~deepika.~ (REGRETAVATOR STORY)

14

Split is at work. She is in a large building. Split sobs and sniffles into a tissue. Then her co-worker, Jamie, hears it all.

Jamie: "Split?"

Split calms down, she sighs.

Jamie: "Are you okay?"

Split: "Yeah, sure I'm fine."

Jamie: "What's the matter?"

Split wipes a tear with the tissue before looking over to Jamie.

Split: (very sad) "...Mark's dead."

Jamie: "Mark?"

Split: "Yeah..."

Jamie thought for a moment.

Jamie: "Who's Mark?"

Split: "Well, you know the guy who used to work...right over there in that corner."

Split pointed to the corner, then looked back at Jamie.

Jamie: "You mean where Shelly's sitting?"

Split: "Yeah."

Jamie was still confused.

Jamie: "Was he kind of tall, and a little hunch?"

Split: "No. He was...a little shortish. A wooden mannequin."

Jamie does not know who Mannequin Mark is.

Jamie: "Split, I'm not sure."

Jamie: "Did he work here long?"

Split: "Oh uh- a year, maybe a little longer."

Jamie was still confused so she asked another worker named Kayla.

Jamie: (calls out) "Kayla."

Jamie: "Kayla, Kayla..."

Kayla turns around from her chair. Both Jamie and Split are looking at her.

Jamie: "Do you remember a guy named Mark who used to work here, over where Shelly is now?"

Kayla: "No. Why? What happened?"

Jamie: "He died."

Kayla: "Huh."

Kayla: "Which one was he?"

Jamie: "I'm not sure."

Jamie: "Maybe Brad knows."

Jamie: (calls out) "Brad."

Brad: "I-I'm sorry, I don't but you know," (Brad exhales lightly) "I do remember a guy who, vaguely, who worked over there...I think. You know I'm not really sure."

Kayla: "How did he die?"

Split was looking away slightly.

Jamie: (looks at Split) "Yeah Split, how did he die?"

Split's phone beeped once, someone is calling her. She presses a button.

Split: "Sales," (Split exhales softly) "May I help you?"

The caller knows Split and she is not happy at all...

Caller: (in a bitter tone) "Is this Split Collymore?"

Split: "Yes."

Caller (Mannequin Mark's Mom): "This is Mark's mother. I hope you FUCKING rot in hell!"

The caller hangs up.

Brad: "Split, was he kind of um, Hispanic looking? And he is all wooden?"

Jamie finally realizes.

Jamie: "Oh yeah! You know like uh what's his name... You know, the actor..."

Split: (interrupts Jamie and is feeling bad) "Yeah, sure...That was him."

Brad, Kayla and Jamie are talking about the actor.
Split puts a hand on her face and begans to sob.