The Chess Challenge

SCENE: The living room of the Spaulding mansion, where BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL are staying with ALEXANDRA and ROGER. ALEXANDRA has left town, ROGER is out late annoying MINDY with his claim that it’s “not over” between them, and BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL are bored. BLAKE decides to call HOLLY and see if she and ROSS can come over. BLAKE tells her that ROGER is working late (which, indeed, BLAKE actually believes). HOLLY accepts, but she decides to come without ROSS. After all, he is just sitting in bed with legal work.

HOLLY’S appearance without ROSS doesn’t please ALAN-MICHAEL, but he puts a good front on the situation. BLAKE heads to the kitchen to heat up some leftovers for the three of them. At this point, ROGER suddenly appears.

BLAKE can’t repress her pleasure; ALAN-MICHAEL, who didn’t want to have HOLLY over with ALEXANDRA away, looks annoyed; ROGER is confused at HOLLY’S presence and ALAN-MICHAEL’S sudden stalking out of the room; HOLLY smiles faintly.

BLAKE follows ALAN-MICHAEL into the hall.

BLAKE: He really said he’d be at the office ‘til all hours of the night.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Blake, what is it? Can you really not help yourself?

BLAKE: I told you. I just missed Mom, and I thought we could just spend a nice night together. And it’s not like I didn’t ...

ALAN-MICHAEL: Stop. Stop it! Blake, you have got to stop manipulating.

BLAKE: I didn’t!

ALAN-MICHAEL: Oh, so you’re upset about all this — this recent turn of events?

BLAKE: No, I’m upset that you’re mad at me. I get enough of that from everyone else. Is this really such a horrible thing?

ALAN-MICHAEL: The really horrible thing is that I specifically asked you not to do this and you went ahead and did it like I wasn’t even in the room.

BLAKE: I missed my mom. So my dad shows up. What am I supposed to do, kick her out?

ALAN-MICHAEL: No, no, no. I have a feeling that she may do that on her own.

BLAKE: Well, she will if you make her feel unwelcome.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Oh, Blake, c’mon! I won’t do that; you know that! I like your mother.

BLAKE: And you like my father, right? So what is the big deal? We can all spend a civilized evening together.

ALAN-MICHAEL: No, not any more! That’s the point. I know what your trying to do, and you’ve got to stop it! You have got to stop acting like this.

NEXT SCENE: Dinner is over, and all are making their way back to the living room.

ROGER [his arm around BLAKE]: That was one of Vera’s better efforts, even reheated.

BLAKE: Oh, well I am a great microwave chef.

ROGER: You sure are.

BLAKE [as if innocently]: I’m pooped. [She turns and faces ALAN-MICHAEL.]

ALAN-MICHAEL: What?

BLAKE: I’m tired.

HOLLY: But it’s so early.

ALAN-MICHAEL [“smelling a rat”]: Yeah.

BLAKE [heading out of the room, taking ALAN-MICHAEL’S hand]: Well, the doctor said I should have plenty of rest. Darling ...

ALAN-MICHAEL: Uh, yeah. Holly, do you need a ride home?

HOLLY: No, I drove.

ROGER: I’ll see Holly out. You kids go along.

BLAKE [mighty pleased]: Well, good night.

BLAKE hugs her dad, and then her mom.

BLAKE [to HOLLY]: This is fun.

HOLLY [amused, but with a slight sneer]: Yes, fun.

BLAKE: Good night.

ROGER and HOLLY: Good night.

ALAN-MICHAEL [0utmaneuvered]: Good night.

As BLAKE and ALAN-MICHAEL go up the stairs, ROGER can’t suppress a grin. He and HOLLY look at each other and laugh out loud.

ROGER: Well, she definitely gets her subtlety from you. I would never — truly —

HOLLY [laughs, but defending herself]: No! You would have been more clever, but I would have never had the need to pull something like this. It makes you wonder how she gets away with the big lies.

ROGER eyes rest gently on HOLLY—it’s so pleasant that they can laugh about BLAKE—but HOLLY’S back is turned to him.

ROGER: Did you, uh, bring a jacket?

HOLLY: No, I ...

HOLLY seems in no hurry to leave. She ambles over to the chess table set up in front of the fireplace.

HOLLY: This your game?

ROGER: Yeah. My defenses seem to be holding up.

HOLLY [nonchalantly]: Oh, I don't think so.

HOLLY sits down at the table and moves a chess piece.

HOLLY: Your queen is in trouble.

ROGER [joining her at the game—moving a pawn]: Not a chance!

HOLLY easily takes the pawn.

ROGER: You've gotten better!

HOLLY [pleased]: Count on it!

As the game progresses, HOLLY leans forward in the straight chair, with her chin propped on her knuckles and a knowing smile in her eyes. ROGER sits up on the edge of the chair, seemingly concentrating on the chess figures.

ROGER [hesitantly]: I ... I was glad you came over tonight. Blake really needs you.

HOLLY [sardonically]: She needs me ... to keep quiet.

ROGER: She needs you ... because she makes a lot of mistakes and she needs your help to avoid making more. She's really trying.

HOLLY: That she is.

HOLLY moves her queen. ROGER looks perplexed. He stares at the game and mutters, “So am I!”

HOLLY: So move?

ROGER moves.

HOLLY: What do you think she wants from us?

HOLLY makes her move. The scene’s background music becomes louder, its tempo more insistent. It sounds as if it is signaling danger ... an odd choice to underline a “mere” chess game.

ROGER: Well, I think ... right now I think she's just happy to see us in a room together without going at each other's throat. It's still a rarity, you know.

HOLLY: That's true.

ROGER: Yeah, I was glad to see you here, too ... for her sake. Maybe our ten-year war is over.

HOLLY: She wants more than that, Roger.

ROGER: Well, she'll get over it ... and I would gladly settle for detente. How about you?

ROGER moves his rook to challenge, but HOLLY counters with her knight.

HOLLY: Checkmate!

ROGER [staring at her, dumbfounded]: How did you do that?

HOLLY: Hmmm ... dumb luck.

ROGER: You're trying to tell me you did this with luck?

HOLLY [smiles confidently at him]: Scary, isn't it?

HOLLY laughs softly.

BLAKE, in a bathrobe, peeks at her parents from behind the doorframe. ROGER and HOLLY are having a drink together.

ROGER: Yeah, I do. I remember that. Uh, I’m very impressed.

BLAKE’S eavesdropping is interrupted by ALAN-MICHAEL, who hisses at her from down the hall.

ALAN-MICHAEL: Blake! Blake! Get here! Get here!

BLAKE tiptoes across the doorway to ALAN-MICHAEL.

ALAN-MICHAEL: What the hell do you think you’re doing?

BLAKE: I wanted some water.

ALAN-MICHAEL: There’s water upstairs, and you’re exhausted, remember?

BLAKE: I wanted ice.

ALAN-MICHAEL: I’ll get it for you, okay?

As BLAKE goes back upstairs, ALAN-MICHAEL peers into the doorway and mutters, “What is she still doing here?”

HOLLY and ROGER are still talking.

HOLLY: Well, this was—

ROGER: Intriguing?

HOLLY: Interesting. We’ll have to try it again sometime.

ROGER nods, and looks pleased, not expecting this. Off-screen, we hear the sound of their glasses clinking.