Rocky IV (1985) - full transcript

Man, get up.

Get up!

That's not the way to do it.

Apollo?

Right.

What are you doin' here?

Business.

If the papers knew
we were talkin' like this,

they'd think we was crazy.

Why you?

'Cause I'm the best, and you need
somebody to teach you different.



I don't need this no more.
I...

I don't want this no more.

Look, man.

When you beat me,

I hurt all over.

I didn't wanna know
from nothin' or nobody,

not even my kids.

Hell, every fighter
knows that hurt,

and we get sick inside
trying to live with it,

so don't back off now.

Make it right for yourself
or you'll be sorry you didn't.

Now, when we fought,

you had the eye of the tiger, man.
The edge!

And now you gotta get back,



and the way to get it back
is to go back to the beginning.

You know what I mean?

Maybe we can
win it back together.

Eye of the tiger, man.

Rocky! Rocky!

Get it back, man.

Rocky! Rocky!

Come on! Come on, Balboa.
Come on!

Come on, get those feet moving.
Get your hands up. Come on, Rock!

Ooh! That right hand
hurt Rocky again!

A right! Another right!
A right! Another right!

And down goes Balboa again.

Four.

Stop the fight.

-You better stay down.
-Six.

I got some more.
I got some more for you, so get up.

I got a lot of moves.
I got a lot of moves. Come on.

Here we go again.
Clubber coming into him.

You ain't so bad.
You ain't so bad.

You ain't so bad. Come on.

You ain't so bad.
You ain't nothin'!

-You must be crazy or something!
-I'm crazy?

-You're just a stupid fool!
-Yeah, I may be...

-You're crazy.
-...but I ain't breathing heavy.

He's a fool.
He's stupid.

How could he come back
from a beating like that?

Hey, what the hell
are you doing?

What the hell are you doing?

I know what I'm doing.

No, you don't know
what you're doing!

He's gotta come to you.
You're the champ.

He's nothing.

He's mine.

-Don't...
-He's getting tired.

Don't go wasting your punches.

I know what I'm doing, I swear.
I know what I'm doing.

Go out there and do it, Rock.

Eye of the tiger.
You understand?

Yeah.

Go out there
and knock his head off.

He's just a man, Rock.
He's just a man. All right?

Be more man than him!

Go get him.
Eye of the tiger!

Eye of the tiger!

All right, this is the
beginning of round three.

Tough rounds
to call right now.

-Come on. Come on.
-Come on.

And Rocky throws him three
rights to the head and a left.

He is back.
He's your heavyweight.

Stick him!

Get in there!

Come on! Come on!

He's getting killed.

Oh, no, no, no. He's not getting
killed, he's getting mad!

My mother hits
harder than that. Come on.

A little harder. A little harder, champ.
In the face. Come on.

Again, come on, champ.
You ain't so bad!

You ain't nothing.

Rocky!

Rocky! Rocky!

-You see how he drew him in?
-Right.

Now Rocky's
throwing the punches.

Look at the punches.

Yeah!

Rocky! Rocky!

Come on. Come on.

Come on!

Come on.

Rocky! Rocky!

Come on. Come on!

Yeah!

You're out!

Yeah!

There he is, the new heavyweight
champion of the world, Rocky Balboa!

Rocky is exhausted!

We did it!

Ladies and gentlemen,
the winner by knockout...

Are you all right?

Never better.

Never better.

Once again the heavyweight
champion of the world,

the Italian Stallion,
Rocky Balboa.

Today may have proved to be
a landmark in sports history.

-After unraveling years of red tape...
-Come on!

...Russia will now throw
its hat into the ring.

The prize ring, that is.

The introductions were made by his
wife, Ludmilla Vobet Drago

She was the double
gold medalist in swimming.

Today, the Soviet Union has officially
entered professional boxing.

My husband and great undefeated
heavyweight world amateur champion,

Captain Ivan Drago,

has come here
with his trainers to America

to compete
as an international sportsman

and ambassador of goodwill.

If possible, we would like
to have an exhibition bout

with your great champion
Rocky Balboa

as a way to introduce
Drago to America.

Has Balboa responded?

No,
he has not responded.

Drago is still an amateur.

What makes you think
he can stand up the pressure

of fighting someone as
seasoned and strong as Balboa?

Drago is the most perfectly
trained athlete in the world.

