Pawn Sacrifice Page #2

---

Regina apologizes to her friend in Russian, kneels down.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 7.

REGINA:

Honey, it's okay-

BOBBY:

But you told me-

REGINA:

Bobby, you remember what I said about

not letting them intimidate us?

Yes, they watch us -- because we

represent something very threatening

to them, to the status quo. You

remember what that is?

BOBBY:

(by rote)

Revolution.

REGINA:

Yes! And sometimes these bad people

want to know about our work so they

spy on us. So if someone comes up to

you on the street and asks you

questions about me, or Mommy's

friends, what do you say?

BOBBY:

(by rote)

I have nothing to say to you.

REGINA:

That's my big boy.

(to Joan)

Joanie, he's got mustard on his shirt.

He has to wear that to school

tomorrow. Soak it for me?

JOAN:

Love to.

She takes Bobby's hand and leads him away.

JOAN (CONT'D)

Bedtime for Bonzo.

She tickles as she leads him toward the bedroom

Pink Revision 10-01-13 7A.

11 INT. BOBBY'S BEDROOM - LATER 11

Bobby lies in bed, wide awake. We HEAR the noise of the

party outside -- loud conversation, boisterous laughter.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 8.

Bobby stares at the window -- is the man still out there?

We feel his anxiety building as he LISTENS INTENTLY to the

sound of the shade SLAPPING against the window sill.

Suddenly, he sits up, opens a drawer. He works fast -- like

someone breaking the rules -- lights a candle -- rolls the

wax into balls and stuffs them into his ears.

The laughter outside is muted.

Bobby stuffs a ball into his other ear. With both ears

blocked -- a sudden and wonderful silence!

Bobby carries the candle to a CHESSBOARD. In absolute silence

he stares at the chessboard. In his hand is the NOTEBOOK.

CLOSE on Bobby's face, candlelit, a study in intensity.

As Bobby stares at the chessboard, everything else in the

room literally begins to disappear. The bed, the crummy

dresser -- until all that is left is a boy and a chessboard.

12 THE CHESSBOARD 12

Pieces move on their own. Multiple exposures. A move yields

hundreds of options. The counter offers thousands more.

CLOSE on Bobby's face. Ethereal Music. Bliss. Then...

13 THE DOOR TO HIS BEDROOM IS FLUNG OPEN 13

Light floods in. Harsh SOUNDS. The spell is broken. The

two open-mouthed kissers are looking for a place to f***.

KISSING MAN:

Whoopsee-daisy...

(sees Bobby)

Sorry, kiddo.

BOBBY:

Get out of my room. GET OUT!

Regina appears behind them.

REGINA:

Bobby! Those are our guests!

(sees his chessboard)

Jesus, enough already with the chess!

She reaches for the board. Pieces fall, ruining the game.

REGINA (CONT'D)

(calling out)

Joan--!

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 9.

Joan appears.

REGINA (CONT'D)

Put him to bed, will ya?

As Regina returns to the party. Joan kneels to pick up the

fallen pieces. Bobby looks up at her.

Please...?

BOBBY:

Okay.

JOAN:

One game.

She sits beside him on the bed and sets up the board.

14 INT. BROOKLYN JEWISH HOSPITAL - WAITING ROOM - DAY 14

Bobby, Joan and Regina sit in a waiting room. Regina smooths

Bobby's hair.

REGINA:

Now Bobby, don't suddenly start acting

normal and make me look ridiculous...

15 INT. DR. MENGARINI'S OFFICE - LATER 15

On DOCTOR MENGARINI's desk is a LARGE WOODEN CHESS SET.

Across the desk we find Bobby. The game is fifteen moves

old. Smoke from Megarini's pipe wafts among the chess pieces.

MENGARINI:

So Bobby, you go to the movies?

(Bobby nods without

looking up)

You like Westerns? Bang, bang?

Bobby nods again. Mengarini glances at Regina.

REGINA:

Bobby, have you ever been to the

Moon on the subway?

Bobby nods and moves a piece. He's in a kind of trance.

REGINA (CONT'D)

Once I poured a glass of water over

his head...

Mengarini studies Bobby as Bobby studies the board.

REGINA (CONT'D)

If I take the pieces away he just

plays in his head. Day and night.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 9A.

Mengarini moves his knight. Bobby counters.

MENGARINI:

What do you dream about, Bobby?

Silence. Regina shrugs. Mengarini takes Bobby's rook.

Green Revision 10-14-13 10.

MENGARINI (CONT'D)

You like Parchesi? Monopoly? *

(to Joan)

Does he play other games with you?

JOAN:

He says chess is the only game that

doesn't need luck.

Mengarini has barely finished moving when Bobby makes a move.

This startles Mengarini, who frowns at the new positions.

JOAN (CONT'D)

And he cries when he loses.

Bobby glares at her briefly then returns his focus to the

game. Mengarini squints at the board, then makes his move.

MENGARINI:

I play chess at quite a high level.

His game is pretty good. Not

exceptional, though.

(magnanimously)

A draw?

Bobby isn't listening. He's in the zone. He initiates an

exchange:
his Queen takes Mengarini's Bishop.

Mengarini grunts, makes another move. Then Bobby pounces.

Mengarini tries to escape but the trap has been sprung.

After several moves it's clear he's doomed.

Mengarini is astonished. Bobby looks up at him -- something

new and...well...murderous in his expression.

JOAN:

He hates draws.

MENGARINI:

Where the hell did that come from?

REGINA:

So now you see.

Mengarini is still staring at the board in disbelief.

MENGARINI:

Who taught him to play like this?

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 11.

JOAN:

I bought him the set. Last year.

MENGARINI:

Which club does his belong to?

REGINA:

He doesn't belong to any club.

taught himself.

He

BOBBY:

I need to pee.

Joan takes Bobby's hand and leads him out the door.

So, Doctor.

REGINA:

What do you think?

MENGARINI:

Mrs. Fischer, there are worse things

than playing chess. Believe me.

REGINA:

He wants there to be nothing else.

Mengarini is now writing on a pad.

MENGARINI:

I think he should see a professional.

REGINA:

I thought you were a professional.

He hands her the note. "Carmine Nigro, Brooklyn Chess Club."

16 EXT. BROOKLYN CHESS CLUB, MARSHALL STREET - AFTERNOONT 16

Joan and Bobby walk down a Brooklyn street, arriving at a

shabby storefront where A Hispanic MAN, 30's, is waiting.

CARMINE:

You must be the Fischers. I'm Carmine

Nigro.

(to Bobby)

I'm betting you're the chess player.

JOAN:

Bobby, say hello.

Bobby mumbles hello. Carmine unlocks the door.

17 INT. BROOKLYN CHESS CLUB 17

As Carmine turns on the lights, we WATCH Bobby's face as the

room is revealed --twenty tables, all with boards set up.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 12.

CARMINE:

Our church. All colors and creeds

welcome.

Bobby walks in as if entering a holy place. The door behind

them bursts opens and Regina bustles in.

REGINA:

Sorry sorry the E train was a

nightmare -- you must be Camine Nigro

I'm Regina Fischer. So....?

CARMINE:

Doctor Mengarini says he's good.

But most young people don't have the

concentration to play at this level

so please don't build up your hopes.

REGINA:

My 'hopes' are he will give up on

the damn game if someone beats him.

CARMINE:

Okay, let's see what we got here...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes