- Anatoly Sergievsky: [singing] How could I leave her? Where would I start? Let man's petty nations tear themselves apart. My lands only borders lie around my heart!
- Frederick Trumper: I'd let you watch, I would invite you, but the queens we use would not excite you.
- Florence Vassy: Well, we can't complain that you've been ignored by the press.
- Frederick Trumper: What'd they say? What'd they say?
- Florence Vassy: They're not too polite.
- Frederick Trumper: They say I'm a shit?
- Florence Vassy: Well, yes.
- [singing]
- Florence Vassy: In five different languages.
- Alexander Molokov: [singing] Bit by bit the pieces fit, the Soviet Machine advances, not one move that won't improve our nations' chances. We predict a stunning victory, both on the board and off it, this will show the traitor no one rats with profit!
- Arbiter: [singing] I've a duty as a referee, at the start of a match. On behalf of all our sponsors I must welcome you, which I do - there's a catch: I don't care if you're a champion, No one messes with me. I am ruthless in upholding what I know is right, black or white, as you'll see.
- Florence Vassy: [singing] Everybody's playing the game, but nobody's rules are the same, nobody's on nobody's side.
- Civil Servants: You play Chess, you are good at it?
- [other diplomat whispers to him]
- Civil Servants: Oh, I hear you're world champion.
- Anatoly Sergievsky: Since yesterday.
- Civil Servants: That's still good.
- Walter de Courcy: Anatoly's return to the Soviet Union is a very decent gesture It's virtually assured us some very important collateral including your father. He must have done it for you, he wouldn't have done it for me. We'll get your father out if he's still alive.
- Florence Vassy: What did you say?
- Walter de Courcy: Well, we can't be sure he is alive. But, then, you couldn't be sure he was dead. No change there, ah? You'll be back next year. It's only a game.
- Florence Vassy: No! I've spent my whole life playing games.
- Anatoly Sergievsky, Florence Vassy, Alexander Molokov, Arbiter: [singing] It's very sad to see the ancient and distinguished game that used to be, a model of decorum and tranquility, become like any other sport, a battleground for rival ideologies to slug it out with glee.
- Walter de Courcy: We all want times in our careers when we make a little history. Receive the plaudits of our peers; perhaps that time is here right now for me.
- Frederick Trumper: 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."
- Arbiter: Each game of chess, means there's one less variation left to be played. Each day got through, means one or two, less mistakes remain to be made.
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