"THE IMITATION GAME" (2014)

STATS118pages131scenes19,233words47%dialogue27characters

Words

  • dialogue9,08347%
  • action7,81741%
  • other2,33312%

Scenes

location
  • INT 79
  • EXT 49
  • INT/EXT 2
  • UNKNOWN 1
time
  • DAY 15
  • NIGHT 1
  • DAWN 2
  • CONT 6
  • UNKNOWN 107
1

OPEN

THE IMITATION GAME

Written by Graham Moore

Based on "Alan Turing: The Enigma" By Andrew Hodges

BLACK.
ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Are you paying attention?
2

INT. ALANTURING’S HOUSE -DAY - 1951

A HALF-DOZEN POLICEOFFICERS swarm the Manchesterhome of mathematics professorAlan Turing.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Good. This is goingto go very quickly now. Ifyou are not listening carefully,you will miss things. Importantthings. You’re writing some of thisdown? That’s good.

INSIDE ALAN’S HOUSE:There's been a break-in, and the house is a mess - someone has givenit a pretty thorough once-over.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
I will not pause, I willnot repeat myself, and you will notinterrupt me. If you ask me a question,I will ignore it. Youthink that because you’re sittingwhere you are, and I am sittingwhere I am, that you are in controlof what is about to happen. You’remistaken. I am in control, becauseI know things that you donot know.

PAPERS inked black withmathematical symbols litterthe floor. The test tubesand beakers of Turing's chemicalwork are shattered in the study,CYANIDE and POTASSIUM NITRATE DRIPPING ACROSSTHE UGLY CARPET.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
What I will needfrom you now is a commitment. You willlisten closely, and you willnot judge me.

And, in the corner:A MACHINE.It’s the size of a dresser, tall, sproutingVACUUM TUBES and WIRES. It looks anachronistichere, too futuristic for its time.

The CONSTABLESLOOK AT THE MACHINE, CONFUSED: Whatis that thing?

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
When I am finished— when I have told you that I am finished— you are free to think whateveryou like. But until then,you will trust that whilethis story will be hard for you to understand, everythingI am sayingI am saying for a reason.

A CONSTABLE PHONESIN the robberyto police headquarters—

3

INT. POLICEHEADQUATERS - DAY

— At headquarters,a RADIOGIRL RECEIVES the informationand passes it to an assistantfor delivery to the detectiveson duty —

4

INT. MI-6 - RADIOOPERATORS’ ROOM/HALLWAYS- DAY

— While in London,a RADIOOPERATOR in a dark room far below Victoria Street INTERCEPTSTHE MESSAGE —

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
If you cannot committo this, then please leave the room.That’s right, you’rethe one who’s free to go. But if you chooseto stay, if you choose to listen, remember this: If things happenthat you do not like, you choseto be here.

— The MESSAGE is HANDEDOFF and WHISKED through the dim hallways —

5

INT. MI-6- MENZIES OFFICE - DAY

— Until it’s finallydeposited on the desk of STEWART MENZIES, the Directorof MI-6. British Secret Intelligence Services.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
What happens from thismoment forward is not my responsibility: It’s yours.

Menzies picks up the message:“Alan Turing has been robbed.”

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
This will go quite fastnow.
(laughs)
And that is the last timeI will repeat myself. Pay attention.
6

EXT. ALAN TURNING’SHOUSE - MORNING

DETECTIVE ROBERTNOCK, 40s, athletic, more interestedin football than beinga detective,hustles past a few double- parked police carsand up the steps and into:

7

INT. ALAN TURNING’SHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Detective Nockenters to find the same messy crime scenewe just saw. He’s addressedby SERGEANTSTAEHL.

SGT. STAEHL
Bit late, don’t you think?
DETECTIVE NOCK
The baby. Up all night, hollering and crying. June says it’s collick.
(re: the mess)
What’s all this, then?
SGT. STAEHL
Turing, Alan. Professorat King’s. Seems there’s beena robbery.
DETECTIVE NOCK
What of?
SGT. STAEHL
That’s just it. Nothing’smissing, really.
DETECTIVE NOCK
No, what’s he a professorof?
SGT. STAEHL
(consulting notes)
Maths. Or, as he put it,“ordinal logic, with a doseof number theory.”

ON NOCK: What on earth doesthat mean?

Staehl shrugs.

DETECTIVE NOCK
What’s he doing in Manchester?

Sergeant Staehlshows Nock the MACHINE in the corner.

ON NOCK: What the hellis that?

SGT. STAEHL
Something with machines.Project at the NPL, I checked,but he won’t say what it’s on.
DETECTIVE NOCK
He’s a bit squirrelythen, our Professor Turing?
SGT. STAEHL
That’s putting it mildly.

Sergeant Staehlmotions to the next room, and he followsNock in...

... Where they findALAN TURING, 38. He’s the smartestman in the room, and he knowsit. But he doesn’t really careif you do.

Turing is VERY CAREFULLYsweeping up a pile of WHITE POWDER.

He’s doing it with a PAINTBRUSH,his mouth coveredin a scarf.

He’s totally obliviousto the detectives as they enter.

DETECTIVE NOCK
Professor Turing?
(beat)
Professor Turing?My name is Detective Nock. ManchesterPolice. Sergeant Staehlhere tells me you’ve had a robbery last night.
(still nothing)
Professor Turing?

Detective Nock stepscloser, peering over Turing’s shoulder at the white powder.

DETECTIVE NOCK (CONT’D)
Professor —
ALAN TURING
— I would step back,if I were you.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Pardon me?
ALAN TURING
Step back, and don’tbreathe so much.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Breathe?
ALAN TURING
You’re breathingheavily and you’re going to inhale thisjunk and you’re going to leaveyour collicky son without a father.

Detective Nock stops,and steps back. What in the world?

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
Sound carries in thishouse.
DETECTIVE NOCK
What is all that?
ALAN TURING
Cyanide. Undiluted.Wouldn’t take more than a thimblefulto kill you.

Turing finishessweeping the cyanide into a jar, before safely CAPPING IT.

Turing stands,removes his scarf, and for the first time takes a look at DetectiveNock. Sizes him up.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
Oh. Disappointing.

Detective Knock and SergeantStaehl exchange a look.

DETECTIVE NOCK
Pardon?
ALAN TURING
I’d hoped for a bit more.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Sergeant Staehl,is it just me, or do you get the sense thatwe’re being insulted?
ALAN TURING
(to Nock)
You lied to your friendhere about your son, which is just unseemly. Collick didn’tkeep you up all night. Drink did. You’vebags under your eyes the size of strawberries. Your topcoat reeksof whiskey. You’re short of breathafter walking 30 paces.And I believe Manchester Unitedhad a match yesterday,yes? I could hear the shouting from Simpson’son my way home.
DETECTIVE NOCK
(caught)
... We won by four. Would’vebeen unseemly not to celebrate.

Sergeant Staehl SIGHS,embarrassed.

SGT. STAEHL
You had a break in lastnight. Your neighbor, a Mr. Springborn,called to report the noise.Only you say there’s nothingmissing. Odd. So how about it — You tellus what happened, andwe find the chap who did this.
ALAN TURING
Gentlemen, I don’tthink you could figure out who brokeinto my house if he walked up andspat in your face. What I couldreally use at the moment is nota bobby but a good cleaning lady.So unless one of you has an apronin your car, I’d suggest thatyou file your reports and leave me alone.

Staehl is about to say something— and probably something aggressive,by the look of his face — but Nock stops him.

DETECTIVE NOCK
... As you say, ProfessorTuring. Best of luck with your cyanide.
8

EXT. ALAN TURNING’SHOUSE - MOMENTSLATER

Detective Nock and SergeantStaehl walk away from Turing’s house.

SGT. STAEHL
I’ll give you a bobif you can name me a more insufferable sod.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Curious, isn’t he?
SGT. STAEHL
Oh, you’ve a softspot for the bastard ‘causehe called you on your drink? Which,while we’re on the subject —
DETECTIVE NOCK
— Seemed a bit forced though, didn’t it?
SGT. STAEHL
Don’t know what you mean.
DETECTIVE NOCK
If you didn’t wanta pair of bobbies diggingaround in your personal affairs,well, that would have been a stellarway to see that they don’t. Tellme you don’t think this is suspicious.
SGT. STAEHL
I don’t think this is suspicious.
DETECTIVE NOCK
A mysterious professorwho won’t admit he’s had somethingstolen from his flat?
SGT. STAEHL
What’re you suggesting?
DETECTIVE NOCK
I’m suggestingthat Alan Turing is hiding something.
CUT TO:
9

INT. EUSTONSTATION - LONDON- DAY - 1939

Alan Turing — 11 years younger— HURRIES through Euston Station on the day that Britaindeclares war on Germany.

The station is preparingfor war:

PAPERBOYS SCREAM the headlines:“800,000 CHILDREN EVACUATED!” “GERMAN BOMBS COMING!” “FOODSUPPLIES RATIONED!”

MILITARY PERSONNELherd PACKS OF CHILDREN like cattleonto rumbling trains.

The children, bornwith stiff upper lips, hold back their tears. A FATHER shakesthe hand of his 8-YEAR-OLD SON goodbye, almost business-like.Neither knows if they’llever see one another again.

Alan moves through this determinedly,methodically,and unemotionally— it’s like he doesn’t even notice anyoneis there.

10

INT/EXT.TRAIN - DAY - LATER

Alan Turing walksdown the aisle of a train bound for Bletchley Park— his is the only adult face amidstthe sea of children.

He watches a SMALL BOYpour over a PUZZLE BOOK. OLDER KIDS, loud and rowdy, TAUNTthe Small Boy, who doesn’t lookup, he’s so focused on his puzzles.

Alan watches. Maybe he smiles.Maybe he understands.

11

EXT. BLETCHLEYVILLAGE - STREET- A FEW HOURS LATER

Alan walks throughthe small village of Bletchley. He passes a sign that reads “BLETCHLEYRADIO MANUFACTURING”as he heads to

12

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - AN HOUR LATER

Alan arrives at the imposingfront gates of Bletchley Park. An enormous Victorianmansion lies in the center of the grounds, surroundedby empty gardens and tall iron fences.

As Alan approaches,two NAVAL OFFICERS with MACHINEGUNS step out from behind the BARRICADES.

Whatever this placeis, it’s housing something very secret inside.

13

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - COMMANDER DENNISTON’SOFFICE - LATER

A few minutes later,Alan sits alone in a cluttered office. He stares ahead blanklyat the empty chair behind the desk. Waits.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (O.S.)
— What are you doing here?

Alan turns with a start.

ALAN TURING
The girl told me to wait—
COMMANDER DENNISTON
In my office? Shetell you to help yourself to a cupof tea while you were here?
ALAN TURING
No. She didn’t.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
She didn’t tellyou what a joke is then either, I gather.
ALAN TURING
Was she supposed to?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
For Christ’s sake— whoare you?
ALAN TURING
Alan Turing.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
(looking at paperson his desk)
Turing... Let me see...Oh, Turing. The mathematician.
ALAN TURING
Correct.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
How ever could I have guessed?
ALAN TURING
You didn’t. It was writtenon your paper.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
... King’s College, Cambridge.Says here you were a bitof a prodigy in the maths department.
ALAN TURING
I’m not sure I can evaluatethat, Mr... ?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
How old are you, Mr. Turing?

ALAN TURING

COMMANDER DENNISTON
How old were you whenyou became a fellow at Cambridge?

ALAN TURING

COMMANDER DENNISTON
And how old were youwhen you published thispaper here, that has a title I can barely understand, which apparentlygot you this fellowship?

ALAN TURING

COMMANDER DENNISTON
And you don’t think thatqualifies you as a certified prodigy?
ALAN TURING
Rather dependson how old my peers were when they did comparablework, doesn’t it?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
And how old were they?
ALAN TURING
Newton discoveredthe binomial theorem at 22. Einsteinpublished four papers that changedthe world at 26. As far as I cantell I’ve barely made par.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
You’re serious, aren’t you?
ALAN TURING
Would you preferI makea joke?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Not sure you know what thoseare.
ALAN TURING
It hardly seems fairthat that would be a requirementfor employment here, Mr...?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Commander Denniston,of the Royal Navy. All right, Mr.Turing, I’ll bite. Why do you wantto work for His Majesty’s government?
ALAN TURING
Oh, I don’t, really.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
(suspicious)
Are you a bleeding pacifist, Turing?
ALAN TURING
I’m agnostic about violence.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
But you realize that600 miles from London there’s thisnasty chap named Hitler who’slooking to engulf Europe in tyranny?
ALAN TURING
Politics is notmy area of expertise.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
I believe you’vejust set a record for the shortest jobinterview in British military history.
ALAN TURING
Mother says thatI canbe off- putting sometimes.On account of being the best mathematicianin the world.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
You’re the best mathematicianin the world?
ALAN TURING
Oh. Yes.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
... Do you know how manypeople I’ve rejected for this program?
ALAN TURING
No.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
That’s right. Becausewe’re a top secret program.But I’ll tell you, just because we’re friends,that last week I rejectedone of our great nation’s top linguists,knows German better than BertoltBrecht.
ALAN TURING
I don’t speak German.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
What?
ALAN TURING
I don’t. Speak German.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
How the bloody hellare you supposed to decryptGerman communicationsif you don’t, oh, I don’t know, speak German?
ALAN TURING
I’m quite excellentat crossword puzzles.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
(calling off)
MARGARET!
ALAN TURING
The German codesare a puzzle. A game. Just like any othergame.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
MARGARET! Where are you?!
ALAN TURING
I’m very good at games.Puzzles. And I think this is thehardest puzzle in the world.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
MARGARET!?!
(beat)
For the love of...This is a joke, obviously.
ALAN TURING
I’m afraid I can’t makejokes, Commander Denniston.

And for a split second, Dennistonactually smiles.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Have a pleasant tripback to Cambridge, Professor.
ALAN TURING
Enigma.

At the mention of this word Dennistonlooks suddenly serious.

SECRETARY (”MARGARET”)
(popping head in)
You called for me?

He WAVES HER AWAY, entirelyfocused on what Alan just said.

ALAN TURING
(after she leaves)
... That’s what you’redoing here. The top secret programat Bletchley. You’retrying to break the German Enigma machine.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
What makes you think that?
ALAN TURING
It’s the greatest encryptiondevice in history, and theGermans use it for all major communications.
(MORE)
ALAN TURING (CONT'D)
If the Allies brokeEnigma — well, this would turn intoa very short war indeed. Of courseyou’re working on it. But youalso haven’t got anywhere.If you had, you wouldn’t be hiring cryptographers out of University.You need me a lot more than I needyou. I’d just as easily go work for theGermans, frankly, but they simplydon’t have anything thisgood to work on. Our mathematiciansaren’t as impressive as theirs. With one significant exception. I like solvingproblems, Commander. AndEnigma is the most difficult problemin the world.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Enigma isn’t difficult.It’s impossible. The Americans.The French. The Russians.The Germans. Everyone thinksEnigma is unbreakable.
ALAN TURING
Goody! Let me try andwe’ll know for sure.

The men stare at each other. Neitherblinks.

14

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAY - LATER

ANGLE ON: A machine.It looks like a typewriter thatgot left on the set of Blade Runner.Wires running all over it. Extra gears stickingout of the sides. Blinking lights that reveal German characters. Half electrical,half mechanical.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (O.S.)
Welcome to Enigma.

SLOWLY REVEAL: COMMANDERDENNISTON, 50s, is showingthe ENIGMA MACHINE to the NEW RECRUITS.

They are:

HUGH ALEXANDER,30s, loves women and chess in equal measure.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS,30s, Scottish, not the prodigy his compatriots are and knowsit.

PETER HILTON, 20s, a precociousundergrad from Oxford.

KEITH FURMAN and CHARLESRICHARDS, 40s, both stodgy linguists.

Stewart Menzies— head of MI-6, who we briefly glimpsedin the opening — stands in thecorner, silent and observing. Charming and inscrutable,he didn’t become the headof British Secret IntelligenceServices by accident.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (CONT’D)
The German navy encodesevery message they sendusing the Enigma machine. The detailsof every surprise attack,of every secret convoy, of everyU-Boat in the bloody Atlanticgo into that thing, and out comes... Gibberish.

FINALLY REVEAL:... Alan stands with them, staringat the machine like it’s the SistineChapel.

He reaches out and touchesit lovingly.

ALAN TURING
It’s beautiful.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
It’s the crookedhand of death itself.

