The Twilight Zone (1959–1964): Season 5, Episode 2 - Steel - full transcript
In 1974, boxing has been outlawed and is performed by mechanical robots. With his next and possibly last fight approaching and his robot in need of repair, he resorts to one last desperate gamble.
( eerie music playing)
YOU UNLOCK THIS DOOR
WITH THE KEY OF IMAGINATION.
BEYOND IT IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION OF
SOUND... (glass shatters)
A DIMENSION OF SIGHT,
A DIMENSION OF MIND.
YOU'RE MOVING INTO A LAND OF
BOTH SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE,
OF THINGS AND IDEAS.
YOU'VE JUST CROSSED
OVER INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
COUPLE OF BEERS, HONEY, HUH?
( squeaking)
MAN, LISTEN TO THAT SQUEAK.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
WELL, WHEN WE GET PAID OFF,
HE'LL GET ALL THE
OIL PASTE HE NEEDS.
IF WE CAN FIND ANY.
WELL, WHY SHOULDN'T WE?
BECAUSE THEY DON'T
MAKE IT ANYMORE.
THAT'S CRAZY, THERE'S
PLENTY OF B2's AROUND.
NAME FIVE.
WILL HE BE ALL RIGHT?
IF HE DON'T GET HIT.
WELL, IT'S NO USE GLARING AT ME
YOU KNOW HE'S SHOT.
THAT AIN'T TRUE, HE JUST
NEEDS A LITTLE WORK.
YEAH, A LITTLE
$3,000, 4,000 OVERHAUL
WITH PARTS THEY
DON'T MAKE ANYMORE.
THANKS.
THE WAY YOU TELL IT, POLE,
YOU'D THINK HE WAS
READY FOR THE SCRAPHEAP.
AIN'T HE?
NO, HE AIN'T.
THERE'S PLENTY OF
FIGHT LEFT IN MAXO.
WELL, IS HE GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT?
STEEL, I DON'T KNOW.
HE NEEDS WORK... YOU KNOW THAT.
THE TRIGGER SPRINGS
IN HIS LEFT ARM
HAS BEEN REWIRED SO MANY TIMES,
IT'S JUST ABOUT HAD IT.
HE'S GOT NO
PROTECTION ON THAT SIDE.
THE EYE LENS IS CRACKED.
THE LEG CABLES ARE
WORN... THEY GOT NO TENSION.
EVEN HIS GYRO IS OFF.
NOT TO MENTION THE
OIL PASTE HE AIN'T GOT.
WE'LL GET HIM SOME.
YEAH, AFTER THE FIGHT.
WHAT ABOUT DURING THE FIGHT?
HE'LL BE CREAKING
AROUND THAT RING
LIKE A STEAM SHOVEL.
IT'LL BE A MIRACLE IF
HE GOES TWO ROUNDS.
IT'S NOT THAT BAD, POLE.
IT'S WORSE... WAIT
TILL THAT CROWD
GETS A LOAD OF BATTLING
MAXO FROM PHILADELPHIA.
WE'LL BE LUCKY TO
GET OUR CAR FARE HOME
MUCH LESS 500 BUCKS.
THEY CAN'T BACK
OUT OF THE CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACT IS
FOR BATTLING MAXO...
NOT THIS STEAM SHOVEL HERE.
MAXO'S GOING TO DO ALL RIGHT.
AGAINST A B7?
IT'S A STARTER B7... DON'T EVEN
HAVE THE KINKS WORKED OUT YET.
AW...
BATTLING MAXO... ONE-ROUND MAXO
THE BATTLING STEAM SHOVEL.
WILL YOU SHUT UP?
WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS
KNOCKING HIM FOR?
HE'S BEEN DOING ALL
RIGHT FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE'LL KEEP DOING OKAY.
OKAY, SO HE NEEDS A LITTLE
WORK, A LITTLE OIL PASTE.
WE GET THE 500 BUCKS,
WE'LL GET HIM THAT STUFF...
NEW TRIGGER SPRING, OIL
PASTE, EYE LENS, EVERYTHING.
YEAH, YOU'LL DO OKAY, BOY.
YOU'LL DO OKAY.
SPORTS ITEM, CIRCA 1974:
BATTLING MAXO, B2, HEAVYWEIGHT,
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
MANAGER AND HANDLER,
ARRIVES IN MAYNARD, KANSAS,
FOR A SCHEDULED SIX-ROUND BOUT.
BATTLING MAXO IS A ROBOT,
OR, TO BE EXACT, AN ANDROID,
DEFINITION: AN AUTOMATON
RESEMBLING A HUMAN BEING.
ONLY THESE AUTOMATONS
HAVE BEEN PERMITTED IN THE RING
SINCE PRIZEFIGHTING WAS
LEGALLY ABOLISHED IN 1968.
THIS IS THE STORY OF THAT
SCHEDULED SIX-ROUND BOUT.
