Rocky Page #18

APOLLO:

My side.

TRAINER:

(to Assistant)

Get that doctor.

APOLLO:

No doctor!

TRAINER:

You're hurtin', man!

APOLLO:

No doctor!... I'm feelin'

good, bro!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

In Rocky's corner, things are frantic. His eyes are swollen

shut.

MICKEY:

Wanna keep goin'?

ROCKY:

Would you keep goin'?

MICKEY:

... Yeah.

MIKE:

No more, ya wanna lose an eye?

No more.

114.

ROCKY:

Open my eyes -- Please, open

my eyes!

Mickey nods to Benny. He secretly places a small ring knife

between his index and middle finger. In one smooth movement

he drags the razor over the blood welts and quickly covers

the draining wounds with gauze... It is done so quickly no

one is ever aware of the operation.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

At the rear of the arena Adrian looks transfixed at the ring.

She is caught up in the heat of the battle.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL RINGS for round fourteen. Rocky bores in close,

but Apollo still has spring in his legs. He seems determined

to end it this round... Apollo catches Rocky flush on the

jaw. Rocky is staggered. Like a wolf, Apollo cuts loose

with pure savagery. Rocky is driven against the ropes and

receives a devastating beating from the Champion... Rocky is

dropped.

Rocky sits stunned in the middle of the ring... Everything

is a distortion. He looks for familiar faces as though to

ask for help... Mickey and Mike scream frantically for him

to stay down.

REFEREE:

Six -- Seven -- Eight --

Rocky gets to his feet and tenses with renewed energy. He

is like a wounded wild animal. The tide suddenly turns.

Rocky drops low and catches Apollo with a pair of terrific

body punches that seem to drive Apollo's diaphragm up to his

throat... A CRACK is HEARD. A glaze of pain covers Apollo's

eyes. It is only a supreme effort that keeps the Champion

upright... Apollo is badly hurt. He is bent over.

Rocky moves towards Apollo. Apollo flicks dread jabs into

Rocky's eyes... The Italian wades in with punches that seem

to bulge out Apollo's back. Creed takes the punishment like

a stoic.

Blood is running from Apollo's mouth. In the clinch he

leans over Rocky and it drips down the Italian's neck and

shoulders. Apollo shields his wound from the ringside

judges and continues to fight.

115.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL RINGS. Apollo's men rush out and guide him to his

corner.

APOLLO:

... Ribs broke --

Blood trickles from the corner of Apollo's mouth. The

Trainer feels the ribs.

TRAINER:

Yo' bleedin' inside, man --

Get that doctor.

APOLLO:

One more round.

TRAINER:

Don't kill yourself, man --

Let the doctor stop the fight.

APOLLO:

... Stop jivin'!

TRAINER:

Cover the ribs -- Look here,

elbow down, tight -- Tight --

stand straight -- you're the

best, you're the best!

APOLLO:

... Thanks.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky no longer resembles himself... His face has completely

been beaten to jelly, but his mood is buoyant.

ROCKY:

How I look out there, Mick?

MICKEY:

(truly worried)

Great, kid, great.

The ring Doctor leans over Rocky and checks the eyes.

DOCTOR:

One more round -- How do you

feel?

Rocky is approaching the supreme moment of his life. He

cannot be bothered with pain or doctors.

116.

ROCKY:

Fine -- Go away, I'm gonna

make it -- I'm gonna make it!

Everyone is distraught over Rocky's dangerous condition.

MICKEY:

We gotta stop it, kid.

MIKE:

Ya gave it ya best shot!

MICKEY:

Nobody's gonna say ya didn't

give ya all. I can't let ya

go out.

Rocky stands and eyes them all.

ROCKY:

(impassioned

and quietly)

I'll kill ya all... Don't stop

nothin' --

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL RINGS... Apollo moves cautiously out of his corner

and circles to Rocky's right.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Commentators stare unansweringly at the fighters.

COMMENTATOR #1

The fight has slowed down to a

near stand-still -- Creed

circles to Rocky's right...

The spectrum is nearly

silent -- Neither fighter has

made a motion to throw... I've

never seen anything like it in

the last round of a

championship fight... Apollo

spits blood on the canvas. It

appears he is protecting his

right side. His ribs were

probably injured at the end of

round fourteen.

(MORE)

117.

COMMENTATOR #1 (CONT'D)

It's confirmed, unofficially,

Creed's ribs may be broken --

Apollo fakes a left and throws

a big tired right -- Balboa's

mouthpiece is out! Creed

attacks with one hand!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Apollo feints and Rocky falls for it. The Champion unleashes

a lethal blow to the side of the head that jolts Rocky's

mouthpiece into the second row... Rocky sags against the

ropes in a crucified position... The insane crowd leaps to

their feet.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky's bloody teeth snarl at Apollo and he waves him to

come ahead and fight toe to toe... Apollo obliges with a

weary but effective burst of rights and lefts that have K.O.

written on every punch. Rocky counters the assault blow for

blow.

ROCKY:

Gimme ya best!!!!

Mickey looks at the clock... TEN SECONDS TO GO.

ROCKY:

(continuing)

Gimme ya best!!!

Blood sprays over the ropes and onto the ringside

photographers... They are horrified and wipe away the blood.

The fighters stand toe to toe and drag every remaining bit

of strength from their souls and beat each other without

mercy. They look hypnotized and have entered a dimension

far beyond blood and pain.

SIX:

FIVE:

FOUR:

THREE:

TWO:

ONE!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The BELL RINGS... The arena EXPLODES with thunderous approval.

118.

Their cornermen rush to their collapsed fighters... In the

midst of all the confusion both fighters look at each other

with unabashed respect -- They stand like blood-drenched

gladiators on the most dramatic night of their lives.

As though reacting to some unspoken command, they both step

towards each other and embrace... Apollo whispers in Rocky's

ear.

APOLLO:

... Ain't gonna be no rematch.

ROCKY:

... Don't want one.

Mickey comes over and separates them and leads him back to

his corner... Mickey embraces him.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

The Announcer enters the ring with a microphone.

ANNOUNCER:

Attention, please!! Attention!!

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight

we have had the rare privilege

to have witnessed the greatest

exhibitions of stamina and

guts ever in the history of

sports.

The CROWD ROARS.

ANNOUNCER:

(continuing)

Ladies and gentlemen -- We

have a split decision!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Apollo did not expect this and tenses. His corner nervously

tries to reassure him. It does no good.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky did not expect this either and looks in confusion at

Mickey, but Mickey is frozen with anticipation.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

Judge Walker scores it eight-

seven Creed... Judge Roseman

scores it eight-seven Balboa.

119.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Apollo is rigid. Fear radiates from his eyes. To lose the

crown on this night after the fight he fought would kill

him... A silence has blanketed the arena.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

ANNOUNCER:

Judge Conners scores it nine-

six Creed... Winner and still

Heavyweight Champion of the

World, Apollo Creed!

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Rocky sorely smiles and looks at the waves of CHEERING fans

that circle the ring and reach out towards him... Mickey

grabs Rocky's hand and raises it. The CROWD ROARS.

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