The reality TV show to die for. Literally

by Kerry Drewery

  But before you even touched him, everything stopped.

  Fear rolled over me. I stepped back with everyone else, and silence blanketed everything.

  He’d put a gun to your head.

  ‘Don’t,’ he said. ‘Don’t throw your life away on shit like her.’

  Your face writhed with anger. ‘You wouldn’t shoot your own son.’

  ‘No,’ Jackson said, ‘if I had a son, I wouldn’t shoot him. But you’re not my son, are you?’

  The rage was bubbling from you, but you were helpless. He shoved you in the car and all I could do as he drove you away was watch.

  It was Gus who came up to me, put an arm around me and walked me home.

  ‘I’ve never seen a gun before,’ I muttered to Gus.

  ‘And you don’t wanna see no more,’ he said. ‘Weak men use ’em.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ I asked, the low sun reaching out shadows of buildings like fingers stretching to get me.

  He lifted a hand, all his fingers folded but for his index one. He curled it, mimicking shooting a gun. ‘Takes more effort to think than to pull a trigger.’

  I never told you that. Profound? True? What do you think?

  Maybe, hey? But when your only other option is dying, you don’t stop to think.

  Huh, look at me saying that.

  Thinking back, all the times we’d wandered through the Rises together, and all the times people told us Jackson had been around, it wasn’t surprising, I suppose. We’d been found out. The gun to your head was the first warning, the trashing of my flat was the next.

  We ignored them both.

  Eve

  Outside the studio a crowd has gathered. People wrapped in coats and scarves, waving placards and chanting slogans.

  A Life For A Life.

  We Demand Safe Streets.

  Across the other side of the road, in relative safety from the crowds, stands Gus from the High Rises. He holds a soggy piece of cardboard, stained with food and dirt. Across it, in smeared black ink are the words – One Person, One Vote.

  He holds it to his chest and moves from foot to foot to keep warm. His thin sweater and trousers blow and flap in the wind. He has no jacket, hat, gloves or scarf. He shivers.

  A taxi pulls around the corner, slowing down as it approaches the crowd of people. A few of them turn to the car, peering through the glass to see who’s inside.

  ‘Counsellor!’ one of them shouts, and a few more turn around.

  ‘Eve Stanton!’ another says, and as word goes through the crowd they swarm on the car, banging on the windows, the bonnet, the roof, their noise increasing, and in seconds it can’t move forwards or backwards and it rocks violently back and forth as they push and pull on it.

  Gus drops his cardboard and runs across, shoving his way through the people. Some force him back but he slams into them, grabbing and pushing until he reaches the door.

  Yanking it open he grabs Eve and pulls her out, Max following close behind, just as the car lurches too far one way and goes over.

  A roar lifts up from the crowd, so many thinking she’s still inside. Gus wraps an arm around Eve and forces through them with Max right behind.

  Demonstrators jump on the up-turned car, their chants louder and louder and their banners waving high.

  Make Our Streets Safe!

  Kill The Killers!

  Death Is Justice!

  ‘Quickly,’ Gus says to Eve and Max. ‘If they realise you’ve escaped, we’re done for.’

  Death is Justice

  Seated at the desk, the studio lights glisten on Joshua’s skin as he turns to camera. Next to him, Kristina, in a lemon pinstripe dress, is smiling at the scene of destruction showing on the screen.

  JOSHUA: Kristina, it seems that banner is advertising our programme!

  Kristina laughs at him.

  KRISTINA: So it does. But of course, we are the place to be for all the latest news and gossip about our accused and their crimes. Speaking of which, haven’t we got a scoop today?

  The studio audience suck in a breath.

  JOSHUA: I’m sure you eagle-eyed viewers out there saw our guest fighting her way to the studio just then. Yes, coming to talk to us today, and give us her opinion on the killing of Jackson Paige, is none other than designated counsellor …

  KRISTINA (smiling): Ex-designated counsellor!

