Ben...
Ben!
Where's he going? The champ must be crazy.
He's got a fight tomorrow night.
- Yeah, I know.
I'll get him.
- Hiya, champ!
- How ya shake, champ?
- Okay, kid.
- It's Charlie Davis!
- Charlie!
- Hello, Ma.
Careful Charlie, you'll cut yourself.
What do you want, Charlie?
Ben died.
- When?
- Today. I had to come down anyway
for the fight tomorrow.
I couldn't sleep, Ma. I thought maybe I...
- Peg is sleeping here, Charlie.
- Oh.
I couldn't stand it up there, Ma.
After they took Ben away.
I couldn't sleep, so I came down.
I had to find a place where I could lie down.
You know, Ma.
You have to find a place...
I didn't mean all those things I said to Peg...You know that.
What's the matter? Don't you want me here?
The butcher was closed, but I got everything else from the grocer.
Peg!
Peg...Peg...
Go away, Charlie...Go away.
Hey, lay off of that!...I knew him when he was a kid in the poolroom. He used to beat everybody.
What a fighter!
You leaving, champ?
Oh, hello, Champ! She'll be through in a few minutes...
Can I check your coat?
- Hello, champ.
- Bourbon.
Chaser?
Hi, champ.
Hello, sweetie. Quinn's been going nuts. You've been every place in town but here.
Why didn't you come here first, Charlie ?
How does it look, Charlie, the night before the fight...3 a.m. and you loaded?
Come on, Alice, let's go.
Okay, champ.
Just on the nose, Davis.
All fat! Nightclub fat!
Whisky fat! 35-year-old fat!
- Too bad about Ben.
- Yeah.
- You in good shape tonight, Marlowe?
- Great shape.
- Two pounds under Davis.
- Think you're gonna lick him?
- I've licked everybody in the division.
Are you nervous?
Nervous? He's nervous! It took the Boxing Commission two years. It took every sportswriter two years...
- It took me two years to pressure Davis into this fight.
- In what round do you think you're gonna stop him?
I'll stop him in two if his legs hold out.
Look you, lay off the propaganda. Can't you keep this loud mouth shut?
I'm in charge of the muscles, not the brains.
Say...What eye are you using, champ, the good eye or the glass one?
Vince...go see what boxer's on.
That was great publicity, Charlie, smacking Marlowe this afternoon...
- I meant to hit him.
The kid was putting on an act to make it look good.
I could knock that Marlowe on his ear in two rounds.
What's wrong, Charlie ?
The books are all balanced. The bets are in. You bet your purse against yourself.
You gotta be business-like, Charlie...Just because the kid talks a little fresh...
Give me the tape, Quinn.
You still thinking about Ben, Charlie?
Everybody dies.
Ben, Shorty...even you.
- What's the point?
- No point, that's life.
You go in and just box that boy for 15 rounds, Charlie, like we agreed.
Nobody get hurt, nobody get knocked out. You'll lose by a clean decision.
You'll get your money and we're squared away.
You know the way the betting is, Charlie. The numbers are in.
Everything is addition or subtraction. The rest is conversation.
I still think I can knock that Marlowe on his ear in two rounds.
Maybe you could, Charlie. But the smart money is against it.
And you're smart.
It's a deal...It's a deal!
You gotta be business-like, Charlie...And businessmen have to keep their agreements.
15 rounds is a long time, Mr. Roberts.
Make it short then.
Get out of here.
I'm going down the drain...
everything down the drain.
All these years...everything down the drain...All these years...
And now The Iroquois Democratic Club of the 14th AD
has a big surprise for a very lucky young man.
The boy who won his first amateur bout in 1 minute and 12 seconds,
our own neighborhood champ, Charlie Davis!
Quiet, boys! Quiet!
Who's got the privilege of dancing a solo
with Miss Iroquois Democratic Club, 14 AD!
Come on, Charlie...Come on!
Take her around, Charlie, she won't bite you!
You can dance, can't you? Can you walk?
Come on, she's willing, like I am. Go ahead!
He's a ringer, a wrestler!
Now why ain't I young and lucky?
Okay friends, before we get lost in fun,
don't forget to vote for the people's choice, Jack Shelton,
the man who never said no to a friend.
Ever hear of the law of gravity?
- No...what's gravity?
- Sit up straight.
- Well, good night.
- Night.
I win.
Well, you're in better shape.
Depends on the point of view...
Well, good night.
- Aw, it's early yet.
- Why don't you go to a movie?
- Excuse me.
- Certainly.
Is your friend going to wait for you?
Hey!...Ouch!
My friend...
It don't look good!
- All right, but as soon as your friend leaves, you leave. Promise?
- Promise.
Say...What's your name?
Peg.
- Still the undefeated champ!
- Amateur!
- Irma?
- Yeah?
Don't you live alone?
- Are you decent?
- Not particularly. Bring him in.
Are you decent?
This is Irma.
She sculpts.
- I make statues.
- Oh.
And this is Charlie Davis, amateur boxing champion of the universe...
as of tonight!
- Really?
Pleased to meet you.
- Well...sit down, champ.
- Thanks.
- Take your coat and shirt off.
- What?
Like to pose for me?
No...sit down.
I've got a longshoreman posing for me now.
A longshoreman?
He's very graceful, too.
Anytime you'd like to be preserved for posterity, champ...
drop in to see me...Good night, champ.
- Peg.
- Irma.
Is she kidding?
- What do you do here?
- I paint.
Pictures.
I go to art school because I want to be a painter.
What about this Miss This and Miss That?
There's an agency which arranges these little jobs for me.
I get 25 dollars, and the crowd gets to whistle.
- What's with that accent?
- What accent?
The way you say "crowd", and "whistle"...
- Why, I talk that way.
- Why?
- Well, because...because I learned it that way.
- Where?
Oh...in Paris, Berlin, London, Montreal...
And you paint too?
- Well, paint me.
- Sure.
- Did your friend leave?
- ...Oh.
That character's still there...
Pull the shade up.
- What?
- That'll send him away.
Okay...
Should I take my coat off?
It makes no difference.
How's this?
Are you going to be professional prizefighter?
Or are you going to run for President?
I just want to be a success.
- You mean you want other people to think you're a success?
- Sure...sure.
Every man for himself.
- Ouch!
- It's time to go home now.
Good night...
- Can I see you again sometime?
- What for?
Just to see you...anything.
- Try sometime.
- Will you?
Try.
I don't get it, Peg.
Why should you want to see me?
Why do you want to see me?
Because you're beautiful and you're level...and you're different.
Oh Charlie, you're so innocent.
