Rondo Page #3

There, there. Calm down,

Fedja, nobody told me that.

I made it all up. Come on, your move.

Mladen, promise me something.

Promise. -What is it?

- Promise you'll go straight home.

The weather is horrible.

And drink some hot tea.

That device hasn't been invented yet,

and we won't know if you're ill.

So long.

Neda! Where are you? Is that

the way to welcome a guest?

A moment ago she was going on

about how you're never coming.

Now we're going to...

The first rule... The last

digit may be uncertain...

The second rule... several

digits correct... so...

The first rule... The last

digit may be uncertain...

The first rule...

Only so many digits...

I'll be right back.

The second rule... several digits...

So? -You know you could've mated

me only two moves ago? -Really?

Look.

You should've put your

bishop here, and the king...

I see. That's it.

New game? -Yes, please.

This is your place, sorry. -Never

mind. Just turn the board.

Thanks.

What's the score?

- Mladen is winning 1-0.

That's nothing,

we'll win. Right, dear?

Are you sure? -I am.

"There'll be bloodshed... "

I almost...

I give up. -It can't be!

We shouldn't have switched

the bishops, but it's too late now.

2-0, is it? It's going to be 3-0.

No, it won't! Right, dear?

That was an accident.

"There'll be bloodshed... "

Mate? -You're good.

Did you see that, love?

This is how he did it:

he attacked to separate

the queen and the rook,

to block the rook in the corner,

and then to attack with the knight...

Rematch!

Check him! With the queen!

Why the queen, love?

Isn't that the strongest piece?

It can move in all directions.

Correct, but the queen

doesn't enter the game

until the light pieces are developed...

- But... -... and castling done.

But look, the queen can check!

Attack, attack, don't let him rest.

Check.

Check.

Check. -That's the way!

Careful, he'll take our queen.

Put it back. Put it back.

What now, eh? All

that effort, and no gain.

We checked him 3 times, that's

good. And we still have the queen.

By attacking the queen, he developed

his light pieces and gained pace.

While I wasted time on fancy

moves, he got to control the centre.

You see these 4 fields? Whoever

controls them, wins the game.

Take the move back?

No. -Why not? -Don't.

Let me take the move back.

What is it?

Real players don't take moves back.

Love, how about you take my place

and play yourself?

One moment.

We didn't treat

each other right today.

You don't love me anymore.

I just wanted you to win.

It doesn't matter who wins.

Besides, Mladen is a friend.

Says who? How do you know

what he thinks of me and you?

He makes out to be

someone special and profound.

That's posturing!

What's he really like?

He's alright, he is.

It's not a tragedy

to lose a game to him.

He's good, I sensed it straight away.

He's meant to do something great.

And you? Are you

meant for something great?

I don't know.

You are, I know it.

Everything he can do, you can do.

I believe in you,

and you humiliate me.

I love you just the way you are,

honey. You wanting me to change...

You're good, the best.

And you're my girl.

Fedja, when are we

going to have a baby?

We're going to.

Fedja...

We're here. This roof.

And this? -Everybody's

got to make a living somehow.

Whose move is it? -Mine.

Tell me, Mladen,

why did you want

to win so badly today?

I can't explain,

but I wanted it indeed.

I knew:
whatever I

wish for will come true.

Good thing I didn't wish

for a flood or an earthquake.

Or fireworks, to

wake the whole city up!

You need to find someone who'll

make you wish for great things.

So long, Fedja.

RADIO PROGRAMME:

RADIO PROGRAMME:

RADIO PROGRAMME:

If Mladen doesn't show up

today, you'll have to play with me.

If I don't play at least one

game, I won't sleep well.

You know I can't play chess.

You know how to move

the pieces, that's enough.

I'll sacrifice a piece to

make it easier for you.

Besides, you can take

every bad move back.

I know, but you can't

take moves back just...

...just like that.

FEDJA WHISTLING:

RADIO PROGRAMME:

DOORBELL BUZZING

Neda stopped hoping, but I knew you'd

be dying to see what I have here.

I have all sorts of surprises for

you. This is just the beginning.

But Fedja!

Check!

Erm... Neda is asleep? -No.

Gotcha! Now for another surprise.

Admit you didn't expect it.

No, Fedja, I didn't.

"There will be bloodshed... "

You sell these?

- Yes, it's carnival time.

Neda isn't home? -No. Your move.

I'm done.

Calm down, My Lord!

There are more surprises to come.

Fedja!

Let's call it a day.

But why? We have our

peace. Don't you just love it?

My mind is wandering. I don't know,

something's wrong with me today.

I know what's wrong with you.

It's the same thing as with Neda.

The southern wind.

And low pressure. Terribly low.

Isn't that odd? I know one can

be sensitive to weather changes,

and that one can be

highly strung, and so on.

But why did my beard

start to bother her so much?

See how silly I look.

What if it isn't just the weather?

Something's wrong

with Neda, really wrong.

She locked herself inside

herself and lost the key.

I wanted to ask you for advice.

You have more experience.

Some other time,

Fedja. Some other time.

I have to go now. I really

don't have the time today.

...now the ear...

I was afraid I wouldn't find you.

- It's Saturday, man! -That's why!

Off you go! Go! -Come on, hurry!

It's my birthday today!

- On carnival day?

It wasn't the carnival

day when I was born.

Different date each year...

If you don't mind, we

might celebrate at your place.

I... I don't have

anybody except you two.

We'll celebrate alright!

It will be a day to remember!

You're rude. Why didn't you tell me

earlier? I would've made something.

Everything's here. -We'll celebrate!

Watch the cake. Thank you.

- Happy birthday! -Thank you. -Neda!

Happy birthday, Mladen.

20, 21, 22... that's it!

That's what's left from

Neda's birthday. Never mind.

We're celebrating the birthday of

Mladen Bakran, who turns 22 today.

Yes, Fedja...

When he was 22, Mladen Bakran

despised this bourgeois nonsense.

At college, everybody feared him.

He'd cut guys' long hair,

legs of their trousers, hated jazz...

That was a man full of

ideals, completely unsceptical.

I don't know. To make everybody

fit the mould, your mould...

Hear that, Neda?

He'd cut my hair too.

I would.

I'd shave your head!

If you were older.

Happiness would ensue.

Happiness? Who has so much of it

that they can give some to others?

I didn't look for

happiness in myself.

To punish the guilty, protect

the innocent, be the hand of justice,

that was happiness for me.

That's why I became a judge.

Becoming a judge was

the only thing I ever wanted.

You became a judge, didn't you?

I did. The trouble is,

the laws keep changing.

That's just how things are.

- I know. But verdicts remain.

To you!

Enough of that. Everything

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