Sources of entertainment in post-war Bavarghia were scarce. With nothing but propaganda on the television and most films banned, there was very little for the citizens to do. Most people chose to attend public executions as a macabre form of entertainment, with many thousands of spectators at each execution. Even so, the public was growing tired of seeing the same old routine over and over. Van to gallows. Condemned led through crowd. Hood over head. Noose around neck. Stool kicked out. Pitiful struggles. Death. It got repetitive quite quickly for the people. Fortunately for them, there was something new being planned.

It was big news. The first game show to be shown on television in over 50 years. It was to be a high stakes, life or death contest with death row inmates facing against each other for a chance at freedom, with the losers being strung up live on television for the whole nation to see. As soon as it was announced it was the only thing people were talking about. The front covers of every magazine and newspaper were dedicated to the show. A week before the show was to be aired for the first time, the television news gave all the details of the show. It was to be called "Noose Off" and contestants would face general knowledge questions. Get a question wrong and it was game over. The last one left alive gets to walk free. The contestants would be from the capital's all female prison. The entire nation was waiting impatiently for the premiere.

Death row: 6 am
The six inmates selected for Noose Off were ordered to shower and to get dressed in the special black and orange, latex uniforms that had been prepared for the show. They were then escorted to the bus which would take them to the studio. The first inmate on the bus was Emily Matthews. She couldn't believe her luck. Out of all the inmates on death row she was one of the ones chosen to be a part of Noose Off. No one on death row had ever walked free before and she had a one in six chance of walking free. Even though in all likelihood she would be dangling from a rope in the evening, it was still the first time she had been happy since she had been arrested for taking part in the student protests during the summer. Emily sat back and watched as the other contestants were brought on the bus.

Studio: 10 am
The contestants were brought into a room where they were to be briefed on how the show would work. A short, balding man walked into the room carrying a clipboard. "Good morning ladies, my name is Alan and I am the producer of Noose Off. As you know, you will be facing each other for a prize of freedom, while the losers hang. You will be taken into make-up at 2 o'clock to get you ready for the show which is starting at 5. Any questions?" A hand went up. "Why have you only picked young, good looking women for this" asked Kimberly, another person sentenced to death for the student protests. "Well our research showed that the executions the general public were most interested in were those of gorgeous young ladies such as yourselves, so we decided to pick the best looking death row inmates. I hope that answered your question." Another hand went up. "How many people are going to be watching this?" "We estimate between 60 and 70 million viewers. Any more questions? No. You will now be taken to your individual rooms. Food will be taken to your room at 1 and there are plenty of water bottles there if you get thirsty. Good luck!"

Studio: 5 pm
"Hello and welcome to the very first episode of Noose Off! The show where death row inmates compete for the chance to win freedom. But if they get a question wrong it's game over and they will be hoisted in the air until they hang to death. Let's meet the contestants!" The camera panned over to the six contestants, each of them handcuffed with a noose around their necks. "These ladies will be answering general knowledge questions with any wrong answer proving fatal. Let's start the show shall we?" The host walked up to Georgia Hughes, a convicted shoplifter. "First question. In what year did the Supreme Leader take over?" "2156?" Georgia replied, nervously. "That's absolutely correct!" the host exclaimed as he went over to the next contestant. "What is the population of Bavarghia?" The contestant began panicking. "Uhm, uh. Oh god, oh god is it 100 million?" As soon as the words left her mouth she knew she was wrong and started sobbing. "That's incorrect!" bellowed the host. "You know what time it is now, I'm afraid. It's time for you to Noose Off!" The sobbing contestant was lifted into the air by the noose. She began to struggle quite badly, her legs kicking wildly as she fought aimlessly against her fate. After about a minute she slowed down and lost consciousness. A patch of urine was beginning to appear on her latex bodysuit. "Looks like that's the end of her folks! Let's move on to the next contestant."

Studio: 5:30 pm
"As we are now down to our last three contestants, it is time for our quick fire round!" It was just Emily, Kimberly and Georgia left fighting for freedom, the other three swinging lifelessly beside them. "Which general led the government crackdown against the rebels in 2172?" "General Smith" replied Emily, confidently. "Correct!" replied the host as he went on to his next question. "How did the United Nations collapse?" Kimberly thought for a second and answered with certainty "Due to the massive economic crisis of 2132." The host looked at her for a second before yelling "That is INCORRECT!" Kimberly looked shocked as she was hoisted up into the air. She had a pained look on her face as she started flailing her legs rapidly. She tried to raise her arms up to her neck as she tried free herself from the noose but with her arms handcuffed behind her back, she achieved nothing more than prolonging her suffering. She finally went still shortly after.

Studio: 5:35 pm
"It's just two contestants left battling for their shot at freedom. Will they walk away or will they end up like the other four ladies beside them? Let's find out." The two finalists were walked over to a large platform in the middle of the studio. "We're going to ask you gals one last question. Whoever gets nearest the correct answer goes free. And the loser... well we think you get the message. So here we go. How many people attended the execution of the desposed President Murphy?" "One hundred thousand" replied Emily "Eighty thousand" replied Georgia. "You have both come so far." said the host. "But I have to tell you now. The correct answer is... ninety five thousand! Congratulations Emily, you have won the first episode of noose off!" Both Emily and Georgia broke down in tears but for entirely different reasons. Emily's handcuffs and noose were removed and she was led towards the presenter. "Very well played Emily, what do you plan to do with your new found freedom?" "I plan on going back home and staying with my family, I'm just so happy I get to see them again!" Emily responded, crying tears of joy. "And now it's time to watch our final hanging of the evening as our runner-up will soon meet her maker." Georgia's sobs were cut shirt as the noose rapidly tightened around her neck and her feet left the ground. Her whole body jerked and contorted as she used all her energy to fight the noose. Her hands were clenched into fists as her legs went all over the place. Her breasts were wobbling from side to side as she fought the noose in vain. Eventually, her struggles ground to a halt as her bodysuit filled with urine. Georgia had come so close to freedom but had ended up like the rest of the deceased contestants. "Join us next week for another exciting episode of Noose Off!"