OPPENHEIMER



by

Christopher Nolan




based on the book AMERICAN PROMETHEUS
THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER
by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
WHITE Revision - 1-3-22 1.



1 A VAST SPHERE OF FIRE, the fire of a thousand suns, slowly 1
EATS the nighttime desert. A line of black type appears:
"Prometheus stole fire from the Gods and gave it to man."
And the sound of DOZENS OF FEET STAMPING RHYTHMICALLY...
"For this he was chained to a rock and tortured for eternity."
ROILING PLASMA expands, the sound of STAMPING GROWS
OPPRESSIVE, the STAMPING FASTER and FASTER over-
2 A FACE. Gaunt, tense. EYES TIGHTLY SHUT. The face SHUDDERS- 2
the sound CEASES as my EYES OPEN, STARING INTO CAMERA:
Peer into my soul- J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER, aged 50, close
cropped greying hair. The gentle sounds of bureaucracy...
Super title: " 1. FISSION "

VOICE (O.S.)
Dr.Oppenheimer, as we begin, I believe
you have a statement to read into
the record?

I glance down at my notes.

OPPENHEIMER
Yes, Your Honour-
SECOND VOICE (O.S.)
We're not judges, Doctor.
OPPENHEIMER
No. Of course.
(I start reading)
Members of the Security Board, the
so-called derogatory information in
your indictment of me cannot be fairly
understood except in the context of
my life and my work. This answer is
a summary of relevant aspects of my
life in more or less chronological
order...
SENATE AIDE (V.O.)
How long did he testify?
CUT TO:
BLUE Revision - 2-11-22 2.


3 INT. SENATE OFFICE - DAY (BLACK AND WHITE SEQUENCE) 3
Close on a prosperous 63-year old man, LEWIS STRAUSS, as he
takes a cup of coffee from a SENATE AIDE...
Super title: " 2. FUSION "
STRAUSS
I forget. Three days, or so. The
whole hearing took a month.
SENATE AIDE
An ordeal.
STRAUSS
I've only read the transcript, but
who'd want to justify their whole
life?
SENATE AIDE
You weren't there?
STRAUSS
As Chairman, I wasn't allowed to be.
Are they really going to ask about
it? It was years ago.
SENATE AIDE
Four years ago. Oppenheimer still
divides America- the Committee will
want to know where you stood.
(checks his watch)
Ready?

4 INT. CORRIDOR, SENATE BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER (B&W) 4
The Senate Aide leads Strauss along the corridor.
SENATE AIDE
Senator Thurmond asked me to say not
to feel you're on trial.
STRAUSS
I didn't, till you said that.
SENATE AIDE
Really, Mr Strauss-
STRAUSS
Admiral.
SENATE AIDE
Admiral Strauss, this is a formality.
(MORE)




(CONTINUED)
PINK Revision - 4-10-22 3.
4 CONTINUED: 4
SENATE AIDE (CONT'D)
President Eisenhower's asked you to
be in his Cabinet, the Senate really
has no choice but to confirm you.
They arrive at the door.
STRAUSS
And if they bring up Oppenheimer?
SENATE AIDE
When they bring up Oppenheimer, answer
honestly and no Senator can deny
that you did your duty. It'll be
uncomfortable...
(smiles)
who wants to justify their whole
life?

The door to the VAST committee room opens- they enter,
FLASHBULBS POPPING as PRESS and PUBLIC see Strauss.

ROBB (V.O.)
Why did you leave the United States?
CUT TO:
5 INT. ROOM 2022, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION - DAY (COLOUR) 5
The room is SMALL, SHABBY. Surprised, I look up from my
statement at the prosecutor, Roger ROBB. Then turn to the
THREE BOARD MEMBERS (GRAY, EVANS, MORGAN).

OPPENHEIMER
I wanted to learn the new physics.
GRAY
Was there nowhere here? I thought
Berkeley had the leading theoretical
physics department-
OPPENHEIMER
Sure. Once I built it. First I had
to go to Europe. I went to Cambridge
to work under Patrick Blackett.
ROBB
Were you happier there than in
America?
INSERT CUTS: A YOUNG ME(21) LIES IN BED STARING UP, CRYING...
PARTICLES WITH THE VASTNESS OF STARS MOVE LIKE FIREFLIES...




(CONTINUED)
PINK Revision - 4-10-22 4.
5 CONTINUED: 5
OPPENHEIMER
No. I was homesick. Emotionally
immature..., troubled by visions of
a hidden universe...
6 INT. LABORATORY, CAMBRIDGE - DAY 6
The YOUNG ME, frazzled demeanor, STRUGGLES with equipment.
OPPENHEIMER (V.O.)
...useless in the lab.
I drop a beaker, it SHATTERS. PATRICK BLACKETT looks over,
FROWNING. He picks up an APPLE and takes a LARGE BITE.
BLACKETT
(through apple)
Christ, Oppenheimer, have you had
any sleep? Start again.
YOUNG OPPENHEIMER
I need to go to the lecture.
BLACKETT
Why?
YOUNG OPPENHEIMER
(pleading)
It's Niels Bohr.
Blackett check his watch- starts packing up-
BLACKETT
Damn, completely forgot. Let's go.
I start to pack up with the other students.
BLACKETT (CONT'D)
Not you. Finish coating those plates.
I clean up as Blackett and the other students leave- one
leaves an APPLE for Blackett- GREEN WITH STEM AND TINY LEAF.
I pause at a bottle: Potassium Cyanide... CLUMSY HANDS
SHAKING, I draw CYANIDE into a syringe. I INJECT the apple...
7 EXT. QUADRANGLE, CAMBRIDGE