April 5 Follies

Abstract All right. Thirty years ago, Ben was dating Phyllis. Ben was sleeping with Phyllis’s roommate, Sally. Ben loved Sally. (This last is hazy, as love to Ben is a four-letter word). Ben married Phyllis. Sally, on the rebound, married Ben’s buddy, Buddy. Thirty years later, they are all unhappily married. Meeting once more, Sally still wants Ben. Ben still wants Sally. (This is hazy, too.) Buddy is fed up with Sally; he knows she has always been in love with Ben. Phyllis is just plain fed up. Ben and Sally plan to run off together, but before they can get out the door, Ben has the mental breakdown he’s been heading toward all evening.