Taxi (1978–1983): Season 2, Episode 15 - The Reluctant Fighter - full transcript

Tony is initially excited about fighting a former champ whose best days are behind him. His excitement turns to doubt when he realizes that the champ is dedicating the fight to a wheelchair-bound kid.

( theme music playing )

I'm looking
for Tony Banta...

the boxer.

Would you settle
for Tony Banta...

the bum?

He's over there.

Thanks.

Hey, wait, wait, wait.

You coming into my garage,

you gonna leave me
a dollar deposit.

Take it.



It's non-refundable.

That's okay,
as long as I get it back.

Hey, Vince!

Hey, Vince, what are you
doing here?

Hey, guys, this is
Vince from my gym.

Hey, Vince, these
are my friends,

uh, Elaine,
Alex and Bobby.

Hi.
Hi, there.
Hey.

Nice to see you.

I got something personal
I want to talk to you about.

Hey, Vince, I'll get
my dirty laundry

out of the locker
this weekend.

That's not what I want
to talk to you about,

but, of course,
it would be nice.



No problem.

Hey, come on, we're going
to go to breakfast, Tony.

You want to come?

No, I'll
catch up later.

Okay.

Okay, yeah.

See you later.

Hey, so what's up?

I just found out

that Benny Foster wants
to make a comeback.

Are you kidding me?
Benny Foster's an old man.

What does he want
to come back for and get beat?

Hey, he used to be champ.

Maybe he's still good.

Anyway, he's not going

to challenge any top
contenders right away.

He'll fight some
unknowns first.

I don't believe this--
Benny Foster fighting unknowns.

It's a shame, Vince,
a lousy shame.

How low will this guy sink?

He wants to fight you.

That low?

Let me get you
some coffee, man, huh?

Tony, you don't understand.

You get a chance
to fight Benny Foster.

You sure you got
this straight? Why me?

Look, his manager
comes over to my gym.

He says they're looking
for a young fighter

who hits hard, moves well,
wins occasionally

and you were the sixth one
that came to my mind.

Wow, me and Benny Foster.

I guess this could be

like a big opportunity
for me, huh?

Sure, look at
all the publicity--

newspapers, radio, television.

They're going
to televise the fight?

They are?

Where... where did you
hear that?

I thought you just said that.

No, I just meant the news.

Oh, wow.

Man, me getting a chance

at one of the greatest
fighters ever.

Boy, it's kind of
like a painter

getting a chance to
beat up on Rembrandt.

Yeah.

You're one
lucky guy, Tony.

Yeah!

So, listen.

Someone's got to make
the arrangements.

So what do you say, Tony?

Can I be your manager?

Vince, it's me and you.

Tony, this is great.

Really great.

This is the
greatest chance

you got in your life.

Okay, Vince, thanks.

Wow!

Me and Benny Foster.

Whoo!

I got to tell someone.

I got to tell someone
or I'll bust.

Yeah, what?

It can wait.

This is it!

This is where Benny
Foster works out.

Oh, I'm kind of
disappointed.

Why?

This is the
ex-champ's gym.

I thought it would smell
different or something.

Be a little classier.

Are you kidding?

The stalls in
the bathroom--

they got doors.

Oh, well,
that's classy.

These must be
the reporters.

My first press conference...
man, am I nervous.

Hey, Bobby, you must
get nervous

sometimes when
you go on stage.

What do you do
to get out of it?

I got this little
loosening-up exercise I do.

Gets all
the tension out of me.

You want me
to show you?

Yeah, yeah,
yeah.

Okay, here we go.

( gargles )

I think I'll
stick with nervous.

Hey, Tony, want to punch
the bag, loosen up?

No, I'm all dressed up.

I'll get sweaty.

No, come on,
it'll do you good. Come on.

Okay, just once.

I'll hold it.

He's right--
I do feel better.

( weakly ):
I told you you would.

Tony, I don't know

what you're so nervous
about for, you know.

The guy is 38 years old.

You're going
to drop him easy.

I don't want to drop him easy.

Why not?

Cause he don't deserve
to be embarrassed.

I mean, not only was
he a great fighter,

he was one of the nicest guys
to ever wear a cup.

I want this guy to do good.

