The Fear Index (2022) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Okay, I assume you all know
what's going on here?
Here is where the algorithm
selects the trades.
Here are our executed orders.
Here's an option
we put on last night.
For 12.5 five million options
to sell Vista Airways at 7.28
euros a share.
That's a heck of a chunk
of the market.
A little risky
if you don't mind me saying so.
All airline stocks
are fragile these days, Bill.
I'm perfectly easy
with that position.
Vista Airways had
12 percent passenger growth
in the final quarter
and a revised profits
forecast up nine percent.
Plus, theyjust took delivery
of a new fleet of aircraft.
So
I don't get that position.
Makes no sense.
- May I?
- Of course.
Proctor and Gamble,
six million short at sixty-two.
Exelon, three million short
at forty-one-fifty.
Jesus. Is an asteroid
about to hit or what?
We haven't lost your money yet,
have we, Mr. Klein?
Am I missing something
or are those positions
way out of line?
You're not missing anything.
VIXAL is
Hey, did Marieme
get hold of you?
She wanted to call a meeting
of the risk committee.
No.
Give me a minute, Hugo.
I'll be right back.
- What have you got for me?
- Well, they're in your name.
How old are they?
I don't remember
Well, recently they were emptied
and a month later
the same amount plus interest
was deposited back.
- How much?
- Like, 12 million, give or take.
You must have authorized it.
Okay. Let me look into this.
You just don't tell
anyone about this, okay?
- Okay.
- Oh, my God, look at this!
Sixty-seven aircraft operated
by the Swiss company
Vista Airways
Vista Airways,
did she just say Vista Airways?
- Yes.
- came down
on the outskirts of the city,
shortly after take-off.
It's not yet known
how many passengers
or crew members
were on board the flight,
or if, indeed
there are any survivors.
And the only pictures
we can bring you at this moment
show plumes of smoke
on the edges
of the Wetwald Freising
woodland.
Just to the northwest
of Munich Airport.
Well, emergency services
are currently at the scene
No survivors.
unconfirmed
reports suggest
No way anyone's
getting out of that.
that there was
a possible explosion moments
after the aircraft took off.
- Turn it off.
- Holy shit.
This just happened
and Vista Airways stock
is down 15 percent already.
- It's crashing.
- Wow.
Your little black box
is really cleaning up, Alex.
VIXAL 4 must be
a fortune teller.
The fund stands to make 20,
30 million dollars
from this one trade.
Dr. Hoffman?
Mr. Quarry is asking for you.
Yeah. I'll be right out.
aircraft operated
by the Swiss company
Vista Airways,
carrying up to 150 passengers.
Well, eyewitnesses say
that the plane
got into trouble
not long after taking off.
And further reports suggest
there was a possible explosion
on-board the aircraft.
Well, these pictures, just in,
show emergency services
at the scene.
Hey.
warning these pictures
are very
I just wanted
to check-in,
make sure you're okay.
- Have you seen the news?
- Yeah. It's horrible.
Are you able to get away?
Firefighters
are still battling
I can't. We were halfway through
the presentation
when the crash happened.
Um, there are a couple things
I have to take care of here.
But I'll be there as soon
as possible. Okay?
How's your head?
What do you mean?
Your head, Alex,
it was split open this morning.
Oh.
Right, yeah, it's fine. Normal.
I'll be there before it starts,
I promise.
- I love you.
- Love you too.
That's exactly what I heard
All right, let's keep
this quick please, Marieme.
- What's the damage?
- To us, or to Vista Airways?
I think we'll be looking
at an official investigation.
Why? We didn't know that plane
was gonna fucking crash.
VIXAL made a huge bet
to the downside on Vista Airways
just before the crash
and the inevitable
share price collapse.
An investigation
is almost guaranteed.
They'll have detected
unusual activity
surrounding Vista Airways stock.
It'll lead them straight to us.
But we haven't done
anything illegal.
