[Brief excerpt of beginning]

Scene I.

Zhenya monologically. Rhythm interrupted. Lyosha set rhythm. A sense of cutting loose. Attitude of boredom to theme. Lyosha plays for himself. The conversation turns out to be common, every-day type. Alcestis is never nervous... No big deal, a chat... Zhenya tries to save the scene. Where is that quality of "rave on with severe sincerity!?"...