I, Tonya
Written by
Steven Rogers
Based on irony free, wildly contradictory, totally true interviews with Tonya Harding and Jeff Gillooly
1 I, TONYA. BASED ON IRONY FREE, WILDLY CONTRADICTORY, TOTALLY1 TRUE INTERVIEWS WITH TONYA HARDING AND JEFF GILLOOLY.
Title card: Tonya Harding. Former Olympic Figure Skater.
Present day TONYA HARDING, 44, overweight with the same haircut she had in 1994, glares warily into the camera.
Title card: Jeff Gillooly. Tonya Harding’s ex-husband.
Title card: Lavona Harding. Tonya Harding’s mother.
LAVONA (HARDING) GOLDEN, 70’s, wears a moulting half fur coat and A LIVE BIRD on her shoulder. She talks to her bird.
5 HOME MOVIES - HARDING FRONT LAWN - DAY 40 YEARS EARLIER 5
Grainy home movie film. Lavona’s husband Al Harding plays with 3 year old Tonya. Lavona is disinterested.
6 CLOSE ON MODERN DAY LAVONA. 6
Title card: Diane Rawlinson. Tonya Harding’s coach
DIANE RAWINSON, late 60’s, sits in her well appointed living room with a studied grace. She’d fit in any Ralph Lauren ad.
Title card: Shawn Eckardt. Tonya Harding’s ex-bodyguard.
On a TV screen marked ‘Evidence’ a late 1990’s interview with SHAWN ECKARDT, obese and delusional. Not a good combination.
Title card - Martin Maddox. Hard Copy Reporter 1989-1998.
MARTIN MADDOX, oily personified, relishes being on camera.
He laughs at his own joke.
A TITLE CARD READS: Portland Oregon. 40 YEARS EARLIER.
Tonya, just 3 1/2, in a home made skating outfit and skates, stands on the ice with Lavona, who wears sneakers.
They watch DIANE RAWINSON, pretty, perfect, teaching a group of skaters.
Lavona, puffing on a cigarette, sizes Diane up.
Diane looks down at the little girl.
She skates to the center of the ice as students gather round.
Tonya watches her go. Lavona stares bullets at Diane, then nods purposefully to Tonya.
Tonya skates around the perimeter of the rink. Never taking her eyes off Diane, she picks up speed.
Diane tries to ignore the little girl but there’s something about her. And Tonya thrives on the attention.
Finally Dianne stops teaching.She smiles.
A line of pagent-y 7 to 9 year old skaters stand in a line as a trashy 4 year old girl (Tonya) receives a 1st place medal.
Lavona sits in the bleachers sipping ‘coffee’ from a thermos.
On the ice, Tonya, 8, in an ugly homemade skating outfit, flounders. Parents sit as far from Lavona as possible.
Tonya and the girl skate toward the exit. Lavona jumps up.
The other girl heads off. Tonya looks toward the bathroom.
Tonya recognizes the look on her mother’s face. She skates backward, away from Lavona.
Tonya knows this is true. She puts all her attention on the ice. Then she twirls IMPOSSIBLY HIGH, landing perfectly.
Tonya stops suddenly. She drops her head. Urine runs down Tonya’s leg.
Tonya looks to Lavona who crosses her arms & watches coldly.
Lavona WHACKS 8 year old Tonya with a hairbrush.
A female skating judge walks in, catching them. Tonya and Lavona look up at her, caught.
Lavona kicks over a tall chair 8 year old Tonya is sitting in.
Through the car’s BACK WINDOW, we see Lavona slap 8 year old Tonya across the face.
The bird poops on Lavona’s shoulder. Lavona keeps on talking.
Close on: Tonya, 12ish. She raises a gun MALEVOLENTLY and fires. BAM!!
A rabbit hops out of the way.
Tonya and her father AL, 48, walk through the Oregon woods.
Lavona with Tonya in her yellow skating outfit.
BACK TO: Tonya and Al
He takes Tonya’s gun, reloads it.
He hands the gun back to her.
Al nods. She aims. She fires.
A bunny flies backward, dead.
A DAINTY SKATER glides gracefully on one leg, arms extended.
Tonya barrels past, a bull in a china shop. She jumps and lands a triple. She looks to Lavona, standing with Diane.
Lavona ignores her.
And in the background, Tonya does.
Al skins rabbits as Tonya, in skates, dances around the yard.
Tonya, in a ratty rabbit fur coat walks past girls also in furs.
Tonya shoots her the finger.
Al heads out as Lavona shouts by the front door.
Tonya stands with her father by his packed up truck.
He gets in the truck, starts the motor. She holds onto his arm, not letting him go.
She takes his hand and pats her head with it.
Then he pushes her backwards. She stares, dumbfounded.
He stares ahead.
