Scene Anatomy 101: Rocky II
Posted by George H. Sirois on 12.06.2006
Evolution of a Champion – Part 1 of 4
Feels good to be back, and just to make up for lost time, we'll be seeing two different scenes in the same movie here. But first, some quick plugging!
I've been on the Ryan Latimer bandwagon since he and I teamed up for a few Happy Critic / Scene Anatomy columns, so of course I ordered his book "A View from the Cheap Seats" from amazon.com. I should be getting it either today or tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Ryan's been churning out the quality here, so this should be no different.
And my dear friend from Australia, Leann Richards, has come out with her first book as well. "Houdini's Tour of Australia" is now available through Ginninderra Press for a very reasonable price of AU$17.95. For overseas buyers, the book is available through their website at http://www.ginninderrapress.com.au/ This book is the culmination of tons of research that Leann did, and she's put together a very good, very informative read that puts the spotlight on a less than well-known period of Houdini's life.
And while you're in a book-buying mood - and I'm in a plugging mood - you should also pick up MY book, From Parts Unknown, available at amazon.com. I've had this book out for a few years now, and I wouldn't mind seeing more than just family members and friends with their own copies. So buy it and enjoy!
Okay, are you back from shopping yet? Good, now on with the fun!
There's a big difference between the pro-active protagonist and the re-active protagonist in a film. The pro-active character is the one pulling the strings and making things happen in the film. The re-active one only moves forward when other characters are putting the pieces in motion. Buddy movies typically have both kinds of main characters, one who's rushing in without thinking and the other one that's trying to cover his or her partner. Riggs and Murtaugh from Lethal Weapon immediately come to mind.
One of the great re-active characters in movie history is Rocky Balboa. Created and embodied by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky is the ultimate example of someone who has the talent but isn't given the opportunity to show the world what he has to offer. He lives the meager life, eking out an existence as a going-nowhere boxer and "a leg-breaker for some cheap, second-rate loan shark," and he appears to be just one of the many no-namers that fade out without anyone giving them a second thought. Only when a spot opens up for an opponent for Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed is Rocky given his chance to shine, and when he got the opportunity, he took it as far as he could, which was of course to go all fifteen rounds with Creed, something nobody else ever did.
The film that tells this story, the 1976 film Rocky, was an immediate sensation. It launched Stallone's career, it won the Best Picture Oscar, and it gave the world an everyman hero that every man, woman and child can relate to. So naturally, a sequel had to be made, and this time Stallone not only wrote it – just as he wrote the original – but directed it as well. The result is the 1979 film…
The film opens in an ideal manner, showing the final round of the fight between Rocky and Apollo and Rocky and Adrian embracing after the bell rings. We then follow the action to the hospital where both fighters are immediately admitted. Rocky mumbles to the world that he's officially retired, but Apollo demands a rematch, still high on the adrenaline and angry that this no-name chump just went the distance with him. After the press leave, however, Apollo is woken up by Rocky with a question that he needs to know, "Did you give me your best?" Apollo answers that he did, which immediately justifies everything that Rocky accomplished in the ring earlier. He lasted, he knocked the champion down, and he will be remembered in all of sports history for this feat.
But being part of boxing history doesn't pay the rent, and after Rocky quickly spends all of the money that he made off the fight – getting married to Adrian, buying a car, and eventually buying a house in a better part of Philly – he realizes that he needs a job. When he gets turned down for managerial positions due to no previous experience, he has to settle for a job at the meat factory where his now brother-in-law Paulie used to work. Unfortunately, that doesn't last since Rocky is the victim of cut-backs and is sent home, and this leaves Rocky both desperate for money and eager to fight again. It's literally all he knows, but he's still having problems with his detached retina that he suffered in the fight with Creed.
Adrian tells Rocky over and over how he shouldn't fight because of his eye, but he doesn't want to hear it. The only one who'll understand what he's going through is Mickey Goldmill, the owner of the gym in Philly and Rocky's manager. So Rocky takes his dog Butkus for a walk over to Mickey's apartment over the gym.
