: (in a strangled, panicked voice) I didn't make an appointment with anyone here, you've got me confused with someone else. I'm not…

VACHAGAN: (interrupts in a grave voice) I know all about you. Even what you don't know! Haven't you ever wondered about the sincerity of your friends?.. close… colleagues? At the time of choosing the necessary parameters for life, you preferred the standard set. Therefore, you are always guided by what you see, like most people… But today I'll give you the gift you've been dreaming about for so long. From now on, you will not only see, but also hear your opponent.

PHILIP: what? What does it mean? Who are you? How do you know…

VACHAGAN: (interrupts in a grave voice) Now you will hear the true thoughts of a person. This gift will be given to you for as long as you wish. Yes, be careful, try not to go crazy after you see the "true faces" of people…

PHILIP: Vachagan? What a strange name… Who are you?

VACHAGAN: (with a grin) Hah… also my desire… Well, hold on… Good luck!

Flash, thunder, lights go out.

There is a startled cry from Philip.

Plays loud rhythmic mysterious music (recommended introduction to "the sorcerer's Doll")

CURTAIN

The music stops.

ZTM

END OF THE FIRST ACTION

ACT TWO

PHILIP'S HOUSE

Philip is asleep in his bed, and his wife is not there.

The alarm goes off, Philip groans, wakes up, turns off the alarm, sits on the bed, holds his head in his hands.

Yana enters the room in her home clothes, Slippers, no manicure on her hands, no trace of her hair left.

Yana carries a plate of porridge for her husband, a piece of bread, a spoon.

YANA: are You awake? Here you go, eat the rice you like sweetened.

Yana gives the plate to her husband, he looks at his wife in a dazed way, accepts the plate, thinks something to himself, and begins to eat.

YANA: Well, tell me. What happened to you yesterday?

Philip looks up from his meal and looks at his wife strangely.

PHILIPP: What happened to me yesterday?

YANA: I don'T know… You came in late, all wet and drunk… It looks like you ate some raw mushrooms that you picked, and who knows what you picked there, because in the basket that you brought, there were only a few bitten White legs, one red leg, a couple of spat Buttercups that didn't seem to be to your taste, and a hat of Aspen.

YANA's voice in THE recording: But you didn't get poisoned, you bastard, you just gave me hope for nothing…

Philip shudders. He looks around with wide eyes, then looks at his wife. He scratches his ear and shakes his head.

PHILIPP:

YANA's VOICE in the recording: Aha, it looks like a couple of toadstools did shoot. It's kind of slow… there's something wrong with the rumors. Maybe there's still a chance…

Philip shudders again. He looks directly at his wife. The porridge from the plate in his hand begins to fall to the floor, Philip doesn't notice, his mouth opens in surprise, and he begins to understand what is happening.

Yana looks at him as if nothing has happened, with the humble, decent look of a wife.

YANA'S VOICE IN THE RECORDING: (Joyous) So… So… well,well,well,well… It looks like my prayers were answered after all. Well, come on, honey, well davaaaaay....

YANA: I say, I was worried about you, no matter how poisoned. I don't know where I went, what I did. He came home looking strange and thoughtful. I was even afraid to approach you. I looked around the corner as you struggled to undress and fell asleep. So I ask… What happened, my dear? How are you? The porridge is falling on the floor, be careful… Everything okay?

PHILIPP: (sighs) Phew… I don't understand it myself. Some kind of haze. So I got drunk last night? Probably because of this. I was in such a downpour yesterday. All the world was cursed. It would be better to sit with his beloved wife at home, watch a movie. Why didn't you stop me?

YANA's VOICE in the RECORDING: (Annoyance) Why the hell would you give me up here, sit with you and watch a movie? I think it's a false alarm. Held by a cucumber. Know neomails.

YANA: (trembling) I… didn't think of it. I respect your choice. A man must have his own space, well… I thought you would relax, gain strength, come home happy, rested…

Philip looks doubtfully at his wife, strokes his chin with the palm of his hand, puts the porridge aside.

YANA's voice in the recording: (indignantly) What are you looking at, goat?

YANA: Something wrong, my love?

PHILIP: (holding back feelings) Hmm… uh-huh… all clear… favorite means…

YANA: (Gently) Yes, my love…

YANA'S voice in the recording: (indignantly) Favorite – favorite… was once… my mother's, I guess… Who else would love you, a poor one… However… there was one fool… How did I fall for it? I don't know.