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The Great White Hope (1970)
- I ain't gonna fight no dinge!
- Listen to me, Frank. - You wouldn't fight one when you had the belt. - I didn't have to, but you do. In your hat, I do! I know what "retired" means, and that's what I am. - I'll get you back in shape in a month. - You have tillJune. I need time to promote it. This one is even bigger than your last one. - And this one's a breeze. - You'll smoke him in five. - Four. - Two! They got glass jaws. - Right, Cap'n Dan? - I ain't gonna fight no dinge! Now, Frank, when you retired with that gold belt last summer... nobody thought it would work out like this. We thought, match the two best heavies, and whoever beats who is the new top man. - Right? - Right! Nobody thought the nigger would lick one, then go after the other all the way to Australia. I was down in Melbourne for the paper, Mr. Brady, and let me tell you... no paper here could print how bad it really was. He'd say, "Wanna hit me now, fella?" Then he'd let him. Grinning all the time. Cuffing him, jabbing. - Making smart-ass remarks to the crowd. - You're the white hope. - I'm the what? - The white hope. Every paper in the country is calling you that. He lands in San Francisco tomorrow. Come on! How would you like it if he claims the belt's his because you won't fight him? How would you like it if the whole damn country says, "Brady let us down. He let a loudmouth nigger be champion of the world!" Now, Frank, you go take a good long look at that belt... then come on out here with it. I know you trust me, and I say you can beat him. And, Franklin, the good Lord hates a quitter. Good. - So it's fixed, Cap'n Dan. - The man's in a hurry. - What about terms? - We're no babies here. You know myJackie would fight your boy for a nickel. - 80-20, Goldie. - What? A world's championship? - 80-20. That's it. - God bless America. - And Cap'n Dan to be the referee. - You're kidding me. Who did you have in mind? Booker T. Washington? All right, all right. What else? He don't have to fight with his feet tied together? - We'd better set the place. - Any place. Name it. The coast, Chicago. No big towns, Pop. You'll have every nigger jamming in there. Well, what about Tulsa, huh? Denver. Reno. - Hey, Reno! - Why not? The good old Rockies. A white man's country. - Yes, but who lives there? - It's on the main line now. - And it's high and dry. - The drier, the better. That nigger gets a sweat up, one good whiff and Frank is finished. - Well, he ain't through yet! - There we are! Get your photos, boys. - A deal? - It's a deal. It's gonna be a pleasure. Tell your nigger I said so. That's-a boy! - Mow 'em down.! - Yah! Whoo! Yah! Whoo! - Easy, now. Easy. - Hyah! Watch him.! Watch him.! Now move! He's jabbin'! Fake with the body, notjust the head.! Fake.! Hook in behind him! Now you listen to me, sugar. Hook him again. - Three more. - Hee-yea! Hyah! Hey, baby! Here! Wham-wham-wham-wham, wup-wup, boom! Watch what you're doin'! Honey, you know you're tired of sitting here. Go buy yourself a pretty. No, let me stay. Unless you mind me here, Jack. You my lady luck. I don't mind you nowhere. Long as you're looking at him, he don't mind. Are we gonna mooch, or are we gonna move? Hmm. Sh... You hold me that bag, man. I'm gonna bust it wide open, then we all go out for a champagne lunch! Four soft-boiled eggs... that's what you're gonna have. - Hey, Goldie.! - How you doin', boss? - I figured you were stayin' in Reno till tomorrow. - We got it settled there. - How do you feel? - He feels like he looks. - Not eatin' too quick? - No, sir! Chewin' good. - Come on, Goldie. When it gonna be? - The Fourth ofJuly. The Fourth ofJuly. And Lord, you knows why! So it makes a difference? We have some gate there... 12,000 seats. You know what they're calling it? Already by them, it's the fight of the century. Twenty years, I've never seen such a hoopla. Trains from St. Louis and Chicago... direct yet. Tents they have to put up. It's a regular madhouse. Lively times, I can hear you comin'. Boy, you about to win the fight of the century. Yeah. Or else lose and be the nigger of the minute. - Jack, listen... - Hey, what kind of odds going? Brady, eight-to-five. What's the girl doing here? - She just lookin' around. She don't bother us none. - Lookin' around for what? You be nice now, Goldie. Come over here, Ellie. Don't be shy now, hon. - He a friend of mine. - How do you do? Come on, Goldie. Shake hands with Miss Eleanor Bachman. I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Bachman. You're a fan ofJack's? No, Ellie was on the same boat from Australia. She was visiting down there. Well. Must be great to be home again. - Hmm. - Can't beat Frisco. Yes, I like it fine. My home is in Tacoma, though. Oh. Well, Miss Bachman... the guys from the papers will be here any minute, you know what I mean? - Maybe if you'll excuse... - She's staying where she is. - What's the matter with you? - I said she's staying where she is. - I'll wait in the hotel. - Hotel? Jesus Christ! - You be nice now. - Jackie, listen to me! First, they hate your guts for fighting white guys, but okay. Then they hate you more because you win. Still okay. Then they hate you so much, they're willing to pay through the nose... to see you maybe get knocked on your can. That's more than okay. Cash in. After all, it's so nice to be colored. You shouldn't have a bonus. But, sonny, when they start hating you more than that, watch out. That means now. I got ears! I get told things! Guys who want to put dope into your food there. A guy who wants to watch the fight behind a rifle. Okay, that we'll handle. But this, on top of it? A white girl? Jackie, you want to drive them crazy... What am I supposed to do? Stash her in a hole someplace in Niggertown and go sneaking up there at 12:00 at night? Or carry her around with me in a little box, like a pet bunny rabbit? - Jack, I... - She put black on her face and puff her mouth out... so nobody notice I took nothin' from 'em. You know I fooled around plenty, Goldie, and she know it too. She know it all, but I ain't foolin' around this time, you understand? If he say, "That's what you said last time," I'll bust his nappy head. - I ain't said nothin'! - Jack. I swear I'll help you, only you shouldn't throw it in their faces. Go. Uh, sit. I just spoke with Chicago. - Five-to-one? - Come on.! Five-to-one. - Hi, fellas! Hey, Smitty! How you doin'? - Hi, Jack! Just a few questions, fellas, okay? - You sure look good, Jack. - Thank you, boss. - Hey, Jackie