Fool's Mate (Le Coup du berger)

The moral of the story:

A good chess player is always one move ahead of his opponent.

A classic example: The move called the Scholar's mate.

Only a beginner will fall for it.

It's her move.

- Going out? - To see Solange.

Give her my regards.

See you tonight.

Take off your coat.

Want a drink?

More.

Where are you going?

Be right back.

- Darling— - Yes, darling?

Did you know that the Jivaro Indians,

to honor their ladylove

and show her their gratitude,

have a custom of offering, on the night of the third moon...

a shrunken head.

Disgusting!

I heartily agree.

- That's why I prefer for the occasion— - What occasion?

The occasion.

This pelt.

- What is it? - A pelt.

Like it?

And so, the pelt of the beast becomes the stakes of the match.

Claire tries the Italian gambit.

I can hardly see you.

Curtains.

- Thief. - You're not going to sleep in it.

- How will we handle this? - Why?

- For Jean. - Jean?

- I can't tell him that— - Naturally.

How will we handle it?

Make something up.

Tell him you found it.

- Or won it. - Are you kidding?

Then you think of something.

I've got an idea, but—

- You'll laugh at me. - Tell me anyway.

Their plan is simple: Put the fur coat in a suitcase,

go to a train station and pretend to be a traveler.

Be right back.

- Done. - No problems?

Go to 11, rue des Dames Augustines.

What will I tell him?

- What? - Where I found it.

Wait.

The perfect crime.

- Hello, Yvonne. Is he home? - Yes, madam.

- Hello, darling. - Hello.

I'm late. My taxi got stuck in traffic.

- Can we dine early? - Yes, right away.

- Claire? - Yes?

I'd like to go to bed early.

I need to go to the office tomorrow morning.

Yvonne, call us when it's ready.

I'm exhausted.

- What would you do if— - If what, honey?

I'd get some rest.

- Look. - What is it?

A baggage claim ticket.

- It was on the floor of the taxi. - Why'd you pick it up?

- You should've left it. - What do I do now?

- Throw it out. - We can't just—

You should've left it with the cabbie.

- I didn't think of that. - Too bad. Throw it out.

It might be something valuable.

How should I know? Put it in the jar.

You're wrong.

Think so?

- About what? - The baggage claim ticket.

What do you want me to do?

Check it out. We don't know what it is.

If it has their address, we could return it.

But...

if it were important, they wouldn't have lost it like that.

They'd have been careful.

It's not much to ask.

If it were precious, they'd go to the baggage claim.

The employee would recognize them.

- How could he? - He would.

Or they'd describe their bag.

Did you order the stuff?

Stuff?

The things for tomorrow night.

You are intending to feed our guests?

Certainly.

It's tomorrow night, isn't it?

I called Chichette...

to confirm it was tomorrow.

Yes, it's tomorrow.

So you won't do anything?

I'll play some piano for them.

Not that, the baggage claim ticket.

What baggage claim ticket?

- That's all? - It's Monday.

Monday, day of the moon.

I'll go tomorrow morning.

It's becoming a habit.

Are you listening?

I'll go to the baggage claim tomorrow.

Well...

that worked out nicely.

You're terrific.

What's wrong?

You really want me to go?

Then I'll go, honey.

- You'll go? - Tomorrow morning. Promise.

Happy now?

The next morning, the match continues.

Claire advances her bishop.

You're sweet.

Sweet? A sucker.

Bye-bye, my tiny tot.

Claude?

It worked.

Not really.

- Yes? - Your sister's here.

- Sorry about her. - I am your sister.

Hello.

Hello, I can't stay. I just came to return this.

- Have fun? - Don't remind me. Boring as hell.