The Square Jungle (1955) Movie Script
1
Pop?
In here, son.
Oh, hi.
Hi.
Here's the evening paper.
Oh, thank you.
You want the sports page?
No, thanks.
Did you work today?
No, I talked to a couple of truckers,
but there's not much doing.
I brought some stuff home.
Well, how about having
a hamburger out tonight?
Oh, I can't; Got a date.
Julie Walsh?
Yeah.
Ugh, how can you drink that stuff?
That's sunshine locked
in the golden grain.
Just like taking a sun bath.
Yeah, and you're a little sunburned.
That's life's fever burning
very bright.
How's Mike Walsh these days?
I don't know.
Since he's got that big building deal,
I hardly ever see him.
Yep.
He's liable to make a lot of money, Pop.
Eddie, you know something?
Julie Walsh is a very lucky girl.
What?
Oh no, look at yourself.
Come on, Pop.
No, it's reality.
Don't be afraid of it.
You're a very special human being.
A very special grocery clerk.
Never be ashamed of what you are, never.
I'm not ashamed.
I'm Pat Quaid's bouncing boy,
and I own the world, right?
Well, maybe you don't own it.
I sure didn't give or
take too much out of it.
But we don't need the world.
That's just as good as owning it.
And we're gonna beat 'em aren't we, Pop?
Yeah, sure.
Where are you going tonight?
Dancing.
Dancing.
It's been years.
Long years.
Your mother.
Of course, I always had two left feet.
Your mother, bless her,
she was wonderful dancer.
So beautiful.
Hey Pop, half the treasury.
Five for you and five for me.
No, I couldn't-
- Come on.
Thanks.
It's okay, Pop.
I gotta hurry; I'll be late.
Have a good time tonight.
Thanks, Pop.
See you later.
Yeah, I'm just gonna step out.
Right.
Take care.
Right.
Good night, Eddie.
Good night.
Eddie, it's late.
Come on, we'll raid the ice box-
- No, I've got a early class.
Well, let's have a
night klatch right now.
No, Eddie.
Yes, and we'll study the stars.
Well, my problem is English literature.
Well, that's simple.
I shall recite you a poem.
Oh, I'd like that.
You have such feeling in your voice
when you wanna be serious.
The word is romantic.
I love you, Julie.
I know, but I've still gotta go in.
Good night.
Julie.
Yes, Dad.
Come on out in the kitchen.
You too, Eddie.
Told you it was time
to raid the ice box.
Oh, is Mom asleep?
Yeah.
Beer, Eddie?
No, a soft drink.
How's your father?
Working?
Um, not this week,
but he's got a lot of
things coming up very soon.
How're you doing at that supermarket?
Oh fine.
Just fine.
Here, Eddie.
Thank you.
We went dancing.
You date other girls?
No, Julie's my girl.
What's in the future?
I don't know.
Don't you think about it?
Oh sure.
Oh, you mean about, uh,
about getting married?
Exactly.
Are you afraid we're
gonna elope or something?
I'm concerned for Julie.
So am I.
Eddie, I'm gonna level with you.
I don't think you're right for Julie.
Dad, please!
Wait a minute, Julie.
Wait a minute.
Why?
Because I didn't go to college.
You got no future.
What makes you so sure?
The police called
here a half an hour ago
about your father.
Your father's in jail.
He got 20 days for busting
up Mattern's Tavern.
Eddie, do you feed him whiskey money?
I would dish it out to him
on a spoon if he wanted me to.
He's my father.
He's a heartbroken man, a lonely man.
I don't look down on him.
I'm proud of him.
Your pride.
You Quaids are lousy with pride.
What do you got to be proud of?
Your old man's just a sorry, boozing slob.
You'll be wasting the
best years of your life
picking him up out of the gutter,
and that's not for my Julie.
Do you agree with him?
Eddie, please.
Well, do you?
He's my father.
Well, he was just
talking about my father.
Hello, Eddie.
How is he?
Just missed being a hospital case.
Took on a guy half his
age and twice his size.
What's the idea of
blabbing to Mike Walsh?
Must've been Sergeant
Kane trying to locate you.
Did you rough him up?
No, I was in a gentle mood.
You're going to spring your old man?
How much is it?
25 bucks.
Well, I suppose 20 days
won't kill Pat Quaid.
That's what you suppose.
I'll get him out somehow.
Somehow?
Eddie come here.
Somehow is a dirty word.
Last chump who used it on me
stuck up a filling
station and killed a cop.
Thanks for the bedtime story.
The most I can give you is
$10 as an advance on your pay.
You gotta remember, I'm
running a market, not a bank.
Eddie, you can't work with
your hands closed like that.
Interesting card tonight.
Look, McBride, I don't get this at all.
I thought you'd like to see
a kid named Eddie Quaid fight.
Eddie?
Your boy's trying to raise
25 bucks to spring you.
I figured you ought to see
the beating he's gonna take for you.
The boy.
Shouldn't have done it.
Could uh, could I have a little water?
Now get in there and throw
everything you got at him.
You got nothing to lose.
Kid learns fast.
Yeah.
Nine, ten.
Finish him!
Finish him!
Come on!
That's all.
Eddie, atta boy!
Nice work, Eddie.
Pop!
Detective McBride fixed it for me to,
to get out so I could see you fight.
Good fight, Eddie.
I figured you'd take a beating.
Thanks.
Nice call, kid.
Hello, Jim.
Hi, Jerry.
Here's your prize.
A hawk shop across the street'll
give you 15 bucks for it.
Why don't you save me the trip?
I'd be afraid to walk in the
dark with that kind of money.
Solid, wasn't he?
He sure was.
Thanks.
Can I talk to Pop for a minute?
Sure, go ahead.
Yeah, sure.
Look Pop.
Why this-this mess?
This fighting in a bar?
I had one drink too many,
said a couple of wrong words.
That talk that we had, the Walshes.
I don't know, Eddie.
Remembering your mother, I...
I got to thinking what
a lousy loser I've been.
What a lousy father.
That I wasn't good enough.
Good enough for what?
You know.
I'll tell you what I know.
You should never be ashamed.
My father taught me that.
He taught me something else, Pop.
There isn't anybody but you and me.
You've told me that enough times.
I had to learn it this way tonight.
Nobody helps.
Nobody's gonna make any presents.
That leaves just us.
Now, if you keep belting that bottle,
you'll be running out on me.
Don't do that, huh Pop?
I wouldn't wanna break up the team.
Get your clothes on.
We'll have a drink; My treat.
I'll buy.
Sure could use a fast one.
Fast and soft.
Yeah.
You got suckered into those punches.
It was, I never told you.
I used to be a fighter myself
before the kid was born.
Packy Glennon, that was my ring name.
Should have been Canvasback.
You know something?
He's better right now than I ever was.
You cut it pretty good in there, Eddie.
Pretty good?
Why, he could be a great middleweight.
Forget it, Pop.
You're just dreaming.
Guess I am.
Pop it's-it's not for me.
Isn't it?
From where I stood, I saw magic.
That kid was a natural in the ring.
You'll learn fast, Packy.
You're bright.
With the right trainer-
- What did you call me?
Packy.
You like that, huh?
About time we had a
winner in the family.
Take a look, kid.
Your old man's eyes.
You notice the new light, the pride?
Okay.
Packy Glennon fights again.
But his old man gives up the bottle.
Who needs it?
And another thing.
Once I start this, I'm
on for the whole ride
and every dime I can
squeeze out of it, okay?
I'll stake you 500 bucks worth, kid.
Might even find you a trainer.
You know, for a cop, you're
very handy with the favors.
I got no ideas about dying a cop, sonny.
I own a piece of a fish
market over on Drew Street.
Maybe I'll own a piece of you.
That's my end.
An investment.
500 bucks and a trainer
so I can rest my feet in the sunshine.
Who's the trainer?
Fellow named Bernie Browne.
Never heard of him.
What's he done?
10 Years in San Quentin.
Did you bring the library card?
He works here.
Hello, Bernie.
Good morning, Jim.
Bernie Browne, Pat Quaid, Eddie Quaid.
Hi.
Boy I called you about.
You ever hear of a saying,
"what you don't know won't hurt you?"
Sure.
You believe it?
Maybe.
Yes or no?
Yeah, I believe it.
You're wrong.
What you don't know can hurt you plenty.
All right, so I'm wrong.
Who are you fighting?
I didn't say.
What are you fighting?
Uh, look, bookworm,
we're not connecting.
Bookworm?
That's a compliment.
At that, I've done a lot of reading.
Where?
In the big house.
What do you want, a diploma?
Real temper, too, huh?
