Battle of the Sexes Page #7

BOBBY'S SON

Dad...!

He comes crashing onto the floor, bringing a vase of flowersand a couple of framed photographs with him

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

37

BOBBY RIGGS:

You blew it. I can’t believe it.

His son picks himself up. Seems surprised to be still alive.

Then a knock at the front door. Bobby starts tidying upquickly. The knock comes again.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Gimme a hand here, kiddo.

Honey! Can you? Just reading Junior

a story.

34 INT/EXT. BOBBY’S HOUSE. DOORSTEP. NIGHT. 34

Priscilla opens the door to a perfectly-attired CHAUFFEUR.

Behind him is a Rolls Royce. The Chauffeur holds out a set ofkeys.

CHAUFFEUR:

Good evening, Madam. Compliments ofMister Jack Dreyfus.

PRISCILLA:

Bobby?

She peers at the car.

PRISCILLA (CONT’D)

Do you know anything about a-

Bobby's son is at the door.

BOBBY'S SON

-Rolls Royce! Cool!

BOBBY RIGGS O/SRolls what? No, I-

Bobby appears in the hall. Sees the car. Sees Priscillastaring at him.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Dammit, Jack.

PRISCILLA:

After everything we discussed.

Everything we agreed.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I know, I know. I agree! Look, itwas just once- weeks ago- it wasall Jack’s idea, I didn’t really...

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

38

PRISCILLA:

How could you, Bobby, how couldyou?

BOBBY RIGGS:

(shrugs)

Just happened.

PRISCILLA:

It always just happens.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Maybe we can-

PRISCILLA:

-no. Not this time. I’ve had

enough. It’s all about you all the

time. You’re like a little kid-

BOBBY RIGGS:

- you’re great with kids-

PRISCILLA:

-I already have a child, Bobby!

And I’m thinking about him when I

say enough. You promise, you let usdown, you promise you let us down.

Over and over. I’m sorry, Bobby. No

more.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Okay, okay, I get it.

Bobby snatches the keys from the motionless Chauffeur.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

Gimme those.

35 INT. NIGHT CLUB. NIGHT. 35

A 1973 club. Music blasting, mirror balls, flairs, sequins.

At the bar, Marilyn and Billie are talking, in a world oftheir own.

MARILYN:

I can’t believe how you move on thecourt. It’s like watching some wildanimal.

Billie Jean laughs at her hyperbole. She’s having fun.

BILLIE JEAN:

Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

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

39

MARILYN:

Enjoyed it?? I’ve never seen

anything like it. It must be

intoxicating.

BILLIE JEAN:

Playing tennis?

MARILYN:

Being inside your skin.

There’s a moment. Billie Jean swallows, overwhelmed. Just

then, a HANDSOME MAN approaches Billie Jean.

HANDSOME MAN:

I’m sorry to do this, Mrs. King,

but I’m such a huge fan.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh, thank you.

HANDSOME MAN:

Do you dance as well as you serve?

Billie Jean shakes her head regretfully.

BILLIE JEAN:

Thanks, but we’re just going to

watch.

But Marilyn stands.

MARILYN:

I’d love to dance.

HANDSOME MAN:

Sure thing.

35A INT. NIGHT CLUB. NIGHT. 35A

He leads Marilyn onto the dance floor. Billie Jean watches,

feeling strangely jealous. Marilyn moves flirtatiously,

touching the man’s shoulders. Across the dance floor, she

makes eye contact with Billie Jean-is she flirting with himor me? Marilyn looks away. Billie Jean keeps watching.

35B INT. NIGHT CLUB. HALLWAY. LATER. 35B

In the mirrored hallway, Billie Jean and Marilyn wait in linefor the bathroom with other women. Marilyn fixes herlipstick. Billie Jean watches in the mirror.

MARILYN:

Here. Let me do yours.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 40

She puts lipstick on Billie Jean. Billie Jean’s eyes never

leave her face. With a soft finger, Marilyn touches the edgesof Billie Jean’s lips, fixing the line of the lipstick.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

There. Now you’re perfect.

Billie Jean looks at herself in the mirror, Marilyn smilingbeside her. Marilyn checks her watch.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

I should go soon.

BILLIE JEAN:

No! Why?

MARILYN:

I have to catch a bus back to LA.

BILLIE JEAN:

At this time of night? Don’t be

silly. You can stay with me. I

mean, I have two beds in my room.

So. You’re welcome to crash.

MARILYN:

Okay. Thanks.

35C OMITTED 35C

35D INT. SEAPORT MOTEL -- CORRIDOR. SAN DIEGO. NIGHT. 35D

Billie Jean and Marilyn walk down the hallway, a few feetapart. Billie Jean stops in front of her room.

BILLIE JEAN:

This is me. I mean, us. Me.

She laughs, nervous. Tries to unlock the door. It takes her afew tries. Finally, red-faced, she gets it open.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

After you.

Marilyn goes inside. Billie Jean checks the empty hallway, tobe sure no one is watching, before closing the door.

36 INT. SEAPORT MOTEL ROOM. SAN DIEGO. NIGHT. 36

The door shuts. Marilyn turns to face Billie Jean. BillieJean, hyper-aware of being alone with this woman, startstalking to fill the silence.

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

41

BILLIE JEAN:

Gladys used to make us share rooms,

but now we can afford our own. I

usually take the bed closest to the

door, but you can have whichever

one you want.

Marilyn crosses to Billie Jean. Billie Jean shuts up. She’s

physically frozen. Marilyn takes off Billie Jean’s glasses.

BILLIE JEAN (CONT’D)

I’m married.

MARILYN:

And you’ll still be married in the

morning.

They are very close together now. Breathing the same air.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

(Quiet)

So...?

A beat. Billie Jean gives a tiny nod. Marilyn leans in andkisses Billie Jean. It’s soft, careful, intense. Marilyn

finishes the kiss and leans back to examine Billie Jean’s

face. Billie Jean opens her eyes.

MARILYN (CONT’D)

We can take it slow. There’s no

rush-

But the end of the sentence is cut off by Billie Jean kissingher, hard. Within seconds, their hands are all over each

other. They are practically discombobulated with desire.

37 EXT. LONG ISLAND PARKING LOT. NIGHT. 37

A massive parking lot, empty but for a Rolls Royce parked upin splendid isolation.

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

42

38 INT./EXT. ROLLS ROYCE -- LONG ISLAND PARKING LOT. NIGHT. 38

Even if it is a Rolls Royce, it’s still not the most

comfortable place to spend the night. There are clothes andshoes, strewn over the seats- whatever he could pick upbefore being thrown out of the house. Bobby is flickingthrough a photo album.

Shots of Bobby in his youth- at Wimbledon holding up theWinner’s trophy, then the US Open trophy.

He sighs and throws the album on the seat. A tiny black andwhite TV is showing clips of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He

changes channel:
Kojak. Changes again and there’s a localnews report about the Virginia Slims Tour. Bobby stays onthis channel, stares closer at the set as Billie Jean is seen

playing Rosie.

39 INT. SEAPORT MOTEL ROOM. SAN DIEGO. NIGHT. 39

Billie Jean and Marilyn are now on top of the bed, theirhands all over each over, mouths locked together.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes