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(eerie music plays)

- [Edward] Yes, you are weird and strange

and given to playing tricks.

- [Paul] Come to me, choose to be more.

- [Olivia] More?

- [Paul] Yes, more.

(indistinct chatter)

(classical music plays)

(rain patters)

(thunder crashes)

(classical music continues)

- Perhaps his heart was

much bigger than his talent sometimes.

Your brother.

(emotive classical music plays)

He was

so special to me.

You see,

when my wife died,

Alonzo trusted me with Paul.

(emotive classical music continues)

- Le champion?

Le champion.

Le champion.

Le champion.

(Jessie laughs)

Ah.

- I was just testing your reflexes.

- Yes you were.

You are worth a vin, as they say in Paris.

Come, let's go.

Some good tea maybe perhaps, huh?

You got me that time, man, you'll see.

(thunder rumbles)

(rain splashes outside)

So I became

father, friend

and best, best friend you might say.

Over and over again it was checkmate,

checkmate.

- I wish,

I wish I it understood more.

(emotional piano music plays)

- [Jessie] I remember like it was yesterday.

Everyone was preparing for Edward's first recital.

You were folding the invitations.

Your mother handled the catering

and your father had invited all his family,

friends and legal associates to Edward's recital.

(indistinct voices chatter)

(chess pieces whoosh)

(emotional piano music continues)

(Ernest sighs)

- Alonzo, I do believe I need another brandy.

- Yeah.

- Father, I will tell Jessie.

- Thank you.

- You're off your game today, Ernest.

Something on your mind?

(Ernest sighs)

- I'd rather not talk about it.

- Master Paul, give me those glasses.

- Here you go.

My uncle should have won that game.

- How say you, Sir Paul?

- I'll show you later.

- Okay.

- You only needed a few moves, Uncle,

then victory would've been yours.

(group laughs)

- Father, may I have a word with you about Paul?

- A word?

Yes, Edward, but can it wait one moment?

- He came barging into my practice like a crazy person

and completely disrupted it and.

- [Ernest] Who? - Paul, no doubt.

- I apologized father, I did.

- All settled, Edward.

- Fine.

Paul, you have not heard the last of this.

May I have a word with you, Mother?

- Edward, your manners.

Have you forgotten to knock on the door before entering?

- Mother, oh please.

I need your help

- With what? - Paul.

- Edward, my day is full.

There are so many things left to do.

- My dear uncle, let's play a game.

- Now Paul, have you learned to play?

(classical cello music plays)

- My son, when have you played this game?

- You have taught me

but have not realized it.

- Is this some type of trick, Alonzo?

- I assure you, my dear Ernest,

I assure you I had no idea.

- Well, I'll play.

- Thank you, Uncle.

(Ernest laughs)

(classical cello music continues)

- Why was Edward so mean to Paul?

- You see,

what was fun and games to Paul

was serious business to Edward.

- [Edward] Paul, give me my music.

- I was going to give them back.

- Hey listen, I don't take your stuff do I?

Do I?

- I just wanted to have fun.

- Listen,

come over here.

Listen, don't you ever take my music again.

Understand?

- Edward was so mean.

We called him (speaks foreign language), the mess,

because he always created a mess with his younger brother.

But Paul loved him.

(lush piano music plays)

- I like your music, Edward.

- You like my music?

Do you really think I care

that you like my music?

I need someone who can make me big

and famous around the world to like my music.

(lush piano music continues)

- Fine.

- His older brother now,

very talented and strong mind,

but he had to work diligently

for hours of a day

when

young Paul could watch a game

and amaze adults who had been playing the game for years.

(lush piano music continues)

(piano music stutters)

(paper rustles)

- That was an amazing demonstration from Paul today.

- He's incredibly intelligent or inconceivably lucky.

- Takes a bit of both to succeed at life

as well as in chess.

My Lord, I was perplexed.

- He might be one of those with a perfect memory.

What do you call that, Alonzo?

A mnemonist.

- That's a possibility.

Come to think of it,

that very well could be.

Do you recall

Father could remember intimate details

about practically anything?

Any subject,

volumes of knowledge in his head.

Perhaps it is hereditary

in the genes, as they said.

Well anyway,

Paul is still a boy

and maybe he was just lucky today.

Who really knows?

Shall we refresh our drinks?

- Pardon, Monsieur.

Madame.

Monsieur.

- Thank you, Jessie. - Pleasure.

- [Jessie] At six, he could memorize chess games

after seeing them once.

By 12, he had defeated a Hungarian master

and by 19, he had memorized the entire

Louisiana Book of Codes and Laws.

- [Girl Off-Camera] Paul, come on, Paul.

- [Group] Paul, Paul.

(indistinct chatter)

- And he explains how his uncle could have won the game

and the boy was (indistinct).

I seen him understanding of deployment

and I taught him the difference in the parts.

- Jessie.

- Between white and the black.

- Jessie, it's called special memory, my friend.

- Vraiment.

- He

see and hear it once and it's like speed.

It's like a sunset coming in the proper field,

strong, solid.

- Bien?

- Paul is

like a house boy but with field strength.

Yes, yes, but in his mind.

In his head,

the kid is special.

- Ah.

(indistinct chatter)

- Yes at 18,

- Great day for some watermelon.

- Watermelon, yes.

(person knocks on door)

- Yes, yes, enter.

Madame Louise is sleeping?

Ah.

- How are you, young laddie?

Learning your marks and learning that French and German

and all here?

- Yes, but well,

things with my brother.

- Now, now, Master Paul.

You never worry about those words

or what they put you put in your mind.

- Old Jessie here,

he beat me plenty over the years.

Plenty, but it only made me stronger.

- But the kids, they tease me.

They make fun of me, my mind.

My mind is spinning

and not just Edward.

(Paul sighs)

Things that get in

won't leave.

(eerie music plays)

- Darling Paul,

last night you were up most of the night.

Your lessons were wonderfully done.

The governesses are quite pleased with your studies,

your French, mathematics

and the general coursework impressed them

and the staff said. - Good mother.

- Did you hear my comments?

- You said your lessons were wonderfully done.

The governesses are quite pleased with your studies,

your French, mathematics and general coursework

impressed them and the staff.

- Prankster, you were listening.

(engine blares)

(horse hooves clatter)

(pensive music plays)

(pensive music continues)

(chess pieces whoosh)

(chess pieces clatter)

(pensive music continues)

(chess pieces clatter)

(pensive music continues)

(birds chirp)

(lively classical music plays)

- Paul,

let's have a match.

- Now?

(Paul sighs)

- Yes, now, come and sit and play.

- But Uncle.

- Come now.

(Paul sighs)

- But Uncle.

- Come and sit.

- But Uncle, I'm engaged

with something.

My lessons.

- It's just one game, Paul.

- Okay Uncle, set up the board.

- I will.

The board is set, now come and sit.

- I'm white.

Move my knight to C3.

- Paul, come now.

- Please move my knight to C3.

- Okay.

All right, but now come now really and play.

- But Uncle, we are.

- Okay, knight to C6.

- Pawn to B3.

(lively classical music continues)

- Knight to F6.

- Bishop to A3.

- Pawn to D6.

- King side castle.

- Alonzo.

Alonzo.

(evocative classical music plays)

- Substantial tourney play.

The competition is strong

and the air is ripe for national play.

- Indeed, the New York contingency is anxious.

- The general represents the Southern states

and he's looking for a match while in New Orleans.

He's staying close, here at the Monteleone

and asks that you contact him.

- That would be quite exciting for the city

and the men here are anxious,

with celebrated determination.

- We have brought

several matches that we recorded

for you to review.

They are impressive beyond most categories.

- Rook takes knight.

Bishop to knight, checkmate.

- We have a player. - Yes.

- A local fellow who.

