Battle of the Sexes Page #6

Peaches leans forward to the microphone with a wicked grin.

PEACHES:

Some of us don’t have husbands.

A burst of giggling from the Nine.

DJ:

Whoa! Single men, you heard ithere first.

22G OMITTED 22G

22H INT. LOCKER ROOM. DAY. 22H

Rosie and Billie Jean wash out their socks in the hotel

bathroom sinks.

DJ (V.O.)

And what do you girls get up to inyour down time?

BILLIE JEAN (V.O.)

Down time?

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

31

INT. RADIO STATION. DAY.22D CONT.

22D CONT.

The girls all look at each other and laugh. The DJ smiles.

DJ:

I take it that was the wrongquestion.

22F EXT. SUPERMARKET DAY. 22F

The Nine handing out tickets at an intersection.

ROSIE (V.O.)

Here’s the inside scoop. We’redoing everything: laying thecourts, selling the tickets,

publicity... Not to mention keepingup with our practice.

22D CONTINT. RADIO STUDIO DAY. 22D CONT

DJ:

Wow-wee. Isn’t that a lot of

pressure?

BILLIE JEAN:

Pressure is a privilege. We’re

trying to change the sport here.

Julie cuts her off, trying to lighten the mood.

JULIE:

But above all, it’s fun. Come see

for yourselves!

ROSIE:

Bring your daughters-PEACHES

--Your sons!

BILLIE JEAN:

Bring the whole family. That’s the

point of this tour. It’s for

everyone.

19 INT. DINER. FLORIDA. EVENING. 19

The Nine are sitting around a big table in a dismal diner asthe rain smashes against the windows. Billie Jean is wrappinga tea-towel full of ice cubes around her swollen knee.

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

32

A WAITRESS puts down a solitary bowl of fries for the wholetable.

WAITRESS:

Is that it? For all of you?

The door bangs open and in comes Gladys, cigarette in mouth.

Gazes at the dour group.

GLADYS:

Who died?

BILLIE JEAN:

Hey, Gladys.

GLADYS:

Oh, I get it. It’s all my fault.

Well, Gladys has got just the thingfor you miserable ingrates...

She delves in her bag and starts throwing packets ofcigarettes at the Nine.

VALERIE:

Cigarettes. Fabulous.

GLADYS:

Not just any cigarettes. VirginiaSlims!

ROSIE:

None of us smoke, Gladys.

GLADYS:

You do now. Ladies and

Gentleladies, may I present to youthe Virginia Slims Championships, aGladys Heldman, Philip Morris co-

production. Smoking our guts outaround the United States of America

in return for twelve months of

funding and a winner’s prize of--

drum roll, stand by on the cymbal--

seven thousand dollars!

This wakes everybody up.

BILLIE JEAN:

Woah! Every tournament?

GLADYS:

Every tournament. That’ll perk up

your lousy second serve.

Whoops from the Nine.

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

33

JULIE:

Way to go, Mom!

GLADYS:

Didn’t I tell you Gladys would comethrough?

PEACHES:

I’ll smoke to that.

Peaches takes a cigarette is lit by Gladys and promptlycoughs her guts out. Gladys grabs the cigarette. She now hasone in her hand and one in her mouth.

GLADYS:

You do the tennis, I’ll do the

smoking. From today, my girls,

we’re properly funded. We’re

professional. We’re serious and

we’re going big. I’ve asked Ted

Tingling to join as our personalcouturier. You’re all going to havetennis dresses made just for you!

Excited response from the Nine.

GLADYS (CONT’D)

And I’m putting in calls to every

woman who’s ever picked up a

racket. Guess who’s signed already?

Margaret Court.

“Oohs” from the Nine.

ROSIE:

Be afraid, Billie Jean, be veryafraid.

BILLIE JEAN:

I can take her.

More “oohs”.

GLADYS:

Well, you’ll have your chance soon

enough, because she’s arriving nextweek. Ladies, before you know it,

we’re gonna be the only party in

town.

