This is a modern-English version of The Game of Chess: A Play in One Act, originally written by Goodman, Kenneth Sawyer. It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

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STAGE GUILD PLAYS
THE GAME OF CHESS

THE STAGE GUILD
PLAYS & MASQUES

By Kenneth Sawyer Goodman
DUST OF THE ROAD: A Play in One Act.	net 35c
THE GAME OF CHESS: A Play in One Act.	net 35c
By Kenneth Sawyer Goodman and Thomas Wood Stevens
THE MASQUE OF QUETZAL’S BOWL.	net 25c
A PAGEANT FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY.	net 35c
THE MASQUE OF MONTEZUMA.	net 25c
THE DAIMIO’S HEAD, MONTEZUMA & QUETZAL’S BOWL together, bound in cloth,	net $1.00
RYLAND: A Comedy in One Act.	net 25c
CÆSAR’S GODS: A Byzantine Masque.	net 25c
HOLBEIN IN BLACKFRIARS: An Improbable Comedy.	net 25c
By Wallace Rice and Thomas Wood Stevens
THE CHAPLET OF PAN: A Masque.	net 35c
The above are to be had of all book-sellers or of THEATER GUILD, Railway Exchange Building, Chicago, and VAUGHAN & GUM, 2 East Twenty-ninth Street, New York.

THE GAME OF CHESS

A PLAY IN ONE ACT

A One-Act Play

BY
KENNETH SAWYER GOODMAN

NEW YORK
VAUGHAN & GOMME
MCMXIV

NEW YORK
VAUGHAN & GOMME
1914

Notice: Application for permission to perform this play in the United States should be made to The Stage Guild, Railway Exchange Building, Chicago; and application for permission to perform it elsewhere should be made to Mr. B. Iden Payne, The Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, England. No performance of it may take place without consent of the owners of the acting rights.

Announcement: If you want to get permission to perform this play in the United States, please contact The Stage Guild at the Railway Exchange Building, Chicago. For permission to perform it in other locations, reach out to Mr. B. Iden Payne at The Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, England. No performances can happen without the consent of the owners of the acting rights.

THE GAME OF CHESS was first produced by B. Iden Payne under the auspices of the Chicago Theatre Society at the Fine Arts Theatre, November 18th, 1913, with the following caste:

Chess Game was first performed by B. Iden Payne with the support of the Chicago Theatre Society at the Fine Arts Theatre on November 18, 1913, featuring the following cast:

Alexis Alexandrovich	Walter Hampden
Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff	Whitford Kane
Constantine	T. W. Gibson
Foot soldier	Howard Plinge

[7]

THE GAME OF CHESS

The Scene is a wainscoted room in the house of ALEXIS. High windows at the back left; at the right back is a double door giving into an ante-room; against the right wall is a couch; in the left wall near the back is a small door; nearer the audience, on the same wall a chimney breast with a carved mantel; under the window, at the back, another couch and several chairs give the room a luxurious air. ALEXIS and CONSTANTINE are playing chess at a small table in front of an open fire. There is a large table in the centre of the stage with fruit, a flagon of wine and glasses.

The scene is a room with wooden paneling in ALEXIS. There are high windows at the back left; on the right back side is a double door leading to an ante-room; against the right wall is a couch; in the left wall near the back is a small door; closer to the audience, on the same wall, there's a chimney with a carved mantel; under the back window, there's another couch and several chairs that give the room a luxurious feel. ALEXIS and CONSTANTINE are playing chess at a small table in front of an open fire. There is a large table in the center of the stage with fruit, a flagon of wine, and glasses.

ALEXIS. You seem to have lost your cunning, Constantine.

ALEXIS. You look like you've lost your cleverness, Constantine.

CONSTANTINE. Wait!

CONSTANTINE. Hold on!

ALEXIS. Perhaps the pawn?

ALEXIS. Maybe the pawn?

CONSTANTINE. No. [He moves.] So!

CONSTANTINE. No. [He moves.] Got it!

ALEXIS. Ah, ha! That, eh? Well, well! The cunning is returning, is it?

ALEXIS. Oh, really? So that’s how it is? Interesting! Looks like the cleverness is making a comeback, huh?

[8]

[He strikes a little bell beside him and again scans the board.]

[He rings a small bell next to him and looks over the board again.]

CONSTANTINE. Is the hour up, your excellency?

CONSTANTINE. Is the hour done, your excellency?

ALEXIS. No, no! We still have ten minutes to play.

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency tires of the game, perhaps?

CONSTANTINE. Are you getting tired of the game, your excellency?

ALEXIS. No, I never tire of the game. When I do that, I shall tire of life itself. Chess is as much a gauge of a man’s mental development as love or war or politics or any other game. When I play bad chess, I shall have ceased to be a competent governor. We patricians do not justify our lives by the toil of our hands. We should tune the machinery inside our skulls to its highest effectiveness. We must keep it tuned and timed and oiled. Ah, yes, it is that way we serve. When the machine balks or stops we are nothing.

ALEXIS. No, I never get tired of the game. When I do, I’ll tire of life itself. Chess reflects a person’s mental growth just like love, war, politics, or any other game. If I play poorly, it means I’m no longer a capable leader. We nobles don’t define our lives by hard labor. We should tune the machinery inside our heads for peak performance. We need to keep it calibrated and well-oiled. Ah, yes, that’s how we contribute. When the machine falters or stops, we are nothing.

CONSTANTINE. But your excellency was thinking of other things.

CONSTANTINE. But you were distracted by other thoughts.

ALEXIS. Was I so? Well, well! We shall see, we shall see! I was thinking of other things, eh? [He makes a move swiftly.] There, match me that if you can.

ALEXIS. Was I really? Alright, alright! We'll find out, we'll find out! I had other things on my mind, you know? [He moves quickly.] Now, try to keep up with that if you can.

