The Duel

A dystopia where women compete in board games to win husbands

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FADE IN:

EXT. SEQUENCE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES WITH TV MONITOR AUDIO - DAY

A NEWSPAPER photo montage and TV MONITOR VoiceOver of 21st and 22nd Century Viral

infection kills men until only about 1000-1 female to male ratio remains. Men are wanted for

repopulation. Men fight for their right to choose. U.N. Creates 'The Feminist Arm' to resolve issue.

Last headline reads, "THE HUSBAND GAMES ARE BORN IN 2115."

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MONITOR IN A LARGE LIGHT BLUE ROOM - DAY

VOICEOVER

(through the monitor)

Beginning in the last century a virus continuously reared its serpent's head and attacked our beloved men and boys at epidemic levels. There were no age or strength restrictions on the damage that was inflicted. The 22nd Century ushered in an era when the female population outnumbered the male population by 1000 to 1. There were no wars started to settle this discrepancy, this natural terror waged on human resiliency and hope. If the thought of warfare had crept into a woman's head her natural rational instinct would have shot any idea of war down. The Feminist Arm of the U.N. was established to resolve issues of sexual disparity and support gender expression. This multi gendered committee initially believed the men would be willing progenitors who would gladly lay down their lives for the sole purpose of fatherhood and procreation. However, many men did not want to become fathers right away or possibly not at all. Many gay men were also not interested in starting off with domestic fatherhood. Other men wanted to settle down with one woman and not a hundred. It turned out that both women and men needed guidance in the face of such outrageous conflict. The Feminist Arm determined that the best way to have the selection of monogamist mates organized was through a non violent competition that all potential baby bearing females could compete in. This was how the Husband Games were born. The games run 24 hours a day all 367 days of the year now that February

has 30 days. Competing females are chosen at random to play until someone wins 21 games or until the five hour mark is reached. At this point the session is forfeit. The gaming centers are found in all the major cities. Good Luck!

A Thirty something woman, GRETA TILES, is on her cell phone in a hall closet near the light blue room. Phone call where Greta displays family pressure towards parenthood. She gives the impression that she will compete for real this time. She agrees to poker night at her cousin's house. Greta is dressed and hints at being a flannel wearing lesbian.

CUT TO:

FIRST GAMERS EMERGE - DAY

Two thirty-something women, Greta and JESSIE STEEP, sit in a far off corner of the light blue waiting room near several other women. Two women emerge from one of the rooms down the corridor that travels as far as the eye can see. Tears cover the face of one sobbing female who is met with a BLANKET, TISSUES and a hug by the 'care gamers' (NAME TAGS OR T SHIRTS) of the building. The other one runs to a WINDOW to point out a future mate among several that are on display that day. Whispers come from around the room.

WAITING ROOM WOMAN 1

Lucky girl. I hope all the best ones are not taken before I get back out here.

WAITING ROOM WOMAN 2

Who says you would even win one?

WAITING ROOM WOMAN 1

I've been practicing every night since I was five years old.

WAITING ROOM WOMAN 3

Five. Hmph! I started at four.

(the two women in the corner looked at each other. One shrugged, but they remained silent)

INTERCOM

The winner of the 0600 start time goes to Magenta Clintfloss of Denver, Iowa, Brazil.

The winner of the 0600 start time goes to Magenta Clintfloss of Denver, Iowa, Brazil.

The winner of the 0800 start time goes to Claire Weathers of London, Great Britain.

The winner of the 0800 start time goes to Claire Weathers of London, Great Britain.

The winner of the 0800 game, CLAIRE WEATHERS, approaches the window to pear out and point into the magical landscape of mates that only the winners can gaze upon.

MAGENTA CLINTFLOSS

Ooh. Look down there at that one.

CLAIRE WEATHERS

Oh my gosh, that has to be a good man right? They are everywhere.

MAGENTA CLINTFLOSS

I wish you could see what I am seeing. But of course some of you will. All the hard work, all these

years, and I've finally won my husband!

INTERCOM

Will ladies Gowanda Ajackson, and Matilda Berthars come play in room 104.

Will ladies Gowanda Ajackson, and Matilda Berthars come play in room 104.

Will ladies Jessie Steep and Greta Tiles come play in room 105.

The two women in the corner sigh in the same moment.

INTERCOM

Will ladies Jessie Steep and Greta Tiles come play in room 105.

(repeated in a muffled tone)

JESSIE STEEP

Greta?

GRETA TILES

Jessie?

(both shake their heads in a yes gesture)

JESSIE STEEP

Well, Good Luck.

GRETA TILES

Same to you.

CUT TO:

CARD GAME SET BETWEEN GRETA AND JESSIE - DAY

JESSIE STEEP

5 games in and you have yet to win. I almost feel bad for you.

GRETA TILES

I guess card games are not my thing. I'm sure I'll catch up if your not careful.

JESSIE STEEP

Why don't we try some four squares? I love that game, don't you?

(Jessie pushes the cards out of the way and grabs the Four Square box)

GRETA TILES

I'm not sure ...

JESSIE STEEP

Absolutely! What's the worst that could happen? I could be ahead 10 games.

GRETA TILES

O.k. Yeah ...that sounds fine.

(bubbles of lunch Buffet images connected to Greta. She looks up at bubbles and licks her lips)

Who knows we could be out by lunch.

CUT TO:

FOUR SQUARE SET - DAY

(Greta wins the next five games in a row according to the mini blackboard on the wall by the table)

JESSIE STEEP

Wow! What horrible luck. And this is like one of my best childhood games. Oh well.

GRETA TILES

Yeah ...oh well," said Greta, "I guess I should have packed some snacks.

JESSIE STEEP

You too? I totally forgot about that. When we started I had my sights set on that Buffett!

GRETA TILES

Wow, you too. I love the Buffett. You must be really confident about winning if you thought we would

be out for lunch.

JESSIE STEEP

Oh I am. I play board games with my coworkers all the time. They even come to me to help them train

before they come here. I have gained like 12 god kids over the years as a result.

GRETA TILES

Wow. Yet your still unmarried? What's up with that?

JESSIE STEEP

Luck. I bring my game, but luck seems to outwit me in the end.

GRETA TILES

Well maybe today will be your lucky day!

JESSIE STEEP

We'll see won't we," said Jessie.

CUT TO:

CRIBBAGE AND LIFE SETS - DAY

(Greta bounces back with double losses in both cribbage and Life)

CUT TO:

CHESS SET - DAY

The next five games prove unrelenting as she manages to unwittingly take the kings in each one even though she does not know the way to move a knight at first.

GRETA TILES

How? How? What just ...

JESSIE STEEP

My gosh you are like the best chess player I have ever seen! Are you like a master or something?

GRETA TILES

No, what just ...

(Greta catches herself, relaxes, and looks longingly at Jessie's blue eyes)

I guess I am just lucky like that sometimes.

CUT TO:

SORRY, TROUBLE SETS - DAY

The next three hours are shown by losses and wins and clock on wall rotating quickly. Game after game, from Sorry to Trouble proved to be a consistent ride of merry go round. No matter how many times Greta tries to move slowly or in the wrong direction she continues to remain on par with Jessie.

JESSIE STEEP

19-17 according to the monitor. I guess I better step my game up!

GRETA TILES

Yeah, you could say that.

CUT TO:

DARTS SET - DAY

Greta looks longingly at Jessie, and hangs on every word. Greta barely throws the two games of darts that according to the clock lasts the better part of an hour. Jessie breaks the darts several times.

JESSIE STEEP

Wow ...Lucky Me. Who would have thought darts?

GRETA TILES

Who would have thought? But you picked it?

JESSIE STEEP

Of course, but who would have thought?

(speaking more to herself)

CUT TO:

DOMINOES SET - DAY

They decide that the final game should be dominoes. Greta suggests it because she has no clue what to do with the pieces if they were not meant to be knocked down. She shows this by looking at them quizzically and flipping them around while Jessie swears up and down this is her favorite game. Greta continues to align the pieces and look up to Jessie's face to see how she is doing. Jessie continues to stare at the table and look quizzically to Greta. After a half hour has passed on the clock, the room is completely quiet for a few seconds. The players are just staring at the pieces that have all been laid out.

GRETA TILES

So ...I guess you have me?

JESSIE STEEP

Do I? ...well that's fantastic. So ...um maybe we could pick something else. I'm kind of bored, and what

is life if not to have fun. Am I right?

(Greta has the ah hah moment that she might win herself a husband. She begins to perspire. She

looks over at Jessie whose face is slightly shining, and Greta smiles)

GRETA TILES

Well, I guess if you want we can select something else.

INTERCOM

Game room 105: the five hour mark has been reached. No winner has been determined.

Game room 105: the five hour mark has been reached. No winner has been determined.

(the door pops open. Loud groans are coming from down the hall)

JESSIE STEEP

Oh god, yes! I mean I am so sorry that today was not your day to find a husband.

GRETA TILES

Yeah, about that ...you know they have this dinner Buffet. If you want we can go grab some grub and talk about something ...anything other than games.

By Alex Almeida

From: United States

Website: https://www.alexathebard.blogspot.com

Instagram: alexathebard

Twitter: alexathebard1