[ TV: Cheering ]
[ TV Announcer ] Another hard jolt by Clay,
and once again the cut over Mountain Rivera's left eye opens up.
Mountain moves away, giving ground,
but Clay lands another left, follows it with a slashing right.
[ Cheering Continues ]
A sudden hook by Mountain drives Clay against the ropes.
And look at him follow it up with a series of staggering rights and lefts.
The old pro won't quit, even though his blood's splattered all over Clay.
Now Rivera's left eye is completely closed...
as he leans on Clay, barely hanging on.
With time running out in round seven,
Mountain Rivera tries desperately to get his bloodied eyes in focus.
Get away from him! Get away!
Back up! [ Shouting Continues ]
[ Cornerman ] Go back!
[ Crowd Cheering ]
[ Body Thuds ]
Three...
four...
five...
six...
seven...
eight...
nine...
ten.
Doctor. [ Bell Ringing ]
Come on, Smith.
[ Bell Ringing ]
[ Announcer ] Ladies and gentlemen, Take him to the dressing room.
Time, I'll have Dr. Gilbert look him over.
Two minutes and thirteen seconds of the seventh round,
winner by a knockout, Cassius Clay!
[ Cheering Continues ]
Great fight, kid. You were great.
Cassius, Cassius, when did you really know you had him?
A guy like Mountain can explode any time.
But I rocked him in the second, Come on, Maish.
And I figured I had him from then on. Help me with him, will ya?
Thanks a lot, Charlie. Thanks.
[ Cornerman ] Maish, hang on to him.
[ Man ] Get him outta here!
[ Crown Murmuring ]
Mountain, listen, you're all right, you understand?
Pretty cute, Maish.
Be careful. Be careful, Mountain.
Mountain, listen. You're okay.
Y-You're okay, Mountain.
[ Bell Ringing ]
[ Moaning ]
[ Crowd Cheering ] Get lost!
Get outta here! Go on. Get outta here!
Sit down here. Sit down.
Mountain, can you hear me?
Mountain!
Where are you? Where are you?
[ Panting ] I'm in Pittsburgh... and it's raining.
Mountain, you're in New York, St. Christopher's Arena.
New York! Yeah, that's right. I'm in New York.
Maish, listen. This boy's fast, man.
I can take him. It's okay. It's all over. It's all over.
It's all over, Mountain. What are you doing? Don't stop it!
Wait, wait, wait! Mountain! Mountain!
Mountain! Doc, fix him.
It'll be all right. It'll be all right.
[ Wheezing ]
Bad?
Doc? He'll come out of it all right.
Now, put him on the table. All right. Come on.
Okay. Gently.
[ Mutters ]
He had no business in there, Maish. You hungry or something?
What do you mean, hungry? In 1952, he was number five.
1952? When was that, Maish? Last Thursday?
[ Groaning ] You take a look at the eye.
Now look at this eye. You see the pupil?
You see the tissue? That's known as sclerotic damage.
The inner structure shows that it could lead to a detached retina.
A couple of good rights to that eye,
you can buy him a tin cup and some pencils.
Or maybe it doesn't have to happen that way, Maish.
Maybe someday he'll bang his head on a bathroom door and bleed to death.
Either way, Maish. It could happen either way.
No more. This is it. What are you talking about, no more?
No more. That'll be my recommendation to the commission.
I got nothing scheduled for him. He can rest.
He can rest up the rest of his life. What's the matter with you?
He's 17 years in this business. Suddenly he gets a cut,
It isn't one cut, and it isn't suddenly! It's 17 years of cuts!
How long do you expect him to go on? He looks good in that ring.
He's sharp. Sometimes he's plenty sharp.
He's a pro. That's probably what kept him alive.
Hey, Doc, you got any of those ammonia things? I'm out of 'em.
You apply some strips to his upper lid. Right.
You let me know if there's any change in his condition.
You got any more big, fat suggestions?
Tell him to buy a scrapbook.
[ Crowd Cheering ]
Don't fight! Don't-Don't fight! [ Mountain Groaning ]
I know. Don't fight. Come on.
[ Groaning, Muttering ] Huh? You okay?
Come on. Come on now. Come on now.
There, take a good-- good, deep breath, huh?
That's right, inhale. [ Muttering ]
Okay.
[ Mutters, Groans ] Ah, Maishy.
You stopped me, huh?
Forget it. You were beautiful.
He just happened to throw a lucky punch.
[ Indistinct ]
Ah, you're all right. Huh? You all right?
[ Continues Muttering ] Okay. Okay.
Mountain! Mountain!
Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
He must've caught me good. [ Groans ]
You all right now? Come on. Let me see. Yeah, I'm all right.
[ Mutters ] My eye feels funny.
No, don't touch it. Don't touch it.
What do you mean? It's deep, huh?
Deep enough. I got a nice, clear view into your head.
Go take a shower. You'll feel better.
[ Groaning ] Come on. Take a deep breath.
[ Chattering Continues ] Don't slip.
[ Shower Running ]
Something wrong, ain't there, Maish?
Something wrong? What's going on?
Where were you when the lights went out? I lost a boy tonight, Army.
Get with it. Besides that, nothin'! Besides that.
I saw Greeny giving you the eye. I told you to forget it!
All I gotta do is go huntin' and peckin' and find myself another boy.
Maybe I'll try a lightweight this time.
Another boy? What about him, Maish?
Let him do what you did-- become a cut man or somethin'.
Maybe he's lucky at that. At least he walks away with his brains.
