Sketch:
Animation: Ends with a poster `Boxing Tonight! The Killer vs.
The Champ. 15 Rounds'.
Cut to a dressing room at Madison Square Gardens, table, chairs,
towels, and the usual paraphernalia. Noise of a crowd outside. The door
opens and in comes Mr Gabriello, and two assistants carrying a boxer
on a stretcher. Smoke, action, excitement come in with them.
Mr Gabriello (Michael)
That was a great fight, Champ, a great fight, you hear! Oh boy,
what a fight, Champ, what a great fight! You nearly had him, Champ,
you nearly had him … where's his head?
First Assistant (?)
I got it in here, Mr Gabriello.
He holds up a carrier bag. Gabriello goes over to it, looks inside
and shouts into it.
Mr Gabriello
You were great, Champ, d'you hear, you were great!
First Assistant
(looking in the bag) He's got a nasty cut over his eye.
Mr Gabriello
Yeah, I think it was a mistake him wearing spectacles. (gives
the bag o the assistant) Oh well, get that sewn onto his body
in time for the press pictures.
First Assistant
OK, Mr Gabriello.
Mr Gabriello
(to second assistant) Wasn't he great my boy?
Second Assistant (Eric)
He was great, Mr Gabriello.
Mr Gabriello
The way he kept fighting after his head came off!
Second Assistant
He was better when the head came off, Mr Gabriello. He was really
dodging the guy.
Mr Gabriello
Yeah, I reckon that if he could've lasted till the end of that
first minute, he would've had the Killer worried.
Second Assistant
Sure, Mr Gabriello.
Mr Gabriello
Oh he was great. Did you see his left arm?
Second Assistant
No!
Mr Gabriello
OK, we'll look around the hall after everybody's gone.
Second Assistant
Do you realize Mr Gabriello, some of those guys out there paid
over £2,000 for a ringside seat.
Mr Gabriello
And where did the head land? Right at the back, that's justice…
(the door opens; a black cleaner comes in) What d'you want?
The cleaner holds up a carrier bag.
Black Man (Terry G.)
This your boy's head?
Mr Gabriello
No, no, we've got his head. He ain't hurt that bad.
Second Assistant
(looking in the bag) Hey, that's Gerry Marinello. He
fought the Killer last week.
Mr Gabriello
OK, give it to me. I'm seeing his trainer tomorrow. I'll give
it to him.
The cleaner is ushered out.
Second Assistant
Hey, Mr Gabriello. The press is still outside. Are you ready
for them?
Mr Gabriello
How's the Champ?
First Assistant
(working away with needle and thread) Well, the head's
on OK. But there's still a left arm missing.
Mr Gabriello
OK, well keep the dressing gown kinda loose, OK. (Gabriello
goes to door and opens it) OK boys, come on in!
The press surge in. The fighter is propped up.
First Reporter (Terry J.)
Hey Mr Gabriello, Mr Gabriello. Did you expect your boy to last
the full twenty-eight seconds?
Mr Gabriello
This boy has never let me down. He's the pluckiest goddamn fighter
I've ever trained.
Second Reporter (Carol)
Were you worried when his head started to come loose?
Mr Gabriello
No, no, we were expecting that. I told them to expect it to
and it did. He ain't stupid.
First Reporter
Hey, can we have a word with the Champ?
Mr Gabriello
Yeah OK. But keep the questions simple.
First Reporter
Hey Champ! How're you feeling?
Mr Gabriello
(angrily) I said keep the questions simple!
Second Reporter
Mr Gabriello. People are saying that the kid ought to be buried.
His head's come off in the last six fights.
Mr Gabriello
There's no question of burying the kid. He's just reaching the
top.
Second Reporter
Well, shouldn't he just stay in hospital?
Mr Gabriello
No, he ain't going to no hospital. He's got the return fight
next week.
Shot of the `New York Times' headline `Champ to be kept alive
for big return'.
Link to next sketch… in TV Series
