My Tennis Maestro (2025) Movie Script
1
Today is Tuesday, June 13, 1989.
And here, this morning, we're talking
about this year's Italian holidays.
It's 9:03 AM and...
Italian Tennis, classifieds section.
Good morning.
Tell me.
Me? My name is Viviana.
Yes? Nice! And thank you.
Oh, stop it, you're making me blush.
Oh well, I'm ready whenever he wants.
"Former tennis player
professional
which boasts
an eighth
of the final
at the Foro Italico,
available
for private lessons.
Affordable prices.
Come quickly...
numerous."
It's not often that teachers
with this much pedigree come forward.
Not even Marina Ripa di Meana's pugs
have my pedigree.
"Time wasters please refrain"
will you add that to my list?
That life's too short to chase
even the undecided. Is that true?
Well, thanks then, Viviana.
I am convinced that our lives
will touch each other again very soon.
Oh, let's hope so!
Thanks, you too.
Is it possible
that you always act like a wimp?
You've already made half my colleagues
fall in love with me.
- You told me to go back to basics.
- I meant tennis.
Okay, the first move's made.
Now I recommend:
Carbolithium 300, three times a day.
It may make you drowsy, but don't
compensate for it with stimulants.
No coffee, no alcohol, no drugs, no nothing.
Women too, calm down.
If you want to get out of the tunnel,
you have to stay on these tracks.
And when you're in trouble, go in front
of the mirror and do this, like me.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
You do it a few times,
and then you feel better. Go.
Life smiles at me.
Good. Well done.
Life smiles at me.
Let's go.
Good! Over the net!
Above the rope, above!
Play it simple, don't take risks.
Come on! Hit the ball well, hit it!
Bravo, bravo!
I touch my chin
and scratch my right shoulder!
Come on, move your legs!
Good, Feli', good!
Come on, boy, go on!
The nose again!
I touch my chin. Over the rope, over!
Good! I'm scratching my right shoulder!
Central lob.
Yes. I touch my ear!
Reverse lob.
Ball in play. Quick on his feet, quick!
Force!
Good like this. Come on, have a good impact!
Don't take risks, play it simple.
Keep the ball in the court.
Give him a callus.
Ball in play.
[coach] I touch my chin.
- Straight lob.
- And I touch my ear.
Above the rope.
Don't take risks, keep it simple.
Up!
Okay, that's enough, take a rest.
And tomorrow, to dad, don't forget.
We like tennis
where you fight for every ball,
without taking risks.
Carefree tennis, the attacking one,
serve & volley tennis, let's leave that
to the children of the rich.
What do they do, the fanatics?
And we beat them up.
Because we know well
that the best attack is...
- It's the defense.
- Exactly. Who said that?
- The Chinese. Sun Tzu. - Sun Tzu.
- In "The Art of War".
- A book written over 4,000 years ago.
This rule worked then, it works today,
it will work in tomorrow's final.
Good job, Dad.
Let's take down the rope and go home.
- Yes! - Ah, this pallette!
Come on, Costi!
Well done, Felice!
Thank you.
Let's give a round of applause
to our champion, Felice Milella!
Felice trained hard,
in all weather conditions:
water, sun, wind, rain.
But above all, with the help
of his father, engineer Pietro.
Our Denise is presenting
the Eur Tevere regional cup.
A round of applause.
Felice will spend his summer holidays
at Tonka Village with his family.
You know that our club
is friends with Tonka.
Get in line, because the first tennis lesson
Happy to give it to my daughter Denise.
Wait a minute. Director Scalise,
a clarification is in order.
- May I?
- You're welcome.
Sorry to interrupt, I have
an important announcement to make.
With today's victory, Felice rises
to 92 points in the regional tournaments,
therefore he automatically enters
the tournaments of the national circuit.
So, this summer, for the Milella family,
no Tonka Village,
because to become champions
you need sacrifices
and the Milellas make sacrifices with joy.
Now the boy needs
a coach.
A real coach, dad.
So to accompany him
in the national tournaments around
for the prestigious clubs of Italy,
He will be a glory of Italian tennis.
He boasts a round of 16 appearance at the Foro Italico.
We've been saving money
for vacations all winter.
That money, now, is needed for Felice.
The accompanying teacher must be paid,
then there are many other expenses,
restaurants, gasoline, tournament registration.
I thought that you could go on holiday
From Aunt Luciana in Sibari,
who is ready to welcome you...
But not Sibari! I'll drain my bleach
if you send us to Sibari!
- Rita, Sibari is the pearl of the Ionian.
- And your sister is a bitch.
- No, my sister is a saint. - Yes, indeed.
Why did you do it all like that?
In a rush, without telling me anything?
Why Michael Chang beat Lendl
at Roland Garros at 17.
- Ah, Michael Chang.
- How old is Felice? How old are you?
- Thirteen. - Thirteen, we're late.
- But late for what?
- If he becomes champion, we'll all turn a corner.
But Felice will never be a champion!
I mean, Felice, have you seen him?
He'll never be a champion!
- Shut up. I'll dock your allowance!
- Do you know you're a loser?
- I'll cut your allowance! Enough!
- It's not his fault... Tennis!
I can't take it anymore!
Can't you take it anymore?
I'm taking care of my son's future.
and our family! You're selfish!
Go talk to Dad.
You have to tell him
you don't want to leave anymore.
And that we have to go on vacation.
If you don't, mom dies.
Why am I awake at this hour?
I can't sleep.
- A little nervous about leaving?
- I don't know.
I wanted to leave with you.
I trained with you,
it's thanks to you that I won matches.
- Why do I have to go with the teacher?
- Daddy's love, but I'm with you!
I'm so with you that tomorrow,
after work, I'll give math lessons,
and then I go back to fixing appliances
to pay your teacher, to make you a champion.
I'll always be right there hammering away.
Me from here, you on the field.
Pam, pam, pam.
I just wanted to go to Tonka Village.
Maybe I'd meet some new friends.
But which friends?
Become a champion, everyone
will compete to become your friend.
Feli', I am a management engineer at SIP,
I studied tennis from books.
Now you need someone
who has field experience.
This master will make you take the leap.
Nose, straight.
Ear, reverse.
Fan with saying...
Fan with forced direction...
Mandatory! Indeed.
Good morning, champ.
Your father told me to come wake you up.
What time is it?
Hey, I got here a little early.
Let's avoid the traffic.
Where's dad?
He's coming back now. He went to the bank.
Get dressed, come on.
Clothes.
Could you come out, please?
We will spend the next few weeks
sharing joys and smells,
so start getting used to it.
But do you understand
what's written in here?
Yes, why?
Anyway, your father
explained everything to me,
the training, the bath with salts,
the diet, all the rules.
It's good to have rules, right?
To become a champion
you have to make sacrifices.
Make sacrifices, always stay
on track, without deviating.
This is how you win.
Your life as a champion begins today.
Raul Gatti takes care of it.
- Here.
- Oh, thank you.
- It's decaf, right?
- Yes, of course, the one I drink.
Very kind, thank you.
- Sugar, no? - I like it bitter.
Like life.
Yes.
It's not an easy time, huh?
No.
This is Felice's moment.
That's okay.
It's just that we often wonder
when our moment will come.
I can only assure you
of one thing.
Two hands that know
how to make a coffee like this
They can ask whatever they want from life.
Hey, look over there! My goodness!
A smile, the whole room lit up!
- Is that true, Felice? Look!
- True.
Here I am again!
I've done it, eh!
- [Raul] Thank you, ma'am. - Good morning, darling.
- Good morning, Dad.
- We have everything.
Salt and
- your check. - Thank you!
- Missing signature.
- Eh?
- The signature is missing.
- Excuse me.
Head, head. Now.
Here you are.
Thank you.
And in the purse there is life.
Notebooks, tournament map, and money.
Remember, always carry it
over your shoulder.
I am entrusting you with
what is most dear to me.
Always over the shoulder.
The boy.
Sure. But Felice and I
have already become friends.
Is that true, Felice?
So, ready to go?
In the morning,
coffee gives me a boost.
Where can I find a toilet, please?
- It's at the end of the corridor, the door.
- I'm coming, eh?
He's cute, isn't he?
Don't forget to call me.
And go to bed early at night.
Courage!
Please remember, eh!
You're back victorious. Huh?
Who is your favorite player?
- Ivan Lendl.
- Ah, too robotic.
Never a tear, never a mistake,
never a crack.
Where is the man behind the player?
And who do you like?
Guillermo Vilas.
Great Argentine player,
who unfortunately retired early.
Also called "the little poet".
Do you know why?
No.
Because in addition to having written
a series of poems,
unfairly mistreated
by some wig-wearing critics
who didn't understand anything,
his life was a poem.
The night before the finals
he went to the disco,
dressed only in a bathrobe
and tennis shoes.
The next morning,
he went down to the field
that smelled of women and champagne.
- And he won?
- Hey!
He was plowing the field!
Ah, he demolished his opponents.
And you, in my opinion,
are a bit of a poet.
This?
Hey, how's things going for women?
Tell me the truth.
One of these evenings,
let's have a nice stroll around town
tennis clothes
and we offer free tennis lessons
to girls we're interested in.
What are you saying? Huh?
We have a laugh.
I'm not interested in girls.
Good, I like you that way.
I was testing you out, you know?
No no.
Let's stay on track.
There is no noise in the corridor
or in the room.
- Come on.
- So no guests.
and no parties.
Leave it here.
You athletes often create problems.
It seems like that's all you think about.
Breakfast starting at 7:00.
The restaurant is closed for lunch
and open for dinner. Here are the keys.
- Thank you.
- Enjoy your stay.
Start packing your bags.
Neat.
I'm going to sit down for a moment,
that this trip destroyed me.
Look at the sea, how blue it is...
Forty-seven.
Forty-eight.
Forty-nine. Fifty.
And...
go with the reverse.
- I already did it the other way around.
- Oh, you did it?
- Yes.
- And... what's wrong with you now?
- Sit-ups.
- Oh. Do your sit-ups, go on.
Do your sit-ups, good job.
No, they're still wet! Come on, Domitilla,
come and get them!
They're a little wet.
Domitilla, Roberta, humid,
but they're fine anyway.
- Five, six, seven...
- Good evening!
- Eight, nine...
- Good evening!
Ten, eleven,
twelve.
Accompanying teacher?
How did you figure that out?
Cuffs.
You can take them off
in the evening, you know?
No, it's just that I like
to carry the cross 24 hours a day.
Are you here for the nationals too?
And what games, the under 16s?
The under 14s?
What category are you?
With my fillies, we're having a little party
- On the beach, Coca-Cola and chips!
- Forever young!
Do you want to join us
with your family?
I'm asking. I only have one, eh?
