Uppercut (2025) Movie Script
1
(dramatic orchestral music)
(stone grinding)
(discordant music)
(wind whispering)
(heel tapping)
(crowd cheering in background)
(heel tapping continues)
(ominous music)
(heel tapping)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- You said you
fucking belong here.
They said, you're
never gonna make it.
You ain't quick enough.
Your reflexes too slow and
you're training hella weak.
They said no one gonna
show you respect,
(ominous music)
but you said?
You was gonna change the game.
(door knocking)
- [Man] Showtime folks.
(Toni sighs)
And now you're here.
That's why they are out there,
posted up on the front
row, paying 5 G's a ticket.
They waited for more
than an hour now
to see you perform,
just you, Payne.
Just you.
Now give them their
damn money's worth
and show those fuckers
who my real champ is.
(footsteps tapping)
(upbeat rock music)
(siren blaring)
(dog barking in distance)
(horn honking)
(headset clattering)
(feet stomping)
(headset clattering)
(Toni shouts)
(birds cawing)
(Toni sighs and groans)
(Toni sighs)
(footsteps stomping)
(horn honking)
(traffic humming)
(bag rustling)
(zipper unzipping)
(horn honking)
(phone tapping)
(phone notification rings)
(phone notification rings)
Fuck you!
(funky music)
(funky music continues)
Whoo.
(funky music continues)
(funky music continues)
(zipper unzipping)
(funky music continues)
(funky music continues)
(crowd chattering)
(blues music playing)
(blues music continues)
(door clicking)
No, I never, never
took a lesson
When it come to the blues
I do my own kind of lesson
Blues done turned me wild
It's got deep inside my soul
(crowd cheering)
The blues done
turned me wild
It's gone deep
down in my soul
Yeah
(fists thudding)
Playing on a rabbit's hole
(bucket squeaks)
(rope creaking)
(blues music)
(crowd cheering)
(blues music)
(fist thudding)
(rope creaking)
(record scratching)
- You scare me.
(footsteps tapping)
You scare me.
- That's the point.
- You're not going
to beat up a woman.
- Man, woman,
trespassing is trespassing.
- The door was open.
- Busting in my place,
I'm in every right
to bust back.
That yours?
- Yeah.
- Kick it over
here, nice and slow.
Slow,
with your foot.
Keep your hands up.
(bag thuds)
(Toni sighs)
(bag slides)
(ominous music)
(zipper unzipping)
(plastic rustling)
(zipper zipping)
(bag thuds)
Who sent you?
- No one.
Do I look like the
type to have a gun?
- Everybody looks like that,
and nobody looks like that.
(Elliott coughs)
That's the problem.
See, you, you either
some crack head
looking to steal my shit
or someone sent you here
looking for trouble.
- My own damn ass send me.
- Wanting what?
- I'm here to train.
I want to fight.
I got it all and can't
get nothing done.
- So sorry to hear that.
- You could help me.
(bag rustling)
- Help?
Find a fucking shrink.
- That song.
(Elliott wheezes)
What does it say, again?
Love done burn me wild?
- No, no.
Turn me wild.
It's blues.
- Okay, I get it.
It's an honor to meet you.
I'm Toni.
- Get outta my gym, Toni.
- Just give me one chance, okay?
I have potential.
I promise.
- Look, it's been,
- Give me a chance.
- It's been a long
day and I'm closing.
- I mean, I,
I could help you clean.
- No, I don't need nobody
messing up my system.
- If there's one thing
I'm really good at,
it's cleaning up
other people's messes.
(Elliott sighs)
- [Philipp] Good evening
from the commentator's booth.
I'm Philipp Dibbons.
We finally made it
here after weeks
of non-stop chatter about
Harris versus Thribbs,
and perhaps even more talk
about Toni Williams,
Harris' promoter.
No one in the boxing
biz has messed with her
and come out unscathed.
But this time, she
somehow seems rattled.
Jerry, I'm not at all
confident.
Can she handle
the pressure anymore?
(lighter clicking)
Maybe she overestimated
herself.
Word is that she won't
be ring side tonight,
(lighter clicking)
just like she hasn't been
for any of her fighters'
previous bouts.
Hashtag cowardly?
Up to you to decide.
Payne Harris shouldn't
care either way,
big mouth, hundreds of
thousands of followers,
already a pop star in a way.
What? What is he really
bringing to the table tonight?
Especially when he
is up against a beast
like Tyrone Thribbs.
(match igniting)
We are very happy
to have heavyweight champ
Michael Moore with us.
Michael, there is a whole lot
of speculation going on.
(match igniting)
What's your take on
Payne's chances tonight?
- [Michael] Listen,
Thribbs, strong.
I think the fight tonight
is gonna be a blood,
sweat and tears fight
for Payne,
but he has to push
forth the effort.
If he manages to last
six or seven rounds,
I think there could
be something
good for him at the end,
but, you know, I am
very, very skeptical.
(door slamming closed)
- Angelo Dundee, Eddie Futch,
Emanuel Steward and
Elliott Duffond,
you coaches all like
to talk character,
resilience, determination.
I'm determined to
stay and learn.
I highly doubt you have
anything better to do.
- It takes more than that.
(Elliott wheezes)
Accuracy,
precision,
good instincts.
(Elliott exhales)
You gonna take it or not?
(Elliott groans)
Start underneath the head rest.
Dirt likes to hide
where you can't see it.
(brush scraping)
You mentioned Angelo Dundee.
He trained Ali,
Sugar Ray Leonard,
and later, George Foreman.
That man knew his stuff.
I'll give him that.
- So do you.
(brush scraping)
I watched your kid, Akeem,
kick Pyroshenko's ass
in the Bronx last month.
I watched you make him do it.
You gave Akeem confidence.
- Well,
I've seen you before.
- No, I don't think so.
- Last month, it was at
Maria Hernandez Park.
You had on an orange vest.
You were with a bunch of
felons picking up trash.
Community service, huh?
You were talking to Akeem.
Yeah, I was running
him in the park.
I thought you were a groupie.
- Just a fan.
I was asking him about his
trainer and his training.
That's how I found
out where to find you.
- So finding trouble
is your thing?
- Dundee says, being
critical is good,
but encouraging is better.
I'm tired of being fucking
criticized and belittled.
I could use less of the
first and more of the latter.
- [Philipp] I got to admit, it's
kind of fun watching Payne.
But hey, he is not too tough.
Thribbs hasn't had the
chance to land a punch yet,
and he ain't into
that circus at all.
Fair enough.
Maybe Miss Williams told Payne
that there's much more merch
to sell with all this nonsense.
I guess we'll never know.
So Payne relied on
his cat-like reflexes
against Thribbs.
Dodge him, wear him out,
then strike fast.
He's got some serious
power in those hands.
That's for sure.
- Left jab, right cross,
all legendary fights,
Holmes, Lewis,
Mayweather, De La Hoya,
I studied them all.
Most of all, Ali.
- Oh.
So you a Dutch girl who
wants to fight like Ali?
- German.
- White.
Well, looks like
you have some cash,
and I bet your family
doesn't know you're here.
What do you know about Ali?
- I've done some
new for this fight.
I have wrestled
with an alligator.
That's right.
I done wrestled
with an alligator.
I done tussled with a whale.
I done handcuffed lightning,
thrown thunder in jail.
- That's bad.
- Only last week, I murdered
a rock, injured a stone,
hospitalized the brick.
I'm so mean, I
make medicine sick.
(Elliott chuckles)
- Yeah.
That man was one sick machine.
- Yeah.
And I found you on YouTube.
- Oh no.
- Some obscure boxing channel,
I watched all the clips
I could find of fights.
Some crazy moves you
did, Mr. Duffond.
- So, you want to box?
- Yes.
And I want you to train me.
- I don't train fighters.
I make fighters.
- So why did Akeem leave you?
Make me.
I'll pay you.
- No, it's not
about fucking money.
You young people think
it's all about money.
- Come on.
Let's do this. You
won't regret it.
- Toni,
- I'll just didn't
bring any gloves
'cause I thought you'd
probably have ideas
and I didn't mention to,
- No, Toni, Toni.
- I've never really had
anyone train me, so I,
- Listen.
I'm sure you have drive
and some talent.
There's nothing in it for me.
- That's bullshit!
You're underestimating me.
Or is it because I'm German?
- What?
- You think I'm a
fucking Nazi, huh?
- [Elliott] No.
- [Toni] You don't believe
I can go the distance.
You think I'm
intimidated by you?
That I don't have the guts?
- Yo!
What happened? You supposed
to come see me spar.
- Who says?
- Your assistant.
- What? Which one?
Stella?
- Gladys
Whatever the fuck.
- I was in Boston until
last night anyway.
- Why was you out there?
- Excuse me?
- Look, just, just come
tomorrow, all right?
(Toni laughs)
- Payne?
It don't work like that.
- Then how it work?
(Toni sighs)
- Miss Williams?
- How it fucking work?
- [Mitch] Miss Williams,
your car is ready.
- Thanks, Mitch.
Listen, I,
I got Akeem and Miguel in
your weight class, okay?
They've been,
- Those guys are trash!
They have no skill, no good,
they can't work a fucking ring.
My grand mama could
knock their ass out.
I know what the
fuck this is about.
You mad 'cause I'm better.
And you know I'm better.
And your people are trash.
That's why you ain't
want to come see me spar.
- You talk a big game.
- And you got a tiny dick, so,
- You got it. (laughs)
- What's so funny?
Why you laughing?
Why you fucking laughing?
(hand smacking)
- Stop yelling!
Fuck!
- That's the only way
I can get through to you!
- Fuck.
- Come!
- I ain't got time for
debates right now, okay?
I got to go.
Call Gladys. She will
check my schedule.
- Get your fucking
hands off me, bro.
(door slamming)
(fist thudding)
(Mitch grunts)
I told you not to put
your fucking hands on me.
It's his fucking fault.
- Mitch, thanks a million.
You're my VIP guest
on Saturday, okay?
Bring your whole fam,
front row at the ring,
Gladys got it all
sorted, and just,
just get well.
Catch you.
(Toni sighs)
(traffic humming)
(siren blaring)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
You can't keep
your shit together?
You ain't down with any rules?
You let yourself get played?
You can't wait a goddamn minute.
You never stepped
back in line, did you?
And then you seriously think
I should waste my time on you?
Talk to me.
- You don't give
a fuck about me.
You really don't.
(Toni sighs)
- Can't y'all quit
playing victim?
God dammit.
- Ah.
There it goes.
Can't you all quit
playing the victim?
That's why you don't
want to sign me,
'cause I'm Black.
- What? No.
- That's what the fuck it is.
(Payne laughs)
You know what?
I'm tired of this stupid
ass, racist ass, bullshit!
- Fuck!
(hand smacks)
- I'm sorry, but you
don't have what it takes.
(fist thudding)
(Toni grunting)
- Toni? Toni?
Breathe.
Breathe.
(Toni panting)
That's it.
That's it right there.
That's how it is.
You want more of that?
- Whatever it takes, man.
Are you gonna train me now?
- Come on.
(Toni panting)
- I asked you something.
- Ask yourself this
question first.
Why?
Why boxing?
- So no one will fuck with me.
