Original subtitles

(cheerful music)

- [Man] How much is a lot of money?

- Eight million dollars.

- How'd you like to make a nickel?

- Okay.

- Go into the hospital,

see if you see a fellow with a lot of freckles.

Tell him Mr. Steiner wants him

to come back down here.

- When do I get my nickel?

- Half now and half when you come back.

Which half do you want?

Here, I'm raising your pay to a dime.

You get this nickel now,

and another one when you make your report.

You know how to salute?

Very good, now run.

(cheerful music)

- Mr. Steiner wants you to get right back to the car.

- Young man?

Would you like to talk to your friend on the telephone?

- Be right back.

- It wasn't my fault he went back.

- Always speak politely to your elders,

and you'll do fine.

Tell your father to buy 19 shares

of Modelhead Electronic 15, and sell it 21 and a half.

Can you remember that?

- Yes sir.

- Dismissed.

- Please connect us with three, five, seven.

That's right, the handsome one.

- May I speak to Mr. Murdock please?

This is a friend of his, Tod Stiles.

Hello?

I just told the other nurse,

this is a friend of his, Tod Stiles.

Eh, Tiger, how many nurses to you have up there?

If that's what it takes,

I may have to pick up a mysterious virus of my own.

Look, on account of a hurry,

I just called to tell you I got a job.

Well, listen to this, and then you tell me how good it is.

College graduate, must own own car,

background in philosophy and psychology appreciated.

Must be early riser, salary commensurate.

Apply 342 Dalton before six A. M.

I got down there at 5:30,

the place turned out to be a wrestling arena.

There was one other guy there ahead of me.

He was sitting in a wheelchair

with a blanket across his feet.

He said, "Did you come about the job?"

I said, "I thought 5:30 was pretty early."

He said, "You have to get up earlier than that

"to get ahead of me.

"I'm Rudy Steiner, and I'm glad to see you've got the job."

I said, "How do you know?"

He said, "Because I placed the ad in the paper."

I said, "Well, what do I do?"

and he said, "Whatever I tell you to do."

I said, "Now wait a minute."

He said, "If I tell you to do anything wrong,

"or against the laws of the United States,

"or God, you can quit."

(laughs) No, I'm not making it up.

He really talks that way.

Oh, he's a wrestling promoter.

Be good, I'll check again with you later.

(phone clicks) Thanks.

(cheerful music)

Where are we going?

- Good, a question like that is the first

step toward intelligence.

We're going to meet a Hungarian wrestler.

Go to the bus depot.

(mysterious music)

- He's older now.

Did you import him just to wrestle for ya?

- I like him.

He should look older.

He's been in jail for the last five years.

(traffic roars in background)

I don't need any help.

You see?

Now wheel me over to him.

- Oh yes.

My wife take this,

ten, maybe twelve years.

Excuse me, I,

I know you.

- Not yet.

- My wife sent you?

- I wanted to get a look at you firsthand.

- Where is my wife?

I mean, why does she not come to meet me?

She is wrong.

Other word, sick.

My wife is sick?

- I didn't know whether I wanted her to see you.

I wanted to see first for myself.

- I don't understand this.

Wife does not need permission to see husband.

I send telegram, I don't see.

I don't know you.

(paper crinkles)

This, oh yes, I send this to my wife.

- I don't like the idea of people

meeting together in a public place after a long time.

How do you say hello in a public place?

- I want to see my wife now, huh?

Now.

- Take him to Prime Oak Inn.

Ask any gas station, they'll know where it is.

- Oh yes, Prime Oak Inn,

that's what letter said, Prime Oak Inn.

Letter say we own Prime Oak Inn.

- Mr. Steiner, it's only a two-place car.

I mean, ordinarily--

- I know how to take a taxi.

Hey.

Pleased to meet you.

(hopeful music)

- Car like this is something to be beautiful.

(Tod laughs)

Wrong word?

Good, fine machine. (laughs)

It's permitted drive fast?

- Well, there are limits.

- We drive fast, more fast, up to limit?

- Speed limit.

- Up to speed limit.

It's been long time I don't see my wife.

Also, long time I've been in prison.

I don't feel to move.

You know to move?

To move into wind?

No walls to stop you to move. (chuckles)

Up to speed limit, please.

(cheerful music)

- Well this is it.

I guess she's right inside.

All you have to do is go in and find her.

- It has been eight years since I see my wife.

Before revolution, before prison,

I have stones, is wrong word,

diamonds, other kind diamonds.

- Jewels?

- Yes, jewels.

Part of family, my mother give them to me for wife.

When I give to Eva,

name of wife, Eva,

send her here, we have plan to buy hotel.

Well, place to eat, you understand this?

But how you say, "Hello" after eight years?

Hello. (laughs)

Before man says it's bad to say hello in public place, huh?

