Pickleball Pete (2026)

[bunniefuu]

(light music)

(upbeat music)

Guys, guys, guys.

Hello, hello, hello.

And welcome to the first

annual 24 Hour Film Festival,

"No Sleep, No Mercy."

(both chuckles)

My name's Peter Gazania, and

I have handpicked the teams.

And your team is the red team.

-Okay.

-If you can figure out why.

Now, it will be your responsibility

to write, direct, produce, and edit

a full film in 24 hours.

And I just have to give you the genre.

-All right.

-So gimme a little drum roll.

(all tapping)

Oh yeah, all right.

Aaaand sports.

Oh.

-Yay.

-Yeah, that's right.

That's good, yeah.

So you guys have 24

hours, starting right now.

-Good luck.

-Oh.

Guys, we can work with this.

-Oh, boy.

-Yeah.

All right, team, huddle.

-Okay.

-Okay.

Sports film.

We gotta come up with a concept fast.

Okay, I think we should

stick to the classics:

football, basketball, baseball.

Competitive hot dog eating.

That's technically a sport, right?

I think we should do something visual,

like fencing or sumo wrestling.

-Hopscotch.

-What?

Yeah.

Come on, y'all, think outside the box.

Hopscotch.

-Uh.

-Well.

Grace, literally, no one

wants to watch that movie.

Oh, come on.

Everybody's gonna wanna watch.

"Hopscotch: The Reckoning." (laughs)

Pickleball.

-(Sam gasps)

-Pickleball?

That sounds great.

Yeah.

My grandparents play every weekend.

They're obsessed.

And I've basically grown

up watching senior citizens

fight over a plastic ball.

And trust me, it gets intense.

I-is that the one with-with the paddle?

Or-or is it like mini golf?

It's like tennis, Mike,

but smaller and louder.

-Hmm.

-So, you know, for visuals,

paddles look really good on camera.

I hear it's the fastest

growing sport in America.

Finally, it's something

that I can talk some smack

to some other retirees.

I'm in, count me in.

(bright music)

Okay, team, here we go.

We gotta start making some decisions fast.

All right, step one, genre.

Yeah, are we gonna do a drama

or maybe a sports inspirational story?

What about a thriller?

Like k*ller pickleball players?

Yes!

Watch out, Cinderella.

The ball is coming for you.

I can already hear that trailer

announcer's voice in my head.

Grace, no.

[Grace] Oh, come on.

What about comedy?

Pickleball is already kind of funny.

If we lean into it, we

can really stand out.

I love comedy.

Yeah, and if we're too serious,

then it's gonna come off a little weird.

-Exactly.

-Right, yeah.

Comedy works, but it's

gotta be sharp comedy.

I mean, it can't just

be people hitting ba*ls

and falling down all over the place.

Don't be knocking all

that falling down stuff,

'cause I do my own stunts.

And it has to have heart.

And it could be ridiculous.

Good.

Like a feel-good underdog

story with paddles.

Okay.

Comedy.

Sports comedy, that's our lane.

So in this.

All right, all right, red team.

So what have you decided?

-Sports comedy.

-Sports comedy.

-Pickleball!

-Pickleball.

Wow, nice.

All right, well, keep working.

Keep grinding.

And it looks like you have about, uh,

23 hours left, so.

-Woo!

-See you in a little while.

Okay, next step, title.

Okay, let's brainstorm.

What's funny about pickleball?

Oh, the word pickle.

That's already gonna have

to work for us, right?

We could call it "A Dill of Destiny"

or "Brine and Punishment."

Or "The Battle of the Pickles."

(laughs) That sounds

like a cooking competition.

"Pickleball Pandemonium."

"Pickleball Pandemonium."

It's sporadic, like

"Pickleball Apocalypse."

(laughs) Yeah, the world

where no pickle is safe.

Or "The Pickle Ballers."

No, I think that's too generic.

"Pickle Me This."

"The Paddle Diaries."

"Net Gain."

-"50 Shades of Pickleball."

-Oh, absolutely not.

Ooh, but I would watch that.

And I'd watch that twice.

-Right?

-Okay, okay.

Titles are good, but we

need a hook, all right?

What's this story really about?

Character.

A legend.

Some guy named Pete.

(gasps) Wait.

Pickleball Pete.

Pickleball Pete.

[Mike] Yeah, that's cool.

Simple, funny, memorable.

Yeah, Pickleball Pete.

I can see the poster already.

A hero, a paddle,

and a whole body soaked

in Gatorade. (laughs)

Okay, okay, hear me out.

Pete used to be a tennis

player, like a really good one.

And he even had all the trophies,

the sweatbands, the glory days.

But then he walked away.

Why?

I don't know yet.

But he's obsessed.

Like, "Tennis is dead to me" obsessed.

Like he left Wimbledon

behind and he traded it in

for Wednesday nights

pickleball at the YMCA.

Come on now, that's so tragic.

(chuckles) A dramatic fall

into a plastic ball. (laughs)

That's good.

So it's like Rocky, but with retirees.

Okay.

Okay, this works.

We have a fallen tennis

player turned pickleball pro.

A sports comedy about obsession

and reinvention and maybe a little chaos.

(Mike laughs)

-Chaos.

-Chaos.

A little chaos, a little cardio.

[Alex] (laughs) All right.

To "Pickleball Pete."

-To "Pickleball Pete."

-To "Pickleball Pete."

Hi, I'm Pickleball Pete at Palm Beach,

and I wanna talk to you

about an exciting new sport,

a sport that welcomes

professionals like myself

and amateurs like yourself.

