See Me Now

Consider if you will the tale of Ignatius Temple, known within his small circle of friends as Iggy and generally considered an inconsiderate and unkind being. Disposed towards cruel pranks Iggy is a man pursuing a life centred wholly about himself, one devoid of empathy or care for others. That is until a shadow from his past closes upon him and gives him good cause to question what kind of man he really is.


Domino 8.41am
Iggy. You still on the train?

Iggy
As usual. Why do you think I'd be anywhere else?

Domino
Do you still get off at Central?

Iggy
Yeah. Why?

Domino
Need a favour.

Iggy
Again?

Domino
Just a short detour before you get to the office.

Iggy
I really don't have time.

Domino
Come on dude. I just need you to pick something up for me.

Iggy
What is it this time?

Domino
Its a present for Frida. Had it made special.

Iggy
Where?

Domino
New shop on Jackson Street. Makes bespoke jewelry. Got a great deal.

Iggy
And you want me to carry it around all day?

Domino
No. Just pick it up. I'll be in later in the day and get it from you.

Iggy
So why don't you just get it yourself?

Domino
Jeweler will only be available for pickup in the AM. It would be a great help.

Iggy
Jackson Street is too far out of my way. Can't do it.

Domino
But its only a few minutes walk.

Iggy
Then you should have no problem getting it yourself.

Domino
God you can be a pain sometimes.

Iggy
Don't call me God. The man upstairs'll get jealous.

Domino
Asshole.


Iggy 8.59am
Hey Jace!

Jace
What is it now?

Iggy
You still use Jackson Street to get to the office?

Jace
Yeah.

Iggy
Good. Wanna play a prank on Domino?

Jace
Not really. Some of us have actual work to do.

Iggy
Well you're a tad shirty today. What happened. That mongrel of yours eat your breakfast?

Jace
Just for the record, no he didn't. And he's not a mongrel. Just found out that the company's downsizing.

Iggy
Well if that is true they'll certainly get rid of you. Lazy sod that you are.

Jace
Thanks. Your vote of confidence is appreciated.

Iggy
Don't worry. We get told every second week that the company's going bust.

Jace
If you say so.

Iggy
Anyway. Back to important things. You going up Jackson Street?

Jace
Not today. Getting a lift into work.

Iggy
Damn. Forget it. I'll see you later.


Frida 9.06am
Iggy you little shit. Why didn't you help Domino?

Iggy
Hey Big Sis. I thought it was supposed to be a surprise?

Frida
Do you really think I don't know what's going on. Doms couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it.

Iggy
So what do you want me to do?

Frida
Get off your ass and go get the parcel. And text Doms and tell him you're doing it ASAP.

Iggy
Why should I?

Frida
Because if you don't I'll tell him it was you who messed with his drink at the Xmas party.

Iggy
Shit. You wouldn't would you.

Frida
Wouldn't I. Just a bit of sisterly advice Ignatius. Your pranks will get you into serious crap one day. Don't make that day today.

Iggy
Jesus. OK. I'll have it by 10.30.

Frida
Good. Don't make me text you again.

Iggy
Bloody sister.

Frida
Get the gift or else.


Anonymous 9.46am
Hello Ignatius.

Iggy
Who is this?

Anonymous
Somebody who knows what you did.

Iggy
Get lost.

Anonymous
Don't be so quick to blow me off. I have a secret.

Iggy
So? I can't say I'm happy for you.

Anonymous
But this secret is about you.

Iggy
Is this Doms? Still narked I haven't been to the Jewelers?

Anonymous
Don't worry about Domino, him and Frida are just fine.

Iggy
How do you know them?

Anonymous
I've been watching. They have a nice apartment on Hamilton Road. Great view of the beach.

Iggy
Who are you?

Anonymous
Someone concerned for their well-being.

Iggy
What do you want?

Anonymous
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to hurt anybody. But things happen. People die sometimes.

Iggy
You're some kind of freak aren't you. One of those assholes who get their jollies trolling around on the internet.

Anonymous
Name calling won't help, Ignatius. Maybe you should ask me what I want.

Iggy 
Maybe I should ask you why I should care?

Anonymous
Because your sister's life depends upon it.

Iggy
I'm calling the police.

Anonymous
Do that and your sister will be dead before you finish the call. I'm looking at her right now. Could almost touch her.

Iggy
Really? Where is she?

Anonymous
Ah. Need to be convinced. Very well. At this moment she is walking towards a cafe. Called the Sweet Spot. Know it?

Iggy
What the hell do you want?

Anonymous
Now that's the question you should be asking. Got a moment to talk now?

Iggy
What do you want?

Anonymous
You and me have an issue. In the next two hours its going to be resolved.

Iggy
Do I know you?

Anonymous
Oh, its not whether you know me that's the issue. It's what you did to me that matters.

Iggy
What I did to you?

Anonymous
Want to go on an adventure?

Iggy
Do I have any choice?

Anonymous
None.  Luckily for you it starts simple enough. I need you to go to Central Station.

Iggy
Is that it?

Anonymous
The adventure starts once you're there. You've got fifteen minutes.


Anonymous 10.15am
In the station?

Iggy
Yes.

Anonymous
Good. Where are you standing?

Iggy
Near the ticket office.

Anonymous
See the the entrance to platform 6?

Iggy
Yeah.

Anonymous
See the mirror they put up so you can see if anyone is lurking on the stairs?

Iggy
The round one?

Anonymous
That's it. Look at it.

Iggy
What am I supposed to see?

Anonymous
Tell me what you see.

Iggy
People. Walking up the stairs. Maybe the edge of the platform itself. That's all.

Anonymous
Look at the people. Who's the odd one out?

Iggy
What do you mean?

Anonymous
Look at the people. Who isn't there?

Iggy
You're not making any sense.

Anonymous
Look closer. There are six people in the mirror. Look at the stairs. How many do you see?

Iggy
There are only five people on the stairs.

Anonymous
Good on you. Who's the odd one out?

Iggy
Its a woman. Maybe twenties. Wearing a dark overcoat.

Anonymous
That's me Iggy. Surprised?

Iggy
But how can I see you?

Anonymous
Not sure. I've stood in front of that mirror for some time trying to work that out.

Iggy
Do you have any connection to this place?

Anonymous
That's the thing. I used platform 6 every day for 5 years.

Iggy
Why?

Anonymous
To get into the City. Walked those stairs thousands of times. Something must have stuck.

Iggy
Can only I see you?

Anonymous
Seems so.

Iggy
But I don't know you.

Anonymous
As I said Ignatius. Its not who I am that's important. It's what you did to me that is.

Iggy
What did I do?

Anonymous
You killed me Iggy and now you have to atone for it.

Iggy
What? I haven't killed anyone.

Anonymous
You sure about that Ignatius?

Anonymous
Don't you remember this day last year.

Iggy
No.

Anonymous
Come now. Surely you remember driving home from that party. Late at night. That sharp thump out of nowhere.

Iggy
I remember hitting an animal.

Anonymous
Did you ever find it?

Iggy
No. The road had thick forest on both sides. Just thought it had run off into the bushes.

Anonymous
That was no animal Iggy. That was me. Hitchhiking home for the holidays. Took two days to die in a ravine.

Iggy
No way. I couldn't have.

Anonymous
But you did Iggy. Clipped me good. Now you have to atone.

Iggy
How?

Anonymous
Simple. You have to find me. Give me back to my family.

Iggy
Nobody found you?

Anonymous
No. Now you have to.

Iggy
But how?

Anonymous
You know where it happened. Get a car and go find me.

Iggy
What if I don't?

Anonymous
Then this day will be your sister's last.

Iggy
I'll find you. Just don't do anything to my sister.

Anonymous
That depends on you.


Iggy 11.05am
I'm in a cab. Should only be 5 minutes.

Anonymous
Good.

Iggy
How are you doing this?

Anonymous
What do you mean?

Iggy
If you're dead how can you be contacting me?

Anonymous
We have a connection, you and me. That moment bound our fates together.

Anonymous
Trust me. If it wasn't by text it would have been some other way.

Iggy
Are you a ghost?

Anonymous
Not really. More an echo of who I once was.

Iggy
We're here.

Anonymous
Pay the man and get out.


Iggy 11.11am
I'm here. What do you want me to do?

Anonymous
Find me.


Anonymous 11.25am
Found me yet?

Iggy
No. Ground falls away steeply on both sides of the road. Thick undergrowth and damp earth.

Anonymous
Not a nice place to die is it?

Iggy
No its not. But it wasn't my fault. I didn't see you.

Anonymous
No you didn't. Why didn't you?

Iggy
I don't know. I can't remember.

Anonymous
Keep looking.

Iggy
Nothing on this side of the road. I'll try the other.


Iggy 11.46am
Oh Jesus. I've found you!

Anonymous
Where?

Iggy
In the ravine as you said. Christ its deep. No wonder you went unnoticed.

Anonymous
Now call the police.

Iggy
But I can't. They'll think I'm a hit and run driver.

Anonymous
But you were Iggy. Now you have to atone. If you're lucky you'll only get four years.

Iggy
No way. I can't. What if I come back with my car and collect your remains. Send them to your family?

Anonymous
Do you realise how daft that sounds. How are you going to explain that?

Iggy
I don't know. No way I'm spending time in prison.

Anonymous
But you have to atone Ignatius. Otherwise what's the point of our little adventure together?

Iggy
What is your name?

Anonymous
Janet. Janet Morrison.

Iggy
Well Janet. What about if I make an anonymous call to 911. Tell them where you are.

Anonymous
You could. But then you won't have taken responsibility for what you have done. It could get messy for you.

Iggy
But I can't go to jail.

Anonymous
Roll the dice Iggy. Maybe you will. Maybe you won't.

Iggy
Not going to take the chance. I'll find a public phone and make the call.

Anonymous
That's your choice Iggy.


Frida 12.07pm
Jace. Have you seen Iggy?

Jace
He left work around 10am. Haven't seen him since.

Frida
He was supposed to pick up something for Doms.

Jace
Did he?

Frida
No. I'm worried Jace. It's not like him.

Jace
Maybe Doms has seen him.

Frida
Yeah. I'll call him and see.


Domino 4.45pm
Frida. Have you seen the news?

Frida
No. What's happened?

Domino
Cops have found two bodies on Capwell Drive.

Frida
So?

Domino
I think one of them might be Iggy.

Frida
What?

Domino
Police say they've discovered two bodies. One looks like its been in a ravine for more than a year.

Domino
The other was hit by a car this morning. Driver made off without stopping.

Frida
Why do you think it's Iggy?

Domino
General description matches. Witness says he was texting on his phone and stepped out onto the road.

Frida
But why would he be there? And where's his car?

Domino
I don't know. Witness says he wasn't alone.

Frida
What do you mean?

Domino
If it was Iggy he was with a young woman.

Domino
Witness says she was wearing a dark overcoat.

Frida
I'm calling the police.

THE END