04x16 - Redemption of a Champion

[bunniefuu]

When asked, ''What was the greatest fight of this century'' every voice will shout in unison, ''the battle in Butte!'' I think he's fighting because he believes he k*lled a man.

Get them! Get them now! Make sure you can fight as well as you talk.

They're going to forget about the Rumble in the Jungle.

They're going to forget about the Thriller in Manila.

The flood control systems are being purged! Give me everything you've got! There's going to be excitement, excitement, excitement! Michael, lookout.

Knight Rider.

A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a man who does not exist.

Michael Knight, a young Ioner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent the helpless, the powerless in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

It was billed as the greatest fight of the decade.

The champion, Keeler.

The contender, Grant.

Went at each other round after round.

The fourteenth was the most punishing three minutes in boxing ever witnessed by this sportswriter in a career that spans over four decades.

Neither fighter giving quarter.

Neither man paying attention to the dictates of his own body that had to be screaming, ''Stop, stop.

'' At the end of the fourteenth round after a conference between the referee and fight doctor Gill Simmons the champion Keeler was convincingly ahead on points.

As you know, I am now deaf.

Perhaps too many years of the roar of the crowd.

Yet, this affliction led this sportswriter to discover why the champion Keeler hit the canvas in the fifteenth round and lost his title.

I now can support that statement with documented proof.

And I intend to use this proof to stop the multimillion dollar rematch between Grant and Keeler.

That's basically how I'll start my T.

V.

spot on Sunday evening.

And it will be your documents that will do the job.

How can I be sure I won't be implicated?

My reputation.

Over 40 years I've never revealed a source.

And I'm much too old to change.

Thank you.

You're doing the right thing.

Probably saving a man's life.

Hello?

Devon, this is Leland.

I must see you tomorrow.

I know this may sound terribly mysterious but I'll fill you in on all the details then.

If you get all information on the death of a man named Samuells Aireon, Massachusetts, year 1978 I believe you'll find that on th

- Hello, Damon?

Damon.

You there?

KITT, where is Michael?

I must talk to him.

Devon, he must have turned off his COM link.

I'll contact him by phone.

Wait, wait.

Nothing will interrupt this evening.

Allow me.

Hello.

Miss Cooper's residence.

Michael, don't turn off your COM link.

Devon is trying to reach you.

KITT, try to explain to him how much this evening has set me back.

I got wine here, I got catered dinner.

Do you know how much yellow roses cost?

Michael, we are on 24 hour call.

And I find nothing important about the price of roses.

That's because you never pay cash.

Michael, you have certain obligations I have certain obligations.

Tell him Damon Leland's life may be in danger.

Damon Leland's life may be in danger.

I'm on my way.

All right, keep your scanners peeled.

Give me a readout.

Michael, I detect one inert human form barely discernable vital signs.

Yet I'm receiving two odors on my olfactory scan.

One, a perfume, and the other a

- Michael, look out! Get out of there! Devon, it was far from an accident.

No one uses a heater this time of year.

I'm telling you it was m*rder.

Damon was talking to me.

He was working on a boxing story.

Something to do with the ex

-champ, Keeler.

KITT's broken down the components of the smell he picked up on his olfactory scan.

It's a mixture of natural gas and Avec Moi, a perfume.

Expensive but not uncommon.

How could a perfume cause an expl*si*n?

Avec Moi.

I knew this girl who used to bathe in it.

It was like walking through a field of violets.

I could think of worse smells.

Bonnie Leland mentioned Samuell's death.

What did you get on the rundown?

Very little.

In 1978 two men by the name of Samuells d*ed in Aireon, Massachusetts.

One Simon P.

, age 72 and one James T.

, age 32.

Both deaths are listed as natural causes.

The fight, Samuell's death Leland's death.

They can all be tied in together.

Keeler age 36, pro 11 years, 46 wins six losses, 30 knockouts turned pro in 1976 managed by Lou Davis since 1978.

Maybe you're right.

1978 the year Keeler hooked up with his manager, Lou Davis same year Samuells d*ed.

What's Davis got to do with this?

Maybe nothing.

Maybe 40 million reasons called dollars.

Between international close circuit and the gate that's exactly what the Keeler rematch is gonna take in.

Forty million big ones.

Just sit down will you?

Just sit down.

You.

You.

You let a chick stroll away from the cabin you don't see her face and you don't know who she is?

You mess up and I can lose it all.

