"Chess" (13) I Know Him So Well

Chess involves a romantic triangle between two players in a World Chess Championship, and the woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.

Reference:  Chess in Concert.

Script

THE AMERICAN:

When I was nine I learned survival

Taught myself not to care

I was my single good companion

Taking my comfort there

Up in my room I planned my conquests

On my own -- never asked for a helping hand

No one would understand

I never asked the pair who fought below

Just in case they said no

Pity the child who has ambition

Knows what he wants to do

Knows that he'll never fit the system

Others expect him to

Pity the child who knew his parents

Saw their faults

Saw their love die before his eyes

Pity the child that wise

He never asked "Did I cause your distress?"

Just in case they said yes

When I was twelve my father moved out

Left with a whimper -- not with a shout

I didn't miss him -- he made it perfectly clear

I was a fool and probably queer

Fool that I was I thought this would bring

Those he had left closer together

She made her move the moment he crawled away

I was the last the woman told

She never let her bed get cold

Someone moved in -- I shut my door

Someone to treat her just the same way as before

I took the road of least resistance

I had my game to play

I had the skill, and more -- the hunger

Easy to get away

Pity the child with no such weapons

No defense, no escape from the ties that bind

Always a step behind

I never called to tell her all I'd done

I was only her son!

Pity the child but not forever

Not if he stays that way

He can get all he ever wanted

If he's prepared to pay

Pity instead the careless mother

What she missed

What she lost when she let me go

And I wonder does she know

I wouldn't call -- a crazy thing to do

Just in case she said who?

Pity the Child

[FLORENCE]

Nothing is so good it lasts eternally

Perfect situations must go wrong

But this has never yet prevented me

Wanting far too much for far too long.

Looking back I could have played it differently

Won a few more moments who can tell

But it took time to understand the man

Now at least I know I know him well 

[FLORENCE]

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine?

Isn't it madness

He can't be mine? 

[SVETLANA]

Oh so good

Oh so fine

He can't be mine? 

[FLORENCE]

But in the end he needs

A little bit more than me --

More security 

[SVETLANA]

He needs his fantasy

And freedom 

[FLORENCE]

I know him so well. 

[SVETLANA]

No one in your life is with you constantly

No one is completely on your side

And though I move my world to be with him

Still the gap between us is too wide. 

[FLORENCE]

Looking back I could

Have played things

Some other way 

[SVETLANA]

Looking back I could

Have played it

Differently

Learned about the man

Before I fell 

[FLORENCE]

I was just a little

Careless maybe 

[SVETLANA]

But I was

Ever so much

Younger then

Now at least 

[FLORENCE]

Now at least

I know him well 

[BOTH]

I know I know him well 

[SVETLANA]

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine?

Isn't it madness 

[FLORENCE]

Oh so good

Oh so fine 

[BOTH]

He won't be mine?

Didn't I know

How it would go?

If I knew from the start

Why am I falling apart? 

[SVETLANA]

Wasn't it good?

Wasn't he fine? 

[FLORENCE]

Isn't it madness

He won't be mine? 

[SVETLANA]

He won't be mine? 

[FLORENCE]

But in the end he needs a

Little bit more than me --

More security 

[SVETLANA]

He needs his

Fantasy and freedom 

[FLORENCE]

I know him so well 

[SVETLANA]

It took time to understand him 

[BOTH]

I know him so well

I Know Him So Well