- It's not about
settling a score.
It's about respect.
It's not about cheap shots.
If you ever dare
throw your fist at me,
- I wanted your attention.
- You're not used to not
getting what you want.
Go find a place
where you belong.
It's not here.
- I'm tired of having
things handed to me.
If people, when they
lived in my shoes,
they'd know how it feels.
That's why I need to box. Okay?
I need to prove that I'm more
than my father's daughter,
especially to him.
- Do you know why Akeem boxed?
His choices were limited.
Boxing was his answer.
He wasn't fighting
to prove anything.
He was fighting for his life.
That was his instinct.
- And my instinct
brought me here.
So that's why I
better go change.
(phone buzzing)
Hey.
How's she doing?
She's still coughing?
All right. And she's
still got a fever?
All right. Fuck.
Listen, Dr. Breckman
should be around tonight.
Yeah. His digit's on the fridge,
the yellow sticky one, yeah.
You better call him if
you ain't sure, right?
(somber music)
(crowd cheering)
- [Philipp] All right.
Buddy, we got it already.
Just a few more moments, and
it is nothing but round one.
Stay with us, folks.
We will be right back.
- Just, just call me
when she's asleep, okay?
All right, appreciate that.
Love you, bye.
Bye.
(crowd cheering)
(phone thuds)
(shorts rustling)
(shoes squeaking)
(slow music)
(Toni exhales)
(hands slap face)
(slow music)
You okay?
(slow music)
(Elliott breathing)
- I usually don't,
- Hit girls?
How did it make you feel?
- How do you think
it makes me feel?
- No idea.
- Do I look like I hurt women?
- Everybody looks like that,
and nobody looks like that.
That's the problem.
- I don't hurt women.
- It's okay. I believe you.
Maybe it was just
some instinct though.
- No. No.
No, you don't know what
the hell you talking about.
- Just saying,
gauging the risks.
- Those your shoes?
- Yeah.
They cool?
- What size are you?
- I'm a six and a half.
- Okay.
- Seven?
(keys jingling)
- Go get a seven,
they run small.
(keys jingling)
- What the hell is
wrong with these?
- Are you going to question
everything I ask you?
(Toni scoffs)
(footsteps tapping)
(locker creaking)
(metal music)
- Oh no.
Never!
(metal music)
- [Referee] Listen up. This is
the brawl y'all been waiting
for.
Both of you are
top notch fighters.
You're hungry and
you put in the work.
Now you heard me
preaching the rules
in the locker room, right ?
- Let's have a clean fight,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
- I'm looking for a clean
fight from start to finish.
I want to see respect
and sportsmanship.
You got me?
(crowd cheering)
All right, now, may
the best man win.
Touch 'em up and God bless.
(crowd cheering)
Hey.
(crowd cheering)
- What the heck?
- Attitude, habitude, gratitude.
If you want to find
purpose, it starts there.
(shoes rustling)
- They look good.
- Thank you very much,
but I didn't see a
matching tutu back there.
- Are you mad?
In my place, we follow my rules.
- Cool
I mean, they're perfect.
They're, feel like a condom.
I'm ready for my recital.
- The song,
"Turn Me Wild",
- Who did it?
- Buddy Guy.
- Sounds like toon character.
- Can you dance?
- Not formally.
- Clubs?
- I'm not into that
meat market like.
- I need to see you move.
I need to see your rhythm,
your vibe, your swag.
- My vibe?
I can show you my moves.
I can do like 100 pushups
or 1,000 speed punches
or jumping jacks or pull ups.
I mean, literally anything else.
- No, no, look.
No.
I'm going to go
back to my office.
When I come back in the
gym, I want you gone.
(Elliott grunts)
(fist thudding)
(chains rattling)
(bottle clicking)
(record player clicking)
(blues music)
My baby ease my mind
Makes me feel secure
But nowadays, you know
You just can't be too sure
I keep a back up mama
And she live way
away cross town
I got a back up mama
If mama number
one is not around
(blues music continues)
(blues music continues)
(blues music continues)
I got back up mama
If mama number
one is not around
(blues music)
(blues music ends)
(footsteps shuffling)
(footsteps shuffling)
(Toni panting)
(Toni guzzling water)
- What's with this guy, Buddy?
- Buddy Guy .
- Buddy the Guy?
Yeah.
- He once looked for a
dime and found a quarter.
- So?
- Attitude, a dime,
habitude, a quarter,
gratitude?
What do you think?
- A buck?
I don't know.
- A smile, the blues
is full of stories
about dimes and quarters.
Buddy tunes make you smile.
Buddy understood gratitude.
He understood what
purpose was about.
- Is that, is that why they
admire you like some prophet?
All the kids you've trained,
you make them strong.
You, you set them free.
Through gratitude?
- Gratitude is the key.
- I guess.
You know, I,
I came here to impress,
and to be a freaking
smart ass, big mouth,
to show off my moves,
the peek-a-boos
and combinations and punches.
And my big mouth
and imitation shit,
I'm so mean and so on.
And then I get my ass kicked
by a legend.
And danced to Buddy's ballet.
But you know what?
It feels about right.
- That's a good start.
- Yeah.
I guess I need to find myself
a few times first, huh?
- Yeah.
(Toni sighs)
- Do you mind if I shower here?
- Water
is cold after 10.
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
(ominous music)
- That's you.
Fighting O'Sullivan.
Alright,
I guess I'm off.
(bag rustling)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(footsteps shuffling)
- You call this cleaning?
Come back over here
and clean this right.
- Yes, sir.
- Yeah, I thought you
said you loved cleaning
or is it only parks?
Now, you ready to tell me why
you're in community service?
- Soccer, a weekend
tournament upstate, we lost.
- You don't
get community service
because you lost a soccer game.
- We were tied.
There was no one
with guts on my team,
just a bunch of
girls running around,
playing with their ponytails,
and the coach there
was as useless.
We had a few minutes left
which was totally enough
to win the game, but
just before the end,
the other team gets the
ball out to buy time.
And then this blonde girl from
the other team stalls and
holds the ball behind her back,
so I yell at her.
And the referee
gives me a warning.
- What did you say?
- Doesn't matter, she
rubbed me the wrong way,
one of those mean sorority
girls with a jock boyfriend.
- So you lost your cool.
- No.
She threw the ball,
and I went for it.
- Did you tackle her?
- I have the ball,
about to kick it in,
when I see their center
forward coming my way.
Blondie checks me from behind
and jumps with full
force on my ankle.
My ankle was throbbing and
blood was running over my shoes.
Blondie drops down
and starts yelling.
Sheer performance, even though
I was the one who got hurt.
- Her team must
have been pissed.
- They bought the whole
show she was putting on.
No one cared that
I was actually hurt
and literally bleeding.
The referee flipped me a red.
They scored a penalty.
I hate unfairness.
(gritty rock music)
I was punished,
just for trying to win.
Everyone thought I
fouled that bitch.
- Uh huh,
(laughing)
let's just scoot on by here.
(gritty rock music)
- I always thought
that sports is a place
where justice prevailed,
that the truth was
clear to everyone.
Best team wins.
(bell ringing)
- Are we gonna celebrate?
(woman laughing)
(woman shouts)
(head banging)
- When Blondie dissed me,
I lost my shit and took
it into my own hands.
What you fail to understand
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
When your body don't turn
Body don't turn
Body don't turn me around
Ain't nobody going to
turn, body going to turn
Body going to turn me around
(remote clattering)
(liquid pouring)
(bottle clinking)
(glass sliding)
(footsteps tapping)
(bell ringing)
(glass thuds)
- [Toni] I'm not proud of that.
- It's primal.
Fight or flight.
Nothing you can do,
especially if you're
wired that way.
- I,
I felt so alone.
She reported me.
Everyone who testified
was on her side.
It was dumb.
I'm an idiot.
- I don't see you that way.
Take a look at yourself.
- I hate mirrors.
(crowd cheering)
- Pain is useful.
If you can overcome,
pain is a power that
will supercharge you.
Pain lets you know you're alive.
You know, your
story about Blondie,
it made me curious.
It's like, I wanna see
how hard you can go at it.
I wanna see you go for it.
Go put on your gear.
- I'm gonna show you.
(locker door opening)
I'm coming!
(door thudding)
(footsteps tapping)
- How much those cost?
- 210.
My rich bitch
clients pay me well.
At least, they did.
- We train barefoot.
Your feet are your base.
I was your feet to
connect with the ground.
- Copy that.
(footsteps tapping)
(crowd cheering)
- Jesse?
How's sales going so far?
Okay.
I'll be there.
(door rattling)
(Toni sighs)
- I thought you were
good at cleaning up messes?
(Toni sighs)
- Other people's messes.
Remember?
(chair sliding)
- Let me ask you a
question, real talk.
How did you earn
your first dollar?
- Sandwiches.
I sold them at my dad's deli.
I was 14.
How about you?
- Hustling.
- Like drugs?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
We worked a block for the
older boys on the corner.
Hand to hand.
We could outrun getting caught.
But you can't outrun
where you're from.
It shapes you,
like a tattoo.
- Tattoos can be removed.
- They leave scars.
Scars are good.
They remind you of
who you really are.
Where I come from,
scars are more
flashy than Rolexes,
and look, if you don't
have a major scar,
you pussy.
Pardon my language.
- So where is yours?
- My major ones
are
here and here.
In the ring, I was good
at dodging, so yeah.
Apparently, I still am.
- No Rolex then.
- (laughs) No.
Rolexes wouldn't fit
around my gloves.
Don't come out until
this room is clean.
(Elliott groans)
(chair thuds and slides)
(footsteps shuffling)
(footstep shuffling continues)
(locker door closing)
(door creaking)
Listen and follow
my instructions.
Sit.
No, no, no.
Ready?
- Yeah.
- Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
I want you to use your
core and your quads.
I don't want this wobbly
stuff, nothing sloppy.
Accuracy.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
(crowd cheering)
Get up.
- Sit.
(bell rings)
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up .
- I can't.
I can't feel my legs.
(tense music)
(drawer sliding)
(pill bottle rattling)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
- That all?
(tense music)
- Sit.
Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
Get up.
(Toni panting)
- You always get up.
You're always left standing.
You understand that?
Repeat it after me.
I always end standing.
- I'm always end standing.
- I always end standing.
(bell ringing)
- I'm always end standing.
(crowd cheering)
(Toni breathing)
(Toni breathing continues)
Did you quit because you
couldn't get up no more?
- This ain't about me here.
- I read what happened
in your last fight.
- Well, shit happens
when you don't expect it.
- You tripped
and he threw you a rabbit punch
when you were already down
and then hit you in
the back of the head.
- Yeah.
- That's so fucked up.
- Yeah.
I remember the referee's
feet in my face.
Next thing I remember
is being in the hospital
hooked up to IVs.
- You were so young
and just about to
blow them all away
and you were a champ, man.
- I am a champ.
Not were.
- Yeah, I just meant you
missed out on so many titles
and prize money and,
- No, no, that shit doesn't
mean anything to me.
That's all bullshit.
- What makes a champ?
(crowd cheering)
- Your body being
totally in sync,
(fists thudding)
(crowd cheering)
(fist thudding)
A champ always respects
(bell rings)
his opponent.
(fists thudding)
- Respects him so much that
he beats the shit out of him?
- Any, if not all,
fighters respect
anyone who's willing
to get into the ring.
(bell rings)
This is holy ground.
- When was the
last time you wore gloves?
- Long time ago.
- Are they here?
- Yes, ma'am.
- These ones?
- Put them back please.
Get in the ring.
(towel drops)
(ropes creaking)
You really think
you belong there?
- Yes.
(rope creaking)
(feet thudding)
- Put it on.
- I can take it.
Pain fires me up.
- You'll regret it when you
can't feel anything at all.
(upbeat rock music)
- No.
You're the rolling force.
- [Announcer] Ladies
and gentlemen,
- In the left corner,
- [Announcer] For the nex t
super middleweight
champion of the world,
- The 24-year-old sensation,
- [Announcer] Payne Harris
from Bushwick, New York.
- Ladies and
gentlemen, weighing,
- [Announcer]
Weighing 168 pounds,
let's go, baby,
feel the Payne!
(crowd cheering)
- Fuck around too much.
Just stand there and be quiet.
- Right, sir.
- I'm going to throw
these balls at you,
different speeds,
different directions.
These are the opponent's fists.
You dodge 'em, you live.
You get hit by five or more,
you're knocked the fuck out.
You got it?
- Yes, sir.
(metal music begins)
(balls thudding)
(singer vocalizing)
- Hit that body.
The body!
(Toni grunts)
(balls thudding)
- [Toni] Is that all you got?
- You think this a game.
- Give it to him!
- Stop treating me like a child.
(fists thudding)
- Why do you think that is?
- You wanna teach
me respect, man.
(fists thudding)
Come on, Elliott.
(fists thudding)
- Yeah, yeah,
yeah. You got this.
(metal music)
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
- You okay?
(guitar screeching)
- Fuck.
Mm.
- Toni, you okay?
(rope creaking)
Will you sit down?
Here, let me see that.
Well, it's not terrible.
Press that on the cut.
And now go in the
locker room, lay down,
and I'll be right there.
- Thanks.
- Okay, good.
(Toni exhales)
(glass clattering)
(paper rustling)
(paper tearing)
(paper rustling)
- Is it gonna hurt?
- It may sting.
You can handle it though.
Get your hair out the way.
- I fucked it up again.
Why is she screeching so loud?
You call the doc yet?
- You were great.
- You're a rockstar. You got it.
You got it.
Okay, just remember
to use the right hand.
Okay? Use it.
Come on, baby. You're okay.
(Payne spitting)
(tense music)
- Darius?
Darius?
(Toni sighs)
(footsteps tapping)
Is she asking for Buddy?
That's her dino she
always cuddles with.
Darius, it's the green
one she always holding.
Locate him.
I don't know.
She sometimes stash it
behind the couch pillow
when she thinks it's
too scary for him.
- [Announcer] Wow, what
a round for Harris.
Hats off to him.
- Darius, I need you to
handle this here. Okay?
I can't be out of
the damn place!
Darius, please, make
her stop screeching.
Okay? Darius?
Elliott?
What's Buddy's
connection to Muddy?
- They're
best friends.
- Buddy and Muddy, huh?
- Yeah, best buddies.
- I guess they must
have find lots of dimes
and quarters and bucks.
- Yeah, they made loads.
(footsteps tapping)
You feeling better?
- Good as new.
(bag rattling)
(bag rattling)
(plastic crinkling)
(Elliott sighs)
- So how long you been
with this Darius fellow?
- A year or so.
- Tell me about him.
- Where to start?
He has the most beautiful
hands I've ever seen,
I've ever felt,
soft and strong
at the same time.
They got scars too.
And then he's clever.
But for some reason,
it's not enough.
He never thinks
he's good enough.
- Why don't you call him back?
You know, maybe he's
worried. It's late.
- No, I highly doubt it.
- You did good
on your first day.
- Hey, you don't wanna stop now.
Do you?
- You're down for
the count, Toni.
Your head is split open.
Look, it's okay.
There's other days.
- No, no.
I'll put that stupid
head guard on.
I promise.
(fists thudding)
We just starting to
have fun. Come on.
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
All right.
I can pay you for all this,
for your time, I mean.
I can pay you,
- I don't want
your fucking money.
I'll finish cleaning.
You call Darius.
- Why is she still screaming?
You find Buddy yet?
No.
No.
Muddy is the damn turtle, okay?
Check the fridge.
Maybe she thought he was hungry.
You just told me I had talent.
(crowd cheering)
- Rockstar, Payne.
(fists thudding)
Come on. Come on, sweetheart.
(fists thudding)
- Nobody's ever told me that.
(rope creaking)
- Not everyone can see talent.
(rope creaking)
- Darius never said
anything like that.
Never.
(balls thudding)
Always when I'm with him,
he wants me to dress up
and to wear these
stupid girly clothes
and go to these stupid parties
and taking these
stupid pictures.
- He wants to show you off.
- But he hates that
I wanna be a fighter.
He doesn't think it's lady-like.
Then he makes fun
of my German accent,
as if I were some
Heidi Klum fraulein
or stuff like (speaks German).
- What?
- (laughs) This,
- What does (speaks German)
mean?
- This German for shit, fuck.
- Okay.
- Even when we fuck
it's like a competition,
who makes more noise, who
comes harder or longer
and more often.
(grunts) Yeah.
He loves it that way.
(metal music)
- Do that again.
(metal music)
(Elliott huffs)
(metal music)
Gauge the attitude
of your throw.
Then habitude the ball.
Then finally,
release with gratitude.
(fists thudding)
You know what that is?
(Toni grunts)
- That's an uppercut, man.
Your opponent hits the mat cold
if you do it right.
- Mat, round, box,
wherever you throw it,
they're going down.
(ball bouncing)
- I want to try again.
- First call Darius.
Tell him to come pick you up.
I don't want you out
there in the dark alone.
(Toni sighs)
- Can you pick me up if I sent
you address in Bushwick?
Forget it.
I'll crash at a friend's place.
I don't have a dress with me
and it'll take me forever
to get back to the city.
Yeah, I won't make it.
Enjoy.
All right.
Whatever. Bye.
(feet padding)
(chair rustling)
- So?
- He's busy.
- He's not coming
to pick you up?
- No.
He just made plans for tonight
and um doesn't matter.
- I see.
- He's more, more like
a walking algorithm.
He literally read every
book on management
and self-optimization
and he knows every
shitty start up's value,
no matter what
industry they're in.
His old man gave him 10
grand to use the stock market
to get him going
and, a year later,
he made more with this 10 grand
than his old man made
over his lifetime.
- Wow.
- It's crazy, I mean.
- Does he like what he's doing?
- He's obsessed.
I mean, we can't
even watch a movie
without him checking on
the box office returns.
So stupid.
- He knows what he wants
and he's going for it.
That's good as long as you
don't hurt people along the way.
- Yeah.
But he sometimes
barely notices me.
(crowd chattering)
Like I said,
it's just all about money
and appearances with him.
(crowd chattering)
How are you guys?
Thank you.
(crowd chattering)
Mm. That's good.
(classical music)
Party here, cocktail there,
20 karat treats and whatnot.
(classical music)
And even when I try,
I just embarrass him.
(Toni clears throat)
The night before
the soccer game, I,
I don't know why, but I went
out with this guy, Martin.
We, I had way too many drinks
and we kinda made out.
And I didn't know this
asshole took a selfie of us
and posted it online.
The next day,
Darius doesn't say a word.
He just got up, took a shower,
ate my doughnuts I was saving,
and is off for work.
(finger snaps)
- He ate your doughnuts?
Well, now shit. That's
crossing the line.
(Elliott and Toni chuckling)
So, you took it out on Blondie?
- The judge said,
I had no business
in a court room,
that I had no excuse what I did,
that I was childish and just
need to get my act together.
- It must be nice
being privileged.
(Toni sighs)
- Yeah.
That's what he said.
Darius liked that line
and kept repeating it.
"Get your act together, Toni."
- You told him everything?
- Of course, I mean,
he's my boyfriend and,
- Very lucky guy.
(drum beating)
- Listen, I'm not gonna tell
you how great this kid is.
The second he steps
into the ring,
you're gonna see it yourself.
You just gotta hold on tight,
'cause he is going
straight to the top.
Get ready for a
pain in your asses.
- Hey, Mrs. Williams?
(reporters chattering)
- [Reporter] Miss
Williams? Miss Williams?
- Thank you.
- [Reporter] Will you
be ring side this time?
- [Reporter] Isn't a title
fight for Payne way too soon?
(keyboard clicking)
(drum beating)
- Kyle, ain't no
way to drop that.
We had a deal on
three fights, okay?
Count them.
Three.
I got all partners
locked in, straight up.
No, two is absolutely
not an option for me.
Not on my radar.
Your boss call? (scoffs)
Kyle, it's up to you. Whatever.
Tomorrow at 4 PM,
it's drop dead time.
If we don't make it, we are out.
- [Philipp] Miss Williams?
- Yeah?
- You know that no
network is going
to give Harris
three fights, right?
I mean, they trust you,
but Payne?
I mean, I was talking to
everybody, and Kyle was saying
that he's only in for one bout.
- Hm.
- I could put in a
good word for you.
You know, it's no secret
that you have a track record
of not showing up in
your boxer's corner.
Take Akeem's K.O. last
March for example.
So, what's the deal this time?
Do you believe in your fighter?
Can we expect to see you in
Payne's corner on fight night?
(crowd chattering)
(Toni chuckles)
- Philipp, didn't your
mom teach you any manners?
- No.
But she taught me
how to survive.
- It takes courage to
stand up for something.
You never know if you don't try.
- [Philipp] Did
Harris' team screw up?
We still have him ahead
but he hasn't been
landing relevant shots
for the last two rounds.
His left jab isn't even
connecting anymore.
Thribbs obviously smells
blood in the water.
He's taken some hits but how
bad are they?
Can Payne even
muster the strength?
Patience is key in
fights like this.
- You said you'd hit
me when she's asleep.
Is that too much to handle?
You think I'm out here
partying or something?
You know how brutal
this game can be.
So is she good or what?
I just fucking need to know.
Call me once you're in Bushwick
and there will be
no valet parking.
And by the way,
tomorrow we ain't going to
be hitting the gym, okay?
I'm gonna just kick it.
So I can take care of her.
So she can get
better and me too.
That's my priority.
Going to stay in bed all day.
I don't know how this
training thing gonna work
with both of us
feeling this way.
You're gonna figure that out.
(crowd cheering)
(Toni sighs)
Let's do some work.
- All right.
Let me take a look
at that cut first.
I don't want you
bleeding all over my mat.
It looks all right.
You're gonna have a
small scar though.
- Guess my value's gone up.
- Now I'm gonna call this drill.
I'm gonna be looking for your
fundamentals, coordination,
speed, strength, et cetera.
- Please just, just call
me when she's asleep.
(door knocking)
Who is it?
- [Rita] Rita.
(Toni sighs)
- Come in.
- Boss,
(door thuds)
listen up.
The guys think that we
really need you out there,
maybe you can come in for real.
- I ain't gonna do it.
I ain't gonna do it, okay?
I can't fucking bear it.
You already know it's your
damn duty out there, okay?
Besides he's gonna
make it happen anyway.
- I've got four granddaughters.
Theresa, my youngest, is 16.
And she looks up
to you, you know?
'Cause you're my boss.
Yeah.
I talk to her about
you all the time
'cause I tell her how you
don't take shit from nobody,
how you handle everything.
You know? Then she
goes to school.
And she tells her
buddies at school
that her granny's got
this bad ass boss.
And the kids start asking
questions, you know?
They want to know
things about you,
even the guys.
And they say, well,
lady boss? No way.
No way, impossible.
And they wanna know if
you've got a great ass.
And she says, "Well, yeah
she does have a great ass.
She really does.
But more importantly,
she's a genius.
And she's loaded.
That's why she can pay
my granny so good."
And that they better
back the fuck off
when they start talking
shit about her ass.
But she looks up to you
because she wants
to be just like you,
confident and successful
and strong as hell,
just like you.
She would do anything
for you, anything.
There are a lot of Theresa's
out there, you know?
Believe me.
And they're all rooting for him
because they're rooting for you.
They want him to win because
they want you to win.
You're the mirror that
they're looking in.
You're the future that
they're moving towards.
Where was your boss?
That's what she's going
to ask me tomorrow.
Where was your boss?
Well, what the hell am
I going to say to her?
That you, you know, you
just weren't up to it?
That you left him out there
alone because he was doing fine?
That you're actually
weak and selfish?
That you just
didn't feel like it?
I'm not gonna tell her.
You gotta tell her.
You're gonna tell her.
If you don't step up,
I'm gonna bring her ass in
here to your office on Monday
and you're gonna look
her straight in the eye
and tell her why you
didn't have Payne's back
when you should have.
And it's not gonna be easy.
She's tough.
You wanna know why
it's not gonna be easy?
Because she's just like you.
Just like you.
(crowd cheering)
(door thudding)
(bell rings)
- [Elliott] It's time for Muddy.
(blues music)
(gloves tapping)
- Let's go. Move it.
Move it!
(blues music)
Got my mojo working
But it just won't work
on you
(bell ringing)
Got my mojo working
But it just
won't work on you
- Up.
Up.
Get that back straight.
I want to love you so bad
I don't know what to do
- Whoosh, whoosh.
Come on.
I got a whole lot of tricks
- Come on, move it.
Move it.
Keeping her around
- One, two.
One, two.
(fists thudding)
(blues music)
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
(blues music)
No, stop.
- What is it?
- It's awful.
What are you doing?
- You said pull ups.
- A pull up is one fluid move.
Body is straight,
stiff like a board.
Nope, sorry. Legs are not
straight but good try.
- You're gonna get it right.
You're doing great, a rock star.
Keep it up, okay?
It's great.
- Getting into peak fighter
champion shape
(bell ringing)
is going to be hell.
- I know.
But I can do it.
- I have a friend who has
a track and field team
over in Bed-Stuy.
You'd kill in on that team.
- No.
No, I want this.
I mean, hey, I'm
doing this. Okay?
I don't care about
a stupid pull up.
I can do it.
I'm doing this.
(Toni breathing)
- I'm going to be
very honest with you.
- Go ahead.
- Your 'why' for
this sport is not enough
to carry on.
(waves lapping)
(waves lapping continues)
- So, what's the verdict?
Chico?
- Chica.
- I'm sure she gonna be fly.
- And pampered.
So, what's wrong with my boxers?
- Everybody be boxing.
Everybody wanna get out
of their shitty life.
Everybody wanna get rich.
Everybody want nice cars.
Then they be hitting that bag
and hitting it the
exact same way, beating it
like they're
crazy, no technique.
I'm sure they can bench
whatever you want them to bench.
And I'm sure they can run
however you want them to run
but that don't mean
they know what to do
in the ring with no opponent.
Fighting is a art.
It's something you gotta master.
You can't learn that in no gym.
Like me?
I know what my opponent gonna do
before my opponent
know what they gonna do.
And I know how to
get a crowd hyped.
I can make you money.
I can make all of y'all money.
But don't nobody
want to look my way.
- It ain't
nothing to gripe about.
- I know.
Everybody's trying
to get with you.
You the hot shit.
Everybody want to smash you.
You can go out in the stadium,
grab anybody by their nose,
and throw 'em
around the stadium.
What you ain't got
is a performer.
And that's me.
- How you know?
- 'Cause I know how
to make shit pop.
You know it too.
That's exactly why
you ain't snitch on me
when I knocked out
that pussy ass valet.
You told me to get in,
we rode around the city,
you gave me a pep talk
in your shitty ass car
that's probably about
to get towed any minute.
- Thanks.
You hit up Gladys. Feel me?
- 244 Lexington Street.
- Is that your gym's place?
- That's where they're about
to tow your fucking car to.
- I'm gonna learn.
- I'm sorry.
I can't teach what
can't be taught.
- Not the guts, Elliott?
Your first time?
(fists thudding)
- You being a spoiled brat
and not getting what you want,
is that your first time?
- You know what?
You, you are fucking
all the same.
You're fucking all the same!
Darius!
(phone clatters)
(crowd booing)
(candy clattering)
Fuck it!
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(slow jazz music continues)
(candy clinking in dish)
(slow jazz music)
(chalk scraping)
(slow jazz music)
(door thuds)
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(candy crunching)
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
(Elliott breathing)
(slow jazz music continues)
- Did he call?
(wind whispering)
(Elliott groans)
(footsteps crunching)
(Toni takes drag on cigarette)
- Did you really
never hurt a woman?
(Elliott groans)
- I have.
- Who?
- My mother.
- What?
(Elliott sighs)
- She stole all the money
I made on the corner,
that I saved to take care
of my brother and sister.
She humiliated us.
She was always drinking,
getting high, staggering.
- What happened?
- She promised me
that she would stop
using drugs and drinking
when my younger
brother went to school,
but she lied.
She was beating his
ass day in and day out.
- So, what did you do?
- One day,
she was really fucked up.
And I came in, she
didn't see me coming.
And I stopped her.
- So, you hit her.
- I fucking stopped her.
She called the cops and they
arrested me for assault.
And then she told the cops
about my number on the corner.
- And your brother?
- I was locked up
for five years.
- May I say,
tonight, for me,
(Elliott gulps)
it was, I, you can't imagine
how much I take from it.
And um,
I wanted to thank you.
- Hey,
the night's not over.
(crowd cheering)
We haven't even boxed yet.
(fists thudding)
(hard rock music)
- Horrible habit.
- Why do you do it?
- It helps.
It helps control the
anger and aggression
and makes sadness less so.
- Give me your hands.
Make a fist.
You have to take care of these.
A fighter's life or
death depends on these.
And you only have two of 'em.
You feel me?
Take care of 'em.
(music begins)
- Finally.
- Don't let 'em push.
- All right.
- Okay.
- Always have fun
with it, always fun.
(rock music)
(fist thudding)
(shoes squeaking)
Jab with power.
Yeah, I'm coming.
Yeah (grunts).
Punch through it,
punch through that jab.
Step with the jab,
step with jab.
(fist thudding)
Now stick and move.
Stick and move, on your toes.
(steady music)
(crowd cheering)
- Keep your arms up, baby. Okay?
Stay loose. All right?
Move your feet. Okay?
Okay. He hit you, so what?
We're gonna get him
back in this round.
All right? You hear me?
Hear me? Look in my
eyes, look in my eyes.
Come on. Come on.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
You're gonna get it.
Don't just yes me!
Tell me yes! Come on.
Yes! Yes!
Come on, say it to me.
All right, all right.
- Yeah.
- All right. Okay.
Love you, sweetheart.
All right, you get this.
Okay?
Go get him.
(rock music)
- Four, three,
(fists thudding)
two, one.
Use that leg to twist in.
(Toni shouts)
Yeah.
(fist thudding)
Yes, nice.
(fists thudding)
Double hook, double hook.
Get in close. Get in
close, like you're holding.
Come on. What,
what, get in close.
Watch my shoulder.
You're in close.
(crowd cheering)
I'm gonna hit you with
my shoulder. Watch.
You here, you see it?
- Yeah.
- I can turn my shoulder
into your chin.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Get close, get closer.
You can get in on
him, don't pop out.
Whack, whack.
(fists thudding)
On your toes, on your toes.
Jump and jab.
(fists thudding)
- Come on, buddy.
Come on, sweetie.
- Just move. Dance, move.
He's coming after
you, boom, boom.
He's trying to catch you.
- There you go. There you go.
- Hit, don't be hit.
Every now then, you
hit him with a jab.
Bang, you pop him
when he's coming in,
he's going after you,
think he's slick,
hit him with a jab
and then get out.
- [Rita] Let's go!
(fists thudding)
- 10,
(fists thudding)
nine, eight,
seven, six,
five, four,
three, two,
one.
(fist thuds)
(Toni exhales)
(crowd cheering)
You okay?
(Toni breathing)
Breathe in through the
nose, out through the mouth.
In through the nose.
(Toni exhales)
Yeah, let it go.
That's it. Yeah.
- Damn, this feels good.
- Yeah .
- What you think of
going over to the ring
and do a little bout, just
you and me, two minutes,
just a quick round?
- Good well then, let
me ask you seriously.
Are you okay with
me hitting you?
- I can take it.
Obviously.
(fists thudding)
(Elliott groaning)
(head gear squeaking)
(latch clicking)
- Good?
- I guess I look
like a Teletubby.
- Don't get too excited.
I'm a old man.
(Elliott groans)
- You think so.
- Yeah, I think so.
(Elliott breathing)
(Elliott groaning)
(ropes creaking)
(ominous music)
- Is Darius black?
- He's a man.
They're fucking all the same.
- You think so?
- I think so, yeah.
- Make him feel that.
- All right, all
right, all right.
Come on!
(fists thudding)
(crowd cheering)
- One.
Two.
Three.
- Get up!
- [Referee] Four.
- Hey, get up.
- Five.
- Get up!
- [Referee] Six.
Seven.
Eight.
(Payne groaning)
Nine.
(phone buzzing)
10!
(bell ringing)
(Payne shouting)
(ominous music)
(phone buzzing)
(feet tapping)
- Fuck!
(feet tapping)
(phone buzzing)
(phone buzzing)
- [Darius] Hey, Love.
I'm so sorry for you.
He was pretty good actually.
He did really good.
But hey, she's finally
asleep, so no worries here.
Wait.
You went out there?
Wow.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(singer vocalizing)
Behind each scar
A story to tell
But the world's too dark
Nothing could change
Nothing could
change the way I
Nothing could change
the way that I am
Oh the way that I am
Each moment a man
must do what he can
For nothing could change
Nothing could change
the way that I
Oh the way that I am
Nothing could change
the way that I am
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
Nothing could change
The way that I am
Nothing
Nothin g
Could change the
way that I am
Nothing could change
the way that I am
Nothing could change the way
The way that I am
Oh nothing could change
The way, the way that I am
(music ends)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(stone grinding)
(discordant music)
(wind whispering)
(heel tapping)
(crowd cheering in background)
(heel tapping continues)
(ominous music)
(heel tapping)
(ominous music)
(ominous music continues)
- You said you
fucking belong here.
