Original subtitles

[opening theme music playing]

[upbeat music playing]

Aw, man!

Hey, guys.

Hey, Morty, we got a pool.

What round's he going to take you in tonight?

Hey, I got a lot of money riding on this.

Hey!

[crowd cheering]

[crowd booing]

[bell dings]

It ain't fair!

[crowd booing]

You're doing good.

Just keep your hands up. Come on.

What's keeping him on his feet, Fatso?

You got him. You got him. Go for his eye. Go for his eye.

Got to protect that eye, kid. You're taking too many shots.

Come on, now breathe.

You can take him.

You know you can take him.

Hey, I talk to him, not you.

Okay, kid. Fourth round, this is it.

Take couple of shots. Go down like a man.

Aw, come on, I could take him easy, Jerry.

-Sure, you could. -I'm telling you I could take him easy.

-Please. -Look, listen to me.

He drops his shoulder every time he throws his right lead.

Will you let me show ya?

Don't show me. It's all over in this round.

Come on, let's finish him.

[buzzer sounds]

[crowd booing]

[crowd cheering]

Come on, hit me with something, will ya?

[bell dings]

[bell dings]

Ladies and gentlemen,

we have the time of 42 seconds in round number four.

The winner by way of knockout--

Kid Swift!

The kid had nothing, Jerry.

He had nothing.

Terrific.

I'm telling ya... The kid should be a florist.

I mean, I'm really embarrassed.

He's embarrassed.

What's the matter? I don't take care of you?

Yeah. But that's not the point.

You always get a piece of the action, don't you?

-Jerry, will you listen to me? -Don't do any thinking. That's what I am here for.

That's why I'm the manager, and you're the fighter.

We should get his eye checked. He took a lot of shots.

Absolutely. Go see the doc. Send the bill to me.

Listen, I like the way you guys look after my kid brother.

I'm sold. I don't know where you guys have been, but I'm sold.

And when Jerry Zadan is sold, you're in.

Thanks, Mr. Zadan.

Any time Sailor works, you guys are in his corner.

I've been looking for guys like these guys for you.

The champ's got the right team in his corner.

Hey, you'll get your chance, I promise you.

One of these nights when the time is right then,

you're going to be a big winner.

-Right? Right? -Right, right, Jerry.

That's my Sailor boy.

I got to run.

When you're out with Jerry Zadan,

Jerry Zadan picks up the tab.

Morty, take care of that eye.

He's okay. Jerry, he's okay.

Uh-huh.

He's done great for himself. The man owns a gym. That's terrific.

-Uh-huh. And you? -I got $1.43.

[laughing]

I mean, look, I'm a fighter.

I got a place to work out. And it don't cost me penny one.

He's the brains of the family.

Well, he can talk, I'll give him that.

Yeah, he's always had a mouth on him.

Even when I was a kid.

I was the muscle.

Hey, your brother doesn't look too marked up.

Yeah, but you can't tell by looking at a guy.

He ain't had it that easy.

See, I got into the Navy, he couldn't.

In the Navy, you don't got no words.

They point you here. They point you there.

You knock out a few guys, you know, you are a big man.

I knocked out 12 guys.

So? What happened?

This ain't the Navy. It's real life.

My time will come, you'll see.

Jerry promised.

[man shouting indistinctly]

[man] That's it. That's it.

Keep your eyes on him. That's it. Come on. Come on.

Yes, that's a move.

-Fatso! -Yeah, Sailor.

You know that kid of yours, last night?

He stinks.

Hey, you know any good fighters, I'm always interested.

Yeah, sure, right. I'll see you later.

Yeah, they both match up.

They're both bangers. The fight will go maybe six rounds.

Morty, later, right?

Hey, you did good last night.

That means a lot coming from you, Mr. Fitzroy.

Don't get smart with me, kid.

Hey. How can I get smart?

I'm just a fighter. Huh?

Hey, come on, he didn't mean anything.

Keep moving. Work underneath him. That's it.

Work on the body. Come on.

That's it, that's it. Keep him busy. Keep him busy.

That's it. Keep him busy.

Knock him around.

That's it, that's it. Keep him busy. Keep him busy.

That's it, that's it.

Come on, elbows in. Elbows in.

Come on. Fight out of there. Fight out of there. Be first, be first!

Work underneath him. That's it, that's it.

That's it. Keep him busy. Keep him busy.

That's it, that's it. Keep him busy. Keep him busy.

That's it. Keep him busy.

Good, that kid.

He's got to plant his feet, though.

Uh-huh.

You got a special interest in him?

He's my brother.

Ah.

Well, then he's got to throw a right lead.

[man] Get up first.

[Mark] Come on, deeper. Come on, give it first.

Elbows in. Elbows in. Come on. Come on.

[whispering]

All right, time!

[whispering indistinctly]

Time!

