Thomas' Day Off

"Help, help!"

- Dennis

Thomas' Day Off is the eighteenth episode of the ninth series.

Plot
The Fat Controller announces to his engines that a new diesel engine called Dennis has arrived on Sodor and tells Thomas that he is being given a day off after his recent spell of busy work. Thomas decides to spend his day off by going to the washdown and then to Bluff's Cove. On his way there, Thomas sees the new diesel struggling to shunt some trucks of roof tiles. Dennis tells Thomas that he cannot shunt the trucks, so Thomas decides to help Dennis, even though it is his day off. Afterwards, Thomas goes off to the washdown.

But Dennis is far from happy - he does not want to take the trucks of tiles to the school because he is lazy. Thomas soon arrives back from the washdown and Dennis decides to make a plan to trick thomas ; he asks him to show him the way to the school. Thomas helps Dennis by telling him where to go when they reach a junction. But again, Dennis is not pleased as he watches Thomas heading towards Bluff's Cove. Then, Dennis made another plan: he blows his horn to attract Thomas' attention. Thomas comes back and Dennis pretends that his engine has overheated. Thomas decides to help Dennis by finding another engine to help him.

Dennis is fed up that his plans had backfired on him, so he decides to run away from his work so that another engine will have to take the trucks of tiles for him. However, as he runs away, Dennis derails and ends up wheel-deep in mud (and even leaking diesel fuel). Again, Dennis calls for help, but no one is around to assist him this time.

Nearing Bluff's Cove, Thomas hears some urgent news from Percy at a signal box. The workmen are waiting for Dennis' delivery at Bluff's Cove School and do not know where he is. Thomas knows of Dennis' whereabouts and goes off to find him. When Thomas finds Dennis stuck in the mud, he is very puzzled; he thought Dennis had broken down. A very shamefaced Dennis tells Thomas the truth. Naturally, Thomas is angry at Dennis for tricking him, but after seeing he is in real trouble, decides to help him again. Together, they get the trucks of tiles to Bluff's Cove School. The Fat Controller is cross with his new diesel's laziness. Dennis promises the Fat Controller and Thomas that he will be a Really Useful Engine from now on.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Percy
 * Dennis
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * Troublesome Trucks
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Emily
 * Annie and Clarabel

Locations

 * Dryaw
 * Dryaw Airfield
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Bluff's Cove
 * Knapford
 * Kellsthorpe Road
 * The Washdown

Trivia

 * Going by production order, this is the twenty-second episode of the ninth series.
 * This episode marks the only occurrence of several things for Dennis:
 * His only speaking role.
 * His only appearance until the special, The Great Discovery, excluding his appearance in the tenth series learning segment, Diesels and Steamers.
 * His only appearance in an episode.
 * His only leading role.
 * The only time he is referred to by name.
 * This episode has similar plot elements to that of the third series episode, Trust Thomas and the fourth series episode, Trucks, in both of which a lazy engine tricks another into doing his work, and then ending up in a sticky situation. However, on this occasion, it is the lazy engine who gets into the accident.
 * A deleted scene shows that Percy was to have a larger role after the Fat Controller tells the engines about Dennis. Percy is shown to become worried.
 * The story has a similarity to the classic fairytale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf! An episode from the seventeenth series would have a similar plot to that said fairytale.
 * This episode will later share the same title with the All Engines Go episode of the same name.

Goofs

 * At one point, the narrator mentions Dennis being cross, but he is wearing his sad face. This is due to the fact that an angry/cross face was not sculpted for him.

Merchandise

 * Magazine Stories - The Lazy Diesel
 * My Thomas Story Library - Dennis

Home Media Releases
{{Scroll box|

UK

 * The Spirit of Sodor
 * The Complete Series 9

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US/CAN

 * Thomas and the Treasure

DVD Boxsets

 * Best Tales on the Tracks
 * Thomas and the Treasure/Thomas, Percy and the Dragon and Other Stories Double Feature
 * Ultimate Thomas Collection

AUS

 * The Complete Series 9
 * The Best of Thomas and Friends - Volume 2

DVD Boxsets

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * The Essential Collection
 * Series Nine and Series Ten Double Pack
 * Series Nine and The Great Discovery Double Pack

JPN

 * Thomas the Tank Engine Series 9 Vol.5
 * Thomas' Surprise!

NOR/SWE/DK/FIN

 * Thomas and the Rainbow

NL

 * Thomas and Duncan

HUN

 * Thomas' Day Off

MYS

 * Thomas' Day Off and Other Adventures
 * Thomas and the Toy Shop and Other Adventures

THA

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 32

HK

 * Thomas and Friends Volume 28

SPN

 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 8

DVD Boxsets

 * Second Season

ZA

 * Thomas and the Toy Shop

KOR

 * Thomas the Little Engine and Friends Season 4 Vol. 3

TWN
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 * Thomas and Friends Volume 16

El Día Libre de Thomas יום החופש של תומס Wolny Dzień Tomka Томас берёт выходной