WALL STREET

ORIGINAL STORY AND SCREENPLAY BY

STANLEY WEISER AND OLIVER STONE

FIRST DRAFT
EDWARDP~ESSMA.N PRODUCTIONS
January 31, 1987
 1•

EXT. WALL STREET - EARLY MORNING

FADE IN. THE STREET. The most famous third of a mile in
the world. Towering landmark structures nearly blot out
the dreary grey flannel sky. The morning rush hour
crowds swarm through the dark, narrow streets like mice
in a maze, all in pursuit of one thing: MONEY... CREDITS run.

INT. SUBWAYPLATFORM - EARLY MORNING

we hear the ROAR of the trains pulling out of the station.

Blurred faces, bodies, suits, hats, attache cases float
into view pressed like sardines against the sides of a door
which now open, releasing an outward velocity of anger
and greed, one of them JOE FOX.

EXT. SUBWAYEXIT - MORNING

The bubbling mass charges up the stairs. Steam rising from

a grating, shapes merging into the crowd. Past the HOMELESS
VETS, the insane BAG LADY with 12 cats and 20 shopping bags
huddled in the corner of Trinity Church .•.

Joe the Fox straggling behind, in a crumpied raincoat, tie

askew, young, very young, his bleary face buried in~ Wall
Street Journal, as he crosses the street against the light.

JOE
Why Fox? Why didn't you buy ... schmuck

A car honks, swerving past.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

Cavernous modern lobby. Bodies cramming into elevators.

Joe, stuffing the newspaper into his coat, jams in.

INT. ELEVATOR - MORNING

Blank faces stare ahead, each lost in private thoughts, Joe

again mouthing the thought, "stupid schmuck", his· ,:yes
catching a blonde executive who quickly flicks her eyes away.
Paranoia in the elevator. We quickly cut into private lives.
 2•

WORRIED MAN (VOICE OVER)

... he'll sue me, could be for 5-6 million,
and he'll get a million, the house,
they'll impound my paychecks ... damn,
damn, why did I sign that contract?

BLACK BIKE MESSENGER (VOICE OVER)

... gotta get Lola in the sack man, take
her to the Garden for the Terrells,
Jimmy give me the tickets for 12 bucks,
I pull the midnight shift, I could do
60 bucks ... wow, check those legs out ...

His eyes on the same blonde exec who looks away, self-
conscious about her legs. The elevator stops at a floor,
discards only one person. The doors close a little too slowly.

BLONDE EXECUTIVE (VOICE OVER)

... jerk •.• (shifts her thoughts) call
Hanratty. The decimal points on the code
are uncalibrated. Hoskins. The signatures
on the bank draft. Boyle, that bitch ..•
insurance •.. tax form. Shit, talk to
Kahn. (recalling) That's Hanratty, Hoskins,
Bank, Boyle and Kahn ••• H B K - shoot,
insurance and theatre tix 2 ...2 H B K,I,T --
and the cleaners! Repeat .. . 2 2

Catching the eyes of Joe Fox once again wandering ~o her.

Camera moving to Joe, who looks away.

JOE (VOICE OVER)

..• sorry ••. funny always the most beautiful
girls in the world are always on the street
or in elevators, never get to talk to them,
I'm too shy ..• my looks, never had confidence
in them .•. overcompensating work syndrome ...
prove your worth with money ... 'cept I'm
not making any money ...
(pause, the elevator at another floor, slo\
... wonder what all these people are thinking
about.

Camera moving slowly again over the eyes. The silence of

individual tension reigns over all.

ANGRY MAN (VOICE OVER)

... Screw him! I'll destroy that sonufabitch
... he thinks he can breach a contract with
me he's got something to learn

SECRETARY (VOICE OVER)

... 9:15! ... he'll kill me this time, he
will really kill me ... oh come on
elevatorJ ... why do you stop over every floor ...
 3.

As the elevator stops again to disgorge two people.

BIKE MESSENGER (VOICE OVER)

(pissed now at the elevator)
... come on man, time is money man .. one
floor here I could do eleven blocks ...

BLONDE EXECUTIVE (VOICE OVER)

H B K, I, T, CL, P, 0, T ••.
2 2 2
(pause, she looks like she forgot something

WORRIED MAN (VOICE OVER)

... goddamn elevators1 ... people, too many
goddamn people in this world!

The elevator finally comes to a slow stop .•. They wait,

plead, beg, screech with the eyes.

The door at last opens. None of them acknowledging each other,

they all stampede out the door with an audible gasp of
release, a collective sigh akin to making it to iii urinal
after a punishing wait ...
The elevator tension is over, but the killer grind continues.

INT. HA.~ILL, THAYER & PRINCE BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe moves past the functional reception area, past CAROLYN,

a cheerful young black girl.

CAROLYN
How you doing Joey

JOE
Great Carolyn, doing any better would
be a sin ...

He slips off his overcoat, flicks some lint off his discount
Moe Ginsburg suit, and enters.

THE MAIN BOARD ROOM

A long floor with cubicled offices running the length of the
room. At the near wall are a bank of private offices with
windows reserved for star brokers and executives. Brokers
mill by their desks, gulping coffee, scanning the papers,
making small talk •.. counting the minutes. The digital clock
by ~he big board counter clicks to 9:26 a.rn. -- four minutes
until the market opens. You can smell the fear. Joe
takes a deep breath, tosses the newspaper away and struts
into the office -- fuck it -- it's a new day.
 4.

MOVING WITH HIM past DAN HICKEY, a flush-faced old-timer, a

blue and white Yale tie, with a carnation in his lapel
who is mixing a vodka highball.

JOE
Morning, Dan.

DAN
... calls for a drink. Got: tickets to
Ya.le - Harvard, the 23rd ... boola boola

JOE (without expecting an answer)

What's looking good today?

DAN
If I knew I wouldn't be in this business,
Get out while you're young, kid. I came
here one day, I sat down, and look at me now.

,TOE
Think Positive, Dan. I got a feeling
about today.

Joey enters his cubicle, whips open his briefcase and pulls
out a computer print-out of last night's homework.

,TOE
We're going to make a killing today,
Marv.

MARVIN (o.s.)
Yeah, where's your machine gun.

FREDDIE
Joke about it. I was up all night charting
these stocks. You want to see this
or what?

His associate, MARVIN WYKOFF, a manicky, wise-guy, swivels

over his chair from a nearby desk. He gives the carts
a quick read.
MARVIN (scowling)
Looks bearish to me, buddy. You got
it all upside down.
(confidential)
Okay, I'm giving this to you and you
alone, 'cause I feel sorry for you.
Take the Knicks against the Bullets,
and my pick of the day -- Duke to
beat the spread against Wake Forest.
 5.

JOE
Thanks, Marv, with that I might be
able to qualify for Welfare.

LOU DAVIS strolls by, a dignified looking older broker in his

late 60s, in a 50's type blue suit with button down white
shirt, very much a picture from another era ..• a kind humor
in his eyes ... but obviously ailing in the legs and breath
department.

JOE (friendly)
You got a look in your eye, Mister Davis ...
You got something for the small fry ...

LOU
Jesus, can't make a buck in this market,
country's going to hell faster than my
ex-wife goes shopping ... the biggest
mistake we ever made was letting Nixon
get off the gold standard. Bonds, boys,
boring but buy em •..

They all get a kick out of his consistent, paterfamilias

atttitude as he limps off ...

The stentorian voice of OFFICE MANAGERTHOMAS LYNCH booms

over the intercom. We see him peering from behind t~e
glass partition in his office; tall, balding with-a
perpetual worried look on his face.

LYNCH
Attention. Please. Office Production
is down ten percent this week. I recommend
that you all go through your clients'
investments for any portfolio adjustments.
And don't forget -- double commissions
today on our 'A' or better bond funds.
(looking in Joe and Marv's direction)
Especially you rookies. Also, remember,
the sales contest ends tomorrow.

Joe and Marvin roll their eyes. The Digital clock flashes 9:30.

JOE
And they're off and running!
 6.

All Hell suddenly breaks loose. The room bursts with the
clatter of the ticker,squawk boxes, teletype machines,
newsprinters' Dow Jones and Reuters, phones ringing off
the hook. Brokers are shouting orders, running for tickets,
dodging each other; it's a controlled riot.

BROKERS (VO)
Here's a hot lead ... Have I got one
for you ... sell ... dump it all!!

JOE (on phone)

Digitronics -- let me check it ...

He looks up at the TICKER ... stock quotes whizzing by.

JOE (o.s. cont'd)

Up an eighth. How many you want?

He plugs the order into his quotron.

DISSOLVE TO:

THE CLOCK... It's 2:30 p.m. We hear the relentless clatter

of the board ticker, and the drone of disembodied voices,
blaring market information out of squawk boxes.
Joe's desk is now cluttered with order tickets, crumpled
notes, beverage cups and a half-eaten sandwich. He's on
the phone and from the look on his face, the caller on the
other end is breaking his balls. Marvin paces past, making
a dramatic phone pitch.

MARVIN
Absolute important financial news!
Dr. Lasker has to have it this
minute! It concerns his future!

Joe waves Marvin away, answers his caller, trying to keep cool,
worried now as he sees Lynch, the office manager, coming over.

JOE
I thought you were a gentleman, Howard.
Sure it's gone down a little bit, but
you got the tip from your barber, I
didn't ... Yeah you did. That's what you said.
(heated)
I didn't tell you to buy it, why
would I tell you to sell it?
(screaming)
No, I can't give it back! Give it back
to whom? You own it!
('1~c.'..t)
No, he's out right now.
 7•

As he looks up and winks at Lynch, standing over hrn.

JOE (cupping the receiver)

That's what you told us to say.

LYNCH
Give me the
phone.
(takes receiver)
Yes, sir, this is the manager.
What seems to be the problem?

MARVIN (into his phone)

What? •.. Well, how was I to know you
were in surgery?

Joe whispers, tensely. Lynch listens.

JOE
He's lying.

LYNCH
Okay, sir. I'll discuss this with the
broker and I'll get back to you.
You're welcome.

Lynch hangs up and glares at Joe.

LYNCH
I'm closing out this account. If he
doesn't pay for it tomorrow, you
pay for it.

JOE
Mr. Lynch, I swear to you, he's lying!

LYNCH
Fox, you're making more problems than
you are sales. I don't know how you
can generate new business when you
can't even take care of the old business.

,TOE
I don't think your'e being fair, sir.

LYNCH
Somebody has to pay for that error.
And it's not me.

Lynch walks off.· Joe does some quick calculations in his head.
 8.

MARVIN (reappearing)
Buddy, buddy, buddy; a little trouble,
huh, today.

,TOE (devastated)
This asshole reneged on me. I've got
to cover his loss to the tune of
three grand!

MARVIN
Hey, things could be worse. It could've
been my money. Let me help you out,
rookie.

He takes out his wallet and loans Freddie a hundred bucks.

JOE
Thanks Marv,
I'll make it good to you.
(fervently)
You know what my dream is? One day I'm
gonna be on the other end of-that phone ...

Marvin points up at the clock. Joe looks up ... it's 2:40.

MARVIN
You forgetting something?

Joe quickly composes himself. He picks up the ph0ne; dialing

purposefully.

MARVIN
You can do it, Joe. If anybody can
bag this elephant you can.

JOE
Hello, Natalie -- Guess who? That's right,
and not a minute late. Natalie, I've
been calling for two and a half months
now. And every day I say to myself,
today could be the day ... so what do
you say ... will you marry me?
(getting to business)
Then please can you get me through
to Mr. Gekko?

MARVIN (coaching)
It concerns his future!

JOE
Of course he's.busy, and so am I.
Five minutes. That's all I'm asking.
I know that if he could only hear
what I have to say ... it would change his life.
 9.

INT. GEKKO OFFICE - DAY

NATALIE, a classy, attractive Englishwoman is on the phone

with Joe, somewhat amused by his manner. She is the
personal secretary to multi-millionaire, venture capitalist
Gordon Gekko. His windows look out on a panoramic view
of the city and East River. The paintings and furnishings
in her outter office alone, make Joe's Brokerage firm
look like a flea bag boarding house.

NATALIE
Mister Fox, I told you that Mr. Gekko
already has his own brokers. Yes,
I agree that the spirit of America
is competition. Yes, I gave him your
message yesterday. I shall give him
your message today. I wish I could be
of more help. I'm sure you're a good
broker. The best ...

As they're speaking, another SECRETARY leads two well-heeled

JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN past her desk. As she opens the door to
the inner office and ushers them inside, we catch a glimpse
of a figure, pacing back and forth, talking animatedly on
the phone by the huge corner window. HE IS GORDON GEKKO.
we hear a deafening ROAR as we:
DISSOL\11, TQ:

EXT. McGREGOR'S BAR AND GRILL - NEAR KENNEDY AIRPORT - TWILIGHT

,

In the background, a 747 ascends into the night sky, climbing

over the rooftops of weathered brick tract houses. Joe,
coat collar pulled up against the wind, crosses the street,
entering a neighborhood bar.

INT. McGREGOR'S -TWILIGHT

Dimly-lit, noisy, blue-collar airline bar. Machinists and
mechanics still in their overalls at the bar, drinking,
watching ESPN FIGHT NIGHT, on TV. Joe searches the crowd.
A group of middle-aged men wave him over, NORTHSTAR AIRLINES
insignias on the pockets •.. CHARLIE DENT, a rugged,
chain-smoking ex-Marine Sergeant, and DOMINICK AMATO,
a big strong Italian greet Joey as he comes over.

CHARLIE
Joey boy, how ya doing?

JOE
Great Charlie, any better it'd be a sin
 1 0.

CHARLEY
So what happend to that Chinese girl
you brought with you the last time,
your ol' man still talking about it -

JOE
Tina, yeah, she was fun. She's just
a friend now.

CHARLEY
Nice girl. She liked you.

DOMINICK (slapping Joe)

So, Mister Wall Street, when you gonna
make us all rich
,JOE
Gotta open an account to win the lottery,
Dominick. I'll get you a condo in
Florida next Christmas.

CARL FOX
... sure and we'll own the airline.
If he makes anyone rich, let him make
himself rich, so's he can pay off
his school loans.

JOE -
... nice to see you in such a good mood Dad,
what'd Mom do, give you fish for dinner? ...
you're smoking too much, how many times
do you gotta go to the hospital to ...

Carl, inhaling his cigarette, grimaces formidably, terminating

the subject.

CARL
... leave me alone willya. Only thing
makes me feel good anymore. Spaghetti.
She makes lousy spaghetti ...

JOE
It's pasta Dad, no longer spaghetti
(Dad looks puzzled, "Oh?")

Joe sitting down next to him, pats him around the shoulder.
Dad, a sarcastic and gruff edge to him, makes a faint smile.
He has a genuine affection and pride in his somewhat glamorous son.

CARL
... that's guinea talk. Whaddaya want,
a beer? (to waitress)
Hey Edna, bring another for the kid,
he looks good, doesn't he?
 11.

Dominick and Charlie go off. A pause. Father and son sizing

e~~h nther up with a lnok.

CARL
... looks like you grown another inch ...
but you don't look so hot, getting
bags under your eyes

JOE
Ah, I had a tough day. Some jerk D,K'd
me and I gotta cover his loss

CARL
Speak English willya

JOE
D,K -- didn't know -- who I was when the
stock he bought took a bath
CARL {nods, satisfied)
I told you not to go into that racket.
You could've stayed at Northstar, everybody
liked you; you coulda been a supervisor
in customer relations now and had some
security, 'stead of going off and
bein' a salesman
JOE {an old story between them)
Look Dad, I'm not a salesman. How many
times I gotta tell you I'm a stockbroker

CARL
You get on the phone and ask strangers
for their money right? You're a salesman

JOE {ticked)
Dad, I just started out. It takes time.
You gotta build a clientelle. I'm doing it.
I could make more money in one year as
a broker than five years at the airline.

CARL
Yeah and you could lose it that fast
too. What kinda benefits you get at
that big deal Wall Street firm? You
get a pension?

He sees he's making Joey upset and softens .••

CARL
Well at least
your shirt stays clean
{pause)
So how much do you need?
 12.

JOE
You don't want to know ...
(beat)
Can you spare a couple hundred?

Dad reaches into his pocket, looks at his cash.

JOE (embarrassed)
Not in here Dad ... please. Later.

Dad shrugs, puts it away.

CARL
... it adds up Joey, 100 here, couple
hundred there. Your brother never ...
(cuts off when he sees Joey's face)
... well,I always said money is something
you need in case you don't die tomorrow ...
Look, anytime you want, you know you
can move back into the house -- rent free.
For chrissakes, you're paying a thousand
a month for that cockroach palace ...

JOE
That's what it costs for a Manhattan
address Dad, and that's where I gotta
live. One day you'll see. You'll be
proud of me Dad, I guarantee you .•.

CARL (with a twinki"e in his eyes)

It's yourself you gotta be proud of,
huckleberry ...

JOE
... so how's Mom?

CARL (with affection)

... same. P2in in the ass. Talks too much ...
gonna take her to Florida next month ...
west coast, near Tampa, you know

JOE
... what's happening at the airline?

CARL (lights another cigarette)

... just ~<,?t •.~ith the comptrol l AT. nver so;ne
union stuff and he told us some good news •..
'member that crash last summer? Well, the
FAA investigation is gonna rule it was
a manufacturing flaw in the door latch
mechanism. I kept telling •e~ it wazn't
maintenance, it was those goddamn greedy
manufa9turers out in Cincinnati. And I was right.
 13.

,TOE
That's great Dad

CARL
Damn right, it gets us out from under
suspension and now we'll get those
new routes to Pittsburgh and Boston
and the equipment we need. We're gonna
compete with the m?jors now
JOE (boasts)
Hey to Northstar, as your broker all
I can advise is hold on to that stock dad ...

They drink. Joe reflects a moment.

JOE
You sure about this?

CARL ( 1 aughs)
Joey, you got that mischief look in
your face. You used to smile like that
when you were asleep as a baby ...

Joe's mind racing elsewhere.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - UPPER WEST SIDE - MORNING-

A cramped studio facing an air shaft with bars on the window.

Moving across to the sound of the radio alarm going off and
the glib tones of a rock D.J. announcing the Met's latest
streak ... The walls are papered with stock analyses and
graphs. His IBM computer still displays yesterday's
quotes, print out pages strewn across the floor. No
other semblance of a personal life except clothes haphazardly
tossed and Fortune magazines.

Joe drags himself out of bed, punches up his appointment

calendar on the computer, stopping to focus on an underlined
notation: G.G.'S BIRTHDAY.

EXT. JOE'S APARTMENT - UPPER WEST SIDE - MORNING

Amsterdam Avenue is undergoing serious gentrification.

Joe, decked out in his best suit and tie, exits a broken
down liquor store with a gift-wrapped bottle. Two WINOS
intercept him and he gives them some change, walking on
past a trendy new restaurant, Puerto Rican kids playing
by the curb, the shoe repair store has lost its lease
and is going out of business.
 14.

EXT. PARK AVENUE BUILDING - EAST 50s - MORNING

,Joe, crossing Park Avenue, enters a magnificent toweri.ng glass

structure.

INT. GORDON GEKKO PENTHOUSE OFFICES - MORNING

NATALIE, Gekko's Briti.sh secretary, is completi.ng shorthand

notes as the i.ntercom buzzes. A Logo for "INTEL CORP"
is behind her.

RECEPTION (OFF)
... I have a delivery here for Mr. Gekko.
It's a gift and the gentleman says you
have to sign for it.

NATALIE (frowning)
... all right, send him in ...

INT. HALLWAY

Joe, somewhat nervous, is led down an impressive hallway hung

with expensive modern art ... past a huge Calder Mobile and
a pool of some 15 traders in phones, quotron terminals and
keyboards ... into Natalie's outer office.

JOE
Hello, Natalie, you recognize the voice?
I'll give you a hint, you're thinking
seriously about marrying me .•.

NATALIE (recognizing it)

What are you doing here?

JOE
.•• And you're even lovlier than I pictured.
I brought a birthday present for Mr. Gekko.

NATALIE
First of all, Mr. Fox, you can't just
come barging in here. And what makes
you think it's his birthday?

Joe takes out an old crump.led Fortune magazine cover of

Gordon Gekko, entitled "Gekko the Great!"

FOX
It's in the bible, see. You better go
buy him a present. Please, Natalie.
Let me give him the gift; it's Crystal,
his favorite champagne.
 15.

NATALIE (sighs)
Stay here, I'll see what I can do.

She takes the gift and enters Gekko's office. Joe paces
nervously. Natalie re-appears with a smile.

NATALIE
Make it fn,at·.

JOE (pumping himself up, muttering)

Well ... life all comes down to a fe~ moments,
and this is one of 'em ...
Straightening his tie and hair, he takes a deep breath and enters.

INT. GORDON GEKKO'S OFFICE (JOE'S POV) - DAY

Furnishings in hypermodern gray and black laquer, Modern Art

ranging from black field paintings by Ad Reinhardt to the
smashed dishes of Julian Schnabel. Nautilus equipment, hi-t~ch
gadgets are in evidence, including a splendid Howard Miller
World Time Clock, and a world map ...

Three of Gekko's people, young MBA's dressed for success,

are scattered about the room, on phones, calculators,
coming in and out.
GORDON GEKKO, aka Gekko the Great as the media calls him,
dressed in a custom English suit, paces on the phone with
the restlessness of a caged tiger, a 50-foot extension cord
attached to his blinking 30-line silver-plated voice-
activated telephone. On his ears is a headset. He is
carrying on overlapping conversations with a myriad of
b~nkers, partners and lawyers; pausing to issue commands
to his aides while keeping his eye on the stock prices
spitting across a bank of quotron monitors, carrying
everything from New York Exchanges to London, commodities,
gold, and currency market values.
GEKKO (on phone)
I love it at forty. Hate it at fifty.
Their analysts don't know preferred stock
from livestock •.. (a beat, mischievous smile)
wait for it to come back down then we'll
raise the sperm count on the deal •••
right. Get back to me ..•
(to Alex, an aide listening on the othe
line)
Alex, don't get me locked into a position.
If they got a pure play I'm interested,
otherwise look for something else.
Get on line 3 ...
 16.

ALEX DE BETANCOURT, a tall handsome Frenchman, jots a note

and follows Gordon over the line 3. Gekko's dark intent eyes
fixing briefly on Joe who stands waiting in a corner.
He motions him to sit ...

GEKKO (new line)

Yeah, Billy, who's your buyer? ...
No, not interested.
(eyes on Quotron, to Ollie Steeples,
a trader)
Ollie, take 50 Gulf, forget the hundred.

OLLIE STEEPLES, a gigantic 200-pound man with a beard and

cheek scar, wearing pink suspenders, rises and walks out
of the room, past Joe ...

GEKKO (back on line with Billy, listenin

They have convertible bonds? I want
convertibles ... check the arbitrageurs for
MacDonalds. Yeah, I'm having a Mac attack.
20,000 shares for about 30 minutes. Lunch?
Are you joking? Get back to me ... Line 4
(to Alex)

Joe's eyes on the framed "tombstones" from the Wall Street

Journal commemoration. Gekko's successful deals; they
hang like scalps from the walls. Gekko's eyes drifting
to Joe, a friendly easy smile for a flick of an instant,
he has geniune charm in his manner and though ultrafast
verbally, projects calm and confidence at the center.
A man who obviously loves what he does to some small degree
is flashing his stuff for the outsider ...

GEKKO (line 4)
Look Harold, they' re vulnerable we want
'em to think they're under accumulation
but don't go over 5%, you hear me.
Call Geneva and the Bahamas. We feint
towards it but we wait ••.

ALEX
What about bringing in Yurovich?

GEKKO (scoffs)
If I ever needed surgery, get me the heart
of an arb like Yurovich, it's never been
used ... Happy Holideals Harold .•.

Hangs up, eyes to Joe.

 1 7.

JOE (nervous)
How do you do Mr. Gekko. I'm Joe Fox

GEKKO
so you say. Nice to meet you, thanks
for the champagne, I hope you're
reasonably intelligent

Gekko wraps the cuff of a state-of-the-art, automatic blood

pressure monit~r around his arm and starts pumping it up.
His aides continue on the phones.

GEKKO
... got to monitor my blood pressure, so
whatever you do, don't upset me

JOE
Oh no, no ...

GEKKO (demonstrating it)

Within 45 seconds, a microprocessor
computes your systolic and diastolic
pressure. Has an LCD readout, and it's
cost effective -- less than one visit
to the doctor.

JOE
I just want to let you know Mr. Gekko
that ever since I was a business ·student
at NYU I've followed your career and I
think you're an incredible genius, and
I've always dreamed of only one
thing -- to do business with a man like you ...

GEKKO (smiles, impatient with the speech)

So what have you got for me, sport?

Joe opens his attache case and rifles out a handful of briefs.
Gekko noting the blood pressure reading and taking the cuff
off his arm. Ollie Steeples, the big 'trader,, ambles back in,
says something to the third aide, a young yuppie woman SUSAN TURNER.

JOE
Chart break-out on this one here
... uh Browning Ferris Industries •.• low
P.E. in relation to the Dow. Good
fundamentals, good technicals.
Strong management.
NATALIE
Mr. Stevenson in San Francisco

Gekko takes the call, cutting Joe off.

 1 8.

GEKKO
He respond to the offer? What? What
the hell's he doing giving lecture tours
when his company's losing 60 million
a auarter? I guess he's giving lectures
on ho~ to lose money ... if this guy opened a
funeral parlor, no one would die ...
(gets a chuckle from Alex on phone and also Joel
Yeah I know the hardest job of al 1 is
trying to look busy when you're not.
Well, Christmas is over and business
is business. Dilute him ...
(simultaneous to Ollie Steeples)
Start trading. Dilute the shit out of
Mr. Church Cromwell

OLLIE (moves out)

He's diluted, Gordo. Piece of cake.

Gekko hanging up and buzzing an aide. Throws out an aside

to Joe that Ollie can hear as he goes out.

GEKKO
... doesn't look like it but the best
trader on the street ...
(to the third aide)
Sue, get the book on Cromwell Paper
and bring it here ..•

roe shifting, uncomfortable as Gekko finally swivels his• attention

back to him.
GEKKO
It's a dog. What else you got sport?
JOE (coming right back)
Teleco ... undervalued, discount from book,
great c2 ..sh £ 1 o;, ...

Al•xis sn•ers, shRres a look wit~ Gek¼o.

lit:KKO (la ughs)
That's a dog with a different bite
(checks his hi-tech watch)
Come on, tell me something I don't know.
It's my birthday, surprise me.

As he feeds some note paper he's jotted on into the SHREDDER

that sits next to the desk over the waste basket. The sound
it makes is soft and menacing. Joey knows it's fourth down
and long, Gekko's attention shifting to the quotron. In
frustration, Joey blurts it out.
 19.

JOE
Northstar Airlines

GEKKO
... rings a bell somewhere. So what?

JOE
A comer. 80 medium-body jets. 300 pilots,
flies northeast, Canada, some Florida
and Caribbean routes ...

GEKKO
... don't like airlines, lousy unions ...

JOE
There was a crash last year. They just got
a favorable ruling on a lawsuit. Even
the plaintiffs don't know ...

Gekko looks up, remotely interested.

GEKKO
How do you know?

JOE
I know ... the decision'll clear the way
for new planes and route contracts.
There's only a small float out there,
so you should grab it. Good for a
five point pop.

Ollie comes back in, as excited as he will ever get under his
rolls of flesh, his voice deadpan.

OLLIE
... just got 10,000 at 18, getting
another 5 at 18 1/2

Gekko has stood up to indicate the meeting is over.

GEKKO
Great, keep going ... (to Joe) Interesting.
You have a card?

Joey thrusts a card into his hands. Gekko glances at it.

JOE
Want my home number too?

GEKKO (smiles)
Mr. Fox, I look at a hundred ideas
a day. I choose one.
 20.

Joe stuffs his notes back into the briefcase, hoping for
a word of encouragement in the awkward silence.

JOE
Well, hope to hear from you sir

He turns and heads out the door, passing Susan who hurries
in with a dossier ...

Gekko glances at it. As Joe leaves, he overhears:

GEKKO (OFF)
OK gang, start the lawyers on a 13D
on Cromwell Paper, we're going after
everything in sight, they're gonna
fight, they got Myers and Thromberg
doing their legal, they're killers.

INT. OUTSIDE GEKKO'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe walks glumly past Natalie, certain that he's blown it.
She's busy on the phone.

JOE
... well thanks anyway Natalie

NATALIE (buzzing inside, preoccupied)

... havea nice day Mr. Stone
(wrong name, doesn't notice,
to Gekko on phone)
... Mr. Gekko, the conference call is
ready. Mr. Sugarman and Mr. Lorenzo in
Delaware. Mr. Bernard in Los Angeles.
Mr. Jackson and Miss Rosco in New York,
and Mrs. Pfeiffer's in London. They're
al 1 on ...

GEKKO VOICE
... thanks Natalie

The phone call goes behind closed doors. As Joe walks out,
an idea strikes him.
 21.

INT. PHONE BOOTH - NEW YORK STREET - DAY

Joey hasn't missed a beat, simultaneously using the information

he has. The camera tracking him, in a sense beginning to
trap him.

JOE
Marvin. Me. Buy me 200 shares of Cromwell
Paper ... Margin it to the hilt ... I wish
I had more, got a tip ... put your paws
on some. Yeah I know ... I saw him but he
didn't see me ...

He hangs up, somewhere between defeat and victory.

INT. JOE'S BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe's at his desk wearily listening to MRS. GRIMES, a kvetching

older lady with garish make-up and an eccentric bag lady look,
and a yorkie terrier on her lap. Marvin paces in near
background making noises about eighths and quarters.

MRS. GRIMES
It's only gone up one measly eighth in
three months. My sister Louise bought
some gold options and she's made a fortune

JOE
Mrs. Grimes, you told me you didn't want
i to .lose money, so I recommended a
conservative portfolio. If you want
something with high risk and more
volatility, I'll be glad to accomodate you

MARVIN (popping over)

Cromwell's up to 23! You've made 3,00"0!
JOE (with irony)
... enough to cover this morning's loss ...

The dog starts barking at Marvin and Mrs. Grimes has overheard.

MRS. GRIMES
You like that one Bon-Bon?
(dog barks)
Then mommy will buy it. We want some Cromwell

JOE
Uh Mrs. Grimes, I think you'd be safer in ...
 22.

MRS. GRIMES
Cromwell Gas -- we'll take 50 shares

JOE (with irony)

Fifty whole shares? Allright
(starts writing the ticket)

Mrs. Grimes leaves.

MRS. GRIMES
Don't forget to call me every day Joey.
You're a good boy.

Joey slumps back in his chair, dejected, floating the ticket

across the desk. Marvin wheels his chair over.

JOE
I just made subway fare home

MARVIN
Cheer up buddy buddy. You shook Gekko
the Great's hand and you still got all
your fingers. He's not the only elephant
in the jungle.

Lynch, the manager, stalks past with some telexes.

LYNCH
I wouldn't be sitting around chinwagging
if I were you Fox ... plenty of names in
that phone book to call ••.

Marvin gives Lynch the Italian salute, behind his back.

Grudgingly, Joey flips open the massive New York phone
book to cold call •.•

MARVIN
.•. got tickets for the Knicks tonight.
Go out and cruise some pussy afterwards,
whaddaya say?

JOE (shakes his head)

... gotta do my technical charts

MARVIN
Charts! I'm offering you the Knicks and
pussy. God save you before you turn
into poor Hickey over there .••

Their eyes briefly on Dan Hickey, red faced, desperately trying

to make a sale on the telephone, hangs up defeated.
 23.

JOE
... hopefully more like LGU Davis ...

Their eyes briefly on Lou Davis, in his private office,

sitting there slumped, thinking, smoking as he watches the
quotron, a lonely dignity to him.

MARVIN
... they say he made big bucks in the
60s, lost it all when his firm went
'' belly up in '67. Nice guy but a loser.
Who wants to be coming in here in
his late sixties pitching ... whatever
happened to that cute analyst at
Thudder, Wicks? ... Cindy? Susan?

I
I
JOE
Lisa. She's boring. Life is numbers.
Having sex with her is like reading the
Wall Street Journal, I'd rather do that.
'Sides this AIDS shit is ruining romance,
nobody trusts anybody anymore, gotta get
a blood test in the john before you leave
a bar together, somebody oughta invent
one, no kidding, make a fortune, I gotta
get to work •.• z's today.
(hitting the phone with the directory)

The pool SECRETARY, GINA, a Chinese girl, calls out.

GINA
Call for you Joey

JOE ( taking it)

Joe Fox

Joe rears up in his seat. A change. Marvin notices.

INT. GORDON GEKKO OFFICE - .SIMULTANEOUS DAY

Gekko talks into his speaker phone, gazing out the window •..

GEKKO
Buy me ten thousand shares of Northstar
 24.

INT. JOEY'S CUBICLE - DAY

The camera tracks around and in on him climactically as the
Music Theme rises to ensnare with excitement ... we end
close on ,Joey. Dumbstruck.
JOE
Yes, sir. Thank you. You won't regret it.

He hangs up, stunned still, rises from his chair, unbuttons

his collar and feverishly starts writing the ticket.

MARVIN
Got a little action there, eh buddy?

JOE
Marv
(turns triumphant)
... I just bagged the elephant!

EXT. COLUMBUS AVENUE - NIGHT

The yupper West Side. The young, the rich and the restless
parade along the avenue, jamming the neighborhood restaurants
and bars. Joe glides along, feeling a part of the crowd now,
past a dreadlocked DERELICT swigging thunderbird and
shouting obscenities, shaking a wooden african spear.

INT. CARAMBA'S BAR - NIGHT

Inside the glitzy neighborhood singles bar in which ,Joe stops,
everybody seems to be drinking margaritas. ,Joe orders a
beer, overhearing a DESIGNER CLAD WOMANwith hundred dollar
highlights in her hair.
DESIGNER WOMAN
..• cost you half a million just to get
a fleatrap on Central Park west, three
quarters a million for the same thing
on the East Side. Rent, take it off your
taxes, cost you 5000 a month but you
get 2 bedrooms and a view of the park,
if you wanna buy, buy the Hamptons,
the smart money's going there. Julie
Weiss •.• Dianne Solomon, they both just
got places ...

She blathers on as he surveys the room, noticing an ELEGANT

BLONDE with a striking aloof beauty, very much the debutante
dream Grace Kelly type, so refined that you wonder what
she could possibly be doing out at night in public alone.
 25.

Joe summons his courage, catches his breath, makes his way
over ... She sees him approach, obviously doesn't wish to
talk, eyes darting elsewhere like a nervous deer.

JOE (awkward)
Hi ... can I buy you a drink? I'm celebrating
tonight

BLONDE (sibilant)
Please, no thanks ...
( 1 ooking away)

JOE
Look I know you get approached a lot by
strange men but I'm different, I
never talk to strangers, all my life
I've been waiting for the right person
to walk across the room ... you're that
person, I know it in my heart, you don't
but I do and if you walk away now I'll
never see you again or you me. You'll
grow old. I'll grow old. We'll both die.
And we'll never have known each other.
That's sad. At least one drink for
a dreamer .•. what's your favorite drink?

She looks at him, not quite sure. Is he serious or glib?

BLONDE (uncommitted)
Calvados

JOE
Never heard of it

BLONDE
It's a romantic and tragic drink

JOE
Sounds tempting. I prefer mine with a
twist of fate. You know like us meeting.
Don't go way ...

Maybe, just maybe she's his! His eyes show it as he hurries

back to the bar to order. As he gets the bartender's attention,
he turns and sees that she is joined by a MAN who looks as
if he stepped out of the pages of GQ. Together they walk away.
Stung, Joe watches as the woman of his dreams disappears out
the door.
BARTENDER
What do you want?

,JOE
..• I just lost it.
 26.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT

Joe lies in bed, worried, staring at the ceiling. A female
body sleeps next to him, a pretty little face. He turns
on the light, looks at the clock: 4a.m. He picks up a
prospectus for a chemical company, starts reading.

EXT. 86th STREET & BROADWAY- EARLY DAY

People pouring into the subway on the way to work. Joe rifles
through the Times he's just bought at a newsstand and finds
the article he was looking for: NORTHSTAR EXONERATED IN 707
CRASH. He thrusts his fist in the air, victoriously ...
bounds down the subway stairs.

INT. JOE'S BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe's on the quotron and the phone; the word's spread around
the office he landed Gekko and brokers drop by his desk to
get the lowdown.
JOE (on the phone)
What's it at now? Still moving. Great!

DAN HICKEY
The man of the day. Pour some water on him
to cool him off .•. one of these days· I
want to know how you got Gekko's account

JOE {indicating Dan's Yale tie)

My magic tie, Dan

HICKEY
I'll trade you
Lou Davis and a Chinese LADY BROKER intersect.
CHINESE LADY
Gordo the Great, way to go
LOU (skeptical)
I·can't figger it. Northstar's a crap
stock, always has been. Still wouldn't
touch it .•.
CHINESE LADY
What's this I hear you're into
Cromwell Pa,>er too
LOU
Not bad company, good management, always
has been but no excitement ...
 27.

JOE (succinct, to Chinese Lady)

Buy
She hears him. As they go, Marvin swivels madly over in his chair.

MARVIN
Buddy, buddy, some fucki.n' buddy; why
didn't you tell me to buy Northstar

JOE
Hey Marv, he demanded confidentiality ...

MARVIN
Gimme a break. You buy Northstar Airlines
yesterday. Today they just happen to get
good news and the stock goes. You must
have ESP. A real Nostradamus.
(Joe ignoring him, picking up the phone)
Jesus Christ, what are friends for?

JOE
All right, I owe you one Marv

MARVIN
That's right, next time a little birdie
talks to you, talk to me too E.F. Hutton

GINA (pool secretary)

Joey, phone ... Gordon Gekko!

Everybody in the adjacent area turns and looks at Joey like

in an E.F. Hutton commercial.
JOE (on phone)
Hi Natalie ••• lunch at 21
(looks at watch)
I'm out the door ...

As he springs up to leave, Lynch the manager happens to be

strolling by. He nods pleasantly at Joey.

LYNCH
Nice piece of work, Fox. If you need any
help, please, that's what I'm here for.

JOE
Thank you Mister Lynch.
 28.

INT. 21 CLUB - DAY

Dark mahogany wood, plush banquettes, a long oak bar.

Joe enters the main dining room in a relatively threadbare
suit that hangs on him embarrasingly as other businessmen
in well-cut suits move around him and a Maitre d' sniffs,
then leads him to where Gekko is parked, finishing up his
fruit cup.

GEKKO
Hi sport

JOE (still nervous)

Nice to see you again Mr. Gekko
(he's seated)

GEKKO
Try the fresh salmon. It's off the menu
but Louis will make it for you ...

MAITRE DIT
Of course sir. And to drink?

JOE
Uh ... just a white wine

He looks at Gekko's bottled water, changes his mind.

JOE
.•• just a Perri.er, thank you ...

The Maitre Dit leaves. Gekko proudly pulls a tiny 3" by 6"
color television out of his pocket with a 2" diagonal screen,
flips it on to the Dow Jones averages.

GEKKO
See this? Can you believe it? Two inch screen ...

JOE
I can't even see it

GEKKO
... for my kid Rudy - 3 years old,
electronics freak, got a liquid crystal
display 'stead of an electronic beam.
we're going into a new age Fox. So
how's business today

His cellular telephone, strapped to his waist, whirrs softly.

Gekko takes it, identifies himself, listens.
 2 9.

GEKKO
Go ... (beat) keep buying. Check with
Atchinson in the caymans. And
transfer it from Zurich.

Joe waits as Gekko repockets the phone.

JOE
Northstar was at 21 and an eighth when
I left the office. It might spin up
to 25 tonight ...
(Gekko smiles, Joe ventures on)
... still buying Cromwell Paper Mr. Gekko?

Gekko looks deadpan at him. Joe realizes he might've overstepped

himself, a major mistake at this juncture. But Gekko finally
cracks a tiny smile.

GEKKO
I'll bet you were in a phone booth two
minutes after you were out of my office

JOE (guilty, flushes, denies)

... if I had money Mr. Gekko I guess I
would've but unfortunately I don't ...

Gekko, distracted, remembers the purpose of the meeting, reaches

into his pocket, draws out a check and puts it down on Joey's plate.

GEKKO·
Well this might change your personality.
Put it in my brokerage account will you

Greeting TWO BANKERS who stop at the table as Joe picks up

the check, glances at it. His hand starts to tremble.

The check is for half a million dollars.

GEKKO (to busboy, the bankers exiting)

Can we have the check over here for christ's
sake.

BUS BOY {rushing off)

Yes sir!

GEKKO
Put a hundred thousand in one of those
bow-wow stocks you mentioned. Pick the
dog with the least fleas. use a stop loss.
And buy yourself a decent suit. You can't
come in here looking like that
{Joe flushes, embarrassed)
Go to Mort Sill's, tell em I sent you
 30.

JOE (his genuine look)

Mr. Gekko thank you for the chance.
You won't regret this, you're with a winner.

GEKKO (paying the check with cash)

... put the rest of it in a money market
account for now. I want to see what you
know before I invest it ... and save the
cheap salesman talk, it's obvious

JOE (stung)
Excuse me sir?

Gekko rising to leave, the Maitre d'it hovering around.

GEKKO
You heard me ... I don't like losses sport.
Nothing ruins my day more than losses ...
Louis, take care of 'im. Enjoy the lunch.

Confused, Joey watches Gekko walk out of the room, pumping

extended hands left and right. He holds the cashiers check
up to his eyes, entranced by it, like a kid with his first
dollar ... as the glowing salmon course is put in front of him.
WIPE TO:

BROKERING MONTAGE-- JOE'S BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY

A classical MUSIC THEME carries us through, something like

"The Rake's Progress."
l -- Joe in the wire room, puts his ticket in the order chute.
Marvin does likewise.
WIPE TO:

2 -- Joe on the phone, gazing at the ticker, concern in his eyes.

CLICKING of the tape ticker comes up over music.
WIPE TO:

3 -- Later. Research reports piling up. Joe's secretary

trying to get his attention. Joe's concern growing, as
the green fluorescent numbers spit across the board.
CLICKER growing louder. Pan to Marvin, hands cupped
in prayer. To Dan Hickey who closes his eyes and shakes
his head.
WIPE TO:
 31.

4 -- Close -- Joe watching the tape -- dizzying, hypnotic

blur of numbers. The roar of the clicker, drowning out the
music ... a runaway freight train.
WIPE TO:
5 --· Joe's hands clamped over his eyes. The numbers stop.
Noise recedes. He opens his eyes, looks down at his desk,
stacked with reports and phone messages, as the pool secretary,
GINA, calls out.
GINA (over shot)
Mr. Benedetto called. Mr. Berger, your
landlord, and Sparkle Cleaners, something
about a check, they sound pissed.

Marvin glumly coasts over in his chair.

MARVIN
Boy, we sure went down the toilet on
ugly, imagine if we were Japanese,
we'd have to disembowel ourselves ...

GINA (o.s.)
And Gekko's office is after you. Be
at the Yale Club squash courts at six ...

Joe looks worried, at Marvin.

INT. YALE CLUB ·sQUASH COURTS - EVENING

Games in progress on the four courts, heavy hitting sounds.

crossing to Gekko and Joe going at it. Joe is obviously
the worse for wear.

GEKKO (amused)
... come on sport, you gotta try harder,
I need some exercise for chrissake ...

JOE (out of breath)

Mr. Gekko, I don't think I can ... go on.

GEKKO
... finish out the game, Joe, push yourself •..

Meant paternally or sadistically, it's hard to tell. Gekko

hits him the ball, a big fat shot. Joe returns. Gekko
moves him around the court, as if punishing him, the kid
exhausted but the ball's never quite out of reach -- till
Joe finally can't take i.t anymore and at the end of his
breath, smashes into the wall and collapses. Gekko laughs.
Joe lying there like a sad dog as Gekko hauls him up.
 32.

INT. YALE CLUB STEAM ROOM - NIGHT

Gekko and Joe sit alone, wreathed in steam.

