KING RICHARD

by

ZACH BAYLIN

STAR THROWER ENTERTAINMENT

3108559009
OVER BLACK:

THE FOLLOWING WORDS: This is a true story.

FADE IN:

EXT. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - ESTABLISHING (1988)

Mansions. Palm Trees. Bentleys in the drive. The dream.

EXT. LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB - DAY (1988) VARIOUS SHOTS

A beautiful rolling golf course. Pristine tennis courts.

Pools. Cocktails. Rich WHITE PEOPLE living the life.

INT. LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

Inside, UNIFORMED STAFF vacuum opulent locker rooms. They

clean framed photographs lining the walls:

PRESIDENTS. CELEBRITIES. ANCIENT TENNIS GREATS who’ve played

these courts. TILDEN. KRAMER. AUSTIN. SHRIVER. All legends.
All white. All viewed by:

RICHARD WILLIAMS (45.) A tall, powerfully built black man

with broken teeth, a graying beard, a black eye, and a
lifetime of rejection and resentment.

TITLE CARD READS: 1988

A WASPY RECEPTIONIST eyes him warily as he sits in the lobby

in a dirty t-shirt, easily mistakable for a vagrant.

She’s clearly relieved when a TENNIS PRO arrives, approaching

Richard with a SHOPPING BAG.

TENNIS PRO
Sorry, Richard. Grounds crew threw
out most of ‘em. I got a few here
but they look pretty dead.

RICHARD
That’s ok. They ain’t dead to me.

Richard speaks with a garbled Louisiana drawl. He looks in

the bag. It’s filled with RATTY OLD TENNIS BALLS.

TENNIS PRO
Go on, take this too. We had a few
extras.

The Pro extends Richard a gift. An UNOPENED CAN OF BALLS.

Richard takes it thankfully, and without shame.
 2.

RICHARD
Thank you.

TENNIS PRO
No problem. But gotta ask. What
happened to the eye?

Richard offers only his crooked smile and --

EXT. TENNIS CLUB HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Exiting with his bounty, Richard heads to a PARKING LOT lined

with LUXURY CARS. Beamers. Bentleys. Mercedes. Porsches.
Richard arrives at his own.

A shit-box. A burnt-orange 1977 VOLKSWAGEN BUS. Rusting and

falling apart. Richard tosses his haul in the back and --

INT. RICHARD’S VW BUS - DAY

Richard at the wheel, smoking a cigarillo, driving through

postcard California. Mansions. Gardeners. Money.

Behind him, we see: this van is a character itself.

Part mobile tennis clinic, part mobile home, it’s filled with
school books, fast-food wrappers and a ridiculous
accoutrement of tennis shit. Drill cones. Broken Rackets.

One of the seats has been removed to accommodate a liberated

shopping cart filled with hundreds of collected USED BALLS.
Like Richard, it’s both charming and intentionally ratty.

He drives on to --

EXT. VARIOUS COUNTRY CLUB TENNIS COURTS - DAY (VARIOUS SHOTS)

-- where Richard collects USED BALLS from TENNIS PROS and

GROUNDSKEEPERS. He even plucks them from the trash as
ASTONISHED WHITE CLUB MEMBERS shake their heads in disbelief.

Each time, once they’re gathered, Richard returns to his VAN,

parked amongst the BEAMERS and tosses the balls in the cart.
Off the slam of the door we CUT TO --

EXT. COMPTON CALIFORNIA - DAY

A different world. A working class neighborhood made infamous

by gangs, drug wars, and NWA. Liquor Stores on the corners.
Drug-dealers on the streets. Cops prowling like sharks.

It’s all seen passing out the window of --

 3.

I/E. RICHARD’S VW BUS - DAY

Richard smokes at the wheel, taking it all in. He’d like to

wash it all away. He drives through it as we find --

EXT. RESIDENTIAL COMPTON STREET - DAY

Two young BLACK GIRLS (7 and 8) lugging PHONE BOOKS down a

rough and tumble residential street.

Both girls are adorable, in wild braids and glowing smiles.

The taller one carries THREE BOOKS. Not to be out done, the
little one carries FOUR, barely seeing over the top.

VENUS
Serena, what are you doing? Those
books are as big as you are.

SERENA
No they’re not. I can do it. I can
carry more than you.

VENUS
And break your back while you’re at
it.

SERENA
Wanna bet?

The little one takes off running but her sister lets her win,
laughing as she goes. This is VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS.

Venus is eight but already tall and regal and preternaturally

self-possessed.

Serena is seven, both a princess and a Pit bull. Small and

muscle bound, she’s a ball of energy, confidence, with an
insatiable need for attention. She idolizes her sister.

Winded, she reaches their neighbors’ door first.

SERENA (CONT’D)
See. I told you I’d win.

VENUS
Yeah you did. Guess you’re right.

They deliver a PHONE BOOK to the door of a MIDDLE-AGE BLACK

WOMAN in a house-coat. MS. STRICKLAND. She pays them.

MS. STRICKLAND
Thank you girls.
 4.

VENUS AND SERENA

You’re welcome, Ms. Strickland.

MS. STRICKLAND
You tell your Daddy, he’s working
you too hard. That man is crazy.

RICHARD (O.S.)
That man is what?

They are all surprised to see Richard pull up in his VW BUS.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Girls. Get in the car.
(to Ms. Strickland)
I don’t wanna tell you again. Don’t
talk to them kids.

MS. STRICKLAND
They oughta be playing. Not
working. You pushing ‘em too hard.

RICHARD
They work as hard as they need to
to stay off those streets. What
corner’s your daughter working, Ms.
Strickland?

That shuts her up cold. She gives Richard the finger and
storms off inside, slamming the door.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Come on girls. Time to go. These
balls ain’t gonna hit themselves.

I/E. RICHARD’S VW BUS - DAY (MOVING)

Richard’s at the wheel. Behind him, the girls do homework in

the backseat. (Venus: Paleontology. Serena: French.)

VENUS
Where we practicing today, Daddy?

SERENA
Yeah. Where we practicing, Dad?

Richard eyes her in the rearview, unhappy with her tone.

RICHARD
At the Club. Where you think?

VENUS
Momma said not to go back to those
courts.
 5.

RICHARD
Well your momma ain’t here, now is
she? Y’all wanna practice or not?
We behind on our plan already.

SERENA
But what if those guys are back?

RICHARD
Then I’ll beat ‘em off again.

The girls exchange a knowing look. Laugh.

SERENA
Daddy! Those guys beat YOU up.

RICHARD
Maybe. But that’s part of my plan.
I’m just wearing ‘em down. One of
these days they’ll get so tired of
beating old me they’ll need a rest.

The girls laugh.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
See. What’d I tell ya? Musta tired
‘em out already.

Richard’s smiling as they arrive at --

EXT. LYNWOOD PARK, COMPTON - DAY

A small, municipal park which Richard lovingly, ironically

has dubbed: EAST COMPTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUB.

Basketball Courts. Concrete Playgrounds. And two of the worst

kept TENNIS COURTS you’ll ever see which thankfully --

Right now, are not occupied by the BLOODS who use them as
their own personal drug bazaar.

RICHARD
Who’s ready to get to work?

In clown-car fashion, the Williams gang unloads their tennis

gear from the van. TWO OVERSIZED TENNIS BAGS for the girls,
each bigger than they are. But no matter how small they are,
the girls carry their own gear. Richard’s orders.

They wheel out the SHOPPING CART full of used balls from the
back and like a group of tennis carnies, they approach --
 6.

THE TENNIS COURTS

These courts have since taken on legendary status but in fact

they are:

TWO UNKEMPT TENNIS COURTS. Nets sagging. Surface pock-marked

with gunfire, littered with crack vials and beer bottles.
Homeless men asleep along the fences.

Impervious to it all, the GIRLS begin their peculiar, let’s

say unorthodox, business of warming up.

Still dressed in their jeans, they jog and throw FOOTBALLS

and toss BROKEN RACKETS from the baseline as far as they can
in an absurd drill Richard’s concocted. It looks ridiculous.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Keep tossing ‘em girls. You got it!
More arc! That’s how we get great!

They keep at it while Richard goes about methodically

cleaning the courts. He wakes the HOMELESS MEN and escorts
them off. He sweeps the vials and bottles away with a BROOM.

He sets up CONES for drills and hangs HOMEMADE SIGNS:

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

You are a winner
Be humble - Say “Thank you.”

Finally, they are ready to practice and with great fanfare,

Richard presents the BRAND NEW CAN OF BALLS.

SERENA
Where’d you get those?

RICHARD
I got my ways. You don’t worry. You
got fans in high places.

Richard cracks the can which the girls sniff like fine wine.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
All right. Backhands first. Go on.

They race to the baseline and Richard begins to feed. Ball

after ball, the girls swing their hearts out, giving it their
all but -- it doesn’t look like Wimbledon.

Their rackets are as big as they are. Their strokes are wonky
and Richard is a goofy coach. He swings the racket like a
broken old man who just picked up the sport (which really he
did). It all feels like amateur hour only --
 7.

Unlike most TENNIS DADS, Richard has only encouragement. When

Serena sails a ball over the fence, Richard applauds.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Great muscles Serena.

When Venus nearly takes off his head --

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Great aim there Venus.

Whatever they do, he instills them with exceptional

confidence and we see it. There is something intangible here.
Though technically raw, it’s clear that even at 7 and 8, the
girls’ athleticism and drive is stratospheric.

After Venus booms one particularly impressive smash --

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Boom! There you go! That’s
Wimbledon right there. Come give me
a kiss. Let’s call it a day.

The girls run over, planting two on his cheek as --

EXT. COMPTON TENNIS COURTS, LYNWOOD PARK - AFTERNOON

Practice complete, Richard padlocks the SHOPPING CART to the

fence and walks the girls back to the car.

RICHARD
You look great Venus, but you need
to move your feet more out there.
You keep that stance open like I
showed. If you down on your feet
flat like a 97 year-old person,
you’ll never win Wimbledon.

VENUS
Yes, Daddy.

RICHARD
And Meeka --
(Serena’s middle name)
-- you need to use more topspin on
your forehand, ok? That’s why you
keep whacking it over the fe--

Richard’s stopped because they’ve arrived at the curb where

FOUR HARD-LOOKING BLOODS are mugging outside their van.

The leader of the group is a tall, baby-faced banger with a

Jeri-Curl and 49ers HAT. They call him KING.
 8.

KING
Nigga, I thought we told you. Those
courts is ours. You’re trespassing
on our shit.

RICHARD
Well we done now, so you can have
‘em. We don’t need no trouble.
Girls. Get in the car.

The girls hop to it. Richard’s following behind only --

KING
Nigga, I ain’t done with you yet.

He’s stopped when King spins him around.

KING (CONT’D)
This here’s my office and you
fucking with my business.

RICHARD
Well maybe you oughta to get a
different line of work.

KING
This motherfucker.

King laughs then CRACKS Richard’s face, knocking him down.

SERENA
Don’t you hurt my daddy!

RICHARD
Meeka, get in the goddamn car.

The GANG laughs, impressed as Richard struggles to his feet.

KING
Tough little bitch. Now I’ll tell
you one last time. You come here
again, you ain’t walking out.
Training days are done.

DODGERS HAT
The fuck you gonna do with that?

A young Blood in a DODGERS HAT eyes the BROOMSTICK Richard

grips in his hands. King just shakes his head.

KING
This Nigga’s crazy. That’s how you
want it? That’s the way it’ll be.
Yo, jack this fool, man.
 9.

Off Richard, steeling himself as they approach and --

I/E. RICHARD'S VW VAN - EVENING

Richard’s driving home. SUNGLASSES on. He’s black and blue

underneath. Bleeding badly.

Serena eats McDonalds in the back, sees him in the rearview.

SERENA
You were right, Daddy. It took ‘em
awhile, but they sure got tired of
beating on you.

Despite the pain, Richard can’t help but smile as finally

they arrive at --

EXT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

HOME. 1117 East Stockton Street. A quaint, green, stucco one

story house marred by black graffiti.

Richard pulls up to see POLICE SIRENS at his neighbors’ door.

The aftermath of a CRASH raid. LA’S INFAMOUS SWAT AGENTS

strong arming a YOUNG BLACK MAN out the door while his
PARENTS SCREAM from the porch. The whole neighborhood watches
from their stoops.

MOTHER
He’s a good boy! Let him go. He
didn’t do nothing.

CRASH AGENT
We’ll see about that downtown.
Let’s go. Get your ass in the car.

Richard watches behind the wheel.

VENUS
What’s happening, Daddy?

RICHARD
Nothing baby. Get your things.

Richard escorts his girls through the sirens to their door.

MS. STRICKLAND calls out to Richard from her porch.

MS. STRICKLAND
Somebody oughta call the cops on
you.

Richard just continues to his house, meeting eyes with the

COP. Trouble brewing when --
 10.

BRANDI (O.S.)
Richard Williams. Get these girls
inside. Leave that nonsense alone.

ORACENE “BRANDI” WILLIAMS calls from the door. Brandi’s 41.

Tall. Proud. Fierce. Richard knows better than to disobey.

He leads the girls to their house, kissing his wife who takes
one look at his glasses and immediately knows the score.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
I told you not to go back to those
courts, didn’t I?

Off Richard, not ready to concede. He heads inside and --

INT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

Immediately, Venus and Serena are bombarded by their

siblings. THREE HALF SISTERS. YETUNDE (Tundi) 14. A rebel.
LYNDREA. 12. A princess. ISHA. 10. An athlete.

TUNDI
Come on, Venus. We’re about to
start the talent show.

Serena takes off immediately running.

SERENA
I get to go first. I know what I’m
singing.

LYNDREA
Let me guess.

In unison, her older sisters chime in together singing --

ALL THE SISTERS

Because the Greatest love of all --

SERENA
What’s so funny? It’s a great song.

They bust out laughing as Serena chases them down the hall.

RICHARD
Half hour. Finish your homework,
then it’s time for bed.

The girls run off. Once the parents are alone --

BRANDI
How bad is it? Let me see.
 11.

Reluctantly, Richard lets her remove his glasses. Flinches as

Brandi touches his wounds. His face is raw.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
You lucky you married a nurse. Go
on and get dressed. I’ll get you
some ice. At least you can stop the
swelling.

We follow Richard to their small bedroom, where he begins to

change from his tennis outfit into a SECURITY GUARD UNIFORM.

BRANDI (O.S.) (CONT’D)

I told you. I don’t want you
practicing at those courts. It’s
bad enough they beat on you. What
happens when it’s the girls?

RICHARD
You think I’d let that happen?

BRANDI
Richard, that ain’t up to you.

Brandi’s returned with a FROZEN BAG OF PEAS. She slaps it on

his face, roughly.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
You know what that boy was doing
next door? Do you?

RICHARD
Selling rocks.

BRANDI
He was selling guns. Next door to
our girls. I don’t want them living
like this anymore -- and don’t tell
me it’s making them tough, cause I
don’t care about that. I care if
they’re safe.

RICHARD
Where we gonna go? This is our
home.

BRANDI
Well how long can you live like
this? Working all night. Coaching
all day. Getting yourself beat and
what for? We’re still just scraping
by. I can’t do it anymore.
 12.

RICHARD
Baby, we can’t quit now. We got a
prodigy on our hands. We just
getting started.

BRANDI
Richard --

RICHARD
I’m telling you. Venus is a star.
She’ll prove the whole world wrong.

BRANDI
Richard, she’s eight-years-old.
What the hell’s she gotta prove?
Don’t make this about you.

That staggers Richard for a moment. He heads for the door.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
You wanna fight the world, you got
something prove, fine, but don’t do
it through them. I’m not risking
their lives for that.

RICHARD
Fine. Fine! We won’t go back to
those courts. We can get ‘em a
coach. Bud Collins or Vic Braden.
It’s time for that anyway. Venus is
ready. She can practice with them.

BRANDI
(laughs)
Oh yeah? You win the lottery? How
you gonna pay for that?

RICHARD
We won’t gotta. They’ll coach her
for free. These girls’re so good,
they might even pay us.

BRANDI
(rolling her eyes)
Richard --

RICHARD
Don’t believe me?

BRANDI
It ain’t me who’s gotta believe.
These coaches want a blond with a
pony tail. Not some little black
girl from the ghetto.
 13.

RICHARD
They don’t know that they want it,
but they will. You’ll see. Venus
and Serena gonna shake up the
world.

BRANDI
They are? Or you?

That stops him. Stung. He puts his arms around her.

RICHARD
They are. I know it. Least they
better -- cause they ain’t making
it as no singers.

He’s laughing now because Serena can be heard, singing at the

top of her lungs. She’s no Whitney Houston.

Brandi laughs, softening in his arms and --

BRANDI
Go tell ‘em good night. I’ll get
you something to eat. Can’t fight
the world on an empty stomach.

They kiss. Richard heads off. Brandi watches, both inspired

and exasperated. She loves him, but he makes it hard.

INT. GIRLS’ BEDROOM, COMPTON HOUSE - NIGHT

The girls are performing for each other in their cramped

little bedroom when Richard appears in the door --

RICHARD
All right girls. Lights out. Time
for bed.

They dutifully comply, a few of them taking books and

flashlights along with them into bed.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
D’yall finish your journals? Write
your plans for tomorrow?

ALL THE GIRLS

Yes, Daddy. We did.

RICHARD
Cause you gotta have a plan, right.
Everyday. Else what do I say?

ALL THE GIRLS

You fail to plan. You plan to fail.
 14.

RICHARD
That’s right. And we ain’t failing,
are we?

ALL THE GIRLS

No, Daddy.

RICHARD
That’s right. We going all the way
to the top. Now who’s sleeping with
Serena?

Groans around the room. We understand why. One room. Five

girls. Four beds. It’s like the Waltons.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Tundi?

TUNDI
I had her last night.

RICHARD
Isha?

ISHA
Do I have to? She snores.

SERENA ISHA (CONT'D)

No I don’t. Yes you do.

SERENA ISHA (CONT'D)

No I don’t. Yes you do.

Venus chimes in, silencing the fight. A pacifier.

VENUS
I’ll take her, Daddy. Come on,
Serena. You can sleep with me.

Serena hoots and hollers. She’s like a puppy.

RICHARD
Thank you, Venus. It ain’t gonna be
like this forever. I promise. One
of these days, they’ll be mansions
for all.

Then he turns out the lights and shuts the door, lingering
for a moment in the hall, listening to their laughter. Off
that we hear --

BUD COLLINS VOICE

... and that’s why you want to
pronate at the point of contact.
 15.

INT. RICHARD'S VW BUS - NIGHT

Richard’s driving, smoking a cigarillo. Out his windows,

BLOODS lurk on stoops. Addicts wander like phantoms in the
night. Richard drives through it listening to a tape.

BUD COLLINS VOICE

If you look at the biggest servers.
Sampras. Lendl. Connors. You’ll see
the break of their wrists is like a
smack. Like a high five. That’s
what you’re looking for when you
hit it. That pop.

The tape ends. Richard ejects it, riffling through the mess
on the floor to find another. There’s dozens down here,
scrawled in Richard’s chicken scratch with names like:

“Wimbledon ‘87.” “Tracy Austin.” “Zina Garrison.”

Richard selects one. Sticks it in. Listens as he drives.

SAMPRAS’ VOICE
... well I know a lot of guys use a
western or semi-western on their
forehand, but I’ve got a heavy
stroke. I like a big runway so for
me an eastern grip is just fine.

SAMPRAS’S VOICE CONTINUES OVER: A MONTAGE.

RICHARD CHECKS ON SECURITY GUARDS - VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Richard makes the rounds, checking in on SECURITY GUARDS at a

handful of Compton establishments.

- A DRY CLEANER.
- A CONSTRUCTION SITE.
- A CHURCH.
- A BANK.

At each, Richard checks the alarms. Empties the trash. Wakes

his sleeping employees. At turns, mundane and dangerous work,
and Richard is tired of it. Montage ends as --

INT. COMPTON GROCERY STORE - NIGHT

Richard enters a Compton grocery, nodding to the GUARD eating

chips at the door, and heads toward the back where --

INT. GROCERY STORE OFFICE - NIGHT

Richard enters the cluttered little manager’s office and

plops down at the desk, exhausted.
 16.

For a moment, it looks like he might fall asleep but he

fights the urge. Instead, he turns on a light, takes out his
things, and gets to work.

Not billing or paperwork for his security company, but

Tennis. MAGAZINES. ORDER FORMS. INSTRUCTIONAL DRILLS.

