1996
Maximilian Cohen, a reclusive mathematician, seeks numerical patterns in the stock market, believing all nature is quantifiable, despite suffering debilitating headaches and paranoia. His discovery of a 216-digit number attracts a Wall Street firm and a group of Hasidic Jews, both seeking to exploit its power, while his former mentor warns of the dangers of obsession. As Max's grip on reality loosens, he destroys his computer and performs a self-trepanation in a desperate attempt to silence the numbers in his mind. The film concludes with a peaceful Max in a park, seemingly free from his obsession, as he answers a simple math question from his young neighbor.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Max Cohen, a numerology-obsessed mathematician, battles migraines and a mystic 216-digit number.
Open full beat sheetMaximilian Cohen is listed as Protagonist. A brilliant, reclusive, and obsessive mathematician suffering from severe headaches and paranoia. In the parsed data, Maximilian Cohen is connected to 17 scenes, 50 dialogue lines, 50 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
17 scenes / 50 dialogue linesSol Robeson is listed as Mentor. Max's former teacher, an elderly mathematician who retired after becoming obsessed with Pi. In the parsed data, Sol Robeson is connected to 5 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
5 scenes / 5 dialogue linesLenny Meyer is listed as Antagonist/Ally. An Orthodox Jew and number theorist searching for patterns in the Torah. In the parsed data, Lenny Meyer is connected to 4 scenes, 18 dialogue lines, 19 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
4 scenes / 18 dialogue linesJenna is listed as Neighbor. A young girl who lives in Max's building and asks him math questions. In the parsed data, Jenna is connected to 3 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
3 scenes / 9 dialogue linesMarcy Dawson is listed as Antagonist. A partner at the predictive strategy firm Lancet-Percy, obsessed with acquiring Max's research. In the parsed data, Marcy Dawson is connected to 2 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
2 scenes / 3 dialogue linesRav Cohen is listed as Religious Leader. A Hasidic Rabbi who believes Max has found the true name of God. In the parsed data, Rav Cohen is connected to 1 scene, 14 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
1 scenes / 14 dialogue linesDevi Minstry is listed as Neighbor. Max's neighbor, a young Indian woman who tries to befriend him. In the parsed data, Devi Minstry is connected to 1 scene, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 15.
1 scenes / 7 dialogue linesFarrouhk is listed as Neighbor. Devi's aggressive and sadistic boyfriend. In the parsed data, Farrouhk is connected to 1 scene, 1 dialogue line, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 10.
1 scenes / 1 dialogue linesMrs. Ovadia is listed as Landlady. Max's landlady.
0 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMax wakes up in his apartment with a nosebleed and records the time.
Maximilian CohenMax cleans his nose and takes medication.
Maximilian CohenMax works on his computer, Euclid, and interacts with his neighbor Jenna.
Maximilian Cohen, JennaMax meets Lenny Meyer while working on stock market patterns.
Maximilian Cohen, Lenny MeyerMax visits his mentor Sol to discuss his obsession and research.
Maximilian Cohen, Sol RobesonMax arrives at Sol's apartment early in the morning to discuss the 216-digit number.
Maximilian Cohen, Sol RobesonMax and Sol discuss the 216-digit number, the Torah, and Max's recent stock market success.
Maximilian Cohen, Sol RobesonSol uses the Go board to explain the chaos of the universe to Max.
Maximilian Cohen, Sol RobesonMarcy Dawson intercepts Max outside Sol's apartment to offer a partnership.
Maximilian Cohen, Marcy DawsonMarcy and Jake threaten Max for his research; Farrouhk intervenes and saves Max; Lenny Meyer and his group arrive to take Max away.
Maximilian Cohen, Marcy Dawson, Farrouhk, Lenny MeyerLenny interrogates Max about the number while driving.
Maximilian Cohen, Lenny MeyerMax discovers a piece of brain in his sink and destroys it in a rage.
Maximilian CohenRav Cohen explains the history of the Cohanim and the true name of God to Max.
Maximilian Cohen, Sol Robeson, Rav CohenMax visits Sol's apartment and learns of his death from Jenny.
Maximilian Cohen, JennaMax experiences a vision, destroys his computer, and is comforted by Devi.
Maximilian Cohen, Devi MinstryMax burns Sol's note and drills into his own brain.
Maximilian CohenMax, now peaceful, interacts with Jenna.
Maximilian Cohen, JennaThe Romans also murdered all of our priest-hood—the Cohanim—the Cohens, and with their deaths they destroyed our greatest secret. In the center of the great temple was the holy of holies which was the heart of Jewish life. This was the earthly residence for our God. The one God. It contained the ark of the Tabernacle which stored the original Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. Only one man could enter this space once a year on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur On the Day of Atonement, all of Israel would descend upon Jerusalem to witness the High Cohen's trip into the holy of holies. If the holy man was pure he would reemerge a few moments later and Israel was secured a prosperous year. It meant that we were one year closer to the messianic age. Closer to the return of the Garden of Eden. But if he was impure, he would die instantly and it meant that we were doomed. The High Cohen had a single ritual to perform in the holy of holies. He had to intone a single word.
It's just a number. I'm sure you've written down every two hundred sixteen number. You've translated all of them. You've intoned them all. Haven't you? But what's it gotten you? It's not the number! It's the meaning. It's the syntax. It's what's between the numbers. If you could understand you would. But it's not for you! I've got it. I understand it. I'm going to see it! Rabbi...I was chosen.
C'mon, Max. You don't get it. I don't give a shit about you. I only care about what's in your fucking head. If you won't help us help yourself, then I'll have only one choice. Destroy the competition. I'll take you out of the game. Survival of the fittest, Max. And we've got the gun.
Stop thinking, Max, just feel. Use your intuition. It's the only way to get into the flow. What did you think of Hamlet?
You're dealing with something really big now, Max. I don't want to hurt you, so answer me. Did you give it to them?
It's more than God... it s everything. It's math and science and nature... the universe. I saw the Universe's DNA
Who do you think you are? You are a vessel from our God. You are carrying a delivery that needs to be made to us.
Listen to me. The Ancient Japanese considered the Go board to be a microcosm of the universe.
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