An Engine of Many Colours

An Engine of Many Colors is an episode of Roary the Racing Car's Adventures of Thomas and Friends: Series 22.

Summary
Set after 'The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor', and during 'A Shed for Edward', James has a succession of dreams about being repainted different colours. Each different colour seems fine once he gets used to it and even makes him more splendid. But, each time that James starts to show off, he dreams that he has another crash. It isn't until Princess Luna comes to James' rescue in his final dream, to help him discover that no matter what colour he's painted, he always will be the same James everyone knows and loves and what you do to be Really Useful is more important, as well.

Plot
The episode begins with James, pulling coaches at first, but then it changes to him racing along the line, showing off and trying to prove that he was the fastest red engine on Sodor. Thomas narrates how James' brakes failed and he ended up crashing at the back of Tidmouth Sheds, damaging himself and destroying the berth that Edward slept in.

Then, we turned at the Sodor Steamworks at night where workmen are looking up at a sobbing James, who is up on a hoist. James tearfully laments his paintwork being all ruined. Victor kindly tells him they'll have him fixed in no time. But James explains that the Fat Controller threatened to paint him blue if he misbehaved again once before. Kevin comes rushing over. He tells Victor he can't find anymore red paint but adds they have plenty of blue paint, to which James is utterly disgusted. He then fearfully says that if he is painted blue, he will never be the same. James' first dream starts.

His first dream begins with Thomas and Emily at Knapford Station and some of our heroes, and children on the platforms. James arrives. Emily and Thomas are both shocked to see James and ask him about his paint. Even our heroes are shocked as well. James looks back and, to his horror, discovers that he is now blue. He says that no one will think he's splendid now that he is blue. Thomas sighs and then, the Station Master asks James to take the Express for Gordon, the latter having come down with boiler ache. James is reluctant as he is worried people will make fun of his new paint. Thomas explains to James that the colour he is doesn't matter, it's what he does to be Really Useful that does. The cars agree, saying that James is still the same despite being a different colour. A little girl then mistakes James for Edward, much to James' offence. James then sets off with the Express.

Once James was coupled to the Express coaches and went on his way, he sees that the Express coaches are glowing and have suddenly gotten lighter. James starts to get used to his new paint and thinks that he can go as fast as he likes. He speeds up and whizzes past Spencer. Spencer warns James to stop showing off before he crashes again. James says that he knows, but then sees he's about to crash into the Vicarstown Bridge. He slams on his brakes and shuts his eyes as everything goes black.

James wakes up from his nightmare with a fright. He relaxes once he realizes that it was a dream. He then sees Henry outside pulling the Flying Kipper and went back to sleep and starts dreaming again.

His second dream begins with Stanley, Percy and our heroes in the shunting yard. James once again arrives. Percy and Stanley ask James about his paint. James once again looks back and, to his horror, discovers that he is now green. He says how terrible it is. Maxi laughs at James and his misfortune, but Roary and Cici tell James that green is a nice colour. Stanley also adds that Henry wants James to take his heavy goods train for him. James reluctantly agrees.

While James is pulling the heavy good train, he notices that the trucks are hovering above the tracks and glowing and have suddenly gotten lighter. James gets used to the green paint and thinks it makes him stronger. He speeds up and puffs up Gordon's hill, passing Rosie on the way. James tells Rosie she should be painted like him, but Rosie tells him to stop showing off before he crashes yet again. James ignores her until he sees Edward ahead of him with a goods train. James warns Edward he's coming and slams on his brakes and shuts his eyes as everything goes black once more.

James wakes up from his second nightmare with a fright. He settles down when he realizes he was having another bad dream, but he thinks it is too much. He then looks up at the silver moon and went back to sleep with a yawn and starts dreaming once again.

His third and final dream begins with The Duke and Duchess of Boxford waiting on the platform. James arrives with Spencer's special coaches. The Duke then says to James that they're glad to have him while Spencer is away. The Duchess sees that James' silver paint is polished. James once again looks back and, to his joy, discovers that he is now silver. He says that he thinks that's what he calls looking splendid as he puffs away.

James then speeds around the Island, passing Gordon on the way. Gordon tells him to stop showing off, but James ignores him. He speeds up Gordon's Hill and flies through the air spinning. The Duke tells James that it's getting bumpy. James lands on the tracks and apologizes. The Duchess tells James to stop showing off before he crashes yet again. When James hears this and "Another crash" keeps echoing on, he sees several of his friends passing him on the other line saying the sentence over and over again. Then Diesel appears, going backwards, saying to James evilly and deviously "Go on. Crash.". As Diesel's laughter echoes, James looks sideways worriedly and then looks forward at Knapford where Philip was shunting freight trucks. James yells to Philip, who pushes harder. James almost has a collision with the trucks but manages to avoid them. Suddenly, his dream turns into the steamworks where he is on a multicoloured turntable which spins as he shouts the names of various colors. James and the turntable spin down into the black void.

Then suddenly there was a bright light. James opens his eyes and finds himself in a strange, ethereal space full of stars and nebulae. He wonders where he is, what is this place and that is he still dreaming. Then he hears a familiar voice, saying "A warm welcome to you, James". Princess Luna appears before him, greeting him and explains that it is her duty to come into the dreams of her subjects as Princess of the Night, either at Equestria or the Island of Sodor. James realizes he is still asleep and still dreaming. Luna tells James that when he wakes up, his greatest fears will still exist, even when he goes back to sleep. James sadly admits that he is now and still afraid that he kept showing off, he'll end up in another crash, just like he did the day before, and also afraid of being painted in a different color that will not work out for himself ("I Don't Have a Color"). He also says that he wants to change but he doesn't know how. Luna first tells him that the engines, people and cars in his dreams are trying to tell him all along, but he just kept ignoring them. James says he knows and apologizes for it. Luna then tells James that he can change himself, only if he is truly and honestly willing to. James asks her what she means. Luna then asks what The Fat Controller told him and scold him about after crashing at the back of Tidmouth Sheds. James sadly replies that he said he told me many times about showing off and rushing about; and that he should have had his brakes fixed before he went racing with Rosie again and he should have checked before his small problem turned into a bigger one. Luna goes on to explain that it isn't what colour you are that matters, it's what you do to be really useful that does; in other words, it doesn't matter what you look like as long as you work hard. James remembers what Thomas told him in his first dream, and processes it carefully. James finally realizes that Luna and the engines and cars are right all along, but the dream begins to dissipate, with Luna disappearing and James starts screaming as he suddenly begins to fall into another black void.

James is still screaming in his sleep in reality, then he wakes up and calms down. Then the Fat Controller arrives and he talks to James. James, remembering what Luna and the cars told him, sincerely apologizes to the Fat Controller for showing off yesterday and explains that he is ready for a new colour as long as he can be Really Useful again. The Fat Controller gets the idea, and says that he did tell James a long time ago that if he misbehaved again, he would have him painted blue, but however, he can now see that James is sorry and he thinks that it's only right to have him painted in a color that suits him best. He shows James at his side Victor pushing a flatbed of paint cans towards him and a worker opens one of the cans. It's red. James only smiles and says "Oh...", off-screen.

Sometime later, Thomas and Roary and the other cars are at Knapford Station. James arrives, off-screen and greets them. Thomas, Roary and his friends greeted James back and compliment him and welcoming him back, all repaired and repainted, as well. James is shown that he was repainted in his normal red livery. James says that he is not going to say a word about his paintwork today. Thomas, Roary and the others are surprised at this. James tells them that it doesn't matter what colour he is, it's what he do to be Really Useful that matters. Thomas asks James who told him that. James says that Thomas did and Princess Luna, too, in a dream, and then puffs off to do his job. The gang is confused at what James said. As James puffs away, he quietly said to himself that he bets that his shiny red paintwork does look splendid again. The episode ends with while puffing away, James looks up at the sky and sees Princess Luna winking and smiles at his solution, and James smiles back at her.

Song

 * I Don't Have a Color - James

Trivia

 * The
 * Aunt Cass [from Big Hero 6] makes a cameo in James' third dream, saying 'Another crash!' alongside Rosie and Thomas.

Script
[The episode begins with the title "An Engine of Many Colours" shown with Thomas narrating it and James pulling coaches in the background. Then it changes to James racing up Gordon's Hill in The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor]

Thomas: (narrating) One day, James had been showing off, trying to prove that he was the fastest red engine on Sodor!

James: Wha-ha-ha-ha! Whoo-hoo!

Thomas: (narrating) When his brakes failed, he couldn't stop and crashed into Tidmouth Sheds!

[James screams as he crashes into the back of Edward's berth, destroying it. The scene changes to the Steamworks where workman are starting up at a sobbing James who is on the hoist]

Thomas: (narrating) So James had to be sent to the Steamworks to be repaired.

James: (tearfully) Look at my lovely paintwork!

Victor: Don't worry, my friend. We'll have you fixed up in no time.

James: A long time ago, the Fat Controller said that if I misbehaved again, he would paint me blue!

Kevin: I'm sorry, boss. But I can't find any more red paint. We have plenty of blue paint though.

James: Blue?! [gasps] I won't be the same at all if I'm painted blue!

[His first dream begins. Thomas, Emily, some kids and the cars are at Knapford Station. James arrives, off-screen.]

James: Heeeeere's James!

Thomas: James?! What happened to your shiny red paint?!

Emily: You look like Thomas and Tin Top!

James: Eh? [looks back and gasps. It is shown that he has been painted blue] I'm blue! Oh, no! Nobody thinks blue engines are splendid!

Thomas: [sighs in annoyance]

Knapford Stationmaster: Gordon's come down with boiler ache. Could you please take the Express for him, James?

James: Not in this color! What would everyone say?

Thomas: It doesn't matter what color paint you have, James. It's what you do to be really useful that matters.

[While Thomas is telling him, James just rolls his eyes and looks away]

Girl: Look, daddy. Edward is going to be taking our train.

James: Oh...

[James couples up to the coaches and sets off. Then he looks back at the coaches. They are glowing and have suddenly gotten lighter]

James: Eh? Pulling the Express was never this easy before! These coaches are so light, I can go as fast as I want! Woo-hoo! Make way for an important engine! Express coming through!

Spencer: James! Stop showing off before you have another crash!

James: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [gasps]

[James sees that he's about to crash into the Vicarstown Bridge, which is raising up]

James: [slamming on his brakes] Ooh! Oh, no!

[James jolts awake, screaming and gasping. He looks around in horror, panting.]

James: [gasps and pants] Phew. it was all just a dream!

[He sighs in relief then hears Henry's whistle outside. He looks out of the window and sees Henry pulling the Flying Kipper before yawning and falling back asleep. His second dream starts. James, Stanley, Maxi, Roary and CiCi are in the shunting. James arrives, once again off screen]

James: Here's James.

Stanley: James! Is that you?

Percy: You look like me and FB.

James: [looks back and gasps again. It's revealed he's been painted green] I'm green? Oh, this is terrible.

Maxi: [laughs] You're-a right, James. That paint-a makes-a you look-a ridiculous! [laughing]

Percy: Maxi!

Roary: Don't listen to him, James.

Cici: Oui, Sherri. Green is a nice color. I think it suits you.

James: No it doesn't!

Stanley: Least you're back on the rails again, James! And just in time too. Henry's been delayed! The Fat Controller wants you to take his heavy goods train.

James: Humph.

[Later James is hauling the heavy goods train when he looks back. The trucks are glowing, hovering and have seemingly gotten lighter]

James: (chuckles) For a heavy goods train, this certainly feels very light! Maybe green makes you stronger? Strong and green like Henry! That's me!

[He passes Rosie on Gordon's hill]

James: [whistles] Maybe you should be repainted green, Rosie. Ha-ha-ha. Then you'll be as strong as me and Henry!

Rosie: Well, maybe you should stop showing off before you have another crash!

James: [laughs] Yay! [gasps seeing Edward ahead of him with a goods train] Look out, Edward!

Edward: Oh!

James: Oh, no! Ah, ah, ah, argh!

[Everything goes black. James jolts awake, screaming once again]

James: [gasps and pants] This is too much! Not another bad dream?!

[He looks up at the silver moon before yawning and falling back asleep once again. His third and final dream starts. The Duke and Duchess are the platform. James arrives, once again off screen and whistling]

James: Here's James!

The Duke of Boxford: Ah, James, I'm so glad the Fat Controller let us borrow you whilst Spencer is on loan.

The Duchess of Boxford: Ooh, I see you've gotten your silver paint polished! Very smart!

James: Silver? [he looks back and it's revealed that he's been painted silver] Oh yes! This is what I call looking splen-did!

[He sets off. He then speeds past Gordon]

James: Whoa! Don't I look marvelous!

Gordon: Stop showing off!

[James races up Gordon's Hill and flies through the air spinning]

James: Wha-hoo!

The Duke of Boxford: James, It's getting quite jumpy back here!

James: [landing back on the tracks] Sorry about that!

The Duchess of Boxford: If you keep showing off, James, you'll have another crash!

[As soon as James hears this, he stopped smiling, his paintwork stopped sparkling, and the sentence keeps echoing. He looks forward to see Rosie, Thomas and Aunt Cass passing him on the other track repeating the sentence]

Rosie: Another crash...

Aunt Cass: Another crash...

Thomas: Another crash...

[James now looks so worried until he sees Diesel now, who stops and reverses]

Diesel: Go on. Crash.

[James looks more worried as Diesel's laughter echoes. He then spots Knapford Station ahead where Philip is shunting some trucks in front of him]

James: PHILIP!

Philip: Huh?

James: No, no, no, no, no! I really don't want to crash again! Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh.

[James manages to avoid crashing into Philip but the scene soon changes to the steamworks where James is on a multicolored turntable which starts spinning as he starts naming different colors]

James: Oh, no! Brown! Purple! Yellow! Green! Orange!

[James screams as he and the turntable spin down into the black void, but then suddenly a bright light shines so brightly. James stops screaming and opens his eyes to find himself in a strange, ethereal space full of stars and nebulae.]

James: [echoing] Hello? Where am I? What is this place?

Princess Luna: [echoing] A warm welcome to you, James.

James: Hey, I know that voice.

[Princess Luna approaches]

James: Princess Luna! It's really you! Or am I dreaming?

Princess Luna: What do you think?

James: Let me see. You just rescued me from my fall. Yeah, probably still asleep and dreaming. But how did you get in here? Shouldn't you be checking ponies' dreams at Equestria?

Princess Luna: I am the princess of the night. Thus it is my duty to come into everyone's dreams. Either at Equestria or the Island of Sodor.

James: Oh. So am I dreaming or not?

Princess Luna: I assure you that you are asleep. But when you awake and go back to sleep, the thing that frightens you most will still exist.

James: [nervously] Eh... oh, who am I kidding, your highness, you're right. I afraid to crash again like I did yesterday.

Princess Luna: Hmmm... Is crashing really what frightens you the most?

James: Mm-mm. And not only, I'm afraid to be a painted in a color that doesn't suit me.