Let's go look the boy over.
Atta boy.
All right, that's it.
Thanks, Joe.
You're in, Eddie.
Call me Packy.
Packy Glennon.
Packy Glennon.
All right, Packy.
But before we make a deal,
there's a couple things
you ought know about me.
I used to be a pretty
cocky young fighter, too.
'Til one night I got drunk,
slid my car over a white line,
smashed two lives.
Three, if you wanna count mine.
What's the point?
What's the point?
The point is this.
If your boy wins, I won't cheer so loud.
But if he loses, I'll
be there to help him up.
We're in business.
Legit?
Legit.
You hear that?
That's your school bell.
First lesson, a story, a fairy tale,
all about what might happen in
the next three or four years
if God smiles on you.
First off, we get you in shape.
So if you had four legs,
you could run in the Kentucky Derby.
Then you start bouncing a rubber ball
til you bounce like one yourself.
You skip rope 'til you think
you're becoming a school girl.
Then we go to work on fundamentals,
like learning to keep your
elbows close to your body.
So you don't lose leverage.
Like learning to make
your punches come out
short and sweet as money in the bank.
You'll hit that heavy bag
like you wanted to see the
stuffing fly in your face.
I'll teach you punches in combinations
so you'll have a good punch
ready to follow your last punch.
You'll climb into the
ring, do some sparring,
and you'll look like you learned
all I taught you, and more.
Then you'll have your first pro bout,
and you'll look like
you belong in a nursery instead of a ring.
You'll get down on yourself,
Your father will want to chuck it all
for a bottle of whiskey.
Then one night, God willing,
you leave all your faults in your corner
and the stuff of champions
will begin the show.
The crowds will recognize it.
The sport writers will
mix metaphors about you.
They'll compare you with the greatest,
and you'll fight until
every town and every month
begin to look the same.
And when you've got
enough months piled up,
maybe you'll be there, with
the crowds touching you
like you were holy.
Like they knew you were
born to be champion
of the whole cockeyed world.
All of Chicago's jumping.
Biggest sink since Dempsey and Tunney.
Probably break the record
for the middleweight championship fight.
Yeah, I hope so.
Meanwhile, keep the newspaper boys away
until after the fight, huh?
Sure.
Say, about tonight.
You want me to decorate the place
with some attractive lightweights?
Yeah, bring on the girls.
Get one for Pop, too.
Okay.
Hello?
Who's calling, please?
Just a minute.
Packy?
Yeah.
You want us speak to a Miss Walsh?
Julie?
Julie?
Yeah.
I'll talk.
Just a minute, Miss Walsh.
Then you gotta get some sleep, Packy.
All right.
Well, what are you doing in Chicago?
Yes, I am surprised.
It's been three years.
Thanks, I'll need it tonight.
Which reminds me, we're having
a party after the fight-
- If we win.
Like I said, we're
having a little party here
after the fight tonight.
You're invited.
Okay, honey.
We'll see you later.
She talked like nothing ever happened.
If you still feel that
way, why'd you invite her?
She belongs.
She's a lightweight.
The main event of the evening.
15 rounds of boxing
for the world's middleweight championship.
From San Francisco, wearing
white trunks with black stripes,
weighing 157, the sensational
challenger, Packy Glennon!
From Chicago, wearing blacks
trunks with white stripes,
weighing 159, the middleweight
champion of the world,
Al Gorski!
You boys have been instructed
by the state athletic commission.
The count of eight has been waived.
Keep all your punches up.
Shake hands now, fight a clean fight.
Come on, Packy!
Four, five.
Stay down!
Stay down!
Seven, eight, nine.
Great, boy.
You're doing fine.
Watch him.
Watch that left.
Watch him.
All right, stand up.
Get off the ropes!
You remember what I told you,
the left hook, the left, the left.
Keep it in him.
Keep after him all the time.
You're doing okay.
Okay.
Come on, relax, relax, relax.
Hit him, hit him.
Hit him, hit him.
Get out of that corner!
Four, five, six.
Get up, Al!
Come on, now.
Get up!
Nine, ten.
In 57 seconds of the third round,
the winner and new middleweight
champion of the world,
Packy Glennon!
Here he is, folks.
Son, you know Dan
Selby, "The Chronicle."
Of course.
Did I give you enough
to write about tonight?
Oh, you sure did.
We were just discussing that third round.
Good, what does my manager say?
He says you can do it
again in the return go.
Eh, we take home the
big end of the purse.
Well, it's a sure sellout.
They oughta hold the
next brawl on Pier Six.
I thought I saw you praying
at the end of the fight.
Bernie always prays for the loser.
Never for me, only the loser.
See you later.
Okay.
Well, well, well, hello Jack.
Packy.
Lorraine Evans, Packy
Glennon, the new champ.
Yes, I know.
How do you do?
Um, would you care for drink?
I'd love one.
Would you excuse us?
What would you like?
Scotch and water.
I'll have scotch and water, too.
Did you see the fight?
Yes, I did.
Here you are, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
You know, I got very lucky tonight.
So did I.
Hello, Al.
Al Gorski, how are you, Al?
Hello, Dan.
Great fight, Al.
Thanks.
Hello, champ.
Well, coming from you,
I guess it's official.
No guessing about it,
you belted me pretty good.
Oh, fellows, this is my wife, Mrs. Gorski.
Hello.
How do you do, Mrs. Gorski?
Won't you all have a drink with us?
No, thank you.
Oh, we can only stay a minute.
I'll have a short beer.
We have to get home.
You know, we've got four
kids to explain this to.
I gotta congratulate the brain trust.
You got a great boy there.
Oh, we think so.
Take good care of him.
You too, Al.
Thanks.
Here you are.
Thanks.
You're sure you won't have a drink?
No, thanks.
You know, I'd sleep a lot better,
Mrs. Gorski, if he'd retire.
I'll consider that when
I win the title back.
Thanks, Packy.
Sure. Pleasure.
Goodnight.
Thanks for stopping by.
Good night, Packy.
Goodnight.
Next time the party's on us.
Right.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Sorry you can't stay longer.
Well, are we the winners, or aren't we?
Let's have a party.
Dad, look, pow!
Now, I bet you were gonna
say something interesting
before they came in.
I'm never interesting in a crowd.
Lorraine-
- Packy.
A girl wants to see the champ.
Later, Pop.
It's Julie.
I'll be back.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
I saw the fight on television.
Who were you rooting for?
A boy I used to know.
I'll introduce you around-
- Eddie, I'd like to talk to you.
Julie, I'm giving a party.
Please, Eddie.
Did your parents move out
of the old neighborhood?
Yes, we moved.
Eddie, you're being awfully distant.
What'd you expect?
It's been three years.
You think I'd welcome you with open arms?
Seeing you again reminds me of
that night in San Francisco-
- Please.
Do you remember what your old man said?
"You Quaids, you're lousy with pride.
"What have you got to be proud of?"
Well, tell your old
man to read the papers.
The headlines are screaming
and the Quaids are proud.
Stop, stop!
All right, you've met the champ.
Anything else?
No.
No, your speech just about covers it.
Julie.
Look son, there's something
that I should have...
You know that building
deal of Julie's father?
He lost his shirt.
Tough, Pop.
Tough.
He went broke.
He killed himself.
Oh my...
Nothing but interruptions.
You'd be surprised how much time I have.
Julie, Julie, would
you please listen to me?
No, Eddie.
I'm sorry.
Don't apologize, I deserved it.
Only I was stupid enough to think
you might forgive and forget
now that you're sitting
on top of the world.
Look, I'm sorry about your father.
Why should you care?
He damned your father for his weakness,
forgetting that he had
a weakness of his own.
Julie, please listen.
Look, Eddie, leave me alone.
I-I've been alone for a long time,
and I'm getting used to it.
Don't talk like that, Julie.
Don't make me take a
cab; I can't afford it.
Julie, will you please...
I'll make it up to you somehow, Julie.
Please, won't you let
me.
Bernie.
Always with the books, huh?
What's the word?
From the book?
Nothing.
From me, even less.
Come on, out with some wise words.
Go to bed.
I know, join me in a nightcap.
The party's over.
Too righteous to drink with me?
The fight's over, too.
That reminds me.
I became the champ tonight.
How loud did you cheer for me?
How loud?
A girl walked in here tonight.
She led with her chin.
And when you let her have
it, I couldn't cheer.
I prayed for you.
Packy.
You want a word?
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
Time?
Not nearly.
Throw 'em harder.
My arms feel like lead.
So throw lead like a gun.
That's enough.
Not for Gorski.
You know, you wouldn't change your tune
if I had to fight an old man.