boy.! - What about the Fourth? Startin'to getjumpy? Yeah, I'm scared that Brady gonna change his mind. - Think you can take him? - I ain't saying I can take him straight off. Anyway, that'd be kinda mean. Big holiday fight. Can't send them people right back home again. - Your only worry is picking the round? - That takes some thinkin'. You see, if I lets it go on too long and I'm just keeping him off... they'll say, "Ain't that one shiftless nigger? Why are they all so lazy?" But if I chop them down too quick, the third or fourth round... Get to him all at once, they'll holler... "No, it ain't fair. The poor man fighting a gorilla. " But I'm gonna work it out. What about that yellow streak Brady talks about? Hey, yeah. You want to see it? Stop fooling around! Any idea, Jack, why you smile when you're fightin'? I'm a happy sort of person and always feels good. When I'm fighting, I feels double good... so why do I wanna put a face on for? Anyway, it's a sport, right? Like a game. Well, I likes whoever I'm hitting to see that I'm still his friend. - Going back to Chicago after the fight? - I wanna see my mama. - And fried chicken, Jack. - Okay, wait! - One more question. - Yeah. Go ahead. You're the first black man in the history of the ring who's ever had a crack... at the heavyweight title. White folks, of course, are behind Brady. He's the redeemer of the race. But you, JackJefferson, are you the black hope? - I'm black, and I'm hopin'. - Answer straight, Jack. I ain't fighting for no race. I ain't redeeming nobody. My mama told me Mr. Lincoln done that. Ain't that why you shot him? My, oh, my. The big black rooster and the little red hen. I got you, you mother. - What you want here? - I show you what I want! - Hey.! - Jack.! Jack.! You crazy? You bitch.! Goddamn it.! Just a family quarrel. A family quarrel. You leave my man be, girl. You don't, I'm gonna throw you at him in chunks. - You got it all wrong, Clara. - I got it from the chambermaid at the Park Royal Hotel. I come all the way from Chicago to got it. Now that you "got" it, you get your black ass out of here. - Jack! - Let the gentlemen see how you're 'smirchin' your wife. - She ain't no wife of mine. - We's common law, and I's comin' home to Papa. I's common nothin'. Don't you "papa" me, girl, or I'll "papa" you so you never forget it. I quit on you when you cleared out of Detroit with Willie the Pimp. I quit on you when you cleared out of Detroit with Willie the Pimp. - Have a heart, please, fellas. - I know you come after me. I know you was lookin'. You lucky I too busy to find you, you sellin' my clothes, my ring... my silver brushes. Give me another chance, baby. I misses you awful. Just don't come on with me, girl. - Your Willie's in jail. You just smellin' gravy here. - How you know where he at? I'm from the jungle like you, baby, and I hear the drums. Tick, give her 20 and carfare back. - Let's go. - You ain't closin' the book on me so easy, Daddy. You hear me, gray meat? Get it while you can. - Clara, let's go! Goddamn it! - Who's the other woman? I'm asking you man-to-man, for everybody's good, don't write about it. If it gets out, God knows what can happen. Now, look, we wanna have a fight, don't we? I'll buy it, for now. Okay? I'll hold it up as long as you do. Thanks, fellas. Say, let me buy you all a drink. Jack, what's... what's the girl's name? It's gonna get worse, you know? I know. You wanna go along with it? Along with you. Then hold right on. Just don't never call me Daddy. 205! When I put on the gloves now and defend this here belt... it's the request of the public who forced me out of retirement. I want to assure 'em I'm fit to do my best. I don't think I'll disappoint nobody! How come there ain't no music when I comes in? Hey, come on! How do you do, Mr. Jefferson? As you know, I'm your referee. I am proud to shake the hand that shook the hand of the Prince of Wales. Don't take no lip from him.! Turn around.! Let's see that yellow streak, nigger.! You're gonna get yours, coon! Get it over with right now.! Get out ofhere right now.! Hey, Frank! How you doin'? Look like Frank about to walk the plank. 191! Brady! Brady! - 204. - 204. Hey, Frank. Do you believe that? This man here said that I'm lighter than you. - Just your statement, please. - Huh? Oh, sure. I wants to thank Mr. Brady here for being such a sport... and giving me a shot at the belt today. - There's been a whole lots of mean talk around... - Shut up, nigger.! Get your skinny... Here... But here we is. Here's me and here's Frank, and I glad it come down to a plain old scuffle. Let's get in there. Hey there, home folks! - How are you all today? - Come here to pray for you, Mr. Jefferson. Oh. You couldn't get no tickets, huh? - Best they don't go in there. - Oh, that don't matter. - Just so long as the good Lord lets you win for us. - Amen. Lf"us" mean any of you with cash riding on me, your prayers will pay off about the fifth. No, Mr. Jefferson. He mean win for us colored. Oh. Is that what you're praying? May the good Lord be guiding your hand for us. - Amen! - You traipse all this way to pray it? My, my. What the reverend mean to signify... - I know what he signifyin'. I'm big, but I ain't dumb. - What you salty with me for? - Hey, man. What's my winning gonna do for you? - Huh? - Give him self-respect. - Amen. Tell it, brother. Yeah, I be proud to be colored tomorrow. Country boy, if you ain't there already... all the boxing and nigger-praying in the world ain't gonna get you there. - Jack, let's go. - You look colored, but you ain't thinking colored. No, sir, I'm thinking colored, colored, and then colored. I'm so busy thinking colored, I can't see nothin' else sometime. I just ain't thinking colored like you. You're telling me you're praying here. You expect I'm gonna say thank you, and you ain't praying for me. It ain't, "Lord, don't let that peck break his nose"... or "Lord, let him get out of town and not get shot at!" I ain't nothing to you but a black, ugly fist here. Lord... when smoke of battle clear away, may that good man be standing in victory... and may them who keep on shoving all us down... see they can't do it every time, take a lesson. Give us just a day, Lord. We needs it. And give him the light to understand why. Speech.! Oh, my, my. It look like "rest in peace," don't it? Yeah, well, I am all rested up... and as you can see, I'm about to make Chicago my real home, sweet home. Guess I don't have to chase around for work for a while, huh? Ain't stuck Brady's head up on the wall, has you? No, man, but