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- “Poor old engine! It's no good, Stuart. You can't win!”
- ― Duke teasing Stuart
You Can't Win is the fourth episode of the fourth series. It is based on the story of the same name from The Railway Series book, Duke the Lost Engine.
Plot
Duke is the hero of Sodor. Long ago, when Peter Sam and Sir Handel were respectively known as "Stuart" and "Falcon," holiday makers would visit his old line every year. They would not only visit the lakes and the mountains, but they would mainly see Duke himself. With knowledge of all the best picnic spots, he would take the visitors wherever they wanted to go and would cheerfully whistle a reminder to be back in time to be collected so they did not miss their boat to the mainland. Duke never wished to disappoint the holiday makers and so would pull his train even if he was unwell.
One day, Duke was feeling short of steam, so he rested whilst his crew cleaned his tubes. Stuart arrived and teased Duke, telling him that they would have to keep an eye on him in case of a breakdown. Duke stormed off in a huff, but soon felt better as he made his evening run. As he began to climb the hill, however, he suddenly felt short of steam again as his valves began leaking. Duke realised the journey would not be as easy as he initially thought, but struggled on until he reached the next station, where his driver checked him over whilst the anxious passengers waited for news. The guard informed them that Stuart and Falcon would help Duke reach the harbour in time. The two engines coupled onto the train - Falcon in front of Duke and Stuart at the back behind the brake van - and they set off.
Falcon took the boat train on his own at the next station, whilst Stuart was coupled in front of Duke. Stuart was excited about rescuing a broken-down Duke and teased him as he set off. But unbeknownst to Stuart, Duke's valves sounded worse than they actually were and he still had plenty of steam. He and his driver decided to play a trick on Stuart, and when they reached the next hill, Duke suddenly put all of his effort into pulling the train, making a loud and echoing racket as he did so and catching Stuart by surprise.
The two engines soon reached the last station and the passengers cheered loudly. A boy waiting at the platform asked his father why there were two engines pulling the train. Misunderstanding the situation, the man assumed that Stuart was the broken-down engine and Duke had to help him, not the other way around. Stuart, realizing he had been tricked, angrily disappeared in a cloud of steam while Duke enjoyed his victory, telling him "You can't win!"
Characters
- Duke
- Falcon
- Stuart
- The Boy with His Father
- Narrow Gauge Coaches (do not speak)
- Thomas (cameo)
- Bertie (cameo)
- Refreshment Lady (cameo)
- One Little Boy (cameo)
- One member of the Railway Society (cameo)
- The Tidmouth Stationmaster's Wife (cameo)
- The Injured Sailor (cameo)
Locations
- Island of Sodor
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Trivia
- Behind the scenes footage of the episode was filmed in 1994 as part of a segment for WIN Television's 60 Minutes titled The Making of Thomas the Tank Engine.
- This is the last episode of a few things:
- Duke's last individual speaking role, outside of group lines in the following fourth series episodes Special Funnel and Steam Roller. It also marks the last time Masaharu Sato is part of the voice cast in Japan.
- Duke's final episode with a leading role.
- Peter Sam and Sir Handel's last appearances under their names "Stuart" and "Falcon." These names would be mentioned in passing one more time in the next episode.
- The last time that he is referred to by name.
- This is the only episode based on a story from Duke the Lost Engine not told by Thomas to the other standard gauge engines. However, like the other three episodes, it is presented as a flashback.
- This is the only appearances of Peter Sam's snarling/seething face and Duke's sad face.
- This episode marks the first of a few things:
- The first appearance of Falcon/Sir Handel's main whistle sound.
- The first episode without the standard gauge engines' appearances or speaking role, although Thomas is seen in a deleted scene of this episode in the song Little Engines.
- The first episode to feature only one standard gauge engine.
- In a rare Japanese still, Duke is seen coupled in front of Stuart instead of behind him.
- This is the fourth in a series of consecutive episodes (which started with Granpuff) where the title is mentioned in the episode when Duke says, "It's no good, Stuart. You can't win!"
Goofs
- The official YouTube description incorrectly states that the episode's about Duncan learning about not winning while on Misty Island.
- For most of the episode, Stuart has Rheneas/Stepney's original whistle, as Falcon and Stuart swapped their whistle at Rheneas Station.
- When Stuart is coupling up to the brake van, his nameplate is a bit crooked.
- Duke is wearing Falcon's cross face at Rheneas station.
- The narrator says that Stuart took Falcon's train with Duke coupled behind, but Duke was still coupled up to his own train. It was also said that he was coupled behind when he was actually coupled in front to double head with Stuart.
- The blue coaches Duke is seen pulling do not appear with faces throughout the episode. However, in a deleted scene of Stuart and Duke about to enter Crovan's Gate, the front coach is seen with a face.
Quotes
- Stuart: Hello, Granpuff! Are you short of puff?
- Duke: Nothing of the sort. This is routine maintenance.
- Stuart: Tell you what, you're getting old. We must take care of you in case you breakdown.
- Duke: Huh! That'll be the day.
- Duke: [about his journey] It's not so easy, it's not so easy! But I'll manage.
- Guard: Duke is going to take you to the harbour, but he might be late, so two engines are coming to help. You'll still catch your boat.
- [Stuart and Falcon arrive to the rescue, Falcon couples up front and Stuart is coupled behind]
- Falcon: Poor old Granpuff. What a shame you broken down.
- Stuart: Peep, Peep, Peep! This is the day!
- Falcon: Are you ready?
- Stuart: Yes I am!
- [after Stuart and Duke have reached the station]
- Boy: What happened? They don't usually need two engines.
- Father: Well, Stuart broke down. Duke had to help him. It sounds as if he had a hard job, too.
- Stuart: [covers himself in steam] FIDDLESTICKS!!
- Duke: Poor old engine! It's no good, Stuart. You can't win.
In Other Languages
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Merchandise
- Buzz Book - You Can't Win
- Magazine story - Grand Old Duke
Home Video Releases
UK
UK DVD BoxsetWALUS
CAN
AUS
AUS DVD Packs
NZ
ZAINDMYSPHLITANLGERNORDKSWEFINSVNGRC
GRC DVD BoxsetTHAJPN
KOR
CHNHKTWN |
Episode
Reference
| #01 Granpuff | #10 Rock 'n' Roll | #19 Henry and the Elephant |
| #02 Sleeping Beauty | #11 Special Funnel | #20 Toad Stands By |
| #03 Bulldog | #12 Steam Roller | #21 Bulls Eyes |
| #04 You Can't Win | #13 Passengers and Polish | #22 Thomas and the Special Letter |
| #05 Four Little Engines | #14 Gallant Old Engine | #23 Paint Pots and Queens |
| #06 A Bad Day for Sir Handel | #15 Rusty to the Rescue | #24 Fish |
| #07 Peter Sam and the Refreshment Lady | #16 Thomas and Stepney | #25 Special Attraction |
| #08 Trucks | #17 Train Stops Play | #26 Mind that Bike |
| #09 Home at Last | #18 Bowled Out | |