Denniston showsAlan sheets of Enigma messages: PAGE AFTER PAGE OF RANDOM LETTERS.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (CONT’D)
Our WRENs interceptthousands of radio messagesa day. But to the lovely young ladiesof the Women’s Royal Navy, they’renonsense. It’s only when you feedthem back into Enigma that they make sense.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
But we have an Enigma machine.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Yes. Polish intelligencesmuggled this out of Berlin.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
So what’s the problem?Just put the interceptedmessages back in to Enigma and —
ALAN TURING
— It’s not that simple,is it? Just having an Enigma machinedoesn’t help you decode the messages.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Very good, Mr. Turing.To decode a message, you needto know the machine’s settings.The Germans switch settings everyday, promptly at midnight. We usuallyintercept our first message around6am. Which gives you exactly18 hours every day to crack the codebefore it changes, and you start again.

Alan looks at the machine carefully.

ALAN TURING
Five rotors. Six plugboardcables. That’s...
CHARLES RICHARDS
Five —
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
— thousand million —
PETER HILTON
— No no it’s — I’vegot it —
CHARLES RICHARDS
— Million, million —
KEITH FURMAN
— In the millions, obviously—
CHARLES RICHARDS
— Obviously —
ALAN TURING
— Over one hundredand fifty million million millionpossible settings.

All eyes turn to Turing:Wow.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
... Very good.
HUGH ALEXANDER
One hundred fiftynine, if you’d rather be exact about it.

Everyone looks at Hugh now.

HUGH ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
One five nine with eighteenzeroes behind it. Possibilities.Every single day.

Jesus Christ. Who is thisguy?

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Gentlemen, meet Hugh Alexander. I’ve personallyselected him to run this unit.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Didn’t you...?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Mr. Alexander won Britain’s national chess championship.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Twice.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
(extending a hand to Hugh)
John Cairncross.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
(to Alan)
You’re not the onlyone who’s good at games around here.
ALAN TURING
Are we all to work togetherthen? I prefer to have my own office.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
You’re a team, andyou’ll work as one.
ALAN TURING
I don’t have time to explainmyself as I go along, and I’m afraidthese men will only slow me down.
STEWART MENZIES
(piping up from the corner)
— If you can’t play together,then I’m afraid we can’tlet you play at all.

They all stare at him.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
This is Stuart Menzies. MI-6.

The team ACKNOWLEDGES Menzies.

CHARLES RICHARDS
There are only five divisionsof military intelligence.There is no “MI-6.”
STEWART MENZIES
Exactly. That’s the spirit.
(to Alan)
Mr. Turing. Do youknow how many British servicemenhave died because of Enigma?
ALAN TURING
I don’t.
STEWART MENZIES
Three.

They all stare at Menzies:That doesn’t sound like very many.

STEWART MENZIES (CONT’D)
... While we’ve beenhaving this conversation.
(checks his watch)
Oh look. There’s another.Rather hope he didn’t havea family.This war that Commander Denniston’sbeen going on about? We’renot winning it. Break the codeand at least we might have a chance.
(to Denniston)
Shall we leave the childrenalone with their new toy?

Menzies and Commander DennistonLEAVE.

The team stands there. WithEnigma.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Alright boys. Let’s play.
CUT TO:
15

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FORBOYS - DAY - 1927

TEENAGE BOYS playcricket in the green front gardensof a boys boarding school.Behind them looms the school’s stately central manor house.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
The problem began,of course, with the carrots.
16

INT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS- DAY

YOUNG ALAN TURING,15, sits alone in the dining hall. Other BOYS joke and laugh andtell animated stories at nearby tables, but Alan sits alone,staring intently at his food.

ON ALAN’S PLATE: Boiled steak.Potatoes. Peas. And carrots.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Carrots are orange.Peas are green. They mustn’t touch.

Alan carefullytries to separate the carrots from the peas. It’s like he’s performingbrain surgery.

BEHIND ALAN, a groupof BIGGER BOYS approach quietly.One of them holds a TRAY OF BOILEDVEGETABLES —

— The Boys try to MUFFLETHEIR GIGGLES so Alan can’t hear them approach —

— The Boys DUMP THE TRAYOF VEGETABLES ALL OVER ALAN.

Alan SCREAMS.

The Boys LAUGH as AlanSCREAMS and SHAKES and triesto get the peas and carrotsand everything else off of him.He’s in hell.

Alan FALLS DOWN. Still shaking,still screaming.

YOUNG ALAN
Carrots are orange!Carrots are orange! Carrots are orange!

BOY #1 What a bloody weirdo!

Alan CURLS UP INTO A BALLas he shivers.

CUT TO:
17

INT. COFFIN- A FEW MINUTES LATER

... Alan is now inside a coffin.

He’s KICKING AT THE WOODENBOARDS ABOVE and SCREAMINGTO BE RELEASED.

It’s not helping.

From above, we hear the familiarLAUGHTER OF THE SCHOOLBOYS.

REVEAL: The “coffin”is make-shift; the Boys have constructed it out of the broken floorboardsof a half-finished class room. Alan is buried underground,and they’re nailing him in.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Do you know why peoplelike violence? Becauseit feels good.

The THUMP THUMP of nails enteringthe boards.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Humans find violencedeeply satisfying.But remove the satisfaction,and the act becomes... Hollow.

FROM INSIDE THE COFFIN:Alan goes silent.

The Boys pound away, but the silenceunnerves them.

BOY #1 Alan? Alan?

BOY #2 C’mon don’t be sucha kike about it...

BOY #3 Leave him to bloody rot.

The Boys LEAVE.

There’s still only SILENCEfrom inside Alan’s coffin.

Alan breathes slowly.Quietly. Controls his shiveringto barely a tremor. He waits.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
I didn’t learn thison my own though. I had help.

Suddenly, the boardsabove him CREAK. Then BEND. Then SNAP.

Then an ARM REACHESDOWN and PULLS Alan out of the coffin.

REVEAL: CHRISTOPHERMORCOM, 16, tall, pretty, and charmingin ways that Alan will never,ever be.

CHRISTOPHER
Christ, I thoughtthey were going to kill you.

ChristopherPULLS Alan from the floorboard coffin andthey —

18

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS - SECONDSLATER

Walking away from the half-finishedschool room, Christopher helps Alan as he hobbles.

YOUNG ALAN
... It’s not my fault.The carrots got in with the peas.
(off Christopher’s look)
I’m sorry. I won’tlet them do it again.
CHRISTOPHER
They’re getting worse.
YOUNG ALAN
They only beat me up becauseI’m smarter than they are.
CHRISTOPHER
No. They beat you up becauseyou’re different. So you’llhave to try a little harder to blendin.
YOUNG ALAN
Mother says I’m justan odd duck.
CHRISTOPHER
And she’s right.

Alan STUMBLES and Christophergrabs his hand, steadying him.

CHRISTOPHER (CONT’D)
But you know, sometimesit is the very people who no one imagines anything of who do thethings that no one can imagine.
ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Christopher helped.
CUT TO:
19

INT. POLICESTATION - MANCHESTER- DAY - 1951

Detective Nock sitsat his desk, yelling incredulouslyinto his telephone.

DETECTIVE NOCK
... What do you mean, “classified”?
(beat)
... Yes, I am aware of theliteral meaning of the word “classified,” what I’m askingis why would a maths professorhave his military records classified?
(beat)
... Well then I willcome down there and...

Nock HANGS UP, frustrated.

He notices Sergeant Staehlwalking past.

DETECTIVE NOCK (CONT’D)
Come with me.
20

EXT. MANCHESTERSTREETS - LATER

Detective Nock and SergeantStaehl walk through Manchester, away from the police station.

SGT. STAEHL
... So are you goingto catch this mysterious thiefwho hasn’t actually stolen anything?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Alan Turing is a suspectin a robbery but theywon’t share a thing with the police?
SGT. STAEHL
“Suspect”? I distinctlyrecall writing his namenext to the word “victim.”

Nock looks around,paying no attention to Staehl. He sees something (whichwe don’t) in the reflection of a shop window.

DETECTIVE NOCK
Will?
SGT. STAEHL
Yes?
DETECTIVE NOCK
I’m terribly sorry aboutthis.

Suddenly, Nock PUSHES Staehl,hard.

Staehl, reeling, is very,very confused.

SGT. STAEHL
What?

Nock responds by PUNCHINGStaehl across the jaw, sendinghim to the ground.

People on the street TURNand STARE.

Nock RUNS away down thestreet —

Staehl starts CHASINGAFTER HIM —

— They each DODGE PASSERSBY,who are all staring —

— Until Nock suddenlyCHANGES DIRECTIONS and SLAMSINTO A PEDESTRIAN —

— The Pedestrian and NockTUMBLE TO THE GROUND.

The two SCRAMBLE,and then exchange a look: The Pedestrian is... Concerned.

The Pedestrian STRUGGLESTO HIS FEET and RUNS OFF.

Nock stands dustinghimself off as Staehl catchesup to him —

— And PUNCHES NOCK IN THEJAW.

DETECTIVE NOCK
Oww! Would you stop it?
SGT. STAEHL
What is wrong with you?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Here.

Nock hands a BILLFOLDback to Staehl.

SGT. STAEHL
... Whose is this?

Very confused, StaehlLOOKS THROUGH the billfold.

SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
... That man you knockedover! You stole his billfold.

Nock shrugs.

SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
... Oh. Bob?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Yes?
SGT. STAEHL
There’s a photographof you.

Staehl shows Nock thebillfold’s contents: A PHOTOOF NOCK, PAPERS WITH NOCK’S ADDRESS,PERSONAL DATA.

SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
That man was following you.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Has been for awhile now.
SGT. STAEHL
Good God... Your homeaddress, your district, your...Bob, there is a letter here from the Foreign Office.

Staehl shows him: Theletter, stamped with the Foreign Office seal, instructsthat the bearer be granted accessto all records concerningone “ROBERTNOCK”.

FEMALE PEDESTRIAN
(approaching them)
— Are you two all right?
SGT. STAEHL
(to Pedestrian)
Bugger off.

She LEAVES, offended.

SGT. STAEHL (CONT’D)
Why are you being followed?We have to call this in.
DETECTIVE NOCK
(looking at the letter)
I think I might have a betteridea.
CUT TO:
21

INT. POLICESTATION - MANCHESTER- LATER

QUICK SHOTS: NockPAINTS TIPP-EX over his own nameon the letter he just stole,and TYPES IN A NEW ONE — “ALAN TURING”

22

INT. ADMIRALTYRECORDS OFFICE- DAY - LATER

Detective Nock walksup to a SECRETARY.

DETECTIVE NOCK
(to Secretary)
Pardon me. I’d liketo see some documents, if I may. Service records of a Mr. Turing. Alan.

He FLASHES THE FORGED LETTER.

DETECTIVE NOCK (CONT’D)
Foreign Office sent me.

Off of Nock’s SMILEwe

CUT TO:
23

EXT. ATLANTICOCEAN - GERMANPLANE - DAY — 1940

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
The game was quite a simpleone.

ON THE ATLANTIC:

— A GERMAN SPYPLANE spotsa BRITISHCONVOY travelling across the ocean, far away.We hear the BEEP BEEP of Morse Codeas the SPYPLANE SENDSOUT AN ENCRYPTED MESSAGE andwe cutto —

24

EXT. BRITISHSHIP - ON DECK- DAY

— The DECK of one of the Britishships. A SEAMAN smokesa cigarette as wavescrash against the side. He’s approachedby two FRIENDS. He looks:He’s only got one smoke left.In a kind gesture, he SNAPShis cigarette in half, sharingit —

25

INT/EXT. GERMANSUBMARINE - DAY

— As underwater, a GERMANSUBMARINE receives the BEEPBEEP of the Morse message aboutthe convoy’s location. The sub CHANGES COURSE —

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Every single Germanmessage. Every surprise attack.Every bombing run. Every imminent U-boatassault. They were all floatingthrough the air, radio signals that anyschoolboy with an AM kit could intercept.
26

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 14- DAY

AT BLETCHLEY PARK:

— Inside HUT 14: ROW afterROW of RADIO STATIONS, all staffed by the smartly dressedyoung ladies of the Women’s Royal Navy. One WREN, listeningto Morse code on her headphones, intercepts thevery same BEEP BEEP of the MESSAGE —

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
The trick was thatthey were encrypted.

— She takes it down by hand: It’sGIBBERISH. Encrypted.She places the messagesin a PILE —

— A FEMALE ASSISTANT picksup the pile of encrypted messages-

27

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 14- DAY

— And carries it throughBletchley —

— The grounds surroundingthe mansion at BletchleyPark are now littered with 18 WOODEN“HUTS” — hastily constructed structures thatcontain all of Britain’s top secret cryptography operations—

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
One hundred and fiftynine million million million possibleEnigma settings. Allwe had to do was try each one.
28

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

— The Female Assistanthurries past ARMED GUARDS and SECURITY CHECKPOINTS into —

29

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

— HUT 8: Where the Enigma cryptanalysisteam does their work.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
But if we had 10 men checkingone setting a minute,for 24 hours every day and sevendays every week, it would take...Well, you tell me. How many dayswould it take to check each of the settings?

— John Cairncross, PeterHilton, Keith Furman, and Charles Richards use PERFORATEDSHEETS to analyze Enigma messagesas the Female Assistantdeposits the pile onto Hugh Alexander’s desk.

All around Hut 8, we see STACKafter STACK of encrypted messages, just likethe one that was just delivered.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
... Would you likea hint? It’s not days. It’s years.

The team does their bestto decrypt these stacks of messages, but they’re gettingnowhere. There are thousands of messages, and only four cryptographers.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
(sighs)
Oh dear, you still haven’tworked it out, have you? Pityyou didn’t pay more attention in school.
(beat)
It’s 20 million years.

MOVE IN on the urgent messageabout the attack, whichis untouched as —

30

EXT. ATLANTICOCEAN - BRITISHSHIP - DECK - DAY

BACK IN THE ATLANTIC:

— The deck of the Britishship. The sailors SMOKE as we —

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
To stop a coming attack,we would have to check 20 millionyears worth of settings...In 20 minutes.

— Move DOWN INTO THE WATERto see that the German submarine has arrived. It FIRESA TORPEDO at the helpless convoyand we cut—

31

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

BACK TO HUT 8:

The team is still buriedin pile after pile of undecrypted messages. Anotherconvoy has been lost because they couldn’t move fast enough,and they’re so far behind they don’teven know it yet.

PETER HILTON
... I’m famished.

Hugh stretches,staring out the window, wherehe sees a WREN passing by.

HUGH ALEXANDER
(re: the WREN)
Good God, what isit with women in little hats?

John, Peter, Keithand Charles all look as well— thereis in fact something strangelysexy about women in little hats.

John Cairncrossgets up and walks into the next room, where he finds Alan, working alone.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
The boys... We weregoing to get some lunch?
(Alan ignores him)
Alan?
ALAN TURING
Yes.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
I said we were goingto get some lunch?
(Alan keeps ignoring him)
Alan?
ALAN TURING
Yes.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Can you hear me?
ALAN TURING
Yes.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
I said we’re off to get somelunch.
(silence)
This is startingto get a bit repetitive.
ALAN TURING
What is?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
I had asked if you wantedto have lunch with us.
ALAN TURING
No you didn’t. Youtold me you were getting lunch.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Have I offended you in someway?
ALAN TURING
Why would you think that?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Would you like to cometo lunch with us?
ALAN TURING
When is lunchtime?
HUGH ALEXANDER
(calling out)
Christ, Alan, it’sa bleeding sandwich.
ALAN TURING
What is?
HUGH ALEXANDER
Lunch.
ALAN TURING
I don’t like sandwiches.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Nevermind.
HUGH ALEXANDER
John was trying to be nice.
ALAN TURING
How?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Let it go.
HUGH ALEXANDER
You know to pull off thisirascible genius routine,one has to actually be a genius. Yet we’rethe ones making progresshere, aren’t we?
ALAN TURING
You have?
HUGH ALEXANDER
We’ve decrypteda number of German messages by analyzingthe frequency of letter distribution.
ALAN TURING
Oh. Even a broken clockis right twice a day. That’snot progress at all, that’s just blindluck. I’m designing a machinethat will allow us to break every message,every day, instantly.

We see his work: ELECTRICALSCHEMATICS. He’s designinga STRANGE NEW MACHINE.

ON THE TEAM: A machine? That’s ridiculous.

PETER HILTON
Who’s hungry? Let’s go.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Bye, Alan.

The guys gather their thingsand walk out...

ALAN TURING
I’m hungry.

... They turn.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
What?
ALAN TURING
Peter asked if anyonewas hungry. I am.
(they stare at him)
May I have some soup, please?
32

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - MOMENTSLATER

Hugh, John, Peter,Keith and Charles all exit Hut 8, shaking their heads and laughingat what an impossible weirdoAlan is.