He drives off. She watches his truck till it’s out of sight.
Lavona watches silently. Then goes inside and shuts the door.
CLOSE ON: The razor sharp edge of Tonya’s skate racing at ridiculous speed. The sound of blade scraping against ice.
Tonya, 15, (now played by the same actress who plays modern day Tonya) with short curly hair and braces, prepares for a tricky jump but another skater crosses nearby. Tonya STOPS, skates over to the girl.
Cowed, the other skater moves aside. Then Tonya JUMPS.
At the other end of the rink, 18 year old JEFF GILLOOLEY watches at the rail with his friend, SHAWN, 18, obese.
Shawn squints, ketchup from his hotdog falls on his shirt.
30 SPLIT SCREEN: MODERN DAY JEFF & MODERN DAY TONYA. 30
Tonya and Jeff chat awkwardly on opposite sides of the rail.
Jeff, nervous, all thumbs, tries to appear super cool:
Tonya hesitates, then nods. In the background, Lavona stops pouring a drink and watches.
Tonya uses a curling iron while applying blue eye shadow. Her stepbrother CHRIS, late 20’s, watches, hand on his crotch.
Creepy Chris moves closer, his hands slowly cupping her breasts.
In one quick motion Tonya whirls round, WALLOPING Chris across the face with the curling iron. He goes down HARD. She beats him with it.
Jeff jumps out of the car, opens the passenger door for Tonya who smiles shyly, not used to such treatment.
Then Lavona barrels out, motioning them to follow her inside.
Lavona, Tonya, Jeff sit at a serve yourself style restaurant.
She downs a drink.
They look at Jeff as if saying, ’See what I put up with?’ Finally:
Tonya and Jeff pretend they’re anywhere else.
By a fixer-upper home on an unmowed lawn with a plastic deer & empty beer bottles, Tonya & Jeff work under the hood of his truck. On it’s radio, 1986 hits play.
This quiets her. Tonya watches him.
She moves closer as they work. Jeff hands her a towel.
She wipes her hands on her pant legs. Jeff smiles.
Tonya stops, unused to compliments or being seen that way.
She looks COMPLETELY BAFFLED as he moves closer. Then:
Under the open, greasy hood of his truck, they kiss.
BAM! Jeff pops Tonya in the face.Tonya turns directly to the camera.
Tonya holds Jeff close as they make love for the first time.
Tonya turns to the camera.
Jeff corners Tonya. He SLAPS her.
Jeff’s truck ROCKS as inside, he and Tonya have sex.
Jeff chases Tonya around the house.
Jeff shoves Tonya’s head into a mirror. Then to camera:
Wounded Nancy Kerrigan cries out, “WHY?? WHY??”
Tonya, 19, fires a shot gun at Jeff, BAM.
Lavona watches Tonya as they eat white bread sandwiches.
They each take big bites. Then with their mouths full:
Tonya leaves the table, puts her dish in the sink.
Tonya freezes.
Tonya cautiously approaches Lavona and kisses her. But Lavona cannot connect.
Title card: 12 months later.
A long line of graceful, angelic, delicate girls make up. At the end of the line, Tonya, in 1980’s ‘PUNK,’ extinguishes a cigarette butt on her skate blade.
Tonya performs to ZZ. Top. It’s the first time we really see her skate and she’s a wow. The judges clearly dislike her music selection but her skating has a power none of the other skaters possess. This is no old fashioned ice princess.
Jeff grimaces as Tonya soars. Shawn licks his fingers, watching the monitor instead of live. 4 empty seats away, Lavona studies Tonya. When Tonya finishes, the crowd CHEERS.
Tonya, out of breath, using her asthmas inhaler, waits with Diane. When her scores come in, the crowd BOOS loudly.
Tonya and Diane quickly gather their things and walk off.
Tonya sits, eating self-consciously. Lavona stands behind her, uncomfortably close, just glaring at her. Finally:
TONYA LAVONA
It wasn’t my fault. Nothing’s ever your fault.
Lavona wallops Tonya across the head from behind.
Outraged, Lavona rails on her even harder. Tonya dodges her.
LAVONA (CONT'D) TONYA
You fucking ungrateful- Stop it!!
Lavona throws a glass of milk at Tonya but misses.
TONYA LAVONA (CONT'D)
Bat shit fuckin’ crazy! Ugly fuckin’ whore!
Lavona throws a KNIFE. It lands in Tonya’s arm. They stop.
Tonya looks at the knife in her arm. She pulls it out. She takes the knife by the handle and slowly approaches Lavona.
When she is in Lavona’s face, she slams the knife on the table. Then she walks out. Lavona doesn’t move.
Lavona sits quietly drinking as Jeff struggles past with Tonya’s suitcase.
