Fighting Spirit (2000) s01e53 Episode Script

1
ORIGINAL WORK BY GEORGE MORIKAWA
HAJIME NO IPPO: THE FIGHTING!
NAKADAI BOXING GYM
Oh, we've been waiting.
It's been a long time since you wore that.
Running with this on
dramatically decreases my oxygen intake,
making my heart work harder
which increases stamina.
Makunouchi is like
a stamina monster, you see.
I have your lightweight
and junior welter as you ordered.
Thanks.
They're two classes higher than you.
Maybe you should put on headgear.
Or maybe you won't.
Mr. Date sure is in good condition.
Yeah. Although he's far
from how he was six years ago.
Far?
Rankers from two classes up
can't get near him.
You can't win against time.
He's 29 years old.
He's one of the oldest active fighters.
He's starting to go into decline.
Decline?
Recently, however, he's starting to look
exactly like his old self
from six years ago.
He seriously means to regain
his peak condition.
And if he did regain it?
Well, if that should happen
Though he is the enemy, I will pity him.
I'll pity Makunouchi.
SO THAT I CAN BE MYSELF
KAMOGAWA BOXING GYM
Looks like you got your engine going.
Not really. I'm just hitting at random.
Oh, yeah! Can I go to your place today?
Huh?
I have video of him
after his comeback at home.
Date-san retired once
six years ago, right?
You wanna see the match where
the old guy takes on the world and loses?
Yes.
OTA INN
I'm sorry to be a nuisance.
Your match is coming up soon, too.
Doesn't bother me.
I believe it was in the winter.
Winter? That would mean
it's the December or January edition.
Oh, Date-san's in this one.
JAPAN FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE
MATCH EIJI DATE TAKES TITLE AT SIX ROUNDS
It's from when he first got
the Japan title.
He's so young.
He doesn't have the mustache or the scar.
This is it!
EIJI DATE FALLS IN MEXICO
This can't be.
How could someone like Date-san
TWO ROUNDS ONE MINUTE 12 SECONDS BY TKO
lose by TKO in just two rounds?
You could say he was unlucky to face
such a tough opponent.
But the world champ is a monster
who has no losses
in consecutive defense matches.
However, I highly doubt the old guy
found the champ
that much of a challenge back then.
With the title "Unmatched in Asia,"
he cheerfully took on Mexico.
But ultimately, he only stood in the ring
for a little over four minutes,
covered in blood to boot.
I'm sure it came as a huge shock to him.
For about four years, boxer Eiji Date
went nowhere near a boxing ring.
Has any of this been helpful?
Uh, no. I was a little shocked.
To me, Date-san is the one who looks
like a monster, so I can't believe
he was KO'd in two rounds.
Well, you're lucky.
If he'd made a quick comeback
six years ago,
he might still be wearing the world belt.
He had the ability and talent to do it.
You're suggesting he's in decline?
He is already 29, you know.
You can't win against time.
Is that true?
That's exactly why it scares me.
So, how will you fight him?
Date-san didn't have any weak points
I could see,
and it's useless to plan something
against him.
But this title match
against Date-san was my goal,
so I plan to use
everything I've learned so far.
Because I am the challenger.
NAKADAI BOXING GYM
Brr, it's cold.
Hey, are you still here?
I'm gonna close the gym soon.
Oh, right.
It sure is chilly this year.
It's hard to sweat,
so I'm sure it's difficult for you
to lose weight.
We left Japan in mid-winter,
but when we got there, it was mid-summer.
Mexico, huh?
It's impossible not to remember it
at this time of year.
I don't want to remember it.
But once it gets cold, it starts to sting.
It makes the scar on my nose sting,
and it always forces me to remember.
To remember the day I lost everything.
SIX YEARS AGO
So, how's the mask working for you?
It's tough going!
But the air is so thin in Mexico,
I have to bully my heart a little.
Hey, come to think of it,
is there a phone near here?
Not again. You just called her
a little while ago.
Can't you get into your training
without hearing the voice
of your beloved wife?
