- “Who put this here?!”
- ― Monty after crashing into the lightning tree
A Tale for Thomas, originally titled The Lightning Tree, is the twenty-fourth episode of Jack and the Sodor Construction Company, as well as the last episode to be filmed. It was released on Thomas' Trusty Friends.
Plot
The Fat Controller sends Thomas to take Jack and Alfie to Maithwaite Forest to save the Lightning Tree, which Jack and Alfie are excited to see up close. When Thomas wonders why they call it the Lightning Tree, Jack and Miss Jenny tell him it is called that because it was struck by lightning and that it is very old and special. Kelly also adds that it is the biggest tree in the forest. Miss Jenny gives her machines the job to prop it up before it falls over.
Jack and Alfie soon find the Lightning Tree and the foreman inspects the damage to the tree. Its roots were pulled up, the scar is long and deep and it looks like it will fall indeed. Jack and Alfie approach it slowly, but suddenly Max and Monty are racing through the forest recklessly. Jack and Alfie tell them to stop and Monty hits his brakes hard, but Max rear ends him, shoves him into the Lightning Tree and they then race away. Alfie rushes to keep the tree from falling, but he cannot do it by himself. Jack offers to help, but Oliver cuts him off and helps push the tree with his bucket. Jack calls Kelly to help, and Kelly helps to keep the tree up with his crane. Kelly's operator tells Jack to get the props, and he rushes off to get them. Alfie, Kelly and Oliver struggle hard to keep the Lightning Tree up right, but the tree is too heavy for them to keep it from falling.
Jack, honking his horn, rushes to pick up the props from Thomas, and rushes back to the tree. Alfie, Kelly and Oliver are getting tired, but Jack soon makes it back with the props. Miss Jenny congratulates the four machines on saving the Lightning Tree, but scolds Max and Monty for causing the incident and sends them back to the yard to be punished. As Thomas takes Jack and Alfie back home, they see the Lightning Tree still standing.
Characters
- Thomas
- Jack
- Alfie
- Oliver the Excavator
- Max and Monty
- Kelly
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Jenny Packard
- The Foreman (does not speak)
- Henry (cameo)
- James (cameo)
Locations
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Sodor Construction Company Yard (mentioned)
- Maithwaite (mentioned)
Trivia
- This episode's number was revealed by a document confirming that all 13 completed episodes of Jack and the Sodor Construction Company had been filmed by 27 January 2003.[1]
- The working title for this episode was "The Lightning Tree," although that title is listed on the Virgin TV Anytime website.
- This is the first episode on the Australian and UK DVD, Thomas' Trusty Friends, but it was not first in its original filming.
- Despite being the title character, Thomas only has two lines in this episode.
- This was the last episode of several things:
- The last episode of Jack and the Sodor Construction Company.
- The last episode devised and produced by Phil Fehrle and Gullane Entertainment.
- The last episode to have a run time of four minutes and thirty seconds.
- Kelly's last speaking role and his last physical appearance, not counting the music video cameo appearance in The Great Discovery.
- The last appearances of the Pack and Miss Jenny until the special The Great Discovery.
- The Pack's last leading roles until the twentieth series episode, Mucking About.
- This episode also marks Max and Monty's last speaking roles until the said episode.
Goofs
- In the close-up of Thomas after Jack leaves with the props, there is a small hole behind his left lamp iron, and his lamp appears to be damaged.
- In the opening shot, two lights can be seen reflecting off James' livery.
- In the German dub, Jack is called "Jackie" at one point.
In Other Languages
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Dutch | Een Verhaal voor Thomas |
| German | Eine Geschichte für Thomas |
Home Media Releases
UK/US/AUS/NL/GER
UK DVD Boxsets
US DVD Boxsets
- Ultimate Thomas Collection
- Totally Thomas Volume 9
- Thomas' Trusty Friends and On Site with Thomas Double Feature
AUS DVD Boxsets
References
| #02 Alfie Has Kittens | #21 Percy Helps Out | n/a Bossy Byron |
| #03 Jack Owns Up | #22 A Happy Day for Percy | n/a The Importance of Being Patrick |
| #06 On Site with Thomas | #23 Thomas' Trusty Friends | n/a Pop Goes the Diesel |
| #07 A Visit from Thomas | #24 A Tale for Thomas | n/a Jack and the Quack |
| #10 Mud Glorious Mud | n/a No Dozer Is an Island | n/a Alfie Has a Secret |
| #13 Thomas and the Moles | n/a All Work, No Play | n/a Isobella Gets Steamed |
| #14 The Tortoise and the Hare | n/a Safety First | n/a The Grass Is Greener |
| #15 Percy's Scary Tale | n/a Treasure Hunt | n/a Kelly's Heroes |
| #20 Kelly's Windy Day | n/a Jack's Snow Rescue | |