Character Analysis
Everything is Better with Morgan Freeman Narrating
Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris is the warm but battle-scarred narrator of Million Dollar Baby. A former fighter, he knows the boxing world inside and out and has the storytelling soul of a poet:
SCRAP: If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys, and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.
That's good stuff.
Every Move You Make, Every Step You Take, He'll Be Watching You
Scrap's narration may be lyrical, but, ultimately, he keeps it real. "You never hear Scrap going for an affect or putting a spin on his words," observes Roger Ebert. "He just wants to tell us what happened. He talks about how the girl walked into the gym, how she wouldn't leave, how Frankie finally agreed to train her, and what happened then" (source). In a bit of movie magic, he's always in the right place at the right time. He's even lingering in the shadows at the rehab center when Frankie sneaks in and helps Maggie end her life.
He's Got HBO
Scrap's more than just an omnipresent observer, however. For starters, he's the guy that keeps the Hit Pit running, whether it's mopping up the bathroom, or mentoring Danger. He's also Maggie's first ally at the gym, offering her tips and lending her a speed bag when Frankie isn't looking. He's so much a part of the Hit Pit that he lives there full-time.
That's What Scraps Are For
More than anything, though, he's Frankie's best friend. Scrap and Frankie fight like brothers about everything from the smell of bleach to "sleeping socks." Even when they verbally spar about more serious topics—like Frankie's choices as a manager or how Scrap lost his eye—their arguments are rooted in a desire to see each other succeed. That's what BFFs do.
When Frankie needs advice, Scrap is there. After Maggie's accident, a grieving Frankie lashes out at Scrap and blames it all on him. Scrap lays low for a while, but when he resurfaces, he not only forgives Frankie for his hurtful remarks, but also has just the right words to boost Frankie's spirits.
SCRAP: Maggie walked through that door with nothing but guts, "no chance in the world of being what she needed to be. A year and a half later, she's fighting for the championship of the world. You did that. People die every day, Frankie—mopping floors, washing dishes and you know what their last thought is? I never got my shot. Maggie got her shot. If she dies today you know what her last thought would be? I think I did all right.
When Frankie's lower than low, Scrap knows how to put things in perspective. He's Frankie's friend, his conscience, his sounding board. And when all's said and done and Maggie's gone, we see that all this narration is really a letter that Scrap's writing to Katy—one last thing to try to do for his friend.
SCRAP: I hoped he'd gone to find you. Ask you one more time to forgive him. But I don't think he had anything left in his heart. […] No matter where he is, I thought you should know what kind of man your father really was.
Good friend, right? Now if only he'd stop buying that expensive bleach…
Scrap's Timeline