Marina. Do you really have to remind me about that?
Sergey approaches Annas portrait and looks at it, silently.
Marina. This is Anna Sokolova. Shes our lawyers girlfriend.
Sergey. Girlfriend? Seems that I havent seen Igor for quite a while.
Marina. Anna commissioned me to paint some portraits of her dancing schools students. She is supposed to get them today. Thanks for the reminder. Theres another painting waiting for her in the study. Ill go and fetch it. [She goes to the study.]
Sergey. [He stares at Annas portrait as if trying to remember something.] You have Terpsichores eyes. I will catch a beam of sunlight and give it the shape of a golden lily. You are my muse.
Anna appears. Shes well-dressed and good-looking.
Anna. Hello.
Sergey. Greetings, magnificent Fleur de Lys.
Anna. Are you drunk?
Pause
Sergey. And yet you dont have any boxer husband! The murderer is the gardener. Or rather, my own lawyer!
Anna. There is no gardener in «Cinderella».
Sergey. Whod believe in fairytales today?!
Anna. Those who work hard to make fairytales come true. You alright? You look odd.
Sergey. Never trade love for money or a career. I made a mistake and cast in my lot with a witch.
Anna. I always considered Marina a kind fairy. She helped me when my husband left. I am grateful to her. Dont look at me this way.
Sergey. Dont be so beautiful then. You owe me a kiss!
Anna. Im not in the habit of kissing someone elses husbands.
Sergey. Me neither.
Sergey approaches Anna. She steps back but Sergey kisses her on her hand. Marina appears.
Marina. Welcome to the Fleur de Lys Studio.
Sergey. I need to go to the office.
Marina. Come back before dinner, my dear.
Sergey leaves
Anna. Hi, Marina.
Marina. Hi, Anna. So, what do you say?
Anna. How marvelous. These paintings are lifelike. You are a miracle woman.
Marina. Thank you.
Anna. My driver will come for them tomorrow afternoon.
Anna produces a wad of notes and hands it over to Marina.
Marina. Its more than we agreed on.
Anna. Trust me, the paintings are worth it.
Marina. Thank you.
Anna. Theres sadness in your eyes, Marina. Whats the matter?
Marina. Thats none of your fucking business! [She scowls at Anna furiously.] When I came in He had this look, he never looked at me this way I overheard your conversation.
Pause.
Anna. I dont know what to say.
Marina. I hate you [She turns away from Anna and sobs quietly.]
Anna approaches Marina and puts her arms around her.
Anna. I am no thief, Marina. Be strong. All is well.
Scene 7
24 hours later.
Frolov and Co. Law Office.
Sergey. Igor, is your relationship with Anna serious?
Frolov. Why do you ask?
Sergey. You are my friend and my familys lawyer, Ive got nothing to hide from you.
Frolov. Can you be more specific?
Sergey. I love Anna. I always did, since I first met her. I realized it yesterday.
Frolov. For goodness sake, old chap [Pause.] Thanks for being honest. [He takes a Hennessy XO bottle and fills the glasses.] A month ago I proposed to Anna. And this morning she said yes. The weddings in September.
Frolovs mobile phone rings.
Frolov. Speaking, go ahead. Yes, I am her lawyer. Come again? I cant hear you, say that again! Alright. Ill be there in thirty minutes, allowing for traffic delays. [He ends the call. Pause.]
Frolov. Sergey. Marina got into a car accident. Her car collided with a truck. Shes now in the emergency ward of the regional hospital.
Sergey. Holy crap!
Sergey and Frolov leave hurriedly.
ACT III
Scene 8
One year later. July. Evening.
Frolov and Co. Law Office.
Marina and Frolov come in through a side door. Marina adjusts her clothes. A few buttons on Frolovs shirt are undone.
Marina. Ill do a new painting for your library. And we should get a comfier sofa.
Frolov gets a bottle of cold champagne and fills the glasses.
Frolov. What painting? Are you talking about Annas portrait?
Marina. Oh no. That painting is gonna stay right there. I want her to watch.
Frolov. Heres to you. To your second birthday.
Marina. To us. I am grateful to you, Igor, for being by my side. I would never get out of this hell without you.
Frolov. We must thank the doctors. They put you back to your feet.
They drink champagne. Marina kisses Frolov.
Marina. Pour me some more.
Frolov. [Filling the glasses.] Were gonna get chubby!
Marina. Are you kidding?!
Frolov. To our success.
Marina. We drink to those who love us, we drink to those who dont. We drink to those who fuck us, and fuck those who dont!
They drink
Frolov. Speaking of Your husband Are you sure you want to go all the way?
Marina. Ill bury him. And you will help me do it.
Frolov. I admire your ability to defend your interests. As for Sergey He never learns from his experience.
Marina. I want this drunkard to drop dead!
Frolov. There, there, my love. You are going to take away everything he has, turn him into the street. Isnt it enough?
Marina. I dont know what «enough» means! Take what you can. Give nothing back. Thats a rule of thumb. When are you filing for divorce?
Frolov. Its out of the question.
Marina. Igor, look me in the eye. You are mine, and I am yours.
Pause.
Frolov. Anna is still not quite recovered after giving birth
Marina. You will do exactly as I say.
Frolov. Why do you hate her so much? I thought you were friends.
Marina. Its personal.
Frolov. Alright, let your psychiatrist deal with it.
Scene 9
Five months later. December. Daytime.
New Years concert in the variety theater.
Anna Sokolovas Dancing Group performance.
A dressing room. Anna and Frolov appear. Anna is wearing a gala dress, and Frolov is holding a large bouquet.
Frolov. Anna! What a great performance! You were fantastic! [He takes a card out of the bouquet, looks at it, and then hands it over to Anna.] Congratulations from the governor himself.
Anna takes the card and puts it on a coffee table without looking.
Anna. Thank you, Igor.
Pause.
Anna. Im tired.
Frolov. You alright?
Anna. Im fine.
Frolov. The governor invited us to dinner.
Anna. Lets go home, darling, and have a family dinner with the children.
Frolov. Anna, we agreed to spend this evening together.
Anna. As you wish.
Frolov. I need to settle something important with the governor. And to run our relocation to Moscow by him, among other things.
Anna. Did you actually resolve to do it?
Frolov. Yes, Im ready.
Anna. Well be better off in Moscow, Igor.
Frolov. Yes, its settled. We are moving to Moscow.
Anna. Thank you, honey.
Frolov. Ill be back soon, darling. Get some rest. We are going to drop in at our place to change. Dinner at eight.
Frolov leaves. Anna walks up to the coffee table. There is a lovely flower basket on it. She spots a card, takes it, and reads it. There is a knock on the door. Marina comes in. She is holding a bottle of champagne and a pretty wrapped parcel.
Marina. May I? Hi, Anna!
Anna. Hi, Marina! I didnt expect to see you.
Marina. Happy upcoming New Year! Here you are. [She hands out the parcel.]
Anna. Thank you so much, Marina. But I dont have anything for you.
Marina. Its fine, my dear friend. What a show! Bellissimo! Your girls were fantastic but you are a real goddess!
Anna. I feel awkward. Thank you.
Marina. We must celebrate! Champagne!
Anna. With pleasure. Ive got glasses somewhere in here Where are they? Here, found them! Marina, could you wait a few minutes? I need to change and freshen up a bit.
Marina. Take your time, darling.
Anna leaves. There is a sound of running water coming from the bathroom. Marina sets the glasses on the table and drops a white powder into one of them. Then she pops the champagne open and fills the glasses. Anna comes back. She looks fresh and beautiful.
Marina. You look lovely, Anna. There was this deputy Lenkas ex-boyfriend, by the way He was risking his neck during your performance, gawking at you!
Anna. Hows Lenka? Ive heard the rumors about her man.
Marina. He got caught when taking a bribe, poor fish. Such a storyteller! He promised her the world, promised to marry her! He was caught in the act in a restaurant in Moscow. But Lenka already found another one. Take the glass, my dear friend. Drink up.