Mandy

Barry Manilow is on the front porch again.

Barry Manilow: Mandy...

Mandy: What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.

B: Oh, Mandy...

M: You can’t be here. You can’t keep showing up.

B: Tell me when will our eyes meet? When can I touch you? And when will I hold you again?

M: How about never? I’m married, and he’s going to come out. You need to go.

B: Time in New England took me away to long rocky beaches you by the bay.

M: I didn’t know it was a date, Barry. Providence isn’t a date.

B: It seemed to disappear as fast as it came.

M: Well, you can say that again.

[Verse comes around again. Barry doesn’t know whether to get louder or softer.]

B: I write the songs that make the young girls cry.

M: Really, Barry? Maybe they’re not crying for the reason you think.

B: I’ve been alive forever. It’s a worldwide symphony.

M: Oh, I sure hope not.

[Key change]

B: It’s from me. It’s for you. It’s from you. It’s for me.

M: It’s from me? Really? That’s Projection 101.

Husband: Who’s out there?

M: It’s Barry. Remember Barry?

H: Why’s he singing?

[Second, abrupt key change]

B: Looks like we made it.

M: I wish you could hear yourself. Stop doing that with your arms. You look like you’re holding a package.

B: Oh, Mandy...

[Barry turns from the doorway, descends the porch steps, and slowly turns back at the sidewalk. Mandy has disappeared into the house. From behind her, suddenly, softly, strings swell, as if from every backyard in the neighborhood. Mandy reappears, looking back out through the screen door.]

B: And I’ve looked high...

M: High...

B: Low...

M: Low…

Both: Everywhere I possibly can...

[Barry heads steadily towards the porch.]

B: High...

M: But there’s no…

Both: Tryin’ to get the feeling again.

M: Alright, you got me, and you have to go. Stop twirling.

[Barry leaves. Mandy gets back in bed.]

H: Who was that? He can really sing.

M: And trust me. It wears.