The Cut (2024)
Director: Sean Ellis
Writers: Justin Bull, Mark Lane
Stars: Orlando Bloom, John Turturro, CaitrÃona Balfe
Plot: A retired boxer returns to the ring for one last shot at the title but only if he can make the weight. Holed up in a room in Las Vegas he embarks on an intensive and illegal weight cut program with an unscrupulous trainer.
* * *
The Cut (2024) | Transcript
(CROWD CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR 1: We are not even halfway through the fight here in Vegas and the crowd is really eating it up.
COMMENTATOR 2: Both these guys deserve to win, but I don’t think there’s a chance in hell this fight is going the distance. Someone’s going home on their shield tonight.
This is relentless, simply relentless.
COMMENTATOR 2: You know what a good chin he’s got, but if he keeps eating punches like that, there’s no way he’s surviving to the end of the fight.
COMMENTATOR 1: And that is a huge blow by the Irishman.
(BELL RINGS)
COMMENTATOR 2: Oh! The sweat is just flying off these guys here. The energy is unbelievable.
COMMENTATOR 1: I don’t think either fighter’s gonna quit. They are really barreling hard.
(CROWD CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR 1: And that is a flurry of brutal shots.
COMMENTATOR 2: He’s gotta find an answer to this. He’s gotta fire back.
(BELL RINGING)
CAITLIN:
You have him, d’you hear me? Just keep your distance.
Pick your shots.
COMMENTATOR 2: Caitlin Harney is working hard in the Irishman’s corner over there.
(BELL RINGS)
COMMENTATOR 1: Joe, they are not letting up.
COMMENTATOR 2: He has to keep the pressure on now. This fight is his to lose. Look at that left to the body there. And a right to the head.
YOUNG BOXER: Mom!
(LOUD BANG)
(SOUND FADING)
YOUNG BOXER: Mom! Mom!
COMMENTATOR 1: Oh, and he eats a right to the body. And a left and a right.
COMMENTATOR 2: He’s let him off the hook there.
COMMENTATOR 1: That is a huge cut that’s opened up above the eye.
COMMENTATOR 2: Brutal. There is no way the doctor lets this continue at the break.
COMMENTATOR 1: No way. That cut is nasty.
If he doesn’t close the show this round, it’s over.
But he takes another, and another.
COMMENTATOR 2: He’s out on his feet. The referee surely has to stop this now. Oh!
COMMENTATOR 1: It’s over! It’s over! He came so close, but he’s thrown it away.
(SOUND FADING)
(HANDS DRUMMING ON MAT)
BOXER: Can’t hear ya!
Louder. Louder.
Let’s go. All right, hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it.
Oh, you missed it.
Oh, you missed it.
Where’s your left?
Where’s your left?
Hit, hit. (EXCLAIMS) Rounded up a few stragglers here.
BOXER: Nice one, ladies.
All right, let’s go.
On your feet.
Come on. Right, who’s ready?
KIDS: Me!
I can’t hear you.
Who’s ready?
KIDS: Me!
Great. Ten pressups. Let’s go.
(KIDS GROAN, PANT)
Let me see that twist.
Come on. Flick it.
That’s right.
KID: One, two.
A little flick like that.
Parry.
Jab, parry. Jab, parry.
Now, remember, straight down the middle.
Keep your arm straight, okay?
That’s great. Now, one, two.
Lovely, lovely.
You’ve been doing good, right?
Can I get a photo with my wee son?
Go on, get in there. Yeah.
BOXER: You want a photo?
Yeah.
BOXER: Right.
Put your fists up.
Gorgeous.
Thank you.
BOBBY: Go on, double it up.
Go on, double it up.
CAITLIN: You all right, Bobby?
Yeah, I’m good.
We’re just finishing up the squirts.
Hmm?
Finished that meal prep I sent you?
Yeah, I’m thinning up.
I mean, what do you think, kitty cat? Tight, yeah?
CAITLIN: Why don’t you go get changed?
Right. I’m going.
(HIPHOP SONG PLAYING)
Pop that left. Pick your shots.
It’s not a fucking brawl.
BOBBY: What’s that?
Just tighten up.
Oh, she likes it tight.
(CHUCKLES)
Your rhythm’s off.
Well, I can’t hear a damn thing.
You’re mumbling. (SPITS) Turn that thing off, will ya?
(SONG CONCLUDES)
CAITLIN: Just stay focused.
It’s hard to focus when your man keeps fucking with my flow.
(MEN LAUGH)
CAITLIN:
Right, Bobby, out of the ring.
Still got your floor work to get through.
(INDISTINCT VOICE ON RADIO)
COMMENTATOR: Short one with the right hand. He’s taking Mendez’s shots well too, proving he’s got a chin. If he connects with one of these big swings, well, that could be lights out. And if Mendez is backing off here… I mean, he needs to put some pressure on him. And his defence has been terrible tonight. He just cannot seem to get into this fight. Makes you think how well he’s trained. Has he really… Give me another five?
I’ve got plenty I can do.
CAITLIN: Good.
Get to it, you lazy shite.
COMMENTATOR: Mendez slumps onto his stool there. The trainer seems to be really concerned there.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
(TAPPING THE PLUNGER)
(RETCHING)
Hey. You ready?
Pop.
(BLOWS)
You fucking with me?
Are you fucking with me?
I’m with you. (SMOOCHES) Sad news from here at the hospital where Mendez was being treated is that he has succumbed to the injuries sustained…
CAITLIN: Here.
…over the fight earlier this evening and has regrettably lost his life. Thanks.
CATALINA: The medical team released a statement confirming dehydration may have been a factor in the boxer’s death. There will now be a full investigation. Meanwhile, the boxing community mourns the loss of a talented athlete. It has not been confirmed whether the fight will go on with a replacement challenger at this time. From Las Vegas, I’m Catalina Pérez de Armiñán.
NEWS ANCHOR: That’s the latest news there from Las Vegas. More, of course, as we have it. Moving on now…
BOXER: You okay if I head out for a bit?
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Yeah, sure.
(SHARP EXHALES)
(GRUNTS)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(BOXER VOMITS)
(RETCHES)
(COUGHS)
(RETCHES)
DONNIE: Mmm.
Vegetarians. Pescatarians.
Vegans, huh?
Me, personally, if I can’t kill it, I can’t eat it. Mm? (LAUGHS) Mm.
Jesus.
Here’s the man, right?
Highest knockouttowin ratio for a super welterweight, huh?
Hey, that’s a stat that’s still unchallenged.
Nobody’s close.
People don’t care about stats, only champions.
DONNIE: (CHUCKLES) That’s for sure.
You sure you don’t wanna order nothin’?
CAITLIN: No. I’m grand.
DONNIE: Okay, then, business.
CAITLIN: We weren’t already talking business?
You’re Ricky Dove’s little girl, right?
That’s no secret.
Hmm. Some trainer, your old man.
That must have been quite the schooling.
He wanted boys, not girls.
We washed the towels, made a lot of tea and listened.
Your little problem must have broke his heart.
Mind your manners.
You fighting my fights for me now?
DONNIE: Okay, then. Business.
I have a title fight set in Vegas for next week, and the contender knocked dead after a goddamn celebrity match with a fucking palooka YouTuber.
What kind of circus are you running?
Johnny YouTube has a half a billion viewers.
We wanted those, so we set it up.
He wasn’t supposed to swing real hits.
Got all excited and, boo, there you go.
Six months’ work.
Venue, insurance, payperview…
CAITLIN:
Yeah, and a dead contender.
DONNIE: Yeah, sure, that too.
CAITLIN: If you wanna swing by the gym and have a look at a few of the lads, you’re more than welcome.
DONNIE: I got plenty of contenders I could go to.
But who pays to see Mr. Nobody from Timbuktu fight a champ, huh?
People like a comeback kid story, plain as that, always have.
He’s not a competitive fighter anymore.
Yeah? Then why did he call me?
I was going to say.
He won’t make the weight check.
We talked about that.
DONNIE: I’ll take care of the checks.
So long as he can hit the official weighin.
So it’s all worked out, huh?
I need you, and I don’t do it without you.
You know that.
DONNIE: Hey.
Don’t say no to a good thing.
You’re carrying what?
One seventyfive.
CAITLIN:
Don’t fucking bullshit this.
One eighty.
I said don’t fucking bullshit.
One eighty straight.
Seven days.
Six, including travel.
That’s 26 pounds in six days.
DONNIE:
Look, it’s just a number.
Let’s not get too down here, huh?
(MUNCHES) Come out to Vegas.
Come to the facility.
We have trainers, man, the very best. Hmm?
She trains me.
(LAUGHS) I can get you anyone.
Name a name.
I’ll make it happen.
BOXER: It’s you and me.
That’s how I do it.
Or not at all. Right?
And if it doesn’t go well?
We pull out.
I train him, and we choose the team.
Sure.
CAITLIN:
No promotional bullshit.
DONNIE: I’ll need a photo shoot.
Maybe one presser.
CAITLIN: Send over the deal memo, including travel.
(MUNCHES)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC FADES)
Hey.
You all right?
Grand.
(SIGHS)
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
MANNY: (LAUGHS) Yeah, the champ is here, baby!
PAOLO: There they are.
How are youse?
Ah, jeez, it’s been too long.
Thanks.
MANNY: How you doin’, Caitlin?
CAITLIN: Manny. How are ya?
PAOLO: Here he is. Bring it in.
MANNY: Yeah, good, yeah.
PAOLO: You okay?
Yeah. That’s flash, what?
MANNY: Only the best for the champ.
PAOLO: Hey.
How you doin’, champ?
You okay?
Yeah, you good?
All right, man.
You looking good.
All right.
(HIPHOP SONG PLAYING)
Thanks.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
DONNIE: You said you’d deliver.
I’ll, uh… They’re here.
I’ll call you back.
There they are. How the flight?
Yeah, it was good.
I fly you in, all the travel trimmings, and huh, all you can say is “good.”
No, Donnie, it was grand.
Thanks, no.
I just… I meant we should…
we should go and check out the gym, that’s all.
It was grand.
Okay.
BOXER: All right.
Let’s give you the tour.
(SONG CONCLUDES)
(DOOR OPENING)
Everything you need.
You don’t gotta leave this hotel. Got that?
Thanks, Donnie, yeah.
I appreciate you doing this.
DONNIE: You don’t see it, you let me know and I’ll get it.
Okay.
Let’s get this performative bullshit out of the way.
(CLICKS FINGERS)
CAITLIN: What’s going on?
I thought he was taking care of this.
He will. He said he will.
That scale doesn’t lie.
They want to see the weight.
What?
You said this was a formality.
He just needs to get on the scale.
Hey, trust me on this.
They just need to see what they need to see.
All right.
Are you sure about this?
Wait. Okay.
DONNIE: Ready, contender.
Jesus, Donnie. One eightysix?
You’re way off of 154.
This is nowhere even close.
Hey. Come here.
Don’t look at him.
He can’t help you none.
How long has it been, huh?
Five, six years, huh?
We go way back, right? Me, you.
We go way back.
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
Okay, gentlemen. (CLAPS) Let’s doublecheck our work, huh?
We all cool with that?
(SIGHS) Let’s try again, pal.
Strip all the way down.
Hey, help him with some towels.
(GRUNTS, EXHALES)
(WEIGHING MACHINE BEEPS)
One twelve.
Try again. He’ll get there.
One twentyeight.
One thirtyfive.
One… One fiftysix.
One fiftysix!
Hey, how about that, huh?
(CHUCKLES) All right.
(SIGHS)
So, just a couple of pounds to go.
No problem.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
KIDS: Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight!
Get off him! Get off him!
BOY: Ah, go home with your mummy.
GIRL: Mummy’s boy.
SOLDIER: Out the car!
MALE VOICE: What you doing?
I haven’t done anything…
SOLDIER: Get out the car, you Fenian bastard!
MALE VOICE: Woah. Okay, okay!
SOLDIER: Hands on the bonnet!
MALE VOICE: Jesus.
SOLDIER: Do not move!
MOTHER: Get in.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
MOTHER: That hurt?
How about that?
Did that hurt too?
You men.
You get all the choice.
You get to be the one that hurts, or you get to be the one that makes other people hurt.
Do you see?
A fucking minute!
(COINS JINGLE)
Go on, go get yourself something. Go on.
Two gallons of water today.
Then drop it to one, half, quarter, none.
Protein and greens.
Drop the carbs down low.
Sweat, cardio, sweat.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
You good, champ?
Nah, I don’t rattle. I don’t lose sight of my goal. I’m the best I’ve ever been. And this Saturday, I’m gonna conquer the weak. If he makes weight.
(CROWD LAUGHS)
CHAMP: That’s right. Fucking asshole.
