Narrator: The Island of Sodor is the home of the Northwestern Railway, and its famous variety of engines, who work hard to deliver passengers and goods on time and without fuss. There are Branch Lines that serve coastal villages, towns and docksides, along with farms, quarries, and historic landmarks. Then, there is the Main Line, which starts at Knapford and traverses the Island all the way to the terminus in Vicarstown. From there, the tracks continue across the ocean to the Mainland. The engines know that they can always find adventure when they travel on the Mainland. But what that adventure is, nobody knows. One morning, Thomas the Tank Engine was heading towards Knapford with his coaches, Annie and Clarabel. He was meant to drop his passengers off so they could make a connection with another train. Thomas was taking in the fresh air and scenery around him.

Thomas: (breathing through his nose) Ah. Summer always gets me in a good mood. How about you two?

Clarabel: Indeed. The animals frolicking about in the grass, and…

Annie: …and the white clouds mixing with the blue sky.

Thomas: (chuckling) All while the sun puts its smile onto everybody's faces. The only thing that would make this day better i…

James (pulling concert orchestra in open top carriages, singing)

Somebody has to be the Favorite

The one that everybody wants to see

Thomas: Singing?

James: (cont…)

Somebody has to be better than the rest

Somebody has to be so good that they're the best

Somebody has to be the Favorite

Somebody has to be me

James: Here's James! (chuckles, Thomas enters whistling)

Thomas: What's with the singing, James?

James: Well, why not? I'm pulling live music, and besides, it's the perfect day for it. The sun always does wonders for my splendid red coat.

Thomas: (whispers) Pfft. Where have I heard this before?

James: It's no wonder that thanks to my coat, I'm the peoples' favorite engine. (whistles, music resumes)

Thomas: The favorite?

James: (cont…)

Sometimes you have to blow your whistle

To let the other engines know you're near

Sometimes you have to make a racket and to shout

In order to ensure that they're not left in any doubt

Somebody has to be the Favorite

So say, Hello! The Favorite is here

Thomas: James, how can you know you're the peoples' favorite engine?

James: It doesn't matter how. I just am. And by the way, are you going to ask me questions all day, or don't you have pigs to pick up from Farmer Trotter's? (grunts like a pig obnoxiously)

Thomas: So what if I do? The Fat Controller would say my job is just as important as yours, whatever you're doing next.

James: Didn't you know I'm the one who is taking your passengers on to Vicarstown?

Thomas: What about your music?

James: Ah, this was their stop. Apparently, from here their venue is easier to get to by road. They don't know what they're missing, what with the favorite engine being their guide.

Thomas: Ugh. Will you sto… (whistle is heard off-screen, both engines look to see Rosie coming in from the opposite track)

Rosie: Morning, Thomas. And, uh, hello, James.

Thomas: Morning, Rosie. I see your red paint looks nice and shiny in… (James realizes this comment is against him, butts in)

James: Ah, Rosie. Glad you've arrived. I have a connecting train in a few minutes. Since you've just come, you can get my coaches ready while I top up on water.

Rosie: Uh, sure thing, I suppose. I mean, it'll give me something to do. (whispers) Now I wish I hadn't been transferred from Vicarstown Goods Yard for the day.

Thomas: (having heard Rosie's statement) Must you always belittle everyone, James?

James: Oh, Thomas, you're the real sour puss. I'm only telling the truth, and everyone deserves to know the truth. (whistles) Have fun at the farm! (chuckles, puffing away)

Thomas: Hmmph.

Annie: Try not to let him get to you, Thomas.

Clarabel: It's just who he is, and only he can change that.

Thomas: (sighs) I know. I just wish he'd done it sooner. It's like running head-on into the sheds didn't teach him anything. (whistles, exits scene)

Narrator: Meanwhile, another engine was on his way to Vicarstown. (show Henry pulling a goods train along the line, passing other engines)

Henry: I do hope I'm running things to time. The people on the Mainland are expecting me.

H's Driver: You're fine, ol' boy. Ahead of schedule, in fact. Let's just take it in stride.

Narrator: But Henry's trucks had other ideas.

Troublesome Trucks: Why should he be the one to take things in stride?

Troublesome Trucks: We can do it, too, you know.

Troublesome Trucks: Let's help him out.

Troublesome Trucks: Yeah, we can get him there even earlier!

Troublesome Trucks: On! On! Faster! Faster! (they bump Henry furiously)

Henry: Whoa, what the…Oh, not this again! Stop! Slow down! We're approaching the junction!

Troublesome Trucks: Good for us. Now, we'll be extra early.

Henry: (whistling frightened) Help! Clear the line! Runaway coming through. Huh, I'm starting to sound like Gordon. Aah!

Narrator: But there was worse to come. The Signalman hadn't noticed that the points had jammed, and had already set Henry's signal to green! Henry could see it. He was already trying to slow down, but the trucks were not giving up! And then…everything seemed to happen at once. As the trucks pushed him along, Henry's bogies hit the faulty points. His wheels were lifted clean off the rails as his body turned to the left, dragging the trucks along behind. Henry crashed through the upper wall of the bridge, perched over the edge. His train had turned over and spilled across every track. All signals all went to red, while the engines in the vicinity could only watch in shock and awe. Henry, meanwhile, was nervously looking out over his perch. He wouldn't be going anywhere for a while.

Troublesome Trucks: Well, at least we got here early, eh?

Troublesome Trucks: (groans)

Narrator: Sir Topham Hatt soon received word of the incident, and started shuffling his model engines about.

STH: Oh bother. Just imagine what the people who ordered those goods will say. And so close, too. How's Henry holding up? (phone converse) Well, at least he stayed on the bridge. You can tell him that. Anyhow, I'll send Emily there with Rocky, on the double. Thank you for calling. Goodbye. (picks up the timetable) And as for the new goods train? Well, James isn't doing too much in the near future. If we have the train ready for the day after tomorrow, James could take it bright and early.

Narrator: Thomas was outside the office, and heard everything.

Thomas: (chuckling) James is going to be thrilled when he hears this. (gets startled as James comes in from opposite direction, Platform 5)

James: Hear what, Thomas?

Thomas: Oh, there you are. Did you hear Henry's had an accident?

James: Yes, I heard. Trucks too much for him, apparently. I saw him being rescued as I arrived.

Thomas: Well, get this Big Red. I heard Sir Topham Hatt is going to arrange a new goods train, and you're going to pull it!

James: What? Me? Pull a goods train? That's…wait a minute. If Henry's train was headed for the Mainland that means my train will be headed there, too. I'll gladly take the goods train, Thomas. Anything for an adventure! Besides, there must be a good reason why Sir Topham Hatt chose me for the job.

Thomas: Well, according to him, your schedule is…

James: (singing, slowly pulls out of the station, leaving Thomas angry and upset)

Somebody has to be the Favorite

That's just the way it is, you must agree

Some engines get to see the world and travel far away

While others have a place at which they always have to stay

Somebody has to be the Favorite

Somebody has to be me

Somebody has to be ME! (gives a chuckle, continues onward. Thomas gnashes his teeth, STH comes out of the office.)

STH: Thomas, was that singing I just heard?

Thomas: Yes, sir. It was James. I heard your plans for the new goods train, and I told them to him. I wish I hadn't, though.

STH: Oh, and why is that?

Thomas: It's not fair. That's why. Why should a stuck-up bossy boiler like him get to go anywhere on the Mainland? He doesn't deserve…

STH: (clears throat) Thomas, I believe you're taking all of this a little too personally. Actually, I'd say you're only jealous because you were not chosen for this job.

Thomas: Me jealous, sir? No, no, no way. So what if James gets an adventure? So what if he gets to deliver this important train? So what if…

STH: Surely I don't have to remind you, Thomas, that every job on the railway is important. The passengers, the milk, the Mail, the Flying Kipper, your Branch line…they all play a part in keeping the railway running. Speaking of which, I have to see who is going to take the Kipper tonight, what with Henry out of action. In the meantime, why don't you get along to the sheds? A nice rest will probably calm you down. (STH retreats to his office.)

