HEAVEN HELP MY HEART/FINALE

The Arbiter makes an astonishing announcement. During the last few moments of the Freddie/Florence argument we have been aware of great activity between the Arbiter and his assistants, culminating in his statement.)

ARBITER (a paper in hand)
I've just been informed that the challenger, Anatoly Sergievsky, has applied for political assylum at the British embassy. He wishes it to be known that this will not affect his participation in this contest.

Pandemonium - especially from:

MOLOKOV
What?

SVETLANA
He can't!

MOLOKOV
He has no travel restrictions, what more does he want?

SVETLANA
He's crazy!

MOLOKOV
And he's winning!

ARBITER (continuing to read)
And he hopes that this difficult personal decision will not affect his play or that of his opponent.

(‘Huh!’ from Freddie, as an Arbiter’s Assistant appears bearing flowers - Thai orchids)

These, apparently, are for you, Miss Vassy.

SVETLANA (to Molokov)
No, Alexander. No!

ARBITER
A nice gesture -

FREDDIE
A nice gesture! He’s screwed me!

(Taking the flowers, Florence proceeds downstage, the focus of blame, interest and hostility)

FLORENCE
IF IT WERE LOVE I WOULD GIVE THAT LOVE EVERY SECOND I HAD
AND I DO
DID I KNOW WHERE HE'D LEAD ME TO?
DID I PLAN DOING ALL OF THIS FOR THE LOVE OF A MAN?

WELL I LET IT HAPPEN ANYHOW
AND WHAT I'M FEELING NOW
HAS NO EASY EXPLANATION, REASON PLAYS NO PART
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART
I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH
WHAT IF HE SAW MY WHOLE EXISTENCE
TURNING AROUND A WORD, A SMILE, A TOUCH?

ONE OF THESE DAYS, AND IT WON'T BE LONG, HE'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT ME
THAN HE SHOULD
ALL MY DREAMS WILL BE UNDERSTOOD
NO SURPRISE
NOTHING MORE TO LEARN FROM THE LOOK IN MY EYES

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT TIME IS NOT MY FRIEND?
I'LL FIGHT IT TILL THE END
HOPING TO KEEP THAT BEST OF MOMENTS
WHEN THE PASSIONS START
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART
THE DAY THAT I FIND
SUDDENLY I'VE RUN OUT OF SECRETS
SUDDENLY I'M NOT ALWAYS ON HIS MIND

MAYBE IT'S BEST TO LOVE A STRANGER
WELL THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE - HEAVEN HELP MY...

ALL
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART

ANATOLY (re-enters)
MOVES MADE ON THE SPUR OF
THE MOMENT
ARE THE MOVES THAT SET YOU FREE

FLORENCE
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART

(Anatoly moves to Florence - they embrace)

FREDDIE (observing)
ONE OF THESE DAYS AND IT WON'T BE LONG
HE'LL KNOW ALL ABOUT HER -

FLORENCE
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART

SVETLANA
HOW TO FIGHT
HOW TO HATE
WHEN THE SADNESS WEARS ME DOWN

FLORENCE
HEAVEN HELP MY HEART

ALL (CHORALE IN HALF-TIME)
ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK
AND THE WORLD'S IN TURMOIL
NOT MUCH BETWEEN DESPAIR AND ECSTASY
NOT MUCH BETWEEN DESPAIR AND ECSTASY!

END OF ACT ONE