- "Dare you trust the Communism underneath?"
This musical is the sequel to the musical Chess, or at least the 2008 concert. It starts with Molokov and Viigand helping Anatoly to set up one last chess match against Freddie. In truth the match is merely a ruse to lure Florence back to Anatoly. When Anatoly meets Florence and Freddie, she finds out that they have had a son. However, when Anatoly discovers that the boy is not only a fine chess player, but a Communist, he realizes that the boy is actually his son. The boy quickly learns to fear Anatoly when he finds out that he's actually a robot.
Freddie has sunken into alcoholism and Florence struggles to supports them both and their son. Still,
Meanwhile, Viigand is a washed-up chess player who performs sexually suggestive chess related musical numbers while Molokov tries in vain to get his career back on track. Viigand has begun to obsess over his loss against Anatoly, furious that a 'half-crazed man' managed to beat him. The Arbiter decides to confront Molokov and Walter (who up until now has just sort of... been there) about all the irregularities in the last match between Anatoly and Viigand, after being tipped off from Svetlana about the plans for a final chess match between Freddie and Anatoly.
When The Arbiter arrives, he and Svetlana fall in love. Molokov and Walter, realising this, offer to help the couple live a comfortable life in England in exchange for stripping Anatoly of his title as World Champion thanks to supposed cheating and naming Viigand World Champion instead. The Arbiter is hardly swayed at first, but Svetlana soon convinces him to agree.
Anatoly confronts Florence, begging her to come back to him, only to realize that her love for him has died. In a last desperate attempt to win her back, he reminds her about their son, trying to remind her of what they once shared. Still, Florence refuses, claiming that she and Freddie are very happy. When Anatoly reminds her that that's what she said when they first met, she runs away, holding back tears.
Freddie reflects on his relationship with Florence and decides to ask her to help him clean up his act. However, when they speak, they end up arguing and breaking up. Freddie leaves without even speaking to Anatoly.
Meanwhile, The Arbiter is conflicted about his choice to betray the regulations of chess and Svetlana decides that it's better for him to refuse Molokov and Walter's offer, sacrificing her ideal life so that he wouldn't have to feel guilt. When The Arbiter explains to Molokov that there's no deal, Viigand freaks out, and runs off.
Florence discovers that she loved Anatoly all along and runs back to him. They reconcile. Anatoly then asks Florence about their son, and she responds by telling him that she doesn't know where he is (responsible parenting). They run off to look for him. They find Viigand trying to push him off a bridge.
When he sees Anatoly, Viigand points a gun at him, offering the couple their son's life in exchange for Anatoly's. Florence tries to reason with him, but he shoots her instead. Realizing what he's done, Viigand jumps off the bridge. Florence dies in Anatoly's arms. The son explodes in a puff of logic because robots can't reproduce.
Walter and Molokov make out as the curtain drops.
As one may have guessed, this is a parody of Love Never Dies.
Love Never Dies contains examples of:
- Adaptational Villainy: Viigand, who was a pretty neutral character to start with, goes completely batshit insane and shoots and kills Florence out of jealousy towards Anatoly before committing suicide.
- The Alcoholic: Freddie.
- Blatant Lies: Florence trying to convince Anatoly that she and Freddie are happy together.
- Break-Up Song: 'We Need To Talk'
- Crazy People Play Chess: Freddie's mental state hasn't improved since the original, Anatoly isn't exactly a paragon of mental health, and Viigand, while The Stoic in the original, goes completely batshit crazy.
- Downer Ending: Florence dies. Freddie is alone and still an alcoholic and Anatoly is left with a heartbroken Svetlana.
- Last-Minute Hookup: Walter and Molokov.
- No Name Given: Anatoly and Florence's son is never named.
- Puff of Logic: The son's fate.