In the window, we see Alan’sface, alone with his work.

ON ALAN: He looksout at the team, a slight longingto be among them, and yet theresolution that he never can be.

33

EXT. OUTSKIRTSOF BLETCHLEY- DAY - SEQUENCE

Alan runs for milesand miles along the outskirts of Bletchley.

He thinks when he runs.It focuses him. He looks intent, deeply concentratingas he presses his legs as hardas they’ll go.

INTERCUT WITH:

34

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY - SEQUENCE

Alan obsessivelyworks on something in Hut 8, filling sheet after sheet of paper withhis designs. He’s drawing SCHEMATICS...As it fills out, we see what it is:

It’s a HUGE MACHINE.

35

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAY

Alan walks throughthe camp brandishing a PIECE OF PAPER. He’s a fish out of wateramidst all of the MILITARY MEN moving supplies around him.

He finds what he’s lookingfor:

Commander Dennistonstands before a SUPPLY TRUCK, checking the manifest as suppliesare UNLOADED.

ALAN TURING
This is unacceptable.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Turing. If you’d liketo discuss the complaint,I’d suggest making a proper appointmentwith my office.
ALAN TURING
Complaint? Hugh Alexanderhas denied my requisition.Parts and equipment, to buildthe machine I’ve designed.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Your fellow codebreakersare refusing to work withyou. They’ve filed a formal complaint.
ALAN TURING
It’s inspiredby an old Polish code machine, only infinitelymore advanced.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
If you don’t respondto the complaint,I’ll have to take it up with the Home Office.
ALAN TURING
Fine. My responseis, they are all idiots. Fire themand use the savings to fund my machine.I’ll only need about a hundredthousand pounds.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
A hundred thousand— Why are you building a machine?
ALAN TURING
It’s highly technical.You wouldn’t understand.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
I suggest you makean effort to try.
ALAN TURING
... Enigma is a machine.A very well-designedmachine. Our problem is that we’re tryingto beat it with men. What if onlya machine can defeat another machine?

Denniston stares at him.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
... Hugh Alexanderis in charge of your unit and if he’ssaid no, that’s that.
ALAN TURING
I do not have time forthis —
COMMANDER DENNISTON
— Have you ever won a warbefore, Turing? I have.Do you know how it’s done? Order. Discipline.Chain of command. You’renot at Universityany longer. You are a very small cog ina verylarge system and you’lldo as your commanding officer instructs.
ALAN TURING
Who is your commanding officer?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Winston Churchill.10 Downing Street, London.You have a problem with my decisionyou can take it up with him.

And with that, Dennistonwalks away, furious.

ON ALAN: Well alright,if you say so...

36

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - MAIN GATE- LATER

Stewart Menzieswalks out of the Bletchley’s MAIN GATE, through security,when’s he’s approached by:

ALAN TURING
Mr. Menzies! You’reheaded back to London, yes?
STEWART MENZIES
Possibly.
ALAN TURING
Will you deliver a letterfor me?

Alan hands Menzies a letter:

It’s addressed to “WINSTONCHURCHILL. 10 DOWNING ST. LONDON.”

ON MENZIES: Well, this shouldbe interesting...

37

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DENNISTON’SOFFICE - DAY

The team — Alan, Hugh,John, Peter, Keith, and Charles— are assembled in CommanderDenniston’s office for a meeting. Stewart Menzieswatches quietly from the corner,as is his way.

HUGH ALEXANDER
You must be joking. Churchillput Alan in charge?!?!?!
KEITH FURMAN
— This is a terribleplan —
PETER HILTON
— No no no no no no —
ALAN TURING
— Really? I can givethese men orders now?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Though I hate to say it...Yes.
ALAN TURING
Fantastic.
(to Keith and Charles)
Keith and Charles.You’re both fired.
KEITH FURMAN
Excuse me?
CHARLES RICHARDS
What?
ALAN TURING
You’re mediocre linguistsand positively poor codebreakers.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Alan, you can’t justfire Keith and Charles.
ALAN TURING
He just said I could.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
(furious)
I did no such thing.
STEWART MENZIES
But Churchill did.

Denniston looksat Menzies,stewing, but Menzies just shrugs back: “What wouldyou have me do?”

CHARLES RICHARDS
(to Alan)
Go to hell.

Charles and Keith leave, pissed.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
This is inhuman. Evenfor you.

ON DENNISTON: He looksat Alan with a withering, simmering glare.

ON ALAN: He doesn’tbudge an inch, or feel the slightestneed to explain himself.

As everyone staresat him, angry, the tension is brutal.

STEWART MENZIES
(to Alan)
... Popular at school,were you?
CUT TO:
38

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - MINUTESLATER

Alan, Hugh, Johnand Peter walk back into Hut 8 afterthe meeting — resigned, unhappily,to their fate.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
... So what do we do now?
PETER HILTON
We’re short on staff.
ALAN TURING
We get more staff.
HUGH ALEXANDER
And how are you goingto do that?

Alan takes a paperfrom his desk and TACKS IT UP ON THE WALL.

ON THE PAPER: It’s a CROSSWORDPUZZLE.

39

INT. FAMILYHOME - MORNING - 1940

A MAN opens up that morning’sDaily Telegraph, and flipping through the paper, he sees an advertisement.

ON THE AD: It’s a crosswordpuzzle. Below it, the ad copy says — “If you can solvethis puzzle in under ten minutes please call STO-6264 for an excitingcareer opportunity.”

40

INT. OTHERLOCATIONS - SAME TIME

SERIES OF SHOTS: Otherpeople — MEN, WOMEN, STUDENTS, RETIREES — open up theirpapers and see Alan’s ad. Theyall try solving the puzzle.

It’s really, really hard.

41

INT. FAMILYHOME - SAME TIME

Back in the first house,the Man is trying to completethe puzzle when —

— The AIR RAID SIREN goesoff.

Quickly, the Man gathershis FAMILY and they rush down into

42

INT. BOMB SHELTER- CONTINUOUS

The Man and his WIFE lightcandles in the safety of their underground BOMB SHELTER.

As BOMBS EXPLODEon the street above them, the Man passes TOYS and GAMES to his children,to keep them distracted during the assault.

He returns to Alan’scrossword puzzle, tryingto solve it as just a few yards abovehim a city burnt to rubble.

43

INT. TUBESTATION - LONDON - SAMETIME

CIVILIANS rundown into an old TUBE TUNNEL to get awayfrom the bombing.

Inside the tightly crowdedstation, some people read books, some play games,some lay on the train tracks to sleepas dust POOFS UP from the shakingground.

Normal life goes on as theLIGHTS FLICKER from the shelling above.

By the dim flickering,we see OTHER PEOPLE trying theirhand at Alan’s puzzle.

44

EXT. MI-6 HEADQUARTERS- LONDON- DAY

Alan bicycles throughLondon, passing a group of GASMASKED SCHOOLCHILDRENbeing led calmly on a DRILL by their TEACHER.

As a MILKMAN crossesa BOMBEDOUT BUILDING to delivershis wares, Alan comesto a stop beside a MARRIED COUPLEwho are digging throughthe RUBBLE. The husband digs whilethe wife rests, sippingtea as if her house was other than a war zone.

While FIREMEN tendto a nearby smoldering mess, Alanlocks up his bike and enters MI-6 HEADQUARTERS.

END SEQUENCE

45

INT. MI-6 HEADQUARTERS- LONDON- MOMENTS LATER

Alan and Stewart Menziestalk in the hallway, outsidea closed door.

STEWART MENZIES
Who are they?
ALAN TURING
All sorts, really.A school teacher. An engineer.A handful of students.
STEWART MENZIES
And you think they’requalified for Bletchley becausethey’re good at crossword puzzles?
ALAN TURING
Well, they say they’regood. Now we should probably find out.

Alan leads Menzies into:

46

INT. CLASS ROOM- CONTINUOUS

Alan and Stewart Menziesare in an MI-6 conference room.It’s been set up like a classroom: Rows of identical desks,at which sit a COLLECTIONOF CROSSWORDENTHUSIASTS. Thereare around 20, all men.

ALAN TURING
... You’ll have sixminutes to complete the puzzle,at which point—

Just then, a WOMAN enters.Everyone turns to look...

Her name is JOAN CLARKE,20s, a graduate student at Cambridge who’s trying to getas far away from her preacher fatheras possible, and she’sabout to become very importantto this story.

MI-6 AGENT
Pardon, Ma’am,this room is restricted.
JOAN CLARKE
Apologies for my tardiness— bus caught a flat tire.
ALAN TURING
(irritated)
May I continue, please?
MI-6 AGENT
(to Joan)
You’re not allowed in here,Ma’am.
JOAN CLARKE
I’m only a few minuteslate. With the bombing there’sten potholes to each road.
MI-6 AGENT
No, ma’am, the secretariesare to head upstairs.This room is for the candidates.
ALAN TURING
May I please get on with this?
JOAN CLARKE
I am a candidate.
MI-6 AGENT
For what position?
JOAN CLARKE
The letter did not say, precisely.
MI-6 AGENT
Yes, so, secretariesare to head upstairs.
JOAN CLARKE
It said it was top secret.
ALAN TURING
(comes over to them)
What is going on here?
JOAN CLARKE
There was a crosswordin the paper. I solved it. I got a lettersaying I was a candidate forsome mysteriousjob. So here I am. My name is Joan Clarke.

She hands the Agent the LETTER.

MI-6 AGENT
Miss, did you reallysolve this puzzle yourself?
JOAN CLARKE
What makes you thinkI couldn’t have solved the puzzlemyself? I am quite —
MI-6 AGENT
— Ma’am I’ll haveto ask you —
ALAN TURING
— Miss Clarke. I find tardiness unacceptableunder any circumstance.Now take a seat, so we may continue.

Joan stares at Alan: Thankyou.

JOAN CLARKE
Apologies again for beinglate.

As Joan SITS, the Agentturns to Menzies — who’s been silently observingAlan thus far — for support.

Menzies SHRUGS.

The Agent backs down.

Alan passes out NEW CROSSWORDPUZZLES.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
— Pardon, but beforewe start, can you tell me a bit aboutthis position I’m qualifyingfor?
ALAN TURING
Oh for God’s sake — No.
JOAN CLARKE
It’s just that I’vea prettydecent job at the University,and I’d rather not give it up forsomething less interesting.
ALAN TURING
Miss Clarke. Younow have the distinct honor of havingwasted more of my time thanany other person in this room.Quiet. Gentlemen. Andlady. You have six minutes. Begin.

SHOTS: EVERYONE FRANTICALLYTRIES TO FINISH THE NEW PUZZLE.

As they work:

STEWART MENZIES
(whispering to Alan)
Six minutes? Is that even possible?
ALAN TURING
No. It takes me eight.But this test isn’t about crosswords— it’s about how you approachsolving an impossible problem.Do you take the whole thing at once?Do you divide it into smaller —

— Suddenly, Joansits up. She’s finished. Early.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
You’ve finished?
JOAN CLARKE
Yes.
ALAN TURING
(checking watch)
... 5 minutes, 34 seconds.
JOAN CLARKE
You said to do it in under6.

ON ALAN: The smartestman in the room is surprised forthe first time in a very longtime by someone who might be even smarter.

STEWART MENZIES
(to Alan)
Seems like some peopleapproach it by simply doing the impossible.
CUT TO:
47

INT. CLASSROOM - MINUTES LATER

Minutes later, TWO PEOPLEhave survived the crosswordtest. Joan is one of them.

STEWART MENZIES
Congratulations,and my warmest welcome to His Majesty’sservice. If you speak a word of anythingI’m about to show you,you’ll be executed for High Treason.You will lie to your friends,your family, everyone you meetabout what it is you really do.
JOAN CLARKE
And what is it that we’rereally doing?
ALAN TURING
We’re going to break an unbreakable Nazi code and win the war.
JOAN CLARKE
... Well that does soundmore interesting than my universityjob.
CUT TO:
48

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FORBOYS - DAY - 1927

Young Alan and Christophersit under a tree, the schoolin the distance.

Alan is going through a crosswordpuzzle, Christopheris reading a book. Their legs aretouching affectionately without eithereven knowing, like two people who are effortlessly comfortablewith one another.

YOUNG ALAN
What’s that you’re reading?

Christophershows him: “A Guide to Codes and Cyphers.”

CHRISTOPHER
It’s about cryptography.
YOUNG ALAN
What’s cryptography?
CHRISTOPHER
It’s complicated.You wouldn’t understand.
YOUNG ALAN
I’m only fourteen monthsyounger than you. Don’ttreat me like a child.
CHRISTOPHER
Cryptographyis the science of codes.
YOUNG ALAN
Like secret messages?
CHRISTOPHER
Not secret. That’s the brilliant part. Messagesthat anyone can see, but no one knows whatthey mean, unless you have the key.
YOUNG ALAN
(confused)
How is that different from talking?
CHRISTOPHER
Talking?
YOUNG ALAN
When people talkto each other they never say what theymean. They say something else. And you’resupposed to just know what theymean. Only, I never do. So howis that different?
CHRISTOPHER
(handing him the book)
Alan, I have a funny feelingthat you’re goingto be very good at this.
49

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS - DORMITORY- EVENING

Christopherwalks Young Alan back to his dormitory. They’re happy after a long day together.

CHRISTOPHER
Goodnight, Alan.

Christopher touches Alan’s shoulder, and the two share a sweet moment.

ALAN TURING
Goodnight.

Alan watches Christopher go; his heart is blooming, in love.

CUT TO:
50

INT. MANCHESTERPOLICE STATION- DAY - 1951

A crowded POLICE STATION.

Detective Nock approacheshis boss, SUPERINTENDANTSMITH, as the latter walks throughthe station dropping PAPERSonto various DESKS and checkingthe work of other POLICE OFFICERS.

Nock hands SuperintendantSmith a MANILA ENVELOPE.

SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
What is this?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Alan Turing’s classifiedmilitary file.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
(displays the file)
It’s bloody empty.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Exactly.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
It’s an empty manila envelope.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Yes.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
Well you’ve crackedthe case wide open then, haven’t you?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Alan Turing’s war recordsaren’t just classified. They’renon- existent. That means someonegot rid of them. Erased them,burned them.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
And that person brokeinto his house and stole... Nothing?
DETECTIVE NOCK
What if Turing wasn’tjust a math professor?
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
You think maybe he alsoteaches English lit?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
The spies? From the papers?
DETECTIVE NOCK
The Soviet spies. Butfirst, they were professors,weren’t they? Newspapers say theybecame radicalized at Cambridge.Then they joined the CommunistParty, took positions in the ForeignOffice and leaked informationto Stalin during the war. Now, canyou think of anyone else we knowwho was at Cambridge, thentook up something murky and top secretwhen the war broke out?

Smith gives him a look.

SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
You think Alan Turingmight be a Soviet agent?

ON NOCK’S FACE: It wouldexplain a lot, wouldn’t it?

ON SUPERINTENDANT SMITH: He’s considering...

DETECTIVE NOCK
Something very seriousis happening, righthere under our noses. Wouldn’tyou like to find out what it is?

Smith thinks, andthen hands the folder back to Nock.

SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
No. I wouldn’t.I like my job. Now as to yours: Thoselads have been causing a ruckus downby Whitworth Park again. Willyou give them a talking to? Thank you.

And with that, Smith leaves.

ON NOCK: Damn it.

He walks back acrossthe station to find Sergeant Staehl waiting beside his desk.

SERGEANT STAEHL
Well? What’d he say?
DETECTIVE NOCK
He said alright.Let’s do it. Let’s follow Turing. You’lltake the first shift. Turingwon’t have a secret left by the timewe’re through with him.
CUT TO:
51

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT11 - DAY - 1941

CLOSE ON: A GIANT, HALF-BUILTMACHINE. The size of a dining room table, but tallerthan it is wide, its guts are composed of SPINNING GEARSand a seemingly endless streamof LONG RED WIRES.

REVEAL: TECHNICIANSwork on putting the machine together, SOLDERING THE WIRES, whileAlan FUSSES.

ALAN TURING
Careful! Damnit, will you — It’s not a toy.

Alan tries to protecthis precious creation when he’s interrupted by:

HUGH ALEXANDER
Alan! Your new minion has arrived.

Alan turns to see: His new recruit,JACK GOOD.

... But no Joan.

ALAN TURING
(displeased)
... Where’s Miss Clarke?
CUT TO:
52

INT. CLARKEHOUSE - LONDON - DAY

Joan returns homefrom the market when she hears a familiar VOICE from the sittingroom.

