5 ROOM
Late the next morning.
Stanislav has already left for work, and Galina is lying on the sofa alone.
The doorbell rings.
Galina tosses and turns.
The call is repeated again and again.
Galina looks at the door with displeasure, gets up, and goes to open it.
Enter Masha.
MASHA: hi, friend. Are you still sleeping? It's past ten o'clock.
GALINA (stretching): Yes… I thought a lot yesterday… I couldn't sleep… I pretended to be asleep so that my husband wouldn't ask unnecessary questions, but I kept thinking and thinking. You've done a lot of business with this Herman. I lived quietly, I didn't know any worries, and now… like a bolt from the blue. And I can't stop thinking about him now!
Masha nods her head understandingly.
GALINA: and this Igor, he came here, a piece of a goat. I can't stand him!
Masha suddenly, sharply grabs her friend by the Breasts with a stern look, then gently lets go, pressing her index finger to Gali's lips. Her mood is not a joke.
GALINA: don't you understand? What do you mean? So it was you who ran to catch up with him yesterday, so you even left your purse…
Masha shakes her head.
GALINA: Understood…
Galina abruptly changes her strategy.
GALINA: and you know, Igor after all… not really a bad guy. Yeah. Yes, he told me something… well, we do not have a good relationship with him, but so I look at him from the outside, he is both rukastyy and humorous. And a good worker and a family man, probably not a bad one. And his figure is nothing and he is generally even prettier than mine will be… So you're together now?
MASHA: Well … sort of.
GALINA: And Vitya?
MASHA (playfully): Vitya? Who is it?
GALINA: You what? Have you already slept together?
MASHA: how Long, how well…
GALINA: Well, you, friend give…
MASHA: I Give…
GALINA: You know… I even envy you. I would sometimes, too, as if gave-gave…, but…
Galina sighs sadly.
GALINA: Everything is so fast, so interesting… No everyday life, all emotions… I saw how you looked at Igor yesterday… Seen.
MASHA: Well, I looked! I have reasons for this, you know that Vitya is a temporary option… was.
GALINA: Guessed.
MASHA: Well. Okay. It will be about me. Tell me, what are you thinking about Herman?
GALINA: Oh, Masha… What I just did not think…
Soft lyrical music plays.
GALINA: Of all my exes, he is the only person who is pleasant to remember. He always somehow managed to give not only everything that is not alien to everyone… He could bestow what was beyond the pale. This is a very rare feature. Very peculiar feature, very… a very dear feature of the heart. He appeared yesterday for a moment, and turned everything inside me, even though he almost didn't say a word… so more and more… common phrases addressed to you… I stood and listened, and my soul wept… Crying like a baby, you know, Mash?
Galina covers her face with her hands.
MASHA (sympathetically): What are you going to do?
GALINA (with tears in her eyes): I don't know… I Don't want to forget it, I don't want to leave it in my past…
MASHA (sympathetically): And Stas?
The music stops.
GALINA (wiping away her tears): And Stas… And Stas is my husband.
Masha nods understandingly, passes, takes her purse, and returns to the door.
GALINA (upset): What are you? Leaving already?
Masha turns to her friend with an ambiguous shrug.
GALINA (upset): Don't leave me alone, please don't leave me. Come on, would you like some tea? Coffee? Why don't we go to the store for some cognac?
MASHA: Yes, no, no…, we already indulged in cognac yesterday, that's enough. And a Cup of tea… Galka, Igor is waiting for me at the entrance…
GALINA (distressed, drawling): Mmmmm… all clear.
MASHA: I'm Sorry… I need to run…
MASHA: Come on… Good luck with Igor…
Masha leaves with her purse, leaving her lost friend at the door…
ZTM.
6 HERMAN'S APARTMENT
Minimal furniture. Clean, nothing superfluous. Bachelor's quarters.
Soft lyrical music plays.
Dimly lit, with a Cup of tea in his hand, his other hand in his trousers pocket. Herman comes out slowly and thoughtfully.
He walks up and down the room. Stops, thinks, remembers with warm feelings, walks again.
The music stops.
HERMAN (to the audience): Aren't you a fool? What the hell happened? After all, it is clear that someone else's family has been there for a long time, that you are not expected there, that you are at least not welcome… And here… I wanted to see it. I saw… I Thought it might get easier… It just got harder.
Herman sighs, walks across the room, puts the mug on the table (dresser, shelf – it doesn't matter).
HERMAN (to the audience): Galya… Dear Galya… She hasn't changed a bit… It's exactly the same… And as if all these years of separation hadn't happened. It's as if only yesterday we parted from her, and this morning we met. Everything about her is what a woman should be. And the mystery and restraint, and the extent of promiscuity, and of course that is impossible to explain in words. That's what happens… After all, there are many women, but for someone you feel some invisible thread connecting you both, and for someone nothing at all. And this thread does not matter who has what position, what social or civil status…
Just as you imagine… how many threads… these most invisible threads permeate our space, so much chills takes from delight. Can you imagine? A whole world invisible to the naked eye twisted threads. And so it would be all right, but these threads tend to tighten… shrink. They pull closer and closer… They attract two objects completely, regardless of the circumstances. And no matter how much you resist, no matter how well you know you can't… not supposed to, wrong and wrong, wrong! And this thread… it tightens and tightens. You are getting closer and closer…
So everything is interesting in this world…
Herman takes a few steps
HERMAN (viewer): In General, it is probably correct that these threads are invisible to the eye. After all, they have a mass character, but at the same time they are very personal, very individual. What would it be like if everyone could see these threads stretching from one another? The collapse would have occurred. No families, no relationships… and no excuses. It would only get more complicated. No, after all, how everything in this world is thought out…
At the door of Herman bell rings. He looks at the door with interest. He thinks for a short time, looks at the door again, goes to open it.
Enter Galina in the same dress that she has for all occasions.
HERMAN (surprised, delighted): What a surprise…
GALINA (timidly): As you can see, I haven't forgotten this address… Long stood at the door…, did not dare to call.
Galina and Herman look at each other, both feeling shy, shifting from one foot to the other.
GALINA (timidly): I probably shouldn't have come… Should I leave?
Galina turns and goes to the door, but Herman stops her by grabbing her hand.
HERMAN: This is the second day I've been asking myself the same question… Don't go… please, Galya…
GALINA (timidly): Me… I really want to stay…
HERMAN: What if I ask you to stay forever?
GALINA: Is that really what you want?
HERMAN: I really want it… but is it possible?
GALINA: I don't know what to do… I really don't know… But… But let's do something! (through tears) Do something, please… Do something!!!
Loud final music sounds.
Herman and Galina embrace with all their strength, putting everything they have into this hug.
ZTM.