Body and Soul Page #2

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I've studied all your tapes.

I've got all the natural ability...

all the natural moves.

All I need is your help.

Would you please train me?

Look, my friend, people come to me

all the time for help:

business deals, buy this,

invest in this and that...

train this man, train that man.

Look, everyone knows I'm the greatest.

You know it, right?

But, look, I'm not obligated...

and I don't have time

to make you the greatest, so be cool.

I can beat anybody you've got.

-You can beat anybody I've got?

-Yeah.

Look at you, you look like a mosquito.

Beat? Man, you've gotta be crazy.

He's a heavyweight.

That just means there'll be

a louder thud when they hit the floor.

Look, you're just like myself.

I gotta give it to you.

You believe in yourself, right? Franky.

Get the man ready.

Let's see what he's got.

So you got speed.

And you're supposed to be faster

than a heavyweight, but can you hit?

He's dangerous.

Next.

You forget it, I'm not gonna have you

knocking out all my men.

He's bad, and pretty, too.

From here on out, you've got it made.

Franky will train you.

You won't regret it.

I'll give you any percent you want.

I don't need no money,

all I need is some fresh young blood...

to liven this place up.

You'll just be great.

You're gonna work harder

than you ever worked in your life.

You're gonna get sore in muscles

you never even thought you had.

Sometimes you'll curse me,

and some days you'll hate me...

but in the end, you'll love me...

because I'm gonna make you a champ.

-You're making it look easy.

-Hell, it is easy. He ain't nothing.

Look at this arena.

It's only one-third full.

They got 10 fights booked,

and I'm just one of 20 fighters.

Nobody came just to see me.

They will, once you start

punching your way to the top.

Hell, at this rate, a title shot

might take three or four years.

I gotta get money for Kelly now.

I gotta get people to come see me.

I gotta have a gimmick.

Win all your fights.

Start by knocking this clown out.

That's the only gimmick

you'll ever need.

Hi, I'm Julie Winters, Sports Unlimited.

I was sent to do a story on a fighter

who calls himself "the Lover."

Thank you.

They sent the great Julie Winters

all the way down here...

to do an interview on little old me?

I must be getting important.

No. There must be some mistake.

No. There's no mistake.

I mean, this is my new image.

My gimmick for the public.

The fighter that's a lover.

Lord have mercy.

Now, I ask you, how can you be

three times bigger or faster...

and make twice as much money?

I thought you were gonna go

back to school and become a doctor.

Things change.

The public doesn't want somebody

that's quiet and intelligent...

the way I used to be. What they want--

They don't want a clown, either,

Mr. Johnson.

This is professional sport.

Is this thing running?

I'll tell you what they want.

I've done research.

See, what they want is somebody

that's bigger than life.

Somebody that's colorful,

controversial.

I mean, look at Marlon Brando,

look at Hollywood Henderson.

Look at Muhammad Ali.

It's bigger than life, show business.

It's controversy. It's colorful.

It's Leon the Lover.

That's all fine, Mr. Johnson,

but I really came down here...

to see if this lover can fight.

Pretty lady,

that's the least of your worries.

As a matter of fact,

I'll dedicate tonight's...

knockout to you.

-Knockout?

-Yeah.

I got my training from Muhammad Ali.

Sounds like the only thing

you inherited from Ali is a big mouth.

I love all the ladies.

I'm not just a fighter. Here, honey.

I'm here to entertain you.

I love all the ladies.

I'm Leon the Lover.

You've never heard of me, but you will.

You've never heard of me, but you will.

Can I kiss your hand?

I didn't wanna just grab your wife.

Here you are, pretty lady.

Thank you for coming to see me.

Here's a rose for a rose

from Leon the Lover.

I'm so happy to be here.

You want a kiss, honey? Come to me.

Stop that vaudeville, Leon.

Come on, punch him.

Do it.

You like that?

Come on, Leon.

Stop socializing.

You're fighting a fight.

Just one good punch,

and that's the end of Leon the Lover.

Why you rooting against Leon?

His head is a little bit too big

for any one fighter to carry around.

He only does it because of me.

What do you mean?

He's my brother,

and he's boxing to make me better.

-That's your brother?

-He sure is.

He's always buying me things.

He buys me ice cream

even when I don't want it.

He even brought me

an autographed picture of you.

-Yeah, you remember.

-Oh, yeah.

You signed it for me. I'm Kelly.

And I didn't even want it either...

but I ain't never telling him that.

You should see

all the junk he buys me...

but I really love him.

Julie Winters.

You look good. I love you.

It can't end like this. Franky!

I knew this lover bullshit was no good.

...eight, nine.

Who do you want next?

I want anybody. I want them all.

Anybody who'll fight me.

When'll you be ready for the champ,

the St. Louis Assassin?

The St. Louis Assassin, the champ?

You can write this:

When I fight the St. Louis Assassin...

my name will be bigger than his.

-You think you're that good?

-What about the Iceman?

The Iceman.

As soon as he quits ducking me.

Yeah, I'm that good. I must be.

Julie Winters drove all the way

just to see me.

Why don't you get a picture of me

giving her a victory kiss?

Maybe we ought to check him

to see if he has any potential.

Right now, all he's got is a big mouth.

We'll meet him if he proves himself.

If not him, somebody else.

Let it simmer.

I am really glad

you happened to cover this fight.

You've got the skill

to make a playboy's love for real.

You're no playboy.

I would be if I had the time.

You know, I really admire

what you're doing for little Kelly.

Anybody that spends an entire evening

in the malt shop with his kid sister...

can't be all bad.

You were there, too.

I enjoyed it.

You know...

when I first met you...

I was not impressed.

But now that I've gotten to know you...

comme ci comme a.

When we met, there were light years

between you and me.

But now I'm getting some note,

some play, making some money.

Pretty soon, I could be worthy

of somebody like you.

I don't judge a man

on reputation or money.

Just be a man.

Let's not rush anything.

You're supposed to be

relaxing the muscles...

not tearing them apart.

Do you know you hit harder

than the boxers?

Nice soothing massage,

knead the muscles.

Much better.

Hi, how are you doing?

Let me finish this up.

I think we'll have to

replace Charles altogether.

From now on, you give the massages.

Charles, you're dismissed.

Your horse isn't fast enough.

Leon the Lover's done it again.

Leon the Lover!

We've gotta give him

a crack at the title.

He gets nothing till we own him.

He's the one packing them in.

Maybe he don't need us.

He needs us. Everybody needs us.

We control the belt.

Talk to him.

Find out what his weakness is.

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