Pawn Sacrifice Page #16

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Could you hush...

The official looks puzzled. Bobby tries to concentrate.

A few COUGHS. Bobby looks at the audience and imitates a

particular cough viciously. A few sniggers.

Then... a low BUZZING, WHIRRING noise from behind him.

142 BOBBY'S PERCEPTION 142

The sound of A CAMERA is like the rip of a buzz saw. An

electrical panel BUZZES. The COUGHS of the audience are

magnified as if in a TB ward.

143 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 143

Back to normal sound. Bobby tries to concentrate. Can't.

BOBBY:

What IS that?

Boris slumps back in his seat. Some eyes roll.

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BOBBY (CONT'D)

That buzz buzz buzz...

Schmid c*cks an ear.

SCHMID:

It is just a camera.

BOBBY:

Buzz, buzz, buzz. Jesus.

Bobby gets to his feet and begins to pace. The crowd begins

to WHISPER. He turns on them...

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BOBBY (CONT'D)

Could you all shut up? Could everyone

stop?

Silence. Then a deliberate cough from some teenager.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

JESUS!

(to Schmid)

Coughing, buzzing lights. Cameras

everywhere. I can hear them rolling.

You're gonna have to do something...

A couple of people in the crowd dare to boo.

144 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, VIEWING GALLERY 144

Lombardy and Marshall share a look.

beginning. Nei turns to Geller.

An inauspicious

GELLER:

He is deliberately trying to unsettle

Boris. Help him.

Lombardy sees Nei leaving and decides he too must go down.

A145 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, STAIRCASE A145

Lombardy and Nei race down the steps, two at a time.

145 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL 145

Nei is speaking to Schmid. *

Bobby looks out at the sea of staring faces.

BOBBY:

We have to get rid of the cameras.

(points to a curtain)

Behind there. I can hear them...

SCHMID:

They are just TV cameras.

*

*

BOBBY:

And there's something wrong with the

lights....

(looks at the board)

It's too dark...I can't see what

anything is.

He looks out into the darkness. *

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BOBBY (CONT'D)

And the audience.

SCHMID *

What's wrong with the audience?

BOBBY:

They gotta move back.

Then Spassky abruptly makes his move.

SCHMID *

Mr. Spassky has made his move. *

BOBBY:

(pointing)

And up there... You don't hear what

I do...

Lombardy looks up into the lights. Hears nothing. *

146 BOBBY'S PERCEPTION 146*

The buzzing of FLORESCENT LIGHTS sounds like a SWARM OF WASPS.

147 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 147

Bobby swings his arms around, trying to shake it off. Finally

he returns to his seat. Spassky studies him dispassionately.

BORIS:

You don't look so good Robert James...

Bobby lowers his head, looks back to the board...

148 OMITTED 148

149 OMITTED 149

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91.

150

INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING STAGE 150

Bobby tries to concentrate.

A chair SCRAPES.

He looks up, distracted. Looks back at the board.

The SOUND of someone TALKING in the audience.

He looks up again.

With each distraction, Bobby is more unsettled. A cough

SOUNDS like a CANNON, a squeak is a SCREAM.

Bobby's eyes dart furtively. He reaches for a piece.

151 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, VIEWING GALLERY 151

Lombardy returns to the gallery as Bobby moves his Bishop. *

LOMBARDY:

He's inviting Spassky to exchange.

(studies his notes)

I hope to God this is a trap.

Spassky makes his move. The Russian advisers all scribble.

LOMBARDY (CONT'D)

Spassky's taking the invitation.

152 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL, STAGE 152

Bobby is in the throes of a full-fledged anxiety attack.

His heart is pounding, his breathing ragged.

Spassky knows it. He is a vulture attending his prey.

Bobby is a slow-motion train wreck. The distractions begin

to profliferate -- each one EXAGGERATED, the sound MAGNIFIED.

A SERIES of rapid CUTS -- like a deck of cards shuffling.

Bobby is fighting for his life. He can't take it a moment

more. He reaches out to make a move...

153 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, VIEWING GALLERY 153

LOMBARDY:

Ah sh*t....

154 INT. NATIONAL THEATER 154

We SEE the move on the large board. A GASP from the crowd.

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ABC COMMENTATOR *

That move will hit the front page of *

every newspaper in the world tomorrow

155 IN BROOKLYN 155*

Carmine closes his eyes.

156 IN LONG ISLAND 156

Joan shakes her head.

157 IN MOSCOW 157

Regina clutches her chair.

ANCHOR:

-- Because Bobby Fischer has made a

huge mistake....

158 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PLAYING HALL 158

Suddenly, onstage, Bobby leaps to his feet...

BOBBY:

I can still hear the cameras!

(turns to the curtain)

I want these people out of here...

Bobby YANKS the curtain and drags two TV cameramen, blinking,

into the light. The crowd begins to laugh, others jeer.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

They were whispering!!

The crowd begins to BOO and then slow hand clap.

SCHMID:

...first game goes to...Boris Spassky.

The SCOREBOARD reads: Spassky 1 Fischer 0.

159 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, BEHIND THE STAGE 159

Bobby stalks away in a fury. He heads downstairs.

A160 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, STAIRWAY A160

Marshall and Lombardy race downstairs to catch up to him.

160 INT. NATIONAL THEATER, PING PONG ROOM 160

Marshall and Lombardy manage to catch up to Bobby in a small

room used as a recreation area: a drinks machine and a ping

pong table. Suddenly the noise of the auditorium disappears.

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MARSHALL:

It's just one game. One point.

You'll take him tomorrow. Twelve

and-a-half points is a long match.

Bobby is breathing hard -- but then he stops and looks around.

LOMBARDY:

The reporters will go after Spassky.

We can slip out another way...

Bobby is staring around in wonder -- studying the bare walls.

MARSHALL:

Bobby? Are you okay?

BOBBY:

It's quiet in here.

Marshall and Lombardy look at each other. They think Bobby

is being crazy. Later we will learn he has just found the

answer to his problems.

A161 INT. THE WHITE HOUSE, OVAL OFFICE A161

Watching TV, the President throws his pencil in anger...

161 EXT. NATIONAL THEATER - NIGHT 161

Boris Spassky leaves to a hero's reception. Some wave Soviet

flags. The crows push against the glass as they pull away.

162 OMITTED 162

A163 EXT. REYKJAVIK STREET - NIGHT (SECOND UNIT) A163

Bobby's car heads home.

163 INT. BOBBY'S CAR - SAME (POOR MAN'S PROCESS) 163

Bobby, Lombardy and Marshall ride in silence. When Bobby

speaks, it is oddly detached, as if talking to himself.

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