User Reviews

John (William Windom) becomes upset at the dinner table when his 10-year-old daughter Lydia (Lisa Gerritsen) discusses the Middle East problem and informs him of the surcharge being applied to his income tax. John: "Why doesn't she talk about kid things?...I wish she would try to communicate with me on her level. I'm not that familiar with my level." The two set up a chess game in the living room, but have to put it on hold for Lisa's bedtime. Despite having newly learned the game, she seems confident to beat her father. He talks with a chess expert- fellow writer Otto (familiar German/Russian brainy villain character actor Oscar Beregi Jr.) at work the next day, who gives him the right moves to make. When Lydia has him in check, he abandons the game to repair the sink. He holds Lydia at bay for two day at the board. He daydreams a series of comical fantasies that would prevent him from completing the game. Otto can only think of one move to save him. John's wife Ellen (Joan Hotchkis) sits Lydia down for a valuable woman-to-woman life lesson about a man's pride. John recalls the scenario with an animated sequence at the end.