Margin Call · written by J.C. Chandor · 2011

Peter declines drinks with Seth, stays late and opens the models Eric left on the portable drive.

Scene 12 of 76 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act one

Seth
Peter

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 11 min into a 1:36 film

The story so farBefore scene 12

When a junior analyst discovers exposure that could wipe out his investment bank, its executives race to unload the danger on their customers while a veteran executive confronts the price of helping them survive.

Scene 1
Peter watches HR collect his colleagues while the surviving traders try to keep their heads down.
Scene 7
The fired Eric hands Peter his unfinished model and a warning to be careful.
Scene 8
Sam’s dying dog reveals the personal attachment that will outlast his professional defenses and close the film.
Just before
Scene 9
Sam tells the surviving traders to forget their dismissed colleagues and seize the opportunity to advance.
Scene 10
Back inside his office, Sam collapses onto the couch, visibly drained by his own rallying speech.
Scene 11
Outside the bank, Eric confronts Sarah about his disconnected phone and leaves it on the ground.
Scene 12
This scene

12INT. TRADING FLOOR - EVENING

Most of the remaining traders are packing up and getting ready to go home or out for the night. PETER is sitting at his desk holding the portable hard drive. SETH is getting ready to leave behind him. PETER stares down at the drive in his hand trying to decide whether to proceed.

SETH

You ok?

PETER

Yeah. Just a little freaked out.

SETH

You want to get a drink?

PETER

Nah, I need to clean up a few things

around here.

SETH

Everyone is going out... come on.

PETER

Nah, I’m fine.

SETH

Well, give me a call if you change your

mind.

PETER

I will.

SETH

Come on.

PETER

Where are you going?

SETH

The Grand.

PETER

I’ll call you when I’m done.

SETH

Be glad, you’re still alive.

PETER

I am.

SETH walks out and PETER puts on his headphones, the MUSIC kicks in again. He picks up the portable hard drive, looks around and sees no one, then inserts it into his computer. He has four large screens in front of him and as he begins opening window upon window of mathematical models his face begins to soften and he gets into his comfort zone. The frame is filled with the extremely complex programs and numbers flying by.

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