there a picture of old Queen Cleopatra that'll make you sit up straight! Hey, Ellie. Help me with these flowers here. Yeah, I want you all to say hello to my fiance, Miss Eleanor Bachman. Ooh! Uh-huh. Uh-huh. All right. Hey, listen. While y'all at it, I want you to congratulate my manager and friend, Goldie! - And, uh... - See, if you're black, you're coming in last! But how 'bout this little doodad, folks? Okay! Okay! Bring it on inside! Open house! Let's have some lively times! Come on! Everybody! That's it, brothers! Yeah. Whoop it up now! Got your white crumbs off the white man's table... and you feel just fine.! Gonna jump... all night! How much white you up to? How much you done took on? How much white you pinin' for? How white you wanna be, and how white you gonna get? Now, you tell me! Shame on you.! Hustlin' for the white man's sportin' prize. Itchin' for the white man's piece of poontang. Struttin'around like you're the white man's nigger.! Thinkin' you's a walking natural man. Don't know you swimming half-drowned in the whitewash, same as all of them! Gulpin' it every day here... and pickled in it. You... and you, and you, and you.! Even the nose you got... the lips you got... the hair you got... and the skin you... got. Well... lively times. SinceJefferson opened this caf, we've made no fewer than seven arrests there. - He wasn't arrested. - Madam, we have no ground. But you're the district attorney! What about the Bachman girl? She's over the age of consent. But this connection between them is an outrage.! It's a threat to every decent home in America. Forgive me, Doctor, but I must speak my mind. We can't pretend that race is not the issue here... and I'm with you because this man Jefferson does harm to his race. He confirms certain views of us that you may already hold. That does us harm. But he also confirms in many people of color... the belief that his life is the desirable life... and that can do us even greater harm. - Absolutely. - That's right. Well, I'm grateful to you all for your concern. You shouldn't have come. A girl can't say no to a district attorney. He was very polite. So you say "no" polite. You think your family's in on this or what? No. They're just trying to forget me now. Well, this is looking for trouble. I can't make any more than I have already, can I? - Over there? - Yes, and get down every word of it. If a good white hope showed up and beat him, I wouldn't need to do this. A public servant has to serve the public, Al. You ever have the screws put on you like this in Washington? Oh, I don't think they'd even know where to look for us. Come in. Good afternoon, Miss Bachman. - Take a seat, please. - Thank you. You understand, this is, uh, just an informal inquiry. - Yes. I understand. - Good. Now then, Miss Bachman... - I see you resumed your maiden name after your divorce. - That's right. - And you obtained your divorce from Mr. Martin in Australia. - Yes. - That's an odd place to go for a divorce. - I have an aunt there. - I wanted to get away. - Oh. - You hadn't met Mr. Jefferson before your trip? - No, I had not. - You did not travel there to be with Mr. Jefferson? - No, I didn't. I met him on the boat coming back. - How did he approach you? - He didn't. - I asked the captain to introduce us. - May I ask why? Yes. I wanted to make his acquaintance. And once you had, Miss Bachman, what did he propose to you? That I have dinner at his table. - Which you did for several evenings. - Yes. - Until you began taking your meals in his stateroom. - Yes, that's correct. Where a great deal of wine and champagne was consumed. Well, you might say that. Presumably he would keep filling your glass. - When it was empty, yes. - Uh-huh. Ten times per evening? No, I drank very little. - How often did he give you medicine or pills? - Never. I wasn't ill. But the steward reports you hardly left the stateroom. Didn't you feel... strange? Sleepy? No. I felt uncomfortable at how people looked at me. I wasn't used to it. - He took you from the boat to the hotel. - Yes. Did you ask to be taken there? - No, I just went with him. - What had he promised you? - To spend some of his time with me. - Nothing else? Nothing that would interest you. Naturally, he's provided you with money. He's given me presents, yes. Your railway ticket to Chicago... did you buy that or was that a sort of present? Um, I honestly don't remember. - I... I believe I bought it, though. - Thank you. You've parried these questions very well. I didn't come here to tell lies, Mr. Cameron. I wanted to head off any notion you have of getting atJack through me. I hope I've done that. Well, yes, I'm afraid you have. Frankly, though... I admire you for it. Not many women... You're quite devoted to him, aren't you? Yes, I love him, Mr. Cameron. He's a splendid man, really. L- In many ways. - No one doubts that, you know. - No, I've never doubted it. - Magnificent fighter... - Oh, that's not all he is. He's generous and he's kind and he's sensitive. Why are you smiling? I'm sorry. It's how you shy away from the, uh, physical attraction. I embarrassed you. Forgive me. I'm not ashamed of wanting Jack for a lover. - I wanted him that way. - Of course you did. - And he would want you. - Why? Because I'm white? No. I just meant that any man would be proud... Mr. Cameron, I'm proud that he wanted me. Is that clear? Certainly. Don't be distressed. Why can't they leave us alone? What's the difference... There shouldn't be a difference, ideally. People shouldn't be so blind about the physical side. Ayoung woman, divorced, disappointed. Please, if you've finished, then... Please let me go. Here, here, now. You mustn't cry, Miss Bachman. It hasn't turned out so badly, has it? You have this wonderful man to love you. Why should you cry? I'll never give him up. I can't. - Of course not, but why be ashamed of it? - I swear I'm not. - You seem to be. - I'm not. - If you say so. - I'm crazy for him, yes. It's the truth. I didn't know what it was until I slept with him. I'll say it to anyone. - H-He makes you happy that way? - Yes. - And you love him, do anything for him? - Yes, I would. - And not be ashamed. - No, never. - Even if it seemed unnatural. - Yes. - When you have, you were only... - What? Making him happy too, am I right? Now, Miss Bachman... You slimy, two-bit, no-dick mothergrabber. - Well, if that's all... - Yes, I believe so. Good day, then. Thank you for coming in. Nothing to move on. Zero. I'm not so sure. It occurred to me that we just might nail him with the Mann Act. What? That's