Tetris (2023)

1. Ladies and gentlemen,

2. you've already made the incredibly smart decision to skip the casinos,

3. where the odds are stacked against you,

4. and come to the place where you can't lose.

5. Technology is the future, and video games are leading the charge.

6. So, step right up and be the first to experience the world's next big hit.

7. Come try GO, Asia's favorite game.

8. Rights available everywhere except Japan.

9. How are you, sir?

10. GO, GO, GO. Come on. Wanna play? It's like chess.

11. Except infinitely harder.

12. GO didn't go as planned.

13. I couldn't even keep my salesgirl interested.

14. And I know how many excuses bank managers hear every day.

15. But this is not an excuse. This is an opportunity.

16. In fact, my little setback may have been the best thing to ever happen to us.

17. - Yeah. - Tracy.

18. Tracy. What are you doing?

19. How's it going? I just invited this young lady over

20. to see how our new game fares with the female audience.

21. Uh-huh. Sure.

22. Come on, Tracy. I'm paying you to sell my game, not play other people's.

23. Relax, Henk. This game is swell.

24. - What's it called? - Tetris.

25. Tetris.

26. I don't get it.

27. It's a combination of tetra, Greek for "four"--

28. all the game's pieces are variants of four— and tennis.

29. - Tennis? - Tennis.

30. Yeah, supposedly, the Russian inventor, he likes tennis.

31. Here, Henk. Try it.

32. Was this coded in Pascal, or C?

33. That's proprietary.

34. You like it?

35. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, Eddie.

36. Heard that line before.

37. No. It's nothing like GO. It's in a completely different league.

38. Heard that line before.

39. Okay, fine. But, Eddie,

40. I played Tetris for five minutes, yeah.

41. I still see falling blocks in my dreams.

42. This game isn't just addictive.

43. It stays with you.

44. It's poetry. Art and math all working in magical synchronicity.

45. It's…

46. It's the perfect game.

47. Why are you telling me this?

48. Do you have the video game rights?

49. Mirrorsoft control all rights on all platforms, worldwide.

50. Is Japan available?

51. Because you're looking at the proud licensee of Tetris in Japan for PC,

52. games console,

53. and arcade.

54. Is this a joke?

55. You took the money you owed this bank for your failed video game…

56. - …to buy yet another video game? - Correct.

57. But, Eddie, this is different.

58. Tetris is already a hit.

59. - Where? - Russia.

60. Henk, there is no video games business in Russia.

61. I know.

62. Please, let me finish.

63. It all began with a guy named Alexey Leonidovich Pajitnov,

64. four years ago.

65. By day, he worked as a programmer for the government

66. at the Soviet Computer Science Center.

67. But by night, he invented games for fun.

68. His computer, a Stone Age, Soviet piece of crap called an Electronika 60,

69. didn't even have a graphics card.

70. His falling blocks were parentheses pushed together.

71. Alexey and a couple of buddies from work made the game IBM-compatible.

72. Which meant color graphics,

73. 8-bit music and floppy disks that people copied and shared for free.

74. It spread like wildfire.

75. But this is the Soviet Union, remember?

76. Nothing gets out easily.

77. It would take an entrepreneur to actually go there and monetize it.

78. Who?

79. You?

80. Jesus, no. I'm not that crazy.

81. That was Robert Stein.

82. Two years ago.

83. Welcome back to Budapest Mr Stein.

84. A one-man band based in London,

85. he would travel to eastern Europe looking for licensed games cheaply

86. and then resell them for a profit to the West.

87. Seen it and boring.

88. What's this?

89. This is not our game.

90. This jackass Stein won't stop faxing us, wasting our paper.

91. What does it say?

92. He wants to license my game.

93. Am I allowed to do that?

94. We better ask the bosses at ELORG.

95. Yes we can. Send the fax.

96. Once the Russians made a deal with Stein,

97. his next appointment was back in London with Robert Maxwell.

98. One year ago.

99. Mr. Stein, pleasure to meet you. Robert Maxwell.

100. Pleasure.

101. The Robert Maxwell?

102. - The billionaire media tycoon? - The one and only.

103. Okay, now that's the type of businessman us bankers actually approve of.

104. Maxwell pays his debts.

105. And he's heading distribution?

106. Next best thing.

107. And this is my son.

108. I can introduce myself, Father.

109. Kevin Maxwell, CEO of Mirrorsoft.

110. Good to meet you, Kevin.

111. It's Mr. Maxwell to you, sir.

112. Anyway, gentlemen, I feel a celebration is in order.

113. Kevin.

114. The first computer game to leave the Iron Curtain.

115. My old mate Mikhail Gorbachev will be proud.

116. We'll start by licensing computer games,

117. then video games, arcade games, board games, everything.

118. Go on.

119. Great, 'cause you're not gonna believe where I was yesterday.

120. Hi. Henk Rogers, Bullet-Proof Software.

121. I have a meeting with Hiroshi Yamauchi, your CEO.

122. Rogers?

123. Not in book.

124. Oh, okay.

125. I understand.

126. Thank you.

127. Could I use your restroom before I go?

128. - On the left? - Left.

129. Okay. Thank you.

130. Hi. I have a meeting with Mr. Yamauchi. I wonder—

131. Mr. Rogers, you're trespassing.

132. Mr. Yamauchi is out of town. So—

133. That's not true because I saw him this morning, and his car's still outside.

134. No, no.

135. Who is this?

136. Hi.

137. Henk Rogers. Bullet-Proof Software.

138. Not too bad.

139. Really?

140. We'll buy you out for 500,000.

141. Five hundred grand?

142. Henk, let me get you that drink.

143. I told them no.

144. You did what?

145. Are you out of your fucking mind?

146. I got a bigger vision, Eddie.

147. That is why I'm here.

148. I'll publish it and cover all up-front costs.

149. We publish our games in-house.

150. We don't use outside partners.

151. You don't do it often, true.

152. But you do make exceptions.

153. Because you know as well as I do, partners are what make us great.

154. That's why Mario has Luigi.

155. That's why Zelda has Link.

156. That's why Mike Tyson has whoever he's punching out in Punch-Out!

157. Yeah.

158. We want you to make 200,000 cartridges.

159. You want two million dollars?

160. No.

161. Had me worried for a bit.

162. I need a check for three million dollars.

163. That's the punch line? You want a check from me?

164. And how did you get to three million?

165. Because I'll need two million for Nintendo cartridges

166. and one million to make arcade machines.

167. I have Tetris for arcade too, remember?

168. Arcade is a cash business and the money comes in fast,

169. which is great for both of us.

170. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Eddie.

171. Nintendo is letting me become a publisher.

172. Nintendo. It's a license to print money.

173. - You feel that strongly about it? - Yeah! Clearly.

174. - Then I'm upping your interest rates. - Fine.

175. - And I want your house as collateral. - Fine!

176. If you miss one payment, that house is ours.

177. Fine.

178. You sure you don't have to talk to your wife about this first?

179. Akemi is the chief financial officer of our company.

180. She's all in.

181. This was not what you promised, Henk.

182. I know, but you know how unimaginative these bankers are.

183. Pioneers have to bet the house to win.

184. But not literally.

185. Listen.

186. Have you ever heard our apartment this quiet before?

187. Maya?

188. What do you think?

189. It's BRILLIANT, can we keep it?

190. This is gonna work.

191. I promise.

192. Is that a promise you can keep?

193. If we do this, we're in control.

194. So, yeah…

195. it is.

