Existential Moments

Terence won't calm down. His Elmo towel is floating away.

Arthur is smart enough to know that this is no time to ask him the question:

(who do you think your dad is?)

He lets Terence ask his question first.

Every time I feel happy, says Terence, I lose something.

Arthur is patient. This is a preliminary statement.

Something's WRONG, says Terence.

Arthur waits for the question.

So what's HAPPENING? says Terence.

Normal events, says Arthur. In most cases, triggered by you. I bet you were standing on the railing.

He was, says Ssü-K'ung Shu.

You should have stopped me, says Terence.

I was having an existential moment of my own, says Ssü-K'ung Shu.

Were you? says Arthur. What was it?

Should I go home to China? asks Ssü-K'ung Shu.

Up to you, says Arthur, but after the two sellout shows, it'll be Easter, and we're going camping. You could come too.

In that case... says Ssü-K'ung Shu.

It isn't my fault that you're doing NOTHING! shouts Terence.

But someone is doing something.

MAN OVERBOARD!

The dreadful cry is heard all over the Sealink Ferry.

The engines grind to a halt.

The crew scan the ocean on both sides and the rear of the vessel. A life boat is lowered.

Vello and Gaius come running, followed by Sweezus.

They spot Terence, at the same time.

Marvellous, says Vello. So you didn't fall in then? I'll go and report to the captain.

Soon the ferry starts up again, having lost twenty minutes of time.

Elmo towel floats to the surface,
Elmo face reads the sky.
Elmo face has nothing to go by.
Elmo face thinks it will die.

But the kindly tides float the Elmo towel back to the Ferry terminal at Penneshaw, where Louise is drinking an apple juice.

My towel, says Louise. She reaches down with her trumpet, and hooks it up out of the water.

Terence loved that towel, says Louise. He'll be upset that he lost it.

She wrings it out, taking care not to damage the nose.

........

Cape Jervis.

The Sealink Ferry has docked, twenty minutes late.

Everyone gets off. Terence is sniffling.

Do stop sniffling, says Gaius. It's only a towel.

It's not the towel, says Terence. Arthur says I can't go camping.

Who's going camping? asks Vello.

THEY are, says Terence. They're having chocolate and sleeping in bags.

Cheer up, says Vello, You wouldn't want to be anywhere near Sweezus at Easter, believe me.

WHY? asks Terence.

He doesn't know.

Midge pulls up in her camper, to give Sweezus and Arthur a lift home.

They are just piling in when Louise appears, out of nowhere, waving the red Elmo towel.