There is no one who can match
his strength, his endurance,

or his aggressiveness.

You make it sound
like he's indestructible.

Yes, he is.

Well,
can this mammoth Russian,

who's already been nicknamed
the Siberian Express,

wreak havoc among the
professional heavyweight ranks?

Whoever he fights first,
it'll be one hot ticket.

We'll be right back with a check on
today's pro football sports scoreboard.

You know, those Russians are real serious
about their giant taking your title.

You know that?

I've heard some talk.

It's a lot more than talk, Stallion.
A lot more than talk.

They get to you?

Well, they were talking
to the boxing commission

about me and this guy putting
on this exhibition, you know.

Yeah.

What'd you say?

I say, I don't know.

Say, what'd you say?

-Say?
-Yeah, what'd you say?

I said, "I don't know."

What you're saying is you really
don't wanna fight this Russian.

-That's what you're saying, right?
-No, no, no.

No. What I'm saying is,

why do it, you know,
until I have to?

Well, you don't mind me beating up
on him a little bit now, do you?

You what?

Yeah. What?

You think
I don't have it anymore?

You got nothing
more to prove, do you?

Look, man, this is the
opportunity of a lifetime.

This isn't just another
boxing climb into the ropes.

This is a Russian propaganda
machine starting up.

And they didn't miss a thing.
I mean, look,

they had to try
to win the women over

by having this Russian's wife
running around and telling everybody

what a great guy
this Drago is.

Look, this is politics all the
way, Stallion. Politics.

This is a chance to stand
face-to-face with their best. I mean,

it'd be more important to the people
than ever. It'd be in the history books.

Right. You know, listen,
Adrian just cooked some dinner.

Why don't we go up?
We'll eat, we'll talk about it.

She'd love to see you,
Apollo, really.

All right, yeah, you know...

Never turn down
a great Italian meal, right?

-All right.
-Hut one, hut two.

My husband and I thank you for
coming to our training quarter today.

As you can see,
it is highly advanced,

and we wish to show
the American press

a small portion of the advances
our country's made

in the technology
of human performance.

What does all this do
to enhance performance?

It makes a man a better man,

a great athlete,
a super athlete,

by harnessing
all of his strength.

Though most of the world
is ignorant in body chemistry,

we wish to educate
your country.

Shall we have a demonstration?

-Please do.
-Thank you.

As you can see,
Drago averages 1,850 pounds,

so the result's
quite obvious.

Whatever he hits,
he destroys.

I've seen this Drago fight
when he was an amateur.

He's big and he's strong,
but he's clumsy.

I know I can beat him.

-You can do your homework.
-Okay. Later, Dad.

Later, Uncle Paulie.
Later, Apollo.

-Later, big guy.
-See you later, kiddo.

Don't you think people are expecting
to see Rocky whack this bum out first?

Yeah, and he will,
when it's for real.

This is just an exhibition bout.
It's kids' stuff.

What's the purpose?

I mean, what at this point in your
life is worth getting hurt for?

I don't want this chump to come over
here with all that hype, you know,

trying to make us look bad.

They try every other way.

I think it's wrong.

No, it's never been
more right.

It's not the middle ages

when armies sent over their best
fighters to kill each other.

We're supposed to be civilized.

You're a great fighter,

but you've been retired
for nearly five years.

Don't you think it's time to start
thinking about something else?

I mean, how much can you take?
Either of you.

I'll get the coffee.

Look, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to...

I just care about you both.
I...

Just relax.
I'll be right back.

You're not mad, are you?

No, I'm not mad.

Just have a bad feeling.

You know Apollo.
He's got this big imagination, you know.

With Apollo, he needs to be loved.
He just can't stand being forgotten.

I guess he's gonna
have to face up to it.

So do you.

Yeah, I know.

All this won't happen
if you don't back it.

Apollo, he thinks he's fighting
for the whole country

but his reasons are wrong.

It's... It's like
a bad publicity stunt.

I don't want you getting upset.
You're not upset, are you?

-I'm not upset.
-You sure? You're okay?

-You sure?
-Sure.

Wanna go a few rounds
at the bag?

-Okay.
-Whoa! Champ!

-Thank you.
-No problem.

Now,
this was a great fight.

Yeah, this was great.

Mamma mia! What you using
for a chin there, Stallion?

I should have slipped that one.

Yeah, you definitely
should have slipped that one.

