Goldengirl (1979) - full transcript

(bright music)

(mysterious music)

(machine whines)

(brooding music)

(Pete speaks in Russian)

(Pete speaks in Russian)

(dramatic music)

(starter pistol fires)

(Goldine yelling)

(Goldine groaning)

0.14. You're gonna have
to do better than that.



You're never gonna get anyplace this way.

Dammit, Pete, that
hurt like a son of a bitch.

I don't care that it hurt.

When your reaction time is down to 0.12,

then you'll beat the electric shock.

You get away from the
blocks any slower than that,

you can bet your ass I'm
gonna step up the impulse.

Now, come on, get on your feet. Let's go.

You're gonna make 0.12
before we finish this session,

and 0.11 tomorrow.

By the time Moscow rolls around,

you're gonna be
jet-propelled or burnt toast.

(Pete speaks in Russian)

(Pete speaks in Russian)



(machine whines)

(dramatic music)

(starter pistol fires) (Goldine yelling)

(Goldine groans)

0.13. That's a little
better, a little better.

Let's go again, though.

We're gonna get down to 0.12

if we have to fry your fingernails off.

Now, come on. Let's go again.

(brooding music)

Come on, come on, keep
the energy up, don't drag it.

Quit feeling sorry for yourself.

This is the one that
might get you to Moscow.

(Pete speaks in Russian)

(man whistling)

We call this young lady
Goldengirl, Mr. Dryden.

[Jack] Yeah.

As you can see,
she's extremely tall, 6'2".

She's also one of the
most interesting subjects

physiologically you're ever likely to meet.

Since 1948,

I have researched the case histories

of all the American Olympic teams,

and the trend in linear growth

is one centimeter a
decade, and still rising.

Of course, you can find girls

as tall as she is, even taller,

but you're unlikely to
find one with comparable

physical capacity and muscular development.

And I speak with a background
of 30 years in anthropometry.

In short, Mr. Dryden, this
young lady is eugenically

30 to 40 years ahead of her time.

Really?

Now, let's see how this
translates to athletic activities.

Here you see her undergoing
gun response therapy.

She's 9% taller than the
average height of the world's best.

Thus, her muscular strength
is greater by as much as 19%.

Now that she's warmed up,

she will have to run the
100 meters against the clock,

and I have to tell you
that she's never taken part

in any competitive activity.

As you know, 11 seconds
flat is the women's.

Olympic record for the 100-meter dash.

Therefore, the time
you've just seen of 11:17

ranks her among the top half
dozen sprinters of the world,

and she's achieved that
without starting blocks.

Now perhaps you can understand
why we call her Goldengirl.

[Jack] What kind of a
score are you looking for?

[Gino] Originally, we laid out $250,000.

[Jack] That's a lot of money.

We built a training
camp in the mountains.

We had to hire an expert track coach,

a consultant psychologist.

A nutritionist cook.

Right, a nutritionist cook,
and assorted staff members.

By the time we get to Moscow,

the total cost will be
in excess of $800,000.

And you hope to recover this
money through merchandising?

Jack, we didn't go
into this to break even.

We intend to make $10 million besides.

$10 million?

Oh, come on.

I mean the girl's a knockout.

Well, she may be a marvelous one,

but there's no way you can turn $10 million

by winning the Olympic 100 meters.

And if she would win the
100, the 200, and the 400?

Well, maybe if you threw
in the marathon with it.

Please, Mr. Dryden, indulge my fantasy.

If Goldengirl would do the impossible

and win the three events,

what kind of revenue could you raise?

I don't deal in dream stuff.

$5 million? Seven?

No woman has ever won the three.

Olympic sprints for a very simple reason.

See, with all of the heats,
in total she'd have to run

12 world-class races in five
days, and that can't be done.

Yeah, but what about if she's always-

- She's likely to spike
herself in the turn,

pull a muscle, catch a cold.

She can have a heart attack
tomorrow, but it's unlikely.

Yeah, okay. Pressure.

Olympic pressure. What about that?

In 1968, what was that girl?

- 800 meters.
- 800-meter

world record holder
tried to commit suicide,

and she was only entered in one event.

Now you say your girl can
compete in three events?

You have no idea what kind
of pressure she'll be under.

Her parents must be crazy

to put through that kind of torture.

(Gino laughs)

Do I strike you as crazy?

Why?

Goldengirl is my daughter by adoption.

Her real name is Goldine,

and my wife and I took
out the papers in 1964.

But she was only encouraged to be a runner

after we became convinced
of her athletic talents.

But you will see for
yourself when you meet her.

Oh yeah, I'd like to.

[Bill] Good. Let's fly
up to the camp now.

- Now?
- Yes.

You'll see some training and get

a better understanding of our operation.

And tomorrow in San Diego,

you'll see her run her
first competitive race.

[Jack] Well, that should be interesting.

[Bill] More than interesting.

She has to produce times good enough

to qualify for the Olympic
tryouts next month.

Hello, Doctor. How was your flight?

Good, good.

Pete Winters, meet Jack Dryden,

best sport agent in the world.

Aren't you the Pete Winters from Cornell?

Right.

Hey, you ran the 400 meters in 45.6,

qualified for the Olympic trials,

and pulled an Achilles tendon, right?

You got one hell of a memory.

Good afternoon, Mr. Dryden.

I'm Dr. Sammy Lee,

in charge of Goldengirl's
psychological training.

- How do you do?
- Mr. Valenti.

Won't you sit down?

Now, we'd like to show you a demonstration

aimed primarily at preparing
a triple Olympic winner

at coping with life as a public figure.

So just imagine yourself in Moscow,

several weeks from now, and this

is Goldengirl's press conference

after winning her third gold medal.

[Jack] Hm-hmm.

Uh, by the way,

you were even invited to put some questions

to her yourself during the
session, but with one proviso:

All of Goldengirl's
conditioning has been aimed

at her winning three gold medals.

Failure or even partial success

is not something she's
been conditioned for.

(recording rewinding)

[Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, triple Olympic champion,

Ms. Goldine Serafin,
is here with her father,

Dr. William Serafin, to meet the press.

(audience applauding)

[Russian] Congratulations, Ms. Serafin,

from the people of the Soviet Union.

Thank you very much
for your warm reception.

[Russian] Did you believe it possible?

It was a dream that you
would win three gold medals?

I still can't believe
that it's really happened.

But, uh, at the risk of sounding conceited,

I didn't come to Moscow to lose.

(audience laughing)

[Russian] How much your preparation-

- [Englishman] Which was
the most difficult medal to win?

I'll take the second question first.

The 400 was the most
difficult because it's the longest.

Now, as far as preparation,

was continual, seven days the week.

[American] Excuse, Ms. Serafin,

do you mind the sacrifices?

[Goldine] Sacrifices?

[American] You know,
like not going out on dates.

Well, you can't run laps after dark,

but other things aren't impossible.

(audience laughing)

Like reading or listening to music.

[Woman] What about the future, Goldine?

Will you continue to run,
or will you take advantage

of the commercial
opportunities open to you?

Well, are those things
mutually exclusive?

I mean, I know I'd like
to keep running, for sure,

but I don't know much about commerce.

You see, reading the "Wall Street Journal".

Isn't really my scene.

Oh!

Oh no.

What journal do you represent?

(audience laughing)

There's a story that you trained

in the mountains somewhere.

Do you credit your success
in the Olympic Games

to running at high altitude?

No, no, not at all.

You see, at 6'2", you could say

that all my running's
been done in high altitude.

(audience laughing)

Do you think that
commercialism is destroying

the spirit of the Olympic Games?

Oh, well, I believe in the Olympic ideal,

that the important thing is

the taking part of, not the winning.

Yes, but winning gold
medals means a lot of money.

Don't you think that commerce
is a threat to that ideal?

Well, I, uh,

I don't know much about commerce.

You see, reading the "Wall
Street Journal" isn't, um...

I think she's answered the question.

Goldine doesn't
understand anything of this.

But thank you for the question, Mr. Dryden.

Do we have another one?

What are your plans for
this evening, Goldengirl?

This evening? Well, I
don't have anything arranged.

Let me see.

(scoffs) Get yourself some stilts, Mister,

and you might have a date.

(audience laughing) (audience applauding)

[Bill] Very clever of you, Mr. Dryden,

catching Goldine off
balance with that question.

[Jack] Yeah, she
responds to trigger questions

and trigger words, doesn't she?

So when commerce was
mentioned a second time,

all she could come up with

was her "Wall Street Journal" bit.

[Sammy] Very good, Mr. Dryden.

The press conference,

how does a good performance
in front of a few reporters

make a good performance on a track?

It's very simple.

Confidence off the track
means confidence on it.

You see, when I met Goldine,
she was very shy, repressed.

Talking to any stranger
was an ordeal for her,

let alone a group of reporters.

Well, congratulations.

I mean, that press conference
was certainly no ordeal.

She actually seemed
to enjoy it, didn't she?

She's been conditioned to consider it

as a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Well, how do you do that?

Let's just say we've
managed to channel her psyche.

Her psyche?

Well, you're fooling around with kind of

a delicate area there, aren't you?

Yes, but I think we fooled
around with it very delicately.

Coffee is ready.

I'm afraid Mr. Dryden
is a little skeptical

of our training methods.

She will become a
world-famous figure overnight,

a goddess worshiped by millions.

She has to be prepared.

I don't think we convinced you.

We're ready for you, Sammy.

Let me show you something, Mr. Dryden.

All right.

In Moscow, as you know,

Goldine will have to
run 12 races in five days.

Yes, I know.

Well, here's one of the ways

we tried to improve her stamina.

Pete, at what time did she
fall down this last exercise?

Uh, 1248.6.

1:48.6.

Now we shall repeat this exercise.

[Jack] Al right.

Goldine, this time you're going for gold.

I want to hear you say it.

"I'm going for gold."

I'm going for gold.

Right. Ready?

And

one.

I'm going for gold.

Two.

- I'm going for gold.
- Three.

- I'm going for gold.
- Four.

- I'm going for gold.
- Five.

- I'm going for gold.
- Let me hear it!

- I'm going for gold.
- That's a girl.

See the pace.

See the pace. Go for the pace.

That's a girl, that's a girl.

That's a girl.

That's a girl, that's a girl.

That's a girl.

1:20.

1:61.

Good. That's it.

That's wonderful.

- Good girl.
- Good, good, good, good.

What kept you? I was really worried.

The weather, the visibility got so bad,

we had to land at another airfield.

Did we missed something?

Yes, Goldine's heat in the 200.

She came in second. 23.7.

Only second?

- Yeah, well, she qualified.
- That's all we wanted.

Pete told her to save the
real running for the finals.

[Gino] Ah, uh-huh.

Jack! Hey, Jack!

Hey, Vince. How are you?

- All right.
- Good to see you again.

What are you doing down here in San Diego?

I run this club now.

- No kidding?
- What are you doing

at a silly little meet like this?

[Jack] Well, I had to be
in town for the weekend,

and the (indistinct) on the road,

so I thought I'd come down here.

[Vince] And this is
your thing going, huh?

- Yeah.
- What would you do

if sports had never been invented, huh?

(both laughing)

Hey, good seeing you, Vince.

Great to see you too. Enjoy yourself.

Yeah, I will. Bye-bye.

Oh, Vince Saperstein's a great coach.

He's helped some of
my out with their speed.

Here we go.

Hey, the track looks wet.
Does that pose a problem?

[Bill] Oh, we have allowed for every

track condition in our preparation.

[Sammy] Besides it's wet for everybody.

There she is.

Gentlemen, I'm sorry we
are late. It was unavoidable.

Doesn't matter,
Doctor. Our girl did fine.

She hung right onto the pacesetter,

and didn't even move into second gear.

I would like you to meet

two other members of our consortium.

- This is Michael Cobb.
- How do you do?

And Noah Sternberg.

Michael's in the clothing
business, and Noah is a famous-

- Yes, he's boxing promoter, right?

He's my favorite. How are you?

That's right. How are you doing?

[Announcer] The first
heat of the 100 meters.

Starting with lane one,
there's Debbie Jackson,

the fastest qualifier in the 200.

Next to her we have Marlene da Costa,

winner of the 200 heat.

In lane three, the Bakersfield
Flash, Goldine Serafin.

Right beside her-

- I told her to come home
in second in this race, too.

Again second?

Yeah, I figured
Jackson will lead the pack,

and it'll be Goldine's
job to edge out Da Costa.

Wouldn't it be less
risky to go for a win?

No, with three finals to come

and the Olympic
qualifying times to set, no.

The best thing for her to
do is conserving energy.

No point in burning it out in the heats.

[Starter] On your mark.

[Announcer] Remember,
folks, only those who place

first or second qualify for the finals.

[Starter] Get set.

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

[Announcer] Fast forward with Da Costa,

Winsbury, and O'Donnell.

Here's Jackson and Serafin.

And here comes Winsbury. And it's Jackson.

Winsbury pulling ahead,
and it's Serafin third.

Oh shit.

(crowd cheering)

There goes $800,000.

She blew it, she blew it. Stupid bitch.

Nailed by a fourth-rate
club runner. It's unbelievable.

[Bill] Don't talk that
way of Goldine again.

No! (Melancholy music)

(Goldine sobbing)

[Sammy] Come on, let's be practical.

She still has two finals to run.

[Gino] Yeah, but we
already screwed up one.

What good are the other two now?

[Pete] There's still the San Jose relays.

We can enter her in the 100 there.

That's a major meet.

If she doesn't win here,

what makes you think she's
gonna be successful there?

Well, at least it's a
chance. Let me go talk to her.

I told you she lacked experience.

I begged you to let me put
her in another race before this.

(melancholy music)

- Put this on, Goldine.
- You'll catch a cold.

Pete should've warned
me to look the other way.

You can't blame Pete.

But it was his strategy.

Listen, you lost the race.

Sammy, please.

This is no time to
feel sorry for yourself.

But what if I couldn't do it now?

You still go for gold.

That's bullshit!

No, you still go for gold!

Why, why? I can't be Goldengirl anymore.

Well, then you can't be anything.

(starter pistol fires) (crowd cheering)

Is anybody all right for a hot dog?

Dryden, you gotta be kidding. Come on.

You know, you haven't
had anything since breakfast.

How can you eat at a time like this?

Well, they're there if you want one.

When's the 2007 - After this race.

I'll have one.

[Announcer] The track meet's
director, Vince Saperstein,

has just told me that
at the special request

of an AAU official the
number of girls in the finals

will be increased from six to eight,

so it's been decided
that the two fastest losers

will join the six qualifiers.

That's Edith Mercer, who
blocked 11.71 in heat two,

and Goldine Serafin,
with 11.75 in heat one.

I don't know about you,

but I'd like to thank that
official for letting us get-

- You? You're an AAU official?

Well, Vince Saperstein's
an old friend of mine.

He's running the meet here today.

And for this little gesture,

I promised him that
you would pick up his tab

for his track club for the next two years.

How much?

Less than the interest on your $800,000.

I've suddenly got an appetite.

Dryden, I underestimated
you. I have to thank you.

No, no, no, you don't have to thank me.

I just didn't wanna see our little group

break up here before it had a chance.

[Announcer] Folks, before
this 200 final gets underway,

I'd like to call your attention to the fact

that Debbie Jackson in lane four

hasn't been beaten in this event all year,

and Marlene da Costa
next to her, in lane five,

has only been beaten once,
and that's by Debbie Jackson.

This could be the race of the afternoon.

- (whistle blowing)
- On your marks.

[Jack] At least she's
got the pole position.

That's a break.

No, she hates it.

With her long legs, the
bend's tighter on the inside.

Really? I'm surprised, doctor.

You haven't thought of shortening her legs?

Well, we don't believe
in cutting down the odds.

Get set. (Whistle blowing)

(starter pistol fires) (crowd cheering)

[Announcer] Coming out of the stagger,

it's Da Costa holding the lead,

and here comes Debbie Jackson.

And around the turn
it's Serafin (indistinct).

Serafin in the lead.

Debbie Jackson
(indistinct) coming along fast.

(indistinct) Marlene da
Costa, and Winsbury.

Now it's Serafin holding
the lead. Debbie Jackson.

Debbie Jackson second,
and Serafin holding a long lead.

And it's her win.

(bright music)

(whistle blowing)

What a showdown is shaping up

for the 100-meter final, folks.

Debbie Jackson, the only girl in California

to run 11.5 this year,

versus the sensational Goldine Serafin.

Can Debbie hold off Goldine's challenge

in her favorite event?

Watch.

(starter pistol fires)

False start, folks. Looks like Serafin.

Nothing wrong with that.

Her gun response is just
faster than anybody else's.

They'll disqualify
her if it happens again.

[Announcer] I might remind
you that two false starts,

by Olympic rules, disqualifies you.

[Starter] On your mark.

Get set.

(starter pistol fires)

[Announcer] And they're off.

And it's Jackson pulling ahead. Jackson.

O'Donnell is clawing back.

And here comes Serafin,
Serafin, but Jackson still holding.

Serafin is gaining and
pulling ahead, and it's Serafin.

(crowd cheering)

That runs was electronically timed at 11.4.

That means two Olympic
qualifying times in both sprints

by the unknown blonde from Bakersfield.

This is gonna cause quite a shakeup

in the world of women's track.

Well, I don't think I can stand

the excitement without one more hot dog.

Anybody wanted any more?

- Yeah, I'll have one.
- I'll have a couple more.

Damn, I don't know what you use for fuel,

but I sure wish I had some.

Thank you.

Hey, Jack.

That girl is some runner. She's beautiful.

- She is, and thank you.
- Your club's all taken care of.

Hey, thank you.

Listen, you're gonna run a test on her?

A dope test?

- Yeah.
- Why?

You know something I don't?

Well, listen, an unknown girl

who runs two Olympic
qualifying times in one afternoon,

I'd like to know what
she's taking, wouldn't you?

Well, I never considered it.

Well, you know how those
guys from the association can be.

People get very fussy.

You're the director of this meet,

and you want those times to stand.

And if she qualifies for the
400, she's gonna be a hot item.

Don't give 'em anything-

- [Vince] Look, I don't have the facilities

to run a dope analysis.

I'll have to send it to
the Clayward Center.

Do that, then.

Do you really think it's necessary?

You got your club outta hock, Vince.

Come on, protect yourself.

Harry, when the Serafin
girl finishes her last event,

would you bring her directly to my office?

