Sergey. Marina is six months pregnant. Can you even imagine how stressful it is for her? The opening of her exhibition in the Main Avenue Gallery. Moving to a new house. Let alone the wedding. Her friends alone will amount to over a hundred guests. And fifty relatives, no less! And to top it all, you and your marriage contract. No way! End of story. Fill it up.
Frolov. How much do you want?
Sergey. Up to the brim! Cheers.
Frolov. Better belly burst than good liquor be lost!
Scene 6
One year later. July. Noon.
Fleur de Lys Art Studio.
In the middle of the room, there are easels with paintings on them. The paintings feature dancing girls in pretty dresses.
Marina, slightly inebriated Sergey.
Marina. Sergey, don’t overdrink. Lenka and her new boyf, a general from Moscow, are coming to visit us. You won’t miss your chance to get hammered, don’t worry.
Sergey. Uh-huh.
Marina. I will take Veronika to my parents for the night. They begged for a granddaughter, so they are welcome to baby her. God, I’m exhausted. The money came short again. If I don’t pay off, they will take away the office and I’ll be forced to close down my studio.
Sergey. Didn’t I tell you that taking credits is a bad idea? It’s a pyramid scheme!
Marina. Do you really have to remind me about that?
Sergey approaches Anna’s portrait and looks at it, silently.
Marina. This is Anna Sokolova. She’s our lawyer’s girlfriend.
Sergey. Girlfriend? Seems that I haven’t seen Igor for quite a while.
Marina. Anna commissioned me to paint some portraits of her dancing school’s students. She is supposed to get them today. Thanks for the reminder. There’s another painting waiting for her in the study. I’ll go and fetch it. [She goes to the study.]
Sergey. [He stares at Anna’s portrait as if trying to remember something.] You have Terpsichore’s eyes. I will catch a beam of sunlight and give it the shape of a golden lily. You are my muse.
Anna appears. She’s well-dressed and good-looking.
Anna. Hello.
Sergey. Greetings, magnificent Fleur de Lys.
Anna. Are you drunk?
Pause
Sergey. And yet you don’t have any boxer husband! The murderer is the gardener. Or rather, my own lawyer!
Anna. There is no gardener in «Cinderella».
Sergey. Who’d 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. Don’t look at me this way.
Sergey. Don’t be so beautiful then. You owe me a kiss!
Anna. I’m not in the habit of kissing someone else’s 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. It’s more than we agreed on.
Anna. Trust me, the paintings are worth it.
Marina. Thank you.
Anna. There’s sadness in your eyes, Marina. What’s the matter?
