Air Date: February 5, 1989
Thomas Stories: Come Out, Henry!, Henry to the Rescue
The episode begins with Mr. Conductor complaining about the new train schedule. He prepares to fix the schedule when Stacy comes in to stop him. After Mr. Conductor leaves, a man walks in to the station asking to see the station master. Stacy informs him that she is the station master, and shakes his hand. The man then tells Stacy that the railroad management has given him a lease to own the station's arcade, and proposes to add newer and bigger machines. He also states that he wrote the new train schedule that Mr. Conductor was complaining about earlier. The man purposely made the train schedule wrong to attract more business to the arcade. Stacy says that the man really is a schemer. Turns out, that's his name. Outraged, Stacy tells Schemer that his new schedule is worthless, and rips it up in front of him. After a short chase scene, Schemer says that it was just an idea, and will hardly ever happen again.
Matt arrives at the station, and agrees to help Stacy find Mr. Conductor so she can apologize for blaming him. Matt looks inside the station workshop, where Harry walks in asking what he's doing. After Matt explains himself, Harry says that if he wants to find a conductor, he should wait out on the platform. Matt leaves the workshop, and bumps into Tanya, who still doesn't believe in Mr. Conductor... that is until they spot him talking to Stacy. Tanya hides behind the ticket counter, dumbfounded, as Mr. Conductor tells them about how he keeps a bathtub plug in his jacket to remind himself that the railroad management will some day give him a gold watch for all his years in service. He then declares that he always knows the time... because he just looks at the clock above the ticket booth. After telling his story, Tanya comes out from hiding, desperate to know what happens next. Mr. Conductor says that he doesn't have time to tell the rest of the story, but promises to finish the story the next time he visits the station.
Stacy leaves after hearing the mail train from Pelican Falls, and the kids look inside the picture machine to pass the time. Afterwards, Schemer comes back, and calls out to the kids. After introducing each other, Schemer asks why they aren't spending money on the arcade machines. Turns out they don't have any money, causing Schemer to shoo them away. Lonely, Schemer decides to put his own money inside one of his machines. He puts a nickel inside a jukebox. We then cut to inside the jukebox, to reveal that a band is inside it. One of the band members decides to add Schemer's nickel to his private collection, as with all the other nickels. Outside the jukebox, Schemer gets angry that the jukebox is not playing a song, and starts to shake the machine. Schemer eventually gives up and walks away.
Stacy asks Matt to leave a book inside the workshop. Matt is hesitant, stating that Harry doesn't want him in the workshop. Stacy reassures him, and suggests that he tells Harry that Stacy sent him. Matt sets the book down in the workshop, and begins to dart out, until he bumps into Harry, who asks what the big rush is. After Matt explains himself, Harry asks if Matt found the conductor he was looking for. He continues by saying that he's glad that he wasn't in the drawer, as the idea makes him nervous, and he's not the kind of man to get nervous. Harry opens the book to reveal that it's a picture book, and finds a picture of a steam engine, reminding him of the first time he ever saw one.
Tanya peers into the workshop, listening to Harry's tale, when Mr. Conductor appears asking why she's not joining them. She states that it was because she was looking for Mr. Conductor, still desperate to find out what happens next in the story. Mr. Conductor keeps his promise, following his motto to never disappoint a child. After finishing his story, Mr. Conductor leaves, and Schemer comes back to the station, carrying a toolbox. He threatens to use the toolbox to take the jukebox apart in order to get his nickel back. The band member complies, and throws the nickel back at Schemer. The episode then ends with Stacy remarking that it's been quite a day, and asking the kids to help post the new schedule.
Tropes featured in this episode
- Actually, I Am Him: Schemer asks Stacy if he could see the station master. Stacy then tells him that she is the station master.
- Brick Joke: At one point, a clown comes to the station asking how to get to Dillylick. At the end of the episode, he comes back to get his ticket.
- Collector of the Strange: Downplayed. We learn that Tito collects the nickels that are put into the jukebox. While collecting coins is fairly normal, collecting those coins specifically can be considered strange.
- Chewing the Scenery: Mr. Conductor warns everyone that "Come Out, Henry!" is a very sad story. He then proceeds to pull out a handkerchief and sob loudly.
- Eye Scream: Tito throws Schemer's nickel right into his eye.
- Jaw Drop: Tanya's reaction to seeing Mr. Conductor for the first time.
- Mythology Gag: Before "Come Out, Henry!" starts, Mr. Conductor states that it's a very sad story; a reference to the episode's original name, "The Sad Story of Henry".
