Endgame s01e11 Episode Script
Mr. Black
[.]
Come on, I did not call you stupid.
You said it's stupid to use logic to prove God exists.
The attempt is stupid.
You're not.
Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Priestesses, heretics, shall we turn our attention to something more solvable? The crossword editors have forgotten how to spell.
I am compelled to compose an acerbic letter.
I thought I was going to have your full attention today.
You do have my full attention.
Also, Mr.
Black, who has signed up for five blitz chess games at 200 Euros apiece, he has my full attention as well.
Whatever.
I dug up all the corporate information I could find on our friends.
These are the companies involved in Rosemary's murder, yes? Yeah, they're all connected.
Question is, who's behind them? Mr.
Black lists no personal information.
[Tsks.]
No fide rating.
Anonymous play, it's tedious.
I'm not doing this alone.
We can do it together, but first you can start by taking dictation so that we can correct this egregious spelling error.
Look, look! Testing, testing? Hello? Hello? Yes, yes, hello, good morning, Mr.
Black.
Grandmaster Balagan.
You have the details for our match? Yes, five games, five minutes on each of our clocks.
Shall we allow the randomizer to choose sides? Pippa, you're not writing No, no, you can have white first game.
You wish to give me the advantage three out of five games? You'll need all the help.
[Balagan laughs.]
Would you like to adjust your medication before we play? Sportsmanship, Mr.
Balagan.
Chess is not sport.
It is war.
All is fair.
Pippa? "To the blind puzzle-makers of the Munich press" Don't worry, I'll translate it into German later.
Mr.
Balagan, where is your etiquette? Do I have your attention or not? Yes, you have my attention for the full 10 minutes that it'll take to make you cry like a schoolboy.
Go.
The stakes.
We haven't discussed the stakes.
The stakes? The terms are clear.
You pay, we play, I crush you.
It is not a wager.
It is a fee.
If you'd allow me to explain, sir.
[Hostages whimpering in fear.]
We're playing for them.
Five games, five hostages.
Every time you win, one goes free.
Every time you lose or draw, one dies.
This mind game is in very poor taste, Mr.
Black, even for a chess player.
This is not a mind game.
You talk of etiquette, and yet you bring a gun to a chess fight? Keep yammering.
We'll see what happens to etiquette when the clock runs out.
Tick, tick, tick.
Bang.
[.]
[Crowd cheering.]
[Vancouver's "o Canada" horn blares noon.]
Is he serious? Historically, chess has given rise to a surprising amount of violence.
Pippa, alert the police.
Alcina, get Sam here.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Mr.
Black.
You have gone to extreme lengths to throw me off my game, but as you see, I've already recovered.
Tell your conspirators to leave us, so that you won't be so humiliated when I thrash you.
Oh, you think this is a prank? You have no reason to do this for real.
Nice try.
Mr.
Black, if there's a point to this perhaps you should Of course there is.
You'll find out at the end.
I've left a voicemail for Sammy.
What else do you need? Peace, quiet and solitude.
[Elevator dings.]
Barbara, the police are on the line.
Ert is on the way.
On their way? What's wrong? Some-some kind of hostage situation? Yes.
Where? Internet.
You mean, in the business center? No, no, no, no, on the Internet.
Yes, I'm still here.
Penthouse one? Balagan! He is not going to kill a hostage every five minutes, he's going to kill a hostage if Arkady loses, and Arkady has five minutes to play.
No, they each have five minutes to play, so that's up to 10 minutes per game.
Because that's how chess works! Why the hell are the cops calling about a situation in Balagan's suite? I'm on with 911 right now.
I hate chess.
No one goes in except the police.
Yeah, go ahead, try.
Knight to C6? I see you've studied Averbakh-Spassky, 1956, yes? Have I? Mm-hmm.
It was a beautiful move by Spassky.
The game itself, mediocre at best.
73 moves and ended in a draw.
Well, that's unfortunate for you.
A draw counts as a loss.
Not to worry.
I've had intestinal spasms smarter than Spassky.
Oh Oh, I see where you're going.
That's amazing.
You have some skill.
Where did you train? Look, you're grandmaster Arkady Balagan.
A chat would be great when we're done.
Right now? No comment.
Shame.
You seem so fascinating.
All I am is a sad little cog.
Gurjit, I'm on the penthouse floor.
We need those key cards asap.
Hugo Lum, head of security.
This is for you.
Gonna need six more.
They're on their way.
Penthouse one.
Aka psyche ward for Russian chess bozo, Arkady Balagan.
He thinks he's smart, but Tell it to the boss.
Who's the boss? Reg.
Lum.
Long time no see.
Somebody having fun with us? I don't wanna end up roasted by some chess nut.
[Sniggers.]
Roasted Chestnut.
Still trying to play "good cop" I see.
Still playing cop.
You cannot remain hidden with all your hostages.
You know that, don't you? For five games? Certainly.
I know you're in a truck.
Is it yours or a rental? It's a rental.
That won't help you.
So confident.
Perhaps overconfident? Surely, you left some kind of trail.
Who might you be? Trousers.
Hmm, unbuttoned shirt.
Nice shoes.
Where did he snatch you yuppies? And why? What about you, winter coat? Winter boots Why does one thing not look like the other? [Door bangs open.]
Mr.
Balagan.
Thanks for holding things.
We'll take it from here.
I'm still playing You've done plenty.
If you could step outside, one of the officers will take your statement.
I have less than one minute on this clock! If I lose, a hostage dies! Not if you let us do our job.
You came here to find the madman, yes? Not to get in my way.
Balagan, rule number one Never let the hostage-taker dictate the rules of engagement.
Calderon I'm playing chess I'm Let go! Let go! Mr.
Black, my name is Regina Velasco.
I lead the emergency response team.
How we doin' today? My hands are a little full.
Rook to H1! So I see.
Maybe I can help you out with that, what do you say? What move did he call out? Rook H1! [Muffled shouting from Balagan.]
[Sighs testily.]
He's too far from the mic.
I can't hear him.
He can't hear me! Mr.
Black, what do your friends call you? You got a first name? Do I have a Of course I have a first name.
You ever met anyone who didn't? Will you tell it to me? A good faith gesture? You're making a big mistake.
Hugo, tell her.
Oh, you really should have let Mr.
Balagan play that game.
He could have won.
Who are your friends there with you? Rook H1! Shut him up! [Blows thud.]
Get off me, you thugs! Oh, look, Mr.
Balagan's clock has run out.
He loses on time.
Okay, so you win.
Listen, how about we all just take a deep breath, and we can talk about how to resolve this situation.
That's easy.
One down - Wait - No! Four to go.
[Gun blasts, hostages scream.]
[Gasping in horror.]
[Hostages whimper.]
[Muffled sobbing over microphone.]
Clock starts running again in five minutes, whether he's in front of his computer or not.
[Gasping and wheezing.]
Oh, God Oh, my God.
Oh, my God [Wheezing in panic.]
Maybe that wasn't real.
Yeah, it looked real enough.
Reg, this guy's in distress.
He has a condition.
What condition? He gets panic attacks.
He can't leave the hotel.
He's in the hotel.
Yeah, well, maybe you distressed him.
Come on, Reg, a hostage is dead.
We need him.
We have no idea what went on on the other end of the screen, Lum.
It might ba a scam.
Four hostages left.
You willing to risk their lives on a "might be"? Hey, listen, can you hear me? Can you get control of yourself? I want you to keep playing.
Now, what do you need? [Breathlessly.]
Get out.
Get out.
All right, move it.
Next door.
We are going to set up a communications vector.
You won't be alone.
Come on, Balagan.
[Knocking on door.]
Police! Coming in.
Everybody decent? Listen up, this could be a hoax, but we are treating it as real.
We have one hostile, aka Mr.
