Moral: whatever doesn't weaken you makes you stronger/respect others' property

(Scene starts with a view of Sodor, zooming in over the Island and onto Thomas' branchline)

It was a beautiful autumn day on the Island of Sodor. The leaves were rustling and the wind blew as the weather grew crisp.

(Scene zooms on Thomas whistling happily as he chuffs on his branch line with Annie and Clarabel)

Thomas was feeling very cheerful indeed, as he puffed along his branch line with Annie and Clarabel. But the two coaches were having a very bumpy ride indeed.

Annie: Slow down, Thomas. What's the rush with you today?

Thomas: We gotta hurry, Annie and Clarabel. The sooner we get to Elsbridge, the better.

Clarabel: The three of us know, Thomas, that Henry is not always on time.

Thomas: Well, you never know these days, Clarabel. Henry may already be at a station, waiting for us.

Annie

And (sighing) We hope so, Thomas.

Clarabel:

Thomas: Me too, Annie and Clarabel. After all, Henry must know by now how important my branch line.

(rendition of Really Useful Engine, covered by Robert Hartshorne starts as Thomas continues through the countryside.

He's a really useful engine, you know

All the other engines they'll tell you so

He huffs and puffs and whistles, rushing to and fro

He's the really useful engine we adore!

He's a really useful engine, you know

Maybe little, but he's never slow

And now he's in a hurry to try and catch Henry's train

He's a really useful engine today

He's the one, he's the one

He's the really useful engine that we adore

He's the one, he's the #1

Thomas The Tank Engine

He's the really useful engine we adore!

(song ends as Thomas chuffs into Elsbridge, whistling loudly)

Thomas: We're here, Annie and Clarabel. (pauses for a moment before looking around curiously) But where's Henry?

Annie: Didn't we tell you we'd be early, Thomas?

Clarabel: Henry's a big engine, you know. You can't always expect him to be here to the time you want.

Thomas: Nonsense, Annie and Clarabel. Gordon can get over here twice as fast as Henry can and…

Henry: (whistles and he chuffs in slowly, panting) I'm here, Thomas. (grounds to a halt, sighing, with white smoke bursting out from both sides)

Thomas: You're on time today, Henry. I am surprised.

Henry: I fetched my coaches early, Thomas. That way, I wouldn't keep my passengers waiting.

Thomas: (chuckling) There's a record. You usually take your time with getting here.

(Henry doesn't answer, but feels a little strange as smoke billows from both his sides)

Annie and Clarabel could see that Henry wasn't feeling all at his best, and were deeply concerned.

Annie: Are you alright, Henry?

Henry: (confused) Alright?

Clarabel: Yes, you're making lots of strange puffing sounds and there's white smoke coming out from both your sides. Is something the matter?

Thomas: (cheekily) Maybe he filled up too much on coal and water. (chuckling, while Annie and Clarabel show a look of disapproval over Thomas' joke)

Henry: Truth be told, I do feel a little uneasy…(Clarabel's guard's whistle blows)

Thomas: (whistling) Sorry, Henry. No more time to chat. I can't dawdle over big engines like you, you know. Goodbye. (races away with Annie and Clarabel)

As Thomas left, Henry continued to feel very sorry for himself. What was worse was that his friend Thomas didn't understand his case.

(Scene cuts to Thomas chuffing through the countryside with Annie and Clarabel)

As Thomas continued along his branch line, Annie and Clarabel reprimanded him for his attitude towards Henry.

Annie: Your behavior back at the station wasn't very funny, Thomas.

Thomas: (confused) What are you talking about, Annie?

Clarabel: (concernedly) Henry's bound to have a problem with his system and you didn't take it very seriously.

Annie: Quite right, Clarabel. Couldn't have put it better myself.

Thomas began to feel a little guilty. Maybe his two coaches were right.

Thomas: Let me remind you two, that Henry and I are friends. How about I make you a promise: when I get back to the sheds tonight, I'll see what's the matter with him and talk to Sir Topham Hatt about it. But only if it's very serious.

Annie: That's the spirit, Thomas.

Clarabel: Just remember to see whether or not his problem is very serious.

Thomas: (jokingly) Oh, I'll be capable of doing that.

(The three of them chuckle as the scene zooms out on them and the countryside. Next scene cuts to Henry chuffing slowly about on the line with his coaches)

Meanwhile, Henry was still feeling very unusual. On his way back to the yard, he made strange chuffing sounds as he clanked about. James was right behind him with his passenger train.

James: (whistling impatiently) Hurry up, Henry! (whistling)

Henry: (groaning) Sorry, James. I'm just not feeling very well. I think that…

James: (rolling his eyes before interrupting Henry) Stuff and nonsense! You've been acting like this all day and it's time you started doing your work quicker like a proper engine. (switches lines through a set of points and rushes past Henry)

(Scene fades out on Henry and cuts to Knapford Yard with Thomas shunting Annie and Clarabel into a siding)

That evening, Thomas returned Annie and Clarabel to the yard. But they were still worried about Henry.

Annie: Hopefully you can keep your promise about Henry, Thomas.

Clarabel: We don't want something to happen to him, should Sir Topham Hatt find out about his problem before someone informs him.

Thomas: (chuckling) Don't worry, Annie and Clarabel. I've got it all under control. I'm sure he'll be fine. (whistles and chuffs away)

That night, Thomas chuffed into his berth beside Henry. The big green engine was still coughing out steam.

Edward: (worriedly) Are you alright, Henry?

Henry: (coughing) Truth be told, I've been better, Edward. You seem like one of the only few engines who understands my case.

Thomas: (concernedly) I do too, Henry.

Henry: (confused) You do, Thomas?

Thomas: Yes. I'm sorry about earlier. I was in a hurry and didn't take much notice. That's just how I am with my branch line, you see. Still, I'm worried, Henry, and so are Annie and Clarabel.

Percy: Is there something wrong with your system, Henry?

Gordon: Ha! (chuckles) You're both just silly little engines, and so are you, Henry.

James: Couldn't have said better myself. Hmph!

Henry just ignored Gordon and James and went straight to sleep. However, all through the night, he continued to make chuffing sounds, which weren't under his control. Gordon and James couldn't stand it any longer, but Thomas was beginning to show deep concern for his friend.

Thomas: (to himself) Tomorrow I must talk to Sir Topham Hatt. That'll help Henry…I hope.