Endgame

Chapter Ten: Scene Five - On Mountains With You

(The stage lights come up once more and you are now backin FREDERICK and SILVIUS'shotel suite. WALTER is speaking with FREDERICK, apparently they are having some sort of argument.)

WALTER: For God sakes, Freddie - be reasonable -

FREDERICK: Twenty thousand dollars!

WALTER: Why should we pay you that much money to televise tantrums? We prefer to see chess being played!

(SILVIUS now walks into the suite as WALTER prepares to leave)

You deal with him - he's getting heated. Now he's claiming that he's underpaid!

FREDERICK (yells as WALTER leaves the room): I said twenty thousand dollars - a game, Walter!

(He then turns round to face SILVIUS)

And as for you - I shouldn't have to be dealing with Walter. Where were you when the shit hit the fan?

SILVIUS (handing him a piece of paper): Saving your income by fixing a meeting with Sergievsky.

FREDERICK (glances at the paper then ignores it): When the interest is bigger than ever, and my walk-out my smartest move yet, all you say is that I ought to meet him on the top of a mountain?

SILVIUS: You bet!

FREDERICK: Can't you see that you're losing your grip, dear? Are the Communists fooling you too? Why should I be the only one trying -

SILVIUS: Oh seriously, Freddie, what information could anyone possibly pass the guy in a cup of blueberry yogurt?

FREDDIE: It was strawberry.

SILVIUS: You couldn't even be original. You had to steal Korchnoi'sploy from '78.

FREDDIE: Korchnoi's complaint. (hepauses a moment as if he's thinking over something very important then walks over to a chessboard realigning the pieces) Wait. Wait a sec. I figured it out. Ah ha! I figured it out!

SILVIUS: What did you figure out?

FREDDIE (moving pieces round the board now excitedly): Look, I'm down a pawn, right? But then I moved a bishop, which means I sacrifice, which means I'm down two pawns. Now watch closely. Because I moved the queen's rook...

SILVIUS: Just move the knight.

FREDDIE: No, no, no. You haven't seen it yet. I move the rook and bam, bam, bam, bam. A draw! Snatched from the jaws of defeat! Global headlines, Silvius. Down two pawns, Trumpersaves the day.

SILVIUS: So that's why you pulled that stunt with the yogurt? To distract him?

FREDDIE: God, I feel good. You know, nothing makes the mind kick in like a knife to your throat.

SILVIUS: Fine time to save the draw, even though it was cheating. About the meeting though -

FREDDIE: At first I thought he was just disguising that variation he used to keep Vilav in -

SILVIUS: Freddie, will you stop talking chess for one moment and listen to me!?

(WALTER re-enters the room clearly excited)

WALTER: I just spoke with Vanity Fair - we got the cover! Freddie, I'll call you later. I'm going to see if I can set up a few more phone interviews for later. I'm telling you, this thing is big. Right now I'm going downstairs to the trade show, come along later if you feel like slumming.

(WALTER leaves the suite again)

SILVIUS: Freddie, why did you cheat?

FREDDIE: I still can't figure out why I didn't see it....I must be losing my touch.

SILVIUS: Freddie, answer me!

FREDDIE: Come on, Silvius, get with the programme! This is no ordinary game, I can't lose this match. I can't do that, Silvius.

SILVIUS: Then show up at the Merano Mountain Inn at ten.

FREDDIE: Why should I?

SILVIUS: He's apologising.

FREDDIE: You're kidding?

SILVIUS: I wish I were.

FREDDIE (laughs and kisses SILVIUS on the forehead): Vassy, you are a genius!

SILVIUS: Truthfully, I wish I had nothing to do with this.

FREDDIE: You wish you...hey, who's side you on here, anyway?

SILVIUS: They showed more class than you have ever shown in your life.

FREDDIE: I get it now. That Russian's got your number,hasn't he. I saw those smoldering looks at the opening ceremony. You seem to be forgetting something here sweety-pie. These are the people who murdered your father.

SILVIUS

You want to lose your only friend?
Well keep it up, you're doing fine
Why this humiliation?
Why treat me like a fool?
I've taken shit for seven years
And I won't take it anymore.

FREDDIE

I'm only teasing Soviets
With gentle bonhomie
And you've a better reason to be anti-them than me

SILVIUS

There's a time and there's a place.

