Gentleman Jim Page #8

times but from a long distance, of course.

Well, seeing me from a long distance

is a smart idea, young fella.

What is all this nonsense about

you wanting to meet me in the ring?

Peter Jackson thought it

was a lot of nonsense, too.

A little salt, please, Mr. Sullivan.

- Right.

- Thank you.

How long was it you stayed

with Jackson, 16 rounds?

Now, Mr. Sullivan, you know better than that.

Why don't you just turn those figures around?

It was 61 rounds.

How long do you think

Jackson would stay with me?

Sixty-one seconds, sir.

Well, that must explain why you've been

ducking him all this time, I suppose.

Too easy, huh?

Duck? Did you say duck?

I'll meet any man who will

stand on his own two feet,

and if you had about 30 pounds more

on you, you'd be the first one, sir.

I'll return the compliment, Mr. Sullivan.

If you'd fight me, I'd just

wish you were five years younger.

What do you mean by that?

Not much fun winning the championship

from a guy who's practically

tripping over his beard.

Beard, is it? Who's got a beard?

Why, you fresh brat, who do

you think you're talking to?

John L. Sullivan himself.

I'll have you know that I

can lick any man in the world.

All except one, Mr. Sullivan. All except one.

- Is that so?

- John.

- Why, you...

- Your steak is getting cold.

- I don't care. Get him out of here.

- Come on, Jim. Don't give it away.

Get him out of here before I murder

him. Call the newspaper boys in.

I'll fight that blabbermouth

anytime, anywhere.

Nobody can talk like that

to me. I don't care...

Get him out of here.

Yeah, get him out of here.

- Who does he think he is?

- Oh, what's the matter with you?

Why, the man is insane.

I'm the champion of the

world, I'll have you know.

- I know, John. But eat your steak.

- I'll eat my steak...

Did you hear what he said,

Billy? He's gonna fight me.

- Yeah, how'd you do it, Jim?

- How'd you ever get him so mad?

I just told him a few

things and got his goat.

Hey, we're gonna fight Sullivan.

Boy, did he fall for it. Listen to this:

"I hereby accept the

challenge of James J. Corbett

"to fight me the first week

of September this year, 1892,

"at New Orleans, Louisiana,

for a purse of $25,000,

- "winner take all. "

- $25,000.

Do you know what I think I'll do, Billy?

I'm gonna buy myself a

theater and play Hamlet.

Hamlet? Yeah.

"Furthermore, I insist upon a

side bet of $10,000 to make certain

- "that Corbett will show up for the fight. "

- Show up?

I'll be there before and

after that big windbag.

Yeah, I know that, but where

are we going to get $10,000?

Hey, what about borrowing back some of

that dough you sent your family, huh?

Oh, no. I'd never do that,

Billy. I gave it to them.

All right. Then why fool ourselves?

Jim, at your weight, there

ain't a man in the country

that'll risk one dime

on you against Sullivan.

- Would you?

- Well, that ain't hardly a fair question, Jim.

All right, Billy. But I'll tell you this.

We haven't come this far

together to miss the big chance

just for the sake of a few

thousand bucks. I'll get it somehow.

Well, that kind of dough

don't grow on trees, Jim.

- I know it, but I'll get it somehow.

- All right.

But look, I'll run rings around

the guy. I'll tie him up in knots.

- Oh, it's only $10,000.

- I'm sorry, Jim, but this is final. No.

Well, you're missing a good

chance. Thanks anyway, Charlie.

- Paging Mr. Corbett. Paging Mr. Corbett.

- Yes?

Senator Gage would like to speak to you, sir.

Senator Gage? Oh, is it...

What do you mean Senator Gage?

- Vicki! Oh, I'm so glad to see you.

- Hello, Mr. Corbett.

Why, I'm so glad to see you,

I'm surprised. How are you?

- I'm fine. My, you're looking well.

- Oh, thanks.

I can't get over how glad I am to

see you. Look, I want to talk to you.

- Where shall we go? What'll we do?

- Well, let's sit over here.

- But I only have a minute.

- Oh, have you gotta go somewhere?

Yes, I have to go upstairs

and change for dinner.

- Oh.

- Well, what have you been doing lately?

Oh, I've... What have I been

doing? Why, haven't you heard?

Oh, yes, of course, I beg your pardon.

How long have you been in New York?

Oh, I'll tell you about that.

Look, why don't you run

upstairs and get changed,

and then let me take you out to dinner?

Oh, there's a new play opening at the Empire.

- Would you like to go?

- Oh, I'm going there with the Belmonts.

- Sorry.

- Oh.

- Well, let's have dinner first.

- No, I'm dining at Delmonico's.

Oh, I see. You're all tied up, huh?

- Well, how about lunch tomorrow?

- Sorry.

- Well, dinner tomorrow night.

- Sorry.

Are you gonna be sorry all day Wednesday?

My dear Mr. Corbett, I'm

engaged for the next three weeks.

- Every single moment.

- Three weeks. Oh, that's too bad.

It's nice to have seen you

again, but I really must go.

I have to dress for dinner.

How long did you say you've been in New York?

Couple of weeks. Why?

That's good. You'd better

not stick around much longer.

- It doesn't agree with you.

- What are you talking about?

Why, you've got about the best case

I've seen in a long time

of social butterfly itch.

You've got the jumps. That's

what's the matter with you.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Corbett, but

I'm busy for the next three weeks. "

That's marvelous. When I said I was

glad to see you, I must have been crazy.

- Mr. Corbett.

- Yes?

What amuses me, what really amuses me

is how you could think

I'd go anywhere with you,

- even if I were marooned.

- Oh, is that so?

Well, if it's famous people

that's swelling that lovely,

dumb, blonde head of yours,

let me tell you when I take a girl

out, she really gets to see something.

I stop the traffic in San Francisco, anyway.

Oh, listen to who's famous.

Just because you're a

two-bit prize fighter, you...

A two-bit prize fighter? Listen, if

you ever get to doing as well socially

as I do prize fighting,

you'll do all right, kiddo.

One of these days, you can tell your friends

you nearly went out on

a date with Jim Corbett.

Well, I see you two have picked up the

conversation right where you left off.

- Hello, Mr. Ware.

- How are you, Jim?

Fine, thanks. It's good to see you.

Dad, it's unbelievable. It's a

study of a bank clerk gone crazy.

You'd better get her out

of New York, Mr. Ware.

- Better get her back to that nice Dewitt.

- I can't. They've had a fight, too.

No kidding? I didn't know

he had that much sense.

Why, you glorified pug, you.

Well, I'm blamed, if I ever

saw anything like you two.

If you don't like each other, why in Sam Hill

do you have to make so much noise about it?

Dad, get this gentleman,

this gentleman Jim Corbett.

He actually asked me to go to

the opening with him tonight.

- This tinhorn, shanty Irishman.

- Well, who isn't?

Only difference is we've got a bigger shanty.

Of course she doesn't like

famous people, Mr. Ware, not much.

Remember the time you felt

Sullivan's arm like this?

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