NELLY: I was actually hoping that one of you would give me a seat. After all, you will be going soon, you will sit in the study for a while longer, and you have been sitting here for so long, and I will be here for a long time.
Julia: never mind, I'll go to the office soon, so you'll take my place. Sit down and relax. I don't see a problem here.
There is a roar from the children.
Julia jumps up from her seat.
JULIA: my God, Vika, how are you so unlucky…
Julia runs away to the children.
Nellie sneaks in and sits down in the empty chair.
NELLIE: Oooooooooo (stretches out her legs) how good it felt right away…
JEANNE: Yes… At such moments, you realize how little a person needs to be happy. I came home from the cold – and it's warm there. Happiness?
NELLIE: Well, Yes. Or when you run from the theater after a performance to the toilet and run first, while there is no queue yet. This is such happiness!!!
JEANNE: Oooh… Yes… However, this happiness is almost impossible. Almost always there is some trash that has time to rush forward.
NELLY: And not alone!
JEANNE: here! Which is quite a shame. And most importantly, you look, in men's clothes – so freely. They walk quietly back and forth, you look in while the door is open, and there are plenty of free places. So you envy the men, they generally have an easier life. And you have fifteen bodies ahead of you, and no one cares what's already gurgling in your ears. As you want, so get out…
NELLY: Yes, as you want? In our case, everything is as usual.
JEANNE: Here. You're a friend to the point. Every girl's middle name is patience. How much we have to suffer from them in life…
NELLIE: Oh, don't tell me. You have to suffer so much before you can get even a little warmth.
JEANNE: I have to. And what is interesting, every time on the same rake!
NELLIE: YES!
Laugh.
ZHANNA: but the conversation still started for happiness. So, when these "rakes" do not poison our lives, or at least do not poison us much, then this is also a great happiness. Isn't it?
NELLIE (after thinking it over, agrees): Happiness. But these "rakes" can not only poison life. That's when you're on a bus full of people and a man gives you a seat. This is also happiness!
JEANNE: OH, Yes, it is. Especially if there are several girls standing next to this man, and he gives way to you, this is generally ecstasy.
Laugh.
NELLIE: No, I would have split it up. When a man gives way, it is happiness. But when you see the fierce envious glances of other ladies that the place was given to you, that's ecstasy!
They both laugh.
Jeanne (holding out her hand like a man): Jeanne!
NELLY: Nelly! (holds out his hand in response).
Awkwardly shake hands, smile at each other.
Julia returns, sees that her place has been taken, puts her hands on her hips, looks at Nelly with displeasure.
JULIA: I'm having A lot of fun here. I've got a girl's forehead bruised, and they're grinning?
NELLIE: that's not what we're laughing about. We have a dispute about men.
JEANNE (corrects Nelly): About happiness!
Nellie looks at Jeanne and nods her head vaguely.
NELLY: About men and happiness. Where else to talk about this as in a children's clinic.
Nellie and Jeanne are laughing.
Julia shakes her head disapprovingly, with all the accumulated resentment goes to the office door, quickly pulls the handle.
JULIA (belligerently): So, how long can I sit there?