Yeah. I decided to run a medical test.

You're kidding.

Hey, Jack.

Well, get her over here right away.

You won't believe this.

She just won the 400 by 20 meters,

and the time was only
two tenths of a second

off the American record.

The kid must be a junkie.

Yeah, she must be.

What about that cigarette commercial?

How'd it go?

Oh, the doctor said I is a
fabulous running machine,

and the only dope is Saperstein

for ordering the test in the first place.

Uh, where are the others?

No, they won't be here.

No, listen, Franz, tell 'em.

No, I'm not risking him catching emphysema

for that piddling amount.

You do something about it.

Okay, talk to you later. Bye-bye.

Well.

I engineered that little test

in order to get a little
time alone with you.

(scoffs) Okay, I think
you'd better put me in a cab.

Hey, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

I just wanna talk with you,
away from those others.

Well, we had our little talk yesterday.

That was no talk. That was a floor show.

Daddy's gonna be really mad.

[Jack] He'll be even
madder when I tell him

I'm not representing you.

Huh. Well, big deal.

After today, there'll be dozens of agents

just standing in line.

Yeah, and they'll probably do

a hell of a lot better job than I can.

Come on. I'll find you a cab.

[Goldine] Well, hey, wait a minute.

You'd really walk away from all this?

You just watch me.

Listen, I'm not representing you

just because you can run fast.

There's a hell of a
lot more to it than that.

Oh, like what?

Well, I have to sell
you to major companies.

I have to be able to guarantee

that you'll fulfill those obligations.

With every deal I make, my
reputation goes on the line.

So there you go.

- Well, you needn't worry.
- Your reputation is safe with me.

Ah, yeah, but I don't know that, you see?

I can only represent someone I understand,

like Dick Armitage.

I know why he wants to be
the best tennis player there is,

because when he was young, he had polio,

and tennis was therapy.

Now he's afraid to lay off one day

for fear he'll stiffen up.

I've got a golf pro who's won

every major tournament there is,

yet he goes on a tour year after year.

Why? Just to get out of the house.

He's got a wife he hates.

Huh!

See, I'm a money-grabbing son of a bitch.

I'll push anybody who's
a winner and take my cut,

as long as I can understand
what makes 'em tick,

and you I don't have a clue about.

Well, um, I'm a simple American girl

who has been born to
win three Olympic medals.

Ah, crap.

That's that Dr. Lee's feedback, isn't it?

Who the hell are you? Can't you talk?

Well, sure.

I mean, what do you want?

Who is Goldine Serafin, huh?

(bright music)

Forget it, kid. Come on.

I'll find you a cab.

No, wait.

I wanna tell you, really, it's-

- Well, tell me.

Well, it's hard for
me to talk about myself,

about Goldine.

I look in the mirror and I don't
even recognize her anymore.

You see, he had a theory
on oxygen intake, too.

In order to expand my ribcage,

he put me in this old-time corset.

But, well, instead of compressing you,

it would fasten under
your ribs and pull out.

Oh God, I hated that thing.

I hated those injections, too.

What injections?

Iron, once a week,
right up until I was 16.

Oh, it's all in the record books.

I'm not giving you feedback now, am I?

Not that I can tell.

Well, sometimes I can't.

I've had too many of those
stimulus response sessions.

Oh, is that what they used

at that press conference the other day?

How does that work?

Um...

Well...

Huh?

(Goldine laughs)

What's matter?

Um...

Well, it's something anybody
could buy for few dollars.

What?

(laughs) A vibrator.

- You're joking.
- No.

A vibrator?

Well, you see Sammy
starting me off with one.

She always taught me
not to have any inhibitions

about my body or its needs.

Is that right?

So we started using it in the
stimulus response sessions.

Uh, privately, though,
not with all that jazz,

the lights and applause
and stuff like you saw

in the simulated press conference.

Uh-huh.

Just, um, questions and answers.

Well, I was wired up

so that each time I gave a good response,

I got good vibes, literally.

Well, I made a lot of progress that way.

Yeah, I'll bet. (Goldine laughs)

Well, you see, now,

well, I don't need the vibrator anymore.

I get the same response
just from hearing the questions

and knowing I have the answers ready.

Whew, well, we've really come a long way

since Pavlov's dog, haven't we?

(laughs) Yeah.

[Dick] The "LA Chronicle"
calls her the mystery blonde,

the track sensation of the year,

and the "San Diego Times" has a theory

that she's been secretly training

in Europe under an assumed name.

[Gino] Hey, hey, I
just heard on the radio,

the AAU have authenticated her times.

[Michael] Oh, that's very good news.

- How do you like that?
- I'd say we created

just the right amount
of interest at this stage.

All that remains is the question

of Mr. Dryden's participation.

[Valenti] Yeah, that's right, Dryden.

You know, the suspense is killing me.

Are you in or out? Tell the troupe.

Listen, generally, with an unknown,

it takes me three to five
years before I see any profit.

Even then it's a gamble.

But in this case, with
the Olympics so close,

I don't wanna be gambling around six weeks.

I'm in.

Oh, I knew it.

Providing she delivers three gold medals,

I can set contracts for around,

oh, $20 million.

- Oh!
- 20 million?

What? That's double our target.

Come on, come on, drive, drive, drive.

You blow it with your lame muscles.

What do you call that, huh?

Goldine, you're running 199
meters and he's running 200.

Come on. Harry is taking you
every damn time on that dip.

You're either too late or
you run your last 10 yards

like Groucho Marx or somebody.

Come on, one more time. Up, up, let's go.

Harry, one more time, all right?

- That was really hard.
- What?

Oh, I busted my hump catching her.

You mean you can't give
15 meters in 200 to a woman?

Hey, four times, but,

man, she was really burning that last 50.

You know, brother.

All right, hit the showers.

Hey, Red, you take the next one.

You're rested, all right?

All right, everybody, let's go, let's go.

Hey, what's matter with you?

Well, how about a little encouragement

once in a while, huh?

I mean, dammit, Pete.

I am really trying out there, you know?

It's not much fun racing against guys

and getting beat all the time.

You like winning, don't
you, like you did in San Diego?

Maybe I should ask the
guys to ease off a little bit

and give you a free ride, huh?

(Goldine scoffs)

Look, you blew it in San
Diego in that 100 heat,

but all right, you shouldn't
have made the finals.

It is not gonna happen at
the trials, you understand?

Now get your ass moving.

[Goldine] I don't understand
Pete anymore, Sammy.

You know, one day he slaps me down,

and the next day he just clams up

and makes me feel like I'd be better off

baton twirling.

Why do you think his
attitude has changed?

Oh, I miss my target sometimes.

Like yesterday, we were
on 100s, eight altogether.

I was averaging about 11:15.

"Well, that's slow."

Yes.

Yeah, but I was bucking a headwind.

So I asked if he would
reverse it for the other runs,

and he comes back with,

"Well, why don't you ask the consortium

to build you an astro do me?"

(Sammy laughs)

Yeah, well, I'm glad you think it's funny.

Hey, Goldine, where's
your sense of humor?

Pete's knocked it right out of me.

- And your appetite, too?
- Yes, my appetite, too.

I am sick of all this protein garbage.

I wanna eat normal food like normal people.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Let's remember the qualities
needed in a champion.

(Goldine groans)

The ability to function in
disaster and to finish in style.

Yes, I know, but Pete doesn't have

to club me silly to teach me that.

Yeah, there can still be a
little joy in all this training.

Oh, honey.

The joy will come later.

Believe me, when you'll be rich and famous,

you'll get all the love you'll ever want.

Believe me.

You watch this.

[Goldine] Sammy, I
don't wanna watch anything.

I wanna talk.

Yes, yes, yes, we'll talk later.

Betty Cuthbert winning
the 100? Oh, I've seen it.

You haven't watched
this. This is something new.

Dave Roberts, world
record. Paul Walter, 1976.

Listen to those crowds.

Now, Roger Bannister, 1954.

The first time the mile
was run under four minutes.

Now, will you watch this?

This is incredible.

Now watch the finish, watch the finish.

They went crazy. Look.

He was on every front page,
every newspaper of the nation.

And now look at Bob Beamon in 1968.

Jumped over 29 feet. He's
never been beaten since.

Oh, did the world ever admire him.

Look, look!

Nadia.

Oh, perfect score.

Perfect score of 10.

I don't know how many medals she won,

but oh, did the world love her.

Look at her. And they'll never forget her.

Oh, they gave her a ticker tape reception.

Look at the motorcade.

Stop it. Please, stop!

All this crap about winning.

But that's all that matters.

Oh, shut up. I know the routine.

Pete slaps me down and you pick me up.

Then why don't you work harder?

No one ever worked harder than I have.

Nonsense! That's
nonsense, and you know it!

Nonsense? You want nonsense, Sammy?

Scratch the Olympics and
scratch Goldengirl. I quit!

Goldine! Goldine, come back here at once!

It's about time. You're late.

We got a gun response session.

Take the gun response
and shove it up your ass, Pete!

(Goldine sobbing)

Sammy tells me you want to quit.

[Goldine] Yes, yes, and
don't try to talk me out of it.

You apologize to Pete
and Sammy right now.

No, I won't! I won't apologize to them.

I hate them. I hate this place.

- I hate running.
- How dare you?

