 Take one man with a gnawing hunger for glory. Let him hear the thundering roar of a fight crowd in his ear. That's our story, The Darkened Ring, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This is John Steele. Every once in a while I reach way back in my files and pull out a story I want to hear. One of those off-the-beaten track tales of haunting mood and smoldering action. This is that kind of story. Now, I first met Joe West when I was a sports writer for one of the big New York newspapers. He's quite a different guy now than he was the first time I saw it, but I'll let him tell you about it. Joe, how'd he get mixed up in the fight racket? I don't know. There's something about it. Smoking a gym, the feel of a glove in your hand, the sweat, the blood, the roar, the crowd when you're going good and the humming in your head when you're hurting down. It ain't like nothing else in the world. Once you're in it, you can't get away. Just back a few years in New York, I'd fought a preliminary St. Nick's against a big muscle bound. They ate me, almost ruined me. But on the sixth round, I caught up with him in the way, hit the canvas, and it was all over. After the fight, I dropped in at Harry's, a bar over in Second Avenue. Just near the hotel, and I guess I needed a drink. Hello, Joe. Hello, Harry. What'll it be? Dear. Yep. How'd it go tonight? Tough. Yeah, I know. Thanks. I caught the last two rounds on television just before the main event. Give me another. Sure. He gave you a hard time on the fifth. Yeah. Did he hurt you? Look to me like, what's the matter? Huh? You spilled your beer. I don't know. I'll clean it up. Dizzy. Next one's on the house. Huh. I said to Abe if Joe'd keep us right up, he'd be taking most of those on his glove. That's how you got him on the sixth, wasn't it? What what? What's the matter with you? Nothing. You don't look right. It's nothing. Well, drink your beer. Yeah. Look out, you're going to spill it again. Here. Thanks. How many of you had tonight? Oh, you wasn't even reaching in the... Caught you fight tonight? Oh, Harry. Hi, Mr. Lasky. Mate, if that was a stinker, the kid got belted in the second. I had. Looked like he was having a hard time. I'm okay. Big guy can hit. Yeah. You come a long way. A year ago, you never would have caught him. No. Will you introduce me? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Joe West, Jane Howen. Hello, Joe. Hello. Hello. I'll see you, Harry. Sure, Joe. What's the matter with him? Tired, I guess. Sure you are. Anything special you'd like for here? No. Just something slow and easy, eh? Yeah, I guess so. Well, let's see. How about I had anyone to you? You like music? I do. Don't you belong to Lasky? I came with him. I don't belong to him. It's a pretty song. You better go back. Why? I don't know you better. I'm sorry. It's all right. I'm tired. I know. I'm a fighter. I know. Okay. Stay. That's how it happened. Looked a couple of words and that was it. Something about her like a little girl. I don't know. The way she talked, the way she said my name, made me want to fight for her. Or cry for her. I knew it wasn't right. I tried to tell her, but it was what she wanted and we got married. From then on, she was always with me. Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco. Hundred dirty little rooms in a hundred towns. She was there. I never let her see me fight, but when I come home late at night, she'd be waiting for me and I'd tell her everything that happened. Sometimes I'd be mad. I'd lost if I had a dizzy spell. I'd hurt her, but she always understood. She'd feed me, banish my cuts, say my name that way, and everything would be all right again. I was in Reno about six months later. I'd fought a tough little punk from the Jay-Z, and I was late getting back to the hotel. Baby. Baby, I didn't know you was asleep. I got tired. It's okay. You all right? Of course, I'm all right. Come here, Joe. Uh, the light. Leave it on. Did he hurt you? No. You're cut. That's nothing. Aw. It's nothing, I said. I lost. Yes. It's crazy. I was going good till the fourth. Had him tied up in the corner and he was hurt. Then he let's fly with a wild one, catches me on a year. I couldn't get going after that. Saw the openings. I was late every time. It's all right. Hands were like lead. I couldn't move them. Late every time. It's all right, Joe. Saw the openings. Couldn't come in. Did he hurt you? No. What'd he keep asking for? You're so late. Well, no, he didn't hate me. You've been drinking. So what if I have? Nothing. I lost the fight. You understand? He had me on Queer Street in the ninth. I'm lucky to get through the round. What are you trying to do? I didn't mean anything. I needed a drink. I was rocky. When I come out, I put a tap in it. All right, Joe. I'll get you something, do you? I don't want anything. Lie down and rest. Won't take long. I don't want anything. Lie down. Did you mail the letters? Huh? Did you... What letters? What letters? Joe. Tell me. Please. Where are they? I asked you to mail them. It's nothing, Joe. You just forgot. What's that? What? That thing. It's a Victoria. What'd you get it? I thought you'd like it. What'd you get it? Why? It's so lonesome, Joe, waiting. You know I don't want a lot of junk to cart around? I got enough that carries it is. I'll take it back tomorrow. This racket you gotta move, you gotta move like it. Tie me down. I'll take it back. I don't want it, I don't want it. Just listen to it. Maybe it'll help. No. Remember, I'll turn it on. Leave it on. Baby, baby. Oh, it's all right. Whatever I do, whatever I say, I love you. I know. Remember that. I love you. Yes. I don't want to hurt you. You're not. Jesus, wait. I'll be punchy in four months. Shh. Maybe I'll go, Haywire, but I love you. Get away from it. No. Give it up. There are other ways to make money. It's all I know. Please. Look, it's in me. I can't get it out. Baby. It's all right now. Joe. Well, after that thing started to break right for me, I put together 12 wins in a row, the last three main events. Papers began giving me the big build-up. Lou Getsey, my manager, was talking about a crack at the title, said we'd better start working our way east. Everywhere we went, the crowds was good, and the sportswriters was calling me the up-and-coming challenger. With all the noise and everything, Jane seemed to get used to the idea, me staying in a fight game. At least she didn't say nothing more about it. She had a victor in the song and me. She said that was enough. I was in Chicago about a year later. Lou had signed me into the Coliseum for the main event with Jackie Graham. Everybody said this was it. The winner was sure to get a crack at the kid in the title. Jane had been after me to let her see me fight, but it was Lou's idea to let her come to this one. He said I needed a lift. The Graham was good, fast on his feet. He could hit hard with both hands. We fell each other out for the first two rounds, but in the third, he caught me coming off the ropes, and I went down for an eight-count. I hang on for the rest of the ramble. When I go back to my corner, I know I'm hurt. I looked down the third row at Jane. She's trying to smile back. In the fourth round, he got me in a corner and gave it to me with both hands. The crowd was on his feet, yelling for the kill, but I covered up and took everything he had to give. When I went back to my corner, Lou ran out with a sponge in his hands, flicking water in my face. Field jaw. Rocky. Smell this. More. Nurse enough. Ice bag on that i-pick. How's he hit? Hi. He took everything he had. Yeah. He'll be tired next round. Where's Jane? I forgot about her. Where's she? She's there. Not looking. I forgot her. You've got a fight on your hands. I'll be careful. Yeah. Stay away from that right. Yeah, yeah. Feel him out. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Feel him out, Lou said. Feel him out. I kept my right high and spun him with a couple of lefts. Grand looks surprised. He closed in. I felt his right drive in hard under my heart. Couldn't beat him close in. I had to back off. Make him fight my way. I pushed him off. His right caught me on the side of the head. It was a good punch, but he didn't hurt. He was slowing up and it didn't hurt. I backed off and looked at his feet. Sure, that was it. He was down on his heels. Flatfooted and his timing was off. I jabbed him, stepped back. He threw his right and missed. Then I saw it was off balance wide open so I tried it again. Jabbed, stepped back. His right whistled past my head and I crossed with my right. His head snapped back. His mouth pieced a lot of his mountain grab and held on. When I rep broke his gram was glassy. I in his hand reached out for the rope. I looked up at the clock. Still a minute to go. Gram was on his bicycle now, but I caught him on the corner right over his manager. I let him have it. Right to the left of the body and the right of the hand. I could hear somebody screaming from him to cover up. Then my glove drove higher than his face and dropped it at Kansas. Not to the corner. Not to the corner. I see Gram. I doubt it. Leave him alone. You were beautiful, Joe. You look like a champ. Cover up. Didn't keep moving. Yeah, yeah. Come on. Six seconds of the fifth round. The winner by the knockout, Joe West. Come on, Jim. Let's get out of here. All right. What's your rope? Yeah. Add a boy. All right, let us through, please. Stand back, folks. Let us through, will you? Stand back, please. Where's Jim? She'll be along in a minute. Come on. I want to see her. I told her to meet us in the dressing room. You're a great kid. You know what this means to us? I mean, yeah. A chance at that big dough like we always wanted. Come on, boy. Get up on the table. Yeah. Jane. She'll be along. Right hand. Hey, Gram. Yeah. He'll be okay. There. Left. I never saw you throw up. Better punch. There. Now lie down. Are you all right? Yeah. Did he hurt you? I couldn't watch. Kept hitting and hitting and everyone was yelling. Are you all right? Sure I'm all right. He didn't hurt you bad. Yeah. I couldn't watch, Joe. I wanted to, but I couldn't. I know. It was awful. It's all right now, baby. All right. Come on, Jane. You've got to work on our boy, poorie. Stiffen's up. I'm sorry. Lie down, kid. It's the first time I've ever. Yeah, yeah, I know. Hey, hey. Take it easy. No, it's all right. Oh, I forgot to tell you. What, Joe? The cleaner brought back that dress he lost today. Well, that's good. Buy a hundred someday. You know this spiky is a crack at the title? That'd be more than a crack if Joe keeps going like he is. Will that make you happy? Sure, baby, sure. You see the way he bounced back tonight? He was hurting the fourth. Hurt bad. But he'd come back and nailed his man in the next round. That's spiky. All right, other leg. Thought he had you in the fourth. Sure. That gram's good. Sure, he's good. You're better. Oh, you know that dress the cleaner lost, baby? What, Joe? He brought it back today. He's tired, Janey. Yeah, he's tired. What's the matter? Nothing, Joe. Well, come on, come on. I've got to get out of here. That's probably reporters. Can't they come back later? Yeah, I'll brush them off. All right, boys. Break it up. Not dating. Where's Lugo? He'll be back. To fight. Lie back and rest. I skied it, Graham. Lie back. Yeah. Oh, forgot to tell you. Cleaner brought back that dress he lost. I know, Joe. Buy a hundred when I get that title. Yes, Joe. I know. Well, after that, Lou and Jane decided I need to rest. So we moved to New York, so Lou could start working on the title botany. Jane found a little tomb apartment on the west side. First time since I was a kid, I'd lived in one place for more than a week. Felt good? I worked out at Stillman's gym every day, and at night we'd stop in at Harry's, and they could play the song. I knew they were worried about me, because Lou never let me do any contact work. And every once in a while, Jane would talk about getting out of the fight game. But I think they both knew I couldn't stop now, not with the little titles standing in her face. Look, money don't last forever. And after a couple of months, I got tired of doing nothing. That sitting still is okay for guys that like it wasn't for me. I missed the likes and the crowds and going places and doing things. I kept after Lou. Get her signed up. And then one day we went down to the garden. They drew up the papers. That was a big deal. A lot of people, porters, pictures of me shaking hands with a kid. My kind of living. I was on top of the world when I got back to the apartment that afternoon. But Jane wasn't there. I walked around kicking out the furniture, wondering where she was when she'd be back. When I turned on the controller, I laid down the bed. I was too excited to sleep. Just laid it with my hands behind my head, thinking of the fight and the title. My watch was ticking in my ear. Oh, sorry. Hey, draw me another, huh? Thanks. See, I can pick it up just like that. Nothing to it. Sure you don't. Huh? Who are you? Say, you're some looker. Do you like music? Me? I'm nuts about music. Me too. Hey, you know we're going places you and me. Are we? Sure we are. I love you. Joe loves Jane. Yeah. Jane loves Joe. You were terrific, Joe. Ah, we're going to