You know, when I went to school, I learned a poem.
It went:
"Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forest of the night,
"What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
What's "symmetry"?
Well built.
After I showed him how to knock this guy out, we get this big feed, see?
- Yeah?
- And they bring this quail out.
- Yeah?
And then what happened, then what happened?
- Come on, come on!
- Finish the story!
- Well, She and Charlie begin to dance...
- Yeah?
And before you know it...Come here...
- She's inviting him up to her apartment.
- No kidding.
Charlie, perfect man of the world,
gives me the sign, see, and me...I blow.
Fellas...just like that...
- Charlie, very nonchalant...
- Hello, Charlie!
Well? Well?
What happened?
She draws pictures.
You mean she was drawing your picture?
Yeah! She's got a big room with big paintings and statues and all that kind of stuff. I'm going to see her again.
- She give you a diploma?
- Wise guy!
Let me see that.
- Look, she drew his picture!
- Hey, look! Fur!
- Doesn't look like you.
All right, all right...
- What are you getting sore about?
- I'm not sore...who's sore?
Hiya, Mr. Quinn!
He was at the fights.
- No kidding!
- Yeah! I saw him.
- You mean when I knocked that guy out?
- He was sitting right at the ringside.
- Gee.
- Come on!
- What for?
- Come on, don't be a dope! Hit him while you're hot!
- Okay.
I win.
Very strong! You see that, Charlie?
Like the fights tonight, Mr. Quinn?
So-so.
How'd you like that quick knockout Charlie made?
I've seen knockouts before.
Everybody said it was sensational!
You ever meet Charlie personally, Mr. Quinn?
You shoot.
- This is Charlie Davis.
- Hello.
How about you take in a hand? You know, set up a few money fights now? Charlie's on his way up.
Charlie's a great fighter, Mr. Quinn. He's got the natural stuff. He's got the style...
- A little training...
- So what?
So what? He won the amateurs!
So what? Kids win this and that every day. Thousands of them.
One out of a hundred fights professionally, one out of a thousand's worth watching,
one out of a million is worth coffee and donuts...Now tell your boy to get himself an honest job.
Nobody's asking you for coffee and donuts!
You see that, Mr. Quinn? He's a natural fighter, you got a champion!
Throw me the balls.
Hiya, Pop!
Good evening, Ma!
Good evening, champion.
We had a delegation tonight from the poolroom. They congratulated your parents.
Well...it's better to win than to lose.
Surely...And the other boy, you hurt him good, champion?
It's only a prizefight, Ma. It's a sport!
A fine sport...A fine sport, indeed!
Quinn will take you on. He'll teach you to be a professional fighter!
All we gotta do is raise ten or fifteen bucks for equipment.
We can dig up the dough, and...
Evening, Mrs. Davis...evening, Mr. Davis...
- I'll see you later, Charlie.
- Yeah.
So now you'll be a professional sport and make a living hitting people.
Knocking their teeth out, smashing their noses, breaking their heads in.
Sportsman, this is what you want?
All right, Anna, if we're closing up, let's close.
20 years ago, I wanted to move to a nice place so our Charlie would grow up a nice boy and learn a profession.
But instead we live in a jungle, so he can only be a wild animal.
Do you think I picked the East Side like Columbus picked America?
It was possible to buy the candy store with a small cash-down payment...
A fine investment.
Next door a speakeasy, across the street a poolroom...
Loafers on the corner, children like wolves...
Could I help it that J.P. Morgan refused to advance me credit?
I would have opened a fancy store on Fifth Avenue...
We could have lived at the Ritz, Charlie would be wearing a monocle...
You think I want to spend the rest of my life selling kids two-cent soda?
"Mr. Davis, give me a penny candy, Mr. Davis, give me a pack of cigarettes, mind the baby,
make mine raspberry!"...
Well not me, Ma! Understand, not me.
I don't want to end up like Pop.
Don't talk that way about your father.
Let the boy alone. He don't mean what he says.
I'll let him alone like you do, to fight in poolrooms, to hang around street corners...
- I want him to study to be something.
- I want to be a fighter!
So fight for something, not for money!
Charlie!
That's 10 dollars!
For your boxing equipment.
You don't have to discuss this with your mother.
Thanks, Pop!
They're bombing the speak!
They got the speakeasy.
Yeah, and they got the candy store, too!
Look at the front...All smashed in!
Pop...Pop!
Don't cry, Ma.
Don't cry.
Charlie, it's cold out...Why don't you come in and get a little warm?
- Thanks, I'm waiting for somebody.
- Okay...
- It's cold outside, huh?
- Yeah.
- She didn't come yet, huh?
- No.
Maybe she won't come.
She'll come...She'll come. That's wait I'm afraid of.
It's gonna be great! She and my mother...
- Well, if you're going with a girl...
- Who's going with a girl? I won't have a dime in a hundred years.
No unemployment for him.
All right, all right...Don't rub it in.
I got troubles of my own.
You and me both.
Look through the want ads. Maybe somebody died and you can carry the corpse.
How's business, Mr. Quinn?
Always pitching, huh, punk?
Why don't you talk to Charlie?
What for?
Well, he might listen to you. He ain't got a job...nothing.
It ain't my headache...He don't want to fight.
His old lady won't let him.
That never stopped anybody, kid. You know that. Charlie just doesn't have the drive, the fighting spirit.
How about Marino?
He stinks! But he's willing, that's half the racket.
Now look, stop dreaming, kid. You'll have to make a buck some other way.
- Let me see that form, will you, friend?
- Yeah, that Four Leaf Clover's following in...
Hey Marino, you were great in your last fight!
You know Marino, don't you, Charlie?
The real mutt. Couldn't even lick my kid brother.
Now lay off of that stuff, Shorty.
- He even got knocked out last week, but he still got plenty of dough in his pockets.
- And that was the ringer.
How much do you get when you lose?
50 bucks.
50 bucks?! 50 bucks?
You hear that, Charlie?
He don't have to take his girl walking on the streets...
- Jacks.
- Queens.
- Let me see the cards.
- You don't trust me, eh?
See what I mean? And your boy don't get 50 bucks this time.
You just burned up my cigar money, Charlie.
I bet you'd be willing to pay expenses now, wouldn't you?
- You know, you're a pretty cute kid! I oughta take a sock at you!
- Charlie...Charlie!
- That's a lot of dough, Charlie.
- There's Peg! - Get my hat, will you? Peg! Oh, Peg!
She left her lipstick on you, Charlie.
Did that other girl show you her paintings?
Oh. I ran into a door...Let's take a walk around the block.
What for?