ALAN TURING (O.S.)
— Well it’s a veryimportant radio factory you see.It’s not really — I mean along the spectrumof radio factories this one is particularly—

Joan follows the voicesto find:

Alan sitting acrossfrom her MOTHER and FATHER, arguing.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
(seeing Joan)
Hello.

Joan makes the sortof face any young woman would makeif she found Alan Turing sittingto tea with her parents.

CUT TO:
53

INT. CLARKEHOUSE - LONDON - MINUTESLATER

In the KITCHEN: Joan’sMOTHER hands her a TEA TRAY.The two share a look.

As Joan’s Mother andFather pretend to putter in the kitchen, listening in on the conversationin the next room, Joantakes the tray to the LIVING ROOM,where she begins to serve tea.

ALAN TURING
... Why aren’t you at Bletchley?
JOAN CLARKE
(”My parents can hear us”)
So kind of you to visit,Mr. Turing. Was your trip pleasant?
ALAN TURING
Gather your thingsand let’s go.
JOAN CLARKE
I’m sorry. I am unableto accept your offer.
ALAN TURING
And why not?
JOAN CLARKE
As my father toldyou, it is felt — well we feel — that sucha position would hardly be appropriate.
ALAN TURING
You earned a double-firstin mathematics.
JOAN CLARKE
But sadly was not grantedthe opportunity to becomea Fellow.
ALAN TURING
You belong at Bletchley.
JOAN CLARKE
I’m sorry, but forsomeone in my position to work- to live - amongst all of yourmen, so far from home... It wouldbe indecorous.
ALAN TURING
What in the world doesthat even —
JOAN CLARKE
(”I told you they’re listening!”)
— One lump or two?

ON ALAN: Are you fucking serious?

ON JOAN: Yes. I’m fucking serious.

ON ALAN: He tries to thinkof a solution...

ALAN TURING
... We have a group of youngwomen who tend to our clericaltasks. Assistants, translators.They live together in town.Would that be a more suitable environment?

ON JOAN’S PARENTS: This soundsmore promising.

JOAN CLARKE
So I would be working amongstthese women?
ALAN TURING
(”Not actually”)
Yes.

ON JOAN: “Go on.”

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
... Wonderful ladies,they even organize socialevents at St Martin’s church,down the road. The whole thing is really quite... Decorous.

ON JOAN’S PARENTS: That’smuch better.

JOAN CLARKE
(”Good job.”)
Well. I will have totalk this over with my family.

As Joan’s parents enter,we

CUT TO:
54

EXT. CLARKEHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Joan walks Alan outof the front door, finally out of earshot from her parents for a few quickseconds.

ALAN TURING
You won’t have the proper clearance, so we’llhave to improvise a bit.
JOAN CLARKE
Why are you helping me?
ALAN TURING
There is only one thingthat matters in this entireworld, do you understand? Breaking Enigma.
JOAN CLARKE
Mr. Turing. Why areyou helping me?
ALAN TURING
... Sometimesit is the very people who no one imaginesanything of who do the things thatno one can imagine.
55

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAY

Joan and a few OTHER WRENSexit a BUS that’s depositedthem in front of the Park’s centralmansion.

Looking up at it, she seesAlan walking across the way.

He gives her a small wave,which she returns with a small wave back.

56

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8- NIGHT

Later in Hut 8, the team(w/o Alan) — Hugh, John, Peter,and the new guy, Jack — work franticallyinto the night.

The team uses their PERFORATEDSHEETS to find linguistic patterns in the Enigmamessages, everyone workingas hard and as fast as they possiblycan until —

— Suddenly a BELL GOES OFF.

Everyone stops their work, frustrated.

Angry, Hugh KICKS his desk.

JACK GOOD
... What just happened?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Midnight. Allthe work we did today is useless. But don’tworry: We’ve a few hours before tomorrow’s messages startpouring in. And we start all over again.
PETER HILTON
From scratch.
HUGH ALEXANDER
I am sick of this. Sick.He made me waste four hours this morningre- wiring his plugboardmatrix. Three hours yesterday on rotor positions.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Don’t go over there.
HUGH ALEXANDER
No. If our job was not impossible before it bloody wellis now.

Hugh stands and headsto the door —

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
— Hugh, don’t —

— But Hugh is alreadygone to

CUT TO:
57

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11 - MOMENTSLATER

Alan stands alone with hismachine, tinkering, comparingthe assembly to his SCHEMATICS.

Hugh BURSTS in —

HUGH ALEXANDER
— Damn you and damn youruseless machine.
ALAN TURING
(not even looking)
My machine is how we’regoing to win.
HUGH ALEXANDER
This machine?

Hugh grabs a GLASS fromthe table and SMASHES IT AGAINST ALAN’S MACHINE.

ALAN TURING
(turning around, shocked)
Stop.
HUGH ALEXANDER
This is the bloody machineyou’re talking about?

He grabs a WRENCH —

— Alan moves to protect Christopher,standing betweenHugh and the machine —

ALAN TURING
No no don’t —

— When the team entersbehind Hugh —

— GRABBING HIM and HOLDINGHIM BACK.

Alan stands betweenthe team and his machine as Hugh STEAMS.

HUGH ALEXANDER
... You could helpus. You could make this go faster. Butyou won’t.
PETER HILTON
Hugh is right, Alan.There are actual soldiersout there trying to win an actual war— my brother,my cousins, all my friends,they are all making a difference,while we wile away our days producing nothing. Because of you.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Because of you...

Hugh PUSHES towardsAlan again —

— but John HOLDS HIM BACK.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
(to Hugh, calming)
... What’s the use?
ALAN TURING
My machine will work.

Hugh stares Alan, thenat John.

HUGH ALEXANDER
.... I’m going to the pub.

Hugh leaves, and the team FOLLOWS.

ALAN TURING
... It’ll work.

ON ALAN: Alone. Rattledfrom the violence. Scared.

And yet... Resolved.

He makes a fateful decisionand runs off to

58

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - MINUTESLATER

Alan goes back intoHut 8, which is now empty.

He goes to a far STORAGECABINET, from which he removesa STACK OF ENIGMA MESSAGES.

Alan FOLDS THE SHEETS,STUFFING THEM INTO HIS COAT POCKETS—

— INTO HIS PANTS —

— INTO HIS SHOES —

— ETC.

He runs out, concealingenough top secret informationon his body to have him hangedfor treason ten times over.

59

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DIRT PATH- MINUTES LATER

Alan walks his bicyclethrough the CHECK POINT, showinghis ID to the GUARDS.

60

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - MAIN GATE - CONTINUOUS

At the Gate, ARMEDGUARDS stop him as he passes, andas is protocol, Alanopens up his BRIEFCASE for the men to see:

Nothing is inside.

Concealing the documentsin his coat/pants/shoes/etc.,Alan hops on his bike and headsoff to:

61

EXT. JOAN’SFLAT - LATER

Alan bicycles to the outsideof Joan’s new flat.

The windows are BOARDEDUP at night — city regulations,so that the Germans flyingoverhead can’t see any lightsfrom the town.

Alan CHUCKS A SMALL rockat Joan’s boarded window —

— Then carefully sneaksaround in back of the house—

— Finding an OPEN BACKWINDOW —

— On the second floor.

He CLIMBS A NEARBYFENCE, and JUMPS FROM THE FENCETO THE WINDOW —

— Where Joan GRABS HIM andHELPS HIM INSIDE:

62

INT. JOAN’SFLAT - CONTINUOUS

It’s dark inside...

JOAN CLARKE
(whispering)
Could you have madea bit more noise, Alan? Notsure you woke up my landlady.
ALAN TURING
Sorry.

Joan turns on a SMALL LAMPand then lights some CANDLES.

JOAN CLARKE
The best I can do. No malevisitors after dark.

She watches Alan removepapers from his pockets.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
What’d you bring me?

Alan produces the Enigmamessages from every availablehiding place on his person.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
... Some men try flowers,you know.
ALAN TURING
(pulling papers from inside his shirt)
These are actual decryptedEnigma messages, directfrom Nazi high command.
JOAN CLARKE
Or chocolates. Girlslike chocolate.

Alan starts PLACINGTHE MESSAGES down on a table, but there isn’t room, so he startsLAYING THEM OUT ON THE FLOOR.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
(reading a message)
“0600 hours. Weathertoday is clear. Rain in the evening.Heil Hitler.” Well, clearlythat vital informationis going to win us the war.
ALAN TURING
It’s the relationshipbetween the encrypted and decryptedmessages that interestsme. Is there a clue there that we can buildinto Christopher?
JOAN CLARKE
Who’s “Christopher”?
ALAN TURING
Oh. He’s my machine.
JOAN CLARKE
You named him?
ALAN TURING
Is that a bad name?
JOAN CLARKE
Nevermind...
(looks over the messages)
Are you trying to buildyour Universal Machine?

Alan looks at her:How do you know what that is?

Joan smiles.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
I read your paper at university.
ALAN TURING
They’re teaching it already?
JOAN CLARKE
Oh God no, but I was precocious. You theorized a machinethat can solve any problem.It doesn’t just do one thing: It does everything. The machine isn’tonly programmable,it’s re-programmable.

ON ALAN: She understandswhat he’s been writing about.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
Is that part of the ideabehind your Christopher?
ALAN TURING
Human beings can computelarge sums very quickly.Even Hugh can do that. I want Christopherto be... Smarter. To make a calculation,and then to determinewhat to do next. Like a person does.Think of it: An electrical brain.A digital computer.
JOAN CLARKE
(trying out the wordson her tongue)
A “digital computer?” Hmm.
ALAN TURING
I’ll show you —

— Alan TURNS, and KNOCKS OVERTHE CANDLE...

... Which LIGHTS THE ENIGMAMESSAGES ON FIRE.

Alan and Joan SCRAMBLETO PUT OUT THE FIRE.

They make a lot of NOISEin the process, though theydo manage not to burn down Joan’sflat.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
I’m so sorry.

They hear more noise from downstairs:“Joan?!? HELLO?!?”

JOAN CLARKE
My landlady. You need to leave.
ALAN TURING
Right.

Alan moves to the frontdoor —

JOAN CLARKE
— No. The window. She’s coming.
ALAN TURING
(staring at window)
Really?
JOAN CLARKE
Go.

Alan AWKWARDLY CLIMBSOUT THE WINDOW, TRYING NOT TO FALL...

SMASHCUT TO:
63

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - THE NEXTDAY

REVEAL: Alan has been injuredin his fall.

(Climbing is not his strongsuit.)

Alan walks through the groundsinto:

64

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - CONTINUOUS

Alan enters Hut 8 to findhis team watching silentlyas a bunch of MILITARY POLICERIFLE THROUGH HIS DESK —

— MANHANDLING his papers,his machine parts, making a mess.

ALAN TURING
(re: parts of Christopher)
Hey! Don’t touch that!

The RMP’S TRAIN GUNSON HIM.

MILITARY POLICEMAN
Don’t move!
ALAN TURING
That’s my desk.
COMMANDER DENNISTON (O.S.)
Thank goodness.Be a pity if we were searching the wrongone.

Alan turns to find Dennistondirecting the search.

ALAN TURING
What are you doing?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
There’s a spy at BletchleyPark.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
The Navy thinksone of us is a Soviet double-agent, Alan.
ALAN TURING
Why?
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Our boys interceptedthis on its way to Moscow. Look familiar?

Denniston handsAlan a TELEGRAM — it’s a LONG STRINGOF LETTERS, runningdown the entire page.

ALAN TURING
(looking at the telegram)
... This is a Beale Cypher.It’s encrypted witha key phrase, from a book or a poem or...
(re: the team)
Which one of them did this?

As Alan stares at the team,they stare back at him.

He glances at the RMP’s riflingthrough his desk.

Oh fuck.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
I’m not a double agent.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Double agents are suchbastards. Isolated loners.No attachments to friends or family. Arrogant.Think they’re smart enoughto get away with anything.Do you know anyone like that?
ALAN TURING
I know you don’t likeme... But you don’t think I couldactually be a spy, do you?

ON THE TEAM: They won’tlook him in the eye.

MILITARY POLICEMAN
(to Denniston)
Nothing out of the ordinary,Sir.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Well then. Next time,you will make a mistake. And then,I don’t even need to bother firingyou — I can simply hang you for treason.

Denniston and his men LEAVE.

HUGH ALEXANDER
(to Jack)
... Aren’t you gladyou joined up just in time?
65

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11 - MINUTESLATER

In the machine Hut nextdoor, Alan touches his precious machine for comfort.

Whenever he feels lonely,misunderstood, isolated— he has his machine.

There’s a KNOCK on the doorand...

... Joan enters.

JOAN CLARKE
I heard about what happened...I have an idea of what mightcheer you up.
CUT TO:
66

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - BEER HUT- LATER

Alan and Joan sip frombeer bottles in the “beer hut”— Among the military commissaries,it’s so named because, well,it’s the one that serves beer.

They can be a bit more relaxedhere than at Joan’s flat.

They’re surroundedby NAPKINS full of MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS, which they’re studying,debating, etc.

JOAN CLARKE
... So because no lettercan be encoded as itself,you’ve already a handful of settingsthat can be rejected at the outset.If you —

Just then, Hugh, John,and Peter enter the Beer Hut...

... Alan looks up, seeingthem.

Joan notices.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
Is that your team? Let’ssay hello.
ALAN TURING
No.
JOAN CLARKE
(to the boys)
Over here!

They see Joan...

ALAN TURING
I told you not to do that.
JOAN CLARKE
Correct.

... Hugh, John and Peter approach.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Alan. Didn’t even knowyou drank.
ALAN TURING
Hello.
JOAN CLARKE
He doesn’t, really,he just sort of sips at the foam.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Tell you a secret, Miss...
JOAN CLARKE
... Clarke.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Miss Clarke.
JOAN CLARKE
Please.
HUGH ALEXANDER
The foam’s my favoritepart too.
JOAN CLARKE
Well then, I’ll showyou a trick.
(to Bartender)
Alex! We’re in need of supplies.

Joan hops behindthe bar and the BARTENDER helps herto BOTTLES OF GUINNESS.

Hugh, Alan, John and Peterwatch.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Alan, are you... On a date?
ALAN TURING
What? No. Of course not.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Mind if I have a crack?
ALAN TURING
I’m not a Soviet spy.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Do love a proper blonde.
ALAN TURING
Hugh. I swear. I’mnot a spy.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Oh for God’s sake, Alan,of course you’re not a spy.
ALAN TURING
What?
HUGH ALEXANDER
Denniston gaveme theBeale Cypher. And guess what?I brokeit. “Ask and it shall be givenyou; seek and ye shall find.” Matthew7:7. That was the key. Far too simplefor you. Pity Denniston disagrees.

Returning, JoanPOURS PINTS OF GUINNESS FOR THE TEAM.

JOAN CLARKE
Did you ever noticethat the bubbles in a pint of Guinness travel downwards, as opposedto upwards in any otherbeer? Ever wonder why? It’s becausethe pint glass creates dragon the bubbles along the side; butthe center bubbles are free to sprintupwards. Then the rising currentin the middle pushesdown on the side bubbles and... And voila:Guinness. The official beerof mathematicians.

ON THE PINTS: Joanhas etched pi symbols into the foam.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Be still my beating heart.Come join us for a drink.
ALAN TURING
She’s assistingme with some calculations.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Fine, Alan can come too.
ALAN TURING
Thank you.
JOAN CLARKE
Hugh was being sarcastic.
HUGH ALEXANDER
He’s a lost cause, I promise.
JOAN CLARKE
We’ll be there in a moment.

Joan smiles at Hughas he joins John and Peter at a separate table.

ALAN TURING
... He likes you.
JOAN CLARKE
Yes.
ALAN TURING
You got him to like you.
JOAN CLARKE
Yes.
ALAN TURING
Why?
JOAN CLARKE
Because I’m a womanin a man’s job and I don’t have theluxury of being an ass.
(beat)
Alan, it doesn’t matterhow smart you are. Enigma is smarter.If you really want tobeat it — if you really want to solveyour puzzle — you’re going to needall the help you can get. And theyare not going to help you if theydo not like you.

Alan thinks. The nextsentence is incredibly hardfor him to say out loud.

ALAN TURING
... How should I getthem to like me?
CUT TO:
67

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

Alan enters Hut 8 to findhis team hard at work.

He’s carrying a BAG OF APPLES.

HUGH ALEXANDER
(sees apples)
What’re those?
ALAN TURING
Apples.
HUGH ALEXANDER
No.
ALAN TURING
No, they really are...I... Joan told me it’d be niceto bring you all something.

Alan takes the applebag around the room, handingeach man an apple.

They take them. It’s really awkward.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Thanks?
PETER HILTON
I like apples.
HUGH ALEXANDER
My best to Miss Clarke.
ALAN TURING
... There are two fellowsin the woods. And theyrun into a bear. The first fellow,he kneels down and starts to pray.But the second one, he begins lacingup his boots. The first one says, “myfriend, what’re you doing?You can’t outrun a bear.” And the secondone responds, “I don’thave to. I only have to outrun you.”

Ba dum bum.

Awkward silence.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
I’ll be with Christopherif anyone needs me.

Alan walks off to the adjacentHut.

CUT TO:
68

INT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FORBOYS - DAY - 1927

Young Alan and Christopherare in math class.

The TEACHER droneson as the students pretend to pay attention.

Young Alan and ChristopherPASS NOTES —

— Dropping them by eachother’s desks —

— And snapping them up quickly.

TEACHER
Mr. Turing! Passingnotes, are we?
ALAN TURING
No, Sir.

The Teacher comesover, and grabs the note from his hand.

ON THE NOTE: “FDFH RGTU HSD PDXT PEJND QERDZX.”

It’s encrypted.

TEACHER
(holding it up for everyone)
Only Mr. Turing wouldpass notes written in gibberish.

The other studentsLAUGH as the Teacher drops thenote in the trash.

Alan isn’t botheredby the laughter — he’s safe in his private world with Christopher.

The BELL RINGS. Classis over.AS EVERYONE SHUFFLES OUT:

TEACHER (CONT’D)
Alright you lot,do not forget your calculus over break.Have a pleasant holidayand we’ll resume your integrals when you return.

Alan waits... And grabsthe note from the trash.

69

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS -CLOISTERS - MINUTES LATER

Now alone, Alan DECRYPTSTHE MESSAGE. One at a time, the letters become intelligible.

ON THE NOTE: “SEE YOU IN TWO LONGWEEKS, DEAREST FRIEND.”

ON ALAN: Christophercalled him his dearest friend.

CUT TO:
70

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - OUTSIDEHUT 8 - DAY- 1941

Alan and Joan eat a PICNICLUNCH in a wooded area behindHut

Alan finishes writingan EQUATION, then hands his NOTEBOOKto Joan.

She looks at the equation,then instantly starts CROSSING THINGS OUT and REWRITING.Alan laughs. There aren’t many people who would crossout his work so brazenly.

Joan sees his laughter,looks up: “What’d I do?”

But before Alan can respondthey both see: Hugh approaching.

Alan is nervous.

But Hugh simply HANDSALAN A SHEET OF PAPER.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Look at this.

As Alan and Joan stareat SCHEMATICS on the paper, Hugh SWIPES A SANDWICH fromtheir picnic and begins to chew.

HUGH ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
If you run the wires acrossthe plugboard matrix diagonally,you’ll eliminate rotor positions500 times faster.
ALAN TURING
... This is actuallynot an entirely terrible idea.
JOAN CLARKE
That’s Alan for “thank you.”
ALAN TURING
(looking up)
That’s my sandwich.
HUGH ALEXANDER
You don’t like sandwiches.

And with that, Hugh takesanother bite, gives Joan a wink, and walks off.

71

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11- DAY

Alan and the team (Hugh,John, Peter) stand in a half-circle around the now-completed Christopher.

An ELECTRICAL ASSISTANTfeeds fresh Enigma messagesinto one end of the machine.

The men look at each other,feeling the importanceof the moment.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
(to Alan)
You nervous?

Alan takes a gulp and CONNECTSthe final bit of electrical wiring...

... AND THE VERY FIRST “DIGITALCOMPUTER” IN HISTORYCOMES TO LIFE.

ON THE MACHINE: GEARSARE SPINNING, CURRENT IS RACING THROUGH THE WIRES.

The CLACKING SOUND it makesis UNBELIEVABLYLOUD.

PETER HILTON
(yelling over the machine)
Christ!! What happens now?!
ALAN TURING
It should tell us the day’sEnigma settings!!
HUGH ALEXANDER
How long?!?

ON ALAN: He’s not sure...

The team shares a look:Is this really going to work?

72

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAWN

Dawn rises over BletchleyPark.

73

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DENNISTON’SOFFICE - MORNING

Commander Dennistonreceives a visit from the Electrical Assistant who’dbeen helping Alan in the previous scene.

ELECTRICAL ASSISTANT
The gears just keep spinningand spinning. It’s endless.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
And there’s no result in sight?

The Assistant NODS. DennistonSMILES: Got him.

74

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11 - EARLYMORNING

As the machine CLACKSaway, Alan is frantically goingover his papers. He’s unshaven,wearing yesterday’s clothes.He hasn’t gotten a wink of sleep.

ON ALAN’S FRANTIC PACING:Why isn’t it working? Why?!

Alan rubs his eyes,exhausted, and as he does so he looksout the window to see...

... Commander Dennistonwalking towards the Machine Hut, accompaniedby a HOMEOFFICE MAN and TWO RMPs.

Alan quickly runsto the door and BOLTS it —

— Just as Dennistonand the men get to it from the outside.

OUTSIDE:

Denniston triesthe door. It won’t open.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Turing! Open the bloody door!

INSIDE:

ALAN TURING
No!!!

OUTSIDE:

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Open the door or we willbreak it down!!

INSIDE:

ALAN TURING
I cannot let you in!!I cannot let you interfere!!!

OUTSIDE:

Denniston turnsto the RMPs: Break it down.

The RMPs KICK DOWNTHE DOOR —

— And the men BURST INTOTHE ROOM as Alan FALLS BACK.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
(re: the horrible noise)
Turn that thing off.

An RMP walks over to Christopher—

— Alan tries to stophim but they POINT GUNS AT HIM —

— And so Alan watchesin absolute horror as they TURNOFF THE MACHINE.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (CONT’D)
Well then. It seemsyour great big expensive machine doesn’twork.
ALAN TURING
It does.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
Wonderful. So you’vebroken Enigma then?
ALAN TURING
It works... It was just...Still working.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
This is my associatefrom the Home Office. A hundred thousandpounds is quite a lot of money.He’s here to see what you haveto show for it.
ALAN TURING
You will never understandthe importance of whatI’ve created here.

Commander Dennistonexchanges a look with the men:See what I mean?

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Have you decryptedany German messages? A singleone? Can you point to anythingat all that you’ve achieved?

ON ALAN: He can’t.

COMMANDER DENNISTON (CONT’D)
Your funding isup, and our patience has expired.It is with such great pleasurethat I finally get to say this: Alan Turing, you’re fired.

ON ALAN: What can he do?This is it...

COMMANDER DENNISTON (CONT’D)
Please escort Mr.Turing from the premises.
HUGH ALEXANDER (O.S.)
No.

Everyone turnsto see Hugh, John, and Peter at the door, wearing fresh clothes.

COMMANDER DENNISTON
Pardon?
HUGH ALEXANDER
God help me... If youfire Alan, you’ll have to fire me too.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
What on earth are you saying?
HUGH ALEXANDER
Trust me, no one wantsto say this less than I do, but Alan’sright. His machine can work.At least it’s the best chance we’ve got.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
You must be joking.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
If you fire them, you’llhave to fire me too.
PETER HILTON
And me.
HUGH ALEXANDER
We’re the best cryptographicminds in Britain. Are yougoing to fire us all?

Denniston looksto the Home Office Man, who NODS: Hughis right.

HUGH ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
At least give us moretime. Six more months, and if themachine doesn’t produceresults we’ll go back to doing thingsthe old way.
COMMANDER DENNISTON
... One month. Andthen so help me God you are all gone.

Denniston and his men LEAVE.

The team breathesa sigh of relief: They’ve been givena temporary reprieve.

ALAN TURING
... Thank you.
HUGH ALEXANDER
This machine better bloodywork.
CUT TO:
75

INT. MANCHESTERPOLICE STATION- DAY - 1951

Sergeant Staehl walkseagerly through the police station.

He comes to an office marked“SUPERINTENDANT SMITH”,where he OPENS the door to find

76

INT. MANCHESTERPOLICE STATION - SMITH’SOFFICE - CONTINUOUS

SuperintendantSmith and Detective Nock are in the middleof a genial conversation.

The Superintendantturns to Staehl.

SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
Can I help you?
SERGEANT STAEHL
Sirs, I think I’ve got him.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
Got who?
SERGEANT STAEHL
Turing.

Detective Nock looksat Staehl — “Shhhh!”

The Superintendantlooks at Nock — “You didn’t...”

SERGEANT STAEHL (CONT’D)
I trailed Turingto a pub last night, where he meta bloke. They exchanged an envelope.So I followed the guy,picked him up, gave him a good shake...Here, I’ll show you.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
(to Nock, angry)
You and I will discuss thislater.
(to Staehl)
Sergeant.

They follow Staehl out to...

77

INT. POLICESTATION - INTERROGATIONROOM - MOMENTS LATER

As Nock and Smith stands outsidethe INTERROGATION ROOM, Sergeant Staehlpoints through the window in the door:

Inside is ARNOLD MURRAY,20s, nervous.

SERGEANT STAEHL
He’s a bloody poofter.He confessed.

Staehl shows Nock and Smitha SIGNEDSTATEMENT.

DETECTIVE NOCK
What?
SERGEANT STAEHL
The man admitted it. ArnoldMurray. Bit of a hustler. Hangsaround that pub, men pay him fora go. Turing is one of the men who paid.Only, Mr. Murray got thebright idea to rob Turing’s houseafter, with a friend. That’s whatTuring was hiding: He’s a poof,not a spy.
DETECTIVE NOCK
No.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
This is good work, Sergeant.Quite good.
DETECTIVE NOCK
No, it’s not.
SERGEANT STAEHL
What’s the matter?We can charge a university professorwith indecency.
DETECTIVE NOCK
No. No. This is bloody rubbish. Turing is up to something important, not gettinghis jollies in some pub.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
He committed a crime.He broke the law. And with a bloke,Christ, it’s bloody disgusting.
DETECTIVE NOCK
I don’t care if it’s disgusting. This is not the investigationI was conducting.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
Clearly.
(to Staehl)
Bring him in.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Wait. Let me interrogatehim.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
You’re askingme for a favour right now?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Please. I know him.I know he’s hiding somethingand I know I can get him to talk...Give me half an hour alone and thenI swear to you I will spend the next monthrunning errands on as many rubbishcases as you like.
SUPERINTENDANT SMITH
... Fine. Now willsomeone get a warrant for the arrestof Alan Turing?
CUT TO:
78

INT. JOAN’SFLAT - DAY - 1941

Joan comes hometo her flat. She looks sad as she putsher key in the lock and opensthe door.

She enters to find:

HUNDREDS OF MATHEMATICALPAPERS ARE SCATTERED ALLOVER HER LIVING ROOM.

She sighs.

JOAN CLARKE
Alan?

At the sound of her voice,Alan comes out of the wash room, wiping the shavingcream from his face. He’s moving and talking a mile a minute.

ALAN TURING
Christopheris simplynot moving fast enough.
JOAN CLARKE
We should talk.

Joan sits down, sadly.

ALAN TURING
(totally oblivious)
Even with the diagonalboard he’s not eliminating settingsas quickly as —
JOAN CLARKE
Alan, I’m leaving.
ALAN TURING
You just walked in.
JOAN CLARKE
No. Bletchley.
ALAN TURING
What?
JOAN CLARKE
It’s my parents...I am twenty-five and I am unmarriedand I am living alone... And they wantme home.
ALAN TURING
That’s ridiculous.
JOAN CLARKE
That’s my parents.
ALAN TURING
You cannot leave.I won’tlet you.
JOAN CLARKE
“I’ll miss you.”That’s what a normal personmight say in this situation.
ALAN TURING
I don’t care what’s normal.
JOAN CLARKE
“I’ll write.” That’dwork too.
ALAN TURING
No. This is unacceptable.You are not leaving and that is that.
JOAN CLARKE
What am I supposedto do, Alan? I will not give up my parents.The world is burningto ash and they are my family andthey want me home.
ALAN TURING
You have the opportunityhere to make some actualuse of your life —
JOAN CLARKE
— And end up like you?No thanks. I’m sorry you’re lonely.I’m sorry no one likes you. But Enigma will notsave you. Can you decypher that,you fragile narcissist?Or do you need me to fetch your precious Christopherfor help?

Silence.

Alan looks like she justslapped him across the face. Which she basically did.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
... I’m sorry.
ALAN TURING
I want you to stay becauseI like you.
JOAN CLARKE
I know.
ALAN TURING
I like talking to you.
JOAN CLARKE
I like talking to you, too,Alan.
ALAN TURING
What if you weren’t livingalone... If you had a husband?
JOAN CLARKE
You have one in mind?
ALAN TURING
I do.
JOAN CLARKE
Hugh is terribly attractive,I’ll give you that, but he’sreally not the marrying type.
ALAN TURING
I wasn’t referring to Hugh.
JOAN CLARKE
Peter? He’s so quiet...

Alan stares at Joan. She staresback.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
(getting it)
Oh dear Lord.
ALAN TURING
This makes sense.
JOAN CLARKE
Did you just proposeto me?
ALAN TURING
It’s the logical thingto do.
JOAN CLARKE
This is ridiculous.
ALAN TURING
This is your parents.
JOAN CLARKE
(trying to process)
I cannot believe this is happening.

Alan fishes a piece of ELECTRICALWIRE from his pocket...

ALAN TURING
Joan Ca... Wait, is yourmiddle name Caroline or Catherine?
JOAN CLARKE
Elizabeth.
ALAN TURING
Joan Elizabeth Clarke,will you marry me?

... And then FASHIONSIT INTO A RING.

ON JOAN’S FACE: What’sshe going to do?

SMASHCUT TO:
79

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - BEER HUT- NIGHT

An impromptu ENGAGEMENTPARTY in the Beer Hut that night:

— A BANNER made from PUNCH CARDS reads:“CONGRATULATIONS!”

— Music plays as DANCERSTWIRL in the center of the Hut.

— Joan LAUGHS with herWREN FRIENDS in one corner, whilein another Alan drinksbeer with his team.

ON JOAN AND THE GIRLS:She shows off her makeshift wire engagement ring:

JOAN’S FRIEND (trying her best) ... It’s... beautiful?

Joan LAUGHS. She understands.

JOAN CLARKE
I know it’s not an ordinaryring...

She looks over at Alan warmly.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
... But who ever loved ordinary?

ON ALAN AND THE BOYS:They’re are all a bit drunk, TELLING DIRTY STORIES:

HUGH ALEXANDER
... So she’s got it inher hands, right, and she looksup at me and says, “I’m to putit in my mouth?” And I say, “yes, youknow. The French way.”So she pops it in, closes her lips aroundthe thing... And then she starts hummingthe bloody Marseillaise!

The men BURST INTO LAUGHTER.

Except for Alan, who looksa bit confused.

PETER HILTON
(to Alan)
What about you andJoan? Does she do it the French way?

Alan looks away, uncomfortable.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Soon enough, you lucky bastard.

Just then, Joan comesover and throws an affectionatearm around Alan.

JOAN CLARKE
Care for a dance?
HUGH ALEXANDER
No no, your fiancécan dance with you anytime he likes.Now it’s my turn.

Hugh takes Joan’shand, and leads her across the room.They begin to DANCE, whilePeter follows, dancing withone of Joan’s friends.

Alan and John are leftalone at the table.

Alan looks worried.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
What’s the matter?
ALAN TURING
... What if I don’t fancy...being with Joan in that way?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Because you’re a homosexual?

Alan looks at him, surprised.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (CONT’D)
I suspected. You’renot quite as much of an enigmaas you think you are. Or as much as Enigmais.
ALAN TURING
Should I tell Joan?I’ve had affairs. With othermen.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
You know, in my admittedlylimited experience,women tend to be a bit touchy about accidentallymarrying homosexuals.I thinkperhaps not spreading this informationaround might be in your best interest.
ALAN TURING
Having children,a family... I want that with her. I do.I just don’t know if I can... Pretend...
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
You can’t tell anyone,Alan. It’s illegal. And Dennistonis looking for any excusehe can get to put you away.
ALAN TURING
... I know.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
This has to stay a secret,or trust me, they’ll kill youfor it.

ON ALAN: He knows John is right.

As Alan thinks, Joancomes back over and offers him her hand.

JOAN CLARKE
Come on, now it’s your turn.

She leads him to the dancefloor.

As they START TO DANCE, chastely,sweetly, WE

CUT TO:
80

INT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FORBOYS - ALAN’S ROOM- DAY - 1927

CLOSE ON A LETTER: “I LOVEYOU” is written on the paper.