You do me favor?

You go in, ask for Eva Biro?

Tell her Sandor wait by car?

You do this for me please?

(mysterious music)

- Mrs. Eva Biro? - Yes?

- I was asked to deliver a message to you.

Sandor Biro is waiting outside.

- You're not making a joke, are you?

- No, he's waiting outside.

- Think I'm going to faint.

No, wouldn't faint at a time like this.

Sandor, outside?

I don't have the strength to go to him.

My knees are like water.

Sandor, really?

- Really.

- Excuse me.

How is?

How is he?

- He's fine, he's in good health.

Really, he's all right.

- You sure, you really sure?

- You can see for yourself, he's right out back.

- You wouldn't lie to me, would you?

- No.

- Sandor.

(sentimental violin music)

Sandor!

- Eva!

(mumbles)

How I waited, how I prayed.

- Eva.

I think of you every day.

- Yes, yes.

- I wake up with your eyes, your hair.

I kiss your lips before I open my eyes.

- I waited Sandor.

- Everyone say, "Crazy Sandor Biro.

"He talks to wife in U.S.A."

Eva?

How are you?

- Fine, how are you?

Why, why don't you come to me?

(emotional music)

- You.

I was so afraid.

- I was, I was frightened to death.

(cheerful music)

- [Man] Good night.

- I could not believe you could be so,

so right, Eva.

Wrong word?

Successful.

- There, finished.

- Could we be able to speak together?

Could I be able to say how much deep feeling,

how I feel towards you as fine person?

Everything you have done?

Eva?

I have said something to make you troubled?

I just want to say thank you, Eva,

from deep inside my heart.

- You don't know.

- (laughs) I don't know?

I come from behind eight years

to find my wife wait for me.

To find all this,

made by you without me,

no husband, no help.

A woman in strange country.

- I need to talk to you.

- No, nothing,

I don't need to hear nothing.

- I need to tell you many things.

- I don't want to know, I have no questions.

- But Sandor, nothing here belongs to us anymore.

Everything was sold, everything.

I just work here now for a salary every week.

Nothing belongs to us, nothing but my salary.

My paycheck every week.

- Oh, well Eva, this is nothing.

It's just money.

We are still young, we begin again.

I am here now, we are together.

You hear me good, I got my wife.

I got my free now.

Success for money is nothing.

You hear me good, Eva?

My love for you is everything.

- I betrayed you.

- No.

Whatever else, that is lie.

- I betrayed you.

- Someone else say that to me about you, I break them.

I don't hear this.

I put all eight years behind, Eva.

No more eight years, I wipe them out.

Nothing.

Yesterday I say goodbye to wife in Hungary.

Tomorrow I wake up, I say, "Hello."

I put all eight years in one day.

You hear me?

- No, no, sit there, sit there.

I have a right to tell you this.

For, for two years,

I didn't know if you were alive.

Oh, there are ways to find out, but it takes time.

It takes money.

I had moments when I thought,

"Oh surely, he must be dead, what's the use?"

But I never stopped.

And then I did find out that you were still alive,

and I knew I had to get you out.

And in, well in,

in Hungary today, you can open any prison door

with one key, money.

And that was when I sold everything.

- Eva, why do you tell me this?

What can I say, that you were wrong?

I would not be here if not for you.

- Please.

- Eva, why do you do this to yourself?

- Well, you don't understand, please.

- All right, Eva--

- No please, please sit down, please?

It's very difficult for me.

It's,

it's difficult.

You see, when this place was ours,

there was a man who came in once in awhile,

and very often, and every night.

- I don't want to know this.

I don't care what you do with other man.

- I did nothing, that's not what this story's about.

- Eva, you tear me to pieces.

- Oh please, Sandor.

I have been away from you for eight years.

Surely I wouldn't make such a long story

about something as simple as just another man, please.

This man that came in here almost every night,

he came to see me.

You understand that, don't you?

He was in love with me.

He was a man with money.

I told him what I needed, and for what,

and he offered it very freely,

very freely and,

this is, this is why I was torn,

because he was in love with me.

Oh I know about contracts.

I give money to buy something.

I couldn't give myself, so I gave the restaurant.

With money in my hands, my heart felt light.

I made all the arrangements.

The money was passed to a General in Hungary,

and I was told that you would be here in six weeks.

So I waited six weeks, eight weeks,

three months, five months, and I became frantic.

I became panicky, and I started to make inquiries

only to find out that the General was gone.

He had disappeared.

The money was gone,

like stone into the bottom of the sea.

A small sound,

then the waters cover over.

Only, I only knew one thing,

that was that you were still alive,

and I had to get you out, but how?

Where to get more money?

Again, there was this man.

Again, he offered the money.

Don't you see what a strange situation?