That's more than most.
[ Chuckles ] That's very funny.
Seventeen years. At least he's lucky if he walks away with his brains.
[ Scoffs ] It's a great sport.
Sport? Are you kiddin'? If there was head rooms, they'd
Hey, Army! Will you get a shirt?
Yeah, I'll get it right away.
[ Mutters ] I feel better after the shower.
My eye feels kinda funny, though.
Sit down.
Wh-Wh-What did he catch me with?
He caught you with an uppercut, Mountain.
Uppercut. Sucker punch.
You know, that-- that kid-- a couple of years ago--
My legs get tired lately.
But I-I-I can take that kid.
Maish, I want to fight that kid again.
You hear me, Maish? I-I-I want you to get me a rematch.
Mountain? Yeah?
I got somethin' to tell you.
The doc was in here. He says you gotta quit.
No more fights.
What do you mean, I gotta quit?
He feels you've had it.
What are you talking about?
You gotta quit, Mountain. You can't fight anymore.
Why? Because I got knocked out?
Don't everybody get knocked out? Louis.
Even Patterson. Why, that's crazy!
All right, it's crazy. Maybe I think it's crazy!
But that's what the doc says. Go fight the commission.
Oh, so you're gonna take some lousy horse doctor's word?
The doc said if you take a couple more bangs on that left eye,
you're gonna have to end up sellin' pencils.
You've got sclerotic damage.
Well... so what do I do now?
A guy's gotta do something.
All right, so you do something. Do something you like.
All I know how to do is fight. I mean, I've been with you guys
Mountain, why don't you go back home to New Mexico or something?
Wh-What's back there? [ Fight Bell Rings ]
[ Announcer ] Ladies and gentlemen--
I wouldn't remember nobody, and nobody would remember me.
[ Announcer, Indistinct ] Maish, maybe we can try some other state.
You don't pass muster in New York State, you don't pass muster anyplace else.
Maish, what about some club fights?
You know, tank towns, unofficial.
You gotta face up to it, Mountain. You can't fight anymore.
Come on. Let's get outta here.
Maish, I'm sorry about tonight.
I'm sor-- I'm sorry I lost.
You don't have to feel sorry.
As far as I'm concerned, you were number one.
That's what you are.
Don't give it another thought.
[ Crowd Murmuring ]
[ Footsteps Approaching ]
[ Door Closing ]
I took a bath tonight, Maish.
I don't want this complicated. Don't make no long speech. Just tell me.
Did you or didn't you phone me and tell me your boy wouldn't last more than four rounds?
Didn't you make a personal guarantee?
Ma, he was up against Clay.
Two rounds, three rounds. At the outside, four.
But never seven rounds, Ma. Never seven.
Last question, Maishy.
Didn't you have us put up a bet for you of 1,500 bucks?
And then on your word, we put up a bundle of our own.
And aren't you gonna pay us back now, Maish?
Certainly I'm gonna pay you.
I'll give you the 1,500. I just need a couple of months.
This was a bet, not a bank loan.
The bundle, and in cash, by the first of the month.
Cash for your 1,500, cash for our bundle.
And, Maishy... you'd better be ready.
Just one little last reminder so Mr. Rennick don't forget.
Wait a minute. Wait a second.
[ Punching, Grunting ]
[ Groaning ] [ Body Thuds ]
* [ Humming ]
[ Phone Ringing ]
Yeah? Hey, Maish, what-what--
Yeah, well, you know, he was worried about you, you know?
Okay. I'll tell him.
Okay. All right. Bye.
Hey, Mountain, that was Maish on the phone there. Is he all right?
Oh, he's fine. He hung one on last night. He's got a head like a balloon.
I was worried about him. He never stayed out all night before.
Oh, you don't have to worry about him.
Where are you, uh-- Where are you gonna go first, Mountain?
Oh, no, the one over here. See, the one with the circle.
All right. "Want movie ushers. No 'exp' necessary."
Wh-Wh-What does that mean, "exp"?
Experience. "Uniforms furnished."
[ Laughs ] Can you imagine me in a uniform?
Yeah. You'll look like a general, huh? [ Chuckles ]
No experience necessary. How much "exp" do you need to ush?
[ Chuckles ] The same as a butcher needs to butch.
[ Laughs ] Oh, wait, wait, Mountain. Mountain, wait.
Here. That's-- Oh, yeah. Thanks.
Hey, that's a wild tie you got. Listen, maybe there's a better tie--
No, no, I want to wear this. You know, Maish give this to me
Hey, good luck, huh, eh?
[ Laughing ] Yeah.
[ Man ] Size 40. Step over there, please.
No, I'm sorry. Nothing for you.
See your hands, please. No, I'm sorry.
Thirty-eight? Step over here, please.
Size 40? Step over there, please.
Thirty-eight? Step over here, please.
Uh, size 40.
Forty? You look more like a forty-six.
Well, I-I could probably squeeze into a 40.
No, I'm sorry. We don't have a uniform your size.
You-You didn't say nothin' about no sizes in-in this ad.
You were looking for size-- Mountain, you're too big for the job.
I like TV better, anyway.
Thirty-eight? Step over here, please.
[ Chattering ] Thirty-six? Step over here, please.
Look, George, would I be askin' you unless it was somethin' serious?
Whenever you came to me, I had it for you.
I'm in a bind, that's why!
Look, George-- [ Line Disconnects ]
George?
[ Woman ] Mr. Oakland?
Wait, wait, wait, Mountain. Where are you going?
Come on. Let's get outta here. What do you mean?
I've been waiting a long time.
I don't care whether you've been waiting a long time or not.
I came last week. Ain't nothin' gonna happen. Doesn't make any difference.
There's some questions here I don't know how to answer.
If you don't know how to answer the questions, you don't answer it.
Come on. I'll buy you a beer. No, no, no.
Mr. Rivera? Mr. Rivera! That's you. That's you.
Right here, ma'am. Room three, please.
Room three.
Come with me.
No, no, no, no! Go on. Go on.
Go. No.
The lady told me-- Please sit down. I'll be with you in a minute.
He had no business firing me.
Last Thursday, I walked into that man's office not five minutes--
I'm awfully sorry about the whole thing, Mr. McNulty.
But our concern here is finding a job for the applicant.
Look, I've got some rights in a situation like this.
You know, I'm gonna have a word or two with your supervisor.
[ Sighs ] Now, may I look at your form, please?
Oh, yeah.
Thank you.
Lewis Rivera, age 37. Place of birth, New Mexico.
Now, your education. You left that blank, Mr. Rivera.
Education. You mean, like school? That's right.
Sixth grade. Sixth grade.
And then you left? Is that it? That's right. Then I left.
Now, past employment record. You have nothing written down here, Mr. Rivera.
Well, you see-- Who have been your past employers?
Well, you see, all I've been doing for the past
You know, in the ring. In the prize ring.
Oh, you mean a prizefighter? That's right, a prizefighter.
A professional prizefighter? Yeah, I'm a heavyweight.
Oh, that sounds like interesting work, Mr. Rivera.
Well, it's a living.
[ Phone Rings ] Oh, excuse me.
Oh, sure. Miss Miller.
Oh, hello, Cathy.
Uh, yes I am, but go ahead.
[ Laughs ]
No, I wasn't kidding. I had a lovely time.
Not to me, he didn't.
[ Laughs ] He was an absolute gentleman.
You know him better than I do.
Oh, uh, Cathy, I-I can't talk now.
What? I didn't hear what you said.
[ Laughing ] No, of course I won't say anything.
I'll see you. Bye.
Uh, I'm sorry.
Now, uh, where were we? Uh, past employers.
Oh, you're a prizefighter. That's right.
You see, it would be rather difficult to place you in any kind of related field.
Well, I-I need a job, so anything you've got is okay.
You know, dishwashing, uh... maybe a bouncer...
or even a laborer-- you know, day laborer.
But, you see, we have to take into account past experience.
What else am I supposed to know how to do besides fight?
You see... li-like that question there.
You know, "Why did you leave your last job?"
Wh-What am I supposed to write down?
The doc, uh-- The doc said no more.
He looked into my eyes, you see--
Maybe you can't see, but he looked in there and he said,
one or two more and I might go blind.
Oh, I see.
[ Muttering ] It's just a bum break, that's all.
You know, in 1952 they ranked me number five.
I'm not-- I'm not kidding. They ranked me number five.
That was no easy year, either. I mean, there was Marciano,
Walcott and Charles still around.
But they had me up there-- number five.
And, uh, Maish-- Maish, he thought that, you know,
maybe with a little more experience--
Maish? Who's Maish, Mr. Rivera?
He's my manager. Now, where does that leave him?
That's a nice thing to do to a guy who's kept you goin' for 17 years,
and all of a sudden you stop cold on him.
I mean, it's-- it's not fair to--
[ Sighs ] I'm sorry, miss.
I-I-I shouldn't have blown up like that.
But, you know, sometimes--
You should kick me out of here, miss. Honest you should.
Well, as long as we have your address written down here,
we'll contact you if anything comes up--
Yeah, sure, sure, sure, miss.
Mr. Rivera, right after the war,
I did a lot of work with, uh, disabled veterans.
Go on. Well, I meant, uh--
I meant you'd be surprised at the different kind of openings that come up for--
You mean, for cripples and guys like that?
No, I didn't mean just that.
I meant... for people who have special problems.
Miss... Miss, I got no special problem.
To you, I'm a big, ugly slob, and I look like a freak.
But I was almost the heavyweight champion of the world.
Why don't you put that down on that paper someplace?
Mountain Rivera was no punk.
Mountain Rivera was almost the heavyweight champion of the world.
[ Door Closes ]
Mr. Rivera! Mr. Rivera!
[ Elevator Man ] Going down.
* [ Humming ] Bum, bum, bum Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
* Bum, bum, bum, bum Bum, bum, bum
* Bum, bum, bum, bum Bum, bum *
Will you stop with that "bum, bum"? I'm trying to concentrate.
Jack of clubs.
Gee, jack of clubs. The jack of clubs.
That's what it looks like, don't it?
[ Sighs ]
* Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum Bum, bum
* Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum
* Bum
Eight of hearts.
That's good to know.
That is very good to know.
Eight of hearts. That's good to know.
All right, stop with that "it's good to know."
Everything is good to know to you. Just play the cards.
[ Grunts ]
[ Sighs ]
I'm gonna knock with three points.
You caught me with the store. Mm-hmm.
I've got two kings, two queens, two nines,
a jack, a ten and two fours.
That's good to know.
What's the matter with you?
He's lost, Maish.
I don't know what to do. Him and me both.
Except that he's doin' it for you, Maish.
Everything for Maish.
[ Phone Ringing ]
Hello?
Yeah.
No, Perelli didn't call yet.
