Narrator: A feeling of determination seemed to spread throughout the entire world, even to a rather hot place where a lonely prisoner was deeply on alert.

(After shot of Steelworks, pan inside to show Thomas standing silently and still on a siding, surrounded on his sides by shelving and machinery. On a separate line to his left, Hurricane stands guard.)

Thomas: You don't have to be like this, you know.

Hurricane: Stop it! Your smart mouth has already gotten us both in hot water.

Thomas: I'm not being smart. I'm worried about you.

Hurricane: Hmmph. No need for that.

Thomas: I've seen the way Frankie treats you. No one deserves that.

Hurricane: That's the way we do things here, all right? It's settled!

Thomas: You know you want better than this, and so do I. Why do you keep listening to her?

Hurricane: You can never know my feelings! When she declares she's the engine of the highest degree, all I can do is bow down and carry out her every wish. She's the favorite engine here, and no one can change that. If I try to show that I'm better than her, I'll just get into trouble.

(show Thomas looking down at his buffers sympathetically)

Thomas: (sighs) I…think I understand how you feel.

Hurricane: I already said you can't.

Thomas: I was trying to prove I was the favorite engine. That's how I got here in the first place.

Hurricane: (surprised) Really?

Thomas: I had a friend who boasted how he was the favorite on Sodor. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore, and when he had the chance to come to the Mainland, I took it from him, so I could prove I was more the favorite than he was. Now, I wish I hadn't.

Hurricane: Huh. Yeah, if I was in your wheels, I'd probably feel the same…(gasps. Thomas has left his spot!) Oh! Cheeky trickster! Where are you?

Narrator: Thomas followed his track all around the building, trying to stay in front of Hurricane as much as possible.

Thomas: (panting) Come on, Driver! Faster!

(show his driver rearranging the gauges, while the fireman furiously shovels coal.)

Narrator: But Hurricane was not one to be left in the dust.

Hurricane: Come now, Thomas. The doors are shut, and there are workmen everywhere. Why don't you stop running before you hurt someone?

Thomas: NEVER!

(Thomas continues his chase and pursuit for several more seconds, until he notices a track curving off to a dark and shadowy corner of the building. He takes the curve.)

Hurricane: No! Not back there! Thomas!

(Thomas reaches the end of the curve, is astonished at what he sees before him. He gasps! Before him, he sees a circular pit of bubbling, molten lava-like liquid, big enough to fit an engine. Above, a maneuverable high-strength magnet hangs from the ceiling. Off to Thomas' right, a wall of plaques is shown, each with names and numbers on them. Above many of them sit model depictions of British locos. One plaque mysteriously has an engine model with no name or number under it. Another plaque, with accompanying model, reads 'THOMAS.')

Narrator: Thomas could only gape in terror. Hurricane slowly came around from the opposite direction, to the other track that stopped at the molten pit.

Hurricane: Now you've done it. You should never have seen this. Now, I have no choice but…

Thomas: (desperately) How could you do this? To me or anyone else? This is…unethical!

Hurricane: There's no…room for ethics in the hottest place in town.

Thomas: Well, I would never want to stay at a hot place that is governed by a pair of cold-hearted monsters!

Hurricane: (taken aback, sadly) You…you think I'm a monster?

Thomas: (seeing his reaction, sighs) No. Not really. And I don't want you to think of me as one, either. I told you the truth about my friend, and wanting to be the favorite engine. If not for you, I may never have admitted that. So, thank you.

Hurricane: (timidly) Frankie has never said 'thank you' to me before. You…you don't deserve this. None of the other engines did.

Thomas: All the others were…melted down?

Hurricane: Against everyone's better judgment, yes, all except one. He got out. He was a tricky one to catch. We got his friends, but not him. Apparently, he had some kind of…power that enabled him to escape.

Thomas: Power? Hmm. (comes to a realization) There was a hole in the fence. Did he…?

Hurricane: He got out that way, yes. Told you the track hadn't been used for years. I think he took the switch track, the one you passed on your way down. (a short pause before Thomas breaks the silence.)

Thomas: Listen to me, Hurricane. This is no place for us. We have to leave.

Hurricane: I can't leave. If I do, Frankie will become suspicious and hunt me forever. She'll come for you, too.

Thomas: Then, what happens now?

Hurricane: I'll tell you what. You're going to escape.

Thomas: But what…?

Hurricane: Don't ask. Just follow me to the fence. (he backs up from his spot, Thomas does the same.)

(Transition to both engines and the fence, Hurricane in front.)

Hurricane: When Frankie gets back, I'll cover for you. I promise.

