Rocky Page #16

COMMENTATOR #1

I only wonder if this man has

the skill to go past three

rounds -- Vegas odds say, 'no.'

102.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

A wedge of uniformed guards knife down the aisle to the ring.

Many people wish Rocky well as he passes... people also hurl

insults. From the expression on Mickey's face it is also

the greatest night of his life. In the audience are familiar

faces from the gym. From the back of the arena a ROAR goes

up... Apollo Creed is in a mock boat dressed like George

Washington. He throws silver dollars. The NOISE builds to

DEAFENING proportions. Creed's trainer holds the rope and

Creed bounds into the ring. He tears off the Washington

outfit and it is clearly SEEN that Apollo Creed is garbed in

an outrageous Uncle Sam outfit... On his head is a red,

white and blue sequined top hat. The robe is sequined red,

white and blue. His boxing trunks are red, white and blue

silk with stars around the waistband. The boxing shoes

match the trunks. On his chin is a pointed white Uncle Sam

beard.

COMMENTATOR #2

You could go deaf with the

noise -- it undoubtedly means

Champion Apollo Creed is

heading towards the ring --

COMMENTATOR #1

Am I seeing right? Creed is

approaching the ring in a boat.

Is he supposed to be George

Washington? Obviously so.

COMMENTATOR #2

It's been confirmed that it is

definitely an impersonation of

George Washington -- a great

way to start 1976 off.

COMMENTATOR #1

I agree.

Immediately Creed begins gracefully dancing in a wide circle.

He passes within inches of Rocky in his Uncle Sam outfit.

APOLLO:

I want you! I want you!

The crowd loves the taunting. Apollo Creed floats back to

his corner.

MICKEY:

Don't let 'im get you tight.

103.

ROCKY:

Whatta ya think that outfit

cost?

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The ANNOUNCER steps to the center of the ring... Several men

in suits stand against the ropes... Paulie is dressed nicely

and sits at ringside with a pretty blonde escort. Rocky

waves at him. Paulie waves back and secretly gestures at

his date... Rocky smiles and gestures back.

ANNOUNCER:

Ladies and gentlemen --

Welcome to the Bicentennial

Heavyweight Championship

Fight... We are very proud to

have with us four former Great

Champions... Ladies an' gents,

'The one and only 'Manassa

Mauler' -- Jack Dempsey!'

The CROWD ROARS and JACK DEMPSEY waves and goes to Creed's

corner, then Rocky's.

DEMPSEY:

Good luck, kid.

He moves off.

ROCKY:

(to Mickey)

Christ, Jack Dempsey.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Announcer points and the timekeeper RINGS the BELL.

ANNOUNCER:

Former Middleweight Champion --

'The Bronx Bull' -- Jake

LaMotta!

JAKE LA MOTTA raises his fist and gives best wishes to both

contenders... Timekeeper RINGS the BELL.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

(continuing)

The man with the big punch --

Everybody's favorite, 'The

Brown Bomber ' -- Joe Louis!

104.

JOE LOUIS bows and steps to Creed's corner. Creed strikes a

boxing pose and Louis tosses a playful punch.

ROCKY:

They must be friends.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

Now, last but certainly not

least -- the former Heavyweight

Champion, a son of Philly,

Smoking Joe Frazier!

FRAZIER rumbles to the center of the ring. The CROWD CHEERS.

Apollo puts on a show... He grimaces and gestures like he's

going to attack Frazier. His cornermen hold him back. They

laugh. Frazier goes to Rocky's corner.

FRAZIER:

Save some of him for me.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Commentators beckon to Frazier as he exits the ring.

COMMENTATOR #1

The former champ looks great --

Can we get Joe over here --

here he comes.

Joe Frazier stands in front of the Commentators.

COMMENTATOR #1

(continuing)

Joe, what are your feelings

about tonight's fight?

FRAZIER:

Well, I think any man who

works an' trains hard always

gotta chance.

COMMENTATOR #2

You look in great shape, Joe.

FRAZIER:

I'm always in shape.

Joe laughs and exits. The timekeeper RINGS the BELL.

105.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

... Now for the evening's main

event -- In the corner to my

right, The Challenger, wearing

white trunks -- At one hundred

an' ninety-one pounds, one of

Philly's own sons -- 'The

Italian Stallion,' Rocky Balboa!

A good CROWD RESPONSE.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

In the far corner, wearing

red, white an' blue -- Weighing

in at two hundred and ten

pounds -- Undefeated in forty-

six fights -- the Heavyweight

Champion of the World -- 'The

Master of Disaster' -- Apollo

Creed!

The arena EXPLODES and Creed puts on a display of hand speed.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The REFEREE motions to both fighters... They step to the

center of the ring. As the Referee explains the rules

Apollo and Rocky stare hard into each other's eyes... The

Referee's voice fades and the fighters' expressions fill the

screen... Something soulful and frightening is being

communicated.

REFEREE:

... Now come out fighting.

The fighters return to their corners.

MICKEY:

God bless ya, Rock.

ROCKY:

Thanks, Mick -- I'm gonna try.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL RINGS... Creed dances forward and boxes Rocky as

though he considers the man an amateur.

106.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

COMMENTATOR #1

The Champ stings the slower

challenger with jabs at

will -- Balboa blocks eighty

percent of the blows with his

face -- Creed doesn't look the

best he's ever been but is

moving smoothly -- Creed snaps

out a triple combination that

backs Balboa into a corner --

oh, a solid hook by Creed, a

master of fist-men.

COMMENTATOR #2

The Champion is smiling and

toying with the man -- trying

to give the fans their money's

worth and make a show of it

with the badly out-classes

challenger -- Another left to

right combination. I feel

sorry for --

COMMENTATOR #1

Creed is down!!!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky suddenly explodes with an upswing hook to the jaw.

Creed is dropped. The arena EXPLODES. Creed's eyes show

disbelief. So do Rocky's.

Rocky backs into his corner... Mickey and Mike yell at him.

MICKEY:

You can do it! Goddamnit, you

got the power! The body, get

the body!!! Ya got him goin'!

REFEREE:

Six!... Seven!... Eight!...

Creed is up... His playful attitude is gone... he is now all

business. His lightning jab stings Rocky's face repeatedly.

APOLLO:

... Come at me, sucker!

Rocky charges and a terrific right crashes against Apollo's

chin, followed by an uppercut to the liver that causes Creed

to cringe...

107.

Apollo counters with jabs and Rocky whips brutal combinations

to the body.

The BELL RINGS.

ROCKY'S CORNER

ROCKY:

How am I doin'?

MICKEY:

Real good.

ROCKY:

See how fast he is -- damn!

MICKEY:

Breathe deep -- Keep ya chin

down!! Use the legs and drive

through 'im. Attack --

Attack -- Attack!

APOLLO'S CORNER

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