Raging Bull Page #15

REPORTER:

What do you think of Jake's

retirement, Mrs. LaMotta?

JAKE cuts in:

JAKE:

I also bought a club on Collins

Avenue, and I'm gonna open it real

soon. Know what I'm gonna call it?

"Jake LaMotta's."

INT. "JAKE LAMOTTA'S" - NIGHT (1956)

JAKE, an empty glass in his hand, stands on the bar

platform. He's wearing a white tuxedo jacket with a

red rose in the lapel. His tuxedo shirt is stained.

He continues his monologue.

JAKE:

Valentine's Day. The anniversary of

the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

Robinsin didn't use a machine gun

but it was still a massacre...

(takes another drink)

Actually, I was doin' okay at

first.

In fact, by the end of the fifth

round I really had him worried ---

he thought he killed me. You know,

I could keep tellin' you this

brilliant material all night -- but

you'd only laugh. Now I'm gonna

sing. -- Any requests? I mean,

besides "don't"!

(then to piano player)

-- In the key of H.

(then to audience)

You're laughin'. Give me the right

key and I'll play in anybody's

flat! I sing for a reason. When I

finish, you'll be so sobered up,

we'll sell a lot of booze.

JAKE's onstage version of "That's Entertainment"

differs from the backstage version. It's not just

that he's a little drunk -- no, his voice is

defiant, sadly defiant. He is singing at the

PATRONS rather than to them.

JAKE (CONT'D)

"When the fighter's not engaged in

his employment, his employment,

although he was Champ and quite the

rage, he must go somewhere else to

seek employment, seek employment.

So what does he do? He goes upon

the stage and meets his true

adversaries, all you members of the

human race. But a fighter's life is

not a bowl of cherries, still I'd

rather have an egg than a fist upon

my face... That's Entertainment!

JAKE brings the BAND to a crescendo with a wave of

his hand, then silences it. The spotlight goes out

and there is a hearty round of applause.

JAKE receives the kisses, glad handshakes and

congratulations of the PATRONS as he works his way

around the club.

JAKE's new friends love him. They are PARTY GIRLS,

SPORTS FIGURES, COLUMNISTS, MOBSTERS, B ACTORS, and

OTHER "CELEBRITIES."

JAKE poses for a still with TWO BUXOM YOUNG

LOVELIES. ONE GIRL giggles as he fondles her. After

the flash goes off, the GIRLS admire his "small,

delicate" hands.

JAKE steps over to a table and greets J.R., a

newspaper columnist, and his COMPANIONS.

JAKE (CONT'D)

J.R., glad you could make it.

J.R.

You were great, Jake. Just like old

times. Good thing Sugar Ray wasn't

here tonight. Oh Jake, this is

State's Attorney Bronson and his

wife.

JAKE shakes his hand, then holds it up -- showing

an empty palm.

JAKE:

(joking)

Sorry, empty! Heh, heh! Oh, I

didn't mean that. If I don't give

your husband no money, he won't

have enough to buy you a drink. To

show you I'm a nice guy, this one's

on me. The last one was your

payment for this month.

BRONSON is embarrassed. He doesn't think the joke

is funny, but he manages a smile. His WIFE gives a

nervous laugh. JAKE leans over and kisses her.

JAKE (CONT'D)

You're a good sport, lady.

J.R.

I saw you fight Bob Satterfield in

'46, Jake. In Chicago. You were

great.

JAKE:

Yeah, I really cleaned up on him.

J.R.

Where's your wife, Jake?

JAKE:

Do you think I'd let her in a place

like this with guys like you

hangin' around?

JAKE feigns a few jabs, and they all laugh. He

walks off.

As JAKE leaves, J.R. whispers to his FRIEND:

J. R.

You ought to see his wife.

JAKE steps over to a table where some of the "BOYS"

are sitting. RICKY is the Miami 1956 version of

Salvy.

JAKE:

Hey, Ricky, glad you came.

RICKY:

Wouldn't miss it, Jake.

JAKE calls a WAITRESS over.

JAKE:

Hey, honey, give these fellas a

round on me. I can tell they're

gonna be regular customers.

The WAITRESS says to a clearly underaged GIRL:

WAITRESS:

I'll have to ask for your I.D.

JAKE leans over and gives the young GIRL a long

kiss on the lips. She enthusiastically

reciprocates.

JAKE:

Whew! Any girl that can kiss like

that can drink in my club any time!

They all laugh as JAKE moves on. The life of the

party.

EXT. "JAKE LAMOTTA'S" - DAY

JAKE, hungover, his tux wrinkled, walks out of the

club to the adjacent parking lot.

VICKIE is sitting in her yellow Cadillac outside

the Club. The curbside window is halfway up. She

calls to him:

VICKIE:

Jake.

JAKE, chagrined, steps over to the car.

JAKE:

I'm sorry. I had to work late last

night. Slept at the club.

VICKIE:

I'm leaving your Jake.

JAKE:

Sure, what else is new?

VICKIE:

No. This time it's true. I didn't

bother to tell you until I had

everything worked out.

JAKE tries to open the door. It's locked.

JAKE:

Open the door, Vickie.

VICKIE:

No. I won't talk to you where you

can use your hands on me.

JAKE:

Aw, c'mon. Don't say that.

VICKIE:

I got a lawyer, Jake. We're getting

a divorce. I'm getting custody of

the kids.

JAKE:

Aw, c'mon, Vick --

VICKIE:

I'm sick of it. I can't watch you

this way. You're too drunk all the

time. There's too many girls. I

can't... I don't wanna talk about

it. I made up my mind.

JAKE tries to reach in the window, but VICKIE hits

the power switch, closing it and catching his hand.

She now has to yell to him:

VICKIE (CONT'D)

You got three days to get your

stuff out of the house. After that,

the cops will be there. I have the

kids with me. I never want to see

you again.

VICKIE turns her face and drives away.

JAKE grabs at the Cadillac, but it is bigger and

stronger than him.

JAKE is left alone in the parking lot. The car is

gone.

INT. JAKE'S OFFICE - DAY (JAN. 9, 1957)

JAKE has an office above the lounge. Ever since

VICKIE left, it's also been his apartment.

The place is a mess. JAKE sends his laundry out

when he runs out of clean clothes. Dirty socks,

shorts and shirts are scattered randomly. Empty

whiskey bottles on the desk, empty beer cans in the

wastebasket.

1ST DEPUTY

Let's go, Jake, wake up!

JAKE:

Huh? Whadda ya mean, get up?

1ST DEPUTY

(showing badge)

We're from...

JAKE:

(interrupting)

I know where you're from. You guys

look the same every place.

1ST DEPUTY

They wanna talk to you.

JAKE:

About what?

1ST DEPUTY

I don't run the joint. They just

told me to bring you in.

JAKE:

For what?

2ND DEPUTY

C'mon, get dressed.

JAKE hunts for his clothes.

JAKE:

Hey, I'm a big tax payer down here.

Don't that entitle me to some

information what this is all about?

The SECOND DEPUTY shows JAKE a photo.

2ND DEPUTY

You recognize this girl? She been

in the club?

JAKE:

I dunno.

2ND DEPUTY

She says you introduced her to men.

JAKE:

I introduced a lot of people to

men. So what? What does that mean?

2ND DEPUTY

She's fourteen.

CLOSE UP of picture.

EXT. JAKE'S MIAMI HOUSE - DAY

JAKE, wearing a suit, walks up to the door and

pushes the bell.

VICKIE opens the door and looks at him over the

chain.

JAKE:

Vickie, open up. I need to come in.

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