[to Marty, who is dying] Pop, I'm thinking of leaving the business.
Why do you wanna do that for?
I'm tired. Tired of being in the spotlight. Music business changes so fast they can't keep up with the next guy anymore. Maybe I should stop trying. [pause] You always told me, "Fighters gotta know when to quit. Stay too long, they remember you as the guy on the canvas." [pause] Pop?
... What?
Is it hard to quit?
Not if you had a guy on the mat...
You used to call me a quitter, remember? [pause] Remember what a pain in the ass I was when I was starting out? I had to sing, I had to be the best. I always knew that I could do it, pop. I wanted you to know I could do it.
[pause] All those years... the guys at the fire house... they treated me like... a champ... Because of you.
Yeah.
... You're no quitter, son.
[pause]
Thank you, pop. [stands up, kisses his father on his forehead] Goodnight. I love you, pop.
Frank... don't go... Just stay awhile.
[sits down] Sure, pop.
[Marty slowly closes his eyes. Frank takes his father's hand, he kisses it]
[pause] Goodnight, champ.
[fade to black]
[cut to six years later at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1974, where Frank, now 58, is on stage performing "That's Life"] [Last scene of the film]
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