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- “Sheep to market, children to the farm, chickens to school.”
- ― Thomas getting into a muddle
Chickens to School is the twenty-fourth episode of the eighth series.
Plot
One summer night, Thomas is busy taking coal trucks to the Coaling Plant and is very tired by the time he arrives back at Tidmouth Sheds in the morning. Thomas wishes that he had some assistance with the coal delivery, but Gordon tells Thomas that a Really Useful Engine does not need help. Just then, the Fat Controller arrives as he requires an engine to carry out three jobs. Thomas decides to carry out the three jobs, despite being tired. His three jobs are to take the chickens to the market, the sheep to the farm and the children to the school. Gordon remarks that three jobs are too much for Thomas and he will need assistance, but Thomas (who is angered) tells Gordon that tank engines do not need help at all.
"Chickens to market, sheep to the farm, children to school."
So Thomas sets off with Annie, Clarabel and a couple vans. He collects the chickens from the farm, the sheep from the valley and the children from the station. Thomas carries on with his journey up and over Gordon's Hill and through Henry's Tunnel. Throughout the journey, he reminds himself where he is going. However, he gets muddled and confused because the tiredness starts getting the better of him. He now thinks to take the sheep to the market, the children to the farm and the chickens to school.
"Sheep to market, children to the farm, chickens to school."
At Edward's station where the market is being held, Thomas orders the lorry drivers to unload the farm sheep, instead of the chickens. Then Emily arrives and sees Thomas looking tired, so she offers to help. But Thomas declines her offer, though he is very sleepy. After the market, Thomas goes onto Farmer McColl's and tells the school children it is their stop. Finally at the school, Thomas delivers the market chickens, much to the confusion of the school teachers.
Thomas heads off for home, but not before the Fat Controller receives phone calls about the sheep knocking over market stalls, the children getting muddy at the farm and the chickens messing up the classrooms. The Fat Controller tells Thomas what happened and that he needs to put everything right, but this time with help. Thomas then tells the Fat Controller what Gordon said earlier about how a Really Useful Engine never needs help. Edward remarks that he is always helping Gordon up the hill, which makes the latter blushed with embarrassment.
"Ha! I'm always helping Gordon up the hill."
Thomas sets off with Edward and Percy helping him. Edward takes the market chickens from the school; Percy takes the farm sheep from the market and Thomas takes the school children from the farm. Thomas apologises to the children for bringing them to the wrong place, but they reassure him that they were learning about the farm, after having seen all of the animals. That night, Thomas finally gets some much-needed sleep in Tidmouth Sheds, and has good dreams about sheep, children and chickens.
Characters
- Thomas
- Edward
- Gordon
- Emily
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Percy (does not speak; speaking role cut)
- Henry (does not speak)
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Farmer McColl (does not speak)
- James (cameo)
- Caroline (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Farmer Trotter (cameo)
- Farmer Collett (cameo)
- The Male Teacher (cameo)
- The Tidmouth Lighthouse Keeper (cameo)
- The Captain (cameo)
- Mr. Jolly (factory logo cameo)
Locations
- The Steel Arch Bridge
- Wellsworth
- Tidmouth Sheds
- The School
- McColl Farm
- Henry's Tunnel
- Gordon's Hill
- The Windmill
- Maron
- Sir Topham Hatt's Office
- The Sheep Field
- Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory
- The Coaling Plant (mentioned)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the eighteenth episode of the eighth series and the 200th episode of the show.
- Stock footage from Thomas and the Circus is used.
- For a while, it was unknown who the sheep farmer was, but from a magazine poster, it turned out to be Farmer Collett, who also appeared in several magazine stories.
- The book, Thomas' Busy Day, shows that Percy was originally going to have a larger role as he saw Thomas was tired while waiting at a junction and asked him if he needed any help, only for Thomas to decline.
- In the individual version of this episode, the last bit of music is omitted at the end.
- This episode marks the last appearance of the Captain.
- This episode marks a few things:
- The last appearance of Henry's Tunnel in completely original footage until The Great Discovery, as it appears in stock footage from Edward the Great in Calling All Engines!
- The final time to have Ryō Horikawa as part of the Japanese voice cast. It is also Yuka Shioyama’s final role as Emily in the Japanese dub and the last time to have her as part of the cast.
- The first appearance of Thomas' yawning face since the first series episode, Thomas and Gordon.
- The first appearance of Thomas' ill face since the second series episode, Thomas Comes to Breakfast.
- The first appearance of Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory since the sixth series episode, Percy's Chocolate Crunch.
- The last appearance of The School until the tenth series episode, Percy and the Funfair.
- The last appearance of Thomas' yawning and ill faces.
Goofs
- In the stop-motion animation sequence of the teachers unloading the chickens, the rear van moves.
- In the scene where the teacher looks up from under the desk, his hands are facing the wrong way.
- After the close-up of the children when Thomas picks them up, some of the children disappear.
- Thomas' eyes are misaligned in the scene with him and Emily.
- Thomas' whistle is crooked in many scenes.
- Gordon's lamp irons are crooked.
- In most scenes, Clarabel's roof is damaged.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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DVD BoxsetsJPNKOR |
| #01 Thomas and the Tuba | #10 Emily's New Route | #19 Fish |
| #02 Percy's New Whistle | #11 Thomas and the Firework Display | #20 Emily's Adventure |
| #03 Thomas to the Rescue | #12 Gordon Takes Charge | #21 Halloween |
| #04 Henry and the Wishing Tree | #13 Spic and Span | #22 You Can Do It, Toby! |
| #05 James Gets a New Coat | #14 Edward the Great | #23 James Goes Too Far |
| #06 Thomas Saves the Day | #15 Squeak, Rattle and Roll | #24 Chickens to School |
| #07 Percy's Big Mistake | #16 Thomas and the Circus | #25 Too Hot for Thomas |
| #08 Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough | #17 Thomas Gets It Right | #26 Percy and the Magic Carpet |
| #09 Don't Tell Thomas | #18 As Good as Gordon | |