Tony, I don't know
much about boxing,

but, uh, generally
speaking, I mean,

the better he does,
the worse you do.

Hmm, that's something
to think about.

Tony!

Hey, we make a great
team, don't we?

I mean, with my muscle and
his brains, we can't lose.

It's the other way
around, Vince.

Right.

Listen, I'm going
to need some help

in Tony's corner,
fight night.

Now, any of you guys
ever work a fight?

I was married.

Close enough.

Fine.

VINCE:
Hey, champ!

TONY:
That's him,
that's Benny Foster.

BOBBY:
Yeah?

That's him! Will you
look at the chicks
he's got with him?

ALEX:
He may not be as out
of shape as we thought.

Oh, you guys kill me.

I mean, yore really
jumping to conclusions,
you know that?

For all you know,

those women might
be his manager

and his trainer.

His accountant
and his lawyer?

His Tuesday and
his Wednesday.

VINCE:
Tony!

This is it.

Go get 'em, Tiger.
Go get em.

This is
Tony Banta.

Tony, this is
the great...

I know who
this is.

Man, it's great to see
you again, champ. Gee.

Have we met before?

Yeah, at your fight
with Martini.

I, uh... I got a bad memory.

Oh, you remember.
You fought him in the Garden.

Middleweight, five-ten,
good left hook...

I remember him,
but I just can't remember you.

Oh... well, it was the night
of the fight.

I was sitting in the audience.

When you came out, you
looked right at me.

I slapped you on the back.

That was you?

Yeah!

Hey, glad to
see you again.

Hey, I want you
to meet my friends,
Cathy and Rita.

Well, uh...

this here is
my friend Elaine.

Hi.

Tony is my first
middleweight.

Hey, uh, sweet kid.

Oh, I finally made it.

Mistaken for cheap.

Hey, should we get started?

Sure! Oh, thanks for asking!

You're welcome.

Okay, everybody,
let's get seated.

Gotta get this
started here.

You know, I never did
like press conferences.

I never was too good
at these kind of things.

Anyway, as you know,

I'm making a comeback,
coming out of retirement,

and you're probably
wondering why, uh...

"Why is the old man
going to fight again?

He's over the hill;
he's too old."

Is it because I miss
the money, fame...

excitement?

Yeah.

But there's more to it
than that, really.

See, I wouldn't have the guts
to make a comeback like this

if it wasn't for the inspiration

of a brave
little guy, Brian Sims.

Hey, Brian, come on in here.

Everybody wants to meet you.

You see, a couple
of months ago,

Brian writes me a letter saying
that I'm his hero... his hero.

Asked me to send an
autographed picture

to him at
the hospital.

We spent a lot
of time together

those weeks before
his operation,
and he made it.

He pulled through
like a champ.

But now he's got another
operation, a real tough one.

Brian knows what's ahead
of him, and he's scared.

He's a gutsy fighter,
though. He's tough.

He's gonna give it
his best shot.

And I'm coming back
to give it my best shot.

I'm going to fight
this fight for Brian.

Oh, uh... I almost forgot.

My opponent, uh, Tony Banta.

Brian, meet Mr. Banta.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Banta.

LOUIE:
Hey, Banta!

You made the
afternoon paper.

Whoo-whoo!

Nice shot of the
wheelchair, ain't it?

This writer says
maybe you got a chance

of beating Foster.

Wouldn't that
be something?

Beating the ex-champ?

Crushing the comeback

of one of America's
most beloved athletes

and breaking the heart
of a sick little kid

all in one fight.

Whoo, I bet
you're excited.

That's it--
I know what I got to do.

Don't try to talk me
out of it, either.

I gave it a lot of thought.

I'm going to give that kid
my kidney.

Huh? Tony!

No, I'm serious.
I thought about this

and I know what I got to do.

I can get along
without a kidney anyway.

Sure, you've come this far
without a brain.

Hey, Tony, he's already
got a donor.

He doesn't need
your kidney.

You think he needs
anything else?

Banta...

I, for one, am glad
you're fighting this fight,

because every time
I bet against you,

it's like a trip
to the bank.

In fact, you furnished
my living room.

I look over at my sofa,

I see the
Rodriguez fight.

