Queen of the Ring

One,

two,

three,

four-- off the ropes!

-(WOMAN GRUNTS) -(CLAMORING)

Come on, Mom, get up.

Millie! Millie! -(GRUNTS)

-Millie! -Millie!

-Millie! -Millie!

Millie!

-(GRUNTS) Millie!

Can she continue?

Give us a goddamn second.

I'll give you 60, then I'm calling it.

Millie! Millie!

-Millie! -Millie!

Hey. Mom, Mom, look at me.

Look at me right here. Okay?

Remember when I was little, what would you say to me?

It's all in your head. Okay?

-It's all in your head. -It's not in my head, Joe.

It feels like death!

Okay, just shut up and look at me, Mom!

-I can't. Shut up, Mom!

-I can't! I can't! -Mom!

I'ma give you three seconds to feel sorry for yourself.

Three seconds, you hear me, Mom?

Grab onto me. Okay?

Just count with me, okay?

One.

-One. Two.

Two.

The name's Millie.

You're probably wonderin' why that all seems so serious

when pro wrestlin' is just scripted, isn't it?

It wasn't always like that.

It wasn't always legal, either.

In fact, it was very illegal for two women

to get in the ring together all over America.

But I always loved bein' feminine and bein' tough.

They wanted us to believe we couldn't be both,

that muscles weren't allowed on pretty girls,

and mothers had no business tryin' to be athletes,

especially single mothers.

For me... -Hi, Millie.

...that meant slingin' hash browns

in my single mother's diner.

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Hey, Ma.

Yeah, baby.

How long's Marlene been workin' here?

I don't know. Decades.

What's her sister do?

Uh, work shelves at the five-and-dime.

Do you know any career women, Ma?

What's the matter, baby?

You don't wanna be a waitress no more?

I love you, Mama, but...

I put a lot of charm into this place.

We lucky we got jobs.

I know.

Oh, who do you think you are, huh?

Eleanor Roosevelt? -(CHUCKLES)

Amelia Earhart?

They'll know me by my full name.

Here we are with another respectable matchup

on the mid-card of the day!

For those of you just joining us,

it's Billy the Wolfe...

Oh, so who you rooting for?

Oh, I don't know.

They really seem to hate this Billy Wolfe guy.

-Really seem to hate who? -Billy Wolfe.

He filled up most of these seats.

People pay to see the bad guy?

Dependin' on talent, yeah.

Sometimes a heel will draw most of the money.

A heel?

A heel is what we call a bad guy in this wrestling world.

All right, well, what do you call the good guys?

Faces.

Like, baby faces.

Come on, kid.

Who calls them baby faces?

I swear, ma'am.

It's on account of their good looks.

All right, well, what do you think

about this baby face in the ring?

He's a wet sock.

Oh, he ain't so bad.

Oh! Oh!

Each have already scored one fall in this bout,

but we'll need a third to decide our winner.

-(GRUNTS) -(THUD)

Neither of these men are a stranger

to the squared circle.

Both are still in a healthy quest to one day

end up on a headlining position.

For now, each hope to make an impression

on this Kansas crowd.

Hey!

That's a three count!

Wake up, Ref!

George tryin' to get the ref back into this.

Come on, Ref.

Oh! And how about that?

What a dirty maneuver by the Wolfe!

Is he in on it?

That is what we call shameless but successful, folks.

Your winner, by way of pinfall

Billy the Wolfe!

The main event's in 15 minutes.

You want popcorn?

You pond scum!

Yoo-hoo, Millie.

You want popcorn or not?

I tell you what, Mom.

This is my destiny.

Baby girl, destiny?

I'll get you some caramel corn.

(SHOPKEEPER'S BELL CHIMES AND DOOR SHUTS IN BACKGROUND)

Damn, take a gander at those pegs, Junior.

Hope you get a good look.

Hmm?

Hey, um, sorry.

Mm-hmm.

Um, we-- we had just remarked to one another

that you have beautiful legs.

We really hope you can forgive us.

Hey.

Yeah.

Heads up, Pop.

Sir, I want you to know I'm-- I'm a big fan.

Don't-- don't worry, I'm not gonna blow your cover here.

-I-- -Thank you, sweetheart.

Garden-style, grilled chicken, no oil, fresh tomato,

raw onion.

-Mm-hmm. -Dressin' on the side.

My son G. Bill here will have the same.

Right, Junior?

Sure.

Coming right up.

So, Mr. Wolfe, I do have one question.

Two waters.

You know what?

We'll take two iced teas as well,

but no sugar.

Okay.

Two waters, two iced teas, got it.

Can I help you with somethin', toots?

I was wonderin'...

What-- what's it take for you to train me how to wrestle?

You?

Mm-hmm.

Well, you--

You ain't no bigger than a pint of piss.

What the hell makes you think you can wrestle?

I wanna do it more than anythin' in the world.

I've been to the matches. I know--

You'd get busted to bits.

You hear that?

This silly little string bean, slingin' hash browns,

wants to be taking bumps in the ring.

I promise you, my son,

our lives together will be special.

Never ordinary.

That chili's gotta cook for a full two hours every time.

I know.

Yesterday you didn't.