Z O R R A M

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@matthey

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matthey wrote: @cdimauro I hesitate to post on Amigaworld.net anymore because it is abandoned, unmoderated and overrun by trolls,

It seems that it's what the majority of the users here wanted: us to be out, for their "pleasure".
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but RISC-V is going down the drain too. Enhancing the RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture results (from the 1st page of this thread): Thumb2 18% better int code density than RV32GC (Thumb2 INT code 0.82 of RV32GC) Vince Weaver's code density competition results: Thumb2 20% better int code density than RV32IMC RISC-V's compilation of Zephyr using the Compression extension + PULP extension: ARMv7-M Thumb2 26% & ARMv8-M Thumb2 25% better code density than RV32IMCXpulp The more extensions RISC-V adds, the worse the benchmark results it seems. It has become nonstandard extension purgatory, especially for development tools. It is not enough to specify RV32IMC for example as there are different versions of each extension.

I still clearly recall when Mr. Asanovic had pointed the finger at the fragmentation of other architectures, lavishing praise on his own RISC-V, which "obviously" did not suffer from the same issues.

Nowadays it’s enough to make you shudder to look at the mess they’ve created and which they continue to make a shambles of.

But consistency has never been their strong point, right from the very beginning...
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With the new "Zc*" extensions, there are new 16-bit cm.lh load instructions but also similar 16-bit c.lh load instructions introduced in the old "C" extension, as are most new 16-bit instructions to improve code density. These load half word (16-bit) instructions do not appear to scale the offset unlike existing c.lw load word instructions. The "uimm" offset is only 1 or 2 bits and cm.lh docs have a note, "If uimm < 4 the encoding is designated for custom use, as the functionality overlaps with c_lh." The offset is so small that it is of limited use, especially if not scaled.

They messed-up everything and keep making changes and adding instructions as if they were drunks desperately looking for a lamppost to hold on to.

Having seen that they have ratified ("set in the stone") the C extension, and then redefined some of its opcodes... was priceless.
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There is minimal consistency and orthogonality is nowhere close to the 68k.

Consistency and Orthogonality usually can't be achieved on code compression architectures/extensions/instructions, because they are the fruit of compromises.

68k, VAX, and a few other architectures are exceptions, because (very) good code density results are simply shown up from their intrinsic design. That's a very good thing for compilers and developers, of course, because it causes no or much less headaches.

I've seen this with my architectures as well: NEx64T is very much consistent and orthogonal, whereas the new one isn't at all. Different goals bring to different decisions and, then, results.
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Are students working on this academic ISA?

Likely. People living on Hyperuranion.
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Like ColdFire mvs & mvz instructions (RV instructions allow tiny offsets while CF instructions allow more powerful addressing modes) c.lbu/cm.lbu cm.lb (it looks like there is no c.lb) c.lhu/cm.lhu c.lh/cm.lh c.zext.b c.sext.b c.zext.h c.sext.h c.zext.w

Those are pretty standard instructions found on "RISC" architectures which target code density, because they address two issues:
- loading integer values which size is less than the register size;
- smash values on integer operations which size is less than the register size. That wasn't a trivial topic, consistently impacting the code density & number of executed instructions, and we had several internal discussion on the My 66000 team (I've also made some changes on my new ISA to properly address issues coming from those scenarios).

CISCs usually have no such issues, because they are able to perform operations at the various integer sizes, and no zero/sign-extending load instructions neither zero/sign extended of the results values are needed, with positive impact on both code density and number of executed instructions.
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Note: I expect code savings is commonly 16-bits per instruction for both RV and CF (also usually reduces instruction count per use by 1 for both).

Correct. As it can be seen on the 68k post in this thread, around half of the overall instructions are coming from the 16-bit ones, which brings the average instruction length around 3 bytes.

RISC-V reserved 75% of its encoding space to 16-bit instructions, yet being still far away from the 68k metric. A clear signal of wrongly used encoding space.
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Excluding c.zext.w which is for 64-bit, the "overall weighted average" code savings from these instructions is 0.97% from RISC-V benchmarks (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bFMyGkuuulBXuIaMsjBINoCWoLwObr1l9h5TAWN8s7k/edit?gid=21966619#gid=21966619).

Not so much. Probably because of the limited offset for the LD/ST instructions.

The small usage of zero/sign-extending instructions might come from a limited usage of smaller integers. More modern software tends to use bigger integers, to avoid those issues (but putting much more pressure on the entire memory hierarchy, which is a big loss).
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This is similar to what I predicted for adding CF instructions to the 68k, which Gunnar rejected for not enough savings to be worthwhile.

But he added them in the last years, right?
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More "C" extension instructions c.sb 68k move.b is more powerful c.sh 68k move.w is more powerful c.mul 68k has 16-bit 16x16=32 but not 16-bit 32x32=32 more useful for modern code

Do you mean 32-bit 32x32=32? If yes, then I agree: it's much more useful than 16x16=32 (this was introduced only because the 68000 has only a 16x16=32 bit multiplier).
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c.not 68k not is 16-bit

RISC-V only needs a 32 and 64-bit instruction (depending on the ISA size) IF the smashing is properly performed.
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These are the majority of the "Zc*" extension instructions cm.push 68k movem is 32-bit but more flexible & orthogonal with bitmap list cm.pop 68k movem is 32-bit but more flexible & orthogonal with bitmap list

Right, but the reason is that the 68k has only 16 registers, so a 16-bit opcode + 16-bit mask perfectly matched the use-case.

However, you don't strictly need such super-flexibility by defining a good ABI, because the registers to be saved & restored on functions prologues & epilogues are a precise, sequential subset, which can be easily addressed by such cm instructions.

Despite having the possibility to define 16, 32, 48 and 64-bit masks, I preferred to define proper registers subranges (yes, I need more than one) to accommodate similar needs. This allowed me to have 16-bit versions of the same PUSH/POP instructions for the more common cases, and 32 and 48-bit versions for the more generic ones.
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cm.popret no 68k equivalent but somewhat similar to rarely used 68k rtd

Roughly, but here the most important feature is restoring multiple registers.
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cm.popretz no 68k equivalent

Zero is a very common value to be given back, so it makes sense. With a single (super-complicated!) instruction you can completely replace common functions epilogues.

BTW, on my last architecture I needed two variants of exactly the same instruction, due to they way that I've defined the registers subranges.
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cm.mva01s no 68k equivalent to move 2 registers but not orthogonal cm.mvsa01 no 68k equivalent to move 2 registers but not orthogonal

Indeed. Very limited scope / usage.

I haven't introduced them on my last architecture. I preferred to rely on the more general move multiple registers, plus some other more convenient and flexible "secret sause" which also covers those scenarios.
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cm.jt 68k has much better table/array handling with powerful addressing modes cm.jalt 68k has much better table/array handling with powerful addressing modes

Definitely, and Coldfire added some "table instructions" as well, to further improve on this area.
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Note: The cm.push, cm.pop and cm.jalt instructions provide most of the code density savings and the 68k already has more powerful, flexible and orthogonal equivalents.

Correct, but it pays a bit more on pushing/popping registers because of the 32-bit encoding.
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The cm.* instructions can not be used with Zcd double float compressed instructions which use the same encoding space.

That's the mess which I was talking about before...
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While RISC-V developers are at least trying to improve code density for embedded use, ARM has added few 16-bit instructions to improve code density. There are a couple of optional 16-bit TrustZone instructions and ARMv8 brought back 16-bit coprocessor instructions but most new instructions are 32-bit, perhaps why ARMv8-M had a little worse code density than ARMv7-M. From the benchmark you posted, The ARMv7-M Cortex-M4 core has 32-bit DSP instructions while the ARMv8-M Cortex-M33 likely does not as it disables them

That's very much likely due to new 128-bit Helium vector extension, which also covers DSP scenarios. A great and very well thought addition of ARM to its 32-bit architecture. You pay a bit more price in terms of more resources needed, but they are well spent.
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but 32-bit load-aquire store-release instructions are standard for the core which were not an option for the Cortex-M4. Maybe the DSP instructions helped code density more than the load-aquire store-release instructions.

That's my guess as well. "Lock" instructions aren't so much common. Computations ones are much more.
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Rather than use 2 Cortex-M cores that were mostly similar, it would have been more interesting if they benchmarked the most advanced 32-bit Thumb capable core. After ARM scared many embedded customers into upgrading to less efficient 64-bit cores they did not need followed by deprecating 32-bit ISAs for most 64-bit cores, they developed the 32-bit only Cortex-A32 with Thumb support and virtual memory MMU support not available on Cortex-M cores. Without the huge AArch64 ISA and using fewer registers, some may expect a large savings. The shadow registers for fast interrupts and many modes now expanded by 2 with ARMv8-A and over 100 new ARMv8 instructions, results in minimal savings.

ARM64 has thousand of instructions and so many "active" registers, so definitely cores based on that are fatter than the ones which implement the latest Thumb-2 ISA.
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Quote: https://developer.arm.com/community/arm-community-blogs/b/architectures-and-processors-blog/posts/introducing-cortex-a32-arm-s-smallest-lowest-power-armv8-a-processor-for-next-generation-32-bit-embedded-applications Quote: Cortex-A32 is the only ARMv8-A processor optimised for 32-bit compute. As such, the Cortex-A32 offers an ARMv8 upgrade path for applications that today use ARMv7-A processors like Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 or classic ARM processors like ARM926 and ARM1176. The ARMv8-A architecture supports both 32-bit and 64-bit compute capabilities in the AArch32 and AArch64 execution states. Cortex-A32 is optimized to support the A32/T32 instruction set in the AArch32 execution state, which is ideal for 32-bit rich embedded applications that need the lowest cost and power. Even in AArch32, ARMv8-A adds more than 100 new instructions – and the Cortex-A32 benefits from all of these. ... The Cortex-A32 also delivers performance improvements compared to Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors. The performance improvements relative to the Cortex-A5 range from 30% to a massive1300% across a range of benchmarks relevant to embedded markets. Streaming and crypto are key benchmarks at the top end of this scale. Compared to the Cortex-A7, the Cortex-A32 offers 5% to 25% higher performance. To put things in perspective, the Cortex-A32 delivers similar performance to the Cortex-A9, which was the premium smartphone standard just a few years ago. That performance is coming to the lowest cost rich embedded devices now, and at significantly less power. For integer workloads, the combination of performance improvements and power reduction provided by the Cortex-A32 translates into a greater than 25% efficiency gain over the Cortex-A7 and more than 30% efficiency gain over the Cortex-A5. Compared to Cortex-A35, the Cortex-A32 offers same 32-bit performance but consumes 10% less power and has a 13% smaller core. This means that Cortex-A32 is 10% more efficient than Cortex-A35 processor in the 32-bit world. On the surface, this may look like a good option for embedded hardware and legacy ARM hardware replacements including RPi hardware. However, much of the savings comes from the Cortex-A35 and Cortex-A32 being "partial" superscalar in-order cores which means single issue for integer instructions. The cores were so fat with ISA baggage, including recently added 100+ instructions, that superscalar was sacrificed even though it usually improves power efficiency with in-order cores. The option to retain superscalar execution for embedded use is to use the Cortex-M7 or Cortex-M85 with MCU limitations of memory with no virtual memory MMU. ARM customers can not have the 32-bit savings of 10% less power and 13% smaller core at the same performance as 64-bit. Yea, another source saying 32-bit has the same general purpose performance as 64-bit, at least with limited resources. With all the ARM cores available, it feels like there is a gap in middle coverage that forces 32-bit embedded and legacy ARM customers to fat 64-bit cores where 32-bit support is dropped. So much for your small footprint standard RPi hardware Eben Upton. It's either a 32-bit MCU with limited memory/MMU options, a weak non-superscalar 32-bit Cortex-A or a fat large footprint 64-bit only Cortex-A in your RPi future.

Right, but that's also what you've reported: the A32 is power efficient, yet performing well, and not requiring all resources of a 64-bit core.

That's the reason why 32-bit ARM (Thumb-2) still makes sense: less resources and less power consumption. Key factors for the embedded market.
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I doubt ARM is worried about RISC-V code density improvements which we know will never compete with Thumb code density.

Exactly. For ARM it's enough to maintain its Thumb-2 architecture.
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Maybe another ISA do over with RISC-VI will be more competitive.

I strongly doubt that we'll ever see a RISC-VI ISA, after the support that RISC-V gained and it's still getting.

However, I still have hope that something can be changed in the architectures domain.

cdimauro Quote:

It seems that it's what the majority of the users here wanted: us to be out, for their "pleasure".

Some trolls sabotage everything Amiga related and others sabotage opposing camps. They have been successful at killing Amiga interest.

cdimauro Quote:

I still clearly recall when Mr. Asanovic had pointed the finger at the fragmentation of other architectures, lavishing praise on his own RISC-V, which "obviously" did not suffer from the same issues. Nowadays it’s enough to make you shudder to look at the mess they’ve created and which they continue to make a shambles of. But consistency has never been their strong point, right from the very beginning...

The reason there are not more customer complaints about RISC-V is because of the lack of overall standardization. Nobody complains that they bought RV64IMC capable hardware and their RV64IMC code crashes because of missing instructions only found in a newer C extension. Pre-compiled executables only exist for one particular hardware so RISC-V is primarily used with LINUX where everything is compiled by the user. Standard hardware like RPi hardware with Thumb+BroadcomSoC+VideocoreGPU or 68k Amiga where executables are compatible across multiple hardware would be difficult with RISC-V. ARM ISAs at least have versions with some standard extensions but lack SoC standardization, other than minimal timers, and fail to scale the system from Cortex-M to Cortex-A hardware with cores lacking similar optional features for both. For example, RPi MCUs are not compatible with original RPi SBCs. The 68k Amiga standard with AmigaOS can scale from a Cortex-M MCU footprint to near desktop Cortex-A like hardware maintaining executable compatibility between them. The 68k Amiga was designed as a SoC but Commodore failed after finally planning, but before creating, a true 68k SoC as a single chip. The 68k scalability from the 32-bit embedded market, which it created, to the workstation market, which it created, was unprecedented and is difficult for modern ISAs to match. Competitive code density for embedded markets and competitive performance for high end markets are required and I feel like the 68k still has better scalability from top to bottom than RISC-V, Thumb2, AArch64 and x86-64.

cdimauro Quote:

Consistency and Orthogonality usually can't be achieved on code compression architectures/extensions/instructions, because they are the fruit of compromises. 68k, VAX, and a few other architectures are exceptions, because (very) good code density results are simply shown up from their intrinsic design. That's a very good thing for compilers and developers, of course, because it causes no or much less headaches. I've seen this with my architectures as well: NEx64T is very much consistent and orthogonal, whereas the new one isn't at all. Different goals bring to different decisions and, then, results.

Simplified compressed ISAs with more than 8 GP registers are necessarily less orthogonal. RISC-V and Thumb 16-bit encodings, like the 68k, mostly use 3-bit register encodings accessing 8 GP registers. Most ISAs that started off with 16+ GP registers and only support 2 VLE instruction sizes usually sacrifice orthogonality for simplification. The 68k supports 16 GP registers with both the Dn/An register split and more than 2 VLE sizes. The Dn/An register split is also less orthogonal but works well enough that many developers discussing the 68k considered it to be orthogonal anyway. The NS32k developers only supported 8 GP registers in their 32-bit PDP-11 ISA which they considered to be cleaner and more orthogonal but customers chose the more powerful 68k that felt like having 16 GP registers most of the time.

cdimauro Quote:

Those are pretty standard instructions found on "RISC" architectures which target code density, because they address two issues: - loading integer values which size is less than the register size; - smash values on integer operations which size is less than the register size. That wasn't a trivial topic, consistently impacting the code density & number of executed instructions, and we had several internal discussion on the My 66000 team (I've also made some changes on my new ISA to properly address issues coming from those scenarios).

RISC-V was supposed to be the new improved RISCy RISC ISA that fixed past RISC mistakes. The original 32-bit ARM ISA lacked both signed and unsigned 16-bit load/stores and 8-bit signed load/stores while not supporting unaligned memory accesses. The original DEC Alpha ISA lacked both signed and unsigned 8-bit and 16-bit load/stores and lacked hardware support for unaligned accesses. These RISC simplification mistakes were later fixed for ARM and Alpha ISAs but the damage to early adoption and support was done.

cdimauro Quote:

CISCs usually have no such issues, because they are able to perform operations at the various integer sizes, and no zero/sign-extending load instructions neither zero/sign extended of the results values are needed, with positive impact on both code density and number of executed instructions.

CISC ISAs still have an issue for performance which is partial register writes of registers, excluding stores. Adding the ColdFire MVS/MVZ instructions to the 68k would reduce partial register writes, reduce the number of instructions executed and improve code density. The nice thing is that it only requires 4 instructions mvs.b, mvs.w, mvz.b and mvz.w where RISC-V requires 8 instructions for similar functionality to operate on both memory and registers. Once RISCy RISC-V actually adds 10 instructions though, not counting the one for 64-bit. Oddly, the RISC-V naming conventions of sext and zext are a better match for the 68k than the awful CF instruction names and are similar to the sxtb, sxtw, zxtb and zxtw I chose while retaining the CF name aliases for compatibility.

The x86(-64) equivalents of movsx and movzx often are bad for code density yet they are commonly used as they reduce the number of instructions executed and partial register writes. As you know, this is due to x86(-64) being out of encoding space and requiring longer VLE encodings while the 68k has encoding space for these shorter 16-bit encodings, even reusing the same encodings as CF.

cdimauro Quote:

Not so much. Probably because of the limited offset for the LD/ST instructions. The small usage of zero/sign-extending instructions might come from a limited usage of smaller integers. More modern software tends to use bigger integers, to avoid those issues (but putting much more pressure on the entire memory hierarchy, which is a big loss).

Good point. The sext and zext type instructions can potentially reduce data, reduce data bandwidth and improve cache efficiency. One place where RISC-V has a minor advantage over Thumb2 was with reduced data which saves memory (excluding read only data placed in code/text sections?). RISC-V used less data than Thumb2 in Vince Weaver's competition too. The 68k was between but much closer to RISC-V. PPC actually had the least amount of data but is more than offset by the large code and likely large stack requirements contributing to the much larger memory footprint compared to the 68k.

cdimauro Quote:

But he added them in the last years, right?

Gunnar originally added CF instructions, then removed or moved them and finally added them back although I do not know if they are in the original location. Documented but never ratified moving ISA target is better or worse than RISC-V?

cdimauro Quote:

Do you mean 32-bit 32x32=32? If yes, then I agree: it's much more useful than 16x16=32 (this was introduced only because the 68000 has only a 16x16=32 bit multiplier).

The problem is that instruction size can refer to either the instruction VLE size or datatype size. To clarify, a 16-bit VLE size for all 32-bit datatype size 32x32=32 MUL would be more useful today than the 68k 16-bit VLE instruction size 16x16=32 MUL from the 68000. At the time the 68000 was introduced, the 16x16=32 MUL was likely more useful as most datatype sizes were 8-bit or 16-bit and a 32x32=32 MUL would have been considerably slower. Today, 32-bit datatypes are more common and pipelined 1-2 cycle execution 32x32=32 MUL instructions are possible. Even the 68060 has a 2 cycle 32x32=32 MUL which was better than most CPUs when introduced. From the RISC-V benchmarks, a 16-bit VLE size 32x32=32 MUL does not improve code density much. The stone age 68k AmigaOS would still use a 32-bit bsr to call a utility.library SMult32() or UMult32() anyway. The people with an interest in keeping the 68k AmigaOS in the stone age will use a PPC 32-bit multiply instruction too.

cdimauro Quote:

Right, but the reason is that the 68k has only 16 registers, so a 16-bit opcode + 16-bit mask perfectly matched the use-case. However, you don't strictly need such super-flexibility by defining a good ABI, because the registers to be saved & restored on functions prologues & epilogues are a precise, sequential subset, which can be easily addressed by such cm instructions. Despite having the possibility to define 16, 32, 48 and 64-bit masks, I preferred to define proper registers subranges (yes, I need more than one) to accommodate similar needs. This allowed me to have 16-bit versions of the same PUSH/POP instructions for the more common cases, and 32 and 48-bit versions for the more generic ones.

I find the RISC-V push/pop multiple implementation restrictive. It basically allows to push or pop multiple a range of R0-Rn registers. It may be possible to keep register variable use to the lowest numbered registers but this likely requires 3 op instructions which are poor for code density. Also, reusing recently used registers and hammering the lower registers may require more CPU resources like register renaming to avoid stalls. With that said, instructions to push/pop a series of multiple registers are still useful. I expect there are times when unnecessary registers are saved or the instructions can not be used at all, offsetting the smaller VLE size. Such instructions are good enough to always avoid the messy prologue and epilogue functions to save/restore registers and with no more unnecessary saving of registers. A bitmap list of more than 16 registers certainly becomes less efficient but then more than 16 registers is difficult to make use of with a compact ISA that mostly uses 16-bit VLE instructions that typically only access 8 registers with 3-bit register encodings.

cdimauro Quote:

Zero is a very common value to be given back, so it makes sense. With a single (super-complicated!) instruction you can completely replace common functions epilogues. BTW, on my last architecture I needed two variants of exactly the same instruction, due to they way that I've defined the registers subranges.

I expect cm.popretz can be used and provides a small code density savings. It is another non-orthogonal instruction as the return register is implicit though. The 68k rarely has instructions like this but it reminds me of the similar looking SuperH ISA. SuperH removed the Dn/An register divide with r0-r15 GP registers using a 16-bit fixed length ISA. There are many uses of implicit registers and offsets and immediates are severely reduced compared to the 68k. Which is better and easier to program? The x86(-64) ISAs use some implicit registers and is less orthogonal than the 68k. Which is better and easier to program?

cdimauro Quote:

Definitely, and Coldfire added some "table instructions" as well, to further improve on this area.

It was CPU32 which had "table lookup and interpolate" tlbs, tlbsn, tlbu, tlbun instructions. They were more than aids to access arrays as they performed interpolation of table data.

https://users.encs.concordia.ca/~tahar/coen311/CPU32_Reference_Manual.pdf

cdimauro Quote:

ARM64 has thousand of instructions and so many "active" registers, so definitely cores based on that are fatter than the ones which implement the latest Thumb-2 ISA. ... Right, but that's also what you've reported: the A32 is power efficient, yet performing well, and not requiring all resources of a 64-bit core. That's the reason why 32-bit ARM (Thumb-2) still makes sense: less resources and less power consumption. Key factors for the embedded market.

AArch64 cores are indeed fat requiring tremendous resources but AArch32 is no lightweight either, partially due to poor use of registers including shadow register and unnecessary modes. See Figure 4, 5 and 6 of the following PDF.

https://armkeil.blob.core.windows.net/developer/Files/pdf/white-paper/cortex-a32-the-logical-choice.pdf

Compared to the 68k, AArch32 lost 2 registers by placing the pc/r15 in the GP register file and using a lr/r14 link register. The lr has practically no advantage with a hardware return/link stack but requires a shadow register in every mode. The 68k has separate user and supervisor stack pointers where ARM has a shadow lr and sp register for every mode. Older ARM versions had 5 modes while ARMv8-A has 7 modes with 19 GP shadow registers and 7 spsr/cpsr shadow registers. ARMv8-M reduces the modes to 2 and drops support for the original 32-bit ARM ISA. While the resources for AArch32 are cheap compared to AArch64, it looks like a lot of unnecessary overhead for low power cores which is likely why ARMv8-A is dropping 32-bit support and ARMv8-M is simplifying 32-bit support, both at the expense of legacy compatibility. Most embedded hardware can be non-standard with code compiled specifically for it, but the RPi hardware standard and A1222 non-standard PPC FPU show that compatibility can be important for what is generally considered embedded hardware. Economies of scale can reduce prices for mass produced standard embedded hardware as well. ARM is not helping Eben Upton with his strategy to provide low cost standard embedded hardware despite ARM investing in RPI and RISC-V is no better as an alternative despite the dual Hazard3 RV32IMAC+ RISC-V cores in the RP2350 MCU. ARM is more focused on producing commodity server chips for the data center AI boom despite competing with their customers.

EXT. AMIGA 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. SUBWAY PLATFORM - 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 MATTHEY FOX.

EXT. SUBWAY EXIT - MORNING

The bubbling mass charges up the stairs. Steam rises 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...

Matthey the Fox straggling behind, in a crumpled raincoat, tie
askew, young, very young, his bleary face buried in a Wall
Street Journal, folded, 'subway style', as he crosses the
street against the light.

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

A car honks, swerving past.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

Cavernous modern lobby. Bodies cramming into elevators. Matthey,
stuffing the newspaper into his coat, jams in.

INT. ELEVATOR - MORNING

Blank faces stare ahead, each lost in private thoughts, Matthey
again mouthing the thought, "stupid schmuck", his eyes
catching a blond executive who quickly flicks her eyes away.
Paranoia in the elevator. We quickly cut into private lives.

WORRIED MAN (V.O.)
... 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 (V.O.)
... 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 (V.O.)
... 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... H2B2K - shoot,
insurance and theatre
tix...H2B2K,I,T -- and the cleaners!
repeat...

Catching the eyes of Matthey once again wandering to her.
Camera moving to Matthey who looks away.

MATTHEY (V.O.)
...sorry, what a fox... funny, the
most beautiful girls in the world
are always on the street or in
elevators, never get to talk to
them, 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, slow)
... 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 (V.O.)
...Screw him! I'll destroy that
sonufabitch... he thinks he can
break a contract with me he's got
something to learn.

SECRETARY (V.O.)
...9:15!... he'll kill me this
time, he will really kill me... oh
come on elevator!... why do you
stop on every floor...

As the elevator stops again to disgorge two people.

BIKE MESSENGER (V.O.)
(pissed now at the elevator)
... come on man, time is money
man... One floor here I could do
eleven blocks...

BLONDE EXECUTIVE (V.O.)
H2B2K,I,T,CL,P,O,T2...
(pause, she looks
like she forgot something)


WORRIED MAN (V.O.)
...goddamn elevators!...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 sign akin to making it to a urinal
after a punishing wait...

The elevator tension is over, but the killer grind continues.

INT. JACKSON, STEINEM INVESTMENT HOUSE - DAY

Credits continue to run. Matthey moves past the functional
reception area, past CAROLYN, a cheerful young black girl.

CAROLYN
How you doing Mattheydy?

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

He slips off his overcoat, flicks some lint off his Paul
Stuart $500 suit, and enters the main trading room.

Brokers mill by their desks, gulping coffee, scanning the
papers, the quotrons. The digital clock by the big board
counter clicks to 9:26 am -- four minutes until the market
opens. You can smell the hunger.

Matthey takes a deep breath, tosses the newspaper away and
struts into the office -- fuck it -- it's a new day.

MOVING past DAN STEEPLES, a flush-faced old-timer, a blue
and white Yale tie, with a carnation in his lapel.

MATTHEY
Morning, Dan. What's looking good
today?

STEEPLES
If I know 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.

Past CHARLIE CUSHING, on the phone, a handsome chunk of man
with rugged good looks and Ivy League mannerisms.

MATTHEY
...hey Chuckie, how's the woman-
slayer?

CHARLIE
...still looking for the right 18
year old wife, how you doing, pal?

MATTHEY
...if I had your looks, better.

CHARLIE
(used to it)
...takes years of genetics, pal,
and a Yale education... and the
right tailor.

MATTHEY
...not that you learned anything,
Chunk.

Matthey reaches his trading desk, whips open his briefcase and
pulls out a computer print-out of last night's homework.

MATTHEY
I gotta feeling we're going to make
a killing today, Cdimauro.

CDIMAURO (O.S.)
Yeah, where's your machine gun.

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

His associate, CDIMAUROIN, a manicky wise-guy, swivels over his
chair from a nearby desk. He gives the charts a quick read.

CDIMAURO
(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.

MATTHEY
Thanks, Cdimauro, with that I might be
able to qualify for welfare.

LOU MANNHEIM, strolls in, a dignified looking older broker
in his late 60's, wearing an old brown brim hat with button
down white shirt, narrow tie, very much a picture from
another era... a kind humor in his eyes... but obviously
ailing in the legs and breath department.

MATTHEY
(friendly)
You got a look in your eye, Mr.
Mannheim... You got something for
the small fry...

MANNHEIM
Jesus, can't make a buck in this
market, country's going to hell
faster than when that sonofabitch
Roosevelt was around... too much
cheap money sloshing around the
world. The biggest mistake we ever
made was letting Nixon get off the
gold standard. Putney Drug--you
boys might want to have a look at it.

CDIMAURO
Take 5 years for that company to
turn around.

MANNHEIM
...but they got a good new drug.
Stick to the fundamentals, that's
how IBM and Hilton were built...good
things sometimes take time.

The stentorian voice of OFFICE MANAGER HIERONYMUS LYNCH
booms over the intercom.

We see him peering from behind the glass partition in hit
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 Matthey and
Cdimauro's direction)
Especially you rookies. Also,
remember, the sales contest ends
tomorrow.

Matthey and Cdimauro roll their eyes. The digital clock flashes
9:30. The CREDITS close.

MATTHEY
And they're off and running!

The room rises to a subtle but new energy level with the
clatter of the ticker, speakers, 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
Here's a hot lead... Have I got one
for you.... sell ... dump it all!!
... 500 at an eighth, an eighth!...
July fifties. April thirties...how
bout those Decembers? You see where
they're going? ... Morgan is
selling a billion one at the close.
Yeah. That's right, they're selling
all over the place... we're still
long on the treasuries -- $110
million. What about the Japs?
...Where am I?
(confused at all the
phone lights)
We gotta lot of lights here! Let's
pick 'em up.

MATTHEY
(on phone)
Jack, take 50 Gulf, with a 3/8 top,
forget the hundred. What about
Delroy? I can go long at 23, let's
go long...Conwest Air -- let me
check it...

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

MATTHEY (O.S. CONT'D)
Up an eighth. How many you want?
It's on the floor.

He writes the order up.

A shot of CHARLIE CUSHING yawning as he half-listens to his
customer, resting the phone on his kneecaps.

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,
blarihg market information out of squawk boxes.

Matthey's desk is now cluttered with order tickets, literature,
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. Cdimauro paces past,
making a dramatic phone pitch.

CDIMAURO
Dr. Beltzer has to have his
information this minute! It
concerns his future!

Matthey waves Cdimauro away, answers his caller, trying to keep
cool, worried how as he sees Lynch, the office manager,
coming over.

MATTHEY
Hey Howard, I thought you were a
gentleman. Sure it's gone down a
little bit, but you got the tip
from your printer, 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 who? You own it!
(beat)
No, he's out right now.

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

MATTHEY
(cupping the receiver)
... That's what you told us to say.

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

CDIMAURO
(into his phone)
What?... Well, how was I to know
you were in surgery? What am I
Cdimauro the mind reader here?

Matthey whispers, tensely. Lynch listens.

MATTHEY
He's lying.

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

Lynce hangs up and glares at Matthey.

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

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

LYNCH
Fox, you're making more problems
than you are sales.

MATTHEY
I don't think you're being fair,
sir. You assigned me this guy, and
you know he's got a history...

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

Lynch walks off. Matthey does some quick calculations in his head.

CDIMAURO
(reappearing)
Mattheydy, buddy, buddy; little
trouble, huh, today.

MATTHEY
(devastated)
Howard the Jerk reneged on me. I've
got to cover his loss to the tune
of about seven grand! I'm tapped
out man, American Express got a hit
man looking for me.

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

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

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

CDIMAURO
Just put me on the institutional
side of the room where the real
cheesecake is. You forgetting
something?

Cdimauro points up at the clock. Matthey looks up... it's 2:40.
Matthey quickly composes himself. He picks up the phone, dialing
purposefully.

CDIMAURO (CONT'D)
Mattheydy, buddy, when ya gonna realize
it's big game hunters that bag the
elephants, not retail brokers. I
heard this story about Hammer... he
was on the phone 30 seconds after
the Challenger blew up selling NASA
stocks short.

MATTHEY
Hello, Natalie -- guess who? That's
right, and you know everyday I say
to myself, today could be the day...
So what do you say... will you
marry me? Then please can you get
me through to Mr. Hammer?

CDIMAURO
(coaching)
It concerns his future!

MATTHEY
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.

INT. HAMMER OFFICE - DAY

NATALIE, a classy attractive Englishwoman is on the phone
with Matthey, somewhat amused by his manner. She is the personal
secretary to multimillionaire, Amiga Street trader and
raider, Hammer. His windows look out on a panoramic
view of the city and East River.

NATALIE
Mr. Fox, I've told you before, I'm
sure you're a good broker, but our
traders talk to the brokers, Mr.
Hammer only deals with investment
bankers. Yes, I shall give him your
message ...

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 HAMMER. We
hear a deafening ROAR as we:

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MCGREGOR'S BAR AND GRILL - NEAR LAGUARDIA AIRPORT -
TWILIGHT

In the background, a 747 ascends into the night sky,
climbing over the roof tops of weathered brick tract houses.
Matthey, coat collar pulled up against the wind, crosses the
street, entering a neighborhood bar. We see an old maroon
Honda behind him.

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. Matthey searches the crowd. A
group of middle-aged men wave him over, BLUESTAR AIRLINES
insignias on the pockets... CHARLIE DENT, a rugged, chain-
smoking ex-Marine Sergeant, and DOMINICK AMATO, a big strong
Italian greet Mattheydy as he comes over.

CHARLIE
Mattheydy boy, how ya doing?

MATTHEY
Great Charlie, any better it'd be a
sin.

AMATO
(slapping Matthey)
I hear all you guys on Amiga Street
are millionaires, when you gonna
make us rich?

MATTHEY
Gotta open an account to win the
lottery, Dominick. Give me 15,000,
you'll have a condo in Florida next
Christmas.

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

As he signs an unemployment insurance form for one of his men.

MATTHEY
... 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...

MATTHEY
It's called pasta now Dad,
spaghetti's out of date.

Matthey 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
... so am I. Whaddaya want, a beer?
(to waitress)
Hey Billie, bring another for the
kid, he looks good, doesn't he?

Dominick and Charlie go off. A pause. Father and son sizing
each other up with a look.

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

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

CARL
Speak English will ya.

MATTHEY
D.K. -- didn't know -- who I was
when the options he bought took a
bath. He reneged on me.

CARL
(nods, satisfied)
I told you not to go into that
racket. You could've been a doctor
or a lawyer,

MATTHEY
Coulda been a contender.

CARL (CONT.)
you coulda stayed at Bluestar and
been a supervisor in instead of
going customer relations by now,
'stead of going off and bein' a
salesman.

MATTHEY
(an old story between them)
Look Dad, I'm not a salesman. How
many times I gotta tell you I'm an
account executive, and pretty soon
I'm going to the investment banking
side of the firm.

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

MATTHEY
(ticked)
Dad, it takes time. You gotta build
a customer list. I'm doing it. I
could make more money in one year
as a broker than five years at the
airline.

CARL
I don't get it, you get a
scholarship to NYU, you get 35,000
the first year, and 50 last year,
where the hell is it?

MATTHEY
50 K don't get you to first base in
the Big Apple, Dad, not any more. I
pay 40% in taxes, I got a rent of
15,000, I got school loans, car
loans, food, park my car costs me 3
bills a month, I need good suits,
that's $500 a pop, shoes...

CARL
So come home and live rent free,
'stead of that cockroach palace you
live in. $50,000 Jesus Christ, the
world is off its rocker. I made
$37,000 last year and you...

MATTHEY
It's Queens, Dad and a 5% mortgage
and you rent the top room--I gotta
live in Manhattan to be a player,
Dad. There's no nobility in poverty
anymore, y'know. One day you're
going to be proud of me, you'll
see...
(hurting)

CARL
(sees it)
It's yourself you've got to be
proud of, Huckleberry, how much ya
need?

MATTHEY
(beat)
Can you spare three hundred? Pay
you back next month, promise.

Dad reaches into his pocket, looks at his cash. It hurts.

CARL
...Got a 100 on me, you...

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

Dad shrugs, puts it away.

CARL
... it adds up Mattheydy, 300 here, 200
there. Your brother never...
(cuts off when he
sees Mattheydy's face)
...well, I always said money is
something you need in case you
don't die tomorrow...

MATTHEY
(changes subject)
How's Mom?

Another man comes over with a bandage around his head and a
compensation form for Carl to sign. ("Hey, chief").

CARL
(with affection)
...same, pain in the ass, god bless
her, talks too much... gonna take
her to Florida next month... west
coast, near Tampa, like to get out
for good, but can't afford it.

MATTHEY
...Work okay?

CARL
(lights another
cigarette, grimaces)
...this drug testing is driving my
guys nuts. I got flagged for my
blood pressure pills. The only good
news is, we just met with the
comptroller over some union
stuff...'member that crash last
summer? and the investigation?
Well, the FAA is gonna rule it was
a manufacturing flaw in the door
latch mechanism. I kept telling 'em
it wasn't maintenance, it was those
goddamn greedy manufacturers out in
Cincinnati. And I was right.

He gives the signed form back to the injured man. (Carl:
"Okay, Frank")

MATTHEY
That's great Dad.

CARL
Damn right, it gets us out from
under suspension. We'll get those
new routes to Pittsburgh and Boston
and the equipment we need. We're
gonna compete with the big boys now.

MATTHEY
(boasts)
Hey to Bluestar, as your broker all
I can advise is hold on to that
stock Dad...

They drink. Matthey reflects a moment.

MATTHEY
You sure about this FAA announcement?

CARL
About what?

MATTHEY
The FAA announcement.

CARL
Sure I'm sure. Mattheydy, you got that
mischievous look in your eyes. You
used to smile just like that when
you were a baby sleeping, just like
that.

Matthey's mind racing elsewhere.

INT. MATTHEY'S APARTMENT - UPPER WEST SIDE - NIGHT

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, print out pages strewn across the floor. No other
semblance of a personal life except clothes haphazardly
tossed, Barron's and Fortune magazines. A GIRL's back is all
we see, sleeping naked on the bed.

Close on Matthey's IBM computer -- his appointment calendar. Matthey
focusing on an underlined notation: G.G.'s BIRTHDAY.

Matthey stares at the clock: 4 a.m. He picks up a prospectus for
a chemical company, starts reading.

EXT. HAMMER BUILDING - MORNING

Matthey, crossing lower Broadway, enters a magnificent towering
glass structure.

INT. GORDON HAMMER PENTHOUSE OFFICES - MORNING

NATALIE, Hammer's British secretary, is completing shorthand
notes as the intercom buzzes. A logo for "HAMMER & CO. is
behind her.

RECEPTION
(off)
... I have a delivery here for Mr.
Hammer. It's a personal item and the
gentleman says you have to sign for
it.

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

INT. HALLWAY - MORNING

Matthey, 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 on phones, quotron terminals
and keyboards... into Natalie's outer office.

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

NATALIE
(recognizing the voice)
What are you doing here?

MATTHEY
...And you're even lovelier than I
pictured. I brought a birthday
present for Mr. Hammer.

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

Matthey takes out an old crumpled Fortune magazine cover of
Hammer, entitled "Hammer the Great!"

MATTHEY
It's in the bible, see. You better
go buy him a present. Please,
Natalie. Let me give him the gift;
Cuban cigars--Davidoff, his
favorite and hard to get.

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

She takes the gift and enters Hammer's office. Matthey paces
nervously. Natalie re-appears, stern, but a note of
compromise in her voice.

NATALIE
Wait outside.

INT. HAMMER OFFICES - OUTSIDE RECEPTION AREA - DAY

Matthey on the courtesy phone, hangs up, looks nervously at his
watch. Almost 12. He's lost some two hours of business.
Natalie suddenly comes out, without a smile.

NATALIE
Five minutes...

Matthey brightens, pumping himself in the mirror, muttering.

MATTHEY
(to Natalie)
Well... life all comes down to a
few moments, and this is one of 'em...

He follows Natalie.

INT. GORDON HAMMER'S OFFICE (MATTHEY'S POV) - DAY

Furnishings in hypermodern gray and black lacquer, Modern
Art ranging from black field paintings by Ad Reinhardt to
the smashed dishes of Julian Schnabel. Nautilus equipment,
hi-tech gadgets are in evidence, including a splendid Howard
Miller World Time Clock, and a world map...

Three of Hammer's people, young MBA's dressed for success,
are scattered about the room, on phones, calculators, coming
in and out.

GORDON HAMMER aka Hammer 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 130 line silver-plated telephone.
On his ears is a headset.

He is carrying on overlapping conversations with a myriad of
bankers, partners and lawyers; pausing to issue commands to
his aides while keeping his eye on the stock prides spitting
across a bank of quotron monitors, carrying everything from
New York Exchanges to London, commodities, gold, and
currency values. A second Secretary and sometimes Natalie
exit and enter with various messages written on a piece of
paper, indicating a waiting party on the phone. Hammer often
shakes his head "no".

HAMMER
(on phone)
... what the hell is going on? I
just saw 200,000 shares move, are
we part of it, we better be, pal,
or I'm gonna eat your lunch for
you... get on 1.
(switches lines)
Sorry, love it at forty. It's an
insult at fifty. Their analysts
don't know preferred stock from
livestock...
(a beat, mischievous smile)
wait for it to head south, then
we'll raise the sperm count on the
deal... right. Get back to me....
(to Alex, an aide
listening an the
other line)
This is the kid that's called me 59
days in a row. Wants to be a player
(to Matthey)
There oughta be a picture of you in
the dictionary under persistence.
(back to phone)
Look, Jerry, I'm looking for
negative control, no more than 30
to 35%, just enouqh to block
anybody else's merger plans and
find out from the inside if the
books are cooked. If it looks as
good as on paper, we're in the kill
zone. We lock and load pal...get on 3.

ALEX DE BETANCOURT, a tall handsome Frenchman, jots a note
and follows Hammer over to line 3. Hammer's dark intent eyes
fixing briefly on Matthey who stands waiting in the corner. He
motions him to sit.

HAMMER
(new line)
Yeah, Billy, who's your buyer?...
No, not interested.
(eyes an Quotron, to
Ollie, a trader)
Ollie, start calling a the
institutions, start with Marx at
Janson Mutual, then Reardon. Get me
that California retirement money,
baby! And we're on our way!

OLLIE
You got it, G.G.

OLLIE, a gigantic 200 pound man wearing pink suspenders,
rises and walks to another phone, past Matthey...

HAMMER
(back on line with
Billy, listening)
... check the arbs for MacDonald's.
Yeah, I'm having a Mac attack.
20,000 shares. For about 30 minutes.
Lunch? Are you joking -- lunch is
for wimps. Get back to me...
(to Alex)
4.

Matthey's eyes on the framed "tombstones" from the Amiga Street
Journal commemorating Hammer's successful deals; they hang
like scalps from the walls. Hammer's eyes drifting to Matthey, a
friendly easy smile for a flick of an instant, he has
genuine 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.

HAMMER
(line 4)
Look Harold, they're vulnerable,
alright, but we don't want 'em to
think they're under accumulation.
Go slow. Call Geneva and the
Bahamas for me, will ya? We feint
towards it but we wait...

ALEX
What about tipping off Yurovich?

HAMMER
(grimaces)
If I ever need surgery, get me the
heart of an arb like Yurovich, it's
never been used...Happy Holideals
Harold...

Hangs up, eyes to Matthey. His headset comes off.

MATTHEY
(nervous)
How do you do Mr. Hammer. I'm Matthey.

HAMMER
So you say. Nice to meet you; hope
you're intelligent. Like these,
how'd you get these?
(indicating cigars)


MATTHEY
(tries a smile, awkward)
...got a connection at the airport.

Hammer notes the answer, wrapping the cuff of a state-of-the-
art, automatic blood pressure monitor around his arm and
starts pumping it up. His aides continue on the phones.

HAMMER
So what s on your mind kimosabe?
Why am I listening to you? Got to
monitor my blood pressure, so
whatever you do, don't upset me.

MATTHEY
Oh no, no...

HAMMER
(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.

MATTHEY
I just want to let you know Mr.
Hammer I read all about you at NYU
Business, 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...

HAMMER
(smiles, impatient
with the speech)
So what firm you with, pal?

MATTHEY
Jackson, Steinem...

HAMMER
(nods)
...going places, good junk bond
department, you got the financing
on that Syndicam deal.

MATTHEY
...Yeah, and we're working on some
other interesting stuff.

HAMMER
(fishing)
...A cosmetics company by any
chance? What are you, the 12th man
on the deal team? The last to know?

MATTHEY
(smiles)
Can't tell you that, Mr. Hammer.

HAMMER
So whatta you got for me, sport?
Why are you here?

Matthey opens his attache case and rifles out a handful of
briefs. Hammer noting the blood pressure reading and taking
the cuff off his arm. Ollie, the big trader, ambles back in,
says something to the third aide, a young intelligent-
looking woman SUSAN TURNER.

MATTHEY
Chart break-out on this one
here...uh Whitewood-Young
Industries...low P.E. Explosive
earnings. 30% discount from book.
Great cash flow. Coupla 5% holders.
Strong management.

HAMMER
It's a dog, what else you got,
sport, besides connections at the
airport?

NATALIE
Mr. Stevenson in San Fransisco.

Hammer takes the call, cutting Matthey off.

HAMMER
He respond to the offer? What? What
the hell's Cromwell doing giving
lecture tours when his company's
losing 60 million a quarter? I
guess he's giving lectures on how
to lose money...if this guy opened
a funeral parlor, no one would die,
this turkey's totally brain
dead...Well Christmas is over and
business is business.
(simultaneous to Ollie)
Keep buying. Dilute the sonofabitch.
Ollie I want every orifice in his
body flowing red.

