Gladiator Page #2

Do you wanna fight or don't you?

Don't get a hard-on! Are we

negotiating or aren't we?

I like you.

I like the way you handle yourself.

We're gonna do it your way.

Twelve hundred and fifty bucks.

Dad?

Tommy.

Tommy.

- Wake up. I got some great news.

- Hey, Dad.

You know that job I've been

telling you about?

I got it.

- Starting today I'm on the payroll.

- That's great.

Yeah, that's great.

Bad part is, I gotta be in Elgin at 10,

and then go on the road for a month.

A month?

Selling medical supplies.

I learn the territory, then they bring

me to work full-time in Chicago.

We can get out of this slum

and get our lives back together.

But the deal is, you're

gonna be alone for a month.

You think you can handle that?

- You sure?

- Yeah.

How's the new school?

It's okay.

What's wrong, Tommy?

These guys showed up.

One of them had a gun.

- Did they threaten you?

- No.

Come here, son. Sit down.

Listen, Tommy. You know...

I know I wasn't any help to you

when your mother died.

I was drinking a lot, I lost the job,

and I was dumb enough to think...

...I could win big money

playing cards and...

...pay the hospital bills.

And I'm sorry to bring you

into all this.

But you know...

...if we hadn't wound up in this dump,

maybe I would've never woken up.

I'm awake now.

I'm not drinking,

and I'm not gambling, and...

...I'm not feeling sorry for myself.

And I got this job.

These guys will get paid.

They're gonna get their money.

Sharkey? John Riley.

If you ever bother my kid again,

I'll kill you.

Yeah, I don't care. I mean it!

You will get your

goddamn cash, Sharkey.

I'll see you soon.

You take care.

Where are you going?

I'm supposed to fight.

Tommy Riley.

Why don't you come with me?

Let's go, kid.

Hey, kid.

- I thought you were a no-show.

- I'm on time.

Sure you're on time.

It's not you, it's me.

I think everybody's a no-show

until they show.

This is your corner man.

Your all-around man.

- How you doing?

- Hi. Try these.

What are these, 6-ounce gloves?

- Are these even legal?

- Legal?

I gotta tell you, kid.

It ain't "mairzy doats

and dozy doats" out there.

It's war.

You fight Black Death like

the Marquis of Queensbury, and...

...you'll be carried out

in a body bag.

But, hey. Good luck!

What's your name?

They call me Noah.

Only I ain't got no damn ark.

And I ain't even got a rowboat.

All I got is a broken nose

and a bunch of recollections.

- You got recollections, boy?

- Yeah. Some.

You young yet. They accumulate.

Believe me.

You grow up South Side?

No. Bridgeport.

Bridgeport?

You're moving in the wrong direction.

It's just temporary.

I got another boy to look to.

I'll be back to get you.

You on the circuit now?

No. Just tonight.

- Mind if I join you?

- Not at all.

Say, don't you know nothing?

Circulate that blood, man.

Gotta tap dance before

you tap dance...

...if you know what I mean.

- I'm just trying to get my bearings.

- Move with me man.

You go in cold,

you gonna come out cold too.

Name's Essadro.

Romano Essadro.

Tommy Riley.

You Irish?

Yeah, so?

Ain't no accusation. It's

just a whatchamacallit...

...ethnicity.

Like me. I'm Cuban, but I ain't

never seen the island paradise.

Who you fighting, anyways?

Some guy named Black Death.

You been fighting somewheres else?

Not a lot.

Listen. You stay clear of his

right hand, you hear?

Come here. Come on.

Put your left hand up.

Circle right. Good.

Circle right. Circle right.

Good. That's it.

- What time is it?

- It's time to get paid!

Hammer-time, brother!

Sh*t, man, I could've had you.

Hit your f***ing head off!

Okay, Bridgeport.

You're up.

Good luck, man.

Ladies and gentlemen,

our fourth bout of the evening!

We have a newcomer to the arena.

Tommy Riley.

A Golden Gloves champion

from Bridgeport.

He's 27 and 0, with 21 knockouts.

He'll be fighting out

of the Red corner tonight.

Come on, folks.

Let's hear it for him.

Let's give him a big welcome.

Tommy Riley!

And his opponent...

...fighting out of the Blue corner,

the doctor of destruction...

...Black Death!

What do you know about this guy?

If he hurts you with his left,

go down.

Beautiful.

Fighters.

I want a nice clean fight now.

You know the rules.

No low blows and

you break when I say.

Now touch gloves

and come out fighting.

That's the elbow!

Get up, kid. Come on, get up.

All right. Keep fighting.

All right!

Who's the brawler?

He's got a punch. That's all I know.

Ain't you getting tired, punk?

Can't you hit me once?

Stick him, kid. Come on.

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Oh, no.

That's it. That's it, he's finished.

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

Five!

Six!

Seven!

Eight!

All right! Hit him!

Kill the guy!

All right!

Get him.

All right, kid!

Where did you find this kid?

On the street. He just walked in.

Leo, give me a Crunch.

I might lose my investment.

You're doing all right, kid.

You're doing all right!

What the hell are you doing?

You're looking like a bum!

Now. He's telegraphing his punches.

He gets set with the right...

...he drops the left,

and you stick him.

Repeat it back to me.

He drops the left. I stick him.

Okay, kid! Go out and get it!

Stay with him, okay? Hang in there.

Now!

Jesus Christ!

Look at this kid.

Oh, my God!

You are a natural, kid.

You got firepower. Real firepower!

The winner is Tommy Riley!

He's mine! He's mine!

You got the balls of a lion, kid.

You got him!

He's mine! Mine!

- What do you think?

- He's gonna be just fine.

How you feeling, kid?

This feels good, doesn't it? Good.

So where's my money?

Don't worry.

You're gonna get your money.

Mr. Horn wants to pay you personally.

Who's Mr. Horn?

- He is the power and the glory...

- Yeah, he's the power.

Right now.

He's the reason that you got

into the ring.

No, he's not.

Goddamn it. I gotta go.

Come by the gym, get your money,

and we talk.

You're f***ing beautiful. Beautiful!

Talk about what?

Great! Oh, you earned it.

Keep working.

Mr. Riley.

What door did you walk into?

- Maybe he bumped into his pseudonym.

- That's enough.

Hey.

- Hey, how are you doing, Romano?

- Feeling no pain.

I win too.

- Lincoln.

- Hey, what's up?

Meet my friend Tommy Riley.

The great white hope?

Not me, man.

No?

What was that Friday night, a ghost?

Let me tell you something.

Some ghost, looked just like you...

...wasted Black Death.

That's Lincoln.

You looking for something, chief?

Pappy Jack.

In his office.

All right from Horn.

This one's from me.

Say hello to Mike.

Hey, kid. Be right there.

Just knock his timing.

With the elbow, right? And...

End of story. All right?

You're gonna give him something to

shoot at.

He comes in, to the body, hook it.

Just for a second.

I find the way you fight

terribly exciting.

Oh, I'm just trying

to get out of there alive.

Aren't we all, my dear.

Hey, kid!

You like M&M Peanuts?

Jesus Christ, don't muscle it!

That's Mr. Horn. Listen up.

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