for commercial ass, not this. - She's not a pro. - I'm gonna have a word with the fine-print boys. - Won't hurt you. - Like a sick child. Oh! How lovely! Whoo! Shucks, hon. It ain't cold. It's the finest time for swimming. Oh, we've come to a parting of the way. Oh, Lordy. What to do when the romance done gone? Oh, Jack, I couldn't make it to the door. Is that right? Well, suppose I carry you down there and ease you in? - Come here. - Don't tickle me, Jack. Don't! - Look at you! - Ow! Oh, that hurts. - Oh! - Oh, I'm sorry. It's this damn sunburn. Oh. Here. Let me pat somethin' on it. Mmm. Oh. Ohh! That's nice. - Nice and cool? - Mmm. Jack. Oh, not champagne, Jack! - It's all right, baby. You're worth the best. - All over me. Yeah. Let's get some lake on you, huh? No. Turn around a little. No, more this way. - Are you feeling all right? - Ain't feelin' no different. - You sure? - Yeah. - You ate all those clams. Maybe you're getting sick. - What you doing that for? - I ain't got no fever. - You look a little peculiar. Oh. Gettin' kind of ashy, you mean. - Yes, a sort of funny... - No, baby, that's not sick. That's how I get sunburned. All right. What you laughin'at now? Huh? I thought... - Come on, now. That's not nice. - I'm sorry. You thought what, hon? I thought it just bounces off, that's all. Just bounces off? Well, Miss Medium Rare, meet Mr. Well Done. Yeah, you oughta see my cousin Chester. He turn purple. Do we have to leave tomorrow? Yeah. - Gotta stay around the caf, you know. - I know. Mmm. Oh, my. You do smell good, though. Yes. Jack, you're not tired of being alone with me? Hey, are you kiddin'? Tired of me asking questions like that. Oh. I'm tired of plenty... but you ain't in there at all. It's lovely to hear you say that. Have a swim, if you want. No. I'm cozy here now. Yes, I'm cozy, and you are rosy. # Early this mornin' # # Blues walked in my door # #And early this mornin' # # Blues walked in my door # # Last time I saw you, baby # - Hmm. - #You made me cry... ## Lying in the sun... I was... oh, daydreaming. How maybe I'd stay there, and it would keep on burning me... day after day. I'd get darker and darker. I really can get dark, you know? Then I'd dye my hair and I'd change my name. I'd come to you in Chicago like somebody new. A colored woman or a Creole, maybe, huh? Nobody but you would ever guess. - It wouldn't work, hon. - Hmm? Everybody know I done gone off of colored women. Oh, Jack, you... I has, too, except for my mama. Maybe I... - Hey. - What will we do? Shh. Shh. Shh. I'm a federal marshal, Jefferson. Let's not make this any worse than it is. At 10:00 a. m. You drove Miss Eleanor Bachman across the Illinois-Wisconsin state line. Having done so, you proceeded to have relations with her. Under the Mann Act, that makes you liable. - Therefore, I'm placing you under arrest. - No! No! I'm... - Put your clothes on. We'll take you into town. - Jack! Don't you fret, now. Just get dressed. Hold a blanket up or something. - Thanks, mister. - Sure. - How much does this carry? - One to three. She clear? - Just you. - Yeah. Thanks. - We need these, Jim? - No, just find him his pants and let's get outta here. From when he was a child... I knowed this day was comin'. "Look at that, Mama. Why can't I, Mama?" Roamin' and reachin' all over. I tried to learn him like you got to learn a colored child. "Dass'nt. Dass'nt. Dass'nt. That ain't for you. " I hit him with my hand. He say, "So what?" I hit him with my shoe. He look up at me and smile. I took a razor strap to him. That made him squint a little, but then he'd do a funny dance and ask me for a nickel. I hit him with a stick till I couldn't hit no more. He pulled away from me, bust it in two and run off. - Eleven years old. - Sister. You're getting yourself all upset, Mrs. Jefferson. Why don't I put on a pot of fresh coffee. Thank you, Clara. Got a guardian angel there. She been round every day since she heard I was ailin'. - We're hoping with you, sister, maybe they'll let him off. Y'all must ain't got the right house. - Mrs. Jefferson's house, ain't it? - Yeah, but hang on! All y'all can't fit in there! - Afternoon, everybody. - You all from the courthouse? No, ma'am. Us just get a message askin' us to pay a call here. - We the BlueJays. - You the which? The Detroit BlueJays. - You know, the colored baseball club. - Oh, yeah. My name Rudy Simms, ma'am. Who say you supposed to call in here? Well, we sort of friends with Jack. - This ain't no celebratin' party, you know. - Hush, Clara. Why somebody wanna send us a baseball team here? I ain't never seen Jack with no baseball friends. Well, I ain't never seen him with you, so we're even. - Well, Tick? - It ain't good, Mrs. Jefferson. - Lord have mercy! - Come on, come on. 20,000 fine, three years in Joliet. Why can't all them Jew lawyers do nothin'? Why can't they... I'll die if they lock him up! But he do have the week out on bail, Mrs. Jefferson. He'll be right here. Don't take on. He's comin'. That snaky little wax-faced bitch. Where's she at now? Oh, I'll smoke her out, and, man, what I gonna do be worth 103 years. It ain't her fault, Clara. She know this end up comin'. Ain't a deaf, dumb, blind pinhead livin' didn't know it. But, oh, Daddy, she just 'joyin' herself so. It's so good when it's goin'. Leave it alone. "Oh, but, Daddy, I just loves you. " Could be she do love him, Clara. Then why'd she run off, then, with her man in trouble? Love him, my black ass. Sister! How you doin', champ? - Good work, Rudy. - Ready for you, Jack. Well, praise the Lord, and welcome.! Thank you, Pastor, everybody. How are you, Mama Tiny? They didn't hurt you. - You get enough to eat? - Shoot, yeah. How 'bout you? - Well, it drained me out, son. - Oh, Mama. Hard luck, Jack. - The Lord didn't want to hear us, I guess. - Mama... But he gonna put me on my feet, I can feel it... and I'll come down visitin' you often as they allows you to. - No, Mama... - Oh, baby! Baby! - I can't let them trap you up in there. - What's she doin' here? - Mama, what the hell? - I been doin' for your mama, Jack. She's trying to mend her ways. Now, don't be mad. Jack, let her be for now. All set? All set? What? What you boys up to? - Yeah, what's goin' on? - Who you playin' peekaboo with out there? You ain't about to make it worse, are you, son? - I got to trust you folks. - Son, no matter how rough it appears to be... - Stand by the window, Jack. They lookin'. - Who? Who lookin'? - Detectives in the car, Mama. - What they lookin' for? - They worried that I'm gon' try to jump