Mad Bull (1977) - full transcript
An embittered professional wrestler, convinced that his life has no meaning outside the ring, meets a beautiful woman. Unlike most of the women he has known, she seems to be interested in him for himself rather than his fame or his money, and he finds himself becoming attracted to her.
♪♪
[crowd booing]
How do you like that, huh?
[announcer]
Oh, the Mad Bull,
using an illegal hold.
He's got Mr. Clean
on the ropes,
hooking him with his foot.
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Uh-oh. The referee warning
Mad Bull.
He may be disqualified if
he doesn't break that hold.
Come on! Break it up!What do you mean?
Break it up!What do you mean?
Break it up!
Boo!
[announcer]
They're circling each other
in the ring now.
Mr. Clean challenging
the Mad Bull to come on in.
Now into the referee's hold.
Good crowd tonight.
Yeah.
Let's give 'em the old
"bloody ear" trick.
[announcer]
Mr. Clean forcing Mad Bull
into the ropes.
Whoa! A punch to the jaw
by the Mad Bull.
Mad Bull reverses him
into the ropes.
Aah!
Break it up!
Break it up or I'll
disqualify you!
I'm warning you!
[Mad Bull]
What are you
talking about?
[announcer]
Whoa! You fans must really
hate the Mad Bull.
One, two, three.
[announcer]
Mad Bull deals Mr. Clean
to the corner,
tags his partner.
Here comes
the White Knight.
Hey, what's he doing?
[crowd shouting, cheering]
[announcer]
Mad Bull claims that
the tag was not legal
and tags his partner,
the Executioner.
[crowd booing]
What do you think
you're doing?
You people are crazy!
[cheering]
[announcer]
White Knight tags
Mr. Clean.
Hey! What do you think
you're doing!
What are you doing?
Aah!
Aah!
[announcer]
Mr. Clean tags
the White Knight.
[booing]
Shut up!
[announcer]
The White Knight choke
deals the Executioner.
Uh-oh! Mad Bull has brought
a bull Whip into the ring.
No, no, no, no, no!
Uhh!
No, no!
What are you trying to do,
hurt somebody?
Just you or your brother.
[announcer]
And there's the tag
to Mr. Clean.
Mad Bull has left the ring.
He's got just ten seconds
to get back into the ring
and continue the bout,
or he will
be disqualified.
I'll take it for a while.Watch it.
[booing]
Ease up, Braden,
you're overdoing it.
What are you trying
to do, Braden?
What do you say, Executioner,
you gonna throw in the towel?Drop dead!
Boss, what's going on
down there?
I don't know what the hell
that Braden's doing.
The college punk,
he can't even count.
Punishment's one thing,
but hurting's another.
Time's running out.
You want a beer?
Give him a beer.
Come on!
All right, Braden,
I'm ready, let's end it.
Oh, that's nice.
Aah!
Aah!
Hey, what the hell
are you doing?
[crowd]
...two, three!
[announcer]
And there the three count
for the pin.
Come here! Come on!
He broke his arm.
His arm's broken.Take it easy.
Take it--
[all shouting]
Get back there!Get away from him!
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
two minutes to go in the round,
and the winner...
the White Knight
and Mr. Clean!
I'll take care of it!
I'll get you a shot
at the title!
[whispering, indistinct]
Ladies and gentlemen,
your attention, please.
We have a correction.
It has been determined
by the commission
that Mr. Clean did not
spend the necessary
minimum amount
of time in the ring,
and therefore Mr. Clean
and the White Knight
have been disqualified,
and the match
has been awarded
to Mad Bull
and the Executioner.
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
Duke Sallow is here with
an official announcement.
Ladies and gentlemen,
by winning here tonight,
the Mad Bull has
earned himself a shot
at the tile held
by Jack Braden.
Now I have here in my hand
the contract to that
championship fight
to be held right here
in the Colossus
two weeks from tonight.
[booing]
[announcer]
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
there you have it.
The match has been made.
It is now signed
and will be, in two weeks,
right here in the Colossus
for the Heavyweight
Championship of the World,
the Mad Bull and
the White Knight.
Did he break it?
He didn't pull his punches.
He put the kibosh on me.
Loudmouth stupid jerk
with those stupid--
Hey, come on, be cool, man.
Come on, man! Hey!
Hey, Duke.
What's with this guy not
pulling his punches, Duke?
I already talked
to him about it!
He said it was an accident.An accident--
Now, what the hell am
I supposed to do about it?
You're supposed to take order,
I'm telling ya.
You're the promoter
around here.Take it easy, Iago,
unless you want to
play the Enforcer.
If he keeps it up,
I'm gonna be the enforcer.
What are we supposed to do
with this college hero?
Waltz him around the ring?
Get the wax out of
your ears and listen!
All I go by is
the box office here,
do you understand?
That's why Braden's staying!
That's why we come up
with a championship bout
every now and then!
That's how we keep this lousy
business from going stale!
Even if we get our
brains knocked loose
by this clown, huh?
Use your brain.
What goes up comes down.
You'll have your day,
don't you understand?
Some consolation.
That jerk's going around
breaking our bones faster
than we can grow 'em.
Look, Tony, I'm sorry
about the wrist,
but nobody ever told you that
wrestling was a ballet class.
Now the rest of you guys,
stop your bellyaching!
Stop acting like
a bunch of crybabies!
I'll take care of Braden!
Don't worry about it!
Now I want you all
to meet here Earl Lewis.
The kid's just up here
from San Diego,
used to be known as
Country Boy Lewis,
a real hayseed act--
He looks a little too clean
to be one of us.
I'm as dirty as--All right, come on!
Hey, hey.
Stop it, you big ox!
[Iago]
Come on, yeah!
Now here's what
we're gonna do.
We're gonna make him
the Happy Undertaker, see?
We give him a shave,
a haircut,
we snap a black hood
over his head,
a big rope around his waist
so he can strangle
the opposition with.
Not bad, Nick.
Not bad.
What do you mean not bad?
It's terrific.
I thought it up myself.
I gotta go.
Damn. Just once, I'd like
to pop that Braden
for real, Iago.
You heard Duke.
It'll never happen.
Uh, excuse me?
Mr. Karkus?
Uh...
you really whipped up
that crowd tonight.
Listen, I gotta ask
you something.
Ain't you afraid of
getting hurt?
As long as they're
screaming and yelling,
you got nothing
to worry about.
It's those quiet fruitcakes
you gotta watch out for.
Doesn't it bother you
that they hate you?
If I die in the riot,
I die happy,
you know what I mean?
Hey, hey.
If you're such a bad guy,
how come the white hat?
That's when
I was a good guy.
Now that we're alone,
I got something
important to tell you.
You're finished!
Next time.
There won't be no
next time, Mad Bull.
[clicking]
♪♪
[laughing, whistling]
Hello, Grandpa.Hello, Alex, my boy.
[speaking foreign
language]
Ah, you're looking
good, Maria.
Thank you.
Hmm.
Grandpa, can I help you prune
some bushes like last time?
Of course.
I was waiting for you.
I'll pick up Alex
around 6:00.
Please don't let Iago
talk to him about wrestling.
No.
♪♪
Hey, Iago, why don't
you go over to her
and say hello to her?
After all, she was
once your wife.
No, Maria's right.
It would only
make things worse.
I'll see you later.
[man speaking in Greek]
[singing in Greek]
Eat and partake
and have a great festival.
♪♪
Bugs don't hurt anybody,
just forget them.
Stay away from pesticides
and stick with nature.
She knows best.
Hey, Aleco, hey.
What's wrong, you don't say
hello to your old man?
Come here.
Come here!
Uhh! Man, are you
getting heavy.
Pop.How you doing?
Grandpa's just showing
us some snails.Yeah? Well...
Put a little garlic,
a little butter on
them...
[groans]
How's baseball?
Okay.Yeah?
What are you batting?.285, I guess.
What do you mean .285,
you guess?
If Reggie Jackson
was batting .285,
do you think
he'd say, "I guess?"
When do you play again?Tuesday.
Well, I'll be there.
You want to come
and watch me play?
Yeah, I, gonna come
and see you play.
Is that a deal?
Okay!
I heard Uncle Tony hurt
his hand yesterday, didn't he?
Yeah, well, that happens.
I wish I could come
and watch you when you fight.
Well, that's up
to your mother,
you know that.
The guys say
it's all fake,
and I said it
wasn't, either.
Is it fake, Dad?
No, it's not fake, son.
Alex.
Take these
tools inside.
Thank you.
Wrestling?
That wasn't wrestling,
the two of you,
rolling like meatballs
on a plate.
Oh, come on, Pop.
You wanna make money today,
you gotta give 'em action.
You take a great,
classic sport
and make fun of it.
When I was wrestling,
it was real.
What happened to Tony's arm,
that wasn't for real?
You don't understand.
Hey, Tidy, no wonder
you keep this place a secret.
Man, it stinks.
Can't you pump
a little air in here?
What do you want?
This used to be
a slaughterhouse.
Yeah, well,
it still is, baby.
If you wasn't all bad guys,
you wouldn't have to
hide out up here.
You could work out in public
like normal people.
How come-- how come...
how come you're running
a joint like this?
You used to be a good guy.I dropped a bundle.
Oil wells, land,
even restaurants.
I figured I'd go back
to my old racket,
where I could tell the good
guys from the bad guys.
Hey, Iago!
Excuse me.
What are you doing here?
I got you that gig for this
afternoon I promised you.
Oh, yeah? What do I do,
crush another refrigerator?
No, no, no.
This is a cinch.
Outside, fresh air,
you'll love it.
Here's the address.You hold that.
You gonna have
dinner with me?
No, no, I got to
get back to L.A.
You could've phoned
that one in, dummy.
[whistles]
Duke gave me the lowdown
on the title shot.
Yeah?
Yeah.
It's gotta be a "no time limit"
death match, you fight dirty.
How else am I gonna fight?
Well, make it last an hour
and look good before Braden
pins you with an atomic drop.
Blood is optional.
Any questions?
No.
Duke says you gotta hype up
the gate wherever you can.
Mention it in your sleep.
Here's the address.
I gotta go now, kid.
See you later.
So long, Tidy.
You never even said hello.
So hello.
♪♪
Uh, excuse me, ma'am.Yeah?
I'm a little late.
Is there a Mr. Cartwright here?
Yeah, but he was called away.
Well, can I help you?
I work for him.
I'm the strong man.
Oh, yeah.
Um...what's your name?
Iagos Demetrius Putsicaras
Kanasopolis.
