The lights go up, the cast take their bow.
Silence greets them from the empty auditorium.
They keep going because there is nothing else to be done.
Night after night, show after show, repeat and repeat. Bereft of enthusiasm they go through the motions, a ghost-like shadow of their former ardour.
Delirium set in weeks ago, around the time of the first death. The understudies have all now been promoted.
No one says anything to Reilly, but they all cast spiteful looks at his back. He was the one who coughed first.
The lockdown is indeterminate, the show must go on.
Written for Friday Fictioneers 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 stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
My first two novels are now widely available from several online stores. Just click on the appropriate link to have a browse and find out more:
A JUSTIFIED STATE – THE STATE TRILOGY BOOK ONE
PAPERBACK:
AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BOOK DEPOSITORY
Also available from ABEBOOKS
eBOOK:
AMAZON (KINDLE) BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK) KOBO SMASHWORDS Also available from APPLE BOOKS
STATE OF DENIAL – THE STATE TRILOGY BOOK TWO
PAPERBACK:
AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE BOOK DEPOSITORY
Also available from ABEBOOKS
eBOOK:
AMAZON (KINDLE) BARNES & NOBLE (NOOK) KOBO , SMASHWORDS Also available from APPLE BOOKS
Iain Kelly 
Clever story, Iain. A Marie Celeste, fully crewed, but with nobody to find them
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Thank you Neil
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Topical and tragic.
And the worst may be yet to come.
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It seems to be heading that way. Fingers crossed there is some relief.
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Oh, liked this! Very topical. Great take on the photo prompt, Iain.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you Susan
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At least they have something to do. Wait until cabin fever sets in…
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Trying not to imagine being stuck in my work for a month…
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All sharp objects would need to be hidden…
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A scary scenario.
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Hopefully one that won’t happen to us all.
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Let’s hope it is not prophetic!
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Indeed! Thank you.
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Dear Iain,
That took a frightening twist at the end. Well written misdirect and scary, given the possible pandemic sweeping the globe.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’m just imaging being locked in my work building for a month…!
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Topical, but hopefully not prophetic! Good story.
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Thank you. I think the show may well stop in a few places before this is over.
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Great story woven around the photo.
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Thank you 🙂
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Out for coffee this morning I observed when any body coughed, those around them looked worried.
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Yep, the paranoia is setting in. Soon follows the panic.
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Brilliant story, Iain. I liked the spiteful looks directed at Reilly. And the idea that actors would perform every day with or without an audience seems spot on. You’ve written this with great fluency; super.
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Thank you Penny, great comment to receive 🙂
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It must so be the case in theatres…
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I didn’t see that coming.
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Thanks Liz
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I think that is happening somewhere today, perhaps in Iran…
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Yep, I imagine the show will be stopped in quite a few places before this iver.
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Show has to go on.
Coronavirus has the world worried.
Coughing is viewed with suspicion.
But, this is serious. Many are getting affected day by day…
Where is our world heading?
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It isn’t going to go away anytime soon and will get worse before it gets better.
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Even worse than that which might occur by uttering the name of The Scottish Play. Soon the only event safe to attend will be a masked ball!
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I’m waiting to be told I can stay in my house and not come out until the summer is here!
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Oh my, this is the third story I have read for this prompt where some of the cast dies, the world is obsessed with coronavirus.
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It’s hard to avoid with the headlines. Still not reached Scotland, but it seems it is only a matter of time.
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Another good tale Iain.
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Thank you Di
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There was a possibility that the Olympics would have been postponed but apparently, a spokesman for the Japanese government said the International Olympic Committee and local organizers are going ahead as planned despite the threat. Today I heard on the News that a 60 something year old woman here in Toronto has the virus. She recently returned from Iran. There are cases in Italy as well. WHO says that Covid-19 is not yet a pandemic. Very effective topical take on the prompt, Iain.
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Thank you. I think it is very fluid and decisions will change on a day by day basis. I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets worse that the Olympics are cancelled.
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If the Olympics are cancelled, I feel sorry for all those athletes who worked so hard to get to that point but it’s best to be safe rather than sorry.
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Oy vey …. this does take “the show must go on” to its very extreme, doesn’t it? Yikes!
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Thank you 🙂
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Feels like purgatory. Aha! Now I see where those who fail the audition go 😉
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Oh yeah, a theatre for rejected actors!
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A super story after hearing the news about the corona virus this morning. Hopefully this will not be the case 🙂
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Let’s hope they can keep it under some sort of control, I think it will go on for quite some time now.
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it looks like fear of the virus is affecting everything. hopefully, it’ll be resolved soon.
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I wouldn’t get your hopes up, looks like it will get a lot worse before it gets better.
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One more reason I want to become a recluse. Great take on the prompt.
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It’s the safest option.
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Now that’s professionalism. Poor Reilly. It does seem like everyone’s watching everyone else closely these days for any sign of a cough or a sneeze.
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We’re all going to get more and more paranoid for a few months…
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Ah that deadly boredom cough in any theatre….love the ambience of your writing
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Thank you so much 🙂
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🌻
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Oh brilliant and utterly terrifying
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Thanks Laurie
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Groundhog day in the time of the corona…
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Much like the news headlines each day.
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Iain, this is a great combination of real life events and the prompt. Good writing.
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Thank you Linda
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No wonder they can’t get an audience. They should perform in those little blue masks, maybe. Great take this week!
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Ha, that’s true. We might all be wearing them soon!
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True, but I sure hope not.
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Scary and so true. It’s sad that this might actually happen. Let’s hope not. Great story.
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I think the theatres may have to close if it spreads much further.
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Ugh.
Coronavirus be damned.
Won’t stop us or the show!!!!!
Good story.
Randy
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I’m sure we will all carry on somehow. Thanks Randy
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Just one little cough and a hurricane arrives – how shocking.
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Feels like that at the moment, every cough is suspicious now!
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Oh! This is grand. An interesting way to avoid the tedium of being in confinement. And poor Reilly. It wasn’t his fault that he coughed first. But, that is the way of the world.
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Everyone is suspect now, but at least they have each other for the duration!
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You gave this a great sense of spiraling madness, I really like it. I’m wondering if this was inspired by recent quarantines.
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Thanks David, much appreciated
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I like it – topical indeed.
My first time here – and rather late.
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Scary and topical. On a lighter note Google has reported an increase in online searches for “corona beer virus” and “beer coronavirus” .
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The brewers must be making money out of it 🙂
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It could be worse. I thought they were just really bad actors.
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They are getting better with all the practice time they now have.
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Very timely!
I love the line: ” He was the one who coughed first.”
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Thanks Dawn
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Very on trend and up to the moment, Iain. We’ve just been discussing such possible scenarios at work. Well done
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Yes, my work is similar, not sure what will happen if we have to stop altogether!
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Oh you are good!
I think I will need to sign up for your posts again, for they aren’t coming to my email.
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Thanks, hope you manage to get signed up. I’m pretty sure I haven’t changed anything at my end!
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I think its just a glitch. Having the same problem with another blogger. I will figure it out. 🙂
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