literature

Stage and Screen DiD Drabbles

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Literature Text

Four damsel in distress stories, each exactly 100 words in length, not including the titles.  Following those, submitted as a bonus feature, a 200-word damsel in distress story.

The Tie Out


A script clutched in one hand, Cinnamon strode onto the theater stage.  “A few distractions came up last time, so I don’t believe you really were able to pay proper attention.  Otherwise, you wouldn’t have rejected me for the part.  Why don’t we try my audition again?” she suggested.

Muted protests came from the producer, Tricia; the director, Alison; and the playwright, Bethany.  They sat bound with ropes to the wooden seats; cloth gags keeping them (relatively) silent.

“And without interruptions this time,” Cinnamon added, thumbing through the pages to find her place.  “You will listen quietly to my soliloquy!”


Silent Move

Hollywood, California, 1929.

“How thrilling, starring in my very first talkie!” exclaimed Dorothea Bradford.  “Audiences will finally be able to hear my golden voice!”

“Get Miss Bradford ready for her ‘tied to the railroad’ scene!” the director bellowed.  “Quickly!  We’ve a tight schedule, and we still need to shoot her ‘tied to the sawmill’ scene and then her ‘tied in the mine scene’ and then her ‘tied in the flooding cellar’ scene and then her ‘tied in the stagecoach’ scene….”

“Mpfff!” Dorothea exclaimed into the gag tied over her perfect lips, sadly telling herself:  “Well, eventually they’ll be able to!”


Empty Handed

“The performance was a disaster,” the producer groaned in despair.  “The villain was supposed to tie up the damsel.  There were several long, thin strands of rope for him to use, but he came on without them!  The audience booed and the curtain came down.  That was the end of the show!”

“How terrible!” his girlfriend said soothingly.  “What did you do about it?”

“I fired him, of course!”

“Don’t you think that was a bit extreme?” she asked anxiously.

“Not at all,” he replied.  “What else am I supposed to do with an actor who can’t remember his lines?”


Where’s the Distress?

“But why are you tying me up?” Tamora pleaded.  “Didn’t you enjoy my performance in the play?”

“Your performance as the lovely Maud Marsh was a delight,” Mortimer assured her, not pausing his efforts to wrap the pneumatic starlet in ropes.  “However, when I attend a play with the promising title of A Damsel in Distress I naturally… open your mouth, please, I must get this packing in, thank you… I naturally expected to see the star in a Certain Predicament, and since you never ended up bound and gagged, well, let’s just say I’m rectifying that little omission now.”


Under Fire
(200 words)


Meanwhile, on the set of the reality television show, The Underling….

“But the only reason I didn’t sell as many canisters of knockout gas on this task was because Vivienne tied me up!” Brandy Woodlouse said.  “I was ahead of her until then!”

“Tying up another contestant is a perfectly acceptable tactic here on The Underling,” Ronald Rump said.  The elderly villain raised his hand and pointed dramatically.  “Brandy, you’re fired!”

“Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Rump,” Brandy said between clenched teeth as she rose from her seat.  She strode with all the dignity she could muster from the boardroom, ignoring Vivienne Vitriol’s victorious smirk.  She gathered her overnight bag, but instead of walking out to the waiting taxi, she unzipped the small suitcase, which was filled not with clothing and toiletries, but rather coils of rope and several scarves.

“What are you going to do with those?” asked the receptionist, looking over curiously.

“Something you’d better not get involved in,” Brandy said darkly.  “So, tying up another contestant is a perfectly acceptable tactic, is it?  Well, it’s too late for me now, but I can make sure Vivienne won’t be around to become Ronald Rump’s new underling either….”
As I understand it, a drabble is a story of exactly 100 words, not including the title, which may not exceed 15 words.

This is my non-competing entry into :iconclassic-did:’s Stage and Screen DiD Challenge Our Sixth ContestHey there:wave:
So far we’ve have had five great themes and seen some wonderful art produced for them.  We are now ready to announce our sixth themed contest.
So, your next theme is: :spotlight-left: Stage and Screen DiD :spotlight-right:
We will be looking for DiD scenes in members’ artwork and literature centered in a theatrical production, such as a movie, television program, stage play, or anything similar.  The DiD scene does not have to be in the play being performed, nor is it required that an actress be the damsel who is distressed.  You are free to create a scenario involving auditions, rehearsals, performances, or even post-production work, and the damsels could be actresses, scene designers, producers, directors, or even audience members!  Let you imagination come up with something to surprise and delight us!
You have until 5pm (GMT) on Saturday, 17th August to submit your entries.  The winner will receive 100:points: and ev
. I indicated in a journal I was working on a story for that challenge, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t working out, so I offer this selection of silliness as a substitute.

The Tie Out

The obvious route to go with an audition Damsel in Distress story is to have one (or more!) actresses tie up the competition. I wanted to do something less obvious! Perhaps Cinnamon’s strategy isn’t the best, though. I mean, she’ll have to let Tricia, Alison, and Bethany free eventually, and once she does….


Silent Move

The invention of synchronized sound for movies meant the end of many film careers. Dorothea, though, seems to think it’s all good news for her. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite right!


Empty Handed

Just a bit of wordplay that either works, or else causes the readers shake their heads and move on to the next drabble.


Where’s the Distress?

P. G. Wodehouse (one of my favorite authors) wrote A Damsel in Distress, first published in 1919. It has been turned into a couple movies and plays. However, despite the title, no one is tied up in it, as Mortimer observes. Well, we need to do something about that, don’t we?


Under Fire

I’m a big fan of the UK version of The Apprentice, so you had to figure eventually I’d create something inspired by the show.
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sliferred123's avatar
lol witty as ever