All language subtitles for Margin Call

[STOCK TRADERS CHATTERING]

[TRADING FLOOR BELL RINGING]

Is that them?

Jesus Christ.

Are they going to
do it right here?

You guys ever been
through this before?

No.

It's best to ignore it, keep your
head down, and go back to work.

Go on.

Don't watch.

Timothy Singh?

Yes.
I'm afraid we have to speak with you.

Come.

WOMAN: Eric Dale?

Excuse me?

Eric Dale?

No.
Sorry?

I'm not Eric Dale.

I'm so sorry.

He's my boss.

He's down the hall.

Thanks.

Excuse me, Mr. Dale?

This way.

Okay.

I am obviously sorry
that we are here today.

But these are extraordinary times,
as you very well must know.

Look, I run
Risk Management.

I don't really see how that's a
natural place to start cutting jobs.

We hope you understand
this is in no way personal.

The majority of this floor
is being let go today.

Ms. Bratberg is now going to run through
the details of what the firm is offering.

Okay.

Mr. Dale, the firm is offering you a
six-month severance at half your salary.

You will keep all unvested
options that you currently hold.

Health will be extended
through that period.

You have until tomorrow at 4:47 to either
take the offer or it will be revoked.

Do you understand?

Yes.

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 firm's feelings
towards your performance

or your character.

I don't understand.

She's apologizing for
what's about to happen.

Your company e-mail, access to the
server, access to the building,

and your mobile data and phone service
will all be severed as of this meeting.

And this gentleman
will take you to your office

so you can clear out
your personal belongings.

What about what I'm currently working on?
I'm in the middle of something that...

The firm has worked out its transition
plan and is prepared to move forward.

But we do appreciate
your concern.

We understand that this is difficult.
And here is my card.

Please contact me in
the next few weeks

if you need any assistance with
this transition in your life.

MAN: Sir.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

WILL: Hey.

I'm sorry.

You still alive?
Uh-huh. For now.

Congratulations.

It was a bloodbath.

I heard.

Listen, Eric,

if there was something I could
have done, I would have done it.

I know.
All right?

Yeah, I know. I know.

Okay.

Just tell me,

who was it?

Come on, Eric.
Come on, Will.

Rogers?
I'm not going to say, you know.

You know me.
Robertson?

That cunt. I knew it.

I knew I shouldn't have fucking
gone to her last year.

It wasn't anyone.
Eric, you know what it was?

It was bad luck, and
that's all it was.

Yup.

Yup.

All right, well, good luck.

Will?

Come here.

I was just in the middle
of a lot of shit right here

that I think somebody
needs to take a look at.

Eric, listen,

they're telling us everybody
needs to get out of here.

Just leave their stuff.

And while we appreciate
your concern,

this is not your
problem anymore.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Right this way, Mr. Murphy.

Eric, I'm very sorry.
Yeah.

Did they say what was
going to happen with us?

Jesus, Seth.
What?

It's going to get pretty ugly
around here for a while.

But, you know, you guys
will be all right.

Good luck, Eric.
All right.

I'll see you around, okay?
All right. Thank you.

Eric.

I wanted to say thanks.

It's not necessary.
Well, it is.

You were the person
around here that I...

I know.

Hey, look,

I was working on something, but
they wouldn't let me finish it.

So, take a look at it.

Be careful.

OPERATOR: We're sorry.

The telephone you are calling from
is not in service at this time.

Robertson!

Sarah Robertson.

Sarah.

You shut off my phone?

Eric, I didn't do anything.

Fuck you.

Well, that was
fucking hideous.

It's gonna get worse
before it gets better.

You think?

Much.

You got any Nicorettes?

I'm out of Nicorettes.

Which means in about 10 minutes
I'm going to kill someone.

You all right, Sam?

My dog is dying.

I'm sorry.

Just got off the phone with the vet.
Fucking tumor on her liver.

I was spending, like, $1,000 a day
already just trying to keep her alive.

Yeah,

I don't have a fucking clue
what to do about it.

Well, they're
all gone.

So...

How many do we have left?

About 33.

Well, make sure they're all out there.
I've gotta say something.

Yeah, no,
they're ready.

They're ready
for you.

[WILL WHISTLES]

All right, let's hear it.

You're all still here
for a reason.

80% of this floor was
just sent home, forever.

We spent the last hour
saying our goodbyes.

They were good people and
they were good at their jobs,

but you were better.

Now they're gone, they're
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.

By the time we're done,

three of every seven guys who were
standing between you and your boss' job

are gone.

That is your opportunity.

I've been with this
place for 34 years,

and I can tell you this is not the last
time that you're gonna go through this.

But you are all survivors.

And that is how this firm, over 107
years, has continued to grow stronger.

So keep your heads high.
Get back to work. Let's hear it.

Everyone's going out, man.
You should... Come on.

No, man. I'm cool.
Thanks.

Okay. Well, if you change your
mind, just give me a call.

I will.

Come.

Where you guys going?
The Grand.

I will call you
when I am done.

All right.

Hey, be glad
you're still alive.

[CHUCKLES]

I am.

Have a good night, man.
You, too.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

[DIALING TELEPHONE]

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

Come on. Come on. Come on.

OPERATOR: We're sorry. You've
reached a number...

Fuck me. Fuck!
...that has been disconnected.

[DIALING]

[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]

Hello?
Hey.

I can't hear you.
What?

Can you go outside?
It's too loud.

Hold on a second. It's loud.
Just give me a second.

All right, what's up?
Hey, where are you?

Lugo.
Okay. Are you with Will?

Yeah. Will Emerson?
Yeah.

Yeah. I think he's
still here. Why?

All right. I need you to get Will, and
I need you guys to come back up here.

Where?
To the office.

What?
I'm serious.

Wait a sec... You want me to get
our boss' boss out of a club

and bring him back to the office
at 10:00 on a Thursday night?