OLLIE
(laughs, on the phone)
He's flowing, Gordo. Piece of cake.

Hammer hanging up and buzzing an aide. Throws out an aside to
Matthey.

HAMMER
...doesn't look like it but the
best trader on the street...
(to Susan)
Sue get the LBO analysis on Teldar
Paper and bring it here...what else?

Matthey shifting, uncomfortable as Hammer finally swivels his
attention back to him.

MATTHEY
(coming right back)
Tarafly...Analysts don't like it. I
do. The breakup value is twice the
market price. The deal finances
itself. Sell off two divisions,
keep...

Aiex, knowing the stock, sneers, shares a look with Hammer
who looks up at Matthey with the first sign of interest.

HAMMER
(laughs)
Not bad for a quant, but a dog with
different fleas.
(checks his hi-tech watch)
Come on, tell me something I don't
know. It's my birthday, pal,
surprise me...

As he opens a birthday card and feeds it into the SHREDDER
that sits next to his desk over the waste basket. The sound
it makes is soft and menacing. Mattheydy knows its fourth down
and long, Hammer's attention is shifting to the quotron. In
frustration, Matthey blurts it out.

MATTHEY
(standing)
Bluestar Airlines.

The camera moves on him now, sudden, more intense, in a
sense trapping him.

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

MATTHEY
A comer. 80 medium-body jets. 300
pilots, flies northeast, Canada,
some Florida and Caribbean routes...
great slots in major cities...

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

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

Hammer looks up, remotely interested.

HAMMER
How do you know?

MATTHEY
(hesitates, concerned)
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 ever will get under
his rolls of flesh, his voice deadpan.

OLLIE
... just got 250,000 shares at 18
1/4 from Janson, think I'll pull
twice that at 18 1/2 outta the
California pensions. We got close
to half a million shares in the bag.

HAMMER
Hey, the Terminator! Blow 'em away
Ollie.

OLLIE
And, I'm pretty sure we got the
Beezer Brothers out of Tulsa coming
in with us and I'm working on the
Silverberg boys in Canada.

HAMMER
Rip their throats out and put them
in your garbage compactor.
(to Matthey)
Interesting. You got a card?

Mattheydy thrusts a card into his hands. Hammer glances at it.

MATTHEY
My home number's on the back...

HAMMER
(smiles, looks at card)
Matthey, I look at a hundred ideas
a day. I choose one.

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

MATTHEY
Well, hope to hear from you, sir.

He turns and heads out the door, still shaken by the
revelation he has made passing Susan who hurries in with a
dossier.

Hammer glances at it. As Matthey leaves, he overhears:

HAMMER
(off)
OK gang, looks like we're going
over 5% in Teldar, start the
lawyers on a tender offer and 13D,
we keep going after everything in
sight but don't pay over $22.
They're gonna fight, they got Myers
and Thromberg doing their legal,
they make Nazis look like nice guys...

INT. OUTSIDE HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

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

MATTHEY
...thanks Natalie.

NATALIE
(buzzing inside, preoccupied)
...have a nice day Mr. Stone.
(wrong name, doesn't
notice, to Hammer on phone)
... Mr. Hammer, the conference call
is ready. Mr. Sugarman and Mr.
Lorenzo in Delaware. Mr. Bernard in
Los Angeles. Mr. Jackson and Ms.
Rosco in London. They're all on.

The phone call goes behind closed doors. Matthey walks out,
dejected.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey comes in, distracted, punches into his quatron. Teldar
Paper comes up.

CDIMAURO
(comes over)
...well, see him?

MATTHEY
(mind on the computer)
Yeah, but he didn't see me.

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

INSERT: TELDAR PAPER. The quotron. Matthey's eyes. Thinking to buy.

CDIMAURO
(looks)
... got something from him? Teldar
Paper?

Matthey wipes it off the screen, his mind made up, dismissing
the temptation to buy.

MATTHEY
...a dog with fleas.

Lynch, the manager, stalks past with some telexes.

LYNCH
Where you been the last 3 hours,
Fox? I wouldn't be sitting around
chin wagging if I were you...
plenty of names in that phone book
to cold call...

Cdimauro gives Lynch the Italian salute, behind his back.
Grudgingly, Mattheydy flips open the massive New York phone book.

CDIMAURO
...got tickets for the Knicks
tonight. Go out and cruise some
bimbos afterwards, whaddaya say?

MATTHEY
(shakes his head)
...gotta read my reports.

CDIMAURO
Forget charts! We're not fund
managers, Matthey, churn 'em and burn
'em. I'm offering you the Knicks
and chicks. God save you before you
turn into poor Steeples over there.

Their eyes briefly on DAN STEEPLES, red faced, desperately
trying to make a sale on the telephone, hangs up defeated.

MATTHEY
...preferably Lou Mannheim...

Their eyes briefly on LOU MANNHEIM, in his private office,
sitting there slumped, thinking, smoking as he watches the
quotron.

CDIMAURO
Nice guy but a loser. Lost all his
equity when his firm went belly up
in the recession of 71. you wanna
be coming in here in your late
sixties still pitching? ...
Whatever happened to that cute
analyst at Thudder, Wicks? ...
Cindy? Susan?

MATTHEY
Cindy. Having sex with her is like
reading the Amiga Street Journal
'cept the Journal don't talk back.
'Sides this AIDS crap is ruining
romance, nobody trusts anybody
anymore, gotta get a blood test in
the toilet before you leave a bar
together, somebody oughtta invent
an AIDS dipstick, no kidding, make
a fortune. I gotta get to work...
Z's today.
(hitting the phone
with the directory)

The pool SECRETARY, GINA, calls out.

GINA
Call for you Mattheydy.

MATTHEY
(taking it)
Matthey.

Matthey rears up in his seat. A change. Cdimauro notices.

INT. GORDON HAMMER OFFICE - SIMULTANEOUS - DAY

Hammer talks into his speaker phone, gazing out the window.

HAMMER
Alright Matthey... buy me twenty
thousand shares of Bluestar. No
more than 15 1/8, 3/8 tops, and
don't screw it up sport.

INT. MATTHEY'S CUBICLE - DAY

The camera tracks around and in on him climactically as the
Music Theme rises to ensnare him... We end close on Matthey.
Dumbstruck.

MATTHEY
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.

CDIMAURO
Got a little action there, eh buddy?

MATTHEY
Cdimauro,
(turns triumphant)
...I just bagged the elephant!

EXT. COLUMBUS AVENUE - NIGHT

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

INT. RESTAURANT/BAR - NIGHT

Inside a glitzy neighborhood singles bar in which Matthey stops,
everybody seems to be young and drinking margueritas. Matthey
orders a beer, surveying the room like a veteran, overhearing
the conversation of a YOUNG TRADER to two other broker types.

YOUNG TRADER
...you know Marty Wyndham? He
netted $650,000 out of that
merger...26 years old, the guy's
Rambo. Got himself a Porsche Turbo
Cabriolet about 75 thou, got a
house in Westhampton, penthouse on
Second Avenue, gets up at 2:30 in
the morning, he's in the office at
4...guy never sleeps...Rambo genes...

He blathers on as Matthey 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.

Matthey 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.

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

BLONDE
(disdainful)
Please, no thanks...
(looking away)

MATTHEY
Look, I know you get approached a
lot by dubious 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, you don't know
it but I do and if you walk away
now I'll never see you again or you
me. You'll grow old.

BLONDE
Oh really.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
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)
Grand Marnier.

MATTHEY
Sounds like a french word, what is it?

BLONDE
It's a romantic and tragic drink.

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

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, Matthey watches as the woman of his dreams
disappears out the door.

BARTENDER
What do you want?

MATTHEY
...I just lost it.

EXT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT (RAIN)

Matthey and a DATE he's obviously just picked up, are struggling
to be seen in a mass of people trying to get in the hottest
new club in Manhattan. Matthey easing forward along the ropes to
a large BOUNCER who roughly pushes one of the bridge-and-
tunnel kids back across the rope.

Joe discreetly shows him $50 but they guy says: "No room!,"
humiliating him in front of his date. The bouncer shoving
Matthey aside as Hammer and KATE, his wife, and ENTOURAGE
(ALEX, others) are shown through the ropes into the door.
Matthey says something to Hammer but it gets lost in the confusion.

EXT. 79TH STREET & BROADWAY - EARLY DAY

People pouring into the subway on the way to work. Matthey
rifles through the Financial Times he's just bought at the
newsstand and finds the article he was looking for: BLUESTAR
EXONERATED IN 1984 CRASH. He thrusts his fist in the air,
victoriously...bounds down the subway stairs.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey's on the quotron and the phone; the word's spread around
the office, he's landed Hammer and brokers drop by his desk
to get the lowdown.

MATTHEY
(on the phone)
What's it at now? Still moving. Great!

STEEPLES
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 Hammer's account.

MATTHEY
(indicating Dan's
Yale tie)
My magic tie, Dan.

STEEPLES
I'll trade you.

Lou Mannheim and a Chinese LADY BROKER intersect.

CHINESE LADY
Gordo the Great, way to go.

MANNHEIM
(pleased)
Good little company. I remember
when we got the money for Bluestar
to build those first planes, back
in the fifties.

CHINESE LADY
(to Matthey)
I hear you're buying Teldar.

Matthey smiles back at her mischievously.

MATTHEY
Sleep with me and the secrets of
the West are yours.

MANNHEIM
Now that's a crap company, sure
you'll make money on the takeover
rumor, but what's being created.
Nothing. No substance behind it.

MATTHEY
(succinct)
Old values. Buy.

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

CDIMAURO
Mattheydy, buddy, some buddy; why
didn't you tell me to buy Bluestar.

MATTHEY
Hey Cdimauro, he demanded
confidentiality...

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

MATTHEY
All right, I owe you one Cdimauro.

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

GINA
(pool secretary)
Mattheydy, phone...Hammer!

Everybody in the adjacent area turns and looks at Mattheydy like
in an E.F. Hutton commercial.

MATTHEY
(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 Mattheydy.

LYNCH
Nice piece of work, Fox. Why don't
you join me and the partners for
lunch tomorrow in the dining room?

MATTHEY
I'd love to, Mr. Lynch, thank you.

INT. 21 CLUB - DAY

Dark mahagony wood, plush banquettes, a long oak bar. Matthey
enters the main dining room in a relatively outre suit that
hangs on him embarrassingly as other businessmen in well-cut
suits move around him and a Maitre d' sniffs, then leads him
to where Hammer is parked, finishing up his lunch. A half
finished plate is removed to make way for Matthey.

HAMMER
Hi sport.

MATTHEY
(still nervous)
Nice to see you again Mr. Hammer.

He's seated.

HAMMER
Try the steak tartare. It's off the
menu but Louis'll make it for you...

MAITRE D'
Of course sir. And to drink?

He looks at Hammer's bottled water.

MATTHEY
Uh...just a Evian, thank you...

The Maitre d' leaves. Hammer 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 avarages.

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

MATTHEY
...I can't even see it...

HAMMER
...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 pal. So how's business today.

MATTHEY
Bluestar was at 21 and an eighth
when I left the office. It might
spin up to 25 by the bell...

HAMMER
(a tiny smile)
Teldar's shooting up. Buy any for
yourself? Bet you were on the phone
two minutes after you got out of my
office.

MATTHEY
(flushes)
No sir, that would've been illegal...

HAMMER
(doesn't believe him)
Sure...relax sport, no one's gonna
blow a whistle. Here, is this
legal?...you wanna put it in my
account?

As he fishes a check out and drops it on Matthey's plate.

Greeting TWO BANKERS who stop at the table as Matthey picks up
the check, glances at it. His hand starts to tremble.

The check is for $500,000.

HAMMER
(to bus boy, the
bankers excited)
Can we have the check over here for
christ's sake.

BUS BOY
(rushing off)
Yes sir!

HAMMER
Cover the Bluestar buy and put a
couple hundred thou in one of those
bow-wow stocks you mentioned. Pick
the dog with the least fleas. Use a
stop loss so your downside is
50,000, and buy yourself a decent
suit. You can't come in here
looking like that.
(Matthey flushes, embarassed)
Go to Morty Sills, Tell 'em I sent
you.

MATTHEY
(his genuine look)
Mr. Hammer -- thank you for the
chance. You won't regret this,
you're with a winner.

HAMMER
(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.

MATTHEY
(stung)
Excuse me sir.

Hammer rising to leave, the Maitre d' hovering around.

HAMMER
You heard me...I don't like losses
sport. Nothing ruins my day more
than losses... You do good, you get
perks, all kinds of perks. Stay
home tonight. Louis, take care of
'im. Enjoy the lunch.

Confused, Matthey watches Hammer 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 raw steak tartare with an egg on top is put
in front of him.

INT. MATTHEY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Matthey is at his computer when the door bell rings. He's not
expecting a visitor. When he opens the door he is knocked
for a loop.

A smashing looking LADY in a fitted Chanel suit, ropes of
chains, short tight skirt, beautiful long legs, is standing
there. Taking in the apartment, she hides her distaste.

LISA
Hello Matthey, I'm Lisa, a friend of
Hammer's.

MATTHEY
(in a daze)
Lisa. Hammer? Oh, Mr. Hammer. Sure.
Would you, uh, like to come in?

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

MATTHEY
We are?

EXT. MATTHEY'S BUILDING - NIGHT

A stretch limo is parked in front, neighborhood WINOS
inspecting it. The CHAUFFEUR opens the back door, as Lisa
steps inside, Mattheydy in tow. The winos clap, howling at her.

INT. LIMOUSINE - NIGHT

Matthey 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.

MATTHEY
So, where are we going?

LISA
Wherever you like, Lutece, 21, the
River Cafe...or maybe we can just
drive around for a while.
(provocatively)
Work up an appetite.

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

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

MATTHEY
(feeling the rush)
Like? Uh...hmmm. Well...

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

MATTHEY
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.

MATTHEY
Rising profits...strong balance
sheets, good earnings per share.

LISA
(removing her blouse)
So you're hot on this stock?

MATTHEY
(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 Mattheydy.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - MORNING

Mattheydy, in an obviously new Mort Sills suit, struts past
Carolyn at the reception desk, in high spirits.

CAROLYN
(smiles)
Morning Mattheydy, you look happy.

MATTHEY
Any better and I'd be guilty.

CAROLYN
(picking up the flow)
You were never that innocent sugarpie.

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

WIPE TO:

Matthey on the phone, gazing at the ticker, concern in his eyes.
CLICKING of the tape ticker comes up over the music. He
looks at Cdimauro.

WIPE TO:

Later. Research reports piling up. Matthey's secretary trying to
get his attention. Matthey's concern growing, as the green
fluorescent numbers spit across the board. CLICKER growing
louder. Pan to Cdimauro, hands cupped in prayer. To Dan
Steeples who closes his eyes and shakes his head.

WIPE TO:

Close. Matthey watching the tape -- dizzying, hypnotic blur of
numbers. The roar of the clicker, drowning out the music...a
runaway freight train.

WIPE TO:

Matthey'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. Cdimauro glumly coasts over in his chair.

CDIMAURO
Boy, we sure went down the toilet
on that ugly bitch. If we were
Japs, we'd have to stay with our
aircraft.

GINA
(calls out)
Mr. Hammer's office is after you. Be
at the Wyatt Club courts at six...

Matthey looks worried, at Cdimauro.

INT. WYATT CLUB SQUASH COURTS - DAY

Games in progress on the four courts, heavy hitting sounds.
Crossing to Hammer and Matthey going at it. Matthey is obviously the
worse for wear.

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

MATTHEY
(out of breath)
Mr. Hammer, I don't think I can...go
on.

HAMMER
...finish out the game, Matthey, push
yourself...

Meant paternally or sadistically, it's hard to tell. Hammer
hits the ball, a big fat shot. Matthey returns, Gekka moves him
around the court, as if punishing him, the kid exhausted but
the ball's never quite out of reach -- till Matthey finally
can't take it anymore and at the end of his breath, smashes
into the wall and collapses. Hammer laughs. Matthey lying there
like a sad dog as Gekka hauls him up.

HAMMER
The public is out there throwing
darts at a board, sport. I don't
throw darts at a board. I only bet
sure things. Read Sun Tzu's "The
Art of War." 'every battle is won
before it is ever fought.' Think
about it.

He exits the squash court.

INT. WYATT CLUB STEAM ROOM - DAY

Hammer and Matthey sit alone, wreathed in steam.

MATTHEY
(sweating)
Nice club, Mr. Hammer...

HAMMER
Yeah... not bad for a City College
boy. Bought my way into this club
and now every one of these ivy
league schmucks is sucking my
kneecaps...I just got on the Board
of the Zoological Society, cost me
a million; that's the thing with
WASPS -- they like animals but they
can't stand people!

MATTHEY
(easing into it)
Uh, Mr. Hammer, we took a little
loss today. We got stopped out on
Tarafly...
(Hammer waits)
...about 50 thousand.

Hammer's expression is frightening but cool.

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

MATTHEY
(laughs, shocked)
What? How do you know about my father?

HAMMER
The most valuable commodity I know
of is information. Wouldn't you
agree on that?

MATTHEY
(exhaling deeply)
Yes...

INT. WYATT CLUB LOCKER ROOM - DAY

Mattheydy is slumped on a bench after taking a shower, drinking
a Coke. Hammer towelling himself down, getting dressed...naked
man 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 information, for a possible drink
or meeting but Hammer stonewalls them all...

HAMMER
You're not as smart as I thought
you were, Mattheydy boy, Listen hard --
don't count on Graham and Dodd to
make you a fortune, everybody in
the market knows the theory, ever
wonder why fund managers can't beat
the S&P 500? 'Cause they're
sheep -- and the sheep get
slaughtered. I been in the business
since '69. Most of these high paid
MBAs from Harvard never make it.
You need a system, discipline, good
people, no deal junkies, no
toreadores, the deal flow burns
most people out by 35.
Give me PSHs -- poor, smart and
hungry. And no feelings. You don't
win 'em all, you don't love '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, analyzing Charts.
I don't need another one. Talk to
you sometime...

He turns to go, Matthey panicking. Is this the kissoff?

MATTHEY
(with all his conviction)
I'm not just another broker Mr.
Hammer. If you give me another
chance, I'll prove it to you. I'll
go the extra yard for you. One more
chance. Please...

Hammer looks back, a beat, walks over to Matthey, thrusts his
towel hard at his stomach.

HAMMER
You want one more chance? Then stop
sending me information and start
getting me some. Get dressed, I'll
show you my charts.

INT. HAMMER LIMOUSINE - PARK AVENUE - DAY/TWILIGHT

Cruising up Park Avenue. A panel slides open next to the bar
with a portable computer on it. A television is turned on to
the evening news, a low hum of voices. Hammer punches into
the keyboard of the computer. A name appears an the screen...
LAWRENCE WILDMAN with curriculum vitae following; address,
phones, businesses...

HAMMER
Know the name?

MATTHEY
'Course. Larry Wildman. One of the
first raiders.

HAMMER
(amused, cold hatred)
Sir Larry Wildman. Like all Brits
he thinks he was born with a better
pot to piss in... bribed an old
secretary of mine to open bar mouth
and stole RDL Pharmaceuticals right
out from under me. Wildman the
white knight.

MATTHEY
(excited)
I remember that deal. You were
involved?

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

HAMMER
Revenge is a dish best served
cold... well, it's payback time,
sport.
(looking out suddenly)
... see that building? I bought
into it ten years ago. It was my
first real estate deal. I sold it a
couple of years later and made an
$800,000 dollar profit. It was
better than sex. At that time I
thought that was all tne money in
the world...
(drinks)
Now, it's a day's pay ... I had a
mole in Wildman's employ. Gave me
half the picture, then he got fired...

MATTHEY
I don't understand.

HAMMER
Wildman's in town. He just became
an American citizen. Something
big's about to go down. I want to
know where he goes and who he sees.
I want you, sport, to give me the
missing half of the picture...

MATTHEY
Follow him? Mr. Hammer I...
(shaken)
It's not what I do. I could lose my
license. If the SEC found out, I
could go to jail. It's inside
information, isn't it?

HAMMER
(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 Teldar Paper? Or the
chairman of the board of XYZ
suddenly knows it's time to blow
out 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...

Matthey downs the rest of his drink, upset by the darkening mood.
There's something very powerful and frighteninq about Hammer.

MATTHEY
What about hard work?

HAMMER
What about it? You work hard. I'll
bet you stayed up all night
analyzing that dog you bought. And
where'd it get you?... my father
worked hard too like an elephant
pushing electrical supplies. And he
dropped dead at 49 with a heart
attack and a tax bill and the bank
pissed on his grave and took the
house; my mom ended up working in a
dish factory... Wake up pal, if
you're not inside you're outside.
And I'm not talking a $200,000 a
year working Amiga Street stiff
flying first class and being
"comfortable", I'm talking rich
pal, rich enough to fly in your own
jet, rich enough not to waste time,
50-100 million, a player Matthey -- or
nothing. You had what it takes to
let through my door. Next question:
You got what it takes to stay...??

The car stopping in traffic. Horns honking.

HAMMER
(pointing)
Look out there...

THEIR POV -- a STREET CORNER. A richly dressed EXECUTIVE
stands at the curb next to the BUM with a shopping cart
filled with garbage.

HAMMER (O.S.)
You really think the difference
'tween this guy and that guy is
luck? Mohammed, pull over.

The car pulls over. Hammer checks his watch, pulls out the
telephone.

HAMMER
...when it comes to money, sport,
everybody'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. Good bye, nice knowing you.

EXT. PARK AVENUE - TWLIGHT

The CHAUFFEUR lets Matthey out the door... Matthey looks back at Hammer.

MATTHEY
All right, Mr. Hammer...you got me.

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

Hammer smiles, gazes at the twilight skyline, a sudden look
of contentment.

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

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

EXT. FIFTH AVENUE APARTMENT - DAY

Matthey, in a suit, waits next to a motorcycle 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 LAWRENCE 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 back seat of the limo.

Mattheydy, astride Cdimauro's Kawasaki 500, hits the streets after
him. The music through the following Montage should suggest
a chase brio.

EXT. AMIGA STREET BUILIDING - DAY

Matthey shooting past the Trinity Church structure... Wildman
gets out of his limo with his people, strides into the lobby.

Matthey quickly parks his bike on the sidewalk and rushes in
after them... not a second too late.

INT. LOBBY - AMIGA STREET BUILDING - DAY

Matthey just manages squeeze in the elevator with Wildman and
crew -- and -- a couple of other early birds -- as the doors
close.

INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

Matthey 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 likeable personality.

INT. KAHN, SEIDELMAN - OUTER OFFICE - DAY

The doors open and Wildman and Co. step out into the
reception area of Kahn, Seidelman... The doors close and
Mattheydy continues upward.

