All posts by Eurostarlover009

At last, Thomas finally pulled into Knapford, a busy interchange station with 6 platforms and 4 arched, glass canopies spanning the length of the station; it is served by trains from nearly all over the island and in some cases, the mainland of britain. It is also the head office of The Fat Controller, the man in charge of the island's Railway. The Fat Controller: (Cross) Thomas! Look at the time! Why are you so late? We need everyone on time, it’s good practice ahead of the Tennis Tournament!

Thomas: (Sadly) I'm sorry sir, I was held up at Hackenback. There was someone on the line…

Emma moves to The Fat Controller and apologizes.

Emma: I’m sorry Sir, it was my fault. I sort of… Just appeared on the track in front of Thomas. That’s not a fairytale, it’s genuinely what happened.

The Fat Controller: (Quizzically) It does sound a bit faux pas if you ask me, but I’ll take your word for it. I’ve seen many things that seem like total baloney to the naked eye come true over the years! I’ve been told you come from ‘Heartlake City’, which nobody seems to recognise, nor do I. You don’t have any family here do you?

Emma: They’re all back in Heartlake. I don’t know how I’d get to them though.

The Fat Controller: I see.

Pip and Emma the HST set then arrive with the InterCity service from the mainland.

Pip: KNAPFORD!

Emma The HST: ALL CHANGE PLEASE!

The Fat Controller notices Pip and Emma and immediately points out that there are now 2 Emma’s.

The Fat Controller: My eyes deceive me, I’m seeing double! Someone call the physio!..... Hahahaha only joking, this is our HST set, meet Pip and Emma! And Pip and Emma this is ummmmm…. Human Emma!

Emma The HST/Emma: Nice to meet you Emma!

The Fat Controller: Such a timeless meeting!

Pip’s Driver: Come on ladies, we need to get to the siding and get the coaches cleaned out!

Pip: Right away then.

Pip and Emma then depart Knapford, honking their horns and clagging away leaving a trail of black smoke from their Paxman Valenta diesel engines. The Fat Controller then tries to get back to what he was saying before the intrusion.

The Fat Controller: I think they were trying a little too hard… (Shakes his head.) So… Erm… Where were we? Oh yes, that your family are still in Heartlake.

Emma: ...Which kinda means I’m stuck here for the time being. Are there any hotels around here you know of?

The Fat Controller: I’m afraid from what I’ve heard that all of them are booked up because of the Tennis Tournament in a few weeks. People are coming from all over to watch and take part!

Emma: So… I don’t have anywhere to go?...

The Fat Controller: (Smiles) No, love, you’re quite lucky that I have a spare shed here in Knapford that has a bed in it, you can stay there if you want for free of charge!

Emma: Thank you sir!

Emma is shown to the shed and makes herself at home.

The Fat Controller: You’ll need to find a way of earning a living whilst here. I’ll be back tomorrow with some job offers.

Emma: Job offers? What kind of job offers?

The Fat Controller: Oh you’ll have to wait and see… I promise it’ll be a respectable post!

Emma: Well, erm, thanks!

The Fat Controller smiles warmly and leaves.

Emma: Now where is my Cheese sandwich? (Rummages around her pockets and finds it wrapped up.) Oooh, nice to see something came with me!

She wakes up to a hiss of steam...

Thomas: (calmly) excuse me miss... but you're blocking my way. Emma looks around all confused with the surroundings. Emma realizes she has been cured of her pain.

Emma: (confused) I was reading a book and fell asleep, I guess... uncle.

Thomas: (chuckles.) I'm not your uncle...in fact I'm not a human being… And you are on my Branchline! Can you move away to let me through please?

Emma: (confused) oh... if you're not... then who are you?

As she gets up, we can see the steam lifting around her, we also see a red buffer beam… she then turns around. What she’s seen shocks her. There in front of her was a blue tank engine with 6 small wheels, a short, stumpy funnel, a short, stumpy boiler and a short, stumpy dome...Thomas blows his whistle but then looks at Emma…Thomas: (confused with the way Emma’s looking.) What's the matter, miss, do I have soot on my face? But Before She could Say anything. Thomas's Driver Walks up to her...