FREDDIE

Is this the boy always said
He wants to know the truth?

SILVIUS

There's a time and there's a place...

CHOIR (In background throughout the next sequence)

1956--Budapest is rising
1956--Budapest is fighting
1956--Budapest is falling
1956--Budapest is dying

FREDDIE

I'd have thought you'd support
Any attack on these people
On the people who ran
Mindlessly over your childhood
Don't let them fool you for
Thirty years on they're the same

They see chess as a war
Playing with pawns just like Poland
If you walk out on me
They will have won the first battle
Wouldn't your father
Have begged you to stay in the game?

SILVIUS

He would - but he didn't know you
He'd loathe your behaviour and so do I -
Why'd you have to do this to me?

FREDDIE: Silvius, I'm sorry. Silvius...!

(The lights go down as SILVIUS now leaves the suite angry by what is going on round him. When the lights come back up you are now inside the hotel coffee shoppe)

SILVIUS

What's going on around me
Is barely making sense
I need some explanations fast.
I see my present partner
In the imperfect tense
And I don't see how we can last
I feel I need a change of cast
Maybe I'm on nobody's side.

And when he gives me reasons
To justify each move
They're getting harder to believe
I know this can't continue
I've still a lot to prove
There must be more I could achieve
But I don't have the nerve to leave.

(SILVIUS leaves the coffee shoppe and goes to the hotel spa where he receives a massage from the Spa Assistants)

SPA ASSISTANTS

Everybody's playing the game
but nobody's rules are the same
Nobody's on nobody's side
Better learn to go it alone
Recognize you're out on your own
Nobody's on nobody's side.

SILVIUS

The one I should not think of
Keeps rolling through my mind
And I don't want to let that go
No lovers ever faithful
No contract truly signed
There's nothing certain left to know
And how the cracks begin to show!

SILVIUS & SPA ASSISTANTS

Never make a promise or plan
Take a little love where you can
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay too long in your bed
Never lose your heart, use your head
Nobody's on nobody's side.

(SILVIUS now goes behind a screen dressing for the evening in a rather nice, expensive looking suit and tie)

SILVIUS

Never take a stranger's advice
Never let a friend fool you twice
Nobody's on nobody's side
Never be the first to believe
Never be the last to deceive

SILVIUS AND DRESSING ATTENDANTS

Nobody's on nobody's side
Never leave a moment too soon
Never waste a hot afternoon

Nobody's on nobody's side
Never stay a minute too long
Don't forget the best will go wrong

Nobody's on nobody's side.
Better learn to go it alone
Recognize you're out on your own.
Nobody's on nobody's side.

(The lights fade yet again as SILVIUS finishes getting dressed. When they come back up your are now at the MeranoMountain Inn Terrace Restaurant. SILVIUS and FREDDIE are outside the Inn having a silent argument. FREDDIE storms off leaving SILVIUS to enter alone and approaches MOLOKOV'stable. He arrives at the same time as ANATOLY, who is also elegantly dressed in an expensive looking suit and tie)

MOLOKOV: Who'd have thought that such a simple game could be so complicated? Please sit down Mister Vassy. I still don't approve of this apology, but as you must know better than anyone we should all learn to allow for the whimseys of a genius. Please come, won't you join us?

(SILVIUS and ANATOLY look at each other hesitantly for a moment, then SILVIUS sits down)

MOLOKOV (smiling at SILVIUS now): Thank you. You do not care much for me yet, but in the words of Gorby, we should all learn to respond to changing times. In your native Hungary, democracy is restored. In East Germany, the youth of Berlin have danced atop the wall, which will be sold shortly and shipped brick by brick to London to keep your London Bridge company.

ANATOLY (sitting finally and staring at SILVIUS with clear appreciation, completely ignoring MOLOKOV's words): Good evening, Mister Vassy.

SILVIUS: Good evening, Mister Sergievsky.

ANATOLY (softly): You look more beautiful than ever.

SILVIUS (fidgeting slightly): As you can see, I'm a little early.

MOLOKOV: With Frederick Trumper nowhere in evidence.

ANATOLY: Oh?

SILVIUS (glances towards the doors of the restaurant): He's with his agent. He should be here momentarily.

ANATOLY: Wonderful. This leaves the two of us time to chat. (aWAITER now comes over) May I buy you a drink, Mister Vassy?

