Enron Scene Summaries

Prologue

Staging: "three blind mice", Voiceover of Skilling like the advertisement trying to create a 'new, transparent market place that replaces the dark, blind system that existed', Enron jingle,

the Lawyer introduces the play as "never exactly what happened", and Skilling as "the man behind the corporate crime that defined the end of the twentieth century".

Scene 1

Mark to Market Party- the main characters are introduced at a celebratory company party.

LAY - the "most powerful man in the room"

ROE - a hyper-sexualised, high-ranking employee, and the 'Number fourteen' most powerful women in the world.

FASTOW - quiet outsider seeking to be acknowledged, accepted, and appreciated by his coworkers- 'nervy, lupine guy' 'outskirts... trying to ingratiate himself'

SKILLING - unassumingly intelligent and powerful and the man who introduced mark-to-market- 'I'm the reason you're here'.

Employee 2 breaks the fourth wall to give exposition on the play's temporal setting of the economically prosperous 1990s- 'most exciting time to do business in the history of the world'.

Scene 2

Roe and Skilling have 'quick, clothed sex' and discuss who the next company President will be, and the breakup of Skilling's marriage, which he claims isn't caused by his affair with Roe.

Scene 3

Lay announces that Skilling will take over as the company's president after Skilling outlines his vision for the company's future, trading in energy instead of just selling gas and oil. Lay delivers a soliloquy about the power of innovation; "and in such a way, the world is changed".

Scene 4

'An Orgy of Speculation' refers to desire, theory, lack of truth. Use of metallic and mystical imagery to introduce stocks and commodity prices; the traders discuss wealth and capital. Fastow, "all smooth self-importance", gets into a fight with the traders. A projection of Alan Greenspan criticises "irrational exuberance".

Scene 5

Trimming the Fat. Skilling on a treadmill 'relishing the physical challenge' and Skilling compliments Fastow's "spikes", and hints at a promotion (prolepsis). Roe complains to Lay about Skilling, and Lay hints at the power Enron will have after the next general election. Lay agrees to Claudia's wish for a powerplant in India. The analysts are introduced and their influence on Enron's stock prices is discussed and sung about. Skilling says he is 'Enron', dramatised by his moods affecting the value of Enron stock. He 'smoothly signs though barely looks at them' any papers handed to him. The analysts rate Enron a 'Strong Buy.'

Scene 6

An analeptic flashback memory of Skilling and his daughter, she appears away from him and their relationship is very much distant, with Skilling so obsessed with wealth even when he is spending quality family time. 'Time is Money' in his eyes, can only communicate in that way, his daughter 'fades into the dark' which dramatises how absorbed he is in business over his family.

Scene 7

The competition between Roe and Skilling is highlighted, and he criticises her Dabhol project whilst she states 'Everyone's copying Daddy'. Enron stock goes up again and becomes "Must Buy of the Week" and being worth 60 billion dollars much to their disbelief.

Scene 8

Fastow reveals his shadow company plan to Skilling, who promotes him to CFO after being won over by Fastow's scheme to make and save Enron money. First time we see the Raptors which represent and give physical form to the special purpose entities. The law firm Arthur Andersen is manipulated too and dramatic emphasis placed on 'Okay!' as they are all deluded and are in complete complicity.

Scene 9

Skilling discusses ideas for future projects with reporters, including video on demand and trading bandwidth. The employees in charge of the new streaming idea say that its not physically possible which leads to trading bandwidth- 'hell of an Enron idea'. The company welcomes the new millennium of the year 2000 with a party and Skilling is photographed to 'make him look impressive, god-like'. Split scene with Fastow's lair and he has developed a new found confidence and arrogance. Claudia enters on a motorbike in leather and all attention is on her. They count down to the millennium whilst Fastow creeps in the lair as he sees something in the shadows- turns out to be Raptors creeping into LJM 'clever girls'. Blackout.