CONSTANTINE. Ah! The one move that could have saved your king!

[9]ALEXIS. There you have it! I doze, I dream, my mind wanders, and then it comes in a flash. The one move on the board! It is by such flashes I know myself.

[9]ALEXIS. There you go! I drift off, I dream, my thoughts roam, and then it hits me all at once. The perfect move on the board! It's through these moments that I understand myself.

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency has inspiration.

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency is inspiring.

ALEXIS. Perhaps! But behind inspiration, always, the technique of the game.

ALEXIS. Maybe! But behind inspiration, there's always the skill of the craft.

[A footman enters.]

A footman walks in.

FOOTMAN. Your excellency rang?

FOOTMAN. Did you call, your excellency?

ALEXIS. Is the man, Shamrayeff, waiting?

ALEXIS. Is Shamrayeff waiting?

FOOTMAN. A man, Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, with a letter from your excellency, is waiting in the secretary’s room.

Footman. A man named Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, holding a letter from you, is waiting in the secretary’s room.

ALEXIS. You may bring him here in three minutes.

ALEXIS. You can bring him here in three minutes.

FOOTMAN. Pardon, excellency, but the secretary wishes to know if the orders received from Mr. Constantine are correct.

Footman. Excuse me, your excellency, but the secretary wants to confirm if the orders received from Mr. Constantine are accurate.

ALEXIS. What orders?

ALEXIS. What instructions?

FOOTMAN. That the man, Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, is not to be searched.

Footman. That the man, Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, is not to be searched.

ALEXIS. There is no occasion to search the man. [FOOTMAN bows and withdraws.]

ALEXIS. There's no reason to search the man. [Servant bows and leaves.]

[10]ALEXIS. [To CONSTANTINE.] Your move, my dear Constantine. We have exactly two minutes to finish the game and one minute for questions. [He lays his watch beside the chessboard.]

[10]ALEXIS. [To CONSTANTINE.] It's your turn, my dear Constantine. We have just two minutes left to finish this game and one minute for questions. [He puts his watch down next to the chessboard.]

CONSTANTINE. [Moves.] So!

CONSTANTINE. [Moves.] Alright!

ALEXIS. Ah! One moment! There! What now? [He moves.]

ALEXIS. Wait! Just a second! What’s happening now? [He moves.]

CONSTANTINE. This. [He moves.]

CONSTANTINE. This. [He shifts.]

ALEXIS. And this! [He moves.]

CONSTANTINE. Ah ha! I could check-mate your excellency in five more moves.

CONSTANTINE. Ah ha! I could checkmate you in five more moves.

ALEXIS. The two minutes are up. Tell me, you are quite certain that your agents made no mistake in the matter of this man, Shamrayeff?

ALEXIS. The two minutes are over. Just tell me, are you absolutely sure that your agents didn't make any mistakes concerning this guy, Shamrayeff?

CONSTANTINE. Quite certain, your excellency. I begged you to have him put under arrest yesterday. There is absolutely no question. The man’s entire history is in your hands.

CONSTANTINE. Absolutely, your excellency. I asked you to have him arrested yesterday. There’s no doubt about it. The man’s whole background is right in front of you.

ALEXIS. And, in spite of all this, I have granted him a personal interview. I have given explicit orders that he is not to be searched. In short, I must be a fool, eh?

ALEXIS. And yet, despite all of this, I've arranged a one-on-one meeting with him. I've made it clear that he shouldn't be searched. In short, I must be an idiot, right?

CONSTANTINE. I cannot question your excellency’s judgment.

CONSTANTINE. I have no reason to doubt your judgment, your excellency.

[11]ALEXIS. Ah, you can’t question my judgment, eh? But you think! I saw something behind your eyes just now when you said you would check-mate me in five moves. You were thinking, “Alexis Alexandrovitch, for all his fine talk, is not what he used to be. Something has slipped away from him.” Do you think I’ve become a coward?

[11]ALEXIS. Ah, you can’t doubt my judgment, can you? But you do think that! I saw something in your eyes just now when you said you would checkmate me in five moves. You were thinking, “Alexis Alexandrovitch, despite all his fancy talk, isn’t what he used to be. He’s lost something.” Do you think I’ve become a coward?

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency!

CONSTANTINE. Your honor!

ALEXIS. I sometimes think so, myself; that sometime there will be no flash, that I shall be check-mated once and for all. That’s why I keep you here, hour after hour, playing chess with me; that’s why I am tempted to try another kind of game with this man, Shamrayeff.

ALEXIS. I sometimes think that way too; that one day there won’t be any spark, and I’ll be completely checkmated. That’s why I keep you here, hour after hour, playing chess with me; that’s also why I’m tempted to try a different kind of game with this guy, Shamrayeff.

CONSTANTINE. Then you have a definite reason for seeing this man?

CONSTANTINE. So, you have a clear reason for wanting to meet this guy?

ALEXIS. None that you would understand.

ALEXIS. None you would get.

CONSTANTINE. But, in that case, might I point out to your excellency—Surely it would be safer—

CONSTANTINE. But, in that case, can I just mention to you—Surely it would be safer—

ALEXIS. Don’t speak to me as if you were speaking to a child. I know what you think: “Alexis Alexandrovitch is not what he was. Things are slipping past him, he needs watching.” Well, the time is up. You have your orders.

ALEXIS. Don’t talk to me like I’m a child. I know what you’re thinking: “Alexis Alexandrovitch isn’t what he used to be. He’s losing his grip, he needs supervision.” Well, that’s enough of that. You have your instructions.

CONSTANTINE. Shall I take away the chessmen?

CONSTANTINE. Should I put away the chess pieces?

[12]ALEXIS. No, leave them as they are. We’ll finish the game when I ring for you. [CONSTANTINE rises and hesitates.] Well, well, well! You’re going to say something. You think the game won’t be finished. We’ll see. We’ll see about that!