My mother's been talking like I was bringing you around for approval or something.
- I don't want to embarrass you, and make you sore...
- I won't be sore.
Look Charlie, you can't call it off. Just tell her you like long engagements.
Is this a proposal?
From Mama! She'll say:
"And where do you come from, Miss Born?"
And where do you come from, Miss Born?
She told you, Ma.
I heard Miss Born, Charlie.
- Call me Peg, Mrs. Davis. My friends call me Peg.
- Thank you, Peg.
I mean where did you come from in this country?
Highlandtown. My father was a druggist there.
A professional man? Very nice...
Charlie's father's brother was a teacher. Very smart.
Charlie's going to night school. He told you?
Yes, I think it's an excellent idea.
- And you came to New York to study?
- I want to be a painter.
- Charlie made me bring this.
- Talented, huh?
Very talented.
No, thank you!
And you live in Greenwich Village?
- Yes.
It must be very lonely for a girl all alone. You live alone?
With a friend. She makes statues.
Wonderful. Your father's a druggist, a professional man, and you're an artist.
Peg...Have another cookie, they're homemade!
..And Shorty?
You know, Shorty lives on the same block. He's got ten brothers and sisters.
And seven of them are out of work!
Times are very hard. It's not easy for a boy to get started nowadays.
But if his friends encourage him, if he goes to school and gets an education,
- if he makes sacrifices...
- He'll end up wearing glasses, and still broke.
We're very poor, Mrs. Davis. We've always been poor.
My father scrimped and scraped, and
when Prohibition came, he sold some of the bonded medicinal whisky, you know? Without prescription?
- And what happened?
- They arrested him and fined him.
I got fed up anyway, so I came to New York.
We're nothing fancy.
- Did Charlie show you his medal?
- No.
He won it at basketball. The very best in the whole school!
- Oh, Ma...
- Show her, show her!
Now don't be bashful, Charlie. Peg wants to see it!
Mrs. Davis? May I come in?
I heard your voices in the kitchen.
I'm Miss Tedder.
- Oh. Would you come in here please?
- Yes, thank you.
I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your dinner, but it's hurry hurry hurry...
So many cases and so few people. And so little cooperation.
I won't be long. I have your letter here...
- Mrs. Anna Davis, is that right?
- Yes, I'm Anna Davis.
And now, just a form to make a proper check.
Race : White. Religion : Jewish.
Nationality : American.
Is this your boy?
I'm Charlie Davis.
Are you unemployed?
Have you got a job for me?
- Have you tried?
- He tried.
All these questions must be answered, I'm sorry.
Have you tried to get a job, Mrs. Davis?
Would I be asking for a loan from charity if I could find work?
It isn't personal, we're supposed to ask.
Have you any resources, any jewelry?
She has her wedding ring!
We don't ask our clients to sell their wedding rings...
I wish you'd understand, I have to ask these questions.
Charlie, please, go in the other room!
Is this furniture yours?
Get out of here!
Charlie, I won't have you talking like this.
Get out of here! Get out of here!
We have to ask questions if we're going to help.
We don't want any help. Tell them we're dead! We don't want any help!
I did it to buy myself fancy clothes? Fool!
It's for you! To learn, to get an education, to make something of yourself!
Shorty, get me that fight from Quinn. I want money, do you understand? Money. Money!
I forbid it. You'd better buy a gun and shoot yourself!
You need money to buy a gun!
Charlie!
It's cold.
I don't want any handouts.
You think I like the idea of waiting around for the whole world to make up its mind what to do with me?
My mother don't understand.
What is it you want to do?
There's only one thing I know how to do: Fight.
If you want to fight, fight.
And it's all right with you?
Anything you want is all right with me. I love you, Charlie.
I'll be quick!
- Tiger, tiger...
- Yeah, that's right!
I got claws!
But not for you, Peg...Not for you.
- Quinn!
- Hello, Shorty!
- What you doing up here? Couldn't you wait for Grand Central?
- Got big news!
- Hey, Quinn!
- Hello, Boy!
- Gee, that cigar stinks!
- Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute!
Now you got that news...you got that fight for me?
- Well I don't know...
- Come on, tell me about it!
Hey...hey...hey...the hat's here!
- How do you like the new coat?
- I like the tie, Charlie!
Never mind that. Come on, give us the dope, will you?
We've got some business arrangements to take care of first, Charlie.
With who? Roberts?
Who else? Nobody fights the championship for anything unless Roberts gets cut in...You know that.
He's got the dough, the real estate, everything. The business.
What does Roberts want, Quinn?
Nothing much.
Only Charlie.
He'll be cutting you to pieces, Charlie.
That only means more dough cut more ways.
A bigger pie, more slices, more to eat for everybody!
And Roberts will be telling us what and when.
So what? Everyone's been telling us what and when!
The guy who owned the arena, the guy who owned the fighter, the guy who owned the books...
Cheap mobsters, gangsters, guys who own nothing.
We've been fighting for peanuts and eating them! Right?
- Right.
You know you can't get a fight in New York without Roberts' say-so. Right?
- Right.
Right. Okay, Quinn, make the deal.
I'll be the champ, then I'll give the orders. I'll say what and when.
You can tell us what and when, but you can't tell Roberts.
But the champ can.
Not if he gives away his right arm!
Aw, you made me cut myself!
It's my arm, isn't it?
- Gee, you're lighter!
- You're stronger.
Boy, you feel good!
Hey, who's that?
- I'm Victor. Mr. Quinn employed me.
- Doing what?
- It's the butler!...Hello, Peg.
- Hello, Shorty.
- You look beautiful.
- You took the words out of my mouth! How's your job?
Wonderful! I'm third assistant designer now...
- Where do the bags go?
- In there.
You miss me?
- It's been a long year, Charlie.
- Yeah.
21 fights.
19 knockouts, 2 decisions.
A lonely year.
I missed you too.
- Hey, easy!
- What's the matter?
The guy had a head like a rock.
That'll be all right.
- And this?
- Chicago.
- And this?
- Philadelphia.
- And this?
- Boston.
You get something every time, but it's worth it.
As long as you win.
Look! Lots of money, lots of clothes...
Lots of everything.
Hey, Shorty...Shorty!
What about the reservations, the tickets for tonight?
- Why, I want to talk to you about that...
- How about a drink? - Yes, sir.
It's early in the morning yet, Charlie, we haven't said hello.
Hello, morning, noon or night, what's the difference how you cut up the 24 hours?
Well, what do you know!
The only trouble is Peg's picture's on the other side.
- We'll find another wall that stands still.
- Sure.
Look, it's even got a little sink!