But don't let your

amateur status prevent you

from signing up for Pickleball

Pete's Pickleball League,

a new and exciting way

to join the wonderful

wide world of pickleball.

So grab your paddles, and

let's play some pickleball.

Well, there you have it.

The self-proclaimed pickleball sportsman

has spoken on the sport

that is paddling the nation.

(upbeat music)

Yeah!

All right, we got

Pete, we got pickleball.

But we can't just have him floating

from court to court

playing random characters.

Yeah, exactly.

This story needs stakes,

depth, something to follow.

And heart.

Every great sports

story has to have heart.

R-right.

Like "Rocky" had Adrian,

"Happy Gilmore" had Virginia,

and "Dodgeball" had-had, what was that?

It had Ben Stiller's mustache,

and that's all that really matters.

(all laughing)

Right, Pete needs somebody in his world,

someone who pushes him forward.

Or keeps him grounded.

-Yeah.

-Or both.

Mm.

Right, but she needs

her own role in the story.

I mean, yeah, she can't

just be a decoration.

Yeah, she has to be unique.

Matter of fact, they aren't

even a love interest at first.

Well, what if she's like

his manager or promoter?

Or his fairy godmother, you know?

Only she's got a clipboard and a whistle.

Yeah, yeah.

Somebody that believes in

him when nobody else does.

She could be the one helping him build

his Pickleball league.

Yeah, that's good.

But maybe we don't even know

if they're in a relationship.

It's complicated.

We can let the audience

figure it out for themselves.

-Yeah.

-Complicated.

That's my favorite status.

That's a mystery.

-Crazy.

-I like it.

Okay, okay.

Name needs to pop.

Something memorable.

Pickleball Patty.

(group chuckles)

Yeah, that's it.

I'll take a pickleball

patty with some fries.

No, no, no, no.

Stop the Patty thing.

All right, all right.

What about Cha Cha?

Cha Cha.

Ooh.

Now that works.

That's fun.

Distinct.

And it brings in the Latin market.

If we have a Latina,

we could then open up our audience.

Yeah, representation matters.

And she can bring real

personality to the film.

Yeah, and she needs to

have a signature look,

like she always has a flower in her hair.

That's her thing.

Okay.

Okay, so Cha Cha, she

is smart, she's fiery,

she's central to the story.

She helps Pete organize

his pickleball league.

Yeah, and their

relationship is complicated.

Maybe, maybe they flirt.

Maybe they argue.

Maybe they're secretly

together, maybe not.

I mean, the audience can wonder, right?

No, no, no, no, no.

They are totally together.

Nobody can have that much chemistry, okay,

without at least one

slow-motion paddle scene.

Exactly.

She has her own goals, her own voice.

She's not just "the girlfriend."

No, and she brings

in the cultural flair,

the food, the music, the energy.

She brings texture into Pete's life.

Maybe she's the only one

who can actually keep Pete on track.

Then she deserves a medal.

Right, okay.

So Cha Cha, she is,

this is really good, I like this.

She's not just a part of the story.

She's actually a driving force in it.

-All right, yeah.

-I like that.

So Pete's got Cha Cha.

This is officially more than just a guy

hitting ba*ls around.

To Cha Cha, queen of the court,

and the only woman who could

out-serve Pickleball Pete

and his ego.

(Sam laughs) Cha Cha.

-She's a spark.

-Yeah.

Hi.

Fantastic interview, papi.

Thanks, Cha Cha.

But for the millionth time, it's Pete.

Ay.

For the millionth time,

I know it's Pete, papi.

So the league seems to

have a lot of interest.

I got a feeling this league

is really gonna take off.

I just wish that Tear

Drop Charlie could be here

to share in the success, you know?

Can't believe they put him in prison.

It was clearly self-defense.

(upbeat music)

(Charlie laughs)

Can only go up from here though, right?

Seriously?

Kevin Sorbo?

Well.

I mean, why not?

It gets us the faith-based crowd.

But he kills someone.

I mean, Christians aren't perfect.

Oh, okay.

What is Pete's backstory?

Every actor knows they

gotta have a backstory.

I mean, maybe he was a tennis pro

and then, I don't know,

something happened.

-(upbeat music)

-Woo!

-Great job, Pete.

-Great job, papi.

-Great job, Peter.

-Yeah.

[Mike] Okay, hear me out.

-Champion out there.

-Pete becomes famous

because he literally slips on a pickle.

(Jess laughs)

That is so stupid.

Aww.

It's perfect.

[Alex] Yeah. (laughs)

Ma, I'm hungry.

-Ma.

-Okay.

That's enough, Theodore.

[Theodore] But ma.

Shh.

I said behave.

Watch the game.

Ma.

Ma!

-Enough of that, dear.

-Ma, come on.

Trying to watch.

Ma'am, I have this pickle right here.

It will shut this kid up.

Sure, thank you.

Here you go.

(Theodore munching)

(Theodore spits)

(air swooshing)

(Pete grunts) (playful music)

(Pete screams)

Peter.

A pickle.

A pickle hit me.

Oh my. (team laughing)

All right, all right.

But underneath all the silliness though,

Pete does find pickleball.

And to him, it's not just working out.

In a world where one

man slipped on a pickle

and it served him right to his destiny.

Grace, you should write the trailer.

(all laughing)

All right, it's actually

really great. (laughs)

What, it's genius.

Yeah. (speaking indistinctly)

Come on.

Maybe nobody's taking him seriously.

Or the only person

that will play with him is his Aunt Marge.

