01x25 - The Count of Ten

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

The Loretta Young show.

Starring Loretta Young.

[clapping]

Hello.

Last season we did a storyabout a prize fighter, Tiger Tipton.

And according to our mail,it was one of your favorites.

And we're glad becauseit was one of ours, too.

Tiger Tipton wasplayed by Eddie Albert.

A wonderful actor,and here he is.

He had retiredfrom the ring three

years before and hadmarried Maddie Todd,

who at that time wasknown as Dolores de Bois

and was dancing in thechorus line of a nightclub.

A condition of their marriage beingthat he would never fight again.

Which was fine with Tiger Tipton.

He had earned somemoney as a fighter and

had bought a restaurantwhen he retired.

His name was a draw inhis Midwestern hometown

since he had been a pleasinghonest workman in his trade.

He was looking for me.Nick Pulaski, his old manager.

Come on, keep itmoving. Keep it moving.

Hey, hit that thing like you'reafraid it's going to hit you back.

What I like about managers is

they work so hardfor their and a third.

-Hi, Tiger.-Nick.

-Where you've been keeping yourself?- Oh, hospital mostly.

How's she doing?

Well, it can be expected.The doctor keeps saying so.

What does that mean?

You tell me.

All right, that's enough.

All right, sit down andcool off for a few minutes.

He's like you. Might turnout to be a real good boy.

Are you kidding?

He's got oatmeal wherehis brains ought to be.

You were the onlysmart fighter I ever had.

But you were smart enough to quit.

Like to have me back, Nick.

Hey, you're a little old to behaving thoughts like that.

Ain't you?

A little too broke notto be having them?

What about the restaurant?

Ahh.

Creditors tookover this morning.

You figure you get yourbrain snocked out for

a few lousy bucks andthat'll solve everything?

My wife's tab at the hospitalruns three $ a week

So what? That give her whatshe needs, money or no money.

Ahh.

Not charity, exactly.

Oh.

What is it exactly?

Alright, I'll see what I can do.

Maybe we can get you inshape with a couple of pushovers.

Well look, uh, Nick,one fight. Big one.

Got somebody in mind?

Yes, champ.

The champ?-Yeah.

What do you got, rocks in your head?

Lots of people intown remember me.

The fight'd drawa real good gate.

Yeah. So would afight with Eisenhower

but how am I supposedto arrange him?

The champ will be swinging throughhere on his barnstorming tour.

He'd go big for a nodecision exhibition bout with a

local drawing card.

Yeah, but the local drawingcard happens to be a big

fat has been who ain't had aglove on in nearly three years.

I ain't fat, Nick.

No.

Let's just say you're, uh,you're pleasingly plump.

Does your wife knowyou're losing your mind?

We ain't discussed acomeback, if that's what you mean.

- Well, she'll never let you--- Look, just just arrange the match.

Will you?

I'll arrange it with Maddie.

All right. I'll see what I can do.When're you going to tell her?

Well, I'm due at thehospital right now.

That's enoughworkout for the first day?

More than enough.

You know, a guy yourage shouldn't overdo it.

Yeah.

[music]

Maddie Tipton was avery beautiful woman.

Lying in a hospital bed,she was still beautiful.

But Maddie was dyingand she didn't know it.

Hi, honey.

Oh.

-How are you?-Hi.

-You look wonderful.-Oh.

-Feel good.-Yes.

I feel fine.

Just fine.

Oh.

Ah.

You enjoy the radio?

Enjoy the radio, isstuff coming clear?

Yes fine.

It's real clear, I think.

Let me get you some water.

Good stuff, huh?

You never call meDolores dubious anymore.

Ahh.

I wore that joke out.

Used to annoy ya, I usedthat lousy joke so much.

Yes.

[laugh]

[laugh] I guess,

lying up here, I got kind ofsentimental about that joke.

Bet you've even forgotten whyyou used to call me that, haven't you?

No, I haven't forgotten why.

Well.

You know why.

Huh?

Why...

Never really believedI'd quit the ring.

Yes.

[laugh]

That was silly of me, wasn't it?

Miss Dubious.

Dolores

Dubious.

I, uh, I'm really Mrs.Tipton though, aren't I?

Things that now, uh,

I feel is,

Gee, you should havebeen done with the cafe.

And so, to cheer her up,he told her some funny

things that had happenedat the restaurant.

Made up thingsthat, that hadn't really

happened and maybeweren't even very funny.

But Maddie listened and laughed.

Except it wasn't theold kind of laughter

The Maddie kind of laughter

[laugh]Finally it was time to go.

Always very funny.

Wish you'd been there to see it.

Well.

[music]

I got to be going.

Tomorrow?

Yes.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Love you, Tig.

I love you, Maddie.

-Bye dub.-Bye.

[music] Bye.

[kiss] Bye.

[door opening]

See you.

[door closing]

[music]

Hey, Doc.

