INT. TRAIN
The Italian countryside continues to pass by the bay window
outside Freddie and Florence's compartment. As before, a
chessboard rests between the two of them, resting at equal
height to the bottom of the window.
FLORENCE
(setting up a new game)
...I'm just saying that he doesn't
deserve the abuse you've been dishing
out.
FREDDIE
(chuckling)
Then what does he deserve?
FLORENCE
I don't know...some sense of civility...
Definitely more than your impotence
remark in Time.
FREDDIE
Okay...that might've been a bit much.
FLORENCE
You're just lucky that one didn't get
printed.
She turns the board around.
FLORENCE (CONT'D)
Here. You play black on this one.
(opens with king-pawn)
You do realize you're not the media
golden boy you used to be? You'll be
facing a harsh crowd in Merano.
As they speak, the two move almost organically off of each
other on the board.
FREDDIE
What, you mean because of Afghanistan?
It's the Reds' 'Nam, Florence; we're the
good guys now.
FLORENCE
They're not anti-American, Freddie.
They're anti-you.
VOICE (O.S.)
And as long as they are, his name stays
in print.
WALTER DE COURCEY, the source of the VOICE, a medium-height,
stocky man in his early 60s, decked out in a suit that
would've been considered sharp in the late 1950s, stands in
the doorway.
FLORENCE
(coldly)
Mr. De Courcey. Hello.
WALTER
(ignoring her)
Freddie, IBM's willing to give you forty
grand for that endorsement.
FREDDIE
No sale.
WALTER
All they need's your signature on a
proof.
FREDDIE
(raises an eyebrow)
Sale.
FLORENCE
No sale! Their chess-playing programs
aren't nearly up to par to even consider -
FREDDIE
I said "Sale."
Florence shoots Freddie a bewildered look.
WALTER
That's great. We'll be in Merano soon...
(points at Florence)
You keep his game up to speed.
FLORENCE
Of course.
Walter leaves.
FLORENCE (CONT'D)
"I said 'Sale'?!" I'm sorry, this isn't
the Freddie Trumper who was -
FREDDIE
Who was happy in ten-dollar shirts and
playing chess games for the thrill of it?
FLORENCE
Something like that.
FREDDIE
It's only money, Florence.
We start to hear a PIANO.
FLORENCE
Let's just...drop it. Here...
(starts to reposition the
board)
Start off with a standard Sicilian
opening. We're both down a pawn...
Her voice fades out.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
LONG AGO
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFETIME...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY--OUTSIDE WALKER HALL - DAY
A chessboard is set up on a bench. A college-aged Florence
looks at the position set up on the board.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
SOMEONE WITH MY NAME
WHO LOOKED A LOT LIKE ME
A hand disrupts the position; takes one of her pieces and
puts her in check. She looks up into a college-aged
Freddie's eyes. He sits down across from her.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
CAME TO KNOW
A MAN AND MADE A PROMISE
HE ONLY HAD TO SAY
AND THAT'S WHERE SHE WOULD BE
INT. TRAIN
Outside the bay window is a train station; the view moves
very slowly as the train begins to slow down. She packs up
the board and pieces as Freddie puts on his jacket.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
LATELY, ALTHOUGH THE FEELINGS
RUN JUST AS DEEP
THE PROMISE SHE MADE HAS GROWN
IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP
They leave, bags in hand. Our view stays on the bay window
as the train comes to a full stop.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
AND YET, I WISH IT WASN'T SO
WILL HE MISS ME IF I GO?
EXT. TRAIN STATION
Walter helps Freddie and Florence down from the train. The
three talk a bit, their breath visible in the city's chill.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
IN A WAY
IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY
I DON'T SEE MYSELF
AS TAKING PART AT ALL
He hands some luggage to an ATTENDANT and walks off, striking
up a conversation with Freddie as Florence sifts through her
wallet. She tips the man and looks after Freddie.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
YESTERDAY
A GIRL THAT I WAS FOND OF
She hurries after them as the luggage is carted away.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
FINALLY COULD SEE
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
INT. MARRIOTT HOTEL LOBBY, PHILADELPHIA
Florence is delivering a statement to a small cluster of
REPORTERS as other eager FANS crowd the lobby. It is the
aftermath of the scene described in the prologue; the banner
still hangs overhead, as a pair of workers takes down the
Soviet flag.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
SADLY, SHE REALIZED
SHE'D LEFT HIM BEHIND
AND SADDER THAN THAT
SHE KNEW HE WOULDN'T EVEN MIND
She says goodbye to the reporters and looks over at Freddie
signing autographs, Walter at his side.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
AND THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY
WOULD HE LISTEN IF I STAY?
