The Lost Man

The Lost Man is the twenty-ninth episode of Sodor High School: Thomas and Friends Tales.
==Synopsis==
Thomas and Rosie investigate Luke's claim that the man in the yellow jacket has gone missing. 
==Plot==
As work continued on repairing the damaged section of the school, Thomas and Rosie talk in private about the man in Luke's story, with Rosie convinced there has to be more to it, although Thomas isn't sure they'll ever know who the mystery man is. Rosie claims otherwise, determined to clear Luke's name. To begin their investigation, Thomas suggests they start at the place where it happened, Brendam Docks. Thomas texts Percy to take Emily home after school, with Rosie confident the task will be simple—at least until she and Thomas arrive. While Rosie makes a detour to the washroom, Thomas begins looking around and asking questions.
After leaving the washroom after ten minutes, Rosie spots Paxton talking to Dieselm where Paxton explains what he heard from Thomas and Rosie, with Diesel convinced that Paxton did the right thing in telling him; a high school can't have a murderer, so if they report this to the higher ups, Luke will be sent away and never be allowed to return. Rosie is furious over what Diesel plans to do, but accidently gives herself away. Diesel, knowing that Thomas and Rosie will try to stop him, tells Paxton they need to hurry, with Paxton beginning to believe he made a big mistake in telling Diesel.
While that's going on, Thomas is speaking to a man by the name of Baxter, nicknamed Cranky due to his grumpy personality, but is not getting the answers he needs. Thomas remains persistent, and Cranky finally caves and reveals what he knows, namely how his Father saw the man fall into the ocean. When the man was rescued, he spoke in a language no one could understand. Thomas is relieved that the man is at least alive, and Cranky says the man says the name "Victor". Thomas finds Rosie and tells her what Cranky mentioned, but Rosie delivers bad news regarding Diesel and Paxton knowing the story about Luke. Thomas and Rosie hurry to Victor's shop in the town of Ffarquhar. Inside the shop, Victor greets the two teenagers, and Thomas has a few questions for him. Rosie begins by asking about a man who speaks a different language. Victor is surprised and then speaks in the same language that Cranky described, causing Thomas and Rosie to realize the man is, in fact, Victor, who starts to reveal what really happened after a small accident from Kevin in the back of the shop.
Victory spent nearly his whole life living in Cuba before leaving to explore the outside world, first coming to the Island of Sodor where he could learn English since the only language he knew and understood was Spanish. They first stopped at a harbor in Ireland, where one of the passengers was a young teenage boy who looked very frightened. Thomas and Rosie kniew it was Luke, and Victor's story matched Luke's perfectly, and Victor continues until the boat arrived at Brendam Docks. As everyone started getting off, the boy (Luke) was pushed into him (Victor), breaking the railing and causing him to fall into the ocean below. Luckily, Victor had been rescued and sent to the nearest hospital. Victory claims he soon learned English, settled down, and opened his shop. Rosie mistakening mentions Luke's name, much to Thomas's displeasure, with Victor realizing Luke is the name of the boy who accidently pushed him off the boat, and Thomas explains Luke's side of the story, with Victor promising to show up and set the record straight.
The next day at school, Thomas and Rosie are greeted to the sight of Diesel and his gang marching for the Narrow Gauge classroom chanting "Send him away! He's a danger to our school!", much to their horror. Sir Handel and Duncan angrily glare at Thomas and Rosie, but Rosie insists she and Thomas are innocent before revealing Paxton told Diesel about Luke, having spotted them at the harbor—basically babbling everything again. Thomas tells Luke that Victor's story matches Luke's story, with Luke glad that Victor, the man, is alive and coming to the school. Unfortunately, Diesel and his gang try breaking down the door, with Thomas, Skarloey, and Rheneas trying to stop the door from breaking open before Sir Handel and Peter Sam joining in.
Diesel orders Paxton to get Sir Topham Hatt and Mister Percival so they can learn about Luke, but Rosie tries convincing Luke to do the right thing and find Victor. Paxton turns and flees, but no one knows who he is going to find. Rosie tries helping her friends with the door, with Owen and Merrik trying to get the Smelter Class students to leave to no avail before the door breaks open, allowing Diesel and his group inside. Luke prepares to surrender himself to the principal, but Rosie is the first to defend him, followed by Thomas, and the Narrow Gauge students. Diesel threatens to have the group beaten up before Luke is taken away, but the arrival of Sir Topham Hatt and Mister Percival prevents that.
Diesel explains the situation, claiming he and his friends are just trying to stop a murderer, much to Sir Handel's anger. Just then, Victor arrives with Paxton by his side, who then reveals to Luke that he, in fact, is the same man who got pushed overboard, and cements it by speaking Spanish, which Luke recognizes. Sir Topham Hatt questions Luke for being at Sodor High School despite never officially enrolling, and Luke explains his reason, only for Mister Percival to reveal that Luke's parents are, in fact, going to transfer the boy to the school after doing some research and discovering how bad Luke's other school really is. Luke is very happy to being able to enroll in Sodor High School for real, and Sir Topham Hatt scolds Diesel for his actions and warns him to stop or risk expulsion. Paxton apologizes to Luke, and is forgiven. Class then resumes without interruption, and Luke looks forward to calling his parents to tell them the good news.
==Characters==
* Thomas 
* Rosie 
* Sir Topham Hatt 
* Annie and Clarabel 
* Victor 
* Kevin 
* Mr. Percival
* Sir Handel 
* Peter Sam
* Rusty 
* Diesel 
* Paxton 
* Mr. Duke
* Luke 
* Freddie 
* Cranky (Debut)
* Skarloey (does not speak)
* Rheneas (does not speak)
* Duncan (does not speak)
* Emily (mentioned)
* Percy (mentioned)
* The Horwich family
** Mr. Horwich (mentioned)
** Mrs. Horwich (mentioned)
* The Wren family
** Mr. Wren (mentioned)
** Mrs. Wren (mentioned)
* Cranky's Father (mentioned)
* 'Arry and Bert (referenced)
* Mighty (referenced)
* Mac (referenced)
==Cast==
==Trivia==
* This episode and the previous one is based off the television series special, "Blue Mountain Mystery".
* This is the second episode after "Retracing Your Steps" that Emily doesn't appear in and the first episode of the series where Thomas and Sir Topham Hatt appear without her.
* This is also the first episode since his debut that Leo doesn't appear in.
==Goofs==
Category:Thomas and Friends
Category:Sodor High School
Category:Episodes
Category:Fan Fiction