Battle of the Sexes Page #12

I gather you’re staying on the

tour.

MARILYN:

I was invited.

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

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LARRY:

Not by me. And I pay your salary.

A salary that comes fromendorsements, which would disappearin a heartbeat if certain thingswere made public.

MARILYN:

I only have Billie’s best interestsat heart.

Larry watches her smoke.

LARRY:

You seem like a nice girl, Marilyn.

MARILYN:

Don’t condescend to me.

Larry laughs shortly.

LARRY:

Please. I’m not the competition.

I’m just her husband. Tennis is hertrue love. We’re side-shows. You

get between her and her game andyou will be gone. And looking atthe way this match went, I wouldn’tquit your job at the salon just

yet.

Larry walks away. Marilyn exhales.

66A INT. LA ARENA -- BATHROOM. DUSK. 66A

Billie Jean splashes water on her face. Margaret comes in. Atense silence as Margaret undoes her shoes. Finally:

MARGARET COURT:

I met Bobby Riggs last night. Funny

man.

BILLIE JEAN:

Tell me you didn’t.

MARGARET COURT:

Didn’t what? He wants to play anexhibition match is all. Now I’m

officially number one.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s not a tennis match, Margaret,

you do understand that?

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MARGARET COURT:

What do you mean?

BILLIE JEAN:

Bobby tried that exhibition match

line on me.

MARGARET COURT:

Oh. And I suppose you turned him

down.

BILLIE JEAN:

Are you kidding? Why would I want

to become part of the Bobby Riggs

circus? He wants to make himself

look great and women look stupid.

It’s not a match, it’s a show.

MARGARET COURT:

Well, I can see why you might not

want to play him. But I’ve got

nothing to hide.

Through the doorway, we see Ted and Henry exchange asignificant look. Margaret walks out.

BILLIE JEAN:

Margaret.

She turns.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Just- please. You have to win. You

have to.

Margaret turns again and walks off.

67 INT. LA ARENA -- LOCKER ROOM. DAY. 67

Billie Jean goes back into the locker room, where Ted andHenry wait for her clothes. Billie Jean practically rips themoff, she’s so mad.

BILLIE JEAN:

Did you hear that?!

TED:

Watch the seams, please.

BILLIE JEAN:

She’s playing Bobby Riggs.

TED:

The Arm versus the Mouth. I know

where my money’s going.

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BILLIE JEAN:

But what if she loses? Ted, what if

she really blows it? He’ll never

let it go. He’ll make women’s

tennis into a laughing stock.

TED:

Calm yourself, Madam Superstar.

Margaret’s playing better than

ever, as I don’t need to remind

you. Entre nous, we’ve even had to

make some adjustments around thebicep, haven’t we, Henry?

HENRY:

I couldn’t possibly. Almost an inchand a half.

TED:

Well, I’m just glad that you’re not

playing him.

BILLIE JEAN:

Not a chance.

Billie Jean heads out.

TED:

Best to be careful.

Billie Jean stops.

BILLIE JEAN:

What do you mean?

TED:

It’s not always a forgiving world,

my dear.

(Beat)

Your friend is waiting outside.

Billie locks eyes briefly with Ted before walking out.

67A INT/EXT. LARRY RIGG’S APARTMENT. DAY. 67A

Larry opens the door to find Bobby in a full-body, plasticsweat suit, jogging on the spot.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Larry!

LARRY RIGGS:

Dad?

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71

BOBBY RIGGS:

Hi, kiddo. Can’t come in, I’m

training.

He starts doing squat thrusts and star jumps on the porch.

LARRY RIGGS:

What the hell are you wearing?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Sweat suit. Killing me, but I lose

a pound every time I breathe.

Heard the news? Bobby’s back!

LARRY RIGGS:

Yeah, I heard.

BOBBY RIGGS:

You did? Isn’t it great?

LARRY RIGGS:

Is it really happening?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Sure it’s happening.

He stops.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Will you help?

LARRY:

What with?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Training, support, you know, hit afew balls for your old Dad. Whatabout it? Lornie’s coming in.

Larry is still suspicious.

LARRY:

Why me?

BOBBY RIGGS:

You’re my son, right? We could do

this together. You, me, Riggsagainst the world! It’s a big deal,

you know, it’s on TV-you’ll be on

TV.

LARRY:

You think you can beat her?

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

BOBBY RIGGS:

I’m gonna barbecue her, Larry: I

got a thing.

LARRY:

(who knows about things)

Oh-oh.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Yeah! You’re gonna love it!

He puts a plastic arm around Larry.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

And I’ll let you into a little

secret. Margaret’s just the start.

LARRY:

Then what?

BOBBY RIGGS:

You and me, kiddo, we’re going

global.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I’m gonna barbecue her, Larry: I

got a thing.

LARRY:

(who knows about things)

Oh-oh.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Yeah! You’re gonna love it!

He puts a plastic arm around Larry.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

And I’ll let you into a little

secret. Margaret’s just the start.

LARRY:

Then what?

BOBBY RIGGS:

You and me, kiddo, we’re going

global.

72

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78 OMITTED 78

79 OMITTED 79

79A TV SCREEN. 79A

Bobby fills the screen.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Now listen, I’m not saying women

don’t belong on the court- I mean,

heck, who would pick up the balls

otherwise- but all this shouting

about equality. I say, equality?

Equal me. I’m an old guy on the

senior circuit getting paid peanuts-

so if I can beat the Ladies’s

Number One, then I’ll have equal

prize money, thank you very much,

and the girls can get back in the

kitchen where they belong.

79B TV SCREEN. 79B

Margaret fills the screen.

MARGARET COURT:

Oh, I don’t get involved in

politics. I’m certainly no women’s

libber. I’m just looking forward to

a good game of tennis.

79C TV SCREEN. 79C

We cut to an excited TV Commentator.

TV ANNOUNCER:

...this match has really gripped

the nation. Suddenly a simple

tennis game has become so much

more. This, ladies and gentlemen

has come to define the oldest of

battles:
man versus woman. And a

question for our commentator today,

Jack Kramer, where’s your money? On

mankind or womankind?

The camera pans to Billie’s nemesis: Jack Kramer.

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JACK:

Oh, Bobby Riggs, without a doubt.

Margaret Court is a great player,

no mistake, but the thing aboutwomen is- they just can’t handle

pressure. Just not built for it.

79D EXT. AIRPORT. DAY. 79D

An aeroplane sits on the tarmac as passengers deplane. TheNine are trying to hustle through the crowd down the stepsfrom the aeroplane. Billie Jean is trailed by Marilyn.

80 INT. HAWAII AIRPORT. ARRIVALS. DAY. 80

Sedate lines of travellers wandering slowly through theArrivals area.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s starting!

Out of nowhere, a horde of women in tennis whites chargethrough, side-stepping passengers, dodging cleaners andsleepy officials.

GLADYS:

Virginia Slims, coming through!

They charge onwards leaving a trail of bemusement behindthem.

81 OMITTED 81

82 OMITTED 82

83 EXT. DESERT MATCH COURT. BLEACHERS. DAY. 83

Margaret comes down the bleacher stairs onto the court.

83A INT. HAWAII AIRPORT LOUNGE. DAY. 83A

The Girls are crowded around an area of tiny, black and whitepay TV’s. They are perched two to a seat, using three or fourtelevisions. Everybody is shouting at Rosie to put morequarters in each of them.

ROSIE:

I’m doing it, I’m doing it!

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