Rocky Page #6

JERGENS:

... It's very American.

APOLLO:

No, man, it's very smart.

34.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Late that afternoon Mr. Gazzo's white 1970 Cadillac pulls up

to Rocky's apartment... Rocky is in the back seat with the

loan shark. Gazzo's bodyguard is driving.

Gazzo flips through a small black notepad.

ROCKY:

Next Wednesday I grab a grand

from Snyder. An' Thursday two

yards from Cappoli, okay?

GAZZO:

No, two yards from Snyder, an'

a grand from Cappoli.

ROCKY:

Ya sure?

GAZZO:

Hey, screw ya brain on right.

Now, who's this girl you're

going out with tonight?

ROCKY:

How'd you know?

GAZZO:

(smiles)

You think I don't hear things?

ROCKY:

Paulie's sister.

BODYGUARD:

(abrasively)

Hear she's retarded.

ROCKY:

(dryly)

She ain't retarded, she's shy.

BODYGUARD:

Take 'er to the zoo -- Retards

like the zoo.

ROCKY:

Does that bum have to say that?

The Bodyguard reddens... Gazzo motions to his Bodyguard to

relax.

35.

GAZZO:

Buddy's in a bad mood --

prostate problems.

ROCKY:

He's always in a bad mood.

(laughs)

Count ya blessin's. Ya a

healthy person -- ya legs

work -- ya hands work --

The Bodyguard has been looking at Rocky with murderous eyes.

BODYGUARD:

I don't like ya face.

ROCKY:

Don't like yours neither.

BODYGUARD:

Kiss my ass.

ROCKY:

Move your shoulders down.

Mr. Gazzo is amused. He steps out of the car, followed by

Rocky.

GAZZO:

(smiles)

Buddy's got a thing against

ya, Rock. Some people just

hate for no reason, y'know.

ROCKY:

Yeah.

GAZZO:

Here's fifty bucks -- You an'

the girl have a nice time.

ROCKY:

Thanks, Mr. Gazzo.

Rocky enters his apartment and Gazzo drives off.

INT. JERGENS' OFFICE - DAY

The SCENE REVERTS BACK TO Miles Jergens' office. Apollo

pores over a large record book.

APOLLO:

How 'bout this Billy Snow?

36.

JERGENS:

Fouls.

APOLLO:

How 'bout this Big Chuck Smith?

TRAINER:

Too old, dull fighter.

(points at a name)

Bobby Judge is a good boy.

APOLLO:

... I don't feel heat from the

name.

JERGENS:

Joe Zack is a good prospect --

Exciting boy.

APOLLO:

... Still don't feel no heat.

JERGENS:

(sighs)

Exactly what are you looking

for, Apollo?

APOLLO:

... This man.

Everybody leans forward.

APOLLO:

(continuing;

much amused)

'The Italian Stallion' -- He's

my man.

JERGENS:

Rocky Balboa -- His record's

poor --

APOLLO:

Don't matter -- That name.

'The Italian Stallion,' it's

right on.

(laughs)

Who discovered America? An

Italian, right? So, man, what

could be better than to get it

on with one of his ancestors --

TRAINER:

He won't last one round.

37.

APOLLO:

Listen, I gonna carry this boy

three rounds, then drop 'im

like a bad habit.

TRAINER:

I don't like you messin' with

southpaws -- They do everything

wrong.

APOLLO:

Southpaw, nuthin' -- I'll drop

'im in three -- 'Apollo Creed

meets the Italian Stallion.'

Shhiii -- Sounds like a damn

monster movie!!

Everyone laughs.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. STREET - DUSK

Rocky and Paulie walk towards his house... Even though it is

cold and dark, a group of kids conduct an energetic game of

half-ball. (Half-ball is a variation of stick-ball.)

ROCKY:

(mimes throwing)

I usta be deadly at half-ball.

PAULIE:

I hate the friggin' game...

I'd like to talk some business.

ROCKY:

What kinda business?

PAULIE:

Look at my hands -- See how

the joints are swollen.

Paulie extends his thick hands and tries to make a fist.