Or his team is just two guys

who showed up for free snacks.

I don't know with the free snacks.

That's why I joined this team. (laughs)

Of course you did.

Well, I can see it now.

Poor Pickleball Pete standing in the gym,

and it smells like pickles.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But whatever the

reason, he's stuck, right?

He, um, he has the dream, but no momentum.

Trapped in a world where

nobody believes in the paddle.

You've been watching

too many trailers, Grace.

I am just saying, if Hollywood

calls, I'm gonna be ready.

I mean, but that's where the

story really starts, right?

Like the moment something changes.

-That's right.

-Yeah.

An opportunity knocks wonderfully.

(door knocking)

Not again.

Hey. (laughs)

-Scram, nerds.

-Pickleball Pete,

if you would just hear

us out for a second.

Yeah, we have something

exciting to tell you about.

I have something exciting to tell you.

Get off my property or

I'm gonna lose my mind.

I don't know what I'm gonna

do, but I'm gonna do something.

Stop, stop, stop, stop.

We're here to help you guys.

Oh, yeah?

Why are you here to help?

My name is Ted.

I'm Penelope, hi.

And we represent the local

People's Pickleball Alliance.

For Pineapple Park and Palm Grove.

Wait, what?

They said they represent the People

of Pickleball Alliance.

For Pineapple Park in Palm Grove.

Pineapple Park is a pickleball court?

Not yet, but that's why we

started this organization,

to make that happen.

We're hoping, with your

signature and skills,

we can raise enough money

to turn our old shabby tennis courts

into brand new pickleball courts.

That's right, and turn Palm

Grove into the hidden gem

and alternative to the

annoyingly prosperous Palm Beach.

That's why we're going around

and collecting these signatures. (laughs)

Now, would you both be

willing to sign our petition

for the Pineapple Palm of Palm

Grove Pickleball Initiative?

What you thinking, papi?

I grew up playing

tennis on those courts.

Those courts changed my life.

I don't know if I can stand

by and watch 'em be torn down

and replaced for a sport

that turned its back on me.

I can't sign that.

Did you say signature and skills?

-Exactly.

-Oh.

Oh, yeah, Diadem is hosting

a pickleball tournament

and the prize is $100,000.

(Ted laughs)

$100,000?

Yep.

-I'm in.

-100k.

Wait, wait, wait.

And you want papi to

play in the Palm Grove?

Exactly.

And we're gonna use that money

to turn all the old tennis courts

into pickleball courts.

Yes!

What?

You want papi to win the money,

and then you give it to Pineapple Grove?

For the courts.

-Ah.

-Yeah.

I don't know about that.

(Cha Cha speaking Spanish)

I will sign this for you though.

Good luck in your petition

for Pineapple Park at Palm Grove.

Pickleball Court initiative.

Cha Cha.

And don't come back.

Okay.

Big picture.

Pete wants to go pro.

He started this league

that didn't work out.

Opportunity knocks.

And then he gets into this

Diadem pickleball tournament.

Where he could win $100,000.

And pickleball fame.

One man, one paddle, $100,000.

-(team chuckling)

-Okay.

Yeah, yeah, I like all of that.

But come on, we need more drama.

And chaos.

Oh, definitely chaos.

Maybe the mob.

-Oh, the mob.

-Oh.

The Pickleball Mafia that goes,

"I control the courts

from Naples to Tomoka."

(chuckling continues)

Okay, okay.

But we can't just have him

breezing through this tournament.

That's boring.

Right, a good sports

comedy needs stakes, twists,

weird stuff that keeps happening.

Okay, okay, so-so what's the worst thing

that could happen to Pete along the way?

He loses his paddle.

That his league turns on him.

Cha Cha gets recruited by a rival team.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, not Cha Cha,

'cause she is the heart and soul

of his little, you know, spin serve.

Yes, betrayal.

Maybe, maybe, okay.

Maybe a rival player

from his past resurfaces.

You know, someone who

was involved in the thing

that he walked away from.

We could call him the Net Whisperer,

because he's all mysterious. (laughs)

Okay, we can layer it.

Rival league trouble, romance tension.

And snacks.

Don't forget the snacks

'cause we need the snacks.

I'm getting hungry.

(laughs) Okay, exactly.

Big goals, big prizes.

But the road to get there has to be messy.

Okay, okay, let's bring

his past back into it.

Um, what was the name of his tennis coach?

We didn't give him one yet.

Oh, okay, well.

Fred.

Fred's a good coach's name.

Let's bring him back into it.

Okay, here's what happens.

(door knocking)

Pete, it's you!

It's really you.

-(knocking continues)

-Come on, Pete.

It's Ted and Penelope and your coach Fred.

It's your coach.

We know you're Peter Picklevitch.

We know you were on your way

to becoming a famous tennis star.

Come on.

Seriously?

It's not like I was in

hiding or something.

Yeah, can we talk?

Please?

Yes!

Eat up, boys and girl.

So guys, I wanna help you.

I really do.

It's just I've spent my entire life

trying to defeat the game

named after my nemesis:

the pickle.

A pickle ruined my career.

And ever since then, I've vowed to become

the best pickleball player

the world has ever seen.

That's right.

By defeating the pickle.

Yeah, yeah, you're right, Peter.

-It's Pete now.

-Oh.

It's Pete now.

That's right, papi. (chuckles)

Listen, I always knew

you would do great,

and I knew you would excel

at anything, but man to man,

why'd you ghost me, huh?

I was your coach.

I'll tell you why.

(bright music)

Traitor. (cries)

I was there that day.

