"[Music playing]" "NARRATOR:" "I learned to fly a plane." "I lost interest in it." "Water skiiing." "I lost interest in it." "But, uh, this is something you don't conquer." "Anything that can fight to the death" "And not utter a sound, well." "The person that puts the most and works the hardest" "Is supposed to win." "And usually that's the way it comes out." "The drive in it is to be the best." "[Chickens clucking]" "We call it sharpness." "When you can hit that peak." "When that bird is at his best, then he'll win for you," "Because you make your luck." "I can pick out the best bird by his conformation," "His bone structure." "But I can't look into his heart and tell you how game he is." "[Radio stations playing]" "You know what you said in your sleep last night?" "You said, Randy, you mother." "I'm gonna kick your shit ass clear across this room." "You remember that?" "Who's Randy?" "You can't fool me." "If you can talk when you're asleep," "You can talk when you're awake." "I just want you to know I know it." "[Chickens clucking]" "[Cock crowing]" "[Chickens clucking]" "[Chickens clucking]" "That's some mighty Sandspur, huh." "Well, what kind of money we talking about this hack?" "What, $100?" "Shit." "I figured on taking you for at least $1,000." "I'm risking my $200 ace against you $100 bet." "Uh, I don't know." "I'll tell you what I'll do, I'll put up another $900" "Against your car and trailer." "Even money." "[Cock crowing]" "That's the car and trailer plus the $100, OK?" "I'll catch you later." "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "When I was doing to Sandspur's bill" "Wasn't exactly illegal, but I didn't feel too proud about it." "Only wanted to boost the betting odds by making the gamblers" "Think that Sandspur's bill was cracked." "$750." "They want this all on Sandspur." "Forget it." "You know I can't get a four to one bet." "Cracked bill?" "Hell." "Now I don't know who to bed, you or Burke." "Maybe I'll be able to get some out." "Five pounds, two ounces, even." "You handling Jack?" "No, Ralph's going to handle him." "He's about half pounds over, you're going" "To have to cut away, Frank." "Uh he can have the half pound." "He can have shit, you know there's no two ounce leeway." "Official SCT hack." "What I meant was, uh, it don't make no never mind to me." "It makes a difference to the better, Jack." "Five two, even." "See that, Jack?" "He's got a cracked beak." "Yeah?" "Well if I'd known he had a cracked bill" "I'd give you some odds." "Who wants to call it?" "Tails it is." "That's a short guess." "Set him low and outside there." "What was that?" "[Banjo music playing]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Burke was a long gaff man," "But I preferred the short heels." "Sandspur was a cutter and all the best would short gaffs." "I mean David was used to long, three-inch heels." "By me winning the toss, I'd given Sandspur" "A slight advantage over little David." "Ladies and gentleman, this is an extra hack between Mr. Jack" "Burke, Burke's Farm, Mr. Frank Mansfield, Mansfield Farms," "Decatur." "The official southern conference hack, no time limit, no draw," "Both birds with short gaffs." "Mr. Ralph Hansen will handle for Mr. Burke." "[Crowd shouting]" "That's enough." "[Crowd shouting]" "Handle." "[Crowd shouting]" "Get ready." "[Crowd shouting]" "Hit." "[Crowd shouting]" "Handle." "[Crowd shouting]" "Get ready." "[Crowd shouting]" "Handle." "That broken beak lost your bird his pecker power, Frank." "The winner is Mr. Burke." "[Crowd cheering]" "[Cheerful music playing]" "Well, got it all down, Frank, yours and mine, three to one." "Great Sandspur, game but lame." "You ought to give up this shit, Frank." "Well, don't look for me in Milledgeville this year." "I was getting ready to wash them." "[Gasps]" "[Knock on door]" "I never heard of anybody so mean they'd take a family's" "Mobile home away from them." "Now, little lady, we made a bet," "You see, and we shook hands on it." "Nobody shook my hand." "What