- Are these from Europe?

Grandmaster, someone visiting and or playing an amateur?

- They are stunning and amazing, we do agree.

They're by a US player.

- Ah, in the States, New York, Boston?

- Right here in the South.

- A local player.

Atlanta?

A local fellow.

Have the fellow join us here for brandy and cigars.

I'll have a meal prepared

and invite the winners of today's matches to play

or perhaps bring him to the Octoroon balls.

- That may be a little difficult.

- He's not ready.

We merely wanted to show these games to you, sir.

Sorry to say that what.

- Come now, men.

Sorry are Morphy and Morphy,

grand lawyer,

property man,

judges' sons and men of leisure.

And you Ernest, a man of what?

3,000 acres.

Gentlemen, there are matters of intellect here

in these chambers.

These games of yours here are obviously forged,

perhaps from a Russian journal or German paper on strategy.

Gentlemen, I do not have time for this.

- Sir, you do. - For these tricks.

This is no parlor.

These are sacred halls of chess since 1542,

since quite before the age of Enlightenment.

(indistinct).

- Sir. - Ernest.

(footsteps echo)

(dramatic classical music plays)

- Mother, Mother. - I'm here.

How was it?

- It was great. - Yeah, did you win?

- Yes I did. - Oh, what did you play?

- Alonzo, he's literally a genius.

You must let him play.

- He's better than a common gambler.

- Well, he doesn't have to gamble.

There are tournaments

and there will be an American champion one day soon.

- And then what will he be?

A party trick.

We are here to build on Father's dream.

- Oh, he has plenty of time

to accomplish your goals, brother.

Give your son this chance.

- This is our son, Ernest.

(Ernest sighs)

(knocks on door)

Are you okay?

- Am I weird?

Like those kids said,

am I different?

So strange, so to say.

(Paul sighs)

I feel a weight, a load.

- No Paul, you are not weird.

- Yes, you are weird and strange

and given to playing tricks,

all of the time playing.

How does it feel to have a taste of your own silliness?

- Hey, no need to say that

and why are you saying these things?

- You are so stern.

- That's because I plan to be a great concert pianist

and I demand to be taken seriously.

(door slams)

- I will not tolerate Ernest's attempts to exploit Paul.

- I agree,

particularly with the men in the club, gambling and such.

His talents are with academics

and we'll have none of this.

- Seems that you have planned a thing, though, dear,

going to the clubs with his games and gloating.

- Simply intellectual exercise.

Merely wanted to show Paul's games

to get feedback for (indistinct)

and perhaps to have events here in the courtyard.

- It is a gentleman's sport

and as you say, a folly,

and not to be considered for a boy of his age.

- We're speaking the same language, thoughts.

- You are preparing games for him.

- He plays here in the courtyard and in the parks.

- His sisters report that

the kids make fun of him.

They tease him for his speech and his size.

- These things only make a man.

I'm not concerned with them.

He will go into law and continue his studies.

- You're talking in circles.

- I will let this pass.

These matches will knock him down.

- So you will have him teased by men.

You must retire to the third floor for the evening.

(melodramatic music plays)

(door slams)

(melodramatic music continues)

- They call him a chess master.

- Yes, I have seen his games.

You must always behave like a gentleman

and when you sit at a table amongst men,

you must act accordingly.

- Yes, sir.

- You'll be there soon, Paul.

Go to school, get your degree.

You'll be instrumental in the changes

happening in this country.

- And I'll be good.

In fact, great.

- It's just the game

will not be getting in the way of your studies.

Is that clear?

- Yes sir.

May I be excused?

- Yes.

Paul.

- [Jessie] But the temptation to test his merit

was too great.

He would soon be crowned the nation's first champion.

(indistinct chatter)

- I think he's coming.

- Do you remember everything we discussed?

- Yes.

- The whole city's behind you.

You're going to do fine.

- Ernest, be calm.

Master Lowenthal.

- Pleasure to meet you, sir.

Ah, my young master.

I didn't realize we'd be playing in Venice.

- Ah, the levee broke up in Jefferson Parish.

- Such a shame. - Yes.

- I thought this was

all gamblers and race mixing

and the weather.

- She's a new city but she's on the rise.

- How much did you bet Lowenthal?

- Bet?

This is just to knock him down a peg,

get him back to his studies.

- You could have made a lot of good money, brother.

- I wouldn't bet against my son.

He may yet win.

- Today we begin a series of matches

between Master Jacob Lowenthal.

(group applauds)

And from right here, in our fair city,

Paul Morphy.

(group applauds)

- This is a bit silly, isn't it?

(group applauds)

(Paul sighs)

You made a mistake.

- Checkmate.

- How old are you?

- 10, sir.

- Good job.

(group applauds and cheers)

(insects chirp)

- Let me tell you this.

I shall not share the press with you.

- What?

What do you mean?

I don't know what you're saying.

- I was merely mentioned for my performance

and look at this disgusting front page coverage.

- That, my dear brother,

I had no idea such an article

would be on a newspaper.

- This is disrespectful and preposterous.

I'm going to have a word with Father and have this,

have this taken care of.

I shall have none of your trickery upstaging me.

Do you hear?

Do you understand?

- Yes, I do hear you.

(Paul sighs)

And I assure you, it is no trickery.

As Helena says, it's my talent.

- Talent?

Chess is a sport,

a gentleman's folly.

With my hands, I can change the world and I plan to.

As for your chess playing, huh,

it is fleeting.

A mere fancy, a trick you have learned,

probably from the Blacks, no doubt.

Run like you always do.

You'll never be anything but a two-bit trickster.

(melancholy music plays)

- [Jessie] Edward was searching to find that mastery

and he always somehow felt

that his little brother overshadowed him,

but his little brother worshiped him

and he just didn't seem to get it.

And he somehow saw his younger brother as being

maybe a threat to all that he wanted to be,

that Paul seemed to

just have from the very beginning.

- I want to talk to you about this newspaper article.

- I was in the middle of rehearsing,

- But you said you had no intention

of letting me upstage you.

- Yes I did and I mean it.

- I have not finished, Edward.

It is but a game.

Shall I spell it?

G-A-M-E.

Hopefully one day you'll understand

that I do not play to win and be pompous.

I play to enjoy the spirit of competition.

(upbeat music plays)

I can't control my thoughts

and I cannot forget anything I've seen.

I want to please Father.

The combinations are endless

and that excites me.

I can see the board in my dreams,

moves and positions,

motion and waves like crashing tides against the shores,

like moonbeams, chopping in tree branches

and entering forests.

- [Paul] I have won more games than I lost,

but each pushed me forward,

ever onward rushing towards some place I didn't know where

or how it would lead me in life.

But I knew an infinity of moves

and outcome like a child's play.

Not so in life.

(insects chirp)

Finally.

- Finally indeed.

- Thank you, Edward.

- For what, exactly?

- For everything you did to me.

- For all the things that I did to you?

I dare say I think you mean everything that you did to me.

- I was a child.

- In so many ways, you still are.

- Absolutely.

You are absolutely correct.

Don't be envious, okay?

Chess, the game you detest so much,

is growing in popularity.

(Paul whistles)

Worldwide, in fact.

- Not for long.

- I think the American Chess Congress is

a pretty strong indication.

- Because you won.

This isn't a game, my dear brother.

One day I shall perform for the governor at Gallagher Hall.

- And I plan to be there, chess game or not.

Meanwhile, your beckons means

soon I'm to play against the best.

Despite what you think,

I will miss you.

- Have fun.

- I plan to as best I can.

You're gonna miss me.

- I don't know about that, Paul,

but I would like to buy you a drink

to send you off to Europe in style.

How about it? - Absolutely.

- Let's have at it, then.

- Let's entertain some ladies.

- After you.