I'm glad to know you.
I'm Christina Elizabeth
Theresa Amenica Sebastiani.
Oh.
Do you know what
I'm supposed to do?
Yeah, you're supposed to lift
twice your weight in peaches.
Boy, that's really dumb.
Who thought of that?
Our boss.
But if it helps sell
more peaches and pies,
I might even get
a raise out of it.
Okay, so where do I dress?
Come on, I'll show you.
[man]
Hello, ladies and gentlemen,
how are you today?
It's a peach of a day,
isn't it?
And I've got something
really peachy for you today,
and here it is:
Karkus the Great.
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
our strong man
weighs 220 pounds,
and he's going to pick up
and put over his head
400 pounds of peaches.
How about it? Are you
ready for this, Karkus?
Karkus the Great.
Can you do it, Karkus?
Whoo![applause]
Not bad.
Not bad at all, Karkus.
Now, unlike our strong man,
ladies and gentlemen,
all you have to do
is lift your own weight.
We have a balanced scale
right here--
And you'll take home
a freshly baked peach pie
free of charge.
Now, how about it?
How about this gentleman
back here?
Yes sir, you.
Come on, come on up here.
Nope. All right.
How about you, sir?
How about it,
for a freshly
baked peach pie.
Come on, take a try,
see what you can do.
Come on up here.
Good luck.
I'm really hungry.
I really don't like peaches.
My father told me,
he said everybody's
got to eat,
get a job in foods.
So, I started out as a box girl
when I was in high school,
worked my way up to checker,
and now the stores give me
a scholarship
so I can go to school,
and then to full-time
promotions someday.
Yeah, but what's
with all the peaces?
Oh, that's just to get
people into the store--
or get rid of overstock.
Could've been cauliflower,
but it doesn't sound
as good as peaches.
Well, it sounds like a very
interesting job, in foods.
Yeah.
Really?
Are you kidding me?
I mean, is it really
interesting?
Yeah, I do,
especially the customers.
[chuckles]
If we see a gorgeous guy
on the floor,
one of the girls gets on
the speaker and she goes,
"77 on aisle four!"
You're kidding.
You're serious?
No. 77.
That mean he's a hunk.
Guys did that. I didn't
think girls did that.
Yeah, and psyching
people out, too.
You can tell a lot
about a person
by the kind
of food he buys.
How?
We get vegetarians,
we get health food nuts,
we get garbage food addicts,
all sorts.
Some cheat, though.
They like garbage food,
but they buy health
food instead.
Oh? Why do they
do that?
To impress us,
so they can get a date.
You go out with
the customers?
Sometimes.
Well!
[laughs]
[no audible dialogue]
Look, peaches, uh...
would you, uh...
would you have, uh,
dinner with me tonight?
I'd like to, but I already
have a date.
Maybe some other time.
Well, look, I'll give you my--
Do you have a pencil?
I'll give you my number
in L.A., and, uh...
you know, just, uh...
if you get down there...
Who knows? I may
get down there someday.
I would really like
to see you again.
[sighs]
I'm kind of involved
with somebody right now.
You're a really
nice guy, Iago.
I gotta run.
[horn honking]
[honk honk]
Hey, what the...
[over loudspeaker]
Okay, Mad Bull,
live like an animal,
die like an animal.
Keep it up, Mad Bull.
We got some fried "Bull"
coming up!
We got some fried "Bull"
coming up!
[truck horn honking]
Criminals must be
stamped out!
[children laughing]
Hey, big man.
Would you tell Alex Karkus
his pop's here?
Hang tight.
I'll get him, Mad Bull.
Hey, you guys!
Mad Bull's here!
[booing, jeering]
You're taking all that heat
because of me?
Yeah, they call me
Mad Bull Jr.,
the safest
third baseman.
And what do you do
about it?
I had a couple of fights.
Did you win?
Yeah.
Dad, is it fake
or isn't it?
You know, people like
to hear stories,
like, the good guy wins,
the bad guy wins.
Oh, you mean it's pretend,
like TV or the movies.
Yeah, something
like that.
Except sometimes
it's for real.
You know what happened
to your Uncle Tony's hand.
Mm-hmm.
Are you gonna beat
Jack Braden?
[chuckles]
Am I gonna beat
Jack Braden?
I don't know.
The guys wanted
to bet me.
Gambling's for fools.
If I become a wrestler,
do I have to be
a "bad guy" wrestler?
I want you to be
anything you want to be.
Oh.
Mad Bull Jr.!
Hey, Mad Bull Jr.!
You're up!
I'll see you later.
Hey, Aleco.
♪♪
That hit-and-run
really creamed you.
I can't believe someone would
do something like this.
[telephone rings]Are you kidding?
Look at this place.
There's nothing but crazies
out there on the road
waiting to put somebody
in the hospital.
[man]
Hey, Karkus,
telephone for you.
Yeah?
Iago?
This is Christina Elizabeth
Theresa Amenica Sebastiani.
Is that--
Is that you, peaches?
How'd you find me down here?
Your answering service
told me where you were.
Were you in an accident?
No, not an accident.
I just had a little fender
bender. It's nothing.
Well, I'm down here
on another promo.
This time I'm pushing
California wine.
Oh, that's great!
That's really great!
I'd hate to be
all caged in.
You think they know the
difference, being caged in?
You think we do?
Well, we're not caged in.
At least I'm not
caged in.
What do you do?
I mean, when you're
not lifting peaches
and criticizing elephants?
Let's go, uh--
Let's go look at
some other specimens.
[seals barking]
[Iago]
Whatever happened to that
guy you were involved with?
[Christine]
He was married.
It wouldn't have
worked out anyway.
Do you think giraffes
stay with one mate?
Well, unless they go
to the curator
and ask for a divorce,
they do.
Tell me something.
Are you married?
Am I married?
Yeah.
Would I be here at
the zoo with you
if I was married?
Come on.
I don't know. I know
some people who would.
Yeah?
Think I'd ask
up front this time.
You mean you've never
asked a man that before?
I forgot.
Three times.
Three times?
Hmm.
Don't go telling me I get
involved with marrieds
so it wouldn't work out.
I'm not telling you that.Good.
I know a shrink who did
just because
I had headaches for a month
at the company clinic,
that's what he told me.
I walked out on him.
Yeah, well, don't
walk out on me, peaches.
Okay.
[grunts]
[grunts]
[growls]
I'll tell you one thing,
they're not as built
as good as I am,
nor are they
as good-looking.
Oh, cut it out.
What do you mean?
Stop putting yourself down
and not answering
my questions.
Questions?
Are...you...married?
I was, but I'm not.
Glad? Sorry?
Well, she left me
and took my son.
Do you love her?
I don't love her anymore.
Sure hurts when somebody you
love tells you to get lost.
Well, she didn't like
the profession I was in.
What profession?
[Christine]
I got it.
You're a bird trainer.
[Iago]
No, I'm a professional
wrestler.
A what?
I wrestle for money.
Is that anything
like boxing?
Well, kind of, yeah.Oh.
I went to a boxing match once.
It was terrible.
Everybody beating
everybody up.
Well, it's different
than that.
In what way?
Well, it's, uh...
It's hard to explain.
I'd like to see you wrestle.
I'll bet you're good.
All right. Tomorrow.
But tonight, I'm gonna
make you a great dinner,
and we're gonna have my
pop's three different wines
that he made in his
basement in 1963.
Don't you ever
open your mail?
No, they're just
fan letters.
Fan mail, huh?
Uh-huh. Oh!
This one smells
like, uh...
violets.
Yeah? Let me smell that.
Can I open it?
Sure.
[chuckles]
This is really dirty.
Well, then let me
look at that one.
No. That's not for
innocent eyes.
Aw, this is really sick.
"You're a criminal
Criminals must die""
Yeah, well, that's the kind
of mail I usually get.
I got a cow pie
in the mail once.
That's why I never handle 'em
anymore, you know what I mean?
Why would anybody
hate you so much?
Why?
Yeah.
I'll tell you why.
[Greek accent]
Because I'm the bad guy,
and I don't need
no fan club.
From them, from nobody.
♪♪
Uhh!
[groans]
You're not so tough.
No.
[groans]
Did I hurt you?
No, it's that stupid Braden
the other night.
[sighs]
Hmm?
Ow. Easy with that one.
It was broken by
Baron Merchant in '72.
Boy, was he clumsy.
That's a pulled tendon.
Happens all the time
in this business.
Oh, that's-- I broke that
last year on a ring post.
Can you believe that?
Dumbest move I've
ever made in my life.
Uhh! That's Mr. Clean,
'70, I think it was.
'70, yeah.
Yeah, that's Black Bart.
First time he ever wrestled.
Boy, can I break 'em in.
You know what?
What?
I never thought I'd fall
for a physical wreck.
Come on, you sissy twins!
[announcer]
Oh, it looks like
the Dolly Brothers
not yet ready to wrestle.
[crowd booing]
And if you've tuned in
a little late,
this is called
a Battle Royale,
which means that the last man
and the last woman
left in the ring
wins the match.
See, usually three
wrestlers team up,
they knock all the other
wrestlers out of the ring,
and then they wrestle,
and the last one in the ring
is the winner.
[announcer]
The Alaska Smasher's,
in to defend,
his armed roped,
demanding the Warrior.
Why are those two
blonde guys in there
looking in the mirror
instead of wrestling?
They're looking in the mirror
because that's the character.
They're playing a character.
A character.
Right.
[crowd booing]
Come on, fight!
[announcer]
Now it's a gang-up
on Mr. Clean,
turning into the big pile-up.
Remember,
ladies and gentlemen,
your welfare checks
will be honored
at the front box office.
We all have to have
a character.
Why? You're you.
I know I'm me, but, I mean,
that's what the crowd wants.
They want a character,
right, Anthony?
Yeah, right. It's like
I'm the Executioner...
you understand?
Yeah.
What's yours?
Look at Yapopotsky
working up the crowd.
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Yapopotsky has his
caveman club.
[Yapopotsky]
Don't wanna fight no match!
Isn't that terrific?
Do you know what that is,
working up the crowd?
It means he's getting the crowd
so excited-- Look at 'em.
They're so excited right now,
they wanna kill him.
[crowd booing]
That's what working up
the crowd is.
He's playing a character.
That's his character.
[announcer]
Mr. Clean eliminated.
Big airplane spin
by Yapopotsky...
and knocking the Alaska
Smasher over the ropes.
The Alaskan out of
the contest.
They got Manzengo Tom
through the ropes,
onto the floor.
