maithwaite station, but in the very next scene, he can be seen on the platform at Maron station.
- When Gordon veers into the siding, Percy can be seen on the right side of the screen for a split second before the scene changes, even though the points were still set towards the siding.
Quotes
- “I like being Gordon, It makes me feel bold. I'll do what I want to, not what I'm told!”
- ― Percy
- “I'm really just Percy, I'm small and I'm green. I'm silly, I'm slow, I don't want to be seen!”
- ― Percy
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UKDVD BoxsetsUS/CANGERNOR/SWE/DK/FINMYSCHNTHAJPNSVNPOL
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| #01 Thomas' Tall Friend | #08 Pop Goes Thomas | #15 Jumping Jobi Wood! |
| #02 James in the Dark | #09 Victor Says Yes | #16 Thomas and Scruff |
| #03 Pingy Pongy Pick Up | #10 Thomas in Charge | #17 O the Indignity |
| #04 Charlie and Eddie | #11 Being Percy | #18 Jitters and Japes |
| #05 Toby and the Whistling Woods | #12 Merry Winter Wish | #19 Merry Misty Island |
| #06 Henry's Health and Safety | #13 Thomas and the Snowman Party | #20 Henry's Magic Box |
| #07 Diesel's Special Delivery | #14 Thomas' Crazy Day | |