With occasional GUNFIRE rattling the windows, Richard combs

through his research and begins to make a LIST:

COACHES AND STAR PUPILS: Vic Braden. Bud Collins. Nic

Bolleittri. Mary Pierce. Tracy Austin. Etc.

He writes down the phone numbers and addresses for each as we

pan across his desk to a COPY OF: WORLD TENNIS MAGAZINE.

AN INSTRUCTIONAL ARTICLE. A PHOTO.

JOHN McENROE and his CALIFORNIA TENNIS COACH. Imagine Elliot

Gould if he had thighs like cannons and a forehand that could
put you on your ass.

The legend reads: “WINNING WAYS: McEnroe and his LA coach

PAUL COHEN.” Off Richard’s list and PAUL’s face --

EXT. BEL AIR COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

A sparkling California Golf and Tennis Club where we find

Richard on a pay phone in the parking lot.

RICHARD
Hello? -- Yes, I’m trying to reach
Paul Cohen -- Richard Williams.
Yes. I left a message last night --
All right. I can hold.

INTERCUT NOW WITH:

INT. PAUL COHEN’S HOUSE - DAY

PAUL COHEN (40), the burly tennis coach seen in the McEnroe
magazine spread, now in a leisure suit, picking up the phone
in the foyer of a very nice Brentwood house.

PAUL
This is Paul.

RICHARD
Paul, my name’s Richard Williams. I
read about you in World Tennis
Magazine and I got a couple girls I
think you oughta see.
 17.

PAUL
Yeah. Richard. I got your message.
My girls are champs. That was you?
How’d you get my number?

RICHARD
Ted Hodges. At Paramount sports.
He’s a friend. If it’s ok, I’ve got
a video I’d like to send you. A
video and a brochure for my girls.

PAUL
A video and what?

Paul’s distracted by his ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WIFE. Suitcases at

her feet, tapping her watch indicating: we’ve gotta go.

RICHARD
A brochure. A prospectus. Of their
future earnings.

PAUL
I’m sorry. Mr. Wilson -- Williams?
This isn’t a good time. We’re
leaving for a tournament. Just send
me the tape. I’ll try and look at
it when I’m back. Thanks.

Paul hangs up.

PAUL’S WIFE
Who was that?

PAUL
Some nutcase, I don’t know.

They grab their bags, head for the door. We end on:

RICHARD, hanging up the pay phone in the parking lot. This

might be harder than he thought as we now hear --

RICHARD (PRE-LAP)
Now I know what you’re thinking.
This family’s from the Ghetto. How
they gonna pay old me? Well don’t
worry, Bud, we ain’t here to rob
ya. We’re here to make you rich.

INT. BUD COLLINS’S TENNIS OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON: A HOMEMADE PAMPHLET FULL OF NUMBERS, GRAPHS, and

CHARTS. The girls’ “FUTURE EARNINGS.” It’s in the hands of:
 18.

BUD COLLINS (60), the Bob Hope of Tennis, listening to

Richard pitch his case.

RICHARD
What you’re looking at there is a
brochure I made with the wife.
Inside you’ll see future earnings
potentials for both girls. One for
Venus. And one for Serena.

Off Bud, flipping through it amused and --

EXT. ANOTHER FANCY TENNIS CLUB - DAY

Richard is COURT SIDE at another FANCY CLUB showing his

brochure to another INCREDULOUS PRO. On court, a HULKING
JUNIOR is pulverizing tennis balls.

RICHARD
Now, Venus, she’ll probably win
Wimbledon. She’s tall and fast and
mean. But Serena -- she something
like a pet bulldog. She never lets
go. See they got all the talent.
All they need now is the training
and environment and coach.

Beat. The incredulous (white) pro gives Richard a once over.

INCREDULOUS PRO
And you want all this for free? You
sure you have the right sport?

Off Richard, disrespected as we cut to:

EXT. HOSPITALITY TENT, ANOTHER FANCY TENNIS CLUB - DAY

A swanky California country club event. CELEBRITY TENNIS

TOURNAMENT underway. Richard, somehow snuck inside, has
cornered ANOTHER TENNIS PRO with his pamphlet.

RICHARD
We need a club. Training. Clinics.
Everything a prodigy needs to reach
their potential which is number one
in the world, I promise you that.
There’s no doubt about it.

The TENNIS PRO, eager to extract himself, shakes his head.

TENNIS PRO
If I had a dollar for every crazy
parent who told me their kids’ll be
number one, I’d be a rich man.
 19.

RICHARD
You look pretty rich to me.

TENNIS PRO
Well, there you go.

He hands Richard back the pamphlet and hurries off as --

EXT. ANOTHER FANCY TENNIS CLUB - DAY

--- the BEWILDERED PRO hands his pamphlet back too.

BEWILDERED PRO
You ever consider basketball?

INT. BUD COLLIN’S TENNIS OFFICE - DAY

--- and back in Bud’s office, Bud shakes Richard’s hand.

BUD COLLINS
I’m sorry. Good luck. You seem like
a good guy but --

INT. ANOTHER TENNIS CLUB - DAY

--- and ANOTHER COACH turns Richard down.

ANOTHER COACH
I’m sorry. This isn’t a welfare
office. We don’t do Pro Bono.

Off Richard, anger rising. Enthusiasm evaporating as finally -

INT. CLUB HOUSE, COTO VALLEY C.C - DAY. VARIOUS SHOTS

Richard’s seated in the lobby of a tony club. Tired and

defeated, looking up at the PHOTOS OF THE TENNIS GREATS
lining the walls he saw earlier.

KRAMER. CONNORS. MCENROE. All white. All smiling with a

JOVIAL, PORTLY COACH.

The same WASPY RECEPTIONIST hangs up the phone. Coldly --

RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Williams? Vic’ll see you now.

Aware of her ire, Richard rises; one last chance as we hear --

RICHARD’S VOICE (ON TAPE)

A few more. Down the line. That’s
it. Look good, Vic, don’t they?
 20.

INT. VIC BRADEN’S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON A TV: A video plays. Venus and Serena hit in jeans

on the ratty court. Richard narrates OC operating the camera.

RICHARD’S VOICE
We have your tape - TENNIS ALL THE
WAY - and we have been viewing it.
However, the tape says, you’ll be
good by Friday, but guess what,
Vic. We’ve got good by Tuesday.
That’s how good your tape is.

In the office, Richard mouths along with his joke on screen

as VIC BRADEN (60’s) the legendary Junior Tennis Coach (seen
in the lobby PHOTOS) watches, speechless as the video ends.

VIC
I guess you made this yourself?

RICHARD
Yes I did, yes. When the girls were
young, I had bought me a camcorder.
And I would film myself in the
mirror asking questions and doing
things like that. And that’s what I
did with the girls, here. I call
that their media training.

VIC
Oh I see. That’s very industrious.
And did you grow up around the
game, Mr. Williams?

RICHARD
No I did not. Where we’re from,
where I grew up, tennis was not a
game that peoples played.
(before Vic can weigh in)
But I’m a terrific athlete and if
I’m interested in a thing, Vic, I
learn it. How it works. How the
best people do it. That’s how I did
with tennis and the girls. I made a
plan for ‘em before they were born.

VIC
Before they were born?

RICHARD
Yes sir. One for Venus. And one for
Serena. First one was 85 pages I
think. See I’m a master planner,
Vic. No one gonna out plan me.
(MORE)
 21.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
And our plan says now it’s time we
come to you, so you can turn these
girls into champions.

Vic’s flabbergasted. He looks at Richard, at the brochure.

Unfailingly nice, he wants to soften the blow but there’s no
need. Richard feels the hit coming. He stands up on his own.

VIC
How bout a free piece of advice?
(sure)
This deal you’re asking for, all
this for free, Richard, no one is
going to take that bet. See tennis
is a technical sport. Probably the
most. If you haven’t grown up
around the game then --
(looking Richard over)
It’s like the violin. It takes
hours and hours a day, year after
year, tens of thousands of dollars
in precise, expert instruction just
to hold the racket right, and then,
even then, even for a family with
unlimited financial resources, the
chances of achieving the kind of
mastery and success you’re talking
about -- with one kid, let alone
two -- well, it’s like asking
someone to believe you got the next
two Mozarts in your house. It’s
just very, very unlikely. I’m
sorry. That’s just my two cents.
Maybe you’ll prove me wrong.

Vic offers his hand. Richard takes it, gutted and --

EXT. PARKING LOT, FANCY CLUB - MOMENTS LATER

Flush with defeat, Richard exits the building where he finds

Venus and Serena, sitting by the courts doing homework.

They look up at him expectantly.

VENUS AND SERENA

How’d it go in there, Daddy?

Richard does his best to hide his disappointment, but the

girls know the score. This isn’t their first rodeo.

They grab their books and follow their father to the CAR. The
lone beater in the lot. Their place in the world couldn’t be
clearer and --
 22.

INT. MCDONALD’S - NIGHT

The entire Williams clan, five girls, two parents, eat dinner
at a booth in McDonald’s. Most of the family is joking
around. But we don’t share their mood or hear what they say.

We’re pushing in on Richard, thoughts far away, simmering

with frustration and anger and resentment.

INT. RICHARD’S VW VAN - NIGHT

The family drives home. Richard distant at the wheel, taking

in the neighborhood. The crime and poverty. He slows as he
drives past the courts. Anger rising behind his eyes and --

Suddenly, he pulls over and gets out of the car.

BRANDI
Where you going?

He doesn’t answer, just grabs his BROOM from the back and --

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Richard, what the heck are you
doing?
(to the girls, herself)
I tell ya, this man.

She’s shaking her head as she watches --

EXT. PARK - THAT MOMENT

-- Richard approaching the courts where he’s seen HIS

SHOPPING CART knocked over and crushed. His collection of
BALLS scattered across the courts in every direction.

Fuming, Richard begins to pick them up when he spots:

The BLOODS who beat him up earlier, clearly responsible for

this mess, gathered in the park by the courts, laughing.

Richard stares at them in fury. Enough’s enough.

IN THE CAR: Brandi lights with fear as she watches --

BRANDI
Richard don’t you do it.

-- Richard crossing the park toward THE BLOODS who mack on

some GIRLS. King turns as Richard approaches with the BROOM.

KING
Nigga, whatchu gonna do with --
 23.

CRACK! Before he gets the rest out, Richard breaks the

broomstick across his jaw. King goes down hard as Richard
wails him again. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! A few more shots before-

The OTHER BLOODS jump in, dropping Richard to the ground,

leveling him with HAYMAKERS. Stomping him senseless as --

BRANDI
RICHARD!

Brandi comes running from the car.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Leave him alone. Get your hands off
my husband!

She pushes through the crowd to find Richard bleeding and

struggling to get to his feet.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Richard, oh my god!

She looks up at King who stands over them, fuming.

KING
I warned him. This ain’t a place to
play.
(leaning over Richard now)
You hear me now, motherfucker. Stay
- the - fuck - away.

And then King rears back and CRACKS Richard a final time and
BOOM! LIGHTS OUT. Richard drops to the ground and we --

FADE OUT.

FADE IN ON:

YOUNG WHITE FACES LOOMING ABOVE US. 13-YEAR-OLD BOYS PUNCHING

AND YELLING. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AS WE FADE TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

A new blur of faces hovering above us. Above Richard,

demolished in a HOSPITAL BED. Face like a punching bag. The
blurry figures float above, warping in and out of focus.

DOCTOR
...his jaw is broken. At least five
or six ribs. There’s blood in his
urine. We need to sedate him.

A face leans into view. Brandi comes into focus. Crying.

 24.

BRANDI
Richard. Richard. Can you hear me?
Richard, can you hear me?

But she’s floating away. Richard’s mind’s faraway in --

EXT. WOODS - DAY (RICHARD’S FLASHBACK DREAM) - 1955

A Louisiana forest where EIGHT-YEAR-OLD RICHARD, tattered and

dirty, is getting the shit kicked out of him by a gang of
WHITE BOYS.

Young Richard puts up a fight but it’s futile. The boys CRACK
him with sticks, hit him with rocks, and scream in his face --

WHITE BOY
This is what you get when you steal
from my Daddy, boy!

A fist flies violently toward his head as --

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Adult Richard jolts at the memory, drifting in and out of

consciousness. His face, black and blue. His teeth broken.
He’s frightened and breathless, remembering --

EXT. RICHARD'S CHILDHOOD HOME - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) 1955

It’s dark by the time YOUNG RICHARD arrives home to a

tattered three room shack in a blighted part of town where --

His mother, JULIA METCALF WILLIAMS, a cotton picker and a

titanic figure, spots him from the door.

His clothes are dirty. His face is bloody. From the look in
her eyes, we know they have been here before as --

INT. RICHARD'S CHILDHOOD HOME - NIGHT (FLASHBACK) 1955

Young Richard’s mother washes his wounds from a bucket on the

floor. No running water. No electricity. No father. No hope.
Just his mother and FIVE SISTERS watching from the door.

RICHARD’S MOTHER
I don’t know what to tell you Sonny
but you don’t let go of that anger,
either this world’s gonna tear you
up or you gonna tear up it.

Young Richard looks at his mother, silent and defiant. She

goes on cleaning his wounds as --
 25.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Richard final wakes to find Brandi there, watching over him.

BRANDI
You OK? It’s just a dream.

But Richard’s not ok. He’s badly bruised, missing several

teeth, simmering with a lifetime of pain.

I/E. RICHARD'S VW BUS - EVENING (A FEW NIGHTS LATER)

Brandi drives a broken Richard home through Compton.

Richard’s eyes fixed out the windows. A reckoning brewing as -

INT. WILLIAMS'S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

Gingerly, Brandi escorts him through the front door. But

Richard doesn’t waste any time --

As soon as he’s home, he heads to the bedroom, riffling

through his closet. On the very top shelf, he pulls down a
SHOTGUN, loading it with shells as --

BRANDI
Richard! What are you doing?

RICHARD
Putting an end to this. I ain’t
getting kicked around anymore.

EXT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOUSE - NIGHT

Richard blows out his door, into his van. Tossing the shotgun
beside him as he peels down the street. Brandi arrives at the
front door, desperate, but too late to stop him and --

EXT. COMPTON COURTS - NIGHT

The dealership’s open. The BLOODS are still here. King and
his CREW holding down the courts when -- DODGERS HAT shoots
King an elbow. Look over there. He’s pointing to:

The street. Where the VW BUS pulls up. Richard getting out.

KING
This motherfucker. Nigga, you
crazier than I thought. You sure
you want more? You ain’t got your
girls to protect you this time.

They’re laughing until they see the 12-GAUGE rise up in

Richard’s hand. CA-CHCK! They dive as he cocks the pump and --
 26.

KABOOM! -- Richard fires a shot that screams past the

dealers, shattering a WINDSHIELD on the street.

The DEALERS scramble to their feet. Dodger’s Hat pulls out

his own GUN and levels it at Richard only - it jams!

And Richard’s still coming, pumping again. CA-CHCK!

Holy shit. The dealers take off running. As fast as they can.
Richard lumbering after them like a goddamn monster.

EXT. COMPTON STREETS - NIGHT

Escaping the park, the GANG tears through the residential

streets of Compton.

Richard’s on their heels, Frankenstein-style. Stalking like a

killer as --

The BOYS skid into an alley, bolting between houses. They

knock over trash cans that clatter in Richard’s way.

They sprint toward a CHAIN LINK FENCE, all of them flipping

over it as --

Richard’s stopped in it’s path. Too old to jump over. He

makes a decision. Cuts through the alley as --

The bangers burst through a BACKYARD, coming to an

intersection. They seem to have lost him, but just to be safe
they split up. Three different directions. We stay with --

DODGERS HAT who runs down another darkened alley. Alone.

Getting away. Feeling safe when --

A PIT BULL leaps in his face. He stumbles back, about to be

mauled until the dog’s collared by its chain.

DODGERS HAT composes, catching his breath. Almost laughing to

himself. Then he turns a corner when --

CA-CHCK! He looks up to see Richard in the mouth of the

alley, bearing down on him with his gun. Nowhere to run.

Richard closes in.

DODGER’S HAT
YO YO YO! Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!
I’m sorry. We was playing.

RICHARD
We ain’t playing now.
 27.

Richard steadies the gun. Fury in his eyes. About to jam the
trigger when from somewhere in the darkness --

PTPTPTPTPPTPT! A MACHINE-GUN cracks, ripping like fireworks.

A DRIVE-BY in the night. Richard jolts at the sound,

listening as the BULLETS RIP and the TIRES SQUEAL AWAY and
then it’s silent. For a long moment until --

A SCREAM shatters the night. Grief stricken and horrible.

VOICE (O.S.)
NOOOOOOOOOOO!

It shakes Richard’s core. He turns back to his target only to

find -- he’s gone. The alley is empty. DODGERS HAT’s escaped.

On Richard, alone in the alley, catching his breath and --

EXT. COMPTON STREETS - MOMENTS LATER

Richard’s walking home. Concealing his weapon. Dawning with

relief when he arrives upon --

THE SOURCE OF THAT SCREAM. THE AFTERMATH OF THE DRIVE-BY. A

BLOODBATH ON THE STREETS.

A BODY lays lifeless on the asphalt. Families gather around

as the first SIRENS arrive, swirling in the mist.

Richard watches from afar as A MOTHER pushes through the

crowd and falls at the feet of the BOY, crying inconsolably.

MOTHER
NO NO NO. MY BABY. MY BABY. THEY
SHOT UP MY BABY!

And now Richard sees who it is. It’s KING. Richard staggers,
backing away, slowly at first, then running now, fleeing the
tragedy which he was very nearly the cause of and --

INT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

The house is dark and the family’s asleep. Richard creeps

back in. Moving to his closet to replace his gun when --

Brandi turns on the lights. Awake and waiting.

BRANDI
What did you do? Richard --

Slowly, once the GUN’s safely away, he turns.

 28.

RICHARD
Nothing. But I almost did.

Exhausted, he sits on the bed and hangs his head.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
It’s over. I’m done.

He lights a cigarette as Brandi comes to his side.

BRANDI
Nothing’s over, baby. We’ve been
through this before. The cleaning
company. The car wash. The cement
trucks. Things fall apart, you
think of something else. This time
ain’t no different. You’re an
entrepreneur. There’s a million
ideas.

RICHARD
Ain’t no other idea. This was it.
(then)
Just once in my life, I wanted a
shot. To prove once and for all
Richard Williams ain’t no fool.

BRANDI
Baby, you worrying about that and
you letting them win. Don’t.

But Richard can’t hear that yet. He smokes, shaking his head.

RICHARD
I shoulda never started this in the
first place. I let them girls down.

Brandi tries to console him, but Richard stands, exiting to -

INT. RICHARD’S HOME OFFICE - NIGHT

A small room with a desk covered with Richard’s various get-

rich-schemes. A car wash. A cement mixing business. His
TENNIS PLANS. 10 YEARS OF IT. Magazines. Schedules. Drills.

Richard regards it with a very heavy heart. Years of work.

Years of effort. Over. Richard despairs and then he notices:

A LIGHT BLINKING ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE.

Richard presses it. The voice that comes out is a life raft.
 29.

PAUL (ON TAPE)

Richard. Paul Cohen here. Sorry
it’s taken me a few weeks to get
back to you. I’ve been in Wimbledon
with Mac and well -- I just had a
chance to look at your tape.
(beat)
It’s raw. The girls need work but,
looks like you might have something
here. If you’re still looking for a
coach, I’d be interested in taking
a look. You got my number. Let me
know if you wanna bring ‘em by.

The message ends. On Richard, floored. A second chance.

INT. RICHARD'S VW BUS - DAY

Dressed in their best tennis whites, Venus and Serena look

out the windows as Richard drives through a HARD SCRABBLE
NEIGHBORHOOD.

VENUS
Where is this place, Daddy? I
thought we were going to play.

RICHARD
I wanna show you something first.

EXT. SKID ROW - DAY

Street life. JUNKIES. VAGRANTS. HOMELESS. HOOKERS occupying

pre-cool downtown LA. It might as well be NEW JACK CITY.

Richard pulls his van over to a corner and the girls look out
like they are on safari.

RICHARD
See these people here? You see how
they living? You see their hair?
You think this was their plan? You
think they got dignity or respect?

VENUS AND SERENA

No, Daddy.

RICHARD
No. They broke down. Used drugs.
Now they don’t got no hope. You
gonna live like that?

SERENA AND VENUS

No, Daddy!
 30.

RICHARD
That’s right. Good. Now let me show
you something else.