They said, you're
never gonna make it.
You ain't quick enough.
Your reflexes too slow and
you're training hella weak.
They said no one gonna
show you respect,
(ominous music)
but you said?
You was gonna change the game.
(door knocking)
- [Man] Showtime folks.
(Toni sighs)
And now you're here.
That's why they are out there,
posted up on the front
row, paying 5 G's a ticket.
They waited for more
than an hour now
to see you perform,
just you, Payne.
Just you.
Now give them their
damn money's worth
and show those fuckers
who my real champ is.
(footsteps tapping)
(upbeat rock music)
(siren blaring)
(dog barking in distance)
(horn honking)
(headset clattering)
(feet stomping)
(headset clattering)
(Toni shouts)
(birds cawing)
(Toni sighs and groans)
(Toni sighs)
(footsteps stomping)
(horn honking)
(traffic humming)
(bag rustling)
(zipper unzipping)
(horn honking)
(phone tapping)
(phone notification rings)
(phone notification rings)
Fuck you!
(funky music)
(funky music continues)
Whoo.
(funky music continues)
(funky music continues)
(zipper unzipping)
(funky music continues)
(funky music continues)
(crowd chattering)
(blues music playing)
(blues music continues)
(door clicking)
No, I never, never
took a lesson
When it come to the blues
I do my own kind of lesson
Blues done turned me wild
It's got deep inside my soul
(crowd cheering)
The blues done
turned me wild
It's gone deep
down in my soul
Yeah
(fists thudding)
Playing on a rabbit's hole
(bucket squeaks)
(rope creaking)
(blues music)
(crowd cheering)
(blues music)
(fist thudding)
(rope creaking)
(record scratching)
- You scare me.
(footsteps tapping)
You scare me.
- That's the point.
- You're not going
to beat up a woman.
- Man, woman,
trespassing is trespassing.
- The door was open.
- Busting in my place,
I'm in every right
to bust back.
That yours?
- Yeah.
- Kick it over
here, nice and slow.
Slow,
with your foot.
Keep your hands up.
(bag thuds)
(Toni sighs)
(bag slides)
(ominous music)
(zipper unzipping)
(plastic rustling)
(zipper zipping)
(bag thuds)
Who sent you?
- No one.
Do I look like the
type to have a gun?
- Everybody looks like that,
and nobody looks like that.
(Elliott coughs)
That's the problem.
See, you, you either
some crack head
looking to steal my shit
or someone sent you here
looking for trouble.
- My own damn ass send me.
- Wanting what?
- I'm here to train.
I want to fight.
I got it all and can't
get nothing done.
- So sorry to hear that.
- You could help me.
(bag rustling)
- Help?
Find a fucking shrink.
- That song.
(Elliott wheezes)
What does it say, again?
Love done burn me wild?
- No, no.
Turn me wild.
It's blues.
- Okay, I get it.
It's an honor to meet you.
I'm Toni.
- Get outta my gym, Toni.
- Just give me one chance, okay?
I have potential.
I promise.
- Look, it's been,
- Give me a chance.
- It's been a long
day and I'm closing.
- I mean, I,
I could help you clean.
- No, I don't need nobody
messing up my system.
- If there's one thing
I'm really good at,
it's cleaning up
other people's messes.
(Elliott sighs)
- [Philipp] Good evening
from the commentator's booth.
I'm Philipp Dibbons.
We finally made it
here after weeks
of non-stop chatter about
Harris versus Thribbs,
and perhaps even more talk
about Toni Williams,
Harris' promoter.
No one in the boxing
biz has messed with her
and come out unscathed.
But this time, she
somehow seems rattled.
Jerry, I'm not at all
confident.
Can she handle
the pressure anymore?
(lighter clicking)
Maybe she overestimated
herself.
Word is that she won't
be ring side tonight,
(lighter clicking)
just like she hasn't been
for any of her fighters'
previous bouts.
Hashtag cowardly?
Up to you to decide.
Payne Harris shouldn't
care either way,
big mouth, hundreds of
thousands of followers,
already a pop star in a way.
What? What is he really
bringing to the table tonight?
Especially when he
is up against a beast
like Tyrone Thribbs.
(match igniting)
We are very happy
to have heavyweight champ
Michael Moore with us.
Michael, there is a whole lot
of speculation going on.
(match igniting)
What's your take on
Payne's chances tonight?
- [Michael] Listen,
Thribbs, strong.
I think the fight tonight
is gonna be a blood,
sweat and tears fight
for Payne,
but he has to push
forth the effort.
If he manages to last
six or seven rounds,
I think there could
be something
good for him at the end,
but, you know, I am
very, very skeptical.
(door slamming closed)
- Angelo Dundee, Eddie Futch,
Emanuel Steward and
Elliott Duffond,
you coaches all like
to talk character,
resilience, determination.
I'm determined to
stay and learn.
I highly doubt you have
anything better to do.
- It takes more than that.
(Elliott wheezes)
Accuracy,
precision,
good instincts.
(Elliott exhales)
You gonna take it or not?
(Elliott groans)
Start underneath the head rest.
Dirt likes to hide
where you can't see it.
(brush scraping)
You mentioned Angelo Dundee.
He trained Ali,
Sugar Ray Leonard,
and later, George Foreman.
That man knew his stuff.
I'll give him that.
- So do you.
(brush scraping)
I watched your kid, Akeem,
kick Pyroshenko's ass
in the Bronx last month.
I watched you make him do it.
You gave Akeem confidence.
- Well,
I've seen you before.
- No, I don't think so.
- Last month, it was at
Maria Hernandez Park.
You had on an orange vest.
You were with a bunch of
felons picking up trash.
Community service, huh?
You were talking to Akeem.
Yeah, I was running
him in the park.
I thought you were a groupie.
- Just a fan.
I was asking him about his
trainer and his training.
That's how I found
out where to find you.
- So finding trouble
is your thing?
- Dundee says, being
critical is good,
but encouraging is better.
I'm tired of being fucking
criticized and belittled.
I could use less of the
first and more of the latter.
- [Philipp] I got to admit, it's
kind of fun watching Payne.
But hey, he is not too tough.
Thribbs hasn't had the
chance to land a punch yet,
and he ain't into
that circus at all.
Fair enough.
Maybe Miss Williams told Payne
that there's much more merch
to sell with all this nonsense.
I guess we'll never know.
So Payne relied on
his cat-like reflexes
against Thribbs.
Dodge him, wear him out,
then strike fast.
He's got some serious
power in those hands.
That's for sure.
- Left jab, right cross,
all legendary fights,
Holmes, Lewis,
Mayweather, De La Hoya,
I studied them all.
Most of all, Ali.
- Oh.
So you a Dutch girl who
wants to fight like Ali?
- German.
- White.
Well, looks like
you have some cash,
and I bet your family
doesn't know you're here.
What do you know about Ali?
- I've done some
new for this fight.
I have wrestled
with an alligator.
That's right.
I done wrestled
with an alligator.
I done tussled with a whale.
I done handcuffed lightning,
thrown thunder in jail.
- That's bad.
- Only last week, I murdered
a rock, injured a stone,
hospitalized the brick.
I'm so mean, I
make medicine sick.
(Elliott chuckles)
- Yeah.
That man was one sick machine.
- Yeah.
And I found you on YouTube.
- Oh no.
- Some obscure boxing channel,
I watched all the clips
I could find of fights.
Some crazy moves you
did, Mr. Duffond.
- So, you want to box?
- Yes.
And I want you to train me.
- I don't train fighters.
I make fighters.
- So why did Akeem leave you?
Make me.
I'll pay you.
- No, it's not
about fucking money.
You young people think
it's all about money.
- Come on.
Let's do this. You
won't regret it.
- Toni,
- I'll just didn't
bring any gloves
'cause I thought you'd
probably have ideas
and I didn't mention to,
- No, Toni, Toni.
- I've never really had
anyone train me, so I,
- Listen.
I'm sure you have drive
and some talent.
There's nothing in it for me.
- That's bullshit!
You're underestimating me.
Or is it because I'm German?
- What?
- You think I'm a
fucking Nazi, huh?
- [Elliott] No.
- [Toni] You don't believe
I can go the distance.
You think I'm
intimidated by you?
That I don't have the guts?
- Yo!
What happened? You supposed
to come see me spar.
- Who says?
- Your assistant.
- What? Which one?
Stella?
- Gladys
Whatever the fuck.
- I was in Boston until
last night anyway.
- Why was you out there?
- Excuse me?
- Look, just, just come
tomorrow, all right?
(Toni laughs)
- Payne?
It don't work like that.
- Then how it work?
(Toni sighs)
- Miss Williams?
- How it fucking work?
- [Mitch] Miss Williams,
your car is ready.
- Thanks, Mitch.
Listen, I,
I got Akeem and Miguel in
your weight class, okay?
They've been,
- Those guys are trash!
They have no skill, no good,
they can't work a fucking ring.
My grand mama could
knock their ass out.
I know what the
fuck this is about.
You mad 'cause I'm better.
And you know I'm better.
And your people are trash.
That's why you ain't
want to come see me spar.
- You talk a big game.
- And you got a tiny dick, so,
- You got it. (laughs)
- What's so funny?
Why you laughing?
Why you fucking laughing?
(hand smacking)
- Stop yelling!
Fuck!
- That's the only way
I can get through to you!
- Fuck.
- Come!
- I ain't got time for
debates right now, okay?
I got to go.
Call Gladys. She will
check my schedule.
- Get your fucking
hands off me, bro.
(door slamming)
(fist thudding)
(Mitch grunts)
I told you not to put
your fucking hands on me.
It's his fucking fault.
- Mitch, thanks a million.
You're my VIP guest
on Saturday, okay?
Bring your whole fam,
front row at the ring,
Gladys got it all
sorted, and just,
just get well.
Catch you.
(Toni sighs)
(traffic humming)
(siren blaring)
(keys jingling)
(door clicking)
You can't keep
your shit together?
You ain't down with any rules?
You let yourself get played?
You can't wait a goddamn minute.
You never stepped
back in line, did you?
And then you seriously think
I should waste my time on you?
Talk to me.
- You don't give
a fuck about me.
You really don't.
(Toni sighs)
- Can't y'all quit
playing victim?
God dammit.
- Ah.
There it goes.
Can't you all quit
playing the victim?
That's why you don't
want to sign me,
'cause I'm Black.
- What? No.
- That's what the fuck it is.
(Payne laughs)
You know what?
I'm tired of this stupid
ass, racist ass, bullshit!
- Fuck!
(hand smacks)
- I'm sorry, but you
don't have what it takes.
(fist thudding)
(Toni grunting)
- Toni? Toni?
Breathe.
Breathe.
(Toni panting)
That's it.
That's it right there.
That's how it is.
You want more of that?
- Whatever it takes, man.
Are you gonna train me now?
- Come on.
(Toni panting)
- I asked you something.
- Ask yourself this
question first.
Why?
Why boxing?
- So no one will fuck with me.
- It's not about
settling a score.
It's about respect.
It's not about cheap shots.
If you ever dare
throw your fist at me,
- I wanted your attention.
