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“Listen to me. There is nothing wrong with that tunnel. You stuck in it because you tried to do Rock 'n' Roll. Tunnels are not dance floors and you are not a pop star! If it happens again, I shall find ways to cut you down to size. In other words, your career is, uh… 'on the line.' Need I say more?”
― The Fat Controller scolding Duncan about the tunnel

Home at Last is the ninth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from the Railway Series book The Little Old Engine.

Plot

Skarloey returns home after being repaired. He is met by Rusty, whom Skarloey has never met before, has been helping to mend the line and do odd jobs and is brought back home by him. Skarloey takes a liking to Rusty, believing he is a kindly sort of engine.

Meanwhile, Peter Sam is depressed. He is still getting over his accident with the slate trucks and his damaged funnel and is eager to start working again. The Fat Controller tells him to take another day's rest and that he has a surprise for him, which turns out to be Skarloey. Peter Sam welcomes his friend back home and tells him of a rude, rough, rocking and rolling engine named Duncan who has arrived on the railway as a spare engine after Peter Sam's accident. Then, Skarloey’s driver arrives with news; Duncan is stuck in a tunnel and Skarloey must go to help free him and rescue the passengers.

Skarloey enjoys the journey, especially how nice and smooth the rails are now, praising Rusty for his work on the line. He arrives at the tunnel to find Duncan stuck on the other end. Duncan complains about the tunnel and the railway to his driver, who scolds him for doing "Rock 'n' Roll" in it. After Skarloey leaves some workmen behind to repair the tunnel and clear the debris. Duncan is grateful that Skarloey had rescued him, but still grumbled about the tunnel. Skarloey pays no attention and pushes Duncan's train to the last station and, then, back home.

That evening, the Fat Controller reprimands Duncan in the Shed, stating that the there is nothing wrong with the tunnel and that Duncan only got stuck in it because he was trying to do Rock 'n' Roll. Then, staring at Duncan's tall funnel, he further adds that, should it happen again, he will find ways to "cut him down to size" and that his career is "on the line." This threat is good enough to make Duncan behave better, for at least the remainder of the evening.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • Going by production order, this is the tenth episode of the fourth series.
  • Pre-filmed footage from the next episode is used.
  • In the original UK dub:
    • The exchanged lines between Skarloey and Peter Sam, "'Who is Duncan?' 'He came as a spare engine after my accident,' replied Peter Sam and 'Is he useful?'" are heard early.
    • The music is omitted.
  • This was one of the few episodes in the US dub that refers to a brake van as a caboose, its American term.
  • This episode is the only appearance of Skarloey's prototype happy face.
  • In a deleted scene, when the Fat Controller scolds Duncan, he wears a different surprised face mask, which would not be used on-screen until the fifth series episode Duncan Gets Spooked.
  • Not counting a deleted scene of Duncan Gets Spooked, this episode marks the only on-screen appearance of Duncan's horrified face.
  • The original UK dub of this episode was released before Four Little Engines, so the audience would not have known about Skarloey going away to be mended.

Goofs

  • In the US dub, when Peter Sam tells Skarloey about Duncan, he mentions "his drivers" instead of "his driver," even though steam engines typically only need one driver.
  • Skarloey's face moves when he talks to Peter Sam.
  • When Skarloey leaves the sheds, he has a different whistle.
  • When Skarloey puffs out of Crovan's Gate:
    • His wheels are moving faster than he is.
    • He is also missing his eyebrows.
  • As Skarloey comes up behind Duncan's train, there is a spot of light above the brake van in the tunnel.
  • Duncan's eyes are misaligned when he is stuck in the tunnel.
  • Skarloey has Duke's original whistle sound when he pushes Duncan's train.
  • When Duncan and Skarloey cross the bridge, some studio equipment can be seen near the top right corner.
  • On PBS Kids Sprout airings of this episode, the closed captions incorrectly spell Skarloey as "Scarloee."

Quotes

The Fat Controller: Another day's rest will do you good. Besides, I got a surprise for you.
Peter Sam: For me, sir? How nice, sir. What is it, sir?
The Fat Controller: Wait and see.
Narrator: The surprise was Skarloey.
Peter Sam: Oh. I'm glad you've come home.
Skarloey: I feel all excited. Just like a young engine. Now, tell me all the news.
Peter Sam: I see you've met Rusty.
Skarloey: Yes. I like that diesel.
Peter Sam: So do I. It's a pity Duncan doesn't.
Skarloey: Who is Duncan?
Peter Sam: He came as a spare engine after my accident.
Skarloey: Is he useful?
[cut to a scene of a yellow narrow gauge engine named Duncan]
Peter Sam: He keeps busy and I'm sure he means well but he's bouncy and rude. He sings and sways and swivels around. His driver calls it "Rock 'n' Roll."
Skarloey: I understand.

Duncan: [stuck at the end of the tunnel, furious] I'm a plain blunt engine! I speak as I find! Tunnels should be tunnels and not rabbit holes! This railway is no good at all!
Driver: Don't be silly! This tunnel is quite big enough for engines who don't Rock 'n' Roll.

The Fat Controller: Listen to me. There is nothing wrong with that tunnel. You stuck in it because you tried to do Rock 'n' Roll. Tunnels are not dance floors and you are not a pop star!
Narrator: Then the Fat Controller gave his full attention to Duncan's funnel.
The Fat Controller: If it happens again, I shall find ways to cut you down to size. In other words, your career is, uh... ahem, on the line. Need I say more?

In Other Languages

View content
Language Title
Albanian Më në fund në shtëpi
Chinese Mandarin 终于到家了
Danish Endelig hjemme
Dutch Eindelijk thuis
Finnish Oma koti kullan kallis
German Endlich zu Hause
Greek Ο Ματθαίος επιστρέφει στο σταθμό
Hungarian Végre otthon
Italian Finalmente a casa
Japanese なつかしのわがや
Korean 다시 돌아온 스칼로이
Latin American Spanish Por fin en casa
Norwegian Endelig hjemme
Polish Nareszcie w domu
Romanian Acasă în sfârşit
Russian Наконец дома
Slovenian Spet doma
Swedish Äntligen hemma
Ukrainian Нарештi вдома
Welsh Gartref a'r Diwedd

Home Video Releases

UK

UK DVD Boxset

WAL

US

CAN

  • Thomas and the Special Letter and Other Stories (Direct-to-VHS)

US/CAN DVD Packs

AUS

AUS DVD Packs

NZ

  • Rock 'n' Roll and Other Stories

ZA

IND

MYS

PHL

ITA

NL

GER

NOR

DK

SWE

FIN

SVN

GRC

GRC DVD Boxset

THA

JPN

CHN

HK

TWN

Episode

Reference



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