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BRONZEVISION SCOUT FIC CONTEST 2025
INT. COMMENTATOR'S ROOM - EVENING
The "BRONZEVISION" logo glows in front of Ilimilku and Danel, who are seated at a desk, looking out at the main stage.
Ilimilku: And my dear Danel, welcome back to the first Bronzevision contest of scouting fiction! What an evening we've had!
Danel: Yes, Ilimilku, with the last points already awarded – the tension, as ever, is absolutely electrifying!
A text overlay appears: COMMENTATORS: Ilimilku of Amurru - Danel of Hetch.
A picture of the "BRONZEVISION SCOUT FIC CONTEST 2025"
On the main broadcast screen, Putur-sin of Mari, the host, appears, standing in front of a large "BRONZEVISION" logo.
Putur-sin: [on-screen] We call now, Assyria!
Ilimilku: [leans forward slightly, a silent thought running through his mind, thinking] And we hold our breath where Mennefer is the third place! This could be it.
The sound of the audience's applause swells.
On screen, Putur-sin applauds warmly, greeting the screen showing a female vote jury from Assyria, Rdita.
Putur-sin: [on-screen] Good evening, Nineveh!
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Good evening, Bronze Age! [She holds up a smartphone, beaming with euphoric excitement.] What an amazing show!
The audience applauds again.
INT. COMMENTATOR'S ROOM
Danel: Ah... Assyria consistently highlights the quality of the show with such enthusiasm. [He smiles as the audience applauds.]
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] And now, the votes of Assyria.
A screen displays the current televote standings:
Achaea - 124 points
Hatti - 118 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Sinai - 66 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Tadmor - 61 points
Assyria - 61 points
Babylon - 61 points
Troy - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Tadmor, two points!
On screen, Tadmor's score updates to 63 points, moving them to 7th place.
Danel: [in the commentator's room] Two points for Tadmor. The Damascene scouts – who would have expected them at this level? A real surprise package this year.
INT. BALLROOM
Irsu and his Boy Scouts are sitting eagerly, waving Irsu's flag, which resembles a lion's head.
Ilimilku: [in the commentator's room, watching the screen] Absolutely! With a scout guide to the Sea Peoples' invasion – that story sounds ruthless, but evidently, it resonated with the voters!
A screen displays the televote again.
Achaea - 124 points
Hatti - 118 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Sinai - 66 points
Tadmor - 63 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Assyria - 61 points
Babylon - 61 points
Troy - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Troy, four points!
On screen, Troy's score updates to 65 points, moving them to 7th place.
INT. BALLROOM
Hector, Paris, Aeneas, and their Boy Scouts are watching the televote intensely. As Troy's points are announced, they erupt in cheers, waving the Trojan flag with euphoric energy.
Danel: [in the commentator's room] Oh, Troy! That's so good! Their dedication really shines through!
Ilimilku: The Trojans are telling Hector about the camping lifestyles, making them move up to eighth place! A wonderfully wholesome narrative in a tough competition.
A screen displays the televote.
Achaea - 124 points
Hatti - 118 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Sinai - 66 points
Troy - 65 points
Tadmor - 63 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Assyria - 61 points
Babylon - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Sinai, six points!
On screen, Sinai's score updates to 72 points, rising to 4th place.
INT. BALLROOM
Ramesses, his father Setnakhte, and their Boy Scouts are sitting, watching the televote. They cheer loudly as Sinai's points are announced, their faces beaming with happiness. Setnakhte claps his son proudly on the back.
Danel: [in the commentator's room] Oh! A gorgeous performance from Ramesses, which so vividly brought his scout mission at Kadesh to life!
Ilimilku: And so, Ramesses' scout faction moves up to fourth place! A fantastic ascent for the Sinai!
Back in the ballroom, Ramesses, his father Setnakhte, and the Boy Scouts are now dancing jubilantly, waving Ramesses' flag, which resembles a sun disk. Beside them, Suppiluliuma, Talmi-Teshub, Amurapi, and their Boy Scouts watch the televote with focused expressions.
A screen displays the televote.
Achaea - 124 points
Hatti - 118 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Sinai - 72 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Troy - 65 points
Tadmor - 63 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Assyria - 61 points
Babylon - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Hatti, eight points!
