Sandy Bartlett (Pala Mepaj)

Sandy Bartlett is the main character of Pala Mepaj's story "Sandy's Story" She is a woman from the South who is hired to sing for American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War 2. She loves her job, because she loves singing and the sense of community her job brings. While there, she meets Vincenzo Morelli, a member of the Italian Resistance, and they eventually develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, she also attracts the attention of Giorgio Bianchi, a fascist official, who desires her for himself, both for her beauty and the percieved benefits he thinks having an American wife who supports Mussolini would bring. He has his men (who also all have their own opinions and plans for her: the Count, who only views her as a political tool, the Duke, who secretly sympathizes with her and wishes he could let her go, and the Marquis, who is respectful to her but in reality he hates her and thinks she's useless, and would love to let her go as soon as possible, just to be free of a woman he views as a pest). abduct her and keeps her in his mansion for weeks. Despite his attempts at charming her or making her stay more comfortable, Sandy never gives into the tricks. She eventually does escape when Vincenzo helps her.