Moral: no matter how different you are in shape, size or appearance, you will always be recognized for the way you perform.

This could be the story of any extraordinary place but it happens to be centered on the spectacular Island of Sodor. On the Island of Sodor, the controller Sir Topham Hatt has many engines and they all try to be really useful. Especially Thomas.

(Thomas toots as he passes Toby and Henrietta with a goods train)

Thomas: Good morning, Toby.

Toby: Good morning, Thomas.

Now, Thomas, as the #1 engine on Sodor, has his place in this story but it happens to be focused mainly on his good friend James. Now James is a splendid red engine and is proud of the only red steam engine on Sodor. And he and Thomas get along most of the time but let's just say that James can a little impatient with the little blue engine sometimes and this can quickly make them, well, how to put this, sort of friends and not really enemies, but the best way to put it, frenemies.

(Thomas passes by the birds as they fly around the sun beside Percy)

Thomas: Summertime is the best time for useful little engines like me and for little critters around the forest too. (whistling) Hello, Percy!

Percy: (whistling) Hello, Thomas.

It was of course the brighter time of year for Sir Topham Hatt's engines and everyday Thomas would bring James his slow goods train from Brendam so that the big red engine can deliver goods to places far and wide across the island. However, Thomas is running a little late today and this could result in a bad influence on the vanity of James' character. This isn't the first time it happened after all.

Thomas: Oh, dear. I'm late for James again. He won't be happy about this.

(James is in the goods yard talking to himself and waiting for Thomas to show up)

James: As indeed I'm not. I'm not happy about Thomas being late again and if he doesn't show up anytime soon, The Fat Controller…

(Thomas' whistle toots as he chuffs in with the goods train)

Thomas: Sorry I'm late, James. And sorry for interrupting your sentence. Oh, dear, The Fat Controller might not be proud of me for being late.

James: Um, as I was saying, Thomas, The Fat Controller won't be pleased at all with you for being late hence the fact that his mother Dowager is coming to visit. Thomas, where have you been?

Thomas: I'm sorry, James. The ship came in later then expected and Cranky only made it worse by taking his time.

James: That is why we engines make time, Thomas. You should know that. I know that Cranky is a crane but he should know that The Fat Controller is depending on us.

Thomas: Precisely, James and…

James: Precisely or not, you should let Cranky know to hurry up his hook from now on. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a daily delivery to make. Don't you have your own job to do, Thomas?

Thomas: Why, yes, James. The Fat Controller has chosen me to pick up the Dowager and bring her to Knapford. But again why not choose that job for such a splendid and important engine like you, James?

James: Ha, flattering. Very flattering indeed, Thomas. You go do your business with the Dowager while I deliver these 'important' goods across the island. Goodbye.

(James whistles and chuffs away, delivering his goods across the Island)

James thinks that his job is the most important job on the Island. But every engine knows that it is better to be useful then to be important. James knows this but it will take time throughout the story for him to realize this at a full understanding.

(Scene cuts to Knapford Station where Gordon is about to chuff away with the express)

Gordon: Hopefully that guard blows his whistle soon.

(James chuffs in with the empty goods wagons, whistling)

James: Hello, Gordon. Where are you taking these passengers today?

Gordon: These "passengers" happen to be the Dowager's VIP guests who are in a good relation with the Hatts themselves and are looking forward to the Dowager's visit. They're very important passengers as the initials describe it, haha. Wouldn't you agree, James?

James: Wouldn't I agree? Why, there's no reason to be supernatural, Gordon. Your words do sound hypothetical after all.

Gordon: Hey, what do you mean by those lengthy words?

James: What I mean, Gordon, is that the express isn't as important as slow goods and…

Gordon: Slow goods? Oh, balderdash. I'm the fastest and most important engine on the Island so my job is the most important.

James: I'm the brightest and the best. Your job is not as important as mine.

Gordon: Well, I'm still the fastest engine on Sodor. Not counting Spencer being here because he's the Duke and Duchess' private engine.

James: It doesn't matter how fast you are, Gordon. Being the brightest and the best is more important then being the fastest.

Gordon: No! Being the fastest is more important!

James: The brightest!

Gordon: The fastest!

James: The brightest!

Gordon: The fastest!

James: The brightest!

Gordon: The fastest!

(conductor's whistle blows and Gordon grunts)

Gordon: I have no time to argue now, James. I have no time to lose. Can't stop to listen to your nonsensical gibber gabber anyway. Goodbye! (whistles and chuffs out of Knapford station)

James: Pah. I could chuff faster then Gordon any day. First, what I could use is a new coat of paint. The Dowager will be happy with that. (whistles and chuffs out of Knapford station to the washdown)

So James set off to the washdown to have a new coat of paint but when he got there, there was a line.

(James stops by the washdown to see Spencer being scrubbed and Thomas and Emily waiting in line after him)

James: You cannot be serious right now. Spencer, why are you holding up me and my fellow engines like a silver showoff?

Spencer: Because, James, I am to take your worthy Topham and the Dowager for a grand tea with the Duke and Duchess of Boxford and refined engines like me always deserve to be first in line for such an important job.

James: Well, move aside. I wanna look shiny and splendid for the Dowager.

Spencer: Ha, the scrubs are down already. All done anyway, my splendid red chap. Tally ho. (whistles and chuffs away)

(Thomas chuffs in front of the washdown as Emily chuffs slowly behind him)

James: What are you so ready for, Thomas?

Thomas: Didn't I tell you, James? The Fat Controller has chosen me to pick up the Dowager and counts on me to look my best. Emily on the other hand…

Emily: I am to pick up The Fat Controller's grandchildren from the airport. Jeremy ought to be landing soon.

James: Using those two big coaches of yours?

Emily: Yes, James. Sir Topham and Lady Hatt will ride with me to the airport and drop off the children's luggage in the second coach. Then they will ride in the first coach pulled by none other then me.

James: No kidding, Emily. It's not my fault The Fat Controller chose you two over me to do the more important jobs.

Thomas: Our jobs are just as important as yours, James. You'll understand someday.

James: I don't even see what you mean, Thomas. (fuming) You two do the more important jobs while Gordon picks the Dowager's VIP guests and Spencer takes the Duke and Duchess to tea with the Hatts. Goodbye, you two. (whistles and chuffs away)

Emily: I wonder what kind of puff has gotten into his smokebox.

Thomas: Don't worry, Emily. He'll understand what I'm talking about someday.

Emily: Easy for you to say about a vain engine like him.

This was beginning to be a tough time for the only red engine on Sir Topham Hatt's railway. Poor James chuffed into a siding, thinking of how his friends were given more special jobs then him.

James: (sighing) Why are all of my friends getting more important jobs then me? (thinking for a few moments) It's like The Fat Controller takes no notice of me doing such important jobs because maybe I am too…unique in color? (thinking for a few more moments before cheering up) Ha, what's so unique about the other engines? How about I go for a repaint? There's sure to be no engines there at this time of day. They're all out doing "important" jobs for The Fat Controller. (chuffs out of the siding and along the track)

And so off James chuffed to the washdown for a splendid new coat of paint. Maybe then Sir Topham Hatt would give him important work to do.