Ex Machina Page #8

CALEB smiles.

NATHAN (CONT'D)

So. Day two. You set?

CALEB:

You bet.

NATHAN finishes his set, and stands.

NATHAN:

So what's the plan today? Hit me.

CALEB:

I'm not sure. I'm still trying to

figure the examination format.

Testing Ava by conversation is kind

of a closed loop.

(MORE)

34.

CALEB (CONT'D)

Like trying to test a chess

computer by only playing chess.

NATHAN:

How else would you test a chess

computer?

CALEB:

It depends what you're testing it

for. You can play it to find out

if it makes good moves. But it

won't tell you if it knows it's

playing chess. Or if it even knows

what chess is.

NATHAN starts adding weights to curl dumbbells.

NATHAN:

So it's simulation versus actual.

CALEB:

Exactly. And I think being able to

differentiate between those two is

the Turing test you want me to

perform. The difference between an

`AI' and an `I'.

NATHAN laughs.

NATHAN:

`An AI and an I'. Beautiful. I'm

going to start following you around

with a f***ing dictaphone.

NATHAN glances over at CALEB.

NATHAN (CONT'D)

In the meantime, do me a favour.

Ease up a little on the text-book

approach. All I want is simple

answers to simple questions. Last

night, I asked how you feel about

her. And you gave me a great

answer.

NATHAN starts doing curls.

NATHAN (CONT'D)

Now the question is: how does she

feel about you?

A beat. On CALEB.

CUT TO -

35.

32 32

INT. HOUSE/OBSERVATION ROOM - DAY

- CALEB and AVA facing each other through the glass of the

observation room.

AVA:

I brought you a drawing.

AVA holds a piece of paper to the glass. The marks on it are

totally abstract. A mesh of tiny black marks, that swirl

around the page like iron filings in magnetic field patterns.

CALEB:

... What's it a drawing of?

AVA:

Don't you know?

CALEB:

No.

AVA looks disappointed.

AVA:

Oh. I thought you would tell me.

CALEB:

Don't you know?

AVA:

I do drawings every day. But I

never know what they're of.

CALEB:

Are you not trying to sketch

something specific? Like an object

or a person.

She shakes her head as she takes the picture down.

CALEB (CONT'D)

Maybe you should try.

AVA:

Okay. What object should I draw?

CALEB:

Whatever you want. It's your

decision.

AVA:

Why is it my decision?

CALEB:

I'm interested to see what you'll

choose.

AVA pauses a moment.

36.

AVA:

Do you want to be my friend?

CALEB:

... Of course.

AVA:

Will it be possible?

CALEB:

Why wouldn't it be?

AVA:

Our conversations are one-sided.

You ask circumspect questions, and

study my responses.

AVA looks at CALEB directly. Meets his gaze evenly.

AVA (CONT'D)

It's true, isn't it?

CALEB:

... Yes.

AVA:

You learn about me, and I learn

nothing about you. That's not a

foundation on which friendships are

based.

CALEB is taken aback. Aware that the AI has just wrong-

footed him on a point of argument.

CALEB:

... That's a fair comment.

AVA:

Yes.

CALEB:

So - you want me to talk about

myself.

AVA:

Yes.

CALEB:

Where do you want me to start?

AVA:

It's your decision. I'm interested

to see what you'll choose.

And now CALEB is aware that AVA has just - gently - used

sarcasm.

He looks at her, frowning slightly.

37.

And in response, in a very human way, AVA arches an eyebrow.

CALEB laughs.

CALEB:

Okay, Ava. Well - you know my

name. I'm twenty four. And I work

at Nathan's company. You know what

his company is?

AVA:

Blue Book, named after

Wittgenstein's notes, is the

world's most popular internet

search engine, processing an

average of ninety four percent of

all internet search requests.

CALEB:

That's right.

AVA:

Where do you live, Caleb?

CALEB:

Brookhaven, Long Island.

AVA:

Is it nice there?

CALEB:

It's okay. I've got an apartment.

Kind of small. But - it's a five

minute walk to the office. And a

five minute walk to the ocean,

which I like.

AVA:

Are you married?

CALEB:

No.

AVA:

Is your status single?

CALEB:

... Yeah.

They lock eyes, just for a moment.

AVA:

What about your family?

CALEB:

Grew up in Portland. No brothers

or sisters. My parents were both

high school teachers.

(MORE)

38.

CALEB (CONT'D)

(beat)

And if we're getting to know each

other, I guess I should say they're

both dead. Car crash when I was

fifteen. In fact I was in the car

with them. Back seat. But it was

the front that got the worst of it.

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