Black.
Mr.
Black is in control of five hostages, one possible deceased, location unknown.
Everything on chess whiz's laptop, I want to see on my laptop.
I want a trace on his IP address, and I want his face run through the database, clear? Lum Yeah, I've got four security guards on duty, five more on speed dial.
We're ready to rock and roll.
Go door-to-door, and clear the damn floor already.
And get us some coffee.
Hugo? She's all right.
Hey what happened over there? Lost a hostage.
W-what do you mean lost? Hotel security! We're evacuating the floor! [Birds twittering peacefully.]
[Hostages crying softly.]
This is on your heads! [Whimpering in terror.]
Okay.
Now, Reg is gonna be with you every step of the way.
Put this on.
All you have to do is listen and follow instructions.
I'll have to lodge a complaint with the chess federation.
These are deplorable conditions for a match, yes? Reg will give you all the support you need.
Now, Pippa here It's Pippa, right? Yeah.
She'll be here with you.
You ask her to hold your hand, she'll hold your hand.
Won't you? Yeah, anything you need, Ark.
Okay, Reg, it's ready, go ahead.
Mr.
Balagan, can you hear me? Yes.
Balagan, can you hear me? Yes! Now, kindly breathe through your nose.
[Pieces clattering.]
Game two, Mr.
Balagan.
I hope you go the distance this time.
Balagan, we are tracing his IP address, so you have to stretch out the game, give us maximum time.
I will do what I can.
Excellent.
First move is mine.
I will break you.
[Reg.]
: You're doing great.
Ask him if he would like us to send a message to his loved ones.
Would you like us to send a message to your loved ones? No, thank you.
Ask him about the condition of the hostages.
How are the hostages? They're fine.
You should concentrate on the game, Mr.
Balagan.
A life is on the line.
Ask him about specifics.
Are they hungry? Are they hungry? Your queen is skewered.
You're going to have to lose something.
Thirsty? Stop talking.
The queen, Mr.
Balagan Injured? Injured! Are they injured? Not unless you lose.
Which one's it going to be, the bishop or the queen? Tell him you want proof.
Tell him you want proof! Enough Ask him to remove the hoods from the hostages heads! - Tell him! - Enough nattering! [Ear bud clattering.]
What the hell is he doing? Take my queen.
I do not need her.
A queen sacrifice? You just handed me the game.
Nonsense.
Your play is average at best.
You should have chosen a lesser player to involve in your sick fantasy, Mr.
Black.
Well, you have a website, you're the greatest chess player alive.
People will talk about us.
Oh, flattery.
Pippa, water.
It's not a sick fantasy.
I have a message.
You could not start a blog? [Beeps mute button on.]
Pippa Take a screen grab, and post it to face plant or tweet face, or whatever it's called.
Also all the chess sites you can find.
Someone may recognize him.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Police and little helpers running around I don't mind, Mr.
Balagan, but it's only muddling your chess game.
You don't need distractions.
Distractions! Mr.
Black, distractions are what keep me from succumbing to boredom, or do I really need to walk you through my pawn promotion? [Inhales in wonder.]
No.
I see it.
It's wonderful.
You win.
You saved a life.
So now you let go a hostage.
Right after the matches No, no.
You killed a hostage immediately after your win, so now you release a hostage immediately after your loss.
Etiquette, Mr.
Black, etiquette.
Etiquette.
[Snipping cords.]
[Hostage panting nervously.]
[Footsteps shuffling.]
[Gasping in fright.]
Where the hell is your earpiece? I have large ear canals, it must has fallen in.
Perhaps if you call a police diver.
Maybe this is a game to you, okay, but this is my job.
I have saved one hostage.
What have you done? From now on, if there's anything to be said between both of us, we go through Hugo.
Thank you, goodbye.
[Huffs in exasperation.]
Look alive, Lum.
You're liaison.
The freak insists.
Well, that makes sense.
I speak fluent chess.
He respects that.
So, how long until the IP trace finds the perp? The trace is problematic.
Black is using a chain of anonymous proxy servers.
What about the credit cards from the website? Pre-paid card, also anonymous.
So, in other words, you've got bupkis? We've just patched in our voice analyst.
I.
T.
ts hammering away, and forensics is huddling with our vehicle expert.
We're firing on all cylinders.
Uh-huh.
You figured out who your scapegoat is yet? I told the truth.
I.
A.
came to their own conclusions.
[Sighing heavily.]
Okay, so, I've plastered Mr.
Black all over the net.
Let's see what we get back.
He's providing quite the challenge, and where the hell is Sam? What, so, is this guy good? 100 people in the world can rival me at blitz chess.
I know them all, and yet I've never seen Mr.
Black in my life.
So So, we conclude I am not playing Mr.
Black.
Okay, I'm confused.
Who are you playing then? Not who.
What.
I am playing a machine.
Mr.
Black is obviously using a computer program.
So, you have to play three more games against a computer? And not lose a single one.
Well, is that possible? First time for everything.
[Classical music blasts.]
It's blitz chess.
Just pit a computer program against a computer program.
And at best, we win 50% of the games, and at worst, we draw every game, and a draw Counts as a loss.
That's right, and someone dies.
If he's using Bigfish or Nexob, you're toast.
Arkady only has to win three more games.
Yeah, but a computer can analyze the board, like, a billion times faster than any human being.
It doesn't care about the clock, but grandmaster Balagan, in a time crunch, has to rely partly on intuition.
Ah, programs are made by humans.
Other humans are stupid.
Then use unorthodox openings.
Yes Get the program out of its memorized play.
King's Indian.
Gligoric-Taimanov system.
Use weird moves whenever you can.
The program can probably only trace the decision tree back so far It won't see surprising results over the horizon.
Right? Sam, help Pippa target the online community.
Someone has seen Mr.
Black's face.
[Speed-dialing.]
A joke? Now? Yes, I need a mental palette cleanser.
[Chuckles.]
Uh, okay, dirty or corny? For now, corny.
Quick, quick.
Okay, okay, um A bowl of soup and a sandwich walk into a bar, and the bartender says, "hey, sorry, we don't serve lunch here.
" I see.
[Beeps telephone off.]
[Groans anxiously.]
Okay Game three.
Mr.
Balagan, you're white.
Let us begin.
[Echoes of clock ticking.]
[Bars slamming shut.]
[Clicks time clock.]
[Clicks time clock.]
[Slot machine whirrs and dings.]
You see, cheater? The Indian openings reward human intuition.
I will overwhelm your dull-witted computer program with mad genius.
You figured out your true opponent.
Congratulations.
[Clicks time clock.]
It won't help you.
[Curses in russian.]
Suka.
Bingo.
[Beeps mute on.]
Chess chat room paydirt.
Mr.
Black is Dennis Grosvenor of Denver, Colorado.
Geography Professor and a one-time state chess champ.
Give it to Police? Yes.
Yup, okay.
So, it is Dennis of Denver, is it? Internet.
Of course.
But I suppose you're not concerned that we know who you are.
Not especially.
Watch out for those pawns.
Oh, it's okay, go on, lend a hand.
It's not going to help.
You're going to lose this one, Mr.
Balagan.
Nonsense.
I'm in a delightful position.
[Beeps mute button.]
My position is terrible.
Sam, I need your eyes.
Well, when you said you knew how to beat Nexob and Bigfish, you did mean the latest versions, right? Because Nexob just released version 4.
0 two weeks ago.
It learns.
It gs s better at beating its opponent.
She wants to debrief me? What is to debrief? Just tell her the bad guy is Dennis Grosvenor! Reg is Reg.
If there's even a sliver of ass showing, she'll cover it.
What's the deal with you two, anyway? [Door closes.]
Okay.
yup.
Occupy that b-fi Yes, yes, yes! So, uh, could I pick your brain for a sec? Wait.