Well, it's different
from boxing.
It's different from boxing.
Hmm. It's kind of like
a circus.
I don't think
it's like a circus.
Oh, sure.
Everybody dressed up
in clown suits, right?
[announcer]
Uh-oh.
Sex Change and Cosmo Girl
thrown out of the ring
and are fighting
on the floor...
and they are eliminated.
Here they are.
Just the three of them left.
Yapopotsky
and the Dolly Brothers.
Don't let 'em touch me.
Get 'em out of here.
[announcer]
Uh-oh!
Here comes the
"coconut thumper."
[bell rings]
[bell rings]
How do you dress?
[announcer]
Yapopotsky is the winner!
You'll see.
I gotta go.
Yo, Christina,
I think Iago likes you a lot.
I like him, too.
[chuckles]
Hey, how would you like
some popcorn, soda, a hot dog?
Popcorn, yeah.
Yeah, let's go sit down.
[announcer]
Well, folks, it's intermission
time now.
In just 15 minutes,
the main event,
a chain match between Mad Bull
and the Apache Kid.
[booing]
[choking]
"This match will not be over
"until one of the modern
gladiators
"drags the helpless body
of the other
completely around the ring."
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Mad Bull is bicycling away
from the Apache Kid.
Shut up! Shut up!
You want a bottle? Ha ha!
[shouting]
Hyah!
[crowd cheering]
Oh! Anthony!
Don't worry, don't worry,
he's okay.
Then he's a fake, too.
Well, no, uh...
No.
Yes.
Get him away!One..
Get him away.Two...
Three.
Ah, that Mad Bull stinks!
You know, I just love
the White Knight.
Last year he got some of
his blood on my dress,
and I still have it in the
bottom drawer, unwashed.
Ugh.
[booing]
[announcer]
Mad Bull now chain choking.
Yeah, Dad, come on.
Come on, Dad, get him.
All right, Dad. Come on.
Come on, Dad.
Head butt, come on.
But, Mom, it's dad!
I don't care who it is.
Alex, I will not have
you watching this
senseless violence.
Now, I think you have
homework to do.
Uhh!
What's that?
All right, break it up!
Break it up!
Time-out!
[announcer]
Mad Bull calls
for a time-out,
but remember,
in a death match,
there are no time-outs.
[all talking]
[referee]
Come on, break if off
the ropes, both of you.
I'll give you the count.
[booing]
All right,
let's get out of here.
[crowd booing]
Good one, Iago!
How'd you like that one?
I'm not sure.
[announcer]
And it's a flying body press
from the Mad Bull
for the pin.
Braden, what's up?Break it up!
Braden's up to something.
Iago's gonna need help.
You hear me?
Break it up, Braden.
Get him off me!
Aah!
Ladies and gentlemen--
Well, fans,
this looks like
a tag-team event.
Who's idea--
I'll handle it!
Who's idea was this?
I'll handle it!You'll handle what!
[thick Greek accent]
That bum Braden!
He break my wrist!
But my brother Iago
is gonna break
all his bones and bodies
right here on July 21st!
And you be here!
You hear me?
You be here!
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen--
Ladies and gentlemen,
your referee disqualifies
both men
for outside interference.
The result is "no decision."
[booing]
Mad Bull's gotta be
the dirtiest wrestler
on the circuit.
I'd like to get
my hands on him
in a dark parking lot
some night.
[man]
Mad Bull's gonna get it
one of these days.
[second man]
That Apache kid should've
twisted his head off
with his chain.
Gate receipts around 20%.
I wish I could figure out
a way to make 'em madder.
Don't sick Braden on him again.
It ain't fair.
Will you stop it!
The hotter he gets,
the hotter the box
office gets.
More money for you,
more money for me,
more money for him,
more money for everybody!
Yeah, but he's
a sensitive guy.
He ain't a hard case like the
rest of the beef around here.
Go easy.
You can go easy on him
after the Braden match.
Rest him up in San Diego
and let him unload
in Tijuana for
a couple of days.
Hey, Antonio, come here.
Hey. Come here.
What did Chris think
of the matches?
Um, she didn't care for 'em,
but she'll get used to it,
she'll like it.
Do me a favor, will you?
Will you go outside with her?
I don't want those
people around her.
Yeah, sure.
Hey.
Tony, come here.
I don't want you hanging out
with those groupies outside,
you understand?
Not me,
I'm a Boy Scout.
Yeah, you're a Boy Scout.
Bye-bye, Mad Bull.
Good night, Karkus.
Iago.
Aah!
[tires screech]
Help, somebody! Help!
Help!
Get back!
Get back! Someone get a--
Someone get an ambulance!
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Klein. Paging Dr. Klein.
Telephone for Dr. Klein.
Dr. Carrow, surgery, please,
Dr. Carrow.
Stop for a minute, Iago.
How can I stop when
my brother's lying there
with a bullet that
was meant for me?
You don't know that.
He didn't have an enemy
in the world.
He even told me you thought
it was me lying there.
If I hadn't just given him
that stinking hat...
If you two didn't live
the life of two clowns,
this wouldn't have
happened.
Papa, that's not
fair to Iago.
He didn't
do anything.
He does it every night
of the week.
He makes a fool
out of himself.
Mr. Karkus?
Hello. I'm Dr. Bradford.
How is he?
Well, he's at risk of
spinal injury,
so we left the bullet
in for now.
He wants to see his brother.
Will you come with me,
please?
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Warner wanted
in radiology.
Dr. Warner.
Dr. Nyman,
reception area, please.
Dr. Nyman.
Hey, Tony.
Hey, Tony.
Iago.
The doctor said
you're gonna be okay.
Sure. I know.
But if he's wrong,
I want you take care
of Delia.
Don't let anything
happen to the baby.
Oh, don't say that.
Promise me.
Promise me.
It just seems like
half our lives we spend
in the hospital.
It's the breaks
of the game, huh?
I was thinking
about that...
that sporting goods store
you talked about, you know?
I thought it was
kind of crazy, you know?
But I don't know.
Maybe it's a good idea.
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Simon, line one, please.
Dr. Simon.
Call it quits, Iago.
What are you talking about?
After what just happened,
any sane person
would call it quits.
[sighs]
I spoke to my boss
this morning.
He wants me to meet him
in San Bernardino.
San Bernardino, huh?
Yeah.
I have a job to do.
I already took
an extra day.
And you're just running away.
Not really.
But I think it's better
if we part for a while.
Better for who?
For me
and maybe for you.
It's because of what happened
to Anthony, huh?
It's partly that,
but it's mostly
why it happened.
I don't think I could
stand to see you
in that ring again
in that fool's getup.
Well, I happen to make
my money that way.
I'm not gonna ever
apologize for that, baby.
Well, don't apologize!
But I would rather
see you broke and honest
than dancing around
like a trick baboon
in long underwear!
[police radio chatter]
I want you to wait here
for a second.
You Karkus?
Yeah.
Sergeant Meeker.
Sorry about the questions
at a time like this.
They gave me
the preliminary report.
It says that
you think the guy
was out to shoot you,
not your brother.Yeah, that's right.
Is there anything more
you can tell me about that?
No.
How many times I gotta tell you?
Christina said the same thing.
There was a yellow pick-up.
It's the same yellow pick-up
that tried to run me
off that road.
Is that it?Yeah, except he was
wearing my white hat.
The killer?No, not the killer, my brother.
I put it on his head.
Is there any other questions?
No. Thanks.
♪♪
Thought you might like that.
Hey, did I ever
tell you about the time
I saw the Sheik of Persia
in Atlantic City get nailed
with the flying mirror the last
ten seconds of the bout?
Yeah, you told me that,
Sweeper,
but you can tell me
again if you want.
Oh. No, I don't want
to bore you.
Iago, could you
loan me a tenner?
I'll pay you back,
I promise you.
Thanks. I'll pay you back.
Sorry to hear about
your brother, Karkus.
Yeah.
Sorry it wasn't you instead.
Get out of here.
Go on. Get out of here.
You know,
I really think you
ought to get out of
the wrestling business.
I mean, you've been throwing
that "bull" around
all these years so long,
it made you old and soft.
Hey! Hey!
[glass shattering]
Aah!
Uhh!
[siren approaching]
Hey, Tiger, come on!
You sold out the house!
Who called you?
Queenie did.
Come on, don't worry about it.
You're sprung.
What are you looking
so glum about, huh?
We're uncovered. That scrap
you had with Braden,
it made all the papers,
TV, everything.
I'm telling you, I can
build this thing--
You can bill it any way
you want to bill it.
I'm telling you, when I wrestle
that man, it's for real.
I don't care how
you advertise it.
Will you listen to me?
Suppose you broke his jaw.
We'd be out
a barrel of dough.
Now I want you to stay away
from him until fight time.
At fight time, you can do
anything you want.
Keep me away from him
or I'll break his jaw.
All right, all right,
cool it!
♪♪
Papa.
[speaking Greek][speaking Greek]
Iago?
No, thanks.
Okay.
Like that,
just like that,
your mother used to
bring it to me
when we were young
in the old country.
I think when she died,
we all lost very much.
You maybe the most.
You were her first born,
her favorite.
Yeah, Papa.
Yeah, Papa?
She wanted you to have
what we came to America for.
Pop, I got a big
Cadillac outside.
She wouldn't like
the way you got it.
Why?
Because youdon't like
the way you got it.
[sighs]
What's wrong with
what I do, Papa?
I don't steal.
I don't rob.
You stand up
when you're told.
You lie down when
you're told.
This is why we left
the old country.
You'd rather have me
win the gold medal
like you wanted to do, huh?
Maybe.
Well, how long
can I eat the gold?
Not too long.
So what do you want
me to do?
Not to stand up
and not to lie down
when you're told.
You don't understand, Papa.
If I do that, I'm done,
I'm through.
Maybe you'd be
just beginning.
I'm going to beat a man...
faster than me
and in better shape.
How?
Pop. Pop, hold it, babe.
[speaking Greek]
Time out. Hold it.
What is it?
[panting]
How many miles, Pop?
Four.
That's one more
than yesterday.
That's enough, huh?You're hurting?
Yeah, I'm hurting, Pop.
One more.
Oh, no, wait a minute.
Pop.
Uhh!
All right, that's enough.
That's not enough.
[imitating]
That's not enough.
17.
18.
19.
20. Ten more.
[groans]
Come on, chief!
[speaking Greek]
Ten more!
21.
22.
23.
[man, on TV]
Well, fans, here we are,
outside the Colossus.