I look over
at my armchair,

I see the
Jefferson fight.

My little end tables are
the Camillio brothers.

If it wasn't
for your career,

I'd be living in
a bare apartment.

This fight with Foster
is going to be

a 23-inch color TV
with remote control.

Hmm-hmm!

I love you, you little
gold mine, you.

Jeff, come here.

What do you
want, Louie?

Take cab 316
over to my bookie.

Put down...

Mmm, mmm, mmm...

$400 on Benny Foster.

JEFF:
I'm on my way.

Wait a minute,
wait a minute,

let's make that
a 27-inch.

Ma's eyes ain't
what they used to be.

$500 on Foster.

JEFF:
Okay.

LOUIE:
Yeah!

Don't let
him get to
you, Tony.

You know how when you turn
over one of those rocks

and you see those slimy,
crawly things underneath?

You know, the kind
that make you go "yuck"?

Louie makes those things
go "yuck."

Aw, man, I don't know.

You know, I'm fighting
since I'm 14 years old.

Nobody ever paid
any attention to me.

I finally get a fight
where people will notice me,

and everybody wants me to lose.

I even want me to lose.

LOUIE:
Wait a minute.

What'd you
just say?

You want to lose?

This changes everything.

Now, follow me here.

We all know that when
a loser wants to win,

naturally he loses.

It's a law of the universe.

Banta's proven this
time and time again.

But...

when a loser wants to lose...

now, now, pay attention
because this gets real tricky.

If a loser wants to lose,
since he is a loser,

the only way that he can
stay a loser is to win.

Ergo...

Banta, the loser in question,
wanting as he does to lose,

has to win.

As perverse and unnatural
as this sounds,

I have to bet on Banta.

Jeff, Jeff, 316,
come in, come in.

Yeah, Louie.

Put the money on Banta.

That's it. I'm starting to think

the only thing I can do is pull
out of this fight

while I still can.

I'm no quitter, but I just
ain't got

the heart for
this fight anymore.

Hey, now, Tony,
now, listen to me.

This is a great opportunity
for you.

You may never have
another chance like this.

No, no, no,
let me finish.

Think of those
boxers, huh?

All those guys out there

over the years,
fighting their hearts out

because they love the sport.

You know, if you don't
fight this fight,

and give it all you got,

you don't belong
in the company of those men.

You don't deserve
to call yourself a boxer.

You know,
you're right, Alex.

You're absolutely right.

You know, I'm going
in that ring

and I'm going
to give it everything I got.

And I'm going
to win that fight.

Put the money on Foster.

( cheers,
shouts of encouragement )

MAN:
Come on, Banta!

Left! Left!

( all shouting at once )

Attaboy, Tony!

You got him,
you got him!

You're looking
real good!

( crowd cheering )

Nice shot, Tony!

Put one over here,
put one over here!

Here we go!
Here we go!

Attaboy, Tony,

Attaboy!

You're doing good!

You got him!
You got him!

Looking good, Tony.
looking...

( bell rings )

( applause )

Hey, Tony, Tony,
you're doing great.

Yeah, you're
showing them real
class, class.

Spit!

You're killing him,
you're killing him.

Go after that eye.
Work on his eye.

Yeah, just keep after
him. You keep after him.

I think he's in trouble.
He's going to go down.

Could we please talk about
something else?

There's no rule that
says you got to talk
about boxing between rounds.

Okay, okay, do you
think we should
get out of NATO?

I just wish
he wasn't here.

Who?

You know who-- the kid.

Last round, I could feel
his eyes on me.

Tony, Tony, the kid
understands boxing.

He expects you to be in
there fighting your hardest.

( buzzer sounds )

Cover yourself!
Don't let up!

Get your guard up!
Keep your guard up!

He may throw
something at you.

Hey!

What?

What's NATO?

( bell rings )

( cheering )

( all shouting )

No mercy, Tony!

Four...

Five...

Six...

Seven...

Get up.

Eight... nine... ten.
You're out.

The winner!

Winner.

They know who did it.

Okay...

( clamoring )

Everybody,
no more questions.

That's enough questions
for tonight.

You want to ask Tony
anything else, hail his cab.

That way he gets to
put it on the meter.

