Battle of the Sexes Page #11

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16

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TED:

Ted here, darling. I just thoughtyou’d like un petit heads up.

Larry’s in the building.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh. Sh*t. Right. Thanks.

Billie Jean scrambles to her feet, glances around the roomrather desperately. Grabs a robe. Shoves a short skirt andtights under a pillow, tidies the bed, plumping one set ofpillows to look unslept in. Hides Marilyn’s suitcase under

the bed. She eyes the results dubiously.

INT. BONAVENTURE LOBBY. DAY. 54

Larry is waiting for the elevator when Marilyn comes down thehall carrying a champagne-labelled ice bucket full of ice andjoins him waiting for the elevator. She glances at him. Heglances at her. Likes what he sees. The elevator doors open.

LARRY:

Going up?

MARILYN:

Five, please.

LARRY:

Me too.

Irrefutable. The doors close.

OMITTED 55

INT. BONAVENTURE ELEVATOR. DAY. 56

Larry indicates the bucket.

LARRY:

Starting early?

MARILYN:

Oh...well, you know what they say,

never too early for champagne.

LARRY:

My kind of girl.

Eye contact. Nervous chuckles.

LARRY (CONT’D)

You here for the tennis?

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16

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MARILYN:

Sure am.

LARRY:

Me too. I reckon Billie Jean’s

gonna take it.

MARILYN:

Oh, are you a fan?

LARRY:

Could say that.

56A INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL CORRIDOR. DAY. 56A

Bing. The doors open. Larry holds the elevator doors forMarilyn who steps out.

LARRY:

Well. See you around.

MARILYN:

Maybe.

She laughs and walks off down the corridor. Larry lets her goa little so he can admire the rear view, then follows her

down the corridor.

She turns the corner, stops at one of the doors but beforeshe can unlock it, the door is flung open. Billie Jean withher Welcome Husband face on.

BILLIE JEAN:

Hi!

Billie Jean is confronted with Marilyn...

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Oh.

...just as Larry catches up and stops too. Billie Jean triesagain- with the husband.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Hi!

LARRY:

Hi, honey.

A terrible pause as they both turn and look at Marilyn. Larrylooks at Billie Jean.

BILLIE JEAN:

This is...Marilyn.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16

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He looks back at Marilyn. The penny drops.

LARRY:

Oh.

Billie Jean attempts an introduction.

BILLIE JEAN:

Larry.

MARILYN:

(another penny drops)

Oh. Oh. Pleased to meet you.

BILLIE JEAN:

Marilyn’s-

MARILYN:

--the hairdresser around here.

BILLIE JEAN:

Larry’s-

LARRY:

--the husband around here.

MARILYN:

Peaches wanted a blow-dry. I’ll

come back later.

Marilyn starts to walk away.

LARRY:

Marilyn?

She swings back, a desperate smile dying on her face.

LARRY (CONT’D)

Was the ice for Billie Jean’s

knees?

Marilyn looks at Billie Jean, who looks at the ground.

Marilyn nods. Larry reaches out, takes the bucket from her.

LARRY (CONT’D)

Thank you.

57 INT. BILLIE JEAN’S BONAVENTURE HOTEL ROOM. DAY. 57

The door shuts. Larry and Billie Jean face each other.

BILLIE JEAN:

Larry...

But instead of confrontation, he goes into the bathroom.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 65

58 INT. BILLIE JEAN’S BONAVENTURE HOTEL BATHROOM. DAY. 58

Removes a lacy bra and panties from the towel rail in orderto get at the towel. Realizes what he holds in his hand. Towhom they belong. Sits heavily down on the side of the bath,

winded. Clears his throat.

LARRY:

The roads were clear, so I made

good time. I should have called

ahead. Let you know I was coming.

He puts the bra and panties back. Adjusts his face.

59 INT. BILLIE JEAN’S BONAVENTURE HOTEL ROOM. DAY. 59

He comes out with the towel and starts expertly wrapping theice cubes from the bucket.

BILLIE JEAN:

Larry.

LARRY *

Hop up.

*

Billie Jean sits on the bed and Larry starts wrapping thetowels around each of her knees.

BILLIE JEAN *

I’m so sorry. *

Nothing from Larry. *

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Larry, say something. Please. Talk

to me.

LARRY *

Does anyone know? *

Billie shakes her head. *

He stands.

BILLIE JEAN *

I don’t know what to do. *

LARRY *

Nothing’s changed for me, Billie. *

We’re a great team, you and me, *

always have been. *

LARRY (CONT’D)

I’m going to check in to a room

down the hall. I’ll be making calls‘til late and you need your restbefore the finals.

(MORE)

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 65A

LARRY (CONT’D)

If there’s anything you need, you

know where to find me.

LARRY (CONT’D)

If there’s anything you need, you

know where to find me.

He picks up his bag, goes out and shuts the door. Billie Jeanstares at the shut door.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16

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59A INT. BONAVENTURE HOTEL -- CORRIDOR. DAY. 59A

Bag in hand, Larry wanders down the corridor. Suddenly, hestops and leans over to catch his breath. A moment. Then hestands back up and keeps walking.

60 OMITTED 60

61 OMITTED 61

62 OMITTED 62

62A OMITTED 62A

62B INT. LA. ARENA. DUSK. 62B

Margaret Court and Billie Jean are engaged in an intensematch. Billie Jean is losing. Larry sits courtside. Marilynis seated behind him. We are on their anxious faces as Billie

Jean misses another shot. Billie Jean mutters to herself:

BILLIE JEAN:

Just great. Christmas every day

with BJ... Hold onto your racquet.

No more mistakes like that. Dumb-y.

63 OMITTED 63

64 OMITTED 64

65A INT. LA ARENA. DUSK. 65A

The crowd are on their feet applauding as Margaret Courtlifts the trophy. Larry looks over at Marilyn, who isgathering her things, oblivious to his gaze.

66 INT. LA ARENA -- LOCKER ROOM. DUSK. 66

Locker rooms with a shared bathroom. Henry is packing upboxes of tennis shoes while Ted puts plastic covers on a rackof dresses. Billie Jean beats the ice in a towel, preppingher ice-packs, getting her aggression out. Larry takes thetowel from her, and helps her wrap her knees.

LARRY:

Let it go. You’ll beat her next

time.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16

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BILLIE JEAN:

How can I let it go? My ranking was

on the line.

LARRY:

You seemed distracted...

The noise of Margaret Court and her husband celebrating.

Billie Jean and Larry look down through the bathroom to seeBarry lifting Margaret into the air-a happy couple. BillieJean stands and goes into the bathroom. Larry leaves theroom. Henry and Ted exchange a look.

HENRY:

I bet I know what was distracting

her.

TED:

Shh.

65 EXT. LA ARENA. DUSK. 65

Larry comes out to the alleyway outside the dressing rooms,

only to find Marilyn out there, smoking.

MARILYN:

Oh. Hi. Billie almost ready?

LARRY:

I think she’ll be a while.

(Beat)

Does Billie know you smoke?

MARILYN:

I have no idea.

LARRY:

She’s not a fan.

MARILYN:

I won’t tell if you won’t.

LARRY:

More secrets.

(Beat)

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