The Pulling Game

Synopsis
The date is 1970, before women started burning bras, when women were discouraged from playing football or any game that men thought might affect their fertility, and in the smoker’s heyday. In Cheshire, PE teacher Cathy Barton, fought off her mother’s expectations of becoming a wife and mother to forge a career as a sports teacher and captain of county hockey. She’s dating Neil Henson who has two young daughters and is separated from his wife. Cathy gets fouled in a match and because of her injury is off the team for good – she’s devastated. Her colleagues Evelyn and Jeff (who secretly fancies her), rally round in support. The boyfriend has been two-timing her for months Cathy discovers, so she throws him and her wedding plans out.
Enter by accident, a few months later, a raggle-taggle gang of working-class women in a Tug of War team. They’re short of a No.7 for the county match Cathy’s come along to watch. She thought she was there to support Jeff’s team. Instead, she stands in for the missing woman. They lose, but Cathy thinks it’s fun and when the men’s coach, Fred Thompson invites her to join the team, she agrees. He’s offered to coach the women, so that he can chat up Fifi, the team No.6. Jeff thinks she’s mad but Cathy comes to realise that however shitty the women’s lives are at home and work, they get status, friendship and support from the team. But they’ve got no transport, no team strips and no bloody childcare. Cathy tries to get them sponsorship in an unequal sporting world where the sponsored winning men’s team get medals, and the women get a tin of biscuits.After Cathy vows she will never trust another man, her colleague, Jeff, who has secretly fancied her for ages, makes a play. She rebuffs him, while secretly dithering. Too late, in the middle of a drunken episode, she realises he’s copped off with one of her teammates and she’s sad. However, both teams are victorious and going to Torbay holiday camp to represent England in the Internationals.
Cathy redoubles her efforts to get sponsorship by contacting Neil, who is delighted to hear from her. He agrees to sponsor the team but substitutes Cathy without her knowledge, so that they can get back together. She is furious and ditches him. Fred is angry with the team when he hears Cathy’s been edged out. They realise mud’s thicker than water, bring her back into the team and Cathy’s mum has a brainwave about sponsorship.
Both teams go to Torbay but only the women win the Internationals for England. Cathy and Jeff get it together
Best Screenplay
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