Existential Blue

Team Philosophe and Team Condor are drinking champagne in the Café de Flore.

They are making up for Stage Twenty One, the day before yesterday, when Belle failed to provide it.

Un otra? says Vello.

Yurp, says David.

Wee, says Jacobi.

Arthur has fallen asleep with his head on the table.

By which we can tell that they have been drinking for Quite Some Time.

Sweezus staggers back from the toilet.

Guess who I saw in there, says Sweezus. Sartre.

Everyone sits up, except Arthur.

Sartre is coming over.

Is that Sartre? asks Jacobi.

Yes it's me, says Sartre. Hello chaps. Saw you all in the Final Stage last Sunday. Well done. Ah, memories! I remember us riding in the Tour de France together, back in the day.

So do I, says Vello. You were Team Existential. Simone was in it.

In a blue dress, says David, dreamily.

No, no, says Sartre.

Sweezus's phone rings. It's Belle.

Where are you? asks Belle.

Café de Flore, says Sweezus. Where are you?

Just round the corner, says Belle. I'll be there in a minute.

It was blue, says Vello.

It may have been, but she wasn't wearing it, says Sartre. She was thinking about it, for a party.

May I join in, asks Jacobi. If she was thinking about it, how did you know it was blue?

She said so, says Sartre.

But you didn't see it, says Jacobi.

Where are you going with this? asks Sartre. You sound like David.

Steady on! says David.

I am very happy to sound like David , says Jacobi.

Of course you are, says Sartre You wrote a whole book about him.

Did he? asks David. What was it called?

David Hume uber den Glauben, oder Idealismus, says Sartre.

He is good at remembering titles.

You sly dog! says David, poking Jacobi. How did you slant it?

He attempted to show that his concept of belief was no different from that of an advanced philosopher such as yourself, says Sartre.

Jacobi looks somewhat embarrassed, as one would in the circumstances.

David looks pleased.

Belle enters the Café de Flore with Splosh, Terence and Baldy. Baldy is sporting new curls in primary colours.

Terence heads straight for Sweezus.

Can I get ....?

No, says Sweezus.