The day you handed that

monster that tennis ball.

-What?

-That kid ruined

my tennis career, and I vowed,

if I ever saw him again,

the things I would do to him.

(chuckles nervously) Oh, the thing is,

(clears throat) Pete.

Bye.

You just had to steal the beat.

Couldn't you just ease into it?

I'm sorry, dad.

Stepdad.

-I'm sorry, Stepdad Fred.

-(Fred grunts)

Slow down, papi.

Shut up, Cha Cha.

Don't you wanna listen to that Fred,

Ted, and the nerdy girl?

This community could

use a pickleball court,

and you're just not meant to do it.

No.

Get your lazy butt up.

I don't think he wants to

play pickleball anymore.

Here you go.

I brought us some yummy snacks.

Help yourself.

Okay, let's cut right to the chase.

So the only way that we're

going to get Palm Grove's.

Pineapple Park to build

those pickleball courts

is with Peter's help.

Wouldn't you, papi's tennis coach,

why do you want to see the

tennis court destroyed?

All right, people, lean in with me.

All right, come on, come on.

That was a dark day.

A dark day.

It's darker than me.

Darker than you, Stepdad Fred? (laughs)

So Peter hurt his ankle that day,

and that ended his career.

But it also k*lled my coaching.

But there was a light at

the end of that tunnel,

and at the end of that tunnel

was the love of my life.

Oh, dear.

And your son.

Yeah, uh.

So anyways, my favorite

snack, my last pickle,

I had to give it to a kid to shut him up.

Hey!

We love you, pumpkin.

So anyways, I hurt one

and I helped another,

but I knew that day that

I had to defeat the pickle

to make everything right.

So you want to defeat the pickleball?

Defeating it as in dominating it.

Or you could defeat the game

and leave the tennis courts.

See, that's the problem.

Nobody cares about tennis anymore.

Plus, a developer has

been eyeing that park

to build office space or something.

The only way to save the

park is to win that money

by building pickleball courts.

Then I can coach and I can dominate it.

You said defeat.

Woman, do you want help or not?

Fine.

If you help papi, I'm in.

Excellent.

Do you have any ideas?

Well, there is one

thing that we all know.

He likes to compete!

And there is only one person

that truly defeated him.

Mustang Sally!

That's right.

(upbeat music)

The sin of destruction.

Exactly.

-Hi, Sally.

-Hi, Pete.

You got game?

Yeah.

You wanna play?

[Sally] Yes.

Okay.

Uh, good luck.

You too, Pete.

Thank you.

Who do you think's gonna win?

Sally.

What about you?

Sally.

-Two sets.

-Yeah.

All right, we'll see.

You got any hot dogs here?

Hot dogs?

I thought you liked bananas and bologna.

(light music)

-Ah!

-Yeah!

That's it.

-Oh!

-Oh!

How could he miss that?

Peter, is that all you got?

You got him, Sally, one more point.

Hey.

Hey, shot.

-Come on, Sally, Sally.

-Hey.

(Sally grunts)

Oh.

-Great win, Sally.

-Great win, Sally.

You suck.

-Yes.

-Yay!

-Nice.

-Way to go, girl.

Way to go.

The sin of destruction. (indistinct)

Listen, let me tell you,

this went on for years.

When I put Pete into semi-pro

and Sally into the women's division,

they never played again.

So he never beat her?

[Fred] Not one single game.

And the Diadem Pickleball Tournament

is an open tournament.

So if we get Sally to

enter the tournament,

papi will have the hope

to defeat his... Neresis.

No, no.

Nemesis.

I think it's nemosis.

It's nemesis, you idiot.

I need you guys to find out everything

about this Mustang Sally.

I'm in!

Yeah.

(playful music)

Aw, this thing's broken.

Can't see anything.

Give me that.

You had the cap on, dummy.

(playful music continues)

It looks like it's good.

My apple fritter.

Shh.

We're on a stakeout, dummy.

I know we're on a stakeout.

Hey, look, there she is.

(upbeat music)

You stay here.

(playful music)

I'm going in.

(speaking Spanish)

(playful music)

(Ted chuckling)

(grunts) Oh.

Can I help you?

Ah, yes.

(clears throat) Yes.

Indeed, you can.

My name is Theodore Rockevilt,

and I am here to inquire.

Inquire?

Yes, indeed.

About what it is you do here,

the services you provide, naturally.

Well, this is a real estate office.

And what does a real

estate employee do exactly?

A realtor sells homes.

Indeed, indeed.

Well, I would like to look at a property,

a wealthy one on Palm Beach.

I must keep appearances,

as you understand.

Well, all right then.

Right this way.

Let me show you what we have online.

Fabulous.

So what's your budget?

Well, money is no

object here. (chuckles)

So please, show me the

most expensive house

on the island, if you will.

Well, we have this

62,000-square-foot lovely estate.

Estate.

So French.

Sits on two acres, private beach.

Hmm, I do like my beachfronts private.

I'm somewhat of a nudist.

So you have six

championship tennis courts.

Almost seven.

A golf course, a 100-foot massive pool,

a ballroom dripping in real gold.

Hmm, dripping.

Would I need a plumber?

It has numerous cabanas, beach house.

Oh, and it belongs to a

former U.S. president.

Oh, sweet. (laughs)

Sweet.

So is that like worth $18 million?

Oh, don't be ridiculous.

I mean, no. (chuckles)

It would not be ridiculous.

Ted, what are you?

What is taking him so long?

Okay, Mr. Vanderfella.

