All language subtitles for Iron Man 1951

(dramatic music)

(crowd cheering)

- And now the challenger

is coming down the aisle.

This crowd is giving

him a tremendous ovation

as he climbs into the ring.

No doubt about it,

this lad is the most

popular heavyweight contender

in a long time.

And there's drama

behind those cheers too.

The drama and the lives of these two men

that has finally brought them

together in this ring tonight

to battle for the heavyweight

championship of the world.

(bell ringing)

- 15 rounds of boxing

for the heavyweight

championship of the world.

Introducing a 212 pound

that champion, Colt Mason.

(crowd cheering)

- There it is again,

the roar of the crowd.

20,000 people all hating just one man.

If they only knew, it

isn't him they ought to hate.

It's me.

Because there was a time

you couldn't find a soul

who didn't think he was

the sweetest guy on earth.

And then something

happened to change all that.

I fell in love with him.

People can fall in love any place,

even in Cold Town, Pennsylvania.

Falling in love is

supposed to make you happy.

But somehow in Cold

Town only made things worse

because I was trapped.

Trapped like everybody else in town.

Trying to figure a way out,

knowing they'd never

make it and hating it.

Like Alex Malek.

Or just resigned to it.

Like Pete Costco.

Or waiting for that one

big break like his son Tommy.

All of them trapped in the endless

monotony of the minds.

Never knowing from day to day

when the trap might

shut on them for good.

And still not being able to

do a single thing about it.

All except Colt Mason.

He was different.

He'd have gotten out.

He'd have made it someday, his way.

If only I'd let him.

(engine rumbling)

- Hey Pete, you want to meet today?

Ah, tell me, are you going?

I can't see any of you.

I'm out, cut your drill.

(engine rumbling)

- Drill!

- What?

- I said cut your drill.

- Why?

- On account of I tell you, that's why.

(engine rumbling)

- What are you, a wise guy?

- Nope.

- You gonna get your nose broke?

- I'm not gonna get some

work done to your mind.

(engine rumbling)

- Why you do this thing?

Who does nothing to you?

- You are wrong.

- Okay, so I'm wrong.

I don't like the guy.

I don't like you, understand?

- That's gonna worry me a lot.

- Honor!

All right.

Hey, let's go eat.

(engine rumbling)

- Why you look for trouble?

- Trouble from him?

He's too good for trouble.

- Too good for mine and

tow, ain't you, Einstein?

That book gonna teach

you how to move coal?

- Moving coal ain't the

only way to make a living.

- What's the matter if I don't want to

get out of the mine?

This country, everybody got a chance

to make himself what he wants.

I tell me, want to get out too.

That's why I sent him to night school.

Learn to be optimist.

My glasses, good trade.

- So's this.

- Maybe Coke show you

how to move coal, Alex.

- Him?

- Uh-huh.

- Maybe you like to

make a little bet, huh?

- Yeah.

- How about 10 bucks I move

more the next shift than you do.

- Put up or shut up, Alex.

- Yeah, I put your

money where your mouth is.

- Come on.

- Okay, Einstein, you got yourself a bet.

Come on, Coke.

(engine rumbling) Get a stick.

(engine rumbling)

(engine rumbling)

(explosion booming)

Let's go, Coke.

Come on, come on.

Hi, hold it.

Let's go.

- Come on, move, man, move.

- Come on, Alex, that's the money.

- Let's go.

- Come on, how's the family?

- Got four new ones.

- Four?

- Trixie, my dog.

Four new puppies.

All with black spots.

I'm gonna kill that firehouse dog.

(laughing) Feels good.

- Ah, defined boot, very well made.

Built like a tire.

- I'll take them with me.

Oh, pull it a little bit.

Thank you.

- There.

- Here you are.

- Charge them.

- Okay.

- You still idea, Miss Warren?

- More godfish.

(engine rumbling)

(dramatic music)

- Hello, dirty face.

- All right.

- It was mine?

- Four of them came in.

One of them all today?

- Yeah, all of them.

Cash today.

- Oh, really?

- One of them.

- They're up there?

- Oh, no, down there, moving cold.

I'm almost too tired

to take you out tonight.

- I said almost.

I'll pick up as soon as I change.

- I can't.

An IKOK inventory till 10 or 11.

- Don't be silly, I'm

gonna propose to you.

- You did that last week.

- I'll do it again, I like what you said.

- I didn't say yes.

- She said maybe.

- Very beautiful, can you?

(knocking on door)

- Tell him you're

sick and I'm the doctor.

- I wish you'd tell that brother of yours

he's making entirely

too much noise upstairs.

- Tell him yourself it's your building.

Say about the inventory,

could Rosebough out of that tonight?

- Of course not.

And if you don't tell him,

I'll give him notice to vacate.

- Why, you knew I rented the place.

- I did not, he said it was

to be a club, a social club.

- No, no, that's why he

moved in three pool tables,

about the inventory.

(knocking on door)

- Please speak to him, Coke.

Sometimes I think they're coming right

through the ceiling.

- Okay, wrap nice and pretty, huh?

(door closes)

- Hey George, I'll take 10

to five on Madigan tonight

in a semi-final, how about it?

- I'll give you eight to

five, you're lucky to get it.

Madigan may dump that

polluter in three rounds.

(door opens) - Yeah?

Yeah, six to 12 on, okay.

Oh okay, just a guy I wanna see, huh?

Oh all right, I'll wait.

- Photo, I'll be right up.

I got one here with the sixter.

- You got one for you,

Herbie's unhappy about the noise.

- Oh forget Herbie, he's

always beefing about something.

- What?

- Oh no, you're breaking my heart.

- Enderelda in a photo.

(crowd cheers)

- Make this choice, 10 on the show.

- I told him down,

George, Herbie can make trouble.

- Herbie can make trouble.

You should see what

Enderelda just did tonight.

You got 20 on Monday?

- Yeah.

- All right, so are you 20?

- How much?

- Why does it bother you?

- Oh, but I just--

- No, but maybe you'd like to forget

that I wiped your nose when hungry to

feed you, is that it?

- I didn't say that.

(crowd chattering)

- Okay, I'm sorry.

I mean it.

- You shouldn't be, kid.

Anything I ever did for you,

you paid off right down the line.

