PRESS
It’s the US versus USSR
DELEGATES
Yet we more or less are…
PRESS
No one can deny that these are difficult times
THE STORY OF CHESS
The Arbiter addresses the press and begins to explain to them part of the long and fascinating history of chess. The lights fade and we see the Arbiter leaning over the chess table and arranging the pieces. As he does so, he utters the first words of ‘The Story’. “Each game of chess means there’s one less…” Eventually various Arbiter assistants join him and they tell the full story. During this there are a number of sequences, which help to depict the words being song. Various cameras are seen recording the action and monitors around the stage show what the cameras see. Towards the end of the story a number of the human chess pieces make their way to upstage centre where they freeze into a tableau of the championship logo. The tableau splits and the two champions emerge from within. The human chess pieces disperse and a three dimensional version of the championship logo takes their place. This all happens as the two champions make their way toward the chess table. They shake hands and sit at the table. The Arbiter starts the clock and the game begins. Of course this is only for the camera, so the director calls ‘cut’ and the Arbiter introduces the champions to the press.
The Arbiter offers the press the chance to take photographs at this point and they of course rush forward to do so. Freddie and Anatoly are expected to pose and depict an image of harmony and East West friendship. Walter is busy trying to get his boy as much attention as possible. He’s brought along an extra large size chess piece and gets Freddie to wave it above his head like a trophy. The press loves it and they give very little attention to Anatoly. Freddie glories in the attention and reflects to himself on how the ‘mob’ has become so interested in the game of chess – mostly if not completely because of him. It’s now Molokov’s turn to muscle in on the action by getting the two champions to shake hands. They agree, but the handshake is held just a bit too long for Freddie and he shakes off Anatoly’s hand, knocking some chess pieces to the floor as he does so. He then makes his first real attack on his opponents. He accuses the Russians of cheating, claiming to have found a bugging devise in his hotel room, which he throws at the feet of Molokov. Molokov of course denies this and accuses Freddie of being just a little deranged. The Press is quick to jump to the defence of the Russians and they begin to question Freddie on his motives.