CƠN CUỒNG NỘ
Mr. Brickner...
you are here for your initial appearance before the parole board.
You entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter in the second degree.
The court imposed a term of seven years... four and a half of which you've served.
- Is that correct? - Yes, sir. It's correct.
This involves an incident occurring in February of 2002.
You were responsible for taking the life of one Matthew Reynolds.
Is that correct? Yes, sir. It's correct.
- Coming through. - Are you sorry for your crime?
There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about the man.
Not the crime. The man.
The state can flip a switch and kill a man.
You can use a gun from a hundred feet away.
Or you can poison a man dead and never look him in his eyes.
To take a human life with your own two hands...
is the most soul-crushing thing a man can do.
It changes you in a way I can't really explain.
Why don't you try?
You don't just take away a man's life, you carry it with you.
It's yours forever.
Every action. Every movement. And every thought.
It's not something you can shake.
Not the best of you anyway.
I see. So, tell me... if released, how will you spend your time on the outside?
What are your plans?
Become a productive member of society. Get a job.
But first off, I've gotta get right with this situation.
Don't have a choice.
Just gotta get right.
I've read your file.
You've been a model inmate, and I think
you're a reasonable candidate for parole.
Congratulations, Mr. Brickner.
It is my strong hope that you make good with the rest of your life on the outside.
Best of luck to you.
Go up to eight and talk to Mike, all right?
Brickner. Brickner.
It's 10 bucks an hour. I don't ask questions, and I always pay cash, all right?
Take that load up to 18. And, convict...
Don't even think about fuckin' with me. You hear me?
"My sister came from school". Hey, pretty one. Anyone ever tell you that your ass is a wonderland?
Hands off, okay? Ooh. What's wrong? Ride closed for renovations?
You couldn't afford the price of admission.
- You okay? - Yeah. He touches me again...
Hey. Bar girl. Let's go.
Here go. - Look out.
God. Why don't you just bring that sweet heater right here?
Hey! I told you not to fucking touch me!
You want to apologize to the lady?
I'm sorry.
What? You want a job?
- Brickner.
You got a problem, convict?
So, how's it been goin'?
Well, I got a job. I got 2 jobs, actually. Good.
Yeah. You'd think. Uh, 80 hours a week. It's killing me.
Good job. I'll see you next week.
Come on, guys.
Hey! Come on. Settle down.
- Hey, baby. - Is that him?
- Yeah. - Settle down.
So, what do you think?
I think we'll see.
Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.
See you tomorrow night.
Hey. I, uh, saw what, uh... what you did there. These. It's great. It's fantastic.
You should call me. I think you and I could make some money.
Think we could make some real money.
Thanks.
Hey, suit yourself.
John.
John Brickner.
So I guess you got my letters.
I mean, I never really knew, 'cause I never heard back from you.
Yeah, John. Got your letters.
Now the reason I wrote the parole board.
I told them they should release you...
that you were sorry and that you wanted to set things right. But make no mistake.
If it wasn't for you, my husband would still be alive.
And if it wasn't for me, you'd still be behind bars.
- Thank you. - Don't.
I didn't do it outta the goodness of my heart.
I have another selfish reason. My daughter Sarah is eight years old...
and she probably won't make it to nine because she needs a heart transplant.
I've written letters to every major donor organization in the country...
and only one of them will even consider her case.
And I have yet to hear back from them.
I'm truly sorry.
I don't want your sympathy, John.
I didn't get you out of prison... so that you could move building supplies around all day.
You are gonna save my baby's life. How?
You're gonna get her that operation.
It costs 250,000 dollars, and that is money I don't have.
Veronica, I'm on parole. I don't have that kinda...
You know what? I'm not interested in what you got. I'm only interested in what you can get.
And I am not asking you, John.
There you go.
Can't be that bad, can it?
You know, I've decided it's time to count our blessings.
My ass is a wonderland.
There you go.
Hey. Can I ask you a question?
That guy that offered me the job the other night... you know him?
Yeah. Reno.
Know where I can find him?
Call.
Oh, you gotta be shittin' me, Ferris.
All you got's that raggedy-ass pair of tens?
- Send it.
- Ace-high flush. Bring it here.
You know what? I'm out.
Good game, boys.
- Looking for me?
Ừ.
He wanted to talk to you.
Were you serious about that job?
So, what is it?
Come on. I'll show ya.
Hey, man.
This fighter's name is Timmons.
He represents the holy grail of underground fighting.
His manager is this guy named Sharp. He's a friend of mine.
No, thanks.
What?
- What? You afraid of that guy?
- Not interested.
The guy's a lumberjack, for Christ sakes, on basic cable.
You telling me you're scared of a lumberjack?
Look. You know how much money... you could make beating that guy down there?
Not enough.