Ain't it something, Stallion?

It's crazy how people, they just care
about you when you're in that ring

and they care about you
when you're bleeding,

but once you step out
of that ring, Stallion,

it's like you're
ancient history.

Can I ask you something?

What?

Well, you know, this fight you're
having against the Russian...

Do you think maybe
it ain't against him?

Well, do you think maybe it's,
like, you against you?

What do you think?

I don't think
I want to hear this, Stallion.

Come on.
Hey, Apollo, look,

you were a great fighter,
no doubt about that,

but, look,
we gotta face the facts, too.

You don't want to believe it,
but maybe the show is over.

Man, that's easy for you to say.
You're still on top.

Let's face it,
we gotta change sometime.

I don't want to change, man.
I like who I am.

But look at that, you know?

You don't want to believe this,

but that ain't us up there
no more, Apollo.

We can't do that the way
we did it before.

We're changing.

Maybe you think
you're changing,

but you can't change
what you really are.

And you can forget all this money and
stuff you got all around you, man,

'cause it don't
change a thing.

You and me,
we don't even have a choice.

See, we're born
with a killer instinct

that you can't just turn
off and on like some radio.

We have to be right
in the middle of the action

'cause we're the warriors.

And without some challenge,

without some damn war to fight,

then the warrior
may as well be dead, Stallion.

All right? So...

So I'm asking you,

as a friend,

stand in my corner
just this one last time.

Apollo,
what made you decide

to put on an exhibition fight
with Drago?

Let's call it
a sense of responsibility.

Responsibility how?

I had to teach this young fellow to
box, American style.

Apollo, isn't Drago a little
inexperienced to be in the same ring?

Well, you know,
some folks got to learn the hard way.

So, no quick
knockout prediction?

No, no, no.
I'm not mad at him.

I just want to show
the whole world

that Russia doesn't have
all the best athletes.

Rocky, aren't you
helping to train Apollo?

Well, yeah, I'm gonna try
if he'll listen.

Wait a minute.
What do you mean "listen," Stallion?

It is hard to get a word in--

-Oh, come on.
-It's hard.

Come on, man. My man.

-Rocky.
-Yeah.

How do you think
Apollo should fight Drago?

How?

Well, personally,

I think you're gonna need
a very big ladder.

Drago, how does it feel to spar
with the great former champion?

The man's tongue didn't come
through customs.

You don't really think
you gonna whip me, do you, huh?

I did not come here to lose.

So no quick
knockout prediction.

Excuse, please.

You are not very realistic,
are you, Mr. Creed?

Where did you come from?
What are you talking about?

You can box, yes,
but you are far too old

to think that
you can win over Drago.

Is that a fact?

And it could be a painful one.

You put that heavy bag with
eyeballs in the ring with me,

and you're gonna
see the meaning of pain.

Why do you insult us?

Don't make me
out to be the bad guy.

I came here to talk about
a friendly exhibition bout

till Comrade Big Mouth
started up.

It is you who are the aggressor.
This is obvious.

I wish to say to the press,
in all fairness,

Drago should not even
fight this man,

because the truth is,
he is a has-been.

To defeat him is an accomplishment
not worthy of Drago.

But to fight the real champion,
this means something.

You get that big chump
in the ring right now,

and I'm gonna
show you what I have.

Bring it on!

I don't want to hear her.
Just let that chump go.

All right,
all right, all right.

All right,
I said what I feel.

We're gonna finish
this in the ring.

You understand?
We're gonna finish this in the ring.

Look, you just shut up.
We're gonna finish this in the ring.

You understand me?
I'm talking to you.

And you too, and all these
puppets you got with you.

Wherever you like.

-How did I do?
-Little loud for my taste.

-Wait, wait. But good?
-Oh, yeah, very good.

The city of lights,
Las Vegas

and to one of the most
unusual events in years,

East meets West,

age versus youth
in a goodwill exhibition match,

as the former champion
Apollo Creed takes on

a mountain of muscle
from the Soviet Union,

Ivan Drago.

Apollo! Apollo!

Apollo!

Ivan!

I feel good!

Good evening, everyone.

Along with Warner Wolf,
I'm Stu Nahan,

and we welcome you
to a most unusual event.

For the first time ever,
West against East in professional sports.

God, I feel born again.

Tonight's special event
features two great athletes.

