The Circle

Synopsis: When Mae is hired to work for the world's largest and most powerful tech and social media company, she sees it as an opportunity of a lifetime. As she rises through the ranks, she is encouraged by the company's founder, Eamon Bailey, to engage in a groundbreaking experiment that pushes the boundaries of privacy, ethics and ultimately her personal freedom. Her participation in the experiment, and every decision she makes, begin to affect the lives and future of her friends, family and that of humanity.
Director(s): James Ponsoldt
Production: EuropaCorp / STXfilms
  1 win & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
5.3
Metacritic:
43
Rotten Tomatoes:
16%
PG-13
Year:
2017
110 min
$20,476,300
Website
6,040 Views


[waves splashing]

["'Tis the Gift To Be Simple"

playing on cell phone]

Yes, we received your payment.

No, it wasn't late, but it was for $78.13,

and the bill was for $78.31.

Okay, great.

No, thank you.

["Metal Guru" playing]

[car sputters]

[car horn honking]

[car horn honking]

[horn honking]

["Farewell Transmission" playing]

I think it's the intake manifold.

- Was I right?

- Not even close.

I think I just like saying

"intake manifold."

Maybe when I get a job,

I'll get Triple A.

I thought you worked

at the water company.

Temping.

- How's your parents?

- They're doing okay.

I should, um, get going,

actually, for dinner.

But, um, we should make a plan.

I'll send you a text.

Or we could do that now

since we're both here.

- What?

- Nothing. [chuckles]

Okay.

[car door slams]

["Something Old Something New" playing]

[man] Nice of Mercer.

I always thought you two

would make a good...

- Mom.

- Couple.

Boy from the neighborhood?

That would've been cute.

[laughs]

Remember when he fixed the roof?

- Stop.

- [laughs]

- He's not...

- I know, I know.

Mm.

Any word on the insurance?

Oh, they won't cover the cost of IGIV.

It's $40,000.

So, you know, surprise, surprise.

It's not on their list.

[Dad] Oh, enough of all that.

Come on, honey.

- Help me up.

- [Mom] Okay.

- Here. You got it?

- [dishes clanking]

Thanks, Mae.

- [Mom] Okay?

- Yeah.

- [Dad grunts]

- [Mom] That's it.

Well, not so fast.

[Dad grunts]

- [Mom] Okay and turn... just...

- [Dad grunts]

- [Mom] Ready?

- [Dad] Yeah. I'm good.

- Yeah.

- [Mom] Okay.

["'Tis the Gift to be Simple"

playing on cell phone]

[people chatting]

- [woman] What are you doing right now?

- I'm at work.

I come here each day and in return,

I receive money to buy goods and services.

Ah, well, I've got to be quick.

I'm in Germany.

- Why are you in Germany?

- Regulatory mess.

Those guys did not screw around,

but listen, I got you an interview.

- What?

- I got you an interview tomorrow.

- [screams]

- [laughing] Yes, I did.

Really? No.

[laughing] Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,

I did, tomorrow.

Holy sh*t, Annie, I love you.

[Annie] Remember,

it's just customer experience.

So answer phones, help people,

what you're already doing

but now a real company.

I know, it's perfect.

Tons of people started there.

[Mae] I know, I know. Thank you.

Stop saying that.

We're hiring a hundred people this month.

- One of them may as well be you.

- Right, good.

This doesn't mean you're in.

You have to kill the interview.

Know the Circle inside out.

I'm back next week.

By then, you'll be hired

if you kill the interview.

[Mae] Okay, I will.

[Annie] You can do it, Mae. Own it!

[indistinct chattering]

[man] How would you describe

what the Circle is to say,

- your grandmother?

- Take True You, for example.

It combined everything that was separate

and sloppy into one account.

No more forgetting your password,

multiple identities, identity theft.

You use your real name,

which is tied to your credit card.

I think Grandma's falling asleep.

[scoffs]

Okay.

Before True You, it was like

you needed a different vehicle

for every single one of your errands,

and no one should have to own

87 different cars.

It doesn't make sense.

It's the chaos of the Web

made elegant and simple.

Speed round. Paul or John?

Early Paul, late John.

- Mario or Sonic?

- Early Sonic, late Mario.

Introspection or communication?

- Uh...

- Mae.

- Sorry, I'm thinking about it.

- So that's introspection.

- Sushi or Soylent?

- Sushi.

Ever owned a Velcro wallet?

- Yes.

- Velcro shoes?

- Yes.

- Velcro... pants?

Yes.

What was the name of the receptionist

who checked you in this morning?

Um...

- Linda.

- Joan Baez or Joan Crawford?

- Joan Didion.

- "Gif" or "jif"?

[chuckles] I'm not answering that.

There's too much at stake.

Would you like to go out with me?

That's very inappropriate.

Good. Quality or convenience?

Not mutually exclusive.

Needs of the society

or needs of the individual?

- Should be the same.

- You're most scared of?

Unfulfilled potential.

[indistinct chattering]

All right, heliport, gym, daycare,

- organic farm, ptanque.

- Ptanque?

- Oh, it's like bocce but French. [giggles]

- Oh.

Tetherball, lap pool, social pool, doga.

- [dog barking]

- [indistinct chattering]

Kennel, nightclub, salon, maker space,

rock climbing, trampoline,

clinic, volleyball.

Was that...? Was that the...?

Content people, news,

arts, film, engineers,

management and me, advertising and you.

All right, let's go.

[Mae] Your legs are so long.

[shouts] What?

[giggles] It's all on sensors.

The elevator reads your ID

and says "hello."

We do that for visitors mostly.

They're usually impressed.

Annie, that's the worst picture

of me ever.

Oh, come on... Oh. Oh, dear.

- [Annie] Danny!

- [Danny] What's up?

You remember Dan? I'm handing you off.

- You're all grown-up.

- [Mae] Oh.

[Danny] I have the privilege and the honor

to give you your brand new tablet, Mae.

And I sent the password to your phone.

- Oh, my God. It has my name on it.

- Uh-huh.

Oh, this is too sad.

You take care of my little girl.

- I will.

- [sniffs]

[man] If we don't give customers

a human and humane experience,

we have no customers,

it's pretty elemental.

Jared will be doing your training.

I oversee the team,

and Jared oversees the unit.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes

James Ponsoldt

James Adam Ponsoldt is an American film director, actor and screenwriter, now based in Los Angeles. He directed the drama films Off the Black and Smashed, the romantic comedy-drama The Spectacular Now, and the drama The End of the Tour. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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