[man] All right, that's it! Take him out of here.

[laughing]

All right, what a punch!

That overhand right is something, man. All right!

Did you see this kid? Did you see this kid's hands?

The way he hits? Boom! One shot.

Billy's had three fights.

And he's won them all.

Decisions.

[Morty] Maybe you can use couple of pointers, huh?

No, what he needs is some training and management.

Hey, why don't you train me?

Me?

[scoffs]

Hey, come on. I'm training myself.

Training is a full time thing, you know?

Look, if I was going to do it, I'd wanna do it right.

Maybe you could talk him into it, Julie.

I wish I could.

[chuckles]

Well, I guess I have a little spare time.

[clears throat] All right, I'll do it.

All right.

[Morty] Hey!

What are you drinking beer?

You're in training.

[all laughing]

Billy had a real good workout today.

Real good.

Gum?

Oh, no, thanks.

It's good for the jaws.

Got my brother on gum instead of cigarettes.

He was smoking three packs a day.

Almost got him off it.

-Yeah? -Yeah.

You ever meet my brother?

Mm-mm.

Wait 'till you meet him.

He's only got one fault--

Can't hold on to his money. Always behind the eight ball.

He sees the big picture.

Always trying to make a killing.

So far it's only happened once.

-What happened? -Horse race.

50-to-1 shot.

I thought he was nuts.

Right away, he went out and bought the gym.

-Smart, huh? -From one horse race?

When he goes, he goes.

$500, 50-to-1.

He tells me it's a sure thing, I could have had a piece of it, too.

But I don't have his, uh...

[both laugh]

You must love your brother a lot.

Oh, yeah. We got it all panned out.

Hey, one of these days,

I'm gonna be champ.

You wait. He's just got to let me win a few fights.

He's got to let you win?

Well, yeah...

You got to pick your spots, you know.

I'm not sure I do.

Well, sometimes it ain't the right time. You got to...

Hang back. Take a few.

Then when the time is right, you collect.

-You get your shot. -This is my place.

Oh.

Well, I'll...

See you soon?

Great. I'll see you in the gym.

Yeah. Where else you going to see a face like this, huh?

I think it's a nice face.

[upbeat music playing]

Come on. Stick it. Stick it. Jab.

In my face, come on.

You like my sister, don't you?

Yeah, I like her.

She's a nice girl.

Why do you think I like her?

[Morty] Yeah, well, me and Jerry lived with my grandma until she died.

How old were you?

I was 15.

We quit school.

We hung on playing pool,

All kinds of scams.

No family?

Got an uncle somewhere.

We never heard from him.

Spent half my life up here.

This is my whole world up here.

My whole world.

Then I went and joined the navy.

It was the first time I realized that there was something else out there.

Didn't you ever go to movies?

Yeah...

But it wasn't real.

The movies, they was in the dark.

Outside, life was going on.

I guess I don't got much of an imagination.

Not like Jerry.

I don't want to hear about Jerry.

You ever been married?

You ever have anybody-- I mean...

[clears throat] Special?

No.

Where you from?

Chicago.

Big town, I hear, huh?

Nobody ever grabbed you?

Nobody grabbed me.

Stay on him! Stay on him!

Keep moving. Move your feet.

Keep on him, keep on him.

That's time!

Come on, I said time!

Hey, you're looking good, man.

You're looking real good. Come on.

All right, let's hit the showers.

[Jerry] Hey, Morty.

I want to see you in the office.

I'll be right there, Jerry.

That kid you're working with--

Ryan... Billy Ryan--

You got him going good, real good.

Looks like he could hit.

Oh, yeah, when he sets up.

See, he don't always plant his feet.

He-- he's a mover.

What do you think?

I think he's terrific.

I'd like to get him a couple of fights.

You mean manage him?

Yeah. What do you think?

I mean, you stick with him, naturally.

Think you can you sell the kid?

Maybe.

But no funny stuff now. Clean, you know.

We--we take the long ride with him.

Absolutely.

I mean it, Jerry.

Hey...

I just said absolutely.

I think it's a break.

I mean, I didn't have to go to him, he came to me.

I haven't seen Jerry this excited about a fighter in a long time.

What do you think, Julie?

Look, Morty, I hate to be the one to tell you--

Look, I know what you're thinking.

Jerry wouldn't lie to me.

Everything's up-and-up.

Look, we just keep going the way we been going.

Jerry guides the career. Gets the fights.

I trust Morty.

Anything you say, Morty.

[chuckles] Come on, you want to celebrate?

I'll buy you a glass of milk.

[laughs]

Hey, you guys want to come?

Why don't you go on. We'll catch up with you later.

Okay, I'll see you later.

Jonathan, you shouldn't let him do that.

What was I going to tell him?

You know, Mark, some people have to learn the hard way.

