Beth solves Hilton's favorite problem in seconds
Benny's friends arrive with Cleo in tow; Beth, who says she finds chess problems irrelevant, cracks a mate-in-three almost instantly.
Cleo
6 moments · 10 min
Cleo on Benny, Paris and why models are empty creatures
Cleo tells Beth how she met the chess crowd, admits she fell for Benny, and delivers her withering take on modeling and models.
Beth beats Benny and his friends in a speed-chess simultaneous
Benny proposes a simul with speed chess to get an edge; Beth bets ten dollars on every board, wins, and makes them go again and again.
Cleo calls from the hotel bar the night before the final
Cleo phones Beth's room and tempts her down for one drink; Beth says she has the final tomorrow and should sleep, so Cleo goes to toast her alone.
One drink: pastis and Beth's Paris daydream
Beth joins Cleo after all, tries pastis, and imagines a future as world champion living in Paris; Cleo tells her talent will buy that life.
Cleo and Beth toast to unrequited love and stupid men
Cleo asks blunt questions about Benny and love; Beth admits the name that still matters is Townes, and the two women raise their glasses.