Prepare him that he will have to entertain
three sluts overdosed on hormones.
Roby, the towel!
- I'm coming!
- If you want, I'll see you downstairs!
- Thirty-seven.
- Hi!
...thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty.
Hey, there are three girls
who want to meet you,
who are having a little party
on the beach.
What do you say, shall we go?
You're testing me again, huh?
Bravo.
- Good, I like you that way.
- Thanks.
- Forty-three, forty-four...
- We're on the tracks, go.
Forty-five, forty-six...
- What are you doing?
- Huh? Nothing, nothing.
Is an egg today
or a chicken tomorrow better?
I don't know.
The chicken tomorrow?
The chicken today!
That's why people are so unhappy.
Come on, that's enough! Let's collect it.
Go, we're done for today.
We're not done.
We are missing the decoy baskets.
- The decoy baskets?
- Yes.
If you look for signs,
you'll find them. Here they are.
Every shot, you tell me
where you want me to send it to you.
Come?
For example, in training
you tell me them out loud,
you say to me:
"Nose, chin, ear!"
Then during the game,
you make gestures like this.
- Obviously without letting you see.
- No, no, no.
When you're in the stands...
that's how we communicate.
- This is how you and I communicate.
- Yes.
Anyway, my father
is a telecommunications engineer.
If he doesn't know.
He always says
that communication is everything.
That's all, that's all.
And do you enjoy playing like this?
I enjoy it when I win.
- And we collect. We make these baskets...
- On call.
Zero-15, Riva.
Zero-30, Riva.
Zero-40, Riva.
Game, Riva.
Riva leads four to one.
No, a mosquito.
Mosquito!
Attack.
Attack. Close the field, attack.
Let's go!
When it's ready, I'll come.
Now I have a rehearsal.
Okay, see you later.
Answering machines are complicated.
Donate, books and notebooks, I'm coming.
Let's do equations.
All right, Mr. Milella.
Hello?
Hello, Dad? I'm happy.
Did you lose?
Yes.
How much?
6-2, 6-1.
6-2, 6-1 in the first round?
- Yes.
- But 6-2, 6-1 in the first round?
Felice, are you kidding me?
What the f...
Calm down, let's not get down now.
Have you done a careful
technical analysis of the defeat?
An analysis is needed, Felice!
Well...
I don't know, Dad, I was nervous.
At one point,
the teacher even fell asleep.
- Asleep?
- Yes, he fell asleep.
What does "asleep" mean?
He doesn't even know the signs.
At one point, he told me to attack.
Attack?
No, but absolute tranquility.
No, but I swear, look...
- Dad wants to talk to you.
- Huh?
- Dad wants to talk to you.
- Me?
Yes.
Excuse me.
Let me introduce you to Sandra.
- No. Roberta.
- Why not? No, Roberta.
- Weren't you Sandra?
- I'm Sandra.
Sandra is her.
Okay, introduce yourselves. He's Felice.
Well, and this is Francesca.
I'll be right back, okay?
Domitilla. Sandra.
And Roberta. Happy.
- The menus.
- Thank you.
- Can I get you something to drink?
- Yes, water...
- And a glass of white wine for me.
- I'll be right there.
Well, he told us
that today went a bit...
You'll make up for it
in the next match.
- Let's hope.
- What do you mean "let's hope"?
Your teacher was a strong one.
I remember him, I saw him play.
When I was your age,
he was also a sex symbol.
Yes. Now you see it
a bit like that, though...
This to her and this to you.
Thank you.
At that time...
Octopus salad...
Excuse me.
I was saying don't throw yourself
down on your little colt.
No, but he doesn't give up.
When he wins it's his merit,
when he loses it's the teacher's fault.
It is not true.
I know another one like that.
I brought you back the 30 denarii, here.
Excuse me.
You fell asleep.
It is true?
But I must have dozed off.
It must have been five minutes.
- Not even.
- Don't laugh, you.
How many times I would like
to fall asleep at your games.
Do you know
what my teacher used to say?
That tennis is like life,
you enter the court alone,
If in the end it doesn't go as you hoped,
you only have yourself to blame.
Wilma Costa.
The teacher, yes.
Do you know her?
- Legendary.
- Yeah, yeah.
But is it true that he was fighting?
He never touched me,
but a few slaps,
I saw some rackets fly.
I recognized you right away.
- You're Raul... Gatti.
- Gatti.
Meow. Yes, it's me.
I've even seen you play a few times.
Oh, yeah?
At the team cup in Prato
and at the Satellite in Lodi.
In Lodi, yes, yes.
Fate had already put me in your path.
- I was a ball boy.
- Oh.
And you played with the Tennis Club...
I was at the Parthenope.
Of course. Parthenope Tennis Club.
- Let's go to the Parthenope, to the...
- Fourth week.
And when does the masculine begin?
No, we only do the north.
Have you chosen what you want to eat, guys?
What's up with you today?
The meat.
So, my little Judas gets the steak.
- I'm not Judas.
- Shut up, Iscariot.
You no pasta, no pizza...
My father doesn't pay you to sleep.
My hunger has gone.
- You mind if I steal your finger... huh?
- No, go on.
Nice and fresh.
I'm not hungry either.
Do we let them eat alone?
You wait here.
Why, where are you going?
And where am I going?
I'm going to show Francesca
your father's notebooks,
so tomorrow,
In Cesenatico, I'll give you puppet orders.
Is that okay?
Girls, Felice is not on the menu.
Don't steal it from me.
You, control them.
That as soon as you turn around,
you eat pasta, pizza and everything else.
It's terrible.
- Mad.
- Always.
Did you understand where they went?
To see the notebooks.
But leave him alone.
Happy! Come on!
- No, I'm here.
- Come dance with us.
Good night.
Goodnight.
Do you want to come
to the room with us?
Until your teacher finishes
reviewing our teacher?
- No, I'll wait here, thanks.
- Are you sure?
Yes.
Do you feel something?
- Do you feel something?
- What?
Francy is a caterpillar, eh.
Come on, come with us.
- Come on, Feli.
- No, I'll wait here.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
Okay, goodnight.
Who is it?
What do you want?
Can't you read the tag?
I put it there on purpose!
It's 9pm, I have to sleep.
- Is it 9:00 PM?
- It's 9:00 PM, yes.
You made me do 9pm.
9:00 pm?
I took it to the fifth set,
you don't understand!
But he had said no guests.
He's Ligurian...
He wants to make money. Come.
Stay here. Wait for me here.
But weren't you having fun with the girls?
Yes, a lot.
It's just that tomorrow
I have Cesenatico, I wanted to rest.
It's 9:00 PM.
Come with me, Feli.
Sit down here for a moment.
Sit down.
You don't have to rest, Feli'.
You need to relax.
Why...
you're a little stiff.
As Dad says, let's do...
a nice bath with salts,
half an hour, even 40 minutes,
and you'll see that afterwards
you'll be relaxed.
You wait for the water
to reach this point, hot, you get in
and you see that...
But 40 minutes in there?
Forty minutes?
It's 9:00 PM.
Yes?
I have to pee, can you close
your eyes for a moment?
All right.
Fetentone!
You go out!
Peeping Tom!
- What are you looking at?
- Get out.
Come on.
"No, I'm not interested in girls."
This stinker.
What a bad impression, my goodness.
You're freezing to death.
You go out.
Come on, come out,
I'm not looking at you.
The hot water had run out.
Good luck for tomorrow.
Thank you.
It was nice to meet you.
Me too.
No, eh!
Have a good trip, tiger!
Hello, darling!
Cow.
What is the indelible photograph
of this day?
The image...
that you will remember for your whole life.
Your?
A me...
the look that Francesca gave me
when she told me
she wasn't hungry either.
Ah, it was all in there.
Well...
A wife, an accomplice...
a mother, everything was there.
All the magic of dreamed women.
No, instead mine...
Law...
All.
The eyes, the mouth.
The feet.
Everything about her was beautiful.
If you have to take a blow job,
go to the bathroom.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me, life smiles at me,
life smiles at me.
Life...
Life smiles at me,
life smiles at me...
What are you doing?
Two high lobs on the forehand
and one on the backhand.
Sorry about yesterday.
I played badly too.
Come here.
Alone.
Do as I do.
Put your hand.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
- Life smiles at me.
- Life smiles at me.
I'm going to pay.
And we start again with renewed energy.
Feli', the world out there
is full of enemies.
Do you and I want to beat them?
Yes.
You want to win, yes?
- Yes!
- Do you want to win?
- Yes!
- Yes!
- Yes!
- Let's go!
As Vilas said.
- Let's go!
- Let's go!
Dai, dai.
- No!
- 30 all.
All right.
Ready?
Good evening, Raul. So?
- No!
- Vantaggio Passalacqua.
Look...
What the hell.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out this time either. I'm sorry.
How much?
Game, match, encounter, Passalacqua.
6-4, 6-1.
- 6-1 in the second set?
- Huh.
Poor thing,
he must have gotten discouraged.
Well yes.
Yes.
Oh! What are you doing?
Lock your wrist,
all your weight forward. Bam!
And why didn't he call me Felice?
Well, well... because he was
ashamed and then...
I said I'd call to give her
the bad news, so to speak.
I swear it doesn't burn!
It doesn't hurt.
Stand still.
- Good game.
- Well done.
I can't seem to do it.
How is it possible that after all the work
and effort, the boy never wins?
It was a well-oiled machine.
A reliable tennis player,
I had structured him well.
He had a solid game.
Well, in short, that the opponents
would have been stronger
at nationals, we knew it.
But we did everything
we could to stay on track,
we did all the training
following the notebooks,
we always went to bed at the right time,
never a mistake, but then
the results do not reward us.
Game, match, encounter, Chiari.
Game, match, encounter, Forcella.
Game, match, encounter, Rolla.
Yes, but when I followed him,
the results rewarded us.
He was a winner when I followed him.
Yes, at the regional elections.
Well, here the level is... it's different.
Listen to me, Raul.
Listen to me.
She just had to let the facts
speak for themselves.
Here are the facts:
Seven tournaments, seven first-round losses.
She had to help Felice make the leap,
instead he's sinking it for me!
I was wrong to trust her.
Because evidently you are not
that good of a teacher.
All sacrifices wasted.
Ah, se...
if I disappointed her...
...I am sorry.
What is he doing?
What is he doing, is he crying?
No no.
Don't let Felice see you like this,
calm down.
Okay.
Listen, give me my son right now
and stop this charade.
Force.
Hey, Feli.
Your father wants to talk to you.
There's dad.
- Is he so angry?
- Huh?
Is he that angry?
Pick up the phone, Feli'.
Dad.
But do you think this teacher is okay?
In what sense?
You and him are pissing me off.
