INT. OLYMPIA STADIUM - DETROIT (FEB. 5, 1943)
[JAKE is fighting SUGAR RAY Robinson. (It's their 2nd match.) We see highlights of the fight: JAKE is fighting ferociously, but SUGAR RAY is a formidable opponent. An announcer's voice gives a blow by blow description. JAKE takes a lot of punishment from SUGAR RAY -- until the 8th round. Then, JAKE nails SUGAR RAY with a savage left. JAKE chases SUGAR RAY and pounds him with a left and a right. SUGAR RAY gets in a right cross. They stand toe to toe, fighting. Then, JAKE lands a left to SUGAR RAY's stomach, and knocks him through the ropes. JAKE goes after SUGAR RAY, but the referee stops him. SUGAR RAY gets back into the ring and sinks to one knee, while the REFEREE counts to 9. The bell sounds.]
[Time Cut: The announcer calls out that JAKE is the winner. JAKE throws kisses. The crowd goes wild.]
CUT TO: INT. GLEASON'S - DAY (1943)
[JAKE's press conference.]
[Five reporters meander around the gym, waiting for JAKE to finish sparring. They are not thrilled with their assignment. JAKE is not thrilled with having them there.]
[The gallery is spotted with the usual Bronx types. The lone exception is VICKIE, dressed very well, very sensual, and quite content to watch JAKE make his sparring partners' lives miserable, despite their head and belly protectors.]
[JOEY is off in one of the corners arguing with one of the reporters:]
JOEY: The fuckin' papers are full of Robinson and nothing on JAKE -- and JAKE knocked him clear outta the ring in Detroit. He's the only guy ever to beat Robinson. Whatsa matter with you? I thought we had an arrangement.
REPORTER: We do, Joey. You know we do.
JOEY: You holding me up for more cash or what?
[The bell sounds, ending the sparring round.]
REPORTER: I can't print nothing if JAKE won't give me nothing.
[JOEY walks over to the ring. The reporter follows not far behind.]
JOEY: C'mon, JAKE. You're makin' us look stupid. I brought these guys up here, now you don't wanna talk to them? What are ya doin'? Open your mouth, for Christsake.
[JAKE nods his head, steps out of the ring, and goes directly over to the reporter, who is about to say: "Hi, JAKE."]
JAKE: *interrupting* I'm tellin' you now, when I read this, it better not make me look bad.
REPORTER: JAKE, did I ever make you look bad before?
JAKE: Maybe it wasn't you, but you know what I'm talkin' about.
JOEY: *interrupting* Don't worry. Don't worry. It's gonna be all right.*to reporter* Ask him your questions.
REPORTER: All right, JAKE, you're being talked about as the top middleweight contender. Do you think another victory over SUGAR RAY will get you a shot at the title?
JAKE: Why not? There's nobody else around who wants to fight me; they're all afraid. I don't see why I shouldn't have a shot at the title right now.
REPORTER: Well, the word is to get a title shot you have to cooperate with the people who control boxing, in New York. And they're saying that you don't cooperate.
JAKE: You guys know more about that than I do. I just fight...
JOEY: *interrupting* He fights the toughest guys around that everybody else is afraid to fight...
JAKE: *interrupting* I'm the only guy ever to beat SUGAR RAY, and I still don't have a shot at the title.
REPORTER: You just fought SUGAR RAY two weeks ago and you're training like this right now... Are you afraid SUGAR RAY might beat you this time?
JAKE: I tell you what. You hit me here. *points to his right cheek* SUGAR RAY hits me here. *points to his left cheek* I can't tell the difference. I just fight.
[JAKE turns to VICKIE, smiles, and prepares for his next sparring partner.]
CUT TO: INT. ARTHUR AVENUE APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY (FEB. 1943)
[JAKE, wearing pleated dress slacks, sits on the edge of the bed examining his muscle tone.
[He studies his small fists. Squeezes each knuckle. Twists his wrists. Clenches. Unclenches.]
[VICKIE steps out of the bathroom wearing a nightie and panties.]
VICKIE: Are you sure we should be doing this?
JAKE: Come over here.
VICKIE: You said never to touch you before a fight.
JAKE *lovingly*: If you let me do it, I'll murder you. Come here.
VICKIE: You said I couldn't. You've been good for two weeks...
JAKE: Come here.
[JAKE watches VICKIE approach him. He respects her as he would a shrine; he slowly removes her sheer nightie.]
[His round hands caress her smooth skin. He glides his bruised knuckles across her shoulders, pride on his face.
[She kisses his bruised knuckles sensuously, then his bruised face.]
JAKE: Take off my pants.
VICKIE: JAKE...
JAKE: Do what I say.
[He touches her breasts as she removes his trousers.]
JAKE: Now take the rest off.
VICKIE: JAKE, you made me promise not to get you excited.
JAKE: Go 'head. Do it.
[She pulls off his shorts. VICKIE is now getting excited. She kisses his chest and licks it.]
VICKIE: I like the gym smell.
JAKE: Now take your panties off.
[She does.]
JAKE: Now, touch me... *takes her hand* ... here.
VICKIE Oh, JAKE.
[She caresses his broad shoulders and runs her hand along his erection.]
[JAKE's lips are trembling. He quickly turns his back on VICKIE, goes into the bathroom, and gets a full glass of cold water.]
[VICKIE watches as he puts his erection in the glass of cold water. She is shocked and surprised.]