[upbeat music playing]

You want to see me, Jer?

Yeah, come in. Sit down.

Sit down.

You go in three weeks on the same card as Billy.

Two events from the Zadan House of Champions.

Hey, what's the matter?

Uh, Julie's going to be there.

So?

I ain't lying down in front of her, Jerry.

Did I ask you to?

This is going to be your night.

Look, you love the dame, right?

Yeah. So?

So, you want to get married?

Yeah...

Sure... On what?

Funny you ask.

I got you Julio Hernandez.

Hey, didn't you hear me?

Yeah... I heard you.

This is what we waited for. This is it.

Hernandez is important.

You win, and it's immense.

No more lying down for us. From now on, it's your turn.

Wait...

Are you telling me the truth here?

Morty...

Come on.

Then this is it?

What you always promised?

Yeah... You got it.

[exclaims]

I can take this guy, Jerry.

I can take him easy.

You bet you will.

The fix is in.

Jerry, I don't need no setup.

I can take him.

Hey, do you know the odds we'll get?

Julio Hernandez. Come on, we'll clean up.

We'll borrow from everybody we know. We'll rob a bank.

We'll put it all on you.

Hernandez goes for this?

Absolutely. Don't worry about the fix.

You earned it.

You'll have a nest egg, Morty.

Who fixed it?

I fixed it. What do you mean who fixed it? Don't worry about it.

Let's do it, kid.

Let's collect one, right?

Yeah, right.

Right.

Go get a workout.

[sighs heavily]

I could take this guy, Jerry, really. I could take him.

Hey, I know, but why sweat?

Go on. Hit the gym.

Hit the gym.

Look, this is it. This is the big one.

I mean, this is what we've been waiting for. Me and Jerry.

We're gonna put everything on it. We'll be loaded.

I just don't think you should take a chance.

You said Hernandez is a good fighter.

What if you lose?

Hey, I'm not gonna lose. It's gonna be an easy fight.

I just don't think you should gamble everything on it.

I have to.

Why?

'Cause, I can't ask you to marry a broke ex-fighter.

What?

What do you mean, what?

I-- I just proposed.

Oh... Oh, Julie--

Look, if you're going to say no,

can you do it on the phone? I'll go call you.

Where are you going?

I...

There's a phone booth around the corner,

and I'll call you... You go inside and I'll call you from there.

You got any change?

[laughs] You don't need any change.

You mean it's yes?

Yes.

W-wow!

Wow!

[both laughing]

So you're gonna fight Hernandez, huh?

Yup, I told Jerry it would be all right.

He can take care of it.

He's in jail...

In Des Moines.

What?

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about Hernandez, he was sentenced two days ago.

He robbed a store. He got six months in jail. The article is in the paper.

Of course, it's always possible your brother didn't know.

Kid, it's part of the business.

How are you doing, Sailor?

Hey, come on, kid, I'll buy you a cup of coffee.

Hey, what's going on here?

Hey, wait a minute. Hey, wait a minute.

Jer, what's going on here?

I just sold Ryan's contract.

You what?

Hey, don't worry about it.

Jerry, Hernandez is in jail in Des Moines.

Yeah, yeah. I just heard.

You're going to fight Ryan.

I think I'll let you brothers talk.

See ya, champ.

This will be a big fight for you.

It was never going to be Hernandez, was it?

Morty, come on. What are you, crazy?

Yes, it was. Sure, it was.

No...

Hernandez was already in the can when you made the fight.

You knew it.

It was always going to be Billy.

Morty, listen to me.

Billy's won 11 straight by knockout.

He's hotter than a firecracker. The odds will be eightmaybe 9-to-1.

I don't care about the odds.

You want to get married you better care.

Look, you come off a big winner here.

Oh, yeah?

Only the kid lies down, huh?

He has faith in me, Jerry.

I tell him, "You can trust my brother."

And what does Fitzroy tell him?

He tells him to lie down, don't he?

If he don't, he don't fight no more, right?

Right?

You know...

All my life...

I knew that you played all the angles...

But not with me.

I figured for sure you'd always play straight with me, Jerry.

Morty, Morty. You don't understand.

I'm in way over my head with Fitzroy.

If this don't come off,

I lose everything-- the gym, everything.

And then we're right back where we started.

We're both too old for that.

I'll never ask you for another thing, I swear.

Come on, Jerry.

Honest...

Come on, we're brothers.

I always took care of you. You owe me this. Please!

Come on. Please.

Please.

What a setup.

I never thought Morty would do this.

You don't have to go in that ring.

Yeah? I'd never get another fight.

Couldn't we tell somebody--

The boxing commission, somebody?

I like living.

[knock on door]

Wait.

Just wait a minute.

[stammers] You got to believe me. It-- it wasn't me.

"It will be an easy fight."

