[ THEME SONG PLAYS ] * I BET WE'VE BEEN TOGETHERFOR A MILLION YEARS * * AND I'LL BET WE'LL BE TOGETHERFOR A MILLION MORE * * OH, IT'S LIKEI STARTED BREATHING * * ON THE NIGHT WE KISSED * AND I CAN'T REMEMBERWHAT I EVER DID BEFORE * * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * AND THEREAIN'T NO NOTHIN' * * WE CAN'T LOVEEACH OTHER THROUGH * * OOH-HOO * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * SHA-LA-LA-LA QUEEN TO ROOK 5. CHECKMATE. THAT'S FIVE IN A ROW, YOU WORTHLESS PILEOF MICROCHIPS. YOU KNOW, I COULD GETA BETTER GAME OF CHESS OUT OF THE BLENDER. YOU REALLY THOUGHTYOU COULD BEAT ME, DIDN'T YOU? WELL, LET ME TELL YOUSOMETHING, PAL. I AM NOT THE LELAND COLLEGECHESS CHAMPION FOR NOTHING. I AM THE BEST.DO YOU HEAR ME? THE BEST! ALEX, I THOUGHT I TOLD YOUNOT TO YELL AT THE APPLIANCES. YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEATEN THISTHING FIVE GAMES IN A ROW, MOM. DO YOU KNOWWHAT THAT MEANS? THAT MEANS I AM IN PEAK FORMFOR MY BIG MATCH. TOMORROW, I AM GONNA BESITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM IVAN ROZMIROVICH, ONE OF THE TOP YOUNGSOVIET CHESS PLAYERS. THE TELEVISION CAMERASARE GONNA BE ROLLING. THE EYES OF THE WORLDARE GONNA BE UPON ME. AND, MOM, I'M GONNAWIPE UP THE BOARD WITH THATLITTLE BOLSHEVIK. ALEX,THAT IS A TERRIBLE ATTITUDE. THIS ISA CULTURAL EVENT. YOU SHOULD -- YOU SHOULDWELCOME THIS BOY HERE WITH A SPIRIT OF COOPERATIONAND GOOD WILL. DON'T BE SO NAIVE, MOM. THIS KID HAS WON EVERY MATCHHE'S PLAYED SINCE HE'S COMETO THE STATES. RIGHT NOW, GORBACHEV AND ALLHIS BUDDIES IN THE KREMLIN ARE LAUGHING, TOSSING BACKA FEW VODKAS, SAYING, [Russian accent]"KEATON IS NEXT. ONCE WE DEFEAT HIM,NOTHING CAN STOP US." YOU'RE RIGHT.WHAT A FOOL I'VE BEEN. HEY, ALEX, THERE'S A TELEGRAMFOR YOU IN THE MAIL FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. [ Normal voice ] WHOA.WASHINGTON, D.C. "DEAR MR. KEATON, "ON BEHALFOF THE STATE DEPARTMENT "AND THE PRESIDENTOF THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU GOODLUCK IN YOUR MATCH TOMORROW." LOOK AT THAT. IT'S PRACTICALLY SIGNEDBY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF. "EDMUND P. LOCKRIDGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF STATEFOR CHESS AND BACKGAMMON." MY LEADERSARE WATCHING ME, MOM. HEY, DAD,HOW'S THE TELECAST SHAPING UP? WERE YOU ABLE TO GETTHOSE THINGS I ASKED FOR? WE DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET, SON.THIS IS JUST A LOCAL TELECAST. WHAT,NO SLOW-MOTION REPLAYS? NO CAN DO. HOWARD COSELL? SORRY. GOODYEAR BLIMP? IT WOULD NEVER FITIN THE BUILDING, ALEX. AND WE'RE NOWJUST MOMENTS AWAY FROM THE STARTOF THIS EXCITING MATCH. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATETO HAVE WITH US TODAY AMERICAN CHESS GRAND MASTERERIC NORDSTROM, WHO WILL, UH,PROVIDE US WITH A DETAILED PLAY-BY-PLAY ANALYSISOF THE EVENT. NOW, ERIC, THIS IS YOUR FIRSTOUTING AS A COMMENTATOR, ISN'T IT? YES. UH, THANK YOU. HOW YOU DOING? OH, FINE, MOM.FINE. FINE. LOOK, THERE HE IS -- IVAN ROZMIROVICH... A SOVIET AUTOMATON... COLD AND HEARTLESS. DO WELL.THANKS. ALEX --HEY. GUESS YOU'REEXCITED, HUH? UM, NO. UM, JENNIFERWANTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE'S GONNA BE COMINGAROUND SELLING HOT DOGS. IT'S UNLIKELY. I WANTED TO WISH YOUGOOD LUCK. "GOOD LUCK." WHAT DO YOU MEANBY THAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY,WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? I THINK YOU KNOW. [ CLEARS THROAT ] GOOD LUCK, ALEX. "GOOD LUCK."WHAT, ARE YOU WITH HIM? WHAT? SO,WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM? "GOOD LUCK." WHAT DID YOU MEANBY THAT? I DON'T KNOW,BUT I WON'T SAY IT ANYMORE! GOOD AFTERNOON,EVERYBODY. I'M MILDRED ATKINS, CHAIRMANOF THE LELAND UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY, I SHOULD LIKE TO OFFERA MOST GRACIOUS WELCOME TO OUR GUESTSFROM THE SOVIET UNION, IVAN ROZMIROVICHAND HIS COACH, VLADIMIR RYKOFF. GENTLEMEN,WE WISH YOU A HEARTY... [ SPEAKS RUSSIAN ] AND NOW --NOW THE MATCH WILL COMMENCE. I WISH YOU BOTHGOOD LUCK. LET THE CHESS BEGIN. WELL,THE MATCH IS UNDERWAY. ERIC? YOU'REABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IT IS. YES, WE HAVEQUITE A MATCH HERE. REALLY... REALLY SOMETHING. VERY EXCITING. VERY... VERY EXCITING. [ TENSE MUSIC PLAYING ] A VERY GOOD MOVE. THANK YOU. WELL, BOTH PLAYERS HAVE, UH,JUST MADE MOVES. THEY LOOK LIKEPRETTY GOOD MOVES TO ME, BUT, UH, OF COURSE,I'M JUST AN AMATEUR... UNLIKE YOURSELF, ERIC. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU,IVAN? THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.HE IS PLAYING A FINE MATCH. YOU MUST WIN THIS MATCH. TO LOSE A MATCHTO AN UNKNOWN AMERICAN WOULD BE A DISGRACE, IVAN --A DISGRACE TO THE SOVIET UNION. DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT? I DO. THEN WIN. [ TENSE MUSIC PLAYS ] EXCUSE ME, UH,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLAYERS, DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE MATCH,WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL TOMORROW, FOLLOWING THE NEXT MOVEBY ROZMIROVICH. BISHOP TO KNIGHT 2.ARE YOU KIDDING? EXCUSE ME. UH, ROZMIROVICH HAS MOVEDHIS BISHOP TO KNIGHT 2. AND THAT'SA VERY UNUSUAL MOVE. I'M NOT QUITE SUREWHAT IT MEANS. I'VE GONE OVER ITA THOUSAND TIMES IN MY MIND. THERE'S NO WAYAROUND IT. BISHOP TO KNIGHT 2IS A BAD MOVE. HE MADE A BAD MOVE. ALL I GOT TO DO IS MOVEQUEEN TO BISHOP 6 AND I -- AND I CAN'T LOSE. WELL, WHY ARE YOU SO UPSETABOUT THIS, ALEX? YOU WANT TO WIN, DON'T YOU?JUST ACCEPT IT HAPPILY. HE MADE A BAD MOVE. ELLEN, HE DID NOT MAKEA BAD MOVE. IVAN ROZMIROVICH IS TOO GOODTO MAKE A BAD MOVE. HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY SAYHE MADE A BAD MOVE? I DIDN'T SAY IT.YOU DID. IT'S GOT TO BE A TRAPOF SOME SORT -- YOU KNOW, SOME HIDDEN STRATEGYI DIDN'T PICK UP ON. WELL, THAT SOUNDS PLAUSIBLE.IT'S PROBABLY A TRAP. IT CAN'T BE A TRAP,ELLEN. I HAVE PLAYED A MILLIONGAMES OF CHESS. I KNOW A TRAP WHEN I SEE ONE.WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? YOU'RE RIGHT.I'M SORRY. MAYBE I'M JUSTUNDERESTIMATING MYSELF. I WAS PLAYING A GREAT GAME.MAYBE HE JUST GOT THROWN. HE GOT NERVOUS,AND HE BLUNDERED. WELL, THAT'S PROBABLYWHAT HAPPENED. HE GOT NERVOUS,AND HE BLUND-- HE DID NOT GET NERVOUSAND BLUNDER. ELLEN, HE'S AN EXPERIENCEDTOURNAMENT PLAYER. HE WOULD NOT GET NERVOUSAND BLUND-- DO YOU KNOW HOW RIDICULOUSYOU SOUND? I'M SORRY.I -- BISHOP TO KNIGHT 2. IT'S LIKE HE'S THROWINGTHE MATCH. WHY? LISTEN, I GOT TO GET BACKTO MY ROOM. STOP BY LATER?YEAH. HEY, UH, KEATON,SAW YOU ON THE TUBE TODAY. LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.THANKS. YOU GONNA DEMOLISHTHAT COMMIE TOMORROW? YEAH,I'LL DO MY BEST. RAMBO KEATON'SGONNA GET THE RUSSKI. REAL CHESS LOVERS. [ CLEARS THROAT ] HELLO. HEY. UH, IVAN. UH, WHAT ARE --WHAT ARE YOU -- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?I-I MEAN, COME IN. NICE TO SEE YOU. DO THEY LET YOUWALK AROUND HERE? I'M -- I'M SORRY.UM, SIT DOWN. ARE YOU ALLOWEDTO SIT DOWN? YES, AREN'T YOU? HOW ARE YOU DOING? FINE. I WAS JUST TAKING A WALKAROUND THE CAMPUS, RELAXING A LITTLE. HEY,YOU ANY GOOD AT THIS? I HAVE NEVER PLAYED.GOOD. GREAT. FINALLY, A GAMEI'M BETTER THAN YOU AT. NICE SHOT. YOU ARE DOING SUPERBLY --IN OUR CHESS MATCH, I MEAN. WHEN DID YOU FIRSTTAKE UP THE GAME? I DON'T KNOW -- I GUESSI'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH CHESS EVER SINCEI WATCHED THE -- BOBBY FISCHER/BORIS SPASSKYWORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, 1972? THAT'S RIGHT.HOW DID YOU KNOW? WATCHING THAT MATCHON TELEVISION WAS WHAT GOT ME INTERESTEDIN THE GAME, AS WELL. NO KIDDING?OH, YES. IT WAS SOME OF THE MOSTBEAUTIFUL CHESS EVER PLAYED. OH, YOU'RE TELLING ME.IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. LAST GAME. THE LAST GAME --I KNOW IT BY HEART! MOVE 36, REMEMBER? UH, SPASSKY MOVED, UH,BISHOP TO KING 6. FISCHER COUNTEREDWITH KING TO BISHOP 5. THAT'S RIGHT.UH, BISHOP TO QUEEN 7. ROOKTO QUEEN KNIGHT 8. AFTER THISHE COULD NOT LOSE. HE MADE THOSE PIECESDANCE. [ SIGHS ] OH, I USED TOLOVE THE GAME SO MUCH WHEN I WAS A BOY. PLAYING A GAME OF CHESSWAS LIKE GOING TO ANOTHER WORLD, WHERE I HAD THE POWERTO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FROM MY IMAGINATION. IT WAS THE GREATEST THINGIN MY LIFE. WELL,W-WHAT ABOUT NOW? [ SIGHS ] NOW, THERE'S NO JOY IN THE GAMEFOR ME ANYMORE. NOW, IT'S A PRISON. I HAVE TO WIN ALL THE TIME,OR I'VE DISGRACED MYSELF, I'VE DISGRACED MY COACH, I'VE DISGRACEDTHE SOVIET UNION. ALL I EVER WANTED TO BEWAS A CHESS PLAYER. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A FLAGFOR MY COUNTRY. YEAH,BUT YOU ARE, IVAN. I -- I MEAN,I AM, TOO. THAT'S PART OF BEINGA GREAT CHESS PLAYER. YOU PLAY FOR THE HONOROF YOUR COUNTRY. I LOVE MY COUNTRY,AS YOU LOVE YOURS. BUT THE COMPETITION THAT EXISTSIS NOT HEALTHY. ALEX, WHY CAN'T TWO PEOPLEWHO LOVE THE GAME AS WE DO, JUST PLAY CHESSFOR THE JOY OF IT? WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BEINTERNATIONAL STANDOFF? BECAUSE, IVAN, IT'S -- IT'S PARTOF THE FRIENDLY RIVALRY THAT EXISTSBETWEEN OUR TWO NATIONS. IT'S LIKE A PIANO COMPETITION,THE OLYMPICS, THE ARMS RACE. WELL, I DO NOTWANT TO BE PART OF IT. I'M TIRED OF ALL THIS. I WANT TO BE HOME, WITH MY FAMILY,WITH MY FRIENDS. I WANT ALL THIS TO END. IS THAT WHY YOU'RETHROWING THE MATCH? BISHOP TO KNIGHT 2. ALL I HAVE TO DOIS MOVE QUEEN TO BISHOP 6, AND THE GAME'S OVER. YOU KNOW THAT AS WELL AS I DO.YOU'RE LOSING ON PURPOSE. IT'S INAPPROPRIATE TO DISCUSSTHE MATCH DURING AN ADJOURNMENT. NO, NO, HANG ON, IVAN. NOW, I THINKI UNDERSTAND IT NOW. SEE, I AM THE FIRST GUYYOU'VE PLAYED WHO'S GIVEN YOUA CLOSE ENOUGH MATCH SO YOU CAN LOSE WITHOUT ANYONETHINKING YOU LOST INTENTIONALLY. YOU SLIP IN THE RANKINGS,YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM,AND IT'S OVER. THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT? I DO NOT KNOWWHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. HI, DARLING.YOUR DAD AND I JUST GOT HERE. MAL AND JEN WILL BE ALONGIN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR. GREAT. LOOK, ERIC, WE'RE PAYING YOUGOOD MONEY FOR THIS. I WISH YOU'D COMMENT MOREON THE MATCH. OH, ALL RIGHT. I-I THINK BOTH PLAYERSHAVE HANDLED -- NOT NOW! WHEN WE'RE ON THE AIR. I CAN'T BELIEVE IVANIS THROWING THIS MATCH. WELL, HONEY,IF HE REALLY WANTS TO LOSE, THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DOTO STOP HIM. [ SIGHS ]I GUESS NOT. FOR A PLAYER AS -- AS GOODAS IVAN IS TO THROW A MATCH... WHAT THE POOR GUYMUST BE GOING THROUGH. POOR GUY? IS THIS THE SAME PERSONYOU REFERRED TO YESTERDAY AS "THAT COLD,HEARTLESS AUTOMATON"? I CALLA LOT OF PEOPLE THAT. I KNOW. YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU KNOW,LAST NIGHT IN THE SNACK BAR, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF GUYS,REAL JERKS, CHEERING ME ONTO "BEAT THE COMMIE." AND --AND IT SHOOK ME UP, MOM, 'CAUSE I COULD HEAR MYSELFSAYING THAT. IN FACT, I WAS SAYING THATJUST A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO. BUT THE FACT IS,IVAN IS NOT A VILLAIN. HE'S JUST A GUYWHO LIKES TO PLAY CHESS. IT SOUNDS TO MELIKE YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO WINTHAT MUCH ANYMORE. NOT LIKE THIS, MOM. SO,WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE? EDMUND P. LOCKRIDGEIS WATCHING OVER ME, CHEERING ME ON. CAN'T LET HIM DOWN. WELL,YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE. [ SIGHS ] YOU WANT TO KNOWSOMETHING, MOM? IT'S A LOT EASIERTO HATE A COUNTRY THAN IT ISTO HATE A PERSON. I REMEMBER WHEN HATEWAS SO SIMPLE. [ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,WELCOME BACK. IF THE PLAYERS ARE READY,WE CAN RESUME PLAY. IT IS MR. KEATON'S TURN. ERIC, WILL YOU PLEASESAY SOMETHING? WELL,IT LOOKS LIKE KEATON IS GOING TO QUEEN TO BISHOP 6,CHECK. THAT'SA VERY STRONG MOVE. IT COULD WELL WIN THE MATCHFOR HIM. THERE,WAS THAT SO HARD? WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU WEREGOING TO MOVE YOUR QUEEN. YEAH, WELL,AS YOU KNOW, IVAN, THE MOVE IS NOT FINAL UNTILI TAKE MY HAND OFF THE PIECE. I'VE RECONSIDERED,DECIDED TO MOVE MY BISHOP. BUT THE QUEEN MOVEIS THE BETTER MOVE. SAYS YOU. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? TO EVEN THINGS UP, IVAN. AND DON'T PRETEND YOU DON'T KNOWWHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. ALEX, PLEASE. NO. THERE,IT'S ALL EVEN NOW. BAD MOVE FOR BAD MOVE. LET'S PLAY SOME CHESS,PAL. HEY,WHAT ARE YOU DOING? TRYING TO MAKE A MOVE,IF YOU'LL LET GO OF MY HAND. YOU'RE MAKING A BAD MOVEON PURPOSE AGAIN. WELL, UH, THERE'S QUITE A BITMORE GRABBING GOING ON IN... IN -- IN TODAY'S SESSION,I'LL SAY THAT. I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU DO IT,IVAN. LET GO OF MY HAND. THERE.THE MOVE IS OFFICIAL NOW. OH, YEAH? THERE. THAT'S AN EVEN WORSE MOVETHAN YOU MADE. THIS IS WORSETHAN YOURS. THAT'S THE WORST MOVEYOU'LL EVER SEE IN YOUR LIFE. THAT IS BAD,BUT WATCH THIS. ALL RIGHT! LET GO OF MY HAND. WHOA! SOME --SOME GREAT ACTION HERE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. UH, THINGS HAVE REALLYPICKED UP. WILL YOUMOVE YOUR HAND? NO. YOU'RE NOT PUTTINGTHAT QUEEN IN THIS SQUARE, IVAN. NOW, GIVE IT TO ME. [ SPECTATORS MURMURING ] GENTLEMEN, WHAT ISTHE MEANING OF THIS? IVAN, COME BACK! ALL RIGHT, IVAN,DROP THAT QUEEN. Steven: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,THIS IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MOST EXCITING CHESS MATCHI'VE EVER SEEN. WELL, ALEX, I NEVER THOUGHT I'DSAY THIS AFTER A CHESS MATCH, BUT NICE TACKLE. I WAS JUST TALKINGTO NORDSTROM. HE SAID THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELYA CHESS FIRST -- BOTH PLAYERS DISQUALIFIEDFOR WRESTLING. Alex: LOOK, IVAN WASTRYING TO LOSE THE MATCH SO HE COULD DROP OUTOF COMPETITIVE CHESS. BUT I JUST DIDN'T THINKA PLAYER THAT GREAT SHOULD GO OUT WITH A BLACK MARKON HIS RECORD. WELL, YOU TOOK CARE OF THAT,DIDN'T YOU? ALEX, I'M PROUD OF YOU. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WINAT ANY COST. YOU'RE JUSTNOT LIKE THAT. SURE, DAD,KICK ME WHILE I'M DOWN. COME ON, EVERYONE,LET'S GO HOME. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D KIND OF LIKE TO BE ALONEFOR A WHILE. ALL RIGHT, WELL,LET'S US GO HOME. I DON'T THINKI'LL TAKE UP CHESS. IT'S TOO VIOLENT. HELLO. HEY. I CAME FOR MY BAG. IN ALL THE COMMOTION,I FORGOT TO TAKE IT WITH ME. UH... STAY BACK! UH, HOW YOU DOING? MY ARM IS A LITTLE SORE, BUT THE NURSE AT YOUR INFIRMARYSAID IT WAS JUST A SPRAIN. MY FIRST CHESS INJURY. LISTEN, IVAN, I HOPE -- I MEAN, UH... THEY'RE NOT GONNA SEND YOUTO SIBERIA FOR THIS, ARE THEY? BECAUSE I DON'T THINKTHAT'S RIGHT. I MEAN, IF ANYBODY SHOULD GOTO SIBERIA, IT SHOULD BE ME. AND I'LL TELL YOUR LEADERS THAT.I WILL. I MEAN, WHO DO I CALL? THEY'RE CLOSED NOW. DON'T WORRY, ALEX. NEITHEROF US ARE GOING TO SIBERIA. WELL, UH,WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? YOU GONNA QUITPLAYING TOURNAMENTS? OH, I DON'T KNOW. WHEN I GET HOME, I'LL TALK ITOVER WITH MY PARENTS. I TRUST THEIR OPINION. SORRY I PUT YOUTHROUGH ALL THIS. NO, I AM GLADYOU DID WHAT YOU DID. ALEX, EVERYONE I'VE ENCOUNTEREDIN THE WORLD OF CHESS HAS TREATED ME AS EITHERA HERO OR A VILLAIN. BUT YOU ACTED OUT OF CONCERNFOR ME, OUT OF LOVEFOR THE GAME. RIGHT NOW, I HAVE A GOOD FEELINGABOUT THE WORLD OF CHESS THAT I HAVEN'T HADIN A LONG WHILE. I CONSIDER YOU MY FRIEND,ALEX. SAME HERE, IVAN. [ GRUNTS ]SORRY. YOU SHOULD VISIT MEIN THE SOVIET UNION. I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY ANOTHERGAME OF CHESS WITH YOU SOMEDAY. NO TOURNAMENT, JUST TWO FRIENDSWHO LOVE THE GAME. LISTEN, IVAN... I'M NOT GONNA BEIN THE SOVIET UNION FOR AT LEASTA COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO WHY DON'TWE PLAY NOW? WHAT? WHY DON'T WE PLAYRIGHT NOW? NO FLAGS,NO INTERNATIONAL RIVALRY, NO LIGHTS, NO CAMERAS,NOTHING AT STAKE -- JUST A COUPLE OF GUYSWHO LIKE TO PLAY CHESS. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. I'LL PLAY YOUFOR A BUCK.