Love Me Tender

“Stop being pushy!"
"I'm no' being pushy!"
"Ye pushed me when the signal changed!"
"You pulled me, more like!"
"I didnae!"
"Did too!"
"I didnae!"
"Did too!”

― Donald and Douglas

Love Me Tender is the twelfth episode of the twentieth season.

Plot

Snow has come early to the Island of Sodor and Donald and Douglas are tasked with clearing the tracks. The twins have a coach coupled between their tenders, allowing them to clear the line in both directions. They stop at a junction to see which way they should go. Douglas suggests that they should clear the track up to Edward's Branch Line, but Donald doesn't think it's a good idea and decides that it is best to stick to the Main Line. Later, they arrive at a another junction. This time, Donald suggests that they should clear the tracks to the Search and Rescue Centre for the emergency vehicles, but Douglas thinks it is best for them to stick to the Main Line. Donald ignores his twin, creating tension between the two.

The twins clear the tracks to the Search and Rescue Centre. On their way back to the junction, they get stuck behind Toby, who is being slowed down by the snow due to Donald ignoring Douglas' earlier suggestion to clear the Main Line.

When they get to another junction, Donald asks Douglas whether he would prefer to stay on the Main Line or clear the line up to the castle. Douglas remains silent, believing that Donald will ignore him. The twins begin accusing each other of ignoring everything the other one says, so when the signal drops, they begin pulling in opposite directions. The coupling between Douglas and his tender breaks, and Donald leaves Douglas at the junction, taking the coach and Douglas' tender with him. Donald is aware that he has left Douglas behind, but not that he has taken all of his coal and water.

As Donald passes Thomas at Crovan's Gate, Thomas questions where Douglas is. Donald says he left Douglas back at the junction as he leaves the station. Thomas quietly notes to Annie and Clarabel that Donald has both his own tender and Douglas'.

Back at the junction, Toby passes Douglas, who tells Toby that he has fallen out with his twin. Toby offers Douglas' help, which Douglas politely refuses. Toby leaves with Douglas' crew. Douglas doesn't mind; his fire has not gone out, so he is able to melt the snow on him.

Donald is on the other side of the island when he meets Thomas again. Thomas tells Donald that he has both his own tender and Douglas' tender. Donald is horrified, realising this means his brother is stranded in the snow without any coal and water.

Douglas' fire has gone out, so the snow is piling up around him. Donald passes him at the junction, but does not see or hear him, so he continues to search for him. Meanwhile, Douglas' crew has joined Toby's crew for cocoa at Toby's shed. Donald arrives and asks Toby where Douglas is; Toby tells him that he is still at the junction where Donald left him. Because the snow is getting deeper, Donald rushes back to the junction with Douglas' crew to find his twin.

Donald finds Douglas in a deep snowdrift. The twins apologise to each other, but Donald has run out of water. However, he does have Douglas' tender, so Douglas allows Donald to use his water. Donald leaves his snowplough at the junction and shunts Douglas to the Steamworks, happy to be back with his twin again.

Characters

Thomas
Toby
Donald and Douglas
Douglas' Driver
Gordon (cameo)
Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
Edward (mentioned)
Sir Topham Hatt (mentioned)

Locations

Trivia

The name of the episode is a reference to the Elvis Presley song, "Love Me Tender." According to Davey Moore, the original title of the episode was "Donald and Douglas" but the producers changed it to the current title, likely because "Donald and Douglas" was also the title for the US version of the episode Break Van.

This episode marks several firsts for the series:
- The first episode where Rob Rackstraw voices Donald.
- The first CGI Series episode to feature no television series exclusive characters. This was also the first time since the tenth season episode, Wharf and Peace, to do so.
- The first episode to feature Donald and Douglas as the main characters since the seventh season episode, Bad Day at Castle Loch.
- The first episode since the seventeenth season episode, The Switch not to have Keith Wickham as part of the voice cast.
- The first episode to air in the United States of America and Canada in the same time.
Going by the Channel 5 guide listing, this is the nineteenth episode of Season 20.

Goofs

William Hope is credited in the UK credits despite none of his characters speaking in that dub.
- Also, Teresa Gallagher is credited in both credits despite none of her characters speaking.
When Donald arrives beside the shed Toby is in and asks where Douglas was, Toby's steam cannot be heard as he chuffs forward.
When Donald switches tracks to take on water, Thomas can be seen pulling Annie and Clarabel in the distance, but when Thomas pulls up beside Donald and tells him that he has Douglas' tender, the coaches have disappeared.