(*)
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(ELECTRICITY ZAPPING)
(PROJECTOR WHIRRING)
(*)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
(CLAMORING)
(YELLING)
REFEREE 1: One,
two,
three,
four-- off the ropes!
- (WOMAN GRUNTS) - (CLAMORING)
(WOMAN GRUNTS)
(GROANS)
Come on, Mom, get up.
- CROWD: Millie! Millie! - (GRUNTS)
- Millie! - Millie!
Millie!
- (GRUNTS) - CROWD: Millie!
(GROANS) - REFEREE 1: Can she continue?
Give us a goddamn second.
REFEREE 1: I'll give you 60, then I'm calling it.
CROWD: Millie! Millie!
- Millie! - Millie!
TEENAGER: Hey. Mom, Mom, look at me.
Look at me right here. Okay?
Remember when I was little, what would you say to me?
It's all in your head. Okay?
- It's all in your head. - It's not in my head, Joe.
It feels like death!
Okay, just shut up and look at me, Mom!
- I can't. - JOE: Shut up, Mom!
- I can't! I can't! - Mom!
I'ma give you three seconds to feel sorry for yourself.
Three seconds, you hear me, Mom?
Grab onto me. Okay?
Just count with me, okay?
One.
- One. - JOE: Two.
Two.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(*)
MILLIE: The name's Millie.
You're probably wonderin' why that all seems so serious
when pro wrestlin' is just scripted, isn't it?
It wasn't always like that.
It wasn't always legal, either.
In fact, it was very illegal for two women
to get in the ring together all over America.
(BILL DINGS IN BACKGROUND)
MILLIE: But I always loved bein' feminine and bein' tough.
They wanted us to believe we couldn't be both,
that muscles weren't allowed on pretty girls,
and mothers had no business tryin' to be athletes,
especially single mothers.
- MILLIE: For me... - Hi, Millie.
MILLIE: ...that meant slingin' hash browns
in my single mother's diner.
I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
MILLIE: Hey, Ma.
BERTHA: Yeah, baby.
How long's Marlene been workin' here?
I don't know. Decades.
What's her sister do?
Uh, work shelves at the five-and-dime.
Do you know any career women, Ma?
What's the matter, baby?
You don't wanna be a waitress no more?
(CHUCKLES)
I love you, Mama, but...
BERTHA: I put a lot of charm into this place.
We lucky we got jobs.
I know.
Oh, who do you think you are, huh?
- BERTHA: Eleanor Roosevelt? - (CHUCKLES)
Amelia Earhart?
They'll know me by my full name.
ANNOUNCER 1: Here we are with another respectable matchup
on the mid-card of the day!
For those of you just joining us,
it's Billy the Wolfe...
BERTHA: Oh, so who you rooting for?
Oh, I don't know.
They really seem to hate this Billy Wolfe guy.
(CROWD BOOING)
- Really seem to hate who? - Billy Wolfe.
He filled up most of these seats.
(GROANS)
MILLIE: People pay to see the bad guy?
MAN 1: Dependin' on talent, yeah.
Sometimes a heel will draw most of the money.
A heel?
MAN 1: A heel is what we call a bad guy in this wrestling world.
All right, well, what do you call the good guys?
Faces.
Like, baby faces.
Come on, kid.
Who calls them baby faces?
I swear, ma'am.
It's on account of their good looks.
(BOTH LAUGH)
All right, well, what do you think
about this baby face in the ring?
He's a wet sock.
MILLIE: Oh, he ain't so bad.
Oh! Oh!
ANNOUNCER 1: Each have already scored one fall in this bout,
but we'll need a third to decide our winner.
- (GRUNTS) - (THUD)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
ANNOUNCER 1: Neither of these men are a stranger
to the squared circle.
Both are still in a healthy quest to one day
end up on a headlining position.
For now, each hope to make an impression
on this Kansas crowd.
Hey!
That's a three count!
Wake up, Ref!
ANNOUNCER 1: George tryin' to get the ref back into this.
MAN 2: Come on, Ref.
(MAN GRUNTS)
ANNOUNCER 1: Oh! And how about that?
What a dirty maneuver by the Wolfe!
(CLAMORING)
(BELL RINGS)
(BOOING)
Is he in on it?
ANNOUNCER 1: That is what we call shameless but successful, folks.
(CROWD BOOING)
ANNOUNCER 1: Your winner, by way of pinfall
Billy the Wolfe!
BERTHA: The main event's in 15 minutes.
You want popcorn?
BILLY: You pond scum!
(BOOING)
Yoo-hoo, Millie.
You want popcorn or not?
I tell you what, Mom.
This is my destiny.
Baby girl, destiny?
I'll get you some caramel corn.
(BOOING)
(SHOPKEEPER'S BELL CHIMES AND DOOR SHUTS IN BACKGROUND)
♪ Well, the jinx on me ♪
Damn, take a gander at those pegs, Junior.
Hope you get a good look.
Hmm?
♪ Well, the jinx on me
Hey, um, sorry.
Mm-hmm.
Um, we-- we had just remarked to one another
that you have beautiful legs.
We really hope you can forgive us.
Hey.
(CHUCKLES)
Yeah.
Heads up, Pop.
Sir, I want you to know I'm-- I'm a big fan.
Don't-- don't worry, I'm not gonna blow your cover here.
- I-- - Thank you, sweetheart.
Garden-style, grilled chicken, no oil, fresh tomato,
raw onion.
- Mm-hmm. - Dressin' on the side.
My son G. Bill here will have the same.
Right, Junior?
Sure.
MILLIE: Coming right up.
So, Mr. Wolfe, I do have one question.
Two waters.
You know what?
We'll take two iced teas as well,
but no sugar.
Okay.
Two waters, two iced teas, got it.
(BELL DINGS IN BACKGROUND)
Can I help you with somethin', toots?
I was wonderin'...
(APPROACHING FOOTFALLS)
What-- what's it take for you to train me how to wrestle?
(CHUCKLES)
BILLY: You?
Mm-hmm.
Well, you--
You ain't no bigger than a pint of piss.
(CHUCKLES)
BILLY: What the hell makes you think you can wrestle?
I wanna do it more than anythin' in the world.
I've been to the matches. I know--
You'd get busted to bits.
You hear that?
This silly little string bean, slingin' hash browns,
wants to be taking bumps in the ring.
(LAUGHING)
(*)
MILLIE: I promise you, my son,
our lives together will be special.
Never ordinary.
♪ Keep your lamp ♪
♪ Trimmed and burning ♪
♪ Keep your lamp ♪
♪ Trimmed and burning ♪
♪ Keep your lamp ♪
♪ Trimmed and burning ♪
♪ Oh, see what the Lord has done ♪
♪ Sister, don't ♪
♪ Get worried ♪
♪ Sister, don't ♪
♪ Get worried ♪
(BABY CRYING)
That chili's gotta cook for a full two hours every time.
I know.
Yesterday you didn't.
It's been an hour and a half.
♪ Keep your lamp
♪ Trimmed and burning ♪
♪ Oh, see what God has done ♪
♪ Brother, don't ♪
BERTHA: Put that burger, Marlene.
♪ Brother, don't ♪
MILLIE: Order up!
♪ Brother, don't ♪
Another burger.
♪ For the work is almost done ♪
MARLENE: Two more, please.
MAN 3: Watch out!
Comin' right up.
(GRUNTS)
(MILLIE GROANING)
BERTHA: Baby girl, you done chose a wrestlin' ring
over a weddin' ring.
Seriously, Mama, you want me to start asking
where Daddy went to?
Good. That's my girl.
Now, you go spit that at that Billy Wolfe fella.
Don't you let him leave here without givin' you a shot.
(THUMP)
(CROCKERY CLATTERING IN BACKGROUND)
MILLIE: You gotta teach me to wrestle.
You just gotta.
BILLY: Enough.
All-girl wrestlin' is illegal,
and you're too small to grapple with men.
Oh, yeah?
BILLY: Hmm.
The match I saw with the two of you wasn't much of a fight.
(CHUCKLES)
What do you know about that?
I know I could have done better.
Controversy creates cash,
but even if you're good, who'd pay to see you?
Well, people with good taste.
That, too.
Don't you like shapely women in swimsuits?
Give me one good honest shot
or I'm not makin' that special salad of yours no more.
How do you know you have what it takes for a life in wrestling?
Life under the lights has no room for anything else.
MILLIE: I've been dirt poor and bored stiff my whole life.
I wanna entertain people.
I know I gots the talent to do it,
so just give me a goddamn chance!
Entertain, sure, but why wrestling?
'Cause I can't sing and I can't dance,
but I-- I can tell a story.
Beat some ass.
I bet a little glam will sell more
than another hairy body slam.
That's right.
BERTHA: Joe, come back over here.
Baby, baby, come to Grandma.
Where's your little boy's father anyway?
(COOING)
MILLIE: Mr. ain't gonna marry no circus freak,
he done left me over this.
BILLY: What's his name?
It's Joe.
BILLY: Joe, Billy Wolfe.
That's right.
(MILLIE KISSING)
BILLY: Silly bird won't leave me alone, so go easy on her,
but not too easy.
(GRUNTS)
MILLIE: I thought it'd be another woman.
BILLY: No one would pay to see two girls.
MAN 4: Should've stuck to slingin' hash.
Now you gotta come get some.
- Oh! - (GRUNTING)
BILLY: Oh!
(MILLIE GROANS)
BILLY: Oh!
(BOTH GRUNT)
One, two, three, ding!
There it is!
(GROANS)
MAN 4: Ain't a sport for girls.
I didn't lose.
That ain't how we saw it.
That's one fall.
It's best out of three.
He's gotta get two or the match is a draw.
I know the rules.
Main event is two out of three.
You sayin' I'm an opening act?
All right, I guess this is the only match.
That's right.
(*)
(THUD)
MILLIE: Uh, yeah.
First time touchin' a girl?
day I lose to you is the day I stop gettin' in the ring.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(YELLS)
(THUD)
(GROANS)
MAN 4: Hold on a minute, Billy.
I got this.
MILLIE: Your tickets go on sale for that retirement match.
Huh?
(GRUNTING, GROANING)
(THUDDING)
MAN 4: I submit!
Huh, yeah?
I submit!
(GROANS)
I'm gonna need a minute, Billy.
I can't extend my arm right.
Matches have time limits, too.
Gypsy Joe, are you in on this?
GYPSY JOE: No, sir.
What else you got in here, Billy Wolfe?
Huh?
You have dinner plans?
(CHUCKLES)
BILLY: I've seen a lot of lady wrestling tried in my days,
but I ain't ever seen any of them work the ring
like you just did.
(CHUCKLES)
Now, this business, it's all about the story
of good versus evil.
Heels and baby faces.
Yeah.
And your small stature and wholesome look
really sets you apart.
Now, this ain't baseball or hockey.
Athleticism's got nothin' on a million-dollar look
in wrestling.
And, toots, you got both, in spades,
which makes you very special.
Well, I reckon that might be the best thing a man's ever said
to me in my whole life.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
♪ Close to you ♪
♪ I want to be close to you ♪
♪ Whenever-- ♪
- BERTHA: Oh, Mildred. - MILLIE: Mm-hmm.
