- Percy's new helper, Duck, is calm when Gordon, James and Henry try to boss him around. However, when Duck sees Percy's anger at their nature, Duck plans to outsmart the three big engines so they'll leave them alone for good.
- One day in the sheds, Percy is eager to tell a disinterested Gordon and James some news. Both quickly tire of Percy's usual manner and the tank engine tells them that as the work in the yard is getting too heavy for him, the Fat Controller's bringing in a new bigger engine in to help. James is unimpressed, telling Percy that if he worked more and chatting chatted less, the yard would be a sweeter, a better and a happier place. Percy then leaves to do his work.
As he works, Percy grumbles to himself that, since he reversed at a signal, the larger engines now consider him to be a "silly little engine" and often order him about. Percy wants to teach them a lesson, but doesn't know how to do it. He then works very hard all day and by the afternoon he's worn out. After bringing some express coaches to the station, he sees the Fat Controller on the platform who notes that Percy looks very tired, which Percy confirms. The Fat Controller cheers Percy up by telling him that the new engine is bigger than him and can probably manage the work alone. He then asks Percy if he would like to help Thomas and Toby build the new Harbour which cheers Percy up straight away.
Soon the new engine arrives. The Fat Controller asks the engine his name and the engine introduces himself as Montague, but tells the Fat Controller he is often called "Duck" due to his supposed waddle and declares that while he doesn't believe he has a one, he admits to liking "Duck" better than "Montague". With that, the Fat Controller agrees that the new engine will be known as Duck. Percy arrives and the Fat Controller asks him to show Duck around.
Duck does his work quietly as he brings some coaches to the station, leading Gordon, James and Henry to decide to boss him about like they do to Percy. Gordon and Henry then start to leave the station on either side of Duck, quacking and blowing steam at him. As Percy sees everything and is cross, Duck takes no notice and just wants to wait until the larger engines get tired of their teasing. Duck then asks Percy if the larger engines boss him about and Percy confirms they do. Duck decides to take charge and put a stop to it and tells Percy what they'll do.
That afternoon, the Fat Controller sits at his office desk looking forward to having toast for tea. Suddenly, he hears a horrible noise coming from the yard and looking out his window, he sees Percy and Duck blocking the turntable and preventing an angry Gordon, James and Henry from entering the sheds. The Fat Controller grabs his hat and rushes to the yard.
At the sheds, Gordon, James and Henry are furiously wheeshing and whistling loudly when the Fat Controller arrives and demands silence before demanding an explanation from Duck and Percy. Duck politely explains to the Fat Controller that, as a Great Western engine, he prefers to do his work without any fuss, but wants the other engines to know that he and Percy will only take orders from him. As the three larger engines start whistling angrily again, the Fat Controller silences them. The Fat Controller then tells Duck and Percy that he's pleased with their work that day, but not with their behaviour that night, as they've caused a disturbance. Gordon, Henry and James snicker at Percy and Duck's dilemma, but the Fat Controller turns back to face the three larger engines and admonishes them too as their actions have been much worse, they *made* the disturbance and then tells them that Duck is right, that he's the one to give orders, not them. With that, the three engines quickly fall back into line.
Soon Percy's sent to work at the Harbour on Thomas' branchline, leaving Duck to do the work alone, something he manages easily.
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