196. Yoshi

197. Itsuko

198. Everyone…

199. We're big failures now!

200. We're big PUBLISHERS now!

201. Low to high.

202. Set your feet. Low to high.

203. Tennis in the winter.

204. Very impressive.

205. Valentin Trifonov

206. Central Committee. Communist Party.

207. I just wanted to meet the man responsible…

208. for almost destroying the Soviet Union.

209. Excuse me?

210. Your game.

211. It was being played by government workers across the Union for hours a day.

212. They were getting nothing done.

213. We had to create a program to block it from all PCs.

214. I'm told you licensed your game to the West.

215. Any profits yet?

216. I can't imagine how a game that is so popular here makes no money abroad.

217. Someone is cheating.

218. Dad can we keep playing?

219. Wait, wait.

220. I'm sorry to interrupt.

221. Again, congratulations.

222. You deserve it.

223. - Bullet-Proof, Henk speaking. - Yes, hello, Mr. Rogers?

224. Kevin Maxwell, CEO of Mirrorsoft.

225. Oh, hi, Kevin.

226. It's Mr. Maxwell to you, sir.

227. I'm calling because I'm told you bought PC, video game,

228. and arcade rights for Tetris in Japan, yes?

229. That's right.

230. Well, it turns out, we already licensed arcade to SEGA in Japan.

231. What? When?

232. I did a deal with your guy in Vegas.

233. My job isn't to meddle in specifics, Mr. Rogers.

234. But I paid for arcade. We signed a contract.

235. No, no, no, no. You signed your end, I've yet to sign mine.

236. - Hence the call. - What the fuck, Kevin?

237. No, it's Mr. Maxwell.

238. What the fuck, Mr. Maxwell?

239. You're gonna fucking bankrupt me.

240. Look, do you want PC and video game or not?

241. Yeah.

242. That's what I thought.

243. We just lost arcade rights.

244. Hiro-san,

245. stop working on the arcade prototype.

246. Everyone, it's going to be fine.

247. We still have video game rights.

248. Henk has a very important meeting with Nintendo. We'll figure it out.

249. OK

250. Congratulations, Mr. Yamauchi.

251. I thought you should have your own personal copy of Tetris

252. before we sell out.

253. Thank you.

254. You know how, in Super Mario, when you're running along and everything's great,

255. but suddenly a Piranha Plant pops out of nowhere and spews fire on you?

256. Thing is, Yamauchi-san, Kevin Maxwell pulled a Piranha Plant on me and you.

257. He reneged on my arcade rights, and I really need a mushroom to stay alive.

258. Can I get an advance on my future Nintendo residuals, please?

259. Mr. Yamauchi invites you to meet his Nintendo colleagues in Seattle.

260. We might have something to help you out.

261. Cheers

262. Cheers

263. Okay, kiddos.

264. Why don't we tidy our room before Mom gets home. Yeah!

265. But dad, my school concert is next month and…

266. I just got the song I'm performing and I need to practice.

267. But I need your help.

268. I'm sorry, hon.

269. Papa's gotta go and get ready for his business trip.

270. But I can't wait to see your show, okay?

271. I gotta go pack. Come on, kids, tidy!

272. The inner sanctum.

273. Hi. Henk Rogers. Bullet-Proof Software.

274. It is an honor to be here.

275. Hello, Henk.

276. Minoru Arakawa, President of Nintendo of America.

277. - I know. - Henk Goddamn Rogers.

278. Welcome to Seattle. Howard Lincoln, senior VP, chief legal counsel.

279. Your cowboy reputation precedes you.

280. Here. Sign this.

281. An NDA? Why?

282. Because only ten other people in the world have seen what you're about to see,

283. and, to be honest, we don't trust you.

284. 8-bit graphics?

285. Yes, and a brand-new Sharp LR35902 core at 4.19 mega-hertz

286. with eight kilobytes internal RAM.

287. Impressive.

288. No color screen?

289. Color, you'd need eight batteries instead of four. It's too expensive.

290. This gives you 30 hours of game play, all for $89.

291. What's it called?

292. It's called the Game Boy.

293. Go ahead, try it.

294. We're launching in June.

295. And we want publishers like you to be on the lookout for new games.

296. So, you'll package it with Mario?

297. Yes, it's our best brand.

298. This game is programmed in C, yeah?

299. How many pixels?

300. 160 by 144. Why?

301. It's not perfect, but you'll get the idea.

302. Gentlemen, if you wanna sell a couple hundred thousand Game Boys to little kids,

303. package them with Mario.

304. But if you wanna sell millions of Game Boys to absolutely everyone,

305. young and old, around the world,

306. package them with Tetris.

307. Can you get us the rights?

308. Hi.

309. My name's Henk Rogers. I'm here to see Kevin Maxwell.

310. Do you have an appointment, sir?

311. Nope. It's a surprise.

312. - I'm doing my best. - No, do not say that.

313. No, you're not doing your best.

314. No, it's— In fact, on a scale from one to best,

315. you're doing less than zero, which is fuck all!

316. The Soviets are not stupid.

317. They know that Tetris sells.

318. But they're refusing to engage with me on arcade rights

319. until I pay them for the royalties I owe them on the computer games.

320. And I can't pay them until you pay me.

321. - Henk Rogers to see Kevin Maxwell. - What the bloody hell is he doing here?

322. - Bring him in. - Why?

323. - Well, I should go. - Sit down.

324. We are a united front. Understood?

325. Mr. Rogers, what a pleasant surprise.

326. Robert Maxwell, chairman of the Mirror Group.

327. Wow, hi.

328. - If I'm interrupting, I can— - Not all all.

329. We were just talking Tetris actually.

330. This is Robert Stein of Andromeda Software, and my son—

331. I can introduce myself, Father. Thank you.

332. Kevin Maxwell.

333. CEO of Mirrorsoft.

334. I know. We met.

335. On the phone. You sold my arcade rights to SEGA.

336. Well, it seems everything's sorted itself out, yes?

337. Before I forget, this is for the Soviets, per my contract.

338. It's a game-play tape of Japanese Tetris.

339. Though we very much appreciate your personal delivery, Mr. Rogers,

340. but you could've mailed it. You could've saved yourself the trip.

341. Yes, but then I wouldn't be able to talk to you about handheld Tetris.

342. Handheld?

343. What I couldn't figure out is who controls the rights.

344. You?

345. Without a doubt.

346. Yes.

347. Mr. Stein controls all the exclusive worldwide licensing rights.

348. That's arcade, video game, computer, and the handheld.

349. - We license everything through him. - Fantastic.

350. Then I would like to buy your worldwide handheld rights. Today.

351. Mr. Rogers, Nintendo doesn't have a handheld device.

352. Why would they be trying to buy into a market—

353. I can't comment on that,

354. but I am willing to make a very generous offer on their behalf.

355. We'll consider your offer, Henk.

356. I can handle this, Father.

357. We'll consider your offer, Mr. Rogers.

358. I haven't made one yet.

359. Yes.

360. Have a splendid time in London.

361. See you around.

362. You're excused, Mr. Stein.

363. And do not bother coming back here without fully executed contracts,

364. including handheld Tetris, yes?

365. We should give the Soviets some money.

366. They don't care about money, Son.

367. They care about loyalty.

368. Premier Gorbachev is my friend.

369. We're publishing his memoir. We're loyal.

370. Yes, Father, the company's pension manager called

371. and said there was a few million pounds missing

372. from the employees' retirement fund last week.

373. Yes, we had to rearrange the balance sheets for the year-end.

374. - Small accounting quirk, is all. - So, I shan't worry?