- You're not used to not
getting what you want.
Go find a place
where you belong.
It's not here.
- I'm tired of having
things handed to me.
If people, when they
lived in my shoes,
they'd know how it feels.
That's why I need to box. Okay?
I need to prove that I'm more
than my father's daughter,
especially to him.
- Do you know why Akeem boxed?
His choices were limited.
Boxing was his answer.
He wasn't fighting
to prove anything.
He was fighting for his life.
That was his instinct.
- And my instinct
brought me here.
So that's why I
better go change.
(phone buzzing)
Hey.
How's she doing?
She's still coughing?
All right. And she's
still got a fever?
All right. Fuck.
Listen, Dr. Breckman
should be around tonight.
Yeah. His digit's on the fridge,
the yellow sticky one, yeah.
You better call him if
you ain't sure, right?
(somber music)
(crowd cheering)
- [Philipp] All right.
Buddy, we got it already.
Just a few more moments, and
it is nothing but round one.
Stay with us, folks.
We will be right back.
- Just, just call me
when she's asleep, okay?
All right, appreciate that.
Love you, bye.
Bye.
(crowd cheering)
(phone thuds)
(shorts rustling)
(shoes squeaking)
(slow music)
(Toni exhales)
(hands slap face)
(slow music)
You okay?
(slow music)
(Elliott breathing)
- I usually don't,
- Hit girls?
How did it make you feel?
- How do you think
it makes me feel?
- No idea.
- Do I look like I hurt women?
- Everybody looks like that,
and nobody looks like that.
That's the problem.
- I don't hurt women.
- It's okay. I believe you.
Maybe it was just
some instinct though.
- No. No.
No, you don't know what
the hell you talking about.
- Just saying,
gauging the risks.
- Those your shoes?
- Yeah.
They cool?
- What size are you?
- I'm a six and a half.
- Okay.
- Seven?
(keys jingling)
- Go get a seven,
they run small.
(keys jingling)
- What the hell is
wrong with these?
- Are you going to question
everything I ask you?
(Toni scoffs)
(footsteps tapping)
(locker creaking)
(metal music)
- Oh no.
Never!
(metal music)
- [Referee] Listen up. This is
the brawl y'all been waiting
for.
Both of you are
top notch fighters.
You're hungry and
you put in the work.
Now you heard me
preaching the rules
in the locker room, right ?
- Let's have a clean fight,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
- I'm looking for a clean
fight from start to finish.
I want to see respect
and sportsmanship.
You got me?
(crowd cheering)
All right, now, may
the best man win.
Touch 'em up and God bless.
(crowd cheering)
Hey.
(crowd cheering)
- What the heck?
- Attitude, habitude, gratitude.
If you want to find
purpose, it starts there.
(shoes rustling)
- They look good.
- Thank you very much,
but I didn't see a
matching tutu back there.
- Are you mad?
In my place, we follow my rules.
- Cool
I mean, they're perfect.
They're, feel like a condom.
I'm ready for my recital.
- The song,
"Turn Me Wild",
- Who did it?
- Buddy Guy.
- Sounds like toon character.
- Can you dance?
- Not formally.
- Clubs?
- I'm not into that
meat market like.
- I need to see you move.
I need to see your rhythm,
your vibe, your swag.
- My vibe?
I can show you my moves.
I can do like 100 pushups
or 1,000 speed punches
or jumping jacks or pull ups.
I mean, literally anything else.
- No, no, look.
No.
I'm going to go
back to my office.
When I come back in the
gym, I want you gone.
(Elliott grunts)
(fist thudding)
(chains rattling)
(bottle clicking)
(record player clicking)
(blues music)
My baby ease my mind
Makes me feel secure
But nowadays, you know
You just can't be too sure
I keep a back up mama
And she live way
away cross town
I got a back up mama
If mama number
one is not around
(blues music continues)
(blues music continues)
(blues music continues)
I got back up mama
If mama number
one is not around
(blues music)
(blues music ends)
(footsteps shuffling)
(footsteps shuffling)
(Toni panting)
(Toni guzzling water)
- What's with this guy, Buddy?
- Buddy Guy .
- Buddy the Guy?
Yeah.
- He once looked for a
dime and found a quarter.
- So?
- Attitude, a dime,
habitude, a quarter,
gratitude?
What do you think?
- A buck?
I don't know.
- A smile, the blues
is full of stories
about dimes and quarters.
Buddy tunes make you smile.
Buddy understood gratitude.
He understood what
purpose was about.
- Is that, is that why they
admire you like some prophet?
All the kids you've trained,
you make them strong.
You, you set them free.
Through gratitude?
- Gratitude is the key.
- I guess.
You know, I,
I came here to impress,
and to be a freaking
smart ass, big mouth,
to show off my moves,
the peek-a-boos
and combinations and punches.
And my big mouth
and imitation shit,
I'm so mean and so on.
And then I get my ass kicked
by a legend.
And danced to Buddy's ballet.
But you know what?
It feels about right.
- That's a good start.
- Yeah.
I guess I need to find myself
a few times first, huh?
- Yeah.
(Toni sighs)
- Do you mind if I shower here?
- Water
is cold after 10.
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
(ominous music)
- That's you.
Fighting O'Sullivan.
Alright,
I guess I'm off.
(bag rustling)
(crowd cheering on TV)
(footsteps shuffling)
- You call this cleaning?
Come back over here
and clean this right.
- Yes, sir.
- Yeah, I thought you
said you loved cleaning
or is it only parks?
Now, you ready to tell me why
you're in community service?
- Soccer, a weekend
tournament upstate, we lost.
- You don't
get community service
because you lost a soccer game.
- We were tied.
There was no one
with guts on my team,
just a bunch of
girls running around,
playing with their ponytails,
and the coach there
was as useless.
We had a few minutes left
which was totally enough
to win the game, but
just before the end,
the other team gets the
ball out to buy time.
And then this blonde girl from
the other team stalls and
holds the ball behind her back,
so I yell at her.
And the referee
gives me a warning.
- What did you say?
- Doesn't matter, she
rubbed me the wrong way,
one of those mean sorority
girls with a jock boyfriend.
- So you lost your cool.
- No.
She threw the ball,
and I went for it.
- Did you tackle her?
- I have the ball,
about to kick it in,
when I see their center
forward coming my way.
Blondie checks me from behind
and jumps with full
force on my ankle.
My ankle was throbbing and
blood was running over my shoes.
Blondie drops down
and starts yelling.
Sheer performance, even though
I was the one who got hurt.
- Her team must
have been pissed.
- They bought the whole
show she was putting on.
No one cared that
I was actually hurt
and literally bleeding.
The referee flipped me a red.
They scored a penalty.
I hate unfairness.
(gritty rock music)
I was punished,
just for trying to win.
Everyone thought I
fouled that bitch.
- Uh huh,
(laughing)
let's just scoot on by here.
(gritty rock music)
- I always thought
that sports is a place
where justice prevailed,
that the truth was
clear to everyone.
Best team wins.
(bell ringing)
- Are we gonna celebrate?
(woman laughing)
(woman shouts)
(head banging)
- When Blondie dissed me,
I lost my shit and took
it into my own hands.
What you fail to understand
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
When your body don't turn
Body don't turn
Body don't turn me around
Ain't nobody going to
turn, body going to turn
Body going to turn me around
(remote clattering)
(liquid pouring)
(bottle clinking)
(glass sliding)
(footsteps tapping)
(bell ringing)
(glass thuds)
- [Toni] I'm not proud of that.
- It's primal.
Fight or flight.
Nothing you can do,
especially if you're
wired that way.
- I,
I felt so alone.
She reported me.
Everyone who testified
was on her side.
It was dumb.
I'm an idiot.
- I don't see you that way.
Take a look at yourself.
- I hate mirrors.
(crowd cheering)
- Pain is useful.
If you can overcome,
pain is a power that
will supercharge you.
Pain lets you know you're alive.
You know, your
story about Blondie,
it made me curious.
It's like, I wanna see
how hard you can go at it.
I wanna see you go for it.
Go put on your gear.
- I'm gonna show you.
(locker door opening)
I'm coming!
(door thudding)
(footsteps tapping)
- How much those cost?
- 210.
My rich bitch
clients pay me well.
At least, they did.
- We train barefoot.
Your feet are your base.
I was your feet to
connect with the ground.
- Copy that.
(footsteps tapping)
(crowd cheering)
- Jesse?
How's sales going so far?
Okay.
I'll be there.
(door rattling)
(Toni sighs)
- I thought you were
good at cleaning up messes?
(Toni sighs)
- Other people's messes.
Remember?
(chair sliding)
- Let me ask you a
question, real talk.
How did you earn
your first dollar?
- Sandwiches.
I sold them at my dad's deli.
I was 14.
How about you?
- Hustling.
- Like drugs?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
We worked a block for the
older boys on the corner.
Hand to hand.
We could outrun getting caught.
But you can't outrun
where you're from.
It shapes you,
like a tattoo.
- Tattoos can be removed.
- They leave scars.
Scars are good.
They remind you of
who you really are.
Where I come from,
scars are more
flashy than Rolexes,
and look, if you don't
have a major scar,
you pussy.
Pardon my language.
- So where is yours?
- My major ones
are
here and here.
In the ring, I was good
at dodging, so yeah.
Apparently, I still am.
- No Rolex then.
- (laughs) No.
Rolexes wouldn't fit
around my gloves.
Don't come out until
this room is clean.
(Elliott groans)
(chair thuds and slides)
(footsteps shuffling)
(footstep shuffling continues)
(locker door closing)
(door creaking)
Listen and follow
my instructions.
Sit.
No, no, no.
Ready?
- Yeah.
- Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
I want you to use your
core and your quads.
I don't want this wobbly
stuff, nothing sloppy.
Accuracy.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
(crowd cheering)
Get up.
- Sit.
(bell rings)
Get up.
Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up .
- I can't.
I can't feel my legs.
(tense music)
(drawer sliding)
(pill bottle rattling)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
- That all?
(tense music)
- Sit.
Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
- Get up.
Sit.
- Get up.
- Sit.
Get up.
(Toni panting)
- You always get up.
You're always left standing.
You understand that?
Repeat it after me.
I always end standing.
- I'm always end standing.
- I always end standing.
(bell ringing)
- I'm always end standing.
(crowd cheering)
(Toni breathing)
(Toni breathing continues)
Did you quit because you
couldn't get up no more?
- This ain't about me here.
- I read what happened
in your last fight.
- Well, shit happens
when you don't expect it.
- You tripped
and he threw you a rabbit punch
when you were already down
and then hit you in
the back of the head.
- Yeah.
- That's so fucked up.
- Yeah.
I remember the referee's
feet in my face.
Next thing I remember
is being in the hospital
hooked up to IVs.
- You were so young
and just about to
blow them all away
and you were a champ, man.
- I am a champ.
Not were.
- Yeah, I just meant you
missed out on so many titles
and prize money and,
- No, no, that shit doesn't
mean anything to me.
That's all bullshit.
- What makes a champ?
(crowd cheering)
- Your body being
totally in sync,
(fists thudding)
(crowd cheering)
(fist thudding)
A champ always respects
(bell rings)
his opponent.