the top of the world, baby. Is that a promise? Sure. He never laid a hand on you. Don't forget. I'll never forget. Had him from the word go. That is a pushover. I'm sure he was. Where's Jane? Back at the dressing room. Come on, let's hurry. Take it easy. Joe. Joe, you were wonderful. How'd you like it? He was a pushover. It was wonderful. You weren't scared? Of course not. That's my girl. Did you mail my letters? Sure, I told you. I'll never forget. I love you. Come on, kid. Gotta get you in shape for the title. Yeah. Joe. Get you in shape for the title. Ah, I never felt better in my life. Joe. Shape for the title. Okay, Lou. Joe. Huh? The title. Joe, it's me. The title. What? The title. The title. Oh. The title. Oh, baby. The title. Are you all right? Yeah, sure. Sure. The title. The title. The title. The title. I did. The title. The title. Are you sure you're all right? Oh, sure. I'm all right, baby. I, uh, I mail the letters. What letters? The letters you get. What is it, Joe? It's nothing. It's nothing, baby. You lie there and rest. No, no. I'm sick of resting. I, uh, I wanted to tell you something. What, Joe? I, I can't break. Oh, yeah, yeah. We signed for the title today, baby. Yeah, come on to tell you. Where you been? I've been out. Where? I went to see the doctor. What did you do that for? Please. I don't need a doctor. Joe. I never felt better in my life. I didn't go to see him about you. You what? I'm going to have a baby. A baby. Yes, Joe. I said no. But. I don't want it, you hear? I don't want it. Tying me down, I don't want it. I told you I gotta move. I gotta move light. It's part of the fight game. It's part of me. I don't want to know other way. You're tying me down. I don't want any part of it. You play. Stop it, stop it, stop it. It wasn't the same at the Jane lift. I moved out of the apartment. Got the broken control of all our things and went back to the hotel where I belonged. I couldn't get her out of my mind. Work and help, so I worked all the time. I got so Lou had a hard time finding pugs for me to work on. They said I was kill crazy and nobody going to the ring with me. Lou kept trying to slow me down, but they didn't do no good. Punch, punch, punch. It's all I wanted. Weeks dragged by and then the night of the fight came. The garden was packed at a roof. When I went in the ring, the mob got up on its feet and yelled, I thought, this is it. This is the top of the world. Then a kid came in the ring. We're out in the center shaking hands and a rep was talking. Then I was back in my corner. Lou was taking off my robe. I dug my feet in the rosin. Lou hit me on the back and the bell rang. I went after him from the bell. Bob and Reeve jabbing cross. Keep following, waiting in. The kid looked surprised and backed off. He was coming. I kept his left stuck out there in my face. I was taking punches, but I was giving three for one. So at the end of the round, I got him in his corner and the kid slipped and fell on the wet spot. The crowd was yelling when he got up and laughed so I closed in. Slow down. It won't go five rounds at that rate. I know what I'm doing. You're crazy. I'm doing a fight. You listen to me. Yeah. My kid's good. He'll knock your head off and keep like this. I'm slow down. Yeah. You hear me, Joe? Yeah, yeah. Slow down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Slow down, Lou said. How could I slow down? I've been waiting for this one all my life. This kid was dancing and weeding. I waited in a room after him. Right and left, left and right counter. No time to faint. Just stand and slug it out. A little around, he tied me up in the ropes and I heard his voice in my ear. What are you trying to do? I'm knocking you out, kid. Okay, wise guy. Then he was backing off and grinned and then I went after him again. Jab and cross, jab and cross. Look up on the left and shoot with a heart and close. I looked over the clock. Fifteen seconds ago, the kid was coming off the ropes. I threw my right and caught him on a ear and he went down. I spent seven years building you up and you're throwing it away because you're crazy. Hit him, didn't I? If you don't slow down, I'm through. Yeah. Gonna walk out of your corner. That's all. Okay, okay. Now you listen to what I'm saying. You'll stay away from your pressure, hurt him. You're watching, Joe. He's smart. Watch him. Yeah, sure, Lou. Lou was right. The kid wasn't grinning no more. He was backing