... The club itself resembles a large unemptied trash-can.
The boxing ring is extra small to insure constant battle.
The lights overhead have barely enough wattage to see who is
fighting.

In the ring are two heavyweights, one white the other black.
The white fighter is ROCKY BALBOA. He is thirty years old.
His face is scarred and thick around the nose... His black
hair shines and hangs in his eyes. Rocky fights in a
plodding, machine-like style. The BLACK FIGHTER dances and
bangs combinations into Rocky’s face with great accuracy.
But the punches do not even cause Rocky to blink... He grins
at his opponent and keeps grinding ahead.

The people at ringside sit on folding chairs and clamor for
blood... They lean out of their seats and heckle the fighters.
In the thick smoke they resemble spectres. Everyone is
hustling bets... The action is even heavier in the balcony.
A housewife yells for somebody to cover a two dollar bet.

The BELL RINGS and the fighters return to their corner...
Somebody heaves a beer can into the ring.

The Black Fighter spits something red in a bucket and sneers
across the ring at Rocky.

BLACK FIGHTER
(to cornerman)
... I’m gonna bust his head
wide open!

In Rocky’s corner he is being assisted by a shriveled,
balding CORNERMAN, who is an employee of the club... He
works on Rocky without any enthusiasm.

CORNERMAN
(lackluster)
... Ya waltzin’ -- Give the
suckers some action.

ROCKY
Hey --

CORNERMAN
(overriding)
Ya movin’ like a bum -- Want
some advice --

ROCKY
... Just gimme the water.

2.

A FIGHT FAN rushes up to Rocky... He is sixty-five, with
yellow teeth and wearing sunglasses.

FAN
Should I bet the fight don’t
go the distance -- Ya feel
strong?

ROCKY
Absolutely.

CORNERMAN
... Ya want some good advice?

ROCKY
... I just want the mouthpiece.

The BELL RINGS... Rocky makes the sign of the cross. The
fighters engage in battle. The other fighter grabs Rocky in
a clinch and purposely butts him... The butt opens a bleeding
cut on the corner of Rocky’s eye.

Rocky becomes furious over the foul and drives a flurry into
the man’s body... Rocky slams the man on the jaw and the
fighter is out for the night. The fans throw rubbish into
the ring. Rocky ignores it.

The fans loudly go about collecting bets. The referee does
not bother to even count the fighter out and drags him under
the ropes where he is placed on a stretcher. Two new
fighters enter the ring. Rocky slips on a tattered robe.
Embroidered clumsily on the back is, "The Italian Stallion."

ANNOUNCER
Winner, Rocky Balboa -- Next a
six rounder between local
lightweights.

Without pomp Rocky climbs out