I/E. RICHARD'S VW BUS / PARKED - LATER

Another location. Richard and the girls look out the windows.

RICHARD
Now how about this? You wanna live
like that?

Reveal that they are parked in Beverly Hills. Palm Trees

overhead. Mansions all around. LANDSCAPERS in the yards.

SERENA AND VENUS

Yes, Daddy.

RICHARD
You like these houses? Big, aren’t
they? How about that one? You think
they got respect?

SERENA AND VENUS

Yeah Daddy. Real nice.

RICHARD
Well one day, you’ll have it.
Beverly Hills. Hollywood Hills.
Any of these hills. You want
respect, you gonna get it, cause
you got a plan. Wanna show these
people that?

SERENA AND VENUS

Yes, Daddy.

RICHARD
Good. So what we waiting for then?
Let’s go out there and show ‘em.

Off the girls, spilling over with determination and --

EXT. BEL AIR SANDS HOTEL - DAY

A sprawling Bel Air Golf Resort, nestled in the hills beneath

the Getty. (NOTE: This is now the LUXE SUNSET.)

On Richard’s van as it rolls through the gates and --

EXT. BEL AIR SANDS HOTEL - DAY

Amped with nerves, Richard and the girls approach the tennis
courts where they find:
 31.

TWO MEN sweating in the midst of a heated practice, crushing

the ball with absolute fury. The Williams’ slow in awe as
they realize what they’re watching:

JOHN MCENROE getting all he can handle from a tall, curly-

haired TEENAGER with a serve like Howitzer.

The drill ends when the teen blasts an ace down the T,
leaving John whiffing at the air. Paul watches close-by.

PAUL
Told ya. He’s a smoker. All right.
Get some water. Take ten.

The players break as Paul approaches the Williams’ family,

watching with their jaws dropped.

PAUL (CONT'D)
You must be Richard. Paul Cohen. I
guess these are the champs.

They all shake hands. The girls smile ear to ear.

PAUL (CONT’D)
You girls know Mac right? Young
buck here’s Pete Sampras. Not so
bad himself.

The famous players wave from the bench.

MCENROE
(to the girls)
Paul says you’re pretty good.

RICHARD
Oh they’re better than good.
They’ll be number one in the world.

McEnroe laughs, walking away.

MCENROE
OK. Call me in ten years. Nice to
meet you girls.
(to Paul)
See you in a few.

Paul watches as Mac walks away, toward his stunner of a WIFE

and their TWO YOUNG SONS by the pool. (This is Tatum O’Neil).

VENUS
(star-struck)
That’s - that’s - I know her.
She was in Bad News Bears!
 32.

PAUL
She’s bad news all right. You wanna
hit a few? I don’t have much time.

The girls head to the court where Richard leads them through
their curious routine, throwing their rackets into the sky.

RICHARD
That’s great, Venus! Great!

SAMPRAS joins Paul, watching this absurdity in silence.

SAMPRAS
This guy for real?

Paul has no idea. One way to find out. He steps on the court.

PAUL
All right, Richard, that was --
interesting. Have a seat. Let’s see
what you girls got.

Reluctantly, Richard abides but before he does, he pulls the

girls aside for one last pep talk.

RICHARD
Just go out there and have fun.
(of Mac)
Few years from now, he’ll brag
‘bout meeting you.

The girls smile and Richard steps off as they take the court.

PAUL
All right. Let’s start off with
some forehands. First one’s down
the line.

Paul feeds them balls and the GIRLS begin to practice. They
come out smoking. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Venus cracks a heater.
Serena cracks another. Venus unleashes a winner. Serena
unfurls another. Again and again and again as --

All around the court, attentions begin to tune to the CANNON

BLASTS exploding from these little girls.

Mac watches. Pete watches. Tatum watches. Richard watches.

Paul watches as - BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! - the girls smash balls.

The last ones hit the fence. Paul’s hopper is empty. A long
silence then --

PAUL (CONT’D)
Let me ask you something girls.
 33.

The girls jog to the net, unclear of his reaction.

PAUL (CONT’D)
What do you want from all this? I
know what he wants (Richard) but
what about you?

The girls look at each other. It’s Venus who speaks up.

VENUS
I wanna win Wimbledon, I guess. As
many times as anyone’s won it.

PAUL
And you think you can do it?

VENUS
(nods)
I know I can.

SERENA
I do too!

PAUL
I bet you do. Go pick ‘em up. I’m
gonna talk to your Dad.

The girls hop to it, collecting the balls as Paul approaches

Richard with the verdict. His face is a mask, unreadable.

PAUL (CONT’D)
You taught ‘em all this?
(Richard nods)
Well, I gotta be honest. Their
strokes are a mess. Their
footwork’s raw. They’re behind on a
lot but --
(on Richard as he waits)
You’re not crazy, Richard. I’ve
seen a lot of young players and
I’ve coached some of the best and
your girls -- they’re probably the
best raw talent I’ve ever seen.

On Richard, as that lands. A flood of emotion and vindication

pouring out as --

PAUL (CONT’D)
We can figure out the financials
later, but if it sounds good to
you, I’d love to help you turn
these girls into champs.
 34.

Richard meets eyes with the girls, unable to contain his

emotion, already starting to cry, as --

INT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOUSE - DAY

Brandi’s cooking dinner for the older sisters when Richard

and the girls arrive home.

BRANDI
Well?

RICHARD
Looks like we got a coach.

The whole room jumps up and down, exploding in celebration.

Richard and Brandi find each other and embrace. A long

awaited moment of relief. Out of earshot from the kids:

BRANDI
He’s gonna take ‘em for free?

RICHARD
Well -- almost. There is one thing.

Off Richard, eyes falling to Serena and --

EXT. COMPTON STREETS - MORNING

A new day breaking over the quiet streets of Compton where --

EXT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - MORNING

Richard and Venus load their tennis gear into the van.
Serena, dressed for practice too, watches sadly at the door.

SERENA
It’s not fair. I wanna come too.

RICHARD
I know you do, Meeka but you just
gotta wait. Mr. Cohen can’t do two
for free. Don’t worry -- we’re
gonna tape everything. You’ll watch
‘em at home. Won’t miss a thing.
(Serena is furious)
Now go on. Practice with your mom
and don’t forget to move your feet.

SERENA
Where we even supposed to play?

Richard yells back on his way to the car.

 35.

RICHARD
At the club! I talked to them boys.
We ain’t got no problems anymore.

Serena’s in disbelief as Richard joins Venus, waving in the

car. They pull off. Serena watches them go as Brandi appears,
wearing TENNIS ATTIRE herself. She knows how Serena feels.

BRANDI
Your sister’s older. She’s gonna
get things first but don’t worry.
Your time’ll come.
(Brandi pulls her in)
Now come on. Let’s hit the courts.
We got work to do.

Off Serena, who smiles despite her frustration as we hear --

EXT. PRIVATE BRENTWOOD HOME - DAY (TO ESTABLISH)

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Cannon-like blasts echoing above --

A beautiful, Brentwood Ranch House. Richard’s BUS outside.

The POUNDING STROKES and SQUEAKING SNEAKERS sound from --

THE BACKYARD COURT

-- where Paul leads Venus through grueling drills. Cones.

Suicides. Lob retrieves. Venus sweats as Paul barks orders.

PAUL
What you’re going through is the
Paul Cohen First Strike Strategic
Tennis System. It’s gonna make you
a killer. First time Mac tried it,
he didn’t last 10 minutes.

Venus sees why -- chasing down a lob -- gasping for air as --

PAUL (CONT’D)
Come on! Don’t wait! Again!

Venus looks to Richard, smoking by the courts. He nods - you

got it. She wipes away sweat, sprinting back to the net and --

FOREHAND DRILLS

Paul’s feeding Venus at the baseline. Forehand down the line.

Sprint back to the T. Forehand down the line. Sprint back to
the T. Again and again and again.

RICHARD
Keep that stance open, Venus.
Remember open stance.
 36.

PAUL
Richard - don’t. My time. My rules.
If you want, maybe wait outside.

Richard puts up his hands, deferring for now.

PAUL (CONT’D)
(to Venus)
You listen to me. When you’re here,
I’m the coach. Forget open stance.
Hold your head right at contact.
Now go.

He tosses the ball and Venus bolts after it and --

BACKHAND APPROACH DRILL

Paul leads Venus through a classic backhand approach shot,

attack the net drill, feeding one after another.

PAUL (CONT’D)
I’m gonna turn you into the
ultimate competitor. Don’t sit back
on the baseline. You’re not here to
dance. Put these girls away.

And Venus does -- crashing the net -- crushing a volley and --

SERVE AND APPROACH DRILLS

Venus smashes serves from the baseline. Paul’s in her ear.

PAUL (CONT’D)
You wanna be the best? You wanna be
Tracy Austin? You will. You’re a
killing machine. You’re a goddamn
attack dog, so bite!

Venus does, obliterating a serve. Richard watches as it

scorches the line and --

RITA (O.S.)
Looking great. Hungry anyone?

RITA CORNYN, the home owner, LA PHILANTHROPIST, and Paul’s

friend, calls from the Pool house.

RITA (CONT’D)
I made up some sandwiches.

EXT. PRIVATE BRENTWOOD HOME - LATER

Paul, Richard and Venus have lunch by the pool. A TV in the

POOL HOUSE plays a TENNIS MATCH. Richard keeps looking over --
 37.

PAUL
-- so we gotta keep hammering those
forehands, right. Tracy Austin.
Tracy Austin. You get a chance, end
the point. These girls you’ll be
playing -- they play patty-cake.
Don’t engage. Now, have you thought
about which tournaments you want to
play first? I’ll look at the
schedule. I’ve got friends in the
SCJ’s so --

RICHARD
That’s Juniors? I’m not sure we
interested in that.

PAUL
Why not? You gotta play matches.
Get experience. Get your ranking
up. See some competition.

RICHARD
Yeah, but she’s got church and
school and her sisters -- they’ll
be time for matches when she’s pro.

Long beat as Paul processes this and then --

PAUL
Well Richard -- that’s just the
dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. She
doesn’t play matches, she’ll never
get tested. She’ll never get
ranked. She’ll never get great.
It’s as simple as that.
(to Venus)
You wanna just practice or you
wanna go beat some girls?

VENUS
Can I play, Daddy? Please?

But Richard doesn’t answer. His focus glued to the TV WHERE:

A TENNIS MATCH PLAYS. THE FRENCH OPEN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. A

brown-haired, 12-year-old American girl is pulverizing the
ball, blowing her opponent out of the water.

RICHARD
Who the heck is that?

PAUL
Jennifer Capriati. Now she’s a
freaking killer.
(MORE)
 38.

PAUL (CONT'D)
Won the Orange Bowl last year in
San Diego. US 18 and Under -- she
was twelve.

That gets Richard’s attention. They all watch in awe for a

moment as Jennifer destroys the other girl on the court. Her
BOX cheers in the stands. Among them --

PAUL (CONT’D)
That’s her coach, Rick Macci. He’s
in Florida. Nice guy. Not as dumb
as the rest.

On screen, RICK MACCI jumps up and down. Rick’s 35, with a

mustache and a bowl cut and the demeanor of a Labrador
Retriever. He’s seated next to STEFANO CAPRIATI. The
opposite. Tennis Dad numero uno. A villain.

PAUL (CONT’D)
Word is she’s joining the tour next
year, but she already signed a big
deal with Diadora. Two Million
bucks. Without a single pro match.
(beat, pointed)
She played Juniors.

Off Richard, point taken. Hard to argue with that as we’re --

EXT. LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

CLOSE ON A BANNER announcing:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JUNIOR OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT

It flaps above an LA HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT packed with --

RICH WHITE TENNIS PARENTS escorting little PRODIGIES toward

the courts where a TOURNAMENT is underway. A few of them
gawking in curiosity as they pass --

A growling VW BUS, idling loudly beside the luxury sedans.

I/E. RICHARD'S VW VAN - SAME

Inside, the entire Williams family, looks out nervously at

their surroundings. Venus, dressed in her best tennis outfit,
listens stoically to her father at the wheel.

RICHARD
Now don’t be surprised if people be
staring. They ain’t used to being
around good looking people like us
and they sure ain’t seen no little
girl with a backhand like you.
(MORE)
 39.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
Just keep your head high and your
feet on the move. Let them worry
bout the rest. Y’all wanna show
them what’s what?

Venus nods, steeling her nerves. Here goes nothing as --

EXT. LA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS, JUNIOR TOURNAMENT - DAY

Richard and the ENTIRE WILLIAMS CLAN approach the HIGH SCHOOL
TENNIS COURTS where a JUNIOR TENNIS TOURNAMENT is under way
and as Richard predicted -- the record scratches.

TENNIS PARENTS and their TENNIS KIDS stop dead at the sight
of the Williamses. The only black faces in the crowd.

Richard, undeterred, leads his family to the SIGN IN TABLE.

RICHARD
Richard Williams. This is my
daughter, Venus. She’s playing her
first match here today.

The TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR double takes at the family. Recovers.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Well, welcome Venus. Good to meet
you. Let’s find your draw.

The director flips through files as Richard cops the scene:

Stern parents. Serious kids. Not youthful fun, but high

stakes, high pressure competition. Richard takes note.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR (CONT’D)

All right Venus, you’re all set.
You’re on Court 4. It should be
open if you wanna warm up.

Venus smiles thanks and the family heads off through the
still staring crowds toward Venus’s court. When they arrive --

BRANDI
Good luck, honey. Just go out and
have fun.

SERENA
Kick her butt.

Venus smiles and enters the court as Serena remains behind

with her family, flashing with envy as --
 40.

EXT. TENNIS TOURNAMENT TENNIS COURT - DAY

Venus enters the court where her opponent, STACEY, a TALL TEN-
YEAR-OLD BLOND, in high-end TENNIS GEAR unpacks a racket from
her pricey tennis bag that holds six identical others.

Venus unpacks her secondhand bag and beat-up racket on the

bench. She’s clearly intimidated.

Richard beckons her over to the fence where he’s set up.

RICHARD
Don’t you be scared. You just go
out there and have fun. You Venus
Williams. You gonna win Wimbledon.
These people got nothing on you.

He blows her a kiss and then joins Brandi, sitting with the
other parents in the bleachers. Both of them nervous as --

A LINE JUDGE approaches the players with a new can of BALLS.

JUDGE
All right, girls. Meet at the net.
(as the girls arrive)
Once more to go over the rules.
Best of 3 sets. I’m covering three
courts, so keep your own score and
call your own shots. Other than
that, just have fun and good luck.

The Judge departs leaving Venus and Stacey at the net.

STACEY
Ok. Up or down?

VENUS
What?

TRACY
(the racket you idiot)
Up or down?

VENUS
Oh. Up, I guess.

Tracy spins the racket. Probably cheats.

TRACY
Down. I choose. You can serve.

She hands Venus the balls and heads to her side of the net,
already playing head games. Venus takes it personally.
 41.

She heads to the baseline, mad, trying to gather herself. The

noise of the MATCHES on the neighboring courts is deafening.
The eyes of white parents, intimidating. It appears that --

STACEY’S DAD
She’s nervous Stacey. Take a step
up. Probably doesn’t have much of a
serve.

Richard glares at STACEY’S DAD, a COUNTRY CLUB A-HOLE,

goading from the stands. Brandi puts a hand on her husband.
Don’t. Richard restrains. For now.

RICHARD
Have fun out there V. That’s why
we’re here.

Venus breathes deep. This is what she’s been training for.

Finally ready, she steps up the baseline, tosses a serve and -

BANG! She unleashes an ace that nails the corner so fast

Stacey barely even sees it. She doesn’t even swing.

Richard cheers in the stands.

Venus smiles in relief, stepping back up to the line where --

She uncorks another, ripping an ace passed Stacey so fast it

nearly scares her to death. Who is this girl?

The whole crowd is stunned. Stacey’s father included. He

looks over at the Williamses cheering to see --

Richard, meeting his eyes. A shit-eating grin on his face --

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Maybe she oughta take a few more
steps up.

This time, Stacey’s father says nothing. He shrinks away as

Richard turns back to the court, smiling proudly at Venus.

No denying it now. A star has arrived.

She steps up to the line, full of confidence and swagger,

about to blow the ball off the court as we smash into:

A MONTAGE OF JUNIOR TENNIS TOURNAMENTS

-- where Venus storms the Southern California Junior Tennis

Circuit, kicking LILY WHITE ASSES up and down the coast.

-- She plays a PRETTY BRUNETTE who’s got feet like cement.

Venus drop shots her savagely and takes the match.
 42.

-- She plays a STOCKY REDHEAD who chases balls like a

terrier. Venus wrong foots her cleverly, taking the match.

-- She hits forehands, backhands, overheads, volleys,

destroying all comers with an all court game that is complete
and annihilating and has --

-- Venus raising trophies at tournaments after tournament.

UCLA. USC. Palas Verdes. San Diego. At each and every stop,
her family’s there for the ride.

-- They cheer from the stands among ever-growing crowds.

-- They ride through the night like a traveling band,

sleeping little, doing homework, eating McDonalds, rolling
eyes as Richard sings Motown at the wheel.

-- They celebrate as a family as the victories rack up but --

-- It isn’t all gravy. As the season goes on, Serena grows

angry. Hitting solo on walls, impatient for her chance to
compete and --

-- As the competition toughens and the pressure increases,

Richard grows unsettled with the world they have entered and
the parents around them. Hyper-engaged maniacs who live or
die with each point.

-- They chart matches. Pace nervously. Share hand signals.

Wear the same tennis outfits as their children and exert
excruciating pressure.

-- When their kids shank a ball --

TENNIS DAD
Pull your head out your ass, Brett!

-- When their kids hit a winner --

TENNIS MOM
Don’t stop! Cut her throat!

-- When their rivals make calls --

TENNIS DAD #2
He’s cheating again, Sammy! Call
the lines judge next time.

-- We feel the stakes on the court where Venus’s 10-year-old

opponents play with an everything’s-on-the-line, I’m-fucked-
if-I-don’t-win anxiety.

-- They CRY, CURSE, SMASH rackets and SCREAM at themselves.

 43.

10-YEAR-OLD OPPONENT
You’re so fucking stupid!

-- They fidget at the changeovers with ticks and

superstitions, already on the verge of burning out and --

Richard watches it all with growing unease as we --

END OUR MONTAGE AT: The premiere junior tennis event in the
state. The SC JUNIOR SECTIONAL 10 and UNDER Championships.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT THE PALAS VERDES COUNTRY CLUB.

-- where Venus is locked in an endless rally with a strong

TOWERING BLOND (Jamie) who looks like she’s 17-years-old.

The CROWD hangs on every stoke, finally exploding when --

Jamie shanks a forehand wide, gifting away the game, the

match, and the tournament.

Venus jumps up and down, shakes her hand at the net, and
raises the trophy to the applause of the crowd.

Richard cheers with his family. He couldn’t be prouder or

more confident of his goal but when his eyes fall on --

Jamie, crying on the bench, berating herself furiously --

Richard’s unease is clear. This isn’t how it should be and --

EXT. PALAS VEDRES COUNTRY CLUB PARKING LOT - LATER

Venus is carrying the CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY as the Williams

family walks back to the van. Everyone is excited only --

Richard is unsettled. Unsettled by this place. Unsettled when

he alone spies:

Jamie and her tennis-suited FATHER arguing by their car.

FATHER
If you’re not gonna try, then why
the hell are we here? You think
you’re gonna get into college like
that?

JAMIE
I was trying, Dad.

FATHER
Really? Well you coulda fooled me.
 44.

That brings the tears. Jamie gets in the car, slamming the
door. Her father’s left outside, exasperated. Full of regret.

Richard watches as he moves to his car, deeply troubled and -

INT. RICHARD’S VW BUS - DAY

Still uneasy, Richard drives home. His family is piled in the

back, passing around the trophy, giddy for Venus.

SERENA
Were you nervous out there?

VENUS
No! That last girl was probably 18
and I still whooped her anyway.
Why’d I be nervous?

Most of the family laughs. Richard does not.

RICHARD
Winning’s enough. You don’t gotta
brag.

VENUS
I’m not bragging, Daddy, it’s the
truth. Want the proof?

She shows him the TROPHY, dancing around. The girls laugh.

RICHARD
Yeah, you won. She lost. We were
there. Now it’s over. Important
thing is, you done your best. Same
as her. Now I don’t wanna hear
another thing about it, understand?

VENUS
Yes, Daddy. OK. I just --
(can’t help herself)
If that was her best, she needs to
practice some more.