Tell him to call me here. Well, I'm here.
Okay.
You want to lodge a complaint?
Perelli handles wrestlers.
You've got the longest nose in the business.
So! So?
So, okay.
So for kicks, Army, we let the kid wrestle a few.
Not Mountain. Why not? They pay good for that stuff.
Just like they pay actors. We could work up a routine for him.
Like Gorgeous George or that nut out on the coast.
The Mad Baron. Well, what's wrong with it?
It's money, ain't it? Sure it's money, but what kind of money?
What difference does it make what kind of money? Money's money!
A guy like him don't take to gettin' laughed at.
What are you talking about, a guy like him?
What is he, a prima donna? All of a sudden he's sensitive?
Since when does a guy like him get sensitive? Since we've known him!
All right, then you tell me what is for Mountain! Go ahead. You tell me!
You say he wants to help me, let him get off his dime!
But not this, Maish! This way or any way!
We got no time to give him aptitude tests, Army!
I've run out of time, Army. I was too busy stitching him up
I was on my hands and knees pleading with promoters to use him so we could get groceries.
Now I've run out of time to carry those poor, sensitive boys in my lap.
Hey, Maish.
You stink.
You want to know who owes who, Army?
You wanna know who owes who? I'll tell you.
Just check the records. Look at the wins and losses.
Mountain comes out on the short end.
He owes me.
I figure it's as simple as that.
And what am I asking him to do?
To step in front of a train?
I put it to you, Army, what do I ask of this guy?
To stick on a costume, make a couple of people laugh a few times?
What is that gonna do? Curdle his sensitive insides?
All right, wise guy...
so I'm selling his soul on the street.
You weep for him. Go light a candle for him.
Maish, I-I wanna say something,
and I want you to hear me good.
I love this kid like he was my own flesh and blood.
And if I don't weep and worry for him, no one else will.
Least of all you. Why? I don't know.
If anything happens to him, you be careful.
You understand?
Just be careful, Maish.
[ Door Slams ]
[ Phone Ringing ]
Yeah?
Hello, Ma.
[ Chuckles ] I'm right here.
Don't worry about that. I'll have the money.
I know what date it is, Ma.
Look, when I make a deal with Ma Greeny, I keep it.
As a matter of fact, I got something-- [ Phone Hangs Up ]
Hello?
[ Chattering ]
[ Indistinct ]
I pass the-- If I would have hit him--
Joe Louis would hit you with a left. Joe Louis was a hell of a fighter.
Hey, look at this.
[ Chattering Stops ]
I was looking for-- Excuse me, miss. Unescorted ladies ain't permitted.
I was looking for Lewis Rivera.
The man at the desk told me I might find him here.
Lewis Rivera? Oh, the Mountain, you mean. [ Laughs ]
Excuse me.
[ Indistinct Whispering ]
Oh. Hello, Mr. Rivera.
Hello, Miss-- Miss Miller. Grace Miller.
I tried to phone you. You're a hard man to get hold of.
I don't know why-- They told me at the desk you were in here.
I usually am.
Can we sit down?
Yeah, sure.
[ Man Chattering ]
Hey, hey, Roy! The round's over.
T-Take a rest. Sorry, Mountain.
Well, that goes on all the time around here.
Maish calls this a graveyard.
He says these guys spend their time dying in here.
That's what Maish says. That's not for you, though, Mr. Rivera.
I think you've got a lot of better things in store for you.
I do, huh?
Have you ever thought of working with children?
Children? Yes. You know, in athletics.
Well, I never gave it much thought, but...
well, I like kids.
Yeah, I like kids all right.
They're staffing summer camps now.
I know a couple who run a camp in the Adirondacks.
They're in town now getting their people together.
Would you be available if I could set up an appointment
Tonight? Well, they have to leave town tomorrow,
and I told them all about you.
[ Muttering ] You mean, they'll have to see me?
Well, you see, you know, I just got over this fight, and--
I'll have to talk to them?
Oh, but they're excited to see you.
They're looking forward to it. I told them you were ranked number five.
[ Chuckling ]
You know, you're a hell of a sport.
I mean, you come in here. You're a real sport.
[ Laughs ] Thank you. Then you'll see them?
Sure, if you say so.
Well, how about it, Mr. Rivera? Can I have a beer?
A beer? In here?
I kind of like it in here.
Well, sure, sure you can have a beer.
Hey, Charlie! Coming.
Hey, Charlie, two beers, huh? Two beers.
How about some music? Music?
Don't you like to listen to music when you drink beer?
Oh, I never gave it much thought.
Sure, you can have music.
Hey, Mountain. Hmm?
Play "Lover Come Back to Me." [ Laughter ]
* [ Romantic Melody ] Two beers. *
Hey, Charlie, how about a glass for the lady?
A glass? Fancy-schmancy.
[ Laughter ]
That's pretty.
What? Yeah, it is pretty.
Oh. Them are violins.
Beautiful.
You know, I don't pay much attention. I don't have the time.
What is that? What?
That's music. Just plain old music.
You know, the only music I know by heart is "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Uh... you don't go much to fights, do you? No.
Well, they play that before the main event. Oh.
Yeah.
Oh, no. [ Laughs ]
There was-- There was Smiley Collins.
[ Chuckles ] Who's Smiley Collins?
He was a fighter, and he played the violin.
I mean, a fighter playing the violin.
He used to play the violin? Seriously? Oh, real serious.
I don't know much about his violin playing, but, boy-- Ooh, he had a right hand.