- Oh, sure, no.

How about some handball tonight?

- What, no Rosie?

- No, inventory.

- Okay, handball.

- I'll pick you up around eight.

- Okay.

- Yeah?

Yeah, the seventh at Belmont.

- Ten to win, ten to

play, so I'm clean away.

- Ain't he the

sweetest player you ever saw?

- He is not.

He's as clumsy as a full elephant.

Everything he does is wrong.

(laughing)

- Yeah, everything wrong, but he wins.

That's what amazes me.

- Hello Alex, Joe.

- Hello, gonna have--

- What do you say?

That's a quick four bits,

you only choice, wanna try it again?

- Okay, Tommy, you gotta bet.

- Double or nothing next game, huh?

- Right.

- Next game, you guys

gonna play all night?

- We got one more, Robax.

- I'll quit hogging the court,

you got four men waiting here.

Only we ain't waiting.

- They got another game out,

I said I only played one, ask Crowley.

- I don't have to ask

anybody, I'm telling you.

Get off the court.

- What's wrong, Alex?

You doing a burn over the

10 bucks you lose to the kid?

- How'd you like a poke in the nose?

- Forget it, we

didn't come here to argue.

- Yeah, and that goes for you too.

(laughing) - Come on, sir, and

then make a friend talk.

- Yeah, you and who else?

- I'll fight him.

- That's what he wants.

- How soon and where?

- Just a minute.

If there's gonna be any fighting here,

it'll be in the ring and I'll reparate.

- That suits you, Coke.

Okay, come on, let's go.

- Hey, come on, come on.

- You know what, I'm gonna be doing

this professional pretty soon.

The old man wants me to be an

optimist like he causes her,

but not for me.

Fighting's my trade.

You gonna win, Alex?

- Okay, Tommy, I'll take over.

- Tommy's my second.

- No, no, speed, speed, okay.

I'm gonna be a fighter and

I'm gonna give myself a--

- All right, speed, come

on, we'll talk about it later.

(chattering)

- Now let's keep it clean, that's all.

Shake hands, come out fighting, come on.

(whistle blowing)

(chattering)

- Here, look, Coke, keep it high.

- Relax, kid, contain yourself.

(laughing)

(dramatic music)

(laughing)

- Get a chance.

- Come on, Alex, don't wait, come on.

Come on, let's go, come on.

Come on, Alex, come on, Alex.

(chattering) - Break quick, break

quick, break quick, kid.

(chattering)

- Go through corner, come on, come on.

- Go back to the corner,

stay there, stay in the corner.

- One.

- That's enough, let it call the doctor.

- When I tell you you're dynamite,

(chattering)

- Next time use a club.

- Better still, use an ax.

- Go on, tell your papers, go on.

- Don't pay attention, go to home.

- Coke, you're terrific.

- Come on, Coke.

(chattering)

- Hey, this is a

little on the elegant side.

We got enough money to eat here?

- Yeah, the kind of I'm fresh out.

- Money, I'm loaded.

- The last of Belmont,

10 to win and 10 to play.

So where's my money?

- Belmont.

- Oh, that dog, no, he ran out.

No, I bet you tonight, kid.

I take three to one on a knockout

and garner a sweet 90 bucks.

- You bet on me against Alex.

- Remember when we left the handball car?

I did real good.

- Your table is ready, Mr. Mason.

- Oh, fine, Charlie, go ahead, boys.

(soft music)

- Some of them are about money, huh?

- Thanks, Mr. Mason.

- It's a big table, isn't it?

- Well, why not?

It's gonna be a big party.

- Why, Charlie?

- Domestic, but with bubbles.

- Then chow it up three stakes,

we'll take care of the heat department.

- Relax, fellas.

- Oh, no, you might as

well start now as any time.

- Start what?

- Training.

- Oh, here we go again.

- Look, kid, I've been trying

to tell you for a long time.

You're gonna be a

fighter, a great fighter.

- Forget it.

- I've been forgetting it long enough.

Tonight we start

thinking about it, serious.

Kid, you got a million dollars

wrapped up in those two hands, a million.

- He's right, Coke.

You got a lot to learn,

you do a lot of things wrong.

But you got the one

thing nobody can learn.

The thing only the great ones have got.

You're a killer.

- I'm a miner.

And I'm gonna stay a miner.

Maybe someday I'll have a

radio store, but until--

- Radio schmadeo, that's for kids.

- But if you really want it okay,

I'll show you how to get it.

Why, in six months I'll

have you doing semi-finals

at seven, eight hundred dollars a crack.

In one year, seven, eight,

maybe 10,000 for a main goal.

Think you'll buy yourself a store,

you'll put your name on the window,

and Rose can sit

behind the cash register.

Simple as that.

- No, kid and Coke, you're a natural.

You ought to see what

you did to Alex's eye

and his nose--

- Tommy, think you're wine, huh?

What about Alex?

- Oh, you beat him up a little.

What did you expect?

- Bad?

- Well, not good, not for Alex.

- I didn't know that.

- I do know this.

I'm not gonna do it again.

Not to Alex or anybody.

If that bothers you, give

me my 20 bucks and I'll blow.

- Okay, kid, if

that's the way you want it.

- What are you gonna do,

take Rosie to a late movie

and hold hands?

- I just might do that.

- And maybe you better

talk it over with Harvey, huh?

- Excuse me a minute, Herbert.

Hello, Coke.

Tommy, Joe.

- Hi, Rose.

- What are you doing here?

- Taking inventory.

- Oh, now it so happens

I was working tonight.

- Were you?

- Yes, we finished

early and Herbie thought

it would be a good idea.

- A very good idea.

Well, I know you two want to fight alone.

Come on, Tommy, Hampshire.

- Can't you call me Speed?

- Okay, champ.

Send up a flare if you're in trouble now.

- Don't you believe I was working?

- Does it matter what I believe?

- Well, you're not. - I'm not. - It doesn't matter what I believe.

- Well, you know it does.

What's the matter with your eye?

- Nothing.

All right, so I believe you were working.

You take it from there.

- Well, we finished early.

Herbie suggested some food.

- So you went to the chop,

so we joined on Main Street.

Only the tea was Coke.

- No, Coke.

That was last Saturday

night and the Saturday before.