That gets a few laughs. Even a ha-ha from Richard who spots a
7-11 ahead and pulls into the lot.

RICHARD
All right, big shot. Here’s 10
bucks. Go practice getting your
sisters something to drink.

The girls shout out their orders and Venus takes the money
and runs off. As soon as she’s out of the car, Richard throws
the van in reverse, backs out, and starts to drive away.
 45.

BRANDI
Richard. What are you doing?

RICHARD
She wants to brag, let her brag how
she walked home three miles. We
don’t do that in this family.

Brandi shakes her head.

BRANDI
Richard. RICHARD!

Finally he stops the car, still seething.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
What’s the matter with you?

Richard’s not ready to say. Running after them, Venus finally

catches up with the car and climbs inside.

VENUS
Where you going? I thought you were
leaving without me.

RICHARD
I tried. Thank your mom. Don’t be
bragging again. Now give me my Coke
and my change.

She does. Richard pulls out. Brandi watches him, concerned.

INT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

It’s night by the time the VAN arrives home. The Family’s
unloading when a car pulls up behind. THE POLICE.

OFFICER 1
Richard Williams.

Richard turns as TWO LAPD OFFICERS approach from their car.

OFFICER 1 (CONT’D)
Can we talk to you a minute?

RICHARD
(to Brandi)
Go on, take the girls inside.

OFFICER 2
Actually, ma’am. We need to speak
to them too. Might be better if we
all go in together.
 46.

Aware of the NEIGHBORS now watching from their porches.

RICHARD
Whatever it is, you can speak to us
here. We got nothing to hide.

The OFFICERS share a look. Whatever you want.

OFFICER 1
We got a call that there’s some
trouble in this house. That you’ve
been rough with these kids. We’ve
come to take a look.

RICHARD
Gotta call from who?

OFFICER
I’m not at liberty to say.

But Richard already knows. The OFFICER eyes the rackets.

OFFICER (CONT’D)
Little late for practice, isn’t it?

BRANDI
We’re coming from a tournament.

OFFICER
What about school?

RICHARD
What about it? Girls, tell these
men how you doing in school? You
can brag about that.

VENUS
I get all A’s.

RICHARD
And what about you?

SERENA
I get all A’s too.

RICHARD
And what are you are gonna be when
you grow up?

OFFICER
Mr. Williams --
 47.

RICHARD
Go on. Tell these nice Police
Officer’s whatchu gon be.

OFFICER
Mr. Williams -- that’s not the --

SERENA
I’m gonna be a Veterinarian. Or
maybe teach French.

VENUS
I’ll be an Astronaut or
Paleontologist, I guess.

OFFICER 2
A Paleo-what?

RICHARD
Thank you girls. A Paleontologist.
The scientists who dig up those
dinosaur bones. Now I know you
gotta do your job, even if some
crazy ass neighbor calls you, so I
don’t mind you coming over here and
telling me I’m tough on them kids,
cause I am. That’s my job. To keep
them off the street. You wanna come
here and arrest me for that - fine.
What’s not gonna happen is you
coming here one day to tell me
you’re sorry you had to blow my
daughters’ damn heads off because
they was on drugs or running around
stealing cars or hanging with them
hoodlums. Now you wanna talk to
these girls, talk to them, but you
won’t ever tell me that.

Off the Officers, slowed in their tracks and --

EXT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

A short time later, Richard and Brandi are on their porch

watching the Cops pull away. As soon as they are gone --

Richard bounds across the street to his neighbors’ house and

pounds on the door. Ms. Strickland (the lady in the house
coat from earlier) opens up to find Richard fuming.

RICHARD
Try that nonsense again, I’ll kill
ya. I mean it. Those are my kids.
(MORE)
 48.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
You keep your goddamn mouth shut or
I’ll knock off your head.

And Richard storms off, leaving Ms. Strickland shaking.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Ain’t no one gonna tell me how to
raise my kids.

Brandi watches as he slams inside. She’s shaken as well so --

INT. WILLIAMS'S COMPTON HOME - CONTINUOUS

-- when Richard enters, Brandi follows, hot on his heels.

BRANDI
What’s the matter with you? You
can’t talk to people like that.

RICHARD
What’s the matter with me?

BRANDI
You’re acting crazy! Threatening
our neighbors. Driving off without
our daughter. You’re angry that she
won --

RICHARD
I ain’t angry that she won. I’m
angry she was bragging.

BRANDI
Well where you think she gets that?
You’re out there telling everyone
who will listen that she’s the
world’s greatest. Gonna make a
million dollars. How you think
she’s gonna act?

Richard doesn’t respond, just heads to the bedroom to change

into his security guard uniform. Brandi follows, still hot.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Richard, I don’t understand you.
This is what you said you wanted.

RICHARD
I never said like this. You can see
it out there? At these tournaments?
Call the cops on me? Those tennis
parents oughta be locked up.
Screaming at their kids.
(MORE)
 49.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
Tearing ‘em down. She don’t need
all that pressure.

BRANDI
And what you’re doing is better?

RICHARD
I ain’t living through my kids.

Brandi bites her tongue. A long beat.

BRANDI
I know you’re trying to do it
different this time but --

RICHARD
(immediately, angry)
That ain’t what it’s about.

BRANDI
-- picking fights with everyone
don’t win you votes for world’s
greatest father.

Richard cuts her a look. He does not like this subject.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Richard. What happened with Betty
and those kids -- you don’t have to
prove to us that you’re a different
man now.

Richard shrinks. This wound is raw.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
I know you’re trying to be there
for them. But you keep acting like
that and they might not be there
for you.

Richard considers that solemnly, and then heads off to work

leaving Brandi behind in his wake as --

INT. GIRLS’ BEDROOM, COMPTON HOUSE - NIGHT

The girls are all in their beds, but no one’s asleep. They’ve
heard the whole thing. Hold on Serena, distressed and --

EXT. COMPTON COURTS, LYNWOOD PARK - DAY

A short time later, Brandi practices with Serena on the

courts. (Occasionally, the Bloods now cheer her on.) But
Serena’s in a surly mood. Slapping at balls. Knocking them
over the fence. Brandi just stops.
 50.

BRANDI
You gonna fetch that?

Serena folds her arms. Immovable.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Ok. Then you gonna tell me what’s
wrong or you just gonna pout?

SERENA
(after a long beat)
It isn’t fair. Venus gets to do
everything. Train with Paul. Play
in tournaments.

BRANDI
Baby, Venus is older. She’s always
gonna do things first. You’re gonna
have your turn.

SERENA
But I’m ready now.

BRANDI
I know you feel that way but your
father has a plan. You might not
like it. Sometimes I don’t like it
either. Sometimes I think he’s lost
his mind but I know he’s trying to
do you right.

After a long beat, Serena musters her courage and --

SERENA
What happened with Daddy and his
family before us? You all never
talk about that.

BRANDI
Well, it ain’t easy for him.
(takes a beat)
Your daddy was young when he had
those kids. He wasn’t ready to be a
father, but now he is.

SERENA
He left them?

Brandi takes a minute with this one.

BRANDI
He’s not proud of it. But, the way
he grew up -- he didn’t know how to
be a father.
(MORE)
 51.

BRANDI (CONT'D)
Never had one around to show him
what it meant. Never had much hope.
Never had much of anything.
Whatever he’s doing now, however
much you don’t like it, he’s trying
to do better this time. In his
heart it’s all to give you and your
sisters better. I know one thing,
he may be crazy, but he won’t ever
leave you.

Serena softens but isn’t appeased. Brandi knows Serena well.

When her teeth are set, she doesn’t let go.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
You really think you’re ready?
(of course she does)
Well your Daddy may be stubborn,
but he’ll change if he’s wrong. You
know you’re ready, then show him.

Serena smiles. Brandi’s already walking back to the net.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
Now go get those balls. Don’t make
me ask twice.

Serena smiles and takes off running and --

INT. WILLIAMS’S COMPTON HOME - NIGHT

Richard and the family are watching a Tennis Match on TV.

RICHARD
You see how deep she’s hitting it?
See how she’s moving her around the
court. Can’t do that with a closed
stance. Open, right? Like a dancer.

Venus nods. Serena’s biding her time, sensing her moment and -

SERENA
Is it OK if I go to the bathroom?

Brandi nods of course. Richard’s preoccupied as we follow --

Serena, out of the room and creeping down the hall. She
passes a collection of VENUS’S TROPHIES, growing larger by
the day as she reaches --

HER FATHER’S STUDY. Forbidden territory. You get a whooping

if you’re caught in here but Serena steels herself. Enters.
 52.

Stealthily, she moves to her father’s desk, flipping through

his business and tennis files until she finds:

A SCTA ENTRY FORM. 10 and Under. Filled out for Venus.

Beneath it, Serena finds another form. BLANK.

She looks to the door, steeling herself and --

INT. GIRLS' BEDROOM, COMPTON HOUSE - NIGHT

While her sisters sleep, Serena works by the light of a

flashlight, filling out the FORM. Printing out her name and --

EXT. ANOTHER LA HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Another tournament. Richard is checking in with Venus at the

registration table. Serena is milling about behind them.

TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL
All right, Venus. You’re all set.
Court Four. Good luck out there.

VENUS
Thank you.

Richard and Venus start to head off. Serena lingers.

RICHARD
You coming or what?

SERENA
I’m gonna hit against a wall or
something. I’ll find you later.
(to Venus)
Good luck.

But as soon as her family is gone, Serena approaches the sign-

in table. The OFFICIAL looks up.

SERENA (CONT’D)
Serena Williams. Ten and Under. I’m
signing in.

The OFFICIAL looks at her curiously.

TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL
Let me just find your form.

EXT. TENNIS COURT, ANOTHER LA HIGH SCHOOL - LATER

ON COURT: Venus is mid-match, trouncing a GIRL (as expected).

She drills a winner, putting her opponent out of her misery.

Richard claps in the stands.

 53.

RICHARD
Great shot, Venus. Great decision.

Another FATHER approaches Richard.

FATHER
Girl looks good out there.

RICHARD
A little tight but not bad.

FATHER
I don’t mean Venus. I mean your
little one. Looks like a champ too.
(off Richard’s confusion)
You coulda warned us man. I didn’t
know you had two.

Off Richard, realization and anger beginning to surface as --

EXT. ANOTHER TENNIS COURT - MOMENTS LATER

Richard hurries through the grounds to another COURT where a

small crowd has begun to gather. He can’t see it yet, but the
POP coming off the balls doesn’t sound normal. Not at this
age. It’s FEROCIOUS. He arrives as the crowd APPLAUDS to see:

Serena, playing a match. Richard’s first instinct at being

disobeyed is to physically pull her off the court but Brandi,
watching at the fence, stops him.

BRANDI
May as well let her finish.

Richard’s slowed for a moment as -- he watches Serena race

around the court, finally let off the leash.

She CRACKS overheads. Chases every ball. Plays every angle.

The racket’s as big as her, but she’s a natural in her

element, and there’s magic here that even Richard can’t deny.

Serena ends a beautiful point at the net, then spots her

father in the crowd and -- the music stops. The magic, over.
Believing she’s in trouble, Serena starts off the court when -

RICHARD
Where you think you’re going?
(as Serena pauses)
You’re out there now. Go ahead and
finish. We’ll talk about it later.

Surprised, Serena smiles, hustling back to the court. Richard

turns to his wife.
 54.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Did you know about this?

BRANDI
No. Not exactly.

RICHARD
I don’t even know I want Venus out
here no more. Now we got ‘em both?

BRANDI
Don’t look at me. You’re the man
with the plan.

Off Richard, watching as Serena tosses the ball and...CRACK.

EXT. COUNTRY CLUB CAFE - LATER

Venus and the family are celebrating with ICE CREAM. Serena,
holding a small SILVER TROPHY of her own, eyes Venus’s
towering GOLD TROPHY enviously. Venus sees.

VENUS
You want it? -- we can swap. I like
silver better anyway.

Serena beams, swapping the trophies before her sister can

change her mind. Venus is all smiles as --

WOMAN’S VOICE
Excuse me. Mr. Williams. Venus.

The family turns to see a young, studious NEW YORK WOMAN (30)
approaching with a note-pad.

REPORTER
My name’s Robin Finn. I’m a
reporter with the New York Times.
I’ve been following your season.
It’s been really remarkable. I was
wondering if I could ask you some
questions?

Venus lights up. She looks to her parents for approval.

RICHARD
You wanna talk to this white lady,
talk. She ain’t here to see me.

A beat as Venus considers, then eagerly nods as --

 55.

INT. WILLIAMS'S COMPTON HOUSE - DAY

Several weeks later. WIMBLEDON (1990) is on TV. Venus is on

the couch with a copy of the NY TIMES, reading from the
article aloud. The headline reads:

TENNIS; STATUS: UNDEFEATED. FUTURE: ROSY. AGE: 10.

VENUS
(reading)
“At a time when tennis prodigies
seem to be surfacing every week,
the latest hot prospect is a 10-
year-old Californian, Venus
Williams. Last weekend, Williams
captured her 17th singles title in
less than a year by winning the age-
10-or-under Southern California
junior sectional championships.”

TUNDI
Listen to this.

Reveal the whole family is here, each with their own copy of
the paper, marveling over the article.

TUNDI (CONT’D)
“Her game had everything. She was
fast, she had a spin serve, she ran
to the net -- boy, did she wax me.”
That’s from Dorothy Cheney.

ISHA
Dang, Venus. You’re famous.

RICHARD
All right. One step at a time.

SERENA
(reading in a huff)
This doesn’t even mention me once.

Serena scowls in disbelief as the PHONE RINGS.

SERENA (CONT’D)
I’ll get it.

She stomps off to the KITCHEN and picks up the phone.

SERENA (CONT’D)
Williams’ residence. Under-
appreciated tennis star speaking.
(Serena listens, then
calls out to her dad.)
(MORE)
 56.

SERENA (CONT’D)
Dad, phone’s for you. Guy says he’s
from IMG.

Richard gives Brandi a troubled look.

BRANDI
What? Isn’t this what we’ve been
waiting for?

It was, but now Richard’s not so sure as --

EXT. PRIVATE BRENTWOOD HOME - DAY

Richard and Venus exit the van, heading toward the Cornyn
residence with their gear as Paul greets them at the door.

PAUL
I swear. It wasn’t me.

Off Richard’s displeasure --

EXT. TENNIS COURT, BRENTWOOD HOME - DAY

Richard and Venus approach the court to find Rita sipping

iced tea with a smarmy suited HUCKSTER who can only be --

RITA
Richard, this is my friend, Laird
Stabler. He’s an Agent at Pro
Serve. He read about you two in the
paper and wanted to meet.

Laird sticks out his hand.

LAIRD
Great to meet you, Richard. You got
quite a girl on your hands. I’d
like to talk to you about taking
her to the next level.

Off Richard and Venus, as the sharks begin to circle and --

EXT. OUTDOOR WEST HOLLYWOOD RESTAURANT - DAY

Richard, Brandi, and Venus have lunch at a posh OUTDOOR spot

with a EUROPEAN AGENT from ADVANTAGE.

ADVANTAGE AGENT
I’m not advocating she goes pro at
12 or 13 -- unless that’s something
you want to talk about. What’s
important right now is that she
maximizes her potential. It’s time
to ramp it up. Practice. Coaching.
(MORE)
 57.

ADVANTAGE AGENT (CONT'D)

Tournaments. If you sign with
Advantage, we can take care of all
that and make sure there’s a fat
deal at the end of it when she’s
ready to turn pro.

EXT. ANOTHER PRIVATE TENNIS COURT - DAY

Venus plays on a distant court with ZINA GARRISON, while in

the foreground, Richard speaks to NIC BOLLETIERI and a
REPRESENTATIVE from Adidas.

ADIDAS
Clothing. Bags. Shirts. Sneakers.
Anything you need, we can provide
it for free, in the hopes, of
course that in a year or two, when
Venus is ready to go pro, you’ll
remember the investments we’ve
made.

Richard’s eyes are on his daughter on the court.

RICHARD
You mean when she’s twelve?

The REP nods, why not? Richard’s disapproval is clear.

NICK
Pretty special thing to hit with
Zina, right? That’s the kind of
experiences these relationships can
provide. I mean, the sporting gods
have smiled on you, Richard. You’re
going to be a rich man. But if you
wanna cash in, it’s time to put
your foot on the gas.

Off Richard, not liking what he’s hearing --

EXT. SOUL FOOD RESTAURANT - NIGHT

The entire Williams family sits in a well-known LOS ANGELES

restaurant with DON KING who’s giving them the hard sell.

DON KING
Now you think I don’t know tennis,
but I’ll tell ya the truth. That
don’t matter one bit. This is
America. Land of the brave. Home of
the free. What matters here is this-
(producing a wad of bills)
(MORE)
 58.

DON KING (CONT'D)

-- and I know more about it than
Arthur-fucking-Ashe and this pretty
girl here’s gonna make a truck-load
of it. So what do you say? You want
me to make you rich, or you gonna
let some white guy from who-knows-
where put his hand in your pocket?

Off Richard, who knows a bullshitter when he sees one and --

EXT. RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

A BANNER FLAPS BY THE BAND STAND: “JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS.”

A CHARITY TENNIS EVENT underway in the posh Pacific Palisades

Tennis Club. Celebrities. Pros. Even PRESIDENT REAGAN is here
in support of his wife NANCY’S EVENT.

On the courts: Venus and Serena play an exhibition match

against TWO NOTABLE PROS.

Watching from the crowd is tennis legend JACK KRAMER. He’s

speaking with an AGENT we’ll meet in a moment.

AGENT
What do you think?

KRAMER
She’s quick. Serves a goddamn
rocket. I’d say for 14, she’s about
the best I’ve ever seen.

AGENT
She’s ten.

KRAMER
Ten. Oh. Geez. Then...

Off that, as Venus smashes another across the net --

NANCY REAGAN (PRE-LAP)

This slogan -- “just say no.” That
wasn't something we just sat down
and dreamed up, that came about by
accident.

LATER

The Banquet. The guests are mingling. Photo-Opping. Nancy

Regan is on stage, thanking her donors.
 59.

NANCY REAGAN (CONT’D)

I was at a clinic in Oakland when a
young girl asked me, 'But what do
we do when our friends pressure us
to do drugs?' and, without
thinking, I said, 'Just say no!'

LAND ON RICHARD

-- who’s seated at a table with that same BLUE BLOOD AGENT,

JOHN (Everett) and a sixty year-old named MARK (McCormack),
the head of his agency, who looks and dresses like a Kennedy.

JOHN
Richard. Thanks for coming. You
know Mark, the head of our agency,
right? Can we get you a drink?

RICHARD
Sure. Coke-a-cola be fine. Thanks.

MARK
It’s nice to meet you, Richard.
What do you think of the club?

RICHARD
It’s great. Real nice of everyone
to take off their hoods before we
came in.
(Richard enjoys watching
them freeze then --)
I’m kidding. Everyone’s very nice.
We’ve been here many times.

John and Mark exchange a look -- this guy is nuts.

JOHN
Well Richard, first, we just wanna
congratulate you on the great job
you’ve done with these girls so
far. With your resources and
experience, honestly, it’s
astonishing. We’d like to help you
with what’s next.

MARK
Now I’m sure you know, but John
here is the best. He signed
Capriati when she was 12. Mary Jo
Fernandez. And we believe Venus can
be bigger than both. With her
talent. Her length. Her --
 60.

RICHARD
Race.
(that stops them)
It’s OK. We get it. Poor black girl
in an all white sport is a pretty
good story. Ghetto Cinderella. Why
you think we picked it?
(they laugh nervously)
You know my momma used to say,
Richard, you are not a negro.
You’re not a nigger. You’re just a
man. And as far as you nationa-you-
know-what-nality, she would say, I
don’t know what the hell you are.
Times going through life, black
people been a little bit of
everything. Used to call colored.
Then used to call boy. Then
African. Now they call ‘em African
American. Be honest with you, we
don’t know what in the hell we are.
All we know is -- we are.

Feigning understanding, the white men nod. Mark’s starting to

grasp what he’s up against. A huckster and a master.

MARK
Well -- Richard, that’s exactly
what we’re talking about. We think
Venus could be very inspirational
to a whole group of people, who
frankly, as an industry, we have
not done enough to reach. Venus
could open a lot of doors and we’d
like to help her do it.

RICHARD
(cutting to the chase)
So what are you offering?