about me, what happens to me?" "No, I don't know about that, Frank." "I got, I got me a lady friend up in Kissimmee." "Uh, little, little David'll meet" "Any challenges, any five two challenges" "You want to show against him." "Only put your money where your mouth is in Milledgeville." "[Cheerful music playing]" "Frank!" "Please take me with you." "Please Frank." "How will I staying with old Mr. Burke?" "He must be 40 years old." "[Cheerful music playing]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "I felt sorry for her in a way." "But I didn't worry about her." "She was pretty and young." "A good lay." "Hell, she'd get by anywhere." "Piss on her and the horse she rode in on." "[Cheerful music playing]" "That's an old trick you tried today, Frank." "I've done it myself and I've gotten away with it, too." "The trick, you see, is not to cut the groove too deep." "If you cut too deep, it's liable to cost" "You your car and trailer." "Two years ago, this medal could have been in your hand." "But you had to shoot your mouth off and lose" "The bird you needed to win." "I've got the finest five pound chicken alive, Jack." "Right here in my hands." "The very finest." "You want to know something, boy?" "I am the finest trainer and conditioner in the whole world." "And my bird here, he can beat anything you got to show, man." "Anything." "Anything." "Hey listen, I'm, I'm getting tired of listening to you" "Brag, Frank, goddammit." "Why don't you put some money where your mouth is right now." "C'mon, Frank's just talking." "Jack, it's 2 o'clock in the morning." "No, no, no, no, wait a minute, he's" "Been doing all the god damn bragging, let's see" "A little action now, all right?" "No, we're going to find out right now, OK?" "$200, flat out, no odds." "$200?" "$200 even, OK, give your money to Lucille." "All right Lucille, keep the change, sweetie." "[Chicken clucking]" "You ready?" "Do it, let's go." "OK, bill them up." "Get ready." "Hit them!" "[Sinister music playing]" "Jack wins, Frank." "Have you got another five pound rooster you" "Can use in the derby tomorrow?" "It's too bad, Frank." "Now you'll have to withdraw from the derby," "Which means you ain't got a fighting" "Chance for the medal this year." "You got two little faults, Frank." "You drank too much and you talk too much." "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Yeah." "I ought to keep my mouth shut." "I am." "I'm going to keep my mouth shut until I win that medal." "I'll tell them to stick it up their ass." "All those sons of bitches." "It's 5:30." "You gonna sleep all day?" "Come on out the yard." "We can have breakfast later." "[Cock crowing]" "[Cock crowing]" "Except for these battered greys," "White Lightning here's the only game cock I've got left." "Haven't fought him yet." "Just about everything I've ever learned about breeding's" "Gone into this one." "And when the time comes, he'll out cock and out shuffle" "Every game cock in the South." "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "If a cock's legs" "Hang down in perfect alignment with his body," "He's a close hitter." "This cock's legs were perfect." "You want this chicken, Frank?" "He's yours, then." "For $500." "I know the price is unreasonable." "But pay me, and you can take him." "I wouldn't be selling him if I hadn't promised" "Martha I'd quit cock fighting." "He's yours when you bring the money." "Go out and have some breakfast, and I'll drive" "You down to the bus station." "[Cheerful music playing]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Where did want to go?" "The lease on my Decatur farm had two more years to run," "And it was all paid up." "But without any game file and, uh," "Without any funds to buy any, wasn't" "Any point in going out there." "First thing I had to do was get some money." "Frank!" "You devil." "You would have to catch me looking like this." "Well, stop grinning like an ape sit down, I'll feed you." "Coffee's all ready." "You may have lost your voice, but you