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- “I didn't expect to see the flagpole down there!”
- ― Henry seeing the broken flagpole
Henry and the Flagpole is the sixteenth episode of the ninth series.
Plot
Henry loves going to Lord Callan's Castle, as it means that he gets to pass his favourite tree; the tall, pine tree. After Henry delivers cargo for the upcoming banquet to the castle, the Fat Controller tells him to collect a new flagpole from the Docks.
At Brendam Docks, Henry searches for the flagpole, expecting it to be standing up. However, Henry gets distracted by Cranky's tall height and does not see the new flagpole on the flatbed in front of him. Henry bumps into the flatbed, causing the flagpole to roll off and land onto the tracks. Salty is rolling by and accidentally crushes the flagpole, which makes Henry feel very silly for not seeing the flagpole. The Fat Controller arrives saying what a disaster it is seeing the broken flagpole and is upset now that Lord Callan's Castle will not have a flagpole. As Salty looks at him sympathetically, Henry feels sad the broken flagpole was his own fault.
That evening, Henry meets Toby at his favourite forest, who is looking at the tall pine tree and tells him about the broken flagpole. Toby suggests that the tall pine tree would be useful as a replacement, but Henry does not agree. The next morning, Henry is sent to the forest with workmen carrying saws and axes. Thinking that the tall pine tree is going to be cut down, Henry attempts to save it by finding a new flagpole. But all the flagpoles he can find are too short, even those at the beach and at the airfield. That evening, the Fat Controller scolds Henry for delaying the workmen's job at the forest and gets Edward to take the workmen while Henry shunts coal trucks the next day.
At the Coaling Plant, Henry tells Thomas about finding a new flagpole and Thomas suggests that sometimes things can be found where one would not expect. So Henry goes off and uses Thomas' theory. After looking at a field of cows, Henry sees Trevor at the Vicarage Orchard but knows he will not make a good flagpole.
At Brendam Docks, Henry sees some tourists taking photographs of an old ship and Salty tells Henry that the old ship's mast is to be chopped up for firewood. Henry decides to use it as a new flagpole and once the old ship's mast is on a flatbed, he rushes off to the forest. At the forest, Henry pleads with the Fat Controller not to cut down the tall pine tree as he has found a new flagpole. The Fat Controller tells Henry that there was no intention to cut down the tall pine tree at all; the workmen's job is to collect firewood for the Scottish Castle banquet.
That night, Henry and Thomas see the Scottish flag hoisted up the old ship's mast and Henry thinks it looks beautiful, but not as beautiful as the tall pine tree.
Characters
- Thomas
- Henry
- Toby
- Salty
- Trevor
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Cranky (does not speak)
- Emily (cameo)
- Annie (cameo)
- Tiger Moth (cameo)
- Lord Callan (cameo)
- The Second Dock Manager (cameo)
- Big Mickey (faceless, cameo)
- Edward (mentioned)
- Molly (deleted scene cameo)
- Clarabel (deleted scene cameo)
Locations
- The Pine Forest
- Callan Castle
- Brendam Docks
- Tidmouth Sheds
- The Runby Bridge
- Dryaw
- Tidmouth Beach
- The Coaling Plant
- Cream Signal Box and Siding Runby
- Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
- The Headlands (deleted scene)
Trivia
- Going by production order, this is the thirteenth episode of the ninth series.
- Ryuzou Ishino joins the voice cast in Japan. This is the only episode to feature him as part of said cast in the ninth series.
- Robert Hartshorne's Lord Callan's Castle theme is replayed from the US version of the seventh series episode, Bad Day at Castle Loch.
- In the UK dub, Henry speaks with a higher voice like James and Percy.
- In the UK dub of the scene where Henry encounters Trevor, he compliments him before saying he wouldn't make a very good flagpole. In the US dub, he says hello to him, then he compliments him, finally finishing off his sentence with him saying he doesn't make for a good flagpole.
- This episode marks a few things for Trevor:
- His first speaking role since the sixth series episode, Twin Trouble.
- His only speaking role in the ninth series.
- His only speaking role in the HiT Entertainment model era.
- His last speaking role until the twentieth series episode, Three Steam Engines Gruff.
- His last speaking role in the model series.
- This episode also marks:
- The last appearance of Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard.
- Salty's only speaking role in the ninth series.
Goofs
- At the beginning of the episode, Emily has Henry's whistle.
- When Henry talks to Toby about the broken flagpole, he claims that he broke the flagpole, when it was actually Salty who broke the flagpole.
- When Cranky is loading the mast, the camera is shaking vibrantly.
- In the Finnish dub of this episode, Trevor was mistakenly called "Tero", which is the Finnish name for Terence.
Merchandise
In Other Languages
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Home Media Releases
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| #01 Percy and the Oil Painting | #10 Rheneas and the Dinosaur | #19 Thomas' New Trucks |
| #02 Thomas and the Rainbow | #11 Thomas and the New Engine | #20 Duncan and the Old Mine |
| #03 Thomas' Milkshake Muddle | #12 Toby Feels Left Out | #21 Bold and Brave |
| #04 Mighty Mac | #13 Thomas Tries His Best | #22 Skarloey the Brave |
| #05 Molly's Special Special | #14 The Magic Lamp | #23 Saving Edward |
| #06 Respect for Gordon | #15 Thomas and the Statue | #24 Thomas and the Golden Eagle |
| #07 Thomas and the Birthday Picnic | #16 Henry and the Flagpole | #25 Keeping Up with James |
| #08 Tuneful Toots | #17 Emily Knows Best | #26 Flour Power |
| #09 Thomas and the Toy Shop | #18 Thomas' Day Off | |