- Good evening. - Ma'am.
- Night. - Good night. Good night.
Mr. Wolfe...
I really appreciate you believin' in my daughter.
I didn't think any of this could be possible.
Oh, well, I second your opinion on that, ma'am.
In all my years, your sweet daughter's
the most dazzlin' I ever met.
You're a big city slicker.
You remember now, she's a small-town girl.
A good girl.
Get my meaning?
Yes, ma'am.
Good night.
(*)
Because they are the basis of a bump.
(THUD)
(LAUGHS)
(GRUNTS)
(BOTH YELL)
Yeah!
(LAUGHS)
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
There you go.
- (GRUNTS) - (THUD)
(*)
(THUD)
(WEIGHTS RATTLING)
(BIKE WHIRRING)
(PULLEY SQUEAKING)
Don't stop till I come back.
(PULLEYS RATTLING)
You stopped?
Don't stop.
(GRUNTS)
BILLY: Wanna draw money, you gotta put on a show.
Nobody's gonna feel sorry for you.
(PANTS)
BILLY: Matches last 60 minutes.
Cardio is your best friend.
I miss cake.
BILLY: Ladies and gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen, step right this way!
Step right this way, but don't hurry!
I don't want you to hurt yourself.
I'm Billy Wolfe,
and I'm here to present this fearless woman
who is here to entertain you.
That's right, for $25.
25 silver, real dollars
for anybody who can beat this lovely lady, Mildred Bliss!
Pin or submission, $25!
She wrestle men and women?
Well, sir, she wrestles men, women,
and everything in between.
You two gentlemen care to gander?
All right, I'll give it a shot.
I'm sorry, sir,
but you need to be within 25 pounds of her weight.
Toothpick, you go for it, man.
Oh, I'm not doin' it, Jimbo until you go first.
I got 50c right here for the both of us, mister.
BILLY: Fine,
but the straw weight's gotta go first.
That's the only deal I'll give you.
TOOTHPICK: I'm in.
All right.
(PATTING)
BILLY: Good luck to you.
What's the script?
Until they're working with us, there ain't no script.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
(THUD)
(GROANS)
(MILLIE YELLS)
MILLIE: Come!
- (MILLIE YELLS) - (GRUNTS)
(THUD)
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
MAN 5: Come on now!
(YELLS)
(CROWD MEMBERS LAUGH)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
MAN 6: Yeah (INDISTINCT SPEECH) good job, Millie!
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(GIGGLES)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
(GRUNTING)
(LAUGHS)
(MILLIE YELLING)
CROWD: Oh!
(MILLIE GROANING)
Bliss?
(SCREAMS)
(THUD)
(BOOING)
WOMAN 1: What a grouch!
A woman ain't got no business in the ring with a man!
(MILLIE GROANING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
CROWD: Oh!
(BANGING)
(GROANS)
(THUD)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Pull him back.
Pull him back
and put him in the alligator clutch.
MILLIE: Come here!
BILLY: Put him in the alligator clutch!
MILLIE: Come here!
(BOTH YELL)
A woman ain't got no business where?
The alligator clutch, boy!
You feel it?
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(BANGING)
I submit! I submit!
(JIMBO GROANS)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
BILLY: I got that, I got that, I've got it!
Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you the Kansas Cyclone, Mildred Burke!
I'm liking the Kansas Cyclone, but my name's Bliss.
What's with Burke?
We needed a tougher name.
You know the saying, ignorance is bliss.
You ain't ignorant, is ya?
Not a chance.
(CHUCKLES)
Billy: Mildred Burke, everyone!
The Kansas Cyclone!
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
BILLY: You were a showstopper out there today.
Oh, the way you played off that audience.
Oh.
MILLIE: Gotta give them their money's worth.
You see, these games, magicians,
they manipulate objects in order to captivate an audience.
Wrestlers do the same thing, but with emotions.
MILLIE: Mm-hmm.
And, baby, you got it.
That is why I chose wrestlin'.
Oh, I think I am dizzy with a dame.
Oh, yeah, who's the lucky lady?
Mildred, I've been deep thinkin'.
Mm-hmm.
And I think you and I should be partners.
Oh, I think so, too.
Whole lot of opportunity out there for us!
We should get some new ring attire.
We can go from the carnivals to the arenas together.
We could go coast to coast!
No, no, no, honey, I--
I'm not just talkin' about business partners.
I...
(SIGHS)
I want you to be my wife.
Oh, come on now, Billy. Don't...
Don't you start teasing me with an angle.
I have a baby boy to look after.
No, I'm not fooling you, Toots.
MILLIE: Now, shush, Mr. Wolfe. I...
I don't have time for games!
This isn't a game. I wanna do everything with you.
Wrestlin', romance,
raisin' that beautiful little boy of yours.
I mean, what more could a girl ask for?
MILLIE: I still don't believe you.
Well, I put you in the ring, didn't I?
BERTHA: You have lost your marbles!
Ugh!
You barely know this man!
He-- he's twice your age!
He's the only man that's ever believed in my dreams!
You absolutely cannot take a blind leap of faith
into a marriage!
Okay, okay, fine!
Fiancé sounds way more fun than husband anyway.
Still, you need time.
But before you make a--
We'll be livin' with each other on the road,
Workin' the carnivals.
I mean, months is gonna feel like years!
You're goin' on tour as a carnie?
I'm wrestlin' men all over America.
Who-- who's gonna help me run the diner?
Good God!
You sell the diner, okay?
Keep all the money.
- (KISSES) - What?
Wait, and live here alone?
What about the baby?
Joe's coming with me!
On the road!
Right?
Joe baby.
♪ God moves ♪
♪ Moves ♪
♪ God moves ♪
♪ And the people had to run and pray ♪
BILLY: Who will be brave enough
to battle the lady grappler Mildred Burke
in a no-hold barred match?
$25 to anyone who can beat the lady grappler,
the Kansas Cyclone, Mildred Burke!
♪ Mighty woman, mighty man ♪
♪ Livin' in a world they don't understand ♪
♪ Come together, it's the only way ♪
♪ I'm reachin' out, you gotta take my hand ♪
♪ God moves ♪
♪ Moves ♪
♪ God moves ♪
♪ And the people had to run and pray ♪
♪ God moves ♪
♪ And the people have to run and pray ♪
Billy, I-- I appreciate your girls are drawin' you money
in the carnivals, I really do.
But the NWA is mainstream,
and we gotta be a little more respectable.
I don't know when it's gonna happen,
but it ain't gonna be anytime soon
for your girl wrestlers.
With all due respect, Commissioner,
they're called lady wrestlers.
Lady wrestlers.
(*)
MAN 7: Billy Wolfe!
I've got your next big star.
This girl right here graduated MVP
on the national women's football team.
We don't play with balls.
Oh, good, because neither does she.
I fight boys.
I'll kiss a girl if you want me to.
- You a lesbian? - I'm an ass-kicker.
She's an ass-kicker.
Yeah, well, if you are a lesbian,
it's gonna be hard to make you champion.
Well, she doesn't need to be a champion.
All she has to do is headline on that marquee
goin' against your champ
to make sure that your main event draws money.
You even got a belt for women?
What's your name, toots?
- Uh, Mae Young. - Mae Young.
- Mae-- - Mae-- Mae Young?
MAE: Mae Young.
Yeah. That's a good name.
You give it to her?
My mama gave it to me 'cause I was born a star.
Come on, Jack.
Who am I riding with?
Hold on a damn minute.
Are you Jack Pfefer, the Mid-Atlantic tycoon?
The one and only.
Uh, Billy Wolfe. It's a great honor, sir.
Well, I appreciate the compliment.
Now, the only reason that I'm givin' this little spitfire away
is New Jersey laws keepin' her from fightin' in the ring.
Well, that is a travesty.
And I'm really curious to see what Billy the Wolfe
can do with her.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
G. BILL: (SIGHS) What a day, Mil.
- MAN 8: Here you go. - Thank you.
Gosh, G. Bill, I guess it's really startin' to happen.
Yeah, and why wouldn't it?
You know, just wait till Pop starts scriptin' our own matches
- with our own squad. - MILLIE: Yes!
Magic.
G. Bill, Millie, this is Mae Young.
She's the heel we've been waiting for.
Well, ain't you a bad, bad one.
I'll sell your moves all night.
All right.
G. BILL: Best night of tour.
Well, that's how we do it, son.
Now get Miss Mae situated with the stable.
Show her the ropes.
Where'd you come from?
Oklahoma.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
(CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
WOMAN 2: Excuse me, Mr. Promoter.
I wanna join your carnival league.
Why don't you just stay home here
and keep it safe and simple?
(SIGHS)
There's nothin' for me in this town.
I'll prove my worth.
(CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING IN BACKGROUND)
I don't wanna sell the tickets.
I wanna be on the ticket.
The name's Elvira Snodgrass.
(CHUCKLES)
Your name is Elvira Snodgrass.
What, you got a better one in mind?
No, I can work with that.
Uh, let me...
Let me show you a few things, see how you move.
- ELVIRA: Really? - Yeah.
ELVIRA: Okay.
All right, Mil, I'm gonna go put little Joe down.
Oh, thank you, G. Bill.
Welcome to the team, Mae.
You know, my daddy left, too, during the Depression.
He never came home.
Well, two girls, no daddies.
That's a great angle you and me could work
for a tag team match.
I'll go talk to Billy about it right now.
Maybe you and I can start runnin' it tomorrow.
BILLY: The lock-up, ready?
Yeah (INDISTINCT SPEECH)
Over here like this.
Three, two, one, and go!
ELVIRA: Oh, that was fun!
(*)
(BANG)
(SIGHS)
(BIRDS CHIRPING IN BACKGROUND)
(METAL CLANKING IN BACKGROUND)
(COUGHS)
Where have you been?
(PUFFS SMOKE)
I'm sorry, toots.
The settlement took all night.
It's six hours to Wichita.
Well, Millie, I'm always tryin' to get you as much money
as I can.
Must have been important.
(CHUCKLES)
Now you know these carnies, Millie.
Ignorance is bliss, yeah?
(BANG)
MILLIE: Well, I'm Burke now.
What's her name?
Don't you ever, ever disrespect me again!
I don't need to be loved by you!
Just say I'm not enough for you and we can move on!
- You-- - (GRUNTS)
Millie, Millie, Millie.
Honey, calm down.
Calm down.
I'm ashamed of myself.
I lost my judgment with the booze.
I love you.
It'll never happen again.
Forgive me, please.
I'm only maybe getting back in that car
'cause I know there are hometown fans waitin' on me
tomorrow night.
I will...
I will forever be sorry for breaking your heart.
But, darling, you were always getting back in the car
so that we made the show on time.
Who in the hell are you?
I'm your manager.
Now get in the car.
(KEY CLINKS)
Bring her to me.
Now.
♪ My baby don't stand no cheatin', my babe ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, she don't stand no cheatin', my babe ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, she don't stand no cheatin' ♪
♪ She don't stand none of that midnight creepin' ♪
I'm so sorry, Miss Burke.
I ain't a damn cheat.
I had no idea he was your fiancé.