It was every Saturday night

for the past year with you.

Look, Coke, I don't blame you.

You work hard for your money.

You're trying to save it.

For us, I know that.

Can't you see it from my

angle just a little bit?

I've never even seen the

inside of this place before.

Or any other place like it.

So the night I had the chance, I took it.

A few lights for a change.

Is that really so bad?

- If you wanna go to

joints like this, I can take it.

- Sure, and what do we use to start the

radio business, Cole?

All right, you win.

So now we've both seen the place.

So now let's go back and

get some chop, Sui, huh?

What about Herbie?

- Herbie will understand.

Don't.

- It's the mess of your guests.

- Hello, you gorgeous hiker man.

Did I draw you honey bun?

- If this is a gag, it isn't funny.

- I think it is.

I think it's very funny.

Good night, honey bun.

- Hello, Tilly girl, you too, Billy.

Hey Gwendolyn, contain yourself.

Come on, you're with me.

- You mean I don't get muscles?

- Nice going, brother.

You really lost the evening in a hurry.

- What, you mean you don't like Tilly?

- You know what I mean.

- Oh, Rose.

- Don't worry about her.

Where's she gonna run to?

- But if you're really

unhappy, I'll square things.

- Leave it alone.

- You are divine.

- I know, but I'm in training.

(laughing)

- In training?

- For what?

(laughing)

(engine revving)

(engine revving)

- Give me a couple more sticks.

- You're shooting pretty heavy, Alex.

- That's it, give me

a couple more sticks.

I'm shooting what I like.

- Hey Alex, fuck that eye.

I'm sorry.

- Yeah, well let me

tell you something, mister.

I can still lick you

if you fight like a man,

but not when you fight

like some kind of animal.

- I guess I lost my head.

- Yeah, well let's do that you found it.

Give me them sticks.

(fire crackling)

Fire in the hole!

Fire in the hole!

( program Destler

(explosions)

(dramatic music)

- South entry six of four!

(dramatic music)

- Hey Lonnie, where about?

- North six, south entry of four!

(dramatic music)

- Where abouts George?

- At law six.

- That's Cokes' level.

(dramatic music)

- George, where is it?

- Law six, Cokes' working that level.

- Rose, I won't worry about it.

Probably won't amount to anything.

(dramatic music)

- Wait a minute, wait a minute!

- Can't hold it, George.

- I'll let you hold it, Cokes' on six.

- We'll get him out of the way.

- Oh don't give me that,

I was running this squad

when you were at hell,

but come on, let's go!

(dramatic music)

Here, give me that.

(dramatic music)

- Alex!

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- Come on, let's keep digging.

(dramatic music)

- Mason, come out of there

while we get into timber.

- Well never mind that

timber, clear the grip!

(dramatic music)

Tell me, tell me, listen.

(dramatic music) (dramatic music)

- Minus, clear the grip!

Clear the grip!

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- Cokes, you all right?

Cokes!

- George, George.

- They're okay, come

on, let's get them off!

(dramatic music)

- Cokes.

(dramatic music)

- George, George, thank

you, you saved my life.

- Take it easy, Pete,

you're not in the mine.

- Hey, Pop, be quiet, will ya?

- Thanks for the books.

Tell Herbie I'll pay him as soon as

they give me back my pants.

- They're all paid for,

they might get well-prepared.

- Oh, look, have a seat, buddy.

- Yeah, hiya, champ, how's it going?

- Okay, I got a surprise for ya.

- Pretty, huh?

I wanted a lily, but

they didn't have any.

- You're a screwball, how

much did it set you back?

- Oh, a moderate sum, they

keep those weapons in stock.

Husband, brother, beloved son.

- You're not funny.

- No, but I tried.

- Well, how's it going?

- All right, I'm gonna

let me out in three days.

- Wow.

- Hey, hey, light one for me, will ya?

- Oh, huh.

Oh, wait a minute.

Look, kid, you're in training as of now.

This time I mean it, the

road, the gym, the works.

I figured I'd have you

ready for your first go

in about four weeks.

- George has an idea, I'm a fighter.

I have an idea, he's crazy.

- For two reasons I got that idea.

First, on account of your very seldom,

I'm gonna buy one of these for a fighter.

Second, money.

10, 15,000 one year,

maybe 20 if you're lucky.

Then you kids can get that radio stuff.

A big one in Philadelphia.

- That's a lot of money.

- Honey, those are just

some telephone numbers

he dreamed up, don't listen to him.

- Telephone numbers, huh, look at here.

Ridgewood Palace, October

3rd, four-round preliminary,

$50.

Oakdale Grove, October

29th, four rounds, $50.

November 20th, Scranton Arena, 75 buffos.

Is that better than moving coal?

- I don't get it.

- Fights I book for you.

I got all three of

them without even leaving

the pool room over the telephone.

I tell you kid, I got connections.

All you gotta do is the fighting, which

he does very nicely.

Why aren't you happy?

- No, I'm not gonna fight, George.

- I'm not gonna fight, George.

- Have it your own way.

- Well, I guess you

kids wanna get in a little

smooch of time, huh?

- Get well now.

I'll drop you a line

when I get to New York.

- New York?

- More Chicago.

- I'm getting out of here in the morning.

There's no future in

coal town for me anymore.

Half of you only got too dumb to see it.

- What about the pool room?

- There's no future of that either,

especially since

they've taken back the tables.

You're good now.

They really take out his pool tables?

- Uh-huh, this morning.

Coke.

Coke is a very hard to fight.

- I mean in the ring.

But just that it

seems like so much money,

and so quickly.

- You've been talking to George?

- No, I,

he said something about it.

I didn't pay much attention.

I just, lundered.

- Look, Rose, I don't know

how to make you understand,

but I don't wanna fight.

I mustn't fight.

It's like Alex said.

- I'm not a man anymore.

I'm like an animal when I fight.

I wanna kill.

That's what's bad.

That feeling comes over

me, and I can't stop it.

I had a club or something in my hands.

- But George said that

was a thing that you had

that was so great.

The killer instinct.

Like Dempsey, like--

- You have been talking to George.

- No, Coke, honest, I didn't.

He talked.

But couldn't, maybe he be right.

Look, Coke, he wouldn't

have to do it forever.

