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

Eric’s wife reports he is home; Sam sends Will and Seth to bring him back before the firm’s enforcers intervene.

Scene 51 of 76 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act two

Seth
Peter
Will Emerson
Sam Rogers

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 58 min into a 1:36 film

The story so farBefore scene 51

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.

Scenes 1–12
The bank’s surviving employees return to familiar routines after firing Eric; Sam manages the floor while his dog is dying.
Scenes 13–23
Peter uncovers a threat to the firm’s survival and forces Will and Sam to respond.
Scenes 24–33
Peter’s work travels upstairs; Sam and the juniors enter Jared’s executive world and expose the scale of the risk.
Scenes 34–44
Management checks the model, debates its implications and brings Tuld into the emergency.
Scenes 45–46
Tuld offers a way for the bank to survive: sell before everyone else understands the risk; Sam names the price in broken trust.
Just before
Scene 48
Sarah joins Jared and a housekeeper at the elevator.
Scene 49
Sarah presses Jared for a shared strategy to protect themselves from Tuld’s blame.
Scene 50
Sarah warns Jared they must fall together; he refuses to promise that he will.
Scene 51
This scene

51INT. WILL EMERSON’S OFFICE

WILL is sitting at his desk with a large plate of food eating. SETH and PETER are sitting on the couch. SETH is stuffing food in his mouth while PETER eats nothing.

SETH

What do you think Tuld made last year?

PETER

Would you shut the fuck up.

WILL speaks with food in his mouth.

WILL EMERSON

86 mil. in salary and bonus.

PETER

Really?

WILL EMERSON

Yeah, it’s public record.

SETH

That’s a lot of fucking money.

WILL EMERSON

He was worth a billion.

PETER

Was?

WILL EMERSON

Before today.

SETH

Really?

WILL EMERSON

You’ll see.

PETER

....I think I’m going to go get a coffee,

does anyone need anything.

WILL EMERSON

(Slight head shake no.)

PETER

I need a little real air.

SETH

Probably a good idea.

PETER

Will, is that alright?

WILL EMERSON

Alright?

PETER

If I get out of here for a minute?

WILL EMERSON

Yeah. Are you kidding? It’s not a prison.

Do you want me to hold your hand?

Peter exits. Will’s phone rings. Will stares at it and finally picks it up. We only hear his part of the conversation.

WILL EMERSON (cont’d)

Will Emerson...Yes...Oh thank you...I

understand...OK.

SAM comes to the door of WILL’S office. He looks at everyone’s faces.

SAM ROGERS