Not unless we sabotaged
the plane.
And how the fuck
would we have done that?
Sabotage is a conclusion
people will come to
considering the recent trades.
Could VIXAL have somehow
acquired news of the crash
before the rest of the market?
VIXAL takes a direct digital
newsfeed from Reuters
which gives it, what,
an advantage
of a second or two
over a human trader
but there are plenty
of other algorithmic
trading systems
that do the same.
It would take us
less than five minutes
to show even
the most dumb-assed regulator
that we shorted
that stock as part
of a pattern of bets
to the downside.
There's nothing special.
There's a spread.
No coincidence. Get over it.
As a former 'dumb ass regulator'
I agree with you.
It's the pattern that matters,
which is why I tried
to talk to you this morning.
I had a pretty shitty start
to my day, Marieme,
as you can see.
Have you been
following our positions?
No. I've been rather busy
this morning.
I thought so.
Well, we're up
to 20,000 contracts.
Twenty thousand?
Well, Hugo,
we started accumulating
VIX futures back in April,
when the index stood at 18.
If we had sold,
we'd have done very well
and I assumed
that's what would happen.
But rather than following
the logical course and selling,
we're still buying.
Frankly, I'm seriously worried.
Our books' all out of shape.
We're long gold,
we're long the dollar.
We're short
every equity futures index.
If we don't get
on top of this situation,
we'll have to notify the board.
And possibly go even higher.
So, what are you
suggesting we do, Marieme?
We have to be properly across
what VIXAL's doing,
with so many contracts.
We have to start
liquidating these positions.
Meaning, if the level of our
exposure isn't dialed back,
I'll have to notify
the investors.
Which means
I'll have to talk to the board.
Alex, are you even listening?
Yes, of course I am.
Liquidating our positions
at this stage
would be a total overreaction.
Marieme, Jesus!
We made nearly
80 million dollars last week.
We just made another 40 million
this morning.
And you want us
to ignore VIXAL's analysis
and go back
to discretionary trading?
My algorithm is working.
Come in.
Sorry to disturb.
Dr. Hoffman,
you wanted a reminder
about Mrs. Hoffman's exhibition.
Yes, yes, of course.
If you want to get there
before it starts.
Let's wrap this up, shall we?
Message is said
to have gone out
I need to talk to you. Hugo.
- What now?
- Islamic terrorist website
with the Akhwat Alsyfgroup
claiming responsibility.
It appears
to have been published
while the Vista Airways flight
was still boarding.
It's going to be very difficult
for us to deny that VIXAL,
and by association, this company
knew that this crash
was going to happen today.
If that's the case,
and we didn't notify
Let's just all try
and stay calm.
And remember we have investors
in the building.
We may have profited
from that crash
but we didn't bring
that plane down.
So, it's not our fault
we happen to be richer for it.
It's immoral.
You mustn't be so pious.
I'll be at the lunch,
but I have to go see my wife.
deliberate act of terrorism.
This is the first
Dr. Hoffman, my name is Olivier.
I've been assigned to you
by Monsieur Genoud.
If you don't mind,
I think it's best
- if we use this exit, sir.
- Okay.
One moment, please.
Okay, we can go.
Hugo, are you listening to me?
If he won't stay for something
as important as a risk meeting,
when his own company
is on high alert,
it's clear he's not
in his right mind.
Everybody here has witnessed
his extraordinary behavior.
He can't be trusted.
And frankly,
I believe we should take steps
to remove him.
Don't take it personally, Hugo.
Oh, you're being serious.
Not now!
Are you lost? What do you want?
There's something
you need to see.
Seriously.
VIXAL 4 has been buying
a great deal of stock
in a pharmaceutical company
that supplies vaccines
for Ebola.
We didn't think much of it
at first but with the crash
and now these links
to a terrorist group
plus the amount
of stock being purchased,
we're wondering if VIXAL
is aware
of an imminent outbreak or
I don't know,
something like that.