can still write." "We haven't heard from you in six months." "Well if it ain't the junior bird man." "Welcome home, bubba." "How long you gonna stay?" "The, uh, enigmatic response Frank." "I suspect, uh, you've come home to collect" "That honest debt I owe you?" "Too bad, bubba, because I have a hard time raising $25," "Let alone $2,500." "But it's your house, so, you're welcome to stay" "As long as you like." "Would you like a job, honey?" "Uh uh." "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "my old room was" "At the end of the front hall next to the bathroom." "Nothing had changed much in two years" "Except for all the junk that had been stored in there." "Things sure have a way of getting" "Out of place after a time." "Frank, you busy?" "There's somebody here to see you, Frank." "And I bet you can't guess who." "At least you could put your shoes on." "He's on his way." "Still his gentle, warm-hearted self." "Come on in the kitchen, Randall." "What for?" "[Car honking]" "She's pretty quick on the horn, is she all right out there?" "She's fine." "[Music playing]" "[Car honking]" "It's just mama." "It's the nurses' day off, I have to drop her by Mrs. Roswell's." "When I mentioned your name, you should have seen her face," "She got all excited." "I know she remembers." "Frank!" "My goodness, what do you think I am, the welcome wagon?" "I haven't seen you in six months," "And you expect..." "I don't know what you expect." "It's hard to get inside of a stone wall's head." "Francis said there was a chance you" "Might decide to stay this time." "Is there any truth to that wild rumor?" "Joe Lee asked me to marry him." "Got myself a piece of land." "Joe Lee gets me, he's getting a bargain." "[Music playing]" "I told him I'd give him and answer." "[Music playing]" "[Car honking]" "You hungry?" "Want to get a hamburger or something?" "Was getting kind of hungry myself." "Mama?" "You remember Frank, he was one of your favorites." "He was everybody's favorite." "I ever tell you about Johnny Erwin?" "Boy who peed on the wall in study hall?" "Teacher wouldn't let him go the bathroom." "So he kept raising his hand, saying, teacher, I" "Can't hold it, I ain't kidding." "So finally, she wouldn't let him go to the bathroom" "After 30 minutes, and he just got" "Up, walked back to the corner, and peed on the wall." "She took him down to the principal's office," "And Mr. Tomlin says, son, you are expelled." "And he says, I don't give a shit, I'mma join the Marines." "He did!" "He jumped, he jumped in his '52 Chevy," "And started out to San Diego, and then" "When he got to New Mexico, he ran into a bridge post" "And killed himself." "He never would have made Marine, anyway, I maintain." "I think it was suicide." "You know what it proves?" "The value of self control." "If he hadn't had to pee, he'd be alive today." "Just like you and cock fighting." "Something over which you have absolutely no self control." "I want." "I want to get married and have children." "I wanna have them here where we both have roots." "I'm not going to marry you and live some old game" "Cock farm in Decatur." "I'm not going to wait for you forever." "I waited long enough." "[Music playing]" "[Car honking]" "Jake, would you please tell me what's going on here?" "Good morning, Mr. Mansfield, we're here to move your house." "Frank, what's happening?" "Randy!" "What's going on?" "What are they doing?" "They've come for the house." "Frank sold it." "Well he can't do that." "Can he?" "You better call you daddy and tell him he's having company." "[Playful music]" "Put it away." "No game cock's worth $500." "I'm sick of game fowl anyway." "Let's go get your rooster." "Those two battered greys are in fine feather again." "You can have the hen, too." "Can't you wait till Frank finished his breakfast?" "I'm not rushing him." "I can get you a good deal on a dozen Melhorn blacks," "If you're interested." "[Playful music]" "I got the wire." "Mr. Omar, he helped me get the Melhorns last night" "From