Molokov has, however, been making plans for his own first move against the Americans. He realises that Florence is a key factor in Freddie’s success, so he tries to disarm him through her. He has leaked to the press some information about Florence’s past, information she would rather have kept private. It seems that nobody knew about her Hungarian origins and her father’s involvement with the 1956 uprising. Now it is destined to be spread across the world’s newspapers – a brilliant and effective first attack by Molokov. He has leaked just enough information to make it unclear if Florence’s father was for or against the Russians and this has given the press plenty of scope for speculation. They begin to question Freddie about his lover’s past, but he refuses to answer any of them and in a pathetic attempt to regain some ground he stages a walk out, but not before lunging at Molokov and grabbing him by his jacket lapels. The Russian delegates intervene and Freddie storms out. As he goes he expresses his opinion to the press - that the Russians must be extremely frightened of losing if they have resorted to underhand tactics even before the game has begun.
The Press then turns on Florence and they follow her as she tries to follow Freddie. She gives up that idea eventually and she stays in the upstage area of the arena and faces the barrage of questions the reporters throw at her. Meanwhile, downstage Molokov tries to convince Anatoly that Freddie is losing his grip on reality. Anatoly is less than convinced about this and he tries to make Molokov see that his opponent may be many things but he is not mad!
Molokov then turns his thoughts to Florence and suggests to Anatoly that she is Freddie’s weakness. If they can get at her, they automatically get at Freddie. She may be his secret weapon, but they can use her to disarm Freddie in a way that will destroy his game. Anatoly is having none of this and he makes certain that Molokov knows it.
Molokov however is determined to salvage what he can from the press conference, he convinces Anatoly to allow the press to take a few more pictures before they leave. He moves upstage to alert the press about this perfect photo opportunity that is waiting for them.
Anatoly is furious about the bug in Freddie’s room. He realises that things have already started to get out of hand. This is just another example of how Molokov and his KGB cronies are ruling his life. He’s beginning to see that he needs to make changes in his world and the sooner he can the better for him. He’s made his first move against Molokov by refusing to go along with his plan to ‘steal’ the American’s woman, but there are so many other things wrong with his life that he finds it difficult to see quite how he can put them right. While Molokov is still upstage, Anatoly returns to the chess table and begins repositioning the fallen chess pieces. While he does so, he reflects further on how his life is being manipulated by everybody around him.
Molokov eventually returns with the press and with Florence. She unwittingly has fallen into Molokov’s trap and has agreed to speak with him after the press have gone. She is unaware that what Molokov really wants is a photograph of Anatoly and Florence together. He knows that such a picture in the morning papers would enrage Freddie and that’s exactly what he wants. He almost gets it, but Anatoly realises what he’s doing and brings the photo opportunity to an end, but not before some photos have been taken. All of this has been taking place during the final chorus of the song and it is at the end of the song that Anatoly begins to retaliate against Molokov and refuses to have anymore photographs taken. He feels a strange sympathy for Florence and seeing her being manipulated in much the same way as he is, makes him want to do what he can to help her. The Arbiter calls the conference to a close and the members of the press leave.