Jenica
When I said I wanted a gift from your trip to Alabama, I didn’t mean a creepy doll.
Jenica
I love antique plates and figurines…
Jenica
Not freaky baby dolls.
Ruby
But this one is special…
Ruby
She was actually made for the shop owner’s grandma…
Ruby
Some kind of playmate since she was an only child.
Ruby
They even had matching necklaces.
Jenica
Um, that definitely makes this doll SCARIER.
Jenica looks at the porcelain doll.
It sits on the couch in an old frilly dress…
Wearing a locket that says “Best Friends.”
Its blond hair looks like…human hair.
Jenica
Next you’re going to tell me that they used the grandma’s hair for the doll.
Ruby
It wasn’t THAT rare back then.
Ruby
They didn’t have synthetics or whatever doll hair is made of now.
Ruby
Come on, I thought that factoid was really cool.
Jenica
Cool is not the word I would use…
Ruby
Regardless, CLEARLY this doll needs a new best friend! 😂
Jenica
You’re really not comforting me right now.
Ruby
The doll freaks you out.
Ruby
You can get rid of it.
Ruby
I promise I won’t be mad.
Jenica
Really? Thank god.
Jenica
Next time, just get me a postcard.
Ruby
And if you don’t want to mess with the doll…
Ruby
I can take care of it when I get home from work.
Jenica
I’d rather it just be gone.
Ruby
Okay! I’ll see you after 5.
Jenica frowns at the doll.
Is it in a different position now than it was the last time she looked?
The thing is going in the trash.
She gingerly picks it up and walks to the waste bin.
Jenica takes it outside and dumps it in the large trash can.
Feeling better, she heads back inside to take a shower.
Jenica walks into the living room.
The doll is sitting on the couch.
Jenica
You’re still at work, right?
Jenica
I just took the doll out to the trash…
Jenica
And now it’s back on the couch.
Ruby
I know you think the doll is creepy…
Ruby
But that’s a little much.
Jenica
I put it in the trash.
Jenica
Now it’s back on the couch.
Ruby
Maybe you forgot to lock the door?
Ruby
You know how our neighbor Max likes to play practical jokes.
Jenica
If it’s Max, I’m going to kill him.
Jenica walks to the front door.
Jenica
Our front door is locked…
Jenica
So it couldn’t be Max.
Ruby
Maybe just toss it again?
Jenica
I feel like I’m losing my mind.
Ruby
You were up late last night partying.
Ruby
Maybe, because you’re so tired…
Ruby
You only THOUGHT you threw out the doll.
Ruby
Why don’t you take a nap?
Jenica
I don’t know if I can sleep with that thing in the house.
Ruby
It’s going to be okay.
Ruby
I’ll be home in a few hours.
Ruby
I really am sorry I bought it…
Ruby
I didn’t know it would scare you so much!
Jenica
It was a nice gesture.
Jenica
I’ll talk to you when you get home.
Jenica approaches the doll.
It doesn’t LOOK any different than it did an hour ago.
Same old fashioned dress.
But the small hairs on the back of her neck raise.
She gingerly picks it up.
And Jenica sighs with relief.
She retraces her steps outside…
Throws the doll back in the trash can…
And adds a big rock to the lid for good measure.
A nap does sound good right now…
Something heavy on the bed wakes Jenica up.
Slowly, she opens her eyes.
Ruby
I’m almost off work.
Jenica
The doll is in my room.
Ruby
But I thought you threw it away?
Ruby
Then how did it get in your bed?
Jenica
I think it’s haunted by that dude’s grandma or something.
Ruby
That kind of thing only happens in the movies.
Jenica
Then explain how this doll keeps showing up!
Ruby
I mean, now that I think about it…
Ruby
The guy did give me a really good deal on it.
Ruby
He said it really didn’t like being alone…
Jenica
I swear it just moved.
Jenica
Like…actually moved.
Ruby
Maybe you should lock it up?
Ruby
Just until I can get home.
Ruby
Then we can deal with it together.
Jenica
I’ll put it in that chest in your room.
Jenica
I don’t know what this thing wants.
Ruby
Just put it in the chest.
Jenica sets down her phone.
She really doesn’t want to pick up the doll again.
Not with the menace coming off it in waves.
The doll turns its head to look at her—
Ruby
Did you put the doll in the chest?
Ruby
Jenica, are you home?
Ruby walks through the empty house.
She checks Jenica’s room.
Her phone sits on the nightstand.
Ruby walks into her own room…
There’s a second doll sitting next to it…
Wearing a matching “Best Friends” necklace.
It’s dressed in what look like yoga pants and a sweatshirt.