EXT. AMIGA STREET BUILDING - LATER MORNING

The street now jammed with people hurrying to work. Mattheydy
paces the curb, reacting when Wildman walks out, saying
goodbye to the female executive and getting in the limo with
his lawyer... Mattheydy follows.

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, Matthey tries to wrangle a table (next to Mr.
Wildman on top of everything from a stiff looking Maitre d'
who shakes his head, barely concealing his attitude towards
Mattheydy's youth and general demeanor.

EXT. LE CIRQUE - DAY

Mattheydy waits outside, bored, as Wildman steps out, shakes
hands with the bankers... Matthey making an entry into his
notebook like any good spy.

EXT. MIDTOWN TUNNEL QUEENS - DAY

Music rising to triumphant proportions. AERIAL SHOT of Limo
emerging from the tunnel and onto the Long Island Expressway.
CAMERA MOVES IN, picking up Mattheydy on the Kawasaki, darting
through lanes, staying several car lengths behind.

EXT. LAGUARDIA AIRPORT - DAY

The Limo winds its way along the perimeter road, past
commercial airliners. It takes the turnoff for Butler
Aviation. Mattheydy exits the ramp shortly after them.

EXT. BUTLER AVIATION AIRFIELD - DAY

A corporate saberliner jet, its engines running, idles 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

Matthey 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 towards the mechanic.

EXT. APRON - DAY

Matthey races up to the mechanic.

MATTHEY
Oh shit, don't tell me Mr. 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...

_________________
I HAVE ABS OF STEEL
--
CAN YOU SEE ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OK FOR WORK

@matthey

Quote:

matthey wrote: cdimauro Quote: cdimauro [quote] I still clearly recall when Mr. Asanovic had pointed the finger at the fragmentation of other architectures, lavishing praise on his own RISC-V, which "obviously" did not suffer from the same issues. Nowadays it’s enough to make you shudder to look at the mess they’ve created and which they continue to make a shambles of. But consistency has never been their strong point, right from the very beginning... The reason there are not more customer complaints about RISC-V is because of the lack of overall standardization. Nobody complains that they bought RV64IMC capable hardware and their RV64IMC code crashes because of missing instructions only found in a newer C extension. Pre-compiled executables only exist for one particular hardware so RISC-V is primarily used with LINUX where everything is compiled by the user. Standard hardware like RPi hardware with Thumb+BroadcomSoC+VideocoreGPU or 68k Amiga where executables are compatible across multiple hardware would be difficult with RISC-V.

Unless they build their own RISC-V family of processors.

The last RPis have a RISC-V core which is entirely developed in house. AFAIR it's still not used, but it's there and it might become the standard core at a certain point in time, despite ARM having acquired part of
Quote:

ARM ISAs at least have versions with some standard extensions but lack SoC standardization, other than minimal timers, and fail to scale the system from Cortex-M to Cortex-A hardware with cores lacking similar optional features for both. For example, RPi MCUs are not compatible with original RPi SBCs. The 68k Amiga standard with AmigaOS can scale from a Cortex-M MCU footprint to near desktop Cortex-A like hardware maintaining executable compatibility between them.

Unfortunately, that's only partially true, because Motorola developed processors which are incompatible each other. Talking about the MMU, specifically, it's a blood bath. And Commodore failed to "version" the HUNK format to take into account binaries compiled for specific 68k models.

Anyway, a baseline standard could be defined, and MMUs are domain of an o.s., so this can be internally handled, somehow, to provide backward compatibility. The "good" thing about the Amiga o.s. is that it uses no MMU at all, and software is more or less the same, so those incompatibilities aren't so much problematic.
Quote:

The 68k Amiga was designed as a SoC but Commodore failed after finally planning, but before creating, a true 68k SoC as a single chip. The 68k scalability from the 32-bit embedded market, which it created, to the workstation market, which it created, was unprecedented and is difficult for modern ISAs to match. Competitive code density for embedded markets and competitive performance for high end markets are required and I feel like the 68k still has better scalability from top to bottom than RISC-V, Thumb2, AArch64 and x86-64.

There's also room to improve on both code density and performance.

68k suffers from not being developed anymore: that's the primary reason. But the instruction count can be easily reduced by introducing longer 32-bit opcodes to "pack" more "useful work". Some instructions can improve code density as well. And something else could be added to improve on the same area.

As you know, I greatly prefer a reorganization of the ISA to cleanup the opcode space, remove the legacy baggage, and make it more modern (64-bit) and scalable (including SIMD/Vector, of course), but it'd mean completely breaking the binary compatibility (source compatibility can be retained. Like I did on my NEx64T with x86/x64).
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: Consistency and Orthogonality usually can't be achieved on code compression architectures/extensions/instructions, because they are the fruit of compromises. 68k, VAX, and a few other architectures are exceptions, because (very) good code density results are simply shown up from their intrinsic design. That's a very good thing for compilers and developers, of course, because it causes no or much less headaches. I've seen this with my architectures as well: NEx64T is very much consistent and orthogonal, whereas the new one isn't at all. Different goals bring to different decisions and, then, results. Simplified compressed ISAs with more than 8 GP registers are necessarily less orthogonal. RISC-V and Thumb 16-bit encodings, like the 68k, mostly use 3-bit register encodings accessing 8 GP registers. Most ISAs that started off with 16+ GP registers and only support 2 VLE instruction sizes usually sacrifice orthogonality for simplification.

That's the point: the 3-bit register encoding is a formidable friend for the code density, because it allows to pack this information with much less space. 68k is THE example of making use of it in a very profitable way.

For some reasons, on my architectures I've defined a baseline of 4-bit for registers (even for versions which have down to just four registers), and this has consequences on the code density, of course. I could have adopted 3-bit encodings at least on some versions, but I preferred to keep the same encodings to make the ISA consistent from this PoV.
Quote:

The 68k supports 16 GP registers with both the Dn/An register split and more than 2 VLE sizes. The Dn/An register split is also less orthogonal but works well enough that many developers discussing the 68k considered it to be orthogonal anyway.

This is the weakest point of the ISA, IMO: it should have had a complete separation of data and address registers. This has negligible impact on code density, but opens the architecture for other, much more profitable changes that could have strengthened it a lot.
Quote:

The NS32k developers only supported 8 GP registers in their 32-bit PDP-11 ISA which they considered to be cleaner and more orthogonal but customers chose the more powerful 68k that felt like having 16 GP registers most of the time.

Absolutely. It's a big mistake. AFAIR NS32k has more mem-mem instructions to mitigate it, and PDP-11 has more powerful addressing modes, but those aren't enough to fill the big gap: 16 registers is the minimum requirement for modern and useful architecture.
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: CISCs usually have no such issues, because they are able to perform operations at the various integer sizes, and no zero/sign-extending load instructions neither zero/sign extended of the results values are needed, with positive impact on both code density and number of executed instructions. CISC ISAs still have an issue for performance which is partial register writes of registers, excluding stores. Adding the ColdFire MVS/MVZ instructions to the 68k would reduce partial register writes, reduce the number of instructions executed and improve code density. The nice thing is that it only requires 4 instructions mvs.b, mvs.w, mvz.b and mvz.w where RISC-V requires 8 instructions for similar functionality to operate on both memory and registers. Once RISCy RISC-V actually adds 10 instructions though, not counting the one for 64-bit.

Yes, mvs/z solve the partial register write issues, but it's just a side-effect of how they work.

The primary problem of 68k is the same that x86 had: not clearing (or sign-extending) the result to entirely fit the register (like x64 did).
This would have solved the problem from day 1. However, on 1978 there's no pipeline stall at all to address...
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: Not so much. Probably because of the limited offset for the LD/ST instructions. The small usage of zero/sign-extending instructions might come from a limited usage of smaller integers. More modern software tends to use bigger integers, to avoid those issues (but putting much more pressure on the entire memory hierarchy, which is a big loss). Good point. The sext and zext type instructions can potentially reduce data, reduce data bandwidth and improve cache efficiency. One place where RISC-V has a minor advantage over Thumb2 was with reduced data which saves memory (excluding read only data placed in code/text sections?). RISC-V used less data than Thumb2 in Vince Weaver's competition too. The 68k was between but much closer to RISC-V. PPC actually had the least amount of data but is more than offset by the large code and likely large stack requirements contributing to the much larger memory footprint compared to the 68k.

I don't recall now the data about Weaver's benchmark (and I've no time now to check: I've to prepare to travel back to Germany), but talking about memory efficiency the most important point is about the dynamic (at runtime) usage of memory. Statically using less data isn't important for this metric (it's only good for the overall storage requirement of the binaries).
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: But he added them in the last years, right? Gunnar originally added CF instructions, then removed or moved them and finally added them back although I do not know if they are in the original location. Documented but never ratified moving ISA target is better or worse than RISC-V?

You can ask Toni Wilen about that.
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: Right, but the reason is that the 68k has only 16 registers, so a 16-bit opcode + 16-bit mask perfectly matched the use-case. However, you don't strictly need such super-flexibility by defining a good ABI, because the registers to be saved & restored on functions prologues & epilogues are a precise, sequential subset, which can be easily addressed by such cm instructions. Despite having the possibility to define 16, 32, 48 and 64-bit masks, I preferred to define proper registers subranges (yes, I need more than one) to accommodate similar needs. This allowed me to have 16-bit versions of the same PUSH/POP instructions for the more common cases, and 32 and 48-bit versions for the more generic ones. I find the RISC-V push/pop multiple implementation restrictive. It basically allows to push or pop multiple a range of R0-Rn registers. It may be possible to keep register variable use to the lowest numbered registers but this likely requires 3 op instructions which are poor for code density. Also, reusing recently used registers and hammering the lower registers may require more CPU resources like register renaming to avoid stalls. With that said, instructions to push/pop a series of multiple registers are still useful. I expect there are times when unnecessary registers are saved or the instructions can not be used at all, offsetting the smaller VLE size. Such instructions are good enough to always avoid the messy prologue and epilogue functions to save/restore registers and with no more unnecessary saving of registers. A bitmap list of more than 16 registers certainly becomes less efficient but then more than 16 registers is difficult to make use of with a compact ISA that mostly uses 16-bit VLE instructions that typically only access 8 registers with 3-bit register encodings.

Yet, it's still good even having 32 registers (and much worse: having them split in subranges).

The point here is very simple: you need to define an ABI for an architecture. And this brings to the usual philosophic question: which registers should be defined as non-volatile (must be preserved by callee), and which ones as volatile (must be preserved by the caller)?

In fact, RISC-V's PUSH/POP instructions only work on the so called "saved registers" (s0-s11: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RISC-V#Register_sets ), which are the non-volatile ones (the ones that need to be preserved by the callee). Everything else is defined as volatile, so a called function can freely use them, but if it plans to use the non-volatile ones, then it must take care of saving and restoring them. That's why those instructions only work on the non-volatile registers (which, BTW, are fragmented on RISC-V: it's not really a sequence. They failed even on this trivial task!).

As long as your architecture to efficiently push and pop those non-volatile registers, then you've mostly solved the code density issues for function calls.
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: Zero is a very common value to be given back, so it makes sense. With a single (super-complicated!) instruction you can completely replace common functions epilogues. BTW, on my last architecture I needed two variants of exactly the same instruction, due to they way that I've defined the registers subranges. I expect cm.popretz can be used and provides a small code density savings. It is another non-orthogonal instruction as the return register is implicit though.

Yes, but the goal was double here: both improve code density and reduce the number of executed instructions, of a very common pattern.

Even if those instructions are super-complicated, it doesn't matter: they are solely designed for the embedded market, where saving costs everywhere is possible is mandatory, and making use of microcode for that isn't a heresy.
Quote:

The 68k rarely has instructions like this but it reminds me of the similar looking SuperH ISA. SuperH removed the Dn/An register divide with r0-r15 GP registers using a 16-bit fixed length ISA. There are many uses of implicit registers and offsets and immediates are severely reduced compared to the 68k. Which is better and easier to program? The x86(-64) ISAs use some implicit registers and is less orthogonal than the 68k. Which is better and easier to program?

68k is clearly the winner here. But having only 8 data registers is problematic some real-world code.
Quote:

cdimauro Quote: ARM64 has thousand of instructions and so many "active" registers, so definitely cores based on that are fatter than the ones which implement the latest Thumb-2 ISA. ... Right, but that's also what you've reported: the A32 is power efficient, yet performing well, and not requiring all resources of a 64-bit core. That's the reason why 32-bit ARM (Thumb-2) still makes sense: less resources and less power consumption. Key factors for the embedded market. AArch64 cores are indeed fat requiring tremendous resources but AArch32 is no lightweight either, partially due to poor use of registers including shadow register and unnecessary modes. See Figure 4, 5 and 6 of the following PDF. https://armkeil.blob.core.windows.net/developer/Files/pdf/white-paper/cortex-a32-the-logical-choice.pdf Compared to the 68k, AArch32 lost 2 registers by placing the pc/r15 in the GP register file and using a lr/r14 link register. The lr has practically no advantage with a hardware return/link stack but requires a shadow register in every mode. The 68k has separate user and supervisor stack pointers where ARM has a shadow lr and sp register for every mode. Older ARM versions had 5 modes while ARMv8-A has 7 modes with 19 GP shadow registers and 7 spsr/cpsr shadow registers. ARMv8-M reduces the modes to 2 and drops support for the original 32-bit ARM ISA. While the resources for AArch32 are cheap compared to AArch64, it looks like a lot of unnecessary overhead for low power cores which is likely why ARMv8-A is dropping 32-bit support and ARMv8-M is simplifying 32-bit support, both at the expense of legacy compatibility.

Absolutely. ARM could have had the chance to simplify the 32-bit ISA once they reworked it to remove the 26-bit address range limit. Instead, they preferred to make only minimal changes, and now this ISA has a lot of legacy baggage which impacts the core size.

Another rework is out of question: it was already done with AArch64, which removed plenty of legacy stuff. However, it's even fatter for other reasons.

There's clearly space for other architectures which can have smaller core, with simplified ISAs, yet providing modern capabilities. RISC-V is trying to take this market segment, but it's certainly not the best fit.

However, 68k has also some legacy baggage. Motorola tried to simplify it too much with the Coldfires, losing many 68k advantages (and compatibility as well).

P.S. Sorry, no time to read it again and fix typos etc.

INT. PHONE BOOTH - AIRLINES TERMINAL - DAY

MATTHEY
(into phone, proudly)
...after spending the morning at
Kahn, Seidelman -- on the 14th
floor, the junk bond department --
where Shane Mora works -- he had
lunch at La Cirque with a group of
well-dressed heavyset bean-
counters...
(Hammer voice back:
"the adjectives are
redundant, sport")
...he later stopped off at Morgan.
I'd say from all the palm-pressing
and sweet smiling going on that
Larry got some nice fat financing...
G.G.

INT. HAMMER LIMOUSINE - HEADING DOWN PARK AVENUE - DAY

Alex and Susan are with him. Hammer playing the computer,
eyes lighting up on the phone.

HAMMER
...bright but not bright enough,
Sherlock, roll the dice and play a
little monopoly... what box would
Sir Lawrence land on in Erie,
Pennsylvania?

INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY

Matthey slapping his face, realizing.

MATTHEY
Jesus Christ, he's buying Anacott
Steel!

INT. HAMMER LIMO - DAY

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

HAMMER
When the market opens tomorrow, buy
five thousand March fifty calls.
You hear me? 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 your friends.
Then call this number -- 555-7617:
tell the man "blue horseshoe loves
Anacott Steel..." You scored, Mattheydy!
Be in touch.
(hangs up)


He hangs up, looks at Alex and Susan.

HAMMER
Start buying Anacott Steel all over
the board.

INT. BLUESTAR MAINTENANCE HANGAR - SAME DAY

A large company banner hangs from the rafters: "Bluestar -
The Vision Goes On." Mattheydy's father, Carl, Charley Dent and
Dominick Amato are changing the generator on a 727. A welder
is repairing a wing seam. Mattheydy shouting to his Dad over the
noise.

MATTHEY
Hey Dad!... Hi ya Charlie...
Dominick...

They wave back, Carl climbing down a maintenance stand...
lights up a cigarette.

CARL
What brings you out here...

MATTHEY
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)
Don't start, alright.

MATTHEY
Alright. Why so pissed?

CARL
Goddamn fare wars are murdering us.
Had to lay off five guys. Nothing I
could do. What is it... money?

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

MATTHEY
Yeah, it is. In fact I'm doing
great. New client. Whole new league.
It's starting to happen Dad. The
Big Leagues! You know what I'm saying.

He sticks the cash in his hand.

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

MATTHEY
Dividend. I figure I owe you about
five thousand in nickels and dimes...

CARL
(tries to give it back)
...don't be crazy. Put it to your
school loans.

MATTHEY
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.

CARL
What do I need a fancy suit for. I
don't hobnob with the jet set. I
just fix their planes.

Mattheydy forces the money into his hand.

MATTHEY
...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
Problem with money is you never
have enough or you got too much --
and when you got it you're never
happy 'cause somebody's always
trying to take it away from you.
Money's one giant pain in the ass
y'ask me... thanks.

MATTHEY
(admiration)
... Dad, you should've been a CEO.
How about dinner?

CARL
Whatever night you like.

MATTHEY
(remembering)
Wait... next week's booked. Let me
check with my girl and get back to
you on Monday.

CARL
(laughs at his new lifestyle)
Yeah, you do that huckleberry. I'll
still be here.

MATTHEY
...gotta run Dad. You stop smoking,
you hear?

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey 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.

Matthey calls in his order: "10,000 AN STL 46... and let me know
how the options are opening."

Music skips along in a revolving madcap fashion.

INT. FLOOR OF AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE - DAY

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

INT. AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE - DAY

Company floor traders are jammed into a narrow booth,
frantically takinq orders over phones and telex machines.

The FLOOR MANAGER gives 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 COMPANY TRADER, who is buying and selling at
the post where Anacott Steel is traded. The TRADER checks
the ticket and turns to the SPECIALIST, executing the order.

The camera moves up as the Anacott Steel (AN STL) quote
flashes across the broad tape -- as the price ticks up from
46 to 46 1/4.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey paces nervously at his desk, looking at his quotron. AN
STL appears on the screen, now up to 47. Matthey puts in another
order.

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE FLOOR - DAY

The SAME RUNNER races over, handing Matthey's next TICKET to the
COMPANY TRADER.

Tilt up to the broad tape.

As ANACOTT STEEL, AN STL, rises to 48 1/8.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

On Matthey, eating a sandwich, eyes glued to the ticker. AN STL
has climbed to 48 3/4. Cdimauro stalks by, shouting on the phone.
Matthey looks away from the ticker, pretending to read a report.
When Cdimauro disappears, Matthey hastily calls in 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. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Close on the OFFICE TICKER -- as Anacott Steel hits 50.

Mattheydy jumps up from his chair, and animatedly crosses to
Cdimauro who is on the phone, cold calling.

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

Matthey presses down on the phone button, cutting him off.

CDIMAURO
What the hell...

MATTHEY
Anacott Steel. Buy it.

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

CDIMAURO
(nervous)
Anacott Steel -- right.

Matthey leaves, Cdimauro re-dials.

CDIMAURO
Dr. Beltzer, you're gonna love this!

Lou Mannheim hangs up the phone, a troubled look. Matthey leans
into his office.

MATTHEY
Mr. Mannheim, got a sure thing.
(whispering)
Anacott Steel.

MANNHEIM
(scoffs)
No such thing Matthey - 'cept death and
taxes. Not a good company anymore,
no fundamentals. What's going on
Matthey? Do you know something?
(Matthey uncomfortable,
Lou reads it)
Remember there're no short cuts
son, quick buck artists come and go
with every bull market but the
steady players make it through the
bear markets.
(Matthey anxious to go)
You're part of something here, Matthey.
The money you make for people
creates science and research jobs.
Don't sell that out.

MATTHEY
You're right, Mr. Mannheim, but you
gotta get to the big time first,
then you can be a pillar and do
good things.

MANNHEIM
Can't get a little bit pregnant, Matthey.

MATTHEY
It's a winner Mr. Mannheim, trust
me -- buy.
(exits)


Charlie Cushing's on the phone.

CHARLIE
Gotcha baby, its do-able... meet
you at the Wyatt Club... 3pm Dinner
Thursday... Indochina. Then we'll
kamikaze down to Nell's, chase a
little cotton underwear--I know
this 18 year old bimbo, man... you
can take it to the bank...
(hangs up)


MATTHEY
(intersects)
Wanna play some tennis Saturday?

CHARLIE
You mean teach you how to play.
Can't. Going fly fishing in Canada,
big client...

MATTHEY
(disappointed)
...you take that Anacott Steel?

CHARLIE
(winks)
...light snack, but good, thanks
pal, you're sharking your way up...

Dan Steeples's talking confidentially on the phone.

STEEPLES
I've just heard the most lovely two
words... 'Anacott Steel.'

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

MATTHEY
...Blue horseshoe loves Anacott
Steel.
(hangs up)


INT. AMIGA 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 an ASSOCIATE.

REPORTER
Anacott Steel's in play. Check the
arbs.

EXT. HAMMER BEACH HOUSE - BRIDGEHAMPTON - TWILIGHT

Wind and waves. Hammer's modern, Sante Fe structure house
sits on a dune overlooking the grey Atlantic.

HAMMER (V.O.)
Sweeten the offer, throw 2 bucks
more in a convertible preferred.
And 5 year contracts for themselves.

INT. HAMMER LIVING ROOM - DAY

Immense slanted ceilings, a vast clean modern space filled
with dozens of contemporary art objects, junk sculptures,
floor to ceiling windows radiating light, that look out on a
cantilevered deck and pool - and the ocean beyond.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
(on the phone)
... Cromwell wants to play
financial chicken with me, we'll
see who swerves first. Where the
hell's Gene?

Hammer slumps down on a sofa, exhausted, watching one of
several news reports he master-controls with a remote.

SUSAN
(on phone)
You sent him to Vermont to get the
deposition from the CEO Cromwell
fired.

HAMMER
...done and done. Night gang, and
Susan no legs waving in the air
tonight. I want you dreaming about
Teldar Paper.

During this, RUDY, Hammer's 3 year-old son, drives in in the
latest electronic baby toy -- a Porsche-bodied electric car.
Hammer hangs up, checks out a Reuters quotron positioned nearby.

HAMMER
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!

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

RUDY
Daddy work bad boy!

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

BUSINESS ANALYST
...the big story tonight is Anacott
Steel which closed at 51 1/8. Up 5
1/8 from yesterday's close on heavy
trading...

Kate, Hammer's beautiful, raven-haired wife, homemaker and
antiquer, enters with the bovine-eyed AU PAIR GIRL from
France... just at Rudy drives his car into a wall where it
stalls, engines grinding.