REVEAL: Young Alansits in his dormitory room, ENCRYPTINGhis love letter to Christopher.

Slowly, letterby letter,Alan transforms “I LOVE YOU”into code...

Hearing a commotion,Alan LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW:

BOYS are being unloadedfrom a BUS at the gates, droppedoff to begin the new spring term.

Alan sees them all, excited:Christopher is coming back!

He STUFFS HIS ENCRYPTEDLETTER IN AN ENVELOPE and RUNS OFFto

81

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS- FRONT GATES - MINUTESLATER

Alan waits eagerlyby the main gate as BOYS STREAM PAST —

— Joking, horsing around—

— Alan waits patiently,looking for Christopher’s faceamong the rowdy schoolboys—

— Until: They’re all gone.

Christopher never shows.

Alan looks at his undeliverednote, then at the empty yard before him.

Where is Christopher?

Confused, Young Alan finallygives up...

... When he runs intothe PACK OF BOYS who beat him up earlier.

BOY #1 Well look. Mr. Turingis all alone.

Young Alan standsfrozen as they come at him, and we

CUT TO:
82

INT. MANCHESTERPOLICE STATION- INTERROGATIONROOM - 1951

Alan Turing sits alonein the interrogation room withhis eyes closed.

Detective Nock enters.

DETECTIVE NOCK
Cup of tea?
ALAN TURING
(eyes closed)
Thanks, no.
DETECTIVE NOCK
... Mr. Turing,may I tell you a secret?
ALAN TURING
I’m quite good with those.
DETECTIVE NOCK
I’m here to help you.

Suddenly, Alan openshis eyes.

ALAN TURING
(re: being in jail)
Clearly.
DETECTIVE NOCK
(changing tacks)
... Can machines think?
ALAN TURING
You’ve read my publishedwork.
DETECTIVE NOCK
What makes you say that?
ALAN TURING
Because I’m sittingin a police station, accusedof entreating a young man to touchmy penis, and you’re asking me whethermachines can think.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Can they? Could machinesever think as human beings do?
ALAN TURING
Most people say no.
DETECTIVE NOCK
You’re not most people.
ALAN TURING
The problem is thatyou’re asking a stupid question.
DETECTIVE NOCK
I am?
ALAN TURING
Of course machinescan’t think “as human beings do.”A machine is different froma humanbeing; hence, it would think differently. The interestingquestion is, just because somethingthinks differentlyfrom you, does that mean it’s not thinking?We allow that humans have such divergences from one another.You like strawberries.I hate ice-skating. You cry at sad films. I’mallergic to pollen. Whatdoes it mean to have different tastes— different preferences— other than to say that our brains work differently? That we think differentlyfrom one another? Andif we can say that about each another,why can’t we say the same for brainsmade of copper and steel?
DETECTIVE NOCK
That’s... Thisbig paper you wrote... What’s it called?
ALAN TURING
“The Imitation Game.”
DETECTIVE NOCK
Right. That’s what it’s about?
ALAN TURING
(thinking)
... Would you like to play?
DETECTIVE NOCK
Play?
ALAN TURING
The game. It’s a test,of sorts. For determining whethersomething is a machine, or a human being.
DETECTIVE NOCK
How do we play?
ALAN TURING
There’s a judge,and a subject. The judge asks questions,and based on the subject’s answers,he determines:Who is he speaking with? What is he speakingwith? All you have to do isask me a question.
DETECTIVE NOCK
... What did you do duringthe war?
ALAN TURING
I worked in a radio factory.
DETECTIVE NOCK
What did you really do duringthe war?

Alan smiles — DetectiveNock is smarter than he looks.

ALAN TURING
... Are you paying attention?
83

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT11 - NIGHT - 1942

Alan and his team — Hugh,John, Peter — anxiously stand before Alan’s hugemachine as it CLACK CLACK CLACKS, ferociously loud.

The gears are spinning,current is flowing through the wires, and the team stares at it, takingturns compulsively checking their watches.

ON ALAN: This is goingto work. This has to work.

Suddenly...

... DING. The chime announcesthe stroke of midnight.

HUGH ALEXANDER
Damn it!

Everyone is pissed, frustrated.

Alan looks as if he’sabout to rip his own hair out: Why won’t this damned thing work?

As the machine CLACKS on, oblivious,they all walk outside:

84

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - NEAR HUT11 - CONTINUOUS

The team walks acrossBletchley together, movingas one through the most highlysecret war zone in the world.

MORE SECURITY has beenadded throughout the park, including along the path fromHut 11 — ARMED GUARDS check IDs, which the team hands over absentmindedly.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
We’re soon out of time.Our month...
PETER HILTON
So that’s it then. We lost.
HUGH ALEXANDER
It does not matterhow much we improve on it, that machinewill never be able to check159 million million million possibilitiesin time.
ALAN TURING
It’s searching...It’s just... It doesn’t know what it’ssearching for... If only we knewwhat the messages were going to say...
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
If we knew what the messageswere going to say, we wouldn’thave to decrypt them at all.

ON ALAN: Maybe it was always impossibleafter all.

85

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - BEER HUT- LATER

It’s crowded in the beerhut, even this late at night.

On one side of the room,Alan, Hugh, John, and Peter are drinking. Commiseratingabout their fate.

On the other side,Joan is drinking with her friendHELEN — a fellow WREN.

ON JOAN AND HELEN:

HELEN
Who’s Alan’s friend?
JOAN CLARKE
Hugh? Bit of a cad, actually.
HELEN
So my type then?
JOAN CLARKE
Here, I’ll introduce you.
HELEN
No! Lord, engagedfor a fortnight and you’ve alreadyforgotten how to do this? He’ll come over.
JOAN CLARKE
Are you sure?
HELEN
Yes. I smiled at him fifteen minutes ago and haven’tlooked at him since.

ON HUGH, ALAN, JOHN, AND PETER:

Hugh is looking at the girls.

HUGH ALEXANDER
(re: Helen)
Who’s that, then?
ALAN TURING
Helen? Works withJoan in the WREN’s hut.
PETER HILTON
You do have a point aboutthe little hats.
HUGH ALEXANDER
She wants me to come over.
ALAN TURING
How can you possibly knowthat?
HUGH ALEXANDER
She smiled at me awhileback and hasn’t looked again since.

ON JOAN AND HELEN:

HELEN
(re: Hugh’s glances)
And... Got him.
JOAN CLARKE
Is it odd that whenI wassingle this game felt tedious,but now it seems just dreadfully fun?

ON THE BOYS:

HUGH ALEXANDER
(re: Helen’s glances)
And... Brilliant.She’s in. Alan, introduce me.
ALAN TURING
Why me?
HUGH ALEXANDER
Because thereis nothinglike a friend’s engagementto make a woman want to do somethingshe will later regret with the fiancé’s better- looking chum.

Hugh drags Alan acrossthe pub to Helen and Joan.

ON JOHN AND PETER:

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Half crown says Alan bollockses this up entirely.
PETER HILTON
No bet.

ON HUGH, ALAN, JOAN, AND HELEN:

HUGH ALEXANDER
(to the ladies)
Alan Turing has a theory.
JOAN CLARKE
He has many.
HUGH ALEXANDER
He believes that the regulations against men and women workingside- by-side are sound,because such proximity will necessarilylead to romance.
ALAN TURING
No I don’t —

Hugh KICKS Alan, who shutsup.

HUGH ALEXANDER
— However, I disagree.
HELEN
You do?
HUGH ALEXANDER
I think that if I were working beside a woman allday long, I could manage to appreciateher abilities and intellectwithout needing to take her to bed.
(to Helen)
Pardon, have we met?
HELEN
I don’t recall. Butlet’s assume we haven’t.

Hugh looks at Alan for an introduction:Alan is silent.

Joan picks up the slack:

JOAN CLARKE
Helen Stewart, Hugh Alexander.
HUGH ALEXANDER
So who do you agree with?Alan or myself?
HELEN
Well, Alan, of course.
ALAN TURING
I’m flattered,but this is not actually —

Now Joan KICKS Alan, whois stillvery confused.

HUGH ALEXANDER
— Rubbish.
HELEN
I work beside a man everyday, and I can’t help but havedeveloped a bit of a crush on him.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Well who is thisman, so I can kick his arse?
HELEN
Oh, it’s been chaste,you’ve no need to worry. We’venever even met. He’s a German.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Now I really want to killhim.
ALAN TURING
How do you mean you work alongside a German?
HELEN
Each of us interceptsmessages from a specific Germanradio tower. So we’ve a counterparton the other side, who’s tip-tappingout the messages. Everybodytypes a touch differently;you get to know the rhythm of your counterpart.It’s strangely intimate.I feel as if we know each other.Pity he has a girlfriend...But that’s why I disagree withyou. I’m in love with a co-worker, of sorts,even if we’ve never met.
HUGH ALEXANDER
I’ll require anotherpint to tell you why you’re wrong.
HELEN
Let’s.

Helen and Hugh walk awayto the bar...

JOAN CLARKE
(to Alan)
That’s what flirtinglooks like. In case you were curious.

But Alan is lost in thought...

Something is wrong...

ALAN TURING
(screaming)
HELEN!!!

Everyone in the roomturns and stares at him.

Joan winces.

Helen and Hugh come back over.

HELEN
Yes, Alan?
ALAN TURING
Why do you think yourGerman counterpart has a girlfriend?
HELEN
Oh, it’s a stupid joke,don’t worry about it.
ALAN TURING
Tell me.
HELEN
Each one of his messagesbegins with the same five letters. C-I-L-L- Y. So I suspect Cillymust be the name of his amore.
ALAN TURING
That’s impossible.The Germans are instructed to choosefive letters at random to start every message.
HELEN
Well, this bloke doesn’t.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Love’ll make a man do strange things, I suppose. Anyhow—
ALAN TURING
— In this case, lovejust lost the Germans the whole bloodywar.

Alan BOLTS out of thebar —

— SPILLING BEER ALL OVERHELEN —

— Who CRIES OUT, and ANGRILYRUNS OFF —

— Leaving Hugh and Joan standingthere, confused.

They share a look: What’sgotten into Alan?

Joan quickly RUNSOFF after Alan —

— Hugh follows suit —

— And John and Peter, seeingthis across the room, takeoff after Hugh —

86

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - CONTINUOUS- SEQUENCE

Everyone chases Alanacross Bletchley Park —

— GUARDS YELL at Alan as he bypassessecurity checkpoints—

— Guards are screamingat them, drawing guns as he andJoan barrel into Hut 8 —

— Hugh and John show theirIDs to the Guards, yellingback at them —

— Hugh and John finallyget rid of the guards and enter:

87

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - CONTINUOUS

— Joan runs into theHut to find that Alan has grabbeda BOX OF PREVIOUSLY DECRYPTEDMESSAGES —

— Alan POURS those messagesout all over the floor —

JOAN CLARKE
Alan?

— Hugh, John, and Peterenter as Alan spreads the messages out on the floor. (Justlike he did in Joan’s flat!)

ALAN TURING
What if Christopherdoesn’t have to search through all thesettings? What if he only had tosearch the ones that producethe words we already know willbe in the message?
HUGH ALEXANDER
Repeated words! Predictable words...

— They all search the messages with Alan —

— Joan holds up a DECRYPT:It’s the same one she read earlier.

JOAN CLARKE
Like this?
(reading aloud)
“0600 hours. Weathertoday is clear. Rain in the evening.Heil Hitler.”
ALAN TURING
Yes! That’s it!
(looking at message)
They send a weatherreport at 6AM. Every day. That meansthere are three words we alreadyknow will be in the 6am message. “Weather,” obviously, and —
HUGH ALEXANDER
— “Heil bloody Hitler.”
ALAN TURING
Heil bloody Hitler.

Joan searches through a PILE, finding:

JOAN CLARKE
Here’s the 6 o’clock message from this morning.

Joan holds the message as they all run out to:

88

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - CONTINUOUS

Alan runs from Hut 8 to Hut11, the team chasing behind him.

89

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11 - CONTINUOUS

Alan, Joan, John,Peter and Hugh burst in —

ALAN TURING
Hugh — the right hand letter-rings. Set them to —
HUGH ALEXANDER
— I know, I know. “Veter.” “Hitler.”

— Hugh turns the rings while —

ALAN TURING
— Peter, John — Run voltage from those rings through the back scramblers —

— John and Peter go around back —

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
— So we’ll use the loops?
ALAN TURING
— Yes. Joan, what’s the last 6am message?

Joan reads aloud to Alan as he enters it in:

JOAN CLARKE
L - H - W - A - U - Q - X - K...

They all stand back as Alan TURNS ON the machine.

They watch the CLACK CLACK CLACKof Christopher as he processes the message...

— They’re nervous, fretting,anxiously awaiting his calculations...

... Finally, ChristopherSTOPS.

Silence, as a SERIESOF ROTORS on the side of Christopher snap into place, displayinga SET OF LETTERS.

PETER HILTON
What happened? Did it work?

Alan SCRIBBLESdown the letters (”EXBAO...”)and they all run back to —

90

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8 - CONTINUOUS

Where Alan takes a DUMMY ENIGMAMACHINE, turns the machine’s rotors to the setting he wrotedown (”EXBAO...”) —

ALAN TURING
Give me a fresh message. The last one we intercepted.

Peter hands Alan one from a nearby folder —

— Alan starts typing one of today’sgibberish encrypted messages into Enigma—

— As John TAKES DOWN the decodedGerman letters —

— Hugh looks at what Johnis writing and TRANSLATES the German into English —

HUGH ALEXANDER
“KMS Jaguar...Is auf punkt — is directed - 53 degrees,24 minutes north... And auf punkt1 degree west...”
HUGH ALEXANDER (CONT’D) ALAN TURING
“... Heil Hitler.” “... Heil Hitler.”

Alan and Hugh look ateach other: Oh my god.

ALAN TURING
Turns out that’s theonly German you need to know to break Enigma.

The team EXPLODESWITH JOY.

LAUGHING, HOOTING, SCREAMING,JUMPING, HUGGING.

This is the happiest momentof their lives.

John even startsto TEAR UP, and TRIES TO HUG ALAN —

— Who just STANDS THERE, limp.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
(re: Alan)
Not a hugger. Probablycould have guessed that.
91

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAWN

Dawn rises over BletchleyPark.

92

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8- DAWN

The team has been there workingall through the night.

There’s a flurry of activity:Decoding messages, translating the decrypts, reading the informationcontained within.

Hugh steps backfor a moment to look at the product of their work: A BIG MAP ON THE WALL.

ON THE MAP: It’s the AtlanticOcean. Blue pins representthe Allied ships, red ones representthe Axis ships.

HUGH ALEXANDER
You did it.
(turns to Alan)
Bloody hell, youdid it. You just defeated Nazismwith a crossword puzzle. What doesit feel like to do the impossible?

ON ALAN’S FACE: He’s notsure. Something is botheringhim, but he can’t figure out what.

John steps back fromhis work to join Hugh.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
There are five peoplein the world who know the positionof every ship in the Atlantic.They are all in this room.

Now Joan joins Hughand John in seeing the full map forthe first time.

JOAN CLARKE
Oh my good God.
HUGH ALEXANDER
I don’t think evenHe has the power that we do right now.
JOAN CLARKE
(getting closer to map)
There’s goingto be an attack on a British passenger convoy.There.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
You’re right. ThoseU-Boats are only twenty or thirty minutesaway.
JOAN CLARKE
Civilians. Hundredsof them. We can save their lives.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
And knock out a whole Germanfleet in the process.
HUGH ALEXANDER
I’ll call Denniston.Have him radio his Admirals immediately.

Hugh picks up the phone—

ALAN TURING
(figuring something out)
No.
JOAN CLARKE
Is there enough timeto savethem?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Should be. If we canget a message to the passenger convoy,she can turn —

Hugh DIALS —

ALAN TURING
(louder)
No. No.
HUGH ALEXANDER
(into phone)
— Commander Denniston’soffice —
ALAN TURING
NO.
HUGH ALEXANDER
(into phone)
— This is urgent, top priority—
ALAN TURING
NO!!!

Alan LEAPS ACROSSTHE ROOM and GRABS THE PHONE FROM HUGH.

HUGH ALEXANDER
What the bloody hell?

Hugh tries to grab thephone back —

— But Alan pulls away sharply.

Everyone STOPS. Turns.Looks at Alan.

HUGH ALEXANDER (CONT’D)
Are you mad?
ALAN TURING
No. No. You can’t call Denniston. You can’t tell himabout the attack.
JOAN CLARKE
Alan, are you all right?What’s going on?
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
We can have air supportover the passenger convoyin ten minutes.
ALAN TURING
No. Let the U-Boatssink the convoy.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Look, this has beena big day, maybe you’re goingthrough a bit of shock —
HUGH ALEXANDER
— There’s no time for this.

