Battle of the Sexes Page #20

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The Libbers cheer as Billie Jean returns to the baseline.

Bobby just sits in one of the chairs on the sidelines.

Catching his breath.

LORNIE:

Take the damned jacket off.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I can’t. They paid me ten gees.

LORNIE:

I don’t give a damn. Get it off.

Bobby takes the jacket off.

Billie Jean stares at him. She knows now how to deal with

him.

Billie Jean sends over shots that make Bobby run from oneside of the court to the other. It’s merciless. He’s dying.

The Umpire calls game after game.

She serves and volleys, powers balls past his increasinglytired legs.

UMPIRE:

Second set to Miss King. Miss Kingleads two sets to none.

Bobby’s hands are being massaged by Lornie.

BOBBY RIGGS:

They’re cramping, Lornie.

He pours Gatorade down his throat.

On the other side of the court, Billie Jean massages her sorecalves, watching him falter.

UMPIRE:

Time, please.

They take ends again.

A series of punishing serves. Punishing smashes. Bobby,

increasingly out-gunned.

The repeated phrase.

UMPIRE (CONT’D)

Game to Miss King. Game to MissKing.

And the final shot from Bobby, limply into the net.

Billie Jean throws her racket high into the air.

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Flashes of:
dejected Riggs Pigs in the stadium. EcstaticLibbers. Deafening cheering.

The Nine going absolutely crazy.

160A INT MARGARET’S HOTEL ROOM. DAY. 160A

Margaret Court goes to the television and switches it off.

Walks out of the room. Barry watches her go.

160B INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. HOME TEAM LOCKER ROOM. DAY.

Tears are running down Ted’s cheeks. Henry passes him a

handkerchief.

TED:

Horrid little man.

160B

161A INT. CHURCH. DAY.

Bobby’s Gamblers Anonymous friends stare at the TV,

dumbfounded.

161A

161B INT. FOREST HILL COUNTRY CLUB- LIBRARY. NIGHT.

Jack Kramer stares at the TV.

JACK KRAMER:

How’d that happen?

161B

160C OMITTED 160C

160D OMITTED 160D

161 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. DAY. 161

Back on court, Bobby jumps over the net, shakes Billie Jean’shand. Leans into her ear.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I underestimated you.

BILLIE JEAN:

You underestimated us all, Bobby.

Larry runs up and kisses Billie Jean. Marilyn is there,

Gladys, the Nine, Billie Jean’s parents, a throng of

REPORTERS. Everyone surrounds her, wanting a piece of her. Afew journalists shove microphones in her face.

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163

164

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REPORTER 1

Billie Jean! How does it feel to be

the most famous woman in the world?

REPORTER 2

Billie! You showed them all! What

are you gonna do next?

LARRY:

Over here, honey. Frank wants youto do a piece to camera.

BILLIE JEAN:

No, I-in a minute.

She ducks away, down the steps to the Locker Room.

INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. HOME TEAM LOCKER ROOM. DAY. 162

Billie Jean sits in the empty space. She stares at herracket. Lets tears of relief fall down her face.

INT. HOUSTON HOTEL ROOM. DAY. 163

Larry Riggs switches off the TV. Silence. He picks up hissuitcase, goes to the door and switches off the lights.

Exits. The door shuts.

INT. BOBBY’S LOCKER ROOM. DAY. 164

Billie Jean walks in. Stands in the doorway and sees Bobbysitting on a bench, in a towel, staring at the floor,

destroyed. She comes and sits next to him. He finally noticesher and struggles to re-energise Bobby Riggs.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Oh, great game, Billie. My servewas a bit off today but, you know,

I’m thinking-

She puts an arm around his shoulder and he falls silent. Theysit contemplating what has just happened. After an age...

BILLIE JEAN:

Know something? You might just bethe best thing to happen tofeminism in ten years.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Bobby Riggs, feminist. That’s a

thing.

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The ghost of a smile from Bobby. Billie Jean walks throughthe rows of lockers, leaving Bobby staring at the floor.

A noise from the other end of the locker room. He looks up.

Priscilla stands there. His eyes light with distant hope.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Priscilla.

PRISCILLA:

Bobby.

(Beat)

Are you done here?

He looks around. After a moment, he nods.

164A INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. TENNIS COURT. DAY. 164A

A full-on party has exploded. There is music, drinking,

lights, balloons.

165 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. HOLDING AREA. DAY.

Billie Jean comes up the stairs and into the arena of theAstrodome. But she stops. Watches Marilyn and Larry, standingnear each other, laughing and talking with the Nine. Ted

bustles towards Billie Jean.

TED:

Billie, darling! Come on. We can’t

start the dancing without you.

BILLIE JEAN:

One second. I’m not ready.

He follows her gaze down to Marilyn and Larry. Then:

TED:

This is just the opinion of onedevoted admirer. But I think youmay be more ready than you know.

Billie Jean looks at him.

BILLIE JEAN:

What am I supposed to do, Ted.

TED:

Times change. As you’ve proven. I

think they’re going to keep

changing.

(Quiet)

One day we will be free to be whowe are and love who we love.

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BILLIE JEAN:

And until then?

TED:

I don’t know, dear. Right now, all

you can do is join the dance.

He gestures toward the crowd. She takes a deep breath, thenwalks out of the Holding Area...

166 INT. HOUSTON ASTRODOME. DAY.

...out of the Holding Area and onto the court. Around herthere is music, lights, ticker tape.

We stay on her face as suddenly a huge roar of love comesfrom the crowd.

THE END:

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