PRELUDE

The hotel guests are in groups around the lobby. The Arbiter reads privately.

GUESTS
WE ARE A WORLD AWAY FROM WHERE WE STARTED
THOUGH ALL THE RULES EXPECTED NEVER CAME
SOME PIECES FELL BUT THEY HAVE NOT DEPARTED
AND OTHERS CHASED AWAY BUT STAYED THE SAME
THERE ARE NO RULES, FOR THIS IS NOT A GAME.

(Guests return to their rooms as the focus moves to the Arbiter and the Embassy set-up appears downstage.)

ARBITER
Of course, it's obvious now why Walter's gambit took Anatoly to the British Embassy. It means that he can deny any American involvement in the defection. He won't fool many people. And even if he does, he may regret having chosen the British escape route.

EMBASSY LAMENT

Walter and Anatoly queue with various tourists for the attention of two Embassy Officials. A secretary types in rhythm. The Officials glimpse Anatoly’s papers.

EMBASSY OFFICIALS
OH MY DEAR HOW BORING
HE'S DEFECTING
JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHERS
HE'S EXPECTING
US TO BE IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HE'S DONE HERE
BUT HE
HASN'T STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT THE PAPERWORK
HIS GESTURE CAUSES
WE'VE AN EMBASSY TO RUN HERE
IF THESE PEOPLE CAN'T STRIKE BLOWS FOR FREEDOM
WITH A VALID VISA
WE DON'T NEED 'EM
IF WE SEEM OFFHAND THEN PLEASE REMEMBER
THIS IS NOTHING VERY SPECIAL
HE'S THE FOURTH WE'VE HAD SINCE LAST NOVEMBER
WHO DO THESE FOREIGN CHAPPIES THINK THEY ARE?

AND WHEN HE'S SAFELY IN THE WEST
HE'LL BE THE HERO TO DISCUSS
THE MEDIA WILL LIONISE HIM
FAME AND FORTUNE PLUS
NO ONE WILL RECALL IT'S THANKS TO US.

HAVE YOU AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CONSUL?
IF YOU DON'T WE KNOW WHAT HIS RESPONSE'LL
BE, HE WILL NOT SEE YOU, WITH RESPECT IT
BUGGERS UP HIS VERY TAXING SCHEDULE
PUSHING PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING
LET US HOPE THIS WON'T AFFECT IT
FAR TOO MANY JOKERS CROSS THE BORDER
NOT A SINGLE DOCUMENT IN ORDER
EUROPE IS A BLOODY FREE FOR ALL NOW
EXTRA WORK FOR US BUT YOU DON'T CARE
OH HOW WE MISS THE BERLIN WALL, NOW
WHO DO THESE FOREIGN CHAPPIES THINK THEY ARE?

AND WHEN YOU'VE FILLED IN ALL THE FORMS
AND BEEN PASSED CLEAR OF ALL DISEASE
DEBRIEFED DEBUGGED DEDRUGGED DISARMED
AND DISINFECTED, PLEASE
DON'T FORGET THE GUYS WHO CUT YOUR KEYS.