Anatoly and Svetlana: All or Nothing
Minsk
1986
Anatoly Sergievsky paused from his chess practice in order to answer a knock at his door.
"Comrade Sergievsky," said the bellhop.
"Yes, what is it?" asked Anatoly.
"There's a call for you at the front desk," said the bellhop. "It's your wife."
Anatoly groaned.
"Is something wrong, comrade?" asked the bellhop.
"No," said Anatoly. "I'll be down shortly."
"Svetlana," greeted Anatoly a few minutes later as he picked up the phone.
"Hello, my dear," greeted his wife. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."
"Nothing like that," lied Anatoly. "I've just been very busy."
"Yes, I imagine these propaganda tours must be very taxing," said Svetlana.
"More than you can imagine," said Anatoly.
"I'm glad you'll be home soon," said Svetlana. "The children miss you terribly."
"I miss them too," said Anatoly. "And I miss you. But I'm afraid I have some bad news on that subject. Molokov wants me to open an amusement park outside of Kiev."
Svetlana sighed. "Of course he does!"
"I'm truly sorry, my dear."
"Could you not, just this once, tell him no?" begged Svetlana.
"I'm not really in a position to do that."
"And just whose fault is that?" argued Svetlana.
"Mine," confessed Anatoly. "And mine alone. But I cannot change what I've done in the past."
"Yes, what you've done in the past," said Svetlana. "It makes me wonder if this has anything at all to do with Molokov."
"What is that supposed to mean?" demanded Anatoly.
"You know exactly what it means," said Svetlana.
"You believe I'm consorting with another woman," surmised Anatoly.
"You have been known to do that," observed Svetlana.
"I wish we could just put all of that behind us," said Anatoly.
"I do, too," said Svetlana, "But I fear nothing has really changed between us."
Anatoly:
I know we we've been on your mind
That distant look is in your eyes
I thought with time you'd realize
It's over, over
It's not the way I'd chose to live
But something, somewhere's got to give
As sharing this relationship
Gets older, older
Svetlana:
You know I'd fight for you
But how can I fight someone
Who isn't even there
I've had the rest of you
Now I want the best of you
I don't care if that's not fair
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's nowhere left to fall
When you reach the bottom
It's now...or never
Is it all?
Or are we just friends?
Is this how it ends?
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here
With nothing at all
Anatoly:
There are times it seems to me
I'm sharing you in memories
I feel it in my heart but I
Don't show it, show it
Svetlana:
And then there's times you look at me
As though I'm all that you can see
Those times I don't believe it's right
I know it, know it
Anatoly and Svetlana:
Don't make my promises
Baby, you never did
Know how to keep them well
I've had the rest of you
Now I want the best of you
It's time to show and tell
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's nowhere left to fall
When you reach the bottom
It's now...or never
Is it all?
Anatoly:
Or are we just friends?
Svetlana:
Is this how it ends?
Anatoly and Svetlana:
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here
With nothing...
Svetlana:
'Cause you...and I
Could lose it all
If you've got no more room
No room...inside
Anatoly:
For you in my life
Svetlana:
'Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's nowhere left to fall
It's now or never
(Anatoly and Svetlana twice more through the chorus)
"I have to go, dear," said Anatoly. "I promise, we'll sort all of this out when I get home."
"I really hope so," said Svetlana. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
End of Scene #2
Song Credit:
"All or Nothing"
Written by Clive Davis & Steve Mac
Originally performed by O-Town
From the album O-Town (2001)
