So? How did you learn so much
about flying kites, Grandpa?
Well, when you get
as old as I am, Arnold
you'd eventually learn
to do everything.
Now, how the heck
do we get home?
I'm lost and confused.
We can go this way, Grandpa.
(GASPS)
No, Arnold,
I can't go that way.
Come on, it's a shortcut.
No, no, I can't.
Why not?
I can't tell you,
it's too haunting.
Oh, come on.
Walk faster, Shortman.
Come on, faster, faster.
Grandpa, what's going on?
It's just a shortcut.
(GASPS)
MAN: Is that Steely Phil?
(GASPS)
It must be...
What is this place, Grandpa?
Who are all these people?
(STAMMERING)
Chinese Checkers.
ALL: Steely Phil.
Are they talking
about you, Grandpa?
No, I don't
know any of these people.
They're confusing me
with someone else.
Now, let's go!
(LAUGHING)
Next victim.
(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Robby Fisher.
Well, as I live and breathe
if it isn't Steely Phil.
I thought you
had passed on years ago.
In your face, Fisher.
I'm alive and kickin'.
Well, I can see
you appear to be alive
but kickin'...
(SMIRKING)
You're not actually thinkin'
of entering the tournament
this Saturday?
I'm retired, Fisher.
(LAUGHING)
Yes. Yes, I remember now,
Steely Phil.
I dispatched you
many, many years ago.
But, ah, well...
One can't live
in the past, can one?
Good day, Steely Phil.
(LAUGHING)
Yes. Yes.
I hate the way that guy talks.
Steely Phil?
Was that your nickname
or something?
Yes, a long time ago.
Are you comfortable, Arnold?
'Cause I feel a long flashback
coming on.
It was almost 40 years ago...
That time there were
three great
Chinese Checkers players
on the circuit.
Robby Fisher.
Boris Slasky.
And a kid by the name
of Steely Phil.
I had practiced
and studied the game
for 30 years.
Playin' on sidewalks,
and in back alleys.
Slowly honing my skills.
Finally, I was ready
for the big boys.
The City Chinese Checkers
Masters Tournament.
All the Chinese Checkers
masters were there.
Nimble Ned.
Bodacious Bob.
Boris Slasky.
And Robby Fisher.
I beat everyone
they threw at me.
I couldn't lose.
Finally, it's down
to two contestants.
Me and Robby Fisher.
Started slow.
Feeling each other out.
I jumped one of his marbles
but he jumped one of mine.
The battle raged on
for hours.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Finally, one move separated
us from the championship,
it was then I realized
I couldn't win.
He boxed me into a corner.
I made the only move
I could see.
He jumped me back
and won the City Championship.
(ALL CHEERING)
You lost, Grandpa?
Yes, Arnold, I lost.
My confidence was broken,
my dream was dashed.
The next day
I officially retired
from Chinese Checkers.
But that defeat
haunted me for 40 years.
I replayed the game
over and over in my head
trying to see
what I did wrong.
Did you ever figure it out?
Yes, I did.
Turned out I had another move,
only I didn't see it.
I was too worried
about winning.
If I had moved
my last marble back
instead of forward
I would have
stalemated Fisher
and it would have been a tie.
You and Fisher both
would have been the champions.
That's right.
Only I didn't see that move.
But now it has been 40 years,
and because it's been
eating me up inside
all this time
there's only one thing to do
so I can finally
get my revenge
on Robby Fisher.
Come on, Arnold.
Are you gonna enter
the tournament, Grandpa?
Nope. I'm gonna enter you
in the tournament on Saturday.
You'll defeat
that arrogant rat
and reclaim the family honor.
What? Me?
Grandpa, Robby Fisher's
the City Champion.
I can't beat him.
It would take a pro, somebody
with years of experience.
Somebody like you.
Oh, I can't compete
with Fisher,
I'm out of practice,
plus I'm old and I'm fat.
Grandpa, you are not fat.
Well, that's true,
but I'm old
and out of practice.
Chinese Checkers
is a game of marbles
and I already
lost most of mine.
Look, you said it yourself,
we've got a week left
to practice before
the tournament.
It was your dream to be
a Chinese Checkers Champion.
It was my dream, Arnold.
A long time ago.
I could help
you train, Grandpa.