[Beeps mute button.]
Go.
Reg is, uh, really starting to sweat.
Perhaps she would like to trade places.
FBI got ahold of Dennis Grosvenor's wife.
She edits High School science text books.
Nerd love, I guess.
And? Well, she says Dennis was upset at breakfast Thursday.
When she asked what was the matter, he said "nothing," only that he had to visit his brother for a few days.
It's a cover story.
Obviously.
So, anyway, after breakfast, Dennis left to go to his job at Mount Cochrane U, and that's the last time wifey saw him.
FBI is looking into the university, of course.
Yeah, here's all the work info.
Courses, students, you know, what have you.
Uh, he was, uh He was denied tenure last year.
Maybe that's what set him off.
No, the hostages were not dressed like professors.
Who were they dressed like? Four were clad in light jackets.
Yeah, Denver has mild winters.
The fifth wears a heavy coat.
Sam? Denver, Denver, Denver Faster.
One sec Denver, record cold snap.
Four had slip-on shoes.
Easy to remove at security.
They were going to the airport.
Probably together.
Members of a church perhaps, or executives from the same company.
And the fifth hostage? Is their driver.
Okay, I'll let Reg know.
[Error message beeps.]
Hugo! What has this ignoramus done to my Internet? What? [Typing in frustration.]
What has she done? It's the hostage negotiator's play book Stage a computer crash.
She's probably trying to buy some more time.
Well, I hope she can afford some coffins! Go talk some sense into her now.
Ah, you don't know her, Balagan.
It's her way or get steam-rolled right into the highway.
I don't know if I can do anything.
Hugo, please.
You gotta get the game going again Shh! FBI's on i-chat with Grosvenor Yeah? How's that going? You getting anywhere? Time.
We don't have time.
Chess players are by nature paranoid and vindictive.
Dennis will see right through your brilliant tactic, and he will kill all the hostages.
I am doing things by the book No, you're hiding behind the book so you don't have to wear this.
You never wear it.
Now is not the time to cover your ass, Reg.
Do the right thing.
Calderone.
Reg, the FBI Screw 'em.
Give the man back his game.
You're a go! I'm here! I'm here.
Oh, good.
You're much better company than the FBI, and our friends were starting to worry, weren't you? They don't want to die.
No, they don't want to die, i don't want them to die.
You're the only one who wants them to die.
No, I really don't, but in 15 seconds, one of them will.
No one else dies today.
Okay Look, look, trade down your bishop.
Then I'll be down a bishop.
[Sam.]
: Yes, but up two pawns, and then if you can trade rooks Of course.
Yeah, good.
Watch out for his bishop.
You got him, you got him, you got him! Yes! Oh, wow And now you are cornered.
[Sam.]
: - We win - Too true.
[Sighing in relief.]
Heavy.
Well done, Mr.
Balagan.
[.]
You okay? [Splashing water.]
I cannot win two more games.
We need to find those hostages.
How? Get his wife on the phone.
The cops will never let you call his wife.
Tell them it's chess research.
I need to speak with her! Danni, another win.
We are in the mood for some ribaldry, please.
Okay.
Okay, um Okay, a five-year-old girl comes to her mom, and she says, "mommy, what were you doing bouncing up and down on daddy last night?" And mom blushes, but says, "well, I was just trying to help your father lose some weight by bouncing all the air out of him.
" The little girl says, "well, that's not going to work, mom.
"Once a week, the pretty lady from across the street comes over and blows him right back up.
" Thank you, Danni.
He won again? That's wonderful.
Thank you, Sammy.
So, I'm only in the way up there.
I feel kind of helpless.
So you want to join the cleaning staff? No, um I just wanted to say.
You were right.
I admit it, I did think you were stupid for believing in God.
I'm sorry.
Well, if you are truly helpless, there is only one thing to do.
Come.
Scotch or gin? I don't know why Dennis is doing this.
He's a good man.
He cares deeply about right and wrong.
Obviously.
You claim he was upset first thing Thursday.
Tell me about his morning routine.
He wakes at 5:00, goes for a run, showers.
He was in good spirits when he sat down for breakfast.
I was busy for 10 minutes taking out the recycling He was alone for 10 minutes? Someone called him.
The police say there's nothing on his phone records.
Was there anything different in his routine? He ate his yogurt with cereal.
English breakfast tea, plain like always.
Well, something must have changed in his life.
I don't think so.
Mm-mm, something must have.
Think quickly.
We renovated the kitchen a couple of months ago.
Oh, that's a stressful time for a couple.
Was he angry with any institutions? The cable company or tax man, or Nobody.
His whole life was the university and chess.
There must be something we're missing.
What did you talk about at breakfast? We never talk at breakfast.
I'm not really a morning person, and, Dennis, he's in his own world.
What do you think about while you eat? Geography.
Chess.
Homicide.
Murderous thoughts.
Every day? I live in the suburbs.
[Chuckling.]
Ah But why act on them today? What set you off? The crossword.
A spelling mistake, I mean, come on! So I kidnapped a few newspaper editors.
That'll teach them to let their standards slip.
I feel your pain, comrade.
But murder? I think no.
And yet, you did not talk to your wife at breakfast.
Perhaps you are caught up in the news of the day.
Of course.
[Doorbell rings.]
That must be the FBI.
Wait, do you have a newspaper subscription? We get the Denver telegram And your husband reads it at breakfast? Every morning.
How is that helpful? [Beeps telephone off.]
Sam, get online.
Look through stories from Thursday's Denver telegram.
I need headlines.
The heavier the better, go, go, go, go, go.
Mr.
Balagan, our break is over.
Hello, Dennis.
Ready for game four? Oh, indeed.
Are you ready for game four? Yes.
Good.
I wonder how the newspapers will cover our little match.
What do you think? Oh, they'll probably spell your name wrong.
Interesting.
Samuel? Yeah, uh, I got it, Thursday's telegram.
Yes? "School board announces school closures.
" "Riots in Rome over new immigration law.
" "Drone strike destroys school in Pakistan" That one, that one.
What happened? Missiles fired from suspected U.
S.
drones.
Two teachers, 21 children killed.
They suspect a guidance system malfunction.
Huh What is it? Dennis's course list.
He was teaching Um.
Intro to geography and And advanced geospatial analysis, yes? Yes, advanced geospatial Oh.
Oh-ho-ho.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Dennis, you're an untenured Professor making a pittance and yet you recently installed expensive slate counters in your kitchen.
Where did you get the money for that? I'm a good saver.
[Laughs derisively.]
And you're an expert in geospatial analysis.
Right? Deciphering satellite imagery, choosing and mapping targets for unmanned drone attacks.
You moonlight for the military, and you killed 21 children.
Stop the timer and we'll talk.
You can play and talk.
Very well.
You work for a company that has a contract with the U.
S.
military, and you keep it secret from your very own wife, do you not? That would be classified.
You sit there in your cubicle, dealing death over the Internet, like this, nothing but a game.
I'm The Balagan of geography.
What happened? I identified a building in Pakistan.
I labeled it a probable terrorist communications bunker.
Then you saw the headlines on Thursday, and you recognized your own handiwork.
I said "probable.
" But no one on the ground bothered to check.
I-it had become a school [Voice shaking.]
And I helped murder 21 children.
And your hostages, they are the executives from the company? You think it ever occurs to these guys that they're helping to kill real people? [Hostages whimpering softly.]
Well, now they're going to feel what it's like for life and death to be a game played by remote.
I'm going to post the video of our match online.
The message will go viral.
And what will it say, "war should not be played like a game?" Yes, we're causing real suffering.
[Hugo whispers.]
: Balagan! [Beeps mute button on.]
What? So, you nailed it.
Cops found a limo company with a driver missing.