Hey.

Can I see you a minute?

Hey doc, is she uh...

Is she getting any better?

She should be,

but she isn't.

That doesn't mean shewon't improve in the future.

I see.

If you're worried about the expense,Tiger, I'm sure we can arrange--

No, money's no problem.

I'm going back to my old trade.

Tiger...

I know how Maddie feelsabout prize fighting.

Believe me, in herpresent mental state, it's

too dangerous.-She won't have to know about it.

Joe, I'll train right herein town. I can be on

visit her every daylike always, you know.

And I'll,

I'll wear everythingwith a catcher's masks or

won't get scuffed up sparring you.

What about the newspaper, the radio?

You're something of alocal celebrity, you know.

Well, uh, maybe I can,maybe I can fix that too.

Say, Joe, look, Imight need a little help.

I wonder if I coulddrop in and talk to you.

That's mighty nice of you. I'llbe at the gym all day tomorrow.

All right. Tomorrow morningfine. Yes. Thank you, Joe.

[Telephone keep down]

[Skipping sound]

Hey, come on. Yougot two more minutes.

Oh, no. Here comes a press anyway.Two more minutes to k*ll me. Hi, Joe

Welcome.

I will fight the champ in June,here. Right here in this town.

It's all arranged.We got the stadium

There's one condition, though.

Look, can we sit down.

oh, I can see he'sin great shape.

My boy. We hope he'sgot the strength that

falls through therows for five nights.

You said it was the condition.

Yeah, just this. My wife don'twant me to fight again.

So if she ever hears about this,I got to call the whole thing off.

The champion ofthe world is coming to

town for a bout andyou want to suppress it?

Well Joe, uh, she's got aradio in her room, and

the doc allows her tolisten only certain hours

of the day. Now, thenewscasters have promised

to button up about thefight during those hours.

What do you want me to do?

I'll tell you what youcan do, you lunkhead.

You can run off a specialedition of your sheet every night.

Just one copy, just for Maddie,with nothing in it about the fight.

I'll talk to the boss manabout it. I think he'll go for it.

Thanks, Joe.

I'll call you assoon as I find out.

Touch all the bases.

So long, Joe.

[boxing sound]

I remember the onlymeal I ever cooked for you.

Biscuits really were like rocks.

Oh, but tasty rocks.

Yes.

And the spaghetti.

Library paste. God love you.You ate every mouthful of it.

[laugh] You eat themfast and ask for more.

Remember the timeI got so mad at you

because you wouldn'tlet me cut my hair.

I'm awful glad Ididn't do it anyway.

Tig.

I'm sorry I yelled at youwhen you broke that little chair.

-Well-The leg really was wobbly,

you know, just like you said.

And she went on talking.

Going over all her failures.

Reliving them again in her mind.

The tiger,

he made a guess then.

He guessed that hiswife knew she was dying.

[music]

Last night, the Champ arrivedin town and announced that

he'll limit himself to lightworkouts at the local gym.

The champ then...

b*at him?

Oh.

Yeah, but he's apretty game boy, though.

I hope you makeas good a showing

here's the champ here.Meet Tiger Tipton.

The fearless phantomfrom fate and fall.

Me, I'm Baltimore battering Bulldog.

Pleasure to meet you.

likewise.

Well, if you got astatement for the press.

Uh, yeah, he's a cheese chairfor knocking bowl, I guess

Well now, if he's stillon his feet in the second,

he's the world'sluckiest comeback kid.

Oh, I get it. A grudgefight. Thanks for nothing.

-Care to join me?-Sure.

[skipping sound]

I've been reading aboutyour wife. How is she?

Bout the same.

You know, my mother,the doctors gave her up once.

Yeah?

Yeah.

You should see her now.Hale and hearty as can be.

That's real good to hear.

[skipping sound]

Hey, Tiger.

Once the bell rings, I can'thold back. I got to let go

with everything because that'sthe way I am. You understand?

Sure, I understand.

Me, I'm the same way.Don't expect no mercy.

[music]

[door opening]

[door closing]

Wait here, Nick.

[door opening] Doctor.

I'm, I'm not Mrs. Tipton. I'm,

I'm Ms. Dubious.

I'm no good doctor.

I'm no good, doctor.

I'm not Mrs.Tipton doctor.

I'm not.

I'm no wife.

I'm just Ms. Dubious.

Dubious

Dubious wife.

Dubious mother.

-Maddie.-Dubious

-Maddie you will be all right.-Dubious, doctor,

Wait outside.

I'm tired.

I'm tired.

I'm tired.

I'm tired doctor.

Tiger, please wait outside.

-Doctor.-Watch over her.

Doctor.

-Maddie.-I'm tired.

I'm tired. I'm tired.

Doc please.

level with me

She's not trying. She's not fightingyou know what that means, Tiger.

You're all right, Tiger?

