Air date: March 8th, 2017 (UK)
Timothy sometimes finds it difficult working with Bill and Ben at the China Clay Pits due to their mischievous ways. After they play a trick on Marion, Timothy begins to think that the twins are no help at all. Ben crossly says that Timothy is no fun at all, and they puff away. However, Timothy takes no notice.
Later, the twins pass through Knapford and overhear the Fat Controller talking to Thomas about Porter, who is working on his own and needs help at the docks. Bill and Ben cheekily tell him that Timothy could help out since he is no help at all at the Clay Pits. Thomas knows they are only teasing, but the Fat Controller thinks their idea is a good one.
Porter and Cranky are busy working to sort out the mess at the docks when Timothy arrives. They are very glad to see him, and Timothy is glad to be away from Bill and Ben. Together, the dockside team work to sort out the trucks. Later in the afternoon, the Fat Controller arrives to see how Timothy is getting on. Cranky and Porter both think he is a very useful engine. However, Timothy is surprised when Sir Topham tells him that it was Bill and Ben's idea to send him to the docks.
Meanwhile, back at the Clay Pits, Bill and Ben are too busy bickering to work properly, and Marion is struggling to do all the work on her own. She crossly tells them that they should be helping, but they take no notice.
The twins head to the docks and ask Timothy if he can come back yet. However, Timothy declines, since Porter would be on his own again if he left. Porter suggests that they try working together instead of relying on Timothy, but Bill and Ben take no notice and crossly head back to the Clay Pits. A few days later, Salty returns from the mainland, which means Timothy can go back to the Clay Pits. However, he begins to worry about what he will find when he gets there.
Bill and Ben decide that if Timothy will not work with them, they will not work at all. The Fat Controller arrives and demands to know what has happened to the Clay Pits. They tell him about Timothy not coming back from the docks, but he reminds the twins that it was their idea to send him there in the first place. Immediately, Bill and Ben blame each other and begin to argue, but Sir Topham Hatt stops them, angrily saying it is time they started pulling their weight.
Just as it looks like the work will never get done, Timothy arrives with Salty and Porter behind him to help Bill and Ben clean up the mess. The twins are very grateful, and Timothy reminds them that that is what friends are for.
This episode contains examples of:
- Big "SHUT UP!": When Bill and Ben blame each other, The Fat Controller shouts "Enough!" at them to get them to stop.
- Blame Game: Bill and Ben blame each other for coming up with the idea of Timothy working at the docks and saying that he was no help at all until The Fat Controller breaks it up and orders the two to pull their weight.
- The Dog Bites Back: After finding out Bill and Ben recommended him for filling in at the docks because he's "no help" at the clay pits, Timothy refuses to come back when they come begging for him.
- Face Palm: The Fat Controller does this when Bill and Ben kept bumping into the trucks blocking each of their tracks.
- Hard-Work Montage: Happens in Brendam Docks with Timothy and Porter shunt the trucks, and then when all the engines helping each other to clear up the trucks.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: When Bill and Ben beg Timothy to come back to the clay pits, he refuses, knowing that the twins had him to work at the docks because they think he wasn't any help.
- Synchronous Episodes: The episode is set in motion because Emily is at the Steamworks, after breaking down at the start of "Best Engine Ever", Mavis is at the Dieselworks following her accident in "Den and Dart" and Salty's on the mainland which happened during "Salty All At Sea". In fact when Salty returns at the end of the latter episode, Timothy can be seen at the docks when Salty begins to tell of his adventures on the mainland.
- Take That!: Thomas points out to the Fat Controller that he has so many engines, pointing out the numerous characters in the series throughout the years.