- Okay, you're gonna miss me.

(indistinct chatter)

- The lake was gorgeous,

sunbeams dancing on the water's surface with splendor.

- How big is the lake, Paul?

- 1,300 square miles.

- Knowing trivia's real good, my dear brother.

- Bigger than your Spring Hill college campus?

- We had a lovely day on the lake,

a toast.

The life behind us and the life before us

is so small compared to the life within us.

Cheers.

(glasses clink)

- The waters of the world are calling you

and you'll be off playing chess.

- Well, your study should require

that you remain, my dear lawyer.

I hear that you've memorized the Law Review, Paul.

- The entire Louisiana Book of Codes is

committed to thine cranium.

- The future isn't on this lake.

It's here.

We're now.

We should be enjoying the moment.

- Ah, we should enjoy the moment's conversation, eh?

You reflect the view of our Black, our Jessie.

- Tongue is sharp, Edward.

- Oh, a dual, perhaps?

I should have brought the guns with me to the bar.

- We're here.

We're trying to enjoy the moment.

You have a lovely woman,

a kind gesture for my dear Olivia,

and you merely scoff her.

Are you really ready for war?

The devastation of war is not romantic.

The blood and guts of this great nation

strewn along the battlefield.

Not the answer.

Besides the North, my brother

- Mesdames, Messieurs, would there be anything else?

(speaks foreign language).

- We're fine, thank you.

- Well, you're welcome.

- I'll head on.

Father and Mother are surely waiting.

The two of you need a chaperone, oui?

(insects chirp)

- My father says the Mint's closing soon.

They're trying to pull money out, bleed us dry.

- Who's they, Paul?

- The North.

Edward says the war is starting.

- So what are you gonna do about it?

Take a sack of gold bull coins and off,

off to Europe with you

and your memory, the entire Louisiana Code of Laws.

- I don't know.

(smooth piano music plays)

- You're brilliant, Paul, absolutely brilliant.

And the world needs to know.

You wanna do something for the South?

Go show the world what type of people we make here

in these United States.

- This isn't the climate for dreams, Olivia.

- It's bigger than that.

You can go wherever you want.

You'll be famous

with that brain and a board

you can be anyone.

- I'm a Morphy.

My blood runs deep with the hue of this nation.

I belong here

with you, with my family,

or at least off in Europe with you.

This feels right.

I'm a man of the Old World in the New.

It's my gift.

(birds chirp)

I've certainly never experienced anything like this before.

- Kiss me.

- Thank you.

Promise me we'll choose to be more.

- More?

- Yes, more.

- More.

More is certainly commendable.

- I wanna be yours and yours alone.

I want us to share each other's

deepest and darkest intimacies.

Promise me you'll write.

- I'll try my best.

(storm rumbles)

- Simone, I finally found the key

to Daddy's liquor cabinets.

(Simone and Olivia laugh)

- It's not as though he's gonna be here to notice.

You're such a thief.

- Let's make a toast to my fiance,

the most handsome man in Orleans Parish.

- Oh, in your fantasy,

who do you plan on marrying today?

Your beloved Paul Morphy?

(Simone laughs)

- Oh, Paul doesn't know how to be a man.

He only cares about that stupid game.

- I wouldn't be so harsh.

He'd do almost anything for you

after bringing him into your bed.

- He's smart, but he wastes money and I wanna be free.

So I've encouraged him to stay in Europe

as long as possible.

Let's make a toast to General Slidell,

a real man. - Have you been

visiting the general?

- Maybe once or twice. - Olivia,

you have two lovers.

Your family's going to disown you.

- I have only been to bed with Paul.

Besides, the general's prudish

and only speaks of his guns and swords,

so I persuade him to drink with me.

(Simone and Olivia laugh)

- Try this. - No, you try this.

That's good enough for me.

(Olivia laughs)

He's so unaccustomed to the bottle

that he tells me practically everything,

and I'm mean everything.

- Good Heavens, like what?

Has he killed anyone?

- No, not at all.

I don't think he's ever been in battle

and he doesn't go to the opera either,

despite having money that he keeps hidden somewhere

in his old house.

- You seem like opposites.

- I excite him and he likes it.

Just a few more visits with him

and I'll teach him everything Paul doesn't understand.

(knock on door)

- Good evening.

I am Magistrate Bourgeois.

- Yes, can I help you?

- Are you Olivia Foret?

- Yes.

- I expect to hear from you by the end of the week.

- I'm sorry, where have we met?

- We haven't, but I knew without a doubt it was you.

You have your father's eyes.

Bonsoir.

(storm continues to rumble)

(paper rustles)

(Olivia sighs)

- What is it?

- It's my father.

He's gambled everything away.

They're coming to take the house and the property.

- No.

Olivia,

what are you gonna do?

- I'm ruined.

- You can come stay with me if you need to, but.

- I knew about his gambling and womanizing,

but in his drunkenness,

he didn't think of me and my future.

- What about Paul?

Isn't his family wealthy?

- He doesn't have much.

Everything else belongs to his parents.

- But his heart is in your hand.

Here.

There has to be some way to get some money from him.

- Not anymore.

Paul leaves for Paris today for more chess competitions.

- He's going to be famous.

Europeans love chess more than us Americans.

He'll be rich from the winnings.

- Rich?

He only cares about competing.

He could give a fig about the winnings.

- Didn't you say

that the general keeps money in his house?

- I need more.

(Simone and Olivia laugh)

(horse hooves clatter)

(pensive string music plays)

- This old body.

- Are you okay?

(Jessie laughs)

- I checking your reflexes, Monsieur Paul.

Listen now.

- I know what you're gonna say, Sir Jessie.

- Vraiment? - Vraiment.

- Bien.

- Don't telegraph my opening moves.

- Oui. - Remember to look

my opponent squarely in the eye.

- Oui, oui. - And.

- [All] (speaks foreign language).

- Le champion, le champion.

(Jessie laughs)

Why?

- Because my opponent are men of means

who are subject to do harm when embarrassed by a lad.

Because after all, they spend all their lives

studying the strategies of chess

and I rarely if ever study.

I know, Sir Jessie, you have told me this many, many times.

- Master Paul, you are a work of art.

- From you,

you mean the world to me.

- Le passage from your father.

(coins clink)

- Bonsoir. - Au revoir.

- Le champion.

Checkmate.

Young Paul is off to New York

and he wins in the national championship.

So now.

(frenetic music plays)

He's gotten his law degree,

but he's too young to practice law so he goes on to Europe.

Morphy traveled to Europe in 1858,

seeking worthy adversaries,

beating champions by day, dining with aristocracy by night.

Morphy began hearing echoes

of his father's deathbed warning,

don't waste your life on a game.

(group applauds)

- Gentlemen, let's play some chess.

(indistinct chatter)

(uptempo, rhythmic music plays)

(group applauds)

This must be Paris.

- Gentlemen, let the game begin.

- As we dance across the world

with whatever suitors we desire.

(Simone and Olivia laugh)

(ax cracks wood)

(uptempo, rhythmic music continues)

- Knight to F3.

- [Person Off-Camera] Knight to F3.

- Queen's pawn to E5.

- Pawn

to D3.

- [Person Off-Camera] Pawn to D3.

- Queen's knight to C6.

- Round two.

(group laughs)

(ax cracks wood)

(uptempo, rhythmic music continues)

- Queen's pawn to E5.

- (speaks foreign language)

Pawn to E3.

- [Person Off-Camera] King's pawn to D6.

- Queen to F6,

checkmate.

(group applauds)

(fountain gurgles)

- Here.

- Oh, I really shouldn't have any more.

I'm not a man of the bottle.

Plus, I would only bore you with my old stories of war.

Back when they used the old rifles,

they were shorter but heavier

and the range wasn't as good.

