The Harder They Fall Page #3

I know you got me my first job.

I've always been grateful.

Forget that.

You never

played ball with promoters...

...who bought advertising

in your newspapers?

I'm not proud of it.

But you did it because

you were a nobody.

You were afraid you'd lose your job.

Now you're a big man.

You don't have to lie

to hold your job.

- Well, I do.

- Eddie, I wanna show you something.

Charlie, put that roll of film on

I gave you this morning.

I pieced together some film

for my next TV show.

I want you to take a look at it.

These are not actors you'll see.

They're real fighters who were once

top names in the ring.

Thank you.

Will you pardon us, please?

This is Art Leavitt talking to you

in front of Rudy's Beanery...

... from Skid Row in Los Angeles.

Standing beside me is an ex- fighter

who was a topnotch fighter.

- What's your name?

- Joey Greb.

- How old are you?

- I'm 57.

- How many fights have you had?

- 243.

- Did you ever fight any champions?

- I fought so many I forgot who.

How much money did you mak e

as a fighter?

Anywhere from a half a million to

three- quarters of a million dollars.

Tell me, does your head ever hurt?

Oh, I get these sinus pains, I do.

What do you do now?

- Now?

- Yeah, what do you do now?

Well, now I'm looking for work, I am.

You are? Where are you living?

I sleep in my car opposite

the Ranch Mark et, I do.

- You sleep in a car?

- Yes.

Are you married?

I took air out of the tires

so nobody...

- No, my wife passed away.

- Your wife passed away.

- Do you have any children?

- My boy got lost in the war.

Oh, he did.

Why don't you get a regular job?

Why don't you get a regular job?

Have you got a trade?

No, I got no trade,

outside of fighting.

What about the managers?

Managers go on forever,

but fighters only last a short time.

Should there be a home for fighters?

The same as baseball players,

they should be pensioned off.

Should they tak e money from fighters

or should the boxing commission pay?

The commission and the authorities,

the state and the government should...

It should be under a

government issue, all together.

The same as the

president of the United States...

... we should have a commissioner

of the boxing authority of the U.S.

What are your plans for the future?

- What are your plans for the future?

- What future?

- Thank you very, very much, Joey.

- It's very nice. Thank you.

- You wanna see more?

- No. No, I've had enough.

- Still want me to keep my mouth shut?

- Yes, Art, I do.

You think I took this job

because I like it?

No, because I don't like

sleeping in the park.

All right. I'll tell the commission

that in my opinion...

...it could've been an honest match.

Will that settle us?

- Yes. Well, almost.

- What else, Eddie?

Tell me. I want to close our books

so we don't have any future business.

What else, Eddie?

Well, just stop looking at me

as if I'd picked your pocket.

- Vince, you're ignoring me.

- Oh, I think about you all the time.

- I'm going to the casino.

- No, you don't.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Feels good.

I'll give him six brothers

and three sisters. All poor.

- Eddie, why do we have to lie?

- Publicity.

Are you for real?

Do you mambo?

- Go play outside, sister.

- Don't push.

My money!

- The managers are on their way.

- Vince, Frank, clean out that room.

Managers are easy to handle

one at a time, but why send for six?

Get six together,

you're buying trouble.

Nick wants him to fight in Chicago by

Labour Day. We've gotta work fast.

Oh, Toro. It's bedtime.

- Good night, Eddie.

- Good night.

The party's over, sister.

I said, the party's over. Out.

I was...

- Hi, Jim.

- Hiya, Max.

- Hello, Max.

- Hi. Glad to see you.

- Max.

- Hi.

They're all members

of Benko's boxing club?

They've all done business with Nick.

- I'll do the talking.

- Who are you?

Jim Weyerhause.

- Leo tells me you've been unhappy.

- We want a better shake.

Toro is packing them in. You can pay

us an extra thousand and not feel it.

How much does the fighter get?

I asked a question. Just answer it.

We all got contracts with our boys.

They can't fight unless we say so.

You spot a strong kid, buy a 10-dollar

license and toss him in the ring.

For that, you grab a third

of his purse.

You steal another third

by padding the expense account.

Then you cheat him out of what's

left by giving him a fast shuffle.

- You're the managers, that's for sure.

- Do we get the extra dough?

- Pay the fighter an extra thousand.

- For what? Toro makes the gate.

It's good insurance. Pay him after

he takes the dive. Pay him directly.

- Nobody pays my fighter but me.

- You starting something new?

I split everything with my boy.

Trying to poison his mind against me?

If we do go for the extra,

let them take their share.

Pay my Trambo an extra G, some broad

will marry him and I lose my boy.

- You'll get another.

- I'm like a father to my boy.

He can't buy shoes without me.

Mr. Willis, you used

to be a newspaper man.

You just know a fighter in the ring.

We gotta live with these bums.

They're bums. They don't wanna work.

That's why they're in the business.

Without the fighter,

you're nothing.

You're wrong. Fighters come and go,

managers stay forever.

You're on our side. Stick with us.

Fighters are dirt.

- Let's not argue.

- Then what are managers made of?

What are you made of?

I'm wallowing in the same mud you are,

for the same buck.

That's why I want the fighter

to have an extra grand.

His whole life he'll talk about

making $1000 in one night.

I'll feel better, so should you.

Give those "bums" a break.

We handle the money.

We'll pay the fighters.

Get rid of them.

We'll do business elsewhere. Out!

All right, let's go.

We had the schedule laid out.

Where will I dig up new fighters?

They'll be back. Anything for a buck.

If they won't, I want Nick

to know it was your fault.

Mr. Willis. We'd like

to talk this over sensibly.

Sure, come on in.

Maybe you got a point.

To show our hearts are in the right

place, pay the bonus to the fighters.

Okay. Have a drink.

Maybe we seem a little tough

on our boys...

...but deep down, we love them.

You know something, Jim?

I never doubted you for a moment.

Mrs. Harding,

Mr. Benko authorized me...

...to offer you

his contribution of $25,000...

...for your charity drive

if Toro fights the main event.

But Mr. Benko's been indicted

several times.

The fight's TV sponsors

don't seem to mind.

You can't associate

your name with his.

His name isn't mentioned.

The contribution will be anonymous.

- I just want to do the right thing.

- Reject this offer.

Don't be hasty.

We must consider her tax position.

She can't carry the full load

of this charity drive.

They won't allow more

than a 20% / deduction.

- I advise you to accept it.

- I must withdraw.

- You should do the same.

- I want to do the right thing.

Reverend, let me refresh your memory.

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