Pawn Sacrifice Page #15

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KISSINGER (O.S.)

Hey, Bobby Fischer...

Bobby takes a breath, almost sobs.

KISSINGER (O.S.) (CONT'D)

This is the worst chess player in

the world talking to the best. The

President and I want you to do your

duty for your country. What do you

say?

Bobby is at a loss for a moment. Then focuses.

BOBBY:

I guess I'll go do my duty. Sir.

70's ROCK MUSIC KICKS IN.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 83.

118 EXT. FISCHER APARTMENT, NIGHT (MUSIC CONT OVER) 118

Marshall emerges, checks the street. A bread van is parked

nearby. Two heavies emerge on hurry him into the van..

MARSHALL:

No limos. We travel in disguise.

BOBBY:

I will accept one seven five US.

That's the deal, right? Half in cash.

The doors SLAM shut and the bread van roars away.

A119 EXT. MANHATTAN TUNNEL (2ND UNIT) A119

The van heads toward JFK.

BBC ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

This is the BBC World Service.

American chess Grandmaster, Bobby

Fischer, is believed to be finally

on his way to Iceland for-The

announcement becomes an Italian broadcaster...

ITALIAN ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

--his match with Boris Spassky.

It becomes a CACOPHONY of radio commentary in various

languages that Bobby is on his way.

119 OMIT 119

120 OMIT 120

121 INTERCUT:
MAN-ON-STREET INTERVIEWS: (MUSIC CONT OVER) 121

A BUS DRIVER:

Fischer is to chess what Ali is to

boxing. I love him.

A LONG-HAIRED HIPPIE

--Least there's one reason to feel

good about America, you hear me?

122

INT. MANHATTAN CHESS CLUB - SAME (MUSIC CONT OVER) 122

Father Lombardy watches a small TV, his emotions roiling.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 84.

123 INT. JFK AIRPORT BAGGAGE TUNNEL(MUSIC CONT OVER) 123

Men in dark suits escort Bobby as he steps out of the van.

124 INT. REGINA'S MOSCOW APARTMENT - DAY (MUSIC CONT OVER) 124

On a black-and-white TV, a grainy image of Bobby emerging at

Reykjavik airport. Regina is watching. The announcer is

Russian but we recognize the name 'Bobby Fischer."

125 INTERCUT - A MONTAGE OF NEWS COMMENTATORS (MUSIC CONT OVER) 125

John Chancellor, Walter Cronkite, Harry Reasoner -- all in

breathless anticipation of the match.

126 A TV SOUNDBITE (MUSIC CONT OVER) 126

As Bobby arrives in Reykjavik.

BOBBY:

This thing with me and Spassky.

Instead of bombs we're having it out

with little pieces of ivory.

127 EXT. ICELAND - DAY (MUSIC CONT. OVER) 127

A police car speeds down empty Icelandic roads. Bobby sits

in the back with Marshall, staring out at the bleak landscape.

They arrive at the same house we saw in the opening shot.

128 INT. GRANITE COUNTRY HOUSE (MUSIC CONT. OVER) 128

Bobby enters, takes in the beautiful decor.

MARSHALL:

Five bedrooms. Pick any one you

want. Place even has a sauna.

Bobby is incredulous....and moved.

BOBBY:

This is the first house I ever lived

in.

129 INTERCUT - TV SOUNDBITES - ARCHIVAL - (MUSIC CONT OVER) 129

CBS News is all over it.

ERIC SEVAREID (on TV)

A chess craze is sweeping the nation.

Sales of chess sets have tripled in

the past weeks and stores literally

can't keep them in stock...

Green Revision 10-14-13 85.

130 VARIOUS IMAGES - ARCHIVAL - (MUSIC CONT OVER) 130

Kids playing chess at home, in schools, in the park.

131 INT. GRANITE COUNTRY HOUSE, BOBBY'S BEDROOM 131

Bobby is on his knees searching for listening devices. A

gentle knock on the door and Lombardy enters.

BOBBY:

Hey, they said you weren't coming.

Bobby looks wired, sleepless -- but his vulnerability is so

compelling. Lombardy is full of emotion but he covers it.

LOMBARDY:

I'm your second. *

They look at each other. Three years have forged a deep

bond between them.

