It was the end of yet another customer free day in the flower shop. Audrey had gone home already, and Mushnik and Seymour were putting away the few flowers that had been in the display window.
"What a miserable excuse for a business this is." Mushnik complained.
"Then why keep it open, sir?" Seymour asked as he filled up a box with clay pots.
"Because, Krelbourn, this is the only way I can make some money in this dump called Skid Row." Mushnik said sharply.
"Well, okay. But I still think that one day this business will turn around." Seymour said.
"Yeah, and I'll win a million dollars in the lottery. Just go put those pots in the storage bin downstairs before you go to bed." Mushnik snapped.
"Ok, sir. See you tomorrow." Seymour said and headed downstairs with the pots in his hands.
Mushnik rolled his eyes as he put on his coat and locked the door to the shop. He walked down the street to his apartment, contemplating whether Seymour was right or not. Would the business turn around someday? Would he start making enough money to afford a better life in Skid Row? He knew it was highly unlikely that would ever happen, but he could always dream about it. That usually made him feel better.
He was about three buildings away from his apartment when he could hear a man yelling insults at someone. Curious, he leaned his head in the direction of the noise to hear it better.
"What the hell, you dumb slut! You're nothing but a brainless imbecile!" the man yelled.
"Sorry, Doctor. Sorry, Doctor. I didn't meant to lose the necklace you gave me back there." the woman pleaded and Mushnik realized in horror that the woman was Audrey and the man yelling at her was her abusive boyfriend.
Mushnik heard footsteps coming up the sidewalk behind him so he ducked into a nearby alley to avoid being seen. He peaked around the corner of the building and saw Audrey running up the sidewalk behind her boyfriend, who was a man dressed completely in black leather and had an Elvis-Presley type hairdo.
"I swear on this God ridden earth if you ever pull a stupid stunt like that again, I'll beat that sorry ass of yours so bad you'll be unable to sit for a month!" the man screamed as he grabbed Audrey by her arm and yanked her up to him.
"Yes, Orin—I mean Doctor. I'll never lose another present from you again." Audrey said as Orin pulled her right up to his face.
"You better mean it, Audrey." he said meanly right before he planted a big kiss on her lips and shoved her against the wall.
Orin leapt onto a nearby motorcycle, revved up the engine, and took off into the night. Audrey watched him drive down the street, panting and trying to catch her breath from what he had just done to her. Mushnik, who was still in the alley, slowly came out and tapped Audrey on the shoulder, which made her jump and scream before she realized who it was.
"Oh, Mr. Mushnik. It's only you, thank God." she said.
"Audrey, are you okay? Did he hurt you badly?" Mushnik asked, sounding very concerned for her.
"Oh no no, he didn't hurt me." Audrey said.
"Maybe not physically, but he hurt you verbally. That's not a healthy relationship, Audrey." Mushnik said.
"It's impossible to find healthy relationships in Skid Row. Besides, he just had a bad day at work. I honestly know he didn't mean it." Audrey said.
"Trust me, Audrey. You're not gonna last much longer with that sadist. You really need to leave." Mushnik demanded.
"But he's the only man I have right now. And besides, I'm scared of how he'll react if I tried to leave." Audrey said and started walking down the sidewalk to her apartment, which was right across the street from the flower shop.
Mushnik sighed; he knew he couldn't force Audrey to leave the relationship against her will. It was her own choice to leave or not. Still, he was deeply concerned about her safety and well-being, even though she could be annoying at times.