Rest privy to captivating opening scenes (8)
I believe the answer is:
inaction
'rest' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inaction that I've seen before include "Passivity, doing nothing" , "Lethargy -- not in CIA (anag)" , "doing nothing whatsoever" , "Idleness - fighting" , "Stasis" .)