Battle of the Sexes

A great way to win a championship.

With a strenuous brilliant smash...

...Billie Jean King is the...

...1972 champion of the United States!

Earlier today, Billie Jean King continued

what has already been a record year...

...with an exciting 6-4, 7-6 win

over Rosie Casals in a sudden-death tiebreaker.

Billie Jean's triumph makes her

the most successful woman player of all time...

...and prompts a phone call from a very special fan:

President Nixon.

Hello, Mr. President.

Well, I just wanted to congratulate you.

And I'm glad to see a fellow Californian

gets over $100,000.

And I'm glad to be the first woman

to do it, too.

Well, I wish you well,

and you've had a really marvelous year.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much, sir.

Being queen for the day

is not enough for this King.

I bet you my head's too big.

She's been outspoken in her demands

for higher pay for all women players.

Watch out, guys.

There's no stopping this little lady.

Billie Jean King celebrated her win with a big--

Ladies and gentlemen...

...please welcome 1972

U. S. Open Women's Singles Champion...

...Billie Jean King.

Have you seen this?

No. Hey, Gladys.

You want a dance?

I want a gun.

They just snuck this out

in the of the night. Lowlifes.

This is outrageous.

And it's got Jack Kramer's fingerprints all over it.

You're absolutely right it does.

I know where he's hiding.

You want to come?

No. No, you go do your thing.

But good luck.

Thank you very much, honey. Sure, Mr. Kramer.

Thank you. Of course.

They won't get away with it.

Uh-Oh.

You can't go in there.

Excuse me.

Wait a minute.

Surprised in their lair.

This is an unexpected pleasure.

My goodness, you both look sensational, if I may say.

You may not.

You're not supposed to be in here, you know.

Because I'm a woman or because I'm a Jew, Bob?

Please, you're welcome here. Have a seat.

What can we do for you?

Would you like a glass of something maybe?

No, thank you, Jack.

I find it's best to be clear before

committing cold-blooded murder, so...

...clarify...

...the press release. Ah, yes.

It says here that you're offering

the men's winner $12,000...

...and $1,500 to the women's.

Those are the terms.

The men's prize needs to be that high

to attract the best players.

We're trying to make this

the most prestigious tournament in America.

And paying the women less than ever

makes it more prestigious. Uh...

Well, it's simply a question of what we can afford.

People pay to see the men play.

They're the draw.

They're eight times more of a draw?

Sorry?

You're offering the men's winner

eight times that of the women.

Do we bring in an eighth of the crowd?

I don't know percentages, but...

They sold the exact same amount of tickets

to the women's final today as the men's.

Isn't that right, Jack?

Today, yeah, I suppose so.

Same sales, same prize money. Makes sense to me.

Oh, come on. Be reasonable.

There's no way that we could afford that.

What's your argument, Jack?

For one thing,

the men have families that they have to support.

I'm the main breadwinner in my family.

Yeah. Yeah.

Look.

The men are simply... more exciting to watch.

They are.

They're faster. Fact.

And stronger. Fact.

And more competitive.

Just a fact.

It's not your fault, it's just... biology.

That's not my point. We sell the same amount of tickets.

I'm sorry. It's not going to happen.

Well, if that's the way it is...

...we'll boycott the tournament.

Fact.

Well, now...

...we'll sure miss your pretty faces, but go right ahead.

Not only will we boycott,

we'll set up our own tournament.

Fact.

At the exact same time as the Pacific Southwest.

Fact.

Be sure and send me tickets.

You have a good night, ladies.

That'll never happen.

Are we really gonna do this?

Sure we're gonna do this.

How are we gonna do this?

No idea.

Right.

Did you have a busy day?

Run off my feet. Not a minute to think.

Whatever it is I'm supposed to be

doing down there, Priscilla, I'm not doing it.

Well, Daddy told me that he thinks

you're an integral part of the company.

Huh. Integral.

Like the stapler on my desk.

Well, it's steady,

and it's what you need right now.

I know. I know.

I wonder how much peppercorns are in here.

I don't know, Junior.

I'd say about a thousand.

No way! There got to be at least five thousand in there.

I'd put a dollar on a thousand.

Young man. BOBBY: Whoa, no, no, no.

Young man, we do not gamble at the dinner table.

We do not gamble anyplace, Bobby.

Exactly. We do not gamble anyplace.

No, we do not.

One dollar.

Come on.

All right.

Oh, you know what?

I just remembered, I need to go back to the office

and finish up some work.

Now?

Your father has been so supportive, honey,

that I don't want to let him down.

Delicious. Thank you.

See you later, kiddo.

I'm doubling down on Jack.

Bobby, we got $1,200 on the table!

$1,200, buddy!

Bobby, you're not allowed

to have dogs that good-looking.

Miss one!

We got him on the run, here we go!

We got him on the run!

Put the chair out there!

Two chairs and I'll raise you $50G each.

Give the racket to the dog!

Oh, too good for you.

Jack, for the love of God!

- Damn it. - Good game, Jack.

I thought I had you this time, I really did.

That was a fine, fine effort.

Great try, great try.

No, don't come over here.

What do you expect, Jack? Bobby's the world champ.

No, I had an advantage. It was three against one.

It was three against one.

You know what? He keeps betting me,

I don't know what to do about it.

The thing about Jack is, he can afford to lose.

You got to think about Priscilla, Bobby.

What is she gonna say?

- You still married, Bobby? - Oh, barely.

He sure will be if he shows up in a Rolls-Royce.

He sure as hell won't be if he shows up in a Rolls-Royce.

Why?

Even Bobby will find it tough

to talk his way out of that one.

"Oh, honey, this crazy day!

"This guy on the corner just gave me a Silver Shadow."

Think that'll cut it?

Talk his way out of it?

The man just won himself a Rolls-Royce!

Herb, you're not getting it.

Bobby doesn't gamble anymore.

Oh, he don't gamble anymore!

No, no, no.

Gamblers Anonymous once a week,