CHAMP: If he makes weight. ‘Cause that dumb son of a bitch thought he could crawl out of early retirement and come tangle with the best.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
PAOLO:
Let me check over a few things.
That seems off.
Scales don’t fucking lie, pal.
You should be below that.
We went wrong somewhere.
MANNY: It’s all that food weight, man.
He can’t be carrying that at the scale.
Sorry, are you the fucking expert now?
He’s eating when we’re trying to get him to lose.
Manny, I love you, but let ’em do their thing, all right?
If we cut him off from the protein too quick, then he won’t have enough energy for the next four days.
And if you cut him off from the water, then his body shuts down, and it’ll try to hold on to whatever fluid it can and we’ll be back to square one.
There isn’t enough time now, not by my count.
We’ve got time.
All he needs is protein, fat and water. Right?
Protein, fat, water, and exercise. That’s the combo.
And we just taper it down carefully from there. Right?
PAOLO: Right.
Fuck!
MANNY: Jesus!
Are you leaving?
I’m gonna run a few miles.
You’ll overwork yourself.
(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)
I’m not clearing that up.
(VENDING MACHINE BEEPING)
(SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(MUNCHES)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(RETCHES LOUDLY)
(COUGHS)
(TOILET FLUSHES)
(SIGHS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
BOZ: Your mom pushed you out into the world.
You know what that takes?
That’s Herculean, man.
That’s right. You ever see a woman give birth?
That’s right, you gotta push, man.
You know what it is to push?
That’s what you gotta learn how to do.
Push against order.
(HIPHOP MUSIC PLAYING)
Push against expectations.
Push against basic cellular instinct.
You see, we’ve all been lulled into a sleepwalk.
And we’re all sleepwalking right to the edge of the abyss, right?
Limp, passive, sleepwalking our way to the grave.
So you can quit now if you like, huh?
Get on back to that sleepwalking.
It’s that easy if that’s what you want.
LUPE: Hell, no. (GRUNTS)
BOZ: Yeah? You sure?
Sure you don’t wanna take the easy lane? Huh?
Fuck that! Hell, no!
BOZ: And be some goddamn cookiecutter fighter that Showtime can mop the canvas with for a few bucks?
LUPE: Fuck that, man.
You wanna be great, huh?
Yeah, hell, yeah!
BOZ: Yeah. You wanna be a goddamn legend, huh?
Hell, yeah!
BOZ: So why don’t you look like you want it already, motherfucker?
(LUPE GRUNTS)
BOZ: Let’s go!
(LUPE YELLS)
Come on, man! Fuck! Ha!
BOZ: Huh?
Do you need a goddamn permission slip to take your eyeballs off my fighter?
Water!
(PANTING)
(SONG CONCLUDES)
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
(WHISPERS) Paolo’s right.
We don’t have enough time.
I know.
We agreed that was going to be the approach, right?
By the book or not at all.
You and I agreed that.
I know.
So what the fuck are we still doing here?
Hey.
You have to let me in a bit.
So I can understand where your head’s at.
It’s just something I have to do, that’s it.
Why this fight?
You’ve been out of it for so long.
Why now?
Jesus, Caitlin. Fuck’s sake.
(EXHALES)
CAITLIN: Come on.
The truth.
So I need it, then, all right?
I stepped away and no one gave a second thought about it.
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
I tried to move on.
But this thing…
this hunger…
stayed in me.
I know.
I put everything into the gym.
Our gym.
Our gym is…
It’s what’s kept me clean.
It’s what’s saved me.
And I put my heart into it, Caitlin, for you.
But it’s still there.
It’s eating me from the inside.
But don’t you see?
Title or no title…
that’s not what’s gonna quieten down what’s in your head.
This hunger.
It never leaves ya.
You just… You have to learn to live with it.
I can’t.
I…
I won’t.
I thought I’d get a little older and maybe it’d stop, but it’s the opposite.
You know?
The older I get, the hungrier I get.
And I know I should be grateful for everything I’ve got.
But I’m not.
I’m sorry.
And every time I train someone up…
every time I see them in the ring instead of me, I feel like next time I should be in the ring.
And that’s time I don’t get back.
And maybe…
maybe this is my last shot before it’s all over.
I just need to get in that ring, Caitlin.
You know?
And I need you to get me there.
All right?
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(BIRDS CAWING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CUTLERY CLINKING)
CAITLIN: D’you mind?
(GRUNTS)
He’s not gonna make it.
Not in the time we have.
Not the way you’re doing things.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
I know a guy.
Gets things done, but, uh…
(EXHALES)
I ain’t gonna lie.
It’ll be rough on him.
The man’s name is uh, Boz.
(SCALE BEEPS)
One seven six.
(BLOWS)
What’s the diet?
PAOLO: Fifty grams of carbs.
Protein and fat only.
Bringing the sodium down to 175 milligrams today.
BOZ: Water?
PAOLO: Two gallons.
BOZ: Distilled?
As of today, of course.
Workout?
CAITLIN: Two hours on the bike or treadmill twice a day.
One hour of calisthenics after lunch.
Paint by numbers, huh?
CAITLIN: (SIGHS) Well, we’re open to suggestions.
Good, ’cause I got plenty.
Man, fuck this guy.
We don’t need this noise.
Go easy, man.
BOZ: It’s okay.
Don’t dial it back for me, kid.
A decade ago, you had a title shot and you got caught in the sixth, I remember.
Eye opened up like a Christmas present. Hmm?
That won’t happen this time.
BOZ: You could have won.
You had him on the ropes.
What stopped you?
MANNY: It don’t matter.
Saturday night he’s taking the strap.
Nah.
Not from my view.
From my view, he’s a loser.
Hey.
No, no, no. That’s enough.
We don’t need him.
BOZ: You’re not gonna make the weight.
Not at this rate.
I got my team. We’ll make it.
To make it, you gotta take the brakes off, and your team, well, the problem is, they care about you too much.
(SCOFFS)
Sorry, this is your “listen to me ’cause I don’t care about your life” pitch?
Would you prefer a “make my daddy proud” pitch?
(WHISPERS) It’s okay.
You can’t move ahead dragging your past along for the ride.
That’s extra weight, extra fuel to burn.
That shit comes at a cost.
You wanna be another statistic, a hasbeen on repeat?
Your girl loves you, so she’s only gonna hurt you so much.
What you need is someone that loves something more than they love you.
Your girl’s right about me.
I don’t give a shit about your life.