Act 2 Scene 1

Skilling enters Fastow's lair and bears the good news that 'everyone wants to invest in (their) shadow'. Comedic section with the Lehman Brothers as Fastow impertinently speaks down to them. They don't ask questions as Fastow threatens to 'take its business elsewhere' and submissively give Fastow the money for the 'side project'. 'Everything upstairs is bullshit compared to this' and the pair scheme about getting Claudia out of the company due to their 'cause for concern' about her figures.

Act 2 Scene 2

The Purge. Roe's monologue gives insight into the patriarchal and superficial environment whilst showing her intelligence and her passion for the company. Lay and Skilling talk about how Roe was fired and Lay encourages Skilling to pray with him but it is rather uncomfortable. We can see the hierarchy as 'Lay touches Skilling on the shoulder' and calls him 'son'.

Act 2 Scene 3

Rooftop. Roe is having her last cigarette on the roof and Skilling shows his insensitivity and patronises her as there is an argument about her being fired. Roe states how much the company is changing for the worst bitterly, whilst Skilling aggressively tells her to 'Get out of my building'. Proceeds with Skilling and his daughter with her repeatedly asking 'why?' to his reasons for checking the stock price etc when they are together. Bubble motif of superficiality as his daughter disappears leaving bubbles in her wake.

Act 2 Scene 4

The American Spirit. Skilling announces the employees will be paid in stock- 'act of belief in yourself'. We see the election coverage of the new American Presidency- Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore.

Act 2 Scene 5

Andy's Lair of LJM. Fastow is with the Raptors and Skilling joins as they 'stare at the screen' anticipating the results as Skilling frantically tells Fastow how critical it is that Bush is made President- otherwise they are 'going down' and unable to pay the employees. Concludes with Bush elected and Skilling 'falls to his knees with the relief' as California is announced as the first deregulated electricity market state. Video footage of Bush being sworn in as President.

Act 2 Scene 6

Texas vs California. Skilling orders traders to move out to the deregulated California and 'bring it on home', finding arbitrage opportunities. They buy as much electricity as they can and take it out of the state, leading to rolling blackouts and chaos as California is 'into meltdown'. News reporters tell us of the deaths as a result of no electricity and they ruthlessly step up the prices after Lay gets off a threatening phone call with the governor. Reaches fever pitch and Lay greets the Mayor and Mr Schwarzenegger to talk about the future of California.

Act 2 Scene 7

Skilling's monologue about the politicians and government and his sheer arrogance shows through as he criticises them ruthlessly. Conversation plays out between the Lawyer and Skilling as there may be 'civil suits' against him due to the deaths. The lawyer challenges Skilling but Skilling confidently and passionately states that 'taking advantage' is a fact of business and of life. The lawyer tells him that there will only be further problems if there is anything else 'underlying'. Skilling ironically shows a paranoid side as a result swifting asking a security officer to 'sweep this office' for equipment and recording. They engage in casual conversation and Skilling orders him to hear what his new idea is but the officer refuses. The scene concludes the uneasy tone by a reporter from Fortune Magazine ringing about printing an article.

Act 2 Scene 8

Skilling once again enters Fastow's lair and they are both deeply unnerved and anxious as they engage in a heated row that leads to a certain amount of violence- over Fastow flying to New York to explain how the finances of the company work to the article writer. Skilling seems in denial and is quick to pass the responsibility on to Andy as he seems unable to face the reality. Lay comes in, in all confident composure and reassures them all that the course of action is to make a call to set the problem to rest. Scene concludes with Fastow destroying the Raptors and torching LJM. Concealment.

Act 2 Scene 9

'The A*****'. Skilling is on his way to the 'gallows' as he faces the public hysteria of Enron's sudden low stock price. Richard Grubman challenges him about a balance sheet stating Enron are the only 'financial institution that cannot produce' one. Skilling calls him an ****** and 'shockwaves were sent through the market' as analysts merge together and overlap in 'frenetic activity'. There is uproar to sell Enron shares and the scene concludes with Skilling monologue, attempting desperately to raise the stock price. He calls his daughter and tells her to tell her mum to sell all the shares. He stretches out his arms 'crucifying himself before the market' and the company continues to weaken.