She picked up a group of four from Global Analytic Technologies early this morning, then radio silence.
Now, here are the four, plus the driver.
So, he put them in the truck and drove them from the parking lot Somewhere totally isolated.
So, based on how long he had to drive 200-klick radius.
They already got choppers in the air trying to spot him.
125,000 square kilometers.
They're also checking all the rental companies.
Maybe we can get a GPS hit on that truck of his.
It is a waste of time, all of it.
He would have gotten rid of the GPS locator, and his expertise is identifying objects from the air, so he knows how to hide himself.
It's ridiculous Oh, oh, oh, look what we have here.
That would be check.
Can you hear me, Mr.
Balagan? What? Check.
Check.
Ridiculous! Bad time for a perpetual.
[Hugo whispers.]
: Is he doing all right? Could be a perpetual check.
And that's what? It's a draw.
Sam? I don't see a way out.
Neither do I.
Let us stop these queen checks.
Mate! [Sighs in relief.]
The world should be as full of mercy.
[Breathing hard.]
The last hostage is the airport shuttle driver, right? Yes.
The program is learning to play me.
It put me in check.
Next time, checkmate.
Where are you going? I'm going to think, for four-and-a-half minutes.
This guy, he says to his rabbi Two Russians travel to Siberia with nothing but a few bottles of vodka, and for two days, they drink in complete silence, not a word passing between them, and finally, on the third day, one Russian turns to the other, and says, "do you think we should have brought some food?" And the man replies, "did we come here to talk, or did we come here to drink?" Okay.
Well Here we are.
Last game.
Dennis, this won't do anymore.
If your message is to be respected, then you must play personally.
Warrior against warrior.
Warriors? Us? All we do is make theoretical decisions from a distance.
That's why I chose you.
Everything you do is from a distance.
Let I assure you, I am not detached.
Oh, we all are.
In a few years, the entire air force will be drones piloted by kids sitting in Nevada, munching potato chips while they kill.
Real warriors face real danger.
We're just cowards.
In any case, I will not play unless it is against you personally.
A forfeit is as good as a loss.
Well, go on! Coward! What the hell are you doing? Play the man! You have done nothing in your life that deserves respect.
For once, Dennis, behave with honor! For once, be a warrior! Okay.
I'll turn off the program.
I'll play, but playing you wouldn't be fair.
After all, you're a former world champion, and I'm no one.
You.
The, uh, the assistant.
What's your name? What? Uh, Sam.
Sam Besht.
No Okay, Sam, here's my final offer, I'll play you for the life of the last hostage.
[Reg.]
: Mr.
Grosvenor, Dennis, It's reconsider.
Dennis, you cannot make Sam play you.
He's He's just a sweet boy.
He plays ultimate frisbee.
Well, the alternative is I pull the trigger.
You enjoyed it the first time? - All right, wait! - I can do it.
Can he? Are you sure? All right, Mr.
Balagan, you'll have to leave the suite, so you can't help.
Turn your computer so I can see the door.
[Chess pieces clattering.]
Now, Mr Besht, uh, no earbuds, and put your hands where I can see them, so you can't text or anything.
And how do we know you're not using the computer program? [Chuckles.]
Mr.
Besht Here's what I'm going to do to you on the board.
[Computer smashing, hostage yelps in fright.]
[Debris clattering.]
Goodbye, Mr.
Balagan.
[Quietly.]
Trust your instincts.
He's only state champion.
He has no brilliance.
Stay aggressive in the middle game and keep him off-balance.
It will make the clock your friend and his enemy, and when in doubt, pretend you're me.
Reg says you're welcome to watch.
By the way, Sam, what's your fide rating? I'm 2350.
I know.
Well, you shouldn't feel too bad when you lose.
Mr.
Besht? Yeah? You're playing white.
Right, sorry.
So, God is responsible for morality? People do horrible things in the name of God all the time.
God sometimes fills people with such a desire to do one good thing that, in order to do it, they do evil things, too.
Yeah Ark, what's going on? Sam has been forced to play the last game alone.
He can beat Mr.
Black, no? With his eyes closed.
He yeah, he'll save her.
I don't like to think of Sammy with the blood of an innocent on his hands.
Not so innocent.
Being involved in missile strikes that kill civilians? No She's the last hostage.
She's merely the airport shuttle driver.
Mr.
Black is a zealot.
He believes harming innocents is evil, so why keep the driver for last? Why would What? Alcina.
That is a very interesting question.
If killing innocents fills you with such self-righteous anger, why are you putting this hostage at such risk? You should have released her first.
Because I am a chess player, through and through.
Analytical, strategic Ruthless.
Willing to sacrifice any piece to destroy your opponent.
After all, I have a message to get out to the world.
He is determined to make his statement Statement at any cost.
The cost is the message.
The cost is the message.
The cost is the message Samuel, stop playing! I have tempo.
He's going to kill the hostage.
Have some faith He was always going to kill her in the end.
No, no, wait Time's ticking, Mr.
Besht.
That is your precise message, is it not? Innocents are the collateral damage of these bombing campaigns, yes? We kill 10 innocent civilians to kill one terrorist.
The hypocrisy! But one problem.
This hostage, the driver, she is the last person that you want to punish.
Are you sure you don't want to keep playing, Mr.
Besht? The driver, unlike us, Dennis, is a true warrior.
She served in Afghanistan.
I saw her file just now.
She has a scar on her cheek, from a siege in which she defended villagers from an insurgent attack.
Take a look! How did you get that scar? A Taliban bullet.
You don't suit my needs at all.
[Dialing open box-cutter.]
Let's go, come on.
[Smashes light angrily.]
[Sighs in frustration.]
That was always my problem in chess, making too many false assumptions.
I'm going to post the video of our match online now.
People need to see this, they need to talk about this.
Only until the next tragedy.
No, we'll make a difference.
Dennis No more killing innocents.
Dennis.
[Breathing hard.]
No Dennis, no! [Gunshot cracks.]
[Gasping nervously.]
It was always his endgame.
Listen to me, you played admirably, Sam.
Do you understand? I'm so glad you found out she was a veteran.
I made it up, and she was smart enough to play along.
Dennis did not truly want to play out his endgame.
I gave him a plausible reason to resign.
[.]
You sure you don't want booze? Yeah, thanks, I think it would just make me throw up.
Are you going over the game again? Like, the one you just played for someone's life? Yeah, that's what we do after important games, we analyze them.
God, do all chess players need electroshock therapy? Actually, electroshock's making a comeback.
I would've won.
I would've won.
So, why did you give up homicide for this gig? I decided it would be nice to start saving lives.
You know that hostage, you, um, you did everything by the book.
Damn right I did.
So, uh, I get off at 6:00.
I don't.
Hello? Sorry, just looking for that earpiece.
Accounting will ding us Ah, there it is.
Gotcha.
Thanks.
Miss? Um, midnite beauties? Tyson's auto? Crosstown limos? Yeah, um, we think they're all connected to my sister's murder.
Listen I was just on a federal task force Do you know anything about the shooting? No, but I know that one guy is connected to all these companies, and probably 20 more across town.
- Sebastian Wilks.
- Sebastian Wilks? I've never heard of him.
Lawyer, very slick, pulls a lot of strings.
He mob? Worse.
Stay very far away from him.
So, Pippa, I suppose we should get to work, yes? You know what? How about we order some pizza, and we spend the afternoon watching movies? All right, but nothing in black and white.
Okay.
Do you who's staying in this suite? Dionysus? Demon spawn! [Hooting and hollering.]
It's gone, Deacs.
Somebody took it all.
I am going to pay you back every Penny, just as soon as you help me out with this one little thing.
You did not see who the assailant was? It had to be Ray.
We're looking for Ray.
[Screams.]
I want my polar bear! Really?