You keep busting my chops, Davis the first thing you're gonna lose is me.

I'm not one of your ex

-pugs.

I'm a professional.

No one's come forward.

Man or woman.

Not yet.

Not yet.

But there is someone out there that knows too much.

Someone else needs taking care of.

I'll get it done.

All it's going to cost you is money.

All right, let's go.

Right.

Uh

-oh.

They're checking press cards.

Can you print me one up real quick?

Consider it done.

Thank you.

Nice picture.

Tombstone Variety.

Tombstone Variety.

Never heard of it.

$40 will make you a subscriber.

How about it?

That's what the other eight subscribers pay?

Tell you the truth they get it for nothing.

All right.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

Don't hit the joggers there.

Come on, come on.

Michael, I feel I need more data for my information bank.

Buddy, there's not much to give except for weeks that Damon Leland has been indicating in his sports column that he's gonna try and stop the rematch between Grant and Keeler.

Did Leland have that kind of power?

If he can prove that someone was dirty, he could publicize it.

Michael, sometimes I find your colloquialisms colorful but confusing.

I assume ''dirty'' doesn't mean ''unwashed.

'' No, ''dirty'' means that when Keeler went down from a badly thrown left hook in the fifteenth round maybe, just maybe it wasn't all sportsmanship and athletic ability.

Can you prove that the fight was fixed?

Not yet.

For now I'll just squeeze.

Hope somebody yells.

I'm afraid I do understand that Michael.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press.

Welcome to Bo Keeler's training camp.

We have a major announcement of a great heavy weight extravaganza.

A world heavy weight title fight between Keeler and Grant.

And it's promoted by promoter extraordinaire, Mr.

Davis.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

This is gonna be an exciting evening of fisticuffs.

They're going to forget about the Rumble in the Jungle.

They're going to forget about the Thriller in Manila.

And when they're asked, ''What is the greatest fight of this century'' every voice will shout in unison, ''the battle in Butte!'' The battle in Butte! And when they ask about a fight that stands alone in their memory indelibly written the memory of Bo Keeler standing toe to toe with Grant under that northwestern sky.

Now what about it, Davis?

I mean, why Butte?

It's not exactly the fight capital of the world.

My heart is with the working man.

Many of these people can't fly to Vegas, Atlantic City Tahoe to see a championship fight.

Your heart may be with the working man but you held out for 40 million dollars for the rights.

I never said I was dumb.

The working man gets his fight, the promoter gets his profit.

Damon Leland wrote that Keeler was over

-fought overused and over

-aged and should think twice about getting back in the ring.

If Damon Leland was alive I got a hunch he wouldn't.

Old men begrudge younger men that stand tall.

The last time I saw Keeler, he wasn't standing too tall.

He was lying flat on his face from a punch two years ago he would have laughed at.

Who's he standing tall for, himself or your 40 million dollars promotion?

You think Keeler's overused?

Let's talk to an expert.

Let's talk to the man who gave him his pre

-fight examination.

Doc Simmons, come on.

Bo Keeler is a phenomenon.

He's got the heart and lungs of a 19

-year

-old.

I've never seen a more magnificent example of clean living in my entire career.

And if any of you reporters would like to have a Photostat of the medical examination well, you just feel free to call on my secretary Miss Jean Tremount.

Members of the press, you can pick up your news kits on the way out.

Thank you, thank you.

Gentlemen I want you to know this is going to be a great evening of fisticuffs here in Butte.

I think that Bo Keeler is going to be an extraordinary talented challenger this time to regain his crown.

You also have Grant, who is determined You need something, mister?

Yeah.

An expert's opinion.

You were at the Grant

-Keeler fight.

Tell me what you think happened in the fifteenth round.

You tell me.

I just wrap hands and mind my own business.

Either Keeler ran out of gas or he took a dive for the big money in a rematch.

Hey, that kind of talk will buy you nothing but trouble.

This broken nose don't make me dumb.

Oh, I saw you fight.

You were never afraid then.

You saw me fight?

Then stop asking me questions or I might lose my only fan.

Who and what are you?

Nothing special.

Just a man who's got a lot of unanswered questions.

I'm Ruth Keeler.

And you're special to me.

You're the only one outside of Leland who sounded off like that.

I still didn't get any answers.

I don't think you expected any but I'd like you to ask those questions to my husband.

Why help me?

Because I'd also like those answers.

Meet me at the turnoff entrance to the camp.