[12]ALEXIS. No, just leave them as they are. We'll finish the game when I call for you. [CONSTANTINE stands up and pauses.] Well, well, well! You’re about to say something. You think the game won’t get finished. We’ll see. We’ll see about that!

CONSTANTINE. I beg your excellency—

[FOOTMAN enters, followed by SHAMRAYEFF.]

[FOOTMAN walks in, followed by SHAMRAYEFF.]

FOOTMAN. Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff.

Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff.

[SHAMRAYEFF wears the clothes of a respectable artisan. He is, apparently, somewhat younger than ALEXIS, strongly built and has a rather fine but stolid face. He stands with his cap in his hand.]

[SHAMRAYEFF dressed like a respectable craftsman. He seems to be a bit younger than ALEXIS, muscular and has a rather nice but expressionless face. He stands holding his cap.]

ALEXIS. So, so! You are Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, are you? Well, well!

ALEXIS. So, so! You're Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, right? Well, well!

BORIS. Yes, I am Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff!

Boris. Yes, I'm Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff!

ALEXIS. You found it hard to get at me, did you? Hard to get an interview with Alexis Alexandrovitch?

ALEXIS. You had a tough time reaching me, didn’t you? It was hard to get an interview with Alexis Alexandrovitch?

BORIS. Not so hard as I had expected, your excellency.

BORIS. It’s not as difficult as I thought it would be, your excellency.

ALEXIS. [To CONSTANTINE and FOOTMAN.][13] Well, what are you waiting for? This man has something important to say to me. He’s bashful. He can’t speak out before so many people.

ALEXIS. [To CONSTANTINE and butler.][13] So, what are you waiting for? This guy has something important to tell me. He’s shy. He can't speak up in front of all these people.

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency, I will wait in the passage.

CONSTANTINE. Your excellency, I will wait in the hallway.

ALEXIS. Nonsense, nonsense! Go into the garden and think about your game of chess! Go! [CONSTANTINE and FOOTMAN go out.]

ALEXIS. That's ridiculous! Go outside and think about your chess game! Go! [CONSTANTINE and FOOTMAN leave.]

ALEXIS. [To BORIS.] Sit down in that chair. I want to look at you. [BORIS looks around uneasily.] Ah! There is no one watching us. This room is in a corner of the house—nothing but windows behind you, no balcony, no hangings. Open the door you came in by—there is no one in the passage. Turn the key, if you like.

ALEXIS. [To BORIS.] Take a seat in that chair. I want to see you. [BORIS looks around nervously.] Oh! No one is watching us. This room is at the back of the house—just windows behind you, no balcony, no curtains. Open the door you came through—there’s no one in the hallway. Lock it if you want.

[BORIS steps quickly to the main doors, throws them open, looks into the passage, shuts them again, turns the key in the lock and slips it into his pocket.]

[BORIS hurries to the main doors, flings them open, glances into the hallway, closes them again, turns the key in the lock, and puts it in his pocket.]

You see we won’t be disturbed. Now, sit down and tell me what you want. [BORIS sits down but says nothing.] Tongue-tied, eh? You don’t know how to begin? Embarrassed, eh?

You see, we won’t be interrupted. Now, sit down and tell me what you need. [BORIS sits down but says nothing.] Stuck for words, huh? Not sure how to start? Feeling awkward, huh?

BORIS. No. I was only wondering.

BORIS. No. I was just curious.

ALEXIS. Ha, ha! Wondering, eh?

ALEXIS. Ha, ha! Curious, huh?

BORIS. I was wondering why your excellency chose to give me this opportunity?

BORIS. I was curious why you chose to give me this opportunity, your excellency?

[14]ALEXIS. This opportunity?

This chance?

BORIS. [Looking up.] This opportunity to kill your excellency.

BORIS. [Looking up.] This chance to take your life, sir.

ALEXIS. So, so! To kill me? That’s it, is it? Well, well! I thought as much, but of course, I couldn’t be sure. Well, well! Go on, go on!

ALEXIS. So, really? You want to kill me? That's your plan, huh? Well, well! I suspected as much, but I couldn't be certain. Well, well! Go ahead, go ahead!

BORIS. [Simply.] God has delivered you into my hands.

BORIS. [Simply.] God has handed you over to me.

ALEXIS. Pah! Leave God out of it! Don’t give me any such cant nonsense. I doubt if God takes any interest in either of us. I have delivered myself into your hands. That’s the simple fact of the matter. I could have trapped you so easily, too, but I didn’t even have you searched. You may as well take the pistol out of your pocket.

ALEXIS. Ugh! Leave God out of this! Don’t give me that nonsense. I seriously doubt God cares about either of us. I’ve handed myself over to you. That’s the plain truth. I could have easily set you up, too, but I didn’t even have you checked. You might as well pull the pistol out of your pocket.

BORIS. Your excellency seems amused.

BORIS. You seem entertained, your excellency.

ALEXIS. No, no, not amused! I’m only curious to see you handle the thing—morbid curiosity, if you like. Take it out, man, take it out!

ALEXIS. No, no, I'm not amused! I'm just curious to see how you deal with it—call it morbid curiosity if you want. Just pull it out, man, pull it out!

BORIS. This is a solemn moment for us both, your excellency.

BORIS. This is a serious moment for both of us, your excellency.

ALEXIS. Solemn, eh? Well, well! Solemn! Oh, I suppose it is solemn for you, Boris Ivanovitch.[15] To me it is simply curious grotesque. Well, well!

ALEXIS. Serious, huh? Well, well! Serious! Oh, I guess it is serious for you, Boris Ivanovitch.[15] To me, it's just an interesting absurdity. Well, well!

BORIS. [Takes out pistol.] Keep your hand a little further from that bell, if you please.