the Express Depot." "White Lightning." "Mighty pretty bird, Mr. Frank." "He's soft now, but he won't be long." "[Cocks crowing]" "Those Melhorn blacks look awfully good, Frank," "But we had to water them at the station." "The baggage people must be afraid to water chickens" "En route." "This here ace I don't know about him." "[Chickens clucking]" "Yeah, I can see his high spurs, but he's an ace cock." "That is one game chicken." "I guess I'm pretty good, huh Frank?" "Nothing else to do, I reckon." "I don't know, Buford." "That was a $75 rooster with two wins already." "I'd have pitted him in the [inaudible] pit first." "He'd be tough all right." "But Mr. Frank, he say when a bird got high spurs like that," "He miss more than he hits." "So?" "When did he tell you that?" "There's a lot of things I don't like about cock fighting," "But it's a business." "You're either in or you're out." "And I'm all the way into cock fighting." "Frank, you and I need each other." "Why don't we form a partnership, just for the season." "Wait, before you answer me, think it over for a day or two." "If you conditioned and handled, and I took" "Care of the business details." "Well let it go for now." "But bear in mind, I'm filthy with capital." "Well, no matter what you decide, why don't you" "Come over for dinner tonight." "I'll take that high-spurred rooster home with me." "Tonight you and I'll feast on stewed" "Melhorn black and dumplings with a bottle of Pouilly-Fuisse." "Stewed chicken for two, $37.50 a plate!" "[Laughing]" "[Cock crowing]" "Farmer says I gotta get a young rooster in here" "And shake up these hens." "So the old rooster hears him say that." "Farmer drops a young rooster in there we're and the old rooster" "Says I gotta tell you something about staying in condition." "He says, c'mon with me." "He says, we're going to run around this cockhouse about" "Three times." "You've gotta stay in condition if you're" "Going to take over this barnyard and take care of these hens." "He said, I'll show you something." "Then well she says OK." "He says, now you follow me." "First we'll crow, we'll wake up the farmer, c'mon." "He says, OK." "So he goes [imitates cock crowing]" "Like that, and the young one goes [imitates cock crowing]" "The farmer wakes up and he's looking out the window" "And the old rooster keeps raising like that." "He's looking back over his shoulder" "And the young rooster is six paces behind him, see." "And the old farmer takes one look, and he picks up a shotgun" "And he goes, blam!" "And he knocks off the young rooster." "And he goes, dammit." "That's the third faggot rooster I had this week." "[Laughs] Whaddya say, Frank?" "Partners?" "For the season?" "Partners!" "Oh, baby." "You'd better stay out late tonight because we got" "An early start in the morning." "[Cheerful music]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Like people, every game cock" "Has to be handled differently." "You know, a chicken's brain's about the size of a BB," "But within those brains, there's an infinite variety" "Of character and personality traits." "The game cock is the most stupid creature on earth," "And the most intelligent fighter." "I ran the cocks." "The game cock has to fight fast." "And the running strengthens his legs." "I ran them 20 times the first day, 30 second, increasing the number of runs 10 a day" "Until they reach 100." "Now he can run like a striped-ass ape." "[Cock crowing]" "Well if all that doesn't bother him," "He can fight in Times Square on New Year's Eve." "How you getting along with Frank since he stopped talking?" "Hell." "I like him better now." "Before his big mouth lost him the cock" "Fight of the end medal?" "He was on to my tail all the time." "Buford do this, Buford do that." "Now he do what he has to do and I do what I do." "Everything's nice and quiet." "[Chickens clucking]" "[Crowd shouting]" "MAN:" "Hit him where it hurts!" "[Crowd shouting]" "MAN:" "He'll never make it now" "REFEREE:" "Get ready." "Hit." "MAN:" "Kick