Margin Call

Will Emerson: Jesus, Seth. Listen, if you really wanna do this with your life, you have to believe you're necessary, and you are. People wanna live like this with their cars and big fuckin' 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 got our fingers on the scales in their favor. I take my hand off, and then the whole world gets really fuckin' fair really fuckin' 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 wanna, you know, play innocent and pretend they have no idea where it came from. Well, that's more hypocrisy than I'm willing to swallow, so fuck 'em. Fuck normal people. You know, the funny thing is, tomorrow if all of this goes tits up, they're gonna crucify us for being too reckless, but if we're wrong, and everything gets back on track? Well, then, the same people are gonna laugh till they piss their pants, 'caus

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Sarah Robertson: But is this your draft? Peter Sullivan: Yes. Again, expanded on the original work by Mr. Dale. But, yes. Sarah Robertson: What's your background? Peter Sullivan: My background? Sarah Robertson: Your CV. Peter Sullivan: 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. Jared Cohen: What is a specialty in propulsion, exactly? Peter Sullivan: My thesis was studying the ways that friction ratios affect steering outcomes in aeronautical use under reduced gravity loads. Jared Cohen: So, you're a rocket scientist? Peter Sullivan: I was. Yeah. Jared Cohen: Interesting. How did you end up here? Peter Sullivan: Well, it's all just numbers, really. Just changing what you're adding up, and, to speak freely, the money here is considerably more attractive.

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Peter Sullivan: Will? Did you really make two and a half million last year? Will Emerson: Yeah, sure. Peter Sullivan: How did you spend it all? Will Emerson: It goes quite quickly. You know, you learn to spend what's in your pocket. Seth Bregman: Two and a half million goes quickly? Will Emerson: 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? Peter Sullivan: 800. Will Emerson: All right, 800. Spent 150 on a car. About 75 on restaurants. Probably 50 on clothes. I put 400 away for a rainy day. Seth Bregman: That's smart. Will Emerson: Yeah, as it turns out, 'cause it looks like the storm's coming. Peter Sullivan: You still got 125. Will Emerson: Yeah, well, I did spend $76,520 on hookers, booze, and dancers. But mainly hookers. Peter Sullivan: 76.5? Will Emerson: I was a little shocked initially, but then I realized that I could

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

John Tuld: When did you start getting so soft, Sam? Sam Rogers: Fuck you, "soft". You're panicking. John Tuld: If you're the first out of the door, that's not called "panicking".

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Peter Sullivan: Are you sure it's the only or the right thing to do? Sam Rogers: For whom? Peter Sullivan: I'm not sure. Sam Rogers: Neither am I.

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

John Tuld: 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. Peter Sullivan: 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. John Tuld: 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? Peter Sullivan: Yes. John Tuld: 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.

Margin Call (film), CC BY-SA 4.0