Oh, shut up. She's susceptible
to illness enough as it is.
Now there's our unborn baby as well,
so of course it bothers me.
It's hard to make a living
on the title of Japan champion alone.
She's happy to work hard
despite coming from a rich family.
Yeah, I really put her through hardships.
Aiko-san believes in you, you know.
If you take the World title,
you'll be able to make her life easier.
You'll be able to embrace
your child with pride, too.
Yeah, with pride.
It wasn't a blessed marriage,
but now everyone will approve of us.
Once I get the World title,
her parents will approve, too.
I swear I'll become
the champion of the world!
AZTECA STADIUM, MEXICO CITY
This is huge!
Everyone around us is the enemy.
I wish you'd calm down, boss.
Huh?
You're getting swallowed up by the mood.
Why, you
You're acting completely normal
for your first World title match.
When it was time to leave Japan,
I made a call to Aiko.
I was sure she'd tell me to win,
no matter what,
but all she said was to come home safely,
no matter the outcome.
I'll bring it back if it kills me.
That belt!
I'm sure your broken nose will knit,
but that might leave a scar.
Still, that was an incredible uppercut.
Cheer up! You're still young.
You can climb your way up again.
A chance will come your way again!
It ended before he could do anything.
It's the worst way to lose, shock-wise.
Aiko
I'm dying to see Aiko.
Yeah, that's it.
Get her to cheer you up.
You're starting over!
ISHIKAWA PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL
She got anemic from overwork.
She fell down the stairs and landed badly.
Fortunately, we saved the mother,
but the child was lost.
Why didn't you contact me?
She firmly requested
that you not be notified.
Date
WENT NOWHERE NEAR A BOXING RING
PROFESSIONAL BOXER EIJI DATE AFTER THA
THREE YEARS LATER
-Daddy!
-Yuji!
Are you still up?
He tried his best to stay awake
until Daddy got home.
You bad kid.
I'll make an exception
and read you a picture book.
-Whew, he's finally asleep.
-Good work.
Aiko, it looks like the promotion
is a sure thing.
It's the speediest promotion
in the history of the company.
I guess a desk job has its perks, huh?
What is it? Aren't you happy for me?
No, I am happy. Congratulations, sweetie.
Yeah.
Yeah
HAJIME NO IPPO: THE FIGHTING!
It's that dream again!
I'm wearing the World Championship belt
and holding up a child
in the ring for all to see.
It isn't Yuji.
It's the child that was never born.
Oh?
That's unusual. You rarely drink.
Yeah. I couldn't sleep.
Would you like one?
This takes me back.
Back when you were actively boxing
and had a win,
we used to share a little drink together
just like this.
Yeah.
It was a lot of fun back then.
How about now?
I'm happy.
You've started to smile more
than you did before.
Oh, really?
-See you later!
-See you later!
Right!
I'm happy.
It's okay. This is good enough.
DIXON'S
Eiji-kun, the promotion's gone through.
They could even announce it
as soon as tomorrow.
Thank you so much.
I owe you for everything, Brother-in-Law.
I was nervous at first.
I didn't know if a guy
who made a living getting into fights
could make it as a pencil pusher.
But you really worked hard.
Your reputation at work is great,
and above all, I'm sure Aiko is thrilled.
Yeah.
It sounds impressive
to say you're a boxer,
but it might not be enough to live on.
You have a family to support,
so you have to cover your bases.
Yes
-What's wrong?
-Nothing. I think I'm a little drunk.
Everything is going well since I retired.
The days that go by are peaceful
But
Welcome home!
-You're home late.
-Give me water!
-What's wrong?
-I'm throwing them out.
Throwing them out? But why?
Those are irreplaceable mementoes.
I no longer need them.
I don't need them anymore!
No! Don't throw them away!
Aiko?
Even if you don't need them, I do.
They're precious memories to me.
That's why we don't need them!
I'm always here with you.
Always with me?
That's right.
You told me yourself that you're happy!
-Sweetie, haven't you realized?
-What?
You haven't come back home
since you went to Mexico three years ago.
You got a new job,
and you worked incredibly hard for us.
Yuji was born and we had nothing
but peace and happiness.
But
You aren't here!
The mass of confidence and energy
that was Eiji Date
went to Mexico that day
and hasn't come back!
Aiko
Do you want it to be like this forever?
As the years go by,
society will forget that you were a boxer.
But you can't forget!
You'll live your life pretending
to have given up on your dream.
I'm okay with it!
Will Yuji have to grow up not knowing
what his real father is like?
What his real father is like?
If it's possible,
I would like you to show him.
Show myself and Yuji
and the child who was never born.
Twenty six years old.
I might barely make it in time.
You idiot! What are you saying?
I have no excuse.
Thank you for everything, Brother-in-Law.
Eiji-kun! What does Aiko say about it?
Eiji-kun?
JAPANESE JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
TEN ROUNDS
He had great ability,
but when he lost, he quit just like that.
Isn't there anybody out there
with backbone?
Is that you, Date?
Boss
I'm gonna need your help again.
My help again?
So that I can be myself.
I'm making a comeback!
He reclaims the Japan title!
After the second match since his comeback,
the great Eiji Date is back!
THE PRESEN
That boy is really strong.
You can tell?
Well, yes, after having to watch him
every night.
He's 19, isn't he? He's young.
He has power.
It could get messy if he uses force.
We got a phone call
from the Chief the other day.
He said to consider training camp.
Yeah, I plan to turn it down.
He says that strength will be key
in this match,
and that it's difficult to be sure
with gym work alone.
It's all right.
Does it bother you to leave us home alone?
It's not like it was back then.
Yuji is growing up healthy,
and there's nothing wrong
with my health either.
Still
Go on, Sweetie.
When you come back,
nothing will be missing ever again.
CHAMPION CARNIVAL FEBRUARY
CHAMPION MAMORU TAKAMURA
VS. ATSUSHI TAMAKI
-You sure about that?
-Beats me.
Champion, you're over the limit.
That's ridiculous!
He was losing weight steadily
at training camp!
You don't sweat in winter.
Takamura-kun controlled
it to the point of overload, but
The re-weigh is three hours
from now, right?
It's only another 200 grams.
I'm okay by myself.
200 grams is a piece of cake.
A piece of cake? That's a lie.
It's not winter,
but it's straining Takamura-san
to keep his weight in middleweight
when he's originally a heavyweight.
Hey, Ippo. Have you ever thought
the ranking method was silly?
Just look at it.
You're first rank,
but a champion is still above you.
If you're in first,
it's weird not to be Number One.
Do you know why?
I never stopped to think about it.
Being the champion means that
you're the king just as the name suggests.
You're special!
No matter how bad his condition is
when he gets into the ring,
the champ has a God-given power
to keep it together.
Watch my match with your eyes peeled.
I'll show you the power of a champ!
Right!
The king is special?
Takamura-san?
You passed the weigh-in
by the skin of your teeth.
When you do your warm-up, make it relaxed.
Conserve your strength.
Champion, it's time.
-Let's go, Takamura!
-Right on!
Takamura-san!
I came here to offer my encouragement.
Even the powerful Takamura
is going to find it a tough match.
Please he'll be fine.
I know Takamura-san can do it.
He said that champions
have a special power.
Special power
Then he'll win, for sure!
Those are the words of a man who
understands what it means to be champion.
Tonight, Takamura's punches will be heavy,
and he will not fall, no matter what.
And that also holds true for you and I.
Your fists are light.
You'll need to do better to defeat me.
What?
My fists are light?
Overweight.
To go over the weight limits
of a certain weight class.
To pass the re-weigh,
you must lose the extra weight
over a ridiculously short period of time.
Defense fight in an incomplete condition.
Situation is overwhelmingly against him,
but Takamura-san will win!
After all, he said
that a champion has a special power!
Next time, "Fists of the Champ."