Bourbon, scotch, like milk, like cream!
What'll you have, folks? Just like the candy store!
Want a two-cent soda, Peg?
- Shorty, I thought I told you...
- Charlie, I'd like to...
- Come on, come on, we got no secrets here!
- I need some money.
- What do you mean, you need money? I thought I gave you some in Detroit.
- That was Detroit.
All the time he needs money! Well, what do you do with it?
I steal it! I go through your pockets every night to see if there's any left to send to your old lady!
Get the reservations!
You, bring my bags in!
- What's wrong, Shorty?
- Nothing, nothing...
Come on, Shorty...Not with me.
He's restless, he's had a lot of fights, he's all wound up, like a guy on a jag.
Peg, you've got to...
What have I got to?
You two still getting married?
Well, I haven't had time to say no!
Then get married right away.
- Why, have I got a rival?
- Yeah, money!
You know what Charlie is, what they're making him? A money machine.
Like gold mines, oil wells, ten percent of the U.S. Mint!
They're cutting him up a million ways!
You're the only one left, Peg, the only one. He won't listen to me.
If you don't hold onto him, it's Goodbye, Charlie Davis.
Marry him, Peg, but do it now, now!
How do you like this coat? Handmade! Shorty's got one like this, too.
Come on, honey, we're gonna burn up the town! We'll rob the stores!
Wait a minute, wait a minute, I forgot. Oh, yeah...Mom...Mom is coming up.
Would you do me a favor, Shorty, the old lady's coming up. Keep her happy. Make with the jokes!
- Where'll you be?
- On the town!
- Quinn?
- Arnold...
What did you decide, Arnold?
The champ and I talked it over. We owe you...
- about 40 grand.
- Exactly 40 grand.
And we figure if we can hold the title for six months or more, we could pick up some easy money.
You know...making appearances, and...
The champ hasn't fought a real match in two years, Arnold. That costs money. No gates.
We waited for a real contender. He's here!
I know.
It's a business, Arnold. We get one fight now, another in six months.
It's money at the gate...and the betting!
Besides, I been carrying you and your boy.
Debts have to be paid or it wouldn't be business.
I guess you're right, Mr. Roberts.
Too bad about Ben getting hurt in that last fight. I liked Ben, he was a real fighter.
- Hard luck.
- Accidents happen.
Let them happen to other people!
After Ben's head cracked into that post, I wanted to die.
It's still there...the blood clot.
Doctors say no more fights.
What do you want me to do?
I told you...get your boy in the ring.
It's up to you, Ben.
If you say no...no.
If it's no, I want the money right away!
And I hold you responsible, Arnold!
People don't count with you, do they, Mr. Roberts?
You've been square with me, Arnold. I'll fight Davis.
Okay, Mr. Roberts.
- In two months.
- In two months.
But we agree it's for a decision...No slugging!
I don't want my champ killed, Mr. Roberts.
Nobody's gonna get killed!
Thank you, Mr. Roberts...Thank you!
- Have a good cigar, Quinn. For the new champ.
- Thanks, Mr. Roberts!
Too bad about Ben's head...he was a great fighter.
I like fighters, Quinn, better than horses.
But you gotta look out for business.
So we don't tell Charlie anything about this. Let him go into the fight and knock Ben out.
But Ben's sick, Mr. Roberts. Charlie might kill him!
The crowd likes a killer, and Charlie's a hard fighter.
- It'd look fixed if he takes it easy.
- I know, Mr. Roberts.
So wipe your nose and forget the whole thing!
Where's your boy? I asked you to bring him down.
He said you'd know where to find him.
- Fresh kid, huh?
- Yeah.
I'll see him.
- Why don't you freshen your drink, Quinn?
- It tastes all right.
Lay off in front of the old lady, will you?
If you're sleepy, why don't you go home?
I'm not sleepy, I'm just thinking.
Don't tell me.
It's getting kind of late, Mrs. Davis.
Oh I've waited, I'll wait, Shorty. I wouldn't want to disappoint Charlie.
I'm waiting for Charlie, too.
Quinn promised me...It's lucky to meet lucky people.
You're a lucky woman, Mrs. Davis!
You think so, in what way?
Your son's going to be champ. And that means he's gonna be rich.
And that means you're gonna be rich.
I'm beautiful, why should I want to be rich?
- Why, hello!
- Ma!
- Charlie...How are you?
- Fine...You look wonderful.
- Let me look, let me see...
- Well, I haven't changed, and neither have you.
How do you like everything?
Wonderful.
I'm sorry we kept you waiting, but Peg and I, we've been on the town.
My fault, Mrs. Davis...my fault, everyone.
We danced and danced and Charlie just couldn't get me home.
Look at my dress, we robbed the stores!
And what do you think of my wedding present?
Yeah, we're gonna get married, right away! We decided this afternoon!
Now I am rich!
Getting married, that's great! Peg, that makes me feel fine!
- Look now, Shorty, that's enough!
- It sure is wonderful!
It's been such a night! Such a day!
Did you ever drink an oceanful of champagne?
Every place we went, there were millions of people,
and every one an intimate, personal friend of Charlie's.
And every place we went, there was another party, and more champagne!
And Charlie was the king, and I was...Charlie's girl!
And you're Charlie's mother, and you're Charlie's manager...
and you're Charlie's friend, and...
Who are you?
I'm nobody.
Don't sulk...We're all nobody.
You know who nobody is?
Nobody is anybody who belongs to somebody.
So if you belong to nobody, you're somebody.
Understand?
I'm sorry...This is Alice, Charlie, she's a friend of mine. She sings in a nightclub.
- Pleased to meet you, Charlie.
- Hello.
- And Miss Born?
- Hello.
- Could I try it on?
- It's all yours!
- Well, when's the wedding?
- Right away! - Good, good!
We'll invite the whole neighborhood. You wanna have it uptown or downtown?
- Uptown.
- Downtown.
Anyplace, as long as it's legal!
Gee...soft like baby skin.
I bet it cost a lot of dough!
Too rich for your blood.
Probably Roberts.
Hello, Mr. Roberts, we've been waiting for you.
Who asked you to wait?
- I'm Roberts...You're Charlie Davis.
- Yeah...Pleased to meet you, Mr. Roberts.
- This is my mother.
- How do you do, Mrs. Roberts.
And this is my girl. We're gonna get married.
I just bought her a mink coat for a wedding present.
And...who's this?
That's my friend, Shorty.
- How about a drink, Mr. Roberts?
- Never touch it.
- How do you like the layout?
- Nice.
We've got a wonderful view...you can see the whole park from here.
- What's on your mind, Roberts?