BORIS. [Pulls out a gun.] Please keep your hand a bit away from that bell.

ALEXIS. I shan’t ring. You would hardly wait for them to answer the bell, would you? No, no! I’m not such a fool as to think you’d do that? Well, well! I lift my hand and you shoot.

ALEXIS. I won't ring. You wouldn't really wait for them to answer the door, would you? No, no! I'm not foolish enough to think you'd do that. Well, well! I raise my hand and you pull the trigger.

BORIS. Yes.

BORIS. Yeah.

ALEXIS. Exactly. Well, I won’t lift my hand.

ALEXIS. Exactly. Well, I won’t do anything.

BORIS. Nothing on earth can save you, Alexis Alexandrovitch.

ALEXIS. Nor you, my friend, for that matter! You hardly expect to leave the house, shall we say, unmolested?

ALEXIS. Neither do you, my friend, for that matter! You can't really expect to leave the house, can you, without any trouble?

BORIS. I do not expect to leave it alive, excellency.

BORIS. I don’t expect to leave here alive, your excellency.

ALEXIS. No, that would be asking too much. I was here to let you in. I won’t be able to let you out again. You will have lost a useful friend, Boris Ivanovitch.

ALEXIS. No, that would be asking too much. I came here to let you in. I won’t be able to let you out again. You’ll have lost a good friend, Boris Ivanovitch.

BORIS. Your excellency!

BORIS. Your honor!

[16]ALEXIS. It is in your hands to end the interview. Come, come, you must hate me a great deal, my friend, to give your own life for the sake of taking mine.

[16]ALEXIS. It's up to you to end the conversation. Come on, you must really dislike me, my friend, to be willing to sacrifice your own life just to take mine.

BORIS. I do not hate you.

BORIS. I don't hate you.

ALEXIS. So? How odd! I thought that everyone of your sort hated me. You might at least flatter me to the extent of showing some emotion. Come, come, flatter me to that extent.

ALEXIS. So? How strange! I thought everyone like you hated me. You could at least flatter me a bit by showing some emotion. Come on, flatter me just a little.

BORIS. I do not care to flatter you.

BORIS. I'm not interested in flattering you.

ALEXIS. Ah, well, well! I shall have to do without it then.

ALEXIS. Oh, well! I guess I’ll have to manage without it then.

BORIS. My own feelings have nothing to do with it. I am an instrument of God.

BORIS. My personal feelings don't matter. I’m just a tool of God.

ALEXIS. God again! What has God to do with it? Do you happen to play a good game of chess?

ALEXIS. God again! What does God have to do with this? Do you happen to be good at chess?

BORIS. [Nervously.] Why do you ask me such a thing?

BORIS. [Nervously.] Why are you asking me that?

ALEXIS. Because you interrupted a game here. Constantine threatened me with check-mate in five more moves. Check-mate in five moves! No, no! Not so easy as that!

ALEXIS. Because you interrupted a game here. Constantine said he could checkmate me in five more moves. Checkmate in five moves! No, no! It's not that easy!

BORIS. I have had enough of your jestings, excellency.

BORIS. I’m tired of your jokes, your excellency.

[17]ALEXIS. You wont play then? Well, well! I had promised myself to finish the game. We shall see! We shall see!

[17]ALEXIS. You’re not going to play? Alright, alright! I told myself I’d finish the game. We’ll see! We’ll see!

BORIS. Surely your excellency has something you wish to say—

BORIS. I'm sure you have something to say, your excellency—

ALEXIS. I have told you once, when you tire of the interview it is in your hands to end it. What are you waiting for? You become tedious!

ALEXIS. I've said it before: when you get tired of this conversation, you can end it whenever you want. What are you waiting for? You're becoming boring!

BORIS. Have you no desire to pray, excellency?

BORIS. Don't you want to pray, Your Excellency?

ALEXIS. Pray? Pray? Who would listen to me? No, I’d rather chat.

ALEXIS. Pray? Pray? Who would pay attention to me? No, I’d prefer to talk.

BORIS. As your excellency likes.

BORIS. As you prefer.

ALEXIS. Yes, yes, we’ll chat until you gather courage to do what you came for.

ALEXIS. Yeah, we’ll talk until you find the courage to do what you came for.

BORIS. It takes no courage to kill a thing like you.

BORIS. It doesn't take any courage to take down something like you.

ALEXIS. It takes a certain kind of courage to kill—rats.

BORIS. I have been chosen, excellency.

BORIS. I've been chosen, your excellency.

ALEXIS. So, so! The lot fell on you, did it? The honor! The distinction! You look at it in that way, don’t you? Like the rest of your kind, you have political ideas, eh?

ALEXIS. Oh, really! So, you got picked, huh? The honor! The privilege! You see it like that, right? Just like the others, you have your political views, huh?

[18]BORIS. I have no political ideas.

BORIS. I have no political views.

ALEXIS. No political ideas? Well, well! No personal hatred? Pray explain yourself, man.

ALEXIS. No political ideas? Really? No personal hatred? Please explain yourself, man.

BORIS. I am a peasant. My father and my father’s father were peasants. You are a noble. Your line runs back to Tartar princes. It is a matter of centuries of pain and slavery against centuries of oppression and violence. I take no account of to-day, only of yesterday and tomorrow. Your acts have been cruel and harsh, doubtless. I hardly know. I throw them out of the scale. I throw out my own sufferings. They are not enough in themselves to tip the balance. You and I are nothing. It is caste against caste. I gave myself to the revolutionary party, yes! I am their agent as you say, but I know little of their ideas for Russia. I care less. I only know that the band to which I belong represents the struggle which I feel in my own breast. I am their willing tool. I do their will because the right of vengeance comes down to me in the blood.