I'm here working my ass off
and you never get any satisfaction.
I'm sorry, Dad.
I thought you were ready.
But no.
I made a mistake in my calculations.
You didn't miscalculate, Dad.
I'll win the next game.
I promise you.
The next tournament is your last chance.
If you lose that too, you go home.
Is that clear?
All right.
- Is that clear?
- Yes.
You do it too.
Why?
Because these rules are killing us.
Do you want to die?
No.
And then he tears up the notebook.
These tracks do not lead
- nowhere.
- No, stop! What are you doing?
You do it too.
It's just you and me here.
Let's rebel.
Please, Feli'.
Dai, dai, dai!
Dai, dai!
All right. All right.
This passive thing
of always waiting for mistakes
the opponent's performance
is fine in the regionals, but not here.
At the nationals it doesn't go well,
you saw it too.
If you shorten a ball, they come
into play here and close the point.
When you're hitting, you always
take two steps back. But why?
It's not good.
Let's learn to take away time
from our opponent.
Grab your racket and go.
Your feet should never go behind this line.
And when I tell you "attack",
you attack.
Attack?
Attack!
Raul Gatti?
Is that you? It's not possible.
Camillo Cecchetti,
don't you recognize me?
My goodness, Cecchetti!
And how did you end up?
Ah, always the same asshole, huh?
Have you started playing tennis again?
Yes, yes. I'm training now.
I thought you were living the good life.
Photos of you with that slightly older
countess appeared in the magazines.
No, that was just a friend.
I'm back to my first love!
Oh, you never forget that.
Guys, this is Raul Gatti!
He had an ATP-caliber arm.
When I tell you that talent alone
is not enough,
well, he was the living example of it.
- It was a joke, come on.
- Who told you anything?
Oh, you're in Parioli now. In Rome.
For 11 years now. I was lucky enough
to get in, I'm very happy.
Bravo.
And where are you?
- No, I only have one student.
- Ah.
Private coaching,
you have to be really strong,
- or your dad is rich.
- No.
Felice is a promising player
in Italian tennis.
It's different.
Did you know that we used to play together
when we were your age?
With the teacher, what a girl.
Have you heard from her again?
Yes, yes, yes, we talk often.
- I heard he's not doing very well.
- No, but when would that ever happen?
That buries you and me, Cecche'!
Where do you play? I'm really curious
to see what you do with the little champion.
- We're playing at 5:00 on center court.
- Oh, with Zanella. One of mine.
The one over there with the white band.
Tough guy, it's going to be
an interesting match.
- May the best man win!
- As always.
- Hello, Cecche'!
- Hello.
Until we meet again.
Zanella.
Let's go.
Welcome to the Nettuno Hotel,
the tennis-friendly hotel.
- Hello.
- So much light, what beautiful windows!
But this is an oasis of peace.
You'll see, you'll see.
So, this way, please.
The match begins.
Milella at the service.
- 15-0.
- Yes!
Come on! Why are you getting these wrong?
Come on!
- 30-0.
- Let's go!
Come on!
I'll destroy it, I'll destroy it.
Come on.
- 40-0.
- Yeah, let's go!
- Oh, no, no, concentrate!
- Yes!
Su!
Out.
- 40-15. Zanella.
- Come on! Like this!
Come on! Come on!
As!
- Out!
- Out.
I'm playing, Zanella.
- No! It's not possible!
- Game on, Milella.
- I train so hard to do this!
- Four games all. Zanella beats.
- No! - [Zanella] Come on!
Let's go!
No!
- First set, Zanella.
- What should I do?
You're playing his game, come forward.
No.
Enough, I play my game.
No!
- Come on! Like this!
- 15-0. Zanella.
I'm stronger!
He's a ball player!
Don't back down.
No!
Game, Zanella.
Zanella leads three games to nil.
No!
- I'm sorry.
- You're welcome.
Permit.
Time! Let's resume play, please.
Wait, let me guess,
you lost the second set 6-0.
The car's here, where are you going?
Come on, get in.
No.
Come up, Feli. Please.
Why did you leave?
Because I was getting depressed.
The one who always cries has spoken.
You haven't taught me anything
these past few weeks.
Get in the car, Feli'.
Let's end this.
I'll take you home.
I said I'm not getting
in the car with you!
What do I tell Dad now?
- The truth, you tell him.
- Which one?
That you are not a champion
and that you never will be.
Simple and direct.
Do yourself a favor and, trust me,
you're doing him a favor too.
You can become a good professional,
a master, like me.
But forget Wimbledon, the finals,
the money, the fame, Feli'.
You don't have that talent, I'm sorry.
This is the truth.
So why did you tell your friend that I was
a promising Italian tennis player?
Why not...
I didn't want to look like a failure.
who trains a pippa.
I'm not a wimp!
You're a wimp. You're a wimp!
You're the worst coach in the world!
You suck!
- He owes me compensation for the damages!
- Keep your voice down!
He ruined everything for me. He has
to pay me back for the mess he made!
We found the Jaguar,
it's a bit dented.
Yes, you found the Jaguar, but who
will pay me for the damages?
Are you a family member?
We can only transport family members.
- Yes, I'm the son.
- Then go.
The sedation will last a few hours.
All right. He has our number,
- Call us when you wake up.
- Sure.
Thank you.
Does dad take any medicine?
Yes.
Do you know what he's taking?
He takes a white and orange box.
Il Carbolithium.
But he... he threw it away.
It hurt.
What's wrong?
Where is Mom?
She's dead.
And do you have any family members
we can talk to?
No, they're all dead.
I am sorry.
Let's do this: when dad wakes up,
Let's all three talk together. Okay?
In the meantime, if you want,
- You can take a look at this.
- Thanks.
We give it to relatives of patients
who have seizures, like your dad.
Do you play tennis?
Yes, but...
I'm not strong.
Dad is strong.
He reached the round of 16
at the Foro Italico.
You can ask him to train you
and make you as strong as him.
We tried, but I lost all the matches.
Defeats are part of life.
Try again.
In the meantime,
I'm going to get the medicine.
Milella Residence, good evening.
Dad?
Happy.
You lost.
Dad, I won!
- Did you win?
- Yes, I won 6-3, 6-4!
Tomorrow I play the second round!
Finally, Feli'.
Do you see it, then?
I'm not crazy.
No, Dad. You're not crazy.
Blessed? Come.
- Felice won.
- I understand.
Dad knew you were talented.
- Huh?
- Thanks, Dad.
I can't do it. You talk to him.
Hide.
You made dad cry with joy.
I played according to his advice,
as we trained.
Bravo.
But tell me, tell me how it went.
So, in the first set I...
I was a little scared
because he started to attack,
to close the point.
Does he have to stand in the middle
of a corridor in front of everyone?
As soon as a room becomes available,
we'll fix it up.
Poor thing.
He has always been a fragile soul.
How long have you had mood swings?
And who remembers it.
After the suicide attempt,
I had paid for his hospital stay, but...
he ran away.
Taking away the countess's car.
I think he went to his son.
Lawyer.
Try to recover what's left of the car and...
withdraw the complaint.
Scintilla, I think the car theft
is the least of his problems.
at this point.
Please, lawyer.
Yes.
But this is a beautiful thing.
A great achievement for Raul.
He finally had the courage
to come looking for you.
I told him:
"You're so split
because you haven't come to terms
with your past."
You can't have a child
and disappear forever.
And then I believe
you're tormenting yourself.
Even if it's gone,
give it a chance.
Have you known him long?
Well...
He lived in my house for ten years.
Were you engaged?
These are the keys to his car,
which is out here.
With all his stuff inside.
Are you going to give them to him?
Yes.
Take care of him.
He went there!
You can ask the Madonna
whatever you want.
Write here. Here.
You put it together with the other notes
and Our Lady answers his request.
What are you asking for?
Eh, no... I can't tell you.
- Why?
- Because it's a secret between me and Maria.
Take it easy, okay?
I'll wait for you here.
I fooled you!
Oh, oh! It's a joke!
- I know!
- Why are you so angry?
There's nothing to laugh about!
My goodness,
how serious you are, my son.
I'm worried about you.
But what are you worried about?
There's nothing to worry about.
Oh, yeah?
Because of you,
I had to tell Dad I won.
Why is it my fault?
What was I doing, leaving you alone?
Did he fall for it?
He started crying. From happiness.
Alright.
Then tomorrow you tell him you lost and...
and we're going back home.
You no longer have a home.
Did Scintilla come?
She got back the Jaguar you stole.
It was a loan.
The doctor said that
defeats are part of life.
- Thank goodness the doctor's here.
- It's written here too.
I felt it.
"Although the last ones can be heard
in a scale of values defined by others..."
Now we feel like the last ones, right?
"... patients must acquire
a new vision of the world,
embarking on a bright path of repair."
So I thought:
in four days,
there is a tournament.
Al TC Parthenope,
- your old circle.
- No, no, no.
Let's tell dad I won some games...
Hide...
I'm not the worst tennis coach in the world
anymore? Let me get this straight. Huh?
These things are said when someone is angry.
You told me too
that I'm a wimp, but you don't think so.
No?
What does the leaflet
say about the medicines?
- You have to take them.
- No, I take lithium...
No no.
All right.
But the tournament, yes.
I want to win at least one match.
Come on.
Come on, Feli'!
Where are you going?
It is Jesus who wants it!
Let's go.
Or.
Happy!
Pss!
Happy!
Open the door right now! Come on!
Wow, it's versatile!
If you don't open, I'll come in anyway.
What are you doing in here?
I was packing my bags.
Where is the master?
The teacher, poor thing,
they admitted him to the hospital.
Poor thing, okay?
Nobody touches the stuff
because I have it here on deposit.
until he paid me back all the damages.
And now walk outside.
But I didn't break anything!
What's going on here? Oh!
What's he up to here?
Guard!
Things?
Police! Police!
Don't touch it!
I'll kill you if you touch it!
Nobody touches anything here
until you pay for the damages, criminal!
- Felice, come down! Run!
- Stop!
I'll turn this place into the Colosseum,
I'll break all your windows!
You just stand there.
No, child!
Stand still, child!
Come on, Feli'!
Come here, child!
Stand still!
- Stop!
- You're not going to catch me, darling!
You rude, stinking bastard!
- Come here! Don't move!
- Run!
I called the police!
Stand still!
You damned wretch. I'll kill you!
Stand still!
I called the police!
You have to pay me for the damages!
You damned criminal, I'll kill you!
Who is this idiot?
Who's here?
Raul! Raul!
How are you? Show yourself.
- Show yourself!
- My goodness, you look just like me!
- Good morning. - [together] Good morning.
- They're friends, do you want to help?
- No, thanks.
- Where is Wilma?
