Rocky Balboa Page #6

Like a first-class exhibition fight.

- Why me?

- He respects the hell out of you.

All right? And let's be honest,

that computer fight got people curious.

- This could be very interesting.

- I ain't interested...

...in getting, like,

mangled and embarrassed.

No, that's not gonna happen.

Never happen.

Truthfully, I was thinking

more on a, like...

...miniscule, small level.

You know. Small fights, not big fights.

Small fights. Things that--

Local. You know what I mean?

Not a bad idea. Don't think of it as big.

Think of it like an exhibition.

Think of it as a glorified sparring

session. Here's something you'll like.

We're gonna donate a portion

of the gate to charity.

- That's always nice.

- It's good to give.

Yeah.

Where's it taking place?

- Las Vegas.

- Las Vegas.

Nice and warm.

This cold's gotta be killing you.

- Little stiff.

- You move better when you're warmer.

- Yeah.

- And if nothing else...

...you'll have new stories to tell.

- I really gotta think about this.

- Absolutely.

- Is that okay?

- I understand. No problem.

I'm gonna go over there.

You can order something.

- What do you recommend?

- It's all edible.

Okay. Thanks.

We got him. Imagine if Dixon

met this bastard in his prime?

- He'd kill him. Kill him.

- You ain't kidding.

Man, I'm confused.

I didn't think this was gonna

come along.

But this is what you wanted, right?

I don't know.

You know, I talk and I talk.

Sometimes I think

what I'm saying is true...

...and then I look at myself and I'm

not even sure what is true anymore.

Because it's like, I pushed

this crazy idea about fighting.

I mean, what's it all about?

Do I really care about standing

toe to toe and all that stuff...

...or, like my kid says,

is it just, like, ego?

Or am I this old pug who's just trying

to replace old pain with new pain?

I don't know. I don't know.

Look, I know

I usually don't say a lot.

I'm always listening and looking.

But who you are, the part of you

that's so full of life...

...we all have that feeling, that fire...

...but usually never get a chance

to use it. And then it just goes away.

But you can. You've got this

opportunity, so do it. Why not?

I mean, this is who you are.

This is who you'll always be.

And you don't move aside for nobody

until you're ready to move.

And it doesn't matter

how this looks to other people.

All that matters

is how it looks to you.

Rocky.

Rocky, look at me.

How it looks to you.

And if this is something

that you wanna do...

...and if this is something that

you gotta do, then you do it.

Fighters fight.

You're not gonna punch me,

are you?

Listen, I gotta go before I wear out

my welcome. I'll see you tomorrow.

Thanks.

Fighters fight, right?

It's rare when you get to promote

an event bigger than boxing. This is.

Skill versus will, with part

of the proceeds going to charity.

The brainchild of Mason Dixon,

to honor past heavyweight champions.

Warriors like Rocky Balboa.

Let's open it up for questions.

Hey, champ!

A few great fighters have fought in

their 50s, often with disastrous results.

Why risk the danger

and embarrassment?

The smart money says

you have virtually no chance.

A puncher always has a chance.

This fight will be competitive.

Why are you doing this, Rocky?

I don't know, I'd rather do

something I love badly than- -

Than to feel bad by not

doing something you love.

Rocky, the press has labeled you

a Balboasaurus.

How do you feel about that?

Let's say the following happens:

You win, we'll say you beat an old guy.

You lose, say a thumb in the eye,

you'll be the joke of the decade.

You all know that will never happen.

This is only an exhibition.

Don't go trying to make more out

of this than that computer tried.

Isn't this sport in enough trouble

without these circus events?

- Next question.

- On the surface, this looks like...

...a cheap bit of ring theater

between, no offense...

...a has-been and a man

whose own credible legacy...

...and popularity is in doubt.

- What's the upside?

- Doubt?

Upside? I mean... .

What do you mean, upside?

I mean, what do I have to do?

You know, I'm 33-0

with 30 knockouts.

I'm doing you people a favor.

I'm having this exhibition for you.

You gonna get up here and make

a mockery out of me? I'm the champ.

I mean, I get pissed,

this guy get hurt.

See you at the fight.

The guy's a joke.

He's gonna get crushed.

- Look who's here.

- How you doing?

- Have you seen my father?

- He's in the back.

This place has never served

this many meals. It's unbelievable.

You're doing good? Hope you're

enjoying everything, all right?

Excuse me.

How you doing? Glad you come by.

Can I talk with you?

- Sure.

- Can we do it outside?

- So you're going through with this?

- I start training tomorrow.

Hey, Rock.

I made some connections.

I can make some money

on this, endorsements.

Absolutely. Do that.

- Thank you, Rock. Okay.

- Sure.

- So you nervous about the fight?

- Scared to death.

- You don't look scared.

- Well, I ain't supposed to.

Then you don't have to do it.

Yeah, well, I think I do.

You know, living with you,

it hasn't been easy.

People see me

but they think of you.

Now with all this going on,

it's gonna be worse than ever.

- It don't have to be.

- Sure it does!

- Why? You've got a lot going on, kid.

- What, my last name?

That's the reason I got a decent job.

That's why people deal with me

in the first place.

Now I start to get a little ahead...

...I start to get a little something

for myself, and this happens.

Now, I'm asking you as a favor

not to go through with this.

This is gonna end up bad for you,

and it's gonna end up bad for me.

- You think I'm hurting you?

- Yeah. In a way, you are.

That's the last thing

I ever wanted to do.

I know that's not what you wanna do,

but that's just the way that it is.

Don't you care what people think?

Doesn't it bother you that people...

...are making you out to be a joke

and that I'll be included in that?

Do you think that's right? Do you?

You ain't gonna believe this,

but you used to fit right here.

I'd hold you up

and say to your mother:

"This kid is gonna be

the best kid in the world.

This kid is gonna be somebody

better than anybody ever knew."

And you grew up

good and wonderful.

It was great just watching,

every day was like a privilege.

Then the time come for you to be

your own man and take on the world...

...and you did. But somewhere

along the line, you changed.

You stopped being you.

You let people stick a finger in

your face and tell you you're no good.

And when things got hard, you started

looking for something to blame...

...like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something

you already know.

The world ain't all

sunshine and rainbows.

It's a very mean and nasty place,

and I don't care how tough you are...

...it will beat you to your knees

and keep you there if you let it.

You, me or nobody

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