Episode 8 – "Where Does the Prince Come From?"
Scene 1 – Flashback: West Zone of Rio – 5 Years Ago
A young Matheus Blake, around 11 years old, is playing barefoot on a dirt field. He pulls off an incredible dribble, gets past three defenders, and scores in the top corner. An older man applauds.
Old Man:
— Kid... you play with soul. But you need discipline if you want to make it.
Matheus (smiling):
— I'm gonna be Flamengo's number 7, just watch.
Narrator:
— Before he was the Prince… he was just Blake. But the talent was always there.
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Scene 2 – Flamengo Training Center – Morning
Physical training on the pitch. Paulinho is already complaining before even starting to run.
Paulinho:
— Coach, my calves are missing their rest day...
Camila (laughing):
— Your calves will have to wait, Paulinho.
Meanwhile, Miguel and Nicolas talk about the previous match.
Miguel:
— That goal assist… it was intuition based on Remo's movement.
Nicolas (serious):
— Intuition? Nah. You're a computer with a shot.
Vitão (in the background):
— And Matheus is the wi-fi… always out of range!
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Scene 3 – Intrasquad Scrimmage: Flamengo A vs Flamengo B
Camila splits the teams. Blake, Miguel, and Paulinho are on the same side.
Camila:
— Team A: focus, quick passing. Team B: high press. Don't give space!
Paulinho (on the sideline):
— Camila, can I give space if it's with love?
Camila (laughing):
— Give space to the bench, Paulinho.
The match starts. Miguel makes a genius pass, Paulinho completely whiffs the shot.
Paulinho:
— Must've been the wind...
Kadu (yelling from the other team):
— That same wind's messing with us too?
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Scene 4 – Barra Beach – Afternoon
The players have the afternoon off and head to the beach. Blake's in flip-flops, sunglasses, blasting funk music on his phone. Nicolas walks by reading a book on Argentinian tactics.
Paulinho:
— Nicolas, you come to the beach and read? That's illegal.
Nicolas (calmly):
— I study with the tide. Flamengo deserves the best.
Miguel (analyzing the waves):
— High tide means change. Just like our team.
Vitão:
— Great... here comes the samurai horoscope.
Blake dives into the water. When he comes back up, everyone's laughing.
Blake:
— What happened?
Kadu:
— There was a jellyfish, but it swam away when it saw it was you.
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Scene 5 – Improvised Bonfire on the Beach – Sunset
Paulinho, Blake, Miguel, Nicolas, and others sit around, chatting calmly.
Miguel:
— Blake… how did it all start for you?
Matheus Blake (thoughtful):
— My mom used to clean the Flamengo stadium… sometimes she'd take me along. I'd kick paper balls around during breaks… A scout saw me and gave me a chance.
Nicolas (looking at the sky):
— You've got your own light, man.
Paulinho:
— And his own ego too, right?
Everyone laughs.
Blake (smiling):
— My ego doesn't play. The number 7 does.
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Scene 6 – Back at Ninho do Urubu – Night
Camila enters with a stack of papers.
Camila:
— Guys… the U-20 Brasileirão schedule just dropped. First match in 7 days.
Everyone cheers.
Paulinho:
— Time to pick my goal celebration song.
Kadu:
— You want a song or a miracle?
Vitão:
— If he scores, I'll go vegetarian.
Camila:
— You've got one week. Train. Focus. But above all...
Camila (serious, then smiles):
— ...have fun. Because you've got something rare: you're friends on and off the field.
They all look at each other and smile.
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Final Scene – Cut to Takashi Ren, in Japan
He's watching footage of Miguel Nakamura playing.
Takashi Ren (quietly):
— It's not time yet... But he's growing.
The camera zooms in on Takashi's calm, serious eyes.
Takashi:
— Soon, Japan will call him back.
END OF EPISODE 8
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