The year is all to it the most,

and we'd have all the money we need.

The way it is, we'll be old and gray

before we ever have anything.

We'd use down in the mines

every day and be wondering.

I just, I just don't know how long I

could stand it, Coke.

(guns firing)

Look, I'll tell you, I'll show you.

Say you keep your hands high, way up.

- The law says I have to hit that thing?

- No, but it's fun.

(guns firing)

- Socking it in fast.

- Doesn't it give you a lift?

- No.

- Nice go, chap.

Here, let me hold it.

Save it, kid, use the marinade.

You been working out the ring?

- No, it's both solid.

- Okay, boys, wrap it up.

We want to use the ring.

- Hey, Philly, you want

to work out with my boy?

I'll work out with him.

- Oh, save it, kid, save your hands.

You're going to be an optimist, remember?

What do you say?

- Sure, good.

Since when you give an

order to my fighters?

- Well, JoJo, just the man I want to see.

Come on, get in here, kid.

I hear you're laying even money.

Jackie knocks out Coke tomorrow.

I'll take 20 of that.

- Are you crazy?

I'll give five to

your 20 and I'll bet her.

All right, Jackie, hit the showers.

Even money and my boy with a cracked rib.

- A cracked rib?

- And dry yourself off good.

- Thanks for the information.

Come on, box up pretty now, kid.

Plenty of footwork, eh?

(bell ringing)

- Four rounds of

boxing in the white corner

at 212 pounds from pull town, Coke Mason.

(audience applauding)

In the black corner, weighing 215 pounds

from Ridgewood, Jackie Bowden.

(audience applauding)

Come on, come on, come on.

You both know the rules.

Don't nobody break them.

Shake hands now and come out fighting.

- Just his head, kid.

Keep away from his belly now.

Go ahead, hunting.

On the contact, he's got a cracked rib.

- On the contact, he's got a weak jaw.

Do you think I fell for that cracked rib?

- Lord, you've been

taking my belly all night.

Only the head, kid.

You hear me?

Where's Rose, sir?

- She's all right, she's all right.

Remember where I said, go after his head.

- Take it easy, kid.

Feel him out in the

first day when he's gone.

(audience laughing)

Come on.

Two, three, four, five, six, seven.

- Go, get him off!

- When he even your boy doesn't go.

- 20 to 10?

- He got 20 to my 10.

- Get up, get up!

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

(audience resumes and chomps)

- Here it comes.

( guy yells)

(men shouting)

- Hey, hey, hey, hey,

hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

(men shouting)

- Hold one another in the corner.

Get a little more fun in the corner.

Five, two, three.

(bell dings)

(crowd chattering)

You got it again and I'll

throw you out on your ear,

you hear me?

How is it?

- It's all right, but

what about that ball?

- How do you feel, kid?

Can it go on?

(bell dings)

(men shouting)

- All right, pretty dirty, kid.

(crowd cheering)

- Are you all right, Coke?

Did he hurt you?

- I'm all right.

- I mean, when he knocked you down.

- Didn't hurt me.

- It's just that Coke

was off balance, Rose.

It happened sometimes.

Why, I could happen to anybody.

How'd you like the way

the champ dropped, Jackie?

Killer, huh?

- You got murder in both hands.

- Where's George?

- Oh, he's talking to the matchmaker.

I'll get him.

- Well, how'd you like it?

- Well, I don't like to see you get hurt,

but it's exciting when you win.

- You're booing me, weren't they?

- Oh, don't worry.

They'll stop.

You just keep winning.

They'll start cheering.

But they didn't start cheering.

Oh, he was winning all right.

And he was drawing the crowds, too.

But they didn't come to see him win.

And they didn't come to cheer him.

- I wouldn't walk across the street

to see Buddy Blaine fight,

but to see Coke race and get his lumps,

I drove 60 miles tonight.

(all laughing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Wish your boy a little

fast, aren't you, George?

Six round Bolton, only

three months in the trade.

- Why not?

We won a crack at the title this year.

- Coke masons are a local bad boy.

- What's bad about it?

- You'll find out.

Hey, George, I want

you to meet Mr. Watkins,

New York Examiner.

- Max Watkins?

I read your column every day.

Never miss it.

Glad to know you, and

I'm glad you're here.

I want you to see the

next champ in action.

- I expect to in the main event.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Buddy, isn't it?

Ooh!

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

- $1,310.

I can hardly believe it.

- Paying off in the

booing would be millionaires.

- Yeah, I know you don't like that.

- Well, how do you like it?

- Oh, right, Coke, I know.

But I know something else.

In a year from now,

we'll be out of this place.

We'll be married and have our own home,

and begin to live like human beings.

- You're doing your best,

you're wanting to like it.

You wouldn't know.

- Come here, come here.

- If one year, one year from now,

we'll have a store

like this in Philadelphia.

Our store, all paid for in cash.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

- I know, Mr. Bellio, I know he is.

I know Savella's the contender.

But believe me, he won't draw flies

if you put him in there with Blaine.

Here, here, read this.

- I read him.

They all say your boy stinks.

Max Watkin says he's the

dirtiest fighter he's ever seen.

That's why he pushed the state champ out

of the headlines, huh?

- Coke Mason out there

himself in gutter tactics.

- Yeah, they really like him.

- Well, who did they have to?

- So they come to see him get killed.

- Yeah, against Savella,

that's exactly what happens.

Thanks, no, I don't like MITRE.

- With a full house, is MITRE bad?

- This Coke Mason, he's your brother,

your brother-in-law, which.

Hiya, hey.

- Hi, Tony.

- Yo, this is George Mason.

He's got that coal town

punk, the Flattin' Lumis.

Joe Savella, the guy you want to fight?

- Hiya. - Mike Riley is manager.

- Oh, good to know you,

good to know you, Riley.

Glad you dropped in.

Maybe we can wrap the

deal up this afternoon.

What deal?

Well, a fight with your boy

now that God has canceled out

for Coke Mason's a natural.

- Who's Coke Mason?

- Who's Coke Mason?

Read what Max Watkins

has to say about him.

That's a syndicated

column, 352 newspapers.

- So that makes your boy a fighter, eh?

(laughing)

You better come back in about five years.

