Svetlana then makes her attack on Florence. She tries to make her feel guilty by telling her that although she thinks she’s making Anatoly happy, she’s really destroying him. She knows better how to help him and what he needs. She also tries to get Florence to convince Freddie to throw the match. If she loves Anatoly then she should be willing to do what’s best for him. Florence tells her she can’t ask Freddie to throw the match and that he wouldn’t do it anyway. In that case, Svetlana suggests that she should just get out of Bangkok and leave the men to fight their battle on their own.
Florence walks away - very close to tears. She leaves the banquet hall and goes into the hotel gardens. She takes a seat on the terrace and begins to read the documents about her father. As she does so, she reflects on everything that's been happening. The information in the envelope does seem to be genuine, maybe it is true, maybe her father is still alive! She begins to realise her moves have become indecisive and that she has been doing what is right for everybody else. Maybe it’s time for her to start thinking about herself – make a bold and a firm decision. Only a strong attack will get her through this and she decides to make it. She returns to the banquet hall and looks for Freddie. As she walks back into the banquet hall she sees various groups of people chatting and no doubt plotting their own little schemes. She reminds herself that everybody is out to help themselves, she must keep telling herself this and go ahead with what she’s decided to do.
Sub Scene 10 (Florence and Freddie)
Eventually she finds Freddie and she asks him to throw the game. She’s convinced that her father is alive and she must get him out. Freddie says he loves her, but he can not bring himself to throw the game!
Sub Scene 11 (Florence and Anatoly)
Florence’s move has failed. She is now in an even weaker position than before, as Anatoly is furious when she tells him what she has done. He now feels inferior, as she has made it clear that even she doesn’t believe that he can beat Freddie. He tries to deflect some of this by blaming Florence for ruining his game and blocks anymore attacks from her by asking that she leave him alone until after the tournament.
Florence runs away, once again almost in tears. Svetlana goes to put her hand on Anatoly’s shoulder, but he shrugs it off and walks away. She shouts after him, but he ignores her and she is left stranded in the middle of the banquette hall. She turns and storms out.
The Arbiter and the press begin to reflect on what’s been happening. The banquet room gradually clears and the screens begin to move to create two new scenes.
I KNOW HIM SO WELL