Hugh tries to GRAB THEPHONE from Alan —

— but Alan PULLS it awayand SMASHES THE PHONE AGAINSTTHE GROUND.

JOAN CLARKE
Alan!

Hugh can’t take it anymore—

— He TAKES A SWING ATALAN —

— Who CRUMPLES ATTHE BLOW ON HIS JAW —

— Hugh stares downat Alan, who’s bleeding on the floor —

— Hugh WINDS UP FOR ANOTHERPUNCH —

— When Joan CATCHES HISARM mid-swing —

— Surprised, Hugh instinctivelySWINGS AT HER —

— Smacking Joan hard acrossthe face.

— He’s stunned by whathe’s done as she responds by PUSHING HIM INTO A TABLE —

— And Hugh falls to the floor,next to Alan.

Joan stands above them.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
(to Hugh)
If you hurt him, youwill just barely live to regret it.

Silence. Just the soundsof panting.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Everyone stop. Please.Calm down.
PETER HILTON
The attack is in minutes.We don’t have time to calm down.
ALAN TURING
Do you know why peoplelike violence, Hugh?Because it feels good.
(wipes blood fromhis nose)
It would feel good to blowthose U- Boats out of the Atlantic.But sometimes we can’tdo what feels good. We have to do what’s logical.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
What’s logical?
ALAN TURING
The hardest timeto lie is when the other person is expectingto be lied to.
JOAN CLARKE
(getting it)
Oh my God.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
What?
ALAN TURING
If they’re waitingfor a lie, you can’t just give themone.
JOAN CLARKE
Oh my God. Damn it. Alan’sright.
PETER HILTON
What?!?
ALAN TURING
What will the Germansthink if we destroy those U-Boats?
PETER HILTON
Nothing. They’ll be dead.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
(getting it)
No. No. You can’t be right.
PETER HILTON
Am I the only one who’sstill not getting this?
ALAN TURING
Suddenly our convoyveers off course and a fleetof RAF bombers magically descendson the location of a pack of U-Boats?What will the Germans think?
PETER HILTON
Hugh?
HUGH ALEXANDER
... The Germans willknow we broke Enigma.
JOAN CLARKE
They’ll put a halton radio communicationby noon.
(MORE)
JOAN CLARKE (CONT'D)
And they’ll havethe design of Enigma changed by the weekend.
ALAN TURING
Two years of work. Everythingwe’ve done here. It’llall be for nothing.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
There are 500 peoplein that convoy. Civilians.Women. Children. We’re about to let themdie.
ALAN TURING
Our job wasn’t to saveone passenger convoy.It was to win the war.
HUGH ALEXANDER
Our job was to break Enigma.
ALAN TURING
Done. Now for the hardpart: keeping it a secret. Forever.

Peter looks at the map...

PETER HILTON
It’s the Carlisle.

They all look at him.

JOAN CLARKE
What?
PETER HILTON
The convoy you’re aboutto... It’s... The HMS Carlisleis one of the ships.
ALAN TURING
So?
PETER HILTON
We can’t act on everypiece of intelligence?Fine. We won’t. Just this one. The Germanswon’t find us out if we stop one attack.
JOAN CLARKE
What’s gotten into you, Peter?
PETER HILTON
... My brother. Phillip.He’s on the Carlisle. Gunnery ensign.

Silence. Fuck.

ALAN TURING
I’m sorry.
PETER HILTON
Who the hell do you thinkyou are? This is my brother.My big brother. He was the only one— Look, he was there after mymum — He’s my big brother, alright,and you have a few minutes to call off hismurder.
ALAN TURING
It’s not my fault.

Peter DIVES for Alan—

— But John stops him.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS
Alan is right. We can’t.
PETER HILTON
AND WHY THE BLOODYHELL NOT? I am begging you. Alan.Joan. Hugh. John. Please.I am begging you. Just this once. Justone time. The Germans won’t get suspiciousjust because we stoppedone attack.It’s one time. No one willknow. I’m asking you. As yourfriend. If I mean anything to you. Please.

Silence. Thisis thehardest thing anyone in this roomhas ever had to do.

ALAN TURING
I’m so sorry.
PETER HILTON
You’re not God, Alan.You don’t get to decide who lives andwho dies.
ALAN TURING
Yes, we do.
PETER HILTON
Why? Why?
ALAN TURING
Because no one else can.
93

INT. TRAIN - DAY

Alan and Joan ride the train from Bletchley into London.

They know what they have to do.

94

EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY

Alan and Joan exit the train and walk down the platform.

95

INT. TEASHOP - LONDON - DAY

In a quiet TEA SHOP, Alan,Joan, and Stewart Menzies sip their Twinings.Outside the GLASS WINDOWS, NURSES help WOUNDED SOLDIERSout of an AMBULANCE and into a local HOSPITAL.

STEWART MENZIES
... Why are you tellingme this?
ALAN TURING
We need your help tokeep this from the Admiralty.Army. RAF. No one can know we broke Enigma,not even Denniston.
STEWART MENZIES
Who is in the processof having you fired.
JOAN CLARKE
You’ll take care of that.
ALAN TURING
While we developa systemfor determining how much intelligence to act on. Which attacksto stop, which to let through. Statistical analysis. The minimumnumber of actions it’lltake to win the war, but the maximum numberwe’re able to take before the Germansget suspicious.
STEWART MENZIES
You’re going to trustthis all to statistics? To maths?
ALAN TURING
Correct.
JOAN CLARKE
And then MI-6 can come up with the lies we’ll tell everyone else.
ALAN TURING
We’ll require a believable alternate source for each piece of information we use.
JOAN CLARKE
A false story that exlains how we got that information, that has nothing to do with Enigma. And then you’ll need to leak those stories to the Germans.
ALAN TURING
And the rest of our military.
JOAN CLARKE
Can you do that?
STEWART MENZIES
Maintain a conspiracyof lies through the highestlevels of our government? Yes,that sounds right up my alley.

ON ALAN AND JOAN: Okay.Let’s do it.

STEWART MENZIES (CONT’D)
(smiling)
Alan, I so rarely havecause to say this. But you are exactlythe man I always hoped you wouldbe.
96

INT. TRAIN - DAY

Alan and Joan ride the train back to Bletchley.

She reaches out and puts her hand in his. They’re in this so deep now... But at least they’re in it together.

97

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - LAWNS - SEQUENCE

At 6am, dawn is threateningto break across the Park.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
They codenamed it “Ultra.”
98

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - WREN’SHUT - SEQUENCE

But in the WREN’S HUT,the women eagerly await the comingof the day’s first messages—

— And a sudden BEEP BEEP BEEPannounces that they have.The WRENs quickly takedown the first messages —

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
And it quickly becamethe largest store of military intelligencein the history of the world.

A WREN removes thefirst few dozen from a pile —

— And hands it over to anotherWREN —

99

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 11- SEQUENCE

— In Hut 11, the WREN givesthe day’s first messages to Hugh, who enters them into Christopher—

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
It was like havinga tap on Himmler’s intercom.

— Christopher HUMS —

— And Hugh, after a few minutes,reads the day’s Enigma settings on the machine’s read-out:“FSOQR”

100

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

Jack turns his Enigmamachine to the day’s setting — “FSOQR” — and one by one types in the newlyintercepted messages, recording the nowdecrypted results in a BOOKLET.On the cover, the booklet is marked:“ULTRA.”

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Secrecy became the primaryconcern. And for some reason theytrusted me.

Alan organizesstacks of similar ULTRA bookletswhen he has trouble findingone of them — He looks up to see Peter walking nearby.

ALAN TURING
Peter, do you havethe 9:30 decrypts —

But instead of answering,Peter BUMPS HARD against Alan’s shoulder, scatteringAlan’s papers to the floor.

Jack looks over. Peterkeeps on walking.

No one helps Alan ashe bends down to clean up his papers. Peter LEAVES Hut 8 withoutspeaking a single word.

ON ALAN: He’s kneelingdown in front of John’s MESSY DESK, picking up papersfrom the floor, when his eyes come level with something on the desk...

... It’s a BOOK. Buried underneathCRYPTOGRAPHIC PAPERS.

Alan stares at it strangely.Something about its shapeand colour look familiar...He UNCOVERS it...

IT’S A BIBLE.

Holy shit.

There’s a page dog-eared.Alan opens to the page — it’s Matthew 7:7. “Seek andye shallfind...”

ON ALAN: JOHN CAIRNCROSSIS THE SOVIET SPY.

Suddenly:

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (O.S.)
Peter will come around eventually.

Alan turns and stands— there’sJohn, right behind him.

ON JOHN: He sees somethingon Alan’s face. Somethingis wrong. He looks downat the desk... AND SEES THE UNCOVERED BIBLE.

What’s John going to do? Alanis terrified...

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (CONT’D)
... Jack, couldyou give Alan and I a moment?

Across the room, Jacklooks over. Whatever is goingon between Alan andJohn, he wants no part of it.

Jack leaves.

Alan is now alone with John,the Soviet spy.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (CONT’D)
... The Soviets andus, we’re all on the same side. WhatI’m doing will help Britain.
ALAN TURING
I’ll tell Denniston.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
No you won’t. Becauseif you tell him my secret, I’ll tellhim yours.

ON ALAN: Oh God, John wasthe one person he trusted.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (CONT’D)
Do you know whatthey do to homosexuals?You’ll never be able to work again. Neverbe able to teach. Your preciousmachine — doubt you’ll ever see him again.

ON ALAN: Looks down. He’s beaten.

He puts an understandinghand on Alan’s shoulder.

JOHN CAIRNCROSS (CONT’D)
Until the historybooks are ready to call you a hero, sometimesyou have to play the villain.

And with that, John takeshis bible and leaves.

ON ALAN: What’s he goingto do?

101

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - CENTRAL MANSION- DAY

Alan borrows a phone in the centralmansion.

ALAN TURING
(into phone)
I need to speak to Menzies...

... But frustratedby the response he hears, Alan HANGS UP.

102

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - JOAN’SFLAT - DAY

Alan bursts into Joan’sflat to tell her what he’s found.

ALAN TURING
Joan! Joan! Are you there?

It’s dark. He FLICKS ON THE LIGHT...

REVEAL: The room has been ransacked.

Clothes, books, papers scatteredeverywhere.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
— Joan?!?

He quickly moves throughthe flat: What happened here?

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
Joan, are you okay? Whereare you?

Runs to the back bedroom,where he finds...

... Stewart Menzies. Calmlylooking over some papers.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
Where’s Joan?
STEWART MENZIES
Military prison.
ALAN TURING
What have you done?
STEWART MENZIES
(holding up papers)
Decoded Enigma intercepts.A stack of them under her nightstand.

ON ALAN: Fuck.

ALAN TURING
I gave those to her.A year ago. When she was with the clerksI was—
STEWART MENZIES
— Yes yes yes, I’m sure.But Denniston has beenlooking for a Soviet spy, and he’sbeen looking for one inside Hut 8.
ALAN TURING
I know who the Sovietagent is. It’s not Joan.

Menzies looksat Alan: Who is it if not her?

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
... I found the bible...The spy is John Cairncross.

Menzies SMILES. As if he’s impressed.

STEWART MENZIES
... God, how I wish you’dbeen the spy. You’re so muchbetter at this than he is.
ALAN TURING
You knew Cairncrosswas the spy?
STEWART MENZIES
Well of course Cairncrosswas the bloody spy.
(MORE)
STEWART MENZIES (CONT'D)
I’ve known that sincebefore he got to Bletchley.Why do you think I had him placed here?
QUICKCUT TO:
103

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8- DAY - FLASHBACK

Flash to the first scenewhere Alan met his new team after arriving at Bletchley.Commander Denniston explainshow Enigma works, while Menziesstands in the corner, observing.

Menzies keepsa specialeye on Cairncross as Alan and Hugh compete over who knows more aboutcryptography.

STEWART MENZIES (V.O.)
You said yourselfhe was a piss- poor mathematician.
CUT BACKTO:
104

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - JOAN’S FLAT- CONTINUED

ALAN TURING
You placed a Sovietagent at Bletchley?
STEWART MENZIES
It’s quite usefulto be able to leak whatever we liketo Stalin.
QUICKCUT TO:
105

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - MAIN GATE- DUSK - FLASHBACK

A year earlier, JohnCairncross exits the Main Gateof Bletchley carryinga SUITCASE—

STEWART MENZIES (V.O.)
Churchill is too damnedparanoid. He won’t share a shredof intelligence with the Soviets.
CUT TO:
106

EXT. BLETCHLEYVILLAGE - STREET- NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Cairncross walksthrough the village with the suitcase —

STEWART MENZIES (V.O.)
Even informationthat will help them against the Germans.So much secrecy...
CUT TO:
107

EXT. BLETCHLEYVILLAGE - STREET- NIGHT - FLASHBACK

Cairncrosscomes to a MAILBOX, where under coverof night he OPENS HIS CASE —

— Removing A FOLDER OF COPIEDENIGMA INTERCEPTS —

— Which he then places in themailbox.

STEWART MENZIES (V.O.)
Cairncrosshas no idea we know, of course. Really not thebrightest bulb.

Cairncross WALKSAWAY into the night.

After he leaves, two MI-6AGENTS come and UNLOCK THE MAILBOX—

— Removing his FOLDER—

— The Agents take SOMEMESSAGES OUT, and put other NEWONES BACK IN —

— Before re-sealingthe folder and putting it backin the mailbox —

— And RE-LOCKING the mailboxlid.

CUT BACKTO:
108

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - JOAN’S FLAT- CONTINUED

STEWART MENZIES
That’s why I’ll needyour help now to work out what to leakto John. What to feed the Soviets,as well as the British.

ON ALAN: Flustered. Terrified.

ALAN TURING
I’m not a spy. I’mjust a mathematician.
STEWART MENZIES
I know a lot of spies, Alan.You’re holding on to more secretsthan the best of them.

Menzies holds up the stolendecrypts. The threat is palpable.

ALAN TURING
You must promiseto get Joan out of prison.
STEWART MENZIES
She’s at the market.She’ll be back in an hour. I lied.
(puts the decryptsinto his pocket)
I’d better holdon to these. If anyone finds out aboutthem, prison will be the least of her worries.

ON ALAN: What choicedoes he have? He looks down.

STEWART MENZIES (CONT’D)
Oh Alan. We’re goingto have such a wonderful war together.
109

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - PATHWAYNEAR HUT 8 - DAY

Joan walks towardsHut 8, showing her ID to the new GUARDS who are closely monitoringentry to the Huts.

In front of Hut 8, Alan watchesher. Steeling himselfup for what he has to do.

As she approaches,she sees Alan waiting for her. She smiles at him, but he doesn’t returnit. Something is wrong.

110

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - BEHINDHUT 8 - MOMENTS LATER

Alan and Joan talk behindHut 8.

ALAN TURING
... I need you to leave Bletchley.
JOAN CLARKE
(annoyed)
What?
ALAN TURING
Menzies. I don’t trust...

ON ALAN: He wants totell her, but he can’t. It’s too dangerous.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
... I don’t think it’s safehere.
JOAN CLARKE
You think it’s safe somewhereelse?
ALAN TURING
You need to leave,and you need to get very far away fromme.
JOAN CLARKE
Alan. What’s happened?

ON ALAN: This isn’tworking. He’s going to haveto try a different approach.

ALAN TURING
... We can’t be engagedanymore. Your parents willhave to take you back and find you a husband elsewhere.
JOAN CLARKE
What is wrong with you?
ALAN TURING
... There’s somethingI have to tell you. I’m... I’m a homosexual.
JOAN CLARKE
Alright.

ON ALAN: What?

ALAN TURING
Men, Joan. Not women.
JOAN CLARKE
So what?
ALAN TURING
I just said —
JOAN CLARKE
— So what? I had my suspicions.I always did. But we’renot like other people.We love each other in our own way, and we canstill live the life togetherthat we want. You won’t be the perfecthusband? I can promise you I harbouredno intention of beingthe perfect wife. I’ll not be fixingyour lamb all day awaiting yourreturn from the office, willI? I’ll work.
(MORE)
JOAN CLARKE (CONT'D)
You’ll work. We’llhave each other’s company.We’ll have each other’s minds.Sounds like a better marriage than most.Because I care for you. And you carefor me. And we understand one anothermore than anyone else ever has.

ON ALAN: He needsto get rid of her, to save her, andshe is making this impossible.

ALAN TURING
I don’t.
JOAN CLARKE
What?
ALAN TURING
Care for you. I neverdid. I only needed you to breakEnigma. And now I’ve done it, so you can leave.

