At last; a season 5 rewrite I promised long ago is finally here! It was not easy coming up with ideas, but I figured it was all worth it. I forgot to mention that the first scene of "Rocky Lends a Hand" is "Off the Rails" taken from a different perspective, and it takes place before "Leaves" and "Down the Mine". This story takes place shortly after "Down the Mine", but before "Paint Pots and Queens".

So, coming in at season 5 rewrite #15, it's...

ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Remake 19: James, Molly and the Tree

Based on "James and the Trouble with Trees"

Whenever Molly was taking trucks or coaches, she always took care with them and never bumped them. The coaches were pleased with her modest behavior, and the trucks never played tricks on her.

"At least she knows how to treat us," they told each other, "that James is such a brute!"

Although the Fat Controller had a very good impression on Molly, one engine still didn't trust her. That's right, it was James.

"I'm still not happy having her around!" he grumbled. The others rolled their eyes. By now, Gordon and Henry now liked and trusted Molly, and were quick to defend her.

"She's really helped the mainline out of a tight situation," Henry reasoned, "and besides, if not for you spilling those pipes, Molly wouldn't be who she is now."

"Henry's right," agreed Percy, "you should be grateful too."

But James wasn't convinced. "Remember when that Sandra came?" he said, "She always threw tantrums and bashed coaches and trucks in a very rough manner! You can't trust female engines if they're sulky!"

The engines were shocked at what James had said. At that moment, Sarah the Holden B12 backed into the sheds just in time to hear James' outburst.

"I'll let you know, James," she said crossly, "that I'm a helpful sort unlike what that Sandra was. Does it mean you don't want me around?"

"I don't mean you," grumbled James, "it's that Molly! Sooner or later, she might give the railway a bad name, and she'll be put in her place by the Fat Controller!"

The engines had to give up, for James was being stubborn and refused to change his opinion, no matter what.

One November afternoon, Molly was waiting for Toby at Knapford Junction. She was taking a stopping passenger to Tidmouth.

At last, Toby steamed in, and was uncoupled to run around Henrietta and Elsie, when the stationmaster came up to him.

"You'll have to wait a few minutes," he told Toby's crew, "Gordon and Thomas will be passing by."

Molly was confused. "But Gordon can't go on branchlines," she said, "the tracks aren't strong enough."

"The stretch from here to Elsbridge is," the stationmaster explained, "you see, Thomas has fallen down a mine at the lead mines at Toryreck. Gordon has had to rescue him."

Molly then heard a loud whistle, as Gordon slowly backed down with Thomas coupled in front of him, before they were switched onto the line leading to Tidmouth.

The Fat Controller spoke sternly to Thomas. Thomas felt very foolish. "You will be shunting at Tidmouth until I can trust you again," the Fat Controller said sternly, "but we need an engine to take Annie and Clarabel."

"Can I help, sir?" Molly asked hopefully.

The Fat Controller turned to Molly. "I don't see why not," he said, "you've worked very hard on the mainline, Molly, and I feel you deserve a change of scenery."

"Yes, sir," Molly smiled, happy that she was helping Thomas in an awkward situation.

Soon, Gordon and Thomas arrived at Tidmouth and were told to shunt in the yards the rest of the day. The two engines felt James would be laughing at both of them for being in disgrace.

But when evening came, they noticed James was bragging to Percy, Henry, and Molly. None of them took notice of Thomas and Gordon.

"The Fat Controller is giving me a new coat of paint," James boasted, "he must think I am the pride of the line!"

"Rubbish!" snorted Henry, "We are all pride of the line! The Fat Controller says so!"

"James has been acting like this since this afternoon," Molly whispered to Thomas and Gordon, "he's also being allowed to pull the express after he gets a new coat of paint, but now he's not going to stop boasting about it."

"Why James?" Thomas said indignantly, "Doesn't Gordon deserve a second chance?"

"I don't think the Fat Controller ever will," James snorted, giving Thomas and Gordon a pitying look, "if you ask me, you two deserve the punishments you got!"

Thomas just seethed in anger, and Molly shot James a dirty look.

"Don't take any notice of him," Gordon said in a philosophical manner, "it won't take long until he gets what's coming to him."

The next morning, Molly was working on Thomas' branchline taking Annie and Clarabel. She enjoyed her runs, and there was no need to rush between stations. The coaches were pleased with Molly being careful with them, but they missed Thomas very much.

"He really let us down by acting so foolish," said Annie to Clarabel.

"It probably served him right for being cheeky to Gordon," added Clarabel.

"Don't worry you two," said Molly kindly, "I'm sure the Fat Controller will forgive him for his recklessness."

But the coaches weren't convinced. With Molly working on Thomas' branchline, it gave her and Toby a chance to catch up with any news. Molly even told Toby about when she and Rocky helped Henry and James in an awkward predicament.

Speaking of James, he was being repainted and he saw Percy shunting trucks in the yard. But Percy wasn't paying attention to what he was doing, and he accidentally shunted trucks through the buffers!

"Oops," Percy said meekly.

James laughed at Percy's incident. "If you can't control trucks properly, little Percy," James teased, "why can't you talk to trees instead?"

"Well, bossy boiler," grumbled Percy, "the Fat Controller says that the trees near Gordon's hill could be getting dangerously close to the line, and it could cause problems if not taken action!"

"Pah!" laughed James, "If I came a cropper with a tree, I'd push it aside!"

"I'd like to see you try," muttered Percy.

Over the next few days, James would not stop bragging about his new red paint.

"Make way for an important engine!" he called as he stopped at Crovan's Gate.

"You wouldn't feel important if a tree fell on you," Sir Handel sniffed from the narrow-gauge platform, "you could get hurt!"

"Rubbish! It wouldn't even dare!"

"You should be careful James," advised David, "trees can be just as powerful as locomotives."

"Oh please!" snorted James, then he heard the guard's whistle. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way with the express!" And he huffed away.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he landed into trouble himself," muttered Sir Handel.

Meanwhile, several days later, Percy had to do Thomas' work on the branchline, as Thomas could easily handle the shunting himself, being more powerful than Percy. This meant Molly would have to do work again on the mainline and the Kirk Ronan and Norramby branchlines.

Molly was disappointed, but was happy she gotten the chance to see Thomas' branchline for herself.

"Your branchline is lovely," she told Thomas, "I'd love to see it again some day."

That made Thomas feel a bit better. The changes also gave Percy a chance to work with someone new, being Toby.

On the following day, James had just taken the express to Barrow-in-Furness when the Fat Controller came to speak to him.

"I need you to go to Crovan's Gate and take an important goods to Wellsworth," he said, "Edward will then take it to Brendam. It's very heavy, and you must take care."

"But sir," said James, "can't David or Molly do it? They love idling on branchlines!"

"Really useful engines don't argue!" said the Fat Controller sternly. James didn't; he puffed onto the turntable, was turned around, and he headed off for Crovan's Gate.

James grumbled as he arrived at Crovan's Gate. He had to arrange the train himself, much to his annoyance.

"Your color is nice, James," said a truck, "pity about your face though!"

James just ignored their teasing as he rashly arranged his trucks. Molly passed by with a stopping passenger to Tidmouth and whistled as she passed, but James too ignored her.

James had his train ready, and when the guard blew his whistle, James grumbled as he set off. As he did, the weather had changed for the worse.

At Kellsthrope Road, Molly had to stop in order to let James pass by.

"You really need to be careful!" Molly called to James, "I saw a tree leaning at an angle as I crossed Gordon's hill!"

But James didn't hear Molly, as he crossed onto the eastbound track to Barrow-in-Furness, before switching back onto the westbound track for Tidmouth.

When James' train had cleared the signal box, Molly set off once more for Kildane.

James soon approached Gordon's hill, and the driver knew James was in for a difficult time. James' wheels slipped on the wet rails, and he remembered having slipped on leaves before Gordon came to help him.

James made it safely to the top, but there was trouble ahead; a tree near the bridge was being blown by the strong winds, and due to the rain, the soil on the slope was weakened and the tree began to slip right near the tracks!

James saw the tree ahead and his driver applied the brakes, but James' wheels slipped on the wet rails.

"Help!" cried James, "I can't stop!"

James came to a stop just inches from the tree!

"Oh, help!" wailed James, "Go away, you stupid tree!"

But the tree didn't move! James' fireman hastily ran for help while the driver put James into reverse to getting away from the tree. But due to the trucks and the downward slope, James was trapped like a rat.

At Kildane, the stationmaster spoke to Karen.

"James is in trouble at Gordon's hill," he said, "there's a tree blocking his track, and it could fall at any given time!"

"We'll have to help," said Karen, while the fireman uncoupled the coaches from Molly. "C'mon, old girl! James needs our help!"

Molly knew her driver was right.

"Gordon was right," said Molly to herself, "he did get what was coming to him. But the North Western Railway needs a number five!"

James had managed to back away from the tree, which was now slowly leaning towards him. James only gotten several yards away from the tree, and he did not have a lot of time.

Then he heard a familiar Great Eastern whistle.

"It's Molly!" said the driver.

"Oh no," groaned James, "anybody but her!"

Molly slowly buffered up to the brakevan. One false move could spell disaster waiting to happen.

"I'm ready!" she called, blowing her whistle.

"As am I," James called back, "ready as I'll ever be!"

With James pushing against the trucks and Molly pulling on them, the got further away from the tree, which was now leaning more and more towards James!

They got away just in time, as the tree landed with a thundering crash, nearly clipping James' buffers!

"That was close," James gasped, as they made their way back to Maron station.

The Fat Controller sent Gordon and Rocky to clear away the mess, and the tree would be used to make furniture. James made it back to Wellsworth safely, where Edward took over and brought the train to Brendam. As for Molly, her stopping passenger service continued, and although she ran late, the passengers knew she couldn't help it; they were pleased once again for her brave actions.

Later that evening, the Fat Controller came to see James and Molly. He was not happy with James.

"You have said rude things to Molly since she entered service," he said firmly, "she has proven herself to be a really useful engine, and today proves how useful she can be!"

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir," James said meekly.

"You should thank Molly, too," said the Fat Controller, "if not for her, you'd be in a worse situation."

James sighed and spoke to Molly. "I'm sorry I was rude," he said sadly, "I guess I let my boasting get the better of me."

"It's all right, James," Molly smiled, "it's just who you are, right?"

"I suppose so. David and Sir Handel were right to warn me," James added, "we engines must pull together, Molly, whatever the weather."

"And Molly," said the Fat Controller, "for your bravery today, you're having a new coat of yellow paint with red stripes."

"Thank you, sir," Molly smiled. James smiled at Molly for the first time; not a conceited smile, but a friendly smile all the same.

"Maybe we should call you 'Molly the rescue engine'," Percy said as a joke. Everyone chuckled at that; even James.

Molly loves working on the North Western Railway, helping David with the trains on the Kirk Ronan and Norramby branchlines. But she is allowed to help on the mainline and other branchlines on occasion.

James doesn't tease Molly anymore because of her paint. He even admits yellow is splendid as red, but won't admit it to anyone, because he won't; same old James.

Even though Thomas and Gordon were happy for Molly, they were still in hot water with the Fat Controller, even when a special event was coming up, but that's another story.

And that is the last part of Molly the Yellow Engine. There's ten more episodes of season 5 I've yet to rewrite (11 if you count my WIP rewrite of Bye George!) and I feel I could give Britt Allcroft a run for her money.

As you guessed, many more to come!