diff --git a/scripts/confidence_signal.py b/scripts/confidence_signal.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..f4b1991
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/confidence_signal.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""confidence_signal.py — REQ-08 / D-024
+
+Reads a contract.yaml, invokes policy_checker.py as a subprocess, and emits
+a deterministic JSON confidence score.
+
+  policy pass  -> {"score": 0.90, "reason": "POLICY_PASS"}
+  policy fail  -> {"score": 0.40, "reason": "<violation code>"}
+
+Exit 0 ALWAYS (per D-024): the pipeline decides the gate, not this script's
+exit code.
+
+Input: argv[1] = path to a contract.yaml file.
+"""
+import json
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        print("usage: confidence_signal.py <contract.yaml>", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    contract_path = sys.argv[1]
+
+    # Resolve policy_checker.py relative to this script so it works regardless
+    # of cwd. Use python3 + script path (not ./) per the contract.
+    here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+    policy_checker = os.path.join(here, "policy_checker.py")
+
+    proc = subprocess.run(
+        ["python3", policy_checker, contract_path],
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+    )
+
+    if proc.returncode == 0:
+        score = 0.90
+        # POLICY_PASS is the expected stdout; strip any trailing whitespace.
+        reason = proc.stdout.strip() or "POLICY_PASS"
+    else:
+        score = 0.40
+        # The violation code (e.g. "POLICY_VIOLATION:PUBLIC_INGRESS") is on stdout.
+        reason = proc.stdout.strip() or "POLICY_VIOLATION:UNKNOWN"
+
+    print(json.dumps({"score": score, "reason": reason}))
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
\ No newline at end of file