Fools rush in, let me tell you.
He never once mentioned anything.
I just wanted to join up with you.
I love wrestlin' and I admire you greatly.
Just please accept my apology.
(SIGHS)
May I ask you something, Miss Burke?
Millie.
May I ask, do you love him?
You wanna wrestle?
More than anything.
I know the feelin'.
BILLY: Step right this way.
Step right this way!
It is the main event of the day!
Your hometown hero, the Kansas Cyclone,
Mildred Burke!
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Now, men fear her alligator clutch.
You, sir, 25c could get you $25.
What about you?
One of you three must have it in you.
25c could get you $25.
How about another lady?
Ooh!
Well, I'm sorry, ma'am, but that is not
what the good folks of Kansas came to see.
The hell I care about Kansas.
I'm from Texas.
And I didn't take a daggone train
all the way from Houston for nothing.
You want some or no?
Oh, I've been waitin' my whole life.
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Hold on. I can't let you in the ring.
You're a neophyte.
This is a dangerous business.
Get out of my way, you grifter.
BILLY: Hey! No, come on!
- MILLIE: Let her loose, Billy! - BILLY: Hey, come on.
- Stop, stop, stop! Hey, stop! - CROWD: Let her loose!
Let her loose!
Come on, Billy!
We're poppin' the crowd!
I can't let this happen.
- Let her loose! - CROWD: Let her loose!
BILLY: Two women are not allowed to wrestle in the same ring
in this state!
(SCREAMS)
The vile bitch bit me!
- (LAUGHING AND CLAPPING) - (BILLY GROANS)
BILLY: Take her down, Millie.
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
He deserved it.
You play nice, I'll make you look good.
(CLICKS TONGUE)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(YELLS)
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(MILLIE YELLS)
(SCREAMS)
(CHEERING)
(YELLING)
(GROANS)
Oh!
Come on, Millie! Come on!
So, that's how it's gonna be.
All right.
Come on.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(GRUNTING)
(CHEERING)
(GRUNTING)
(EXHALES)
(MILLIE YELLS)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(GRUNTING)
(THUD)
(GRUNTING)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Oh!
(YELLS)
- (SCREAMS) - (CROWD BOOING)
Boo!
- (MILLIE YELLS) - Ah!
- (MILLIE GRUNTS) - (THUD)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(YELLS)
(SCREAMS)
Give up, or I'll break it.
I don't much care which it is.
(GROANS)
(BELL RINGS)
(BANG)
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Millie!
(YELLS)
CROWD: Oh!
- (GROANS) - (THUD)
(BOOING)
I don't do nice.
- MAE: Get back, hey! - (MILLIE SHOUTS)
Oh, Billy!
Billy, my knee.
My knee. She popped my knee.
Oh, Billy.
- This one? - Yeah.
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
G. BILL: God, that looks so bad.
I mean, we gotta cancel her shows
for the rest of the month, right?
Tell me something I don't know.
Are you sure we shouldn't take her to the hospital?
What did that doc say?
The doc popped her knee back into place.
She just needs to have it in a brace
and keep it elevated.
It'll just take a few weeks to heal.
She just needs to rest.
I mean, you don't want a second opinion on that?
Look, she can rest at our apartment.
You and I will continue on to Joplin.
G. BILL: Actually, Pop, I think--
BILLY: Junior, I've got my own damn matches to wrestle
for this next week, all right?
You and I will continue on the tour
until I finish my obligations.
(CAR WHIRRING)
BOY: I had a bad dream.
Oh, honey. It wasn't real.
Come here.
(GRUNTS)
It's not real, baby.
Only dreams that we make come true are real.
Remember, we gotta count to three.
Close your eyes.
We're gonna wish away all those bad thoughts.
Try it with me.
- One. - One.
(TOGETHER) Two.
(KISSES)
(TOGETHER) Three.
(BLOWS AIR)
It's all gone with the wind now.
Joe!
MILLIE: Whoa! (CHUCKLES)
(CLAPS)
(MILLIE LAUGHING)
Hi.
Ah, you made it.
Yeah.
Watch out.
(GRUNTS)
So, hmm... Fix your hat.
Lookin' a little crazy.
Now you're looking better.
Just now startin' to be able to move around again.
It's been scary.
BILLY: Well, my ticket sales stiffed
and I got these goddamn crab lice again
from those dirty locker rooms.
Come over here
and help me get this crud out of my hair.
Hey, Millie. How are you?
I missed you.
I'm so glad you are okay. Can I--
Can I help you with anything?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Here, use those fancy long fingernails of yours
and help me get these nits out of my hair.
I can't.
(SIGHS)
G. Bill, take Joe to get some ice cream.
G. BILL: Sounds pretty good, huh, buddy?
BILLY: Wow.
G. BILL: Where you going? Come on.
Let's go get some ice cream, right?
MILLIE: Yeah.
(DOOR SHUTS)
Never in front of my son again, you pig!
I ain't your damn caddie!
Yeah, well, you're still a woman.
Now, come-- come make use.
(SNIGGERS)
Oh, you can't handle a woman havin' a bigger gate than you,
can you?
Mm, it must just eat you alive, Billy Wolfe,
that you never made it big time on your own,
so now you live off a woman drawing more money
than your sorry ass could ever dream--
(SMACK)
(MILLIE GROANS)
BILLY: Shit.
I-- I didn't mean for that to happen, Millie.
I-- I'm sorry.
(MILLIE SPITS)
(SIGHS)
I'm sorry, Millie.
I truly am.
(CAR WHIRRING)
JOE: Grandma, Grandma!
Hi, Joe, baby.
- JOE: I missed you so much. - I missed you.
Go on.
That Billy Wolfe done called here three times,
asked me if you got here safely.
MILLIE: (GRUNTS) Thanks, Mom.
BERTHA: Begging me to have you forgive him.
Yeah, well, don't you ever waste your breath speakin'
to that rotten man.
(THUD)
Oh.
Oh, my baby.
(NEWSPAPER RUSTLING)
You ain't goin' back to the carnivals,
wearin' out your body,
wrestlin' for peanuts again, are you, baby?
No, Mama, my dream is women against women in real arenas.
I mean, we're putting more butts in seats
than most men anyway.
Can't you and Elvira headline some hot spots?
What about Mae?
MILLIE: Promoters won't pay for it.
(PHONE RINGS)
Mom.
Office of Mildred Burke.
It's him.
Billy Wolfe, don't you ever call here again, you evil cad.
Burn in hell!
(PHONE DINGS)
Well, I know that if you just give us one matinee,
I'm sure that we could...
(SIGHS)
Okay.
I understand, sir.
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your time.
(PHONE DINGS)
You makin' any progress?
Ugh!
(SIGHS)
What I know is in the ring, but outside I'm...
I'm lost without that damn Wolfe!
You got so many fans out there, baby.
Where do we find some willing promoter?
I'm sorry, Mama.
I'm just so damn humiliatin' tryin' to book myself.
Women can headline arenas.
I know that we can.
Yes.
This damn boys' club ain't tryin' to hear it.
(CAR WHIRRING)
Oh, you gotta be shittin' me.
Mildred, now hear me out.
What do you want?
BILLY: We found a real draw.
Her name is Clara Mortensen.
She's from California.
Now, she claims that she's the new lightweight champion.
Word on the street is that they're doin' the same numbers
as us, maybe even more.
(PHONE RINGS)
Mildred Burke here.
Hey, baby doll, it's Mae.
Is that piece of shit Wolfe there?
Is he talkin' about a match with that West Coast gal,
Clara Mortensen?
MILLIE: (ON PHONE) Oh, yeah.
He's flappin' his lyin' gums about somethin' or other!
Listen here.
That dirty carnie is for real with this one.
California banned women's wrestlin',
and now she's takin' all of her hype
and bringin' it to our territories.
Let's show 'em how we do it in the South.
He ain't foolin'?
It's you and this girl Clara.
It'll be lipstick and dynamite. Finally.
(SLAMS DOWN THE PHONE)
We can keep the show business before the personal.
We're-- we're-- we're partners.
Don't let our story end here, Mildred.
I'm beggin' you.
Look how good you done with no daddy around.
And the day will come when you don't need him anymore.
I still love you, Millie.
Yeah?
I do.
Love me?
BILLY: Yeah.
Shut it!
I come back, it's strictly business.
You got that, Jack?
Billy Wolfe,
I swear to God, if you ever lay a hand on me
or disrespect me in front of Joe again,
I am gone!
From all of it. For good!
I felt...
I felt pathetic for my shows stiffin' on the road,
and I took it out on you, and I'm...
I'm forever sorry.
I-- I won't ever wrestle again.
I'll concentrate on-- on your career solely.
Yeah?
(*)
Billy Wolfe.
MAN 9: Billy, what in the hell are you thinkin'
making Al Hafty as our first promoter?
Yeah.
Are you out of your goddamn mind?
He's not gonna book this fight.
Already wastin' our time.
Haven't even cut a deal yet for these two.
Lovely to meet you, Miss Mortenson.
You can just call me Clara.
Clara.
Well, Millie's in the dressing room
if you wanna go say hi.
- Al! - Oh, excuse me, gentlemen.
Al, hey, listen.
I wanna talk to you about puttin' two of my girls
on your card.
Look, your girls are just gonna pull hair
and get injured.
My main event is heavyweights and they're male.
Booking women wrestlers is gonna--
Lady wrestlers.
Look, if you put them on and they don't bring you
your biggest gate of the whole year,
they'll work for nothin'.
You don't even gotta pay out.
I reckon you're all hat and no cattle.
(BILLY CHUCKLES)
Come on, Al.
Look at that.
♪ Bleach, blonde, bottle blues ♪
♪ Baby's got a short fuse ♪
BILLY: Come on.
♪ Boom, bombshell raisin' hell in white linen ♪
♪ She been everywhere, seen everything ♪
What'd you say?
(LAUGHS)
♪ Saw it on the big screen ♪
♪ Y'all got nothin' on that ♪
♪ I said, ooh, ooh, child, what you gonna do ♪
♪ I said, ooh, ooh, child, what you got ♪
♪ I said, ooh, ooh, child, what you gonna do with them ♪
♪ Bleach blonde, bottle blues ♪
MAN 9: We need to talk about the finish.
BILLY: Okay.
MAN 9: Clara's got the bigger name.
So, we need, uh, Millie to put her over.
Long as we pass it back and forth.
MAN 10: That's fine and good,
but for now, Clara defends the title.
Clean finish.
Clara, let's go.
MAN 9: Clean finish.
Billy, did I hear that right?
BILLY: I'm afraid so, toots.
But don't let it get you down.
Clara was born into wrestlin'.
Wait.
Pro wrestlin' is fixed at the championship level, too?
Well, it's scripted.
Theater meets circus.
Now, a lot of times on the men's side,
they'll do a shoot match,
determine who has dominance when it comes to the belt, but--
What do you mean a shoot match?
Fight for real.
No script.
Shoot from the hip.
With a public audience?
BILLY: No.
It's behind closed doors for the managers and the talent.
Whoever wins in private determines
what happens with the finish in public.
But hey,
you and I,
we got a job to do tonight.