Come on, I did not call you stupid.
You said it's stupid to use logic to prove God exists.
The attempt is stupid.
You're not.
Hate the sin, not the sinner.
Priestesses, heretics, shall we turn our attention to something more solvable? The crossword editors have forgotten how to spell.
I am compelled to compose an acerbic letter.
I thought I was going to have your full attention today.
You do have my full attention.
Also, Mr.
Black, who has signed up for five blitz chess games at 200 Euros apiece, he has my full attention as well.
Whatever.
I dug up all the corporate information I could find on our friends.
These are the companies involved in Rosemary's murder, yes? Yeah, they're all connected.
Question is, who's behind them? Mr.
Black lists no personal information.
[Tsks.]
No fide rating.
Anonymous play, it's tedious.
I'm not doing this alone.
We can do it together, but first you can start by taking dictation so that we can correct this egregious spelling error.
Look, look! Testing, testing? Hello? Hello? Yes, yes, hello, good morning, Mr.
Black.
Grandmaster Balagan.
You have the details for our match? Yes, five games, five minutes on each of our clocks.
Shall we allow the randomizer to choose sides? Pippa, you're not writing No, no, you can have white first game.
You wish to give me the advantage three out of five games? You'll need all the help.
[Balagan laughs.]
Would you like to adjust your medication before we play? Sportsmanship, Mr.
Balagan.
Chess is not sport.
It is war.
All is fair.
Pippa? "To the blind puzzle-makers of the Munich press" Don't worry, I'll translate it into German later.
Mr.
Balagan, where is your etiquette? Do I have your attention or not? Yes, you have my attention for the full 10 minutes that it'll take to make you cry like a schoolboy.
Go.
The stakes.
We haven't discussed the stakes.
The stakes? The terms are clear.
You pay, we play, I crush you.
It is not a wager.
It is a fee.
If you'd allow me to explain, sir.
[Hostages whimpering in fear.]
We're playing for them.
Five games, five hostages.
Every time you win, one goes free.
Every time you lose or draw, one dies.
This mind game is in very poor taste, Mr.
Black, even for a chess player.
This is not a mind game.
You talk of etiquette, and yet you bring a gun to a chess fight? Keep yammering.
We'll see what happens to etiquette when the clock runs out.
Tick, tick, tick.
Bang.
[.]
[Crowd cheering.]
[Vancouver's "o Canada" horn blares noon.]
Is he serious? Historically, chess has given rise to a surprising amount of violence.
Pippa, alert the police.
Alcina, get Sam here.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Mr.
Black.
You have gone to extreme lengths to throw me off my game, but as you see, I've already recovered.
Tell your conspirators to leave us, so that you won't be so humiliated when I thrash you.
Oh, you think this is a prank? You have no reason to do this for real.
Nice try.
Mr.
Black, if there's a point to this perhaps you should Of course there is.
You'll find out at the end.
I've left a voicemail for Sammy.
What else do you need? Peace, quiet and solitude.
[Elevator dings.]
Barbara, the police are on the line.
Ert is on the way.
On their way? What's wrong? Some-some kind of hostage situation? Yes.
Where? Internet.
You mean, in the business center? No, no, no, no, on the Internet.
Yes, I'm still here.
Penthouse one? Balagan! He is not going to kill a hostage every five minutes, he's going to kill a hostage if Arkady loses, and Arkady has five minutes to play.
No, they each have five minutes to play, so that's up to 10 minutes per game.
Because that's how chess works! Why the hell are the cops calling about a situation in Balagan's suite? I'm on with 911 right now.
I hate chess.
No one goes in except the police.
Yeah, go ahead, try.
Knight to C6? I see you've studied Averbakh-Spassky, 1956, yes? Have I? Mm-hmm.
It was a beautiful move by Spassky.
The game itself, mediocre at best.
73 moves and ended in a draw.
Well, that's unfortunate for you.
A draw counts as a loss.
Not to worry.
I've had intestinal spasms smarter than Spassky.
Oh Oh, I see where you're going.
That's amazing.
You have some skill.
Where did you train? Look, you're grandmaster Arkady Balagan.
A chat would be great when we're done.
Right now? No comment.
Shame.
You seem so fascinating.
All I am is a sad little cog.
Gurjit, I'm on the penthouse floor.
We need those key cards asap.
Hugo Lum, head of security.
This is for you.
Gonna need six more.
They're on their way.
Penthouse one.
Aka psyche ward for Russian chess bozo, Arkady Balagan.
He thinks he's smart, but Tell it to the boss.
Who's the boss? Reg.
Lum.
Long time no see.
Somebody having fun with us? I don't wanna end up roasted by some chess nut.
[Sniggers.]
Roasted Chestnut.
Still trying to play "good cop" I see.
Still playing cop.
You cannot remain hidden with all your hostages.
You know that, don't you? For five games? Certainly.
I know you're in a truck.
Is it yours or a rental? It's a rental.
That won't help you.
So confident.
Perhaps overconfident? Surely, you left some kind of trail.
Who might you be? Trousers.
Hmm, unbuttoned shirt.
Nice shoes.
Where did he snatch you yuppies? And why? What about you, winter coat? Winter boots Why does one thing not look like the other? [Door bangs open.]
Mr.
Balagan.
Thanks for holding things.
We'll take it from here.
I'm still playing You've done plenty.
If you could step outside, one of the officers will take your statement.
I have less than one minute on this clock! If I lose, a hostage dies! Not if you let us do our job.
You came here to find the madman, yes? Not to get in my way.
Balagan, rule number one Never let the hostage-taker dictate the rules of engagement.
Calderon I'm playing chess I'm Let go! Let go! Mr.
Black, my name is Regina Velasco.
I lead the emergency response team.
How we doin' today? My hands are a little full.
Rook to H1! So I see.
Maybe I can help you out with that, what do you say? What move did he call out? Rook H1! [Muffled shouting from Balagan.]
[Sighs testily.]
He's too far from the mic.
I can't hear him.
He can't hear me! Mr.
Black, what do your friends call you? You got a first name? Do I have a Of course I have a first name.
You ever met anyone who didn't? Will you tell it to me? A good faith gesture? You're making a big mistake.
Hugo, tell her.
Oh, you really should have let Mr.
Balagan play that game.
He could have won.
Who are your friends there with you? Rook H1! Shut him up! [Blows thud.]
Get off me, you thugs! Oh, look, Mr.
Balagan's clock has run out.
He loses on time.
Okay, so you win.
Listen, how about we all just take a deep breath, and we can talk about how to resolve this situation.
That's easy.
One down - Wait - No! Four to go.
[Gun blasts, hostages scream.]
[Gasping in horror.]
[Hostages whimper.]
[Muffled sobbing over microphone.]
Clock starts running again in five minutes, whether he's in front of his computer or not.
[Gasping and wheezing.]
Oh, God Oh, my God.
Oh, my God [Wheezing in panic.]
Maybe that wasn't real.
Yeah, it looked real enough.
Reg, this guy's in distress.
He has a condition.
What condition? He gets panic attacks.
He can't leave the hotel.
He's in the hotel.
Yeah, well, maybe you distressed him.
Come on, Reg, a hostage is dead.
We need him.
We have no idea what went on on the other end of the screen, Lum.
It might ba a scam.
Four hostages left.
You willing to risk their lives on a "might be"? Hey, listen, can you hear me? Can you get control of yourself? I want you to keep playing.
Now, what do you need? [Breathlessly.]
Get out.
Get out.
All right, move it.
Next door.
We are going to set up a communications vector.
You won't be alone.
Come on, Balagan.
[Knocking on door.]
Police! Coming in.
Everybody decent? Listen up, this could be a hoax, but we are treating it as real.
We have one hostile, aka Mr.
Black.
Mr.
