The Company Men 2011

As the global economic downturn ravages the industry, Global Transportation Systems (GTX), a once-thriving shipbuilding corporation, is forced to downsize its operations, leaving behind a trail of devastation for its employees. Among those affected is Bobby Walker, a high-flying corporate executive with a six-figure salary and a seemingly idyllic life, complete with a loving wife and two young children. However, as the recession’s grip tightens, Walker’s world begins to crumble, and he finds himself struggling to maintain his luxurious lifestyle.

Initially, GTX offers Walker outplacement services, but these efforts ultimately prove unsuccessful, leading him to part ways with his prized possessions, including his country club membership and Porsche. With his wealth dwindling and his family’s well-being at risk, Walker is left with no choice but to liquidate his assets and relocate his family to the humble abode of his in-laws.

Meanwhile, within GTX’s executive ranks, a power struggle unfolds as Executive Vice President Gene McClary (played by) challenges CEO James Salinger’s strategy of employee cutbacks. McClary’s questioning of the ethics behind GTX’s decision to build a new corporate headquarters while laying off employees sparks tension between the two long-time friends and colleagues.

As the layoffs continue, senior manager Phil Woodward’s life takes a dramatic turn for the worse. After being let go from his position at GTX, Woodward is left feeling defeated and dejected, with no clear path forward. His relationships begin to fray, and he becomes increasingly despondent as he struggles to make ends meet.

In a devastating turn of events, Woodward’s financial woes and personal despair ultimately consume him, leading to a tragic decision that will have far-reaching consequences for his loved ones.

As McClary’s ire simmers beneath the surface, an unexpected windfall has swollen his coffers, courtesy of the meteoric rise in value of his GTX stock options. However, this newfound wealth is tempered by the pangs of conscience that have taken up residence in his chest. The company’s ruthless downsizing has left a trail of devastation in its wake, and McClary can’t shake the feeling that he’s profiting from someone else’s misery. Seeking a way to reconcile his guilt with his growing fortune, McClary decides to chart a new course by establishing his own enterprise in maritime shipbuilding – an industry GTX once dominated. And as the first stone is laid in this new venture, Walker (character A) becomes the inaugural hire, joining forces with McClary to breathe life into the fledgling business.

As they take their first steps together, McClary and Walker step into a drab, unassuming office space that belies the promise of a fresh start. The air is thick with possibility as former GTX employees begin to trickle in, drawn by the prospect of rebuilding and redeeming themselves in a new chapter of their lives.