Well, our boss got axed,
so technically he is our boss,

and yes, that is what I want you to do.
Why?

Look, man. Just trust me, okay?
I need you guys back here now.

All right. We'll
be there in 10.

Fuck.

WILL: Have I ever told you
how much I love your bag?

No, really.

Do you have a little dress that matches it?
Yeah, I do.

Because you could bounce around
in it like a fucking girl.

Hey!

Look who's burning
the candle at both ends.

Why didn't you come
out with us?

There's no more cuts planned.
You don't have to kiss my arse.

I frankly don't even know
what it is you guys do.

Well, I'm really sorry I had
to bring you guys back here,

but...
That's all right.

What's going on?
Look at this.

Eric gave me this file before he left.
Eric...

Dale. And he told me that he
couldn't quite figure it out.

And the last thing
he said to me

before the elevator doors
closed was, "Be careful."

He said, "Be careful"?

Yeah. So, obviously,
I'm a little curious.

I start to get into
it a little bit,

and I realize that the only
thing that he's missing...

This is not good, Will. All right.
Okay. So what is he doing here?

No, no. Go to model four.
It makes more sense.

Okay. All right.

What is this?

This is basically everything that we
have in our books at any given time.

But, what Eric was trying to
do was to work these numbers

for levels of volatility that fall
outside of the standard VAR model.

What are those levels?
It's fairly complicated.

Simplify.

The volatility levels are set using
historic patterns, basically,

and then stretching those patterns
out another 10, 15% roughly.

All right, so?

So, we are starting to
test those historic patterns.

When?

Today.
Tuesday.

Monday. Last Friday
and Wednesday.

Two Fridays ago.

All right. I get it.

Fuck me.

Once this thing gets going
in the wrong direction,

this is fucking huge.

How huge?

Well, the losses are greater than
the current value of the company.

Projected losses.
The projected losses, Will.

And this is just our floor? Yes.

Where the fuck
is Eric Dale?

I don't know. I tried to
call him. His phone is off.

What do you mean?

They turned everybody's phone
off that they axed today.

Fucking ruthless.

Did you try his personal cell?

Yeah, I called his cell phone.
It's not on.

Call his home.
At this hour?

Yeah. Do we even
know if he's right?

Looks pretty fucking right to me.
It does.

Mrs. Dale, it's Will Emerson.

I'm fine, thank you.
May I speak with Eric?

No, we've tried that.
His phone appears to be off.

Listen, could you have him call
me the moment he comes in?

The moment he walks
through the door.

Thank you so much.

Goodbye.

Where the fuck is he?

Doesn't he have, like, three kids?
So?

Fuck, I don't know,
would you go home?

I know where he is.

I need you two to
go and get him.

There will be a car
waiting for you downstairs.

You need to go.
Right now?

Yeah, right now.

What are you
going to do?

I'm going to call Sam.

Fuck me.

[PHONE RINGING]

Yes?
It's Will.

It's 11:00 at night.

I know. I'm sorry.
I wouldn't have called.

What's the problem?

I think you need
to get back here.

What?

Sam, listen...

It's 11:00 at night.

I'm well aware of the fucking time, Sam.
I'm telling you, you need to see this.

See what?

It's...

E-mail it to me.

I don't think that that
would be a good idea.

I'm on my way.

Look at these people.

Wandering around with absolutely
no idea what's about to happen.

Right?

Well, I try to not let work
get to me like that.

I've noticed that about you.

Come on. We're 23 years old.

I'm 28.
All right, 28.

Whatever, it's the same thing,

but I made nearly a quarter of
a million dollars last year.

Fuck. For what?

I push numbers around
on a computer screen.

A bunch of glorified crack addicts are
willing to take that information,

and they pretend
to understand it,

and they bet it against some other
jock halfway around the world

who, you know, if he
wasn't doing this,

he'd be in an OTB somewhere, putting
it all on number seven, you know?

At the end of the day,
one guy wins, one guy loses.

You do know it's a little more
complicated than that, right?

Yeah.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]

It's Will. He wants to know if
we found him. What do I say?

Let's say that we
haven't found him yet.

Okay.

Hey.
Hey.

So?

Eric Dale.

Oh, Jesus.

Before he leaves the building, escorted
by fucking security, by the way...

I had nothing to do with that.
I know.

I'm sorry. Go on.

Before he leaves the building, he
hands this disk to Peter Sullivan.

Who's Peter Sullivan again?
Doesn't matter.

He's one of Eric's guys.
All right.

But before the elevator doors are
closing, the last thing that he says is,

"Be careful."

"Be careful"?

Yeah.

"Be careful"?
Yeah.

Why?
Take a look.

Oh, Jesus. You know I can't
fucking read these things.

Just speak to me in English.

All right. Basically, this kid, Peter Sullivan,
he gets all inspired by your pep talk.

Nice job, by the way.

And he delves straight
in after work.

And I think he nailed it.

Nailed it?

Yeah, I think he figured out
what Eric was missing.

And?

It's not good, Sam.

These here are the historical
volatility index limits

which, of course, our entire trading
model relies on pretty fucking heavily.

Well, we're now so levered up that
once it gets outside of these limits,

it gets ugly in a hurry.

And how close to those
limits have we gotten?

Sam, we're beyond close.

We broke through these limits five
or six days in the last two weeks.

Now, somehow we've managed to stay
on the right side of it for now.

For now.

Well, look what happens when we
get on the wrong side of it.

Wait a minute. What
am I looking at?

You're looking at
this figure here.

Whoa. Is that...
Yeah.

And that would not be a bad day
for us, historically speaking.

Is that figure right?
I don't know. I can't be sure.

Where's Eric Dale?

We shut his phone off.
Of course we did.

Yeah. So I called his wife,
who says he's not home.

Yeah, he's probably crying in
some fucking beer somewhere.

