- “No help at all? Well, you're no fun at all, Timothy!”
- ― Ben
No Help At All is the twenty-fourth episode of the nineteenth season.
Plot
Timothy sometimes finds it difficult working with Bill and Ben at the China Clay Pits due to their mischievous ways. After they play a trick on Marion, Timothy begins to think that the twins are no help at all. Ben crossly says that Timothy is no fun at all, and they puff away. However, Timothy takes no notice.
Later, the twins pass through Knapford and overhear the Fat Controller talking to Thomas about Porter, who is working on his own and needs help at the docks as Emily is being repaired at the steamworks, Mavis is being repaired at the dieselworks and Salty is helping out on the Mainland. Bill and Ben cheekily tell him that Timothy could help out since he is no help at all at the Clay Pits. Thomas knows they are only teasing, but the Fat Controller thinks their idea is a good one.
Porter and Cranky are busy working to sort out the mess at the docks when Timothy arrives. They are very glad to see him, and Timothy is glad to be away from Bill and Ben. Together, the dockside team work to sort out the trucks. Later in the afternoon, the Fat Controller arrives to see how Timothy is getting on. Cranky and Porter both think he is a very useful engine. However, Timothy is surprised when the Fat Controller tells him that it was Bill and Ben's idea to send him to the docks.
Meanwhile, back at the Clay Pits, Bill and Ben are too busy bickering to work properly, and Marion is struggling to do all the work on her own. She crossly tells them that they should be helping, but they take no notice.
The twins head to the docks and ask Timothy if he can come back yet. However, Timothy declines, since Porter would be on his own again if he left. Porter suggests that they try working together instead of relying on Timothy, but Bill and Ben take no notice and crossly head back to the Clay Pits. A few days later, Salty returns from the mainland, which means Timothy can go back to the Clay Pits. However, he begins to worry about what he will find when he gets there.
Bill and Ben decide that if Timothy will not work with them, they will not work at all. The Fat Controller arrives and demands to know what has happened to the Clay Pits. They tell him about Timothy not coming back from the docks, but he reminds the twins that it was their idea to send him there in the first place. Immediately, Bill and Ben blame each other and begin to argue, but Sir Topham Hatt stops them, angrily saying it is time they started pulling their weight.
Just as it looks like the work will never get done, Timothy arrives with Salty and Porter behind him to help Bill and Ben clean up the mess. The twins are very grateful, and Timothy reminds them that that is what friends are for. Marion however is in a siding alone and she is calling for anyone, but there is nobody around.
Characters
- Thomas
- Bill and Ben
- Porter
- Timothy
- Salty
- Marion
- Cranky
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Henry (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- The Bird Watcher (cameo)
- Emily (mentioned)
- Mavis (mentioned)
Locations
- Brendam Docks
- Sodor Shipping Company
- Sodor China Clay Company
- Knapford
- M.C. BUNN
- Sodor Steamworks (mentioned)
- Vicarstown Dieselworks (mentioned)
- The Mainland (mentioned)
Trivia
- The episode takes place during the episodes, Salty All At Sea, Den and Dart and Best Engine Ever:
- Stock footage from Salty All At Sea is used because of this.
- While Sir Topham Hatt is trying to figure out who could help out at Brendam Docks, he mentions Emily being at the Steamworks and Mavis at the Dieselworks, referencing Best Engine Ever and Den and Dart respectively.
- A cover of Down by the Docks is performed by Robert Hartshorne in the episode. An instrumental snippet of We Make A Team Together is also heard.
- This is the first time where a Thomas & Friends song is sung in an episode instead of being heard instrumentally.
Goofs
- When Bill and Ben arrive at the docks, Timothy has trucks coupled behind him. However, in the next shot, they have disappeared.
- When the truck tips over, it is right in front of Ben's buffers. But in the next shot, he has moved backwards.
- Bill and Ben occasionally switch whistle sounds.
Quotes
- Bill: It was Ben's fault.
- Ben: What?! My fault? But you're the one who said Timothy was no help at all!
- Bill: Did not!
- Ben: Did too!
- Bill: Did not!
- Sir Topham Hatt: Enough! It's about time you two started pulling your weight!
- Marion: (noticing there is nobody there) Hello? Anyone? Hello?
In Other Languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | もどってきてティモシー | Come Back Timothy |
| Dutch | Totaal niet Behulpzaam | Totally Not Helpful |
| Spanish | Nada de ayuda | Nothing of Help |
| Polish | Kiepski Pomocnik | Bad Helper |
| Portuguese | Não ajuda em nada | Does Not Help At All |
| Romanian | De niciun folos | Of No Use |