My husband's doing road work.

I'll take you to him.

Look at those two.

I could take both of them.

Danny, you were a featherweight champion.

These guys have a 100 pounds on you.

Carlos, you were the welterweight champion.

Between the both of us we could be a four

-fisted heavy weight champion.

You get hit too much?

And once is too much.

For him, too.

Take him to his car.

Make sure he doesn't want to come back.

KITT, I think I'm about to have my head handed to me.

They didn't enjoy being squeezed.

We'll talk later.

KITT, I need you.

Come on, guys.

What happened to freedom of the press?

Hey, come on! We need help over here.

He's not one of us.

Now! Come on! Get him! Make a right at the first junction.

You got it.

What kind of car is this?

It's an '87.

I got an early delivery.

Really Michael.

It talks?

What'll they have in '88.

Hopefully quieter cars.

My husband does his roadwork at the viaduct.

Fighters usually run in the morning.

A lot of things have changed, including schedules.

If they hadn't, I wouldn't be sitting in this strange car with you.

Mrs.

Keeler

- Let me finish.

I don't know who you are.

I only know you've asked the same questions I've been asking my husband.

I haven't been getting any answers.

I hope you can.

I just don't understand the rematch.

I mean you and Bo got well over two million dollars in solid investments.

You got a beautiful home.

Why does he need to fight?

There is no sane reason for him to take any more punishment.

I watch him every morning getting out of bed piece by piece.

Every muscle, every joint in his body aching.

And I hold back while he stands under a scalding shower trying to numb the hurt.

And when he gets out, I ask him, ''Why?

''Why are you taking this punishment?

''We don't need any

-'' oh, I'm sorry.

It's all right.

He never gives you any answers?

Oh, yeah.

Things like ''You wouldn't understand.

'' And he's right.

I don't understand.

I don't know how you got my wife to bring you out here but I don't like it.

Now, what's your problem?

Damon Leland's death.

He came back in town to stop this rematch.

Somebody didn't want him to do it.

So what's that got to do with me?

I'm up here with you 'no

-name' reporters.

My name's Michael Knight.

So?

So talk to me.

Aside from the money why do you want to get back in the ring?

Let Grant subject yourself to the punishment?

I didn't get a title sh*t till I was 30.

I fought in every smoker and barn you ever heard of.

No ranked fighter would give me a sh*t.

I've traveled too long a road to give up the title after one loss.

No ranked fighter would give you a sh*t until you signed with Davis back in Massachusetts?

You got it.

Aireon, Massachusetts.

I was working a part

-time job between smokers.

Hey, Champ, we better get you back to the camp and give you a rub before you tighten up.

Give Spider a number where you can be reached.

I'll see to it you can talk to anybody about anything.

I've got nothing to hide.

Hey, Keeler.

The name Samuells mean anything to you?

Zero.

When he asked about Samuells, I started to shake.

Davis, I can't handle that kind of pressure.

If he starts to come down on me, I'm afraid I might say the wrong thing.

Just cut me loose.

Let me walk away and disappear.

You want out?

Yeah.

You got it.

You got it.

Thanks, Mr.

Davis.

But only after you make a move for me.

You do it you'll even walk away with some money in your pocket.

Okay?

Okay?

Yes, Mr.

Davis.

Yes, sir.

Now, the ring of the training camp has got video cameras.

I want you to tap in.

Record all of Keeler's sparring sessions.

You're quite right, Michael.

It's the same in every one of the tapes.

Keeler keeps backing up.

Devon, Keeler's the kind of fighter that trains hard.

He hits and he gets hit.

But he's obviously changed his training pattern.

Look at this.

The only punches he's taking are going to his body.

There's got to be a reason.

It looks like the sparring partner was told not to go to Keeler's head.

There's got to be something we're missing here.

Well, perhaps we're making too much of it.

Perhaps Keeler feels it's the only way he can b*at Grant.

Maybe he didn't have any choice.

Bonnie, you pick up any added information on Samuells?

No.

I rechecked the reports.

Both men named Samuells simply d*ed of natural causes.

Nothing is as simple as it seems, Bonnie.

R.

C, check with the airlines.

You're flying to Aireon.

I like it.

An investigative reporter asking important questions.

As long as you come up with important answers.

Michael, the number you gave Spiderman has been dialed.

Excuse me.

Patch me through.

Hello.

I gotta make this quick.

I don't like what's goin' on.

I'm willing to tell you some things, but not here at camp.