Puts both cigarettes in her mouth. Inhales and exhalesmagnificently.

GLADYS (CONT’D)

Waitress, ice-cream sundaes all

round. We are In The Money!

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

20

22C

30A

31

34

OMITTED 20

INT. DRESSING ROOM. DAY. (AMBASSADOR AUDITORIUM) 22C

In a bright yellow tennis dress, Billie Jean is standing withher arms up as TED TINLING, the tall, gay, English couturierto the players, pins Billie’s sleeves. HENRY, Ted’s

assistant, works on the hem of Valerie’s skirt.

VALERIE:

You do know tennis players normallywear white, right?

TED:

And where’s the fun in normal, may

I ask? If you want to attract anaudience, you must put on a show.

You girls will look like flowersstrewn across the Astroturf. A

veritable bouquet.

BILLIE JEAN:

I think it’s wonderful.

Rosie walks from the bathroom in another outfit. Ted motions

for her to do a twirl in the dress. She does and puts in an

statuesque Australian, gets out holding her baby, Daniel. Her

imaginary serve at the end. Ted narrows his eyes. Nods.

HENRY:

You are clever, Ted.

TED:

Thank you, Henry.

EXT. AIRPORT. DAY. 30A

The Nine exit the terminal. Gladys looks around.

GLADYS:

It’s Wednesday, it must be San

Diego.

EXT. SEAPORT MOTEL. SAN DIEGO. DUSK.

A car pulls up outside the motel. MARGARET COURT, 29,

husband, BARRY, joins her. They gaze at the building.

MARGARET COURT:

Not exactly the Ritz.

Billie Jean and Gladys come out.

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

35

GLADYS:

Margaret Court, welcome to thenuthouse.

BILLIE JEAN:

Hi, Margaret.

MARGARET COURT:

Billie Jean.

An awkward pause. These two don’t get on.

BILLIE JEAN:

If you’re looking for the spa, the

restaurant or the swimming pool,

there isn’t one.

GLADYS:

But if you’re looking for thetickets you’re selling at theintersection, they’re right here.

She dumps a load of tickets into Barry’s hands.

32 EXT. TENNIS COURT. SAN DIEGO. DAY. 32

Billie Jean and Margaret Court are signing autographs. BillieJean signs almost mechanically. A pair of hands push theFLIER for the match at Billie Jean.

MARILYN (O.S.)

Nice hair.

Billie Jean looks up, right into Marilyn’s eyes.

BILLIE JEAN:

You came.

MARILYN:

Why didn’t you tell me how good youare?!

Billie Jean laughs. Margaret clocks their interaction as shewalks away.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

Can I ask you a question?

BILLIE JEAN:

You can. I may not answer it.

MARILYN:

Do you like dancing?

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

36

33 INT. BOBBY’S HOUSE. DRAWING ROOM. NIGHT. 33

Bizarrely, Bobby and Bobby's son are both standing on a verysmall coffee table in the middle of a very formal, ornate

room.

Bobby takes a huge step over onto a large armchair. He holdsout a hand and heaves Junior across.

BOBBY'S SON

Watch out for the alligators.

They are trying to get from one end of the room to the otherwithout touching the floor.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Okay, here’s hard.

BOBBY'S SON

Quicksand, right?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Acid quicksand.

He leaps off the back of the armchair onto a chest.

Bobby's son reaches for the dado rail attached to the wall.

It’s a stretch.

BOBBY'S SON

Dad, what if I don’t make it?

BOBBY RIGGS:

What kind of question is that?

You’re a Riggs. We always make it.

BOBBY'S SON

Yes, but-

BOBBY RIGGS:

-burns you to the bone in seconds.

Most painful death known tomankind. Where do you think yourelder brothers disappeared to? Now

go.

Somehow his terrified son gets himself flat against the wall,

shuffles towards the safety of the sofa. Then...

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