Searching For Bobby Fischer Page #2

Even though|she was five years older,

she was soon|no match for him.

It became more interesting

for him to play|against himself.

He'd play both sides|of the board equally hard,

careful to be fair...

and he always won.

[ Ballet Instructor ]|And up...

Now over.

Arms long, girls,

and down.

Let's go|to the other side.

Long neck.

And pli.

And down.

J'adoube.

What are you doing?

J'adoube.

J'adoube?|You moved the piece.

No, I adjusted|the piece.

J'adoube.

No, you moved it,|then took it back.

No, I adjusted...

Who are you with again?

No, you picked up|the piece...

The Hadassah chapter|on Staten Island.

I'll take it back.

What did you have in mind?

Lecture? Exhibition?

I'm looking for|Bruce Pandolfini.

What are you prepared|to pay?

$30.

Do you know how much I'm accustomed|to getting for a lecture?

[ Scrunching ]

Want to play?

Can I have|one of those?

Yes, I'll be there.

Yes, l--I'm agreeing to the $30.

Yes, I have it.

Ahem.

Bye.

[ Hitting Chess Timer ]

I work for a newspaper.|I wanted--

I don't know|where Bobby Fischer is.

I was talking to the guy|who writes the chess column.

He told me I could find|Bruce Pandolfini here.

I'm looking for|a teacher for my son.

I don't teach anymore.

He was sure|that you did.

I don't.

Come on, Josh.

Just a second.

Thanks.

What was the score?

I almost had|4 home runs,

but I slipped coming home|from third.

I ain't playing|this game.

Oh, caught you looking.

You want some smoke?

Never play defensive.|Always attack.

Even when you retreat,|you attack.

You understand?

Yeah.

There you go.|Now you're playing chess.

That's right.|Make him run.

Got me in trouble.|I'm on the run.

What can I do?|Where can I go?

Young Fischer.

Come after me.

There you go.

Outstanding.

Outstanding.

Nothing I can do.

I'm in major trouble,|major trouble.

I got big problems now.

[ Katya ]|What's this?

This goes like this.

And this|goes like this.

And this|can go over pieces.

That piece|should go over here.

And the pawn go--

And the pawns--

the pawns can|take like this.

This is a pawn...

You sneak in here again,|Katya?

Yeah.

It's way past|your bedtime.

Say good night|to your brother.

Good night.

There.

Mom?

Yeah?

Does Vinnie|sleep in the park?

I have no idea|where he lives.

Well, I was thinking...

maybe he could sleep|in my top bunk instead.

Then when I get old enough|to sleep in it,

he could sleep|down here.

You have a good heart.

And that's the most important thing|in the world.

Good night.

Good night, Mom.

Glad you could|make it.

So how's it going?

All right.

Great.

That's great.

So what do you think?

Have you ever been|to a tournament before?

No.

Ah. You're in luck then.

This is one|of the most prestigious.

The talent gathered here's|the strongest in the country.

Everybody's here.

Joel Benjamin--|former U.S. Champion,

among the six highest-rated players|in the country.

The man in the corner's|Roman Dzindzichashvili--

two-time U.S. Champion.

A few years ago,|he was ranked

among the top 1 0 players|of the world.

Asa Hoffman.

He's the son|of two lawyers.

He grew up|on Park Avenue,

went to Columbia|and Horace Mann

before dropping out|to play chess full-time.

He plays about 200 chess tournaments|a year.

Asa.

Asa.

How much do you make|at the tournaments altogether...

about $2,000 a year?

Look at that. I got him thinking.|I got him thinking.

Maybe I can win a pawn.

Clearly, you|had me come here

so I could|see all this.

But if you really|wanted me to say no

to letting my son play,

you wouldn't|have bothered.

You want me to think|you want me to say no,

but you actually...

want me to say yes.

You have no idea|what I want.

What is chess,|do you think?

Those who play for fun,|or not at all,

dismiss it as a game.

The ones who devote their lives to it,|for the most part,

insist it is a science.|It's neither.

Bobby Fischer|got underneath it

Like no one before him

and found at its center...

art.

I've spent my life|trying to play like him.

Most of these guys have.

But we're like forgers.

We're competent fakes.

His successor|wasn't here tonight.

He wasn't here.

He's asleep in his room|in your house.

Your son creates|like Fischer.

He sees like him...

inside.

You can tell that

by watching him|play some drunks in the park?

Yes!

You want to know|what I want?

I'll tell you what I want.

I want back

what Bobby Fischer took with him|when he disappeared.

Yeah, look at that.

Oh!

You're his father.

It's your decision.

Josh.

I--I'd like you to meet|a friend of mine.

Hi, Josh.

This is Bruce.

Hi.

Well, I'll let|you two, um...

I'll be downstairs.

I love|water basketball.

Well, supposedly, he used to, uh,|really be someone.

Some sort of, uh...|master level...

something or other.

Used to.

Well, yeah. Well,|he doesn't play anymore...

on the circuit...

or--or whatever, um...|they call it.

Well, he's interesting.

All right, this is it.

Mr. Green|in the conservatory

with the candlestick.

Wrench.

Frre Jacques

Frre Jacques

Dormez-vous?

Dormez-vous?

I need to talk|to your dad a minute.

I'll see you|next week, O.K.?

I really had|a great time, Josh.

Me, too.

Bye.

Bye.

The first lesson went|very well, I think.

Oh, good.

So, uh...

uh, were you guys...

talking about...

chess up there?

No, it didn't come up.

So I'll see you|next Saturday then?

Uh, right.

That's great.

So long.

How about some Pac-Man|next week, Josh?

Pac-Man and pizza.

Great.

O.K.

I'll see myself out.

It was very nice|meeting you.

Mate is four moves

from the position|in front of you.

Don't move until you figure it out|in your head.

Don't look to me|for a hint.

I can't do it without|moving the pieces.

Yes, you can.

Clear the lines of men|in your head,

one at a time,

and the king will|be left standing alone,

Like a guy|on a street corner.

Here, I'll make it|easier for you.

Knight to c8.

Yes.

I want to show you|something else.

This is very rare.

It says, "Master|Chess Certificate...

awarded to..."

and there's a blank here|for a name...

"for highest achievement

on this day of blank,|nineteen hundred and blank."

Careful with it.

It's a mysterious|and powerful thing.

It's only been|given out...

I don't know...

a few times in history.

And then only|to those who achieve

a lot of master-class|points.

Then there's a big ceremony|and so on.

How do you get|master-class points?

You earn them.

You just earned 1 0...

for that knight to c8.

master...

class...

points.

[ Children Shouting|in Baseball Game ]

O.K., Josh, let's go!

Go! Go! Go! Go!|Go! Go! Go! Go!

Take two!|Go! Go! Go! Go!

Hi.

You're overdressed, Bruce.

Two, four, six, eight,

who do we appreciate?

Eagles!

Eagles!

Yay, Eagles!

O.K., yeah!

Nice game, guys.

Let's get that equipment in|and head on out!

Good game, fellas.

Come on, Josh.

His chess ideas are like|pieces of his body

he's reluctant|to give up.

For instance, he simply can't cope|with being told

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