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Tenet · written by Christopher Nolan · 2020
Scene 262 of 275 · ≈ 1 min on screen · Act three
An unnamed intelligence operative, recruited into a shadow war fought through time-inverted weapons and objects, teams with an enigmatic ally to stop a dying Russian oligarch from using technology gifted by a dying future to erase the present.
The Protagonist in his zone of comfort — a skilled, anonymous field operative, competent and confident inside the Kiev operation.
Broken by torture and 'killed,' he needs a new purpose; Fay offers one that transcends the nation-state loyalties that just got his team killed.
He enters the wholly unfamiliar situation of Tenet — the wind turbine, the password test, and Barbara's proof that time itself can run backward.
Mumbai, London, Oslo, and Amalfi — he adapts to the world of inverted physics and Sator's inner circle, paying costs (Kat's trust, his own safety) to get close to the target.
The Tallinn ambush succeeds — he gets what the mission wanted, extracting the plutonium '241' from the armored convoy.
He pays a heavy price for it — Kat is shot, the material is lost to Sator anyway, and he is left not knowing whether any of it mattered.
Recovered and re-briefed by Priya, he returns to a now-familiar situation — the Tenet operation — but changed, moving to Stalsk-12 with the full picture of what's at stake.
The Protagonist and Ives escape through the sealing gate with the capsule swinging precariously over the well.
Mahir holds position, awaiting the kill signal.
Neil reaches the ridge and rigs a winch line down into the hypocentre.
This scene
Kat looks at Mahir’s boat. Nothing. She checks her watch... looks down at the tender approaching – it’s close enough she can clearly see HERSELF CHATTING AND LAUGHING WITH MAX... she jumps up from the daybed, holding the diver’s bag. Sator looks up at her, surprised.
KAT
I can’t do this.
SATOR
Don’t spoil this moment, Kat.
KAT
I can’t let you think you’ve won...
Sator looks at her, suddenly wary...
SATOR
What are you talking about,
Katherine?
KAT
I’m not letting you go to your
grave thinking we’re all coming
with you. I can’t give you that –
She pulls out the SILENCED PISTOL. He is UTTERLY UNAFRAID.
KAT (CONT'D)
You’re dying alone, Andrei.
SATOR
(contemptuous)
No, I’m not.
KAT
Andrei, look in my eyes. Which do
you see, despair... or anger?
SATOR
What?
KAT
I’m not the woman who could find
love for you even though you’d
scarred her on the inside...
Kat pulls up her shirt to reveal the MASSIVE, ANGRY SCAR –
KAT (CONT'D)
I’m the vengeful bitch you scarred
on the outside.
Sator realizes he’s been conned – LUNGES FOR HER –
SATOR
You –!
KAT SHOOTS HIM IN THE UPPER CHEST – his hands go to his chest – he GASPS, air leaking from his lungs... Kat ROLLS Sator off the daybed onto his back – he GURGLES – she GRABS his legs – SLIDES HIM AT THE GAP BELOW THE RAIL –
Sator SHOOTS off the deck, TUMBLING DOWN to the sea – his