Dangerous Moves

- How do you feel?

- Fine, fine.

I'll feel better when the match starts.

Spoken like a true hero,

Akiva Israelovitch.

The test results are excellent.

Don't worry.

You have the heart of a cosmonaut.

You'll live to 120.

I prepared your case history.

Don't forget it.

And this, too.

Always keep some on you.

I don't think you'll need it.

- Anton, you promised you'd come.

- They refused my exit visa request.

Where are they?

I don't understand.

Moscow said they'd be on this flight.

What's going on?

They're going to reconstruct the name

you won against him in 1969.

You're lazy, you know.

Talented but lazy.

Go ahead and beat me, then.

Queen to G7.

If the rook takes B3,

the black bishop takes the pawn on C4.

Knight then takes

the bishop, naturally.

And black pushes the rook to G10.

It's over.

The whites have had it.

If you want to beat your opponent,

study the names he lost.

- Tac-Tac.

- Excuse me.

Anastase Inanovitch,

what are you doing here?

You've been in Geneva

for half an hour.

Then let's net off this plane.

What are we waiting for?

They're here.

- Heller, his cardiologist?

- No.

I was right.

Liebskind isn't sick. This heart attack

story is all propaganda.

Your information is crap.

My information is good.

You think Tac-Tac is here

because of his skill as a chess player?

- How many threatening letters?

- Twelve.

Two are death threats.

All anonymous, as usual.

Pavius, I have the contract.

I already said no twice.

Three days' work, you pay off

your debts and you're set for life.

I won't do it.

You know how much you owe me?

If you want money,

give me something to sell.

Listen to me, Foldes.

Fromm is Fromm.

He's a professional chess player.

Have him play against

blindfolded on a pillar

at the bottom of the ocean...

but they have to play me...

not a machine with my name on it.

Is that clear?

I'm going to town.

Where's the bathroom?

End of the hall, on the right.

You weren't followed?

Not a chance.

- Who's your man in our group?

- Nobody.

I don't believe you.

Good for you.

Opportunist scum.

We can't all be dissident superstars.

How's our hero?

Can he travel

without his cardiologist now?

He doesn't need a cardiologist.

He'll put you to shame, my boy.

Stop.

You know I'm going to beat him.

Me, the turncoat, the traitor.

The bourgeois idealist.

You'll see.

When I'm world champion,

in Pravda they'll call it...

yet another victory

for Soviet chess.

Did you bring me here

to tell me this crap?

- Did you see Marina?

- Yes.

How is she?

Fine, I think.

She didn't tell you anything?

Why doesn't she answer my letters?

What have you done to her?

Pavius, Marina wants a divorce.

Tell her to wait

until after the match.

Get rid of your cigarette,

Genady Ivanovitch.

It's not even lit, Akiva Israelovitch.

But you threaten to smoke it.

In chess, threats

are more serious than actions.

You still enjoy beating me?

I savor the sweetness

just as you savor the bitterness.

Why did you come?

just obeying orders.

Check.

- I want foam laid down everywhere.

- I'll see to it.

The pieces aren't heavy enough...

and I want more light.

We can change that.

- And the light?

- We can turn it up.

Go ahead.

Grandmaster Fromm

will tell you when.

That's fine.

- Keep that for the name. What's it at?

- Eighty.

Thank you.

- Well, honestly!

- What's going on, Anastase Inanovitch?

- We're due at the theater at 11:00.

- Go on ahead. I trust you.

Make sure everything complies

with the protocol you negotiated.

But he demanded...

He can raise the lighting to 80.

I'll have it lowered if it bothers me.

- He also wants heavier pieces.

- That won't help him play any better.

But the cameras, the installations...

It makes no difference,

Anastase Inanovitch.

I'm deaf.

Honestly, Akiva Israelovitch,

I just don't understand you!

- What do you live on?

- The generosity of my friends.

- They say you're an American anent.

- What does an American anent earn?

- Do you see yourself as a dissident?

- Absolutely not. I'm an exile.

- You weren't involved in politics?

- Of course I was, since the cradle.

When I was a Young Pioneer,

I not a demerit for glorifying Stalin.

That was the Khrushchev era.

I was already a joker by then.

What is a joker?

A free man.

Back home, there are jokes

called "two by fours."

Two years in prison for listening to them,

four years for telling them.

But seriously, you were a member of the

Communist Party. Liebskind never was.

The party decides

who joins and who doesn't.

In Lithuania, you have to join the party.

You have no choice.

What about Liebskind?

Ask him yourself.

But speak up, 'cause he's deaf.

Why do you refuse to shake his hand?

Are you sure he hasn't been ordered

to refuse to shake mine?

Do you have any news of your wife?

I'd rather not talk about her.

I don't know anything.

I've had no news.

I fear the worst.

- Hello, Andre.

- Hello.

What floor?

- You tired? Want to play a name?

- No, thanks.

- Are you broke?

- Yes, very.

I can find you simultaneous matches

at an exhibition.

- I was thinking you might need me.

- Think again.

Fear has made you mean, Pavius.

You know all about fear.

You're an expert.

World champion coward.

You afraid of me?

Forget about getting

your revenge through me.

See you.

Good luck.

Shut up! That's bad luck.

You don't need help

in that department.

- We should've taken him. He's a genius.

- He's an alcoholic.

He would have beaten Liebskind

if he hadn't cracked in the second match.

- But he did. He's an a**hole.

- I don't understand you.

I don't need anyone's help

to beat Liebskind.

I don't need anyone's help

to beat Liebskind.

Akiva.

You refuse to postpone the first name?

Absolutely.

Fromm will either be back today...

or we'll simply never see him again.

In that case, at 3:00 p.m. sharp

I'll start the clock...

and Grandmaster Liebskind

will make his first move.

Grandmaster Fromm

must arrive within one hour.

Otherwise, Liebskind will

remain world champion.

The rules allow

for no other possibility.

That's perfectly clear.

Good.

We should have warned the cops.

I always said he was unstable.

The cops would find him in a snap.

Hi.

Give him something to eat.

He's hungry.

A black cat!

- Is the guarantee all settled?

- Yes. He won't shake your hand.

Hurry.

A black cat!

He's off his rocker.

Careful, Miller.

He eats Bolshevik mice.

Why tell me that?

Gentlemen.

That's all. Thank you.

Please address the judge, comrade.

Come now, please.

No incidents.

Is this name a draw?

Yes.

By mutual consent,

Game 1 is declared a draw at move 35.

He was in a good position.

Why did he accept the draw?

I'd say you forced him to.

Besides, he's telling you...

"You old lion, I'll beat you

when I'm good and ready."

That's idiotic.

Aren't you afraid of me?

No. Why?

We all destroy ourselves

in one way or another.

What's important is

to enjoy oneself in the process.

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