it up!" "Get Ready!" "[Crowd shouting]" "[Crowd shouting]" "My cock was bored, how could he be a runner?" "A runner's a cock that runs, Omar." "Pete wins, dammit." "Y'all's cock left the pit." "Pete." "He was confused." "He wanted to get back to the pit," "He just forgot where it was." "You heard what the referee said." "Yeah, I heard him." "[Crowd chattering]" "Mr. Mansfield?" "Saw you 52 up on the board." "Our roosters won two fights this year." "[Chickens clucking] Least the guy I bought him from" "Said he won two fights." "I'd like to bet you $25 even money." "Hm?" "[Chickens clucking]" "You got yourself a bet, son." "You're going to have to fight him short heel." "Got a pair?" "I ain't got no heels." "Yeah, no problem, I'll lend you a pair." "Want me to heal them for you?" "No, I don't need nobody to heel them for me," "I heel lots of birds." "This here's and extra hack." "Mr. Mansfield's white against Junior's grey." "Both birds weigh 5.2, fighting in short heel." "Bill them up." "[Crowd shouting]" "That's enough." "Flush your birds." "Flush her one time." "Flush her." "On your score." "Hit!" "[Crowd shouting]" "[Cock crowing]" "Foul!" "[Shouts]" "Whaddya mean, foul!" "You stuck your finger up that cock's ass!" "I was told if you stick your finger up there" "And rub his balls a little bit, then it" "Puts some life in your chicken." "Who told you that?" "My daddy did." "[Crowd booing]" "When you stick you finger in a cock's ass like that..." "C'mon, now, is it a foul?" "With that sharp fingernail, that's a foul." "That's the way to throw a fight." "Mr. Mansfield, look, I didn't know that." "I swear I didn't know it and... and, I apologize to you." "[Cock crowing]" "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." "You're blacklisted from this pit," "And all Southern conference pits." "How long's the blacklist?" "Forever, boy, and your daddy too." "Oh, right, I owe you $25, don't I. Uh." "I'll tell you, Mr. Mansfield, I didn't bring no cash with me." "You know, I was so sure I was gonna win," "I just left it all at home, but I got some at home," "And as soon as I get there, I'm gonna get it," "I'm gonna bring it here and give it to you." "Oh God damn!" "[Shouting] Let go of my chicken!" "[Laughing] [cock crowing]" "[Guitar strumming]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Dear Mary Elizabeth." "We have got to make a decision about what" "To do with our lives." "Until you've been to a cock fight," "Or seen me in the cock pit, we won't ever" "Have any understanding." "I'm sending you two tickets to the Milledgeville tournament" "For March the 15th and 16th." "All my love, Frank." "PS you've got to give me a fighting chance." "[Music playing]" "[Loud talking]" "Good luck, Mr. Mansfield." "[Loud talking]" "[Announcer speaking]" "For this last derby fight [inaudible]." "You fellas get ready." "[Man shouting]" "Get ready." "On your lines." "Hit 'em." "[Crowd shouting]" "Don't suppose you heard the good news." "REFEREE:" "Get ready." "On the line Hit 'em." "Remember Dody White?" "Well." "I married her, Frank." "[Crowd shouting]" "MAN:" "Foul." "But the [inaudible] wins." "[Clapping]" "Frank, she's uh, she's got the wild idea from somewhere" "That you can talk." "And uh, and she's afraid you're gonna say something" "About, uh, you and her." "And, uh, well I know it's a lot of crap," "But you know how women are." "REFEREE:" "Mr. Pete Chocolate, the derby winner, and Jack Burke," "The close second." "Well, anyway, I'll tell her I talked to you." "Here's the big one you been waiting on, folks." "Shakes and no weight limits." "You bill 'em up, gentlemen." "[Crowd shouting]" "I got $25, $20." "I call $25, $20." "I'm on the black chicken." "I'll lay $25, $30" "I'll lay it." "You're on." "I'll lay $25, $30." "$25, $30 on the red." "I'll lay $30, $20." "I'll lay $100, $80." "I'll lay $50, $75." "$50, $75 on the black." "$25, $30." "Oh you got 50 on the black, I got the black rooster." "Hit 'em." "[Crowd shouting]" "[Cheerful music]" "[Crowd