1952. Twenty-three year old New Yorker Marty Mauser puts one hundred and ten percent into everything he does; unfortunately for the world it is all in pursuit of his own self-absorbed wants as he takes advantage of everyone in his orbit. One of those is his married childhood friend Rachel, with whom he has been having an affair, the consequences of which he doesn't consider. He could be the best table tennis player in the world, but in receiving no official support has made no money in the activity. He wants to show the world that he is the best, and in turn make money toward supporting his overbearing mother, who is currently supported by Marty's uncle, in whose shoe store he works. He also thinks an American being at the top would be good for the sport's profile. Now he not only has to make it to the world championships in Japan, which he cannot afford to attend, but win. Among those he hopes will be able to help him are retired movie star Kay Stone and her powerful businessman husband Milton Rockwell. But for every step forward Marty takes in his pursuit to make it to the championships, he always seems to take two steps in a wrong direction.