6/22/05

“T H R E E  R O U N D S”
(First Draft)

A Short Screenplay
By
Dustin Martin

Dustin Martin
301 Silver Grove St.
Las Vegas, NV
89144

Fade Up:

Int: Locker-room-Night

We open up to man in his mid thirties getting ready for what appears to be a boxing match. He’s big, buff, and has a tattoo of a fire ring on his left arm. On him are red and green boxer shorts. He’s sitting down in a wooden chair. His name is Joe “The Catcher” Rize.

He puts tape around his hands to tighten his grip. Once done, he picks up one glove at a time on his right side. 

Smash Cut To:

Bathroom-Locker-room-Same 

He kneels down at the sink and is saying a prayer.

Joe
(Muttering)
Father, Son, and the holy sprit please
guide me tonight with the blessing 
of god himself who’s watching over me 
at this very match. Amen.

Appearing on the side of the door is his manager Rocco. He taps the side of the door and informs Joe.

Rocco
It’s time Joe.

Joe gets up on his feet and walks towards Rocco acting a little jumpy like he’s prepared. 

Joe
I’m ready, lets go. 

Both walk out together as the camera stays at the same position. 

Fade To Black:   

Title Card: “Three Rounds”

Smash Cut To: 

Int: Hallway-Night  

We steadycam through the hallways of the arena. Old, rundown, and dirty is the feeling of this part of the arena. 
The crowds are cheering are at a low level then builds up.

Rocco
Now, remember what I told you,
keep your head up, protect your ribs
at all time. This guy main goal is
the ribs.

Joe
The ribs, got it.

Rocco
Also, aim low.

Joe
Aim low? Why aim low?

Rocco
That’s his weakness. The stomach is
a big spot to knock him out.

Joe
So the stomach.

Rocco
I guess you can say so, he gets
tired quickly in the stomach.

Joe
So hopefully this will help out my 
career huh?

Rocco
By knocking out Walter Lemon will
be something to remember by.

The camera pulls back to revile the crowded arena. People cheering and clapping to the appearance of Joe Rize. 

Cut To: 

Int: Arena-Night

Medium shot of Joe and Rocco.

Joe
Well, this is it.

Rocco
I’m proud of what you’ve done
under my training. It’s like one 
giant novel coming to an end.

Joe
Well lets finish the chapter together.

Both Joe and Rocco walk up towards the ring. Joe climbs over the fence and steps into the ring. Jumpin’ up and down getting ready.

Smash Cut To:

One the other side of the arena is Joe’s contender, walking out with his huge entourage and griming look of a smile. This is Walter Lemon. He has black curly hair and thick black eyebrows that look like somebody who has taken a sharpie and thrown a line over his head. With grey trunks on, he thinks he’s a bad ass. 

He climbs into the ring and sits down in the little stool. 

Cut To:

Joe turns over to Rocco who’s on the sidelines.

Joe
You know Roc, this guy is pretty
dam big man. And you said he killed
a man in the ring before right?

Rocco
Huh, something like that.

Joe
Oh.

Cut To: Center of the Ring-Same

The announcer is in the center of the ring. The microphone comes down from the ceiling and the announcer takes it and speaks to the crowds.

Announcer
Ladies’ and gentleman. Boys and girls 
of all ages. Welcome to our main event 
of the evening. On this date June 12th
1953 is an event to remember for days 
to come. On my left corner in the red
and green trunks is the challenger, at 
two hundred and twenty four pounds……Joe 
“The Catcher” Rize. 

The crowd with a great cheer heavenly applauds for Joe. It’s like his greatest moments when he‘s on top of the world. 

Announcer (continue)
And in the right corner, with fourteen
Consecutive wins and with the knock out
and killing of Alex Tirocken, he was 
banished for two years and in his comeback 
roll tonight for your pleasure. Give it up
in the grey trunks and weighing over two-hundred 
and seventy five pounds……Walter “The Left Hook” 
Lemon.

The crowds are mixed. Some are booing and some are applauding. Some spectators are even throwing drinks and food. 

Smash Cut To: Medium Shot of Joe and Rocco-Same 

Rocco leans over to Joe’s ear and whispers to him.

Rocco
(Whispering)
It looks like we gotta take out
the trash tonight.

Joe
Will have Walt do that for us.

The bell rings.

Rocco
Alright we got one minute till so let
me give you some words here.

Smash Cut To: Walter Lemons’ Corner-Same

Walt is sitting in his corner having a last minute chart with his manager.

Walt’s Manager
He’s week, to week for you “Walt.” You’ve
dealt with much weaker fighters before. Your 
strong, powerful, and most of all, unstoppable. 
Now who’s unstoppable?

(Pause)

Walt
I’m unstoppable.

Walt’s Manager
Say it again.

Walt
I’m unstoppable.

Walt’s Manager
Again.

Walt
I’m unstoppable.

Walt’s Manager
(Shouting)
Again.

Walt
(Shouting)
I’m unstoppable.

Walt’s Manager
There you go. Now lets whop some 
turkey leggin’ ass.

Walt gets up out of his stool and hits his gloves together. 

Cut To: Joe’s Corner-Same

Joe’s getting a lecture from Rocco.

Rocco
Now remember Joe, don’t pay
Any attention to the audience
what so ever. Even towards that
Betty of yours. Your focus is 
on Walt and only Walt. Do I have
myself clear.

Joe
Yeah sure, no problem.

Rocco
Go get him kid.

Rocco puts in Joe’s mouth guard into his mouth. Joe gets up and looks around the arena. He’s looking for a certain somebody. He finally spots her. 

Smash Cut To: Audience-Crowd-Medium Shot

Were looking at a beautiful brunette dressed for the fight. This is Betty. She’s in her late twenties. She’s beautiful like a Ingrid Bergman or a Grace Kelly but brunette.

Joe waves at her and she waves back. 

Smash Cut To: Over the Ring-Same

Both boxers walk towards each other and the referee is between the two of them. 

Referee
I wanna nice clean fight, no
hitting below the belt. Obay my 
commands at all times. Any questions?

Both nod no.

Referee (continue)
Alright no touch gloves……

Both Joe and Walt touch gloves.

Referee (continue)
……alright lets get it on.

Joe and Walt walk back towards there corner. They both give a glare to each other. 

Smash Cut To: Announcer’s Booth-Same

The Announcers are ready to cover the fight and the bell rings!

Smash Cut To: The Ring-Same

The bell has rung. Joe charges at Walt like a beast. He does his first punch towards the head, then hits him once again in the jaw. Walt replies that punch with a punch in the shoulder. Joe is pushed back a little bit but charges once again. 

He tries to aim for Walt’s stomach, but suddenly “Walt” blocks that punch and socks him in the head. Joe falls against the ropes and leans on the ropes while Walt pounds the shit out of him. The referee runs over and pushes Walt off Joe. 

Joe gets back onto his feet and is back for a comeback. He’s punching Walt in the ribs but Walt is blocking them. Then finally, he has a clear shot and socks him in the ribs. Walt jumps out. Joe socks him again in the head, then all of a sudden……

……ding! The bell rings, and it’s the end of the first round. Both Joe and Walt go back towards there corner. 

Joe sits down in his stool while Rocco puts a towel around his neck. He also pours water on his face. He has a cut lip on his face. Blood is dripping down towards his neck. 

Cut To: Walt’s Corner-Same

Walt sits down on his stool and his manager gives his some water. He spits it back out.

Walt’s Manager
Your doin’ good for a first round.

Walt
I’m unstoppable.

Walt’s Manager
That’s right. You are unstoppable.
And this shmuck is not going to stop
you, now is he?

Walt
No. I’m gonna stop him from winning.

Smash Cut To: Joe’s Corner-Same 

Rocco’s whipping off the blood on his lip. 

Rocco
Do you think this guy’s tough?

Joe
No.

Rocco
Will you let this loser win your
title shot that you deserve?

Joe
No.

Rocco
So get up there and defend what your
fighting for. A shot to the big leagues.

Rocco puts in Joe’s mouth guard and Joe gets up.

Smash Cut To: Ring-Same

A nice pretty lookin’ women is holding up the round cards. She’s walking around the ring with a card that says “Round 2”. She walks out of the ring.

The Bell rings. “DING!” Both Joe and Walt meet once again. Walt throws the first hit into Joe’s jaw. Joe replies back with a hit in the jaw to Walt. Now the sweet pours down on both of the fighters faces’. But none of them are even close to being tired. They just both fight like real men. 

Joe finally gets a hold of Walt and throws him onto the ropes. Joe with out stopping punches Walt over and over again. It looks to be that he’s gonna knock him out. Walt’s getting tired it seems. The referee pulls him off. 

Referee
Alright! Alright! Get off
of him.  

Joe is pulled off of “Walt”. The referee is holding on to his shoulder.  Joe shrugs off. 

Joe
I’m not finished with you!

Joe goes for the hit. But is blocked by Walt. Walt blocks the punch and socks down. BAM! Joe’s on the ground. The audience is in shock of aw! Joe’s lying on the ground looking up the ceiling. 

The sound is silent. There’s now sound, the referee walks over towards Joe and starts the count down. But in slow motion.

Smash Cut To: Audience-Betty-Same

His girlfriend Betty has a deeply sadden look. She covers her face with her gloved hand. 

Smash Cut To: Ring-Same

Were looking from Joe’s POV. Everything is in slow motion.

Referee
(Slow Motion)
1……2……3……4……5……6……

Now the speed is picking up. Joe is now on his feet. The crowd goes nuts.

Referee
He’s up. Lets fight!

But once Joe is up and running, the bell rings. DING! Joe and Walt go back towards there corner. Both sit down on there stools.

Cut To: Joe’s Corner-Same

Joe has a black left eye. Rocco puts a raw piece of meat on it to heal the pain. He’s also cleaning out his nostrils with a cue tip. Blood is pouring out of nose.

Rocco
(Angry) 
What the fuck is wrong with you, huh?
Come on, get your shit together.

Joe
I’m trying I’m trying.

Rocco
It looks like your not trying buddy. 
But I do have to say that was one hell
of a few punches you did there sport.

Joe
Yea, I guess they were huh?

Cut To: Walt’s Corner-Same

Walt’s manager gives him some water and Walt spits it out in a silver bucket. 

Walt’s Manager
Good Walt. Take the beating 
and knock him out. That was
a good strategy. Now, I want
you to kill him!

Walt
Really?

Walt’s Manager
Show the whole world who’s
the “King of the Ring”.

Walt
I can’t

Walt’s Manager
Why not?

Walt
I’ll get kicked out for sure.

Walt’s Manager
Trust me, it’ll be better for
Your career. And plus, we can leave 
(continue)
this god for saken country. Will
go to London, or even East Germany.
What do ya say? I know you can kill 
him, you’ve done before and you
can do it again.

Walt gets up from his stool.

Walt’s Manager
That’s my boy.

Cut To: Ring-Same

The Ring girl goes around the ring with a huge card saying “Round 3”. She gets out of the ring.

The bell rings. DING! And both fighters cross paths once again. Walt’s the one with first hit. He hits Joe smack in the face. Joe replies with a hit in the ribs. Walt comes back with a another hit in the face. This is his power point to really knock him out. Or even worse. Kill HIM! 

Joe is energized back and is non-stop hitting Walt constantly in the stomach and in the ribs. He’s like a wild animal let loose from his cage. Non-stop beating and kicking’ his ass. Time fly’s by it seems. The referee pulls back Joe and Walt is leaning over the ropes. 

Joe is walking back towards the other side of the ropes. Walt gets up like a cheetah and goes for the kill. Joe turns around and within a second, BAM! Walt punches Joe smack in the face. His neck twist around like it’s being broken. He falls and his neck lands on the ropes. 

The crowd is booing and throwing things at Walt. Like food, snacks and beer too. 

Smash Cut To: Audience-Betty-Same  

She’s surprised along with the rest of the crowd. She’s tearing up.

Betty
(screaming)
NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Smash Cut To: Ring-Same

Joe’s lying down on the ground twitching kind of while Rocco runs to his side. A crowd of people are running on towards the ring. It’s like a zoo of wild animals out of there cages. 

Fade Out to White: 

Fade in:

Ext: Cemetery-Day/Raining

The wind is blowing softly, not a sound to be heard. Drizzling with rain. Rocco has an umbrella covering over him and Betty. Rocco and Betty are leaning over the small grave stone of what remains of Joe “The Catcher” Rize. In scripted on the tombstone says, “Joe Rize September 27, 1927 to June 12, 1953.”

Rocco has on a black nice jacket throws a red rose flower, as does Betty who’s dressed in black. She cries on Rocco’s shoulder while Rocco tries to comfort her. He looks up towards the sky.

POV/Rocco-Sky-Same 

He’s looking up at the darken grey sky. 

Fade To White:

Fade in:

Int: Locker-room-Night

Rocco is sitting down on a bench. He turns his head towards the direction of the restroom. It reviles Joe saying his prayers as it was in the beginning. So this whole story that was happening was a dream all along in Rocco’s head. 

Rocco gets up and walks over to the restroom and leans over the side of the door. He knocks on it.

Rocco
It’s time Joe.

Joe gets up from his praying.

Joe
I’m ready, let’s go.

Both walk out of the locker-room together. The camera stays still where it’s mounted.

Smash Cut To Black: 

T H E  E N D

“T H R E E  R O U N D S”
Production Notes
By Dustin Martin

PRODUCTION NOTES:

LENGTH 20 Minutes

SHOOT 1.3 minutes average per day.

LENGTH SCHEDULE 8 Days

Schedule

Days
1-2 Locker-room Scenes
3-7 Boxing Scenes
8   Cemetery Scene

1. For the arena scenes, I would like to have an old rustic feel which is represented in the early 1950’s. The arena has to look old, but not to rundown.

2. Extras, we need lots and lots of extras dressed during the early 50’s style. A lot of the men should have on old black fedoras and for the women, should be very nicely dressed.

3. Camera equipment, this will be shot using Sony Digital HDW-F900 cameras and lighting grips to give the feel a soft lighting effect. Some shots will be shot in black and white and color.

4. The actors who play Joe and Walt must be huge leading bulk men. Walt should be bigger than Joe. But Joe should have an average size.   

5. This script entitles the writer Dustin Martin to direct the picture with no one else at his control.