The lyric introduction – the musical theme of the play (the composition "Yuri Tarasenko and Victoria Artyukhova – You are here and I am now" is recommended) is played until 1 minute 45 seconds, then the speech of the actors begins.
So, the music starts playing, after a few seconds, the curtain opens.
The evening square conveys its atmosphere of warmth of a tired city.
In the square there is a bench, around nature, freedom, spacious and easy. A street lamp is dimly lit.
With a tired step, but with a happy face, practically dragging a lady's purse on the floor, Albina enters the stage. She's coming home from work. He takes a few steps, stops, remembers something, remembers pleasant moments. He takes a few more steps, looks around, and sits down on the bench. She puts her purse down next to it, leans back, and inhales deeply.
At this point, the music stops (1 minute 45 seconds pass)
ALBINA (thoughtfully): Yes …
Albina with a slap puts her hand on her forehead, rubs her face, sits back, resting her chin on her hand, and resting her elbow on her knee.
ALBINA (thoughtfully): No, not exactly a "Yes" … but… You've got it, Albina Alexeyevna… in my old age… Well, not that in my old age, not yet forty, but somehow still not at the age that this is all happening to me now…, and the situation is not the same, oh, not the same … Ah…, you fell on my head… Pantaleika … the
music continues to play.
Pantelei appears in the square. Albina notices him at once. Their views intersect and speak for themselves. They are happy, they are young again, they are stupid and naive again. Pantelei takes timid, playful steps towards Albina, and Albina jumps down from the bench and hides behind it.
They play catch-up, around the bench, frolicking like children. They smile and laugh. They feel good. But they don't touch each other. Their relationship is sublime, no lust or even a hint of it.
Albina runs off to the side, turns around, says goodbye to Pantelei with an apologetic look, and reluctantly leaves.
The music ends.
Pantelei sits down, inspired, on the bench where Albina had just been sitting.
The song ends, and the music stops.
PANTELEI
Pantelei sits down more comfortably, rubs his knees playfully, and with a sly smile and a twinkle in his eyes continues his delicate thought.
PANTELEI (thoughtfully): Yes…, there is no other way to say it. No, Pantelei, this young lady will not leave your mind, your heart, your imagination so easily… Albina… That's life, isn't it? You live yourself a little calm, you don't touch anyone, and suddenly ON! You meet a person who…
Pantelei tries to portray something with gestures, but he is not very good at it.
PANTELEI (emotionally): That's how they do it, huh? Men? Does anyone know how they do it? After all, here you look – and the height is like everyone else's and the figure is plus or minus. Two arms, two legs, some kind of hairstyle on the head, perfume, manicure… Well, it's just like everyone else. But here they take something that is not in anyone else! And this is different… you can't explain it to yourself, but you can feel it! And so you feel that you do not know where to go.