The only thing I care about is winning.
To me, you’re nothing but a poker chip.
(LAUGHS)
You bring me on, you better be ready.
Because there’s no ripcord, no parachute.
But come Saturday, I will deliver you to that squared circle.
And then the rest…
is up to you.
Huh?
(EXHALES)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(EXHALES)
Mom. I’m hungry.
(BALL THUDS)
KIDS: Whoa!
Okay.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING)
SOLDIER 1: Yeah, no, he was saying that the other day…
Here we go.
There’s Paddy Mcgoo.
SOLDIER 2: Ready for your date?
SOLDIER 1: Here we are.
(LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
Wait here.
(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)
(CAR DOOR CLOSING)
All right, lads. How you doing?
SOLDIER 1: Hello, darling.
How you doing?
You all right, love?
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
(MOTHER MOANING)
(CASH REGISTER DINGS)
(BOXER BREATHING HEAVILY)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
He’s due for a break.
Yeah.
I think we should stop for dinner.
It’s a good idea.
I’ll have a burger, lettuce, tomato, onion, no cheese, no bread.
He needs a break.
And he’ll get one.
After the fight.
CAITLIN: You need a break.
We’ve been going all day.
(PANTS)
I’m going. I’ll go.
When?
To the shops.
What?
(PANTS) Okay, Ma, I’ll go.
I said I’ll go!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Paolo, he’s crashing.
(GRUNTS)
CAITLIN: Manny. Manny!
PAOLO: Hey, you okay?
CAITLIN: Will you help us get him up?
MANNY: What the fuck?
PAOLO: Hey, hey, hey.
CAITLIN: Hold on.
Just give it a minute.
Come back to me.
Come back to me.
CAITLIN: Listen to me.
Are you all right?
Can you hear me?
Hey, catch your breath.
Chill out for a second.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(EXHALES)
CAITLIN: Hey, hey.
You all right?
How long?
About an hour.
BOXER: (SIGHS) Oh, I needed that hour.
CAITLIN: Yeah.
You needed to rest.
You’re not to keep pushing yourself so much.
You’re gonna end up in the hospital or worse.
Worse is you don’t make weight.
That’s, uh, quite a spill you took, huh?
Let me see.
(MURMURS) Let me see.
Yeah, he’s good.
Let’s get back at it.
No. We’re taking the night.
That’s cute.
Come on, now. We’re back at it, on the double.
CAITLIN: Babe…
I’m sol… I’m solid.
Um, I’m sorry, but did I miss something?
Was I supposed to bring my swimming trunks?
He took a fall.
He needs to rest.
When a fighter falls, he gets the fuck up.
Isn’t that right?
I got it. (GRUNTS) Fine, okay.
BOZ: We’re not playing here, all right?
You play baseball, tennis.
You don’t play boxing.
You remember what I said, right?
There’s no ripcord on this jump.
You hear me?
Nah, you didn’t hear me.
Now, I’m telling you for real now.
There is no ripcord.
Will you shut the fuck up with that shite?
BOZ: There is no ripcord.
You say it for me.
There is no ripcord.
Ready to ride.
Fuck’s sake.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(ROARS)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
BOXER: You up?
You should be sweating.
I got this charity thing now Donnie set up.
COMMENTATOR: Mage is taking the lead here. And it is going to be Mage to win the… Fuck.
BOXER: Are you not coming?
Let’s not ruin a good thing, yeah?
You run along now.
And get your ass back in that sauna when you get back.
WAITRESS: Appetizer?
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(RETCHES, VOMITS)
(SPITS)
(DOOR OPENING, CLOSING)
(TOILET FLUSHES)
(DOOR OPENING, CLOSING)
And here we have one of our very own champs.
This is Luca.
He’s at the very top of our donor list.
BOXER: Luca.
Chipping away, are ya?
I’m tryin’.
Do you want a photo?
Can we have a few?
I think we’ve got the photos.
Yes.
We’ll wait for you in the hall. Yeah?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
CAITLIN: Hiya.
Hi.
CAITLIN: How are ya?
(WHISPERS)
How long you been in here?
Like, forever.
Wow. That’s a long time.
Flex that for me, big man.
(LUCA GRUNTING)
Jesus, you’ve been hitting that gym.
Your body’s the one thing God gave you when you came into this world.
You feel that, right?
Yeah.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
But this body’s nothing but a tool.
This is where the fight happens, up here.
This is where you win.
So you make that body strong to get all you deserve.
But this is where you win.
But you keep it up here.
You keep it up here. This is where you win.
(OVERLAPPING QUESTIONS)
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
How you feelin’?
Grand. Really strong.
Are you ready for the fight?
(PRESS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
Okay, we gotta keep movin’, people. That’s your five.
This is not gonna be like the GarcÃa fight, is it?
MANNY: Hey, man, shut your fucking mouth.
Back up, motherfucker.
Hey. He’ll make weight.
We have no doubt.
Well, what do you say to the people who call you a fat hasbeen?
(PRESS SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
I’ll do you a new one, you fucking cunt.
You fucker! Fuck you!
Hey, your fighter just got himself a lawsuit, Donnie.
CAITLIN: What the fuck?
What the fuck?
I need to get out of here.
MANNY: Man, fuck those guys.
Don’t let ’em get in your head.
They don’t know shit.
Give me some space, will you?
I’m not kidding, man.
They don’t know shit about shit.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Is he staying here?
Who?
The other fella.
Nah, I bet they got him set up at the Bellagio or some shit.
He’s fucking in there.
Who?
BOXER: The champ!
Are you okay, man?
BOXER: I know you’re in there!
MANNY: Jesus, man, you gotta chill.
I am so fucking sorry.
Man, let’s get you back in the training room, yeah?
Hey, where you going, man?
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
COMMENTATOR: Plenty of body shots. Plenty of jabs to the face. And a… a vicious left hook of, uh, the champion is countered by the jabs…
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
…into the face, again and again, by the challenger. And he’s got an impressive career… BOXER: He’s flicking his jab, setting up that right.
Do you see that?
Fucking right.
Comes in with a fucking sledgehammer, does he not?
He’s weak, though.
Hey. You straight?
Yeah.
BOZ: You’re gonna suffocate him with worry, you keep it up.
(VIDEO PLAYING INDISTINCTLY)
You can back out.
There’s no shame.
That’s not entirely true.
I mean, there would be shame.
I mean, to quit now, there would be massive, crushing shame.
And the money.