Rander, real name, Smithsburg.

Yes, okay, sure.

Thank you so much for coming in.

And don't forget to email

me those credentials

so I can pre-qualify you for that tour.

Is this you in the picture?

Much younger-looking here.

[Sally] Oh, thank you.

Mm, Photoshop these days, right?

Okay, all right.

Thank you, ma'am.

Ugh, what a waste of time.

You have a bathroom I could use?

No.

Right.

Ugh.

Okay, all this is getting silly.

Mustang Sally references to Trump, really?

Oh, it's funny.

Okay, okay, let's forget

about the A-story for a bit.

Every good film has a B-story.

What's ours?

But every A-story has

to connect to the B-story.

Okay, so let's dive into the betrayal.

Great.

So what happens?

(birds chirping)

(phone dialing)

(phone ringing)

Cha Cha here.

Hi, is this Cha Cha Rodriguez?

Yeah.

Who's this?

Oh, this is Polly.

Pickleball Polly from Palm Beach.

-Really?

-Yes.

I heard you're available,

and I'm in need of a new assistant.

I don't know if you've heard,

but I'm favored to win the

Diadem Pickleball Invitational

and inevitably go pro.

Someone with your experience

and knowledge is hard to come by.

Yeah?

[Polly] So what do you say?

Uh, Miss Polly, I'm still

working for Pickleball Pete,

and it's conflict of interest.

Oh, please.

Peter is finished.

Plus, can he even pay you?

Meet me at my mansion in

Palm Beach to discuss.

Okay.

(both squealing)

Seorita Cha Cha, it

is so nice to meet you.

Oh, just Cha Cha. (laughs)

Woo, nice estate.

I know.

Please sit.

Oh.

So?

So, Ms. Polly, I appreciate your offer,

but I'm here to tell you

in person that I just-

- I can pay you $3,000 per

week plus full benefits.

-I accept!

-Oh!

Perfect, perfect.

See you later.

Okay.

Woo!

(phone ringing)

Yes, she accepted.

We're almost there.

(laughs) Cheers.

Where is Ted?

So Sally sells real estate.

And?

That's actually all we found out.

Oh, great, wonderful.

Cha Cha, what about you, huh?

Um, I have nothing to report.

Well, we have to figure something out.

The only way we're gonna save these courts

is by winning the tournament.

I think the key is sticking together.

Then we'll figure something out.

Oh.

Yes, Cha Cha is in.

We just need insurance.

Get me the Viper.

Yes, the Viper!

Ugh.

The Viper?

Is this the mob part?

Could be.

Maybe the Viper is not

what we're expecting.

Ooh, plot twist.

Well, every good movie has a plot twist.

Well, maybe the Viper is a rival player.

Quiet, intense.

Wears too much sweat-resistant eyeliner.

Good, good, we might

be onto something here,

minus the ghost paddle, of course.

(upbeat music)

Hey, anything?

(upbeat music)

Sweet.

(watch ringing)

-Yeah?

-Got a job.

[Viper] Where?

Palm Beach.

When?

Now.

I'll send details.

Okay, I'll be there.

(dramatic music)

I brought a little something.

Polly Pickleball just

had me call in the Viper.

No kidding, The Viper.

Oh, this must be serious.

When someone calls in the Viper,

it's always serious.

Yes.

The mob is in the movie.

Maybe they can whack

Pickleball Pete with a paddle.

Okay.

Let's bring in the competitors.

Well, is anybody hungry for dessert?

I can make my eggplant pie.

-No!

-No.

Whew.

All right, listen up.

I just checked the website,

and Sally has not entered

the tournament yet.

But we have a bigger problem.

What's that, dad?

Boy, didn't I tell you

to stop calling me that?

It's stepdad.

What's that, Stepdad Fred?

Polly Pickleball of Palm Beach

has entered the tournament.

Budge!

Who's that?

Polly Pickleball is a rising legend

in the pickleball community.

She's the first to get sponsored

and to bring the sport into the spotlight.

Now, I'm pretty confident

that Pete can beat Sally,

but Polly, whew.

That's a whole different story.

So I think we should probably give up.

Okay, nice to know-

- Uh, uh, uh, Cha Cha, cha-cha it down.

Do you think I waited all

these years just to give up?

Mm.

By the way, how is Pete doing?

Has he still been training?

Oh yeah, he's been training nonstop.

You're the only one who ever believed

in Pickleball Pete. (sobs)

All right, great.

All we need is one week.

Just one week to get him

ready for this tournament

because he needs to beat that Sally

and he needs to beat that Polly.

Great plan, Stepdad Fred.

(upbeat music)

(playful music)

What you think you're doing?

You know better.

Take your shoes off.

Sorry, mom.

Hey, what's this I hear about you going

to Polly's mansion?

Can you believe it?

Jimmy called it in.

Jimmy?

I thought I told you... I know, I know.

But they needed my help with

the pickleball tournament

and something about tennis

courts in Palm Grove.

Honey, please stop eating candy.

You're gonna ruin your dinner.

I'm so sorry, mom.

(upbeat music)

Gentlemen.

Oh, Mustang Sally.

What brings you to this part of town?

Looking good, might I add.

I heard you called

the Viper in yesterday.

Oh yeah?

Well, who told you that?

Look, Sally, what can I do you for?

Well, I'm just curious.

What is little Miss Polly,

the daughter of Palm Grove's mayor,

doing calling in the Viper?

Uh.

-Hey, boss.

-Shh.

Hey, I don't want any trouble.

I'm just trying to get some information.

