Battle of the Sexes Page #18

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BILLIE JEAN:

Pretty similar to how it would makethe great Jack Kramer look:

shutting the whole thing downbecause he didn’t get to

participate.

Stalemate. Jack considers, shakes his head.

JACK KRAMER:

No. This means too much to you. Youand your Sisterhood. You’d never

throw it over this.

BILLIE JEAN:

Remember the last time you thoughtI was bluffing? One dollar.

He stares at her for a moment. Points to her hands. They areshaking.

JACK KRAMER:

Know the difference between a goodplayer and a great? The greatplayers don’t let emotion get in

the way. It messes with their game.

He walks out. She gets up and follows him into the main room.

129 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. OWNER’S SUITE. DAY 129

Jack walks straight past the waiting group.

JACK:

Sorry, Bobby.

Billie Jean stands at the door, grips her hands together tostop the shaking.

130 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. CORRIDOR. DAY. 130

The gaggle of Camera Men and Reporters waiting at the doorleap to their feet as Billie Jean and Larry come out of theentrance and hurry towards the car.

FEMALE REPORTER:

Any last minute thoughts, BillieJean? Are you going to win?

LARRY:

Of course she’s gonna win.

The MALE REPORTER turns to his female colleague.

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131

131A

131B

MALE REPORTER:

Not if it goes long. Women can’t

handle five sets.

Billie Jean stops. Turns to the Male Reporter.

BILLIE JEAN:

Do you have a daughter? A sister?

You sure as heck have a Mother. Is

she not as good as your Father?

Because she’s a woman? Do youbelieve that?

MALE REPORTER:

No...

BILLIE JEAN:

But that’s what you’re saying.

Whether you think you are or not.

If I beat Bobby Riggs in five sets,

will you stop saying it?

MALE REPORTER:

I-okay.

BILLIE JEAN:

Sir, I’m going to hold you to that.

LARRY:

Billie-

Larry takes her arm and hustles her into the car.

INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. DAWN.

Billie Jean is walking up steps. She seems to be climbingforever upwards. Finally, she stops and turns. She is in thevery top tier of the Astrodome looking down on the massive,

empty stadium.

She sits and stares at the small patch of green in the centerthat is the tennis court. Silence.

OMITTED 131A

INT. CONTROL ROOM. DAY. 131B

Inside the TV Control Room, a tense hush. Jerry Perenchiolooks on as the DIRECTOR and Vision Mixer are cutting betweencameras, exploring the shots.

Over the radios.

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RADIO:

Thirty minutes to broadcast, sixty-

five minutes to Game Time.

DIRECTOR:

Zoom in, 4. Camera 2 and Camera 1.

Wide on 5. Is that a Priest?

Camera 5 finds a Priest in the stands standing between whatis clearly a Bride and Groom.

JERRY PERENCHIO:

If Bobby wins, she takes thegroom’s surname. If Billie wins,

the groom takes her name.

132 OMITTED 132

133 OMITTED 133

134 OMITTED 134

135 INT. HOUSTON HOTEL. CORRIDOR/ESCALATOR. DAY. 135

Rheo, Lornie and Bobby’s Entourage heading out at speed.

Bobby is gulping down handfuls of Rheo’s pills.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Okay, wagons roll! Let’s go,

people, let’s go.

136 INT. HOUSTON HOTEL. ESCALATOR. DAY. 136

Bobby is about to get on the escalator. Stops.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Larry. Where’s Larry? Larry!

Larry comes out.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Come on.

LARRY:

I’m gonna watch it here.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Whaddya mean, ‘watch it here’? I

booked an entire Astrodome for you.

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LARRY:

I’m sorry, I’m not coming.

BOBBY RIGGS:

You’re afraid I’m gonna lose?

LARRY:

No.

BOBBY RIGGS:

What?

LARRY:

You don’t need me, that’s all. I

thought you did, but you don’t.

Good luck, Dad.

He turns and goes back into the hotel.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Larry!

He gives up.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Never understood that kid.

136A INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. DAY. 136A

RADIO:

...and we’re live!

And now, a real carnival atmosphere.

Men in the crowds are wearing T-shirts proudly proclaimingthemselves “Riggs Pigs”. Others wear bras and aprons. An

equal number of women have banners supporting Billie Jean, T-

shirts with “I love Billie Jean” emblazoned on the front.

Others are in ball gowns drinking champagne. You couldn’t geta more mixed crowd.

Frank Gifford, ABC’s roving reporter, is out canvassing

opinions. Various Pops: “I’m for Bobby”. “Billie’s gonna take

it”. “I’ve got a hundred dollars on Bobby”...

Everywhere, money is changing hands as the betting hots up.

Jimmy the Greek gives his opinion to Frank:

JIMMY THE GREEK:

King money is scarce. It’s hard to

find a bet on the girl.

(MORE)

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 108

JIMMY THE GREEK (CONT'D)

Court was number one and Bobbythrashed her. That’s the stats.

JIMMY THE GREEK (CONT'D)

Court was number one and Bobbythrashed her. That’s the stats.

137 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. HOME TEAM LOCKER ROOM. DAY. 137

Billie Jean stands in front of the mirror, wearing her tennisdress & a pair of BLUE SUEDE ADIDAS SHOES. She is surroundedby Rosie, Ted, Henry, Larry, a nervous THIRD AD, and BillieJean’s PARENTS. Everyone seems to be talking at once.

ROSIE:

(Reading telegrams)

From Senator Macintyre. “Good luck,

Billie Jean. We’re all rooting for

you.” Annie from New York- “go,

Billie, we know you’re going to

win...”

TED:

(Fussing over her dress)

You’ve lost weight. I need to take

this in.

BILLIE JEAN:

We don’t have time.

TED AND HENRY:

We’ve time.

BILLIE JEAN’S DAD

How are you feeling, honey?

BILLIE JEAN’S MOM

Do you need anything? Water?

THIRD AD:

Twenty minutes to Game Time.

TED:

I have to ask:
do you really intendto inflict blue suede shoes on

ninety million members of theviewing public?

BILLIE JEAN’S MOM

How many? Goodness, Billie Jean...

BILLIE JEAN:

If they’re good enough for Elvis,

they’re good enough for me.

TED:

Well something’s off, and I think

it’s the shoes.

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BILLIE JEAN:

It’s not the shoes.

MARILYN:

Your hair.

They turn and see Marilyn standing in the doorway. A frozenmoment. Then Billie Jean gathers herself:

BILLIE JEAN:

Mom. Dad. This is Marilyn. Myhairdresser.

BILLIE’S MOM

Pleased to meet you.

They shake hands.

BILLIE’S DAD

Well, if I know one thing, it’s to

never get between a woman and herhairdresser. Come on, honey, let’s

find our seats.

LARRY:

I’ll take you up there.

He puts a hand on Billie Jean’s shoulder.

LARRY (CONT’D)

I’ll be back to walk you down to

the court.

Billie Jean’s parents hug her.

BILLIE JEAN’S DAD

(Hugs Billie Jean)

Good luck, sweetheart.

BILLIE JEAN’S MOM

Give him heck.

They all leave. Marilyn and Billie Jean stand looking at eachother. Oblivious, the Third AD is busy mumbling into hisradio.

MARILYN:

“Your hairdresser.”

BILLIE JEAN:

What else was I supposed to say?

MARILYN:

No, that is why I’m here. Sit.

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

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Billie Jean sits. Marilyn gets her scissors out and startssnipping. Silence.

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