MORE SPECIFICALLY,
THE STORY OF TWO MEN
SHORTLY TO FACE THAT
REMORSELESS TRUTH:
THAT NO LAW CAN BE PASSED
WHICH WILL ABOLISH
CRUELTY OR DESPERATE NEED,
NOR, FOR THAT MATTER,
BLIND ANIMAL COURAGE.
LOCATION FOR THE
FACING OF SAID TRUTH
A SMALL, SMOKE-FILLED ARENA
JUST THIS SIDE OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
OH, FOR... TIP HIM, HUH.
WHAT'S THE USE? TIP HIM!
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET YOU, POLE.
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS,
WE FINALLY GET A BOUT
AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS COMPLAIN.
SOME BOUT... MAYNARD, KANSAS,
THE PRIZEFIGHTING
CENTER OF THE NATION.
IT'S A START, AIN'T IT?
WHAT WE EARN HERE, WE
CAN PUT MAXO BACK IN SHAPE.
HUH, IF HE WINS. HAH!
YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET YOU, POLE.
HE'S OUR FIGHTER.
NOW, WHY DO YOU
KEEP WRITING HIM OFF?
I'M A CLASS-A MECHANIC, STEEL,
NOT A DAYDREAMING KID.
WE GOT US A PIECE
OF DEAD IRON HERE.
SHH. SOMEBODY WILL HEAR YOU.
SIMPLE MECHANICS...
MAXO WILL BE LUCKY
TO GET OUT OF THE
RING WITH HIS HEAD ON.
WRONG. IT'S A STARTER
B7, FULL OF KINKS.
JUST FULL OF THEM.
SURE, SURE.
COME IN.
MR. NOLAN?
NO, MAXWELL.
NOLAN WILL BE BACK IN
A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I'M, UH... I'M KELLY.
BATTLING MAXO'S MANAGER.
OH, YEAH.
AND THIS IS POLE, MY MECHANIC.
SIT DOWN. NOLAN
WILL BE RIGHT BACK.
OH, THANKS, THANKS.
UH... MAYBE YOU HEARD
ABOUT MY FIGHTER, MR. MAXWELL.
HMM?
YOU HEARD OF MY FIGHTER?
NOPE.
OH, HE WAS ALMOST THE WORLD'S
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ONCE.
I... I USED TO BE A
HEAVYWEIGHT MYSELF.
BEFORE THE LAW WAS
PASSED, OF COURSE.
YEAH, I USED TO BOX UNDER
THE NAME OF "STEEL" KELLY.
THEY CALLED ME THAT BECAUSE
I NEVER GOT KNOCKED DOWN.
NOT... NOT ONCE.
WELL, GOING TO BE A
GREAT FIGHT TONIGHT, HUH?
MY BOY TOOK DIMSEY
THE ROCK BACK IN '71.
YOU REMEMBER THAT.
NOPE.
IT WAS ALL OVER THE
EAST COAST NEWSPAPERS...
BOSTON, NEW YORK, PHILLY.
WELL, THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE FROM... PHILLY.
YEAH, BIGGEST UPSET OF THE
YEAR... MADE THE HEADLINES.
MR. NOLAN?
HMM?
KELLY.
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU'D MAKE IT.
YOUR FIGHTER IN SHAPE?
OH, YES, SIR, MY MECHANIC
HERE TOOK HIM APART
AND PUT HIM BACK TOGETHER
BEFORE WE LEFT PHILLY.
YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET A BOUT.
WE AIN'T USED NOTHING LESS
THAN B4's IN ALMOST TWO YEARS.
FIGHTER WE HAD GOT RUINED
IN A CAR WRECK, THOUGH.
OH, YOU GOT NOTHING TO
WORRY ABOUT, MR. NOLAN.
MY FIGHTHER'S IN TOP SHAPE.
HEY, YOU KNOW,
HE TOOK DIMSEY
THE ROCK BACK IN '71.
I JUST WANT A GOOD FIGHT.
OH, YOU'LL GET IT, MR. NOLAN.
YOU'LL GET IT.
OH, UH, DO YOU HAVE A READY ROOM
THAT WE CAN USE?
I LIKE TO GIVE HIM A
LAST-MINUTE CHECK.
NUMBER FIVE, DOWN THE HALL.
AND YOUR BOUT'S AT 9:00.
YES, SIR.
OH, MR. NOLAN, UH... I, UH...
YOU'LL GET YOUR MONEY
AFTER YOU DELIVER A FIGHT.
YES, SIR.
OKAY, SEE YOU THEN.
MR. MAXWELL.
OH, BOY.
FIVE.
I WANT YOU TO CHECK
HIM OVER GOOD, NOW.
WHAT FOR?
DID YOU HEAR ME?
YEAH.
HE'S GOING TO
TAKE THAT LOUSY B7.
SURE HE IS, WITH HIS TEETH.