375. No, you shan't.

376. But, Kevin, we need Tetris, understood?

377. Mr. Stein.

378. Mr. Stein, please. Hold on.

379. What happened in there?

380. It's complicated.

381. You don't control handheld rights?

382. I didn't say that. I said it's complicated.

383. Either you do, or you don't. What's so complicated—

384. Have you ever been in Moscow, Mr. Rogers?

385. Have you ever negotiated with the Soviets?

386. Do you know what it feels like to be in a country where—

387. where everyone is watching you?

388. No. So, don't tell me what is and what is not complicated.

389. I'll pay you $25,000 to secure me worldwide handheld rights.

390. I guess it wasn't so complicated.

391. - Hello. - It's Howard Lincoln, Nintendo, America.

392. Listen, I just heard that Robert Stein

393. is selling handheld Tetris to Atari for $100,000.

394. - What? - Yeah, Atari.

395. You know how much we hate those motherfuckers.

396. But now they supposedly have a handheld device with our damn game.

397. I paid Stein to get me handheld rights.

398. What's happening?

399. Is Stein cutting you out and getting the deal for himself?

400. I mean, if he is, he's cutting out more than just me.

401. Are you selling handheld Tetris to Atari behind my back?

402. - Kevin, good to see you. - Do not call me Kevin!

403. We are not chums.

404. You deal with Mirrorsoft exclusively, or have you forgotten your contract?

405. You mean the contract that gives me global royalties on sales of Tetris?

406. 'Cause I haven't got any yet.

407. Okay! Okay.

408. I haven't secured handheld rights yet, but just give me some time.

409. No, I'll negotiate directly with the Russians.

410. We're through.

411. Through?

412. Through.

413. Screw it. I'm gonna go to Moscow.

414. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, you can't just go to the Soviet Union, Henk.

415. You need a business visa, a full background check. It takes months.

416. Well, I'll get a tourist visa then.

417. So, you'll lie? That's a felony. They could throw you in jail.

418. I'll take my chances.

419. Who you gonna talk to?

420. Some company called ELORG.

421. Companies don't exist in the USSR, Henk. ELORG is probably KGB.

422. - Do you guys want this game or not? - Yeah, course we do.

423. But you're walking into a communist country

424. that still considers America enemy numero uno.

425. If you go, we can't protect you.

426. Okey dokey.

427. Where are you going now, papa?

428. - You're Danish? - No. I'm Dutch.

429. Yet you sound American.

430. Well, I grew up in New York, but I'm Dutch.

431. And I live in Japan.

432. - Translator? - No, thank you.

433. Hi.

434. Henk Rogers, checking in.

435. I don't suppose you know where I can find ELORG, do you?

436. Otherwise known as Electronorgtechnica. It's a government body.

437. Government? Net.

438. "No," as in you don't know, or "no," as in you're not gonna—

439. We have a new guest…

440. ELORG. You know, phone number?

441. - Translation services? - No, thanks.

442. - Translator. - Thanks.

443. Taxi!

444. Taxi!

445. No more fish or meat!

446. Please!

447. You must have some.

448. My family is hungry.

449. I have money.

450. Take this. Please.

451. No. You have a family too.

452. Please. My family will be fine.

453. Thank you.

454. Salutations.

455. You're in need of succor?

456. Excuse me?

457. Succor. Noun. Assistance in times of stress.

458. Synonymous with help.

459. Sasha. Translation services.

460. Esteemed to meet you.

461. Do you fancy history?

462. We can visit Stalin's Seven Sisters, his palaces for the proletariat.

463. Or art?

464. We can go to the Pushkin Museum.

465. Actually, where I really need to go is ELORG.

466. I assumed you were here for vacationing purposes.

467. So you've heard of it?

468. Mr. Rogers, this is not America.

469. Entering a government structure without invite is highly illegal.

470. Sasha, I didn't travel 5,000 miles to be stopped by a door.

471. Identification?

472. Nikolai Evgenievich…

473. Yes?

474. Someone for you.

475. I'm listening.

476. Yeah, hi. Henk Rogers.

477. Bullet-Proof Software.

478. I publish the video game version of Tetris in Japan,

479. and I'm here to license the worldwide handheld rights from you.

480. What's that?

481. Where's it from?

482. I'm sorry. I don't speak—

483. One sec.

484. Sorry, Sasha, but I really need you.

485. It's gonna be fine.

486. This is Sasha, my translator.

487. Hello, my name is Sasha.

488. I'm a translator.

489. Okay? Okay.

490. My name is Henk Rogers.

491. And I publish Tetris for Nintendo in Japan.

492. He inquires, "What is Nintendo?"

493. Ha. Very funny.

494. Nintendo's the most popular video game console in the world, sir.

495. He says ELORG never licensed Tetris video game rights to anyone, ever.

496. Only the computer game version.

497. No, that can't be true. Look…

498. ELORG licensed the rights to Robert Stein at Andromeda,

499. Andromeda to Mirrorsoft,

500. and Mirrorsoft's representative in Las Vegas to Bullet-Proof Software,

501. which is me.

502. I gave it to Mirrorsoft to send to you.

503. He denies obtaining a tape.

504. And says that this is an illegal copy.

505. Mr. Rogers, I think we should vanish.

506. He thinks I stole Tetris?

507. Affirmative.

508. Tell him I have my whole life and then some invested in this game.

509. He's mistaken.

510. I advise you to leave this government institution.

511. Otherwise, as a foreign citizen on a tourist visa,

512. you will be sent to prison for fraud and trespassing.

513. He says he is not mistaken.

514. Is that all he said?

515. Yes.

516. Sure. Okay, tell him I'll fix this.

517. We can figure out console,

518. and then we can talk handheld.

519. He says return in the morrow at nine o'clock.

520. - But I must warn you— - Okay. Okay, great. Thanks.

521. Thanks.

522. You're gonna— Okay.

523. Thank you.

524. I need an international pay phone.

525. International pay phones do not exist in Soviet Union, Henk.

526. But I need to call home.

527. You don't understand.

528. I convinced my wife to risk our home

529. so that I could afford Tetris video game rights,

530. and now I'm being told I don't have them?

531. If I don't fix this, I'm fucked.

532. Your hotel has phone.

533. Okay, great. Let's go.

534. But you must wait in line as only few wires leave our great nation.

535. But how long?

536. Anywhere from eight hours to a week.

537. What?

538. Okay, but there's a fax machine at the hotel, right?

539. Fax and telex are in government buildings only, Henk.

540. Mr. Rogers, a word.

541. Please.

542. Do you know who I am?

543. I've got an idea.

544. Good.

545. I assume your translator told you

546. foreigners are not allowed in government buildings without formal invitation.

547. Go home.

548. Understood?

549. Mr. Maxwell, Valentin Trifonov,

550. Central Committee of the Communist Party, Department of Foreign Trade.

551. Welcome to Russia.

552. My father told me to expect Gorbachev.

553. You're not Gorbachev.

554. And you're not your father.

555. You're here for Tetris, yes?

556. Let's see what we can arrange.

557. Morning, Sasha.

558. Any chance I can cajole you into changing your mind?

559. Not a chance.

560. Ready?

561. Henk, this is Alexey Pajitnov,

562. the inventor of Tetris.

563. Wow, really?

564. Mr. Rogers…

565. Henk, Mr. Belikov would like you to know that he doesn't trust you.

566. And you— Sorry, these are not my words— are a liar and a thief.

567. I'm also a horrible cook.

568. That was a joke.

569. - I don't think he understood. - Yeah, I can see that.