- Wilma is there. She's resting.
- Because it's...
- Come on, Feli'!
She's a little tired these days.
But how is he?
You did well to come.
He's Felice. He's my student.
- Ah, what a handsome boy!
- Come on, Felice, let me introduce you to Lilli.
- Nice to meet you. Thank you.
- Welcome, Felice.
Can I go wake her up?
Go, go! I should have woken her up
ten minutes ago, you do it!
- Come, I'll introduce you to someone.
- They'll be so happy to see you. Go.
Maostra.
I'm your favorite student. Hey!
We were supposed to train this morning,
didn't you wake up?
Sleepyhead! Ugly.
My goodness, you're so ugly.
Wakes up!
Wake up!
- Wilma.
- And what manners are those?
Wow, that's a wake-up call.
Good thing he was happy to see me.
- Wilma, it's Raul.
- I know who he is, I'm not stupid.
But what did I do to you, excuse me?
You disappear for all these years
and then you come and play the clown?
What a clown? But...
She told me I could wake you up.
Take it out on her.
- And who are you?
- I'm his student. My name is Felice.
- We came to play the nationals.
- What a great coach you've chosen.
We lost all the matches.
- All the games?
- All, all.
So what the fuck are you laughing about?
And what did you come to do?
I came to visit you.
And then, since we have to have
the tournament at Parthenope in three days,
I thought I could stay here.
That I could train on the pitch,
like in the old days.
Like old times?
And maybe you'd even give me
a hand training him, mind you.
Do you remember where the pitch is?
Of course I remember where the pitch is.
Give them a tent near the field,
so they can have home and church.
Dai, Feli'.
Let's start taking things out of the car.
Thank you.
Here, in the summer,
it was all full of kids your age.
- who came to train with Wilma.
- Ah.
Raul was the craziest student.
But he was also the one
Wilma loved the most.
Every morning, at dawn,
Wilma took her usual swim in the sea,
and he, quietly, followed her
like a little fish!
You have to call home, Feli', it's late.
I'll take him.
Binary annotation only requires two:
zero and one. Yes, Milella.
Hello, Dad?
- I won today too.
- Come on!
- How much?
- 7-5 in the third.
Well done, well done, Feli!
Dad is very proud of you.
My love, I love you.
Look, you won in Pesaro.
It is one of the most competitive
tournaments on the entire circuit.
- Beata!
- Eh!
Come on, come on.
He won today too.
Talk to us.
Well done, my love.
Was the opponent strong?
Yes, he was very strong. But...
I was focused.
The teacher also helped me.
In the end he's really good.
Sometimes they come back.
Hey, Gregory, hi!
When they told me, I couldn't believe it!
Yes, I'm here with my student.
We came to register for the tournament.
I don't want to cause any embarrassment,
tell Claudia, she can rest assured.
We'll have the tournament and leave.
If you're here as a tennis instructor,
we're at peace.
- If you're here for something else,
let's talk about it. - No, no, no.
Happy, this is Gregorio,
the owner of the club, an old friend.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
But your teacher also teaches you
to enjoy life? Huh?
Because no one is enjoying it
like Raul Gatti is.
- Good luck!
- Good luck.
Hey.
Wait. Come here.
Thank you, enjoy your meal.
Yours.
- Come on, Raul. Come on.
- Huh?
Well done, Feli!
Bravo, anticipate!
Send it over there, loud!
Bend your legs. Strong!
Attack the ball!
Strong! Well done, strong!
Don't be afraid, go. Go fast!
Go strong!
Bravo!
Good. Like this!
Come on, that's fine.
Feli', come here.
Pick up the balls, let's go.
I saw her in photos.
Don't worry.
Mind your own business.
I'm here for the tournament.
I told Gregorio too. No...
you don't have to worry.
- Shouldn't we worry?
- No.
We stay here, we sleep here,
We train here,
we don't bother anyone.
Let's play a game, two I hope,
and let's go.
Aren't you here to see it?
Is it a female?
Her name is Linda.
A beautiful name, Linda.
He just took his middle school exams.
She enrolled in high school.
She recently took off her braces,
When she grows up
she wants to be a veterinarian.
And he loves his father very much.
Okay.
Anyway, I'm here for the...
for the tournament.
I'm the accompanying teacher.
Then I also went
to see the teacher who is...
She's a little bruised.
It's normal, then maybe one day...
I'll be happy to see her, eh...
So far away without saying anything, right?
But it's not...
I don't think this is the best opportunity.
I know.
Maybe one day, from afar,
you will be pleased...
Yes.
Yes. I mean, I think that...
Gregorio and I are having a party tomorrow.
I want you to come.
Let him look at her.
That takes away your curiosity.
And then disappear forever.
Because I'll spend
another 13 years with the...
"Maybe One Day" by Raul Gatti
hovers over our lives...
I want to save them.
I talked to Gregorio about it, he agrees.
We think it will be good for everyone.
And if you try to talk to her.
If you try to ruin her life,
I swear I'll kill you this time.
Claudia, look, I'm not coming.
I'm not coming,
you can rest assured. I'm not...
I don't want to bother anyone.
Are you sleeping?
I'm trying.
That was your girlfriend, huh?
Sleep, Feli.
It's not true
that you enter the field alone.
We are together.
Are you saying we're playing doubles?
Yes.
And we're playing well too.
Good night, master.
Oh, and who is this handsome young man?
I'm Felice Milella. I'm Raul's student.
- And these flowers are for me?
- Yes.
Thank you, they are beautiful!
You are a true gentleman, Felice.
Even from Raul.
Oh. Well, Raul's not a gentleman
like you, is he?
Why not? What do you say?
He says no, this one.
Good that you came.
Yes, he insisted because...
he heard that there were girls
his age and...
here we are.
Are you ready?
I'm not interested in girls.
Linda, Carlo and Pietro, please.
Oh, the two champions.
Welcome.
Dad, you owe me a ping pong rematch.
I'll tear you to pieces again.
I wanted to introduce you
to an old friend of Mom and Dad, Raul.
Hi.
- Nice to meet you, Linda.
- Nice to meet you.
- He's Happy.
- Happy.
- Linda.
- I'm here for the tournament.
You should do like other parents
who let their children win.
But when ever!
No, but your dad was always
great at ping pong.
Do you want to take Felice for a ride?
- Sure. Come on, are you up for it?
- Good.
- Go, go.
- Yes.
- Can we go to the pier?
- Yes, of course.
Until we meet again.
- But don't dive in
- Yes, don't worry.
Take care, Feli.
Gregorio, I just had one of my dj vu's.
Ah! Let's hear it.
So, you two were sitting there,
how you are now,
except Raul had a red polo shirt.
- And...
- And me?
- And what about you?
- What was I dressed like?
Oh, and you had...
You don't remember.
- No.
- He doesn't remember.
That is, she only had eyes for Raul.
I don't remember, but I remember
you were laughing like crazy,
but I don't remember why.
Try laughing.
Try laughing now.
- Oh well, laugh! Let's laugh!
- Come on, laugh!
Laugh well.
Let's laugh! Let's try to laugh.
No, you're terrible, look.
It does not work.
Raul, tell us something about yourself.
Have you started a family in the meantime?
No, no...
Not yet.
He remained true to himself.
Are you happy?
I don't...
Look, really, I've never
been happier in my life.
I want to propose a toast.
To this life, which heals everything
and fixes everything,
and to our friend Raul,
who told me years ago:
"When she is suffering, take care of her."
Gregory, there's no need.
And I...
- like a medieval knight...
- Oh my God.
...I made a solemn promise
to Raul and myself.
- That I would have protected her for life.
- Take away his wine, please.
At first, no one paid
any attention to me at all.
It made me sweat blood.
But then,
the drop erodes the rock,
and if today we are the family that we are,
I have to thank you too.
There isn't really...
need?
But I care, Raul.
- To Raul!
- To Raul!
Auntie! The cake is ready.
Come on, everyone come up!
Here we come, love!
Gentlemen, the cake is ready.
Let's go up, put on some music, shall we?
Everyone take their glass.
Is your father nice?
Come?
Is your dad nice?
He's not my father, he's my teacher.
Damn, I have to call my dad!
- Hello?
- Can you pass me dad?
- What am I supposed to tell him that I won?
- Where the fuck are you?
I... am in Pesaro and I won today too, why?
What Pesaro? You're just talking nonsense.
Dad called the Pesaro club,
you got eliminated three days ago.
Pass me dad.
He's not there,
he went with his mother to the police.
To the police? To do what?
In your opinion?
To report you missing, asshole.
But where the hell are you and your teacher?
- Oh, are you listening to me?
- Look for him, I need to talk to him.
What's that face?
I'm happy.
I was thinking that I'm happy.
- For what?
- For you.
Well, for all these years, every day,
I thought "I wonder how they are".
Then I came here, I saw that you are...
You're so happy. And I'm glad.
We were lucky.
- It's wonderful, Linda.
- Yes.
You can really see it.
She's a truly golden girl.
In the end, Raul Gatti
also did something good in life, right?
- Despite himself.
- Oh well.
And then maybe things change, no...
Hey, what do you say?
- No, I mean...
- How do they change?
The wind changes and...
And?
And you... you...
I'm not saying right away, one day,
Be you... be my pardon...
and... that is, if together,
you and I get closer again, I say...
I the father...
could I do it or not?
- What are you saying?
- Raul, I don't love you anymore.
Claudia, I'm serious.
I'm serious too! I'm serious too.
I couldn't be more serious.
If you give me the chance, I mean.
Understand?
I'm not 20 anymore,
I'm not a kid anymore!
I have three children, I'm married!
Thirteen years of thinking about it
every day, why didn't you come sooner?
I've been waiting for you
for a long time, you know?
Until I didn't wait for you anymore.
Excuse me.
I'm... I'm a little confused.
I'm sorry, I don't...
It's champagne! I'm not supposed
to drink it, you understand?
Because if I drink, then...
They even told me I shouldn't drink.
I'm really sorry.
What do you prefer?
An egg today or a chicken tomorrow?
A chicken today.
You asked me the same question
13 years ago.
- Me?
- Yes.
No, no. No, but it was someone else.
Claudia, you see that you're wrong.
You see it wasn't me.
Evil!
Raul!
Dad found out about me.
I don't want to go back home, please.
This is the end of the line, boy.
We still have one last match to play.
It will be the most beautiful
meeting of my life.
We must expel all the toxins
that poison our lives, Feli'.
Come dance.
No.
Come and dance, come on.
What, you can't dance?
What was Vilas doing before the finals?
He went to the disco.
Come on! Come on!
Make the desire to live dance, Felice!
The match begins. Service, Milella.
Good.
Come on, Felice, we're all with you.
Happy.
Play like we trained.
