BROADCAST VIEW
All eyes are on Freddie, Florence to his right and Walter in
the background, talking with an anonymous MAN IN SUIT. At
this point, Julia Waters stands in front of the scene,
addressing the camera. In the bottom right of the screen is
the slick "NBS" logo.
JULIA WATERS
I'm here right now in Merano, Italy,
where World Champion Freddie Trumper has
just arrived at the beautiful, newly
renovated Palace and Schloss Maur Hotel,
site of this year's championship. As
many of our viewers know, Trumper,
ignoring the concerns of the arbiter of
this match, makes a very clear-cut
political stance regarding this tournament.
He has agreed to a special impromptu press
conference that NBS will deliver live as
part of our championship coverage. Rumor
has it that he intends to apologize for
various remarks made as he boarded at
Newark Airport for a brief European Tour
before these matches.
CU FREDDIE AT PODIUM
Freddie clears his throat. He looks out into the crowd.
Having found their way to the front are Julia Waters, a
TABLOID REPORTER, and a BRITISH REPORTER, and behind them a
NEW YORK REPORTER, a SOVIET REPORTER, and a SPORTS REPORTER,
each with their respective CREWS, ASSISTANTS, etc. More
journalists are scattered throughout the lobby, along with a
smattering of HOTEL EMPLOYEES.
FREDDIE
I'm sorry, I didn't have time to prepare
an opening statement. I'll take your
questions right away.
JULIA WATERS
(jumping right in)
WHY DO YOU PERSIST WITH VICIOUS ATTACKS
UNGRACIOUS REMARKS RE: OPPOENTS?
TABLOID REPORTER
(stepping forward, pen and pad
in hand)
IT SMACKS OF A LACK OF CONVICTION!
ADMIT, YOU'RE UNDER DURESS -
BRITISH REPORTER
AND THAT YOUR ONLY SKILL LEFT
IS FOR MONEY, NOT CHESS!
FREDDIE
(overlapping, into mics)
One at a time, please...
The room suddenly erupts in unison:
ALL REPORTERS
IF SOVIET LIFE'S AS GRIM AS YOU CLAIM
THEN HOW COME THEIR BOYS ARE SO GOOD AT
THE GAME?
THOUGH YOU SWEAR THE AMERICAN DREAM
IS CLEARLY THE BEST
YOU'RE NO ADVERTISEMENT
FOR LIFE AND TIMES IN THE WEST!
FREDDIE
(with a "Cut!" gesture)
I said one at a time, or no one gets an
answer!
Walter turns briefly from the man he was talking to and
smiles in Freddie's direction. Ms. Waters jumps in once
again.
JULIA WATERS
WHY DID YOU RISK THE WHOLE MATCH BREAKING
DOWN?
(points her mic at Freddie)
FREDDIE
I don't know what you're talking about;
what are you implying?
JULIA WATERS
ALL YOUR OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS YOUR CONCEIT -
FREDDIE
(smirks)
I don't see anything outrageous in
demanding what I'm worth.
NEW YORK REPORTER
THEY PAY YOU ALL THAT YOU ASK FOR
AND THEN YOU DEMAND EVEN MORE
FREDDIE
Look, I'm the reason you're all here.
Who's ever heard of -
(mispronouncing)
"Surjievsky?"
THREE REPORTERS - Julia, Tabloid, and British - take a few
steps forward in unison, mics poised, crowding Freddie.
THREE REPORTERS
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
WHAT WE'RE REPORTING
WHY SO DISPARAGING?
NOT VERY SPORTING
FREDDIE
Come on, are the Communists sporting? My
God...
THREE OTHER REPORTERS - Soviet, New York, and Sports - raise
their mics over their heads and point them, underhand, at
Freddie...
THREE OTHER REPORTERS
TELL ALL THIS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS
ARE YOU AN ASSET TO
EAST-WEST RELATIONS?
...framing him above and below with mics. Florence takes a
step back.
FREDDIE
(a bit flustered; searching
around the room)
Tell me... Tell me one thing the Russkies
have ever done for East-West relations?
Do you guys have any serious questions?
He points to a LOCAL REPORTER in the back.
LOCAL REPORTER
(brightly)
WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION OF OUR LITTLE
TOWN?
FREDDIE
(rolls his eyes)
Pretty gray, cold, and dull, as I
expected.
BRITISH REPORTER
WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE PLAYED -
LENINGRAD?
FREDDIE
Leningrad was an insulting Soviet
suggestion.
SOVIET REPORTER
WE ONLY TRIED TO BE FRIENDLY
WE WOULD HAVE PLAYED IN NEW YORK
FREDDIE
You think I'm that damned naive?! I know
damn well what your motives were!
The SIX REPORTERS crowding him exchange the posturing of
their mics - the first three on now on top, and the last
three now on the bottom.
SIX REPORTERS
YOU PROTEST TOO MUCH!
WE SEE YOUR PLOY, A
BIG NOISE TO HIDE YOUR FEARS -
PURE PARANOIA!
FREDDIE
(with conviction)
I'm not paranoid; they're out to get me!
He turns back to Florence, who mouths "Tone it down!" as once
again, the entire room is erupting, in unison:
ALL REPORTERS
TELL ALL THIS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS -
ARE YOU AN ASSET TO
EAST-WEST RELATIONS?
FREDDIE
You cannot be serious!
At that, all mics save one, Tabloid's, retract, and the
reporters carrying them retreat to their original positions.
JULIA WATERS
WILL YOU BE QUITTING FOR GOOD IF YOU
LOSE?
Freddie just glares at her.
TABLOID REPORTER
(jabs Freddie lightly with his
mic)
HOW COME YOUR SECOND'S A GIRL, LOVER BOY?
FREDDIE
Watch it! ...Excuse me?
TABLOID REPORTER
(again jabs Freddie lightly
with his mic)
HOW COME YOUR SECOND'S A GIRL, LOVER BOY?
Freddie violently grabs Tabloid's arm and pushes him aside;
Tabloid's papers and tape recorder go flying. Freddie barges
off the podium, through the sea of reporters and eventually
hotel staff, leaving Florence alone on the podium. She
reaches down to help Tabloid off the ground. British comes
forward, a bit flustered.
BRITISH REPORTER
WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY?
HE'S OUT OF HIS TREE!
TABLOID REPORTER
(clenching his teeth)
HE'S FINALLY FLIPPED...
JULIA WATERS
(also stepping forward to help
Tabloid up; half to Florence)
AND BETWEEN YOU AND ME
HE'S NO HOPE OF RETAINING HIS CROWN
IN THIS FRAME OF MIND
THREE REPORTERS
IN FACT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE
HE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED!
Florence stands straight immediately at that remark, looking
down on the three.
FLORENCE
SMILE! YOU'VE GOT YOUR FIRST
EXCLUSIVE STORY
NOW YOU CAN BASK IN HIS
REFLECTED GLORY
(gestures a banner headline)
"NAKED, UNPROVOKED
YANKEE AGGRESSION"
(eyes Tabloid reporter)
OH, WHAT A CREDIT TO
YOUR GREAT PROFESSION
She picks up some of Tabloid's papers and thrusts them into
his hand as she storms off after Freddie. More reporters
gather around the scene.
SPORTS REPORTER
(into a camera)
MUCH BETTER TO QUIT WHILE STILL NUMBER
THEN QUEST TO DEFEAT REPUTATION, UNDONE
NEW YORK REPORTER
(to Soviet Reporter)
THOUGH HE'S PROVED TO HIMSELF
IT'S A COMMUNIST PLOT -
SOVIET REPORTER
IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S MONEY THAT DID IT
AND STARTED THE ROT!
The fervor of the room becomes unison once again.
ALL REPORTERS
IT'S SAD THAT THE BEST HIS COUNTRY'S
PRODUCED
IS CRUMBLING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES AND
REDUCED
DISSOLVE TO:
TELEVISION SCREEN
Freddie's attack and the aftermath replay on NBS.
ALL REPORTERS (V.O.)
TO A MINDLESS ABUSE
WHEN HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL INSTEAD
REMEMBER, WE MADE HIM FAMOUS -
WITHOUT US, HE'S DEAD!
The screen is switched off. PAN BACK to reveal:
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--FREDDIE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Florence crosses in front of the TV and heads back to
Freddie's bed.
FLORENCE
Well, if they didn't hate you enough
before -
FREDDIE (O.S.)
I'm sorry you had to pick up the pieces.
Freddie sits on his bed, a table with chessboard pulled up to
him. His luggage still isn't unpacked. Florence turns to
him with her arms folded. He looks at her, then back at the
board.
FLORENCE
Get some sleep, you need your rest.
First game's tomorrow.
FADE TO:
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--ANATOLY'S SUITE - NIGHT
The room is decorated similarly to Anatoly's apartment in
Moscow; Molokov and Anatoly sit across from each other at a
chessboard, Anatoly studying the board and Molokov re
creating a position depicted in an open book in front of him.
A television is on across the room, presumably playing the
aftermath of Freddie's press conference.
ANATOLY
What did I tell you? He's mad.
MOLOKOV
Don't be so easily deceived...
(finishes setting up the
position)
There.
ANATOLY
We've been through this one before.
MOLOKOV
And we will go through it again.
Anatoly folds his hands together and rests his chin on top of
them.
