Int. Bullet train compartment - day

 

Todashi opens the SILVER BRIEFCASE, revealing the complex

mechanism of syringes and controllers- FOUR CONTROLLERS

DISPLAY COUNTDOWNS.

14.

 

Todashi waits for the first countdown to hit "30," then HITS

PLAY on the MP3 player- He watches Nash's sleeping face as he

RAISES the volume...

 

Through Nash's headphones: the opening bars of Edith Piaf's

"Non, je ne regrette rien," and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DILAPIDATED HOTEL ROOM - DAY

 

In the distant background, strange MASSIVE low-end MUSICAL

start, sounding like DISTANT HORNS...

 

SAITO

So leave me and go.

 

COBB

You know the corporation who hired

us won't accept failure. We won't

last two days...

 

The DISTANT, SLOWED-DOWN MUSIC is becoming LOUDER, as are the

SHOUTS coming up the stairs. Arthur looks at his watch, its

SLOW SECOND TICKING MARKS TIME WITH THE MASSIVE MUSIC.

 

ARTHUR

Come on, Cobb.

 

COBB

So now I have to do this the old-

fashioned way-

 

Cobb GRABS SAITO AND PUTS HIS HEAD TO THE FLOOR, gun pressed

into his cheek. Saito looks into Cobb's eyes- sees he will

pull the trigger. Saito BLINKS, looks away in shame-

 

When he NOTICES SOMETHING. And starts LAUGHING.

 

SAITO

I've always hated this carpet.

 

Cobb's eyes flick to the carpet and back.

 

SAITO

It's stained and frayed in such

distinctive ways...

 

Cobb looks up at Nash, who shrugs, at a loss.

 

SAITO

But very definitely made of wool.

Right now I'm lying on polyester.

15.

 

Cobb glares at Nash, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. BULLET TRAIN COMPARTMENT - DAY

 

Todashi watches the first of the countdowns hit ZERO- He

looks up at Arthur, STIRRING, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DILAPIDATED HOTEL ROOM-DAY

 

Saito turns from the carpet to look up at Cobb.

 

SAITO

Which means I'm not lying on my

carpet, in my apartment...

(smiles)

You've lived up to your reputation,

Mr. Cobb... I'm still dreaming.

 

Cobb looks over to Arthur, but ARTHUR HAS VANISHED, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. BULLET TRAIN COMPARTMENT - DAY

 

Arthur's eyes flicker open, AWAKE. He RIPS at his tubes.

 

TODASHI

How'd it go?

 

ARTHUR

Not good.

 

Arthur checks the remaining three countdowns, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DILAPIDATED HOTEL ROOM - DAY

 

Saito gets to his feet, looking admiringly at Cobb.

 

SAITO

A dream within a dream-I'm

impressed.

 

Cobb lowers the gun. Defeated. Glances at his watch. The

music REVERBERATES, the RIOTERS BANG ON THE DOOR, and we-

 

CUT TO:

16.

 

INT. BULLET TRAIN COMPARTMENT - DAY

 

Arthur retracts the tubes into the case as he watches the

next countdown hit ZERO, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. DILAPIDATED HOTEL ROOM - DAY

 

Another BANG on the door- Saito, confident now, approaches

Cobb. Nash is behind Saito.

 

SAITO

But in my dream, we really ought to

be playing by my rules...

 

NASH

Ah, yes, but you see, Mr. Saito-

 

Saito turns to Nash-

 

COBB

We're not in your dream-

 

Saito turns back to Cobb, BUT COBB HAS VANISHED-

 

NASH

We're in mine.

 

Saito SPINS back to Nash- the DOOR SMASHES OFF ITS HINGES AS

RIOTERS POUR INTO THE ROOM, SWARMING OVER NASH... BUT NASH IS

GONE. The music DIES. Saito and the rioters stand there in

the SILENCE, the light DWINDLING... and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. BULLET TRAIN COMPARTMENT - DAY

 

Nash' eyes open, AWAKE.

 

ARTHUR (O.S.)

Asshole!

 

Nash BLINKS. Arthur is in his face, furious.

 

ARTHUR

How could you get the carpet

wrong?!

 

NASH

It wasn't my fault!

 

ARTHUR

You're the architect-

17.

 

NASH

I didn't know he was going to rub

his damn cheek on it!

 

Cobb pulls Arthur away from Nash.

 

COBB

Lets go.

 

ARTHUR

And you-what the hell was all that?

 

COBB

I had it under control.

 

ARTHUR

I'd hate to see out of control-

 

COBB

There's no time for this-I'm

getting off at Kyoto.

 

ARTHUR

Why? He's not gonna search every

compartment.

 

COBB

I can't stand trains.

 

Arthur moves to the briefcase. Turns a dial.

 

ARTHUR

I can keep him under for one minute-

 

Arthur hits a button- A PLUNGER DEPRESSES. Cobb RIPS the tape

off Saito's wrist, ROLLS up his tubes. Arthur SLAMS the

silver case shut. Todashi pulls open the door-

 

COBB

Every man for himself.

 

Arthur and Nash EXIT, heading in different directions down

the corridor. Cobb hands Todashi a thick roll of CASH, looks

at Saito, who stirs. Cobb moves off.