THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

~ Iain Kelly

Lights flashed, music blared.

‘Julie is thirty-five, works in a shop and has a second job as a waitress. She doesn’t have the time to meet Mr. Right. Will she find him tonight? Let’s start The Tunnel of Love!’ The audience bayed along.

Lights dimmed, tension music.

Julie took two tentative steps along the curved tunnel.

Loud claxon, red lights. The audience laughed.

‘Unlucky, Julie. You’ve been rejected by all the contestants immediately! Join us next time to see if Julie can do better in a fight to the death. It’s The Battle of The Rejects!’

End music. Lights down.

dale-rogerson2
© Dale Rogerson

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read more stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

Published by Iain Kelly

39 year old writer, avid film viewer and book reader, employed in the media industry as a television editor.

110 thoughts on “THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!”

  17. Poor Julie! She only did the same thing we all have but in a controlled setting where the results are much more public and subject to entertainment of others. By the way Iain, how is your Amazon experience?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks Joe, that’s true – the everyday in an exaggerated game show. My Amazon experience has been fine. It relies on you doing it all yourself unless your willing to pay. I won’t lie, I haven’t sold stacks, so can’t quit the day job yet, but as a way to get your writing out there and in print I can’t complain.

      Like

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  22. Nicely built piece, Iain, and I couldn’t escape The Jam ‘Feeding ducks in the park and wishing you were far away’.
    Check out The Running Man, a Stephen King story made into a movie with, I think, Big Arnie.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I think I’ve seen that film, although not read the book. The Hunger Games is also similar, although I was imagining a cheesier British Saturday night style of show The X-rated Factor, if you will… Thanks

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  23. I had a good snicker on this one. It will probably be the lead-in show for The “Dude, Who Stole My Car? ” Show. You should come here to work in TV with us. Nice job, iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  24. Poor Julie — wouldn’t she feel like a loser! Still, you get what you pay for, and she entered the contest.
    We tossed our tv forty-some years ago and this story has convinced me that we did the right thing. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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  25. Battle of the Rejects is probably being produced right now for release in the fall. Aargh!!! They won’t need to look far for attention-seeking wannabes…or has-beens. 😧

    Liked by 1 person

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  32. Wow sounds like some awfully cruel reality TV program. The bacholerette mixed with Roman Empire style entertainment, or the Hunger games. But the Hunger games was pretty much based off Roman mythology and life anyways. Great writing Ian.

    Liked by 1 person

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  33. A cross between The Dating Game and The Hunger Games?
    Nahhh…you are too young to remember The Dating Game!
    Great take on the prompt…loved it!
    – Lisa

    Liked by 1 person

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  34. I suppose there are millions of Julies out there who can be tortured and humiliated for our entertainment. We’ve almost made a full circle back to the days of feeding the lions in the Roman Coliseum.

    Liked by 1 person

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  36. Wow. I felt my heart sink for her at the sound of rejection. In this day and age finding love does feel like a fight to the death. Great job!

    Liked by 1 person

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  38. Once upon a time I thought films and books like The Hunger Games and Running Man were nice, but unrealistic SF stories. And all of a sudden they become more realistic every day. Great story, Iain.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  39. YIKES … humiliation and humiliation. It’s an interesting twist for the prompt. Just hate the way people subject themselves to be on these tv programs. GOSH … reminded me of the Bachelor – which I never watch and change channels when they have commercials. YIKES … again.
    Isadora 😎

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    1. Yes, unfortunately there are a whole string of programs like this, and seemingly plenty of people willing to put themselves up for humiliation on them. Thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  42. Oh my. Poor Julie. Aside from that, you read my mind. The first idea I had for this prompt was the discovery of a place opposite of a forgotten hall of fame. A Hall of Rejection. Spooky!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      2. I have seen that one, I seem to remember it appeared at the start of the whole Big Brother TV show. Definitely could be done for real now, people would watch!

        Liked by 1 person

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