Today is Tuesday, June 13, 1989.
And here, this morning, we're talking
about this year's Italian holidays.
It's 9:03 AM and...
Italian Tennis, classifieds section.
Good morning.
Tell me.
Me? My name is Viviana.
Yes? Nice! And thank you.
Oh, stop it, you're making me blush.
Oh well, I'm ready whenever he wants.
"Former tennis player
professional
which boasts
an eighth
of the final
at the Foro Italico,
available
for private lessons.
Affordable prices.
Come quickly...
numerous."
It's not often that teachers
with this much pedigree come forward.
Not even Marina Ripa di Meana's pugs
have my pedigree.
"Time wasters please refrain"
will you add that to my list?
That life's too short to chase
even the undecided. Is that true?
Well, thanks then, Viviana.
I am convinced that our lives
will touch each other again very soon.
Oh, let's hope so!
Thanks, you too.
Is it possible
that you always act like a wimp?
You've already made half my colleagues
fall in love with me.
- You told me to go back to basics.
- I meant tennis.
Okay, the first move's made.
Now I recommend:
Carbolithium 300, three times a day.
It may make you drowsy, but don't
compensate for it with stimulants.
No coffee, no alcohol, no drugs, no nothing.
Women too, calm down.
If you want to get out of the tunnel,
you have to stay on these tracks.
And when you're in trouble, go in front
of the mirror and do this, like me.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
You do it a few times,
and then you feel better. Go.
Life smiles at me.
Good. Well done.
Life smiles at me.
Let's go.
Good! Over the net!
Above the rope, above!
Play it simple, don't take risks.
Come on! Hit the ball well, hit it!
Bravo, bravo!
I touch my chin
and scratch my right shoulder!
Come on, move your legs!
Good, Feli', good!
Come on, boy, go on!
The nose again!
I touch my chin. Over the rope, over!
Good! I'm scratching my right shoulder!
Central lob.
Yes. I touch my ear!
Reverse lob.
Ball in play. Quick on his feet, quick!
Force!
Good like this. Come on, have a good impact!
Don't take risks, play it simple.
Keep the ball in the court.
Give him a callus.
Ball in play.
[coach] I touch my chin.
- Straight lob.
- And I touch my ear.
Above the rope.
Don't take risks, keep it simple.
Up!
Okay, that's enough, take a rest.
And tomorrow, to dad, don't forget.
We like tennis
where you fight for every ball,
without taking risks.
Carefree tennis, the attacking one,
serve & volley tennis, let's leave that
to the children of the rich.
What do they do, the fanatics?
And we beat them up.
Because we know well
that the best attack is...
- It's the defense.
- Exactly. Who said that?
- The Chinese. Sun Tzu. - Sun Tzu.
- In "The Art of War".
- A book written over 4,000 years ago.
This rule worked then, it works today,
it will work in tomorrow's final.
Good job, Dad.
Let's take down the rope and go home.
- Yes! - Ah, this pallette!
Come on, Costi!
Well done, Felice!
Thank you.
Let's give a round of applause
to our champion, Felice Milella!
Felice trained hard,
in all weather conditions:
water, sun, wind, rain.
But above all, with the help
of his father, engineer Pietro.
Our Denise is presenting
the Eur Tevere regional cup.
A round of applause.
Felice will spend his summer holidays
at Tonka Village with his family.
You know that our club
is friends with Tonka.
Get in line, because the first tennis lesson
Happy to give it to my daughter Denise.
Wait a minute. Director Scalise,
a clarification is in order.
- May I?
- You're welcome.
Sorry to interrupt, I have
an important announcement to make.
With today's victory, Felice rises
to 92 points in the regional tournaments,
therefore he automatically enters
the tournaments of the national circuit.
So, this summer, for the Milella family,
no Tonka Village,
because to become champions
you need sacrifices
and the Milellas make sacrifices with joy.
Now the boy needs
a coach.
A real coach, dad.
So to accompany him
in the national tournaments around
for the prestigious clubs of Italy,
He will be a glory of Italian tennis.
He boasts a round of 16 appearance at the Foro Italico.
We've been saving money
for vacations all winter.
That money, now, is needed for Felice.
The accompanying teacher must be paid,
then there are many other expenses,
restaurants, gasoline, tournament registration.
I thought that you could go on holiday
From Aunt Luciana in Sibari,
who is ready to welcome you...
But not Sibari! I'll drain my bleach
if you send us to Sibari!
- Rita, Sibari is the pearl of the Ionian.
- And your sister is a bitch.
- No, my sister is a saint. - Yes, indeed.
Why did you do it all like that?
In a rush, without telling me anything?
Why Michael Chang beat Lendl
at Roland Garros at 17.
- Ah, Michael Chang.
- How old is Felice? How old are you?
- Thirteen. - Thirteen, we're late.
- But late for what?
- If he becomes champion, we'll all turn a corner.
But Felice will never be a champion!
I mean, Felice, have you seen him?
He'll never be a champion!
- Shut up. I'll dock your allowance!
- Do you know you're a loser?
- I'll cut your allowance! Enough!
- It's not his fault... Tennis!
I can't take it anymore!
Can't you take it anymore?
I'm taking care of my son's future.
and our family! You're selfish!
Go talk to Dad.
You have to tell him
you don't want to leave anymore.
And that we have to go on vacation.
If you don't, mom dies.
Why am I awake at this hour?
I can't sleep.
- A little nervous about leaving?
- I don't know.
I wanted to leave with you.
I trained with you,
it's thanks to you that I won matches.
- Why do I have to go with the teacher?
- Daddy's love, but I'm with you!
I'm so with you that tomorrow,
after work, I'll give math lessons,
and then I go back to fixing appliances
to pay your teacher, to make you a champion.
I'll always be right there hammering away.
Me from here, you on the field.
Pam, pam, pam.
I just wanted to go to Tonka Village.
Maybe I'd meet some new friends.
But which friends?
Become a champion, everyone
will compete to become your friend.
Feli', I am a management engineer at SIP,
I studied tennis from books.
Now you need someone
who has field experience.
This master will make you take the leap.
Nose, straight.
Ear, reverse.
Fan with saying...
Fan with forced direction...
Mandatory! Indeed.
Good morning, champ.
Your father told me to come wake you up.
What time is it?
Hey, I got here a little early.
Let's avoid the traffic.
Where's dad?
He's coming back now. He went to the bank.
Get dressed, come on.
Clothes.
Could you come out, please?
We will spend the next few weeks
sharing joys and smells,
so start getting used to it.
But do you understand
what's written in here?
Yes, why?
Anyway, your father
explained everything to me,
the training, the bath with salts,
the diet, all the rules.
It's good to have rules, right?
To become a champion
you have to make sacrifices.
Make sacrifices, always stay
on track, without deviating.
This is how you win.
Your life as a champion begins today.
Raul Gatti takes care of it.
- Here.
- Oh, thank you.
- It's decaf, right?
- Yes, of course, the one I drink.
Very kind, thank you.
- Sugar, no? - I like it bitter.
Like life.
Yes.
It's not an easy time, huh?
No.
This is Felice's moment.
That's okay.
It's just that we often wonder
when our moment will come.
I can only assure you
of one thing.
Two hands that know
how to make a coffee like this
They can ask whatever they want from life.
Hey, look over there! My goodness!
A smile, the whole room lit up!
- Is that true, Felice? Look!
- True.
Here I am again!
I've done it, eh!
- [Raul] Thank you, ma'am. - Good morning, darling.
- Good morning, Dad.
- We have everything.
Salt and
- your check. - Thank you!
- Missing signature.
- Eh?
- The signature is missing.
- Excuse me.
Head, head. Now.
Here you are.
Thank you.
And in the purse there is life.
Notebooks, tournament map, and money.
Remember, always carry it
over your shoulder.
I am entrusting you with
what is most dear to me.
Always over the shoulder.
The boy.
Sure. But Felice and I
have already become friends.
Is that true, Felice?
So, ready to go?
In the morning,
coffee gives me a boost.
Where can I find a toilet, please?
- It's at the end of the corridor, the door.
- I'm coming, eh?
He's cute, isn't he?
Don't forget to call me.
And go to bed early at night.
Courage!
Please remember, eh!
You're back victorious. Huh?
Who is your favorite player?
- Ivan Lendl.
- Ah, too robotic.
Never a tear, never a mistake,
never a crack.
Where is the man behind the player?
And who do you like?
Guillermo Vilas.
Great Argentine player,
who unfortunately retired early.
Also called "the little poet".
Do you know why?
No.
Because in addition to having written
a series of poems,
unfairly mistreated
by some wig-wearing critics
who didn't understand anything,
his life was a poem.
The night before the finals
he went to the disco,
dressed only in a bathrobe
and tennis shoes.
The next morning,
he went down to the field
that smelled of women and champagne.
- And he won?
- Hey!
He was plowing the field!
Ah, he demolished his opponents.
And you, in my opinion,
are a bit of a poet.
This?
Hey, how's things going for women?
Tell me the truth.
One of these evenings,
let's have a nice stroll around town
tennis clothes
and we offer free tennis lessons
to girls we're interested in.
What are you saying? Huh?
We have a laugh.
I'm not interested in girls.
Good, I like you that way.
I was testing you out, you know?
No no.
Let's stay on track.
There is no noise in the corridor
or in the room.
- Come on.
- So no guests.
and no parties.
Leave it here.
You athletes often create problems.
It seems like that's all you think about.
Breakfast starting at 7:00.
The restaurant is closed for lunch
and open for dinner. Here are the keys.
- Thank you.
- Enjoy your stay.
Start packing your bags.
Neat.
I'm going to sit down for a moment,
that this trip destroyed me.
Look at the sea, how blue it is...
Forty-seven.
Forty-eight.
Forty-nine. Fifty.
And...
go with the reverse.
- I already did it the other way around.
- Oh, you did it?
- Yes.
- And... what's wrong with you now?
- Sit-ups.
- Oh. Do your sit-ups, go on.
Do your sit-ups, good job.
No, they're still wet! Come on, Domitilla,
come and get them!
They're a little wet.
Domitilla, Roberta, humid,
but they're fine anyway.
- Five, six, seven...
- Good evening!
- Eight, nine...
- Good evening!
Ten, eleven,
twelve.
Accompanying teacher?
How did you figure that out?
Cuffs.
You can take them off
in the evening, you know?
No, it's just that I like
to carry the cross 24 hours a day.
Are you here for the nationals too?
And what games, the under 16s?
The under 14s?
What category are you?
With my fillies, we're having a little party
- On the beach, Coca-Cola and chips!
- Forever young!
Do you want to join us
with your family?
I'm asking. I only have one, eh?
Prepare him that he will have to entertain
three sluts overdosed on hormones.
