A few things here:
This is absolutely and completely modeled after the CBS show The Amazing Race (season 26). The show was created by Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster, who, along with Jonathan Littman, serve as executive producers. I am borrowing their host, Phil Keoghan, and their S26 race attributes.
Phil's lines, in a lot of cases, will be taken directly from the show (I reserve the right to ad-lib), but he's the host and his lines are important for context—I don't possess the worldliness to be informative about these countries and their traditions, so having him "host" and using his lines are the only way I can bring this to you and it be authentic to the race, while also taking free rein over the couples and their interactions/how they go about the race.
Phil's part will be italics always and when speaking directly to the racers, they will be in quotes as well.
The story will be told from BPOV, with Phil talking to the camera at times for description purposes and that will be divided by line breaks and italics.
There will be "snapshots" of the other couples which will also be divided off and easily distinguishable. These will most likely be in 3rd person.
These couples do not model any particular couples on the show. I will eliminate them in a way that doesn't match the show, and ExB are not modeled after any single couple from this season. I may take events I enjoyed from the season and twist them to fit my narrative.
The race specifics (roadblocks/detours/speed bumps) will be exactly as shown in the season, but the way it plays out here will be part of the "storyline," and again, NOT mirroring any specific couples.
Repeat: The Twilight couples are my ad-libs, as are their reactions to tasks, achievements, and each other along the way. They belong to Meyer, and I love her for them.
This season (26) can be found on hulu, and if you'd like to watch the episode after I post each LEG, that'd be cool. It'll give you a good visual of what these teams did in the chapter.
I have no idea what goes on after a pit stop or any of the off-camera internals of the game, so I'll be making those up as I imagine them.
Prologue
Phil
For 25 seasons, The Amazing Race has been the perfect testing grounds for all kinds of relationships.
This season, for the first time in Amazing Race history, 10 singles will line up here at the starting line for the most extreme blind dates ever.
Is it possible to find new love on a 35,000-mile race around the world? Can complete strangers compete with couples who are in existing relationships? Time to find out.
(pans to 6 couples and 5 singles on the starting line)
Phil addresses the couples. "Welcome to a very special edition of The Amazing Race. Eleven dating couples on an epic journey around the world. Now, there are six existing couples here who have been dating for some time."
Rose and Emmett—he's an ex-boy bander and she's an award-winning romance author from New York
Alice and Jasper—he's a Goth musician and she's a ballet dancer from Seattle
Mike and Jessica—they're a pair of paparazzi from LA
Aro and Sulpicia—a 70-year-old retired army general and his 40-year-old ex-model wife from Alabama
Ben and Angela—both scientists from Wisconsin
Carlisle and Esme—retired grandparents from Washington state
"In addition to our dating couples, we also have 5 single women who're looking for love. For the first time in Amazing Race history, we're matching 10 singles for the most extreme blind dates ever."
Lauren—a pharmacist from Denver
Tanya—a cheerleader for the Buffalo Bills
Bella—a fitness trainer from Phoenix, Az
Leah—a snowboarder from the Olympic team, who lives in Colorado
Kate—a YouTube makeup star from Michigan
"Are you ready to meet your partners?"
(nods and whoops)
"All right, here they come."
Tyler—a family doctor from Dallas
Jake—A bodybuilder from Atlanta
Edward—a trauma surgeon from Los Angeles
Emily—she's a professional tennis player from Virginia
Garrett—a local news reporter from San Francisco
"Did anybody get a tingly feeling when they saw their partner? Any sparks?"
The couples take a second look at each other. Lauren and Tyler seem hesitant, while Tanya feels up Jake's beefy bicep. Leah and Emily size each other up, and Kate jumps into Garrett's arms for a full-blown hug.
"He's hot," Bella says, smiling coyly as she eyes Edward. "Always a great start to any relationship."
"Agreed," he says, winking at her before turning his attention back to Phil.
"With all due respect," Tanya breaks in, batting her lashes toward Jake, "I have the hottest partner."
"Not so fast," chimes Kate, her legs still locked around Garrett's waist.
"Brains over beauty," Tyler says, entering the conversation.
"Braun over brains," Leah says, motioning over her partner's fit body. "Seems we're perfectly matched."
"So how long before you act like yourselves and don't hold back?"
"Right now," says Emily.
"Let's do this." Jake claps, his muscles bulging.
"We're ready," Bella retorts, smiling up at Edward, who agrees with a nod.
"This is kind of like the honeymoon period, and it's going to go very quickly into some stress because right out of the gate, we're gonna get things started with a race for tickets to Tokyo, Japan."
LEG 1 will post Monday. There are 12 LEGS, and I'll also write an epilogue, bringing this to 14 chapters total, unless I get a wild hair later on :p
I've been in a major writing funk, and this is where my mojo settled. I admit that other than the couple relationships, the plot doesn't belong to me, and I'm okay w/that. I saw the season and wanted so badly to see our beloved BxE in that situation, so here we are!
See you Monday :)