Tonya easily marches past with 2 much bigger bags. Lavona and Tonya don’t speak or say goodbye. Lavona watches them go.
Tonya stands behind Jeff at the counter. His hands are behind him on her ass. Her arms are looped through his so it looks like he’s holding up her costume but it’s her.
She moves in front of him, examining her costume.
His hands SLOWLY move to her front. She smiles as she sews.
He holds up her costume, now with a big bow on it’s bottom.
Moved, she turns to kiss him. He ROARS a scary Ohmy roar. She screams. He chases her, grabbing her ass into the bedroom.
In an overly saturated scene of domestic bliss, Jeff delivers sandwiches to Tonya at the front door with a gym bag.
She gives him a flirty kiss which turns into a grope which turns to full on making out as they slide down to the floor.
Jeff’s truck splatters mud. Jeff steers with his feet. Head out the window, mud covered Tonya screams with delight.
The crowd BOOS as Tonya’s scores are revealed. Tonya, in her tulle outfit with bows, glares. Diane puts an arm around her.
Tonya jumps back onto the ice as another skater moves into her starting ‘graceful swan’ pose.
Tonya skates past the posing skater who remains frozen, ONLY HER EYEBALLS follow Tonya who skates over to the judges.
The judges are stunned. The audience whistles & hoots.
The crowd goes wild. Tonya skates past the ‘frozen swan,’ whose terrified eyeballs watch Tonya race past her.
She THROWS her skate hard, just missing DIANE. Then silence. Diane calmly walks out.
Tonya and Jeff, just married, gather the family together for a photo. Al stands tensely by Lavona.
Tonya & Jeff unite for their first dance as husband & wife.
Guests applaud. Shawn ignores them, filling his plate with food and licking each of his fingers.
Tonya, excited, turns her back and throws the bouquet.
The bouquet hits Lavona, stonefaced, in the chest. She lets it fall to the floor as Jeff and Tonya kiss.
The music changes. Lavona approaches Tonya and straightens her wedding dress.
Tonya smiles at her mother who takes Tonya by the shoulders.
Lavona heads to the food table. Tonya stands there, stunned.
A title card reads: Nationals. 1991. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Tonya waits with her new coach, DODDIE TEACHMAN, late 20’s. She spots Lavona sitting in the stands, frowning. Tonya psychs herself up, a killer’s intensity behind her eyes.
Behind Lavona, a young male spectators laughs.
Tonya turns to answer. Doddie stops her, turns her around.
Tonya is still.
Tonya, focused, enraged, nods. She skates off onto the ice. Doddie nods to Lavona.
Lavona slowly turns to the heckler. He stares. She pays him 5 dollars. Then she crosses herself.
Tonya takes to the ice and strikes a pose. Her music begins.
She begins skating, spinning in one spot then opening up.
Tonya soars HIGH and delivers perfectly. The crowd applauds.
Skating almost beside the wall, she moves closer to the center, backwards, looking over her shoulder, preparing.
Sound falls away. Just her heartbeat and blades on the ice.
IN SLOW MOTION - Tonya GRUNTS as she powerfully leaps high (whoosh) once, (whoosh) twice, (whoosh) three times, BOOM, landing backward on her opposite leg.
REAL TIME. There is a moment of silence then DEAFENING SCREAMS from the crowd.
SLOW MOTION: the realization of what she’s done hits her. She looks doubtful, stunned, thrilled, disbelieving, elated.
Her mouth is open wide in elation. Instead of throwing her arms back gracefully, she fist pumps.
She performs 2 more HUGE jumps back to back, perfectly.
On the ice, Tonya flies through the air, lands a double axel goes into a spin & throws her arms up in a triumphant FINISH.
The crowd is going ape shit. Tonya, mouth open wide, cheers. She fist pumps, applauds herself, clutches her throat, finally bowing to the crowd, receiving her standing ovation.
She nods, overwhelmed. Then the sound of crowds cheering.
Tonya waits with Doddie. Laughing, pointing, covering her face, screaming, wiping away tears as her marks come in.
She can’t hold it in and breaks down crying. The press swarm. Jeff tries to reach Tonya but is shutout. He can’t get close.
She wells up, turning away from the camera.
She turns her gaze back to the camera, her mind reeling.
Jeff puts a grocery bag down in front of Tonya at the counter then slips behind her to cuddle.
Jeff knows he’s losing her. He tries an embrace. She recoils.
He studies her. He doesn’t know how to keep her and he doesn’t have the words. BAM! He punches her.
78 SPLIT SCREEN: MODERN DAY JEFF AND MODERN DAY TONYA 78
JEFF TONYA (Mournful) (Elated)
After the triple everything After the triple everything changed. changed.
Tonya, confidently throws clothes into a suitcase, races out.