I am talking with Jack Braden,
the White Knight,
the defending world champion.
Tell me, Jack,
and tell our fans,
have you done any special
preparation,
any special training for this
coming championship bout?
With all respect, Walker.
I don't need any
special training
to defend my crown against
anybody at any time.
Well, now,
you may have heard
Mad Bull has
gone into hiding.
But rumor has it,
rumor has it that he's
secretly training hard
and may have a few tricks
up his sleeve.
What do you think?
Well, that's
wonderful, Walker,
but he's gonna need
more than tricks
or sticks or
name-calling to beat me.
I have all these
wonderful people here.
Isn't this fantastic?
It's certainly is, Jack.
And I want to thank you.
Thank you, Jack Braden.
You are always the gentleman.
Well, thank you, Walker.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
there you have it.
There you have it
from Jack Braden,
the White Knight,
who is spitting in the face
of Mad Bull, the challenger.
So be here one week from now.
"Double the normal price"
tickets still available,
and the added rows
particularly installed
for this coming event.
Remember, it's a championship
bout, so be here!
Uhh!
Lunchtime.
I haven't worked up
an appetite yet.
That's good.
Let's go.
Yes, chief.
♪♪
29.
30. That's it.
Ten more, sport boy.
33.
34.
[telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
Yeah.
Mad Bull,
you'll never be a champion.
I won't mess up this time
like on your brother.
Hey, who--
Who the hell is this?
Never mind.
Just remember,
win or lose,
I'm gonna kill you.
[telephone rings]
Let me tell you something,
you jerk!
You call here one more time,
so help me, I'll--
Iago?
Iago, is that you?
Christina?
Are you all right?
Yeah.
How are you?
I'm back in Redlands.
I was working late tonight,
and I was reading this
interview with Jack Braden.
I was wondering how you were.
I'm all right.
How's Anthony?
No change.
No better, no worse.
I called the hospital
a few times,
but, um, I couldn't
get through to him.
Yeah, well, he's on a lot
of heavy medication,
pain killers, mostly.
What a shame.
Uh, Chris, uh...
the match is only
five days away.
Oh, really?
I lost count.
Well, I just thought if you
were, you know, near L.A.--
Oh, uh, who knows?
My boss and I are supposed
to take
a trip pretty soon,
but, uh...
I don't know where.
Well, it's kind of important.
Christina?
Well, uh, anyway,
good luck.
Yeah. Thanks.
Uh, bye, Iago.
[hangs up receiver]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have a few
announcements to make
just before
the main event,
and while they're
lowering the cage,
I bring to your attention
that Hat Pin Hattie
is at ringside just in case
one of the wrestlers
leaves the ring unannounced.
[murmuring]
[all talking]
Hey, buddy.
Hey, buddy.
Could you spare a quarter?
You talking to me?
No, I...
I guess not.
Then you must be talking
to the wind, huh?
No.
I guess--
I guess so.
You do a lot of
guessing, don't you!
You bum, you!
You always obey
the law, huh?
Do you or don't you?
[mumbles]
Yes.
I'm undercover.
Oh.
That's what I wanna hear.
You keep it up.
I understand.
[chatting]
[announcer]
Your attention,
ladies and gentlemen.
Besides the sell-out crowd
here tonight,
we also have millions
waiting to see this event
on television throughout
this great country.
I wanna see that windbag
and his college degree
carried out on a stretcher.
Hey, there is
no law that says
you've got to fight him
clean, Mad Bull.
Bust him.
Yeah, and afterwards,
we'll celebrate
at the Body Slam Bar,
and the drinks are on me.
Hey, what do you know?
Old Yapo's gonna
reach into his
pocket for a change
instead of his brain.
You listen, hayseed.[laughing]
Hey, Iago, how you
gonna fight him?
I'm gonna wrestle him.
Hey, that's a hot one!
All right,
let's get out of here.
Wish him luck, boys.
We're pulling for you, Iago.
You know we're in
your corner, baby.
I'm gonna keep an eye out
for that goofball
that took a shot at Anthony,
so don't worry, man.
Good luck.
Hiya, champ.
I'll tell you
one thing, Duke.
I ain't carrying that man
to make him look good,
you hear me?
Hey, all I hear is
the cash register,
do you hear me?
Now, that crowd,
they paid their dues,
so do what you want.
That's exactly what
I'm gonna do.
Uptight, Iago?
No.
Want a rubdown?
[sighs]
No, thanks, Sweep.
I'm gonna tell you
something about Braden.
Don't get him mad.
If you do, you're liable
to wind up a pretzel
without salt.
Thanks.
Got a lot of heart.
Go to it.
They're looking for you,
Sweeper.
Hey, why ain't you dressed?
Where's your getup?
Since when did you care
what I wore?
Okay, okay, but let's go.
The main thing's
the match, huh?
Hey, Creech, do me a favor,
will you, baby?
Huh?
Tell Braden to go in first.
Oh, come on.
You can't do that.
It's all backwards.
Tell him, baby.
[audience clapping]
[announcer talking,
indistinct]
[clapping continues]
Who does that animal
think he is?
The challenger always
enters the ring first.
I'm the champion!
I'll see what I can do.
You do that!
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen, I have
just been advised
that there will be
a slight delay.
What the hell do you think
you're doing laying back here?
Braden's blowing his cork.
Braden blew his cool?
Right through the roof.
What did you think he'd do?
Well, why didn't you
tell me so, man? Let's go.
You know something?
You're not as dumb
as you look.
I think you got
the smarts for a "bull."
Thanks.
[crowd murmuring]
[crowd]
We want action!
We want action!
We want action!
We want action!
Well, here we go,
ladies and gentlemen,
the match we've all been
waiting for tonight.
The match we've been waiting
for, in fact, for two weeks.
Yes, here he comes.
The Mad Bull is now
entering the arena.
[crowd booing]
Well, this is it.
I hope you don't mind
I'm here.
I couldn't bear going down
to the arena,
and I didn't want to watch it
on TV all by myself.
Hey, I'm married
to a wrestler.
I know what it's like.
Ladies and gentlemen,
here he is, Jack Braden,
the Heavyweight Champion
of the World,
the White Knight.
[cheering]
[fanfare playing]
[bell rings]
Ladies and gentlemen,
here's the event you've
all been waiting for,
for the Heavyweight
Championship of the World.
Jack Braden, the White Knight,
and the champion,
and the challenger,
Mad Bull.
[crowd booing, bell rings]
This will be
"catch-as-catch-can,"
no time limit,
and winner takes all.
Now, fans,
here's the rules.
In order to win, the wrestler
must first score a fall
before climbing up
over the cage.
The first man scoring a fall,
up over the cage
standing erect
on the apron outside of
the ring,
he will be declared
the Heavyweight Wrestling
Champion of the World.
Your referee for this
all-important title bout,
former Champion of the World,
Count Billy Varga.
[cheering]
You know the rules.
Bear in mind, this bout's for
the World Championship.
I want a good, clean
wrestling match.
No biting, no gouging,
and no hair-pulling.
And remember, the first man on
the ring apron is the winner.
Shake hands and go to your
corner.
[crowd shouting]
[bell rings]
[announcer]
The Mad Bull opening up
with a flying dropkick.
Is that the way
you want it?
You're not walking out
of here alive!
Uhh!
Oh!
How's that feel, Bull?
Dad!
Come on, Dad,
get him!
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
The Mad Bull drops Braden
to the mat
with a step-over-toe-hold.
That's for Anthony,
you understand that?
Uhh!
[booing]
They're fighting for real.
I thought so too,
but I thought I was crazy.
[announcer]
The Mad Bull drop-toe-holds
the White Knight.
[booing]
Okay, Braden.
Iago's fighting him
for real.
He's gonna get killed.
Uhh!
I'm gonna break your arm,
just like your brother's.
[yelling]
[announcer]
The White Knight has an arm
strike on the Mad Bull.
One...
All right, Dad!
Come on!
Come on.
[crowd booing]
[shouting]
[cheering]
He's using
a salt capsule.
[booing]
[booing]
A curious thing is happening,
ladies and gentlemen.
I'm watching a champion
fight dirty,
and a challenger fight clean.
[booing]
[cheering]
[cheering]
One, two, three!
Don't tell me
Mad Bull's going straight.
Right.
I know you're right.
I'm his father.
Uhh!
[crowd booing]
[shouting]
Hey, Braden,
break it up.
Break it up.
He needs you there.
[booing]
Uhh!
[booing]
One, two, three!
I'm the winner!
[booing, shouting]
I'm the winner!
Winner!
I'm the winner!
Winner!
I'm the winner!
[booing]
I'm the winner!
I'm the winner!
[crowd booing]
I cannot believe
what I'm seeing.
They wrestle animals
in a cage like that,
and that's exactly the way
that Jack Braden is acting,
like a caged animal.
[cheering]
[mouthing]
Come on.
All right.
Come on, Dad, get him.
Get him.
Come on, Dad, get up.
Alex.
We have been
over this before.
I forbid you to watch
this nonsense.
But, Mom, it's dad.
He's fighting to be champ.
[turns TV off]
[turns TV on]He's my father.
Come on, Dad.
Here you go.
[cheering]
Good night.
Good night.
Have a nice evening.Thanks.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering]
[shouting]
Come on, get up, Iago.
Get up.
♪♪
[shouting]
Come on! Come on!
Uhh!
[shouting]
Come on!
Uhh!
♪♪
[cheering]
[TV announcer]
Ring the bell! Ring the bell!
[bell rings]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen!
The winner:
the Mad Bull!
[cheering]
Hey!
Mad Bull.
Hey, beat it, kid.
No autographs tonight.
Hey, what are you doing?
Iago!
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
Get him.
[Yapopotsky]
Get him!
Stop him!
Stop him!
Stop him!
Get that guy!
Stop him!
[engine sputtering]
Pick it up!
Hold him! Hold him!
[engine revving]
[man]
I was gonna help you.
[all talking]
[man]
Get the front end!
Come on!
Come on, you guys! Come on!
Get him!
Aah! Aah!
[Yapopotsky]
Spin him! Spin him!
Ah, now you got it!
We'll get him now!
Spin him! Faster!
Faster!
Tip him over!
Grab it! Lift him up!
Come on! Grab his truck!
Aah!
Mangle that truck!
Aah!Faster! Faster!
Aah!
Over! Over!
You in the right car,
lady?
[laughs]
[groans]
Are you hurt?
Yeah.
I sure missed you.
Did you win?
Did I win?
I'm starving...
for some Greek food.