Yeah, or worse.

Where's the kid
that did this?

I sent him out
looking for Eric.

You think he knows
what he's doing?

I don't know.
What do I know?

Get him back here.
Get him back here.

[HOUSE MUSIC PLAYING]

What do you think these
girls make in a night?

$1,500?

Two grand?

Two grand.

Fuck. That's...
That's pretty great.

I mean, all considered.

[PHONE VIBRATING]

Shit.

Will.

Yep.

No. No, we asked,
and nobody's seen him.

Okay, yep.

All right, so what do you
think Rogers makes in a year?

I don't know, I have no idea.
Come on. Play along.

What year? I don't know.
Last year.

Three quarters
of a million.

Come on.

What?
Oh, it's not even close.

More?
Much more.

A million?

Will Emerson made two and
a half million last year.

Fuck you.
Fuck me.

Fuck you. How do
you know that?

He told me.
He just told you?

I asked him, and
yeah, he told me.

You think that's true?

Yeah, probably.

That's fucked up.

Why is that fucked up?
I don't know, does it seem right to you?

Right? I mean,
right is... Right is...

Jesus.

So what do you think
that means Rogers puts away?

I have no idea, Seth.
This traffic is a fucking nightmare.

[WHISTLING INTO BOTTLE]

Sorry.

Gentlemen.

Will. Mr. Rogers.

Come with us, please.

Sam, this is Seth Bregman
and Peter Sullivan.

Sir.

Will?
Uh-huh?

Where are we going?

We're going to get a second
opinion on your work, Peter.

COHEN: So, Sam, what
do you have for us?

It'll be here in a minute.

Finding somebody in the copy room at this
hour was a little bit of a challenge.

Okay, let's go right into
the introductions.

This is Sarah Robertson,
who you know.

Chief Risk Management Officer
Ramesh Shah from upstairs.

And David Horn, one of the
firm's in-house counsel.

Nice to meet you all. This is my Head of
Trading, Will Emerson, and this is...

Peter Sullivan and Seth Bregman.
They work in our Risk Department.

Where's Eric Dale?

He was let go today.

Who do you have left
in your Risk Department?

As of today that would be Peter
and our Junior Analyst, Seth.

Really?

Will Emerson?

Yes, please. Just
hand them out.

Thank you.

Apparently, Eric had been
working on this for some time,

but he wasn't
able to finish it.

This morning, as he
left the building,

he handed the program to Peter here
and asked him to take a look at it.

Peter did. He put a few things in
that Eric seemed to be missing,

and this is what came out.

Peter, is this your work?

Mostly Mr. Dale's.

But is this your draft?

Yes.

Again, expanded on the original
work by Mr. Dale. But, yes.

What's your background?

My background?
Your CV?

I've been with the firm
for two and a half years,

working with Eric
that whole time.

But I hold a doctorate
in engineering,

specialty in propulsion, from MIT
with a bachelor's from Penn.

COHEN: What is a specialty
in propulsion, exactly?

My thesis was a study in the
ways that friction ratios

affect steering outcomes in aeronautical
use under reduced gravity loads.

So, you're
a rocket scientist?

I was. Yeah.

Interesting.

How did you end up here?

It's all just numbers, really.
Just changing what you're adding up.

And to speak freely, the money here
is considerably more attractive.

What time is it?

2:15.

Fuck me. Fuck me.

And I'm guessing by the fact that
you two haven't said anything

that the math checks out.

Look, we'd need some
time to go over this.

But Mr. Sullivan here seems
like he knows what he's doing.

So, it would appear
we have a problem.

Thank you for that.

What time is it?

2:16.
Fuck me.

Fuck me.

Sam, how long under
normal operations

would it take your people
to clear that from our books?

What?

All of it?
Yes.

I don't know. Weeks.

Weeks?
Yeah. Weeks.

But you certainly know that our
business is selling and buying?

It doesn't work for very long
without both components.

We suddenly stop
buying for a day or two,

that's not something you can hide
under the rug. That gets out.

And when it does, this whole thing
comes to an end, and right quick.

I understand.
Do you?

Yes.

How many traders do we have left
between your floor and Peterson's?

I don't know, what...
60.

Jared, as I look
at this more closely,

it is these VAR numbers that
are setting this thing off.

Excuse me.

[DOOR OPENING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

[WHISPERING] I warned you
about this last year.

We would not be in this position
if we had done what I...

COHEN: Please.

RAMESH: As I was saying, and I
speak completely off the record,

it's only a matter of time
before someone else

starts putting these in and they come
up with exactly the same results

and look at exactly what
we're looking at right now,

if they haven't already.

Understood.

And, Sarah, what value would you
allow to be placed on those assets

that might remain on the
books, if they had to?

Why would they still
be on the books?

Because suddenly nobody
wants to fucking buy them.

Fuck you, Sam. Will you give
me a fucking break here?

Excuse me, Jared...

Without an active market,
it would take weeks or months

for me to come up with
an accurate value on them.

You would have to go
block by block.

Look, Jared, it's a very simple
business, right? We talked about this.

Sam.

Will, Peter, and...

What the fuck is his name?
Seth.

Thank you. Seth. Could you
please give us a few moments?

And, Peter?

Has anyone else seen this?

No, no one
aside from us.

And Eric Dale.
Yes.

And can it really be possible that
we don't know where Eric Dale is?

I called his wife, he
hasn't come home yet,

and we turned off
his phone today.

Perfect.

Well, I'd like to
know where he is.

Jesus fucking Christ.
Who is that guy?

Sam's boss.

He looks like he's
15 years old.

He's 40.

Yeah, how does
that happen?

Oh, it happens
all the time.

Except to me.

Kid's a fucking killer.

What are they talking
about in there?

It ain't pretty.

What ain't pretty?

If people stop buying
what we're selling.

Jared.

You cannot be doing what
you're thinking of doing.

Well, I don't see
any other choice.

What does that mean,
we don't have a choice?

Fuck you, you don't
have a choice.

Fuck me? Did you even
look at the numbers, Sam?

Yeah, but what do I know?

Correct me if I'm
wrong, Mr. Shah,

but these numbers,
they don't add up.

One and one no
longer makes two.

Look, if I may, I would like
a little bit more time.

Jared, we can't
tell you yet.

Are you fucking kidding me?
We have talked about this.

We need a little more time
to give you our conclusion.

Okay. We meet again
in 45 minutes.

Sam, do you have the file?
Yeah.

What are you going to do?

Are you gonna call him?

I already have.

Wow.

Jesus.

SETH: Wow, that's gorgeous.

It's a long way down.

Yes, it is.

Will, don't do that.
Come on.

You know the feeling
that people experience

when they stand on the edge like
this isn't a fear of falling.

It's the fear that
they might jump.

PETER: That's very deep and depressing.
Thank you.

Yeah, well, I'm a little
dark sometimes.

All right. Come down, please, Will.
Please, come on.

SETH: Will.

Yeah, fuck it.

Whoo!

Not today!

It looks like they're going to
make us dump this shit.

What?

You watch.

SETH: How?

You'll see.

How could they do that?

They can't. It's impossible.
But they'll figure a way.

I've been at this
company for 10 years,

and I've seen things
you wouldn't believe.

When all is said and done,
they do not lose money.

They don't mind if
everybody else does,

but they don't lose.

Will?

Did you really make two and
a half million last year?

Yeah, sure.

How did you
spend it all?

It goes quite quickly.

You know, you learn to spend
what's in your pocket.

Two and a half million
goes quickly?

All right, let's see.

So the taxman takes
half up front,

so you're left with
one and a quarter.

My mortgage takes
another 300 grand.

I send 150 home for my parents,
you know, keep them going.

So what's that?
800.

All right, 800.

Spent 150 on a car.

About 75 on restaurants.
Probably 50 on clothes.

I put 400 away for a rainy day.
That's smart.

Yeah, as it turns out, 'cause it
looks like the storm's coming.

You still got 125.

Yeah, well, I did spend $76,520
on hookers, booze, and dancers.

But mainly hookers.

[BOTH LAUGH]

76,500?

I was a little shocked
initially, but then I realized

that I could claim most of it
back as entertainment. It's true.

[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]

Holy shit!
Goddamn!

WILL: The cavalry is here!
Come on, we should go.

How old are you?

Forty-three.
Jesus.

This is bizarre.

It's like a dream.

I don't know, seems like we
actually may have just woken up.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Come in.

COHEN: How do we look?

I should go.
No. You should stay.

So?

It's legit.

The kid killed it.

The formula's worthless.

COHEN: What does that mean?
It's broken.

There are eight trillion dollars
of paper around the world

relying on that equation.

Well, we were wrong.

No, you mean
you were wrong.

Now, don't get me started.
We discussed this.

SAM: I'm heading for
the conference room.

No, I want you
to hear this.

I don't want
to hear this.

How do you think I've stuck
around this place so long?

I called Tuld.

Do we have a contingency
plan here?

A contingency plan?
Yes.

No, we went all
in on this one.

So we've gotten ourselves quite
exposed here, haven't we?

To Tuld or the market?

To both.

[CELL PHONE VIBRATING]

He's here?

Mmm-hmm.

[TALKING INDISTINCTLY]

Tuld's helicopter just landed.
I know. Come with us.

Where's Sam?
I don't know. You sure you want all of us?

Yes.

One piece of advice for
everyone before we go in there.

This could get a little ugly.

But whatever you do, just tell
the truth. No sugarcoating.

Do not change a word of it.

No one here is smart enough,
including the rocket scientist.

Mr. Cohen.
Morning.

This way, please.

He's already in there
waiting for you.

Excellent.

John.

Please, sit down.

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 dealt with urgently.

So urgently, in fact, it probably
should have been addressed weeks ago.

But that is spilt milk
under the bridge.

So, why doesn't somebody tell me
what they think is going on here?

Mr. Tuld, as
I mentioned earlier,

if you compare the figure
at the top of page 13...

Jared, it's a little early for all that.
Just speak to me in plain English.

Okay.

In fact, I'd like to speak to
the guy who put this together.

Mr. Sullivan, is it?
Does he speak English?

Sir?

I'd like to speak
with the analyst

who seems to have
stumbled across this mess.

Certainly. That would be
Peter Sullivan. Right here.

Oh, Mr. Sullivan, you're here.
Good morning.

Maybe you could tell me what
you think is going on here.

And please, speak as you
might to a young child

or a golden retriever.

It wasn't brains that got me here.
I can assure you of that.

Well, um...

Sir, as you may
or may not know, I work

here for Mr. Rogers as an
associate in the Risk Assessment

and Management Office at MBS.

Please. Just relax. Stand up.
Tell us in a clear voice.

What is the nature
of the problem?

Okay.

As you probably know,
over the last 36 to 40 months

the firm has begun packaging

new MBS products that combine
several different tranches

of rating classifications
in one tradable security.

This has been
enormously profitable,

as I imagine you noticed.

I have.

The firm is currently doing
a considerable amount

of this business every day.

Now, the problem, which is, I
guess, why we are here tonight,

is that is takes us,
the firm, about a month

to layer these products correctly,
thereby posing a challenge

from a Risk Management
standpoint.

And, Mr. Sullivan,
that challenge is?

We have to hold these assets on our books
longer than we might ideally like to.

Yes.

But the key factor here is these
are essentially just mortgages.

So that has allowed us to push
the leverage considerably beyond

what you might be willing or allowed
to do in any other circumstance,

thereby pushing the risk profile
without raising any red flags.

Now... Thank you,
Mr. Sullivan. Sit down.

What I'm guessing your
report here says,

and give me some rope here.

What I'm guessing it says is that
considering the, shall we say,

bumpy road we've been on
the last week or so,

that the figures your brilliant co-workers
up the line ahead of you have come

up with don't make
much sense anymore

considering what's
taking place today.

Actually, not what's
taking place today,

but what's already taken place
over the last two weeks.

So, you're saying
this has already happened?

Sort of.

Sort of.

And, Mr. Sullivan, what does your model
say that, that means for us here.

Well, that's where it
becomes a projection.

But...

You're speaking with
me, Mr. Sullivan.

Well, sir,

if those assets
decrease by just 25%

and remain on our books,

that loss would be greater than
the current market capitalization

of this entire company.

So, what you're telling me

is that the music
is about to stop

and we're going to be left
holding the biggest bag

of odorous excrement

ever assembled
in the history of

capitalism.

Sir, I'm not sure that I would put it
that way. But let me clarify.

Using your analogy,

what this model shows

is the music, so to
speak, just slowing.

If the music were to
stop, as you put it,

then this model wouldn't be
even close to that scenario.

It would be
considerably worse.

Let me tell you something,
Mr. Sullivan.

Do you care to know why I'm
in this chair with you all?

I mean, why I earn
the big bucks?

Yes.

I'm here for one reason
and one reason alone.

I'm here to guess what the music might
do a week, a month, a year from now.

That's it.

Nothing more.

And standing here tonight,

I'm afraid that
I don't hear a thing.

Just

silence.

So, now that we know the music has
stopped, what can we do about it?

Mr. Cohen? Ms. Robertson?

I'm afraid I think this is where
you're supposed to step back in.

Lord knows we've relied enough
on Mr. Sullivan tonight.

What do you have for us?

What have I told you since the first
day you stepped into my office?

There are three ways to make
a living in this business,

be first, be smarter,
or cheat.

Now, I don't cheat.

And although I like to think we have some
pretty smart people in this building,

it sure is a hell of a lot
easier to just be first.

Sell it all. Today.

Is that even possible, Sam?

Yes, but at what cost?

I'll have to pay.

Really?

I think so.

Where is this going
to come back to us?

Everywhere.

Sam, I don't think you to understand
what your boy here has just said.

If I made you,

how would you do this?

You call the traders in for their normal
6:30 meeting and you be honest with them.

Because they're going to know
it's the end either way.

You're going to have to throw them
a bone, and a pretty big one.

And then you've got to come
out of the gates storming.

No swaps. No nothing.

40% done by 10:15. By 11:00,

all your trades
have to be gone

because by lunchtime,
word's going to be out.

And by 2:00 you're going to be selling at
65 cents on the dollar, if you're lucky.

And then the feds are going to be in here,
up your ass, trying to slow you down.

Ramesh?

They can slow you down.
They can't stop you.

It's yours to sell.

But, John, even if

we manage to pull that off,
and that's saying something,

the real question is,
who are we selling this to?

Same people we've been selling
it to the last two years,

and whoever else will buy it.

But, John, if you do this,

you will kill the market
for years. It's over.

And you're selling something
that you know has no value.

We are selling to willing buyers
of the current fair market price.

So that we may survive.

You will never sell anything to
any of those people ever again.

I understand.

Do you?
Do you?

This is it!

I'm telling you.
This is it.

Now, it's 4:00.

Jared, you've got till 5:00 to break
this down and draw me up a plan.

Is there anybody else who knows what's
in here at the moment, block by block?

SARAH: Eric Dale.

And where is he?

As of today, he's no
longer with the firm.

We have been trying
to locate him.

Carmelo.
Yes.

Get me Eric Dale here by 6:30.

It's done.

We meet back here in an hour.

Sam, let's talk.

This is a hell
of a town.

I've always loved this place,
since the day I arrived.

Everything about it.

Sam, are you going
to go with me on this?

I don't know, John.

This one is very ugly.

You and I,
we're salesmen.

We sell. That's what we do.
It's not complicated.

Exactly.

And you know damn well you
don't sell anything to anybody

unless you think they're
gonna come back for more.

That's the lesson we learned.
And tomorrow, we're done.

But this is it, Sam.

You keep saying that.
What's that supposed to mean?

This is the big one.

Most of us aren't going to
make it out of this one.

Us?
The Street.

What are you talking about?

This isn't the last situation I'm
gonna have to deal with this week.

This is just the start.

It's the start 'cause
you're starting it.

Maybe. But I don't believe that.
Not this time.

The numbers, they just
don't add up anymore.

I agree with you there.
I've been saying that for years.

If this kid out there can
come up with this, then...

Look, I just don't think I can
walk in there knowing what I know

and put the hammer
down on these guys.

When did you start
getting so soft, Sam?

Fuck you, soft.
You're panicking.

If you're the first out of the
door, that's not called panicking.

You're obviously operating with
more information than I have.

But I think this will
destroy this firm.

No one will ever
trust you again.

You're knowingly putting people
out of business, full stop.

You let me deal
with that, Sam.

How'd it go?

This is a fucking shit show.

They're gonna go with it?
Probably.

Jesus.

Remember this day, boys.

Remember this day.

So, what's the
strategy here?

That's where I'm
headed right now.

Downstairs to work
on it with my guys.

No, no. You and
I with John.

I'm not sure that we need one, Sarah.
That's not the way I do things.

Please.

Listen, he knows where
we've stood on this

all along.

That's exactly
my point.

And knowing what was
discussed by both you and I,

I don't see how this could
provide you with anything

other than a false
sense of comfort.

I'm not looking for a sense
of comfort here, Sarah.

I don't think there's
one to be found.

So, again, what's
the strategy here?

I'm just not sure there's
much more to do on this.

It's very simple.

Don't even think about
fucking me on this.

'Cause if we're
going down,

then you damn well
know it'll be together.