I had to take this money or my husband will die.

And I tell you, Sandor, had you died,

I would have been so lonely.

I would have felt so alone,

that I would have given myself to him.

I'm not a wise woman, but I did what I thought was right.

So I,

I made a different kind of contract with him.

I said to him, "When my husband comes here,

"he will work for you to pay back the money."

So you see?

You're not a prisoner over there anymore.

But you're not free over here, either.

(sudden suspenseful music)

- This man.

What he wants, me to be gangster?

To kill people?

- No, it will hurt even more.

- Today by bus there is man,

his leg broke in chair.

Is this man?

Is this man who gives money?

- Yes.

- Now I know what he does in my life.

Eva, I've loved you ever since long time.

I know what ever was did was,

was did for me.

You will talk.

I will listen.

- Yes.

I will tell you.

But it will take some time,

because this is different than anything

you've ever known before.

It's as if...

Do you remember the little monkey with the hat?

He goes with the gypsy that makes music in the street?

The monkey does tricks, people laugh?

They give pennies.

I have turned you into that kind of a monkey.

And now you have to honor what I have done to you.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(mysterious somber music)

- Day is much nice, no?

- Good morning.

- Extraordinary,

most long word I know.

You do not think this is joke, huh?

Very small joke maybe.

- Sandor, do you know what's waiting for you at the gym?

Did Mrs. Biro tell you?

- Babies.

Babies play, eat, sleep, be warm, no?

Boys, like you Tod, is serious.

Everything problem, huh?

Men, eat sleep, be warm.

It's one big, round circle, no?

I say this much nice.

America fine country.

Sun warm, freedom free as sun,

and my beautiful Eva.

I say, "This is everything my serious friend."

(somber music)

- Georgie, you're dogging it again, get out of here.

Come here, Max, come on.

Now you watch what I'm doing, and do just what I said.

Come on, I want him to put more shoulder, like this.

Now Georgie, I want two things from you.

You do just what I tell you to do.

Give me some more shoulder Max, come on.

I want more in the face, you watch.

(cries out in fake pain)

Now get in here.

This man isn't trying to tell you the time of day.

He's trying to kill you.

Now, come on, and give me some more face, come on.

Get in there, come on.

(man cries out in fake pain)

More, more.

- Hold it Vince, call it, call it.

Now let's get this straight once and for all, all right?

Now Georgie, you're a Russian.

Everone's a man that would spit in your face.

You don't like that, so you don't play nice.

You elbow, you gouge, you knee,

anything you can get away with.

Max, you're standing in for a new man.

Vince will show him later.

Now, you're a proud spirit.

You're all heart, a freedom fighter.

You fight clean, but you fight hard.

The whole world knows you're a loser,

but you don't know it.

(sudden blast of brass music)

That's the key.

You're a loser, and you don't know it.

(mysterious, somber music)

- Extraordinary.

- Biro, I'd like to see you in my office, now.

Close the door.

Today and tomorrow and the day after, you will train.

Not to get into shape, but to do what you're told.

On the third night, you'll go in

as the Hungarian Freedom Fighter,

against Georgie, who becomes the Russian Colonel.

You will wrestle by my plan.

Hold for hold, grunt for grunt, to a draw.

After that, you will wrestle twice a week.

Then there'll be another draw, and another, and another,

and then you will lose in 45 minutes.

Then you will draw again, and then lose in 20 minutes.

Maybe by then I'll want you to win one.

But even if I do, we go back to draws and loses.

The pay will be $70 per match,

plus 2% of the take over twelve thousand,

which happens not often.

You understand?

- I understand more better than I speak.

- Maybe you're wondering,

why do I want a Russian to beat a Hungarian?

It's simple, because the crowd wants it the other way.

You give 'em what they want, they get bored,

they stay home.

You get 'em angry, they come.

They will come to see you win,

Hungarian Freedom Fighter,

and they will see you lose.

Showmanship.

This gives me the right to tell you what to do.

This is the contract between Rudy Steiner and Eva Biro.

It means nothing at law.

I knew it when it was signed.

So, you can walk if you want to, or stay.

- And be monkey on string?

I have been in bad position before

on mat with man stronger than I,

want to break me to pieces.

In street, Piston against Stank,

in prison, Mr. Steiner.

Everything against what?

Against only what lives inside man.

You love my wife.

I love my wife.

But I change clothes.

(dramatic music)

- You look a little tired.

- I'm $1.35 short.

- You feel all right?

- I know I'm not stealing,

so I must be adding wrong, let me see.

Five, five, five, eight, five,

eight, six, now carry five,

$280.50 I'm still $1.35 short.

- Eva, I love you.

It's turning out a good month.

Better than last month.

Better than last year at this time.

Let me give you the $1.35.

- No, no.

- Let me give you the world.

