Queen to Play

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QUEEN TO PLAY:

- Hello, Hlne.

- Hello.

Don't forget to do rooms 12 and 19.

- Haveyou seen Natalia?

- No.

I don't know what

I'd do withoutyou, Hlne.

I'm sick ofthat cowyelling at me!

I'm getting out ofhere.

- Where will you go?

- The mainland, anhere.

What about Denis?

The love ofyour life?

He can come with me.

I'm not rotting away here!

The summer is okay...

but the winter is a living hell!

Didn'tyou everwant to leave?

I never thought about it.

Never wanted

to move somewhere else?

Yes, years ago.

To move here and get married.

Nightmare!

Excuse me.

You can do the room now.

We'll be out here all morning.

Yes, madam.

Doyou play...

What's "chess" in French?

- Chess?

- Yes.

Doyou play chess?

No.

Ange!

What's wrong?

An accident?

No. I just wanted to seeyou.

That's nice butyou had me worried.

Sh*t, sory.

Sure you're okay?

Yes, I'm fine.

I have to go,

we have to finish today.

I'm behind.

Hlne.

Seeyou later.

When we wereyour age

we had summerjobs.

To earn some money.

My English teacher

recommended this course.

So what? Your mom and I

work like slaves.

I don't want to be likeyou!

- Like what?

- Poor!

- Is it shameful?

- It's nothing to be proud o

Has she ever gone without?

No!

Calm down.

You know she doesn't mean it.

Two building contracts

were canceled.

Thiery may cut workers.

The people who earn money

aren't spending it anymore.

How will we manage?

We'll see.

Did you askyourYankee for a raise?

- How much is this trip to England?

- 400 euros.

Sh*t.

We'll have to tighten our belts.

I'm meetingJacky,

we have a game to finish.

Don't wait up for me.

And he doesn't do anything.

Nothing seems to interest him.

Lfyou ask him

what he wants to do...

you know what he answers?

"I want to be famous!"

Doctor Krger?

That man's impossible!

Does he giveyou a hard time too?

He's all right.

Lucky all my patients

aren't like him!

Have a nice day.

Good-bye.

Hello, Doctor Krger.

Please...

ty not to move eveything.

I can't find anything

afteryou've been here.

I'm sory. All right.

Do my room first.

I wanted to ask...

It's about my...

- Aboutyour?

- Salay. My husband thinks...

Does he think foryou?

No, I think so too...

You could give me a raise.

Thankyou.

Seeyou soon.

One, two, three!

Congratulations!

Happy birthday!

- Cut the cake!

- Right. Candles!

- Here.

- Happy birthday.

Birthday presents!

An electronic chess set.

So I see. What's it for?

Playing chess, I'd say!

- But I can't play.

- You can learn.

They say it improves the mind!

Vey funny. Can you play?

No.

Okay!

It's a change from backgammon.

Who am I supposed to playwith?

I don't know. With me?

Or on your own.

It's a game

you can play on your own.

On my own?

Tiny computer big brain!

Come on, let's have some cake.

Pass your plates.

Why did you do it?

Thanks, Hlne.

- I hope it didn't cost too much?

- No.

Champagne!

- And champagne glasses!

- Right!

Where's the cork?

The cork for luck!

- It went well, huh?

- Veywell.

Getting up in the morning

will be tough.

Good night, love.

The knight...

The rook...

The pawn...

The king...

"One element

that makes chess so rich...

is the different movements

ofall the pieces.

The queen

is the most powerful piece."

The queen

is the most powerful piece...

Got eveything?

I'm not going to Mars!

Here. Take it.

You never know.

- Thanks. Areyou sure?

- Yes.

Lisa! You'll miss your boat!

Coming!

- Be careful.

- I'm not a child!

That's what worries me!

- Come for a drink?

- Not today.

You never come over now.

I don't have time. Bye.

It's you!

Yes, it's me. Areyou okay?

Yes.

- What wereyou doing?

- Nothing.

Smoking again?

A bit.

Call that a bit?

It helps me.

- Helps you do what?

- Think.

Think about what?

I haven't cooked.

I thought we could go out for once.

On me.

I'm meetingJacky,

let's heat up a pizza.

I want to go out. Please.

All right, get changed.

But it's on me.

We haven't been to Maddy's

for ages.

So I kept my head down and...

went back to workwithout a word.

It's evey man for himselfnow.

When three people are fired we're angy,

but we're glad it's them...

and not us.

Maybe Lisa's right.

We've turned into sheep.

But do we have a choice?

In my dad's day

they all stuck together.

The guys met up evey Sunday.

Mom made doughnuts.

They drank, sang

and changed the world!

It was fun.

Lftimes got hard we resisted.

What wereyou saying?

Me?

We haven't talked

like that for ages.

- Doyou know what I'd like?

- Yes!

No, I'd like to...

- Is that whatyou want?

- Yes.

Really?

What's the object ofthe game?

The object ofthe game?

You have to capture

your opponent's king.

And checkmate him.

And...?

And what?

- Is that all?

- Yes.

So all the pieces move differently?

Except the pawns,

they move the same way.

This is the bishop,

we each have two.

They move diagonally, like this.

This is the rook.

The rook goes straight ahead...

or sideways ifthere's a place.

The queen.

The most important piece.

She can do anything,

go anhere she likes.

She's stronger than the king.

Crazy, right?

There. Got it?

Sure. You think I'm an idiot?

Okay, I'll begin. White always starts.

Your turn.

No, the knight does this.

- The bishop moves sideways.

- You never said that!

Yes, I did!

I t doesn't make sense!

I've had enough.

Let's go to bed.

One last game.

I didn't wakeyou?

I'm sory.

- Snooping through my things?

- What?

No, I...

Put it backwhereyou found it.

And stop saying sory all the time.

It's a sign ofweakness.

Doyou play?

Do I play chess?

- I do.

- You?

I have an electronic set at home.

I learn at night.

And sleep in the day.

Will you playwith me?

I beg your pardon?

I'm not advancing on my own.

Why chess?

Why me?

I don't know who else to ask.

Ty playing Patience.

Please.

Look...

- What's your name?

- Hlne.

Hlne, right.

I don't like being bothered.

I can do the cleaning for free,

ifyou like.

You're appealing

to my better nature.

Tuesday, 4:
OO p.m.

But let's make this clear:

We'll ty it once.

Only once.

Understand?

What areyou doing?

I'm coming!

Come and see.

Come and see.

- Knowwhy room 11 is offlimits?

- No.

She had a wild affair

in that room threeyears ago.

With an Italian guest.

He promised to come back.

She goes in there evey day.

Pilgrimage!

Doyou believe it?

She gets a monthly letter from Rome.

Denis told me.

Natalia, take the sheets...

to the laundy,

it's your turn today.

Four rooms must be ready by midday.

Can I count on you?

"Yes, Madam,

vey good, Madam!"

Don't exaggerate.

She's not bad at heart.

Sure! You always sayyes.

We have one hour.

Doyou intend to spend it

standing up?

White opens. Your move.

Checkmate.

Well?

Well what?

Will you teach me?

Why does this game

mean so much toyou?

I don't know.

We'll start again.

See you Tuesday.

And smile occasionally.

It suits you better

than looking serious.

All right.

"Deve1oping the queen ear1y on

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