Battle of the Sexes Page #17

She taps on her heart. Gladys sighs and sits on the bed.

GLADYS:

Okay. Take two weeks off. Gosomeplace. Practice, don’t

practice, whatever you have to do.

But you’ve got a tournament the dayafter this Riggs match and, win orlose, you’re gonna be there.

BILLIE JEAN:

Thank you, Gladys.

Gladys gets up and goes to the door. Stops.

GLADYS:

And just so you know. If you lose,

I will never forgive you.

She leaves. Billie Jean flops back on her pillow.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s too much pressure. Larry. No

wonder my body’s falling apart.

LARRY:

Billie? If there’s someone...you

need...who you want me to call... Ican call her.

Beat. Billie Jean looks down.

BILLIE JEAN:

No. There’s no one. Thank you.

Larry stands.

LARRY:

I’ve been thinking. There’s

something I want to tell you.

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99

Billie Jean braces herself.

BILLIE JEAN:

What.

LARRY:

I love you. No matter what happens.

On the court--or off. You hear me?

They make real eye contact for the first time in weeks.

BILLIE JEAN:

...Okay.

EXT. BETTY GRABLE’S HOUSE. TENNIS COURT. LA. DAY. 121

Bobby is entertaining a host of journalists, playing trickshots through his legs, jumping over chairs, dressed in arain cheater and hat...it is ridiculous but brilliant. There

isn’t a shot he can’t return.

EXT. BETTY GRABLE’S HOUSE. TENNIS COURT. LA. DAY. 122

Bobby is playing doubles with his leg tied to another man’s

leg. The crowd are loving it.

A brief pause while a beautiful young woman hands him acocktail. He takes it, blows her a kiss and takes a big swig.

EXT. BETTY GRABLE’S HOUSE. TENNIS COURT. LA. DAY 123

TV News footage of Bobby on the court, this time with a babylion on a leash.

TV REPORTER:

...and anyone who mistakes him fora fool may well end up looking likeone. Whether he’s wearing a dress,

playing with an umbrella orsporting these season’s must-have

accessory-a lion cub- Bobby hasn’t

lost a match yet.

Footage of another player paying out dollar bills to Bobbywho flashes a fan of them to the camera.

TV REPORTER (CONT’D)

And as the Bobby Riggs circus moveson to the next town, people arebeginning to wonder what hashappened to the opposition? Has shechoked? Has she fled the country?

(MORE)

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 100

TV REPORTER (CONT’D)

After withdrawing from Forest Hillswith a virus, nobody has seen eventhe ghost of Billie Jean King.

TV REPORTER (CONT’D)

After withdrawing from Forest Hillswith a virus, nobody has seen eventhe ghost of Billie Jean King.

124 INT. GENE SHAWCOVE’S HAIR SALON. DAY. 124

A small TV set in the salon is playing the footage. Marilynstares at the TV, ignoring the complex coloring operation sheis supposed to be performing. Bonny works next to her.

MARILYN:

It’s not right. It’s just not

right.

She rips off her rubber gloves and heads for the door.

HAIR CLIENT:

Hey! Where are you going?

Marilyn keeps walking, right out the door.

HAIR CLIENT (CONT’D)

Where is she going??

BONNY:

My guess? Houston.

125 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. OWNER’S SUITE. DAY 125

JERRY PERENCHIO, ROONE ARLEDGE Head of ABC Sports and Bobbysit in the palatial suite. We see the back of another manstanding at the window. Silence. Bobby is jiggling his legnervously.

ROONE ARLEDGE:

She did know what time-

BOBBY RIGGS:

(snapping)

-yes. Told you.

More silence.

126 OMITTED 126

126A TV SCREEN. HOWARD COSELL AND BOBBY RIGGS 126A

127 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. OWNER’S SUITE. DAY 127

The guys are gathered around the TV watching a promo for thebroadcast.

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HOWARD COSELL:

On Sept. 20, at the HoustonAstrodome, 8pm Eastern Standardtime it’s the Battle of the

Sexes... But Mother Riggs what’s

going to happen?

BOBBY RIGGS:

I predict that I will lob her todeath and chop her to death. Shewon’t have a chance, I’m gonnapsych her right out of her socks.

They’re all enjoying the clip. Jerry checks his watch.

JERRY PERENCHIO:

Has she pulled out?

ROONE ARLEDGE:

She was ill...

Then the door bangs open and in strides Billie Jean, RosieCassals and Larry. Billie is tanned, fit, ready for battle.

BILLIE JEAN:

Apologies, Gentlemen.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Hey! How’s the flu, honey?

BILLIE JEAN:

Flu?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Heard you were ill.

BILLIE JEAN:

You don’t believe what you read in

the papers, do you, Bobby? Butthank you for the flowers. I gavethem to Rosie.

ROSIE:

I put them in the trash.

Then Billie sees the figure standing at the window. Freezes.

BILLIE JEAN:

Jack?

Jack Kramer who has been standing a little apart staring outthe window turns.

JACK KRAMER:

Billie Jean.

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

BILLIE JEAN:

What are you...?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Jack’s my choice of commentator forABC.

BILLIE JEAN:

Jack? No. That won’t work.

ROONE ARLEDGE:

Now, Billie Jean, nobody’s

complaining about Rosie doing thePlay by Play.

BILLIE JEAN:

Rosie hasn’t single-handedly tried

to dismantle women’s tennis.

JACK KRAMER:

You overstate my influence, BillieJean.

BILLIE JEAN:

You black-balled us from the USLTA.

BOBBY RIGGS:

He did you a favour. Lousyorganization. Jack’s my choice.

JERRY PERENCHIO:

Sure make for a punchy commentary.

BILLIE JEAN:

No. I won’t play.

ROONE ARLEDGE:

Look, I’ve paid seven hundred and

fifty thousand dollars for thisevent: you can’t turn up on the eveof the match saying you won’t play.

BILLIE JEAN:

Says who?

Silence.

JACK KRAMER:

I wonder if we could have a word?

Just the two of us.

He gestures to the ante-room to the owner’s suite.

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

128 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. OWNER’S SUITE. ANTE-ROOM. DAY. 128

Jack Kramer and Billie Jean stand facing each other.

JACK KRAMER:

Billie Jean, I know we’ve had our

differences, but that’s behind us.

This is between you and Bobby now.

BILLIE JEAN:

Bobby? Bobby’s a clown. The whole

thing’s a big act for him. With

you, it’s different. It’s for real.

JACK KRAMER:

What do you mean.

BILLIE JEAN:

Your dislike of women.

JACK KRAMER:

Happily married for thirty-two

years.

He spreads his hands? Go figure.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh, you like us well enough in the

kitchen and the bedroom, bringing

up the kids and doing the dishes. I

bet you’re a real gentleman- and I

mean that sincerely.

JACK KRAMER:

I’ll take my compliments where I

can from you.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s when we dare to want more,

just a little bit of what you’ve

got. That’s what you can’t stand.

And to have you up there, telling

the American public what to read

into every serve, every point? I’m

sorry, Jack, but if you’re

commentating, I’m not playing.

Jack drops the smile.

JACK KRAMER:

How do you think that will make the

great Billie Jean King look?

Backing out at the last minute

because she didn’t like the

commentator?

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

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