She SLAPS HIM.

JOAN CLARKE
I am not going anywhere.I have spent entirelytoo much of my life worried aboutwhat you think of me, or what my parentsthink of me, or what the boys inHut 8 or the girls in Hut 3 think, andyou know I am done with it. Thiswork is the most important thingI will ever do in my life. And no one willstop me. Least of all you.

Joan turns to walk away,and then, angry, she turns back.

She TOSSES HER WIRE ENGAGEMENTRING AT ALAN.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
... They were right.John. Hugh. Peter. You really are a monster.

Alan watches her walkaway, struggling to maintain his facade of icy indifference.

CUT TO:
111

INT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FOR BOYS- HEADMASTER’S OFFICE- 1927

Young Alan enters the HEADMASTER’SOFFICE.

YOUNG ALAN
You wanted to see me, Sir?
HEADMASTER
Turing. Sit down.
YOUNG ALAN
Is something the matter?
HEADMASTER
You and ChristopherMorcom are quite close.
YOUNG ALAN
I wouldn’t say that.
HEADMASTER
Your mathematicsteacher says you two are positively inseparable.
YOUNG ALAN
We’re the best studentsin the class.
HEADMASTER
He caught you passingnotes the other day.
YOUNG ALAN
Cryptography.To pass the time. The class is too simple.
HEADMASTER
You and your friend solvemaths problems during mathsclass because maths class is too dull?
YOUNG ALAN
He’s not my friend.
HEADMASTER
I’ve been told he’syour only friend.
YOUNG ALAN
Who said that?
HEADMASTER
Something hascome up. About Morcom.
YOUNG ALAN
Why am I here?
HEADMASTER
Christopher is dead.
YOUNG ALAN
... I don’t understand.
HEADMASTER
His mother sent word thismorning. The family was on holiday,you see.
YOUNG ALAN
I don’t understand.
HEADMASTER
He had bovine tuberculosis,as I’m sure he told you. Thismustn’t be a shock, but all the same,I’m sorry.
YOUNG ALAN
You’re mistaken.
HEADMASTER
Did he not tell you?He’s been sick for a long time. Knewthis was coming soon,but he had a stiff upper lip about it. Goodlad.

ON ALAN’S FACE: Christophernever told him.

HEADMASTER (CONT’D)
Are you all right, Turing?
YOUNG ALAN
Yes. Of course.As I said, I didn’t know him well.
HEADMASTER
Ah. Very well then.
YOUNG ALAN
May I leave, Headmaster?
HEADMASTER
Of course. Oh, but Turing?
YOUNG ALAN
Yes, Sir?
HEADMASTER
Do pay more attentionin maths class, will you?
CUT TO:
112

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - 1943-5 - SEQUENCE

Alan, Joan, John, Hugh,and Peter decrypt messages together for another two exhaustingyears.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
The war dragged on foranother two solitary years.

Alan spends two years pressedshoulder-to-shoulderwith the woman whose hearthe broke. With the man whose dark secrethe uncovered. Withthe man whose brother he allowed to die.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Every day we performedour blood- soaked calculus.Every day we decided who livedand who died. And every day we guidedthe Allied armies to victory withoutanyone knowing.
113

EXT. MEDITERRANEANSEA - SICILY (ARCHIVEFOOTAGE) - DAY

INTERCUT WITH ARCHIVALFOOTAGE: The FRONTLINE BATTLESwhose outcomes, goodand bad, are determined by the workof Hut 8. The MEDITERRANEANFLEET is RAVAGED outside Sicily... 6,000 SHIPS launch for the surpriseattack on Normandy...

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Stalingrad? The Ardennes?Normandy? None of those victorieswould have been possible withoutthe intelligence we produced.
114

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

IN HUT 8: Peter and Hugh eachdecrypt a message, placingTWO BLUE PINS on the board,and then one RED. They look to Alan: Two British ships,and they can only save one of them.

Alan runs a statisticalanalysis of their options.We see KEY WORDS: “LIKELIHOODOF DETECTION,”“CASUALTIES,” “MATERIAL LOSSES” interspersedwith mathematical equations.Alan places his results intoa GREENFOLDER. A MESSENGER comesin and takes the folderto —

115

INT. MI-6- WAR ROOM - DAY

AN MI-6 WAR ROOM: The Messengerdelivers the Green Folderto Menzies and a TEAM OF MI-6AGENTS. They look over Alan’s analysis and decidewhat military actions to take. The Agents TELEPHONE Churchill’soffice in London.

116

EXT. NORTHOF ALGIERS (ARCHIVE FOOTAGE)- DAY

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE:We see the impact of Hut 8’s workas a dozen Britishships are BLOWN OUT OF THE OCEAN just northof Algiers, sacrificedfor the greater good in Operation Torch.

117

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT8 - DAY

BACK IN HUT 8: The team learnsof the outcome as they decode more German messages.Peter takes the BLUE PIN downfrom the map, tossing it angrilyin the trash. He looks at Alan,who looks away — anothership they could not save.

118

EXT. BLETCHLEYVILLAGE/ ENVIRONS - NIGHT

OUTSIDE BLETCHLEYVILLAGE: Alan RUNS at nighton a dirtpath along the outskirtsof Bletchley. He runs for miles, sweating, panting,until his legs almost give way.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
People talk aboutthe war as this epic battle between civilizations. Good versus evil, libertyversus tyranny. Armies of millions bleeding into themud, fleets of ships that weigheddown the oceans, packs of airplanesthat dropped bombs until they blottedout the sun itself. But it wasn’t.
119

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - HUT 8- NIGHT

QUIET MOMENTSIN HUT 8: Hugh lays a folded-up coat undera sleeping Peter’shead as a pillow. John makes tea for Joan.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
The war was really justa half- dozen crosswordenthusiasts in a tiny village in thesouth of England.
120

EXT. WHITEHALL(ARCHIVE FOOTAGE)- DAY

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE:On V-E Day, Churchill speaks to millions from a balcony in Whitehall.Truman dedicates the victoryto Roosevelt as Times Squareerupts into drunken cheers.

The whole world kisses.The whole world cries.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Was I God? No. BecauseGod didn’t win the war. I did.
121

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - DAY- 1945

All of Bletchley Parkis celebrating the end of the war.

Flags are being waved, peopleare dancing, cheering.

But inside the central mansion:

122

INT. BLETCHLEYPARK - CENTRAL MANSION- CONTINUOUS

Alan and his team are assembledbefore Stewart Menzies.

HUGH ALEXANDER
... What happensnow? Back to the university for us?
STEWART MENZIES
Yes. You’ve onlyone thing left to do before your serviceto your government is concluded.
JOHN CAIRNCROSS
What’s that?
STEWART MENZIES
Burn everything.
HUGH ALEXANDER
What?
STEWART MENZIES
We told you when you startedthat this was a top secret program.Did you think we were joking?
HUGH ALEXANDER
But the war is over.
ALAN TURING
This war is over. Butthere will be more. And we knowhow to break a code that everyoneelse thinks is unbreakable.
STEWART MENZIES
(with a smile at Alan)
Alright. Tearit down, light it up, sweep away the ashes.None of you have ever met before.None of you have ever even heardthe word Enigma. Have a safetrip home.
(MORE)
STEWART MENZIES (CONT'D)
Behave, and witha bit of luck none of you will eversee me — or one another — again in your lives.
CUT TO:
123

INT. MANCHESTERPOLICE STATION- INTERROGATIONROOM - 1951

Alan Turing finishestelling his story to Detective Nock.

DETECTIVE NOCK
That’s... Unbelievable.
ALAN TURING
That’s the ImitationGame.
DETECTIVE NOCK
I don’t know what to do now.
ALAN TURING
Now, Detective,you get to judge. That’s how the gameworks. I answered your questions.You know my story. That’sthe point of the game. We are all pretendingto be something. Imitatingsomething. Someone. Andwe are no more, and no less, than what we can convince other people thatwe are. So tell me: What am I? AmI a person?Am I a machine? AmI a war hero? Am I a criminal?
DETECTIVE NOCK
I can’t judge you.
ALAN TURING
Well then you’reno help to me at all.

ON ALAN: Turning away.He’s done with Nock.

CUT TO:
124

INT. POLICESTATION - MANCHESTER- DAY - 6 MONTHSLATER

A PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERwalks through the police station, carrying a NEWSPAPERunder his arm.

He makes his way to —

— Detective Nock’s desk.

PLAINCLOTHES OFFICER
Congratulations, Sir.

The Officer drops thenewspaper in front of Nock.

The headline reads: “CAMBRIDGEPROFESSOR SENTENCEDFOR INDECENCY”,above a photo of Alan.

ON NOCK: This shouldmake him happy. But instead he feels only empty and sick.

125

INT. ALAN TURING’SHOUSE - DAY

We find Alan in his study.He’s gained weight sincelast we saw him — he’s grown paleras well. Haggard. And the placeis a horrible mess.

He compares his half-builtNEW MACHINE to the planson his desk — his work progresses.Slowly.

(This is the machinewe saw in the opening scene, which appears differentbut related to the Bletchley machine— like a newer model of the same basicconcept.)

The doorbell RINGS.Alan ignores it, focused on his work.

It RINGS again. Irritated,he gets up and shuffles through his house —

— He’s walking withan odd limp, like it’s hard forhim to move his legs normally—

— And as the bell keeps RINGINGinsistently he reachesthe front door, openingit to find:

JOAN CLARKE
I had to find out fromthe bloody newspapers.
CUT TO:
126

INT. ALAN TURING’S HOUSE - SITTING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Joan takes a seat while Alan fusses, embarrassed at the state of the place and trying to clean up for her.

JOAN CLARKE
... You never respondedto my letters.
(silence from Alan)
I would have come.I wouldhave testified.
ALAN TURING
And what would you havesaid? That I wasn’t a homosexual?
JOAN CLARKE
I would have said something. This is serious. They could send you to jail —

Alan tries to move a glassof water...

... Which he DROPS, shatteringit.

ALAN TURING
Damn it...
JOAN CLARKE
Your hands... You’re twitching.
ALAN TURING
No I’m not.

He is.

JOAN CLARKE
Alan.
ALAN TURING
... It’s the medication.
JOAN CLARKE
The medication?
ALAN TURING
I have to go in for weekly oestrogen treatments.At the hospital.
JOAN CLARKE
What are you talking about?
ALAN TURING
The judge gave me a choice.Prison. Or “hormonal therapy.”
JOAN CLARKE
Oh my god. Oh my god. That’s—
ALAN TURING
— Chemical castration.Yes. To cure my homosexual predilections.Of course I chose that.I wouldn’t be able to work from prison.

Joan is HORRIFIED.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
Well how would I evenhave got parts in jail? It justmakes no sense.
JOAN CLARKE
All right. This is whatwe’re going to do. I’m going to speakto your doctors. I’m goingto speak to your lawyer. We’regoing to find a way out of this.
ALAN TURING
No.
JOAN CLARKE
You are not thinking clearly.There are a million chemicalsflowing through your brain. Thistreatment—
ALAN TURING
— I’m fine.
JOAN CLARKE
Please let me help you.
ALAN TURING
I don’t need your help.
JOAN CLARKE
You do not have todo this all alone.
ALAN TURING
Alone? I’m not alone.I never have been.

He looks lovingly at his machine— at Christopher.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
... Christopherhas got so smart. If I stop the treatment,they’ll take him away fromme. You can’t let them do that. You can’t.Don’t let them leave me alone.

Joan looks at Alan. And at Christopher.His true love.

Looking at his machine,Alan starts to have a small PANIC ATTACK — he’s getting more emotional,twitching more, getting teary — the hormones are flowingthrough him.

JOAN CLARKE
(re: Alan’s freak out)
Here, it’s alright.It’s alright. Sit down.

She sits him in a chair,trying to contain his hyperventilating.

Alan, embarrassedat this uncontrollable display,tries to play it off, but of coursehe can’t stop it.

With her hand on his shoulder,he notices her WEDDING RING.

ALAN TURING
(trying to seem normal)
... It’s a much nicerring than the one I got you.
JOAN CLARKE
His name is Jock. We worktogether in Eastcote. He’sgotten me into coin collecting.Can you believe it?

Joan looks aroundthe room for a tea cup, a glass of water, anything that isn’tmouldy she can have him sip from.

She sees the newspapershe brought in, grabs it.

JOAN CLARKE (CONT’D)
Do you want to do a crossword?For old times’ sake. It’llonly take five minutes. Or in yourcase, six.

She tries to get him tosmile at her joke.

Joan opens the paperto a PUZZLE.

Alan looks down at it.

His fingers twitch.He stares at the puzzle, confused.He doesn’t know howto do it.

Alan moves his hand awayfrom the puzzle.

ALAN TURING
... Perhaps later.

The treatmenthas wrecked his brain so badly thathe can’t do crossword puzzles anymore.

Joan watches and her heart utterlybreaks.

ON JOAN: He’s gone forever.And she knows it.

Alan sees her sadness. He’s embarrassed,angry, bitter.

ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
... At least it workedout for one of us.
(MORE)
ALAN TURING (CONT’D)
You got what you wanted,didn’t you? Work. A husband.A normal life.

She looks at him quietly for a moment.

JOAN CLARKE
But no one normal couldhave done this.
(gestures to Christopher)
This morning I tooka trainthrough a city that wouldnot exist if it wasn’t for you. I boughta ticket from a man who wouldlikely be dead if it wasn’t foryou. I read up on my work, a whole fieldof scientific inquirythat only exists because of you.If you wish you could have been ‘normal’,I can promise you,I do not.The world is an infinitely betterplace precisely becauseyou weren’t.
ALAN TURING
Is that what you think?
JOAN CLARKE
... I think that sometimesit is the very people whono one imagines anything of who do thethings that no one can imagine.
CUT TO:
127

EXT. SHERBORNESCHOOL FORBOYS - DAY - 1927

Young Alan sits underthe tree where Christopher first taught him about cryptography.He’s holding the book that Christopher gave him.

He starts to cry.He’s alone now, and he will be fora very long time.

CUT TO:
128

INT. ALAN TURING’S HOUSE - DAY -1954

Alan sits at his desk, going over papers. He closes a book. Gets up. Walks past Christopher, giving him a look. He turns off the light, walking away down the dim hallway.

129

EXT. ALANTURING’S HOUSE- DAY - 1954

A familiar scene: A HALF-DOZENPOLICE OFFICERS swarmthe Manchester home of (former)mathematics professor Alan Turing.

Detective Nock passesthe double-parked police carsand ascends the frontsteps of Alan’s house.

Remembers the firsttime he was here.

130

INT. ALAN TURING’SHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

A CONSTABLE leads DetectiveNock upstairs, gesturinginto the open BEDROOM door.

In the doorway, we see a team of COPS tending to something on the bed. There’s an APPLE on the nightstand.

CONSTABLE
Suicide, looks like. Half-eaten apple next to the bed.Some sort of white powder allover it.
DETECTIVE NOCK
Cyanide.
(off the Constable’s look)
You’ll find a tub of it downstairs.

The Constable makesa curious face: How can you know that?

Nock approachesthe bed, and stares into the lifelessface of Alan Turing.

ON NOCK: Alan Turingmade the world a better place...And Nock killed him for it.

CUT TO:
131

EXT. BLETCHLEYPARK - NIGHT- 1945

Alan, Joan, Hugh,John, and Peter stand before the MASSIVE BONFIRE that’sbeen built in the center of the Park.

TITLE: Alan Turing committedsuicide in 1954.

TITLE: His machinewas never perfected,though it generated a wholefield of research into what became nicknamed “Turing Machines.”Today, we call them “computers.”

Hugh comes over and putsone arm around Alan, another around Joan. They havea moment:They did it. They won the war.

John throws a stackof Enigma messages high into the air—

— They watch as the papersflutter down into the fire.

They laugh, and oneby one they all join in:

They FROLIC and PLAYas they throw every document, everyslip of scratch paper,every bit of evidence they were thereinto the fire.

TITLE: In 1990, John Cairncrosspublicly confessedto having been a Soviet agent. He was neverprosecuted.

TITLE: In 2013, Turingwas granted an official pardonby the government. Approximately49,000 other gay men were convicted and punished underthe same code between 1885 and 1967.

TITLE: The logoof Apple Computer - an apple with a bite taken out of it - has longbeen rumored to be a silent tribute to Turing. Theserumors have never been confirmed.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Well then.

ON ALAN AND THE TEAM: Huggingand playing as everythingthey did is burnt to a crisp.

ALAN TURING (V.O.)
Any questions?
BLACK.