Seymour had made plenty of mistakes in his life. But none, he thought now, was worse than causing the death of Orin Scrivello, the boyfriend of his coworker Audrey Fulquard. She was now in tears, going down to the alleyway by her house.

"Audrey! Audrey!" Seymour cried desperately, hurrying to catch up. "Don't cry, Audrey." He paused. "Would it be so terrible if somethin' had happened to 'im?" he ventured.

"Seymour, what a thing to say!"

"W-Well, would it?"

Audrey didn't speak for a second. "It wouldn't be terrible at all," she admitted finally. "It'd be a miracle. Not to mention all the money I'd save on Epsom salts and Ace bandages."

"Ya see?"

She seated herself on a nearby brick structure. "But I'd still feel guilty! I mean, bein' met with… foul play, or some terrible accident of some kind… then it'd be partly my fault just because…" She took a shaky breath. "Secretly I… wished it." Seymour was taken aback for a moment. Audrey? Wishing harm on somebody?" He couldn't blame her, but it wasn't something he would have expected.

"Audrey, don't you waste another minute thinkin' about that creep! There are plenty'a guys who'd… give anything to… go out with you." He sat down beside her. "Nice guys."

She stood up, tears in her eyes. "I don't deserve a… nice guy, Seymour."

"That's not true!" he protested.

"You don't know the half of it! I've led a terrible life!" So have I! I deserve a-a creep like Orin Scrivello, D.D.S!" Audrey looked him in the eye. "You know where I met him?" Seymour shook his head. "In the Gutta'."

"Seymour's jaw dropped in disbelief. "The… Gutter?" Memories washed over him like a tidal wave.

A desperation for money. Girls he wanted to forget. Not sleeping for days on end. And most of all, a feeling of shame. "The night spot?"

Audrey nodded. "I worked there my nights off when we weren't makin' much money. I'd put on… cheap and tasteless outfits- not nice ones like this. Low and… nasty apparel, I-"

"S-So did I."

"What?" Audrey's eyes widened in surprise.

"I worked at The Gutter, too. I don't think we had the same shift… but I was so desperate for money… it was my only option." He made his expression soft. "B-But that doesn't make me a bad person." I've done much worse things than work at a night spot. "And it doesn't make you a bad person either. That's all behind you now. You're a very nice person, I always knew you were. Underneath… all the bruises and the handcuffs, you know what I saw? A girl I respected. I still do."

Lift up your head…