Logline

A philosophy professor at MIT engages in a friendship over chess with a library assistant that could change him into who he really is.

Summary

An assistant professor of philosophy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – with a reputation of being quite sardonic – falls for a library assistant who can play chess. A series of chess encounters inspires him to change his ways. Yet a misunderstanding between them sets him into a regression and he is then left with a choice to stay in the mire he’s created or to emerge from it.

Synopsis

It starts with an argument about Star Wars, which Thomas Ritchard disarms. He then proceeds to the classroom where he gives a survey of Western philosophy to his students. He lectures about Descartes: highlights his life, summarizes his philosophy, and finally proceeds to pick it apart. His overall delivery is quite crass and every now and then he berates the students too. Afterwards, he meets with a struggling student, Kay Philips-Voight, and offers little to no consolation. Yet at home, he reads contently but suffers a deep melancholia.

One day, whilst at Hayden Library, he sees Sophia Avery, one of the full-time library assistants, working at the service desk with a chessboard in front of her. The next time he sees her, he challenges her to a quick game which results in him losing in fifteen moves. This doesn’t stop Thomas from proposing a meeting where they could play a more leisurely game. She accepts and they play at Muddy Charles Pub where she comments on both his playing style and his pedagogical approach. The next day, Thomas meets with Kay but this time is less sardonic toward her. Later Thomas meets with Sophia and they arrange to play out in the Lipchitz Courtyard near the library. She tells him how she came to work in the library and how she views chess. Thomas then softens more of his sardonic tendencies by giving a lecture that’s not scathing. Afterwards, he meets with Sophia again and they decide to walk together along the Memorial Drive median. A pleasant and playful exchange then turns into a clumsily delivered kiss and an awkward silence.

Interpreting this silence as a rejection, Thomas becomes more withdrawn and insular. The next couple of meetings with Sophia are tense where Sophia inquires and Thomas deflects. The second one ends with Thomas insulting her. All of this tension and turmoil feeds into his next lecture where a discussion concerning the existence of God and the relevance of religion takes Thomas to his breaking point. He yells at his students in a way he hasn’t done, even when he was acting sarcastic. Word of the explosion spreads and it leads to a split with Sophia and administrative leave for him. Thomas is distraught by it all and for several days, he wallows in depression in his home. One day, Sophia’s older sister Michelle invites Thomas for lunch to talk about Sophia. Inspired by something she said, he returns home to write a letter to Sophia explaining why he assumed sardonic and sarcastic traits, how she influenced him to drop the resentful facade and how he wants to put them aside to be more of himself. Thomas then calls the Dean of Humanities to straighten things out.

The next semester, Thomas returns to MIT no longer a sarcastic professor but more himself. He does go to the library once more, sees Sophia and asks her if she wants to play chess with her later.

Cast List/Dramatis Personae

Thomas Ritchard – assistant professor of philosophy
Sophia Avery – library assistant

Robert Sullivan – assistant professor of philosophy, work colleague of Thomas
Kay Philips-Voight – a student attending Thomas’ class
Michelle Avery – trial lawyer, elder sister to Michelle

Dean of Humanities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bryan – student, supports the Star Wars prequel trilogy
Harry – student, opposes the Star Wars prequel trilogy
Various students expressing their opinions

Roger and Emily Avery – parents of Sophia and Michelle
Various personnel at Sophia’s first and last office job including her manager

-Thomas’ Letter to Sophia-
Francis and Nancy Ritchard – parents of Thomas
Various elementary students and other personnel at his elementary school
Paul and Joann Ritchard – relatives of Thomas [Paul is Francis’ brother]
Brittany and William Ritchard – children of Paul and Joann, Thomas’ cousins
Samuel Harrington – professor of philosophy at Columbia University, mentor to Thomas

Title’s Source: Gary Numan’s “Engineers”

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