(Nighttime. James and Henry couple behind Gordon as workmen surround the area)

Later that evening, the workmen brought floodlights to detect Gordon. Then they set up jacks to lift Gordon and keep his wheels from rolling in the mud. Strong wire ropes were fastened to his back end. James and Henry, pulling hard, managed to pull Gordon back onto the rails. Gordon felt relieved…(Sir Topham Hatt walks up, looking sharply at Gordon)...until he saw Sir Topham Hatt, of course.

(James and Henry giggle slightly, until Sir Topham Hatt looks over at them and clears his throat. The two engines gasp before whistling and chuffing away)

Topham: (turning back towards Gordon) I haven't the mood to go over your stubbornness with you now, Gordon. (firmly) Return to your shed. I shall speak to you in the morning.

Gordon crawled home that night, a sadder and a wiser engine.

(Scene shifts to Tidmouth Sheds as Gordon chuffs in, while the engines, minus Edward, laugh and chuckle loudly)

But even though he had learnt his lesson, the other engines found his situation to be very funny indeed.

James: Fancy trying to jam the turntable and falling into a ditch. (chuckles)

Percy: (jokingly) It's almost like you asked me earlier today, Gordon. Is it right? Is it…decent? (chuckles loudly, with Thomas, Henry and James chuckling after him)

Henry: I had no trouble pulling the express through tunnels or up hills in case you were wondering, Gordon.

Gordon: Well, it's too bad your record for careless accidents is at a draw now, Henry. You're not the only engine in the shed anymore that came off the rails.

Thomas: (cheekily) You're right, Gordon. But Henry didn't mean for the Flying Kipper to come off the rails like that, now did you, Henry?

Henry: No, Thomas. The signal was down. (jokingly) But at least Sir Topham Hatt doesn't need a signalman this time to hold responsible for Gordon's accident.

James: That's right. (looking over to Gordon) Only Gordon himself.

Gordon: Well, it's a good thing I didn't take that goods train then. Eh, James? I don't need the trucks either to push me into fields…or even messy tar wagons.

Edward: (confused) I never had any trouble with those trucks.

But the other engines laughed anyway, except James, who had lost the argument against Gordon and slunk slowly further into his berth in embarrassment. Gordon, on the other hand, could only chuckle slightly. He felt better about insulting James back about his accidents, and thought it would make his troubles change for the best. Little did he know that they had just begun.

(Scene shifts to morning with Gordon chuffing into Knapford Station at the platform, and beside Henry. Sir Topham Hatt walks up)

The next morning, Gordon was getting ready to take the express, but Sir Topham Hatt spoke severely to him.

Topham: (sharply) Mmm…here for the express, are you, Gordon?

Gordon: Why, of course, sir. I am every morning, aren't I?

Topham: Not this morning, you aren't.

Gordon: (surprised) I beg your pardon, sir. (chuckles) Percy hasn't brought my coaches to the platform just yet.

Topham: (sighs, sternly) I'm NOT talking about Percy fetching your coaches, Gordon. As the fastest engine on my railway, I'm surprised you've never taken the initiative lately to fetch them for yourself. Besides, you're not pulling the express this morning. (Gordon gasps as he continues) In fact, you won't be pulling any coaches for quite some time.

Gordon: (speechless) But…but…but sir…!

Topham: I think, Gordon, that you could use a bit of time shunting trucks about in the yard. Perhaps it will remind you of how much importance it holds as the express.

Gordon: Oh, please, sir…

Topham: No excuses, Gordon! Really useful engines don't argue. Henry will take the express in your place, and you must be cleaned straight away.

Henry was excited to be able to pull the express again, while Gordon left the station in a huff.

(Scene cuts to Gordon's siding by Knapford Station with two men cleaning him)

Two men got to work at once to clean Gordon. One climbed over his sides with a brush and a bucket of soap suds while the other gave him a long hose down. Gordon didn't enjoy it one bit, and unfortunately, nor did the workmen.

Gordon: (as the water and soap suds squirt his face) Oh! Mind my eye!

Ralph: Shut it, you! It's your fault we're doing this, you know. (turning to Bert) Did you ever see so much mud, Bert?

Bert: No, Ralph. I haven't. You ought to be ashamed, Gordon. Giving us so much extra work. As might your worthy Topham.

But Gordon just ignored the workmen, and dozed off till the job was complete. Afterwards, he opened one eye, but then shut it again. Sir Topham Hatt came to see him.

(Sir Topham Hatt walks over, and Gordon wakes, startled, at the sound of his voice)

Topham: (sternly) Wake up, Gordon! And listen carefully. (pointing his finger) YOU will pull no more coaches until you are a really useful engine! Am I making myself clear?

Gordon: (sighs, cheekily) Clear as mud, sir. (chuckles nervously)

Topham: (sternly) This situation is NOT a laughing matter, Gordon. You were asking for this with your careless behavior yesterday on the turntable. Now report to the yard at once! And this time, let's see if you fetch your own trucks.

Gordon: (groans) Oh, the horror. (whistles and leaves the station)

Gordon spent the remainder of the morning shunting and pulling trucks about the yard. He was not happy about this at all. Especially since the trucks were troublesome.

Gordon: (indignantly) Goods trains! Goods trains! (speeding up behind the trucks, bumping them) That's for you, and you, and YOU!

Trucks: Oh! Oh! Oh, oh! Silly Gordon! Stop that this instance!

But Gordon just ignored the trucks. He felt no better as James arrived. He had seen everything.

James: (chuckles, teasingly) Trucks will be trucks, Gordon, whether you like them or not.

Gordon: They won't with me, "little James". Just you wait and see. I'll teach them.

(Gordon whistles and speeds up before bumping the trucks again, James chuckling after him, as original song Shunting, Hauling begins in D minor with a short instrumental. Gordon continuously shunts, hauls, bumps and pulls trucks about throughout the song)

Shunting,

Hauling,

Bumping all those heavy trucks

Pushing,

Pulling,

Ready to take that heavy train

Remember when Gordon pulled the express

Sir Topham Hatt saw to that

But to make up for his mess,

Gordon is now busy shunting trucks - from here to there

He's not so proud anymore and finds it unfair

While not many of his friends quite so seem to care

Shunting,

Hauling,

Troublesome trucks in a mess

Pushing, pulling them about

Does it beat fetching the express?

Gordon had a philosophy that tender engines don't shunt

But once again, Sir Topham Hatt has made it brief and blunt

That once in a while, a train calls for a siding

Even if the trucks may tend to usual confiding

Shunting,

Hauling,

That's what puts Gordon to shame

Pushing,

Pulling,

When will he learn who's to blame

At least he puts an end to the truck's silly games

(Song ends as Gordon whistles loudly and angrily bumps the trucks once more)

Gordon: Take that, you silly trucks! (as the trucks slide into each other) And that! And that! And THAT!

(Thomas and Percy whistle and chuckle as they arrive, and so does James)

Gordon: Shunting, hauling, all morning long! When will it come to an end?

Thomas: Beats laying in a ditch all day, doesn't it, Gordon?

James: (jokingly) Careful you don't jam their brakes, Gordon.

Percy: (jokingly) Make sure they don't push you, Gordon, or you'll end up slithering down another ditch. (chuckles, Thomas and James chuckling after him, as the three whistle and chuff out of sight)

Gordon just ignored them. He didn't quite liked being teased, but he was well aware that there was plenty of work to do.

(Edward whistles and he reverses and stops by Gordon, who had just backed down to his train)

Edward: Hello, Gordon. I'm very sorry about your accident yesterday. Surely it was irresponsible, but it doesn't mean those engines had to tease you like that.

Gordon: (sighs) Thank you, Edward. You're the only one who understands me. I'm sorry I gave you a hard time yesterday, and thank you also for helping me get ready for that train. If I had been any more careful, I probably wouldn't be here in the first place.

Edward: No problem, Gordon. Just came to see how you were getting on. Trucks never give me trouble, you know. That's why I'm used to them.

Gordon: (sighs) So I've noticed.

Edward: (whistles) Goodbye, Gordon. (chuckles)

(Gordon whistles as the shunter couples him up to his train. Toby rings his bell as he arrives in the yard with Henrietta)

Toby: Don't give up hope, Gordon. Deep down, you're still Sodor's express engine and Sir Topham Hatt believes in you.

Gordon: I beg to differ, Toby. Otherwise, this would've never happened to me. I do hope he forgives me soon.

Henrietta: These things take time, Gordon. You'd be surprised to see how long it will be before you're pulling coaches again.

Toby: Just you wait, Gordon. The harder you work here, the larger the possibility gets that it won't last long. I have to collect some trucks now. Good luck, Gordon. (rings his bell and leaves)

Henrietta: Keep your steam up, Gordon. Your luck will turn eventually.

(Gordon whistles and leaves the yard with his goods train)

But Gordon didn't count on the idea of pulling coaches for quite some time. The trucks groaned as he pulled them through the yard, but Gordon just ignored them and pressed on. If he was going to impress Sir Topham Hatt once again, he would make sure not to let the silly trucks get to him. On his way to the junction, Gordon came across an old siding, where he met an old friend.

Gordon: (stops, gasping) Glynn, is that really you?

Glynn: (chuckling) Well, if it isn't the Island's fastest express engine. Hello, Gordon. How are things?

Gordon: (sighs) Not quite well, actually. Yesterday, I was involved in my very first accident, so Sir Topham Hatt has confined to pulling trucks for the time being…(sighs)…until he comes to trust me again, I believe.

Trucks: We heard that, Gordon!

Gordon: Quiet! (bumps them crossly, making them stop)

Glynn: (chuckles) At least you're still lucky to be running on your set of wheels, Gordon. That's what's important. I mean, look at me.

Gordon: (sighs) Yes. Look at you. You can't be really useful with ivy growing all over you, now can you?

Glynn: No, Gordon. I can't. Sir Topham Hatt hadn't the time lately to bother with an old "Coffeepot" engine like me, and he's regretted that to me himself.

Gordon: (confused) You're not getting through.

Glynn: (sighs) The point is, that I'm the only engine left of my kind. But Sir Topham Hatt keeps me in this siding because he cares about all his engines. The same reason why he keeps the rest of you engines in good working order.

Gordon thought hard for a moment over Glynn's wise words. Then, he realized the message that his old friend was trying to convey.

Gordon: Maybe you're right, Glynn. Maybe Sir Topham Hatt hasn't sent me in away in disgrace…because he still believes in me. And I believe that I can show him that I'm capable of pulling coaches again, but managing all these trucks. (the trucks exchange looks of indignity as Gordon whistles and races away) Thank you, Glynn.

(Glynn smiles as the scene fades out on him and cuts to the junction, beginning the next chapter)

(Before you guys ask, yes, I knew I gave the Glynn character a sendoff in my first follow-up to The Adventure Begins, but it was a rushed move and possibly pointless. I am well aware that he will be returning for Christmas in Season 20, and I think that after that, he will have much potential as a character. I'll see what I can do to rewrite the ending to The Adventure Continues and alter my previous fanfics to give him at least two appearances each; not exactly shoehorned, but there for a purpose. Stay tuned, and I'm really looking next to adapting Down The Mine and the other half of Leaves around the events of Paint Pots And Queens!)