PAULIE:

(continuing)

Inflamed joints -- Walkin' in

an' out of a freezer carryin'

meat plays hell on the joints.

ROCKY:

Maybe ya should see a doctor.

38.

PAULIE:

I don't need a doctor, I need

a different job.

ROCKY:

Maybe another job is the best

thing.

PAULIE:

Do me a favor -- Talk to Gazzo.

Tell him I'm a friend an'

would do a good job... Tell

him I ain't bothered by

nothin' an' would be a great

collector... Bustin' bones

don't bother me -- Tell him

I'm a good worker.

ROCKY:

Gazzo's gotta come to you.

PAULIE:

I'm askin' ya to go to him --

As a favor.

ROCKY:

Gazzo's gotta come to you --

Hey, Paulie, it's a bad job --

Do what you do now.

EXT. ATOMIC HOAGIE SHOP - DUSK

They continue past the Atomic Hoagie Shoppe, Inc... A group

of young men pitch quarters on the sidewalk out front.

Rocky pauses... He sees Marie, the little girl from the

night before, hanging around with the guys. She sees Rocky.

Marie takes a deep drag on her cigarette and faces the

opposite direction... The gang smiles and continues to pitch

quarters.

Anger and disappointment register across Rocky's face.

PAULIE:

You know her?

Rocky shrugs and the two men move off... Filling the night

air is the METALLIC SOUND of pitching QUARTERS.

EXT. PAULIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

The men arrive at Paulie's home. It is at the top of a

dimly-lit four story walk-up.

39.

ROCKY:

Ya sister knows I'm comin'?

PAULIE:

Yeah, sure -- She's very

excited.

INT. PAULIE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Paulie unlocks the apartment door and enters... Rocky

stiffly follows. Paulie's sister steps out of the kitchen.

A large serving spoon is in her hand... The TV is on.

She stops short and eyes Rocky... She is visibly unsettled

by Rocky's unexpected presence.

ADRIAN:

(weakly)

Paulie, you're late.

She looks at Rocky again.

PAULIE:

Did you call the hospital?

(to Rocky)

If I'm ten minutes late, she

calls the hospital.

Adrian enters the bedroom and slams the door... Paulie

follows. An argument ensues and Rocky overhears.

OVER the argument is HEARD a SPORTS BROADCAST rising from

the TELEVISION.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.)

... Unfortunate luck for

fifth-ranked heavyweight, Mac

Lee Green. The slugging

fighter acquired a serious

fracture in his left hand

after an aggressive day of

sparring -- Champion Apollo

Creed says he'll be 'shopping

for another victim,' to fill

Green's vacancy for the

Bicentennial Championship

Fight to be held in Philly

next month... By the way,

rumor has it that this will be

the most widely-viewed sporting

event in the entire world --

and that includes the Super

Bowl, folks... Today U.S.

swimmers set a new...

40.

Meanwhile, the argument between brother and sister continues

in the bedroom.

ADRIAN:

... Paulie, why didn't you

tell me you were bringing him

home?! Look at me, I'm not

ready for this.

PAULIE:

Like it would make a difference

if you were, right? This

guy's a friend and now he's

takin' ya out.

ADRIAN:

No... I can't!

PAULIE:

Ya, ya goin' outta the bedroom

an' I don't wanna know from

nothin'.

ADRIAN:

Paulie, please --

PAULIE:

Hey, I want ya out

instamaticly. -- I'm sicka

lookin' at ya hangin' around

like a friggin' spider -- Go

out -- Live! Do, enjoy life.

ADRIAN:

... Like you?

PAULIE:

Don't get wise with me. I

want ya to stop bein' a loser.

ADRIAN:

I can't go out.

PAULIE:

Why?

ADRIAN:

Paulie, it's Thanksgiving.

I've gotta turkey in the oven.

Paulie turns and leaves the bedroom... He enters the kitchen.

Grabbing a large fork, he opens the oven and spears the

turkey... With the turkey suspended on the end of the fork,

Paulie heaves the dripping bird out the window.

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