It is a hot and humid Wednesday evening in Beauneville. In the Smith's parlor, Molly Bloom sits on the rug naked, her skin gleaming with sweat; Roderick sits nearby in his shorts.
It's time for another intense game of "Figaro".
They play under modified rules based on a recent ruling of the International Figaro Gaming Convention, Rules Committee, which consists of Molly Bloom, Roderick Smith and Megan Cupcake, but since Megan never attends the meetings it's really just Molly and Roderick. There are several changes under the new rules:
(1) Players take turns presenting each item on the list. Based on a coin flip, Roderick presents his solo, then Molly presents her solo, then Roderick presents his duo, and so forth.
(2) Works qualify for positions on the list based on the number of required musicians, but the count of instruments is based on the number of unique instruments called for in the score. Hence, Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire qualifies as a sextet, as it requires six performers, but counts for nine instruments since the flute doubles on piccolo, the clarinet on bass clarinet and the violin on viola.
Roderick goes first tonight.
"Well, I'm going to lead with Johann Kaspar Mertz' Divertissement über Motive der Oper: Der Prophet (Meyerbeer), Op. 32, for solo guitar", he says, with a slight smirk. The rules forbid checking Wikipedia during play, but there is nothing wrong with doing a little research ahead of time.
"Hmph", says Molly. "That's esoteric. I counter with Cesar Franck's l'Organiste for Harmonium, she says, with an equally large smirk.
"Didn't he write that for pipe organ?", queries Roderick.
"Are you challenging me, Mr. Smarty Pants?", laughs Molly. Under the rules, if you challenge the other player you can look it up in Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians for final authority.
"No, no", says Roderick. "Just asking. I bid Carl Stamitz' Sonata in D major for viola d'amore and violin."
"Oh!" says Molly, slightly flummoxed. "I don't think we've played a viola d'amore before.
Roderick thinks Molly looks gorgeous clothed in nothing but sweat, so he kisses her.
"Oh!" says Molly. She is intrigued.
At this moment, Mr. Smith arrives home from Lake City and, seeing Molly and Roderick naked and half-naked, respectively, gives a cheery wave. "Hi, Roderick! Molly, nice to see you...how's the Busoni coming?" Mr. Smith knows that Molly is working hard on Ferruccio Busoni's Sonata in f-minor Op. 20 -- the one that closes with the fiendishly difficult Allegro Fugato Nella guesa d'un'improvvisazione.
"I'm fine, thank you, Mr. Smith" says Molly, coyly hugging her knees. "And I'm almost done with the Busoni".
Mr. Smith lingers a moment, then bids adieu. "Well, kids, I'm going to bed."
Roderick and Molly decide to finish their game another day and retire upstairs. But just for nude sleeping, as they are not quite ready for the other thing just yet.
