The Harder They Fall

I'm coming, Danny.

We're late, George.

Everybody's here but Eddie.

You tell him seven o'clock sharp?

I told him, but he didn't seem too anxious.

I'm not sure he's right for us.

We need a top writer, don't we? Now, where we gonna find one?

Press agents are a dime a dozen.

I don't want a press agent.

I want an established sports writer.

- You understand? - He's a has-been.

- He doesn't have a column anymore. - That's all right.

He still meets the big columnists on their own level,

and the boys like him and they believe what he tells 'em.

What makes you think he'll work for you?

Because I think he's ready, that's what makes me think so.

Now, you understand?

You understand?

Fine.

I see you've cleaned the place up a little

- since I was here last. - Eddie, I'm glad you could make it.

Why so early in the morning? What are you hiding, Nick?

Well, when I find a good thing, I like to keep it quiet.

Understand?

Who is it this time?

Vince, see what he's doin'.

Eddie, you're a big talent.

You're a real, real big talent.

I used to read your column every day in the newspaper,

and then, when the newspaper folded, I missed it.

Yeah, well, let's skip the build-up.

Get down to the main event.

All righty. I got a position I want you to fill.

Now, it's not the usual press agent's routine.

It's an importantjob that calls for an important man,

it pays important money, and I think you're important.

- Interested? - Well, I didn't come here to work out.

All righty. Now, look, the fa...

- George, what's he doin'? - Gettin' ready, mr benko.

- Well, tell him to hurry it up. - Yes, sir.

Okay. Eddie, the fight game in this country is fallin' apart.

The boys are all gettin' too smart.

They all wanna go to college, they wanna become doctors,

they wanna become lawyers, they don't wanna fight for a iivin'.

So, I sent a couple of the boys abroad to find me some new material.

I think they come up with a winner.

He just got off the boat this morning. The guy's name is, er...

Toro moreno.

Toro moreno? I never heard of him.

I told you he's new, didn't I?

Oh, mr agrandi?

Mr agrandi, this is mr Willis, a very famous sports writer,

who's gonna make toro famous.

- Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, sefior. - Likewise.

I don't think we should keep mr Willis waiting, do you?

No, no, sefior benko.

All right.

That spic, he's toro's manager.

I had to bring him from Argentina because toro's lost without him.

What does this deal pay?

Why don't you stay and take look at him first?

If the money's not right, why waste our time?

All righty, two-fifty a week.

No, no, no. You'll have to up it.

All right, so you'll have an open-end expense account.

Now, Leo here, he's the bookkeeper.

Writes the cheques, charges it off to business,

and, for you, it's tax-free.

All right, I'll take a look at him.

I really can pick 'em, can't I?

Let's say you have a special gift

for picking the right people for the rightjob.

How long have I been after you? Was it eight years?

How many times did you turn me down? Ten or twenty times.

Now, did I get discouraged? No, sir.

No, sir. You wait around long enough,

and, sooner or later, everything falls right in your lap.

Like rotten apples, huh?

All right, Danny, let's see what he can do.

Danny: George!

Feel him out, George. Make him move around,

but don't let anything go till I tell ya.

Okay, you get it like you want it, mr mckeogh.

- (Speaking Spanish) - (Bell ringing)

[Vale!

Con la izquierda, toro. [Con la izquierda!

[Con la izquierda!

Otra vez! Otra vez! Otra vez, toro! Otra vez!

All right, agrandi! All right! Sit down and shut up!

Get down. Get down.

Let's see if he can punch.

Let him belt you one, George.

Okay.

He can't hit. He's a stiff, musclebound.

Now, let's see if he can take it.

Open up a little, George.

Once in the belly.

In the kidneys.

On the button, George.

Okay.

Powder-puff punch and a glass jaw.

That's a great combination.

Sefior benko, it's just like I told you.

Toro is an amateur.

- He's strong as a bull. - All right, take him to the shower.

- Take him to the shower. - You'll see how soon...

All right! You, too! You take a shower, too.

Go on, move it. Go on.

All right, Vince, frank, take a walk.

Look, Eddie, there's a million bucks locked up in toro.

Now, how do we crack the combination?

You'll never get this one off the ground.

What do you think I've got you here for?

Because I need a solid contact with the working press.

I need somebody who's not too big, not too small,

an in-between guy, and that's you, Willis.

A few minutes ago, you told me I was a big talent.

And you and I, we're plain-talkin' people. Let's not pull each other.

- It's a waste of time. This guy... - Did I ask you?

Then shut up. All right, Willis, your round.

Well, you put him in the ring with even a mediocre heavyweight,

- he'll get his brains beat out. - This guy is a giant!

Do you mean to tell me you can't drum up copy on him?

- Oh, I can get him space. - Look, he is a natural, Eddie.

A natural! Sure, I can get a million bums that can box,

but toro's got it in him to fill a stadium.

Leo, tell him, why are we in this business?

- To make a buck. - You hear that?

Well, that's the only reason I'm here,

but what happens to the kid in his first fight?

That's Max's department.

You're gonna hire a tank artist to take a dive.

Right.

Well, you've got the wrong man for the job.

- Leo: Just what I told you... - Shut up! He's old enough

to talk for himself, isn't he?

Listen to me, Willis. You've got your sights all screwed up.

The fight game today is like show business.

There's no real fighters anymore. They're all actors.

The best showman becomes the champ.

Now, you wouldn't hesitate to publicise an actor, would you?

Well, you argue pretty good, and I like the money,

but what happens to a clumsy kid like toro

when he has to fight a guy you can't fix?

You think I'm gonna let my investment get hurt, do you?

- Tell him, Leo. - No-one gets hurt.

Okay, now...

Well, come on, come on, come on, Eddie.

Come up with somethin'.

Well, come on, give me an idea.

Don't fight it, Eddie!

Whaddaya tryin' to do, hold onto your self-respect?

Did your self-respect help you hold your job?

Did your self-respect give you a new column?

Eddie, if you help me, I'll help you.

Well, you'll never kick him off in this town.

The boys'd never swallow it.

All right, then where do we kick him off?

California. They like freak attractions out there.

Fine, fine. All right, Leo,

you get the tickets ready by tomorrow morning.

Deal?

Nick, you've been trying to get me for eight years.

All right, you got me. It's a deal.

Eddie...

You make me just a little nervous.

How come I got you so easy?

Ah, your timing just happened to be perfect.

For seventeen years, I wrote a newspaper column.

Never missed a deadline, never saved a dime.

Suddenly, I find myself out in the street, running again.

You mean to tell me a good newspaperman like you

can't get a job elsewhere?

Well, a newspaperjob only pays a living.

I want a bank account.

A man past his forties shouldn't have to run anymore.

Eddie: Line up plenty of press conferences, commercial tie-ins

with hat and shirt manufacturers,

personal appearances on TV and radio,

- all you can grab off. - Hi.

- Who are you talking to? - It's art leavitt in Los Angeles.

- Hello, art! - That was Beth.

Art says, "say hello."

Yeah, well, this boy's great, art.

He's ready for a crack at the title right now.

I want to build him up fast.

Well, of course I'm excited. I got something to be excited about.

Yeah, well, I'll see you tomorrow night in la, for dinner.

And thanks. Thanks a lot, art.

What's this "I'll see you in la"? You leaving town?

I'm back in business. Public relations.

- Which firm are you going with? - Been iookin' all over for you.

- We're takin' off tonight. - I said I'd go tomorrow.

Nick says we go tonight. We couldn't get tickets for tomorrow.

- Do you mind? - Who's the broad, Eddie?

- The, er... broad is my wife. - What's the matter with you?

All right, we've wasted enough time lookin' for you, Eddie.

Nick says you go when we go.

You're the press agent, the front.

I can get a plane out tomorrow. I haven't packed yet.