THE COMPANY NEN By John Wells WHITE SHOOTING SCRIPT BLUE REVISIONS PINK REVISIONS YELLOW REVISIONS GREEN REVISIONS GOLDENROD REVISIONS BUFF REVISIONS Company Men Productions, Inc. 240 2 st. Chelsea, MA 02150 93/30/09 04/07/09 04/13/09 05/04/09 05/07/09 05/15/09 05/28/09‘THE_COMPANY MEN GAIL ABINAL (VO) ++-reported sharply lower earnings on news of more turmoil in the financial... - The talking heads of MSNBC and Bloomberg drone under -- JOHN MCWANCY (VO) ++.with the dollar stumbling, Goldman suggests foreign trade imbalances will... ‘And IMAGES of excess, sowe extraordinary, others mundane. * HERB RITTENOUR (VO) -+:while OPEC meets today in Dubai, few believe prices will decline soon, * = Luxury cars lined up in a garage. Another garage full of @ sive and infrequently used mountain bikes, golf clubs, skis and sporting goods. GATE ABINAL (VO) «-.8tocks stalled as investors digested news of declining consumer confidence... - A counter burdened with innumerable stainless-steel kitchen * appliances: Cuisinart, toaster, espresso maker, mixer, waffle iron, blender and juicer. . NOW BEGIN TO INTERCUT WITH -- 2 long row of pressed dress shirts hang in a huge, brightly lit closet. A man's strong hand reaches in, selects one -- JOHN MCNANCY (VO) Berkshire Holdings reports lower... Another row of freshly laundered shirts in a different, smaller closet, another man‘s hand picks one -- HERB RITTENOUR (VO) ;+-housing inventories remain high as Option ARM defaults continue to flood... * * Fifty ties sway on a motorized rack, silk, tasteful -- JOHN MCNANCY (VO) ++ .Secretary Baskin is expected to... (comnTaneny“The Company Men" Shooting Draft Pinks 4/13/09 2. CONTINUED: 1 = A gardener's truck pulls into a driveway, two men climb out * to begin working on the huge house's yard. start a mover. * HERB RITTENOUR (VO) +++the Fed has indicated little interest in further intervention in the... A Rolex SNAPS onto the older man's wrist. His dresser covered with photos; of babies, ski trips, graduations. GAIL ABINAL (VO) ++.with the Dow down another 424... = A pool, a greenhouse. A coy pond and fountain. A massive * backyard, stainless steel barbecue grill. * JORN MCNANCY (VO) ++.a ten year Treasury bond yield low... ‘The man adjusts his tie to REVEAL: GENE McCLARY, fifties, aseured, successful. He smiles, satisfied, goes ~~ HERB RITTENOUR (VO) ++-Blue Chips are surrendering as the... = A basement full of gym's worth of exercise equipment. A * huge plasma ‘rv with Nintendo cords snaking away from it. * JOHN MCNANCY (VO) ++-Nasdag's down 9,928, while the S&P... A second man adjusts his tie to REVEAL: BOBBY WALKER, * thirties, confident. A corporate warrior ready for battle. BERB RITTENOUR (VO) -+all broad market indices continue their relentless trend down... - A startling large row of trash cans set out on a street. * JOHN MCNANCY (VO) .+.In other financial news, China's Central Bank announced... ~ A third man, adjusts his jacket in the mirror. PHIL * WOODWARD, fifties, rough around the edges, anxious. His time * is coming and he knows it. * = As the gardener's mow the lawn we -~ * FADE OUT: ‘END_CREDITS 2 * In the DARKNESS, men’s voices. (CONT TNITED"The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 3 CONTINUED: (2) 1 BOBBY (VO) ++It's all about earnings... And a resounding THWACK! ‘Then suddenly, brilliant sunlight as a small white ball sails off into a beautiful blue, early September, sky. THE COUNTRY CLUB - MORNING ‘Three men watch unhappily as it flies perfectly toward a distant green. Bobby's up on the tee, watching his shot. BOBBY Watch your earnings and the fundamentals will take care of themselves. MIFFLIN whistles admiringly as the ball drops onto the green. CARLSON ++ sbastard... CONNERS Rumor is GTX has to show more movement or Morgan's going to issue a sell. BOBBY How many are you over now Steve, seven? Bobby knows exactly how many. Carlson flips him off. steps up to the tee, sets his ball. CONNERS Salinger have a plen to prop up the bottom line over there, Bobby? BOBBY You moonlighting for the SEC now, Matt? ‘CONNERS Casual conversation. BOBBY What do you think counselor? MIFFLIN Hell yes, what's a little insider trading among friends? Carlson SMACKS a strong drive. Not as nice as Bobby's but: BOBBY You want a tip? Don't sell GTX, buy. As Bobby strides off down the fairway. econ TNT Y“the Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 4. CONTINUED: A CARLSON Son of a bitch breaks ninety again I'm going to key his goddam Porsche. cur To: INT. CHICAGO HYATT REGENCY MEETING ROOM ~ DAY 4 We're GLIDING ABOVE an elegant silver coffee service, trays of cut fruit, bagels. Men and women in business attire take notes at linen covered banquet tables, nurse coffees. STEVENS (VO) .