Oh, let's get out of here.
[tires screech]
♪♪
[crowd booing]
How do you like that, huh?
[announcer]
Oh, the Mad Bull,
using an illegal hold.
He's got Mr. Clean
on the ropes,
hooking him with his foot.
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Uh-oh. The referee warning
Mad Bull.
He may be disqualified if
he doesn't break that hold.
Come on! Break it up!What do you mean?
Break it up!What do you mean?
Break it up!
Boo!
[announcer]
They're circling each other
in the ring now.
Mr. Clean challenging
the Mad Bull to come on in.
Now into the referee's hold.
Good crowd tonight.
Yeah.
Let's give 'em the old
"bloody ear" trick.
[announcer]
Mr. Clean forcing Mad Bull
into the ropes.
Whoa! A punch to the jaw
by the Mad Bull.
Mad Bull reverses him
into the ropes.
Aah!
Break it up!
Break it up or I'll
disqualify you!
I'm warning you!
[Mad Bull]
What are you
talking about?
[announcer]
Whoa! You fans must really
hate the Mad Bull.
One, two, three.
[announcer]
Mad Bull deals Mr. Clean
to the corner,
tags his partner.
Here comes
the White Knight.
Hey, what's he doing?
[crowd shouting, cheering]
[announcer]
Mad Bull claims that
the tag was not legal
and tags his partner,
the Executioner.
[crowd booing]
What do you think
you're doing?
You people are crazy!
[cheering]
[announcer]
White Knight tags
Mr. Clean.
Hey! What do you think
you're doing!
What are you doing?
Aah!
Aah!
[announcer]
Mr. Clean tags
the White Knight.
[booing]
Shut up!
[announcer]
The White Knight choke
deals the Executioner.
Uh-oh! Mad Bull has brought
a bull Whip into the ring.
No, no, no, no, no!
Uhh!
No, no!
What are you trying to do,
hurt somebody?
Just you or your brother.
[announcer]
And there's the tag
to Mr. Clean.
Mad Bull has left the ring.
He's got just ten seconds
to get back into the ring
and continue the bout,
or he will
be disqualified.
I'll take it for a while.Watch it.
[booing]
Ease up, Braden,
you're overdoing it.
What are you trying
to do, Braden?
What do you say, Executioner,
you gonna throw in the towel?Drop dead!
Boss, what's going on
down there?
I don't know what the hell
that Braden's doing.
The college punk,
he can't even count.
Punishment's one thing,
but hurting's another.
Time's running out.
You want a beer?
Give him a beer.
Come on!
All right, Braden,
I'm ready, let's end it.
Oh, that's nice.
Aah!
Aah!
Hey, what the hell
are you doing?
[crowd]
...two, three!
[announcer]
And there the three count
for the pin.
Come here! Come on!
He broke his arm.
His arm's broken.Take it easy.
Take it--
[all shouting]
Get back there!Get away from him!
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
two minutes to go in the round,
and the winner...
the White Knight
and Mr. Clean!
I'll take care of it!
I'll get you a shot
at the title!
[whispering, indistinct]
Ladies and gentlemen,
your attention, please.
We have a correction.
It has been determined
by the commission
that Mr. Clean did not
spend the necessary
minimum amount
of time in the ring,
and therefore Mr. Clean
and the White Knight
have been disqualified,
and the match
has been awarded
to Mad Bull
and the Executioner.
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
Duke Sallow is here with
an official announcement.
Ladies and gentlemen,
by winning here tonight,
the Mad Bull has
earned himself a shot
at the tile held
by Jack Braden.
Now I have here in my hand
the contract to that
championship fight
to be held right here
in the Colossus
two weeks from tonight.
[booing]
[announcer]
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
there you have it.
The match has been made.
It is now signed
and will be, in two weeks,
right here in the Colossus
for the Heavyweight
Championship of the World,
the Mad Bull and
the White Knight.
Did he break it?
He didn't pull his punches.
He put the kibosh on me.
Loudmouth stupid jerk
with those stupid--
Hey, come on, be cool, man.
Come on, man! Hey!
Hey, Duke.
What's with this guy not
pulling his punches, Duke?
I already talked
to him about it!
He said it was an accident.An accident--
Now, what the hell am
I supposed to do about it?
You're supposed to take order,
I'm telling ya.
You're the promoter
around here.Take it easy, Iago,
unless you want to
play the Enforcer.
If he keeps it up,
I'm gonna be the enforcer.
What are we supposed to do
with this college hero?
Waltz him around the ring?
Get the wax out of
your ears and listen!
All I go by is
the box office here,
do you understand?
That's why Braden's staying!
That's why we come up
with a championship bout
every now and then!
That's how we keep this lousy
business from going stale!
Even if we get our
brains knocked loose
by this clown, huh?
Use your brain.
What goes up comes down.
You'll have your day,
don't you understand?
Some consolation.
That jerk's going around
breaking our bones faster
than we can grow 'em.
Look, Tony, I'm sorry
about the wrist,
but nobody ever told you that
wrestling was a ballet class.
Now the rest of you guys,
stop your bellyaching!
Stop acting like
a bunch of crybabies!
I'll take care of Braden!
Don't worry about it!
Now I want you all
to meet here Earl Lewis.
The kid's just up here
from San Diego,
used to be known as
Country Boy Lewis,
a real hayseed act--
He looks a little too clean
to be one of us.
I'm as dirty as--All right, come on!
Hey, hey.
Stop it, you big ox!
[Iago]
Come on, yeah!
Now here's what
we're gonna do.
We're gonna make him
the Happy Undertaker, see?
We give him a shave,
a haircut,
we snap a black hood
over his head,
a big rope around his waist
so he can strangle
the opposition with.
Not bad, Nick.
Not bad.
What do you mean not bad?
It's terrific.
I thought it up myself.
I gotta go.
Damn. Just once, I'd like
to pop that Braden
for real, Iago.
You heard Duke.
It'll never happen.
Uh, excuse me?
Mr. Karkus?
Uh...
you really whipped up
that crowd tonight.
Listen, I gotta ask
you something.
Ain't you afraid of
getting hurt?
As long as they're
screaming and yelling,
you got nothing
to worry about.
It's those quiet fruitcakes
you gotta watch out for.
Doesn't it bother you
that they hate you?
If I die in the riot,
I die happy,
you know what I mean?
Hey, hey.
If you're such a bad guy,
how come the white hat?
That's when
I was a good guy.
Now that we're alone,
I got something
important to tell you.
You're finished!
Next time.
There won't be no
next time, Mad Bull.
[clicking]
♪♪
[laughing, whistling]
Hello, Grandpa.Hello, Alex, my boy.
[speaking foreign
language]
Ah, you're looking
good, Maria.
Thank you.
Hmm.
Grandpa, can I help you prune
some bushes like last time?
Of course.
I was waiting for you.
I'll pick up Alex
around 6:00.
Please don't let Iago
talk to him about wrestling.
No.
♪♪
Hey, Iago, why don't
you go over to her
and say hello to her?
After all, she was
once your wife.
No, Maria's right.
It would only
make things worse.
I'll see you later.
[man speaking in Greek]
[singing in Greek]
Eat and partake
and have a great festival.
♪♪
Bugs don't hurt anybody,
just forget them.
Stay away from pesticides
and stick with nature.
She knows best.
Hey, Aleco, hey.
What's wrong, you don't say
hello to your old man?
Come here.
Come here!
Uhh! Man, are you
getting heavy.
Pop.How you doing?
Grandpa's just showing
us some snails.Yeah? Well...
Put a little garlic,
a little butter on
them...
[groans]
How's baseball?
Okay.Yeah?
What are you batting?.285, I guess.
What do you mean .285,
you guess?
If Reggie Jackson
was batting .285,
do you think
he'd say, "I guess?"
When do you play again?Tuesday.
Well, I'll be there.
You want to come
and watch me play?
Yeah, I, gonna come
and see you play.
Is that a deal?
Okay!
I heard Uncle Tony hurt
his hand yesterday, didn't he?
Yeah, well, that happens.
I wish I could come
and watch you when you fight.
Well, that's up
to your mother,
you know that.
The guys say
it's all fake,
and I said it
wasn't, either.
Is it fake, Dad?
No, it's not fake, son.
Alex.
Take these
tools inside.
Thank you.
Wrestling?
That wasn't wrestling,
the two of you,
rolling like meatballs
on a plate.
Oh, come on, Pop.
You wanna make money today,
you gotta give 'em action.
You take a great,
classic sport
and make fun of it.
When I was wrestling,
it was real.
What happened to Tony's arm,
that wasn't for real?
You don't understand.
Hey, Tidy, no wonder
you keep this place a secret.
Man, it stinks.
Can't you pump
a little air in here?
What do you want?
This used to be
a slaughterhouse.
Yeah, well,
it still is, baby.
If you wasn't all bad guys,
you wouldn't have to
hide out up here.
You could work out in public
like normal people.
How come-- how come...
how come you're running
a joint like this?
You used to be a good guy.I dropped a bundle.
Oil wells, land,
even restaurants.
I figured I'd go back
to my old racket,
where I could tell the good
guys from the bad guys.
Hey, Iago!
Excuse me.
What are you doing here?
I got you that gig for this
afternoon I promised you.
Oh, yeah? What do I do,
crush another refrigerator?
No, no, no.
This is a cinch.
Outside, fresh air,
you'll love it.
Here's the address.You hold that.
You gonna have
dinner with me?
No, no, I got to
get back to L.A.
You could've phoned
that one in, dummy.
[whistles]
Duke gave me the lowdown
on the title shot.
Yeah?
Yeah.
It's gotta be a "no time limit"
death match, you fight dirty.
How else am I gonna fight?
Well, make it last an hour
and look good before Braden
pins you with an atomic drop.
Blood is optional.
Any questions?
No.
Duke says you gotta hype up
the gate wherever you can.
Mention it in your sleep.
Here's the address.
I gotta go now, kid.
See you later.
So long, Tidy.
You never even said hello.
So hello.
♪♪
Uh, excuse me, ma'am.Yeah?
I'm a little late.
Is there a Mr. Cartwright here?
Yeah, but he was called away.
Well, can I help you?
I work for him.
I'm the strong man.
Oh, yeah.
Um...what's your name?
Iagos Demetrius Putsicaras
Kanasopolis.
I'm glad to know you.
I'm Christina Elizabeth
Theresa Amenica Sebastiani.
Oh.
Do you know what
I'm supposed to do?
Yeah, you're supposed to lift
twice your weight in peaches.
Boy, that's really dumb.
Who thought of that?
Our boss.
But if it helps sell
more peaches and pies,
I might even get
a raise out of it.
Okay, so where do I dress?
Come on, I'll show you.
[man]
Hello, ladies and gentlemen,
how are you today?
It's a peach of a day,
isn't it?
And I've got something
really peachy for you today,
and here it is:
Karkus the Great.
Now, ladies and gentlemen,
our strong man
weighs 220 pounds,
and he's going to pick up
and put over his head
400 pounds of peaches.
How about it? Are you
ready for this, Karkus?
Karkus the Great.
Can you do it, Karkus?
Whoo![applause]
Not bad.
Not bad at all, Karkus.
Now, unlike our strong man,
ladies and gentlemen,
all you have to do
is lift your own weight.
We have a balanced scale
right here--
And you'll take home
a freshly baked peach pie
free of charge.
Now, how about it?
How about this gentleman
back here?
Yes sir, you.
Come on, come on up here.
Nope. All right.
How about you, sir?
How about it,
for a freshly
baked peach pie.
Come on, take a try,
see what you can do.
Come on up here.
Good luck.
I'm really hungry.
I really don't like peaches.
My father told me,
he said everybody's
got to eat,
get a job in foods.
So, I started out as a box girl
when I was in high school,
worked my way up to checker,
and now the stores give me
a scholarship
so I can go to school,
and then to full-time
promotions someday.
Yeah, but what's
with all the peaces?
Oh, that's just to get
people into the store--
or get rid of overstock.
Could've been cauliflower,
but it doesn't sound
as good as peaches.
Well, it sounds like a very
interesting job, in foods.
Yeah.
Really?
Are you kidding me?
I mean, is it really
interesting?
Yeah, I do,
especially the customers.
[chuckles]
If we see a gorgeous guy
on the floor,
one of the girls gets on
the speaker and she goes,
"77 on aisle four!"
You're kidding.
You're serious?
No. 77.
That mean he's a hunk.
Guys did that. I didn't
think girls did that.
Yeah, and psyching
people out, too.
You can tell a lot
about a person
by the kind
of food he buys.
How?
We get vegetarians,
we get health food nuts,
we get garbage food addicts,
all sorts.
Some cheat, though.
They like garbage food,
but they buy health
food instead.
Oh? Why do they
do that?
To impress us,
so they can get a date.
You go out with
the customers?
Sometimes.
Well!
[laughs]
[no audible dialogue]
Look, peaches, uh...
would you, uh...
would you have, uh,
dinner with me tonight?
I'd like to, but I already
have a date.
Maybe some other time.
Well, look, I'll give you my--
Do you have a pencil?
I'll give you my number
in L.A., and, uh...
you know, just, uh...
if you get down there...
Who knows? I may
get down there someday.
I would really like
to see you again.
[sighs]
I'm kind of involved
with somebody right now.
You're a really
nice guy, Iago.
I gotta run.
[horn honking]
[honk honk]
Hey, what the...
[over loudspeaker]
Okay, Mad Bull,
live like an animal,
die like an animal.
Keep it up, Mad Bull.
We got some fried "Bull"
coming up!
We got some fried "Bull"
coming up!
[truck horn honking]
Criminals must be
stamped out!
[children laughing]
Hey, big man.
Would you tell Alex Karkus
his pop's here?
Hang tight.
I'll get him, Mad Bull.
Hey, you guys!
Mad Bull's here!
[booing, jeering]
You're taking all that heat
because of me?
Yeah, they call me
Mad Bull Jr.,
the safest
third baseman.
And what do you do
about it?
I had a couple of fights.
Did you win?
Yeah.
Dad, is it fake
or isn't it?
You know, people like
to hear stories,
like, the good guy wins,
the bad guy wins.
Oh, you mean it's pretend,
like TV or the movies.
Yeah, something
like that.
Except sometimes
it's for real.
You know what happened
to your Uncle Tony's hand.
Mm-hmm.
Are you gonna beat
Jack Braden?
[chuckles]
Am I gonna beat
Jack Braden?
I don't know.
The guys wanted
to bet me.
Gambling's for fools.
If I become a wrestler,
do I have to be
a "bad guy" wrestler?
I want you to be
anything you want to be.
Oh.
Mad Bull Jr.!
Hey, Mad Bull Jr.!
You're up!
I'll see you later.
Hey, Aleco.
♪♪
That hit-and-run
really creamed you.
I can't believe someone would
do something like this.
[telephone rings]Are you kidding?
Look at this place.
There's nothing but crazies
out there on the road
waiting to put somebody
in the hospital.
[man]
Hey, Karkus,
telephone for you.
Yeah?
Iago?
This is Christina Elizabeth
Theresa Amenica Sebastiani.
Is that--
Is that you, peaches?
How'd you find me down here?
Your answering service
told me where you were.
Were you in an accident?
No, not an accident.
I just had a little fender
bender. It's nothing.
Well, I'm down here
on another promo.
This time I'm pushing
California wine.
Oh, that's great!
That's really great!
I'd hate to be
all caged in.
You think they know the
difference, being caged in?
You think we do?
Well, we're not caged in.
At least I'm not
caged in.
What do you do?
I mean, when you're
not lifting peaches
and criticizing elephants?
Let's go, uh--
Let's go look at
some other specimens.
[seals barking]
[Iago]
Whatever happened to that
guy you were involved with?
[Christine]
He was married.
It wouldn't have
worked out anyway.
Do you think giraffes
stay with one mate?
Well, unless they go
to the curator
and ask for a divorce,
they do.
Tell me something.
Are you married?
Am I married?
Yeah.
Would I be here at
the zoo with you
if I was married?
Come on.
I don't know. I know
some people who would.
Yeah?
Think I'd ask
up front this time.
You mean you've never
asked a man that before?
I forgot.
Three times.
Three times?
Hmm.
Don't go telling me I get
involved with marrieds
so it wouldn't work out.
I'm not telling you that.Good.
I know a shrink who did
just because
I had headaches for a month
at the company clinic,
that's what he told me.
I walked out on him.
Yeah, well, don't
walk out on me, peaches.
Okay.
[grunts]
[grunts]
[growls]
I'll tell you one thing,
they're not as built
as good as I am,
nor are they
as good-looking.
Oh, cut it out.
What do you mean?
Stop putting yourself down
and not answering
my questions.
Questions?
Are...you...married?
I was, but I'm not.
Glad? Sorry?
Well, she left me
and took my son.
Do you love her?
I don't love her anymore.
Sure hurts when somebody you
love tells you to get lost.
Well, she didn't like
the profession I was in.
What profession?
[Christine]
I got it.
You're a bird trainer.
[Iago]
No, I'm a professional
wrestler.
A what?
I wrestle for money.
Is that anything
like boxing?
Well, kind of, yeah.Oh.
I went to a boxing match once.
It was terrible.
Everybody beating
everybody up.
Well, it's different
than that.
In what way?
Well, it's, uh...
It's hard to explain.
I'd like to see you wrestle.
I'll bet you're good.
All right. Tomorrow.
But tonight, I'm gonna
make you a great dinner,
and we're gonna have my
pop's three different wines
that he made in his
basement in 1963.
Don't you ever
open your mail?
No, they're just
fan letters.
Fan mail, huh?
Uh-huh. Oh!
This one smells
like, uh...
violets.
Yeah? Let me smell that.
Can I open it?
Sure.
[chuckles]
This is really dirty.
Well, then let me
look at that one.
No. That's not for
innocent eyes.
Aw, this is really sick.
"You're a criminal
Criminals must die""
Yeah, well, that's the kind
of mail I usually get.
I got a cow pie
in the mail once.
That's why I never handle 'em
anymore, you know what I mean?
Why would anybody
hate you so much?
Why?
Yeah.
I'll tell you why.
[Greek accent]
Because I'm the bad guy,
and I don't need
no fan club.
From them, from nobody.
♪♪
Uhh!
[groans]
You're not so tough.
No.
[groans]
Did I hurt you?
No, it's that stupid Braden
the other night.
[sighs]
Hmm?
Ow. Easy with that one.
It was broken by
Baron Merchant in '72.
Boy, was he clumsy.
That's a pulled tendon.
Happens all the time
in this business.
Oh, that's-- I broke that
last year on a ring post.
Can you believe that?
Dumbest move I've
ever made in my life.
Uhh! That's Mr. Clean,
'70, I think it was.
'70, yeah.
Yeah, that's Black Bart.
First time he ever wrestled.
Boy, can I break 'em in.
You know what?
What?
I never thought I'd fall
for a physical wreck.
Come on, you sissy twins!
[announcer]
Oh, it looks like
the Dolly Brothers
not yet ready to wrestle.
[crowd booing]
And if you've tuned in
a little late,
this is called
a Battle Royale,
which means that the last man
and the last woman
left in the ring
wins the match.
See, usually three
wrestlers team up,
they knock all the other
wrestlers out of the ring,
and then they wrestle,
and the last one in the ring
is the winner.
[announcer]
The Alaska Smasher's,
in to defend,
his armed roped,
demanding the Warrior.
Why are those two
blonde guys in there
looking in the mirror
instead of wrestling?
They're looking in the mirror
because that's the character.
They're playing a character.
A character.
Right.
[crowd booing]
Come on, fight!
[announcer]
Now it's a gang-up
on Mr. Clean,
turning into the big pile-up.
Remember,
ladies and gentlemen,
your welfare checks
will be honored
at the front box office.
We all have to have
a character.
Why? You're you.
I know I'm me, but, I mean,
that's what the crowd wants.
They want a character,
right, Anthony?
Yeah, right. It's like
I'm the Executioner...
you understand?
Yeah.
What's yours?
Look at Yapopotsky
working up the crowd.
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Yapopotsky has his
caveman club.
[Yapopotsky]
Don't wanna fight no match!
Isn't that terrific?
Do you know what that is,
working up the crowd?
It means he's getting the crowd
so excited-- Look at 'em.
They're so excited right now,
they wanna kill him.
[crowd booing]
That's what working up
the crowd is.
He's playing a character.
That's his character.
[announcer]
Mr. Clean eliminated.
Big airplane spin
by Yapopotsky...
and knocking the Alaska
Smasher over the ropes.
The Alaskan out of
the contest.
They got Manzengo Tom
through the ropes,
onto the floor.
Well, it's different
from boxing.
It's different from boxing.
Hmm. It's kind of like
a circus.
I don't think
it's like a circus.
Oh, sure.
Everybody dressed up
in clown suits, right?
