(B. Andersson / T. Rice / B. Ulvaeus)

A private room in a restaurant half‑way up a mountain in Merano:

FLORENCE

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid
Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick.

THE RUSSIAN

A drink on a clear moonlit night - I relax, she smiles
There's something unpleasant going on

FLORENCE

So with immaculate timing, I'm left to carry the can
Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned

THE RUSSIAN

Now she can't be working for them - I mean us -
She seems so very straightforward - but where is he?

FLORENCE

He has to come back - he wanted this meeting, well didn't he?

THE RUSSIAN

Maybe he's scared - just as scared as he was in the game

FLORENCE

Oh I just couldn't care less
He can go right ahead, go and wreck his career
I know I've done my best

THE RUSSIAN

Well, at least she's a good looking spy.

FLORENCE

What if my Russian friend thinks that my plans
Are more of an intimate kind?
If I don't say something else soon
He'll go – Nobody's on nobody's side.

THE RUSSIAN

Listen, I hate to break up the mood
Get to the point, begin the beguine
Haven't you noticed we're a protaganist short
In this idyllic, well-produced scene?

FLORENCE

All I can say is moments ago
He was right here ready and waiting

THE RUSSIAN

Never mind him - I haven't missed him so far

BOTH

Maybe it won't do any harm
To struggle on without his charm?
Funny how all at once I feel
That he can go jump off the mountain I won't care

FLORENCE

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid

THE RUSSIAN

My dear opponent--I really can't imagine why

FLORENCE

So I am not dangerous then? What a shame!

THE RUSSIAN

Oh you're not dangerous - who could think that of you?

BOTH

You - you are so strange - why can't you be
what you ought to be?
You should be scheming, intriguing,
too clever by half

THE RUSSIAN

I have to hand it to you
For you've managed to make me forget why I ever
agreed to this farce.

BOTH

I don't know why I can't think of anything
I would rather do
Than be wasting my time
On mountains with you

(THE AMERICAN enters to break the mood)