Squash

Sorry. Nicole needed help.

No problem. -I'll get changed.

Change here. -It'll only take me...

Put your things there. -But my suit, I don't want to...

Alexandre. Do it for me.

That way we can keep talking.

So Nicole needed help? -A little billing mistake, nothing serious.

She made a billing mistake?

A little one. But it's all sorted, she's very conscientious.

I see.

You weren't screwing her?

Excuse me? -I said "You weren't screwing her?"

What are you talking about?

You're not going to tell me you've never slept with her?

Of course I haven't.

The seminar in Chamonix, in February. You think I didn't notice?

Notice what?

I was joking, Alexandre.

It was a joke.

Aren't you a little uptight? -No.

You playing like that? -No, of course not.

One second.

Shit.

OK, M or W?

I'd like to warm up... -Should've got here on time.

I have a knee problems, I'd rather...

Alexandre. This isn't Harvard anymore. You've got to be on the ball.

Could you go over the rules?

You don't know them? -I play tennis. But I haven't played squash...

It's OK, Alexandre. You hit the ball against the front wall. Remember?

It can only bounce once.

The side and back walls are in.

Above this line, it's a fault. Below this line too. It makes noise.

Like when you screw up in life.

You serve diagonally. You only score your serves. We play to 9.

At 8-all, the reciever chooses to countinue to 9 or 10.

OK, M or W?

M. -For "Moron"?

Sorry, I was just teasing.

W... I serve.

Ready.

It's the same at work, you don't have balls.

Excuse me? -Ready?

See, you get there and then at the decisive moment, you blow it.

It happens, we just started.

It "happens"? Like you lost the Fimacom sale?

And whose fault was that?

Dumont had relations with the girlfriend of...

2-0, ready?

And then you start to feeling guilty. -I don't feel guilty.

Yeah? You like to fail?

Of course not, I try to learn from my mistakes.

And Nicole? -I promise, I never...

That's just it. You never did. But you start shaking when I accuse you.

What if you act this way with a client.

You're too emotional. I'm not emotional!

3-0. Ready? -Ready.

Shit!

See, you're too emotional.

I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt you.

But I hired you for your potential and I want to see you use it.

You hear me? -Yeah, I hear you.

You can't let things get to you like that. A little nothing throws you completely off.

Ok, you play better than I do. -No.

Squash is... very psychological.

So I'm psychologically weak. Are you happy?

You're better than that.

I hired you because I thought you were a fighter.

You have the potential it takes.

Show me you know how to use it.

OK? -OK, fine.

I have faith in you.

Move up a little. You're too far back.

And don't forget to use the side walls.

OK, 4-0. Ready? -Ready.

You see? Self-confidence...

OK, 0-4. Good!

Good shot. -We'll see.

Damn it! - 2-4

I can tell I'm going to regret my pep talk.

Ready? -Ready.

Shit!

3-4 -Ready.

So, how do you think you caught up?

I felt more confident than with the first balls.

I "used my potential".

Your potential? You fool.

Don't you see I let you win? -What?

It's even worse than I thought. I knew you were a loser, but this really takes the cake.

We're even, right? -You jerk!

Not only do you lack confidence, you refuse to look at reality!

I see why you lost Fimacom.

There was a reason. Dumont knew... -I don't care about Dumont!

You can give me all the reasons you want!

You think I pay you to screw up?

Of course not, but... -There are always reasons to screw up!

I know that deal wasn't easy!

But someone with self-confidence, like Jean-Claude.

Someone who isn't taken in by illusory difficulties.

He would have settled the deal.

You didn't stand a chance.

You know why?

Because you can smell a guy who doesn't think he'll make it.

Losers stink to high heaven, Alexandre.

Nothing stinks more than someone who's heading for defeat.

And you, my friend, reek of failure.

No one's ever told you?

4-4. You serve.

Ready.

Shit! -Sorry, I didn't mean to.

Are you hurt? -What do you think?

I have some cold spray... -Don't bother!

You sure you can play? -I'm fine.

As you wish... 4-4.

Hey, it's my serve! -No, that was my point.

You hit me and it's your point? -It was a stroke.

You shouldn't be in my way when I hit the ball.

It would hit the wall. It's my point.

Ready.

5-4.

Shit!

Alexandre, as I watch you play I'm thinking I'd be stupid not to fire you.

What?

Nicole too. She really lacks judgement if she turns to help for you.

You can't do that... - 6-4.

You bet I can.

Ready?