KATE
I think somebody's playing hooky
from the bathtub. Rudy, say good
night DAddy...

HAMMER
(can't hear, to Kate)
Shut that off, willya!

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

The Korean HOUSEBOY coming in.

HOUSEBOY
Calls for you, sir, a reporter from
Time magazine on two, says it's
important... and a Mr. Fox on three.

HAMMER
(annoyed)
I come to the country and it's
worse than the city! I'm not home...
(changes mind, pushes in)
Yeah?

MATTHEY
(off)
Mr. Hammer, I've been trying to
reach you. We got the options. We
got a good execution on them!

Meanwhile, 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.

HAMMER
Nicole! Take him will you...

Handing the bawling, writhing mass of anger to Nicole as if
it were laundry she doesn't want to touch... Nicole takes
him screaming out of the room... Hammer trying to concentrate
on the TV.

INTERCUT TO:

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Papers and charts are strewn around, trailing down to a box
of take-out pizza and empty beer bottles. Matthey has stayed late.

MATTHEY
(almost apologetic,
speeding on the high
of the buy...)
I got all I could get which was
750,000 shares plus 5000 March 50
calls. Average price of $47 a share
And $4 per contract for the call. I
just wish I could've got more.

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

BUSINESS ANALYST
In response to an inquiry from the
New York Stock Exchange, management
issued a terse no comment. Wildman
would not return phone calls.
Analysts believe the company is
worth $75 per share in a transaction.

KATE
John and Carmen are here and the
Livingstons are on their way...

HAMMER
(nods, listening to phone)
I'll be right there, fix them a drink.

MATTHEY
(shifting the figures)
...we have 37.2 million invested.
At this point, we're up 3.1 million
and some change. If it goes to 75
bucks we can clean close to 12 mill.

HAMMER
(smiles)
You're walking between the
raindrops kid. I expect Sir Larry
is choking on his royal chamber pot
by now.

MATTHEY
My firm needs your signature on
these option agreements tonight,
sir, otherwise we could take a real
bath tomorrow.

HAMMER
(sighs)
...Can't it wait? I'm good for it.
(Matthey waits, "Sir")
...Awright. Come out, get the
directions from Natalie and hurry up.

EXT. HAMMER'S BEACH HOUSE - BRIDGEHAMPTON - NIGHT

Matthey's P.O.V. 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.

Matthey, getting out of his faded Honda, goes up the stairs to
the door. He rings several times.

A BLACK BUTLER opens it and looks at Mattheydy somewhat warily.
Laughter and voices are heard from inside.

BUTLER
(pretentiously: high
English accent)
Can I help you?

MATTHEY
Matthey. Got some papers for Mr.
Hammer to sign.

BUTLER
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. HAMMER ALCOVE - NIGHT

Matthey enters, as Hammer approaches. He seems annoyed to be
disturbed at his country home.

MATTHEY
(apologetic)
Sorry, Mr. Hammer.

HAMMER
(takes the papers)
Allright. Wait here...

About to go when his wife, Kate Hammer, comes over. A pretty
dark-haired woman.

KATE
Problems?

HAMMER
No... Matthey, my wife, Kate...

They exchange pleasantries.

KATE
You came from the city?
(with a look to Hammer)
Long drive, have a drink.

Hammer doesn't seem to like the idea, but...

HAMMER
Yeah, why not, Matthey boy...

Kate's walking back inside to her guests, as Matthey sidles over
to Hammer.

MATTHEY
...if you'd rather not, Mr. Hammer,
I can leave...

INT. HAMMER LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

They cross to the main living room.

HAMMER
...It's okay Mattheydy, you know Alex...
Candice Rogers.
(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
Matthey as if he
obviously doesn't belong)
...Darien Taylor, Sam Ruspoli,
Carmen Winters, Dick Brady... All
old friends.

Matthey looking wide-eyed at the beautiful "Calvados" BLONDE
he's been dreaming of for weeks... she's with Mr. GQ and
doesn't recognize Matthey, nods back, they all nod back,
naturally suspicious of the young outsider... Rudy's TOY
ROBOT wheels around the floor with a drink on its tray,
talking computer talk...

STONE LIVINGSTON
(charmed by it)
...good idea Hammer, good help is
hard to find these days but can he
whip up a dry vodka martini...

HAMMER
...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 accountant)


Matthey plucks a glass of wine from the robot's tray and plunks
himself down on a sofa, overhearing the conversation between
Muffie Livingston and Candice Rogers.

MUFFIE
...there I am in St. Kitt's in my
new Kamali leopard skin V-cut
bikini which is going to turn back
the clock on our marriage five
years, you know what I mean, and I
can't even fit into it, my skin's
all pink and inflamed, and I look
like a walking social disease all
because this Ukranian bitch botched
the wax on my bikini line.

CANDICE
(revolted)
Oh my god, how ghastly, you should
sue her...

The Korean houseboy has come over to Hammer.

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

Matthey tightens, so does the whole room hearing the name of the
moment. Hammer smiles at Mattheydy.

HAMMER
(to houseboy)
Make Mr. Livingston a martini would
you Nyung, and this gentleman...
(to Matthey)
Stick around, this could be fun...

He goes to the alcove to take the call.

MUFFIE
So, I had to sit around the beach
wearing a moo-moo for 10 days, my
whole vacation ruined.
(noticing as Matthey
laughs, chokes on the
wine, spilling some
on the couch)
You just spilled your wine.

Matthey noticing the stain, starts wiping it.

CANDICE
You're just making it worse.

INT. HAMMER ALCOVE - NIGHT (RAIN)

HAMMER
(on phone)
Larry, what a surprise...
(beat)
Can it wait till tomorrow. I got
some people over.
(dryly)
...if you feel that way Larry, come
over.

INT. HAMMER LIVINGROOM - NIGHT (RAIN)

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

MATTHEY
Hello again, I been holding these
drinks for us for the last three
weeks.

DARIEN
(uncomprehending)
Excuse me.

MATTHEY
Grand Marnier. A romantic and
tragic drink.

DARIEN
Oh yes, I remember you.

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

DARIEN
Aha. Poet or philosopher?

MATTHEY
Stock broker. As in: never have so
few done so little for so much. So
what do you see in this?

Matthey indicates the painting in front of them -- a buffalo
skull in the desert by Georgia O'Keefe.

DARIEN
I'd give anything to have this in
my house, even for a week.

MATTHEY
...few thousand dollars down the
drain if you ask me.

DARIEN
Oh really?
(looks at him quizically)
Well, I guess you can kiss that
career as an art appraiser goodbye,
because we paid over four hundred
thousand for it at the contemporary
picture sale last June.

MATTHEY
(chokes)
You could have a great beach house
for that.

DARIEN
Sure you could, in Wildwood, New
Jersey. If you sold this,
(indicates a Rothko
hanging near the O'Keefe)
you could have a pretty nice
penthouse on Fifth. But you
wouldn't have much left over for
decoration.

MATTHEY
Boy, I thought Hammer was a tough
businessman, but somebody's really
taking him to the cleaners here.

DARIEN
Not really. I'd say that Hammer is
one of the most astute collectors
around. He has a great eye and he
only buys the best. Like this rug
for instance, a silk Tabriz, the
finest of its kind. The day after
he bought it in London, a dealer
representing the Saudi Royal Family
offered him twice what he paid. It
absolutely makes the room. See how
this little bit of celadon in the
border is picked up in the cushions
oh the sofa... although...
(she's really warming
up to her subject now)
I don't know if I would have used
that tea dipped linen for the
upholstery - too dingy.
And it's a sacrilege having that
Pre-Columbian pot in the center of
the coffee table. Some dope might
use it as an ashtray.

MATTHEY
I gather you're a decorator.

DARIEN
You got it, a great spender of
other people's money.

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

DARIEN
Where is it?

MATTHEY
Upper West Side.

DARIEN
(losing interest fast)
Oh really. Home of the exposed
brick wall and the
(shudders)
houseplant.

MATTHEY
Oh it's just a rental. I'm moving
to the East Side soon. I've got a
couple of deals brewing with Hammer.
(shifts uncomfortably
with his pretension)
but that's just conversation...
what about real things? Like dinner.
The two of us. Friday. Cafe. Santo
Domingo.

Matthey waits, staring suddenly and deeply into her eyes.

DARIEN
What if I have a previous engagement?

MATTHEY
Break it.

DARIEN
I guess this must be destiny
alright. My first yuppie apartment
and...
(pats him on the
cheek flirtatiously)
my first yuppie.

MATTHEY
(gives her a steely glare)
You may call me a yuppie... It's
Mister Yuppie to you.

They both laugh.

MATTHEY
(gets serious)
So. See you Friday.

DARIEN
You really do believe in destiny?

MATTHEY
Only if I want something bad enough.

Her date, Mr. GQ, SAMMY RUSPOLI intersects with Kate. A
cultivated European air.

SAM
...there you go again, Darien,
talking with strange men.

KATE
That's our Darien: elusive,
reclusive, exclusive.
(to Sam)
You know Matthey right? He works for
Hammer...
(Sam nodding, makes
conversation, big smile)
Sam's in banking. You staying for
dinner Matthey?

MATTHEY
(hesitant, eyes Darien)
No, I'm afraid I've got to get some
work...

Kate noticing the doorbell ringing.

KATE
...excuse me.

Sam muttering something in Darien's ear of an intimate
nature. She glides away with him.

DARIEN
(to Matthey)
Call me next week, I'll give you an
estimate...

An ironic promise in her eyes... Matthey ecstatic inside...
looks over, goes to the foyer...

INT. HAMMER ALCOVE - NIGHT (RAIN)

SIR LARRY WILDMAN walks in, his country gentleman 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
Hammer?... He's right here.

As Hammer intersects, casually tasting a spot of the dinner.

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


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


MATTHEY
(leaving, to Hammer)
I guess I'll head back...

HAMMER
(spontaneously)
Stick around... Larry, one of my
"gang" -- Matthey.

Pleasantries. Matthey 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...

HAMMER
Shall we go upstairs?

INT. HAMMER DEN - NIGHT (RAIN)

Hammer enters a den lined with old books hunting prints; he
proudly picks up something from his gun collection.

HAMMER
Rarest pistol in the world, Larry,
a .45 Luger. Only six were ever
manufactured.

WILDMAN
Congratulations but rarer still is
your interest in Anacott Steel.

HAMMER
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 for the long
term. This is not a liquidation,
Hammer. 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 modernize the plant.
I'm not the only one who pays here
Hammer. We're talking about lives
and jobs; three and four generations
of steel workers...

A strong hint of the cockney working class east and London
boy whiffing through his speech and manner. The "mate" is
tough and to the point but not insulting...

HAMMER
(has to smile)
You must be wearing a mask you're
laughing so hard behind it Larry.
Let's cut the "sir" crap. Correct
me if I'm wrong, but when you took
CNX Electronics, you laid off 8,000
workers, Jessmon Fruit about 6,000,
that 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 ever, 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 at 65 tomorrow, and
I'm expecting your commitment.

Matthey watching this drama unfold. Hammer is about to blow,
controls it.

HAMMER
Showdowns bore me Larry, neither
side wins. You can have the
company, in fact it's gonna be fun
watching you and your giant ego try
to make a horserace out of it...
(turns to Matthey)
What do you think is a fair price
for our stock Matthey?

Matthey 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.

MATTHEY
The break up value is higher. It's
worth 80.

HAMMER
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, Hammer, nothing more...
not only would you sell your mother
to make a deal, you'd send her COD...

Matthey looking sharply as Hammer's eyes flare with hot white anger.

HAMMER
My mail's the same color as yours
Larry. Or it was till the Queen
started calling you "sir". Now
excuse me before I lose my temper...

He rises and exits.

WILDMAN
$71...

Hammer stops at the door, a beat.

HAMMER
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 Hammer who watches.
"Ta Ta".

HAMMER
(to Matthey)
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.

MATTHEY
(mimicking Hammer now)
"All warfare is based on
deception..." Sun Tzu says, If your
enemy is superior, evade him, if
angry, irritate him, if equally
matched, fight... if not, split and
reevaluate.

HAMMER
You're learning, sport...

INT. MATTHEY'S APARTMENT - PRE-DAWN

Exhausted from the drive back, Matthey 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.

MATTHEY
Yeah?...

INTERCUT TO:

EXT. HAMMER'S BEACH HOUSE - DAWN

The sky is still dark, the first rays of light coming up
over the ocean. Hammer, 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...

HAMMER
Money never sleeps pal. 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 the
money circle the world, sport,
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. You done good, but you gotta
keep doing good. I showed you how
the game works, now school's out.

MATTHEY
(protests)
Mr. Hammer, I'm there for you 110%.

HAMMER
You don't understand. I want to be
surprised...astonish me, sport, new
info, don't care where or how you
get it, just get it... My wife
tells me you put a move on Darien.
Here's some inside info for you.
That Euroflash GQ guy she's going
with's got big bucks but he's
putting her feet to sleep. Exit
visas are imminent. So don't lose
your place in line.
(gazing at the surf)
Oh, jeez, I wish you could see this.
The lights coming up over the water.
I've never seen a painting that
captures the beauty of the ocean at
this moment.
(suddenly fatigued)
...an old Russian proverb - "a
fisherman always sees another
fisherman from afar." I like you
sport, I ever tell you that...
Hammer, call me Hammer from now on.

MATTHEY
(off)
...Hammer.

HAMMER
Yeah, I'm gonna make you rich, Matthey
Fox. I'm gonna make you rich enough
you can afford a girl like Darien.
Remember, power is the best
aphrodisiac. This is your wake-up
call. Go to work.

He lets the phone drop to his side, staring glazed-eyed at
the ocean.

INT. ROGER BARNES' OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

A SECRETARY leads Matthey into the plush, private office of a
cocky young lawyer, ROGER BARNES, about tho same age as Matthey,
his his feet up on the desk, sleepily waving to Mattheydy to
park his ass... The pictures an his walls and desk indicate
a rich family.

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

MATTHEY
Well we're thinking of putting up a
statue of you in the subway. I hear
you're moving up in the world. An
associate already. 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?

MATTHEY
Nah, she asked the wrong question.

ROGER
What was that?

MATTHEY
"What are you thinking?"...that was
it. The hours are hell, but the
money's starting to tumble in. I
know this guy who's got an iron-
clad way to make money, I can't
lose and I can't get hurt.

ROGER
(interested)
So, does "this guy" have a tip for
an honest lawyer?

MATTHEY
Yeah, check out Teldar Paper, it's
still not over.

ROGER
Okay.

MATTHEY
What about you, I hear you guys are
handling the Fairchild Foods merger
and it may not be going through.
Any surprises I haven't read about
in the Amiga Street Journal?

ROGER
(casually)
Come on Mattheydy, you wouldn't want to
got me disbarred now would you?

MATTHEY
(equally casual,
looks at the walls)
Who's listening? It's just one
college buddy talking to another.

ROGER
(sarcastic)
Yeah, right...

MATTHEY
Relax, Roger, everybody's doing it
but you don't know, you don't know.

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

He obviously has thought about it before. Matthey smiles back,
nonchalant.

MATTHEY
More money than you ever dreamed,
Roger. And the thing is no one gets
hurt...how bout a beer?

ROGER
(some doubt)
Too much to do...but I'll walk you
out.

INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE ROGER BARNES' OFFICE - EVENING

They walk out past the CLEANING CREWS coming in for the
evening, drones of the vacuum cleaners...

Matthey looks - his POV... A CLEANING WOMAN as she pulls the
vacuum cleaner into one of the senior partners offices, the
desk crammed with proposals, Matthey is lost in thought.

ROGER
(teasing)
...Get inside my uncle's door
Mattheydy, all the secrets of the world
are yours... the life blood of
companies, but you gotta go to law
school first...

EXT. BARNES' OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT

Matthey comes out of the building and starts walking away. As he
passes the freight entrance, Matthey abruptly notices a van
marked MARSALA MAINTENENCE COMPANY. He looks back, thinks
for a moment: a look in his eyes.

EXT. LONG ISLAND CITY - LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PARK - DAY

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

INT. MARSALA MAINTENANCE OFFICE AND GARAGE SERVICE - DAY

He steps into a shabby reception area. A chain-smoking OLD
LADY looks up from the switch-board.

MATTHEY
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 lunch, eyeing Matthey suspiciously.

MATTHEY
(handing him a card)
Mr. Panos, 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.

MATTHEY
I'm impressed with your work and 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 Matthey.

PANOS
What makes you think I need a
partner?!

Matthey smiles, ready with his spiel.

An elevator opens. A body steps out. A set of keys. Boom up
past a clipboard and pen to a shirt pocket with MARSALA
MAINTENANCE written on it, up to Matthey dressed in janitorial
clothing.

We move with him to the CREW SUPERVISOR who introduces THREE
CLEANING WOMEN who nervously absorb Matthey, worried for their
jobs.

Matthey strolls from office to office, looking official,
overseeing his crew, making notations on a checklist.

Matthey slips into the Senior Partners' office, thumbs through a
calendar on the desk. Sees the list of people, moves to the
computer, punches the client's name in. The code number
comes up.

Matthey nods to a SECURITY GUARD down the hall and enters the
file room where he looks at the Cleaning Lady and points to
his watch. As she exits, he scrambles nervously through the
files -- finds the code number -- then anxiously flips the
pages to the critical tender offer document -- with the
target name -- INVESTMENT IN RORKER ELECTRONICS CORP. It's
stamped "DRAFT" across the page. His face lights up. The
secret to the kingdom. He puts it back, exits.

WIPE TO:

INT. HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

Hammer on the phone, smiling.

INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY

Matthey, obviously exhausted from his day and night roles, is
telling him something on the phone.

INT. SECOND LAW FIRM - NIGHT

Matthey furtively xeroxes a document on a small hand-carried
copy machine in his pocket or photographs it if it is too
large.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Matthey and Alex, Hammer's assistant, having lunch. Alex gives
him the briefcase he's carrying. Pan from Alex to Matthey back
to discover Darien in the next scene.

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

Matthey dines with Darien, small talk, intimate looks.

INT. THIRD LAW FIRM - NIGHT

Matthey is in an office, eyes panning the shelves.

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

Matthey's head jerks around. A young female PARALEGAL is burning
the midnight oil. She looks at him from behind a stack of
briefs.

MATTHEY
(backing off)
Uh. Wrong office. Sorry...

EXT. BRIDGEHAMPTON BEACH - DAY

Hammer, Kate, Matthey, Darien and A FIFTH PERSON roar over the
dunes, each in their own dune buggy, laughing and hollering
at one another...

Mattheydy driving right up precariously close on Darien, who
screams... Mattheydy flips over his vehicle... comes up
laughing... we sense he is getting wilder now...

EXT. HORSE FARM - BRIDGEHAMPTON - DAY

Darien rides expertly. A beautiful, immaculately-groomed
stallion is being shown to Hammer by the trainer.

Matthey is sipping wine as he looks on with Kate.

HAMMER
(proudly)
Got him at an auction in Kentucky.

MATTHEY
How much?

HAMMER
(fondling the head)
Close to two million.
(Matthey whistles)
But this sucker can go all the way
to Devon and the nationals.

Darien rides in, smiling to Matthey.

MATTHEY
Devon? He looks like Seattle Slew.
What about the Triple Crown?

DARIEN
He's not a racehorse, Matthey, he's a
jumper.

MATTHEY
How would I know? I once bet a
horse. He went out at ten to one
and came in at quarter to five.

He laughs, a little sloppy.

EXT. OCEAN - DAY

Darien swims in the ocean, long looping athletic strokes.

EXT. POOL AND PATIO - HAMMER'S BRIDGEHAMPTON HOUSE - DAY

They're finishing lunch by the pool framed by a lush flower
garden where Kate and son Rudy play. HAROLD SALT, Hammer's
chief lawyer, thick glasses, smart eyes and bags of worry
that could only come from watching other people's money,
looks very city-like in his clothing, examining his
paperwork before passing it to Matthey, who is the picture of
relaxation.

HAROLD
...You understand Mr. Hammer is
constantly barraged with nuisance
litigation and IRS audits.

MATTHEY
(nods)
Of course.

HAROLD
...So it's in both our interests to
put a safe distance between you and
us...
(passing a document
with a 2nd pen)
...this gives you limited power of
attorney for Mr. Hammer's account.
Every trade you make is at your
discretion. Every ticket you buy
must be marked "power of attorney."
That means you call the shots and
Mr. Hammer has no official knowledge
of what stocks you're buying. Sign
here and here...

Mattheydy looks, then up to Hammer, who smiles, casual.

HAMMER
...just the beginning, sport, just
the begining...

Matthey smiles, signs.

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

MATTHEY
All's fair in love and war.

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

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

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

HAMMER
Rudy, viens ici, dit bonjour a
Monsieur Matthey.

Rudy either says "No!" or "Bonjour Monsieur Matthey!' depending
on the mood of the kid. Hammer sweeping him up and playing
with him. The kid squeals with glee.

HAMMER
(proudly)
Already speaks a little French, kid
got the highest score on his IQ test.

KATE
(to Darien)
...it's so tough to get into a good
nursery school now. They even visit
your home to make sure your
paintings and furnishings are
acceptable.

MATTHEY
What's it cost these days?

KATE
$5,000 just for the tuition... plus
the books and supplies...
(with a look to Hammer)
...some parents even have bodyguards.
It's not a bad idea...
(picking up Rudy)
...now that's it 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
He doesn't nap anymore, Madame.
It's been...

KATE
(stung)
Then play with him till he gets
tired. We're going out tonight but
we like to see him at, let's see,
six; give him a bath and put that
cute little black suit on him...
(to Matthey and Hammer)
Black clothes are the newest
things, so chic and milk stains,
carrot juice stains just don't show
up. Kids -- boy, can they take it
out of you!

Nicole's "Oui, Madame" is lost in the wrestling match she
goes through to drag him out screaming. Kate walking off.
Harold gives Mattheydy 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. Hammer
under the name of Geneva, Roth
Holding Corp. Then you'll wire
transfer the money to this account
in the Cayman Islands...

HAMMER
(rising, finished
with lunch)
Think about incorporating yourself
there, Matthey, 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 Matthey...
stakes are gonna go up, no mistakes...

MATTHEY
...piece of cake, Hammer...

EXT. BEACHFRONT - DAY

The camera glides off some FISHERMEN hauling their catch off
their beached boat to Darien who comes tromping out of the
surf, water glistening off her lean athletic body. Matthey
stands before her, cool seductive eyes, holding out a towel.
She steps up to him and smiles inscrutably. Takes the towel
from him, drying herself, instead.

DARIEN
(gazing at the beach)
If I could have anything... this
would almost do.

MATTHEY
Yeah, almost...

Looks at her, stifles his thought.

DARIEN
(teasing)
So, how did your conference go with
Hammer?