570. Please, Mr Belikov continue.

571. I'm sorry, but who are you?

572. Please, sit.

573. The more important question here is who are you, Henk Rogers?

574. Your visa says you're a tourist, but you're not.

575. A crime.

576. Your Tetris game says you licensed it, but you did not.

577. Well, another crime.

578. So, here's what I'm thinking.

579. You go home today, cease production of Tetris, all will be forgiven.

580. Or you stay and face the consequences.

581. I'm not going home without a deal.

582. Sorry.

583. "Sorry" will not work in our courts, Mr. Rogers.

584. Mr Belikov…

585. Alexey.

586. I just wanna say that your game is brilliant.

587. Thank you. I speak English.

588. And I have so, so many questions.

589. But first, I want you to know that when I clear up this misunderstanding,

590. and hopefully secure handheld rights,

591. I'm gonna make you a millionaire.

592. - Mr. Rogers. - Please, call me Henk.

593. Mr. Rogers, I do not have right to receive money from my game.

594. Well, that's criminal.

595. No.

596. It is communism.

597. If that idiot's a thief…

598. Jail him.

599. Are the other buyers here?

600. Keep them separated.

601. We are going to beat these capitalists at their own game.

602. Mr. Belikov,

603. if I'm a thief, why would I come to Moscow and proudly show you my game?

604. Because you want handheld rights.

605. Yeah, but if I already stole video game and arcade rights,

606. what would stop me from stealing handheld?

607. Mr. Belikov inquires as to why you mention arcade rights.

608. I bought Japanese arcade rights too,

609. only to find out that Mirrorsoft already licensed them to SEGA.

610. Stop, stop, stop.

611. ELORG never transacted arcade rights to anyone, Henk.

612. Wait, hold on.

613. So you're saying the only version of Tetris you ever licensed

614. was for personal computers?

615. Can I see the contract you signed?

616. Please, it'll help me understand what's going on.

617. 'Cause I don't know if you know,

618. but Stein and Mirrorsoft are selling

619. Tetris video game and arcade rights worldwide.

620. Mr. Belikov?

621. I'm Robert Stein.

622. I'm here to shore up contracts for arcade and handheld rights.

623. Please, Mr. Stein. One minute.

624. What?

625. Mr. Belikov. Thank you very much for agreeing to meet.

626. Mr. Belikov asks, "What is this?"

627. Well, I suppose it's Tetris for Nintendo in Japan.

628. But I'm here to discuss handheld rights, not video, so…

629. He asks if you authorized the sale of Tetris video games to Henk Rogers.

630. Mr. Belikov, I run one of the largest media companies in Europe.

631. I don't have time to meddle in the day-to-day aspects.

632. So, you are saying that you have never seen this game?

633. No, I'm saying that we should move on to today's business.

634. Do you think it's pirated?

635. I don't know, maybe?

636. Can we talk about handheld Tetris?

637. Tomorrow, thank you.

638. Yeah.

639. Fucking commie bastards.

640. Okay, I read the contract and I agree.

641. You never intentionally sold video game rights to Robert Stein.

642. But here's the thing…

643. Okay, this is a Nintendo.

644. And this is a personal computer.

645. What's the difference?

646. No keyboard for Nintendo.

647. No keyboard for Ninte—

648. You speak English?

649. Of course you do.

650. Look, I'm sorry.

651. Robert Stein screwed you.

652. But legally speaking,

653. he didn't steal from you, which means I didn't steal from you.

654. Next time, define computers so you can hold on to your video game rights.

655. And what about arcade?

656. There's nothing in that contract about arcade rights.

657. That, Stein definitely stole from you.

658. How much are they worth?

659. $150,000.

660. Where does he keep running to?

661. Mr. Belikov.

662. Mr. Belikov.

663. No!

664. Alexey, we got off on the wrong foot.

665. Can I buy you dinner?

666. Mr. Rogers, I'm not for sale.

667. Is paragraph 40 a more prudent definition of PC computer?

668. "Whereas PC computers consist of processor,

669. monitor disk drive, and keyboard."

670. - Yeah, much better. - Keyboard.

671. But Stein signed years ago. What's the point of this?

672. Oh, no. Please. You're welcome.

673. Okay.

674. Okay. What is going on?

675. What is this?

676. New contract.

677. $150,000 for arcade rights?

678. Who the hell gave you these numbers?

679. Who gave SEGA the right to sell Tetris arcade in Japan?

680. If—

681. If I sign this contract, then we can discuss handheld rights, yes?

682. I need a night to read the contract.

683. He says we are done for the day.

684. But we haven't discussed handheld yet.

685. He says we will gallantly attack that in the morrow.

686. Okay.

687. Alexey.

688. You want a lift?

689. I have car.

690. Can I get a lift, then?

691. So, where you from?

692. I'm from Holland, but I grew up in New York.

693. My parents were Dutch with some Jewish and Indonesian blood.

694. I'm basically Eddie Van Halen.

695. Mr. Rogers, I don't need small talk.

696. Look, believe it or not, I honestly want to get to know you.

697. If not as a business partner, then as a fan.

698. Come to my hotel for dinner tonight.

699. No.

700. Then can I come to your house?

701. Having a foreigner in one's home is crime here.

702. So…

703. just call.

704. Great.

705. Thanks for the ride.

706. - Guess how long my meeting lasted? - Two minutes and three seconds.

707. You, sir, need better manners.

708. So you are saying that you've never seen this game?

709. I'm saying that we should move on to—

710. You are spying on me?

711. You bastard!

712. Careful, Kevin.

713. Let's take a walk outside. Yes?

714. What are you offering for Tetris?

715. The exclusive publishing rights to our Collier's Encycl—

716. No. How much money?

717. The rights are worth two million dollars. So, you know, it's tit for tat.

718. More like tit for shit.

719. Excuse me?

720. This is fucking Russia.

721. You people, you don't care about money.

722. - Where are you from, Mr. Maxwell? - What's that got to do with it?

723. Me, I'm from Stavropol Krai.

724. My parents were kolkhoz, you know, sharecroppers.

725. They worked 18 hours a day on a state-owned farm.

726. The government took everything.

727. I realized very young that if I was going to succeed in this society,

728. I would need this. Only this.

729. And unlike you, nobody helped me get to where I am today.

730. So, spare me the Bolshevik shit.

731. Communism is dying.

732. Soon I'll be out of a job.

733. Like you, I want to walk away with the best deal.

734. You want me to bribe you?

735. Is that what this is?

736. No, no. I run an honest company.

737. Nobody becomes a billionaire by being honest, Mr. Maxwell.

738. And nobody becomes a billionaire by trusting a dirty politico either.

739. If you are in search of a pawn, I do suggest you fuck off.

740. Good day.

741. $100,000, US, when I get the deal.

742. No.

743. That is not what I'm asking.

744. Boris

745. Stop recording.

746. 800,000.

747. Half up-front, wired to a Swiss account.

748. 300, paid when I get handheld Tetris.

749. Perhaps I'll ask Mr. Rogers.

750. Henk Rogers has no money.

751. He reps Nintendo, and they'd never bribe you.

752. And Robert Stein is too cheap, so don't even bother threatening me with him.

753. 400.

754. Final offer.

755. Okay then.

756. And, Mr. Trifonov?

757. Kevin does not need to know about any of this.

758. Why are we taking the risk?

759. Especially after what happened to your father.

760. Have you ever tried to say no to an American?

761. It's impossible.

762. Hello.

763. Hi.

764. That's Maya. She's ten.

765. Julie's eight.

766. Michael, six.

767. Leo's three.

768. And that is my wife, Akemi.

769. We met in college, in Hawaii,

770. fell in love, and I followed her back to Tokyo.