I thought it was Hernandez.

Billy's just a boy.

What kind of man are you?

It wasn't me, though. I would have never done something like this.

Then call off the fight.

I can't.

The fight's going to happen.

Julie, shut the door. It stinks in here.

Wait.

Julie...

Y-you don't understand.

You're right. I don't understand.

[crowd cheering]

[Morty] What's the matter?

Nothing.

[Morty] What's the matter with your pal, huh?

He looks worried.

Why should he worry? It's a setup.

Come on. What do you guys want from me?

Blood?

I gave.

You can't keep fixing your brother's mistakes. You can't keep covering for him.

He's my brother.

When I was 12 years old--

Right, right. He took care of you, right?

That's right. And I don't forget that.

No, you never have, you've spent your whole life being his meal ticket.

Taking the short money to pay his debts.

He's my brother.

That doesn't make him your friend, Morty.

Look, I could have beat the kid anyway.

Oh, come on. You have been on the can so many times on purpose,

you don't know if you can beat a top-class fighter anymore.

I can beat him.

Oh, really? Who says so, Jerry? Then why did he fix it?

You can still make it a fair fight, Morty. You can do that.

It's too late now.

It's never too late, Morty.

Get out of here.

I got to talk to you.

We got nothing to talk about! Now, I'm telling you, get out!

You want to fight, you save it for the ring.

That's funny.

I'm taking a dive, remember?

No, you're not. You're coming out banging. The fix is off.

Says who?

I do.

What about Fitzroy?

To hell with Fitzroy.

You know, when I was a kid,

there was honor in being a fighter.

It was just two men...

Facing each other square,

no showboating,

no dives,

just two men.

Now, that's what it's all about.

And that's the way it's going to be.

So to hell with them.

What do you say?

To hell with them.

Where you been?

Talking to the kid.

He's going to come out swinging.

What? Is he nuts?

I told him to, Jerry.

I can beat him square.

You can't beat him square.

He'll beat the hell out of you.

You never had any faith in me, did you?

All these years...

You never thought I could win.

You'd bet a 50-to-1 shot on a horse,

but never nothing on your own brother.

Morty...

They'll kill me.

I'm going to do my best

to see that that don't happen, Jerry.

[crowd cheering]

[bell dings]

Come on, Morty. Come on, Morty. Work that jab. Come on, Morty, get off.

Come on. Harder, harder. That's it. Come on. Move it. Move.

Punch, punch, punch.

[shouting indistinctly]

Come on, Morty, get up.

[Jerry] Come on, make him bleed some. Make him bleed some!

Keep right. Keep right. Keep right. That's it, all right.

This had better happen, Jerry.

[bell dings]

What the hell do you think you are doing?

You almost put his lights out.

Shut up, Fatso!

Who do you think you're talking to?

You! So just shut up!

Breathe deep. Come on, breathe deep.

The kid's good.

I taught him good, Jerry.

[crowd cheering]

[buzzer sounds]

[bell dings]

[crowd booing]

[crowd cheering]

Let's go. Let's fight.

Stop it, ref.

I said, let's fight.

[bell dings]

Leave me alone. Leave me alone.

Morty.

Morty, you all right?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm all right.

I taught your brother too good.

Hey, hey, hey, wait. Come here.

Let-- let me look at you.

You still care about me?

Of course I do.

I love you.

But I'm a lousy fighter.

We don't got no nest egg.

I don't need a nest egg.

I just need you.

Hey, you realize you just beat the hell out of your future brother-in-law?

[all laughing]

Hey, Jerry, why did you throw in the towel?

'Cause.

"'Cause?" What do you cause? You had a bundle riding on it.

'Cause I didn't want to see you get hit anymore.

[sighs]

What about Fitzroy, huh?

No sweat.

What do you mean, "No sweat"?

Just what I said.

Take a shower.

Shouldn't have done it, Jerry.

You shouldn't have thrown the towel in, Jerry.

You cost me a bundle.

That's right, I did. Nobody else.

Not my brother...

Not the kid...

I'm not interested in your brother or the kid. It's you.

You made a loser out of me tonight.

So now you're going to lose... Big.

Ho! Mr. Fitzroy!

You're a bad loser, you know that?

Get out of here, Smith. It's got nothing to do with you.

Oh, but it does.

You see, Fitzroy, my boss doesn't like the way you operate.

Take his advice, punk, and get out of here.

Sorry, I can't do that.

You see, my boss wants you to get out.

Out of boxing and out of this town.

Your boss. Who's your boss?

Believe me, you wouldn't know him.

Take him out.

Round's over.

Now you've made me mad.

My boss is gonna be keeping an eye on you, Fitzroy,

and he can get a lot angrier than I do.

Smith, who is your boss?

A friend, Jerry.

The best friend you ever had.

Let's go.

[theme music playing]