Charlie sleeps next to Bailey.
EXT.BUILDING ROOF
Charlie comes to talk to Bailey at the roof.
CHARLIE
Don't ask.
BAILEY
So no Max.
CHARLIE
It's better this way. Marv and Debra have money. Max is set.
BAILEY
Did you not see the way he looked at you?
That's the way I looked at my dad.
Even now I would give anything
to have that back.
CHARLIE
Your dad was special. He was in your corner from day one.
Me, come on. I blew it. I blew it. When Max was born I just...
freaked out.
BAILEY
But something would have been better than nothing.
CHARLIE
I wouldn't know where to start.
BAILEY
Yeah, you do.
CHARLIE
I don't.
BAILEY
You do.
CHARLIE
No.
BAILEY
You do.
Charlie kisses Bailey.
CHARLIE
I got to go.
BAILEY
Twelve hundred miles for a kiss.
CHARLIE
Worth it. Worth it.
BAILEY
Go get him, Charlie.
CHARLIE
You sound like your dad.
EXT.DEBRA'S HOUSE
Charlie comes to Debra's house to meet Max.
CHARLIE
Look, I know you think I abandoned you,
and I guess I did originally.
MAX
Then you sold me.
DEBRA
Charlie. You have no business being here.
CHARLIE
That's true. You've got full custody. He's yours.
And I know I've done all kinds of wrong
by this kid, but if you'll let me...
...I'd just like to do one thing right. Right.
Where were we?
MAX
You sold me.
CHARLIE
Right, yeah, that happened.
DEBRA
Wait, what?
MAX
Then we had our asses kicked.
CHARLIE
And you slept on a shelf in a truck, and it was awful.
MAX
And dangerous.
CHARLIE
Really dangerous. I mean, I know. God. I'm sorry.
MAX
That's why you came? To say you're sorry?
CHARLIE
No. I mean, yes. Yes. But no. No, I came to tell you
that I heard you. I got it. I'm a little slow, but I got it.
I know you had a bum ride, and I wasn't there and I should
have been. I should have been. Your mom was...
MAX
She was cool, wasn't she?
CHARLIE
She was.
MAX
She was the coolest.
CHARLIE
Yeah, she was. And I'm sorry about... what happened with her.
And I can't get those years back, Max, but I'm here right now...
...and if you're up for it, I'm ready to fight.We got the Zeus fight.
MAX
What?
CHARLIE
No, no, we didn't. You got the Zeus fight. So what do you say, Debra?
Can we do this one last thing?
DEBRA
One night.
CHARLIE
It's all we need. Thank you. We'll probably get our asses kicked,
but at least we'll go down swinging. Yeah? What do you say?
INT.STADIUM
Two speakers are commentating on Atom and Zeus's fight.
HERB
Welcome to New York's Bing Arena
and the Real Steel Championship Bout.
Tim, it's the fight
we never thought we'd see.
Zeus, the undefeated WRB champion,
against the underdog, rising star Atom.
The champ's handlers
have agreed to fight
outside the circle
of well-known League bots,
and have decided to give the people
a true David versus Goliath spectacle.
Now, Tim, help me out on this.
Has the Zeus camp lost their mind?
The greatest robot boxer of all time
gives a shot at the belt
to a G-2 named Atom?
TIM
Well, Herb, if you ask Tak Mashido,
Team Zeus has lost their minds.
Now, he may look cool
as he enters the arena,
but he has made no bones
about his disdain for this matchup.
Our cameras tried to catch up
with him earlier this week.
Look at this clip. Mashido wouldn't
even stop to talk to the press,
referring only to this fight
as an insult to his creation.
Now, Max Kenton, Atom's trainer,
did more than just challenge Zeus.
He did so publicly.
The challenge went viral and created
a PR nightmare for the champ.
HERB
No argument there. And I think the Zeus
camp knows exactly what they're doing.
TIM
That they do. Come on.
Giving a shot at the belt
to a nobody from nowhere.
This "junkyard dog," if you will.
That's a marketing stunt.
And judging from this crowd,
that stunt is working.
MAX
We can't win, can we?
CHARLIE
We'll see.
ANNOUNCER
As the challenger makes his way into the arena,
you can hear the surge of excitement. Atom has arrived
onto the WRB scene with a vengeance, using a style,
some would call it human-like, that bot fighting has rarely seen.
Atom and his pint-size trainer step into the ring and the look on
Farra Lemkova's face says it all. Welcome to the bigs, junior!
Finn is taking bets.
FINN
I'm giving one-to-five odds that Atom don't make it out the first round.
Who wants some?
RICKY
I'll take some of that action. Hey, there! I'll take some of that action.
FINN
How's it going... partner?
RICKY
Partner? That's great. How about a hundred K? Is that funny?
Hundred K says Atom doesn't see round two.
FINN
You carrying around that kind of scratch?
RICKY
Yeah.
FINN
Hundred K?
RICKY
Tell you what. Remember section 101, row C,
and you can bring me my money right to my seat.
FINN
101, row C? Hundred K?
RICKY
You heard me, homey.
FINN
Homey?
RICKY
Right? Homeboy! All right. Peace out, posse. Come on, sugar. Let's go.
ANNOUNCER
Never beaten.
MAX
It's showtime!
ANNOUNCER
Never threatened. The king of the ring, the ruler of robots!
Bow down to the mighty Zeus!
MAX
Oh, shit! That was awesome.
CHARLIE
Come on, let's go.
ANNOUNCER
Ladies and gentlemen, in a bout scheduled for five rounds
for the World Robot Boxing Championship, in the corner to
my right, the challenger, Atom! Showboat! And in the corner
to my left, the undeniable champion of this universe and any
other universe known or unknown, the mighty Zeus! And now,
ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for Real Steel!
MAX
This is what it's all about!
ANNOUNCER
There's the starting bell and we are underway.
The bots emerge from their corners.
Zeus decks Atom, and he is already down.
MAX
On your feet!
ANNOUNCER
Looks like we are in for another Zeus clinic.
Referee Matt Geiger coming in the ring to start the count.
MAX
Get up! Push up! Stand up!
ANNOUNCER
But look at this. The little bot's back on his feet to get a second
blistering attack from Zeus! Atom is down for the second time
in less than ten seconds.
MAX
He's too strong!
Ricky is enjoying the fight.
RICKY
That's my boy right there! Get up and get in the game!
MAX
Come on! No, please Atom, get up! Please!
Get up! Get up! Get up!
ANNOUNCER
Once again, the challenger finds his feet!
MAX
Lean back!
ANNOUNCER
Atom's getting pummeled into the corner!
MAX
Get out of there! Move!
ANNOUNCER
A demolishing inside shot.
MAX
Get your hands up! Hands up!
Crush that little can!
MAX
Get out of the corner!
ANNOUNCER
Kenton desperately trying to command
his robot out of that suicide corner.
MAX
Get your feet under you!
ANNOUNCER
Good night, sparring bot! It might have taken Zeus a bit longer,
but he's done it again! Atom is down for the third
and possibly final time tonight.
MAX
Stand up!
REFEREE
Two! Three!
MAX
Atom, get up! Get up, Atom.
CHARLIE
Get up, Atom.
REFEREE
Six! Seven!
MAX
Get up!
REFEREE
Eight! Nine!
ANNOUNCER
I don't believe this! Against all odds,
this little bot is on his feet again.
MAX
Come on, Atom!
CHARLIE
He can't survive this!
BAILEY
Come on, Charlie!
CHARLIE
Right uppercut!
ANNOUNCER
Atom has landed a punch!
Zeus is stunned as he reels back from
an uppercut that he never saw coming!
CHARLIE
Advance! Fade back, counter right!
Fade back, counter right! Right cross! Right cross!
Right cross! Left hook!
