Second and Last Chance

Stan reached into his mailbox. At first glance, the stack of letters held the usual contents. He carried the bundle home and shuffled through, he saw these papers: 

An advert encouraging citizens to report anyone who is possibly associated with the rebellion, the electric bill, ration cards, and a postcard from the leaders talking about their proposed plans to make society better (mostly lies) and thanking everyone for their compliance (more like fear). The last paper in the stack was in a bright red envelope. His heart stopped when he saw the return address: 

“Second Chances” Studio

2309 Happy Street

His hand trembled as he broke the seal and he was thinking to himself “Please God, tell me they sent this to the wrong person. But as he read the first line, he knew he was the intended recipient. 

“S**t” he muttered to himself as he forced himself to read the letter.

Dear Stan Wilson,

You have been chosen as the next contestant for the highly acclaimed show “Second Chances.”

As a contestant, you’ll have the opportunity to defend your innocence or publicly renounce your erroneous ways and clear your name.       

You are expected at the studio at 5 p.m. tomorrow. 

Don’t miss this opportunity for a second chance.

You wouldn’t want to miss out

P.S: You are more than welcome to bring your friends or family, so they can be a part of an unforgettable experience

He slowly put the letter down and sighed, wondering what to do next. 

His wife Lilly walked in and was about to ask “what is it, honey?,” but as soon as she saw the red envelope she gasped and her eyes widened with fear.

Stan looked up at her and attempted to give a reassuring smile, he then said to her “Remember, we had a plan in case something like this would happen. You know what to do, right?”  

Lily nodded and started to pack. 

She sniffled and said “I remember the plan and was prepared for this, but I hoped this day would never come.”

Stan placed his hand on her shoulder and said “You’ll be safe with the others at the rebel hideout. They’ll look after you. I want you to pause the activities for now and leave the rest up to them”

Lily quickly turned around and replied “I’ll continue to fight, even if it kills me.”

Stan shook his head at his wife’s willingness to put herself in danger, but he admired her unwavering spirit. 

He then said “Remember to meet Kyle at the designated spot.”

She nodded and fiercely hugged him. They had nothing more to say to each other. She went back to packing, while he prepared himself for the televised trial disguised as a game show.

--------

Stan arrived at the studio at 4:30. He found himself walking into the middle of a semicircular platform and looking at rows of empty chairs. Several cameras were facing the stage. Someone in one of the many unoccupied chairs was adjusting his headphones and some knobs on a sound mixer contraption. There was occasional booing and hissing, clapping, laughter, and other audience reactions produced from the machine he was testing.

That must be my audience, Stan thought to himself sarcastically. 

“Oh, you must be Stan Wilson, correct? I expected you to bring others to share the fun, but no matter. We’re expecting a special guest anyways.”

Stan turned quickly and was facing the host - his soon-to-be tormentor- Jack.

He’s bluffing about the special guest Stan thought to himself. Everyone I know should be safe in the hideout. 

Jack continued with a sinister smile “It’s an honor to meet you, I look forward to learning more about you.” He then outstretched his hand.

Stan took Jack’s hand and shook it firmly. Stan replied with feigned enthusiasm and a defiant look in his eyes “And I look forward to getting this over with.”

….

Audio of clapping and cheering plays as a time card shows on the screen that reads: “Second Chances.”

As soon as the clapping and cheering diminish, Jack strongly announces “Hello everyone, thanks for tuning in and welcome to the show ‘Second Chances’ I am your host Jack and today we have a special guest, please help me welcome STAN WILSON!!”

The clapping and cheering sounds play again as the spotlight is aimed at Stan, who is now hooked up to a lie detector. Jack is sitting at a raised podium and Stan is seated across from him. An empty table and chair sits between them.

Jack continues “Stan is here for a second chance at being considered a fully compliant member of society. It seems ‘Suspicious Stan’ here possibly sees something wrong with our society.”

Booing is heard from the sound contraption.

“But this is a wonderful place we live in (he pauses for the audio of cheering) and we're generous enough to give him an opportunity to prove his guilt or innocence. Our leaders encourage us to be considerate and honorable. Now without further ado let’s begin … after the commercial break.”

Cheering is heard again. Stan awaits his interrogation with a hidden dread and wonders if his wife Lily is well protected at the hideout.

Jack walks down from the podium and goes backstage. He emerges with a vase of white lilies and places it on the table. There was a piece of fabric wrapped around the vase. Stan immediately recognized it as one of his wife’s handkerchiefs. 

“Beautiful flowers aren't they? I almost forgot to tell you about our special guest, but we’ll get into that -” Jack was cut off by the cameraman saying they’ll resume recording soon.

Jack smiled at Stan and walked back to the podium.

The cameraman counted down with his fingers to indicate when recording would resume.

“And we’re back,” Jack said to the cameras and empty audience.  

“Now Stan, are you ready?” Jack said as he pulled out some note cards. Before Stan could utter a word, Jack asked “Question 1: Do you believe our society is beyond compare?”

Stan replied “There’s no other society like it.” 

The lie detector button flashes green and pinged with approval.

“That is … correct,” Jack strained to say with a twitching smile and piercing eyes.

Stunned gasps play from the sound contraption.

It’s usually at the first question that the contestants’ lies are revealed and they get shocked. 

The cameraman and the sound producer exchange looks that alternated between confusion and surprise. 

Jack felt that Stan was not a very compliant contestant, he then noticed the vase on the table and remembered he had a means to get to Stan. “So far so good. Oh, I almost forgot about our special guest. Everyone please help me welcome … LILY!”

Cheering and clapping is heard while a woman with a burlap sack over her head is escorted by two handsomely dressed guards. The sack had a goofy face painted on it. She is wearing a sparkling silver dress, matching high heels, and a handkerchief around her neck.

Stan’s eyes widened, then Jack announced “Now Question 2: Do you recognize our surprise guest?” 

Stan simply replied “How am I supposed to recognize her if I can’t see her face?”

The lie detector again indicated a positive response.

Jack's knuckles protruded as the grip on his cards tightened. The edges of the cards crinkled slightly as he strained to muster up some enthusiasm. He declared “I think it’s time for a commercial break. Stick around folks”   

Stan tries not to stare while Jack approaches the table with the vase of flowers. He picks up a flower and twirls it in his hand. 

The guards seat their prisoner in a chair across from Stan. Stan is grinning and making eye contact with Jack. 

Jack approaches Stan with the flower still in his hand.

“Listen to me you smart-ass and wipe that stupid grin from your face” Jack snarled through clenched teeth. He was tightening the grip on the flower “Don’t you care about what will happen to your wife?!” The flower snapped in two.

“I know my wife, and I know that’s not her” Stan replied as the lie detector affirmed his response. 

Jack let out a frustrated sigh as the guards led her backstage.

“Sorry for ruining your show” Stan passively said, then the lie detector buzzed and gave Stan a shock. Stan gritted his teeth in pain and fought back a scream.

Jack smiled and retorted “Sarcasm hurts doesn’t it? Why couldn’t you have waited to make your pain visible on screen?”

Stan weakly smiled and asked “can I go now?”

Jack grinned and replied, “let’s see what the wheel of fate says”

The cameraman called to Jack saying recording would resume soon and Jack walked to the podium.

The camera blinked on as applause and cheering was heard. 

“Our guest is not being very polite (boos are heard), so let’s move on to… WHEEL. OF. FATE!”

Applause and cheering is heard as the guards bring over a giant colorful wheel.

The wheel has several possibilities for how the contestant will leave the show. 

Some include: exile (likely death), prison (torture), house arrest (starvation and dehydration), live execution (obvious death), and free to go (good?).

The undesirable outcomes were in large sections of the wheel, while the good outcome was a tiny sliver on the wheel. 

The guards were unhooking Stan from the lie detector machine while Jack said “Your fate is in your hands.”

“My fate is based on statistics” Stan muttered under his breath.

Stan placed one hand on the wheel and took a deep breath. Then he placed both hands on the wheel and spun with every ounce of strength he had.

The rapidly spinning rainbow of colors was slowing down while his heartbeat was accelerating.   

The pointer clicked slower as it passed several options. 

CLICK. CLICK …. CLICK ….. CLICK

It somehow landed on “free to go.”

Gasps are heard from the sound contraption as Stan looks at Jack, patiently waiting for permission to leave.

Jack said “what an unlikely outcome, but the Wheel of Fate knows best. You are free to go.” He patted Stan on the back and said “It seems like you’re innocent. I hope this experience convinced you to be a complaint citizen.” Jack then turned towards the empty audience and declared “Ladies and gentlemen let’s send Stan out with a round of applause.”