cheering]" "What were the odds on Mrs. Burke?" "Well, if we don't count out dead chickens," "We're $3,800 ahead on the derby in the main winnings." "Now, if you want to, we can skip either Chattanooga or Biloxi," "And spend the extra time conditioning for Milledgeville." "[Cock crowing]" "When the pressure's on, gentlemen, a promoter's just" "Gotta do the best he can." "When the SPCA got its dander up, why," "The Sheriff just had to go along with them," "That's all there is to it." "County elections, you see." "But I got next to the city officials without no trouble." "So instead of fighting out to the game club, why," "We can stage our little derby right here in the hotel" "Without no trouble." "Just take a feel of this, this wonderful pit floor." "Why, a, a carpet like this, all nylon," "Makes a wonderful period." "And you don't have to worry about damages, neither," "Because that's my look out." "We also got exclusive use of the service elevator" "Out here to bring that cocks up from the basement garage." "There won't be many spectators, but you'll" "Be able to get any bets covered because there are" "Three really big money men flying in this afternoon" "From Nashville." "Frankly, gentlemen, I..." "I've got a question." "What do we with the dead cocks, Mr. Reed?" "That's an excellent question, Mr. Whipple." "The dead cops will be stacked in the bathtub." "Any more questions?" "Yes sir, what do we use for the drag pit?" "The VIP suite will be used for the drag." "But the main pit will be right here in this room" "With all the furniture removed." "You can heel in that other bedroom past the bathroom" "That where Mr. Baradansky's standing." "Any more questions?" "Well that's it then." "The fighting starts at 10 AM in the morning." "Mimeograph schedules will be run off" "And slipped under your doors tonight." "Now if you gentlemen will give me a list of all your weights," "Why, I'll get started on the matching." "Yeah, you're right, We could lose our chickens an array." "But we could get fat off those Nashville gamblers." "Why don't you take our derby birds on to Cook's Hollow." "I'll take the other birds in a truck," "Go to a motel outside of town, come" "Back, do some gambling anyway." "I should have brought another handkerchief." "When I ask Fred Reed for that entry fee back, he's gonna cry." "[Cock crowing]" "I see on the board, you'd looking for a 5.2 to fight." "Well, you give away an ounce, we got" "A 5.3 I figure would take him." "Mine, Mr. Mansfield." "Little Joe." "Ever hear tell of Little Joe?" "All right, Mr. Mansfield hadn't fought in this neck" "Of the woods in some time, Tom." "Well, he's a six time winner." "Can't fight him here though, 'cause he's crowd shy," "But you come out to our place, and we" "Can give you a private hack." "Tell you what." "I'll give you two to one and, and you can name the amount." "(LAUGHING) We ain't gonna..." "Little Joe just on $50, uh uh." "$500." "And you gave him two to one." "Little Joe can take him, daddy." "Hm." "You got yourself a bet." "You just follow us on out whenever you're ready." "Trick, Frank." "People has gotta square of linoleum in his cockpit." "He rubs rosin on Little Joe's feet," "And on that slick wax surface, the other cock" "Hasn't got a chance." "I got a chunk of rosin for you here." "That way at least you start out even, except that Little" "Joe's won at least 16 fights." "Leave the coops here and come back after it's" "All over if you want to." "[Engine revving]" "[People's voices making bets]" "OFFSCREEN VOICE:" "This is a stick up." "Hands over your heads." "Anybody moves gets their head blasted off." "[Driving music]" "You get that chicken?" "You get those." "Get out of the pit and up against the wall." "I'm just gonna say this once and only once, so pay attention." "When I point this thing at you, you pull down your pants," "Throw them over there on that heap," "But not before I tell you to." "Then put your hands back up over your head." "Keep your tobacco." "Freeze!" "[Dog