Black is in control of five hostages, one possible deceased, location unknown.
Everything on chess whiz's laptop, I want to see on my laptop.
I want a trace on his IP address, and I want his face run through the database, clear? Lum Yeah, I've got four security guards on duty, five more on speed dial.
We're ready to rock and roll.
Go door-to-door, and clear the damn floor already.
And get us some coffee.
Hugo? She's all right.
Hey what happened over there? Lost a hostage.
W-what do you mean lost? Hotel security! We're evacuating the floor! [Birds twittering peacefully.]
[Hostages crying softly.]
This is on your heads! [Whimpering in terror.]
Okay.
Now, Reg is gonna be with you every step of the way.
Put this on.
All you have to do is listen and follow instructions.
I'll have to lodge a complaint with the chess federation.
These are deplorable conditions for a match, yes? Reg will give you all the support you need.
Now, Pippa here It's Pippa, right? Yeah.
She'll be here with you.
You ask her to hold your hand, she'll hold your hand.
Won't you? Yeah, anything you need, Ark.
Okay, Reg, it's ready, go ahead.
Mr.
Balagan, can you hear me? Yes.
Balagan, can you hear me? Yes! Now, kindly breathe through your nose.
[Pieces clattering.]
Game two, Mr.
Balagan.
I hope you go the distance this time.
Balagan, we are tracing his IP address, so you have to stretch out the game, give us maximum time.
I will do what I can.
Excellent.
First move is mine.
I will break you.
[Reg.]
: You're doing great.
Ask him if he would like us to send a message to his loved ones.
Would you like us to send a message to your loved ones? No, thank you.
Ask him about the condition of the hostages.
How are the hostages? They're fine.
You should concentrate on the game, Mr.
Balagan.
A life is on the line.
Ask him about specifics.
Are they hungry? Are they hungry? Your queen is skewered.
You're going to have to lose something.
Thirsty? Stop talking.
The queen, Mr.
Balagan Injured? Injured! Are they injured? Not unless you lose.
Which one's it going to be, the bishop or the queen? Tell him you want proof.
Tell him you want proof! Enough Ask him to remove the hoods from the hostages heads! - Tell him! - Enough nattering! [Ear bud clattering.]
What the hell is he doing? Take my queen.
I do not need her.
A queen sacrifice? You just handed me the game.
Nonsense.
Your play is average at best.
You should have chosen a lesser player to involve in your sick fantasy, Mr.
Black.
Well, you have a website, you're the greatest chess player alive.
People will talk about us.
Oh, flattery.
Pippa, water.
It's not a sick fantasy.
I have a message.
You could not start a blog? [Beeps mute button on.]
Pippa Take a screen grab, and post it to face plant or tweet face, or whatever it's called.
Also all the chess sites you can find.
Someone may recognize him.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Police and little helpers running around I don't mind, Mr.
Balagan, but it's only muddling your chess game.
You don't need distractions.
Distractions! Mr.
Black, distractions are what keep me from succumbing to boredom, or do I really need to walk you through my pawn promotion? [Inhales in wonder.]
No.
I see it.
It's wonderful.
You win.
You saved a life.
So now you let go a hostage.
Right after the matches No, no.
You killed a hostage immediately after your win, so now you release a hostage immediately after your loss.
Etiquette, Mr.
Black, etiquette.
Etiquette.
[Snipping cords.]
[Hostage panting nervously.]
[Footsteps shuffling.]
[Gasping in fright.]
Where the hell is your earpiece? I have large ear canals, it must has fallen in.
Perhaps if you call a police diver.
Maybe this is a game to you, okay, but this is my job.
I have saved one hostage.
What have you done? From now on, if there's anything to be said between both of us, we go through Hugo.
Thank you, goodbye.
[Huffs in exasperation.]
Look alive, Lum.
You're liaison.
The freak insists.
Well, that makes sense.
I speak fluent chess.
He respects that.
So, how long until the IP trace finds the perp? The trace is problematic.
Black is using a chain of anonymous proxy servers.
What about the credit cards from the website? Pre-paid card, also anonymous.
So, in other words, you've got bupkis? We've just patched in our voice analyst.
I.
T.
ts hammering away, and forensics is huddling with our vehicle expert.
We're firing on all cylinders.
Uh-huh.
You figured out who your scapegoat is yet? I told the truth.
I.
A.
came to their own conclusions.
[Sighing heavily.]
Okay, so, I've plastered Mr.
Black all over the net.
Let's see what we get back.
He's providing quite the challenge, and where the hell is Sam? What, so, is this guy good? 100 people in the world can rival me at blitz chess.
I know them all, and yet I've never seen Mr.
Black in my life.
So So, we conclude I am not playing Mr.
Black.
Okay, I'm confused.
Who are you playing then? Not who.
What.
I am playing a machine.
Mr.
Black is obviously using a computer program.
So, you have to play three more games against a computer? And not lose a single one.
Well, is that possible? First time for everything.
[Classical music blasts.]
It's blitz chess.
Just pit a computer program against a computer program.
And at best, we win 50% of the games, and at worst, we draw every game, and a draw Counts as a loss.
That's right, and someone dies.
If he's using Bigfish or Nexob, you're toast.
Arkady only has to win three more games.
Yeah, but a computer can analyze the board, like, a billion times faster than any human being.
It doesn't care about the clock, but grandmaster Balagan, in a time crunch, has to rely partly on intuition.
Ah, programs are made by humans.
Other humans are stupid.
Then use unorthodox openings.
Yes Get the program out of its memorized play.
King's Indian.
Gligoric-Taimanov system.
Use weird moves whenever you can.
The program can probably only trace the decision tree back so far It won't see surprising results over the horizon.
Right? Sam, help Pippa target the online community.
Someone has seen Mr.
Black's face.
[Speed-dialing.]
A joke? Now? Yes, I need a mental palette cleanser.
[Chuckles.]
Uh, okay, dirty or corny? For now, corny.
Quick, quick.
Okay, okay, um A bowl of soup and a sandwich walk into a bar, and the bartender says, "hey, sorry, we don't serve lunch here.
" I see.
[Beeps telephone off.]
[Groans anxiously.]
Okay Game three.
Mr.
Balagan, you're white.
Let us begin.
[Echoes of clock ticking.]
[Bars slamming shut.]
[Clicks time clock.]
[Clicks time clock.]
[Slot machine whirrs and dings.]
You see, cheater? The Indian openings reward human intuition.
I will overwhelm your dull-witted computer program with mad genius.
You figured out your true opponent.
Congratulations.
[Clicks time clock.]
It won't help you.
[Curses in russian.]
Suka.
Bingo.
[Beeps mute on.]
Chess chat room paydirt.
Mr.
Black is Dennis Grosvenor of Denver, Colorado.
Geography Professor and a one-time state chess champ.
Give it to Police? Yes.
Yup, okay.
So, it is Dennis of Denver, is it? Internet.
Of course.
But I suppose you're not concerned that we know who you are.
Not especially.
Watch out for those pawns.
Oh, it's okay, go on, lend a hand.
It's not going to help.
You're going to lose this one, Mr.
Balagan.
Nonsense.
I'm in a delightful position.
[Beeps mute button.]
My position is terrible.
Sam, I need your eyes.
Well, when you said you knew how to beat Nexob and Bigfish, you did mean the latest versions, right? Because Nexob just released version 4.
0 two weeks ago.
It learns.
It gs s better at beating its opponent.
She wants to debrief me? What is to debrief? Just tell her the bad guy is Dennis Grosvenor! Reg is Reg.
If there's even a sliver of ass showing, she'll cover it.
What's the deal with you two, anyway? [Door closes.]
Okay.
yup.
Occupy that b-fi Yes, yes, yes! So, uh, could I pick your brain for a sec? Wait.
