Pawn Sacrifice Page #7

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They peer at each other.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

Hey, if I criticize a priest, do I

go to hell?

LOMBARDY:

...Depends if you believe in God.

BOBBY:

(nods appreciatively)

Good move.

He gestures at the chessboards lined up before them.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

I'm going to show you how you could've

won in thirteen moves.

LOMBARDY:

Not possible.

Several tables have been laid out in advance.

BOBBY:

Okay, here's where you screwed up.

You got greedy and traded knight for

bishop, sacrificed your pawn. But

what if you'd done this...

He puts the pieces back on the board with an arrogant slap.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

See, the Russians are like boa

constrictors. If you do nothing,

they strangle you to death, but if

you confuse him, attack him

everywhere...

Bobby moves rapidly. Pieces moving, trading.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

First my machine guns attack his

king. BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! All

he can do is defend himself-

Five more moves. Check. Check. He takes a rook.

Pink Revision 10-01-13 34A.

LOMBARDY:

You understand, Bobby, this tournament

is about diplomacy.

Bobby ignores him, moves to the next table.

BOBBY:

I want five hundred dollars for each

game. I want to buy my sister

something for her new baby.

LOMBARDY:

I heard you were taking medication.

BOBBY:

My sister sent me to a doctor who

put me on something but I started

playing as badly as you. So I stopped.

He makes three more tactical moves.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

Now we've got him on the run.

LOMBARDY:

What about Rook takes Bishop?

BOBBY:

Of course. The smoke clears. He

thinks he's safe... But there's a

plot to kill the king, an assassin

is waiting, forgotten in the

background.

Lombardy is entranced.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

You see the Russian Queen, standing

there, so high and mighty? She thinks

she can protect him.

Bobby goes to the next table, making several quick moves-

BOBBY (CONT'D)

--Suddenly the assassin comes to

life! The King tries to escape.

But now the hunt is on--!

He makes a few furious final moves, trapping the white King.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

Even his beloved Queen can't save

him. The King is defenseless. The

King is dead.

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The Kind Falls

LOMBARDY:

Holy sh*t.

BOBBY:

I didn't know priests used bad

language...

(to Marshall)

I like this guy.

(to Lombardy)

Father? Take the crazy kid to

California.

43 EXT. SANTA MONICA BEACH 43

Beach Boys harmonies.

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE & MOCK-DOC: Waves crash on a sun-drenched

beach. The surf is up. Long boards and polka-dot bikinis.

Four black limos pull up beside the beach.

Caption:
Santa Monica, California, June 1966.

KGB men in dark suits and shades emerge. Out of the rear

doors step TEN less well-built men, also in dark suits. The

SOVIET CHESS TEAM steps hesitantly onto the sand.

RADIO DJ (V.O.)

This is 93 KHJ, Los Angeles...

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 36.

The KGB men watch the grand masters stroll self-consciously

on the beach. A few SURVEILLANCE SHOTS.

RADIO DJ (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Don't be fooled by the warm weather

because the Cold War just blew into

town. The Soviet chess team arrived

in LA for a good-will tournament.

BORIS SPASSKY lights a cigarette. He is trim, athletic. He

wears dark shades, hair brushed back. An impressive figure.

RADIO DJ (V.O.) (CONT'D)

With them is the current world

champion, Boris Spassky, said to be

the best chess player who ever lived.

Spassky takes off his shades and rubs his eyes against the

bright light. We sense a certain weariness...

44 EXT. BEVERLY HILLS HILTON HOTEL 44

The fleet of limos cruise up the palm-fringed courtyard.

The doormen jump to attention. Photographers take photos.

RADIO DJ (V.O.)

The comrades are booked into the

Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel. So much

for working class values...

Boris is hurried inside by two KGB men.

RADIO DJ (V.O.) (CONT'D)

If you're listening guys, welcome to

the free world and enjoy the sunshine.

45 EXT. SANTA MONICA MOTEL, OCEAN AVENUE - DAY 45

In the seedy parking lot, a couple of hookers are smoking.