- Oh...a social call.
A social call, huh?
What kind of a deal did you cook up with Quinn?
Lay off, Shorty!
Who did you say this was?
- That's my friend.
- For how much?
Ten percent.
Good evening, friend.
Good evening, partner.
Watch your arm, Charlie!
I told you it was my arm, didn't I?
Well...can we talk?
Yeah...who's this?
He's with me.
She's with me.
We have to get straightened out on this deal, Charlie.
- I thought you arranged that with Quinn?
- I don't talk money with Quinn.
- What do you want?
- I only make one kind of deal, Charlie, from now until the time you retire: 50 percent.
50 percent of what?
Quinn gets 30 percent, Shorty gets 10 percent and I get 60.
You want a crack at the title, don't you, Charlie?
We start fresh...You're a fresh young kid, so we start fresh.
There's always 100 percent.
You take 50 and I take 50.
Well, what about Quinn?
He's your manager. We both need him. You give him 5 percent and I'll give him 5 percent.
What about Shorty?
I don't ask you what you give your mother, Charlie, or your girl.
You want Shorty for laughs, give him the 10 percent. I pay my expenses, you pay yours.
Shorty gets 10 percent.
I told you I only make one kind of deal, Charlie.
This way you fight for the championship right away.
Okay...I'll take care of Shorty myself.
But...don't say anything about it, huh?
He's your friend.
You're my partner.
It's a deal!
Well what about me, Mr. Roberts? What percent do I get?
After all, I made him what he is, because I told him to fight.
In my business, there's only 100 percent.
- I'd like to say good night to your mother, Charlie.
- Oh yeah, sure...Ma!
Mr. Roberts would like to say good night.
I was awful glad to meet you, Mrs. Davis. You're a lucky woman to have a boy like Charlie.
He's going to make a lot of money...enough for everybody.
No more candy store for you. It's a lot nicer, ain't it?
Here...I almost forgot.
- What's this?
- Just a little on account, Charlie...I know you must be running short.
Good night, Mrs. Davis.
By the way, Charlie...You want to start training right away. The fight goes on in two months, you know.
Oh, it can't be too soon for me!
- Oh, and take a tip, kid...
- What's that?
Postpone the wedding bells.
Keep your mind on the fight.
Good night, Charlie's girl.
Very nice coat!
Remember, after mink comes sable.
- See you, Charlie.
- Good night.
Shorty, we got a lot of work to do...
I want you to set up that training camp...
Get ahold of Quinn...tell him to get me the best sparring partners in town.
- When do you want to start?
- You heard him...right away.
- Then you're not going to get married?
- You aren't going to get married?
Why, sure we're going to get married, but it'll wait.
Why can't the fight wait?
Ma, you can't do a thing like that! Explain it to her, will you, Shorty?
Charlie is absolutely right, Mrs. Davis. You can't postpone a fight. We could wait.
Why can't we drive up to Greenwich tonight? You can get married right away!
No Shorty, we'll wait.
That's my baby!
And you know what else, Ma?
I think you ought to get rid of the candy store and come and live here in a decent place.
I live in a decent place, Charlie.
Yeah, and it's paid for.
Sure...By who?
Not by Roberts!
What's the difference? What are you beefing about? It's money, ain't it?
You get it Peg, don't you?
Yeah, I get it.
What's the matter, Charlie?
You ought to keep walking him around...I don't want him to cool off.
I've been thinking Charlie...you've been working too hard.
Why don't you take a few days off and go to the city and see Peg?
Ah, I feel fine.
The last few weeks get kinda tough, don't they, Charlie?
Yeah.
I'm beginning to feel a strain myself.
You're overtrained.
So are you.
Maybe.
Awfully edgy.
You don't want to overdo it.
Neither do you.
What have I got to lose?
What have you got to win?
Everything.
Time, Charlie.
When are you going back to the city?
No hurry...The club doesn't open for another week.
Maybe you need a week to get ready.
I don't think so. I'm beginning to like it up here. I think I'll stay.
- Now listen, Alice...
- No, you listen to me.
Don't forget, you made me come up here.
Yeah, I'd like to see you get ahead, Alice.
What did you ever do about it?
Nothing, I never done anything about it.
You done everything about it.
- A job in a nightclub...
- That lousy job?
- The clothes you're wearing...
- You want them back? I'll give them back to you in spades!
Take it easy, will you?
You can't take that, can you?
No, I guess I can't.
From me to you, a word of advice...
People shouldn't be too ambitious at first.
You drive too fast...you break your neck!
Kill him, Charlie. Kill him!
Kill him, Charlie. Kill him!...Kill him, Charlie!
We'll get him down to the hospital...Make some xrays...
- I'll call an ambulance.
- He's not gonna live.
We'll see.
You must have hit him awful hard.
Anything I can do...Anything! Any money...
It'll be all right.
He won't be all right, you know that!
Take it easy, Arnold!
Go ahead, Charlie, everybody'll be waiting. I'll clean up here.
Go ahead, Quinn. Shorty, keep the champagne cold.
- Come on, Charlie.
- Mr. Arnold...
If there's anything I can do, just say the word...Anything!
- Come on, Shorty...
- I'll stick around...Drive down to the hospital with him.
That's a good idea.
- I'll see you later.
- Okay.
Run along, Shorty. I'll take care of everything here.
You promised to have Davis take it easy. Look at him!
Maybe he'll die.
- You better beat it, Shorty.
- What for?
Who promised to take care of what?
Have it your way.
- You got any complaints?
- Me? I got no complaints.
He got complaints. Maybe he'll die.
Everybody dies!
You knew Ben had the blood clot in the brain! You promised him...
What do you want, a few grand more? You got it.
- Anything on your mind, Shorty?
- Plenty.
Spill it.
I don't like being your partner, Roberts...I'm out.
And I think after tonight, Charlie'll be out too.
You're a little behind the times, Shorty. We're not partners, you were out already.
Whatever you get, you get from Charlie.
- He's giving you a handout. Didn't he tell you?
- No.
Check it.
Send me the hospital bills.
- Thanks, champ!
- Oh wait, you can't do that!
Congratulations champ, it was a wonderful fight.
Hey, Charlie, throw me those gloves!
- Was it a tough go, Charlie?
- He wouldn't go down, he was like a rock!
Who's sitting here, you or him?
That's right, that's right...You saw him, Peg, you saw him!
Yes, I saw him, Charlie, I saw him.
There's Shorty, Charlie!
Shorty! Hey, Shorty!
We're kings of the world, Shorty!
- Aren't you going to join us, Shorty?
- No.
- Why not?
- What's the matter?
You didn't win the title, Charlie!
Ben was double-crossed. They promised him an easy go.
Where do you get that stuff? Who promised who?
Ben was sick...He had a blood clot, and they all knew!
- A blood clot?...You didn't know that, Charlie, did you?
- No, I didn't...!
It's the old alibi, champ...You'll get used to it.
Come on, let's sit down everybody and celebrate.
- What's the matter, Shorty? Don't you think I beat him square?
- You beat him foul!
Ask Quinn, ask Roberts.
I don't like partners like Roberts, Charlie...it's rotten enough without them. Tell him he's out!
What are you talking about, Shorty? Are you crazy? You want to make trouble? You can't believe everything you hear.
Can I believe Roberts?
He told me to check with you.
He said I was out.
Am I out?
Or are you going to keep giving me the 10 percent for old times' sake?
- Yes.
- I had to tell him, champ...
There's only room for one in the driver's seat, and that's you!
Sure, what's the difference? We won, didn't we? That's what we wanted!
We didn't win. He won!
Come on, let's sit down. We'll talk about it some other time.
We're going to talk about it right now!
That's right...now's the time, now!
It's not enough to be great, Charlie. I tried to tell you in Philly. I tried to tell you in L.A. we're infested with rats!
He's not just a kid who can fight, he's money!
And people want money so bad they make it stink, and they make you stink!
If you don't like the racket, Shorty, you can always quit.
I quit before I ever came in here.
And if he has any sense left, he'll do the same!
I'm through and you can keep your pension.
Come on, Shorty...Let's all relax. Come on...
Shorty...Shorty!
Don't run out on me. Don't leave me alone. Because I can't do it all by myself.
Now remember, long ago he came to us and asked us, and we said:
"It's all right, Charlie, go ahead."
Now we've got to help him!
Nobody can help him.
He's got to help himself.
Shorty!
Charlie!
Charlie, your hands, look!
We all know you can fight.
Thanks, friend!
Shorty, you're hurt!
- I'm all right...take care of Charlie.
- Come on, Shorty.
Charlie, Shorty's hurt.
Shorty!
I tell you he walked right into it! He didn't even look where he was going.
It's too late!
What's the matter...You lose your key?
No. I'd like to have a cigarette, if you don't mind.
If one could only say, Charlie...
that it started here...or there...
But we're in something horrible and we've got to get out.
Well what can I do? Go back to the candy store?
It was an accident.
Only the dying, nothing else?
It was all inevitable.
You must quit.
It took a long time, Peg!
Rotten and hard and tough.
Now I'm a champ.
Now it's gonna be easy.
I can't stop now...I can't throw it all away.
It's what we wanted.
But, Charlie...we can't live with these people! I couldn't bear it.
You won't have to see them, or meet them again.
We'll live fine...I'll make the money.
I'll look after Ben...Believe me, I'll do everything I can!
But I can't start again.
From what? With what?
But Charlie...you'll have to start again with nothing anyway someday.
Only it'll be worse.
You'll be like Ben.
I'm too smart for that.
It's nothing to argue, Charlie!
I can't live this way.
You'll stop now.
Or I'll stop.
But that's not fair!
Was it fair for Shorty to die?
It was an accident!
And for Ben to fight with a blood clot?
I didn't know.
Charlie...one way or the other.
But I'm the champ!
You mean Roberts is.
Charlie...
I can't marry you.
That would just mean marrying him.
Go on, take the money...Take it!
Then...how about working with me?
It's not charity...I need someone.
Someone I can trust.
Okay, Charlie. Okay!
Not this time, Charlie.
What's the matter?
You know I'm good for the money.
Only if you fight!
- So I'll fight.
- And it's gotta be Marlowe!
Leave the door open, you dope!
Are you crazy coming in here in front of everybody?
It's a gym...People come and go here.
Besides, I'm an admirer of yours...I like to watch you train.
- So you're all set for the Marlowe match?
- Yeah, we're all set.
That's great...The odds are 2 to 1 for you to win. That's a lot of dough...
if you bet on Marlowe.
I ain't handing no title over to any kid!
I can beat him.
Betting on yourself to win, Charlie?
I didn't think you were punch-drunk yet...
- I think I can beat him.
- You're not thinking, Charlie...you're dreaming.
It's only natural after all these years of living good.
A fight now and then, the dough rolling in...and the dough rolling out.
You begin to dream this can go on forever.
When I lose the championship, they'll have to carry me out.
This gym is full of guys who were carried out.
Mr. Roberts is right, Charlie.
You'd like to see me take a dive, wouldn't you?
No...why should I? You mean money in the bank to me...
But facts are facts, Charlie.
- Yeah?
- How much of my money have you got in the bank, Quinn?
How much you got, Charlie?
There's 60 grand in there...You wanna count it?
60 grand, a clean fast fight, 15 rounds to a decision.
60 grand at 2 to 1, your end of the purse at 2 to 1.
I'm good at figures, Charlie...it'll add up to a fortune.
Besides, you don't like fighting anymore...You like living too much.
So why not live the easy life?
- Maybe open a caf with this singer, with this...what's her name...
- Alice!
- Yeah, Alice.
- You punch the cash register instead of getting punched.
You got a million friends, Charlie...You can't miss!
All right, Charlie...Let's stop being nice to each other.
We agreed to make a killing on this fight months ago.
You're into me for a lot of dough!
I made my arrangements with Marlowe, and a lot of other people.
Nobody backs out now.
That's the way it is.
Besides, a lot of guys think Marlowe can beat you on the square.
I don't take no dive for nobody...What do you think I am, a tanker?
Who's asking you to take a dive?
15 rounds to a decision.
- 15 rounds to a decision?
- That's right.
When you get ready to bet that dough, Charlie...
see that you give it to me to bet for you.
I'll get you a few extra points!
How's the head, Ben?
It's still on, Mr. Roberts...
no thanks to you.
Are you still sore?
I should have done something for you, Ben!
I like being Charlie's trainer.
Here's a little something to sweeten the past...
I don't take blood money, Mr. Roberts.
Mine or anybody else's.
You only have to bend down to pick it up, Ben!
Hey...take it easy, Ben! You mustn't get excited.
It's just the pressure, Charlie.
The last couple of weeks, I've been fighting my head all the time.
We've got to get you a real examination, Ben!
Yeah, after the fight.
- Are you all right now?
- Yeah, I'm all right.
Ben...Take the money, Ben!
It's not like people. It's got no memory. It don't think!
Did you sell the fight, Charlie?
Are you crazy?
I'll see you up in camp. Take it easy.
Leave the doors open, Quinn, what'll people think?
You care?
You sure you're not worried?
I got nothing to be worried about.
As long as you can keep your mind on the dough...
To the money!
Are you gonna bet?
If I have to beg, borrow and steal, I'm gonna bet this fight.
Just remember baby...I told you about it.
You get in on a big fix once in a lifetime...And after it's over?
No problem...The boy's gonna make a snootful of dough!
He'll go through it in a year with your help.
That gives me a year, Quinn. What about you?
I'll find myself another mug. They come and they go but I stay.
That's the reason you should listen to me, baby!
Don't you ever get tired?
No...I got no time for pride!
He could have had the whole world, so he leaned over sideways and grabbed you!
Nobody grabbed me, I grabbed him!
Sure, baby, sure! All love in the yard wide. But every time he's low-down,
he's gone to Peg. He's not gonna feel so high after this fight.
I don't care where his heart is, only the money!
What about me, how I feel?
Don't romance me, Quinn. You're getting old.
You could use a new paint job yourself.
And I know where to get it.
Hey Charlie, who you hiding?
How about going out, cutie?
Charlie, take it easy!
Early delivery today.
But Charlie...come in.
- Trouble?
- No...no.
I better make some coffee, you look as if you need some.
Isn't this a trifle early for you?
No, I got up early this morning.
That is, I didn't get to sleep.
Oh? Celebrating the Marlowe match?
I tried to.
I thought you skipped all the places in the papers that mentioned my name.
On the contrary, I read about you religiously.
Orange juice?
Sure.
Yes, I've been promoted since you were last here.
I'm a fully fledged designer now.
That's great.
well, good health!
What is it this time, Charlie?
Last time you came it was because you were bored.
And the year before, you were lonely...
Once it was your birthday, twice it was mine...
What's the occasion now?
I don't understand.
I worked very late last night so I'm not very bright this morning, but I'll try and I'll...
What do you want?
Advice? Comfort? Recriminations...
I brought this, too.
It doesn't look like me. It's bad technique.
Isn't this your problem?
Don't you want it anymore?
No.
I just don't understand...
Now...I'm still half asleep...
If you don't want it anymore, why return it after all these years?
I want you.
Well here I am, Charlie.
Peg...I'm scared...so low-down, I...
I had to see, I wanted to know, I had to find out, once and for all, I had to know!
And we won't be broke...it's my last fight...
Look, I got 60 grand and more to come and I'll...
Don't tell me what you can get me, don't tell me what you can buy.
You've got nothing to buy.
I...I said all that once before, didn't I?
Don't talk, Charlie. Just sit.
Because you'll only start saying those things you've learned to say.
Not what you once were.
What you are.
Ever since Irma left, it runs over!
Irma! Where is she?
In Texas.
Texas? Doing what?
She's married.
She married the first guy that ever bought a statue from her!
Is she happy?
Oh, deliriously!
It all happened on a rainy afternoon.
Things happen that way. Sometimes you...you wait very long for happiness.
And sometimes you fall over it just before you learn to walk.
She just walked it all...Or jumping!
I must be jumping, I can't think why.
I think I'm ill, I'm running a high...
What am I talking about, do you know?
Do you know what it's like to love, and be alone?
Don't poke it...pat it gently.
Is it spoiled?
- No, no...
I'm trying to be useful.
Then get me a saucer.
There...Let the expert have a taste.
One pretty woman in the family's enough.
More.
You approve?
You know, that's a taste that never leaves your mouth!
The expert approves!
Say, I meant to ask you...What did the old lady say when I told you this was my last fight?
She cried.
And then she said the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life.
- What?
She said she didn't think that at her age she could fall in love again.
With who?
Us.
By the way...What did you do with all my money?
I put it in my bank.
Well, in the morning I'll go down with you and pick it up.
- What for?
I need it.
- Why?
To bet on the fight.
Charlie, if you lose the fight and the money, then you'll want to fight again...
No, no, I'm not going to give you the money to bet. We're rich enough.
Charlie!...Charlie, you're a sight for sore eyes.
Hello, Shimen!
Good to see you! You look wonderful...He looks fine.
You know Miss Born, Charlie's fiance?
This I suspected. Here you are, Mrs. Davis...
Charlie, something special for you.
Straight from the Garden of Eden.
- Thanks!
Have some wine, Shimen.
- What's the occasion?
Charlie's last fight.
- You don't say.
Don't spread it around, Shimen!
I'm like a grave.
Does that mean you won't fight anymore?
- That's right.
So you'll retire champion...That's bad?
It's good!
To the future retired champion of the world...good luck!
And to my five dollars that I bet on the fight, good luck too.
Excuse me...Charlie, everybody is betting on you. The whole neighborhood, like you was the Irish Sweepstakes!
People shouldn't bet.
- No, no, Mrs. Davis...
It isn't the money. It's a way of showing.
Over in Europe, the Nazis are killing people like us, just because of their religion.
But here, Charlie Davis is champion.
So you'll win and you'll retire champion.
And we are proud, period.
And Charlie, when you leave, stop in and say toodle-doo.
What's the matter with people, anyway?
Why do they have to bet?
It's a racket, don't they know? They know it's a racket.
People gamble.
Well, they're suckers! Tell them not to bet on me.
I'm too old to walk up and down New York telling people not to bet. Especially when they win.
You don't win all the time, you can lose, too.
Suckers like Shimen shouldn't bet!
- Suckers like Shimen?
You didn't hear what he said, Charlie...It isn't the five dollars that's important...
I heard, I heard...I can still lose!
That's right, Charlie! So why bet, why take a chance?
Well you don't understand. It's a diffrent thing.
I don't want to quit without money. I don't want to end up broke!
Broke? You have $60,000, you could stop right now.
Stop now, are you kidding?
There's a million bucks riding on my back!
If I don't fight, I don't get a dime.
I'm all mobbed up, tied hand and foot, down to my last buck.
You think I want to end up like Ben, punchy, with a blood clot on the brain, ready to die any day...
Or with a bullet in my back in an alley?
What do you mean, bullet?
Don't you understand? The fight's fixed!
Fixed? What does it mean, fixed?
It...it means I'm...I'm throwing the fight.
- Throwing the fight?
It means I'm gonna lose, it's all arranged!
It's a racket anyway. That's why I want to bet the 60 grand.
You get it Peg, don't you?
Yeah, I get it.
It's an investment, a sure thing...
Well what do you want? What are you looking at?
Then you didn't understand what Shimen said.
It's none of my business what they think or what they do! Nobody looks out for me!
Poor Charlie, nobody's looking out for you.
