Upon Billy's return to his old boxing gym Z sobers Billy & his audience by familiar and intractable realities. Once more Billy immediately recognizes why he left the ring: the savagery, the blood, the violence, the lethal menace of his profession. Billy, like us wanted only to see his return ("Every fighter dreams of a comeback." - "Mike") as we want to see all our heroes return to the scene of their triumphs, and to avenge their/our losses. We're as sickened as Billy is at the sight that has persisted thru his retirement. It's still there, nothing has changed. Youth at release in '79 did not see it, we too then only wanted the return. Advance 35 years and the adult sees it now, the clarity unmistakable. We are just as forewarned and ashen faced as Billy is.
When he fled to the bar & bottle in '79 we cursed him.
When Z opens the door twixt Billy & his opponent before Billy's death we curse him again.
Film. American Film.

Brain Hemorrige