Play for 6 people. Once two new year's eve…

NORA (positively): How are you?

ALINA (calmly): nothing.

They sit in silence, looking at each other.

NORA (positively): All would nothing Yes all nothing?

ALINA (calmly): that's About it.

Smile.

Alina's face changes. After a pause, he shares his sorrows with a friend.

ALINA (restrained): I've been looking at my husband for a week, After our conversation with you.

NORA (with interest): So what?

ALINA (restrained): He has someone…

NORA (calmly): So what?

ALINA (nervously): So what?

NORA (smoothing the corners): Well, in a sense, it is… Wow, that's awful. How did you know that?

ALINA (restrained): He doesn't look up from the phone. All the time something there reads, hides. He thinks I don't notice anything.

NORA (calmly): And the mobile phone always puts the screen down?

ALINA (surprised): Yes… How do you know?

NORA (calmly): Guys… They are not very inventive. They think they're the smartest, they beat their fists on their chests, but… in fact, we know who's who.

ALINA (hysterically, falling into tears): Kapets! He's cheating on me!

Alina is crying.

Nora feels guilty of causing mental suffering to Alina. Doesn't know what to do.

He pats Alina's shoulder.

NORA (sympathetically): Well, well…

Alina is crying even harder, even more demonstratively.

Nora is confused. It changes the strategy. Begins to defend Alina's husband busily.

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): Listen to me! What makes you think he has someone? Did you find him in bed with someone?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No…

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): did you Hear him cooing with his mistress on the phone and paying her all sorts of compliments, Recalling past meetings?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No…

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): does he always smell someone else's perfume?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No…

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): Did you find the wrong Hickey on his neck?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No… And I don't find my own there…

NORA (distantly): This is not the point!

They both take a breath.

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): Maybe he doesn't come home for the night sometimes?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No, always home on time.

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): did He call you by a false name in bed?

ALINA (thoughtfully, uncertainly): No…

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): Well, what did you worry about then? Get those thoughts out of your head! You can think of a lot of things, you know. On the phone? Who's not on the phone right now? From small to large. At least sometimes your phone breaks away from your smartphone. Puts the screen down? Well, let him put it down if he likes it that way. And mine… with the phone wakes up, with the phone goes to bed! Dines, goes to the toilet and shower with him… He has no time to put his gadget down the screen, because the phone is always in his hands!

Alina wipes away her tears and calms down.

NORA (resolutely, cheerfully): So, friend, don't get your head full of nonsense. And don't try to follow him. Your husband is a great guy. Take care of him, take care of him, and don't let it get on his head. Then everything will be fine for you!

ALINA (calming down): Thank you, Nora. Calmed. Actually, if you look at it like that, it's really all right. Why did I actually draw it like that? Okay… I'll run. Come visit with Lenya!

Alina gets up and recovers.

NORA (positive): Come in! Somehow…

Alina leaves, Nora waves to her from the bench.

ZTM.

SCENE 9 SUSANNA'S APARTMENT

Lenya stands haggard in the apartment of his mistress. He looks grim. Susanna tugs at his cheeks.

SUSANNA (childish): Why is my little bear so glum lately? He was gaunt and haggard. Your wife probably doesn't feed you at home at all. I'm going to have to learn to cook, right?

LENYA (lisping and mumbling, because Susanna is holding him by the cheeks): Your little bear is very tired at work, very tired of all this fuss, hassle and tearing between you and your wife, and your little bear wants to break up with all this once and for all!