It's hot, isn't it?
Lindsay, why don't you go
chase butterflies with Lorraine?
I take my orders from the champ.
You heard the man, Jack.
Julie.
Hi.
Hello, Eddie.
I figured maybe you'd
like to say hello again.
He's quite a talker, your father.
He convinced me I needed fresh air.
Did you bring a swimsuit?
Yes.
Come on, we'll go take a dip.
Maybe we could steal a picnic basket, huh?
Excuse us.
Okay.
Don't mind me.
I'm just getting him ready for a fight.
This'll do him more good.
Gorski'll be glad to hear that.
Packy, you've only got 10 days.
So I'm taking a couple hours off.
You know how Gorski spends his nights?
He runs the fight pictures over and over.
And when he goes to bed, he fights you.
Who wins?
Kid, when it comes for real,
he's liable to murder you.
Look Bernie, this girl.
When I shot my mouth off with
her, you bawled me out, right?
Now I wanna make it up and
you're still screaming.
What do you want from me?
Everything you've got, and more.
You know, Bernie,
you're the lousiest-looking
blues singer I ever saw.
Wow, do champions pick flowers?
Well, us champs, we're the
nicest people in the world.
We're the only ones that can afford to.
What haven't we talked about?
You and me.
I missed you.
Lonely in Chicago?
Very.
I don't see why.
A beautiful a girl like you.
You know, you oughta stand
on windy street corners.
Whew, speaking of wind,
it's a little chilly.
Thank you.
All of a sudden, I remember
the way you used to tease me.
Are you still like that, Julie?
I've grown up.
What are you reading now?
Oh, "Writings from the Talmud."
What's it about?
Truth, wisdom.
It was written a long time ago.
Is there anything in it
for a guy that's still got a lot to learn?
For the both of us, maybe.
Here's something.
"When a man learns to subdue anger,
"he finds it easier to
conquer all other foes."
Good night, Bernie.
Good night, Packy.
How do you feel?
All right?
Fine.
Listen, don't press.
Just take it easy.
Don't give him a chance to get set.
Now settle in.
Stay down.
Stay down.
Get over, get over.
You got him, Packy.
Yeah.
Maybe he's finished.
Forget it.
There's another round coming up.
That's it.
Beat it, Tommy.
He's all right.
What's the round?
Three coming up.
I'm all right.
Yeah, he come out of it all right.
He's all right.
Go get him, Packy.
All right?
Okay.
How's that eye, all right?
Yeah.
Atta boy.
Okay.
Keep moving right with him, Packy.
Stay right there, boy.
Packy, box him!
Get off those ropes!
Now come on, Packy!
What are you doing?
Referee Tommy Dillon stops the bout
after one minute and 14
seconds of the fifth round.
Winner by a technical knockout,
and the new middleweight
champion of the world, Al Gorski!
Well, how does it
feel to be champ again?
Not like the first time.
This time it hurts.
What punch did the trick?
I guess that left hook to the body.
Lucky punch.
Lucky all around tonight.
Hi, Packy.
Hi.
Hi, boys.
Congratulations, champ.
Thanks, Packy.
I was just telling the
boys how lucky I was.
Sure, some lucky, huh?
How do you feel about
Dillon stopping the fight?
Um, the champ stopped me, not Dillon.
You don't think
Dillon stopped it too soon?
I didn't come here to alibi.
I lost and it's over, that's all.
You gonna give Packy another fight?
If the bell hadn't saved me,
you'd be asking Packy that same question.
Sure, he gets another shot.
In San Francisco?
Chicago, next spring.
Okay?
Yeah, it's okay with us.
We're having a shindig
in my house tonight.
Real Polish ham and lots of beer.
I'd like you to come.
No, thanks.
I think I've seen enough
of you for one night.
Good night.
Goodnight, fellas.
Good night.
Good night.
Good luck.
You did great.
Just great.
Sure, some great.
I lost.
Not in Gorski's
dressing room, you didn't.
You won something else in there: Respect.
He had it in him.
He could have finished Gorski.
You're crazy.
Gorski would've killed him.
Wait a minute, buddy.
Pop's right.
What?
Dillon had no business
stopping the fight.
Unless there was monkey business.
Oh sure.
Gorski put the fix on Dillon.
He needed it.
He needed something when that bell rang.
All right, so it was legit,
but another five seconds
and I would've been-
- You might have been dead.
You don't know how you looked.
You don't know how you stood there
just begging for the meat axe.
Not even remembering how
to roll with a punch.
Wait a minute.
He's my son.
You think I'd say he could
have fought if it wasn't so?
You've got him alive and well.
Be satisfied.
All right, Pop, take 'em off.
Poor Eddie.
Poor face.
Well, what do you think
of the fight business now?
Pretty awful.
You'll get used to it.
Maybe.
I made some sandwiches.
We can have a party.
But there must be
something we can celebrate.
No.
Not tonight.
I think I better go.
Julie,
These last few weeks,
you know, seeing each other,
I found out something.
I want us to be together all the time.
Oh, I do, too.
But, well, not tonight.
Do you understand?
Of course.
Yeah?
Can I come in?
Oh sure, Tommy, come on in.
Have some coffee?
Already had breakfast.
Well, sit down, sit down.
You see Dan Selby's column this morning?
No.
He says you boys don't want
me in there tomorrow night.
He says you're gonna blackball
me with the commission.
Why, that's not true.
Packy tell him-
- Selby had it right.
I'm sorry, Tom.
I didn't know.
My partners forgot to tell me.
Easy, Bernie.
Easy.
Let the man talk.
I didn't come here to beg.
I just wanna get a few things straight.
Did you think I was juiced
to steal that fight from you?
No.
Then whatta you got against me?
Nothing.
You're sorry I didn't
let Gorski kill you?
We're sorry you stopped
the fight, period.
I'd do it again.
Not to me, you won't.
Oh, you big shot.
I was a champ when you
were playing with marbles.
Think I'm gonna let you
blast my reputation?
I wouldn't want that, Tom.
You want the job?
What's the angle?
Just one way you stop the fight.
You count to 10, that's all.
No.
It's my skin-
- It's my conscience!
Dillon!
All right, all right.
I give in.
Now you gotta give a little.
All I want you to do is think, that's all.
Just think twice before
you stop the fight.
Just think twice.
I'll see you in the ring.
There you go.
If the commissioner assigns me.
Okay, Bernie, you can turn it off.
Packy just gave in, didn't he?
No.
No, Dillon gave in.
A referee can't think twice.
If he does, that ring
turns into a square jungle.
What's so special about that?
You think it's any different
out there, outside the ring?
You think they're gonna give you favors
and pat you on the back
because you're a loser?
I'm a fighter.
And as long as I'm on my feet, I'll fight.
Meeting for the third time,
those two great fighters.
In this corner, from San Francisco,
wearing white trunks, weighing 157 pounds,
the challenger, Packy Glennon.
And in this corner, from Chicago,
wearing black trunks, weighing
158 and one half pounds,
the middleweight champion
of the world, Al Gorski.
Your referee is Tommy Dillon.
You boys know the rules of
the Illinois Boxing Commission.
Tonight I want another good clean fight.
I want you to keep all your punches up.
I want to keep punching in the
clinches until I say break.
But when I say break, I want
you both to take one step back.
Shake hands now and come
out fighting at the bell.
Go get him, Al.
Murder him, Pack!
On the button, Al!
Get out of there, Packy!
Get away!
Slow down.
Pick your shots.
What are you in such a hurry for?
Take it easy.
Glennon's faster and
smarter than he's ever been.
Don't let him get set.
That's it, Willie!
Come on, stay down!
Six, seven.
I think he's got him.
He's got him sure.
Punch.
Keep that left-right in there.
That's it!
That's it, boy!
Packy!
I gotta stop this.
Bernie, Bernie don't!
He's getting slow!
Are you crazy?
Don't!
Come on, Packy.
Let's get that eye fixed.
Don't let up.
Stay on top of him.
Take the fight to him.
That's a bad cut.
You ever see a good one?
Okay, Packy, what round's coming up?
It's the last round.
What round?
The fourth round, Chicago
Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Any other questions?
All right, all right.
You got anything left?
Well then, stay away from him.
Al right.
Box him, you know?
Make him press, make him
go, and then pick your spot.
All right?
Go on in and hold!
Get in and hold him!
Hold on!
Hang on!
Packy!
Packy!
Five, six,
seven, doc!
Call an ambulance.
The time, 57
seconds of the fourth round.
The winner and new middleweight
champion of the world,
Packy Glennon.
You killed him.
Why didn't you stop it?
What did you wait for?
What about it, Dillon?
