Cobb

Sportswriter Al Stump is hired to ghostwrite Ty Cobb's authorized autobiography. He travels to Cobb's Lake Tahoe estate to begin negotiations and assess the task. Cobb signals that he intends to control the tone of the project from the outset.

Cobb is depicted as a continually drunken, bitter, and abusive figure whose luxurious home lacks heat, power, and running water due to disputes with utility companies. He disciplines staff with ruthless efficiency, creating a threatening atmosphere. Stump steels himself for the hard-edged reality of Cobb's character.

Cobb insists on highlighting his self-proclaimed greatness, while Stump argues the biography must rely on truth and the consensus of others. The two men clash over structure, tone, and what constitutes an honest portrait. This dispute foreshadows the dual manuscripts Stump plans to write.

Cobb plans a quick Reno trip for entertainment. In a blizzard near Donner Pass, he nearly dies in a reckless car crash that Stump helps avert. Cobb then seizes control of Stump's car, causing another crash, and the vehicle must be towed to Reno.

In Reno, Cobb interrupts a resort show featuring Keely Smith and Louis Prima, displaying his usual arrogance. The scene highlights Cobb's volatile temperament and the friction with those around him. Stump's resolve to tell the truth about Cobb grows stronger.

Cobb enters Stump's hotel room and confronts notes labeling him 'pathetic' and 'lost in the past.' He argues that people won't care about his personal issues, only his achievements. He reveals that Cobb's agents granted him final editorial approval, breaking the contract Stump trusted.

Cobb begins revealing pivotal life events to Stump, including the death of his father, which he attributes to his mother. He frames this moment as formative in shaping his ruthless persona. The disclosure marks a shift toward a more candid portrait.

A cigarette girl named Ramona becomes interested in Stump, triggering Cobb's jealous rage. Cobb barges into the room, humiliates Ramona, and abuses her while failing to arouse himself. Stump witnesses the episode and is horrified by Cobb's cruelty.

Stump resolves to write Cobb's flattering autobiography alongside a merciless exposé revealing the real Cobb. He plans to publish the no-holds-barred version after Cobb's death, ensuring payment while Cobb remains alive. The dual writing signals a decisive turn toward truth-telling.

Stump begins placing the typewritten pages of the approved book for Cobb to review, while secretly drafting the harsher account on hotel stationery and napkins. He creates a visible tension between the two works to avoid immediate vetoes. The strategy foreshadows the eventual revelation.

Cobb and Stump reach Cooperstown for Hall of Fame induction weekend, where Cobb is publicly lauded yet privately met with by peers who tolerate him. The trip intensifies the conflict between public glory and private sentiment. Stump's parallel work presses toward a controversial reveal.

During the Hall of Fame period, Cobb is revealed to have secretly helped old teammates in need, adding complexity to his public image. The revelation challenges Stump's evolving judgment and deepens their uneasy collaboration. The incident further blurs the line between ruthlessness and generosity in Cobb's legacy.

From Cooperstown, Cobb and Stump travel to Cobb's native Georgia, where his estranged daughter refuses to see him and other children inherit the same silence. The visit underscores Cobb's isolation despite his on-field prowess. It adds emotional weight to the biographical portrait Stump is shaping.

After a long night of drinking, Cobb discovers Stump's no-punches-pulled notes and explodes in confrontation. He attempts to shoot himself, coughs up blood, and is rushed to hospital. In a strained moment, Cobb grudgingly gives Stump his blessing to publish the no-holds-barred version and to finish the glossy biography.

Cobb dies on July 17, 1961, and is buried beside his parents. Stump completes both manuscripts and ultimately publishes the flattering autobiography Cobb hired him to write. A closing voiceover reflects on the paradox of glory, truth, and the costs of storytelling.