Ace In Space

Ace In Space is a new story.

Summary
Ace is bored, since there haven't been any races recently, and needs a challenge so Thomas jokes to him about going to the moon. But Ace takes his suggestion seriously and decides to actually go there. But when his rocket gets pushed down the hill by Nia who is delivering trucks to the quarry, he believes he is on another planet. Will Thomas convince Ace to see past his speculations?

Plot
The episode opens first with footage from '''Big World! Big Adventures'''.

We then zoom into Vicarstown Station where Ace is sitting looking rather bored. He says since there haven't been any races recently, he's had nothing to do. Thomas arrives and jokingly suggests that if Ace wants a challenge that much, he should try going to the moon. However, Ace thinks Thomas is being serious and thanks him for the idea before racing off. Thomas tries tell Ace that he was joking but he's too far away to hear. Later, Ace is seen building a spaceship with the help of Victor, Kevin and some workmen. The other engines are amazed. When Thomas arrives, he is

Trivia

 * This is based on the Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior show Jungle Junction episode 'The Bungonaut'
 * Ben Tennyson mentions the time Stanley went into space, referencing the 'A Toy Train in Space' video on youtube: [link ]
 * References to 'Hugo and the Airship', The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor and 'Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie' are made.
 * In addition, stock footage from 'Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie' is used.

Script
[Season 21 opening theme]

Narrator: Ace In Space.

[scenes from Big World Big Adventures]

''Narrator: Ace is a yellow rally car. He likes to race around a lot. When he first came to the Island of Sodor, he inspired Thomas to join him in traveling the world. And there, it was that Thomas met Nia, and travelled the world with her, and back to Sodor.''

[The scene changes to Vicarstown Station]

''Narrator: One day, Ace was at Vicarstown Station. He was feeling rather bored. Max Tennyson was on the phone to the race stadium on the mainland.''

[Cut to Max on the phone]

Max Tennyson: Okay, I'll let him know. Okay, thanks, pal. Goodbye. [hangs up, and walks to Ace]

Ace: Any news yet, Maxie?

Max Tennyson: Sorry, Ace. Not yet.

Ace: There still haven't been any reports on races. I've got nothin' to do.

Thomas: [snickers] Well, if you want a challenge that much, Ace, then why not try going to the moon.

[Ace gasps]

Ace: The moon! That's it! Thomas, mate, you're a genius! [drives away]

Thomas: What? Ace, get back here! I was... only joking.

Annie: Don't worry, Thomas. He'll come around eventually.

Clarabel: Yes, he'll realize you were joking in no time.

[The scene changes to the Steamworks where the construction of Ace's spaceship is taking place]

Narrator: Later, Ace was well on his way to making a spaceship.

Ace: Nice job, mates.

Emily: Look at that.

Molly: Whoa.

Bertie: What is that?

Caroline: Amazing!

Winston: I've never seen anything like it.

Elizabeth: That's incredible.

[Thomas whistles as he arrives]

Thomas: What's everyone doing he...? [pauses when he sees Ace's rocket and gasps]

Narrator: When Thomas saw Ace's rocket, he was shocked.

Thomas: How did...?!

Victor: Surprise!

Kevin: What do you think, Ace?

Ace: It's bonza!

Thomas: Whoa.

Luke: So, are you really going to the moon?

Ace: Yep. But first I'm going to find the biggest hill to launch it from.

Luke: Why not try the hills on the narrow gauge railway?

Gordon: Everyone knows the biggest hill on Sodor is my hill.

Henry: Where you get stuck every time. (chuckles)

Gordon: Hey!

Ace: Don't listen to him, mate. I'll take your suggestion.

[The scene changes to Ace pushing his rocket to the top of Gordon's Hill]

Narrator: So Ace took his rocket to Gordon's Hill.

Ace: That should it.

[Then Diesel honks his horn to scare Ace]

Ace: Whoa!

Diesel: (cackles)

Ace: Careful, Mate!

Diesel: Hah, you should seen the look on your face! Priceless just like those silly steamies.

Ace: Hey!

Diesel: Now I hear that you inspire Thomas to go all the way around the world, correct?

Ace: Yeah!

Diesel: I should be the first diesel to go around the world instead of Thomas. Guess I'm too busy trying to prove that diesels are better than steamies and have them scrapped so that diesels can replaced them.

Ace: What? But that's a bit of an insult, don't you think?

Diesel: Who cares? Rough, tough and devious is my thing. Being nice is not so your loss.

Ace: Whatever! If you're going talk about Thomas like that, I'm gonna prove you wrong by going to the moon.

Diesel: You? (laughs) How's a racing car like you going to do that?

Ace: With this! [shows Diesel his rocket]

Diesel: What? How are you gonna get in?

[The windshield opens and Ace climbs in]

Ace: Ta-Da!

[Diesel gape in disbelief]

Ace: Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a moon to get to.

[Diesel just scoffs and drive off]

[The windshield closes. Ace puts on his space helmet and starts up the engines]

Ace: All systems go!

[Outside, Nia is approaching with trucks she is delivering to the quarry unbeknownst to Ace]

Nia: Ugh, who left this rocket here? Someone could have an accident.

[She pushed it down the hill]

Ace: Whoa! I'm taking off a lot faster than usual!

[The rocket speeds down the hill onto Thomas' Branchline]

Narrator: Ace zoomed off the mainline, onto Thomas' Branchline and into the Quarry, where eventually...

[Ace's rocket soars into the air and lands on a mountain at the Quarry]

Narrator: ...he stopped.

[Ace coughs]

Ace: Whoa, that was a rough ride!

[Outside, Mavis, 'Arry and Bert are working]

Ace: I might as well take a look outside. [opens the windshield and goes outside] This is a small step for car kind!

Narrator: Ace looked around.

[Ace looks left and right]

Narrator: There was no one in sight.

Ace: [opening a box on his fender] Cadet's log. Space Cadet Ace here. I have reached my destination but my rocket has crashed.

Narrator: Mavis, 'Arry and Bert could hear Ace from where they were.

Mavis: Can you two hear that?

'Arry: Yeah.

Bert: Isn't that the voice of the race car that inspired Thomas to travel around the world?

Mavis: I think so.

[They set off to check it out]

Narrator: So they went to check it out.

[With Ace]

Ace: I have crash landed on what looks like a sliver planet with big dunes of rock and it seems slopey and nothing else.

Narrator: But he was wrong.

[Mavis, 'Arry and Bert approach. Ace sees them coming and gasps]

Ace: But what's this? I seem to have made contact with extra terrestrial beings.

Narrator: Mavis, 'Arry and Bert were confused.

'Arry: Huh?

Bert: What?

Mavis: Ace, what are you going on about?

Ace: [gasps] What superior intellect. You know my name.

Mavis: Of course we do.

Ace: You know, you remind me of three diesels I met on Sodor.

['Arry and Bert look at each other]

Mavis: [realizing and playing along] Really?

Ace: Yes.

['Arry and Bert realizes too and laugh]