One of the reasons why I’m a fan of Christopher Nolan and why script-writing and screenplay fascinates me so much!
An excerpt from the movie which is about a professional rivalry between two magicians and also a parallel rivalry between two giants in the field of Science - Tesla and Edison. Angier, one of the magician decides to meet Tesla to build a machine that does “real magic”. Tesla is quite recluse and discrete as he is or that is how the story portrays.
[On the first meeting]
Nikola Tesla: Nothing is impossible, Mr. Angier. What you want is simply expensive.
Nikola Tesla: You’re familiar with the phrase “man’s reach exceeds his grasp”? It’s a lie: man’s grasp exceeds his nerve.
Nikola Tesla: Society tolerates only one change at a time.
Nikola Tesla: Mr. Angier, have you considered the cost of such a machine?
Robert Angier: Price is not an object.
Nikola Tesla: Perhaps not, but have you considered the *cost*?
Robert Angier: I’m not sure I follow.
Nikola Tesla: Go home. Forget this thing. I can recognize an obsession, no good will come of it.
Robert Angier: Why, haven’t good come of your obsessions?
Nikola Tesla: Well at first. But I followed them too long. I’m their slave… and one day they’ll choose to destroy me.
Robert Angier: If you understand an obsession then you know you won’t change my mind.
[After weeks of the first meeting, a demonstration is arranged. Unfortunately, it fails to impress Angier]
Nikola Tesla: Exact science, Mr Angier, is not an exact science
[Finally after figuring out what went wrong, a delivery is made to Mr. Angier. Mr. Tesla leaves a note of caution to Mr. Angier.]
Nikola Tesla: I apologize for leaving without saying goodbye, but I seem to have outstayed my welcome in Colorado. The truly extraordinary is not permitted in science and industry. Perhaps you’ll find more luck in your field, where people are happy to be mystified. You will find what you are looking for in this box. Alley has written you a thorough set of instructions. I add only one suggestion on using the machine: destroy it. Drop it to the bottom of the deepest ocean. Such a thing will bring you only misery.
The screenplay is wickedly deceptive like the magic it offers!