Ask Packy Glennon.
He wanted me to think twice
before I stopped the fight.
Okay Packy, I thought.
Holy McGonnigal.
Where are you going?
To look for a job.
Eddie.
Oh, Eddie.
Come on.
You can see him at the apartment.
Murderer.
Killer!
Dirty fighter!
Murderer!
Dirty fighter!
Come on, Bernie.
Gimme a hand.
Forget I'm here.
Like I'm trying to forget.
He's not dead.
Give him time.
Shut up, Bernie.
You got Tommy Dillon to think twice.
Now you'll have the rest of
your life to remember it.
Only you'll wish it had been
you instead of Al Gorski.
Nice going, champ.
Pop?
How-how does a thing like this happen?
Well, look you, you
wanted fair, didn't you?
You didn't ask anything for yourself.
That dumb Dillon-
Come in.
We'll leave a guard here, Mr. Glennon,
just in case anybody
tries to make trouble.
Uh, how, how is he?
He's on the ropes.
Doc says it's a toss-up.
Packy.
Packy.
We'll explain it.
You didn't ask Dillon for
a license to kill Gorski.
So, so we got nothing to worry about.
You're the champ.
The best, that's all.
Whatever they say that the
two of us we can lick 'em.
You're full of hot air, Pop.
You've talked like you've always talked.
Words'll fix a charm, make
'em whistle a merry tune.
You're talking as if it was my fault-
- No, it was my fault because I listened.
Do you remember?
I used to sit on the
front step and I listened
when you told me there
were just the two of us.
Us against the world.
Well, we sure fought
them great, didn't we?
Eddie, you didn't do
wrong, I'm telling you, I'm-
- Stop that lying!
He's dying, Pop.
Don't you understand?
He's another human being
with a wife and children.
And I did it to him.
Me, your son, because I wanted the title.
Well, you haven't got a
winner in the family anymore.
Eddie you'll make it right.
Sure, sure.
Hold on tight.
So you can be a big man again.
So you can pass out cigars
and talk to the press.
McBride had his 10% and
Browne was out saving souls,
and this was your end.
Being a big man.
Well, Pop, the play's all over.
Everything's back to zero.
Get me outta here.
Where that cab goes, I wanna go.
Where to?
I said, where do you
wanna go, Mr. Champion?
Anywhere.
Anywhere I can keep my eyes closed.
How much do I owe you?
Nothing.
Don't even thank me.
Should have caught it.
Here, try this one.
Hey, you better slow down.
You're not focusing.
I might as well not be here.
What makes you think you are?
Touche.
French word, means don't
hit me when I'm down.
Mark Eldridge.
I'm with the "Globe."
Aren't you Packy Glennon?
Who's Packy Glennon?
Gorski's dying.
Who's Gorski?
Picture's plastered
over every front page.
Plastered, that's the secret word.
Come on, Packy, how about a story...
Don't call me Packy.
My name's not Packy.
You make me believe I'm
Packy and I break your jaw.
Honey, honey, please.
Come on, we'll go.
I'm Eddie Quaid.
That's who I am.
Excuse me.
Where is he?
Room 22.
Party over?
Party?
It was a wake.
We buried Packy Glennon, or Eddie Quaid.
I don't know, somebody.
Packy.
Packy.
Packy!
My name's not Packy.
All right, Eddie.
Come on.
My name's-
- Sit up.
Up you go.
I'm not Packy.
Up you go.
Don't call me Packy.
Sit up.
It's Jim McBride.
McBride.
Good old Ten-Percent McBride.
Here's your cut.
No, no.
You're all through with that.
It's pretty funny while you're afraid
I'm not gonna be in
shape for my next fight.
Now come on, get dressed.
We're going back to San Francisco.
I can't, I can't.
Leave me alone.
No, I've got 10% of
that pain in your gut.
Jim, wait down stairs.
Pop.
Goon.
Gorski?
He's through with the ring.
He's not dead?
No, he's not dead.
Look, Eddie.
Eddie, we've got some money put aside,
and I was thinking that maybe
we'd go in the trucking business.
No, no, no.
Go on home.
Go on home.
Eddie, Eddie, son, you're young.
You'll have to face the world.
People forget.
No.
No, I can't.
I can't.
I won't, and I can't.
Go on home, Pop.
Go on home.
I'm not gonna see you
throw your life away.
No!
You've got years.
And Julie.
What about Julie?
Get outta here, Pop.
Will you get outta
here and leave me alone?
Eddie!
Darling!
I thought you were in Chicago.
I got homesick.
My, the air's so fresh.
Let's walk, hmm?
Your father says you come here every day.
No crowds.
Lots of nothing.
You ever see anybody?
Well, Pop.
McBride once in a while.
And Bernie Browne?
He kissed me off.
Eddie, what are you going to do?
Any suggestions?
A bath, to begin with.
I love you.
That was another guy.
No, Eddie.
It's no use, Julie.
Something was cut outta
me that night with Gorski.
Then let it heal.
Your father, McBride,
everybody wants to help you.
But you don't wanna be helped.
Well, I'm not even going to try.
Well, let's leave it, huh?
Sure, leave it.
Dig the hole deeper so you
can hide yourself better
with your guilt for a shroud.
Look, Eddie, it's this simple.
I can take what you did to Gorski
because I know how much
you're regretting it.
But Eddie, what you're doing
to yourself, that I can't take.
I can't even pity you.
Hello, Bernie.
Hello.
Did you see the papers?
"Al Gorski leaves the hospital."
Good news.
Not gonna ask about Packy?
What's there to ask?
I read the papers.
He vacated his title and
the commission cleared him.
He gave his end of the gate to Gorski,
so that makes him a public benefactor.
He's sick, Bernie.
He's all locked up inside.
I've got him back, but
I, I can't reach him.
Maybe you could talk to him.
You know how a man can live with himself.
There's nothing I've got to say.
You, you and your lousy books.
You're a fake, Bernie.
You don't stand behind
your high-sounding words.
You remember the, the first
day in the Market Street Gym,
the first day we met?
You said, "If your boy loses,
I'll be there to help him up.
Well, Packy's a loser.
He's a big loser.
What's happened to you, Bernie?
When did you stop saying
prayers for losers?
Pat?
You want Packy to fight again?
No, he's had it.
I've been talking to him
about going in the trucking business.
It's something that I know
a little something about,
and it's something that Packy can learn.
If he learns to care again.
Why don't you talk to him?
Maybe you can reach him.
I'm leaving town on business tonight.
Personal business.
This Dawson McFadden
fight a week from Friday.
Take Packy to see that.
Fights?
You couldn't get him within
a mile of a fight arena.
You get some ringside seats
and see that he gets there, understand?
I'll try.
Thanks, Bernie.
This isn't the way.
Where are we going?
We're going to the fights.
Who's bright idea is this?
Mine.
Please, Eddie.
It's for your sake.
Oh, why don't you, why
don't you go on without me?
Eddie, there's no place else to go.
Now what have you got to lose?
Just forget about me, right?
Just forget about me.
Eddie, this is as
far as we can take you.
Now it's up to you.
You can walk, or you
can run, or you can rot.
Give him his ticket.
You wanted me to think twice
before I stopped the fight.
Okay, Packy.
I thought.
Hey, look who's here: Packy Glennon.
He's here.
Can I see your ticket?
Introducing one of
boxing's all-time greats,
The former heavyweight
champion of the world,
the Brown Bomber, Joe Lewis.
Making his first public appearance
since his release from the hospital
and from the shadow of death,
the former middleweight champion,
a great fighter, Al Gorski.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
I'd like to tell you why I'm here.
A man came to see me in
Chicago the other day.
His name is Bernie
Browne, a great trainer.
And he said to me,
"Al, the doc says you're
gonna be okay now."
And I said, "Sure, but that
was some beatin' I took,"
and he said, "Yeah, but you
should see the other guy,
"he's not up yet.
"And maybe he'll never get up."
That other guy, in case you don't know,
he's Packy Glennon.
What's he doing?
Packy and me, we fought three times.
Some sport writers said they were
three of the greatest fights of all time.
Maybe, maybe not.
All I know is this: Packy and me,
we never learned how to waltz.
You tell 'em, Packy.
Al mention someone...
Al mentioned someone called Bernie Browne.
He's a great man.
He told me something from, from,
from a holy book.
It was called the Talmud.
It said like this,
"A child comes into the world
with his hands clenched,
"wanting everything.
"And a man leaves it
with his hands wide open,
"wanting nothing."
Like Al said,
we were in the ring together three times
with our hands clenched.
And now we're gonna leave it for all time
with our hands wide open.
Pop?