He could knock down a wall with it. What about his violin?
He fought, uh... Willie Floyd, Willie Floyd.
And he had 20 pounds on him-- I mean, Willie Floyd had 20 pounds on him.
[ Indistinct ]
No, that's all right. You keep the change.
You know, they don't get many ladies in here.
I mean, that's why Charlie forgot to bring the glass.
Thank you. [ Cash Register Dings ]
Here.
Well, drink hearty. That's what Maish always says. Drink hearty.
Drink hearty, Mr. Rivera.
You think a lot of Maish, don't you?
Oh, he's number one.
He was your manager?
Sev-- Excuse me. Seventeen years.
Well, I mean, he's not just my manager.
You know, I mean, he's my best friend.
When we were first getting started, he--
well, he used to stake me to, you know, to chow and clothes.
Why ain't you married?
Well, should I be? [ Laughs ]
Sure. I mean, you're pretty. I mean, you're not just pretty,
Thank you.
You know, I once fought a guy named Jazzo.
Elmer Jazzo.
You know what? He-- He looked just like my old man.
He-He was the spitting image of him, you know?
So, you know, I couldn't hit him.
And, anyway, I circle and I go out and I still, you know--
I'm just jabbing away, kinda easy,
and all of a sudden, he--
all of a sudden, he comes at me, comes at me strong.
He's got me up against the ropes. He's giving me the elbow.
He's giving me the legs, and he's butting me.
I just cover up, and I notice every time he shoots his left hand, he drops his right.
So I go and--
I knocked him out.
What? I knocked him out.
Oh.
How's your beer?
Fine.
* [ Romantic Melody Resumes On Jukebox ] *
Hey, Mountain. Yeah?
Them are violins.
Drink hearty, Mountain.
[ Laughing ]
[ Mutters ]
Drink hearty.
[ Chattering Continues ]
It's a garden, ain't it?
Where are the flowers?
Right here.
You know...
I've had a real good time.
So have I. Two beers. My!
[ Laughs ]
You know, as we were coming out of the bar,
I heard Charlie say that I had a pretty date.
Thank Charlie for me.
I mean, y-you don't mind...
that he thought you, uh, w-was my date?
I suppose in a way I am.
You know, I don't think I've had a real date in all this time.
You know, I mean... someone... I liked.
You know, someone... I wanted to be with.
I think that's a compliment.
Yeah.
You know, I feel like I'm walking on eggs.
[ Laughs ] Why, Mountain?
Well... you know what my old man used to say?
He used to say, uh,
"Lewis, when you're out with a lady, you should act special."
[ Laughs ] You have.
I've enjoyed this evening very much.
I mean, I haven't talked too much, have I? No.
One thing I wouldn't want to do, you know, with a lady like you...
is, you know, get out of line.
You've been a perfect gentleman.
You know what? One thing I'm sorry about--
that I don't know music.
Why?
[ Chuckles ] Well, uh... I feel like singing.
[ Laughs ]
Oh, there's a cab, Mountain.
Hey, cab!
I'll go back to my place and phone the Rierdens and set up an appointment.
Yeah, okay. And I'll call you at your hotel?
Yeah, sure, fine.
Oh, hey, buddy, here.
No, Mountain, please. No, it's all right. It's all right.
Take the lady where she wants to go, huh?
Well, look, when you tell them about me, I mean, don't build me up too much.
Just tell them I had 111 fights, and I ain't never took a dive.
Well... I'm kind of proud of that.
Of course you are, Mountain. You must be very proud.
Well, it, you know-- You're somebody very nice.
Thank you.
All right, buddy. Good night.
Wow! Va-va-va-voom!
[ Laughs ] Hey, Maish, look at this.
Salad.
[ Clears Throat ]
Where's Mountain?
We're waitin' for him. You know Perelli.
Yeah, I know him.
So where's your boy? I been here a half hour.
He'll be here. I ain't got all night, Maish.
Hey, Maish, Army, have I got some really great news!
The lady from the employment agency--
She's gonna fix up an interview for me with this guy that runs
That's very nice, but wait till you hear about the deal we--
All you need to work with kids is instinct. We'll talk about it after.
She says I gotta start something new on account I blew my wad
I said, "Wait, what does a guy like me know about kids?" Mountain. Mountain.
I want you to meet Mr. Perelli.
He promotes the wrestling matches at the Manhattan Arena.
Oh, yeah. Glad to see you. Likewise.
So I said, "What does a guy like me know about kids?" She
Let's get on with it, Maish. That's what she said. Instinct.
Mountain, come over here. And listen to this good. It's a beautiful thing.
All right. Now sit down here, gentlemen. I think we got something.
Now, Maish here thinks you might be a good draw.
[ Laughs ] I mean, your name's pretty well-known, huh?
I seen you fight a lot myself. Yeah? [ Chuckles ]
I think I can wind you up with some matches.
I think it might be worth both our whiles.
Mr. Perelli, didn't Maish tell you? I'm not
You see, I got this-- This has nothing to do with fightin'.
I told you, he promotes wrestlin'.
Gee, Maish, I don't know how to wrestle.
[ Laughing ] He don't know how to wrestle!
You don't have to know how. Couple of hours, you learn the holds.
There's only two things you gotta learn in my business--
how to fake it and make it look real...
and how to land so you don't hurt yourself.
I-I-I don't get it-- What do you mean? He's laying it out for you.
