Chapter XIII
The Instant Dating Game
THE RESULTS
Lindsay and Steven approach Tom on the stage and Lindsay asks, "So Tom, have you made your choice yet?" "Yea I have." Tommy quietly responds handing Lindsay an index card with the number of the bachelorette he had chosen. Lindsay shows Steven the card and they look at each other then back at Tom. Steven asks, "Are you sure about your choice Tom? There's no turning back now." "Yes I'm positive." Tom replies.
Meanwhile……back in the voting room….
Lindsay and Steven walked into the room to check for the results from the audiences' votes and viewers' phone votes. "Do we have our final counts in?" Steven asked. "Yes we do." A young lady responded from her desk as she was checking the final tabs of votes she was receiving from her computer. She quickly wrote down the percentages for each bachelorette from the audience and from the phone calls received and handed it to Steven. He carefully opened the folded card he received and raised his brows as he was looking at each of the percentages received and then the final totals. He passed the card over to Lindsay to read and she nodded at him to reply. They went to the technicians' room and gave them the card with the results and they too read the results and nodded at the two producers.
Back on stage…..
"OK PLACES EVERYONE! WE'RE BACK IN LESS THAN A MINUTE AND COUNTING!" The stage announcer shouted out. He ran around making sure everyone's mic pack were on then quickly left the stage.
"WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!" Joe announced as the camera cued in on him. "SO NOW IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS. TED, BEFORE WE SHOW THE VIEWERS' AND AUDIENCES' RESULTS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO THE LOVELY LADIES BEHIND THIS WALL…" Joe taps onto the wall next to him, "BEFORE YOU MEET THEM?" "Well, first off, I would like to thank "The Instant Dating Game" show for having me here. I can say that this has been quite an interesting and amazing experience. I never realized that you can learn so much about someone or even have a connection with someone without ever meeting them in person." Tom stated and then Joe asked, "SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOUR 'DREAM GIRL' JUST MIGHT BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL HERE?" "You never know Joe, she just might be." Tom replied with a smile.
"OK, I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU HOW ALL OF THIS WORKS." Tommy nods. "NOW, YOU'VE SEEN THE RESULTS. IF YOUR CHOICE MATCHES TO THE BACHELORETTE WITH THE MOST VOTES THEN YOU HAVE WON. YOUR PRIZE FOR YOU AND YOUR LUCKY LADY WILL BE GOING ON AN ALL EXPENSES PAID EXTENDED 2 WEEK DATE TO…. TURTLE ISLAND IN FIJI!" Joe announced. The audience gasped and clapped at the prize. Tommy was in shock at such a prize. He had never been there but had only heard about it. The three bachelorettes were just as shocked as everyone else. Now everyone was even more anxious to find out the results.
[To learn more about Turtle Island in Fiji, visit: for more info. Credit goes to this site for the info.
Joe continued to describe this extravagant prize. "TURTLE ISLAND, LOCATED IN FIJI IS THE ISLAND THAT 'ONCE DISCOVERED, IS NEVER FORGOTTEN.' THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE ISLAND IN FIJI THAT ONLY ACCOMODATES 14 COUPLES. TURTLE ISLAND IS SO ATTRACTIVE THAT IT IS A NATURAL EMBODIMENT OF ROMANCE AND INTIMACY. THE ISLAND'S CAPTIVATING ATMOSPHERE IS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR RENEWAL OF THE HEAR AND SPIRIT."
[THIS IS THE ACTUAL REVIEW: "Turtle Island so attractive to couples is that Turtle Island is a natural embodiment of romance and intimacy. It is the Island's captivating atmosphere that makes it an ideal place for renewal of the heart and spirit." Brisbane News, Australia, 2000
"OK TED, YOUR MESSAGE TO THE GIRLS." "Sure. Ladies it was a pleasure meeting all of you under the circumstances of us not actually seeing each other. It was a wonderful experience in getting to know all of you." Tom simply stated.
"THAT WAS GREAT TED! NOW, ARE YOU READY FOR THE RESULTS?" "Sure am." Tom replied with a nod and small smile.
The votes were then displayed on the screen behind Tommy and the girls. As they all turned to look along with the audience, everyone gasped and then there was a round of applause that roared though the studio. Tommy smiled at the results, but then his face suddenly saddened then he looked down into his lap.
As Jude turned and saw the results, she was relieved that they had show an actual total and not something that she had to figure out on her own, know very well she sucked at math. Then all of a sudden as she looked down the screen at her number then across at the total, she gasped at the result thinking to herself 'Is this a dream? If so someone please pinch me and wake me up,' then she felt a pinch, "Ow!" she screamed. "Sorry but you said to pinch you to wake you up?" Caitlin stated and smiled. Jude smiled back and hugged Caitlin, "I'm sorry." "Jude, no worries. It's no big deal. I went on this show for fun, no beg expectations. I'm truly happy for you and glad it was you and not Tiffany. I would seriously feel sorry for the bachelor if he had to go on a date with her. Hell I'd feel sorry for any guy who would date her!" Caitlin conveyed to Jude showing her full support to her new found friend. Then Jude replied laughing, "Thanks!"
AUDIENCE VOTEPHONED-IN VOTESTOTAL
BACHELORETTE #1 3710
BACHELORETTE #2 192342
BACHELORETTE #3 262248
Back stage…..
Kwest, Sadie and Mason ran in the back to meet each other quickly making sure Jude and Tommy wouldn't notice they had left. The trio ran to each other into a group hug jumping up and down in relief of the results. Now they knew that it was all up to Tom and what his choice would be.
Back at G-Major…..
Everyone had heavily sighed in relief as they saw the results. Now they all knew the final decision it would be up to Tommy Quincy. They hoped he had really paid attention to Jude's responses and feel a connection with her. But that all really anyone could do was 'hope.'
"ALRIGHT TED, NOW YOU'VE MADE YOUR DECISION. ARE YOU READY TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE?" "As ready as I'll ever be Joe!" Tom said then inhaled and exhaled very deeply as if he had been holding it for so long. He closed his eyes, then slowly opened them and started to speak, "I chose….bachelorette….number…." then after one more quick breath he finally said, "number 3."
The audience applauded and Tommy smiled but was a bit surprised as he saw the room so full of enthusiasm for just choosing a blind date.
The three girls just stood there in silence after the last word "three" was heard from the handsome eligible bachelor, all unsure of what to say. Then Tiffany spoke, "Oh well. It's his loss. He doesn't know what he's missing." Caitlin stood up and hugged Jude, "I knew he'd choose you," she spoke. "How'd you know?" Jude asked. "Easy. In certain questions, I could hear the passion and love in the answers you gave. You not only answered truthfully but from your heart. His responses were either speechless in a good way of course, or you could tell he just wanted to know more about you, and he was very intrigued by you. When he introduced himself at the beginning of the show, I remembered what he said and for some reason I can see a bit of his heart and soul in you, and yours in him. Does that make any sense?" Caitlin told Jude with so much care that friend could five. "Actually, yes it does." Jude answered beaming with delight.
Next chapter XIV, The Instant Dating Game Tommy Meet…..