No.

I'm not sure that
I do know that.

[ELEVATOR WARNING BEEP]

Hey.

Oh, I'm sorry.

What do you guys think
Tuld made last year?

Would you shut
the fuck up?

86 million.

In bonuses and salary.

Really?
Sure, it's public record.

That is a lot
of fucking money.

He was worth a billion.

Was?

Till today.

Really?

You'll see.

I'm going to get some coffee.
You guys want anything else?

I'm all right.
I could use some real air.

Probably a good idea.
Is it all right, Will?

Is what all right?
If I get out of here for a minute?

Of course, it's not a prison.

You want me to hold your hand?

Why did they put
all this fruit on it?

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello, Will Emerson.

Hello.

Right.

No, thank you.
I understand.

No, we'll be discreet.

Thank you.

What?
Eric's wife.

He's alive, he's home, he
doesn't want to speak to us,

and he doesn't know
that she rang me.

Where's he live?
Heights.

Shall I call Tuld's guy?
No.

It's Eric. The last thing we need
is those guys going over there.

No, you two go get him
and try to bring him here.

But you got to be back by 6:00 a.m.
All right.

I hate Brooklyn.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

TULD: May I come in?

Of course.
Please, sit down.

[DOOR CLOSING]

So...

[CHUCKLES]

We're going to
do this thing.

Okay.

It's going to be tight.

Is Sam on board?

Not yet.

Sarah,

I need a head to feed to the traders
on the floor and the board.

Is it me or Cohen?

It's you.

Of course, you're well aware
that I filtered several warnings

to you and Cohen
about this a year ago.

I really don't think that's the best
path for you to take at this point.

You're going to be
well taken care of here.

Obviously, it is

quite complicated.

John, I was told under
no uncertain terms...

It was always
a very gray area.

Actually, it was made very clear
at the time by you, me, and Cohen.

I'd really appreciate it if
you didn't fight me on this.

We all fucked this
one up pretty good.

Yes.

We need you to stay here
until this is finished

and the market's closed.

I understand.

They'll go over the numbers
with you downstairs.

Good luck.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

Oh, fuck.
Jared's coming.

What's the boy
wonder want?

You got a minute?
Just off to pick up Eric.

Yeah. I know. It will
only take a second.

All right,
what is it?

Tuld and I have
concerns that Sam

may not be willing to step up
and do the right thing here.

This has never
been a problem.

No, it hasn't.

But sometimes, in acute
situations such as this,

often what is right can take
on multiple interpretations.

Sam will step up.

Oh, I know he will.
But if he doesn't...

But if he doesn't, we need
to know that you will.

Thank you.

You need to know
that I will what?

That you'll
step up.

I have no doubt that Sam will
make the right decision.

But just to
make it clear,

he and I have always had the same
interpretation of what's right,

no matter how acute
the situation.

[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUSIC STOPS]

Jesus, that's a nice place.

Yeah, it is.
He just bought it.

I hope it was with cash.

Fuck me, you're a heartless
little shit sometimes.

And it wasn't.

Don't touch any
of the buttons.

What are you doing here?
Hey.

So, Peter finished the model
you were working on.

Really?

It caused a shit storm.

I bet it did.

You think he's right?

I know he's right.

Fuck.

All right.

So Jared Cohen called
an emergency meeting

with the senior
partners last night.

And based on your findings,

they've decided to liquidate
our entire position.

Today.

I'm very sorry
about that.

They're worried about you being out here
and they want me to bring you back.

Please.

I'm just saying.

Fuck them. Fuck them.
Eric...

Don't be rash.
Forget it. I signed my paper. I'm out.

They'll pay you.
They got nothing on me.

They'll pay you.

I've been paid
enough already.

Fuck.

Do you know I built
a bridge once?

Sorry?
A bridge.

No, I didn't know that.

I was an engineer
by trade.

It went from Dilles Bottom, Ohio,
to Moundsville, West Virginia.

It spanned 912 feet
above the Ohio River.

12,100 people
use this thing a day.

And it cut out 35 miles
of extra driving each way

between Wheeling
and New Martinsville.

That's a combined 847,000
miles of driving a day.

Or 25,410,000
miles a month.

And 304,920,000
miles a year saved.

Now, I completed that project in 1986.
That's 22 years ago.

So over the life
of that one bridge,

that's 6,708,240,000
miles

that haven't had
to be driven at...

What? Let's say
50 miles an hour.

So that's what?

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

1,531 years
of their lives

not wasted in
a fucking car.

1,531 years.

Jesus.

I guess you better
get back over there.

Yeah.

Thanks for coming by.

You're welcome.

ERIC: Who the fuck is this?

I would imagine
it's the firm's people.

What?

They don't want
any loose ends.

They fired me.
Fuck them. Fuck them.

I totally agree. Fuck them.
So come back, take the money,

you'll be home by 5:00.

Otherwise, they're going to
fight you on everything.

They're going to fight you on your
package, your options, everything.

Be smart.

Well, you're a better
man than me.

That's always been true.
Yes, it has.

House looks good.

Thanks.

Hey, Eric.

Don't beat yourself up too much
about this stuff, all right?

Some people like driving
the long way home.

Who the fuck knows, right?

[CAR DOOR CLOSING]

[ENGINE STARTING]

[CAR DRIVING AWAY]

[DOOR OPENING]

TULD: Ah.

There he is.
[DOOR CLOSING]

John.

How's it looking?

Cohen's doing a nice
job. It could work.

What does that mean?

It means,

as you very well know,

that you're a very important
piece of this puzzle.

That's very generous.

It's not a gift.

I need to know you're
with me on this.

I'm with the firm, John.

I won't get what I need
from your boys on the floor

unless they believe you.

Unless they believe
in you completely.

Are you in on this?

I've told you
my reservations.

You can't have
reservations.

And I need
to know now.