In the blue corner,

weighing 221 pounds,

a former heavyweight champion
of the world,

the Dancing Destroyer,

the King of Sting,

the Count of Monte Fisto...

You think you got enough names?

Patience, Stallion.
Almost done.

...the one and only
Apollo Creed!

The crowd anticipating a great
fight now as Apollo is in the ring.

He's playing to the crowd.

Apollo!

In the red corner,
weighing an even 261 pounds,

gold medalist and undefeated
world amateur champion

from the Soviet Union,

the Siberian Bull,

Ivan Drago.

I want you! I want you!
I want you!

I want you! I want you, Drago!

Now the two fighters come
to the center of the ring

for the instructions
from referee Lou Filippo.

You boys know the rules.

Watch your low blows,
kidney punches, rabbit punches.

In case of a knockdown,
you go to the corner I tell you to

and you stay there
until I tell you to come out.

Shake hands.
Let's have a good fight.

Come on,
get your hands up, man!

You need an interpreter?

You will lose.

Why don't you
land him on his head?

All right.

The bad blood between these two
can be felt all over this arena.

I can't get over the size
of this Russian.

Apollo! Apollo! Apollo!

Get ready,
'cause it's show time!

It's show time!
It's show time!

Come on.

And Apollo seems to be
in great spirits tonight.

He's really putting on a show
for this capacity crowd.

Be back in a minute, all right?

Round one.

Creed dancing around.

Creed backpedaling now.
He's been away five years...

Don't wait on him.
Get on first.

Come on! He may be big
enough, but you are mean!

Come on. Come on, chump.
Come on.

Neither fighter
ready to throw a punch.

A left jab there.
A left jab once again by Creed.

A slip by Creed.

This is bizarre.

Creed is over the hill,

and the Russian
hasn't fought anybody.

Keep it going!
Keep it going!

All right, Apollo!
Keep moving!

Keep it going!
Keep it going!

Keep him bottled!
Keep your chin down!

Keep moving, Apollo!
Stick him!

Drago moving in again.

A left hand by Creed,
another left hand by Creed,

and Drago moves away.

All right, come on!

You're the best, Apollo.
You're the best.

Come on.

Get your hands up.

Another left hand by Creed.

Drago waiting, waiting,
cocking that right hand.

Attack him!

A crushing right
by the Russian!

Get out of there!
Stay away from him!

Get out of there!

He's taking some
punishment now!

Drago moves him
against the ropes.

Tie him up now!

Left hand ties him up.

And now the Russian throws
Creed across the ring.

Move!

The Russian's got
Creed stuck now.

Tie him up!

One, two, three...

-Get up, man. Come on!
-...four, five, six.

Clinch! Clinch!

All right!

Clinch!

It is Drago
with the upper hand now,

Drago with the left
to the midsection.

Get out of that corner!

Another right hand
thrown by Drago.

-Can Creed stay up?
-Apollo!

Creed...
Creed is against the ropes.

What's the matter
with you guys?

What are you guys doing?
This is supposed to be an exhibition!

You understand?
An exhibition!

A tremendous end to
the first round by the Russian,

and a very bloody Apollo Creed.

The Soviet's
strength is incredible!

Champ, look,
I gotta stop it.

Don't you dare
stop this fight.

Man, don't do this to me.

I'm doing this for me.

I'm here to fight.
Don't you stop this fight.

Boy, I'll tell you something, that was
a pulverizing round for the ex-champion.

Hey, folks, Ivan Drago
is definitely for real.

Apollo! Apollo!

If you're my friend,
don't you stop this fight.

-Apollo! Apollo!
-No matter what.

Apollo! Apollo!
Apollo! Apollo!

Creed now
comes out for round two.

The Russian's trying
to intimidate Creed.

Come on, pull it together!

And the Russian throws a
right hand and staggers Creed!

Another right to the jaw!
Another right to the head!

Time up now! Time up!

Stop the fight!

The referee tries to step in,

and he's thrown
across the ring.

Throw the towel!
Throw the towel!

Apollo!

Apollo!

Apollo!

Creed is down!

Apollo is down,
and he could be badly hurt.

Let him breathe!

-Move back!
-Get these guys out of here.

The winner, Ivan Drago.

Let me through! Apollo!

I cannot be defeated.

Somebody get a doctor in here!

Soon, I defeat real champion.