EXT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL, MERANO - DAY
The sky is gray; a light flurry spots the scene as Walter,
Freddie, and Florence step out of a limousine and walk to the
hotel. Some other (two or three) cars pull up, carrying
luggage, aides, attendants, bodyguards, etc.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
IT'S ALL VERY WELL TO SAY
"YOU FOOL - IT'S NOW OR NEVER!"
Florence starts to open the door; a BELLBOY holds it as
Walter and Freddie walk inside. Florence looks back at the
street.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I COULD BE CHOOSING
NO CHOICES WHATSOEVER
EXT. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY--OUTSIDE WALKER HALL
The scene from the photograph in the opening. Freddie and
Florence lean towards each other across the chessboard,
hesitant at first, before full-on lip lockage...
FLORENCE (V.O.)
I COULD BE
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY -
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE!
FLASH TO:
INT. MARRIOTT HOTEL LOBBY, PHILADELPHIA
Most of the reporters have dispersed, though one JULIA
WATERS, a young blonde television personality stays behind
interviewing him, a CAMERAMAN capturing the event. Florence
stands next to him, half-smiling, eyes wandering.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
AND HE COULD BE IN MINE
I DON'T SEE
A REASON TO BE LONELY
I COULD TAKE MY CHANCES
FURTHER DOWN THE LINE
She looks at the cameraman's equipment.
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--LOBBY
Florence steps inside; she immediately eyes ANOTHER CAMERAMAN
setting up to film something. A bustle of JOURNALISTS,
REPORTERS, and CREW MEMBERS make it almost impossible to find
either of the players. Florence is, at first, lost in the
sea of them.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
AND IF THAT GIRL I KNEW
SHOULD ASK MY ADVICE
(starts to push her way to the
center of the mob)
OH, I WOULDN'T HESITATE
SHE NEEDN'T ASK ME TWICE!
She finally eyes Freddie, alone on a platform, raised just a
few inches off the ground, next to the reception desk.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
GO NOW!
I'D TELL HER THAT FOR FREE
TROUBLE IS THE GIRL IS ME
She makes her way to the platform...
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
THE STORY IS THE GIRL IS ME
...and to Freddie's side.
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--LOBBY (BROADCAST VIEW)
The Italian countryside continues to pass by the bay window
outside Freddie and Florence's compartment. As before, a
chessboard rests between the two of them, resting at equal
height to the bottom of the window.
FLORENCE
(setting up a new game)
...I'm just saying that he doesn't
deserve the abuse you've been dishing
out.
FREDDIE
(chuckling)
Then what does he deserve?
FLORENCE
I don't know...some sense of civility...
Definitely more than your impotence
remark in Time.
FREDDIE
Okay...that might've been a bit much.
FLORENCE
You're just lucky that one didn't get
printed.
She turns the board around.
FLORENCE (CONT'D)
Here. You play black on this one.
(opens with king-pawn)
You do realize you're not the media
golden boy you used to be? You'll be
facing a harsh crowd in Merano.
As they speak, the two move almost organically off of each
other on the board.
FREDDIE
What, you mean because of Afghanistan?
It's the Reds' 'Nam, Florence; we're the
good guys now.
FLORENCE
They're not anti-American, Freddie.
They're anti-you.
VOICE (O.S.)
And as long as they are, his name stays
in print.
WALTER DE COURCEY, the source of the VOICE, a medium-height,
stocky man in his early 60s, decked out in a suit that
would've been considered sharp in the late 1950s, stands in
the doorway.
FLORENCE
(coldly)
Mr. De Courcey. Hello.
WALTER
(ignoring her)
Freddie, IBM's willing to give you forty
grand for that endorsement.
FREDDIE
No sale.
WALTER
All they need's your signature on a
proof.
FREDDIE
(raises an eyebrow)
Sale.
FLORENCE
No sale! Their chess-playing programs
aren't nearly up to par to even consider -
FREDDIE
I said "Sale."
Florence shoots Freddie a bewildered look.
WALTER
That's great. We'll be in Merano soon...
(points at Florence)
You keep his game up to speed.
FLORENCE
Of course.
Walter leaves.
FLORENCE (CONT'D)
"I said 'Sale'?!" I'm sorry, this isn't
the Freddie Trumper who was -
FREDDIE
Who was happy in ten-dollar shirts and
playing chess games for the thrill of it?
FLORENCE
Something like that.
FREDDIE
It's only money, Florence.
We start to hear a PIANO.
FLORENCE
Let's just...drop it. Here...
(starts to reposition the
board)
Start off with a standard Sicilian
opening. We're both down a pawn...
Her voice fades out.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
LONG AGO
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFETIME...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY--OUTSIDE WALKER HALL - DAY
A chessboard is set up on a bench. A college-aged Florence
looks at the position set up on the board.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
SOMEONE WITH MY NAME
WHO LOOKED A LOT LIKE ME
A hand disrupts the position; takes one of her pieces and
puts her in check. She looks up into a college-aged
Freddie's eyes. He sits down across from her.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
CAME TO KNOW
A MAN AND MADE A PROMISE
HE ONLY HAD TO SAY
AND THAT'S WHERE SHE WOULD BE
INT. TRAIN
Outside the bay window is a train station; the view moves
very slowly as the train begins to slow down. She packs up
the board and pieces as Freddie puts on his jacket.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
LATELY, ALTHOUGH THE FEELINGS
RUN JUST AS DEEP
THE PROMISE SHE MADE HAS GROWN
IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP
They leave, bags in hand. Our view stays on the bay window
as the train comes to a full stop.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
AND YET, I WISH IT WASN'T SO
WILL HE MISS ME IF I GO?
EXT. TRAIN STATION
Walter helps Freddie and Florence down from the train. The
three talk a bit, their breath visible in the city's chill.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
IN A WAY
IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY
I DON'T SEE MYSELF
AS TAKING PART AT ALL
He hands some luggage to an ATTENDANT and walks off, striking
up a conversation with Freddie as Florence sifts through her
wallet. She tips the man and looks after Freddie.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
YESTERDAY
A GIRL THAT I WAS FOND OF
She hurries after them as the luggage is carted away.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
FINALLY COULD SEE
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
INT. MARRIOTT HOTEL LOBBY, PHILADELPHIA
Florence is delivering a statement to a small cluster of
REPORTERS as other eager FANS crowd the lobby. It is the
aftermath of the scene described in the prologue; the banner
still hangs overhead, as a pair of workers takes down the
Soviet flag.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
SADLY, SHE REALIZED
SHE'D LEFT HIM BEHIND
AND SADDER THAN THAT
SHE KNEW HE WOULDN'T EVEN MIND
She says goodbye to the reporters and looks over at Freddie
signing autographs, Walter at his side.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
AND THOUGH THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY
WOULD HE LISTEN IF I STAY?
EXT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL, MERANO - DAY
The sky is gray; a light flurry spots the scene as Walter,
Freddie, and Florence step out of a limousine and walk to the
hotel. Some other (two or three) cars pull up, carrying
luggage, aides, attendants, bodyguards, etc.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
IT'S ALL VERY WELL TO SAY
"YOU FOOL - IT'S NOW OR NEVER!"
Florence starts to open the door; a BELLBOY holds it as
Walter and Freddie walk inside. Florence looks back at the
street.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I COULD BE CHOOSING
NO CHOICES WHATSOEVER
EXT. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY--OUTSIDE WALKER HALL
The scene from the photograph in the opening. Freddie and
Florence lean towards each other across the chessboard,
hesitant at first, before full-on lip lockage...
FLORENCE (V.O.)
I COULD BE
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY -
IN SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE!
FLASH TO:
INT. MARRIOTT HOTEL LOBBY, PHILADELPHIA
Most of the reporters have dispersed, though one JULIA
WATERS, a young blonde television personality stays behind
interviewing him, a CAMERAMAN capturing the event. Florence
stands next to him, half-smiling, eyes wandering.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
AND HE COULD BE IN MINE
I DON'T SEE
A REASON TO BE LONELY
I COULD TAKE MY CHANCES
FURTHER DOWN THE LINE
She looks at the cameraman's equipment.
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--LOBBY
Florence steps inside; she immediately eyes ANOTHER CAMERAMAN
setting up to film something. A bustle of JOURNALISTS,
REPORTERS, and CREW MEMBERS make it almost impossible to find
either of the players. Florence is, at first, lost in the
sea of them.
FLORENCE (V.O.)
AND IF THAT GIRL I KNEW
SHOULD ASK MY ADVICE
(starts to push her way to the
center of the mob)
OH, I WOULDN'T HESITATE
SHE NEEDN'T ASK ME TWICE!
She finally eyes Freddie, alone on a platform, raised just a
few inches off the ground, next to the reception desk.
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
GO NOW!
I'D TELL HER THAT FOR FREE
TROUBLE IS THE GIRL IS ME
She makes her way to the platform...
FLORENCE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
THE STORY IS THE GIRL IS ME
...and to Freddie's side.
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--LOBBY (BROADCAST VIEW)