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

Peter encounters Lucy while buying coffee and warns her to sell when she asks for a tip for her father.

Scene 59 of 76 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three

Coffee Guy
Peter
Lucy

Act oneAct twoAct three

Begins 1:06 into a 1:36 film

The story so farBefore scene 59

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 56
Sam walks down the hallway to the men’s room.
Scene 57
Tuld offers Sam money and demands his commitment; Sam says he is completely with the firm.
Scene 58
Peter walks through the nearly empty city with his headphones on.
Scene 59
This scene

59EXT. CITY STREET - STREET CART - MORNING

PETER finally stops to get a coffee at a small street cart. He takes off his headphones to pay and the music stops. The wind blows.

COFFEE GUY

One fifty.

PETER

Thank you.

PETER turns around and starts walking but as he looks up he see the figure of a woman coming towards him. It is immediately obvious that he knows her. He stops and she keeps slowly walking towards him. They stop in front of each other squarely.

LUCY

Hey...

PETER

Hi. It’s really good to see you.

She has a very sweet face but looks tired. She appears to be a bartender or something, she is not dressed for banking.

LUCY

You too. You look tired.

PETER

I am.

LUCY

What are you doing here?

PETER

I never left work. Just had to get out

for a walk.

LUCY

You’re still working there?

This cuts him a bit, why wouldn’t he be?

PETER

Yes, of course...

LUCY

Oh. I thought...

PETER

How are you? Are you happy? You look

happy.

LUCY

I am.

PETER

Well, I should get back... How’s your

father?

She is pleasantly surprised by this gesture.

LUCY

He’s good. Thanks for asking.

PETER

OK. Be safe.

He starts to leave.

LUCY

Hey... You got any inside tips for him?

This stops PETER dead in his tracks. His world tightens yet