-Stand back.
-Will you let him breathe?

Come on, Apollo.

Soon, whole world
will know my name.

Drago.

Drago.

What started out as a joke has
turned out to be a disaster.

If he dies, he dies.

Men are made for the end
in the beginning.

Apollo Creed was a warrior.

He lived and he died
by the code of a warrior.

A warrior has the right
to choose his way of life

and his way of death.

And we are bound
to respect this sacred right.

In this life we live,

there's always the possibility
of holy intrusion.

And so it was that Apollo
came to know

that none of his successors
had come close

to satisfying the questions
he had inside.

He gave his life
to know those answers.

I owe everything I got

and my family has got

to you.

You gave me a break

when no one else would.

You believed in me

when no one else would.

I really loved you, man.

I let it happen.

No, you didn't.

It's no one's fault.

You can't put
all that blame on yourself.

He was your friend.

You would have done anything
to protect him.

You have to believe that.

We've gone over these facts
many times, Mr. Balboa.

The answer is still the same.

Can't you change the rules?

Under present federation rules,

any fight between
you and this Russian

cannot,
nor will it be allowed.

Let's be realistic.

The Russian, he has not yet had
one legitimate professional fight.

The bout he had with Creed
was a publicity stunt

that backfired!

What you guys are really saying is you
don't think I have a chance, do you?

Come on. What we're trying to say
is, why tempt fate?

Let's find out
more about this man.

Let's see what develops.

He's had one professional
fight, and one man is dead.

But if it prevents
another fatality,

-it's well worth it.
-Of course.

Best way to a boxing ban
is one more accident.

Especially at this magnitude.

Do you realize what kind of
a magnitude this is?

Excuse me.

Do you wanna know
what the bottom line is?

You got rules.

We've got rules.

Everybody's got to
abide by those rules.

-Rocky, is the decision final?
-Yes.

Rocky, over here, please.

Is this the first time the
champion has given up his crown?

I don't know about that.

Doesn't the title mean anything
to you anymore?

Not until this is over.

Look, we know
you've agreed to fight,

but don't you think you're
moving a little too quickly?

Drago's ready now.

Drago, what does
this fight mean to you?

Do you have
any feelings on it?

No.

Drago has told me that
this will be an easy fight.

Can't Drago
speak for himself?

Yes.

Yes, well?

It's a matter of science
and evolution.

Isn't it, gentlemen?

Drago is 13 years younger,

and the most perfectly
trained fighter ever.

This other man
has not the size,

or the endurance,
or the genetics to win.

It's physically impossible
for this little man to win.

Drago is a look at the future.

Has the fight date
been set yet?

December 25th.

-Why Christmas?
That's what I was told.

Where?

-It's in Russia.
-Are you nuts?

Why did you agree to this?

We fight in Soviet Union,
or we fight nowhere.

This country could never
judge a fight fair.

What makes you say
he's not being treated fairly?

It is more lies
and false propaganda

to support this antagonistic
and violent government!

Oh! Violent?

Hey, we don't keep our people
behind a wall with machine guns!

-Who are you?
-Who am I?

I'm the unsilent majority,
big mouth!

Good! Yes, good!
Insult us!

Is more typical rude behavior
toward visiting foreigners.

But perhaps this simple defeat

of this little
so-called champion

will be a perfect example
of how pathetically weak

your society has become!

We go!

Rocky, over here.

Rocky, can you
tell us about a...

Mrs. Balboa!
Mrs. Balboa!

How do you feel
about going to Russia?

Is your husband
going to Moscow?

-Mrs. Balboa!
-Adrian! Adrian!

Mrs. Balboa, did Creed's death
make up your husband's mind?

I don't know
what you're talking about!

When will you be
going to Russia?

Look, I'm not going to Russia.
I don't know what you're talking about.

I don't know why you're here. I don't
know what you people are doing here!

-Mrs. Balboa!
Was it his decision?

-Rocky?
-Yeah?

You all right?

Yeah. Fine.

Why'd you do it?

I just gotta do
what I gotta do.

You don't have to do anything.

No, Adrian, I do, and...

I gotta leave this place, too.

So where are you going?

They said they're going to
let me train in Russia, and...

I just want to go
someplace where

I ain't gonna think
about nothing except him.

Rocky, give it some time.

Don't do this.
A lot of people live with hurt.

Adrian, a lot of people
don't have a choice. I do.

And for that, you're willing
to lose everything?

There's a lot more
than this, Adrian.

Before, there were reasons
to fight I could understand,

but I don't understand this.

Even if you win,
Apollo's still gone.

Why can't you change your thinking?
Everybody else does!

'Cause I'm a fighter.

Do you know
what everybody says?

That it's suicide!

You've seen him.
You know how strong he is.

You can't win!

Adrian.

Adrian.

Adrian always tells the truth.

No, maybe I can't.

I don't know.

Are you scared?

No.

Yes, you are.
A little, maybe?

Well, to tell you the truth,

sometimes, I get a little
scared, you know.

When I'm in that ring
and I'm getting hit on,

and my arms hurt so much I
can't even lift 'em up anymore,

and I'm hoping that the other
guy hits me right on the chin

so I don't feel
nothing anymore,

there's this other side
that isn't so scared, you know.

There's this side that, like,
wants to take more,

that, like, wants to
go one more round.

'Cause, you know, like,
going that one more round

that's what makes
the difference in your life.

You know,
there's gonna be a time

when you're gonna have to do things
that other people don't think are right,

but you know
they're gonna be right for you.

And I don't care if everybody
thinks they're wrong.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

You understand?
You gotta do it for you.

It's like, the most important
thing I could tell you.

This is what it's all about.

You gotta live for yourself,
'cause you gotta live with yourself.

You know what I mean?

Rocky.

Come on!
The meter's running!

I guess this is it.

I can't make you stay?

You know, I... I gotta go.
I gotta go.

Rocky, please. I want you to stay.
Please don't go.

Adrian, listen to me.
Remember, a long time ago,

I once said to you I never
asked you to stop being a woman?

Don't ask me
to stop being a man.

You'll be all right.

You'll be all right.

What a horrendous flight.

This is Russia?

They don't look
so tough, Rocky.

Hey, Paulie. What are you doing
with Adrian's earmuffs?

They look better on me.

Mr. Balboa.

We take you to quarters now.

Get in the car.
We have very long trip.

Sounds like Dracula's cousin.

Come on, Paulie.

Like you request, yes?

You requested
this dumb location?

Yeah.

Why? You planning to grow
reindeer or something?

The equipment
you requested is in barn.

-Who are they?
-They?

They are assigned to you.

Official chaperones, yes?

Where you go, they go.

When do the sparring partners
get here?

We provide
no sparring partners.

We're supposed to have them.

This, I do not know.

You have everything I have
been instructed to provide.

We are finished, yes?

No sparring?

I don't think
I need it anymore, Paulie.

No sparring, no TV, nothing?

How the heck is he supposed
to train around here?

It's a good place to die.

Checkmate, friend.

Maybe I can't win.

Maybe the only thing I can do is
just take everything he's got.

But to beat me,
he's gonna have to kill me.

And to kill me, you're gonna have to
have the heart to stand in front of me.

And to do that,

he's gotta be willing
to die himself.

I don't know if he's
ready to do that.

I don't know.

-Yeah?
-Hey, champ, can I come up?

Yeah, sure.

-How you doing?
-Pretty good.

Some kind of weather
we're having up here, huh?

Yeah, it's pretty rough.

But for what you gotta do,
it's good.

-Toughen you up.
-I guess so.

I know you're gonna have to do
almost everything alone up here,

but you know
I'll be with you.

Yeah, I know.

Apollo was like my son.

I raised him.

And when he died,
part of me died.

But now you're the one.

You're the one that's gonna
keep his spirit alive.

You're the one that's gonna make
sure that he didn't die for nothing.

Now, you're gonna
have to go through hell,

worse than any nightmare
that you ever dreamed.

But in the end, I know
you'll be the one standing.

I'll try.

I'll try.

You know what to do.

Do it.

I couldn't stay away anymore.

I missed you.

I missed you.

I'm with you, no matter what.

No pain.

No pain. No pain.

Go on, pick it up.

Pick it up, come on.

Come on, push!

-Come on! Come on!
Push it up!

Drago!

Drago!

Drago!

Drago!

Hello, everybody, and Merry
Christmas from a very unusual place.

We're in Moscow,
in the Soviet Union.

I'm Barry Tompkins,
along with Al Bandiero,

and this promises to be the
most-watched event in boxing history.

The Iron Horse, from America,
Rocky Balboa.