771. You have lived many places.

772. Yeah, I guess so.

773. How about you?

774. I lived only here.

775. In Moscow?

776. In this apartment.

777. So, Henk, how do you like Moscow?

778. Honestly?

779. It's a bit confusing.

780. Russia is difficult country to love at first.

781. Much like our literature, it's cold and dark on the outside.

782. But also romantic and inspired.

783. Nobody sees that side anymore.

784. How did you find Tetris, Henk?

785. I was at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, selling a game I had designed.

786. Then I saw your husband's game—

787. - And then you stole it. - Nina.

788. No, it's fine.

789. I licensed it from a big company who lied to me.

790. But I'm here to make things right.

791. Because Tetris—

792. It's that good.

793. He's dumb. But he is honest.

794. So you are a game designer, Henk?

795. And a programmer.

796. Well, though I've mostly been doing sales lately.

797. Pascal or assembler?

798. I was gonna ask you the same thing.

799. I like Pascal.

800. Assembler is my go-to.

801. But never underestimate…

802. - …the power of BASIC. - The power of BASIC.

803. That's spooky.

804. This is it?

805. The original?

806. Amazing.

807. Can I play?

808. Yes.

809. It's always been bugging me.

810. Why can't both lines disappear at once instead of one at a time?

811. Because…

812. I never thought of that.

813. We should allow up to four lines to disappear at once.

814. We should?

815. What?

816. Yeah.

817. Give it a try. No harm.

818. - Henk? - Right.

819. Higher levels equals more points. So, you'd—

820. Sorry.

821. Close. But we need something more.

822. Life is hard, and we deserve our small celebrations.

823. I forgot how much fun this is.

824. What?

825. Go, go, go.

826. - Stay quiet. Go. - What's—

827. - Be quiet. - What is the—

828. Quiet!

829. Good evening. Do you have any salt?

830. Salt?

831. Neighbour.

832. Alexey, please!

833. - What is— - Sorry, Henk, you have to go.

834. Okay.

835. - But only if you come with me. - What?

836. We should go out. But not at some tourist bar.

837. Show me the real Moscow, where people like you hang out.

838. Henk, it is really not good idea. I'm—

839. Yeah. I know, but sometimes you gotta say "fuck the rules," right?

840. I mean, that's why I came to Moscow.

841. And I think that's why you invited me here tonight.

842. This is the place.

843. More of what you had in mind, Henk, yes?

844. Yeah!

845. Thank you.

846. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

847. Cheers.

848. Do you know these people?

849. I work with a few of them, yes.

850. Love the music.

851. Look, personally I prefer Mozart and Russian folk songs.

852. Not, you know…

853. - What did she— - Folks.

854. She has news from the Baltic states.

855. Estonians have taken to the streets,

856. demanding independence from the Soviet Union.

857. All of us are tired of the hypocrisy and the career politicians.

858. We all want freedom.

859. Freedom of speech.

860. Freedom of art, of expression.

861. We want Coca-Cola.

862. And we want Levi's jeans.

863. And let's drink for this.

864. I love this song!

865. Everybody knows the words.

866. Good ideas have no borders.

867. - Come sing. - No, no, no.

868. Come on. Please?

869. I don't sing. No.

870. Come on. How can you resist!

871. Alexey!

872. - Now you see we aren't so different. - Yes.

873. Thank you for bringing me here tonight.

874. It means a lot.

875. Maya, we're going home soon. Please clean up.

876. Akemi Rogers?

877. We are from Russian Embassy in Tokyo.

878. Who let you in?

879. Do you know where your husband is?

880. Has your husband called?

881. Well, if he does, tell him to come home.

882. Immediately.

883. You have beautiful children.

884. Go home!

885. And thanks for the Levi's.

886. - Translator? - No, thank you.

887. What the f…

888. Henk.

889. Thank goodness you're okay.

890. What…

891. They searched my apartment too.

892. But I don't get it.

893. I'm trying to help you guys. Why am I a threat?

894. You're a foreigner attempting to buy Russian property.

895. To many, that is tantamount to treason.

896. It's just a video game.

897. To you, yes.

898. But to the men in power it is a slippery slope

899. from selling one game to selling all of Russia to the highest bidder.

900. Henk, don't sacrifice everything for this.

901. I—

902. I'm married.

903. I didn't—

904. You gotta go.

905. Good Morning!

906. Peter and Dmitri.

907. My little tennis stars.

908. Off to school?

909. You have a good papa

910. For taking you so early after being out so late last night.

911. Papa, who is he?

912. English?

913. Impressive.

914. Your mother Nina is an English teacher, yes?

915. Well, that's a good job.

916. Steady salary.

917. Has your father ever told you what happened to his father?

918. No?

919. Well, he should.

920. 'Cause, you know, history has a very strange way of repeating itself.

921. Mr. Rogers? International phone is ready. You have three minutes.

922. Come on. Come on.

923. Come on, come on, pick up.

924. Hello

925. Maya.

926. It's Papa.

927. Papa! Are you coming home?

928. My school concert is soon and we did a rehearsal today

929. and my teacher said I sound like an angel and…

930. Maya, honey. I promise I'll be home for your concert,

931. but right now I need to speak to your mother.

932. It sucks not being able to talk to you.

933. Maya let me speak.

934. Henk?

935. Hi. I need you to call our lawyer,

936. have him fax ELORG my contract with Mirrorsoft,

937. and have him draft up a new contract for handheld Tetris.

938. I'll fill in the details. ELORG's number is +7 495 442 481.

939. - Okay? - Henk.

940. Some Russians came into the office, threatening me to tell you to come home.

941. What?

942. Akemi?

943. Oh, shit.

944. - You son of a bitch.

945. - Taxi!

946. - Taxi!

947. Why is Henk Rogers here?

948. Are you trying to play us off against each other?

949. 'Cause if you're trying to screw with me, I swear—

950. Mr. Stein, have you read your revised contract?

951. Yes.

952. Yes, I did. It's not fair.

953. You charge far too much for arcade rights.

954. And why should I sign a new contract for the PC rights

955. that I already own fair and square?

956. Oh, okay, okay.

957. I'll sign, but then we discuss the handheld rights, yes?

958. Okay, handheld. How much?

959. - We'll come back. - No.

960. No, no. No!

961. Mr. Belikov, with all due respect, what the hell is going on?

962. First, one of your cronies threatens me,

963. then you threaten my wife in Japan,

964. my hotel room gets trashed,

965. and now I find out you're negotiating with Robert Stein.

966. After all he's done to you?

967. This, this is insane.

968. I am the only honest guy here!

969. You're all swindlers.

970. You're all here just for the money.

971. What? I don't speak Russian. I don't have my translator.

972. And where's Alexey?

973. You guys, you think that I'm the enemy?

974. You're wrong. This isn't about the money anymore.

975. It's about giving Alexey his due and showing the world

976. the Soviet Union is about more than just missiles and military might.

977. What is that?

978. Your contract with Mirrorsoft.

979. Proving that I didn't steal from you.

980. And behind that is my new offer.

981. There are no numbers on it.

982. $25,000, up-front, for worldwide handheld rights, plus 25 cents per unit sold.

983. $25,000?

984. Why so little?

985. Because, to be honest, I got no money left.

986. But the royalties I'm offering are more than fair.

987. How many games you expect to sell?

988. Conservative estimate, a million.

989. My estimate is 20 million.

990. That means you get five million dollars.

991. Oh, come on. You guys are the kings of cliff-hangers!

992. A word, please.

993. I have been following your negotiations.

994. You've done a masterful job.

995. It's all for the Soviet Union, Comrade Trifonov.

996. Good.

997. Because the state has decided that Tetris will go to Mirrorsoft.

998. Good.

999. Let's go.

1000. Mr. Be— Oh, for fuck—

1001. What's he doing here?

1002. Foreign Trade is my department, Mr. Maxwell.

1003. Okay. Mr. Belikov,

1004. Mirrorsoft is prepared to offer the Russian publishing rights

1005. to its Collier's Encyclopedias, worth two million dollars,

1006. in exchange for worldwide handheld Tetris.

1007. - And royalties? - Oh, for Christ's sake, Mr. Belikov.

1008. I just offered you the deal of a lifetime.

1009. We are prepared to give you deal, Mr. Maxwell, but times…

1010. times are changing.

1011. We are held accountable for our decisions.

1012. You see, choosing the offer with no real money looks

1013. suspicious.

1014. Okay.

1015. Fine, fine.

1016. All expenditures have to be approved by my board, mind you.

1017. But, unofficially, I can offer ELORG one million US dollars by the end of week.

1018. - And royalties? - Jesus fucking Christ.

1019. That's enough.

1020. What did he say?

1021. One million dollars…

1022. added to letter of intent.

1023. We promise Mirrorsoft worldwide handheld Tetris,

1024. if you wire us one million dollars in one week.

1025. Well, gentlemen,

1026. looks like we…

1027. we have ourselves a deal.

1028. Let me walk you out.

1029. - But we're not finished— - Now!

1030. - Mr. Belikov, the exit is this way. - Shut up.

1031. Is everything all right?

1032. You have one week to make an offer for worldwide handheld rights.

1033. You have my offer.

1034. I'm ready to sign now. What is going on?

1035. You must sign a letter of intent first. It's protocol.

1036. - Are you lying to me, Belikov? - Listen.

1037. If you knew the risk I'm taking right now, you wouldn't ask that.

1038. Please sign.

1039. Please.

1040. And one more thing.

1041. If you would like to make an offer for worldwide video game rights,

1042. ELORG is open to deal.

1043. What? Stein has the worldwide video game rights.

1044. No, he doesn't.

1045. I redefined "computer."

1046. Stein needed arcade rights, so, he signed a new contract.

1047. Why are you helping me, Belikov?

1048. I'm doing what is the best for my country.

1049. Go home, Henk Rogers, and come back with your Nintendo crew to make a real offer.

1050. Where were you today?

1051. Doesn't matter.

1052. We did it.

1053. Handheld rights and they're promising worldwide video game rights too.

1054. Get in.

1055. Dzerzhinsky Square.

1056. You don't have your car?

1057. I don't want to be followed.

1058. When I was a boy, my father was professor at Moscow University.

1059. And in 1965, a colleague of his was jailed for selling his book abroad.

1060. Just for selling his book?

1061. Yes.

1062. And my father signed a letter of protest, which was the right thing to do.

1063. But the Soviet retribution was swift.

1064. He lost his professorship and was barred from holding a real job ever again,

1065. and it ruined him.

1066. And it ruined my family.

1067. And I promised myself that I would never put my kids through that kind of hell.

1068. But they are doing it again, Henk.

1069. And this time, to me.

1070. Do you know what that building is?

1071. Well, you should, because they've been watching your every move.

1072. Wait. That's—

1073. That's the member of the Communist Party at Central Committee,

1074. one of the most powerful men in USSR.

1075. Speaking to his agent.

1076. KGB?

1077. Sasha is KGB?

1078. But she's—

1079. Why?

1080. Because you are a threat.

1081. You represent everything our country has fought against for 80 years.

1082. And he just found out that ELORG promised you Tetris.

1083. Airport right away!

1084. Tell them it's important.

1085. It's about Tetris. I'm laid over in Korea, but only for an hour.

1086. Sorry, Mr. Rogers. They're in a meeting.

1087. Can I take a message?

1088. No, I wanna tell them myself.

1089. I'll call when I'm home. Thanks.

1090. Gentlemen. Robert Maxwell, Chairman of the Mirror Group. Pleasure.

1091. Minoru Arakawa.

1092. This is Howard Lincoln, my senior VP and chief legal counsel.

1093. How can we help you today, sir?

1094. I think I've got something you want.

1095. Kevin, are you there?

1096. Yes.

1097. It's good news, gentlemen.

1098. You see Nikolai Evgenievich…

1099. Unlike you, I put our country first.

1100. Don't hurt him too much. He still has work to do.

1101. Oh, shit.

1102. Maya?

1103. Jesus. No.

1104. Oh, no.

1105. - Hello? - Henk, it's Howard Lincoln.

1106. Listen, I thought I should call you and tell you in person.

1107. I— I don— I don't—

1108. I'm sorry, you didn't get the Game Boy rights for Tetris.

1109. We gotta go with Mirrorsoft.

1110. You understand, right?

1111. - Hello? - They're lying, Howard. Everybody's lying.

1112. They're blackmailing me so I keep my mouth shut.

1113. But I'm telling you, Mirrorsoft doesn't even have the video game rights—

1114. Henk, relax. We just got a fax from ELORG confirming Mirrorsoft's license.

1115. It's legit, okay?

1116. We'll find something else to work on.

1117. - Wait, wait. - All right? Bye-bye.

1118. You done?

1119. The Maxwells screwed me, Akemi. They took everything.

1120. You missed your daughter's concert.

1121. Did you hear what I just said?

1122. Did you hear what I just said?

1123. We've got nothing left.

1124. Nothing!

1125. It's over, and you're giving me shit about missing a concert?

1126. M— Maya! Sh—

1127. You selfish prick

1128. Honey?

1129. It's fine.

1130. Everything is gonna be fine.

1131. Because if it isn't, then we don't have handheld rights,

1132. and we don't have console rights.

1133. And Nintendo will sue us for fraud,

1134. and we'll lose the business, and they'll probably take our house.

1135. And I am trying to keep it together, Akemi, really I am.

1136. But I do not have a backup plan.

1137. I just— I just need you to understand

1138. that I did this because I am trying to build a life for us.

1139. We had a life.

1140. Can I come in?

1141. I devoted my life to this country,

1142. the great idea of it.

1143. But…

1144. I can't do it…

1145. …This country doesn't exist any more.

1146. We're turning into a nation of thieves.

1147. Tetris is going to Mirrorsoft.

1148. And I will be removed from my position at ELORG once the deal is signed.

1149. But you can still make this right.

1150. Get this to Henk Rogers.

1151. He'll know what to do.

1152. Hi

1153. Hi

1154. Fire!

1155. What are you doing back there?

1156. Kevin, my boy. Okay, get out.

1157. What the hell is going on?

1158. Spring cleaning, is all.

1159. Shredding redundant balance sheets we had made for our auditors.

1160. How are you? Congratulations on Tetris.

1161. I need one million US dollars, and accounting's saying we don't have it.

1162. - Why do you need a million dollars? - Why do I… For Tetris.

1163. Son, we don't have to pay the Russians anything.

1164. We're giving them the encyclopedias.

1165. No, no, no. It was a competitive bid, and that's the deal I struck.

1166. The deal is, I am friends with Mikhail Gorbachev.

1167. Stop with your damn "we're friends" bit!

1168. The Soviet Union is about to implode.

1169. Everyone's snatching up what they can, and Gorbachev can't do a thing about it!

1170. Calm down, Kevin. Don't have a hissy fit. You're not a child.

1171. Then stop treating me like one.

1172. - We don't have the money, do we? - Of course we do.