- Were you able to

get Patty Keller for us?

- No, no dice, he ain't ready.

- Well, what about Madigan?

- Same with Madigan.

I was figuring Buddy Blaine.

- Coke Mason, dirty boy, huh?

Likes to play rough.

- A little too rough for you, maybe,

but then I'll ask him to take it easy.

(laughing) - How much did Blaine

draw at the Ridgewood?

- Blaine didn't draw flies.

They came to see Coke Mason.

Look, we can work this

deal out on a percentage.

A deal that'll protect

you and at the same time

get Coke and the ringless Adela.

Now the way I see it.

(yelling)

(yelling)

- Two.

Come on.

Six.

Seven.

Come on, come on.

Come on now.

Come on, get it.

(yelling)

Come on, get it.

(yelling)

One, two, three.

Come on, come on.

(yelling)

Right there, right there.

(bell ringing)

(clapping)

(yelling)

- You gotta keep your left up, Katie.

He's finding your head with every punch.

- I know, like we did in the gym, Coke.

- Why don't you do it to tell you?

You got the seventh coming up.

I told you to dump him in the fifth.

- Here I try him.

I hit him with everything but you.

- No, try harder.

Keep punching to the head.

(whistle blowing)

(yelling)

(yelling)

- You've overmatched him, George.

(yelling)

Wrap it up, Katie, turn up.

Coke.

(yelling)

Give it to me.

(yelling)

- Toss it in, George.

Please, George, you'll kill him.

(yelling)

(yelling)

- Two, three, two, one.

(yelling) - Oh, come on, baby.

(yelling)

(yelling)

- Coke, I don't usually

give any post mortems,

but after 20 years of

writing about the fight game,

I think I qualify as an expert.

Here's three words of advice.

Give it up.

Now don't worry, you got

the idea you could fight

or who put the idea in your head,

but you just haven't got it, son.

If you're lucky, some boy

with a hard ride will kill you

before you've been around

too long, if you're lucky.

So long, Coke, I hope

I never see you again

or read about you in the sports pages.

I thought you'd never

throw in that towel.

Listen, kid, you can take it or leave it,

but for what it's worth, I'm sorry.

- For what?

- You seen yourself at Amira?

All right, so it's my fault.

Hungry for a buck, so

I met you at Cervela.

Never again.

Watkins was right, neither one of us

belonged on this racket.

And as of now, we are out of it tonight.

You sure of that, George?

- I am.

I lived 100 years tonight.

I thought I'd die before it was over.

I don't want you to do it

anymore, Coke, not ever.

- Listen, kid, this is George Soggin,

your big brother, remember?

He knows all about you.

He knows what happens when you get hit,

or you don't even know

when you get cut to pieces.

And I was ready to cash in on that.

Tonight I learned a funny thing.

Blood's thicker than water,

especially when it's all

over your brother's face.

Pull over.

I said pull over.

I want you to hear this.

This is very funny.

All of a sudden you're

worried about me getting hurt.

And all the time I've been worried

about hurting the other guy.

I'm not worrying anymore.

They were screaming for

Cervela to kill me tonight,

weren't they?

They'd have liked that.

All right, I'll give them

something to scream about.

Maybe it'll take a little time,

but I'll catch up with Cervela,

and I'll catch up with the champ too.

Then they can really scream.

If you want to go along

with me, that's great.

What do you say?

Have it your way, kid.

- Why do you listen to him?

Why do you agree with him?

No, no, no.

- Throw it any way you like, Rose,

but if you're going with

me, you're going all the way.

All the way.

- I went all the way.

I knew by then that I was wrong,

but I'd been wrong all the time,

that I'd gotten out of one trap

and fallen right into another.

Because by now it had

become a grim contest

between Coke and the

hatred of the crowds.

Four rounds in Wilkes-Bare,

four rounds in Jersey City,

and four more stitches over Coke's eye.

Soft to New Orleans,

following the roads

that lead past the arenas.

They came to see him get hurt,

and he never disappointed him.

But he was winning,

and the crowds were

getting bigger all the time.

And the hate that followed him

was something you could

almost reach out and touch.

I knew he couldn't take that kind of hate

without having something happen to him.

Sometimes his face looked

almost like a stranger's,

and I'd get sick with fear,

wondering when his heart

would be a stranger's too.

It was worse when Speed started fighting.

Speed always fought clean,

and the crowds loved him

and cheered themselves hoarse for him.

How I wished some of those

cheers could have been for Coke.

But it was Coke's name that

made the copy in the headlines.

And by the time he caught

up with Savela in Chicago

for a second fight,

Coke was big time news.

You can quote me as saying

Coke Mason will take Savela in five,

and that's official.

Can you make it in one?

I like to get home early when I work.

You like to get home early, yeah?

- Hello George.

- Well, Peril, how are you?

It's time.

- Welcome.

- Welcome.

- Good to have you.

- Look, there's Coke Mason.

Boo!

- Boo!

- Boo!

- Hey, what's all the doing about?

In my book, this is the nicest uncle man

that ever stepped into the ring.

And you know something funny?

I'm not kidding.

- Hey Coke, I've got a

wonderful idea for a picture.

- Yeah?

- You tossing these dames out the window.

- Fan, huh?

I didn't know I had one.

Photographer too, how come?

- How come fan or how come photographer?

- Either one.

- It's a long tedious story.

How about a drink?

- Sure, what would you like?

- We'll keep that a

secret, but I'll take a sidecar.

- Max here doesn't

think I can take Savela.

- Oh? - Oh?

- Oh, you know my wife.

- Oh yes, yes, of course.

How are you Mrs. Mason here?

- Thank you.

- How is Mrs. Ford?

- Hello, how do you do?

Believe it or not, I'm

waiting for a sidecar.

- Speed, I see you're

finding a semi-windup

on the same card with Coke.

That's right, Mr. Watkins.

Keep it up Speed, maybe

someday you'll be in there with him.

- No, thanks Mr. Watkins.

- Speed, baby.

How about showing me the

city lights from the terrace?

- Oh, I would only I'm in

training and all that night.

- Oh, for goodness sake.

Did Coke ever tell you

I advised him to quit

after the first Savela fight?

- Yes, so did I.

- Why Mrs. Mason?

Why?

- Because I love him.

I want to keep on with him.

- Tell me Max, how come you

picked Savela in your car?

- Well, because I don't

believe Savela slipped too much

or Coke has come up far enough.

Of course I could be wrong.

- You are.

I can take Savela and he knows it.

- Well, frankly, it does

make that much difference.

- He's right Coke, it does.

- Taking Savela means

a shot at the champ.

Why doesn't that count with you anymore?

- Coke, we've got $11,000 in the bank

in spite of what George spends.

Let's get our radio store.

- It isn't the money,

I've told you enough times.

But the money, it's the title.

That's what I want and

that's what I'm gonna get.

- Then will you quit?

- I have the title.

I'm sure I will.

Mr. Mason, the phone please.

Excuse me.

(crowd chattering)

- Sure, I'll fight for a gamble.

- There's his Mason.

- This is her Briley.

How soon can I see you?

- See me?

Oh, this is Coke Mason.

Yeah, I guess you want my brother.

Wait a minute.

- Don't quote me on

this, but if we take Savela,

which we will.

- Yeah, George, telephone.

- I wouldn't be at all surprised

if you saw a champion,

you're fighting six months.

(laughing) - Her Briley wants to talk to you.

- Well, I'm not gonna lie,

maybe Savela's getting cold feet.

Yeah, yeah, Riley, this is George.

- George, I gotta have the dough

and I gotta have it quick.

- Well, I just haven't got it, Riley.

- Then go out and raise it.

There's gotta be somebody you can go to.

- Well, there might be one place.

I didn't want to try, but I will.

- Okay, come on down, we'll talk it over.

- Yeah, Riley, I'll be right down.

- What's the matter, something wrong?

- Oh, no, no, just

about a percentage of it.

Don't say anything there.

I'll straighten it out.

- God, lose me this fight.

I want Savela, even if

we have to take peanuts,

I want Savela.

- Quit worrying, will you?

You'll get him.

Hey, Speed.

- Yeah?

- Help Cope paw for the guests, huh?

- Have you spoken to Cope about it?

- To Cope?

Why, he'd blow his top in 10 directions.

He figures he can take Savela.

- Don't you?

- Nothing's that sure in this racket.

Rose, you know that.

The thing is that if

Savela throws the fight,

we get a shot at the title.

- Look, Mrs. Mason,

George agrees with me.

In the fight business,

what you figure don't count,

unless it's with an ad machine.

Maybe, maybe Cope

takes my boy, legitimate.

Maybe he don't.

And maybe he gets his brains knocked out,

all to no purpose.

George can tell you that

Savela's ruined a lot of good boys.

- You don't have to tell me that.

That's the only reason

I'm listening to you at all.

What happens if we went over Savela?

- What do you mean, what happens?

I just told you, I crack

at the title, that's what.

- What happens then?

What are you worried about, Rose?

Didn't Cope promise to

quit after he wins the title?

- Cope can take Savela without a payoff.

- He can, and you know it.

- Then why are you offering

to let Savela throw the fight?

- All right, Mrs. Mason.

Supposing there's an

outside chance that Cope can win.

It'll go the limit.

And when it's over,

neither of those boys

will ever fight again.

They'll be ruined, beat to death.

Sure, Savela's over the hill,

but if I read him along easy

like he's got two, three more

years of fighting left in him

before I got to throw him away.

Does that make sense?

- I'm not at 15,000.

- Say, 12, five.

- Say 10, Mr. Riley, and you

might have yourself a deal.

(car engine rumbling)

(whistle blowing)

(crowd cheering)

- How you doing, Squeeze?

- Thanks, champ, thanks a lot.

As soon as I change,

I'll be down at your corner.

(crowd chattering)

(crowd booing)

- Never mind these cactus, Cope.

(crowd booing)

- Get him off, will you?

Cope's in the ring.

- You got time.

- Get my pants off, Cope. - You got time.

- Get my pants in the sweater.

Another year and he'll be in your corner.

He ain't in the same league with you.

- You're punchy, Cope's a champ,

and another year led

the title to prove it.

(crowd cheering)

- Nice fights, babe, congratulations.

- Thanks, Mr. Watkins, thanks a lot.

(crowd cheering)

- Look at the way Cope

works, isn't he wonderful?

- No.

(crowd cheering)

- Come back a long way, George.

Send them back even further,

or they don't get careless.

Read them along till about the fifth,

but then they gotta be tiring.

(whistle blowing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Stop taking them.

You want that eye on your chest?

Lock, hold.

- Come in, show me how.

(whistle blowing)

- Can't figure it, George.

Isn't the same.

- Excuse me, but punch him.

- That's so what, you do it for him.

(bell ringing)

(crowd cheering)

- Come on, come on, Cope.

Get over there.

- Hey, hey, hey.

- Come on, Cope, come on.

- Hey, come on. Come on, Cope, come on.

- Come here, George.

Hey, come here, Cope.

- There's one you missed, Max.

- Yeah.

- Granted, Cope Mason can hit.

Granted, he's the

dirtiest, roughest fighter

that ever stepped into the ring.

Still, that knockout needs explaining.

And it's your

contention that you know nothing

of any arrangement by

which Covella agreed to lose.

- Agreed to lose?

I can take Covella today,

tomorrow, any day in the week.

- There's any doubt in

your mind, or in his--

- All right, Mason,

that's enough of that.

You're not in back of some saloon.

- I mean, in saloons where

the air was a whole lot sweeter

than it is here.

This stinks, and you know it stinks.

Maybe I'm not the kind

of fancy-danned fighter

that Watkins likes, but if

he says we bought this fight,

he's a liar, and you can write that.

- I will write it,

because I think you believe

every word you said.

Is it a lie you spoke to Herb Riley

at your hotel last

week, that you sat with him

in the bar and discussed a deal?

- I spoke with him, no, but

I discussed a deal with him.

That's a lie, yeah.

- Look, could I say something?

- What is it?

- Three ribs cracked.

Riley's got the X-rays.

If I took a dive, I sure timed it bad.

- I'll drop you off at

the hotel, then I'll--

- Better come off at the hotel with me.

- Well, later, I wanna

make sure the newspapers

get the right slang in this story.

I want to use those X-ray pictures

and nail this thing down solid.