We could work
really, really hard every day.
You can beat him,
I know you can.
I don't know, Shortman.
What if I lose?
I'll be humiliated again.
What if you win?
MAN: Name?
It's your dream, Grandpa.
You should never give up
on your dreams.
Name?
MAN: Name?
Steely Phil.
(PHIL GRUNTING)
Don't worry, Grandpa,
when we are done
you're gonna be in
championship form
and you're gonna beat
Robby Fisher.
(INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING)
(CRASHING)
(PANTING)
(PANTING)
(SIZZLING)
(BONES CRACKING)
(BELL DINGING)
(CLOCK CHIMING)
(SIGHS)
Hey, Arnold, wake up. Come on.
Grandpa, what is it?
It's three o'clock
in the morning.
I can't do it, Shortman.
I can't beat him.
Sure you can.
We've been training all week.
You're ready, Grandpa.
No, I'm not.
I'm just not good enough,
that's all.
I couldn't beat him
40 years ago
I can't beat him now.
Don't say that, Grandpa.
Sometimes I can't believe
the moves you make.
I know, it is uncanny.
But as good as I am
Robby Fisher
is ten times better.
Remember all the times
when I was in a contest
and you told me I could win?
Oh, sure. But I didn't really
believe you could win.
I just told you that stuff
on the off chance that
the other kids would blow it.
But you still
gave me confidence
and you believed in me.
That was really important
to me, Grandpa.
It was?
Yeah.
And now I have the chance
to do the same thing for you.
I believe in you
and I know you can do it.
You're not just saying that
on the off chance the other
guys would blow it, are you?
No, Grandpa,
I really believe in you.
So, what do you say?
All right, Shortman.
I'll do it.
I'll beat Robby Fisher.
Besides, if I lose I can
always change my name
and leave the country.
Uh, right, Grandpa.
(CHUCKLES)
That's right.
Wish me luck, Shortman.
You won't need it, Grandpa.
(CLOCK TICKING)
Let the tournament begin.
Next victim.
(APPLAUSE)
(APPLAUSE)
Next victim.
Next victim.
(APPLAUSE)
You're doing great, Grandpa.
(BELL DINGING)
Ladies and gentlemen,
we have arrived
at the final round
of the Masters Tournament.
The winner of this round
will be the All-City Champion.
Last year's champion
Robby Fisher,
the challenger Steely Phil.
(CROWD MURMURING)
Well, what a delicious
surprise. If it isn't
my old nemesis Steely Phil.
Dealing you another
humiliating defeat
will make my victory
in this tournament
all the sweeter.
In your face, Fisher.
I'm gonna kick your patoot.
Careful, Steely Phil.
I do believe
your false bravado is showing.
(LAUGHING)
(IMITATING FISHER)
Now, stop talking
and let's play Checkers.
(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(CROWD MURMURING)
Well, I must say, you haven't
completely embarrassed
yourself, Steely Phil.
Uh, the night is young,
Fisher.
(CROWD GASPS)
(CHUCKLES)
Well, isn't that just perfect?
You've fallen
into the same trap
I caught you in 40 years ago.
The same exact play.
No! It's not.
It's completely different.
It's... Oh, poo,
it's the same, isn't it?
(LAUGHING)
You realize of course,
Steely Phil, that you
can't possibly beat me now.
There's only one move
on the board you can make.
Come come, Steely Phil,
make your losing move
so I can once again
take the trophy
and you can wallow in your
characteristic humiliation.
Well, you're right about
one thing, Fisher.
I can't beat you.
But there is one
other move I can make.
What are you talking about?
Uh-huh.
It's a stalemate, Fisher.
Well, that's...
That's impossible.
No, how did you?
(LAUGHING)
I didn't see
that move last time.
But now I'm 40 years older
and 40 years smarter.
Plus I got
my grandson behind me.
So, I guess,
we both are champion now.
But I've never shared
a trophy with anyone.
This is an outrage.
Final match
is officially a tie.
The new champions are...
No, no, don't say it.
...Robby Fisher
and Steely Phil.
(CRYING)
(ALL APPLAUDING)
(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC PLAYING)
You did it, Grandpa.
Well, thanks for believin'
in me, Shortman.
Sure thing, Steely Phil.
(STEELY CHUCKLES)