SILVIUS: Yes. Thank you. (to the WAITER) Do you have Perrier?

WAITER: Calistoga water.

SILVIUS: No. A seltzer then, please.

MOLOKOV: Perhaps we should order food. I feel ravenously hungry.

ANATOLY: Shall I enquire after the specials?

MOLOKOV (in Russian to a DINER at a nearby table) How'sthe trout?

DINER (responds in Russian): Excellent.

MOLOKOV: The trout is excellent tonight.

SILVIUS (to Anatoly, though he's looking at the person he had spoken to): He's with you?

ANATOLY: Hardly. He's with him. (points to MOLOKOV)

MOLOKOV: Anatoly enjoys pointing out the lavish attention accorded Soviet chess heroes travelling abroad.

ANATOLY: Molokov, if you wish to eat soon, I suggest you go and enquire after our American friend.

MOLOKOV (looks at ANATOLY knowingly): Well, it appears I have to go. Mister Vassy, please excuse me.

(MOLOKOV exits)

ANATOLY (turns to SILVIUS now): Mister Vassy, I must take this moment to tell you something. As a much younger man, I read your father's book. You must know the extraordinary impact he has had on a generation of Soviet players.

SILVIUS: Thank you. That means a great deal to me.

ANATOLY: Although by telling you this, I give you a special insight to my style of play.

SILVIUS: We're aware of the wide range of Soviet tactics, Mister Sergievsky.

ANATOLY: And with Freddie Trumper, don't you find yourself at your wits end? (a slight pause as SILVIUS turns to look at ANATOLY sharply) I'm sorry, that was tactless of me. It's just that I know you have nothing whatsoever to do with this farcical business about the yogurt.

SILVIUS: What makes you think that Freddie and I aren't in complete agreement?

ANATOLY: From the look in his eyes. And the look in yours.He was afraid of losing, wasn't he?

SILVIUS: Freddie's not -

ANATOLY: As his second, you had no choice but to defend him. Please believe me when I tell you I have never cheated in my life. Not at chess, anyway.

SILVIUS: Then why are you apologising tonight?

ANATOLY: I have no intention of apologising.

SILVIUS (looks at ANATOLY in surprise): Then why are we here?

ANATOLY: We are here to meet each other.

DINER (in Russian): Pass the salt.

SILVIUS: Excuse me, but Freddie is coming here to discuss the continuation of a chess match. I don't recall this was to be a meeting between only the two of us.

DINER (in Russian): Pass the salt.

SILVIUS (looks at the DINER annoyed now): What is he saying?

ANATOLY: He says you have beautiful eyes. Please -

DINER (in Russian): Pass the salt.

(Anatoly scowls and passes the diner the salt in exasperation)

SILVIUS: Beautiful eyes? He asked for the salt! You talk about trust. I have no reason to trust you at all!

ANATOLY: Nor I you. You said Freddie would be here and he is not, yet you arrived early for our meeting. What's your motive then? What's going on here? You could be working for Molokov for all I know.

SILVIUS: Perhaps Freddie's waiting for me on the terrace. If you'll excuse me.

(SILVIUS walks over to the open terrace and sighs, looking back into the room at ANATOLY)

SILVIUS

This is the one situation
I wanted most to avoid
Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick

ANATOLY (still sitting at the table though he's watching Silvius out on the Terrace)

A drink on a clear moonlit night - I relax, he smiles
There's something peculiar going on

SILVIUS

So with immaculate timing, I'm left to carry the can
Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned -

ANATOLY

Now he can't be working for them - I mean us -
He seems so very straightforward -
But where is Freddie?

SILVIUS

Freddie has to come back - he wanted this meeting, well didn't he?

ANATOLY

Maybe Freddie's scared - just as scared as he was in the game

SILVIUS

Oh I just couldn't care less
He can go right ahead, go and wreck his career
I know I've done my best

ANATOLY (looking intensely at SILVIUS now)

Well at least he's a good-looking spy...

SILVIUS

What if my Russian friend thinks that my plans
Are more of an intimate kind?
If I don't say something and soon
He'll go - maybe I'm on nobody's side!

ANATOLY (comes out onto the terrace now and stands in front of SILVIUS)

Listen, I hate to break up the mood
Get to the point, begin the beguine
Haven't you noticed we're a protagonist short
In this idyllic, well-produced scene?

