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- “Harold wants to get rid of us".
"He doesn't need tunnels!"
"Don't worry; he's just counting sheep!"
"Counting sheep? Pah! He's counting how many engines he can get rid of! He'll see how useful I am tomorrow!"” - ― Gordon, Henry and Percy
Thomas and the Rumours is the seventeenth episode of the fifth series. It is based on the magazine story, Rumours and Speculation. It aired back to back with Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach on Storytime with Thomas in the US.
Plot
One day, Thomas comes to a small station on his branch line and he sees some children on the platform. The children are upset that their playground has been closed, as the sand pit is spoiled and too dirty to play in. The children ask Thomas to help them and Thomas promises to see what he can do as he sets off with his passengers. Thomas hopes things are not as bad as they are described, but as he passes the playground, he realises the children are right, as there is a large sign saying that the playground is closed until further notice.
Later, Thomas puffs back into the yard. But before he can tell the others about the children's playground, Percy rushes in with news that the Fat Controller has chosen Harold to show a special visitor around Sodor rather than the engines. The big engines are shocked at this, as the engines proclaim that they are meant to show visitors around the island, not by Harold.
When Gordon sees Harold, he believes Harold thinks he is faster than Gordon. Later, when Henry sees Harold, he believes that the Fat Controller chose Harold because he believes Harold is more important than Henry. Henry immediately denies this, saying Harold cannot fly through tunnels. Finally, Percy sees Harold near a field where there are sheep grazing on the branch line. Percy decides that Harold must be counting sheep and he feels much better as he steams away.
That evening at the sheds, the big engines are starting to believe that Harold is trying to replace them altogether. Percy states that Harold is just counting sheep, but Gordon does not believe this, saying Harold is instead counting how many engines he can get rid of and he decides to show Harold how useful he is the next day. Thomas still wants to mention the children's playground, but he knows that solving the mystery of Harold and his visitor is the first priority.
The next day, Gordon is on his way to collect his train when he sees Harold. However, he and his crew are watching Harold and they go down the wrong line. Ahead is a tunnel under repair and Gordon's driver reduces steam and applies the brakes, but it is too late. Gordon plunges into the tunnel and crashes into a blockage inside.
Later, Thomas arrives with the Breakdown Train to rescue Gordon and the Fat Controller arrives as well, who is very cross with Gordon's driver. Thomas is worried that Gordon will be scrapped and tells him the whole story about the engines and Harold. The Fat Controller explains to Thomas that it turns out to not be true and that he should not listen to rumours. The gentleman is making a new playground for the children; Harold was showing the visitor the island because it was easier to find a suitable site for the new playground from up in the air. The man declares that the sand cleared from the tunnel will be perfect for the playground; found by rumour and by accident, as he laughs.
After that, the Fat Controller still uses Harold to fly above the island, but now all the engines know Harold is not spying on them; he is, in his own way, just being very useful.
Characters
- Thomas
- Henry
- Gordon
- James
- Percy
- Sir Topham Hatt
- The Little Boys
- Mr. Walsh (not named)
- Bridget Hatt (not named)
- Harold (does not speak)
- Duck (cameo)
- Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
- Stephen Hatt (cameo)
- Jem Cole (cameo)
- Farmer Trotter (cameo)
- Harold's Pilots (cameo)
Locations
- Tower Windmill
- The Hay Farm
- Dryaw School
- Callan
- Tidmouth Sheds
- Standard and Narrow Gauge Tunnel Runby
- Three Tracks Under Road Bridge
- The Tunnel Under Repair
- Skarloey (stock footage)
Trivia
- This episode is based on the magazine stories, Rumours and Speculation and An Important Visitor.
- This is the last episode to use Andrew Brenner's stories for adaptations, until the seventeenth series episode, Gordon Runs Dry.
- Stock footage from the fourth series episode, Trucks is used.
- When Gordon puffs onto the wrong line, the music in the UK dub fades in later and fades out earlier than the US dub and other international versions.
- A Marilyn Monroe poster appears at Callan station.
Goofs
- The title card for the US version uses the UK spelling of rumours.
- When the children tell Thomas about the playground, one child looks happy.
- When Thomas puffs out of Callan, a signal tilts slightly to one side.
- When Thomas passes the playground, there is a sign saying: "Playground closed until further notice," at the back of the playground. However, when Gordon passes the playground, the sign is gone.
- When Thomas puffs into Tidmouth Sheds, the tank of one of the milk wagons beside him is incorrectly placed higher up.
- When Percy first appears, he rushes in from a dead end.
- When Percy is on the turntable, part of its fencing is snapped.
- When Gordon first sees Harold, he puffs through a bridge. However, in the next scene in the close-up of Gordon, the bridge is gone.
- Studio equipment can be seen in the top-left corner in the close-up of Henry before he enters the tunnel.
- Percy's roof is lifted during the evening scenes at Tidmouth Sheds.
- Percy's eyes are wonky when Gordon replies about counting sheep.
- The special visitor's small scale model is wearing a grey suit while his large scale model is wearing a yellow suit.
- Henry's eyes are wonky when Harold leaves the sheds at the end of the episode.
Quotes
- Gordon: You look glum, little Percy. What's up?
- Percy: The Fat Controller told driver that he's using Harold to show a visitor the island instead of using any of us engines.
- Gordon: Despicable!
- Henry: Disgusting!
- James: Engines are meant to take visitors around our island. Not that whirly-bird thing!
________________________________
- Narrator: But because they were watching Harold, they missed a signal and went onto a wrong line. Gordon was travelling to trouble and ahead was a tunnel under repair. His driver reduced steam and braked hard, but it was too late.
- (Gordon runs into the tunnel and crashes; he is later rescued with help by the breakdown train manned by Thomas)
- Thomas: Will Gordon be scrapped, Sir?
- The Fat Controller: What makes you think that?
- Thomas: Because the engines think the visitor is here to see if we can be replaced by Harold.
- The Fat Controller: Well, the engines are wrong and you shouldn't listen to rumours, Thomas. This gentleman is making a new playground for the children. It was easier to find a suitable site from up in the air.
- Gentleman: And what's more, that tunnel sand will be perfect for the playground! Found by accident and rumour, you might say.
In Other Languages
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THAHKTWN |
| #01 Cranky Bugs | #10 Toby and the Flood | #19 Happy Ever After |
| #02 Horrid Lorry | #11 Haunted Henry | #20 Sir Topham Hatt's Holiday |
| #03 A Better View for Gordon | #12 Double Teething Troubles | #21 A Surprise for Percy |
| #04 Lady Hatt's Birthday Party | #13 Stepney Gets Lost | #22 Make Someone Happy |
| #05 James and the Trouble with Trees | #14 Toby's Discovery | #23 Busy Going Backwards |
| #06 Gordon and the Gremlin | #15 Something in the Air | #24 Duncan Gets Spooked |
| #07 Bye George! | #16 Thomas, Percy and Old Slow Coach | #25 Rusty and the Boulder |
| #08 Baa! | #17 Thomas and the Rumours | #26 Snow |
| #09 Put Upon Percy | #18 Oliver's Find | |