Hugo, we have to stop trading.
As Alex isn't here
I will always act
in Alex's best interest.
And as he believes
that VIXAL 4 is doing its job,
I will do no such thing.
Now, I have to take
our investors out to lunch,
so I suggest
we reconvene at 3:30
when the US markets open
and review the situation then.
All right?
I think it would be prudent
for a lawyer to be present.
Oh, Marieme,
threats don't become you.
And I'll have my comments
from this meeting minuted.
Whatever you say. Bye.
Conard.
Dr. Hoffman.
It's not a good day for you,
is it, Maurice?
Excuse me, sir?
First our home security system,
which you installed, fails.
Now my work computer's
been compromised.
- What?
- Someone has accessed sites from
or directed sites to my server.
The worst, worst kind of shit.
- What do you mean?
- All kinds of stuff
connected with the crash today.
Terrorist information,
listed in my computer's history
as domain unknown,
IP addresses from the dark web.
I mean, after today's trades
and the crash,
it looks like
I had prior knowledge.
I shouldn't be able to access
the dark web, Maurice.
I put software
on your computer
allowing you to access
the dark web.
What?
Why would you allow
that into our systems?
Not all the systems, just yours.
Why? Whyjust mine?
Maurice?
Is this a test, sir?
What the fuck
are you talking about?
Someone is fucking with me!
Okay. I understand.
I'll look into this right away.
And don't let anyone
at the office know.
Not Hugo, no one. Okay?
Understood.
Erm
Hmm.
I'll go in alone.
My colleague
is just inside the gallery.
I'm so proud of you.
I just want to make it through
without crying.
- Who cares if you do?
- How sweet.
But, I'm going to have
to steal her away.
She needs to schmooze
with buyers.
- Schmooze.
- Yes.
- See you later.
- Après vous Madame.
Merci.
- How's it going?
- Jesus Christ.
Hugo.
I'll be at the goddamn lunch.
Just give me one hour.
All right, relax. It's just
a quick courtesy call
to let you know we're on our way
to the restaurant.
I can't distract them
for too long.
So, enjoy the art.
Love to Gabby.
See you soon, all right.
- Right. I gotta go.
- Right.
What's going on? Where's Alex?
He'll be joining us
at the Beau Valais.
He is coming, right?
I mean, no offense, Hugo.
But it's his name
above the door.
You're asking us
to put our faith
and our money
in something he's selling us
and he's barely shown his face.
And he's extremely grateful
for your patience.
Now, shall we?
Alex.
Bob?
Last time I saw you,
you turned down my job offer.
You still think I'm the devil
come to steal your soul?
I'm not sure
I'd put it like that.
But, yes, I still feel
that high-end science
and money don't mix.
I offered you an olive branch,
Bob, you refused it.
Am I missing something?
Well
Wouldn't it be hypocritical
of me to work on an algorithm
I believed dangerous at CERN,
that was now being used
to make money
for the already very wealthy?
Anyway, it was a long time ago.
I actually just wanted to see
how you were.
I'm touched.
Alex, you were my friend.
Which is the only reason
we didn't press charges.
They put me away, Bob.
It might not have been jail,
but they locked
the doors at night.
Well, it obviously helped you
get better. Look at you now.
Why are you here, Bob?
You invited me.
The email.
I never sent you an email.
Here.
Um
"It's been a while.
Hope you can make it."
That must have been
my assistant.
Enjoy the champagne, Bob.
Ladies and gentlemen,
over here, on the stage. Yes.
Um, after a somewhat
long absence,
I should say too long.
Please welcome
on stage Gabrielle Hoffman.
Clearly using a mic
is beyond me.
Um
The new work you see here,
the conception of it,
came from losing
an unborn child.
The hospital
insisted I have an MRI
when they suspected
something was wrong.
I'd never had one before,
but going through that tunnel,
the screaming sound
of the machine.
I knew it was over.
