Chapter 6: TV Interviews
Seen on the Television screens across the nation:
The TV screen was black; what was actually being seen was a very dark stage in front of the Training Center.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said the announcer, "The man of the hour. The one with all the questions. The man who needs no script to talk. The TV host of all TV hosts. The one, the only, CAESARRR FLICKERMAAAAAN!"
Caesar Flickerman danced out onto the stage at the sound of music with a steady, fast, foot tapping, James Brown beat. The light on the stage went from dark to dim, then got brighter and brighter. He kept on dancing until the lights reached full brightness. He then spun around on the spot and faced the crowd with open arms and a smile.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome," said Caesar Flickerman "to the 76th Hunger Games."
The audience cheered and applauded.
"In a few moments, I am going to summon out onto the stage, our contestants and participants of this year's Hunger Games, which are all from The Capitol!" He said the last sentence as though it was pleasant and good news. The people cheered at the idea of the honor of the thing.
He told a few jokes to warm up the crowd as he does every year and then got down to business.
"Now, let us get inside the minds of the people that will be representing our city in this year's Hunger Games! Let's call out the first contestant. She's known to many of you for her love of the color of yellow. Now let's see what exactly is inside her mind, let us give it up, for Lisa Derrek."
Lisa Derrek walked out onto the stage with her banana yellow hair in a single intricate braid. Her banana yellow skin, and her stylist apparently had decided to go with a banana yellow dress to match it all.
She walked onto the stage smiling.
She sat down in the thick comfy armchair that was supposed to be her seat.
"So, young Lisa," said Caesar, "I think that all of our viewers are wondering, what is it with your personal chosen color?"
Lisa paused, thought of her answer for a moment, and then she told him, "When I was little girl, I was fascinated by the color of the bright yellow color of bananas, but I also love the sun shining on bright sunny days, so I decided that I would make myself into a human sun, that every time I would walk into a room I would make the room just a little bit sunnier."
The people in the audience laughed at her statement. Caesar himself gave a pleasant smile.
"Well, I would just like to say, Lisa, that I think that it is true; your presence and your color, does brighten up a room." said Caesar cheerfully.
"My next question for you is, what are your plans for winning the Games after they start?" said Caesar Flickerman.
"Over the past month I have formed a close personal Alliance with some of the other tributes. My plan is for me and my team to work together to get into the top two. I have been becoming very good at hand to hand combat over the past month, I am confident that once I am in the top two, I can defeat my final opponent in a fair fight." Lisa Derrick said this with confidence and the audience made sounds of approval at the Honorable teamwork act.
Caesar Flickerman asked a few more questions and then the buzzer went off. Her 3 minutes were up. Caesar Flickerman shook her hand and then she went back to her chair.
"And now ladies and gentlemen, for our next tribute let's give it up for the son of a Gamemaker, David Crane."
The audience applauded as David shook Caesar Flickerman's hand and then sat down in the armchair.
"So, David, did you ever think in a million years that you would participate in The Hunger Games?" asked Caesar.
David Crane then told the audience that his father had taught him and his sister the intimate details of the workings of different kinds of Tributes, and they watched many of the old tapes over and over again and worked out ways to counter and cover moves that different kinds of tributes would use, and that he could keep up with his opponents. This was all for the reenactments they liked to participate in when they visit the old arenas.
After a few more questions his three minute buzzer was up.
He went back to his chair.
"And now let's give it up for the daughter of a Head Peacekeeper, Susanna Xavier."
The audience applauded as Susanna walked onto the stage wearing a shimmering red ball gown, glass slippers, long brown hair, and a silver tiara.
Everyone expected Susanna to be a bully, and sadistic, just like her father, but she lived up to none of these expectations. She was very polite, didn't gloat about her superior strength and skill, but some people suspected that it was just an attempt to make her opponents think that she was more gentle than she actually wants.
Next up came small Hector Ardamin.
He seemed shy, but Caesar complimented him, encouraged him, and wished him the best of luck.