Don’t forget the money.
Crippling.
You do what you gotta do.
BOZ: What he’s gotta do is listen to me for the next 48 hours.
You do that and we’re underweight and in the ring.
Look, this is the easy part.
This is the part we just squeeze you like a wet towel.
A little diuretic to get things moving along.
He doesn’t need that.
We’re gonna dry you up like a sweet raisin.
That’ll show up in a test.
I don’t recall either fighter signing up for the VADA.
Are you a VADA poster boy, hmm?
He gets caught, that’ll be a fouryear ban.
BOZ: Banned for four years?
From all that pro boxing he’s been doing?
Fuck you.
Wow.
We have a real dilemma here.
On the off chance that a fight run by Donnie Hoff springs drug testing on its fighters unannounced…
CAITLIN: He has a reputation.
You have a community.
People who look up to you.
Nobody looks up to a loser.
Look, it’s a little diuretic.
We can do this, or shove a glycerine suppository up your asshole.
Same result, two to five pounds.
There are legit ways to do this.
(SHOUTS) Let the man make up his own fucking mind, won’t you?
We want those pounds.
And this is how we get them.
(EXHALES)
(SIGHS)
Don’t. Don’t look at me like that, Caitlin.
Caitlin, can we talk?
Outside?
(DOOR CLOSING)
Yeah?
With the time we have left, even with the diureticLook, I didn’t approve that.
No, I know. Even with it, we’re not gonna get there.
He has, what, nine pounds to go?
With a BMI of what?
Jesus!
Yeah, I know.
So that’s it, right?
Caitlin, we stop.
Now, you and I agreed.
If it became dangerous, if it was a pointless task, we stop.
Now, that is a dangerous, pointless task.
And this Boz character doesn’t care about that at all.
Now, he will push as far as he likes for a payday.
I know.
PAOLO: If he ends up in the ER, or dead, that is on us.
CAITLIN: I know.
But you’re not gonna pull out.
I can’t do that to him.
Even if it kills him?
Well, I suppose we’re all slaves to our own Gods.
Do me a favor.
Look after Manny.
Manny’s all right.
He’s a puppy.
Be smart, Caitlin.
BOZ: Every last bit.
We don’t want a drop of that going back in.
Get him on the scale.
MANNY: You good?
BOXER: Where are we at?
BOZ: Back in the tub.
That bad, is it?
We got time.
We’ll get there.
Don’t lie to me, Caitlin.
We’ll get there, right? Promise.
Whoa, I thought no water.
(SPITS) I’m spittin’.
Oh.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
(EXHALES)
Oh, my…
(EXHALES)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
You all right, Manny?
Yeah. This is normal, right?
Yeah, all part of the plan.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
BOXER: I’m all right.
Look, Manny, you don’t have to stay if you’re not feeling good about this.
No. I gotta see him through.
Boss level, right?
Let’s get some. I’m your guy.
Thing is, this isn’t the worst of it.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
(MONITOR BEEPS)
CAITLIN: Fuck. He’s overheating.
Will you help me unwrap him?
We’ve gotta get his body temp down.
BOZ: We go again in 15.
Let’s get his core temp down.
Fifteen.
If I don’t get his body temp down, then it won’t even matter.
BOZ: So get his temp down!
Cold showers, ice him, drive him to the North fucking Pole.
It will only go down so fast.
BOZ: Oh, God. You know, you should be a food inspector.
There’s lots of flowcharts, lots of boxes you can check.
Fuck you.
BOZ: This isn’t a vacation, honey.
(SIGHS) I thought you said we were gonna make it.
We are, right? We got this.
No, we do not got this.
This moment is sand slipping through his fingers because of your inability to commit.
You’re questioning my ability to commit?
Who the fuck are you?
We don’t have time for hysteria, sweetie.
(CHUCKLES) Oh, I’m not the one walking around here like some fucking drill sergeant.
That’s your fucking broken ego.
That’s what taking shit seriously looks like.
If your soft touch doesn’t apply, maybe you wanna rethink your role.
MANNY: Yo. Yo.
You got this, man, yeah?
You got this.
You’re almost home.
Almost home. Flesh and bone.
You’re almost home. What?
Flesh and bone.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(LUPE MUNCHING)
Heard you on the Boz Express now, huh?
He’s helping out the team.
(LAUGHS) All right, bud.
Yeah, ’cause he really a team player.
Yo. I know you, man.
You knocked out González in under 30 seconds.
Right?
Yeah. (LAUGHS) They got us all set up, huh?
Allinclusive torture factory.
(LAUGHS)
Allinclusive torture factory.
(LAUGHS)
What are you working on?
LUPE: Eighteen pounds.
Big numbers.
LUPE: You know, Boz, he a pain in the ass, but he the real deal.
You know, he willing to go there. You know?
Full throttle.
See, me and Boz, yeah, we got all the angles.
You feel me?
You ever wanna go a little extra…
I’m your man.
So, I got my ECA.
(TABLETS JINGLING)
Got my clenbuterol.
And these little beauties. DNP.
This shit’ll cook your organs if you not careful, man.
MANNY: That’s messed up.
LUPE: Yeah, sure, man.
(LAUGHS)
What part of this isn’t, huh?
(LAUGHS) Hey.
Here. On the house, right?
Super fan discount for my man.
Hmm.
There we go.
What, you gonna let all that work go to waste, huh?
You’re looking, Manny.
You want one, man?
I don’t want that shit.
Help you move all that weight.
MANNY: Fuck you, man. Fuck you.
(LAUGHS) Yeah, come on, man.
Golden Gloves hopeful? (LAUGHS) I’m gonna do that shit with you.
I’m gonna trip.
Yo. (LAUGHING) Yo.
Shit about to get lit, man!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOXER GRUNTING)
He do the full sweat?
Yeah. Full sweat.
(GRUNTS, BLOWS)
Shit. You got a ways to go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
(BOXER PANTING)
MANNY: Come on, champ.
Let’s go!
BOXER: (GRUNTING) Fuck you.
Tool.
Your body is a tool.
Your body is a tool.
Your body is a tool.
Go on. Go on!
Your body is a tool.
Go on. Your body is a tool.
Your body is a tool.
Go on. Go on.
LUPE: (LAUGHING) You hear that shit?
(LAUGHS)
I love that shit, man.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
It’s like my heart gets going real fast, like booboom, booboom, booboom, booboom, booboom.
Then it flutters like it knows the fight is comin’.
Like it’s hungry for the fight.
