by Matt Shaw
“You coming then?” Claire was getting impatient. Clearly the call was stopping her from doing something important.
“Sorry. Yes.” Stuart dropped the phone back into his pocket and headed towards the hallway, where the telephone was waiting on a small table at the foot of the stairs. “She might have some work for me,” he said optimistically. “Might be able to pay some bills!”
“That would be good.”
Claire walked down the hallway and disappeared into the kitchen. She closed the door behind her to give Stuart some privacy - not that he asked for it.
“Might be able to get some people in to put these damned shelves up for you. Save me the hassle,” he called after her as he picked up the telephone. “Hello? Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Hello, Stuart. That job we spoke about last week. I’ve heard back and they’re interested in taking things further with you,” Pauline’s voice crackled through on the other end of the line.
“They are? That’s awesome!”
“Before they proceed, they need to check up on your first aid certificate. You said you had one.”
“That’s right.”
“Future reference, that’s the kind of thing that would be good to have on your file.”
“Sorry, I didn’t think.”
“Well, if you could scan a copy through to me, I’ll get it emailed over to them. Hopefully we’ll be able to get something signed off over the next couple of days. I know they’re keen.”
“Brilliant. Thank you. I’ll get that done for you now.”
“Okay. I’ll keep you posted,” Pauline said before she hung up. Stuart replaced the phone back into its cradle and run up to his office. The sooner he got the relevant documents over - the sooner he got the job. The shelves could wait. Any excuse.
N O W
D A Y T E N
Jordy was lying in her bed. All of the girls were comforting her. She wasn’t crying. She was just lying there, staring at the ceiling. Her complexion pale. Black rings around her eyes where her make-up had run earlier.
Paul was standing in the bedroom doorway. He was looking at the girls - Jordy in particular. Jack was in the living area of the house. He was sitting on the sofa looking at the housemates’ pictures on the wall next to the plasma screen. Just as the girls had rallied around Jordy, the boys had rallied around him.
“You okay?” Chris asked.
Jack didn’t respond.
“I know it doesn’t feel like it but you did a good thing,” Stuart piped in. “Because of you she is alive. That’s good. That’s a good thing you did.”
“Is it?” Jack asked. It had been the first thing he had said since coming down from the secret room with Jordy. The others rushed over to see them both but neither said a word. Jordy went through to the bedroom, and Jack went to the living area.
“Can Jack please come to The Control Room,” The Controller’s voice made Jack jump.
“Don’t go,” Chris said. “Fuck them.”
“Can Jack please come to The Control Room.”
“And then what?” Jack asked. “Another punishment?”
He stood up and walked towards the stairs. Stuart and Chris walked with him.
“Well - good luck,” said Chris. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs. Jack continued up them towards the green lit door.
Stuart turned away and headed towards the bedroom where the others were.
“She did well,” Paul whispered as Stuart walked past him.
“I knew things were going to be extreme but,” he hesitated, “well - I never expected this. This just seems sick.”
“It was necessary,” Paul said. “Besides - she does worse in the outside world.”
“Well is it going to stop?” Stuart asked.
“Pretty sure we’re getting to the end.”
“Thank God for that. I’ve had enough of this. I didn’t sign up for this.”
“We all did.”
“What happened to you?” Stuart asked. “One minute you’re the father figure of the house and the next you’re doing whatever it is you’re trying to do…”
“What I’m trying to do? I’m trying to end this bullshit as quickly as possible so I can get back to my own life. We’ve all been paid, right? I just want to go home.”
“So you’re being an asshole on purpose?”
“I’m doing what I’m supposed to. I think you’re forgetting the way things happen around here. They say jump, we ask how high. It’s simple. And like I said, the sooner we’re done, the sooner we go home and everything can go back to normal.”
Stuart looked towards Jordy, “How is she doing?” he asked.
“How do you think? She’s fine. She’s playing her part well.”
Stuart shook his head, “You don’t have to be an asshole to everyone. She does have feelings you know.” He pushed past and approached the bed. “You okay?” he asked Jordy.
Karen turned to Stuart, “She hasn’t said anything. She’s just staring at the ceiling. Do you think it could be shock?”
Stuart turned to her, “Can you do me a favour and get a sugary cup of tea?” he asked.
Karen nodded and hurried from the room towards the kitchen area. Stuart turned to Georgia, “Shit. Meant to ask - can you get some biscuits too? Again - the ones with the sugary tops probably best.”
“I’ll be right back,” Georgia said to Jordy. She gave her hand a gentle squeeze and followed Karen out of the room.
Stuart turned to Fiona and caught her eye. He nodded towards Kate.
“Kate, why don’t you help me in the kitchen? We need to think about food and people are more likely to trust eating it if two of us are preparing it.”
“I’m not hungry,” said Kate.
“Even so - others might be. Let’s let Stuart check Jordy out. Clearly The Controller isn’t sending anyone.” She didn’t wait for Kate to answer her back. She took her hand and walked her from the room leaving Stuart and Jordy alone.
Stuart sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in close to Jordy, “They’ve gone.”
She blinked and looked at him, “They’ve called Jack into The Control Room.”
“I know.”
“I’m scared.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“What if they can’t stop him?”
“There’s enough of us here to stop him…”
B E F O R E
P A P E R W O R K
Jordy walked into the interviewer’s room clutching a piece of paper.
“Please take a seat,” the man said without looking up. He pulled the top sheet from the clipboard and tossed it to one side. As Jordy took a seat, where Fiona had been sitting moments earlier, the man gave the next sheet of paper a quick scan. He looked up, “Do you have the necessary paperwork?” he asked.
“Yes.” Jordy leaned forward and slid the certificate onto the table. The female took hold of it and read it. She looked at the man and nodded. He ticked something on the sheet in front of him.
“And would you be available in the month of August? You will be required for the period of two weeks maximum.”
Jordy considered it for a moment and nodded with a smile, “Yes. That’s fine.”
The man nodded - satisfied with her answer. The lady ticked something else off on the piece of paper in front of her. He pointed towards the piece of paper Jordy had handed over, “And we’re going to need to take a copy of that document for our file.”
“You can take that one,” she said.
The female slipped the piece of paper between the others attached to the clipboard. She then pulled some papers out from the middle of her collection of paperwork and passed them over to Jordy who gratefully received it. The document was attached as one with a strong staple in the top left hand corner.
“This is a copy of the terms and conditions and states your fee, plus an additional amount we hadn’t discussed. If you’d like to give it a read,” the man said.
“Okay. Now?”
“Now would be good. We’re keen to get this signed off…”
“Should I go to the other room?” Jordy asked.
“Here is fine.”
The man continued to watch Jordy as she settled back to read the paperwork through as per his request. He then picked a pen up from the table, took the lid off, and slid it across the desk towards Jordy.
N O W
Jack was sitting in The Control Room. A piece of paper rested on the small table between him and the curtain.
“Hello, Jack.”
He didn’t answer.
“Congratulations on saving your fellow Housemate. How do you feel?” The Controller asked in such a way that anyone listening in would have thought the conversation was about something entirely innocent.
Jack didn’t answer.
The Controller continued, “Did you enjoy fucking your fellow Housemate?”
Jack didn’t answer.
“It appears you’re not the only one who likes to fuck things,” The Controller said. “Have a look at the piece of paper in front of you,” he said.
Jack looked down at the paper. Some kind of official looking paperwork, “What is it?” he asked.
“Pick it up, don’t be shy.”
Jack sighed and reached down to the paperwork. He picked it up and started reading. His face went pale as he read the contents, “Is this a joke?”
“The Controller can assure you it is no joke,” the voice was stern. Serious.
Jack scrunched the piece of paper up and threw it towards the camera, “Fuck you!” he hissed.
“Jack, behind the chair you are sitting on is a box. Inside that box is a handgun. You are now presented with another chance to eliminate your fellow housemate. As always - the choice is yours.”
Jack didn’t say anything. He just sat there, visibly shaking. His eyes had darkened changing his whole look. He stood up and hesitated a moment - torn between heading for the door or fetching the box from behind the chair. He took a deep breath of air in and walked to the door.
“Jack, if you leave the room, you will not be permitted to come back for the handgun. Would you like to take it in case you change your mind?” The Controller asked.
“Please let me out,” Jack said. He kept his voice calm. He knew there was no point in getting upset with them. They had the power. If he got upset, they’d only make his life more unpleasant.
“Last chance, Jack. What if you have been infected now?” The Controller asked.
Jack tried to shake his words off, just as he was trying to shake off what he had read on the paperwork he had been shown. The only reason he was in this position was because of them; the production team. It wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t Jordy’s fault. They had both been forced into this. The facts clearly spelt out on the paperwork were just by the by. Besides - if he had been infected with what she had - it didn’t matter all the time he was in the house. Only one person would walk away from this and - if it was Jack - he’d worry about it then.
He repeated, “Please just let me out.”
The door lock clicked and the light changed to green. He pulled the door open and stormed from the room and back down the stairs.
“What did they say?” Chris asked. He noticed Jack’s expression, “Are you okay?”
“I’m going to lay down for a while,” he said as he stormed past Chris, towards the bedroom.
Chris followed and waved the girls back to the kitchen when they started to walk towards Jack to see how he was. He shook his head to emphasise not to say anything. He didn’t know what had been said in The Control room but he could tell by Jack’s expression that it wasn’t particularly good.
“So there’s nothing to worry about if you think about it. It’s the best possible outcome!” Paul was talking to Jordy. Stuart standing next to him, nodded in agreement. He shut up as soon as Jack entered the room. Jordy, Stuart and Paul all looked towards Jack expecting trouble. All were equally surprised when he walked directly to his bed and slumped down onto it. Without any words he pulled the duvet over himself until he was completely covered.
“You okay, bud?” Stuart called over to him.
Jordy looked at Paul, confused. He shrugged.
“Jack?” Stuart called over again.
“I’m fine,” he replied. His voice muffled by the bedding he was buried beneath.
Paul whispered to Jordy, “You need to go over there. Talk to him.”
“What? What am I supposed to say?” she asked. She also kept her voice low.
“Just talk about what happened. You both need to clear the air,” Paul pushed her. He turned to Stuart and whispered, “Let’s leave them to it.”
“You can’t go!” Jordy said.
Paul put his finger up to his lips to shush her. He pointed out of the bedroom and whispered reassurance that they’d both be standing outside the door if they were needed. “It’ll be fine.”
Neither Paul nor Stuart waited for Jordy to argue further with them. Paul lead the way out of the bedroom, “Just leave them alone for a while, let them talk,” he said to Karen as she approached with the previously requested cup of tea for Jordy.
Jordy climbed from her bed and cautiously walked over to Jack’s bed. She sat on the edge of it without waiting to be asked to do so. Nervously she put her hand out and placed it on Jack’s covered leg - an act to let him know she was there.
“Are you okay?” she stuttered over her words but forced them out.
“Is it true?” he asked.
Jordy swallowed hard, she knew part of what was coming. She knew what he was going to say. She just didn’t know how he was going to react. From the moment she had gone in - she knew there was a chance of early elimination but, even so, she wasn’t comfortable with it. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to say it wasn’t true just to avoid the hostility.
“Well?” Jack pulled the duvet away from his face. His eyes were watery as he struggled to hold back the tears. Jordy nodded. A tear escaped from the corner of his eye.
“I’m sorry,” said Jordy.
“I saved you.”
“I know.”
“HIV?”
She nodded again.
“Technically you’re already dead. Why didn’t you say something? Why did you let me go ahead and do it…”
“I thought they’d have given you protection.”
“They want us to kill each other. You think they’re going to worry about something little like that?” he asked. He wiped his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”
Both of them fell silent.
“It doesn’t mean you have contracted it,” she continued. “There’s a chance, yes, but it isn’t definite.” Her words were supposed to offer him some comfort but there was little comfort to be had.
“What does it matter, hey? Chances are we’re all going to die in here, right? So what if I do have HIV? I doubt it will be that which ends up killing me.” Jack turned his back on her, “I just want to be left alone, please.”
She hesitated a moment, “Okay.” She stood up. “I am sorry,” she said again. “Really.”
She walked from the room.
B E F O R E
“You’re sorry?” Kate hissed.
Kate was standing in front of her ex-boyfriend, Michael. The two of them had never been one hundred percent serious. When they got together they were drunk, they were young and - more specifically - they were stupid. But their stupidity resulted in a little boy whom they both loved dearly.
Callum lived with Kate but Michael had access to see him whenever he wanted and - as the years went on - even took him for the whole night from time to time. Kate had never asked Michael for anything despite her own mother telling her (when she was alive) to at least get maintenance from him. Today was the first time she had asked him for help.
“He’s your son!” she continued.
“And he’s your son too and - what - you want to drop him off to me so you
can go off gallivanting around on some television show? I have a life. I have a job. I can’t just put it on hold to turn babysitter for however long you’re away. I haven’t even been in this job for a month yet. Even if they did permit me some time off they won’t pay me so what the hell are we supposed to do for money?”
“Your mum could help babysit,” Kate argued.
“And she also works full time. You’re being ridiculous.”
“Do you know what this could mean for us? It would raise my profile as an actress. I could get spotted…”
“And then what? You’re going to be disappearing on film shoots or into the West End? You have a son!”
“So do you!” Kate shouted. “I have never asked you for anything. This is the first time.”
“And it’s not practical.”
“Imagine if I won.”
“More time away for interviews and magazine shoots? Before you know it your son will be bullied at school as his friends show him topless photographs of his mum in some grotty magazine? Brilliant. What are we waiting for?”
“One hundred thousand pounds. Yes, I might get work from the exposure. No, I won’t be doing topless photographs. But think about that money - it could make a massive difference to his life. To our life. You want your son growing up on the poverty line? Oh wait - you pick and choose when you see him so you probably won’t give a shit,” she hissed.
“That’s not fair.”
“When I told you I was pregnant you said you would be there. I told you I wasn’t sure if I was going to keep it and you begged me not to abort it. You begged me. We agreed we would raise him together and wherever possible you would help me out yet I never asked you for anything.”
“I can’t take the time off work,” he protested. “It’s the school holidays. What am I supposed to do with him? Look, if I could, I would take him. You know I would..”
“No. I don’t. I’ve asked you this one favour and straight away you’ve said no.”
Michael sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Look, I’ll talk to mum. Maybe she has some holiday she is owed… She might be able to help…”