Roby, the towel!
- I'm coming!
- If you want, I'll see you downstairs!
- Thirty-seven.
- Hi!
...thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty.
Hey, there are three girls
who want to meet you,
who are having a little party
on the beach.
What do you say, shall we go?
You're testing me again, huh?
Bravo.
- Good, I like you that way.
- Thanks.
- Forty-three, forty-four...
- We're on the tracks, go.
Forty-five, forty-six...
- What are you doing?
- Huh? Nothing, nothing.
Is an egg today
or a chicken tomorrow better?
I don't know.
The chicken tomorrow?
The chicken today!
That's why people are so unhappy.
Come on, that's enough! Let's collect it.
Go, we're done for today.
We're not done.
We are missing the decoy baskets.
- The decoy baskets?
- Yes.
If you look for signs,
you'll find them. Here they are.
Every shot, you tell me
where you want me to send it to you.
Come?
For example, in training
you tell me them out loud,
you say to me:
"Nose, chin, ear!"
Then during the game,
you make gestures like this.
- Obviously without letting you see.
- No, no, no.
When you're in the stands...
that's how we communicate.
- This is how you and I communicate.
- Yes.
Anyway, my father
is a telecommunications engineer.
If he doesn't know.
He always says
that communication is everything.
That's all, that's all.
And do you enjoy playing like this?
I enjoy it when I win.
- And we collect. We make these baskets...
- On call.
Zero-15, Riva.
Zero-30, Riva.
Zero-40, Riva.
Game, Riva.
Riva leads four to one.
No, a mosquito.
Mosquito!
Attack.
Attack. Close the field, attack.
Let's go!
When it's ready, I'll come.
Now I have a rehearsal.
Okay, see you later.
Answering machines are complicated.
Donate, books and notebooks, I'm coming.
Let's do equations.
All right, Mr. Milella.
Hello?
Hello, Dad? I'm happy.
Did you lose?
Yes.
How much?
6-2, 6-1.
6-2, 6-1 in the first round?
- Yes.
- But 6-2, 6-1 in the first round?
Felice, are you kidding me?
What the f...
Calm down, let's not get down now.
Have you done a careful
technical analysis of the defeat?
An analysis is needed, Felice!
Well...
I don't know, Dad, I was nervous.
At one point,
the teacher even fell asleep.
- Asleep?
- Yes, he fell asleep.
What does "asleep" mean?
He doesn't even know the signs.
At one point, he told me to attack.
Attack?
No, but absolute tranquility.
No, but I swear, look...
- Dad wants to talk to you.
- Huh?
- Dad wants to talk to you.
- Me?
Yes.
Excuse me.
Let me introduce you to Sandra.
- No. Roberta.
- Why not? No, Roberta.
- Weren't you Sandra?
- I'm Sandra.
Sandra is her.
Okay, introduce yourselves. He's Felice.
Well, and this is Francesca.
I'll be right back, okay?
Domitilla. Sandra.
And Roberta. Happy.
- The menus.
- Thank you.
- Can I get you something to drink?
- Yes, water...
- And a glass of white wine for me.
- I'll be right there.
Well, he told us
that today went a bit...
You'll make up for it
in the next match.
- Let's hope.
- What do you mean "let's hope"?
Your teacher was a strong one.
I remember him, I saw him play.
When I was your age,
he was also a sex symbol.
Yes. Now you see it
a bit like that, though...
This to her and this to you.
Thank you.
At that time...
Octopus salad...
Excuse me.
I was saying don't throw yourself
down on your little colt.
No, but he doesn't give up.
When he wins it's his merit,
when he loses it's the teacher's fault.
It is not true.
I know another one like that.
I brought you back the 30 denarii, here.
Excuse me.
You fell asleep.
It is true?
But I must have dozed off.
It must have been five minutes.
- Not even.
- Don't laugh, you.
How many times I would like
to fall asleep at your games.
Do you know
what my teacher used to say?
That tennis is like life,
you enter the court alone,
If in the end it doesn't go as you hoped,
you only have yourself to blame.
Wilma Costa.
The teacher, yes.
Do you know her?
- Legendary.
- Yeah, yeah.
But is it true that he was fighting?
He never touched me,
but a few slaps,
I saw some rackets fly.
I recognized you right away.
- You're Raul... Gatti.
- Gatti.
Meow. Yes, it's me.
I've even seen you play a few times.
Oh, yeah?
At the team cup in Prato
and at the Satellite in Lodi.
In Lodi, yes, yes.
Fate had already put me in your path.
- I was a ball boy.
- Oh.
And you played with the Tennis Club...
I was at the Parthenope.
Of course. Parthenope Tennis Club.
- Let's go to the Parthenope, to the...
- Fourth week.
And when does the masculine begin?
No, we only do the north.
Have you chosen what you want to eat, guys?
What's up with you today?
The meat.
So, my little Judas gets the steak.
- I'm not Judas.
- Shut up, Iscariot.
You no pasta, no pizza...
My father doesn't pay you to sleep.
My hunger has gone.
- You mind if I steal your finger... huh?
- No, go on.
Nice and fresh.
I'm not hungry either.
Do we let them eat alone?
You wait here.
Why, where are you going?
And where am I going?
I'm going to show Francesca
your father's notebooks,
so tomorrow,
In Cesenatico, I'll give you puppet orders.
Is that okay?
Girls, Felice is not on the menu.
Don't steal it from me.
You, control them.
That as soon as you turn around,
you eat pasta, pizza and everything else.
It's terrible.
- Mad.
- Always.
Did you understand where they went?
To see the notebooks.
But leave him alone.
Happy! Come on!
- No, I'm here.
- Come dance with us.
Good night.
Goodnight.
Do you want to come
to the room with us?
Until your teacher finishes
reviewing our teacher?
- No, I'll wait here, thanks.
- Are you sure?
Yes.
Do you feel something?
- Do you feel something?
- What?
Francy is a caterpillar, eh.
Come on, come with us.
- Come on, Feli.
- No, I'll wait here.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
Okay, goodnight.
Who is it?
What do you want?
Can't you read the tag?
I put it there on purpose!
It's 9pm, I have to sleep.
- Is it 9:00 PM?
- It's 9:00 PM, yes.
You made me do 9pm.
9:00 pm?
I took it to the fifth set,
you don't understand!
But he had said no guests.
He's Ligurian...
He wants to make money. Come.
Stay here. Wait for me here.
But weren't you having fun with the girls?
Yes, a lot.
It's just that tomorrow
I have Cesenatico, I wanted to rest.
It's 9:00 PM.
Come with me, Feli.
Sit down here for a moment.
Sit down.
You don't have to rest, Feli'.
You need to relax.
Why...
you're a little stiff.
As Dad says, let's do...
a nice bath with salts,
half an hour, even 40 minutes,
and you'll see that afterwards
you'll be relaxed.
You wait for the water
to reach this point, hot, you get in
and you see that...
But 40 minutes in there?
Forty minutes?
It's 9:00 PM.
Yes?
I have to pee, can you close
your eyes for a moment?
All right.
Fetentone!
You go out!
Peeping Tom!
- What are you looking at?
- Get out.
Come on.
"No, I'm not interested in girls."
This stinker.
What a bad impression, my goodness.
You're freezing to death.
You go out.
Come on, come out,
I'm not looking at you.
The hot water had run out.
Good luck for tomorrow.
Thank you.
It was nice to meet you.
Me too.
No, eh!
Have a good trip, tiger!
Hello, darling!
Cow.
What is the indelible photograph
of this day?
The image...
that you will remember for your whole life.
Your?
A me...
the look that Francesca gave me
when she told me
she wasn't hungry either.
Ah, it was all in there.
Well...
A wife, an accomplice...
a mother, everything was there.
All the magic of dreamed women.
No, instead mine...
Law...
All.
The eyes, the mouth.
The feet.
Everything about her was beautiful.
If you have to take a blow job,
go to the bathroom.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me, life smiles at me,
life smiles at me.
Life...
Life smiles at me,
life smiles at me...
What are you doing?
Two high lobs on the forehand
and one on the backhand.
Sorry about yesterday.
I played badly too.
Come here.
Alone.
Do as I do.
Put your hand.
Life smiles at me.
Life smiles at me.
- Life smiles at me.
- Life smiles at me.
I'm going to pay.
And we start again with renewed energy.
Feli', the world out there
is full of enemies.
Do you and I want to beat them?
Yes.
You want to win, yes?
- Yes!
- Do you want to win?
- Yes!
- Yes!
- Yes!
- Let's go!
As Vilas said.
- Let's go!
- Let's go!
Dai, dai.
- No!
- 30 all.
All right.
Ready?
Good evening, Raul. So?
- No!
- Vantaggio Passalacqua.
Look...
What the hell.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out this time either. I'm sorry.
How much?
Game, match, encounter, Passalacqua.
6-4, 6-1.
- 6-1 in the second set?
- Huh.
Poor thing,
he must have gotten discouraged.
Well yes.
Yes.
Oh! What are you doing?
Lock your wrist,
all your weight forward. Bam!
And why didn't he call me Felice?
Well, well... because he was
ashamed and then...
I said I'd call to give her
the bad news, so to speak.
I swear it doesn't burn!
It doesn't hurt.
Stand still.
- Good game.
- Well done.
I can't seem to do it.
How is it possible that after all the work
and effort, the boy never wins?
It was a well-oiled machine.
A reliable tennis player,
I had structured him well.
He had a solid game.
Well, in short, that the opponents
would have been stronger
at nationals, we knew it.
But we did everything
we could to stay on track,
we did all the training
following the notebooks,
we always went to bed at the right time,
never a mistake, but then
the results do not reward us.
Game, match, encounter, Chiari.
Game, match, encounter, Forcella.
Game, match, encounter, Rolla.
Yes, but when I followed him,
the results rewarded us.
He was a winner when I followed him.
Yes, at the regional elections.
Well, here the level is... it's different.
Listen to me, Raul.
Listen to me.
She just had to let the facts
speak for themselves.
Here are the facts:
Seven tournaments, seven first-round losses.
She had to help Felice make the leap,
instead he's sinking it for me!
I was wrong to trust her.
Because evidently you are not
that good of a teacher.
All sacrifices wasted.
Ah, se...
if I disappointed her...
...I am sorry.
What is he doing?
What is he doing, is he crying?
No no.
Don't let Felice see you like this,
calm down.
Okay.
Listen, give me my son right now
and stop this charade.
Force.
Hey, Feli.
Your father wants to talk to you.
There's dad.
- Is he so angry?
- Huh?
Is he that angry?
Pick up the phone, Feli'.
Dad.
But do you think this teacher is okay?
In what sense?
You and him are pissing me off.