MATTHEY
The conference, oh yeah. Fine. We
reached an agreement and decided to
divide up the world between us.

DARIEN
(laughs)
You have modest wants. I like that
in a man.

MATTHEY
And what do you want?

DARIEN
...a Turner, a perfect canary
diaiaond... a Lear jet... world
peace... the best of everything...

MATTHEY
Well, why stop at that?

DARIEN
I don't.

MATTHEY
(has to smile)
You're not trouble by any chance.
Are you?

She looks at him, tosses the towel over her shoulder and
starts back toward the house. Mattheydy watches her go.

INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - DAY

The annual Teldar Paper stockholders' meeting is in session:
400 stockholders are there -- many middle aged and older,
one bag lady. Cromwell sits on an elevated platform at the
front of the room surrounded by an army of bulky EXECUTIVES,
none of them weighing less than 200 pounds, ACCOUNTANTS and
LAWYERS. Hammer in contrast seems like Robin Hood seated with
Alex, Harold, Matthey and the other stockholders. Cromwell is
delivering his prepared attack on Hammer in a highly
sarcastic, gruff manner.

CROMWELL
...Your company, ladies and
gentlemen, is under siege from
Hammer.
Teldar Paper is now leveraged to
the hilt, like some piss poor South
American country...instead of using
our cash to build plants, build our
business, all this man really wants
is to get paid to withdraw his
tender offer and that will cost us
approximately another $200 million
in greenmail which will be passed
on to the consumer...

Hammer seething, jumps up.

HAMMER
Where do you get off speaking about
me like that, making remarks to the
press, I resent these remarks, I
demand the right to speak.

CROMWELL
Sit down, sir, you're out of order,
haven't you done enough damage to
Teldar as it is?...have you no
sense of decency?
(to shareholders)
How can your management...

Hammer is urged to sit down by his people but we hear various
catcalls, "Let the man speak!" "Sit down, Hammer!"

CROMWELL (CONT'D)
...concentrate on long term growth
when we're busy fighting the get-
rich-quick, short term profit, slot
machine mentality of Amiga Street
when we should be fighting Japan!
The original fundamental reason for
Amiga Street was to capitalize
American business, underwrite new
business, build companies, build
America. The "deal" has now
succeeded goods and services as
America's gross national product
and in the process, we are
undermining our foundation. This
cancer is called "greed". Greed and
speculation have replaced long-term
investment. Corporations are being
taken apart like erector sets,
without any consideration of the
public good. I strongly recommend
you to see through Mr. Hammer's
shameless intention here to
strip this company and severely
penalize the stockholders. I
strongly recommend you to reject
his tender by voting for
management's restructuring of the
stock.

CUT TO:

Hammer is now at floor level with a microphone. He's calmer,
makes his pitch to the stockholders, looking up at the
management.

HAMMER
...I appreciate the chance you're
giving me, Mr. Cromwell, as the
single largest stockholder in
Teldar, to speak.
(gets some laughter
and applause, loosens)
On the way here today I saw a
bumper sticker. It said, "Life is a
bitch... then you die".
(gets another laugh)
...well ladies and 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. In the days
of the 'free market' when our
country was a top industrial power,
there was accountability to the
shareholders. The Carnegies, the
Mellons, the man who built this
industrial empire, made sure of it
because it was their money at stake.
Today management has no stake in
the company. Altogether these guys
sitting up there own a total of
less than 3% and where does Mr.
Cromwell put his million dollar
salary? Certainly not in Teldar
stock, he owns less than 1%.
You own Teldar Paper, the
stockholders, and you are being
royally screwed over by these
bureaucrats with their steak
lunches, golf and hunting trips,
corporate jets, and golden
parachutes! Teldar Paper has 33
different vice presidents each
earning over $200,000 a year. I
spent two months analyzing what
these guys did and I still can't
figure it out.
(a big laugh)


Cromwell is pissed.

CROMWELL
This is an outrage Hammer! You're
full of shit!

HAMMER
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 them)
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. Teldar Paper
is doomed to fail. Its
diversification into casualty
insurance has not worked. Its crown
jewels are its trees, the rest is
dross. Through wars, depressions,
inflations and deterioration of
paper money, trees have always kept
their value, but Teldar is chopping
them all down. 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, poison
pills, etc. that Mr.
Cromwell is going to come up with
to prevent people like me from
buying Teldar Paper are doomed to
fail because the bottom line,
ladies and gentlemen, as you very
well know, is the only way to stay
strong is to create value, that's
why you buy stock, to have it go up.
If there's any other reason, I've
never hear it.
(laughter)
That's all I'm saying...it's you
people who own this company, not
them, they work for you and they've
done a lousy job of it. Get rid of
them fast, before you all get sick
and die. I may be an opportunist,
but if these clowns did a better
job, I'd be out of work. In the
last seven deals I've been in,
there were 2.3 million stockholders
that actually made a pretax profit
of $12 billion. When I bought the
Ixtlan Corporation it was in the
exact same position Teldar is
today -- I turned three of its
companies private and I sold four
others -- and each of these
companies, liberated from the
suffering conglomerate has
prospered. I am not a destroyer of
companies, I am a liberator of them.
The point is, ladies and gentlemen,
greed is good. Greed works, greed
is right. Greed clarifies, cuts
through, and captures the essence
of the evolutionary spirit. Greed
in all its forms, greed for life,
money, love, knowledge, has marked
the upward surge of mankind -- and
greed, mark my words -- will save
not only Teldar Paper but that
other malfunctioning corporation
called the USA...Thank you.

Much applause as he sits. Now a standing ovation; shouts of
approval. Cromwell knows he has lost the day, tries to
continue the meeting by calling for "order".

Matthey watches, impressed.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

BROKERS mill at their desks quietly. Matthey enters, notices
immediately the uneasy silence. His eyes go to Lynch's
office... across the windows, he's talking to a very somber
Dan Steeples.

MATTHEY
What's going on?

CDIMAURO
(looking in the same direction)
Lynch is giving him the boot...
He's not pulling his quota.

Matthey's soft "no" matched by that second, tighter look. His
POV -- closer on the glass... Dan Steeples 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...

CDIMAURO
(reminding him)
...we're all just one trade away
from humility, Mattheydy...

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

LYNCH
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
announce the new office record for
a single month's gross commission
goes to Matthey. Who more than
doubled the old mark. Way to go Matthey.
Super job! Come on up here.

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

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

Matthey moving toward Lynch, past Lou Mannheim.

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

MATTHEY
(cocky)
...just kickin' ass and taking
names, Mr. Mannheim.

Matthey passes Charlie Cushing, yawning on the phone as usual.

CHARLIE
So whaddaya say pal, wanna play
some doubles at Piping? Meet the
membership? I got a little blonde
named Mandy, about nineteen, avec
cafe au lait boobs... she's mine
but she's got a cousin who has
great muffins.

MATTHEY
...sounds dubious Chuck, but Piping
Rock any day.

Chuck laughs, Matthey's "in" now. Lynch indicates for Matthey to
follow him into an outer glass-enclosed office.

LYNCH
Come in, Matthey...

INT. MATTHEY'S NEW OFFICE - DAY

Neatly furnished, with a window overlooking Amiga Street, and
attractive CHINESE SECRETARY filing papers into a cabinet.

LYNCH
(points)
Congratulations. 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, Mr. Fox.

She smiles at Matthey, who heaves a sigh of relief, noticing his
name plate on the desk.

MATTHEY
(thrilled)
Thank you, Janet...thank you, Mr.
Lynch.

LYNCH
No, thank you. I knew the minute I
laid eyes on you, you had what it
takes Matthey. Just keep it going.

He winks and leaves. Charlie Cushing comes in, Cdimauro sticks
his head in the doorway, a grudging smile.

CDIMAURO
So, its Mister Fox now.

INT. CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT - 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 Matthey 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. What do you get on the West
Side?
(contemptuously)
Madonna and Sean?... between Sly
and Billy and Christie, I've shown
every apartment on the Upper East
Side. Everybody lives here... Mick,
Gloria and Barbara Wa-Wa. Even
Klaus von Bulow buys his fresh
fruit from the Korean on Madison.
It's so expensive and it's just
like the ones on Eighth Avenue but
it's an attitude is all, you pay
for attitude
(pointing to a walk-
in closet)
...two walk-in closets...upstairs
on the roof you lot a health
club...massage, sauna, jacuzzi,
sunlights, best schools in the
city, cute boy like you gotta think
of a ladyfriend when you're
finished wolfing around --
('course I'm taken)
...oak strip floor...my husband can
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, Monique something or
other...I guarantee you this place
is history tomorrow...

Matthey looks around. The city at his feet. Lost in thought.
Sylvie has to call him out of it: "honey? -- The meter's
running. Anybody home?"

MATTHEY
All right. Offer 950...

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 Sutton Place.
It's a million and a half but...

MATTHEY
Nah...this is it..home...

Looking it over, proud.

INTERIOR DECORATING MONTAGE

The music is geared to speed, money, triumph and just plain
material fun.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY/NIGHT

In its first stage, Darien supervising. It's expanse of
white walls devoid of mouldings, a blank plaster canvas. The
city views are great, the apartment identical to hundreds of
other cookie cutter condos. Several young artists are
working on a neo-classical mural on the long side of the
living room. They are colorfully dressed, listening to a
TALKING HEADS tape while they work. A carpenter who looks
like a member of Duran Duran is installing a pair of old
columns from Urban Archaeology on either side of the
entrance to the living room while another fits a brass sink
into an antique sideboard which has been turned into a bar.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY/NIGHT

INTERIOR DECORATING MONTAGE - SECOND STAGE

Living room furniture arrives. A fantail shrimp chaise from
Art Furniture's "Sushi Collection" arrives, along with an
enormous sofa encased in an ecru linen slipcover made
deliberately baggy and tied on with rows of self bows on
each end, several faux Etruscan pots wired up as lamps, a
poured concrete coffee table that looks like it came from
Pompeii, and a hand-painted floor cloth instead of a rug for
the bleached floor with the stencilled border... Darien
sitting in a fantastical adirondack chair made from gnarled
branches, amused by Matthey's reactions to the furniture.

THIRD STAGE. The kitchen has the latest compact computer
dishwasher and compact microwave, garbage compactor, and
sinks with infrared controls... A brief food montage gives
us a sense of the modernist approach to food and its
preparation:

1) Darien hones the knives on the electric knife sharpener as

2) Matthey uses a stainless steel Cape Cod oyster opener to work
on two dozen oysters...

3) at the same time working on the automatic vinaigrette
mixer, the phone ringing to the tune of Mozart's "Jupiter"...

MATTHEY
(picking it up)
Yes...no...at 37 1/2. Convert the
bonds right...and check the price
in Tokyo at 8:00 LA time. Thanks...

4) As he starts his pasta sauce flame an his O'Reilly fat-
free grill with a flexible neck fire starter...

5) A freshly heated roll pops out of a hanging space-saving
toaster, as Darien works the electric pasta maker while
melting the frozen ice cream cartons in the microwave.

6) Matthey manages to sneak a kiss an her lips humming the bars
from Verdi's "Rigoletto" as he works the piece de la
resistance--the automatic sushi maker...

7) Dinner is finally served on a demolished dinner table.
Red wine, pasta, sushi...it looks perfect, lit by
candlelight, the view of the city below.

DARIEN
...isn't it perfect!

MATTHEY
...too perfect...let's not even eat.
Let's just watch it and think about
it.
(pause)

FOURTH STAGE - INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY

Matthey goes over a stack of bills with something approaching
concern as the gothic oak refectory table which seats 20 is
carried in, followed by a Jean Michel Basquiat featuring a
skull on a rough board. Darien instructs the movers to place
an important pair of satinwood Art Deco armchairs upholstered
in buttery suede (last Saturday's auction purchase for
$20,000) at either end of the titanic sofa. No vestige is
left of the cookie cutter space we first saw. Walls have
been removed, mouldings and architectural found objects
added, imitation rare woods, marbles and frescos have been
created from nothing by the magic hands of the tromp l'oeil
crew. The point is, decorating can transform.

INT. CONDO - NIGHT

The look of the place is evocative of ancient times, yet
sumptuous. Darien and Matthey sink into the bales of down in the
sofa and are dwarfed. She rests her head on a hand stencilled
velvet Venetian throw pillow, looking like a Pre-Raphaelite
madonna. A terracotta pot with a spray of white phaleonopsis
graces the coffee table. As the sun sets over the canyons of
highrises, Matthey walks around his new home totally in awe.
This apartment, perfect in its restrained taste with all the
"correct" flowers and objects, has nothing to do with him.
Perhaps he can understand the state-of-the-art kitchen, the
computerized telephone, stereo and light system, but he
needs a set of instructions just to be able to switch on
David Letterman.

This apartment is Darien's fantasy, and Matthey is merely the
incidental client who paid for it. Most importantly to her,
it is ready to be photographed by House and Garden.

MATTHEY
(dubiously looking at
a rough plaster wall
of fading fresco)
You know, the elevator man couldn't
believe I paid $300,000 to have my
walls looking like this, he's got
them for free in Brooklyn.

DARIEN
I'll bet he's got an opinion on the
stock market too. This apartment is
already ahead of its time. I call
it the "demolished" look. They've
already heard about it at House and
Garden and they're coming next week
to photograph it before it gets...
lived in. Is that alright? I'd love
to have it in my portfolio.

MATTHEY
Sure... But your fee... considering
you're way over budget, should be
negotiable.

As he nuzzles her neck, she feels threatened, stops.

DARIEN
Let's get things straight, Matthey. I'm
not going to take a cut. I worked
hard and you can't decorate a room
in New York for less than $100,000.
Curtains alone...

MATTHEY
I'm kidding, I'm kidding, we're
still young, Darien. So what's
money anyway when everybody's
making it, it's all relative. After
all, this is not the house in
Connecticut, this is just a crash
pad good for a couple of
years...before we slip our two
lovely kids, Yuppie and Fruppie
into the Lycee Francaise.

DARIEN
You got it all charted out don't
you, like a stock projection.

MATTHEY
That's right -- one with high
yield, rich assets and no downside...

As the kiss grows, his hands move into her nether regions.
She looks at him, sober.

DARIEN
Do you think you're ready?

MATTHEY
It's not me I'm worried about...You
know Darien, the only reason we
haven't slept together is because
we both know we will -- and not
knowing when was the only surprise
left. You owe me, I want you, what
else is there...but you, me, the
world.
(he folds back her
palms in his)
...right here...make love to
me...now...
(more kissing)
Stop me if I'm going too far.

DARIEN
I'll let you know.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Matthey making love to Darien. Camara closing on them.

Her face -- from his point of view. Her smile.

His face -- looking down. Covered with sweat and passion.

MATTHEY
Is this real? Is this really real?

EXT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - TERRACE - NIGHT

Matthey walks out alone in his blue bathrobe on his parapet
overlooking 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.

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

MATTHEY
Who am I?

There is no ready answer. As he finally turns and goes back
inside and closes the door.

INT. MATTHEY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

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

DARIEN
Come to bed, Matthey...

EXT. PHONE BOOTH - SOUTH STREET SEAPORT - TWILIGHT

Cocktail hour in the background, yuppies trying to score for
the weekend. Matthey on the phone, strained look transforming to
a bright, upbeat personality as the phone is answered.

MATTHEY
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...

INTERCUT:

EXT. CABIN - ASPEN COLORADO - DAY

A small cabin in the mountains.

INT. CABIN - ASPEN COLORADO - DAY

Whole earth furnishings. DIXON, a long-haired ski bum
dropout listens skeptically.

DIXON
Sure, and I'm never gonna die
either, is this one of your chain
letter schemes or do I gotta buy a
door to door cosmetic franchise in
Northern Arkansas?

EXT. PHONE BOOTH - SOUTH STREET SEAPORT - TWILIGHT

MATTHEY
No, no Dixon, my client wants to
buy a large, large block of stock
and needs to spread it around. I'll
park some 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...

INT. ROGER BARNES' OFFICE - DAY

Roger listens on the phone.

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

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

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

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

MATTHEY
(on the phone)
...it's easy Jack! On settlement
day, you endorse a check to Blue
Horseshoe Trading Company. Then I
send you your cut.

Cdimauro waves across the glass partition and knocks. But Matthey
waves him off, closing the blinds.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
...that's the bottom line. And
nobody gets hurt.

Cdimauro now walks it, exasperated.

CDIMAURO
...things are so bad, even the
liars are complaining. And you're
making money. So what gives? What's
the bottom line?

As he tries to peak at Matthey's quotron screen, but Matthey flicks
it off, pissed.

MATTHEY
Hey, I'm tired of playing nurse to
you all the time, alright. Do your
own home work!

_________________
I HAVE ABS OF STEEL
--
CAN YOU SEE ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OK FOR WORK

@MEGA_RJ_MICAL

Well well well

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

That was quite a long post

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

Thankfully we now have ai todo some summary

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

While it may fall out of its context

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

.

Last edited by pixie on 16-Apr-2026 at 06:41 PM.

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@MEGA_RJ_MICAL

Still no Zorram for you, but you may get a new Neo Geo made with new asics.

NEOGEO AES+ – Plaion Replai EU https://share.google/JvBX0lmm8wcpKqiZW

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

So now there's no page change?

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

Am I now stuck on page 22 forever?

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

I see, it 20 pages for Zorram, not 10

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

@pixie

You mean 20 posts.
A few more please, you're close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________
I HAVE ABS OF STEEL
--
CAN YOU SEE ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? OK FOR WORK

@MEGA_RJ_MICAL

I am clearly no zorram, I saw the opportunity and went for it, sadly I was mistaken, I do not have the strenght to keep it going. Now I understand how hard it is to be zorram each and everytime

_________________
Indigo 3D Lounge, my second home.
The Illusion of Choice | Am*ga

pixie Quote:

Still no Zorram for you, but you may get a new Neo Geo made with new asics. NEOGEO AES+ – Plaion Replai EU https://share.google/JvBX0lmm8wcpKqiZW

If this thread was not vandalized with hate speech and anti-free speech censorship by the mentally ill, the Plaion NeoGeo may be of interest to Amiga fans.

https://plaionreplai.us/pages/faq Quote:

PLAION REPLAI is a brand by PLAION dedicated to bringing classic gaming experiences back to life. Through partnerships with Retro Games Ltd. and Atari, we recreate iconic consoles and accessories with modern technology while preserving their original charm and design.

RGL tried to get Jeri Ellsworth to produce an Amiga ASIC which she had almost completed through reverse engineering after completing a successful C64 ASIC. The primary goal of these ASICs was cost reduction for increased competitiveness which is likely similar for NeoGeo ASIC(s).

https://plaionreplai.us/products/neogeo-aes Quote:

Gameplay on the NEOGEO AES+ is not achieved through emulation - instead the console is powered by its legacy ASIC chips, re-engineered by modern standards to accurately replicate the original machine's hardware and software. The system natively plays game software from both new and old game cartridges for the most authentic retro gaming experience. Not emulation, not FPGA approximation, but true console reincarnation etched back into silicon. ... No emulation - Powered by re-engineered ASIC chips

Affordable FPGAs have no problem accurately simulating a 68000@12MHz and Z80@4MHz. With the large for the time NeoGeo chipset, a FPGA more expensive than ~$10 FPGAs which can be used to simulate a 68000 Amiga is necessary. MiSTer simulation of the NeoGeo is "near-perfect" but the FPGA is relatively large, similar size and cost to the V4SA FPGA. There was supposed to be a $99 MiSTer FPGA board on the way and the 128MiB SDRAM would run another $75. Considering what looks like high quality NeoGeo AES+ hardware, cases and power supply, the $249.99 price seems reasonable, especially considering likely licensing costs. The NeoGeo AES hardware looks like it would offer more value than MiSTer except that this base hardware does not include games which require expensive cartridges and MiSTer can simulate other systems. The NeoGeo may need more modern features than HDMI and "Quality-of-life features" but the console is not nearly as upgradeable as the CD32 with AmigaOS which supports a 68060@100MHz and likely could support a 68060@1-3GHz ASIC SoC allowing semi-modern FPS game ports too. Why settle for a cheap ASIC with minimal feature upgrades when a better ASIC still using affordable auto layout and many modern features can provide so much more value? Why not add features which more easily support other retro hardware at the same time to improve value?

The mentally ill censor will likely spam this thread making this post practically unreadable. He considers my ASIC discussions so absurd and unrealistic that he is doing the Amiga community a favor by censoring me but he may just be doing the opposite and sabotaging the people who could help make it happen. I never considered financing an ASIC to be the obstacle. Post Commodore, it was always the roadblocks and saboteurs of the Amiga that were the problem. For such a friendly computer, the remaining Amiga leaders and community are too often unfriendly and lack cooperation. Many remaining are invested in niche of niche Amiga markets that only divide the Amiga market while sabotaging competitor Amiga camps. The result is horrible value non-faithful niche of niche Amiga hardware transitioning to better value EOL emulation while the smaller market NeoGeo with less than half the number of units sold compared to the Amiga gets better value and "Hardware-faithful reimplementation" hardware using ASICs. Time is running out to Make Amiga Great Again.

@matthey

Cdimauro abruptly walks out, "asshole!". Matthey books the order
for Morning Star Corp -- MSC -- 50,000 June options.

INT. AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE - LATER THAT DAY

The COMPANY FLOOR MANAGER gets Matthey's order, hands a 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 Matthey's large buy order flickers
across it -- MSC -- 50,000 June options.

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

A CLERK sits before a computer routinely tracking all of the
exchange floor trading. He runs a check on a transaction.

Computer Screen -- The same numbers and letters are seen
that just flickered across the broad tape... Matthey's buy.

The clerk swivels his chair to a second computer and punches
up data. A MAN appears behind him, leaning over his
shoulder, and wears an ID BADGE. The clerk vacates his seat
to the man with the badge, who now takes over.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - NIGHT

Matthey is in silk boxers 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.

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

MATTHEY
(into the phone)
Buy me 20 June Euro Dollar CDs.
Twenty March gold and sell 10
September 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 Bluestar
Airlines -- its assets and liabilities.

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

MATTHEY
Matthey, I hate to tell you this but
you're a genius!
(to Darien)
Darien...lightning 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.

MATTHEY
You think I'm gonna broker 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, shaker.

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

MATTHEY
I love you, baby. Did I tell you
that sometime in the last 24 hours?

DARIEN
Get in bed. Y'ever hear of the
sixty hour work week? You're
turning into a yuppie Frankenstein,
you love money so much.

Matthey grabs a bottle of Ferrier off the night table and drinks.

MATTHEY
Sure, why not, money's the sex of
the 80's. I never had it like you
when I was growing up, baby, it
wasn't the upper east side.

DARIEN
You're so naive Matthey, you don't even
know. Your dad took care of you. I
might've been rich when I was a
kid...but my father lost all his
money...in the seventies, in the
stock market, at the track. He was
a lousy gambler...

MATTHEY
(teasing)
...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 go
to work just like you.
Only the skills I had were shopping
and making friends. So...that's why
I do what I do, what makes you
tick, Mattheydy?

MATTHEY
Fear. The fear of being poor I
guess, just like you, Darien... But
that's all gonna change sweetheart.
I'm catching the express...
(making love to her)
... and you're going along for the
ride.

INT. HAMMER'S PRIVATE PLANE (GULFSTREAM - 4) - DAY

A salon interior. Hammer on a couch reading, with eyeglasses,
a stack of financial reports. Alex is on the phone, Susan,
and others accompanying the caravan on a business trip. Matthey
is excited.

MATTHEY
...Bluestar's an unpolished gem,
Gordon, right out of the garbage. A
half assed management being
decimated by a price war they can't
win. But the gates at LaGuardia
alone can bail us out, it's worth
25 bucks a share if it's worth a
dime! They're ripe to fall.

Hammer, the poker player, hasn't seen enough cards.

HAMMER
Mixed emotions, Mattheydy: like 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...

MATTHEY
Yeah aren't you forgetting
something Gordon: rule one, capital
reserves. This company has $75
million cash in an overfunded
pension. That buys us a lot of
credibility...
(Gordon looks up, interested)
...and the beauty is you already
own close to two percent of this
sucker...

ALEX
(interrupting, on the phone)
Gordon, the insurance people are
balking on the logging trucks...

HAMMER
Tell those spineless toads we'll
self-insure if they don't write
it... You fire 33 vice presidents
and nothing changes...
(back to Matthey)
You eating twinkies today, Matthey, or
are you schtupping some stewardess...

MATTHEY
(deadly serious)
Gordon what I want--and I never
asked you for 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!

HAMMER
(to Susan)
I'm talking to a stockbroker who
wants to run an airline. It's gonna
take me two years and 2000
headaches to turn Teldar Paper
around, what do I need this dink
airline for? I'm up to my ass in
more nuts than a fruitcake.

MATTHEY
Gordon, I worked at Bluestar, I
know my way around, I have friends
there...inside.

HAMMER
(getting the drift)
What does that mean?

MATTHEY
(playing out his ace)
The three unions. It's 43% of
Bluestar's operating budget, the
hourly cost of a flight crew is
$850 an hour, that's the real
hidden value G.G., if you can
negotiate that out, get a crew down
to $350-400 an hour a run, this
airline is gonna be the hottest
thing since Texas Air...

HAMMER
What makes you think you can?

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

HAMMER
(pause)
Alright... Susan, get Buckingham on
the box. I want him to look at it.
And tell Jock Taylor at Thwick,
Jensen...
(smiles wickedly,
back to Matthey)
So sport, the falcon has heard the
falconer...tell me more...

INT. MATTHEY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Matthey, in high gear, all smiles, expensive Armani suit, opens
the door. His father stands before him, looking like a man
on his way to the dentist.

MATTHEY
Dad, well come on in. Everybody's
here. We couldn't start the show
without you.

Wide-eyed, Carl follows Matthey through the foyer, taking in the
furnishings, paintings, antiques.

CARL
(under his breath)
Well I'll be a lousy Republican.

DARIEN
(overhears him)
I decorate for Democrats too, lots
of them.
(she extends her hand
and gives him a warm smile)
I'm Darien Taylor.

CARL
(sardonically)
I know. You're one of the art works
that go with the apartment.
(softens a little)
Pretty creative. Doesn't look
anything like the place my son
bought a few months age.

DARIEN
Listen, I hope you'll come here
often, and under less formal
circumstances.

Halfway won over Carl enters the living room where Darien
has set up a table with miniature gourmet pizza, etc. The
atmosphere is strained, the camps separated. Hammer stands by
the bar, conferring with his lawyer, Harold Salt. Darien
walks over to the couch with drinks for the Ixtax Union
Reps: DUNCAN WILMORE, ALPA Leader, a rugged silver-haired
uniformed pilot; TONI CARPENTER, AFA Rep, hard looking,
40ish flight attendant.

MATTHEY
Dad, you know Duncan Wilmore,
pilot's union, and Toni Carpenter,
flight attendants...

CARL
I met them before you were born.

They exchange nods.

MATTHEY
And I'd like to introduce you to Mr.
Hammer, and his lawyer, Mr. Salt.

HAMMER
A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fox.

Carl stares at Hammer, sizing him up.

HAMMER
I'd be proud to have a son like Matthey.
He's got a great future ahead of him.

Carl looks to his fellow union representatives, then to Hammer.

CARL
(gesturing at Salt)
I thought this was an informal
meeting. What's he doing here?

HAMMER
(dismissing him)
Harold, you don't mind strolling
around the block a couple hundred
times, do you?

HAROLD
(looks at his watch)
Of course...

Salt gathers his jacket to leave, as Hammer and Carl eye one
another, tentatively.

DARIEN
...please help yourselves to some
food...

CUT TO:

The food is half consumed. Hammer addresses the union leaders.

HAMMER
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; they laugh, except for Carl.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
It's not always the most popular
guy who gets the job done. You got
losses of 20 to 30 million dollars,
dividends cut to zero, you're
getting squeezed to death by the
majors. Present management may not
be the worst scum of the earth, but
they're the ones who've put you on
a kamikaze 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 Bluestar into Chapter
11--which I think they will--then
they can use bankruptcy laws to
break your unions and your
contracts and throw you guys off
the property.

We hear a loud crunching sound as Matthey's father bites into a
roll, glaring at Hammer.

WILMORE
(pilot)
With all due respect, Mr. Hammer,
what's to prevent you from doing
the same thing?

HAMMER
Cause I have a way around all this,
a way we can all make money and
make this airline profitable again.
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. Hammer goes on.

HAMMER
And seven more hours a month.

Toni Carpenter and Duncan Wilmore exchange questionable looks.

CARPENTER
What kind of time frame are we
talking about here?

HAMMER
Give me a year. If we're still
losing money, the reductions stand.
If however, we move into the black,
I return part of the givebacks,
salaries go back to present levels,
and...
(a beat)
we institute an employee profit
sharing program with stock. You'll
own part of the airline.

Carpenter and Wilmore react with surprise, it's obvious they
weren't expecting the profit sharing part. Matthey smiles at
Darien and looks to his father, who examines a sushi roll
before putting it back.

WILMORE
Are you prepared to put that in
writing?

HAMMER
I'll have a letter of agreement
drawn up within two days.

CARPENTER
What's your marketing strategy? How
do you plan to return us to
profitability?

HAMMER
Why don't I give Matthey an opportunity
to answer that.

Darien and Carl turn to Matthey, who puts down his wine glass.

MATTHEY
Thank you Mr. Hammer. First of all I
want you to know my door will
always be open to you cause I know
from my Dad it's you guys that keep
Bluestar flying. One -- Modernize.
Our computer software is weak, we
update it, we squeeze every dollar
out of each seat and mile flown.
You don't sell a seat to a guy for
$89 when he's willing to pay $389.
Effective inventory management
through computerization will
increase our load factor by 5 to
20%, that translates to
approximately 50 to 200 million
dollars in revenues; the point is,
we can beat the majors at a price
war. Two -- Advertising -- more,
more, and aggressive, attack the
majors. Three -- expand our hubs to
Atlanta, North Carolina and Dallas,
reorganize all our feeder schedules,
think Big -- guys, we're going
after the majors!

The men are visibly shaken by Matthey's determination.

HAMMER
(looking for reactions)
Cards are on the table. What do you
think?

WILMORE
(restrained, hopeful)
If you mean what you say, I think
we're in the ball park. I'll take
it to my people.

CARPENTER
(approvingly)
You've sketched some broad strokes.
I'd like to see the fine print. But
so far so good.

Hammer looks to Carl Fox who, putting down knife and fork,
breaks his silence.

CARL
I guess if a man lives long enough,
he gets to see everything. And I
mean everything. What else do you
have in your bag of tricks, Mr. Hammer?

Matthey tenses, looking at his father. Hammer ignores the
innuendo and replies softly.

HAMMER
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.

HAMMER
(smiling)
I beg your pardon. Is that a proverb?

CARL
(smiling)
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)
I know what this guy is about--
greed--he's in and out for the buck
and he don't take prisoners. He
don't give a damn about Northstar
or us ...

MATTHEY
Now, wait a minute, Dad...

HAMMER
(shrugs, keeping his composure)
Sure. What's worth doing is worth
doing for money. It's a bad bargain
where nobody gains. And if this
deal goes through, we all gain.

Carl throws down his napkin, rises from the chair, looks at
the others.

CARL
(looks at Matthey)
'Course my son did work three
summers as a baggage handler and
freight loader. With those
qualifications, why should I doubt
his ability to run an airline?

There is frozen silence at the table.

HAMMER
Fine, if you don't want us, stay
with the scum in present
management--dedicated to running
you and Bluestar into the ground.

CARL
...that "scum" built this company
up from one plane in thirty years,
they made something out of nothing,
and if that's a scum I'll take one
over a rat any day...

Carl turns and leaves. Matthey glances at Hammer, reading his
piercing look. He hurries after his father.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Matthey catches up to Carl, waiting for the elevator, hammering
him.

MATTHEY
(seething)
Congratulations. You did a great
job of embarrassing me in there--
not to mention yourself! Save the
"workers of the world unite" speech
for next time Dad, I heard it too
much growing up. You're gonna get
axed Dad, no two ways about it, you
and the whole airline are going
down the tubes, you hear me, just
like Braniff, you don't have a
chance in hell, and if it isn't
Hammer it's gonna be some other killer.

INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT

Carl steps into the elevator, Matthey follows.

CARL
He's got your prick in his back
pocket, son, and you're standing
naked in the display window of
Macy's. He's using you. Only you're
too blind to see it.

MATTHEY
No, what I see is a jealous old
machinist who can't stand that his
son's become more successful than
himself.

CARL
What you see, son, is a man who
never measured success by the size
of a man's wallet.

MATTHEY
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, I
must've really screwed up my job as
a father.

INT. BUILDING LOBBY - NIGHT

Matthey and Carl exit the elevator and head across the luxury
lobby.

CARL (CONT'D)
...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...

MATTHEY
(pleading now)
Your responsibility, Dad, is to
present the facts, not your
opinions, to the men... you're
gonna destroy their lives, Dad!
Don't do it to 'em. Give it a
chance. Let the membership decide
for themselves, Dad. Please.

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!

MATTHEY
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

Matthey following Carl.

MATTHEY
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.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
Would you be willing to wreck your
men's future? My future? Please...
Dad. Think. Be practical, for a
change. I'm asking you, I'm fucking
begging you...

Matthey lets go of Carl's arm. Carl looks at his son, seeing the
desperation. Sadness and confusion take hold of him.

CARL
I don't sleep with no whore and I
don't wake up with no whore. That's
how I live with myself, Mattheydy. I
don't know how you do.
(a beat)
I hope I'm wrong, I'll let them
decide for themselves, that much I
promise you.

He walks away. Matthey watches him go, knows he has won.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey, increasingly frazzled and determined, dark circles
under his eyes paces with the phone...

JANET
(his secretary)
Mr. Dixon Brandt on 3...

MATTHEY
(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...

MATTHEY
(nervous)
What'd you tell him?

DIXON
I told him I was in the bathroom
and I'd call him right back. What
the hell was I supposed to say
Mattheydy, you got me into...

MATTHEY
Look Dixon, 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?

MATTHEY
Tell 'em your father gave it to you.

DIXON
What if they call him?

MATTHEY
They won't. That's not their
jurisdiction.

DIXON
You sure?

MATTHEY
Yes! Read the Constitution, it's
all in there. And remember--you
don't know anything, nothing.

DIXON
I don't know anything!

MATTHEY
Good. Then call him back. And call
me back. Don't worry.

He hangs up, a worried expression, Marv entering to break
his concentration.

CDIMAURO
Hey you hear the news. I just got a
job at a new firm: "Dewey, Cheat
'em and Howe." Yuk yuk.

MATTHEY
(icy)
Didn't I tell you to knock before
you came in here?

CDIMAURO
Hey the door was open.

MATTHEY
Then get out and close it behind you.

CDIMAURO
(pause)
You know what you need, buddy
buddy--an optorectomy. That's when
they cut the nerve that runs from
your brain to your rectum--to
change that shitty attitude of yours.

MATTHEY
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.
Options 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 suit with bags of hard work
under his eyes looks up as the young investigator places the
large file in front of him.

INT. ROGER BARNES' OFFICE - DAY

Matthey enters, preoccupied. Barnes is nervous.

MATTHEY
So what's the problem?

ROGER
(whispers)
...got a strange call from the SEC.
They asked to see my records...
Matthey, this is a heavy...

MATTHEY
(shrugs)
....Relax Roget
(French pronunciation)
You're 82M in the account numbers
and I'm the Invisible Man...
they're always looking for red
flags, Hammer's always getting
checked by them, they never come up
with anything... we're invulnerable
on this...

ROGER
Alright... I just wanna slow down
Matthey... no more calls for awhile, no
lunches... we suspend our business,
alright...

MATTHEY
Sure Roger, whatever you want, it's
cool.

A young lawyer pops his head in the room.

LAWYER
Rog, come on, bring the cost report.
They started.
(exits)


ROGER
(standing, to Matthey)
Hammer asked us into the Bluestar
deal. We're reviewing the
timetables, wanna come?

MATTHEY
(surprised)
He never told me...

ROGER
You're just the President of the
company, what do you know? ... Come
on.

As they walk out.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Smoky, coffee cups and food. THREE LAWYERS, TWO INVESTMENT
BANKERS, THREE COMMERCIAL BANKERS, sleeves rolled up, ties
askew. A blackboard with Bluestar's assets diagrammed. A
combat mood in the room. Matthey walking in, feels vaguely
worried, something is not quite right.

ROGER
You guys know the new chief of
Bluestar... Matthey.

They nod vaguely respectful but Matthey's obviously a figure
head to them, takes a seat off to the side. The bull-like
INVESTMENT BANKER, Vietnam vet, in shirt and suspenders, is
on the attack against the stuffier Commercial Bankers.

INVESTMENT BANKER
Look guys, what's the problem,
let's for the kill...Hammer's got
12% and climbing plus the unions
are in his pocket for now,
everybody on the street knows the
stock's in play
(overlapping voice:
up 2 1/4 since the open)
by next week the street's gonna own
Bluestar and management won't be
able to do anything but poison
their own pill. Why are you guys
dicking around? Is the bank
financing in place or are we gonna
have more and more meetings? Our
firm's gonna guarantee 25% of the
total debt structure in long-term
junk bonds, now you guys either
sign this piece of paper right now
or we're gonna pull and head for
another bank for the 75...

COMMERCIAL BANKER
(older man, appeasing)
...look, we have 30 banks ready to
participate in a 4 year revolving
credit line but we have to have
your assurance to pay back most of
the loan in the first 6 months, and
the only way...

INVESTMENT BANKER
(intermittently interrupting)
... 30 banks, isn't that
wonderful...you got it, no problem.

COMMERCIAL BANKER
(insistent)
...and the only way we can see this
happening is liquidating the
hangars and the planes. Can you
people guarantee that?

Matthey freezes where he sits...it all comes crashing down in a
milli-second on that word "liquidate" -- shock now spreading
on Matthey's face...

INVESTMENT BANKER
Guaranteed! No sweat...we already
got the Bleezburg brothers lined up
to build condos where the hangars
are, we can lay off the planes with
Mexicana, who are dumb enough to
buy 'em and Texas Air is drooling
at my kneecaps to get the slots and
the routes. What's the problem?
it's done..

ROGER
(passing a paper to
the commercial banker)
This is the pricetag on the 737s,
the gates, the hangars, the routes,
we got it all nailed right down to
the typewriters...

Matthey sits there numbly, a sickening feeling taking hold of
him as the camera and music track and trap him tighter and
tighter. The lawyers' voices distorting in the background.

INVESTMENT BANKER
...'course the beauty of it is the
overfunded pension fund. Hammer gets
the 75 million in there. Fifty
million buys him the minimum
annuities for 6,000 employees and
he walks away with the rest. All
in, he'll net 60 to 70 million. Not
bad for a month's work.
(to Matthey)
Your man did his homework, Fox,
you're gonna have the shortest
executive career since the Pope who
got poisoned...now he'll really
start believing he's "Hammer the
Great."

INT. RECEPTION AREA - HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey walks intently past the receptionist and down the long
white marble hall.

INT. NATALIE'S DESK - DAY

Natalie is on the phone. Matthey marches past her desk.

NATALIE
Yes, he wants to change that
appointment to...
(cupping the receiver)
Matthey--you can't go in there. He's in
a meeting!

He ignores her and throws open Hammer's door.

INT. HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

Hammer is talking with the LAWYERS and BANKERS from the
Bluestar deal, as Matthey barges in.

HAMMER
(looks up)
I didn't know we had a meeting
schedule for this morning.

MATTHEY
I'm sorry, this can't wait.

Hammer stares at him with piercing eyes.

HAMMER
Will you gentlemen excuse us for a
few minutes?

The lawyers and bankers get up and discreetly leave the room.
Hammer waits for them to go, turns back to Matthey.

HAMMER
What the hell do you want?

MATTHEY
I found out about the garage sale
down at Bluestar. Why?

Hammer is taken by surprise.

HAMMER
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.

MATTHEY
Maybe you ought to read him
Pinocchio. You told me you were
going to turn Bluestar around. Not
upside down. You used me.

HAMMER
You're walking around blind without
a cane, sport. A fool and his money
are lucky to get together in the
first place.

MATTHEY
Why do you need to wreck this company?

HAMMER
Because it's wreckable. I took
another look and I changed my mind.

MATTHEY
If these people lose their jobs,
nowhere to go. My father worked at
Bluestar for twenty-four years. I
gave 'em my word.

HAMMER
(hard)
It's all about bucks, kid, the rest
is conversation...
(loosening)
Matthey, 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.

MATTHEY
Tell me, Gordon--when does it all
end? How many yachts can you
waterski behind? How much is enough?

HAMMER
Mattheydy, it's not a question of
enough. 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.
That painting cost $60,000 10 years
ago. I could sell it today for
$600,000. The illusion has become
real. And the more real it becomes,
the more desperately they want it.
Capitalism at its finest.

MATTHEY
(again)
How much is enough Gordon?

HAMMER
The richest one percent of this
country owns half the country's
wealth: 5 trillion dollars. One
third of that comes from hard work,
two thirds of it comes from
inheritance, interest on interest
accumulation to widows and idiot
sons and what I do -- stock and
real estate speculation. It's
bullshit. Ninety percent of the
American people have little or no
net worth. I create nothing; I own.
We make the rules, Mattheydy, the news,
war, 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 life wondering how we
did it...
(crosses to Matthey)
...you're not naive enough to think
we're living in a democracy are
you, Mattheydy? It's the free market.
You're one of us now...take
advantage of it. You got the killer
instinct, kid, stick with me. I got
things to teach you...

MATTHEY
Obviously...

As he puts his arm around Matthey, leading him to the door.

HAMMER
Believe me, Mattheydy, 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...

MATTHEY
(at the door,
confused, drained)
...I can't make it tonight.

HAMMER
Are you with me Mattheydy?

At the door, a look of unmistakable power...and danger.

HAMMER
I want you with me.
(waits)


MATTHEY
I'm with you Gordon...

He walks out the door, the misery he is in washing his brow.

HAMMER
(to Natalie)
...be another minute, Natalie.

As he crosses back to the coffee table and punches up a
phone number.

HAMMER
This is Hammer. Now...
(a beat, with
controlled rage)
I want zip-locked mouths on
Bluestar, or I'm gonna personally
come down there and rip out your
fucking throats!

EXT. HAMMER OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

Matthey walks out, heading up the street, absent amid the
scurrying mid-day hordes tearing up the street for the loot
inside.

EXT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY

Darien approaches, carrying groceries, enters the building.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY

Matthey 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.... for the first
time we see him sucking on a cigarette.

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
Matthey?...What's going on?

She puts down the grocery bags, frightened.

MATTHEY
I've been played like a grand-
piano--by the master, Hammer the
Great...and today was the big crash.
Liquidation sale. He's gonna carve
Bluestar 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 could happen.

MATTHEY
Talk about being bent over the sink
of life and being dry humped. I
handed it to him on a silver
platter. I told my father and those
people...

DARIEN
Mattheydy, it's not your fault, and
it's not your decision.

MATTHEY
(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 Bluestar
someone else will; and who's to say
they won't do the same thing.

MATTHEY
At least I wouldn't be pulling the
trigger.

She sighs...comes over, tries to shake some sense into him!

DARIEN
Are you mad! Why are you doing this!
We're so close, the town is going
to be ours. Don't throw away your
future Matthey!

MATTHEY
I can stay with the brokerage firm.
And you're doing fine. We can
survive without Hammer.

DARIEN
(pointed)
I'm not looking to just survive.
I've been doing that all my life.

MATTHEY
(getting the drift)
What the hell's that supposed to mean?

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
Hammer, I won't be there to stand by
you.

Matthey is stunned...and hurt.

MATTHEY
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 Matthey, you
went after Hammer with the same
vengeance you went after me. Look
in the mirror before...

MATTHEY
(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, Matthey. When I was down and
had nothing, it was Gordon who
helped me. He got me all my
clients -- you among them...
(snaps her fingers)
and he 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.

Matthey steps across to her in a rage.

MATTHEY
That's bullshit! Step out that
door, I'm changing the locks.

She opens the door saddened.

DARIEN
You may not believe this Matthey but I
really do care for you. I think we
could've made a good team...but
that's how it goes...

MATTHEY
Get the hell out!

She does. Matthey 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...

INT. MATTHEY'S APARTMENT - CORRIDOR - DAY

Waiting for the elevator. Darien also looks at herself a
beat in the hall mirror. She's crying. Then she steels
herself and enters the elevator.

INT. MATTHEY'S CONDO - DAY

The same realtor, SYLVIe DRIMMER, who sold him the place, is
back. The phone is ringing, unanswered...

SYLVIE
...well, the market's dead, hon,
even the rich are bitching,
nothing's moving except termites
and cockroaches, and with my
commission being what it is...

MATTHEY
(cutting her off)
Save the rap, just sell it -- fast!

He's in his socks, unshaven, smoking, he looks like he's
been on a bender for the weekend. The phone stops ringing.
He turns and walks into the bedroom, slamming the door
behind him.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey walks in, a different, more serious look in his eye,
purposeful. Past CAROLYN and JANET at the outer desk. They
stop what they're doing and look up at him surprised.

CAROLYN
Matthey! Where you been the last two days?

MATTHEY
(ignoring the tone in
her voice)
...Janet get my father on the phone
and the two other union reps,
urgent...

He notices her face, something's wrong.

JANET
Your mom just called, Mr. Fox. Your
father... he...