Well, John, I am completely with
the firm, as I always have been.

Excuse me.

All right, Will,
am I getting fired?

I don't know.

Yeah.

Almost definitely. Yes.

Are you?
No.

Seth, it's nothing you did.

You're just in the wrong
firm at the wrong time.

Young guys are always
the first to get culled.

Listen, nothing I'm gonna say is
going to make you feel any better.

It's just going to suck for a
while, and then you'll be fine.

You all right?

Yeah. I'm fine.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry
this is happening to you.

Don't be. You didn't
do it to me.

Still, at least you're going to have
some nice cash to walk away with.

I guess.

Shit, this is really going
to affect people.

Yeah, it's going to
affect people like me.

No. No. Real people.

Jesus, Seth.

Listen, if you really want
to do this with your life,

you have to believe you're
necessary. And you are.

People want to live
like this, in their cars

and the big fucking houses
they can't even pay for,

then you're necessary.

The only reason that they all get
to continue living like kings

is because we've got our fingers
on the scales in their favor.

I take my hand off,

then the whole world gets really
fucking fair really fucking quickly,

and nobody actually wants that.
They say they do, but they don't.

They want what we
have to give them,

but they also want
to play innocent

and pretend they have no
idea where it came from.

That's more hypocrisy
than I'm willing to swallow.

So fuck...
Fuck normal people.

The funny thing is, tomorrow,
if all of this goes tits up

they're going to crucify
us for being too reckless.

But if we're wrong

and everything gets
back on track,

then the same people are going to
laugh till they piss their pants,

'cause we're gonna look
like the biggest pussies

God ever let
through the door.

You think we're
going to be wrong?

No, they're all fucked.

Good morning.

Peter.

You want one?

I don't smoke.

Oh, that's good.
I don't much either.

You tired?

Of what? Remember,
I don't work as hard as you.

That's not true.

No, it is, actually.

We all getting
fired tonight?

Probably.

Are they going
to fire you?

They won't exactly
call it that.

It'll be a mercy
killing, really.

You don't have to stand
out here for me.

No, I don't

really want to go back
in there just yet.

I understand that.

I think I know
your son.

Really?

Not well, but he always
seemed like a nice person.

He is a nice person.

I guess you could say
worse things about a guy.

Does he know what's
about to happen?

What do you mean?

Did you talk to him?

No, I hadn't even thought...

Wow.

They are all
coming in now.

Yes, they are.

Have you ever done
anything like this?

No, never. Not even close.

Oh.

Yeah.

Are you sure
it's the only,

or the right
thing to do?

For who?

I'm not sure.

Neither am I.

[CRYING]

Oh, God.

[DOOR OPENING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

[WATER RUNNING]

[FAUCET CLOSES]

[LATCH UNFASTENS]

[WATER RUNNING]

You all right?

You're about
to fire me.

[WATER STOPS]

This is all I ever
wanted to do.

Really?

[DOOR OPENING]

They're almost ready for you,
Ms. Robertson. Couple of minutes.

You as well, huh?

Yes.

Jesus.
Yeah.

Sorry.
Thank you.

I didn't think they were going
to be able to get you back here.

Well, they told me
they were going to

drag me through hell on everything
over the next two years,

my options,
my health care.

Or I could come
back here and make

$176,471 an hour

to sit quietly
in this room.

Didn't seem like
much of a choice.

It never is.

Obviously, looking back,
it was expressed with

insufficient urgency,

but your point was passed on.
I need you to know that.

Eric.

It's okay.
I understand.

Believe me. There was nothing
else you could have done.

I guess.

At the time, it didn't seem like
there was much of a choice.

It never does.

You have kids, yeah?

Mmm-hmm.

So, what's your package
going to be like?

I don't know.
That's what I'm waiting for now.

It's probably going
to be pretty good.

It better be.

Thank you all for coming in
a little early this morning.

I know yesterday
was pretty bad,

and I wish I could say that
today's gonna be less so,

but that isn't going
to be the case.

Now, I'm supposed to read this
statement to you all here.

But why don't you just
read it on your own time,

and I'll just tell you what
the fuck is going on here.

I've been here all night meeting
with the executive committee,

and the decision has been made
to unwind a considerable portion

of the firm's holdings
and several key asset classes.

The crux of it is,
in the firm's thinking,

the party is over
as of this morning.

There's gonna be considerable turmoil in
the markets for the foreseeable future,

and they believe it is better
that this turmoil begin with us.

As a result,

the firm has decided
to liquidate

its majority position
of fixed income MBS today.

These are your packets.

You will see what accounts
you're responsible for today.

I'm sure it hasn't
taken you long

to understand the
implications of this sale

on your relationships
with your counterparties

and, as a result,

on your careers.

I have expressed this reality
to the executive committee,

and they understand.

As a result,

if you achieve a 93%
sale of your assets,

you will receive a $1.4
million one-off bonus.

If the floor as a whole
achieves a 93% sale,

you will get an additional
$1.3 million apiece.

For those of you who have never
been through this before,

this is what the beginning
of a fire sale looks like.

I cannot begin to tell you how important
the first hour and a half is gonna be.

I want you to hit
every bite you can find.

Dealers, brokers, clients.
Your mother, if she's buying.

And, no swaps.

It's outgoing only. Today.

Obviously, this is not going down the
way that any of us would have hoped.

But the ground is
shifting below our feet,

and apparently there's
no other way out.

[SIGHS]

Guys,

this is obviously
a very, very unique situation.

If we are successful today,

we will have been successful
in destroying our own jobs.

I cannot promise that
any of you, all of you,

some of you will be
repositioned within the firm.

But I can tell you that I am very proud of
the work that we have done here together.

I've been at this
place 34 years,

and I can tell you from experience
that people are going to say

some very nasty things
about what we do here today

and about what you've dedicated
a portion of your lives to.

