[ WP ] Once a year an event occurs , Hangman . A random human gets chosen to be hanged , survival is only possible if the word is guessed right by someone ..

`` It does n't make any sense. It's a chick. Should n't it be hangwoman?'' 
 
 Terry and I were watching the broadcast. Us and everyone else in the bar. He was n't wrong - it was a woman. She was pretty, in her early twenties. Black pixie cut with lotsa eye shadow; if I could be said to have a type, she was it. 
 
 `` That's your only problem with this?'' was what I said as it cut to commercial and Johhny Depp smiled, trying his hardest to sell me some Pepsi. I'm more of a Coke guy though. 
 
 `` That's sooo not what I said,'' 
 
 `` Yeah'' 
 
 `` Like, it's just stupid. You know what I mean'' 
 
 `` Yeah, I do. That was n't fair, it's just --'' 
 
 `` This shit pisses you off?'' 
 
 `` Yeah'' 
 
 `` Me too'' 
 
 Will Smith and Brad Pitt fistbumped, tucked into their Quarter Pounder and Big Mac. The jingle and logo faded in, before it cut back to the main event and everyone got real quiet, real fast. We wanted clues. 
 
 `` Ten letters!'' announced Cameron Diaz with a smile. 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ faded in under a shot of the woman. She'd been crying during the break. They'd wiped away the tears, but you could see the smudges in her makeup. 
 
 Back to Cameron Diaz, right hand with the mic, and left hand reaching up to her earpiece. 
 
 `` We've got our first caller!'' 
 
 Silence.'Because you deserve it! ~ Tiffany's' scrolled across the bottom of the screen. 
 
 `` Is there a'u'?'' 
 
 Diaz smiles. Something about her has always rubbed me the wrong way. 
 
 `` *Oh yooooou*, there sure is!'' 
 
 The puzzle now read _ _ _ _ _ u _ _ _ _ 
 
 `` And what's your guess?'' 
 
 There was no way this guy was getting the million. 
 
 `` Uuuuh, is it... Asparagus?'' 
 
 Terry facepalms. I groan. There's an audible sigh from everyone else. 
 
 `` What a fucking moron'' 
 
 `` This guy...'' 
 
 Diaz shakes her head. 
 
 `` Someone needs to work on their spelling!'' There's a brief pause, `` Yes, could I get your letter?'' 
 
 It's another woman. 
 
 `` Is there a'z'?'' 
 
 Terry facepalms again. Harder this time. 
 
 `` What ten letter word has a'z' in it!?'' 
 
 `` Zimbabwe?'' I offer up. 
 
 He gives me a look. *I ca n't tell if you're joking or not. * 
 
 I'm not sure either, but whatever, back to Diaz. 
 
 `` *Zat's* unfortunate. No'z's'' 
 
 The next letter is an'i'. Bingo. Puzzle reads _ _ _ _ _ u _ _ i _ 
 
 The guess is -- 
 
 `` Err... Absolution?'' 
 
 What the fuck is wrong with these people!? How were they picking them? Eugh! 
 
 No surprise, it's wrong. Next letter is an'l', and surprisingly... 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ u l l i _ 
 
 `` Huh'' is all Terry has to say about this. I'm with him on that. 
 
 The guess though... 
 
 `` I have no idea sorry'' 
 
 `` Too bad!'' goes Diaz. 
 
 There are only two guesses left. 
 
 The whole bar is uneasy now as the broadcast cuts to commercials. 
 
 `` It's'portcullis''' 
 
 `` Huh?'' 
 
 Terry has his phone out. He points it towards me. He has a scrabble solver open, and I'm kinda jealous I never thought of that. 
 
 `` She's fucked. They only ever call up old coots and soccer moms'' 
 
 He's right. I think about the pretty woman. How stupid this entire thing is. How I'm glued to the screen, along with everyone else. The commercials end. 
 
 The second last letter is'o'. Puzzle reads _ o _ _ _ u l l i _ 
 
 Terry's right. There's literally no other word in the English language that fits. 
 
 That does n't stop the guess from being, `` Eh, I dunno. Citrulline?'' 
 
 I do n't have a clue what the fuck the guy was thinking either. There are so many things wrong with that answer. 
 
 `` I want some of what you're having sir'' is what Diaz goes with. Then she tenses. She's really milking the moment. `` It's time for our --'' 
 
 My phone starts ringing, so I do n't catch the rest. I answer it. 
 
 `` Could I have your letter?'' asks Cameron Diaz. 
 
 I'm going to be a hero. 
 
 ``'P'?'' 
 
 I'm going to be rich. 
 
 Terry gapes at me, then turns to the television. 
 
 `` Yes, *phew*! That's there'' 
 
 P o _ _ _ u l l i _ 
 
 I'm going to save her life. This is really happening. I stutter out -- 
 
 `` Is, uh, is it... Portcullis?'' 
 
 Cameron Diaz smiles into the barrel of the camera, into me, as I stare at the screen. 
 
 `` Aww, shucks. That's so close. So, so, *soooo close*. But I'm sorry, what we were looking for, what we needed, was'portcullie''' 
 
 The broadcast cuts to a shot of the woman. The wind gently sways her back and forth, back and forth. She's dead, obviously. 
 
 And I get the message. It all makes sense. What's in a name, anyway?