JOE
... you went to Yale, Mr. Gekko

GEKKO ( 1 a ughs)
... city College. Subway fares were my
tuition ... bought my way in, every one
of these stuffy farts are sucking my
kneecaps for a drink and a free ride

JOE (easing into it)

Uh, Mr. Gekko, we took a little loss today.
We got stopped out on Teleco ...
(Gekko waits)
... about 100 thousand

Gekko's expression is frightening but cool.

GEKKO
I guess your father's not a union
representative on that company

JOE (shocked)
What? How do you know about my father?

GEKKO
The most valuable commodity I know of
is information. wouldn't you agree?

JOE (exhaling deeply)

Yes •..
INT. YALE CLUB LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT
Naked men, steam baths, muscular masseurs, a sense of privacy
and wealth among men. Joey is slumped on a bench after taking
a shower, drinking a Coke. Gekko towelling himself down,
getting dressed ..• people constantly stopping by to greet him.
Hi Fred, hi Barry, how's the wife .•• still living in Larchmont?
Yeah still commuting ... y'ever do anything with that Aetna Gas
deal •.. nah ... fishing for informaion, for a possible drink
or meeting but Gekko stonewalls them all. ..

GEKKO (looking at Joe thru the mirror)

The public is out there throwing darts at
a board, sport. I don't throw darts at
a. board. I only bet sure things.
f<_ead SunTzu's "The Art of war." To
paraphrase him, 'every battle is truly
won before it is ever fought'. Your work's
good but flash in the pan, fluky. I been
in the business since '69. You need a system,
(CONTINUED)
 33 •

GEKKO (Cont'd)
discipline, good people, not deal junkies
and toreadors, the deal flow burns
most people out at 35. Most of em with
their MBAs from Harvard never really make
it to the top. I'm a believer in PSHs,
poor, smart and hungry. And no feelings.
You don't win em all, you don't lose em all,
you keep on fighting, and if you need a
friend, get a dog, it's trench warfare
out there sport ... (eyeing the surroundings)
and in here too. I got twenty other brokers
out there, kiddo, analyzing charts. I don't
need another one.

As if to go, he turns. Joe panicking. Is this the kissoff?

JOE (with all his conviction)

I'm not just another broker Mister Gekko.
If you give me another chance, I'll
'. prove it to you.

Gekko is starting to walk out, then looks back, a beat, walks

over to Joe.

GEKKO
You want another chance then stop sending
me infomation and start getting me
infomation. Get dressed, I'll show you
!!]y_ charts

Joe pulls his shirt on. Yes sir!

INT. GEKKO LIMOUSINE - EVENING

cruising up Park Avenue. A panel slides open next to the

bar with a portable computer on it. A television is on to
the evening news, a low hum of voices. Gekko punches into
the keyboard of the computer. A name appears on the screen ...
LAWRENCEWILDMAN III with curriculum vitae following,
address, phones, businesses ...

GEKKO
Know the name?
JOE
'Course. Larry Wildman. One of the first
corporate raiders.
 3 4.

GEKKO (amused, cold hatred)

:sir Larry Wildman. A 'gentleman' who
doesn't think he has an asshole, like ~11
Brits he thinks he was born with a better
pot to piss in ... bribed an old secretary
of mine to open her mouth and stole
Genaco Oil right from under me.

,JOE (excited)
.r remember that deal. !£):! were involved?

Gekko shuts off the computer and slides it back into the housing,
his eyes taking in the low-volume news.

GEKKO
Revenge, they say, is a dish best served
cold ... well, it's payback time, sport
(looking out suddenly)
... see that building? I bought it ten
years ago. It was my first real estate
deal. I sold it a couple years later and
made a three million dollar profit. At
that time I thought that was all the
money in the world •.•
(drinks)
Now, it's a day's pay. What do you think
of the wine

JOE
Excellent

GEKKO
Private reserve from a vineyard of ours
in Sonoma ... so I had a mole in Wildman's
employ. He told me something but
unfortunately he was fired. He qave
me half the picture •..

JOE
I don't understand.

GEKKO
Wildman's in town. something big is
about to go down. I want you to follow him.
I need to know where he goes and who he
sees. I want you, sport, to give me the
missing half of the picture .•.
 35.

JOE
Follow him? Mr. Gekko r. ..
(shaken)
I couldn't do that. I could lose my license.
If the SEC found out, I could go to jail.
That's inside information.

GEKKO (scratches his head wryly)

Inside information. Oh you mean like when
a father tells his son about a court ruling
on an airline? Or someone overhears me
saying I'm gonna buy cromwel1 Paper?
Or the chairman of the board of XYZ suddenly
knows it's time to dump XYZ. You mean that?
(a piercing look)
I'm afraid sport; unless you got a father
on the board of directors of another company,
you and I are gonna have a hard time doing
any business •..

Joe downs the rest of his drink, upset by the darkening mood.
There's something very powerful and frightening about Gekko
that's ensnaring him.

JOE
What about hard work?

GEKKO
What about it? You work hard, don't you?
I'll bet you stayed up all night
charting that stock. And where'd it get
you? ... my father worked like a termite
selling electrical supplies. So hard he
dropped dead of a heart attack at 49 and
the bank pissed on his grave and foreclosed
on his house ... Wake .1:!E.kiddo, if you're
not inside you're outside. You had what it
takes to get through my door. Next question
is do you have what it takes to stay ••.

The car stopping in traffic. Horns honking.

GEKKO (pointing)
Look out there ••.

Their POV -- a STREET CORNER. A richly dressed EXECUTIVE

stands at the curb next to a BUM with a shopping cart filled
with garbage.
GEKKO (0. S.)
Do you really think the difference between
this guy and that guy is luck?
 36.

As they drive on in silence. Gekko checks his watch,. pulls

out the telephone.

GEKKO
... when it comes to money, Joe, every man's
of the same religion. Or should be ... Hope
you don't mind if I let you off here,
I'm late for a meeting ...

EXT. PARK AVENUE - EVENING

The CHAUFFEUR lets Joe out the door ... Joe looks back at Gekko.

JOE
All right, Mister Gekko ... all right.

His eyes telling us he is weighed down by chains of guilt about it.

Gekko smiles, gazes at the twilight skyline, a sudden look

of contentment.

GEKKO
Yeah, it's a beautiful night. I love this
hot stinkin' city.
(pointing up Park Avenue)
... nothing else like it in the world.
Eight million people living on each other's
heads, kids born, millionaires dying, people
praying, junkies, whores, wills, lawyers,
deals, parties, sex .•. guys like you Joey
dreaming about the big score. You know
the best thing about New York sport, is
everything you can do here. And the worst
thing is everything you can't afford to do ...

He shuts the door. Joe watches as the limo drives off.

 37.
EXT. FIFTH AVENUE APARTMENT - DAWN

The streets are empty, garbas, trucks moving as Joey waits

next to his bike across from one of the most desirable
addresses in New York. The Doorman rushes to open the door
under the canopy as a tall strong man in his fifties emerges
with a LAWYER TYPE and a FEMALE EXECUTIVE. The man is
SIR LAURENCE WILDMAN and his manner and gait convey the
impression of an authoritative presence with little patience
as the chauffeur opens the door and he slides into the
black seat of the limo.

Joey, astride Marv's Kawasaki 500, hits the streets after him.

The Music through the following Montage should suggest

a chase brio.

EXT. WALL STREET BUILDING - MORNING

Joe shooting past the Trinity Church structure ... Wildman

gets out of his limo with his people, strides into the lobby.

Joe quickly parks his bike on the sidewalk and rushes in

after them ... not a second too late.

INT. LOBBY - WALL STREET BUILDING - DAY

Joe just manages to squeeze into the elevator with Wildman

and crew -- and a couple other early birds -- as the doors close.

INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

Joe eyeing Wildman, looks away as Wildman looks back at him,

an edge of defiance to him, why are you staring at me?
Not the world's most likable personality.

INT. JACKSONJSTEINEM - OUTER OFFICE - DAY

The doors open and Wildman and co. step out into the reception
area of Jackson, Steinem Investment Bankers ... The doors
close and Joey continues upwards.

EXT. WALL STREET BUILDING - LATER MORNING

The street now jammed with people hurrying to work. Joey

paces the curb, reacting when Wildman walks out, saying
goodbye to the ,Female Executive and getting in the limo
with his lawyer ... Joey follows.
 38.

INT. LE CIRQUE RESTAURANT - PARK AVENUE - DAY

Formal French haute cuisine. Power lunches in progress.

As Wildman is seated with several well-dressed BANKERS at
a good table, Joe tries to wrangle a table from a stiff
looking ~aitre D'it, who shakes his head, barely concealing
his attitude towards Joey's general demeanor.

EXT. LE CIRQUE - DAY

Joey waits outside, bored, as Wildman steps out, shakes hands

with the bankers ...

EXT. MANUFACTURERSHANOVER TRUST - LATER DAY

Camera driving up to it from Joey's POV as Wildman steps out

of a limo, heading inside •.•

Joey checking the time, makes an entry into his notebook

like any good spy.

EXT. MIDTOWN TUNNEL QUEENS -- DAY

Music rising to triumphant proportions. AERIAL SHOT

of the Limo emerging from the tunnel and onto the Long
Island Expressway. CAMERAMOVES IN, picking up Joey on the
Kawasaki, darting through lanes, staying several car lengths behind.

EXT. KENNEDY AIRPORT - DAY

The Limo winds its way around the perimeter road, past
commercial airliners. ;rt takes the turnoff for Butler
Aviation. Joey exits the ramp shortly after them.

EXT. BUTLER AVIATION AIRFIELD - DAY

A corporate saber.liner jet, its engine running, is idled

at the end of the taxiway. The limo pulls up along the
tarmac next to it and Wildman steps out, walking past a
MECHANIC to the stairs of the plane. A STEWARDESS waits for him.

EXT. RAMP - DAY

Joe watches, wondering what to do as the plane taxies down

the runway. He spots the flight mechanic and the answer
comes to him. He starts running toward the mechanic.
 39.

EXT. APRON - DAY

Joe races up to the mechanic.

JOE
Oh shit, don't tell me Mister Wildman
was on board that plane?
(the mechanic nods)·

My boss is gonna kill me. I was supposed

to give him this
(holding his notebook)
You know where that plane is going?

MECHANIC (walking off)

Erie, Pennsylvania ...

Joe watching the plane take off, smiles to himself.

INT. PHONE BOOTH - AIRLINES TERMINAL - DAY

JOE (into phone, proudly)

... after spending the morning at Jackson,
Steinem -- on the 14th floor, the junk
bonds department -- where Shane Mora works
he had lunch at Le Cirque with a group
of well-dressed heavyset bean-counters ...
(Gekko voiceback: "the adjectives
are reduntant, sport")
... he later stopped off at Manny-Hanny's.
I'd say from ~11 the palm-pressing and
sweet smiling going on that Larry got
a nice fat loan •..

INT. GEKKO LIMOUSINE- HEADING DOWNPARK AVENUE - DAY

Alex and Lisa are with him. Gekko play1ng the computer,
eyes lighting up on the phone.

GEKKO
... bright but not bright enough, Sherlock
you missed the ~forest for the trees ...
roll the dice and play a little monopoly •..
what utility would Sir Lawrence land
on in Erie, Pennsylvania

INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY

Joe slapping hi$ face, realizing.

 40.

JOE
Jesus Christ, he's buying American
Steel!

INT. GEKKO LIMO - DAY

Gordon already has the closing figures punched up on his
quotron. Calls his shot.

GEKKO
When the market opens tomorrow, buy five
thousand March fifty calls. Start buying
ten thousand share blocks and take it
up to fifty dollars. When it reaches
fifty, you can let out a little taste
to youro friends. Then cal 1 this number
': 243-7616: tell the man "blue horseshoe
loves American Steel ... " you just jumped
two grades Joey, congrats, you know what
they say, 90% of life's being in the right
place at the right time, the other 10%
is luck ... be in touch
(hangs up)
He hangs up, looks at Alex and Lisa.

GEKKO
Sun Tzu say -- the skillful employer of
men employs (a)the wise man because he
likes to show off his brains b) the brave
man cause he likes to show his courage
(c) the greedy man cause he's quick at
taking advantage ... and (d) the stupid
man ... (pause) because he has no fear
of death. (to Alex) ••• start buying American
Steel in London and Hong Kong ••.

EXT. NORTHSTAR AIRLINES (LaGUARDIA) -"EVENING (SAME DAY)

Joey parks his bike in front of a HANGAR and heads inside.

INT. NORTHSTAR MAINTENANCE HANGAR - NIGHT

A large company banner hangs from the rafters: "Northstar --

The Vision Goes on." Joey's father, Carl, and Charley Dent
and Dominick Amato are changing the generator on a 727.
A welder is repairign a wing seam. ,Joey shouting to
his Dad over the noise.

JOE
Hey Dad! ... Hiya Charlie .•. Dominick ...
 41.

They wave back, Carl climbing down a maintenance stand ...

lights up a cigarette.

CARL
What brings you out here ...

JOE
Client. Got a private jet over at Butler
Aviation ... Dad, you always gotta light
up when you see me, it's the ...

CARL (don't bother me look)

nh shit. don't start. What is it ... money?

Joe takes out his wallet, smiles, peels out 10 $100 bills.

JOE
Yeah. In fact I'm doing great. New
client. Whole new league. It's starting to
happen Dad. The Academy Award! You
know what I'm saying
Dad doesn't but Joey sticks the cash in his hand.

CARL (doesn't)
Sure •.• lots of guys at the track talk
like that ..• but how do I know you'll
have any dough next month ...
(looking at the money)
What's this? I gave you two hundred

JOE
Dividend. I figure I owe you about five
thousand in nickels ...

CARL (tries to give it back)

•.. don't be crazy

JOE (pushes it back)

Dad. Come on, take it. You're always giving
me. You given me too much. I want to give
you something.

CARL
Put it to your school loans

JOE
Don't worry about the loans. I'm doing
good Dad and it's gonna stay that way
now ... least buy yourself a new suit
 42.

CARL
What do I need a fancy suit for. I don't
live in fancy-schmancy Manhattan and
hobnob with the jet set. I just fix
thei.r planes

Joey forces the money into his hand.

JOE
... then buy yourself a decent bowling
jacket so when you take Mom out you don't
look like the Roto Rooter man. Come on,
for godsakes, that's what money's for.
Enjoy yourself ...

Touched, his father shakes his head and smiles. He takes it.

CARL
I always felt money cost too much.
You love it, people say you're greedy,
you invest it, a capitalist, spend it
a playboy, and if you save it they say
you never lived to enjoy it ... thanks ...

JOE (admiration)
... Dad, you should've been a CEO.

INT. WIRE ROOM - BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe stands at the front of a line of brokers waiting to

place thei.r opening orders. He is writinq out Gekko's purchase
ticket. Close on the ticket which reads: l0S AM STL 46.

Music skips along i.n a revolving, madcap fashion.

A clerk comes over and takes a seat behind the desk.

Joe silent, an intent look on his face, gazing up at the

digital clock ... as it flicks to 9:30 ... post time.

Tickers, squawk boxes and shouting erupt.

Joe slides his ticket into the order chute. The clerk removes
the ticket from the chute. It's quickly handed off to the
WIRE ROOM OPERATOR, who rapidly starts to type the buy
order for AM STL, AMERICAN STEEL., onto a teletype machine.
 43.

INT. FLOOR OF NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE- DAY

The completed American Steel order spits out of the teletype.

A CLERK hands the buy order to the FLOOR MANAGER. He starts
writing a ticket as we pull back:

INT. BROKERAGE HOUSE BOOTH - DAY

Company floor traders are jammed into a narrow booth,

frantically taking orders over phones and telex machines.

The FLOOR MANAGERgives the ticket to a RUNNER, a young

man wearing worn sneakers, who dashes off. We follow him
across the scruffy Exchange Floor, as he weaves through
a crush of traders crammed around horseshoe-shaped kiosks,
cathode-ray tubes slung above them, displaying the latest
prices in bright, green letters and numbers. Intermittent
shrieks and howls, calls to buy and sell, issue from the
far reaches of the labyrinthian room.

As in the final leg of a relay race, the RUNNER hands the

ticket off to a COMPANYTRADER, who i.s buying and selling
at the post where American Steel is traded. The TRADER
checks the ticket and turns to the SPECIALIST, executing the order.

The camera moves up as the American Steel {AM STL) quote

flashes across the broad tape -- as the price ticks up
from 4 6 to 4 6 l / 4 .

INT. BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe paces nervously at his desk, looking up at the office

ticker. AM STL appears on the screen, now up to 47.

INT. WIRE ROOM - DAY

Joe is writing another buy TICKET for AM STL at 47 1/4.

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE FLOOR - DAY

The SAME RUNNER races over, handing Joe's next TICKET to the
COMPANYTRADER.

Tilt up to the broad tape.

As AMERICAN STEEL, AM STL, rises to 48 1/8.

 44.

INT. BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

On Joe, eating a sandwich, eyes glued to the ticker. AM STL

has climbed to 48 3/4. Marv stalks by, shouting on the
phone. Joe looks away from the ticker, pretending to read
a report. When Marv disappears, Joe hastily scrawls out
yet another BUY TICKET at 49.

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE FLOOR - DAY

On the tired RUNNER dodging through the crowd, and over
to the TRADER handing him a new ticket.

INT. BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Close on the OFFICE TICKER as American Steel hits 50.

Joey jumps up from his chair, and animatedly crosses to

Marv who is on the phone, cold calling.

MARV
Tell Mr. Ehrlich that I've got
important financial news! It
concerns his future.

Joe presses down the phone button, cutting him off.

MARV
What the hell •..

JOE
American Steel. Buy it.

Marv looks at Joe and sees a look on his face that he's never
seen before.

MARV
American Steel -- right.

Joe leaves, Marv re-dials.

MARV
Dr. Lasker, have I got one for you!

Lou Davis hangs up the phone, a troubled, twitching look.

Joe leans into his office.

JOE
Mr. Davis, got a sure thing
(whispering)
American Steel
 4 5.

DAVIS (scoffs)
Ah, no such thing as a sure thing in
this life, Joe -- 'cept death and taxes,
I know the Company, did well with it in
the 50's, but now it's just speculation ...

JOE (softly)
Buy it

Dan Hickey's stirring his Bloody Mary with a ball point pen,
while talking confidentially on the phone.

HICKEY
I've just heard the most lovely two
words •.. 'American Steel.'

Joey dialing the phone number that Gekko gave him. He speaks
into the receiver, in a hushed voice.

JOE
..• Blue horseshoe loves American Steel.
(hangs up)

INT. WALL STREET JOURNAL OFFICE - DAY

The REPORTER on the other end of the phone hangs up. He

rises from his desk, strides across the busy news floor,
over to his EDITOR.

REPORTER
American's Steel's in play.

EXT. GEKKO APARTMENT - NEW YORK CITY - TWILIGHT

A super luxury building overlooking the East River and

the United Nations.

GEKKO VOICE OVER

Sweeten the offer, tgive them stock
options and throw in some convertible
preferreds ...

INT. GEKKO DEN - TWILIGHT

A magnificent stark blending of the old and new. Antique

French furniture jostling with contempo art by Hockney,
Pollack, Klein, Rothko, etc. Angles sofas, triangular
tables, Corbusier chairs ... a sweeping view of the East
River and north Manhattan.
 46.

GEKKO CONT.
. _.. Cromwe 11 wants to play financial
chicken with me, we'll see who swerves
first. Where the hell's Gene?

Slumped on the sofa, exhausted, he's watching one of several

television news reports that he master-controls with a
remote. Attending are Alex, Susan Turner and HAROLD SOLOMON,
his chief lawyer, thick glasses, smart eyes and bags of
worry that could only come from watching over other people's
money ...

SUSAN
You sent him to Vermont to get the
deposition from the CFO Cromwell fired.
' i
GEKKO
... done and done. Night troops. And
Susan no legs waving in the air tonight.
I want you dreaming about Cromwell Paper.

The Korean houseboy coming in.

HOUSEBOY
Call for you sir, a reporter from
Time Magazine, says it's important ...

GEKKO
I'm not home

As they leave the room, Gekko checks out a Reuters wire positioned
nearby, spewing out telexes ... Harold Solomon hangs back, sliding
up to Gekko in his highly judicial, undertaker fashion.

TV NEWSMAN
... the Dow was up 15 points today in
active trading. Fueled by several large
buy programs and takeover rumors,
volume was heavy with ...

HAROLD
My partners are putting pressure on me,
G.G. -- about this off-shore business.
We've had some inquiries from the SEC ...

GORDON (dismisses it)

... looking for red flags, what else is
new, have they proved anything?
 4 7.

HAROLD (firmly)
... they want to stay out of that area.
They're firm on that ...

GORDON (stung)
Shakespeare was right, kill all the
lawyers first and then do business.
I hear you Harold ... Then I'll give
the legal fees to someone who will ...
talk to you ...

Focusing on the TV. Harold leaves, almost running over Gordon's

3 year-old son RUDY, who drives into the room in the latest
electronic baby toy -- a Porsche-bodied electric car.

GORDON
Rudy Kazootee, how's my cutie!

The kid jumps out of the car and scoots into his father's lap.

RUDY
Daddy bad boy! bad boy! -- play with
Wudi ... Now!

GORDON
No, not now Rudy. Daddy's making money
to buy you toys. Daddy work

RUDY
Daddy bad boy!

Gordon absently tousles Rudy's hair, his eyes glued to the TV.
The kid senses it, jumps back off the lap and into the car.

BUSINESS ANALYST (different station

than before)
... the big story tonight is American
Steel which closed at 57 and 1/8.
Up 12 and 1/8 from yesterday's close
on heavy trading ...

KATE, Gordon's beautiful, raven-haired wife, homemaker and

antiquer, enters with the bovine-eyed AU PAIR GIRL from
France ... just as Rudy drives his car into a wall where
it stalls, engines grinding.

GORDON (can't hear, to Kate)

Shut that off, willya!

Kate, upset with the noise, tries to pull her son nicely
out of the car.
 48.

KATE
I think somebody's playing hooky from
the bathtub. Rudy, say goodnight Daddy ...

But the kid has no intention of going anywhere and plants his
feet and emits the loudest shrieking this side of the fat
lady in the opera.