I'm here working my ass off
and you never get any satisfaction.
I'm sorry, Dad.
I thought you were ready.
But no.
I made a mistake in my calculations.
You didn't miscalculate, Dad.
I'll win the next game.
I promise you.
The next tournament is your last chance.
If you lose that too, you go home.
Is that clear?
All right.
- Is that clear?
- Yes.
You do it too.
Why?
Because these rules are killing us.
Do you want to die?
No.
And then he tears up the notebook.
These tracks do not lead
- nowhere.
- No, stop! What are you doing?
You do it too.
It's just you and me here.
Let's rebel.
Please, Feli'.
Dai, dai, dai!
Dai, dai!
All right. All right.
This passive thing
of always waiting for mistakes
the opponent's performance
is fine in the regionals, but not here.
At the nationals it doesn't go well,
you saw it too.
If you shorten a ball, they come
into play here and close the point.
When you're hitting, you always
take two steps back. But why?
It's not good.
Let's learn to take away time
from our opponent.
Grab your racket and go.
Your feet should never go behind this line.
And when I tell you "attack",
you attack.
Attack?
Attack!
Raul Gatti?
Is that you? It's not possible.
Camillo Cecchetti,
don't you recognize me?
My goodness, Cecchetti!
And how did you end up?
Ah, always the same asshole, huh?
Have you started playing tennis again?
Yes, yes. I'm training now.
I thought you were living the good life.
Photos of you with that slightly older
countess appeared in the magazines.
No, that was just a friend.
I'm back to my first love!
Oh, you never forget that.
Guys, this is Raul Gatti!
He had an ATP-caliber arm.
When I tell you that talent alone
is not enough,
well, he was the living example of it.
- It was a joke, come on.
- Who told you anything?
Oh, you're in Parioli now. In Rome.
For 11 years now. I was lucky enough
to get in, I'm very happy.
Bravo.
And where are you?
- No, I only have one student.
- Ah.
Private coaching,
you have to be really strong,
- or your dad is rich.
- No.
Felice is a promising player
in Italian tennis.
It's different.
Did you know that we used to play together
when we were your age?
With the teacher, what a girl.
Have you heard from her again?
Yes, yes, yes, we talk often.
- I heard he's not doing very well.
- No, but when would that ever happen?
That buries you and me, Cecche'!
Where do you play? I'm really curious
to see what you do with the little champion.
- We're playing at 5:00 on center court.
- Oh, with Zanella. One of mine.
The one over there with the white band.
Tough guy, it's going to be
an interesting match.
- May the best man win!
- As always.
- Hello, Cecche'!
- Hello.
Until we meet again.
Zanella.
Let's go.
Welcome to the Nettuno Hotel,
the tennis-friendly hotel.
- Hello.
- So much light, what beautiful windows!
But this is an oasis of peace.
You'll see, you'll see.
So, this way, please.
The match begins.
Milella at the service.
- 15-0.
- Yes!
Come on! Why are you getting these wrong?
Come on!
- 30-0.
- Let's go!
Come on!
I'll destroy it, I'll destroy it.
Come on.
- 40-0.
- Yeah, let's go!
- Oh, no, no, concentrate!
- Yes!
Su!
Out.
- 40-15. Zanella.
- Come on! Like this!
Come on! Come on!
As!
- Out!
- Out.
I'm playing, Zanella.
- No! It's not possible!
- Game on, Milella.
- I train so hard to do this!
- Four games all. Zanella beats.
- No! - [Zanella] Come on!
Let's go!
No!
- First set, Zanella.
- What should I do?
You're playing his game, come forward.
No.
Enough, I play my game.
No!
- Come on! Like this!
- 15-0. Zanella.
I'm stronger!
He's a ball player!
Don't back down.
No!
Game, Zanella.
Zanella leads three games to nil.
No!
- I'm sorry.
- You're welcome.
Permit.
Time! Let's resume play, please.
Wait, let me guess,
you lost the second set 6-0.
The car's here, where are you going?
Come on, get in.
No.
Come up, Feli. Please.
Why did you leave?
Because I was getting depressed.
The one who always cries has spoken.
You haven't taught me anything
these past few weeks.
Get in the car, Feli'.
Let's end this.
I'll take you home.
I said I'm not getting
in the car with you!
What do I tell Dad now?
- The truth, you tell him.
- Which one?
That you are not a champion
and that you never will be.
Simple and direct.
Do yourself a favor and, trust me,
you're doing him a favor too.
You can become a good professional,
a master, like me.
But forget Wimbledon, the finals,
the money, the fame, Feli'.
You don't have that talent, I'm sorry.
This is the truth.
So why did you tell your friend that I was
a promising Italian tennis player?
Why not...
I didn't want to look like a failure.
who trains a pippa.
I'm not a wimp!
You're a wimp. You're a wimp!
You're the worst coach in the world!
You suck!
- He owes me compensation for the damages!
- Keep your voice down!
He ruined everything for me. He has
to pay me back for the mess he made!
We found the Jaguar,
it's a bit dented.
Yes, you found the Jaguar, but who
will pay me for the damages?
Are you a family member?
We can only transport family members.
- Yes, I'm the son.
- Then go.
The sedation will last a few hours.
All right. He has our number,
- Call us when you wake up.
- Sure.
Thank you.
Does dad take any medicine?
Yes.
Do you know what he's taking?
He takes a white and orange box.
Il Carbolithium.
But he... he threw it away.
It hurt.
What's wrong?
Where is Mom?
She's dead.
And do you have any family members
we can talk to?
No, they're all dead.
I am sorry.
Let's do this: when dad wakes up,
Let's all three talk together. Okay?
In the meantime, if you want,
- You can take a look at this.
- Thanks.
We give it to relatives of patients
who have seizures, like your dad.
Do you play tennis?
Yes, but...
I'm not strong.
Dad is strong.
He reached the round of 16
at the Foro Italico.
You can ask him to train you
and make you as strong as him.
We tried, but I lost all the matches.
Defeats are part of life.
Try again.
In the meantime,
I'm going to get the medicine.
Milella Residence, good evening.
Dad?
Happy.
You lost.
Dad, I won!
- Did you win?
- Yes, I won 6-3, 6-4!
Tomorrow I play the second round!
Finally, Feli'.
Do you see it, then?
I'm not crazy.
No, Dad. You're not crazy.
Blessed? Come.
- Felice won.
- I understand.
Dad knew you were talented.
- Huh?
- Thanks, Dad.
I can't do it. You talk to him.
Hide.
You made dad cry with joy.
I played according to his advice,
as we trained.
Bravo.
But tell me, tell me how it went.
So, in the first set I...
I was a little scared
because he started to attack,
to close the point.
Does he have to stand in the middle
of a corridor in front of everyone?
As soon as a room becomes available,
we'll fix it up.
Poor thing.
He has always been a fragile soul.
How long have you had mood swings?
And who remembers it.
After the suicide attempt,
I had paid for his hospital stay, but...
he ran away.
Taking away the countess's car.
I think he went to his son.
Lawyer.
Try to recover what's left of the car and...
withdraw the complaint.
Scintilla, I think the car theft
is the least of his problems.
at this point.
Please, lawyer.
Yes.
But this is a beautiful thing.
A great achievement for Raul.
He finally had the courage
to come looking for you.
I told him:
"You're so split
because you haven't come to terms
with your past."
You can't have a child
and disappear forever.
And then I believe
you're tormenting yourself.
Even if it's gone,
give it a chance.
Have you known him long?
Well...
He lived in my house for ten years.
Were you engaged?
These are the keys to his car,
which is out here.
With all his stuff inside.
Are you going to give them to him?
Yes.
Take care of him.
He went there!
You can ask the Madonna
whatever you want.
Write here. Here.
You put it together with the other notes
and Our Lady answers his request.
What are you asking for?
Eh, no... I can't tell you.
- Why?
- Because it's a secret between me and Maria.
Take it easy, okay?
I'll wait for you here.
I fooled you!
Oh, oh! It's a joke!
- I know!
- Why are you so angry?
There's nothing to laugh about!
My goodness,
how serious you are, my son.
I'm worried about you.
But what are you worried about?
There's nothing to worry about.
Oh, yeah?
Because of you,
I had to tell Dad I won.
Why is it my fault?
What was I doing, leaving you alone?
Did he fall for it?
He started crying. From happiness.
Alright.
Then tomorrow you tell him you lost and...
and we're going back home.
You no longer have a home.
Did Scintilla come?
She got back the Jaguar you stole.
It was a loan.
The doctor said that
defeats are part of life.
- Thank goodness the doctor's here.
- It's written here too.
I felt it.
"Although the last ones can be heard
in a scale of values defined by others..."
Now we feel like the last ones, right?
"... patients must acquire
a new vision of the world,
embarking on a bright path of repair."
So I thought:
in four days,
there is a tournament.
Al TC Parthenope,
- your old circle.
- No, no, no.
Let's tell dad I won some games...
Hide...
I'm not the worst tennis coach in the world
anymore? Let me get this straight. Huh?
These things are said when someone is angry.
You told me too
that I'm a wimp, but you don't think so.
No?
What does the leaflet
say about the medicines?
- You have to take them.
- No, I take lithium...
No no.
All right.
But the tournament, yes.
I want to win at least one match.
Come on.
Come on, Feli'!
Where are you going?
It is Jesus who wants it!
Let's go.
Or.
Happy!
Pss!
Happy!
Open the door right now! Come on!
Wow, it's versatile!
If you don't open, I'll come in anyway.
What are you doing in here?
I was packing my bags.
Where is the master?
The teacher, poor thing,
they admitted him to the hospital.
Poor thing, okay?
Nobody touches the stuff
because I have it here on deposit.
until he paid me back all the damages.
And now walk outside.
But I didn't break anything!
What's going on here? Oh!
What's he up to here?
Guard!
Things?
Police! Police!
Don't touch it!
I'll kill you if you touch it!
Nobody touches anything here
until you pay for the damages, criminal!
- Felice, come down! Run!
- Stop!
I'll turn this place into the Colosseum,
I'll break all your windows!
You just stand there.
No, child!
Stand still, child!
Come on, Feli'!
Come here, child!
Stand still!
- Stop!
- You're not going to catch me, darling!
You rude, stinking bastard!
- Come here! Don't move!
- Run!
I called the police!
Stand still!
You damned wretch. I'll kill you!
Stand still!
I called the police!
You have to pay me for the damages!
You damned criminal, I'll kill you!
Who is this idiot?
Who's here?
Raul! Raul!
How are you? Show yourself.
- Show yourself!
- My goodness, you look just like me!
- Good morning. - [together] Good morning.
- They're friends, do you want to help?
- No, thanks.
- Where is Wilma?
- Wilma is there. She's resting.