In here, son.
Oh, hi.
Hi.
Here's the evening paper.
Oh, thank you.
You want the sports page?
No, thanks.
Did you work today?
No, I talked to a couple of truckers,
but there's not much doing.
I brought some stuff home.
Well, how about having
a hamburger out tonight?
Oh, I can't; Got a date.
Julie Walsh?
Yeah.
Ugh, how can you drink that stuff?
That's sunshine locked
in the golden grain.
Just like taking a sun bath.
Yeah, and you're a little sunburned.
That's life's fever burning
very bright.
How's Mike Walsh these days?
I don't know.
Since he's got that big building deal,
I hardly ever see him.
Yep.
He's liable to make a lot of money, Pop.
Eddie, you know something?
Julie Walsh is a very lucky girl.
What?
Oh no, look at yourself.
Come on, Pop.
No, it's reality.
Don't be afraid of it.
You're a very special human being.
A very special grocery clerk.
Never be ashamed of what you are, never.
I'm not ashamed.
I'm Pat Quaid's bouncing boy,
and I own the world, right?
Well, maybe you don't own it.
I sure didn't give or
take too much out of it.
But we don't need the world.
That's just as good as owning it.
And we're gonna beat 'em aren't we, Pop?
Yeah, sure.
Where are you going tonight?
Dancing.
Dancing.
It's been years.
Long years.
Your mother.
Of course, I always had two left feet.
Your mother, bless her,
she was wonderful dancer.
So beautiful.
Hey Pop, half the treasury.
Five for you and five for me.
No, I couldn't-
- Come on.
Thanks.
It's okay, Pop.
I gotta hurry; I'll be late.
Have a good time tonight.
Thanks, Pop.
See you later.
Yeah, I'm just gonna step out.
Right.
Take care.
Right.
Good night, Eddie.
Good night.
Eddie, it's late.
Come on, we'll raid the ice box-
- No, I've got a early class.
Well, let's have a
night klatch right now.
No, Eddie.
Yes, and we'll study the stars.
Well, my problem is English literature.
Well, that's simple.
I shall recite you a poem.
Oh, I'd like that.
You have such feeling in your voice
when you wanna be serious.
The word is romantic.
I love you, Julie.
I know, but I've still gotta go in.
Good night.
Julie.
Yes, Dad.
Come on out in the kitchen.
You too, Eddie.
Told you it was time
to raid the ice box.
Oh, is Mom asleep?
Yeah.
Beer, Eddie?
No, a soft drink.
How's your father?
Working?
Um, not this week,
but he's got a lot of
things coming up very soon.
How're you doing at that supermarket?
Oh fine.
Just fine.
Here, Eddie.
Thank you.
We went dancing.
You date other girls?
No, Julie's my girl.
What's in the future?
I don't know.
Don't you think about it?
Oh sure.
Oh, you mean about, uh,
about getting married?
Exactly.
Are you afraid we're
gonna elope or something?
I'm concerned for Julie.
So am I.
Eddie, I'm gonna level with you.
I don't think you're right for Julie.
Dad, please!
Wait a minute, Julie.
Wait a minute.
Why?
Because I didn't go to college.
You got no future.
What makes you so sure?
The police called
here a half an hour ago
about your father.
Your father's in jail.
He got 20 days for busting
up Mattern's Tavern.
Eddie, do you feed him whiskey money?
I would dish it out to him
on a spoon if he wanted me to.
He's my father.
He's a heartbroken man, a lonely man.
I don't look down on him.
I'm proud of him.
Your pride.
You Quaids are lousy with pride.
What do you got to be proud of?
Your old man's just a sorry, boozing slob.
You'll be wasting the
best years of your life
picking him up out of the gutter,
and that's not for my Julie.
Do you agree with him?
Eddie, please.
Well, do you?
He's my father.
Well, he was just
talking about my father.
Hello, Eddie.
How is he?
Just missed being a hospital case.
Took on a guy half his
age and twice his size.
What's the idea of
blabbing to Mike Walsh?
Must've been Sergeant
Kane trying to locate you.
Did you rough him up?
No, I was in a gentle mood.
You're going to spring your old man?
How much is it?
25 bucks.
Well, I suppose 20 days
won't kill Pat Quaid.
That's what you suppose.
I'll get him out somehow.
Somehow?
Eddie come here.
Somehow is a dirty word.
Last chump who used it on me
stuck up a filling
station and killed a cop.
Thanks for the bedtime story.
The most I can give you is
$10 as an advance on your pay.
You gotta remember, I'm
running a market, not a bank.
Eddie, you can't work with
your hands closed like that.
Interesting card tonight.
Look, McBride, I don't get this at all.
I thought you'd like to see
a kid named Eddie Quaid fight.
Eddie?
Your boy's trying to raise
25 bucks to spring you.
I figured you ought to see
the beating he's gonna take for you.
The boy.
Shouldn't have done it.
Could uh, could I have a little water?
Now get in there and throw
everything you got at him.
You got nothing to lose.
Kid learns fast.
Yeah.
Nine, ten.
Finish him!
Finish him!
Come on!
That's all.
Eddie, atta boy!
Nice work, Eddie.
Pop!
Detective McBride fixed it for me to,
to get out so I could see you fight.
Good fight, Eddie.
I figured you'd take a beating.
Thanks.
Nice call, kid.
Hello, Jim.
Hi, Jerry.
Here's your prize.
A hawk shop across the street'll
give you 15 bucks for it.
Why don't you save me the trip?
I'd be afraid to walk in the
dark with that kind of money.
Solid, wasn't he?
He sure was.
Thanks.
Can I talk to Pop for a minute?
Sure, go ahead.
Yeah, sure.
Look Pop.
Why this-this mess?
This fighting in a bar?
I had one drink too many,
said a couple of wrong words.
That talk that we had, the Walshes.
I don't know, Eddie.
Remembering your mother, I...
I got to thinking what
a lousy loser I've been.
What a lousy father.
That I wasn't good enough.
Good enough for what?
You know.
I'll tell you what I know.
You should never be ashamed.
My father taught me that.
He taught me something else, Pop.
There isn't anybody but you and me.
You've told me that enough times.
I had to learn it this way tonight.
Nobody helps.
Nobody's gonna make any presents.
That leaves just us.
Now, if you keep belting that bottle,
you'll be running out on me.
Don't do that, huh Pop?
I wouldn't wanna break up the team.
Get your clothes on.
We'll have a drink; My treat.
I'll buy.
Sure could use a fast one.
Fast and soft.
Yeah.
You got suckered into those punches.
It was, I never told you.
I used to be a fighter myself
before the kid was born.
Packy Glennon, that was my ring name.
Should have been Canvasback.
You know something?
He's better right now than I ever was.
You cut it pretty good in there, Eddie.
Pretty good?
Why, he could be a great middleweight.
Forget it, Pop.
You're just dreaming.
Guess I am.
Pop it's-it's not for me.
Isn't it?
From where I stood, I saw magic.
That kid was a natural in the ring.
You'll learn fast, Packy.
You're bright.
With the right trainer-
- What did you call me?
Packy.
You like that, huh?
About time we had a
winner in the family.
Take a look, kid.
Your old man's eyes.
You notice the new light, the pride?
Okay.
Packy Glennon fights again.
But his old man gives up the bottle.
Who needs it?
And another thing.
Once I start this, I'm
on for the whole ride
and every dime I can
squeeze out of it, okay?
I'll stake you 500 bucks worth, kid.
Might even find you a trainer.
You know, for a cop, you're
very handy with the favors.
I got no ideas about dying a cop, sonny.
I own a piece of a fish
market over on Drew Street.
Maybe I'll own a piece of you.
That's my end.
An investment.
500 bucks and a trainer
so I can rest my feet in the sunshine.
Who's the trainer?
Fellow named Bernie Browne.
Never heard of him.
What's he done?
10 Years in San Quentin.
Did you bring the library card?
He works here.
Hello, Bernie.
Good morning, Jim.
Bernie Browne, Pat Quaid, Eddie Quaid.
Hi.
Boy I called you about.
You ever hear of a saying,
"what you don't know won't hurt you?"
Sure.
You believe it?
Maybe.
Yes or no?
Yeah, I believe it.
You're wrong.
What you don't know can hurt you plenty.
All right, so I'm wrong.
Who are you fighting?
I didn't say.
What are you fighting?
Uh, look, bookworm,
we're not connecting.
Bookworm?
That's a compliment.
At that, I've done a lot of reading.
Where?
In the big house.
What do you want, a diploma?
Real temper, too, huh?
Let's go look the boy over.
Atta boy.
All right, that's it.
