Christmas is a busy time of year, especially in a place like Shining Time Station. Passengers bustling through the station, catching trains from here to everywhere. Mr. Conductor is a lumberjack and he's alright, having found the perfect miniature tree for his switch house. Even Schemer was feeling the holiday spirit...of competition. However, this time he feels he's got it in the bag. Santa's bag. The Indian Valley Gala Holiday Pageant is looking for someone to play Santa's helper, and Schemer is over-confidently sure it will be him. The only ones with nothing to do throughout this hustle and bustle are Matt and Tanya. Stacy suggests they write their letters to Santa, and they do so while the jukebox band serenades them with "Over the River and Through the Woods, to Grandmother's House We Go." I used to think that was a Thanksgiving song, but I guess it could work for Christmas too. So while the kids debate whether or not the North Pole is in Alaska, the befuddled Mayor of East Shemp stops by, looking for a place for the committee to select Santa's helper to meet, so he informs Stacy that they've decided to meet at the station tonight, whether she likes it or not. Anyway, time for Thomas! Mr. Conductor tells the kids about one Christmas on the Island of Sodor in which Thomas and his friends decide to do something nice for a sweet old lady named Mrs. Kindley, that really is her name, and want to throw her a big party. Plans soon go north as Sir Topham Hatt (or the Fat Controller has he's known as in the UK) informs them that poor Mrs. Kindley is snowed in and needs help, so he sends Thomas and Toby to clear the snow from the line. That and some help from Terence the tractor help right the wrongs. When they get back to the shed, the whole gang was there, decked out in Santa hats. They sing a rising chorus of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Great story. In some versions of this story, Mr. Conductor tells the story of Thomas meeting Terence here, and the Christmas party in the second story.
Some unsettling developments occur as Matt and Tanya discover that bratty girl Vickie will be coming to the station to play while her mother is our shopping. Stacy encourages them to be nice to her anyway, because after all, Santa is watching. After that, she battles wits with Schemer, who's trying to fatten up to look the part of Santa's helper. His mommy even made him a costume. At the kids' suggestion, Stacy decides she might just try to play the helper herself. Of course, you know, this means war. So while Schemer plots his smear campaign against Stacy Jones, trying to persuade influential people, like head of the railway, J.B. King, and local busybody Midge Smoot, into voting for him, he even bribes the mayor with nickels, the station gets a Christmas tree, carried in by Harry's cousin Tucker, and a kindly old gentleman with a white beard named Mr. Nicholas. Spoiler alert, he's Santa Claus. He's come to catch a train called the Northern Star. Despite Stacy telling him no such train runs on their line, Nicholas is still confident it will come. Meanwhile, Vickie arrives, and she's about as bratty as you'd expect. Matt and Tanya don't want to bother with her and so she goes off by herself. She meets Mr. Nicholas, who helps her to find her inner smile. He IS Santa, after all. So, Vickie tries to be nicer, helping the kids decorate the tree...Mr. Conductor ends up being an ornament. For a minute, things seem to be going great, until Vickie accidentally knocks the tree over. She feels devastated, but Mr. Nicholas was there for her, as he helps Vickie find happiness by bringing joy to others, such as giving Christmas presents from the heart. Like a song she and her mother used to sing. So, after the tree mess is cleaned up, Mr. Conductor tells the kids another Thomas story. This time the tank engine is sent to pick up a Christmas tree, but runs into his worst enemy: snow. He's rescued by Donald and Douglas and then they throw a giant Christmas party at the station, with the guest of honor being Santa Claus himself...who looks remarkable like Sir Topham Hatt. Back at Shining Time, it's finally time for the committee to meet and choose Santa's helper. Schemer's all ready, decked out in the costume his mommy made him. A huge fight erupts when the Mayor announces that the one chosen is himself. At Mr. Nicholas' suggestion, Vickie sings her song ('Tis a Gift) and it instantly calms everybody down. And, despite there being a major blizzard, the Northern Star arrives right on time so Mr. Nicholas can depart, but not before Mr. Conductor finally fulfills his dream of meeting Santa Claus. In closing, Vickie's mother got the perfect gift of hearing her daughter sing, and everybody is going to play Santa's helper.
To briefly summarize, this special is beautiful. I can't help but be biased since Shining Time Station was a part of my childhood, but I think it goes without saying that 'Tis a Gift is wonderfully made. The songs are great, and I guarantee even the toughest guys will get emotional at the hobo song. It's just fantastic! If you can find it, I urge you to see it! Why isn't this series on DVD?! Not much more I can say, except this Christmas, follow the Rainbow Sun to Shining Time Station, where dreams can come true.
