Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2019 film)/Transcript/1

'''INT. ISLAND OF SODOR - DARK TUNNEL'''

We experience a moment's darkness and silence on the big wide screen in front of us — the screen that is about to come to life to tell us our story.

Then — here, there, the darkness is illuminated by flickering rails of light and we hear closer, closer, a rhythmic rumble — train wheels — louder, louder.

We are curious, excited, filled with anticipation — soon we hear a wonderful, swishing sound of a whistle — it's all around us, and we see images one upon the other — a splash of blue, a dash of grey, a little bit of yellow and then of red — they sweep across the darkness and across the reflections of light and are gone through the tunnel — and away in a whoosh of steam. . ..

It's as if we have seen pieces of a jigsaw puzzle but we cannot identify the complete picture until...

'''EXT. ISLAND OF SODOR - COUNTRYSIDE/RAIL LINES - DAY'''

We are outside the tunnel and, as the steam dissipates, there is the back view of a little blue train engine with six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler and a short stumpy dome, speeding along on his journey in a cloud of steam. This is our first full glimpse of THOMAS — at home on the Island of Sodor.

'''EXT. SODOR - AERIAL VIEW'''

He disappears around a corner and we go up into the blue sky — as bright as the blue of the little engine that we come down searching for again, amidst the glorious landscape laid out beneath us, and we hear a voice — it's the warm voice of our Storyteller who, as the story ends, we will learn is LILY, grown up.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

I believe that most folks understand that on a train journey, great adventure may be waiting right around the corner.

Now we have found Thomas — but he is still ahead of us, so we cannot yet see the special magic of this cheeky little engine — the wonderfully expressive face that he and his friends possess where other engines merely carry smoke boxes.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.) (cont'd)

... and that long after the sound of a train whistle has vanished, its romance will remain in every human heart — whatever the age, whatever the time.

Now we are ahead of Thomas — we can see big billowing steam heralding his approach — he is just about to come around the corner.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.) (cont'd) Most folks are happy to know this sadly, a few are not — which is a shame because that's all it takes to cause a lot of trouble to some of the most precious things in life.

'''EXT. SODOR - ISLAND LANDSCAPE - DAY'''

As our storyteller says these last words, we suddenly see Thomas' smiling face, and we see too a golden sparkle, and from it emerges the magical figure of Mr. Conductor standing just inside Thomas' cab as he pulls the whistle cord. Thomas gives a big cheerful whistle and his happy eyes turn towards us as he flashes by and a huge whoosh of steam and a burst of golden sparkles hides him from view. Over the steam and sparkles we reveal:

OPENING TITLES - MUSICAL OVERTURE

"THOMAS AND THE MAGIC RAILROAD"

As we come close to the close of our opening titles we hear our storyteller.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

This a story about trains; folks who were far apart; and a railroad that brought them together as they were meant to be.

'''EXT. SODOR - AERIAL VIEW - DAY'''

A SHIFT IN TIME

SONG: "ISLAND SONG / THOMAS THEME"

We see shimmering filtered sunlight on a leaf, and then the whole vista of this idyllic setting is laid out before us as we rediscover Thomas puffing through his Island home. As we learn from the montage that follows, it is a landscape of meadows and mountains, friendly little villages and valleys — all made more picturesgue by a brightly-coloured assortment of puffing trains — GORDON, pulling passenger coaches; HENRY, pulling a long goods train; TOBY with his coach HENRIETTA; James with flatbeds, PERCY with a main train, BERTIE the bus along with THOMAS and his coaches ANNIE and CLARABEL. Beyond everyone's idea of a Technicolor holiday heaven, this Island has a special secret — it is the land of talking trains. Our introduction to Thomas, his friends, and the Island of Sodor is accompanied by the voice of our Storyteller.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

Every story like a railroad — has its heroes... Meet Thomas — he's our number one hero. And this is where he and his friends live — the Island of Sodor.

There's no place like it and if you have the imagination that I think you do, you're about to find out why.

'''CUT TO: EXT./INT. SODOR - KNAPFORD MAIN STATION - DAY'''

CLOSE-UP: GORDON - AT THE BIG STATION AND A BIG BOOMING VOICE

being busy with the workings of the railway, unless dramatic content dictates otherwise.

GORDON is a blue engine like Thomas but much bigger, and very pompous. The relationship between Thomas and Gordon, as between all the engines, has its share of teasing and bickering, but fundamentally this is a world of friendly innocence, where no engine would wish another real harm.

Right now Gordon is looking very bored.

GORDON

3, 4, 5, 6....

A loud whistle interrupts him. Then we see Thomas puffing up alongside him with a big smile on his smoke box.

THOMAS

... 7, 8 -- practising your numbers, Gordon? That's a good engine.

Gordon sighs.

GORDON

I'm counting how many seconds late you are.

Gordon eyes a large poster above him. It features the Hitchcockian image of Sir Topham Hatt, whose trademark is his daily attire of an English top hat. Sir Topham has his finger pointing out and it reads "Sir Topham needs you." (This pointer with a variety of expressions on Sir Topham's face will be seen in various locations throughout the story.)

GORDON (cont'd)

What does that sign say?

THOMAS (reading it)

"Sodor Railway — really reliable and right on time —".

GORDON

And you weren't little Thomas.

THOMAS

And you're being bossy Gordon. This sign also says — "Sorry for delays during repairs.

THOMAS (cont'd)

We are making this a better railway — signed -- Head of the Railway — Sir Topham Hatt".

THOMAS (cont'd)

Now, please excuse me, -- I'm meeting Mr. Conductor. He's taking care of us whilst Sir Topham Hatt takes a very important short holiday.

GORDON

(giving a big whoosh of steam)

I think we can take care of ourselves.

At that moment, there is a huge ugly screech and the menacing newcomer DIESEL 10 snarls past. He has a very unfriendly look on his face. The first of our two villains is making his opening presence well and truly felt.

DIESEL 10

Get out of my way, you blue puffballs! You'll never make this a better railway — I will — it'll be better for me!

Gordon is so shocked by Diesel 10's appearance that he starts forward, only to find that he has left his coaches behind.

GORDON

What was that?

He is going back to fetch his coaches.

THOMAS

That is a problem. I call him Diesel 10 — 10 out of 10 for devious deeds and brutal strength. Sir Topham Hatt sent him to help us steam engines, but Diesel is behaving as if he hates steam engines. I think he's really scary.

GORDON

Pah, really useful engines like us have to be brave... (then, sheepishly) ...but maybe we do need Mr. Conductor here after all.

The two engines steam away, and over this and the next scenes we hear our Storyteller.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

Mr. Conductor - he's the man with all the sparkle and he knows Thomas well. The Island of Sodor is at one end of Mr. Conductor's Universe.

'''PAN ACROSS THE SKY AND TILT DOWN TO: EXT. MUFFLE MOUNTAIN/INDIAN VALLEY - AERIAL VIEW - DAY'''

Now we are being introduced for the first time to another enticing, delightful-looking landscape. It is similar in many ways to Sodor, but while the Island of Sodor is a toy-world come-to-life -- the one we are now discovering is reality touched by fantasy. It is idyllic yet accessible (if you can just find the way) and it is magical, as we shall soon discover. We are introduced to it by way of a rocky cove with lapping water and pebbles making way for grassland. Now we are casting our eyes over the mountain (Muffle Mountain) where on one side, near the foot of it, we see a small house. We see the man who we will come to know as Lily's GRANDPA BURNETT STONE, moving outside it. He is in his garden, fixing the fencing around it. It's hard work, and he wipes his brow with his elbow — as he does so he reveals his face — good-looking but touched with sadness.

Then we move up the mountain, and over to the other side where we see a wonderful valley with a little town and a railroad station, marked by a bouquet in full blossom right beside it. This is Shining Time in the Indian Valley.

As our eyes take in this scenery, our Storyteller explains it.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

At the other end, far away across a wide ocean, along peaceful pasturelands, and then up and over Muffle Mountain, is Shining Time a contented railroading town hidden deep in a valley.

You'll know that you've arrived as soon as you see the Bouquet tree.

It's beautiful, with blooms that last from spring until the winter winds blow.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME - DAY'''

The sunny Indian Valley and its little towns, like Shining Time, could, in some ways, have come straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. As we approach the crossroads close to the town's "Welcome" sign, we can see families greeting each other, windows being cleaned, a kid on a bicycle selling 'The Shining Times' newspaper, an ice cream truck, a juggler, a kid's baseball game and cars slowing down to let each other take right of way. Mr. C. sparkles onto a hanging basket to give the flowers some plant food. The Indian Valley is not frozen in the 1950's, but it has determinedly hung on to some of its pastimes. As our Storyteller explains...