+.we've reviewed our pipeline of some 500 projects and programs ‘The CAMERA MOVES ALONG the dais, placards set in front of the slightly bored panel participants, behind them a banner and corporate logo announce: GTX Global Transportation Systems. STEVENS (cont'd) focusing on those with significant marketing opportunities and jettisoning everything that won't contribute immediately to our profitability... ‘The CAMERA APPROACHES a man in his sixties, STEVENS, droning on. WE DON'T SLOW, continue along the row of exec faces. STEVENS (cont'd) Selecting thirty-seven as promising strategic growth programs and setting aside the rest for future consideration. Until we finally ARRIVE at the placard in front of a bored -- Eugene McClary Executive Vice-President - Transportation Systems Doodling an elaborate geometric design on a hotel note pad. As Stevens finishes, several analysts raise their hands. HASPEL Ned Haspel, JP Morgan. Mr. McClary, you were talking earlier about fiscal 2011, you've done a good job of convincing us that with the credit markets frozen, your sales revenue in 2010 will slow -- GENE Great, then my job here is done. ‘That gets a laugh from the analysts. I CONTNTTRD Y4 “The Company Men” Shooting Draft 3/30/09 5. CONTINUED: 4 HASPEL can you talk about 2011 and what sort of a percentage increase you anticipate? GENE People love to talk about percentages Ned, our people do, you people do. But when we do sales forecasts in a mature manufacturing sector like transportation, we should be focusing on how to maintain, growth in absolute dollars, RSPEL Are you suggesting you aren't expecting any growth in your division next year? Stevens looks down the dais at Gene, worried. GENE I'm suggesting that we face increased foreign competition and a difficult market for large capital expenditures like shipbuilding, so 2031 will probably end even or a little up from 2010. 1 call that an excellent result in this credit climate but you're probably going to call it disappointing. Stevens looks quickly for another hand. STEVENS Another question? HASPEL So no growth in 2011? Gene avoids Stevens concerned look, stares down Haspel for a long moment, then goes back to the company script. GENE I'm confident that while shipbuilding will remain challenged, the rest of the Transportation Systems Group will continue to contribute significant growth to GTX in coming quarters. Haspel's still unsatisfied but Gene points to another hand. GENE (cont'd) Yes, in the back. Off Gene's frozen smile as an analyst begins a question we cur To:“The Company Men” Shooting Draft 3/30/09 6. GTX CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS - PARKING LOT - DAY A glass and metal cathedral of commerce. Acres of unfettered capitalism surrounded by manicured lawns and parking lots. Bobby pulls his Porsche into his spot. its his alarm, VooP! The lot is a lesson in corporate automotive hierarchy; Volvos, Hondas and Excursions give way to BMWs, Range Rovers and Jaguars nearer the door. cur TO: INSIDE THE GTX BUILDING Bobby crosses the lobby, four stories of atrium rises above, mature elms rustle in the artificial breeze, granite floors polished ice rink slick. The huge corporate logo announces: GTX Global Transportation Systems We Keep The World Moving! cur To: SHIP SYSTEMS OFFICES DING! He steps off the elevator, pushes through glass doors and past the large reception desk, the omnipresent "GTX" logo looming behind it. Crosses to a set of gless doors, “Ship Systems - Marketing and Sales" etched into them and down the long hallway toward ~~ cur TO: ‘TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS SALES DEPARTMENT Secretarial desks, rows of cubicles for the worker bees, heads for a windowed office and his secretary, CAROL. BOBBY Any messages? He doesn't wait, grabs them off her desk. She's a little distant. He doesn't notice, shuffles through them. CAROL, Wilcox wants to see you, she's in the fifth floor conference room. BOBBY Shot an eighty-six this morning. He doesn't wait for an answer, heads