1173. - But it's tied up. - Okay.

1174. - I'll call the bank. I'll get a loan. - No. I wouldn't do that.

1175. Jesus Christ, Father. You said we were fine.

1176. We are fine.

1177. Once we secure Tetris from the Russians and sign with Nintendo,

1178. - we'll be in the black. - Okay.

1179. But who's going to convince the Russians to give us Tetris for no money?

1180. Leave it to me.

1181. Good job, Son.

1182. Let's sue the fuck out of them. This is the lowest of the low.

1183. But that doesn't solve the problem.

1184. We can send a cease and desist.

1185. Sir. Excuse me, sir. You can't—

1186. - Sir, they're in a meeting. - Well, this meeting is over.

1187. - What the hell is he doing here? - Read this.

1188. - Henk, we don't have time. - Read it!

1189. - What the fuck is that? - Atari stole our patent.

1190. They hacked the NES, now manufacturing and selling our cartridges.

1191. Guess what their first game is.

1192. - They do not have the rights. - They do in America. I checked.

1193. - No, they don't. - What?

1194. Who the hell is "A"?

1195. Alexey Pajitnov.

1196. "Henk, ELORG and Mirrorsoft lie.

1197. No rights for Tetris granted.

1198. Come back and make offer ASAP." What's he mean, "no rights?"

1199. You're looking at Mirrorsoft's contract,

1200. which is just a letter of intent that expired yesterday.

1201. - So handheld rights are— - Available.

1202. - And video game? - Available.

1203. - Worldwide. - But that means—

1204. I don't have video game rights in Japan, because Stein and Mirrorsoft

1205. never had the right to sell them to me, or to these guys.

1206. Wait, you're telling me Atari doesn't have Tetris in America?

1207. I'm telling you Atari doesn't have Tetris anywhere.

1208. What makes you so sure this Alexey character isn't lying?

1209. Because he's the only one who stands to gain nothing from this.

1210. What do you need from us?

1211. I need you and your checkbooks to get on a plane with me to Moscow ASAP.

1212. And tell nobody.

1213. He's back.

1214. And he brought friends.

1215. Hello

1216. What are you doing?

1217. What is going on?

1218. Damn.

1219. Stop.

1220. What are you doing?

1221. Sasha!

1222. What is this?

1223. You're moving.

1224. Where? Why? This is my home! This was my parents' home. You can't!

1225. What's going on?

1226. Your husband broke the law.

1227. I got a call to say the boys were sent home from school?

1228. Which will fall faster?

1229. - Quick! - Neither!

1230. Mama, papa!

1231. We're studying gravity in school! He's showing us an experiment.

1232. That's right.

1233. An 'experiment'.

1234. Which one will fall faster? Quick!

1235. Chair?

1236. Ah, this is where gravity gets tricky.

1237. The chair should fall faster because it's heavier, right?

1238. Yes

1239. But it won't.

1240. Listen,

1241. gravity doesn't care

1242. if you're as light as a coin

1243. or as heavy as a…

1244. Boy.

1245. Everything falls at the same speed.

1246. Boys. Go and help your mother pack.

1247. Henk Rogers is back because of you.

1248. Ruining your life was easy.

1249. Cross me again and you will no longer exist.

1250. Just like your friend Henk.

1251. Mr. Belikov.

1252. Are you okay?

1253. Sorry for my tardiness.

1254. So, you want to see new games.

1255. No. We're here for Tetris.

1256. But I already informed you via fax that Tetris transaction is dead.

1257. Uh-huh.

1258. And I assume you gave Mirrorsoft the same deal you gave me.

1259. A week to make an offer for Tetris handheld.

1260. Have they?

1261. Didn't think so. Here. Here's our offer.

1262. For video game and handheld Tetris. Worldwide.

1263. The money is up-front.

1264. We'll cover all marketing and manufacturing,

1265. and give you 50 cents per unit sold on both handheld and video games.

1266. One dollar per unit sold.

1267. Great. Let's sign, and we can go home.

1268. No.

1269. Please listen, I'm negotiating what's best for our country.

1270. Protection of the government's property and decision making is our responsibility.

1271. He says ELORG needs night to go over contract.

1272. It's protocol.

1273. She is correct.

1274. It is protocol.

1275. Good. Time to go, gentlemen.

1276. I have another appointment.

1277. Five million dollars?

1278. And where is your money, Mr. Maxwell?

1279. I am not going to match five million fucking dollars.

1280. And you don't have to.

1281. All you have to do is wire ELORG the one million your son promised them.

1282. Tetris is yours.

1283. You have 24 hours.

1284. Why is it so important that the Maxwells win?

1285. Isn't the offer with more money better for the Soviet Union?

1286. I'll concern myself with the fate of the Soviet Union.

1287. You go and do your job.

1288. Dismissed.

1289. - Father! Father. - Not right now.

1290. Nintendo just offered the Russians five million dollars

1291. for worldwide video game and handheld rights.

1292. - I already know. Jo. - Yes.

1293. Wait.

1294. Did you say they offered on handheld and video game rights?

1295. - Yes. - Impossible.

1296. We already have worldwide video game rights.

1297. - We licensed them from— - Kevin!

1298. You son of a bitch.

1299. You were in Moscow. You made a deal behind my back.

1300. Got ELORG to change my contract, cutting me out!

1301. - Someone call security! - And you, Robert,

1302. I found Tetris for you and you pay me no royalties!

1303. And now, because of your greed, the Russians erased us from the profits.

1304. What are you talking about?

1305. They redefined the word "computer" in my new contract, huh?

1306. Cutting me out of video games so you can steal it!

1307. We didn't sign any new video game contracts.

1308. Oh, you fucking fool!

1309. I am a fucking fool?

1310. The bratty son of a billionaire

1311. who's never done an honest day's work in his life calls me a fool?

1312. You self-entitled piece of…

1313. Come on, mate. Get off!

1314. Off! Off me!

1315. Off! Off!

1316. You, all of you,

1317. you're all working for thieves!

1318. Thieves!

1319. Jo, have the jet ready in an hour.

1320. I'm going to Moscow.

1321. Mr. Maxwell. Welcome to—

1322. Fucking you again?

1323. Gentlemen, welcome.

1324. Apologies, but I am gaining weight and need new suit for today's celebration.

1325. You look great, General Secretary.

1326. And you are bad liar, my friend.

1327. How can I help you?

1328. Unfortunately, this isn't a social call.

1329. My son and I are here because there is an American businessman in Moscow

1330. who's been manipulating your bureaucrats

1331. into giving him the rights to a Russian video game

1332. that my company already had a deal on.

1333. In fact, he's just offered your people five million US dollars.

1334. And?

1335. And if this deal goes through, it will set a dangerous precedent.

1336. And what is that?

1337. That communism is dead.

1338. So, you are here to save my country?

1339. Once you let capitalists through your gates, they will never leave.

1340. And what are you?

1341. As you said, I am your friend.

1342. We are proposing a fair trade where no money is exchanged.

1343. You get the publishing rights to our Collier's Encyclopedias,

1344. and we get the game.

1345. An exchange of information.

1346. I appreciate your benevolence, Robert, but my country is broken.

1347. My people want freedom.

1348. Freedom to vote, to choose their destiny.

1349. Communism was never meant to prevent freedom.

1350. But, unfortunately, human greed got in the way.

1351. The world is changing, gentlemen, and Soviet Union will not be left behind.

1352. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have speech to prepare.

