Introduction[]
Arthur and his dad play table tennis in front of the garage.
Arthur: Lots of people I know have a hidden talent. Mine is table tennis.
Arthur hits a ball that makes the air hiss. His dad has a smoking hole in his racket and the ball is buried in a tree trunk.
Arthur: Sorry! Some of these hidden talents don't seem to fit with the people who have them, like Binky.
Flashback: Binky walks down a street. He bites into a celery stick and throws the rest on the ground.
Binky: (long belch)
Arthur (narrator): Who would believe that he's such an amazing dancer?
Binky passes a shop for CD players from which Tango music plays. He starts dancing with an imaginary partner. Then he looks around embarrassed.
Arthur (narrator): Or that Molly would be so great at giving advice?
Flashback: Molly talks to Francine in the ice-cream shop.
Molly: There's no shame in losing, as long as you gave it 100%.
Francine smiles and nods. Molly turns to Fern.
Molly: Don't be embarrassed about being shy, it means you're a sensitive and respectful person. Embrace it.
Fern smiles and nods. Molly looks down.
Molly: You don't have to chase cars. Yes, they're fast and make noise, but who's in control? You, Pal, you!
Pal: (barks)
The flashbacks end.
Arthur: But there's one person whose hidden talent I would have never guessed in a million years! It's...
D.W.: Arthur, there you are! I was so worried about you! It's chilly out, so I brought you a hat. She puts a winter hat with ear flaps on his head. You have to protect that supersmart brain of yours.
Arthur: Why are you acting so strange?
D.W.: Me? I'm just showing you my hidden talent: niceness. Can I get you some juice?
Arthur: D.W., I'm not talking about you.
He leaves.
D.W.: How about a little nappy-wappy? I'll sing you a lullaby.
Arthur: Stop it, you're creeping me out!
D.W.: (mean chuckle)
She rubs her hands.
Title Card: Los Dedos and Brain play chess[]
Brain plays chess against a girl known as Los Dedos in a classroom. She keeps drumming her fingers on her chair. He makes a move. She grins and shakes her head, then moves her queen.
Los Dedos: Checkmate!
Los Dedos’ Fans: (cheer)
Brain: Oh...
***
Brain talks to Los Dedos outside the building.
Los Dedos: You have gone soft, Brain, weak! Why do you not practice more?
Brain: I have no one to practice with!
Los Dedos: Pity! You could have been a worthy opponent for... Los Dedos! She shows her claws. As it is, you will always be an amateur.
***
A Chess Club sign-up sheet hangs in a school corridor. Brain and Mrs. MacGrady stand in front of it.
Mrs. MacGrady: A chess club, huh? I've played a game or two in my day; in fact, in high school I was known as ‘Checkmate MacGrady’.
She signs up.
Brain: That's great! I need all the good players I can get!
George comes by and signs up.
***
Later, Binky walks by as Buster stands in front of the sign-up sheet.
Binky: Chess! Pfff! Chess is boring!
Buster: True, but Brain is serving free ice-cream.
Binky runs back.
Binky: I've always said, it's the game of kings.
He signs up.
***
At the first chess-club session, Buster eats ice-cream when he should be playing against Binky. Brain plays against Mrs. MacGrady.
Mrs. MacGrady: Well, I'll be. You've got me trussed up tighter than a Sunday ham! But I think Checkmate MacGrady still has a trick up her sleeve.
She moves a bishop which Brain takes with a knight.
Brain: Checkmate!
Mrs. MacGrady: Hmm. I guess that move should have stayed up the sleeve!
Brain: Another game?
Mrs. MacGrady: I'd love to, but lunch isn't going to make itself! She and Brain shake hands. I'll try to come back as often as I can.
She leaves the room.
Fern plays against George.
Fern: You took my piece!
George: Oh, sorry, here, I'll give it back.
Fern: Okay, and I'll just move this pawn up one, that way he's not threatening anyone.
George: Thanks.
Brain walks over.
Brain: Guys! If you never take any pieces, no one is ever going to win.
Fern: That's okay, I'm having fun.
George: Me too.
Brain: (sighs)
Binky keeps hitting the buttons on the chess clock. Buster makes a bishop jump over the other pieces to the other end of the board.
Buster: King me!
Brain: You can't move like that! That's checkers!
Binky: See, I told you that was wrong! Back to your own side, Pointy Head! He flicks the bishop into Buster’s ice-cream. Yahoo! Field goal!
Brain: (sighs)
***
At the next club session, Brain stands in front of a blackboard while Buster, Binky, Fern and George sit on chairs.
Brain: If this is going to be a proper chess club, then you all have to understand the rudiments of the game! Binky raises his hand. Yes, Binky?
Binky: Where's the ice-cream?
Brain: That was just for our first session. Now, the point of chess is to checkmate the opponent's king. That means that the king is being threatened, but...
Buster: What if the king makes a deal with the other king?
Brain: You can't!
Fern: Well, we did. We prefer to settle things diplomatically.
George: Yeah, Fern and I have a mutual nonaggression pact.
Brain: That's not allowed! In chess, there has to be a winner and a loser.
Rattles: Unless it's a stalemate, then the game's a draw.
He stands in the door.
Brain: That's actually correct. I didn't know you played chess, Rattles. Grab a seat!
Rattles: Nah, I was just passing by. I didn't even know we had a chess club.
Brain: Are you good? You certainly seem to know the rules.
Rattles: Well, I'm no Kasparov, but I can fianchetto my bishop and I've been told I have a mean endgame. He walks in and looks at Fern’s board. Guard that queen, toots.
Fern smiles, embarrassed.
***
Rattles plays against Brain while the others watch.
Buster: I don't know what's going on, but it's exciting anyway.
Binky: I think Rattles has him up against the ropes.
Brain reaches for a castle..
Rattles: Nah, you don't want to do that. That'll be mate in three. Brain reaches for a bishop. You don't want to do that either. That's mate in four.
Brain: Well then, what should I do?
Rattles: Try moving that pawn. Brain does so. Checkmate!
Brain: (gasps)
Rattles: What? You were gonna lose anyway, why prolong the agony? I gotta bounce.
Brain: Wait! You can't just leave!
Rattles: Sorry, I gotta wash my hair.
He goes to the door. Brain runs after him.
Brain: But, you'll join the club, right?
Rattles: Eh, I'm not really the club-joining type. Later.
Brain turns around to see that the others have built a tower out of chess pieces.
Kids: (giggle)
The tower collapses.
Binky: Yeah!
Buster: Let's do it again!
Brain: (sighs)
***
Rattles rides home on his skateboard. Brain runs after him.
Brain: Please! I'll give you free ice-cream for a month.
Rattles: Too much dairy gives me gas.
Brain: Then I'll do your homework for you!
Rattles: And deprive me of my education? No, thanks.
Brain stops out of breath.
Brain: Fine, don't join the club, just play with me, I need someone to practice with.
Rattles comes back.
Rattles: All you need to know about chess is this, it's like the wind: resist it and it will break you. Go with it, and you can sail across oceans.
Brain thinks.
Brain: What does that mean?
Rattles: I don't know, but it sounded good, didn't it?
Los Dedos stops beside them on her bike, which has a skull below the handlebar.
Los Dedos: Ah! It is the amateur, talking to the scruffy ruffian when you should be inside practicing your game.
Rattles: I ain't no ruffian, I'm just misunderstood.
Brain: This is my friend, Rattles, and he's ten times the player you'll ever be! He could beat you with one hand tied behind his back!
Rattles: Actually, that sounds very uncomfortable.
Los Dedos: Oh, really? Well then he can play me in next week's Junior Chess Championship. Be prepared to be crushed by Los Dedos! She shows him her claws and drives off. (evil laugh)
Rattles: Who was that?
Brain: Los Dedos. That's Spanish for ‘the fingers’. She's called that because she drums her nails when she plays and drives her opponents crazy. I've never beaten her and I probably never will. He starts walking away. I started the chess club so I could get better, but it's pretty much a disaster.
Rattles: Well, Los Dedos has just met the Nail Clipper! He makes a clipping gesture. Come on, I'll need help getting into shape.
He rides off and Brain runs after him.
***
The chess club kids stand in a row while Rattles paces in front of them holding a rod and a book.
Rattles: I might be the one playing Mighty Mountain but all you guys gotta help.
He hands Brain the book.
Brain: “Blatsky's Book of Classic Games”? I've never read this one.
Rattles: It went out of print ten years ago. I want you to learn it by heart and be my chief sparring partner. He addresses George and Fern. You two will help me with my endgame, but you got to want to win. Now, say it: I want to win!
Fern+George: I want to win.
Rattles: What was that? Do I hear a mouse squeaking in this room? Louder!
Fern+George: I want to win!
Rattles addresses Binky and Buster.
Rattles: (sighs) You two are hopeless. But you can still help. I want you to try and distract me while I play. Think you can do that?
Buster: Ahhh! Flying gophers! Duck!
He and Binky duck.
Rattles: I'm not playing yet! But I like the effort. All right, team, let's get started!
***
Brain reads Blatsky’s book and copies the moves. Rattles plays against him while Binky plays the clarinet and Buster plays the tuba.
***
While playing Fern, Rattles takes one of her pieces and dramatically drops it into a box with a toy alligator. Fern looks determined and takes one of his pieces. Rattles nods approvingly.
***
Rattles plays George and Wally.
Wally: Is that all you got? Ha! Wally takes Rattles’ knight. Yeah, that's right! Sleep no more, ‘cause the dummy just took your knight!
Rattles looks surprised, then smiles.
***
Brain and Rattles play in the park. Brain is still reading Blatsky’s book.
Rattles: That move's not from “Blatsky's Book of Classic Games”.
Brain: Oh, yeah, I just decided to do something else. Sorry. I'll take it back.
Rattles: No, no, it's a good move. You know, you've gotten a lot better.
Brain: Thanks. I can't wait to see the look on Los Dedos' face tomorrow when she gets trounced.
Rattles: Me too.
***
The next day, Brain rings Rattles’ doorbell. He waits, then rings again. Rattles opens wearing a sleeping gown.
Brain: Why aren't you dressed? The tournament's in twenty minutes!
Rattles: Oo. I can't make it. My parents had guests over and there was a lot of cheese. I knew I should have held back. (groans) I just can't resist it a good Pont l'Eveque!
Brain: But, what are we going to do? I don't want to forfeit!
Rattles: You'll just have to play Los Dedos!
Brain: Me?? But she always beats me!
Rattles: Trust me, you're good enough, Brain, but there's one thing you have to remember.
Brain: What?
Rattles: Have fun. It's a game! Oof. Now go, play this one for the Nail Clipper.
Brain leaves. When he is gone, Rattles straightens up and smiles.
***
Brain plays against Los Dedos. She has brought her usual three fans while the whole chess club has come to cheer for Brain.
Binky: Way to go! You can do it!
George: Brain's the best!
Buster: Go, Brain!
The game goes on. Brain does not notice Rattles come in.
Rattles: Who's winning?
Binky: She just took Brain's pointy thing with her pony.
Brain is about to take Los Dedos’ knight with his queen. Los Dedos grins and begins to drum her fingers.
Brain: Hm.
He puts the queen back and moves a pawn instead.
Los Dedos looks slightly worried for the first time. She takes the pawn with her bishop.
Los Dedos: Check!
Brain now takes the knight with his queen.
Brain: Checkmate!
Chess Club: (cheer)
Rattles: That was beautiful!
Los Dedos and Brain shake hands.
Los Dedos: Now you are a worthy opponent, Cerebro Grande. [big brain]
***
In front of the building, Brain shakes hands with Mrs. MacGrady.
Mrs. MacGrady: That endgame, sheer genius! I can't wait for our next meeting and I'd better warn you, I've been studying up. Checkmate MacGrady is back in fighting form!
Brain: I can't wait!
The Chess Club leaves in one direction, Rattles in the other. Brain catches up with Rattles and they walk down the street together.
Brain: You were never sick, were you?
Rattles: Well, I had a little discomfort, but I knew you could take her.
Brain: So, are you going to join the club?
Rattles: What's the snack situation like?
Brain: Anything you want.
Rattles: Pretzels?
Brain: Sure.
Rattles: Nah, too salty. Raisins would be nice, but only the yellow ones.
Brain: Hmm. You're so picky!
Rattles: Hey, when you're a prodigy, you can be picky, too.