Match Point

The man who said,

"I'd rather be lucky than good,"

saw deeply into life.

People are afraid to face how great

a part of life is dependent on luck.

It's scary to think so much

is out of one's control.

There are moments in a match

when the ball hits the top of the net,

and for a split second

it can either go forward or fall back.

With a little luck,

it goes forward and you win.

Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose.

Sorry.

Mr. Townsend.

Just this way.

So the Beach Club Marbella,

tennis instructor.

Stanford House.

Forte Village, Sardinia. Nice.

Yes. I've had

a good deal of experience.

Yeah, so I see.

Now, I've heard very good things.

You don't miss playing professionally?

I thank God every day

I don't have to do it.

I hate the whole tennis tour thing.

Constant traveling, and I was

never going to be Rusedski or Agassi.

You have to really want it.

Not that I have their talent.

Well, your credentials

and references are excellent.

And you want to live in London?

Very much. Very much.

We have a very

exclusive membership here.

You can begin this weekend?

Thank you. Thank you very much.

That's your sofa,

which also doubles up as a bed.

Which is great, you know,

'cause you can be watching some telly,

ain't got the hassle

of having to go to a bedroom.

You can just open it up, get your kip.

Kitchen just through there.

All your amenities, fixtures,

fittings, washer-dryer...

All that stuff.

Lovely view, not overlooked.

So it's all good.

This is 225 a week?

Well, it's London, mate. Bang, mate.

If you don't like it, move to Leeds.

D'you know what I mean?

You got a wok?

You got a wok? It's one of those

Oriental, sort of conical pans.

- No, no, no.

- The geezer who was in here before,

he left one in there. You're

welcome to it. I'll throw that in.

- I'll take it.

- That's a good choice.

Very good.

Chris Wilton.

This is Tom Hewett.

- Very nice to meet you. How do you do?

- Morning. Pleasure.

I think Chris would be

the perfect instructor for you,

and he's very patient.

Great at analyzing a player's faults.

I'm so out of practice. I mean,

I haven't played since university,

and I loved it, but I haven't

picked up a racket in bloody ages, so...

Don't worry, it comes back.

What you can't do is rush in,

be discouraged.

OK.

- Well, good luck.

- Thank you very much.

- Over here.

- Brilliant.

OK, so who was better, or tougher?

Henman or Agassi?

- They were both great.

- Yeah, I know, but I mean,

you held your own more than admirably.

For a while.

But as the game goes on,

you see how really good they are.

- Actually, I'll get this.

- No, no, no, no.

- No, please, Tom, I insist. I insist.

- No, no, no, no, no.

Get your dirty great forehand off.

Thank you. I'll get the next one.

So, do you need a lift after this?

Actually, I'm looking for a music store.

I want to buy some CDs.

Music around here?

I think there's one on the Fulham Road.

And they'll have a decent opera section?

Opera? You like opera, really?

I love opera.

Papa gives loads

to the Royal in Covent Garden.

I know this is gonna sound a bit weird,

but would you like to go

to the opera tomorrow night?

To the opera?

Yeah. We've got a box

and someone's not coming.

It's La bloody Traviata.

My God. I'd love to.

Are you sure it's not an imposition?

Can I at least pay for my seat?

It's not an imposition,

it'd be an absolute pleasure.

I just like the fact that we both

share a love for opera. Brilliant.

So?

- I said to David and Melissa...

- Evening all. Hello, Mum.

Hello, sweetie. Very nice to see you.

- This is Chris. This is my father Alec.

- Hello. Good to meet you.

I hear you're an

incredible tennis player.

I played once, and then I gave up,

then I went back, then I gave up,

- then I went back

- Rubbish.

- I'm sure Tom exaggerated my game.

- I just got bored.

- Good evening. My pleasure.

- Nice to meet you.

- This is my sister... Chloe.

- There's a chair somewhere.

- I'm Chloe. Nice to meet you.

- There's two more.

Yeah, well, the olds say thank you

very much for the lovely flowers.

They said it was very thoughtful,

and totally unnecessary.

But off the record, well done, A plus,

'cause they love that sort of thing.

Oh, they're lovely people.

And your sister's very bright.

Frighteningly so at times. But...

Anyway, she thought you were terrific,

and she wanted to invite you

to our country house

with the parents on Sunday.

'Cause they're having a party,

there'll be some good people.

And I'll play you some great music,

because Dad's got an epic collection.

Chlo-Chlo, do you wanna have

a knock with Chris for a bit?

It's just that

it's 5:
00 somewhere, darling,

and I've some serious

cocktails to start making.

Irish! Have you ever had a

Cuba libre or a caipirinha?

Lt'd be really boring

for Chris to play with me on my own.

It's really boring for him

to play with me, but he's a good sport.

And anyway, you've got better

legs than I've got. Chop-chop.

Don't be silly. I teach people

who have never held a racket before.

- I'm so bad.

- That's how you get better.

Playing with a stronger player. Come on.

OK.

Was I dreadful?

Not at all.

You have a very unique style.

Yeah, it's called clumsy.

How did you get to be so good anyway?

Tom says you played

with some of the real greats.

For me, it was a way out

of a poor existence.

Caught the eye of a good coach.

I don't know.

It all came so easy at first.

- Do you enjoy teaching?

- Not really.

I mean, it's OK for now,

but I'd cut my throat

if I thought I had to do it forever.

I'd like to do something with my life.

You know, special.

I'd like to make a contribution.

So, you're a poor boy

from Ireland come to London.

I love it.

It's so exciting and alive.

I've never seen so much art or theater.

Not that I've taken

much advantage of it yet.

Well, look, if you'd like someone

to show you around,

I grew up in Belgravia. I'd be happy

to take you to all the good places.

That'd be great.

On one condition: I buy the tickets.

Oh, dear, is that going to be an issue?

I'm afraid it is.

I'm very old-fashioned.

But actually,

I did read something about the...

...exhibition in the Saatchi Gallery.

That's perfect.

It'd be my pleasure to take you.

You're very kind to offer this.

Can I at least give you

some free tennis lessons?

OK, it's a deal.

How about Wednesday for the Saatchi?

I can do that.

- Shall we meet for lunch first?

- It's a date.

I'd better get ready.

Your guests will be arriving soon.

Yeah, yeah. Of course. Go.

A sweaty tennis player's

hardly what they expect.

So who's my next victim?

You?

I haven't played table tennis

in quite a while.

Would you like to play

for a thousand pounds a game?

What did I walk into?

What did I walk into?

It's like this.

- May I?

- Please.

You have to lean in,

and hit through the ball.

I was doing just fine

until you showed up.

The story of my life.

So, tell me,

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