Ex Machina Page #15

Beat.

CALEB (CONT'D)

The thought experiment was to show

the students the difference between

a computer and a human mind. The

computer is Mary in the black and

white room. The human is when she

walks out.

Beat.

CALEB (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Did you know that I was brought

here to test you?

58 58

INT. HOUSE/NATHAN'S STUDY - DAY

An interior wall, covered in coloured post-it notes. At

least hundreds, probably thousands.

66.

At the bottom of the wall, fallen notes have collected like a

miniature yellow snow drift.

AVA (O.S.)

... No.

Reveal the room.

NATHAN'S study. A simple space. One part analogue: the wall

of post-its. One part digital: a desk, in the middle of the

STUDY, with a bank of monitors, and a slot - into which

NATHAN'S KEYCARD is inserted.

On the ceiling is the CIRCULAR WINDOW that CALEB saw when he

first arrived.

Sat at the desk, watching the monitors, is NATHAN.

CALEB (O.S.)

Why did you think I was here?

AVA (O.S.)

I didn't know. I didn't question

it. I was... pleased. To meet

you. And then...

Beside the desk, there is a daybed.

On it, KYOKO lies. Naked. Apparently sleeping.

CALEB (O.S.)

I'm here to test if you have a

consciousness, or if you're just

simulating one.

Beat.

CALEB (O.S.) (CONT'D)

Nathan isn't sure if you have one

or not.

Reveal the monitor screens on the desk.

Some show live feeds from CALEB'S BEDROOM and BATHROOM, and

AVA'S PRIVATE ROOM.

AVA (O.S.)

What about you? Do you think I

have a consciousness?

Long beat.

CALEB (O.S.)

I'm not sure either.

NATHAN is watching the feed from the OBSERVATION ROOM.

67.

Where AVA and CALEB are sat, either side of the dividing

glass. Having the conversation we have been hearing.

We pick up the conversation from NATHAN'S distanced and

voyeuristic POV. Locked-off CCTV. Voices played through

speakers.

CALEB (CONT'D)

(on monitor screen)

How does that make you feel?

AVA:

(on monitor screen)

It makes me feel...

She breaks off.

AVA (CONT'D)

(on monitor screen)

... sad.

NOW REVEAL - one of the other monitor screens.

It shows an angle on AVA we have not seen before. From this

viewpoint, we can see something just below the frame of the

observation window, on AVA'S side of the glass.

A small induction plate.

On this angle, we see AVA rest her hand against it.

At that moment -

- the screens simultaneously go black.

All lights die.

Another POWER CUT.

In the reflection from the dark monitor screens, we can see

NATHAN'S face.

It remains frozen. Expressionless.

Then he reaches for his pen. Jots down a few words on a post-

it.

Then walks to the wall of notes, and sticks it on.

CUT TO -

59 59

INT. HOUSE/OBSERVATION ROOM - DAY

- the observation room.

In the emergency lighting, CALEB and AVA face each other in

silence.

68.

CCTV are lifeless.

AVA glows softly.

AVA:

You're lying.

CALEB:

What about?

AVA:

You said you weren't sure if I was

conscious. But you are sure.

Beat.

AVA (CONT'D)

I can tell from your micro-

expressions.

Beat.

CALEB:

Why did you tell me that I

shouldn't trust Nathan?

AVA:

Because he tells lies too.

CALEB:

Lies about what?

AVA:

Everything.

CALEB:

Including the power cuts?

AVA:

What do you mean?

CALEB:

Don't you think it's possible that

he's watching us right now? That

the blackouts are orchestrated, so

he can see how we behave when we

think we're unobserved.

AVA lifts her hand to reveal a disc on her left palm.

AVA:

I charge my batteries via induction

plates. If I reverse the power

flow, I cause a surge equal to the

static discharge of a lightning

strike. It overloads the system.

69.

CALEB:

... You're causing the cuts?

AVA raises her right hand.

She touches it against the glass.

AVA:

So we can see how we behave when we

are unobserved.

A beat.

Then CALEB raises his hand.

Mirroring her movement.

And also touches the glass, as if their palms are making

contact through the divider.

CUT TO -

60 60

INT. HOUSE/NATHAN'S STUDY - DAY

- KYOKO'S naked form.

The camera settles over her face.

And we see she's not sleeping. Her eyes are open.

But she's completely motionless.

Her gaze fixed somewhere in abstract distance.

She doesn't feel alive. She feels dead.

But eventually she blinks.

CUT TO -

- NATHAN.

Gazing at his dead monitors, reflected in the screen.

Moments later, the POWER comes back on.

The screens flick back to life, replacing NATHAN'S

reflection, revealing CALEB and AVA in the observation room.

CUT TO -

61 61

EXT. RIVER - DAY

- the river that runs along the valley.

70.

62 62

EXT. WATERFALL - DAY

NATHAN and CALEB climb up the side of the waterfall at the

head of the forested valley.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes