2010
On the eve of the 2008 financial crisis, a major investment bank begins mass layoffs, including Eric Dale, head of risk management, who passes a USB drive with his unfinished work to junior analyst Peter Sullivan. Peter discovers that the firm's toxic mortgage-backed securities are poised to bankrupt the company, prompting a late-night meeting with senior executives, including Sam Rogers and CEO John Tuld. Tuld decides to immediately sell off all the firm's toxic assets, knowing it will devastate their clients and the market, but will save the company. The next morning, the firm executes a fire sale of their assets, causing massive losses for their clients and triggering a market collapse, while sacrificing Chief Risk Management Officer Sarah Robertson as a scapegoat.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Margin Call follows the collapsing events of an investment bank over a 24-hour period, as junior analyst Peter Sullivan uncovers a fatal risk model.
Open full beat sheetPeter Sullivan is listed as Risk Assessment Analyst. 27-year-old, Doctorate from MIT, former rocket scientist. In the parsed data, Peter Sullivan is connected to 34 scenes, 166 dialogue lines, 171 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
34 scenes / 166 dialogue linesWill Emerson is listed as Head of Trading. Energetic, sympathetic superior to Peter and Seth. In the parsed data, Will Emerson is connected to 30 scenes, 246 dialogue lines, 251 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
30 scenes / 246 dialogue linesSeth Bregman is listed as Junior Analyst. Young analyst in his early twenties. In the parsed data, Seth Bregman is connected to 29 scenes, 139 dialogue lines, 141 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
29 scenes / 139 dialogue linesSam Rogers is listed as Executive. 57-year-old executive, long-term employee. In the parsed data, Sam Rogers is connected to 26 scenes, 142 dialogue lines, 142 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
26 scenes / 142 dialogue linesJared Cohen is listed as Head of Fixed Income. 43-year-old, boyish looking, intensely confident. In the parsed data, Jared Cohen is connected to 18 scenes, 85 dialogue lines, 87 text mentions, first appearing around scene 25.
18 scenes / 85 dialogue linesSarah Robertson is listed as Chief Risk Management Officer. Serious, classically beautiful, power suit. In the parsed data, Sarah Robertson is connected to 17 scenes, 52 dialogue lines, 54 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
17 scenes / 52 dialogue linesEric Dale is listed as Risk Management Head. 52-year-old, 19 years of service, laid off. In the parsed data, Eric Dale is connected to 7 scenes, 83 dialogue lines, 95 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
7 scenes / 83 dialogue linesJohn Tuld is listed as CEO. Late fifties, bald, intense, powerful. In the parsed data, John Tuld is connected to 6 scenes, 96 dialogue lines, 98 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
6 scenes / 96 dialogue linesRamesh Shah is listed as Number Cruncher. 60-year-old, Sarah's right-hand man. In the parsed data, Ramesh Shah is connected to 3 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 25.
3 scenes / 9 dialogue linesHeather is listed as Human Resources. HR employee responsible for layoffs. In the parsed data, Heather is connected to 3 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 8 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
3 scenes / 8 dialogue linesLauren Bratberg is listed as Human Resources Lawyer. Senior HR representative. In the parsed data, Lauren Bratberg is connected to 1 scene, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
1 scenes / 6 dialogue linesHR staff conducts mass layoffs on the trading floor while Peter and Seth observe.
Peter Sullivan, Seth Bregman, Will Emerson, HeatherHeather informs Eric Dale he is being laid off.
Heather, Eric DaleEric Dale is formally laid off by HR and Lauren Bratberg.
Heather, Eric Dale, Lauren BratbergEric packs his belongings and speaks with Will Emerson.
Will Emerson, Eric DaleEric gives Peter a hard drive containing his unfinished work.
Peter Sullivan, Eric DaleSam Rogers and Will Emerson discuss the layoffs and Sam's personal life.
Will Emerson, Sam RogersSam Rogers addresses the remaining employees.
Sam RogersEric confronts Sarah Robertson outside the building.
