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turning to page one
The room has ten tables formally set that line a long wall of floor to ceiling windows with a commanding view of the city beyond. The room is empty except for JOHN TULD sitting at the last table. TULD looks a little surprised to see SAM but waves him down. SAM approaches.
JOHN TULD
Sam, please sit. Congratulations are
clearly in order.
SAM ROGERS
Our guys did what they could.
JOHN TULD
You did a hell of a job today, and I
thank you for it. Sit, excuse me for
eating but it’s been a long day. Can I
get you anything?
SAM ROGERS
No, no thanks.
They just sit in silence for a long beat as TULD takes a few more bites of his meal.
TULD
So what can I do for you?
SAM ROGERS
I want out.
TULD
I’m sorry?
SAM ROGERS
I’m done, I want out.
TULD
It’s been a very difficult day, for
everyone.
SAM ROGERS
I need you to release my options, that is
if they’re still worth anything after
today, and I need the bonus. I’m out.
TULD
You’ll get the bonus, the options, and
keep your current base, but I need you to
stay with me for another 24 months. O.K?
They look at each other, SAM seems to know it’s not actually a question. SAM is a shell of himself as TULD takes another hearty bite of his meal. He finally looks up.
TULD (cont’d)
For God’s sake man put a smile on your
face, you did some good today, you said
so yourself. I’m starting to feel a
little better about this whole thing.
You’re one of the luckiest guys in the
world, you could’ve been digging ditches
all these years...
SAM pushes back his chair, stands, and prepares to leave.
SAM ROGERS
That’s true, and if I had been at least
there’d be some holes in the ground to
show for it. I’m just not quite sure how
we fucked this thing up so badly.
This pushes TULD a bit too far. He also senses he may be losing SAM. He drops his fork, and his tone changes.
TULD
Jesus, when did you start feeling so
sorry for yourself, it’s unbearable...
What, you think we may have helped put
some people out of business today? That
it’s all just for naught? Well you’ve
been doing that everyday for almost forty
years Sam. And if all this is for naught
then so is everything else out there.
It’s just money, it’s made up, a piece of
paper with some pictures on it so we
don’t all kill each other trying to get
something to eat. But it’s not wrong and
it’s certainly not any different today
than it’s ever been. Ever. 1637, 1797,
1819, ‘37, ‘57,‘84, 1901, ‘07, 1929, ‘37,
‘73, and 1987... God damn did that
motherfucker fuck me up good, 92, 97,
2000, and whatever this is gonna be
called. They’re just the same thing over
and over. We can’t help ourselves, and
you and I can’t control it, stop it, slow
it, or even ever so slightly alter it...
We just react... and we get paid well for
it if we’re right... and get left by the
side of the road if we’re wrong. There’s
always been and there’s always gonna be
the same percentage of winners and
losers, happy fucks and sad sacks, fat
pigs and starving dogs in this world...
yes there may be more of us today... but
the percentages... they always stay
exactly the same.
They stare at each other for a long beat and then TULD looks down and takes another bite. He chews. He looks up again.
SAM ROGERS
I’ll do it John, but not because of your
little speech, but because I need the
money. I’m not sure how it could possibly
be after all these years, but I need the
money.
They both look at each other again, then look over and see JARED COHEN walking down the dining room aisle with PETER SULLIVAN next to him.
SAM ROGERS (cont’d)
You’re keeping the kid?
JOHN TULD
Keeping him? He’s getting promoted. It’s
all hands on deck now Sam, there’s going
to be a lot of money to be made coming
out of this mess, we’re going to need all
the brains we can get around here.
They look at each other one last time then SAM starts walking away and as he passes PETER he just gives him a slight nod.
VERY SLOW FADE TO BLACK:
OVER BLACK:
We hear the sound of someone digging in dirt with a shovel.
FADE IN: