(Thomas at the junction with Annie and Clarabel. Gordon pulls slowly in with his goods train)

Thomas was waiting at the junction with Annie and Clarabel for his passengers to exit the train, when Gordon arrived with his goods train.

Thomas: (glances at Gordon, then sniffs) Phew! What a funny smell. Can you smell that, Annie and Clarabel?

Annie: (confused) No, Thomas. I can't smell a smell.

Clarabel: Quite right, Annie. That's what I was thinking.

Thomas: (thinking hard) Well, it's a funny, musty sort of smell if you ask me. What do you think, Gordon?

Gordon: (puzzled) Well, no one noticed it till you did, Thomas. It must yours. Huh.

Thomas: (sarcastically understanding) Mm, good point, Gordon. (sighs, cheekily) Well, I don't think so. Annie, Clarabel, do you know what I think it is? (Annie and Clarabel express looks of curiosity) It's ditch water. (chuckles)

Gordon: (surprised) Ditch water? Huh.

(Annie and Clarabel exchange looks of shock. The guard's whistles blows)

Thomas: (whistling loudly) Goodbye, Gordon. (chuckling as he leaves the station)

Thomas was feeling very amused with himself, but Annie and Clarabel could hardly believe their ears. They had great respect for Gordon The Big Engine, and felt sympathy over his situation.

Clarabel: (firmly) That wasn't very, Gordon. We feel quite ashamed, you know.

Annie: Indeed. You mustn't be rude, Thomas. You make us ashamed.

Thomas: (chuckles) Oh, come on, Annie and Clarabel. Where's your sense of humor? Gordon knows I'm only joking around.

Annie: Oh, does he now?

Thomas: (thinking harder) Well…it's a possibility. We're cheeky towards each other all time. It is funny after all.

Clarabel: Well, he may not have found that very funny, Thomas. Gordon feels his position deeply, and YOU know it.

Thomas: Oh, don't you two worry. Gordon and I will talk it out later.

Annie: That's a very good idea.

Clarabel: Quite right, Annie. And an apology would very much be in order too.

But Thomas didn't worry too much about Gordon. He returned Annie and Clarabel to Knapford Yard, and then went off to a mine for some trucks.

(Scene shifts to a view over the mine)

The lead mines are located on Thomas' branch line near Toryreck and Dryaw, and Thomas and Toby would sometimes come down here for some trucks, and perhaps make a few deliveries of lead. Long ago, miners digging for lead had tunnels under the ground. Though their roves were strong enough to hold up trucks, they could not bare the weight of engines. For that reason, a large notice is put up, warning engines not to enter the area.

DANGER! ENGINES MUST NOT PASS THIS BOARD!

Thomas had been given this warning almost every time before he entered the mine, but he always forgot every time. He had often tried to pass the board, but had never succeeded, since his driver always let off steam before he could do so. Thomas was in a joking mood, and didn't care what he did.

Thomas: (chuckles) That silly old board. Driver doesn't know my plan today. I'll show them just how brave I really am.

But Thomas was deciding on a very big mistake as he trundled along towards the mine. Once he arrived, he went about his usual task to shunt the trucks out of one siding, and then pull out full ones from another. Once they arrived, Thomas found himself just as many inches away from the DANGER sign as his first truck. His plan would now work to his expectation. He waited as his fireman exited the cab and walked over to switch the points.

Fireman: Come on now, Thomas. All clear.

Thomas chuffed slowly along, his driver leaning out of the cab to see where they were going. This gave Thomas his chance.

Thomas: (to himself) Right. Now for my plan. (bumps the trucks fiercely, knocking his driver off the footplate) Hurrah! I've done it. I've done it. (chuckles)

Fireman: Oi! Thomas!

Driver: Come back!

Thomas proudly followed the trucks into the siding past the notice board. (Thomas' happy expressiong turns to worried when he hears a sound) Suddenly, he heard a rumbling, and a groaning. Then the rails quivered, as the fireman jumped clear.

(The rails brake and Thomas sinks into the ground, panicking, as the trucks giggle at him)

Thomas: (wailing tremblingly) Help! Help! Oh, dear! (coughs and splutters) Fire and smoke! I'm sunk!

Thomas could only see out of the hole, but he couldn't move an inch.

Thomas: (groaning) Oh, dear. I am a silly engine. (groans, but gasps as he hears a car door bang shut)

Topham: (walking up and clearing his throat, sternly) Yes, Thomas. You are. And a very naughty one too. I saw you.

Driver: So did I. It serves you right, Thomas. (Sir Topham Hatt looking at him and nodding) If I've warned you once, I've warned over a dozen times NOT to pass that board.

Topham: You could've seriously hurt both your crew with your carelessness, Thomas. I am very disappointed in you. You've just caused yourself your branch line for quite some time. (Thomas groans in shame as he continues) Percy will have to run it together with Toby until I feel you've have earned it back again. I hope it will teach NOT to go past danger signs. It's surely no different than passing a red signal…(clears his throat)…as you've just learnt.

Thomas: (ashamedly) I couldn't agree more, sir. But please get me out. I won't be naughty again. I promise.

Topham: (chuckles) Of course, Thomas. Of course. The trucks can't get themselves out of that siding, now can they?

Thomas: No, sir. They can't.

Topham: (signals his hand up, thinking) Yes, yes, well, enough now, Thomas. Please, let me think. Now, we surely bring Jerome and Judy to this sort of emergency. It's nowhere near firm enough to carry their weight. (thinks harder) Hmm, I might have a different idea. Yes, and a pretty quick one too.

(Scene fades out on Sir Topham Hatt explaining and shifts to Gordon in the yard)

Gordon was still busy shunting in the yard when the manager came to see him.

Manager: Hello, Gordon. I've just received an important call from Sir Topham Hatt.

Gordon: Hmm. Important, sir?

Manager: (sighs) Yes, yes. Well, he needs your help exactly. Thomas has fallen down a mine, and they need a big strong engine like you to pull him out.

Gordon: (gasps in amusement) Oh. Well, certainly, sir. I'll head over there straight away.

Manager: That would be best. Thank you for all your hard work here in the yard. I'll call up Sir Topham and surely remind him of that. (walks away)

Gordon: (whistles loudly) Thank YOU, sir.

(Gordon races away out of the yard past a very surprised James, as an instrumental to Original Song: Rescue Engine Coming Through starts in the same style as Streamlining and The Shooting Star Is Coming Through)

Gordon: Down a mine, is he? (chuckles) What a joke. What a joke. (chuckles louder as he races along, thundering through stations and under bridges)

And Gordon raced off to the rescue.

Gordon: Make way!

A rescue engine's coming through!

Whoosh!

You'd think I'm only big and blue

But next you'll see next of me,

I'll race to the scene

To save the day

But first, I must say that -

Poor Thomas

Down a mine he chuffed

But I'll have him out in just a couple of puffs

So won't you make way for me!

Children: (waving on the bridge) Go, Gordon, go!

Gordon: I have the strength and all the speed

Workmen: (as Gordon arrives) Go, Gordon, go!

Gordon: To help a fellow friend in need

Main Line-ing (holds out, as he arrives behind Thomas, whistling and chuckling as Thomas looks nervously up at him) Hello, little Thomas. You are in a mess, aren't you? (startles and settles down as Sir Topham Hatt clears his throat and raises an eyebrow at him) Very sorry, sir. Right away.

It wasn't long before strong were fastened between the two engines. Sir Topham Hatt stood back with Thomas' driver and fireman to watch the rescue operation.

Topham: Are you ready, Gordon? Heave!

(Gordon grunts as he struggles to pull a whimpering Thomas out of the mine)

The job seemed a lot harder than they all thought. Gordon's cheeks had nearly turned purple, and he was panting hard…until he finally pulled out of the hole and safety past the board. The workmen cheered, and Gordon felt very pleased with himself. He was especially glad that his friend Thomas was safe.

Topham: Well done, Gordon. I'm very pleased with you. It wasn't easy, but you tried your hardest and surely put your strength to the test.

Gordon: Why, thank you, sir.

Topham: Yes, well, don't thank me just yet. I'd like you both to return to Tidmouth Sheds. All the other engines will be there too, and I have an important announcement to make. (walks away)

Thomas

And Yes, sir. Right away, sir. (both whistle as they reverse

Gordon: down the tracks)

On the way home, Thomas had made up his mind about what to say to Gordon.

Thomas: (sighs, sadly) Thank you for helping me, Gordon. I'm sorry I was rude to you earlier. I've just come to realize how serious a situation like this can be after all.

Gordon: (chuckles) Oh, that's alright, Thomas. You made me laugh.

Thomas: (puzzled) I did?

Gordon: Yes, well, it did me good, you see. I'm in disgrace, you know, and I've felt a bit low about myself lately.

Thomas: Oh, well, I'm in disgrace too, Gordon. Sir Topham Hatt has taken my branch line away.

Gordon: Why, so you are, Thomas. We're both in disgrace then. Look, shall we form an alliance?

Thomas: (confused) An alli…um….an allia…oh, what was it?

Gordon: An alliance.

Thomas: Oh, an alliance. For what, Gordon?

Gordon: Why, well, it's plain and simple: United We Stand, Together We Fall. You help me and I'll help you. How about that, mmm?

Thomas: Right you are, Gordon.

Gordon: Good. That's settled then.

And buffer to buffer, the allies puffed home.

(Thomas and Gordon whistle as they head back towards Tidmouth Sheds. Original Song: We Can Only Be We begins, in a similar style to You Can Only Be You)

Gordon: Every incident we've both been through

Has at least gotten the best of our importance

But now that we've made a team of two

It doesn't stop gaining our confidence

Thomas: We stand together as one

There's nothing that could possibly be done

United We Stand, Together We Fall

Believe in our hearts to say it all

Gordon: I don't need to be faster, bigger, stronger

Thomas: I don't need more than six small wheels

Both: We don't need to be taller or be longer

Being allies has it's own appeal

Gordon: (speaking) Of course!

'Cause every moment, every day is worth it

Even when you help out a friend in need

(singing) To pull the express, you have to earn it

It's not all about your strength or speed

Thomas: Why shan't we have to be we?

As friends, this is what we're meant to be

No more coaches or branch lines for our own

We still have each other to lead us home

Gordon: Pulling coaches may involve some shunting

Thomas: Rules and regulations still apply

Gordon: Being fast enough for the express is one thing

Thomas: But carelessness leads us is in short supply

Both: We can only be we

We all do our bests when we work as a team

Thomas: Slow down

Don't count on any close calls

Gordon: United We Stand, Together We Fall

Both: United We Stand, Together We Fall

Believe in our hearts to say it all

(Thomas and Gordon whistle as they arrive at Tidmouth Sheds around sunset, beginning the next chapter)