"All right, Audrey, it's closing time, you can go home."
As Mushnik shut off the lights in the back, he massaged his head with his free hand. Never ever had he spent so much time puzzling over one subject! And it wasn't even a subject he liked!
But even after hours upon hours of wracking his brain, he still had no plan to make his employees admit their love for each other. Sure, he had thought of possible outcomes: joy, infatuation, giddiness… terrible for the workplace. In time, however, that would wear off, and he would be able to run a functioning flower shop for the first time in his life.
"Okie dokie, Mister Mushnik! Let me just lock up the display case," chimed Audrey musically. Mushnik glanced over to see his boy employee melt at the sound of her voice. Yeech. And then… a sudden inspiration!
"Psst! Seymour!" he whispered as he tried his best to make his way over to his boy employee without Audrey noticing.
"Y-yes Mister Mushnik, sir!" he yelped, obviously afraid he had done something wrong.
"Shh, shh! Elp-hay Audrey ith-way her oat-cay!" he muttered, shifting sloppily in-and-out of pig latin. Seymour looked utterly bewildered.
"I- I'm sorry?" he whispered back sheepishly.
"Go help Audrey with her coat! Quick, quick, you imbecile!" he frantically whispered.
Seymour jumped a little and ran to Audrey's side. She was luckily just getting her coat down from the coat rack!
Seymour gulped and loosened his tie, obviously feeling uncomfortable. "C-can I help you with your coat, Audrey?" he stammered. Audrey looked flabbergasted, but proceeded to nod shyly and hand him the heavy black overcoat.
Mushnik went over to the cashbox, pretending to count money. Money that didn't exist, anyway. His eyes were secretly shifted to the couple standing in front of the shop's entrance.
Seymour's shaking hands fumbled with the coat, and for a little bit it was dangerously close to falling out of his hands. Mushnik then noticed Seymour look up to find Audrey smiling at him. Seymour then seemed to puff out his chest a little bit, and, with surprising gentleness, he slipped Audrey into her coat.
"Oh, thank you, Seymour!" she practically squealed. "That's so sweet! Good night!"
"Yeah… g'night," Seymour breathed, looking like he had just ran a marathon. As Audrey left, he turned to Mushnik. "Gee, Mister Mushnik… thanks."
Mister Mushnik gave a sound resembling "harrumph", and turned away, hiding the unmistakable grin that was settling on his face. His plan may be a success!