Fairy Tales (2008) - 1x01 - Rapunzel

Rapunzel, the first fairy tale in the anthology, has been updated by Ed Roe (Smack The Pony, Teachers) and tells the story of Jimmy Stojkovic, a terrible tennis player. Ranked a humiliating 1,004th in the world, he has never won a tennis competition in his life. His father, Sava, is desperate to see his son win a Grand Slam tennis final but the only way he can see this happening is if he disguises Jimmy as a woman.

After a narrow escape from baseball bat-wielding thugs, Jimmy discovers his father owes money to gangster loan sharks – exactly the same sum as the competition prize money at the forthcoming British Tennis Open at English tennis club, Rampion. So Jimmy, reluctantly, decides to don a tennis dress.

All seems to be going to plan until Jimmy, now called Martina, falls in love with the beautiful reigning champion, Billy Jane Brooke. Known to the public as Rapunzel, because of her unusually long hair, Billy Jane still lives with her over-protective mother and coach. Training together at Billy Jane's fortified home does wonders for Jimmy/Martina's game and he/she finally starts winning. However, as they grow closer Jimmy finds it harder to keep up the pretence, and he must decide whether to come clean to Billy Jane or stay quiet and win the prize money for his father.