She SLAMS the front door behind her, triumphantly.
Tonya stands with Kristy Yamaguchi and Nancy Kerrigan as a GOLD MEDAL is slipped around her neck. Then to the camera:
MARTIN MADDOX (V.O.)
78A Suddenly Kristi & Nancy were 2nd & 78A
3rd. Then Tonya was 2nd at World Championships & won Skate America.
Close on: MARTIN MADDOX, the ex-hard copy reporter.
He laughs at his own joke.
Tonya performs incredibly high jumps. She nails the triple.
The audience cheers. The judges watch stone faced.
Tonya and Nancy stand together smiling, posing for pictures.
Tonya & Nancy, laughing, drink beers, take turns belching.
Tonya just stares into the camera.
Jeff talks on the phone while his obese friend Shawn paces.
Jeff opens the door of the Retarded Persons Association’s van and 2 policemen are standing there. Citizens watch fascinated as he’s presented with the order.
Tonya is heard hanging up.
The phone cord goes all the way up the stairs.
Shawn’s mother, at the top of the stairs, dials the phone.
SHAWN’S MOTHER Okey dokey!
Jeff waits. He is about to speak when:
She hangs up again. Jeff slow burns.
Again. Shawn’s mother dials.
She hangs up. Jeff’s on his feet.
He’s out the door. Shawn follows.
Jeff and Shawn walk quickly to the truck.
Jeff stops, looks at him.What women? Then they’re off again.
Shawn flexes his muscles, bares his teeth, beats his chest. They get in the truck and peel out.
Shawn spins the radio dial NON-STOP as Jeff drives his truck.
Driving, Shawn talks with his mouth full. Food FLIES at Jeff.
Shawn sits shirtless in the backseat as Jeff drives.
Jeff walks purposefully. Shawn fights to keep up.
Tonya stands with other skaters. She turns.
Jeff & Shawn turn to each other, double high five.
Tonya shakes her head at their idiocy. But she smiles.
Jeff & Tonya carry her bags from the truck to the front door.
Tonya follows a path of flower petals on the floor throughout the house leading to the kitchen. On the freezer is a note that says ‘Look inside.’
Inside the freezer is stacked with boxes of Dove Bars.
They kiss.
Tonya tries the triple and FALLS HARD on the ice.
Tonya tries & FALLS HARD. She bangs the ice with her fists.
Tonya tries & FALLS HARD. She scowls.
107 A TITLE CARD READS: THE 1992 WINTER OLYMPICS. ALBERTVILLE.107
Tonya, in harsh makeup, slightly overweight, walks to the ice with Doddie. She’s confident, ready to fulfill her destiny.
The music starts and Tonya performs a sort of robot dance with a Karate kick. Then she leans backward and twirls.
Tonya skates backward, picking up speed.
She uses the entire ice rink in preparation. This is her destiny. And she knows it.
In front of a huge crowd, Tonya leaps & SOARS.
A TITLE CARD reads: 2 MONTHS EARLIER.
Tonya hits ‘snooze’ on the alarm next to sleeping Jeff. She takes a swig of beer, turns over and goes back to sleep.
Late at night, Jeff brings Tonya shots as she shoots pool.
Tonya on a scale as Doddie checks her weight. Everyone frowns.
On the locker room TV, Tonya watches as Kristi Yamaguchi, Madori Ito and Nancy Kerrigan get their Olympic medals.
He throws up his hands, helplessly.
Jeff SMASHES Tonya’s hand in the car door.
Jeff rips Tonya’s hair out. She screams.
Police lights FLASH as Tonya gives her statement to officers.
Jeff pulls up in his truck honking his horn. When Tonya looks out the window, he gets out and holds up a purse.
Tonya locks the bolt on the door. Suddenly, BANGING on the door.
She goes to the phone. He BASHES through the door.
She races around the couch as he jumps over the couch.
He grabs her and he shoves her up against the wall. He pulls out a gun and puts it against his head.
He puts the gun right in her face.
He points the gun under his chin. He tears up and turns away. She runs but he catches her and bangs her head into a mirror. She knees him hard in the balls & runs out the door.
Tonya runs out SCREAMING.
Jeff reaches the doorway and FIRES.
He fires into the ground near Tonya’s feet but a fragment ricochets into her head. BOOM. She goes down hard.
Tenants come out of their apartments. Jeff waves his gun.
He drags her into his truck and SCREECHES away.
Tonya, blood gushing from her head, is dazed.
POLICE SIRENS are heard telling them to pull over. He does.
Then he kisses her. She hits him. A POLICEMAN comes over to Jeff’s window.
POLICEMAN’S P.O.V.:Jeff and Tonya sit calmly. Jeff nods at the policeman. Tonya, her head bleeding profusely smiles brightly at the officer.
Tonya sits in the truck as Jeff good-naturedly chats with the policeman who pulls 2 guns out of the back seat.
Lavona inhales her cigarette. The bird on her shoulder SQUAWKS. Lavona exhales cigarette smoke at it.
Tonya, in a waitress uniform, buses tables as she heads out on a break.
Tonya, out of shape, miserable, walks out and sits on the deck of the restaurant, grabbing a smoke between shifts. Then:
Tonya looks up. Diane is there. Tonya smiles, apprehensively.
Diane sits. They both look down the road. Diane smooths her already smooth skirt.
Tonya and Diane lock eyes.
128 THE THUMPING OVERTURE OF BARRACUDA PLAYS OVER: 128
Diane checks Tonya’s hands for polish. They’re clear.
A ballet teacher elongates Tonya’s fingers, straightens her back, raises her chin. Tonya hates it.
Tonya runs using a large bag of dog food on her back for endurance. Diane watches alongside.
Tonya talks directly to the camera as she runs by.
Tonya is instructed in a series of graceful moves.
Tonya lifts logs, sweating. Diane watches, doubtfully.
Tonya works with Diane, extending her leg as she glides along the ice.
Tonya hikes with 2 large water bottles for weights. She collapses and uses her inhaler.
Tonya jumps HIGH on the ice and lands perfectly.
Diane and Tonya react to her low scores minutes later.
Tonya spins rapidly, ending her routine to a cheering crowd.
Tonya and Diane react in frustration to her low scores.
Tonya ambushes a skating judge as he gets in his car.
The judge LOCKS the car door & rolls the window down A BIT.
Lavona spots Tonya sitting at a table.
Lavona is momentarily thrown. But she recovers quickly. Then:
Tonya stands, faces Lavona. Before she walks away:
Shawn’s mom hands a LONG phone chord to Jeff in the basement.
The screen splits in 2. Tonya is on the phone in both shots.
TONYA TONYA (Lovingly) (Disgusted)
I don’t think I can make it I don’t think I can make it to the Olympics without you. to the Olympics without you.
Tonya covers her face with makeup to hide the bruises. Jeff hands her a beer, apologetically. He kisses her neck and she lets him.
MARTIN MADDOX rubs his hands together gleefully.
Diane looks away, distastefully.
Lavona looks directly into the camera.
Tonya, in her skating costume, lays in wait with a large wooden baseball bat in her hands.
When Nancy appears, Tonya swings wildly as Nancy SCREAMS.
Jeff, Tonya and Diane chat when a POLICEMAN approaches.
Tonya looks out at the growing crowd, nervously.
He pauses. He’s not proud of this next part.
Jeff and Shawn sit across from each other, eating.
A TITLE CARD READS: SHAWN’S GUYS. Their names appear under their images.
DERRICK SMITH 29, balding & SHANE STANT 22, a mouth breather. The car juts and starts in time to the music.
Jeff and Tonya listen to an answering machine message over and over but it’s inaudible due to wear.
She writes it all down, hangs up and gives the paper to Jeff.
Jeff is wired for a polygraph. He talks to the camera.
Jeff hands Shawn a wad of money as his parents watch TV.
Tonya practices on the ice as Shawn follows Jeff around.
Tonya skates over to them, catching her breath.
He starts to respond but she snaps her fingers in his face.
As she skates away, every truth Shawn’s been avoiding is held up like a mirror. It DEVASTATES him. He can’t comprehend it.
161 SPLIT SCREEN: MODERN DAY TONYA AND MODERN DAY JEFF 161
TONYA JEFF
I had a session later that January 6th. I was sleeping night. So I was asleep. in.
They both stare into the camera, blankly.
162 TITLE CARD: DETROIT NATIONALS. JANUARY 6 1994. PRACTICE 162 SESSION
Derrick, Shawn’s ‘hit man’ preps younger Shane, pointedly.
Shane listens solemnly and nods. Derrick opens Shane’s door.
Huge banners announce ‘L’eggs Presents 1994 Women’s National Figure Skating Championships.’
SHANE stands slightly bug-eyed watching the security guards in front of a ‘Restricted Area’ sign, psyching himself up.
His face goes slack as his mind blanks. He gazes down and oddly to the right. He takes a deep breath, holds it. Then:
He walks right past security.
Shane wipes his brow as he gets his bearings. Cameramen, skaters, technicians, coaches, all mill about.
A PRETTY YOUNG SKATER is bent over, tying her shoe.
Shane stares at her ass as he passes, trips into a security guard. They lock eyes.
The guard points. Shane mind-blanks again as he heads off.
Shane looks around, lost. He stops Michelle Kwan’s coach.
The coach points to the ice rink. Shane watches Nancy Kerrigan walk off the ice, PASSING right by him. He does a double take.
