The Social Network Directed by:David Fincher Plot/Summary: The framing device throughout the film showsMarkZuckerbergtestifying indepositionsin

two lawsuits: o ne filed bytheWinklevoss twins, and the other filed byEduardo Saverin.Through flashbacks from both depositions the Facebook creation story is told. In 2003, Erica Albright breaks up with Harvard University student MarkZuckerberg. Back at his dorm, Mark writes a scathing and drunken blog entry about her, and is inspired to create a website that rates theattractiveness of female students when compared to each other. He hacks into the databases of various residence halls, downloads pictures and names of female students and, in a few hours, using an for ranking chess players supplied by his best friend, Eduardo Saverin, he creates a website called "FaceMash,"where students can choose which of two girls presented at a time is more attractive. Mark receives six monthsof academic probationafter the traffic to the site brings down parts of Harvard's network, and becomes vilifiedamong most of Harvard's female community. However, FaceMash's popularity and its one-night creation, whiledrunk, brings him to the attention of Cameronand Tyler Winklevoss,identical twinsand members of Harvard'srowing team, and their business partnerDivya Narendra. As a result, he gains a job working for the Winklevosstwins as the programmer of their website,Harvard Connection.Soon afterward, Mark approaches Eduardo and tells him of his idea for what he calls "Thefacebook", an onlinesocial networking website exclusive to Harvard University students. He explains this would let people sharepersonal and social information securely. Eduardo agrees to help Mark, providing $1,000 to help start the site. They distribute the link to Eduardo's connections at thePhoenix S-K final club, and it quickly becomes popularthroughout the student body. When they learn of Thefacebook, the Winklevoss twins and Narendra believeZuckerberg had stolen their idea while stalling on their website. Tyler and Divya want to sue Mark for intellectualproperty theft, but Cameron convinces them they can settle the matter as "Harvard gentlemen" without thecourts. Meanwhile, Mark continues to add features like "relationship status" to the profile page, since "peopledon't walk around wearing signs."At a visiting lecture byBill Gates, fellow Harvard University student Christy Lee introduces herself and her friendAlice Cantwel to Eduardo and Mark. She asks the boys "Facebook us"; Christy's use of this phrase impressesboth of them. Christy invites them to a bar where Mark runs into Erica, who is not aware of Thefacebookbecause she is not a Harvard student. Mark decides to expand the site to more schools. As Thefacebook growsin popularity, they expand to other schools in theNortheastern United States, while the Winklevoss twins andNarendra become angrier at seeing "their idea" advance without them. Cameron refuses to sue them, insteadaccusing Mark of violating the Harvard studentCode of Conduct. Through their father's connections they

arrange a meeting with Harvard PresidentLarry Summers, who is dismissive and sees no potential value ineither a disciplinary action or in Thefacebook website itself. Through Christy, now Eduardo's girlfriend, Eduardo and Mark arrange a meeting withNapsterco-founderSean Parker. When Christy, Mark, and Eduardo meet Sean, Eduardo becomes skeptical noting Sean's problematicpersonal and professional history. Christy thinks Eduardo is jealous of Sean, and attempts to calm him to avoid ascene. Sean presents a vision for Facebook similar to Mark's and impresses him. In a parting comment, Seansuggests they drop the "The" from Thefacebook.At Sean's suggestion, Mark moves the company toPalo Alto,while Eduardo remains in New York seekingadvertising support. Meanwhile inEngland, while competingin theHenley Royal Regattafor Harvard,the Winklevosstwins discover Facebook has expanded to a number of universities there. Cameron finally relents and they decideto sue. When Eduardo visits from New York, he is angeredto find Sean is living at the house they have rented and ismaking business decisions for Facebook. After arguing with Mark, Eduardo freezes the company's bank accountand returns to New York. Upon returning, Christy argues with Eduardo about his Facebook profile, which still listshim as "single". When Christy questions Eduardo about why he has not changed his Facebook profile, he tellsher he does not know how to, further infuriating Christy because she believes he is lying. She cites his profile asevidence he cheated on her with promiscuous women inSilicon Valleyand sets fire to a scarf he has given toher as a gift. While Eduardo extinguishes the fire, Mark reveals on the phone that they have secured moneyfrom an angel investor through Parker's contacts. As a result of Christy's behavior, Eduardo ends his relationshipwith her.Eduardo soon discovers the deal he signed with Sean's investors

has allowed them to dilute his share of the company from thirty-four percent to three hundredths of a percent, while maintaining the ownership percentageof all other parties. He confronts Mark and announces his intention to sue him. Later that night, during a partycelebrating Facebook's 1 millionth member, Sean and a number of Facebook interns are arrested for possessionof cocaine. In the final scene, a junior lawyer for the defense informs Mark they should settle with Eduardo, sincethe sordid details of Facebook's founding and Mark's personality will make a jury highly unsympathetic. The filmends with Mark sending a friend request to Erica on Facebook, and refreshing the page every few secondswaiting for a response.