BOBBY:

Thank you. Father.

LOMBARDY:

Anything I can get you, Bobby?

BOBBY:

Yeah. Help me check for bugs. These

cheaters'll do anything to get me.

132 INT. GRANITE COUNTRY HOUSE, LIVING ROOM 132

Marshall is signing contracts when Lombardy enters.

MARSHALL:

Couldn't stay away, huh? I get it. *

Yankees are playing for the pennant *

and you've got a front row seat. *

Lombardy just looks at him.

Green Revision 10-14-13 86.

MARSHALL (CONT'D)

A billion people around the world

watching two guys play chess.

President Nixon has had a TV put in

the Oval Office.

(lights a cigarette)

World War III on a chessboard. We

lost China. We're losing Vietnam.

We have to win this one.

133 EXT. NATIONAL THEATER, REYKJAVIK, ICELAND 133

TV CREWS report in their own languages. The only words we

understand are 'Bobby Fischer' and 'Boris Spassky'...

Caption:
July 11th 1972. Game One.

ABC COMMENTATOR:

This is ABC's Wide World of Sports

bringing you live coverage of the

World Championship of Chess...

*

*

Boris Spassky arrives, looking relaxed. News cameras shoot

him as he steps out to cheers. No sign of Bobby.

*

ABC COMMENTATOR (CONT'D)

Best of 24 games. Each win is worth

a point, each draw is half-a-point -the

chess version of a fifteen round

heavyweight prize fight.

*

*

134 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL 134*

Utter stillness.

Schmid -- the adjudicator -- looks at the big clock above

the stage.

Boris sits erect in his chair, refusing to be psyched out. *

The crowd is growing restless and SLOW HAND CLAPPING begins... *

A135 INT. NATIONAL THEATER HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS A135

As Bobby approaches the stage, the SOUND of CLAPPING grows

louder. He stops.

B135 ON THE STAGE B135

FLASHBULBS signal Bobby's entrance! Some applause, some

boos. As Bobby strides across the stage, Spassky holds out

his hand but Bobby walks right past him. He greets Schmid,

then waves to the crowd.

Pink Revision 10-01-13 86A.

Then Bobby seems to notice Spassky for the first time, smiles.

BOBBY:

Boris!

87.

He lurches over, sticks out a hand.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

How ya been? Good? You look good.

Spassky is wrong-footed. Doesn't know if he's being f***ed

with. A BLIZZARD of FLASHBULBS as they shake.

SCHMID:

Now we come together for the drawing

of the colors.

Boris takes two pawns, black and white, in his closed fists.

BORIS:

Choose...

We now follow the word 'choose' as it travels West.

135 INT. BROOKLYN CHESS CLUB, NEW YORK CITY 135

Carmine and others watch raptly.

BORIS:

Choose...

136 INT. WHITE HOUSE, OVAL OFFICE, WASHINGTON 136

Through a half open door, we see the backs of the President

and his advisers watching TV...

BORIS:

Choose...

137 INT. KREMLIN, PRESIDENTIAL SANCTUM, MOSCOW 137

President Brezhnev is watching as well...

BORIS:

Choose...

138 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 138

Close on Boris's hand opening in SLOW-MOTION.

SCHMID:

Mr Fischer chose black. Mr Spassky

will begin.

Bobby and Boris's eyes meet. The applause crescendos.

139 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 139

Silence.

Green Revision 10-14-13 88.

Bobby and Spassky sit absolutely still. Fischer's thumb and

forefinger push his lips into a contemplative grimace.

Boris moves his Knight to King's Bishop Four.

140 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, VIEWING GALLERY 140

The advisers look down on the stage. Bobby makes his move. *

A whisper passes among them. Lombardy makes a note.

141 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 141

TIME-CUT. A large SCREEN above the stage shows the moves.

Bobby studies the board.

A142 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, VIEWING GALLERY A142

Lombardy and Marshall stand together.

MARSHALL:

So far, so good...

LOMBARDY:

They're both following the Nizmo. A

draw in the opening game is fine.

B142 BACK TO THE STAGE B142

Behind him, Bobby hears an official shift his weight. A *

piece of paper CRINKLES in his hand.

BOBBY:

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