Thanks, Joe.
You're in, Eddie.
Call me Packy.
Packy Glennon.
Packy Glennon.
All right, Packy.
But before we make a deal,
there's a couple things
you ought know about me.
I used to be a pretty
cocky young fighter, too.
'Til one night I got drunk,
slid my car over a white line,
smashed two lives.
Three, if you wanna count mine.
What's the point?
What's the point?
The point is this.
If your boy wins, I won't cheer so loud.
But if he loses, I'll
be there to help him up.
We're in business.
Legit?
Legit.
You hear that?
That's your school bell.
First lesson, a story, a fairy tale,
all about what might happen in
the next three or four years
if God smiles on you.
First off, we get you in shape.
So if you had four legs,
you could run in the Kentucky Derby.
Then you start bouncing a rubber ball
til you bounce like one yourself.
You skip rope 'til you think
you're becoming a school girl.
Then we go to work on fundamentals,
like learning to keep your
elbows close to your body.
So you don't lose leverage.
Like learning to make
your punches come out
short and sweet as money in the bank.
You'll hit that heavy bag
like you wanted to see the
stuffing fly in your face.
I'll teach you punches in combinations
so you'll have a good punch
ready to follow your last punch.
You'll climb into the
ring, do some sparring,
and you'll look like you learned
all I taught you, and more.
Then you'll have your first pro bout,
and you'll look like
you belong in a nursery instead of a ring.
You'll get down on yourself,
Your father will want to chuck it all
for a bottle of whiskey.
Then one night, God willing,
you leave all your faults in your corner
and the stuff of champions
will begin the show.
The crowds will recognize it.
The sport writers will
mix metaphors about you.
They'll compare you with the greatest,
and you'll fight until
every town and every month
begin to look the same.
And when you've got
enough months piled up,
maybe you'll be there, with
the crowds touching you
like you were holy.
Like they knew you were
born to be champion
of the whole cockeyed world.
All of Chicago's jumping.
Biggest sink since Dempsey and Tunney.
Probably break the record
for the middleweight championship fight.
Yeah, I hope so.
Meanwhile, keep the newspaper boys away
until after the fight, huh?
Sure.
Say, about tonight.
You want me to decorate the place
with some attractive lightweights?
Yeah, bring on the girls.
Get one for Pop, too.
Okay.
Hello?
Who's calling, please?
Just a minute.
Packy?
Yeah.
You want us speak to a Miss Walsh?
Julie?
Julie?
Yeah.
I'll talk.
Just a minute, Miss Walsh.
Then you gotta get some sleep, Packy.
All right.
Well, what are you doing in Chicago?
Yes, I am surprised.
It's been three years.
Thanks, I'll need it tonight.
Which reminds me, we're having
a party after the fight-
- If we win.
Like I said, we're
having a little party here
after the fight tonight.
You're invited.
Okay, honey.
We'll see you later.
She talked like nothing ever happened.
If you still feel that
way, why'd you invite her?
She belongs.
She's a lightweight.
The main event of the evening.
15 rounds of boxing
for the world's middleweight championship.
From San Francisco, wearing
white trunks with black stripes,
weighing 157, the sensational
challenger, Packy Glennon!
From Chicago, wearing blacks
trunks with white stripes,
weighing 159, the middleweight
champion of the world,
Al Gorski!
You boys have been instructed
by the state athletic commission.
The count of eight has been waived.
Keep all your punches up.
Shake hands now, fight a clean fight.
Come on, Packy!
Four, five.
Stay down!
Stay down!
Seven, eight, nine.
Great, boy.
You're doing fine.
Watch him.
Watch that left.
Watch him.
All right, stand up.
Get off the ropes!
You remember what I told you,
the left hook, the left, the left.
Keep it in him.
Keep after him all the time.
You're doing okay.
Okay.
Come on, relax, relax, relax.
Hit him, hit him.
Hit him, hit him.
Get out of that corner!
Four, five, six.
Get up, Al!
Come on, now.
Get up!
Nine, ten.
In 57 seconds of the third round,
the winner and new middleweight
champion of the world,
Packy Glennon!
Here he is, folks.
Son, you know Dan
Selby, "The Chronicle."
Of course.
Did I give you enough
to write about tonight?
Oh, you sure did.
We were just discussing that third round.
Good, what does my manager say?
He says you can do it
again in the return go.
Eh, we take home the
big end of the purse.
Well, it's a sure sellout.
They oughta hold the
next brawl on Pier Six.
I thought I saw you praying
at the end of the fight.
Bernie always prays for the loser.
Never for me, only the loser.
See you later.
Okay.
Well, well, well, hello Jack.
Packy.
Lorraine Evans, Packy
Glennon, the new champ.
Yes, I know.
How do you do?
Um, would you care for drink?
I'd love one.
Would you excuse us?
What would you like?
Scotch and water.
I'll have scotch and water, too.
Did you see the fight?
Yes, I did.
Here you are, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
You know, I got very lucky tonight.
So did I.
Hello, Al.
Al Gorski, how are you, Al?
Hello, Dan.
Great fight, Al.
Thanks.
Hello, champ.
Well, coming from you,
I guess it's official.
No guessing about it,
you belted me pretty good.
Oh, fellows, this is my wife, Mrs. Gorski.
Hello.
How do you do, Mrs. Gorski?
Won't you all have a drink with us?
No, thank you.
Oh, we can only stay a minute.
I'll have a short beer.
We have to get home.
You know, we've got four
kids to explain this to.
I gotta congratulate the brain trust.
You got a great boy there.
Oh, we think so.
Take good care of him.
You too, Al.
Thanks.
Here you are.
Thanks.
You're sure you won't have a drink?
No, thanks.
You know, I'd sleep a lot better,
Mrs. Gorski, if he'd retire.
I'll consider that when
I win the title back.
Thanks, Packy.
Sure. Pleasure.
Goodnight.
Thanks for stopping by.
Good night, Packy.
Goodnight.
Next time the party's on us.
Right.
Goodnight.
Goodnight.
Sorry you can't stay longer.
Well, are we the winners, or aren't we?
Let's have a party.
Dad, look, pow!
Now, I bet you were gonna
say something interesting
before they came in.
I'm never interesting in a crowd.
Lorraine-
- Packy.
A girl wants to see the champ.
Later, Pop.
It's Julie.
I'll be back.
Congratulations.
Thanks.
I saw the fight on television.
Who were you rooting for?
A boy I used to know.
I'll introduce you around-
- Eddie, I'd like to talk to you.
Julie, I'm giving a party.
Please, Eddie.
Did your parents move out
of the old neighborhood?
Yes, we moved.
Eddie, you're being awfully distant.
What'd you expect?
It's been three years.
You think I'd welcome you with open arms?
Seeing you again reminds me of
that night in San Francisco-
- Please.
Do you remember what your old man said?
"You Quaids, you're lousy with pride.
"What have you got to be proud of?"
Well, tell your old
man to read the papers.
The headlines are screaming
and the Quaids are proud.
Stop, stop!
All right, you've met the champ.
Anything else?
No.
No, your speech just about covers it.
Julie.
Look son, there's something
that I should have...
You know that building
deal of Julie's father?
He lost his shirt.
Tough, Pop.
Tough.
He went broke.
He killed himself.
Oh my...
Nothing but interruptions.
You'd be surprised how much time I have.
Julie, Julie, would
you please listen to me?
No, Eddie.
I'm sorry.
Don't apologize, I deserved it.
Only I was stupid enough to think
you might forgive and forget
now that you're sitting
on top of the world.
Look, I'm sorry about your father.
Why should you care?
He damned your father for his weakness,
forgetting that he had
a weakness of his own.
Julie, please listen.
Look, Eddie, leave me alone.
I-I've been alone for a long time,
and I'm getting used to it.
Don't talk like that, Julie.
Don't make me take a
cab; I can't afford it.
Julie, will you please...
I'll make it up to you somehow, Julie.
Please, won't you let
me.
Bernie.
Always with the books, huh?
What's the word?
From the book?
Nothing.
From me, even less.
Come on, out with some wise words.
Go to bed.
I know, join me in a nightcap.
The party's over.
Too righteous to drink with me?
The fight's over, too.
That reminds me.
I became the champ tonight.
How loud did you cheer for me?
How loud?
A girl walked in here tonight.
She led with her chin.
And when you let her have
it, I couldn't cheer.
I prayed for you.
Packy.
You want a word?
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
Time?
Not nearly.
Throw 'em harder.
My arms feel like lead.
So throw lead like a gun.
That's enough.
Not for Gorski.
You know, you wouldn't change your tune
if I had to fight an old man.
