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.
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.
So cruel. So true
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surely not long until life and death are the prizes in a quiz show…
LikeLike
Didn’t one of the ITV companies develop a format where the prize was UK residence for a refugee? They never made the show, but the thinking is there
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear me, at least it was stopped before they went ahead with that!
LikeLike
Haha, bizarre sounding at first but I’m sure I saw a reality TV show just like this a few months ago! Great story Iain 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it’s not far off the truth. Thanks Jessie 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t be surprised to see this on TV!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s there already, apart from adding the battle to the death, which I’m sure someone will add at some point.
LikeLike
Evil to the core. Bad work Lain in a good way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Neel
LikeLike
That’s the way we’re heading. Not enough that people are humiliated, now they’ll have to suffer the ultimate to entertain the masses. Good one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s been suggested before, I’m sure it will appear at some point… Thanks Sandra
LikeLike
I feel so sad for Julie, but at the same time this isn’t far from the reality of how the world is going. Which is even sadder! Good job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Joy, I agree, I’m not sure my story is particularly ‘fictional’, more ‘close to reality’!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reminds me a bit of Black Mirror. Hyper-reality TV!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, any comparison to Black Mirror is a good thing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What channel is it on, I need to watch it, not. But I loved your story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael – it’s a guaranteed hit show whatever channel decides to make it!
LikeLike
The cruelty of reality shows… soon it’s policy of nations…
LikeLiked by 1 person
With more words that was exactly the connection I was going on to make. Thanks Bjorn.
LikeLike
Ha.. I could sense that… hunger games are coming.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reality show …….. great take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – too close to reality!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Iain,
Great take on the prompt and some very cruel, humiliating reality shows. As my cousin Kent would say, five out of five green lights.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rochelle – do I win a prize? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Five green lights. 😉 Perhaps an Emmy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
My goodness! First the humiliation then possible death? You are in a mood today. Great take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alicia. I’m not sure how it ended up like that, I’m actually reasonable happy today, maybe it’s just the winter blues! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
One never knows where the muse will lead us. She did well by you today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sucks to be Julie, I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should say Julie is purely fictional and in no way anyone that I know!
LikeLike
careful, this may be the next lame reality show. Nice story, I feel bad for Julie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do too, although you wonder why she went on the show in the first place – unless she was forced to take part… Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch… What a horrid thing to live through… And, sadly, as a reality show will get huge ratings…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a winner, unfortunately Julie is not…
LikeLiked by 1 person
History repeats itself. Today’s survivor is yesterday’s gladiator. Great post scary, but great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, let’s hope she survives!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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?
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLike
I have and am still weighing options. Thanks for your two cents.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hoped reality tv was just a fad…great story, Iain, so true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Steve. Unfortunately it seems here to stay. I can remember a time before it dominated tv.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ouch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a harsh way to be rejected. Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is like a Black Mirror story! Great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comparison 🙂
LikeLike
The worst part about this story is that it doesn’t seem entirely like Fiction. Nice job, Lain! Chills.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, it started as fiction and when finished I realised it wasn’t far off the reality! Thanks Dawn
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the job offer. TV here is heading much the same way, I’m thinking this is a global format 🙂
LikeLike
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. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Christine. There are some good things to come from TV, but increasingly less.
LikeLike
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. 😧
LikeLiked by 1 person
There will always be plenty of people seeking their moment of fame. Thanks Jan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice – made me smile at first, then sympathy for poor Julie. Then, she knew what she was getting into…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or did she… Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh! Okay that went darker than I expected! Poor thing, rejected so fast, how awful
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a harsh world, especially on television.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A nicely written view of the cold impersonal world we are becoming. Very creative take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, it’s certainly not a particularly nice world we’re becoming, I agree.
LikeLike
Wow! Great job! Reminds me vaguely of a Doctor Who episode.
LikeLike
Thanks Sascha, that’s true, could be a good setup to start an episode.
LikeLike
I’m President Snow and I approve this message.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like that, but in a cheesier, cheap Saturday night TV way 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
ouch! the emcee sounds more like somebody i know trumping with his bad mouth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definite similarities, he has done a bit of entertainment TV 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mandi, it’s cruel, but at the same time, seems to be the sort of thing people want to watch…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes sadly you’re right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly the description I’ll use when I pitch it to the TV networks! Thanks Lisa 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
TV companies sink to lower and lower depths to ‘entertain’! Great reaction to the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Clare, they haven’t sunk this low yet, but it can’t be far off!
LikeLike
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true, and I’m not sure you’ll ever find true love through a TV show, but people seem to want to try it. Thanks for reading and commenting Ashley 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately your clever story echoes what some entertainment has descended to these days. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it started as fiction Liz, but is quite close to reality. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, it’s a grim reality at the moment.
LikeLike
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 😎
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If anyone from the TV business reads this, he/she is sure to get ideas 😀 Nice take Iain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m copyrighting the idea now 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post
Amazing
Visit mine
http://shivashishspeaks.wordpress.com/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the dark humour in this story. How long till there are real life-or-death votes on TV?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s only a matter of time. Thanks for the comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On a sort-of connected note, have you seen the film Series 7 The Contenders? I think you’d appreciate the very dark comedy
LikeLiked by 1 person
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!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How horrible! It makes gladiator contests a welcomed spot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re heading back to that sort of entertainment surely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reality TV already thrives on humiliation and suffering, it won’t be long before death is included
LikeLiked by 1 person
Only a matter of time. Thanks Michael.
LikeLike
It sounds like something that would morph into another version of “The Hunger Games”. Please no! Good writing, Iain. —- Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Schadenfreude at its best (or worst, depending on one’s perspective). Excellent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, much appreciated
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chillingly close to the truth – we are getting ever closer to Hunger Games meets Take Me Out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great tagline to help me sell my idea to the networks! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll know who to blame when I see the promos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a wicked little story!
Thanks for the like and the follow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Martin. Look forward to reading more of your stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person