We lost the baby
at five and a half months.
It wasn't the first miscarriage,
but it was certainly
the most devastating.
Afterwards, my husband
took me to Oxford.
And we came across a 3D model
of the structure of penicillin
made by Dorothy Hodgkin,
in 1944.
She had built it up
on sheets of Perspex.
It was so beautiful.
It seemed, to me,
to be the perfect union
between science and art.
Losing our baby
made me think about
how we remember things.
Make sense of them.
Of all the parts of us,
the brain is what makes us
so unique.
We know so much
about the human body,
but the brain remains a mystery.
That's where the idea
for this sculpture was born.
I'd spent years
drawing the human body,
but what if I could go
inside the brain?
And get deeper
What if I could create
a portrait of my brain?
Anyway, uh
J'espère que ca vous plaira.
And please come and find me
if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Any news?
Yeah, making inquiries, yes.
No, you're not. You're here.
Um
Who was the gentleman
you were talking to just now?
It was an old work colleague.
Haven't seen him in a while.
Ah, yeah. Because I sensed
a little tension.
No, no tension.
And where did you work together?
At CERN.
Of course, at CERN, yes. And
- And why did you leave from
- Oh.
- Was that all right?
- Oh, my God, that was brilliant.
It was so amazing.
God, I just need
to sell something now.
- You will, I'm sure of it.
- Yeah?
- Congratulations Madame Hoffman.
- Merci, c'est gentil.
Wait, wait, I have to take
this really quickly.
But I'll be right back,
all right. Okay.
- All right.
- Love you.
Genoud, what have you got?
I've been trying
your other number.
I think it would be best
to discuss this
on a secure line.
Other number?
What are you talking about?
I'm going to join Hugo
at the lunch
and we can discuss this
in person. It's better that way.
Don't say anything.
I'm going to hang up now.
Genoud? Genoud?
I
- Hey. Sorry.
- Were you hospitalized
because of a nervous breakdown?
What?
- Who told you that?
- Is it true?
It's not that simple.
Oh, my God, what?
Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen.
Congratulations, Gabrielle.
Fantastique!
It's your first sale.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you, everyone.
And thank you
to whoever bought it.
Hang on, I haven't finished.
And this one.
And this one.
And
Bertrand, is this all one buyer?
Indeed, a very wealthy
Who is it, Bertrand?
Unfortunately,
I can't reveal that.
It's an anonymous buyer.
It's you, isn't it?
What?
I would never do that to you.
Who were you on the phone to
just now?
My work, I told you.
You hang up
and then two minutes later
everything's been bought?
Bertrand, tell her it wasn't me.
Okay.
In all honesty,
I can't say who it is
because I don't know.
My bank just sent me an email
saying they'd received
an electronic transfer
with reference
to this exhibition.
This is good news.
- An electronic transfer?
- Correct.
Okay, you need to give it back,
because I do not want
my work treated like this.
This is
a legal situation, Gabrielle.
When a piece of the art
is purchased like that,
- it's gone.
- How much did they pay for it?
One hundred and 92
thousand francs.
I will give you an extra 200,000
on top of that
if Gabby can have her work back.
- I can't do that, Dr. Hoffman.
- Okay. Fine. 400,000.
- Double it.
- No. Stop it, Alex.
You can't be serious.
Gabby, wait! Gabby.
Something very strange
is happening here.
Whoever just bought your work
is the same person
that sent me that Darwin book.
I'm sure of it.
Someone is trying to fuck
with my mind.
Alex, listen to yourself,
you're lying.
What? No. Why would I No.
You have to know that I wouldn't
do anything like this to you.
You know you can't just
throw money at situations, Alex.
You couldn't do it
when we lost the baby,
you cannot do it now.
You won't let me in.
We went through hell
for eight years
and I never saw you cry.
But apparently,
you had a breakdown,
before you met me.
And that was something
you felt like
you shouldn't share with me?
I just Who are you?
I can't do this.