Eric Dale, Sarah RobertsonPeter begins analyzing the data on the hard drive.
Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanPeter discovers the severity of the firm's financial situation.
Peter SullivanPeter calls Seth and Will to return to the office.
Peter Sullivan, Seth Bregman, Will EmersonPeter, Seth, and Will review the data.
Peter Sullivan, Seth Bregman, Will EmersonWill attempts to contact Eric and calls Sam.
Peter Sullivan, Seth Bregman, Will EmersonWill calls Sam to inform him of the crisis.
Will Emerson, Sam RogersSeth and Peter travel to find Eric.
Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanSeth and Peter discuss their work and the impending financial crisis while riding in a car.
Seth Bregman, Peter SullivanSam Rogers arrives at the office to meet Will Emerson.
Sam Rogers, Will EmersonWill explains the situation regarding Eric Dale and the discovery Peter made.
Sam Rogers, Will EmersonPeter and Seth wait at a club while Will tries to reach them.
Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanPeter and Seth are stuck in traffic.
Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanPeter and Seth discuss the salaries of their superiors.
Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanWill and Sam intercept Peter and Seth.
Will Emerson, Sam Rogers, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanThe group travels to a meeting.
Will Emerson, Sam Rogers, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanThe group walks to the conference room.
Will Emerson, Sam Rogers, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanThe team presents the findings to Jared Cohen.
Jared Cohen, Sarah Robertson, Ramesh Shah, Sam Rogers, Will Emerson, Peter SullivanPeter, Seth, and Will wait outside.
Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJared and Sam discuss the next steps.
Jared Cohen, Sam RogersPeter, Seth, and Will smoke on the roof.
Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJared and Sarah wait for the elevator.
Jared Cohen, Sarah RobertsonJared and Sarah discuss the validity of the findings.
Jared Cohen, Sarah RobertsonWill sits on the edge of the roof.
Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanWill, Peter, and Seth discuss the fear of jumping, the firm's plan to dump assets, and Will's spending habits before a helicopter arrives.
Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJared, Sam, and Sarah discuss the broken formula and the firm's exposure.
Jared Cohen, Sam Rogers, Sarah RobertsonSarah and Jared walk through the office.
Sarah Robertson, Jared CohenJared and Sarah meet Will, Peter, and Seth.
Jared Cohen, Sarah Robertson, Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJared gives advice to the group before entering the meeting.
Jared Cohen, Sarah Robertson, Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanThe group is escorted to the conference room.
Jared Cohen, Sarah Robertson, Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJohn Tuld meets with the team to discuss the crisis and the plan to sell the assets.
John Tuld, Jared Cohen, Sam Rogers, Sarah Robertson, Ramesh Shah, Will EmersonJohn Tuld and Sam Rogers discuss the morality and future of the firm.
John Tuld, Sam RogersSam informs the team that the firm will likely proceed with the sale.
Sam Rogers, Will Emerson, Peter Sullivan, Seth BregmanJared and Sarah wait for the elevator.
Jared Cohen, Sarah RobertsonJared and Sarah discuss the strategy.
Jared Cohen, Sarah RobertsonSarah Robertson and Jared Cohen discuss the impending crisis and their shared fate.
Sarah Robertson, Jared CohenSarah threatens Jared.
Jared Cohen, Sarah RobertsonWill, Seth, and Peter discuss Tuld's salary and the situation with Eric Dale.
Will Emerson, Seth Bregman, Peter Sullivan, Sam RogersWill, Seth, and Peter eat breakfast.
Will Emerson, Seth Bregman, Peter SullivanJohn Tuld informs Sarah that she is the one being sacrificed to the board.
John Tuld, Sarah RobertsonJared Cohen confronts Will and Seth about Sam's loyalty.
Will Emerson, Seth Bregman, Jared CohenThe empty trading floor.
Sam wakes up in his office.
Sam RogersJohn Tuld confronts Sam in the bathroom.
Sam Rogers, John TuldPeter walks through the empty city.
