(Exterior of the Steelworks, just inside of the main gate. The seven Steam Team engines, joined by Merlin and Hurricane, sit and watch STH, who addresses them. Thomas and James are at the front of the pack.)

Narrator: And so, with the forces of evil defeated, Thomas and his friends prepared to return to their home sweet home. But first…

STH: Well, I have to say: that was quite unexpected! Furthermore, it could have probably been avoided if you two had not been playing up.

James: Seriously, sir? What we did was nothing compared to what…

Thomas: James. Let him speak.

James: Ugh, fine.

STH: I am being serious. Your competition with each other is going too far. As if the two of you ruining last year's football match wasn't bad enough. James, you have no right to just assume that you're everyone's favorite engine, especially mine. You can never know anything until you ask someone else about it. That is the only way you can truly get someone to appreciate you. Understand?

James: (timidly) Yes, sir.

STH: And Thomas, you did not have the right to take James' train for him. Even if you had good intentions, disrupting the timetable only causes confusion, and maybe even delay. If you're going to take someone else's train, you must either receive their permission, or mine. Is that clear?

Thomas: Um, perfectly, sir.

STH: Good. You two can start learning to work together when you spend the next two weeks at the Waste Dump. (James' jaw drops)

Thomas: Of course, sir. We look forward to it, eh James?

James: (sarcastically) Oh, absolutely.

STH: Well, now that that's settled, I believe it's homeward bound for us.

Thomas: All of us, sir? What about Merlin? And Hurricane?

STH: Uh oh…I'm afraid I hadn't considered that far.

Thomas: They can't stay here, sir. They'd be miserable.

Merlin: Oh, yes. Please, if you let us come to the Island of Sonar, we shall work our wheels off to please you.

Hurricane: Or at least try to.

STH: Well, um…I can't think of any work for them off the top of my head. (An idea pops in James' pistons.)

James: Um, sir. Pardon me, but I have a few ideas.

STH: You, James?

James: Yes, sir. If you could contact the Earl of Sodor and have him meet us at Vicarstown. And could Rosie be the one to bring him?

STH: Hmm. I hope you know what you're doing, James.

James: I think I do, sir. For once. (the engines all laugh together.)

Narrator: As the sun began to set, the engines found themselves resting in Vicarstown Station. Some of them had a few words to say to one another… (the Steam Team is gathered at the far right track, at Platform 4. Thomas and James are in front. Merlin and Hurricane stand on another track, opposite of the same platform.)

Thomas: (chuckles slightly) James, for the record, I…I think I owe you an apology, for stealing your train.

James: And I'm sorry for teasing you. Sure, we can disagree once in a while. But I wouldn't trade a friendship for anything in the world! (they take in smiles with each other.)

Thomas: And Percy, thanks to coming to look for us!

James: You were very brave to try.

Percy: Of course. It was our duty. And for you, we'd do it all over again, right everyone?

Emily: Without a doubt!

Toby: Absolutely.

Edward: You said it, Percy!

(Edward looks to Gordon, standing next to him and looking unfazed by the experience. After a moment, though, Gordon gives a response.)

Gordon: (smiling) Yes. All over again, any place, any time!

(Thomas and James give smiles to their friends. Meanwhile, across the platform…)

Merlin: My dear Hurricane, I…believe I should apologize to you. Because of Frankie, I didn't think that any engine had the heart to change for the better. How wrong I was.

Hurricane: (timidly) Thank you, Merlin. About your friends, I-

Merlin: Please. They would not want me to dwell on the past.

Hurricane: I had no idea they were scrapped. Frankie did all of that herself. She told me.

(Merlin is slightly stunned, but recovers quickly.)

Merlin: No hard feelings, ol' boy. None.

Hurricane: Thanks. You know, after what Thomas said to me, I really came to my senses. I wonder, though, how did you find out you could trust me?

Merlin: I noticed your hesitation at Frankie's orders. I could tell you were only doing her bidding, and not what you wanted to do. You deserved better. And for what you did, you deserve my thanks.

Hurricane: Anything for a fellow engine. (to Thomas) Incidentally, Thomas, sorry I had to have you hoisted on the magnet. It was…necessary to make Frankie think I was still on her side.

Thomas: (chuckles) No problem. I did always want to see that place from the air.

(He and Hurricane exchange smiles, Rosie than enters on Thomas' track, whistling cheerfully.)

Rosie: Thomas! James! You're back!

Thomas: Good to see you, Rosie.

James: Good to see that you missed us! (they all chuckle as Sir Robert Norramby steps out of Rosie's cab onto the platform. STH goes to greet him.)

STH: Ah, Robert. Thank you for meeting with me.

SRN: Afternoon, Topham. I see you have many of your engines here. What's the occasion?

STH: Oh, it would take hours for me to explain. But, anyway, the reason I asked you here was because of a proposition I have, or rather my engines have.

SRN: Of course. I take interest in any matter concerning your engines.

STH: Uh, James, would you explain to the Earl your idea, please?

James: Oh, certainly sir. Um, Sir Robert, last time I was at the castle, I believe you said you needed some help, building your new museum or what not.

SRN: Indeed, yes.

James: Well, I'd like to present it to you, if you'd look to your right. The engine with three funnels is named Merlin. He's an experimental engine. He has no owner, and he's been hiding away for many years, just waiting for a job.

Merlin: So I have. If I may be permitted to assist you in your work, Sir Robert, it would give me such a feeling of being useful again. It's a feeling I've been missing out on for quite some time.

SRN: (chuckles) This engine is speaking my language. He'd be perfect to work up at the Castle. Thank you, James, for the suggestion.

James: My pleasure, sir. (to Rosie) And, Rosie?

Rosie: Yes, James.

James: I can't say how hard you've been working these yards, but if your workload is piling up, then I've brought you a partner.

Rosie: Really?

James: See the tank engine with 10 wheels? He's called Hurricane.

Hurricane: You know, just like a storm.

Rosie: Of course. (makes a whooshing sound like blowing wind.)

James: Anyway, he has a lot of shunting experience, and he's happy to help, if you need it.

Thomas: He can also show you how to make music with your work.

Hurricane: So, uh, Rosie, what say you?

Rosie: I'd love to have a partner to work with. The more, the merrier.

STH: That's the spirit, Rosie. I believe there's still a bit of daylight left for you to start showing Hurricane around.

Rosie: Yes, sir. Right away. Come on, Hurricane. (she reverses to head for the Goods Yard)

Hurricane: Right behind you, partner. (he puffs away to follow her.)

STH: And Merlin, I wish you luck with your new job, too.

Merlin: Thank you, sir. Much obliged. And if I may say, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Thomas and James. If they hadn't come to the Mainland, I would still be hiding away. So, thank you, both.

Thomas: Anytime, Merlin.

James: Welcome to Sodor! (The Earl climbs into Merlin's cab.)

SRN: Off we go to Ulfstead, Merlin!

Merlin: Yes indeed. A new home, and new adventures to behold. (chuckles, puffs away to his new job.)

Gordon: (to Edward) He has to be the queerest engine I've ever met. (Edward chuckles.)

STH: Well, Thomas and James. It seems that this little adventure has proved that you are both really useful engines. I admit, I'm proud of you for sticking up for each other and your new friends.

Thomas/James: Thank you, sir!

STH: Of course, I will still ask you to work at the Dump, for a little while.

James: Eh, of course, sir. I mean, why not?

Thomas: It'll be good for us!

Author's Note: This penultimate chapter was pretty much a wind-down from all action and suspense of the previous one. Thomas and James make amends, while Merlin and Hurricane each find new work to do. I deliberately used the Ulfstead scene from Chapter 2 as a set-up for Merlin's new job, and since Hurricane was good at shunting, I figured it appropriate to place him at Vicarstown, where he and Rosie will share shunting duties. I like to think I expanded Rosie's role in the story quite nicely, as her appearance in canon was a cameo in the truest sense, and nothing more. Heck, her appearance was premature because canon JBS was set after Series 21.

One other thing of note- I gave a reference to Series 19's "Reds vs. Blues" as a way to give Thomas' and James' friendship more depth. That episode from S19 is honestly one of the weakest from the Brennaisance, but I hoped that building on it in my version of JBS at least tried to salvage its reputation. Examining this story has made me realize a bit more about the relationship that Thomas and James have with each other. They're like a pair of mischievous brothers. James is the older one, but that doesn't necessarily make him smarter than Thomas, or vice versa. Neither of them is completely in the right, and are often at odds with each other. But when it comes to having them be sacrificed to the scrap heap, they would gladly put up with one another. Neither would want to see his sibling be taken away from him forever.

So, how will Thomas, James and their new friends readjust after this adventure? Find in the final chapter, Being Friends, which will not only conclude my version of JBS, but will also feature some behind-the-scenes info on what will follow it. And who knows? There may even be some new twists in this tale!