Golden Boy

Golden Boy Summary | Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

This scene is set in the office of small time boxing manager, Tom Moody. As the play opens Moody is in the middle of a fight with his girlfriend Lorna. She is trying to convince him to leave his wife and marry her. He keeps telling her to be patient and reminds her that his wife wants a large chunk of money to agree to a divorce. Lorna's temper calms and she forgives him. Moody promises that if one of his fighters, Kaplan, wins his bout tonight he'll buy her something expensive. Lorna tells him that Kaplan won't win, and Moody admits she's right. He tells her how desperate he is for a good fighter to come along and make him some money. Lorna tells him that whatever happens, she'll love him forever.

As Moody and Lorna kiss, a boy arrives with some bad news - Kaplan broke his hand in a sparring match at the gym. Moody frantically tries to call Tokio, Kaplan's trainer, and complains to Lorna that he'll have to cancel the fight. The boy tells him that canceling won't be necessary. He can fight instead. Moody practically laughs him out of the office, but the boy calmly points out one of the opponent's weaknesses and how to get past it. Moody tells him that lots of fighters have tried the same technique and been beaten. When he asks the boy if he's ever heard of those fighters the boy asks whether Moody has heard of him and introduces himself by the last name of Bonaparte. When Moody laughs and teases him about his name, the boy says to call him Joe. Moody continues to laugh but then Joe angrily grabs him by his lapels. Moody shakes him off.

Tokio comes in and reveals that Joe was the fighter Kaplan was sparring with when he broke his hand. Moody is so surprised he can't speak. The phone rings and Moody answers. It's Roxy, the owner of the club where Kaplan was supposed to fight that night. Moody tells him that Kaplan's backing out but that he's got a replacement. When he hangs up, Joe tells him he'll be surprised.