| Director | John Huston |
|---|
Billy Tully, a 29 year-old ex-boxer already past his prime, goes to a gym in Stockton, California, to get back into shape. There he meets and spars with Ernie Munger, an 18-year-old working a speed bag. Seeing potential in the youngster, Tully suggests that Munger look up his former manager and trainer Ruben Luna. Tully later tells combative barfly Oma Lee Greer and her easygoing boyfriend Earl how impressed he is with the kid. Newly inspired, Tully decides to get back into boxing himself.
Tully's life has been a mess since his wife left him. He drinks too much, cannot hold a job, and picks produce with migrant workers to make ends meet. He still blames Ruben for mishandling his last fight, a loss due to multiple cuts. Tully moves in with the alcoholic Oma after Earl is sent to jail, but their relationship is rocky. Munger is knocked out his first fight, suffering a broken nose, and KO'd again in his next. He gets pressured into marriage by his girlfriend after getting her pregnant, and turns to picking fruit to supplement his ring pay.
In order to create a suitable draw, Tully is matched against a tough but older Mexican boxer, Arcadio Lucero, for his first bout back. Lucero is passing blood before the fight, and in considerable pain throughout it. Discovering Lucero is weak in the middle, Tully works him heavily there. They knock each other down before Tully is declared the winner by TKO. His celebration is brief when Tully discovers that less training expenses, advances, and Ruben's cut as trainer, he will receive only $100 from a purse not even $275. Shocked, and feeling betrayed, he breaks with his friend. Returning to Oma's apartment, he finds Earl there, who assures him that the volatile Oma wants nothing more to do with him.
Heading home from a fight one night, Munger sees a wasted Tully in the street and tries to ignore him. Tully asks him to have a drink; he declines, but reluctantly agrees to coffee. As the pair sit in a diner, Tully looks around at the crowd of down-and-outers there, all of whom seem at an impassable distance. Munger says he needs to leave, but Tully asks him to stay and talk a while. Munger agrees, and the two drink their coffee together in silence.