Chess

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ACT 1

Moscow 1986

Mischa, my little professor!

Hi, grandma.

How was school?

- Good.

Good, good.

Eight times eight is?

- Eight?

No.

Eighty-eight?

- No!

Eight hundred Eighty-eight?

- No!

Anatoly! Anatoly!

Anatoly, why won't you answer me?

Hello Mischa!

- Hello dad.

Impossible question!

-Why is it such an impossible question?

What? Why is everything so

impossible these days?

Wrong time.

But why can't I come with you?

That's impossible, and you know it.

Yeah, what do I know? Nothing!

How should I know what

youre doing on your trips?

My trips?

But Ive never been to the West!

I play chess!

Yeah, and what else?

Nothing else.

- really?

I never get to be where you are.

I dont have fun.

A chess tournament isnt

very fun at all.

Yes, but why do you go, then?

- Its a championship!

A world championship. You know

damn well that theyll never let you come.

Not you, not Misha, nor your mother,

or her mother, or God knows who.

Why dont you care about me

and my family?

I do!

- You don't!

Svetlana....?

- Still I kiss you.

Youre welcome!

A game of chess is strategy.

Each square hides something big.

In laughter and play,

in sorrow and betrayal,..

youll learn from the mistakes

youve made.

How did it happen, when chess was

shaped long ago in India?

Two princes were feuding,

so the story goes,

about the countrys sacred seal.

And their father and mother,

they wailed and cried

like all we parents do.

they pleaded:
Now stop before someone

dies, but still a brother fell.

What have you done?

His mother was beside herself.

Alas, your crime is grave"

"No, your father can never

forgive you..

Father, try to understand,

he wanted to kill me.

No, you have to leave.

You were my son,

but I repudiate you.

He left..

After some time,

he came back and counterattacked

with the help of small soldiers

painted in lacquer.

placed on a chequered table,

so that he could prove

his brothers cruel plan.

Thats how he created chess.

God be with you.

-Goodbye, Tolya.

Goodbye, Anna Petrovna!

Youll win the game, right, dad??

- Give me a kiss!

(Darling.)

(Hey, you)?

Where is my dream?

What is daring?

Did I take my chance?

Do I have the talent?

Once there was a dream

Whats left is a question.

Desire turned into demands,

love into torture.

People are replaced,

oh, so carefully..

All that was empty

becomes something important.

I resist.

but they seduce me

Saying Comrade

although they destroy me.

I am where I wanted to be

and who I wanted to be

and doing what I said;

I know I do it well.

Was this what I wanted to have?

Running for my life

and never looking back

and never being safe

I hear behind my back:

That bastard, well get him!

When my wheel of fortune is reversed,

where can I go?

Do I go back?

Sure, Im pleased.

Who can complain?

Everything has gone well,

a real fairytale.

Im forced to hide

moet ik mijzelf veroordelen

love and hate

Im forced to forget.

I am where I wanted to be

and who I wanted to be

and doing what I said;

I know I do it well.

Was this what I wanted to have?

Running for my life

and never looking back

and never being safe

I hear behind my back:

That bastard, well get him!

When my wheel of fortune is reversed,

where can I go?

Do I go back?

Our Partys dear General Secretary

sends his regards. Yuri!

At the meeting at the Ministry of Athletics

yesterday it was decided that..

Thank you!

Come and board now the trains

leaving for Merano of Fairytales.

Merano of Love

Bacchus, he offers wine.

Breathe in and fall

into twilight poetry

feel like Scheherazade and Aladdin

Buy yourself a sweet little friend

of delicate porcelain

Come here and enjoy

the life in Merano, Merano!

To town!

Live in the charming atmosphere.

Idyllic!

Our health spa is medically proven,

you get food and diet here..

By sun and wind Merano was blessed,

Merano, Merano

by Pan and Venus and Apollos light

Divine!

Taste the drinks of the Alps,

our sparkling water.

the intoxication of the blushing grapes.

Get spellbound by life in milling alleys

among old farms and houses

The spring burst out in a sight of joy!

And the thrush sings with

the larch in the sky!

Come, tag along on our footpath

in sunny Merano,

flourishing Merano,

making your body healthy!

Our healthy baths, our clear air,

our proud chess union.

Come to our laid table

for a short second.

Once in a while our Lords hand

wants to bless our Merano

The Rose of the Alps, Merano,

she suddenly prepares herself.

And is ready to praise the aristocracy,

the press and nobles watch

the ceremony.

The city is filled by music.

What a noise!

What a party!

What a beautiful sight.

as they celebrate the big star.

Now the mobs sporting taste.

The whole damn village

have they suddenly got

chess on their minds?

Forget it! They just want to see

how I slowly slaughter the cow.

Its East-West with an

unmistakable reek of...

Corruption!

What a height! What a depth!

Aristotle...

would blush with envy.

You got taste, you got style..

and a unique finesse.

and the ability to humiliate.

But look! Weve accompanied

by a rarely-seen dignity!.

Yes but, how nice,

what a fitting garment...

..for when youre going to the loo.

Hes a bit tired from the flight.

His modesty isnt really his strength.

The way hes behaving!

We apologize

and will of course compensate

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