Existence And Essence

Sweezus and Sartre are at the Gare de Lyon, about to board a fast train to Barcelona.

Sartre has paid for the tickets, including two bike spaces, at ten euros each.

They park the bikes in the bike space, and go to their seats.

Sartre receives a phone call from Simone.

Quoi, ma cherie?

Jean Paul, are you on board already?

Yes I am, waiting to depart.

Look out of the window, mon petit!

He looks out of the window, and sees Simone walking along the platform. 

She spots him.

He gets up and goes to the door.

You have forgotten your ipad, says Simone. How would you have blogged your adventure without it?

Merci bien, cherie, says Sartre, taking the ipad.

Bon voyage, says Simone.

Sartre returns to his seat.

What did she want? asks Sweezus.

It seems I forgot this, says Sartre.

Great! says Sweezus. Good on her for bringing it.

Yes, says Sartre. Shall I commence blogging at once?

Why not? says Sweezus. But don't reveal what we're planning.

I shall keep that a secret, says Sartre. I plan to philosophise mainly.

Yeah go ahead then says Sweezus. 

Sartre opens the ipad, and stares at the screen.

He starts typing: Existence precedes Essence.

Is that the title? asks Sweezus.

I hope you're not going to watch over my shoulder, says Sartre.

Shit no, says Sweezus. But I need to post a link to your blog for our readers.

Wait till I've finished, says Sartre. But how do you like the title?

Makes you think, says Sweezus. 

Thank you, says Sartre.

But.... says Sweezus.

But what? asks Sartre.

Remember to mention the bikes, says Sweezus.

We're on a train! says Sartre. 

With our bikes in the bike space, says Sweezus. Our readers need to know that or else they'll turn off.

I see, says Sartre. I shall keep that in mind.

He continues typing.

What do I mean by this title? Let me explain. I am on a fast train to Barcelona. A man, existing, but I could be anyone. The young man beside me for instance. He too exists. And he may have a plan of action which will determine his essence. The same goes for me. But I must not reveal my plan of action. Suffice to say, I have paid ten euros for a bike space. And an additional ten euros for his bike space as well.

Sweezus, unable to help himself, has been reading what Sartre has written.

He's not sure he likes what the financial revelation reveals of his essence.

The Thing Will Be Wanting To Come

 Flyingsmarty catches up with Supermarty.

They are level with the empty seat, where Arthur had been sitting.

That's where Arthur was sitting, says Prong.

You must be Terence, says the man who was sitting next to Arthur before Arthur moved on.

Must I? says Terence.

I assume so, says the man. You're with this drone parrot, and you're too young for a phone.

I'm not too young, says Terence. But where's Arthur?

Moved on, says the man. But you can sit here if you like.

Don't do it! warns Prong.

He might come looking for you, says the man, and this is the first place he'll look.

No it isn't, says Prong. It's the second place.

What's the first place? asks Terence.

Where you were when he left you, says Prong. Next to the kid.

Back that way, says the man, indicating the direction that Terence has come from.

Yes, says Terence.

Then he'll pass by here first, says the man. And you can attract his attention.

This sounds like a good plan to Terence.

He already knows how he'll attract Arthur's attention.

By pinching his leg. It will be funny.

He sits down next to the man.

I hear you're going to Barcelona? says the man.

Yes, says Terence. On a mission.

Secret mission, says Prong.

Yes, a secret mission, says Terence. 

I know something about it, says the man. 

Like what? asks Terence. 

You're taking a rope and a net, says the man.

But what for? asks Terence.

So your drone parrot can fly up and steal something from the Virgin on the Sagrada Familia, says the man.

What something? asks Terence. 

That I don't know, says the man.

I'm not going to steal anything, says Prong.

No she isn't, says Terence. The thing will be wanting to come.

Yes, wanting to come, says Prong. The rope and the net are just for its safety.

I see, says the man. So it's a sentient being.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

Alive, says the man. I guess it won't be a crime.

Unless I break something, says Prong.

Like a sticking out thing, says Terence. There used to be lots of those.

I'm sure you'll be careful, says the man.

Prong's always careful, says Terence.

Flyingsmarty is always careful, says Prong.

Is Flyingsmarty your code name? asks the man.

Prong isn't sure that she should have revealed it.

Unsmarty and Supersmarty

I'm moving, says Terence, getting out of his seat.

See you, says the kid with the ipad.

I'm not coming back, says Terence. I'm going to find a new seat on the train.

What about your stuff? asks the kid with the ipad.

