Tony Slattery waited outside the Channel 4 studios, it was a brisk London night and he found himself shivering uncontrollably.
          It didn't take long before familiar faces began arriving; the first was Steve Frost who looked at Tony curiously.
          "There better be a good reason why you've dragged me out here," he announced and blew onto his hands.
          "Have I ever let you down before?" Tony asked.
          Steve raised an eyebrow.
          "Just bear with me, ok," Tony sighed.
          Next to arrive was Josie who instantly started bouncing on the spot to keep warm.
          "Tony, what bloody hell is going on?" she said through chattering teeth.
          "We have to wait for the others," Tony insisted.
          "Well they better hurry up, I'm freezing my balls off," Steve grumbled.
          "Well isn't this a cheery little gathering," Niall perked and rubbed his hands before thrusting them into his pockets.
          "Oh I know I'm thrilled," Josie grumbled.
          There was a brief moment of silence before Caroline appeared wrapped in a bulky anorak.
          "Could it be any colder, I think my nipples have frozen," she announced ungracefully.
          "That wouldn't be the first time," Tony mused.
          "Oh shut up," Caroline chided. "Why are we all here?" she added.
          "We have to wait," Josie sighed.
          There were a few more quiet moments before Richard arrived.
          "Right…now you lot follow me," Tony announced and led the way through the electronic doors.
          They walked down several darkened corridors and then stopped outside one of the studio doors. Tony opened it and motioned for the others to enter. After a few reluctant and curious looks, the others made their way inside and Tony sauntered in after them, locking the door as he did.
          In the studio it was pitch black.
          "Tony, this is starting to freak me out," Caroline announced.
          "I wonder if someone will release the gremlins," Niall chuckled.
          They fell silent as a spotlight came on and lit up an old wooden desk. Sitting at the desk was Ryan. He sported a tux, had his feet up and was sipping a martini.
          "Good evening," Ryan said in a deep, controlled voice.
          "Ryan," Steve gasped.
          "What were you expecting - dancing girls?" Ryan asked.
          "You really don't want to know," Caroline replied.
          "Is there a reason you're being really creepy?" Josie asked.
          "Please take a seat," Ryan smiled as a small section of audience seats were lit up with a separate spotlight.
          Everyone but Tony took a seat, instead he disappeared into the dark.
          Ryan got to his feet, martini still in hand and wandered to the centre of the stage. The spotlight forgot to follow him and he glared up in its direction and it quickly moved.
          "By now you're probably wondering what the hell is going on," he began.
          "It had crossed our minds," Niall stated.
          "I shall start at the beginning and take questions at the end…ok," Ryan continued.
          The others nodded.
          "Recently a group of us were sacked from the show that made us all household names…Whose Line is it Anyway? " Ryan announced bluntly
          Josie let out a gasp.
          "The group consists of Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and myself. We feel our terminations were unjust and have since formulated a plan that will prove who really makes the aforementioned show…the concept or the contestants." A wry smile spread across Ryan's face. "To explain further I hand you over to Mr Greg Proops."
          Ryan disappeared into the darkness and Greg Proops stepped forward; he too was in a tux and was clasping a martini.
          "Hi, I'll be your guide through the - what happened part," Greg smiled. "As you've probably noticed, our fellow contestant in the US, Wayne Brady, was not dismissed as we were. He is being hailed as the new style of improver. Although this is thoroughly bummersome, he is not the enemy. Drew Carey, the host of the US version of the show, has also retained his job. Both his feeble attempt at improvisation and his inability to protest against our dismissal make him enemy number one. Then there's Dan Patterson…he is our main target and enemy number two."
          Greg paused, sipped his own martini.
          "Dan has screwed us all thoroughly. Firstly by excluding you lot, apart from Josie in being part of the show and by of course sacking the most popular people on his show. We have evidence that the audience is already retaliating against the new show and this is why we have invited you here tonight." Greg paused, "I now hand you over to Brad Sherwood."
          Brad wandered out as Greg disappeared. Like the others he was in a tux and had a martini.
          "That's right people…you were hand chosen as audience favourites. The reason people tune in to watch Whose Line in the first place. Yes, together we united are the originals, the best, the elite…dare I say it the favourites." Brad beamed. "Now what happens when you get the favourites together? What if you put them in the same show? How do you think the ratings would be?"
          Brad gave the dumb struck audience a final grin, before Tony wandered on stage fiddling with his zip.
          "Before we delve further into the concept of ratings, I'd like to take you on a journey through not just our lives…but the life of Whose Line, " Tony announced. "Roll the tape Chip," he added.
          A screen appeared in the darkness and a collection of Whose Line moments burst onto it. There were shrieks and laughs as they looked back over what was. There were Josie's million hairstyles, Ryan's mullet and Colin with hair. There were the tasteless clothes and Tony splitting his pants. Along with the boob grabbing, crotch groping and Greg's spats with Clive, there were bits of the US show. It looked so tame in comparison.
          When the tape finished Tony turned back to the audience "Here's the bit you've been waiting for…Colin Mochrie...to tell you the plan."
          Colin sauntered on stage and gave a weak grin, fiddled with his bow tie and then perked, "Hi…We are stating our own show here…it’s a cross between Whose Line and S&M…and we want you to be part of it."
          There were a few muttered words from the audience.
          "The new show will be titled The Originals for reasons stated earlier and the host…well…here's he is…" Colin grinned.
          Clive appeared on stage to the whoops of everyone present. He laughed before hushing everyone.
          "Welcome, old friends, to the launch of as Colin mentioned The Originals. I really have very little do with the show, other than the hosting role. It's actually the brainchild of Ryan, Colin, Greg, Brad, Chip and Tony."
          The six men stepped forward and bowed.
          "However, there is something they don't know…I spoke to some people this afternoon and pitched the idea," Clive said coyly.
          "We know," Greg scorned.
          "Yes, but what you don't know is they want to start filming on Monday."
          There was a shocked silence.
          "Monday…like the day after Sunday?" Ryan gasped.
          "Yes…they were thrilled with idea of having you lot back together," Clive chirped. "All that remains to be settled is whether the five people in the audience want to be part of it."
          Those on stage turned to the others.
          "Well I'm in," Josie piped up.
          "Are you mad? Of course I'm in," Steve perked.
          "Sounds like a laugh," Niall added.
          "How could I resist," Caroline sighed.
          The focus fell on Richard.
          "What? Of course I'm going to be part of it…but only on one condition…I get to speak occasionally," he insisted.
          "What and ruin your strong silent image," Tony jeered.
          Richard rolled his eyes.
          "Well then…I propose his toast," Ryan announced as the others were encouraged to join them on stage and given martinis. "To the real future of improvisation," he perked and they all raised their glasses.
          "And to the ass kicking we're gonna give them back in the states," Greg chimed in.
          There was a roar of laughter, more chinking of glasses and the showdown was set.