Go out there and show this audience
how to pop with every move that you do.
Is Clara a baby face or heel?
You're both faces.
It's never been done like that before.
Light her up.
Mm-hmm.
(CROWD CLAMORING AND CLAPPING)
And the Dothan Arena!
(FOOTFALLS)
(CLAPS)
(CROWD CLAMORING IN BACKGROUND)
GEORGE: Wow. (CHUCKLES)
If it isn't my old friend from the diner.
I'll be damned.
MILLIE: I know.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
I asked for you to get good billin'
openin' the show tonight.
I follow you in the papers when I can.
Yeah, shouldn't take long.
(CHUCKLES)
How are you?
Uh, great, yeah, really great.
How are you, really?
The bigwigs at the Alliance are...
They're breathing down my neck.
They're talkin' about sendin' me back to Kansas.
Can't seem to draw the crowds.
BILLY: It's time!
Hey, keep your head up.
Luck always seems to turn in this business.
Hailing from Kansas...
Do somethin' about this, will you?
(CHUCKLES)
Remember when you first mentioned a little glam?
(KISSES)
You can be a wrestler and still be gorgeous, George.
Mildred Burke!
(CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
BILLY: Decent match tonight, George.
Didn't even break a sweat.
You retire from the ring to pack houses
with the Kansas waitress,
but you can't even return my call?
Sometimes, the heel wins.
♪ Pull my wishes ♪
♪ Out of that well ♪
ANNOUNCER 2: And to defend her title,
hailing from sunny California,
your champion,
Clara Mortensen!
♪ Ride no coattails ♪
♪ Gonna do it myself ♪
♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪
♪ Do it myself ♪
♪ Mm, mm, mm, mm ♪
BROADCASTER 1: So, here we are!
Two women headlining venues that have only had
male grapplers with top billing!
♪ Losin' sleep ♪
♪ Taking the long road ♪
BROADCASTER 1: Can't say many of us saw this coming,
but this is what the people want!
♪ Diggin' deep ♪
♪ We gonna strike gold ♪
BROADCASTER 1: They've been called the Danger Dames.
The appeal, the athleticism,
the aesthetic, the attitude, and the awe factor,
these lady wrestlers have it all
and they aren't afraid to show it,
wasting no time givin' a capacity crowd
- their money's worth! - (BELL RINGS)
♪ Burning rubber ♪
♪ Comin' in hot ♪
♪ Call it stubborn ♪
BROADCASTER 1: The maneuvers, the madness!
The crowd is torn with our challenger,
the Kansas Cyclone, against the California girl
who won't stay down!
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ Losin' sleep, ♪
♪ Takin' the long road ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
(BELL RINGS)
♪ Diggin' deep ♪
♪ We gonna strike gold ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
ANNOUNCER 2: The winner, and still champion,
our California beauty, Clara Mortensen!
CROWD: Millie!
How further is it, G. Bill?
G. BILL: 300 miles, Mil.
These winding dirt roads
ain't doin' us any favors either, so...
MILLIE: 300 miles?
Can you imagine one day
they figure how to make it cool inside here
and they pave the roads straight across?
BROADCASTER 2: I tell you what, folks, it's not every day
you see a single mother cash in checks
and breaking records like that.
Millie Muscles,
truly an astounding American woman!
(CHEERING)
G. BILL: When's it gonna be Millie's turn to win the strap?
I mean, they keep sayin' after the next night,
after the next night.
Son, that is a very good question.
(BANGING)
It's Billy Wolfe.
MAN 9: Yeah?
Gentlemen, I-- I need to have a word in-- in private.
Come on in.
Anythin' that needs to be said,
can be said right in front of her.
BILLY: I think it's time we talked about the belt changin' hands.
MAN 10: Ain't gonna happen.
BILLY: Now hold on a damn minute there, Beefcake.
We started this tour, we had a deal.
Yeah, well, you know, it's wrestlin'.
Plans change.
That don't work for me, Brutus.
BRUTUS: Neither do we.
BILLY: Millie's got a lot of heat on her now.
You agreed to this.
It's the right thing to do.
Clara ain't droppin' the strap to your girl.
And that's the finish.
- That's bullshit, Beefcake! - Hey!
(GRUNTING AND GROANING)
All right, that's enough.
(GROANS)
Sorry about your bookin'.
(BILLY GROANS)
(INDISTINCT CATHETER)
(COUGHS)
Oh, Jesus!
MILLIE: Billy, what in the hell?
(BILLY GROANS)
(SIGHS)
That bastards double-crossed us.
What do you mean, Billy?
(GROANS)
You go out there
and you wrestle your heart out tonight.
Well, I do that every night.
What you aimin' at?
Shoot match.
Goddamn right, Billy Wolfe.
(*)
Clara, how about we stick to the original plan tonight,
and I win?
Oh, honey, I believe my people already talked to your people.
I ain't foolin'.
You play that game with me, and I'll stretch you.
(BELL RINGS)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
(YELLS)
MILLIE: You're about to get stiffed. Final warnin'.
You're in the land of Clarafornia.
You're the one who needs a warning!
(THUD)
(CHEERS)
(CLARA GROANS)
Honor the dealer or we shoot.
CLARA: You bitch!
(CLARA SCREAMS)
(THUD)
(YELLING)
(THUD)
(CROWD CHEERING)
(THUDDING)
(CHEERING)
(SCREAMS)
(BELL RINGS)
AL: First round, Mildred Burke!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
CLARA: My arm is screwed!
Well, did you talk to your people about it?
You're the champ. Just make it look good.
(YELLS, GROANS)
(THUD)
(BANGING)
(BELL RINGS)
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
AL: Here we are, my God.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the new Southern champion, Mildred Burke!
Number one!
(AUDIENCE CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
- WOMAN 3: There she is! - WOMAN 4: Oh, there she is, yay!
Hi, y'all?
Thank you so much for comin'.
You were the best crowd we have ever had.
I mean that.
Hey, you make a great face.
You come see us in the ring, all right?
- Thank you. - Thank you, thank you.
Looks like we're cleanin' up every night of the week now.
You sure are, superstar.
It's got me thinkin', Billy.
Mm-hmm.
I keep hearin' in my head about what you said,
about how the show business comes before the personal.
I'm listenin'.
Well, I reckon now is a good time
to make good on that promise.
Which promise is that?
The one you made about marrying me.
I want us secure as equal partners in this enterprise
we're buildin'.
WOMAN 5: Millie, you're the best!
Or I oughta go take meetings with other promoters on my own.
Miss Burke, I am prepared to make good on that promise
right now.
(NOTES RUSTLING)
You hear that, son?
Yeah, Dad.
I suppose you want some help with the wedding planning?
(CHUCKLES)
It's not that kind of wedding.
(*)
(KISSES)
(*)
Millie,
you in love with my father?
Oh.
I surely am not, G. Bill.
G. BILL: With-- with all of his chicanery and shenanigans,
why did you marry him?
How often do you trust your daddy?
Not even half the week.
This paperwork is the only way
I can protect us from him pullin' tricks.
You understand now, don't you, darlin'?
You're the headliner,
but he still writes the headlines.
That's right.
(VEHICLES HONKING)
BILLY: Ladies' night!
That's right, ladies' night!
First 500 women get in for free!
That's right, for free!
Tonight only, women's wrestling!
Hey! Hey, Mr. Wolfe!
- BILLY: Yeah, one night only. - WOMAN 6: Mr. Wolfe!
BILLY: Don't miss--
I was there, I was there when Millie took the belt from Clara!
- I was there, I saw that! - Get away from the car.
No, hey, hey, no, no, no!
Listen, listen, Mr. Wolfe, listen!
Look.
Look, I know all about your program, okay?
Now, I don't wanna work in a ten-cent store,
and I don't wanna-- I don't wanna waitress, and I...
I don't-- I don't wanna clean houses, okay?
I wanna slam!
Just tie me to the trunk because I'm leaving with you
whether you like it or not!
(VEHICLE HONKING)
What?
What, you-- you want me to move?
I'll move my fist into your face,
you want me to move!
Calm down, just get in the car, let's talk about it.
(THUMP)
BILLY: Ain't you the perfect hero?
Where'd you come from? What-- what's your name?
I was born Janet Boyer,
but you can call me Gladys Gillem.
BILLY: Gladys Gillem. Kill 'em, Gillem.
GLADYS: Hmm, man, I'm gonna need a good gimmick.
BILLY: Oh, I got one for you.
Wildcat.
Roughhouse tactics.
Millie, she represents hard work,
fair play, honor, integrity.
You are gonna be chaos, mayhem,
rule-breaking pandemonium.
Yeah!
BILLY: You are gonna be a star.
(SHRIEKS)
♪ Bad blood ♪
♪ It's rainin' down on everything ♪
♪ Bad blood ♪
Okay, two of you gotta hop out right now
before we get near that crowd.
Why's that?
They cannot catch you walkin' in together.
It'll break the kayfabe.
Kayfabe?
Storylines, rivalries.
It's wrestlin' slang for the illusion.
Those folks gotta believe that you hate Millie's guts
and I hate Elvira.
Otherwise, we don't got a show.
That's right.
♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
♪ In the nighttime, honey ♪
♪ Bad blood ♪
Now, what you've all been waiting for.
The main event.
Introducing the challenger, the Alabama Brawler!
♪ I've made mistakes ♪
Ah, you're gonna do great, shortcake.
Just keep workin' the angle that got you here.
Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem!
Kill 'em, girl.
(CLAPS, YELLS)
(CLAPS, CHEERS)
♪ Lost underground ♪
(CHEERING)
♪ I hear them gates ♪
Okay, come on!
♪ Swing open loud ♪
AL HAFT: She's dangerous, isn't she?
Now, your defending reigning champion,
the Kansas Cyclone,
the one and only
Mildred Burke!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
♪ Now would you pray before you twist the knife ♪
♪ I'm used to the darkness ♪
♪ Used to the darkness ♪
♪ I'm used to the darkness ♪
♪ Used to the darkness ♪
♪ Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na ♪
Family business, ain't it?
Damn right.
BROADCASTER 3: They got the South and the Midwest,
but the Mid-Atlantic still oppose women's wrestling.
What would it take for Jack Pfefer
to get the ban lifted?
Is that your husband?
Billy Wolfe.
Yes.
WOMAN 7: Mm.
Which side of the aisle is he on?
Aisle?
Party, dear.
Is he a Democrat or Republican?
Oh, no.
He's a promoter.
We work in sports.
I'm a wrestler.
(CHUCKLES)
For a moment I thought you were serious.
I'm actually the highest-paid female athlete.
In Washington?
In history.
Make-believe pays well, I suppose.
MILLIE: You know why people love fairy tales?
It lets them escape from their mundane lives.
We're a real-life fairy tale.
Showing flesh, getting fresh.
Hi.
I think we've got enough problems in this country
without undermining our social mores
by mixing sexuality and violence.
No offense.
There's a hell of a lot more women in the seats at our shows
than golf or tennis.
New York and California still know better
than to allow two half-naked women in the ring
at the same time.
Oh, Mrs. McCarthy, honey,
we can do two women at the same time together.
We don't need a ring.
They say if you-- you wanna live longer,
you gotta live a little.