But my father insisted that if we were gonna win this war,

that we'd have to use it, so.

(Olivia laughs)

- It's already watered down so much.

General, I thought all real war heroes drank

to show their strength to defend their ladies.

Are you not a real war hero?

- Don't be silly, Olivia.

I assure you that I'm as real as they come.

- Hmm. - Despite the fact

that I was raised in a wealthy home, I can fight

no matter what my peers say.

Look, my father is of high rank

and he will see to it that I am promoted

and soon those fools will work for me.

(Olivia laughs)

- General, you are so brave,

but enough of war.

Let's talk about the beautiful rooms in your lovely home.

I wanna hear more about that money you've been hiding.

(Olivia and General Slidell laugh)

That's it.

(Olivia laughs)

(footsteps echo)

(melodramatic orchestral music plays)

- [Paul] Dearest Olivia,

I have traveled many places and played many games of chess.

(group applauds)

I would just move one piece at a time forward always.

But I knew an infinity of outcomes,

like it was child's play.

(chess board swooshes)

Have you broken your hand, my dear?

Because I have not received one single letter.

Not one.

I miss you dearly.

(indistinct chatter)

- Come on, Olivia.

There's nothing to worry about.

What is the matter?

- I'm just.

- Our plan is working just as we want it.

You have both men practically under your spell.

- But if General Slidell finds out.

- Must we discuss this again

where half the French Quarter can hear us?

If he asks you, just blame the servants.

- But it only covers half of what we need

and Paul still hasn't sent me anything.

- Then it's time to make the general marry you.

We just have to make sure Paul doesn't find out

until after the wedding.

- But Simone,

what about us?

There'd be no more adventures.

- With your charm, we'll still have our fun

and the general will pay for it.

Now cheer up.

Come on, let's get the rest.

(Simone knocks on door)

- (speaks foreign language)

- (speaks foreign language)

- (speaks foreign language)

- This is Simone.

She doesn't speak French.

She's from New York.

- Bonjour, madame.

- Jessie, it's blazing hot outside.

Can I ask you a few questions about Paul?

- Of course, come inside.

I'm sorry it's not any cooler down here.

I do remember your inquiries about him

at the horse races.

You were inquiring about what he planned to do

with his winnings.

- Yes, well, he writes me love letters all the time.

- Letters, I see.

Why don't you ask him yourself?

He plans to come home soon.

- No, not yet.

It's too soon for him to come home.

- Of course, and good.

It could be too dangerous with a coming war

and he's not one to fight.

- But it is his duty that he sees his ladies taken care of

in his absence.

So can you please send him this letter?

It's a reminder that he should send me his winnings quickly.

- But you're not married

nor betrothed to Master Paul.

He is free of these gentlemanly obligations to you.

- That's none of your concern, Jessie.

Now I know he's been heavy on the bottle in France

for many months,

so I don't know exactly where he is, but you do.

- Hmm. - It was his wish

when he left.

Are you hard of hearing?

- Why are you looking at her like that?

- It's all right, Simone.

Maybe I'll just have to report to General Slidell

and tell him that Jessie tried to assault me today,

but my noble friend and I fought him off.

- And what's the penalty for that these days?

15 years hard labor.

- At least.

- I'll make sure it's sent today.

(mysterious music plays)

It was then I knew that this young (speaks foreign language)

this trollop, was nothing but trouble.

I sent her letter along with my own,

pleading with Paul to get rid of her, but he was obsessed.

A young man's first love.

The absence of Olivia was the reason

for any of his drinking,

which compared to her consumption,

hmm, was mild.

But he sent her his winnings against my protest anyway.

I could be his eyes and ears while he was away,

so I kept a close eye on her,

following her when I could,

watching her every move.

(indistinct chatter)

(group applauds)

(rapid classical piano music plays)

- Olivia, you've been acting so strange as of late.

Now stop worrying about nothing.

And besides, Paul is doing way better

than we had ever hoped for.

- Do you think the general loves me?

- What?

Who cares?

You'll marry him so he will pay

for our many adventures across the world.

Our plan is working perfectly.

(Simone laughs)

- What about Paul?

- Paul?

Paul, I'm tired of hearing about Paul.

I want to forget him.

And you will too as soon as we dance across the ocean

with whatever men we desire.

(Simone and Olivia laugh)

(Olivia gasps)

Olivia.

The pains again?

Here, this will help.

- No, it's.

- What, you're with child?

- The general?

- Paul's.

(Simone gasps)

(dramatic orchestral music plays)

- Simone, my love.

I know the news of this baby has you worried and afraid.

Please reconsider your feelings and come back to me.

Things are not the same as when we were girls.

When you went to school in New York,

I never blamed you.

Since you have been gone these several days,

I have felt so alone

and I don't know what to do about the general.

He's become so attached and possessive

that he seldom leaves me alone.

(romantic string music plays)

- [Magistrate Bourgeois] Madame,

it is imperative for you to know

that I have moved your father out of the prison

into the care of the Ursuline nuns.

No one else can take him on such short notice.

It appears that his consumption has affected his mind.

He has fits of emotion

and soils himself each night.

I have ordered the nuns to take care of him

for at least two weeks.

Then you must come to take him

or he will be put to the street.

- I could have someone take care of him if you'd like.

The times are changing.

We are going to win this war.

And when we do,

I'd like you by my side.

Every time that I see you, the room brightens

and I feel alive.

Could you be happy with someone like me?

- General, you are too kind to me.

- Then it's settled.

We'll be married at the first of the month.

And this is reason to celebrate.

- Oh, we shouldn't.

- No, we absolutely should and we will.

To you, my love.

(glasses clink)

Is everything all right?

- Everything's fine.

(wind whistles)

(rapid piano music plays)

- [Paul] Dearest Olivia,

you are not going to believe this or maybe you will.

I have won all of my matches here in Europe except one.

And that is because Sir Howard Stodden has been avoiding me.

I have grown tired of his excuses.

I'm not leaving Europe until I have defeated him.

My mind races still over the board as in life,

the categories of which represent an infinity of choices.

Olivia, does she love me or doesn't she?

And what of this General Slidell?

(somber music plays)

- Olivia.

- Oh, General, I didn't hear you come in.

- What do you want from me?

Money?

- No.

- It seems you have enough already.

You traitor.

- No, I can explain.

(Olivia screams)

(Olivia thuds to floor)

- All of Orleans Parish will know of your misdeeds.

(Olivia sobs)

(storm rumbles)

(Olivia sobs)

- (speaks foreign language)

- What happened?

- The general.

(Olivia sobs)

- (speaks foreign language)

- Oh no, no, no, no, no, no.

I can't, I don't want a part of this.

I mean, if anyone else finds out,

they'll cast you to streets and me, I'll be in prison.

I can't.

- Simone, you're my sister.

Mama would want us to stay together.

- I'm sorry.

I'm going to go, I'm sorry.

I can't help you.

- No.

Don't leave me.

Please.

(Olivia sobs)

(storm continues to rumble)

(birds chirp)

(birds continue to chirp)

(somber orchestral music plays)

(somber orchestral music continues)

(Jessie sobs)

(somber orchestral music continues)

(chess pieces clatter)

- Jessie,

Jessie.

Jessie.

(somber orchestral music continues)

- [Jessie] On a hot night

in post-Reconstruction New Orleans,

the world's first chess champion died alone in a cold tub

at the age of 47,

not having played a game in nearly 23 years.

His name was Paul Morphy

and he is forever known as

the pride and sorrow of chess.

(pensive piano music plays)

(pensive piano music continues)

(pensive piano music continues)

(pensive piano music continues)

(pensive piano music continues)

(pensive piano music continues)

(romantic orchestral music plays)

(romantic orchestral music continues)

(energetic music plays)

(energetic music continues)