JOHN
Whatever you need. Shoes. Coaches.
Rackets --

RICHARD
They got rackets don’t they? That’s
how you heard about ‘em, ain’t it?

JOHN
What are you looking for then?
Money? A new house? A car?
 61.

RICHARD
I’m wondering why should we sign
with any of you? Venus is 10. She
can’t go pro or get a sponsorship
for a couple years anyway.

JOHN
There’s ways around that. We did it
with Jennifer. Venus can go pro as
young as you want.

RICHARD
You all think we care about
youngest. Buddy, we interested in
longest. I don’t want these girls
to burn out at sixteen with no
education. No idea how to handle
their money. You all are talking
‘bout putting her foot on the gas.
I’m out here thinking we need to
pump the breaks.

JOHN
Richard, that’s a bad idea. Now is
not the time to slow down.

RICHARD
What about school and their
childhood?

JOHN
I made deals for Jennifer when she
was twelve that’ll pay for ten
colleges. Leave that down the road.
Don’t you wanna make a million
dollars?

RICHARD
Oh, I’ve made a million dollars.
Couple times before. Know how I
know? I’ve seen the mansions of the
white people I was working for when
I made it for ‘em.
(seen all their cards)
You think I’m just some nigger from
the Ghetto, don’t you? Gonna hand
over my kids to the first fool with
a Cadillac. I’m trying to give
these girls a lifetime, not a
moment.

John throws up his hands. Mark now steps in.

 62.

MARK
We understand that, Richard and we
are too. Now can I be frank?

RICHARD
You can be whoever the hell you
want.

MARK
Slowing down now would be a
catastrophic mistake. You’ve done
an amazing job but there’s a long
way to go and if you pull back
right now, you risk losing
everything.
(beat)
Success like Jennifer’s, that
doesn’t happen by chance. That
talent’s gotta be nurtured. You
need the right training. Coaches.
Hitting partners. You gotta play
the right tournaments. Get the
right exposure to sponsors. These
next few years are crucial. Hingis.
Kournikova. These other prospects
Venus’s age, they are turning up
the heat. You pull Venus back now,
she won’t just fall behind. She
won’t develop at all.
(once that lands)
Between John, myself, our company --
we are this sport. We have a
hundred years of experience. We’ve
taken dozens of players to the top.
Let us do that for you. Let us make
this a sure thing. You don’t wanna
risk all that, do you?

Off Richard, condescended and steaming and --

EXT. RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

Storming through the event, Richard’s looking for the girls.

Making a bit of a scene. Finally he spots them:

BY THE POOL -- eating hamburgers and french fries with a few

WASPY GIRLS from the club, having the time of their life.

Richard arrives with a head full of steam.

VENUS
Hey, Daddy! How you doing?
 63.

RICHARD
Where’d you get all this food?

SERENA
You want something, Daddy? You can
put it on my tab.

The girls laugh. Richard does not. He boils, grabbing the

girls, pulling them away.

VENUS
But I’m not done eating.

RICHARD
You can eat the lunch I packed. And
don’t ever let me hear this “it’s
on my tab” crap again.

SERENA
It was just a joke, Dad. It’s free.

ANOTHER GIRL
She’s right, Mr. Williams. They’re
just handing it out.

RICHARD
Ain’t nothing for free. Somebody’s
paying for it. I promise. Now I
said let’s go. Now.

Embarrassed, the girls comply, leaving their friends and

following their father who’s caused quite a scene and --

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

They get back to the van. Everyone’s silent. Serena, furious.

SERENA
It was just a joke. It’s not fair.

RICHARD
Don’t talk back to me, Serena. I’m
not in the mood. Just get in the
goddamn car.

They do as Richard gets behind the wheel in a fury. He tries

to start the car, but it stalls. He tries again but still
nothing. Again. Nothing. He pounds the wheel.

Fighting back tears, Richard puts down the keys. Humiliated.

Underestimated. The story of his life.

The girls watch him in back, confused and afraid, as we hear:

 64.

NEWS REPORTER (PRE-LAP)

The three police officers facing
felony criminal charges were among
a group of 15 who stopped a 25-year-
old black man last Saturday Night
then beat him, kicked him, and
clubbed him, unaware that an
amateur photographer was recording
the incident on videotape.

EXT. COMPTON STREETS - NIGHT / VARIOUS SHOTS

A city on the brink. Police on patrol. Young men on their

stoops. A powder keg about to be lit as --

NEWS REPORTER (PRE-LAP)

Los Angeles Police Chief Darrell
Gates looked at the tape and said
he thinks, assault with a deadly
weapon will be one of the charges.

INT. WILLIAMS'S COMPTON HOUSE - NIGHTS

Richard, Brandi, and a young, well-dressed, African American

man - KEVEN DAVIS (35), watch the notorious assault on TV.

BRANDI
My lord. It’s unbelievable.

There’s a KNOCK ON THE DOOR. Crying, Brandi answers it and

Paul Cohen enters, taking stock of the somber faces.

PAUL
What’s going on?

RICHARD
Didn’t see this in Brentwood?

He gestures to the television where the NEWS BROADCAST PLAYS:

RODNEY KING. The infamous beating at the hands of the LAPD.

It’s ferociously violent. Paul is stunned.

PAUL
Jesus.

KEVEN
Terrible, right?

RICHARD
Paul, this is Keven Davis. He’s a
lawyer. A family friend. He’s been
helping with these agents.
 65.

They shake hands, but everyone’s eyes are on the screen.

BRANDI
We need to leave this place --
before we don’t have a choice.

Hold on Richard as he watches, rage still simmering as --

EXT. WILLIAMS'S COMPTON HOUSE - EVENING

Venus and Serena are playing dress-up with their DOG in the
backyard where Richard smokes a cigarette, sitting with Paul,
Brandi, and Keven. All of them solemn.

BRANDI
Richard says you’re moving?

PAUL
Yeah. We’re having a baby. My
wife’s got some family up north so -

KEVEN
What about McEnroe?

PAUL
He’s done. Tatum’s not behind
another run for number one. It
takes too much outta everyone. And
I’m not interested in less.

BRANDI
What will you do?

PAUL
(serious)
I’m thinking about arm wrestling.
There’s a guy up there, he’s like
the Agassi of arm wrestling. I can
take him to the top. There’s
nothing I can’t coach.
(turning to Richard)
Question’s what’re you going to do?

Richard takes a long pull of his cigarette. A big decision.

RICHARD
We ain’t signing with these agents.
I want these girls to be kids and
we sign, that’s all over. They’ll
push her fast as they can and I
don’t want her to peak at 12 just
to fall to pieces at 15.
 66.

PAUL
I get it but it’s risky. You’re
leaving money on the table.

KEVEN
They are. But if she turns out to
be as good as we think, in four,
five years, the deal they sign will
be a lot bigger.

PAUL
That’s a big if. Lot of things have
to go right. What’s your plan?

A long beat, cause Richard knows how this will land.

RICHARD
I’m pulling ‘em out of juniors.

PAUL
What?!

RICHARD
I heard all the risks, but I made
up my mind. The junior circuit’s
worse than the ghetto. Kids
cracking-up. Burning out. Their
parents oughta to be shot.

PAUL
Richard, what are you talking
about? Your girls are fine.

RICHARD
Yeah. Sure, they fine now. Playing
these jokers, but as they move on --
nationals. Internationals. It’s
just like the pros. That
competition and pressure - it ain’t
good at their age. No, we’re doing
it different. We’re going to
Florida. Getting a coach where they
can train, go to school and be
kids.

Paul’s incredulous. It’s hard to overstate how big a bomb

Richard’s just dropped.

PAUL
Richard, you’ll ruin them. You hold
out for some payday, it won’t be
there. No coach is gonna take ‘em
for free if they aren’t playing
juniors. They’ll never get paid.
 67.

RICHARD
They will when they see her.

PAUL
Does Venus know about this?

RICHARD
Of course. She’s on board.

But we see Venus eavesdropping from afar, not looking sold.

PAUL
(in disbelief)
Every American player who’s ever
done anything got good playing
juniors. Mac. Traci. Sampras.
Agassi. Capriati. Those just are
the facts. You’ve got a stallion
but, she’s doesn’t play juniors,
she’ll die on the vine.

RICHARD
I appreciate your help and all your
advice, Paul but I’ve made up my
mind. I know what I’m doing.

PAUL
You have no fucking idea. You’re
talking outta your ass cause some
people insulted you and now you’re
gonna fuck all this up.

It’s a stalemate. Paul folds first, throwing up his hands.

PAUL (CONT’D)
I swear to god, you’re the most
stubborn person I ever met in my
life. You’re really doing this,
aren’t you?
(of course he is)
Well if you’re going to go to
Florida, at least don’t go to
Nick’s. He’s a hack. Talk to Macci.
He’s a little nuts but he’s good.
But, Richard, you tell him you’re
not playing juniors, I really don’t
know if he’ll say yes.

RICHARD
Who says we gotta tell him?

Paul laughs in disbelief, looking at the girls fondly. Sadly.

 68.

PAUL
I hope you don’t fuck this up.

That’s it. The end of an era. Time now for another. CUT TO:

EXT. RICK MACCI’S TENNIS ACADEMY - DAY (ESTABLISHING)

Grenelefe Country Club. A golf and tennis resort situated in

the swamps of Haines City, Florida. A steaming, athletic
paradise where:

A JUNIOR TENNIS TOURNAMENT is underway in a 1700 seat sunken

court. TWO ELITE 17-YEAR-OLDS belt it out in the burning sun
until one of them snaps a backhand like a firecracker
screaming down the line and we meet:

RICK MACCI, the boyish, bowl-cut Tennis coach, whooping it up

in the stands like a kid!

MACCI
Sherman Williams, baby! Paint those
lines!

The crowd all cheers as we CUT TO:

LATER AT THE GRILL

A post-tournament reception. Rick’s mingling with the PARENTS

when an ASSISTANT approaches.

MACCI (CONT’D)
No way! He’s too soft. He’s a
marshmallow. You know what happens
to those, right? They get roasted.

ASSISTANT
(waiting through laughter)
Rick. Sorry to interrupt. You got
another call. Richard Williams. He
said it’s urgent.

MACCI
Richard who?

ASSISTANT
That father out in California. He’s
been calling. Got those girls.

Macci’s drawing a blank.

ADVANTAGE AGENT
You haven’t heard of Venus
Williams? I’d take that call if I
were you.
 69.

Reveal the European ADVANTAGE AGENT we met before in CA.

ADVANTAGE AGENT (CONT’D)

Venus is the real deal. Good as
Hingis. She’s 63-0. Hasn’t lost a
match. She won the SC Sectionals
last month without dropping a set.
Her sister’s not bad either.

MACCI
63-0? These girls are so good,
why’ve I never heard of them?

ADVANTAGE AGENT
They’re from Compton.
(then)
Word of warning, put your guard up.
Their father’s a tough one.

RICK
Controlling?

ADVANTAGE AGENCY
That’s not the half of it. He makes
Stefano look like a push-over.
Watch your back.

Off Macci, both wary and intrigued.

INT. RICK MACCI’S OFFICE, GRENELEFE GOLF & TENNIS CLUB - DAY

THE SOUND OF A PHONE DIALING as we see Tennis kitsch on the

walls. Trophies. Rick’s photos with Capriati. Tommy Ho.
Trump. Rick sits on his desk on the phone as finally --

MACCI
Mr. Williams? Hi, this is Rick
Macci. I heard you’ve got a heck of
a player out there. I thought maybe
I’d come take a look.

EXT. COMPTON HOTEL - DAY

PAN DOWN from a California sky and California Palm trees to

the facade of a budget Compton hotel where --

Macci waits outside with his Tennis Bag, failing to hide his
shock as Richard’s VW pulls up beneath the carriage port.

RICHARD
(through the window)
Mr. Macci? Richard Williams. Toss
that stuff in the back. Let’s take
you to see the club.
 70.

Off Macci’s surprise. What the hell did I get in to? He

climbs in the car. Sees the girls in the back.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Girls. Say hi to Mr. Macci.

VENUS AND SERENA

Hi, Mr. Macci.

MACCI
Nice to meet you girls. Call me
Rick. Now which one of you’s who?

INT. RICHARD’S VAN - MOVING - MORNING

Macci sits shotgun beside Richard, watching rough Compton

streets pass-by out the windows. In the car --

Macci recoils. Seats covered in dirt. Tennis balls. Coke

bottles. Fast food wrappers line the floor. Macci jolts
uncomfortably as --

RICHARD
Watch out for those springs.
They’re lose. Might poke ya.

Macci shifts, pulling a wadded t-shirt from the cushion.

MACCI
You sleep in here?

RICHARD
Sometimes. Depends on the wife.

Richard winks. Macci soaks it all in. Venus and Serena

crammed in the back doing homework in their tennis skirts.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Here we are. East Compton Hills
Country Club.

They’ve arrived at the Compton Courts. Macci’s taken aback.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you
don’t get shot.

EXT. COMPTON TENNIS COURTS - DAY

Macci watches the whole strange procedure as Richard and the

girls unload their tennis crap from the car. He follows them
to the courts where --
 71.

THE BLOODS wait like bouncers at the gate, welcoming the

family in like celebrities.

DODGER’S HAT
Here he is. King Richard.

They smile at the girls but stop Macci at the door.

DODGER’S HAT (CONT’D)

Where the fuck you think you’re
going, McEnroe?

MACCI
Excuse me?

DODGER’S HAT
Richard -- this Jimmy Connors
looking motherfucker with you?

RICHARD
(inside the court)
Yeah, let him in. White boy’s with
us.

The Bloods step aside allowing Macci to pass.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
See. What’d I tell ya. Promised you
wouldn’t get shot.

Macci’s just speechless as the girls take the ratty courts,

throwing footballs, tossing rackets, while Richard sweeps up
broken glass and crack vials. What a freaking joke.

As they begin to warm up, Macci watches Richard hit, thinking

he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. Out of expedience
more than anything --

MACCI
(taking the court)
Do you mind if I hit? I’ll get a
better feel.

RICHARD
You’re the boss. Have at it. I’ve
got some business calls anyway.

Richard steps off with his CELLPHONE, taking a FAKE CALL.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
(into the phone)
Richard Williams here. World’s
greatest.
 72.

Macci shakes his head, then begins to drill with the girls.
His skill and professionalism couldn’t be more different.

MACCI
Ok, Venus. Let’s start off with
some backhands. Cross court.
Serena, you hit em down the line.
Let’s do 20.

Macci feeds them balls. The girls whacking from the baseline.
Richard yells encouragement from the sidelines.

RICHARD
Great shot, Serena. Lotta power.
Move those feet, Venus, there you
go.

ANOTHER DRILL. Macci watching the girls serve. Pop. Pop. Pop.

ANOTHER DRILL. Macci feeds the girls volleys. He feeds them

overheads. He feeds them lobs. Macci’s reaction is hard to
read. When he’s finally had enough --

MACCI
All right. Nice work. Take a break.

Macci watches, considering, as the girls run over to Richard.

VENUS
Daddy, can I use the bathroom?

RICHARD
Course you can, Venus.

SERENA
Me too, Daddy?

RICHARD
Go on. Hurry up.

He kisses the girls and they run off the courts. Richard
heads over to Macci, who’s watching them go.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Well -- what do you think, Rick?
They better than Capriati or what?

But Macci doesn’t answer. His attention still tuned to Venus,

walking through the park to the bathroom -- ON HER HANDS.

She walks ten yards like that - like it’s nothing - then she
goes another ten doing HANDSPRINGS like she’s SIMONE BILES.

Macci’s slack jawed. He turns to their father.

 73.

MACCI
How tall are you, Richard?

RICHARD
Me? I’m six-four.

MACCI
And your wife?

RICHARD
Brandi. She’s bout six one. She was
a college athlete too you know.

MACCI
Really? Well Richard -- let me tell
you. Forget Capriati. She gets as
big as that, I think you might have
the next Michael Jordan on your
hands.

Richard just puts his arm around Macci and smiles.

RICHARD
No brother man. I got the next two.

In the distance, Macci finds Serena joining her sister,

walking upside down like the laws of gravity don’t apply.
Macci can hardly believe his luck.

MACCI
How the heck’d this happen?

RICHARD
Well. I’ll tell you. I had a plan.
(pre-lap now)
It was 1977. I was watching TV.

INT. MCDONALDS - LATER

Buzzing with excitement, Macci sits with Richard and the

girls in a booth. The family eats hungrily. Macci hasn’t
touched his. Too excited to eat as --

RICHARD
I don’t remember who was changing
the channels for me but a tennis
match came on and I said, hold it
right there cause a man, I didn’t
know him at the time - but it was
Bud Collins, he was handing this
girl a check and he said, “That’s
not bad.
(MORE)
 74.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
Forty Thousand Dollars for four
days work” and I said, that little
girl never done that before had
she?

The girls just smile and eat. They know this story by heart.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
So the next day, it woulda been a
Monday, I went out and got a
newspaper and looked in the back
and it was true. So I went to the
wife and said -- we gotta make two
more kids.
(eats his burger)
That night, I wrote up a plan. One
for Venus. One for Serena. Covered
it all. Their tennis. Educations.
Language studies. Media training.
All of it and that’s how we’re
sitting here with you.

Macci still has his burger in his hand, untouched.

MACCI
And you never played tennis before?

RICHARD
Nope. I’m a terrific athlete. Lotta
people said the best ever came out
of Louisiana but tennis --
(beat)
Mostly I just watched some tapes.

Richard takes a big bite. Off Macci, in utter disbelief as --

INT. MACCI’S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Macci’s sitting on a bed in a towel, still wet from the

shower, talking to his assistant on the phone.

MACCI
I know it sounds crazy. It’s
insane, but this girl -- I mean
she’s built like Olive Oyl, just
all arms and legs, but their
athleticism, both of em. I mean,
fasten your seat belts, these girls
are fast. They get in the system,
juniors, coaching, the sky is the
limit.

ASSISTANT
How’s the dad? Crazy as they say?
 75.

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. GRENELEFE TENNIS CLUB - NIGHT

Macci’s assistant, on the phone in the steamy Florida night.

MACCI
Worse. But I like him. He’s self-
taught. Self-made. Kinda like me. I
can work with him.

ASSISTANT
All right. Just be careful. Don’t
want another Stefano on your hands.

Off Macci, considering that omen and then --

INT. WILLIAMS’ COMPTON HOUSE - DAY

Rick’s sitting in the living room, across from the entire

Williams’ family. Richard’s in the center, a lion with his
cubs as Macci presents them with a PAPER. His offer.

MACCI
That’s my standard agreement. Same
one I made with Jennifer. Basically
it says — you sign with me as your
coach, I’ll assume all the costs.
Instruction. Housing. Food.
Education. You won’t pay for a
thing. Tickets to Disney World,
which is right down the road. But
mostly my personal time, which I
promise is what you’ll get. When
you train at Rick Macci, you train
with Rick. That’s not how it works
with my competitors.

BRANDI
Sounds expensive. What’s in it for
you?

MACCI
Well, a lot I hope but it’s all
about trust. I like your family. I
believe in your daughters. I think
they can be champions and I’m
willing to take that risk. In
exchange, my fee is 15% of their
future earnings. If you make
nothing, I make nothing. We’re in
it together, but I promise, we’re
not gonna make nothing.
 76.

Macci’s excited. Everyone’s impressed. Everyone but Richard.

RICHARD
What do you know about Nick
Bollettieri? He’s been calling too.

MACCI
Nick? Well -- Nick’s a good coach.
He’s had a lot of success. But you
go to Bradenton, you won’t get him,
you’ll get whatever hitting coach
he’s got available. You’ll get a
factory. You come to me, I’m your
coach. One on one er -- one on two,
as it were.

RICHARD
Lotta people say Nick’s the best.

MACCI
I’d ask Andre what he’d say about
that? Lotta people say he’s not the
happiest guy in the world. Doesn’t
love it on the court. I think you
gotta love it. Kids gotta drive
this thing. If it’s their dream to
be a champ, there’s a chance. If
it’s yours -- either they’re gonna
lose, or you’ll lose them. Maybe
both. But look -- if you wanna go
with Nick then --

RICHARD
No. We want to go with you. We just
wanted to hear that first.

Macci sighs relief as Richard extends a paper of his own.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
That’s our standard agreement. You
take these girls, you take us all.
We ain’t breaking this family up.

MACCI
You all want to come to Florida?

RICHARD
(nods, re: his contract)
And we’ll need the rest of that
too. A house. The best school. A
job at your academy. A --
 77.

MACCI
(reading)
-- mobile home?