I WISH WE'D HAVE
GOTTEN THAT OIL PASTE.
I TOLD YOU THEY WOULDN'T SELL
ANY HERE... WHY SHOULD THEY?
MAXO IS PROBABLY THE
ONLY B2 IN A THOUSAND MILES.
I HEAR MORLEY'S COMING
OUT WITH A B9 THIS YEAR.
HYPERTRIGGER IN
BOTH ARMS AND LEGS.
ALL STEELED ALUMINUM, TRIPLE
GYRO, TRIPLE-TWISTED WIRING.
SAY IT'LL BE ABLE TO STAND
UP AFTER KNOCKDOWNS, TOO.
WELL, IS HE OKAY?
SURE, HE'S GREAT.
IF THIS DOESN'T BLOW.
WELL, WHY SHOULD IT?
IT'S SUBPAR, I TOLD YOU
THAT EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
WELL, WE'LL GET ANOTHER
ONE AFTER THE BOUT.
YEAH, ANOTHER 75
BUCKS DOWN THE DRAIN.
LOOK, HE'S EARNING
US $500, AIN'T HE?
GO EASY ON THAT LEFT.
IF IT DON'T WORK NOW,
IT WON'T WORK TONIGHT.
SAVE IT.
OKAY, SET HIM SO HE
DON'T COUNTERPUNCH.
( clattering)
OH, THEY'LL HEAR
HIM IN THE BACK ROW.
ALL RIGHT, TRY THE REST.
HE'LL GET MORE THAN TWO
PUNCHES THROWN AT HIS HEAD.
TRY THE REST, I SAID.
OKAY, PUT HIM ON AUTOMATIC.
OH, HE'S BEAUTIFUL,
JUST BEAUTIFUL.
WE GOT TO PUT HIM ON DEFENSE.
HE'LL GET CHOPPED TO PIECES
IF WE LET HIM MOVE IN.
NO.
OH, FOR... HE'S
A B2, STEEL, A B2!
HE'S GOING TO GET
SLAUGHTERED ANYWAY
WE MIGHT AS WELL SAVE THE...
BUT THE CONTRACT CALLS
FOR HIM TO BE ON OFFENSIVE.
AH, WHAT'S THE USE?
COME ON, LET'S
TEST HIM SOME MORE.
WHAT FOR, HE'S...
WILL YOU JUST DO LIKE I SAY?
( boing)
( clattering)
WHAT'D YOU DO?
I TOLD YOU NOT TO
MESS WITH THAT LEFT.
SO HELP YOU IF YOU BROKE IT.
IF I BROKE IT!
LISTEN, THIS HEAP'S BEEN
GOING ON BORROWED TIME
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
DON'T YOU TALK TO
ME ABOUT BREAKAGES!
OPEN HIM UP.
SURE, SURE.
YOU JUST FIND ANOTHER MECHANIC
WHO COULD HAVE KEPT
THIS STEAM SHOVEL GOING
THESE LAST FEW YEARS...
YOU JUST FIND ONE.
( metallic clank)
( clatter)
FIX IT.
STEEL, I... FIX IT.
STEEL, I CAN'T.
LOOK, YOU BROKE
IT, NOW YOU FIX IT!
LET GO OF ME.
IT'S GOT TO BE FIXED.
IT NEEDS A NEW SPRING.
THEN GET ONE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THEM
HERE, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE.
WELL, IF THEY DON'T
WATCH THE FIGHTS...
WHAT?
IF NOLAN AND MAXWELL
DON'T WATCH THE BOUTS.
WHAT ARE YOU TALK...
WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY?
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
WE DELIVER A FIGHT
OR WE DON'T GET PAID.
COME ON, STEEL,
THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU.
YOU CAN'T MAKE
THEM BELIEVE THAT...
LISTEN, YOU CAN'T DO IT.
NOBODY KNOWS
WHAT MAXO LOOKS LIKE.
ONLY THOSE TWO GUYS
IN THE OFFICE SAW ME,
AND IF NOLAN AND MAXWELL
DON'T WATCH THE BOUTS,
WELL, WHY SHOULD THE CROWD KNOW?
STEEL!
WELL, THE B2's BLEED JUST
LIKE ANY OF THE NEW ONES,
AND BRUISE AND THE WHOLE THING.
LOOK, I CAN WIRE MY SISTER.
SHE'LL SEND US THE
DOUGH TO GET BACK EAST.
STEEL, I KNOW A GUY IN PHILLY
WANTS TO SELL A B5 CHEAP.
WE CAN SCURRY
UP THE CASH WITH IT.
STEEL, USE YOUR HEAD, WILL YOU?
IT'S A B7... YOU'LL GET MANGLED.
I'M NOT GOING TO
LET YOU DO IT, I...
YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME
OR I'M GOING TO BEAT
YOUR BRAINS OUT.
YOU'LL GET KILLED, STEEL.
THEN I WILL.
HEY.