MAX
Let's go! Come on! Take him down!
ANNOUNCER
For the first time in his dominant run, Zeus has met a bot
who simply won't back down! The crowd is going nuts!
Zeus gives it everything he's got as we reach the last 15 seconds
of round one! Zeus corners Atom, going double duty with both fists!
Downtown, uptown, as the clock winds down!
CHARLIE
Hands up, chin down. Stay low, stay low!
ANNOUNCER
Only five seconds left, as here comes that piston-packed right of the champ!
There's the bell! I don't believe it. Somehow Atom has survived. We will have a
second round. And the crowd here is thrilled!
MAX
He made it! Yeah! Corner!
Ricky is in a panic. He gets up to leave.
RICKY
We got to get out of here. We got to get out of here now!
We got to go this way. Come on! OK, you sit down.
Finn blocks his way.
FINN
Let's go, homey.
RICKY (TO FINN)
All right.
RICKY (TO GIRLFRIEND)
I'll be back for you, baby.
Finn's friends grab Ricky.
RICKY
Get your hands off me!
ANNOUNCER
Both corners furiously working on their bots.
This crowd came here tonight expecting a massacre,
but instead they're getting a war!
FARRA
You got it?
TAK
Yeah. All right. Here we go.
FARRA
What is happening?
TAK
He is fully prepared for all possible
contingencies. He will be fine.
ANNOUNCER
What next? Round two. Round two kicks off, and incredibly the challenger, Atom,
is giving the champ a run for his money. Zeus tosses the smaller bot
across the ring like a tin can! Kenton working his bot with a trifecta
of straight rights to the champ's dome! Toe-to-toe they stand,
trading deafening blows! Whatever strategy either corner had cooked up has been
destroyed! Metal bashing metal Steel smashing steel. This is a brawl! The crowd
is on their feet, watching two machines driven to kill each other! Something has to
give, and it does! Atom goes down again! Lights out for the junkyard dog who put
on a heck of a show here tonight! And yet again, Atom rises up. Kenton must have
hardwired this bot with the will to go on! Midway through round four, and Zeus
is looking to end this thing right now. The champ is holding nothing back
as he cracks open the hurt locker! Atom is stumbling around the ring,
apparently disoriented and dazed!
CHARLIE
Hands up!
MAX
What's going on?
CHARLIE
I think the voice recognition is shot! He's not responding!
ANNOUNCER
Zeus has found yet another gear of
violence, drilling Atom's midsection.
MAX
No! Stop! Do something!
CHARLIE
He can't hear me!
ANNOUNCER
But the bell sounds, and once again
this little robot has stunned the world!
CHARLIE
We're done, Max! He can't hear me. This is murder.
We've had enough.
MAX
I'm disabling the voice recognition.
CHARLIE
He can't hear me!
MAX
Yes, but he can see you!
CHARLIE
What?
MAX
I'm putting him in shadow mode. Show him what to do.
Without the voice recognition, he'll move even faster!
CHARLIE
No way. No way!
MAX
Look at them. They are freaking out! Rich girl is ripping him
a new one over there! Do you know why? Because they're scared.
Because Atom can do things no other bot has ever done.
CHARLIE
But I can't do it!
MAX
Yes, you can.
CHARLIE
I can't.
MAX
Yes, you can. Show him what to do. You have to fight the last round.
CHARLIE
Don't ask me. Don't.
MAX
Charlie... please. I beg you.
CHARLIE
Are you kidding me with those eyes?
Damn it!
MAX
Yes!
CHARLIE
I can't believe I'm doing this.
I know you're in there! I'm not sure
if you're getting this or what,
but I know you're in there!
REFEREE
Kenton. In or out?
CHARLIE (TO REFEREE)
In. Give me a minute.
CHARLIE (TO ATOM)
I know you can't hear me, but you can see me, so watch me!
Watch... me.
MAX
You know you're talking to a robot.
CHARLIE (TO MAX)
I know. Shut up.
CHARLIE (TO ATOM)
Watch me.
ANNOUNCER
An epic battle being waged here tonight,
as the fifth and final round
gets underway.
MAX
Come on, Atom!
Wait a second. Are you seeing this?
Charlie Kenton is shadowboxing just outside the ring!
It looks like Atom has a shadow function.
So, basically, that means Charlie Kenton is fighting
the last round of this fight against Zeus.
It doesn't seem to help, because Atom is
backed up against the ropes again.
MAX
Help him! Fight back!
CHARLIE
Not yet.
ANNOUNCER
Tak Mashido supervising personally as Zeus hammers down,
furiously trying to end this thing once and for all.
I got to tell you, folks, the champ looks tired.
This robot seems to be running on empty.
I don't believe it. Atom is taunting Zeus.
TAK
Switch to turbo!
Atom gestures to Zeus.
He's actually asking for more.
MAX
Please do something!
CHARLIE
Not yet.
BAILEY
That's right, Charlie. Not yet.
TAK
Nitrous pistons, now!
MAX
He's not going to last much longer! Fight back!
CHARLIE
Not yet.
BAILEY
Hang in there!
ANNOUNCER
Atom is riddled with the nitrous-fueled
Gatling guns of Zeus's blows!
DEBRA & MARVIN & AUDIENCE
Atom! Atom! Atom! Atom!
BAILEY
Wait him out, wait him out! Not yet!
ANNOUNCER
Zeus is slowing down! The champ's power core is clearly depleted.
MAX
Charlie, please!
CHARLIE
Hey, kid. Now.
BAILEY
Now! Get in there!
DEBRA
Knock that little bitch! Bust him open!
BAILEY
Yeah! That's right!
FARRA
Do something!
TAK
Move! Override. Switching to manual.
ANNOUNCER
In a shocking move, Tak Mashido is
manually operating his robot personally!
BAILEY
Work the body! Get inside him!
MAX
Get him, Atom!
ANNOUNCER
Look at this! The champ is trying
desperately to stay on his feet,
but Kenton is relentless, landing
blow after blow after blow to the body!
Left! Right! Left! Right!
A huge uppercut by Atom! Zeus is down!
This little bot has
dug deep here tonight
and shown something damn near heart!
MATT GEIGER (A REFEREE)
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
He's good!
ANNOUNCER
Zeus gets to his feet,
but Kenton has Atom on him again,
landing punch after punch!
Tak Mashido and his super bot
have no answer.
Zeus pins Atom's left arm,
but Kenton is undaunted!
It all comes down to this, folks!
BAILEY
Drop him, Charlie! Now!
ANNOUNCER
Kenton is about to drop the champ...
No! There's the bell!
Zeus is saved by the bell!
Amazingly, we will go
to the judges' cards!
Ladies and gentlemen,
after five rounds,
we go to the judges' scorecards.
Judge Number One scores the fight 47-48.
Judge Number Two scores the fight 48-46.
And Judge Number Three scores the fight 47-46,
for the winner and still World Robot Boxing champion,
Zeus! Farra Lemkova, you got way more than you bargained
for tonight. Some would say that your bot
won the decision but lost the fight.
CHARLIE
She looks pissed.
FARRA
It took a little longer than we thought,
but the result is as expected.
We won. Zeus is still undefeated.
ANNOUNCER
Any comment on the absolutely humiliating near loss
your bot suffered tonight?
Farra leaves.
ANNOUNCER
Nothing.
FARRA
No comment.
M.C.
Max. Where's Max? There he is. Max. They're already calling
your bot "the people's champion." What do you say to that?
MAX
People's champion? Sounds pretty good to me.
Max looks for Charlie.
MAX
Dad? Dad! Dad!
CHARLIE
I really want you to know... No, I need you to know.
MAX
Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.
CHARLIE
Wait here. Wait here. Yes!
The spotlight shines on Charlie, Max, and Atom.
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