Battle of the Sexes Page #16

EXT. TENNIS COURT. DAY. 110G

Billie Jean on court, putting herself through a punishingwork-out of kangaroo jumps, press-ups and sit-ups.

EXT. BETTY GRABLE’S HOUSE. TENNIS COURT. LA. DAY.

An empty tennis court. Lornie and Larry Riggs stand there,

waiting. He hits a few desultory balls across the net. Wefollow him out of the court, down the steps to the pool.

EXT. BETTY GRABLE’S HOUSE. POOL. LA. DAY. 111A

A couple of women float in the pool. Poolside, an entourageof Angelenos are drinking cocktails. Bobby is on a lounger,

cigar in hand, holding court.

Larry Riggs passes them all, stands in front of his Dad.

LARRY:

Dad, I thought we were practicing.

BOBBY RIGGS:

What I have to say to that? Six-

two, six-one. Who needs to practicewhen I’m women’s Number One? And

I’ve got a secret weapon. Rheo

Blair, meet the most importantperson in my life. Apart from me.

My son, Larry.

Larry shakes hands with the impeccably coiffured Rheo.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Tell him, Rheo.

RHEO BLAIR:

Two words, Larry. Super Nutrition.

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

93

He points to a tray on which there are dozens of smallsaucers, each containing colored pills.

LARRY:

You taking all these?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Four hundred a day.

LARRY:

You’re kidding.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I’m rattling, but feeling better

than ever.

RHEO BLAIR:

The A to Z of Amino Acids.

Vitamins, Protein pills, FatBusters and some of Rheo’s

Specials.

LARRY:

And what’s in those?

Rheo takes a long, LA look at Larry.

RHEO BLAIR:

Specialness.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Forget training, I’m gonna live

forever!

LARRY:

Yeah, but-

BOBBY RIGGS:

-relax, did I not slam Margaretinto the ground? And she beatBillie Jean.

111B EXT. TENNIS COURT. HILTON HEAD. DAY. 111B

Billie is sprinting from side of the base line to the other,

bending and touching the white line each time. Larry counts

the reps.

LARRY:

Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty.

She stops, exhausted. Pours water over her head.

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

94

111C EXT. FRONT OF BETTY GRABLE HOUSE. DAY. 111C

Bobby stands in front of a news crew.

BOBBY RIGGS:

It’s like being reincarnated. This

is the greatest thing I’ve ever

done. Bigger than winning

Wimbledon, Forest Hills, bigger

than the pro-tour. This is the

highlight of my career. Maybe my

life.

60 MINUTES PRESENTER

Your life?

BOBBY RIGGS:

I’m sitting here with you, aren’t

I? Take a compliment. Next

question.

111D MONTAGE 111D

A montage of Billie Jean and Bobby. Stills of Billie Jean andBobby arm-wrestling together. Billie Jean feeling Bobby’s

bicep.

BOBBY RIGGS V/O

Worried? Look, she’s got no

forehand, she’s a slice-and-net

kinda player. Like all women, she’s

emotionally fragile. She just won’t

be able to take the pressure.

111E PRESS CONFERENCE LOCATION TBD. BJK CENTER? 111E

Back to the Press Conference on court. Billie Jean is

laughing but there is tension in her.

BILLIE JEAN:

Look, he can talk all he likes.

It’s one of the few things he’s

good at. It doesn’t mean a thing.

The only thing that counts- the one

thing that will settle this- is the

match. And who wins. That and

nothing else.

112 EXT. TENNIS COURT. HILTON HEAD. LATER.

Quick cuts of balls coming out of the sky. Billie slams lobafter lob. Bends over exhausted.

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

113

114

115

95

Quick cuts of Billie serving. Ball after ball. Sweat streamsin her eyes. Larry watches, the other side of the net.

LARRY:

Out. Out. In. Out.

Billie throws the racket down.

LARRY (CONT’D)

You okay?

BILLIE JEAN:

Yes. Just give me a second.

She bends over like she might throw up. Larry watches her.

INT. PHOTO STUDIO. LOS ANGELES. DAY. 113

Bobby being photographed, dressed as Henry VIIIth, a PlayboyBunny on each arm. He pulls his hearing aid out and hides itin his pocket.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Speak up, kiddo, I can’t hear you.

With these two dolls on my arm, myheartbeat’s too loud in my ears.

BOBBY RIGGS V/O...what do I think? Women should

keep their biscuits in the oven andtheir buns in bed.

INT. PHOTO STUDIO. LOS ANGELES. DAY. 114

Bobby is reclining on a chaise-longue. Naked. A photographerand an assistant bustle around taking shots.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Delicious. Just like you, honey.

Bobby Riggs, putting the show backinto chauvinism.

INT. LOCKER ROOM. DAY. (STUB HUB CENTER) 115

Pre-tournament, some of the Virginia Slims Gang are limberingup in the locker room.

PEACHES:

I don’t know. He really gave

Margaret a beating.

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

96

ROSIE:

She played like an idiot. There’s

no comparison. Margaret folds. Youknow Billie, she loves pressure.

VALERIE:

Yeah, but her game’s off right now.

JULIE:

It is. Hate to say it but mymoney’s on Bobby.

VALERIE:

Mine too.

ROSIE:

Money that you’ve got because of

Billie Jean.

JULIE:

It’s not personal. I don’t want him

to win. I just think he will.

The rattle of a toilet door. Billie Jean comes out. Silence

as she walks between them up to the basins, washes her handsand walks past them all and out into a barrage of cheeringand applause. The Girls look at each other.

ROSIE:

Exactly what she needed.

116 OMITTED 116

117 OMITTED 117

118 OMITTED 118

119 INT. BETTY GRABLE HOUSE. DAY. 119

Lornie calls out to Bobby in the backyard.

LORNIE:

Bobby, Channel Seven!

Bobby comes in from the backyard.

BOBBY RIGGS:

What? Am I on?

On the screen, we see a REPORTER live from Forest Hills.

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

97

SPORTSCASTER:

The breaking news from Forest Hills

is that Billie Jean King has been

defaulted in her third round match

against Julie Heldman. Looking

tired and dispirited, Miss King

left the court after only one set,

citing illness. Despite a press

release reporting flu-like

symptoms, speculation mounts that

pressure from the upcoming match

against Bobby Riggs is taking its

toll.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Taking its toll, baby! I knew it.

She’s crumbling. And I’m sitting by

the pool. Now tell me about

practicing. Flowers! We need to

send her a bunch of flowers so

goddam huge she can’t ever forget

me.

120 INT. HOTEL ROOM. HILTON HEAD. DAY.

Billie Jean is in bed. Gladys is smoking and pacing. Larrysits across the room.

GLADYS:

Are you scamming me to get more

practice time?

Billie Jean pulls the thermometer out of her mouth to

protest.

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m sick!

GLADYS:

Lemme see that.

She grabs the thermometer. Examines it.

GLADYS (CONT’D)

Well, you’re not dying.

BILLIE JEAN:

Try to sound pleased.

GLADYS:

Are you kidding? I love the other

girls- kind of- but you’re my

biggest draw. You’re a giant.

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

98

BILLIE JEAN:

A giant with the flu.

Gladys just stares at her.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Gladys. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep.

My knees hurt, my shoulders hurt,

my chest hurts.

GLADYS:

Your chest?

BILLIE JEAN:

Like there’s a weight. Right here.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes