The Martinez family--45-year-old Julian and his sons, 18-year-old Emilio and 20-year-old Diego--sat in the studio audience of *What Would You Do?*, excited for what the evening had in store. The lights dimmed as Marc Summers stepped onto the stage with his trademark grin.

"Alright, folks! Who's ready for a brand new segment?" Marc called out, and the crowd cheered, including Julian, who nudged his sons with a smile.

"Here we go," Emilio whispered to Diego.

Marc Summers gestured dramatically as a large curtain was pulled back to reveal a giant dunk tank filled with bright green slime. The audience gasped, and a big neon sign above it lit up, flashing "The Splat Vat."

Julian chuckled, leaning over to his sons. "That's a whole lot of slime. Someone's getting messy tonight!"

Marc continued with a flourish. "Now, we've got two brave volunteers who have absolutely no idea what they're in for!" He paused as the stage doors swung open, revealing two attractive women walking confidently toward the center.

"Introducing, first up, Jenna! She's a 26-year-old personal trainer from Miami, and rumor has it she's never turned down a challenge," Marc said. Jenna, a tall and fit woman with long dark hair, waved to the crowd, her muscles rippling under her athletic outfit. She flashed a confident smile, looking unfazed by the sight of the Splat Vat.

"And next, meet Carrie! A 28-year-old fashion blogger from Los Angeles, Carrie claims she can rock any look--even a slime-covered one, if need be!" Marc teased. Carrie, a stylish blonde wearing a trendy outfit and platform sneakers, winked at the camera. She strutted to her mark with an air of self-assurance.

The Martinez brothers exchanged amused glances. "They don't look too worried," Diego remarked.

"Nope," Emilio laughed. "But that tank is not messing around."

Marc turned to the women, his tone playful. "Ladies, you've both been chosen as potential victims for the Splat Vat, but don't worry for now. Just hang tight--because you never know what might happen here on *What Would You Do?*"

Jenna crossed her arms, still smiling. "I'm not scared of a little slime," she quipped.

Carrie flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Bring it on. I've seen worse," she said confidently, eyeing the tank with a smirk.

The tension in the audience built as Marc grinned at their bravado. "Well, we'll see about that!" he said, teasing the crowd and leaving both women wondering what was truly in store.

- - -

Julian and his sons were on the edge of their seats, eager to see which confident woman might take the plunge into the gooey Splat Vat.

As the suspense in the studio built, Marc Summers grinned mischievously and looked out into the crowd. "Now, I think I'm going to need a little help with this next part. But not just anyone... I need someone special. How about a handsome man to assist me with the Splat Vat?"

The audience buzzed with excitement as Marc stepped off the stage and made his way through the crowd, scanning for his next volunteer. Julian chuckled nervously, hoping to avoid eye contact. However, fate wasn't on his side. Marc's eyes landed on him.

"You there, sir!" Marc pointed directly at Julian, who looked surprised and slightly anxious. "You look perfect for this!"

Julian immediately shook his head and pointed to Emilio. "Oh, no, Marc, you've got the wrong guy. My son here--Emilio--he's the one you want!"

Emilio, ever the cheeky one, gave his father a small smirk. "No way, Dad. You've got this! It's your time to shine," he teased, nudging Julian gently. "Go on!"

The audience began to clap and cheer, encouraging Julian to step up. Reluctantly, he sighed and stood, still shaking his head with a smile as Marc guided him toward the stage. Emilio and Diego both laughed, knowing how much their dad wanted to avoid the spotlight.

Marc placed his arm around Julian' shoulder as they reached the stage.As Julian approached the stage, Marc greeted him with a firm handshake and an encouraging smile. "Alright, tell everyone who you are, where you're from, and what you do."

Julian cleared his throat. "Well, I'm 45 years old, I'm here with my two sons--Emilio and Diego. I'm from San Antonio, Texas, and I work as a civil engineer. And, uh... I didn't expect to be up here, that's for sure!" The crowd chuckled at his honesty.

Marc grinned and nodded. "A civil engineer! So you're no stranger to building things but today, you're going to help us with something very different!" The audience chuckled as Julian smiled sheepishly, still clearly a bit nervous about what was to come.

Marc gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Julian, everyone! Let's hear it for this brave man!"

The audience erupted in applause, while Julian gave a sheepish wave.

Marc laughed along. "Your son seemed pretty insistent on giving you this honor. What do you think of that?"

Julian shook his head with a grin. "That's my boy, Emilio. He's always been the troublemaker," he said jokingly. "But I guess it's my turn to have a little fun tonight."

"That's the spirit!" Marc declared. "Alright, Julian, we're going to need your help with the next part of this Splat Vat challenge. Are you ready for it?"