Jimmy, we grew up together in Palm Grove.

We all grew up playing tennis together.

Yeah, those were the days.

Hey, if somebody's

tearing down those courts,

I need to know.

Oh, boy.

Look, Sally, honestly,

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Hmm.

What's the mayor planning?

I don't know.

[Sally] Really?

Yeah, really.

So what's that?

(upbeat music)

(laughs) Busted.

Well, just as expected.

What?

The mayor is planning on

destroying the tennis courts

and building an office building.

Oh.

That's why Polly wanted me to

make sure Pete didn't enter

-the tournament.

-Pete?

Yeah, this pickleball pro.

Well, semi-pro, but... You know him?

You could say that.

So that's why you gave up

tennis? Because of some boy?

So Coach Fred said you were entered

in a tournament this weekend.

That's right.

If I win, I'm going pro.

So?

So?

What does that mean for us?

For us?

Yes, us.

(Pete giggles)

Sally.

Yes?

(giggling continues)

I hate you, Peter Picklevitch.

And I hate tennis too.

Now you see why we gotta

get rid of these courts?

It ruined my life.

Stole the woman of my dreams.

Sally know how you felt?

That's not the point.

Okay, so the Viper is

Mustang Sally's daughter.

Yeah, a-and Mustang Sally

has a thing for Pickleball Pete.

Yeah, 'cause nothing says true love

like a pickleball court

and a midlife crisis.

Yeah, and the mob guy's

jealous of Pickleball Pete.

And he wants to whack him.

Ah, say goodbye to your paddle, Pete.

Only in our movie does pickleball

and mob hit go in the same sentence.

(team laughing)

And don't forget Pickleball Polly.

She's secretly a tournament beast

and trying to sabotage every step.

So we have the makings

of a political crime story.

Just because that one guy

did a terrible Trump impression

doesn't mean it's a political story.

Yeah, if anything, it makes it confusing

and a little uncomfortable.

Well, uncomfortable

is my favorite genre.

No, no, no, no, not that guy.

The mayor.

See, he's in with the mob, right?

He wants the pickleball

courts for, you know,

whatever mayors wanna build.

A luxury pickleball court?

A parking garage shaped like a paddle.

A Chick-fil-A.

Ooh, a Chick-fil-A.

And if that's what it is,

then I want some promotional products.

No, let's just do something normal.

An office complex.

Good.

What's the mayor's deal?

Well, he's shady.

You know, he's got dealings

going on behind the scenes.

'Cause if Pete wins

the-the-the Palm whatever, right?

The Pickleball Association

gets the courts.

And the mayor can't

build his office complex.

Right.

This movie is insane.

(team laughing)

Right?

And yet I would watch it twice.

And it's perfect.

Anyway, back to the mayor.

Citizens, friends, Palm Grovians,

we're here today to discuss

three very important issues:

the future of our beloved park,

the future of our community,

and the future of our,

well, actually one issue,

the future of our park.

It's been well known for the past decade

that our tennis courts

have seen better days.

Quite frankly, the

sport of tennis is dead.

That's baloney.

Now, now, I know this might be hard

for some of you to hear,

but we have a proposal

from a very reputable company

that wants to build an

extremely modern office building

that will not only create jobs,

but additional revenue for the citizens.

Take it easy, okay, take it easy.

Tennis, tennis, tennis, tennis!

Pickleball, pickleball, pickleball!

-Tennis!

-Pickleball.

(indistinct overlapping yelling)

All right, the mayor,

he's a complete idiot.

He's got these two spoiled children

that keep screwing everything up.

Stop talking about my childhood.

So he's not the villain.

It's the spoiled kids.

Pumpkins.

-Daddy!

-Daddy!

Pumpkins.

How we doing, girls?

The tournament, the plan?

Is Cha Cha on board?

Easy as pudding, papa.

I doubt Pete's gonna wanna play

now that his only friend

is employed by me.

And I have a little insurance plan

to make sure he doesn't.

Stupid picklehead Pete.

This insurance plan,

is this something I even wanna know about?

Probably best you don't,

but let's just say he

won't be up for playing.

That's my pumpkins.

I knew Cha Cha would accept.

She'll do anything for money.

I mean, are they really that threatened

by Pickleball Pete?

I mean, we haven't been showing him

playing pickleball

throughout the entire movie.

E-exactly.

It's kinda like in "Jaws."

You barely really see the shark.

-Order.

-Come on.

What you think?

Look crazy?

Crazy indeed.

You know, I think I need to

pay the mayor a little visit.

What do you have planned for today?

Polly wants me to make sure

Pete doesn't enter the tournament.

Pete?

Whoa, whoa, meaning what?

I told you.

She wants him, you know?

Oh, sweetie.

Promise me you won't do anything

until I talk to the mayor.

Please?

Okay, let's get this straight.

The Viper is a teenage

girl with a sugar fetish?

Yeah, l-like a human hummingbird.

Fueled by sugar, driven by rage.

Oh, and she's unpredictable.

Sugar highs are very dangerous.

(playful music)

(playful music continues)

Ow!

(Pete screaming)

Little rugrat stole my Oreo.

Oh my God.

What?

All right, all right, hold on a second.

So now we've got some Tonya

Harding thing going on here now?

Bat, really?

Yep, exactly.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

I know, but I love it. (laughs)

Excellent, excellent.

Oh, yeah, the whole Peter

thing is totally figured out.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, bye.

Hey guys, it's Polly Pickleball.

Are you guys coming to

the Diadem Pickleball.

Invitational this weekend?

