TENET 1.

ORCHESTRA TUNING, audience settling. High officials in

glassed-in boxes toast each other. Doors closing...
BAM – from behind the orchestra – TERRORISTS with MACHINE
GUNS BURST in... The audience SCREAMS... The terrorists cover
the ordinary people – the HIGH OFFICIALS are held in the
BOXES...

1
Sp tr
INT/EXT. VAN, PLAZA, DOWNTOWN KIEV, UKRAINE – DAY 1
As POLICE FLOOD THE PLAZA, the DRIVER turns to the PASSENGER
–
ec
DRIVER
(in Ukrainian)
Vi

– Wake up the Americans. –

The Passenger turns to the back where four BLACK-CLAD YOUNG
MEN SIT, WAITING. The nearest one seems to be SLEEPING...
ia
PASSENGER
Hey –
lC
EYES CLOSED, the young man COCKS his weapon, chambering a
round, POPS it out of the slide, CATCHES it, opens his eyes –
r

this is THE PROTAGONIST...

ag

The Passenger nods, ‘okay’. The Driver looks down at a

VARIETY OF UNIFORM PATCHES...
op
SIRENS. The Americans shoulder WEAPONS, pull on HELMETS...
A UKRAINIAN SWAT VAN SCREECHES to a halt outside the theatre
–
S
y
The Passenger spots its markings – TOSSES the corresponding
patches to the Americans, who slap them onto their shoulders.
ha

Ukrainian SWATs pour out of the SWAT van –

Fo

The Americans JUMP out of the back of their van, SLIPPING

UNNOTICED INTO THE STREAM OF SWATS pouring into the lobby...
h

2 INT. LOBBY, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 2

r

SWATs mass at each entrance... the Protagonist watches GAS

CANISTERS brought in TO THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM. The
SWATs pull on GAS MASKS...

3 INT. BOX, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 3

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 2.

A WELL-DRESSED MAN sitting next to a UNIFORMED OFFICIAL looks

down into the stalls – people SLUMP, UNCONSCIOUS, IN A
WAVE...
He turns to the Official – who motions calm, draws a
SIDEARM...

4 Sp tr
INT. THEATRE, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS
A Terrorist wets a rag in a drinking fountain, ties it around
4

his nose and mouth. Others have WORKMAN’S RESPIRATORS AND

FACE MASKS. They COCK THEIR WEAPONS, preparing...
ec
5 INT. LOBBY, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 5
Vi

THE SWATS BREACH – POURING into the theatre – exchange

GUNFIRE with the TERRORISTS...
ia
6 INT. CURVING CORRIDOR – DAY 6
RUNNING. Fast but silent...
lC
FOLLOW the four Americans – they hit a junction – hand
signals – they SPLIT two ways –
r

FOLLOW two of them – one of them PEELS OFF up a staircase –

ag

FOLLOW the last, the Protagonist – checking each box...

op
7 INT. BOX, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 7
The Protagonist BURSTS in – takes out the Official beside the
Well-Dressed Man –
S
y
PROTAGONIST
We live in a twilight world...
ha

The Well-Dressed Man stares, shocked –

Fo

PROTAGONIST
We live in a twilight world...
h

WELL-DRESSED MAN
(focuses)
r

And there are no friends at dusk.

PROTAGONIST
You’ve been made. This siege is a
blind for them to vanish you.

WELL-DRESSED MAN

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 3.

But I’ve established contact –

PROTAGONIST
Bring you in or kill you – I have
two minutes. Make up your mind.

The Well-Dressed Man nods, climbs to his feet...

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Where’s the package?

WELL-DRESSED MAN
Coat check.
He hands the Protagonist a numbered ticket.
ec
Vi

8 INT. CORRIDOR, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 8

The battle between SWATs and Terrorists rages... SWATS move

down the corridor, checking the boxes one by one...
ia
9 INT. BOX, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 9
lC
The Protagonist SMASHES the glass – checks the drop to the
stalls, pulls out a black rope, ties it to a column...
r

As they DROP, Terrorist gunfire rings out – they LAND –

ag

hiding amongst the UNCONSCIOUS AUDIENCE. The Well-Dressed Man

takes a seat, FEIGNS SLEEP – the Protagonist ROLLS under the
op
seats –
BLAM! Terrorists near the stage open fire – SHOTS ring out –
hitting two sleeping audience members, nearby – the Well-
Dressed Man TWITCHES – the Protagonist holds his ankle –
S

urging him to keep still –

y

BLAM! A third sleeping audience member is shot – the

ha

Protagonist jumps up, DRAWING THE TERRORISTS’ fire away from

the Well-Dressed Man –
Fo

The Protagonist races towards two REAL UKRAINIAN SWATS who

cover him from the Terrorists – one of them goes down.
h

The Protagonist takes cover beside the real UKRAINIAN SWAT –

WHO IS PLANTING A BOMB UNDER THE SEATS... he gestures to the
r

dead SWAT’s pack... the Protagonist unzips the bag to find a

BOMB, COUNTING DOWN IN SYNC WITH THE OTHER BOMB –
UKRAINIAN SWAT
(in Ukrainian, impatient)
– What’re you doing? –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 4.

The Ukrainian SWAT uses his gun to PROD the Velcro patch on
the Protagonist’s shoulder. It FALLS OFF...

UKRAINIAN SWAT
(in Ukrainian)
– Who are you? –

The Protagonist is at a loss... BAM! The Ukrainian SWAT is

Sp tr
taken out by another ‘SWAT’ –
‘SWAT’
No friends at dusk, huh?

PROTAGONIST
You’ll do.
ec
The Protagonist GRABS the bombs, points at the Well-Dressed
Vi

Man –

PROTAGONIST
(to the ‘SWAT’)
ia
Get him to the rally point.
The ‘SWAT’ leads the Well-Dressed Man down a fire exit –
lC
10 INT. LOBBY, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 10
r

The Protagonist RACES across the lobby, gunfire RINGING OUT –

ag

LEAPS over the counter into the COAT-CHECK AREA...

op
Landing on the floor next to an unconscious coat-check girl.

He spots another bomb – ‘4:23’, ‘4:22’... the Protagonist

checks the number on the coat-check ticket and efficiently
moves across numbered racks until he finds a SPORTS BAG.
S
y
He unzips it to find a BLACK METALLIC OBJECT the size of a
softball.
ha

He stuffs it into his pack and SCRAMBLES over the counter...

Fo

11 INT. SERVICE CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 11

h

– the Protagonist RUNS, checking numbers on doors... he STOPS

at a door, THROWS it open, JUMPS in low –
r

12 INT. UTILITY ROOM – CONTINUOUS 12

THREE ‘SWATS’, guns trained, and the Well-Dressed Man. The

Protagonist throws a bomb to SWAT 2, then shows the OBJECT to
the Well-Dressed Man –

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 5.

PROTAGONIST
I’ve never seen encapsulation like
this.

WELL-DRESSED MAN
We don’t know how old it is. It’s
the real deal.

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Did you have an out?
WELL-DRESSED MAN
Service tunnels to sewers.
PROTAGONIST
ec
Swap clothes.
Vi

The ‘SWAT’ and the Well-Dressed Man start changing. The

Protagonist hands SWAT 3 the object –

PROTAGONIST
ia
Take this, take him, take his exit.
I don’t trust ours any more.
(to SWAT 2)
Can you defuse it?
lC
SWAT 2
r

(shakes head)
Centrally synchronized. Are there
ag

more?
op
The Protagonist nods, STUFFS the bomb in his pack –

PROTAGONIST
Covering their tracks.
S

SWAT 2
y
Taking out the audience?
ha

PROTAGONIST
Just the cheap seats.
Fo

SWAT 3
Not our mission –
h

PROTAGONIST
Mine, now.
r

The newly dressed ‘TARGET’ steps up –

‘TARGET’
I’m with you – the Ukrainians are
expecting a passenger.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 6.

13 INT. THEATRE, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 13

The Protagonist and the ‘Target’ race through the SLEEPING
AUDIENCE COLLECTING BOMBS – the TIMERS tick down – ‘1:58’,
‘1:57’.

Crouched at a bomb, the Protagonist notices a BULLET HOLE in

the side of the chair – a TINY WHIFF OF SMOKE GATHERING...
Sp tr
CLICK – a gun is to his head – he spins around to see a
SWAT... ‘0:34’, ‘0:33’... The ‘Target’ has his own gun on the
SWAT – A STAND-OFF – all around them, UNCONSCIOUS
CIVILIANS...

PROTAGONIST
ec
Walk away – you don’t need to kill
these people.
Vi

The Protagonist turns back to the bomb... ‘0:32’, ‘0:31’. At

the bullet hole the PUFF OF SMOKE THICKENS...
ia
the Protagonist, confused, REACHES towards it... the SWAT
COCKS his weapon...

BLAM! With EXPLOSIVE FORCE THE BULLET HOLE DISAPPEARS – A

lC
NICK HAS APPEARED IN THE PROTAGONIST’S UNIFORM – he SPINS –
the SWAT is SHOT THROUGH THE CHEST AND DROPS... revealing a
r

FIGURE, also in a gas mask and tactical gear...

ag

The Figure TURNS – the Protagonist sees, on the Figure’s

pack, a small TALISMAN – a COIN with a hole tied to a zip by
op
ORANGE AND YELLOW THREAD – the Protagonist turns back to grab
the bomb –
‘TARGET’
That wasn’t one of us.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
I’ll take the help.
ha

The Protagonist GRABS the last bomb: ‘0:03’... he looks up to

the boxes, where REAL SWATS EVACUATE THE HIGH OFFICIALS...
Fo

THE PROTAGONIST LOBS THE BOMBS UP INTO THE BOXES...

h

14 EXT. PLAZA, DOWNTOWN KIEV – CONTINUOUS 14

r

The Protagonist and ‘Target’ emerge – an EXPLOSION above them

-

15 INT. THEATRE, CONCERT HALL – CONTINUOUS 15

INNOCENT CIVILIANS STIR under the EXPLOSION IN THE BOXES –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 7.

16 EXT. PLAZA, DOWNTOWN KIEV – CONTINUOUS 16

The van PULLS UP – rear door open – they JUMP INSIDE –

17 INT. VAN – MOMENTS LATER 17

The Protagonist pulls off his mask. BREATHING. The Passenger

Sp tr
turns – grabs the ‘Target’s face, SOMETHING WRONG... the
Protagonist turns to the Driver – WHO HAS A GUN POINTED AT
HIM ...

BLACK SCREEN:
SCREAMING. The Protagonist’s screaming. Close on his eyes –
ec
FLICKERING, SWEATING, PLEADING, DEFIANT... and we are –
Vi

18 EXT. RAIL YARDS – DAY 18

The Protagonist, tied to a chair, in a windswept rail yard.
ia
In front of him, the ‘Target’, also tied to a chair, back to
us. The Driver steps back, SWEATING. BLOODY PLIERS in hand.
lC
DRIVER
(breathless)
r

A man can be trained to hold out for

about eighteen hours.
ag

The Driver gestures at a CLOCK on a table –

op
DRIVER
So your colleagues will clear by 7.
The Driver PUSHES the ‘Target’s chair over. The ‘Target’
S

lands hard on his side on the gravel. Groaning.

y

DRIVER
ha

He didn’t last eighteen minutes.

The Driver pulls out a KNIFE. Leans in to the Protagonist –
Fo

DRIVER
But he didn’t have anything to hide.
h

You were smuggling a nobody.

r

The knife moves towards the Protagonist’s throat...

DRIVER
Risky.
...then to his collar – which he CUTS –

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 8.

DRIVER
Or were you counting on this?
...pulling out a SILVER CAPSULE. The Protagonist stares.

DRIVER
Death, CIA issue.

Sp tr
The Driver TOSSES the pill, WAVES the pliers at the clock –

DRIVER
Spare yourself once they’re clear.
The Protagonist looks at the clock – ‘5:38’. A FREIGHT TRAIN
RUMBLES PAST, CLOSE... As we close in on the clock, THE
ec
PROTAGONIST’S SCREAMS ARE DROWNED OUT BY THE FREIGHT TRAIN...
Vi

The Driver steps back. The Protagonist breathes heavy, blood

dribbling... the Driver follows his gaze to the clock –
‘6:53’ – then checks his watch. Frowns theatrically, picks up
the clock, SHAKES it –
ia
DRIVER
Running fast...
lC
The Driver SETS THE HANDS BACK ONE HOUR. The Protagonist
watches, DESPAIRING... as the Driver puts the clock back on
r

the table, the Protagonist notices the ‘Target’s FINGERS

WIGGLING... in them is a SILVER PILL...
ag

Freight trains rumble past in opposite directions, sound

op
BUILDING... The Driver approaches, bloody pliers in hand –
PROTAGONIST
We were alone.
S

DRIVER
y
I didn’t ask. Which means we’re
finally getting somewhere.
ha

The Protagonist HURLS himself onto the ‘Target’s hands – face

SMASHING – gets the PILL into his mouth – BITES DOWN –
Fo

DEAFENING TRAIN NOISE...

Arms GRAB at him – HANDS PRY his jaw as he SEIZES, MOUTH
h

FOAMING... the Protagonist’s EYES GLAZE and we –

r

CUT TO:
Black screen.
Supertitle:

TENET

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 9.

FADE IN:
The Protagonist opens his eyes. A man stands beside his bed.

SWAYING gently. This is FAY.

FAY
Welcome to the afterlife.
Sp tr
The Protagonist lifts his head and we are –

19 INT. BOAT AT SEA – DAY 19

The Protagonist sees the STEELY OCEAN SWELL...

ec
FAY
Vi

You’ve been in a medically induced

coma while we got you out of Ukraine
and rebuilt your mouth.
ia
PROTAGONIST
The pills are fake?

FAY
lC
We swapped yours for a sedative.
r

PROTAGONIST
Why?
ag

FAY
op
A test.
The Protagonist runs a finger around his mouth. REALIZING.

PROTAGONIST
S

Test? They pulled my teeth out.

y

Fay lets that dissipate. The Protagonist closes his eyes.

ha

PROTAGONIST
Did the team get clear?
Fo

FAY
No. Private Russians, we think.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Somebody talked.
FAY
Not you. You chose to die instead of
giving up your colleagues.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 10.

20 EXT. DECK OF THE BOAT – LATER 20

The Protagonist stands in the wind, contemplating the

horizon.
FAY (O.S.)
We all believe we’d run into the
burning building, but until we feel
Sp tr that heat... we can never know. You
do.
PROTAGONIST
I resign.

FAY
ec
You don’t work for us – you’re dead.
Vi

The Protagonist turns to Fay, confused.

FAY
Your duty transcends national
ia
interests. This is about survival.

PROTAGONIST
Whose?
lC
FAY
r

Everyone’s. There’s a cold war. Cold

as ice. To even know its true nature
ag

is to lose. This is knowledge

divided – all I have for you is a
op
gesture –
(interlaces his fingers)
– in combination with a word –
‘tenet’. Use it carefully, it’ll
open the right doors, but some of
S

the wrong ones, too.

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

That’s all they’ve told you?

FAY
Fo

The test you passed?

(beat)
Not everybody does.
h

Fay breaks eye contact with the Protagonist. The boat

r

continues to nose into the swell.

21 EXT. LAUNCH, WIND FARM AT SEA – DUSK 21

The Protagonist is driven away from the boat on a launch,
towards the GIANT WHITE TURBINES of the ocean wind farm.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 11.

The launch SLIPS amongst them, seeking the ladder of a

particular one...
The Protagonist climbs the ladder to a door. He tries it –
it’s open. He turns to see the launch move off into the
gathering dark. The Protagonist ENTERS the wind turbine.

22 Sp tr
INT. WIND TURBINE – CONTINUOUS
In the bare space, the Protagonist finds a SPORTS BAG, a COT,
22

a pallet of WATER and PROTEIN BARS. He opens the sports bag

to find passports, cash, credit cards and a HI-VIZ VEST.
Under the vest is a small black cylinder. He unscrews the top
ec
to find three SILVER SUICIDE PILLS. The Protagonist shakes
his head as he tosses them back into the bag.
Vi

23 INT. WIND TURBINE – LATER 23

ia
The Protagonist EATS, DRINKS and EXERCISES by CLIMBING the
endless interior ladder of the turbine. The stash of food and
water SHRINKS...
lC
The Protagonist does PULL-UPS at the very top of the ladder,
FEET DANGLING over the VERTIGINOUS DROP...
r ag

24 INT. WIND TURBINE – MORNING 24

op
The Protagonist is woken by a repeated AIR HORN. He pulls
himself off the cot, opens the door to find –

25 EXT. WIND TURBINE – CONTINUOUS 25

S
y
A large CATAMARAN nosed up to the windmill, ladder in place,
MAINTENANCE CREW in HI-VIZ VESTS moving on and off the
ha

turbine. Other boats service other turbines. The Protagonist

pulls on his VEST and CLIMBS down onto the catamaran.
Fo

26 EXT. EUROPEAN PORT – DAY 26

h

The Protagonist disembarks with the rest of the wind-farm

crew. As they file past a car the driver, also in hi-viz,
r

steps out into line, leaving the door open, engine running.

The Protagonist gets in. The GPS is already set...

27 EXT. OFFICE COMPLEX – LATER 27

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 12.

A bland suburban office park. The Protagonist gets out of the

car, wearing his hi-viz and carrying a clipboard. Heads
inside, passing numerous STAFF coming out...

28 INT. LOBBY, OFFICE COMPLEX – CONTINUOUS 28

The Protagonist moves through the lobby unimpeded. Checking
Sp tr
the tenant listings he sees – ‘WINDFARM TRANSITIONS – B-2’.

29 INT. CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 29

The Protagonist walks up to B-2.
ec
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
With a hi-viz vest and a clipboard,
Vi

you can get almost anywhere. Almost.

The Protagonist turns to find a brusque young woman. This is
BARBARA. He joins his hands, interlacing the fingers...
ia
PROTAGONIST
A pretty obscure tenet.
lC
Using a key card, she ushers him through a door into –
r

30 INT. OFFICE, LABORATORY – CONTINUOUS 30

ag

Barbara hands the Protagonist a cup of tea.

op
BARBARA
No small talk, nothing that might
reveal who we are, or what we do.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
I thought I was here to find out
what we do.
ha

BARBARA
You’re not here for ‘what’, you’re
Fo

here for ‘how’. ‘What’ is your

department. And not my business.
h

PROTAGONIST
Well, to do what I do, I need some
r

idea of the threat we face.

Barbara considers the Protagonist. Sips her tea.
BARBARA
As I understand it, we’re trying to
prevent World War Three.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 13.

PROTAGONIST
Nuclear holocaust?
BARBARA
No. Something worse.

31 INT. SHOOTING RANGE – MOMENTS LATER 31

Sp tr
Barbara hands the Protagonist a semi-automatic. He
reflexively checks the chamber and magazine – EMPTY.
BARBARA
Aim it and pull the trigger.
ec
The Protagonist SHRUGS, lifts the empty pistol, sights a
target 25m away with several holes in it...
Vi

He squeezes the trigger – BAM! – a shot. He is CONFUSED...

BARBARA
ia
Check the magazine.
The Protagonist checks the clip – THERE IS A ROUND IN IT.
lC
PROTAGONIST
How?
r

Barbara pulls on PROTECTIVE GLOVES and removes the round from

ag

the clip, placing it next to an identical one on a table.

op
BARBARA
One of these bullets is, like us,
travelling forwards through time.
The other one’s going backwards. Can
you tell which is which?
S
y
The Protagonist shakes his head. Barbara reaches forward –
ha

BARBARA
How about now? –
Fo

One of the rounds FLIES UP INTO HER HAND, FALLING IN REVERSE.

The Protagonist is taken aback. Barbara holds the round
h

towards him so he can inspect it –

r

BARBARA
It’s inverted – its entropy runs
backwards. So, to our eyes, its
movement is reversed. We think it’s
a type of inverse radiation,
triggered by nuclear fission.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 14.

PROTAGONIST
You didn’t make it?
BARBARA
We don’t know how. Yet.

PROTAGONIST
So where’d it come from?
Sp tr BARBARA
Someone’s manufacturing them in the
future. They’re streaming back at
us.
Barbara places the round on the table, in front of a CAMERA.
ec
BARBARA
Vi

Try it.
He puts on a glove – moves his hand over it, nothing.
ia
BARBARA
You have to have dropped it.
The Protagonist reaches out again – it LEAPS UP INTO HIS
lC
HAND.
r

PROTAGONIST
How can it move before I touch it?
ag

She cues up the recording of what he just did –

op
BARBARA
From your point of view you caught
it, but from the bullet’s point of
view...
S
y
She plays it BACKWARDS –
ha

BARBARA
...you dropped it.
Fo

ON THE SCREEN: the round FALLS from his hand.

PROTAGONIST
h

But cause has to come before effect.

r

BARBARA
No. That’s just how we see time.
She PULLS the round towards herself using one finger – the
round follows her finger as if MAGNETIZED...
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 15.

What about free will?

BARBARA
That bullet wouldn’t have moved if
you hadn’t put your hand there.
Either way we run the tape, you made
it happen.

Sp tr
She LAUNCHES it up into her other hand –
BARBARA
Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.
Barbara PLAYS with the round in increasingly IMPROBABLE,
BEAUTIFUL MOVEMENTS... The round SHOOTS AWAY FROM HER – the
ec
Protagonist CATCHES IT...
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Instinct. Got it.
Barbara smiles, swaps him the round for the pistol. She then
ia
places a TRAY COVERED IN SHELL CASINGS beside him.
The Protagonist aims at the target – a shell casing LEAPS
into the gun – he FIRES, and a bullet hole near the bullseye
lC
VANISHES –
r

PROTAGONIST
Why does it feel so strange?
ag

BARBARA
op
You’re not shooting the bullet,
you’re catching it.
PROTAGONIST
Whoa.
S
y
The Protagonist examines the target – no bullet holes.
ha

PROTAGONIST
I’ve seen this type of ammunition
before.
Fo

BARBARA
In the field?
h

PROTAGONIST
r

I was almost hit.

BARBARA
Then you are exceedingly lucky...
The Protagonist turns to her...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 16.

BARBARA
An inverted bullet passing through
your body would be devastating. The
inverse radiation would spread
through your body. Like polonium
poisoning. Not pretty.
The Protagonist examines the rounds...
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
These look like today’s.
BARBARA
They may have been made today, then
inverted years from now.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

Where did you get them?

BARBARA
They came with the wall. I was
ia
assigned it, like all the material
I’m studying here.

PROTAGONIST
lC
Do you have an analysis of the
metals?
r

BARBARA
ag

Sure. Why?
op
PROTAGONIST
The mixture of alloys can tell me
where they might have been made.
Look, I know you said that ‘what’ is
my business –
S
y
BARBARA
Let’s not go off-topic.
ha

PROTAGONIST
I’m not seeing Armageddon here.
Fo

Barbara takes the round from him, and beckons him to follow –
h

32 INT. ARCHIVE – CONTINUOUS 32

r

Between tall sets of DRAWERS...

BARBARA
A bullet may not seem like much, but
it’s a simple machine – lead bullet,
brass casing, gunpowder. If they can

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 17.

invert this – I see no reason they

couldn’t invert pretty much
anything. Even a nuclear weapon can
only affect our future.
BARBARA
An inverted weapon might be able to
affect our past as well.
Sp tr
Barbara stops at a drawer. Gestures around herself –
BARBARA
Now that we know what to look for,
we’re finding more and more inverted
material...
ec
She opens a drawer, revealing a VARIETY OF RUSTED BITS AND
Vi

PIECES – SCREWS, CRACKED LENSES, METAL RODS, BUTTONS...

BARBARA
...remnants of complex objects.
ia
The Protagonist reaches out and lets a RUSTED BUCKLE leap
into his hand.
lC
PROTAGONIST
So what do you think we’re seeing?
r

BARBARA
ag

The detritus of a coming war.

op
The Protagonist looks around at the MULTITUDE of DRAWERS.

33 EXT. CROWDED STREET, MUMBAI – DAY 33

S

The Protagonist walks out of an electronics store, opening a

y
new phone, and slips into the throng. He dials –
ha

MALE VOICE
(over phone)
Yup?
Fo

PROTAGONIST
We live in a twilight world.
h

MALE VOICE
r

(over phone)
No friends at dusk. I was told you’d
left the building.
PROTAGONIST
Even the dead need allies.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 18.

MALE VOICE
(over phone)
Specifically?
PROTAGONIST
An assist in Mumbai. To get to
Sanjay Singh.

Sp tr MALE VOICE
(over phone)
Singh? He never leaves his house,
and his house... well, it’s –
PROTAGONIST
Yes, it is – I’m looking right at
ec
it.
Vi

Above the bustling street, a HIGH-RISE HOUSE, at least twenty

storeys tall, with two large balconies, towers over...
MALE VOICE
ia
(over phone)
I’ll see who’s on deck. Bombay Yacht
Club, two hours.
lC
As the Protagonist hangs up, he spots a figure, on the top
balcony. A WOMAN IN A SARI, standing high above the city.
r ag

34 INT. BOMBAY YACHT CLUB – EVENING 34

op
The Protagonist enters the quiet ex-colonial establishment.

Takes a seat. A BUSINESSMAN sits down next to him.

BUSINESSMAN
S

It seems you need an introduction to

y
a prominent Mumbai local on short
notice. I’m Neil.
ha

Neil offers his hand. The Protagonist takes it –

Fo

PROTAGONIST
I need an audience with Sanjay
Singh.
h

NEIL
r

Not possible.
PROTAGONIST
Ten minutes, tops.
NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 19.

Time isn’t the problem. Getting out

alive’s the problem.
(thinks)
Would you take a child hostage?
The Protagonist shakes his head.
NEIL
Sp tr A woman?

PROTAGONIST
If I had to. I’m not looking to make
much noise here.
Neil keeps thinking. Signals a waiter –
ec
NEIL
Vi

Vodka tonic.
(gestures at the
Protagonist)
Diet Coke.
ia
The Protagonist stares at Neil. Neil looks up, confused.
NEIL
lC
What? You never drink on the job.
r

PROTAGONIST
You’re well informed.
ag

NEIL
op
It pays to be in our profession.
PROTAGONIST
Well, I prefer club soda.
S

NEIL
y
(grins)
No, you don’t.
ha

Neil raps his knuckles on the table, thinking.

Fo

NEIL
How’s your parachuting?
h

PROTAGONIST
Broke an ankle in basic training.
r

Singh’s house isn’t tall enough to

parachute off of.
NEIL
(thinks)
But it’s bungee-jumpable.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 20.

PROTAGONIST
I don’t think ‘bungee-jumpable’ is a
word.
NEIL
It may not be a word, but it may be
your only way out of that place.
(a thought occurs)
Sp tr Or into it, for that matter.

35 EXT. HIGH-RISE HOUSE – EVENING 35

ARMED GUARDS patrol the balconies.
ec
36 INT. HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 36
Vi

Inside one of the magnificent rooms, a middle-aged Indian man

mixes drinks. This is SANJAY SINGH.
ia
37 EXT. LOW ROOFTOP NEXT DOOR TO HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 37
Neil and the Protagonist race across the roof carrying a
lC
sports bag. Neil pulls out a WINCH, the Protagonist pulls out
a large CATAPULT, loops it around two pipes, glancing down
r

into the WALLED YARD at the foot of the high-rise house.

ag

Neil BOLTS the winch to the roof, the Protagonist sights the
upper balcony of the high-rise house, FIRES a ball with a
op
line up and over the balcony railing...

38 EXT. HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 38

S

The Protagonist and Neil lie next to each other as the WINCH
y
RUNS, TENSIONING THEIR ELASTIC LINES... they LAUNCH
themselves, FLYING UP to land against the side of the
ha

building –

They RUN SILENTLY UP THE BUILDING, onto the UPPER TERRACES,

Fo

SHOOTING TWO GUARDS with silenced pistols...

h

39 INT/EXT. HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 39

r

Sanjay Singh hands a drink to the Woman in the sari. They

move out onto the balcony –

40 EXT. BALCONY – CONTINUOUS 40

The Protagonist surprises Sanjay, holds him at gunpoint –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 21.

PROTAGONIST
(to the Woman)
Stay back.
(to Sanjay)
I was almost taken out by a very
unusual type of ammunition in
Ukraine. I want to know who supplied
it.
Sp tr SANJAY
My name’s Sanjay. And you are?
(silence)
No chit-chat?
The Woman pushes a RED BUTTON on the wall –
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

There’s no one at the other end. No

one who’s going to help you, anyway.
ia
41 INT. SECURITY STATION, HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 41
An alarm buzzes, the Security Guards are frozen, Neil has a
gun on them, a finger to his lips...
lC
r

42 EXT. BALCONY, HIGH-RISE HOUSE – CONTINUOUS 42

ag

Sanjay tries to turn to see the Protagonist –

op
SANJAY
Why would I know who supplied it?
The Protagonist pushes his head back around with the gun –
S

PROTAGONIST
y
The combination of metals is unique
to India. If it’s from India, it’s
ha

from you.
SANJAY
Fo

A fair assumption –
PROTAGONIST
h

Deduction.
r

SANJAY
Deduction, then. Look, my friend,
guns are never conducive to a
productive negotiation.
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 22.

I’m not the man they send to

negotiate...
He COCKS his weapon – puts the gun to Sanjay’s head –
PROTAGONIST
But I am the man people talk to.

Sp tr SANJAY
(charm curdles)
I can’t. I can’t tell you.
PROTAGONIST
You’re an arms dealer, friend – this
may be the easiest trigger I’ve ever
ec
had to pull.
Vi

WOMAN (O.S.)
To say anything about a client would
violate the tenets he lives by...
ia
The Protagonist GLANCES at the Woman... whose fingers are
casually INTERTWINED. The Protagonist brings his free hand up
to hold the gun in both hands, fingers INTERLACED...
lC
PROTAGONIST
If tenets are important to you, then
r

you can tell me. Everything.

ag

WOMAN
Not while you have a gun to my
op
husband’s head.
The Protagonist releases him.
WOMAN
S

Sanjay, make us a drink.

y
ha

43 INT. TERRACE OVERLOOKING MUMBAI, SANJAY’S HOUSE – LATER 43

Overlooking the extraordinary bustle of the city. Sanjay has
Fo

left. His wife hands the Protagonist his drink –

PRIYA
h

I’m Priya Singh.

r

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.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 23.

PROTAGONIST
The Russian oligarch?
PRIYA
You know him?

PROTAGONIST
Not personally. Made his billions in
Sp tr 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
ec
plutonium, and he’s said to be on
the outs so he can feed British
Vi

Intelligence whatever the Russians

want them to think they know.
PROTAGONIST
ia
None of which explains how or why
you sold him inverted munitions.
PRIYA
lC
When I sold him the rounds, they
were perfectly ordinary.
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

So how did he get them inverted?

op
PRIYA
We believe he’s functioning as some
kind of broker between our time and
the future.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
He can communicate with the future?
ha

PRIYA
We all do. Credit cards, email, text
– anything that goes into the record
Fo

speaks directly to the future. The

question is – can the future speak
back? And, if so, what are they
h

saying?
r

PROTAGONIST
And I’m supposed to find out?
PRIYA
To get anywhere near Sator would
take a fresh-faced protagonist...

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 24.

She reaches up to touch his cheek.

PRIYA
Fresh as a daisy. Get close, find
out what he’s receiving and how.
PROTAGONIST
Is it safe to involve British
Sp tr Intelligence?
PRIYA
I have a contact who’s out of
Sator’s reach.

PROTAGONIST
ec
One of us?
Vi

PRIYA
No, he thinks we’re chasing
plutonium.
ia
SIRENS. BANGS! Priya looks over to see POLICE CARS arriving
far below, in the WALLED YARD at the foot of her house...
PRIYA
lC
You’d better get out of here.
r

PROTAGONIST
Can’t you explain things?
ag

PRIYA
op
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
S

to the future – they pass it back to

y
Sator –
ha

PROTAGONIST
My cover’s blown before I get near
him.
Fo

PRIYA
You got in – you must’ve had a plan
h

for getting out.

r

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.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 25.

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...

44 EXT. MEMBER’S CLUB, LONDON – DAY 44

The Protagonist walks down the busy Mall, and up the steps...

45
Sp tr
INT. MEMBER’S CLUB, LONDON – DAY 45
The Protagonist enters, is approached by a STEWARD.

STEWARD
ec
Can I help you, sir?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
I’m Mr Crosby’s lunch.
STEWARD
ia
I presume you mean Sir Michael
Crosby’s lunch?

PROTAGONIST
lC
Presume away.
r

STEWARD
If you’ll follow me.
ag

op
46 INT. LOUNGE, MEMBER’S CLUB – CONTINUOUS 46
The Protagonist is shown to a table where a distinguished
middle-aged man is already eating. CROSBY.
S

CROSBY
y
Started without you, hope you don’t
mind.
ha

PROTAGONIST
I’ll catch up.
Fo

(to the Steward)

Same for me.
h

STEWARD
I’ll send the waiter.
r

PROTAGONIST
No, just pass on the order.
Crosby smiles at the Protagonist’s handling of the Steward.
CROSBY

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 26.

I gather you’ve an interest in a

certain Russian national.
PROTAGONIST
Anglo-Russian. So I’ll have to watch
my step.
CROSBY
Sp tr Indeed. He’s tapped into the
intelligence services – I’ve warned
them he’s feeding them rubbish, but
they don’t seem to care.

PROTAGONIST
Tell me about him.
ec
CROSBY
Vi

I assume you’re familiar with the

Soviet-era secret cities?
PROTAGONIST
ia
Closed cities, not shown on maps,
built up around sensitive
industries. Most of them have been
opened up and renamed as regular
lC
towns.
r

CROSBY
Not the one Sator grew up in.
ag

Stalsk-12.
op
CROSBY
In the seventies our people
estimated its population at almost
200,000. Unacknowledged to this day.
Thought to be abandoned.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
Abandoned?
ha

CROSBY
Some kind of accident. After which
Fo

we think it became a site for

underground tests. Just two weeks
ago, same day as the Kiev Opera
h

siege, our satellites detected a

detonation in north-west Siberia,
r

about where we think Stalsk-12 was.

PROTAGONIST
Nuclear?
CROSBY

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 27.

Big enough to be noticed. Sator

emerged from this blank spot on the
map with an ambition that eventually
led him here, to buy his way into
the British establishment.

PROTAGONIST
Through his wife?
Sp tr CROSBY
Katherine Barton, eldest niece of
Sir Frederick Barton. She works at
Shipley’s, met Sator at an auction.
PROTAGONIST
ec
He’s into art?
Vi

CROSBY
Like a lot of wealthy criminals, he
thinks if he covers his walls with
tasteful, expensive things it’ll
ia
distract from the bloodshed. Judging
by the lovely girl he married, there
might be something in it.
lC
PROTAGONIST
Happy marriage?
r

CROSBY
ag

No. Practically estranged.

op
PROTAGONIST
How do I get to Sator?
CROSBY
Through her, of course.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
You may have an inflated idea of my
ha

powers of seduction.
CROSBY
Fo

Hardly. We have an ace in the

hole...
h

Crosby slides a SHOPPING BAG over to the Protagonist’s feet.

r

The Protagonist looks inside: a small FRAMED DRAWING.

PROTAGONIST
You’re carrying a Goya in a Harrods
bag?
CROSBY

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 28.

It’s a fake, by a Spaniard named

Arepo. One of two we confiscated
from an embezzler in Bern. We hung
on to this one for a rainy day – I
felt the first drops when India
called.
PROTAGONIST
Sp tr What happened to the other one?
CROSBY
A Rubens. It turned up at Shipley’s,
where it was authenticated by
Katherine Barton before going under
the hammer. And who do you suppose
ec
bought it?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Her husband? Does she know it’s a
forgery?
ia
CROSBY
Hard to say. Rumour had it that she
and Arepo were close.
lC
Crosby looks the Protagonist over –
r

CROSBY
Look, no offence, but this is a
ag

world where someone claiming to be a

billionaire gets asked if they’re
op
just a dollar billionaire.
PROTAGONIST
And?
S

CROSBY
y
Brooks Brothers won’t cut it.
ha

PROTAGONIST
I’m assuming I have a budget.
Fo

CROSBY
(tosses him a credit card)
Save the world, then we’ll balance
h

the books. Can I recommend a tailor?

r

PROTAGONIST
I’ll manage. You British don’t have
a monopoly on snobbery, you know.
CROSBY
Not a monopoly. More of a
controlling interest.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 29.

The Protagonist rises, taking the credit card and the bag.
PROTAGONIST
Thanks for this. By the way, is she
a Kate or a Kathy?
CROSBY
A Kat, I believe.
Sp tr
The waiter arrives, bearing food, supervised by the Steward.
PROTAGONIST
Could you box that for me?
STEWARD
ec
Certainly not.
Vi

The Protagonist smiles at Crosby, who nods goodbye.

PROTAGONIST
Goodbye, Sir Michael.
ia
47 EXT. WEST LONDON PRIVATE SCHOOL – DAY 47
lC
Mothers stand at the railings waiting for their kids. One of
them, a smart YOUNG WOMAN, stands a little apart from the
r

group. SCHOOLKIDS pile out of the school...

ag

48 INT/EXT. CAR – CONTINUOUS 48

op
The Protagonist watches from across the road as the Young
Woman SPOTS her son. She offers him her hand, but he reaches
up to take his NANNY’S. She moves her hand to pick something
off his jumper before he is put into the back of a BLACK
S

RANGE ROVER with tinted windows.

y

The Protagonist watches the Young Woman wave at the departing

ha

car carrying her child. Utterly alone.

Fo

49 EXT. SHIPLEY’S, LONDON – DAY 49

A BENTLEY pulls up – a DOORMAN opens the rear door, the
h

Protagonist emerges, IMMACULATELY TAILORED, holding a

beautiful leather briefcase.
r

50 INT. SHIPLEY’S – CONTINUOUS 50

The Protagonist is approached by a REPRESENTATIVE –
REPRESENTATIVE

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 30.

How can I help, sir?

PROTAGONIST
I have an appraisal with Ms Barton.
REPRESENTATIVE
(to receptionist)
Tell Kat her client is in the Fallow
Sp tr Room.

51 INT. APPRAISAL ROOM – MOMENTS LATER 51

The Protagonist admires the paintings on the walls. The door

opens and the Young Woman from the school gates comes in,
ec
dressed for business. This is KAT BARTON. She looks bemused,
but gives him a genuine and friendly smile –
Vi

KAT
I’m sorry, I wasn’t notified of any
appointments, Mr...
ia
PROTAGONIST
Goya?
lC
KAT
Mr Goya?
r

The Protagonist opens his briefcase...

ag

PROTAGONIST
op
No, I’m told you’re the person to
see about...

Offers the drawing to her...

S

PROTAGONIST
y
...Goya.
ha

She takes it, suddenly interested...

KAT
Fo

Wow. It’s extraordinary.

She lays the drawing on the table and grabs a loupe –
h

PROTAGONIST
r

What’s it worth?
KAT
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
There’s a lot of work before any
kind of valuation – provenance,
microscopic examination, X-rays...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 31.

She is bent over the table, peering through the loupe.

The Protagonist studies her reaction as he –
PROTAGONIST
But what does your heart tell you?
She steps back. Something about the drawing BOTHERS her...
Sp tr KAT
I’m sorry, where did you say you
acquired this drawing?
PROTAGONIST
Tomas Arepo.
ec
Kat rises and turns to face the Protagonist. Cold.
Vi

KAT
What do you want?
ia
PROTAGONIST
What I want is complicated.
KAT
lC
Do you work for my husband?
r

PROTAGONIST
I’ve never met your husband. That’s
ag

the reason I’m here. Is there

somewhere we can talk?
op
KAT
In London? Not really.
S

52 INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT 52

y

The Protagonist and Kat sit at a corner table.

ha

PROTAGONIST
I bought my Goya for cents on the
Fo

dollar from an irate Swiss banker.

Traced it to Arepo, and realized I’d
scored a bargain when he told me
h

who’d paid top dollar for another

one of his pictures. Your husband.
r

KAT
Where’s the bargain? Your drawing’s
an obvious fake.
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 32.

My drawing’s a very good fake – you

know that better than anyone. The
information’s the bargain.
KAT
The information that I helped
defraud my own husband?

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
He and I are in related businesses,
but he’s a hard man to meet. If you
and I were to make an arrangement –
KAT
Arrangement? You mean blackmail.
ec
Don’t be afraid of the word – my
husband isn’t. And I’m sorry to tell
Vi

you he got there first.

PROTAGONIST
He knows? And he’s never done
ia
anything about it?
KAT
Why would he?
lC
PROTAGONIST
r

He paid nine million dollars –

ag

KAT
Which would barely cover the holiday
op
he just forced us on.
PROTAGONIST
Where’d you go – Mars?
S

KAT
y
Viet Nam. On our yacht. His yacht.
ha

Kat looks the Protagonist up and down...

KAT
Fo

You’ve got the suit. The shoes, the

watch. But I think you’re a little
out of your depth.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

(sharp)
People who’ve amassed fortunes like
your husband’s aren’t generally okay
with being cheated out of any of it.

Kat sips her wine. Wanting to talk. Knowing she shouldn’t.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 33.

KAT
The drawing is his hold over me. He
threatened me with the police,
prison, the works. He controls me,
my contact with my son, everything.
Leaving him would never have been
easy, now it’s impossible. My life,
now... You can’t fight. Just beg. Or
Sp tr worse. In Viet Nam I tried to love
him again. If there were still love,
he might give me my son. We sat on
that bloody boat and watched the
sunsets, imitating an earlier time.
He seemed happy, so I asked. And he
made me an offer. To let me go if I
ec
agreed to never see my son again. I
expressed myself –
Vi

INSERT CUT: a CRYSTAL BOWL of RASPBERRIES SMASHES onto the

polished wood of a yacht’s deck –
ia
KAT
Then took Max ashore. He called us,
contrite. But when we came back...
lC
INSERT CUT: Kat and Max on a launch – Kat follows Max’s gaze
to see a FEMALE FIGURE SLIDE into the water...
r

KAT
ag

I glimpsed some other woman diving

off the boat. And he’d vanished.
op
I’ve never felt such envy.
PROTAGONIST
You don’t seem the jealous type.
S

KAT
y
Of her. You know how I dream of just
diving off that boat? Of freedom?
ha

PROTAGONIST
But you share a son.
Fo

KAT
And that’s my life.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Did you know the drawing was a fake?

KAT
The authentication took months –
Arepo and I became close, maybe too
close. Maybe my judgement was
clouded. I failed.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 34.

KAT
But Andrei can’t conceive of
failure, only betrayal. I didn’t
betray my husband. In retrospect,
maybe I missed my chance.
PROTAGONIST
And he let Arepo walk free?
Sp tr KAT
If you’d actually met Arepo, as you
claimed, you’d understand that he no
longer walks anywhere.
PROTAGONIST
ec
We spoke on the phone –
Vi

KAT
He can’t do that, either.
The Protagonist considers this.
ia
PROTAGONIST
Where’s the drawing?
lC
KAT
Why?
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

Get me the introduction, I’ll take

the drawing out of the equation. No
op
picture, no prosecution. No hold
over you.
Kat looks at the Protagonist. Not daring to hope.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
I might just be your second chance –
ha

KAT
(snaps)
I don’t need redemption.
Fo

PROTAGONIST
At betrayal.
h

A LARGE, WELL-DRESSED THUG sits down at the table. He takes a

r

green bean from the Protagonist’s plate and chews it

vacantly. This is VOLKOV. The Protagonist looks at Kat –

PROTAGONIST
Friend of your husband?
(she nods)
You knew this would happen?

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 35.

KAT
They won’t kill you. Andrei dislikes
tangling with local law enforcement
on that level.
PROTAGONIST
You must really not have liked the
look of me.
Sp tr KAT
(rising)
The look of you is fine. It’s better
to get to the nasty part before I
care one way or the other.
ec
He takes her hand, pulls her forward to kiss her cheek.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
(whispers)
There’s a number in your left coat
pocket. Don’t call from home.
ia
A Thug puts a MEATY HAND on the Protagonist’s shoulder.
KAT
lC
You won’t be taking my call.
r

PROTAGONIST
I might surprise you.
ag

She leaves, BREEZING out through the kitchen... at Volkov’s

op
nod, two Thugs escort the Protagonist from his chair, heading
towards the kitchen – a WAITER moves to object – Volkov,
eating the Protagonist’s leftovers, pulls the Waiter up
short, shaking his head.
S
y
53 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND RESTAURANT – MOMENTS LATER 53
ha

Kat exits the restaurant, DISTRAUGHT, walking past a waiting

THUG, then sliding into the back seat of a MERCEDES.
Fo

54 INT/EXT. MERCEDES – CONTINUOUS 54

h

The driver is a GAUNT RUSSIAN.

r

KAT
Please, let’s go.
The Gaunt Russian does not react, but watches through the
rear-view mirror as a THUG enters the kitchen –
KAT

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 36.

Can we get going?

55 INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS 55

The Protagonist enters the kitchen, followed by the two

thugs. CHEFS and BUSBOYS retreat as the other thug
approaches...

56
Sp tr
INT/EXT. ALLEY BEHIND RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS 56
Kat turns from the window –
KAT
ec
Please!
Vi

GAUNT RUSSIAN
He wants you to see...
ia
57 INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS 57
The Protagonist JACKKNIFES HIS LOWER LEG UP into the crotch
of the thug behind him – SPINS him into the Thug next to him
lC
– POTS and Pans flying –
r

58 INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS 58

ag

Volkov wipes sauce with bread, enjoying noises from the

op
kitchen...

59 INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS 59

S

The Third Thug SWINGS – the Protagonist DODGES, takes the

y
blow on the shoulder – SLAMS his head into the Third Thug’s
neck, leaving him GASPING – the Protagonist GRABS the Third
ha

Thug, RACING for the WINDOW...

Fo

60 INT/EXT. MERCEDES – CONTINUOUS 60

Kat FLINCHES as, with a CRASH of plates, a body TUMBLES down
h

the stairs...
r

GAUNT RUSSIAN
And he gets what he wants.
Then she sees something else... the Protagonist exits.
KAT
Not always, apparently.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 37.

61 EXT. ALLEY BEHIND RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS 61

The Protagonist brushes himself clean, SPOTS the Mercedes,
starts moving towards it –

62 INT/EXT. MERCEDES – CONTINUOUS 62

Sp tr
The Gaunt Russian SCRAMBLES to get the car moving. Kat looks
back at the Protagonist as the car ROARS away...

63 EXT. SCHOOL GATES – DAY 63

Kat is crouched, talking to her son, MAX. The Nanny hovers –

ec
MAX
Vi

Anna says we’re going to Pompeii and

see lava.
KAT
ia
We’ll go together. I’ll be there,
too.
Max looks up at the Nanny. Kat hugs him, tight. The Nanny
lC
TAPS Kat on the shoulder. Kat smiles at her son, tears in her
eyes, as the car pulls away. She pulls out her phone,
r

dials... hears a RINGTONE behind her –

ag

The Protagonist is there.

op
PROTAGONIST
I said I’d surprise you. He’s a cute
kid.

KAT
S

Max. He’s everything.

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

Where’s the drawing?

KAT
Fo

Oslo. At the airport.

PROTAGONIST
h

The airport?
r

INSERT CUT: a Rotas car drives across an airport apron, and

down a ramp...
KAT
Do you know what a freeport is?
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 38.

A storage facility for art that’s

been acquired –

...into a SLEEK facility – the OSLO FREEPORT – as a STAFF

MEMBER stands ready to greet a new CLIENT...
KAT (V.O.)
But not yet taxed. We started a
Sp tr network – Rotas, his construction
company, built them, I brought in
clients. The facilities are tax
havens...
The client is NEIL... he takes in the security
arrangements...
ec
PROTAGONIST (V.O.)
Vi

The clients can view their

investments –
ia
64 EXT. OSLO OPERA HOUSE – DAY 64

The Protagonist is standing on the roof of the Oslo Opera

House, briefing Neil...
lC
PROTAGONIST (V.O.)
r

– without importing them, so they

avoid paying tax.
ag

NEIL
op
Sort of a transit lounge for art?
We go back to Kat, on the street, briefing the Protagonist...
KAT
S

Art, antiques, anything of value,

y
really.
ha

PROTAGONIST
Anything?
Fo

KAT
Anything legal...
h

Then back to the Protagonist briefing Neil...

r

PROTAGONIST
But it’s not unlike the Swiss
banking system. Opaque.
Back to Kat –
KAT

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 39.

Rotas has assets in the Oslo

Freeport. I’m guessing it’s there.
PROTAGONIST
Guessing?
Back to Oslo –

Sp tr Guessing?
NEIL

Back to Kat –

KAT
We make trips there four or five
ec
times a year.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
To view art?
KAT
ia
And whatever he does – it turns out
art is of no importance to Andrei.
PROTAGONIST
lC
But the freeports are.
r

Kat nods.
ag

65 INT. FREEPORT – DAY 65

op
A STAFF MEMBER brings Neil into a LUXURIOUS GALLERY –

STAFF MEMBER
Some freeports are just warehouses –
S

here, you can actually enjoy your

y
possessions...
ha

Then through doors into an ANGLED INNER CORRIDOR...

STAFF MEMBER
Fo

The structure of the vaults is based

on The Pentagon – each vault a
separate structure within the
h

others. Damage to one structure

won’t compromise the others.
r

They arrive at a door in the corridor. The Staff Member uses

his thumb to unlock a door –
STAFF MEMBER
Clients have biometric access
straight in off the tarmac.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 40.

NEIL
From the terminal?
STAFF MEMBER
(confused)
From their private planes.
NEIL
Sp tr Of course.
Neil checks the locks as the Staff Member opens the door into
–

66 INT. FREEPORT SHIPPING AREA – CONTINUOUS 66

ec
A VAST SHIPPING AREA filled with SHIPPING CONTAINERS –
Vi

STAFF MEMBER
Our logistics department ships to
and from other freeports without
ia
customs inspection...
Neil notices ROTAS containers marked for delivery to TALLINN.
lC
NEIL (V.O.)
What’re you hoping to find?
r ag

67 EXT. OSLO OPERA HOUSE – DAY 67

op
PROTAGONIST
You really want to know?
NEIL
I’m not sure.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
Bring some lead-lined gloves.
ha

NEIL
Jesus. Nuclear?
Fo

PROTAGONIST
When you’re on the tour –
h
r

68 INT. FREEPORT – DAY 68

Neil is shown back into one of the vaults...
PROTAGONIST (V.O.)
Pay attention to the fire
precautions.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 41.

NEIL
Documents are vulnerable to –
STAFF MEMBER
Fire. Absolutely –
NEIL
I was going to say, water damage
Sp tr from sprinkler systems.

STAFF MEMBER
We don’t use sprinklers.
(points to vents)
The facility is flooded with halide
gas, displacing all the air within
ec
seconds.
Vi

NEIL
Can you show me?
STAFF MEMBER
ia
If I did, we’d suffocate.
NEIL
What about the staff in here?
lC
STAFF MEMBER
r

Halide only fills the vaults – they

just have to get into the corridor.
ag

There’s a ten-second warning.

op
NEIL
You only give them ten seconds?
STAFF MEMBER
Our clients use us because we have
S

no priorities above their property.

y

NEIL
ha

Blimey.
STAFF MEMBER
Fo

Well, sir, you asked.

h

69 INT. OSLO AIRPORT – DAY 69

r

The Protagonist and Neil walk through the terminal.

NEIL
Vault doors are fireproof, hydraulic
closers, simple key and electronic
triggers. Surprisingly easy, once
there’s a lockdown.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 42.

PROTAGONIST
Why a lockdown?
NEIL
Power switches to fail-safe, sealing
outer doors, but inner doors revert
to factory settings and pickable
locks. Child’s play, really.
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Child’s play? They’re inside airport
security. They have to worry about
climate control, not armed raids.
NEIL
ec
So how do we get fire power through
the perimeter to trigger a lockdown?
Vi

70 EXT. CROWDED AIRPORT BUS, OSLO AIRPORT – DAY 70

ia
The Protagonist and Neil look across the tarmac to the
freeport structure.
NEIL
lC
Back wall of the freeport...
r

The Protagonist notices Neil start to smile...

ag

PROTAGONIST
You’ve got something?
op
NEIL
You’re not going to like it.
S

71 EXT. OSLO STREET – DAY 71

y

The Protagonist looks at Neil in disbelief.

ha

PROTAGONIST
You want to crash a plane?
Fo

NEIL
Not from the air, don’t be so
h

dramatic. I want to run a jet off

the taxiway, breach the rear wall,
r

start a fire.
PROTAGONIST
How big a plane?
NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 43.

Well, that part is a little

dramatic.
They approach a MAN sitting on a harbour-front bench.
NEIL
This is Mahir. His team will work
the plane.
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
There can’t be passengers –
MAHIR
Norskfreight. They use the hangar on
the west side of the freeport.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

You want to crash a transport plane?

What about the crew?
MAHIR
ia
We’ll pop the slides, chuck ’em off
–
PROTAGONIST
lC
On the move?
r

MAHIR
What’s the problem? They’ll be fine.
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
It seems... bold.
MAHIR
(smiles)
‘Bold’ I’m fine with – I thought you
S

were going to say nuts.

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

And if you get caught?

MAHIR
Fo

We won’t.
PROTAGONIST
h

If you do?
r

MAHIR
Everyone assumes terrorism, but no
one’s died. Swift extradition, then
lost in the system. It’ll barely
make the news.
NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 44.

That may depend on the size of your

explosion.
MAHIR
Actually, the gold bars might get
some play.
PROTAGONIST
Sp tr Gold bars?
NEIL
Norskfreight ships treasury gold
once a month.
MAHIR
ec
We blow the back, drop the gold out
on the runway.
Vi

NEIL
No one’s going to be looking at your
building, I guarantee you.
ia
72 INT. HOTEL ROOM, OSLO – DAY 72
lC
Neil takes LUNGFULS of air, hyperventilating – Mahir starts a
stopwatch. The Protagonist studies some plans...
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

The space at the centre of the

pentagon’s too big... there’s
op
something there, not marked.
Neil runs out of air. Mahir checks his watch.
NEIL
S

A vault within a vault?

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

Maybe.
MAHIR
Fo

Eighty-five seconds.
NEIL
h

Ample.
r

MAHIR
Won’t you be running?
(turns to the Protagonist)
Start packing.
The Protagonist starts BREATHING HARD...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 45.

73 EXT. FREEPORT – NIGHT 73

The Protagonist and Neil, carrying BRIEFCASES, head inside.

74 EXT. APRON, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 74

Two WORKERS (Mahir and his associate, ROHAN) back up a MEAL
Sp tr
TRUCK to a TRANSPORT PLANE. They LIFT the cargo until it is
level with the front side door...

75 INT. FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 75

The Protagonist follows Neil through security. Their
ec
briefcases are examined, finding FRAMED DOCUMENTS...
Vi

76 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 76

Mahir and Rohan carry crew meals through the door and into
ia
the galley, where they stack them into the catering units,
supervised by a GUARD...
lC
77 INT. GALLERY SPACE/LOUNGE, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 77
r

The Staff Member brings Neil an espresso. The Protagonist

subtly checks his watch...
ag

op
78 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 78
Mahir points past the Guard –
MAHIR
S

You gonna eat that?

y

The Guard turns – Mahir GRABS him from behind, Rohan stuffs a
ha

COTTON PAD over the Guard’s face, rendering him unconscious.

They ROLL him into the catering-truck lift... Mahir pops out
Fo

and signals ANOTHER GUARD...

THREE GUARDS have been dumped into the truck lift – Rohan
h

sends it DOWN, SEALS the plane door. Mahir approaches the

cockpit as the PILOTS perform checks – SHOWS THEM HIS GUN...
r

MAHIR
Alright, lads?

79 INT. CORRIDOR, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 79

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 46.

The Staff Member leads Neil and the Protagonist into the
vaults...

80 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 80

At gunpoint, the Pilots nervously pull back from the hangar.

Sp tr
Rohan checks the stacks of GOLD BARS secured in the rear.

81 EXT. APRON, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 81

The plane is TOWED back onto the taxiway and lifts its
engines, easing forward...
ec
Vi

82 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 82

Rohan SLASHES the restraining straps – CROUCHES behind the
pile of gold – pulls out a GRENADE – GRABS the nearest gold
ia
bar and STUFFS it into his waistband before PULLING THE
PIN...
lC
83 INT. VAULTS, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 83
r

The Staff Member shows Neil and the Protagonist into a vault.
ag

Neil puts down his briefcase – pulls out the framed

documents.
op
84 EXT. TAXIWAY, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 84

The transport plane BARRELS down the taxiway...

S
y

85 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 85

ha

Rohan TOSSES the grenade behind the gold at the tail of the
plane and DUCKS as it BLOWS –
Fo

86 EXT. TAXIWAY, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 86

h

BLASTING a hole in the rear of the plane... GOLD BARS POUR

r

OUT, CLATTERING ACROSS THE TARMAC...

87 INT. VAULTS, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 87

Hearing the distant explosion, the Protagonist and Neil start
PACKING AIR... the Staff Member stares at them, quizzical –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 47.

NEIL
(between breaths)
Yoga.

88 INT. COCKPIT, TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 88

Mahir forces the Pilots from their seats –

89
Sp tr
EXT. TAXIWAY, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 89
The INFLATABLE SLIDE BURSTS OPEN, DRAGGING on the asphalt, as
the Pilots roll onto it, SCRAMBLING DOWN to the ground,
ROLLING AWAY from the giant plane...
ec
Vi

90 INT. COCKPIT, TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 90

Mahir TURNS the stick HARD LEFT, AIMING AT THE REAR WALL OF
THE FREEPORT –
ia
91 INT. TRANSPORT PLANE – CONTINUOUS 91
lC
Rohan lowers a ladder behind the forward landing gear – he
and Mahir climb down –
r ag

92 EXT. TAXIWAY, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 92

op
Mahir and Rohan jump down onto the asphalt, racing back
between the wheels as the giant plane SMASHES INTO THE BRICK
WALL OF THE FREEPORT, ERUPTING IN A MASSIVE EXPLOSION...
S

93 INT. VAULTS, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 93

y

The vault is ROCKED by the explosion – ALARMS SCREAM – DOORS

ha

START CLOSING – Neil looks, panicked, at the Staff Member –

NEIL
Fo

Ten seconds, right?!

The Staff Member BOLTS – PUSHING PAST THEM – they take a last
h

gulp of air – GAS HISSES IN. They pull apart the frames of
the documents, BREAKING THEM INTO LOCK-PICKING APPARATUS –
r

lockpicks, small crowbar – they go to work on the INNER DOOR,

PRYING open a panel – HOT-WIRING it – the door SLIDES UP –

94 INT. CORRIDOR, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 94

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 48.

They BURST into the corridor, GASPING – the door SLAMS DOWN
behind them – they HUSTLE down to the next vault door – get
to work. The door opens, they GULP AIR, then RACE inside –

95 INT. VAULT 2, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 95

– round the corner past RACKS, CRATES, some BROKEN – stop at
Sp tr
the next door, the Protagonist picks the lock – his PICK
BREAKS – Neil BOLTS back to where they entered – the
Protagonist STRUGGLES, pulling out pieces of the pick – Neil
gets to the first door –
NO HANDLE – the Protagonist uses a different tool – Neil
SMASHES the door, full-blown PANIC – he looks to the end of
ec
the vault where the ROLLER DOOR is BROKEN at the bottom,
halide gas HISSING OUT –
Vi

Neil races towards it – the Protagonist gets his door OPEN –

Neil STUMBLES past – the Protagonist DRAGS him through the
door –
ia
96 INT. INNER CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 96
lC
They lie GASPING. Neil hears something, looks around –
r

NEIL
(urgent whisper)
ag

There’s someone in here with us!

op
The Protagonist is up, moving down the corridor...

They arrive at two doors, side by side: the Rotas vault. They
each work on a door. Neil’s OPENS –
S

NEIL
y
Need a hand?
ha

The Protagonist works his door... nothing.

PROTAGONIST
Fo

Actually, yes.
Neil leans over, hits ‘ENTER’, the door OPENS.
h
r

97 INT. ROTAS VAULT – CONTINUOUS 97

The Protagonist enters a room, one side of which is a LONG
GLASS WINDOW. Neil is on the other side of the glass, in an
IDENTICAL ROOM. There are BULLET HOLES in the glass. At the
end of each room is a tube, like a sealed in REVOLVING DOOR.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 49.

The Protagonist’s feet crunch BROKEN GLASS...

Neil examines BULLET HOLES in the wall opposite the glass.
WISPS of SMOKE gather near the holes – Neil reaches up –
PROTAGONIST
Don’t touch them –
Sp tr NEIL
What the hell happened here?
The Protagonist sees a STRIPPED AUTOMATIC PISTOL on the
floor. He picks it up, thinking –
ec
PROTAGONIST
It hasn’t happened, yet.
Vi

Neil looks at the Protagonist, quizzical – A LOUD HUM STARTS

UP from the revolving door... the Protagonist looks down –
MOVEMENT beneath his feet – the DEBRIS – SMOKE GATHERS – the
ia
revolving doors ROTATE, OPENING – a BLACK-CLAD FIGURE in a
GAS MASK LEAPS BACKWARDS from the tube – reaching behind
itself to GRAB the stripped automatic in the Protagonist’s
hand –
lC
On Neil’s side an identical BLACK-CLAD FIGURE LEAPS out
r

FORWARDS – knocks Neil over, moving for the vault door –

ag

A SLIDE jumps into the Backwards Figure’s hand – he

REASSEMBLES the gun in the Protagonist’s hand – a MAGAZINE
op
jumping up to LOAD IT – BLAM!
A bullet is SUCKED OUT OF THE WALL – THROUGH THE GLASS –
‘HEALING’ THE BULLET HOLES – the Protagonist STRUGGLES with
the Backwards Figure – whose REVERSE MOVEMENTS seem ALIEN and
S

IMPOSSIBLE –
y

Neil gives chase – RACING out of the vault door –

ha

The Backwards Figure pulls the Protagonist sideways, lining

up his head with the next bullet hole – BLAM! GLASS FLIES UP
Fo

as the shot JUST MISSES the Protagonist’s head –

h

98 INT. CORRIDOR, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 98

r

Neil CHASES the Forwards Figure down the corridor –

99 INT. ROTAS VAULT – CONTINUOUS 99

The Protagonist STRUGGLES – the Backwards Figure PUSHES him
towards the next bullet hole, STRANGE REVERSE GROANING

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 50.

building in its throat, behind the black gas mask, the GROAN
PEAKING AS the Protagonist takes his PICK and STABS the
Backwards Figure in the arm and SMACKS the Figure’s gun out
of its hand – it BOUNCES out the door –
The Figure RISES into the Protagonist’s arms – PULLS him
backwards – we can’t tell if it’s PUSHING or the Protagonist
is PULLING as they move backwards through the door –

100
Sp tr
INT. CORRIDOR, VAULT – CONTINUOUS 100
The Figure PUSHES/PULLS the Protagonist down the corridor –
ec
101 INT. CORRIDOR, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 101
Vi

Neil RACES around a corner, GRABS the Figure’s MASK, which

COMES OFF – he looks, SURPRISED, at the Figure’s face, WHICH
WE CANNOT SEE, then TURNS, RACING back the way he came...
ia
102 INT. CORRIDOR, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 102
The Protagonist and the Backwards Figure struggle into –
lC
r

103 INT. VAULT 2, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 103

ag

They SMASH into the racks and crates – the Protagonist GRABS
the gun – raises it to the Figure’s head –
op
NEIL (O.S.)
NO! Don’t kill him!
The Protagonist freezes – Neil steps up, DESPERATE –
S
y
NEIL
We need to know if you’re
ha

compromised.
The Protagonist THROWS the Figure to the ground –
Fo

PROTAGONIST
Why are you here?!
h

The Protagonist tries to rip off the gas mask, but it is

r

strapped tight – the REVERSE KEENING gets LOUDER and LOUDER.

The Protagonist STEPS onto the Figure’s injured arm...

PROTAGONIST
Who sent you?!

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 51.

The Figure’s reverse screaming gets louder – the Protagonist

KICKS its arm, HARD, AGAIN AND AGAIN –
PROTAGONIST
HOW DID YOU KNOW WE’D BE HERE!
A BOOM! from outside – AIR starts BLOWING ACROSS the
Backwards Figure, SUCKING underneath the broken roller door –
Sp tr
the Backwards Figure SLIDES impossibly across the floor and
underneath the door which SLAMS shut, unbroken behind him.
The Protagonist and Neil look at each other...
NEIL
We have to go.
ec
Vi

104 EXT. APRON, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 104

One of the plane’s JET ENGINES has come loose, STILL

THRUSTING, SWINGING AROUND, wreaking HAVOC for the EMERGENCY
ia
SERVICES – an AMBULANCE SKIDS SIDEWAYS, avoiding the
THRUST...
Mahir and Rohan stand at a distance, watching the MAYHEM
lC
along with DOZENS of other UNIFORMED AIRPORT WORKERS...
r

105 INT/EXT. FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 105

ag

EMTS race in past the Staff Member...

op
106 INT. VAULTS, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 106
Neil moves to the other door – works the lock – SIRENS sound
S

–
y

PROTAGONIST
ha

What happened to the other guy?

NEIL
Fo

I took care of him.

The door opens – they slip into the outer vault –
h
r

107 INT. OUTER VAULT, FREEPORT – MOMENTS LATER 107

They reassemble the document frames, then LIE DOWN,
‘unconscious’ – EMERGENCY SERVICES BURSTS IN...

108 INT. HOTEL ROOM, OSLO – DAWN 108

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 52.

Neil hangs up his phone –

NEIL
Mahir and Rohan slipped out clean.
(turns to the Protagonist)
I’ve seen too much and I’m still
alive. Which means you’ve decided to
trust me.
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Or I’ve lost my edge.
NEIL
Oh, your edge is intact.
ec
The Protagonist looks at Neil.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
There’s a cold war.
NEIL
ia
Nuclear?
PROTAGONIST
Temporal.
lC
NEIL
r

(skeptical)
Time travel?
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
No. Technology that can invert an
object’s entropy.
NEIL
You mean reverse chronology. Like
S

Feynman and Wheeler’s notion that a

y
positron is an electron moving
backwards in time.
ha

PROTAGONIST
Sure, that’s exactly what I meant.
Fo

NEIL
I’ve a master’s in physics.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Well, try to keep up.

NEIL
The implications of this are –
PROTAGONIST
Beyond secret.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 53.

NEIL
Then why’d you take me in?
PROTAGONIST
I thought we’d find the drawing and
a couple boxes of bullets.
NEIL
Sp tr You were as surprised as I was.
PROTAGONIST
I’m going back to Mumbai for
answers. I’ll set you up as go-
between. But remember – to you, all
this is about plutonium. Or when
ec
we’re done, they’ll kill you.
Vi

NEIL
Won’t you have to anyway?
PROTAGONIST
ia
I’d rather it was my decision.
NEIL
So would I. I think.
lC
r

109 INT/EXT. FERRY BOAT, MUMBAI – DAY 109

ag

The Protagonist boards, approaching Priya at the rail.

op
PRIYA
I don’t like to leave my house.
PROTAGONIST
And I don’t like bungee jumping. But
S

we need to talk.
y

PRIYA
ha

What about?
PROTAGONIST
Fo

Inversion.
PRIYA
h

We spoke about it –
r

PROTAGONIST
I don’t remember anything about
people being inverted –
PRIYA
We’re trying to do with inversion
what we couldn’t do with the atomic

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 54.

bomb – uninvent it. Divide and

contain the knowledge. Ignorance is
our ammunition – the more any one of
us knows, the greater the risk that
we’re actually making the situation
worse.
PROTAGONIST
Sp tr Risk more.
Priya gestures at the paper. A headline: ‘OSLO GOLD FREIGHT
CRASH – TERRORISM? ROBBERY? BOTH?’
PRIYA
Your work?
ec
The Protagonist nods.
Vi

PRIYA
What did you find in the vaults?
ia
PROTAGONIST
Two antagonists, one inverted. We
took out the regular one, the
inverted one got away.
lC
PRIYA
r

Both emerged at the same moment?

ag

PROTAGONIST
Yeah.
op
PRIYA
They were the same person. You saw
someone re-inverting. Sator’s built
a turnstile in that vault.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
Turnstile?
ha

PRIYA
A machine for inverting.
Fo

PROTAGONIST
You told me the technology hasn’t
h

been invented, yet.

r

PRIYA
It hasn’t. He’s been given it by the
future.
PROTAGONIST
For what?

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 55.

PRIYA
You’ve the best chance of finding
out.

110 EXT. MUMBAI STREET – MOMENTS LATER 110

They walk, BODYGUARDS at a discreet distance.
Sp tr PRIYA
Have you met him?
PROTAGONIST
I was close.
ec
PRIYA
Get closer.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
I’ve been compromised. Unless that
antagonist was a coincidence.
ia
PRIYA
The wife set you up?
lC
PROTAGONIST
Maybe. There’s a good chance I get
r

killed as soon as I go back in.

ag

PRIYA
This was always a suicide mission –
op
that’s why they recruited a corpse.
PROTAGONIST
Who did? Who are we working for?
S

PRIYA
y
Everyone. Survival. You need more,
consider yourself working for me.
ha

PROTAGONIST
Well, Boss, I need a way to succeed.
Fo

Priya thinks. Looks at the Protagonist. Deciding.

h

PRIYA
What if you have something he needs?
r

PROTAGONIST
Such as?
PRIYA
Plutonium 241. Sator tried to lift
the only loose 241 from under a CIA

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 56.

team at the opera siege in Kiev. He

got the team, but not the 241.
PROTAGONIST
Who did?
PRIYA
Ukrainian security services. It’s
Sp tr moving through Tallinn in a week.
PROTAGONIST
Helping an arms dealer steal
weapons-grade plutonium is
unacceptable. I’m just gonna take
him out.
ec
PRIYA
Vi

No. Sator has to stay alive until we

know his part in things. Leverage
the situation without losing control
of the 241.
ia
PROTAGONIST
It’s too dangerous.
lC
PRIYA
A terrorist bomb, even one that
r

kills millions, is nothing compared

with what happens if we don’t stop
ag

Sator.
op
PROTAGONIST
From. Doing. What?

Priya looks up the road at the cars STREAMING past...

S

PRIYA
y
We’re being attacked. Not by
terrorists or rogue states...
ha

PROTAGONIST
Who, then?
Fo

PRIYA
We’re being attacked by the future.
h

And we’re fighting over time.

r

PROTAGONIST
Time?
PRIYA
Theirs is running out, so they’re
coming for ours. And Sator is
helping. You have to find out how.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 57.

111 EXT. TERRACE, AMALFI COAST – DAY 111

The Protagonist leaves the tourists behind, heading down a
leafy path to emerge at a terrace overlooking the sea. Kat
stands there, alone. The Protagonist falls in beside her.
KAT
I saw the news from Oslo. Do you
Sp tr have the drawing?
PROTAGONIST
You don’t have to worry about it any
more.
KAT
ec
You destroyed it?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
I didn’t think you’d want it back.
KAT
ia
Does he know?
PROTAGONIST
Not yet, so sit tight.
lC
KAT
r

Sit tight? Why? Every day my son

spends with that monster, he thinks
ag

a little less of me.

op
PROTAGONIST
It won’t be long. In the meantime,
introduce me.
KAT
S

As what?
y

PROTAGONIST
ha

I’m a former First Secretary from

the American Embassy in Riyadh, we
met at a party last June –
Fo

KAT
We were at a party in Riyadh, but I
h

don’t think it was June –

r

PROTAGONIST
June 29th. 7 for 7:30, salmon on the
printed menu swapped for sea bass on
the night. Sator left early, that’s
when we met. Don’t offer any of
this, it’s there if he asks. I came
into Shipley’s in London, you ran

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 58.

into me here and want to show me the

yacht.
KAT
He’ll think we’re having an affair.
PROTAGONIST
And he’ll want to meet me.
Sp tr KAT
Or have you killed.
PROTAGONIST
Let me worry about that.
ec
KAT
Did I look worried?
Vi

112 EXT. DOCK, AMALFI – DAY 112

ia
The Protagonist and Kat look out at an enormous yacht.
KAT
Sleeps 70, with crew. Four tenders,
lC
two helicopters, missile defences –
r

PROTAGONIST
Jesus. Worried about pirates?
ag

KAT
op
Andrei loves playing one government
off another. The day they turn,
that’s his refuge.
PROTAGONIST
S

What if I joined you?

y

She nods at Volkov, holding the launch’s line.

ha

KAT
I’m not sure Volkov’s taking
Fo

passengers just now.

PROTAGONIST
h

Then let’s take mine.

r

The Protagonist nods at Volkov as they walk past.

113 EXT. HARBOUR, AMALFI – MOMENTS LATER 113

The Protagonist GUNS his boat hard, carving a GLITTERING PATH

across the calm harbour. Kat sits, enjoying the speed.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 59.

The Protagonist pulls up alongside the yacht, CREW MEMBERS

SCRAMBLE, unaccustomed to unauthorized approaches. The
Protagonist follows Kat’s gaze to a FIGURE above, but the sun
is behind it. Kat steps onto the yacht.
The Protagonist gives the figure a JAUNTY SALUTE. No
response. The Protagonist ZIPS back towards shore, passing
the yacht’s launch. He waves at Volkov.

114
Sp tr
INT/EXT. YACHT – MOMENTS LATER 114
Follow Kat into the enormous lounge. She drops her bags –
MALE VOICE (O.S.)
ec
Who’s the American?
Vi

She turns. A middle-aged man with cold eyes and a thin beard
stands in the doorway. THIS IS SATOR.
KAT
ia
A friend.
SATOR
The man from Shipley’s?
lC
KAT
r

Who you tried to have beaten up?

ag

SATOR
I ask again. Who is he?
op
KAT
We met in Riyadh. In June at the
American Embassy.
S

SATOR
y
Good with fists for a diplomat...
ha

KAT
Paranoia’s your department. He seems
nice, I invited him to the dinner.
Fo

(turns away)
Max?... Max?!...
h

SATOR
He’s visiting Pompeii and
r

Herculaneum.
KAT
Overnight? You just sent him off?!
SATOR
He’s my son.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 60.

KAT
Our son. I told him I’d go with him
–
SATOR
I explained you were busy. With your
friend.

Sp tr
He turns, walks away. She watches him leave.

115 INT. RESTAURANT, AMALFI COAST – EVENING 115

The Protagonist walks towards a table where Sator, holding
court, attacks some crabs. Volkov stops the Protagonist and
ec
FRISKS him, in full view of the diners.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Where I’m from, you buy me dinner
first.
ia
Without looking, Sator gestures at a seat, Volkov lets the
Protagonist pass. He sits.
PROTAGONIST
lC
Mr Sator? I’m –
r

SATOR
(quiet)
ag

Don’t bother. Just tell me if you’ve

slept with my wife, yet.
op
The Protagonist glances up at Kat, opposite, chatting.
PROTAGONIST
No. Not yet.
S
y
A glance from Sator between buttery mouthfuls of crab.
ha

SATOR
How would you like to die?
Fo

PROTAGONIST
Old.
h

SATOR
You chose the wrong profession.
r

Sator returns a toast from a grinning guest. Reaches a greasy

palm to the Protagonist’s cheek, as if in friendliness...
SATOR
There’s a walled garden up the road.
We’re going to take you there, cut

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 61.

your throat, not across, in the

middle, like a hole. Then we take
your balls, stuff them in the cut,
block the windpipe.
PROTAGONIST
Complex.

Sp tr SATOR
It’s gratifying to watch a man you
don’t like try to pull his own balls
out of his throat before he chokes.
PROTAGONIST
Is this how you treat all your
ec
guests?
Vi

SATOR
The ones using my family to get to
me.
ia
PROTAGONIST
How else is someone supposed to get
to you?
lC
SATOR
Only a fool wants to be near me.
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

Or someone who has something worth

delaying your gratification for...
op
Sator signals Volkov – Kat glances over as Volkov RISES –
SATOR
We’re finished.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
Do you like opera?
ha

At this, Sator pauses. Waves off Volkov.

Fo

SATOR
Not here. You sail?
h

PROTAGONIST
I’ve messed around on boats.
r

SATOR
Be on the dock at eight. Ready to do
more than mess around.
Kat, relieved, watches the Protagonist leave.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 62.

116 EXT. DINING ROOM, YACHT – MORNING 116

Kat enters, dressed in sailing gear. Sator is already seated,
similarly dressed, reading his phone, with a cup of coffee.
KAT
Max has missed too much school this
year. I’m taking him back to
Sp tr England.
SATOR
No, you’re not. He has a tutor here.
KAT
The school won’t be okay with –
ec
SATOR
Vi

Yes, they will.

KAT
Can I finish?!
ia
SATOR
Look around you – he has everything
he needs here.
lC
A SERVANT places a plate with a silver cover in front of Kat,
r

then pours her coffee.

ag

KAT
You don’t care what he needs. You
op
bought the trappings of a king, but
we both know you’re a grubby little
man playing power games with a wife
who doesn’t love him any more.
S

Sator looks at her.

y

SATOR
ha

You seem spirited today.

KAT
Fo

(defiant)
Do I?
h

Sator barely nods at the servant, who pulls off the lid...
r

SATOR
Yes. You do.
On the plate, instead of breakfast, is a small drawing. A
‘Rubens’. Kat freezes.
SATOR

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 63.

Were you worried it had been

destroyed? Rest assured, instinct
told me to remove it from the vault.
I’ve always had instincts about the
future. That’s how I built this life
you no longer value.
Kat looks up at him, not knowing what to say or do.

117
Sp tr
EXT. DOCK, AMALFI – MORNING 117
The Protagonist stands on the dock, dressed for sailing,
watching the launch approach...
ec
PROTAGONIST
Morning.
Vi

As he gets on, Kat ignores him. Sator enjoys this.

ia
118 EXT. OPEN OCEAN, AMALFI – MOMENTS LATER 118
The Protagonist tries to catch Kat’s eye, but she will not
look his way.
lC
Sator hands the Protagonist a HARNESS and a HELMET... he
r

looks at them, taken aback, then looks ahead – towards TWO

GRAPHITE DARK, HIGHEST TECH AMERICA’S CUP SAILING YACHTS,
ag

trimmed and ready.

op
PROTAGONIST
(impressed)
When you said sailing...
S

119 EXT. SAILING YACHT DECK – MOMENTS LATER 119

y

Kat gets on, followed by Sator and the Protagonist. The

ha

rigging crew departs. Kat checks the sheets and winches.

Sator indicates the harness.
Fo

SATOR
You know how?
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Aye, Captain.
Sator gestures at Kat.
SATOR
She’s captain.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 64.

120 EXT. OPEN OCEAN, AMALFI – LATER 120

The boats FLY, SKIMMING THE WATER ON THEIR HYDROFOILS...
Sator and the Protagonist are next to each other, standing on
one pontoon, LEANING OUT IN THEIR HARNESSES... Kat is at the
wheel, concentrating...
SATOR
Sp tr What do you know about opera?
PROTAGONIST
In 2008 a remote Russian missile
station was overwhelmed and held for
a week. When the station was
retaken, the plutonium 241 on one
ec
warhead was three quarters of a kilo
lighter. The missing 241 surfaced at
Vi

the opera-house siege in Kiev on the

14th.
SATOR
ia
You’re well informed. But that
doesn’t mean you have the plutonium.

PROTAGONIST
lC
I didn’t say I had it. I’m saying I
know how to get it –
r

KAT (O.S.)
ag

COMING ABOUT!
op
Kat SWINGS the boat into the wind, SAIL FLAPPING FURIOUSLY as
the wind catches it on the other side, and Sator and the
Protagonist DUCK under the boom, RACING to the other side,
their harnesses SNAPPING TAUT as they lean out...
S

SATOR
y
What do you propose?
ha

PROTAGONIST
Partnership.
Fo

SATOR
I wouldn’t partner with you.
h

Kat works the wheel, tracking the other boat. Her look is one
of BOTTLED RAGE...
r

PROTAGONIST
What’s wrong with me?
SATOR
You know how to handle yourself, you
have no record.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 65.

PROTAGONIST
Someone in the arms trade with
training who covers his tracks? Not
that shocking.
SATOR
For an intelligence agent.

Sp tr
Sator holds the Protagonist’s gaze...
KAT
Secure your jib line.
The Protagonist turns – Kat leans in to Sator –
ec
KAT
Burn in hell, Andrei –
Vi

– and YANKS HIS QUICK-RELEASE – he FLIES off the boat,

SMASHING HEAD-FIRST into the waves –
ia
The Protagonist sees Sator FACE-DOWN, UNCONSCIOUS – he
UNCLIPS, JUMPS to the wheel, SPINNING the boat OFF THE WIND –
KAT
lC
YOU CAN’T JIBE A BOAT LIKE THIS – !
r

The Protagonist STEERS the boat across the wind, SNAPPING THE
BOOM ACROSS, ALMOST LOSING THE MAST –
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
You can if you have to –

He RELEASES THE SHEETS, SPILLING WIND, LOSING SPEED – as they

pass Sator he DIVES into the water – GRABS the oligarch –
PULLS his face out of the water... Sator starts COUGHING...
S
y

121 INT. STATEROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – DAY 121

ha

The Protagonist dries himself – the door opens – Kat BURSTS

in –
Fo

KAT
WHY DIDN’T YOU LET HIM DROWN?!
h

She is on him, smashing her fists into his chest –

r

PROTAGONIST
I need him.
KAT
To sell guns?!

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 66.

PROTAGONIST
I’m not who you think I am.
KAT
That, I know – he showed me the
drawing.
PROTAGONIST
Sp tr I’m sorry.
KAT
Do you have any idea what you’ve
done?
PROTAGONIST
ec
I had to get close to him. I don’t
know what you think your husband is
Vi

–
KAT
We both know he’s an arms dealer.
ia
PROTAGONIST
He’s so much more.
lC
KAT
What, then?
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

Andrei Sator holds all our lives in

his hands. Not just yours.
op
She looks bemused. A KNOCK at the door – she hides behind it
–
VOLKOV
S

Mr Sator wants to see you.

y

The Protagonist nods – pushes the door – Volkov stops it –

ha

VOLKOV
Now.
Fo

PROTAGONIST
He wants to see me without pants?
h

Volkov lets the door shut. The Protagonist turns to Kat –

r

PROTAGONIST
Trust me.
KAT
Save it. I’m not falling for it
twice.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 67.

The Protagonist looks at Kat. Sighs.

PROTAGONIST
You have a better option?
She looks into the Protagonist’s eyes. Assessing.
KAT
Sp tr Whatever it takes to
want. Just like him.
thought about me. My
get what you
Not a second’s
son. What do
you think he’s going to do to me
now?
He pulls a gun from his bag. Offers it to her.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

Try not to use this –

She takes it – lets it point at him.
ia
PROTAGONIST
On anyone.
lC
122 INT. STUDY, SATOR’S YACHT – EVENING 122
r

The Protagonist is shown in. Sator is sitting behind his

desk. A DOCTOR is taking his blood pressure.
ag

SATOR
op
Enough –
Sator RIPS the cuff off his arm, sending the doctor out –
checks a fitness tracker on his wrist.
S

SATOR
y
See? Pulse of a man half my age.
Drink with me.
ha

Sator pours them both tumblers of vodka.

Fo

SATOR
It seems I now owe you my life.
h

PROTAGONIST
It’s nothing.
r

Sator fixes his black gaze on the Protagonist.

SATOR
My life is not nothing. And I don’t
like to be in debt.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 68.

PROTAGONIST
Then pay me. No retribution against
your wife.
A dangerous beat. Then Sator GRINS –
SATOR
You think she released my harness?
Sp tr (laughs)
It was my own mistake.
PROTAGONIST
Then help me steal the 241. I need
resources. It’s weapons-grade
plutonium – that means special
ec
handling, containment facilities –
Vi

SATOR
I know what it means. You lecture me
about radiation. Andrei Sator,
digging plutonium from the rubble of
ia
my city as a teenager?
PROTAGONIST
Where?
lC
SATOR
r

Stalsk-12. My home.
ag

Sator sips his drink. Looks the Protagonist in the eye.

op
SATOR
One pod of a warhead exploded at
ground level, scattering the others.
They needed people to find the
plutonium...
S
y
INSERT CUT:
ha

IN A DESOLATE STREET, SNOW FALLS ON A HAZMAT-SUITED SCAVENGER

– A YOUNG SATOR WALKING IN FRONT OF A MASSIVE MINING MACHINE,
CARRYING A GIANT CROWBAR AND A GEIGER COUNTER...
Fo

SATOR
It became my first contract – nobody
h

else even bid. They thought it was a

death sentence.
r

INSERT CUT: YOUNG SATOR SPOTS THE MACHINE UNEARTHING A LARGE

METAL CAPSULE. A FELLOW WORKER SEES THE SAME THING...
SATOR
But one man’s probability of death
is another man’s possibility for a

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 69.

life...
INSERT CUT: YOUNG SATOR OPENS THE CAPSULE. HE LIFTS OUT SOME
PAPERS, WHICH HAVE HIS NAME ON THEM, REVEALING GOLD BARS
UNDERNEATH. THE FELLOW WORKER LEANS IN, STUDYING THE GOLD.
THEY MAKE EYE CONTACT... SATOR STRIKES THE FELLOW WORKER WITH
HIS CROWBAR, KILLING HIM...

Sp tr SATOR
I staked my claim in the new Russia.
Even now, my company is the only one
to operate in the ruins.
PROTAGONIST
The 241’s being transported through
ec
Northern Europe on its way to the
long-term nuclear storage depot at
Vi

Trieste. I’m told you have resources

in Tallinn.
Sator downs his vodka.
ia
SATOR
Stay with us tonight. I insist.
lC
123 INT. KAT’S STATEROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – NIGHT 123
r

Kat slips the gun under her mattress, feels the lump – pulls
ag

it out – moves to the desk, puts it in her jewellery case –

hearing a noise she jumps onto the bed, picks up a book. The
op
door opens. Sator. He locks the door.
KAT
What do you want, Andrei?
S

SATOR
y
We’re going to talk about today.
ha

KAT
No, we’re not.
Fo

He removes a DIAMOND CUFFLINK...

SATOR
h

No?
r

Kat starts to get off the bed –

KAT
Don’t think for a minute you can
treat me the way you treat your
other women.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 70.

Sator shifts to lean on the desk, cutting her off from the
jewellery box. She sits back down. He removes his belt...
SATOR
And how do you imagine I treat these
other women?
Sator slips the cufflink through a belt hole...
Sp tr SATOR
You think I force them into
conversation?
Sator tests the diamond studded belt against his palm.
ec
SATOR
You want to be quiet? Fine...
Vi

He tosses her a pillow.

SATOR
ia
Bite down on that...
Sator moves towards her – she looks at the jewellery box on
the desk – no way around him – Sator looks down at her. She
lC
looks up at his cold eyes...
r

KAT
Even a soul as blank and brittle as
ag

yours needs a response. Is fear and

pain enough? Because that’s all I
op
have to offer.
SATOR
Then it’ll have to do.
S

KAT
y
Why didn’t you just throw me out?
ha

SATOR
If I can’t have you, no one can.
Fo

KAT
At what point do you give up and
kill me?
h

Sator shrugs, wraps the belt a turn around his fist...

r

SATOR
Turn over.
KAT
Touch me, I scream so loud he hears.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 71.

SATOR
You think I’d let him interfere?
KAT
If he tried you’d have to kill him.
End of deal. So leave me the fuck
alone.

Sp tr
A KNOCK at the door.
SATOR
NOT NOW!
But he hears a RUMBLING... Sator, without a word, exits –
ec
124 EXT. SATOR’S YACHT, AMALFI COAST – NIGHT 124
Vi

Sator GRABS binoculars from one of his men, peering out –

A helicopter EMERGES from the darkness, THUNDERING IN...
ia
125 INT. GUEST STATEROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 125
lC
The Protagonist listens to the incoming chopper – pulls on a
black Windbreaker – quietly opens his door...
r ag

126 INT. PASSAGE, BELOW DECKS, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 126

op
The Protagonist makes his way, looking for an exit...

127 EXT. SATOR’S YACHT, AMALFI COAST – CONTINUOUS 127

S

The chopper descends to the landing pad – rotors turning as

y
Sator signals his men to head in...
ha

128 EXT. SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 128

Fo

The Protagonist is on a roof overlooking the helipad...

He watches Sator’s men remove a LARGE, GRUBBY CAPSULE and
h

take it below as the chopper LIFTS OFF...

r

129 INT. STORAGE AREA, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 129

The Protagonist makes his way through the storage area.
Peering through a window, he sees –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 72.

130 INT. ENGINE ROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 130

Crew gathered around the capsule. Sator enters, wipes dirt
from the latches and opens it. Sator puts his hand over the
open capsule, letting small, flat GOLD BARS leap from the
capsule into his hand... he looks up, expectantly...
The Crew SHOVES a CREW MEMBER forwards, onto his knees...
Sp tr
eyes downcast, he reaches behind – pulls a gold bar from his
rear pocket. He offers it to Sator with TREMBLING hands.
Sator takes it, eyes never leaving the Crew Member... who
finally, tentatively looks up –

BAM! Sator JABS him in the mouth with the gold bar, then
ec
SMASHES him over the head –
Vi

131 INT. STORAGE AREA, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 131

The Protagonist is REPULSED by what he sees...
ia
132 INT. ENGINE ROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 132
lC
Sator steps back, breathless, from the Small Crew Member, who
lies motionless on the ground.
r

As Sator raises his wrist to check his fitness tracker, BLOOD

ag

drips from the gold bar in his hand.

op
SATOR
Ninety-eight. Not bad for such
exertion.
S

133 EXT. STORAGE AREA, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 133

y

The Protagonist SENSES, TURNS – CRACK! Volkov smashes his jaw

ha

– KICKS him in the ribs – pistol-whips him...

Fo

134 INT. ENGINE ROOM, SATOR’S YACHT – MOMENTS LATER 134

The Protagonist, bleeding, is SHOVED into the room –
h

VOLKOV
r

He was at the window.

Sator looks at the Protagonist, who nods at the capsule –
PROTAGONIST
I was curious.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 73.

SATOR
My property shouldn’t concern you.
Who are you? How do you come by your
information about the opera?
PROTAGONIST
Do I work for intelligence services?
Several, just like you. You wouldn’t
Sp tr do business with someone who wasn’t
savvy enough to be recruited. Hell,
the CIA provides two-thirds of the
market for fissile material.
SATOR
They’re usually buying, not selling.
ec
But we do live in a twilight
world...
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Is that Whitman? It’s pretty.
ia
SATOR
Next warning’s a bullet in your
brain.
lC
PROTAGONIST
No balls in my throat?
r

SATOR
ag

There’ll be no time for such things

in Tallinn.
op
Sator gestures to his men – they lift the capsule. The
Protagonist spots DRIED MUD from the latches on the table...
SATOR
S

Make your way there. I want Volkov

y
on the team.
ha

The Protagonist struggles to his feet.

PROTAGONIST
Fo

No. I spring the materials, you pay

me off. Your wife does the exchange.
h

SATOR
I never involve her in my business.
r

PROTAGONIST
That’s why I trust her.
SATOR
(to Volkov)
Put him ashore.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 74.

PROTAGONIST
How do I contact you?
SATOR
You don’t.
PROTAGONIST
How do you advance me funds?
Sp tr
Sator TOSSES the Protagonist the BLOODY GOLD BAR – the
Protagonist FUMBLES it onto the table. Volkov SNEERS –
SATOR
Handle the plutonium better than
that.
ec
The Protagonist, looking Volkov in the eye, picks up the gold
Vi

bar, scooping DRIED MUD into his hand, unseen.

135 EXT. DOWNTOWN STREETS, TALLINN – DAY 135

ia
The Protagonist walks the crowded streets with Neil.
PROTAGONIST
lC
What did you find on the gold?
r

NEIL
Three hundred thousand at today’s
ag

price, no franks, mould marks.

Nothing. Like it came from outer
op
space.
PROTAGONIST
Or the future.
S

NEIL
y
How?
ha

PROTAGONIST
Dead drops. He buries his time
capsule, transmits the location,
Fo

then digs it up to collect whatever

inverted material they’ve sent.
h

NEIL
Instantaneous. Where’s he bury it?
r

PROTAGONIST
Someplace that won’t be disturbed
for centuries. What did the soil
sample show?

NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 75.

Northern Europe or Asia,

radioactive. Dried blood was
European.
PROTAGONIST
Pretty broad.
NEIL
Sp tr This is the start of the run.
The Protagonist looks back where they came. Then up ahead.
PROTAGONIST
When does the material arrive?
ec
NEIL
Thursday. When does Sator arrive?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
I don’t know. But he’ll be here.
ia
NEIL
Cargo’s in a reinforced truck.
Nuclear police front and back – SUVs
with serious armour – you can’t
lC
break in through the windows.
r

PROTAGONIST
And they can’t break out.
ag

NEIL
op
I don’t follow.
PROTAGONIST
You will. So, light convoy through
downtown, what’s the thinking?
S
y
NEIL
A crowded, unpredictable traffic
ha

pattern makes planning an ambush

almost impossible.
Fo

The Protagonist looks around at the congestion.

PROTAGONIST
h

They have a point. Is the convoy

monitored from the air?
r

NEIL
No, tracked by GPS – a wrong turn or
an unscheduled stop, in comes the
cavalry.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 76.

Neil and the Protagonist hop a tram. The Protagonist studies

the journey along the multi-lane road out of town.
PROTAGONIST
We need big guns, guns that make the
point without being fired. We need a
fast car that doesn’t look fast and
four heavy vehicles, all different –
Sp tr bus, coach, eighteen-wheeler...

Neil nods.
PROTAGONIST
One of them has to be a fire truck.
ec
Neil looks up, interested.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Most of all, we need to set this up
with nothing in the record – nothing
electronic, nothing paper – I don’t
ia
want Sator ambushing us the second
we spring the material. His
ignorance is our only protection.
lC
136 INT/EXT. MERCEDES ON TALLINN STREETS – DAY 136
r

Kat sits beside Sator in the back, staring out the window.
ag

SATOR
op
Everything salvaged from Oslo’s been
shipped here.
KAT
Why am I here?
S
y
SATOR
I don’t trust anyone else to assess
ha

the pieces.
Fo

137 EXT. FREEPORT, DOCKSIDE AREA, EDGE OF TALLINN – DAY 137

The MERCEDES pulls into the Tallinn Freeport. Several
h

BODYGUARDS emerge, Sator heads inside. Kat follows, looking

through a metal fence – an AUDI sits there, idling. Its
r

driver is wearing an OXYGEN MASK...

138 INT. STORAGE FACILITY, TALLINN FREEPORT – MOMENTS LATER 138

Kat enters. Sator is at a table covered in WEAPONS.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 77.

SATOR
See, Kat? Some of my favourites...
He picks up a MACHINE GUN.
SATOR
Singed but salvageable, wouldn’t you
say?
Sp tr
She stares at the weaponry as if she’s never seen anything
like it before...
KAT
It’s not my area of expertise.
ec
SATOR
That’s right. You’d never have
Vi

anything to do with such things. But

this is where our worlds collide.
KAT
ia
Andrei, what is this?
SATOR
You know perfectly well what it is,
lC
Kat – the filthy business that put
those clothes on your back and our
r

boy in his school. That you thought

you could negotiate your way around.
ag

VOLKOV
op
(in Russian, subtitled)
The convoy’s due downtown in ten.
Sator checks his watch. Nods at Volkov. Turns to Kat.
S

SATOR
y
It’s time to go.
ha

KAT
I’m not going anywhere with you.
Fo

Sator SLAMS the machine gun back down on the table. Kat
FLINCHES. Sator TURNS, enraged...
h

SATOR
Look at me and understand – you
r

don’t negotiate with a tiger – you

admire a tiger, until it turns on
you and you feel its TRUE. FUCKING.
NATURE!
Sator moves towards her – Kat pulls out a gun.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 78.

KAT
Don’t...

139 EXT. TALLINN STREET – DAY 139

A LARGE UNMARKED TRUCK, with an ESCORT FRONT AND BACK, makes
its stop and-start way through the downtown traffic.

140
Sp tr
INT/EXT. BMW, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 140
The Protagonist and Neil watch the convoy cross an
intersection, then pull forward, squeezing through traffic to
get ahead. Neil raises a walkie-talkie –
ec
YELLOW CO-PILOT
Vi

(into radio)
Green? Two minutes.
ia
141 INT/EXT. GREEN TRUCK, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 141
The GREEN DRIVER nods at the GREEN CO-PILOT who holds the
radio.
lC
GREEN CO-PILOT
r

Check.
ag

He puts the radio down and pulls out a LARGE AUTOMATIC RIFLE.
op
142 INT/EXT. BMW, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 142
The Protagonist checks his watch – Neil speaks into the radio
–
S
y
NEIL
Yellow? Sixty seconds.
ha

YELLOW CO-PILOT
(over radio)
Fo

Sixty. Check.
NEIL
h

Blue? Forty-five seconds.

r

BLUE CO-PILOT
(over radio)
Forty-five. Check.
NEIL
Red? On our way to you.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 79.

143 INT/EXT. FIRE ENGINE – CONTINUOUS 143

RED DRIVER and RED CO-PILOT are dressed as FIREFIGHTERS.

144 INT/EXT. BMW, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 144

The BMW pulls out, running behind the nuclear convoy. As the
Sp tr
convoy passes the cross street where the green truck, a
FLATBED TRUCK, is sitting, it pulls out beside them, settling
in to the right of the convoy.

145 INT. STORAGE FACILITY – DAY 145

ec
Sator steps towards Kat –
Vi

KAT
Stay right there!
She lifts the gun, intent –
ia
SATOR
You wouldn’t kill me.
lC
KAT
I already tried.
r

SATOR
ag

You pushed me off a boat. You’re not

going to shoot me in cold blood –
op
KAT
My blood’s not cold, Andrei.
SATOR
S

No, but you’re not angry enough.

y

Sator edges towards Kat...

ha

SATOR
Because anger scars over into
Fo

despair. I look in your eyes...

He casually GESTURES at her –
h

SATOR
r

I see despair.
He SMACKS the gun out of her hands – PUNCHES her – she DROPS
–
SATOR

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 80.

Vengeful bitch. Living off me,

pretending to be better...
With a primal, animal viciousness, Sator SPITS at Kat.
SATOR
ENOUGH!

Sp tr
Sator KICKS her once, in the side.
SATOR
You wanted to know when it’s better
to kill you? You’ll have your
answer.
ec
He motions to Volkov, who, with a guard, lifts Kat and
carries her towards the door. Sator puts an earpiece in his
Vi

ear...
SATOR
Tell me everything as it happens.
ia
Volkov nods, leaving – Sator walks through a large door.
SATOR
lC
Seal us this side!
r

As the door shuts behind him, he walks towards a RED DOOR

WITH A SMALL PORTHOLE, finding a spot in the shadows
ag

nearby...
op
146 EXT. TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 146
The BMW watches the yellow truck, a BROADCAST TRUCK, which
pulls out just ahead of the nuclear convoy... the Protagonist
S

looks back through the BMW’s side mirror, which is CRACKED...

y

The BMW sees the blue truck, a WRECKER, which pulls out onto
ha

the larger street, just behind the convoy, which is now

SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES by the coloured trucks.
Fo

147 INT. MERCEDES – CONTINUOUS 147

h

Volkov follows the convoy...

r

VOLKOV
(into radio)
Three trucks in place...
SATOR
(over radio)

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 81.

Watch everything, give me all the

details...

148 INT. STORAGE FACILITY, TALLINN FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 148

Sator sits in the shadows, listening intently...

149
Sp tr
EXT. TALLINN STREETS – CONTINUOUS 149
The BMW ZIPS ahead, weaving through traffic, pulls alongside
the fire truck.
The Protagonist, DRESSED AS A FIREFIGHTER, jumps out of the
ec
BMW and grabs onto the side of the fire truck, BANGING the
side to signal the driver. The fire truck pulls out onto the
Vi

three-lane highway...

150 INT/EXT. FIRE TRUCK – CONTINUOUS 150

ia
The fire truck pulls alongside the nuclear convoy, slotting
in on the left, so that the convoy is now SURROUNDED... the
Protagonist CLIMBS onto the roof beside the ladder, puts on a
lC
pair of heavy-duty gloves, pulls a diagonal backpack around
onto his front, checking his tools.
r

Blue Co-pilot and Yellow Co-pilot COUNT DOWN in unison –

ag

BLUE CO-PILOT
op
(over radio)
Five, four, three, two, one, go...

Blue truck, behind the convoy, GUNS THE ACCELERATOR, as

yellow truck, in front of the convoy, SLAMS ON THE BRAKES...
S
y
The two SUVS are ACCORDIONED against the nuclear truck, then
CARRIED FORWARD WITH THE NUCLEAR TRUCK as the coloured trucks
ha

CLOSE FORMATION and PULL FORWARD, maintaining pace –

BLUE CO-PILOT
Fo

Go yellow!
The YELLOW CO-PILOT in the broadcast truck sends out STATIC –
h
r

151 INT/EXT. SECURITY SUV – CONTINUOUS 151

The SECURITY DRIVER is trying the radio – STATIC...

152 INT. CONTROL CENTRE, TALLINN POLICE – CONTINUOUS 152

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 82.

A POLICE OPERATOR is frowning, trying the radio. He calls to

his SUPERVISOR –

POLICE OPERATOR
(in Estonian, subtitled)
– Radio’s down. –
SUPERVISOR
Sp tr (in Estonian, subtitled)
– Are they still moving? –
The Police Operator checks his screen – NODS...

153 EXT. TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 153

ec
TYRES HOWLING, the convoy GRINDS forward – Blue Co-pilot
Vi

tosses a DYE PACK onto the windshield of the SUV – it BLASTS

across the glass, obscuring the view – Yellow Co-pilot does
the same in the front – the Guards are now BLIND, CANNOT OPEN
THEIR DOORS OR SHOOT OUT THROUGH THE BULLET-PROOF VEHICLES...
ia
The Protagonist CLIMBS ONTO THE LADDER, lying on top...

Inside, the Red Co-pilot operates the ladder controls...

lC
The ladder SWINGS OUT AT NINETY DEGREES, hanging the
r

Protagonist DIRECTLY OVER THE NUCLEAR TRUCK... he PULLS a

frame from his pack, unfolds it – fixes it to the roof. The
ag

ladder SWINGS him away – the frame EXPLODES – he SWINGS back

through the smoke to find an OPENING and climbs into –
op
154 INT. NUCLEAR TRANSPORTATION TRUCK – CONTINUOUS 154
The Protagonist lands, gets his bearings, finds the SAFE. He
S

reaches into his pack...

y
ha

155 EXT. TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 155

An Estonian POLICE CAR pulls up behind the fire truck – the
Fo

POLICEMEN spot SPARKS from the dragging bumper of the SUV –

the Policeman Passenger tries his radio... STATIC...
h

156 INT. NUCLEAR TRANSPORTATION TRUCK – CONTINUOUS 156

r

The Protagonist affixes a CHARGE to the safe – he runs a

wire, pushing back into the farthest corner – BLASTS the door
open –

157 INT/EXT. FIRE ENGINE – CONTINUOUS 157

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 83.

Watching the Police through his mirror, Red Passenger rolls

down his window and props his ASSAULT RIFLE on the sill...

158 INT. NUCLEAR TRANSPORTATION TRUCK – CONTINUOUS 158

The Protagonist reaches into the safe... PULLS OUT an ORANGE
PLASTIC CASE... reaches up to climb through the roof...

159
Sp tr
INT/EXT. FIRE TRUCK – CONTINUOUS 159

The Protagonist, orange case in hand, CLIMBS onto the ladder

– Red Passenger SWINGS his rear-opening door out and SHOOTS
OUT the engine block of the police car which DROPS BACK as –
ec
The fire-truck ladder SWINGS the Protagonist back onto the
Vi

fire truck – he climbs down onto the side – the BMW pulls
alongside – he JUMPS into the car, which SPEEDS away...
ia
160 INT/EXT. BMW, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 160
Neil, driving, glances at the orange case –
lC
NEIL
We got it!
r

The Protagonist opens the latches, flips open the lid...

ag

revealing the BLACK METAL SHAPE the size of a softball.

op
PROTAGONIST
I’ve seen samples of encapsulation
in every weapons class – this is not
one of them.
S

Neil looks back at the Protagonist. Serious.

y

NEIL
ha

It’s what he’s after.

The Protagonist looks around at the surrounding traffic...
Fo

PROTAGONIST
Check the radio chatter.
h

Neil clicks on the radio – EMPHATIC GIBBERISH...

r

NEIL
I can’t understand –
PROTAGONIST
You said you spoke Estonian –

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 84.

NEIL
It’s not Estonian, it’s... backwards
–
Up ahead, an Audi is weaving through traffic, towards them,
BACKWARDS... Neil STARES...
NEIL
Sp tr The hell?
The BACKWARDS-RUNNING AUDI flies at them, CLIPPING the wing
mirror, ‘HEALING’ its crack. Behind them it SPINS AROUND, to
CHASE them, still running BACKWARDS...
The BMW DODGES around traffic, trying to lose the backwards
ec
Audi, which pulls up to the back bumper – then ALONGSIDE – in
the back is Sator, black eyes peering over a RESPIRATOR, a
Vi

gun to Kat’s head. She is BOUND and GAGGED, eyes TERRIFIED –

Sator rolls the rear window down, holds up his hand, FINGERS
EXTENDED. He COCKS the gun at Kat’s head then starts COUNTING
ia
DOWN on his fingers... the Protagonist looks down at the
BLACK METAL SHAPE in the case...
NEIL
lC
You can’t give it to him!
r

The Protagonist LIFTS the closed case, LOWERS the window...

ag

PROTAGONIST
This isn’t plutonium.
op
Sator is down to TWO FINGERS... Ahead of them in the road,
the Protagonist sees a CRASHED, SMOKING, UPSIDE-DOWN SAAB...
NEIL
S

It’s worse, goddammit!

y

Both cars race towards the crashed Saab, which starts SHAKING
ha

as they approach – as they pass, THE CRASHED SAAB ROLLS

VIOLENTLY OVER AND OVER between them until it is on its
wheels, RACING BACKWARDS ahead of them, UNDAMAGED –
Fo

Neil regains his line, looks over at Sator who holds up his
LAST FINGER... the Protagonist looks ahead to the Saab,
h

STRUCK BY AN IDEA... the Protagonist looks at Sator –

r

Then TOSSES the orange case at him –

The Saab brakes, CUTTING BETWEEN THE TWO CARS...
THE ORANGE CASE GLANCES OFF ITS WINDSHIELD, INTO SATOR’S
HANDS...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 85.

A forwards-driving Mercedes pulls up alongside the backwards-

driving Audi. Sator opens the rear door – he and the Audi
driver climb BACKWARDS into the Mercedes – LEAVING KAT IN THE
ACCELERATING BACKWARDS AUDI – the Mercedes DROPS FAR BEHIND
the BMW, Neil WATCHES –
NEIL
He’s getting away!
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
He left her in the car!
Neil looks forward to the backwards Audi, SPEEDING AWAY –
ec
161 INT/EXT. BACKWARDS AUDI – CONTINUOUS 161
Vi

NO ONE IS AT THE WHEEL as the car continues to accelerate –

Kat lies in the back, breathing, groaning, but unconscious...
ia
162 INT/EXT. BMW, TALLINN STREET – CONTINUOUS 162
The Protagonist stares ahead at the backwards Audi –
lC
PROTAGONIST
Pull up alongside...
r

Neil looks back at the receding Mercedes, followed by the

ag

BACKWARDS SAAB... he turns – RACING to pull alongside the

runaway backwards Audi, the Protagonist OPENS his door...
op
– Ahead, a LOGJAM of traffic...
The Protagonist FUMBLES to open the Audi door.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
Kat! Kat!
ha

In the back, Kat swings her bound legs around –

– The LOGJAM of cars and buses LOOMS CLOSER... The
Fo

Protagonist OPENS the Audi door, but his own door hits it and
SLAMS IT CLOSED AGAIN...
h

– The LOGJAM is DANGEROUSLY CLOSE...

r

The Protagonist OPENS it again, Kat JAMS it open with her

feet – the Protagonist CLIMBS ACROSS and PUSHES THE BRAKE
WITH HIS HAND...

The Audi SKIDS to a halt, the BMW ZOOMING PAST...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 86.

The Protagonist starts to untie Kat, fumbling with his radio

–
The BMW SKIDS to a halt, Neil JUMPS OUT – a CAR SKIDS to a
halt between the BMW and the Audi – BLAM, BLAM! Neil DUCKS,
avoiding GUNFIRE –
NEIL
Sp tr (over radio)
Sit tight – I’m calling in the
cavalry.
PROTAGONIST
What cavalry?!
ec
SMASH!!! The Protagonist and Kat are THROWN LIKE RAG DOLLS
across the car – the Mercedes has SWIPED the nose of the Audi
Vi

–
Volkov lays down COVER FIRE, pinning Neil as Sator’s men
descend on the CRASHED Audi and pull the PROTAGONIST out of
ia
the car – shoving him around the back of the Mercedes. Kat is
pulled from the wreck and put into the Mercedes –
As they put the Protagonist INTO THE TRUNK, he sees Sator
lC
MOVING BACKWARDS behind the line of cars, from the BMW...
r

163 EXT. DOCKSIDE AREA, EDGE OF TALLINN – MOMENTS LATER 163

ag

The TRUNK OPENS – the Protagonist is PULLED OUT. Marched

op
towards an entrance, he sees, through a steel fence dividing
the yard in two, SATOR, IN RESPIRATOR, WALKING BACKWARDS,
PULLING KAT, FORWARDS, TOWARDS A DIFFERENT ENTRANCE...
The Protagonist passes a stack of SHIPPING CONTAINERS,
S

several of which are marked OSLO FREEPORT...

y
ha

164 INT. STORAGE FACILITY, TALLINN FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 164

The Protagonist is taken past the table of weapons, through a
Fo

large door, and through RED DOORS with a PORTHOLE...

h

165 INT. TURNSTILE, TALLINN FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 165

r

Into A LONG CHAMBER DIVIDED IN TWO BY A GLASS WINDOW – A MUCH

BIGGER VERSION OF THE ROTAS VAULT. The Russians push the
Protagonist into a chair. This side is lit by RED LIGHT.
On the other side of the glass, lit by BLUE LIGHT, Sator
‘ENTERS’ BACKWARDS, ‘PULLING’ Kat, who is now in a

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 87.

respirator. Sator ‘SHOVES’ her hard into a chair, removes his

own respirator, ‘FLIPPING’ it up onto a hook on the wall.
The Protagonist looks into Kat’s frightened eyes... between
them, embedded in a whirl of cracked glass, is a BULLET...
Sator TURNS to meet the Protagonist’s gaze – his movements
have the surreal edge of backwards motion as he places his
GUN AGAINST KAT’S HEAD and pulls out his phone...
Sp tr
He holds his PHONE up and plays a recording IN REVERSE –
SATOR
(via recording)
If you’re not telling the truth, she
dies.
ec
Sator moves the phone to his lips, SPEAKING IN REVERSE... the
Vi

Protagonist stares at him, bemused.

PROTAGONIST
I don’t know what you’re talking
ia
about.
Sator listens to this played backwards...
lC
SATOR
(via recording)
r

You left it in the car not the fire

truck, right?
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
Who told you that?
SATOR
(via recording)
Tell me, now! Is it really in the
S

BMW?
y

PROTAGONIST
ha

I don’t know!
SATOR
Fo

(via recording)
Tell me or I’ll shoot her again!
h

The Protagonist looks at Kat, who is TERRIFIED –

r

KAT
(pleading)
Tell him!
– then at Sator –
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 88.

Leave her alone!

SATOR
(via recording)
I don’t have time to negotiate.
The Protagonist looks at the bullet hole in the glass – WISPS
OF SMOKE are gathering...
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Listen to me! I can help you!
SATOR
(via recording)
Three...
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

Don’t!
KAT
Help me!
ia
SATOR
(via recording)
Two...
lC
KAT
r

PLEASE!
ag

A FAINT TRICKLE of glass dust rises to where the bullet is

lodged in the window...
op
PROTAGONIST
Wait!
SATOR
S

(via recording)
y
One...
ha

Sator LIFTS Kat – PUSHES her up against the glass...

KAT
Fo

PLEASE!
PROTAGONIST
h

NO!
r

The SMOKE COALESCES as BANG! The bullet RIPS THROUGH KAT’S

SIDE on its inevitable journey to Sator’s gun. Kat SCREAMS –
SATOR
(via recording)
Next one’s a bullet to the head...

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 89.

He holds up a finger – Kat is SCREAMING –

SATOR
(via recording)
One...
PROTAGONIST
Please!
Sp tr SATOR
(via recording)
Two...
PROTAGONIST
No!
ec
SATOR
Vi

(via recording)
Three...
PROTAGONIST
ia
Okay! Okay! The car! The BMW! I left
it in the BMW!
Kat’s screams subside to moans as she PASSES OUT...
lC
SATOR
r

(via recording)
We’re going to check this is real.
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
It’s in the glove box!
The door OPENS behind the Protagonist –
SATOR (O.S.)
S

Where did you leave it?

y

The Protagonist spins around – Sator, BEHIND HIM, SMASHES his

ha

gun into the Protagonist’s cheek – THIS SATOR IS FORWARDS –

SATOR
Fo

Car or truck – which one?!

Sator HITS him again – the Protagonist falls near the glass –
h

looks up through the glass to see ‘backwards’ Sator, on the

blue side, staring at him dispassionately...
r

SATOR
Which vehicle did you leave it in?!
I need to know before I go out
there!
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 90.

I already told you!

Forwards Sator looks through the window at his inverse self –
then turns back to the Protagonist –
SATOR
I believe you...

Sp tr
Sator puts his GUN to the Protagonist’s forehead –
SATOR
(indicates Kat)
You wanted her here. I hope you’ll
be happy together –
ec
Sator COCKS his weapon – BLAMBLAMBLAM! – the double doors
behind the Protagonist SMASH open – PARAMILITARIES BURST IN,
Vi

GUNS BLAZING – the two guards are SHOT – Sator JUMPS FOR THE
VAULT – HITS A BUTTON –
On the other side of the glass, INVERTED SATOR runs backwards
ia
towards the other vault door –
BOTH SATORS JUMP INSIDE AND ARE GONE –
lC
A Paramilitary SERGEANT enters, gun drawn –
r

PARAMILITARY SERGEANT
Clear!
ag

The Protagonist looks at the empty vault –

op
PROTAGONIST
Where’d he go?

PARAMILITARY SERGEANT
S

The past.
y
ha

166 INT. TURNSTILE, TALLINN FREEPORT – MOMENTS EARLIER 166

Sator runs out of the turnstile – into the blue side of the
Fo

room – on the other side he sees the paramilitary AMBUSH IN

REVERSE... for a few seconds he watches his older self
interrogate the Protagonist, then fires up his phone, steps
h

up to the glass – the Protagonist SHOUTS PASSIONATELY –

r

PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
It’s in the glove box!
SATOR
We’re going to check this is real.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 91.

PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
Okay! Okay! The car! The BMW! I left
it in the BMW!
The sound of Kat’s MOANING is BUILDING and BUILDING. Sator
holds up one finger –

Sp tr Three...
SATOR

PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
No!
ec
Adds a second finger – Kat is SCREAMING now –
Vi

SATOR
Two...
PROTAGONIST
ia
(via recording)
Please!
And a third –
lC
SATOR
r

One. Next one’s a bullet to the

head.
ag

Kat’s SCREAM CRESCENDOS as Sator GRABS her and pushes her up

op
against the glass, PULLS HIS TRIGGER, ‘HEALING’ her wound –
SATOR
One...
S

PROTAGONIST
y
(via recording)
Wait!
ha

Holds up two fingers –

Fo

SATOR
Two...
h

PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
r

Don’t!
Sator holds up three fingers –
SATOR
Three –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 92.

PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
Listen to me! I can help you!
SATOR
I don’t have time to negotiate.
The Protagonist looks confused –
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
Leave her alone!
SATOR
Tell me or I’ll shoot her again!
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

(via recording)
I don’t know!
SATOR
ia
Tell me now! Is it really in the
BMW!
PROTAGONIST
lC
(via recording)
Who told you that?
r

SATOR
ag

You left it in the car not the fire

truck, right?
op
PROTAGONIST
(via recording)
I don’t know what you’re talking
about.
S
y
SATOR
If you’re not telling the truth, she
ha

dies.
Sator GRABS his respirator from the hook, PULLS Kat to her
Fo

feet – DRAGS her backwards through the door, down a corridor

into an AIRLOCK, pulls off her respirator, puts his on...
h

167 INT. TURNSTILE, TALLINN FREEPORT – THE PRESENT 167

r

The Protagonist looks through the glass at Kat –

FEMALE PARAMILITARY
She’s been shot!

PARAMILITARY SERGEANT

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 93.

Get her this side!

Respirator-clad Paramilitaries pull Kat out of the room. The
Paramilitary Sergeant turns to the Protagonist.
PARAMILITARY SERGEANT
Was she shot with an inverted round?

Sp tr
The Protagonist NODS. Neil enters – gestures to the Sergeant
–
NEIL
This is Ives. He’s one of us –
The Protagonist GRABS Neil, THROWS him up against the wall –
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

Us?! Who are these guys?

NEIL
Priya’s. Ours.
ia
The Paramilitaries bring Kat into the room – the MEDIC,
moving SWIFTLY, examines Kat’s wound.
lC
The Protagonist puts his arm AGAINST NEIL’S THROAT –
r

PROTAGONIST
How did Sator know about the ambush?
ag

NEIL
op
Posterity. An ambush on the streets
can’t stay out of the record –
PROTAGONIST
Bullshit – he knew every move we
S

made! Somebody talked – was it you?!

y

NEIL
ha

No.

PROTAGONIST
Fo

At every stage, you’ve known more

than you should. I’m asking you one
more time. Did you talk?
h

IVES (O.S.)
r

Nobody talked. They’re running a

temporal pincer movement.
Ives is next to the Protagonist, ready to help Neil...
PROTAGONIST
A what?

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 94.

IVES
A pincer movement. But not in space
– in time. Half his team moves
forwards through the event – he
monitors them, then attacks from the
end, moving backwards. Knowing
everything.

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Except where I stashed the
plutonium.
The Protagonist lets Neil go...
PROTAGONIST
ec
Which is not plutonium, is it?
Vi

NEIL
I told you – it’s what he’s after.
And you just told him where it is.
ia
PROTAGONIST
I lied.
Neil looks at Kat, bleeding out on the gurney.
lC
NEIL
r

Jesus.
ag

PROTAGONIST
He couldn’t verify from inside the
op
room, he’d have shot her anyway.
Lying is standard operating
procedure.
The Medic steps away from Kat, shakes his head.
S
y
MEDIC
It’s spread too far.
ha

PROTAGONIST
Meaning what?
Fo

IVES
She’s going to die.
h

NEIL
r

(to Protagonist)
Standard operating procedure?

NEIL
(to Ives)
Can’t you stabilize inverse
radiation by inverting the patient?

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 95.

IVES
That takes days –
The Protagonist points at the turnstile –
PROTAGONIST
Let’s go.

Sp tr IVES
We took control of this machine
minutes ago – before that it’s
Sator’s.
PROTAGONIST
How long will she live on this side?
ec
MEDIC
Vi

Three hours, tops.

The Protagonist thinks. He looks at Kat, who is dying.
ia
PROTAGONIST
I’m taking her through. I’m not
going to let her die, I’ll take my
chances out there.
lC
IVES
r

Chances of what? We’ve got no way to

bring you back.
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
We find another machine.
IVES
A week ago? Where?
S

The Protagonist looks at Neil – they have the same idea –

y

NEIL
ha

Oslo.
IVES
Fo

That facility’s impregnable. It’s

inside an airport security
perimeter.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Not last week, it wasn’t. We’re

going in. You might as well help.
Ives, shaking his head, joins in. As they carry Kat towards
the vault door, Ives points at the glass partition –
IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 96.

This is the proving window... as you

approach the turnstile if you don’t
see yourself through the proving
window, do not enter the machine.
PROTAGONIST
Why not?

Sp tr IVES
If you haven’t seen yourself
reverse-exit the machine, you won’t
be getting out. Okay, first in, last
out. Get into the turnstile, pass
through – I’ll already be there with
her.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

Is that gonna work?

Ives pauses, watching activity on the other side of the
window –
ia
IVES
(points)
Yeah...
lC
The Protagonist turns to see HIMSELF on the other side of the
r

glass, MOVING IN REVERSE, wheeling KAT ‘TOWARDS’ THE VAULT

DOOR –
ag

IVES
op
Let’s go!
Ives OPENS the door – the Protagonist takes one last look at
his backwards self ‘entering’ the machine, then STEPS INSIDE
–
S
y
We follow him in as the door SHUTS behind him – he puts his
back to the wall – the machine starts CLANKING like an MRI –
ha

the door opens on the other side – he STEPS OUT...

To see Ives struggling with Kat – he moves to help – Neil is
Fo

already there (first in, last out).

The Protagonist looks through the glass to where he and Ives
h

now appear to be moving backwards...

r

The Medic tends to Kat.

MEDIC
She’s stabilizing slowly. I’ll clean
and close, the rest is time.
PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 97.

How long does she need?

MEDIC
4 or 5 days. A week to be sure.
PROTAGONIST
(to Neil)
Figure out how to get us to Oslo –
Sp tr I’ve got to get back out there –
NEIL
To do what?
PROTAGONIST
To stop Sator getting away with the
ec
whatever it is I just gave him.
Vi

NEIL
You didn’t – you lied about where it
was. Wait, you’re going out there
for her.
ia
PROTAGONIST
He threatened to kill her in the
past... if he does, what happens to
lC
her here?
r

NEIL
It’s unknowable. If you’re there to
ag

make a change, you’re not here to

observe its effect.
op
PROTAGONIST
What do you believe?
NEIL
S

What’s happened’s happened. We have

y
to save her here and now. And if you
go back out there you might hand him
ha

exactly what he’s after.

PROTAGONIST
Fo

Don’t let them take her back through

–
h

NEIL
I won’t.
r

IVES
You can’t stay here.
NEIL
And we don’t have much time – so
find us a nice cosy shipping

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 98.

container that just came off a ship

from Oslo...
The Protagonist moves towards the door. Ives steps up –
IVES
This is cowboy shit. You have no
idea what you’re getting into if you
Sp tr go through that door.
PROTAGONIST
Well, I’m going, so any tips would
be welcome.
Ives sees determination. Shakes his head.
ec
IVES
Vi

Wheeler, brief him.

The female Paramilitary, WHEELER, hands the Protagonist a
respirator –
ia
WHEELER
You need your own air – regular air
won’t pass through the membranes of
lC
inverted lungs. The number-one rule
– don’t come into contact with your
r

forwards self – that’s the whole

point of these barriers –
ag

Wheeler BANGS on the proving window –

op
WHEELER
And protective suits – if any of
your particles came into contact –
S

The Protagonist is putting on the respirator –

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

What?
WHEELER
Fo

Annihilation.
PROTAGONIST
h

That’s bad, right?

r

The Protagonist follows Wheeler into a corridor lined with

RESPIRATORS and HAZARD SUITS... at the end is an AIRLOCK...
WHEELER
When you exit the airlock, take a
moment to orient yourself – things
will feel strange. When you run, the

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 99.

wind will be at your back. If you

encounter fire, ice will form on
your suit, as the transfer of heat
is reversed. Gravity will feel
normal, but appear reversed for the
world around you. Don’t worry about
things falling, so much as rising.

Sp tr WHEELER
If you see an object demonstrating
unprompted instability, stay clear,
it may be about to leap into the
air. You may experience distortions
to your vision and hearing – this is
normal – light waves and sound waves
ec
are propagating away from you. This
should clear as your brain adjusts.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Can I drive a car?
ia
IVES
Cowboy shit.
Ives and Neil are grabbing respirators...
lC
WHEELER
r

I can’t vouch for the handling,

friction and wind resistance are
ag

reversed. You’re inverted, the world

is not. You can’t fight the
op
prevailing wind of entropy. Don’t
try flying a plane – it’d fall out
of the sky. Once again, you’re
inverted, the world is not – and
those forces will be pushing back on
S

you continuously.
y

The Protagonist turns to Neil –

ha

PROTAGONIST
Was there a transponder on the case?
Fo

NEIL
He’ll have tossed the case –
h

PROTAGONIST
r

I’m going backwards – that’s the

ball I have to follow. Give me the
reader.
Neil hands him a phone. The Protagonist sticks a Bluetooth
earpiece in his ear, passes into the airlock – Wheeler shuts
it behind him. Then opens the OUTER DOOR...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 100.