[Beeps mute button.]
Go.
Reg is, uh, really starting to sweat.
Perhaps she would like to trade places.
FBI got ahold of Dennis Grosvenor's wife.
She edits High School science text books.
Nerd love, I guess.
And? Well, she says Dennis was upset at breakfast Thursday.
When she asked what was the matter, he said "nothing," only that he had to visit his brother for a few days.
It's a cover story.
Obviously.
So, anyway, after breakfast, Dennis left to go to his job at Mount Cochrane U, and that's the last time wifey saw him.
FBI is looking into the university, of course.
Yeah, here's all the work info.
Courses, students, you know, what have you.
Uh, he was, uh He was denied tenure last year.
Maybe that's what set him off.
No, the hostages were not dressed like professors.
Who were they dressed like? Four were clad in light jackets.
Yeah, Denver has mild winters.
The fifth wears a heavy coat.
Sam? Denver, Denver, Denver Faster.
One sec Denver, record cold snap.
Four had slip-on shoes.
Easy to remove at security.
They were going to the airport.
Probably together.
Members of a church perhaps, or executives from the same company.
And the fifth hostage? Is their driver.
Okay, I'll let Reg know.
[Error message beeps.]
Hugo! What has this ignoramus done to my Internet? What? [Typing in frustration.]
What has she done? It's the hostage negotiator's play book Stage a computer crash.
She's probably trying to buy some more time.
Well, I hope she can afford some coffins! Go talk some sense into her now.
Ah, you don't know her, Balagan.
It's her way or get steam-rolled right into the highway.
I don't know if I can do anything.
Hugo, please.
You gotta get the game going again Shh! FBI's on i-chat with Grosvenor Yeah? How's that going? You getting anywhere? Time.
We don't have time.
Chess players are by nature paranoid and vindictive.
Dennis will see right through your brilliant tactic, and he will kill all the hostages.
I am doing things by the book No, you're hiding behind the book so you don't have to wear this.
You never wear it.
Now is not the time to cover your ass, Reg.
Do the right thing.
Calderone.
Reg, the FBI Screw 'em.
Give the man back his game.
You're a go! I'm here! I'm here.
Oh, good.
You're much better company than the FBI, and our friends were starting to worry, weren't you? They don't want to die.
No, they don't want to die, i don't want them to die.
You're the only one who wants them to die.
No, I really don't, but in 15 seconds, one of them will.
No one else dies today.
Okay Look, look, trade down your bishop.
Then I'll be down a bishop.
[Sam.]
: Yes, but up two pawns, and then if you can trade rooks Of course.
Yeah, good.
Watch out for his bishop.
You got him, you got him, you got him! Yes! Oh, wow And now you are cornered.
[Sam.]
: - We win - Too true.
[Sighing in relief.]
Heavy.
Well done, Mr.
Balagan.
[.]
You okay? [Splashing water.]
I cannot win two more games.
We need to find those hostages.
How? Get his wife on the phone.
The cops will never let you call his wife.
Tell them it's chess research.
I need to speak with her! Danni, another win.
We are in the mood for some ribaldry, please.
Okay.
Okay, um Okay, a five-year-old girl comes to her mom, and she says, "mommy, what were you doing bouncing up and down on daddy last night?" And mom blushes, but says, "well, I was just trying to help your father lose some weight by bouncing all the air out of him.
" The little girl says, "well, that's not going to work, mom.
"Once a week, the pretty lady from across the street comes over and blows him right back up.
" Thank you, Danni.
He won again? That's wonderful.
Thank you, Sammy.
So, I'm only in the way up there.
I feel kind of helpless.
So you want to join the cleaning staff? No, um I just wanted to say.
You were right.
I admit it, I did think you were stupid for believing in God.
I'm sorry.
Well, if you are truly helpless, there is only one thing to do.
Come.
Scotch or gin? I don't know why Dennis is doing this.
He's a good man.
He cares deeply about right and wrong.
Obviously.
You claim he was upset first thing Thursday.
Tell me about his morning routine.
He wakes at 5:00, goes for a run, showers.
He was in good spirits when he sat down for breakfast.
I was busy for 10 minutes taking out the recycling He was alone for 10 minutes? Someone called him.
The police say there's nothing on his phone records.
Was there anything different in his routine? He ate his yogurt with cereal.
English breakfast tea, plain like always.
Well, something must have changed in his life.
I don't think so.
Mm-mm, something must have.
Think quickly.
We renovated the kitchen a couple of months ago.
Oh, that's a stressful time for a couple.
Was he angry with any institutions? The cable company or tax man, or Nobody.
His whole life was the university and chess.
There must be something we're missing.
What did you talk about at breakfast? We never talk at breakfast.
I'm not really a morning person, and, Dennis, he's in his own world.
What do you think about while you eat? Geography.
Chess.
Homicide.
Murderous thoughts.
Every day? I live in the suburbs.
[Chuckling.]
Ah But why act on them today? What set you off? The crossword.
A spelling mistake, I mean, come on! So I kidnapped a few newspaper editors.
That'll teach them to let their standards slip.
I feel your pain, comrade.
But murder? I think no.
And yet, you did not talk to your wife at breakfast.
Perhaps you are caught up in the news of the day.
Of course.
[Doorbell rings.]
That must be the FBI.
Wait, do you have a newspaper subscription? We get the Denver telegram And your husband reads it at breakfast? Every morning.
How is that helpful? [Beeps telephone off.]
Sam, get online.
Look through stories from Thursday's Denver telegram.
I need headlines.
The heavier the better, go, go, go, go, go.
Mr.
Balagan, our break is over.
Hello, Dennis.
Ready for game four? Oh, indeed.
Are you ready for game four? Yes.
Good.
I wonder how the newspapers will cover our little match.
What do you think? Oh, they'll probably spell your name wrong.
Interesting.
Samuel? Yeah, uh, I got it, Thursday's telegram.
Yes? "School board announces school closures.
" "Riots in Rome over new immigration law.
" "Drone strike destroys school in Pakistan" That one, that one.
What happened? Missiles fired from suspected U.
S.
drones.
Two teachers, 21 children killed.
They suspect a guidance system malfunction.
Huh What is it? Dennis's course list.
He was teaching Um.
Intro to geography and And advanced geospatial analysis, yes? Yes, advanced geospatial Oh.
Oh-ho-ho.
[Beeps mute button off.]
Dennis, you're an untenured Professor making a pittance and yet you recently installed expensive slate counters in your kitchen.
Where did you get the money for that? I'm a good saver.
[Laughs derisively.]
And you're an expert in geospatial analysis.
Right? Deciphering satellite imagery, choosing and mapping targets for unmanned drone attacks.
You moonlight for the military, and you killed 21 children.
Stop the timer and we'll talk.
You can play and talk.
Very well.
You work for a company that has a contract with the U.
S.
military, and you keep it secret from your very own wife, do you not? That would be classified.
You sit there in your cubicle, dealing death over the Internet, like this, nothing but a game.
I'm The Balagan of geography.
What happened? I identified a building in Pakistan.
I labeled it a probable terrorist communications bunker.
Then you saw the headlines on Thursday, and you recognized your own handiwork.
I said "probable.
" But no one on the ground bothered to check.
I-it had become a school [Voice shaking.]
And I helped murder 21 children.
And your hostages, they are the executives from the company? You think it ever occurs to these guys that they're helping to kill real people? [Hostages whimpering softly.]
Well, now they're going to feel what it's like for life and death to be a game played by remote.
I'm going to post the video of our match online.
The message will go viral.
And what will it say, "war should not be played like a game?" Yes, we're causing real suffering.
[Hugo whispers.]
: Balagan! [Beeps mute button on.]
What? So, you nailed it.
Cops found a limo company with a driver missing.
