Act Two

Prologue

19.03.74             Лебеди́ное Óзеро             ЦЕНА
Начало                                                      1500 руб.
В 17:00                                                       Партнёр
Театральная пл., 1 Москва Россия 125009
ВХОДНОЙ                                          ВХОДНОЙ
  БИЛЕТ                                                 БИЛЕТ

   Партер
       Ряд 7          Место 12

ВХОДНОЙ                                          ВХОДНОЙ
  БИЛЕТ                                                 БИЛЕТ

The Feltsman family settles down in their black ZIL 114, clicking the seatbelts locked. "Ready?" Mr. Feltsman looks over to his wife who sat in the front passenger seat. She turns her chin up, nodding her head. "Yes, yes. I do not want to be late." Mr. Feltsman returns his focus to the front, inserting the vehicle's keys into the ignition before turning the engine on. Their only son sat on the backseat bench, leaning into the firm leather cushion behind him. "Oh, Yasha I am so glad you could join us. You're going to love the ballet." His mother chimes, looking over the seat to her son.

"Well, I'm happy you invited me." The tall man responds, looking out the back window as his father drives them to the City Center of Moscow. "I'm ecstatic that you came to visit, Yasha." His mother smiles sweetly in the rear-view mirror. Yakov glances up to meet her slowly aging reflection, smiling back with his thin blush tinted lips. He has something to tell his mother. The news he has to share was the whole reason for his last-minute visit home. Yakov had been living in Saint Petersburg for the past eleven years due to his professional skating career.

His skating career.

The man was already approaching his thirties, becoming well past the prime age for a professional skater. He knows he is getting too old to be competing in the seniors any longer. His father was already aware. They had previously spoken on the phone earlier in the week. Now it was his mother he had to inform about his retirement. It is not going to be easy. Yakov has only been home for a few hours and within them, he would exchange glances with his father, silently asking when the right time was. His father would just barely shake his head from side to side, wanting him to wait. Not on the night she's been looking forward to for the past three months.

The ballets were her favorite. She would always have to fake the surprised expression every time her husband bought her tickets. His mother was a retired ballerina. Back in her day, she wasn't as big and known as the ballerinas of this generation. Since she used to dance, she decided on coaching younger students how to dance the graceful beauty she knew so fluently. It was as easy as breathing in oxygen.

Yakov did look up to his mother for that. The fact that she didn't let go of something she adored so dearly for more than half of her life. Yakov plans to do the same. His mother may be devastated to see him leave such a beautiful and frustrating sport but he would pass his knowledge down to the younger skaters and become a coach. The ride was silent other than an old cassette playing in the car stereo. Most likely Alla Bayanova from his best guess. His parents were on the wealthy side, living only a few miles outside of the city. Traveling wasn't a big deal for them, especially for the ballets.

Once the trio arrives at the Bolshoi Theater, Yakov's father drops him and his mother off near the front before going to park the car. Yakov then escorts his mother into the large building, linking arms with her. "Oh... I've missed this place dearly." His mother smiles, embracing the familiar decorated scenery along the antique walls and ceiling. Yakov takes it in as well, intrigued by the grand white staircases. "Oh, Yasha you're going to love the show. I just know it. The theater is so breathtaking." His mother hums, leading him towards a check-in desk.