MANNY: That sounds like heart arrhythmia, man.
What the fuck you talkin’ about, man?
My cousin had that shit.
You gotta take that shit serious.
What you talkin’ about, your cousin had that shit?
MANNY: I’m telling you.
Huh?
You gotta take that shit serious, man.
LUPE: You tryin’ to fuckin’ hex me or some shit, man?
Don’t fuckin’ hex me.
You understand me?
Fuck out of here. (LAUGHS) Like I’m fucking playing games with you, man?
Don’t fuckin’ hex me, ’cause I will fuckin’ kill you.
You understand?
BOXER: Lupe.
Sit the fuck down.
LUPE: Get out. Move.
All right. All right.
Move. Hurry up!
Move! Get out! Move!
All right. Shit, man. Fuck!
I’ll fucking kill you, you butterbeanlooking motherfucker.
(SKIPPING ROPE)
(DOOR OPENING)
I can’t even skip with this motherfucker…
It’s easy on you, man.
I’m not looking for easy.
I’m…
I’m here for you.
I’m in your corner.
I know you’re in my corner.
Just not so close, yeah?
All right, Lupe.
What we doing, man?
BOXER: Let’s go.
You okay?
Yeah.
I think I’ll play some slots.
Hey, Manny…
I mean, I’m in Vegas, right?
So fuck this noise.
I’ll take it easy like the mess.
Manny, don’t be like that.
All right, hit it.
Let’s go!
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
LUPE: I think I might do an enema.
I think I might do an enema.
Really throw that shit out, you know, really help me to just fucking get that pound off, you know?
One pound, two pounds, whatever it is, I gotta get that shit off me so I can hit that scale, man, and I can get in that ring, and I can do what I fucking do, man.
Luscious Lupe in the fucking ring, man.
Luscious Lupe in the ring, man.
You know what I mean?
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
The fuck you just say to me?
YOUNG BOXER: It’ll hurt. The fuck do you mean it’ll hurt?
Huh?
If you dare hurt me, I’ll fucking hurt you.
Do you hear me?
You can fucking hurt me, I will fucking hurt you!
(SHOUTING) I will make you fucking hurt!
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(KNOCKING)
Open the door!
When’d you last see them?
MANNY: They went to the sauna.
But then I never saw ’em come out.
I got worried, so I checked, and they weren’t there.
(KNOCKING)
Open the fucking door!
Or I’ll call the police!
(DOOR UNLOCKING)
You don’t wanna do that.
Where are they?
They’re resting. It’s all fine.
You don’t cut me out.
Not in the last 24 hours.
(DOOR CLOSING)
What the fuck’s all this?
Just a little drain.
Nothing worth getting worked up about. (SIGHS) Fuck this. All right, come on.
We’re getting out of here. Hey.
What? Why?
CAITLIN: We’re leaving.
The weighin? Now?
I’m pulling you out.
(SIGHS) No.
No, no, you’re all right. No.
We’re done. All right?
Manny, come on, help me.
BOXER: No. No.
Come on. Get up.
Manny.
Look, I can stand on my own.
I’m all right.
Good for you.
You can pull your fucking pants up, then, too.
All right.
We’re done.
He’s a grown boy, Caitlin.
Let him make his own choices.
I’m going to get whatever license you think you have pulled.
(CHUCKLES) That’s not nice.
Don’t think I don’t know where you came from.
You know what the boys downstairs call you?
I’ll knock your fucking teeth down your throat, motherfucker.
Shut your mouth.
CAITLIN: Leave it, Manny.
He’s not fucking worth it.
Come on, just help me get him out.
Come on, just help me!
BOXER: Leave it, Manny.
MANNY: Come on, man.
Let’s just get you suited up, we can get out of here.
BOXER: Don’t touch me, man.
Come on, man.
BOXER: I said don’t fucking touch me, Manny!
(GROANS)
(LUPE LAUGHING)
You dropped him hard. (LAUGHS) Manny, are you all right?
Yeah, it’s all good.
CAITLIN: Listen to me.
It’s now or never.
Please.
Please.
I can’t.
I… I… I can’t, Caitlin.
I just need him, you know?
I don’t
I… I’m sorry.
I love ya.
I’m sorry.
BOXER: No.
You don’t have to go. Caitlin!
Oh, come on.
Caitlin!
(DOOR CLOSES)
BOZ: You can’t quit.
You can’t quit, can you?
She never understood that, your girl there.
She’s one of those people that sees forks in every road they take.
See, the thing about people like that is they can’t imagine a mind wired any differently.
But you and me know there’s another kind of mind, right?
A streamlined mind.
An efficient mind.
No choice at all.
But that’s our strength, right? Hmm?
(CHUCKLES) Yeah. (GROANS) Why don’t you, uh, take a minute, right?
Before we get that, uh, IV back in. Hmm?
You’re my guy now.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
BOZ: You better run.
You better run for your life, son.
That’s it. Juggle that fucking ball, man. Juggle it.
Fucking burn those calories, man.
Every last calorie.
Let’s go. You better run!
You better run for your life, son.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
BOXER: Are they here for the fight?
BOZ: Sure.
We’re all here for the fight.
We’re only ever here for the fight.
(HAIRDRYER WHIRRING)
BOZ: Every last calorie.
Come on.
(MUMBLES)
BOZ: Attaboy.
Every drop of sweat.
We’ll squeeze your damn soul out if we have to.
All right?
All right. I got you.
LUPE: Yo, Boz.
I got you.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
LUPE: Yo, Boz, man, where you at, bro?
BOZ: Hey. Here comes Mommy.
What’s up?
Some service, finally, huh?
I have him in a wrap.
Man, come on, man.
Get me some ice, man.
(SIGHS)
You still good?
BOXER: I’m grand.
Yeah, all right. Fuck.
I’ll be right down the hallway. Yeah?
Okay. And…
and don’t fucking fall asleep.
BOXER: No sleeping.
BOZ: Hey. Hey!
Stay awake!
Fuck it.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(EXHALES)
Hey, Sully. I’m doing a cut and I’m down a crew.
Two guys.
I just need an allnighter.
Tonight.
Yeah, it’s, uh, it’s the home stretch.
A babysitting job, really.
All right, so you didn’t like how Mexico City ended, huh?
Boohoo. Look, we had our differences, but I’m still willing to bring you in on this one, huh?
Why didn’t you tell me you were in Florida before I started blowing smoke up your goddamn asshole?
Fuck.
Lupe! You good?
Come on, now. Come on.
Wake up, man!
How many pills did you take, huh?
Fuck. Come on.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
Lupe, I said are you good?
(PANICKED BREATHING)
(CELLPHONE VIBRATING)
BOZ: Okay.
Oh, fuck.
Out of the tub!
(GRUNTS) Out of the fucking tub!
LUPE: Fuck, Boz, man.
Yo, you messed up my fuckin’ vibe, man.
BOZ: Hey, come on, get up.
Fuck.
BOZ: Oh, fuck. (STRAINS) Come on, out of the way.
(GASPS)
Would you fucking help?
(GROANS)
Fuck, man. Hey…
You need me to call an ambulance or somethin’, man?
You gave him too many fucking pills.
We should call an ambulance, Boz, man.
Look at him. He’s fucked, man.
You got a car here?
Yeah.
(COUGHS)
Shit.
Fuck man. Thank God, man.
BOZ: Come on. Come on. Come on.
(BOXER MOANS)
BOZ: Come on, easy. Easy, easy.
Come on. All right. Come on.
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
BOZ: All right, all right.
Come on.
(STRAINS)
All right. Come on, big guy.
All right. All right.
Easy, easy. Come on.
You gotta stand.
Take your hands off.
(BOXER BREATHES HEAVILY)
I gotta weigh you. Okay.
You’re over.
Jesus. Okay.
All right. All right.
Oh, God.
(SIGHS)
BOZ: Yeah.
LUPE: (SIGHS) Oh, fuck.
You’re on?
Here, come on.
(LUPE SIGHS)
Man, where the DNP in here?
BOZ: It’s too late for that shit.
LUPE: You hiding my stuff, man?
I’m not hiding anything, man.
We have to sweat it out.
Man, I’m not sweating no three pounds by weighin, Boz.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Would you stay over there?
Get away from my bag, okay?
LUPE: Just need you to hurry up.
Where is it, man?
BOZ: Okay. I’ll find it.
I’ll find it.
Get out of there, man.
Where they at, man?
Where the DNP, man?
Yeah. Okay. I’ll find it.
Hey, hey!
You need to sit!
Come on, Boz.
Where is it, man? Come on, man.
BOZ: Hey, hey, hey!
I need some air.
Is it in there?
Come on, Boz! Is it in there?
You got it?
Hey, stay put, man.
LUPE: Where the DNP, man?
BOZ: Don’t touch my fucking bag.
LUPE: Is it in there?
Is it in there?
Hey, idiot!
LUPE: Fuck, man.
BOZ: Pick ’em up. Pick ’em up!
(BOXER BREATHES HEAVILY)
BOZ: Where’s he gone?
(TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES)
BOZ: Hey, I told you to stay put.
(GROANS) I need a rest.
BOZ: You rest here.
No. Fifteen minutes.
BOZ: You get your ass back in that room now.
I’ll be all right.
Just… just a bit of space.
I’m better on my own.
Hey. Hey.
I’m better on me own!
(GROANS)
Listen to me. Listen to me.
Hey.
(GROANS)
You breaking up with me? Huh?
No. No, man.
Don’t be like that. Come on.
(GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
I own this body.
For the next seven hours, it is mine.
You hear me, fleshbag?
(GROANS)
Hey, hey, hey! Hey!
You’re fucking overdoing it, man!
This ain’t no fucking game, Boz!
It’s my game, man!
It’s my fucking rules, motherfucker!
LUPE: Fuck you!
BOZ: My fucking game!
Fucking asshole!
(GRUNTS)
LUPE: You said I was gonna be a legend, Boz.
And now you just forget about me, huh?
BOZ: Shit’s tough, kid.
(YELLS)
Fucking dinosaur.
Fucking yelling at me.
What, you think you’re gonna fucking scare me?
LUPE: Fuck you, Boz.
BOZ: I had a fucking old man who used to beat me, man.
You’re not gonna fucking scare me.
They’re going down the fucking toilet.
You understand?
How the fuck am I gonna sweat before the weighin, Boz?
You got three pounds to lose.
Sweat right there, right now. Come on.
Fuck it, come on, shadowbox a little bit, motherfucker.
Come on, come on.
Throw it, throw it, throw it, throw it, throw it, throw it.
Yeah! Motherfucker!
(FIST THUMPING)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Losing your shot, my man.
Hey, wake up. Hey.
You call yourself a fucking champion, huh?
You call yourself a fucking champion?
You ain’t no fighter.
You an old fucking man.
You a hasbeen. Do you know who the next generation is?
That’s me. You know who the champion is?
That’s me, baby.
Yeah, I’m coming to eat your lunch, your dinner.
I’m coming to take everything from you!
(SCREAMS)
(SIGHS)
BOZ: Stop playing now.
Get up.
I’m up.
BOZ: Get up, man.
Get up now!
I’m up, all right?
BOZ: Come on, talk to me.
Stop playing, man.
I told you not to take this shit.
What the fuck?
BOZ: Who’s your daddy, man?
Who loves you, man? Come on.
Who loves you? Come on.
Come on. Come on.
After everything I did for you?
Come on. Come on.
Stop playing, man.
Hey. (SIGHS)
(GRUNTS)
MOTHER: That hurt?
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)
YOUNG BOXER: (ECHOING) Mom!
Sleeping Beauty.
He finally rises.
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
Where’s Lupe?
Hmm.
You’re my boy now.
What?
Let’s take that trip now.
Hmm?
(SIGHS)
Let’s go all the way down.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
“The journey is the destination.”
What do you…
what do you think about that?
What?
BOZ: I read it on some billboard the other night.
“The journey is the destination.”
Can you believe that shit?
BOXER: Don’t know.
BOZ: I think it’s something you say to losers to make them feel better about failing.
Failing?
You don’t know that word, do you?
What word?
You don’t know that word at all.
Neither do I.
(CAR DOOR OPENS)
(BOZ SIGHS)
Start digging.
Burn those calories.
(BOXER GRUNTS, BREATHES HEAVILY)
(GRUNTING)
BOZ: The destination is the destination, son.
How we get there ain’t the point.
How we get there is just the cost of travelling.
What is that? What is that?
That’s the weight dragging you down.
(SIGHS)
Time to bury the fat.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
BOZ: No ripcords.
BOXER: No ripcord. (GROANS) You fuck.
(GRUNTS) Fuck it!
(YELLS)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(KNOCKING)
(KNOCKING)
BOZ: One minute!
