The Champ Page #7

That cab driver took a wrong turn, | and like a foo I gave him a dollar tip...

..and he acted as if I'd stiffed him.

Are you with me or what?

Yes, I'm with you.

I received my first letterfrom my son. | From T.J.

Great!

Do you know how he signed it?

"Your friend forever, | Timothy Joseph Flynn."

-How is he? | -T.J.'s fine.

He seems fine.

-It's Billy. | -What about him?

Billy's making a comeback.

Every fighter dreams of a comeback.

Yes, but take me out of the picture | and what have you got?

Walking horses?

Now, I don't think | that Billy would go back into the ring...

..if I hadn't come nack into their lives.

You're sure you're not overreacting | just a bit?.

Maybe.

Mike, I'm worried. I'm worried about Billy.

At any rate, I'm going to the fight.

-When is it? | -This Thursday in Miami.

Mike, you do understand, don't you?

Well, to be totally honest, | I'm not sure I do.

I mean, I'm delighted | that T.J. is back in your life...

..but the rest, all this, | I'm not sure I like it at all.

Maybe I caan explain it to you.

T.J. didn't exactly say so in the letter, | but I think....

I think he'd like me to be there.

And....

Mike, what's more important | is that I think I should be there.

Would you prefer I lie to you?

Will you call me if you decide | to stay and walk horses?

How's it feel, Billy?.

Feels good.

How's that?

Okay, you guys, a few more rounds. | Let's get ready.

Hesh, close the door.

Come on, Champ, come on.

Come on.

You're looking good. Beautiful!

Let him chase you around.

Keep your left hand right | in his kisser al the time.

Beautiful! Beautiful! You just got in there.

Ataboy, Bily!

Stick at him, stick at him.

-You could do a lot more. Don't do it. | -I tod you that.

Champ, she's here.

-Who? | -Annie's here, Champ.

-What are you talking about? Where? | -Overthere.

Good match.

Come on, Billy, this ain't broad time, | for Christ's sakes!

What the hell are you doing? Come on.

Doesn't she look beautiful?

You run out of gas, you hit him | with a good left hook right to the body.

-He's supposed to be an old man. | -Forget it, you got 13 years on this kid.

Everything's fine tonight, Jackie! | I caan't do nothing wrong.

He's going to get him in this round.

You got him, Joey.

Stay down!

You're an old man.

I keep telling you all the time. | You take a lot of punches for nothing.

This kid's leggs are starting to go. | All I want you to do is stick and move.

-I knocked him down, did you see that? | -I saw it.

I knocked him down and he got up. | He's very strong.

Are you istening to what I'm saying?

I know. He's a good banger, | but he's got no legs left.

Just keep moving, moving.

-Stay away from him. | -I feel great.

-He's still strong. | -Stay away from him.

Stay off the ropes.

If you plan on fighting, you got it. | You're winning, I'm telling you.

Break! Get back!

Okay. Box.

Knock him out!

Come on!

Move back. Stick him.

No! Come over here.

Will you listen to me?

Stay away from him. I know he's strong. | Don't try to muscle him.

That's a tough old man.

He's a strong guy, Jackie. | He's a strong boy.

Another round, you'll knock the guy out. | Just keep on moving.

-Keep afterthat eye, you understand? | -Yeah.

-Okay, Jack. | -It's okay, Billy.

Champ!

Five, six, seven....

Here, Champ.

Don't, don't, T.J.

Just let me look at it, for Christ's sakes!

Champ!

Champ!

Come on, Billy!

That's it.

..four...

..five, six, seven, eight, nine....

Stop it!

Stop it! Stop it!

I'm all right, Jackie. I'm all right.

Doc, look at him.

Yeah, it looks bad.

-I'm going to have to stop it, Jackie. | -Look, don't do it, Doc.

Please, Champ, stop!

What day is it, Billy?.

It's Thursday.

Thursday, May 23.

-And where are we, Billy?. | -Miami, in the forum.

Well, okay.

I'll give him another round, | but if that cut gets any worse...

..l'm going to have to stop it. | Undersstand?

-Billy. | -Just keep moving fast.

Bily, please, listen to me, let me stop it.

They're going to kill the poor son of a....

I got him, Jackie, I got him now.

Great fight, great fight, I love it!

You got him all busted up.

-You know that? | -Yeah.

-I'm talking to you, understand? | -Yeah.

got him.

I'm not going to let him butcher you, Billy. | I'm not going to let him butcher you.

What are you al waiting for?.

No! No, stop!

Ladies and gentlemen.

The winner, 43 seconds into Round 6...

..scoring and winning by a knockout...

..the former champion of the world, | Billy Flynn.

Billy, you're a winner! Beautiful!

He's a champ!

-Goddamn it, Billy! | -We were with you all the way!

Fantastic!

Yeah, we did it.

Billy, are you all right?

Get a doctor. Hey, get a goddamn doctor!

Hesh, take that mouthpiecee out, | for Christ's sakes!

-I'm sorry, I couldn't get it out! | -Come on.

-Get a doctor! | -I gotto collect some bets, Jackie!

-I got to collectt some bets. | -It's all right.

-Don't worry. You'll be all right. | -I'm not worried.

Set him over here.

Clearthis out, will you? | Come on, get out of here!

Jack.

-Get the doctor. Don't stand there. | -Jackie! I got to collectthe bets.

Wheel it back there.

-I got to collectt the bets. | -Don't worry about it, kid.

In my pocket, I got a list of all the people | I made bets with.

I'll take care of it. | Don't worry about it now!

-I'll take care of it, I promise. | -Okay, okay.

Okay, Jackie.

-Where's my boy? | -Here he is.

Where's my boy, Jackie?

He'll be all right.

-Where's my boy? | -He's right here, Billy.

Here he is.

T.J., where are you?

Here I am.

Annie was here tonight, T.J.

Wasn't that a nice thing?

Yeah.

You invited her, didn't you?

I wrote to her.

You said to.

Yeah. It was nice of her to come.

You know, T.J., you know, you're....

Annie and me.

We did some silly things.

Who knows why people do what they do?

Nobody knows that, but she was....

She's a good person.

You know that.

You happy, kid?

I won the fight.

You happy?.

Yeah.

-The Champ... | -Yeah.

..always comes through.

That's right.

That's right.

Right.

What anout Billy?. What's happening?

I'm sorry.

No!

Champ!

No!

What's the matter, Champ?

Champ, wake up!

Wake up!

Wake up!

Champ, wake up, Champ!

Hey, don't sleep now! We got to go home.

Got to go home, Champ.

Georgie.

Don't cry.

Georgie.

Mister, help me. Wake him up! Wake him!

-We're all real sorry! | -Please, wake him up!

Let's go outside.

No! I don't want to!

I don't want to!

Jackie! Wake him up! Wake him!

-T.J., please. | -I want Champ!

-T.J. | -I want Champ!

Please, T.J., listen to me.

He's gone. He's gone, son.

He's gone.

No!

No! He's not gone! He's not!

-He's not! | -Not now!

-Please. | -He is not dead! He is not dead!

-Please, listen to me, son. | -I want Champ!

-T.J., please, listen to me! | -I want Champ!

He is not gone!

Come on, son. Come on.

I want Champ!

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