Other People’s Money

Lawrence "Larry the Liquidator" Garfield is a ruthless corporate raider who built wealth by buying companies and selling off assets. Using Carmen, his stock‑analyzing program, he identifies New England Wire & Cable as his next prize. He aims to take control and liquidate value for a quick profit, regardless of the town’s people or the product's future.

Andrew "Jorgy" Jorgenson discovers that Garfield has filed a Schedule 13D on NE Wire & Cable. Realizing the danger to the company he built, Jorgy decides to fight back and safeguard his workers and town. He hires his stepdaughter Kate, a sharp big-city lawyer, to defend against the hostile bid.

Kate joins the NE Wire & Cable defense as the legal lead, bringing high-stakes city experience to a small-town company. Her role sharpens the corporate battle, and Garfield quickly notes his growing attraction even as he stays focused on his takeover plans. The clash between town values and corporate ruthlessness intensifies.

Bea, Kate’s mother, travels to Garfield’s offices with a blunt greenmail offer of one million dollars to walk away. Garfield refuses the money, declaring, "I don't take money from widows or orphans." The encounter reveals the personal stakes behind the corporate battle.

Bill Coles, the trusted company president, proposes a deal: Garfield can vote Coles's shares in exchange for a one‑million‑dollar payout. Garfield agrees but imposes a condition—Coles will receive only half the money if the margin of victory isn’t achieved. The tactic shows the transactional nature of the takeover.

Garfield concedes to Jorgy’s demand to settle the matter at the annual shareholders' meeting. He relies on a coalition of longtime investors to secure a controlling stake. The stage is set for a dramatic showdown between old‑time manufacturing and modern asset stripping.

Jorgy makes a heartfelt appeal to save the town’s jobs and the company’s manufacturing legacy. He emphasizes tradition and community over cold capitalism, hoping to sway the shareholders. The speech rouses sympathy and lends moral weight to the defense.

Garfield delivers his rebuttal, arguing that the company is not a relic but a valuable asset in a changing world. He contends that forcing a doomed business to pursue futile production ultimately harms shareholders. His rhetoric centers on liquidating value while preserving opportunity for investors.

The shareholders vote, and Garfield emerges with a controlling interest in NE Wire & Cable. The margin exceeds Coles's expectations, denying him full payoff and ensuring the liquidator can steer the company toward his preferred path. The victory marks a turning point in the corporate saga.

Back in Manhattan, Garfield feels despondent, realizing his victory has jeopardized any chance he had with Kate. The personal cost of his success sinks in as he contemplates what he has sacrificed for control. The emotional tension adds a human dimension to the corporate duel.

Kate calls Garfield with promising news: a Japanese automaker wants NE Wire & Cable to manufacture stainless steel wire cloth for airbags. If pursued, this contract could revive the company and create a profitable future for the town. The news reframes the takeover as a pivot toward growth rather than mere liquidation.

An excited Garfield invites Kate to dinner to discuss the potential new contract with the automaker. He envisions the meeting as the path to both financial success and personal reconciliation. The invitation signals a shift from hostility to collaboration.

Kate responds that lunch would be better for a business discussion, signaling a practical, no‑nonsense approach to the negotiations. She adds that the business must come first, which tempers any romantic expectations. The exchange underscores the evolving dynamic between the two.

The prospect of the airbags contract offers a real chance for NE Wire & Cable to prosper under a new strategy. Garfield, while still wary of romantic misgivings, allows himself a cautious smile at the possibility of a profitable partnership. The film closes with a sense of cautious optimism about the town and company’s future.