INT. MOSCOW AIRPORT – AEROFLOT GATE
SUBTITLE: "Moscow Airport"
ANATOLY SERGIEVSKY, mid-30s, sits alone in his seat, thumbing through a Russian chess players' magazine. A split image of his face and Freddie's is on the cover. ALEXI MOLOKOV, a bearded man in his early 50s, sits across from him. He glances at the magazine cover.
MOLOKOV
(leaning forward; perusing the image on the cover)
A formidable adversary.
(straightening himself up)
With a formidable second. They work well together, I understand.
ANATOLY
(in a daze)
You understand...
MOLOKOV
You have been preparing for the match, I hope? I simply ask, because you have not approached me for a game - (this past week.)
ANATOLY
(cutting him off; lackadaisically)
Don't discredit yourself – You're a fine player.
Molokov shoots Anatoly a bewildered look.
MOLOKOV
I take it you've been researching Trumper's games.
Anatoly finally looks up.
ANATOLY
(curtly)
Yes.
He returns to the magazine.
MOLOKOV
All of them?
ANATOLY
Why? Is he researching yours?
(Beat.)
I have the highest rating of any Soviet player -
MOLOKOV
And America holds the title.
ANATOLY
He's mad...
MOLOKOV
He has a title! Which is more than I can say for you. He lays claim to your tradition – our tradition. Does that mean nothing to you?
Anatoly turns a page.
MOLOKOV
How is your wife?
ANATOLY
She is fine...
MOLOKOV
I haven't seen you with her in a while. A shame...she should be a model for Russian women everywhere...
ANATOLY
Please...
MOLOKOV
(continuing)
...But you are never with her, are you? All that you have accomplished, all that you might – she is family, but what would she have to show for it?
Anatoly shuts the magazine and looks at Molokov. An announcement is heard, in Russian.
MOLOKOV
(gets up)
Come; we are boarding now.
Molokov walks to the gate. Anatoly opens up his briefcase and stuffs the magazine inside. He starts to close the briefcase when he takes notice of the magazine cover. CU on the picture.
ANATOLY
Who needs a dream? /
A MUSIC BOX begins to play, as though accompanying a dancing, tattered marionette.
ANATOLY
(as he closes the briefcase)
Who needs ambition? /
He gets up and trudges along to the gate, briefcase in hand.
ANATOLY
Who'd be the fool /In my position?
He hands his ticket to the flight attendant and boards.
FADE TO:
INT. PIONEERS PALACE – STUDIO - DAY
A TEACHER sits across from YOUNG ANATOLY, a chessboard between them. No one else is in the room. Ornate Russian paintings and décor adorn the walls.
ANAOTLY (V.O.)
Once, I had dreams... /
CU on their hands as they set up the board.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Now they're obsessions /
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PIONEERS PALACE – GREAT HALL
Mid-game. Start on a CU of two players' hands, from the same angle as in the previous shot.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Hopes became needs /Lovers, possessions /
PAN through the spectators in attendance. Anatoly, now an adult, plays a match against his teacher from years before.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Then they move in /Oh, so discreetly -/
Muted, but warm applause from the spectators.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Slowly at first... /
Anatoly makes his way through the crowd and is stopped by a warm Molokov. Next to Molokov is a fetching young woman with her back turned.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Smiling too sweetly /
Molokov turns the woman around to face Anatoly. It is SVETLANA – she is the epitome of Soviet decadence, as richly decorated and opulent as the palace surrounding her. She could pass for a Bond Girl.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
I opened doors - /
She offers her gloved hand; Anatoly looks at it, then at Molokov.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
They walked right through them /
Molokov nods. Anatoly looks at Svetlana, who smiles aristocratically.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Called me their friend /
CU on the hand; PAN, following it as it comes closer to meeting his lips.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
I hardly knew them... / Now I'm - /
As soon as his lips touch her hand...
CUT TO:
INT. ANATOLY'S APARTMENT – EVENING
The apartment is spacious, though not nearly as lavish as the Pioneers' Palace. It still harbors its own luxurious character to set it apart from the average Soviet residence. Anatoly sits in a leather armchair, a stark and wooden chess set in front of him, similar to the one Gregor had in Budapest. Molokov sits across from him, and Svetlana stands behind him, rubbing his shoulders. Her appearance has changed – her dress plain, black, almost puritan.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Where I want to be /And who I want to be /And doing what I always said I would /And yet, I feel I haven't won at all!
CU CHESSBOARD
Anatoly and Molokov's hands move pieces in a set of swift, vicious exchanges.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Running for my life /And never looking back /In case there's someone right behind /To shoot me down /And say he always knew I'd fall!
INT. AIRPLANE – FLIGHT TO ITALY – NIGHT
Anatoly sits next to the window, head cocked to the side and looking passively through it. Everyone else on board is asleep.
ANATOLY
When the crazy wheel slows down... /Where will I be? / Back where I started.
FADE TO:
INT. ANATOLY'S APARTMENT – KITCHEN – MORNING
Anatoly is seated at a table, staring at a table placing. Svetlana brings him plates of cold cuts, cheese, bread, and butter. He just stares at them.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Don't get me wrong -/ I'm not complaining
INT. AIRPLANE – FLIGHT TO ITALY – DAWN
Anatoly shifts in his seat and ends up staring at the ceiling. The cabin lights come on to indicate the plane is about to land.
ANATOLY
Times have been good, /Fast, entertaining.
INT. ANATOLY'S APARTMENT – KITCHEN – MORNING
Anatoly gets up from the table without having touched his food. Svetlana looks after him longingly and starts to clear his place.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
But what's the point /If I'm concealing
INT. AIRPLANE – FLIGHT TO ITALY – DAWN
The plane is stopped; he grabs his luggage from the overhead compartment and walks down the aisle.
ANATOLY
/Most of my thoughts /All of my feeling.
FADE TO:
INT. BALZANO AIRPORT - DAWN
Anatoly steps out of the gate and is immediately flanked by a dozen microphones from American and international television affiliates.
ANATOLY
(to the press)
/Now I'm /Where I want to be and who I want to be /And doing what I always said I would –
Molokov and his aides hurry Anatoly along.
ANATOLY
/And yet, I feel I haven't won at all!
INT. ANATOLY'S APARTMENT – BATHROOM – MORNING
Anatoly runs some water from the sink and splashes it on his face. He rubs it in, relishing in it.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Running for my life /And never looking back /In case there's someone right behind to shoot me down /And say he always knew I'd fall!
He looks at himself in the mirror and after a beat notices Svetlana standing behind him, holding one of the dishes she had cleared away. He turns and looks at her.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
/When the crazy wheel slows down...
He leaves the bathroom and walks off. Svetlana is left, seeming lost.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
/Where will I be?
EXT. BALZANO AIRPORT – MORNING
A luxurious black limo is waiting for Anatoly. He is swiftly ushered into it amidst a gaggle of KGB agents and other escorts.
ANATOLY (V.O.)
Back where I started...
INT. LIMOUSINE – CONTINUOUS
Anatoly watches the view through the car window as it begins to move.
FADE TO:
EXT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--BROADCAST VIEW - DAY