All in Vain

"A scratch! That isn't nothing! I can't pick up the mayor looking like this!"

- James

All in Vain is an episode from the twentieth season.

Plot
One autumnal morning, Sir Topham Hatt came to Tidmouth Sheds and had very exciting news. It was about him and the Mayor of Sodor going to a ball at Callan Castle. He needed an engine to take both of them. James asked about it first, delighted to be picked to take them and promised to do all his jobs without complaint.

At the docks, James told Cranky about collecting the Mayor and Sir Topham Hatt. Cranky, suddenly, slips some of the sugar sacks and the sea water splashes all over James. James was worried that his paintwork was ruined, but he just kept smiling. Later, James was at Farmer McColl's farm when Thomas passes and splashes mud all over James' face. James was fed up. James went under the coal hopper but the trucks were shunted backwards by Stafford. Suddenly, coal dusts flows down all over James. Along the way, James met Edward at the Sodor Bakery. He explains that he needed a wash down before he could meet the Mayor. Edward was asking if James needs help to do all of his jobs. James did not want to. At the washdown, the workman notices that James has a scratch in his paintwork. James is horrified and hurriedly went to the Steamworks. Victor was worried that his paint would not be dry on time. James knows that the wind to Callan Castle will be stronger and able to get dry on time.

After he gets repainted, James makes his way to collect Sir Topham Hatt and the Mayor, however, his paint is not dry. The wind blows dusts, twigs and leaves onto James' paintwork. Feeling rather silly, James asks Edward to pick up Sir Topham Hatt and the Mayor for him.

Despite all of the hard work, Sir Topham Hatt came to the sheds and explains that James should have ignored his scratch to finish his special job. Edward vouches for James that he was working very hard all day. With the rest of the engines giggling except Edward, Sir Topham Hatt orders James to go back to the Steamworks to be repainted again.

James was back at the Steamworks. He was once again repainted and waited to let the paint dry. A surprise awaits James: it was the Mayor of Sodor. The Mayor told James that Edward was happy to help in collecting him and Sir Topham Hatt. James tells him that Edward was very kind. The Mayor decides that he will invite James to a dinner at Vicarstown. James was honoured to take him. Sir Topham Hatt wanted to go, but only the Mayor is going. By the end of the day, James was very proud to take the Mayor. Edward knows that James was more splendid than ever. James happily agrees.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Emily
 * Stafford
 * Victor
 * Cranky
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Mayor of Sodor
 * A Washdown Worker
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Kevin (cameo)
 * The Dock Manager (cameo)
 * Lord Callan (mentioned)

Locations

 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Brendam Docks
 * Knapford
 * Knapford Yards
 * Sodor Bakery
 * Farmer McColl's Farm
 * The Washdown
 * Sodor Steamworks
 * Vicarstown (mentioned)
 * Suddery (mentioned)
 * Callan Castle (mentioned)

Trivia

 * It is revealed that the Mayor of Sodor lives in Suddery.
 * Behind the scenes footage of the episode was shown during the making of The Great Race.
 * This was one of five episodes that was incomplete at the time Arc Productions went bankrupt and was finished off by Jam Filled Toronto after Jam Filled Entertainment bought the aforementioned studio.

Goofs

 * When James leaves the sheds, his tender wheels do not move.
 * When James is at Brendam Docks the sugar on his face does not have much opacity but the next shot the sugar on James' face is a lot brighter.
 * When Edward comes into Knapford as James leaves, he does not have a brake van, but when James passes him, he gains one.