The Luzhin Defence Page #3

Which is why I would like to

put forward a proposition, if I may...

a possible solution to this dilemma.

I have excellent contacts

in the world of chess...

and with your permission I would like

to take Aleksandr under my wing.

We could travel the country,

he could play exhibition matches...

and obviously I would attend

to his education personally.

I would tutor him myself.

Your son has a very rare talent

that needs to be nurtured.

I will consider it a great honor

if you would allow me to do that.

I would consider it

my duty, in fact.

You will be in good hands.

He knows all the right people.

It's not my world.

You see?

I want you to write and tell me

about all the places you visit...

and your victories.

Good-bye, Sasha.

As a so-called child prodigy,

he was a curiosity.

Under my charge,

he became a phenomenon.

I spent many years nurturing him...

in the hope that one day

he would become world champion, but...

in the end I had to accept the fact

that at heart...

he was merely a contestant,

not a winner.

He doesn't play well

under pressure.

The last time I played him...

we spent 14 hours at the board...

and believe me...

every minute of it

he was under intense pressure.

It was a certain combination

I had in mind.

If you devoted your moves to putting him

under pressure at the board...

and my concern was putting him

under pressure away from it, then...

Mr. Valentinov...

do you want to see me win...

or him lose?

Does that really make

any difference to you?

I'm very glad

you came to watch me play.

Very glad.

But...

for the moment, it...

it somehow disturbs me.

In answer to your proposal...

I've decided...

My dear Aleksandr!

Leo Valentinov.

- Natalia Katkov.

- Delighted to make your acquaintance.

I want to hear all about you.

I also want to catch up on everything

that Aleksandr has been up to.

It's been years.

Too many years.

Oh, look at you now.

So thin.

Heard that your father died.

Come, I will

buy you both a drink...

and you can tell me

everything that you have been doing.

I was his chess father,

so to speak.

His teacher and chaperon

at first.

Please.

And as the years passed by...

I became his secretary, his chef...

Aleksandr, sit, sit, sit.

His confidante, accountant,

debt collector.

Fourteen years we were together.

Board 6, King F-7 to G-7.

Bishop F-3.

Board 7...

Bishop D-7, C-6.

Knight F-6, check.

Resigns.

Board 8, F-7 to F-5.

He never mentioned me to you once?

And then you left?

I wanted both of us

to go to America.

It's where all the opportunities

are these days, but...

Luzhin, get out.

Here. Take this.

This is all there is,

so you look after it.

But what will I do?

Where will I go?

- I have to go. I'm late.

- Please, don't leave me.

It's just a bad patch.

It's never happened before.

You need to look on this

as an opportunity.

It's time for you to do

something else with your life.

Don't leave me, please.

Please, don't leave me.

Aleksandr, trust me in this

as a friend.

You are never gonna be more

than you are now.

And what you are now

isn't good enough.

Good luck.

Drive.

What city...

What city is this?

My dear boy,

it was a quite wonderful surprise...

to find out how far you've managed

to get in this tournament.

You should go home

feeling very pleased with yourself.

Aleksandr is going to win.

Now, wouldn't that be something?

Draw.

What have I missed?

Why is everyone so excited?

It was a draw.

Neither player could force a win.

And that's exciting?

It was unexpected.

Luzhin is off his game.

You see, Turati,

he's almost qualified.

Luzhin is one and a half points

behind in his group.

They think he might not

reach the final.

I was looking for you everywhere.

I've been watching the chess.

I think I'll stick with horse racing.

Look, don't worry.

The infatuation will soon fade.

- In fact, it may end very soon.

- It has to stop now.

So far I've managed to hide it.

Nobody knows about him.

Now you have to end it.

Natalia, darling,

your father wants to...

I was going to surprise you

this afternoon.

I had the papers

drawn up this morning...

and we'll be married

in three weeks' time...

when Luzhin's won the tournament.

And if he doesn't win?

It makes no difference, but he will.

No. Stop.

Stop! No!

Why is he doing this?

Who? Valentinov?

You've read the article.

Sasha, dance with me.

Come on.

You said you could dance.

Never with a...

I've never had a partner.

Don't be silly.

How can you dance alone?

Well, now you have a partner.

You have to lead.

You have to take charge.

You have to make...

brilliant, bold...

courageous moves.

"He's now playing like

the young Aleksandr Luzhin...

who revolutionized the game

in his early 20s. "

And how is he himself?

We're not seeing each other right now.

His concentration's so intense...

he doesn't like to get

his two worlds mixed up.

I arranged with Monsieur Le Comte

to go out onto the lake.

Would you like to come?

No, thank you.

He's defiled you already, hasn't he?

That's why you're rushing

this ridiculous marriage.

You're carrying his child.

Natalia, my darling,

the choices one makes in life...

when it's the only life one has...

Mother.

The two group winners will meet in

the final starting in three days time.

The winner of group A...

is Dottore Salvatore Turati...

with seven out of nine.

And in group B...

Il Signore

Aleksandr Ivanovich Luzhin...

with six and a half out of nine.

The last time I played Turati

in my first game with black...

he isolated my queen's pawn.

Five hours he laid siege to it.

He tortured me with it...

with an adjournment

and another five hours.

I can't allow him...

to inflict such pain on me.

I need a defense.

Can you please lift your arm up?

- Do as he says, Luzhin.

- I am in perfect health.

There's no need for his quackery.

He isn't a doctor.

He's a tailor.

He's here to fit you for your suit.

Please.

Up.

Thank you.

Everything's decided.

Luzhin, you need to rest.

Dance.

- No.

- Yes.

- Yes.

- Rest.

Perfecto.

- Please.

- It's beyond my conception.

Hang the suit up.

What does it all mean, this?

I need a defense.

Yeah, that's what I need.

Would not be the answer.

Please, maestro?

Will you please open the door?

Please, maestro?

It's very late, maestro.

Prego, maestro.

Open the door, maestro.

They are waiting for you.

- Everyone is waiting.

- Excellent!

Where is he?

Where is that scamp Turati?

- He's not hiding from me, is he?

- Are you ill, maestro?

No doctor nonsense, please.

Where is everyone?

Please, maestro. Please!

They moved it.

No wonder there was confusion.

There's your reason.

They moved the venue.

There's a big victory coming!

There's a big victory coming...

a big, big victory!

Late.

Very late, Mr. Luzhin.

And who was it? Yes.

Pushkin's doomed duellist.

"Let's start, if you're willing. "

Silence, please!

The game will now commence.

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