Swing Bout

The one who looks outside, dreams.

The one who looks inside, awakes.

So...

Wakey Wakey motherfucker.

Life is suffering.

Life is pain.

And whether she comes fast or slow,

death is coming for all of us.

The question is,

How did you die?

Did you die a warrior?

With peace in your soul?

Did you stand strong for the weak?

A gift from the gods

and a curse upon evil men?

Did death take you

with courage in your heart

and the truth on your tongue?

And did you stare hell in the face

and wait for that

motherfucker to blink first?

Or are you on your knees?

A slave.

A prisoner in your own life.

Head bowed, eyes to the floor.

Your tongue twisted in a knot in a head

that has no sovereignty

over its own thoughts.

Have you surrendered your

soul for a compliant life?

Are you going to die a pathetic coward?

Or worse, are you numb?

Numb like some fucking worm,

wriggling and in the muck and the

shit of your broken dreams.

Worthtless.

Harmless.

Are we back here at school or what?

Pity your dumb arse didn't stay there.

I'm going to knock whatever brains you got round your thick skull.

I said answer the question.

Don't rise to that one, Mary.

Stay professional.

I've heard it all now.

Oi! You'd want to calm your little girl here before she gets hurt.

Alright, alright. Maybe an apology was sort it.

It was only a bottle of water.

It was my bottle of water.

Jesus Christ, we heard you the first time, like.

And you'd no right to take it.

Alright, I said I thought they were for everyone.

How could they be for everyone and you

saw me carrying them in here?

She didn't actually.

I'm making it my business.

No, and I don't like what you're insinuating.

Careful with the big words or they'll have you on oxygen, ya thick bitch.

Alright, I'm going to burst your nose all over your face if you keep it up.

You stole my water and now you think

you're going to bust my nose.

Oh, so you're calling me a thief?

Did you or did you not

take my water, it's as simple as that

Sorry, I can't hear you all the way down there.

And if I hear anything. You guys will

be the first to know.

So, make sure to like and subscribe and say hello to your future world champion.

Be kind to each other out there. Peace.

You're gunning for my job, hun.

Hi, you. You good?

Looking good, Tracey.

It's Toni.

Uh, Emma. Is this normal?

All of us lumped in here together like this?

We're swing bouts, love. We're lucky we're not getting changed in the car park.

Just try breathing properly.

Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine once I get in the ring.

Of course you will. Come on.

In through the nose.

And long, slow exhale.

Okay, thanks.

Ray, I really need to getting going, man.

Houlihan.

Pretend you're famous, give an interview. Go.

Medics.

We've already done it. See,

look, we're a professional outfit.

Oh, yeah, yeah,

whatever, professional whores.

Very charming. Take a half

a step to your left, please.

Sorry, is this live?

Live, no, neither of us are quite there yet, sweetheart. Okay?

This is Gary Rohan for Neutral Corner, and

I'm here at the Road Redemption,

the Chopper Shea versus Mike Perez card.

I'm backstage with Mary Malicious Houlihan.

How are you, Mary Malicious?

Buzzing, man. Really hoping to show my

bad intentions out there tonight, like so.

You're one of the swing bouts on tonight's card, right?

Yeah, that's right. That's right. Yeah.

And we've been training real hard and we're ready. Yeah.

Yeah, for sure. You're one of the swing bouts.

Basically, if early knockouts cause a gap in the TV schedule,

then you guys and girls are ready to

fight at a moment's notice

and plug that gap, right?

Yeah, that's right.

I'll fight any woman or

man right here this minute.

Yeah, so that means that you're in your

ring gear from the beginning of the night

and you might need to wait until midnight

before you can get in the ring.

Yeah, that's right.

And as often as the case, you might not

even get into the ring and fight.

Yeah, but we still get paid, though.

Flann's ready - Thank you.

You're not going to find yourself picking flowers on your hill walk.

Finding yourself - your true self - is a descent into the deepest corners of the underworld.

And the only way back home is to face

your demons when you get there.

Face the truth. Your truth.

Your past. Your hidden desires.

Your hidden shame. Your dark side.

And you can never be an instrument of the

light until you go toe to toe

and make peace with that motherfucker.

Any update, Emma?

They're saying she's a broken wrist.

So the fight's off, I take it.

Well, that fight's off.

But Jack's working on it. He's looking

for a substitute for us.

Yeah, Emma, I can't get home

unless I get paid, you know?

Look, we're fighting until they say

otherwise, so just stay focused, OK?

Yeah, but I paid my way out of here, so

is he going to cover it

if they don't find anybody?

I'll insist on it, love.

Do you space in your car in case I need to lift back?

Stop worrying.

Think my mum's coming in?

Here?

Yeah, apparently.

OK.

Gimme your best boxing face.

Yeah.

Cheers, Flann.

Gary Rohan from Neutral Corner,

I'm here with Flann the Man.

Our viewers are very excited at the

possibility of a Flann vs. Chopper fight night.

But before you answer, your thoughts on

tonight's under card, Henry vs. Tierney.

Yeah, well the most dangerous thing for Henry

is to fall into a false comfortable in there.

Because Tierney, he carries power in both of them hands.

And really it just takes, you know, a little...

Jack! Just one second, Gary. Jack!

Flann, my man. Did you get a new tattoo.

Nice suit, bro. What's the story with you?

I'm up to me neck in it, man.

Listen, I need to talk to you guys.

Oh, look, it's not a good time, man.

I've been getting the heave-ho for weeks.

Oh, trust me, Flann, I'm on your side, man.

Two training camps have fallen through.

Yeah, look, Micko's put a stronghold on things until after tonight.

You promised me Chopper, Jack.

Yeah, are you working tonight?

Yeah, just a bit of punditry.

Nice. Who you jibber jabbering for?

Neutral Corner.

Gary Rohan?

Yeah, he's up and coming.

YouTube's where it's at.

Are you guys making the Chopper fight or what?

Look, man, can't you see I'm busy?

You promised me the fight.

And Micko's working on things.

Right, well I need to talk to Micko then.

Trust me, you do not want to talk to Micko tonight.

Yeah, I do.

Will you just leave it with me until

I've been phoning for weeks.

Jack, you promised me Chopper.

You see, his stock is way up here.

And yours is way down here.

I won my last fight.

Well, a lot of people

including Micko think you lost.

You promised me that fight, Jack.

And I'll talk to Micko.

I'll talk to Micko.

Don't say I didn't warn you.