YOU'RE LATE.
WHERE'S THE OWNER?
IN THE AUDIENCE.
I SHOULD'VE TOLD HIM.
Steel: I WOULD'VE
KILLED YOU IF YOU HAD.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TOWEL
ME OFF BETWEEN ROUNDS.
BETWEEN WHAT ROUND?
YOU WON'T LAST EVEN ONE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST,
ANOTHER FIGHTER?
YOU'RE GOING AGAINST A
MACHINE, YOU BIG, DUMB...
JUST DO LIKE I SAY, HUH?
IF I TOWEL YOU OFF,
THEY'LL KNOW, WON'T THEY?
LOOK, THEY AIN'T SEEN A
B2 AROUND HERE IN YEARS.
NOLAN SAID SO.
ANYBODY ASKS, JUST
TELL THEM IT'S AN OIL LEAK.
SURE, SURE.
( crowd cheering in distance)
WELL, IF IT AIN'T BATTLIN' MAXO!
Man: SCRAP IRON, SCRAP IRON!
Man 2: SCRAP IRON, SCRAP IRON!
( bell clangs)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
THE FIFTH CONTEST
OF THE EVENING...
A SIX-ROUND HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
FEATURING, FROM PHILADELPHIA,
A B2, BATTLING MAXO!
( derisive laughter)
GET THAT PILE OF
JUNK OUT OF HERE!
RATTLIN' MAXO, YOU MEAN!
( laughter)
AND HIS OPPONENT, OUR OWN B7,
THE MAYNARD FLASH.
( cheering and applause)
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
GET OUT.
STAY AWAY FROM HIM, THEN.
( bell clangs)
( crowd cheering)
Man: GET THAT TANKER A BICYCLE!
Man: GET THAT JUNK
PILE OUT OF THERE!
( booing)
DON'T DO IT.
KILL HIM, KILL HIM, KILL HIM!
KILL HIM!
( crowd cheering)
NO.
( crowd cheering wildly)
( cheering)
Man: WHAT A FIGHTER HE IS!
CAN YOU GET UP?
STEEL, CAN YOU GET UP?
ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT, NOW.
HOLD IT.
THE ROBE.
WHAT?
GET THE ROBE.
HOLD IT DOWN,
THAT'S ENOUGH, NOW.
LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE WINNER,
IN TWO MINUTES AND 20
SECONDS OF THE FIRST ROUND,
THE MAYNARD FLASH!
( cheering)
( booing)
Man: GET THAT PILE
OF TIN OUT OF HERE!
RUSTY PILE OF JUNK!
GET OUT OF HERE!
♪ ♪
YOU BIG, DUMB... ( mumbling)
WHAT?
GO GET THE MONEY.
BUT... NOW.
♪ ♪
OH, YOU GET THE MONEY, HUH?
DID YOU GET THE MONEY?
HALF OF IT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
HE WOULDN'T PAY FIVE
C's FOR A ONE-ROUNDER.
ARE YOU KIDDING?
STEEL, STEEL, THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
HE'S GOT A BUNCH
OF TOUGHS IN THERE.
WE'RE LUCKY HE DIDN'T RUN US
OUT OF TOWN ON THE RAILS.
OKAY.
WE'LL TAKE THE BUS BACK.
WE'LL TAKE THE BUS
BACK ALL THE WAY.
THAT'LL COST US
ABOUT 60, 70 BUCKS.
THAT'LL LEAVE US 200 ALMOST.
WE CAN GET A NEW LENS PLATE,
TRIGGER SPRINGS, OIL PASTE.
YEAH, LOTS OF OIL PASTE.
MAXO WILL BE GOOD AS NEW, HUH?
WE'LL GET SOME GOOD
BOUTS, MAXO, HUH?
THAT'S ALL HE NEEDS
IS A LITTLE OVERHAUL...
OIL PASTE, TRIGGER
SPRINGS, EYE LENS.
YEAH, MAXO'S GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SHOW 'EM WHAT
A GOOD B2 CAN DO
HUH, MAXO, RIGHT? RIGHT.
RIGHT, POLE, HUH?
HUH?
SURE, STEEL.
PORTRAIT OF A LOSING SIDE,
PROOF POSITIVE THAT YOU
CAN'T OUTPUNCH MACHINERY.
PROOF ALSO OF SOMETHING ELSE:
THAT NO MATTER WHAT
THE FUTURE BRINGS,
MAN'S CAPACITY TO RISE TO THE
OCCASION WILL REMAIN UNALTERED.
HIS POTENTIAL FOR TENACITY
AND OPTIMISM CONTINUES,
AS ALWAYS, TO OUTFIGHT,
OUTPOINT AND OUTLIVE
ANY AND ALL CHANGES
MADE BY HIS SOCIETY,
FOR WHICH THREE CHEERS
AND A UNANIMOUS DECISION
RENDERED FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
YOU UNLOCK THIS DOOR
WITH THE KEY OF IMAGINATION.
