Toby's Afternoon Off

"I thought friends help each other, but they were all too busy to help me." "That's because they were helping me!"

- Toby and Henry

Toby's Afternoon Off is the eighth episode of the tenth series.

Plot
Toby has finished all of his jobs early and intends on visiting the farm when the Fat Controller asks him to do some odd jobs. At first devastated that this will mean he cannot go to the farm, he has an idea; if he can ask someone to help him with one of his jobs, he might be able to get to the farm.

Toby's first job is to shunt some trucks. He asks Mavis for help, but she is too busy. Then Toby has to take some trucks to the depot. He asks Thomas for assistance, but he is running late and has no time to help. Finally, Toby has to help Cranky with some cargo and asks Salty to share the workload, but Salty is busy delivering a piston rod. However, Cranky states that the ship has been caught in rough seas and will not arrive until the next morning, leaving Toby time to visit the farm.

On the way back, however, he meets Henry, who asks Toby where he is going. After Toby states about his jobs and how he had tried to ask Mavis, Thomas and Salty for help, Henry states that were too busy to help Toby because they were helping him; Henry had broken down and Mavis was getting him his special coal, Thomas was taking away his passengers for him and the piston rod Salty was delivering was for him. Toby feels ashamed for thinking they were being unkind, now knowing why his friends were unable to help, and offers to take Henry's coaches home. This shocks Henry, since Toby will now miss his afternoon off, but Toby knows that it does not matter if he helps Henry. This leads to Henry thanking Toby and apologising for him missing his afternoon off, but Toby does not mind.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Toby
 * Mavis
 * Salty
 * Cranky
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Percy
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Butch
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Brown-haired Assistant
 * Big Mickey

Locations

 * Brendam Docks
 * Ffarquhar Quarry
 * The Coaling Plant
 * Arlesdale End
 * Toby's Shed

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the sixth episode of the tenth series.
 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * The first appearance of the tar tankers since the fifth series episode, Make Someone Happy.
 * The first appearance of The Coal Mines since the fifth series episode, A Surprise for Percy.
 * The first appearance of Toby's convinced face since the third series episode, Mavis.
 * The first time that Henry is shown to need special coal after his accident and rebuild, not counting Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
 * This episode marks Mavis' only appearance and Cranky's only speaking role in the tenth series.

Goofs

 * Mavis is said to "puff" and then "steam" past Toby, but she is a diesel engine.
 * In widescreen releases, when Toby says, "And I thought they were my friends," Salty can be seen stopping at the end of the set.
 * When Mavis leaves the yards, Toby is much closer to the tar tankers than he was in the previous and the next two shots.
 * When Toby stops next to Cranky, his steam platform can be seen on the track.

Merchandise

 * Books - Do Not Refuse Me
 * Magazine Stories - Toby's Afternoon Off

Home Media Releases
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UK/AUS

 * Carnival Capers
 * The Complete Series 10

UK DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

AUS DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * The Great Adventures of Thomas and Friends
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * The Complete Series Ten and Hero of the Rails Double Pack
 * Carnival Capers and Bashing Crashing Benny Double Pack

US/CAN

 * Engine Friends

HUN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine 11 - The Airplane

POL

 * Club Colors

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 10 Vol.2
 * Thomas and the Rainbow
 * Wooden Railway Series

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 41

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 30

MYS

 * Duncan Drops a Clanger and Other Adventures
 * Season To Cherish Collection
 * Toby's Afternoon Off and Other Adventures

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Percy and the Funfair

DK DVD Boxsets

 * Danish DVD Boxset

NL

 * Fair in the City

ARA

 * Hero of the Rails

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 5 Vol. 1

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 18

La Tarde Libre de Toby אחר הצהריים הפנוי של טובי Wolne Popołudnie Tobika Выходной Тоби