Hey, Maish, you know, I got a funny idea. [ Laughing ]
We dress you up in one of them Indian costumes,
with the crazy feathers and everything. [ Laughing ]
Hey! We give him one of them peace pipes, and he keeps
blowing smoke in the ref's face.
I got it! We match him up against the Cowboy!
Get it? Cowboys and Indians!
[ Laughing Continues ]
I don't think he goes for it, Maish.
What are you talking about, he don't go for it?
Well, what do you say? Aw, Maish. I'd lose you a lot of money.
You know, I can't wrestle. I-I-I don't think I could win a match.
He couldn't win a match! I'll die! [ Laughing ]
What do you mean, win a match? This whole thing is a setup.
You win one night, the next night the other guy wins.
It depends on who plays the heavy. Tank job!
Will you talk sense? This is an entirely different thing!
It's part of the game! I never took a dive for nobody!
I had 111 fights. I never took one single dive.
Look, Mountain, it's like Maish says. These ain't exactly dives.
It-- Well, look. You guys talk it over.
Give me a ring, Maish, by tomorrow. I gotta know definitely by tomorrow.
I'll call you in the morning, Perelli. Sure.
Nice seeing you, Mountain.
I figure you owe me.
What do you figure?
Yeah. Guess I do.
Then there's no more to it.
Maish,
I was almost the heavyweight champion of the world.
Then you remember that.
You were almost heavyweight champion of the world, and I was your manager.
Maish, I'm no stumblebum!
Why would-- Why do you want to make me out some kind of stumblebum?
[ Door Slams ]
[ Phone Ringing ]
[ Ringing Continues ]
Hello. Yeah.
Who's calling?
Yes, he's here.
Ha-Hang on just a minute. I'll get him.
Hey, Mountain. Yeah.
It's for you. It's a Miss... Miller.
Th-That's the lady from the unemployment agency. Oh, good, good.
Hello? Yeah, yeah, hello.
Oh, y-you did, huh?
Th-They do?
Uh, the Hotel St. Moritz?
Yeah, I-I-I know where that is.
What are the names? [ Muttering ]
All right.
Yeah. Oh, uh, Miss Miller,
thank you.
Hey, Maish. That, that appointment's for tonight.
You see, these people-- You see, they run this camp in the Adirondacks.
And... well, they--
They wanna see me.
Aw, Maish. Hey, come on, Maish.
You don't have to worry about no wrestling deals no more.
No matter what I do, you still got a third of my action.
My son, the counselor. [ Laughs ]
Just make sure none of those brats hit you over the head with a hockey stick.
Hey, you know, I gotta change.
Like you said, you and me and Army-- we're the Three Musketeers.
He wins, I lose.
Go get some sandwiches.
You mean that, Maish? Can I stop him if he wants to sit around a campfire?
Get some sandwiches.
Hey, why don't you break open a jug?
We'll have a couple of belts too, huh?
* [ Mountain ] Oh, give me a home
* Where the buffalo roam
* Where the deer and the antelope play
* Where seldom is heard
* A discouraging word
* And the skies are not cloudy all day
* [ Humming ]
[ Chattering ] Have you seen Maish around, Steve?
He left about ten minutes ago.
[ All Laughing ] Very funny.
She says, "I'm sorry, buddy, but I don't give blue stamps."
[ Laughter Continues ]
Yeah, that's great. Hey, look at the birthday cake.
The girls are having a little birthday party, and I gotta play host.
Will you gentlemen excuse me, please? I'll be right back.
Uh, come back, Jack. I sure will.
* Happy birthday to you Hey, Maish. *
Remember when I was 22? I remember the night you were 22.
You fought a guy named Rockey Rocco.
And you took him in three rounds. That's right.
You were very strong that night.
A-And how about that birthday party you gave me?
Oh. [ Both Laughing ]
With the assorted friends. Yeah!
And you gave me that tie. That tie.
You're never gonna get rid of that crummy thing. You're gonna keep it for life.
Mmm? Hey, that's my lucky piece.
Boy, boy. Tsk.
Those were the great days.
We traveled first-class.
All the training camps were after us, bidding for us.
You were on your way up.
Waiter. Bring us another. Yeah--
Hey, look who's here. Army!
Come on. Sit down. Have a drink.
Hey, Mountain.
Weren't you supposed to be someplace by 10:00, huh?
No. Huh? Didn't you have an appointment someplace?
10:00, huh? Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah. Uh, S-- Uh, S--
Saint-- The Rierdens at St. Moritz. That's right.
Never mind. Forget it. I'll call Miss Miller and cancel the appointment.
Make it for tomorrow. No, no, no, no.
You're in no shape to go. What do you mean, in no shape?
Listen to me! I got to go, Maishy. I got an appointment.
Anybody ever tell you what a prince of a guy you were?
Oh, Mr. Rierden? There's, uh... a gentleman down here.
Says he has an appointment with you.
His name is, uh--
Uh, Rivera! Rivera, sir.
All right, Mr. Rierden. I'll send him right up.
They're expecting you, Mr. Rivera. Room 1006.
Take the elevator across the lobby.
You know, I'm, uh, I'm gonna be a counselor in a boys' camp.
Oh, I'm delighted, Mr. Rivera. I'm just delighted.
It's a big break.
Oh-- Sorry. [ Muttering ]
Going up, please.
[ Muttering Continues ]
The tenth floor.
I'm, I'm gonna see Mr. Rierden.
He, he runs a summer camp.
You have any boys, lady?
This is my only child.
Oh, yeah? I like animals.