Thomas's driver: (Angrily.) Come on young Lady, get off the Track, you're making our passengers late. He grabs Emma by the arm. Emma: Stop sir! You’re dragging me, and I might get injured again! (Emma yells)The driver looks at Emma and then stops trying to drag her, Thomas looks at Emma feeling sorry. Thomas: (calmly) C’mon sir, you're usually much nicer than this, she’s already as badly hurt as it seems. Thomas’s Driver: (calmly) Sorry young Lady, but you had us all scared to the point we thought we were going to run you over. By the way, where are your parents? Emma: They are back in heartlake city. it’s ok. Thomas’s Driver: Are you lying? Because that name does not exist. Emma: No I’m not, I wouldn't be saying it if I was.Before Emma could finish her sentence, Thomas’s fireman peers out of his cab...Thomas’s Fireman: sorry to interrupt the conversation you three, but we should’ve been at Maithwaite by now! It's 5 past!

Thomas’s Driver: Right away then!

Thomas: Wait, what about The young Lady? She’s too young to be on her own...The Driver looks at Emma.

Emma: ...Call me Emma. (Smiles) Thomas: Okay, Emma. Thomas's driver: I guess we will have to take you to knapford then...

Thomas's Driver and fireman pick up Emma and take her to Clarabelle. as they help her into the coach, something circular and round falls out of her pocket and lands on the ballast below unnoticed.

Afterwards the crew walked back to Thomas's cab.

Thomas smiles happily as blows his whistle and with a hiss of steam and the noise of cranking pistons turning, Thomas puffs away towards Maithwaite.

Emma (Narration): I had arrived on the Island of Sodor. A magical land where dreams come true, with a railway full of talking steam engines, headed by Sir Topham Hatt, or ‘The Fat Controller’ to the engines.

A montage is played of Emma making the most of her time at her Uncle’s, maybe some comedy of her running into things.Scene 8:

The montage segues to a day or so later. Emma decides to read some books to cheer her up, but here comes another ‘What follows she could’ve never imagined’ moment! Looking bored and tired, Emma heads over to the bookshelf, she takes a glance at each book but then sighs.

Emma (Narration): This is where things get interesting...Emma: (Bored) Ugh, I’ve already read most of these. Just as she was about to turn to the DVD shelf, she noticed at the very back of the shelf, was an old dusty box. Emma: Hmm, I wonder what this is? With one hand, She just about manages to get the box out and holds it. She sits down at desk and removes the dust with a paint brush. To her surprise, the box contained illustrations of steam engines with faces. Emma: (surprised.) The Railway Series? What’s this doing here in my room? She looks around the room wondering if this was a joke made from her cousin.

Emma: (Talking to herself.) This must be my cousin's book, but he doesn't read things like this anymore. but hey you never know, it might give me something to read.

She opens the box and pans it from left to right .Emma: Now which one should I start with? She pans from the left to right, then pulls out one from the very end and looks at the cover. Emma: Thomas and The Tennis tournament? Emma opens the book, but to her surprise there are no words on any of the pages. Emma: (Surprised.) hmm does it seem odd that there are no pages in this book? Before she could close the book, she hears a strange noise coming from inside it so she opens it again but finds nothing. Moments later, something gold and glittery comes out of the box and starts to spin around her, eventually making her dizzy and knocking her unconscious...

Emma arrives at her Uncle’s house. She gets out of her Mum’s car with a crutch and her Uncle is there to greet her.

Emma (Narration): So, I arrived at my Uncle Gary’s. It was a fairly new place to me, save for a few family get-togethers as a kid...

Gary: Hello! Long time no see isn’t it?! You look like you’ve been in the wars, eh?

Emma: Haha, I’m lucky to be here to be honest, but it’s good. Glad to see you Uncle Gary.

Her cousin Jay appears from behind Gary and awkwardly waves at her.

Emma: (Continued) Hi Jay!

June: Right sweetheart, you take care of yourself, keep in touch, yeah?

Emma: Will do Mum.

They kiss each other on the cheek and then hug warmly. June then sets back off for home in her car, and Emma makes her way into Uncle Gary’s house, pretty much a foreign land to her - she’s hardly been there in her life. Her Uncle shows her to her room.

Gary: Here you are… Your new home for the foreseeable!

Emma: I like it!

Gary: Yeah, I made sure that it was roomy enough for you, and you could make yourself feel at home.

Jay: (Shouting from the other room) I got moved to the small bedroom because of you!

Gary: Ignore him, (Whispering) He’s a bit grumpy sometimes!

Emma and her Uncle laugh. Gary’s a bit of a character!

Gary: (Continued) Just remember that I’m always here if you need me.

Jay: (Shouting from the other room.) And just remember to avoid picking fights with me!

We cut back to Emma who sees the funny side. While Emma’s at her Uncle’s she begins to miss the things she loves doing. She looks through her phone pictures at some of the art she’s produced in the city over the years.

Emma: ‘The Heart of the Ocean!’ My favourite of the lot… It’s going to be ages before I can do that again…

There’s a subtle hint of a flute playing the opening notes of the titanic theme. Emma’s friends then video-call her. They do so every evening.

