Ext. Forest, snow-covered mountains - continuous

 

Eames is watching the patrols HEAD BACK towards the complex.

 

EAMES

They're heading your way. Like they

know something.

 

INT. TOP ROOM, SOUTH TOWER, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb hears this. Concerned.

123.

 

COBB

Buy us some time.

 

EAMES (OVER RADIO)

On my way.

 

EXT. FOREST, SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Eames TAKES OFF towards the base of the complex. And we=

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. ROOM 528 - NIGHT

 

Arthur FLOATS into the room. The SLEEPERS are floating,

loosely connected by their tubes. Arthur looks at them, MIND

RACING. He PULLS Cobb towards Eames, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - DAY

 

Saito and Fischer approach the grate covering the exit to the

anteroom. Saito SLUMPS to the floor of the duct, pulls out

his radio. Fischer looks at him- he is PALE, SHIVERING.

Fischer takes the radio, WHISPERS into it.

 

FISCHER

(into radio)

We're here. Are we clear to

proceed?

 

INT. TOP ROOM, SOUTH TOWER, HOSPITAL COMPLEC - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb SCANS the anteroom through the scope-it looks clear.

 

COBB

You're clear, but hurry-there's an

army headed your way...

 

Ariadne watches the patrols approaching the complex...

 

INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

The SQUELCH from the radio is too loud- Fischer GRABS it and

turns the volume to zero as he starts to remove the grate...

 

EXT. BASE OF THE HOPISTAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Eames is setting MINES along the LOWEST WALL of the

structure. He moves carefully-there is a SHEER DROP below the

wall...

124.

 

INT. TOP ROOM, SOUTH TOWER, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb SPOTS something through his scope. Something above the

main windows, glimpsed through the side of the skylight.

 

COBB

Shit. There's someone else in

there.

 

Cobb prepares to fire. Ariadne GRABS the radio-

 

ARIADNE

Fischer, stop! It's a trap!-

 

INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Fischer does not see the flashing light on his radio as he

carefully lifts the grate. He motions for Saito to stay...

 

INT. TOP ROOM, SOUTH TOWER, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb TENSES to fire.

 

COBB

Come on... a little lower... a

little-

 

COBB FREEZES- IT IS MAL IN HIS SIGHTS. Ariadne puts up her

binoculars. Spots Mal. Fischer is climbing out of the vent...

 

ARIADNE

Cobb, that's not really her-

 

Cobb turns to her-

 

COBB

How can you know that?

 

INT. ANTECHAMBER - CONTINUOUS

 

Fischer moves into the antechamber, cautious-

 

FISCHER

I'm in.

 

Fischer turns up the volume-

 

ARIADNE (OVER RADIO)

Fischer, look out!-

 

Mal DROPS gracefully to the floor behind him-

 

MAL

Hello.

125.

 

INT. TOP ROOM, SOUTH TOWER, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb looks at Ariadne-

 

ARIADNE

Cobb, she's just a projection.

Fischer... he's real.

 

Cobb thinks. Nods, TURNS back to the scope- too late- MAL

SHOOTS FISCHER- Cobb reflexively pulls the trigger- Mal GOES

DOWN- Cobb steps back from the scope, STUNNED.

 

ARIADNE

Eames? Get to the anteroom now!

 

They run for the door.

 

INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Saito STARTS as he hears the shot. He starts edging forwards,

clutching his belly. And we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. ROOM 528 - NIGHT

 

The sleepers are floating in a rough stack, top-and-tailed.

Arthur pulls the bedding from the bed and uses the sheet to

bind the sleepers together. And we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT./EXT. VAN - DAY

 

In EXTREME SLOW MOTION, the van CREEPS DOWNWARDS, still high

above the river... and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT

 

Arthur PUSHES the floating stack of sleepers to the elevator.

He hits the button- the doors open- he pushes them in- GRABS

the charges- climbs through the hatch in the ceiling and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX - DAY

 

Eames steps over Saito, who looks up at him with DYING eyes-

 

INT. ANTECHAMBER, HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - DAY

 

Eames jumps out of the vent to find Cobb and Ariadne standing

over the bodies of Fischer and Mal.

126.

 

EAMES

What happened?

 

ARIADNE

Mal killed Fischer-

 

COBB

I wouldn't shoot her.

 

Eames grabs a defibrillator from the wall and pulls Fischer's

jacket open-

 

COBB

It won't do any good-

 

Eames SHOCKS Fischer's chest...

 

COBB

Even if you could revive his body,

his mind's trapped down there. It's

over.

 

Eames listens for a pulse. Looks up at Cobb.

 

EAMES

So that it, then? We failed.

 

COBB

I'm sorry.

 

EAMES

It's you who doesn't get back to

your family.

 

Eames looks down at Fischer. Then over to the double doors.

 

EAMES

I wanted to know what was going to

happen in there. I think we had

this one.

 

ARIADNE

There's still a way: We follow

Fischer down-

 

They look at her.

 

EAMES

We're almost out of time-

 

ARIADNE

Down there they'll be enough time.

We'll find him-soon as you hear

Arthur's music start, you use the

defibrillator to revive him-we give

him his own early kick from below.

(MORE)

127.

ARIADNE (CONT'D)

Get him in there-

(points to doors)

Then, as the music ends you blow

the hospital and we all ride the

kick back up through the layers.

 

Eames looks at her, then to Cobb.

 

EAMES

Okay, Saito can hold them off while

I plant the rest of the charges.

 

COBB

Saito's not going to last, Eames.

 

ARIADNE

We have to try!

 

EAMES

Go for it, but I'm taking the kick

whether you're back or not...

 

Eames pulls the mechanism from his pack. Offers it to

Ariadne. Cobb watches. Silent. Ariadne pulls out the tubes-

 

ARIADNE

Can I trust you to do what's

needed? Mal's down there-

 

COBB

And I can find her. She'll have

Fischer.

 

ARIADNE

How do you know?

 

COBB

She wants me to come after him. She

wants me back down there with her.

 

Cobb rolls up his sleeve. Ariadne rolls up her own sleeve.

Eames NODS. Cobb and Ariadne lie down. Eames hits the button-

WATER. BUBBLES. DROWNING. And we are-

 

EXT. COAST (LIMBO) - DAY

 

Ariadne lies in the SURF, STARING up at a CLOUDLESS SKY. A

tremendous BOOM prompts her to look around her- URBAN

BUILDINGS PILED right down to the water. The buildings are

DECAYING, falling into the ocean like a GLACIER calving. Cobb

WADES towards her through the shallow water. Ariadne looks up

at the crumbling city around them.

 

ARIADNE

This is your world?

128.

 

COBB

It was. And this is where she'll

be.

 

And we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT - DAY

 

Arthur floats on top of the elevator, planting small charges

on the EMERGENCY BRAKES and CABLE. He sets them, GRABS the

other explosives, then PUSHES AWAY, shooting up the shaft. As

he hits the DETONATOR, BLASTING the braking and safety

systems of the elevator, we move into SLOW MOTION, the

fireballs FLAMING OUT in graceful licks and we-

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

INT. ANTECHAMBER - DAY

 

Eames RACES around, full speed- getting the defibrillator

paddles- laying them by Fischer's body- he runs into the duct-

pulls Saito up to a seated position and hands him a handgun.

 

EAMES

Come on, Saito. I need you to cover

Fischer while I plant the charges.

 

Saito nods weakly, tries to hold the gun. Eames moves to the

window- pulls his machine gun off- checks its load. Ready. He

watches the security patrols climb up the outer walls...

Eames lays down a HAIL of covering fire- then heads outside-