1353. Would you like my advice?

1354. Respectfully, Mr. Trifonov, we've got this far without you, so do fuck off.

1355. Just get me Tetris.

1356. Get me everything you know on him.

1357. The foreigner?

1358. No.

1359. The politician.

1360. Comrade Gorbachev, look at the respect they show you.

1361. Alexey.

1362. Told you I'd be back.

1363. - You shouldn't have come. - What?

1364. You're the reason I'm here.

1365. You misinterpreted me.

1366. You literally said, "Come back and make an offer ASAP."

1367. I was wrong. You don't deserve it.

1368. - Alexey, what's up? We're friends. - We are not.

1369. You used me to get what you want.

1370. That is— How could you say that?

1371. I'm doing this for us.

1372. You are doing it for you.

1373. I don't stand to profit a penny from this.

1374. I'll make sure you do.

1375. - It's not gonna be eas— - Stop making promises you cannot keep.

1376. We come from different worlds.

1377. You go back to yours, and I'll return to mine.

1378. "70 years from our glorious revolution"

1379. This is a time of change…

1380. But I am confident the USSR…

1381. Henk Rogers' team are heading to ELORG.

1382. Will come out of it stronger than ever.

1383. Walkie Talkie!

1384. Where is Henk Rogers now!

1385. Heading north on Boshaya Ordynka.

1386. Don't let these capitalists get to ELORG!

1387. All agents to ELORG! Repeat. All agents to ELORG.

1388. This is not a counteroffer.

1389. Correct. It is our first offer and final offer.

1390. Our IP for your IP.

1391. And we'll be taking back our video game rights too, thank you very much.

1392. - What the bloody hell is this? - Choice.

1393. They can choose your shit deal, or our fair deal.

1394. - What? - The cavalry is coming, boys.

1395. Our agreement guarantees us Tetris if we make a counteroffer,

1396. which we just did.

1397. Depending on payment of one million dollars.

1398. - Fuck you. Sign the deal. - Honor the contract.

1399. You have less than one minute before heads roll.

1400. Mr. Belikov, do not fall for his shit. Every—

1401. Father, just pay him the pity money.

1402. You don't have the money.

1403. That explains never paying any royalties.

1404. - Father, what the fuck is happening? - Nothing.

1405. It's an accounting quirk to be resolved next quarter.

1406. Meaning, you're bankrupt.

1407. Enough! I could have you all arrested.

1408. Can we get this done, please?

1409. - Mr. Belikov. - You bastard.

1410. Out.

1411. You are not safe until you leave Moscow. Go.

1412. - Where are they? - Gone, you idiot.

1413. - What? - With our deal.

1414. Maxwell has no money. He voided the contract.

1415. I had no choice.

1416. I run a billion-dollar corporation. Of course I have money.

1417. Just not at this exact moment.

1418. What about my money?

1419. What do you mean your money?

1420. Yes, what do you mean your money?

1421. Are you fucking—

1422. What, you bribed this piece of shit?

1423. Behind my back?

1424. Oh, shut up.

1425. I was saving your arse, per usual.

1426. You wanna play with the big boys, Son?

1427. This is how the world works. Suck it up.

1428. Where is my money, Robert?

1429. I delivered you Tetris on a silver fucking platter.

1430. All you had to do was pay. Where is my money?

1431. Comrade Trifonov we work for our country…

1432. You whore yourself.

1433. Fine.

1434. Get me back my contract, and I will personally double your fee.

1435. - No. - Triple.

1436. I don't trust your money.

1437. I want 50% ownership of Tetris.

1438. Deal.

1439. Commie bastards.

1440. - Get in! - Come on, get in!

1441. Go! Go, go, go!

1442. How'd you know where to find us?

1443. It was easy. I thought, "What would I never do?"

1444. Behind us!

1445. Drive faster!

1446. Alexey! Alexey!

1447. What flights are leaving in the next hour?

1448. - We can make it! - There's no room!

1449. Do you trust me?

1450. Oh, my God.

1451. Come on! come on!

1452. Flight 702 to Zurich is now boarding.

1453. Please proceed to the gate.

1454. Next.

1455. What's your next flight out?

1456. We need backup.

1457. Let's go.

1458. Flight 802 to Tokyo via Seoul is now boarding.

1459. Please proceed to the gate.

1460. Come on, come on, come on, come on.

1461. They're coming.

1462. Sweep the room.

1463. - You need to get out of here. - No.

1464. - I'm staying until you're safely through. - Alexey, you've risked enough.

1465. Please get out of here before they catch you.

1466. This is not goodbye, I promise.

1467. I know how much you hate that word.

1468. But, man, I really mean it.

1469. No. It's no time for American emotion.

1470. - Next! - Go.

1471. - Reason for travel? - I'm a tourist.

1472. Excuse me.

1473. Please take your seats for departure.

1474. Move out the way!

1475. Where is the plane to Tokyo?

1476. Gate 6…

1477. But it's closed!

1478. OFFICIAL BUSINESS!

1479. We ask that you fasten your seatbelts…

1480. Open the door!

1481. OFFICIAL BUSINESS!

1482. Sorry, we have a slight delay…

1483. Now!

1484. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to flight 802 to Tokyo.

1485. We are now getting ready to depart.

1486. What the fuck?

1487. Please fasten your seat belt.

1488. Son of a…

1489. They're on the other plane!

1490. Valentin Igorovich…

1491. By order of the Secretary General…

1492. You are hereby under arrest for abuse of authority and corruption.

1493. No

1494. What the fuck is this?

1495. Move!

1496. You broke the law.

1497. I am the law!

1498. Get them out of my way.

1499. Is it because I called you a whore?

1500. This is the end of our country.

1501. You hear me?

1502. The fucking end.

1503. The fucking end!

1504. It will all fall!

1505. Welcome to flight 702 to Zurich.

1506. We hope you enjoy your flight with us today.

1507. Maya.

1508. If you would do me the honour,

1509. I would love to watch the performance

1510. I wish I hadn't missed.

1511. Please…

1512. OK

1513. I'll get ready.

1514. I made a promise to you

1515. Which didn't go the way I hoped.

1516. Until now.

1517. Christmas '89 is about to get a lot more exciting

1518. with a brand-new gift under the tree. It's called the Game Boy.

1519. Protests are taking place across the Soviet Union.

1520. Its maker, Nintendo, has already sold out twice in Japan.

1521. And it's on its way to doing the same thing in America,

1522. where sales have exceeded $110 million this holiday season.

1523. And demand is showing no signs of letting up.

1524. Borders are being opened across Eastern Europe.

1525. That is in no small part thanks to Tetris,

1526. the hit new game that has entire families clamoring to play.

1527. Mikhail Gorbachev has resigned,

1528. and the red flag has been lowered at the Kremlin.

1529. Is this good news or bad news?

1530. Probably both.

1531. This came for you.

1532. From Henk.

1533. …for five minutes. Mom really needs the bed.

1534. Here they come.

1535. Welcome to your new home, buddy.

1536. Is now a good time for American emotion?

1537. The TV doesn't work. Video doesn't work.

1538. I've read everything I can read.

1539. Next stop is the Moscow Go Club.

1540. Your name is Alla?

1541. Okay, Alla is going to take us to the Russian Go Association.

1542. And then she has also located ELORG for us.

1543. This is Alexey Pajitnov.

1544. - He is the author of Tetris. - Okay, well sort of.

1545. I play Tetris with my friends.

1546. Okay.