Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)

[MOLOKOV:]
We wish, no, must
Make our disgust
At this abuse perfectly clear
We're here for chess
Are the U.S.?
If so, why foul the atmosphere?

[FLORENCE:]
I must protest
Our delegation
Has a host of valid points to raise
Our player's sporting attitude's
Beyond all praise
As any neutral would attest
But we concede
The fact his masters bend the rules
Is not a player's fault
We'll overlook their crude
Political assault
And under protest will proceed
[MOLOKOV:]
We wish
No, must
Make our disgust
At this
Abuse
Perfectly clear
We're here
For chess
Are the U.S.?
How
Can you
Make such a claim?

[MOLOKOV:]
If your man's so sweet
Then why his fighting talk?
If he's not a cheat
Then why on earth
Did he go take a walk?
[THE ARBITER:]
Point 17
No one-way screen
Will be allowed
In the hall

[MOLOKOV:]
Why let him loose?
He'll soon reduce
This great
Event
To a brawl
It's very sad
To see the ancient and
Distinguished game
That used to be
[FLORENCE:]
I am not surprised
He wanted fresher air
Once he realized
There was no hope
Of your lot playing fair
How sad
To see
What used
To be
[FLORENCE/MOLOKOV:]
A model of decorum and tranquillity
Become like any other sport
A battleground for rival ideologies
To slug it out with glee

[THE RUSSIAN:]
Through the elegant yelling
Of this compelling
Dispute
Comes the ghastly suspicion
My opposition's a fruit

[MOLOKOV:]
We wish, no, must, make our disgust
At this abuse
Perfectly clear
We're here for chess, are the U.S.?
If so, why foul the atmosphere?

[FLORENCE:]
I don't suppose you'd understand
The strain and pressure
Getting where he's got
For then you'd simply call him
Highly strung and not
Imply that he was one of those
[THE ARBITER:]
Point 23
The board
Will be
Made in
Sweden
Non-aligned wood

[THE RUSSIAN:]
But how
Can you
Work for one who
Treats you
Like dirt?
Pay must be good
[MOLOKOV:]
It seems to us
There's little point in waiting
Here all night for his return
And since a peaceful match
Is our sole concern
We won't make an official fuss

[FLORENCE:]
I'm not getting rich
My only interest is
In something which
Gives me the chance
Of working with the best.
[MOLOKOV:]
In short we rise
Above your guy's
Tantrums
Dramas
Dirty tricks

[THE RUSSIAN:]
I can only say
I hope your dream comes true
Till that far-off day
I hope you cope
With helping number two.

[THE ARBITER:]
Point 31
No game
Begun
By noon goes on
After six

[THE ARBITER/MOLOKOV:]
It's very sad
To see the ancient
And distinguished game
That used to be
[RUS/FLO:]
How
Sad
To
See
[ALL:]
A model of decorum and tranquillity
Become like any other sport
A battleground for rival ideologies
To slug it out with glee