Shane psychs himself up. He can turn back or not. He hesitates then follows Nancy. They disappear behind the curtain.
Shane SNAPS open a baton. He STRIKES NANCY KERRIGAN’S LEG from behind as he hurries out, never looking back.
Shane walks quickly as the first screams are heard. He heads toward 2 large glass doors that lead to the street.
He CRASHES into them. He pushes & pulls them. They’re locked.
He looks at the baton in his hand then at the glass doors. He RAISES the baton.
But instead of using the baton, HE SMASHES THE GLASS WITH HIS HEAD, baton held high.
He pulls his head back, dazed, then pushes through the door.
A bit baffled, Shane takes a step in one direction then the opposite one.
An OLD MAN happens to be standing there. Shane inexplicably tackles him. They hit the ground hard.
Then Shane jumps up.
He races down the street just as a car pulls alongside him, never stopping. Shane throws the baton underneath a random car and jumps inside the getaway car as it skids off.
We cut between:
Tonya watches Nancy getting hit on TV, phone receiver in hand, waiting for Jeff to pick up.
Jeff lays sprawled out on the bed. Finally he answers his ringing phone.
Jeff bolts upright..
She hangs up. Jeff falls out of bed, turns on the TV and stands naked in front of it. He channel surfs.
On every station Nancy cries out “WHY??”
He throws the remote across the room.
Lavona stops waiting tables and watches the scene on TV.
Jeff’s truck skids and screeches to a halt. Dust flies.
Jeff burst through the door. Shawn and HIS PARENTS are watching the news reports on the attack.
Shawn hoots and applauds. Jeff holds his head in his hands.
Jeff is stopped in his tracks.
Jeff, looking like he wants to kill Shawn, heads towards the door.
The door slams after Jeff.
A TITLE CARD reads: January 7, 1994. (The next day)
Fans hold signs cheering her on as Tonya skates around the ice. She looks determined, focused, almost mercenary.
Tonya begins to skate to the music.
A CLERK watches Tonya skate on a small TV as Jeff sends a money order. Jeff is extremely overly casual.
On the TV, Tonya SOARS HIGH and lands a triple Lutz.
Lavona watches Tonya skate on the TV set in the bar.
Lavona stands stock still amid the chaos of the restaurant, watching Tonya. She hold herself tightly, afraid to breathe.
ON THE TV: Tonya jumps IMPOSSIBLY HIGH into a triple loop.
Lavona is in the routine with Tonya, focused, alert.
Lavona searches Tonya’s face for guilt or innocence..
Tonya is triumphant. Elated. The crowd is on their feet.
Lavona takes it all in, stonefaced. Is she happy? Jealous? Missing out? Proud? Plotting her next move?
When she turns away from the TV, her mask is already back on.
Shane sits inside his car in front of the arena. He moves the car up a foot and STOPS.
Shane moves his car up a foot and STOPS.
Police lights FLASH as a team of police handcuff Shane.
Shane stares at him, slack jawed.
Tonya is elated. Photographers take pictures as Jeff and Tonya walk through the lobby of their hotel.
They head quickly to the elevators.
A shy 6 year old girl approaches with pen and paper.
6 YEAR OLD GIRL Tonya I wanna be a skater like you.
She signs an autograph and the girl moves on.
VOICE Excuse us.
Jeff and Tonya turn. 2 men in suits stand before them.
Jeff and Tonya stare.
Tonya and Jeff sit with FBI men.
FBI AGENT #1 It’s just a formality. We’re talking to everyone.
FBI AGENT #2 That must make life difficult.
He laughs at his joke, alone. Then:
FBI AGENT #2 (CONT’D) Maybe you heard something or saw-
They turn to Jeff.
He takes a deep breath. Instead of exhaling, he holds it.
FBI AGENT #1 What do you make of all this, Jeff?
FBI AGENT #1 How long are you in Detroit?
FBI AGENT #1 Well, why don’t we give you a ride?
TONYA JEFF
Thank you. That is so- Oh, that’s not-
FBI AGENT #2 But first. Who’s Derrick?
Jeff looks like he just pooped his pants and doesn’t want anyone to know it.
They all turn to Jeff.
The FLASH of cameras going off.
FLASH! Tonya, teary-eyed, carrying a stuffed bear is mobbed by friends, reporters & camera crews. Jeff lags behind. Shawn, trench coat & tie, plays bodyguard.
She laughs. None of the reporters do.
She walks on with the reporters followed by Shawn and Jeff.
Shawn and Tonya are elated. Jeff, not so.
A TITLE CARD reads: 24 HOURS EARLIER.
Shawn sits at the bar, bragging to a group of people.
Shawn brags to a neighborhood kid as Shawn empties the trash.
Shawn brags to a fellow peeing man.