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(KNOCKING)
(KNOCKING)
What the fuck?
BOZ: Oh, man, these assholes can’t wait.
All right. How you feelin’ this morning? Light?
Light and ready?
I’m ready.
I’m dry.
He hit weight?
He was nearly there.
The rest should have come off while he slept.
I’d have kept him on the treadmill.
I like to go to sleep knowing that I did what I had to.
I slept like a baby.
DONNIE: Well, then…
let’s see.
BOZ: Okay, let’s get this show on the road, huh?
(DEVICE BEEPS)
(SIGHS)
(WHISPERS) Oh, fuck it.
DONNIE: What? We off?
That little bit?
So that’s, uhNearly half an ounce.
Ten grams, give or take.
Go take a piss.
I can’t.
There’s nothing there.
I’m fucking dry.
I said go take a piss.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Jeez.
BOXER: I said there’s nothing in there. I’m fucking dry.
Maybe jerk yourself off.
That could be five grams.
How about it?
(GROANS)
(GROANS) Fuck.
(RETCHES)
Christ. Get him in the room.
(GROANS)
DONNIE: Fucking deadass.
I put a lot of faith in you.
And you.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
That gonna be safe?
Shut the hell up and let me do my work.
I got the whole fucking circus down there.
You said you’d deliver.
He’ll make it.
We’ll fill the bag and the rest’ll burn off on the way over.
Bullshit.
BOZ: The scale says he’ll be there.
You’re there.
You hear me?
It’ll burn.
(CROWD CHEERING)
This is your show.
It’s all yours.
You ready?
Yeah.
Yeah?
I’m ready.
Okay.
Hey. How you doin’?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIGHS)
WEIGHIN OFFICIAL: Over.
Fuck.
Weigh him again.
It ain’t gonna change, buddy.
BOZ: Weigh him again.
It ain’t gonna change.
BOZ: You let out all that air.
You let everything out.
Spit your damn soul onto the floor if you have to.
You hear me? Suck it up.
(EXHALES)
BOZ: Suck that motherfucker up.
Come on.
(EXHALES)
All right, he’s ready.
He’s ready.
CROWD MEMBER:
Hey! Fix your scale.
BOZ: Easy. Easy.
WEIGHIN OFFICIAL: No hands.
BOZ: Okay, okay.
WEIGHIN OFFICIAL: No hands.
BOZ: Okay. Hey.
Hey. No hands.
I’m not touching him, asshole.
Hey. What is this?
What the fuck is this?
Sorry. Just he’s…
Okay?
It’s over.
The scale’s fucking rigged.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Motherfucker!
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
BOZ: Motherfucker!
DONNIE: What the fuck is wrong with you?
BOZ: Let’s get a new scale.
Get a new scale.
DONNIE: What the fuck is wrong with you?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Come on, man.
Hey that’s your guy.
(CAR HORN HONKS)
DONNIE: There’s no need to talk like that, all right?
WEIGHIN OFFICIAL: Come on, now, gentlemen, please.
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(TIRES SCREECH)
Gentlemen, please.
There’s no need for that.
The scale could be wrong.
Get out of the car!
Get out of the car!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING)
No.
PARAMILITARY: England’s junkie whore.
MOTHER: No, no, no, no, no!
Please, no!
Mom! No!
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
YOUNG BOXER: Mom! Mom!
No, no! Oh, no, please, don’t!
Don’t hurt my son!
Mom!
PARAMILITARY: Get on your knees.
Get on your knees!
YOUNG BOXER: No!
PARAMILITARY: Face forward.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GROANS)
(GUNSHOT)
YOUNG BOXER: Mom!
Fuck. Jesus fucking Christ.
You need to calm the fuck…
Hey. Get your ass over there.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Now. Now I’m ready.
One more.
Jesus.
BOZ: Weigh him again.
(BREATHES HEAVILY)
Under.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(ROARS)
(ROARS)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
COMMENTATOR 1: And that’s a great shot. He’s put up such a good fight, especially after all the controversy in the build up to the fight, this has turned out to be an absolute classic.
COMMENTATOR 2: Absolutely stunning fight.
COMMENTATOR 1: Both these men have fought like warriors tonight.
COMMENTATOR 2: I don’t know how they’re still standing. I mean, both boxers showing an incredible chin there.
COMMENTATOR 1: The question is now whether or not can he last the next round, can he finish the fight?
COMMENTATOR 2: Oh! And it’s another huge…
And another.
COMMENTATOR 1: They’re both nearly out of the ring, this is amazing, this has to be his last hurrah, last round, it looks like he’s put a lot of energy, he’s exhausted himself.
COMMENTATOR 2: He’s got to start throwing punches back.
COMMENTATOR 1: And he’s roaming around the ring here. What a right, what a right. Now he’s back. They’re calling it a slip, and back he comes, the gloves are wiped down. I don’t believe this, I can’t believe this. And has he got the strength to finish?
COMMENTATOR 2: No, I mean, he’s put a lot of energy in tonight, he’s looking absolutely exhausted.
COMMENTATOR 1: Thirty seconds left, and his corner is banging on the canvas, telling him he has to finish it, it’s now or never, and in comes the flurry of punches, the damage he has taken, I’ve never seen anything like
COMMENTATOR 2: Oh, huge shot there!
COMMENTATOR 1: And the ref… the ref is watching this closely, watching whether he’s going to end it or not. He’s in real trouble.
COMMENTATOR 2: He’s really in trouble. He’s really in trouble.
COMMENTATOR 1: He’s against the ropes. He’s getting hit left, right, and center, and I don’t believe it
(BURGER SIZZLING)
(DIAL TONE RINGING)
(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
CAITLIN: (OVER CELL PHONE) Hey. You okay? I listened to it on the radio.
BOXER: He was hard to pin down, you know?
Dancing all over the place, getting out of me line of sight.
I think I could have taken him in the third round.
I always knew where he was. (CHUCKLES) I just didn’t wanna face him.
CAITLIN: I think there’s a lot of things you don’t wanna face. I know.
I’m sorry.
CAITLIN: You’d rather hurt yourself than face it. You’re right.
And I hurt you.
CAITLIN: You’re right there. I gotta go open the gym. Caitlin. Wait. I…
I need help.
CAITLIN: Yeah, I know. Just, uh, come home. Okay? I love you.
CAITLIN: See you soon.
(CELL PHONE BEEPS)
(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)
(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC CONCLUDES)
