Nadia (1984 TV Movie)

Johann Carlo: Older Nadia Comaneci

Quotes 

• Older Nadia Comaneci : Why don't you ask me questions about gymnastics?

• [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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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!

• 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.

• [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.

• 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.

• 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.