Thomas: (sighs) Goodnight, sir. (to himself) I don't think I'm the one who needs calming down.

Narrator: That night, in the sheds, Thomas was still in a foul mood.

Thomas: (to Percy) I mean, sure, James is usually annoying, but today, it was like he had gone completely mad. He has the nerve to think he's the best engine in the world, everyone's favorite even. He insulted Rosie when she arrived to shunt, he made fun of my job at the farm, and then he got all full of himself when I told him he had to take Henry's goods to the Mainland. Is his boiler full of sludge or what? (realizes Percy puffing away) Percy, you're not even listening!

Percy: Oh, I am, Thomas. But, I have to take the Mail train. I can't let my job go, you know. (Percy exits turntable)

Emily: Me neither. I have to take the Flying Kipper for Henry. He's counting on me. (Emily puffs toward table, which turns to accommodate her)

Edward: I think what they're trying to say, Thomas, is that we all have responsibilities. Sir Topham Hatt gave James that job because he trusts him with it. James may get a bit cocky once in a while, but the fact that he is reliable is what really counts.

Thomas: Well, I don't know if I can trust him now. He could care less about me.

Gordon: Are you going to keep this up all night, or can the big engines get their sleep?

Thomas: If you want your sleep, just stop listening to me. (Gordon groans, James comes in tender first, humming and singing)

James: Some engines get to see the world and travel far away, while others have a place at which they always have to stay. Somebody has to…

Thomas: Somebody has to SHUT UP! (Edward and Gordon's eyes go wide, James' jaw drops)

James: I beg your pardon?

Thomas: If you are going on an adventure to the Mainland, then I'm making sure you get just what you deserve. You're selfish, arrogant and boastful, and your past record speaks for itself. How can you call yourself the favorite when you've caught your own brakes on fire, you've scared people and engines out of their wits, and you've told lies to get out of work? There is no way you could ever be anyone's favorite engine!

(silence over the shed, then…)

Edward: Thomas, I think you sh…

James: Well, guess what, little tank engine. You've got it worse than I do. You've left your coaches behind, you've fallen into a mine, you've crashed into a stationmaster's house, and you've run away more times than I can count. And let me give you what you deserve. If I can't be the favorite engine, neither can you! Sleep on that! (reverses into shed, slowly) And don't ever tell me to shut up again!

(silence again)

Edward: Oh dear.

Gordon: Ugh. Finally, some peace and quiet. (Edward gives a glare, Gordon doesn't notice. Both settle down to sleep.)

Thomas: Pfft! (whispers to himself) I'm the #1 engine, for pity's sake. I'd be a better choice for the favorite engine than him any day! If only I could prove it somehow.

Narrator: And then, an idea flew into his funnel.

Thomas: Yes, I will. I'll get Rosie's help before she goes back to the Goods yard. Ol' Big Red there will never see this coming! (chuckles)

Narrator: On the day of the delivery, James went to the goods yard in Vicarstown to collect his trucks.

James: Rosie, I'm here for my trucks.

Rosie: Oh, really. Which trucks are those?

James: What do you mean which trucks? The ones that were meant to replace Henry's train from when he had his accident. Sir Topham Hatt told me it was very important to take them to the Mainland today.

Rosie: Oh, those trucks. Yes, I remember now. Those trucks are important. It's a good thing Thomas came bright and early.

James: What? (crossly) THOMAS! (echoes through air, birds and critters are startled)

(Thomas, pulling trucks, chuckles, and starts singing)

Thomas: (singing, crosses Vicarstown bridge onto Mainland)

Sometimes you have to get up early

If there's someplace you really want to be

Sometimes you have to be awake before the dawn

Sometimes you're up and out before they know you're gone

If somebody has to be the Favorite

Then this time it's going to be me

That bossy boiler James will see

That this time the favorite is ME

Troublesome Trucks: Are we there yet? (chuckles, cackles)