barking]" "I'll hold him for you, Mr. Mansfield." "[Hoots] Feels just like a baseball." "It was a shame for Little Joe to kill a pretty" "Little chicken like this 'un." "(WHISPERS) Shush, calm down." "We just about finished, Mr. Mansfield." "C'mon boy." "May as well let Tom be referee is that's all right with you." "Let's..." "let's..." "let's bill them a little, Mr. Mansfield." "Oh, that Little Joe, he likes to fight." "Flush 'em." "Get ready." "Hit!" "(ANGUISHED) You killed Little Joe!" "You killed him!" "You killed him!" "Ah, you didn't have to hit him so hard, there," "That Little Joe was his pet." "He had a right to be mad, losing him so quick, like." "I'm, uh, little short a $1000, Mr. Mansfield," "But I'll give you $350 now, you've gotta" "Take the rest of the game fowl." "We'll go on down to run, you can pick yourself out six roosters." "Well, most of my stocke's all greys," "But I've got three Palmettos." "You can't get no better cutters than Palmettos." "Oh, ten's all the stock I got." "You can't take all 10." "Aw, c'mon there." "[Screaming]" "Ah." "You'd best not hold him under that too long, Mr. Mansfield." "He'll like to get drownded." "[Gasping]" "[Hollering]" "The champagne hour!" "Let's drink a toast!" "To victory at Milledgeville!" "I wait, gentlemen." "Light passes this way but once, notwithstanding the hinders." "And I say, celebrate a victory twice." "Once before the magic event, and once afterwards." "A ritual is what it is." "Religious." "Mystical in it's power to invoke the gods of lightning victory." "As the top glass fills, it overflows into the next," "And on down into eternity." "The mystical realm of the great cock." "[Laughs] A monument." "To all, all American cock fighters." "A hearty salute." "The Anglo-Polish team of Mansfield and Baradansky" "Salute you." "Gentlemen!" "Cocksmen!" "Into the faith!" "Milledgeville!" "Ah!" "[Cheerful music]" "FRANK (VOICEOVER):" "Senator Vauxhall awarded the medal to" "The man he thought deserved it." "You didn't have to win the tourny to get the Cockfighter" "Of the Year Award." "The senator hadn't given the award" "To anybody in three years." "And it was possible that he wouldn't" "Give the medal again this year." "I didn't think want to think about it." "[Cheerful music]" "Your room will be assigned to you up at the house." "There's someone mighty anxious to see you up there." "Well you go ahead, Frank, I'll unlock." "I've never seen someone so anxious to see Mr. Middleton." "Ed Middleton?" "Frank though you meant his fiance." "[Laughs]" "Frank." "You didn't expect to see me here did you?" "Well I'm not here as any spectator." "I'm chief referee." "And don't think I won't be watching every move you make." "You know, I uh, promised Martha I'd quit," "But Milledgeville only comes once a year, so she" "Slipped my car for a few days." "Say, uh, you've got a partner now." "I guess I'll have to ask him how my little white chicken's" "Getting along." "C'mon, I'll buy you a drink." "Another thing I want to know is, how" "Come they didn't catch you with your pants down in Chattanooga?" "It looks good, Frank." "You're gonna win the cockfighter of the year medal." "Oh you don't have to go downtown." "I'll phone down for the hotel reservations for Mary Elizabeth" "If you want me to." "Hey Frank." "No matter how we come out tomorrow," "I'll always be grateful to you for getting me this far." "[Cheerful music]" "Frank?" "Talk to you a minute?" "Hey pal, let's..." "let's make the bet an even $1000 between" "Little David and your chickie." "Ed and Pete's OK as long as we tally the score." "Frank?" "Jack said I had to apologize to you." "Frank's partner, Senator." "Mr. Baradansky." "Oh yes." "Russian, are you, Mr. Baradansky?" "Uh, no." "Polish." "You look Russian." "Well anyway, you're in good hands with Frank Mansfield." "I knew Frank's granddad." "And if you listen to Frank, Mr. Baradansky," "You'll learn a lot about the game fowl business." "Isn't that right, Ed?" "Frank could teach us a lot of