- Because it's...
- Come on, Feli'!
She's a little tired these days.
But how is he?
You did well to come.
He's Felice. He's my student.
- Ah, what a handsome boy!
- Come on, Felice, let me introduce you to Lilli.
- Nice to meet you. Thank you.
- Welcome, Felice.
Can I go wake her up?
Go, go! I should have woken her up
ten minutes ago, you do it!
- Come, I'll introduce you to someone.
- They'll be so happy to see you. Go.
Maostra.
I'm your favorite student. Hey!
We were supposed to train this morning,
didn't you wake up?
Sleepyhead! Ugly.
My goodness, you're so ugly.
Wakes up!
Wake up!
- Wilma.
- And what manners are those?
Wow, that's a wake-up call.
Good thing he was happy to see me.
- Wilma, it's Raul.
- I know who he is, I'm not stupid.
But what did I do to you, excuse me?
You disappear for all these years
and then you come and play the clown?
What a clown? But...
She told me I could wake you up.
Take it out on her.
- And who are you?
- I'm his student. My name is Felice.
- We came to play the nationals.
- What a great coach you've chosen.
We lost all the matches.
- All the games?
- All, all.
So what the fuck are you laughing about?
And what did you come to do?
I came to visit you.
And then, since we have to have
the tournament at Parthenope in three days,
I thought I could stay here.
That I could train on the pitch,
like in the old days.
Like old times?
And maybe you'd even give me
a hand training him, mind you.
Do you remember where the pitch is?
Of course I remember where the pitch is.
Give them a tent near the field,
so they can have home and church.
Dai, Feli'.
Let's start taking things out of the car.
Thank you.
Here, in the summer,
it was all full of kids your age.
- who came to train with Wilma.
- Ah.
Raul was the craziest student.
But he was also the one
Wilma loved the most.
Every morning, at dawn,
Wilma took her usual swim in the sea,
and he, quietly, followed her
like a little fish!
You have to call home, Feli', it's late.
I'll take him.
Binary annotation only requires two:
zero and one. Yes, Milella.
Hello, Dad?
- I won today too.
- Come on!
- How much?
- 7-5 in the third.
Well done, well done, Feli!
Dad is very proud of you.
My love, I love you.
Look, you won in Pesaro.
It is one of the most competitive
tournaments on the entire circuit.
- Beata!
- Eh!
Come on, come on.
He won today too.
Talk to us.
Well done, my love.
Was the opponent strong?
Yes, he was very strong. But...
I was focused.
The teacher also helped me.
In the end he's really good.
Sometimes they come back.
Hey, Gregory, hi!
When they told me, I couldn't believe it!
Yes, I'm here with my student.
We came to register for the tournament.
I don't want to cause any embarrassment,
tell Claudia, she can rest assured.
We'll have the tournament and leave.
If you're here as a tennis instructor,
we're at peace.
- If you're here for something else,
let's talk about it. - No, no, no.
Happy, this is Gregorio,
the owner of the club, an old friend.
- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.
But your teacher also teaches you
to enjoy life? Huh?
Because no one is enjoying it
like Raul Gatti is.
- Good luck!
- Good luck.
Hey.
Wait. Come here.
Thank you, enjoy your meal.
Yours.
- Come on, Raul. Come on.
- Huh?
Well done, Feli!
Bravo, anticipate!
Send it over there, loud!
Bend your legs. Strong!
Attack the ball!
Strong! Well done, strong!
Don't be afraid, go. Go fast!
Go strong!
Bravo!
Good. Like this!
Come on, that's fine.
Feli', come here.
Pick up the balls, let's go.
I saw her in photos.
Don't worry.
Mind your own business.
I'm here for the tournament.
I told Gregorio too. No...
you don't have to worry.
- Shouldn't we worry?
- No.
We stay here, we sleep here,
We train here,
we don't bother anyone.
Let's play a game, two I hope,
and let's go.
Aren't you here to see it?
Is it a female?
Her name is Linda.
A beautiful name, Linda.
He just took his middle school exams.
She enrolled in high school.
She recently took off her braces,
When she grows up
she wants to be a veterinarian.
And he loves his father very much.
Okay.
Anyway, I'm here for the...
for the tournament.
I'm the accompanying teacher.
Then I also went
to see the teacher who is...
She's a little bruised.
It's normal, then maybe one day...
I'll be happy to see her, eh...
So far away without saying anything, right?
But it's not...
I don't think this is the best opportunity.
I know.
Maybe one day, from afar,
you will be pleased...
Yes.
Yes. I mean, I think that...
Gregorio and I are having a party tomorrow.
I want you to come.
Let him look at her.
That takes away your curiosity.
And then disappear forever.
Because I'll spend
another 13 years with the...
"Maybe One Day" by Raul Gatti
hovers over our lives...
I want to save them.
I talked to Gregorio about it, he agrees.
We think it will be good for everyone.
And if you try to talk to her.
If you try to ruin her life,
I swear I'll kill you this time.
Claudia, look, I'm not coming.
I'm not coming,
you can rest assured. I'm not...
I don't want to bother anyone.
Are you sleeping?
I'm trying.
That was your girlfriend, huh?
Sleep, Feli.
It's not true
that you enter the field alone.
We are together.
Are you saying we're playing doubles?
Yes.
And we're playing well too.
Good night, master.
Oh, and who is this handsome young man?
I'm Felice Milella. I'm Raul's student.
- And these flowers are for me?
- Yes.
Thank you, they are beautiful!
You are a true gentleman, Felice.
Even from Raul.
Oh. Well, Raul's not a gentleman
like you, is he?
Why not? What do you say?
He says no, this one.
Good that you came.
Yes, he insisted because...
he heard that there were girls
his age and...
here we are.
Are you ready?
I'm not interested in girls.
Linda, Carlo and Pietro, please.
Oh, the two champions.
Welcome.
Dad, you owe me a ping pong rematch.
I'll tear you to pieces again.
I wanted to introduce you
to an old friend of Mom and Dad, Raul.
Hi.
- Nice to meet you, Linda.
- Nice to meet you.
- He's Happy.
- Happy.
- Linda.
- I'm here for the tournament.
You should do like other parents
who let their children win.
But when ever!
No, but your dad was always
great at ping pong.
Do you want to take Felice for a ride?
- Sure. Come on, are you up for it?
- Good.
- Go, go.
- Yes.
- Can we go to the pier?
- Yes, of course.
Until we meet again.
- But don't dive in
- Yes, don't worry.
Take care, Feli.
Gregorio, I just had one of my dj vu's.
Ah! Let's hear it.
So, you two were sitting there,
how you are now,
except Raul had a red polo shirt.
- And...
- And me?
- And what about you?
- What was I dressed like?
Oh, and you had...
You don't remember.
- No.
- He doesn't remember.
That is, she only had eyes for Raul.
I don't remember, but I remember
you were laughing like crazy,
but I don't remember why.
Try laughing.
Try laughing now.
- Oh well, laugh! Let's laugh!
- Come on, laugh!
Laugh well.
Let's laugh! Let's try to laugh.
No, you're terrible, look.
It does not work.
Raul, tell us something about yourself.
Have you started a family in the meantime?
No, no...
Not yet.
He remained true to himself.
Are you happy?
I don't...
Look, really, I've never
been happier in my life.
I want to propose a toast.
To this life, which heals everything
and fixes everything,
and to our friend Raul,
who told me years ago:
"When she is suffering, take care of her."
Gregory, there's no need.
And I...
- like a medieval knight...
- Oh my God.
...I made a solemn promise
to Raul and myself.
- That I would have protected her for life.
- Take away his wine, please.
At first, no one paid
any attention to me at all.
It made me sweat blood.
But then,
the drop erodes the rock,
and if today we are the family that we are,
I have to thank you too.
There isn't really...
need?
But I care, Raul.
- To Raul!
- To Raul!
Auntie! The cake is ready.
Come on, everyone come up!
Here we come, love!
Gentlemen, the cake is ready.
Let's go up, put on some music, shall we?
Everyone take their glass.
Is your father nice?
Come?
Is your dad nice?
He's not my father, he's my teacher.
Damn, I have to call my dad!
- Hello?
- Can you pass me dad?
- What am I supposed to tell him that I won?
- Where the fuck are you?
I... am in Pesaro and I won today too, why?
What Pesaro? You're just talking nonsense.
Dad called the Pesaro club,
you got eliminated three days ago.
Pass me dad.
He's not there,
he went with his mother to the police.
To the police? To do what?
In your opinion?
To report you missing, asshole.
But where the hell are you and your teacher?
- Oh, are you listening to me?
- Look for him, I need to talk to him.
What's that face?
I'm happy.
I was thinking that I'm happy.
- For what?
- For you.
Well, for all these years, every day,
I thought "I wonder how they are".
Then I came here, I saw that you are...
You're so happy. And I'm glad.
We were lucky.
- It's wonderful, Linda.
- Yes.
You can really see it.
She's a truly golden girl.
In the end, Raul Gatti
also did something good in life, right?
- Despite himself.
- Oh well.
And then maybe things change, no...
Hey, what do you say?
- No, I mean...
- How do they change?
The wind changes and...
And?
And you... you...
I'm not saying right away, one day,
Be you... be my pardon...
and... that is, if together,
you and I get closer again, I say...
I the father...
could I do it or not?
- What are you saying?
- Raul, I don't love you anymore.
Claudia, I'm serious.
I'm serious too! I'm serious too.
I couldn't be more serious.
If you give me the chance, I mean.
Understand?
I'm not 20 anymore,
I'm not a kid anymore!
I have three children, I'm married!
Thirteen years of thinking about it
every day, why didn't you come sooner?
I've been waiting for you
for a long time, you know?
Until I didn't wait for you anymore.
Excuse me.
I'm... I'm a little confused.
I'm sorry, I don't...
It's champagne! I'm not supposed
to drink it, you understand?
Because if I drink, then...
They even told me I shouldn't drink.
I'm really sorry.
What do you prefer?
An egg today or a chicken tomorrow?
A chicken today.
You asked me the same question
13 years ago.
- Me?
- Yes.
No, no. No, but it was someone else.
Claudia, you see that you're wrong.
You see it wasn't me.
Evil!
Raul!
Dad found out about me.
I don't want to go back home, please.
This is the end of the line, boy.
We still have one last match to play.
It will be the most beautiful
meeting of my life.
We must expel all the toxins
that poison our lives, Feli'.
Come dance.
No.
Come and dance, come on.
What, you can't dance?
What was Vilas doing before the finals?
He went to the disco.
Come on! Come on!
Make the desire to live dance, Felice!
The match begins. Service, Milella.
Good.
Come on, Felice, we're all with you.
Happy.
Play like we trained.