Halt and Catch Fire Page #9

MACMILLAN:

You said it yourself. This is a

systems software company. But

before that, what was it? Missile

guidance systems. Before that,

short-wave radios. It’s not about

what it is today, it’s about what

it’s going to be tomorrow.

BOSWORTH:

This is our BUSINESS-

CLARK:

(interrupting)

It may be your business, but Joe is

talking about the future. Selling

systems software, he probably

would’ve made you a couple hundred

thousand dollars this year.

(pause)

We just made you several million.

(MORE)

50.

CLARK (CONT'D)

(Bosworth eyes him)

...Sir.

Everyone turns to Clark, his voice surprising in this room.

MacMillan even looks over. Bosworth appears as if he’s about

to bite through his own teeth.

BOSWORTH:

Several million, huh?

(to MacMillan)

You are a basketcase.

Deathly silence in the room. Then:

CARDIFF:

I don’t know ‘bout you boys, but

this is best sales pitch I ever

heard.

(to MacMillan)

I admire your tenacity, son.

(sober)

Now don’t screw it up. Because in

Texas, you put a man’s livelihood

on the line and don’t come

through...

(pause)

You won’t be gettin’ any new job,

‘cause ain’t nobody gonna able to

find where you buried.

MacMillan stands.

MACMILLAN:

So put me in charge of the PC

division.

BOSWORTH:

Excuse me?

MACMILLAN:

VP-level. If you want this to

succeed, then I’m in charge. I

frankly don’t trust anyone else to

see it through and it was my idea

to-

CLARK:

Our idea.

Again, everyone looks to Clark. He stands.

CLARK (CONT’D)

Our idea.

51.

BOSWORTH:

What are you saying, Gordon?

CLARK:

I’m saying... sir...

(pause)

I’m saying you get both of us. We

both run this. Because this is no

longer a business of numbers,

quota, or revenue. This is the

business of imagination. I cracked

that ROM BIOS chip like it was the

morning crossword. You point out

another engineer who can do that

and I’ll let them ride the horse,

but so far? I’m all you’ve got.

(pause)

This is the future. We both made

you see it. Now we run it for you.

Bosworth looks to MacMillan, who seems caught off guard.

BOSWORTH:

(disgusted)

Vice presidents. Good God.

Cardiff heads for the door.

CARDIFF:

Hell with it. Let’s make it happen,

boys.

(on his way out,

indicating Gordon)

An’ get this one a separate office

for his balls.

BOSWORTH:

So where the hell are we gonna find

this engineer?

CUT TO:

INT. TEXAS CHILI PARLOR -- AFTERNOON

MacMillan and Clark sit in a wooden booth amidst this

landmark.

ACROSS FROM THEM sits Cameron Howe. Her face skeptical.

CAMERON:

No. Absolutely not.

52.

MACMILLAN:

I understand there’s a lot for you

to be upset about.

CAMERON:

You’re a complete jackass, you know

that? I thought you invited me here

to apologize.

MACMILLAN:

So we bring you on, you build the

chip-

CLARK:

Under my guidance.

MACMILLAN:

And away we go.

CAMERON:

You’re not getting it. Even if, IF,

I was to consider doing this, I’d

have to leave the university.

MACMILLAN:

I’m sure you can defer for a

semester or... more.

She laughs, incredulous.

CLARK:

Listen to me. This is real. You

want to change the game as we know

it? Or you wanna hang around here

and learn about transistors?

She sobers, sees how serious Clark is.

CAMERON:

All right. I’ll do it.

MACMILLAN:

We’ll see you in Dallas.

MacMillan, Clark get out of the booth.

CAMERON:

One more question.

They turn.

CAMERON (CONT’D)

Why’d you drive your car off a

cliff at a hundred miles an hour?

53.

Clark looks to MacMillan, confused.

CUT TO:

INT. MACMILLAN’S QUATTRO -- LATER

MacMillan drives, sunglasses on. Clark sits next to him.

Silence for a moment, until:

CLARK:

The hell’s she talking about, man?

MACMILLAN:

Nothing.

CLARK:

Who are you? Really? Because I’m

staking a lot on this. I need to

know.

MacMillan doesn’t answer him. Clark mulls it over.

CLARK (CONT’D)

Do you want me to drive?

MACMILLAN:

No.

END ACT V:

54.

ACT VI:

INT. CARDIFF GIANT OFFICES - CONFERENCE ROOM -- DAY

Barry Shields sits across from Cameron Howe at the corner of

the conference room table, questioning her.

SHIELDS:

I need your answers to be honest,

as they’re being recorded for legal

record. If you answer falsely, you

risk perjuring yourself. Do you

understand?

CAMERON:

Yep.

SHIELDS:

Please say ‘yes’ or ‘I do.’

CAMERON:

Yes. I do.

INT. CARDIFF GIANT OFFICES -- CONTINUOUS

MacMillan and Clark stand outside the conference room,

watching Shields question Cameron. None of what they’re

saying can be heard. Bosworth stands next to them.

BOSWORTH:

You better pray we come outta this

with more than our asses intact.

MACMILLAN:

I’ve already got a line on a deal I

can put together. Applied Data is

looking to outfit with PC’s.

BOSWORTH:

It’s gonna take a lot more than

Applied Data to dig us outta this

hole.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

SHIELDS:

Prior to today, have you ever

attempted to disassemble,

deconstruct, or decompile in any

way, shape, or form any equipment

or products manufactured or

licensed by International Business

Machines, or as they are more

commonly known, IBM?

55.

CAMERON:

No. I have not.

INT. CARDIFF GIANT OFFICES - MACMILLAN’S OFFICE -- LATER

MacMillan sits down at his desk, anxious. He still hasn’t

even really unpacked in here. He reaches into a small

carboard box, pulls out a Rolodex, puts it on his desk.

Pulls the phone closer, picks up, starts dialing.

BOSWORTH (V.O.)

I had some numbers run and the PC

business will cost us upwards of a

couple million just to get in the

door. So if we reach that perfect

world where we actually start

sellin’ these things instead of

runnin’ from the boogie man, your

quota’s gonna be from here to the

goddamn Moon.

(pause)

MacMillan, I suggest you start cold-

calling. Clark, I’m gonna need a

product we can actually sell.

MACMILLAN:

(into phone)

Greg, how are you, it’s Joe

MacMillan.

(pause)

No, I’m actually not at IBM

anymore...

(pause)

I’m with Cardiff Giant, out of

Dallas.

(clarifying)

Cardiff. Giant.

INT. CARDIFF GIANT OFFICES - CLARK’S OFFICE -- LATER

Empty. Brand new. Clark takes it in.

He moves to the whiteboard, uncaps a marker, starts

writing...

MONTAGE -- CLARK WORKS / MACMILLAN CALLS / CAMERON INTERVIEWS

-- The interview continues.

SHIELDS:

Have you ever attempted to reverse

engineer any IBM equipment or

products?

56.

CAMERON:

No. I have not.

MacMillan on the phone, later:

MACMILLAN:

It’s where everything is headed.

And Cardiff is doing it cheaper,

better, faster. Trust me.

-- Clark writes “BEST IN BREED” in marker on the board...

-- Another call with MacMillan:

MACMILLAN (CONT’D)

I’m wide open next week. Let’s get

drinks.

-- Another call:

MACMILLAN (CONT’D)

Let’s do dinner, bring the wife and

kids.

-- Another call:

-- Clark, writing -- “CHIEF COMPETITORS” and under that a

long list of familiar companies: IBM, Apple, Xerox, Texas

Instruments, Tandy, Commodore, Atari, Hewlett Packard

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