Battle of the Sexes Page #5

BILLIE JEAN:

Sorry. That feels nice.

We’re close on her face, Marilyn’s hands. It’s sensual.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

What is that? Is that perfume?

MARILYN:

I like to put lavender oil on mywrists. To relax the customer.

Marilyn leans over so her face is next to Billie Jean’s.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

Why don’t you let me give you a

trim? You’ll come out feeling like

a new person.

BILLIE JEAN:

I don’t think a haircut has ever

made me feel anything like that.

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

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MARILYN:

Well, you’ve never had me cut your

hair. Relax. I promise I’ll make

you happy.

Marilyn goes to work on Billie Jean’s hair. Billie Jean

watches her in the mirror, transfixed in spite of herself.

15A INT. FRONT DESK. GENE SHAWCOVE’S HAIR SALON. DAY. 15A

The Nine are hurrying out the door. Billy Jean lingers,

putting on her jacket. Her hair is shorter and much more

stylish. She watches Marilyn sweep up.

BILLIE JEAN:

Thanks again. I really like whatyou did with it.

MARILYN:

It was my pleasure. Good luck.

Rosie bangs on the window. They’re late.

BILLIE JEAN:

Coming!

Billie Jean roots around in her bag, pulls out some fliers.

She hands them out to various HAIR DRESSERS in the salon.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Here. We’re playing in San Diego

next month.

Billie Jean hands a flier to Marilyn. Marilyn smiles. BillieJean looks away, nervous.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

Okay. I gotta run. Bye.

And Billie Jean is out the door. Marilyn watches her go.

Bonny comes over, fanning herself with the flier.

BONNY:

You think she knows she’s gay?

MARILYN:

Dunno. But she sure she knows I am.

Billie Jean peers back over her shoulder. Eye contact.

Marilyn waves. Billie Jean quickly turns away.

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

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16 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. DAY. 16

A room full of Photographers and Press, all facing the newly-

coiffed Nine. They are led out onto the stage by Gladys whodoes a lot of noisy choreographing.

17 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM. STAGE. DAY. 17

GLADYS:

Peaches, there. Kerry, Kerry, Iknow he’s cute, but can you just-

thank you. Judy, here.

Larry King is sitting at the back, surrounded by paperwork.

He gets up and goes to Billie Jean, murmurs in her ear.

LARRY:

Guess who showed up?

He nods. There at the back is Jack Kramer. Billie moves out

of the line-up and walks through the Press.

BILLIE JEAN:

Jack.

JACK:

Billie Jean, what you’re doing

here, this is a big mistake.

BILLIE JEAN:

Are you here to give us anotheroption, Jack?

JACK:

On behalf of the USLTA, I’m here to

ask you girls not to do anythinghasty.

BILLIE JEAN:

So what are you offering? Equalprize money? Women at everytournament?

JACK:

I’m offering to keep you in the

United States Lawn Tennis

Association.

BILLIE JEAN:

You’re throwing us out?

JACK:

If you do this, you’re becoming ourrivals. We’ll have no option.

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BILLIE JEAN:

We’ll miss your pretty face, Jack,

but go right ahead.

The Nine are sat, waiting, though there’s still a hubbub

surrounding them.

GLADYS:

Hey, Billie Jean!

BILLIE JEAN:

One minute.

JACK:

I’m not sure you understand. If

you’re not in the USLTA, you can’t

play the Grand Slams. No Wimbledon,

no Palm Springs, no nothing.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh, I get it. But what will yourGrand Slams be without the best

women players in the world? Not so

grand. I appreciate you coming,

but if you’ve got nothing to offer,

I’ve got a contract to sign. Bye,

Jack.

She walks away. Larry is waiting with paperwork.

LARRY:

A deal?

BILLIE JEAN:

Nope. No deal.

LARRY:

So do it.

He hands a pen to Billie Jean. She looks Larry in the eyes.

BILLIE JEAN:

We’re really doing this.

LARRY:

Proud of you.

She adds her signature to the list on the contract. Larryhands her a dollar bill.

LARRY (CONT’D)

You’re in. One dollar. Don’t spend

it all at once.

She goes to join the Nine.

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

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20A

18

28

GLADYS:

Okay, hold that dollar bill up! Arewe at a funeral, or what? Smile!

Flash guns pop. The Nine hold out their dollar bills. Througha fixed grin...

BILLIE JEAN:

Keep smiling, ladies, but we’ve

just been thrown out of the USLTA.

GLADYS:

Give old Jack a wave, girls. Don’t

let him see you care.

And they wave their dollar bills at him, standing motionlessin the doorway.

JACK:

Yeah. A dollar. Remember that,

ladies. One dollar.

Cameras click. Freeze frame on the photo for a second. A lotof slightly threatened faces.

OMITTED 20

EXT. LOCAL AIRPORT DROP OFF AREA. DAY. 20A

Gladys and the Nine pile out of various cars, carting theirsuitcases and equipment. It’s a lot of stuff. They hug and

kiss loved ones goodbye. Billie Jean hugs Larry.

LARRY:

Take care of yourself on the road.

BILLIE JEAN:

I always do.

LARRY:

I’ll see you in Los Angeles. Call

if you need anything.

BILLIE JEAN:

Larry! Don’t let the plants die.

She smiles. He salutes her.

EXT. TENNIS COURT. FLORIDA. DAY. 18

Rosie and Billie play each other, going hard. Billie scores afinal point to win the game. We pull out to reveal: bleachersthree-quarters empty, a few fans huddled in their coats.

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Billie Jean and Rosie run off the court to a smattering ofapplause.

21 INT. RADIO STUDIO. DAY. 21

Music, jingles. The Nine are crowded around a table in a tinyradio studio. Across the table, the DJ.

DJ:

...and for all you tennis fans outthere, we are privileged to havethe great Billie Jean King in thestudio, along with a lot of verylively WTA tennis players. Say hi,

ladies.

The Nine yell “Hi!” Rosie, sassy, calls out, “Hi ladies!”

DJ (CONT’D)

So you’re renegades from the tennisestablishment. Is that right?

BILLIE JEAN:

Yup! The US Lawn Tennis Associationweren’t giving us women our fair

share, so we thought: hey, we’ll doit for ourselves.

DJ:

And how is this different from a

normal tennis tournament?

BILLIE JEAN:

We want to get tennis away from thestuffy old country club game.

After all, this is 1973.

22 OMITTED 22

22A EXT. TENNIS COURT. DAY. 22A

Peaches takes a winning shot. Applause from a small but vocalcrowd that includes Billie Jean, ice packs on her knees,

cheering harder than anybody.

BILLIE JEAN (V.O.)

I love it when the crowds cheer,

shout out their support. Love it.

22B OMITTED 22B

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

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22D INT. RADIO STUDIO. DAY. 22D

DJ:

You girls are playing a lot oftournaments- that’s some schedule.

22E INT. GYM. DAY. 22E

The Nine pushing a massive roll of ASTROTURF over a gymfloor. Lots of heaving as the plastic grass rolls out.

BILLIE JEAN (V.O.)

It’s pretty much non-stop. A new

tournament every week, right acrossAmerica.

22D CONTINT. RADIO STUDIO. DAY. 22D CONT

DJ:

Don’t you miss your husbands?

BILLIE JEAN:

Sure. But we’re used to it. Pro

players are almost never home.

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