Julian raised an eyebrow. "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

Marc smiled knowingly. "That's what I like to hear! Let's give Julian a big round of applause as he helps us set up this slimy surprise!" The audience cheered, and Julian couldn't help but laugh as the spotlight stayed on him.

Emilio and Diego exchanged amused glances, both eager to see what Marc had in store for their dad next.

Marc grinned mischievously as Robin, his assistant, wheeled out a tray stacked high with pies. Julian's eyes widened slightly, realizing exactly where this was heading. The audience burst into laughter as Marc gestured toward the pies.

"Now, Julian, here's the deal. To make this totally fair, we're going to let you choose who gets dunked into the Splat Vat," Marc began. "But there's a catch, of course!" Marc's grin widened as he continued. "In order to reveal the name of the unlucky--or lucky--person who's about to take the plunge, you need to choose one of these pies."

Julian shifted uncomfortably, already sensing his fate. "And, well," Marc added with a chuckle, "it's only fair that before someone gets slimed, you get a little messy too." The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Julian looked over at the pies, sighing as he hung his head for a moment. "Of course," he muttered under his breath, to the amusement of the audience.

Marc leaned in with a wink. "I mean, we wouldn't want anyone going into the Splat Vat without someone else getting messy first, right? Let's have you choose someone to pie you in the face and the name at the bottom of the pie will be the one getting a dunk in the Splat Vat."

Julian, now realizing the inevitable, looked out at the crowd, who eagerly waited for his response. He turned to Diego and Emilio, who were grinning from ear to ear.

"Alright, alright," Julian said, raising his hands in surrender. "Diego, Emilio come on down and get me with one of these pies. Just don't go too hard on your old man."

The crowd roared as Diego and Emilio stood up, practically bouncing with excitement. They rushed to the stage, laughing with glee as they approached the tray of pies. Julian, resigned to his fate, braced himself.

"Go easy on me!" Julian joked, but both boys looked at each other with mischievous glances, clearly planning to make this as fun as possible.

Marc stepped back, letting the moment unfold, as the audience buzzed with anticipation.

- - -

As soon as Julian gave the nod, Diego and Emilio were out of their seats like rockets. Emilio, especially, darted down the aisle toward the stage with a huge grin plastered across his face. Diego, not far behind, was laughing uncontrollably, clearly thrilled about what was about to happen.

Marc Summers couldn't help but laugh along with the audience, who was equally enjoying the brothers' eagerness. "Whoa, these guys are fast!" Marc quipped. "Alright, boys, how excited are you to pie your dad?"

Diego nudged Emilio playfully. "Oh man, we've been waiting for this forever!"

Emilio, nearly bouncing with anticipation, added, "This is a dream come true, Marc!" His grin widened as he eyed the tray of pies. "I'm not holding back."

Julian, who stood with a resigned expression on his face, laughed nervously. "Thanks, son," he said with mock sarcasm. The audience erupted into laughter, clearly on board with the unfolding fun.

Marc turned to the boys, his own excitement building. "Alright, Emilio, the honor is yours! But first, pick the perfect pie."

Emilio stepped up to the tray like a kid in a candy store, carefully inspecting each pie with exaggerated seriousness. The crowd cheered him on, and Diego egged him further. "Pick a big one!" Diego called out, making the audience laugh even harder.

Finally, after much deliberation, Emilio settled on one of the larger pies, holding it up triumphantly. "This is the one!" he declared, prompting more cheers.

Marc grinned at the spectacle. "Good choice, Emilio. Now, on the count of three, from the audience, give your dad the pie in the face he deserves!" The anticipation in the room built as Marc began the countdown.

"One"

Julian closed his eyes, bracing himself.

"Two"

Diego leaned forward, his eyes locked on his dad, while Emilio's face lit up with excitement.

"Three!"

The audience shouted along as Emilio, with a flourish, smashed the pie directly into his father's face. The crowd erupted into laughter as Julian's face disappeared beneath a mound of whipped cream and crust. Julian, standing there with his hands outstretched in mock disbelief, slowly wiped some of the pie from his eyes, grinning despite himself.

Marc approached with a laugh. "Well, Julian, how does it feel to be pied by your own kids?"

Julian wiped more cream off his face, chuckling. "Honestly? I've had worse!"

- - -

The audience roared with laughter, clearly enjoying every second. Marc then gestured to the pie dish. "Now, let's see who's taking a dive into the Splat Vat! Drumroll, please!"

The crowd began clapping as Marc reached down to inspect the bottom of the pie tin. He turned it over dramatically and held it up for all to see. At the bottom was a message written in bold letters: "Ask for a Gold Card."