When Rocky walks up the stairs, the scene looks exactly like the moment from the first film where Mickey walked up the stairs to Rocky's building and asked him to be his manager. (I covered that scene in my 11th Scene Anatomy 101 column. You can find it here.) Only this time, we have Rocky going to Mickey and asking him for help, and it's obvious that Mickey is not expecting visitors. The door to his apartment flies open.
MICKEY: Who the hell is that?!
Rocky can't resist making a joke, showing he still has his sense of humor after everything he's been through.
ROCKY: Avon lady.
Once Mickey realizes who's coming by, his demeanor totally changes. The threatening voice immediately changes to a welcoming one.
MICKEY: Who's that? Rocky? Hey, I don't remember giving you no key! Come on up here. Well, the prodigal son returns! You don't look so bad, do you kid?
Rocky smiles as he and Butkus walk up the stairs. Mickey looks down at Butkus.
MICKEY: What's that, an outer space monster you brought along?
ROCKY: That's Butkus, my large dog. What's that in your ear there?
Rocky's referring to Mickey's hearing aid. Mickey taps it with his finger.
MICKEY: What this is… I hear stupid things better. Well, now, did you come here to show me that dog?
It's obvious that both men want to cut out the small talk and get right down to things.
ROCKY: No. Mick, can I have my locker back?
MICKEY: Yeah. What's on your mind?
ROCKY: Fighting.
This was the last thing that Mickey expected Rocky to want. If this was any other time, he'd be letting him fight, but not after what he saw Rocky sustain the last time he stepped into the ring.
MICKEY: Fighting? What, you wanna go blind?
ROCKY: Nobody's going blind.
MICKEY: You heard what I said?
ROCKY: Yeah. The eye's great. No problem.
This is nothing that Mickey hasn't heard from fighters up and down the ranks throughout his years. No matter how many lumps they take, no matter how often they put their own lives in danger, they just can't resist the temptation to get back in the ring one more time. And Mickey's not going to let anything happen to Rocky on his watch. He can't have that on his conscience.
MICKEY: Listen, every pug thinks he has one good one left. Forget it, kid, cause your fightin' career is over.
Rocky can't believe what he's hearing. This is the same guy that, just seven months ago, pushed himself into Rocky's door wanting to be the person to guide his career. And now he's telling him he'll never fight again. Some career, one professional fight.
ROCKY: Is that right?
MICKEY: Yeah, I think that's right.
ROCKY: Ya know, I spend my whole life gettin' a career. I get one, and you tell me it's over.
At the same time, Mickey can't believe what he's hearing. Doesn't Rocky realize what he did in the ring? And doesn't he realize that Rocky will always have something that nobody else may ever have?
MICKEY: What's the matter? You shook the hell out of the champion of the whole wide world. You be happy with that.
Rocky still won't back down, but neither will Mickey.
ROCKY: Well, maybe we can do better this time.
MICKEY: Or worse. What about that?
Rocky then resorts to bringing up how he allowed Mickey to be his manager, how that was what Mickey needed when it was more of the other way around. Without Mickey's guidance and disciplinary tactics, Rocky could very well have been floored after 2-3 rounds.
ROCKY: Hey yo, Mick, I done you a favor last time, you know? Can you do me one this time?
Mickey shakes his head. Just telling Rocky not to fight is one thing. He has to show Rocky why he can't fight.
MICKEY: I don't know. You don't understand me. Now, look, I want to show you something now, test you.
Mickey stands directly in front of Rocky. He holds his right index finger out to the far right.
MICKEY: Now, you look right there on the end of my nose.
ROCKY: Look at your nose.
MICKEY: Look at my nose. Now, when I bring my finger in, you tell me when you see it. Okay?
Mickey slowly pulls his finger in and after only one second, Rocky sees it in his left eye's peripheral vision.
ROCKY: There's the little thing. I see it.
MICKEY: That's good.
ROCKY: I told you it's okay.