Where?

Where you first saw us in the viaduct.

Follow the curve.

It will take you to the catch basin.

You got it.

Relax.

You're halfway there.

k*ll them both.

All systems on alert.

Spiderman turned over way too easy.

You do have an alternative, Michael.

Arrange for a new meeting place.

No.

If he's on the level I don't want to give him too much time to change his mind.

Michael, I have no way of determining what is on the other side of the dam.

It's too large and solid a structure.

I believe you should use extreme caution.

Thank you, buddy.

I intend to do just that.

I'm here.

Why don't we get right to the point?

You and I both know Keeler's waltzing through his training sessions.

He either intends to make the rematch short and sweet for Grant or something's wrong with him.

How did you find out?

KITT! We're in a crossfire! I'm coming down.

Give me a little smoke screen, will you?

Right away, Michael.

All right.

I'm coming down.

Hang on.

I'll get you to the hospital in a couple of minutes.

Davis sent them.

Tell the Champ that he didn't snuff Samuells.

Spiderman?

Spiderman! He's gone, Michael.

Spiderman d*ed saying that Keeler didn't snuff Samuells.

It fits the facts I picked up.

Simon P.

The old guy, d*ed peacefully in his sleep.

James Samuells got fired for drinking went on a 3 day binge.

d*ed in his bathtub.

Hot water, blood alcohol over 0.

14.

He bought the farm.

Keeler thinks he k*lled a man and Damon Leland wanted us to check out Samuells' death in the first place.

All right, let's get back to square one.

Damon Leland was trying to stop the rematch.

Why?

Could he have heard something in the post

-fight rumble?

Okay, I don't mean heard.

I know he was deaf.

But maybe somebody slipped him some inside information.

No, no, no.

Damon wasn't at the fight.

Just a minute.

He was at the fight.

And he was k*lled at home watching a replay on tape.

Maybe that's the point.

We should watch the fight the way that Damon Leland watched the fight.

Without sound.

What are we looking for, Michael?

I'll know in the next minute.

Freeze it.

Back up.

Blow that up.

Tell me what Keeler is saying.

Tell me what Leland heard.

You lost me.

Damon Leland could read lips.

Spiderman, I can't focus.

My arms are numb.

I don't know if I can lift them.

I'll try.

I'll try.

Bonnie, give us a close up of Keeler's eyes.

It's dilated.

Concussion, possible brain injury.

Then how did he pass the pre

-training medical for the rematch?

The boxing commission has copies of all Keeler's medical reports.

Like you said, these are copies.

I got to verify them against the originals.

It's routine.

Besides, if I wasn't sent here I wouldn't have met you.

You're a very attractive lady.

Thank you, Mr.

Knight.

You smell nice, too.

What's that scent you're wearing?

Avec Moi.

It's all I ever use.

Avec Moi.

Weren't you wearing that the night you met with Damon Leland when he was k*lled?

Now where's the brain scan on Keeler?

Or did you sell it to Damon Leland?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I don't know a Leland and if you want copies of the brain scan you'll have to see Doctor Simmons.

Maybe you didn't sell anything that night.

Maybe you went there to set up Leland's m*rder.

No.

I didn't do that.

Then why did you go there?

I can't live with this any longer.

I did sell Leland the brain scan.

I'm not going to hurt you.

Pull yourself together.

I'll take you to a place that's safe.

Davis is covering his tracks with dead bodies.

Come on.

Where's Doc Simmons keeping the original medical records?

They've been erased off the master computer disk.

KITT, can we reestablish files that have been erased from a disk?

Michael, I appreciate the fact that you think my capabilities are inexhaustible but I do have my limits.

I only asked.

It talks.

Yeah.

It still didn't tell me what I want to hear.

You told me you destroyed those files.

I did.

These are fraudulent.

But Jean typed up that original medical report.

I don't know what's going on but you're not paying me enough to lose my medical license.

I plan on covering myself up, down and sideways.

I don't intend to go to jail.

Because I've seen guys in jail.

And I know what it's like.

They take away everything.

Everybody dressed alike and you eat out of tin plates.

I've got millions of dollars.

I got fine clothes I got my own personal chef.

I'm not going to eat out of tin plates! I'll get to Michael Knight.

He may be a pro, but I know his next move.

If the money's right I'll see that all your troubles are washed away.

Keeler's cat scan showed brain damage.

Neuropathy of the arms.