my bail. - Jack, you just let out. No, it's the best time, Mama. They don't know I ready. They followin'you about? No, they think they is. Now, first thing what I do, take off my coat. I, uh, stands here sorta talkin', you see. Yeah, here. Yeah, yeah. So and so and so and so. For heaven's sake. No foolin'. Yeah. And then I let 'em see my face. Yeah. Hey, looks like rain! And I knowed they seen my shirt. Yeah! Don't you wish you had one? So I goes on sorta talkin', see? Now, over there's Rudy. Yep, he's checkin' his turnip again. He has to hop on that train soon. The BlueJays are playin' in Canada next. Ain't you, Rudy? - Against the Montreal Blacks? - That's right, Jack. Okay, fella, let's go. He look mighty fine, our Rudy there. Don't he? He's not as pretty as me... but he's near about the same size and a half a shade lighter. Whoo.! Mercy.! You got the shirt on too.! Clearin' up now? What you trick him into? - It's his idea. Believe me. - It's all right, Mama. Rudy will spend the afternoon by the window here, and I go across the border with theJays. - They'll find you out, Jack. - Hey. Who find me, and who lookin'? Y'all heard that old sayin' how all niggers look alike. Ain't that so, team? - That's right. - That's right, Jack. But we friends with Canada, son. We's hardly a different place. Yeah, and 'fore they cotton to it, we on that boat for England. Right! Right! It's all fixed, Mama. All what fixed... ain't just got to happen. It's a serious offense, floutin' the law, Jack. I know they done you hard, but it's gon' hang over you just as long as you live. Look, man, what gonna hang, gonna hang, and I ain't hangin' with it. I done my kickin' around this country. Served my one-nights. My 30 days once too. I ain't gonna rot in no jail like no log for three years and come out broke neither! I'm in the prime of my life! Got to live it the way I got to! Gonna make me some money again. I'm gonna fight! I got my turn to be the champion of the world, and I'm takin' my turn. I'm stayin' what I am, wherever I have to be it. The world ain't curled up in no 48 states here. Praise the Lord for lightin' the way for my boy! Forgive me! I said you didn't listen, Jesus! - That's it, Mama. - Well? Take me with you, honey. - Don't cross me, now. - I'd go with you, baby. Anyplace. - You know the score, girl. - Please. Please! She comin' to ya, ain't she? That's where she at. Well, you ain't meetin' that bitch. I'll turn you in first! Hold her down! Get her down on the floor! Sit on her! Somebody sit on her! Somebody sit on her! That's right! Make some noise! Make some noise! Sing, children, sing! - Keep it up. - Good luck, Jack. God bless you. - Pretty, ain't it? - Yes. I love it. You see? Right at home already. - Think that's for rent? - Might even do better. - Yes? - Yeah. You gonna be all right here, hon. - Welcome to London, sir. - Thank you, sir. - Welcome. - Thank you. Is it true, sir, you'll be fighting Albert Lynch here? - Gonna sign it right up. - I'd so enjoy watching you against Billy Wells too. - Hey, hey. One at a time. - And Angus McKinnon. - Mr. Jefferson? - Yeah. From the ministry, sir. What do they mean, a hearing? But is there any question that the man is an undesirable? How, sir, can your ministry permit his entry? A convicted criminal. A fugitive from justice. Are you aware, sir, of what this implies? Official license for breaches of the peace, for moral deficiency flaunted. - Wait, now. I ain't been here but a couple of days. - Jackie, quiet. - Gentlemen, please. - No. Sir. Can I talk for a minute? - Yes. By all means. - I'm sorry to fuss anybody out in here... but I come over here to make my livin' the best way I know how. And I guess I got to act extra quiet, sir, 'cause of what I am and all. And I intend to, word of honor, because we likes it here fine, now. My manager here done fixed me up a match already, so I'll just get to training and boxing... and there'll be no rumpus. Well, Mr. Coates, as we view this at the moment... the American legalities are none of our concern. The breaches of the peace you foresee are unlikely... and as to the man's character, it may be deficient by Queen Victoria's standards... but she, of course, is gone now. - You have something to add, Mr. Coates? - Indeed I have, sir... concerning Mr. Jefferson's assumption that he will be boxing here. What you talkin' 'bout? I'm fightin' Albert Lynch January 12. Bradby. "On behalf of Mr. Lynch, I agreed to this engagement... but the London County Council now refuses to license it. " What are you tryin' to pull here? We don't have to stick to London! I believe, sir, you will meet with a similar refusal... in Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. - Easy, now, baby. - Don't do this to him. You're supposed to be fair here. - Mister, what the hell... - Sir, let me assure you... you're welcome to remain here and find any other means of livelihood you can. You'll excuse us now, please? I'm really very sorry. Your client will be leaving the country, I take it. That's right, man. You take it. It's all yours. Breathe deep, champ. Nice and slow. - Yeah, I know how to breathe. - See if that's too tight. Say, when did you start calling me champ, anyway? - Full house? - Girly, they're hangin'from the rafters. - Water bottle. Take the one I rinsed. - You okay? - Why do you keep asking me? - So what? So I'm askin'. Couple of more minutes. - Put 'em up, baby. Better warm up some. - I'm gonna warm up on the man. - I'll be good. I ain't gonna get you winded. - Listen. - You ain't got to tell me what wind I ain't got. - No, baby. I just... I know what shape is. I know when I ain't in it and when gettin'in it is a waste. - I ain't got to train to take no fifth-rate geechee. - The best they got around here. Oh, yeah. Just hit him one and shovel up the money, right? Just jump in with the gold belt. Right? - Messieurs, if you please. - I'll go into my seat now, Jack. - Honey. - Good luck, darling. There's nothin' that you're gonna wanna see, okay? MonsieurJefferson, the famous smile. You won't deny our public the smile? No. I got it on me. - Hello there, Miss Bachman. - Hello. - Smith. Evening Mirror. Smitty. - Oh, yes. Aren't you here for the fight? The boys'll dope me in. He's at it again; that's the main thing. - I guess so. - And how are you holding up? - Fine. - Must be kind of tough on you now, though. - Not especially. - Sure. Moving around so much. When my missus was four months gone with little Smitty... Go away, will you? You were looking so peaked the other day, and you did go to