OLIVE
"Am I pretty?"

GRANDPA
"Olive. . . You're the most beautiful girl in the whole world."

OLIVE
"No! You're just saying that!"

GRANDPA
"I'm saying it 'cause it's true!"

OLIVE
"Grandpa. . .!"

GRANDPA
"I can't help it! When you love someone, you always think they're beautiful!"

OLIVE
"No, you know. . . Tell me the truth!"

GRANDPA
"Okay, okay. . . You're old enough — I think you can handle it. I'm gonna tell you the truth."

He takes a deep breath. She gets very quiet. Gently:

GRANDPA

"Olive. . . I think you're the most beautiful girl in the whole world!"

She squeals with laughter.

OLIVE
"No!!! Grandpa!!!"

She smiles at him. He musses her hair, starts to get up. . .

OLIVE
"Grandpa. . .?"

GRANDPA
"Uh-huh?"

. . . He sits back down. Olive opens her mouth, hesitates. Then suddenly — unexpectedly — she is upset, though she tries to hide it, turning away and fighting back tears.


Finally, she turns back and says in a tiny voice:

OLIVE
"I don't want to be a loser."

GRANDPA
"You're not a loser, Olive! Why do you say that?!"

OLIVE
"Because. . .! Dad hates losers. That's what he said!"

GRANDPA
"But you're not a loser! And your Dad would never hate you, ever!"

OLIVE
"But what if I lose tomorrow?"

She's on the verge of tears.

GRANDPA
"Whoa, whoa, back up a sec. You can't lose. You know why? A real loser isn't someone who doesn't win. A real loser is someone so afraid of not winning they don't even try. That's not you! You're gonna dance, right?! So even if you win, or you don't win, you've already won! See? You see? You-see-you-see-you-see?"

He tickles her. She squeals. He stops. She recovers. He brushes her hair back.

GRANDPA
"A real loser doesn't try. And you're trying, right?"
(she nods)
"So you're not a loser, are you?"

She shakes her head. They smile at each other.