(fists thudding)
- Respects him so much that
he beats the shit out of him?
- Any, if not all,
fighters respect
anyone who's willing
to get into the ring.
(bell rings)
This is holy ground.
- When was the
last time you wore gloves?
- Long time ago.
- Are they here?
- Yes, ma'am.
- These ones?
- Put them back please.
Get in the ring.
(towel drops)
(ropes creaking)
You really think
you belong there?
- Yes.
(rope creaking)
(feet thudding)
- Put it on.
- I can take it.
Pain fires me up.
- You'll regret it when you
can't feel anything at all.
(upbeat rock music)
- No.
You're the rolling force.
- [Announcer] Ladies
and gentlemen,
- In the left corner,
- [Announcer] For the nex t
super middleweight
champion of the world,
- The 24-year-old sensation,
- [Announcer] Payne Harris
from Bushwick, New York.
- Ladies and
gentlemen, weighing,
- [Announcer]
Weighing 168 pounds,
let's go, baby,
feel the Payne!
(crowd cheering)
- Fuck around too much.
Just stand there and be quiet.
- Right, sir.
- I'm going to throw
these balls at you,
different speeds,
different directions.
These are the opponent's fists.
You dodge 'em, you live.
You get hit by five or more,
you're knocked the fuck out.
You got it?
- Yes, sir.
(metal music begins)
(balls thudding)
(singer vocalizing)
- Hit that body.
The body!
(Toni grunts)
(balls thudding)
- [Toni] Is that all you got?
- You think this a game.
- Give it to him!
- Stop treating me like a child.
(fists thudding)
- Why do you think that is?
- You wanna teach
me respect, man.
(fists thudding)
Come on, Elliott.
(fists thudding)
- Yeah, yeah,
yeah. You got this.
(metal music)
(crowd cheering)
(fists thudding)
- You okay?
(guitar screeching)
- Fuck.
Mm.
- Toni, you okay?
(rope creaking)
Will you sit down?
Here, let me see that.
Well, it's not terrible.
Press that on the cut.
And now go in the
locker room, lay down,
and I'll be right there.
- Thanks.
- Okay, good.
(Toni exhales)
(glass clattering)
(paper rustling)
(paper tearing)
(paper rustling)
- Is it gonna hurt?
- It may sting.
You can handle it though.
Get your hair out the way.
- I fucked it up again.
Why is she screeching so loud?
You call the doc yet?
- You were great.
- You're a rockstar. You got it.
You got it.
Okay, just remember
to use the right hand.
Okay? Use it.
Come on, baby. You're okay.
(Payne spitting)
(tense music)
- Darius?
Darius?
(Toni sighs)
(footsteps tapping)
Is she asking for Buddy?
That's her dino she
always cuddles with.
Darius, it's the green
one she always holding.
Locate him.
I don't know.
She sometimes stash it
behind the couch pillow
when she thinks it's
too scary for him.
- [Announcer] Wow, what
a round for Harris.
Hats off to him.
- Darius, I need you to
handle this here. Okay?
I can't be out of
the damn place!
Darius, please, make
her stop screeching.
Okay? Darius?
Elliott?
What's Buddy's
connection to Muddy?
- They're
best friends.
- Buddy and Muddy, huh?
- Yeah, best buddies.
- I guess they must
have find lots of dimes
and quarters and bucks.
- Yeah, they made loads.
(footsteps tapping)
You feeling better?
- Good as new.
(bag rattling)
(bag rattling)
(plastic crinkling)
(Elliott sighs)
- So how long you been
with this Darius fellow?
- A year or so.
- Tell me about him.
- Where to start?
He has the most beautiful
hands I've ever seen,
I've ever felt,
soft and strong
at the same time.
They got scars too.
And then he's clever.
But for some reason,
it's not enough.
He never thinks
he's good enough.
- Why don't you call him back?
You know, maybe he's
worried. It's late.
- No, I highly doubt it.
- You did good
on your first day.
- Hey, you don't wanna stop now.
Do you?
- You're down for
the count, Toni.
Your head is split open.
Look, it's okay.
There's other days.
- No, no.
I'll put that stupid
head guard on.
I promise.
(fists thudding)
We just starting to
have fun. Come on.
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
All right.
I can pay you for all this,
for your time, I mean.
I can pay you,
- I don't want
your fucking money.
I'll finish cleaning.
You call Darius.
- Why is she still screaming?
You find Buddy yet?
No.
No.
Muddy is the damn turtle, okay?
Check the fridge.
Maybe she thought he was hungry.
You just told me I had talent.
(crowd cheering)
- Rockstar, Payne.
(fists thudding)
Come on. Come on, sweetheart.
(fists thudding)
- Nobody's ever told me that.
(rope creaking)
- Not everyone can see talent.
(rope creaking)
- Darius never said
anything like that.
Never.
(balls thudding)
Always when I'm with him,
he wants me to dress up
and to wear these
stupid girly clothes
and go to these stupid parties
and taking these
stupid pictures.
- He wants to show you off.
- But he hates that
I wanna be a fighter.
He doesn't think it's lady-like.
Then he makes fun
of my German accent,
as if I were some
Heidi Klum fraulein
or stuff like (speaks German).
- What?
- (laughs) This,
- What does (speaks German)
mean?
- This German for shit, fuck.
- Okay.
- Even when we fuck
it's like a competition,
who makes more noise, who
comes harder or longer
and more often.
(grunts) Yeah.
He loves it that way.
(metal music)
- Do that again.
(metal music)
(Elliott huffs)
(metal music)
Gauge the attitude
of your throw.
Then habitude the ball.
Then finally,
release with gratitude.
(fists thudding)
You know what that is?
(Toni grunts)
- That's an uppercut, man.
Your opponent hits the mat cold
if you do it right.
- Mat, round, box,
wherever you throw it,
they're going down.
(ball bouncing)
- I want to try again.
- First call Darius.
Tell him to come pick you up.
I don't want you out
there in the dark alone.
(Toni sighs)
- Can you pick me up if I sent
you address in Bushwick?
Forget it.
I'll crash at a friend's place.
I don't have a dress with me
and it'll take me forever
to get back to the city.
Yeah, I won't make it.
Enjoy.
All right.
Whatever. Bye.
(feet padding)
(chair rustling)
- So?
- He's busy.
- He's not coming
to pick you up?
- No.
He just made plans for tonight
and um doesn't matter.
- I see.
- He's more, more like
a walking algorithm.
He literally read every
book on management
and self-optimization
and he knows every
shitty start up's value,
no matter what
industry they're in.
His old man gave him 10
grand to use the stock market
to get him going
and, a year later,
he made more with this 10 grand
than his old man made
over his lifetime.
- Wow.
- It's crazy, I mean.
- Does he like what he's doing?
- He's obsessed.
I mean, we can't
even watch a movie
without him checking on
the box office returns.
So stupid.
- He knows what he wants
and he's going for it.
That's good as long as you
don't hurt people along the way.
- Yeah.
But he sometimes
barely notices me.
(crowd chattering)
Like I said,
it's just all about money
and appearances with him.
(crowd chattering)
How are you guys?
Thank you.
(crowd chattering)
Mm. That's good.
(classical music)
Party here, cocktail there,
20 karat treats and whatnot.
(classical music)
And even when I try,
I just embarrass him.
(Toni clears throat)
The night before
the soccer game, I,
I don't know why, but I went
out with this guy, Martin.
We, I had way too many drinks
and we kinda made out.
And I didn't know this
asshole took a selfie of us
and posted it online.
The next day,
Darius doesn't say a word.
He just got up, took a shower,
ate my doughnuts I was saving,
and is off for work.
(finger snaps)
- He ate your doughnuts?
Well, now shit. That's
crossing the line.
(Elliott and Toni chuckling)
So, you took it out on Blondie?
- The judge said,
I had no business
in a court room,
that I had no excuse what I did,
that I was childish and just
need to get my act together.
- It must be nice
being privileged.
(Toni sighs)
- Yeah.
That's what he said.
Darius liked that line
and kept repeating it.
"Get your act together, Toni."
- You told him everything?
- Of course, I mean,
he's my boyfriend and,
- Very lucky guy.
(drum beating)
- Listen, I'm not gonna tell
you how great this kid is.
The second he steps
into the ring,
you're gonna see it yourself.
You just gotta hold on tight,
'cause he is going
straight to the top.
Get ready for a
pain in your asses.
- Hey, Mrs. Williams?
(reporters chattering)
- [Reporter] Miss
Williams? Miss Williams?
- Thank you.
- [Reporter] Will you
be ring side this time?
- [Reporter] Isn't a title
fight for Payne way too soon?
(keyboard clicking)
(drum beating)
- Kyle, ain't no
way to drop that.
We had a deal on
three fights, okay?
Count them.
Three.
I got all partners
locked in, straight up.
No, two is absolutely
not an option for me.
Not on my radar.
Your boss call? (scoffs)
Kyle, it's up to you. Whatever.
Tomorrow at 4 PM,
it's drop dead time.
If we don't make it, we are out.
- [Philipp] Miss Williams?
- Yeah?
- You know that no
network is going
to give Harris
three fights, right?
I mean, they trust you,
but Payne?
I mean, I was talking to
everybody, and Kyle was saying
that he's only in for one bout.
- Hm.
- I could put in a
good word for you.
You know, it's no secret
that you have a track record
of not showing up in
your boxer's corner.
Take Akeem's K.O. last
March for example.
So, what's the deal this time?
Do you believe in your fighter?
Can we expect to see you in
Payne's corner on fight night?
(crowd chattering)
(Toni chuckles)
- Philipp, didn't your
mom teach you any manners?
- No.
But she taught me
how to survive.
- It takes courage to
stand up for something.
You never know if you don't try.
- [Philipp] Did
Harris' team screw up?
We still have him ahead
but he hasn't been
landing relevant shots
for the last two rounds.
His left jab isn't even
connecting anymore.
Thribbs obviously smells
blood in the water.
He's taken some hits but how
bad are they?
Can Payne even
muster the strength?
Patience is key in
fights like this.
- You said you'd hit
me when she's asleep.
Is that too much to handle?
You think I'm out here
partying or something?
You know how brutal
this game can be.
So is she good or what?
I just fucking need to know.
Call me once you're in Bushwick
and there will be
no valet parking.
And by the way,
tomorrow we ain't going to
be hitting the gym, okay?
I'm gonna just kick it.
So I can take care of her.
So she can get
better and me too.
That's my priority.
Going to stay in bed all day.
I don't know how this
training thing gonna work
with both of us
feeling this way.
You're gonna figure that out.
(crowd cheering)
(Toni sighs)
Let's do some work.
- All right.
Let me take a look
at that cut first.
I don't want you
bleeding all over my mat.
It looks all right.
You're gonna have a
small scar though.
- Guess my value's gone up.
- Now I'm gonna call this drill.
I'm gonna be looking for your
fundamentals, coordination,
speed, strength, et cetera.
- Please just, just call
me when she's asleep.
(door knocking)
Who is it?
- [Rita] Rita.
(Toni sighs)
- Come in.
- Boss,
(door thuds)
listen up.
The guys think that we
really need you out there,
maybe you can come in for real.
- I ain't gonna do it.
