The Champ

-How's the hip? | -Oh, it's fine.

-I'll teach you how to ride, Shirley. | -I started when I was 8.

No, I'm talking horses here, Shirley.

Don't worry, I'll make a couple of trips.

Hey, Ramn. Take him in. He'll win.

Oh, boy.

Now, where's my girlfriend?

Where's my girlfriend? | Here's my girlfriend.

How are you doing, beautiful lady?. | Beautiful Lady, I love you.

Now let me see those legs, now. | You've got great legs, honey.

Yeah, great legs. You're in great shape.

Settle down, big boy. What are you doing?

Easy, nicee and easy.

-Good morning, Billy. How's it going? | -Good morning, Carmine.

Hey, Josie, my posy, listen. | Could you help me out?

Coverfor me this afternoon, | I have some business to do.

Sure. You're going to see Goodman?

I don't know. Maybe, | but keep it under your hat, will you?

Bless you.

You're going to do it, Champ? | You're going to really do it?

We're gonna have to keep on it.

We'll go down and listen to this guy, | and if he makes any sense....

We'll listen to him. | If he makes any sense we'll consider.

-Right, T.J.? | -Right, Champ.

The Champ's going to do it!

What's the excitement, T.J.?

Charlie Goodman. He wants the Champ. | The Champ w'I fight again.

-Charlie Goodman? | -Charlie Goodman.

There's nothing. | You're listening to my kid?

-Do you want to fight again? | -I didn't say nothing.

What are you getting me in trouble for?.

-Good luck, Billy. | -Good luck nothing. I didn't say nothing.

Why did you say that to him?

Billy, slow down.

If you feel like going in the ring again, | maybe you shoud, but be caareful.

You're 37. | Last time you fought you were 30.

Jersey Joe Walcott fought | the Heavyweight World Championship...

-...when he was 37 years old. | -I know.

Archie Moore was 50. | Nobody knows how old he was.

I know that, too.

But neither of those guys | Laid off for seven years.

Good morning.

-Hey, Jimmy. | -Hey.

$1,200 I made off you | in that Johnny Ward fight.

Doubled up on the hooks, | caught him in the eighth.

You were Beautiful, Billy. I remember | watching your fights and saying to myself:

"My God, this kid has got such talent."

I figure you hold the title | forfive more years...

..but you have one bad fight, | Lose it and you walk away.

I got to go, Mr. Riley.

Good luck, Bily.

Come on, let's go! | What's the holdup here?

Let's go, let's go! | Come on, come on, keep coming.

-Where have you been? | -I forgot to get something for you.

-What have you got in the box? | -I'I show you later.

Do you like it?

Yeah, I like it.

I like it very much.

-It's for your comeback. | -Comeback?

-Comeback's for has-beens, right?. | -Right, Champ.

All right, | Let's get this show on the road here.

-Yeah, baby, no kidding? | -No.

Wait, hold on.

Hi, Bily.

That's Billy Flynn.

Billy Flynn. Yeah. | I've seen him. That's him.

Come on, you got him! Up! Up!

Pick it up, Donny! | Pick it up, for Christ's sakes!

What have I got here, | a fighter or a piece of meat?.

I said jump, move! I mean it! | You're not showing me nothing!

Watch your hands. | You look like a bum out there.

Goddamn it! Get the hell out of here! | Get out of there! You're no fighter!

What's the matter, fatso? | What do you expect?

Get out there and punch. Get out there.

Move. Get him.

Get your hands up, Ernie. | Getyour hands up!

Move! Hit him! He's wide open! | What are you doing?

Move in on him! Hit him.

Bily.

Georgie.

-It's good to see you. | -It's so nice to see you, Georgie.

I got something to show you. | I saved this for you for seven years.

Your gloves. The gloves of a champion.

Your locker, Billy.

I saved al your stuff, Billy.

I still got the trunks, the cup, the headgear. | t's all here.

I said, "Someday, Billy w'll walk in | and he's going to ask for them."

-Has Goodman showed up yet? | -No, but he'll be here.

You think this is right, Georgie?

That I should show him what I got?.

That I should step in that ring | and show him what I got?

I made a lot of money for that man.

Champion of the world. It ain't right.

I'm taking a walk.

-What are we going to tell him? | -You tell him exactly what I said!

And if he wants to wait for me, that's fine! | He can wait for me!

I'I be back in half an hour.

Hi, Jimmy.

Come on, walk straight.

Here, I got you. Come on, Champ.

Billy, is everything okay?

I had four beers.

You need some help?

-No, it's okay. I can handle him. | -He can handle everything.

-I really can. | -He can handle everything.

-Yeah. | -I'll walk. I can walk. Look.

-Come on, Champ. Watch out forthe step. | -See that, I'm walking!

It was Charlie Goodman's idea: | "Billy, just a couple of beers."

And you know, | everybody started to buy him drinks.

He didn't want to hurt | everybody's feelings.

Right. Thanks a lot, Josie.

See you.

Oh, boy!

Oh, boy, it's hot in here.

Thanks, T.J., you're a good boy.

You're a goood boy. You know why | ost the title? Why I lost my title, T.J.?

Why, Champ?

Because I didn't care.

I just said, "To hell with it." | You know, I didn't care anymore.

Did you hear that, T.J.? I didn't care.

Let's get undressed, Champ. | Let me take off your pants.

No, let me do it.

The day a man cn't take off his own pants | then he ain'ta man.

-Why don't you go brush your teeth now? | -Sure, Champ.

-Can you help me with this? | -I'll help you.

Yeah. Look. Easy as pie, see that?

Come on. Come on, let's go.

Listen to me.

I am not going to drink no more.

I'm not going to gamble no more. | You understand that?

You understand that, kid? | I am not going to gamble no more.

Sure, Champ.

Yeah, you think 'm telling the truth?

-Of course I do. | -Ofcourse you do. You're a good boy, T.J.

People think they know everything. | They don't know nothing.

They don't know nothing. | They weren't in there taking the punches.

What do they know?.

I just didn't give a damn, | I didn't caare anymore.

I didn't caare.

Good night, T.J.

Good night, Champ.

TV rights or the Champ doesn't fight.

The Champ's going to sign for $50,000, | not a nickel less.

-Where is Billy now? | -He's around here somewhere.

All I was....

Good morning, Freddie.

There's the Champ now. There he is.

-Anybody miss me? | -Yeah, Riley missed you.

Champ, where've you been? | I've been waiting for you.

I know, T.J. I had a bad night.

But 've been going crazy.

Ofcoourse you're going crazy. | You know why you're going crazy?.

Because it's hereditary. It's in your bloood. | You got a crazy father.

I'll tell you. | You know where was last night?

-Where? | -Oh, boy. Oh, boy.

I coouldn't sleep last night. You know why?.

Why?

Because I let my son down yesterday. | Spent all my money on Liquor.

-What else is new?. | -I don't know.

And on top of everything else, | worst of all...

..I stole $20 from my own son.

-Come on. | -It's okay, Champ.

My money's your money.

No, it's not okay. | What a terrible thing to do.

You know what I did with the money?

-What do you think? | -Go gambling.

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