I don't have any stuff, says Terence.

Except the spy parrot, says the kid with the ipad.

She's coming too, says Terence.

Am I? asks Prong. What if Arthur comes looking?

I'll bump into him, says Terence.

What if you've sat down already? asks Prong.

I'll reach out and pinch his leg, says Terence. 

He imagines doing it and Arthur reacting.

Merde! Oh, there you are Terence!

What if you're not in an aisle seat? asks Prong.

Your spy parrot is smarter than you are, says the kid with the ipad.

But not smarter than you are, says Terence. 

Thanks, says the kid with the ipad.

I meant it in a bad way, says Terence.

But you said I'm smarter than both of you, says the kid with the ipad.

Tricked you, says Terence. 

How? asks the kid with the ipad.

Because you believed me, says Terence.

Shall I go and tell Arthur you're moving ? asks Prong.

No I'll go, says Terence. You wait here with Unsmarty.

Who? asks Prong.

He means me, says the kid with the ipad. Don't call me Unsmarty again.

It's your code name, says Terence. In case I come back.

This changes everything.

What's your code name? asks the kid with the ipad.

Supersmarty, says Terence.

The kid commits the two code names to memory.

Terence marches off down the train.

Want to know my code name, before I follow Supersmarty? asks Prong.

Yes, says the kid. 

Now Prong has to think of a code name.

Flyingsmarty, says Prong.

Copy that, says Unsmarty.

Flyingsmarty flies off down the train.

Trick Thing

Prong has droned back to Terence to tell him who's coming.

Is it soldiers? asks Terence.

No, says Prong, it's Sweezus and a friend.

Which friend? asks Terence.

Arthur didn't say, says Prong. I think he thinks he'd better not say too much.

Yes, says Terence. He shouldn't.

Come on, says the kid with the ipad.

Come on what? asks Terence.

You guys are really bad spies, says the kid. You say things that people sitting next to you can hear.

Maybe they're trick things, says Terence.

Huh, says the kid. 

He doesn't believe they are trick things.

He returns to his game.

It's not a real bear, says Terence.

What isn't? asks the kid.

The one we're going to rescue, says Terence. Or not rescue.

Yes, or not rescue, says Prong. But it might be.

What? says the kid.

A real bear, says Prong. Or a baby.

Yes a hairy baby, says Terence.

But we've said enough, says Prong. 

Does Arthur want me to move yet? asks Terence.

Not yet, says Prong. But he might be about to change seats himself. 

How come? asks Terence.

Because the man sitting next to him heard him talking to Sweezus on the phone, says Prong.

So what? asks Terence.

Sweezus must have said he was bringing a rope and a net, says Prong.

Could you hear him? asks Terence.

No I couldn't, but Arthur said A rope and a net? What for? and the man heard him.

Yikes! says Terence.

Maybe it was a trick thing, says the kid with the ipad.

Maybe it was.

But this kid is annoying.

Almost As Good As A Phone

What's he playing? asks the kid with the ipad.

What's who playing? asks Terence.

Your guy up the train, says the kid with the ipad.

He's not playing anything, says Terence.

Then why does he need reinforcements? asks the kid.

Don't ask me, says Terence. He hasn't even got his own seat.

It's for when we get to Barcelona, says Prong.

Soldiers? says the kid. What's going on?

They're bringing a net and a rope, says Prong. 

Yikes! says Terence. They must be for the rescue.

What rescue? asks the kid with the ipad.

We're going to rescue a bear, says Terence. 

With soldiers? asks the kid. That's pretty full on!

It might not be soldiers, says Prong.

Why not? asks Terence.

Because it might just be friends, says Prong. 

Go and ask him, says Terence.

Prong assumes drone mode again. Flies up the train to where Arthur is sitting.

I haven't given the signal, says Arthur.

Terence wants to know who's coming? says Prong. 

Why? asks Arthur. Has he seen the ticket inspector?

No, says Prong. But the kid sitting next to Terence said it might be soldiers.

Putain! says Arthur. Soldiers on the train!

No, says Prong. Who are we meeting in Barcelona?

Oh, says Arthur. Tell him it's Sweezus, and a friend.

I knew it! says Prong. 

Then why did you come up here? asks Arthur.

Terence asked me to, says Prong.

That's a useful drone parrot you've got there, says the man sitting next to Arthur.

Mm, says Arthur. Almost as good as a phone.

Well, yes, says the man.

Terence hasn't got a phone, says Prong.

Who is Terence? asks the man sitting next to Arthur. Your son?