- I said come up with me.

Everything's under

control, children, relax.

- They cleared you, I knew they would.

That's great, champ.

Did you tell them all?

- What about the purse?

- Oh, I picked up a check this afternoon,

then we fly down to New York

and see what we can do

about the title bomb.

That suit you?

- No.

- Oh, why not?

- Rose and I are gonna stay in Chicago.

Found the store I've been looking for,

and the price is right.

- The store?

- Yeah, our store.

- The radio store

you've been wanting to own.

- You wanna quit fighting?

- That's what you want, isn't it?

- What's eating you, Coke?

Did you drop your buttons?

- Isn't that what you

want, a radio store?

- Yes, but--

- But what?

- Oh, can we afford it?

- Yeah, that's a, well, of course,

wasn't too heavy, and

O'Reilly didn't want the fight.

I had to take the short end to get his

boy in the ring for you.

But with that under your belt, why--

- We did get 10 grand, though, didn't we?

- Yeah, you just

figured about that, maybe 11.

- You got 11 in the bank?

- Coke, I haven't got 11 in the bank.

- Why not?

Look, look, Coke, you knew

I wanted to take Cervela.

I waited to take Cervela,

but you didn't think I could.

- Why don't you forget Cervela?

- What makes you think I

need any help from you at all,

in the ring or out?

- What?

Well, didn't you need my help?

Remember me?

I'm the guy that took

you out of the mines.

I took you from a shack in Coldtown

to this, this suite in Chicago.

- Get out.

Go on out and find

yourself a no meal ticket

because you and I are all wrapped up.

- Okay.

Okay, brother, I might do just that.

- Another thing, I'm gonna

send you right back to the mines

where you belong.

- Wait a minute, Coke, I put up the money

to fix the fight, not George.

I did it because I didn't

want you to get hurt anymore.

I wanted you to go on and

get your title so you'd quit.

Oh, that lie was wrong.

You'll never quit.

You like it too much.

You like to hear them scream for blood

and you like to give it to them.

You like to get in there

and beat a man to death.

You like to kill.

- Chad.

Chad, I'm starving.

- Chad, I'm sorry.

Wait a minute, Coke.

Wait a minute.

(screaming)

- Kill him, Coke, kill him!

- No!

- Go, go, go, come on!

- No, no, no, no, no, no!

- Help me get him out of here.

Help me get him out of here!

- So what had happened?

The thing I was always afraid of.

It was all over.

I never saw Coke, but he was around

and I knew who he was around with.

And in spite of everything,

I honestly hoped she

could make him happy.

I hadn't been much good at it.

- Coke, why don't you

run out to Long Island

for a couple of days?

Montauk Point or somewhere like that.

It's quiet there and

you can sort of relax.

- No one will relax.

I don't like the word, forget it.

- Relax, what's wrong with relax?

- I said forget it.

- Let's forget.

- Hi Stanley, we're not eating.

He's got you in the water with the lady.

- Coke?

- Yeah?

- Today I was offered

an assignment in Europe.

I think I ought to take him.

- Suit yourself.

- Coke, you don't want me.

You've got your mind all tied up

with a lot of ancient history.

A lot of other people.

One in particular.

And that's all right.

She's always been best for you anyway.

- And forget that too.

- That one won't be so easy.

- Oh Coke, remember me?

I'm Mike Durant.

I handled Danny

Coslow, Irish patting time.

Tony Jacobs and a few other good boys

I beg your pardon.

Smartest thing you ever

did splitting with George.

Now you can make

yourself some real cabbage.

Take me for an extension.

- Suppose I don't want to take you.

- Always a joker.

I can book you into the arena for a go

with Mickey Foreman.

It'd be a sellout at a $50 top.

- You can book him into the arena?

They wouldn't let you through the door.

Hello Coke, I'm Big Nose Cassidy.

I see you in Chicago

when you stop Cheveli.

Do you mind shoving over just a little?

And I say to myself, Big Nose,

there's a boy you gotta handle.

Under you, he goes

far with bait quickens.

You make him champ

before the year is bled.

- You make him champ?

He couldn't make a cup of coffee.

- Oh coffee it is.

- Oh Coke.

- Oh Coke.

- I'll bring him Mr. Watkins.

- How would you

gentlemen like to handle me?

- Huh?

- At the bar.

- Oh sure, sure, sure.

Right ahead.

- Sorry I'm late Coke.

- Sorry, I just got here myself.

- What's so important you

want to talk to me about?

- I need a manager.

- Well you might try Joe Gardella.

He's one of the best.

- I want you to manage me.

Set your own percentage.

- I'm a newspaper man.

- I wish you'd do it Max,

you're the only one I can trust.

- Oh it wouldn't work.

But I do owe you something Coke.

I hold myself responsible for your break

with Rose with George.

- Why?

Sovella took a dive and you knew it.

- You didn't?

- I could have taken him Max.

When I meet Mike Shafer

the title I'll take him.

Maybe then even

you'll believe I can fight.

Maybe they'll believe the

two that mob in the seats

and they'll just pull their heads off

every time I get into the ring.

- It hurts doesn't it?

- Yeah.

- Strange I never

thought it would get to you.

- Why not?

I bleed a little on and cut.

What is it they want from me?

I pay to see a fight

and I give it to them.

All right, I know I go

a little crazy sometimes

when I'm in there going after a guy but.

- They've got you pegs, a dirty fighter.

Quite frankly you are.

- The crowd doesn't like a

man who'll do anything to win.

When you're going

after a guy, as you say,

you know if getting him

meant killing him you do it.

Why I don't know.

- Do you?

- No.

Not exactly.

In a way I do but.

- But what?

- Well, when I'm in

there I'm getting hit.

It's as though I were

fighting for my life.

- Go on.

- When I was with

George in the mining towns

when I was a kid I was

always big for my age.

Much bigger than the other kids.

When I tried to do anything I was clumsy.

I'd laugh.

It bothered me.

Got so high I couldn't take it anymore.

George kept telling me to

forget about it but I couldn't.

Finally I made a stand.

I took on about 10 of them.

Before George could drag me off

I'd almost killed a couple of them.

When he told me about

it later I was scared.

Because I didn't

remember anything about it.

