01x06 - The Caribbean friend

[bunniefuu]

This story is inspired by real events.

The people and events shown
are made up for artistic purposes.

Any similarity to reality
is purely coincidental.

["Can't Get Along Without You" playing]

♪ Sometimes loving ♪

♪ Is so, so hard to do ♪

♪ And there are times we hurt each other ♪

♪ Just trying to make it through ♪

♪ We've come too far together ♪

♪ To throw it all away ♪

♪ 'Cause right here in my heart, girl ♪

♪ Forever you will stay ♪

♪ 'Cause, baby, you're the one
That keeps me hanging… ♪

[in Spanish] Who are you, Mr. Wig?

Enrique Suárez, champ.

I work here.

Silvia, bring Ringo a glass of water.
Rough night?

[groaning]

[exhales deeply]

Where were you?

At church.

Where else would I be? At the club.

Don't talk to me like that.

What? Can't I say anything?
Must I tiptoe around you?

Tiptoe? Just don't talk to me like that.
That's all.

I treat you perfectly well.
I couldn't treat you any better.

I'm busting my a*s for you
and for our family.

-What the f*ck are you saying?
-Pipe down, Oscar.

Look at me. Look at my face. This is how
I destroy my soul for you and the kids.

-And you snipe at me. f*ck you!
-Stop shouting, Oscar.

The kids are sleeping.

Everyone tells me what to do,
but you know what?

In the ring I'm all alone.

They even take away your stool.

VI.
MY CARIBBEAN FRIEND

[shower water running]

[stammers, in English] You better not
miss it. You're one of my honored guests.

[chuckles]

[sighs, stammers] I'm in Tahoe, yeah.

Kokanee salmon. That's right, yeah.

Yeah, well,
I'll see if I catch one of those b*stards.

I need to clear my head a little.

[clears throat]

Uh.

I'll be back tonight for the opening.

I'll see ya. Bye.

[chattering]

[applause, cheering]

MUSTANG RANCH
GRAND REOPENING

[audience member whistles]

Good evening, Reno!

Are you having fun?

[crowd cheers]

♪ I will love you… ♪

[mic feedback]

-[Ringo laughs]
-[crowd laughs]

[Ringo] Don't worry.

I'm not going to sing.

We're here to celebrate, not to suffer.

And to give a big welcome

to the new girls of the Mustang Ranch!

Come on, guys.

Open your f*cking wallets!

[clears throat]

Where is Sally?

Where is the boss?

Where is the real boss?

Oh, there you are!

Please,

give a big round of applause

to the one and only Sally Conforte!

[applause, cheering]

Welcome to our home!

And let's f*cking party!

[cheering]

["There's a Fire Burnin" playing]

New hairstyle?

Yep.

I needed a new look.

We have quite the host tonight, huh?

I'm glad you're… entertained.

Didn't you like that dress I bought you?

Well, this one's more for a party.

That's what we're here for, right?

Business is booming. Let's celebrate.

Of course.

I'm gonna go say hello to a few friends.

[cheering]

-[Ringo shouts out]
-[crowd shouts out]

Ringo, wait.

I gotta talk to you a minute.

You're going a little too fast here.

You gotta slow down
or there'll be trouble with Joe.

Ah, so Joe is mad?

Ringo is mad.

He promised me a fight with Ali,
and he put me to fight in a bingo.

You were there.

I'm not talking about boxing.

You don't want to be on his sh*t list.

Don't provoke him.

You know why you're always
gonna be the henchman?

Because you don't have
something that I have.

A big pair of ba*ls.

No. Not that one.

That's for ordinary customers.

Give us two shots of our best whiskey.

Special whiskey for special people. Mmm?

[chuckles]

[sighs]

You look fancy!

I can almost see myself making love to ya.

Cheers.

-[Joe exhales]
-[Ringo sighs]

So, how did you like Lake Tahoe?

Nice place.

Nice people.

That house is my place in the world.

Sometimes the Mustang can be a little…

claustrophobic.

Out there, I feel free.

I have time for my true passion.

And what's that?

Fly fishing.

Salmon.

You know what they call salmon?

No.

[Joe exhales]

"A hero fish".

A salmon's life is an odyssey.