You're all so high and mighty!
You wouldn't even have that dirty candy store if it wasn't for me! You wouldn't have a dime, the clothes on your back!
It's my money, isn't it? You were in such a hurry to take it and slap it in the bank.
Sure, you said "We're rich enough", like the rest of them.
But it comes out of my hide!
I take the beatings and you take the dough, like all the rest of them!
Well, this time I'm taking care of the dough.
Give me back that 60 grand!
Yeah, that's right.
I'm like the rest of them.
So you want your money back?
Well take it back! And everything else you've given me.
Here! What everybody gives you!
The long years of happiness, the promises broken,
the lonely nights!
That's enough, Charlie.
Take it easy for the rest of the day, Charlie.
Been that way for two months, boys, there's no stopping him.
It's gonna be a Marlowe massacre!
You're looking great, champ!
Thanks, Pete. I feel fine. I can even name the round.
- Good.
The last night, eh, Charlie?
- Yeah...
I always get a sort of sad feeling when I see them breaking camp.
Tearing down the ring, collecting the gear...
It always felt so good after a win.
Walk down Lennox Avenue,
the kids all crazy for you, and proud...
Champion of the world, for the whole world to know.
You fixed the fight, didn't you?
I been worried about you, Ben.
The three or four times in the last month you fainted.
But I got it all arranged.
It's not like a hospital. They've got doctors...
They give you tests, it's kind of like a check-up.
You know your head's been getting worse.
A fella's got to take care of himself.
Yeah...it's been pretty bad lately.
That's why I shouldn't have fought you.
But look Charlie, you can lick Marlowe.
He's fast, but he ain't got what it takes.
If you keep on top of him, he'll go down, I know!
I got you covered, Ben.
You haven't got a thing to worry about.
The bet's in there for you too.
That's what I figured!
I knew that day at the gymnasium.
All this monkey business with the training to run the odds up against Marlowe,
and you're not really training at all.
What are you ducking out on, Charlie?
You can be on top for years yet.
That's the way things are, Ben. That's the way they are.
There'll be a big chunk of dough, and I'm through. It's enough.
Why?
There's nobody in your class.
Look, I've watched this Marlowe...studied him.
He backs away and shoots a left and backs away.
You keep on top of him and he'll go down, I know he'll go down!
Look...I'll show you.
Look Charlie...keep on top of him like this, see? And then one good punch!
I know...I know.
Maybe it's Roberts talked to you a little too fast.
I'd like a word with you, Ben.
- Say, Mr. Roberts...
- When are you leaving?
Tomorrow, when Charlie leaves.
I think you'd better go tonight.
Where to, Mr. Roberts?
- Where we don't have to see you.
- Now take it easy.
I'm taking it easy. We'll get somebody else for your corner, Charlie.
Let Charlie take care of that!
It's taken care of. Get out tonight.
And keep your mouth shut.
Now wait a minute, Roberts, maybe Ben is right.
What's our hurry? Maybe we figured this Marlowe wrong. Maybe we can cover!
Don't second-guess me, Charlie. It's all set.
You bet your pile on yourself to lose. So what are we talking about?
I told Quinn to dump you months ago. He said Charlie wanted you.
Well, Charlie doesn't want you anymore.
Let Charlie tell me!
I'm telling you. Start running!
You double-crossed me before.
I'm through, done washed up! I don't scare easy anymore!
- Take it easy.
You're punchy, Ben, your head's soft!
Leave him alone, he's sick!
I let you stay on Charlie's pension list...
- You don't tell me how to live!
- No, but I'll tell you how to die...
- Take it easy, Ben...
- Get this crazy punch-drunk wreck out of here!
Come on, I don't scare anymore! I don't scare anymore!
Ben...Ben!
Ben, get up, will you?...Come on, Ben...Ben!
Ben, come on, get up...Ben!
- Ben, you'll be all right...come on, get up.
- Oh, Charlie...sIt's the same room...Just like I told you...
Get a doctor, will you?
- No! No!
I don't want no doctor! I don't want anything! I can take him!
Let him wear himself out.
I can take him! I can take him!
I can take it! I've gotta take it! I'm the champ!
I think he's dead.
Ben...
Ben!
Hello, champ!
Better get ready. You only got a few minutes.
Did you have a good sleep?
- Yeah.
I hear Marlowe was so nervous he could barely sit still.
He ain't taking it easy...lying back so relaxed.
He's got plenty to be nervous about, too.
Because they're certainly going to carry him
out of that ring.
Makes you feel kinda funny, not having Ben with you.
He was a great champ.
Laying the bet, get ready!
I was talking to a few of the reporters, out in the hall...They asked me how you felt.
I says, "How do you think a champ feels?
"He's sleeping inside."
Yeah...dreaming.
Introducing the worthy contender...
that fast and rugged boy from the Lone Star State...
Jackie Marlowe!
And now, introducing a great champion
who has met and defeated
all the leading contenders,
the champion of the world,
Charlie Davis!
Come on, boys...Break this and fight!
Boo...Boo!
Come on...Make a surprise...make a surprise!
Boo!
There's still no action in this fight, ladies and gentlemen.
The champion looks badly out of condition.
Okay, boys...I warned you for the last time...Fight!
- What round is it?
- It's the end of the 12th.
I'll fall down before the 15th.
Hit!
Three...four...five...
One...two...three...four...five...
You sold me out, you rat!
Take a dive and finish it.
Sold out like Ben.
It looks like we have a new champion!
All right, buddy...He just lost his head, is all.
When the bell rings, get in there and finish him, son!
I'll kill him! I'll kill him!
Down, Charlie!...Stay down!
Get him, Charlie...Get him!
Charlie!
The guy's crazy! He's crazy!
I'm gonna kill him.
Take a dive and finish it!
- I'm gonna kill him!...I'm gonna kill him.
Keep running and you'll be champ!
You're behind in points, anyway.
You've gotta knock him out to win.
You know what you're doing, Charlie?
Last round coming up. Stay away from him.
I've never seen anything like it before in my life.
A great silence has descended over this crowd.
They seem to sense the kill.
There's fear in Marlowe's eyes, as Davis looks for an opening.
Davis is following Marlowe around the ring now like a tiger stalking its prey.
By a knockout, the winner...
still champion of the world...
Charlie!
Back in my league now, aren't you baby?
Congratulations, champ.
Get yourself a new boy.
I retire.
What makes you think you can get away with this?
What are you going to do?
Kill me?
Everybody dies!
- Charlie! Charlie! Charlie?
- Hey, let her through!
Are you all right Charlie? Are you all right?
I never felt better in my life!