| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the Indonesian DVD, the 2011 or 2013 magazine story. |
- “I mustn't be late for story time! I'll chuff and I'll puff to be there on time!”
- ― Thomas
Time for a Story is the ninth episode of the thirteenth series.
Plot
The school children's story time is later in the afternoon, for which new books have been brought in and the Fat Controller tells Thomas to collect them from Maithwaite. He collects the books, but is so excited about the children's story time that he leaves too soon and does not wait for the stationmaster to cover the books to keep them inside the trucks.
On his way to the library, Thomas sees a red signal ahead and goes down the branch line before he reaches the signal so as to not be late. However, he does not notice how the books are jiggling about. Soon enough, Thomas soon pays the price for his impatience when he ignores warning signs about track repairs and hits the bumpy track, causing his trucks to derail, crash into Farmer McColl's Field and spill the books all over the field.
Thomas feels bad for being impatient, but he has an idea. Seeing how bright the colourful books are in the field, Thomas decides that instead of bringing the books to the children, he will bring the children to the books. So, he collects Annie and Clarabel and then collects the schoolchildren and their teacher. Once back at Farmer McColl's Field, Thomas listens to the teacher telling a story about a boy who learned patience.
Characters
- Thomas
- Victor
- Kevin
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Teacher
- The Dark Uniformed Children
- The Maithwaite Stationmaster
- Annie and Clarabel (do not speak)
- Edward (cameo)
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- Toby (cameo)
- Emily (cameo)
- Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants (cameos)
- The Blond-haired Boy (cameo)
- The Welsh Birdwatcher (cameo)
- Farmer McColl (mentioned)
Locations
- The Poppy Field
- Knapford Yards
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Maithwaite
- McColl Farm
- Tidmouth Town Square
- Sodor Steamworks
- Great Waterton (poster)
- The Library (mentioned)
Cast
UK, AUS and NZ
- Ben Small as Thomas
- Matt Wilkinson as Victor, Kevin and the Maithwaite Stationmaster
- Keith Wickham as the Fat Controller
- Teresa Gallagher as the Teacher and the Children
US and CAN
- Martin Sherman as Thomas and one of the Children
- David Bedella as Victor
- Kerry Shale as Kevin, Sir Topham Hatt and the Maithwaite Stationmaster
- Jules de Jongh as the Teacher and the Children
Trivia
- This episode was shown in select US theatres in October 2010.
- In the US dub, one child was voiced by Martin Sherman. The sound of him saying "Hello, Thomas!" was later used in the fourteenth series episode, Pop Goes Thomas.
- This is the only episode of the thirteenth series in which James does not appear.
- In Poland, this episode premiered before Hero of the Rails, so the audience would not know about Victor, Kevin or the Sodor Steamworks.
- The Wooden Railway Percy and the Storybook Car includes Percy, despite him not being in the episode.
- This episode marks the dark uniform children's first speaking roles since the third series episode, Thomas Gets Bumped.
Goofs
- In the first shot of Gordon pulling the express, the brake coach is facing backwards.
- In the second shot of Thomas on the turntable, the turntable's tracks are missing.
- In some shots, the tracks are completely smooth, yet Thomas and the trucks still bounce.
- After the accident, Thomas says that the trucks are broken, but the trucks are still intact.
- When Thomas is leaving the Steamworks, his wheels are moving slower than he is.
- When Thomas puffs down the branch line, the switch is set against him.
- When Thomas puffs by the work zone sign on the side of the tracks, the truck that is behind him starts to clip through the back of him when he gets closer to the screen.
Merchandise
- Take-n-Play - Storybook Car (discontinued)
- Wooden Railway - Percy and the Storybook Car (discontinued)
- Bachmann - Teacher with School Children Figure Pack
- Books - Thomas and the Shortcut
- Magazine Stories - Time For a Story/Time For a Story
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
UK/IRLDVD BoxsetsUS/CAN
DVD PacksAUS
AUS DVD Packs
ARA/MYS/POL/SWE/DK/NOR/FIN
FRA
CHNIDNTHAJPNGERDVD BoxsetsITAKOR |
| #01 Creaky Cranky | #08 Thomas and the Pigs | #15 Splish Splash Splosh |
| #02 The Lion of Sodor | #09 Time for a Story | #16 The Biggest Present of All |
| #03 Tickled Pink | #10 Percy's Parcel | #17 Snow Tracks |
| #04 Double Trouble | #11 Toby's New Whistle | #18 Henry's Good Deeds |
| #05 Slippy Sodor | #12 A Blooming Mess | #19 Buzzy Bees |
| #06 The Early Bird | #13 Thomas and the Runaway Kite | #20 Hiro Helps Out |
| #07 Play Time | #14 Steamy Sodor | |