JAKE: I can't do it. I can't fool around. This Robinson, I gotta beat him again. I can't fool around. Don't come near me.
[JAKE grabs her again and kisses her. Then, gently but firmly, he turns her around and pushes her out. *It's starting again,and he must stop it.* He goes back the bathroom and closes the door.]
CUT TO: INT. OLYMPIC STADIUM - DETROIT (FEB. 26, 1943)
[This is JAKE's rematch with SUGAR RAY (their 3rd fight). An announcer's VOICE gives a blow by blow description.]
[The fourth round: JAKE is in serious trouble. SUGAR RAY knocks him with a hard right, then a series of rights and lefts. JAKE is punched all the way across the ring, but stays in there.]
[The seventh round: JAKE, coming on strong, forces SUGAR RAY into his own corner, then lands a left hook to his chin. SUGAR RAY drops, and takes a nine count. This time, however, the blow does not have a crippling effect on SUGAR RAY; instead, he comes back and outboxes JAKE.]
[Time Cut: The announcer calls out the decision: SUGAR RAY is the winner. JAKE is stunned. The crowd boos so loud and for so long that The announcer is unable to introduce the fighters in the next bout.]
CUT TO: INT. OLYMPIA STADIUM - DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT
[JOEY and TONY are in the dressing room. JAKE sits on the table, dejected. His hand is being examined by a DOCTOR. Two hangers-on are also present.]
JOEY *angry*: They robbed us! Those fuckin' judges -- What the fuck fight were they watching? If I see them on the street, I'll break their heads. Decision Robinson, my fuckin' ass! Those judges give him the decision 'cause he's goin in the army next week! How else could this have happened?... What do you think they gave him the decision for, that's why.
JAKE: *almost to himself* Whadda I gotta do, JOEY? I knocked him down. What did I do wrong? I don't understand.
JOEY: You won and was robbed! You didn't do nothin' wrong.
JAKE: I dunno. Maybe I don't deserve to win. I've done a lot of bad things. I dunno...
[TONY goes to the door.]
JOEY: Fuck that. This was the fight. This coulda done it. This was our shot. They out and out robbed us.
[Mario comes back from the door.]
MARIO: VICKIE is here, JAKE.
JAKE: I don't wanna see nobody.
JOEY: You want us to wait for you?
JAKE: No, take her home. I wanna be alone for a while. Everybody go.
[They exit.]
DISSOLVE TO: INT. BATHROOM NEAR THE DRESSING ROOM
[JAKE, now alone, goes into the bathroom. He looks in the bathroom mirror. After a pause, he touches his newly acquired bruises and bandages. He combs his hair.]
[We hear the beginning of an early Frank Sinatra song. This song carries over onto the following montage.]
[This montage covers the period between 1943 and early 1947. It shows JAKE hard at work fighting all the tough guys he can. Each of the fights will be introduced by the corresponding title card from the "Big Fights" film showing a boxing glove with the fighters' names and the places of the fights superimposed on it. The actual fight images will be black and white newspaper photos jump cut together to simulate real action. For example: In still #1 JAKE is about to land a punch on an OPPONENT.]
CUT TO: STILL #2
[And the punch lands, distorting the opponent's face, sweat spraying out everywhere. Live sound effects accompany these stills.]
[The fight stills are Intercut with 16mm black and white home movies of JAKE, VICKIE, JOEY, etc. (to be shot in 16mm black and white). It'll go something like this:
A) JAKE VS. FRITZIE ZIVIC at the Detroit Olympia (January 14, 1944)
B) JAKE, VICKIE, and JOEY, wearing sunglasses, pose in front of a Cadillac. (1944)
C) JAKE VS. SUGAR RAY Robinson at Madison Square Garden (February 23, 1945)
D) JAKE and VICKIE getting married. (This will be a black and white still photo, posed especially for the occasion.) (1945, New Jersey courthouse)
E) JAKE VS. SUGAR RAY Robinson at Comiskey Park, Chicago (September 26, 1945)
F) JAKE and VICKIE on vacation -- very loving. They are dancing, and he allows her to knock him into the pool. Then, JAKE gives VICKIE a present by the poolside. She opens the box and takes out a white garment and turban. She kisses JAKE.]
CUT TO: VICKIE DRESSED IN THE OUTFIT
[She looks very much like Lana Turner in "The Postman Always Rings Twice." She kisses JAKE. (1946)]
[G) JAKE VS. JIMMY EDGAR at Detroit (The University of Detroit Stadium) (June 12, 1946)
H) JOEY's marriage. JAKE and VICKIE are there as witnesses. Could also be a still photo as D was.) (1946)
I) JAKE VS. BOB SATTERFIELD at Wrigley Field, Chicago (September 12, 1946)
J) JAKE and VICKIE in front of their new Pelham Parkway house. It is an affluent, split-level house, an idyllic scene -- stone terrace, freshly cut lawn, etc. JAKE carries VICKIE inside.]
CUT TO: JAKE AND VICKIE WITH THEIR TWO BOYS JACK, AGE 2, AND JOEY, AGE 1 IN THE BACKYARD OF THE PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSE; THEY ARE HAVING A COOKOUT. JOEY AND HIS WIFE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN (A BOY AND A GIRL ABOUT THE SAME AGES AS JAKE'S) ARE THERE ALSO. (1947)
[K) JAKE VS. TOMMY BELL at Madison Square Garden (March 14, 1947)]