Act 2 Scene 10

The Meeting. Sloman, Lay and Skilling are seen discussing the rather abrupt resignation of Skilling as he claims Enron 'consumes your life' and he is leaving due to personal reasons. Sloman seems sceptical as such act is 'highly unusual'. Skilling and Lay both assure her that there are no worries about Enron's performance and the company is in a 'safe pair of hands' with Lay back in control.

Act 3 Scene 1

The Earthquake Hits. Sloman opening monologue of the bubble, relating the analogy of flying in an aeroplane and the 'belief that the plane could fly was all that was keeping it in the air' to Enron. Nobody knew how it worked like a plane. 9/11 is seen whilst Lay claims that Enron is 'under attack' as the stock exchanges plummet from the lack of confidence. Lay states that they 'remain proud of who we are and what we do' and a reporter tells us that Enron has lost 60% of it's previous worth. By the end of the scene Enron has collapsed having 'disguised billions of dollars of debt'.

Act 3 Scene 2

Circle of Blame shows how they all share responsibility. Ramsay and Hewitt, like all the others, attempt to shift the blame onto others claiming that they are not accountants they 'avoided the illegal'. Arthur Anderson claim that the procedures were unusual but not illegal, providing all the documents except 'the ones we shredded'. Fastow and Lay choose to use their fifth amendment rights and not testify. Skilling enters and his hubris is clear as he will 'answer any question you got' only to become exposed by the Senator of his outrageous 'more than a hundred million dollars' personal savings whilst so many have lost their life savings. Skilling justifies himself stating that 9/11 caused Enron's collapse and the Senator finishes the scene with a statement that the American government will not stand for 'corporate crime on this scale'

Act 3 Scene 3

Trial. Fastow admits at the trail that he was 'extremely greedy' and lost his 'moral compass' having profited personally from LJM. Whilst Skilling is exposed to have converted his stock, insider trading, 'all the time telling employees to invest'. He claims to the lawyers that he resigned not due to the falling stock. Skilling ultimately excuses himself by saying that they did nothing different to everyone else but 'did it better!' whilst Fastow has no problem shifting the blame on Jeff. The scene finalises with Lay, Fastow and Skilling being handcuffed.

Act 3 Scene 4

The Street. We see the lowest point of Skilling, he is completely paranoid and has sunk to a lowly life completely contrasted to that he had before. It is a pathetic interaction with a prostitute and the woman calls him an 'a******' as she rejects his idiocy as Skilling shouts 'Don't you see! This is my life!'.

Act 3 Scene 5

Skilling's House. The lawyer enters Skilling's house as his daughter 'eerily' walks away. The lawyer and Skilling look at appealing to the case but the lawyer is sceptical as he reveals that it will be found about California's blackout 'game' they played. He states how he took advantage but 'that's what we do'. He still believes that he hasn't done anything wrong as he further justifies himself. They are told that Ken Lay has died.

Act 3 Scene 6

The Funeral. Skilling has a conversation with Roe and we are told that 'her division' was the only section of Enron that was actually worth something. Everything else was just an intangible and fragile belief. Irene Grant, a former employee, approaches Skilling and 'spits at him' in disgust as he doesn't apologise for her complete loss of livelihood and refuses to give any answers. Roe has to take care of herself and her reputation and refuses to walk in with Skilling.

Epilogue

Numerical determiners fill the epilogue as we are told the aftermath and devastation of what the Enron collapse caused and all the characters who suffer. Skilling has a final soliloquy and relates every revelation and discovery to be 'in a bubble'. We are left pondering whether discoveries we have witnessed are truly a good thing.