Scenes from the Hat

John Nash boiled down competitive behavior to the simple terms of sexual conquest. Trying to make amorous advances at a bar, Nash and several other graduate students are captivated by a beautiful blonde surrounded by other pretty girls.

"Recall the lessons of Adam Smith, father of modern economics", says one of Nash’s cohorts.
"Individual ambition serves the common good. Every man for himself!"

In a flash of revelation, the brilliant Nash disagrees.
"Adam Smith needs revision", he says. "If we all go for the blonde, we block each other. So then we go for her friends, but they will all give us the cold shoulder because nobody likes to be second choice. But what if no one goes for the blonde? We don’t get in each other’s way, and we don’t insult the other girls. That’s the only way we win."

Suddenly more excited about economic theory than sexual opportunity, Nash lapses into an intellectual reverie that summarizes his Nobel Prize-winning dissertation "Adam Smith said the best result comes from everyone in the group doing what’s best for himself. Incomplete! Incomplete! Because the best result will come from everyone in the group doing what’s best for himself and the group.Adam Smith was wrong!"

(Rushes out after thanking the blonde)
- A Beautiful Mind,(2001) - 8/10

Wish economics was taught this way. The blonde is impressed but he just walks off to write his dissertation after a 'thank you' keeping the blonde wondering why he must have said it.