the doctor, Miss Bachman. - Decided not to have it? - Why do you do this? - Don't be sore. People wanna read about you, aboutJack. If there's something new, I'd like to get it first. That's all. Nothing personal. And it's no worse than getting paid for knocking people down. What the hell's going on in there? How much you say he weighs, Fred? 265. He's 6'8". - Not bad, Dan. - Here's Vancouver two weeks ago. Now, hold on. - There's my boy, the one on the right.! - Couldn't miss him. Rushes straight in. Why, when that kid first... Aw, for cryin'out loud. - Won't take a minute. - I don't think we have to see any more, Pop. - No. - So, what do ya say? - If that's no white hope, I'm Queen Pocahontas. - He's the right stuff, Dan. - Maybe a little raw yet. - Fresh. Fresh is what he is. Big, clean, strong. Real farm boy. They're waiting for something like him. I'm ready to promote it, Dan. What do you think? I think he's a full-grown polar bear myself. He's the best of the bunch. I won't argue. But say we send him over... bang... it's 10-to-1 the black boy does it again. - Then where are we? - We won't ever have it on a plate, you know. Pop, Fred, let me tell you a secret. The next white hope is the one who gets that belt back... not means to or almost does or gets half-killed in trying. He takes it! He finishes right on his feet... with a big, horizontal nigger down there for good. What do you mean, Dan? Is it yes or no? Pop, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. - Is Mr. Dixon here yet? - I'm right here, Dan. Oh, come on in. - Pop Weaver. - How are ya? - Fred. - Gentlemen. Have a seat. Dixon's with the bureau, you see, and like you might expect... they have Mr. Jefferson on their minds too. Now, I've been down there, and we've got some ideas. You explain it to 'em, son. Well, when a man beats us out like this, we of course look foolish... but more important, so does the law. People lose respect for law, and that we just cannot afford right now. You may not be aware of it yet, but a very large, very black migration is in progress. They're coming from the fields down South, filling up the slums. And I am talking about hundreds of thousands, maybe millions soon. Millions of ignorant Negroes rapidly massing together. Now, we cannot allow the image of this man to go on impressing and exciting these people. - I'm only a sports promoter. - He read the writing on the door, Pop. Go on. Well, if he were less of a hero to them... after his next engagement, let's say, we would be disposed to reduce his sentence. You'd make it worth his while not to win the fight, you mean? - I think I've said what I mean. - Well, I say my kid can beat him fair and square. - Easy, Fred. - Well, count me out! I'll hop on a boat with him... - You don't wanna do that. - Don't tell me what I can... - I'm telling you as a friend. - There must be another way, Dan. - It just goes against me. - Well, it goes against me too. Now, I don't have to make no speeches here about how I feel workin' something crooked. None of us like it. We wouldn't be the men we are if we did or be where we are. I know it's lousy, but we got a situation here that needs a little bending. Now, the man's tried to tell you how serious it is. They're bending with it. I'm bending with it. Now, who are you, Fred, to stand there and say it goes against you? And you, Pop? Now, don't you get on a pedestal here. - What about the champ? - He'll never buy it, or my kid either. - He's straight out of Sunday school. - Don't tell your kid a thing. - He's straight out of Sunday school. - Don't tell your kid a thing. And, Jack, after what he did to that Frenchman, nobody there'll fight 'im anymore. He's drifting around. I hear he's down to peanuts. - How would you put it to him? - You work it out, Pop. - Me? - You're the promoter, Pop. - Oh, Dan, I'm an old man. - And as smart as they come. - You can't put that deal in writing, can you, mister? - I'm sorry. I wasn't even here. - Kameradschaft. - Kameradschaft. Okay. - Thank you. - Prost. - Bitte. - Bitte. Right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you... very much. Okay. We were just leavin', sugar. You said you'd call for me, Jack. - Where's Goldie, honey? - He had to go out. - Don't drink anymore. - Goldie seeing that guy about an exhibition? - No. Some friend from New York, he said. - Maybe something movin', baby. - Ain't nothin' movin' here. - Kameradschaft.! - Hey! Kameradschaft.! - It pleases you, we make you comrade, ja? Oh, man. I'm happy as a cow with six tits. How are you so strong, boxer? Well, just chompin' on them bananas, man. Jack, stop it. - What? - Please. - I just fools when I wants to, hon. - All these people. - Where I wants to and how, hear? - Baby, let's go eat. Who asked you? You're so goddamn touchy about people lookin' at you, you ain't even oughta be here. - I don't like people looking when you're this way, Jack. - Oh, you don't? Well, I don't either, but I'm stuck with it, and you ain't, so any ti... Where you goin'? Get your ass back on there, girl. The man bought champagne. You sit down too! - I'll be in the room, Jack. - Yeah. Then you'll say you're sick of waiting around hotels. - I never said that. - You're givin' out your misery so hard, you don't have to. - You just don't like nothin' no more. - I won't even answer you. - That's right. Give it out! - What do you want? - Sit down here, girl. - Let her go, man. She got the fear again. - Eleanor! - I'll walk her back. - Yeah. You get. Okay. I'm listening. Well, I just saw Pop Weaver. - We got a match. - A match? How much do I get for losing? - Let me first explain what the deal is. - No, no. - If Pop want a straight fight, he don't come sneakin'. - What are you gettin' sore? - Fred's got this kid, see? - How much is it worth to him, boss? - 80-20 split. A hundred G's guaranteed. - Oh, boy. And they'll cut the rap to six months for ya. - You see all folks can do when everybody pitches in? - Jackie. - Any special round they'd like me to dive in? - He says we can work that out. - Yeah. What did you say? - I said it stinks, but we'll let 'em know later. Later? You send 'em a bottle of that and tell 'em to suck it through a straw. - No thinking it over? - How long you been my manager? - Five, six years. - Why you gotta ask? Why? Because we gotta eat, that's why! What else you got in front of ya, big shot? Send 'em champagne? - I can't even book a two-bit exhibition. - It's time to find fresh meat. - Then what the hell do you need me for? - I been thinkin' about that. - Let's go talk to 