Searching For Bobby Fischer Page #4

have it make sense.

Compare it to math|or music or art,

because otherwise it belittles him|and it and me.

I don't mean|to belittle you--

Oh, but you are,|even the way you're looking at me.

Mr. Waitzkin,|I think perhaps--

I'll tell you how good he is.|He's better at this

than I've ever been|at anything in my life.

He's better at this|than you'll ever be at anything.

My son has a gift.

He has a gift,|and once you acknowledge that,

then maybe

we'll have something|to talk about.

Josh.

Chess is what it's called.

Not the "chess thing."

Chess.

What's its number?

It doesn't have a number.|It's a private school.

Only the public schools|have numbers.

It's called Dalton.

You can still see your friends|whenever you want--

after school|or on weekends,

when there's not|a tournament.

Your friend Morgan|goes there.

Morgan goes there?

Oh, yeah.

He wouldn't go there|unless it was great, right?

Ah, it's the best.

They, um,|even have a chess class.

What's the yard like?

The yard?

Do they have good stuff|to climb on?

I'm sure it does.

Um, I haven't seen it,|but I'm sure it's great.

So, um...|what do you think?

If you say it's great,|then it has to be.

It's a mistake.

What was wrong|with the old school?

I don't know.|I guess it was no good.

And the new one's better?

They have a chess class.

They have a chess class.

Are you O.K.?

What the hell's|going on over there?

[ In Unison ]|Bobby Fischer.

Young Fischer.

Check.

Check.

Trick or treat.

Why is black better?|Take your time.

White has|more pawn islands.

Which is white's|weakest island?

The isolated pawn.

Only the king can save it.

That's right.

That's very good.

You just earned|20 master-class points.

You studying up|on your end game, Bruce?

Josh, go get yourself a Coke.|We're through here.

Get yourself a Coke.

What do you want?

Hello. How are you?|How have you been?

How's your health?

Any one of these|would be appropriate.

I want to join the club.

Well, actually, not me,|my young friend Jonathan here.

[ Giggles ]

I suggest you bring him back|in a couple of years.

We'd like an application,

if it's not|too much trouble.

He's been my student|since he was 4 years old.

His parents|have given him to me.

Does nothing|but play chess.

No other interests.

He goes to school?

Oh, no.

Well, that's great.|You should be proud of yourself.

I am.

You should watch him play.|He reminds me of you,

only he never gives up.

Josh.

It's not a part|of his character.

He's not going to disappoint|his teacher.

"And when he knew that the cottage|was entirely destroyed,

the monster screamed once more|in agony and hatred

and retreated backward|to seek refuge in the woods."

Wow! Then it gets really scary

because they chase him

and light torches|and stuff.

So we'll get to that tomorrow.

Good night, tiger.

Good night.

Dad...

Maybe we shouldn't go|to the state finals.

What are you talking about?

Of course we're going.

That's what we've worked|so hard for.

If I win...

Everybody will say,|"Well, of course he won.

He's a top-ranked player."

But if I lose...

You won't lose, Josh.

What if I do?

You won't.

I'm afraid I might.

Josh...they're afraid.

They're terrified of you.

Now you get some sleep.

Maybe it's better|not to be the best.

Then you can lose,|and it's O.K.

It took people a while|to realize he was really gone.

He disappeared before--

once for 18months

before the crushing defeat|of Petrosian in Belgrade.

But when he didn't 't show up|in Manila in '75

to defend his title,

they took it away from him

and gave it back|to the Russians.

O.K., let's go.

I'm standing here|with Fred Waitzkin.

I hope I pronounced|that right.

Fred, what's it like|being a chess parent?

In my case,|the hardest part

is keeping track|of my son's toy cars,

making sure he eats something|other than French fries...

Hi.

Hi.

Your son's the odds-on favorite,|I understand.

He's rated number one|in his division, yes.

So every other parent|in this room hates you.

I'm just kidding, Fred.

Thank you, sir.|He can go to his table now.

Next, please.

[ Door Opens ]

Oh, my God.

That was quick.

I hate this part.

What?

[Jubilant Laughter ]

No.

[ Thunder ]

Seven moves.

Seven.

How is it possible|to lose in seven moves?

Maybe I don't|really have it.

Well, you know|that's not true.

That's not why|this happened.

I don't understand|why this happened.

Why did this happen?

Well, think.

Take your time.

Take more time than you took|losing to that patzer

and figure it out.

Did you fall for a trap?

Did you bring your queen out early

even though Bruce warned you|time and again about that?

Maybe he's just better|than me.

No, don't tell me|that kid's better than you

because he isn't.

Why are you standing|so far away from me?

Come here.

It's O.K.

It's O.K.

[Josh ]|I'm sorry.

[ Bruce ] For all his natural ability,|Bobby Fischer studied harder

than any player|who ever lived.

He woke up|thinking about chess.

He went to bed thinking about it.|He dreamt about it.

Why? Isn't it enough|to be a natural?

If you don't care about winning,|it's enough,

but he wanted to win.

He had to be champion,

and in order to do that,|he had to work,

which is what|we're going to do.

O.K.

Promise you won't|argue moves with me,

no matter how much|you think you're right.

I promise.

Everything I tell you|imagine is coming from him

because I know|every game he ever played,

so, in effect, he's going to be|teaching you,

and you'll become him.

Promise.

All right.

Some new rules--

no more speed chess.

I know you like it,|I know it's fun,

but it's no good.

It ruined Arbakov,|and it'll ruin you.

And no more games|in Washington Square.

They're patzers, and they're teaching|you all the wrong things.

They're not patzers.

They're losers,

and unless you want to end up|just like them,

you'll stay away.

They're not patzers.

I mean it.

Now...

which one is you?

What do you mean?

I mean, which one is you?

None of them.|They're just pieces.

This is you.

So what's your best move?

Rook to d 1 .

What about taking on e5?

What about it?

You didn't consider it.|You're still not considering it.

Sit up.

I'm right.|Rook to d 1 is the best move.

You didn't study the board.

You're moving|before I know the answers.

Give me your book.

Why?

Give me your book.

Why?

You just lost|some master-class points, tiger.

I can't lose points.

No? You just lost some more|for arguing with me.

Fine, Tim, it's not enough.

What's happening?

What's happening?

I hear a whole lot of talk|and don't get much for it.

Ooh, it hurts!

Damn!

Damn!

Do you know what the word|contempt means?

It's to think of others|as being beneath you,

to be unworthy of being|in the same room with you.

I don't feel that.

Well, you better start.

Because if you don't think|it's a part of winning,

you're wrong.

You have to have contempt|for your opponents.

You have to hate them.

But I don't.

They hate you.

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