He went back to his chair.
Brianna Crane showed a personality of arrogance; she was better than the rest, she feared none of her opponents, etc. She was sad that either her or her little brother would be dead by the end of the Games but she would sacrifice herself for her younger brother if she had the chance.
Sherman Griffin took his turn as he sat in the armchair.
All of the tributes took their turns one after another, all the way up to District 7 where Gloria Goldwater who was clever, and stealthy, but had a pleasant sense of humor, and amused the crowd with a few anecdotes about people with bad haircuts and other people who like to get surgery to make your skin look like fish scales, until her three minute timer went "BUZZ!" where she was then excused and then the huge and heavily muscled boy, Dennis Green, took the armchair on the stage.
"So, Dennis, tell us, the audience really wants to know, they are curious, why exactly did you choose to take the place of Martin Copperton at the reaping?" asked Caesar Flickerman.
Dennis Green did not hesitate as he said, "He's my cousin, he and I have always been close, and he is only twelve, he's like a little brother to me, and I have always looked out for him."
There were sounds of sympathy at his statement. It was a human interest piece; the people of the Capitol loved that stuff.
"That is inspiring, Dennis." said Caesar. "And very brave of you."
"Thank you." said Dennis appreciatively.
Caesar went on with more questions until the buzzer went.
Up next was Amanda and Lisa's ally May Salmon. May Salmon was thirteen, had deep aqua blue hair that stopped at her neck, dark brown skin, gold eyelashes, and was wearing a cute and adorable blue dress and high heeled shoes that matched her hair.
She walked onto the stage and kissed Caesar on the cheek as she shook his hand. She sat down on the armchair.
"May? I love your hair color, it's pretty." complemented Caesar.
"Thank you Caesar." said May appreciatively. "It makes me think of the sky and the ocean every time I look in a mirror."
"I agree." said Caesar. "My first question for you is, what do you want to be when you grow up?" asked Caesar her casually.
May thought for a moment, and then said, "I want to be an actress. It's always been my dream to do live plays before the biggest audience in the world."
Sounds of approval from the audience.
She then had a sorrowful expression.
"I just think that participating in the Hunger Games, isn't the same though, even though it will be the biggest audience ever."
"Well," Caesar went on, "when you win, you will be so famous, everyone in the entire country will want to see you in a play, on stage, every single day. Right folks?" Caesar said encouragingly.
The audience cheered and applauded. May smiled weakly.
Harley Dillon took his turn, and then there was Irene Avion. She was beautiful. Unlike most of the people in the Capitol, Irene Avion looked normal, she was seventeen, Caucasian, large firm breasts, blue eyes, and long blonde hair; no weird and unusual coloring, or alterations, or funky hair styles or anything, not even so much as a stick-on-tattoo.
Her stylist had decided to go with a, 'The Girl In The Red Dress' theme. Probably thought it would bring her more sponsors, and it probably would; sponsors usually liked giving more money to the better looking tributes.
Caesar called out Irene's name, and when she stood up and walked onto the stage the crowd went wild at her breathtaking appearance. She was sexy, through and through. She was beautiful. Caesar took her hand and kissed it, and then she sat in the armchair.
"So, Irene, I think every single person here wants to point out the blatantly obvious to you, you are absolutely beautiful, if I do say so myself." said Caesar. He then turned to the crowd and raised his eyebrows in silently asking if they agreed. The crowd responded in kind. Irene also gave thanks for the compliment.
Caesar then asked her what her plans were if she wins the Games.
"It is my dream to become a world famous chef, and prepare the best meals that anyone has ever tasted." Irene stated with conviction.
The audience made sounds of approval.
"That is very admirable." said Caesar with a tone of admiration. "So, that Training Score? 9? Very impressive, and no one here expected anything less of you, but our audience is curious, what is your greatest strength in the arena? Or is that not for your fellow tributes to know yet?"
