Bare Knuckle Page #10

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They sit him in a chair and tie his arms and legs tightly

with rope. He struggles mightily.

LESTER:

Calm yourself you dumb ox, or I’ll

smash your skull in.

They get him secured. Bad Jack and The Politician are waiting

calmly, each with a drink in hand.

The Politician walks to the mysterious prisoner.

THE POLITICIAN:

You listen good you so called

champion of the west. These boys

are going to say some things, and

you’re going to follow every word

as if it was God himself in your

ear. You cross me and I’ll turn

your insides out. Your friends,

your family, any whore you ever put

that needle dick in will be dead.

The Politician takes a sip of whisky and winks at Jack as he

heads up the stairs. Jack throws back his drink and gives the

go ahead for the goon to take off the potato sack.

He does, exposing CON OREM, with a metal chain wrapped in his

mouth. Jack steps forward with a greasy smirk.

51.

BAD JACK:

Con Orem. I hear you’re mastered.

But you ain’t too smart. Nobody badmouths

me in the papers.

Jack pulls out a mallet from the back of his trousers. Orem’s

eyes go wide with horror.

INT. JACK’S SUITE - NIGHT

Destine stumbles out of Jack’s suite with an overflowing cup

of wine spilling about. Gideon is standing just outside the

door and he grabs her arm.

GIDEON:

Not tonight. Jack wants you here

when he gets back.

DESTINE:

Perhaps I don’t want to be here

when Jack gets back.

Destine tries to wiggle free but Gideon’s hand is clamped

down like a vice grip. He pushes her back into the room.

GIDEON:

Just do as your told!

He slams the door shut.

INT. SALOON BASEMENT - NIGHT

WHACK! Jack slams the mallet down on Orem’s left hand. Orem

screams through his chain.

BAD JACK:

Who’s a dandy now?!

CRUNCH! He slams the mallet down again on the same hand. Bad

Jack tosses the weapon to the ground.

BAD JACK (CONT’D)

(to Lester)

Let him know.

Jack walks off up the stairs.

LESTER:

You have a week before the fight.

The swelling will have gone down by

then.

(MORE)

52.

LESTER (CONT'D)

If you let on to anybody about

this, if the mob finds out, well --

I think you know.

INT. OUTSIDE JACK’S SUITE - NIGHT

Jack walks to his suite. Gideon stops him and whispers in his

ear. Jack grimaces.

BAD JACK:

I’ll take care of it.

INT. INSIDE JACK’S SUITE - CONTINUOUS

Jack enters to see his room in a dark disarray. Dresser

drawers broken on the floor, furniture knocked over, clothes

strewn about, and Destine staring at him with defiant eyes

while slowly sipping her wine.

BAD JACK:

Another fit of ill temper?

DESTINE:

Did you do it?

BAD JACK:

Did I do what?

DESTINE:

Smash that boxer’s hand?

Jack moves to Destine.

DESTINE (CONT’D)

I have ears, you know.

Jack pulls her up off the bed by her neckline.

BAD JACK:

Careful, darling. Your lips can be

your doom or your salvation.

He moves in for a kiss, but Destine springs away.

DESTINE:

I never thought the mighty Bad Jack

would be afraid to fight fair.

Jack snatches the glass from her hand.

53.

BAD JACK:

I see you’ve drunken yourself into

hysterics again.

DESTINE:

Give it back.

She tries to take the chalice from Jack but he pushes her to

the ground and drinks the remaining wine himself.

Destine rises and pushes Jack.

DESTINE (CONT’D)

You won’t fight a grown man honest,

but you’ll fight me?!

She pushes Jack again and again.

DESTINE (CONT’D)

You’re not half the man Kieran was.

BAM! Jack thumps her with an open hand across the mouth.

BAD JACK:

I’m gonna have to call the f***in’

head doctor on you.

Jack kicks his boots off and takes off his trousers in a

huff. He gets in bed and blows out the bedside lantern.

Destine crawls into the bed. She lays her arm affectionately

on Jack. He shoves it off and gives her his back.

Avoiding Jack’s affection, Destine smiles in satisfaction

with a mouth full of blood.

INT. WASHROOM - DAY

Kieran sits in the tub of the brothel washing himself. Emily

walks in wearing a towel which is quickly discarded leaving

her naked. Kieran covers up his man parts.

KIERAN:

What in God’s grace are you doing?

She quickly jumps in the tub with him.

EMILY:

Bath water don’t come cheap. Gotta

share all we can.

She playfully splashes him and starts scrubbing herself.

54.

KIERAN:

Take my winnings. How much bath

water will that buy?

EMILY:

Don’t be teasing me now.

KIERAN:

I’m not. I can’t have you off

working. I need you with me,

guiding me and such.

Kieran makes a quick jerking movement.

KIERAN (CONT’D)

Watch where you put your feet.

EMILY:

(smiling)

Sorry.

KIERAN:

Tell me about this bloak, Mike

McCoole.

EMILY:

He’s stronger than a bull. When he

fucks, I end up thrown all over the

bed like some child’s doll.

Emily bites her lip thinking about it.

KIERAN:

You like that sort of thing, do ya?

EMILY:

Maybe.

KIERAN:

If I beat McCoole, will I get a

shot at Philadelphia’s champion?

EMILY:

Mordecai “the man killer” Murdoch?

Coburn is set to fight him next,

but if you beat McCoole in

convincing fashion, I might be able

to jump you up.

KIERAN:

What’s convincing?

EMILY:

Less than ten rounds.

55.

KIERAN:

(squirming)

Feet!

EMILY:

Ooh, my sincerest apologies.

INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT

Lanterns and torches light the scene as the fancy surround a

structured ring, where hats already lie. Kieran takes off his

shirt. Emily stands behind him.

KIERAN:

Less than ten rounds against him?

They look over to a bearded Goliath of a man, MIKE MCCOOLE,

whose muscles sit on top of other muscles.

EMILY:

Forget his frame. Men say the soft

spot is his floating rib.

McCoole stretches his hands over his head and his bottom

“floating” rib pops out distinctly.

EMILY (CONT’D)

Break that and you break him.

Kieran puts on his game face, his war face.

REFEREE:

Toe the scratch!

Each step furiously to the line and the fighting commences.

Kieran takes two shots to the face getting inside, but he

batters away at McCoole’s ribs.

McCoole slams his fists down on the back of Kieran’s neck.

Kieran almost goes down, but saves his balance.

Kieran bellows out a battle cry and rushes in, mashing up

McCoole’s ribs with blinding hooks. McCoole throws uppercuts,

but Kieran dodges and pounds McCoole’s face.

RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT he tears his enemy down with vicious

wrath. McCoole’s hands go up to protect his face. Kieran

loads up and smashes his fist into McCoole’s floating rib.

McCoole falls to the ground. The fancy boos and curses, most

of them having their money on the favorite. They look on

waiting for him to get up.

56.

The referee jumps in to examine the fighter. McCoole is

curled up, twitching. He can’t continue.

REFEREE (CONT’D)

It’s over!

The crowd goes silent. They all look to each other in wonder.

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