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The Social Network · 2010 — Chapter 12 of 23 · 1'37" · C1

Mark Answers with Minimum Attention, Explained: the minimum amount

A lawyer keeps pressing Mark during his deposition, and Mark answers with open contempt. Asked if he is paying full attention, he says no, then explains: "You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount." His last question is the perfect closer.

What happens

During his deposition, Mark is asked whether he strung the Winklevosses along for six weeks and why he raised no concerns earlier. He answers vaguely, even mentioning that it started raining, until the lawyer asks if she has his full attention. Mark says no, and explains exactly how little she has.

CourtroomInterrogationsConfrontingSaying noRivalsC1fastamericanClean
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Listen for

lead someone ongive it a trythe minimum amountswear an oath

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  25. ❝ MonologueMinimum attention8 linesPractice page ↗
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Phrase of the scene

the minimum amount

The least possible amount

Mark 对律师说 You have the minimum amount，承认只给了对方最低限度的注意力。

He did the minimum amount of work to pass.

Also in this scene

  • lead someone on

    Give someone false hope

  • give it a try

    Let them attempt it

  • swear an oath

    Make a formal vow

  • capable of doing

    Able to do something

Everything marked in this scene

25 notes across 32 lines

Phrase · B2express doubts"When we met in January, I expressed my doubts about the site.
Phrase · B1deal with something"The lack of hardware we had to deal with site use,
Phrase · B2a lack of something"the lack of promotion that would go on to successfully launch the website."
Phrase · B2raise a concernThis was the first time you raised any of those concerns, right?
Slang · B2Bullshit- Bullshit. - Not to us.
Phrase · B2rephrase somethingLet me rephrase this.
Phrase · B2lead someone on

Give someone false hope

- Were you leading them on for six weeks? - No.
Phrase · B2someone's full attentionMr. Zuckerberg, do I have your full attention?
Phrase · B1deserve itDo you think I deserve it?
Phrase · B2swear an oath

Make a formal vow

I had to swear an oath before we began this deposition
Phrase · C1perjure oneselfand I don't wanna perjure myself, so I have a legal obligation to say no.
Soundperjure myself

stress

and I don't wanna perjure myself, so I have a legal obligation to say no.
Phrase · C1sit on someone's shouldersI think if your clients wanna sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall,
Grammar · B2if your clients wanna sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall

if-clause: The if-clause sets up the image before granting permission.

I think if your clients wanna sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall,
Phrase · B1give it a try

Let them attempt it

they have a right to give it a try,
Phrase · B2there's no requirement thatbut there's no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie.
Grammar · B2there's no requirement that I enjoy sitting here

existential with that-clause: The existential plus that-clause denies any obligation.

but there's no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie.
Phrase · B2the minimum amount

The least possible amount

You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount.
Soundthe minimum amount

stress

You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount.
Phrase · B1the rest of my attentionThe rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook,
SoundThe rest of my attention

weak form

The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook,
Phrase · C1including and especiallywhere my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients,
Phrase · B2be capable of doing something

Able to do something

are intellectually or creatively capable of doing.
Grammar · B2are intellectually or creatively capable of doing

be capable of: be capable of pins the gap on ability, not effort.

are intellectually or creatively capable of doing.
Phrase · B2adequately answer somethingDid I adequately answer your condescending question?

Mark Answers with Minimum Attention, explained

What's really going on

The deposition is the film's cleanest example of Mark's weapon: contempt under perfect control. He does not shout or insult on impulse; he answers the question literally, which is the most damaging way possible. "You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount." The line works because it sounds like a precise, honest answer, and it lands as a verdict on everyone in the room. When the lawyer asks why she deserves no more, he hides inside procedure — he swore an oath, so he must tell the truth — and then turns her question back on her with "your condescending question." Nothing here is accidental; every flat tone is aimed.

Theme

PrideMark's sense of superiority is so complete that he answers the opposing lawyer with open contempt.
PowerBeing the smartest person in the room is Mark's leverage, and he uses it to humiliate the people questioning him.

Listen for

  • perjure myself — stress
  • the minimum amount — stress
  • The rest of my attention — weak form
Did I adequately answer your condescending question?

A closing jab disguised as courtesy: he asks if his reply was good enough while labeling her question as condescending.

You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount.

The line that defines the scene: a precise, brutal way of saying he does not respect the person questioning him.

Do you think I deserve your full attention?

The lawyer's attempt to regain control, which only gives Mark another chance to wound her.

Mr. Zuckerberg, do I have your full attention?

A formal prompt that sounds like procedure, thrown into an encounter Mark is treating as beneath him.

Questions about this scene

What is Mark being asked at the deposition?

Whether he strung the Winklevosses along for six weeks and why he did not raise his concerns earlier. He gives flat, unhelpful answers that frustrate the lawyer questioning him.

What does the minimum amount of attention mean?

It means she has only the smallest possible share of his focus. He phrases it as a factual, almost technical answer, which is what makes it so insulting.

Why does Mark mention the rain?

To deflect. He notices it is raining instead of engaging with the question, showing how little he thinks the proceeding deserves his concentration.

Where does this deposition take place?

In a conference room during a pre-trial deposition, with the Winklevosses' lawyer asking the questions. Mark's own legal team is present, but he answers without checking with them.

The Social Network · 23 chapters

All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 13written in inkErica Confronts Mark Over the Internet
Chapter 1speak in codeErica Dumps Mark at the BarChapter 2take my mind offMark Builds FacemashChapter 3an awful lot ofMark Crashes Harvard's NetworkChapter 4make an example out ofZuckerberg Faces the Ad BoardChapter 5a no-brainerWinklevoss Twins Pitch Their SiteChapter 6in a stampedeMark Pitches the Facebook IdeaChapter 7off the recordEduardo's Deposition Turns on EmailsChapter 8bounce aroundFacebook Launches Relationship StatusChapter 9give someone the fingerThe Winklevosses Debate Suing MarkChapter 10Facebook meEduardo Recalls Facebook's LaunchChapter 11monetizeMark and Eduardo Argue About MoneyWatching · Chapter 12the minimum amountMark Answers with Minimum AttentionChapter 13written in inkErica Confronts Mark Over the InternetChapter 14the shoe's on the other footSean Parker Wakes Up at StanfordChapter 15make that callThe Winklevosses Meet President SummersChapter 16a dog in this fightSean Parker Wins Over MarkChapter 17stir the potEduardo's Chicken Deposition StoryChapter 18once-in-a-generationSean Parker Meets Mark in Palo AltoChapter 19at our disposalThe Winklevosses Decide to Sue MarkChapter 20get left behindEduardo Confronts Mark Over SeanChapter 21let bygones be bygonesEduardo Freezes the Company AccountChapter 22in all honestyEduardo Signs Away His SharesChapter 23lawyer upMark Dismantles Eduardo at Facebook
Chapter 12 of 23 · about 38 min to go