SILVIUS

All I can say is moments ago
He was right here - ready and waiting

ANATOLY

Never mind him - I haven't missed him so far

BOTH

Maybe it won't do any harm
To struggle on without his charm?
Funny how all at once I feel
That he can go jump off the mountain I won't care

(SILVIUS starts to leave the terrace, confused by what he is feeling. ANATOLY grabs SILVIUS by the hand and turns him back round to face him. They look into each other's eyes deeply, both obviously feeling the mood of the moment)

SILVIUS

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid

ANATOLY

My dear opponent - I really can't imagine why

SILVIUS

So I am not dangerous then?
What a shame!

ANATOLY

Oh you're not dangerous - who could think that of you?

BOTH

You - you are so strange - why can't you be what you ought to be?
You should be scheming, intriguing, too clever by half

ANATOLY

I have to hand it to you
For you've managed to make me forget why I ever agreed to this farce.

(ANATOLY finds himself unable to resist and pulls SILVIUS into his arms, holding him closely)

BOTH

I don't know why I can't think of anything
I would rather do
Than be wasting my time
On mountains with you

(As the last word is sung both ANATOLY and SILVIUS realize they can no longer fight what they feel. ANATOLY moans softly then leans in and kisses SILVIUS passionately, the kiss igniting the very air round the two men. FREDERICK now enters the scene and stares at the two of them in shock. Over a minute later that shock turns to anger. They don't seem to be noticing him at all, nor even attempting to part from their all too heated kiss. Another minute passes and the two still have not broken off the kiss...not to mention ANATOLY's hands are beginning to wander off to places they clearly shouldn't be wandering...

Though the audience doesn't hear it Sirius hisses 'Snape, Remus...quit it!' through his teeth before Severus and Remus apparently remember exactly where they are. The two part now as they see Sirius looking at them both with daggers, which both men know for sure is a completely real look, and not just merely for the benefit of the play. Sirius obviously continues on, though Severus and Remus can't seem to keep their eyes off each other...)

FREDDIE (still glaring at SILVIUS AND ANATOLY)

Who'd ever think it?
Such a very pretty setting!
Tell me what's the betting
Very pretty plotting too?
No matter - I've done all your work for you.

SILVIUS (looks at FREDERICK now a bit guilty now and clears his throat): Freddie, I'm sorry...this shouldn't be happening...

FREDDIE: What do all Soviets deserve, Silvius? Have you forgotten? Well you'll soon remember!

Who'd ever guess it?
Son in collaboration
With the very nation that
Gave his father the third degree!
Where's Daddy? Dead or in the KGB?

(MOLOKOV suddenly arrives and feels the tension in the room. He tries to intercede on ANATOLY's behalf, however the three ignore him completely)

SILVIUS: Freddie, it's all my fault....

ANATOLY: No, it was my fault. Mister Vassy was merely trying to make me realize how wrong I was. Please accept my apology for eating yogurt during the match.

FREDDIE: I'm taking no apologies, Sergievsky. This is personal now.

SILVIUS: Freddie -

FREDDIE: Shut up, Silvius! The match is on, Sergievsky. You be there tomorrow.

MOLOKOV (clapping his hands together): Wonderful. It seems we have all made up.

FREDDIE (grabs SILVIUS roughly): We're getting the hell out of here.

(FREDDIE drags SILVIUS away)

MOLOKOV (watches the two leave): I'm telling you, this is big. (turns to ANATOLY) An interesting gambit, my friend, keep up the good work.

(ANATOLY says nothing, only give MOLOKOV a not so friendly look then walks away. The lights go dim once more)

*BACKSTAGE...*

'What the hell was that?'

'Siri, calm down.'

'I will NOT calm down! You were supposed to barely touch his lips, a few seconds at best. It was NOT supposed to be an over two and half minute long passionate 'I-want-to-fuck-your-brains-out' kiss!' Sirius practically screamed.

'Sirius, watch your language!' Remus shushed angrily and glanced round to make sure no one had heard him.

For some odd reason everyone seemed to have vanished anyway, as if they expected this. Remus then internally groaned knowing that their disappearances really didn't surprise him in the least. Remus himself knew he was heading for this conversation the moment they'd walk off the stage.

Turning back to Sirius Remus merely said, 'And how would you know how long it was? You were counting?'