'im. - No. You called it right. - You'll fall apart here. - No hard feelings, boss. Wait, Jack! Listen. - You got enough to get home on? - Look at what you're doin'. Yeah, I know. It ain't good, boss; just the best I can. ...Uncle Tom's Cabin. ...JackJefferson. - Here, Uncle Tom. Do come and sit beside me. - Indeed I will, Miss Eva. Right here on this lovely old grassy bank. See how beautiful the clouds are, Tom? And the water too? You right with 'em. You is the "beautiful-est" of all. But, friend, why do you seem sad this evening? Oh, Miss Eva. You and the master so good to old Tom, he just got to cry about it now and then. Sing about the spirits bright, Tom, would ya? Yes, ma'am. I'm just gettin' set to. Tom! Look. Look. Look who has come to make us lively. - How old are you, Topsy? - I don't know, missy. - Don't you know how old you are? Who was your mother? - I don't know, missy. - I never had no mother. - But, Topsy, someone must've made you. Nobody I knows, old missy. I expects I just "growed. " Oh, Topsy. Tomorrow? Okay. Thank you. Nothin', man. May be something pullin' out tomorrow. - Anybody know who's shootin' who out there? - Porter said they're practicin'. - What will we do, Jack? - I don't know yet. - Do you think maybe we should go back to the hotel? - I said I don't know yet! - All right. I heard you. - Play cards or somethin' with her, will ya? Jack? - Jack, I didn't know if you heard... - I told you to lay off me, man. It's sort of an emergency back home, Jack. Your mother's very low. I'm sorry about this, fella. - Yeah. Thank you. - Maybe we could work something out for ya. I'm sure you want to see her. Now, I've hired a car and fixed up your passage. I'm so sorry, Jack. She'd know by tomorrow you're on your way, Jack. - Might mean a lot to her knowing that. - Wanna thank you for comin', man. You can't stay over here now anyway, Jack. It's finished here. A war is starting. - Now, where do ya go? - I just don't want none today, man. - Whatever you say. - I'll see you around sometime. All right, fella. Oh, what's the good of it, Jack? All this? Keeping this up? I mean, you're not a Boy Scout. What the hell is it for? Keeping the belt a little longer? Staying champ longer? I honestly can't make you out. Champ don't mean piss-all to me. I've been it. That champ stuff been beat clear out of me. That belt of yours just hardware. Don't even hold my pants up, and I'm stuck with it. It's a hunk of junky hardware that don't let go. Turnin' green on me, and it still ain't lettin' go. So I stuck with it, just as you all are stuck needin' it off of me. So shake it loose, you understand? Just knock me for 10 and take it. I'll be much obliged. - Believe me. We'd rather have it straight. - Oh, you would, huh? - If you weren't so good... - You got a 100 million people over there, ain't you? - Now, let me go. - Picked out the best you got, ain't you? I want a match. - It's not up to me. - I said a match with him! You ain't gonna give me one, I'll make ya, same as I done before. Make ya! Take my funky suitcase... my $300, $400, get myself to Mexico! How you like that? Right up next to ya! I'm gonna sit on the line... wave the crummy belt at you... sing out, "Here I is! "Here I is! "Here I is! Here I is! Here I is!" - Slow it up. Slow it up. - What? Slow it. #Times is very hard # # Give me 10 cents' worth of lard # # Gonna keep my skillet greasy # # If I can ## - Enough? - Yeah. I'm pushin' it. Okay, Paco. That's it. Oughta raise the bag up a little higher tomorrow, huh? Maybe about a foot or so, seeing how big that kid is. Oh, he sure is a funny size for a kid, ain't he? Hey, it looks like something done gone wrong with his glands. - Hey, leave those, will you? - S, campen. You can't work out today no more. How much did that guy say he'd give you for 'em? Fifty? Your gloves, baby? Buenas tardes, seorita. I wish they'd feed their dogs around here. - Well, you're feeding yours, ain't you? - Set it down, hon. - How's the gal today? - All right. You? Fine. Oh, you should've seen him burn up that road this morning. - Right from the bridge, all the way down... - You going to say it or what? No. Nothing, Jack. No cables. No letters. Nothing. - Thanks. - If you ask me, we's lucky they ain't signed up yet. - Giving us all this gettin'- ready time. - Just you rub, man. Worryin' makes you tight. That's why you ain't sweatin' like you were. - Let him eat before it gets cold, Tick. - Yeah. - Switch your brain off a while. - Leave it! Why don't you come back and wash now, Jack? - I'll wait here if you like. - Smellin' pretty strong, huh? - You know that's not what I meant. - That's enough, man. Jack, will you talk to me? Tick is crossin' over on an errand. Maybe you can walk around there a little with him. Not with me, boss. I ain't strollin' with no white girl in no Texas. Hold the fort, hon. It won't be long. Do what they want you to, Jack. Will you take them specs off? I can't hardly see ya. Well, I didn't think you wanted to. - Are you readin' my mind now? - Jack. - I told you to keep out of it. - I can't keep out of it. Please do it. You have to. - You finally battin' for the home team, huh? - Jack, cable them tonight. - You finally come around to it, huh? - Don't bitch me, Jack! - And I told you... - I don't care what you told me. Say yes and get it over with! - You're letting them do this to you, it's worse. - Worse for you maybe. Jack, it is slow poison here, and there is nothing else to wait for. - Nothing for you maybe. - Nothing but hammering that stupid bag. - You're not your own man anymore, Jack. - Oh, now you're rollin'. How can you be your own man when they have you? They do, and you know it. You're theirs. At least you can buy yourself back from them. Sold: One-buck nigger for the lady? Run whenever they push you or pull you, work yourself sick... in this hellhole for nothing, and you tell me you're not theirs. Look at this grease you swallow for them. - Bedbug bites. The blotches in your eyes. - Don't leave the smell out. Yes. The two of us smell. Whatever turns people into niggers. - There. It's happening to both of us. - Your wish coming true, huh? - Never this. Never this, Jack! - Dang it, sister. I want you fighting 'em again; that's what I wish. - I want to watch when you're knocking them down for this. - How 'bout rooster fightin'? - Listen to me. - Yeah. I oughta look into that. You'd go home. You'd be with your frien... We could live then! Damn you! - Little frame house. Tree in the front? - Anything. - Nice, quiet street? - Anywhere. A place. A kitchen. Put the cat out? Tuck in the kids? God, you're hateful. Get away from me. I'm gonna teach you what the livin' like, baby. I'll put you straight on it. I went to the fair once, and there was this old pug, see... who'd give anybody two bucks to stand up a round with him. Professional setup. Regulation ring and all. 