Percy and the Bandstand

"I hope I didn't blow my whistle too loudly." "Not at all, Percy. You showed you were in charge."

- Percy and the Fat Controller

Percy and the Bandstand is the eighteenth episode of the twelfth series.

Plot
Jack and Alfie are helping to build a bandstand at Great Waterton. That evening, there will be an open-air concert as a surprise for Lady Hatt, who is a big fan of brass bands. All of the engines have special jobs; Edward is bringing special parcels, Thomas is bringing banners and bunting and Percy is bringing gravel for the pathways. When Percy arrives at Great Waterton, the trucks are being troublesome and refuse to be shunted. This ends up with Percy having to use his "do-as-I-say" whistle which tells the trucks that Percy is in charge and they have to do what he wants. The Fat Controller is impressed and gives Percy the job of bringing Lady Hatt to the concert. Percy is then instructed to not tell her where he is taking her, as it would ruin the surprise. Percy agrees and collects a carriage before heading to Maithwaite to pick up Lady Hatt.

At Maithwaite, Percy tells Lady Hatt that her Sir Topham has asked him to take her on a special trip. Lady Hatt misunderstands and tells Percy that first she would like to visit the duck pond. Percy knows there is not enough time to do that, but does not dare tell Lady Hatt. At the duck pond, Lady Hatt watches the ducks. Eventually, Lady Hatt climbs back on board and tells Percy she would like to visit the windmill next. Again, Percy does not want to tell Lady Hatt what to do and steams off to the windmill. There, Lady Hatt starts talking to Dusty Miller and Percy is left becoming increasingly more worried. At last, Lady Hatt finishes talking to the miller and tells Percy that she would like to go to the woods. Like last time, Percy goes along with Lady Hatt's wishes and soon arrives at the woods. Lady Hatt wanders off to admire some bluebells, when Thomas arrives. He tells Percy that the Fat Controller is becoming cross, as Lady Hatt has not arrived yet. Percy promises to get Lady Hatt to the bandstand in time and Thomas puffs away. Percy is left with no other option than to blow his "do-as-I-say" whistle. Lady Hatt walks out from the trees clutching a handful of bluebells. Percy tells her that he has to take her to a surprise. Lady Hatt is delighted, but wishes that Percy had told her sooner.

Percy and Lady Hatt arrive at Great Waterton on time. She is delighted with her surprise and thanks Percy for getting her there in time. The Fat Controller also thanks Percy for keeping the bandstand a surprise. Percy's "do-as-I-say" whistle has saved the day.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Jack
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Lady Hatt
 * Alfie
 * Miss Jenny
 * Dusty Miller
 * Sodor Brass Band
 * Edward
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Monty
 * Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants
 * The Teacher
 * The Ginger-haired Boy
 * The Welsh Bird Watcher
 * The Female Puppet Show Entertainer
 * James
 * Emily

Locations

 * Great Waterton
 * The Water Works
 * Maithwaite
 * Maithwaite Village Duck Pond
 * Tower Windmill
 * Whispering Woods
 * Sodor River Bridge

Trivia

 * Behind the scenes footage of The Great Discovery special included Pierce Brosnan reading the script of this episode.
 * Stock footage from the eleventh series episodes, Edward and the Mail, Percy and the Left Luggage and Don't be Silly, Billy is used.
 * A rare picture shows Percy's reflection in the water with his model sad face rather than his CGI face.
 * This episode aired before The Great Discovery came out in the UK, meaning that the audience may not have known about Great Waterton.
 * Just like in James Works it Out, the Troublesome Trucks' voices in both the UK and US dubs were achieved by speeding up Michael Angelis and Michael Brandon's voices.
 * This is the first time since the sixth series episode, A Friend in Need, to include the Pack in a main series episode.
 * Several elements from the Jack and the Sodor Construction Company mini-series are featured in this episode. In the cancelled episode Jack and the Quack, the Maithwaite Village Duck Pond was to make its debut, whilst this episode shows Percy arriving at a duck pond after departing from Maithwaite. In the cancelled episode The Importance of Being Patrick, the Pack was to construct "an ornamental garden surrounding the famous Sodor bandstand", whilst this episode shows the Pack constructing a bandstand at Great Waterton. Additionally, this is the first appearance of the Pack in a regular episode since the mini-series.
 * This episode marks the last of several things:
 * If stock footage counts, this episode marks the last appearances of James and Edward in the model series.
 * The last time Percy's gauge one brass model from Thomas and the Magic Railroad was used.
 * The last time Percy's large scale model is used.
 * The last time Jack has a round face and a cylinder body shape. From the special King of the Railway onwards, his face is now a rounded square shape and his body is now a rounded rectangular shape. However, he was illustrated with his old shape in the book, Thomas and the Muddy Mishap!.
 * Jack's last appearance until King of the Railway.
 * Alfie and Monty's last appearances until the special, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
 * Miss Jenny's last appearance until the twenty-third series episode, Out of Site.
 * The last time Hideki Nakanishi voices Jack in the Japanese dub.
 * The last episode of the series that Paul Larson wrote by himself.
 * The last time members of the Pack are seen in an episode in the main television series until the nineteenth series episode, The Other Side of the Mountain.
 * The last appearance of Miss Jenny and the Pack in the model series.
 * The Troublesome Trucks' last speaking roles until the sixteenth series episode, Ho Ho Snowman.
 * The last episode written by Paul Larson until seventeenth series episode, Steamie Stafford.

Goofs

 * When Percy pushes his trucks into Great Waterton, the first truck is shown from its back side. However, when the trucks start to misbehave, the first truck flips position and gains a face.
 * Lady Hatt is taller when Percy tells her that she has to go to the "surprise destination."
 * When Percy arrives at the bandstand with Lady Hatt, his coach disappears.
 * When Percy arrives at the woods, his steam platform is visible.
 * Miss Jenny's buttons have been depicted on the wrong side of her shirt.
 * After Percy blows his "do as I say whistle" for the first time, the shot of him reveals that his face is not animated correctly and his tracking marker is visible.

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Complete Series 12
 * The Best of Percy

DVD Boxsets

 * The Best of Friends

AUS

 * The Complete Series 12

DVD Boxsets

 * The Essential Collection

US/CAN/ZA

 * Percy and the Bandstand

US DVD Boxsets

 * Adventure Pack

MYS

 * Thomas Puts the Brakes On and Other Adventures

FRA

 * Best Friends

GER

 * Best Friends

THA

 * Thomas Puts the Brakes On

JPN

 * Unaired Video Collection

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 7 Vol. 3

TWN

 * Best Friend

HK
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 45
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 26

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