off and moving around. His left stung me and when I crossed with my right, he wasn't there. I found him around the ring, but his left was always in my face and I was missing with my right. Then he would tie it up in the center of the ring. His voice was in my ear again. Okay, West, you've had your... Yeah? Sweet dreams. I don't know what came from but a glove drove into my face and my whole head exploded. I tried to shake off the blow, but the ropes was twisted in front of me. The canvas was waving like a flag. Way off, I heard the ref counting. Knew I had to get up. What did he say? Seven, six, seven. Get up. I gotta get up. I pulled my feet under me and grabbed the twisted rope. Then I was standing up and the ref was swiping my gloves on his shape. The kid's face was a blur around me and I felt his blows hitting me four and five at a time. Then somewhere far away, I heard the bell. Lou had me around the chest and was dragging me into the corner. How do you feel, Joe? You spilled your beer. Huh? How do you feel? The letters. I'm okay. Want me to stop it? The title. No, no, no. I'm okay. Smell this. Give it up, Joe. I'm okay, I tell you. Now stay away from it, Joe. The title. Yeah, yeah. Stay away from it. Give it up. No. Stay away from it, Joe. The title. The title, yeah. My legs felt like rubber when I stepped down into the ring and I tried to lift my hands but the gloves were heavy. The kid was dancing around me. I didn't know where it was coming from next. This crashed into my jaw and then I drove harder into my stomach and I grabbed and held on. Then the ref focused and the kid was all over me. I tried to cover it up but there was too many gloves that couldn't see me. I felt the ropes against my back and the fist exploded in my face and I felt it a chance. Couldn't get off. How do you feel? Couldn't get off. The title. Joe, this is Lou. Lou. Lou? Yeah. How do you feel? The title. I'm okay. Give it up, Joe. The reporters want to come in. You up to it? Reporters. Yeah. The title. You up to it? Give it up, Joe. Yeah. How do you feel, Joe? I'm okay. What happened out there tonight? The title. Couldn't get off. What was the bunch that got you? I don't know. Any plans for the future? Couldn't get off. You want another crack at the title? The title. What? Listen, you better come back later, fellas. He's not ready yet. All right, all right. Break it up, will you, boy? Joe, you take it easy. I'll be back in a minute. Come on. All right. Couldn't get off. Joe, look at me. This is Harry. Harry? Yeah. How'd you get here? I don't know. You're all wet. You okay? Couldn't get off. You need a doc? Going back and sit down. Hello, Joe. Sorry about the fight. Couldn't get off. Of course you couldn't, Joe. Know just what you mean. Broke the record, Abe. Uh, when I was too bad. Broke. James Wrecking. Give it up, Joe. Well, that's the way it goes sometimes. Give it up, Joe. You just listen, Joe. I'll put it right back together again. I wasn't low. Huh? Low called. I looked all over for you. Hey. Yes, Joe. I know how sick you were. I couldn't get off. It's all right now. I mailed a letter. Of course you did, Joe. I never forget. I know. Just listen to the song. Let's do my dish. Listen. Top of the world, huh, baby? Top of the world, Joe. The Darkened Ring, the story of a man who almost lost his right to a future in the violence of the present. Well, friends, because of a special broadcast, we won't be with you next week. However, if you like Joe's story, why don't you join us two weeks from this time? I'll have a man who learned that a misplaced love can lead to destruction. I like to call it men under pressure. So until then, this is John Steele saying a life of adventure is yours for the asking, wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It may find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. John Steele came from New York. Follow clues down Mutual's Mystery Lane to further thrills and chills along the Sunday Avenue of Mystery and Suspense or Martin Cain, the two-fisted gumshoe, the shadow and a cloak of invisibility, true detective mysteries with real life cases, and Nick Carter, master detective. Weekdays here, I love a mystery every night over most of these stations with the fabulous adventures of Jack, Doc and Reggie in eerie investigations. Remember, all roads lead to Mutual when you travel the Mystery Trail. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.