Fleur de Lys

Anna. Suit yourself.

Sergey. Sergey Arkhipov. We spoke over the phone earlier.

Anna. Did we? I don’t remember.

Sergey. Your voice sounded different over the phone. It’s so open and bright in here.

Anna. Don’t look at me this way.

Sergey. Don’t be so beautiful then. When I look at you, I seem to regain confidence.

Anna. I am impervious to your charms.

Sergey. You have Terpsichore’s eyes. You know, the muse of dance. You are just like this golden lily. [He points at a painting hanging on the wall.] You are a Fleur de Lys indeed!

Anna. Listen, what do you want?

Sergey. I will develop an interior design project for you. No charge. I will catch a beam of sunlight and give it the shape of the royal golden lily. Fleur de Lys! You are my muse.

Anna. It’s really nice and all but you seem to have mistaken me for someone else. Trust me, I’m no woman to inspire anyone.

Pause.

Sergey. I get it, your wings are singed.

Anna. I won’t spill my guts to a stranger!

Pause.

Anna. Some people… You just don’t want anything after dealing with them. For you give them all of you, devoting yourself utterly to them. But in the end, they tell you that they found someone else. Someone better than you. And they leave. And it raises a pertinent question: Why? I dealt with all those emotions, bouts of heavy drinking, a flood of wild fits of jealousy. I changed and went against my own principles because I believed that it would be better for us! I did all of it and for what? To be betrayed? Now I know better. I want to shut my heart against everyone. I can’t even look at myself because I hate what I see.

Sergey approaches Anna and kisses her. Marina comes back.

Scene 4

Fleur de Lys Art Studio.

Marina. Hello.

Sergey. Afternoon.

Marina. My name is Marina, I am the owner of the studio.

Sergey. Marina? [He looks at Anna, then shifts his gaze to Marina.] Nice to meet you, Marina. I’m Sergey Arkhipov, an architectural designer. We spoke over the phone earlier today. I’ve had a look at this place and I’m ready to get started.

Marina. Oh, sure, I remember you well, Sergey. Let me shake your hand. What an interesting man you are. Welcome to the Fleur de Lys Art Studio.

Anna. Marina, I need to go.

Marina. Yeah, sure. Off you go.

Anna takes the dress and heads for the door.

Marina. Anna! I want the dress to be ready by 2 p. m. tomorrow. [To Sergey.] I’ve been just invited to a formal dinner in the governor’s residence. Sergey, keep me company tomorrow. We’ll discuss our future cooperation in detail, I’ll introduce you to my friends, and you will make useful social contacts. Don’t be shy, Sergey. I insist!

Sergey. Alright, I’ll come with you, Marina.

Marina. Anna?

Anna. I’ll finish the dress tonight. It’s gonna be perfect. Goodbye, Sergey. I wish you all the best.

Anna leaves.

Marina. Let’s get on close terms, do you mind?

Sergey. I don’t.

Sergey. Are you friends with Anna?

Marina. Don’t be ridiculous. Her husband left her with two kids. She’s laying herself out, taking in sewing. It’s our custom to help the poor. But it’s so nice to meet you. I suggest that we celebrate! Let’s go out for dinner.

Sergey. Are you married?

Marina. I’m not. I am. Well, I’m not.

Sergey. I don’t get it.

Marina. My drunk husband fell overboard a yacht when chilling in Egypt with his mistress. His body has never been found.

Marina. And you? Oh, right. Frolov told me.

Sergey. My wife left me for my school friend. I’m divorced.

Marina. It means that we are both… single.

Sergey. Seems so.

Marina. Can we make it work? I’m sorry for being this blunt.

Sergey. Time will show. Aren’t you a witch, by any chance?

Marina. Maybe.

Sergey. It’s hot in here.

Marina. I have a minibar with some refreshments. Will you indulge? [She strides up to the minibar.]

Sergey. I’m not sure. Alcohol does nothing but harm. I’m afraid I can do something dumb.