Raging Bull Scene 8

CUT TO: EXT. BRIGGS STADIUM - NIGHT (JUNE 16, 1949)

[Bright floodlights illuminate the arena. The weather's clear and the stadium is filled with cheering fight FANS.]

[An ANNOUNCER steps into the center of the ring and begins to introduce the many CELEBRITIES that have gathered for the fight.]

ANNOUNCER: And here is the young man who has inherited Marcel Cerdan's European championship - Laurent Dauthuille.

[DAUTHUILLE jumps into the ring.]

[While WE HEAR him introduce the boxers and celebrities, we see a rapid Montage: JAKE preparing for the title bout:
Pre-Fight Montage
A) JAKE and GROUP arrive in the dressing room.
B) In his bathrobe, JAKE puts on his boxing shoes.
C) We see a pan with raw steak in it. JOEY drains the blood (juice) into a glass and JAKE takes a long, slow swallow.
D) Reprise of images from previous scene (slow motion) - new angle. TOMMY COMO shakes JAKE's hand in the bathroom doorway. VICKIE kisses COMO. JAKE watches.]

ANNOUNCER (V.O.): And our very special guest tonight needs no introduction. The only man to defend the heavyweight crown a remarkable twenty-five times, the king of all heavyweights, the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis. Come into the ring, Joe.

JOE LOUIS (V.O.): Thank you, Johnny. Let's bring the middleweight crown back to the old U.S.A. where it belongs.

[Many cheers.]

[E) DR. PINTO injects a hypodermic needle filled with novocaine into each of JAKE's fists.
F) JOEY massages JAKE's neck.
G) JAKE's hands are bandaged
H) Reprise of images from previous scene (slow motion - new angle) JAKE strangles VICKIE in the bedroom, then releases her. JOEY looks after her, but the IMAGE makes them look as if they're making love. JAKE watches.]

ANNOUNCER: And in this corner, the middleweight champion of the world, from Casablanca, Morocco, the Casablanca Clouter, Marcel Cerdan!

[I) JAKE puts on his cup and trunks.
J) MARIO laces up JAKE's gloves.
K) JAKE, ready to fight, a towel draped around his head, bounces on the balls of his feet. He starts walking down the corridor from his dressing room, surrounded by MARIO, JOEY, DR. PINTO and his HANDLERS. He enters the stadium.]

CUT TO: INT. BRIGGS STADIUM - NIGHT

[JAKE, wearing his leopard-skin robe, is pushed through the CROWD by JOEY, MARIO and his HANDLERS. He's still shadow boxing.]

[JAKE steps into the ring to both cheers and boos (many still remember the Fox fight). JAKE raises his gloves.]

ANNOUNCER: And in the opposite corner, from New York, New York, the challenger, the Bronx Bull, Jake LaMotta!

[JAKE shakes hands with the assembled CELEBRITIES and EX CHAMPIONS.]

JAKE: I only wish it was you, Joe.

JOE LOUIS: Win the belt back for us, Jake. Good luck.

[JAKE glances at VICKIE who is sitting in the third row. She is nervous.]

[TIME CUT: The opening bell sounds. CERDAN and LAMOTTA touch gloves and begin to fight.]

[JAKE is hot: there's no stopping him tonight. He fights like a man possessed.]

[CERDAN clinches JAKE to avoid his brutal body blows. JAKE pushes him out of the clinch in disgust.]

[There are no more boos. JAKE has won over the crowd.]

[TIME CUT: END OF ROUND NINE. JAKE is working over a bloody CERDAN. Punches to the body, then to the head, then back to the body. The bell sounds.]

[JAKE walks back to his corner and sits down. JOEY is ecstatic:]

JOEY: Look at him, Jackie! You got at! The fuckin' championship! He's yours! Finish him off.

[JAKE doesn't have the chance. The REFEREE, standing in CERDAN's corner, waves his hands signaling the end of the fight.]

[The REFEREE holds up JAKE's hands as THE ANNOUNCER takes the mike:]

ANNOUNCER: The new middleweight champion of the world by a knockout after nine rounds, the Bronx Bull, JAKE LaMotta!

[JOEY is all over him. TONY helps VICKIE through the MOB.]

[In his corner, CERDAN holds his head in his hands and says, "My title, my title!"]

[The OFFICIALS clear a circle as they bring over the jewel studded championship belt. JOE LOUIS fastens the belt around JAKE's waist.]

[JAKE touches the oversized belt with his bloody gloves. Tears fall across JAKE's huge grin as he holds his hands high in the air. It is the most glorious night in his life.]