Creed Page #15

Get your old cripple ass outta

here. We aint family. You let my

real family die.

This cuts Rocky to the core. Rocky stands up and stares

Adonis down for a beat. Then heads towards the bars.

ROCKY:

You got so much anger inside, kid.

It makes you train hard. It makes

you fight hard in the ring. But

anger is poison. You can only run

on it for so long, before it

destroys you. But love... If you

fill your heart up with love, you

can fight forever. You’re too hard

on yourself. You got so much good

inside.

Rocky turns and walks out of the cell, while Adonis sits

alone, with only the sound of the bars slamming to comfort

him.

116 EXT. PHILADELPHIA MORNING SKYLINE 116

The sun rises over the city.

117 INT. MICKEY’S GYM- MORNING 117

Fighters preparing to work out look at the television, where

SPORTSCENTER is on the screen. The ANCHOR runs down the

morning’s news.

ESPN ANCHOR 2

In boxing news light heavyweight

contender Adonis “Creed” Johnson,

was arrested late last night after

his involvement in a brawl at the

Union Transfer Music Club.

Reportedly no charges are being

filed against Johnson, who was not

intoxicated at the time. Neither

Johnson nor hit trainer Rocky

Balboa could be reached for

comment.

118 INT. PHILADELPHIA CITY JAIL- HOLDING CELL- DAY 118

Adonis stands up by the door, and a different COP (30s

Hispanic, Female) unlocks the bars.

86.

ADONIS (CONT'D)

LADY COP:

Let’s go, Johnson. You’ve been

bailed out.

ADONIS:

Balboa?

LADY COP:

No. Some lady.

Adonis quickly pops up out of his seat at this news.

119 EXT. PHILADELPHIA CITY JAIL- DAY 119

Adonis, excited, walks outside of the doors and sees Lisa on

the sidewalk, arms crossed, staring him down.

120 EXT. PHILADELPHIA STREET 120

Adonis and Lisa walk and talk.

LISA:

A part of me always knew this day

was coming.

(beat)

You got it honest.

Adonis looks at Lisa.

LISA (CONT’D)

I wanted to be a fighter too. I

think if daddy hadn’t had died, I

would definitely have gotten into

it.

ADONIS:

Really?

She nods.

LISA:

But I haven’t been able to watch a

match since.

Adonis takes this in.

ADONIS:

Why didn’t you ever tell me that.

87.

LISA:

Why do you think?

(beat)

So how bad is it, with Balboa?

ADONIS:

If he gets chemo, he has a chace...

LISA:

But he doesn’t want to...

Adonis nods. Lisa shakes her head.

LISA (CONT’D)

Of course not... That old macho

sh*t is what got Daddy killed. You

gotta talk to him.

ADONIS:

I did. It was hard enough getting

him to go to the hospital and get

checked up.

LISA:

You have to put it in terms that he

understands...

They stop.

LISA (CONT’D)

You talk to mom?

He shakes his head.

ADONIS:

Have you?

She shakes hers.

LISA:

Something we can agree on now, I

guess.

Adonis smiles.

121 EXT. PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT- DEPARTURE- SUNSET 121

Lisa and Adonis embrace. And Adonis watches as Lisa goes

through the glass sliding doors. He jumps back into the cab,

and it pulls off.

88.

122 EXT. ROCKY’S HOUSE- NIGHT 122

Adonis walks up the steps and keys into the front door.

123 INT. ROCKY’S HOUSE- KITCHEN 123

Rocky sits at the dinner table, eating pasta and salad. He

looks up as Adonis enters the door and walks in. There is a

beat of silence between Rocky and Adonis.

Rocky gets up, and walks over to the cabinet and grabs a

bowl. He puts some salad into it, some pasta, and then sits

it down on the table. Adonis sits down and starts eating.

ADONIS:

I’m not training if you don’t get

treatment.

ROCKY:

Eat. You look like you lost five

pounds.

ADONIS:

Can’t be taking orders from a

quitter. You can’t throw the towel

in to this cancer sh*t.

Rocky thinks on this.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

What makes this different than any

of your other fights?

(beat)

If I fight, you fight.

Rocky takes a long beat. And nods.

Adonis extends his closed fist towards Rocky. Rocky punches

it, and they eat.