All I know is that I'd

been fighting for my life.

That's what happens

when I get into the ring.

This doesn't make much sense to you.

- You take Joe Gardella

and I'll be in your corner.

And you win the championship.

And I'll tell you something.

You're not a kid anymore, Coke.

One of these days you're gonna grow up

and be able to face

humiliation without wanting to kill.

I'll tell you something else.

When you do grow up,

it may cost you the title.

(dramatic music)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Heavyweight champion

of the world, Coke Mason!

- So at last he'd won his title.

I hope they cheer him

now that he was champion.

And at last he'd feel that he could quit.

But they didn't.

And so he went on fighting.

And now I knew he'd never quit.

Coke was a fighting champion.

The kind of champion

who defended his title

against all comers, all but one.

- Speedo Keep is the best in the

Heavyweight division.

And the cleanest.

You gotta give Speedo a

crack at the title, Max.

He's ready for Coke.

- I'm not sure Coke is ready for speed.

- You're so right.

Speedo Keep has

forgotten more about fighting

than Coke will ever learn.

- I agree with you.

- So you play cozy and

won't give us a fight, huh?

Is that your idea or Coke's?

- No, Coke's idea is

to give you your fight.

- Well then what's been holding up?

- All just an ocean Coke has.

- What, an ocean he might lose his title?

- That's for you to figure out.

- All right, all right.

You can tell Speedo

he's got himself a fight.

- Well, that's more like it.

(laughing) (dramatic music)

- Rose, how are you?

- Oh, excuse us, will you fellas?

- Rose, what brings you to New York?

- I just wanted to look at you.

I wanted to see how low a

sports writer could get.

- Well, what are you trying to say?

- You know what the match with Speedo?

- It wasn't my idea.

- Stop it if you wanted

to, he listens to you.

But no, it's copy.

- Rose, you don't mean that.

- You know what can happen.

You know it's got to happen someday.

Coke is going to kill somebody.

- If you're thinking about Speedo--

- Yes, I'm thinking about Speedo,

and I'm thinking about Coke.

You know what happened to them.

You know what happens to

Coke when he gets in the ring.

Suppose it's Speedo

that he kills, well then.

Go on, tell me I'm wasting my breath

because it'll make a swell story,

and you'll feel just fine.

- Rose, Rose.

Unless I'm wrong, Coke is

going to fight a great fight.

There's nothing a lot

bigger than the title.

He's got to grow up, Rose.

He's got to face it someday.

And you've got to face it too.

(dramatic music)

- Looks pretty sharp.

- Yes, sir, like a razor.

- Well, he better be.

- Well, what are you doing around here?

- Still a newspaperman, you remember?

- Well, you can quote me as saying

Speedo'll take the tramp in six.

- Do I use the word tramp?

- And be sure you

spell it right, T-R-A-M-P.

- Okay, time.

- Hi, Mr. Watkins.

How you look good, Speed?

Real good, thanks.

How's the tricks?

- Oh, fine, fine, I got

a quote from George here.

He says you're gonna

take the tramp in six.

Anything to add to that, Speed?

- You can say the same for me.

Only the word is champ.

Be sure to spell it right, Mr. Watkins.

- I will, Speed.

- Mr. Watkins.

- Yeah?

- Tell Coke.

- Well, I know how he fights.

And no matter what

happens, or what has happened,

I won't ever hold anything against him.

- I think Coke knows that, Speed.

(dramatic music)

(crowd booing)

- And the challenger

is where the opponent

from Co-town,

Pennsylvania, weighing 198 pounds,

that very popular boy, Speed O.G.

(crowd cheering)

- Listen to that ovation.

There's been quite a

contrast here tonight

between those cheers for the challenger

and the tremendous booing

that the crowd gave the champion.

(bell ringing)

- Now, boys, you know the rules lay down

by the athletic commission.

I want a nice, clean fight.

Mason, champ or no

champ, this goes for you.

Keep all your punches in fair territory.

In case of a

knockdown, the standing fighter

goes to the farthest neutral corner

and stays there until I tell him,

come out and resume fighting.

Shake hands now and come

out fighting at the bell,

and good luck to both of you.

(buzzer ringing)

(crowd cheering)

- Eight.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Smart, Tyre.

I told you to stay

outside and shop shoot.

(buzzer ringing)

(bell ringing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Hey, what's happening to Cope?

He sure changed his style.

What did he do, Max?

Leave his knife in the dressing room?

- No, Coke had an ocean.

Guess he's trying it out.

Every dime we got in the

world is riding on this one.

Do you hear me?

- Is that all that's riding?

(buzzer ringing)

(crowd cheering)

- Keep away from him,

Spade, take away from him.

(crowd cheering)

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

Stay out of the box.

(crowd cheering)

- So far, it just isn't

Cope Mason's kind of a fight.

Either he's running out of gas,

and I don't think

anybody at this ringside

believes that for a minute.

Or you can take this

commentator's opinion

for what it's worth.

Well, the first time in his life,

the champion is trying

to fight a clean fight.

(buzzer ringing)

(bell ringing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

(bell ringing)

- That's the bell for

the end of the 12th round.

Mason's seconds are in the

ring, helping him do his corner.

They're working over him frantically.

- I told you to put him away, dear.

Yeah, I told you to put him away.

- Try it, George, I hit

him with everything I tried.

- And right now it looks

as though only a miracle

can prevent the crowning of a new

heavyweight champion here tonight.

And the answer seems

to be that Cope Mason

has not only fought a superb fight,

a tremendous fight, but a clean one.

(crowd cheering)

(bell ringing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- One, two, three.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

One, two, three, four.

- Max.

- Five.

- Max, tell Joe to throw in the towel.

- Seven, eight.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- There's pandemonium here at ringside.

O'Keefe was sagging against

the ropes out on his feet,

and it was only the bell that saved him.

(crowd cheering)

There's something

strange about this crowd.

When Cope Mason ever this ringed tonight,

he was booed as I have never heard

a fighter booed before in my life.

They're not booing him now.

(bell ringing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- The winner and the new heavyweight

champion of the world,

B. O'Keefe.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

- Come on, Kaitlin, let's go.

(crowd cheering)

- It's you that it's you, kid, it's you.

(crowd cheering)

(dramatic music)