The Social Network (Scene 1)

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 possibly be true.

MARK (V.O.): It is.

ERICA (V.O.): What would account for that?

MARK (V.O.): Well, first, an awful 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: They don’t. I wasn’t talking about China anymore, I was talking about me.

ERICA: You got 1600?

MARK: Yes. I could sing in an a Capella group, but I can’t sing.

ERICA: Does that mean you actually got nothing wrong?

MARK: I can row crew or invent a 25 dollar PC.

ERICA: Or you can get into a final club.

MARK: Or I can get into a final club.

ERICA: You know, from a woman’s perspective, sometimes not singing in an a Capella group is a good thing?

MARK: This is serious.

ERICA: On the other hand I do like guys who row crew.

MARK: (beat) Well I can’t do that.

ERICA: I was kid--

MARK: Yes, it means I got nothing wrong on the test.

ERICA: Have you ever tried?

MARK: I’m trying right now.

ERICA: To row crew?

MARK: To get into a final club. To row crew? No. Are you, like--whatever--delusional?

ERICA: Maybe, but sometimes you say two things at once and I’m not sure which one I’m supposed to be aiming at.

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 had met one.

ERICA: I guess I just meant I liked the idea of it. The way a girl likes cowboys.

MARK: (beat) Okay.

ERICA: Should we get something to eat?

MARK: Would you like to talk about something else?

ERICA: No, it’s just since the beginning of the conversation about finals club I think I may have missed a birthday.
(can’t get over it)
There are really more people in China with genius IQ’s than the entire population of--

MARK: 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: Which Roosevelt?

MARK: Theodore.

ERICA: Is it true that they send a bus around to pick up girls who want to party with the next Fed Chairman?

MARK: You can see why it’s so important to get in.

ERICA: Okay, well, which is the easiest to get into?

MARK is visibly hit by that...

MARK: Why would you ask me that?

ERICA: I’m just asking.

MARK: None of them, that’s the point. My friend Eduardo made $300,000 betting oil futures one summer and Eduardo won’t come close to getting in. The ability to make money doesn’t impress anybody around here.

ERICA: Must be nice. He made $300,000 in a summer?

MARK: He likes meteorology.
ERICA: You said it was oil futures.

MARK: You can read the weather you can predict the price of heating oil. I think 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: I asked--what?

MARK: You asked me which one was the easiest to get into because you think that that’s the one where I’ll have the best chance.

ERICA: The one that’s the easiest to get into would be the one where anybody has the best chance.

MARK: You didn’t ask me which one was the best one, you asked me which one was the easiest one.

ERICA: I was honestly just asking. Okay? I was just asking to ask. Mark, I’m not speaking in code.

MARK: Erica--

ERICA: You’re obsessed with finals clubs. You have finals clubs OCD and you need to see someone about it who’ll prescribe you some sort of medication. You don’t care if the side effects may include blindness.

MARK: Final clubs. Not finals clubs and there’s a difference between being obsessed and being motivated.

ERICA: Yes there is.

MARK: Well you do--that was cryptic--so you do speak in code.

ERICA: I didn’t mean to be cryptic.

MARK: I’m saying I need to do something substantial in order to get the attention of the clubs.

ERICA: Why?

MARK: Because they’re exclusive. And fun and they lead to a better life.

ERICA: Teddy Roosevelt didn’t get elected president because he was a member of the Phoenix Club.

MARK: He was a member of the Porcellian and yes he did.

ERICA: Well why don’t you just concentrate on being the best you you can be?

MARK: Did you really just say that?

ERICA: (beat) I was kidding.
(MORE) Although just because something’s trite it doesn’t make it any less--

MARK: I want to try to be straight forward with you and tell you that I think you might want to be a little more supportive. If I get in I’ll be taking you...to the events, and the gatherings...and you’ll be meeting a lot of people you wouldn’t normally get to meet.

ERICA: (smiles)You would do that for me?

MARK: We’re dating.

ERICA: Okay, well I want to try and be straight forward with you and let you know that we’re not anymore.

MARK: What do you mean?

ERICA: We’re not dating anymore, I’m sorry.

MARK: Is this a joke?

ERICA: No, it’s not.

MARK: You’re breaking up with me?

ERICA: You’re going to introduce me to people I wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet? What the fff--What is that supposed to mean?

MARK: Wait, settle down.

ERICA: What is it supposed to mean?

MARK: Erica, the reason we’re able to sit here and drink right now is cause you used to sleep with the door guy.

ERICA: The door guy, his name is Bobby. I did not slept with the door guy, the door guy is a friend of mine. He’s a perfectly good class of people and what part of Long Island are you from--Wimbledon?

MARK: Wait--

ERICA: I’m going back to my dorm.

MARK: Wait, wait, is this real?

ERICA: Yes.

MARK: Okay, then wait. I apologize, okay?

ERICA: I have to go study.

MARK: Erica--

ERICA: Yeah.

MARK: I’m sorry, I mean it.

ERICA: I appreciate that but--

MARK: Come on.

ERICA: --I have to study.

MARK: You don’t have to study. You don’t have to study. Let’s just talk.

ERICA: I can’t.

MARK: Why?

ERICA: Because it’s exhausting. Dating you is like dating a stairmaster.

MARK: All I meant is that you’re not likely to--currently--I wasn’t making a comment on your parents--I was just saying you go to B.U., I was stating a fact, that’s all, and if it seemed rude then of course I apologize.

ERICA: I have to go study.

MARK: You don’t have to study.

ERICA: Why do you keep saying I don’t have to study?!

MARK: Because you go to B.U.!

ERICA stares at him...

MARK (CONT’D): (pause) Do you want to get some food?

ERICA: I’m sorry you’re not sufficiently impressed with my education.

MARK: And I’m sorry I don’t have a rowboat so we’re even.

ERICA: I think we should just be friends.

MARK: I don’t want friends.

ERICA: I was being polite, I have no intention of being friends with you.

MARK: I’m under some pressure right now with my OS class and if we could just order food I think we should--

ERICA takes MARK’s hand and looks at him tenderly...

ERICA: (close) You are probably going to be a very successful computer person.
(MORE)
But you’re going to go through life thinking that girls don’t like you because you’re a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won’t be true. It’ll be because you’re an asshole.

And with that stinger, ERICA walks off we slowly push in on MARK. A fuse has just been lit.

CUT TO:
EXT. BAR - NIGHT

As MARK busts out of the bar and into the population of Harvard Square.

EXT. HARVARD SQUARE - NIGHT

As MARK continues on, he passes a group of people heading in
the opposite direction for a party.

As MARK’s steady and determined stride continues, he’ll pass
by all kinds of (seemingly) happy, well-adjusted, socially
adept people.

The pulsing intro of a song crashes in that will take us
through the following sequence.