Rocky Page #17

Apollo does not sit. He stands and clowns with the

spectators to prove he is not hurt.

APOLLO:

(to Trainer)

... That boy damn near broke

my arm.

TRAINER:

Sure -- He can hit -- Don't

play no more -- Stick an'

move, hear?

APOLLO:

I'll carry him 'till the third.

TRAINER:

Don't play with this man, he's

fightin' hard -- Let 'em feel

some real heat!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL for the second round RINGS... Rocky rushes out fast

and furious. Apollo melts out a left hook that raises a

goose egg over Rocky's eye... Apollo employs footwork that

dazzles Rocky. He has class. He studies Rocky and employs

his lightning jab with cutting accuracy. Still Rocky shuffles

ahead, bombarding Creed's midsection with hooks.

108.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The round ends with Apollo assaulting Rocky with blinding

combinations and delivering a stupendous right cross that

flings Rocky into the ropes and shatters his nose... The

round ends.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Apollo stands in his corner and jokes with the fans, but he

is beginning to show the strain from the body punches.

APOLLO:

Man, I rearranged his face

with that right -- The people

love what's happenin' tonight.

TRAINER:

People nothin', you in a

fight, my man, -- ya best

believe what you hear... Knock

that boy out soon an' let's go

home.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky sits as Mickey and Benny try to reduce the swelling

around his eyes... The nose is shattered.

MICKEY:

Ya nose is broke.

ROCKY:

Damn! How's it look?

MICKEY:

Can't hardly tell. Don't

swallow the blood -- Go for

his ribs. Don't let 'im

breathe.

ROCKY:

... The guy's great.

MICKEY:

Why don't ya tell 'im you're a

fan!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Commentators are caught up in the action. They speak

rapidly into their microphones.

109.

COMMENTATOR #2

If you had asked anyone who

knows boxing, they never

would've predicted a first

round knockdown and the second

round punishment to the body

of the Champion... Most

fighters will tell you,

receiving a good body punch is

the next worst thing to dying.

COMMENTATOR #1

Round three ready to start and

should be interesting to see

if Creed can put the challenger

away -- there goes the bell.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Round three... Apollo comes out dancing. He skips and side-

steps Rocky's sledgehammer hooks. An expert ring general,

Apollo uses the ring fully. Rocky keeps tearing in and

Creed meets the bombing attack that cause thick swelling...

Near the end of the round Rocky fires a penetrating punch to

the heart.

COMMENTATOR #1

Apollo almost sprints out of

his corner -- feints and

throws a pair of left-right

combinations. Balboa drops

beneath a left upper cut and

lands a very solid shot on

Creed's temple -- not much

movement from Balboa, duck a

left, a right, another left

and explodes with a right hook

to the temple -- I mean

explodes. The Champ backs off.

COMMENTATOR #2

There's no way Apollo expected

this kind of hitting power.

COMMENTATOR #1

No way -- but the brilliant

ability of the Champion to

master situations like this is

one of his most outstanding

traits -- Creed tosses a

perfect right hand that rocks

Rocky.

(MORE)

110.

COMMENTATOR #1 (CONT'D)

Creed on the offensive --

Balboa takes the punishment

and counters with a left flush

over the heart... that hurt.

The wallop knocks Apollo off balance... The CAMERA GOES TO A

STEEP ANGLE SHOT from the floor, VERTICALLY UP Apollo's body.

The SCENE GOES INTO SLOW MOTION... Rocky releases a

terrifying uppercut that opens a gash under Creed's eye.

Creed's face contorts with excruciation.

TRAINER:

(yelling)

Cover your face! Cover up!

(to Assistant)

My man's cut, my man's

bleedin' -- Get ready!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL SOUNDS. Apollo's corner works frantically to close

the wound... The ring DOCTOR inspects the cut.

TRAINER:

Bad? Talk to me, man!

DOCTOR:

Deep, but passable.

APOLLO:

(staring at Rocky)

... That man's takin' his job

too serious.

TRAINER:

He's movin' to your left --

don't let him no more -- dance

and stick, hear? Don't

play -- I know what ya feelin',

but don't play.

APOLLO:

He got lucky.

TRAINER:

Luck! You fightin' a crazy

man -- but you got him hurt

bad.

(to Assistant)

More ice, now!

111.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky's face is in very bad shape, not cut, but wretchedly

swollen around the eyes.

MICKEY:

How you holdin' up, kid?

ROCKY:

Fine... That guy's great.

MICKEY:

Gimme the water! Ya getttin'

tagged with his right. I

think you should feint left

and high hook 'im -- Benny,

check the eyes! Can ya see?

ROCKY:

(standing)

See what?

MIKE:

Ya sappin' his strength --

He's losin' steam.

ROCKY:

He ain't losin' nothin'.

MICKEY:

Keep on him -- You're doin'

great.

SERIES OF SHOTS:

In the next ten rounds, Apollo cuts and slashes Rocky to

ribbons, but pays dearly... Both his eyes and lips are cut.

Welts across his midsection attest to Rocky's body-battering.

INT. ROCKY'S DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT

Adrian is unable to remain alone... She is lured by the

GROWING ROAR OF THE FANS... She exits the dressing room.

INT. ARENA HALL - NIGHT

Stepping out of the dressing room she walks down the corridor.

The MOUNTING CHEERS make her speed up. She opens the door

at the end of the corridor and is hit by a THUNDEROUS WAVE

OF SOUND. The guard at the door inspects her and goes back

to watching the fight.

112.

INT. ARENA - NIGHT

Adrian stands at the rear of the arena and watches the

battle. She is entranced by the power of it all.

Back in the ring, Rocky keeps grinding ahead. He plants a

thumping left over the Champion's heart and Creed winces...

Rocky is game but losing.

At ringside Paulie is frantic... He is living the fight from

his seat.

Mr. Gazzo and his Bodyguard watch from the second row.

Gazzo looks proud. The Bodyguard, impassive.

INT. ANDY'S BAR - NIGHT

A huge and lively crowd look up at the television over the

bar... They see Rocky driving Creed against the ropes and

cheer loudly.

ANDY:

... The Rock's got real stones.

INT. ARENA - NIGHT

The men are fighting with appalling tenacity. Rocky rips

and tears into the body... Apollo counters with a ceaseless

stream of rapier-like lefts... The Challenger is seriously

outclassed.

APOLLO:

C'mon -- Lemme cut yo'!

Rocky wades in and Creed employs incredible footwork. He

sets himself and cuts loose with a thunderbolt right cross

to Rocky's already broken nose. Blood sprays from the wound

and red droplets drip from his chin...

Rocky takes a merciless beating and is staggered by a

torrent of combinations. Rocky's eyes are closed. But

Creed cannot drop him... The BELL RINGS.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Commentators shift in their seats.

COMMENTATOR #1

Without a doubt this is the

most punishing brawl I have

ever seen -- The ringside

audience is spotted with blood.

(MORE)

113.

COMMENTATOR #1 (CONT'D)

This fight should have been

stopped rounds ago but Rocky

Balboa refuses to fall --

COMMENTATOR #2

Not only has he refused to

fall, but he has beaten the

Champion's body without mercy

and the bout has become a

vicious slugfest.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Apollo's corner is in turmoil... The Champion is definitely

hurt.

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