It's hot, isn't it?
Lindsay, why don't you go
chase butterflies with Lorraine?
I take my orders from the champ.
You heard the man, Jack.
Julie.
Hi.
Hello, Eddie.
I figured maybe you'd
like to say hello again.
He's quite a talker, your father.
He convinced me I needed fresh air.
Did you bring a swimsuit?
Yes.
Come on, we'll go take a dip.
Maybe we could steal a picnic basket, huh?
Excuse us.
Okay.
Don't mind me.
I'm just getting him ready for a fight.
This'll do him more good.
Gorski'll be glad to hear that.
Packy, you've only got 10 days.
So I'm taking a couple hours off.
You know how Gorski spends his nights?
He runs the fight pictures over and over.
And when he goes to bed, he fights you.
Who wins?
Kid, when it comes for real,
he's liable to murder you.
Look Bernie, this girl.
When I shot my mouth off with
her, you bawled me out, right?
Now I wanna make it up and
you're still screaming.
What do you want from me?
Everything you've got, and more.
You know, Bernie,
you're the lousiest-looking
blues singer I ever saw.
Wow, do champions pick flowers?
Well, us champs, we're the
nicest people in the world.
We're the only ones that can afford to.
What haven't we talked about?
You and me.
I missed you.
Lonely in Chicago?
Very.
I don't see why.
A beautiful a girl like you.
You know, you oughta stand
on windy street corners.
Whew, speaking of wind,
it's a little chilly.
Thank you.
All of a sudden, I remember
the way you used to tease me.
Are you still like that, Julie?
I've grown up.
What are you reading now?
Oh, "Writings from the Talmud."
What's it about?
Truth, wisdom.
It was written a long time ago.
Is there anything in it
for a guy that's still got a lot to learn?
For the both of us, maybe.
Here's something.
"When a man learns to subdue anger,
"he finds it easier to
conquer all other foes."
Good night, Bernie.
Good night, Packy.
How do you feel?
All right?
Fine.
Listen, don't press.
Just take it easy.
Don't give him a chance to get set.
Now settle in.
Stay down.
Stay down.
Get over, get over.
You got him, Packy.
Yeah.
Maybe he's finished.
Forget it.
There's another round coming up.
That's it.
Beat it, Tommy.
He's all right.
What's the round?
Three coming up.
I'm all right.
Yeah, he come out of it all right.
He's all right.
Go get him, Packy.
All right?
Okay.
How's that eye, all right?
Yeah.
Atta boy.
Okay.
Keep moving right with him, Packy.
Stay right there, boy.
Packy, box him!
Get off those ropes!
Now come on, Packy!
What are you doing?
Referee Tommy Dillon stops the bout
after one minute and 14
seconds of the fifth round.
Winner by a technical knockout,
and the new middleweight
champion of the world, Al Gorski!
Well, how does it
feel to be champ again?
Not like the first time.
This time it hurts.
What punch did the trick?
I guess that left hook to the body.
Lucky punch.
Lucky all around tonight.
Hi, Packy.
Hi.
Hi, boys.
Congratulations, champ.
Thanks, Packy.
I was just telling the
boys how lucky I was.
Sure, some lucky, huh?
How do you feel about
Dillon stopping the fight?
Um, the champ stopped me, not Dillon.
You don't think
Dillon stopped it too soon?
I didn't come here to alibi.
I lost and it's over, that's all.
You gonna give Packy another fight?
If the bell hadn't saved me,
you'd be asking Packy that same question.
Sure, he gets another shot.
In San Francisco?
Chicago, next spring.
Okay?
Yeah, it's okay with us.
We're having a shindig
in my house tonight.
Real Polish ham and lots of beer.
I'd like you to come.
No, thanks.
I think I've seen enough
of you for one night.
Good night.
Goodnight, fellas.
Good night.
Good night.
Good luck.
You did great.
Just great.
Sure, some great.
I lost.
Not in Gorski's
dressing room, you didn't.
You won something else in there: Respect.
He had it in him.
He could have finished Gorski.
You're crazy.
Gorski would've killed him.
Wait a minute, buddy.
Pop's right.
What?
Dillon had no business
stopping the fight.
Unless there was monkey business.
Oh sure.
Gorski put the fix on Dillon.
He needed it.
He needed something when that bell rang.
All right, so it was legit,
but another five seconds
and I would've been-
- You might have been dead.
You don't know how you looked.
You don't know how you stood there
just begging for the meat axe.
Not even remembering how
to roll with a punch.
Wait a minute.
He's my son.
You think I'd say he could
have fought if it wasn't so?
You've got him alive and well.
Be satisfied.
All right, Pop, take 'em off.
Poor Eddie.
Poor face.
Well, what do you think
of the fight business now?
Pretty awful.
You'll get used to it.
Maybe.
I made some sandwiches.
We can have a party.
But there must be
something we can celebrate.
No.
Not tonight.
I think I better go.
Julie,
These last few weeks,
you know, seeing each other,
I found out something.
I want us to be together all the time.
Oh, I do, too.
But, well, not tonight.
Do you understand?
Of course.
Yeah?
Can I come in?
Oh sure, Tommy, come on in.
Have some coffee?
Already had breakfast.
Well, sit down, sit down.
You see Dan Selby's column this morning?
No.
He says you boys don't want
me in there tomorrow night.
He says you're gonna blackball
me with the commission.
Why, that's not true.
Packy tell him-
- Selby had it right.
I'm sorry, Tom.
I didn't know.
My partners forgot to tell me.
Easy, Bernie.
Easy.
Let the man talk.
I didn't come here to beg.
I just wanna get a few things straight.
Did you think I was juiced
to steal that fight from you?
No.
Then whatta you got against me?
Nothing.
You're sorry I didn't
let Gorski kill you?
We're sorry you stopped
the fight, period.
I'd do it again.
Not to me, you won't.
Oh, you big shot.
I was a champ when you
were playing with marbles.
Think I'm gonna let you
blast my reputation?
I wouldn't want that, Tom.
You want the job?
What's the angle?
Just one way you stop the fight.
You count to 10, that's all.
No.
It's my skin-
- It's my conscience!
Dillon!
All right, all right.
I give in.
Now you gotta give a little.
All I want you to do is think, that's all.
Just think twice before
you stop the fight.
Just think twice.
I'll see you in the ring.
There you go.
If the commissioner assigns me.
Okay, Bernie, you can turn it off.
Packy just gave in, didn't he?
No.
No, Dillon gave in.
A referee can't think twice.
If he does, that ring
turns into a square jungle.
What's so special about that?
You think it's any different
out there, outside the ring?
You think they're gonna give you favors
and pat you on the back
because you're a loser?
I'm a fighter.
And as long as I'm on my feet, I'll fight.
Meeting for the third time,
those two great fighters.
In this corner, from San Francisco,
wearing white trunks, weighing 157 pounds,
the challenger, Packy Glennon.
And in this corner, from Chicago,
wearing black trunks, weighing
158 and one half pounds,
the middleweight champion
of the world, Al Gorski.
Your referee is Tommy Dillon.
You boys know the rules of
the Illinois Boxing Commission.
Tonight I want another good clean fight.
I want you to keep all your punches up.
I want to keep punching in the
clinches until I say break.
But when I say break, I want
you both to take one step back.
Shake hands now and come
out fighting at the bell.
Go get him, Al.
Murder him, Pack!
On the button, Al!
Get out of there, Packy!
Get away!
Slow down.
Pick your shots.
What are you in such a hurry for?
Take it easy.
Glennon's faster and
smarter than he's ever been.
Don't let him get set.
That's it, Willie!
Come on, stay down!
Six, seven.
I think he's got him.
He's got him sure.
Punch.
Keep that left-right in there.
That's it!
That's it, boy!
Packy!
I gotta stop this.
Bernie, Bernie don't!
He's getting slow!
Are you crazy?
Don't!
Come on, Packy.
Let's get that eye fixed.
Don't let up.
Stay on top of him.
Take the fight to him.
That's a bad cut.
You ever see a good one?
Okay, Packy, what round's coming up?
It's the last round.
What round?
The fourth round, Chicago
Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Any other questions?
All right, all right.
You got anything left?
Well then, stay away from him.
Al right.
Box him, you know?
Make him press, make him
go, and then pick your spot.
All right?
Go on in and hold!
Get in and hold him!
Hold on!
Hang on!
Packy!
Packy!
Five, six,
seven, doc!
Call an ambulance.
The time, 57
seconds of the fourth round.
The winner and new middleweight
champion of the world,
Packy Glennon.
You killed him.
Why didn't you stop it?
What did you wait for?
What about it, Dillon?
Ask Packy Glennon.
He wanted me to think twice
before I stopped the fight.
Okay Packy, I thought.
Holy McGonnigal.
Where are you going?
To look for a job.
Eddie.
Oh, Eddie.
Come on.
You can see him at the apartment.
Murderer.
Killer!
Dirty fighter!
Murderer!
Dirty fighter!
Come on, Bernie.
Gimme a hand.
Forget I'm here.
Like I'm trying to forget.
He's not dead.
Give him time.
Shut up, Bernie.
You got Tommy Dillon to think twice.
Now you'll have the rest of
your life to remember it.
Only you'll wish it had been
you instead of Al Gorski.
Nice going, champ.
Pop?
How-how does a thing like this happen?
Well, look you, you
wanted fair, didn't you?
You didn't ask anything for yourself.
That dumb Dillon-
Come in.
We'll leave a guard here, Mr. Glennon,
just in case anybody
tries to make trouble.
Uh, how, how is he?
He's on the ropes.
Doc says it's a toss-up.
Packy.
Packy.
We'll explain it.
You didn't ask Dillon for
a license to kill Gorski.
So, so we got nothing to worry about.
You're the champ.
The best, that's all.
Whatever they say that the
two of us we can lick 'em.
You're full of hot air, Pop.
You've talked like you've always talked.
Words'll fix a charm, make
'em whistle a merry tune.
You're talking as if it was my fault-
- No, it was my fault because I listened.
Do you remember?
I used to sit on the
front step and I listened
when you told me there
were just the two of us.
Us against the world.
Well, we sure fought
them great, didn't we?
Eddie, you didn't do
wrong, I'm telling you, I'm-
- Stop that lying!
He's dying, Pop.
Don't you understand?
He's another human being
with a wife and children.
And I did it to him.
Me, your son, because I wanted the title.
Well, you haven't got a
winner in the family anymore.
Eddie you'll make it right.
Sure, sure.
Hold on tight.
So you can be a big man again.
So you can pass out cigars
and talk to the press.
McBride had his 10% and
Browne was out saving souls,
and this was your end.
Being a big man.
Well, Pop, the play's all over.
Everything's back to zero.
Get me outta here.
Where that cab goes, I wanna go.
Where to?
I said, where do you
wanna go, Mr. Champion?
Anywhere.
Anywhere I can keep my eyes closed.
How much do I owe you?
Nothing.
Don't even thank me.
Should have caught it.
Here, try this one.
Hey, you better slow down.
You're not focusing.
I might as well not be here.
What makes you think you are?
Touche.
French word, means don't
hit me when I'm down.
Mark Eldridge.
I'm with the "Globe."
Aren't you Packy Glennon?
Who's Packy Glennon?
Gorski's dying.
Who's Gorski?
Picture's plastered
over every front page.
Plastered, that's the secret word.
Come on, Packy, how about a story...
Don't call me Packy.
My name's not Packy.
You make me believe I'm
Packy and I break your jaw.
Honey, honey, please.
Come on, we'll go.
I'm Eddie Quaid.
That's who I am.
Excuse me.
Where is he?
Room 22.
Party over?
Party?
It was a wake.
We buried Packy Glennon, or Eddie Quaid.
I don't know, somebody.
Packy.
Packy.
Packy!
My name's not Packy.
All right, Eddie.
Come on.
My name's-
- Sit up.
Up you go.
I'm not Packy.
Up you go.
Don't call me Packy.
Sit up.
It's Jim McBride.
McBride.
Good old Ten-Percent McBride.
Here's your cut.
No, no.
You're all through with that.
It's pretty funny while you're afraid
I'm not gonna be in
shape for my next fight.
Now come on, get dressed.
We're going back to San Francisco.
I can't, I can't.
Leave me alone.
No, I've got 10% of
that pain in your gut.
Jim, wait down stairs.
Pop.
Goon.
Gorski?
He's through with the ring.
He's not dead?
No, he's not dead.
Look, Eddie.
Eddie, we've got some money put aside,
and I was thinking that maybe
we'd go in the trucking business.
No, no, no.
Go on home.
Go on home.
Eddie, Eddie, son, you're young.
You'll have to face the world.
People forget.
No.
No, I can't.
I can't.
I won't, and I can't.
Go on home, Pop.
Go on home.
I'm not gonna see you
throw your life away.
No!
You've got years.
And Julie.
What about Julie?
Get outta here, Pop.
Will you get outta
here and leave me alone?
Eddie!
Darling!
I thought you were in Chicago.
I got homesick.
My, the air's so fresh.
Let's walk, hmm?
Your father says you come here every day.
No crowds.
Lots of nothing.
You ever see anybody?
Well, Pop.
McBride once in a while.
And Bernie Browne?
He kissed me off.
Eddie, what are you going to do?
Any suggestions?
A bath, to begin with.
I love you.
That was another guy.
No, Eddie.
It's no use, Julie.
Something was cut outta
me that night with Gorski.
Then let it heal.
Your father, McBride,
everybody wants to help you.
But you don't wanna be helped.
Well, I'm not even going to try.
Well, let's leave it, huh?
Sure, leave it.
Dig the hole deeper so you
can hide yourself better
with your guilt for a shroud.
Look, Eddie, it's this simple.
I can take what you did to Gorski
because I know how much
you're regretting it.
But Eddie, what you're doing
to yourself, that I can't take.
I can't even pity you.
Hello, Bernie.
Hello.
Did you see the papers?
"Al Gorski leaves the hospital."
Good news.
Not gonna ask about Packy?
What's there to ask?
I read the papers.
He vacated his title and
the commission cleared him.
He gave his end of the gate to Gorski,
so that makes him a public benefactor.
He's sick, Bernie.
He's all locked up inside.
I've got him back, but
I, I can't reach him.
Maybe you could talk to him.
You know how a man can live with himself.
There's nothing I've got to say.
You, you and your lousy books.
You're a fake, Bernie.
You don't stand behind
your high-sounding words.
You remember the, the first
day in the Market Street Gym,
the first day we met?
You said, "If your boy loses,
I'll be there to help him up.
Well, Packy's a loser.
He's a big loser.
What's happened to you, Bernie?
When did you stop saying
prayers for losers?
Pat?
You want Packy to fight again?
No, he's had it.
I've been talking to him
about going in the trucking business.
It's something that I know
a little something about,
and it's something that Packy can learn.
If he learns to care again.
Why don't you talk to him?
Maybe you can reach him.
I'm leaving town on business tonight.
Personal business.
This Dawson McFadden
fight a week from Friday.
Take Packy to see that.
Fights?
You couldn't get him within
a mile of a fight arena.
You get some ringside seats
and see that he gets there, understand?
I'll try.
Thanks, Bernie.
This isn't the way.
Where are we going?
We're going to the fights.
Who's bright idea is this?
Mine.
Please, Eddie.
It's for your sake.
Oh, why don't you, why
don't you go on without me?
Eddie, there's no place else to go.
Now what have you got to lose?
Just forget about me, right?
Just forget about me.
Eddie, this is as
far as we can take you.
Now it's up to you.
You can walk, or you
can run, or you can rot.
Give him his ticket.
You wanted me to think twice
before I stopped the fight.
Okay, Packy.
I thought.
Hey, look who's here: Packy Glennon.
He's here.
Can I see your ticket?
Introducing one of
boxing's all-time greats,
The former heavyweight
champion of the world,
the Brown Bomber, Joe Lewis.
Making his first public appearance
since his release from the hospital
and from the shadow of death,
the former middleweight champion,
a great fighter, Al Gorski.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
I'd like to tell you why I'm here.
A man came to see me in
Chicago the other day.
His name is Bernie
Browne, a great trainer.
And he said to me,
"Al, the doc says you're
gonna be okay now."
And I said, "Sure, but that
was some beatin' I took,"
and he said, "Yeah, but you
should see the other guy,
"he's not up yet.
"And maybe he'll never get up."
That other guy, in case you don't know,
he's Packy Glennon.
What's he doing?
Packy and me, we fought three times.
Some sport writers said they were
three of the greatest fights of all time.
Maybe, maybe not.
All I know is this: Packy and me,
we never learned how to waltz.
You tell 'em, Packy.
Al mention someone...
Al mentioned someone called Bernie Browne.
He's a great man.
He told me something from, from,
from a holy book.
It was called the Talmud.
It said like this,
"A child comes into the world
with his hands clenched,
"wanting everything.
"And a man leaves it
with his hands wide open,
"wanting nothing."
Like Al said,
we were in the ring together three times
with our hands clenched.
And now we're gonna leave it for all time
with our hands wide open.