Ivan Drago,

since that tragedy in Las Vegas
and the death of Apollo Creed,

he's been re-nicknamed
"Death from Above."

And high above us,
the general secretary of the Soviet

and other members
of the Politburo

have now made
their way to their seats

high above the ring
here in Moscow.

You don't know anything
about this guy you're fighting.

It's just some kind of exhibition fight.
This ain't gonna mean nothing.

You may not understand
what I'm talking about now.

I can appreciate that.

But you will when it's over.
Believe me.

You will when it's over.

Yo, Rock, I know
you're kinda busy just now,

but I want to tell you
some things I never told you.

I know sometimes I act stupid
and I say stupid things,

but you kept me around

when other people would have
said, "Drop that bum."

You give me respect.

You know, it's hard for me
to say these kind of things,

because that ain't my way,

but if I could just unzip myself
and step out and be someone else,

I'd want to be you.

You're all heart, Rock.

Thanks, Paulie.

Now, blast this
guy's teeth out.

I'll try.

Right now,
one of the fighters

is starting to make his way through
this crowd and toward the ring.

Listen to this crowd!

We knew
he wouldn't be popular,

but this borders
on pure hatred.

Rocky's face,
absolutely like stone.

He is the picture
of concentration,

and the booing crowd here does
not seem to bother him one bit.

The champ has a look tonight
that can burn through lead.

What Rocky Balboa
really brings to this dance

is a lot of heart
and a lot of determination,

but then he gives away strength
and gives away size,

and maybe even more important,
he gives away age.

It seems that the booing crowd has
absolutely no effect on the man.

His concentration
seems to be like stone.

Listen to this crowd.
It sounds insane.

The power of Ivan Drago is
virtually a biochemical product.

The man is infinitely stronger than
Rocky Balboa, and a foot taller.

Every punch
is a lethal weapon.

And now the entrance of the
Russian national champion,

Ivan Drago, a man with an
entire country in his corner.

Look at the expression
on the face of Ivan Drago.

He seems impervious
to this madness of the crowd.

He's like a volcano
just waiting to erupt.

The Russian champion

is amazingly cool,
ladies and gentlemen,

as he acknowledges his premier.

Ladies and gentlemen...

...Rocky Balboa!

It's unbelievable.

I have never, in all my years,
seen such a hostile crowd.

...Ivan Drago!

The two men are walking
toward the center of the ring.

It's an unbelievable sight
to see.

They're toe to toe.

The Russian towers
above the American.

It's a true case
of David and Goliath here.

It's unbelievable,
the condition of both men,

but the Russian champion...

I must break you.

Remember what I said back there
about wanting to be you?

Yeah.

Forget it.

-Drago! Drago!
-Drago! Drago!

Take it straight to him, now.

There's the bell
for the opening round,

and Rocky Balboa comes out
to the center of the ring.

But the Russian, right back
into Balboa's corner now.

Come on, baby!

Spit him out, Rock!

Balboa
gets out of the corner now,

and now once more it is Drago
backing Rocky Balboa up with a jab,

and Balboa is not staying on balance
because of the long jab of the Russian.

Keep working, Rock.

Brace yourself!
Brace yourself!

Get up! Hands up!

Charge him!
Charge him!

He can't
seem to touch the Russian.

Cut him down!

Rocky Balboa
is in serious trouble.

They might have to stop this
one before somebody gets killed.

Reach and grab him!
Reach and grab him!

Rocky's hurt.

A right hand from Drago sends Rocky
Balboa 15 feet across the ring!

And the champ is down!

Back up!

Drago! Drago!
Drago! Drago! Drago!

Breathe.
Don't be scared.

I can do it.

Get up!

Get up!

Drago!

Come on, Rock!

Drago continuing
to punish Rocky Balboa.

He just will not
let him out of that corner,

and Rocky Balboa is just trying
to get through this first round.

The Russian just threw Rocky Balboa
into his own corner like a rag doll.

Drago! Drago! Drago!

Way to go, Rock. Come on.

You're fine.

You're fine.

It's been a tough first three
minutes for Rocky Balboa.

He's not only fighting what appears
to be an invincible opponent,

he's also fighting
a very hostile crowd

and the Russian premier and most
of the Politburo looking on.

All right,
what's happening out there?

He's winning.

I see three of him out there.

Hit the one in the middle.