The audience gasped in surprise, wondering what it could mean. Julian looked perplexed as Marc explained. "Looks like we're going to need a special card for this! Don't worry, Julian, we'll find out what this means soon enough." The crowd buzzed with excitement as Marc handed the tin to Robin, signaling there was more fun yet to come.

Emilio, still laughing from having pied his dad, gave Diego a high-five as they both basked in the thrill of the moment.

"Julian, my friend, it looks like we need a gold card to figure out what happens next!" Marc said, his voice playful and full of anticipation. "Lucky for us, I know exactly where it is."

The camera panned to Jenna and Carrie, the two confident women who had been seated next to the Splat Vat all this time. They were still calm and collected, but the audience could sense that something big was coming.

Marc pointed toward Jenna. "Jenna, would you mind helping us out and bringing over that gold card between the stools?" he asked with a wink.

Jenna, still smiling confidently, stood up and walked gracefully toward Marc, holding a small gold envelope that had been hidden between the stools. She handed it over, her smile suggesting she might know what was coming.

"Thanks, Jenna!" Marc said, taking the envelope from her. "Now, let's see what this gold card has to say about who's going into the Splat Vat!" The audience erupted into a low cheer, eager for the big reveal.

Marc opened the envelope with a dramatic flair, drawing out the moment as Julian and his sons looked on with increasing curiosity. Jenna and Carrie exchanged glances, clearly enjoying the anticipation.

Marc finally pulled the card out and read it aloud with a grin. "It says 'Julian Martinez has been sentenced to the Splat Vat for scratching Emilio's Honda Civic Type R and trying to cover it up with Sharpie!'"

The room erupted into laughter as Julian's face transformed from confusion to realization. He shook his head, laughing at the absurdity of the setup, while Emilio smirked triumphantly.
"You set me up!" Julian exclaimed, pointing playfully at his son.
Emilio shrugged innocently, though the mischievous glint in his eyes gave him away. "Hey, you scratched my car, Dad!"

Diego, barely able to contain his laughter, chimed in, "Sharpie? Really, Dad?"

Julian shook his head, laughing along with the audience. "Well, it worked for a little while."

Marc couldn't contain his amusement. "Looks like we've got ourselves a confession, folks!" he said, turning to the audience. "Now, I gotta ask--does Julian deserve some slime justice for scratching his son's car and trying to hide it?"

The audience roared in approval, clapping and cheering as Julian hung his head in mock defeat, clearly enjoying the moment despite the embarrassment.

"Yeah, I think so too!" Marc said, encouraging the crowd to cheer even louder. "Julian, my friend, you're going to be the first person sentenced to a term in the Splat Vat!"

Julian, still shaking his head but smiling, realized there was no way out. "I guess I deserve it," he said, laughing as he looked at Emilio and Diego, who were both grinning from ear to ear.

The audience continued to cheer wildly as Marc patted Julian on the back. "That's the spirit, Julian! But hold tight, because we'll be back for your punishment in just a moment. You're going to look great covered in slime."

Julian glanced at the Splat Vat and sighed playfully, knowing there was no escape. The camera panned to Emilio and Diego, who high-fived each other, clearly thrilled to see their dad get what he had coming.

With the audience still buzzing, Marc called for a commercial break, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats for the inevitable slimy showdown.

- - -

As the show cut to a quick break, a stagehand named Dylan approached Julian with a towel in hand. "Here you go, Julian," Dylan said with a grin. "Let's get you backstage to change. We wouldn't want to completely destroy those clothes of yours."

Julian, still wiping off the remnants of pie from his face, nodded and followed Dylan off stage. "Thanks, I think I've been through enough already," he said with a chuckle.

Backstage, Dylan led him into a small dressing room. Inside, hanging on a rack, was a tight, sleeveless lycra one-piece singlet. Julian raised an eyebrow as he looked at it. "Really? This is what I'm supposed to wear?"

Dylan shrugged, clearly used to these reactions. "Hey, it's just for fun. Plus, it'll save your clothes from being ruined by the slime."

Julian sighed, realizing he didn't have much choice. "Alright, alright." He quickly changed into the singlet, feeling a bit self-conscious but determined to embrace the moment. After kicking off his shoes and socks, he wiggled his toes against the cool floor, now barefoot and ready to head back out.

Dylan led him back toward the stage, where the audience was buzzing in anticipation. "Alright, Julian," Dylan began, as they approached the Splat Vat, the tank of ominous green slime bubbling ominously below. "Just sit as far forward as you can, right over the slime. And don't worry, it's mostly water with some thickener called Natrosol. Oh, and the bubbling effect? That's just a hose in there."