BORIS. I am a peasant. My father and my grandfather were peasants. You come from nobility. Your family goes back to Tartar princes. It’s a history of centuries filled with pain and slavery versus centuries of oppression and violence. I focus not on today, but on yesterday and tomorrow. Your actions have been cruel and harsh, that’s clear. I hardly know. I disregard them. I also set aside my own suffering. It’s not enough on its own to tip the scales. You and I are nothing. It’s caste against caste. I dedicated myself to the revolutionary party, yes! I’m their agent as you say, but I don't know much about their ideas for Russia. I care even less. All I know is that the group I belong to represents the struggle I feel within myself. I am their willing instrument. I follow their will because the right to take vengeance flows through my blood.

ALEXIS. Yes, yes! A fanatic!

ALEXIS. Yes, yes! An enthusiast!

BORIS. It is my order against yours.

BORIS. It's my order versus yours.

ALEXIS. Ah, your order against mine, eh? Centuries of pain against centuries of oppression. Well, well! You set aside to-day, do you? You throw your own little pains and[19] penalties out of the scale on one side, and my little tyrannies and floggings and acts of villainy out on the other? You see yourself only as the avenger of a caste against a caste. The right of vengeance and the need of it comes down to you in the blood, does it? You’re exalted by the breath of dead peasants, are you? It’s because of that and only because of it that you take pride in the work you have set your hand to. Huh! Grotesque! You strike the air with a rod of smoke. You’ve stumbled upon the essence of the inane. You’re about to commit a fantastic mockery of Justice.

ALEXIS. Oh, so your grievances are against mine, huh? Centuries of suffering versus centuries of oppression. Well, look at you! You've put everything aside for today, haven’t you? You toss aside your own little pains and[19] consequences on one side, and my small tyrannies and beatings and acts of cruelty on the other? You see yourself only as the avenger of one class against another. The right to revenge and the need for it runs in your blood, doesn’t it? You’re lifted up by the voices of dead peasants, right? It’s only because of that that you take pride in the work you’ve committed to. Huh! Ridiculous! You’re hitting the air with a stick of smoke. You've stumbled upon the heart of the absurd. You’re about to pull off a ridiculous mockery of Justice.

BORIS. I have held my hand too long!

Boris, I've taken too long!

ALEXIS. Wait! There is still something to be said; something for you to think of in the moment between the time you take my life and the time you take your own. You are about to kill the man you might have been yourself. You are about to—I, and not you, am Boris Ivanovitch.

ALEXIS. Wait! There's still something to say; something for you to consider in the moment between when you take my life and when you take your own. You’re about to kill the man you could have been yourself. You are about to—I, not you, am Boris Ivanovitch.

BORIS. What rubbish are you talking now?

BORIS. What nonsense are you talking about now?

ALEXIS. You are Alexis Alexandrovitch!

ALEXIS. You are Alexis Alexandrovich!

BORIS. Why! You are mad!

BORIS. Why! You're crazy!

ALEXIS. Wait! When you were a child, you had a foster-brother. You ran with him in the fields. You slept by his side at night. You fought with him over rough toys and bits of[20] food. When you were seven years old, a man on horse-back came and took him away. You never knew his true parentage and your father flogged you when you cried for him. Can you remember that?

ALEXIS. Wait! When you were a kid, you had a foster brother. You played with him in the fields. You slept next to him at night. You argued over scruffy toys and scraps of[20] food. When you were seven, a man on horseback came and took him away. You never found out who his real parents were, and your dad beat you for crying over him. Do you remember that?

BORIS. Aye, I can remember that well.

BORIS. Yeah, I can remember that clearly.

ALEXIS. Your father deserted your mother the following year. A little later she died. She told you nothing of the other child. You went to Kieff, to the house of your uncle, and became apprenticed to a bootmaker.

ALEXIS. Your father abandoned your mother the next year. Not long after, she passed away. She never mentioned the other child to you. You went to Kieff, to your uncle's house, and started an apprenticeship with a bootmaker.

BORIS. Leave off! You can’t mystify me by telling me the story of my own life. It proves nothing. Your agents have ways of knowing such things: what I was, what I am, everything.

BORIS. Stop! You can’t confuse me by telling me the story of my own life. It doesn’t prove anything. Your agents have ways of finding out things like that: what I was, what I am, everything.

ALEXIS. Yes! Leave all that! As you say, it proves nothing. Yet we are foster-brothers, you and I.

ALEXIS. Yes! Forget all that! As you said, it doesn't prove anything. Still, we are like brothers, you and I.

BORIS. A sign!

ALEXIS. Our good mother was endowed with a grim sense of humor. She sent her own boy to be reared as the son of princes, and the little aristocrat, left with her for safety at the time of the Makaroff meeting, she sent to—well, you know to what sort of a life she sent him.

ALEXIS. Our mother had a dark sense of humor. She sent her own son to be raised as a prince, and the little aristocrat, who was left with her for safety during the Makaroff meeting, she sent to—well, you know what kind of life she sent him to.

BORIS. Give me a sign!

BORIS. Show me a sign!

[21]ALEXIS. I have no sign to give you.

[21]ALEXIS. I don’t have any sign to give you.

BORIS. Ah, ah! What else? What else have you to tell me?

BORIS. Ah, ah! What else? What do you have to share with me?

ALEXIS. I, and not you, am the son of peasants. Do you see now why I call your errand grotesque?

ALEXIS. I am the son of peasants, not you. Do you understand now why I find your mission ridiculous?

BORIS. Lies! Lies! Lies! What do you expect to gain by telling me such lies?

BORIS. Lies! Lies! Lies! What do you think you’ll achieve by telling me these lies?

ALEXIS. Nothing.

BORIS. Do you expect me to believe you? Do you expect me to embrace you and clap my hat on my head and toss this pistol out the window and tell you to do what you like with me?

BORIS. Do you really think I’m going to believe you? Do you think I’ll just hug you, put my hat on my head, toss this gun out the window, and let you do whatever you want with me?