[announcer]
Uh-oh.
Sex Change and Cosmo Girl
thrown out of the ring
and are fighting
on the floor...
and they are eliminated.
Here they are.
Just the three of them left.
Yapopotsky
and the Dolly Brothers.
Don't let 'em touch me.
Get 'em out of here.
[announcer]
Uh-oh!
Here comes the
"coconut thumper."
[bell rings]
[bell rings]
How do you dress?
[announcer]
Yapopotsky is the winner!
You'll see.
I gotta go.
Yo, Christina,
I think Iago likes you a lot.
I like him, too.
[chuckles]
Hey, how would you like
some popcorn, soda, a hot dog?
Popcorn, yeah.
Yeah, let's go sit down.
[announcer]
Well, folks, it's intermission
time now.
In just 15 minutes,
the main event,
a chain match between Mad Bull
and the Apache Kid.
[booing]
[choking]
"This match will not be over
"until one of the modern
gladiators
"drags the helpless body
of the other
completely around the ring."
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
Mad Bull is bicycling away
from the Apache Kid.
Shut up! Shut up!
You want a bottle? Ha ha!
[shouting]
Hyah!
[crowd cheering]
Oh! Anthony!
Don't worry, don't worry,
he's okay.
Then he's a fake, too.
Well, no, uh...
No.
Yes.
Get him away!One..
Get him away.Two...
Three.
Ah, that Mad Bull stinks!
You know, I just love
the White Knight.
Last year he got some of
his blood on my dress,
and I still have it in the
bottom drawer, unwashed.
Ugh.
[booing]
[announcer]
Mad Bull now chain choking.
Yeah, Dad, come on.
Come on, Dad, get him.
All right, Dad. Come on.
Come on, Dad.
Head butt, come on.
But, Mom, it's dad!
I don't care who it is.
Alex, I will not have
you watching this
senseless violence.
Now, I think you have
homework to do.
Uhh!
What's that?
All right, break it up!
Break it up!
Time-out!
[announcer]
Mad Bull calls
for a time-out,
but remember,
in a death match,
there are no time-outs.
[all talking]
[referee]
Come on, break if off
the ropes, both of you.
I'll give you the count.
[booing]
All right,
let's get out of here.
[crowd booing]
Good one, Iago!
How'd you like that one?
I'm not sure.
[announcer]
And it's a flying body press
from the Mad Bull
for the pin.
Braden, what's up?Break it up!
Braden's up to something.
Iago's gonna need help.
You hear me?
Break it up, Braden.
Get him off me!
Aah!
Ladies and gentlemen--
Well, fans,
this looks like
a tag-team event.
Who's idea--
I'll handle it!
Who's idea was this?
I'll handle it!You'll handle what!
[thick Greek accent]
That bum Braden!
He break my wrist!
But my brother Iago
is gonna break
all his bones and bodies
right here on July 21st!
And you be here!
You hear me?
You be here!
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen--
Ladies and gentlemen,
your referee disqualifies
both men
for outside interference.
The result is "no decision."
[booing]
Mad Bull's gotta be
the dirtiest wrestler
on the circuit.
I'd like to get
my hands on him
in a dark parking lot
some night.
[man]
Mad Bull's gonna get it
one of these days.
[second man]
That Apache kid should've
twisted his head off
with his chain.
Gate receipts around 20%.
I wish I could figure out
a way to make 'em madder.
Don't sick Braden on him again.
It ain't fair.
Will you stop it!
The hotter he gets,
the hotter the box
office gets.
More money for you,
more money for me,
more money for him,
more money for everybody!
Yeah, but he's
a sensitive guy.
He ain't a hard case like the
rest of the beef around here.
Go easy.
You can go easy on him
after the Braden match.
Rest him up in San Diego
and let him unload
in Tijuana for
a couple of days.
Hey, Antonio, come here.
Hey. Come here.
What did Chris think
of the matches?
Um, she didn't care for 'em,
but she'll get used to it,
she'll like it.
Do me a favor, will you?
Will you go outside with her?
I don't want those
people around her.
Yeah, sure.
Hey.
Tony, come here.
I don't want you hanging out
with those groupies outside,
you understand?
Not me,
I'm a Boy Scout.
Yeah, you're a Boy Scout.
Bye-bye, Mad Bull.
Good night, Karkus.
Iago.
Aah!
[tires screech]
Help, somebody! Help!
Help!
Get back!
Get back! Someone get a--
Someone get an ambulance!
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Klein. Paging Dr. Klein.
Telephone for Dr. Klein.
Dr. Carrow, surgery, please,
Dr. Carrow.
Stop for a minute, Iago.
How can I stop when
my brother's lying there
with a bullet that
was meant for me?
You don't know that.
He didn't have an enemy
in the world.
He even told me you thought
it was me lying there.
If I hadn't just given him
that stinking hat...
If you two didn't live
the life of two clowns,
this wouldn't have
happened.
Papa, that's not
fair to Iago.
He didn't
do anything.
He does it every night
of the week.
He makes a fool
out of himself.
Mr. Karkus?
Hello. I'm Dr. Bradford.
How is he?
Well, he's at risk of
spinal injury,
so we left the bullet
in for now.
He wants to see his brother.
Will you come with me,
please?
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Warner wanted
in radiology.
Dr. Warner.
Dr. Nyman,
reception area, please.
Dr. Nyman.
Hey, Tony.
Hey, Tony.
Iago.
The doctor said
you're gonna be okay.
Sure. I know.
But if he's wrong,
I want you take care
of Delia.
Don't let anything
happen to the baby.
Oh, don't say that.
Promise me.
Promise me.
It just seems like
half our lives we spend
in the hospital.
It's the breaks
of the game, huh?
I was thinking
about that...
that sporting goods store
you talked about, you know?
I thought it was
kind of crazy, you know?
But I don't know.
Maybe it's a good idea.
[woman, on P.A.]
Dr. Simon, line one, please.
Dr. Simon.
Call it quits, Iago.
What are you talking about?
After what just happened,
any sane person
would call it quits.
[sighs]
I spoke to my boss
this morning.
He wants me to meet him
in San Bernardino.
San Bernardino, huh?
Yeah.
I have a job to do.
I already took
an extra day.
And you're just running away.
Not really.
But I think it's better
if we part for a while.
Better for who?
For me
and maybe for you.
It's because of what happened
to Anthony, huh?
It's partly that,
but it's mostly
why it happened.
I don't think I could
stand to see you
in that ring again
in that fool's getup.
Well, I happen to make
my money that way.
I'm not gonna ever
apologize for that, baby.
Well, don't apologize!
But I would rather
see you broke and honest
than dancing around
like a trick baboon
in long underwear!
[police radio chatter]
I want you to wait here
for a second.
You Karkus?
Yeah.
Sergeant Meeker.
Sorry about the questions
at a time like this.
They gave me
the preliminary report.
It says that
you think the guy
was out to shoot you,
not your brother.Yeah, that's right.
Is there anything more
you can tell me about that?
No.
How many times I gotta tell you?
Christina said the same thing.
There was a yellow pick-up.
It's the same yellow pick-up
that tried to run me
off that road.
Is that it?Yeah, except he was
wearing my white hat.
The killer?No, not the killer, my brother.
I put it on his head.
Is there any other questions?
No. Thanks.
♪♪
Thought you might like that.
Hey, did I ever
tell you about the time
I saw the Sheik of Persia
in Atlantic City get nailed
with the flying mirror the last
ten seconds of the bout?
Yeah, you told me that,
Sweeper,
but you can tell me
again if you want.
Oh. No, I don't want
to bore you.
Iago, could you
loan me a tenner?
I'll pay you back,
I promise you.
Thanks. I'll pay you back.
Sorry to hear about
your brother, Karkus.
Yeah.
Sorry it wasn't you instead.
Get out of here.
Go on. Get out of here.
You know,
I really think you
ought to get out of
the wrestling business.
I mean, you've been throwing
that "bull" around
all these years so long,
it made you old and soft.
Hey! Hey!
[glass shattering]
Aah!
Uhh!
[siren approaching]
Hey, Tiger, come on!
You sold out the house!
Who called you?
Queenie did.
Come on, don't worry about it.
You're sprung.
What are you looking
so glum about, huh?
We're uncovered. That scrap
you had with Braden,
it made all the papers,
TV, everything.
I'm telling you, I can
build this thing--
You can bill it any way
you want to bill it.
I'm telling you, when I wrestle
that man, it's for real.
I don't care how
you advertise it.
Will you listen to me?
Suppose you broke his jaw.
We'd be out
a barrel of dough.
Now I want you to stay away
from him until fight time.
At fight time, you can do
anything you want.
Keep me away from him
or I'll break his jaw.
All right, all right,
cool it!
♪♪
Papa.
[speaking Greek][speaking Greek]
Iago?
No, thanks.
Okay.
Like that,
just like that,
your mother used to
bring it to me
when we were young
in the old country.
I think when she died,
we all lost very much.
You maybe the most.
You were her first born,
her favorite.
Yeah, Papa.
Yeah, Papa?
She wanted you to have
what we came to America for.
Pop, I got a big
Cadillac outside.
She wouldn't like
the way you got it.
Why?
Because youdon't like
the way you got it.
[sighs]
What's wrong with
what I do, Papa?
I don't steal.
I don't rob.
You stand up
when you're told.
You lie down when
you're told.
This is why we left
the old country.
You'd rather have me
win the gold medal
like you wanted to do, huh?
Maybe.
Well, how long
can I eat the gold?
Not too long.
So what do you want
me to do?
Not to stand up
and not to lie down
when you're told.
You don't understand, Papa.
If I do that, I'm done,
I'm through.
Maybe you'd be
just beginning.
I'm going to beat a man...
faster than me
and in better shape.
How?
Pop. Pop, hold it, babe.
[speaking Greek]
Time out. Hold it.
What is it?
[panting]
How many miles, Pop?
Four.
That's one more
than yesterday.
That's enough, huh?You're hurting?
Yeah, I'm hurting, Pop.
One more.
Oh, no, wait a minute.
Pop.
Uhh!
All right, that's enough.
That's not enough.
[imitating]
That's not enough.
17.
18.
19.
20. Ten more.
[groans]
Come on, chief!
[speaking Greek]
Ten more!
21.
22.
23.
[man, on TV]
Well, fans, here we are,
outside the Colossus.
I am talking with Jack Braden,
the White Knight,
the defending world champion.
Tell me, Jack,
and tell our fans,
have you done any special
preparation,
any special training for this
coming championship bout?