'Cept there was rope just on three sides. That's right. The back side was the tent. So I watches a couple get laid out in there real quick, see... but he don't look all that red-hot to me, so I climbs in with him. And I'm doin' all right for a youngster, when all at once... he bulls me up against the tent side of that ring... and... slam, wham. Somebody behind there conks me right through the canvas... and they must've used a two-by-four. And every time I stand up, he pushed me back again, and... whomp... another one! - Jack. - Now, that's the way the livin' go the way I know it, baby. - Sometimes. - Uh-uh. All the way, now. That's the way it is and what I'm gettin', and I'm gonna get it the same sayin' yes or no. See, it don't matter what I do. Been there, you understand? And I don't want you watchin'... or helpin', askin'. I ain't into your shit about livin'... or anything from you but out, and I mean out! - What? - How goddamn plain I gotta make it to ya? Oh, Jack. If you want other girls, I'm... Hey. Get your stuff ready. The train is out 10:00. - No, I won't. No. - Tick'd come. He'd give you a hand. - Jack, you stop this. - You'd better start movin'. - I wanna apologize for acting yellow up to now. - You have to stop it, Jack. - All I got to do is to be black and die, lady. - I want to stay, even if you... - You can stay with your own. - What are you doing? - Now, come on. Quit that. Quit it! Quit it! - I won't go, Jack. - Now, start movin'. - Just wait. - Don't cross me, now. - I thought we'd save some... - I said move! - Please. I only meant that with time... - I'm through with it now. No more lousy grub you gotta puke up. No more you lookin' like a washed-out rag. - Your eye twitchin'. - Don't. I don't care. I'll take better care of myself. - Hangin' on me. Dead weight. - I'll find a job, that's what I'll do. - I told you when my mama died. I said to leave me be for a... - I can't run, not by myself. You got your own people. No! You're a young woman! - I'll never meet no one else. - You're gonna find one. - Tough titty! - Wait! - Move, goddamn it.! - Why can't you wait and give me one chance to make you happy? Only one! I swear, I've never had one! - It's too big an order all around, huh? - I won't go, Jack! You wanna drag it out, huh? I'm gonna wise you up real good now, you bitch! You can't make me go, so... Why do you think I ain't put a hand to you for how long? Why do you think it turned me off just lookin' at you? No. Stay still for it. You know why, honey bunch? 'Cause every time you pushed that pinched-up face in front of me, I see where it done got me. And that's what I'm lookin'at... the why, the wherefore and the number-one who... right-down-the-line girl... and I mean you! And I don't wanna give you nothing, understand? - I'd cut it off first. - God, I despise you. Right! Like all the rest of you! - I'd like to smash you, Jack. - Yeah.! Me and every other dumb nigger who lets you. So you go home, hustle up one who don't know it. There's plenty for ya. Just score 'em up! You win, Daddy. - Good evening, Jefferson. - Campen. - Who are you, mister? - It's not "mister. " I'm el jefe in this place. - Government. Comprende? - Yeah. We're making it easier, Jefferson. The match can be held in Havana. You fight the way you're told, turn yourself in, you'll get a suspended sentence. Or else what? Well, apart from your original conviction, which carries up to three years... there have been numerous other violations: Jumping bail, tax irregularities, falsifying passports. They throw the book on you, hombre. Maybe you can tell me how, mister... because their "book" is up there, and I'm down here. We can't leave that out, can we, man, 'cause this is your country. It is legal, once we learn where a wanted man is, to request cooperation of that government. Perdn. Campen, we have need of them. We don't like, but we need. - Yeah. - Look. You go fight in Havana. It's better for you. You go to jail, you come out a very old man. Well, I'm pretty far along as it is, man. I'm just sittin' here gettin' older every minute... and I'm goin' right out the door. No, compadre. Use it if you've got to, man. Even if I let you, where now you go? - That's all up to me, man. - I will shoot you if you do this. - And I'll kill you first, man. - Hijo. Every place catch on you, I swear. They all give you to the gringos. Hombre. Hombre. You... Give me a break, for God's sake. - Maybe you'd be doin' me a favor. - One more step and I'll shoot. Jefferson, for... Threw herself down the well. - What? - Busted her neck. Honey? Oh, baby. Please. What I done. What they done to us. You set that goddamn f... fight up. Set it up. I'll take it now. Lay down already, will ya? You won't have a head left. You hear me? This round, you understand? You'll go down and stay there, you hear me? Makes you feel kind of old, doesn't it? Seein' Brady refereeing. Well, who the hell cares? He's the man who lost that belt, Pop... and this whole rotten world's gonna watch him at the finish now... lifting it right up high and passing it on... like the Kid'll pass it on, and the next one'll pass it on. This time, we keep it in the family. One! Two.! Three.! Four.! Five.! Six! Seven.! Eight.! Nine! Jackie! Clench him! - Jack! - One! Two! Three! Four.! Five.! Six.! Seven! Clench him, dumb ox! One.! Two.! Three.! Four.! Five.! - Jack.! - Seven.! Eight! Nine! Baby, what you doin'? I'm beggin' ya... like you're my son, I'm beggin' ya. They'll kill you, Jack. Keep your hands up. Here. You gotta stay off those ropes. You think you're tired? He's dead tired. - Dan! - Oh, shut up, Pop. One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! : Ole.! Ole.! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! - Just one word, Jack. - Not now, Smitty! Jack. Jack, in the 11 th round, were you... Why do you think it happened, Jack? Why did it? - He beat me. That's all. I just didn't have it. - Ain't that right, boy? - Jack, just blow it off. - Nice and slow. - But why, Jack? Really? Oh, man. I ain't got them "reallys" from the year one... and if any of y'all got 'em, I'd sure like to hear 'em. No? You new here like I is, huh? Come on, children. Let 'em pass by. |
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