The Social Network

FROM THE BLACK WE HEAR--

MARK (V.O.)

Did you know there are more people with

genius IQ's living in China than there

are people of any kind living in the

United States?

ERICA (V.O. )

That can't be true.

MARK (V.O.)

it is true.

ERICA (V.O.)

What would account for that?

MARK (V.0.)

Well first of all, a lot of people live

in China. But here's my question:

FADE IN:

INT. CAMPUS BAR - NIGHT

MARK ZUCKERBERG is a sweet looking 19 year old whose lack of

any physically intimidating attributes masks a very

complicated and dangerous anger. He has trouble making eye

contact- and sometimes it's hard to tell if he's talking to you

or to himself.

ERICA, also 19, is Mark's date. She has a girl-next-door face

that makes her easy to fall for. At this point in the

conversation she already knows that she'd rather not be there

and her politeness is about to be tested.

The scene is stark and simple.

MARK:

How do you distinguish yourself in a

population of people who all got 1600 on

their SAT's?

ERICA:

I didn't know they take SAT's in China.

MARK:

I wasn't talking about China anymore, I

was talking about here.

ERICA:

You got 1600?

MARK:

You can sing in an a Capella group.

2.

BRICA:

Does that mean that you actually got

nothing wrong?

MARK:

Or you row crew or you invent a 25 dollar

PC.

ERICA:

Or you get into a final club.

MARK:

Or you get into a final club, exactly.

ERICA:

I like guys who row crew.

MARK:

(BEAT)

Well I can't do that. And yes, it means I

got nothing wrong on the test.

ERICA:

Have you ever tried?

MARK:

I'm trying now.

ERICA:

To row crew?

MARK:

To get into a final club. To row crew?

No. Are you, like--whatever--crazy?

ERICA:

Sometimes, Mark-seriously-YOU say two

things at once and I'm not sure which one

we're talking about.

MARK:

But you've seen guys who row crew, right?

ERICA:

No.

MARK:

Okay, well.. they're bigger than me.

They're world class athletes. And a

second ago you said you like guys who row

crew so I assumed you'd met one.

ERICA:

I guess I meant I liked the idea of it.

The way a girl likes cowboys.

3.

MARK:

The Phoenix is good.

ERICA:

This is a new topic?

MARK:

It's the same topic.

ERICA:

We're still talking about the finals

clubs?

MARK:

Would you rather talk about something

else?

ERICA:

It's just that since the beginning of

the conversation about finals clubs I

think I may have had a birthday.

MARK:

We can change the subject.

ERICA.

(can't get over it)

There are more people in China with genius

IQ's than the entire population of--

MARK:

It's about exclusivity.

T'RICA

.....what is?

MARK:

The final clubs. And that's how you

distinguish yourself. The Phoenix is the

most diverse. The Fly Club, Roosevelt

punched the Porc.

ERICA:

Which one?

MARK:

The Porcellian, the Porc, it's the best

of the best.

ERICA:

I actually meant which Roosevelt.

MARK:

Theodore.

4.

ERICA:

Okay, well, which is the easiest one to

get into?

MARK takes a cigarette from a pack, lights it, takes a drag

and blows the smoke out before he says...

MARK:

Hm.

ERICA:

What?

MARK:

why would you ask me that?

ERICA:

I was just asking.

MARK:

They're all hard to get into. My friend

Eduardo made $300,000 betting on oil

futures last summer and he won't get in.

Money or the ability to make it doesn't

impress anybody around here. Everybody

can do that.

ERICA:

He made $300,000 in a summer?

MARK:

He likes meteorology.

ERICA:

You said it was oil futures.

MARK:

If you can predict the weather you can

predict the price of heating oil. You

asked me that because you think the final

club that's easiest to get into is the

one where I'll have the best chance,

ERICA:

(BEAT)

I've lost my place again.

MARK:

You asked me which one was the easiest to

get into because you think that's where I

have the best chance.

ERICA:

The one that's easiest to get into would

be the one where anybody had the best

chance.

S.

MARK:

I just think you asked--the placement of

where you asked the question--

ERICA:

I was honestly just asking. Okay? I was

asking just to ask. Mark, I'm not

speaking in code.

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