'Don't push it, Remy, and don't change the subject!' Sirius muttered. 'You told me this would be an innocent peck on the lips. I saw...oh for Merlin's sake...I saw tongues in there!'

'SIRIUS!' Remus groaned, a huge blush now on his face.

'Oh come on, stop acting like the blushing virgin, Remy,' Sirius mumbled.

'If you recall I was a 'blushing virgin' up till only a few years ago,' Remus retorted.

'Yeah...err...well...still...you waited for thirty-five years,couldn't you have waited a bit longer? Like maybe...oh...never? And why'd it have to be with Snape anyway? Honestly, you could have found someone better to lose your - '

'That's enough, Sirius,' Remus said coldly. 'My sex life has never been, is still not, and never will be your concern. Why I waited so long and for whom I waited for is not really your business.'

'It is when you still pine away for that bastard. Just remember that I'm the one that has to live with your pining away day in and day out!' Sirius said angrily.

'Fine, then you won't have to anymore. You're name is cleared now, you've got your family's estate back, all your money...you don't need me anymore. Go home, Sirius,' Remus said with a heavy sigh and began to walk away.

'Remus...Remy...wait!' Sirius pleaded trailing after him. 'You can't meant that...can you? Damn it, Moony, I'm not going to leave you alone now...not when you're dying!'

Remus stopped but didn't turn round, his shoulders slumping. 'Sirius...I love you very much, you know that. You're my best friend, my pack-mate, my blood-brother...but when this play is over...I want you to get your things from the flat...and go.'

Turning back round now Remus looked at Sirius and gave him an encouraging smile. 'Go find your life again, Padfootand stop worrying about me. The doctors at St. Mungo'ssaid I've got a few more months. I'll make sure to let you know before anything happens.'

Sirius seemed to debate over something then asked quietly, 'Maybe...maybe you should tell Snape about this, Remy? Maybe there's something he can do...slow it down or something. At least he should know about your s- '

'No, Sirius, we've already discussed this,' Remussaid firmly, cutting Sirius off mid-word, then looking at Sirius's forlorn expression he sighed deeply. 'I already told you, I don't want to involve Severus in this. It's not his fault, he has no idea what I did or why I did it...and he'd never accept the situation anyway. I don't want him forced into anything that would make him hate me, all right?' Remus pleaded.

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair nervously, looking at Remus sadly. He reached out for a moment to put his hand on his friend's shoulder, but drew back. 'Sure, Remy, but if you ask me, much as I hate to say it...he really does deserve to know about everything. For now though...let's just get through tonight. We can talk again later about this.'

'I think we're done talking, Siri, there's really nothing more to say. I'll see you on stage,' he said and walked away, this time without Sirius following. Sirius went off in the opposite direction, a sadness to him that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Severus stepped out of the shadows, a look of surprise and shock on his face. 'You waited...all those years...for me?' he whispered in awe. Then the last bits of the conversation filtered through him and he had to hold back a strangled cry. 'So Black isn't the reason you've been looking so ill lately. Why didn't you tell me, Re?' he said, his voice clearly pained.

Then a determined look came into his eyes. 'I'm not going to lose you, I don't care what you say, Remus. Black you best be free after next scene...because you're going to tell me exactly what's going on here...if I have to beat it out of you so help me I will!' he muttered, and turned on his heel and walked off.

'Well...that...was different,' Harry said stepping out of the shadows now.

'Lupin's dying? Did you know about that?' Draco asked as he too stepped out of the shadows.

Harry shook his head. 'No, no one said a word to me. I wonder what's wrong with him? And I wonder what else happened that he thinks Snape would hate him?' he asked puzzled.

'We'll find out soon enough, we don't have time to worry about it now, scene's changing again,' Draco said looking out at the stage. 'This means though that Plan A isn't needed anymore.'

Harry nodded. 'Nope, Snape's doing fine on his own I reckon.'

'Good, that means we can move on to Plan B,' Dracosaid mysteriously.

Harry raised an eyebrow in curiosity. 'I don't recall there being a 'Plan B', Draco. What's up your sleeve, huh?'

Draco chuckled and shook his head. 'You'll see. Now come on, we have to get ready.'

Harry grumbled in frustration. 'All right. But you will tell me what it is you've got planned right?'

Draco grinned and nodded. 'Oh believe me, Harry, you'll be the first to know. That I promise.'