Thomas: You sure about this?

Hurricane: Positive. Thanks to you, for the first time I'm thinking with a clear conscience. I owe you one, Thomas. Hurry now!

Thomas: Will you be alright?

Hurricane: I'll do the best I can. Now go! (Thomas has been switched onto the curved track, puffs away quickly. Hurricane watches until the track is switched to him, than reverses swiftly. Thomas has slowed down a bit so as to not derail again with so much obscuring his view. Glancing around him, he is surprised to find a broken piece of metal lying beside the track.)

Thomas: That's funny. What's that doing here? Why is it curved like that? And…where does this track go? Gosh, am I playing 20 questions or something? I should just stop talking now. (he puffs silently onward.)

Narrator: Meanwhile, the rescue party was carrying on. They had just passed the blue houses Thomas spotted the day before. Sir Topham Hatt observed his map. (show Percy and Edward in front, followed by Gordon/Toby/Emily)

STH: We should be getting to a junction after the next two rights, Percy.

Percy: Yes, sir.

Edward: It should help a lot now that the weather's clearing up. (hears STH moaning) Something the matter, sir?

STH: I'm just trying to think what to say to Thomas and James when we find them.

Gordon: Probably thinking of a suitable punishment for them.

Toby: Gordon!

STH: No, he's right. They do deserve something.

Percy: Don't be too harsh on them, sir. If I'm right, whatever's been keeping them from coming home will have been punishment enough!

Emily: I agree.

Edward: Most definitely. (engines smile at one another as they puff forcefully on)

Narrator: Meanwhile, Frankie was returning from her delivery, rather crossly.

Frankie: That little blue traitor! Having the cheek to talk back to me. To make me look stupid; it's ridiculous! When I get my buffers on him again, I'll make him sorry! I'll make him work so hard that his wheels will fall off. And when that's done, he'll be just right for the…(is not paying attention, bumps into the back of an engine in front of her.) Ugh. What the…who did that? (camera pans forward, revealing the engine to be James.)

James: Sorry. I'm just a bit…misguided. I've been around this loop so many times I don't know where I'm going.

Frankie: Well, could you hurry along, please? Where are you headed, anyway?

James: To some big Steelworks place. I'm going to find a tank engine named Thomas there, I hope. (Frankie's eyes open wide at this.)

Frankie: Oh, really? Well, I work at the Steelworks.

James: Do you?

Frankie: Yes. Let me go in front, and I'll show you the way. I'm Frankie, by the way.

James: You're Frankie, eh? The trucks said you and Hurricane delivered them for Thomas.

Frankie: Indeed.

James: My name is James, from the Island of Sodor. You've probably heard stories about me and the other famous engines.

Frankie: Well, I hear tell from occasional passersby.

James: Oh, and did you per chance hear that I am my controller's favorite engine?

Frankie: Is that right? I didn't hear that. But, I shouldn't be too surprised I suppose, what with your splendid red coat and all.

James: You noticed? You've got taste, my dear engine.

Frankie: (chuckles) Thank you. I think you and I are going to get on like a house on fire. (they laugh together)

Author's Note: With help from Thomas, Hurricane has started to realize the error of his ways. He ultimately has let the prisoner free. Meanwhile, Frankie has run into James, and convinced him to accompany her! The main goal of this chapter was to develop both Hurricane and Thomas further. Hurricane reveals his inner demons, which causes Thomas to realize his own errors at taking James' train without thinking of the consequences. Also, the dark secret of the Steelworks is finally revealed: those who don't do their job get punished severely. I am rather proud of the scene where Thomas gives an outburst after seeing the melting pot. It not only breaks Hurricane down to his deepest level; it also allows Thomas to realize that he can lose his temper too easily.

James getting lost again was, I admit, rather unoriginal. But I tried to play it out as him misunderstanding the trucks' directions, and after a while, ending up in the same spot again and again. This was how Frankie was able to find him. Naturally, James is so determined to find Thomas that he'll listen to any "help" that might get him what he wants.

All the while, Percy and the others have reached the Mainland and continue their search. One thing that really upset me about JBS and its predecessor, The Great Race, seemed to just undo all of Percy's character development seen over previous episodes and specials. Percy went from a wise and brave hero to a wimpy, unintelligent toddler. What the heck? My version of the special allows me to reinterpret Percy's character, as the one who will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of his friends, continuing on his development from Tale of the Brave.

Incidentally, I shall start leaving names of future chapters in this section. Again, thank you for your time and please, join us in hte next chapter, The Wizard's Tragedy!