ZUP
Well, it’s nice your dream had such a good ending.

D.G.
Yeah.

ZUP
But, Dicky, why are you still coming here? After all this time, don’t you think Amanda will never show up?

D.G.
It feels good to have some hope.

ZUP
Maybe for Richard it’s right to hold onto something unlikely. At his age. But at your age you should move on. You got to stop waiting for Amanda. You’re capable of loving a different woman. She might be better than Amanda. Let Amanda go.

D.G.
Easier said than done.

ZUP
I know. Humans are creatures of habit. But let me show you something. (getting up and walking to the apron of the stage) Come here, Dicky.

D.G.
(getting up) What?

ZUP
I want to show you something. (when Dicky is next to her facing the audience) What do you see?

D.G.
People. Buildings.

ZUP
I want to show you the future.

D.G.
Be real, Zelda. You can’t do that.

ZUP
Well, just for fun, pretend I can.


D.G.
Okay.

ZUP
(getting behind him) Close your eyes. (putting her hands on his head) What do you see?

D.G.
Nothing. I’ve got my eyes closed.

ZUP
And now?

D.G.
Wow. What’s that place?

ZUP
It’s a shopping center in the future.

D.G.
Who’s that? Wait a minute. That looks like me.

ZUP
He’s your grandson.

D.G.
Say … there’s a girl … looks like a young Amanda. And she’s walking toward my grandson with …

ZUP
That’s right. That’s your Amanda. (a sparkling light goes on behind Zup and Dicky as an old Amanda walks very slowly toward them) With her granddaughter.

D.G.
Amanda looks really old.

ZUP
Almost eighty.

D.G.
(as the old Amanda speaks to imaginary figures) What’s she saying to my grandson?



ZUP
She’s telling him how much he reminds her of you. Would you like to go into the future to join her and speak with her?

D.G.
Like in a virtual reality?

ZUP
It would be even more real.

D.G.
Whatever it was – that’d be great.

ZUP
There’s just a couple of conditions.

D.G.
And they are?

ZUP
You have to wear a mask which will make you very old. It’s only a temporary thing. And you’ll only have a few minutes to spend with Amanda.

D.G.
Okay.

Amanda has come to a stop about ten feet behind Dicky. As he turns around, a young woman in a glittery outfit approaches him with a mask of himself. She puts it on him and walks away.

AMANDA
… Oh my God … Dicky, is that you?

D.G.
Yes … What a nice surprise … seeing you again, Amanda …

AMANDA
That young man who took off with my granddaughter looks a lot like you.

D.G.
My grandson. He seems interested in your granddaughter.

AMANDA
Yes … She said they’re going somewhere and they’ll be back in a few minutes. Do you want to visit at that restaurant until they return?

D.G.
I’d like that. I’d like to know how your life has gone after all these years. (a man and two women in glittery outfits bring out a small table and chairs. Dicky and Amanda sit down) Do you want to order something to eat? Maybe just tea or coffee?

AMANDA
How about something intoxicating?

D.G.
Sounds good to me.

AMANDA
I … I’m surprised you recognized me … I’m very old.

D.G.
You’re still beautiful.

AMANDA
(as a waitress in a glittery outfit brings them both drinks) It’s been a long time, Dicky. How has your life been?

D.G.
Good times and bad. How about you?

AMANDA
Ups and downs, as well. Not great.

D.G.
For many years I was hoping we’d meet again …

AMANDA
I also wanted to see you. To apologize for firing you at Peaceful Persuasions. To explain why I couldn’t return the love you expressed to me. Have you ever wondered about that?

D.G.
Have I ever! I thought we had a connection, Amanda … When we were working together, it seemed like you could have loved me. So, yes, I’ve always wanted to know more about what happened.

AMANDA
The night you gave me the love letter. I think I loved you then. At that moment. Reading how highly you thought of me and how much you wanted to be with me.


D.G.
(seeing her hesitation) Yes? You can tell me the truth now. I won’t get upset like I used to. (Zup walks off stage)

AMANDA
It seems you’ve mellowed with age.

D.G.
Getting old does slow us down. So tell me more about what happened.

