Airdate: September 22, 2008
It is the Thin Controller's birthday, and Thomas is working with the little narrow-gauge engines to get the preparations done. Thomas has a special party tent, Duncan has the decorations, Rusty has the flowers, Skarloey has the banners, and Rheneas has the balloons. Sir Handel tells them that he plans on telling the Thin Controller a tale of the Man in the Hills, his favourite kind of story. Thomas has never heard of the Man in the Hills, to which Sir Handel describes him as being tall, white all over and he lives in the hills. Thomas thinks that finding him would make the party even better. Freddie offers to help, but Thomas declines.
Thomas pulls up to the dairy and finds a tall man in white. Thomas thinks it is the Man in the Hills and tells him to come with him. Upon arriving at the Wharf, the man reveals himself as the dairy manager. Skarloey and Rheneas find Thomas' mistake funny and offer to help. Once again, Thomas declines the offer. He then goes to the flour mill and finds another man in white. Thinking it is the Man in the Hills, Thomas takes him to the Wharf. There, he reveals that he is Dusty Miller, who was just white from being covered in flour and that he has not finished the cake, and the dairy manager has not finished the ice cream. The little engines are cross with Thomas for setting them behind schedule. They cheer up when Thomas entrusts Skarloey and Rheneas with delivering the party tent, as he has to set things right. He sends the men back to their respective locations and soon the ice cream cake is finished and acquired.
At a junction, Freddie takes Thomas on a shortcut to the party. At Green Hills Junction, Thomas finds a sketch of a tall white man on a rock; the Man in the Hills. Thomas instructs Freddie to take the Thin Controller and the engines to the rock. Everyone is very happy, and as Sir Handel tells his story, the Thin Controller has the best birthday ever.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Birthday Episode: The episode takes place on the Thin Controller's birthday, as Thomas and the narrow-gauge engines prepare for his party.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Thomas feels terrible for setting everyone behind schedule and works hard to fix his mistakes before the Thin Controller's party.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Because Thomas had the dairy manager and Dusty Miller taken to the Wharf, they didn't finish their respective jobs. The little engines become cross with Thomas and Thomas feels terrible for it and decides to let Skarloey and Rheneas take his special.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Sir Handel calls out Thomas for messing up the party arrangements in his attempts to find the Man in the Hills.