You know what I'm sayin'?
(MAE CHUCKLES)
So, this is what your husband is here lobbying for?
Many of the senators are fans.
COMMENTATOR: (ON TV) The first player to break the color barrier,
Jackie Robinson from the Brooklyn Dodgers,
is off to a tremendous start.
You ever plan to tell Mildred how you really feel, G. Bill?
Maybe I'll hop in that bar and do the honors right now.
JACK: Well, I think that the most important question is
why would anyone wanna limit the spectacle of competition
based on gender?
Uh, gentlemen, you wanna be on the right side of the ropes
or the wrong side of history?
BILLY: Here she is.
Millie Muscles?
Such a powerful presence.
Speaking of powerful, go on, show him.
MAN 11: What a wonderful honor it is to have you here tonight.
Mr. Wolfe. Pfefer.
BILLY: Cheers.
JACK: Cheers.
(CLINK)
Sex, muscles, and diamonds,
Mildred Burke's takin' the wrestling world by storm,
unifying the Southern and Midwestern belts
with headlining all girl matches,
led by promoter extraordinaire Billy Wolfe.
MAN 12: The Lord said nothing degrades human nature
more to its most bestial depths than the sight
of a healthy pair of young women indulging
in the repugnant postures of all-in wrestling.
(CAMERA FLASH CLICKS)
BROADCASTER 4: With Millie Muscles as their headliner,
other glamour girls,
like Elvira Snodgrass and Mae Young,
are making their mark.
When Mae isn't busy hustling men at the pool hall,
she's recruiting the barmaids who work there!
MAE: You like servin' dusty drinks?
BROADCASTER 4: The latest being Miss Nell Stewart.
Hi, everyone.
Sorry we're late.
Why do you wanna get in the ring?
NELL: Abusin' my body for diamond and fur coat money?
And it's apple butter on a Monday.
(CHEERING)
GLADYS: Come on, I want you to push me, okay?
Like you were pushing past every jerk
that ever broke your heart, right?
- (CHUCKLES) - Gotta be a few of them.
- Come on. - Okay.
- Give it to me. - Okay.
- Come on! - All right.
(GLADYS SHRIEKS)
(THUD)
BROADCASTER 4: With their headquarters
at Al Haft's renowned athletic club...
Ah, the Wolfe pack's here.
BROADCASTER 4: ...and pioneer Jack Pfefer now legal to pick the girls
throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey,
women are coming from all across the globe
for this new lady league taking the world by storm.
BILLY: This is an exhibition of grace,
agility, and strength.
(THUD)
Now, if you want a shot
at the great Kansas Cyclone here,
I have two questions for you.
What is best for business?
Give the audience what they deserve!
What is in your best interest?
Always have the nerve!
(YELLS)
(THUDDING)
Ah!
Billy.
MILLIE: What the hell is she doin' here?
She almost broke my knee.
June Byers.
Meet Billy Wolfe.
Uh, we've met.
AL: She's the top draw
in the biggest state in the union.
They call her the Texas Tornado.
Pa, got Jack Pfefer on the phone.
You wrestle with us, you play it clean,
unless I tell you otherwise.
(BOOING AND CLAMORING)
Is this for real?
Your own guys protesting against you?
Oh, come on, Billy boy.
Who do you think put these palookas up to it?
I remember now, what we do is theater.
And what we ask our wrestlers
to put their bodies through in the ring
is what we ask our fans to put their emotions through
in their seats.
Uh, then the lady-- lady like the-- the flamboyant--
The flamboyant, infamous Gorgeous George!
The unstoppable, the un-- the un--
The indestructible Panther.
The indestructible Black Panther of the Mat,
Jim Mitchell!
Okay, George, you're up.
GEORGE: Not only am I the greatest wrestler in the world.
Are you the greatest wrestler in the world?
Not only am I the greatest wrestler in the world,
but also the most gorgeous one that has ever lived.
Jim, you're up.
I came here all the way from Louisville
to shut down Gorgeous George.
JACK: Why are you calling him gorgeous?
Do you think he's gorgeous?
To shut down disgusting George!
Disgusting.
GEORGE: But also the most beautiful one.
Surely you all already know that,
which is why you gave money.
Copious amounts of money.
Which is why you gave copious amounts of money to see...
...me tonight.
Now he's gonna cheat.
JACK: Make it rhyme!
When he's about to get beat!
But y'all know I'll finish him off
and toss his ass out on the street.
JACK: You gonna throw him where?
JACK AND JIM: (TOGETHER) Throw his ass out...
- ...on the street! - Ha!
I am the Black Panther of the Mat!
And you better remember that!
Buffoon!
The only buffoons that are even more ignorant...
- (BOOING) - ...than this filthy...
(BOOING)
...Jim Mitchell are the degenerates...
(BOOING)
...who bought tickets, standing right in front of me.
(BOOING)
♪ Hammers and nails ♪
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
♪ Hammers and nails ♪
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Hello there, darlin'.
I'll be damned.
Since when did you--
Become...
so damn gorgeous?
Mm.
Who do you think inspired me to bring the glitz
and the glam to this...
...stuffy world?
MILLIE: Oh, George.
I'd love for you to meet three other mavens.
This is Gladys Gillem.
Elvira Snodgrass.
And the infamous Mae Young.
BILLY: George?
I think they just called me.
You ain't really a queer, are you?
(MAE CHUCKLES)
BILLY: Ladies!
Aha!
I'm honored to introduce to you these three sisters.
Battlin' Babs Wingo, Evelyn Dynamo Johnson,
and Marvelous Marva Scott.
The first colored lady wrestlers.
I'll be damned, Billy Wolfe.
(CHUCKLES)
MAE: It's a pleasure to meet you, ladies.
MILLIE: Incredible, Billy.
BILLY: Five minutes to dressing rooms.
Five minutes to dressing rooms, you hear me?
How'd y'all meet?
We trained gymnastics together.
Billy done scouted us,
showed us all about your success, Mildred,
and we got inspired to join the family.
Together, we gotta shake things up
and break walls down in this country.
And we starting tonight.
GLADYS: Tonight.
Looks like I found myself a new tag team park.
I'll show you guys...
♪ Tweedle, tweedle, tweedle dee ♪
♪ I'm as happy as can be ♪
♪ Tweedle dee ♪
♪ Jimminy crickets, jiminy Jack ♪
♪ You make my heart go clickety-clack ♪
♪ Tweedle, tweedle, tweedle dee ♪
♪ Tweedle, tweedle, tweedle dot, oh ♪
♪ Tweedle dum, tweedle dum ♪
Reservation's under Wolfe.
Sir,
we don't allow colored in the rooms here.
Well, these beautiful colored will beat the ever-lovin' crap
out of you
if you don't find a few beds for 'em right now.
Don't want no trouble.
Y'all need to keep drivin'.
We'll buy out the whole hotel.
Every room, cash.
Split it 50-50, ain't that right, Billy?
Damn straight.
Put that no vacancy sign up.
Wolfe pack just bought out your whole building.
(THUD)
(HOWLING)
BILLY: Ladies, remember, you are athletes.
Only one drink, right?
(*)
What's your favorite number, buttercup?
- Um, uh, seven. - Seven.
Aha, there we go, seven.
Oh, seven.
There you go, all right.
That sure is a beautiful ring, Billy.
That one?
You like it?
Hey, look, here.
It's yours.
You ain't serious!
I am serious.
(*)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
Oh, I know.
I only bet on things that no one can bid on.
Easy.
(GLADYS CHUCKLES)
G. BILL: I trust that.
(SIGHS)
Every night.
GLADYS: Millie, hey.
Is this all okay by you?
Billy told me y'all split up a long time ago.
I just-- I wanna make sure.
You're the reason I'm here, so...
Billy says a lot of things.
GLADYS: Yeah.
You know, he claims he really loves me.
He's got all these plans for my character, and...
I'm just tryin' to keep him happy
so that I can stay on the roster, you know?
Babe,
you prove what you're worth in the ring,
not the bedroom.
All right? You're out there sacrificing your body.
Remember that.
(SIGHS)
- (KEYS CLINKING) - I'm sorry, Millie.
Well, sorry for what? Hmm?
Now, listen, we just-- we have a business contract that
happens to say married on it.
Come on, if you need anything, I'll just be down the hall.
Good night, sweetheart.
(CLEARS THROAT)
(MAE CLEARS THROAT)
Lover boy.
Yeah, yeah.
- MAE: Hey. - Mae.
You let him sweat this one out on his own tonight.
Come with us.
(CHUCKLES)
(*)
♪ Well, come on, let's go, let's go ♪
♪ Let's go, little darlin' ♪
♪ And tell me that you'll never leave me ♪
♪ Come on, come on, let's go, ah ♪
♪ again, again, and again ♪
♪ Well, now, swing me, swing me ♪
♪ All the way down there ♪
♪ Come on, let's go, little darlin' ♪
♪ Let's go, let's go again once more ♪
♪ Well, I love you so, dear ♪
♪ And I'll never let you go ♪
♪ Come on, baby, so ♪
♪ Oh, pretty baby, I-- I love you so ♪
♪ Let's go, let's go, let's go, little sweetheart ♪
♪ And then we can always be together ♪
♪ Come on, come on, let's go again ♪
(*)
- G. BILL: It's good. - Pretty slick, huh?
Yeah.
Yeah, pretty soon it'll be you behind the wheel.
JOE: Really?
G. BILL: If you're lucky.
So, I hear it's your birthday.
(KEYS JANGLING)
Are-- are these to the truck?
Are you kidding?
Oh, my God.
Thanks, Uncle Billy.
We work on drivin' it when we get back.
It's not like drivin' a car.
You wanna ride with your Uncle Billy tonight?
Every night.
Yeah, well, would you teach me how to plan the order
of the matches and the finishes?
Well, someone's gotta keep the torch lit.
MILLIE: Billy, what you tellin' my son?
Just asking him if he wants to ride with me.
Only for the weekend.
Then he's staying back full time.
He's gonna live with his grandma for school.
Ma, that's junk.
I-- I wanna tour with Billy and--
And learn the family business.
Joe baby.
(KEYS CLINK)
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
(BOTH LAUGH)
Why don't you start drivin' Millie full time now?
♪ You're mine ♪
(MILLIE GRUNTS)
Do you mind if I ask you somethin'?
Yeah, of course, baby.
Why is it that you wear your crown ring on your ring finger?
Oh, it represents my love and devotion to wrestling.
(KISSES)
I consider myself married to my passion, not to a man.
Hey, well, how about marryin' a man who's actually worthy
of your beauty and talent?
Driver!
Eyes on the road!
♪ Your lips belong to me ♪
BILLY: Payday.
Sweetheart, could you sit down a minute so we can have a word?
NELL: Okay.
BILLY: Mae.
Nell, you got somethin'
this business hasn't seen before.
Somethin' that transcends the ring.
True Hollywood glamour.
Gladys, honey, would you, uh, would you do me a favor
and give that to Mildred?
GLADYS: Sure thing.
That's right, movie star beauty.
I'm talkin' the kind that could be our new headlining champion.
Thank you.
Millie.
- Millie. - Okay, thank you.