- Rudy?

Tonight I took Sandor into one of those

big furniture stores, you know, where

everything is 60% off, with only 10% down,

and you think you can get the whole thing for nothing.

I thought it might amuse him.

I made him sit in one of those big chairs,

that lean all the way back.

The idea was to make him see himself,

contented, comfortable, in his happy home,

with his loving wife.

Rudy?

He pretended to see it.

I pretended, too, but it was no good.

So I said to my husband, as we came out from the store,

"I know what you're going through.

"I hate myself, and I love you Sandor."

He took my hand,

held it for a moment,

then just turned and moved away into the night.

(somber music)

- Mr. Steiner asked me to pick this up.

He's gonna work at home tomorrow.

- He has face like you,

hoping, nice.

His name, Rene Laterin.

He's champion all France.

14 years back he come,

he come Budapest wrestle me.

Eh, summer night,

big stadium.

Ah, crowd,

(imaginary crowd chattering)

crowd, one big crowd.

I come into ring.

Crowd cheers, it's my crowd. (laughs)

(imaginary crowd cheers)

It's good feeling.

I know I must win for them.

I wait for Frenchman.

(imaginary crowd boos)

Then crowd change.

I hear hiss, boo.

I know he comes.

I go to meet him.

Yes, yes he has face very much like yours.

Clean, good luck, Rene.

- Bon chance, mon vive.

- (laughs) I look at body of man from France,

his fine young body, straight, smooth,

body tell me which way fight will be.

His skill, not strength,

speed, leaps, good shifts, hold to hold.

This is what body tell me.

Again, I look his face.

Ah, I see clean face.

I know he wrestles, no tricks, no fouls.

And so, we begin, huh?

(hands clap)

(imaginary crowd cheering)

I think right, he is good.

He is clever, and he is clean.

(crowd groans)

(hand slaps mat)

One minute, transform, to me.

It's all right, Rene.

Let them boo.

I from your country, they boo me too, okay?

- Okay.

- Come, this time, not so easy.

I try one way, and other way.

I cannot catch him.

Once he almost pinned me.

But I get out.

Then, then I catch him.

(cries out) This lock.

Now he big trouble.

He could only break two ways.

Trip me and fall away, if I stand close.

But I stand away.

Now he can only straighten out arm,

make arm straight, which he tries.

He tries, now it's strength against strength, huh?

But I am stronger. (groans)

(imaginary crowd boos)

(suspenseful music)

Now, throw, the knee,

saw open faces false,

it's fake, lie.

(intense music)

(imaginary crowd cheers)

Why is world so bitter?

Why?

(Tod groans)

Oh excuse I hurt you.

Excuse I speak you but,

I can speak no one else.

Was champion, now must be clown.

I was man, now must be monkey.

Must be, must be.

I tried hard, I try but,

I don't think I can.

(dramatic horn blast)

(emotional music)

(somber music)

(crowd chatters in distance)

- It's a sell-out.

All right, let's see the outfit.

All right, let's hear it for a Freedom Fighter.

(Hungarian music)

Enough, wait outside.

They'll play ya down the aisle, they'll play ya back.

This should be good for eight weeks,

16 matches and a four state tour.

We'll poke 'em up a little tonight, Vince.

I know I said a draw, but we'll change it to a lose,

in no less than 25 minutes.

- [Vince] He wouldn't know what to do.

- He'll fake it.

(somber music)

(hands clap)

- Come on Biro, you're on.

- Sandor, wait, please please.

Forgive me Sandor, please.

Don't do it, Sandor, don't.

We'll find another way, you'll see.

We will, we will.

Sandor, will, will, do you hear, will.

(Hungarian music)

(crowd cheers and applauds)

(crowd calls out and shouts)

(body bangs on mat)

(hand slaps)

(crowd cheers)

(crowd shouts out encouragement)

(fist thuds)

(body crashes against ropes and mat)

(crowd boos)

(crowd cheers wrestlers on)

(crowd cheers and shouts)

(body slams on mat)

(crowd cheers and roars)

(body thuds on mat)

(crowd mumbles and shouts encouragement)

- [Referee] You all right?

(Georgie gasps)

(hand slaps mat)

- [Man In Crowd] Come on, break him.

- (gasping) Sandor.

(crowd roars)

(body smacks against mat)

(body thuds on mat)

(crowd boos)

- [Referee] (mumbles) That's it.

(smattering of applause)

(crowd boos)

- Freedom Fighter, my Aunt Tilly.

What are you?

Some kind of a ballerina or something?

- Well, Sonny?

- Mr. Steiner, he's a winner.

(Hungarian music)

(jazz orchestral music)

- [Announcer] This has been a Screen Gems

film presentation from Columbia Pictures.

Herbert B. Leonard, Executive Producer.