Before Stan turned to leave, Jack announced “Stan should expect a prize for his participation. But his prize is a surprise (The fake audience gave an awed reaction). Thanks for watching the show and tune in next time to see who gets a second chance. Who knows? You might be the next lucky contestant.”

Applause and cheering is heard as the cameras stop recording.

As soon as Stan was behind the curtain and away from the cameras, he was grabbed by his arms and given an injection.

Stan blacked out. As soon as he came to, he was outside the studio doors and had a small participation ribbon at his side. He had a pounding headache as he walked away from the studio. He left the ribbon behind, he did not want a souvenir.

----

Stan arrived safely at a cabin concealed in a dense forest.

“So, you managed to survive?” one of the rebels at the base asked Stan as he was being combed over with a metal detector.

The device was hovered over his legs.  

“Surprisingly yes. How’d you rig the wheel?” Stan inquired. Now the device was at his torso.

“We didn't,” another rebel chimed in. “You’re just very lucky.”

The device was now combing his outstretched arms.

Lily was there and hugged him. 

As soon as they finished embracing, the others turned Stan around to inspect the back side of him with the metal detector.

“Thank goodness I left my handkerchiefs and dresses there as a distraction. I knew they would ransack the house for evidence as soon as you left. They were bound to notice I wasn’t with you.” 

Lily was wearing an army colored handkerchief. “If you saw this one” she gestured towards her neck “then that meant I was in trouble. And besides, it’s impractical to wear a dress for our missions.”

She was wearing cargo pants and a plain t-shirt. “I’m glad you’re o.k,” she said with a smile.

A beeping noise is heard as the metal detector is suspended near Stan’s head.

Kyle - the leader of the group- noticed the beep and jolted upright like a sleeping dog who heard a twig snap. 

“Stan, get out of here right now!” Kyle yelled urgently while he reached for a gun and lunged after Stan.

Stan dashed out of the hideout and his wife tried to follow him. As soon as she was two steps out the door, Kyle held out an outstretched arm blocking her path. In his other arm he held the gun, but it was hanging limply from his hand. She looked on with confusion and helplessness.

“We’ll have to relocate,” Kyle said in a hushed voice. “I didn’t mean for it to look like I was going to kill him. I just wanted him to escape quickly.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” Lily asked. 

Kyle shook his head “I don’t know, but let’s hope that device in him is not a tracking device and we are not discovered. Let’s move.”

The rebels started clearing up the base without pause or hesitation.

Kyle sighed and said “I guess those days of conditioning ourselves for the game show did not prepare us for a moment like this” He joined the others in packing. 

A tear rolled down Lily’s cheek, she brushed it away and rushed to the others to help.

…

Stan was still running, expecting a bullet to whiz past him. But he heard nothing and didn’t see a bullet impact anywhere near him. However, he wouldn't allow himself to let his guard down. He continued running and glanced back to see the base shrink with distance.

He ran until he found himself in a clearing in the woods.

He sat on a fallen log to recollect his thoughts and strength, then he heard a rustle in the bushes.

Kyle? Lily? Who could it be? He thought to himself as his heart was pounding with anticipation.

A familiar face appeared, but not one he wanted to see.

“This is a clever place for a hideout. But I only see you here. Where are the others?” Jack asked, holding a handheld device that pinged more as he walked closer to Stan. Jack’s hand was hovering over a large button on the device.

“Let me guess, you want to interrogate me some more? Is this because I ruined your show?” Stan looked at him defiantly and added “you said I was free to go”

Jack replied “You are free to go. It’s just we should know where you choose to go.”

“What is that device for?” Stan inquired. “Another lie detector? What’s with your obsession with games?”

Jack grinned and said “This is my favorite one. It’s one of risk. Question 1: Where are the others?”

Stan didn’t utter a word.

“Oh, by the way. If you make me push this button you’ll be free … to be scattered into several pieces”

Stan gave him a confused glance. 

“Silly me. I forgot to explain. You see Stan, that’s not only a tracking device in you, but an explosive as well. If you comply with me I’ll remove it”

“I’m finding it more and more difficult to trust you” Stan replied.

“Now. Answer the damn question. I’ll give a second and last chance” Jack snarled with a loss of patience. “WHERE. ARE. THE. OTHERS?!” He drew his finger closer to the button.

“Safe from you” Stan simply replied. These were his last words and the last thing he saw was Jack angrily pushing the button. Stan was finally free.