On screen, Hatti's score updates to 126 points, soaring into 1st place!
INT. BALLROOM
Suppiluliuma, Talmi-Teshub, Amurapi, and the Boy Scouts erupt in ecstatic cheers, pumping their fists and embracing as Hatti takes the lead.
Suppiluliuma: Yes! [His roar of triumph echoes through the hall.]
Ilimilku: [in the commentator's room, watching Suppiluliuma's euphoric reaction] Hatti takes the lead with two lengths to go! What a breakthrough performance from the Hittite scouts!
Danel: He's one of the most favourite disciplines, no doubt, but nothing is done, eh... [He gestures as Suppiluliuma is now dancing with Talmi-Teshub on screen.] The final points are still to come!
A screen displays the televote.
Hatti - 126 points
Achaea - 124 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Sinai - 72 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Troy - 65 points
Tadmor - 63 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Assyria - 61 points
Babylon - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] Babylon, ten points!
On screen, Babylon's score updates to 71 points, rising to 5th place. Putur-sin applauds from the main stage.
Danel: [voice] Ah, we're not surprised to find them there, are we?
INT. BALLROOM
Adad-shuma-usur's Boy Scouts are applauding wildly. Adad-shuma-usur himself stands proudly waving his Babylonian flag.
Danel: [voice] "I wrote a famously rude letter to Ashur-nirari and Ili-pada during the scout camping show." It's quite direct, quite unapologetic, but it certainly pleases the voting public!
Ilimilku: [in the commentator's room, turning to Danel with a wry smile] And that's especially why Adad wrote rudely, Danel! He knows his audience, and they love it!
Danel: [watching Adad waving his Babylonian flag, Ilimilku also watches Putur-sin applauding] In any case, these ten additional points do not allow the not-so-polite Adad to cheat to defeat Suppiluliuma. Not quite yet.
Ilimilku: [watching Putur-sin applauding, a sudden realization dawning on his face] I hate to say this, Danel, but this means that, if my calculations are correct, the last twelve points will be decisive for Mennefer?!
INT. BALLROOM
Merneptah, his son Seti, his wife Tausret, and their Boy Scouts are watching the televote screen with bated breath, their expressions a mix of hope and anxiety.
A screen displays the televote.
Hatti - 126 points
Achaea - 124 points
Mennefer - 115 points
Sinai - 72 points
Babylon - 71 points
Nubia & Kush - 71 points
Tzor - 67 points
Troy - 65 points
Tadmor - 63 points
Elam - 62 points
Tarhuntassa - 62 points
Assyria - 61 points
Rdita: [on-screen, in Assyria] And the twelve points of Assyria, go to... Mennefer!
On screen, Mennefer's score updates to 127 points, immediately rising to 1st place and winning the contest! The score for Hatti remains at 126.
Ilimilku: [in the commentator's room, leaping out of his seat, absolutely euphoric] Yes, they've done it! Mennefer has done it, Danel! Mennefer has made history! Mennefer wins the first Bronzevision contest of scouting fiction! Unbelievable!
INT. BALLROOM
Merneptah, his son Seti, his wife Tausret, and their Boy Scouts erupt in an explosion of pure joy. Merneptah stands tall, grabbing his flag, which resembles Ptah's djed symbol, and waves it triumphantly.
Danel: [in the commentator's room, clapping vigorously] What an extremely competitive show! Right down to the wire, simply magnificent!
In the ballroom, Seti, his wife Tausret, and their Boy Scouts are dancing wildly. Merneptah, already on stage amidst the confetti, approaches Putur-sin, who greets him with a handshake.
Ilimilku: [voice] And look, Merneptah is already on stage to redo his scouting fiction! The champion returns!
The audience applauds thunderously. Others in the ballroom are waving Merneptah's flags enthusiastically.
ON STAGE
Merneptah stands proudly before the roaring audience, holding the shining Bronzevision trophy aloft.
Merneptah: There's a link to the Sea Peoples-backed Libu invasions, leading to a scout campaign postponement. But even in delay, the spirit of scouting prevails! This victory is for all of Mennefer!
The audience applauds, a prolonged roar of approval.
Amennakt: [narrating] The scouting story. The return of a Bronze Age promise.
The end.