She picked up a group of four from Global Analytic Technologies early this morning, then radio silence.
Now, here are the four, plus the driver.
So, he put them in the truck and drove them from the parking lot Somewhere totally isolated.
So, based on how long he had to drive 200-klick radius.
They already got choppers in the air trying to spot him.
125,000 square kilometers.
They're also checking all the rental companies.
Maybe we can get a GPS hit on that truck of his.
It is a waste of time, all of it.
He would have gotten rid of the GPS locator, and his expertise is identifying objects from the air, so he knows how to hide himself.
It's ridiculous Oh, oh, oh, look what we have here.
That would be check.
Can you hear me, Mr.
Balagan? What? Check.
Check.
Ridiculous! Bad time for a perpetual.
[Hugo whispers.]
: Is he doing all right? Could be a perpetual check.
And that's what? It's a draw.
Sam? I don't see a way out.
Neither do I.
Let us stop these queen checks.
Mate! [Sighs in relief.]
The world should be as full of mercy.
[Breathing hard.]
The last hostage is the airport shuttle driver, right? Yes.
The program is learning to play me.
It put me in check.
Next time, checkmate.
Where are you going? I'm going to think, for four-and-a-half minutes.
This guy, he says to his rabbi Two Russians travel to Siberia with nothing but a few bottles of vodka, and for two days, they drink in complete silence, not a word passing between them, and finally, on the third day, one Russian turns to the other, and says, "do you think we should have brought some food?" And the man replies, "did we come here to talk, or did we come here to drink?" Okay.
Well Here we are.
Last game.
Dennis, this won't do anymore.
If your message is to be respected, then you must play personally.
Warrior against warrior.
Warriors? Us? All we do is make theoretical decisions from a distance.
That's why I chose you.
Everything you do is from a distance.
Let I assure you, I am not detached.
Oh, we all are.
In a few years, the entire air force will be drones piloted by kids sitting in Nevada, munching potato chips while they kill.
Real warriors face real danger.
We're just cowards.
In any case, I will not play unless it is against you personally.
A forfeit is as good as a loss.
Well, go on! Coward! What the hell are you doing? Play the man! You have done nothing in your life that deserves respect.
For once, Dennis, behave with honor! For once, be a warrior! Okay.
I'll turn off the program.
I'll play, but playing you wouldn't be fair.
After all, you're a former world champion, and I'm no one.
You.
The, uh, the assistant.
What's your name? What? Uh, Sam.
Sam Besht.
No Okay, Sam, here's my final offer, I'll play you for the life of the last hostage.
[Reg.]
: Mr.
Grosvenor, Dennis, It's reconsider.
Dennis, you cannot make Sam play you.
He's He's just a sweet boy.
He plays ultimate frisbee.
Well, the alternative is I pull the trigger.
You enjoyed it the first time? - All right, wait! - I can do it.
Can he? Are you sure? All right, Mr.
Balagan, you'll have to leave the suite, so you can't help.
Turn your computer so I can see the door.
[Chess pieces clattering.]
Now, Mr Besht, uh, no earbuds, and put your hands where I can see them, so you can't text or anything.
And how do we know you're not using the computer program? [Chuckles.]
Mr.
Besht Here's what I'm going to do to you on the board.
[Computer smashing, hostage yelps in fright.]
[Debris clattering.]
Goodbye, Mr.
Balagan.
[Quietly.]
Trust your instincts.
He's only state champion.
He has no brilliance.
Stay aggressive in the middle game and keep him off-balance.
It will make the clock your friend and his enemy, and when in doubt, pretend you're me.
Reg says you're welcome to watch.
By the way, Sam, what's your fide rating? I'm 2350.
I know.
Well, you shouldn't feel too bad when you lose.
Mr.
Besht? Yeah? You're playing white.
Right, sorry.
So, God is responsible for morality? People do horrible things in the name of God all the time.
God sometimes fills people with such a desire to do one good thing that, in order to do it, they do evil things, too.
Yeah Ark, what's going on? Sam has been forced to play the last game alone.
He can beat Mr.
Black, no? With his eyes closed.
He yeah, he'll save her.
I don't like to think of Sammy with the blood of an innocent on his hands.
Not so innocent.
Being involved in missile strikes that kill civilians? No She's the last hostage.
She's merely the airport shuttle driver.
Mr.
Black is a zealot.
He believes harming innocents is evil, so why keep the driver for last? Why would What? Alcina.
That is a very interesting question.
If killing innocents fills you with such self-righteous anger, why are you putting this hostage at such risk? You should have released her first.
Because I am a chess player, through and through.
Analytical, strategic Ruthless.
Willing to sacrifice any piece to destroy your opponent.
After all, I have a message to get out to the world.
He is determined to make his statement Statement at any cost.
The cost is the message.
The cost is the message.
The cost is the message Samuel, stop playing! I have tempo.
He's going to kill the hostage.
Have some faith He was always going to kill her in the end.
No, no, wait Time's ticking, Mr.
Besht.
That is your precise message, is it not? Innocents are the collateral damage of these bombing campaigns, yes? We kill 10 innocent civilians to kill one terrorist.
The hypocrisy! But one problem.
This hostage, the driver, she is the last person that you want to punish.
Are you sure you don't want to keep playing, Mr.
Besht? The driver, unlike us, Dennis, is a true warrior.
She served in Afghanistan.
I saw her file just now.
She has a scar on her cheek, from a siege in which she defended villagers from an insurgent attack.
Take a look! How did you get that scar? A Taliban bullet.
You don't suit my needs at all.
[Dialing open box-cutter.]
Let's go, come on.
[Smashes light angrily.]
[Sighs in frustration.]
That was always my problem in chess, making too many false assumptions.
I'm going to post the video of our match online now.
People need to see this, they need to talk about this.
Only until the next tragedy.
No, we'll make a difference.
Dennis No more killing innocents.
Dennis.
[Breathing hard.]
No Dennis, no! [Gunshot cracks.]
[Gasping nervously.]
It was always his endgame.
Listen to me, you played admirably, Sam.
Do you understand? I'm so glad you found out she was a veteran.
I made it up, and she was smart enough to play along.
Dennis did not truly want to play out his endgame.
I gave him a plausible reason to resign.
[.]
You sure you don't want booze? Yeah, thanks, I think it would just make me throw up.
Are you going over the game again? Like, the one you just played for someone's life? Yeah, that's what we do after important games, we analyze them.
God, do all chess players need electroshock therapy? Actually, electroshock's making a comeback.
I would've won.
I would've won.
So, why did you give up homicide for this gig? I decided it would be nice to start saving lives.
You know that hostage, you, um, you did everything by the book.
Damn right I did.
So, uh, I get off at 6:00.
I don't.
Hello? Sorry, just looking for that earpiece.
Accounting will ding us Ah, there it is.
Gotcha.
Thanks.
Miss? Um, midnite beauties? Tyson's auto? Crosstown limos? Yeah, um, we think they're all connected to my sister's murder.
Listen I was just on a federal task force Do you know anything about the shooting? No, but I know that one guy is connected to all these companies, and probably 20 more across town.
- Sebastian Wilks.
- Sebastian Wilks? I've never heard of him.
Lawyer, very slick, pulls a lot of strings.
He mob? Worse.
Stay very far away from him.
So, Pippa, I suppose we should get to work, yes? You know what? How about we order some pizza, and we spend the afternoon watching movies? All right, but nothing in black and white.
Okay.
Do you who's staying in this suite? Dionysus? Demon spawn! [Hooting and hollering.]
It's gone, Deacs.
Somebody took it all.
I am going to pay you back every Penny, just as soon as you help me out with this one little thing.
You did not see who the assailant was? It had to be Ray.
We're looking for Ray.
[Screams.]
I want my polar bear! Really?