KATE (helpless, flustered)

Nicole! Take him will you ..•

Handing the bawling, writhing mass of anger to Nicole as if

it were laundry she doesn't quite want to touch ... Nicole
takes the screaming out of the room ... Gordon trying to
concentrate on the TV. The phone rings with a soft hush,
Gordon picking it up.

GORDON
Yes?

JOE (OFF)
Mr. Gekko I been trying to reach you.
We got the options. We got a good
execution on them!

BUSINESS ANALYST
Management issued a terse no comment.
Wildman would not return phone calls.
Analysts claim the stock may trade
as high as $75 ...

KATE
John and Carmen are here and the
Bernsteins are on their way up •.•

GORDON (nods, listening to phone)

I'll be right there, fix them a drink

INTERCUT TO:

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Papers and charts are strewn around, trailing down to a box

of take-out pizza and empty beer bottles.

JOE (almost apologetic, speeding on

the high of the buy)
... I got all I could get which was
250,000 shares plus the options. I just
wish I could've reached you before it
hit fifty. It happened so fast. We
could've raised our bid.
 48A

GEKKO
Relax sport, you'll burn out. Don't
expect to get it all. First rule
of business is never get emotional
about stock, it clouds the judgment.
Where do we stand?

JOE (shifting the figures)

... at this point, we're up two million
one hundred eighteen thousand, six
hundred and change ...

GEKKO (smiles)
You're walking between the raindrops Joe.
I expect Sir larryto buy it back at
double that by the end of the week.
Take your girlfriend out and celebrate.
Spend some money.

JOE (swatting a cockroach from his pizzc

I don't have one at the moment.
Actually it's a little hard to meet
people when I'm working for somebody
like you Mister Gekko.

Gekko rips a telex off the Reuters machine, reading it,

the magnificent view of the upper east side beneath him.
 49.
GEKKO
... you're getting there Joe, you know
that old Russian proverb, "a fisherman
always sees another fisherman from afar" ...
(pause) I feel that way about you, kiddo.
You could be one of the great ones.

JOE (laughs, flattered)

Where do you get those proverbs Mister Gekko

GEKKO
Gordon ... you can call me Gordon

JOE (pause)
Gordon, okay ...

GEKKO
It's about time the company gave you a perk
or two. Stay home tonight. We'll be in touch.

Gekko hangs up, dials another number.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT STAIRWELL - NIGHT

A smashing looking BRUNETTE in a fitted Chanel suit, ropes

of pearls and chains, short tight skirt, her beautiful long
legs, climbing up a stairway in high-heel pumps. She gets
to the landing, searches for an apartment and rings the bell.
Joe opens it.

INT. JOE'S APT. - NIGHT

He's knocked for a loop. The brunette. smiles pleasantly,

taking in the apartment, hiding :ier distaste as best she can.
' !
LISA
Hello Joe, I'm Lisa, a friend of Gordon's.

JOE (in a daze)

Lisa. Gordon? Oh, Mr. Gekko. Sure.
Would you, uh, like to come in?

LISA
Didn't he tell you? (sighs) That's so
like Gordon. Get dressed, we're going out.

JOE
We are?
 50.

EXT. JOE'S BUILDING - NIGHT

A stretch limo is parked in front, neighborhook WINOS

inspecting it. The CHAUFFEUR opens the back door, as
Lisa steps inside, Joey in tow. The winos clap, howling
at her.

INT. LIMOUSINE NIGHT

Joe in the back seat next to Lisa, gazes out the black
tinted window as they drive away, then turns to her as
she gives him a bottle of champagne to open.

JOE
So where we going?
' ' LISA
Wherever you like, Lutece, 21, the
River Cafe ... or maybe we can just
drive around for awhile.
(provocatively)
Work up an appetite.

She crosses her legs. Joe's eyes moving south. He pops the cork.
Lisa does a little blow, offers him.

LISA
Want some?
(he snorts)
Gordon tells me you're a very talented
broker. What do you like?

JOE (feeling the rush)

Like? Uh ••. hmmT.. ·••ell -

LISA
I got this guy who should know tells me
buy Hewlett Packard but I been burned
on tips. What do you think Joe?

JOE
Let's see,
it closed at uh, 41 1/8 ...
(his voice cracking)
Up a quarter ... very attractive .•• about
average yield .. .

She unzips his fly.

JOE
Rising profits ... strong balance sheets,
good earnings per share •..
 51.

LISA (removing her blouse)

So you're hot on this stock?

JOE (nods, moaning)

It's ready to take off. I'd jump all
over it if I were you.

As she pulls up her skirt and climbs on top of Joey.

INT. JOE'S BROKERAGE OFFICE - MORNING

Joey struts past Carolyn at the reception desk, in high spirits.

CAROLYN (smiles)
Morning Joey, you look happy

JOE
Any better and I'd be guilty

CAROLYN (picking up the flow)

You were never that innocent sugarpie

JOE (coyly)
... how do you know? You wish ...

INT. MAIN BOARD ROOM - DAY

Joe passes Dan Hickey who is pouring his morning highball

from his thermos.

JOE
Morning Dan •..

DAN
You're a blessing in disguise Joe,
a blessing in disguise •..

As Joe crosses to his desk, other brokers eyeing him. He falls

silent as he finds his desk totally cleared. Stunned, he
turns to Marv who's busy on the phone.

JOE
What happened!

MARV (cupping the receiver)

Lynch wants to see you, right away

Joe turns and locks eyes with Lynch, standing behind his
office window. There's a lump in Joe's throat, he fears
the worst -- he's been caught. Heart pounding, he slowly
heads towards the manager's office. Lynch comes out to meet him.
 52.

LYNCH
I'd like a word with you. Why don't we
go in here?

Joe follows Lynch into a private office.

INT. JOE OFFICE - DAY

Neatly furnished, with a window overlooking Wall Street,
an attractive Chinese SECRETARY filing papers into a cabinet.

LYNCH (smiles)
I knew the minute I laid eyes on you
you had what it takes Joe. Congratulations.
' (
(points)
This is yours now .. your own file cabinets ...
a window ..• your private secretary, Janet
(under his breath)
significantly more attractive.

JANET
Nice to meet you, Mister Fox.

She smiles at Joe, who heaves a sigh of relief, noticing

his na.~e plate on the desk.

JOE (thrilled)
Thank you Janet •.• thank you Mr. Lynch

LYNCH
No, thank you. Just keep up the good
work, Joe

He winks and leaves. Marv sticks his head in the doorway,

a gruding smile.

MARV
So it's.mister cocksucker, now.

Joe flips Marv the bird, puts it away, realizing his secretary
is there. Marv goes.

JANET (efficient)
Mr. Fox, looking through the files I
notice we have no margin agreements
signed with Mr. Gekko. If we don't get
them in by ...

JOE (paling)
Jesus he's leaving town, I got to get
right on that
 53.

EXT. GEKKO'S BEACH HOUSE - BRIDGEHAMPTON- NIGHT

Joe's POV as he drives through a rainstorm, the wipers
squeaking against the window as he pulls up to an austere,
ultra-sophisticated monolith of glass and wood dominating
a stretch of dune overlooking the Atlantic's angry surf.
several Jags, state of the art Jeeps and a Rolls are
drawn up outside.
Joe, getting out of a rented Suzuki jeep, dashes up the
stairs to the door, getting drenched in the process, keeping
his attache case dry. He rings several times.

A BLACK BUTLER opens it and looks at Joey somewhat warily.

Laughter and voices are heard from inside.

BUTLER (pretentiously, high English accen

Can I help you?

JOE
Joe Fox. Got some papers for Mr. Gekko
to sign.

BUTLER
Fox? Wait a moment please.

Without thinking he closes the door in Joe's face. He stands

there, harrassed, peering around through a window on the lawn.
A small gathering of friends in progress around a glowing
fireplace. The butler waves him in from the door.

INT. GEKKO FOYER - NIGHT

Joe enters, dripping water on the floor as Gekko approaches.
He seems annoyed to be disturbed at his country home.

GEKKO
What's the problem?

JOE
Sorry, Gordon, but I need these margin
agreements signed tonight or ... I'm gonna
take a major bath ...
(wiping the rain from his face)

GEKKO (bored, takes them)

All right. Wait here .••

About to go when his wife Kate comes over.

KATE
Problems?
 54.

GEKKO
No ... Joe Fox, my wife Kate ...

They exchange pleasantries.

KATE
You came from the city?
(with a look to Gordon)
Why don't you dry off, have a drink

Gekko doesn't seem to like the idea but ...

GEKKO
Yeah why not Joe boy ...

Kate's walking back inside to her guests as Joe sidles over

to Gekko.

JOE
... if you'd rather not Mr. Gekko,
I can leave .•.

INT. GEKKO HOUSE~ NIGHT

Immense slanted ceiling, metal boilerplate spiral staircase,

granite floors, ebony euro-style furniture, dozens of
contemporary art objects, including strange junk sculptures
and stabiles made of aircraft aluminum; huge, black steel
frame floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on a
cantilevered deck, pool -- and ocean beyond.

GEKKO
... it's okay Joey, you know Alexis
(Alex and his date shake hands faintly
aloof)
... this is Stone Livingston ... and his
wife Muffie
(a young stuffy banker in weekend
corduroys looks at Joe as if he
obviously doesn't be.long)
.•. Charlie Pfeiffer, Nona Winters, Dick
Brady .•. Darien Taylor

Joe looking wide-eyed at the beautiful "Calvados" BLONDE he's

been dreaming of for weeks ... she hardly recognizes him, nods
back, they all nod back, naturally suspibious of the outiider
with the wet clothes and workmanlike manner ••• meanwhile
Rudy's TOY ROBOT has been wheeling around the floor with
a drink on its tray, talking computer talk ...
 55.

STONE LIVINGSTON (~har~ed by it)

... wonderful idea Gordon, good help is hard
to find these days but can he whip up a
dry vodka martini ...

GEKKO
... well he doesn't talk back or steal the
silver and Dick's gonna get me an
exemption on him, aren't you ...
(Dick Brady is obviously an accounta11t)

A KOREAN HOUSEBOY has come over to Gekko.

HOUSEBOY
Call for you sir. Sir Larry Wildman, he
says it's important ••.

Joey tightens, so does the whole room hearing the name of the
moment. Gekko smiles at Joey.

GEKKO
He has a house down the road. Stick around,
this could be fun .••
(to houseboy)
Make Mr. Livingston a martini would you
Nyung

As he goes to the alcove to take the call. Joey plucks a

drink off the robot's tray and plunks himself down on a
piece of modern furniture that practically engulfs him like
a man-eating plant. Muffie Livingston, next to him,
glances distastefully at him.

MUFFIE
I don't think you want to sit there.
That's suede •..

JOE
Oh, ..

Noticing the water stain that is spreading from his pants.

He stands, starts wiping it.

MUFFIE
You're just making it worse

Embarrassed he walks away, the guests continuing their bantering.

INT,GEKKO ALCOVE - NIGHT

GEKKO (on phone)

Larry, what a surprise ..• (beat) can't this
wait till Monday. I got some people over
(dryly)
... if you feel that way Larry, come over.
 56.

INT. GEKKO. HOUSE - NIGHT

The blonde, DARIEN TAYLOR, is examining a modern sculpture
as Joey comes over with two Calvados.

JOE
I been holding these drinks for us
the last three weeks

DARIEN (uncomprehending}
Excuse me

JOE
Calvados: a romantic and tragic drink

DARIEN
Oh yes, I remember you

JOE
Destiny took us apart, but I knew it
would bring us back together

DARIEN
Aha. Poet or philosopher?

,JOE
Stock broker. As in: never have so few
done so little for so much

DARIEN
Economist. You'll never starve

She drinks. He drinks. Awkward eyes. Joe indicates the

sculpture -- out of the smashed car fender school, compacted
in a hydraulic-press along with beer cans and esquire magazine
covers.

JOE
So what do you see in this?

DARIEN (admiring}
It's stunning

JOE
..• few thousand dollars down the drain
you ask me

DARIEN (smiles}
.•. more like 50 ...

JOE (chokes)
50,000 for that!
 57.

DARIEN
You know what they say about the Ha:,1ptons,
money do~sn't speak here, it goes without
saying. The one next to it is probably 75.
Joe looking. Another sculpture -- of wood and crystal glass
with a giant sailcloth sticking out of it.

JOE
That's even uglier. Boy, Gordon's sure
been taken to the cleaners here.

DARIEN (showing off a bit)

Not really. Damien Gyushi -- Japanese.
And that's a Jeremey Bennett.
They're both infra-red right now.
They attract heat; but I happen to agree
with you on Gyushi. It's a sacrilege
hanging him next to a Sula.

(indicating a painting next to it)

I'd run over it with a dune buggy if
Gordon had a sense of humor about these
thi.ngs .•• and I'd move these sofas away
from the wall. Too much scale and
starkness. It makes people feel small
when they should feel big and larger
than life .•• but there I go again. I
can't walk into a house without redecorating it.

JOE
Ergo you're a decorator

DARIEN
A great spender of other people's money,
a hanger of paintings and a self-proclaimed
icon of taste ...

JOE
Well if you're that good, you could
probably do wonders at my place ...

DARIEN
You have a house out here7

JOE
No. Not yet. But soon ... r live in
Manhattan. Upper West Side.

DARIEN
so do r ... where?
 JOE
Oh it's just a small place but I'm
moving soon. I've got a couple of deals
brewing with Gordon (shifts uncomfortably
with his pretension) but that's just
conversation ... what about real things?
Like dinner. The two of us. Friday.
Upper West Side. Machiavelli's?

He waits, staring suddenly and deeply into her eyes.

DARIEN
What if I have a previous engagement?

JOE (firmly)
Break it

DARIEN (smiles, inscrutable)

So you really do believe in destiny?

JOE
Only if I want something bad enough

Mr. G.Q., her date CHUCK PFEIFFER, intersects with Kate.

A strong, handsome male with an endearing grin.

PFEIFFER
.•• there you go again talking with
strange men

KATE
That's our Darien: elusive, reclusive,
exclusive. (to Chuck) You know Joe right?
He works with Gordon ... (Chuck nodding,
big smile) are you staying for dinner Joe?

JOE (hesitant, eyes Darien)

No, I'm afraid I've got to get back
to the city •••

Kate noticing the doorbell ringing.

KATE
••• excuse me

Chuck muttering something in Darien's ear of an intimate nature.

She glides away with him.

DARIEN (to Joe)

Call me next week, I'll give you
an estimate •..
 59.

An ironic promise in her eyes ... Joe ecstatic inside ...

looks over, goes to the foyer .. .

INT. GEKKO ALCOVE - NIGHT

Sir Larry Wildman walks in, his country gentlemen clothing

somewhat softening his imposing figure but not the cultured,
rapacious eagle's face. With him a lawyer.

KATE (strained)
Larry, how have you been? Get you a drink?

WILDMAN (slightly impatient)

Oh fine. Travelling actually. Nothing
thank you. Is ...

KATE
Gordon? ... He's right here

As Gordon makes his entrance, casually tasting a spot of

the dinner.

GORDON
Larry! Excuse me "sir" Larry, great to
see you again, you're looking good
(handshakes)

WILDMAN
Gordon •.. (sniffing the guests and furnishings
in the room as if they were stale air)

JOE (leaving, to Gordon)

I guess I' 11 head back ...

GORDON (spontaneously)
Stick around,,.Larry, one of my troops
Joe Fox.

Pleasantries. Joe nervously shakes hands, sensing Wildman

might recognize him from being tailed in the elevator.
There indeed is a moment but Wildman's attention blurs as ...

GORDON
Shall we go into the library?

INT. GEKKO LIBRARY - NIGHT

A collection of fine old books, hunting prints on the wall,

an expensive rifle and old pistol collection, oak furniture ...
Gekko proudly picks up one of these.
 60.

GEKKO
... a 45 caliber Luger, just got it.
Only six were ever manufactured.
Rarest pistol in the world.

WILDMAN
Congratulations but rarer still is your
interest in American Steel

' .
GEKKO
The same interest as yours Larry. Money.
I thought it'd be a good investment
for my kid ...

WILDMAN
No. This time I'm in. I'm going to turn
'' it around. You're getting a free ride on
my tail mate and with the dollars you're
costing me to buy back the stock, I could
I. modernize the plant.
one who pays here Gordon.
I'm not the only
We're talking
about lives and jobs; three and four
generations of steel workers •••

A strong hint of the cockney working class east end London

boy whiffing through his speech and manner. The "mate" is
tough and to the point but not insulting •••

GEKKO (has to smile}

You must be wearing a mask you're
laughing so hard behind it Larry.
-· .
Let's cut the "sir" crap. The richer
you gP.t the mo:o::e pious. Correct me if
I'm wrong, but when you took Diamond
Pipeline, you laid off 8,000 workers,
Jackson Fruit Abont 1=;,00'l, tbc1t airline ...

WILDMAN (cold, deliberate}

I could break you, mate, in two pieces over
my knees, you know it, I know it, I could
buy you six times over, I could dump
the stock just to burn your ass but I
happen to want the company and I want
your block of shares. I'm announcing a
tender offer of 65 tomorrow, and I'm
expecting your commitment.

Joe watching this drama unfold, awed. Gekko is about to

blow, controls it.
 61.

GEKKO
Showdowns bore me Larry, neither side
wins. You can have the company, ·it's not
going anywhere, in fact it's gonna be
fun watching you and your giant ego
try to make a horserace out of it ...
(turns to Joe)
What do you think is a fair price
for our stock Joe?

Joe in the spotlight. The eyes all shift to him his moment.
After an initial panic, he's cool as a cucumber and
ruthless as his mentor.

JOE
The break up value is higher than that.
It's worth 80.
GEKKO (nods)
Good advice, Joe. But we don't want
to be greedy now, so let's let him
have it at $72

His eyes to Wildman who looks at him, cold, icy mean.

WILDMAN
You're a two bit pirate and a green
mailer, Gekko, nothing more .•• not only
would you sell your mother to make
a deal, you'd send her coo ...

Joe looking sharply as Gekko's eyes flare with hot white anger.

GEKKO
My mail's the same color as yours Larry.
Now excuse me before I lose my temper •..

He rises and exits.

WILDMAN
$7 l. ..

Gekko stops at the door, a beat.

GEKKO
Considering you brought my mother into
it, $71. 50.

WILDMAN
Done. You'll hear from my lawyers.
8 a.m. Good night.

He walks out with the silent lawyer. Past Gekko who watches.
 62.

GEKKO , ( to -Toe)
He's right. I had to sell. The key to
the game is your capital reserves. You
don't have enough, you can't pee in
the tall weeds with the big dogs.

JOE (mimicking Gordon now)

"All warfare is based on deception."
sun Tzu. "If your enemy is superior,
evade him, if angry, irritate him, if
equally matched, offer battle .•. if
unequal, run from him and attack again
another day ... •

GEKKO (smiles, likes it)

... you' re learning sport ... "

I' INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - PRE-DAWN

Exhausted from the drive back, Joe takes off his sweater
and tie and collapses onto the bed, closing his eyes. The
phone rings. With a start he wakes and answers it.

JOE
I i Yeah? ...
I

EXT. GEKKO'S BEACH HOUSE - DAWN

The sky is still dark, the first rays of light coming up

over the ocean. Gekko, a lonely figure in a windbreaker,
restlessly prowls the edge of the beach, waves crashing around
him. He's been up all night and has an exhausted, driven
look as he whispers over the wind into the cellular phone ...

GEKKO
MonE;!Vnever sleeps sport. When I came in in 69,
they traded six hours a day, now the
clock don't stop, London's deregulated,
the Orient is hungrier than us. Just
let it circle the world, buying and
selling, and if you're smart it
comes back paying. I just made $800,000
in Hong Kong gold. It's been wired
to you -- play with it. I showed you
µow the game works, now school's out.
That means if you use the word "charts"
again, you're fired ...
(smiles)
(CONTINUED)
 63.

GEKKO (CONT'D)
My wife tells me you put a move on
Darien. Here's some inside info
for you. That GQ guy she's going with
is putting her feet to sleep. Walking
papers are imminent. So don't lose
your place in line
(gazing at the surf)
Oh jeez, I wish you could see this.
The light's coming up over the water
I've never seen a painting that captures
the beauty of the ocean at this moment.
(suddenly fatigued)
I like you sport. Did I tell you that?
Yeah you and me are gonna make a lot of
shmabables together ... money, jerk.
I'm gonna make you rich enough you can
afford a girl like Darien. This is
your wake-up call -- go to work.

He lets the phone drop to his side, staring glaze-eyed at the

ocean.

EXT. WALL STREET AREA - EARLY EVENING

I
,I
A SECRETARY leads Joe into the plush, private office of a
cocky mustached young lawyer, ROGER BARNES, his feet up
) on the desk,sleepily waving to Joey to park his ass ...

ROGER BARNES
Fox, Joseph Dis this deja vu or has
it really been a year. You're not hitting
me up for NYU are you?

JOE
Well we are thinking of putting up a
statue of you in the subway.! hear
you're moving up in the world. Junior
partner. Not bad. How's Margie?

ROGER
Can't complain. Got a house in Oyster
Bay. Market treating you good? Still
seeing that sexy French gal?
 64.
JOE
Nah, language barrier and she smoked too
much ... but the money's tumbling in,
the hours (a signal for "shaky)

ROGER
So you got a tip for an honest lawyer?
What looks good?

JOE
Christie Brinkley
(Roger chuckles)
What about you, I hear you guys are
handling Fairchild Foods. Any surprises
I haven't read about in the Wall Street
Journal?

ROGER (the smile fades)

come on Joey, that's inside information.
You wouldn't want to get me disbarred
now would you?

,TOE
Who's listening? It's just one college
buddy talking to another

ROGER (sarcastic)
I can't believe this, you mister boyscout,
do you think I'm going to jeopardize
my career by divulging' confidential information?

JOE
Relax, Roger, you don't know, you don't know.

Barnes kicks his feet off the desk, stares at Joey, measuring him.

ROGER
... and if I did, what's in it for me?

He obviously has thought about it before. Joe smiles.

JOE
More money than you ever dreamed, Roger.
We open an off-shore account, I can do
all your trading ••• park a 100-200 grand
there. And the thing is no one gets hurt •..
let's get a beer ..•

Fear now shows in Roger's face, as he obviously has second

thoughts.
 65.

INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE ROGER BARNES OFFICE - EVENING

They walk out past the CLEANING CREWS coming in for the
evening, drones of the vacuum cleaners ... Roger has a huge
stack of briefs and attache case under his arm, the
bureaucratic man, now equivocating.

ROGER
... I'm just a junior partner Joe.
Everything you'd want to know is behind
that door. But there's only one way
you're going to get in there: have
the words "senior partner" after your
name

Joe looks -- his POV... a CLEANING WOMANas she pulls the

vacuum cleaner into the office. Joe is lost in thought for
a moment.

EXT. WALL STREET TAVERN - NIGHT

Roger Barnes says goodnight to Joey.

ROGER
Don't be a stranger ..• come out to the
house, we'll bave dinner ...

JOE
Right •.. right ••.

Watching Roger hurrying down the subway stairs. He turns

and heads back to the offices.

INT. ROGER BARNES LAW OFFICE -- NI·GHT

Joe steps out of the elevator, walks past the empty reception
area and into the offices.

His POV -- a long empty hallway. Nobody in sight. vacuuming

is heard. Joe stands frozen, wondering if he should go
through with what he has planned. He braces himself and
moves forward with a confident air.

JOE (over the vacuuming noise)

'Excuse me(louder) ..• excuse me

The Puerto RicanCLEANING LADY looks at him, turns off the vacuum.

JOE
I don't have my key. I need to get
into my office.
 66.

CLEANING WOMAN
No hablo Ingles

JOE (broken Spanish)

No tiene, tengo ...
(showing a key)
mi officido. Tu abierto la puerta,
por favor

He fingers a couple dollar bills. She smiles, showing her

keys, and follows Joe out of the office. He leads her to
the office at the end of the hall. Joey's eyes flick
nervously, as she puts the key into the lock and opens
the door for him.

JOE
Muchas gracias.

He slips her the money. She nods, returning to work. Joe

slips into the office.

INT. SR. PARTNER'S OFFICE - NIGHT

He turns, eyes panning the shelves and file cabinets.

VOICE (O.S.)
can I help you?

Joe's head jerks around. A young female PARA-LEGAL, burning

the midnight oil, looks at him from behind a stack of briefs.

JOE
Gee, isn't this Roger Barnes' office?

PARALEGAL
No, he's down the hall. But I
think he's gone already •..

JOE (shaken)
Oh well, I guess I'll try him at home.

He exits, closing the door. He wipes his brow, lets out

a deep sigh, and hauls ass down the hall.

EXT. BARNES OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT

Joe comes out the building and starts walking away. As he

passes the freight entrance, he notices a van marked
REGAL MAINTENANCE COMPANY. He stops, thinks for a moment;
a sly, wild look in his eyes.
 67.

EXT. LONG ISLAND CITY -- LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK - DAY

Joe walks past a row of small warehouses and enters one.

INT. REGAL MAINTENANCE OFFICE AND GARAGE SERVICES - DAY

He steps into a shabby reception area. A chain-smoking

OLD LADY looks up from the switch-board.

JOE
I need to speak to the owner about
some business.

INT. BACK OFFICE - DAY

The owner, a GREEK with bushy mustache and hardened face,

sits at his desk eating lun~h.

'' JOE
I Mr. Panos, my name is Joe Fox. I'm
a stockbroker.
'II (hands him his card)
I have friends in some of the buildings
I that you service and I'm impressed
with your wcrJ::.

Panos eyes him, suspiciously.

JOE
I've charted the growth of new office
space in the city, and I think you're
in the right business at the right time.

PANOS
Thank you for telling me what I already
know.

JOE (smiles, good naturedly)

Look, I could use a tax break. This is
a growing business. Are you interested
in some working capital and a partner?

Panos puts down his sandwich, measuring Joe.

PANOS
I'm doing fine as is. What makes you
think I need a partner?
 68.

JOE
Mr. Panos, I'm an expert at identifying
undervalued assets. You've got five vans.
I'd say you could use three more. Forty-two
employees is not enough to efficiently
cover the buildings you have, let alone
the new acounts you and I could get.
And I think you could increase your
productivity with tighter supervision.

PANOS (reluctantly impressed)

Fancy schrnancy Wall·· Street talk. How mucn
you pay? How much you want? Cash no paper.
Talk... --

Joe smiles, knows he's got what he wants.

JOE
All right, how 'bout this for openers?
In six more months, this •..

Writes the figures on a piece of paper and hands it to Panos,

who studies it.

JANITORIAL MONTAGE:

The Music again invokes a climb, to triumph.

EXT. BARNES OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT

A REGAL MAINTENANCE VAN pulls in front of the freight entrance.

Joe climbs out with a clipboard and pen, wearing Levi's and
a monogrammed REGAL CLEANING shirt.

INT. BARNES OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT

Joe walks up to the office door of a LAW FIRM. He takes out

a large key ring, opens the door and enters.

The CREW SUPERVISOR introduces THREE CLEANING WOMEN, who

nervously absorb Joe, worried for their jobs.

Joe strolls from office to office, looking official, pretending

to oversee his crew, making notations cna checklist.

Joe slips into an empty office, starts rummaging through

a file cabinet. He draws out a file, studying the document
inside: CLOSE ON 13D FORM -- PROPOSED TAKEOVER OF GEODYNAMICS
ENGINEERING CORP.
 69.

INT. ANOTHER LAW FIRM - NIGHT

Joe, in uniform with clipboard, passing a CLEANING WOMAN,

who smiles politely. He ducks into a private office and combs
through the files on the desk, finds a document of interest.

He furtively xeroxes it on a small hand-carried copy machine

in his pocket or photographs it if it is too large.

INT. JOE BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY (TWO MONTHS LATER)

BROKERS mill at their desks quietly. Joe enters, notices

immediately the uneasy silence. His eyes go to Lynch's office ...
across the windows, he's talking to a very somber Dan Hickey.

JOE
What's going on?

MARV (looking in the same direction)

Lynch is giving him the boot •.. He's not
pulling his quota.

Joe's soft "no" matched by that second, tighter look. His POV
closer on the glass ... Dan Hickey pleading for his job ••. we
know the things he's saying, we've heard them before ... just
one more chance, Mr. Lynch ... Lynch shaking his head .. .

MARV (cynically reminding him)

... we're all just one trade away from
humility, Joey •..

Dan Hickey steps out of the office, obviously close to tears but
trying to maintain face ... Joey's eyes dart away, not wanting
to deal with it. Dan Hickey walks by him as Lynch, on the
loudspeaker, starts his morning announcements.

LYNCH VOICE OVER

New research report on GM and a conference
call on defense stocks at my office at
11. No RSVP required, just be there. And
on an inspiring note I'm pleased to
announced the new office record for a
single month's gross commission. Goes
to Joe Fox. Who more than doubled the
old mark. Way to go Joe. Super job!

As Dan Hickey passes him during this speech, Joe catches a glimpse
of the older man's eyes. Dan tries to look brave. Heads turning
to Joe with awe and envy ...
 69A

MARV
Congrats buddy buddy, you just made
my life twice as hard around here ...

Joe moving to his office, past Lou Davis.

LOU DAVIS
You're on a roll kiddo. Enjoy it while
it lasts -- cause it never does.
 70.

INT. CONDOMINIUMAPARTMENT - UPPER EAST SIDE - DAY

A splendid four-room thirtieth floor aerie overlooking

Central Park. SYLVIE DRIMMER, anchored down with jewelry
and a large fur purse, shows Joe around.

SYLVIE.
... everybody tells ya they hate the
Upper East Side and they wanna live
on the west Side but honey when it
comes to resale time, believe me the
East Side's the one that always moves.
Everybody lives here ... sydney, Barba.a:a,
Bob, Paul. Andy buys his fresh fruit
from the Korean on 88th -- it's the
new food store, it's an attitude is
all, but ... you pay for attitude

(pointing to a walk-in closet}

... two walk-in closets ... upstairs on the
roof you got a vertical Club ..• massage,
sauna, jacuzzi, sunlights, best schools in
the city, cute boy like you gotta think
of the lady in your life ... oak strip floor,
you can't get it from a bank, my husband'll
get you a 10% mortgage ... I'd do it myself
if we weren't into four other deals
already ... so? ... (beat} I got a four
o'clock and a five •.. one of them's an
all-cash type, but I'll give you first
shot, cause you're cute, but make up
your mind, I guarantee you this place
is gone by tomorrow ...

Joe looks around. The city at his feet. Lost in thought.

Sylvisi has to call him out of it: "honey?"

JOE
All right. Offer $700,000 ••.

Sylvie tries to play it cool, her expression conveying a

somewhat stunned look at the speed and certainty of the response.

SYLVIE
.•. I think you gotta deal, honey ...
you sure you don't wanna see somethin'
I got on East 80. It's a mill but ...

JOE
Nah ... this is it ... home ••.

Looking over it, proud.

 71.

INTERIOR DECORATING, FOOD AND RESTAURANT MONTAGE- The Music is

geared to triumph, speed, money, power ... and just plain
material fun.
WIPE TO:

INT. JOE CONDO - DAY

In its FIRST STAGE, Darien Taylor supervising, it's empty,
grey and black rugs going in, ventillated gray blinds,
the walls going to peach brown or hi-tech grey.

WIPE TO:

SECOND STAGE. Living Room Furniture arrives. State of the art,

including a 35" TV, dual-headed and three-legged lamps,
magnifier lamps, 55" configurating Halogen lamps ... Darien
sitting in an arboreal chair laughing at Joe's reactions
to the furniture ...
WIPE TO:

THIRD STAGE... a state of the art phone system is installed:

a vibrating massage bed with heaters and a fold-in TV console
that swings out as Darien lies on the bed, showing him how
the gadget works. A look between them •..
WIPE TO:

FOURTH STAGE. The Kitchen has the latest compact computer

dishwasher and compact microwave, garbage compactor, and
sinks with infrared controls .•.

FIFTH STAGE ( FOOD MONTAGE)-- designed to give a sense of

the modernist approach to food and its preparation. Joe
dds most of the cooking, Darien helping.

1) the electron.ic knife sharpener on which Darien hones

the knives
2) a hanging space-saver toaster, out of which pops a freshly
heated roll. Darien melting the frozen ice cream in the
microwave ...
3) Joe using the stainless steel cape cod oyster opener
to work on two dozen oysters ...

4) at the same time working the automatic vinaigrette mixer,

the phone ringing to the tune of Mozart's "Jupiter" ...

JOE (picking it up)

Yes ... no ... at 37 1/2. Convert the bonds
right ... and check the price in Tokyo
at 8 o'clock L.A. time. Thanks ..•
 7 2.

5) As he starts his pasta sauce flame on his O'Reilly

fat-free grill with a flexible neck fire starter

6) Darien working the electric pasta maker ...

7) Joe manages to sneak a kiss on her lips humming the bars

from Verdi's "Rigoletto" as he works the piece de resistance
the automatic sushi maker ...

8) Dinner is finally served on a crateboard box. Red wine,

pasta, sushi ... it looks perfect, lit by candlelight, the
view of the city below ...

DARIEN
... isn't this perfect?

JOE
... too good ... let's not even eat.
Let's just watch it and think about it.

DARIEN (tearing in)

No way ... oooh this sushi is ... so sushi

JOE
You hear about the new jewish-japanese
restaurant, "so sue me"

She's laughing as the music soars into:

SIXTH STAGE (RESTAURANT MONTAGE) -- as we push to the borders

of excess the notion of yuppies going out to all the trendy
restaurants below 14th Street in the burg of Manhattan:
The Odeon, Nell's, Pantages, No 11, Chino-Italian-Japanese .. .
faster and faster ..• Joe and Darien at every table eating .. .
and eating ... and eating ... until we peak and shoot back to:

SEVENTH STAGE (INTERIOR DECORATING MONTAGECONT.) ... Joe goes

over a stack of bills with something approaching concern as
the Italian marble dining room block is carried in and
the sculpture of a man devouring himself and the sumo wrestler
paintings from the 1 a test Soho gallery. 1:he couch is a
$20,000 Italian leather item that Darien instructs the
workmen to place in the center of the living room which is
now taking a new shape that we never suspected it was
capable of when empty. Raised platforms aiming outside
at the fabulous view; recessed lighting indicates subtleties
and shading ... The point is decorating does work.
WIPE TO:
 72A

EIGHTH STAGE. The f incd touches. It is night -- above the city.

Plants, greenery abound, the aquarium with tropicalfish
and the subtle lighting render this cliff tower dwelling
into a magic Camelot, into which ,Joe now steps -- with
awe in high eyes. Darien leads him around.

Everything in the apartment has been put on remote control --

which she is showing him how to work -- lights, security,
sound, TV, h.eat. Even the windows are control led by buttons
and there's even a fragrance machine that Joe can turn on ...
it is truly penultimate yuppiedom, a state of the art
statement ... and it absolutely nothing to do with Joe Fox
the person who is standing there and pretending to be the
owner; in fact it is so totally divorced from any sense
of personality that it can only bedescribed as "Architectural
Digest" perfect, ready to be photographed, Darien's fantasy.
 73.

DARIEN
Joe .. ,I hope you don't mind but before
it gets ... lived in, I ~sked a friend
Who shoots for Architectural Digest
to come up tomorrow and ... take some shots.
Is that all right? I'd love to have
it in my resume ...

,JOE
'No problema, signorita' You think I'll ever
make "Town and Country?" Joe Fox -- Wall
Street high roller, sportsman in his
spare time, gourmet chef and ... husband
to Darien Taylor from Fairfield Conn.
-- and here are their two lovely kids ...
yuppie and fruppie who're enrolled
at the Lycee Francaise and only speak
French insofar as they've forgotten English ...

DARIEN (she's laughing, then sighs)

I'm so proud of it ... it's splendid

JOE
Yes .•. and only $339,000, that's for the
wallpaper. The miscellaneous is extra.
And your fee is ... considering you're
way over budget, negotiable.

As he nibbles her neck.

DARIEN
We'll see about that ... it's cheap
compared to what it could've cost.
You can't decorate a room in New
York for less than $100,000. Curtains
alone •..

JOE (continuing to nibble)

.•• but we're still young. This is not
the house in Connecticut, this is just
a pied-a-terre good for a couple years ....

The kiss grows. She stops, looks at him soberly, confused.

DARIEN
... are·you sure?

JOE
... look Darien, I think the only reason
we haven't had sex yeti:;; becuuse
(CONTINUED)
 74 •

JOE (Cont'd)
we both know we will -- and knowing
when was the only suspese left.
Well, the suspense is no~ killing m~
and to be honest you're too pretty.
I like sex with a little sidebar of dirt
thrown in ... but I guess I'll make do
with ..• (touching her) ... ultimate blonde
perfection

As his mouth engulfs her.

DARIEN
Mmm. ••• you're such a bad boy ...
kiss me Joe, kiss me everywhere ...

INT. JOE CONDO BEDROOM- NIGHT

Joe making love to Darien. Hard .•. pumping her. She moans.
Excited. Camera closing on them.

Her face from his point of view. Her smile.

His face looking down. Covered with sweat and passion.

JOE
Is this real? Is this really real?
Oh God .•. life is too good to me!

As he explodes inside her.

EXT. JOE CONDO TERRACE - NIGHT

Joe walks out alone in his blue bathrobe on his parapet over-
looking Central Park. The wind stirs his hair. The east
and west sides of the park wrap the city in a diamond
necklace of brilliant light.

Joe stares down at the world. He has it all now. The money.
The girl, the magic palace apartment. What more is there?
Something ••. because Joe suddenly throws a wrenching dislocated
look into himself that makes us wonder as he brushes his
hand across his face and mutters to himself.

JOE
Who am I .•. ?

There is no ready answer. As he finally turns and goes back

inside and closes the door.
 75.

INT. JOE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Darien lies curled in the bed, eyes open, looking at him.

DARIEN
Come to bed, Joe ...

EXT. LaGUARDIA AIRPORT - NORTHSTAR AIRLINES - DAY

Joe pulls up in his new BMWwith Darien, on their way to

Gordon's country place for the weekend, tropical shirts,
white pants, adidas sneaker time, the coca-cola look
as they walk to the hangars ...

INT. MAINTENANCE HANGAR - DAY

Carl is stowing tools into an equipment locker. The area
is deserted except for a worker stepping up.

JOE (corning up behind)

Always the last man out, and the first
one in .•. but still smoking

Carl turns surprised, smiles, a cigarette in his mouth.

CARL
Well as I live and still breathe, the
prodigal son has returned
(noting Darien)
Hi
DARIEN
Hi, I'm Darien Taylor. Joey's told me
all about you

CARL
... don't believe a word of it. I never
Qeat him or locked him in a closet.
,Joey's a born liar but otherwise he's
a good kid

JOE (to Darien)

... the closet, yeah, I forgot to tell
you about the closet

DARIEN
I think he turned out okay

CARL
As evidenced by his taste in women.
What brings you out here?
 76.

JOE (proudly)
On our way to the Long Island estate
of Mr. Gordon Gekko or "Gekko the Great"
as others call him, where we are
guests for the weekend.

CARL (dark look)

Gekko? The big machar who's always
buying and selling companies? And
sticking it to the workers. That's
your bigshot client?

JOE
Dad, you're :the one who taught me not
to judge a person on heresay

CARL
It's one thing to have money and power.
It's another to be responsible to the
people who made it for you.

A subtle exasperated look from Joe to Darien ...

JOE
Look Dad I don't really care if you like
him or not, I don't want to hear your
"workers of the world unite" speech for
the ten millionth time, all right ...
You free for dinner one night this week?

CARL
Just cause you make a~ few bucks al 1 of
a sudden you think you know what makes
the world go round ...

Darien, not the type who likes confrontation, has sidled away
to peek at the wing of the plane.

JOE (flaring)
All right, now you know why I'd just as
soon set foot out here as into a crocodile
pit (lower voice) ... look Darien
happens also to be a good friend of
his wife. So why just once can't you
get behind me instead of coming down
on me, huh

He turns to leave.
 7 7.

CARL (apologetically)
All right Joey, take it easy, it's
been a tough week. All the majors been
cutting their fares. we're stretched
thin and if this thing keeps up, it's
gonna kill us once and for all. Management's
talking pink slips, everybody's worried.

JOE (sympathetic)
Northstar's been through price wars
before, Dad, just hang in it'll pass.
What about dinner?
(checks his watch)

CARL
Okay, whatever night you like

JOE (thinking)
wait ... next week is booked. Let me check
with my secretary and get back to you
on Monday

CARL (laughs at his ,new 'lifestyle')

Yeah you do that huckleberry ... I'll still be here.

JOE
Gotta run Dad. I'm late. You stop smoking
y'hear, be like me. Call you Monday

Darien saying a hurried goodbye as they trot off to the BMW.

A beat on earl Fox.

EXT. BRIDGEHAMPTON BEACH - DAY

Gekko, Kate, Joe, Darien and a FIFTH PERSON roar over the dunes,
each in their own dune buggy, laughing and hollering at one
another ...

Joey driving right up precariously close on Darien who screams ...

Joey flips over his vehicle ... comes up laughing •.. we sense
he is getting wilder now •..

EXT. DUCK MARSHES - LONG ISLAND - DAY

Gekko, Darien, Joe and three LOCAL HUNTERS, friends of Gekko,

are out up to their knees in marsh water, hunting ducks ...

It's obvious Joe has never fired a gun much before and Darien
has to show him how ...
 78.

Joey shooting the ducks and missing, pauses ... realizes he

doesn't like ... killing ducks ... puts his rifle away ...

... as Gekko swings out with his labrador to retrieve the

kill, yelling "got one!"

EXT. POOL & PATIO - GEKKO'S BRIDGEHAMPTONHOUSE - DAY

They're finishing lunch by the pool framed by a lush flower garden

where Kate and Darien and the son Rudy play. A couple of
OTHER GUESTS swim. HAROLD SOLOMON, looking very city-like
in his clothing and his consistent expression of worry,
has joined them for lunch, examining his paperwork before
passing it to Joey, who is the picture of relaxation.

HAROLD
... you understand Mr. Gekko is
constantly barraged with nuisance
litigation and IRS audits.
(Joe nods, 'of course')
... so it's in both our interests to put
a safe distance between you and us ..•
(passing a document with 2nd pen)
... this gives you limited power of attorney
for Mr. Gekko's account. Every trade you
' ! make is at your discretion. Every ticket you
buy must be marked "solicited." That means
you call the shots and Mr. Gekko has no
official knowledge of what stocks you're
buying. Sign here and here ...

Joey looks, then up to Gekko who smiles, casual.

GEKKO
... just the beginning, sport, just the beginning ...

Joe smiles, signs.

HAROLD (a worrier)
... you understand if any problems arise,
you're out there on your own. The trail
stops with you •..

JOE
That's cool, all's fair in love and war

GEKKO
The art of which is deception. Spread
the buy orders through different
accounts and you won't get burned ...
 79.

JOE
I think I got some friends that won't
mind making some easy money ...

As Darien and Kate drift over with Rudy and the French au pair
GIRL, NICOLE.

GEKKO
Rudy, viens ici, dit bonjour a
Messieur Joe

Rudy either says No! or "Bonjour Messieur Joe" depending

on the mood of the kid. Gordon sweeping him up and playing
with him. The kid squeals with glee.

GEKKO (proudly)
Already speaks a little French, kid
got the highest score on his IQ test
for nursery school •.•

KATE (to Darien)

... it's so tough to get into a good
nursery school now. They even made
Gordon come in for an interview

JOE
What's it cost?

KATE
$10,000 just for the tuition ..• plus the
books and supplies ... (with a look to Gordon)
... some parents are even getting body
guards to take their kids to school. It's
not a bad idea .•. (new thought) Darien,
you know before I forget, I want to you
give you Rudy's clothes, it'll save you
a fortune (with a knowing look to Joe) ...
we got the cutest clothes. All black.
It's the new thing -- doesn't show milk
or carrot juice stains, looks so chic
you know ... (pi.eking up Rudy)
... now that's i.t for you with the grown-
ups young man.

As Rudy smashes the strawberries around his face and resists going.
"No! No!" Kate exasperated gives the child to Nicole.

KATE
Nicole, take him for a nap please

NICOLE
But he's not tired
 80.

