All at Sea

All at Sea is the eighteenth episode of the third series.

Plot

Percy and Duck enjoy working at the docks near the ocean, especially on a clear night. One summer morning, the two engines notice the horizon is packed with sails flapping against the sky. Duck then tells Percy that he wishes he could sail to faraway lands but Percy thinks it is silly since he knows engines cannot float. Harold soon arrives and tells the two engines that the boats are competing in the Regatta and that it is his job to hover around in case he is needed. Duck then asks Harold if he has ever been to the horizon, to which Harold says he has and beyond, adding that he can also land on ships (aircraft carriers).

Duck then goes on talking about the Regatta for the rest of the day, after which Percy loses patience and tells Duck that their rails can take them to all the places they could ever wish to see. Suddenly, the harbour emergency siren goes off; a man taking part in the Regatta had suffered a severe hand injury and Duck needs to take him to a hospital at the next station. Harold brings the man ashore and Duck quickly races over. Harold states that he would have taken the man himself but he needs to stay at sea in case of other emergencies. Duck soon makes his way down the line and arrives at a level crossing, where the grateful sailor is dropped off and Bertie prepares to take him to the hospital. Bertie then compliments Duck, saying that he looks splendid flying along the line and it is no wonder they call him "Great Western". After Bertie drives away, Duck finally understands what Percy meant, commenting that engines are happiest when their wheels are firmly on the rails.

Later that night, Duck and Percy stay a bit longer at the warm and calm quay and Duck notices a shooting star. Percy laughs and tells him that it is not a shooting star but Harold hovering overhead. Then, something flutters down towards Duck and his driver manages to catch it. It is a flag from the Regatta that Harold has given to Duck as a present, which Duck considers a kind gesture.

Duck still dreams about traveling to the horizon but knows that he will never be happier than he is on Sodor with his friends and understands that sometimes the best travels are those that only exist in dreams.

Characters

• Percy
• Duck
• Bertie
• Harold
• The Harbour Master (does not speak)
• The Injured Sailor (does not speak)
• Thomas (cameo)
• Bridget Hatt (cameo)
• Jem Cole (cameo)
• Harold's Pilots (cameos)
• Bus Conductor (cameo)
• The Tidmouth Stationmaster's Wife (cameo)
• Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)

Locations

• Brendam Docks
  • Brendam Canal
  • Sodor Trading Co.
  • The Regatta
• The Runby Bridge
• The Three Way Road
• Tidmouth Tunnel
• Lower Suddery
• Wellsworth Hospital (mentioned)

Trivia

• According to concept art, this was meant to be the seventeenth episode of the third series.
• The final scene of this episode was one of David Mitton's favourites in the entire series. He liked it so much that he framed a print of it and gave it to Britt Allcroft, who also said that it was one of her favourite episodes, alongside the first series episode Down the Mine.
• This episode marks the first of a few things:
  • The first episode originally written by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton which was not published as part of The Railway Series or in an annual or magazine. Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure is the only other third series episode originally written by Allcroft and Mitton.
  • The first episode to show the back of Thomas' bunker without the red lining on it.
  • The shooting star is represented by a digital video effect, the first such effect to be utilized in the series.
• This episode marks Bertie's last speaking role until the fifth series episode Lady Hatt's Birthday Party.
• Big Mickey, Izzy Gomez, S.S Vienna, Coast Guard and some of the schooner's models from Tugs can be seen. The Bigg City Port's Fire Station building, a large brown building, the steel company and a grey warehouse from Tugs are also present during the Regatta scenes.
• In the scene with Harold on the landing pad, right behind him on one of the sailboats is a cut-out of a locomotive.
• In the restored version, during the shot of Duck shortly after arriving to see Harold and helping the injured sailor, the colourful banner in the background is missing and the workman helping the injured sailor is also different.
• An unused large scale figure of the injured sailor depicted him wearing a brown harness, indicating he would have originally been lowered down from Harold.
• Due to scenes on one particular set across the third series being filmed in one go, the rolling stock at Lower Suddery is in the same position as in Percy, James and the Fruitful Day.
• When Harold drops the regatta flag, the same music and sound that was used when he dropped a parachute on Percy in Percy's Promise can be heard.
• In the Welsh dub of this episode, the writing on the flag which Harold drops on Duck is translated. The flag says "Da Iawn, Dyc", a possibly unintended Duck-centred pun on the Welsh phrase "da iawn, diolch", meaning "very well, thank you".

Goofs

• In the shots of Harold in the sky, some strings can be seen attached to him.
• When Percy loses patience with Duck, some of his lining is peeling off.
• When Duck's driver catches the Regatta flag, a strand of hair can be seen.

In Other Languages

Merchandise

Book

Duck and the Regatta (1995 Buzz Book)

Home Video Releases

Episode

English

Other Languages

References