  JOSHUA: Ex-designated counsellor, Eve Stanton. Eve’s managed to cause a storm of controversy, but before we invite her in, let’s give you those all-important numbers once more. Dial 0909 87 97 77 and to vote GUILTY add 7 to the end or to vote NOT GUILTY add a 0. You can also vote by texting DIE or LIVE to 7997. To vote online visit our website www.aneyeforan‌eyeproductions.com, click on the ‘Martha Honeydew Teen Killer’ tab at the top and log your vote. Calls are charged at premium rate, please seek bill payer’s permission, texts cost £5 plus your network provider’s standard fee, voting online is also £5 after an initial registration fee of £20. For full Ts and Cs visit our website.

  A blue band with the numbers and details written in silver glides across the bottom of the screen. Joshua looks into the camera but he doesn’t smile.

  Isaac

  ‘I don’t know why you keep dialling, sweetie, it’s a waste of money. Your father’s lawyer’s got it sorted – that girl’s going to die.’ Isaac’s mother stretches a brush of pink down her thumb nail as she sits at the kitchen table, her long legs extended from her dressing gown, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders.

  Isaac looks up from his phone. ‘You’re all heart,’ he says.

  ‘Well, she’ll get what she deserves.’

  He sits down opposite her. ‘Really? You think she deserves to die?’

  ‘She killed Jackson!’

  ‘Did she?’

  ‘Said she did.’

  ‘Do you never think that there should be more certainty before we take a decision to execute somebody? Proper evidence.’

  ‘As my hairdresser said to me yesterday, it’s our responsibility as voters to tune in and watch Death is Justice. You can get all the information you want by hearing what the experts say.’

  ‘Mother, that programme is biased.’

  ‘They are doing us an important service. Look how much safer the streets are since we did away with courts. And we, with the money we have available, have a responsibility to society to vote as much as we can.’

  ‘What about the people who can’t afford it?’

  ‘Well, that’s exactly why we should vote more.’

  ‘But what if they want to vote differently to us?’ Isaac shouts.

  ‘Why would they? She’s guilty. She said she is.’

  He stands up, his hands out in exasperation. ‘Can you possibly be as dumb as you sound?’

  She looks at him sideways and says nothing.

  ‘Just because she says she did it, doesn’t mean she actually did.’

  ‘If that’s right,’ she says, ‘then she deserves to die for being so goddamned stupid!’

  He stares at her.

  ‘You should just be glad that your father took you out of that place and gave you a good education and a future.’

  ‘Yeah, let’s talk about that, shall we? Why did he do that? Was it really his idea?’

  She finishes painting her nails and replaces the brush into the bottle. ‘You never asked that when Jackson was alive. Why now when he’s dead? What does it matter why? He did it because he was a kind, caring man, that’s why.’

  ‘Who killed people and manipulated others, and sold drugs and had affairs …’

  She stands in front of him, puts a finger over his lips and smiles.

  ‘Well, aren’t you growing up fast? You know what I learnt when I was younger? I learnt when to shut up and when to look the other way.’ She moves her finger and points at him instead. ‘Think what you could’ve ended up like if he hadn’t taken you out of there, before you take that high moral tone. You’d be just like that useless, hot-headed orphan girl
.’

  ‘As Jackson killed both of our mothers, seems I am already like her.’

  She smiles coldly. ‘Adopting you did make him look good. Both of us, really.’

  ‘The adoption was your idea?’

  ‘Should’ve dealt with the girl a long time ago though. She was always a nagging loose end. Thanks to you, we finally are.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger that night,’ she whispers, and she raises her right hand, makes a gun shape with her fingers, and as she points it at him, she winks.

  His face drops, his mouth opens to speak but the words are gone.

  ‘And we still look good. Oh, the sympathy I’ve been given.’

  ‘I … you …’ he says.

  ‘Speechless?’ she says. ‘That’s not like you.’

  ‘Martha … she …’

  ‘It is so funny how much you care about the little people!’

  She laughs and as he watches her face contort he breathes deep and steadies himself.

  ‘I wonder if you’ll still be laughing,’ he says, ‘when Jackson’s will is read.’