A TITLE CARD reads: 48 HOURS AFTER THAT.
A group of FBI men and Policemen knock of Shawn’s front door.
SHAWN’S MOTHER Who is it, Shawny?
Shawn sits on the couch surrounded by agents in suits.
FBI AGENT #1 What can you tell us about Tonya Harding?
FBI AGENT #2 Aren’t you her bodyguard?
FBI AGENT #2 How about Nancy Kerrigan?
FBI AGENT #1 You haven’t heard of Nancy Kerrigan?
Shawn wipes his brow. The Agents exchange a look.
FBI AGENT #1 Shawn-
Tonya looks out the window and sees the gathering press.
The phone rings. Jeff is quickly pulling all the shades as Tonya goes for the phone.
They both stare, inches away from the ringing phone. A beat. Then Jeff can’t help himself. He answers it.
INTERCUT WITH SHAWN:
Shawn hangs up. The two F.B.I. agents nod.
As Jeff heads in, he can’t help but notice TWO IDENTICALBLACK SEDANS parked in the lot. Something’s clearly up.
Shawn wipes sweat from his face and the back of his neck. When he spots Jeff approaching, his several chins tremble.
Jeff sighs. He stares at Shawn hard as he sits.
Shawn mimes whacked Nancy crying out ‘Why?!?’
And Shawn realizes Jeff knows he’s wearing a wire. Jeff leans in close to Shawn. KISSING CLOSE.
Jeff walks out. Shawn looks outside nervously to the G-men.
Tonya and Jeff wait for Bob Rawlinson, Tonya’s lawyer.
Diane and Bob Rawlinson, lawyerly handsome, join them.
TONYA JEFF
We didn’t know anything! We didn’t know anything!
Jeff squeezes her arm hard. She screams, turns to him.
Tonya nods. He yanks her quickly out the door.
The second Jeff gets in the truck, he turns to her.
Jeff, furious, screeches onto the road. Tonya, humiliated, studies him in film noir like shadows. It dawns on her:
She screams as Jeff throws back his fist and swings HARD-
Tonya, in a business suit with lawyer Bob, meets the F.B.I.
Tonya packs furiously as the front door slams. As she hears Jeff approach she quickly locks the bedroom door. He BANGS.
Jeff is dumbfounded as he reads the report. G-Men gloat.
She throws everything she can into the suitcase & zips it up.
She stops momentarily. She considers opening the door.
She rises. But instead she races to the window and opens it.
She throws her suitcase out the open window. She hesitates.
Then she escapes through the window. Jeff stares, open mouthed on the other side of the door. He begins to cry.
A nervous but excited Shawn is interviewed.
Tonya steps outside and is SURROUNDED on all sides by reporters. Overwhelmed as she heads to her car she tries to remain ‘casual’ but their shouts are deafening.
Tonya, mobbed by press, GIDDY over the attention, makes her way to practice. 4,000 spectators fill 3 levels of the mall.
Fans hold up homemade signs reading, “Portland is Proud of Tonya!” “We Love Tonya! Deal With It America!”
Many languages shout questions at Tonya. She smiles & waves.
201 ARCHIVAL TV FOOTAGE: 201
Tonya finishes her routine & the crowd cheers. She looks up.
TONYA’S P.O.V- As far as the eye can see, cameras are pointed at her like weapons. Lenses and flashes and clicks capture her every move. Tonya is the most famous woman on earth.
Jeff, hair slicked, moustache shinning (if possible) is led off in cuffs followed by Shane, Derrick & Shawn. Bulbs flash.
The press all stand behind red velvet ropes shouting and snapping pictures of Lavona taking out the trash.
Jeff sits where he used to with Shawn, now drinking alone.
Tonya sews extra sequins on a costume, shades drawn. The doorbell RINGS continuously. She STOPS and takes a look around. She’s a prisoner.
She moves to the front door. Finally she opens it.
She slowly closes the door. A quiet beat. BANGING and RINGING continue. Tonya’s head drops. She opens the door angrily.
Lavona is standing in the doorway, sheepishly, not meeting her daughter’s gaze. Cameras FLASH.
Tonya pulls her mother inside and slams the door. They stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. Finally:
A beat.
Tonya watches her. Lavona looks away.
Tonya is silent.
Tonya wells up.
But Tonya hugs her mom. Lavona tries to hug her back but can’t.
Tonya steps back.
Tonya almost laughs. She puts her hand on Lavona’s shoulder. Lavona waits. Then Tonya searches Lavona’s coat.She pulls a tape recorder out of Lavona’s pocket.
Tonya turns away and throws opens the front door.
A CAR ALARM rings out as a tow truck attaches itself to Tonya’s truck. Tonya races out. Lavona shouts after her.