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

There is kindness and courtesy here — it's a town of goodwill in a valley where you can take a breath of fresh air and feel free... and it's also the place where Mr. Conductor lives.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME STATION - DAY'''

Now we are moving towards the station as the Rainbow Sun, pride-of-the-line steam engine, pulls away from the platform. There are, as far as we know for now, no talking trains in this valley. Instead, there are big "Iron Horses" like the Rainbow Sun.

A kid is running around the station and leading us to the front of it.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME STATION - PLATFORM - DAY'''

The screen is momentarily filled with smoke (from the Rainbow Sun).

A woman waves from the platform to her friend on the train, she turns to leave without looking where she is going. Mr. * Conductor-realizes the woman is going to bump into the basket * and lifts himself and the basket up out of her way. The woman is unaware that she's just been saved a big headache.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

Mr. Conductor likes to lend a helping hand. A lot of little jobs get done just because of him. But he's a private kind of fellow and some folks never see him to say "Thank you". Mr. C. tips his hat as the woman leaves.

'''CUT TO: EXT. BIG CITY - STREETS/LILY'S APT. - DAY'''

It is a dark, grey day. In the sky we're following what seems to be sparkling railway tracks. Then we tilt down and realize they're actually reflections from the stream of street lights.

It's an extraordinary effect, but no one notices except us, and a girl in green hurrying through the grey and grime of the noisy street and then climbing up a fire escape. Her name is LILY. She is 11 years old and definitely a contemporary kid of the new millennium.

Over this we hear our Storyteller.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

But Lily would see him. She lives in a big city a few hours trainride from Shining Time, and notices amazing things that no one else has time to.

Then we hear a woman's voice calling out. The woman sounds kind, but stressed. She is Lily's MOTHER.

LILY'S MOTHER (O.S.)

Come on in, Lily — your Dad wants to say hello.

Lily is holding a harmonica — she lets it dance in her hands on the railing — watching it shine above the lights from the cars below.

LILY'S MOTHER (O.S.) (cont'd)

Lily — come on.

Lily reluctantly puts her harmonica in her pocket. She's wearing splashed-paint dungarees and a green T-shirt — this kid has her own style.

'''INT. LILY'S APARTMENT - DAY'''

The room is cramped, and her mother is pregnant and packing.

LILY

(on phone)

Hi Dad, ~ when are you coming home?... Oh, okay. I hope the job goes well.

(disappointed)

Yeah and I love you too.

Lily starts packing her knapsack and grabbing her food at the same time.

LILY (cont'd)

(frustrated)

Why did Dad have to go away?

LILY'S MOTHER

(exasperated)

To get work.

Lily is feeling rebellious about packing and is making a hash of it.

LILY

Why do I have to go and stay with Grandpa Burnett?

LILY'S MOTHER

Because I don't want you here alone while I'm having the baby — it'll only be for a few days.

LILY

Grandpa's so sad since Grandma died, and he never comes here to see us.

LILY'S MOTHER

Maybe your visit will cheer him up. Have you got his present?

Lily rummages around and shows her mother a bunch of threads and beads.

LILY

-Yes — I'm making him a friendship bracelet. but I'd rather stay here with you.

Her mother gives Lily a hug. Lily suddenly looks at the table and picks up her toy bluebird. She carefully puts it in her knapsack.

LILY (cont'd) Oh — I can't forget you, Bluebird. I know how much you like to travel.

'''EXT./INT. LILY'S APT. - DAY'''

We pull away from the fire escape outside Lily's apartment as we hear our storyteller.

STORYTELLER [LILY, ADULT] (V.O.)

So now you've met Lily, Mr. Conductor and Thomas. But we'll find out from our story whether they meet each other.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME - TOWN LIMITS - DAY'''

A colourful sketch drawn in beautiful colours — slightly faded and worn — we can see the words "Shining Time", "Indian Valley" and "Muffle Mountain" written across it.

SONG - "THE WHISTLING SONG"

Then we see a little pair of ears. For a moment we think it is part of the mural, and then we pull back to reveal the back of a rather scruffy but adorable dog's head. It moves! The dog is a middle-size mongrel, slightly shaggy and shabby with big soulful eyes and a very friendly tail.

This is MUTT, and he is important to this story. Now we see that Mutt is sitting at the top of a ladder with his front paws resting on the bottom of the map — keeping it in place.

The lettering on the map is being replicated on the town sign, which reads "Shining Time - town population 5006, give or take".

PATCH — a 12/13-year-old boy who will help bring this story to a happy ending — is our whistling painter standing on another ladder. He has a pencil stuck behind his ear; he finishes with a flourish.

PATCH

There, Mutt — paint touch - job's done. I reckon Shining Time has the best welcome sign of any town in our valley.

Mutt barks his approval.

PATCH (cont'd)

I'm glad you agree. Billy's old map that he lent me, helped a lot.

Mutt continues to bark and would clearly love to leave his post.

PATCH (cont'd)

Oh, he's on his way back, is he? You hear that train whistle sooner than it hears itself.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME VALLEY - DAY'''

Then we hear the train too, and see the magnificent Rainbow Sun speeding and steaming through the morning light. Unlike the engines on the Island of Sodor, this iron horse doesn't have a face, nor is it painted in primary colours — its splendour is steely grey. Its driver is clearly enjoying the ride and the countryside.

BILLY TWOFEATHERS stands straight and tall at the throttle. Billy is a Native American in his late fifties, whose family have lived in this valley for generations.

Billy is an honest, hardworking man of direct and carefully chosen words and an instinctive understanding of all things spiritual and beyond sight.

'''EXT./INT. SH. TIME VALLEY/RAINBOW SUN - CAB (TRAV.) - DAY'''

As the Rainbow Sun approaches Shining Time, two kids on bikes stop and wave as the train goes by. We follow Billy's pointof-view and suddenly notice in the far distance, a light flashing through the trees on the hillside.

Next we see a man on a motorcycle emerge through the trees and ride destructively straight across the hillside.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME VALLEY - RAILWAY TRACKS - DAY'''

He is clearly out of place in this sunny and caring town.

His name is P.T. BOOMER. He's around 55-60 years of age and a drifter by choice not circumstances. Boomer is an opportunist, who has drifted from situation to situation, making money wherever he can - usually out of others misfortunes. He is an emotionally muddy character who is obsessed with cleanliness and order.

Now he is out of opportunities, except one - to return to Shining Time with only himself, his motor cycle, a life long grudge, and a thirst for revenge, when he frist hits town, destruction - physical and verbal - is an easy carefree pastime. He is our second villain, and perhaps has a visual characteristic that he shares with Diesel 10. He comes over the hill on the road and cuts across the track at the grade crossing, causing Billy to hit the brakes and blow the whistle - frightening a nearby flock of birds into the air.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME - TOWN LIMITS - DAY'''

The Rainbow Sun steams to a stop outside the station. Billy steps from his cab and crosses the meadow to Patch, who is giving Mutt a drink of water from the drinking bowl that he carries with him wherever he rides. Billy greets Mutt who gives the map back to him.

BILLY

(distracted and looking back)

Fine work, Patch.

PATCH

Is something the matter with the Rainbow Sun Mr. Twofeathers - I heard you braking?

BILLY

Everything's okay Patch

PATCH

Mr. Twofeathers...I've been looking at your map... what are those mysterious shadowy lines on it? They look like straight railroad tracks, but I can't see any other tracks around here but the ones you travel on.

BILLY

(putting the map away) Oh it's mysteries that make this * place —

PATCH

— magical?

Billy gestures "guess so", and Patch untethers his horse, realizing that there is nothing more to be said.

PATCH (cont'd)

I'd better be off to Muffle Mountain. I promised Mr. Stone I'd clean out his yard today.

BILLY

(wistfully)

Does Burnett Stone ever give you a smile?

Patch is getting on his horse.

PATCH

No -- but he doesn't frighten my horse either. So I don't think he's a bad man, I think he's just sad.

Billy nods in agreement.

(beat)

BILLY

(thoughtfully)

This Iron Horse of mine serves me proud, but you two can cover every nook and cranny. If you see a stranger when you're out riding let me know, would you, Patch? His name is Boomer.

PATCH

Oh -- sure I will.

And Patch rides away.

Mutt is eager to get back to the station, but he and Billy have an unwelcome encounter first.

'''EXT. SHINING TIME STATION - PLATFORM - DAY'''

The platform seems eerily empty as Billy is walking along it. He has his map which he is going to put in it's slot on the wall. A train goes by and he acknowledges the driver. Mutt starts to growl.

BOOMER

(unseen)

You're Billy Twofeathers... do you know who I am?

And suddenly - where there was a blank wall, now Boomer is leaning against it. - polishing his goggles with a leaf from the bouquet tree.

BILLY

(matter-of-factly)

You're P.T. Boomer and you left this valley a long time ago when I first became a railroader.

BOOMER

So now I'm back... for two reasons — He points across towards Muffle Mountain.

BOOMER (cont'd)

You see that mountain over there — I'm going to own it. It's going to be mine, all mine.

BILLY

(shocked but steady)

That mountain's not for sale — it belongs to Mother Earth. You'll never own it.

Boomer defiantly turns his back on the mountain.

BOOMER

You're wrong. Second reason, I'm back -- to find Burnett Stone.

Where is he?

Billy is putting the map back in its slot on the wall of the station.

BILLY

Wherever he wants to be...

BOOMER

Playing innocent like everyone else in this town won't work — I'll find him.

BILLY

Yes, there is innocence here — don't mess with it.

Then he looks across the meadow and up to the mountain where the flowers are gleaming in the sunlight.

Boomer turns heel and as he does so, takes a swing at the hanging basket, where Mr. Conductor appeared moments ago.

Then he strides away.

Billy picks up the flowers that have dropped to the ground.

BILLY (cont'd)

(to himself)

Innocence is here because this valley is built on land that's special, and it is touched by gold dust too.

That combination equals harmony, but you can't understand that even when it's staring you in the face.

Mutt runs ahead of Billy and we go with them into the station to discover...

'''INT. SHINING TIME STATION - DAY'''

Shining Time Station on an ordinary, cheerful day. Passengers coming and going.

STACY JONES, the Station Master, is sorting through some old Lost and Found boxes when the telephone rings. Stacy is everyone's idea of a favourite aunt.

She has a sense of fun that appeals to kids who respond to her caring ways, which she manages to combine with a savvy sense of responsibility towards her job. Like Billy, she is part of Mr. C's inner circle of friends and very protective of his presence.

The interior of the station helps communicate the warm atmosphere — there are stained-glass windows and jewelcoloured light reflections.

STACY

(putting on her hat as she answers the phone)

Shining Time Station — Manager Stacy Jones speaking... Yes, the 10:15 from Pelican Falls to Shining Time is right on time.

Billy is entering the station as Stacy picks out a child's drawing. It's of a little boy climbing up a hillside with a railway track and a set of buffers below and behind him.

STACY (cont'd)

Billy - have you got a moment?

Billy puts down his tool bag and joins Stacy as a little child runs in and puts a bowl with one goldfish in it on the ticket booth.

STACY (cont'd)

I found this child's drawing in an old locker in the lost and found. Look at the signature Billy - it's by Burnett Stone. Is this him as a little boy?

Mutt, has leapt onto a bench near the ticket booth and seems to prick up his ears with interest.

BILLY

Most likely...

STACY

I can't believe that grumpy Burnett could ever have looked this happy.

BILLY

Oh Burnett had a wonderful smile, and he loved railroading

(pause)

although something always seemed to trouble him.

(mood change)

Here, Stacy — these flowers got knocked out of their basket. Maybe some water will help them live longer.

STACY

Why did they get broken?

BILLY

Because a man called Boomer's back in town who doesn't believe in magic. Stacy looks concerned as Billy collects his toolbag.

Our attention is drawn to the magnificent station wall-mural above the bench, which Mutt has now made his next sitting place.

CLOSE ON MURAL

We see the painting of a tunnel with tracks disappearing into the darkness — to the right of this is the little red door of a signal house.

In front of the door appears a sparkle golden bright. As it appears, Billy looks up and whispers.

BILLY (cont'd)

Hullo, Mr. Conductor.

Out of the sparkle appears a dashing forty-ish man wearing a smart blue conductor's uniform complete with peaked hat and brass badge. He just happens to be 18 inches tall and lives in a painting on the wall.

MR. C.

Hullo, Billy.

Like anyone leaving their home, Mr. C. does ordinary things — albeit in an extraordinary situation. He makes sure that his door is locked, looks through the window, taps his pockets to be certain that he has everything, including his toolkit for emergency repairs.