Lady in Red

Mattress store manager GARY (late 30s) positions a FEMALE MANNEQUIN outside his store to promote a sale on mattresses. His employee, RAFAEL (Latino, Late 20s) thinks it's a cheap ploy but Gary is committed to the idea. Gary waits and still no customers come into the store. He keeps ignoring calls on his phone from someone named, "Karen". At the end of the day, Gary notices a bird has pooped on the mannequin's shirt. He's convinced that's why sales didn't increase. He takes the mannequin's shirt home and washes it...But then he gets an idea. Instead of the plain shirt, Gary redresses the mannequin in super trendy and flattering clothes. He trades the mannequin's plain blonde wig out for a stylish red wig. He even puts makeup on the mannequin, which weirds Rafael out. All of Gary's efforts seem to be for naught until a PREGNANT MOM (40) enters with her two rambunctious KIDS (ages 8 and 10). She's in desperate need of the restroom. Disappointed, Gary directs her to the restroom. One of the kids draws a mustache on the female mannequin. As Gary's cleaning the mannequin, the kids keep making fun of him and the mannequin, until Gary blurts out, "Stop picking on Karen! She's a beautiful woman!" The mannequin has a name now and not just any name... Karen is the name of his ex-girlfriend. At that moment, KAREN (early 30s) enters the store, demanding Gary give her her clothes back. She discovers the mannequin is wearing the clothes and makeup Gary's kept from her. Karen's new boyfriend, jacked-up gym rat DREW (late 20s), rides in on an electric scooter and threatens Gary. Rafael watches the store while Gary packs up the rest of Karen's belongings. Gary returns to the store and talks to the mannequin as a way to process the bad breakup. Drew returns with TWO BEEFY GUYS, also on electric scooters. They take the bag of Karen's belongings but then demand the clothes from the mannequin. Gary defends the mannequin, trying to keep her decent. Drew rips the mannequin's arm off and beats Gary up. The female mannequin is damaged beyond repair. Gary tearfully says goodbye to it and to his relationship with Karen. He chucks the mannequin in a dumpster. The next day, Rafael tries to cheer his boss up. Gary finally can see his relationship with Karen wasn't the best, and he's better to put it past him. Two WOMEN come in to look at mattresses because of a bedbug problem. One of the women is happy Gary got rid of the mannequin since they creep her out. A HOMELESS MAN wheels his shopping cart by. The female mannequin rides in the cart, dressed in a new outfit.