Under the right management... Frankie, tell him how much.
Six figures, easy. One fight.
Six. Six figures. One fight.
And all I gotta do is whip that guy down there?
Well, you gotta earn that fight.
Good bye.
Look. I know you're on parole.
It can't be easy. Being an ex-con.
Okay, what you know about me could fit in the crack of my ass.
I'd just as soon keep it that way.
Listen. I'm sorry about your situation.
I really am. I just don't see how I can help.
Really?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Nothing you can do, huh?
Well, then...
how the hell do you explain these, huh?
'Cause you're singing a different tune than you sang in prison, John.
You know what?
Why don't you get the fuck outta here.
The sight of you makes me wanna puke.
Mommy?
Go to bed, dear. Did I wake you?
I heard yelling.
Well, it's okay. There's nothing to worry about. Go back to bed.
This is John. He's a friend.
This is Boomer.
It's a good name.
He's my friend.
I bet he's a good friend too.
He snores.
Bed.
Let me see what I can do.
Look. You lend money. I need a loan.
Dewey, I'm telling ya. I can feel this one. I can feel it.
Come on. He's prime.
You set me up on this, I'm gonna double your investment.
Come on. If this guy is as good as you say, what the hell do I need you for?
I mean, Reno, you are a piece of shit liability.
Look around here, the shelves are lined with your busted dreams.
The only reason I still got 'em is 'cause nobody else wants 'em. Huh?
You're wrong, Dewey. You're dead wrong.
Listen to me, Reno. Your instincts are for shit,
if they were any good in the first place, you wouldn't have had to come to me for help, you would've known better.
I hear that you're into Veltz for a piece.
Look. He's just clearing his throat, all right?
Look. I'm telling you. This guy... This guy is a lock.
Bullshit. I'll tell you what is a lock. Those Cartier cufflinks I like so much...
You bring them to me, I'll make you a good price, young man.
You soulless degenerate.
- Can I help you folks? - I'm looking for something like...
Brickner!
I told you to clean up the scrap pile down there an hour ago.
What is the holdup?
I've been working the saw like you told me to.
Jesus, you ex-cons
are all exactly the same.
Do you hear anything I say to you?
I tell you what. Grab your shit, and get out of here.
You're fired. Do you hear that? Fuck off
You're fired!
Are you okay?
Somebody call 911!
Don't die on me, you son of a bitch. Don't die.
Come on!
You saved his life, you know?
You can thank those giant mitts of yours.
Cracked seven of his ribs too.
- Good job. Good job. - That-a-boy. Come on.
Get him!
Come on, big fella.
You got one more to go.
Dixon wins. Next fight, Dixon versus Wolfie.
Stop moving, okay?
All right. Good news is you won. - The bad news is you got one more to go.
- Yeah.
- We got five. Five minutes. - I-I don't feel so hot, man.
Hey. I can't talk right now, Hoss.
Hey, Reno. We got a fight or what?
Look. He's gonna be ready, okay? Don't worry about it.
You've got five minutes.
That's fine. You heard that? Five. - Five. - We got 5 minutes.
- Oh. - Okay. You're all set.
- All right. You ready? - Good as new, okay?
Stand up. Hands up. Hands in the air. Let's go.
Ready?
You got time for me now?
Boss.
Somebody want to explain the damn rules?
Put it this way. If you lose, they don't pay you.
Got it.
- Look. You want my advice?
- Yeah. Why not?
Expect anything. It's not a fight to the death...
but some guys... they don't know when they're quit.
What's this shit here?
- Where's what's his name? - Yeah, we got a sub.
You got a forfeit. That's what you got.
Deak, come on. My guy took a nap on me, all right?
Don't worry about it. You're gonna get your cut.
Fine. It's okay with you, Wolfie?
- All right. Good enough. - The fuck it is.
I'm his manager, and it ain't all right with me.
Colin Powell, come on.
- I would do the same for you. - Don't you owe me money?
- Look, Trini... - Look, gentlemen, gentlemen.
Do we have a scrap here, or not? 'Cause otherwise...
- I want my fuckin' money, man. - Trini, you're gonna get your money...
as soon as my guy kicks your guy's ass, okay? So just...
Listen.
I'll give your guy 3-to-2. Now we both know that's generous.
Yeah. Generous.
- Let's get it on. - All right.
Alright. What do I need to know about this guy?
Not if you bite back, okay?
So, just, uh, do whatever you gotta do to get yourself ready, okay?
Do some jumping jacks or something, okay? Alright.
Wolfie, you know the rules. I'm assuming that you don't.
The fight goes until one man surrenders or is unable to continue.
Blood flow is not a reason to stop the fight, if you stop, you forfeit.
A fighter cannot start the fight with a weapon in hand... but found weapons are legal.
Did you say found weapons?
Well, with the exception of firearms, of course.
- Any questions? - No.
All right, fight starts when you hear the horn.
You bite me, chief, we ain't gonna be friends after.
Come on, man in black!
Come on. Get up, John. You can't win on your back.
Come on, goddamn it. Get up.
- Come on! - Come on!
- All right. Good job. Good job. Come on. - That-a-boy. Come on.
Come on! Get up, homey!
Now we're goin'. Now we're goin'. Break it down on him.
Break it down on him.
Come on, man! Finish him!
- All right. Good job. Come on. - That-a-boy. Come on.
All right, John! You got this. Nice!
- He's good. - Oh, yeah. I told you.
That's my boy, John!
Hey. Where did you learn that finishing move?
What finishing move?
This. I'm gonna call it the Bone Crusher.
Let's take a look at you. Come on.
I can't believe that son of a bitch bit me.
All right. How's the head?
- Is it okay? - Mm-hmm.
- Blurry vision? - No.
No?
Let's see that arm of yours.
I'm gonna need to disinfect that.
Hey, man. Did I win?
Did you win?
That's funny.
Yeah. You won, man.
I did, right?
Caught him with that big right hand.
I thought I did.
- Hell of a dustup. - Hey. What the fuck are you doin'?
You can't just give this tired-ass motherfucker half your split.
Ain't you forgettin' something, Reno?
Come on.
- Thanks, man. - Yeah.
You know, I think what Reno was trying to say...
is you gotta give action to get it.
- Yeah, I got you. Purse money? - Yeah.
Better to have your own than to borrow.
Appreciate it.
Hey, big man.
It is time to celebrate.
I'll go for that.
- You keeping out of trouble? - Yes, sir.
What else?
I got fired from my job.
Really?
Yeah. It's a long story, and, uh... I'm already looking for another one, so don't worry.
Do I look worried to you?
You piss clean. Good. Now get outta here.
What are you doing in my room?
Are you afraid I'm gonna steal something?
Hey, Frankie.
How much money you got, John?
Keeping the money in the old vent trick.
How much money you think you got there, John?
Well, if you give me a second, I'll count it.
- 22 hundred and 17 dollars. - 2,200 and change.
You'd have had double that had you not given that wannabe half your split.
Are you still whining about that?
Let me explain how this works.
Now, we put up the purse money. It's usually winner take all.
Then the side betting... the Deacon... he sets the odds.
Now, to get that Timmons fight...
we gotta go through his guy Sharp, and believe me... to do that, we're gonna need money.
Now, you wanna make some scratch? You wanna make some real scratch?
Yeah, I know. We gotta give action to get action.
Amen, brother.
Pack your shit, John. You're comin' to live with us.
You can drop that off at the house. Then we're gonna go see the Deacon.
He's always in a good mood first thing in the mornin'.
- I'm gonna pass. - What do you mean you're gonna pass?
- We got the money. - Not enough, you don't.
You know, people saw that little show your boy here put on.
They're gonna wanna know there's decent money to be made if they win.
Look. John here... he's a good fighter.
Now, we all stand to make money on him, including you.
Short-term, maybe. But long-term, not so much.
With all due respect, Deak, what are you, 110 years old?
Now what is long-term to you realistically?
You got balls. I respect that.
But you need to get your goddamn ears fixed, 'cause I said no.
- Ah... - Reno.
Step outside for a minute, and let me talk to the Deacon.
Yeah. Uh, let's... let's go outside and give them a chance to talk, huh?
Look. You seem like a nice kid...
but you're an unknown variable in this game.
People aren't gonna want to dance with you for little money... 'cause they know, even if they win, they're gonna take a beating.
So what you're offering... it's just not worth it to them.
Well, if it's just about the money, then...
Money's a problem. It's just not the biggest problem.
You're on parole, ain't ya?
You can lie to me if you want, but I can see it in your eyes.
Okay. I'm on parole. So what?
Are you a religious man?
More or less.
Have you ever heard the parable of the unforgiving slave...
- like in the Bible? - No.
Well, in the parable of the unforgiving slave...
the kingdom of God is likened to a king... who is trying to settle accounts with his slaves.
You know, who does that old son of a bitch think he is?
It's not like he needs the money, goddamn tight-ass.
He's just protecting his position. It's nothing personal.
He said he'll set the fights when we get the money.
Look. It's not about that, man. It's about respect.
You know? It's about me getting respect. Man, I've set up over a million fights with this asshole.
Hey. How many times have I told you not to light up in my car, Frankie?
I don't know. How many did I listen?
Let me tell you something about this town, John.
The rain... it does weird shit to people.
All that gray. It's fuckin' depressing. I'm beginning to see that.
You know what lies beneath all that self-pity and hopelessness?