Peter SullivanPeter encounters Lucy at a coffee cart.
Peter SullivanSarah attempts to cry but cannot.
Sarah RobertsonWill and Seth arrive at Eric's house.
Will Emerson, Seth BregmanSam and Peter discuss the firm's impending collapse and their personal lives while on the roof.
Peter Sullivan, Sam RogersWill tries to convince Eric to return to the firm.
Will Emerson, Eric DaleSam and Peter walk through the lobby.
Peter Sullivan, Sam RogersWill and Seth discuss their future and the nature of their work.
Will Emerson, Seth BregmanSam wishes Peter luck in the elevator.
Peter Sullivan, Sam RogersPeter and Sam talk on the plaza.
Peter Sullivan, Sam RogersSeth is crying in a stall; Jared enters to shave.
Seth Bregman, Jared CohenSarah and Eric wait in the quarantine room.
Eric Dale, Sarah RobertsonSam addresses the traders about the fire sale.
Will Emerson, Sam Rogers, Jared CohenJohn Tuld addresses the trading floor.
Sam Rogers, John TuldSam watches the market close and Jared informs him of layoffs.
Sam Rogers, Jared CohenSam tells Tuld he wants out.
Peter Sullivan, Sam Rogers, Jared Cohen, John TuldSam buries his dog in his ex-wife's backyard.
Sam RogersYou are all still here for a reason... Most of this floor was just sent home... forever. We have spent the last hour saying good-bye... they were good people and they were good at their jobs... but you all were better. Now they are gone. They are not to be thought of again. This is your opportunity. On every floor of this building and in every office from Hong Kong to London the same thing is happening. Before this is all done 3 of every ten guys who were standing between you and your boss's job are now gone. That is your opportunity. I've been at this place for thirty-four years and let me tell you that this will not be the last time you go through this. But you all are survivors... And that is how this firm over 107 years has always continued to grow stronger. So hold your heads high... and get back to work.
Whatever, same thing, I made almost a quarter of a million dollars last year... for what... pushing some numbers around on a computer screen, so a bunch of glorified crack addicts could take that information and pretend to understand it, and then make a bet against some other jock half way around the world who if he wasn't doing this would probably be in some OTB somewhere putting it all on number seven. And at the end of the day one guy loses and the other guy wins.
Look, If you want to do this with your life, and do it well, you need to believe that you are necessary. And you are. If people want to live like this...with their big cars and these houses that they haven't even paid for. Then you are necessary. The only reason they can continue to live like kings is because we've got our fingers on the scale in THEIR favor. And if I were to take my finger off...
I completed that project in 1986... 22 years ago. Over the life of that one bridge that's 6 billion... 708 million... 240 thousand miles that haven't had to be driven! At let's say... 50 miles an hour that's 134,164,800 hours... or 559,020 days... so that one little bridge has saved the people of those two communities a combined 1531 years of their lives not wasted in the car... give or take.
Now Mr. Sullivan what I am guessing, and give me a little rope here, what I am guessing that your report here says is that considering the, shall we say bumpy road, we've been on the last week or so that the numbers that your brilliant co-workers up the line ahead of you had come up with in the past don't seem to make much sense anymore considering what's taking place today?
Now, unfortunately Mr. Dale due to the highly sensitive nature of your work here the firm has to take certain precautions for security purposes that may seem punitive in nature. I hope considering your over 19 years of service to the firm, you will understand that these measures are in no way a reflection of the firms' feelings towards your performance or your character.
Welcome everyone. I must apologize for dragging you all here at such an uncommon hour but from what I've been told this matter needs to be handled urgently, so urgently in fact that it probably should have been addressed weeks ago... but that is spilt milk under the bridge. So why doesn't someone please try to explain to me what's the problem here?
What have I told you since the first day you walked into my office? That there are three ways to make a living in this business... Be first, be smarter, or cheat. Well I don't cheat, and even though I like to think we have got some pretty smart people in this building of the two remaining options, it sure is a hell of alot easier to just be first.
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