-Right! -Keep taking
it till it's got him.

Okay?
That's gonna hurt him.

-No pain.
-No pain. No pain.

Keep taking it to him.

Keep walking to him.
Keep walking to him.

Walk right in the middle.

-Take his heart.
-Yes. Take his heart.

Knock his brains out.
Come on, we're waiting here.

Keep going!

There's the bell for round two.

It's been
a one-sided fight so far.

It'll take more than luck for
Rocky to survive this round.

Rocky's been
hit with bombs.

Slip him a hook!

Rocky Balboa trying to stay
in the middle of the ring

against the big Russian.

Move down! That a baby!

Do what you gotta do!

Stay with him!

Go for it!

For all intents, Rocky Balboa
should be all finished tonight,

but he's fighting
back ferociously.

He's getting killed out there.

Drago's best punches so far.

He's cut and he's bleeding,
but he's on his feet and he's on the run.

Hold on!

Hold on!

Drago! Drago!

He's cut!

The Russian's cut,
and it's a bad cut,

and now it's Rocky Balboa
coming after Ivan Drago!

Give him more room!

Yes! Yes!

You got him! Yes!

Go get him!

Balboa picking up the Russian

and throws him to the ground
like a wrestler.

It's a gutter war,
no holds barred in Moscow.

Rocky may be on the receiving end so
far, but he's here to fight.

This is shaping up
to be a personal war,

and right now,
it's anybody's boxing match.

You cut him! You hurt him!

You see? You see?
He's not a machine! He's a man!

Hey, Rock. No fear.
Hey, Rock. No fear.

No pain. No pain.

Beat him with your mind.

You want it more than he does.
No pain!

Okay, take it to him!
Take it to him! Take it to him!

Get up!

It's all right.

And a good right hand
by Rocky Balboa!

Come on, come on!

Rocky's got him now!

You're doing fine.
You're doing great.

You've come
a mighty long way, baby.

-Crush him!
-Now!

-That's it! Keep going!
-Go, go!

Come on!

A few cheers now
for Rocky Balboa!

Suddenly,
Moscow is pro-Rocky!

No pain. No pain.

Keep taking it to him,
you understand?

Take his heart.
No pain.

I'll tell you, Al,
this place is ready to explode.

Lethal punch after punch!
Amazing willpower!

Neither man backing off,

and Rocky Balboa's
determination

is actually beginning to win over
what was once a hostile crowd.

This is incredible!

Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!

One more round.

There's no stopping us now.
This is our round.

Don't stop it now!
We start, and we don't stop!

All your strength,
all your power, all your love,

everything you've got!

Listen to 'em, Rock.

They're calling your name.

They're calling your name.

Your boy hurt.
We stop fight now.

You'll stop nothin'.

I didn't come here
to end this fight sitting down.

I watch closely.

Yeah, you do that.

Go talk to him.
He's hurt too!

There's the bell.
The war is on.

Your whole life, Rock.
This is your whole life. Do it now!

This is the last round.

To the end.

Yeah.

Which one
of these magnificent fighters

will be standing
at the end of this round?

Drago snaps out a stiff jab,
and another.

Come on.

Another!

Rocky taking punishment,
trying to get inside.

He's completely exhausted.

Get up, Rock!

-Come on, Rock!
-Fight!

What are you waiting for?

Fight!

Hit him!

Come on! Come on, fight!

Rocky! Rocky!

Come on, fight!

Balboa is chopping
the Russian down!

Don't stop, Rock!

...combinations
of punches on the Russian,

and Drago throws
a hard right hand,

which stuns Rocky Balboa.

Don't go down!

You can forget technique,
forget strategy,

this is just a street fight.

It's a question
of who wants it most.

-What is he doing?
-He's winning.

Chop him down!

Come on!

Rocko! Rocko,
break his head!

Rocko, knock his head off!

Come on!
Finish him!

You're gonna do it!

Don't stop!

And these people love it!

It is absolute pandemonium.

More than ever,
Rocky has proven himself a true champion!

...Rocky Balboa!

When I came here tonight,

I didn't know what to expect.

I just saw a lot of people
hating me.

My best friend,
he once said,

"You can't change."

He died.

In here, there were two guys
killing each other,

but I guess that's
better than 20 million.

So, what I'm trying to say is

that if I can change

and you can change,

everybody can change!

Thank you.