Challenge Game Intro

The Joe Millionaire star Evan Marriot is asked to participate as the DEFENDER in a new R-RATED TV Program called BREAKING POINT- CHALLENGE GAME.

The description and conditions of the BREAKING POINT – CHALLENGE GAME are explained….there are two teams of men ….

Team A includes a DEFENDER and two high ranking trainers who work for the US Special Forces Interrogation Training Unit. They have one month to prepare their Defender for physical interrogation.

Team B includes a professional Interrogator and assistants. They have one month to find an approved location for the BREAKING POINT- CHALLENGE GAME..

THE PRIZE – USD 600K

If team A wins, the Defender takes home $400K…. the trainers $100K each. Team B takes home nothing.

If team B wins, the prize is distributed between them. Team A takes home nothing.

The prize of $400K is a big profit for two months work for Joe M a construction worker currently on $24K per annum. He reckons that he would even ‘enjoy’ a day of physical interrogation for that sort of cash and he signs a non retractable, non negotiable contract.

The Compere stands between the two teams.

Team A: the defenders wear black drill pants and Ts. They discuss the months training course that has prepared Joe M, a muscular construction worker and ladies man into the equivalent of an SAS soldier prepared for capture and interrogation.

“My colleague and I recognized from our first meeting with Joe M that he had the potential both physically and mentally for interrogation …. and after the month of the most intense training that the army can dish out, we are pleased to report that we believe our assumptions were correct…. You need both physical and mental strength to survive interrogation and our Defender has ‘em both and we reckon he’s ready for action!” responded the Head Trainer.

Team B’s Leader, a resident of the US and a retired German Commander wearing army green revealed that he spent the first two weeks visiting Dungeons in Europe looking for a location. This burly guy in his late 30s, 90kg 1.8m tall with dark curly hair and heavily muscled physique revealed… “I’ve seen some very interesting torture machines but we have been given a very specific criteria to meet in terms of interrogation and safety standards for the program…”

He explained…. “The place for the interrogation must be an existing venue and authentic. We can only use the equipment in the venue….. we cannot add to it.

Safety of the equipment was paramount and this ruled out many of the ancient Torture machines in the UK and Italy as most have not been used for decades.
The Defender is a big man - 6’5” and bulky and many torture machines from the earlier centuries were constructed for the smaller built man of the time. Sure we could adapt but then we would not have variety..” he grins sadistically.

“There cannot be any permanent scarring or disfiguration as a result from this Challenge Game and we have only 18 hours from the commencement of the Interrogation to ‘Break’ the Defender plus negotiated ‘rest’ breaks each 6 hours.

A colleague advised me of the discovery of an in tact Punishment cell used by the dictatorial government of the time to punish their male Athletes, predominately footballers who did not perform well in local and international games. It was located in a now disused building in a the old part of a modern city in the Middle East..

I visited the site and with the approval of the Breaking Points ‘ Moderator’ and ‘Medical Assessor’, I have selected this location for the Breaking Point Challenge Game. Although the Punishment Cell has been disused for some years, I have sourced three Militia men who were employed to operate the Punishment Cells and they have resurrected the parts of the building needed for this Challenge Game.They have also prepared a Program using the existing punishing equipment. This Program is not unlike what would have been given to a disobedient athlete sent to these Punishment Cells. This Program has been approved by the Moderator and the Medical Assessor.”

The Compere looked at Team A.. “So what will this Program be.. I guess we’ll find out soon enuff but… any comment from Team A…?” The Head trainer responded seriously.

“I am not aware exactly what this particular Punishment Cell is equipped with but I am well informed on many punishments endured by some of the Olympic sportsmen over the past decade…they contain serious torture equipment but I have trust in the Moderator and the Medical Assessor to ensure that the Interrogation is kept within the Games Rules…and just so that the audience understands the format, I and my colleague will be present during the interrogation and although we cannot interfere directly with Team Bs interrogation procedures, we can place an objection to be considered by the Moderator for his consideration.” He paused and thought for a minute… and then Joe M with a confident grin on his handsome tanned face and slow deep husky drawl cut in…

“…Hey ‘everyone’…... Hell! …. You’re lookin at a guy who is trained and prepared for pain … man, I’m expectin it … and I look at it this way… survivin 18 hours of pain now I reckon is well worth the rest of my life bein $400K richer!!!” He looked the Team B leader in the eye challengingly.

The Compere responded. “We’re not gonna waste any more time…lets get these teams to on their way!”

The curtains behind the TV set opened and a black helicopter sat ready in the background to take them to the LA International for their 8 hour flight.

A convoy of US army trucks transported the BREAKING POINT team from the Airport to the Location Site in the Old part of the city which had been prepared for 24/7 reality viewing. Hundreds of invisible close circuit TV cameras and microphones provided a multi dimensional coverage operated by computers. As the group stood at the base of the aircraft steps, Joe M was singled out by two soldiers.

“So this is it man.” smiled the Head Trainer. “….the next time we shake hands you’ll be collecting the prize!” Joe M grinned. They shook hands and gave a few chest punches and back slaps and then Joe M was hand cuffed and escorted to a waiting prison van. He was pushed roughly into the back, the two soldiers climbing in after him.

One guard chewed gum and eyed Joe M’s muscled frame. He grinned and then jabbered something foreign and the other smiled. He looked at Joe M and in bad English said “...My colleague just said that he is looking forward to seeing if an American can take torture as bravely as an Olympic footballer!” Joe M took a deep breath, his chest expanding under the tight T and … answered with his confident grin.

One hour later:

The van parked outside a dimly lit arched stone opening with steel studded doors. It was now 8pm at night. Joe M jumped from the van and surveyed the dark empty courtyard. The guard chewing gum jabbed him in his back forcing him towards the door. Joe M swung his elbow into him, objecting to the push but then a rifle butt landed in his abs. He doubled over as the soldier kicked his arse and he fell into the doorway. Two more guards appeared and one grabbed his cuffs and lifted him to standing position.

“Come American!” he ordered and two guards behind pushed him to follow. He was taken to a cell with a straw bed, a shit pot in one corner and basin in the other. He was uncuffed and the door slammed and bolted behind. Voices from the soldiers talking and laughing some distance off echoed in the stone corridors.

Later, food was slipped into a hatch and Joe M filled his belly with the thick meat stew and potato. A toothbrush sat on the basin and he cleaned his teeth. He sat on the edge of his bunk and surveyed the bleak cell… its stone walls and the barred window high above him. He unlaces his black army boots and slips off his socks. The soles of his bare feet feel the cold and roughness of the stone floor.

The single light bulb went out suddenly and so he lies back on the bunk. He falls off to sleep.