ALEXIS. I expect nothing. I know that I am one dead man talking to another.

ALEXIS. I don't expect anything. I know I'm just one dead man talking to another.

BORIS. I can’t fathom you. I know there must be some trick up your sleeve, but I can’t fathom you.

BORIS. I can’t understand you. I know there must be some kind of trick you’re hiding, but I just can’t get you.

ALEXIS. There is no trick. You asked me why I chose to give you this opportunity to kill me. I’m telling you. That’s all.

ALEXIS. There’s no trick. You wanted to know why I decided to give you the chance to kill me. I’m telling you. That’s all.

BORIS. Lies! Utterly useless lies!

BORIS. Lies! Completely pointless lies!

ALEXIS. No! Utterly useless truth! Do[22] you think I wish to believe myself Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, born a peasant? I, who have sat in high places and given my life to preserving an order of men to which I do not belong, which my blood ought to cry out against. Do you think I would have believed it if the belief had not been forced upon me? I have ways of knowing truth from falsehood, my friend. You are striking at a man who is dead before you touch him. What I have found out in the past week, others already know. I have come to the end, I tell you. I have been a fantastic dupe. I cannot go on. I would have killed myself to-day, but I have a horror of taking my own life. You have come in time to save me from that.

ALEXIS. No! Completely useless truth! Do[22] you really think I want to accept that I'm Boris Ivanovitch Shamrayeff, born a peasant? I, who have occupied high positions and dedicated my life to upholding a society that I don’t belong to, one my blood should rebel against. Do you think I would have accepted it if it hadn’t been forced onto me? I have ways of distinguishing truth from lies, my friend. You're attacking someone who is already dead before you even touch him. What I've discovered in the past week, others already know. I have reached the end, I tell you. I've been an incredible fool. I can’t continue like this. I would have killed myself today, but I have a deep aversion to taking my own life. You've arrived just in time to save me from that.

BORIS. Was that your only reason for seeing me?

BORIS. Was that the only reason you wanted to see me?

ALEXIS. I admit I was curious to see another man who had been as great a dupe as myself.

ALEXIS. I have to admit I was curious to see another guy who had been as big a fool as I was.

BORIS. Lies! Lies! What else? Have you anything more to say?

BORIS. Lies! Lies! What else? Do you have anything else to add?

ALEXIS. I only ask you to finish your work. Unless you have a scruple against killing your— In which case, go! The door is still open to you.

ALEXIS. I just ask that you finish your work. Unless you have a problem with killing your— In which case, go! The door is still open for you.

BORIS. [Sneering.] Very pretty! Very touching! Go back, eh? And tell my comrades that I let Alexis the Red slip through my fingers because he told me a child’s story of changeling foster-brothers? No, no! [He cocks his pistol.]

BORIS [Sneering.] Very nice! Very emotional! Go back, huh? And tell my buddies that I let Alexis the Red get away because he shared a kid’s story about changeling foster-brothers? No way! [He cocks his pistol.]

[23]ALEXIS. Kill me, then!

[23]ALEXIS. Just kill me then!

[BORIS raises the pistol.]

[BORIS lifts the gun.]

BORIS. I—

ALEXIS. Pull the trigger, man!

ALEXIS. Do it, man!

BORIS. I can’t. There’s a chance that what you have said may be true after all. [He lays down the pistol.] And yet, I can’t live if it’s false. And, by God, I can’t live if it’s true!

BORIS. I can’t. There's a possibility that what you said could actually be true. [He puts down the pistol.] And yet, I can’t go on if it’s not true. And, honestly, I can't go on if it is true!

ALEXIS. In either case, we must both die.

ALEXIS. Either way, we both have to die.

BORIS. Aye, you speak the truth there, but I dare not kill you. I tell, you, I dare not! There must be some way out! Some other way!

BORIS. Yeah, you're right about that, but I can't bring myself to kill you. I'm telling you, I just can't! There has to be another way out! Some other way!

ALEXIS. Are you brave enough to take poison? Yes! Good! Do you see this ring? I press a spring, so. There is a fine powder under the stone, so! I drop a few grains into one of these glasses. We draw lots. One of us drinks the wine and the other still has your pistol to use! It is very simple after all.

ALEXIS. Are you brave enough to take poison? Yes! Good! Do you see this ring? I press a spring like this. There’s a fine powder underneath the stone. I drop a few grains into one of these glasses. We draw lots. One of us drinks the wine and the other still has your pistol to use! It's really very simple after all.

BORIS. [Rises.] Yah! Now, by God, I see the trick! Lies! Lies! Every word of it was lies! I can see through you now. You’re devilishly cunning with your sleight-of-hand, but I draw no lots for poison with the like of you.

BORIS. [Stands up.] Wow! Now, oh my God, I see the trick! Lies! Lies! Every single word was a lie! I can see right through you now. You’re incredibly crafty with your tricks, but I won’t gamble on poison with someone like you.

ALEXIS. Have it your own way. See, there’s more than enough for both. Take the glass[24] in your own hands, divide it yourself, pour the wine yourself, and then, to satisfy you, I’ll drink first.

ALEXIS. Do it however you want. Look, there's plenty for both of us. Take the glass[24] yourself, split it however you like, pour your own wine, and just to make you happy, I’ll drink first.

BORIS. You carry the bluff to the bitter end, do you? Well, we’ll see.

BORIS. You really take the deception all the way, huh? Well, we’ll see.

[He mixes the powder and pours the wine and hands one glass to ALEXIS.]

[He mixes the powder, pours the wine, and hands one glass to ALEXIS.]

ALEXIS. To your easy death, brother.

ALEXIS. To your peaceful death, brother.

[He lifts the glass and drinks.]

[He raises the glass and takes a sip.]

BORIS. Ah! So you’re a brave man after all! [He lifts the glass and pauses.] What if I were to leave you now, eh?

BORIS. Ah! So you're actually a brave man! [He lifts the glass and pauses.] What would happen if I decided to leave you now, huh?

ALEXIS. My men have orders to seize you the moment you leave the room.

ALEXIS. My guys have orders to grab you the second you step out of the room.

BORIS. In that case! [He lifts the glass.] To your final redemption, brother!

BORIS. In that case! [He raises the glass.] To your ultimate redemption, brother!

ALEXIS. Sit down! [BORIS sits down.]

ALEXIS. Take a seat! [BORIS sits down.]

BORIS. Have we long to wait?

BORIS. Are we waiting long?

ALEXIS. Perhaps five minutes. It’s a Chinese concoction. They call it the draught of final oblivion. I believe it to be painless. I’m told that one becomes numb. Do you find yourself becoming drowsy?

ALEXIS. Maybe five minutes. It's a Chinese mix. They call it the drink of total forgetfulness. I think it’s painless. I've heard that you just get numb. Do you feel yourself getting sleepy?

BORIS. No. My senses seem to be becoming[25] more alert. Your voice sounds very sharp and clear.

BORIS. No. My senses feel like they're becoming[25] more aware. Your voice sounds really sharp and clear.

ALEXIS. Lift your hand.

ALEXIS. Raise your hand.

BORIS. It seems very heavy. Are you afraid of Death, excellency?

BORIS. It feels really heavy. Are you scared of Death, sir?

ALEXIS. [Eyeing him sharply.] No, I am not afraid of Death, brother, not in the least.

ALEXIS. [Looking at him intently.] No, I’m not afraid of Death, brother, not at all.

BORIS. Nor I!

BORIS. Me neither!

ALEXIS. Good! Now, move your feet.

ALEXIS. Great! Now, move your feet.

BORIS. I don’t seem to be able to. That’s strange. I can’t feel anything.

BORIS. I can’t seem to do it. That’s weird. I can’t feel anything.

ALEXIS. Nor I! Can you get out of your chair?

ALEXIS. Neither can I! Can you stand up from your chair?

BORIS. [Slowly.] I—I can hardly move my hand. I might move by a supreme effort but I haven’t the will. I—I feel no pain, only a ringing in my head.

BORIS. [Slowly.] I—I can barely move my hand. I could shift it with a lot of effort, but I just don’t have the motivation. I—I don’t feel any pain, just a ringing in my head.

ALEXIS. So? Well, well! Can you still hear perfectly?

ALEXIS. So? Well, well! Can you still hear just fine?

BORIS. Yes—yes, I can still hear.

BORIS. Yes—I can still hear.

ALEXIS. H’m, h’m.

ALEXIS. Hmm, hmm.

BORIS. Tell me, on your hope of redemption, was what you said to me just now the truth?

BORIS. Tell me, regarding your hope for redemption, was what you just said to me the truth?

[26]ALEXIS. On my hope of redemption, eh?

[26]ALEXIS. Based on my hope for redemption, right?

BORIS. If it was, I ask you to forgive me.

ALEXIS. I have nothing to forgive.

ALEXIS. I don’t have anything to forgive.

BORIS. Thanks!

ALEXIS. On my hope of redemption, Boris Shamrayeff, everything I told you was lies! Lies! Lies!

ALEXIS. I swear to my hope of redemption, Boris Shamrayeff, everything I said to you was a lie! Lies! Lies!

[BORIS struggles painfully to his feet and lurches toward the table, where he has laid the pistol. ALEXIS springs to the table, seizes the pistol and tosses it out of the window. BORIS supports himself against the edge of table, half sitting, half leaning against it, his mouth open, his eyes staring. He sways dizzily. ALEXIS stands before him.]

[BORIS struggles painfully to his feet and stumbles toward the table, where he has placed the pistol. ALEXIS reacts quickly, grabs the pistol, and throws it out of the window. BORIS leans against the edge of the table, half sitting, half leaning on it, his mouth open, his eyes wide. He sways unsteadily. ALEXIS stands in front of him.]

ALEXIS. Well, you can still speak, can’t you?

ALEXIS. So, you can still talk, right?

BORIS. You fiend! You dog! You liar! Ha, ha, ha! At least you can’t escape! No need for me to strike you!

BORIS. You villain! You scoundrel! You liar! Ha, ha, ha! At least you can’t get away! I don’t even need to hit you!

ALEXIS. Ha, ha!

ALEXIS. Haha!

BORIS. Well! Sneer at me if you like. You are feeling the agony too, Alexis Alexandrovitch. You can’t deny it.

BORIS. Fine! Mock me if you want. You’re feeling the pain too, Alexis Alexandrovitch. You can’t argue with that.

ALEXIS. I am not dying, Boris Shamrayeff.

ALEXIS. I'm not dying, Boris Shamrayeff.

[27]BORIS. But, I know! I saw! I saw you drink! You’re dying, excellency!

[27]BORIS. But I know! I saw it! I saw you drink! You’re dying, sir!

ALEXIS. Yes, we drank together, didn’t we? Well, well! And your eye wasn’t off me an instant, was it? And you didn’t lift your cup till I’d drained the last drop of mine, did you? Well, well, well!

ALEXIS. Yeah, we had a drink together, right? Wow! And you didn’t take your eyes off me for a second, did you? And you didn’t raise your cup until I finished the last drop of mine, did you? Wow, wow, wow!

BORIS. I saw you drink what I drank.

ALEXIS. Yes, I did drink it, Boris Ivanovitch, didn’t I? But what is sending you down to fry in Hell with the stupid ghosts of your bestial ancestors is only embarrassing me with the slightest of headaches. [He chuckles.]

ALEXIS. Yeah, I did drink it, Boris Ivanovitch, didn’t I? But what's really making you suffer in Hell with the foolish ghosts of your brutish ancestors is just giving me a slight headache. [He chuckles.]

