Raging Bull Scene 4

INT. PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSE *1947*

[We see an early model, round screen television. Nearby an old radio. On it, Sinatra is finishing the song we heard in the preceding montage.]

[JAKE enters, and turns down the volume on the radio. We see JAKE's living room; it is late forties modern.]

[JOEY and VICKIE are seated around the coffee table, which is near the television. There are some remnants of a snack on the table. JAKE's TWO BOYS are playing nearby.]

JAKE: *to Joey as he turns down the radio* I just weighed myself - I'm 161. o more deals like this Janiro bullshit. I didn't tell you to do it in the first place.

JOEY: Jake, you're the one who said you could get down to 155! What did I do, pull it out of the fuckin' hat?

JAKE *angry*: Well, sometimes you shouldn't listen to me! Now I don't know if I can make it down to 155. I'm having trouble making 160, and without telling me, you sign me for a fight at 155 pounds, and if I don't make 155, I forfeit $15,000! You're supposed to know what you're doin'. You're supposed to be a manager!

JOEY: You want the title shot?

JAKE: Say what you're gonna say.

JOEY: You want the title shot or not?

JAKE: Say what you gotta say. Don't be a smart ass.

JOEY: *yelling* This Janiro's an up-and-coming fighter, this kid you gotta knock out. Knockout this fuckin' kid! I'm telling you, this is your step towards getting a shot at the title. Listen to me: I'm telling you. You been killin' yourself for three years. There's nobody left -- they're afraid to fight you. This Janiro's up-and-coming. He don't know. Fuckin' tear him apart, wipe him out! What are you worried about? Your weight? Look, even if you lose they're gonna think you're weak; they're gonna think you're not the fighter you used to be. They'll match you with guys they were afraid to match you with before, and then you'll kill them and you'll get your title shot. And if you beat this kid Janiro, they gotta give you a shot at the title because there's nobody else. Either way you win and you do it on your own -- just like you want it. All right?

VICKIE: Joey's right. Janiro's up-and coming, he's good looking...

JAKE: *interrupting* What do you mean, "good looking?"

VICKIE: Well, he's popular. A lotta people like Janiro. You beat him and it only figures they'll wanna see you get a title shot. But, what do I know? I should keep my mouth shut, I should...

JAKE: *interrupting* Who asked you?

VICKIE: But, Jake, I was just...

JAKE: *interrupting* Who asked you?

VICKIE: I was just...

JAKE: *interrupting* Who asked you?

[VICKIE, amazed, gets up to leave.]

[JAKE glares at her.]

[VICKIE rounds up the kids and takes them into the kitchen. *Moving Shot*.]

[We see VICKIE in the kitchen angrily throwing things around. We clearly see the tension as she cleans up, muttering to herself.]

JAKE: *turns to Joey* All right, manager. Everybody had their say around here. Now this is what I'm gonna say. I'm gonna get down to 155, and I'm gonna destroy this kid -- get my title shot. And don't ever bet 15 thousand without my sayso again.

[JAKE comes into the kitchen. He tries to make up with VICKIE. She plays hard-to-get. They begin to tease each other.]

CUT TO: INT. COPACABANA LOUNGE - NIGHT *1947*

[A COMEDIAN is in the middle of his act. JAKE, VICKIE, JOEY, and JANET sit at a nearby table. JANET, an attractive blonde, is one of JOEY's girlfriends; the moment you set eyes on her, you know this is not his wife.]

[The lounge is very crowded. The COMEDIAN interrupts his routine to point out that JAKE LAMOTTA is in the audience, and even tries a little harmless joking at JAKE's expense.]

COMEDIAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to point out a special guest we have with us tonight -- The Raging Bull, The Bronx Bull, Mr. JAKE LaMotta.

[There is applause. JAKE smiles, and gives a hesitant wave.]

COMEDIAN: Stand up, Jake, c'mon. Oh, you are standing. Sorry. *laughs* Just kidding, JAKE.

[JAKE waves a fist at the COMEDIAN, good-naturedly playing along with the joke -- even though he hates it.

JAKE: *to JOEY* Look at this abuse I gotta take.

[JOEY, VICKIE, and JANET are amused.]

JAKE: *joking* What's so funny? *lifting his glass* Cheers! Post-time. Joey, Vickie, and... *to Janet* What's your name again, darling?

JANET: Janet.

[JAKE smiles. They all drink.]