Emma: “Video Call - The Team.” Alright, I’m ready.

Andrea/Stephanie/Mia/Olivia (Through the phone screen): Hi Emma!

The girls then all make silly faces, and Emma pulls a silly face back.

Emma: It feels weird that we have to do this. It’s saddening that we can’t all meet up and do our thing.

Mia: I know! It doesn’t feel the same without you, like a piece of a jigsaw’s been taken out.

Olivia: How’s life at your Uncle’s?

Emma: It’s decent actually, but it’s not the same as being at home, nothing is really!

Stephanie: Are you able to do stuff or are you napping a lot? (Under her breath.) Not in the middle of the night!

Olivia: (Quickly reacts angrily.) I heard that!

Emma: A bit of both really! (Points at her crutch.) I’m kind of restrained anyway.

Andrea: You’ll be pleased to know we’ve not had any bad reports from you know who… It’s been quiet on that front for the last few days.

Emma: Good riddance to her. There’s already a lot on everybody’s plates as it is. However, I am surprised she hasn’t been developing some evil scheme that won’t benefit anybody recently!

We then see a few more shots of the girls enjoying their video call.

(please note: this is still not final and some scenes are subject to change.) Emma (Narration): Heartlake City is a fantastic home. It’s somewhere where we can cherish things that maybe we take for granted, especially after what we experienced! Now here is our story of me, my friends and a little blue tank engine! …Yeah, we’ll get to that bit later! Folks far apart, and how they came together. It’s all very complicated indeed, and it all started at the Drifting Diner...

We begin our tale in Heartlake City’s drifting diner. Ethan and Dottie Ray are taking a weekend off but Dean is still working there. Whilst they are hanging out Emma receives a text from Ethan about inviting her over for a game night.

Emma: That cheeseboard was delicious as always. I always wonder how you guys manage to perfect it!

Dean: (Smiling) Oh, you know, only the finest ingredients, all that jazz.

Emma: (Receiving a text) Oooh, a text from my little sweetie pie! “Want to come for a game night? The boys are all fired up for monopoly! Would be great to see you there, love you loads xxx.” (Puts her phone down.) I think I’ll head over to this game night… Gotta finish this first, then I’ll head over to my other mature cheddar!

Dean knows what she means and you can see that from his reaction! Emma finishes her cheeseboard and leaves.

Emma: (Continued) Right, I best be off… Laters, Dean!

Dean: See ya, tread carefully!

Emma jumps on her motorbike and heads towards Ethan’s house for the Games Night. What follows no one could’ve envisaged… Emma rides safely on her motorbike, however, she sees a car going dangerously over the limit in the distance. It manages to brush off other traffic, but poor Emma can’t avoid a terrible fate.

Emma (Narration.): I was on my motorbike wondering what food and drink was on at the games night... (whispers.) (I was hoping it's got something with cheese.) And also what games we’d play, but I’d be playing a whole different ‘game’ a lot earlier and abruptly than expected...

Emma: Oh Fuuu….

Emma crashes. She gets involved in a car/motorbike incident at a set of traffic lights with the reckless driver. The driver doesn’t even take a glimpse at the damage he caused and drives off. The accident fractures both her right arm and left leg.We fade in and out to Emma while she’s at the hospital, in a bed on a ward with her fractured body parts in a sling.

Nurse: I’m afraid it’s bad news. We all know how much you like painting and stuff like that, but it’s no go until these fractures get better. (Beat.) Now you rest up, that’s all you need to do for now.

The Nurse goes away, and Emma lets out a tear. She really can’t bear the thought of not doing the things she loves! Her parents June and Robert then arrive to visit her.

June: Hiya sweetheart, are you alright?

Emma: Just about. I’ve been told I can’t do the things I love. It just feels… (Sobbing) Odd and weird! I don’t know how I’ll be able to cope.

Robert: (Comforting) Don’t worry, just think of it this way: Every day that passes is a day closer to your next piece of art, it’ll all be over sooner than you think. (He strokes her face, this makes Emma a little more reassured.)

June: Now, when you’re discharged, me and Dad think it’s best if you move to your Uncle Gary’s for a bit, we think it’ll be too stressful for you to stay at home.

Emma: That’s fine I suppose, means I can stop annoying you each time I eat all the Mozzarella cheese in the fridge! (Slight laugh.)

As she enters the car she looks over from the door, letting off a smile before waving at her friends, who come to see her off.

Emma: I hope I see them again soon… Worthy friends…

Sombre music plays as the car speeds off and then segues into the next musical number...