UNFINISHED PIECE FOR MECHANICAL PIANO

Several wealthy, well-educated citizens meet at General’s widow Woinizewa’s country estate. Among the high society there are a nouveau riche entrepreneur, a doctor, a teacher with his wife, as well as the hostess’ stepson Sergej, who has just married and spends his honeymoon with his wife Sofia at the estate. In the heavenly garden of the splendid country house people amuse themselves with gossip, sprawling around in hammocks, and observing the other guests. An atmosphere of sophisticated boredom prevails. Slowly but surely the gay facades start to crack though – the company turns into a grotesque. It turns out that teacher Misha once had an affair with Sofia and currently has one with the General’s widow. At the joint dinner, the persons present try in vain to keep their cool. One insult follows the other and piece by piece all guests show their frustrations and fears. When a little later Sergej sees Sofia and Misha standing together at the riverbank, he suspects that his wife could have fallen again for her former lover. The situation threatens to get out of hand.