BORIS. It—it is not possible!

BORIS. No way!

ALEXIS. Eh? An oriental trick. A man in constant fear of poison may accustom himself, little by little, to a dose that would blast the life of an ordinary man. A fantastic precaution these days, only interesting to an antiquarian like myself. Well, well, you can hear me, can’t you? I tell you I could have taken the entire mess; half of it seems to have been enough for you.

ALEXIS. Huh? An Eastern trick. A guy who’s constantly worried about poison might gradually build up a tolerance to a dose that would kill an average person. A strange precaution these days, only intriguing to someone like me who loves old stuff. Anyway, you can hear me, right? I’m telling you, I could have handled the whole thing; half of it seems to be more than enough for you.

[BORIS makes an effort to get at ALEXIS but almost sinks to the floor.]

[BORIS tries to reach ALEXIS but nearly collapses to the floor.]

No use, Boris Shamrayeff! I advise you to hold fast to the table.

No point, Boris Shamrayeff! I suggest you grip the table tightly.

[28]BORIS. Why? Why have you done this thing to me?

[28]BORIS. Why? Why did you do this to me?

ALEXIS. Body of St. Michael! I am of one order, you of another. You are a terrorist, a Red; the blood of my brother, shot down in the streets of Kronstadt, the lives of my friends, the preservation of the sacred empire—are these nothing? Nothing—beside your dirty petitions of right! Pah! God has delivered you into MY hands. I, and not you, am the instrument of God to-day! Boris Ivanovitch, can you still hear me? Eh?

ALEXIS. Goodness! I belong to one group, and you belong to another. You're a terrorist, a Red; the blood of my brother, who was shot in the streets of Kronstadt, the lives of my friends, the preservation of our sacred empire—do these mean nothing? Nothing—compared to your filthy demands for rights! Ugh! God has put you in MINE hands. I, not you, am the instrument of God today! Boris Ivanovitch, can you still hear me? Huh?

BORIS. Yes!

Alexis. So! So! One thing more! Why did I risk my own life to get yours? You would like to know that, wouldn’t you? Why did I let you in here at all? You’d ask that if you could. Ha, ha! Well, it was because men were thinking that Alexis Alexandrovitch wasn’t what he used to be; because I was beginning to think so myself. Because I had begun to doubt my own wits. I had to let myself be brought to bay. I had to look into the muzzle of your pistol. I had to pit my life against yours in a struggle where I had no other weapon, no other help, than this. [He taps his forehead.] I think it unlikely that Constantine will check-mate me in five moves to-day!

Alexis. So! So! One more thing! Why did I risk my life to save yours? You’d want to know that, right? Why did I even let you in here? You’d definitely ask that if you could. Ha, ha! Well, it was because people were starting to think Alexis Alexandrovitch wasn’t what he used to be; because I was beginning to think the same thing myself. Because I had started to doubt my own judgment. I had to face the situation. I had to stare down the barrel of your gun. I had to wager my life against yours in a fight where I had no other tools, no other support, than this. [He taps his forehead.] I think it’s unlikely that Constantine will checkmate me in five moves today!

BORIS. Fiend! Fiend! Fiend! [He crumples up and falls to the floor.]

BORIS. Monster! Monster! Monster! [He crumples up and falls to the floor.]

[29]ALEXIS. So, it’s over, is it? Well, well, well!

[29]ALEXIS. So, it’s really over, huh? Well, well, well!

[He takes a cover from the couch and throws it over BORIS and stands over him.]

[He grabs a blanket from the couch and throws it over BORIS and stands over him.]

ALEXIS. [As if exorcising a ghost.] To the night without stars! To the mist that never lifts! To the bottom of nothingness! Peace be with you!

ALEXIS. [Like they're trying to banish a ghost.] To the starless night! To the fog that never clears! To the depths of emptiness! Peace be with you!

[He turns and taps the bell and then seats himself at the chessboard. The FOOTMAN enters.]

[He turns and rings the bell and then sits down at the chessboard. The Footman enters.]

FOOTMAN. Your excellency rang?

FOOTMAN. Did you call, Your Excellency?

ALEXIS. Go into the garden and find Mr. Constantine. Tell him I am ready to finish our game of chess.

ALEXIS. Go out to the garden and find Mr. Constantine. Tell him I'm ready to finish our chess game.

[The FOOTMAN bows and withdraws.]

[The FOOTMAN bows and leaves.]

ALEXIS. [Studying the moves on the chess board.] So! So! The bishop—the queen! No! Yes, yes! I have it! I have it! Body of St. Michael, not in five moves, not in five moves tonight! Ah! Ha, ha! So! So! Well, well, well!

ALEXIS. [Studying the moves on the chess board.] Alright! Alright! The bishop—the queen! No! Yes, yes! I've got it! I've got it! Body of St. Michael, not in five moves, not in five moves tonight! Ah! Ha, ha! Alright! Alright! Well, well, well!

[He rubs his hands softly and looks up just as CONSTANTINE enters.]

[He gently rubs his hands and looks up just as CONSTANTINE walks in.]

CURTAIN.

Curtain.

This first edition of THE GAME OF CHESS, printed from type by The Lancaster Printing Company, Lancaster Pennsylvania, in April, 1914, for VAUGHAN & GOMME, New York, consists of one hundred and fifty copies on Japanese Vellum, of which one hundred only are for sale, and one thousand and fifty copies on laid paper.

This first edition of Chess Game, printed from type by The Lancaster Printing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in April, 1914, for VAUGHAN & GOMME, New York, includes one hundred and fifty copies on Japanese Vellum, of which only one hundred are available for sale, and one thousand and fifty copies on laid paper.

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Obvious typing errors have been fixed.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.

Inconsistent hyphenation has been fixed.

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