124 INT. HOSPITAL- CONSULTATION ROOM- DAY 124

Rocky and Adonis sit across from Dr. Shahani

DR. SHAHANI

Dr. Warren is going to walk you

through the procedure.

Rocky nods.

89.

DR. WARREN

So we’ll be putting you under

general anaesthesia, and removing

the tumor from right here. Now once

we’re in there, if we see any other

questionable tissue, we will remove

that too.

ROCKY:

When?

DR. WARREN

As soon as possible.

Rocky looks on at the CT Scan. Adonis standing beside him.

125 INT. RECOVERY ROOM- AFTERNOON 125

Rocky wakes up, hooked up to IVs in the dim room. He looks

over, and sees Adonis sitting in the corner looking back at

him.

Rocky stiffly sits up, and starts pulling at his IVs, as if

he’s trying to leave.

Adonis springs up.

ADONIS:

Chill, chill, chill. It’s all good.

ROCKY:

Did you get your workout in?

Adonis shakes his head.

ADONIS:

I stayed.

Rocky feels at his neck. There is a large bandage on the side

of it.

ROCKY:

They get it all?

ADONIS:

I don’t know. They said they’ll

come and talk to us about it when

you wake up.

Rocky starts feeling around his bed again.

90.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

Chill out man, what you looking

for.

ROCKY:

Jacket... my jacket.

Adonis reaches over to the chairs and grabs Rocky’s coat. He

hands it to him. Rocky digs in it and pulls out his

stopwatch.

ROCKY (CONT’D)

Let’s go, pushups, burpies, situps,

shadow box super-sets.

(beat)

Let’s go!

Adonis looks at him like he’s f***ing crazy.

ADONIS:

Right here?

ROCKY:

You think Porter aint working out

right now? You think he doesn’t

want to dismember you in front of

his people?

(beat)

Go!

BEEP. Rocky hits the stopwatch. Adonis obliges.

START MONTAGE:

Adonis works out at Joe Hand’s with Amir. Rocky sits in a

chair, ringside still bandaged on his neck.

Rocky gets hooked up to the chemotherapy machine. Two large

IV’s hooked up to his arm. On the other side of the room,

Adonis sets up a standing speed bag, and a standing body

dummy. He installs a pullup bar in the door jam.

Adonis works out, while Rocky receives treatment

Adonis helps Rocky, weakened from the chemo session to the

van.

Adonis lifts weights in the gym.

Adonis hauls massive bags of fertilizer in Rocky’s backyard.

Rocky, bed ridden from the treatment, sits in bed, Adonis

sits in the chair next to him. They watch tape on Porter.

91.

Adonis holds Rocky as he vomits into the toilet.

Adonis collapses while lifting bags of fertilizer. He stays

down on all fours for a beat, then gets back up, and lifts

it.

Rocky, having lost a bit of weight, wearing his hat, body

bag, and gloves stands in the ring with Adonis, working him

through blinding fast drills. Amir and Joe Hand, stand on

either side of Adonis, throwing punches that Adonis parrys.

Adonis jogs through North Philly. Several young black kids

come out, and follow him. A group of Dirt bike riders follow

suit, popping wheelies as a salute to Adonis. A young kid

drives up next to Adonis on a mini- bike. Adonis, nearing

the end of his route, takes off at full speed. The kid

smashes on the gas. And all of the dirt bikes and ATV’s catch

up and slow down to keep right along Adonis, who is sprinting

now. They arrive at the gym and the bikers circle around

Adonis, some even shadow box with him, others with each

other.

END MONTAGE:

126 INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM- DAY 126

Adonis and Rocky sit, Rocky in a hospital gown. They watch

tape of Porter on Adonis’ iPad.

ROCKY:

His defense is so tough, you gotta

stay patient kid, get him to come

to you.

On screen, Porter is picking his opponent apart. The door

opens, and Dr. Shahani enters.

DR. SHAHANI

How are you feeling?

ROCKY:

Worse body shots I ever tool. Don’t

recommend it, but thanks Doctor.

DR. SHAHANI

Well you should be feeling better

now, and just in time. A bunch of

us here at the hospital are getting

the fight next weekend. We feel

apart of the team! When do you guys

take off?

92.

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