Julian peered over the edge, seeing the thick, green goo churning below him. "Good to know," he muttered, before climbing the ladder.

Carefully, Julian positioned himself as instructed, sitting on the ledge with his bare feet dangling over the slime. The crowd roared as the cameras zoomed in on him, ready for the big moment. He couldn't help but laugh, now fully accepting his fate.

Dylan gave him a thumbs-up from the side. "You're all set! Have fun!"

Julian shook his head, laughing nervously as he waited for Marc Summers to return and kick off the slimy conclusion of his night. The audience's excitement grew as they prepared to witness Julian take the plunge into the Splat Vat, his bare feet inches above the gooey mess below.

- - -

The cameras rolled once again, the lights on the Splat Vat shining brightly as Marc Summers approached Julian, who was perched nervously on the edge of the bubbling vat of green slime. The crowd erupted into cheers, fully aware that the moment they'd been waiting for was about to unfold.

Marc flashed a knowing grin as he addressed the audience, then turned to Julian. "Alright, Julian, here we are at the moment of truth. You're sitting right above the Splat Vat, and there's only one way out of this--well, without getting slimed." He paused dramatically, letting the anticipation build. "But first, I'm going to give you a chance to plead your case."

Julian chuckled nervously, his bare feet still dangling just inches above the goo. "I don't know if anyone's going to go easy on me."

Marc smirked. "Well, here's the deal. You need to give your sons, the audience, and the nation watching at home a full confession. Beg for forgiveness. If--by some miracle--you can convince this crowd that you don't deserve to be slimed, Jenna or Carrie will take your place."

The audience gasped in delight at the twist, and Jenna and Carrie, seated off to the side, looked momentarily worried before smiling confidently, clearly not too concerned about their chances.

Marc handed Julian a microphone and stepped back, gesturing to the crowd. "Alright, Julian, it's your time to shine. Give us your best plea!"

Julian exhaled deeply, composing himself as he glanced at Emilio and Diego in the audience. Both boys were grinning ear to ear, enjoying their dad's predicament far too much. Clearing his throat, Julian began.

"Okay, okay," Julian started with a nervous laugh. "So, first of all, let me just say I didn't *mean* to scratch Emilio's car. It was a total accident! I was just backing up, and, well, the wall kind of jumped out at me."

The audience erupted in laughter as Julian shrugged with mock helplessness.

"But seriously," he continued, "I know I messed up. And yeah, maybe trying to cover it up with a Sharpie wasn't the best idea. In my defense, it *looked* like it would work!" He raised his hands in surrender as the audience howled with laughter.

"I know I should have come clean right away, and Emilio, I promise, I'll make it right. I'll detail your car every weekend for a year if you let me off the hook here!" He glanced toward his sons, trying his best to look apologetic, but they just shook their heads, grinning.

The crowd began to murmur, clearly enjoying the spectacle but not quite convinced. Julian turned his attention to the wider audience, his tone becoming more sincere.

"Listen, folks," he said, "I'm just a dad who made a mistake. Haven't we all been there? I mean, do I really deserve to be dunked into a vat of slime for one little scratch? Please, have some mercy on me. Think about it--if you spare me, someone else gets slimed!" He gestured toward Jenna and Carrie, who both shook their heads playfully.

"I'll be the best dad, the best driver, the best car-washer you've ever seen if you just let me off the hook this one time," Julian pleaded, turning on the charm. "What do you say? No slime, right?"

Marc, standing beside him with a grin, turned to the audience. "Alright, folks, you've heard Julian's plea. He says he'll detail the car, make amends, and be the best dad ever. But it's up to you! Does Julian deserve to be spared, or should he face the Splat Vat?"

The crowd wasted no time. A unanimous roar of approval surged through the studio as they chanted, "SLIME HIM! SLIME HIM! SLIME HIM!"

Julian, hearing the crowd's overwhelming decision, couldn't help but laugh in defeat. He glanced over at Emilio and Diego, who were both clapping and cheering for their dad to take the plunge.

Marc leaned in with a chuckle. "Well, Julian, it seems the people have spoken. Looks like you're not getting out of this one!"

Julian hung his head with a grin. "I guess I deserve it."

Marc turned to the camera with a wink. "When we come back, Julian is getting what he deserves--slime justice!" The crowd cheered as the show cut to another quick commercial, with Julian still perched over the bubbling green slime, his fate sealed.

- - -

The cameras returned, and the audience was at a fever pitch of excitement as Marc Summers held up an oversized gavel for all to see. "And now," Marc announced dramatically, "the moment we've all been waiting for! Julian, you've made your case, but the audience has spoken. Emilio, it's time to give your dad the slime justice he deserves!"