Tonya is chased by reporters as she runs down the street.
Tonya races after her towed truck but it is too late. She is holding back tears, her veneer starting to crack.
A title cad: 3 Weeks To Lillehammer Olympics.
Diane helps Tonya dress. Bob faces the wall, chivalrously.
Bob turns around. Bruises scar Tonya’s back, legs & arms.
She hands Tonya her Team USA jacket.
Tonya stands in front of many microphones smiling tightly and reads a prepared statement.
Tonya & Bob stand before the judge. Tonya looks like a kid.
Silence. Tonya sits by the mirror in her costume but without a stitch of makeup. She looks much younger than her 23 years.
The air is still but dust floating is visible. Tonya paints her cheeks with lipstick for rouge then wipes it in with her fists. She tries to hold it together.Slowly, very slowly, she begins to paint her face. Despite her best efforts, tears begin to fall. She smiles into the mirror. Lipstick is on her teeth.
Title card: Hard Copy Offices. KABC-TV Los Angeles.
Jeff sits getting made up while a microphone is attached.
But Jeff looks anything but happy. He looks conflicted and ashamed as the director points at him to begin.
The ENORMOUS crowd in the stands wait BUT THE ICE IS EMPTY.
Diane and 2 others frantically try to tie up Tonya’s skates.
Officials watch the ladies crouch at Tonya’s knees. The crowd is heard clapping impatiently in unison. Some start booing.
She ties her laces tight and runs out.
Tonya rushes from backstage through the scoring area.
She steps onto the ice.
Tonya steps onto the ice then skate over to Diane as the crowd jeers.
Diane gives her a pep talk. Tonya looks terrified and doomed and resolved as she tilts her head to God and says a prayer. She catches her breath and hits her mark.
The bizarre music begins. Tonya skates gamely but awkwardly.
She skates backward as the music soars then JUMPS, giving up in the air, arms and legs spread out clumsily.
She continues for a few seconds, arms spread out gracefully, then drops them, giving up. She starts to cry.
Tonya looks devastated as she skates over to the judges.
Tonya throws up her hands then throws her leg up ONTO their table pointing to her laces. The judges examine it as the music continues. Her face resembles the classic Tragedy Mask.
She looks humiliated and defiant and at a loss.
Lavona watches TV solemnly.
ON THE TV - The judges mutter and Tonya skates off the ice.
Tonya wears her big child star smile.
Tonya performs a series of jumps to a smattering of applause.
Nancy stands on the Olympic platform in second position.
As the medal goes on, Nancy looks like she stepped in poo.
A judge BANGS his gavel.
Tonya and Bob stand before a judge. She looks at her feet.
He stops. Tonya looks up.
Tonya face is blank.
She flinches. This was a surprise to her.
The judge stares.
The judge bangs his gavel. Her lawyer nudges her, motions for her to take the deal. Tonya stares ahead.
Tonya, alone, hiding out in the dark, beer in hand, the only light coming from the TV set. On the TV, a late night TV host:
The audience cheers.
Jeff opens his front door and looks around cautiously.
On Jeff’s TV, press coverage of O. J. Simpson’s arrest for killing his ex-wife.
The bird pecks at Lavona’s ear.
Title card: Creek Nations Gaming Center Tulsa, Oklahoma. 2003
A huge crowd has gathered around a boxing ring.
Tonya and a SCARY LADY BOXER trade punches and jabs.
BAM! Her opponent slams her with a right to the jaw. Tonya momentarily see stars. She looks out at the crowd.
An arena of hate where there used to be love. Ugly faces shouting and booing.
The match continues. Tonya’s face is beaten and battered.
BAM! Tonya is hit hard in the face. As she goes down-
Tonya’s skates take flight in slow motion.
Tonya falls in slow motion.
Tonya does the triple axel. Her moment of glory.
The crowd in the boxing ring jeers and cheers as Tonya goes down.
Tonya comes out of the triple axel victoriously.
Tonya hits the matt hard. The crowd is on it’s feet. Tonya slowly raises her head.
She spits out blood. Then right to the camera:
She smiles. Somehow she rises. Nothing will keep her down. She begins to fight again.
BLACKOUT. Over the blackness, TITLE CARDS:
Lavona Harding and Tonya Harding have had no contact in several years. Last Tonya heard, Lavona was living in Washington state behind a porn shop.
Jeff Gillooly changed his name to Jeff Stone. After divorcing Tonya he married a woman named Nancy and they opened Nancy Nicole’s hair/tanning salon. He is currently a car salesman, happily married to his third wife and has 2 children.
Tonya Harding does professional landscaping, deck building and house painting. She lives in close proximity to Jeff Gillooly but they have no contact. She is happily married with a 7 year old son.
She wants everyone to know she is a good mother.
The End.