KATE
Then~ with him till he gets tired.
We're going out tonight but we'd like
to see him at, let's see, six; give
him a bath and put that cute little
black suit on him ...

Nicole's "oui madam" is lost in the wrestling match she goes

through to drag him out screaming. Kate walking off with Darien.

KATE
Kids -- boy can they take it out of you!

Harold, somewhat irritated with the interruptions, gives Joey

another piece of paper ...

HAROLD
This is a contact at one of our banks.
On settlement day you'll open an account
there for Mr. Gekko under the name of
Geneva, Roth Holding Corp. Then you'll
wire transfer the money to this account
in the Cayman Islands •.•
' :
GEKKO (rising, finished with lunch)
Think about incorporating yourself there,
" Joe, Harold will take care of it for you
(with a look to Harold)
... at a reasonable fee. You're gonna make
a lot of money now Joe ... stakes are gonna
go up, no mistakes ...

JOE
... piece of cake, Gordon ...

INT. JOE'S BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe on the phone, strained look transforming to a bright,
upbeat personality as the phone is answered ...

JOE
Dixon! It's your lucky day! That's right.
I want to give you some stock and you
don't have to put up a penny .•.

Marv waves across the glass partition and knocks on it.

Joe waves him off and closes the blinds.

INTERCUT
 BOA

EXT. CABIN - ASPEN, COLORADO - DAY

A small cabin in the mountains.

INT. CABIN - ASPEN, COLORADO - DAY

Whole Earth furnishings. DIXON, a long-haired ski burn

drop-out listens skeptically.

DIXON
What's the catch Joey? Somebody gotta
I c pay for it.
I

JOE
No, that's the beauty of it! My client
wants to buy a large .!_arge block of
stock and needs to spread it around.
I'll park orne money in your account
and if it hits, you get a big cut.
I'm telling you this is the easiest
money you ever made ••.
 Bl.

INT. ROGER BARNES OFFICE - DAY

Roger listens on the phone.

JOE (OFF)
... and you don't have to put up a dime,
Roger

ROGER (tentatively)
All right, Joe ... let's do it

A look on his face. As if he knows he's making a fatal mistake.

I' I
INT. PHONE BOOTH - SOUTH STREET SEAPORT - TWILIGHT

cocktail hour in the background, yuppies trying to score for

the weekend.

JOE (on phone)

, \ .•• it's easy Jack! On settlement day,
you endorse a check to Blue Horseshoe
Trading Company. Then I send you your cut

, INT. MIDTOWN PHONE BOOTH - DAY

I I
Joe on the phone, over the roar of traffic.

JOE
..• that's the bottom line Billy.
Nobody gets hurt, no one

INT. WIRE ROOM - JOE'S BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY

I '
I
Joey writing out a ticket as Marv strolls over.
:I
MARV
I , ••. we seeing you at the poker game
L tonight buddy buddy?

JOE
I'm busy Marv

MARV
Fourth week in a row you've been busy

JOE
That's right
 82,

MARV
... things are so bad, even the liars
are complaining. And you're making
money. So what gives?

He tries to peek at the ticket, but Joe flips it over.

JOE
Hey I'm tired of playing wet nurse
to you all the time, alright. Do
your own homework!

As he slides the ticket in the chute and abruptly walks away.

Marvin muttering, "asshole!"

. INT. NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE -- LATER THAT DAY

The COMPANY FLOOR MANAGERgets Joe's order over the telex

machine, hands the ticket to a RUNNER who dashes off across
the exchange floor, and over to a TRADER who starts to
execute the order.

CLOSE on the broad tape.

As Joe's large buy order flickers across it.

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE - S.E.C. STOCK WATCH OFFICE - DAY

A CLERK sits before a computer, routinely tracking all of

the exchange floor trading. He suddenly sits up attentively,
and stares hard at a transaction.

Computer Screen The same numbers and letters are seen

that just flickered across the broad tape .... Joe's buy.

The clerk swivels his chair to a second computer and punches

up data. A MAN appears behind him, leaning over his shoulder,
gazing at the screen. He is tall, clean-cut, baby-faced,
and wears an I.D. BADGE. The clerk vacates his seat to
the man with the badge, who now takes over.

INT. JOE CONDO - NIGHT

Joe is in Cardin jockey briefs on the phone, number crunching

on the computer, foot pounding to a music beat on the stereo
while his telex spews out overnight currency data.
 83.

Darien in the background lies in bed in panties reading Vogue.

,JOE ( into phone)

Buy me 20 Euro dollar CDs. 20 March
spot gold and sell 10 Deutsch marks.
That's right ...

He hangs up, back to the computer, a growing look of excitement

'
and revelation in his eyes.
' ':
On the computer screen we see a break up of Northstar
Airlines -- its assets and liabilities.

Joe hits the command key, printing it out. He's exuberant.

JOE
Fox, you're a genius
(to Darien)
Darien ... li.ghtning has struck.
'. The lightbulb has been invented. Edison,
Da Vinci, Einstein are watching ...

DARIEN (grumpy)
..• are you going to trade all night again?
You got to go to work in a couple of hours.

JOE (a wild glint in his eyes)

The hell with work. You think I'm gonna
bt'ok~r the rest of my life •.. I'm
going to be a giant Darien, an
entrepreneur in the Italian 15th Century
sense of the word -- a mover and shaker.

Joe dances over to the bed, turning the stereo down on his way.

JOE
I love you baby. Did I tell you that.
s·ometime in the last ·twenty-four ho1t,rs

DARIEN (wrestling him into bed)

Get in bed. Y'ever hear of the sixty
hour work week. You know what you're
turning into? A yuppie Frankenstein.

Joe grabs a bottle of Perrier off the night table and drinks.

JOE
... not true, yuppies are only happy when
they're paying too much for something.
But what's wrong with yuppies anyway?
You're one. May they live and be
beautiful forever!
 84.

DARIEN (seriously objecting)

I'm not a yuppie. You think I am ...

JOE (sarcastic)
You're not a yuppie? Hah you're the
penultimate quintessential existential
yuppie ...

DARIEN
You're the yuppie, you love money,
that's all you care about

JOE (defends himself)

Sure, why not, I never had
it like you when I was growing up.
It wasn't the upper east side baby

DARIEN
You're so naive Joe, you don't even
realize it. Your dad took care of you.
I may've been rich when I was a kid
but ... I never told you, Dad lost all
his money ... in the 70s, in the stock
market, at the track. He wasn't a very
good gambler I'm afraid ...

JOE (teasing)
... well that changes all my plans,
I thought you were loaded ...

DARIEN (laughs woefully)

So did I, till I hit 19 and found I
had all the royal habits and no throne.
Mom got by but I had to get a job.
The only skills I had were shopping
and making friends. so .•. that's what
I am -- a decorator to my rich friends ...

JOE (with sympathy)

Rich little poor girl ... that's all
gonna change sweetheart. I'm catching
the express ...
(making love to her)
... and you're gonna ride it with me.

As the two yuppies embrace and clash like wild mares, sweating
flanks thrashing in the splendiferous comfort of their
designer bed amid designer walls.
 8_5.

INT. GEKKO'S PRIVATE PLANE - DAY

A salon interior. Joey paces in front of Gekko on a couch

reading with eyeglasses a stack of financial reports.
Alex is onthe phone, Susan, Harold and others accompanying
the caravan on its way to Washington, D.c. A screen
with numbers keeps everyone glued to the Wall Street averages,
which they peek at as they do other things ...

JOE
... It's an unpolished gem Gordon right
out of the garbage! Look at the hidden
values -- mediocre management, short
hops, high profit computer routes, fuel
rates are going down, the gates at
Dulles and LaGuardia alone could get us
back our initial investment ... and
on top of that they're being decimated
by a price war they can't win. They're
ripe to fall, Gordon!

Joe waits for a response. Gekko, the poker player, hasn't

seen enough cards.

GEKKO
Mixed emotions, Joey: Larry Wildman going
off a cliff in my new Maserati. Men as
smart as myself have got their asses
handed to them on a sling with the
airlines, fuel could go up, unions are
killers •..

JOE
Yeah, aren't you forgetting something
Gordon: your rule one, capital reserves.
This company has $75 million cash in their
pension fund. That buys us a lot of
credibi 1 i ty .••
(Gordon looks up, interested)
•.. and the beauty is you alreaay own close
to two percent of this sucker ...

ALEX (interrupting, on the phone)

Gordon, the insurance people are balking
on the logging trucks ...

GORDON
Tell those spineless formicants we'll
self-insure if they don't write it •..
(back to Joe) So read me the tea. leaves
Joe, you been eating twinkies today
or are you schtupping some stewardess ...
 86.

JOE (deadly serious)

Gordon what I want -- and ·1 never asked
youfor anything ··- is to be your co-pilot
on this. I want to take this airline,
turn it around, and make it work. It's
gonna make us a fortune!

GORDON (to Susan, amused)

I'm talking to a stockbroker who wants
to run an airline. I'm up to my ass in
more nuts than a fruitcake. Only in
New York.

JOE
I worked at Northstar Gordon, I know
my way around, I have friends there ... inside

GORDON (getting the drift)

What are you driving at Joey?

JOE(playing out his ace)

The three unions. It's 43% of Northstar's
operQting budget, the hourly cost of a
flight crew is $650 an hour, that's the
real hidden value G.G., if you can negotiate
that out, get a crew down to $200 an hour
a run, that airline is gonna be the hottest
thing since Texas Air •••

GORDON
What makes you think you can?

JOE
I can talk to these people Gordon, they
know me, they trust me ... and my father
can be a big help in getting cuts.

GEKKO (pause)
Alright ... susan, get Buckingham on the box.
I want him to look at it. And tell Andy
Taylor at Thwick, Meade •..
(smiles wickedly, back to Joe)
So sport, the falcon has heard the falconer ...
how many shares do we need to gain control?

EXT. CAPITOL BUILDING - WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY

Extablishing shot.
 87.

INT. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE - HEARINGROOM- DAY

Gekko, Harold, other lawyers sit at a table to testify,
listening to the offscreen voice of CHURCH CROMWELL.

CROMWELL (OFF)
... to be under accumulation is to be
under siege, gentremen. Cromwell Paper
has a debt now of $1.2 billion forced
on us by this raid, our legal bill alone
is close to $2 million ... we're
leveraged to the hilt, like some
South American country ...
' '

As the camera pans off Joe, Susan, Alex in the row of chairs
behind Gordon, to the SENl.TORS on the dais, around to the
bulky bull-like CROMWELL, Chairman of Cromwell Paper ... who
reads from a prepared text.

CROMWELL (cont'd)
... and all this man wants is to get oaid to
withdraw his offer •.. and that will cost
approximately $2 billion to the stock-
I \ holders ... and that cost will be passed on
to the consumer, the cost of paper will
increase. How can management concentrate
on long-term growth when we're so busy
battling for our survival, when we're
too busy fi.ghting the get-rich-quick,
short term profit, slot machine mentality
of Wall Street when we should be fighting
Japan! The pace at which these raiders
are slicing, dicing, chopping and reassembling
American business is undermining the very
foundation of the American economy and
i.t' s up to you gentlemen to do something
about it, before it's too late ...

CUT TO:

GEKKO is now reading from his text, but without seeming to read.
GEKKO (pauses dramatically, starts)
On the way here today I saw a bumper sticker.
It said "Life is a bitch •.. then you die"
(gets a laugh, relaxes the senators)
(CONTINUED}
 88.

GEKKO (Cont'd)
... well, gentlemen, we're not here to
indulge in fantasies, but in political
and economic reality. America has become
a second rate power. our trade deficit
and fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions.

DISSOLVING TO:

Suggest the length of the speech ...

GEKKO
... in the days when our country was a top
industrial power, there was accountability
to the general public and the shareholders.
The Carnegies, the Mellons, the men who
built this industrial empire, made sure
of it because it was their money at stake.
Today management is weak and flaccid,
by and large more concerned with keeping
their jobs, their company jets, their
golden parachutes and their annual conventions.
Cromwell Paper has 33 different vice
presidents, each earning over $200,000
a year. I spent two weeks talking to these
guys and I still can't figure what it
is they do ...
(some laughter)
One thing I do know is this paper company
lost $110 million last year, and I'd bet
half of that is in the paperwork going
back and forth between all the vice presidents ...
(increased laughter, he's getting ther
The new law of evolution in corporate America
seems to be 'survival of the unfittest.'
Well in my book you either do it right
' ' or you get eliminated. And what Mr. Cromwell
won't admit is that all he cares abou·t· is
his job and he's afraid I'm going to take
away·from him!
(Cromwell glares back)
Mr. Cromwell also calls me an "asset stripper!"
Well, if the shoe fits wear it. In fact we
bought the Ixtlan Corporation, i'c was weak
precisely cause it had a mass of heterogenous,
medium sized businesses. I turned three
of its companies private and I sold four
others -- and each one of these companies,
librated from the suffocating conglomerate,
has prospered. The fact is I am not a
destroyer of companies but a liberator
of them, I am an entrepreneur in the same
sense that the cultures of Athens, Florence
and Venice were founded on prosperity from
commerce •..
(CONTINUED)
 89.

GEKKO (cont'd)
(pause for dramatic effect)
... Cromwell Paper i.s doomed to fail. Its
crown jewels are its trees, the rest is
dross. One day the last tree in Cromwell's
forest is going to be silver-plated and in
the window at Tiffany's. Forests are
perishable, forest rights are as important
as human rights to this planet .•• and all
the illusory Maginot lines, scorched
earth tactics, proxy fights, shark
repellants, poison pills, etcetera etcetera
that Mr. Cromwell is going to come up with
are doomed to fail because the bottom line,
gentlemen, is the only way to stay strong
is to keep the stock -1:!£, that's why people
buy stock, to have it go up. If there's
any other reason I've never heard of it.
(assorted laughter)
In the last seven deals I've been in, there
were 2.3 million stockholders that actually
made a pretax profit of $12 billion. Out
of that about $3 billion was paid in taxes.
Takeovers are in fact helping to reduce
the national debt •.. the point is, gentlemen,
greed for want of a more civilized word,
is good. Greed is right. Greed clarifies,
cuts through, and captures the essence of
the evolutionary spirit. Greed in all its
forms, greed for life, for money,-for love,
for knowledge, has marked the upward surge
of mankind -- and greed, mark my words --
will save America. Thank you ...

Scattered applause from the gallery ••• Joe is in awe.

INT. PRIVATE CLUB - LUNCHROOM- WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY

In an exclusive men's club, marked by plush carpeting and

antiques and a view of Washington, Joe sits at a table with
SIX OTHER BUSINESSMEN - POLITICO types. A power lunch with
Gekko and BILL "DIZZY" DEAN, avuncular, impressive veteran
Deputy Secretary of State, the center of attention.

GEKKO
•.. the Philippines will stagger through,
I'm more concerned about Guatemala,
all this talk of socialism, taking over
the oil, timber has depressed our stock .•.
it's getting to be a problem Dizzy.
 90.

DEAN (for the benefit of all)

We're keeping an eye on it, Gordon.
The President has plans under consideration ...
(clears his throat)
We don't like this Menendez character
any more than you fellows do,
believe me ... and we're keeping a .•.
intensive recon on them and ... if we think
they're bringing in Soviet bloc weaponary
and advisers ... (clears throat) the
President isn't going to let that happen ...

They all clear their throats, reassured. Out of nowhere

Joey finds himself popping the ridiculous question out
of a sincere desire to know:

JOE
..• and if they're no advisers, Mr. Dean?

Dean, and all the others look at him as if he has proclaimed

the emperor has no clothes, total incomprehension on their
brows. Gordon takes the conversation on to " ... the main
thing is to avoid another Nicaragua, Dizzy ... "

EXT. NORTHSTAR HANGARS - LaGUARDIA AIRPORT - DAY

Dominick and Charlie and others are on the strip inspecting

the engine of a 707. Joe and his Dad stand off to the side,
talking over the drone of jets taking off and landing ...

CARL (smoking)
Let me get this straight -- I haven't
had my hearing checked lately
you're gonna be the new President
of Northstar? And you want me as
your right hand man?

JOE
This is for real Dad. We want to put
Northstar back on its feet and
turn it into a contender.

CARL (shakes his head)

I guess if a man lives long enough, he
gets to see everything. And I mean
everything. Course you did work three
summers as a baggage handler and freight
loader. With these qualifications why
should I doubt your ability to run
an airlines?
 91.

Joe following his Dad back into the main building.

JOE
There's nothing mysterious in running
an airline Dad, it's business. And
Gordon Gekko knows a helluva lot more
about business than those idiots in
present management who are running
you guys into the ground ...

INT. AIRLINES BUILDING - DAY

Into the freight handler's area ... Carl getting upset, lights
another cigarette.

CARL
Those idiots as you call them built
this company up from one plane. They've
been here 30 years. They made something
from nothing and if that's an idiot
I'll take one any day over a rat! I know
what this guy is about -- greed --
he's in and out for the buck and he
don't take prisoners Joey, he don't give
a damn about Northstar or us •••

JOE (exasperated)
I can't believe this. You got losses of
several hundred million dollars,
dividends cut to zero, and stock down
from the 20s to single digits in two
years and you're defending these bozos?
You're gonna get axed Dad, no two ways
about it, you and this whole airline
is going down the tubes, you hear me,
you don't have a prayer, and if it ain't
Gekko it's gonna be some other killer.
So take this opportunity and for once
support me. Wake up. Don't spit this
chance in the face. Look out for yourself
for once!

CARL (aimed at Joey)

I don't sleep with no whore.· And I don't
wake up with no whore. That~s how I live
with myself Joey. As far as being axed
I'm still here. And as long as I am
I have a responsibility not just to me
but to the union members I represent ...
 92.

JOE (hard)
Your responsibility, Mister Fox, is
to reserve judgment until you hear what
the man has to say, and the facts are
on the table ...
(Carl looks away)
... the pilots and flight attendants are
coming. You're the only hold out Dad ...

CARL (reluctantly)
I'll think about it ...

He walks off, grumpy, but we sense from Joey's reassured look

he will show up .•.

INT. JOE'S BROKERAGE HOUSE - JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe, increasingly frazzled and determined, dark circles under

his eyes, paces with the phone ...

JANET (his secretary)

Mr. Dixon Brandt on 3 ...

JOE (wearily switching over)

What's up Dixon?
(stopping, focusing)
Calm down! What are you talking about?

INTERCUT TO:

INT. DIXON'S CABIN - ASPEN, COLORADO - DAY

Dixon, the rich man's son and ski bum, is yelling on the
other end of the line.

DIXON
•.• this guy who said he was from the
Security Exchange Commission, whatever
the hell that is, calls and wants
to ask me about that stock I bought

JOE (nervous)
What'd you tell him?

DIXON
I told him I was in the middle of something
and I'd call him right back. What the
hell was I supposed to say Joey, you
got me into ...
 93.

JOE
LookDixon, calm down! It's not illegal
to buy stock or to be right.And it's
not all that unusual to be spot checked
on a big buy. Tell him you did your
homework and you thought the stock was
a sound investment.

DIXON
What if he asks where I got the money?

JOE
Tell 'em your father gave it to you

DIXON
What if they call him?

JOE
They won't. That's not their jurisdiction

DIXON
You sure?

JOE
Yes! Read the Constitution, it's all in
there. And remember -- you don't know
anything, nothing

DIXON
I don't know anything
I I

JOE
Good. Then call him back. And call me
back. Don't worry.

He hangs up, a worried expression, Marv entering to break

his concentration.

MARV (the latest quip}

Hey you hear the news. I just got a job
at a new firm: "Dewey, Cheat 'em and
Howe." Yuk yuk

JOE (icy}
Didn't I tell you to knock before you
came in here

MARV
Hey the door was open
,TOE
Then get out and close it.behind you
 9 4.

MARV (pause)
You know what you need buddy buddy --
an optorectomy. That's when they cut
the nerve that runs from your brain
to your asshole -- to change that
shitty attitude of yours.

JOE
Get the hell out!
Marv slams the door on his way ...

EXT. FEDERAL BUILDING - DOWNTOWN

NEW YORK - DAY

Long shot of the towering stone structure. A tall angular

figure crosses through the glass doors with a bulky folder
under his arm ...

INT. LOBBY - DAY

The man flashes his ID to a SECURITY GUARD who buzzes him

through the gate ... He walks towards us and we see he is
the familiar tall, baby-faced INVESTIGATOR from the S.E.C.
Stock Watch Office ... he gets in an elevator.

INT. S.E.C. INVESTIGATION OFFICES- DAY

He walks into the office of a CHIEF INVESTIGATOR. A balding,

sharp-featured man in a drab sui.t with bags of hard work
under his eyes, looks up as the young investigator places
the large file in front of him.

INT. JOE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Joe, in high-gear, all smiles, expensive Armani suit, opens

the door. His father stands before him, looking like a man
on the way to the dentist.

JOE
Dad, well come on in. Everybody's
here. We couldn't start the show
without you.

Wide-eyed, Carl follows Joe through the foyer, taking in

the opulent furnishings, paintings, antiques.

CARL (under his breath)

Well I'll be a dirty, lousy Republican.
 95.

They enter the livi.ng room. The atmosphere is strained, the

camps separated. Gekko stands by the bar, conferring wi.th
his lawyer, Harold Solomon. Darien walks over to the couch
with drinks for the NORTHSTAR UNION REPS: DUNCAN WILMORE,
ALPA LEADER, a rugged silver-haired uniformed pilot;
and TONI CARPENTER, AFA REP, hard looki.ng, 40ish FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

JOE
Dad, you know Duncan Wilmore, pilot's
union, and Toni Carpenter, flight
attendants ...

CARL
I met them before you were born.

They exchange nods.

JOE
And I'd like to introduce you to Mr.
Gekko, and his lawyer, Mr. Solomon

GEKKO
A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fox

Carl stares at Gekko, sizing him up.

GEKKO
I'd be proud to have a son like Joe.
He's got a great future ahead of him.

earl looks to his fellow union representatives, then to Gekko.

CARL {gesturing at Solomon)

I thought that this was an informal
meeting. What's he doing here?
GEKKO {dismissing him)
Harold, you don't mind strolling around
the block a couple hundred times, do you?

SOLOMON {looks at his watch)

I'll go get dinner.

