| Rocky VI |
 |
Sneak Preview, Part IV
From across the room Rocky spies his old bartender friend, Andy. As he traverses the room most of the inhabitants now are unaware of the neighborhood hero's arrival. A booth of late 20s street trash drinkers eye the man.
ANDY: Am I seein' things or what?
ROCKY: Yo, Andy - How ya doin'?
ANDY: Hangin' in there --
ROCKY: (looks around): Looks like nothin' changed here, same everythin.'
ANDY: Yeah, same comfortable junk. Listen, a while back heard about ya wife's passin.'
ROCKY: Yeah, `woman's caner.'
The street trash no gesture towards Rocky. A very high 20 year old woman rises unsteadily from the group.
HIGH WOMAN:… That really him? That's you, right?
HIGH WOMAN (hugs him): = C'mon, when the hell do I get a chance like this? - You're from here, right?
The woman makes a mocking face towards her friend. Rocky catches this.
ROCKY: You need something…
HIGH WOMAN (feels his arm): No - So why ya back in this hole?
ANDY: Okay, give `im a break -
HIGH WOMAN:…Hey, you gimme a break - Listen, could ya buy us a drink, okay? (pulls his arm) We're over there. (insincerely) We're fans.
The woman gestures towards the booth of Low Lifes and grabs Rocky's arm. Rocky removes her hand.
HIGH WOMAN: Hey, why ya doin' that?-Why ya pushin' my and - Why ya touchin me like this?!
ROCKY: Ya done here, okay?
HIGH WOMAN: Done? Fuck you. You ain't nothin' - Who're you?
She coldly eyes him, returns to the booth where the Low Life group glares at Rocky.
ROCKY: One second they like ya, next second you're a bum.
ANDY: The neighborhood's flipped - Oughta bulldoze the whole joint -
Andy moves off to serve a pair of drunks at the bar.
From out of the back room a woman appears. She is heavyset and not overly attractive. Her hair has seen one too many perms. There's a sweetness about her.
ANDY(pouring a beer): Catch ya tomorrow.
MARIE: (to Rocky): You don't remember me, do ya?
ROCKY: No, ya look very unfamiliar -
MARIE: Real long time ago, ya walked me home. Ya knew my brother, Joey.
ROCKY: Mary? No Marie, Lil' Marie, right? From the Atomic Hoagie Shop.
MARIE: Ya walked me home. We were yellin'. Yeah I must've told that story a hundred times.
ROCKY: - “Screw you, creepo.” Ya said -(laughs)- Alway7s remember you sayin' them `nice' words.'
MARIE: How'd ya remember that far back?
ROCKY: Hey, good insults last forever-So, y'all grown up.
MARIE: Yeah, it happens - Why ya here?
ROCKY: I was drivin' by - Just checkin' in.
MARIE: (smiles): Well, maybe I'll see ya around.
ROCKY: Y'know, the neighborhood's still difficult, y'know, very rough - How ya travelin'?
MARIE: There's a bus two blocks down - It's all right.
ROCKY: Buses aren't always known to be safe - So if you need a ride, I would volunteer.
Rocky approaches his car with Marie.
MARIE: I been workin' here coupla nights a week, an' someplace else the rest of the time - I was livin' in Atlantic City and got sorta married - He took off.
ROCKY: Sorta hve any kids?
The street trash group comes out of the bar. Four of the group are men. One breaks a beer bottle - then another.
LEADER: Hey, where ya takin' that ugly bitch.
ROCKY(calmly to Marie): Wanna get in?
Embarrassed, Marie lowers herself into the car.
LEADER: Get the ugly bitch outta here! - Yeah, do that.
Rocky enters the car. The low Life group laughs among themselves…
Rocky begins to drive away … Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Marie crying.
He puts the are in reverse.
MARIE: What're ya doin'?-
ROCKY: Drivin' backwards.
MARIE: Please don't get out - It's all right -
ROCKY: No, it ain't all right, Lil' Marie.
Rocky gets out, whips his coat off and charges at the leader with unexpected force. The leader is slammed with a forearm to the chest and pinned against a parked car. A second man attempts to intercede and is leveled with an elbow. The rest back off. Rocky walks back to the car and enters. Marie is stunned.
EXT. - MARIE'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Rocky's car pulls to the curb in front of the lackluster four-story apartment building. At the top of the three tiered stoop is a young man, half-black and 19 years of age. He's dressed in Hip Hop culture all the way. An intentionally askew baseball hat rests on his head.
CUT TO: INT. - CAR - NIGHT
MARIE: Thanks for the ride - Sorry `bout everythin'.
ROCKY: No problem - Know him?
Marie observes her son through the windshield. The young man has a bad attitude.
ROCKY: (awkward): …Really?
ROCKY: (at a loss): …Looks like he's gonna be tall.
MARIE: His father was tall…
ROCKY: Then it all makes sense - (eyes the kid)- Is he lookin' like he's mad at me or ist maybe the angle I'm sittin at?
MARIE: No, he's a good kid - It's not easy growin' up around here.
MARIE: `Steps'- short for Stevenson. Wanna meet `im?
Rocky glances at Steps who glares at him.
ROCKY: It's getting' late, Lil' Marie.
MARIE: I think the “lil” part is long gone - Well - Thanks again for the ride an' everything else.
They turn to enter the building. Rocky puts the car in gear, then pauses.
Rocky gets out of the car and steps to the curb.
ROCKY: I din't meet ya kid. How ya doin' Stevenson?
STEPS:… Why he know my name?
Marie pauses for a second to study Rocky and gestures toward her son.
MARIE: You recognize him, don't you?
ROCKY (overriding): - Rocky Balboa - How ya doin?
MARIE: He knows who you are.
STEPS: (distant)…What's up? (to mother) Where you meet?
MARIE: Tell you inside - Sorry about the way he's actin', an thanks again.
ROCKY (quietly).. Sure - you guys take care.
Rocky settles back in his car and drives off.
Next Week: A computer generated Rocky takes on the champ.
|