MICKEY: Now, wait. Now we try the other lamp. Now, look here, will ya? Now tell me.
Rocky concentrates on the tip of Mickey's nose while Mickey slowly brings his left index finger in. This time, it takes five seconds for Rocky to say something.
ROCKY: I see it!
Mickey doesn't even believe that Rocky saw the finger. And that's after five seconds, which shows signs of an instant knockout that Rocky wouldn't have even seen coming. Again, this isn't gonna happen on Mickey's watch.
MICKEY: No, you see nothin'! Creed would have caved in the whole side of your face. Now, forget it, kid. You got the heart, but you ain't got the tools no more. Now, forget it!
But Rocky's still stubborn enough not to admit that what Mickey's saying is right. He's fine, he has to be.
ROCKY: Is that right?
MICKEY: That is right.
ROCKY: Yeah? Well, maybe it's YOU who ain't got it no more, you know that?
Mickey looks down, nodding.
MICKEY: Yeah. Yeah, that's it.
Then, without a bit of hesitation, Mickey quickly slaps Rocky across his right cheek. Rocky doesn't even put his arm up afterwards. This may be the only way to get it into Rocky's head.
MICKEY: Now, look, you didn't even see that coming, did you? No. And that was from a broken-down pug like me. What do you think the champ would do to you?
Finally, Rocky's stubbornness comes crashing down. He looks down at the floor, not willing to admit what he's about to say.
ROCKY: I don't know… hurt me bad.
MICKEY: No. He'd hurt you permanent. Permanent.
Rocky can barely keep himself composed. He had been told as a boy that he was born without much of a brain, so he better start building up his body. And now he can't even use his body anymore. He doesn't know what he's going to do. All he knows is that boxing has to be a part of his life somehow.
ROCKY: You know, Mick… if I can't fight no more, maybe I can help out around here, you know.
Mickey's stunned to hear this, but at the same time, he's relieved that Rocky's finally coming around and getting what he's been trying to say to him.
MICKEY: Here? Well, sure, but you're like royalty here, kid. You want those guys to see you carrying towels and buckets around? Where's your dignity?
Rocky forces out an answer. Is his boxing career over? Yes. But that doesn't mean his passion for the sport is over as well. He's still a lover of boxing, and he's desperate to have it stay in his life. He doesn't have the pain and experience that Mickey had in order to become a manager. Right now, he just has the pain.
ROCKY: I don't know how to say this. I just… I gotta be around it. I just got-
Mickey nods, understanding that boxing's in this kid's soul and nothing's ever going to get it out of him.
MICKEY: All right, kid. You come back tomorrow, huh?
Rocky nods, then turns to leave.
ROCKY: Thanks a lot, Mick.
The one major thing that Stallone does here is show just how careful he is with the character of Rocky Balboa. Just like I said before, Rocky's a re-active character. As much as he wants to get back into the ring, he has to be pulled in. When he tries to get in himself, he's not allowed because of his eye. The only pro-active thing he ever did was pursue Adrian, and she wound up being the best thing to ever come into his "crazy life."
Not only does this scene show how Rocky's injury keeps him from pro-actively pursuing a comeback, but the next scene shows how he's going to re-actively get what he wants. While Rocky was trying to get on with his life, Apollo Creed had been plagued with hate mail from around the world, from people who believe that he's a fraud for carrying Balboa through all fifteen rounds. He's told that he's a fake, that the fight was a fake, and he should just kill himself.
This is all too much for a man like Creed, who wears his pride like the flashiest suit on the market. And when he has an opportunity to promote his next fight, he makes it clear to his head of public relations, and to his manager Tony Duke, that the only fight he'll accept is a rematch with Balboa.
APOLLO: I don't know about anybody else, but as long as I'm gonna be promoting this fight myself, I want a lot more pressure put on for a rematch.
Duke immediately protests, pushing his fighter to move onto a more worthy opponent.
DUKE: Hey, we can get the same money for the two top contenders. Why go after Balboa? Why?