Solomon gathers his jacket to leave, as Gekko and Carl eye

one another, tentatively.
DARIEN
Speaking of which, dinner is ready.

CUT TO:
 96.

The dinner table. Gekko sits at the head of the table,

suavely addressing the union leaders.

GEKKO
Look, I have no illusions about winning
a popularity contest with any of you.
I was roasted the other night, and a
friend of mine asked -- why are we
honoring this man -- have we run
out of human beings?

His joke breaks the ice; everybody laughs, except for Carl.

GEKKO (cont'd)
It's not always the most popular guy
who gets the job done.Present management
may not be the worst scum of the earth,
but they're the ones who've put you
on a crash course, and pretty soon
everybody's going to be scrambling
for the parachutes. Only there aren't
enough to go around. Management has
them. You don't. If they throw Northstar
into Chapter 11-- which I think they wil 1
then they can use bankruptcy laws to
break the unions and throw you guys
off the property.

We hear a loud crunching sound as Joe's father bites into

a roll, glaring at Gekko.

WILMORE (Pilot)
And with all due respect, Mr. Gekko,
what's to prevent you from doing
the same thing?

GEKKO
Please, I don't need that kind of headache.
Besides, I have a way around all this.
What do you say we cut to the chase.
I'm asking for a modest twenty percent
across-the-board wage cut.

Carl drops his fork on the plate. Gekko goes on.

GEKKO
And a ten percent increase in maxi.mum
hours.

Toni Carpenter and Duncan Wilmore exchange questionable looks.

 9 7.

TONI CARPENTER
What kind of time frame are we talking
about here?

GEKKO
Give me a year. If we're still losing
money, the reductions stand. If
however, we move into the black, I
returnthe givebacks, salaries go back
to present levels, and ...
(a beat)
we institute an employee profit sharing
program with stock. You'll own a part
' ' of the airline.

Carpenter and Wilmore react with surprise, it's obvious

they weren't expecting the profit sharing part. Joe smiles
at Darien and looks to his father, who scrapes the Bernaise
sauce off his filet mignon and stoically begins carving it up.
'i
' DUNCAN WILMORE
Are you prepared to put that in writing?

' . GEKKO
I'll have a letter of agreement drawn
up within ten days.

TONI CARPENTER
And what's your marketing strategy?
How do you plan to return us to
profitability?

GEKKO
Why don't I give Joe an opportunity
to answer that.

Darien and Carl turn to Joe, who puts down his wine glass.

,TOE
First, I want to say that my door will
always be open to you, because I know
all too well from my dad that it's really
you guys who are going to keep Northstar
flying. I'll go into all of this in
greater detail later, but for the
moment let me give you some of our
priori.ti.es. Advertising -- we obviously
need a more aggressive campaign. Cost
cutting -- we'll contract all our cabin
services to other airlines and start
a frequent flyer program. And, regarding
union protection -- (pauses, dramatically)
Mr. Gekko has made it clear that the
teamsters will be unwelcome on Northstar
property.
 98.

Gekko nods and looks to the union leaders for their reactions.

GEKKO
Cards are on the table. What do
you think?

DUNCAN WILMORE {restrained, hopeful)

If you mean what you say, I think
we're in the ball park. I'll take
it to my people.

TONI CARPENTER {approvingly)

You've sketched some broad strokes.
I'd like to some the line points.
But so far so good.

Gekko looks to Carl Fox who, putting down knife and fork,
breaks his silence.

CARL
What else do you have in your bag
of tricks, Mr. Gekko?
I
Joe tenses, looking at his father. Gekko ignores the innuendo
and replies softly.

GEKKO
Frankly, Carl, I can't see giving much
more. If you have any suggestions I'll
be glad to listen

CARL
There came into Egypt a Pharoah who
did not know.

GEKKO {smiling)
I beg your pardon. Is that a proverb?

CARL
No, it's a prophecy. The rich have been
doing it to the poor since the
beginning of time. The only difference
between the Pyramids and the Empire
State Building is that the Egyptians
didn't have unions.
(looking at Wilmore and Carpenter)
What does this man know, or care about
running an airline?

Wilmore and Carpenter look at hill\, wide-eyec ..

 99.

JOE (jumping in)

Now, wait a minute Dad ...

GORDON (cutting Joe off, lightly)

Hold on earl -- to put it in your
terms -- I may not be able to make
Northstar another Goliath -- but I
damn well hope to see it a bigger David.

CARL (looking him in the eye)

You don't give a damn about Northstar and
you know it. It's just the money. Pure
and simple.

GORDON (shrugs, keeping his composur

sure. What's worth doing is worth doing
for money. It's a bad bargain where
nobody gains. And if this deal goes
through, hopefully everybody will gain.

Carl throws down his napkin, rises from the chair, looks at
the others.

CARL
No. I think Mr. Gekko is a blank check
' for trouble. I think he's out to loot
" and cripple Northstar, then take his
profits and go onto the next victim.

There is frozen silence at the table.

GEKKO (unruffled)
Fine, if you don't want me, stay with
present management -- dedicated to
running you and Northstar into the ground.

earl turns on his heels, and leaves. Joe glances at Gekko,

reading his piercing look.

JOE
Excuse me.

Rising, he gets up from the table and follows after his father.

INT. HALLWAY- NIGHT

Joe catches up to Carl, waiting for the elevator.

JOE (seething)
congratulations. You did a great job
of embarrassing me in there -- not to
mention yourself!
 100.

CARL
He's got your prick in his back pocket,
and you're standing naked in the
display window of Macy's. He's using
you. Only you're too blind to see it.

JOE
No, what I see is a jealous old machinist
who can't bear that his son has become
more successful than himself.

Carl, shaken, steps into the elevator, Joe following.

CARL
No, what you see son is a man who never
measured success by the size of a
man's wallet.

JOE
No, that's because you never had the
guts to go out into the world and
stake your claim.

CARL (lamentably)
Boy, if that's what you think, !must've
really screwed up my job as a father.

INT. BUILDING LOBBY - NIGHT

Joe and Carl exit the elevator and head across the lobby.

JOE (pleading)
Don't do this to me Dad. I'm asking
you -- don't stand in my way.

CARL (brusque)
You're taking a short-cut, son.
There're no short-cuts in life.

,JOE
A chance like this may never come
again for me, or for Northstar.
Don't poison the watera. Let the
membership have their own voice.

CARL
I'll be damned that when my men come
to me tomorrow morning, wanting to
know what's going on, I'm going
to lie to them!
 101.

JOE
Your men! All my life "your men"
have been able to count on you?
Why is it that you've never been
there for me?

They head through the doors, out onto the street.

EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT

Joe following Carl.

JOE
And what if you're wrong? What if one
day, the sun didn't rise in the East
and birds didn't fly South in winter
and for once in your life your compass
was off? Huh?

He grabs Carl by the arm, stopping him.

JOE
Would you be willing to wreck my future?

Joe lets go of Carl's arm. Carl looks at hisson, seeing

the desperation. Sadness and confusion take hold of him.

CARL (acquiescing)
All right. I'll put a muzzle on it.
I'll let them decide for themselves.
(a beat)
I hope I'm wrong, Joey.

He turns and slowly walks away. Joe watches him go.

EXT. HORSE FARM - BRIDGEHAMPTON- DAY

In the distance Kate jumps her horse over a series of fences ...
A small party in progress after a local auction. Buffet tables,
tents, the horse crowd is out. A beautiful, immaculately
groomed Arabian stallion is being shown to Gekko by his
trainer, squaring off its feet as Joe and Darien look on,
sipping wine ... Joe obviously sipping more than he should ••.

DARIEN
Oh he's a beauty. Where'd you buy him?
 1 02.

GEKKO
Auction in Kentucky
(studying the horse)
Top line is flat. Stance is good ...

TRAINER
I think he can go all the way to the top ...
Scottsdale and the Nationals ...

JOE
Scottsdale? This guy looks like the
second coming of Seattle Slew. What
about the Triple Crown?

DARIEN (feeding him a carrot)

He's not a race horse Joe. He's a jumper.

JOE
Hey -- I once bet a horse -- he went out
at ten to one, and came in at quarter to five!

He laughs, boisterously. Gekko smiles, Darien forces a smile.

The trainer leading the horse back to the stable as the
group dfits back to the party, guys in green pants and
plaid jackets with ruddy scotch-soaked faces taking
every chance to say hello to Gordon, get a word in. Gordon
practiced in the art of elusiveness, glides by.

JOE
This is great
vino Gordon.
(to Darien)
... his own personal reserve in Sonoma,
what do you think of that Darien?

Darien looks back at him deadpan. He smiles, to Gordon.

JOE
You should see my apartment, Gordon,
major talent, ·impeccable taste. And
she's got a business proposition she's
dying to tell you about. Go ahead
Darien, tell him ...

Darien glares at Joe, embarrassed.

DARIEN
Joe, I don't think this is the time

JOE
Come on, don't be so modest, Gordon
hears 100 of 'em a day.
(to Gordon)
... she's going to open her own design firm
and mass merchandise ...
(blankly)
what was it again?
 103.

DARIEN (maintains her composure)

Basically I want to do for decorating
what Laura Ashley did for clothing.
High quality reproductions of antique
furnishings with an affordable price tag

JOE
Yuppies are gonna eat this up like
Haagen Daas.

GEKKO (encouraging but not really

interested)
Sounds interesting. When are you going public?

JOE
In a year or two. Right now we're looking
for seed money •..

GEKKO (polite)
I don't develop, Joe, you know that.
But come back to me when you have something
more ... by the way, how's that ... union
business coming?

Kate rides over with little Rudy in her saddle on a

tremendous black stallion, fully decked out in riding
breeches, derby, coat and ascot .•.

JOE
Piece of cake Gordo, Dad's in the bag
and the bag's in the river. You hear
the joke -- woman goes to the dentist,
grabs the dentist by the balls and
says, we're not going to hurt each
other are we?
The joke seems out of place. Darien smiling, embarrassed for
Joey, at Kate who seems baffled by it.

JOE (to Gordon)

... are we?

Gordon looking back at him. A subtext there.

KATE
Gordon, you mind picking up Rudy. I want
to take her out a little longer ...
(indicating the horse)

GORDON (to Kate)

sure honey ...
(CONTINUED)
 104.

GEKKO (Cont'd)
(to Joe)
People who are born round don't die square
Joe ... have I ever lied to you?
(waits, icy)

Joe shakes his head, sheepish.

GEKKO (turns away)

Good ...

INT. JOE'S 325 BMW - BRIDGEHAMPTON - DAY

He speeds along, still doozy in his new black BMW, Darien

sitting beside him in frigid silence.

JOE
Is something the matter? Do I detect
an arctic chill somewhere to the right of me?

DARIEN
There's a couple of people in this world
you shouldn't get drunk around: one is me ...
I
I,
and the other is Gordon Gekko

JOE
What are you talking about! Gordon's my
friend, we're like two coats of paint

DARIEN
Friend, sure. Reminds me of what Oscar
Wilde said about George Bernard Shaw ...
"he has no enemies but he's intensely
disliked by all his friends"

JOE
You wanted to get him interested in your
busi<nass, what do you think I was doing?

DARIEN
Making a real fool of yourself. Next time,
let me succeed or fail on my own,
you blew it for me

He swerves on a sharp curve.

,JOE
Look I know the man and you don't.
You gotta plant the seed

DARIEN
Will you slow down. You're driving like
a maniac
 1 D5 •

JOE (slows down)

So this is our first fight?

She doesn't respond.

JOE
I guess I gotta make it up to you

Makes another sharp turn.

DARIEN (long shot)
Where you going?

As he pulls over in a spray of gravel into the lot of a

REALTOR'S OFFICE on Main Street.

INT/EXT. DREAM BEACH HOUSE - DAY

Light, spacious, well-built and preserved, on the wild dunes

overlooking the Atlantic. Joe chats with a friendly REAL
ESTATE AGENT while we follow Darien onto the balcony, gazing
out at the ocean .longingly ... Joe joins her, hugging her from
behind.
JOE
... beautiful isn't it?

DARIEN (in another mood)

It reminds me of the summer house we
had when I was growing up

JOE
I want it. Let's put a down payment on
it right now

DARIEN
And tomorrow will you buy me the moon?
You'll wake up and hate me for not
ripping your check up.

JOE (serious)
No. Never .•. it's our dream house Darien,
it was meant to be. We'll bring up our
children here, we'll spend long weeks
alone in the wi.nter' l:iy the fire ...

She twists, looks at him intently. He smiles.

 JOE
You do want to have kids one day
don't you? (sees her look) Oh marriage?
No problem. How about ... June 6, I like
June ...

Darien looks at him, moved. He takes her in his arms, they kiss ...

DARIEN (teasing)
You got it all charted out like a stock
projection don't you

JOEY (laughing back)

That•~ Llght. One with high yield,
rich assets and no downside ...

As we pull back to show the two lovers in each other's arms,

framed by the dream house and the ocean beyond. The music
theme indicates the thrilling happy end of the third act ...

EXT, JOE'S CONDO - DAY

' '
A man gets out of a cab carrying a briefcase. As he comes
towards the lobby we recognize Roger Barnes, Joe's lawyer friend.

INT, JOE'S APARTMENT - DAY

Joe reading the headline screaming across the New York Times
masthead: U.S. INVADES GUATEMALA; MENENDEZ OUSTED IN SUDDEN
COUP: CONGRESS BACKS PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR NEUTRALITY IN
REGION ... looks up as the door rings ...

Joe opens it and Barnes steps inside looking around, impressed.

JOE
Have a seat ... want a drink?

ROGER (shakes head, commenting)

... looks like business has been good to you ...

JOE (indicating the paper)

Market's surged up on this Guatemala
stuff ... nothing like patriotism to
rally the country ...

ROGER
... well those Guats need a little thrasht.ng

JOE
... so Roger, what's this big piece of
information you got for me?
 107.

Roger has sat down and is thumbing a coffee table book,

agitated.

ROGER
Look, I'm really going out on a limb here.
You got to swear this'll never come
back to me. I'd be ruined.

JOE
Relax Roget, (French pronunciation)
you're 82M in the account numbers and
I'm the Invisible Man ... (beat) So
what do you got?

ROGER
A home run Joey. I want five percent
of the action.

JOE (casual)
Done. You gonna keep me in suspense or what?

ROGER
Gordon Gekko is taking over Northstar

JOE (bursts out laughing)

Tell me something I don't know. You're
talking to the new president of Northstar.

ROGER (puzzled, laughs)

so you're in charge of the liquidation?

A beat. Joe doubletakes, confused.

,JOE
Liquidation? What the hell are you
talking about?

ROGER (realizing)
I guess he didn't tell you the flight
plans, chief, but Northstar's grounded.
He's gonna strip it apart and sell it
piecemeal

JOE
Horseshit! we spent all last week getting
union concession

ROGER
Sure, he needs the unions so he can keep
it running while he looks for buyers.

Shock now spreading across Joey's face ...

 108.

ROGER ( 0. S. )
Our law firm's handling the breakup.
He's gonna sell it right down to
the typewriters
(opens his briefcase, puts
documents on the coffee table)
... sales agreements for the DC-l0s --
bought for 25 million in78 -- worth 37
million now ... his price tag on the 737s,
the airport gates, the hangars, the routes ...

Handing more pages to Joey who sits there numbly, a sickening

feeling taking hold of him. The camera and Music track
and trap him tighter and tighter as Barnes' voice resonates
distantly in the background.
I •
ROGER (o.s.)
... the real plum's the pension fund.
You got 75 million sitting in there.
For fifty million he can buy annuities
for the employees and walk off with
the rest ... 6000 employees get 50 mill,
Gekko scores 25 mill ... the man did
his homework •.• He figures if he breaks
up Northstar, it's worth 23 bucks a
share. So I suggest we buy up to 23,
then short it ...

INT, RECEPTION AREA - GEKKO'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe walks intently past the receptionist and down the long
white marble hall into:

INT. NATALIE'S DESK - DAY

Natalie is on the phone. Joe marches past her desk.

NATALIE
Yes, he wants to change that appointment
to ...
(cupping the receiver)
,Joe -- you can't go in there. He's
in a meeting!

He ignores her and throws open Gekko's door.

 109.

INT. GEKKO'S OFFICE - DAY

Gekko is talking with the LAWYERS and BANKERS from the

Northstar deal, as Joe barges in.

GEKKO (looks up)

I didn't know we had a meeting
scheduled for this morning.
I .
,JOE
I'm sorry, this can't wait.

Gekko stares at him with piercing eyes.

I GEKKO
I. Will you gentlemen
a few minutes.
excuse us for

The lawyers and bankers get up and discreetly leave the room.
Gekko waits for them to go, turns back to Joe.

GEKKO
What the hell do you want?

JOE
I found out about the garage sale
down at Northstar. Why?

Gekko is taken by surprise.

GEKKO
Last night I read Rudy the story of
Winnie the Pooh and the Honey pot.
Know what happened: He stuck his nose
in that honey pot once too often and
got stung.

JOE
Maybe you ought· to read him Pinocchio.
You told me you were going to
turn Northstar around. Not upside down.
You used me.

GEKKO (sneers at the innuendo)

You're walking around blind without a
cane, sport. A fool and his money are
lucky to get together in the first place.

JOE
Why do you need to wreck this company?

GEKKO
Because it's wreckable.
 110.

JOE (pleading)
If these people lose their jobs,
they got nowhere to go. My father's
worked at Northstar for twenty-four
years. I gave 'em my word.

GEKKO (hard)
It's all about bucks kid, the rest
is conversation ... (loosenino)
Joe, you're still going to be president.
And when the time comes, you'll
parachute out a rich man. With the
money you're going to make, your
father won't have to work another
day in his life.

JOE
Tell me, Gordon -- when does it all end?
How much is enough?

GEKKO (smiles cooly)

It's a zero sum game, sport. Somebody
wins and somebody loses. Money itself
isn't lost or made, it's simply
transferred from one perception to another.
Like magic. You create the illusion that
you have something somebody else wants.
That illusion becomes real. And the more
real it becomes, the more desperately
they want it. Capitalism at its finest.
The richest one percent of this country
own half the country's wealth: 5 trillion
dollars. One third of that comes
harn work, two thirds of it comes from
from inheritance·, interest on interest
and what I do -- stock and real estate
speculation. Ninety percent of the
American people have little or no net
worth. I create not.hing, I own. We make
the rules, Joey, the news, ~, peace,
famine, upheaval; the cost of a
paper clip.
{picking one up)
we pull the rabbit out of the hat while
everybody else sits around their whole
lire wondering how we did it ...
{crosses to Joe)
... you're not naive enough to think we're
living in a democracy are you Joey?
You're one of us now.· .. t-ake advantage of it.
You got the killer instinct, kid, stick
with me. I got things to teach you ...
 lll.

As he puts his arm around Joe, leading him to the door.

GEKKO
Believe me Joey, I was gonna discuss
this with you at the right time.
Look why don't you calm down and
come to the apartment for dinner tonight.
Bring Darien ...

JOE (at the door,confused, drained)

... I can't make it tonight

GEKKO
I' Are you with me Joey?
I
He turns at the door to look at Joe. A look of unmistakable
I: power ... and danger.

GEKKO
I want you with me
(waits)

JOE (relenting)
I'm with you Gordon ...
I. He walks out the door, the misery he is in washing his brow ...
I
I. GEKKO (to Natalie)
' ... be another minutei Natalie

As he crosses back to the coffee table and punches up a phone

number.

GEKKO
This is Gordon
Gekko. Now ...
(a beat, with controlled rage)
I want zip-locked mouths on Northstar,
or I'm gonna personally come down there
and rip out your tongues!

EXT. GEKKO OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

Joe walks out, heading up the street, absent amid the scurrying
mid-day hordes tearing up the street for the loot inside.

EXT. JOE CONDO - TWILIGHT.

Darien approaches, carrying groceries, enters the building.

 l 12.

INT. JOE CONDO - TWILIGHT/NIGHT

Joe is slumped on the couch, a spent bottle of tequila

in front of him. Outside the twilight is quickening into
night, shadows scurrying across the unlit room ...

Darien opens the door and freezes, surveying the living room.
A broken vase on the carpet, a curtain ripped off a window,
a painting upended, a chair overturned, selected but not
frenzied damage ...

DARIEN
Joe? ... what's going on

She puts down the grocery bags, frightened.

JOE
I been played like a grand piano--
by the master, Gekko the Great •..
and today was the big crash.
Liquidation sale. He's gonna carve
Northstar into little pieces and
sell it all off... ·

Darien registering this, is picking up pieces of the broken vase.

DARIEN
I'm sorry. I was afraid something like
this cou~d happen.

JOE
I handed it to him on a silver platter.
I told my father and those people ...

DARIEN
Joey, it's not your fault, and it's not
your decision

JOE {evenly)
I'm not gonna let it happen Darien

She stops, lights a cigarette, growing concern.

DARIEN
Don't cross Gordon. He'll crush you.
You've worked hard to get where you are.
If Gordon doesn't buy Northstar
someone else will; and who's to say
they won't do the same thing

JOE
At least I wouldn't be pulling the trigger
 113.

She sighs ... comes over, takes a tug on the tequila bottle.

DARIEN
You realize ... you'd be throwing
away your future?

JOE
I can stay with the brokerage firm.
And you're doing fine. we can survive
without Gordon Gekko.

DARIEN {pointed)
I'm not looking to just survive. I've
been doing that all my life.

JOE {getting the drift)

What the hell's that supposed to mean?

I
Darien moves out from his approximate circle, wrestling with
what she wants to say ... until she turns and says it.

DARIEN
That if you make an enemy of Gordon
Gekko, I won't be there to stand by you

Joe is stunned ..• and hurt.

JOE
You really mean that?
{lashing out)
What'd he promise you? To take you public?
I guess without Gordon's money and seal
of approval, I'm not such a hot investment
anymore. You're just the best money
can buy, Darien .•.

DARIEN
You're not exactly pure as driven snow
Joe, so don't play St. Francis. You
went after Gekko with the same vengeance
you went after me. Look in the mirror
before you judge others.

JOE {glaring at her)

I'm looking ... and I sure don't like
what I see

She collects her things and walks to the door.

DARIEN
Fair enough ... but it's not that simple
Joe. When I was down and had nothing
(CONTINUED)
 114.