BEYOND IT IS
ANOTHER DIMENSION...
A DIMENSION OF
SOUND... (glass shatters)
A DIMENSION OF SIGHT,
A DIMENSION OF MIND.
YOU'RE MOVING INTO A LAND OF
BOTH SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE,
OF THINGS AND IDEAS.
YOU'VE JUST CROSSED
OVER INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
COUPLE OF BEERS, HONEY, HUH?
( squeaking)
MAN, LISTEN TO THAT SQUEAK.
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?
WELL, WHEN WE GET PAID OFF,
HE'LL GET ALL THE
OIL PASTE HE NEEDS.
IF WE CAN FIND ANY.
WELL, WHY SHOULDN'T WE?
BECAUSE THEY DON'T
MAKE IT ANYMORE.
THAT'S CRAZY, THERE'S
PLENTY OF B2's AROUND.
NAME FIVE.
WILL HE BE ALL RIGHT?
IF HE DON'T GET HIT.
WELL, IT'S NO USE GLARING AT ME
YOU KNOW HE'S SHOT.
THAT AIN'T TRUE, HE JUST
NEEDS A LITTLE WORK.
YEAH, A LITTLE
$3,000, 4,000 OVERHAUL
WITH PARTS THEY
DON'T MAKE ANYMORE.
THANKS.
THE WAY YOU TELL IT, POLE,
YOU'D THINK HE WAS
READY FOR THE SCRAPHEAP.
AIN'T HE?
NO, HE AIN'T.
THERE'S PLENTY OF
FIGHT LEFT IN MAXO.
WELL, IS HE GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT?
STEEL, I DON'T KNOW.
HE NEEDS WORK... YOU KNOW THAT.
THE TRIGGER SPRINGS
IN HIS LEFT ARM
HAS BEEN REWIRED SO MANY TIMES,
IT'S JUST ABOUT HAD IT.
HE'S GOT NO
PROTECTION ON THAT SIDE.
THE EYE LENS IS CRACKED.
THE LEG CABLES ARE
WORN... THEY GOT NO TENSION.
EVEN HIS GYRO IS OFF.
NOT TO MENTION THE
OIL PASTE HE AIN'T GOT.
WE'LL GET HIM SOME.
YEAH, AFTER THE FIGHT.
WHAT ABOUT DURING THE FIGHT?
HE'LL BE CREAKING
AROUND THAT RING
LIKE A STEAM SHOVEL.
IT'LL BE A MIRACLE IF
HE GOES TWO ROUNDS.
IT'S NOT THAT BAD, POLE.
IT'S WORSE... WAIT
TILL THAT CROWD
GETS A LOAD OF BATTLING
MAXO FROM PHILADELPHIA.
WE'LL BE LUCKY TO
GET OUR CAR FARE HOME
MUCH LESS 500 BUCKS.
THEY CAN'T BACK
OUT OF THE CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACT IS
FOR BATTLING MAXO...
NOT THIS STEAM SHOVEL HERE.
MAXO'S GOING TO DO ALL RIGHT.
AGAINST A B7?
IT'S A STARTER B7... DON'T EVEN
HAVE THE KINKS WORKED OUT YET.
AW...
BATTLING MAXO... ONE-ROUND MAXO
THE BATTLING STEAM SHOVEL.
WILL YOU SHUT UP?
WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS
KNOCKING HIM FOR?
HE'S BEEN DOING ALL
RIGHT FOR FIVE YEARS.
HE'LL KEEP DOING OKAY.
OKAY, SO HE NEEDS A LITTLE
WORK, A LITTLE OIL PASTE.
WE GET THE 500 BUCKS,
WE'LL GET HIM THAT STUFF...
NEW TRIGGER SPRING, OIL
PASTE, EYE LENS, EVERYTHING.
YEAH, YOU'LL DO OKAY, BOY.
YOU'LL DO OKAY.
SPORTS ITEM, CIRCA 1974:
BATTLING MAXO, B2, HEAVYWEIGHT,
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS
MANAGER AND HANDLER,
ARRIVES IN MAYNARD, KANSAS,
FOR A SCHEDULED SIX-ROUND BOUT.
BATTLING MAXO IS A ROBOT,
OR, TO BE EXACT, AN ANDROID,
DEFINITION: AN AUTOMATON
RESEMBLING A HUMAN BEING.
ONLY THESE AUTOMATONS
HAVE BEEN PERMITTED IN THE RING
SINCE PRIZEFIGHTING WAS
LEGALLY ABOLISHED IN 1968.
THIS IS THE STORY OF THAT
SCHEDULED SIX-ROUND BOUT.
MORE SPECIFICALLY,
THE STORY OF TWO MEN
SHORTLY TO FACE THAT
REMORSELESS TRUTH:
THAT NO LAW CAN BE PASSED
WHICH WILL ABOLISH
CRUELTY OR DESPERATE NEED,
NOR, FOR THAT MATTER,
BLIND ANIMAL COURAGE.
