Gentleman Jim Page #9

You got a kick out of that, didn't you?

"Gentleman Jim. " I never

really saw the joke until now.

Well, I never saw anything

get her so upset before.

Yeah.

Tinhorn Irishman. Oh, by the way,

you don't happen to have $10,000

you could lend me, do you?

- Ten... What for?

- Sullivan's side bet, you know?

Oh, Jim, I'm sorry.

I'm a gambler, but I've got

to have some run for my money.

I guess so.

Say, maybe Vicki'll dig it up for you.

Yeah. I got a picture of that.

Well, it's good to see you.

- You two are the funniest couple.

- Yeah. Well, so long.

What'll happen if they

can't raise the side bet?

Oh, they'll just call the fight off.

Nearly everybody's given it up now anyhow.

You know, Dad, it's a great pity

that Mr. Corbett has to

miss such good shellacking.

I feel very cheated.

Do you really dislike him so much?

What does he do now? What is it?

I get furious every time I think about him.

Then why do you think about him at all?

I can't help it. I keep running

into him everywhere I go.

Every time I pick up a newspaper, there's

a picture of him, smirking like a tomcat.

Every time I turn a corner,

there's a big poster of him.

I'd give anything in the world to

see him just once flat on his back

with all that ego knocked out of him.

Well, you won't see Sullivan do it

unless Jim and Delaney can

dig up an angel somewhere,

an angel who doesn't mind being clipped.

Oh, how do you do, Miss Ware?

I got your note and came

right over to see you.

Thank you, Mr. Delaney.

Well, you can just call me

Billy, if you don't mind.

All right, Billy. How have you been?

- I've got a fine load of troubles, thank you.

- Yes, I heard about that. It's a shame.

Can you beat that for hard luck?

I wanna tell you, Miss Ware, that Jim

and I are so worried we can't sleep.

We can't hardly eat.

Why, he's down to 165 pounds,

practically a bantam weight.

Really? He seemed very fresh

and cocky this afternoon.

Oh, don't let that fool

you, ma'am. He's just acting.

I tell you, all he does is sit

in his room all day and all night,

just eating his heart out because he

can't get some backer with $10,000.

- Mr. Delaney?

- Yes, ma'am?

If I loaned you the money, will

you give me your word of honor

never to tell Corbett where it came from?

You ain't just kidding me?

No, I happen to have a personal

reason for wanting to see the fight.

Oh, I get it. You want to get in on

some of that 8-to-1 Sullivan dough, huh?

And clean up. Why, you'll make a killing.

No, I don't want it to go quite that far.

- Just far enough to enjoy.

- I see.

Now, promise me you'll never tell him, ever.

Not a word, not a word, ma'am, I promise you.

I knew there'd be somebody from San

Francisco who wouldn't let us down.

Thanks, miss. Thanks, you're a darling.

Why, Vicki, isn't that Anna Held?

Isn't she lovely?

She always has the most

handsome men with her.

May I borrow your glasses a minute, dear?

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I want to see if that really is a Greek

god with her, or just an old woman's mirage.

I guess it's true what

they're saying about those two.

What?

That she put up the $10,000

for Corbett to meet Sullivan.

Ten John L's. I'll give

you six Corbetts for one.

What do you take me for?

That hot sun out there ain't

gonna do Sullivan no good.

But that's what he likes,

parades, noise, hand-shaking.

But I know how to take care of a

fighter. Now, look at this place,

- nice, quiet and peaceful.

- Yeah, just like a museum.

Quiet.

Beautiful. You know, Billy, this guy,

Shakespeare, really knew his drama.

I think I'm gonna play this

instead of Lily, The Mad Duchess.

Watch the way the guy comes in.

- Watch this, Billy.

- We're watching, Jim.

Yeah. Yeah.

You see? Hey, he's been

out in the garden. See?

- Now he comes in, watch this.

- All right.

Hark...

Sit down and play us a tune.

- Oh, not now, Pa.

- Oh, yeah, Mary. Come on.

Come on, play.

Why am I paying for all these

lessons if you won't play?

- Pat, sing us a song.

- That I will.

Line up. Mary.

I hope you break a leg.

Oh, look at those maniacs!

Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!

What do you mean barging in here

like a herd of wild elephants?

Did you call me an elephant?

Will you shut up?

Pat, I'm sure that Mr. Delaney meant no harm.

Thank you, Mrs. Corbett. I did mean no harm.

- We'll have none of that.

- Oh, shut up!

- The Corbetts are at it again.

- Stand aside!

- Stand aside!

- I hope they kill each other.

I think you gentlemen are in the wrong seats.

Go on. You belong on the other side.

- Boys!

- You belong on the other side.

Get out of there.

What do you think of

them guys? I'd like to...

Has anybody got any Sullivan money?

Now, don't get excited,

Jim. Don't let it rattle you.

Who's excited? Look, he's

gonna shake my arm off.

- Here, you do it, Walter.

- I can't, Jim.

I couldn't even button my vest this morning.

- Well, how am I gonna...

- Come on, Corbett, hurry up.

The referee's in the ring and

Sullivan's waiting to follow you in.

- Hey, wait a minute, Donovan.

- Well, what now?

You say Sullivan's waiting for

me to go into the ring first?

- Of course!

- What do you mean "of course"?

Because John L. Sullivan,

the champion of the world,

is a very superstitious man.

And he's famous enough

to rate that privilege.

Oh, well. Oh, I don't expect any privileges.

But I think I ought to get an even

break. Maybe I'm superstitious.

- Well, of all the brass.

- What are you trying to pull, Corbett?

- What are you trying to pull?

- Who do you think you are?

- Who do you think he is?

- Throw him out, Delaney.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll compromise.

We'll both get in the ring at the same time.

He won't do it, and I

won't insult him by asking.

Well, suit yourselves,

gentlemen. I got plenty of time.

- I'll just take a little nap.

- Take it easy, Jim. Lay down. Go on.

Go on. Go on. Get out of here.

Oh, don't shut that door like that,

Walter. You know it's bad luck.

There's a free-for-all

going on downstairs.

Sullivan won't get in the ring first

and Corbett says he won't, either.

They're both superstitious so

they're both going in together.

Here comes Corbett now.

How are you, boys? Nice

to see you. Hello, Judge.

- Hello.

- Hello, Miss Ware.

- Was that you booing just now?

- Yes.

- I thought so.

- Boo!

Now we both get through at

the same time, all right?

- All right, all right.

- Right.

- Ready?

- Yes.

Let's go.

What is the idea?

Just for that, I'll knock

you flat in the first round.

- Be quiet.

- But I don't care.

Ladies and gentlemen!

A fight to the finish

for the heavyweight

championship of the world.

In this corner, introducing at 178,

from San Francisco, the challenger,

James J. Corbett.

He thinks he's playing Hamlet.

In this corner at 212,

the world's champion.

From Boston,

John L. Sullivan.

Let her go.

You men must observe the

Marquess of Queensberry rules

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