168 EXT. YARD, TALLINN FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 168

The Protagonist emerges into a strange world – the air feels
different, the friction of his feet on the asphalt feels
different. He looks up at birds flying backwards... at steam
contracting... at a pile of dust sucking itself bigger...
In the yard he spots the SAAB... he runs over, finds the keys
Sp tr
sitting on the front tyre –

169 INT/EXT. SAAB – CONTINUOUS 169

The Protagonist LOOKS in the glove box – NOTHING – LOOKS in
the wheel well – NOTHING – the back seat – NOTHING. He gives
ec
up – starts the engine... pulls out, gently, feeling out the
strange handling of the vehicle...
Vi

170 INT/EXT. SAAB, TALLINN STREETS – MOMENTS LATER 170

ia
The Protagonist steers the car around BACKWARDS-MOVING
TRAFFIC and BACKWARDS-WALKING PEDESTRIANS, MARVELLING...
People STARE at the car as it approaches, as if they already
lC
know a backwards-driven car is heading their way (which, of
course, they do).
r

He checks the phone – a blinking dot half a mile away – he

ag

GUNS it, FISHTAILING unexpectedly...

op
171 EXT. HIGHWAY – CONTINUOUS 171
We see the fire fight from before IN REVERSE – Neil laying
down fire from between cars, Kat carried ‘back’ to the
S

Audi...
y

Behind Neil, Sator, MOVING FORWARDS, checks the glove

ha

compartment of the BMW... NOTHING. FUMING, he heads back to

the Mercedes, DUCKING behind cars, bullets FLYING...
Fo

172 INT/EXT. SAAB – CONTINUOUS 172

h

The Protagonist pulls onto a busy highway where the cars are
FACING HIM, BUT MOVING IN HIS DIRECTION...
r

The Saab races along, the only normal-looking car on a road

full of cars SPEEDING BACKWARDS...
On the phone, the flashing dot is CLOSER...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 101.

Slowing, the Protagonist spots the ORANGE CASE lying empty by

the side of the road. He PULLS OVER some distance away –
JUMPS out of the car – pulls out his BLUETOOTH EARPIECE and
WEDGES it between the foam padding and the orange plastic...
The Protagonist heads back to his car, checks the signal from
his phone... PEERS at the case...

Sp tr
The case SHUDDERS TO LIFE – LEAPS INTO THE WINDOW OF A
PASSING CAR – THE MERCEDES –
The Protagonist PEELS OUT, DUST FLIES UP IN CLOUDS THAT DON’T
FULLY BLOSSOM as expected, but CONTRACT...
The Protagonist STRUGGLES with the wheel, trying to keep the
ec
car on the road with its unaccustomed handling...
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Christ!
He can see the Mercedes up ahead, weaving through traffic...
ia
173 EXT. HIGHWAY, TALLINN – CONTINUOUS 173
lC
The Mercedes races back up the off-ramp – the Saab follows,
weaving through traffic which faces him, but travels
r

backwards –
ag

As the Saab gets within a couple car lengths, his phone cuts
in with audio from his Bluetooth bug in the Mercedes –
op
SATOR
(over radio)
– the material’s not in the case –
S

Sound cuts in and out – FRAGMENTS of voices – he struggles to

y
keep pace with the Mercedes – he listens hard –
ha

SATOR
(over radio)
–Get the other sections of the
Fo

algorithm to the hypocentre– –He was

lying– –it wasn’t in the BMW–
h

INVERTED DRIVER
(over radio)
r

So where is it?

174 INT/EXT. SAAB – CONTINUOUS 174

The Protagonist finds a clear lane and guns the engine,

tracking the Mercedes as it pulls alongside the Audi, racing

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 102.

‘forwards’, and Sator, orange case in hand, climbs from the

Mercedes into the Audi...
The Audi pulls alongside the BMW – the Protagonist, sensing
the moment, LOWERS HIS WINDOW... Sator lifts the orange case,
BUT HIS EYES ARE ELSEWHERE –
Inside the Saab, the Protagonist hears BANGING – the BLACK
Sp tr
METAL SHAPE ‘unwedges’ from where it’s been stuck down the
side of a seat – ‘BOUNCING’ around the interior –
The Saab CUTS between the Audi and the BMW –

The orange case FLIES OUT OF SATOR’S HANDS – BOUNCES OFF THE
SAAB’S WINDSHIELD, ‘LANDING’ IN THE BMW –
ec
JUST AS THE BLACK METAL SHAPE JUMPS OUT OF THE SAAB AND INTO
Vi

THE (FORWARD) PROTAGONIST’S LOWER HAND...

Sator, SEEING THIS, YANKS the wheel – CLIPS the Saab – the
Protagonist STRUGGLES for control – but the Saab SPINS AND
ia
ROLLS DOWN THE HIGHWAY, COMING TO REST ON ITS ROOF.
The Protagonist, upside down in the car, regains
consciousness... fuel leaks, pooling outside the window... he
lC
sees expensive shoes approach, then Sator’s face peering in
at him. In his hand is a LIGHTER.
r

SATOR
ag

I saw the hand-off. You made me

shoot her for nothing.
op
Sator tips his lighter to read his fitness tracker...
SATOR
You did get my pulse above 130. No
S

one’s done that before. Not even my

y
wife.
ha

Backing away, Sator DROPS the lighter, the fuel EXPLODES,

THROWING THE CAR SIDEWAYS – BUT INSTEAD OF FULLY BLOOMING,
THE FLAMES CONTRACT, SPARING THE PROTAGONIST WHO LIES THERE,
Fo

FREEZING. HE PASSES OUT.

FADE IN:
h
r

175 INT. SHIPPING CONTAINER – LATER 175

The Protagonist comes to on a stretcher. Kat is on a
stretcher next to him. Neil sits between them. The
Protagonist looks at his hands, feels his face, confused.
NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 103.

The heat transfer was reversed – you

may be the first case of hypothermia
from a gasoline explosion in
history.

PROTAGONIST
At this point, nothing surprises.

Sp tr
The Protagonist looks around the shipping container.
NEIL
You left Ives and his team one hell
of a clean-up.
PROTAGONIST
ec
We’re on our way back to Oslo?
Vi

NEIL
In a Rotas shipping container.

PROTAGONIST
ia
He’s got the material, Neil. I
handed it to him on a plate.

NEIL
lC
I warned you –
r

PROTAGONIST
‘What’s happened’s happened.’ I get
ag

it, now. But it’s tough to take

things on trust from people speaking
op
half-truths.
NEIL
That’s not fair –
S

PROTAGONIST
y
You were part of this before we met.
Were you working for Priya?
ha

NEIL
No.
Fo

PROTAGONIST
Who recruited you, Neil?
h

NEIL
r

It can’t possibly do you any good to

know that right now. When this is
over, if we’re still standing and
you still care, you can hear my life
story, okay?
Kat GROANS, her eyes flicker open to see the Protagonist.

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 104.

PROTAGONIST
I’m sorry I involved you.
KAT
You need to tell me what’s going on.
PROTAGONIST
Apparently, Neil here knows more
Sp tr about it than I do.
(to Neil)
Good luck, pal.

NEIL
By telling Kat anything we’re
compromising her in Priya’s eyes.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

In Priya’s eyes she’s already

compromised. And she has a right to
know why she might die.
ia
KAT
I’m going to die?

PROTAGONIST
lC
Not if we have anything to say about
it.
r

NEIL
ag

And we do.
op
KAT
Who are you?
NEIL
Let me start with the simple stuff.
S

Every law of physics operates the

y
same forwards and backwards, except
one. Entropy...
ha

The Protagonist moves to the back of the container, pulls out

his phone, checks Neil’s attention is on Kat...
Fo

SATOR
(via recording)
h

–bring– –final section– –directly to

the hypocentre– –with the other
r

parts– –the algorithm–

The recording breaks up. The Protagonist puts the phone away,
FLEXES his elbow, feeling out some pain... He rolls up his
sleeve – there is a DARK PATCH of skin forming –
NEIL

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 105.

Are you injured?

PROTAGONIST
What’s the ‘algorithm’, Neil?

NEIL
The 241 is one section of it. One
out of nine. It’s a formula rendered
Sp tr into physical form so it can’t be
copied or communicated. A black box
with one function.

PROTAGONIST
Which is?
ec
NEIL
Inversion. But not objects or
Vi

people. The world around us.

KAT
I don’t understand.
ia
NEIL
As they invert the entropy of more
and more objects...
lC
Neil holds his hands, fingers spread, pointing at each other
r

–
ag

NEIL
The two directions of time are
op
becoming more intertwined...
He slowly brings his fingers together, into the ‘Tenet’
gesture –
S

NEIL
y
But because the environment’s
entropy flows in our direction...
ha

He pushes one hand back with the other –

Fo

NEIL
...we dominate. They’re always
swimming upstream. It’s what saved
h

your life – the inverted explosion

was pushing against the environment.
r

PROTAGONIST
Pissing in the wind.
NEIL
But the algorithm can change the
direction of that wind. It can

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 106.

invert the entropy of the world.

KAT
And if that happens?
NEIL
Oh, end of play.

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
‘End of play’? Can you be a little
more precise?

NEIL
Our present wiped out, our past
obliterated. Everyone and everything
ec
who ever lived destroyed instantly.
Precise enough?
Vi

KAT
Including my son.
ia
Neil nods, gravely. Kat winces, clearly in pain.

NEIL
Let me sedate you – the more you
lC
sleep the faster you’ll heal.
r

Neil injects Kat in the arm. Her eyes close.

ag

176 EXT. CARGO SHIP – LATER 176

op
Close on the hull, we see the water UNSPLASHING at the bow
and SUCKING UNDERNEATH the stern as the ship steams
majestically backwards through the cold North Sea...
S
y
177 INT. SHIPPING CONTAINER – LATER 177
ha

BANGING wakes the Protagonist – Neil is at a peephole.

NEIL
Fo

We’re on a truck. Shouldn’t be too

long now.
h

178 INT. SHIPPING CONTAINER – LATER 178

r

Neil is awake. He looks over at the Protagonist, who is

examining a LESION on his right arm...
NEIL
You in pain?

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 107.

PROTAGONIST
Must’ve got nicked in Tallinn.
(rolls down sleeve)
I’ve been thinking... we’re their
ancestors. If they destroy us, won’t
that destroy them?

NEIL
Sp tr Bringing us to the grandfather
paradox.

PROTAGONIST
The what?

NEIL
ec
The classic thought experiment – if
you went back in time and killed
Vi

your own grandfather, how could you

have been born to commit the act?
PROTAGONIST
ia
What’s the answer?

NEIL
There is no answer, it’s a paradox.
lC
But in the future, those in power
clearly believe that you can kick
r

Grandpa down the stairs, gouge his

eyes and slit his throat without
ag

consequence.
op
PROTAGONIST
Could they be right?

NEIL
It doesn’t matter. They believe it,
S

so they’re willing to destroy us.

y
Can I go back to sleep?
ha

PROTAGONIST
No. I thought of something else.
Fo

NEIL
Great.
h

PROTAGONIST
This reversing the flow of time...
r

doesn’t us being here now mean it

never happens? That we stop them?
NEIL
Optimistically, I’d say that’s
right.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 108.

PROTAGONIST
Pessimistically?

NEIL
In a parallel-worlds theory, we
can’t know the relationship between
consciousness and multiple
realities. Does your head hurt yet?
Sp tr Yes.
PROTAGONIST

NEIL
Try sleep.
ec
179 INT. SAME – LATER 179
Vi

A final THUD, then STILLNESS. The Protagonist moves to the

peephole, unplugs it and peers out:
ia
The WRECKED PLANE, FLOODLIT, sitting outside the COLLAPSED
WALL which has been sealed with STEEL FENCING.
PROTAGONIST
lC
Shit. They didn’t take us inside.
r

NEIL
What do we do?
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
We use the breach. The chaos right
after impact. Get ready.

They both turn to look at the unconscious Kat.

S

PROTAGONIST
y
Is she healed enough?
ha

NEIL
I don’t know. I’ve never done this
before.
Fo

180 INT. SAME – NIGHT 180

h

The Protagonist is at the peephole – the ground is WET.

r

CLEAN-UP CREWS and INVESTIGATORS swarm backwards over the

scene.
SIRENS start... Water FLOWS UP ONTO THE PLANE’S WINGS. FIRE
CREWS ‘unpack’ their equipment around the wreck...

PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 109.

Fire crew’s there...

The Protagonist WINCES as he pulls his arm into its sleeve...

PROTAGONIST
We get Kat through the breach, I
take care of Sator’s man and secure
the vault. Then you bring her in.
Sp tr NEIL
How’s the arm?
PROTAGONIST
Not good.
ec
The Protagonist spots a HOLE in the fabric of his black suit
– directly over the lesion on his arm...
Vi

Neil straps a respirator to the gurney – puts the mask over

Kat’s face, then puts another on himself. He gives Kat a
sedative.
ia
PROTAGONIST
We move the second we hear the
engines.
lC
Neil looks at Kat, unconscious on the gurney. He TIGHTENS the
r

straps – throws a reflective blanket over her...

ag

The SIRENS are DEAFENING – the Protagonist flexes his arm,

clearly in a lot of pain. Neil spots BLOOD dripping from the
op
Protagonist’s wrist –

NEIL
You’re bleeding. Let me take a look
–
S
y
SUDDENLY THEY HEAR THE BUILDING WHINE OF JET ENGINES. The
Protagonist YANKS up the handle, THROWS OPEN THE DOOR –
ha

181 EXT. APRON, OSLO AIRPORT – CONTINUOUS 181

Fo

Onto PANDEMONIUM – FIRE CREWS BATTLE the blaze, chunks of

metal on the ground IGNITE, SHUDDER and LEAP ONTO THE
h

AIRFRAME... STREAMS of water RISE up onto the plane –

r

The Protagonist HURRIES BACKWARDS, PULLING THE GURNEY towards

the plane, steering around debris that might suddenly –
A SHEET OF FLAMING METAL SPINS off the ground, shearing into
them, KNOCKING the GURNEY – they duck, HOLDING ON TO THE
GURNEY, the metal FLIES into the air, SLAMS into its hole on

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 110.

the side of the plane... the Protagonist spots a line under

the fuselage, between flames, towards the breach...
PROTAGONIST
Come on!

Neil looks up as BLACK SMOKE GATHERS, FORMING A MASSIVE CLOUD

OVER THE PLANE... a SHOCK WAVE starts to BUILD in the air
Sp tr
around them – the Protagonist PULLS Kat and Neil under the
fuselage as CURTAINS of FIRE start GATHERING around the
wings, CENTRED on a HALF-DESTROYED JET ENGINE –

They pass through the hole in the wall LICKED AT BY FLAMES

WHICH LEAVE FROST ON THEIR CLOTHES –
ec
As they clear into the building, DEBRIS in front of them
start SHAKING – they DUCK as the MASSIVE BUILD OF ENERGY
Vi

CLIMAXES in a CACOPHONOUS REVERSE EXPLOSION as THE JET ENGINE

REASSEMBLES – LOOSELY ATTACHED TO THE WING, THRUSTING –
ia
182 INT/EXT. FREEPORT SHIPPING AREA – CONTINUOUS 182
The Protagonist draws his gun – turns to Neil –
lC
PROTAGONIST
I’m going in. Wait here.
r

The Protagonist turns, rushing up onto the loading dock –

ag

The LOOSE JET ENGINE, under FULL THRUST, ATTACHED to the

op
wing, SWINGS BACK AND FORTH, wreaking REVERSE HAVOC...
The Protagonist pauses, LISTENING – he can hear BACKWARDS
VOICES on the other side of a ROLLER DOOR – the loose jet
engine TURNS, BLASTING AIR at the Protagonist with its
S

INVERTED THRUST – the Protagonist is SMASHED through the

y
bottom of the roller door –
ha

183 INT. VAULT, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 183

Fo

INTO HIMSELF AND NEIL, DRESSED AS BUSINESSMEN AS IN THEIR

EARLIER VISIT TO THE ROTAS VAULT – the Protagonist (wearing
black clothes and gas mask) TACKLES the EARLIER PROTAGONIST
h

(wearing business suit), the Earlier Protagonist THROWS the

Protagonist onto the ground, getting his gun –
r

SHOUTING at him INCOMPREHENSIBLY – KICKING his INJURED ARM

AGAIN AND AGAIN – the Protagonist SCREAMS... The Earlier
Protagonist puts his GUN TO THE PROTAGONIST’S HEAD... EARLIER
NEIL GRABS HIS ARM, RESTRAINING him...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 111.

The Protagonist and Earlier Protagonist STRUGGLE, ROLLING

across the floor with the unique physics of forward action
merged with backwards action...

They STRUGGLE through the BLUE DOOR of the Rotas vault. The
Protagonist gets his gun – the Earlier Protagonist STABS him
in the arm with his lockpick – ‘HEALING’ his wound –
ENERGIZING him –
Sp tr
He FLIPS the Earlier Protagonist up against the glass, LIFTS
his gun – SHOOTS past the Earlier Protagonist’s head, putting
a BULLET HOLE through the glass –

Glancing at the OPEN TURNSTILE DOOR, the Protagonist FIRES

again, forcing the Earlier Protagonist TOWARDS the door... he
ec
looks through the proving window – no one there...
Vi

PROTAGONIST
Come on, come on...

The Protagonist FIRES AGAIN AND AGAIN, forcing the Earlier

ia
Protagonist closer and closer to the open turnstile...

The Earlier Protagonist takes hold of the gun – the barrel

coming around onto the Protagonist who instinctively EJECTS
lC
the magazine, REMOVES the SLIDE, tossing it aside, leaving
the Earlier Protagonist with a useless STRIPPED AUTOMATIC –
r

Earlier Neil RACES backwards into the other half of the room
ag

– Through the bullet-riddled glass the Protagonist sees

HIMSELF (GAS MASK, BLACK CLOTHES) RUN BACKWARDS into the room
op
–
The Protagonist LEAPS INTO THE TURNSTILE – we FOLLOW the
Protagonist through the machine – BURSTING OUT on the other
side – straight into Earlier Neil, who now MOVES FORWARDS as
S

the Protagonist PUSHES past –

y

As the confrontation on the other side of the glass plays out

ha

again, FORWARDS... the Protagonist RACES for the RED DOOR,

Neil in PURSUIT –
Fo

184 INT. VAULT CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 184

h

The Protagonist runs, pursued by Earlier Neil, skidding

around the corners of the vault corridor –
r

Earlier Neil gets a hand on the Protagonist’s GAS MASK and

YANKS – it comes off in his hands... this time we see that
Neil is looking at the UNMASKED PROTAGONIST. Neil, surprised,
turns and BOLTS back the way he came – the Protagonist
watches him go, then TURNS –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 112.

185 INT. VAULT CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 185

The Protagonist races down the angled corridor –

The Protagonist SKIDS through the doorway leading out of the

corridor and into the SMOKE-FILLED cargo area where he
left...

186
Sp tr
INT. VAULT 2, FREEPORT – CONTINUOUS 186

Neil races up to the Earlier Protagonist, grab his arm –

NEIL
NO! Don’t kill him!
ec
Vi

187 INT/EXT. FREEPORT SHIPPING AREA – CONTINUOUS 187

...Neil (respirator on) guarding Kat, STRAPPED to the gurney.

ia
Behind them, the fire crew battle the blazing plane. Neil is
already looking up at the Protagonist who POINTS right – The
Protagonist DUCKS THROUGH the breach, into the chaos... Neil
moves BACKWARDS towards the outside...
lC
r

188 EXT. BREACH – CONTINUOUS 188

ag

The Protagonist RUNS THROUGH THE SMOKE AND FLAME, DODGING

DEBRIS FALLING FROM THE PLANE... heading towards the
op
EMERGENCY SERVICES...
The Protagonist CREEPS along the side of an AMBULANCE... the
AMBULANCE DRIVER spots him in the mirror – the Protagonist
DARTS in, HITTING the driver in the face –
S
y

189 INT. VAULT CORRIDOR – CONTINUOUS 189

ha

Neil (moving FORWARDS) ducks back behind the corner as

Earlier Protagonist (business suit) and Earlier Neil
Fo

(business suit) walk backwards away from the Rotas vault.

Neil pushes Kat towards the broken roller door and pushes her
h

inside...
r

190 EXT. APRON, OSLO AIRPORT – MOMENTS LATER 190

The Protagonist SWERVES the ambulance, trying to get close to

the breach – the Protagonist SPINS the ambulance around as
close to the breach as possible. He JUMPS out – opens the
back – PEERS into the smoke and water... waiting...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 113.

Neil EMERGES, pushing the gurney with Kat on –

191 INT/EXT. AMBULANCE – MOMENTS LATER 191

The Protagonist DRIVES, sirens blaring.

PROTAGONIST
Sp tr You knew it was me coming out of
that vault. Why didn’t you say?

NEIL
That’s a lot of explaining when
someone’s about to put a bullet in
their own brain.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

But afterwards –

NEIL
With things the same, I knew you’d
ia
be okay. What’s happened happened.
If I’d told you and you acted
differently... who knows? The policy
is to suppress.
lC
PROTAGONIST
r

Whose policy?
ag

Neil GRINS, offering his hand –

op
NEIL
Ours, my friend. We’re the people
saving the world from what might
have been...
S
y
192 INT./EXT. PARKED AMBULANCE – NIGHT 192
ha

Neil and the Protagonist are in the back, checking on Kat...

whose eyes OPEN.
Fo

PROTAGONIST
Kat?
h

KAT
I’m here.
r

Neil checks the dressing on her wound –

NEIL
Be quite a scar, but you’re okay. We
did it.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 114.

KAT
Did what? Andrei’s got the
algorithm. You don’t know where he
is –
Neil looks at the Protagonist –

NEIL
Sp tr Or when.

PROTAGONIST
Get Priya here to Oslo.
NEIL
Why?
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

If I don’t do something now, in two

days she’ll tell me about the 241.
NEIL
ia
Nothing can change that.

PROTAGONIST
We’ll see. Just get her here.
lC
r

193 EXT. OSLO WAR MEMORIAL – DAY 193

ag

The Protagonist makes his way through the crowd, following an

elegantly dressed lady... Priya. He takes her by the arm,
op
away from the crowd...

PROTAGONIST
Hello, Priya.
S

PRIYA
y
What’s going on? Where’s Neil?
ha

PROTAGONIST
Nursing Katherine Barton. Who almost
died because of you.
Fo

PRIYA
What did I do?
h

PROTAGONIST
r

It’s what you’re going to do. In two

days you’re going to have me dangle
plutonium 241 in front of the
world’s most dangerous arms
dealer... I want to know why.

PRIYA

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 115.

You let him get hold of 241?

PROTAGONIST
No. I let him get hold of the
algorithm.

Priya looks at the Protagonist, surprised he knows the term.

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Tell me about it, Priya.

PRIYA
It’s unique. The scientist who built
it took her own life so she couldn’t
be forced to make another.
ec
PROTAGONIST
Vi

A scientist in the future?

PRIYA
Generations from now.
ia
PROTAGONIST
Why did she have to kill herself?
lC
PRIYA
You’re familiar with the Manhattan
r

Project? As they approached the

first atomic test, Oppenheimer
ag

became concerned the detonation

might produce a chain reaction,
op
engulfing the world.

PROTAGONIST
They went ahead anyway, and got
lucky.
S
y
PRIYA
Think of our scientist as her
ha

generation’s Oppenheimer – she

devises a method for inverting the
world, but becomes convinced that by
Fo

destroying us, they destroy

themselves.
h

PROTAGONIST
The grandfather paradox.
r

PRIYA
Unlike Oppenheimer, she rebels,
splitting the algorithm into nine
sections and hiding them the best
place she can think of...

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 116.

PROTAGONIST
The past. Here. Now.

PRIYA
There are nine nuclear powers. Nine
bombs. Nine sets of the most closely
guarded materials in the history of
the world. The best hiding places
Sp tr possible.

PROTAGONIST
Nuclear containment facilities.

PRIYA
Sator’s lifelong mission, financed
ec
and guided by the future, has been
to find and reassemble the
Vi

algorithm.
PROTAGONIST
Why did they choose him?
ia
PRIYA
The necessary combination of greed
and ambition. But mostly, he was in
lC
the right place at the right time.
r

PROTAGONIST
The collapse of the Soviet Union.
ag

PRIYA
op
The most insecure moment in the
history of nuclear weapons.
PROTAGONIST
And there he was. How many of the
S

sections does he have?

y

PRIYA
ha

After the 241? All nine.

PROTAGONIST
Fo

Christ. And that’s why you’re going

to do it differently this time.
h

PRIYA
To change things? So Katherine won’t
r

get hurt?
PROTAGONIST
So Sator won’t get the algorithm.

PRIYA

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 117.

If that universe can exist, we don’t

live in it.
PROTAGONIST
Let’s try. You’re going to warn me.

PRIYA
No. I’m not. Ignorance is our
Sp tr ammunition. If you’d known what the
algorithm was, would you have let it
fall into Sator’s hands?

PROTAGONIST
You want him to get the last
section?
ec
PRIYA
Vi

It’s the only way he’ll bring

together the other eight.

PROTAGONIST
ia
I was supposed to steal it, then
lose it?

PRIYA
lC
(smiles)
Mission accomplished.
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

You used me.

op
PRIYA
As you used Katherine. Standard
operating procedure. You’ve done
your part.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
My part? I’m the protagonist of this
operation –
ha

PRIYA
You’re a protagonist.
Fo

(off look)
What? You thought you were the only
person capable of saving the world?
h

PROTAGONIST
r

No. But I am. Because I haven’t told

you where he’s assembling the
algorithm, or when.

PRIYA
You’re about to.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 118.

PROTAGONIST
No, I’m not. So deal us in.
PRIYA
Why would you involve her again?
PROTAGONIST
She can get close to him.
Sp tr PRIYA
Does he still trust her?

PROTAGONIST
He thinks she’s dead. But he used
to.
ec
PRIYA
Vi

You have started looking at the

world in a new way.

PROTAGONIST
ia
And now it’s your turn. Assuming she
makes it out alive, whether or not
you feel she knows too much...
lC
PRIYA
I can’t.
r

PROTAGONIST
ag

If you don’t have the authority,

talk to whoever’s in charge of loose
op
ends. I need your word that she and
her son will be safe.
PRIYA
(frustrated)
S

What good is someone’s word in our

y
line of business?
ha

The Protagonist just looks at her. She NODS.

PRIYA
Fo

They’ll be safe. There’s a rally

point offshore at Trondheim. Get
yourselves up there...
h
r

194 EXT. WIND FARM, NORWAY – DAY 194

Chinooks cross BACKWARDS through WHITE TURBINES. Service
boats pull people off ladders. A large ICEBREAKER sits nearby
–

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 119.

195 EXT. ICEBREAKER, BARENTS SEA – CONTINUOUS 195

The Protagonist, IN RESPIRATOR, does PULL-UPS on deck, the
movement ‘shaking’ snow back up onto the pipe...

PRIYA (V.O.)
Ives has a team ready to invert.

Sp tr
CUT BACK TO THE PROTAGONIST IN OSLO –
PROTAGONIST
You have a turnstile? The exact
ec technology we’re trying to suppress?

196 EXT. ICEBREAKER – DAY 196

Vi

The Protagonist watches a CHINOOK long-line a container...

PRIYA (V.O.)
Fighting fire with fire is a
ia
treacherous business, but there are
people in the future who need us to
continue the algorithm’s journey
into the past. You see...
lC
Taking a look at the sea CHURNING BACKWARDS into the stern as
r

the inverted ship ‘progresses’, he heads below deck...

ag

CUT BACK TO PRIYA IN OSLO –

op
PRIYA
...Tenet wasn’t founded in the past
– it will be founded in the future.
S

197 INT. HOLD, ICEBREAKER – CONTINUOUS 197

y

Coming out of an AIRLOCK, he removes his respirator. Walks

ha

past Wheeler drilling TENET SOLDIERS – non-inverted soldiers

in respirators SPAR with inverted soldiers. Neil is amongst
troops practising ‘LIFTING’ weapons from the floor.
Fo

198 INT. CABIN, ICEBREAKER – CONTINUOUS 198

h

The Protagonist enters. Kat sits at a window.

r

KAT
I can’t get over the birds...

The Protagonist follows her look to a bird flying backwards.

PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 120.

How are you feeling?

She lifts her shirt to reveal a LARGE, JAGGED, ANGRY SCAR.

KAT
Tell me you’re going to kill him.

PROTAGONIST
Sp tr I can’t.
Neil enters without interrupting. Kat rises. Steady.

KAT
Why not? I think you’ve probably
killed a lot of people –
ec
NEIL
Vi

Not with a dead man’s switch.

KAT
A what?
ia
PROTAGONIST
That fitness tracker he wears...
lC
KAT
He’s obsessive about his health.
r

NEIL
ag

It’ll be linked to a switch.

Probably a simple email burst,
op
revealing the location of the dead
drop, set to fire if his heart
stops.

PROTAGONIST
S

In effect, his death activates the

y
algorithm. He dies, the world ends –
no one dares kill him.
ha

Kat realizes...
Fo

KAT
No, you’ve missed the point. He’s
intending to end his life.
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Why?

KAT
He’s dying. Inoperable pancreatic
cancer.

PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 121.

And he’s taking the world with him.

KAT
If he can’t have her, no one can.
PROTAGONIST
What?

Sp tr KAT
Something he said, once. He has a
child, for God’s sake.
NEIL
Kat, he gets to choose the time and
place for the end of the world. What
ec
moment? What does he choose?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
You told me about a holiday, where
you let him feel loved...
ia
KAT
Viet Nam. On our yacht. His yacht.
PROTAGONIST
lC
You said he vanished – what day?
r

KAT
I went ashore with Max, he flew off.
ag

I don’t know what date it was...

op
NEIL
The 14th. Ten days ago. He was in
Ukraine, stealing a section of the
algorithm from an American team.
S

PROTAGONIST
y
At the Kiev Opera siege. How do you
know about that?
ha

NEIL
The point is – he wasn’t on the
Fo

yacht, so that’s his window.

KAT
h

To come back to that golden moment

and have it be his last.
r

PROTAGONIST
Everyone’s last. We have to lift the
algorithm from the dead drop without
Sator knowing. If he believes it’s
in there, he kills himself.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 122.

NEIL
And not the rest of us. Where’s the
dead drop?
PROTAGONIST
Knowledge divided, friend.

NEIL
Sp tr You’re not going to tell me?

PROTAGONIST
Ignorance is our ammunition.
(turns to her)
But I need you back on that boat.
ec
KAT
Why?
Vi

PROTAGONIST
You have to stop him killing himself
until we know that algorithm is out
ia
of the dead drop.
KAT
But if I’m caught there... and my
lC
son sees... I don’t want those
moments full of anguish if they’re
r

going to be his last.

ag

PROTAGONIST
They’re not.
op
199 INT. ICEBREAKER, BARENTS SEA – DAY 199
The Protagonist watches the troops prepare.
S
y
IVES (O.S.)
Cough it up. It’s time.
ha

The Protagonist turns to face Ives.

Fo

IVES
We’re working our way back to the
14th. But without knowing where the
h

dead drop is, there’s only so much I

can prepare.
r

(no response)
You need me to get you there.
PROTAGONIST
Know what a hypocentre is?

Ives shakes his head.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 123.

PROTAGONIST
Ground zero for an underground
nuclear test. Sir Michael Crosby
told me about a detonation at
Stalsk-12 on the 14th – the dead
drop is at the bottom of the
hypocentre. That explosion seals up
the algorithm.
Sp tr IVES
Then we’d better pull it out of that
hole before the bomb goes off.

200 INT. TURNSTILE, ICEBREAKER – DAY 200

ec
Soldiers in respirators file into the turnstile. Through the
Vi

proving window we see them ‘back’ into the exit... The

Protagonist checks his gear at the back of the line. He sees
Kat watching from the airlock. He goes to her.
ia
201 INT. AIRLOCK – CONTINUOUS 201
The Protagonist pulls off his respirator.
lC
KAT
r

Where’s Neil?
ag

PROTAGONIST
He must’ve already gone through...
op
KAT
I didn’t get to say goodbye – this
is goodbye, isn’t it?
S

PROTAGONIST
y
Today’s the 14th. Offshore of
Siberia – time for us to go. You
ha

keep going back another day, give

you time to make it to Viet Nam.
Fo

KAT
Who gets me back on the yacht?
h

PROTAGONIST
I’ve got somebody good lined up. I’d
r

like to say you don’t have to do

this, but...
KAT
I once told you I didn’t need
redemption. But the chance to save

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 124.

my child? You can’t know what that

means to a mother.
PROTAGONIST
No.

KAT
The worst thing Andrei ever did to
Sp tr me was that offer – to let me go if
I never saw my son again. I shouted,
swore –
INSERT CUT: Kat FLINGS a crystal BOWL OF RASPBERRIES,
SMASHING it on a wooden deck...
ec
KAT
But he’d seen it on my face – just
Vi

for an instant.
Kat looks at the Protagonist. Who says nothing.
ia
KAT
I don’t know if I hate him more for
the things he’s done, or because he
knows that about me. You’ve killed
lC
people you hated before?
r

PROTAGONIST
It’s not usually personal.
ag

KAT
op
He’s dying, anyway. It might not
even count –
PROTAGONIST
It always counts. You’re not there
S

to kill him – you’re the backstop.

y
If we haven’t lifted that algorithm
and he kills himself, he takes us
ha

all with him, instantly.

Kat moves to the Protagonist, in close –
Fo

KAT
Just keep up your end, okay?
h

The Protagonist nods. She kisses him.

r

PROTAGONIST
When it’s over, and you’re raising
your boy. Carry this –

The Protagonist hands her a DUMB PHONE.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 125.

PROTAGONIST
There may be a time and place you
feel threatened. Hit talk, state
your location, hang up.

KAT
Who gets the message?

Sp tr Posterity.
PROTAGONIST

202 INT/EXT. CHINOOK – LATER 202

The Protagonist watches the icebreaker recede...
ec
Vi

203 EXT. VAST BARREN PLAIN, DUSTED WITH SNOW – DAY 203
Three CHINOOKS zoom low across the barren landscape, followed
by another three CHINOOKS long-lining SHIPPING CONTAINERS...
ia
204 INT. CHINOOK – CONTINUOUS 204
lC
The Protagonist sits amongst a DOZEN SOLDIERS. They watch the
endless northern plain unroll beneath them...
r ag

205 EXT. TENET CAMP – CONTINUOUS 205

op
The Protagonist gets off the Chinook, watching another
Chinook gently set down a container. He follows the others to
a tent.
S

206 INT. BRIEFING TENT – CONTINUOUS 206

y

Soldiers in folding chairs facing a screen. The Protagonist

ha

looks around – still no Neil. Ives steps up, signals for the
projector: a devastated CITY, grey CONCRETE and ABANDONED
industry amongst terraced strip mines...
Fo

IVES
Stalsk-12. Hidden from the world. A
h

city where anything can happen, and

today, gentlemen, for ten minutes,
r

it most assuredly does.

Ives switches to a GRAPHIC: a childishly simple diagram of a
LANDING AREA, BUILDINGS, then an UNDERGROUND CAVERN...
IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 126.

You were divided into two teams for

a temporal pincer movement. We are
Red team, moving forwards. Our
friends out there –
(gestures at containers)
– Blue team, led by Commander
Wheeler, are inverted. One hour from
now, they had this briefing...
Sp tr
INSERT CUT: Neil, in RESPIRATOR, in the front row of
Commander Wheeler’s briefing of BLUE TEAM. All are in
respirators...
BACK TO RED-TEAM BRIEFING –
ec
IVES
Then were dropped on the ridge above
Vi

the hypocentre as close in time to

the detonation as possible. Their
objectives were clearance and
clarification. This briefing has the
ia
benefit of their experience – and
yes, some of you specialists are on
both teams.
lC
The Protagonist overhears –
r

RED SOLDIER 1
Why don’t they let us see them?
ag

RED SOLDIER 2
op
Maybe we won’t like what happened.

207 EXT. COAST OF VIET NAM – DAY 207

S

A SPEEDBOAT bounces through the chop, Mahir (from the

y
freeport heist) at the helm. Kat, beside him, shields her
eyes from the glare as they head towards Sator’s yacht. They
ha

pull up some way off. A chopper sits on the yacht.

Mahir hands Kat binoculars – Kat watches her EARLIER SELF and
Fo

HER SON board the tender and head for shore...

h

208 INT. BRIEFING TENT – DAY 208

r

Ives gestures across the whole area on the schematic –

IVES
The entire area is radioactive, so
both teams wear full protection. To
distinguish teams, wear these –

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 127.

A soldier starts passing out RED ARMBANDS...

INSERT CUT: Neil, in respirator, takes a BLUE ARMBAND, and,
like the rest of the team, puts it on...
BACK TO RED-TEAM BRIEFING –

Ives points to each of the three elements in turn:

Sp tr IVES
Landing zone, LZ, well defended,
including ground-to-air ordinance.
We drop in, clear the LZ for Blue
team’s evacuation... We make our way
into the city proper... these
ec
buildings are abandoned, but we
learned they have a turnstile in
Vi

this one... so expect a bi-temporal

response.

RED SOLDIER 1
ia
They’ll have inverse ordinance?

IVES
Inverse, conventional, forwards
lC
antagonists, inverted antagonists –
they have it all, and it can all end
r

you. Got it?

ag

Ives goes back to the diagram –

op
IVES
On the other side of the city, the
ground rises to the ridge above the
hypocentre.
S

IVES
y
Most of you will proceed up the hill
– a splinter unit will take a tunnel
ha

from the city to the floor of the

hypocentre. Blue team located an
entrance here –
Fo

Ives points to the city’s edge. Then to the CAVERN.

h

IVES
The bomb is in the rock high above
r

to trigger a collapse, sealing the

cavern.

RED SOLDIER 2
How do we defuse the bomb up there?

IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 128.

We don’t. The explosion takes place

as planned, exactly ten minutes
after our landing. Everything is
synchronized to that explosion. Both
teams have countdown watches – ours
counts down from ten at landing, to
zero at the explosion.

Sp tr
He holds up his wrist to display a BLOOD-RED ‘10’ –

IVES
Blue team is the reverse –
INSERT CUT: a PREVIOUS BRIEFING (BLUE TEAM). NEIL watches as
Wheeler holds up her wrist to show a VIVID-BLUE ‘10’ –
ec
WHEELER
Vi

Ten at the explosion, to zero at our

extraction. If you are not at the LZ
by zero, you are not leaving.
ia
BACK TO RED-TEAM BRIEFING –

IVES
Our job is to fail to defuse the
lC
bomb, while the splinter unit
achieves its task undetected.
r

RED SOLDIER 1
ag

Which is?
op
IVES
Need to know. And you don’t. Any
other stupid questions? Right, let’s
get ready.
S

Everybody RISES. The Protagonist approaches Ives.

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

I wanted to be on the first wave.

IVES
Fo

There is no first wave – Red team

and Blue team operate
simultaneously. Do not get on the
h

chopper if you can’t stop thinking

in linear terms. You want to be on
r

the team who lifts the contents of

that capsule?

PROTAGONIST
Absolutely.

IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 129.

That’s us. We’re the splinter unit.

PROTAGONIST
Just us?
IVES
No one who knows the contents of
that capsule can leave the field. I
Sp tr thought we’d manage ourselves.

209 EXT. COAST OF VIET NAM – DAY 209

Mahir shows Kat how to use a small pistol. Kat wears a two-
piece bathing suit with a shirt over. He puts the pistol in a
ec
diver’s bag, loops the lanyard round Kat’s bare ankle.
Vi

MAHIR
It’s forty feet from the private
deck to the water. Can you jump it?
ia
KAT
I can dive it.
They hear the chopper SPIN UP. Mahir shows her a FLARE GUN –
lC
MAHIR
r

Until you see my signal, you don’t

let him die.
ag

Kat nods. The chopper lifts off and ZOOMS overhead. Mahir
op
guns the powerboat, STREAKING towards the yacht...

210 EXT. TENET CAMP – DAY 210

S

The Soldiers head for the Chinooks. As they pass the

y
containers, some stare at them... the Chinooks lift off, some
Chinooks rise, LIFTING the containers...
ha

211 EXT. COAST OF VIET NAM – DAY 211

Fo

Mahir pulls up fifty yards from the stern of Sator’s yacht...

Kat grabs the pistol bag and slips into the water...
h
r

212 INT/EXT. NORTHERN PLAIN – DAY 212

The Chinooks BEAT LOW over the windswept plain. Stalsk-12

appears on the horizon – terraced strip-mined land leading to
a set of CONCRETESTRUCTURES FUSED TO THE EARTH...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 130.

213 EXT. SATOR’S YACHT, COAST OF VIET NAM – DAY 213

Kat quietly pulls herself out of the water and onto a rear
platform. She STEALTHILY makes her way up through the boat...

214 EXT. LZ, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 214

Sp tr
The Chinooks long-lining containers RISE, slowing, as the
other Chinooks BARREL in towards a large flat area – ANTI-
AIRCRAFT GUNS start FIRING...
The Protagonist grabs his gun and LEAPS from the Chinook as
it hovers close to the ground...
ec
215 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – DAY 215
Vi

The Chinooks long-lining containers fly BACKWARDS towards a

giant DEPRESSION...
ia
216 INT. CONTAINER – CONTINUOUS 216
Neil looks out a peephole –
lC
WHEELER
r

We’re coming in on the shock wave...

hang on, people! –
ag

Neil GRABS his belts as WHUMMMMM!!!! The container SHUDDERS –

op
217 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 217
The SHOCK WAVE CONTRACTS – the Chinook ‘SURFING’ backwards in
S

on the shock as it approaches the hypocentre... ENERGY

y
BUILDING... GROUND LIFTING AND FLATTENING...
ha

218 EXT. LZ, STALSK-12 – DAY 218

Fo

The Protagonist joins a unit of Red team soldiers who CHARGE

an antiaircraft emplacement TAKING IT OUT BEFORE IT CAN FIRE
ON THE SLOW-MOVING CHINOOKS...
h

The Protagonist uses his assault rifle to take out a

r

gunemplacement. Ives uses an inverse grenade to violently

‘reassemble’ an enemy gun emplacement out of existence,
shredding the enemy with reverse shrapnel...

IVES
Draw them back into the city, away
from Blue team...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 131.

The Chinooks drop down, land the containers – the Protagonist

looks back to see, a hundred metres away, the containers OPEN
– Blue team ‘SCRAMBLING’ BACKWARDS from the containers...
SOME CARRY INJURED COMRADES, ALL SEEM EXHAUSTED...

The Protagonist and Red team press forward, blasting at the

remaining enemy troops who run for the cover of the city...
the Protagonist checks his watch – a BRIGHT-RED ‘9:59’,
Sp tr
‘9:58’...

219 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – DAY 219

The reverse explosion PEAKS. SUDDEN CALM as the Chinooks

place the containers down – they open and Blue team runs out,
ec
‘FORWARDS’, Neil at
Vi

the head, guns raised, BLASTING at the ENEMY SOLDIERS on the

ridge... Neil checks his watch – a BRIGHT-BLUE ‘9:57’,
‘9:56’... he turns to see a GREY TRUCK ‘REVERSING’ towards
the hole, tyres sucking up dust... a rope from its rear hitch
ia
TAUT into the hole...
BANG! BANG! SHOTS are sucked out of the ground around him –
Blue team FORCES the enemy away from the hole, towards Red
lC
team (whose members fight ‘backwards’) – Neil shouts to
Wheeler –
r

NEIL
ag

Draw their fire! Pull them away...

op
He RACES down the ridge, following Wheeler...

220 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 220

S

Kat comes out to find a JUNIOR CREW MEMBER cleaning up a

y
SMASHED BOWL OF RASPBERRIES. He looks up at her, surprised.
ha

JUNIOR CREW MEMBER

Ma’am? We thought you’d gone ashore.
Fo

KAT
I snuck back to surprise Andrei.
h

JUNIOR CREW MEMBER

The Boss left...
r

He trails off – they hear an INCOMING CHOPPER.

KAT
I’ll get the mess. Have Mr Sator
find me here. Don’t tell the others.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 132.

The Junior Crew Member nods, leaves – Kat moves to the RAIL,
checks Mahir in the distance, the DAYBED, the water HOSE...

221 EXT. LZ, STALSK-12 – DAY 221

The Protagonist, Ives and Red team head towards the large
concrete turnstile building on the outskirts of the city –
Sp tr
The Protagonist sees Wheeler running backwards towards a
BUNKER on their right which UNEXPLODES –

– GUNFIRE CRACKLES around them, pinning them down...

They hit the bunker with an RPG, then race around the left of
ec
the turnstile building...
Vi

222 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – DAY 222

Wheeler leads Blue team down the hill – ‘chasing’ the enemy
ia
who run BACKWARDS – a BLUE TEAM member TRIGGERS A LANDMINE –
another triggers an INVERSE LANDMINE –

WHEELER
lC
Hit the deck! Mines!
r

As Blue team goes to the ground, Neil sees mines start to

EXPLODE/IMPLODE in a wave towards him as the GREY TRUCK RACES
ag

BACKWARDS down the hill through the minefield, REVERSE-

TRIGGERING THE MINES – Neil DIVES out of the way, almost run
op
over...
Then gets up to follow the ‘path’ of the grey truck...
S

223 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – LATE AFTERNOON 223

y

Kat unzips the diver’s bag, feels the handle of the gun, then
ha

slides the bag under the daybed, checking she can reach. She
moves to the rail, crouches to UNCLIP the bottom safety
cable. She looks at Mahir’s boat across the water...
Fo

224 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 224

h

Ives leads Red team into the deserted concrete structures via
r

an efficient cover-and-move formation... the Protagonist

shelters behind LARGE CONCRETE CHUNKS. Which VIBRATE...
GATHERING ENERGY...

The Protagonist JUMPS AWAY as the chunks RIP FROM THE GROUND,
BOUNCING VIOLENTLY, DUSTILY OFF EACH OTHER AND FLYING UP INTO

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 133.

A GAP IN THE SIDE OF A BUILDING as an INVERSE RPG ZIPS back

up into a WINDOW –
Ives has spotted the window and calls for an RPG to ‘follow’
the inverse one, BLASTING the building... the Protagonist
checks his watch – ‘8:10’, ‘8:09’...

225 Sp tr
EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – DAY
Neil checks his watch – ‘8:08’, ‘8:07’... he heads downhill,
225

towards the city, where the rest of Blue team BEAT BACK the
enemy...
ec
226 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – LATE AFTERNOON 226
Vi

Kat hoses the raspberries and glass from the deck... Sator
appears, watching as she turns the water on herself.

SATOR
ia
They told me you’d gone ashore.

KAT
They told me you’d flown off.
lC
SATOR
r

I came back. To see you and Max.

ag

KAT
Max is on shore with Anna. We need
op
time, just you and me. After what -
SATOR
I was joking. A stupid joke –
S

KAT
y
You think I’m a terrible mother.
ha

SATOR
We both know my opinion of you is
higher than yours of me.
Fo

KAT
I want things to be better, Andrei.
h

She moves towards him. Sator nods. Picks up the phone –

r

SATOR
Have the captain turn the boat so
we’ll see the sunset from here.

227 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 227

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 134.

The Protagonist RUNS across the street, FIRING at the

enemy... he SPOTS the TUNNEL ENTRANCE between two buildings.

PROTAGONIST
Ives! Splinter unit here!
Ives nods. RACES over, drawing fire the whole way...

228
Sp tr
EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 228

Neil races into the city streets... he sees Commander Wheeler

and a BLUE SOLDIER take shelter in a large jagged BREACH in
the ground-floor wall of a massive structure.
ec
Neil is FORCED to hit the deck, ducking INVERTED fire all
around... he looks over at Wheeler, and sees DUST GATHERING
Vi

AROUND THE BREACH...

NEIL
Wheeler! Get out of there! Wheeler!
ia
Wheeler hears him – tries to grab the Blue Soldier – MASSIVE
CHUNKS OF CONCRETE SCRAPE OVER NEIL’S HEAD, FLYING TOWARDS
WHEELER, who DIVES CLEAR – the wall REASSEMBLES ON TOP OF the
lC
Blue Soldier, CRUSHING HIM...
r

Neil winces. Starts crawling for better cover... checks his

watch – ‘6:24’,‘6:23’...
ag

op
229 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – LATE AFTERNOON 229
Sator looks past Kat to the lowering sun.

SATOR
S

It’s going to be a beautiful sunset.

y
I’ll get Max brought back – we
should share the moment with him.
ha

Sator picks up the phone. Kat looks at the shore, uneasy...

Fo

230 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 230

h

Ives and the Protagonist shelter as Red team exchanges fire

with the Enemy further up the street. The Protagonist checks
r

his watch – ‘5:15’, ‘5:14’...

PROTAGONIST
Let’s go. We’re running out of time.
IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 135.

If they see us, it’s all for

nothing.

PROTAGONIST
We need a distraction.
Ives looks ahead to the LEANING RUIN OF A BUILDING TOP...

Sp tr IVES
Don’t worry about that...

231 EXT. CITY STREETS – DAY 231

Neil checks his watch – ‘5:10’, ‘5:09’... frustrated, pinned

ec
down, he looks around for a way to break cover...
Vi

Commander Wheeler, with the rest of Blue team, SHELTERS in

the shadow of the RUINED BASE of a building, pinned by ENEMY
FIRE from the base of the building...
ia
WHEELER
RPG! Take out the base – on my mark
–
lC
She checks her watch – ‘5:04’, ‘5:03’...
r

The BLUE RPG SOLDIER takes aim...

ag

232 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 232

op
The Protagonist spots SMALL DEBRIS ROLLING across the
street... GATHERING MOMENTUM...
PROTAGONIST
S

Ives!
y

Ives sees LARGER and LARGER debris is ROLLING down the street
ha

towards the LEANING RUIN OF A BUILDING TOP...

IVES
Fo

It’s about to get distracting...

He signals a RED RPG SOLDIER...
h

IVES
r

On my mark!

He looks at his watch – ‘5:01’, ‘5:00’ –

IVES
Fire!

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 136.

The leaning ruin THRUSTS UPWARDS –

233 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 233

Wheeler watches as the Leaning Ruin’s UPPER STOREYS
REASSEMBLE, as its BASE EXPLODES...