AMANDA
When I got home that night, I was excited, so flustered – I carelessly put the letter down … where Stanko could find it … and he did. He was furious. “How could you love that jerk?!” he screamed at me. Well, I felt confused. Right then. I said, ‘I don’t love Dicky.’ So Stanko replied, “Then why would he write such a letter? You must have encouraged him.” But I denied having any feelings for you. I was afraid I’d lose Stanko. So he said, “Prove you don’t love him. Go to Peaceful Persuasions and show them the letter. Tell them it’s sexual harassment. Tear up his love letter and throw the pieces at him.” … (Amanda almost trembles in heartache when she sees Dicky beginning to cry … what she just described is what happened all those years ago) Dicky … I’m so sorry. I was so scared. I panicked and agreed with him.

D.G.
So you really did love him?

AMANDA
But I also loved you. A lot of people say you can only love one person at a time. It’s more complicated than they’re willing to admit. In some moments you love one. In other moments you love another. Guys say it’s only for sex when they “cheat” on their wives. And often that’s true, but sometimes they love both women. Many women have been brainwashed by their religious and cultural upbringing to believe that they can only love one man, but it’s not true. Mostly they want sexual fidelity because they’re afraid they’ll end up alone. It’s the fear of being alone which gets a lot of women to support an unrealistic “morality.” As for when I called your love for me “sexual harassment,” I was confused. I felt that Stanko had given me an ultimatum. You know how it turned out. Once things started going downhill I couldn’t stop them. I could never admit that I was wrong. I was afraid I’d lose my job. But I was wrong to hurt you. Ironically not long after, I left Peaceful Persuasions anyway. And then Stanko and I broke up. Causing you all that sadness – and for what? Dicky, please forgive me.

D.G.
Of course. But it seems like a small hurt to me now. I just wished that you had called or e-mailed me.

AMANDA
I was afraid you’d get angry at me. You had such a temper.

D.G.
That’s been a problem all my life. (reaching across the table to hold her hand) Amanda, I realized a long time ago that I was just as much to blame. I shouldn’t have written you that letter. I put you in a difficult situation. I just wanted you to know how I felt in case there was a chance for love … some day.

AMANDA
If only Stanko hadn’t seen your letter. I loved it. I’ve often wished I had a copy.

D.G.
I’ll write another. It will still say the same things.

AMANDA
That would be wonderful.

ZUP
(dressed in a glittery outfit, she walks over to the table) Special delivery for Amanda Love. Special delivery for Amanda Love.

D.G.
Zelda, what’re you doing here?

ZUP
Sorry, sir. I’m not Zelda. Must be someone who looks like me.

AMANDA
(as Zup hands her the letter) But my name’s not Love.

ZUP
This is the letter Dicky wrote to you fifty years ago. (as she walks away) Enjoy your time, Dicky. There’s not much left.

AMANDA
(holding the letter to her breasts) Dicky, I know now that we could have had the best relationship in my life … You weren’t wrong to declare your love for me. If you don’t tell people that you love them, you might miss the opportunity for love. I’m sorry I hurt you. But I also hurt myself. If I hadn’t been so afraid … to take the chance …

D.G.
(music starts to play – “Hasta Manana” sung by Army of Lovers) Say. That sounds familiar.

AMANDA
Is it possible? (laughing) The same song we danced to fifty years ago?

D.G.
When we had too much to drink.

AMANDA
No, Dicky. That’s when we were liberated to be the way we wanted to be.

D.G.
Naughty in a good way? How about we dance to it again right now?

D.G.
I don’t move that well anymore, Dicky. I never completely recovered from a stroke I had a few years ago.

D.G.
Ah, come on. You can do it. I’ll be gentle.

AMANDA
(getting up) Alright. But not too geriatric. (as they begin dancing in a tentative way) Let me feel some of your passion.

The music stops after about a minute of the dancers struggling to keep up with the beat. Momentarily they seem frozen.

D.G.
(slowly reaching out to Amanda’s face) I love you, Amanda. (taking off her mask of old age and throwing on the floor) With me you can be the one you want to be.

AMANDA
(taking off Dicky’s mask of old age) I love you, Dicky. (throwing it on the floor) With me you can be the one you want to be. (the music starts up again and Amanda and Dicky dance as if they were young again until the end of the song)