LOCATION FOR THE
FACING OF SAID TRUTH
A SMALL, SMOKE-FILLED ARENA
JUST THIS SIDE OF
THE TWILIGHT ZONE.
♪ ♪
OH, FOR... TIP HIM, HUH.
WHAT'S THE USE? TIP HIM!
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET YOU, POLE.
AFTER SEVEN MONTHS,
WE FINALLY GET A BOUT
AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS COMPLAIN.
SOME BOUT... MAYNARD, KANSAS,
THE PRIZEFIGHTING
CENTER OF THE NATION.
IT'S A START, AIN'T IT?
WHAT WE EARN HERE, WE
CAN PUT MAXO BACK IN SHAPE.
HUH, IF HE WINS. HAH!
YOU KNOW, I DON'T GET YOU, POLE.
HE'S OUR FIGHTER.
NOW, WHY DO YOU
KEEP WRITING HIM OFF?
I'M A CLASS-A MECHANIC, STEEL,
NOT A DAYDREAMING KID.
WE GOT US A PIECE
OF DEAD IRON HERE.
SHH. SOMEBODY WILL HEAR YOU.
SIMPLE MECHANICS...
MAXO WILL BE LUCKY
TO GET OUT OF THE
RING WITH HIS HEAD ON.
WRONG. IT'S A STARTER
B7, FULL OF KINKS.
JUST FULL OF THEM.
SURE, SURE.
COME IN.
MR. NOLAN?
NO, MAXWELL.
NOLAN WILL BE BACK IN
A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I'M, UH... I'M KELLY.
BATTLING MAXO'S MANAGER.
OH, YEAH.
AND THIS IS POLE, MY MECHANIC.
SIT DOWN. NOLAN
WILL BE RIGHT BACK.
OH, THANKS, THANKS.
UH... MAYBE YOU HEARD
ABOUT MY FIGHTER, MR. MAXWELL.
HMM?
YOU HEARD OF MY FIGHTER?
NOPE.
OH, HE WAS ALMOST THE WORLD'S
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION ONCE.
I... I USED TO BE A
HEAVYWEIGHT MYSELF.
BEFORE THE LAW WAS
PASSED, OF COURSE.
YEAH, I USED TO BOX UNDER
THE NAME OF "STEEL" KELLY.
THEY CALLED ME THAT BECAUSE
I NEVER GOT KNOCKED DOWN.
NOT... NOT ONCE.
WELL, GOING TO BE A
GREAT FIGHT TONIGHT, HUH?
MY BOY TOOK DIMSEY
THE ROCK BACK IN '71.
YOU REMEMBER THAT.
NOPE.
IT WAS ALL OVER THE
EAST COAST NEWSPAPERS...
BOSTON, NEW YORK, PHILLY.
WELL, THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE FROM... PHILLY.
YEAH, BIGGEST UPSET OF THE
YEAR... MADE THE HEADLINES.
MR. NOLAN?
HMM?
KELLY.
I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU'D MAKE IT.
YOUR FIGHTER IN SHAPE?
OH, YES, SIR, MY MECHANIC
HERE TOOK HIM APART
AND PUT HIM BACK TOGETHER
BEFORE WE LEFT PHILLY.
YOU'RE LUCKY TO GET A BOUT.
WE AIN'T USED NOTHING LESS
THAN B4's IN ALMOST TWO YEARS.
FIGHTER WE HAD GOT RUINED
IN A CAR WRECK, THOUGH.
OH, YOU GOT NOTHING TO
WORRY ABOUT, MR. NOLAN.
MY FIGHTHER'S IN TOP SHAPE.
HEY, YOU KNOW,
HE TOOK DIMSEY
THE ROCK BACK IN '71.
I JUST WANT A GOOD FIGHT.
OH, YOU'LL GET IT, MR. NOLAN.
YOU'LL GET IT.
OH, UH, DO YOU HAVE A READY ROOM
THAT WE CAN USE?
I LIKE TO GIVE HIM A
LAST-MINUTE CHECK.
NUMBER FIVE, DOWN THE HALL.
AND YOUR BOUT'S AT 9:00.
YES, SIR.
OH, MR. NOLAN, UH... I, UH...
YOU'LL GET YOUR MONEY
AFTER YOU DELIVER A FIGHT.
YES, SIR.
OKAY, SEE YOU THEN.
MR. MAXWELL.
OH, BOY.
FIVE.
I WANT YOU TO CHECK
HIM OVER GOOD, NOW.
WHAT FOR?
DID YOU HEAR ME?
YEAH.
HE'S GOING TO
TAKE THAT LOUSY B7.
SURE HE IS, WITH HIS TEETH.
I WISH WE'D HAVE
GOTTEN THAT OIL PASTE.
