by Based on the short story (and Twilight Zone episode) Button, Button
A man in a suit comes to the door. A woman answers. He hands her a rectangular box with a prominent button. He explains that if she presses the button, she will receive $2,000 which she may use however she pleases, and someone that she doesn't know will die. He further explains that she can't be sure it's one person. It could be that nobody will die, or that several people will die. Nonetheless, on average, one person will die.
The woman laughs nervously, and seems to think it's some kind of a joke. She presses the button. The man in the suit takes the box and opens it, revealing it to be a fancy letter-opener. He hands her the now-opened envelope. It is addressed the the Against Malaria Foundation, and contains 20 $100 bills.
The man in the suit starts to leave. The lady at the door asks if she can change her mind. The man reminds her that she may use the money however she pleases. He then adds that she may also use 10% of her income however she pleases.
A few possible variations:
It doesn't really matter what gender the characters are. I just chose a man and a woman so I can use "he" and "she" unambiguously.
The man in the suit says that he works for the AMF, but doesn't say what it stands for. He tells the woman that this is not a joke. It is not a test. If she presses the button, it really is likely for one or more people to die as a result. (It is, of course, a creative way to solicit for donations.)
Instead of a fancy letter opener, the button is just a button. The man shows the woman the $2,000, and when she refuses to press the button, he puts the money in an envelope and addresses it to the Against Malaria Foundation.
He offers her a briefcase full of money. When she refuses to press the button, he takes 20 $100 bills and puts them in the letter, then keeps the rest of the money.
He offers her $1,000,000. She says that as bad as a complete stranger dying is, not pressing the button would be 500 times worse. She then presses the button, and asks him to send the money to the Against Malaria Foundation.
I also posted this on a forum for club I'm in at my school. I wonder if I can get us to actually make it.
A man in a suit comes to the door. A woman answers. He hands her a rectangular box with a prominent button. He explains that if she presses the button, she will receive $2,000 which she may use however she pleases, and someone that she doesn't know will die. He further explains that she can't be sure it's one person. It could be that nobody will die, or that several people will die. Nonetheless, on average, one person will die.
The woman laughs nervously, and seems to think it's some kind of a joke. She presses the button. The man in the suit takes the box and opens it, revealing it to be a fancy letter-opener. He hands her the now-opened envelope. It is addressed the the Against Malaria Foundation, and contains 20 $100 bills.
The man in the suit starts to leave. The lady at the door asks if she can change her mind. The man reminds her that she may use the money however she pleases. He then adds that she may also use 10% of her income however she pleases.
A few possible variations:
It doesn't really matter what gender the characters are. I just chose a man and a woman so I can use "he" and "she" unambiguously.
The man in the suit says that he works for the AMF, but doesn't say what it stands for. He tells the woman that this is not a joke. It is not a test. If she presses the button, it really is likely for one or more people to die as a result. (It is, of course, a creative way to solicit for donations.)
Instead of a fancy letter opener, the button is just a button. The man shows the woman the $2,000, and when she refuses to press the button, he puts the money in an envelope and addresses it to the Against Malaria Foundation.
He offers her a briefcase full of money. When she refuses to press the button, he takes 20 $100 bills and puts them in the letter, then keeps the rest of the money.
He offers her $1,000,000. She says that as bad as a complete stranger dying is, not pressing the button would be 500 times worse. She then presses the button, and asks him to send the money to the Against Malaria Foundation.
I also posted this on a forum for club I'm in at my school. I wonder if I can get us to actually make it.