RICHARD
Gotta get there don’t we? You
believe in these girls or what?

Despite their crazy father, Macci does. Here goes nothing. He

extends his hand for Richard to shake it and we -- CUT TO:

EXT. ARIZONA DESERT - DAY

A RIBBON OF HIGHWAY cutting through the Arizona desert where

a brand new MOTORHOME speeds down the road. Behind the wheel:

I/E. BRAND NEW MOTORHOME - DAY AND NIGHT / VARIOUS SHOTS

Richard Williams drives, moving his family cross country.

They pass the GRAND CANYON. The TEXAS PLAINS. They stop at
Truck stops and Diners. Richard smokes. Serena sleeps. Venus,
focused as ever, watches the country pass by out her windows,
more clear than ever about where she’s headed as --

INT. BRAND NEW MOTORHOME - NIGHT

Richard’s at the wheel on a Louisiana Highway. Everyone else

asleep when a FREEWAY SIGN grows in his window: SHREVEPORT.

Richard blooms with emotion, moving toward an exit and --

EXT. SHREVEPORT - DAWN

The Williams’s motorhome sweeps through poor, urban streets.

Deep south poverty. Compton, minus the palm trees.

Richard drives through it like in a dream, taking in his

past. Brandi wakes beside him, looking at the city.

BRANDI
Where are we?

RICHARD
Home.

Richard’s emotional as the girls begin to stir awake and --

EXT. RICHARD’S CHILDHOOD HOME - MORNING

We’ve been here before. In Richard’s memories. The Motorhome

is parked in a blighted, rural neighborhood. The family
watches Richard walk the yard of the small clapboard house
showing years of neglect. The poverty is striking.
 78.

Richard’s saddened by the condition.

SERENA
This is where you grew up?

VENUS
Where’d you go the bathroom? Didn’t
you have running water?

RICHARD
Venus, we didn’t have nothing.
Lotta bad happened here. All we had
was Momma.

The girls are young and they struggle to grasp what this
means to him, why their father is crying and --

EXT. SHREVEPORT CEMETERY - DAY

Brandi and the girls wait at a respectful distance as Richard

visits the grave of his mother -- MS. JULIA METCALF WILLIAMS.

He’s silent for a long, reverent time. Finally --

RICHARD
I miss you Momma. You with me
everyday, in these girls. Everyday.
I wish you could see what they
gonna do. I hope I’m doing them
right. I hope we making you proud.

Richard wipes his eyes, tries to compose, then returns to his

family, heading for the car.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
All right. Time’s a wasting. Let’s
get this show on the road.

With a last look back, they follow him into the car and --

EXT. HAINES CITY, FLORIDA - ESTABLISHING

Soaring over Central Florida swamp lands until we arrive at --

EXT. GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB -- ESTABLISHING

The beautiful home of the Rick Macci Tennis Academy. Golf

courses, pools, and tennis courts as far as the eye can see.

The MOTORHOME pulls through the gates and parks in the lot.
Rick greets the family as they step out the doors.

MACCI
Here they are. How was the trip?
 79.

But everyone’s just staring mouth agape at the club.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Not too shabby, huh? Wanna take a
look around?

Off their excitement.

EXT. AND INT. GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB - VARIOUS SHOTS / DAY

Moving at his naturally quick, puppy-dog clip, Macci gives

the family a tour of the facilities, showing off:

A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE.

MACCI
Here’s the Golf Course. Richard,
you got a membership. Cart included
of course. Hear you’re pretty good.

A SPARKLING POOL.

MACCI (CONT’D)
You’ll wanna live in here. It’s a
hundred most days. Just watch out
for the gators.

THE CAFETERIA, where a dozen young TENNIS PLAYERS eat.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Cafeteria’s all you can eat.
Seafood buffet every Friday.

THE WORKOUT FACILITY

MACCI (CONT’D)
Here’s the gym, weight center,
locker room and finally --

EXT. TENNIS VILLAGE, GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

-- they arrive at last at Macci’s headquarters.

MACCI
Here’s the tennis village. That’s a
1700-seat stadium and thirteen
pristine practice courts that
you’re going to get to know very,
very well.

It’s just as impressive as he says. Thirteen immaculate

courts filled with OTHER TEENAGE HOPEFULS drilling away, all
aware and jealous of Macci’s new arrivals. The buzz in the
air is electric and envious.
 80.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Now, this won’t happen everyday,
but by chance since she’s here - I
thought you might like to hit. Jen!
Come on over.

The girls turn in instant recognition to see 15-YEAR-OLD, #6

in the world, JENNIFER CAPRIATI jogging over.

CAPRIATI
Hey girls. Nice to meet you. Rick
says you’re really good. Wanna hit?

Venus and Serena look at Richard, smiles bursting.

RICHARD
Have fun. Just go easy on her.

The girls follow Jennifer to a court and begin to play. We

stay with Richard and Macci, watching from a far.

MACCI
That’s the model right there. We
follow Jennifer’s path. We got some
work to do before the Easter bowl.

RICHARD
That’s fine. She ain’t playing the
Easter Bowl.

MACCI
You got another tournament in mind?

RICHARD
No. They’re done playing Juniors.
No more matches till they’re pro.

Macci laughs.

MACCI
You’re kidding? And when’s that?

RICHARD
When I say they’re ready. We ain’t
rushing this thing, Rick.

Macci realizes Richard’s serious. He’s not laughing anymore.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
What the heck do you think they’re
gonna do for the next couple years?
 81.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Go to school. Go to church. And
practice with you.

MACCI
Richard, the whole thing is
juniors. Competition. Adversity.
That’s where they learn to compete.

RICHARD
They know how to compete. These
girls’ll run over broken glass to
get a ball. You don’t worry about
that. What they need is to be kids.

MACCI
To be kids? Richard, you’re nuts. I
can’t mold ‘em like that.

RICHARD
Sure you can, you’re the best.
Ain’t nothing you can’t do. But if
you want us to talk to Nic then --

Macci is furious, realizing he’s been played. Venus,

distracted from her match, watches the argument with concern.

MACCI
I guess you don’t wanna talk about
sponsorship either?

RICHARD
That’s just more pressure. We take
it slow. We get ‘em smart. We let
‘em be kids, and these girls’ll be
playing when your old ass and me is
in the grave. I guarantee.

MACCI
(livid)
You might have mentioned all this
in Compton.

RICHARD
I might have I guess.

For Richard, the conversation is over. He starts to head off.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Excited to be here, Rick. Thanks
for Jennifer. That’s a treat.

He walks over to his girls, leaving Macci in the wake of the

bomb he just dropped. Barry, the hitting coach comes over.
 82.

BARRY
No tournaments?

MACCI
He’ll come around. We got time.

BARRY
Hope so. Pretty big bet you made.

Off Macci. Only day one and already behind the eight ball as
the first beats of KENDRICK LAMAR’S KING KUNTA take us into:

A MONTAGE: THE GRENELEFE YEARS

- NEWS FOOTAGE SHOWS: an ESPN REPORTER outside Macci’s club.

ESPN REPORTER (PRE-LAP)

Richard Williams, the outspoken
father of two of junior tennis' top
prospects, is no stranger to
controversy.

- Richard’s interviewed by a REPORTER for the NY TIMES.

RICHARD
Next time you see a 14-year-old go
professional, someone should shoot
the parents.

- Richard’s interviewed on camera by a EUROPEAN NEWS CREW.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
How good can they be? They’ll be
the greatest players ever cause
they got the greatest coach. Me.

- THE ESPN REPORTER continues, strolling Grenelefe’s grounds.

ESPN REPORTER
His unorthodox coaching and
bombastic claims have raised quite
a few eyebrows, but nothing
compared to what he’s saying now.

- Richard’s interviewed on NIGHTLINE by TED KOPPLE.

RICHARD
When somebody come to me and tell
me how good my daughter is, the
only reason they see good is cause
they see money that could go in
their pocket.
(MORE)
 83.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
I've been broke all my life, and
Venus doesn't want to be poor, but
nobody going to push our daughter
into anything.

- THE ESPN REPORTER now strolls across Macci’s tennis courts.

ESPN REPORTER
Despite having no tennis background
himself, Richard’s ignored the
advice of experts and taken the
extraordinary step of pulling his
talented kids out of junior
tournament tennis, which is the
normal conduit to tennis’ big time.
So while other top prospects like
Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova
rack up experience on the sport’s
most prestigious stages --

- 13-year-old Swiss prodigy MARTINA HINGIS raises the

trophies at JUNIOR WIMBLEDON and the JUNIOR FRENCH OPEN and --

- 12-year-old ANNA KOURNIKOVA, tennis’ Lolita, destroys

opponents in the EUROPEAN JUNIORS --

ESPN REPORTER (V.O.)

-- and sign lucrative endorsement
deals --

- Hingis hocks Yonex. Tacchini. Kournikova, Adidas.

ESPN REPORTER (V.O.)

Richard Williams’ daughters
practice here, in isolation, at the
Rick Macci Academy.

- 40 hours a week. 52 weeks a year. For three long years.

Venus and Serena hone their skills in seclusion at Grenelefe.

- They work their volleys on court while Macci barks orders.

MACCI
Get low or you’re gonna get
tattooed.

- They throw their rackets over the net like footballs as

Richard applauds. Capriati watches them, dying with laughter.

- They hula hoop, kick box, and spar in a sand pit with SWEET
PEA COWART, Florida’s welter weight champ.

- They practice on clay and on grass but never play a match.

 84.

ESPN REPORTER (V.O.)

And while his coaching ideas have
pros shaking their heads, Richard
remains adamant that he alone knows
what’s best, putting church,
education, and childhood first.

- They attend church as a family.

- They do homework at Grenelefe with Brandi at lunch as --

ESPN REPORTER (V.O.)

The real question remains, is
Richard William’s right?

- Richard’s interviewed at Grenelefe by an o.s. REPORTER.

ESPN REPORTER (O.S.)

You think these kids will make a
million dollars?

RICHARD
There’s no question about it.
They’ll make one million look
small. They’ll both be number one
in the world. I don’t see anything
that can stop ‘em.

- The Reporter wraps his package up back where he began.

ESPN REPORTER
The words of a proud father, or a
shrewd hype-man building a myth?
For now, no one knows. But sooner
or later, it’s not Richard, but his
girl’s who’ll have to answer that
question on the court.

KENDRICK’S SONG ENDS as we close the MONTAGE ON:

- Venus, serving at the line, with Macci at her side, like

Ivan Drago, pounding balls like they’re the faces of her
detractors. Chomping at the bit like an angry, caged animal.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Again and again and again until we --

CUT TO:

14 YEAR-OLD VENUS SMASHING A SERVE OUT OF THE SKY AS --

 85.

EXT. TENNIS COURTS, GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

Now it’s three years later. Venus is three years older. A

foot taller. Muscled. Lean. Her braids are gone, replaced
with BEADS and BRACES as she blows the ball of the court.

TITLE CARD READS: THREE YEARS LATER

Macci stands at her side at the service line, handing her

balls, still sporting the same puppy-dog energy and style.

MACCI
Nice one. Nice one. Now high five
the giant and get to the net and
remember stay low unless you wanna
get tattooed.

Venus laughs then crushes the serve, crashing the net,

putting away a volley that nearly takes off her head.

MACCI (CONT’D)
What’d I tell you. Almost had a
PENN 1 tattoo on your forehead.
That’s one way to get sponsored.

Venus laughs as Macci gives her a high five. It turns into a

hug. In the time that’s passed, these two have grown close.

As they walk off the court, Venus becomes aware of --

A buzz in the air. MEDIA, AGENTS, OTHER KIDS at the academy

all moving toward the large stadium court. A MATCH UNDER WAY.

VENUS
What’s going on?

MACCI
Big junior tournament. Continental
Cup. Kournikova’s here.

That gets her attention. She hurries to the match to see --

VENUS
She’s so little in person. I would
killer her.

She’s eyeing 12-year-old Anna Kournikova, preening around the

court. Venus brims with envy.

VENUS (CONT’D)
You know she’s going pro next month
at a Fed Cup event in Russia?
Hingis announced too. That oughta
be me.
 86.

MACCI
You wanna go to Russia?

VENUS
I’m serious. How long I gotta wait?

MACCI
Hey, you know what I think. You’re
preaching to the choir. I know
you’re ready.

VENUS
Will you talk to him again? He
won’t listen to me.

Macci nods, but knows it won’t be easy as --

EXT. LOW INCOME FLORIDA COURT - ANOTHER DAY

REPORTERS and PHOTOGRAPHERS swarm a low income TENNIS COURT

where Venus and 12-YEAR-OLD SERENA (still small and bulldog-
ish) are running a TENNIS CLINIC for inner-city kids.

Macci watches from the fence as Richard speaks to a REPORTER.

RICHARD
-- and that’s why we ain’t rushing.
With no education, as good as they
are, they won’t keep their money.
They’ll be broke by 18 and have 50
more years to live like a fool. Now
if you’ll excuse me, I got a
meeting.

Richard heads off to meet Macci. The Reporter is speechless.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
How we doing there, Rick? You come
to help out?

MACCI
Maybe later. We gotta talk. I’ve
been chatting again with Venus and -

Richard turns away - here we go again.

RICHARD
Rick, I told you before. I’m not
having this conversation again.

MACCI
(following)
Richard, she’s ready. Time to let
her off the leash.
(MORE)
 87.

MACCI (CONT'D)
I talked to the organizer, there’s
a tournament in LA in September and
they’ll give her a wild card if she
--

RICHARD
You talked to who? You don’t tell
me when it’s time.

MACCI
Richard, she’s already fourteen.
Hingis is gone. Kournikova’s going
soon. Jennifer’d already been
playing a year by now.

RICHARD
You mean Jennifer who just dropped
off the tour?

MACCI
She didn’t drop off. She’s taking a
break.

RICHARD
That’s not what I hear. I hear
she’s burnt out. Now, that’s what
I’ve been saying. You have these
girls in juniors, you push ‘em too
fast and they all fall apart --

MACCI
Richard, Jennifer’s fine. Stop
making excuses. We’ve been playing
these games for three years.

RICHARD
These games?

Macci shoots him a look - are you serious?

MACCI
You pull ‘em out of juniors. You
pull ‘em out of practice for music
lessons or homework or church or --

RICHARD
They gotta get A’s if they wanna
play tennis. That’s the rules.

MACCI
-- or you pull ‘em out to train
with other coaches behind my back --
 88.

RICHARD
They needed work on their volleys.

MACCI
I’M WORKING ON THEIR VOLLEYS! I’m
their goddamn coach. Stop jerking
me around!

RICHARD
I’m just rounding out their game,
Rick. They ain’t gonna get there
doing drills that ever junior in
America is doing. I’m sorry. I’m
just looking out for my kids.

Macci just shakes his head. Unbelievable.

MACCI
You’re not looking out for them.
You’re looking out for yourself.
Wanna talk about pressure, what do
you think you call that?

Macci’s pointing to the reporters crowding the courts.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Everyday, on TV, know what I see?
The Richard Williams show. A
million dollars. Number one. The
greatest ever. You don’t think
that’s pressure?

RICHARD
It’s confidence.

MACCI
It’s bullshit. And it’s about you.

Pissed, Richard starts off. Macci stops him.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Goddamn it, Richard. Wait. You
wanna jerk my chain around, fine. I
don’t understand it, but don’t do
it with them. She’s worked too
hard. It’s her life, and you don’t
let her play, you could lose her.
(beat)
She’s ready. Think about it.
Please.

Richard’s left with a lot to consider as Macci heads off,

passing Venus on the court, waiting eagerly for an answer.
 89.

Macci shoots her a thumbs up - we got this. Don’t worry. He

thinks he’s got through to him only a few days later --

NEWS BROADCASTER (PRE-LAP)

At 14 years-old, Jennifer Capriatti
was America’s rising superstar but
four years later, Capriati’s life
appears to have changed
dramatically.

EXT. WILLIAMS'S HAINES CITY HOUSE - NIGHT (ESTABLISHING)

A FOUR STORY, TWO BEDROOM HOUSE on a wide Florida lawn.

Courtesy of Rick Macci where --

INT. WILLIAMS'S HAINES CITY HOUSE - NIGHT

A NEWS REPORT IS ON TV. Richard watches it through cigarette

smoke, his dentures resting on a little dish on the table.

ON SCREEN: Police lights swirl outside THE GABLES INN. A $50

a night fleabag motel in Southern Florida.

NEWS BROADCASTER
Capriati was arrested and charged
with possession of marijuana while
two of her companions faced more
serious legal consequences relating
to crack cocaine and heroin. It was
the second arrest for the troubled
tennis star in only six months.

Capriati’s infamous MUGSHOT fills the screen. A troubled 18-

year-old kid, lost and screaming for help.

Richard views it through smoke, decisions forming and --

EXT. TENNIS COURTS, GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

Arriving for practice, Macci walks on the court to find his

assistant serving balls by himself.

MACCI
Where are they?

ASSISTANT
(reluctantly revealing)
Disney World. Richard said they
needed a break.

Macci hangs his head in disbelief. This fucking guy.

 90.

EXT. WILLIAMS’S HAINES CITY HOUSE - DAY

Macci leans against the hood of his car, parked outside,

waiting as -- A BRAND NEW RED CADILLAC pulls up the drive.

Richard, Brandi, Venus, and Serena get out of the car. The
girls wear MICKEY MOUSE EARS.

MACCI
Everyone have fun?

SERENA
I rode on Magic Mountain.

MACCI
That’s great. Richard, a minute.

BRANDI
Come on girls. Let’s finish your
homework.

Brandi leads the girls away leaving Richard with Rick.

MACCI
Disney World? Richard --

RICHARD
I made up my mind. She’s not
playing that tournament.

VENUS
What?! Daddy, but you said --

RICHARD
I know. And I’m sorry. But I’m your
father and I ain’t burning you out
like he did with Capriati.

MACCI
Like I did?

RICHARD
You coached her didn’t you? That’s
all you been saying. Look at
Jennifer. Look at Jennifer. Well
look at her now. Robbery. Arrested.
Venus ain’t ending up smoking crack
in some alley with her mugshot on
TV. That’s what happens when they
don’t get to be kids.

Boiling with anger, Venus turns and storms off, not wanting
her father to see her cry.
 91.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Venus! -- Venus!

But there’s no stopping her. Richard’s left with Macci.

MACCI
I’ll tell you what, man. You gotta
better curve ball than Greg Maddox.
I told you this would happen.

RICHARD
Nothing personal, Rick. Just gotta
keep ‘em off balance.

MACCI
Not your teammates, you don’t.

Macci heads off passing Richard’s new Cadillac on the way.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Nice car. Who’s paying for that?

Macci gets in his car. SLAMS the door. Peels out, leaving
Richard alone in the shadow of his home.

INT. VENUS AND SERENA’S ROOM, WILLIAMS'S FLORIDA HOME - NIGHT

Brandi is braiding Venus’ hair, consoling her as she cries in

her bed, surrounded by dolls, looking very much like a kid.

VENUS
It’s not fair. It’s my life.

BRANDI
You don’t need to tell me that your
father’s a hard man. I married him.

VENUS
Why?

Brandi and Serena, sitting on her bed, laugh as Richard

arrives in the door. They turn on him immediately.

VENUS (CONT’D)
You’re not fair. Why’d you start
this in the first place if you
weren’t gonna let me play?

RICHARD
Maybe I shouldn’t have. Maybe it
was a mistake.
 92.

VENUS
Why? Because you think I’m not
ready?

RICHARD
Cause I think y’all are kids and
you go pro, that’s all over. The
pressure. The reporters. That’ll
all be on you.

VENUS
You mean instead of on you?

RICHARD
Watch it girl.

Richard looks like he might snap.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
I’m still you’re father. Long as
you live in my house, you gonna
respect what I say.

VENUS
Maybe I don’t wanna live in this
house no more. Least then I’d have
a life of my own.

Venus storms out of the room. Serena lingers a beat, then

follows her sister, leaving Richard and Brandi alone.

After a long silent moment --

BRANDI
You know that she’s right. This
can’t be about you.

RICHARD
I ain’t changing my mind. I’m done
talking about this.

BRANDI
You may be done talking, but you
sure ain’t done listening. You know
your problem Richard? For all your
ego, and bragging, I think you’re
just scared. All these years being
broke, people cutting you down and
beating you up, saying you nothing,
now I think you believe ‘em.

Richard laughs, just shaking his head only --

 93.