I ain't gonna do it, okay?
I can't fucking bear it.
You already know it's your
damn duty out there, okay?
Besides he's gonna
make it happen anyway.
- I've got four granddaughters.
Theresa, my youngest, is 16.
And she looks up
to you, you know?
'Cause you're my boss.
Yeah.
I talk to her about
you all the time
'cause I tell her how you
don't take shit from nobody,
how you handle everything.
You know? Then she
goes to school.
And she tells her
buddies at school
that her granny's got
this bad ass boss.
And the kids start asking
questions, you know?
They want to know
things about you,
even the guys.
And they say, well,
lady boss? No way.
No way, impossible.
And they wanna know if
you've got a great ass.
And she says, "Well, yeah
she does have a great ass.
She really does.
But more importantly,
she's a genius.
And she's loaded.
That's why she can pay
my granny so good."
And that they better
back the fuck off
when they start talking
shit about her ass.
But she looks up to you
because she wants
to be just like you,
confident and successful
and strong as hell,
just like you.
She would do anything
for you, anything.
There are a lot of Theresa's
out there, you know?
Believe me.
And they're all rooting for him
because they're rooting for you.
They want him to win because
they want you to win.
You're the mirror that
they're looking in.
You're the future that
they're moving towards.
Where was your boss?
That's what she's going
to ask me tomorrow.
Where was your boss?
Well, what the hell am
I going to say to her?
That you, you know, you
just weren't up to it?
That you left him out there
alone because he was doing fine?
That you're actually
weak and selfish?
That you just
didn't feel like it?
I'm not gonna tell her.
You gotta tell her.
You're gonna tell her.
If you don't step up,
I'm gonna bring her ass in
here to your office on Monday
and you're gonna look
her straight in the eye
and tell her why you
didn't have Payne's back
when you should have.
And it's not gonna be easy.
She's tough.
You wanna know why
it's not gonna be easy?
Because she's just like you.
Just like you.
(crowd cheering)
(door thudding)
(bell rings)
- [Elliott] It's time for Muddy.
(blues music)
(gloves tapping)
- Let's go. Move it.
Move it!
(blues music)
Got my mojo working
But it just won't work
on you
(bell ringing)
Got my mojo working
But it just
won't work on you
- Up.
Up.
Get that back straight.
I want to love you so bad
I don't know what to do
- Whoosh, whoosh.
Come on.
I got a whole lot of tricks
- Come on, move it.
Move it.
Keeping her around
- One, two.
One, two.
(fists thudding)
(blues music)
(bell ringing)
(crowd cheering)
(blues music)
No, stop.
- What is it?
- It's awful.
What are you doing?
- You said pull ups.
- A pull up is one fluid move.
Body is straight,
stiff like a board.
Nope, sorry. Legs are not
straight but good try.
- You're gonna get it right.
You're doing great, a rock star.
Keep it up, okay?
It's great.
- Getting into peak fighter
champion shape
(bell ringing)
is going to be hell.
- I know.
But I can do it.
- I have a friend who has
a track and field team
over in Bed-Stuy.
You'd kill in on that team.
- No.
No, I want this.
I mean, hey, I'm
doing this. Okay?
I don't care about
a stupid pull up.
I can do it.
I'm doing this.
(Toni breathing)
- I'm going to be
very honest with you.
- Go ahead.
- Your 'why' for
this sport is not enough
to carry on.
(waves lapping)
(waves lapping continues)
- So, what's the verdict?
Chico?
- Chica.
- I'm sure she gonna be fly.
- And pampered.
So, what's wrong with my boxers?
- Everybody be boxing.
Everybody wanna get out
of their shitty life.
Everybody wanna get rich.
Everybody want nice cars.
Then they be hitting that bag
and hitting it the
exact same way, beating it
like they're
crazy, no technique.
I'm sure they can bench
whatever you want them to bench.
And I'm sure they can run
however you want them to run
but that don't mean
they know what to do
in the ring with no opponent.
Fighting is a art.
It's something you gotta master.
You can't learn that in no gym.
Like me?
I know what my opponent gonna do
before my opponent
know what they gonna do.
And I know how to
get a crowd hyped.
I can make you money.
I can make all of y'all money.
But don't nobody
want to look my way.
- It ain't
nothing to gripe about.
- I know.
Everybody's trying
to get with you.
You the hot shit.
Everybody want to smash you.
You can go out in the stadium,
grab anybody by their nose,
and throw 'em
around the stadium.
What you ain't got
is a performer.
And that's me.
- How you know?
- 'Cause I know how
to make shit pop.
You know it too.
That's exactly why
you ain't snitch on me
when I knocked out
that pussy ass valet.
You told me to get in,
we rode around the city,
you gave me a pep talk
in your shitty ass car
that's probably about
to get towed any minute.
- Thanks.
You hit up Gladys. Feel me?
- 244 Lexington Street.
- Is that your gym's place?
- That's where they're about
to tow your fucking car to.
- I'm gonna learn.
- I'm sorry.
I can't teach what
can't be taught.
- Not the guts, Elliott?
Your first time?
(fists thudding)
- You being a spoiled brat
and not getting what you want,
is that your first time?
- You know what?
You, you are fucking
all the same.
You're fucking all the same!
Darius!
(phone clatters)
(crowd booing)
(candy clattering)
Fuck it!
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(slow jazz music continues)
(candy clinking in dish)
(slow jazz music)
(chalk scraping)
(slow jazz music)
(door thuds)
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(candy crunching)
(slow jazz music)
(slow jazz music continues)
(footsteps tapping)
(Elliott breathing)
(slow jazz music continues)
- Did he call?
(wind whispering)
(Elliott groans)
(footsteps crunching)
(Toni takes drag on cigarette)
- Did you really
never hurt a woman?
(Elliott groans)
- I have.
- Who?
- My mother.
- What?
(Elliott sighs)
- She stole all the money
I made on the corner,
that I saved to take care
of my brother and sister.
She humiliated us.
She was always drinking,
getting high, staggering.
- What happened?
- She promised me
that she would stop
using drugs and drinking
when my younger
brother went to school,
but she lied.
She was beating his
ass day in and day out.
- So, what did you do?
- One day,
she was really fucked up.
And I came in, she
didn't see me coming.
And I stopped her.
- So, you hit her.
- I fucking stopped her.
She called the cops and they
arrested me for assault.
And then she told the cops
about my number on the corner.
- And your brother?
- I was locked up
for five years.
- May I say,
tonight, for me,
(Elliott gulps)
it was, I, you can't imagine
how much I take from it.
And um,
I wanted to thank you.
- Hey,
the night's not over.
(crowd cheering)
We haven't even boxed yet.
(fists thudding)
(hard rock music)
- Horrible habit.
- Why do you do it?
- It helps.
It helps control the
anger and aggression
and makes sadness less so.
- Give me your hands.
Make a fist.
You have to take care of these.
A fighter's life or
death depends on these.
And you only have two of 'em.
You feel me?
Take care of 'em.
(music begins)
- Finally.
- Don't let 'em push.
- All right.
- Okay.
- Always have fun
with it, always fun.
(rock music)
(fist thudding)
(shoes squeaking)
Jab with power.
Yeah, I'm coming.
Yeah (grunts).
Punch through it,
punch through that jab.
Step with the jab,
step with jab.
(fist thudding)
Now stick and move.
Stick and move, on your toes.
(steady music)
(crowd cheering)
- Keep your arms up, baby. Okay?
Stay loose. All right?
Move your feet. Okay?
Okay. He hit you, so what?
We're gonna get him
back in this round.
All right? You hear me?
Hear me? Look in my
eyes, look in my eyes.
Come on. Come on.
Stay with me. Stay with me.
You're gonna get it.
Don't just yes me!
Tell me yes! Come on.
Yes! Yes!
Come on, say it to me.
All right, all right.
- Yeah.
- All right. Okay.
Love you, sweetheart.
All right, you get this.
Okay?
Go get him.
(rock music)
- Four, three,
(fists thudding)
two, one.
Use that leg to twist in.
(Toni shouts)
Yeah.
(fist thudding)
Yes, nice.
(fists thudding)
Double hook, double hook.
Get in close. Get in
close, like you're holding.
Come on. What,
what, get in close.
Watch my shoulder.
You're in close.
(crowd cheering)
I'm gonna hit you with
my shoulder. Watch.
You here, you see it?
- Yeah.
- I can turn my shoulder
into your chin.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Get close, get closer.
You can get in on
him, don't pop out.
Whack, whack.
(fists thudding)
On your toes, on your toes.
Jump and jab.
(fists thudding)
- Come on, buddy.
Come on, sweetie.
- Just move. Dance, move.
He's coming after
you, boom, boom.
He's trying to catch you.
- There you go. There you go.
- Hit, don't be hit.
Every now then, you
hit him with a jab.
Bang, you pop him
when he's coming in,
he's going after you,
think he's slick,
hit him with a jab
and then get out.
- [Rita] Let's go!
(fists thudding)
- 10,
(fists thudding)
nine, eight,
seven, six,
five, four,
three, two,
one.
(fist thuds)
(Toni exhales)
(crowd cheering)
You okay?
(Toni breathing)
Breathe in through the
nose, out through the mouth.
In through the nose.
(Toni exhales)
Yeah, let it go.
That's it. Yeah.
- Damn, this feels good.
- Yeah .
- What you think of
going over to the ring
and do a little bout, just
you and me, two minutes,
just a quick round?
- Good well then, let
me ask you seriously.
Are you okay with
me hitting you?
- I can take it.
Obviously.
(fists thudding)
(Elliott groaning)
(head gear squeaking)
(latch clicking)
- Good?
- I guess I look
like a Teletubby.
- Don't get too excited.
I'm a old man.
(Elliott groans)
- You think so.
- Yeah, I think so.
(Elliott breathing)
(Elliott groaning)
(ropes creaking)
(ominous music)
- Is Darius black?
- He's a man.
They're fucking all the same.
- You think so?
- I think so, yeah.
- Make him feel that.
- All right, all
right, all right.
Come on!
(fists thudding)
(crowd cheering)
- One.
Two.
Three.
- Get up!
- [Referee] Four.
- Hey, get up.
- Five.
- Get up!
- [Referee] Six.
Seven.
Eight.
(Payne groaning)
Nine.
(phone buzzing)
10!
(bell ringing)
(Payne shouting)
(ominous music)
(phone buzzing)
(feet tapping)
- Fuck!
(feet tapping)
(phone buzzing)
(phone buzzing)
- [Darius] Hey, Love.
I'm so sorry for you.
He was pretty good actually.
He did really good.
But hey, she's finally
asleep, so no worries here.
Wait.
You went out there?
Wow.
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(singer vocalizing)
Behind each scar
A story to tell
But the world's too dark
Nothing could change
Nothing could
change the way I
Nothing could change
the way that I am
Oh the way that I am
Each moment a man
must do what he can
For nothing could change
Nothing could change
the way that I
Oh the way that I am
Nothing could change
the way that I am
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
Nothing could change
The way that I am
Nothing
Nothin g
Could change the
way that I am
Nothing could change
the way that I am
Nothing could change the way
The way that I am
Oh nothing could change
The way, the way that I am
(music ends)