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INT. CAFFE COTTAGE.

DANIEL is playing a game of chess with an unseen opponent. MR BELEVEDERE is watching over his shoulder.

MR BELEVEDERE

So does this guy stand a chance or what?

DANIEL

Uhh, no. (beat) I don't think so

MR BELEVEDERE

We're gonna do a play, You wanna help us?

DANIEL

What's in it for me?

MR BELEVEDERE

Gonna raise money for the chess club, get a new board, maybe sponsor a tournament.

DANIEL

A play?  Who cares?

MR BELEVEDERE

I don't like the way the world is being run.  I'm despairing in humanity.

DANIEL

You are wasting your time

MR BELEVEDERE

(he's Struggling to find his words)

We're just, We're... Declining! Decreasing, but not fast, like. ffice:smarttags" />America was the top, now it's falling but almost so slow that nobody can see it.

DANIEL

It's as water erodes a mountain, very gradually.  Check.

MR BELEVEDERE

Yes.  And that's why we need to do the play.

DANIEL

You want to get a play?

MR BELEVEDERE

I want to write a play.

DANIEL

Why you?

MR BELEVEDERE

I'm talented.  I'll write a good play.

DANIEL

How do you know?

MR BELEVEDERE

I'll write a good play.

DANIEL

ok.  What's it about?

MR BELEVEDERE

It's a play about chess.

DANIEL

(pause)

Go on.

MR BELEVEDERE

It's this world of the future, everything is polluted and it's all overpopulated and the government keeps the number of people down by making them play chess... TO THE

DEATH!

DANIEL

Ok. (breaths) So who is the hero?

MR BELEVEDERE

Just a rag tag chess guy trying to get by in a world he never made kinda dealy. give him a daughter or a dog or something.  Something for the humanity angle.

DANIEL

Who's he gonna play?

MR BELEVEDERE

Something really evil.. Like,  a monkey from Russia or a computer... terrorist... something, they can play chess, huh? Something like a robot monkey alien terrorist that plays chess. It doesn't matter.  Just gimmie something that'll look good when it dies.

DANIEL

How you gonna kill em?

MR BELEVEDERE

Government issue spring loaded chess chairs.  The loser is catapulted into space.  Going with that whole "Chess" theme, thing. (taps forehead) right here.  This is where the magic happens.

DANIEL

I see. Why chess?

MR BELEVEDERE

Uh... the government wants smart people because... uh.. they know stuff.  They can do stuff, and stuff.

DANIEL

(painful sigh)

How about... One game is the whole story, with lines and actions that people say represent the moves they would make on a chess board.

MR BELEVEDERE

And then Kill the Loser!  You got it.  You know the score.  We're gonna make chess FAMOUS.

DANIEL

Chess does not need you to make it famous.  Check.

MR BELEVEDERE

But the death, that's the big thing.. Chess AND death.

DANIEL

People don't care about death. Everything's dead these days.  It's been done to death.  Beating a dead horse.

MR BELEVEDERE

A horse.  That's an idea. No, Just Chess to the Death.  I can see it.  Playing chess... .  It'll be Huge!

DANIEL

Make the chess the big deal, Make people feel like they are in control of an entire army.  The audience becomes generals in mortal combat, having a real effect on the outcome of the whole life game thing.

MR BELEVEDERE

(after a short pause)  but we need it to be entertaining.

DANIEL

Its entertaining if bodies are just on the stage, jumping around and doing stuff. (to the game) Dammit!

MR BELEVEDERE

Dude, you should BE the play, I mean, you totally ARE the play, and IN the play, you'll be IN the play too,  but the writing... it shouldn't...  Just leave it to the professionals.

DANIEL

Oh my god.  Now i'm in check.

MR BELEVEDERE

(writing it down)

This is perfect!  Now... I'm... in... check... that is JUST what some chess dude would prolly say, I bet.

DANIEL

This can't be.. Oh man.. I can't believe this.  Why am i listening to you?

MR BELEVEDERE

What's the matter?

DANIEL

He beat me.  I don't believe this.

The spring-loaded chair beneath DANIEL releases, projecting him through the ceiling.

MR BELEVEDERE

Now who wouldn't want to watch

that?