- You all right? - Hmm.
Good night.
Jack: So, he goes between the legs of Gladys
and now to Nell.
Miss Millie, why do you tolerate it?
The same reason Mae loses to wrestlers
she could beat with her arm tied behind her back.
It's the price we pay.
Yeah.
Well, when the page turns,
I hope that you will get back on that soapbox,
amplify the truth.
Ha. Yeah, Jack?
What you aimin' at?
A heroic single mother fighting a big, bad wolf.
When that story hits, there won't be a ticket to be found.
(*)
G. BILL: Hi.
(G. BILL CLEARS THROAT)
So, this is our last night for 10 weeks.
Why not go for a night on the town?
Just for once, you know?
Just us.
All right.
(*)
♪ Tell me, girl, what's wrong with you? ♪
♪ What makes you do the thing you do ♪
♪ That I mistreat you and I ain't no good ♪
♪ Girl, you know that ain't true ♪
BARTENDER: What do you wanna drink, sir?
I'll take an old-fashioned.
And a...
MILLIE: One of those.
- BARTENDER: Comin' right up. - G. BILL: Okay.
(CHUCKLES)
It's not that I can't dance.
Okay.
It's that I don't know if I can.
No one ever tried to teach me.
No one ever tried...
(CLEARS THROAT)
Well, it's certainly not my Pops's thing.
Mm-mm.
Could you imagine him out there?
He'd probably try to lecture everyone, right?
This is an exhibition of grace, agility...
- Strength! - Strength!
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Oh.
- Thank you. - BARTENDER: Sure thing.
Thank you.
(GLASSES CLINK)
♪ Comes evening ♪
Okay. (CLEARS THROAT)
Uh-uh, G. Bill.
It's time.
- No way. - G. BILL: You're ready.
It's time.
(CHUCKLES)
♪ Comes romance ♪
♪ Comes you ♪
♪ Comes ecstasy ♪
Okay, you're not wrestling now.
There you go.
(CHUCKLES) You gotta relax.
I'm relaxed.
Follow me now.
Uh, well, I usually lead.
♪ Comes snowfall ♪
- G. BILL: Whoa! - (CHUCKLES)
I thought you said you don't dance?
Yeah, but now I'm in character.
G. BILL: Hey, Millie, what if I told you
that I wanna give you the whole world
the way you deserve?
I'd tell you they made your drink too strong.
I ain't kiddin'.
Me, you, and Joe,
I wanna devote my life to us.
(*)
You deserve pure devotion and loyalty.
Nothin' but...
Yeah, well, you got that part right.
Mildred Burke.
MILLIE: Mm-hmm.
Darlin',
what about your father?
He's not your lover.
He would sabotage everything we've worked so hard for.
He's still my business partner, baby.
He'd bury me.
Millie, don't you worry about that, okay?
What if I get him to give us his blessings?
If...
...you can get your father to allow it
and promise in writin'
that he won't cause us any trouble.
(*)
(APPROACHING FOOTFALLS)
Comin' right up, Pop.
(ICE RATTLING)
(DRINK POURING)
- G. BILL: Uh... - What?
To all of our successes together and to an even greater future.
(GLASSES CLINK)
(SLURPING)
G. BILL: Pop, I wanna talk about somethin' very important to me.
What's that, son?
You finally sprouted some hair down there?
Yeah, very funny, Pop.
Um...
I just ask, please, to have an open mind
and support me as your son.
Don't I always?
Of course.
(PAPER RUSTLING)
I wanna marry Mildred.
(CHUCKLES)
There's not a chance in hell.
Pop, I love her.
BILLY: Hmm, yeah. Good for you.
Dammit, Pop, why do you gotta be like that?
You don't love her.
I'm still in a contract with her.
Well, then divorce her already.
Let-- let me be happy.
Let us be happy.
Lady wrestling champion leaves promoter husband
for his own son!
Pop, it ain't gonna go down like that.
I won't let it.
You got a crystal ball, son?
No, I...
We are done for tonight, Junior.
Good night.
I love her.
We deserve to be with each other.
Respecting and honoring each other.
Publicly and proud.
Hey, I'm not backing down from this!
(SMACK)
(GROANS, PANTS)
BILLY: Listen to me.
You will do what I say.
Or you will find yourself cleanin' toilets in some arena
after my show comes through.
(KISSES)
(LYRICS IN ITALIAN)
(DOOR UNLOCKS AND SQUEAKS IN DISTANCE)
MILLIE: Joe baby!
Where are you?
Mm, my boy.
Well...
Well, well, well, nice to see you too, sweetie.
Hey, I live out on that road for you.
Make sure you have it better than I ever did as a teenager.
I don't wanna be at Grandma's house doin' homework.
And doing the same junk every week.
It's not junk. That's--
Ordinary.
It's responsible.
JOE: Everyone in my class knows who you are!
I'm the son of Mildred Burke.
MILLIE: Oh, so now it's a burden, hmm?
I'm dropping out.
I learn more on the road anyway.
And I'm old enough to drive.
So, if I'm not coming with you, I'm riding with Billy.
(SLAMS BOOK)
MILLIE: Joe!
And they call it somethin' like muscle plasticity.
Uh, Billy, can I have a moment--
Good night, Gladys.
Muscle plasticity. That's what I think the name is.
(SIGHS)
Shake it off, baby.
You had a great match.
You riding with us.
Hey, darlin'.
You okay?
Since when did you start drinking like a Russian fish?
It's fine.
Just kinda going through it a bit from all of it.
You know?
All right, well, give me the keys.
I'll drive.
I won't let you drive after a match.
Mil, you need to get your rest.
G. Bill, you're drunk.
I ain't mad at you, baby.
Just give me the damn keys.
(KEYS CLINKING)
♪ You can run on for a long time ♪
♪ Run on for a long time ♪
♪ But sooner or later, God will cut you down ♪
♪ Sooner or later, God will cut you down ♪
BILLY: Thank you all for coming, gentlemen.
Ah, Tom, you old muckraker.
It's great to see you.
Well, you all know Millie, of course.
But I would like to introduce you
to the new Alabama assassin.
Wrestling's own Betty Grable, Nell Stewart.
Ha-ha!
She might be mini, but she sure is mighty.
And this will be her first title shot.
Yeah, we all got the press release.
Pleased to meet you, ma'am.
This is very exciting.
Uh, let's start with you, Mrs. Burke.
Ms. Burke.
Uh, what kinda preparations do you go through
before a match like this?
Oh, Tom, it's only a few days away.
I'd much rather talk about my house
in the Hollywood Hills.
It's right next to Betty Grable's.
Oh, the real one, I mean.
(CHUCKLES)
You know, when I'm Mildred's age,
I hope to have a house like that, too.
But luckily, I have a lot of time to get there.
MILLIE: Well, I'm only 35, Nell!
What age are you usin' now?
Why, I'm 25.
I'm far too young to remember the old days when you used
to wrestle in carnivals,
before you could find any real competition.
Any lady competition.
Oh, I'm not sure I've ever had any lady competition.
Well, we wrestled once.
Like I said.
(CHUCKLING)
(LAUGHS)
Why don't we talk about what's goin' on right now?
So, who's side are you on?
BILLY: ...one hell of a fight.
- Enjoy. - Thank you.
Of course.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER IN BACKGROUND)
Wow.
JOE: Hey.
- Joe. - MILLIE: Here you go, baby.
JOE: Thanks, Mama.
BILLY: Try the New York strip.
It's fantastic.
Oh, thanks, Uncle Billy.
Of course they have our favorite salad.
Of course.
BILLY: Millie Muscles.
The Almighty.
Well, there ain't no easy way to say it.
You've had one hell of a run.
It's time to drop the belt to Nell.
I knew this was comin'.
And it's fine.
Show business.
Yeah, Nell's been workin' hard.
I will pass the torch.
(CHUCKLES)
(GLASSES CLINKING)
As soon as we get it in writin' that I get my equal half
of the profits for the empire we built moving forward
and I get a clean divorce, I will put Nell over.
She gets the strap.
There ain't no time to get the legal paperwork goin'.
You got a job to do.
You think I trust you, Billy, after all this?
Who you foolin'? Hmm?
(SCRUNCHES)
You don't want me in your life.
I know I'm old wood to you.
It's wrestlin'.
Just follow the script.
The only way that Nell gets the title
without our paperwork straight is the same way I won it.
A shoot.
Mildred Bliss.
You do remember that, don't you?
Fuck you, Billy.
(THUMP)
- JOE: Shit. - Hey.
Ma.
Ma, Ma, we'll figure it out.
If I lose the belt to Nell without any of our paperwork,
he'll kick me out without a dime.
He has all our money tied up, Joe.
All right, look, look, look.
The belt is the only leverage that we got.
We don't need to decide any of this now.
No one needs to get upset.
We always work things out, don't we?
Mm-hmm.
Took a taxi here? I'll drive us home.
Come on, I'll drive us home.
Okay.
(SIGHS)
(CAR WHIRRING)
G. BILL: Okay.
I wanna grab a few things.
Joe, buddy, you want anything?
Yeah. Yeah. I'll pick out a few things.
Mama?
MILLIE: Just some oatmeal and fruit for the mornin'.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm your business partner, whether you like it or not.
50-50.
Then do what's right for business.
Nell is carrying the full weight of the sex appeal
of this show now,
whether you like it or not.
Yeah.
Well, what I'm small on,
I can make up for with padded bra.
And what you lack, you can't do anything for.
That's not how I remember our bedtime.
MILLIE: Oh, it's all a work, Billy.
In the ring and the bedroom.
Yeah, I bet it is.
I mean, you should hear the girls joke behind your back.
You're like a sad, drunken sailor
reelin' from one room to the next.
Now you must be tired.
I mean, you couldn't get a crowd off.
Now you can't get a woman off.
You must be exhausted being you.
BILLY: If I tell you to lose to my Nell Stewart,
you lose to Nell!
(GRUNTS)
- Momma! - What the hell are you doing?
BILLY: If I tell you to lay down, you lay down!
- Lay down! - G. BILL: Jesus!
(GRUNTS)
G. BILL: Jesus!
- Shit! - Shit. Joe.
(DOOR UNLOCKS AND CREAKS)
BERTHA: Oh, dear God!
(GROANS)
How could've I let that monster back into your life?
We need to call the police.
I pushed you back into him.
It's all my fault.
We can't call them, Momma.
Baby.
(SOBS)
I spent my whole life buildin' this.
Whatever satisfaction I'd get
from seeing him go to jail,
I'd be tarnished in the eyes of all the fans
that look up to me.
Baby, look at you.
Baby, go look at your face.
(SNIFFLES, GROANS)
MILLIE: All the little girls
that see me as their role model.
It will all just be make-believe.
I'd be the abused
fool of a wife
that stayed with a man who beat me for years.
Baby, you gotta get justice.
MILLIE: This will heal!
That, will never go away.
It's gonna be okay.
Joe baby, can you give me and Auntie Mae just a second?
(*)
I need you to write this out for me.
Thank you.
To my sweet G. Bill.
I wish I could somehow go back in time
and make all our dreams come true
without havin' to marry your father.