A taxi pulls in. Lombardy, Marshall and Bobby emerge.

Bobby looks at the seedy Motel, shakes his head.

Right.

BOBBY:

Green Revision 10-14-13 37.

46 INT. SANTA MONICA MOTEL, OFFICE 46

Lombardy and Marshall are checking in while Bobby paces. He

checks out the mural of Santa Monica, observes passing kids.

*

*

BOBBY:

...Really hot in here...

going on?

What's *

*

MOTEL CLERK:

Repair guy didn't show.

*

BOBBY:

(to Marshall)

You said a hotel, not some roach

coach that rents by the hour.

MOTEL CLERK:

You a rock star?

(to Marshall)

Acts like a rock star.

*

BOBBY:

You know what? I ain't staying here.

Bobby turns and walks out the door.

47 EXT. SANTA MONICA MOTEL, PARKING LOT 47

Bobby emerges with Lombardy and Marshall in pursuit.

BOBBY:

You said, "improved accomodations." *

MARSHALL:

This is improved. Somebody else is

paying for it.

BOBBY:

Where are the Russians staying?

Lombardy and Marshall exchange a look.

Green Revision 10-14-13 38.

LOMBARDY:

We don't have their kind of money. *

Money?!

BOBBY:

We invented money -LOMBARDY

We rely on private donors. *

BOBBY:

So find some rich ones!

(shakes his head)

The Russians get whatever they want

because their government understands

what it takes to win. Chess is a

national priority! They don't put

chess players next to Route 66!

(looks at the traffic)

All I want is some QUIET!!

*

*

*

*

One of the hookers speaks up out of nowhere...

HOOKER:

So stop yelling.

Bobby looks up. She's attractive, if somewhat... obvious. *

BOBBY:

You're right. Sorry.

name?

What's your

Donna.

DONNA:

BOBBY:

See ya later, Donna.

a walk.

I'm going for

HOOKER:

Want some company?

*

Sure.

BOBBY:

He sets off toward the ocean.

Lombardy turns to Marshall

Donna hurries to catch up.

LOMBARDY:

And he hasn't even started playing.

Yellow Revision 10-11-13 38A.

48 INT. BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL, BORIS SPASSKY'S SUITE 48

The suite is vast. A shower is running A note in English

and Russian:
'The Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel welcomes Mr

Boris Spassky....Chess Champion of the World'.

Along with his dark suit, Boris has packed a Hawaiian shirt.

A small crucifix hangs inside his open suitcase. On a table

a chessboard with the pieces set for a new game.

Boris emerges, drying himself. Then the door opens. An

adviser enters. This is GELLER. He carries a folder.

Their conversation is in Russian with ENGLISH SUBTITLES.

BORIS:

You don't knock?

GELLER:

You didn't hear me.

Geller immediately turns off the radio jazz.

Green Revision 10-14-13 39.

BORIS:

It is interfering with your listening

devices?

GELLER:

(smiling)

Now you are being paranoid.

Geller goes to the window, looks down.

GELLER (CONT'D)

I came in here because there is a

better view. Come and see. There

is a black goddess lying by the pool

and you can see right up her crotch.

This is a great country, yeah?

(peers at him, again:)

I said this is a great country, yes?

Boris doesn't respond. Geller tosses a folder onto the bed.

GELLER (CONT'D)

The American team. There is someone

on this list I hoped was dead.

49 EXT. SANTA MONICA BEACH 49

Bobby is walking in his sharp suit, the waves drenching his

shoes. He is walking with purpose, mumbling, lost in a game

being played in his head.

Then we see Donna trailing behind, high heels in hand.

DONNA:

This is all you wanted to do?

Bobby has spaced out for a moment. He snaps back. *

BOBBY:

Huh? Collect shells if you want. *

DONNA:

You walk pretty fast.

Bobby stops, sits down on the sand and stares out to sea.

BOBBY:

Maybe I'll sleep here instead.

Donna sits down heavily beside Bobby and lights a cigarette.

BOBBY (CONT'D)

So what do you do, Donna?

Donna looks quizzically at Bobby.

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