Gill called Davis and told him that if Keeler went in the ring again, he could suffer a permanent paralysis.

Davis bought him off.

Does Simmons know you're aware of all this?

I'm aware of everything that happens to Gill.

I've been a lot more than his secretary for some time now.

Why did you contact Damon Leland instead of the authorities?

For the money.

Gill will never leave his wife.

I told myself it would be a down payment on a new life.

I had wasted all these years.

Jean, that's enough for now.

Why don't you come with me.

You can freshen up.

If you need to talk things out, I'm here.

A man with as fine

-tuned a body as Keeler has got to know that something's wrong with him.

I think he does know.

I think he's fighting because he believes he k*lled a man.

No, Michael.

Bo's not here.

The training camp is closed for the day.

I have to reach him.

He left a little while ago.

He said he had to think.

My guess is that you'll find him in the viaduct.

There's an access ramp.

I don't think Keeler would be jogging in two inches of water.

Scan for him, will you?

I have a jogger a mile ahead.

Michael, why is he running away from us?

I have no idea.

Michael, the flood control systems are being purged! All right, KITT.

Give me everything you've got! I don't know if I can outrace it! We've almost lost full traction.

Okay, buddy.

Turbo boost.

All right, KITT, let's head for the tunnel! Buddy, there's got to be a way out of here.

Looks like the only way out of here is up.

Let's go for it.

Turbo boost! Buddy, have you heard the poem ''How do I love thee, let me count the ways?

'' Michael, this is no time for sentimentality.

You're right, pal.

Get me to the Keeler home.

It was a setup.

Mrs.

Keeler wouldn't have put us in the middle unless she was in danger.

Michael, my scanners indicate there are two people inside.

One of them is armed.

It's open.

Come in.

Come in.

Thanks, but I'm already in! You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Use these ropes to tie up Benson, I'll send help.

You have any idea where your husband is?

I gotta talk to him before the police come in all this.

His church.

The place he goes when he's troubled.

You just keep coming, don't you?

Like you I don't know any other way.

I won my championship here.

I remember.

I was at ringside.

I never thought that Davis would k*ll Damon Leland, or Spiderman.

Or have his muscle man hold a g*n to your wife to get to me.

Where is she?

Is she all right?

She's all right.

She's safe now.

But you're not.

You know what could happen to you if you'd get back in the ring with Grant?

I might get lucky and knock him out in the first minute.

Or you might get dead.

Bo.

I know Davis is holding Samuells over your head.

I m*rder*d Samuells.

He came into a booze joint I was working.

He pushed, and I hit him.

His friends came in, carried him out and I became Davis' piece of meat.

Cleaned, trimmed up and bought.

He covered it all.

No, you're wrong.

We checked into Samuells' death.

That's not the way it came down.

You didn't k*ll anybody.

Davis just used you.

Michael.

Not now, KITT.

Yes, Michael, now! I think you should know that you're being monitored from the sound booth and there are more people in the arena.

Hey, Davis.

I know you're up there so I want you to hear it all.

We can prove that Keeler had nothing to do with Samuells' death.

We can prove that you bought off Doc Simmons.

And we can nail you for the m*rder of Damon Leland and Spiderman.

I want him.

I want Davis! Then let's see if he'll come down and play.

Hey, Davis.

We're going to get you man! We're going to take everything away from you.

All your toys.

Your house your wardrobe We're going to take everything man! So why don't you end it right here! Come on! Come on down and play! Get them! Get them now! Make sure you protect your head will you?

Yeah.

Make sure you can fight as well as you talk.

Don't worry.

I got a real good cornerman.

KITT.

No! Don't hit me! I think I'm going to have a heart att*ck! It's true.

I've got a bad heart.

I could die.

Why don't you do it?

You'll save the state a lot of money.

Oh, honey! Thank God.

Thank God.

You said it.

I just fought my last fight.

And he came out a winner.

To the end of one life and the beginning of another.

It's like a dream.

How can we ever thank you?

No need for thanks.

Just keep him out of mischief will you?

I think I can provide all the mischief he needs.

That sounds good.

Speaking of mischief, I was about to get involved in a little before this whole thing came down.

If you'll excuse me.

Michael, Devon just called.

An emergency has come up.

He wants you back at the semi right away.

I'm not blowing this date again.

I mean I got the limo, I got the reservations, I got the flowers

- I'm afraid Devon insists.

Bought these for a knock out.

Might as well be you.