It migrates to the ocean.

And when it's time to spawn,

it swims against the current, see,

all the way to the river
where it was born.

That's where old Joe is waiting for them.

But I don't fish for the sports.

That's for the weak.

I like to eat the hero fish
down to the last…

bone.

The secret is to get their attention.

Salmon attacks the fly
for its bright colors.

Thinks it's the boss.

And then…

bam!

Dead because of its big mouth.

-What a stupid fish.
-[chuckles]

You can do what you want with my wife.

But don't mess with my business.

[Joe chuckles]

[sighs]

Are you crazy?

What are you doing here?

Sorry. I need some money.

Ringo, it's late. Get out.

-Did anyone see you come in?
-No.

Sally, please.

Let's talk about business.

You gotta get out of here.

Enough for one night.

-Sally, please.
-Go back to the trailer, Ringo, please.

It's dangerous.

Go now, please. [pants]

Go. [pants]

[door closes]

[loud heartbeat]

[heartbeat intensifying]

INFIRMARY

[in Spanish] Oscar.

Walk straight, please.

[child crying]

Oscar, Titi,

look at me.

Breathe.

Hey! We're at the hospital.

Stay calm. Everything is going to be fine.

Button this up and we're going
to talk to the doctor. Okay?

[muffled PA announcement]

-[door opens]
-[doctor] Family of Dora Raffa?

[Ringo] I'm her husband, doctor.

How old is the patient?

Twenty-five.

Any underlying health issues?

No, nothing. She's very healthy.

History of substance use?
Anything like that?

Doctor, what happened?
Did she slip in the shower?

Mr. Bonavena,
your wife arrived here intoxicated.

[sniffs]

How long has she been
taking tranquilizers?

Can I see her?

[monitor beeping]

[beeping continues]

Sorry, have you seen my husband?

I swear that from now on
I'll make you breakfast every day.

You won't.

Don't make empty promises.

Start by waking up with me at home.

Every day.

I have a plan for us to be okay, together.

Stopping boxing?

You know what?
We'll trade in the car for another one.

My car.

[laughs]

Speaking of future champions,
we have a spontaneous visitor.

Please welcome

-Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena.
-[applause]

SPORTS WORLD

Hi, how are you?

[both laugh]

Thank you for having me.

Tito.

Have a seat, Ringo. What a surprise.

Yeah. I heard you were filming,
so I stopped by to say hi.

Ringo, you fought
for the world championship

on the same weekend
as The Untouchable in Japan.

Tito was there.

He won and you lost.
What do you have to say about that?

Well, yeah, The Untouchable is now
champion of the world and I'm not yet.

But I did earn $75,000 that night.

And the little guy,
a little less than 30,000.

So, I ask you,
if you could turn back time,

who would you choose to be,
The Untouchable or Bonavena?

Ah. [laughs] I don't know.
Frankly, I don't know.

Who would you be?

I don't know either.

But the reason why there are bigger purses
for heavyweights in the United States

is because of the box-office draw.

-Ah.
-Well, that's partly true.

-Some other things come into play.
-Such as?

With promoters as intermediaries,
you earn less. [laughs]

And I want it all to end up here.

So, you won't work
with Tito anymore, then?

How could I not?
Tito is a legend. [laughs]

So, tell me, Ringo,
is it possible to fight Muhammad Ali?

Yes, I think it is.

I dream about it every day.

And I would like Tito Lectoure
to be at my side.

And with those statements,
we're going to take a short break.

But stick around,
because there's more Sports World.

See you soon.

[applause]

[pants] Now? Yesterday you were dying.

Shut up.

What did the doctor give you?

[moaning]

[zipper opens]

[soft music playing]

Have you thought about it?

Don't say a thing.

-[sighs] Dorita.
-Let's enjoy the night.

I'm going to quit, okay?

One good fight and I'm done, I promise.

Like I believe you, eh?

That jerk has been looking at you
since we arrived.

I'm going to k*ll him.

He must be a fan of yours.

One of the remaining few. [laughs]

Mr. Bonavena, the gentleman at the bar
has sent over this bottle of champagne.

Thank him, but if I want something,
I'll pay for it.

And if I liked that sh*t champagne,
I'd buy the whole cellar.

Tell him.

Look how you get, eh?
Just because the guy is handsome.

Hmm?

Well, he is.

Nobodies come out of nowhere
with bottles as if I were starving.

-They can f*ck off.
-Do you have a cigarette?

-No.
-I'm out. I'm going to buy some.

-Wait, we'll ask the waitress.
-No, I need some fresh air, Oscar.

Mr. Bonavena,
I did not mean to make you uncomfortable.

The handsome champagne man.

What is it, do you like men?
Is that why you're sending me gifts?

Yes, I like men.

I like heavy ones
who know how to box, like you.

I'm having dinner with my wife.
Don't give me a ball ache. Go away.

Can I have a seat? I'll be brief.

My name is José Montano.

I'm a boxing promoter.

I want to buy your contract. That is,
we want to buy your contract.

My associates and I.

It's not for sale.

Thing is, we don't want to buy it
with money.

[snorts]

Then what'll you buy it with,
champagne? [chuckles]

With glory.

As you know,
Muhammad Ali is fighting again

and needs to pick up speed.

The Americans are thinking about
who his next opponent could be.

And the truth is, in the States,
you have quite the image.

The "Great White Hope."
You know how many times I've heard that?

[José Montano] Exactly.

A white boxer capable of
challenging Black dominance.

Who, on top of hitting hard,

understands the most important thing
about this business.

The show.

What I am offering, Mr. Bonavena,

is for you to be
The Greatest's next opponent.

And $20,000 up front
when we sign the contract.

What's your cut?

My cut is around 35%

of what we win in Argentina and abroad.

[scoffs] How do I know you're not lying?

The fight clause
is outlined in the contract.

If it's breached, the deal's already done.

And I lose $20,000.

Look at me closely.

I may look like a lying Caribbean man,

but do I look like I want to lose $20,000?

Know what I mean?

[Ringo chuckles, sighs]

Waiter.

We were heading into a storm and
I told the pilot, "Aim at the middle."

[both laugh]

Well, I see you accepted the champagne.

-Nice to meet you, José Montano.
-Dora.

Dora, let me introduce you
to the God of the Caribbean.

He's going to put Oscar "Ringo" Bonavena
where he deserves to be.

He's going to make me a legend,

a national hero,
the San Martín of boxing. [laughs]

And if he f*ck it up,
I'll cut off his ba*ls with a spoon, eh?

-No. [laughs]
-[Ringo laughs]

[both chant] Bonavena, Bonavena, Bonavena…

[both continue chanting]

[in English] Gentlemen,
we are very happy to announce this morning

the consummation of negotiations

for the very important 15-round
heavyweight fight

between Muhammad Ali and Oscar Bonavena.

-[in Spanish] Is there one for me?
-[sighs]

Come here, lowlife, give me a hug.

-[Ringo groans]
-[Tito laughs]

I was offered $150,000
to fight Cassius Clay,

which is 60 million pesos.

[whistling, cheering]

Get your ticket, Rolito.
You're coming with me.

We're going, dear Oscar.

[Muhammad Ali, in English] I think
it'll be much rougher than Jerry Quarry…

-[in Spanish] We'll make history.
-[in English] …than George Chuvalo.

Much rougher than Karl Mildenberger
and Zora Folley.

[no audible dialogue]

[in Spanish] Could you beat Cassius Clay?

What a question. Ask me in which round.

-[engine revving]
-[crickets chirping]

[engine stops]

No. Where are you going?

[g*n c*ck]

[knocking on door]

-Where'd you get that g*n?
-[Ringo] Shh.

[fire crackling]

You're scared by that sh*t?

I don't want to end up in the desert
with a b*llet in my neck.

It's fine.

[Enrique] Ringo, we're visitors here.
This isn't Parque Patricios.

What are you saying?

I'm saying they're going to k*ll us.
That's what I'm saying.

Nobody's gonna k*ll me.

[Enrique] These guys are rough.

Real rough.

They set fire to your passport.
They're going to k*ll us, Ringo. Let's go.

Go.

If you're afraid, go.

Yes, I am afraid.

There's the door, coward.

Traitor.

You're a traitor.