Emilio's face lit up with a grin as Marc handed him the oversized gavel. He took it eagerly, the weight of the moment sinking in. The audience began to chant, "Do it! Do it!" as Emilio walked toward the big red target that would release his dad into the Splat Vat.

Julian, still sitting precariously over the bubbling green slime, glanced over at his son. "Go easy on me, alright?" he joked, his voice tinged with nervousness.

But Emilio, filled with gleeful anticipation, gave him a playful smirk. "Sorry, Dad. No mercy!"

Marc, sensing the energy in the room, counted down with the audience. "On the count of three! One two three!"

With a swift, decisive motion, Emilio brought the oversized gavel down onto the target. The moment the gavel hit, a loud mechanical click echoed through the studio, and suddenly, the platform beneath Julian gave way.

Julian's arms flailed out as he dropped straight down, a look of pure shock and amusement crossing his face. He plunged into the Splat Vat with a splash, disappearing into the thick green slime. The goo splattered out in all directions as Julian was fully submerged, the audience erupting into laughter and applause at the sight.

For a moment, only bubbles rose to the surface of the slime as Julian was completely engulfed. Then, with a slow, almost comedic rise, Julian's head emerged from the vat, slime dripping down his face and shoulders. He wiped his eyes with a slime-covered hand, blinking in disbelief as the green goo clung to him.

The audience roared in delight, chanting, "SLIMED! SLIMED!" as Julian stood waist-deep in the vat, absolutely covered in thick, slimy gunge. Emilio and Diego couldn't contain their laughter, high-fiving each other as Marc Summers approached the edge of the Splat Vat, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, I guess I deserved that!" Julian shouted, raising his hands and letting the slime drip off them in thick globs. The audience roared in approval as Julian glanced up at Marc, who was grinning at the scene. "That was some serious slime!"

Julian, still chuckling, playfully scooped up a handful of the slime and pretended to throw it in Emilio's direction, causing the audience to burst into laughter once again.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Marc said with a laugh, "that is what slime justice looks like!"

As the cameras continued rolling, Marc Summers, along with Emilio and Diego, made their way over to the edge of the Splat Vat. Julian, still dripping with green slime, stood there laughing and wiping slime from his eyes as the goo dripped down from his hair.

Marc leaned in with his signature grin. "Well, Julian, now that you've taken a nice dip in the Splat Vat, I have to ask: Have you learned your lesson about lying?"

Julian, still chuckling, nodded as he tried to flick some of the slime off his hands. "Oh, absolutely, Marc! Never try to cover up a car scratch with Sharpie and definitely don't lie about it to your son!"

The audience erupted into laughter once again, and Marc gave Julian a playful nod. "Words to live by! And do you have any advice for dads watching across the nation?"

Julian took a deep breath, clearly still a good sport about the whole thing. "Yeah," he said with a grin. "Always come clean when you mess up or else, you might end up in a tank of slime like me!"

Marc nodded, pleased with the answer. "That's right! And to all the dads out there--if you don't want to end up in a vat of slime like Julian here, tell the truth!"

The audience erupted in cheers once again as Marc waved to the crowd and turned to the camera. "Let's give it up for Julian and his family! And stay tuned for the next segment of What Would You Do?--you never know what's going to happen next!"

- - -

With that, the camera zoomed in on Julian one last time before the scene transitioned to the next segment of the show.

After the cameras stopped rolling and final thanks from Marc Summers, the atmosphere in the studio relaxed, and Diego immediately walked over to his dad. "So, Dad," he said with a smirk, "how's the slime?"

Julian, still standing in the vat, looked down at the thick green goo that clung to his skin. "It's uh, slimy, son. Very slimy."

Emilio, beaming with happiness, came up to help. "I'm so glad you had fun, Dad! I was worried you'd hate it."

Julian chuckled, wiping some of the slime off his arms. "Honestly? It wasn't as bad as I thought. I'll admit, you guys got me good."

As Emilio and Diego helped their dad climb out of the tank, a stagehand approached with a fluffy robe in hand. "Here you go, Julian," the stagehand said, handing it over. Julian gratefully took the robe, draping it over his shoulders as more slime dripped off him onto the floor.

"Thanks," Julian said, pulling the robe tightly around himself as he shook his head with a smile. "Well, that was quite the experience."

Emilio and Diego laughed, clearly happy that their dad had taken the whole thing in stride. "We'll definitely remember this one," Emilio said, giving his dad a playful nudge as they all walked backstage, Julian still leaving a trail of slime behind him.