Play on 3, 4, 5 people. As if I gave it to you - Николай Владимирович Лакутин

to the side, without looking at it. It is not clear to whom or for whom.

No one understands except him and Galina, who pays attention to this gesture. Her gaze changes. The shyness disappears. She looks at the bottle with genuine interest and admiration. Coming closer… closer… Takes the bottle in his hands, Herman lets go, cognac, lowers his head, does not look at Galina.

Galina hugs the bottle to her chest, comes up behind Herman and gently hugs him.

Masha doesn't understand anything at all. Looks at the whole situation, being in complete confusion.

MASHA: Can you explain? I'm something… understand nothing. What does it all mean?

GALINA (affectionately, continuing to hug Herman tremulously): You just don't know what this bottle is, friend…

MASHA: As far as I understand alcohol, I dare to assume that it is cognac!

GALINA (lets go of Hermann, coming to her friend): This is the bottle we bought on our first date. In order to drink it on the second. (He pauses a moment, savoring the memory) But, on the second date, she somehow didn't get around to it. (He pauses a moment, savoring the memory) It all happened so fast, so fast… In short, it was not up to that. Then… Then a third, a date, a fourth… And the cognac just stood there, waiting for the right moment.

HERMAN (looking up at Galina): And this moment has come!

Galina smiles, looks at the bottle in awe, and holds it tenderly in her hands.

MASHA: Yes, right… Well… it may be the same bottle, the gesture is clear, but this fact is not the same cognac, so much time has passed…

Galina shakes her head.

GALINA (looks at the bottle): This is the cognac… We put our own paintings on it, here they are.

Galina shows the paintings on the bottle to her friend. My friend is delighted.

Galina turns to Herman.

GALINA (gently): You kept it for so many years… You … you waited, you hoped, you believed that there might be something else… Am I right?

Herman looks down.

GALINA (gently): I'll get the glasses.

Galina puts the bottle on the table and goes to the kitchen.

Masha pushes back the chairs and invites Herman to sit at the table.

Herman passes and sits down.

Masha sits down next to me and opens the chocolate bar that I gave her.

MASHA: So… You still love her…

GALINA: Mash … well, look at her yourself, how can you not love her?

Masha clears her throat, rubs her hand over her throat, and strokes the places where her friend has just strangled her.

MASHA: Well… so Yes…

Herman looks longingly in the direction of the departed Galina.

MASHA: what is really the same bottle?

Herman nods in response.

MASHA: Mmm…

Galina returns with three glasses.

Her husband's torn part of her dress is hanging down, but she does not remember it at all.

HERMAN (To Galina, noticing the torn dress): Looks like I'll need to bring a new dress next time. What's yours? Forty-two?

GALINA: What?

Galina suddenly understands what we are talking about and draws attention to herself.

GALINA: A...., this…, no, it's simple… I am now.

Galina runs out of the room, leaving the glasses on the table.

Herman turns a questioning look at Masha, who in response throws up her hands, shrugs her shoulders, and plays with her facial expressions in sympathy.

HERMAN (Mung): She hasn't changed at all…

MASHA: a Jackdaw?

HERMAN: Well yes.

MASHA: Well… I don't know. We often see each other, and when we see them all the time, it is difficult to judge the changes. But you've changed a lot, I can tell you that with complete confidence!

HERMAN: Yes… I won't argue. Moreover, I deliberately changed my image. Change everything.

Herman sighs languidly, takes the bottle, and begins to open it.

HERMAN: After we broke up, I..... At first I tried to forget everything, then pour alcohol over everything. This particular bottle almost got handed out, but I managed to stop myself. There were attempts to forget themselves in women, of course… Everything was, but…

In the room quietly enters Galina, she is in a beautiful dress. Herman does not see her, continues to pour out his soul to Masha.

Masha sees her friend, but does not give her away.

HERMAN: You Know, Mash… How many girls in my life I have not met…, none of them even close to Galya was not standing. I'm sorry, it's probably not very nice for you to hear…

MASHA: Everything is fine.

HERMAN: She is… I don't know how to say it. It's real, you know? She is a real gift of fate. I did not appreciate this gift… In the end, I lost it.

Galya carefully creeps back, so as not to catch the eye of Herman. He stands behind the partition and listens.

Herman pours cognac into the glasses, a little at a time.

HERMAN: I… of course, I was reckless when I came here. No one called me, or would have, of course. I understand that Gali has her own family now, and she has not been interested in me for a long time. Simply… I just feel bad without her, Mash. Very bad. After all this time, I still can't forget her. Or maybe… maybe I just don't want to forget her. I really wanted to see her at least once more.

Herman takes his glass, drinks it, puts it back empty, stands up.

HERMAN: I will go. I don't want to cause any problems, I understand everything.

Herman goes to the exit, Masha takes off, runs after Herman, but does not know what to do, just manages to throw up her hands and open her mouth, looking at her friend.

Galina runs into the room.

GALINA: Well, here I am!

Herman turns around and looks at Galina with loving eyes.

Galina shyly lowers her gaze, looks around the table.

GALINA: Oh, I