But,

have faith that in the bigger picture,
our skills have not been wasted.

We have accomplished much,

and our talents have been used

for the greater good.

Here's your packets.
Get to work.

[TRADING FLOOR BELL RINGS]

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

MAN ON PHONE: City, this is Eric.
Give me Elliot.

City.
Hey, it's Will Emerson.

William, how are you?

I'm all right. How's
the trouble and strife?

Busting my ass, as always.

You see, that's what I tried to tell you,
John. Why do you think I'm single?

I know you did.
What can I do for you?

Listen. I just got
the tap on my shoulder,

and we've got some risk over
here that we need to move.

So today it looks like
my loss is your gain.

What kind of size
are we talking?

It should be on your
screen. I just sent it.

Jesus! Where does this land?

96 on the dollar.
91.

All three and we're
done at 94.

Ninety-three and a half.
Done.

WOMAN ON PHONE: Trading.
Hello, gorgeous.

Will, what's happening
over there?

Well, today's moving day.

Fuck are you guys
so worked up about?

You think they tell me anything? All I
know is that today, my loss is your gain.

Now you're a friendly,
so I've come to you first.

I got 270 mil at 15 year paying
out a point and a half above par.

Where's it from?
Where's it from? Do you care?

No, not really.

Now, where's the trade?
I'm hearing things...

Alexis...
You guys are scaring me a little.

I'm only sharing this
with you right now. 85.

Done.

MAN ON PHONE: Deutsche.
It's Will Emerson.

Fuck you, you limey bastard.

Come on, are you
still angry about that?

Word is out. I'm
hanging up now.

MAN ON PHONE: Merrill.
Lawrence!

What the fuck are
you guys doing over there?

Just a little spring cleaning.
That is not what I'm hearing.

All right, Lawrence,
are you a buyer?

I'm not sure anymore.
Where at?

Well, it sounds like I should
be asking you where at.

What are we
talking about here?

Three hundred seventy-five
mil at 30 year mixed.

Fuck me.
Are you with me on this?

Sixty-three cents.
Oh, fuck you. I'm hanging up.

Sixty-three.

Let me call my man here.
I'll come back to you in five.

It may be 55 in 5.

Well, all right, then.
Stay on the line.

Sam, pick up the phone.

Sam, get on the line!
MAN ON PHONE: Yeah.

I got Lawrence at Merrill.
Where are we?

Sixty-three cents.
Jesus.

On what?
375 mix 30.

Get him to 65 and hit it.

Are you fucking
kidding me? That's...

What is that? That's a $131
million loss on a single trade.

I understand. Hit it.

Hey, Lawrence.
We're fill or kill at 65.

It's filled.

[TRADING FLOOR BELL RINGS]

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Well done.

I just want to give
you a heads up.

They're going to start sending
a few people home now.

Now?

Yes, Sam.
No loose ends.

Of course.

And for what it's worth,

you're still good.

Yeah, I guess someone
upstairs really likes you.

Sam.

Please, sit.

Congratulations are
clearly in order.

They did the
best they could.

You did a hell of a job.
And I thank you for it. Come on, sit.

Excuse me for eating,

but it's been a long day.

Can I get you something?
No, nothing. Thanks.

So, what can I do for you?

I want out.

I'm done. I want out.

It's been a very difficult
day for everyone.

I need you to release
my options, if they're

worth anything after today.
I want my bonus. I'm out.

You'll get your bonus, your options,
and keep your current base.

But I need you to stay with me
for the next 24 months, okay?

Oh, come on, Sam.

Put a smile on your face.

You did some good today.
You said that yourself.

Do you know, I'm starting to feel a
little better about this whole thing.

You're one of the luckiest
guys in the world, Sam.

Could have been digging
ditches all these years.

That's true.

And if I had, at least there'd be some
holes in the ground to show for it.

Jesus.

I just don't know how we
fucked this up quite so much.

When did you start feeling
so sorry for yourself?

It's unbearable. What?

So you think we might have put a
few people out of business today.

That's all for naught.

But you've been doing that every
day for almost 40 years, Sam.

And if this is all for naught,
then so is everything out there.

It's just money.

It's made up,

pieces of paper with
pictures on it

so that we don't have to kill each
other just to get something to eat.

It's not wrong.

And it's certainly no different
today than it's ever been.

1637, 1797,

1819, 1837, 1857, 1884,

1901, 1907,

1929, 1937, 1974,

1987, Jesus.
Didn't that fucker fuck me up good.

1992, 1997, 2000, and whatever
we want to call this.

It's all just the same thing, over
and over. We can't help ourselves.

And you and I
can't control it

or stop it or
even slow it.

Or even ever
so slightly alter it.

We just react.

And we make a lot of money
if we get it right.

And we get left by the side of
the road if we get it wrong.

And there have always been
and there always will be

the same percentage
of winners and losers,

happy fucks and sad sacks,

fat cats and starving
dogs in this world.

Yeah.

There may be more of us today
than there's ever been.

But the percentages,
they stay exactly the same.

I'll do it, John, but not
because of your little speech.

But because I
need the money.

Hard to believe after all these
years, but I need the money.

This is the executive
dining room.

Do you want coffee or tea?
No.

You gonna keep the kid?

Keep 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,

and we're gonna need all the
brains we can get around here.

[GRUNTING]

Hello.

I've called the police.

Mary.

Sam.
Yep.

What are
you doing?

Sam, what
are you doing?

Ella died.

I was driving home from the vet and I
couldn't think of where else to go.

She belongs here.
I know.

But, Sam, you don't
live here anymore.

Are you all right?

You don't
look so good.

Yeah, it's been a rough
day all the way around.

I know, Sammy called.

Is he all right?

They got hammered,
but they got out alive.

Good.

Well, I'm gonna
go back inside

and go back to bed.

The alarm is on, so
don't try and break in.

Take care of yourself.