No, says Arthur. He's a kid who's travelling to Barcelona with me.

To see the Sagrada Familia? says the man. I hear it's amazing.

Yes, says Arthur. 

Very popular with the tourists, says the man. There are long queues, even if you've bought tickets.

I won't need a ticket, says Prong. I'll fly straight up to the Virgin. 

With a rope and a net? says the man next to Arthur.

Arthur nudges Prong.

Oh... no, says Prong.

But too late, the man is looking suspicious. 

Arthur may have to seat hop again.

The Confident Drone

Prong is looking for Arthur, somewhere up the train.

Look! A parrot on the train! cries a passenger.

Oop! What to do now?

Prong makes a decision, and starts buzzing.

Bzzzzzz.

Probably a drone, says another passenger.

A drone in the shape of a parrot? says a third passenger.

They come in all shapes these days, says another.

Prong flies on, now a confident drone.

She spots Arthur, who has found an empty seat and sat down.

She lands on his shoulder.

Merde! says Arthur.

Sorry, says Prong. Terence sent me to see where you are.

Arthur's phone rings.

It's Sweezus.

Hey, where are you? asks Sweezus.

Seems like everyone wants to know that, says Arthur.

You in trouble? asks Sweezus.

No, says Arthur. What's up?

I'll be coming to Barcelona, says Sweezus. With Jean Paul Sartre.

Good, says Arthur. When will you get there?

Tomorrow, says Sweezus. And we're bringing a net and a rope.

A net and a rope? What for? asks Arthur.

The rescue, says Sweezus. And oh yeah, Sartre'll blog the whole thing.

Can't wait to read that, says Arthur. 

See you on the steps of the Sagrada Familia, says Sweezus.

Okay, see you, says Arthur.

What's happening? asks Prong.

Reinforcements, says Arthur.

What does that mean? asks Prong.

Can't tell you right now, says Arthur, looking across at the guy sitting next to him.

Got it, says Prong. By the way do you have my curly whiskers?

Yes, says Arthur. But you won't be needing them yet.

Okay, says Prong. I'l tell Terence where you are and come back every five minutes to check if you're giving the signal.

Sounds like a plan, says Arthur.

Prong flies back to Terence, with the news about reinforcements.

Hi, says Terence. Did you find him?

Yes, I found him, says Prong. And he's getting reinforcements. Whatever those are.

Food and drinks, says Terence.

No they're not, says the kid next to Terence, looking up from his ipad. 

They're like, soldiers.

Terence wonders where Arthur is getting them from.

Spy Parrot Kudos

Meanwhile, on the fast train to Barcelona.

Arthur has given the signal.

A bent finger, raised.

Look, says Terence. That's the signal.

Prong stops looking dazed.

I missed it, says Prong.

How come? asks Terence.

You told me to stare, says Prong, so I'd look like a toy.

Next time stare at Arthur, says Terence.

Shouldn't we respond to the signal? asks Prong.

Yes, says Terence. Come on.

Put me on your shoulder, says Prong.

Okay, says Terence. 

He lifts Prong onto his shoulder.

That's a wonderful toy you have there, says his neighbour.

Thanks, says Terence.

Thank you, madam, says Prong.

Would you like me to save your seat for you? asks the neighbour.

I don't know, says Terence. I mean yes, maybe.... no.

I'll save it anyway, says the neighbour who seems like a nice lady.

Terence and Prong move up to where Arthur is sitting.

Ticket inspector, says Arthur. Time to move on.

Where to? asks Terence.

Up the train, says Arthur. Towards the inspector.

He starts walking up the train.

Terence follows with Prong.

They pass the ticket inspector.

Arrètez! says the ticket inspector. Ou allez-vous?

Toilet, says Arthur.

I must see your ticket first, says the ticket inspector.

The kid's in a hurry, says Arthur.

I'm going to pee on the floor, says Terence.

Go then, says the ticket inspector. I'll catch up with you when you return to your seat.

Thanks, says Arthur.

Phew! says Terence. 

They keep walking, until Arthur spots an empty seat.

Sit there, says Arthur. If anyone comes and says it's their seat, come and find me.

Okay, says Terence.

He sits down next to a kid who is playing a game on his ipad.

The kid looks up.

And back at his game.

Shall I go and see where Arthur is going to be sitting? asks Prong.

Yes, says Terence. Then we'll know if we'll be able to see the next signal.

Prong goes off.

The kid looks up again.

Spy parrot? says the kid.

Spy parrot, says Terence.

This is pleasing.