He has reminded us of his wicked soul.
My love for you is, you know, as deep as the oceans,
wide as the drive from coast to coast
we've done so many times.
You have my heart.
But for now, I must insist
that we resign to separate lives
as long as business has me bound to your father.
♪ Dust in the wind ♪
Love, Mildred.
♪ Everything is dust in the wind ♪
Thank you, Mae.
(CROWD CLAMORING)
CROWD: Gladys!
(THUD)
CROWD: Oh!
MAN 13: Don't let her do that to you!
WOMAN 8: Come on, girl.
Oh!
(BANGING)
(BELL RINGS)
(CROWD BOOING)
MAE: You did great out there.
Oh, thanks.
How you feelin'?
Uh, honestly, head's killin' me,
but, uh, Billy has me closin' against June tonight,
so I gotta get ready.
Why don't you tell him that you-- you don't feel up for it?
Go get checked.
You know Billy.
He'll hold it against me.
Besides, a lot of new girls in the stable,
I just gotta keep my spot.
It's your hometown.
You done enough tonight.
Yeah, well, June needs to pin me where they love me most.
That's just good business.
It's job.
And I'm a pro.
I'll be okay.
Hey, June.
Some of the girls been complainin'
about how stiff you wrestle.
JUNE: Funny.
I ain't heard nothin'.
They're afraid of you.
We ain't here to hurt each other.
Y'all just salty and jealous
about havin' to keep puttin' me over.
So, I'll do what I want under them lights.
♪ Lollipop, lollipop ♪
♪ Oh, lolly, lolly, lolly ♪
(KNOCKING)
BILLY: Come in.
Billy, I think you should pull Gladys from the main event.
And why is that?
No, no, let me guess.
So that you can headline with June instead?
MAE: Gladys is hurt.
But she ain't gonna tell you, so I will.
She should not work again tonight,
especially against June.
You know June, you know how stiff she wrestles--
I will check on her in a minute.
Thank you, Mae.
I don't wanna mess up your hair.
(AUDIENCE CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
(BELL DINGS)
- (THUD) - (AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Yeah, come on!
Yeah. Whoa!
CROWD: Gladys!
(GROANS)
CROWD: Oh!
(GROANS)
(CROWD CHEERS)
(GROANS)
(SCREAMS)
(THUD)
(CROWD BOOING)
BABS: Doctor!
Doctor, now!
(CROWD CLAMORING)
Come on, come on.
What's going on?
Come on, come on.
(*)
I'm sorry.
She had a traumatic stomach rupture
and a subdural hematoma.
It's a blood clot between the brain and its lining.
And there was nothing we could do.
(ELVIRA SOBS)
(BANG)
How does Nell's hair look now?
Don't go there, Mae.
Go to bed.
MAE: Go to bed.
Always the priority.
Do 'em raw any way you can.
You watch your mouth, Mae Young.
I ain't warning you again.
Now you wanna talk about warnings?
I ain't ever gonna work for you again.
Oh, boohoo.
She's gone because of you!
God damn it, Mae!
I loved her!
You loved her?
Why'd you move on to Nell?
And the next one?
(SNIFFLES)
The same reason you sleep with a different doll
in every city.
(STATIC)
VOICEOVER ARTIST: (ON RADIO) This is WOR Radio, your station for news.
BROADCASTER 5: (ON RADIO) Bad luck seems to haunt the retinue
of wrestling impresario Billy Wolfe
after the sudden tragic loss
of Wolfe pack's formidable headliner Gladys Gillem.
We have news from the State Highway Patrol
of yet another tragic blow...
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
BROADCASTER 5: (ON RADIO) ...that has befallen the Wolfe pack.
More details as the story develops.
Billy?
My son was in a bad car accident.
Oh, my God.
I need you to do somethin' for me.
Anything.
It's not a small favor.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
JUNE: Your daddy asked me to take real special care of you.
(*)
MAN 14: My client has filed a petition for divorce
against Mrs. Wolfe on the grounds of desertion.
Mr. Wolfe has been faithful
and at all times treated her with kindness
and affection.
Are you kidding, Billy?
You carnie piece of trash!
Remind her about my son.
MAN 14: Mr. Wolfe knows very well
who the member of the touring entourage is
that she committed adultery with.
♪ Tonight I go ♪
♪ To meet my maker ♪
♪ Dig a hole ♪
♪ Her sweet love will be ♪
♪ My undertaker ♪
♪ Never cold ♪
(DOOR SHUTS)
♪ Never cold no more ♪
I got the belt.
And?
Mildred, wait.
Not even a penny?
Mildred!
You built this entire empire for him from nothin'!
Mama, I am going back to work.
All right? That's it!
I never wanna see his face again.
JOE: He's a carnie, Ma.
He got you.
What are you talking about, Joe?
Men only.
Members only.
Every major promoter in territory is NWA.
Ma, remember.
All the tickets you two ever sold had your name on them.
Mm-hmm.
JOE: Not his.
COMMISSIONER: Look, I'm sorry, Mrs. Burke, but--
No, Miss Burke.
Uh, Miss Burke.
But Billy's had the deal to book the girls from the start.
And it's exclusive.
Well, you call yourselves an alliance.
And you've made plenty off lady wrestlers.
I'm publicly split from Billy, so I don't see how it's any
of your business whether or not we get--
MAN 15: With all due respect, ma'am,
it became our business when it started crowdin' out
every other storyline.
People aren't even payin' attention to the wrestlers
anymore.
Look, Miss Burke, we sell entertainment,
and a messy divorce is not entertaining.
Who are you?
This is Vince McMahon from New York.
Our top Northeastern promoter.
I'm sorry, Vince.
My little Vince Jr. asked me all about this.
What exactly did Vince Jr. ask?
He asked why the promoter's writin' himself
in the storylines.
(CHUCKLES)
MILLIE: Hmm.
I said it should never happen, but the kiddo loves it.
MILLIE: Mr. McMahon,
how can I get a guarantee that my ladies can wrestle
in the state of New York?
BILLY: Gentlemen,
I'll make this easy for you.
BROADCASTER 6: And now for some late breaking news
from the National Wrestling Alliance.
There'll now be two rival women's wrestling leagues
operating against each other.
One headed by Mildred Burke,
the other by her ex-husband Billy Wolfe.
And I predict competition to be rough.
To be extreme.
Possibly even all-out war.
BROADCASTER 7: Neither league has been approved to wrestle
in the state of New York.
But one man by the name of Gorgeous George has had
no problem headlining Madison Square.
Got into capacity crowds,
thanks to wrestling's newfound power in television.
BROADCASTER 8: Nell Stewart and June Byers
are getting major spotlights as headliners.
Meanwhile, Mildred Burke has vowed
to make whatever sacrifices necessary
in order to support all the women
who have shown solidarity with her.
- Ma? - Yeah.
If we keep paying them in full, there's not gonna be any left
for you again.
It's not their fault.
Pay the girls. All right?
Hey.
MILLIE: Hey.
Anything we could do to help you, Millie?
Oh, no.
Just keep puttin' on a great show.
Okay, sweetheart?
Thanks for sticking with me through all this.
My gals.
BABS: She gave him everything in the divorce.
It's all meant nothin'.
And look, same venue.
Two weeks away.
(BIRDS CHIRPING IN BACKGROUND)
MILLIE: Hi, baby.
You good?
Yeah.
All right, let's go.
(SIGHS)
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
Hi.
Uh...
My sisters love you, Mil,
but they're going with Billy.
He said he'd pay them the same as June and Nell.
I'm sorry.
(YELLS)
(SOBS)
(INDISTINCT SPEECH)
- Yeah? - Mm-hmm.
Me?
I'm staying right here.
Yeah, yeah. Right here.
(SNIFFLES)
We face this head on.
Joe.
Call the NWA.
Alert the press.
(DOOR SHUTS)
You still wanna talk about the title match?
I think I got an idea.
(*)
(SCREAMS)
COMMENTATOR 2: Well, this Kentucky crowd's in for a real treat
with Battlin' Babs Wingo getting her first title shot
against the Kansas Cyclone.
The attendance here in Lexington's a far stretch away
from Mildred Burke's previous box office numbers.
That's to be expected with the rival league of Billy Wolfe
in close proximity,
splitting the ticket sales all over the country.
And I tell you what.
We may not have a sold out crowd,
but boy, do we have a passionate one.
Now surely they're expecting Miss Wingo to do whatever
it takes.
And I mean whatever it takes to leave the ring
with that championship belt.
Just what in the world?
Mae Young and Elvira Snodgrass are here to sabotage Millie!
(LAUGHS)
Brilliant, little Joe!
COMMENTATOR 2: We'd expect it from the infamous Mae Young,
but not from Elvira, a longtime ally of Mildred!
(CROWD CHEERING)
(THUD)
COMMENTATOR 2: This is ruthless and disgraceful.
The top contender and the champion
both robbed of a clean belt.
(CROWD CHEERING)
(JACK LAUGHING)
Elvira does a heel turn and you make Babs Wingo a face.
Nobody wins or loses, but everybody gets emotional.
You, sir, are a storyteller.
COMMENTATOR 2: Now Babs will surely get the pinfall here
and take the belt with a tainted victory.
(CROWD CLAMORING)
(GRUNTS)
(*)
Every day of my life,
I'll be shinin' through the darkness
of that wrong side of history.
Well, the Saints are marchin' in with this little light of mine,
and you best believe I'm gonna let it shine!
Inside and outside this ring!
(CHEERING)
COMMENTATOR 2: I am beyond words!
What a tie from Battlin' Babs Wingo!
She's taken the high road to a hero
and won over this Kentucky crowd!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUDING)
BILLY: Oh, there he is.
Um, sugar pie,
just-- just give us a minute to talk business alone, all right?
Just wait over there for me.
Jack! Ha-ha.
Look, I came down here personally
to make sure you know how much this means to me.
I need my girls workin' in your territory.
Come on, Billy.
You're just a broke down carnie again all excited to see me.
Cut the shit, Pfefer.
Look, I'll give you the biggest match
in the business right now.
June Byers versus Nell Stewart to crown a new champion.
Crown a new champion?
Mm-hmm.
With what belt?
What are you gonna do?
You gonna give 'em a crown made out of diamonds?
I hear most of your diamonds are in the pawn shop now.
Who told you that?
Who hasn't?
I'm sorry, but the stakes aren't high enough.
Listen, uh, if the gate doesn't cover the full cost...
...I'll-- I'll pay out of my pocket.
You wanna put money back in your pocket?
Diamonds back on your body?
I've got your next big match.
Only this one ain't for free.
And I think you know her last name.
Come on.
Not a chance, no.
JACK: Wolfe, you need her.
- BILLY: Not a chance, no. - You need her, Wolfe. You need--
I don't need that bitch for nothin'.
I will start my own goddamn tournament down in Baltimore
for a new belt.
The age of television disagrees!
BROADCASTER 9: June Byers headlining this tournament against Nell Stewart
has not yielded the results with the attendance
or perception.
I'll speak for the fans.
The belt that Mildred still holds
is the only official title strap that carries weight.
I don't wanna do this anymore.