I TOLD YOU THEY WOULDN'T SELL
ANY HERE... WHY SHOULD THEY?
MAXO IS PROBABLY THE
ONLY B2 IN A THOUSAND MILES.
I HEAR MORLEY'S COMING
OUT WITH A B9 THIS YEAR.
HYPERTRIGGER IN
BOTH ARMS AND LEGS.
ALL STEELED ALUMINUM, TRIPLE
GYRO, TRIPLE-TWISTED WIRING.
SAY IT'LL BE ABLE TO STAND
UP AFTER KNOCKDOWNS, TOO.
WELL, IS HE OKAY?
SURE, HE'S GREAT.
IF THIS DOESN'T BLOW.
WELL, WHY SHOULD IT?
IT'S SUBPAR, I TOLD YOU
THAT EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
WELL, WE'LL GET ANOTHER
ONE AFTER THE BOUT.
YEAH, ANOTHER 75
BUCKS DOWN THE DRAIN.
LOOK, HE'S EARNING
US $500, AIN'T HE?
GO EASY ON THAT LEFT.
IF IT DON'T WORK NOW,
IT WON'T WORK TONIGHT.
SAVE IT.
OKAY, SET HIM SO HE
DON'T COUNTERPUNCH.
( clattering)
OH, THEY'LL HEAR
HIM IN THE BACK ROW.
ALL RIGHT, TRY THE REST.
HE'LL GET MORE THAN TWO
PUNCHES THROWN AT HIS HEAD.
TRY THE REST, I SAID.
OKAY, PUT HIM ON AUTOMATIC.
OH, HE'S BEAUTIFUL,
JUST BEAUTIFUL.
WE GOT TO PUT HIM ON DEFENSE.
HE'LL GET CHOPPED TO PIECES
IF WE LET HIM MOVE IN.
NO.
OH, FOR... HE'S
A B2, STEEL, A B2!
HE'S GOING TO GET
SLAUGHTERED ANYWAY
WE MIGHT AS WELL SAVE THE...
BUT THE CONTRACT CALLS
FOR HIM TO BE ON OFFENSIVE.
AH, WHAT'S THE USE?
COME ON, LET'S
TEST HIM SOME MORE.
WHAT FOR, HE'S...
WILL YOU JUST DO LIKE I SAY?
( boing)
( clattering)
WHAT'D YOU DO?
I TOLD YOU NOT TO
MESS WITH THAT LEFT.
SO HELP YOU IF YOU BROKE IT.
IF I BROKE IT!
LISTEN, THIS HEAP'S BEEN
GOING ON BORROWED TIME
FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
DON'T YOU TALK TO
ME ABOUT BREAKAGES!
OPEN HIM UP.
SURE, SURE.
YOU JUST FIND ANOTHER MECHANIC
WHO COULD HAVE KEPT
THIS STEAM SHOVEL GOING
THESE LAST FEW YEARS...
YOU JUST FIND ONE.
( metallic clank)
( clatter)
FIX IT.
STEEL, I... FIX IT.
STEEL, I CAN'T.
LOOK, YOU BROKE
IT, NOW YOU FIX IT!
LET GO OF ME.
IT'S GOT TO BE FIXED.
IT NEEDS A NEW SPRING.
THEN GET ONE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THEM
HERE, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE.
WELL, IF THEY DON'T
WATCH THE FIGHTS...
WHAT?
IF NOLAN AND MAXWELL
DON'T WATCH THE BOUTS.
WHAT ARE YOU TALK...
WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY?
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
WE DELIVER A FIGHT
OR WE DON'T GET PAID.
COME ON, STEEL,
THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU.
YOU CAN'T MAKE
THEM BELIEVE THAT...
LISTEN, YOU CAN'T DO IT.
NOBODY KNOWS
WHAT MAXO LOOKS LIKE.
ONLY THOSE TWO GUYS
IN THE OFFICE SAW ME,
AND IF NOLAN AND MAXWELL
DON'T WATCH THE BOUTS,
WELL, WHY SHOULD THE CROWD KNOW?
STEEL!
WELL, THE B2's BLEED JUST
LIKE ANY OF THE NEW ONES,
AND BRUISE AND THE WHOLE THING.
LOOK, I CAN WIRE MY SISTER.
SHE'LL SEND US THE
DOUGH TO GET BACK EAST.
STEEL, I KNOW A GUY IN PHILLY
WANTS TO SELL A B5 CHEAP.
WE CAN SCURRY
UP THE CASH WITH IT.
STEEL, USE YOUR HEAD, WILL YOU?
IT'S A B7... YOU'LL GET MANGLED.
I'M NOT GOING TO
LET YOU DO IT, I...
YOU'RE GOING TO HELP ME
OR I'M GOING TO BEAT
YOUR BRAINS OUT.
YOU'LL GET KILLED, STEEL.
THEN I WILL.
HEY.
YOU'RE LATE.
WHERE'S THE OWNER?
IN THE AUDIENCE.
I SHOULD'VE TOLD HIM.
Steel: I WOULD'VE
KILLED YOU IF YOU HAD.
YOU'LL HAVE TO TOWEL
ME OFF BETWEEN ROUNDS.
BETWEEN WHAT ROUND?
YOU WON'T LAST EVEN ONE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GOING UP AGAINST,
ANOTHER FIGHTER?
YOU'RE GOING AGAINST A
MACHINE, YOU BIG, DUMB...
JUST DO LIKE I SAY, HUH?
IF I TOWEL YOU OFF,
THEY'LL KNOW, WON'T THEY?
LOOK, THEY AIN'T SEEN A
B2 AROUND HERE IN YEARS.
NOLAN SAID SO.
ANYBODY ASKS, JUST
TELL THEM IT'S AN OIL LEAK.
SURE, SURE.
( crowd cheering in distance)
WELL, IF IT AIN'T BATTLIN' MAXO!
Man: SCRAP IRON, SCRAP IRON!
Man 2: SCRAP IRON, SCRAP IRON!
( bell clangs)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
THE FIFTH CONTEST
OF THE EVENING...
A SIX-ROUND HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
FEATURING, FROM PHILADELPHIA,
A B2, BATTLING MAXO!
( derisive laughter)
GET THAT PILE OF
JUNK OUT OF HERE!
RATTLIN' MAXO, YOU MEAN!
( laughter)
AND HIS OPPONENT, OUR OWN B7,
THE MAYNARD FLASH.
( cheering and applause)
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
GET OUT.
STAY AWAY FROM HIM, THEN.
( bell clangs)
( crowd cheering)
Man: GET THAT TANKER A BICYCLE!
Man: GET THAT JUNK
PILE OUT OF THERE!
( booing)
DON'T DO IT.
KILL HIM, KILL HIM, KILL HIM!
KILL HIM!
( crowd cheering)
NO.
( crowd cheering wildly)
( cheering)
Man: WHAT A FIGHTER HE IS!
CAN YOU GET UP?
STEEL, CAN YOU GET UP?
ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT, NOW.
HOLD IT.
THE ROBE.
WHAT?
GET THE ROBE.
HOLD IT DOWN,
THAT'S ENOUGH, NOW.
LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE WINNER,
IN TWO MINUTES AND 20
SECONDS OF THE FIRST ROUND,
THE MAYNARD FLASH!
( cheering)
( booing)
Man: GET THAT PILE
OF TIN OUT OF HERE!
RUSTY PILE OF JUNK!
GET OUT OF HERE!
♪ ♪
YOU BIG, DUMB... ( mumbling)
WHAT?
GO GET THE MONEY.
BUT... NOW.
♪ ♪
OH, YOU GET THE MONEY, HUH?
DID YOU GET THE MONEY?
HALF OF IT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
HE WOULDN'T PAY FIVE
C's FOR A ONE-ROUNDER.
ARE YOU KIDDING?
STEEL, STEEL, THERE'S
NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
HE'S GOT A BUNCH
OF TOUGHS IN THERE.
WE'RE LUCKY HE DIDN'T RUN US
OUT OF TOWN ON THE RAILS.
OKAY.
WE'LL TAKE THE BUS BACK.
WE'LL TAKE THE BUS
BACK ALL THE WAY.
THAT'LL COST US
ABOUT 60, 70 BUCKS.
THAT'LL LEAVE US 200 ALMOST.
WE CAN GET A NEW LENS PLATE,
TRIGGER SPRINGS, OIL PASTE.
YEAH, LOTS OF OIL PASTE.
MAXO WILL BE GOOD AS NEW, HUH?
WE'LL GET SOME GOOD
BOUTS, MAXO, HUH?
THAT'S ALL HE NEEDS
IS A LITTLE OVERHAUL...
OIL PASTE, TRIGGER
SPRINGS, EYE LENS.
YEAH, MAXO'S GOING
TO BE ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SHOW 'EM WHAT
A GOOD B2 CAN DO
HUH, MAXO, RIGHT? RIGHT.
RIGHT, POLE, HUH?
HUH?
SURE, STEEL.
PORTRAIT OF A LOSING SIDE,
PROOF POSITIVE THAT YOU
CAN'T OUTPUNCH MACHINERY.
PROOF ALSO OF SOMETHING ELSE:
THAT NO MATTER WHAT
THE FUTURE BRINGS,
MAN'S CAPACITY TO RISE TO THE
OCCASION WILL REMAIN UNALTERED.
HIS POTENTIAL FOR TENACITY
AND OPTIMISM CONTINUES,
AS ALWAYS, TO OUTFIGHT,
OUTPOINT AND OUTLIVE
ANY AND ALL CHANGES
MADE BY HIS SOCIETY,
FOR WHICH THREE CHEERS
AND A UNANIMOUS DECISION
RENDERED FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE.