Battle of the Sexes Page #8

The phone rings. Billie reacts as if electrocuted. She

virtually pushes Marilyn off her and JUMPS out of bed.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s Larry!

MARILYN:

What?

BILLIE JEAN:

Or Gladys! Jesus, what if it’s my

parents?!

MARILYN:

They can’t see down the phone, can

they?

The phone continues to ring.

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m a really bad liar.

MARILYN:

You don’t have to lie. Anyone asks,

you’ve got a girlfriend staying

over.

BILLIE JEAN:

Don’t joke. Don’t...do...anything.

Just please be quiet. Please.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 43

MARILYN:

Scout’s honor.

Billie Jean takes a deep breath, reaches for the phone.

40 EXT. LONG ISLAND PARKING LOT. NIGHT. 40

Bobby is on a gas station pay phone by the side of a highway.

Eureka!

BOBBY RIGGS:

41 EXT. LONG ISLAND PARKING LOT / INT. BILLIE JEAN’S SEAPORT

MOTEL ROOM. NIGHT.

41

Hello?

BILLIE JEAN:

BOBBY RIGGS:

Eureka, Billie Jean.

BILLIE JEAN:

(beginnings of panic)

What? Who is this?

BOBBY RIGGS:

- it’s Bobby. Bobby Riggs.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh. Bobby. How did you get my-

BOBBY RIGGS:

- rang every hotel in San Diego.

Listen, I had an idea. It’s the

greatest idea I ever had.

BILLIE JEAN:

It’s past midnight, Bobby. Can it

wait?

Marilyn gets out of bed, goes into the bathroom. *

BOBBY RIGGS:

You and me, Billie Jean. Three

sets. Five sets. You choose.

BILLIE JEAN:

Are you drunk, Bobby Riggs?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Course not. Man versus Woman,

Billie.

(MORE)

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

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT'D)

Male Chauvinist Pig versus Hairy-

legged Feminist. No offense. Youare still a Feminist, right?

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT'D)

Male Chauvinist Pig versus Hairy-

legged Feminist. No offense. Youare still a Feminist, right?

44

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m a tennis player who happens to

be a woman.

BOBBY RIGGS:

That’s right! That’s exactly who

you are. And I’m tennis player who

happens to be a man. Who says hecan beat any woman on the planet.

Think of the publicity we’d get.

Think of the money...!

No.

BILLIE JEAN:

BOBBY RIGGS:

Thirty-five grand.

BILLIE JEAN:

Where did you get that kind ofmoney?

BOBBY RIGGS:

You see, you’re tempted.

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m really not.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Billie, this isn’t just another

match, this could be bigger thanBigsville, broader than Broadway,

higher than- what’s a really high

thing?

BILLIE JEAN:

You’re sounding pretty high. *

BOBBY RIGGS:

This could be huge, Billie Jean. *

BILLIE JEAN:

No way. I win, I beat a fifty yearold man. Big deal.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Fifty-five. Of course you’d win.

You should see my hip. I can barelywalk. So prove it.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 45

BILLIE JEAN:

You win, and every male supremacistdinosaur in the country is right:

women can’t play tennis. Not a

chance.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Are you saying I might win?

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m saying good night, Bobby. *

BOBBY RIGGS:

Billie, wait..!

BILLIE JEAN:

And for your information, I doshave my legs.

BOBBY RIGGS:

You do? That’s lovely! Don’t hang

up-

Bobby is left listening to the disconnect tone, heartbroken.

Billie Jean flops back onto the bed. Marilyn comes out of thebathroom in a bathrobe and goes to the bed. *

MARILYN:

Who the hell was that? *

BILLIE JEAN:

Some crazy old hustler trying toget a game. Sorry. *

MARILYN *

Yeah, where we? Apparently you *

shave your legs. *

She runs her hand up Billie’s leg. But Billie stops her. *

BILLIE JEAN *

Marilyn.