If so, see you there.

Huh.

Yo, Vinny.

Get those trucks ready.

Dickies.

(light music)

(door knocking)

Hey.

Sally.

We need to talk.

I know, I know, please.

Allow me to present

a pickleball alternative proposal.

This better be good.

How would you like the exclusive

on Palm Grove's newest and

biggest office building?

Imagine it, Sally's World.

(upbeat music)

But you know what we're missing?

(gasps) Oh, here we go.

Mob scenes. (team laughing)

We need more mob scenes.

Like with trucks, right?

Armored pickle trucks.

Driven by sweet rollers storming.

Storming.

Grace, actually,

that's kind of brilliant.

I know, I'm just full of chaos

with a purpose and a lack of sleep.

(all laughing)

Just got something to do with

that park up in Palm Grove.

Yeah, you better get that contract.

I got a fleet of concrete

trucks ready to go.

Sad to see the old neighborhood

turn into a concrete jungle though.

[Jimmy] Gotta bring down all these.

I'm on a diet.

All right, let's get back to the story.

Pickleball Pete is hurt.

But if he doesn't play,

then he won't win the $100,000.

And if he doesn't win the $100,000-

- Is the movie over?

I hope so.

I'm so confused.

So no, we-we turn it into a faith film.

(laughs) What?

No, no, no, I-I'm serious.

Faith and family, t-the Christian market.

A whole new genre.

(laughs) What?

So we're just gonna casually

pivot the entire movie?

How do you suppose we just do that?

Easy.

Miraculous healing.

Oh, no.

You can't be serious.

I'm dead serious.

Look, most faith-based films

aren't actually faith-based.

As long as you throw a Bible in there.

Or Thanksgiving dinner.

Oh, or someone prays.

Exactly.

Bam.

You qualify for the holy genre.

Oh, so a faith healer

is just gonna lay hands

on Pete's broken knee?

No, no, no, no.

Even better.

(Mike vocalizing)

We use the Bible.

T-the Bible?

Why do you carry a Bible?

Because I'm a storyteller,

and these are the best stories.

Am I right?

Am I right?

Cheers to that.

Ow.

Ow.

"For all that is kept secret

will eventually be brought into the open."

Huh.

Lord, give me strength.

Please?

I need to be in this tournament.

Heal my ankle.

Please, Lord.

Ha!

(laughs) I'm healed.

Thank you, God.

Thank you.

(phone ringing)

Hey.

What's up?

Hey, buddy, I heard

you were out of jail.

I need to talk to you about something.

You want a partner?

I'll be there.

(upbeat music)

Right.

Huh.

Pickleball Pete is back, baby!

Pickleball Pete is back!

So now we got faith-based, maybe.

Yep, miraculous healing.

And the mob.

Don't forget the mob. (laughs)

Of course not.

What's not a faith-based

film without organized crime?

Right?

Okay, okay.

But if we're doing a faith-based movie,

we all know one thing.

We keep Kevin Sorbo.

Of course we keep Kevin.

"In the beginning, there was Sorbo."

Yeah, he's-he's in like 100

of these Christian movies.

It doesn't actually

qualify as a faith-based film

until you have Kevin Sorbo

delivering a dramatic monologue

while staring off into the distance.

(team laughing)

Okay, I'm game.

But so far, we have Kevin

Sorbo playing an ex-con

that is drinking beer.

It's a slippery slope, man.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

But it could be root beer.

Christian loophole, okay?

Boom.

Yeah, and the next thing you know,

he's gambling on pickleball

matches behind the church.

We could test it.

What?

Test what?

Well, we could run an

audience focus group.

(laughs) Oh great.

Press one if Kevin Sorbo

drinking a beer is acceptable.

Press two if it should be sweet tea.

Two, please.

Okay, okay.

Faith movie, check.

Kevin Sorbo, check.

Miraculous healing, check.

Monster and trucks, check.

Spoiled mayor's kids, check.

And don't forget the

sugar-addicted Viper.

Mm, check.

I guess that means it's tournament time.

Oh, boy.

Everything has led to

this moment. (laughs)

Pete, the mob, the mayor,

the Viper with the sugar

stash, Sorbo at the bar.

Oh man, this tournament's got it all.

"In a world where chaos meets cardio."

Let's just finish this thing

before somebody suggests

a talking pickleball.

Too late, I was just about to say that.

(upbeat music)

Okay, pickleballers, Stu Sunshine here,

but you already knew that.

Dean Cain?

Are you serious?

Yeah.

If you have Kevin, you

have to have Dean Cain.

They're the "God Not Dead" fantastic duo.

Can we just get to the tournament?

Okay, pickleballers, Stu Sunshine here,

but you already knew that.

Today is the day.

The first annual Palm Beach.

Pickleball Tournament is underway

right here at the Diadem

Pickleball Invitational.

And Palm Beaches are flooding

in for this exciting new sport

that is apparently sweeping the country,

although I've never seen it in my life.

Okay, Pete's Palm Beach Pickle Buddies

will face off against

some stiff competition.

The Orlando Sugar Pixies are here,

along with the Tampa Bay Bambi Hunters.

And I did not make those names up.

Hey. (Viper gasps)

Hey.

Hey.

Is this your little angel?

-She is.

-Huh.

Interesting.

Next time you try and take somebody out,

make sure you don't

use a whiffle ball bat.

Sorry, my bad.

So I hear you entered the tournament.

I did.

I guess we might

finally have that rematch.

We just might, Mustang Sally.

We just might.

See you there.

What's going on, Peter?