234
Sp tr
EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 234

The Protagonist takes cover as the Leaning Ruin’s BASE

REASSEMBLES as its UPPER STOREYS EXPLODE... the Protagonist
and Ives race at the tunnel entrance – the GREY TRUCK RACES
at them as they dive for the tunnel...
ec
Vi

235 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 235

Wheeler ducks as the weight of the upper storeys COLLAPSES

the building...
ia
Neil lifts his head after the EXPLO/IMPLOSION. Clear. He gets
up and starts RUNNING...
lC
236 EXT. TUNNEL ENTRANCE, STALSK-12 – DAY 236
r

The Protagonist and Ives RACE into the tunnel, HITTING A

ag

TRIPWIRE WHICH BLOWS THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE DOWN BEHIND THEM AS

THEY JUMP INSIDE...
op
237 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – LATE AFTERNOON 237
Sator hangs up. He holds a SILVER PILL in the sunlight,
S

studying it...
y

KAT
ha

What’s that?

SATOR
Fo

I borrowed it from the CIA.

KAT
h

But what is it?

r

SATOR
The way the world ends, not with a
bang but a whimper.
KAT
I don’t understand.

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 137.

SATOR
When I take this, it’s all over.

KAT
Then don’t take it, yet.

Sator looks at her, needing her to care.

Sp tr Why not?
SATOR

KAT
We’ve got the sunset coming and a
little vodka left...
ec
SATOR
And Max will be here soon... they
Vi

thought it was you, not Anna, on

shore with Max.
Kat steps up in front of Sator, seductive...
ia
KAT
As long as you can tell the
difference...
lC
Sator smiles appreciatively, but pulls out his phone –
r

SATOR
ag

A moment’s business, my love...

op
238 EXT. MAHIR’S BOAT – CONTINUOUS 238
Mahir checks his radio –
S

IVES
y
(over radio)
Not clear. Repeat, not clear...
ha

239 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – DAY 239

Fo

The Protagonist and Ives look back at the COLLAPSED ENTRANCE

–
h

PROTAGONIST
r

We’re committed now.

They turn and RACE through the mining tunnel...

IVES
(into radio)

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 138.

Just hold tight – we’re almost

there...

240 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 240

Neil spots SATOR’S GREY MI8 OVERHEAD, a rope hanging down.

Sp tr
Across the street he sees VOLKOV REVERSE-EXIT the tunnel
mouth, CROUCHING to ‘DERIG’ a tripwired booby trap, carrying
it towards the chopper, then LEAPING up onto the line –
RISING from the streets...

Neil STARES. CONCERNED. Checks his watch – ‘4:10’, ‘4:09’...

Then TAKES OFF, SPRINTING –
ec
WHEELER
Vi

Neil!
She watches him go ahead, then signals Blue team to keep
pushing forward...
ia
241 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – DAY 241
lC
The Protagonist and Ives run down the tunnel... they slow as
they see a BODY, blue armband, lying on the ground on the
r

opposite side of a SET OF BARS at the end of the tunnel.

ag

They can see into the hypocentre, the GIANT ATOMIC-HEWN

CAVERN, daylight above, CAPSULE on the rock floor next to the
op
mouth of a BORE HOLE. The Protagonist checks his watch –
‘4:06’, ‘4:05’ ... Ives checks the ELECTRONIC LOCK –
IVES
We don’t have anything big enough to
S

blow this. Try him –

y

The Protagonist reaches through the bars and checks the body
ha

– FREEZES: attached to a zip, a TALISMAN – A COIN WITH A HOLE

HANGING FROM A SMALL LENGTH OF ORANGE AND YELLOW STRING...
Fo

The Protagonist looks at it, quizzical, rises –

PROTAGONIST
h

Nothing. Can you pick it?

r

SATOR (O.S.)
I hope not. I paid a lot for that
lock...

WHAM! Ives goes down – SHOT BY VOLKOV, bullet SPARKING off

his helmet – on the other side of the bars – gun pointed at

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 139.

the Protagonist, FIELD RADIO held out... Sator’s voice ECHOES

through the tunnel –
SATOR
(over phone)
How do you like where my journey
began, and yours ends?

Sp tr
Volkov takes the Protagonist’s gun. Forces him to push Ives’s
gun through the bars.
PROTAGONIST
A little radioactive for my taste.
Volkov drops the guns into the water, places the radio by the
ec
bars...
Vi

242 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – LATE AFTERNOON 242

Sator steps away from Kat as he speaks quietly into the

ia
phone.
SATOR
My fate was always bound up with
lC
radiation. We’d work where no one
else would. We made a devil’s
r

bargain – money for time. We sold

our futures.
ag

Kat looks at Mahir’s boat. Nothing. She looks to the shore.

op
Far in the distance, she can see the TENDER APPROACHING...

243 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – DAY 243

S
y
The Protagonist looks at Volkov. At the bars between him and
the capsule...
ha

PROTAGONIST
Now you’re making the same mistake
Fo

for the entire world.

SATOR
h

(over phone)
It wasn’t a mistake. I made the
r

bargain I could. What was yours? You

fight for a cause you barely
understand. With people you trust so
little you’ve told them nothing
about what you’re doing. When I die
the world dies with me. And your
knowledge dies with you. Buried in

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 140.

the tomb like an anonymous Egyptian

builder sealed in the pyramid to
keep his secret...

244 INT. TURNSTILE BUILDING, STALSK-12 – DAY 244

Neil comes into the turnstile room... he watches ENEMY TROOPS
Sp tr
enter/exit the machine, inverting to join the battle. He
waits for his chance... the room is empty... he sees himself
through the proving window, and RUNS at the machine...

245 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – EVENING 245

ec
Sator speaks into his phone –
Vi

SATOR
Your faith is blind. You’re a
fanatic.
ia
PROTAGONIST
(over phone)
What’s more fanatical than trying to
destroy the world?
lC
Kat moves towards Sator, but he raises a finger...
r

SATOR
ag

I’m not. I’m creating a new one.

Somewhere, sometime, a man in a
op
crystalline tower throws a switch
and Armageddon is both triggered and
avoided. Entropy inverts the same
way the magnetic poles have switched
183 times over the millennia. Now
S

time itself switches direction.

y

Sator looks out at the lowering sun...

ha

SATOR
The same sunshine we’ve basked in
Fo

will warm the faces of our

descendants generations from now.
h

Kat looks at Mahir’s boat. Nothing. She looks to shore,

watching the TENDER APPROACHING...
r

246 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – DAY 246

The Protagonist looks at his watch – ‘2:12’, ‘2:11’...

PROTAGONIST

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 141.

How can they want to destroy us?

SATOR
(over phone)
Because their oceans rose and their
rivers ran dry. Don’t you see –?
Their world shrivelled because of
us. They have no choice but to turn
Sp tr back, there’s no life ahead of them.
And we’re responsible. Knowing this,
do you still want me to stop?

PROTAGONIST
Yes. Each generation looks out for
its own survival.
ec
Vi

247 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 247

Sator looks out at the glittering water –

ia
SATOR
That’s exactly what they’re doing.

PROTAGONIST
lC
(over phone)
Sure, but not you. You’re a traitor.
r

Bringing death to all because you

have no life of your own left.
ag

SATOR
op
When I’m done, life continues.
PROTAGONIST
(over phone)
Not your son’s.
S
y
SATOR
My greatest sin was to bring a son
ha

into a world I knew was ending... do

you think God will forgive me?
Fo

PROTAGONIST
(over phone)
For killing your son? No.
h

SATOR
r

He should understand – he killed his

own.

248 EXT. CITY STREETS, STALSK-12 – DAY 248

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 142.

Neil, FORWARDS NOW, spots a GREY TRUCK outside the turnstile

building – he jumps in, FIRING IT UP –

249 RACING THROUGH THE STREETS, PAST THE IMPLODING/ EXPLODING 249
BUILDING, racing for the tunnel mouth, trying to head off the
Protagonist and Ives –
Sp tr NEIL
Wait! Wait!

They dive into the tunnel, which COLLAPSES. Neil sets his
sights on the hypocentre ridge above, GUNS the engine...
ec
250 EXT. LZ, STALSK-12 – DAY 250
Vi

Wheeler leads Blue team towards the CHINOOKS LOWERING

CONTAINERS... as they carry their wounded and lurch towards
the containers, they see Red team ‘REASSEMBLING’ the anti-
ia
aircraft guns...

251 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 251

lC
The Protagonist watches Volkov pick up a BLACK, METAL,
r

GEOMETRICALLY COMPLEX BAR... the algorithm.

ag

PROTAGONIST
You don’t believe in God. Or a new
op
future. Or anything outside your own
experience.

SATOR
(over phone)
S

That’s all any of us knows. The rest

y
is belief, and I don’t have it.
ha

PROTAGONIST
Without it you’re not human. You’re
a madman.
Fo

SATOR
(over phone)
h

Or a god of sorts.
r

PROTAGONIST
Like I said.

Volkov slowly backs towards the capsule with the algorithm...

The Protagonist looks down at Ives – whose hand is MOVING...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 143.

252 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 252

A BEEP. Sator checks his watch.

SATOR
Our time is up.

He looks across at Kat standing by the rail.

Sp tr SATOR
I’ll give my wife your love.
PROTAGONIST
(over phone)
You’re forgetting, I haven’t met
ec
her, yet.
Vi

SATOR
That’s right, after you meet her,
she dies. I’ll just give her my
love, instead.
ia
253 INT. HYPOCENTRE, STALSK-12 – DAY 253
lC
Volkov seals the capsule – hooks it to a winch... the
Protagonist watches Ives’s hand emerge with a SIDEARM...
r

Volkov raises the capsule up over the mouth of the DEEP BORE
HOLE, then steps back, preparing to release the winch and
ag

drop the capsule into the well...

op
254 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – SUNSET 254

Sator goes to hang up, pauses... an afterthought –

S

SATOR
y
Volkov?
ha

255 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 255

Fo

Volkov RUSHES FORWARD with his gun...

SATOR
h

(over phone; in Russian,

subtitled)
r

– Shoot him in the head. –

Volkov PULLS HIS TRIGGER – but the Dead Tenet Soldier has
‘RISEN’ to be in front of the gun ‘ABSORBING’ the bullet –
then LEAPING to one side, ALIVE –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 144.

256 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – CONTINUOUS 256

Sator hears the shot, SATISFIED – Kat pulls the phone away –
KAT
Enough business, Andrei...

257 Sp tr
INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS

The Protagonist DIVES to where Ives is lying, GRABS his gun –

257

Volkov TURNS, RUNNING FOR the winch-release –

PROTAGONIST
WAIT! WAIT!
ec
He FIRES at Volkov, who goes down just short of the winch...
Vi

Ives struggles to his feet, checking his watch – ‘1:07’,

‘1:06’...
ia
Hearing BEEPS, Ives looks up. THE LOCK is open –

258 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 258

lC
Neil RACES up the slope to the ridge – through the MINEFIELD,
r

setting off personnel mines in his wake, NARROWLY AVOIDING

RUNNING HIMSELF OVER...
ag

op
259 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – EVENING 259

As Kat pours him a drink, Sator looks out at the glowing

horizon, fiddling with the silver pill... he POINTS –
S

SATOR
y
Tomorrow the sun will rise in that
same spot. For the first time in
ha

history. Because I’ve told it to.

(looks at her like she’s a
loyal dog)
Fo

You have no idea what I’m talking

about, do you?
h

She looks at him, smiles sweetly.

r

KAT
It sounds terribly important,
Andrei.
He reaches for her – she gets up, moves to the rail –

SATOR

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 145.

Where’re you going?

She grabs the hose, starts spraying herself –

KAT
Aren’t you hot?
Kat sprays the deck in front of the rail –
Sp tr SATOR
What’re you doing, now?
KAT
I spilled sunscreen.
ec
SATOR
So what?
Vi

KAT
It’s slippery.
ia
SATOR
Just come here...

She looks at Sator lying on the daybed like an appalling

lC
emperor. Moves towards him. Grabs the sunscreen.
r

KAT
Turn over.
ag

SATOR
op
The sun’s almost gone.

KAT
You’ll like it.
S

He rolls over, obedient. She squirts a large dollop across

y
his back. Looks up at Mahir’s boat, hopeful. Nothing.
ha

She checks her watch as she lazily smears the sunscreen

across Sator’s back. He groans. Kat watches the TENDER
APPROACHING, she can just make out HERSELF AND HER SON...
Fo

260 INT. TUNNEL, STALSK-12 – DAY 260

h

The Protagonist watches the Dead Tenet Soldier RACING

r

BACKWARDS from the gate, out of the tunnel –

IVES
COME ON!

The Protagonist TURNS – Ives swings the gate open – they RACE
through, just before it closes, SLAMMING SHUT behind them –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 146.

IVES
Tunnel’s sealed!
The Protagonist steps over Volkov, STRUGGLES with the
capsule, it swings, HANGING precariously over the well...

IVES
(into radio)
Sp tr Mahir, do you copy?

261 EXT. MAHIR’S BOAT – EVENING 261

Mahir looks through binoculars, FRUSTRATED, flare gun ready –

ec
IVES
(over radio)
Vi

Hold! Repeat, hold!

262 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – DAY 262

ia
Neil REVERSES towards the hole – jumps out, pulling a line
from the rear winch...
lC
263 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – SUNSET 263
r

Kat looks at Mahir’s boat. Nothing. She checks her watch...

ag

looks down at the tender approaching – it’s close enough she

can clearly see HERSELF CHATTING AND LAUGHING WITH MAX... she
op
jumps up from the daybed, holding the diver’s bag. Sator
looks up at her, surprised.
KAT
I can’t do this.
S
y
SATOR
Don’t spoil this moment, Kat.
ha

KAT
I can’t let you think you’ve won...
Fo

Sator looks at her, suddenly wary...

h

SATOR
What are you talking about,
r

Katherine?
KAT
I’m not letting you go to your grave
thinking we’re all coming with you.
I can’t give you that –

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 147.

She pulls out the SILENCED PISTOL. He is UTTERLY UNAFRAID.

KAT
You’re dying alone, Andrei.

SATOR
(contemptuous)
No, I’m not.
Sp tr KAT
Andrei, look in my eyes. Which do
you see, despair... or anger?

SATOR
What?
ec
KAT
Vi

I’m not the woman who could find

love for you even though you’d
scarred her on the inside...
ia
Kat pulls up her shirt to reveal the MASSIVE, ANGRY SCAR –

KAT
I’m the vengeful bitch you scarred
lC
on the outside.
r

Sator realizes he’s been conned – LUNGES FOR HER –

ag

SATOR
You –!
op
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 –
S
y
Sator SHOOTS off the deck, TUMBLING DOWN to the sea – his
head CRACKS on the rear platform as he HITS the water –
ha

264 EXT. MAHIR’S BOAT – CONTINUOUS 264

Fo

Mahir lowers his binoculars, STARTLED, as he sees Sator’s

body pitch into the sea –
h

MAHIR
r

(into radio)
She’s killed him! She’s killed him!

Mahir GUNS the engine, racing towards the yacht...

265 INT. HYPOCENTRE, STALSK-12 – DAY 265

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 148.

The Protagonist opens the capsule, revealing the algorithm –

IVES
She jumped the gun – she killed him!

The Protagonist looks at Ives, ashen – A LINE DROPS BETWEEN

THEM –

266
Sp tr
EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 266

Neil is at the wheel of the truck. Through the rear-view

mirror he looks at his line running into the hole. Through
the windshield he watches Red and Blue soldiers finish
loading and LIFT OFF. He checks his watch – ‘00:09’,
ec
‘00:08’...
Vi

NEIL
Fuck it –

He GUNS it, PULLING AWAY FROM THE HOLE –

ia
267 INT. HYPOCENTRE, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 267
lC
The Protagonist and Ives are YANKED into the air, the
Protagonist CLUTCHING the algorithm – as they approach the
r

rocky edge of the hole, Ives raises his boots to cushion the
– IMPACT! They BOUNCE PAINFULLY over the lip –
ag

op
268 EXT. HYPOCENTRE RIDGE, STALSK-12 – CONTINUOUS 268
The truck DRAGS them along the rocky ground, away from the
hole as... BOOOOM!!!! THE ROCKY GROUND BUCKLES WITH FORCE –
S

SMOKE and FLAMES BLAST up out of the hole in an ANGRY PLUME –

y

The ground around the hole COLLAPSES IN AN EVER-GROWING

ha

RADIUS –
The line SNAPS, leaving the Protagonist and Ives TUMBLING to
Fo

a stop... The SUBSIDENCE approaches, SLOWING, SLOWING... the

ground OPENS UP under the Protagonist – Ives GRABS HIM – the
Protagonist has the algorithm in his hands, Ives PULLS him
h

back onto solid ground...

r

269 EXT. LZ, STALSK-12 – DAY 269

Wheeler PULLS a last Blue team soldier into the container as

her watch hits ZERO – the container door SLAMS shut –

BLUE TEAM SOLDIER

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 149.

Do you think they made it?

270 EXT. PRIVATE DECK, SATOR’S YACHT – SUNSET 270

Kat picks up the shell casing, drops it in the diver’s bag,
zips it up, attaches the lanyard to her ankle, sprays down
the deck, WASHING away BLOOD and SUNSCREEN...
Sp tr
Kat steps up to the railing. Watches Mahir, down below,
getting a line on Sator’s body. Kat glances over at the
TENDER ARRIVING WITH HER EARLIER SELF AND HER SON... Kat
DIVES, ARCING GRACEFULLY THROUGH THE SUNSET...
Kat’s earlier self, stepping onto the yacht, catches a
ec
glimpse of a graceful form SLICING into the water. She looks,
CURIOUS, but Max TUGS her sleeve and she turns.
Vi

271 EXT. COAST OF VIET NAM – CONTINUOUS 271

ia
On Mahir’s SPEEDING boat, Kat hands Mahir the diver’s bag and
looks up ahead to the last light of day...
PROTAGONIST
lC
(over radio)
Kat, you jumped the gun!
r

Mahir hands her the radio –

ag

KAT
op
I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t let him
die thinking he’d won. And I knew
you’d find a way.

Silence. She glances Mahir, suddenly concerned –

S
y
KAT
Wait, you found a way? We’re okay,
ha

right?

PROTAGONIST
Fo

(over radio)
Yeah. We found a way. Be safe.
h

Mahir’s boat SPEEDS AWAY through the twilight...

r

...DRAGGING Sator’s body behind.

272 EXT. WINDSWEPT PLAIN OUTSIDE STALSK-12 – EVENING 272

A Chinook swirls snow around the blasted ruins... Ives and
the Protagonist slump, bruised, exhausted, gas masks off,

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 150.

breathing hard. On the ground between them – the matte-black

algorithm... Neil approaches, removing his gas mask...

PROTAGONIST
I thought you were inverted.

NEIL
Changed gears halfway – you needed
Sp tr help here.

IVES
We needed help down there.
(to Protagonist)
How’d you get that lock open?
ec
PROTAGONIST
It wasn’t me.
Vi

(to Neil)
Didn’t your team need you?
NEIL
ia
I’ll get them on the next pass.
Right, Ives?
IVES
lC
Once I’ve caught my breath.
r

The Protagonist reaches for the algorithm – Ives PULLS it out

of his reach – his gun laying casually across his leg. As
ag

Neil and the Protagonist watch, Ives takes his weapon in

hand, gets to his feet... He lifts the algorithm... looks
op
around at the deserted plain above Stalsk-12...

IVES
Nice and private.
S

Ives SEPARATES the algorithm into THREE COMPONENTS –

y

PROTAGONIST
ha

No one who’s seen this leaves the

field...
Fo

IVES
We hide it, we end our lives. It’s
the only way to be sure.
h

Ives TOSSES them each one component...

r

IVES
But as to when...
Ives HOLSTERS his sidearm.

IVES

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 151.

Maybe that’s every man’s decision to

make for himself.

NEIL
You’re not going to kill us?

IVES
If I ever find you I will.
Sp tr NEIL
But you won’t look too hard.
IVES
Yes, I will.
ec
Neil shakes his head, smiling at this. Ives heads towards the
Chinook. Neil and the Protagonist watch him go...
Vi

NEIL
You’re not heading back to London to
check on Kat, are you?
ia
PROTAGONIST
Of course not. That would be too
dangerous.
lC
NEIL
r

Even from afar.

ag

PROTAGONIST
Even from afar.
op
Neil thinks of something. Looks at Ives –

NEIL
Ives, wait!
S
y
Neil takes his section of the algorithm, REATTACHES it to the
Protagonist’s.
ha

PROTAGONIST
You’re really going back in?
Fo

NEIL
I’m the only one who could’ve got
h

that door open in time, right Ives?

r

Ives looks at Neil, sizing him up.

IVES
I don’t have any locksmiths as good
as you.

Neil turns to the Protagonist, grabs his BACKPACK...

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 152.

NEIL
See? That’s me in there, again.
Weaving another pass in the fabric
of this mission.

Neil SWINGS his pack onto his back, revealing a TALISMAN – A

COIN WITH A HOLE TIED to the zip WITH ORANGE AND YELLOW
THREAD –
Sp tr PROTAGONIST
Neil, wait.
NEIL
We just saved the world – we can’t
leave anything to chance.
ec
The Protagonist thinks. Struggles.
Vi

PROTAGONIST
But can we change things? If we do
it differently...?
ia
Neil looks back at the Protagonist. Sees his struggle...

NEIL
lC
What’s happened’s happened.
(smiles)
r

Which is an expression of faith in

the mechanics of the world, not an
ag

excuse to do nothing.
op
PROTAGONIST
Fate?
NEIL
Call it what you want.
S
y
PROTAGONIST
What do you call it?
ha

NEIL
Reality. Now let me go.
Fo

The Protagonist lets him walk, tears welling up... CALLS OUT
–
h

PROTAGONIST
r

Hey!
(Neil turns)
You never did tell me who recruited
you.

NEIL
(smiles)

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 153.

Haven’t you guessed by now? You did.

Just not when you thought. You have
a future in the past. Years ago for
me. Years from now for you.

PROTAGONIST
You’ve known me for years?

Sp tr NEIL
(nods)
For me, I think this is the end of a
beautiful friendship.

PROTAGONIST
But for me it’s just the beginning?
ec
NEIL
Vi

And we get up to some stuff. You’re

gonna love it. You’ll see. This
whole operation is a temporal
pincer.
ia
PROTAGONIST
Whose?
lC
NEIL
Yours. You’re only halfway there.
r

I’ll see you at the beginning,

friend.
ag

Neil turns. Follows Ives to board the Chinook. The

op
Protagonist watches him go...
NEIL (V.O.)
We’re the people saving the world
from what might have been...
S
y
The Protagonist looks down at the algorithm in his hands.
ha

NEIL (V.O.)
The world will never know what
could’ve happened...
Fo

He pulls up his collar and walks into the snow...

h

273 EXT. SCHOOL GATES – AFTERNOON 273

r

Kat is walking up the road to the school gates.

NEIL (V.O.)
...and even if they did they
wouldn’t care...

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 154.

She feels something wrong. Looking across the road, she sees
a car with tinted windows shadowing her.
NEIL (V.O.)
...because no one cares about the
bomb that didn’t go off...
She gets out the dumb phone the Protagonist had given her...
Sp tr NEIL (V.O.)
...just the one that did...

274 INT/EXT. CAR – CONTINUOUS 274

ec
Priya is in the front passenger seat. The DRIVER next to her
has a GUN and SILENCER sitting on his knee...
Vi

PRIYA
Do it before the boy comes out.
ia
The rear door opens – a dull thud – the Driver is SHOT by a
silenced pistol –

PROTAGONIST (O.S.)
lC
That’s your idea of mercy?
r

Priya turns – the Protagonist has a gun to the back of her

seat.
ag

PROTAGONIST
op
You gave me your word.
PRIYA
And I told you what it would be
worth. Here. Today. How did you
S

know?
y

He holds up a dumb phone, plays a voicemail –

ha

KAT
(via recording)
Fo

Cannon Place, 3 o’clock, it’s –

PROTAGONIST
h

Posterity.
r

275 EXT. SCHOOL GATES – CONTINUOUS 275

Kat hits send, speaks into the phone –

KAT

Generated on June 30, 2020

 TENET 155.

Cannon Place, 3 o’clock, it’s

probably nothing...

276 INT/EXT. CAR – CONTINUOUS 276

The Protagonist watches Kat.

Sp tr PROTAGONIST
I told you you’d have to start
looking differently at the world.

PRIYA
I have to tie up the loose ends.
ec
PROTAGONIST
That was never your job.
Vi

PRIYA
Then whose was it?
ia
The Protagonist brings his focus back to Priya.

PROTAGONIST
Mine. I realized I wasn’t working
lC
for you. We’ve both been working for
me... I’m the protagonist.
r

PRIYA
ag

Then you’d better tie up those loose

ends.
op
He shoots her through the seat back. She slumps forward.

PROTAGONIST
Mission accomplished.
S
y
The Protagonist looks across the road. The kids stream out...
Kat sees Max coming, takes one last look at the dark car...
ha

NEIL (V.O.)
...but it’s the bomb that didn’t go
Fo

off...
Kat shakes her head, smiling at her own folly, looks at the
h

phone like it’s silly –

r

NEIL (V.O.)
...the danger no one knew was
real...

She tosses the phone carelessly into her bag.

NEIL (V.O.)

Generated on June 30, 2020

TENET 156.

That’s the bomb with the real power

to change the world.

The Protagonist watches Kat and Max walk away. Max offers Kat
his hand and we –
FADE OUT.

Sp tr
CREDITS.
END.

ec
Vi

ia
lC
r ag

op
S
y
ha
Fo
h
r

Generated on June 30, 2020