*

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

46

MARILYN:

What? Did I do something wrong?

BILLIE JEAN:

No. It’s just- this isn’t right.

MARILYN:

It was a minute ago.

BILLIE JEAN:

I’m married.

MARILYN:

And you’ll still be married in the

morning.

She drops her robe to the floor. Billie’s eyes widen.

BILLIE JEAN:

Oh.

42 OMITTED 42

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

42A

42B

47

EXT. LARRY RIGG’S APARTMENT. NIGHT. 42A

Late twenties LARRY RIGGS, Bobby’s son from his first

marriage, sleepily answers the door in his night-shirt. Bobbyis standing on the doorstep.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Larry!

They stare at each other for a while, then Larry sighsheavily and walks back into the house. Bobby follows.

INT. LARRY RIGG’S APARTMENT. NIGHT. 42B

Larry moves a cushion off the sofa and waves in its directionto Larry: his new bed.

BOBBY RIGGS:

It’s just for tonight. And maybe

tomorrow.

LARRY:

Sure.

BOBBY RIGGS:

A misunderstanding. Priscilla goesoff the deep end sometimes. You seemy Rolls Royce?

LARRY:

Yeah, awesome, Dad. You gonna livein it?

BOBBY RIGGS:

No, I- I got plans, Larry. Bigplans.

LARRY:

Heard ‘em. All of ‘em.

He wanders back to his bedroom.

BOBBY RIGGS:

I have. You’ll see.

INT/ EXT. BOBBY’S HOUSE. MORNING.

Bobby is standing outside. The door to the house is veryclosed. He shouts up hopefully.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Honey, come on...not even a freshpair of underpants? Toothbrush?

(MORE)

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 48

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT'D)

I’ve got a mouth like I ate araccoon. With the fur on.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT'D)

I’ve got a mouth like I ate araccoon. With the fur on.

Standing back from the bedroom window, Priscilla watches.

Despite herself, a brief giggle bubbles up. She suppresses itfast.

BOBBY RIGGS (CONT’D)

I’m sorry, doll. One time. I admit

it, I fell off the wagon, okay?

Though as wagons go, you gottaadmit it’s a good one. There’s even

a TV in the back....Honey, I’m

going to the therapist right now tostraighten myself out...Can’t we

talk about this?

Nothing. He turns and wanders back to the Rolls. A top windowopens. He turns in time to see a pair of underpants floatingdown towards him.

44 INT. THERAPIST’S OFFICE. LATER. 44

Bobby is lying on the Therapist’s black leather couch,

staring at the ceiling. The THERAPIST stares into space.

BOBBY RIGGS:

It’s a disaster. I need a way back

and she won’t budge. I don’t know

why she won’t meet me halfway.

That’s not unreasonable to ask, is

it?

THERAPIST:

Have you considered that you mightbe coming at this from the wrongangle?

BOBBY RIGGS:

Every angle, I tried every angle,

Doc. Believe me.

THERAPIST:

Well, I know we’ve discussed this

before, Bobby...

BOBBY RIGGS:

Oh, I dunno.

THERAPIST:

You’re an Alpha male, she’s anAlpha Female. Maybe you have toface the fact that she’s just not

the right woman for you.

BATTLE OF THE SEXES -Simon Work File -4/7/16 49

Bobby considers. Decides.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Nah. I appreciate what you’re

saying, Doc, but Billie Jean would

make the best match by a million

miles. She’s the face of these

women. The leader.

THERAPIST:

At this rate, she’s not even going

to be Number One next season.

BOBBY RIGGS:

She ain’t?

THERAPIST:

Nope. Margaret Court.

BOBBY RIGGS:

The Arm’s gonna be Number One?

(interested)

Huh. Stick or twist?

Bobby leans forward, revealing a low table with playingcards.

THERAPIST:

Twist.

Bobby turns a card.

BOBBY RIGGS:

Jack of Hearts. Bad luck.

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