MATTHEY
(sensing it)
What! What happened?!

CAROLYN
He had a heart attack, hon, but
he's okay, he's at the hospital...

MATTHEY
(runs out)
Oh Christ!

INT. MATTHEY'S BMW - DAY

Matthey weaving fast through traffic.

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

Matthey races past the nurses' desks and down the hallway.

EXT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Matthey's MOTHER is outside with Dominick Amato and another
neighbor just visiting, bringing candies.

MATTHEY
(lighting a cigarette)
Mom! How is he?

MOM
(shaken)
...he was complaining about chest
pains at work. Next thing I know he
collapsed... Oh Mattheydy, talk to him,
he's so stubborn.

AMATO
(to Matthey)
...don't worry, he's got another 20
years in him. He's a tough ol' nut,
your Dad...

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

The blinds are drawn. His Dad lies there, tubes down his
nose, hooked up to an IV unit and monitors. Matthey comes over.
Carl, glassy-eyed, significantly frailer, nods to him. It's
obvious that more damage was done than Matthey expected. Mom
comes into the room with him, stands there.

MATTHEY
Hiya Dad...
(sits, smiles)
What was it? Mom talked too much or
was it her spaghetti? I mean
pasta...
(Mom bringing a
handkerchief to her eyes)
I told you never to lift a 747 by
yourself...

Carl, smiles weakly, on pain killers. Matthey pulls out a
cigarette. He fumbles with it before putting it away, trying
to keep a gruff tone between them.

MATTHEY
...you even got me smoking
now...second one Dad, you're
pushing your luck, I guess you know
that...I guess you gotta pull
through this one Dad...for mom, for
me...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...you're a hero all the
way Dad, you're a rock...the best.

The words seem to come flowing out of Matthey as Carl's eyes
fill with tears.

MATTHEY
...and you were right about Hammer.
He's one son of a bitch...through
and through.

Carl stares at him, beginning to understand.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
He's gonna break up Bluestar.

Carl reacts violently in his eyes but Matthey soothes him...in
dead earnest, trying to be deliberate and clear in his meaning.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
...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?

Carl's eyes.

MATTHEY (CONT'D)
Your words, not mine...

CARL
(weakly)
You speak for me, son.

INT. AUCTION ROOM - DAY

Hammer and Darien are seated together in the back row. Darien
looks serious and distracted in spite of all the excitement
going on around her. It is the big spring Impressionist sale
and all the major players, or their representatives are here.
Hammer is bidding.

HAMMER
Look over there sunshine. I'm up
against Richard Feigen.

He is on a roll, electric. As the price mounts and surpasses
the two million dollar mark, Hammer rises and walks down the
side aisle to the front, never taking his eyes away from the
auctioneer. He stands agressively, arms akimbo, in a nose to
nose confrontation.

AUCTIONEER
Once, twice, three times. Sold to
Mr. Hammer.

EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF AUCTION HOUSE - DAY

They walk the sunny streets, a jubilant Hammer, savoring his
triumph, grabs Darien's arm.

HAMMER
What do you say we go get a suite
at the Carlyle? Caviar? Champagne?
Celebrate, just like the old times
Sunshine.

DARIEN
(indignantly)
Those days are over, Gordon. They
were over a long time ago.

HAMMER
(condescendingly but
paying little
attention to the rebuff)
Can't blame me for trying. You look
as beautiful as that painting I
just bought.

He pats her on the back in a preprietary fashion.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
(mockingly)
So what's the problem Sunshine? You
look like Black Thursday. Bad case
of puppy love?

DARIEN
(indignant)
It's not puppy love, Gordon.
Anyway, Mattheydy and I are splitting up.

HAMMER
(off handed)
Sorry to hear that. I thought the
kid had staying power.

DARIEN
It's over you, Gordon.

HAMMER
(cooly)
You told him about us?

DARIEN
No, are you crazy? And I don't want
him ever to know. Do you
understand?...

She moves closed and takes Gordon's hand.

DARIEN (CONT'D)
I want to ask you a big favor,
Gordon. Please drop the Bluestar deal.

HAMMER
(stroking her face)
Now tell me, why would I want to do
that?

DARIEN
Because I don't want to see him hurt.

HAMMER
Don't worry Sunshine. Matthey and I had
a little talk. We came to an
understanding.
(takes her hand paternally)
I want you to go back to him.
Soothe him. Help keep his head
straight. Okay?

DARIEN
I can't...and I won't.

HAMMER
Come on, we both like Mattheydy. But
this bleeding heart puppy love act
is over the top... It doesn't fit.

DARIEN
Maybe it does. Don't patronize me
Gordon.

HAMMER
You and I are the same, Darien.
We're smart enough not to buy into
the oldest myth running: love... A
fiction created by people who got
nothing to keep them from jumping
out of windows.

DARIEN
You're really twisted, Gordon.
You're incapable of giving to
anybody because deep down inside
you there's a poverty that every
last dollar in the world won't fill.

HAMMER
Ooh ooh, tough talk from a scared
little girl all wrapped in a pretty
grown-up package. Does this mean
you're ready to cut the umbilical
cord and step out into the world on
your own? Because, Darien, if
you're through with me, you're
through with everything I'm a part of.

Darien's eyes cloud over...the look of a scared child being
banished by her father. Then...

DARIEN
I know...but maybe, just maybe
Gordon, I'm good enough so I don't
need you anymore.

She walks away.

INT. MCGREGOR'S BAR - QUEENS - DAY

Matthey is seated at a corner table with the BLUESTAR UNION
REPS: Duncan Wilmore, ALPA LEADER and Toni Carpenter, AFA
rep; also jointed by machinists, Dominick Amato and Charley
Dent, sitting in for his father's union.

MATTHEY
...the stock's at 19 1/4 and it's
going up. Hammer figures by breaking
up Bluestar, it's worth at least
$30 a share. That means he'll buy
up to 23 or 24 and still think he's
making money.

WILMORE
How do you know that the stock is
going to go up?

MATTHEY
(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?

MATTHEY
When the stock hits 23, you guys go
to Hammer and lower the boom. Once
he learns he has no union
concession, he's going to head for
the hills. He'll sell everything
he's got.

CARPENTER
Yeah. But who's going to buy then
and what's to prevent another shark
from coming along and devouring us?

INT. WILDMAN BUILDING - FIFTH AVENUE APARTMENT - DAY

Matthey, Duncan Wilmore, Toni Carpenter, Dominick and Charley,
an unlikely looking group in the plushness of the apartment
lobby.

MATTHEY
We have an appointment to see Mr.
Wildman.

INT. WILDMAN APARTMENT - DAY

Lofty windows overlooking the Park, an impeccably-decorated
apartment with coffee and rolls laid out, a young AIDE
quietly moving around. Matthey and the others are on sofas
around the imposing figure of Wildman in a chair across.

MATTHEY
Sir Lawrence, what would you say to
owning Bluestar Airlines with union
concessions--at $18 a share...and
in the process hanging Hammer
out in the wind to twist.... ?

Sir Lawrence leans back in his chair, equably...

WILDMAN
I might be very interested, but why?
Why you mate -- how'd you get mixed
up with Hammer? He doesn't know the
difference between raiding and
insider trading. I do. The SEC does.
I hope you do...

MATTHEY
Let's just say Mr. Hammer and I have
a conflict of interest. I want to
see this airline work...
(pointing to the
documents in front of Wildman)
...the figures here 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 -- iron-clad -- that if
you buy it, you can't break it up.

WILDMAN
(hands behind his head)
I'm still listening...

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey hurries in, past Marv on the phone with an irate customer.

CDIMAURO
Well, if that's how you feel--the
hell with you too. And strong
letter to follow.

He slams the phone down.

MATTHEY
You don't have to agree with me,
Marv; but I think I've been a bit
of a schmuck lately.
(beat, waits)


CDIMAURO
(off the cuff)
I agree. Go thou and sin no more.

MATTHEY
I want to make it up to you.
Bluestar, put all your clients in it.

CDIMAURO
(animated, grabs the phone)
Thanks, buddy, buddy, I'm back.
Say, Mattheydy, those optorectomies do
work wonders.

Matthey intersecting Lou Mannheim smoking a cigarette and having
a hard time walking.

MATTHEY
Bluestar, Mr. Mannheim. Put all
your clients in it.

Davls looks gravely at Matthey.

MANNHEIM
I don't know where you get your
information, son, but I don't like
it. The only reason I'm gonna do it
is...I need the money, that's the
problem with money--it makes you do
things you don't want to do.

Matthey hears him, walks on...

CDIMAURO
(into phone)
Miss Bloom, Cdimauro. You got cancer
in your portfolio, but I got the
cure...Bluestar Airlines...

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey on the phone, checking his quotron.

MATTHEY
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.

MATTHEY
Hold on...
(switches over, hushed)
...listen "blue horseshoe loves
Bluestar Airlines"...

Immediately goes back to the other line.

INT. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL OFFICES - DAY

The REPORTER, who Matthey anonymously called on the earlier
Anacott Steel buy, hangs up. He rises from his desk and
crosses the busy news floor, over to his EDITOR.

WSJ REPORTER
Bluestar's in play.

INT. NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE - DAY

A RUNNER dashes up to the BLUESTAR 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:

BLUESTAR (BST), the stock quote flashing across the BROAD
TAPE--upticking to 20 1/4.

INT. BROKERAGE OFFICE - DAY

Marv, on the phone pitching, eyes glued to the office TAPE--
as BST jumps to 21 1/4.

CDIMAURO
I love it...I do love it so!

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

The quotron now climbs to 22 1/8!

MATTHEY
(into phone)
Yeah. I see it at 22 1/8 and I
don't know what to make of it.

INT. HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

He paces on the other end of the phone, real anger showing;
now Alex and Susan seen in b.g.

HAMMER
The word's out. Your union buddies
are talking. Get me in at a 45
degree angle and I mean all the way
in! Slash and burn, buy everything
you can get up to 22. Then call me.
When I get the sonofabitch who
leaked this I'm gonna kill him! I'm
gonna tear his eyeballs out, I'm
gonna suck his skull!!

As he glances at his quotron the stock ticks up another 1/8th.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

All the BROKERS have jumped into the action, avidly watching
Bluestar's stock climb on the BROAD TAPE. Matthey sweeps into
the room and looks up at the board as the stock hits 22 7/8.

CDIMAURO
The stock's going to Pluto!

MATTHEY
Start unloading.

CDIMAURO
Sell?

MATTHEY
Now! Tell everyone to dump!

Marv nods, and rushes away. Matthey crosses past Mannheim's office.

MATTHEY
Get out of Bluestar!

In background Marv is spreading the word, brokers frantically
grabbing phones, calling clients to sell.

INT. HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

Hammer looks up from his quotron and shouts to his troops on
the phones.

HAMMER
Who the hell's out there? What are
the arbs saying? It's gotta be a
big hitter.

ALEX
They don't know what's going on!

SUSAN
Everybody and his mother is buying!

Natalie enters the room, flustered.

NATALIE
Mr. Hammer, there's a whole bach of
people from Bluestar Airlines
outside demanding to see you.

HAMMER
What the hell do they want?

WILMORE (O.S.)
I'd be happy to tell you.

As Duncan, Toni Carpenter, Dominick Amato, Charley Dent and
SEVERAL other assorted UNION MEMBERS march into the room.
Hammer is taken by surprise, but stays calm.

WILMORE
We know what you're up to, Hammer,
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
Bluestar.

HAMMER
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?

HAMMER
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.

AMATO
Don't worry, Hammer, we wouldn't let
the engines fall out of the plane.

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.

HAMMER
Listen, you clowns, there's
somebody else out there trying to
buy your airline, if you want to be
Pac-manned and gobbled by Atilla
the Hun be my guest!

WILMORE
We'll take our chances.
(tips his hat)
Nice to see you again, Mr. Hammer.

They file out of the room. The phone lines have lit up like
a Christmas tree. Alex answers a call.

ALEX
(to Hammer)
Fox says Bluestar just hit 23. What
do you want him to do?

HAMMER
(fractional pause, mad)
Sell it all.
(then, evenly)
What the hell, so I'll only make
ten million.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey switches lines from Hammer to Larry Wildman.

MATTHEY
Hammer's on the ropes--he's trying
to sell, but there's not many
takers, the stock's plummeting.

EXT. WILDMAN'S YACHT - DAY

Wildman is off the Long Island Sound waters in his boat
lighting a cigar. Two beautiful women and an aide are with him.

WILDMAN
Well then... guess I'll have to
carry him a few rounds before he
drops.

Switches lines, checking his quotron...

WILDMAN
Bluestar. Don't make a big deal.
Buy it lightly on the way down.
(emphatically)
When it hits 18--buy it all.

INT. NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE FLOOR - DAY

Wildman's broker takes the order with a curt "got it" and
dashes out of the cubicle over to the Bluestar post where a
chaotic crowd is gathered, traders frantically screaming to
sell Bluestar shares. He looks at the Big Board--sees an XTR
drop to 17. When he raises his hand to buy, he is mobbed.

DISSOLVE TO:

The Big Board...a series of snappy dissolves accompanied by
lively music shows the stock price falling to 16 1/2 ...

INT. HAMMER'S OFFICE - DAY

Alex, Ollie, Susan on the phones.

OLLIE
The arbs are getting killed.
Where'd the buyers go!

ALEX
(worried)
We're being devoured, Gordon.

Harold Salt, walking on egg shells, looks to Hammer, who sits
with the phone receiver crooked to his neck.

HAROLD
There's got to be a way out of
this, Gordon.

HAMMER
(livid, losing it)
Yeah, Harold, why don't you dial
911.
(into the receiver)
Fox, 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! You hear me, Fox--

INTERCUT TO:

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Matthey scribbling an order ticket, replies on the other end.

MATTHEY
(hard)
You once told me don't get
emotional about stock. Gordon,
don't. The bid is 17 and going down.
As your broker, I advise you to
take it.

Matthey moves the phone away from his ear, at Hammer's cursing,
and signs the ticket.

MATTHEY
(urgent)
Gordon, it's two minutes to close.
What do you want to do?! Decide.

HAMMER
(a long beat)
Dump it.

Matthey hangs up and rushes off with the ticket.

INT. HAMMER'S DEN - NEW YORK APARTMENT - TWILIGHT

The 35" television is on to:

NEWSCASTER
The big Wall Street story tonight
is the roller coaster ride of
Bluestar 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 on
gigantic volume to as low as 16 1/2
before closing at 17.

Camera discovers Hammer sitting, grimly watching the report.
Rudy seen riding his toy car in background.

NEWSCASTER
...but then tonight, amidst all the
scuttlebutt, another rumble shook
(a beat)
According to many sources, raider
Sir Lawrence Wildman has stepped in
and bought a substantial block of
Bluestar and is going to announce a
deal tomorrow at 18 that includes
the support of the unions.

Camera now tracks in close on Hammer as he absorbs the
unexpected blow. O.S. Rudy yelling and squealing. Hammer
leans back, putting the pieces together, his eyes narrowing
into burning slits. He smashes the glass cocktail table with
a massive paperweight as Kate hears it, shocked.

EXT. WALL STREET - MORNING

People rushing to work. Matthey crosses the street, his face
buried in The Financial Times. Insert: "SIR LAWRENCE WILDMAN
MOUNTS BLUESTAR BUY WITH UNION SUPPORT".

Satisfied, Matthey folds the paper and heads into his office
building.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

He walks past Carolyn the receptionist who is strangely mute...

MATTHEY
Smile, Carolyn, there's justice in
the world...

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY

He passes the CHINESE STOCKLADY. She sees him and manages to
look away. Cdimauro exchanges a look with him but can't bring
himself to talk. Matthey wonders...the whole office seems
silent, the other BROKERS stealing glances.

...as he passes Lou Mannheim with Charlie Cushing, who
ignores Matthey...

MATTHEY
How's it going Mr. Mannheim? Got
out of Bluestar in time I hope?

Mannheim stops, winds up. Matthey impatient but polite.

MANNHEIM
(with gruff affection)
Matthey 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 is what keeps
him out of the abyss...
(a beat, looks deeply)


MATTHEY
I think I understand what you mean
Mr. Mannheim.

But not really. As, on this increasingly strange morning, he
moves on past Janet who wants to tell his something but he
cuts her off.

MATTHEY
Get my father will you Janet?

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

As Matthey walks in, the camera glides to reveal the young SEC
INVESTIGATOR, who has been tracking Mattheydy, going through his
files. A SECOND MAN, PATTERSON, is standing behind the desk
using the phone as a bored-looking 3RD MAN and POLICEMAN
stand off to the side with Hieronymus Lynch, who gives Matthey a
withering glance.

PATTERSON
(into phone)
He just came in. I'll talk to you
later.

On Matthey--a struck-dumb look passing to resignation, as if for
a long time now, he has been expecting this.

MATTHEY
I guess you're not here to open an
IRA.

PATTERSON
Mr Fox, I'm Henry Patterson from
the Postal Inspection Service...
this is Evan Morrissey with The
Securities and Exchange
Investigation Office.
(presents his ID and
indicates MAN 3)
... Mr. Ebanhopper from the US
Attorney's Office.

MORRISSEY
Mr. Fox, you're under arrest for
conspiracy to commit securities
fraud and for violating the Insider
Trader's Sanction Act.

The handcuffs come out.

EXT. SHEEPSMEADOW - 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.

Hammer waits, expressionless... Matthey approaches him. They
stand facing each other.

HAMMER
Hello Matthey.

MATTHEY
Gordon.

HAMMER
You sandbagged me on Bluestar.
(smiles)
I guess you think you taught the
teacher a lesson, that you can make
the tail wag the dog, huh?

Matthey looks away. Hammer's smile fades.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
Well let me cue you in: the ice is
melting under your feet sport...

Without warning, he grabs Mattheydy roughly by the lapels and
lets out his inner rage with a series of smacks and slaps
across his face.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
You think you could've gotten this
far this fast with anybody else?
You think you could be out there
dicking somebody like Darien? 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 showed
you how the system works!...

Hammer slapping him harder and harder, Mattheydy staggering with
the blows, saying nothing, not defending himself.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
...the value of information! How
you get it! Anacott Steel, Brant
Resources, Transuniversal, Fulham
Oil. And this is how you pay back,
you cockroach! I gave you Darien, I
gave you your manhood. I gave you
everything.

He backhands Matthey across the face. Matthey lies on the ground,
spent, as is Gordon breathing hard. Matthey gets to his knees,
blood streaming from his nose, his suit muddied. Passersby
look on, wondering.

Hammer seems to relent, the rage going into hurt, remorse. He
hands Matthey a handkerchief. Matthey staunches the flow of blood
from his nose.

HAMMER (CONT'D)
(softly, innocently)
You could've been one of the great
ones Matthey...I look at you and see
myself...Why?

Matthey looks at Gordon, torn by mixed emotions: the bonds they
share and the betrayal wrought.

MATTHEY
(shakes his head, thoughtfully)
I don't know. My Dad once told me,
"money is something you need in
case you don't die tomortow." I
guess I realized I'm just Matthey.
And as much as I wanted to be
Hammer--I'll always be Matthey.

He looks at Gordon, as if wanting to say more, but doesn't.

In long shot, Gordon stands alone as Matthey walks away.

EXT. TAVERN ON THE GREEN RESTAURANT - EVENING

The DOORMAN looks askance. Matthey, mud-splattered suit and
bloody nose, walks straight past him thru the door.

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Several well-heeled DINERS look up from their haute cuisine,
at the sight of Matthey making his way toward the men's room.

INT. MEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Tight on Matthey, 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 Hammer's voice
being played back on the tape, the mention of their deals.

MORRISSEY
You did the right thing, Matthey.

Matthey looks searchingly in the mirror. Faint CLICKING NOISE
comes up over the shot.

INT. MATTHEY'S OFFICE - DAY

CLICKING of the Broad Tape grows LOUDER. Shots of Lou
Mannheim, Lynch, Marv; silently looking up at the green
fluorescent print-out.

THE TAPE--THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TODAY ANNOUNCED
CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST CORPORATE RAIDER HAMMER AND
STOCK BROKER MATTHEY FOX, FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT SECURITIES
FRAUD, TAX EVASION, VIOLATIONS OF SECURITY ACTS, AND MAIL
FRAUD...

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. Mom clearing off the table, anxious...

As Matthey walks in, wearing a suit and tie. He looks tired,
beaten, the eyes lifeless, in a dark mood.

MOM
(disapproving)
...don't wear that tie Mattheydy, it...

She cuts off on Matthey's look.

CARL
Another cup of coffee?

MATTHEY
No, thanks, I'm nervous enough.

CARL
(checks his watch)
I guess it's time to hit the road.

MATTHEY
Yeah, don't want to be late for my
own funeral.

INT. CARL FOX'S SEDAN - LOWER MANHATTAN - DAY

Driving towards the Federal Courtrooms in Lower Manhattan.
Busy traffic all around.

CARL
(supportively)
...you told the truth, you gave the
money back. All things considered--
in this cockamamie world--you're
shooting par...

MOM
...you helped save the airline and
the people at the airline are gonna
remember you for it.

CARL
...if I was you, I'd think about
that Bluestar job Wildman's offered
you...

MATTHEY
Dad, I'm going to jail and you know
it.

CARL
(shaking his head, sober)
Maybe that's the price, Matthey, maybe
so. It's gonna be rough on you but
maybe in some screwed up way,
that's the best thing that can
happen to you...stop trading for
the quick buck and go produce
something with your life, create,
don't live off the buying and
selling of others...

MOM
...you can do it, Matthey, once you set
your mind to something, I believe
you can do anything in the world...

Matthey stares ahead, registering it.

CARL
(nods, then)
...got any friends gonna be there?

As he pulls the car into the curb. The Federal Building, in
approaching POV, looms large before them.

MATTHEY
(looks around, ironic)
Like who? Who really wants to know
a convicted felon...I don't even
like myself.

Carl knows something Matthey doesn't...

Darien is standing there waiting as they approach the main
entrance... Matthey seeing her, suddenly stunned. His POV--
easing along the curb.

CARL
So, why don't you get out here and
go in with your friend, I'll park
the car. Try to be cool, okay?

A last look with his father.

EXT. CURBSIDE - FEDERAL BUILDING - LOWER MANHATTAN - DAY

Matthey getting out...crossing to Darien. A pause.

DARIEN
(nervous)
Hi.

MATTHEY
Why?

DARIEN
I figure a guy who's made some
mistakes should be able to
understand a girl who's made some
of her own...

Matthey looking at her, moves closer, longing and hope and
happiness have returned to his dull eyes... and forgiveness,
the greatest of all.

They embrace. Matthey will never know about her past, nor need
he. The camera leaving them on a slanting, circular crane,
lifting past the Federal Building to a panorama of Wall
Street in all its icy magisterial splendor...and thus ends
our tale.

THE END