Chess [musical] - The Deal [No Deal] [In Concert, 2008]

[THE ARBITER]

Isn't it strange the complications people attach to situations

Almost as if they want to miss the wood for the trees?

Nothing will change my basic feeling

When they have done all their wheeler-dealing--

Those in the strongest situations do as they please

(spoken)

You might see all kinds of human emotion here-- passion and pain, love and hate

(sung)

I see nothing other than a simple board game!

(spoken)

At the Dusit Thani hotel, Bangkok, Alexander Molokov makes his move

[MOLOKOV, spoken]

We did not bring you to Bangkok for a holiday, my dear. You must tell your husband he has to lose the match and come home. Talk to Anatoly!

(sung)

You can have the life you want

And anywhere you want it

(spoken)

But if Anatoly wins, life is going to be very tough for you and your children. Tell Anatoly that!

(sung)

Make him think of you, not narcissistic dreams of glory

How many times does he want to be champion, anyway?

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

Two days later, the wife, Svetlana Sergievsky, makes her move

[SVETLANA, spoken]

How many times do you want to be champion, anyway? Come home, Anatoly!

(sung)

Who needs a dream? Who needs ambition?

Who'd be the fool in my position?

Once I had dreams...

[ANATOLY]

Now they’re obsessions

Hopes became needs, lovers possessions

[SVETLANA]

Now you're where you want to be and who you want to be

And doing what you always said you would

And yet you know you haven't won at all

Running for your life and never looking back

In case there is someone right behind to shoot you down

And say he always knew you'd fall

When that crazy wheel slows down

Where will you be? Back where you started!

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

And at the Oriental Hotel, Walter de Courcy from Global Television plays his opening gambit

[WALTER, spoken]

You father is alive

[FLORENCE, spoken]

My father? Alive?

[WALTER, spoken]

Alive in Russia--30 years in prison

[FLORENCE, spoken]

And you think I would believe you?

[WALTER, spoken]

Well, the evidence is conclusive, and if you don't believe me, Anatoly will. Now, you get him to lose against Viigand, and Molokov assures me he can get your father out. And not only him

(sung)

We have some people to recover

I know that you would simply love a

Chance to make sure your father's name was high on our list

We want him back, which is to say a

Gesture is needed from your player

We wouldn't mind if he got beaten, in fact we insist

[FLORENCE]

There must be a lie you wouldn't tell me

A limit to your devious ambition

But what it could be, I can't imagine

Is there no one here who's not a politician?

(spoken)

There's no deal!

(sung)

When I was young

I learned that memories shouldn't be built to last

Luxuries, such as father, mother, jettisoned in the past

How can a half-remembered figure

From a past so remote that it's hardly real

Alter the way I feel?

Pity the child, who 25 years on

Finds her confidence gone!

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

While in subterranean marble surroundings, two of the world's most powerful players make a mid-game assessment

[WALTER]

You should have seen how she reacted

I couldn't leave till she'd extracted

Promises she would see her father, simple I said

Told her the way she could achieve this

Even though you might not believe this

She said that I was not to worry, go right ahead!

[MOLOKOV]

You don't know her well

She could have fooled you

She could despite herself try to resist us

[WALTER]

Yes, I may be wrong, but to be certain

There are others we can call in to assist us

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

And who better than a dethroned king?

[WALTER, spoken]

Now remember who's been paying for you to be here, Freddie, in Bangkok. We have a deal with the Soviets to get some people out, including Florence's father, provided Anatoly loses and gets on back to Moscow. You'd like that, wouldn't you, huh?

[FREDDIE]

Communist, democrat

An intriguing collusion!

Fair exchange, tit for tat

Comradeship in profusion

[with echos from MOLOKOV and WALTER]

And the appeal, partner

Of this deal, partner

Is we both stand to win

You and me, the lady also

Don't break her heart, partner;

Just be smart, partner

Throw the match, show your love

Is as pure as snow in Moscow

Thank God we are so civilized

And our word can be our bond

We can turn this into friendship for life

And beyond

[ANATOLY]

Refugee, total shit

That's how I've always seen us

Not a help, you'll admit

To agreement between us!

[with echos from MOLOKOV and WALTER]

There's no deal, partner

Who's your real partner?

Could there be just a chance

That you have got some heavy clients?

[FREDDIE, with echos from MOLOKOV and WALTER]

That's not true, partner

How could you, partner

Think I'd want to pursue any deal but our alliance?

How can you only think of your selfish ambition

And not of her position?

Or you'd rather perhaps see her world collapse

(spoken)

For a tinpot competition!

[ANATOLY, spoken]

Who put you up to this? There's no deal!

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

So Frederick makes a desperate final play for the woman he hasn't seen in a year

[FREDDIE]

Silly boy, woman who

I should not have let walk out

There's no hitch that we two

Can't untangle or talk out

[with echos from MOLOKOV and WALTER]

And the appeal, partner

Of this deal, partner

Is we both stand to win

We will bring back the golden era

Stick with me, honey;

Leave him be, honey

You don't know what they have planned for you

Long ago in Moscow

[FLORENCE]

Can't you see we've moved on?

(spoken)

Chess has nothing to do with this. Chess isn't life

[FREDDIE, spoken]

But I have changed. He won't help you with your father. Anatoly would never throw any match. I'm telling you the truth, Florence. Come back to me

[ANATOLY & FLORENCE]

Who'd ever think it? Such a squalid little ending

Watching him descending just as low as he can go

I'm learning things I didn't want to know

[ANATOLY, FLORENCE & FREDDIE]

Who'd ever guess it? This would be the situation

One more complication should be neither here nor there!

I wish I had it in me not to care!

[ANATOLY]

Let him spill out his hate till he knows he's deserted

There's no point wasting time preaching to the perverted

[ALL]

Who'd ever think it?

No one makes the moves intended

Till the game has ended

Then they say I told you so

I'm learning things I didn't want to know

[FREDDIE, spoken]

It can all be different now, Florence. I love you. Come back to me!

[THE ARBITER]

Everybody's playing the game

But nobody's rules are the same

[ALL except FREDDIE]

Nobody's on nobody's side...

[FLORENCE]

Never be the first!

[ALL except FREDDIE] + (FLORENCE)

Everybody's playing the game

But nobody's rules are the same

Nobody's on nobody's side! (Never be the last to deceive!)

• Artist:Chess (musical)
• Album:ss In Concert (2008 Live)