- [Nadia fell from the balance beam twice at her first gymnastics competition, to the disgust of her trainers. She is sitting at the back of the bus on the way home. Bela goes and sits beside her]
- Bela Karolyi: Don't cry about today.
- Young Nadia Comaneci: I'm not crying. I never cry.
- Bela Karolyi: You should. So that I could tell you not to. Nadia, the tragedy isn't that you fell. It's that you were the best, and you didn't live up to it! You completely lost your concentration!
- Young Nadia Comaneci: It will never happen again. Never!
- Bela Karolyi: You're not serious about gymnastics.
- Young Nadia Comaneci: Yes I am.
- Bela Karolyi: No you're not, you're just playing. You should quit.
- Young Nadia Comaneci: No!
- Bela Karolyi: Did you ever see *anyone* as bad as you were today?
- Young Nadia Comaneci: No.
- Bela Karolyi: Neither did I. Quit!
- Young Nadia Comaneci: No!
- Bela Karolyi: Go back to the schoolyard and do cartwheels if you just want to play!
- Young Nadia Comaneci: No! I want to be a champion!
- [He hugs her as she starts to cry]
- Bela Karolyi: I'll confess something to you. I've been playing too. When I first found you, I only knew four sports. I wasn't even a real gymnastics coach. So I'll make a pact with you so we can both stop playing, hmm? Instead of teaching you what I don't know, I want to teach you what I do know. I will teach you how to have a runner's strength, the cunning of a handball player, and how, like a boxer, to be fearless of pain. You interested?
- [Nadia nods]
- Bela Karolyi: I'm talking about a lot of work. Total commitment. Total concentration. Don't take up my time and then quit!
- Young Nadia Comaneci: I'll never quit.
- Bela Karolyi: No one has ever worked as hard as I'm going to work you.
- Young Nadia Comaneci: I shall work.
- Bela Karolyi: You do, and you will be the best in the world.
- [At the Olympic Games, Bela gathers the Romanian gymnasts around him]
- Bela Karolyi: Listen to me. Don't let anyone's reputation intimidate you. All it means is that they used to be good. They must prove that they still are.
- [Ludmilla Tourischeva sprints down the runway and executes a tucked Tsukahara vault]
- Older Nadia Comaneci: [to Teodora] They're still good.
- [Teodora transfers to the Karolyis' school and performs her floor routine for the other students. Everyone then leaves for the evening, except for her and Nadia]
- Young Teodora Ungureanu: You're the best here, aren't you?
- [Nadia nods]
- Young Teodora Ungureanu: I knew it. Are you jealous?
- [Nadia shakes her head]
- Young Teodora Ungureanu: Why not?
- Young Nadia Comaneci: It was beautiful.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: I took an Olympic silver medal right next to you, and no-one even knows that I was there!
- Older Nadia Comaneci: It's not my fault if people don't pay attention to you! I wish they would! I wish they'd leave me alone.
- Bela Karolyi: Does anyone want to tell me who the other cartwheeler was?
- [looks at a student]
- Bela Karolyi: How about you?
- [turns and stops in front of Nadia's desk]
- Bela Karolyi: I think you know who it is. And I'll bet that if you give her this card, she'll think about it and fill it out. Don't you?
- [pauses, then:]
- Bela Karolyi: Do you think it's possible for a little girl to fly?
- [Nadia thinks for a moment, then nods]
- Bela Karolyi: So do I!
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: I'm sorry.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: For what?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: For being jealous. You deserve all your wins.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I have often wondered what would have happened if Bela had chosen you in Paris, instead of me.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: So have I.
- Nicholae Vieru: [the Karolyis' Deva team has just beaten the Bucharest national team in competition] Congratulations.
- Bela Karolyi: [packing a kit bag] Thank you. It is so good to finally beat the national -
- [looks up and trails off when he sees Nicholae]
- Nicholae Vieru: Hello, Bela. How is our top coach?
- Bela Karolyi: [sighs] Hello.
- Nicholae Vieru: Any new Nadias on your team?
- Bela Karolyi: There will never be another Nadia, and even if I had one, I wouldn't tell you.
- Nicholae Vieru: Tell me about Emilia Eberle.
- Bela Karolyi: Emilia?
- Nicholae Vieru: Yes.
- Bela Karolyi: Yes. You just saw her. She will win another gold before the evening is over.
- Nicholae Vieru: Yes. Impressive. How old?
- Bela Karolyi: Twelve. The whole team is twelve. They are harder to *steal* when they're twelve.
- Bela Karolyi: You're late again, Teodora; that's two hundred sit-ups.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: [sarcastically] Why not make it four hundred?
- Bela Karolyi: Very good idea, make it four hundred.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: So, Nadia, how do you like Fort Worth?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: The judges were tough on you.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: It was about right.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: You usually do better. Judges resent the fact that little girls grow up.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Nadia, gymnastics has changed, and we're the ones that changed it. What used to be special is now ordinary. You and I, we can't compete with ourselves anymore! I wanted to help the team win if I could, but before Fort Worth, I had already decided to retire. It's tough being with a lot of twelve-year-olds that are better than I am...
- Older Nadia Comaneci: They're not.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Not all of them. But they're getting better, and I'm getting worse! It's time.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: What will you do?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Join the circus.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: The circus?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Yeah. It'll be fun!
- Bela Karolyi: How could that happen to her?
- Marta Karolyi: She's totally dependent on you.
- Bela Karolyi: What do you mean?
- Marta Karolyi: Bela, you didn't teach her to control her appetite; you took away her food.
- Bela Karolyi: Nadia is not dependent on me. She is irritatingly independent. She always fought with me.
- Marta Karolyi: And you always won.
- Bela Karolyi: Marta, I can't be with her forever. What will she do then?
- Marta Karolyi: That's a very good question.
- Bela Karolyi: Do you remember how long a day took when you were a child? A week. And a week lasted a month, and a month lasted a year!
- Mili Simonescu: [arguing with Nicholae about allowing the Onesti team to compete in a Paris gymnastics exhibition] Nicu, you are the expert for men, I for women. Trust me! We have no better girls here, or anywhere else in Romania. The Karolyis are training champions!
- Nicholae Vieru: That is another thing: I really do not like your man Karolyi. He is ruthless. He will do anything to win.
- Mili Simonescu: Yes, he will.
- [grins]
- Mili Simonescu: Isn't that wonderful?
- Marta Karolyi: [watching Nadia train] Bela, Nadia gets so intensely involved when she performs that she forgets the audience. But she never thinks to smile.
- Bela Karolyi: Geza! Teach her to smile! What judge would like such a sourpuss?
- Young Nadia Comaneci: [telling her father about the first day of school] We have such fun! We run and jump into a big hole filled with bouncy things!
- Gheorge Comaneci: A big hole filled with bouncy things?
- Young Teodora Ungureanu: Another delicious carrot stick, my dear?
- Young Nadia Comaneci: Which one is delicious?
- Stefania Comaneci: If you do anything to ruin this for her...
- Gheorge Comaneci: For *her*, Stefania? For *her*?
- Bela Karolyi: Over here!
- [He runs and hurls himself into the jump pit. A few of the gymnasts follow. He starts throwing pieces of foam]
- Bela Karolyi: Come on in, the water's great!
- [Giggling, the rest of the girls run and jump in]
- Marta Karolyi: You're supposed to be one of the coaches, not one of the children.
- Bela Karolyi: They like it!
- Marta Karolyi: I didn't bring you here to be liked.
- Bela Karolyi: Sometimes people just can't help themselves.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I understand now.
- Bela Karolyi: You do?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I can do it on my own.
- [smiles]
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Thank you.
- [the announcer calls her name, and Nadia goes to compete on the balance beam - by her own choice - despite a severe wrist infection]
- Marta Karolyi: What did you do to her?
- Bela Karolyi: For the first time - nothing!
- Bela Karolyi: [an injured Nadia starts preparing for competition] What are you doing?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I will compete.
- Bela Karolyi: I can't let you.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: What does the team need to win?
- Bela Karolyi: Nine-point-nine.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Tell the judges I'm competing.
- Bela Karolyi: Are you sure?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Tell them.
- Marta Karolyi: [notices Nadia looking unwell] You all right? Hmm?
- [Nadia squirms]
- Marta Karolyi: No, you're not all right. What did you eat last night?
- [Nadia looks away and keeps stretching]
- Marta Karolyi: You went out, didn't you? How could you? Today of all days!
- Older Nadia Comaneci: It won't matter.
- Bela Karolyi: She's getting very good!
- Gheorge Comaneci: I suppose. But will all this make her happy?
- Bela Karolyi: Well, you just saw her; I have to order her to stop!
- [the Romanian gymnasts have just walked in the parade of athletes at the Montreal Olympic Games and now stand before a huge crowd of spectators]
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: [whispering] What do you think?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: [whispering back] Let's go home!
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Is that how you talk about me when I'm not here?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: No, I just...
- Older Nadia Comaneci: You tell everybody I'm fat, right?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: No...
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Right?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: I don't have to, Nadia. Look at you; you are fat.
- [Bela and the girls have been sitting at the Paris airport for over two hours, waiting for their contact to meet them]
- Young Teodora Ungureanu: So, Nadia, how do you like Paris?
- Young Nadia Comaneci: Wonderful. Especially the airport.
- Bela Karolyi: [at dinner, discussing the upcoming Olympic Games in Montreal] If we don't go, I'll tell everyone why. Including the press.
