Episode 4

In Russian class, Elizabeth met a group of older college students.This group of people often gathered together to talk loudly, and it was in this atmosphere that Elizabeth first heard about the existence of marijuana.Her mother Alma, an ordinary mother, hopes that her daughter can have other fun in her life besides chess.So even though Elibetha stayed out all night, Alma never blamed her.

However, Elizabeth gradually discovered that the college students she once thought were like-minded were actually just talkers, and their words and actions disappointed her.She began to doubt the value of association with them.

In the summer of 1966, Elizabeth graduated from high school, which meant she was of legal drinking age.She no longer has to hide like she used to.Meanwhile, her classmates may be planning their graduation parties, but Elibesa has only one thing on her mind - traveling to Mexico City to compete in a chess tournament and compete for the U.S. Championship Cup.If all goes well, she might even qualify for the European competition in Paris.Paris, that's where Alma has always wanted to be, but first, they need to go to Mexico City.

In Mexico, Alma had a pen pal named Manuel.Elibesa did not like him. She felt that Manuel was too enthusiastic and unrestrained and always made Alma laugh.Many years after her divorce, Alma seemed to have found a new joy in life in Manuel.She often spoke of Manuel, which displeased Elibesa.Elibesa had also thought about enjoying life like her mother in this place full of Spanish culture.But she also worried that she would live in the shadow of her talent, as Mr. Schabe said, earning the respect of society but having to endure the anger of not being able to integrate into society.However, such a change was too difficult for her, and she preferred to return to chess, because that was her world.

Elizabeth, who was used to confiding in her mother after games, disliked Manuel's presence very much.After all, men are unreliable. Within a few days, Manuel left Mexico on the pretext of a business trip.Although Alma felt a little lonely, her smile soon returned. She thought this was not a big deal.

The game begins and there is no time limit.Elizabeth meets a younger contestant named George Gillev.The competition between the two was extremely fierce, lasting from the afternoon to the evening, and there was still no winner for five hours.Elizabeth chose to close the game and thought about it all night.Before the main game the next day, the two continued their unfinished game.George was an admirer of Elizabeth, and for her, he chose to admit defeat.Elizabeth admitted that George was the most powerful opponent she had ever encountered, but George knew that she would soon retract her words because there were more powerful enemies behind her.

The final was between Elibesa and Vasily Borgov of the Soviet Union.In the early morning, Elizabeth finished washing and left the room quietly without waking her mother.In the elevator, she heard the Russian conversation between Vasily and his companions.Obviously, the Soviets were well aware of Elizabeth's chess style - all-attack style, irritable after making mistakes, drunkard, orphan... These labels made Elizabeth angry.What surprised her even more was that the Soviet Union sent the KGB to guard a national treasure like Vasily to prevent him from escaping.This couldn't help but make Elibesa feel a little pity for Vasily.

The atmosphere in the final was extremely harmonious.Vasily stretched out his hand, and Elizabeth shook it with a smile.However, the competition is brutal.Any attack or defense of Elizabeth is calculated by Vasily, and every move of Vasily's moves is from the classic textbooks, with nothing new.Although Elibesa tried various strange tricks, she still fell into the routine designed by Vasily every time.Vasily is like a chess-playing machine. He has thousands of chess positions in his mind. Once he comes out, his opponent can only follow his routine.After walking hundreds of steps, Elizabeth decisively gave up.

Back in the room, Elibetha told Alma about the contest while she was still lying in bed.However, Alma had no reaction.Years of alcoholism had sapped the last bit of energy from her liver.The hotel would cover the burial costs, and Elizabeth contacted Auston.What made her angry was that Auston told a lot about Alma's family cemetery and the mortgage on the house, but he didn't even want to know the cause of his ex-wife's death.Alma's body will be returned to Kentucky.

Before Alma left, Elizabeth bought a large number of green capsules from the hotel pharmacy.Because in Mexico, sedatives can be purchased without even a prescription.This is probably the only thing that can comfort Elizabeth during this trip to Mexico.