All eyes are on Freddie, Florence to his right and Walter in
the background, talking with an anonymous MAN IN SUIT. At
this point, Julia Waters stands in front of the scene,
addressing the camera. In the bottom right of the screen is
the slick "NBS" logo.
JULIA WATERS
I'm here right now in Merano, Italy,
where World Champion Freddie Trumper has
just arrived at the beautiful, newly
renovated Palace and Schloss Maur Hotel,
site of this year's championship. As
many of our viewers know, Trumper,
ignoring the concerns of the arbiter of
this match, makes a very clear-cut
political stance regarding this tournament.
He has agreed to a special impromptu press
conference that NBS will deliver live as
part of our championship coverage. Rumor
has it that he intends to apologize for
various remarks made as he boarded at
Newark Airport for a brief European Tour
before these matches.
CU FREDDIE AT PODIUM
Freddie clears his throat. He looks out into the crowd.
Having found their way to the front are Julia Waters, a
TABLOID REPORTER, and a BRITISH REPORTER, and behind them a
NEW YORK REPORTER, a SOVIET REPORTER, and a SPORTS REPORTER,
each with their respective CREWS, ASSISTANTS, etc. More
journalists are scattered throughout the lobby, along with a
smattering of HOTEL EMPLOYEES.
FREDDIE
I'm sorry, I didn't have time to prepare
an opening statement. I'll take your
questions right away.
JULIA WATERS
(jumping right in)
WHY DO YOU PERSIST WITH VICIOUS ATTACKS
UNGRACIOUS REMARKS RE: OPPOENTS?
TABLOID REPORTER
(stepping forward, pen and pad
in hand)
IT SMACKS OF A LACK OF CONVICTION!
ADMIT, YOU'RE UNDER DURESS -
BRITISH REPORTER
AND THAT YOUR ONLY SKILL LEFT
IS FOR MONEY, NOT CHESS!
FREDDIE
(overlapping, into mics)
One at a time, please...
The room suddenly erupts in unison:
ALL REPORTERS
IF SOVIET LIFE'S AS GRIM AS YOU CLAIM
THEN HOW COME THEIR BOYS ARE SO GOOD AT
THE GAME?
THOUGH YOU SWEAR THE AMERICAN DREAM
IS CLEARLY THE BEST
YOU'RE NO ADVERTISEMENT
FOR LIFE AND TIMES IN THE WEST!
FREDDIE
(with a "Cut!" gesture)
I said one at a time, or no one gets an
answer!
Walter turns briefly from the man he was talking to and
smiles in Freddie's direction. Ms. Waters jumps in once
again.
JULIA WATERS
WHY DID YOU RISK THE WHOLE MATCH BREAKING
DOWN?
(points her mic at Freddie)
FREDDIE
I don't know what you're talking about;
what are you implying?
JULIA WATERS
ALL YOUR OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS YOUR CONCEIT -
FREDDIE
(smirks)
I don't see anything outrageous in
demanding what I'm worth.
NEW YORK REPORTER
THEY PAY YOU ALL THAT YOU ASK FOR
AND THEN YOU DEMAND EVEN MORE
FREDDIE
Look, I'm the reason you're all here.
Who's ever heard of -
(mispronouncing)
"Surjievsky?"
THREE REPORTERS - Julia, Tabloid, and British - take a few
steps forward in unison, mics poised, crowding Freddie.
THREE REPORTERS
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
WHAT WE'RE REPORTING
WHY SO DISPARAGING?
NOT VERY SPORTING
FREDDIE
Come on, are the Communists sporting? My
God...
THREE OTHER REPORTERS - Soviet, New York, and Sports - raise
their mics over their heads and point them, underhand, at
Freddie...
THREE OTHER REPORTERS
TELL ALL THIS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS
ARE YOU AN ASSET TO
EAST-WEST RELATIONS?
...framing him above and below with mics. Florence takes a
step back.
FREDDIE
(a bit flustered; searching
around the room)
Tell me... Tell me one thing the Russkies
have ever done for East-West relations?
Do you guys have any serious questions?
He points to a LOCAL REPORTER in the back.
LOCAL REPORTER
(brightly)
WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION OF OUR LITTLE
TOWN?
FREDDIE
(rolls his eyes)
Pretty gray, cold, and dull, as I
expected.
BRITISH REPORTER
WHERE WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE PLAYED -
LENINGRAD?
FREDDIE
Leningrad was an insulting Soviet
suggestion.
SOVIET REPORTER
WE ONLY TRIED TO BE FRIENDLY
WE WOULD HAVE PLAYED IN NEW YORK
FREDDIE
You think I'm that damned naive?! I know
damn well what your motives were!
The SIX REPORTERS crowding him exchange the posturing of
their mics - the first three on now on top, and the last
three now on the bottom.
SIX REPORTERS
YOU PROTEST TOO MUCH!
WE SEE YOUR PLOY, A
BIG NOISE TO HIDE YOUR FEARS -
PURE PARANOIA!
FREDDIE
(with conviction)
I'm not paranoid; they're out to get me!
He turns back to Florence, who mouths "Tone it down!" as once
again, the entire room is erupting, in unison:
ALL REPORTERS
TELL ALL THIS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS -
ARE YOU AN ASSET TO
EAST-WEST RELATIONS?
FREDDIE
You cannot be serious!
At that, all mics save one, Tabloid's, retract, and the
reporters carrying them retreat to their original positions.
JULIA WATERS
WILL YOU BE QUITTING FOR GOOD IF YOU
LOSE?
Freddie just glares at her.
TABLOID REPORTER
(jabs Freddie lightly with his
mic)
HOW COME YOUR SECOND'S A GIRL, LOVER BOY?
FREDDIE
Watch it! ...Excuse me?
TABLOID REPORTER
(again jabs Freddie lightly
with his mic)
HOW COME YOUR SECOND'S A GIRL, LOVER BOY?
Freddie violently grabs Tabloid's arm and pushes him aside;
Tabloid's papers and tape recorder go flying. Freddie barges
off the podium, through the sea of reporters and eventually
hotel staff, leaving Florence alone on the podium. She
reaches down to help Tabloid off the ground. British comes
forward, a bit flustered.
BRITISH REPORTER
WELL, WHAT CAN I SAY?
HE'S OUT OF HIS TREE!
TABLOID REPORTER
(clenching his teeth)
HE'S FINALLY FLIPPED...
JULIA WATERS
(also stepping forward to help
Tabloid up; half to Florence)
AND BETWEEN YOU AND ME
HE'S NO HOPE OF RETAINING HIS CROWN
IN THIS FRAME OF MIND
THREE REPORTERS
IN FACT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE
HE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED!
Florence stands straight immediately at that remark, looking
down on the three.
FLORENCE
SMILE! YOU'VE GOT YOUR FIRST
EXCLUSIVE STORY
NOW YOU CAN BASK IN HIS
REFLECTED GLORY
(gestures a banner headline)
"NAKED, UNPROVOKED
YANKEE AGGRESSION"
(eyes Tabloid reporter)
OH, WHAT A CREDIT TO
YOUR GREAT PROFESSION
She picks up some of Tabloid's papers and thrusts them into
his hand as she storms off after Freddie. More reporters
gather around the scene.
SPORTS REPORTER
(into a camera)
MUCH BETTER TO QUIT WHILE STILL NUMBER
THEN QUEST TO DEFEAT REPUTATION, UNDONE
NEW YORK REPORTER
(to Soviet Reporter)
THOUGH HE'S PROVED TO HIMSELF
IT'S A COMMUNIST PLOT -
SOVIET REPORTER
IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S MONEY THAT DID IT
AND STARTED THE ROT!
The fervor of the room becomes unison once again.
ALL REPORTERS
IT'S SAD THAT THE BEST HIS COUNTRY'S
PRODUCED
IS CRUMBLING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES AND
REDUCED
DISSOLVE TO:
TELEVISION SCREEN
Freddie's attack and the aftermath replay on NBS.
ALL REPORTERS (V.O.)
TO A MINDLESS ABUSE
WHEN HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL INSTEAD
REMEMBER, WE MADE HIM FAMOUS -
WITHOUT US, HE'S DEAD!
The screen is switched off. PAN BACK to reveal:
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--FREDDIE'S ROOM - NIGHT
Florence crosses in front of the TV and heads back to
Freddie's bed.
FLORENCE
Well, if they didn't hate you enough
before -
FREDDIE (O.S.)
I'm sorry you had to pick up the pieces.
Freddie sits on his bed, a table with chessboard pulled up to
him. His luggage still isn't unpacked. Florence turns to
him with her arms folded. He looks at her, then back at the
board.
FLORENCE
Get some sleep, you need your rest.
First game's tomorrow.
FADE TO:
INT. PALACE AND SCHLOSS MAUR HOTEL--ANATOLY'S SUITE - NIGHT
The room is decorated similarly to Anatoly's apartment in
Moscow; Molokov and Anatoly sit across from each other at a
chessboard, Anatoly studying the board and Molokov re
creating a position depicted in an open book in front of him.
A television is on across the room, presumably playing the
aftermath of Freddie's press conference.
ANATOLY
What did I tell you? He's mad.
MOLOKOV
Don't be so easily deceived...
(finishes setting up the
position)
There.
ANATOLY
We've been through this one before.
MOLOKOV
And we will go through it again.
Anatoly folds his hands together and rests his chin on top of
them.