"Well, I will tell the audience what my fellow tributes already know about me; I'm strong, I'm fast, and I can kill a man with a broom handle without too much effort." Irene said with a devious smile.
The audience gave exaggerated sound of intimidation and daring at Irene's claim of ability to kill.
Chaz Zoltan, and Belinda Rogers took their turns. And then there was Giovanni Leon. He was a ruthless killing machine. He was confident, and made a very verbally over dramatic declaration of his unquestioning victory, and that there was no way he could lose. Caesar smiled and said that he did not doubt him for a second.
Sixteen year old Beverly O'Malley took the stage. She was a goth; several facial piercings, black finger nails, black dress, black high heeled shoes, short perfectly straight glossy black hair, black lipstick, and black eyelids, all in contrast to her skin that was all completely white.
Caesar asked her about her family. She spoke in a deep mystical tone of voice. She answered with saying that she has twelve brothers and sisters, several were too young for the reaping, several too old. Her father was a wealthy, evil man, who plotted and schemed his way into power, and supported President Snow's ideals. Beverly then explained that her father had been publicly executed by the District 13 officials, which of course everyone knows about.
"I'm sorry about your loss." said Caesar.
Beverly then burst into laughter at Caesar's last remark.
"I'm not." said Beverly, "I hated my father for his evil acts. He got just what he deserved."
Caesar and the audience admired her for her sense of right.
"My next question is, if the other tributes already know, what is your weapon of choice once your in the arena?" asked Caesar.
"My brain." said Beverly without hesitation.
"I am not naive, I know what you mean, but could you, for the benefit of the audience, elaborate on what you mean by, 'Your Brain'?"
Without hesitation she said "Every individual inanimate object in the world has nine-hundren and ninety-nine uses, and it's up to you to figure out what they all are, with this." she said as she reached over and touched Caesar's forehead with her finger.
Caesar smiled at her and told her that everyone was looking forward to seeing her ingenuity in action when the Games start. He wished her well and sent her on her way as her buzzer went.
Klay Randolph took his turn. His stylist had dressed him in a plain black business suit and silver neck tie. He personally however seemed to favor hair that was dyed purple, and green eye shadow. He told some jokes, and then did some magic tricks by showing off his skill with the slight of hand. And then he told the audience exactly how the trick was done. They all thought it was clever. His buzzer went and he was sent off the stage.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen," said Caesar Flickerman, "the one you've all been waiting for. The granddaughter of President Snow. The one with the pink hair. Let us invite onto the stage, Amanda Snow."
Amanda Snow walked onto the stage. The crowd cheered and applauded. She looks amazing in her pink hair and pink dress.
Author's Note: While I was typing that last part, I just got a 'Jem and the Holograms' flashback. LOL.
She sat down at the armchair after shaking Caesar Flickerman's hand.
"Well, Amanda, tell us, prior to the change in government, you and your family lived with your grandfather in the President's Mansion, is that correct?" asked Caesar.
"Yes, that is correct." answered Amanda Snow.
"Well, that must have been quite the high life that you always lived then." said Caesar. "So tell us, how has the step down in lifestyle been for you?"
"Well, let's just say that I have long since learned to appreciate the luxuries in life." said Amanda.
"Well, Amanda, I think that each and every person in the entire Capitol can sympathize with you on that account." said Caesar.
Caesar and everyone in the audience laughed.
"My next question for you is," said Caesar, "if you win the Games, what are you going to do with your winnings?"
Amanda thought about her answer to the question and then responded, "I am going to make sure that my mother never has to cook, again, who is sitting right over there."
She pointed to one of the seats in the front row and the television camera immediately focused on Amanda's mother. Amanda's mother smiled and gave a polite wave.
"Your mother's cooking?" said Caesar in a curious tone of voice as he raised an eyebrow, "I can only assume that your mother's cooking is slightly less than gourmet?"
Amanda Snow smiled in amused seriousness and sarcasm.
"Let's just say that I am looking to use my money to help people and I will be doing the world a magnificent charitable service if I make sure that no one has to taste my mother's cooking again."
Caesar thought about his next question for a brief moment.
"So, Amanda, our audience wants to know a little bit more about you; about the person on the inside behind the face of the granddaughter of President Snow. What is your favorite color, other than pink?"
Amanda thought for a moment.
"Yellow." answered Amanda, "Maybe that's why I'm such close friends with Lisa Derrek."
The crowd laughed. Caesar continue to ask similar questions. Within a few moments the audience knew that Amanda's favorite gemstone was amber, they knew that her favorite ice cream was spinach butterscotch, and that her favorite dish was shrimp and chicken in strawberry sauce.
Her time was almost up.
"I have one more question for you." said Caesar, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, I'm afraid that I don't." said Amanda with a face that showed a mixture of regret and amusement.
Caesar was about to go on but then Amanda cut him off before his next word could come out.
"Well, there is one guy that I kind of like, but we're not dating."
Caesar smiled in amusement.
"Oh wait a minute," said Caesar with a look of deja vu, "I remember the last time I asked this question to Peeta Mellark when he was in his Games. Don't tell me that this boy that you have a crush on is one of the male tributes here?"
Amanda put on a secretive devious smile on her face.
"Ok, very well, as you wish, I will not tell you that it is one of the male tributes." said Amanda.
"So it is one of the mail tributes?" pressed Caesar.
"Well, as I just said, I will not tell you." And mixed in with her devious secretive smile, she made a motion with her thumb and index finger across her mouth in imitation of zipping up a zipper on her lips, and then winked at Caesar, and then the three minute buzzer went off.
"Well Amanda, I wish you the best of luck. And Happy Hunger Games."
Amanda paused. Caesar gestured for Amanda to step off the stage, but Amanda remained still, and had a look of nervousness on her face. She held up her hands, palms forward and stepped to the edge of the stage.
"Wait," Amanda said with urgently, "I know that my 3 minutes are up but I have something important to say on a personal note."
The audience waited for Amanda to say what she had to say, as they were eager to know what it was.
"People of The Districts, as President Snow's granddaughter, many of you are expecting me to die in the arena. And with that I understand why you want that, because The Capitol has done nothing less to your children in The Hunger Games for the past 77 years." Amanda said with remorse in her voice, "I personally never approved of my grandfather's methods, and with that I fully understand why you rebelled and chose to got to war. All I want to say is...thank you...thank you for treating us, the people the Capitol, fairly."
There were tears in the eyes of many of the people in the audience at the words of Amanda's speech, and then one person started with a slow clap, and then other people joined in, and then everyone was applauding.
"Thank you Amanda." said Caesar, "Thank you for that. That was a very kind thing for you to say."
Amanda then walked back to her seat with the other Tributes.
Blaze Trenton then took the stage when Caesar summoned him.
"So Blaze, tell us, when you are in The Hunger Games what is your method of survival?" asked Caesar.
"Well, first I think the I am going to make sure that I find and drink plenty of water, and capture plenty of animals to make sure that I eat lots of protein. Then I will hunt down my opponents one at a time and I will break their necks with my bare hands." he said with a serious voice.
"OOOOO!" said the crowd with a tone of devious suspicion.
"Well then, you seem prepared." said Caesar.
"Yes, I am ready to go, and I'm going to win!" said Blaze with determination.
"Self determination," said Caesar with encouragement, "that is a good attitude, our viewers like that."
The next two minutes the questions that Caesar asked Blaze were fairly routine and unremarkable, but the interview was soon over and everything was ready to go.
Caesar and Blaze both stood up Caesar shook his hand and told him with a smile on his face to get out there and win.
They all stood for the national anthem. Tomorrow would be the Games, and they would either live or die, and when it was all over they would be free of the Hunger Games forever.
All the tributes were lead back to their rooms for dinner.
Author's Note: I love constructive criticism. Please review.
(Keep reading for Chapter 7: The Launch Room)