I like all kinds of animals.
Is that a dog? Why, certainly! She's a champion.
Yeah? [ Chuckling ]
Hey. Hey, y-y-you a champ?
Huh?
Thank you.
Listen, I forgot the--
Hey! Hey, I forgot the num--
Hey.
Mr. Rierden!
Mr. Rierden?
Yes? Oh, hello.
My name is, uh, Mr. Rivera.
I'm supposed to-- Are you Mr. Rierden?
No. No, no. Uh, please. Please. Now get out.
But do you, do you know where he lives?
Mr. Rierden?
Mr. Rierden!
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I didn't see you coming.
I'm sorry. I didn't see you.
See, I was looking for some-- Mountain.
[ Man ] Down, please. Mountain.
Mountain!
[ Knock At Door ]
[ Knocking Continues ] [ Mountain ] Come in. It ain't locked.
Maish, is that--
Uh, hey, Miss Miller.
W-What are you doing here?
I had to see you.
I tried to follow you when you left.
Well, uh, there didn't seem to be much to talk about.
I think there's a great deal to talk about.
Hey, you wanna come in?
This is--
Take your coat?
Thank you.
Why did you get drunk, Mountain?
Well...
Maish and me--
[ Chuckles ] I guess I was kind of scared about meeting those people.
Maish and me, we-- we had a few.
And before, before you knew it, I was potted.
You-- Sorry.
You want me to run downstairs and get you a beer? No, thanks.
Hey.
Can you guess who that is?
That's me. Oh.
[ Chuckling ]
You know, Miss Miller, one thing I'm sorry about is,
I-I didn't want to make a fool out of you.
That's not the point. You lost a job tonight.
You threw it away, Mountain, and I don't know why.
Will you tell me?
I guess I realized I was--
I was just kidding myself.
I-I couldn't be no counselor. Hey, look.
That's my old man I was telling you about.
Oh, your father? Yeah.
Hmm.
He's a good-looking man. Yeah. He was a big guy.
You know, Miss Miller, about that counselor job.
I mean, that's for them good-looking kids with white sweaters.
You know, I-I don't sound so good.
I mean, I sound like an immigrant off a boat.
Anyway, I-I already got a job.
Oh, you did? Oh, that's wonderful!
I'm gonna be a wrestler.
A wrestler?
Yeah, yeah. You know, I--
See I, I put on this Indian chief costume,
and, well, one night I win,
next night, the other guy wins.
It's, it's like in the movies.
You know, the good guys and the bad guys.
Is that what you want to do-- be a wrestler?
I never figured I'd wind up like this.
Well, you're ashamed of it.
You're ashamed, Mountain. Then why do you do it?
I gotta do it for Maish.
Oh... for Maish.
You do everything for Maish.
You keep him in a shrine. For 17 years, you've prayed to him...
as if he was Mountain Rivera's personal god.
And now he wants to strip off your skin piece by piece until you're chewed to death!
You don't know him like I do!
A long time ago in Scranton, I fought Marciano when he was on his way up.
He was a tough kid. He cut me up bad.
I was out of shape, and he knocked me out.
But as I was being wheeled down the hall in the hospital,
I looked up... and there was Maish.
And he was crying for me.
Do you hear that? Maish was crying for me.
And because of that you'll do anything for him!
What's so bad about it? Wrestling is like fighting, only by different rules.
Why don't you see yourself as I see you?
Yeah. Look at me.
Boy, am I ugly. Oh, you're not ugly!
What am I, beautiful? These are scars.
They ain't medals. You know why I talk so funny?
Because I been hit a million times.
You know--
You know, for a while...
you, you had me thinking it could be different.
But, Mountain, I want you to believe it can be different.
Nah.
You know,
the time would come when--
I mean, the--
The time would come when--
What would you do then, Miss Miller?
I don't know, Mountain.
Oh, no! [ Whimpering ]
You'd better go.
Hey!
Hey, Miss Miller!
You, uh... forgot your scarf.
Oh, thank you.
Look, I--
I-I-I appreciate your trying to help me.
Mountain, you understand that it wasn't-- Well, it wasn't--
Shh. Grace, I was out of line.
I belong with dirty towels and locker rooms.
Oh, Mountain.
I want my key. Mountain's already up there.
And there's a girl with him-- a Miss Miller.
Oh.
Excuse me.
Are you Miss Miller? Yes.
And you're? Maish Rennick.
Well, do I have a fighter now, or have I got a counselor now?
He's whatever you want him to be, Mr. Rennick.
You got him drunk tonight, and you were very successful. He didn't get the job.
Well. Well, that's just too bad.
Well, that's how the world goes, honey.
The rich get richer, and the poor get drunk.
Now you can go out and find yourself another charity.
Charity? You don't give a damn about him.
Oh, but you do, huh? You're old friends,
all the way back to last Tuesday.
Well, let me tell you something, Miss Miller. You better dwell on this.
You don't understand the breed.
You think when you put clothes on an ape, you make him a dancing partner.
Oh, I-- I'm sorry.
You want to help him, Miss Miller?
I'll tell you how you can help him.
Leave him alone.
If you gotta say anything to him, tell him you pity him.
Tell him you feel so sorry for him you could cry.
But don't con him.
Don't tell him he can be a counselor in a boys' camp.
He's been chasing ghosts so long, he'll believe anything--
any kind of a ghost--
championship belt,
pretty girl,
maybe just 24 hours without an ache in his body.
It doesn't make any difference. It all passed him.
I just thought that...
maybe the next thing he wanted, he ought to get.
That would only be fair.
I wish to God it was something I could have given him.
[ Door Opens, Closes ]
[ Sighs ]
[ Crowd Cheering ]
[ Laughing ] You see?
I'll die! I swear to God, I'll die!
You'll knock 'em dead in that thing.
Hey, where's the photographer?
I gotta get some pictures of him in that thing. Joe! Hey, Joe!
Joe! Maish? Maish!
I hear you're in action again. Is that right? I can't talk now.
I want you to meet Maish Rennick, the wisest man in the business.
I heard you were looking for a fighter, Mr. Rennick. I can start any time you like.
Kid's just anxious. Ain't that a good sign?
Why don't you get out of here?
All right. Don't get hot. Come on, kid. Hey, Maish,
I'll just take my cut when the kid starts to work, okay?
All right, Maish?
You know, you don't have to wear that thing long.
You get in the ring, walk around a couple of times, and you take it off.
Maish. Maishy, Maish, don't make me.
What do you mean, make you? What am I, your father?
"Make you." You don't do anything you don't want to do.
If you don't think you owe it to me, okay.
Anything he owes you, he's paid you back a hundred times.
If he wants to walk, let him tell me. Let him tell me.
Maish, Maish, I'll do anything for you-- anything.
But don't ask me to play a clown!
You cross me now, and I am dead. Do you understand me?
[ Laughing ] Hey, hey, Indian.
Come on. Put on the Indian hair! The Indian hair!
We're taking funny pictures. I don't wanna be no clown!
Hey, what are you trying to pull?
He's taking a walk, ain't he? What is he trying to pull?
Oh, you're in trouble. You're in deep trouble.
Ma Greeny's gonna know about his.
Get these guys out and let me talk to him. I'll straighten it out.
I'll get them out of here, but you'd better straighten him out. Come on! Out!
Let's go, fellas! Out! Everybody out! You'd better take care of it.
[ Crowd Cheering ] You'd better! Come on!
Mountain, I mean it. My life is on the line.
You cross me now, and I'm dead.
Maish, li-- like I told you,
I'll do anything for you--
anything else, but, but--
But it bothers you, huh? It didn't bother you last week to stand up in that ring...
with your hands down at your side for seven rounds and let Clay beat your brains out!
That didn't bother you.
It didn't bother you that I had every last nickel...
I have in the world up on the table saying that you wouldn't go four!
Wh-Wh-What do you--
Maish, what do you--
You bet against me?
Why, Maish?
Why did you bet against me?
Would it have made any difference, Mountain?
Would it have made any difference if I had gone out...
and hocked my left leg to bet on you?
You're not a winner anymore, Mountain.
There's only one thing left.
Let's make some money from the losing.
You fink.
You dirty, stinking fink.
You know, Maish,
in all the dirty, crummy 17 years I fought for you,
I wasn't ashamed of one single round.
Not one single minute.
Now you make me ashamed!
Where you going, Hiawatha?
[ Grunts ]
[ Grunting Continues ]
Mountain!
[ Grunting Continues ]
Mountain!
Stop! [ Whimpering ]
Mountain!
Ma, punchy's gone wild.
Now listen, Greeny. This punk don't show, Maishy don't get paid.
That means you're out in the cold, you dig?
So what'd you do? You beat up two bums?
That ain't gonna help. I got a whole regiment.
And what did you win for Maish, an extra eight minutes?
I'm gonna see to it you don't get a license to walk a dog from now on!
You don't think I will, huh? Well, just try anything! Maishy, darling.
Take a good look at yourself in the mirror,
and then say good-bye to what you see.
Where do you want it, here or in the alley?
Let them do it slow, Ma.
Let 'em do it nice and slow. I wanna watch.
Come on, Maish.
Hey, Perelli.
Pay, pay that lady off.
For what, your good looks?
Look, I pay cash for services rendered, and so far you ain't rendered nothin'!
You'll put me on next.
You mean you'll go? Eight matches starting tonight?
Yeah. With an option for 16 more?
Yeah, yeah, sure. Anything you say.
[ Perelli ] That makes me happy.
[ Ma Greeny ] Now everybody's happy.
Have a good match, boys.
I owe you, Mountain.
I owe you for this.
I swear I'll pay you back.
We don't have to break up now.
We'll get that kid. He's a good, fast kid.
Army, you saw him. We can make a champ out of this guy.
You know, the three of us.
Be partners like we used to be.
Make a lot of dough.
The kid could be a champ. You know, he could take over where you left off.
Look, fellas. I like you guys.
Mountain, Army.
Look, don't let it break up like this.
What do you say, Mountain? Army?
Army? Mountain.
[ Crowd Cheering ]
[ Bell Ringing ]
[ Ring Announcer ] Next match, two out of three falls.
From Morgan's Corner, Arkansas,
weighing 601 pounds, Haystack Calhoun.
[ Crowd Cheering ]
And his opponent, weighing 196 pounds,
former heavyweight contender, "Big Chief" Mountain Rivera.
[ Booing ]
Hey, Mountain, don't forget, this is make-believe.
Don't get carried away and belt him out now, huh?
[ War Whoop ]
Ya bum, ya!
[ Booing, Shouting Continues ]
[ Bell Rings ]
Come on, Mountain. Get the show on the road.
[ Booing Continues ]
[ Ring Announcer ] Come on, Mountain.
[ War Whoop ]
[ Booing Continues ] [ Whooping ]