Yes.

Want me to cancel the fight?

Want me to calloff the fight, Tiger?

No.

Why go through with it? Why get yourbrains b*at out for nothing? Why?

I don't know.

I'm a fighter. It'smy job. That's why.

Nick, people have been so nice atthe radio, you know the newspapers.

Man's gotta do what he can.

Doc here, he goes on givingpills. I'm a fighter. I gotta fight.

Don't call it off.

-It don't make sense.-It makes sense to me.

I can't explain to you, I don't know.But that's the way it's going to be.

[crying] Oh, Maddie.

Maddie.

[music]

Look doc.

I don't mean to keep botheringyou like this, but you let me know.

Will you know?

[music]

Please wait outside few seconds.

Certainly doc.

A prohibitive underdog of thesentimental favorite of the crowd.

And here he comes downthe aisle, Tiger Tipton.

He looks to be inpretty good shape, too.

Doctor,

have I lost my mind?

No, Maddie.

What you're hearing is real.

And so Maddie Tipton's manhas come back once more.

She doesn't know this. Thepaper ran off special editions

that didn't mention thisfight just for Maddie Tipton

She,

but here comes the champion ofthe world, ladies and gentlemen,

The champion.

[people cheering]

Oh, Tiger.

Oh, Tiger doesn't have to.

He knows that, Maddie.

Matthew,

[people cheering]

You follow both of the rules.

They're in the middle of the ringgetting instructions from the referee.

The next time the bellrings, they'll come out fighting.

Okay, now shakehands. Good luck fighting.

[people cheering]

[bell rings]

[people cheering]

Get away from him.

[people cheering]

Cover up.

[people cheering]

Oh.

, get up. ,,,

,,,.

[people cheering] Okay.

,,,,

,,.

I don't think he'sgoing to drop this time.

,,,. Honestly,

Why did he stand out?

[people cheering]

the champ is winning away with bothhands. Left, right, left, right.

Tipton won't be able to takepunishment like this much longer

He's back against the ropes.Two days to even hold up his hand.

And again the champfloors into the right.

The count is ,,,,.Saved by the bell.

[people cheering]

Hey, ten minutes timeor I'll throw the towel in.

Now don't throw any towel.

But you said--

I said don't throw no towel.

Don't care if he's the champ.

He's a man. I can fight him.

We checked with the hospitaltonight, just before the fight.

Maddie Tipton is muchworse. She is dying.

And so is Tiger Tipton, fighting forthe money that might make her well,

came into the ring tonightwith his fight already lost.

[bell rings]

[people cheering]

But when they startedto throw in the towel

from his corner,tiger wouldn't let them

And now he's moving forward.Something seems to have happened to

him. Oh, he's magnificent outthere tonight, ladies and gentlemen.

With nothing to fight for. He'sfighting like a champion anyway.

You hear that maddie?

There was nothing to fight for him,

he's in there fightinglike a champion anyway.

Why?

He wouldn't let themthrow in the towel.

I don't want you to throwin the towel either, Maddie.

I want you to fight.

I want you to fight hardwith everything you've got.

Do you understand?

Maddie.

Yes.

Do you want to hearthe rest of the fight?

Yes.

And now and he is takingthe fight to the chance.

Piling on the face.His left hand is

working for himbetter than it has at any

time during the fight.He jabs once, two,

three times. Comesin with a sharp right

cross the jaw.And once again, the

champ moves away,trying to get away from

this fighting manwho's suddenly come to

life here in the lastminutes of the fight.

[bell rings] There's thebell that ends the last round.

This was a no decisionbounce. An exhibition, really,

but it turned out to be a tremendousfight. Now here's the champion.

I'm lucky. He's the greatboy. A great champion and

a great sportsman, ladies andgentlemen. And now... But no.

The tiger's gone. I'm reallylet down. We'd hope to

have a chance to presenthim here to you tonight so you

could hear from him himselfjust how he feels after the

great showing he made againstthe champion this evening.

[music]

-How is she, doc?-Better.

She even listened to the fight.

She listened to the fight?

I turned her radio on.I think it did the trick.

She passed the crisis.

How are you?

Oh, honey, honey.

Oh, you do look better.

-You don't.-Ah.

Don't make melaugh. I got a split left.

Yeah, that's what I mean. You oughtto be lying here and still a mean

Ah.

With a cakewalk.

I could have got anotherten rounds. Ten on my head

Tig.

Do you know what thatannouncer said about you?

What?

He said you fought like a champion.

I did.

Well. How do you likethem ruda baggies?

I like it.

-You know, that makes me.-What?

Mrs. Tiger Tipton

wife of a champion

[music]

Here's a wonderful thoughtto remember in times

of trouble. It was writtenby Henry Ward Beecher

Troubles are often the tools by

which God fashionsus for better things.

Well, goodnight.

See you next week.

[clapping]

[music]