- Mili Simonescu: That would *not* be wise.
- Bela Karolyi: A-ha! Tell me, where are all the wise coaches?
- Mili Simonescu: I don't know.
- Bela Karolyi: That's because you've never heard of them. Being wise is not what we do best.
- Marta Karolyi: [holds up the soup tureen lid to cover Bela's mouth] Would you like more, Mili?
- Mili Simonescu: Don't tempt me, Marta, thank you. Take care, Bela. Don't push too hard.
- Bela Karolyi: [puts his hand over Marta's and pushes the lid back onto the tureen] *That* is what we do best.
- Mili Simonescu: [about Nicholae Vieru] He's very interested in our Onesti program. He sees you as the bright stars of our future.
- [Nicholae walks to the Bucharest team and greets them with open arms and a flower bouquet]
- Bela Karolyi: [sarcastically] Yes, I can see that.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: [sitting by an open window, whispers] Teodora! Teodora! Psst! Over here! Smell that food?
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Mmmm. What is it?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I don't know. But I like the way it smells!
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Do you think they're dancing down there?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Maybe. I know they're eating, though.
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: I think we ought to sneak down there, don't you?
- [Nadia shakes her head nervously]
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: Nadia - it's now or never!
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Let's go.
- Nicholae Vieru: [arguing over Nadia, who has gained weight and is out of shape] She is not even training.
- Mili Simonescu: No. She is not. For the first time since she was six years old. But she will.
- Nicholae Vieru: She must. I want you to confine her to the dormitory, and restrict her eating.
- Mili Simonescu: You want me to do that?
- Nicholae Vieru: Yes. Now. And no visitors.
- Sorin Cepoi: [Nadia and Teodora attend their first party in Bucharest, but Nadia is singled out for attention while Teodora is left standing alone at the door. Sorin approaches her:] You must be the other one!
- Older Teodora Ungureanu: [smiling embarrassedly] That's me.
- [the eight-year-old Teodora has just performed an advanced floor exercise]
- Bela Karolyi: How can a little girl do that?
- Marta Karolyi: That's what comes from serious work.
- [Nicholae and Mili watch a news broadcast, as the announcer states: 'In Paris, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci won the hearts of the audience in a surprise appearance. Professor Bela Karolyi stated that she is one of many top-caliber gymnasts currently training at his school, who will be competing at *all* of the upcoming European events.']
- Nicholae Vieru: That is blackmail!
- Mili Simonescu: [laughing] But he's right!
- Marta Karolyi: I still think you're pushing too hard. It's not the Olympics, you know.
- Bela Karolyi: It will be. Canada, Marta, we're going to Canada.
- Marta Karolyi: Bela!
- [laughs incredulously]
- Marta Karolyi: Our girls are too young! They - they haven't even won a European event yet!
- Bela Karolyi: Yes. That's why we're going to Paris first.
- Mili Simonescu: [talking about the upcoming Olympics in Montreal and the difficulties of getting the Onesti team there] You must understand Vieru's problem. Bucharest is the capital. It has the most expensive facilities, the most experienced coaches, and supposedly the best gymnasts.
- Bela Karolyi: Does Bucharest win medals? No. Onesti wins medals.
- Bela Karolyi: From now on, Nadia, it is up to you. You cannot depend on me anymore. I will teach you what to do. But I can't make you do it, and I won't do it for you.
- Bela Karolyi: What do you call *that*?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: My new floor routine.
- Bela Karolyi: Where are the hand gestures?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I'm not a little girl anymore; I do not need hand gestures.
- Bela Karolyi: Nadia, ever since Montreal you've gotten...
- Older Nadia Comaneci: I'm growing up. Can't you see?
- Bela Karolyi: Growing up. You call arguing with your coach growing up.
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Those gestures are childish. I won't do them.
- Bela Karolyi: As long as you are in my gymnasium, you will do it my way. Do you understand? Do you?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Yes.
- Bela Karolyi: Yes what?
- Older Nadia Comaneci: Yes. Comrade Professor.
- Nicholae Vieru: [about Bela] For years I have been putting up with that egomaniac!
- Mili Simonescu: He's winning.
- Nicholae Vieru: I don't like him.
- Mili Simonescu: You like him to win, don't you?
- Marta Karolyi: [returns to the gym after taking a phone call] Bela?
- Bela Karolyi: Yes?
- Marta Karolyi: The girls... they're gone.
- Bela Karolyi: What?
- Marta Karolyi: The team, they've been moved to Bucharest.
- Bela Karolyi: That's impossible.
- Marta Karolyi: It's true, Bela.
- Bela Karolyi: But we're their coaches!
- Marta Karolyi: Not anymore.
- Bela Karolyi: Nadia too?
- Marta Karolyi: All of them.
- Bela Karolyi: Family. For nine years, Marta, we were family!