Come Out, Henry!

Ringo Starr: ''Once, an engine attached to a train was afraid of a few drops of rain. It went into a tunnel and squeaked through its funnel and wouldn't come out again.'' The engine's name is Henry. His driver and fireman argued with him but he would not move.

Henry: The rain will spoil my lovely green paint and red stripes. (Ringo Starr: He said.)

Ringo Starr: The conductor blew his whistle till he had no more breath, and waved his flag until his arms ached; but Henry still stayed in the tunnel, and blew steam at him.

Henry: I'm not going to spoil my lovely green paint and red stripes for you.

Ringo Starr: Then along came Sir Topham Hatt, the man in charge of all the engines on the Island of Sodor.

Sir Topham Hatt: We will pull you out. (Ringo Starr: Said Sir Topham Hatt.)

Ringo Starr: But Henry only blew steam at him. Everyone pulled - except Sir Topham Hatt.

Sir Topham Hatt: Because… (Ringo Starr: He said.) …my doctor has forbidden me to pull.

Ringo Starr: But still Henry stayed in the tunnel. Then they tried pushing from the other end. Sir Topham Hatt said.

Sir Topham Hatt: 1, 2, 3, push.

Ringo Starr: But he didn't help.

Sir Topham Hatt: My doctor has forbidden me to push. (Ringo Starr: He said.)

Ringo Starr: They pushed and pushed and pushed; but still Henry stayed in the tunnel. At last Thomas came along. The conductor waved his red flag and stopped him. Everyone argued with Henry.

Passengers: Look, it has stopped raining. (Ringo Starr: They said.)

Henry: Yes, but it will begin again soon. (Ringo Starr: Said Henry.) And what would become of my green paint with red stripes then?

Ringo Starr: Thomas pushed and puffed, and pushed as hard as ever he could. But still Henry stayed in the tunnel. Eventually, even Sir Topham Hatt gave up.

Sir Topham Hatt: We shall take away your rails… (Ringo Starr: He said.) …and leave you here until you are ready to come out of the tunnel.

Ringo Starr: They took up the old rails and built a wall in front Henry so that other engines wouldn't bump into him. All Henry could do was to watch the trains rushing through the other tunnel. He was very sad because he thought no-one will see his lovely green paint with red stripes again. As time went on Edward and Gordon would often pass by. Edward would say…

Edward: Peep, Peep! Hello!

Ringo Starr: And Gordon would say…

Gordon: Poop, Poop, Poop! Serves you right!

Ringo Starr: Poor Henry had no steam to answer, his fire had gone out. Soot and dirt from the tunnel had spoiled his lovely green paint and red stripes anyway. How long do you think Henry will stay in the tunnel before he overcomes his fear of the rain and then decides to journey out again?