I, Tonya Page #5

The bouquet hits Lavona, stonefaced, in the chest. She letsit fall to the floor as Jeff and Tonya kiss.

The music changes. Lavona approaches Tonya and straightensher wedding dress.

LAVONA:

I don’t know what to tell you.

Tonya smiles at her mother who takes Tonya by the shoulders.

LAVONA (CONT’D)

Marrying the first idiot who saidyou’re pretty. You f*** dumb. Youdon’t marry dumb.

Lavona heads to the food table. Tonya stands there, stunned.

66 INT. MODERN DAY MARTIN MADDOX -OFFICE -DAY 66

MARTIN MADDOX:

Most people don’t understand how

insanely difficult it is to even

attempt a triple axel. There’s a

reason no one was trying it.

28.

67 INT. MODERN DAY DIANE -DAY 67

DIANE:

You skate backward then take off

from a forward position on your

left leg and somehow

68 INT. MODERN DAY LAVONA -DAY 68

LAVONA:

-f***in’ hurl yourself blindly for

3 1/2 rotations like you’re light

as sh*t which I’m telling you Tonya

never was

69 INT. MODERN DAY DIANE -DAY 69

DIANE:

-landing on the opposite foot on

the back outside edge of that razor

thin blade.

70 INT. MODERN DAY JEFF -DAY 70

JEFF:

It’s that extra half rotation when

you already did 3 that made us call

Tonya the Charles Barkley of

skating. It was bad ass.

71 INT. LARGE RINK -MINN. NATIONALS 1991 -DAY 71

A title card reads: Nationals. 1991. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Tonya waits with her new coach, DODDIE TEACHMAN, late 20’s. Shespots Lavona sitting in the stands, frowning. Tonya psychsherself up, a killer’s intensity behind her eyes.

TONYA:

I don’t know if I can do this, Doddie.

I missed it in my last training.

DODDIE:

Of course you can. You got this.

29.

SPECTATOR:

You suck, Tonya.

Behind Lavona, a young male spectators laughs.

SPECTATOR (CONT’D)

What is this? Rednecks On Ice?

Tonya turns to answer. Doddie stops her, turns her around.

SPECTATOR (V.O.)

The Lice Capades!

DODDIE:

No woman in the history of U.S. Figureskating has landed a triple axel. Allthose women who came before you. Not 1of them did it.

Tonya is still.

DODDIE (CONT’D)

The skating association doesn’t thinkyou can do it. ‘Trashy Tonya’ doesn’tbelong. Your own mother doesn’t thinkso. Now show them.

Tonya, focused, enraged, nods. She skates off onto the ice.

Doddie nods to Lavona.

Lavona slowly turns to the heckler. He stares. She pays him 5dollars. Then she crosses herself.

72 INT. LARGE RINK -MINN. NATIONALS 1991 -DAY (CONT.) 72

Tonya takes to the ice and strikes a pose. Her music begins.

TV ANNOUNCER 1 (V.O.)

Here now is Tonya Harding. Secondafter the original program. Just 20years old from Portland Oregon. Greatpower. Great speed. Great athleticability.

She begins skating, spinning in one spot then opening up.

TV ANNOUNCER 2 (V.O.)

And now the question is-whether 3moves into the program she will doa triple axle. First a triple Lutz-

Tonya soars HIGH and delivers perfectly. The crowd applauds.

30.

TV ANNOUNCER 1 (V.O.)

And now we will find out-will she

become the 1st American woman to

attempt and complete a triple axeljump.

Skating almost beside the wall, she moves closer to the center,

backwards, looking over her shoulder, preparing.

TV ANNOUNCER 1 (V.O.)

We’ll know here whether she tries or

not-

Sound falls away. Just her heartbeat and blades on the ice.

IN SLOW MOTION -Tonya GRUNTS as she powerfully leaps high(whoosh) once, (whoosh) twice, (whoosh) three times, BOOM,

landing backward on her opposite leg.

REAL TIME. There is a moment of silence then DEAFENING SCREAMS

from the crowd.

TV ANNOUNCER 2 (V.O.)

Good girl!!! Isn’t that great!

SLOW MOTION:
the realization of what she’s done hits her. She

looks doubtful, stunned, thrilled, disbelieving, elated.

TONYA (V.O.)

It was totally the most awesomestthing. Cause leading up it you’relike, ‘”I can’t do it! I can’t. Ican’t.’ BAM! I CAN! All those peoplewho said I couldn’t make it. Well f***

you I did! I proved everyone wrong.

Her mouth is open wide in elation. Instead of throwing her armsback gracefully, she fist pumps.

She performs 2 more HUGE jumps back to back, perfectly.

TV ANNOUNCER 2 (V.O.)

Oh!... Oh!

On the ice, Tonya flies through the air, lands a double axelgoes into a spin & throws her arms up in a triumphant FINISH.

The crowd is going ape sh*t. Tonya, mouth open wide, cheers.

She fist pumps, applauds herself, clutches her throat,

finally bowing to the crowd, receiving her standing ovation.

31.

73 INT. TONYA’S HOUSE -DAY -CLOSE ON: MODERN DAY TONYA 73

TONYA:

I was loved.

She nods, overwhelmed. Then the sound of crowds cheering.

74 INT. LARGE RINK -MINN. NATIONALS 1991 -SCORING AREA -DAY 74

Tonya waits with Doddie. Laughing, pointing, covering her face,

screaming, wiping away tears as her marks come in.

TONYA (V.O.)

I can’t describe how that felt.

There was people standing up. Forthe first time, I knew.

She can’t hold it in and breaks down crying. The press swarm.

Jeff tries to reach Tonya but is shutout. He can’t get close.

75 INT. TONYA’S HOUSE -DAY -CLOSE ON: MODERN DAY TONYA 75

TONYA:

I knew I was the best figure skater inthe world. At one point in time.

She wells up, turning away from the camera.

TONYA (CONT’D)

I’m sorry. Nobody ever asks me aboutthis anymore.

She turns her gaze back to the camera, her mind reeling.

76 INT. NAIL SALON -DAY -CLOSE ON: MODERN DAY JEFF 76

JEFF:

I was blind-sided. As soon as she gotback from Nationals she was an

entirely different person. And thatperson didn’t want old Jeff no more.

77 INT. JEFF AND TONYA’S HOUSE -KITCHEN -DAY 77

Jeff puts a grocery bag down in front of Tonya at the counterthen slips behind her to cuddle.

32.

TONYA:

Where the f*** are my Dove Bars?

JEFF:

We can’t afford em. Eskimo Pie is justas good.

TONYA:

I’m America’s best figure skater! Idon’t want friggin’ Eskimo Pies.

Jeff knows he’s losing her. He tries an embrace. She recoils.

TONYA (CONT’D)

When was the last time you evenshowered? I want a friggin’ Dove Bar!

He studies her. He doesn’t know how to keep her and he doesn’thave the words. BAM! He punches her.

78 SPLIT SCREEN:
MODERN DAY JEFF AND MODERN DAY TONYA 78

JEFF TONYA:

(Mournful)(Elated)

After the triple everythingAfter the triple everythingchanged. changed.

79 INT. JEFF AND TONYA’S HOUSE -BEDROOM -DAY 79

Tonya, confidently throws clothes into a suitcase, races out.

TONYA (V.O.)

The Jeff I fell in love with was gone.

If I got up in the morning, I got hit.

If I took a sh*t, I got hit. He didn’tneed a reason anymore is what I’msaying. I just had enough. My wholeentire life I been told I wouldn’t

amount to anything. Well. Maybe Iwould.

She SLAMS the front door behind her, triumphantly.

80 INT. LARGE RINK -MINN. NATIONALS -1991 -EVENING 80

Tonya stands with Kristy Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan as a GOLDMEDAL is slipped around her neck. Then to the camera:

33.

MARTIN MADDOX (V.O.)

78A

Suddenly Kristi & Nancy were 2nd & 78A

3rd. Then Tonya was 2nd at WorldChampionships & won Skate America.

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