Hey... congratulations!
What a fight!

You made a name
for yourself tonight.

I think
I'm leaving.

You're going
to bum me out.

Alex, man, I just don't
feel much like celebrating.

Hey, Tony...

You want
to see the kid?

Oh, the perfect end
to a perfect day.

No, it might do you some good
to talk to him, that's all.

No, I don't think
I could handle it, Al.

I'm not saying
it would be easy,
but it could help.

You need someone on
whose mercy to throw yourself.

Maybe you're right.

I would like to tell him
to his face how sorry I am.

If he'll come?

Yeah, he's right next door
in Benny's dressing room.

I'll talk to him.

Thanks, Alex.
All right?

I appreciate it.

( chuckles )

( wheels squeaking )

Boy, am I ever glad
to see you here.

Thanks,
I'm glad to be here.

( knock on door )

Yeah? Yeah?

You wanted to see me,
Mr. Banta?

Yeah, Brian,
come on in.

How's the champ doing?

He still can't count to three,
but he'll be okay.

Yeah, well, I just wanted you
to know it was a lucky punch.

No, no, it wasn't.

Yeah, it was.

He hurt me good--
look at these bruises.

I'm sore
all over.

You knocked him cold.

I'm real sorry about that.

No, really.

Benny's a class guy,

and I'm as sorry
as you are

to see his career
come to an end.

Benny wouldn't have
wanted me to go out there

and fight this
halfway.

I mean, look, I don't
get that many fights.

I mean, I can't even
make a living at it.

I got to drive
a cab at night.

Benny lost to a hack?

Yeah, so, like, this was
the biggest opportunity

I ever got in
my life, you know.

So I went out
and I gave it
my all. You know.

But right now, the fight
means nothing

compared to you
forgiving me.

I mean...

you know, when
I was a little kid,

there were boxers
I idolized, boxers I hated.

And I never thought
I'd grow up to be
the kind of boxer

some little kid
would hate.

Come on,
what do you say?

Give me a break,
can't you forgive me?

Where'd you get
a punch like that!

What'd you hit me with?

The ball bearings
from my wheelchair.

Hey, kid, you may
not understand this,

but I'm kind of glad
you did it.

I think I feel better.

Come here and I'll make you
feel terrific.

Wait a minute, kid,
wait a minute...

You knocked out my fighter--
now I got no hero.

You know how hard it is

to get a fighter
to come to the hospital?

We keep getting singers.

Hey!

Stop running.

If I stop running,
you'll hit me again.

You catch on fast
for a cabdriver.

Hey, kid, wait a minute.

Maybe I could be your fighter.

Nah, I've seen your record.

Hey, kid...

Maybe I'll take some tips from
you and I'll win more.

I doubt it.

Are you serious?

Sure I am.

You mean you'd come visit me

and let me watch you work out
at the gym and stuff like that?

It could be arranged.

And you'd come to the hospital
when I have my operation?

You bet, I'll be there.

It's a deal.

Okay, it's a deal.

I'll stick around
until you lose one.

That could be weeks.

TONY:
Hey, everybody!

Hey, what do you say?

So, how do you like the
Sunshine Cab Company?

How soon
can we leave?

So where have
you guys been?

I took Brian to his
first hockey game.

He didn't
like it, though.

Too much skating
between fights.

Banta...

you crumb.

You louse.

You bug.

Your little escapade in the ring
cost me a color television.

But I'm
warning you, Banta,

I'm going to get that set, and
I'm going to get it from you

because from now on, your
messages are going to cost more,

your phone calls are
going to cost more.

You might as well

just hang a sign around
your neck right now

that says,
"shake me down."

Who's the kid?

Brian Sims.

Brian, this is
Louie De Palma.

I don't want to interrupt you,
I like what you're saying.

Oh!

So you think that
Banta's a bum, too, huh?

Yeah... how about
a shake on it?

All right.

Better yet, a hug.

Oh!

( snickers )

( chuckles )

Now, that's what
I call a good kid.

( chuckles )

Hey...

How come you didn't punch him
like you punched me?

I did better-- I got his wallet.

( theme music playing )

WOMAN:
Night, Mr. Walters.

( Walters mutters )