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Diamond-Jubilee [2019-08-16 02:41:03 +0000 UTC]

Nice little story/scene/snippet you posted here mate.

Imagine what happened to James then, him being in the works for a repaint and dozing off whilst he waited, forgetting about his argument with Henry, and only waking later to find the work finished. Now imagine his reaction afterwards when his Driver told him he had been repainted plain matte black too! No wonder being so proud of his red paint got him upset about his livery change, or in his case, being "blackboarded". And, when he comes home, whoever is the first to ask him if he is all right, he'll snap and kick up a rant (a temper tantrum of sorts) at the one who approached him in such a way. If you can listen to his rant and watch without getting any attention, you will hear him say this... in the form of a quote-only story I made up just now, even though it is a part of it, but it's the best I could do.

"(calmly, becoming agitated) Am I all right? Am I ALL RIGHT?... (cross) Am I all right?!... DO I LOOK ALL RIGHT TO YOU AT ALL?!... (ranting angrily) Those felons have defaced and slandered me! They took away my splendid red and replaced it with THIS! It had to be me who gets to be blackboarded! Do I look all right about this disaster?! Eh? Do you?!?... (boiling over, growling furiously) ...Grrrrr HUH! (continues rant) That black paint! It looks absolutely disgusting on me as well as any other sensible engine to have it! What good does it do anyway?! It would only make me a laughingstock in front of the whole Yard, no! the whole Island! I've a good mind to speak to the Fat Controller about this!"
(James was well and truly angry. The tone of his voice shows you that he cannot be stopped.)
"What on earth to you think he and his bumbling Workmen are doing with this display, I tell you?! I want to talk to him immediately! This is simply unacceptable!!!"
"(voice) Well, here he is. Now is there something you want to say to me?"
(That voice belonged to the Fat Controller, after having addressed all the engines about, well... you'll soon know what he says.)

"Now, James, the only reason why I came here is that I wanted to tell you all about that repaint. Seeing as it was your turn, which came after Henry's, and having heard you ramble about paint and seeing many of my engines in a state of shock and awe, I will tell you again - but it's between you and me this time."
(He inches over to the formerly red engine, and speaks to him directly; in this way, you should see that it is a private one-on-one conversation, of that which we know.)
"(quiet enough, angrily, aggressively) Sir? I have to ask: what's the meaning of this ghastly betrayal?!"
(The Fat Controller puts on a serious face and speaks sternly)
"Don't you speak to me like that James! Anyway, the British Government has informed me that - in order to avoid being noticed by enemy aircraft - all my engines, you included, are required to be painted in a plain black coat."
"But it's a disgusting colour!"
"(sternly) I understand it doesn't appeal to you, but complaining about it won't help much, or at all. In fact, all my other engines, reluctantly even Gordon, felt they had no choice but to carry on in this livery, so you'll have to do the same."
"(raises his voice) No! I WON'T!"
"(grimly - serious, stern tone) James...."

(For a while, the silence seemed to linger - that is, until James breaks the silence.)
"(under his breath, scowling) Is every engine to be repainted like this?"
"Yes James, every engine who hasn't been repainted yet will soon be."
"(raising his voice, nearly screeching) AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING TO US ALL?!?!"
(His face was now as red as the paintwork he once wore)
"(ranting, getting angrier by the second) Fine, then! Let all the others have it! I am a Splendid Engine, that I was then, and now look at me! Being reduced to the rank of a commoner, with this ugly paint job! But being as I am I shall have no more involvement in this mess now! NONE OF IT!!"
"(sternly) You will do as you are told, James. Just get used to it and all will be fine!"
"(James's anger has now passed the breaking point once more, his temper tantrum now in its worst stage.) I! WILL! NOT!!!!!!!!"
(His voice was loud, thundering, echoing across the Yard, and catching everyone's attention as often as it did. This, for the Fat Controller, was the sort of disobedience caused by James or any other big Main Line Engine that drew the line.)

(He stood up very straight. Both Engine and Controller stared long and hard at each other, until presently, turning away and breathing deeply, the latter quietly commanded his engines - bar James - back to work. As for him? He'd have to wait for whatever's coming to him...)

👍: 2 ⏩: 0

vincentberkan [2019-07-13 01:47:24 +0000 UTC]

He won't be complaining when he's being chased by the Luftwaffe!

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E2100BenjaminAlvarez [2019-07-04 08:05:29 +0000 UTC]

Nice work!

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ESLM-Studios [2019-07-03 21:05:37 +0000 UTC]

Doesn't matter how much your red matters, James. You're at war, and you have to be painted black.

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