  Her smile fades. ‘What did you say?’ she asks.

  ‘Oh, didn’t you know he changed it?’ His voice judders but he carries on. ‘Perhaps rather than assuming he was disappearing off to sleep with other women, you should’ve considered the possibility that he was visiting his lawyer instead.’

  ‘He wouldn’t dare!’

  ‘Yet …’ He lets the idea hang in the air for a moment. ‘Seems he was a little fed up of your controlling ways,’ he says, and with a smile he walks out of the room.

  Martha

  ‘The time: is 11 a.m. You have: ten hours until your possible execution. The current stats are: 95.5% in favour, 4.5% against. We will update you in: one hour.’

  I don’t remember hearing the one at ten o’clock. Was I asleep? Did they actually do it? Maybe they’re taking extra hours off me for fun. The next one will be one o’clock, or two, even.

  It said 95.5% in favour. It’s going down, isn’t it? Maybe it’ll keep going down. People won’t believe I’m guilty. I won’t die.

  But I wanted to die. I said it was the only way.

  It is.

  But I’m just a girl from the Rises.

  You’re a girl whose name people will remember for the change that began with you.

  No, it won’t work, and I’ll be dead anyway.

  That’s because you’re a killer and you deserve to die.

  No, I’m not! No, I don’t!

  Shit, stop talking to yourself. You’re going mad. Stop it.

  Look, there he is through the glass. See him? He’s sitting in the front row. He’s waving to you. See how happy he looks?

  He does look happy. He’s smiling.

  See what he’s got in his hands?

  No.

  That envelope. It says ‘Last Will and Testament’. It’s his father’s. He leaves everything to him. That’s why he’s happy.

  Why? Because he’s got his father’s money?

  Yes, he’s going to watch you die and he’s not going to do anything. You killed his father for him, you see? Now he’s free to do what he likes with all that money.

  That’s not true!

  Look, he’s leaving now, can’t be bothered to wait for you to die. He’s waving again. He’s not doing anything but leaving. See?

  No! No, Isaac, no! Shut up! Shut up! Stop arguing with me. You’re not real. You’re me. You’re just me, worried and scared. Shut up, shut up!

  I bang my hands again and again on the glass.

  ‘Isaac!’ I yell. ‘Isaac!’

  Death is Justice

  Kristina shakes her head at the audience, the live feed of Martha on the screen to the right, Joshua next to her.

  KRISTINA: We’ve not seen someone lose it quite so early in the day for a while now, have we, Joshua?

  JOSHUA: No, Kristina, you’re right. And how strange it is that she’s shouting the name of the deceased’s son.

  KRISTINA: Indeed. One for our viewers to ponder there, I believe. But right now, let’s turn our attention to our studio guest today.

  The live feed on the screen is replaced by a photograph of Eve walking into the prison building.

  KRISTINA: In the time since she’s held the position of designated counsellor, she has adamantly refused to appear on our show, yet as an exclusive for you, viewers, we have her here tonight!

  JOSHUA: Please welcome … Eve Stanton!

  The eye logo takes its place on the screen as Eve strolls out from backstage. Her head is angled upward as she walks forward, and she extends a hand toward Kristina and Joshua.

  Joshua stands up and takes it with a smile. Kristina ignores her. The audience are silent.

  JOSHUA: Eve, please take a seat.

  At the high desk, Joshua moves to the side and Eve takes her place in the middle. Her stool is slightly lower than the others.

  JOSHUA: What an honour it is to have you here with us today.

  EVE: Thank you.

  To the studio audience and viewers at home, Eve’s voice is quiet, yet in reality her microphone has been turned down.

  JOSHUA: Could I ask you why, after so many years of avoiding the public eye, you’ve chosen now, with this landmark case, to talk to us?

  Eve gives a brief smile.

  EVE: Well, to be honest with you … a few reasons really. Firstly that I didn’t want to accidentally pervert the course of justice.

  KRISTINA: That’s a somewhat outdated phrase! I haven’t heard that since before the introduction of Votes For All. It’s hardly relevant nowadays – the voting system eradicated the potential for that, surely?

  EVE: Yes, in the conventional sense, I agree. My concern was more that I would inadvertently bring in any feelings or emotions I’d garnered from the accused, perhaps via stories they often share with me about their childhoods or loved ones, and that any sympathy I may accidentally feel for the person the accused was before they became killers may come with me and I may demonstrate that in something I said.

  KRISTINA: You’re saying you feel sympathy for these killers?

  EVE: I’m saying, in a session with me, the accused will often share stories that remind me of the person they were before they killed someone.

  JOSHUA: That they were once human?

  EVE: That they were, yes, and still are. But my concern was that any question I answer may be coloured by that, which may then influence the voting of your viewers – and that is a lot of people.

  KRISTINA: It sure is!

  EVE: And influencing the voting of those thousands … hundreds of thousands …

  KRISTINA: Millions. Our viewing figures regularly top the chart with figures such as 13.1 million. We estimate that tonight’s execution will bring the highest TV viewing figure since the funeral of Princess Diana.

  EVE: So imagine if I should inadvertently say something that would affect the votes of that many people.

  JOSHUA: Sure. I see your point.

  Eve looks to the studio audience with a smile.

  EVE: I’ve always wanted to come on. It’s truly my favourite programme. My son and I tune in all the time.

  Kristina sits up taller.

  KRISTINA: Even though your husband was executed on our show?

  Eve’s smile fades. She fiddles with her chewed fingernails.

  EVE: I must admit sometimes it’s been hard. There have been times where everybody on death row has looked like my husband, and I could see him sitting in that chair again. But I have to remind myself that Jim was not the person I thought he was when I married him.

  JOSHUA: What do you mean, Eve? Can you share that with us?

  Her eyes fill with tears.

  EVE: I married an honest, hardworking, gentle and kind man.

  JOSHUA: Yet he turned into a cold-blooded killer.

  Joshua rests a hand on hers.

  JOSHUA: I’m so sorry, but, Eve, we
’ve all been there, haven’t we viewers?

  He looks to the audience then into the camera.

  JOSHUA: Not to the same degree, but we’ve all been taken in by someone, gone on a date with someone, had a relationship with someone, who turned out to be a liar, or a cheat. Haven’t we, ladies and gentlemen?

  Applause ripples through the audience.

  JOSHUA: Eve, we feel your pain.

  He lifts a box of tissues from under the desk and passes her one. She dabs at her face, sniffs and looks up to the audience.

  EVE: Thank you. It’s been so many years now, and I feel like I should be over it, but it still comes back to me. It haunts me.

  The audience applaud again.

  JOSHUA: And I suppose that was another reason you felt it difficult to come on here?

  She nods.

  JOSHUA: We’re all your friends here, Eve. We all support you.

  He looks into camera, then to the studio audience.

  JOSHUA: Don’t we, viewers?

  He smiles at them and they cheer and clap.

  JOSHUA: But, Kristina, you’re awfully quiet. Do you have something to add?

  KRISTINA: Well … I’m curious.

  JOSHUA: Do share.

  KRISTINA: I’m curious, Eve, as to why you’ve chosen now to come on our show.

  Eve takes a deep breath, dabs her eyes, brushes her hair from her face and sits up straighter.

  EVE: I’m sure you’re aware that the counselling system on death row has been updated …

  JOSHUA: Oh yes, quite the scandal.

  Eve flicks him a smile. Kristina glares.

  EVE: It’s a fabulous new system really, that allows viewers unprecedented access to the accused …

  KRISTINA: I’m surprised you feel that way.

  EVE: Progress should be welcomed, don’t you think?

  KRISTINA: Yes, but it makes you unemployed, and you were such a staunch advocate of the counselling system that is being replaced.

  Eve takes a breath, looks to Joshua, the audience, into camera and back to Kristina. A glimpse of a smile.

  EVE: There comes a time in your life, I believe, Kristina, where you have to accept that your time with something is done. For whatever reason – superior technology, new innovation, a more efficient system, a …