-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chess Music: Benny Andersson + Bj?rn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Tim Rice Premiere: Wednesday, May 14, 1986 Broadway record: 1988 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHESS American Tour version Lyrics by Tim Rice Based on an idea by Tim Rice Book by Richard Nelson Book Revised for this Production by Robert Coe � 1990 The American Tour opened January 9, 1990 at the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts in Miami Beach, Florida Note: This script was made by transcription; the descriptions of action are from observation. Sung material is in all capital letters. ACT ONE Scene 1: A Giant Chessboard "The Story of Chess" ARBITER Each game of chess means there's one less Variation left to be played Each day got through means one or two Less mistakes remain to be made Each game of chess means there's one less Variation left to be played Each day got through means one or two Less mistakes remain to be made Not much is known Of early days of chess beyond a fairly vague report That fifteen hundred years ago two princes fought Though brothers, for a Hindu throne Their mother cried - for No-one really likes their offspring fighting to the death She begged them stop the slaughter with her every breath But sure enough one brother died Sad beyond belief She told her winning son You have caused such grief I can't forgive this evil thing you've done He tried to explain How things had really been But he tried in vain No words of his could mollify the queen And so he asked the wisest men he knew The way to lessen her distress They told him he'd be pretty certain to impress By using model soldiers on A chequered board to show it was his brother's fault They thus invented chess. (the chorus moves large chess pieces around the board and sings the above in counterpoint during the following:) Chess displayed no inertia Soon spread to Persia, then west Next the Arabs refined it, Thus redesigned, it progressed Still further yet And when Constantinople fell in 1453 One would have noticed every other refugee Included in his bags a set Once in the hands And in the minds of leading figures of the Renaissance The spirit and the speed of chess made swift advance Through all of Europe's vital lands Where we must record The game was further changed Right across the board The western touch upon the pieces ranged King and queen and rook And bishop, knight and pawn All took on the look We know today, the modern game was born With such success We see a game that started by mistake in Hindustan And boosted in the main by what is now Iran Reach every corner of the globe with nation Squaring up to nation to determine, no holds barred.... Who owns, who made, who will parade The champion of chess. Scene 2: The Lobby of the Bangkok International Hotel tv anchor (on screen) Frederick Trumper, the American chess player, has revolutionized an ancient game -- offering the kind of excitement usually associated with a rock concert. Well, "FREDDIE- mania" has moved halfway around the world with an added twist of global politics. An American-Soviet chess competition has seized the international media spotlight. We're taking you now live to our correspondent in Thailand, Frank Scamello.... SCAMELLO Excitement is building here at the fabulous International Hotel in exotic Bangkok, Thailand, where press representatives from around the globe have gathered for what has to be the most anxiously awaited international sporting event since the last Olympics. The world chess tournament chess match-up between the American, Frederick Trumper and his Soviet challenger Anatoly Sergievsky. It's morning here in Bangkok, and the man who has held the world title for the past five years should be appearing at any...wait just a moment... Freddie Trumper's arriving now. "What a Scene, What a Joy" FREDDIE (on screen) What a scene! What a joy! What a lovely sight When my game is the big sensation! Has the mob's sporting taste Altered overnight? Have they found new sophistication? Not yet! They just want to see If the nice guy beats the bum If it's East-West And the money's sky-high They all come My personal manager, WALTER De Courcey. WALTER Ladies and gentlemen, the world chess champion has arranged for an demonstration of his amazing mental powers. He's going to defeat the unbeaten Textron chess-playing computer in less than twenty-five moves. FREDDIE You can raise all you want If you raise the roof Scream and shout and the gate increases Break the rules -- break the bank I'm the living proof They don't care how I move my pieces I know I'm the best there is But all they want is a show Well that's all right I'll be glad to oblige S.R.O. S.R.O. Scene 3: Anatoly's Hotel Suite Simultaneously, ALEXANDER MOLOKOV and ANATOLY SERGIEVSKY watch the match on television from their suite on the other side of the stage. MOLOKOV What a ridiculous demonstration. The man is clearly disintigrating before our very eyes. ANATOLY Don't believe it. MOLOKOV But twenty-five moves against a three-year old computer. ANATOLY Molokov, who is that woman? MOLOKOV Why? Interested? (beat) Very well. Nikolai, hand me the Vassy file. (reads) Florence Vassy. For the past seven years, Frederick Trumper's chess second. Hungarian- born orphan emigrated as an infant from Budapest. Adopted and raised in Connecticut. An excellent chess player in her own right, I might add. Several years ago, she and Trumper were lovers. Now they keep separate rooms. Whether they are lovers still.... ANATOLY You mean there are things the KGB does not know? MOLOKOV We are seldom surprised by your taste in women, Anatoly. I shall make it a point not to inform your estranged wife. ANATOLY Svetlana and I keep no secrets from each other. Unlike your friends in Moscow. MOLOKOV Please, my dear Anatoly Valeriovich, by the time....being I'm a mere chess-playing second like the lovely Florence Vassy. ANATOLY Vassy...Vassy. Is she perhaps related to the former Hungarian chess champion? MOLOKOV His daughter. ANATOLY Does it say anywhere in that file that her father died in a Budapest prison in the '56 revolt? (MOLOKOV turns up the volume on the television:) FREDDIE Checkmate! SCAMELLO Freddie has just defeated the previously unbeaten Textron computer in only 23 moves. We'd like to invite you now across the lobby to the Circus Room for champagne and coffee. We're going to watch the world champ play six international masters simultaneously while blindfolded. (MOLOKOV turns off the TV) "The Russian and Molokov" MOLOKOV What we've just seen's a pathetic display From a man who's beginning to crack He's afraid -- he knows he isn't the player he was And he won't get it back ANATOLY Nonsense! Why do my seconds Always want to believe Third-rate propaganda --? MOLOKOV My friend, please relax We're all on your side You know how you need us -- ANATOLY I don't need my army of so-called 'advisors' And 'helpers' to tell me The man who's revitalised chess single-handed Is more or less out of his brain When it's very clear he's sane FREDDIE ...I have just one message for you, my friend. You'd better come to play chess. MOLOKOV Listen, we won't underestimate Trumper We won't get caught in that trap After all, winning or losing reflects on us all -- ANATOLY Oh don't give me that crap! I win -- no one else does And I take the rap if I lose MOLOKOV Winning's not so simple The whole world's tuned in We're on display We're not merely sportsmen -- ANATOLY Oh please don't start spouting that old party line Yes I know it's your job but Just get out and get me a chess-playing second In twenty-four hours we begin That is if you want to win! MOLOKOV Wanting's not sufficient We have to know, we have to make sure All men have a weakness And his is that woman, the one who controls him His queen and his mentor The best moves are always Away from the chessboard The WOMAN is your aim Take her and you win the game (Molokov exits) "Where I Want to Be" ANATOLY Who needs a dream? Who needs ambition? Who'd be the fool In my position? Once I had dreams Now they're obsessions Hopes became needs Lovers possessions Then they move in Oh so discreetly Slowly at first Smiling too sweetly I opened doors They walked right through them Called me their friend I hardly knew them Now I'm where I want to be and who I want to be and doing what I always said I would and yet I feel I haven't won at all Running for my life and never looking back in case there's someone right behind to shoot me down and say he always knew I'd fall When the crazy wheel slows down Where will I be? Back where I started Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining Times have been good Fast, entertaining But what's the point? If I'm concealing Not only love All other feeling Now I'm where I want to be and w...
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