No, no, wait.
Gabby, this is ridiculous.
Hey, don't you ever grab
hold of me like that again.
Go after her.
Genoud, I know
this is gonna sound crazy,
- but did I just speak to you?
- Alex?
Did I just speak to you?
Answer the question.
Yes.
I don't need his name,
I just need the number, okay.
- I can't do that.
- Jesus Christ! You little shit.
No more of that, please.
It would pain me to arrest you
after what you've been
through today.
But you need
to calm down, you know.
My wife's very upset.
I'm being set up
and this stupid pedantic
little man
- Stupid? Oh, yes.
- Yes.
So stupid to have sold
all your wife's work
on the first day
of this exhibition.
All I want is the number
of the buyer's bank account,
and then I can prove
that this
is a fraudulent account,
with my name that bought
my wife's work. Okay?
That is confidential
information.
You said, thanks.
Right.
Can you show me
these account numbers please?
If you don't, it's impeding
a criminal investigation.
So, you have to do it.
- Fine.
- Thanks a lot.
Can I see your number, please?
Someone is trying
to ruin my life.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you, monsieur, for your
co-operation. Merci beaucoup.
You received no message
but that?
Just the notification
that the pieces
had been bought, online.
Merci.
Yeah, you're right.
I know.
The numbers match,
but that doesn't mean anything.
Other than the fact
that various items
have been bought
with money that is in your name.
The famous Darwin book
and the entire collection
of your wife's work.
But maybe you are
trying to find a way
to avoid being blamed
for a grand gesture
that didn't go to plan.
Jesus.
Well, you wouldn't make it
in my business.
You wouldn't even get
in the fucking door.
You are deliberately
misunderstanding the situation.
I'm being framed. Okay?
Yeah.
I understand, yeah.
The numbers speak
for themselves.
Will you excuse me?
Of course.
Alex, tell me
you're on your way.
Hugo,
it's a fucking disaster here!
Gabby's furious,
I think she's gonna leave me.
And I
Somebody is trying
to screw everything.
Wait, hold on. What's happened?
Her exhibition. Her work.
She thinks
that I bought all of her work.
Well, that's a generous thing
to do, isn't it?
Yeah, but I didn't do it,
though. It wasn't me.
It came from an account,
the money came from an account
with my name on it.
But it wasn't from me!
Okay, Alex, you're not
making any sense.
All right. Just come here,
show your face
and let's seal the deal.
No. I can't sit and talk
to those assholes right now.
They're asking for you.
Do you understand?
I'm here,
fucking Genoud is here.
You need to be here.
Genoud, okay.
Uh, I'll be there
in five minutes.
Great.
Dr. Hoffman.
Yeah, I need to go back
to work now.
He's going to show, right?
Oh, he's on his way
to us right now.
Despite my obvious reservations
about the fact
we're benefitting from disaster,
it's undeniable this
VIXAL program is extraordinary.
Which is why we think
you ought to invest more.
Indeed, indeed.
Talking of disaster,
do we have anything
on Tropix Pharmaceuticals?
- Why do you ask?
- They're just doing a deal
with the WHO
on a new Ebola vaccine.
Rumblings of an outbreak.
Hi, this is Gabby.
Leave a message. Thank you.
Gabby, can you just call me back
and let me know you're okay.
I love you.
I don't want to lose you.
We're nearly at the Beau Valais.
Please,
wait here one moment, sir.
I must check
the premises first.
Okay.
- All good?
- Oui, monsieur.
Lin, call me back straight away.
Don't speak to Marieme or Alex,
just me. It's urgent.
- Claude.
- Yes, sir.
Olivier!
Shouldn't Dr. Hoffman
be joining us?
Does he have something
more pressing to do today?
Oh, you must know
the mind of a genius can wander.
Wander?
Not with my money, he can't.
Bring us here
and make us wait here an hour.
Yeah.
Doesn't look good,
does it, Hugo?