-How you doing?

-All that good stuff.

So I heard and decided

you wanted to play, huh?

I decided to play.

So there's still a

chance to save the courts.

Nice one, Theodore.

No pickles this time.

No pickles.

You got it, you got it.

(upbeat music)

You guys are going down.

Yeah.

Tear Drop Charlie.

Pickleball Pete!

Oh my gosh, you look awesome, buddy.

So you ready for it?

Are you ready for this?

Ooh, you know I'm ready.

Ladies and gentlemen,

apparently, Tear Drop

Charlie and Pickleball Pete

have officially entered the tournament.

And that's big news.

Hey, Pete, did we, uh, did we win?

We didn't play yet.

Oh, gotcha.

Hey, who's that?

That right there is the

best pickleball player

to ever pickle a ball.

Oh my.

Who's, uh, who's that dame?

Oh, she's nuts.

What are you doing?

I think I might be lactose intolerant.

We have to be on those

courts in five minutes!

Yeah, I'm sorry, Polly.

I don't think I can play.

What do you mean you can't

play? You're my partner.

You know what?

I don't need you.

(upbeat music)

Team Bag O' Donuts

takes on Tear Drop Charlie

and Pickleball Pete in the first round.

That's right, fifth grade.

Give it, picklehead.

You can barely even move.

(upbeat music)

You really think that you can beat us?

No!

That's what you get.

Peace!

Fifth grade.

All right, next up we have Pop Crispy

and Tito Barstool against Pickleball Pete

and Tear Drop Charlie.

Whoa, all right.

Oh, you guys suck.

Ha!

It has been a wild

day here in Palm Beach

as pickleball has taken over the island.

-Come on, come on, Pete.

-Whoa!

-All right, good.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah.

You're going down, Tear Drop Charlie.

Come on.

(upbeat music)

Oh, that's a great shot.

This sport's not bad after all.

Picklehead Ping, Cry Baby

Charlie, you're going down.

Ooh, do you know how

many people said that to me

when I was in prison?

-Hey, hey.

-Kick out, yankers,

and get ready for skeet and saw.

Yeah, you better sit

back down, you know?

The bigger they think they

are, the harder they fall.

Well, good thing we

don't think. (chuckles)

That's it.

Time for defeat, boys.

That's all you got?

These guys are trash.

Look at that.

Not even trying.

Well, that was a pretty good return.

Not even trying.

He's got a beer in his hand.

We're still beating you.

-They're not doing it.

-Ugh!

They're just getting crushed out here.

So Pickleball Pete and Tear Drop Charlie

advance to the next round

against Grindstone Gary

and Hacksaw Harry.

And that rhymes.

We're gonna pickle these guys

whether they like it or not.

They might actually return the ball.

(upbeat music)

I saw that.

(upbeat music continues)

[Stu] Whoa, going for the angle.

-That's what you get.

-Oh, and Pickleball Pete

and Tear Drop Charlie win.

Polly Bradley, Mustang Sally,

Peter Picklevitch, and Tear Drop Charlie

advance their way to the finals,

a match everyone was hoping for.

Me too.

Easy, easy.

Oh my gosh, yeah.

This is it, Pete.

We've waited for this our entire lives.

Beat your nemesis.

Yeah, chill out, pops, we got it.

Pops?

You left, we lost the camera.

(upbeat music)

[Pete] Woo!

(upbeat music)

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

(upbeat music)

You got that, Tear Drop.

That's it.

Ooh.

[Charlie] Yes, that was awesome.

[Speaker] Rolling?

(upbeat music)

Yeah!

(upbeat music continues)

-Yeah.

-I got that.

Nice shot, Pickleball Pete.

-Whoa, whoa!

-And that's it!

Pickleball Pete and Tear Drop Charlie

win the whole thing.

And I can go home now.

I'm not driving.

Sally, uh-

- I'm so glad you won.

Get a room.

What?

-Woo!

-You did it, Pete.

-Great job, Pete.

-Woo!

(crowd cheering)

You won, papi!

(group clapping)

You got time for one more game

before they tear down these old courts?

I think we can do that.

Oh yeah, guys.

I got a little something for you.

[Cha Cha] Yes!

[Fred] Yeah!

[Cha Cha] Yes.

Woo!

Great job, Peter.

Sally, you guys.

Ooh.

Look at this.

-Let's play.

-Let's play.

(light music)

So Pete wins the

tournament, crowd goes wild,

confetti, pickleball glory.

All right, let's not

forget, and he gets $100,000.

And saves the courts.

And redeems his past.

And gets the girl.

And possibly, the Bible heals his knee.

You guys, (laughs)

This movie ending is so cheesy.

Excuse me?

This ain't cheesy.

It's basically "Rocky"

meets "VeggieTales"

meets "The Godfather."

And I would buy them tickets.

I would watch it twice

with popcorn and a prayer.

(laughs) Guys, this movie is so bad

it's kind of genius.

(all laughing)

Bigger question: who's gonna direct this?

Me, obviously, I'm directing it.

No, no, no, no, no way.

I got the vision.

I've already storyboarded

the pickle truck,

so I mean, it's done.

I'm the only one who

knows how the camera works.

This is gonna get ugly.

I am the one that should

be directing this film.

I mean, like are you serious?

(overlapping chatter)

Guys.

Guys, guys, shh.

We just wrote the most ridiculous

pickleball movie in history

together as a team.

So let's just do production

together as a team.

How bad could it be?

Famous last words before the sequel.

(team laughing)

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music continues)

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music continues)

(upbeat music)