BRANDI (CONT’D)
You think I don’t see it? You maybe
fooling those people on TV with
your hype and your anger and your
Richard know best but you’re not
fooling me. You got a chip on your
shoulder so big, I could see it
from space but you gotta let that
go. How you gonna prove the world
wrong, you don’t believe in
yourself?

Richard slows, his target struck.

BRANDI (CONT'D)
I know you love those girls and you
wanna protect ‘em but you don’t
figure that out, you’re just gonna
hurt ‘em.
(beat)
You scared of the world and the
only thing you’re doing by telling
her no is saying she should be too
and I won’t have it.
(beat, both emotional)
Now, I didn’t want this for her in
the first place and I don’t want to
let them go either but we raised
these girls to think for themselves
and be proud and at some point,
Richard, you’re gonna have to let
‘em, cause you don’t, then Macci is
right -- you’re gonna lose ‘em.

With that Brandi goes, leaving Richard alone, grappling with

unfamiliar feelings. Uncertainty.

INT. RICHARD’S STUDY, WILLIAMS'S HAINES CITY HOUSE - LATER

Alone with his doubts and his lifetime of wounds, Richard

enters his study just steaming with anger.

Like many years before, he finds his desk littered in decades

of tennis research and plans and clippings about his girls.

Quite distraught, Richard smokes, flipping through it. SPORTS

ILLUSTRATED. The NY TIMES ARTICLE. Then something stops him.

Hidden among the clutter and fast food wrappers -- is a VHS.

Richard considers it, heavy with emotion as:

MOMENTS LATER
 94.

Richard smokes in the flicker of the TV as the video starts.

We recognize it immediately.

RICHARD’S VOICE (O.S.)

Hi Vic Braden. This two girls that
you see in the picture here is er --

ON A TV: 8-year-old Venus and 7-year-old Serena, bubbly and

free, wave at the camera from Lynwood park.

RICHARD’S VOICE (CONT’D)

Serena Williams. Raise your hand
Serena. Venus Williams. Serena is 7-
years-old. Venus is 8-years-old.

They couldn’t be more adorable or carefree as they play in

the park.

Richard watches, overcome at the sight them. Little girls.

Unafraid. In love with their Daddy. A long time ago.

His eyes mist as they hug him on screen, remembering the

past, afraid of the future, but time to let go as --

INT. GRENELEFE COUNTRY CLUB - DAY

Bathed in sweat, Macci finishes a run. He looks like William

Hurt in Body Heat. His assistant is waiting for him.

ASSISTANT
Rick. Just got a fax from Anne
Worchester at the WTA. Think you’re
gonna wanna see this.

MACCI
(catching his breath)
What’s it say?

EXT. WILLIAMS'S HAINES CITY HOUSE - DAY

Macci is seated with Venus, Brandi, Richard, and Serena at a

picnic table outside their house. He’s showing them the FAX.

MACCI
They’re calling it “The Capriati
Rule.”

He waits a minute to acknowledge Richard’s eye roll.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Basically it says a player can no
longer turn pro at 14.

Richard is delighted only --

 95.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Not so fast. For this one time
only, they’re offering waivers to
Hingis, Anna, and Venus. If they
turn pro this year, the new rules
don’t apply. If they don’t --

Richard now sees what’s coming.

MACCI (CONT’D)
-- the WTA will limit when, where,
and how much you can play for the
next four years. Until you turn 18,
Venus, they’ll be in control.
Martina and Anna won’t have those
limitations.

The weight of that hits Venus hard. It hits all of ‘em.

SERENA
What’s it mean for me?

MACCI
Unfortunately, for you, there’s no
way around it. By the time you’re
ready, those will be the rules.

Serena scowls as Macci returns to the matter at hand. Venus.

MACCI (CONT’D)
Now I know it’s ironic, but if you
don’t want them telling you what
you can and can not do, you need to
do what they want.
(that hangs there a bit)
Four years is a long time. You
don’t know what could happen.

INT. VENUS’S BEDROOM, WILLIAMS'S FLORIDA HOME - NIGHT

Venus is on her bed, playing with her DOLLS when Richard

appears in the doorway. He watches her for a moment, taken
with her innocence, before announcing his presence.

VENUS
Why don’t you believe in me?

RICHARD
Is that what you think?

VENUS
I don’t see any other reason you
don’t want me to play.
 96.

RICHARD
I thought I raised you smarter than
that, girl.

Richard takes a seat beside her.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Move over. Make room for your old
dad.
(after she does)
Venus, I don’t want you to rush
this now because I do believe in
you. Four years. Ten years. It
doesn’t matter. Whenever you start,
you are gonna win.

VENUS
It’s not cause you think I’m gonna
let you down?

RICHARD
You could never let me down, not if
you never swing another tennis
racket again in your life. The girl
you are now, that’s what I’m proud
of. That’s all I’m trying to
protect. It’s hard enough out there
for these other girls and they
don’t have one tenth of the weight
on their shoulders as you. Part of
that’s my fault, but part is who
you are. Truth is, because you’re
black, you don’t just represent
yourself. You gonna represent all
of us, all the hopes of those
little girls whose doors you gonna
open. That’s a lot of pressure.

VENUS
You don’t think I can handle it?

RICHARD
Truth -- I don’t know if I can.
But it ain’t gonna be me on the
court.
(beat)
V, you know how I feel, but if it’s
what you want, I ain’t gonna stand
in your way. This ain’t about me
anymore.

Venus starts to cry, overcome with gratitude.

 97.

VENUS
Daddy, I’m ready. You taught us to
be strong and believe in ourselves.
I’m not gonna let you down.

Richard considers his daughter. Confident and strong.

Everything he wants to be as we hear --

ESPN REPORTER (PRE-LAP)

And at long last, the wait is
finally over.

INSERT NEWS FOOTAGE:

AN ESPN ANCHOR REPORTS FROM OUTSIDE MACCI’S ACADEMY.

ESPN REPORTER (CONT’D)

Venus Williams, the 14-year-old
tennis prodigy who hasn't played a
competitive match since leaving
Compton, California three years ago
will make her professional debut at
the end of this month in Oakland,
California, at the $400,000 Bank of
the West Classic.

FOOTAGE CUTS TO AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD.

RICHARD (ON SCREEN)

She wants to test the waters and
see where she is on a professional
level. It's my feeling that a 14-
year-old shouldn't play, but this
is her decision, so she's going to
turn professional on her home
ground in California. We’ll see you
there soon!

EXT. WILLIAMS’S HAINES CITY HOME - DAY

A car horn honking. Macci’s outside, laying on the horn of

his car. Looking at his watch as --

INT. WILLIAMS’S HAINES CITY HOME - DAY

Richard’s moving through the house, rounding up the troops,

shepherding everyone to the door with their LUGGAGE.

RICHARD
Let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s go. Gravy
train won’t wait.

He arrives at Venus’s room to find her packing her bags.

 98.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Make sure you don’t forget nothing
now. Won’t be me out there playing
naked if you do.

Venus laughs, just shaking her head.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
You seen your sister? She gotta
pack too.

Off Venus’s knowing look we hear:

EXT. GRENELEFE, TENNIS COURTS - DAY

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Balls exploding with a fury off of --

Serena’s racket as she crushes backhands down the line, alone

on the court, taking out her problems on the ball machine.

Richard approaches as she obliterates the last ball with an

anger he should find familiar. She kneels over, steaming and
exhausted.

RICHARD
Looking good. Where’s your bag?
We’re gonna miss the flight.

Serena shoots him daggers, then begins refilling the machine.

SERENA
I gotta practice. I’m not going.

RICHARD
Oh, you’re not? Well OK. I hope you
know how to cook for yourself cause
there ain’t gonna be no one here.

Bluffing, Richard starts to walk off.

SERENA
You would leave me here, wouldn’t
you? Like anyone would notice. You
left those other kids.

That stops Richard cold.

RICHARD
Is that what this is about? You
think I’m leaving you?

Serena doesn’t answer, just lets that simmer.

 99.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
I ain’t proud, but you right. I
made a mistake with that family.
I’ve made a lot. You wanna judge me
for that, I can’t stop you, but I
hope you’ll remember I done a bit
of good too.

SERENA
Like what?

RICHARD
Like you.

SERENA
Yeah, right. All anyone cares about
is Venus.

She returns to baseline to keep hitting. Richard understands.

RICHARD
What? You think you’re ready too?
(of course she does)
And you feel like no one’s
listening? No one’s watching? No
one cares? Is that right?
(it is of course)
I know you love your sister, but
it’s hard being in someone’s
shadow, ain’t it. Specially hers.
Means you gotta work a little
harder, don’t it. Be a little
tougher. Fight a little longer just
to make yourself seen. Almost,
makes you want it even badder,
don’t it?

Serena nods, maybe starting to realize what he’s up to.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Serena, what’s the one thing I been
telling you all your life?

SERENA
I gotta move my feet.

RICHARD
(smiles)
What else? -- You fail to plan --

SERENA
-- “you plan to fail.” So?
 100.

RICHARD
You ever know me to get out
planned?
(no)
Your sister will be number one in
the world. There’s no doubt about
it. But you -- you gonna be the
best there ever was. The greatest
of all time. And you know how I
know? Cause I planned for it.
You’ve been in Venus shadow on
purpose, cause I knew you were
tough. Cause I knew it would make
you a fighter and look at you now.

Serena is smiling and fighting back tears.

SERENA
That really what you been doing?

RICHARD
(nods)
I might tell a lot of tales, but I
don’t tell ‘em to you.
(she believes)
Whatever I do, I will never leave
you. Now go on and grab your bag.
Your sister’s got a match. It’s
time to go home.

Off Serena, seeing the plan. Seeing her future and --

EXT. CALIFORNIA SKY - DAY

A PLANE unzips a crystal blue sky above Oakland, California

where two enormous SPORTING ARENAS hover like spaceships.

THE OAKLAND COLOSSEUM and the OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA.

EXT. THE OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - DAY

The ARENA looms above an absolutely packed parking lot. FANS,

MEDIA, and PRESS are everywhere.

Venus, Richard, Brandi, Serena, and Macci step out of a CAB

into the heart of the spectacle. Venus is wide-eyed.

VENUS
Don’t tell me all this is for me?

Brandi laughs.
 101.

BRANDI
Easy honey. You’re not a Rock Star
yet.

She directs Venus’s eyes to a big BUDWEISER SIGN flashing

overhead. It reads: ROLLING STONES - TONIGHT - 7PM

BANK OF THE WEST TENNIS CLASSIC flashes a distant second.

The family laughs. Venus’s brought down to earth. Not for

long as --

INT. THE OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - DAY

Venus and her team enter the basketball arena which has been
transformed into an indoor tennis cathedral.

20,000 seats ring a blue-floored hard court where PRESS, TV

CREWS and PLAYERS mill prepare for the upcoming event. Their
heads all turning as the Williams family arrives.

Venus and Serena look up in awe at the size of their stage. A

young, Madonna-esque BLEACHED HAIRED WTA OFFICIAL approaches.
(This is ANNE PERSON WORCESTER - CEO WTA TOUR.)

ANNE WORCESTER
Hi there! Hi Rick.
(then to the family)
I’m Anne. We spoke on the phone.

She shakes hands with the Williamses. Ending on Venus.

VENUS
Hi Anne, I’m Venus.

TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL
Of course you are, honey. We’ve
been expecting you. I think they
have been too.

She gestures behind her, where a hush has fallen over the
crowd, all eyes trained on Venus, who perhaps only now
realizes just how big her spotlight is.

EXT. OUTDOOR PRACTICE COURT - DAY

THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE (Fans, Press, Sponsors, and Agents - a

few we’ve met before) surround the fence of the tournament’s
PRACTICE COURTS, getting their first look in three years at
VENUS AND SERENA IN ACTION.

And they are putting on a show, hitting the ball like a

fucking sledge hammer, covering the court like gazelles.
 102.

Venus’s blue-beaded-braids CLICKING and SWINGING beneath a LA

RAIDERS HAT as she SMASHES a lob out of the air like Jordan,
just fucking dunking on people.

We see it on the faces of the crowd. She looks like nothing

else on the tour. A lion finally let out of her cage.

Angle on Macci, Richard, and Keven Davis watching giddily.

MACCI
Last year they gave out 24 media
credentials. This year, over 200.

KEVEN
And this is all for her?

MACCI
(looking at Richard)
Guy knows how to start a fire.

They return to watching Venus and Serena ooh and ah the

crowds when two POLO SHIRTED MEN approach.

GIACCO
Richard. Bill Giacco from ProServe.
We’ve spoke on the phone. Good to
see you.
(Shaking Richard’s hand)
I wanted to introduce you to a
friend. Mike Williams. He’s with
Nike. He was hoping you might have
a minute to talk.

Off Richard, who can practically see their mouths watering.

EXT. OAKLAND HOTEL - NIGHT, ESTABLISHING

A simple business hotel by the stadium lit up in the night.

NIKE REP (PRE-LAP)

I hope it’s clear from what you’re
reading, how highly we regard your
daughter. We’d like to take her off
the table right now.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Richard, Venus, Macci, Brandi, and Keven Davis are seated

across from MIKE WILLIAMS, the NIKE REP. They’ve just been
handed an offer.
 103.

MIKE WILLIAMS
That’s THREE MILLION DOLLARS and
the promise to create a signature
line, a signature shoe -- to build
our women’s brand around Venus and
make her a marquee player. How does
that sound to you?

The Rep looks for an answer from Richard, but he defers.

RICHARD
I don’t know why you’re looking at
me. She’s the one you’re pitching.

Mike’s shook. He recalibrates. Turns to Venus.

MIKE WILLIAMS
What do you think, Venus? That’s a
generous deal. That’s one million
more than Capriati got before she
went pro, plus a real commitment to
invest in all the charity and
outreach programs I know you and
your family support. We believe you
are going to have a tremendous
career and we’d like to help you
start building it today.

This sounds pretty good. Venus is silent, but Mike thinks

he’s got her. Macci chimes in.

MACCI
That’s a good looking deal, V. Very
fair. You want my two-cents, I
think you should sign.

But Venus isn’t jumping. A long beat. Keven turns to the rep.

KEVEN
Maybe give us a minute.

NIKE REP
Of course. Think it over. You got
my number, but just so we’re clear.
That deal’s for tonight only. It’s
off the table tomorrow.

The rep shakes hands and leaves. Once he’s gone --

MACCI
Am I missing something here? What’s
the problem? This is it. Sign the
deal. Take the money.
 104.

VENUS
They haven’t even seen me play.

MACCI
Exactly. They don’t need to.
Richard, I thought you were crazy,
but you did it. You’ve already won.

VENUS
But it’s just the first offer. They
want me to cash out before they’ve
even seen what I can do.

Macci looks at Richard, sending him daggers.

MACCI
Venus. Listen --

VENUS
I understand. It’s a good offer for
never having played but --

MACCI
It’s an unbelievable offer.

VENUS
-- but if I win, it’ll be higher
won’t it? Won’t it?

MACCI
(conceding)
Yes. If you win, it might be
higher. But this is money in your
pocket that can change your life no
matter what. Don’t risk that.

For the first time, Venus waivers. She turns to Richard who
does not.

RICHARD
You’re asking this girl to take all
the hard work she done did for ten
years and take the first damn offer
they give her? That ain’t right and
you know it. She wants a chance to
compete.

KEVEN
Richard --

MACCI
The draw’s not even out yet. We
don’t know who she’s playing!
 105.

RICHARD
It ain’t about that.
(to Venus)
You care who you play?

VENUS
No, Daddy.

RICHARD
You gonna beat whoever it is?

VENUS
Yes, Daddy.

RICHARD
Do you wanna take this deal right
here?

VENUS
No, Daddy.

RICHARD
(to the others)
Well that’s it. She ain’t signing.

Off Macci, left absolutely speechless as --

INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Richard, Brandi and Venus head out of the room. Macci follows
them into the hall.

MACCI
Richard. Hold on. Wait.

Richard stops. Macci waits till Venus is out of earshot then -

MACCI (CONT’D)
I know we’ve had our disagreements,
but that’s all in the past. Forget
my deal. Take this money. You can
change their lives tonight.

RICHARD
You don’t think she’s good enough?

MACCI
I do. You know that. But the truth
is, it’s been three years -- when
she gets on the court, in a real
match against a pro, with all the
cameras and pressure -- you just
don’t know what’s going to happen.
 106.

RICHARD
She ain’t other players. She’ll be
fine.

MACCI
You don’t know that. That’s why you
play juniors. That’s why you get
tested.
(Richard turns away)
Listen to me, damn it. You are a
good father, but you’ve put her in
a spot. You’ve spent the last three
years building this myth -- all the
Wimbledons. All the titles. The
greatest ever -- you set the bar so
high that if she goes out there and
does anything less than set the
goddamn world on fire, she’s gonna
be a disappointment.

That gets Richard’s attention.

MACCI (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. It’s true.
(now quieter)
And if she goes out there and gets
tight and can’t keep the ball on
the court or gets the yips, that
bubble you built is gonna pop very
fast and that deal won’t just go
down, it will go away all together.
They all will. You will lose
everything. And it won’t be her
fault. It will be yours. You always
talk about pressure, take it off
her now and sign the fucking deal.

With that, Macci goes. Leaving Richard in the hall, the

weight of the world on his shoulders.

He joins Brandi and his daughter at elevator, feigning calm.

RICHARD
You’ve got nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow’s just a game.

But this time, no one is buying that as we -- DISSOLVE TO:

INT. GYMNASIUM, CASTLEMONT HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

A HUNDRED BLACK TEENAGERS filling the bleachers, listening

with a mix of inspiration and confusion to --
 107.

Venus, standing behind a mic at center court, holding a

tennis racket as a prop, addressing them with quiet poise.

VENUS
-- I guess I’m younger than a lot
of you but if I could give one
piece of advice I guess it would
be, make a plan. Plan for your life
and be the best you can be and --
that’s it, I guess. Thanks for not
talking and laughing when I talk.
Because, a lot of people do that.

The KIDS applaud. Shooting their hands up for questions. The

first one that comes is --

FEMALE STUDENT
Who you playing tomorrow Venus?

EXT. CASTLEMONT HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Venus signs a last few autographs as the Williams’s entourage

exits the large OAKLAND PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL and heads to --

THE PARKING LOT where they find Macci waiting by their CAR.

MACCI
Am I getting daffy or did you have
a different car yesterday?

RICHARD
I switched, case we being followed.
Gotta keep ‘em guessing.

MACCI
Well we don’t have to guess
anymore. I got the draw.
(to Venus)
You got Shaun Stafford in the First
Round. She’s a real player. 58 in
the world. Won the NCAA Title a few
years ago from Florida. She’s
tough, but so are you.

VENUS
And who I play next?

MACCI
Easy killer. One match at a time.

Venus heads to the car, heart pounding so loud we can hear

it. Richard remains with Macci and the draw.
 108.

RICHARD
She wins, who she get?

MACCI
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

KEVEN
She’s number two in the world.

MACCI
Number one when the new rankings
come out. You wanna shock the
world, here’s your chance.

Off Richard, his stage is finally set as --

TENNIS ANNOUNCER (PRE-LAP)

Just under the wire, 14-year-old
Venus Williams will take the court
tonight in what’s certainly the
most anticipated tennis debut in
years.

EXT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Crowds begin to stream toward the night’s main events. At the

outdoor COLOSSEUM - THE ROLLING STONES. At the indoor ARENA -
the MARQUEE READS:

BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC - FIRST ROUND - OCTOBER 31st, 1994

TENNIS ANNOUNCER (PRE-LAP)

Shrouded in mystery like the
distant planet that bares her name,
crowds have come in force to see
the herald phenom from Compton,
California play her first match at
any level in over three years.

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT (VARIOUS SHOTS)

The FANS are taking their seats. The PRESS are primed in
their boxes as high above the court --

THE TV REPORTERS broadcast from the booth --

TENNIS ANNOUNCER
It was their father, Richard
Williams, who made the
controversial decision to pull his
daughters out of competition, a
move he’s defended with an us-
against the world abrasiveness that
has earned him few fans.
 109.

Back stage behind the courts, Richard, Venus, Brandi, Serena,

and Macci, arrive in the tunnels --

TENNIS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Dogged by allegations of abuse,
he’s been called everything from a
genius to a villain to an
overbearing tennis parent in love
with the spotlight. Well, tonight,
we’ll finally see. Is his dream all
hype or is this family, in fact,
what tennis has been waiting for?

Head up and defiant, Richard leads Venus to the locker room,

like she’s Muhammed Ali, flashbulbs exploding all around her.

