I, Tonya Page #13

The press all stand behind red velvet ropes shouting andsnapping pictures of Lavona taking out the trash.

MARTIN MADDOX (V.O.)

Tonya’s mom put out a red velvetrope in front of her house and toldus if we wanted to take her picturewe all had to stand behind it.

LAVONA:

(To a reporter who is off sides)

Get your fat ass where it belongs!

MARTIN MADDOX (V.O.)

AND WE DID!

205 INT. RED NECK DIVE BAR -OREGON -NIGHT 205

Jeff sits where he used to with Shawn, now drinking alone.

JEFF (V.O.)

I made bail but I was charged withracketeering and fined $100,000...

Which I never paid. I never talked toShawn again.

206 INT. TONYA’S HOUSE -DAY -CLOSE ON: MODERN DAY TONYA 206

TONYA:

I thought being famous would befun. I was loved for a minute. Then

I was hated.

(MORE)

81.

TONYA (CONT'D)

Then I was a punch line. It waslike being abused all over again.

Only this time it was by you. Allof you. You’re all my attackerstoo.

207 INT/EXT. TONYA’S APARTMENT / FRONT DOOR -DAY 207

Tonya sews extra sequins on a costume, shades drawn. Thedoorbell RINGS continuously. She STOPS and takes a lookaround. She’s a prisoner.

She moves to the front door. Finally she opens it.

TONYA:

Could you please just leave me

alone?... For now.

She slowly closes the door. A quiet beat. BANGING and RINGING

continue. Tonya’s head drops. She opens the door angrily.

Lavona is standing in the doorway, sheepishly, not meeting

her daughter’s gaze. Cameras FLASH.

LAVONA:

So what’s new?

Tonya pulls her mother inside and slams the door. They stand

awkwardly in the middle of the room. Finally:

LAVONA (CONT’D)

I like your hair pulled back like

that. Makes you look young.

TONYA:

I’m 23, mom.

LAVONA:

You seem like you’re holding up good.

F*** ‘em, you know?

TONYA:

I know.

LAVONA:

I never did like that Jeff.

TONYA:

Mom

82.

LAVONA:

I’m not here to say I told you so. I’mnot.

TONYA:

Why are you here?

A beat.

LAVONA:

I want you to know... I don’t know.

I’m on your side. I want you to know.

Tonya watches her. Lavona looks away.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

Big crowd out there. A lot of peoplesupport you.

Tonya is silent.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

You’ve done good. I’m proud of you.

Tonya wells up.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

All right. I’m going.

But Tonya hugs her mom. Lavona tries to hug her back but can’t.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

Hon-Did you know about the attack?

Tonya steps back.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

You can tell me.

Tonya almost laughs. She puts her hand on Lavona’s shoulder.

Lavona waits. Then Tonya searches Lavona’s coat. She pulls atape recorder out of Lavona’s pocket.

TONYA:

Perfect.

Tonya turns away and throws opens the front door.

LAVONA:

...I still meant everything I said.

A CAR ALARM rings out as a tow truck attaches itself to

Tonya’s truck. Tonya races out. Lavona shouts after her.

83.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

I still meant everything I said!

208 EXT. TONYA’S APARTMENT / STREET -DAY 208

Tonya is chased by reporters as she runs down the street.

MARTIN MADDOX (V.O.)

Okay-I used to flatten her tires,

have her truck towed so we could

get a shot of her, ya know? Thiswas the 1st time there was a 24

hour news cycle to fill. We allneeded that story.

Tonya races after her towed truck but it is too late. She isholding back tears, her veneer starting to crack.

209 INT. PRACTICE RINK -LOCKER ROOM -OREGON -DAY 209

A title cad:
3 Weeks To Lillehammer Olympics.

Diane helps Tonya dress. Bob faces the wall, chivalrously.

TONYA:

This is bullshit. I shouldn’t have to

apologize for what I didn’t do.

BOB:

Tonya there’s talk about not lettingyou skate in the Olympics at all. Youneed to give them this. We’re hangingon by a thread here.

TONYA:

I earned my place on the team fair andsquare!

BOB:

Well. Taking out the competition witha retractable baton doesn’t strike

everyone that way.

TONYA:

I didn’t know about it!

DIANE:

And that’s exactly what you’re gonnasay. Jesus! Did Jeff do that?

84.

Bob turns around. Bruises scar Tonya’s back, legs & arms.

TONYA:

I can’t f***ing focus when I’m skating

and I keep falling in front of

everyone. While Nancy gets her own

private rink where they catch her

before she falls probably and-

DIANE:

Honey. You’ll apologize and this whole

thing will be over.

She hands Tonya her Team USA jacket.

TONYA:

Okay. I’ll do whatever it takes.

210 INT. PRESS CONFRENCE -1994 -DAY 210

Tonya stands in front of many microphones smiling tightly andreads a prepared statement.

TONYA (V.O.)

I apologized for ever knowing or being

associated with Jeff which it looks

like I’ll never stop doing ever.

TONYA:

I had no prior knowledge of the

assault on Nancy Kerrigan. I am

responsible however for frailing (she

laughs nervously, whispers excuse me,

checks her notes) for failing to

211 INT. COURT ROOM -OREGON -DAY 211

Tonya & Bob stand before the judge. Tonya looks like a kid.

TONYA (V.O.)

Then when the Olympic Committeethreatened to take me off the team,

I filed a $10 million lawsuit

against them. I mean, it wasgetting ugly. (To the camera) Butdo you think CBS who was showin’the games was gonna let thisginormous ratings f***er nothappen?

85.

212 INT. TONYA’S HOUSE -DAY -CLOSE ON: MODERN DAY TONYA 212

TONYA:

The whole entire world was waiting fora showdown between me and Nancy. No. Imade the team. And I was ready to showyou all.

213 INT. RINK -LOCKER ROOM -LILLEHAMMER 1994 -NIGHT 213

Silence. Tonya sits by the mirror in her costume but without astitch of makeup. She looks much younger than her 23 years.

The air is still but dust floating is visible. Tonya paints hercheeks with lipstick for rouge then wipes it in with her fists.

She tries to hold it together. Slowly, very slowly, she beginsto paint her face. Despite her best efforts, tears begin tofall. She smiles into the mirror. Lipstick is on her teeth.

214 INT. TV STUDIO -NIGHT 214

Title card:
Hard Copy Offices. KABC-TV Los Angeles.

Jeff sits getting made up while a microphone is attached.

JEFF (V.O.)

I was asked to comment on everythingfor Hard Copy. And they paid me a lotwhich was cool.

But Jeff looks anything but happy. He looks conflicted andashamed as the director points at him to begin.

215 INT. RINK -LILLEHAMMER 1994 -NIGHT 215

The ENORMOUS crowd in the stands wait BUT THE ICE IS EMPTY.

CBS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

And now the public address isannouncing Tonya Harding’s name. It isher turn to be on the ice right now.

216 INT. RINK -BACKSTAGE HALLWAY -LILLEHAMMER 1994 -NIGHT 216

Diane and 2 others frantically try to tie up Tonya’s skates.

86.

CBS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Tonya Harding, after her warm up, had

a problem with her laces.

Officials watch the ladies crouch at Tonya’s knees. The crowd isheard clapping impatiently in unison. Some start booing.

CBS ANNOUNCER 2 (V.O.)

If she’s not out here I think

they’re gonna disqualify her. I’m

not sure. I’ve never seen anything

like this before.

TONYA:

How long do I have?

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