A Christmas to Remember

**A Christmas to Remember** is the fifth episode of the second season and fifteenth overall.

## Plot

Percy arrives at Wellsworth with the mail train and overhears Nia saying that it’s nice to see friends reunite again, in referring to BoCo’s return. Though he shares this sentiment, it makes him upset.

At the sheds, Percy explains how much he misses Thomas to Emily. She assures her that everyone does. Percy adds that he would have wished that Thomas could be back by Christmas, but that is no longer the case. James however asserts that they should forget about it, but Gordon comments that he could have said it more politely. He tells Percy that on a bright side, they have the Christmas party to look forward to. Percy agrees and Gordon adds that they should all get some rest.

The next morning, Mr. Percival arrives to assign the engines their tasks. Gordon and Rebecca are to pull the express, while Percy and Rosie will continue with branch line work. He also notes to Percy that he will be picking up a special coach as VIP transport for Lady Hatt and the rest of the Hatt family.

At Knapford, Nia arrives with a flatbed with a Christmas tree. Percy tells her how Thomas used to do that task. Just then, a workmen interrupts to tell Nia that she is cleared to shunt the flatbed into the platform for unloading.

Percy heads down the branch line, lost in thought and almost ignored Bertie’s Christmas greeting from a level crossing. Both Bertie and Terence share sentiment that Percy doesn’t quite seem like himself. Bertie notes that hopes Percy is alright despite that.

Percy arrives with the trucks at Brendam. While waiting for them to be unloaded, he remembers back to when Thomas was loaded onto the ship and headed to Africa. Percy is awoken by Diesel’s horn, and Cranky tells him that his trucks were unloaded 20 minutes ago. Salty arrives and tells him to cheer up and sings his parody of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. He then tells him to hurry to pick up his next train, and Percy departs.

Percy heads on to the branch line again with his next train. He becomes lost in thought about Thomas again, and unbeknownst to him, misses a red signal. He is awoken from his thoughts by Gordon who is waiting with the express at Elsbridge. Percy manages to stop just shy of colliding with him. Percy admits that he was thinking of Thomas again, and Gordon apologises for being mean earlier. He offers Percy to come with him to dicuss the topic, but Percy says he has to deliver the trucks to Farmer McColl's farm. Daisy arrives and offers to take the trucks for him, which he thanks her for and Gordon gives his praises.

Gordon and Percy continue down the line, and Percy explains how it feels like no one seems to express that they miss Thomas other then himself. Gordon is sympathetic and explains how he felt like that when he was first bought by the NWR and had to leave his old line behind. Parts of that also came into play with all the changes that recently happened as well, perhaps reminding him of how he missed his old friends on his old line. He then tells Percy that no matter where you are, your friends will always be your friends, and it's ok to miss them from time to time. After this, Percy feels better and heads back to the branch line.

At Ffarquhar, a workman informs Percy that he is to pick up the special coach at Dryaw goods yard, which surprises Percy, since no one has been their in a long time. Despite this, he heads to Dryaw to pick up the coach, which is revealed to be Old Slow Coach. The two play catch-up, and she explains that she was shunted into the yards to await new parts for repair, but the parts never arrived. At least not until Mr. Percival arrived and ordered a full restoration for her. Percy couples up to her and heads to Maithwaite to pick up the Hatt family.

At Maithwaite, Dowager Hatt explains how Stephen and Bridgett have been upset and missing Sir Topham. Percy assures them that he is fine and thinking about them as much as they do of him. Lady Hatt thanks him for his help and the family boards Old Slow Coach.

The Christmas party goes into full swing at Knapford. Gordon assures Percy that he was right about it being a nice occasion. Just then, Tom Tipper arrives with a letter to Percy from Thomas, which he reads to him. Afterwards, Percy begins to question what Thomas meant by "down under" in the letter. Gordon smiles at this, and Percy becomes even more confused.

## Characters

* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Emily
* Nia
* Daisy
* Salty
* Old Slow Coach
* Cranky
* Bertie
* Terence
* Lady Hatt
* Dowager Hatt
* Bridget Hatt
* Stephen Hatt
* Mr. Percival
* Tom Tipper
* Thomas (*does not speak*)
* Rebecca (*does not speak*)
* Rosie (*does not speak*)
* BoCo (*does not speak*)
* Troublesome Trucks (*do not speak*)
* Edward (*cameo*)
* Henry (*cameo*)
* Toby (*cameo*)
* Duck (*cameo*)
* Donald and Douglas (*cameos*)
* Oliver (*cameo*)
* Bill & Ben (*cameos*)
* Stanley (*cameo*)
* Hiro (*cameo*)
* Stephen (*cameo*)
* Glynn (*cameo*)
* Ryan (*cameo*)
* Porter (*cameo*)
* Diesel (*cameo*)
* Bert (*cameo*)
* Norman (*cameo*)
* Toad (*cameo*)
* Harold (*cameo*)
* Annie & Clarabel (*mentioned*)
* Carly (*mentioned*)
* Bulstrode (*mentioned*)
* Sir Topham Hatt (*mentioned*)
* Mrs. Kyndley (*mentioned*)

## Cast

* SteamTeam3211 as Gordon
* Blue15Bomber as Percy
* Jinty Cogz as James
* LizProductions6 as Emily and Bridget Hatt
* Viola Rose as Nia and Lady Hatt
* Jonathan Asiamah as Salty
* Emily Elizabeth Queen as Daisy
* Papi Petey James as Old Slow Coach
* PanoramicViewStudios as Cranky
* Crane Engine Studios as Bertie
* BrendamProductions as Terence
* PieceOfJayVA as Mr. Percival
* TheGermanOfSodor as Tom Tipper

## Trivia

* The first scene where Percy pulls into Wellsworth and saw BoCo's return takes place during Nia's Snowy Adventure in Series 1.
* Percy's memories of Thomas takes place in both the official television series episodes "Trouble in the Shed" in season 1, "Spic and Span" in season 8, and the Thomas & Friends 2009 Movie/Special "Hero of the Rails".