[SALVY, a little older, but still young-looking, and dressed even better than when we last saw him *flashy rings, etc.*, comes over to their table. He walks around like he owns the fucking place. JAKE hates it.]

SALVY: Hi, Joey. Jake, how you doin'? Vickie...

[They respond. JAKE is cold towards SALVY.]

[SALVY goes on his way to COMO's table.]

[As SALVY walks away, JAKE turns to VICKIE.[

JAKE: What're you lookin' at? You lookin' at him?

VICKIE: No, I'm not. I'm looking at you.

JAKE: Don't tell me "No." I saw you lookin' at him. Why, you like him?

VICKIE: I'm not interested in him.

JAKE: You're not interested in him?

VICKIE: No, I'm not.

JAKE: In other words, you're not interested in him but you'd be interested in somebody else, right?

VICKIE: Jake, c'mon now. Don't start.

JAKE: *turns to Joey, referring to Salvy* Look at this, all of a sudden everybody's a fuckin' Romeo around here. Did you see the way she was lookin' at him?

JOEY: Nah, she would never...

JAKE: *interrupting* Didn't you just see her lookin' at him? She told me no, but I don't believe her.

JOEY *uncomfortable*: C'mon, JAKE. You know she's crazy about you.

[JAKE gives him a suspicious look. JOEY feels uneasy.]

JAKE: I'd just love to catch her. Oooooh, I'd just love to catch her once.

[Drinks arrive at their table.]

WAITER: These are from Tommy Como.

[JAKE looks up but can't see where COMO is. JOEY gets up.]

JOEY: *to JAKE* Excuse me for a minute. Be right back.

JAKE *sarcastic*: Don't be long. I'm afraid with all these tough guys here.

[JOEY goes to COMO's table in the rear of the lounge. JAKE slides over and watches. JOEY shakes hands with COMO. SALVY is there at COMO's table. JOEY comes right back.]

JOEY: JAKE, come over for a few minutes. Tommy wants to say hello to you. C'mon, just come and say hello.

[JAKE doesn't like the idea, but goes along with it anyway.]

[ANOTHER ANGLE: COMO's table. JAKE comes over.

JAKE: Hi, Tommy. How are you?

TOMMY: Jake, sit down for a minute.

[JAKE sits. SALVY smiles and nods to JAKE. JAKE barely nods back.]

TOMMY : *his arm around JAKE* Fuckin' kid! You're the best fuckin' fighter around. Loved what you did to Satterfield. Them "moulan yans" -- forget about it. They're all afraid to fight you.

JAKE *a little embarrassed*: C'mon, Tommy --

TOMMY: How you feelin'? Ok? You feelin' good?

JAKE: Never felt better.

TOMMY: TONY Janiro's gotta watch out, eh?

JAKE: He should.

TOMMY: *to Salvy* This Janiro's a good fighter, pretty good-lookin' kid.

SALVY: Bet on him three times. Always come through for me.

[JAKE just stares, holding his anger in.]

[There is a pause.]

TOMMY: How's the weight? Ok?

JAKE: Yeah, the weight's Ok.

[Another pause. TOMMY smiles and moves closer to JAKE.]

TOMMY: All right, lemme ask you something. Let's say I was a good friend of yours. And I was telling you I was gonna bet a lot of money on you in this Janiro fight. What would you tell me?

JAKE: I'd tell you to bet a bundle.

[TOMMY sips his drink.]

CUT TO: INT. PELHAM PARKWAY HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

[VICKIE is in bed trying to sleep. JAKE comes out of the bathroom half-dressed, and sits on the edge of the bed *preoccupied*. Silence.]

JAKE: Vickie?... Vickie, you asleep?

VICKIE: What?

JAKE: You asleep?

VICKIE: Yeah.

JAKE: Huh?

VICKIE Yeah, what?

JAKE: Tell me, you think of anybody else when I'm making love to you?

VICKIE: Nobody. I love you, remember?

JAKE: Then why'd you say that thing about Tony Janiro?

VICKIE: What did I say?

JAKE: That he's got a pretty face.

VICKIE: I never noticed his face.

JAKE: You sure you're not thinking of him right now?

VICKIE: Positive.

JAKE: You're the one who said he was good looking. You think he's good looking 'cause I know you think he's good-looking. I'll smash his face inside out. I'll make him into dog meat. Nobody's gonna think he's good-looking when I get through with him. So you just go ahead and think about who you want.

[VICKIE freezes.]