(INDISTINCT LYRICS)
Billy, I know you don't wanna hear this from me,
but I can't keep takin' hits on these shows either.
I've gotta let the marketplace breathe.
I don't think we should be bookin' on top of Mildred's days
that...
Uh, we're cuttin' our own draw in half.
Okay, Junior.
I know what I'm talkin' about, Dad!
(INDISTINCT LYRICS)
MAE: They already locked the backdoor.
MILLIE: Oh, so much for kayfabe.
Miss Burke.
Sorry, doll. No time for signatures.
We're late.
VALET: Afterwards.
You have time for this.
(*)
MILLIE: Well, if it isn't the Human Orchid.
The Sensation of the Nation.
GEORGE: Oh, I've been called worse.
MILLIE: Nice billin'.
I told you wrestlers could be gorgeous.
No, TV's a whole other world, Millie.
Oh, I bet the boys at the Alliance
- warmed up to you. - Mm-hmm.
Being top draw in the country will do that, yeah.
Nice touch.
Very regal.
Oh, no one will ever be as regal as you.
The Kansas Cyclone.
(MILLIE CHUCKLES)
Queen of the ring.
So, uh, how are you really?
He's taken everythin'.
My company.
My career.
He almost got Joe, but I stopped him there!
The rest of it?
Sometimes the heel wins.
Sometimes...
...the heel turns.
It sold out in an instant.
I cut the deal, Jack and Al co-pro'd it.
Oh, uh...
(CHUCKLES)
And I got you paid in advance.
- (LAUGHS) - GEORGE: In full.
Ha!
(BOTH LAUGH)
Thank you.
(KISSES)
(*)
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Ladies and gentlemen,
we brought you the fastest-selling,
the most anticipated title fight
in the history of women's wrestling,
broadcast live to the greatest city
in the South, Atlanta, Georgia!
(CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
JACK: Now, now,
I believe that Billy the Wolfe and Mildred Burke have somethin'
that they would like to tell you.
(PUFFS SMOKE)
Hard work pays off.
Sometimes dreams come true.
Bad times don't last.
But bad guys do!
It may be August,
but in the ring, it's June!
The big bad wolf
ain't comin' into my house.
No longer a broken home with broken bones.
This one?
He should've left alone.
With all you behind me, I'll never stay down!
There's only one champ that belt's leavin' around!
(CROWD CHEERING AND CLAPPING)
Mildred Burke!
The Kansas Cyclone!
This match should be taking place
at the greatest arena there is.
Madison Square Garden.
I'm not staying for the fight, Joe.
I'm goin' to New York to get that ban lifted.
Well, if anyone can turn them.
Yeah.
I'll be cheering you from Manhattan.
Don't let your mother forget who she is.
Or who she has.
RING ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our main event.
This title match for the undisputed championship
of the world
is best two out of three falls
and has a 60-minute time limit.
Listen Mildred,
you gotta watch yourself in the clinches out there.
I don't trust this referee.
Don't let her get you up against the ropes, no matter what.
Hold it up as high as you can when we walk out.
Why?
Because we have one, and they don't.
RING ANNOUNCER: Making her way to the ring,
your reigning, defending,
champion of the world,
Mildred Burke!
(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
(CLAPS)
(AUDIENCE CHEERING AND WHISTLING)
Woo!
(CLAPPING)
Remember what got you here.
I'll take heart over muscles any day.
Mm-hmm.
Those muscles take a lot of oxygen.
(*)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING AND CHEERING)
Rio!
Hit the bell!
(RING)
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Let's go.
FEMALE FAN: Millie! Millie!
FAN: We believe in you, Millie!
(INDISTINCT FAN SHOUTING)
(GRUNTING)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
FAN: Woo! Come on!
(GRUNTING)
Off the ropes.
One, two, three, four.
Keep right.
- Let's go. - (GROANS)
(AUDIENCE OOOHS)
One, two...
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
(SCREAMS)
FAN: Millie!
(SCREAMS)
Oh!
FAN: Come on Millie!
(SCREAMS)
Off the ropes. Off the ropes.
One, two...
Please get up. Please!
Let's go.
Come on, get up.
(GRUNTING)
REFEREE: One...
Two...
FAN: Come on Mil!
(AUDIENCE OOHS)
One...
Two...
Off the ropes.
Jesus Christ.
MAE: Come on, Mil.
Come on mama, get up.
Come on, Mil.
Let's go, let's go.
Give her the fall.
REFEREE: What?
Give her the fall.
No, Mom.
What are you doing?
(AUDIENCE BOOS)
Back to your corner.
First pinfall, June Byers.
Why is she doing that?
(BOOS)
(PANTING)
Can she continue?
Give us a goddamn second.
I'll give you sixty, then I'm calling it.
Okay. Hey, Mom, Mom, look at me.
Look at me right here. Okay.
Remember when I was little and you used to say to me,
'It's all in your head.' Okay. It's all in your head.
It's not in my head, Joe. It feels like death!
It's completely out of place.
- Shut up and look at me. - I can't!
- Shut up, Mom! - I can't! I can't!
I'm going to give you three seconds to feel sorry
for yourself.
Three seconds, you hear me, Mom?
Baby, I can't.
Grab onto Mae.
Okay.
Just count with me, okay?
One...
MILDRED: One.
- JOE: Two. - MILDRED: Two.
(BONES CRACK) (SCREAMS)
(AUDIENCE OOHS)
You're the wind.
How much time is left?
MAE: Twenty three minutes.
Tape it.
(*)
She gets nothing else tonight.
(*)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
Yes!
Come on, Millie!
Millie!
AUDIENCE: Millie! Millie! Millie! Millie!
Millie! Millie! Millie! Millie!
How's that knee working out for you?
Let's try to keep it clean
for the rest of the night, ladies.
I know.
This is the worst night of your life.
You can make this next one quick if you want.
Not the worst.
Because your boss ain't mine anymore.
I'm a free woman.
Oh, the man you let take sweet G. Bill away from you?
My gain.
(BELL RINGS)
Whoa!
That was lovely.
Watch the close fist.
Back to the corner.
You know, it always feel that good?
It should have been a heel.
It's broke.
It's a broken nose.
Ah!
Come one you.
Come one!
(AUDIENCE OOHS)
Billy can give you ideas, but only I can give you breath!
Ah!
One...
- Two... - Ah!
(SCREAMS)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
(GRUNTS)
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
One...
Two...
Put on the rope!
Rope break!
Two!
FAN: Come on, Millie!
(SCREAMS)
(LAUGHING)
FAN: Come on Millie!
(GRUNTS)
You ain't got a pin fall in the next three minutes,
the commissioner is stopping the match.
Nobody wants a draw.
Come on!
Two!
Three!
Four!
You might be the baddest there is June,
but I'm the fourth of July, bitch!
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Hey, Billy!
She's giving up the ghost!
- Six! - Off the ropes!
Seven!
- Eight! - Get her off the ropes.
(CHEERING)
Get back!
Get off the ropes.
(GROANS)
Time's up!
Get in your corner.
Stop it! Time's up!
Back to your corner.
Knock it.
Back to your corner.
CROWD: Millie! Millie! Millie! Millie!
Millie! Millie! Millie! Millie!
Millie!
Ladies and gentlemen, we are out of time.
Commissioner says...
Ladies and gentlemen!
I refuse to leave this ring!
(*)
I'm ready to wrestle all night for my title!
(APPLAUSE)
June...
I need to get back out there.
Damn, come on! You're the Texas Tornado.
Hey, hey! Step away from my wife!
Okay?
She's had enough.
What do you want me to do, boss?
Burke ain't got no quit in her.
Look, we've already gone past the time limit.
Byers has to win two out of three falls to win the title.
If Burke won't quit and Byers can't beat her,
I'm stopping this thing.
It's over. We're done.
Hell of a job, kid.
(*)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Commissioner has stopped the match due to the time limit.
Mildred Burke is officially...
Still the champion of the world!
(CROWD CHEERING)
- Yeah! - That's my girl!
Whoa!
(LAUGHING)
We killed the wolf!
♪ And I heard your voice ♪
♪ As clear as day ♪
♪ And you told me I should concentrate ♪
♪ It was all so strange ♪
Oh my God!
Impossible.
♪ That a ghost should be... ♪
We've never been ordinary mom and we'll never will.
Ha, I love you.
Baby.
(CROWD CHEERING)
♪ And the only solution was to stand and fight ♪
♪ And my body was bruised ♪
♪ And I was set alight ♪
♪ But you came over me like some holy rite ♪
♪ And although I was burning, you're the only light ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ And the grass was so green against my new clothes ♪
♪ And I did cartwheels in your honour ♪
♪ Dancing on tiptoes, my own secret ceremonial ♪
♪ Before the service began ♪
♪ In the graveyard doing handstands ♪
♪ And I heard your voice, as clear as day ♪
♪ And you told me I should concentrate ♪
♪ It was all so strange, and so surreal ♪
♪ That a ghost should be so practical ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ And the only solution was to stand and fight ♪
♪ And my body was bruised and I was set alight ♪
♪ But you came over me like some holy rite ♪
♪ And although I was burning, you're the only light ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ My doe, my dear, my darling ♪
♪ Tell me what all the sighing is about ♪
♪ And I heard your voice, as clear as day ♪
♪ And you told me I should concentrate ♪
♪ It was all so strange, and so surreal ♪
♪ That a ghost should be so practical ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Only if for a night ♪
♪ Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
(*)
♪ Oohhh-ooohhh ♪
♪ I just came to say I'm sorry ♪
♪ I'll admit I did you wrong ♪
♪ This ain't easy ♪
♪ I drove all this way ♪
♪ For you ♪
♪ And in the night I ♪
♪ Swallow my fears ♪
♪ Slowly learning what I thought what we felt ♪
♪ Ahhh-hooo ♪
♪ What happened to us ♪
♪ I thought you knew ♪
♪ Our love was lost ♪
♪ Well you know I drown in my tears ♪
♪ Left this town, everything's all upside down ♪
♪ What happened to us ♪
♪ I burned you ♪
♪ I played with fire ♪
♪ And I burned you ♪
♪ I can't lie it's heard to see you ♪
♪ With another girl ♪
♪ Tell you I feel like you never knew me ♪
♪ Now she's your whole world ♪
♪ And all you wanted came true ♪
♪ What I couldn't give you, but I was playing with fire ♪
♪ And I burned you ♪
♪ Swallow my fears ♪
♪ Slowly learning what I taught, what we felt ♪
♪ Oh, what happened ♪
♪ What happened to us, I thought you knew ♪
♪ Our love was lost ♪
♪ well you know I drowned in my tears ♪
♪ Left this town, everything's all upside down ♪
♪ What happened to us, I burned you ♪
♪ And I burned you ♪
♪ I played with fire, and I burned you ♪
♪ What happened to us, I thought you knew ♪
♪ Our love was lost ♪
♪ Well, you knowI drowned in my tears ♪
♪ Left this town, everything's all upside down ♪
♪ What happened to us, I burned you ♪
♪ And I burned you ♪
♪ I played with fire, and I burned you ♪
♪ Ohhh-ohhhh ♪
♪ Hooo-hooo-hooo ♪
♪ I burned you ♪