DARIEN (Cont'd)
it was Gordon and Kate who helped me.
They got me many clients -- you among
them ... (snaps her fingers) And they
can take it away like that.
(a beat)
You may find out one day -- that when
you've had money and lost it -- it's
worse than never having had it at all.
(opens the door, saddened)
The fact is ... I really do care for you.
l think we could've made a good team .. .
but that's how it goes ... I'm sorry .. .

She goes ... Joe stares at the closed door, mute, numb, totally
devastated ... the loss is not just Darien, it is total ... He
looks at his face in the reflection of a wall mirror .. .

EXT. JOE'S BEACH HOUSE - BRIDGEHAMPTON - DAY

Heavy surf pounding on a windy day. Joe stands at the new

house, surveying the wreckage of his dreams ... the house
seems so empty ...

He rips the SOLD STICKER off a signpost so that it once again

reads FOR SALE.

He walks the sand, barefoot, and flops down into a position

of collapse, letting the waves wash around him ... in closing
on him we see his face disfigured by tears dried by the sea wind.

INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe walks in, in a clean suit and shirt, eyes obviously humbled,
past CAROLYN and JANET at the outter desk. They stop what
they're doing and look at him surprised.

JOE (not noticing)

Janet get me the pilot rep at Northstar
on the line. Right away

CAROLYN
Joe! Where you been?

He picks up the tone in her voice right away.

JOE (whispered fear)

What happened?

CAROLYN (looks at Janet)

Your father ... he

JOE
What!
 115.

CAROLYN
... had .another heart attack honey,
two days ago but he's all right.
He's at st. John's in Queens ...

JOE
Oh Christ!

INT. JOE'S BMW- DAY

Joe weaving fast through traffic.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Joe races past the nurse desks and down the hallway.

EXT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Joe's MOTHER is outside with Dominick Amato and another

r Neighbor just visiting, bringing candies ...
II
'
JOE
Morn! How is he?

MOM (shaken)
I I
I
... he was complaining about chest pains
at work. Next thing I know he collapsed ...
Oh Joey, talk to him, he's so stubborn

DOMINICK (to Joe)

... don't worry, he's got another 20 years
in him. He's a tough ol nut your Dad ...

Joe enters the room.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

The blinds are drawn. His Dad lies there, tubes down his nose,
hooked up to an IV unit and monitors. Joe comes over. Carl,
glassy-eyed, significantly frailer, nods to him. It's
obvious that more damage was done than Joe expected. Morn
comes into the room with him, stands there.

JOE
Hiya Dad ...
(sits, smiles)
What was it? Morn talked too much or
was it her spaghetti? I mean pasta ...
(Morn bringing a handkerchief to her
eyes)
I told you never to lift a 747 by yourself ...
 116.
I

Carl smiles weakly.

JOE
... second one Dad, you're pushing your
luck, I guess you know that ... I guess ...
you gotta pull through this one ... I
guess I never told you but ... I love you
Dad ... I love you more than I ever ...
(begins to weep}
I didn't mean those things I said to
you •.. to me, you're a hero all the
way Dad ... the best ...

Embarrassed he wipes his eyes.

JOE
... and you were right about Gekko.
He's one son of a bitch ... through and through

Carl stares at him, beginning to understand.

,JOE
He's gonna break up Northstar

Carl reacts violently in his eyes but Joe soothes him ... in dead
earnest, trying to be deliberate and clear in his meaning.

JOE
... but I gotta plan Dad, it can work,
I can save the airline, I know you got
no reason to believe me but I want
you to trust me •.. I need to talk to
the unions ... Can I speak for you?

earl's eyes.

JOE
Your words Dad, not mine ...

Carl blinks, nods weakly.

JOE (quietly hopeful}

You're gonna make it Dad ... we both are ...
I love you ... remember that,I love you.

Gets up as a NURSE crosses into the room, signalling an end to

the conversation to Mom. They walk out.
 11 7.

INT. McGREGOR'S BAR - QUEENS - DAY

Joe is seated at a corner table with the NORTHSTAR UNION REPS:

Duncan Wilmore, ALPA LEADER and Toni Carpenter, AFA rep;
also joined by machinists, Dominick Amato and Charley Dent
sitting in for his father's union.

JOE
.•. the stock's at 19 1/4 and it's going
up. Gekko figures by breaking up Northstar,
it's worth $26. That means he's not going
to pay any more than $24 a share in order
to see a profit.

WILMORE
How do you know that the stock is
going to go up?

JOE (pointedly)
You really don't want to know any more
than that, Mr. Wilmore. Let's just
say I have some friends.

WILMORE (getting his drift)

Okay. What happens then?

JOE
When the stock hits 24, you guys go
,. to Gekko and lower the boom. Once he
I learns he has no union concession,
he's going to head for the hills.

TONI CARPENTER
Yeah. But who's going to buy then and
what's to prevent another shark from
coming along and devouring us?

INT. PIERRE HOTEL LOBBY - DAY

Joe, Duncan Wilmore, Toni Carpenter, Dominick and Charley,

an unlikely looking group in the plushness of th notel lobby,
step up to the desk.

JOE
We have an appointment to see
Mr. Wildman.
 118.

INT. WILDMAN SUITE - DAY

Lofty windows overlooking the Park, an impeccably-decorated
suite with coffee and rolls laid out, a young AIDE answering
the phones that keep ringing. Joe and the others are on
sofas around the imposing figure of Wildman in a chair across.

JOE
Sir Lawrence, what would you say to
owning Northstar Airlines with union
concessions -- at $18 a share ... and in
the process leave Mr. Gekko out to
hang in the wind? ...

Sir Lawrence leans back in his chair, equall>ly ...

WILDMAN
I might be very interested ... buy why
mate? why you?

JOE
Let's just say a conflict of interest.
I want to see this airline work ... (pointing
to the documents in front of Wildman) ...
the figures in there show it can

WILDMAN (to the others)

... and you're prepared to take these
large :salary cuts?

WILMORE
... we are. But we want a contract agreement
that if you buy it, you can't break it up

WILDMAN (hands behind his head)

I'm still listening ..•

INT. JOE BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

Joe hurries in, past Marv on the phone with an irate customer.

MARV
Well, if that's how you feel -- fuck you too.
And strong letter to follow!

He slams the phone down.

JOE
You don't have to agree with me Marv; but
I think I've been a bit of a schmuck lately
(beat, waits)
 119.

MARV (off the cuff)

I agree. Go thou and sin no more

JOE
I want to make it up to you. Northstar.
Put all your clients in it.

MARV (animated, grabs the phone)

Thanks buddy, buddy, I'm back

Joe intersecting Lcilu Davis smoking a cigarette and having a

hard time ~alking.

JOE
Northstar Mr. Davis. Put all your clients
in it.

Davis looks gravely at Joe.

LOU
I don't know where you get your inforrnat~on,
son, but I don't like it. The only reason
I'm gonna do it is ... I need the money,
and that's the problem with money --
it makes you do things you don't want to do

Joe hears him, walks on ...

MARV (into phone)

Miss Bloom, I got good news and bad news,
which one do you ... okay okay. You got
cancer in your portfol~o, but I got the
cure ... Northstar Airlines ...

INT. JOE OFFICE - DAY

Joe on the phone, checking his quotron.

JOE
Listen I need a favor and it's a quick
scalp for you. Two hundred thousand
at 19 1/2; can you position it in one
of your equity funds

JANET (voicebox)
... call waiting on 7.

JOE
Hold on ... (switches over, hushed) ... listen
"blue horseshoe loves Northstar Airlines• ...

Immediately goes back to the other line.

 120.

INT. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL OFFICES - DAY

The REPORTER, who Joe anonymously called on the earlier American

Steel buy, hangs up. He rises from his desk and crosses the
busy news floor, over to his EDITOR.

WSJ REPORTER
Northstar's in play.

INT. NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE - DAY

A RUNNER dashes up to the NORTHSTAR AIRLINES post, where a

heated crowd is gathered, amidst heavy trading. He elbows
his way over to a TRADER, handing him the ticket. The
TRADER holds up the buy order, screaming, making frantic
hand signals, in search of a seller. Faces in the crowd
look up at the broad tape.

CAMERA TILTS TO:

NORTHSTAR (NSTAR), the stock quote flashing across the BROAD

TAPE -- upticking to 20 5/8.

INT. BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY

Marv, on the phone pitching, eyes glued to the office TAPE --

as NSTAR jumps to 21 1/4.

MARV
I love it ... r do love it so!

INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

The quotron now climbs to 22 1/8!

JOE (into phone)

Yeah. I see it at 22 1/8 and I don't
know what to make of it.

INT. GEKKO'S OFFICE - DAY

He paces on the other end of the phone, fuming. Alexis and

Susan seen in b.g.
GEKKO
The word is out. There must be a leak.
Get me in at a 45 degree angle and I mean
all the way in! Slash and burn, buy
every share you can get up to 24. Then
call me.
 121.

Raising his voice, agitated, Gekko glances at his quotron as

the stock ticks up another 1/Bth.

INT. JOE BROKERAGE HOUSE - DAY

All the BROKERS have jumped into the action, avidly watching
Northstar's climb on the BROAD TAPE. Joe sweeps into the
room and looks up at the board as the stock hits 23 7/Bi

MARV
The stock's going to Pluto!

JOE
Start unloading

MARV
Sell?

JOE
NOW! Tell everyone to dump!

Marv nods, and rushes away. Joe crosses past Davis' office.

JOE
Get out of Northstar!

In background Marv is spreading the word, brokers frantically

grabbing phones, calling clients to sell.

INT. GEKKO'S OFFICE - DAY

Gekko looks up from his quotron and shouts to his troops on the
phones.

GORDON
Who the hell's out there? What are the
arbs saying? It's gotta be a big hitter

ALEXIS
They don't know what's going on!

SUSAN
Everybody and his mother is buying!

Natalie enters the room, flustered.

NATALIE
Mr. Gekko, there's a whole batch of
people from Northstar Airlines outside
demanding to see you.
 122.

GEKKO
What the hell do they want?

DUNCAN WILMORE (O.S.)

I'd be happy to tell you

As D~ncan, Toni Carpenter, Dominick Amato, Charley Dent

and SEVERAL other assorted UNION MEMBERS march into the room.
Gekko is taken by surprise, but stays calm.

WILMORE
We know what you're up to, Gekko, and
let me tell you this from here (hits
his heart), you suck eggs, mister,
over my dead body you ain't gonna
break up Northstar!

GEKKO (calmly, lying thru his teeth

You guys must know something nobody else
knows. If those are my plans, it's the
first I've heard of it.

CARPENTER
Would you care to put that in writing?

GEKKO (coldly)
I'd like to remind you we already have
an agreement, which I expect you to honor.

WILMORE
Well in that case, I hope you have your
pilot's license.

DOMINICK AMATO
Don't worry, Gekko, we wouldn't let
the engines fall out of the plane.

TONI CARPENTER (regretfully)

But the reservations systems can get
awfully screwed up, if we're not paying
attention.

CHARLEY DENT
And a lot of baggage headed to St. Petersburg
could easily find its way to Pittsburgh.

GEKKO
Listen, you clowns, there's somebody else
out there trying to buy your airline,
so if you want to be Pac-manned and
gobbled by Atilla the Hun be my guest!
 123.

WILMORE
We'll take our chances,
(tips his hat)
Nice to see you again, Gekko.

They file out of the room. The phone lines have lit up like
a Christmas tree. Alexis answers a call.

ALEXIS (to Gekko)

Fox says Northstar just hit 24. What
do you·waht him·to do?

GEKKO (fractional pause, mad)

Sell it all.
(then, evenly)
What the hell, so I'll only make fifty million.

INT. JOE OFFICE - DAY

Joe switches lines from Gekko to Larry Wildman.

JOE
Gekko's on the ropes -- he's selling

INT, WILDMANOFFICE - DAY

A well-appointed European-slanted office, Wildman listening

with an AIDE, lights a cigar.

WILDMAN
Well then ..• guess I'll have to carry him
a few rounds before he drops
Switches lines, checking his quotron ...

WILDMAN
Northstar. Don't make a big deal. Buy
it lightly on the way down.
(emphatically)
When it hits 18 -- buy it all

ITN, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE FLOOR - DAY

Wi.ldman's broker takes the order with a curt "got it" and dashes
out of the cubicle over to the Northstar ..post where a chaotic
crowd is gathered, traders frantically screaming to sell
Northstar Shares. He looks at the Big Board -- sees an
NStar drop to 23. When he raises his hand to buy, he is mobbed.

DISSOLVING TO:
 124.

The Big Boari ... a series of snappy dissolves accompanied by

lively butterfly music shows the stock price falling to 18 1/2 ...

INT. GEKKO OFFICE - DAY

Alex, Ollie Steeples, Susan on the phones.

OLLIE
The arbs are getting killed. Where'd
the buyers go!

ALEX (worried)
We're being devoured Gordon

Harold Sol•omon, walking on egg shells, looks to Gekko, who

sits with the phone receiver crooked to his neck.

HAROLD
There's got to be a way out of this,
Gordon

GEKKO (livid)
Yeah Harold, why don't you dial 911.
(into the receiver)
Joe, where the hell are you? I'm
losing millions
(a beat)
Look, you got me into this airline,
and you damn well better get me out.
Because if you don't the only job you're
going to get on the Street, is sweeping it!

INTERCUT TO:

INT. JOE'S OFFICE - DAY

Joe scribbling an order ticket, replies on the other end.

JOE
Look, I don't make the market, Gordon!
The market makes the market. The bid
is 18. I suggest you take it.

Joe moves the phone away from his ear, at Gekko's displeasure,
and signs tne ticket.
JOE (urgent)
Gordon, it's ten minutes to close.
Tell me what you want to do.
 125.

GORDON (a long beat)

Dump it.

Joe hangs up and rushes off with the ticket.

INT. GEKKO DEN - NEW YORK APARTMENT - NIGHT

The 35" television is on to:

NEWSCASTER
The big Wall Street story tonight is
the roller coaster ride of Northstar
Airlines. Fueled by takeover rumors,
the stock soared to an all-time high
of 24 1/8. Then when contradictory
rumors later surfaced that the
takeover was unfounded, buyers went
running for cover, and the stock
plummeted to 18 by today's market close.

Camera discovers Gekko sitting, grimly watching the report.

Teletype machine spewing paper, Rudy seen riding his toy car in b.g.

NEWSCASTER
... but then tonight, amidst all the
scuttlebutt, another rumble shook the sti:eet.
(abeat)-
According ~o many soui:ces, raider
Sir Lawrence Wildman has stepped in
and bought a substantial block of
Northstar, in what is perceived as
a legitimate takeover bid.

Camera now tracks in close on Gekko as he absorbs the unexpected

blow. o.s. Rudy yelling and squealing. Gekko leans back,
putting the pieces together, his eyes narrowing into burning slits.

EXT. WALL STREET - MORNING

People rushing to work. Joe crosses the street, his face buried
in a Wall Street Journal. Insert: "SIR LAWRENCEWILDMANMOUNTS
NORTHSTAR BUY."
Satisfied, Joe folds the paper and heads into his office building.
 126., ..

INT. JOE BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY

He walks past Carolyn the receptionist who is strangely mute ...

JOE
Smile, Carolyn, there's justice
in the world., ..

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY

He passes Marvin and the CHINESE STOCKLADY. They see him

and manage to look away, talking to each other. Joe notices,
wonders ... the whole office seems too silent, the other
BROKERS stealing glances .

..• as he passes Lou Davis

JOE
How's it going Mr. Davis. Got out of
Northstar in time I hope?

Davis stops, winds up. Joe impatient but polite

LOU (with gruff affection)

Joe I like you, just remember something.
Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing
staring back at him. At that time a
man finds his character -- and that
character is what keeps him out of the
abyss ...
(a beat, looks deeply)

JOE
I think I understand what you mean Mr. Davis

But not really. As, on this increasingly strange morning,

he moves on past Janet who wants to tell him something but
he cuts her off.

JOE
Get my father will you Janet?

INT. JOE OFFICE - DAY

As Joe walks in, the camera glides to reveal the young S.E.C.
INVESTIGATOR, who has been tracking Joey, standing at his desk,
using his phone. A SECOND MAN is stashing Joe's files into
cartons as a bored,. ..looking DETECTIVE and POLICEMAN stand
off to the side with Tom Lynch, who gives Joe a withering glance.
 127.

SEC INVESTIGATOR (into phone)

He just came in. I'll talk to you later.

On Joe -- a struck-dumb look passing to resignation, as if

foi ~longtime now, he had been expecting this.

JOE
I guess you're not here to open an IRA

SEC INVESTIGATOR
Mr. Fox, I'm Evan Morrissey with the
Securities Exchange Investigative Office ...
(presents his ID, ind~=~tes Man 2)
This is Mr. Agostini from the Justice
Department. We have some questions we'd
like to ask you, regarding alleged illegal
profits and violations of security laws ...

EXT. SHEEPS MEADOW- CENTRAL PARK - TWILIGHT

Long shot. Activity is winding down, a few sunbathers collecting

their blankets. A solitary figure stands on a hill silhouetted
by the sunset. A second figure appears on a footpath and
starts climbing the hill towards the other man.

Gekko waits, expressi.onless .•. Joe approaches hi.m. They stand

facing each other.

GEKKO
Hello Joe

JOE
... Gordon

GEKKO
You sandbagged me on Northstar
(smi.l es)
I guess you think you taught the teacher
a lesson, that you can make the tail
wag the dog, huh?
.
Joe looks away. Gekko's smile fades.

GEKKO
Well let me cue you in: the ice is melting
under your feet sport ...

Without warning, he grabs Joey roughly by the lapels and

lets out his inner rage with a series of smacks and slaps
across hi.s face, unchoreographed and somewhat awkward.
 128.

GEKKO
You think you could've gotten this far
this fast with anybody else? No, you'd
be cold calling dentists and widows
to buy twenty shares of some dog stock
I took you in! A nobody! I opened
doors for you! ... I shoNed you how the
system works! .. .

Gekko slapping him harder and harder, Joey staggering with the
blows, saying nothing, not defending himself.

GEKKO CONT.
• . .,the value of information! How to get
it! American Steel, Brant Resources,
Geodynamics, Fulham Oil -- you could've
been rich! And this is how you payback,
you cockroach!

He backhands Joe across the face. Joe lies on the ground, spent,
as is Gordon breathing hard. Joe gets to his knees, blood
streaming from his nose, his suit muddied. Passersby look on,
wondering.

Gekko seems to relent, the rage going into hurt, remorse.

He hands Joe a handkerchief. Joe staunches the flow of blood
from his nose.

GEKKO (softly, innocently)

You could've been one of the great ones
Joe ... I look at you and see myself ...
You could've been my own son. Why?

Joe looks at Gordon, torn by mixed emotions: the bonds they

share and the betrayal wrought.

JOE (shakes his head, thoughtfully)

I don't know. My Dad once told me, "money
is something you need in case you don't
die tomorrow." I guess I realized I'm
Joe Fox. And as much as I wanted to be
Gordon Gekko -- I'll always be Joe Fox.

He looks at Gordon, as if wanting to say more, but doesn't.

In long shot, Gordon stands alone a~ Joe walks away.

EXT. '!'AVERN ON THE GREEN RESTAURANT - EVENING

The DOORMANlooks askance. Joe, mud-splattered suit and

bloody nose, walks straight pats him, thru the door.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Several well-heeled DINERS look up from their haute cuisine,

at the sight of Joe making his way toward the men's room.

INT. MEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Tight on Joe, staring at his reflection in the mirror, as

he unbuttons his shirt, revealing adhesive tape swathed
across his chest. Camera paces back as he winces when ...

MORRISSEY and AGOSTINI, the two investigators, rip the

tape off his chest, retrieving a small tape recorder.
Morrissey of the S.E.C. rewinds the cassette. we hear
Gekko's voice being played back on the tape, the mention
of their deals.

MORRISSEY
You did the right thing, Joe.

Joe looks searchingly in the mirror. Feint CLICKING noise

comes up over the shot.

INT. JOE BROKERAGE OFFICE HOUSE - DAY

CLICKING of the Broad Tape grows LOUDER. Shots of Lou Davis,

Lynch, Marv; silently looking up at the green fluorescent print-out.

THE TAPE -- THE S.E.C. TODAY ANNOUNCEDCRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST

CORPORATE RAIDER GORDON GEKKO AND STOCK BROKER ,TOE FOX, FOR
ILLEGAL TRADING ON INSIDE INFORMATION, VIOLATIONS OF SECURITY
ACTS, AND TAX EVASION ...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CARL FOX'S HOUSE - QUEENS - DAY

Carl, dressed in a suit and tie, sits at the dining table,
finished breakfast plates in front of him, refilling his
coffee cup. The Mom clearing off the table, anxious ...

as Joe walks in, wearing a suit and tie. He looks tired,

beaten, the eyes lifeless.

MOM (disapproving)
... don't wear that tie Joey , it ...

She cuts off on Joe's look.

 130.

CARL
Another cup of coffee?

JOE
No, thanks, I'm nervous enough

CARL (checks his watch)

I guess it's time to hit the road

JOE
Yeah don't want to be late for my own trial ...

INT. CARL FOX SEDAN - LOWER MANHATTAN- DAY

Driving towards the Federal courtrooms in Lower Manhattan.

Busy traffic all around.

CARL (supportively)
..• you tell the truth, you got nothing to
be nervous about. You've got a good
lawyer, you gave the money back. All
things considered -- in this cockamamie
world -- you're shooting par ... you
went to pee in the tall weeds with the
big dogs but they were bigger than you,
now you gotta start over again ... and
there's always gonna be somebody better
and somebody worse than you huckleberry,
don't compare yourself, be yourself,
and be proud of it, you did good ..• you
saved the airline and the people there
are gonna remember you for it ...
(pause)
... if I was you I'd think about taking
that Northstar job Wildman offered you ...

JOE (nervously fixing his tie)

Well depends what happens today ... could
be behind bars tonight ...

CARL
I don't think so ... they're gonna put you
on probation and you're never gonna be
able to trade again, but that's the best
thing that could happen to you kiddo ...
stop trading and go produce something
with your life, create, don't live off
the buying and selling of others ...

Joe stares ahead, registering it.