An anonymous reader approached me about their doing an alternative take on my original script, “Woman Saved from Her Mannequin Curse by Her Brother’s Tantric Magic.” This version would be reframed as a story told around a campfire, in keeping with the upcoming contest, and reminiscent of a more mature episode of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" It would also make it into a tomboy story, which I had already been strongly considering doing on my own honestly to have another version out there. Plus, I just love tomboy stories. If you have read the other script, you can see they're largely the same, but with just some changes made here and there and the incest aspect swapped for tomboy. The core idea of love and sacrifice overcoming any obstacle is still there at its heart, and I'm proud to be able to post this alternative take on the original script as a collaboration with this other person.

Premise: A group of writer friends are on their yearly reunion, sitting around a campfire, swapping stories.

Story inside the script: Bossy tomboy trapped in a shopping mall by an evil force awoken by her teenage lust. Many years later, her now much older lab partner had finally acquired the methods to break her free.

Note to performer: The “script” starts out with you addressing your friends, then segueing to the story. If you’d like, a crackling campfire backing track can be added, or any other SFX you think would enhance the narration.

Prologue:

OK, you guys, I guess it’s my turn. No pressure!

So… this was actually a story I wrote in high school. I got the idea for it when I saw a mannequin at the mall, you know, the store next to the Orange Julius?

(sheepish laugh) Ugh, I know, I know. My weird imagination… not much has changed. Except I actually publish my stories now.

Never did publish this one, though. I was always a little embarrassed by it. But you guys won’t judge me, right…?

Ok, here goes. Once upon a time… (chuckle)

No, seriously, once upon a time …

STORY:

The boy who used to be my science lab partner would visit me all the time at the mall. I wasn’t very good company. I didn’t talk to him, or look at him, or even acknowledge his existence.

In my defense though, I couldn’t help it. Not since I became a window mannequin.

I used to work here as a senior in high school. I needed to earn money, especially with college coming up. It made sense for the department store manager to assign the “young lady” in the young ladies department, even if I was tomboy as hell. But hey, I did do a pretty good job. I was polite and helpful to the customers. I kept the clothing neatly folded or on the racks. I made sure the dressing rooms were clean.

I even made sure the creepy-ass mannequins were updated with the newest fashions.

I never liked mannequins, but with my job, I guess I built up a tolerance to them. It always felt like they were staring at me. Judging me. Waiting. Which was, of course, stupid. Until it wasn’t.

Full Script Here