With all respect, Walker.
I don't need any
special training
to defend my crown against
anybody at any time.
Well, now,
you may have heard
Mad Bull has
gone into hiding.
But rumor has it,
rumor has it that he's
secretly training hard
and may have a few tricks
up his sleeve.
What do you think?
Well, that's
wonderful, Walker,
but he's gonna need
more than tricks
or sticks or
name-calling to beat me.
I have all these
wonderful people here.
Isn't this fantastic?
It's certainly is, Jack.
And I want to thank you.
Thank you, Jack Braden.
You are always the gentleman.
Well, thank you, Walker.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
there you have it.
There you have it
from Jack Braden,
the White Knight,
who is spitting in the face
of Mad Bull, the challenger.
So be here one week from now.
"Double the normal price"
tickets still available,
and the added rows
particularly installed
for this coming event.
Remember, it's a championship
bout, so be here!
Uhh!
Lunchtime.
I haven't worked up
an appetite yet.
That's good.
Let's go.
Yes, chief.
♪♪
29.
30. That's it.
Ten more, sport boy.
33.
34.
[telephone rings]
[ring]
[ring]
Yeah.
Mad Bull,
you'll never be a champion.
I won't mess up this time
like on your brother.
Hey, who--
Who the hell is this?
Never mind.
Just remember,
win or lose,
I'm gonna kill you.
[telephone rings]
Let me tell you something,
you jerk!
You call here one more time,
so help me, I'll--
Iago?
Iago, is that you?
Christina?
Are you all right?
Yeah.
How are you?
I'm back in Redlands.
I was working late tonight,
and I was reading this
interview with Jack Braden.
I was wondering how you were.
I'm all right.
How's Anthony?
No change.
No better, no worse.
I called the hospital
a few times,
but, um, I couldn't
get through to him.
Yeah, well, he's on a lot
of heavy medication,
pain killers, mostly.
What a shame.
Uh, Chris, uh...
the match is only
five days away.
Oh, really?
I lost count.
Well, I just thought if you
were, you know, near L.A.--
Oh, uh, who knows?
My boss and I are supposed
to take
a trip pretty soon,
but, uh...
I don't know where.
Well, it's kind of important.
Christina?
Well, uh, anyway,
good luck.
Yeah. Thanks.
Uh, bye, Iago.
[hangs up receiver]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have a few
announcements to make
just before
the main event,
and while they're
lowering the cage,
I bring to your attention
that Hat Pin Hattie
is at ringside just in case
one of the wrestlers
leaves the ring unannounced.
[murmuring]
[all talking]
Hey, buddy.
Hey, buddy.
Could you spare a quarter?
You talking to me?
No, I...
I guess not.
Then you must be talking
to the wind, huh?
No.
I guess--
I guess so.
You do a lot of
guessing, don't you!
You bum, you!
You always obey
the law, huh?
Do you or don't you?
[mumbles]
Yes.
I'm undercover.
Oh.
That's what I wanna hear.
You keep it up.
I understand.
[chatting]
[announcer]
Your attention,
ladies and gentlemen.
Besides the sell-out crowd
here tonight,
we also have millions
waiting to see this event
on television throughout
this great country.
I wanna see that windbag
and his college degree
carried out on a stretcher.
Hey, there is
no law that says
you've got to fight him
clean, Mad Bull.
Bust him.
Yeah, and afterwards,
we'll celebrate
at the Body Slam Bar,
and the drinks are on me.
Hey, what do you know?
Old Yapo's gonna
reach into his
pocket for a change
instead of his brain.
You listen, hayseed.[laughing]
Hey, Iago, how you
gonna fight him?
I'm gonna wrestle him.
Hey, that's a hot one!
All right,
let's get out of here.
Wish him luck, boys.
We're pulling for you, Iago.
You know we're in
your corner, baby.
I'm gonna keep an eye out
for that goofball
that took a shot at Anthony,
so don't worry, man.
Good luck.
Hiya, champ.
I'll tell you
one thing, Duke.
I ain't carrying that man
to make him look good,
you hear me?
Hey, all I hear is
the cash register,
do you hear me?
Now, that crowd,
they paid their dues,
so do what you want.
That's exactly what
I'm gonna do.
Uptight, Iago?
No.
Want a rubdown?
[sighs]
No, thanks, Sweep.
I'm gonna tell you
something about Braden.
Don't get him mad.
If you do, you're liable
to wind up a pretzel
without salt.
Thanks.
Got a lot of heart.
Go to it.
They're looking for you,
Sweeper.
Hey, why ain't you dressed?
Where's your getup?
Since when did you care
what I wore?
Okay, okay, but let's go.
The main thing's
the match, huh?
Hey, Creech, do me a favor,
will you, baby?
Huh?
Tell Braden to go in first.
Oh, come on.
You can't do that.
It's all backwards.
Tell him, baby.
[audience clapping]
[announcer talking,
indistinct]
[clapping continues]
Who does that animal
think he is?
The challenger always
enters the ring first.
I'm the champion!
I'll see what I can do.
You do that!
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen, I have
just been advised
that there will be
a slight delay.
What the hell do you think
you're doing laying back here?
Braden's blowing his cork.
Braden blew his cool?
Right through the roof.
What did you think he'd do?
Well, why didn't you
tell me so, man? Let's go.
You know something?
You're not as dumb
as you look.
I think you got
the smarts for a "bull."
Thanks.
[crowd murmuring]
[crowd]
We want action!
We want action!
We want action!
We want action!
Well, here we go,
ladies and gentlemen,
the match we've all been
waiting for tonight.
The match we've been waiting
for, in fact, for two weeks.
Yes, here he comes.
The Mad Bull is now
entering the arena.
[crowd booing]
Well, this is it.
I hope you don't mind
I'm here.
I couldn't bear going down
to the arena,
and I didn't want to watch it
on TV all by myself.
Hey, I'm married
to a wrestler.
I know what it's like.
Ladies and gentlemen,
here he is, Jack Braden,
the Heavyweight Champion
of the World,
the White Knight.
[cheering]
[fanfare playing]
[bell rings]
Ladies and gentlemen,
here's the event you've
all been waiting for,
for the Heavyweight
Championship of the World.
Jack Braden, the White Knight,
and the champion,
and the challenger,
Mad Bull.
[crowd booing, bell rings]
This will be
"catch-as-catch-can,"
no time limit,
and winner takes all.
Now, fans,
here's the rules.
In order to win, the wrestler
must first score a fall
before climbing up
over the cage.
The first man scoring a fall,
up over the cage
standing erect
on the apron outside of
the ring,
he will be declared
the Heavyweight Wrestling
Champion of the World.
Your referee for this
all-important title bout,
former Champion of the World,
Count Billy Varga.
[cheering]
You know the rules.
Bear in mind, this bout's for
the World Championship.
I want a good, clean
wrestling match.
No biting, no gouging,
and no hair-pulling.
And remember, the first man on
the ring apron is the winner.
Shake hands and go to your
corner.
[crowd shouting]
[bell rings]
[announcer]
The Mad Bull opening up
with a flying dropkick.
Is that the way
you want it?
You're not walking out
of here alive!
Uhh!
Oh!
How's that feel, Bull?
Dad!
Come on, Dad,
get him!
[crowd booing]
[announcer]
The Mad Bull drops Braden
to the mat
with a step-over-toe-hold.
That's for Anthony,
you understand that?
Uhh!
[booing]
They're fighting for real.
I thought so too,
but I thought I was crazy.
[announcer]
The Mad Bull drop-toe-holds
the White Knight.
[booing]
Okay, Braden.
Iago's fighting him
for real.
He's gonna get killed.
Uhh!
I'm gonna break your arm,
just like your brother's.
[yelling]
[announcer]
The White Knight has an arm
strike on the Mad Bull.
One...
All right, Dad!
Come on!
Come on.
[crowd booing]
[shouting]
[cheering]
He's using
a salt capsule.
[booing]
[booing]
A curious thing is happening,
ladies and gentlemen.
I'm watching a champion
fight dirty,
and a challenger fight clean.
[booing]
[cheering]
[cheering]
One, two, three!
Don't tell me
Mad Bull's going straight.
Right.
I know you're right.
I'm his father.
Uhh!
[crowd booing]
[shouting]
Hey, Braden,
break it up.
Break it up.
He needs you there.
[booing]
Uhh!
[booing]
One, two, three!
I'm the winner!
[booing, shouting]
I'm the winner!
Winner!
I'm the winner!
Winner!
I'm the winner!
[booing]
I'm the winner!
I'm the winner!
[crowd booing]
I cannot believe
what I'm seeing.
They wrestle animals
in a cage like that,
and that's exactly the way
that Jack Braden is acting,
like a caged animal.
[cheering]
[mouthing]
Come on.
All right.
Come on, Dad, get him.
Get him.
Come on, Dad, get up.
Alex.
We have been
over this before.
I forbid you to watch
this nonsense.
But, Mom, it's dad.
He's fighting to be champ.
[turns TV off]
[turns TV on]He's my father.
Come on, Dad.
Here you go.
[cheering]
Good night.
Good night.
Have a nice evening.Thanks.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering]
[shouting]
Come on, get up, Iago.
Get up.
♪♪
[shouting]
Come on! Come on!
Uhh!
[shouting]
Come on!
Uhh!
♪♪
[cheering]
[TV announcer]
Ring the bell! Ring the bell!
[bell rings]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen!
The winner:
the Mad Bull!
[cheering]
Hey!
Mad Bull.
Hey, beat it, kid.
No autographs tonight.
Hey, what are you doing?
Iago!
I'm all right.
I'm all right.
Get him.
[Yapopotsky]
Get him!
Stop him!
Stop him!
Stop him!
Get that guy!
Stop him!
[engine sputtering]
Pick it up!
Hold him! Hold him!
[engine revving]
[man]
I was gonna help you.
[all talking]
[man]
Get the front end!
Come on!
Come on, you guys! Come on!
Get him!
Aah! Aah!
[Yapopotsky]
Spin him! Spin him!
Ah, now you got it!
We'll get him now!
Spin him! Faster!
Faster!
Tip him over!
Grab it! Lift him up!
Come on! Grab his truck!
Aah!
Mangle that truck!
Aah!Faster! Faster!
Aah!
Over! Over!
You in the right car,
lady?
[laughs]
[groans]
Are you hurt?
Yeah.
I sure missed you.
Did you win?
Did I win?
I'm starving...
for some Greek food.
Oh, let's get out of here.
[tires screech]
♪♪