Fat City

Billy Tully, a boxer past his prime, goes to a gym in Stockton to get back into shape. He spars with an 18-year-old named Ernie Munger and sees real potential in him. He also suggests that Munger look up his former manager and trainer Ruben Luna. The encounter sets the stage for Tully's renewed involvement in boxing.

Tully tells combative barfly Oma Lee Greer and her easygoing boyfriend Earl how impressed he is with the kid. The praise comes as he contemplates his own return to the ring. The moment foreshadows the mentorship and tension around the younger fighter.

Newly inspired by the promising fighter, Tully decides to get back into boxing himself. He begins formulating a plan to train and take another shot at his career. The decision marks a turning point from his aimless struggle to a renewed pursuit.

Tully's personal life has fallen apart since his wife left. He drinks too much, cannot hold a job, and scrapes by doing migrant work picking fruit and vegetables. The turmoil underlines why a boxing comeback is both a relief and a risk.

Munger loses his first fight, his nose breaking in the process. He is knocked out again in his next bout, underscoring the harsh reality of his early professional career. The defeats fuel his determination but also highlight the brutal nature of the sport.

Munger's girlfriend Faye Murdock pressures him to marry because a baby is on the way. He reluctantly agrees to wed, even while his boxing prospects and finances remain uncertain. In the meantime, he keeps working in the fields to provide for the unborn child.

Tully tries moving in with Oma after Earl is sent to prison for a few months. The living arrangement strains their fragile relationship, with Oma's volatile temperament complicating things. Yet the move signals Tully's attempt at stability amid his comeback plans.

Earl is imprisoned for a few months, yet he continues to pay Oma's rent from prison. His absence further unsettles Oma and Tully as their living situation becomes precarious. The dynamic sets the stage for Tully's re-entry into boxing and domestic life.

In his first bout back, Tully faces Arcadio Lucero, a tough Mexican boxer in considerable pain due to age. They knock each other down, and Tully is declared the winner. However, the payday is pitiful, only $100, which triggers Tully to end his business relationship with Ruben Luna.

The tiny payday exposes the unsustainable nature of his arrangement with Ruben Luna, prompting Tully to cut ties. He returns to Oma's apartment to find Earl there, and Earl says that Oma wants nothing more to do with Tully. The scene underscores how the comeback is entangled with his unstable personal life.

Munger, returning from a fight, finds Tully drunk in the street. He tries to ignore him at first, but Tully asks for a drink and the two end up talking over coffee. The moment highlights their shared loneliness and the fragile bond forming between them.

Munger reluctantly agrees to share coffee with Tully, and they sit together in uneasy, wordless silence. The exchange deepens their bond as two men adrift in a tough town. The scene closes on a note of mutual understanding born of isolation.