James Feels Lonely

**James Feels Lonely** is the first episode of the fourth season. It is based off the story, *Alone* by CynicOnRails

## Plot

Gordon has a boiler ache, so Sir Topham Hatt has to choose an engine to take over Gordon's place. James volunteers and Sir Topham Hatt agrees. As he exits, James brags to the other engines about being the one to take over the Express and no better engine for the job, while they roll their eyes when he leaves.

When James arrives at Crovan's Gate early, Skarloey complements him over the work. James was flattered by this and can do anything for Gordon's absence. Over the next week, James and the others handled the Express by taking turns. With James working the hardest, he knows how much the express meant to Gordon, and wouldn't dream of arriving late.

A week later, while James was preparing to take his nightly goods train, Gordon returns from the works. Henry was glad to see Gordon again. Gordon trusted Henry and the others taking the Express during his absence, in which Henry agrees. James overhears this, secretly offended on not how Gordon forgotten him, but also how the other engines hadn't corrected his mistake. Before saying anything else, his driver starts him in motion. During his run, James vents about Gordon forgetting him, and how Henry didn't correct Gordon about how he was treated. An awful thought strikes him how no one mentioned him because they liked him anymore.

Later that same night, James didn't sleep at well at all. Thinking reasons why Gordon and the others had forgotten about him. This thoughts kept him awake until morning, where Percy is absent. Sir Topham Hatt walks towards them about Percy's absence, so he needs an engine to take Percy's mail work until he comes back. James quickly volunteers so he can get to work right away to help Percy. Sir Topham Hatt perplexed by this, allows James to do the work throughout the Main Line.

At first, James doesn't like pulling the mail train, but figuring a trip down a branch line can take his mind off last night's events. He arrives at Wellsworth Station to drop off mail, where Edward was waiting with his passenger train. Edward and James talk for a few, and Edward leaves the station bound to Upper Brendam. James heads down Thomas' Branch Line for the next mail run. Once he arrives at Ffarquhar Station, he feels better about the situation, but it didn't last long...

When James sorts out mail at Knapford, Henry asks why James is doing with the mail. James answers Henry, but Henry doesn't believe him. James feels crushed all over again as he resumes his work. Whenever he asks any of the others, their reactions were the same as Henry's and none of them seemed apologetic about the issue. The more James is ignored, the more he is close to nearly being heartbroken. Because of this, he becomes nervous to explain his problem with anyone, until Edward took notice of this.

Another day of debilitating silence passes, James backs into Wellsworth Sheds where Edward was at. After Edward starts to persuade James into a conversation, James refuses to talk, until starts explaining everything about the whole issue. Edward gives his responses and opinions about the issue of being lonely. This makes James feel better and happily goes to sleep.

The next day, James travels down the main line thinking about what to say when he confronts Gordon again. He was too busy thinking, he passes a red signal and bumps into Gordon at the station platform. Gordon finally acknowledges James and apologizes to him and asks what he can do to help. James tells Gordon to make sure the others speak for themselves. James feels better than before and continues to do his work.

When Percy returned, James returns to his daily work. Once he comes back, the others gave a arousing welcome. When he was with them now, James never feels lonely again for his life.

## Characters

* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Skarloey
* Percy *(does not speak)*
* Toby *(does not speak)*
* Nia *(does not speak)*
* Rebecca *(does not speak)*
* Bertie *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Tidmouth Sheds
* Crovan's Gate
* Unnamed Wooden Station
* Bus Depot
* Wellsworth
	+ Wellsworth Station
	+ Wellsworth Sheds
* Hackenback Tunnel
* Ffarquhar Station
* Knapford Station
* Maithwaite Station
* Balladrine Station
* Upper Brendam *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This is the first of the following:
	+ The first episode to use uberduck.ai narration
	+ The first episode that is longer than 7 minutes
	+ The first season premiere where Thomas doesn't appear, as well as the first since Super Rescue.
	+ The first episode to use music by Jesse Ortiz, because of this, Spongebob music renditions are used.
	+ The first episode where Nia & Rebecca use paper face masks.
	+ The first appearance of Ffarquhar Station in its actual form.
	+ The first episode where James' original sad face is modified to a whining face, although the former appearance was used where James passes the Bus Depot, as well in the next episode.
* This is the second episode produced in the fourth season. Because of this, it was filmed alongside with Red, Red Race during the Tidmouth Sheds and Bus Depot scenes, as stated above.
* Pre-filmed stock footage from the next episode is used.
* Spongebob music renditions were heard in the following:
	+ An instrumental of *A Grill Is Not A Home* is used when James was sad between Henry at Knapford and James backing into Wellsworth Sheds.
	+ The APM track *Lonely Hearts Club A* is used when James explains his feelings to Edward and him comforting James.
* This is the longest episode of the entire series, lasting 13 minutes and 15 seconds.

## Errors

* Because pre-filmed stock footage is used from the next episode, James is seen on the right in the scene of Gordon & Henry wearing their angry paper face masks.
* When James passes the Bus Depot, he is pulling a reddish-brown Brakevan, but throughout the rest of the episode, his is pulling a black caboose.
* In the scene where James pulls into view at Tidmouth Sheds, Toby is mentioned and his bell is heard. But he is not seen until the final shot of the episode.

1. ↑ https://youtu.be/TuyiacCEP30