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“I'll eat my hat if you don't like it!”
― Sir Topham Hatt to the ram

Baa! is the eighth episode of the fifth season.

Plot

One evening, Percy is tired of the smell of fish after working at the docks all day. He asks his driver to have a washdown, but there is not enough time because the Fat Controller is waiting for him at the sheds. At the sheds, the Fat Controller announces a festival of flowers, and that a sign saying "Best Dressed Station" shall be awarded to the winner, and he tells the engines to help out with the arrangements. Thomas and Toby discuss their favourite stations and Toby asked Percy what was his favourite, but Percy was too tired to think properly and said the docks by mistake. Thomas can see why when he noticed Percy's fishy smell, but Toby laughed saying that the docks is full of fish and not flowers which made Percy cross saying that Arlesdale End is favourite that way Toby would not be at Tidmouth Sheds telling Percy that he is silly and saying good night to Toby rudely as he went into his berth to get some sleep.

The next morning, Percy collects trucks loaded with vegetables and flowers. His driver explains that they will be displayed on Maithwaite's platform. On the way, Percy sees Harold, and is curious as to why he is buzzing about. Suddenly, Percy is stopped by a ram on the tracks. Percy's now worried that he will be late, but his driver has just the thing to get him off the line. His driver lures it away with some cabbage and Percy is soon on his way again. When Percy arrives at Maithwaite, the stationmaster tells them the ram has a reputation for always being hungry.

A little while later, Maithwaite is decorated with the flowers and vegetables Percy had delivered. Percy then moves into a siding and is looking forward to having a rest when he hears a commotion at the station and goes to investigate. He discovers the decorations have been ruined and Percy's driver and the passengers suspect that the mess was the ram's fault. The passengers cannot get into the waiting room because of the ram, but Percy's driver also notices three boys inside, pleading to be let out. The stationmaster and the passengers then realise that the boys were responsible for vandalising the station, and that the ram was taking them hostage in the waiting room, making sure they would do no more damage. The boys apologise for vandalising the station, and promise to put everything back the way it was before.

A few days later, the Fat Controller invites some of the engines to Maithwaite, winner of the best dressed station award. The Fat Controller then gives one more prize for the ram. He hands the ram a pumpkin, but then Harold arrives, and the wind from his blades blow the Fat Controller's hat off, only for it to be eaten by the ram. The Fat Controller laughs and says that it seems he would not be able to eat his hat even if he had to. Everyone laughs, and the only sound to come from the ram is a contented hiccup.

Characters

Locations

Trivia

  • This episode was inspired by events that happened during David Maidment's time as stationmaster of Aberbeeg (1964-1965): A ram inhabited the waiting room of the derelict station at Llanhilleth and would attack vandals who tried to enter. The Best Dressed Station Competition is based on a separate event.
  • The magazine story, Summer Fun!, suggests that the man holding the pumpkin is Farmer Collett in the television series. However, it is actually Jem Cole.
  • Duck's large scale model from Thomas and the Special Letter is used when the Fat Controller makes the announcement at the sheds.
  • This episode may have been filmed alongside Put Upon Percy. During the scene of the engines at Tidmouth Sheds, the drivers standing next to the engines are positioned the same, James' tender is tilted and Gordon, James and Henry have the same faces and are in the same berths.
  • Kirk Ronan appears in deleted scenes, which were used in the song, Percy's Seaside Trip.
  • In some international versions, Michael Angelis' impersonation of Ram ("Hiccup: Gasp") is used right at the very end of the story.

Goofs

  • Throughout this episode, Thomas has Edward's whistle sound.
  • When Thomas passes Maithwaite, Annie and Clarabel are backwards.
  • When Percy reverses into the shed, James' tender is tilted.
  • Thomas pronounces the first "F" in Ffarquhar.
  • When Percy passes the ram on his way to Maithwaite, his eyes are wonky.
  • When Percy backs up to his vegetable trucks, a train beside him has a brake van in the middle of it.
  • When James arrives at the station, he has his fourth season whistle sound.
  • Percy's driver changes appearance several times throughout the episode, as does the Maithwaite stationmaster.
  • In the close-ups of the Fat Controller giving the announcement, Duck's funnel is shorter and a different shape.
  • In close-ups of Percy's driver at the docks, a small hair can be seen stuck underneath one of Percy's cab window frames.
  • Jem Cole, the man standing next to him, and Farmer Trotter are missing their eyebrows in the final shot of all the passengers.
  • In a rare picture, Percy's face is crooked.
  • In the close-up of Toby at Maithwaite, a bit of blu-tak can be seen on the side of his face.
  • If you look closely as the ram eats the Fat Controller's hat bit by bit, you can see a bit of string holding the hat in position in some freeze frames.

Quotes

  • Thomas: My favourite station is for Ffarquhar.
  • Toby: Mine's Maithwaite. Percy, what's yours?
  • Percy: The docks.
  • Thomas: Haa! We can tell!
  • Toby: The Docks are full of fish, not flowers!
  • Percy: Alright then, Arlesdale End!
  • Toby: That's my home!
  • Percy: That's why I like it, especially when you're there and not here saying I'm silly. Good night!

___________________________________________________________________________________

  • The Fat Controller: I'll eat my hat if you don't like it.
  • (Harold arrives, blowing the Fat Controller's hat off. The ram eats it up)
  • The Fat Controller: Well, seems I wouldn't be able to eat my hat, even if I had to.

Merchandise

In Other Languages

Language Name Meaning
Spanish ¡Beee! Baa!
German Määh! Maah!
Japanese パーシーとひつじ Percy and the Sheep
Italian L'ariete The Ram
Norwegian Den Store Konkurransen The Big Competition
Hungarian A Kos The Ram
Slovenian Oven Ram
Russian Беееаа Baa
Romanian Baa! Baa!
Chinese 咩! Baa!
Korean 예쁜 역 선발 대회 Pretty Station Contest
Swedish Bää! Baa!
Slovak Béé Baa
Polish Baran Aries
Dutch Bèèè! Baa!
Danish Mæh Maah
Greek Μπαα! Baa!
Thai หมวกของผู้ควบคุมอ้วนถูกแกะกิน Sir Topham Hatt's Sheep Were Eaten
French Bêêê! Baa!

Home Media Releases

UK

DVD Packs

US

DVD Packs

JPN

AUS

DVD Packs

NZ

  • Happy Ever After (VHS)

NOR

SWE

GER

GR

DK

ITA

KOR

  • I Keep My Promise

THA

MYS

Episode


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