Million Dollar Baby Page #3

Mickey Mack's a businessman.

He can't teach you nothing.

You already taught me

everything I need to know.

There's some things people

just don't want to hear.

And I challenge the Motor City Cobra,

Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns...

...to fight me for the welterweight

championship of the whole world.

Danger, I'm wearing

these mitts for a reason.

Just working on my footwork, Mr. Scrap.

Danger, you throw a punch

or get the hell out of this gym.

Danger, while you thinking about

that punch, I'll be right back.

I'm thinking how I'm gonna hit it hard

for you, Mr. Scrap.

No one had the heart to tell Danger

that Hearns retired years ago.

I heard about Willie.

That's cold. That's dead cold.

Of course, it wouldn't be so bad

if you weren't so damn old.

Yeah, well, at least I can see

through both eyes.

Didn't do you

a lot of good though, did it?

Well, I've got the gym.

Don't need to be training fighters

at my age.

Willie tell you why?

It was Mickey.

Mickey's got the connections.

Oh, it ain't about connections.

It's about you not believing in him.

Well, I found him,

I stuck with him for eight years.

How's that for not believing in him?

You could've got him a title fight

two years ago. Hell, he knew that.

I'm amazed he stayed around this long.

Well, getting there and taking home

the belt are two different things.

What was I supposed to do,

just put him in over his head?

Not protect him?

Oh, you were protecting him

from the championship.

- Yeah.

- Well, now it makes sense.

Well, what about you, Scrap?

What did your manager do?

You were a hell of a fighter,

better than Willie.

He get you a title fight,

or did he just bust you out...

...banging your head against other

people's fists until you lost your eye?

I had my shot.

I went out swinging,

and no man can say I didn't.

Yeah, well, I remember.

And excuse me if I didn't want my fighter

spending the second half of his life...

...cleaning up other people's spit.

- Yeah, right.

Right, you're the smart one.

You're the one learning Greek.

It's Gaelic.

Well, you just protected yourself

out of a championship fight.

How do you say that in Gaelic?

Sorry.

Thanks.

The action continues as the champ

is battling Big Willie Jones...

... and commanding him

with rights and lefts.

Up against the ropes,

he's hitting him with the left...

Boxing is an unnatural act.

Because everything in it is backwards.

You wanna move to the left...

... you don't step left,

you push on the right toe.

To move right, you use your left toe.

Instead of running from the pain,

like a sane person would do...

... you step into it.

But Big Willie comes back. Oh, my God,

he hits the champ with a right hand.

And the champ is down.

Ladies and gentleman,

the ref is in for the count.

And Big Willie Jones

is the new champion of the world.

It's unbelievable how

this has taken place tonight...

... but there you have it, folks,

a new champion.

Everything in boxing is backwards.

Want a cheeseburger?

- You bought me a cheeseburger?

- Yeah.

I never see you buy anybody

a cheeseburger.

Well, I couldn't eat it, and I ordered it.

You want it?

Well, I guess the planet

can go back to spinning.

- You watch the fight?

- Yeah, I watched it.

Willie did good.

That's what you've got to say?

Well, he won, didn't he? He did good.

I see you been working on yourself,

learning to open up. That's good work.

You watch it?

Yeah, I got HBO.

Now, how can you afford HBO?

How long have I been telling you

to save your money?

Ever since I fought

Louis "Typhoon" Johnson...

...at the Stadium Club

in Tupelo, Mississippi.

- That true?

- Yeah.

Manager ran off

and left you and me to hitch home.

Don't you remember nothing?

Well, I remember walking halfway

and thinking I was gonna be lynched.

I remember you leaving me with my dick

in my hand behind that gas station.

Yeah, well, I got a ride. The guy took off

before I hardly closed the door.

I had to walk back two miles.

Your conscience got the better of you,

that's what.

What the hell's that?

It's her birthday.

You're not breathing right.

That's why you're panting.

So it's your birthday, huh?

How old does that make you?

I'm 32, Mr. Dunn.

I'm celebrating that I spent another year

scraping dishes and waitressing...

...which is what I been doing since 13.

And according to you, I'll be 37

before I can even throw a decent punch...

...which after working this speed bag

for a month and getting nowhere...

...I now realize may be God's simple truth.

Other truth is, my brother's in prison...

...my sister cheats on welfare by pretending

one of her kids is still alive...

...my daddy's dead,

and my mama weighs 312 pounds.

If I was thinking straight,

I'd go back home...

...find a used trailer,

buy a deep fryer and some Oreos.

The problem is, this is the only thing

I ever felt good doing.

If I'm too old for this, then I got nothing.

That enough truth to suit you?

This your speed bag?

Put yours behind the counter.

Wish I could say I wore it out.

Okay, just hold it. Hold it.

I'll show you a few things,

and then we'll get you a trainer.

No, sorry.

- You're in a position to negotiate?

- Yes, sir.

Because I know if you train me right,

I'm gonna be a champ.

I seen you looking at me.

- Yeah, out of pity.

- Don't you say that.

Don't you say that if it ain't true.

I want a trainer.

I don't want charity,

and I don't want favors.

If you're not interested,

then I got more celebrating to do.

Stop, stop, stop.

Goddamn it, stop.

What the hell are you doing?

Okay.

If I'm gonna take you on...

- You won't never regret it.

- Look, just listen to me.

- Lf I take you on...

- I promise I'll work so hard.

God, this is a mistake already.

I'm listening, boss.

If I take you on, you don't say anything,

you don't question me.

You don't ask why, you don't say

anything except maybe, "Yes, Frankie."

And I'm gonna try to forget the fact

that you're a girl.

That's all I ask.

And don't come crying to me

if you get hurt.

- Alrighty.

- We got a deal.

No, not quite.

I'm gonna teach you how to fight...

...then we'll get you a manager,

and I'm off down the road.

- I hate to argue with you, but...

- Don't argue, that's the way we're doing it.

I teach you all you need to know,

and you go off and make a million dollars.

I don't care. You get your teeth

knocked out, I don't care.

I don't wanna hear about it.

That's just the way it's gonna be.

It's the only way I'll do it.

All right.

Now, one of the things I've noticed around

the gym is you never move your feet.

You stand there just flat-footed.

You've gotta move your feet.

That's one of the best things

I can teach you.

So here's what you do.

You get yourself...

Bend your knees a little bit.

Get in an athletic position.

Look like you're gonna hit something.

- Move them how, boss?

- Just... Go... Hit the bag.

- Stop.

- What'd I do wrong?

Okay, you did two things wrong.

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