ARBITER
Anatoly Sergievsky remains the World Chess Champion.
[The arena is filled with the noise of excited chatting and laughter. Florence approaches Freddie to thank
him for what he has done - they embrace lightly. Molokov then approaches the two of them with a
huge grin. He shakes hands with Freddie and then Florence. The arena begins to clear and soon
only Florence and Anatoly are left.]
FLORENCE
So, they got what they wanted, you�re still the champion.
ANATOLY
I don�t feel like a champion. Freddie should have won, he had the edge on me. It must have been difficult for him to throw the match.
FLORENCE
I�m surprised he did it, I thought he would play to win.
ANATOLY
He must really love you.
FLORENCE
I think maybe he does, in his own impossible way.
ANATOLY
Will you go back to him?
FLORENCE
I can�t, too much has happened - it just wouldn�t work.
ANATOLY
What about your father?
FLORENCE
Molokov has arranged for me to go to Moscow in a few days time. I�m staying here until then.
ANATOLY
What will happen after that?
FLORENCE
I don�t really believe that it is my father anymore. It�s probably a hoax, but he does seem to know my father, so I might be able to find out what really happened. After that I don�t know what I will do.
ANATOLY
I wish I could leave all of this behind me and start a new life with you.
FLORENCE
Oh, Anatoly I feel so alone. I�d almost managed to forget about all that happened when I was a child. This has brought back so many bad memories. I feel like a little girl again, with no one to protect me. They took my father from me when I was only five and now they�re taking you from me.
ANATOLY
I wish there was something I could do, but there isn�t. I tried to fight them, but it only made things worse � you can�t beat them, they�re too strong.
FLORENCE
And ruthless. It�s funny, Freddie always said never to trust them � I guess he was right after all.
ANATOLY
You trusted me.
FLORENCE
And look what happened.
YOU AND I
ANATOLY
Knowing I want you
Knowing I love you.....
[While Florence and Anatoly kiss and embrace, Freddie and Svetlana appear up-stage left and right.]