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Tenet · written by Christopher Nolan · 2020
Scene 43 of 275 · ≈ 2 min on screen · Act one
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.
The Protagonist holds Sanjay at gunpoint, demanding to know who supplied the inverted ammunition that nearly killed him.
Neil holds the security guards at gunpoint, keeping the breach quiet.
Sanjay's wife invokes 'tenets,' prompting the Protagonist's password gesture and a truce.
This scene
Overlooking the extraordinary bustle of the city. Sanjay has left. His wife hands the Protagonist his drink –
PRIYA
I’m Priya Singh.
PROTAGONIST
This is your operation?
PRIYA
A masculine front in a man’s world
has its uses. The dealer you’re
looking for is Andrei Sator.
PROTAGONIST
The Russian oligarch?
PRIYA
You know him?
PROTAGONIST
Not personally. Made his billions
in gas, moved to London and married
an English girl. Said to be on the
outs with Moscow.
PRIYA
Very good. Except the ‘gas’ he made
his billions from was actually
plutonium, and he’s said to be on
the outs so he can feed British
Intelligence whatever the Russians
want them to think they know.
PROTAGONIST
None of which explains how or why
you sold him inverted munitions.
PRIYA
When I sold him the rounds, they
were perfectly ordinary.
PROTAGONIST
So how did he get them inverted?
PRIYA
We believe he’s functioning as some
kind of broker between our time and
the future.
PROTAGONIST
He can communicate with the future?
PRIYA
We all do. Credit cards, email,
text – anything that goes into the
record speaks directly to the
future. The question is – can the
future speak back? And, if so, what
are they saying?
PROTAGONIST
And I’m supposed to find out?
PRIYA
To get anywhere near Sator would
take a fresh-faced protagonist...
She reaches up to touch his cheek.
PRIYA (CONT'D)
Fresh as a daisy. Get close, find
out what he’s receiving and how.
PROTAGONIST
Is it safe to involve British
Intelligence?
PRIYA
I have a contact who’s out of
Sator’s reach.
PROTAGONIST
One of us?
PRIYA
No, he thinks we’re chasing
plutonium.
SIRENS. BANGS! Priya looks over to see POLICE CARS arriving far below, in the WALLED YARD at the foot of her house...
PRIYA (CONT'D)
You’d better get out of here.
PROTAGONIST
Can’t you explain things?
PRIYA
You have to start looking at the
world in a new way – this conflict
runs backwards and forwards
simultaneously. Your name on a
police report reveals your identity
to the future – they pass it back
to Sator –
PROTAGONIST
My cover’s blown before I get near
him.
PRIYA
You got in – you must’ve had a plan
for getting out.
The Protagonist pulls a CLIP and cord from his harness –
PROTAGONIST
Not one I loved.
Priya watches him clip onto the balcony rail. Neil FLIES PAST, dropping from the balcony above.
The Protagonist JUMPS, SLOWING as he DROPS BEHIND THE WALL, OUT OF REACH OF THE POLICE, into a MARKET STREET and RELEASES his harness – disappearing into the crowd...