Apollo holds up his hate mail as an example of why he wants this fight.
APOLLO: Because there's a lot of people out there that think he won. There's a lot of people out there accusing me of having the fight fixed, accusing me of being a fake, and insulting my kids at school. That's why.
Duke responds by pushing Rocky out of the picture, downplaying him and his achievement.
DUKE: You wanna hear the truth?
APOLLO: Yeah, I wanna hear the truth.
DUKE: The truth is that, last time, he was damn lucky. Now he's all finished! He's been hangin' around doing nothing for six months. And any trainer worth anything wouldn't have nothing to do with him! Now I say, let's go after some new meat. Forget this bum!
But Apollo isn't even listening to Duke's reasoning.
APOLLO: Do you think I beat him the last time? Do you? Hmm?
Duke hesitates in his response. The only thing he can let out is…
DUKE: You got the decision.
Not the answer that Apollo wanted to hear, even though it's the truth. He slams his fist on the desk in frustration.
APOLLO: Man, I won but I didn't beat him! What are you afraid of, Tony?
Duke drops his head for a moment, then looks up at Apollo in a completely different way than he did before.
DUKE: Honest?
APOLLO: Yeah, honest.
Duke gets up and walks over to Apollo, leaning over his desk. This is something between these two, and them alone.
DUKE: He's all wrong for us, baby. I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before… and the man kept coming after you. Now, we don't need that kind of man in our life.
This is the perfect thing for Duke to say, because not only is it a truly honest answer that Apollo can understand, but it also keeps from downplaying the events of the first film. This is a mistake commonly made in sequels, making you believe that what happened before is nothing compared to what's going to happen in this film. Just like when Apollo told Rocky that he really did give him his best, Duke is confirming that to Apollo, that no opponent had ever received the beating that Rocky got.
Duke's next words are in a loud whisper, as he is pleading for Apollo to move on to another, much less dangerous opponent.
DUKE: I know what you're feeling. Let it go! Let it go! You're the champ!
Apollo nods for a moment, taking in every honest word his trainer gave him.
APOLLO: Thank you.
But then those words are immediately discarded as his pride comes back into the spotlight. No matter what he may feel, no matter what Duke may feel, Apollo Creed's legacy as the Heavyweight Champion of the World will forever be tarnished unless Rocky Balboa comes back into the ring against him and is embarrassed and exposed as a fluke. He looks right at his PR man to get the wheels in motion.
APOLLO: You're in charge of my public relations, right? I want a whole new campaign started. I want something done publicly to bring this man out. I want something done to jar this man's pride. I want something done to get the people around him talking. All right?
Even the PR man is a little shaken by his instructions. This will completely go against the image that Creed has been building up for years.
PR MAN: You realize if we use this humiliation tactic, you're setting yourself up as the bad guy?
APOLLO: Look, man, whatever gets him in the ring.
And just like that, while Rocky sweeps the ring and carries spit buckets around Mickey's gym so he can get be in the atmosphere where he's most comfortable, an aggressive smear campaign is being launched to sow the seeds for a rematch. These two scenes become the catalyst for Rocky and Mickey to finally answer the challenge and take another shot at the title. If it weren't for Apollo's berating, Mickey wouldn't have come up with a way for Rocky to fight and protect his bad eye. And later on, if it weren't for Adrian finally giving Rocky her blessing to get back in the ring, Rocky would have gotten embarrassed just as Creed intended. But this whole franchise is proof that no man is an island, no man can get it done alone. The whole structure of these films shows that Rocky can only be so pro-active. He can go after the woman he loves. He can choose to get in the ring. But he can't get the chance for the big time unless someone gets it for him. Once he gets it, and the right people are surrounding him, it's only then that we see him persevere in the face of animosity and truly go the distance. And as Rocky II shows, he can not only go the distance, but shock the world and himself at the same time by becoming the new Heavyweight Champion of the World.
Next week, we'll go a little further in Rocky's history and see who can help him get back his edge, help him get back the "eye of the tiger."