off down the row of desks. She calls after him, he doesn't stop. fcommrnarren10 “The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 7. CONTINUED: 8 ‘CAROL She said it was important. BOBBY Sally Wilcox thinks everything's important. An eighty-six! GLASS WALLED CONFERENCE ROOM 9 Eight young execs in mid-meeting, LAKE, JANE, Bobby heads for a chair, peeling off his suit-jacket. BOBBY Anybody want to guess what I shot at the club this morning? ‘They're all staring at him, it's uncomfortable. BOBBY (cont'd) 44 on the front, 42 on the back. (he stops/realizes) What's up, somebody die? Dead silence. Bobby takes a beat, looks through the glass wall out to the people staring in from the hallway. CUT TO: HALLWAY 10 Bobby FLINGS open the door, passes frightened faces staring up at him. A Secretary, BARBARA, stands by an office door. BOBBY Conal? CONAL DOHERTY, sixties, packing a couple of boxes. A stunned woman in her forties sits on Conal's sofa, DIANE LINDSTROM. CONAL, They closed Mobile and Newport News, merged Ship Systems into Rail Products BOBBY How many? BARBARA Conal, your wife's on one. CONAL, Hello, honey. I've got some bad news -- Bobby looks to Diane, she brushes away a few stray tears. IeonT TNE)10 a 12 “The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 8. CONTINUED: 10 DIANE Three thousand at the shipyards, rumor is another couple hundred here. cur To: INT. GTX OFFICES, HUMAN RESOURCES - DAY un Bobby heads for a corner office. A discreet sign announces “Sally Wilcox Vice-President Human Resources", SHOVES into -- WILCOX'S OFFICE 12 Floor to ceiling glass with a lovely view of the rolling Massachusetts hills and Boston beyond. Some art, a few plants, and SALLY WILCOX, tailored, attractive. BOBBY What the hell is going on? WILCOX Bobby, you know Dick Landry from Legal? A balding, average man sits at the small conference table. LANDRY The company's consolidating divisions. Difficult decisions had to be made in areas where redundancies surfaced. Bobby stares at them, can't believe where this is going. LANDRY (cont'd) We've structured a generous severance package for you. Your twelve years with us entitles you to twelve weeks full pay and benefits. BOBBY You're firing me? He presents it as ludicrous on it's face, she doesn't laugh. WILCOX Come on Bobby, sit down. LANDRY. We're also offering you outplacement services to help you secure your next employment. The room's spinning, Bobby tries to get his bearings. (CONTENTED Y12 13 14 15 "The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 9, CONTINUED: 12 BOBBY Does Gene know about this? WILCOX Bobby please, sit. But instead of sitting, be heads for the door. BOBBY Hey Sally, you know what? Fuck off. And he’s gone. A long silence. she looks at her shoes. ‘LANDRY Friend? cur to: HALLWAY OUTSIDE GENE MCCLARY'S OFFICE a Bobby makes his way to the big office at the end of the hall. Pushes through etched doors that announce: Eugene McClary Executive Vice President - Transportation Systems BOBBY He in there? Bobby doesn't wait for an answer, strides into: GENE'S OFFICE 14 Large, beautifully furnished. Conference table, sofa, oversized desk, carefully framed 19th century sectional blueprints of the first steam powered cargo ships and models of military and civilian ships. Empty. KAREN He's in Chicago today. cur TO: EXT, PRIVATE AIRPORT TARMAC - DAY 15 WE FOLLOW a chauffeured town car as it pulls up next to a waiting Gulfstream, the GTX logo on it's fuselage. Gene and Stevens climb out of the car. Stevens is pissed. STEVENS Honesty's the best policy? Gene doesn't answer, starts for the plane's stairs. I CONTENTED»15 16 7 "The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 10. CONTINUED: 15 STEVENS (cont'd) Christ, could you try, just try, to be a little’less candid for once? GENE So we're lying to financial analysts now? That the new profitability plan? Follow them up the steps and into ~~ INT. GULFSTREAM - DAY 16 Blonde woods and beige leather seats. Fresh flowers and newspapers arrayed on the serving buffet. A waiting GTx stewardess takes their coats. GENE What do you want? More inflated guidance so we can under perform every quarter again next year? Gene takes the best seat in the middle of the cabin. STEVENS 2011? I'm worried about the damn share price tomorrow. But Gene isn't listening, stares out the window sullenly as the engine's power up. STEVENS (cont'd) Salinger's gonna blow a fucking gasket. cur TO: BOBBY'S OFFICE 7 Bobby steps back into his office. Three brand new, empty Packing boxes are already sitting on his desk. PHIL Oh shit. An anxious man in the door eyeing the boxes, PHIL WOODWARD. BOBBY Yeah. PHIL What'd you get? BOBBY ‘Twelve weeks and outplacement. feonmTntTena7 1A 18 "The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 11. CONTINUED: u PHIL ‘They say who else is on the block? BOBBY Thanks for the sympathy, Phil. PHIL I'm not an MBA like you. I get canned, I'm working at Kinkos. (starts for the door) call you later, okay? And he's gone. Bobby looks around the office. The family * photos, the nice view, the waxed plants. Picks up his brass * desk plate "Robert Walker, Jr.". Throws it into a box. * CAROL Did they say anything about me? BOBBY What? CAROL About my still having a job? It never even occurred to him, he stares at her dumbly. BOBBY I didn't ask. She turns slowly, goes. INT. GTX LOBBY - DAY a + Bobby steps off the elevators, carrying his box, the blazered = * guards watch from the security desk. He stops for a moment in * the vast lobby. Other fired workers pass. He takes one last * look around, in shock. Starts out -. : cur To: ‘THE GTX PARKING LOT - DAY 18 Bobby crosses the lot, the GTX building rising up behind him * accusingly, still carrying his boxes. Many cars are already gone. Ruptured lives captured in a still life of empty parking spots. Others carry similar boxes, plants, knickknacks. Men, women. ‘Trunks open, car doors. Bobby nods as he passes, the faces haunted, frightened. A woman in the spot next to him loads her few things, tears streaming down her face, it's the woman from Conal's office, Diane, They stare at each other for a moment. He doesn't fPONTTNTTRD18 18A 19 20 21 “ghe Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 12. CONTINUED: 18 know what to say, so he doesn't say anything. Climbs in, turns the engine OVER, pulls out. cur To: PHIL'S GTX OFFICE ~ DAY 288 From somewhere above, we }ook down at the emptying parking lot, Bobby's Porsche backing out and pulling away. A man's face enters frame, CLOSE, turning away from the window. It's Phil, watching his fired friends driving away. cur To: WELLESLEY STREET - SEPTEMBER DAY 19 Beautiful trees, lovely brick homes. Bobby turns the Porsche into his drive.’ The garage door RISES to reveal: empty concrete, it's perimeter packed with bikes, skis, bats, balls and all manner of sporting goods. cur TO: BOBBY'S HOUSE 20 The living room nobody uses, the large kitchen and family room, wide screen plasma TV and tangle of Nintendo cords. Bobby sets his box on the kitchen butcher block. The afternoon silence broken only by the HUM of the refrigerator and someone MOWING a lawn several blocks away. Now what? cur To: GTX BUILDING - EXECUTIVE FLOOR ELEVATORS 2 The doors OPEN, Gene steps off. Pushes into his suite. GENE Miss me? KAREN I've been trying to reach you. He heads for his office, pulis out a cell phone. GENE Battery's dead. (throws it to her) Charge it, will ya? KAREN Phil's in there. (CONTTNITRD2a 22 “The Company Men" Shooting Draft 3/30/09 12a. CONTINUED: 21 Karen follows Gene into: GENE'S OFFICE 22 Phil waits on the sofa, overflowing ashtray beside him. GENE Make yourself at home, Phil. ¢ComPTNITRD )22 22a 23 “The Company Men" Shooting Draft Pinks 4/13/09 13. CONTINUED: az PaIL won't go back to a factory floor. I've got one kid in college, another one going in the fall. GENE What the hell are you talking about? Phil looks at Karen. PHIL You're shitting me, he doesn't know? 4 KAREN Sally Wilcox let some more people go. PHIL Some? She fired goddam everybody! Gene’s staring at Phil. what? GENE She fired you? PHIL ‘No, but I've been hiding in here all day. KAREN ‘They closed Mobile and Newport News. Laid off most of the Ship Systems Sales Group. Conal, Bobby, Ted, Diane -- Gene doesn't need to hear more, he's already heading out. PRIL won't let the bastards just kick me out after thirty years. I'll take an AK-47 to this fucking place first! CUT TO: INT. CEO'S ELEVATOR LOBBY - DAY 22a Gene bursts from the elevator, pushes into -- OFFICE OF THE CEO 23 Gene heads for the elegant reception area, subdued lighting, antiques, framed covers of FORBES, FORTUNE. Two secretaries flank the inner doors, one tries to intercept, JILL. orb, He's in a meeting, Mr. McClary. (CONPTNITRN)