This moment is iconic.

INT. LOCKERROOM OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Like Rocky before a fight, Venus bounces in place, spinning

her racket. Head full of nerves. She wears a plain pink t-
shirt. A pleated floral skirt. Her racket has no stencils.

The rooms silent when Macci enters.

MACCI
It’s time V, you ready?
(she is)
Is that what you’re wearing?

All smiles, Venus spins to present it.

VENUS
Do you like it? My mom sewed the
skirt herself.

MACCI
You look great.
(sotto Richard)
Why don’t you just put a for sale
sign on her?
(back to Venus)
I’ll see you out there. You’re
gonna kill. Have fun. Don’t forget
to bend your knees.

Macci goes. We remain with Venus and her family. The moment
they’ve all been waiting for. Ten years in the making. The
magnitude isn’t lost on anyone. They’re all holding hands as -
 110.

ANNOUNCER (PRE-LAP)
Returning to her native California
tonight to play in her first ever
professional match --

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Venus bounces in the mouth of the tunnel beside her 25-year-

old opponent, SHAUN STAFFORD, waiting to take the court.

ANNOUNCER (FILTERED)
Please give a warm, Bay Area
welcome to Venus Williams.

The CROWD applauds as Venus steps into the spotlight, hit by

a wall of sound and light. She waves as she heads to the
court, unpacking her bag, trying to contain her emotion as --

IN THE STANDS: Serena and Brandi take their seats with Macci
and Keven.

SERENA
Oh my god, look. There’s
Navratilova!

And she is. MARTINA. PAM SHRIVER. MARY JO FERNANDEZ. All the
stars and top seeds of the tournament have come out to watch.
Even ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO, the Mexican Superstar and
presumptive favorite, is lounging in street clothes as --

Venus and Stafford warm-up ON COURT. Stafford looks strong.

KEVEN
Does she have a chance?

MACCI
It’s gonna be tough.

Richard meanwhile, is found SMOKING in a doorway, full of

nerves and excitement. A REPORTER sees him and approaches.

REPORTER
Mr. Williams. Can I get you on
Camera? Can I ask you how you’re
feeling?

For the first time, Richard, in the eye of the camera is

nakedly frazzled.

RICHARD
You start the day shaking. Nervous.
You’ve been working for this day
for nine long hard years and you be
saying, well, we gonna get there.
(MORE)
 111.

RICHARD (CONT'D)
We gonna get there and finally you
get there like tonight and you find
out - WOW! - we don’t belongs here.
We belongs someplace else. We
belongs back in the ghetto!

BACK IN THE STANDS

The match is about to begin. Macci turns to Brandi.

MACCI
Where’s Richard?

BRANDI
He’s watching on a TV. He didn’t
want Venus to see his nerves.

Macci shakes his head in disbelief. Across the arena, he

spots MIKE WILLIAMS, the NIKE REP, watching in the stands. He
shoots Macci a smug, knowing smile.

CHAIR UMPIRE
Time!

The players take the court. The crowd erupts. Venus to serve
first. Her moment’s finally here.

INT. STAGING ROOM, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Alone in a small room, Richard chain smokes, watching his

daughter on a small TV. Venus steps up the line.

INTERCUT BETWEEN RICHARD AND THE COURT WHERE --

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Venus steadies her breath in the flash of the cameras, tosses

the ball and BOOM! - she cracks her first serve. LONG. She
sets up again - WHACK! Into the net. Double fault. LOVE-15.

HER TEAM REACTS. Just nerves. THE CROWD REACTS. Oh no.

RICHARD lights another cigarette as --

Venus sets up again - serves - BOOM! - she cracks a giant but

Stafford returns it. Venus shanks an error. LOVE-30.

Now Venus is tight. She pushes a serve. Stafford hammers it

wide, moving Venus off the court, putting her away at the
net. LOVE-40.

VENUS LOOKS TO HER TEAM. They shout encouragement but --

 112.

When she serves again, STAFFORD cranks off a WINNER and just
like that, Venus is down a break. 0-1.

She can hear the crowds murmur as she goes to the changeover.
She looks to her TEAM. Her FATHER’S NOT THERE. THE NIKE REP’s
shaking his head. The OTHER PROS whispering.

PRO
What is she doing?

Because Stafford is drinking water in her seat, while Venus

is standing, bouncing at the sidelines like a boxer in the
ring. Stafford, the Agents, the whole place thinks she nuts.

KEVEN
Why isn’t she sitting?

MACCI
Never been in a match. Richard
doesn’t let her sit down during
practice.

Venus can feel all their eyes on her, already writing her
off. Already ruling her a bust. It’s not making her nervous.
It’s making her mad.

INT. STAGING ROOM, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Richard can see it too. He’s angry. He’s stuffs out his
cigarette and --

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Venus is bouncing on the sidelines, trying to calm her

thoughts when she spots --

Richard, weaving through the crowd, arriving at the seats.

He meets eyes with Venus who she knows feels the same. They
hold each others gaze. On the same page. Fuck that.

Venus retakes the court and in four quick points - FOREHAND

RETURN WINNER. BACK HAND RETURN WINNER. VOLLEY. SMASH. -
Venus breaks Stafford right back and notice is served.

To Stafford. To Nike. To everyone here. This girl is for

real. And now we:

MONTAGE THROUGH THE MATCH:

Venus going 100 the whole time. Running like Bambi. Smashing
serves. Crashing the net. Putting away a tough volley.
 113.

Stafford grinding at the baseline, moving Venus around, drop-

shotting her at net.

Venus smacks her head, sailing a forehand long. Stafford

hangs her head, shanking another double fault. Venus rips a
backhand winner. Unleashes a 115 MPH serve. Stafford puts
away an overhand at the net.

The CROWDS APPLAUSE. THE WILLIAMSES CHEER. THE OTHER PROS,

nonchalantly impressed. Maybe they under-estimated her.

It’s hard fought and evenly matched until 4-3 in the first.
Stafford is serving at 30-30.

She kicks a serve out wide which Venus just gets her racket
on - slicing a return - Stafford tears a backhand screaming
toward the other alley. To everyone in the crowd this looks
like a winner only --

Venus is freak. She covers the court like a cheetah, reaching

the ball, stabbing it back for a winner that leaves Stafford
speechless. No one else on the tour makes that shot.

And now Stafford’s shook. 30-40. Shaun bends in a serve.

Venus returns, gets to the net where Stafford hits a cannon,
trying to knock Venus over but instead --

Venus surprises everyone with a deft backhand drop volley

that dies at Stafford’s feet. Broken.

The crowd and Stafford are stunned. Venus serves out the set
with an ACE and heads to the chair.

CHAIR UMPIRE
First set to Miss Williams. She
leads One Set to None.

Stafford takes her seat, dumbfounded, watching this 14-year-

old kid, bouncing on the sidelines with out taking a rest.
Stafford’s face says what the rest of the crowd is feeling.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT

Venus looks to her box. Their excitement’s infectious and --

WE’RE NOW IN THE SECOND SET

Much like the first, it’s hard-fought. 1-2. 2-2. 2-3. 3 All.

Stafford’s not quitting and Venus is showing no nerves.

Chasing down impossible balls. Skying off the ground for
overheads. Playing aggressive, open stance, full court tennis
and then finally --
 114.

It’s 4-4. 30-40. Stafford’s serving. They’re locked in a long

rally, but Venus takes charge and ends it, roping an
unconscious backhand down the line for a winner!

Stafford hangs her head. Venus pumps her first. HER TEAM
EXPLODES. She’s serving for the match and there’s no little
girl here. She goes for fucking broke.

First point - BANG! Ace down the T. Second point - BANG! Ace
in the corner. Third point - BANG! Body shot. 115 right in
Stafford’s grill. She barely gets her racket up to defend
herself and --

Just like that, it’s Match Point. 40-LOVE. Venus won’t be

slowed. She steps up to the line and BOOMS a serve.

Down the T. Stafford gets her racket on it but sends it

flying long and just like that -- it’s over.

Venus is running to the net. Jumping up and down. Shaking

Stafford’s hand as the CROWD GOES NUTS. No one more than --

Her family, hugging through tears in the stands.

Vicario just gets up and leaves, smiles incredulously at --

Venus, her next opponent, signing autographs and tennis balls

for starry-eyed kids like she’s already a champ. Vicario’s
look says -- we’ll see.

Venus’s family joins her on the court. She hugs Brandi and
Serena and Macci and Keven and finally --

She finds her father and Richard and Venus embrace. A

celebration a decade in the making. Huge smiles and tears.
Uncontainable joy. All caught by the cameras and -

INT. TUNNELS, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

A gauntlet of TV REPORTERS catch the STARS as they exit.

Right now, they’ve caught PAM SHRIVER in the lens.

PAM SHRIVER
I was impressed. For a first match,
there were some green parts to her
for sure, but she’s 14. What do you
want?

Pam moves off as the REPORTERS spot Vicario heading out.

REPORTER
Arxantas! Wait! Any thoughts? You
play her next. What did you think?
 115.

Vicario, wishing she’d escaped, stops in front of the camera.

VICARIO
I think, you know, she a big girl
and she hit the ball, you know,
pretty strong. I guess tomorrow
I’ll see.

INT. BRIEFING ROOM, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

A PRESS CONFERENCE under way. Venus makes her way to the

stage, hugging Richard, shaking hands as she goes.

She takes her seat at the mic.

REPORTER (O.S.)
You were great tonight Venus. How’d
you handle your nerves?

VENUS
I really wasn’t sure how I was
gonna do. I knew I was gonna go out
there and play the best I could.
And play as hard as I could. And --
it turned out really good.

Venus can’t help herself. She breaks out a giddy smile.

ANOTHER REPORTER (O.S.)

Why didn’t you sit down during the
change-overs? We’re you trying to
send a message?

VENUS
A message. No? I didn’t know I was
allowed. At the academy you can’t.
I wasn’t sure who that chair was
for.

The reporters LAUGH. Eating her up. Then it turns serious.

ANOTHER REPORTER (O.S.)

Venus, tomorrow you play the number
one seed. A three time Grand Slam
champ. How do you think you’ll hold
up?

VENUS
I think I have the game to beat
anyone out there. I just have to
play it.

ANGLE ON RICHARD - watching proudly from the wings. He’s

taught her well. Macci approaches.
 116.

MACCI
We gotta talk. Nike called again.
They’re upping their offer. Five
Million. I think you should take
it.

RICHARD
Venus don’t wanna sign. She wants
to play this thing out.

MACCI
Richard -- she can’t beat Vicario.
Cash in now while she’s perfect.

RICHARD
Nah, she can beat her. We’ll keep
our money on the table.

Richard leaves, passing Bud Collins (the Bob Hope of Tennis

who Richard pitched many years ago.)

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Nice to see you again, Bud. Told
you so.

It takes a minute after Richard’s gone for Bud to remember.

Holy Shit. That was him. Off Bud’s shock.

MACCI
You know him?

BUD
Rick. If that girl beats Vicario --
I mean a 14-year-old who’s never
played a match just walks off the
street and beats the top player on
the planet -- forget Ali-Frazier.
It’ll be the greatest upset in the
history of sports.

Macci smiles, just laughing at the thought of it and -

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Pan down from the rafters to a PACKED HOUSE. TITLES READS:

BANK OF THE WEST CLASSIC

ROUND TWO
VENUS WILLIAMS VS. #1 ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO
NOV. 2, 1994

The court is empty. The anticipation is electric.

 117.

INT. TUNNELS, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Venus and Richard make their way through the tunnel. When
it’s time to part, Richard gives her a hug and a kiss.

RICHARD
I love you, Venus. Have fun out
there tonight.

VENUS
I love you too, Daddy.

Richard heads off to his seat, passing Vicario waiting in the

mouth of the tunnel.

RICHARD
Good luck tonight. I hope you win.

Vicario is stupefied.

VICARIO
Thank you - I guess.

Richard goes. Venus arrives at her side. They acknowledge

each other politely and then --

BANG! CLOSE ON VENUS SMASHING AN OVERHEAD AND WE’RE --

INT. OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

INTO THE MATCH. And Venus shows no signs of slowing down.

She pounds a SERVE for an ACE, leaving VICARIO whiffing.

Venus pumps her fist to her box. SCORE READS: 1-0.

With Vicario serving down 15-40, Venus waits five feet inside
the baseline for the return, saying WHAT DO YOU GOT.

Then she sizzles a backhand return down the line for a

winner. Vicario’s stunned. 2-0.

At the end of a rally, Vicario tries to get clever with a

slick little drop shot but Venus gets to the net on long legs
in two strides and puts it away. Vicario throws up her hands.
3-0.

The rest of the first set continues the same. Venus

blistering Vicario with an aggressive, open stance, full
court game, covering the lines like an animal. Vicario’s left
flat footed. Before she knows it --

It’s 4-2. Venus’s serving. Ace. Ace. Ace. Winner! She holds
serve at Love. The CROWD EXPLODES. 5-2.
 118.

Vicario serves to stay in the set but she’s down 30-40. She’s
moving Venus side to side, cornering forehands but Venus gets
to everything. Vicario’s got no answers. She forces her next
shot, going for a winner but sends a backhand sailing long,
handing Venus the set.

The Players head to the chairs. The CROWD is ROARING. The

Williams’s Box, Serena mostly, is jumping out of their seats.

Vicario sits, searching for answers in her towel while Venus

once again, just bounces at the line like a Heavy Weight
Champ who can’t wait for the toll of the bell. Here it is.

CHAIR UMPIRE
Time!

And they’re back at it. And to Vicario’s dismay, it’s more of

the same. Venus serves - ACE! 1-0. Vicario barely holds serve
when Venus’ forehand just misses the line. 1-1. Venus serves,
crashes the net, overhead volley - WINNER! 2-1.

Vicario’s serving, drop-shotting Venus’s return. V races to

the net and digs out a BACKHAND VOLLEY down the line. WINNER!
3-1. The CROWD GOES FUCKING NUTS.

Richard and his family explode. Venus is on the brink, up a

set and a break on the number one player in the world, three
games away from the biggest upset in the history of the
sport.

Bud Collins looks to Macci. Holy shit, she’s gonna do it.

And that’s when it happens. Vicario speaks to the umpire and

disappears into the tunnel, leaving Venus confused, bouncing
on the court by herself.

Serena turns to her mother.

SERENA
Where’d did she go?

BRANDI
Bathroom, I guess.

But Richard knows better.

RICHARD
Oh, that’s some sleazy shit.

MACCI
That’s some professional shit.

SERENA
What?
 119.

RICHARD
She’s icing her.

And she is. Venus hops up and down, alone on the court, with
nothing but her thoughts for what seems like an eternity. A
lifetime to consider and to start getting tight.

Venus looks at the CLOCK on the scoreboard. 8. 9. 10 Minutes

pass until finally --

Vicario races out of the tunnel and back onto the court,
feigning apologies.

CHAIR UMPIRE
Time! Let’s go.

Venus readies to serve, but it’s clear that she’s tight. She
pockets the first one into the net, and carves in a slow
second which --

BOOM! -- Vicario blasts it off the court for a winner. A

message shot. Venus gets it. So does the crowd. The air goes
right out the building. Richard and Macci feel it.

Venus steps back up to the line, preparing to serve, to

regain her composure but her mojo is gone. Vicario’s taken
it. She’s waiting on the other side of the net with a scowl.

Venus tosses her serve, smacks it clean but Vicario’s there --

winding up, salivating, ready to knock the cover off the ball
and --

WE CAN FREEZE RIGHT THERE. Because Venus doesn’t win another

game for the rest of the match.

In what feels like no time - the score reads: 6-2. 3-6. 0-5.
Venus is serving but it’s match point Vicario. After the
return, Venus sails a forehand long and like that it’s done.

She’s walking to the net, shaking Vicario’s hands, the rug

pulled right out. It feels like a dream. Venus has no idea
what’s just happened.

The crowd’s all applauding but the bubble’s been burst. For
our team, the defeats feels enormous. They bet the house and
they lost.

Land on Richard, clapping stoically, applauding his daughter,

but knowing her hurt and --

INT. TUNNELS, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Richard, Serena, and Brandi, escort Venus through the tunnels

to the locker room, through a swell of silent faces.
 120.

REPORTER
Venus! Venus! What happened out
there? How’s this compare to your
other losses? Any tougher?

SERENA
How should she know? She never lost
before.

It takes everything Venus has to hold it together and then --

INT. LOCKERROOM OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

Once she’s inside and the door is closed, she’s lets go and
cries, like a 14-year-old kid.

VENUS
I’m sorry. I couldn’t do it. I
wasn’t good enough. I let you down.

BRANDI
What you did out there, Venus, you
could never let us down.

VENUS
But the deal? The respect? You were
counting on me and --

RICHARD
Don’t you worry about those deals.
I bet outside out that door, the
whole hallway is full of fools
fighting just to hand you a check
but that ain’t what’s important.
(beat)
You wanna talk about respect -- if
after what you did tonight, you
don’t got it for yourself, you
ain’t never gonna have it. You a
champion, Venus and now the whole
world knows it. Walk out there with
your head up. You’ll see.

Venus smiles for her father sake, but she can’t hold it long.
Pretty soon, the tears return and she’s crying her heart out.

Richard, Brandi, and Serena surround her, holding her close.

A FEW MOMENTS LATER

Dressed in street clothes, Venus returns from the dressing

room and joins her family and Macci waiting to leave.
 121.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
You ready?

Venus nods, shouldering her bag as they open the door to find-

INT. TUNNELS, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

The tunnels are empty. No sponsors wait with her deal. No

fans wait for her autographs. No cameras for her picture.

It’s as if the whole circus has packed up and left and all
that remains in this family. Venus is crushed.

Richard cloaks her in his arms and leads his family down the
hall to the exit where they open the arena doors to discover -

EXT. PLAYERS EXIT, OAKLAND COLOSSEUM ARENA - NIGHT

A MASSIVE CROWD OF FANS, many of them YOUNG BLACK GIRLS are

waiting outside just for a chance to see VENUS. They explode
in applause as she appears, chanting her name.

CROWD
VENUS! VENUS! VENUS! VENUS!
(and then seeing --)
SERENA! SERENA! SERENA!

Venus is moved to tears at the sight of it. Serena is too.

RICHARD
What did I tell you? Looks like
they know. Don’t keep ‘em waiting.

Full of gratitude, Venus kisses her father and heads out to

meet her fans. Serena follows too.

Richard and Brandi watch in amazement as their little girls

shake hands, sign autographs and inspire.

They are moved to tears themselves. And to cap it all off,

Keven Davis appears, flushed with excitement.

KEVEN
Phone’s ringing off the hook. I got
Nike on the line.
(long beat)
They doubled their offer. Puma
called too. Reebok’s in for sure.
They all wanna meet and they wanna
meet first. What do you want to do?

But Richard’s not in a hurry. He watches his daughters,

swelling with pride, everything he’s predicted’s come true.
 122.

RICHARD
You tell ‘em to wait. There’s more
where that came from. They ain’t
seen nothing yet.

FREEZE ON RICHARD as the following words appear on screen.

Nine months later, Venus signed a contract with Reebok for

twelve million dollars. She was 14 years-old.

CUT TO:

ARCHIVAL VIDEO FOOTAGE: VENUS WILLIAMS SIGNING EVENT

Venus and Serena, decked out in fly 90’s REEBOK GEAR, in the
heart of NEW YORK CITY, hitting balls at a promotional event.

THE FOLLOWING WORDS OVER BLACK

Serena joined her on the tour two years later and with
Richard as their coach, continuing to place patience, family,
and education above early success, nearly everything he
predicted for his daughters back in Compton came true.

CUT TO:

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF THE SISTERS ON CENTRE COURT AT WIMBLEDON

Two black girls in white braids taking the court before an

all white crowd, curtseying to the QUEEN of ENGLAND.

CUT TO:

THE FOLLOWING WORDS OVER BLACK

And while Capriati, Hingis, Kournikova, and the rest of the

junior tennis stars of their era retired from injuries and
fatigue years ago, Venus and Serena remain at the pinnacle of
the sport today, still competing for Grand Slams Titles 25
years later.

Venus is 38. Serena is 37 and considered by many to be the

Greatest Female Player in the History of the Sport. Just like
Richard predicted.

FADE OUT ON ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF THE “REAL” RICHARD WILLIAMS

He cheers in the stands at the 1999 Lipton Open holding up a

homemade sign that simply reads: “I TOLD YOU SO.”

THE END