- What's that?
- Rage, John. Fuckin' rage.
People are motivated by rage and anger.
They spend their lives eatin' shit. It builds up.
They try to deny it exists. It turns into cancer and migraines and ulcers and...
a bunch of shit like that.
- What the hell's that got to do with me? - You wanna win, right?
Huh? You wanna win? You're gonna have to tap into that. Tap into it.
I mean, you're good, John. You're... You're good.
But you're too fuckin' nice.
Look, all that time you spent in the clink...
don't tell me you ain't pissed off.
I'd be pissed off. I'd want to take me a fuckin' hostage.
Nobody likes what they got, John. Everybody wants what they haven't got. And you're just like everybody else, John... no matter what you're telling yourself at night to go to sleep.
Now, we need money.
So we "gots" to improvise.
Reno.
Reno, wait. No.
Don't go in there.
- No. - Big picture, Frankie. Big picture.
I'll give you five grand for 'em.
- Five grand? - Are you out of your fuckin' mind?
Those are my daddy's cufflinks.
You're killing me here.
All right. Fine.
You're gettin' a good price here, young man. But if I was you... I wouldn't let Veltz know that you sold 'em.
'Cause he might take an interest.
Well, he's not gonna find out, is he?
'Cause you're not gonna sell 'em on me, right?
I doubt anybody would make my price.
Tell me something, Hoss. You ever heard of a dog match?
Big picture, Frankie. Big picture.
Yeah! Give it to him!
They don't let the dogs go, do they?
Nah. That would be dangerous.
Looks like we're just in time.
You know what? You guys hang here for a second.
I think it might have ended badly the last time I was here.
What the hell's that supposed to mean? I got it under control. I'm the manager, right?
Trust me?
Ask you a question?
What?
What am I doing with a guy like Reno?
What did he pawn back there?
Just, uh, something special to him.
Look. He saved my life, okay? I owe him.
Nestor. You know what they say.
- You lay down with dogs... - Reno.
I heard you paid off Trini. Then you must be here to give me my fucking money.
Do I owe you money? Yayo. Jamie. Kill this motherfucker.
Hold on a minute. Come on. Nestor, come on.
We're friends. We're old friends. We can work it out.
Too late for that. You're a piece of shit, and everybody knows it.
There's a long line of people out there you owe money to.
And I bet you every single one of them... is waiting to see you get what's coming to you.
- That's not true, Nestor. People love me.
- My dogs will love you.
Hold up. What's he owe you?
- What's it to you?
- I'll fight for him.
What?
You let me fight for him. I win, you let him go free and clear.
I lose, he's lunch.
What kind of bullshit deal is that?
Well, if I lose, then I'll also cover his debt.
Let him go. So, what about a side bet?
You ask for a lot, amigo. I should kill that motherfucker...
and now you want to bet?
How much?
2,000.
That's all? Forget it. - Go get... - 10,000.
Show me the cash.
Here.
Ten minutes. Be ready.
- Come on, John. - Back! Let's go!
Get up, John.
Look at those triceps. They're made out of Jell-O.
Come on, John. You got him. He's nothing! He's nothing! He couldn't fight sleep.
- Let's go! - He's fat.
He's just a big fat-ass fatty.
I'll bet his mama's got a glandular problem.
I'm gonna get him a treadmill for Christmas. Come on.
She call you Biscuit? Big, old, fat meat loaf biscuit!
Fuck you, fat-ass fatty. What? I bet Lean Pockets couldn't help this guy.
Oh! That-a-boy, John! Find the rage! Find the rage! Right now! That-a-boy!
Seventeen grand. It's go time.
We talk to the Deacon, see if we can't get started right away. Now, you good with that, big man? Huh?
Who's Veronica?
Thanks for coming.
She was okay for most for the day. Just tired.
Then she collapsed.
I'm working on something.
Is there some kind of way we can give them a down payment?
Well, at least they admitted her.
Yeah. Well, this is a county hospital. They don't have a choice.
How are you holding up?
Don't waste your energy on me, John.
You know what you gotta do.
You're flying blind, aren't you?
Yeah. What's that supposed to mean?
Veltz. You still owe him money.
Jesus Christ, Frankie. I just got Nestor and Trini off my ass.
Can I get a moment's peace?
You know what? John isn't like those other meatheads.
Last time I checked, John Brickner could take care of himself.
He's just not another walking cash machine.
What, do you like him?
Oh, you do, huh?
- You like him. - Shut up.
What? Has he got that, uh... that hope quality you like?
He just seems like one of the good ones, okay?
- One of the good ones? - Yeah.
Let me tell you something about John Brickner.
He just spent four years in prison. You know what for?
Hey. I'm serious, Frankie. You know why? I don't care.
He choked a man to death with his own two hands.
He looked him in the eye...
and he strangled the life out of him.
Does that sound like a good guy to you?
Look. We need him.
You trust me? You trust me?
Okay.
- Hey, look, John. About last night... - Hey. Forget about it.
I really don't wanna forget about it. I wanna talk about it.
I said forget about it, didn't I?
- All right. - Hey, John.
Good luck.
Come on. Wrap this up...
- and let's go home. Let's go. - Come on, John. Let's go.
You gotta get him off your neck, John!
Get him off your neck! You see that? That's my guy!
That's my guy!
54,000. It's good.
But it's not good enough.
We're gonna need at least a hundred grand... to even start a conversation with Timmons's guy Sharp.
Okay. Good as new. Hold on a second. Ho... Hold on a second. What? No, but that...
John, I, um... I wanted to apologize for the other night.
- It's tomorrow night. - Don't worry about it.
I'm serious.
Just noise.
What am I supposed to do?
When I was inside, I did my best to control my environment.
One thing you can't control is the noise.
Prisons are loud, noisy places.
After a while, you learn to just tune it out.
Sorry.
That sounds horrible.
Goddamn it.
The herd is thinning.
No one wants to fight him.
Nah, they just don't want their kneecaps stomped.
Don't you worry, big man. It's a good thing.
All right. They're just, uh... They're just scared of you.
I am, uh... I'm gonna go make a few phone calls, okay?
who in their right mind would want to get into a scrape with you?
How'd you get involved with that rascal, the Deacon?
I keep asking myself the same question.
Oh, Deacon's all right.
He's just like everyone else... on the run from one thing or another...
lookin' for somethin' to believe in.
Friends of yours?
Not likely.
- Hey, Frankie.
- Hey, John.
How's the patient?
Touch and go for a while there, but I think we're okay.
It's, uh... It's called the buried suture.
- Sounds like fun. - Yeah.
It's supposed to close in dead space. I thought it might be useful in the future.
Where's Reno at?
He, uh... He's probably at Trips.
So, how you doin', hmm?
I'm all right.
Hey. Let me ask you a question.
How come you never went to nursing school or became an E.M.T. or something?
And what makes you think I didn't?
What? I'm gonna look after people for a living?
Guess I can understand when you put it like that.
Healthy people... they take enough.
Sick people take a lot more.
This is shit. Deal me somethin'. Anything. Jesus Christ.
Time to take a walk.
Yeah. I like exercise. You know, I'm just right in the middle of a card game.
Mr. Veltz wants his 150 grand, Reno.
It was all fine when you were making payments, but now you're late.
Way late.
You know what I told him? I said, "He doesn't have any money. Why don't you just let me kill him?
That way, we don't have to go through the hassle of trying to collect".
Mr. Veltz believes that you can be motivated.
He said we should hurt the girl instead of you.
After all, she's the one that owed the money before you took on the debt.
- I swear to God, you fucking touch her... - You swear what?
You don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.
Okay? You have one week.
I'm gonna need more time than that.
After that, we start negotiations with your girl's fingers.
Look. I'm gonna need more time than that.
I'm gonna need more... I'm gonna need more time than that.
- What are we doin' back here, Reno? - Made a few calls, John.
- Pulled a favor or two. - You happy now?
- We're all gonna die at sea. - Come on, Deak.
I thought a salty old pirate like you would love this place.
- What? - What the hell do you think you're doing?
Why are we doing business with Nestor again?
How else do you think I'm gonna pay back Veltz?
We gotta go where the money is.
Keep your mouth shut. Keep your mouth shut.
What are the steroid freaks doing here?
John's fighting Yayo. I thought you said we didn't want their kinda action.
We don't want their kinda action, John, we need it.
All right?
Now look. You're gonna have to get really ugly with this guy.
You're gonna have to look for his weakness and exploit it.
Now, I've known Nestor and Yayo for years. You wouldn't know it to look at it, but Yayo has a weak jaw.
And if he walks into one, he's gonna go down, and he's gonna stay there, okay?
You'll find out.
That's one tough chico Mexican. Let's go. Come on.
Brickner versus Yayo.
Brickner coming off at 5-to-1. Yayo at 3-to-2.
Just so we're clear, gentlemen...
drowning is the same as a forfeit.
- Stop it! - I can't stop it!
Hey, John, how about finding a little rage? Let's find some rage, John.
That-a-boy, John! Find the rage!
And to think Frankie here wanted me to stop the fight.
Don't you worry, John. I wouldn't let her. 'Cause I... believe... in you.
Cheers. Let's do a little toast to John Brickner.
Cheers.
Look, John. Sharp's pushing for a bigger purse.
He's holding all the cards. What do you expect me to do?
Hey, I don't ask you guys about what you're into.
It's none of my business. But if there's some other agenda here...
Hello?
What? Where are you?
Reno, start the car.
John, what's this all about?
I mean, I know it's none of my business. I just...
She's the, uh, wife of the man that I... She wrote a letter to the parole board. She got me... She got me out.
That was nice of her.
Nah, she had a reason.
Her daughter needs a heart transplant.
The letter from the apartment.
She wants me to pay for the operation.
Obviously, that costs money... big money.
John...
Hey, don't make me out to be some kind of hero.
This is bad enough.
Where's Reno at?
He, uh... He doesn't do this kind of thing.
Yeah, I noticed.
He kinda froze up back there.
Don't be too hard on him, okay?
This isn't his first trip down this road.
Please don't say anything.
- I saw the letter.
No, I... I don't understand.
Goddamn, I'm doing everything I can.
You don't get to check out. You don't get to just give up.
Don't you get it?
My heart is a match. They could have given her my heart.
Not like this.
I can do this.
Can you just trust me?
Check back with you later.
Dewey, my favorite handicap!
Come on, baby. I'm here to see my babies. Bust 'em out.
Just a visit, mind you, but I'll be back to take full custody soon enough.
- Reno, uh, I got an offer. - You got a what? On the cufflinks. I got an offer.
You sold them?
You motherfucker.
You motherfucker! I told you not to sell them.
Oh, come off it. How was I supposed to know you were gonna come back for 'em?
You sold them, huh?
I got an offer... a big one. Cash. I took it.
- What? - Who'd you sell 'em to?
Now, look. You know I can't give out that kind of information.
- Even if I did, he paid cash. - Hey, who'd you sell them to?
Was it Sharp?
Was it Nestor?
Was it Nestor? Was he in here?
That's low-down. That's some real scumbag shit.
Yeah, well, you might be right.
I mean, who in their right mind would sell something...
with such sentimental and intrinsic value?
Fuck you!
I'll fuckin' show you. I'll show you.
How's she doing?
She's alive.
That's good.
It's a tough thing, you know?
Look, John. I know you got a lot on your plate right now...
but... we gotta stay focused. - We got momentum.
- Do we have to talk about this right now?
- Well, you tell me. - What's that supposed to mean?
Donor heart operations don't come cheap.
You need for me to find fights... the moneymaking kind.
Forgive me if that's what I do best.
Reno.
Look, Nestor called.
Jamie's looking for a revenge match.
Do you want me to set it up or not?
Set it up.
So, how's it going?
It goes.
Great. Anything else I should know?
Sure.
I spent the last few weeks beating other men into submission for money.
It's takin' a piece of me every day... but I figure if I squash the feelings down hard enough...
I might just have enough saved up for a complete mental breakdown...
you know, for when I retire.
Good. You piss clean. I'll see you next week.
Touch my breasts, and I'll kick your teeth in.
Looks like a lot more than we agreed on.
It's $150,000.
Bullshit. We ain't prepared to go that high.
Oh, I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't think you could put a price on family honor.
In that case, Jamie, how much is it for you to take it up the ass, trick-style?
Hey, fuck you. Papi, I can get the extra money. I can whip this fool!
All right. Enough of this bullshit!
You both got a hard-on for each other. You wanted the fight.
I set the fight. So stop cryin'.
Fine. Fine.
Let's go.
Whoa! Fellas!
Where is it? Today's your lucky day. I got your money.
Well, I... I don't have it yet, but I will...
Hey, man, hold on a second! Look, I swear, okay?
Look, I put all my money on the fight.
Now, my guy, he's a lock. He hasn't lost a fight yet, okay?
So just hang tight. You're gonna get your money, plus interest. Honestly.
You had better not be yanking my chain...
or this is gonna get very ugly.
- Where the hell have you been? - It's, uh...
Hello, Frankie. Still beautiful, I see.
- We'll be waiting. - Yeah.
I'm gonna need you to take the car, and I want you to get outta here, okay?
- Now? - Now.
Yeah, right now, okay?
Just trust me. Trust me.
- What's going on here?
- Nothing.
What? There's nothing going on.
- You're lying. - I'm not lying.
- What's going on?
- Nothing, man.
What's goin' on with Frankie?
She just, uh... She just needed some air.
- You're sure? - Nothing's going on with Frankie, man.
Are you ready for some real ball-busting?
You know it's to the death, right? Oh, yeah? Says who?
My brother was weak! Not like me! You'll be beggin' me to stop!
Not likely.
I'm done. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second.
What are you doing? What do you mean you're done?
You can't be done. That's a forfeit.
John, he... John! John!
- It's okay. - Nothing's okay. Everything's fucked!
Frankie, come quick!
Shit. Reno.
- You owe how much money to this guy?
- About $150,000.
Jesus Christ. Why didn't you say something?
What the hell happened?
It's not important.
You know what? It is important.
Reno, you can't... You can't keep protecting me, okay?
It was my debt. I... It was me.
Reno was just trying to help.
Hell of a taxi service you got there.
Straight to the point. I like that.
Well, you've gone to a lot of trouble to bring me here, so what's this all about?
I can tell from our little chat so far, you don't have the first clue who I am.
It would appear, however, that you know my son-in-law.
I believe you saved his life.
Who? Sullivan?
My people tell me that he had a massive heart attack...
and you stepped in and brought him back to life.
- Did I forget anything? - Yeah, just the part...
about him being a giant pain in my ass.
Ah, well, that's true. He is a giant pain in the ass.
Of course, he married my daughter, and she loves him, so...
- That's real nice. - Bottom line is, uh...
it would appear that I'm in your debt.
So, tell me...
What can I do for you? You name it.
I don't know. I'm not sure you can help me at all.
Okay. Well, here goes.
- A heart transplant operation? - Yeah.
It's about 250,000 on the low end of things.
But if I get my half of the purse money of this big fight and I win,
I'll have enough. So what I'm really saying is I need 150,000.
Yeah, I know. Right? It's crazy.
- But I had to ask. - It's a lot to ask.
You can make side bets on the fight. In my last fight...
Oh, I heard about your last fight.
You did?
So you know how it went down.
You make the side bet, you can make your money back and then some.
Munson!
- You saw this man fight, right? - Yes, sir.
Wait a minute.
- Your name is Veltz? - That's right. Of Veltz Construction.
Reno Paulsaint... He owes you money?
He owes me a considerable amount of money...
money that he would've been able to pay me back...
- So you know I'm his fighter then? - I didn't. Not at first.
But yes.
I didn't think it mattered. These matters are completely separate in my mind.
Well, not in mine.
- What are you saying?
- Reno is a friend of mine. That's nonsense.
Oh, I see
. Quite a dilemma.
Tell you what, Mr. Brickner. I, uh... I always pay my debts.
I owe you a favor. I'm going to hold up my end of the bargain.
Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And hold on.
I'm not gonna solve both your problems.
It's only fair. Leave it to you to decide.
Either I'll forgive Reno his debts, or I'll stake you in your fight for the...
for the little girl's heart.
What happens to Reno if he doesn't pay?
Clear his tab.
You're sure?
Yeah.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Are you sure?
Yeah.
Do you know I was voted Least Likely to Succeed in high school?
I didn't know they voted on that.
Well, it wasn't in the yearbook, if that's what you mean.
But I remember thinking, "You know what? I'm gonna... I'm gonna show them". I couldn't wait to get out there and make my mark in the world. A lot of years went by, and nothing happened.
I went to college. That was a bust. And then I got pregnant. I know this is gonna sound really stupid.
She was... my only real accomplishment.
All those dreams that I had... You know, it didn't really matter anymore.
I just... I was okay with that.
Then I got married.
Turns out, to a real grade-A loser.
Oh, don't get me wrong. The man loved me.
He really did.
I know that you didn't intend to kill him.
I know it was self-defense.
I know that.
We're not the bad things that we do. We're not the good things either.
We just are.
Thank you.
Oh, well. Come on in and have a seat.
- Sit down. - I need to ask you something.
Me?
Yeah, the story about the slave.
What story?
The unforgiving slave.
Aw, that's not a story, kid. That's a parable.
All right. Well, why'd you tell me that story?
I mean it. I can't stop thinking about it.
You're on parole, aren't ya?
You got that hinky look. Anybody ever tell you that?
- Yeah, you told me that.
- I did? Yeah.
I'm a little confused here.
Need some help.
I'm trying to get enough money for a heart operation for this little girl.
It just seems that...
every time I get close... that heart seems to come at the price of somebody else.
Everybody's got debt, kid. Not just you.
Some people give till it hurts.
What's the play here?
I don't know, kid. I... I ain't your priest.
Maybe you should ask somebody else.
God is weary of reproofs.
The awesome clouds are...
are but the chariot wheels and pawing hooves...
of heaven's cavalry...
unleashed in all their fiendish might. Who watches?
What of the night?
- So... - Do you mind?
What's that? You mind lookin' me in the eyes when you talk to me?
That's better. Now, you were sayin'?
I can't stay here.
Time to move on.
I got the call, John.
I don't know what I can do or say to thank you.
You've been a great friend to me. I mean, we're friends, right? We're friends?
Yeah, we're friends.
I mean, I know I haven't really been the best example...
you know, of a... of a friend. What was I supposed to do, sign your death warrant?
You know, um...
I don't know if you know this about me, but... I'm selfish.
I don't really have a lot of friends. You know, fuck it, man. I don't have any friends.
Honestly. Frankie maybe.
And only reason she's hanging out with me is... out of some sick obligation.
That's not true.
You know, when I was laying there bleeding after the fight...
I was thinking about Frankie and me. She thinks I saved her life.
But the truth is, man... she saved mine.
And I know the best thing for me to do is to let her go.
But I'm just... I'm just too afraid.
She loves you.
What are you afraid of?
You know, I've been thinking a lot about all this...
my time in prison... this little girl that needs a heart so badly.
All this time, I'm doing all this to try...
to get them to forgive me for what I did.
The truth is, I need to forgive myself.
The truth is, I haven't.
I don't know that I ever will.
But everything else is just background noise.
Yeah.
Reno, it's the Deacon.
Uh, just tell him I'll call him back.
It's about the Timmons fight.
Frankie, there is no Timmons fight. Not according to him.
Hello?
You leaving? Yeah, that was the plan.
- Thank you. - Thank you.
It's just a relief, you know?
When Reno took on my debt, he gave me my life back.
Now you're doing the same for him.
Did he, um... Did he tell you how it happened?
- It's not important. - No.
I gotta say it out loud.
You're a big reason I'm able to.
I, uh... I belonged to Veltz. It wasn't a relationship. It was a business agreement.
I was young, I was... I was desperate, and I needed the money.
He needed a place to put his dissatisfaction with life.
After a while, I... I went numb.
Reno and Veltz had business back then... and when he saw me, he knew what was up.
You know? He convinced Veltz to sell me to him.
He wanted to free me.
Meanwhile, I, um... You know... I had reached my limit and I tried to end it.
By the time that Veltz delivered me to Reno, I was... covered in blood and half dead.
But Reno still paid him.
And he never asked for anything in return.
Hey, uh... the Deacon... said that the Timmons fight is scheduled for tomorrow night...
that some guy just put up the money for you to fight.
- What guy? - Well, he didn't say.
How much will they take? I don't know the answer to that question, John, but it's a start.
So, we're in?
What do you think?
Come on. One time for old times' sake?
Are we in? Is it on like Donkey Kong? Come on!
Come on, Big John Brickner!
Your fans.
Come on, John. Get in there. Whoo! That's what I'm talking about. Yeah, lights out.
Ladies and gentlemen, tonight...
is a fight for the ages!
A once-in-a-lifetime brawl.
For this, there are no rounds.
And no bells to save ya. Just what the good Lord gave ya.
- Yeah! - Fighters... toe the chalk.
Start the fight when I give the signal!
Come on, John!
Come on, man!
- Come on, John! - You gotta move, John!
- There's my man right there! - John, put your hands up!
- Yeah! - John, you gotta go at him!
You can't win outside of the ring, John. You gotta take it to him!
Take it to him. Take it to him. What?
- Move, John! Move! - Come on!
Come on! Yeah!
Come on, John!
- Get up, John! - Come on.
You can do this, buddy. Get up! Get up!
- That's what I'm talking about. - Get up! Get up!
Come on now. This is your fight!
- Come on. Get up. - There you go. Hit him with the thunder!
Brickner? John? Get up, John!
You got him! You got him!
- I think we got a winner! - He's done for sure.
- Ha! Yeah, baby! Yeah! - That's what I'm talking about, bitch!
You mind if we finish this?
All right. Everybody back, and give 'em some room!
Huh? Who's your daddy now? Huh?
John! That was beautiful!
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
John, unbelievable. Unbelievable. Okay.
Not the Bone Crusher. We're not gonna call it that.
I've been working on another one. What do you think about the Damage?
Huh? Can we call it the Damage?
Let's hold off on that.
Congratulations, kid. You did good.
It was you that put up the money.
Now that's a laugh. That would mean I actually give a damn.
Who'd believe that?
All right. I'll, uh... I'll see you in the car.
This is exciting. I get to use that new suture.
That's right. What's it called?
- The buried suture. - Oh, yeah.
Hold still, or you won't look pretty after.
Can't have that.
Reno getting the cash?
You guys are good together.
You know that?
Looks like we're all done here.
Don't move.
Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I...
Hey, you better get in there.
Maintenance to Room 201. Maintenance to Room 201.
- Everything okay? - No, as a matter a fact, it's not.
We got some unfinished business to take care of. What's that, John?
What is this?
My daddy's cufflinks. You son of a bitch.
John, I don't know what to say.
thank you.
Good enough. I got a call from the Deacon.
- Forget it. - Well, it turns out he needs a new liver.
- Doesn't surprise me. - Seeing as you worked a miracle here...
That's outta the question.
Look, you ever read the story of the unforgiving slave?
- Well, it's a parable, not a story. - Yeah. Whatever.
- Tell me all about it. - All right. You got a guy, right?