Svetlana and Anatoly are together, but they could not be farther apart. Anatoly resents his wife for trying to make him go along with Molokov’s plans and also for being yet another obstacle between him and Florence. She tries to talk to him, remind him how she loves him, cares for him and wants what’s best for both of them. She’s convinced that Molokov is only trying to help them, but Anatoly knows this isn’t true and is determined not to let his wife convince him otherwise.
Sub Scene 3 (Molokov and Freddie)
Molokov then makes a move on Freddie. He tries to convince Freddie to throw the match to Anatoly - for the love of Florence. If he throws the game for her and her father then surely she will come rushing back to him. Freddie of course does not believe that her father could be alive and even if he were he would never throw a game to a Russian. He tells Molokov what to do with his scheming ideas. Yet another unsuccessful attack! Still no deal!
Sub Scene 4 (Florence and Anatoly)
Florence finds Anatoly and tells him about the envelope from Walter. Anatoly admits that Molokov had been doing some research into her past and that he very likely had this information on standby just in case it was useful to him. They long to be together right now, but Molokov’s attacks have had some impact and his number one weapon (Svetlana) appears at this point and takes Anatoly away. Florence is left to reflect on her feelings about her past.
Sub Scene 5 (Walter and Molokov)
Walter and Molokov regroup and discuss their success so far. Walter makes it sound like Florence is only too willing to help them and will do anything to get her father back. Molokov though, knows how this game is played and he feels the need to add some additional power to his attacks. He goes to find Svetlana.
Molokov now wants Svetlana to make an attack on Florence. He feels sure that a few aggrieved words from a scorned woman may do more good than anything he or Walter could devise. Svetlana is more than willing to assist.
Sub Scene 7 (Anatoly and Molokov)
Anatoly is furious about Molokov’s new attack on him and Florence. He tells him that he’s wasting his time and that Freddie is never going to throw the match because of some exaggerated story about Florence’s father being alive. Molokov assures him that it’s not exaggerated and that her father is alive. If he (Molokov) can make everything turn out just as he planned, then her father will be released. He’s not an unreasonable man and he will stick to his word. Anatoly walks away, uncertain how to react to this new information.
Freddie then tries to recapture his queen. He’s beginning to realise that he does need her. He can play chess and he can win without her, but he misses her and he wants her back in his life. He tries to convince her that if she were to come back to him they could once again take the chess world by storm and then almost as an afterthought - that he loves her. She is not convinced and believes that it is really only for the love of his game and not for the love of her that he wants her back. He says he loves her, and yet he can’t throw the match!