The moon, like a gigantic lantern, was reflected on the calm surface of the night sea. On the deserted beach, bare feet cautiously stepped on the sand. Actress 1′s eyes were covered with a light ribbon. Gleb—the most famous actor, desired by many women—held her firmly by the shoulders, leading her forward. It was a beautiful scene from a popular film.
In that moment, looking at her TV screen, Liza was thinking of Him. She wasn't just watching an actor; she was watching the ideal embodiment of the hero who lived in her most cherished script.
"Love is an art," Liza mused soundlessly. "And, in my opinion, among all forms of art, the one best suited for its manifestation is dance. And no one dances better than Gleb."
On the screen, Gleb stopped and untied the ribbon. A path of candles and rose petals opened before Actress 1.
"May I invite you to our dance?" Gleb asked gallantly, smiling that signature smile that made the hearts of millions of women, including Liza, skip a beat. "The one we will never forget."
Gleb from the TV screen whirled Actress 1 around in a quick vortex of a dance, then suddenly stopped, pulling her close. Uncompromisingly and without permission, he pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was deep, demanding, and all-consuming, leaving behind only a frantic, intoxicating thirst. When Gleb knelt down, Liza felt a hot tear of delight roll down her cheek. He was perfect in this role!
"Every couple has their own dance," Liza continued to think, wiping away her tears. "Their own unique rhythm... And, of course, Gleb always finds the right music!"
The image on the screen changed, as if cutting away the romantic tenderness of the night beach. Instantly, we were transported to the grim yet magnificent Middle Ages. The music became epic, powerful, full of menacing trumpets and warlike drums. The viewer was hit with the cold of stone and the smell of iron.
Impenetrable castles with battlement walls loomed over the world, against which knights in shining armor, with spears and shields, marched, ready for battle. Gleb was one of them—now he appeared as a medieval Warrior, his gaze stern, his face smeared with the soot of battle. He, as if descended from ancient legends, heroically rescued Actress 2—a proud and unapproachable Queen—from enemies.
"My life belongs to you. I will always dance only to your music, even if it is a dance on a knife's edge!" he roared from the screen. That voice!
"Finding one dance for two is sometimes very difficult," Liza whispered breathlessly. "But there is no pretense in his acting, no 'rehearsal failures.' He always knows how to support his partner."
And the film continued. Suddenly, we left the Middle Ages and found ourselves in the neon light of a modern metropolis. The camera sharply changed focus: now it was a new, contemporary scene from a detective thriller. Tense, electronic music played.
Gleb—cold, dangerous, clad in a perfectly tailored tuxedo—stood opposite Actress 3, a femme fatale. His gaze was steel, devoid of the softness he had shown on the beach. Their dialogue was not a flirtation, but a skirmish.
"Your dance is a lie," she challenged.
Gleb smirked: "There is no lie in my dance. There is only pure, animal passion and total surrender." He took a step and kissed her commandingly, leaving no doubt about his danger.
"Despite how difficult it is to find and stage such a dance, one must keep searching," Liza thought with sudden determination, drawing strength from his images. "Both for your partner and for your music. You cannot stop."
After the thriller scene, Gleb returned to the screen, sitting in his luxurious office. Liza watched him, mesmerized, as he spoke to the camera with captivating sincerity.
"Receiving recognition that makes people cry is very gratifying for any actor," Gleb said, leaning back easily in his chair. "I understand, many look for an ideal in my heroes, and for a great screen love in my life... But, honestly: I have not yet had the one with whom I could dance through life in love. But that's not a problem! My dance of love is my work. And I belong to my audience."
He looked directly into the camera, as if into Liza's soul.
"The secret to success is simple: love for the work and total surrender."
Liza nodded, as if he were addressing her personally. "He is so sincere!" crossed her mind. She turned off the television. The screen went dark.
In the ensuing darkness, her eyes were reflected, full of a focused, almost calculating fire. She stood up. A memory of her most ambitious script flashed in her mind...
"The secret to success is simple: love for the work and total surrender," Liza said, addressing his vanished image. "You surrender to the role, and I will surrender to mine."
She looked at the dark screen.
"That dance you're talking about... I wrote it. You, as the hero, are perfectly suited for the script I created. I don't want to be your life partner. I want you to be the main character in my film! Your talent, your total surrender—that's what my story needs."
Liza jumped up from the sofa. A journalist by education, a screenwriter by vocation, she was born in the provinces but dreamed of big cinema since childhood. Now, agile and unafraid to take risks, she was preparing for the most important step.
Her mission: to secure the most popular and talented actor of our time, Gleb, for her debut work. She dreamed of global recognition, and His genius combined with Her text was meant to create the perfect "dance of love" on screen.
Liza, open, cheerful, and self-confident, had no idea that this professional "dance" would whirl her up, drawing her into a rhythm she did not write and a passion she did not plan.