Creed Page #7

The round buzzer sounds and Adonis backs off, but Leo comes

forward wanting more. Blood trickles out of his left nostril.

LEO:

Come’ on!

Sporino comes into the ring and quickly steps between the two

fighters.

SPORINO:

Hollywood, you’re good for the day.

He grabs Leo’s face, looking at his nose.

LEO:

Naw, let us keep rockin.

SPORINO:

Chill out. What are you gonna have

World War III in a sparring

session...

Adonis turns back to where Rocky was standing, and finds: no

one. He bites at his glove tape, dejected.

58 EXT. ADRIAN’S RESTAURANT- NIGHT 58

Rocky is seen turning out the lights, then exits. He begins

to cross the street when he hears a familiar voice.

ADONIS (O.S.)

Why’d you leave?

ROCKY:

Whatya doin out here?

ADONIS:

Taking a walk... that was you at

the gym, right?

ROCKY:

Yeah that was me. Had to get back

to some things here.

ADONIS:

Why didn’t you stay.

ROCKY:

I had seen enough.

(beat)

Seeing you take punches in there,

brought back memories. Not so good

ones, you know?

37.

ADONIS:

What was I doing wrong?

ROCKY:

I don’t know...

(beat)

Off the top of my head... you can’t

lean on the ropes against a fighter

like that... tall like. You drop

your weight, and spin keeping him

close. Go right through him.

Adonis looks at Rocky for a long beat.

ADONIS:

See... that’s what I’m talking

about... You’ve got all this

knowledge in there...

(points to Rocky’s head)

but you sell spaghetti? Walk around

here like a ghost?

Rocky looks down.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

Mickey... he trained you right? And

my grandpa, and Duke? It’s selfish

of you not to give back. Especially

with us being like family.

ROCKY:

Why you keep saying that, kid.

ADONIS:

What?

ROCKY:

Family... we just met.

ADONIS:

But you and my grandpa was like

brothers right?

Rocky sighs.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

He died and left me with a bunch of

people that don’t get me. But I

think he would have. And I know you

do.

ROCKY:

I don’t get you, kid. Boxings the

worst sport there is.

38.

(MORE)

People slap you on the back,

telling ya how great you are, but

up them three steps... scariest

place in the world. Just you, and

another guy who wants to bury you.

You don’t want that to be your

life.

(beat)

It’s for people whose lives can’t

get no worse. People with no

choices.

(beat)

Just talking to you, I can tell

you’re smart. Ya got choices kid.

Adonis quickly moves closer to Rocky. Almost sizing him up.

ADONIS:

Look at me.

Rocky postures a bit.

ROCKY:

What are you talking about, I’m

looking at you.

ADONIS:

Look in my eyes.

Adonis moves even closer, the two standing off, like two

fighters before a 12 round bout.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

You talk about choices. I made my

choice. I’m need this. Tell me you

don’t see it in my eyes.

They stare each other down for a beat. Adonis turns away.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

(without turning around)

Watch that tape, man...

He heads off down the street, leaving Rocky with his

thoughts.

59 INT. ROCKY’S HOUSE- BASEMENT 59

It’s what’s left of Rocky’s man- cave. Mostly a storage

space. Rocky sits on an old incline weight bench, in front of

the small television and VCR.

39.

ROCKY (CONT'D)

We see that he is looking down at the tape that Adonis gave

him. He takes a deep breath, turns the television on and puts

the tape into the VCR.

ON THE SCREEN- Grainy footage of the televised first fight

between Apollo Creed and Rocky. The tape picks up the fight

between rounds, close- up footage

BACK TO ROCKY:

Who looks at the footage, almost as if watching people he

doesn’t recognize. We hear the bell, and the round begins. A

subtle memory comes over his eyes. He stands up, parallel

with his younger self in the fight, and starts to mirror his

old movements...

60 INT. MICKEY’S GYM- NEXT MORNING 60

Sporino takes Leo through a weightlifting routine in the

corner of the gym. He looks up at the entrance and notices

Rocky, walking through the door. And people aklowledging his

presence.

SPORINO:

Champ.

ROCKY:

How ya doin.

The two embrace.

SPORINO:

Didn’t know you were comin’ by.

ROCKY:

Me either. Place looks okay.

SPORINO:

Yeah I do what I can.

Sporino calls Leo over.

SPORNIO:

Here’s my kid I was telling you

about. I don’t know if you guys

ever had a chance to meet, but he’s

the next big thing outta here.

(sotto voce)

Option’s still open, should you

want to get involved...

Leo and Rocky shake hands.

40.

ROCKY:

How ya doin.

LEO:

It’s an honor, champ.

Rocky spots Adonis stepping out of the dressing room, already

sweating from hours of training. He spots Rocky talking to

Sporino and Leo.

ADONIS:

Unc.

Rocky lifts his head at Adonis. Sporino and Leo’s snap

around. Their jaws hit the floor.

ADONIS (CONT’D)

You made it.

ROCKY:

Was in the neighborhood.

SPORINO:

How do you know Hollywood?

ADONIS:

It’s Donnie... And I’m a good

friend of the family.

SPORINO:

You guys working together?

ADONIS:

I don’t know...

(to Rocky)

Are we?

Rocky shrugs. An uncomfortable silence between the four of

them.

SPORINO:

You guys let me know if you need

anything.

He and Leo head back over to the weights, staring at Rocky

and Adonis.

Rocky and Adonis start towards the bags.

ROCKY:

You didn’t tell them who you are?

Adonis shakes his head.

41.

ADONIS:

I don’t wanna go broadcasting that.

Keep it between us, you know.

Rocky nods.

ROCKY:

So, you ready to roll?

61 TRAINING MONTAGE 1 61

A. Dawn- we see the dun rising in the mist, over the

industrial landscape of Philadelphia.

B. Schuykill River- Dawn. We see Adonis running along the

majestic river. Vapor expels from his mouth on this brisk

morning. We see Rocky watching from a vantage point along the

adjacent road. Behind him is the van.

ROCKY:

Keep up the pace!!

As Adonis moves on, the city outline is seen looming before

him.

C. Int. Gym

Rocky is seen holding the bag as Adonis pounds away. Under

the music we can faintly hear Rocky giving instructions.

ROCKY (CONT’D)

A hundred a round.

Sporino looks on, as does Leo who shadow boxes in front of a

stained mirror.

D. Adonis has just completed wrapping his knees as he leaps

up from the floor to the 2nd step leading into the boxing

ring. He does this repetitively as Rocky keeps count.

E. Bianca’s Concert

Adonis stands in the front row, while Bianca rocks the crowd.

She eyes him as she performs.

F. Rocky Home

Rocky is again studying the old film of he and Apollo boxing.

It seems to re affirm his belief in Apollo and his grandson.

G. Int. Gym

42.

Rate this script:4.4 / 5 votes