things," "If he won't have to say them." "That's what I mean." "General Severus, before he invaded Great Britain," "Made his Roman legion watch cock fights for three days." "The example was enough." "Dinner is served." "They don't feed game fowl right in Poland, Mr. Baradansky." "Game cocks can't fight on raw potatoes." "I'll keep that in mind." "Four generations in Evanston, he talks to me" "Like I just got off the boat." "Ladies and gentlemen." "Welcome to the Southern Conference tourny." "And we want all of you to have a good time." "There's only one rule." "Conduct yourselves as ladies and gentlemen." "Uh, before the tourny's over, you may" "Want to place a small wager." "Know who you bet with, because there may be internal revenue" "Agents in the crowd." "[Laughing]" "MAN:" "I'll take $100 on the red bill." "MAN 2:" "One more $100, now get in." "Hit." "[Crowd chattering]" "Handle." "Ready, hit." "Handle." "Get ready." "Hit." "Hit." "Handle." "Hit." "Handle." "Let's go to the drag pit." "Looks like this one's going to drag on all day." "[Crowd shouting]" "All right." "[Inaudible]" "Hit." "[Crowd shouting]" "Get ready." "Hit." "[Frank whistles] I'm referee in this fight, Mr. Mansfield." "Get ready." "[Crowd shouting]" "C'mon, grey." "Number five wins." "I commit some kind of a foul?" "We're pushing on the center score." "The first time I wasn't sure." "Nor the second, when number five whistled." "But the third time it was obvious." "Didn't you gentlemen see him push?" "Are you arguing with my decision?" "You damn right, I am." "That's a $50 fine." "Anything else?" "Will you take a check?" "[Chickens clucking]" "Hey Frank." "We're due in the pit in less than five minutes." "You wanna handle?" "[Chattering]" "[Foreboding music]" "So far, it looks pretty even." "You think we'll win tomorrow?" "[Laughs]" "[Crowd shouting]" "[Cheerful music]" "Well, you wanna raise the bets two thousand?" "If you five us two to one odds, we will." "David's been on a country walk all season." "White Lightning here's has to fight just to qualify." "You asking for odds, Frank?" "[Crowd cheering]" "While the final results of the tourny are being tabulated," "There'll be an extra hack between entries four and five." "[Cheerful music]" "Both 5.2, Peach." "Both birds are 5.2 and they'll fight in short heels." "All right, let's fill 'em." "MAN:" "I got $20 on the white!" "REFEREE:" "Get ready." "[People placing bets]" "[Crowd shouting]" "Handle." "Handle." "Get ready." "[Crowd shouting] Hit." "Get him, red!" "Handle." "Handle." "Watch that rough handling." "Get ready." "Handle Handle." "Get ready." "Hit." "Get ready." "One handling the bird only." "Hit." "Count." "Count's going on?" "That's what I call a dead game chicken, Frank." "One for Mr. Mansfield." "I'm picking up, Ed, my rooster's dead." "Hell they're both dead, but you're still" "Entitled to two more counts." "Oh Jesus." "Get ready." "I'm carrying out." "The winner..." "Mr. Mansfield." "[Crowd cheers]" "[Sad music]" "That's close enough." "I don't want you to touch me, ever." "I should have watched you in the ring long ago." "You are not the man I fell in love with." "Now I know you never were." "I didn't watch those poor chickens fighting," "I watched your face." "No pity, no love, nothing." "I think that bird has more of a heart than you ever will have." "He sure as hell has more of a voice." "[Sobbing]" "Thank you." "If this is your substitute for a heart," "At least it'll serve to remind me" "What a damn fool I have been." "Hey Frank, Frank." "Did you hear the announcement?" "Senator Vauxhall just awarded you cockfighter of the year!" "C'mon, let's hustle." "As your partner, I'm entitled to a little reflected glory." "Maybe you can sleep with your medal, Frank." "And eat it all at the same time." "Maybe it'll give you some comfort in your old age." "[Dog barking]" "Everything all right between you and her?" "[Car revs]" "She loves me, Omar." "You go collect the winnings, and I'll go get that medal." "[Cheerful music]"