You behave like a child
giving up piano lessons.

As your father, I won't permit it.

Oh, oh, my father? Oh, that's a good one.

Well, if you'd behave like
any kind of a normal father,

then maybe I'd listen to you.

But you're not anymore. No!

(Goldine sobbing)

(melancholy music)

[Bill] I haven't show you
the affection you deserve.

That's the one area that's been neglected.

I'm very sorry.

I don't to talk about it now.

But we have to talk.

[Goldine] No! (Sobs)

Whether you recognize it or not,

the one thing you crave most is affection,

and that's all that Sammy was
trying to say in a clumsy way.

All she was talking about was winning.

It comes with winning.

All you really want is for
people to care and love you.

And winning will bring that fulfillment.

When you collect those medals in Moscow,

you will be the focus of more pride

and more affection than
any individual on Earth.

Maybe you can achieve it some other way,

but I don't know how, do you?

No.

Daddy.

(crowd cheering)

All right, he's done it, 2.75 meters,

and he goes into undisputed first place.

Yes.

But the real story of
these trials, Bob Beamon,

is still the Bakersfield
Flash, Goldine Serafin.

Yesterday, she set a US
record in the 100-meter final,

and barely an hour ago,

she equaled the US record
in the 200-meter quarter-final.

Now she's getting set to compete

in the semifinals of the 400.

Yeah, actually, Steve,
everyone here is wondering,

are there any limits
to this girl's ability?

Well, apparently there are none.

She's gonna have to watch

the Martinez girl in lane one, though.

She's unbeaten this season.

(whistle blowing)

[Starter] Get set.

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

Come on, come on.

There we go, that's it, that's it.

There we go, there we go.

(crowd cheering)

Where is she?

Come on, there you go, come on.

That was Serafin, Martinez, and Wilson.

And listen to the time: 50.56 seconds.

Unbelievable, Steve.

That equals Janie Canute's US record

set two months ago in Indiana.

The showdown between these
two record holders tomorrow

oughta to be the race of the year.

You were a champion today, Goldine.

You know that? You were a champion.

- But she dipped.
- No!

Hey, give her some space, will you?

It was Goldengirl, Goldengirl.

Oh, Pete, I've been waiting so long

for you to say something nice.

Hey, anybody want a pair of track shoes

that came in eighth in the Olympic trials?

Size seven, urethane-coated

kangaroo uppers with rat brown heels.

Huh? No takers?

Well, here's my contribution
to the US Olympic appeal.

Come on, Annie. We can try again in '84.

Forget it, I ran the
best time of my life,

and Miss Statue of Liberty

makes me look like I'm standing still.

Hey, hey!

I just wanna thank you.

Me? For what?

I'm hanging up my cleats 'cause of you.

From now on I'm breaking records

in smoking, drinking, and S-E-X.

And as for you guys,

you're gonna live,

and you can thank Ms.
G. Serafin for that. (Laughs)

Now, why can't we continue to grow.

Because of him.

What's the matter with him?

I've seen worse playing for
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

(laughs) His poor bones
are just not constructed

to carry additional height,

and his heart lacks the capacity to furnish

the circulation a taller
person would require.

Professor Walsh, I
have basketball players

that I represent that
are over seven foot tall.

Now, I don't see anything
wrong with their heart

or their circulation or the
structure of their skeleton.

You're missing the point.

We've always had giants or dwarves.

Growth follows a bell-shaped curve.

Here's your basketball
player on this end of the lip,

the tallest end of the growth spectrum.

Midgets are over here.

They have no bearing on the norm, here.

So if Dr. Serafin's
hypothesis is correct,

he has to prove that the bell

is edging toward the taller end.

Yes, but because of the
limitations of the human frame,

we think he's wrong.

Well, let's assume he is right.

What's so earth-shaking about that?

Well, if the average person were taller,

then his muscular development

would have to increase proportionately.

It's okay.

Would you get Edmund, please?

That's him there?

Yes. Thank you.

I suppose you've come up
with a physically-superior being.

Physically-superior being?

Well, that kind of has echoes of the old

super race philosophy, doesn't it?

Forgive me, Mr. Dryden,

but that's a rather cruel
insinuation to lay on a man

just because he speaks
with a German accent.

No, he was educated under Hitler,

and I've seen a few things that indicate

that he may have retained
some of that ideology.

Well, he's never
communicated any of them to me.

I only know Bill as a serious,

if not somewhat misguided, scientist.

I think you're on the wrong track.

Yeah?

Well, is there any definitive way

that he can prove his theories?

Well, a centimeter a decade,

four inches a century.

Unfortunately I won't live that long.

Well, what about
artificially-induced growth?

Isn't there some kind
of drug that can do that?

Uh, yes, there's PSH, the
pituitary stimulant hormone.

PSH?

It's used to remedy
certain forms of dwarfism.

Take a look at Godzilla here.

He used to be a normal size
until we injected him with PSH.

You mean he was one of these guys?

[Walsh] Yes.

[Jack] (whistles) Godzilla.

Well, couldn't it be given
to a normal human being?

That would be a grotesque idea.

Why?

To pump a normal person with hormones,

you run the risk of anything

from kidney failure to gross deformities.

Uh-huh, so there's no safe drug.

No, no safe drug.

[Jack] I had these drawn up to illustrate

the kind of campaign that I have in mind.

[Gino] Well, that's just great,

but what's this with the
Dryden, Dryden, Dryden?

[Jack] It's just a name that we use

until we know what
the real product is, Gino.

- Christ.
- You know, Dryden,

they're all very impressive,

but can you firm any deals
before she wins in Moscow?

No, no, no, no, I can
just draw up the contracts,

all contingent on her
winning a triple in Moscow.

Yeah, two golds and we wind up with zero.

(chuckles) What's the
matter, Gino, you scared?

Yeah. It's always the
way it's been, hasn't it?

- That's right.
- I mean, all or nothing.

Well, fine, then that leaves me

with only three things to worry about.

Yeah, will she win three golds?

Yeah, that's one. The next is the press.

Now, you'll have to get rid of that

(sighs) fancy training
camp you got up there.

I mean, you know, if
you wanna keep all of that

- money you spend secret.
- Oh, no,

we have already started
to dismantle the retreat.

By the end of the week,

there will be nothing left
over for a curious reporter.

Anyway, where the hell
is she gonna train, huh?

I have arranged facilities for her

at the Arizona State
University near Phoenix.

The Dean is a colleague of mine.

Now, what's your final worry?

You, Dr. Serafin.

I'm cynical enough to believe

there's more here than meets the eye.

Now, there's something about this project

that's more important to
you than money, isn't there?

I've never made a secret
of my scientific interest.

What are you getting at?

Are you planning to
publish your findings?

Yes, I've just finished an article

for the "American Journal of Physiology,"

but that wouldn't hurt the merchandising.

Who the hell cares if
we're all growing taller?

We want the public to brush their teeth

with Goldengirl toothpaste

and drink gallons of
Goldengirl orange juice.

Now, they'll do that for the pretty blonde

they cried their hearts out for

when she picked up that third gold medal.

God, they'll do it for America's darling,

the little orphan girl
who came outta nowhere

and beat the world's
best, but what happens-

- Forgive me, Mr. Dryden, but
we have really more important-

- Wait a minute, wait a
minute, wait a minute.

Let's hear what Dryden's

- driving at.
- Just get to the point.

Well, the point is,

what happens when they find
out she's a test tube athlete,

that she's not a golden
girl, but a golden Guinea pig,

a 6'2" physiological freak?

(Noah whistles)

The Dow Jones just dropped 50 points.

Yeah, well, that's my worry.

It won't be like that.

In the scientific paper, I don't
have to mention her name.

How can you hide it?

After Moscow, she's
gonna be a world celebrity,

and the press is gonna
be looking for some dirt

to switch the golden halo anyway.

Gentleman, you cannot
deny me this opportunity.

I have devoted a lifetime to this work.

And what about our
$800,000 investment, Doc?

- What about that?
- That's right.

I've invested even more than that.

My company is bringing out a completely

new line of Goldengirl clothing.

I can't let you jeopardize that.

Michael, you are an intelligent man.

Have you any idea of the magnitude

of the importance of this study?

How can you ask me to forgo publication?

I will not allow a crass
financial consideration

to obstruct a scientific breakthrough.

A crass financial consideration.

Well, maybe we will withdraw
our crass financial support.

Michael, don't threaten me.

You're forgetting, this
project is still under my control.

Goldengirl is my daughter-

- Goldengirl is also- And she will do-

- our investment.
- As I say.

And if you insist on your position,

I will simply pull her out of the trials,

and you will lose all your money

and your new line of clothing.

That's it, gentleman. I'm
going to have my lunch.

Dr. Serafin, can I join you a minute?

You've just given me
an education, Mr. Dryden.

I have never realized in how many areas

an agent involves himself.

Well, an agent's primary responsibility

is to protect his client's
earning power, that's it.

When it comes to this particular client,

do you really think it would endanger it?

Listen, Doctor, I didn't come
down here to argue with you.

I think I know the importance
of this project to you,

and your desire to publish
is perfectly understandable.

I just wanna make a suggestion about

how we can possibly compromise.

Can I sit down?

- Mm.
- Thank you.

Would you be

willing to delay publication
for, say, two years,

or until we hit our $20 million target,

whichever comes sooner?

Pulling her from the trials doesn't really

serve your purpose either, does it?

Don't you think I know that?

Well, you don't have to
make a decision on it right now.

Sleep on it. Let me know.

[Bill] Listen, Dryden, I
don't like you very much.

I guess that's my answer.

However, I will delay.

When you've waited as long
as I have to prove yourself,

you can wait a little longer.

Congratulations.

I saw you in the 100 the other day.

You really scorched 'em.

You know, you must
have an awful lotta talent

going through three events.

I mean, I don't know any
other girls who's ever tried it.

Don't think I don't know who you are.

You're Janie Canute, and you
hold the US record in the 400.

So?

So what are you trying
to do? Psych me out?

Honey, you've got a lot to learn.

(somber music)

Oh shit.

Hey, I know it's our big day;,

and we gotta take it kinda easy,

but don't you think we
oughta do another lap?

Yeah, but Pete, I don't feel right.

What's the matter? Your leg?

Yeah, there's this heaviness there.

I've never felt that before.

Hmm, maybe we are pushing a little hard.

Why don't you go back to the hotel,

and I'll get Ingrid to give you a rubdown?

Okay. Thanks, Pete.

All right.

How is she, Doctor?

There's nothing wrong with her.

It's anxiety, that's all.

Look, Doc, in all the time
that I've worked with her,

she's never had a
physical complaint before.

She's never been in a
major competition before.

(somber music continues)

- It's Serafin. (Indistinct)
- (crowd cheering)

[Bob] Serafin looked a
little tired in the stretch, Steve.

I wonder if she's got enough reserve

to hold off Janie Canute in the 400.

Well, we're just gonna
have to wait and see.

Yes, I guess we will.

She is tired. There's something wrong.

You okay? You don't look so good.

- Name, please.
- I'm okay.

Uh, Goldine Serafin.

- Do you need your coach?
- I can walk you over to him.

No. I just wanna
sit here for a little bit.

I don't need anything. Thanks.

- Thanks.
- You sure?

- Yeah.
- Okay.

Two, please.

Jack.

Jack, hello.

Steve Esselton, "Sports Report."

- Oh, sure, how are you?
- You arranged for me

to interview Jim Hansenberg last season.

Yeah, I remember. What do you have here?

Covering up for the network, huh?

Yeah, I got lucky.

So far it turns out to
be the story of the year,

thanks to your potential client.

- My potential client?
- Who the hell is that?

You're gonna tell me the
biggest agent in the business

comes all the way up
here to be a spectator?

No, actually I come up all this way

to be with this beautiful lady here.

Any other questions?

No, just a tip.

Keep your eye on this Serafin girl.

She's a merchandiser's dream.

- Merchandiser's dream?
- Track's an amateur sport, Steve.

Don't you know that?

(Steve laughs)

Ooh-hoo.

Um, it's this gate. Where are we going?

No, we can't sit with the consortium.

I know that guy, he's
digging for something,

but we're not gonna let him find it here.

Let's go down there.

Hey, Doc, why's she sitting, huh?

400's coming up. Shouldn't
she be moving around?

[Bill] She knows what she's
doing. She's psyching up.

[Noah] Oh, psyching up, huh?

(somber music)

Oh, look.

Janie.

Listen, Janie, I, uh, I'm
really sorry about this morning.

[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

the women's 400-meter final.

Remember, only the first three
qualify for the Olympic team.

In lane one, Goldine Serafin, unaffiliated.

Lane two, from Kansas
University, Janie Canute.

In lane three, Carol Adams,

University of Southern California.

In lane four, from Yale, Susan Brown.

In lane five, Gloria Martinez, Penn State.

Lane six, Nancy Jones from Oregon State.

Lane seven, Cherie Miller, Crippenheim.

Lane eight, Stella Ruben, Santa Barbara.

[Starter] Get set.

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

[Announcer] It's
Martinez off with a fast start.

Coming out of the stagger
with Martinez is Jones,

with Canute in third,
and brown a close fourth.

It's still Martinez and Jones.

Martinez and Jones and (indistinct).

Jones and Canute (indistinct).

It's a thrilling race for third place,

but beyond that (indistinct).

It's Canute and Serafin.
They're neck and neck.

And at the tape, Martinez
wins it, Jones second,

then it will be a photo for third place.

(crowd cheering)

(suspenseful music)

Hey, baby, you okay? You okay?

Yes, yes.

- Legs.
- You all right?

[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

the judges have just examined the photos

for third place in the 400 meters.

Goldine Serafin (indistinct).

Yeah!

(rousing music)

Hey, knock 'em dead in Moscow, Goldine.

Thanks, Janie.

- Ah.
- Congratulations, Goldine.

Hey, thanks, man.

(Goldine laughs)

After today, you know,
you're going to be besieged

by agents with contracts
for personal appearances,

- endorsements, what have you.
- Oh, really? Wow.

You know, it's just
possible you could make

quite a killing out of the Olympics.

How do you feel about that?

- You bet your ass.
- Endorsement contract?

(Goldine and Jack laugh) Wow.

Well, I've only recently-

- Oh, he's evil.
- Been thinking of myself

- as a runner.
- Yeah.

That's the only thing I have on my mind.

We are just ordinary people
with no experience in sports.

- Of course not.
- Goldine wants to win

for America. (Goldine chuckles)

[Jack] Well, it took
you to third place for that.

- Well, it was difficult.
- The competition in Moscow

will be against a
former-Oh, Jack, watch this.

- East German sprint champion.
- Watch this.

There's a report that she
sent you an autographed picture.

Oh. (Laughs) You've written about that.

Yes, it so happens I have it here.

Look at this.

(Jack laughs)

Isn't that great? I know.

Ms. Krull wanted me to get used

to looking at her from this position.

[Man] Any comment on that?

Yes, I think Ms. Krull has
a wonderful sense of humor,

- among other things.
- Yeah.

- Well, I'd say.
- I only hope she can keep

smiling when they play-You dirty old man.

"The Star-Spangled Banner"
at the awards ceremony.

[Goldine] (laughs) That's
all I wanted you to see.

- [Jack] It was great.
- You looked really good.

Oh, Jack, I loved it.

You know, for the first time,
I was talking to real people,

people that wanted to know about me.

It was fantastic.

Yeah.

Well, if you hadn't been in bed,

I would never know you were ill.

Well, hmm, it's nothing serious.

I just, I have a sore throat
and I'm thirsty all the time.

I must've drank a gallon of water.

Well, you really gave us a scare.

I scared myself pretty good.

It was funny, though, because
you know what I thought about

when I saw the triple fading away from me?

What?

I thought about you.

- Really? Why?
- Yeah.

In San Diego, asking me,

"Who are you? What do you want?"

- And that helped?
- Mm-hmm.

- Well.
- That,

that and something else,
something really weird.

Because, you know, I was in a lot of pain.

I was struggling. My legs hurt.

And I looked over at Janie Canute,

keeping me from third place,

and all of a sudden,
like a shot of adrenaline,

and swept over me.

You gotta take a win?

No, I looked over
at that sweet little girl,

and I hated her.

I hated her.

It really shook me, you know,

because I didn't wanna beat her anymore,

I wanted to destroy her.

And when I took her in that
dip finish, oh, I relished it.

(sighs) I know. It's really kinda ugly.

Why?

Is that the kind of person I really am?

Listen, don't equate the killer instinct

with knowing who you are.

Oh, now you sound like Sammy.

- Oh.
- Yeah.

So you're telling me that
I'm basically a sweet little girl,

and not mean at all.

Listen, it's as natural to an athlete

to wanna destroy her opponent

as put on a pair of
track shoes, that's all.

Jack, you're so good for me.

- Ah.
- You are.

I discovered something
else out there today.

Yeah? What?

[Goldine] I still want you.

Yeah, well, then I guess it's good

that you've got a virus.

(chuckles) Hmm, no,
a virus isn't contagious.

You'll have to come up with
a better excuse than that.

Well,

I guess the one in San
Diego was the one, and...

Are you turning me down?

Yes, with profound regret.

"With profound regret.”

Aren't you the smug bastard.

(soft music)

♪ It's been just me ♪

♪ Lord knows, I'm trying ♪

♪ Inside's a dream I keep denying ♪

♪ If I should stop ♪

♪ There'd be no way to ease the pain ♪

♪ Gotta start reaching for tomorrow ♪

♪ Trying to be who I am ♪

♪ Running as fast as I can ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ It's been just you ♪

♪ Through all this yearning ♪

♪ Inside's a need that keeps returning ♪

♪ My trust in you ♪

♪ Gives me the hope to carry on ♪

♪ Gotta keep reaching for tomorrow ♪

♪ Trying to be who I am ♪

♪ Running as fast as I can ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Slow down, I'll find you ♪

♪ With you out there ♪

♪ To always comfort me ♪

♪ You made me whole ♪

♪ Not the half I used to be ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Slow down, I'll find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

[Sammy] Tell me, how
can she break records

inside a sanitarium, hmm?

And if you're wondering how much we know,

let's start by talking about PSH.

For God's sake, Dryden.

This is no time for a medical discussion.

I'm her physician. I know what I'm doing.

No, I want her to know
what's wrong with her and why.

Wait now, if this has to do with me,

I wanna hear about it.

Are you aware that you've
been the basis for a case study

to prove some theories that he holds?

I've always known about
his theory on oxygen intake.

That you've been used as a Guinea pig.

See, part of this Olympic idea was a stunt

to publicize that people
are growing taller.

What, a stunt?

Yeah, and for this stunt to work,

his Guinea pig had to be 6'2".

But I am 6'2".

Yeah, but when you were growing up,

he had no way of knowing
you'd ever reach that height,

and to prove his
theories, it was essential.

My dear friend, you're pulling this

totally out of context.

Wait, oh wait, oh wait now.

Wait. Is that how I got
to be as tall as I am?

You planned it?

The way he puts it makes
it sound horrifying, my dear.

Believe me, I didn't go into this lightly.

I made the most intensive study

of the use-You mean my height,

like my nose and my body, isn't natural?

Those shots that he
gave you until you were 16

weren't for iron.

They were a hormone that
speeds up the growing process.

(gasps) Is this true?

[Bill] It's not a serious

- as he puts it.
- And Sammy.

You went along with this?

I just learned of it from Jack.

I would never have allowed it.

But you're in this
place to get over a virus.

See, those hormones can
have a serious side effect.

[Sammy] The sluggishness
you've felt in your legs

and the way you've been feeling ever since

are all due to these injections.

They've damaged your pancreatic cells.

You know what that means, Goldine?

You've become a diabetic.

Right, Doctor?

A diabetic?

Oh, you had to,

you had to know the risks.

Oh, I was aware of it,
but don't you understand?

You did this to me for what?

Please don't-I mean, why?

- Darling.
- Some one-line credit

- in a medical encyclopedia?
- It wasn't done to hurt you.

Believe me, I love you. You know that.

Yes, there was a risk, a very slight risk.

But think of the compensation
for that slight risk.

The tremendous triumph at the Olympics.

(Goldine laughs)

Oh.

Yeah.

15 years creating your
6'2" scientific truth, (laughs)

And right before the big demonstration,

it goes south because of
some incurable disease.

I find that incredible.

Goldine, listen to me.

Dryden's left out the most
important part of the story.

I didn't bring you in here
to diagnose your condition,

but to regulate it, to
keep it under control.

Are you telling me
that it's not incurable?

Your diabetes is
mild. It's stabilized now.

With proper diet and regular insulin,

you can lead a completely normal life.

And still compete in the Olympics?

Why not? You won your place on the team.

It is your right.

Why give her false hope, goddammit?

Haven't you done enough?

No false hope, at all the trials,

Goldine was suffering
from insulin deficiency.

With one injection, she
could have set world records.

That's why the 400

- was so tough.
- Yes, of course.

I couldn't tell you that.

I could've won that race.

Yes. You're the finest
woman athlete in the world.

You must go to Moscow.

- Now, now, wait.
- When can I start training?

- Right away.
- Wait a minute!

Listen, she's already
laid off almost a week.

There's no Olympic athlete in the world

that can lay off that long
just before the games.

You cannot compare Goldine
with a normal Olympic athlete.

Tell me, Bill, now.

The pressure of the
tryouts set this thing off.

What do you think the Olympics will do?

Doesn't she risk brain
damage, or even worse?

Not at all.

Her blood sugar level will be
monitored from race to race.

Aha, and want the Russian scream drugs

at the first blood sample?

Insulin is not a prohibited drug,

and diabetic athletes are not uncommon.

I can clear it with the Olympic committee.

I can tell them she's had
this condition for two years.

But now, you say she's
stabilized, but if she's not,

if you're lying and she
runs, it could kill her.

And why should we believe you?

Because if anything happens to her,

my entire life's work is meaningless.

Your entire life's...

All those years, you made me
think those medals were for me.

They are yours. They are yours.

You still must go for gold.

You were born a natural athlete.

- You have to run.
- Stop it.

You have to run.

I don't wanna hear those words anymore.

Get outta here.

Control your-Get outta here!

Get out of here!

Honey, sweetheart,
why don't you lie down?

I'll get Ingrid to give you a rubdown.

No, no. Sammy?

Mm-hmm?

Sammy, help me.

Help me get my things together.

There's still time.

I'll work out with Pete this afternoon.

Are you crazy?

Listen, we're, we're, we're,

we're going to New York.

Hey, Goldine, we'll find
a specialist to find out

if it's really stabilized or not.

I've already missed a week.

I can't waste any more time.

Listen, will you talk with her?

I think she's doing the right thing.

She's a sick girl, dammit.

- What's the matter with you?
- Whatever you think

of Bill Serafin, he is a fine physician.

If he says the girl can
function, I believe him.

[Jack] Well, you're really something,

that you're willing to sacrifice-

- [Sammy] No, no, no,
no, I'm not sacrificing-

- Hey, wait a minute.

[Jack] What the hell is it, then?

You two, I'm perfectly capable
of making up my own mind.

Now, maybe before,

Goldengirl wasn't
supposed to think for herself,

but that's all changing.

I'm going to Moscow, I'm going to run,

and God help anyone who tries to stop me.

Even me?

Yes, even you.

[Operator] Your call
is ready, sir. Hello?

Franz, I'll call you right back.

Well, I can't stop you.

I know about the consortium,

I put together the merchandising package,

and I know that you haven't been

a diabetic for the past two years.

Now, look, Goldine,

all I want you to do is to go to New York.

I believe you really care.

Yes, I care, dammit. I care very much.

I love you. I love you.

(somber music)

Jesus Christ, Dryden.

You'd say anything to keep me from running.

Yeah, well, I just wanna
keep my record straight.

I've never had a dead
athlete on my books before.

Well, what's my
alternative? A healthy freak?

Oh, Jack, look at me.

Everything about me is phony.

And now even the
insides are all screwed up.

Is that any better?

(dramatic music)

[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

on behalf of International
Olympic Committee,

I want to welcome you to Moscow

for the 22nd Olympiad.

(upbeat marching band
music) (crowd cheering)

(dramatic music)
(presenter speaking Russian)

[Gino] (laughs) Look at
that. Isn't that beautiful?

Listen to this.

We have $8 million already committed,

and nine million that will
jump on the bandwagon

after the first gold medal,
and that's only domestic.

[Michael] Mr. Dryden,
we have to hand it to.

You really know your business.

[Gino] That broad may be diabetic,

but she's sure getting to look sweet to me.

[Noah] You know, Gino,
you're a crude son of a bitch.

- Oh, what do you know?
- You know that?

Jack, Jack, listen, you think
you can make any more deals?

I mean like Europe, the Orient,
maybe the rest of the world?

Sure. Whatever. (Indistinct)

Hey, what's the matter with him?

I expect he's not feeling too happy

about Goldine's present condition.

Oh, come on.

For Christ's sake, I mean,

you know, it's not a terminal disease.

Yeah, well, the Olympic medical people,

they're not idiots.

They gave her a clean
bill of health, didn't they?

Because Serafin told them
she'd had it for two years,

that she's stabilized.

Is it stabilized or isn't it?

Yeah, man, what's the story?

Listen, they've assigned a specialist

to look after her throughout the games.

Jack.

- Steve.
- Ahoy.

It's good to see you. Welcome to Moscow.

Say, isn't that the lady
that you were with?

Yeah, of course it is. Excuse
me, lemme just say hello.

Oh yes, that's right, you, um-

- Hello.

- Hello.
- We met at the trials.

- I hope you remember me.
- Yes, yes.

- How are you?
- I'm glad to see you again.

Gentlemen, gentlemen,
gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting

a meeting of the board of directors.

No, not at all.

This is Steve Esselton
of TV's "Sports World."

He likes to talk in riddles.

Well, that's because you're
so damned evasive, Jack.

(Jack laughs)

Uh, we still have some
unpacking to do, don't we?

Yes. Excuse us, Steve.

You're still denying you
have a stake in Goldine?

Goldine who?

I admit I was fishing at the trials,

but I can prove the connection now.

Would you care to hear it?

Ah.

Oh, see you in a while.

Hell yes, a good laugh in
Moscow's hard to come by.

Well, the first time you brushed me,

I found out you were staying
at the Jacaranda Hotel,

and I checked the guest list,

and imagine who else was staying there?

Messrs. Valenti and Cobb and Sternberg,

and here you are together again in Moscow.

That's quite a coincidence, Jack.

Yeah, well, we're all rabid track fans.

Listen, nice meeting you.

- Really, terrific.
- Pleasure indeed.

I wasn't finished.

Uh, yeah, later, later.

The missing member of your group,

he was also at the
Jacaranda, Dick Armitage.

Dick who? Never heard of him.

Oh, Armitage I know. He's a client.

Oh, thanks, Jack. I did a
little research on Armitage.

Found out that he had a bad tennis elbow

just about two years ago.

The doctor that helped him
get rid of it was Dr. Serafin.

Doctor who?

Doctor who? Hell,
you guys are really good.

I think Dr. Serafin promoted
the three of you plus Armitage

to finance his daughter's training,

and Armitage pulled in Dryden

to merchandise the package.

Any comment on that, gentlemen?

(chuckles) Have you
got any canceled checks

or any copies of contracts to substantiate

this fantasyless theory of yours?

If you're looking for a
good story, listen, listen,

I handle this boxer whose brother's a fag.

- He's wonderful.
- No, wait, whoa, whoa.

Just wait. Now, hold on just a second.

Gentlemen, I'm not trying
to get the girl banned. I'm not.

I've already done several
heavy features on her.

I don't wanna junk "em.

It's just, I have this little
problem with this nonsense

about the mystery

super jogger blonde

that never set foot on a
track until the last few months.

Come on, that's kinda rich. It's 1980.

Look, if the Russians and the East Germans

can use state dough
to train their athletes,

what's wrong with a few private
businessmen, get together,

make a little profit, train one of ours?

What's wrong with that?

Are you guys gonna level with me or what?

I think you're absolutely right, Steve.

And I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'm gonna keep both my
eyes and ears wide open.

If I see or hear anything
that I think you should know,

I'll be able to pipe you immediately, okay?

Jack, I'd like your
help, but I don't need it.

I'm bringing a guy over,
kind of a guest commentator,

and I'm counting on him to blow the whistle

on all you birds.

Really? Who would that be?

Dr. Who, that's who.

(crowd cheering)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

[Announcer] 100 meter women's semi-final

heat number one.

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

She's way back.

It's just the angle. All she
needs is a fourth to qualify.

(crowd cheering)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

What is he going on about now?

The star of the show is
making her first appearance.

This is Ursula Krull.

(crowd chanting)

You know, I heard last night

that she's trying for the triple now.

The East Germans have
entered her in the 400,

and she hasn't even trained for it.

Well, naturally, you don't think

they're gonna let us have a golden girl

if they can have one of their own, do you?

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

Christ. Now we're really in trouble.

Goldine's best time has only been 11:04.

(people speaking in Russian)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

[Announcer] 100-meter-

- women's final.
- Hello.

Hello.

I'm Ursula Krull.

Oh yeah. So you are.

That's only for the press.

Good luck.

How do you say that in German?

Viel Glueck.

Viel Glueck, then.

Viel Glueck to you too.

Danke schoen.

Pete.

Yeah?

How are you feeling, man?

Ah, how do I look?

Terrible.

Yeah, well, when you think
that two hard years of work

can get wiped out in a
lousy 10-second race,

how would you feel?

Yeah, well, listen-

- Wait, wait, wait, wait.

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

(people cheering)

(crowd cheering)

Yes!

Ooh, that's smooth.

How do you feel now?

It was never in doubt.

(Jack laughs)

(crowd cheering)

[Announcer] New Olympic record.

[Steve] Sir, I know it's
been a long, long road.

You must be the happiest
and the proudest father

in Lenin Stadium today.

The folks back home would
like to hear just how you feel

about your daughter's incredible victory.

Oh, quite credible for me.

Without boasting, I knew she would win.

She's unique, you see.

Yeah, well, but you mean
because of the special facilities

that you've provided over the years?

No, no, she's physiologically unique.

Her skeletal development
has been checked, corrected.

Her what? Excuse me, sir.

I don't follow. Her what?

- Her skeletal development.
- The configuration of her bones.

If I may explain.

Please, Doctor, trust me,

the folks at home would rather
hear how you feel right now.

How I feel?

Aren't you jumping over the Moon?

I beg your pardon?

Well, uh, excited,
proud, ecstatic, something.

Oh yes, there is an
element of satisfaction, yes.

An element of satisfaction.

Thank you, Dr. Serafin,
for the quote of the year.

Please, you didn't let me finish.

Steve Esselton returning you
to Dave Yardley in New York.

I would like to explain-

what the configuration-No, please don't.

Of the bones mean.

Thank you.

- Hi, Goldine.
- Jack!

This is a restricted
area. Who the hell are you?

- I'd like to see Ms.
- Serafin for a few minutes.

Sorry, I can't allow that.

- Nurse!
- No, Doctor, please.

This is a medical examination.

- It's quite important.
- Yeah, but he's a very

close friend of mine.

Come on, you know the rules.

Please.

- Hold that.
- Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Doctor - Jack.

I've missed you.

You haven't been to see
me since you got to Moscow.

Yeah, well, there's a reason.

Oh, like what?

Like Steve Esselton, that TV guy.

Yeah?

Bad news if he saw us together.

And he's got the knife out.

He doesn't believe our background story.

Is that what you came
to talk to me about?

No, there's more. He
brought your father over here.

He's not my father. You know that.

Yeah, well, to the media,
that's just a technicality.

Now, he may try to lay on an
interview with the two of you.

Oh, he can just go jump.

I'm not going anywhere near that.

Okay, okay, just make
some kind of an excuse.

You've got to train, or something.

But if he talks about your father-

- But-But wait.

Remember the image we created.

- Jesus Christ!
- Say something nice.

Jack, I don't believe you.

I just won a gold medal,

and all you can talk about
is that megalomaniac.

Excuse me, I'm putting

these glucose tablets-You're
really sweating it.

- In your tracksuit pocket.
- Aren't you, Jack?

- Don't forget to take 'em.
- Okay, okay.

For you I will play the
devoted daughter routine,

but only if you'll just-

- Hey.

You're not listening to me.

What?

You make damn sure you take
two of these before each race,

because if you don't, you can go into shock

- in 30 seconds.
- Okay, all right.

And if you don't, you can be
dead in two or three minutes.

- Do you understand that?
- Yes, I do.

Just put 'em in my jacket, okay, please?

Thank you.

You were saying that you'd play

the devoted daughter if I want it?

Yeah, Jack. I just set
a new Olympic record.

Don't I even deserve a kiss?

Yeah, you were terrific
out there. I'm sorry.

Oh no, no, no. Not on the lips.

- Hmm?
- No.

The feet, Jack. You can kiss my feet.

Oh, yeah, right.

[Goldine] You owe
one hell of a lot to them.

Come on, kiss 'em. Kiss, kiss, come on.

Kiss 'em! (Laughs)

(dramatic music)

(crowd cheering)

I don't want to.

Now, I don't care if she's the best damn

ice skater in the world.

No, I've had it with female athletes.

Yeah, well, tell her the truth.

Tell her that I'm a totally
dedicated male chauvinist pig,

and gonna stay that way, got it?

Okay, now, about Serafin.

I'm afraid we're just gonna
have to live with that one.

Esselton's taping an interview
with him tomorrow morning at,

well, just before the games.

Yeah, well, there's
nothing I can do about it,

short of murder.

What about Hartwig?
What did he have to say?

Oh, come on Franz. Get your notes, will ya?

You know, it's costing a lot of money.

Oh, my, my, my, look at
her. America's sweetheart.

Every mother would like her for a daughter

and every father would
like to take her to bed.

Listen, Jack, what happened
between Goldine and you

yesterday may have nothing
to do with her condition.

After all, a gold medal winner

may be entitled to a little
display of temperament.

Yeah, well, I hope so.

(crowd cheering)

("Star-Spangled Banner")

Yeah, what? Yeah, I'm here, Franz.

Yeah. He said what?

Well, okay.

Give him my regards.

And thank you.

Well.

That kind of shoots your temperament

bullshit theory all to hell.

Why?

Well, according to
Dr. Hartwig, extreme irritability

and irrational behavior
are strong indications

that there is an imbalance
in her blood sugar level.

That means she's not stabilized.

Yes.

Well, don't you think the team doctor

would've diagnosed that? (Crowd cheering)

Yeah, sure he should have, right?

Patriotism, I guess.

She's running for the flag
now, not just for the gold.

Patriotism blinds a lotta people.

Even some doctors.

Ta-daa!

(Goldine laughs)

Let me see. Let me see.

Look at this.

Oh, wow.

Isn't she pretty?

That is probably the
closest I'll ever get to one.

Ah, come on.

You still have a shot
at the 200 and the relay.

Yeah, maybe the relays,

'cause that's the only
event you and Krull aren't in.

(Goldine chuckles)

There you go, my little Moscow bear.

You take care of that for me.

Hey, did you leave me some hot water?

[Debbie] Are we in Moscow?

I hope so.

(bathroom door slams)

Deb, Deb, have you seen my shower cap?

If it's not in the bathroom,
I don't know where it is.

Maybe it's on the
dresser, where you left it.

Of course, right where
I left it. You're right.

Huh. (Tense music)

Debbie, did you touch my medal?

Your medal?

Yeah. You tried to put it on, didn't ya?

No, I didn't try to put it on.

Don't lie to me.

I'm not lying to you. What
the hell's wrong with you?

Yeah, I know what you're trying to do.

You're trying to take away my power.

(scoffs) Goldine, you-

- Goldengirl.

It's Goldengirl. You call me
Goldengirl when you talk to me.

I never touched your medal.

You're a liar. You are a liar.

And I can't stand lying,

and I won't share my room with any liar.

Now you get the hell outta here.

And then she tells the team manager

that she's not gonna
set foot on the track again

if she has to share a room
with another second-rate hacker.

[Jack] who she's staying with now?

The US ambassador.

- The US ambassador?
- They moved her

- to the embassy.
- You're kidding.

I mean, Jack, this diabetic thing

is turning her into a schizophrenic.

I'm worried.

Those damn security regulations.

I should be out there with her.

Can't we talk to the doctor at least?

I can arrange something.

Let's go to the stadium.

I'll get the car.

Look, the girl has been
examined thoroughly.

Nurse, gimme that vial.

Her blood level is normal, right?

Her urine analysis is normal.

Now, what are you trying to do?

Get the girl kicked out of the games?

No, I'm fond of the girl,

and I just don't want her
health impaired, that's all.

Are you sure it doesn't
have anything to do

with that scene that I witnessed yesterday?

(indistinct) Did that strike
you as normal behavior,

for Christ's sake?

I don't know what
goes on between you two.

She told me that you hadn't come to see her

since you came to Moscow, and
she was steamed up about that.

Steamed up about it?

That was a hell of a lot
more than steamed up.

That was weird, man.

Oh, maybe, but I
don't know all the things

that go into abnormal behavior,

but Olympic pressure is one of them.

And can't the same pressure aggravate

a recent case of diabetes?

Are you trying to tell
me my job as a doctor?

No, we just want to make sure

that she has the best-Will
you do me a favor?

Would you tell me what your
connection with that girl is?

Well, I'm a very old friend.

I've known her for a very long time.

Good.

Okay, old friend. I've
got some news for you.

See this case history? It's hers.

It says here that she's had
that disease for two years.

She signed it and her father signed it,

and he's a doctor, too.

But she hasn't had it for two years.

They signed that so that you wouldn't

disqualify her in the States.

They knew damn well you
couldn't accept a recent diabetic.

And you want me to
accept that flimsy explanation?

Now, listen, you two.

The whole country is
steamed up about this girl.

The president is calling her personally

if she pulls off that triple tomorrow.

Now, as long as her
blood and urine are normal,

she runs, get it?

Now, goodbye.

And when did you discover that Goldine

had this superlative speed?

Not merely speed. A superlative physique.

(telephone ringing) It
was obvious as a child.

You mean that early you decided

to turn her into an Olympic runner?

I wish you wouldn't single
out her running abilities.

She would excel at any
sport with proper instruction.

The Sheldon classification
rates her as a mesomorph,

in spite her unusual height.

Well, I'm sure, but tell me,

surely, with private tutors in
the home, and her own gym,

and now recently a
professional coach to train her,

hasn't this been a heavy
personal investment for you?

I have invested in Goldine's health,

in her physical development.

Surely you were aware of
the fantastic potential rewards

if she made her mark at the Olympics.

My reward is proving a scientific fact.

You mean she's running to
publicize some theory of yours?

My investigations in human growth.

Goldine is the living answer to my critics.

She's taller about four inches

than any normal growth would have achieved.

Well, that's very interesting, Doctor,

but what has it got to
do with the Olympics?

Goldine is the fastest
girl in the world because

- I brought her up this way.
- Because a lot of money

has been spent on her training,

money put up by a group
of successful businessmen

who expect to reap a
bonanza if she pulls off

a triple this afternoon, right or wrong?

No!

Goldine runs for the love of sport.

She's the prototype of
a generation yet unborn.

Let me put it to you another way, Doctor.

Would you deny that you
have had conversations

with a famous American agent who's prepared

to put your daughter
on the commercial circuit

as soon as these games are finished?

Conversations? A man
has many conversations.

- Answer the question.
- I am proving

- a scientific effect.
- Please.

I insist I be allowed to finish.

The human frame can
withstand an increase in height.

With induced growth and proper nutrition,

we will assist evolution.

We will reshape the human
race, create superior people.

And Goldine is my proof.

Roy, cut tape.

- This isn't working.
- She's the forerunner

- of a new breed.
- Get him outta here.

- Excuse me, sir.
- Let's go.

She's not brittle-boned.

Yeah, give me the
(indistinct) van, please.

(announcer speaking in Russian)

- [Noah] She's got a break.
- Krull's drawn the inside.

There is no such thing as a break

at this level of competition.

[Announcer] Lane one, Krull, DDR.

Lane two,

Burnard, Jamaica.

Lane three,

Bauke,

DDR.

Lane four,

Serafin, USA.

Lane five,

Ighodaro, Nigeria.

She's taking something. Is that allowed?

It's all right. It's her glucose.

Lane seven, Jackson, USA. (Whistle blows)

Lane eight, El Sharif,
United Arab Emirates.

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

(camera shutter clicks)

(crowd cheering)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

(crowd cheering)

Congratulations.

You surprised me.

Ah, I surprise a lot of people, I think.

Come.

(crowd cheering)

Oh, that stupid girl.

What does she think she's doing?

She ought to be conserving her strength.

[Reporter] Her second gold medal.

Now the question is,

can America's golden girl
win the 400 meters as well

and become the first woman in history

to win three gold medals
in the sprint events?

Goldine!

Goldine! Goldine!

Hey, Goldine! Goldine!

Goldine!

Hey, Goldine!

Goldine!

Goldine!

Goldine! Goldine!

Goldine! Goldine!

- What's going on?
- It's Serafin.

Goldine! Goldine!

You have to tell 'em
at the press conference,

you have to tell 'em that I've created you.

You are my triumph.

You must tell 'em.

You owe that to me!

Hey, Steve, take a look.

What the hell is he doing?

- Who is that?
- Goldine!

I don't know. Just some crazy old man.

Please, Goldine!

Goldine!

Come on.

You must tell the
world that I created you!

(crowd cheering)

Oh, go away.

You have to, Goldine!

I think I'd better go down
there. He's going to need me.

Bernie, stay on him all the
way. Everybody, stay on him.

He just made that lousy
interview work for us.

Rack a freako, sweetheart.

(crowd cheering)

(siren blaring)

(reporter speaking in Russian)

(announcer speaking in Russian)

[Announcer] Ladies and
gentlemen, it is time now for

400-meters women's final.

Lane one,

Smith, Canada.

Lane two,

Serafin, USA.

Lane three,

Lopee, Colombia.

Lane four,

Schwab, Mexico.

Lane five,

Lupinski, Poland.

Lemme see those glasses.

What's going on now?

Why, what's wrong?

She forgot to take her glucose.

[Announcer] Du Bois, France.

No, it's gonna be okay. She got 'em.

(starter speaks in Russian)

(ominous music)

Holy shit!

- What?
- Look.

(starter speaks in Russian)

(starter pistol fires)

(crowd cheering)

(suspenseful music)

(dreamy music)

(suspenseful music)

(dreamy music)

(suspenseful music)

(dreamy music)

(suspenseful music)

(dreamy music)

(suspenseful music)

[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,

triple gold medal winner,
Ms. Goldine Serafin.

(audience applauding)

You know all the
answers, so enjoy yourself,

but listen before you talk,

and remember, a nice
message to the folks back home.

Here we go.

Thank you.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Please excuse me for being so late.

I know I'm supposed to be a sprinter,

but as you can see, I'm
carrying a heavy handicap.

- (audience laughing)
- Ms. Serafin,

Can you explain your collapse
at the end of the 400 final?

Oh, nerves, tension,

and I don't like facing a
group of photographers

unless I look my best.

[Woman] Ms. Serafin, is it an advantage

- to be as tall as you are?
- Goldine, you are the fastest

sprinter in the whole world.

[Goldine] Well, thank you.

[Man] How do you account for your speed?

[Goldine] Well, I'll
let you in on my secret.

You see, gunshots scare the hell outta me.

Did you feel it was possible

to win three gold medals before the race?

Oh, I still can't believe
that it's actually happened,

but at the risk of sounding conceited,

I didn't come to Moscow-This is marvelous.

- To lose.
- You think so too?

Oh, this is a great moment.

Three cheers for behavior modification.

- Mm.
- Congratulations, Sammy.

Thank you.

She's all yours.

I wish there was some
way that I could show them

how much I appreciate it.

Unfortunately, the only
words I know in Russian

are "nastat" and "vanimaniya".

(audience laughing)

[Man] Ms. Serafin,
in your upcoming plans,

will you remain in track,

or pursue the commercial
opportunities available to you?

Well, I do love running. I know that.

And as far as commerce is concerned,

I don't know a great deal about that.

You see, reading the "Wall Street Journal"

isn't really my scene.

Oh dear. What magazine do you represent?

(audience laughing)

[Woman] In all the
stories written about you,

there's never any mention of romance.

Is there any special man in your life?

Yes.

(soft music)

Um...

Yeah. Yes, there is.

I haven't met him yet, but when I do,

he'll be someone I can look
up to, if you know what I mean.

(audience laughing)

Goldine, Goldine,

in all the races you have won,

did it ever enter your
mind that you might lose?

Lose?

Well, "lose" is a four-letter
word, and I don't use those.

(audience laughing)

♪ It's been just me ♪

♪ Lord knows I'm trying ♪

♪ Inside's a dream I keep denying ♪

♪ If I should stop ♪

♪ There'd be no way to ease the pain ♪

♪ Gotta start reaching for tomorrow ♪

♪ Trying to be who I am ♪

♪ Running as fast as I can ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ It's been just you ♪

♪ Through all this yearning ♪

♪ Inside's a need that keeps returning ♪

♪ My trust in you ♪

♪ Gives me the hope to carry on ♪

♪ Gotta keep reaching for tomorrow ♪

♪ Trying to be who I am ♪

♪ Running as fast as I can ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Slow down, I'll find you ♪

♪ With you out there ♪

♪ To always comfort me ♪

♪ You made me whole ♪

♪ Not the half I used to be ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Slow down, I'll find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Slow down, I'll find you ♪

♪ I ran right by you ♪

♪ Trying to find you ♪