Int. /ext. Van on rainy streets - continuous

 

The van pulls out into the rain-drenched streets. Arthur

opens the mechanism case and hands out tubes-

 

COBB

Shifting Fischer's antipathy from

his father onto Browning should

work.

 

EAMES

We need the imagery, the words...

 

ARIADNE

So you destroy his one positive

relationship?

 

COBB

No. We repair his relationship with

his father and expose his

godfather's true nature.

 

EAMES

Hell, we should be charging Fischer

as much as Saito.

97.

 

ARTHUR

What about his security? It's going

to get worse as we go deeper.

 

COBB

We bring in Mr. Charles.

 

ARTHUR

No.

 

EAMES

Who's Mr. Charles?

 

ARTHUR

A bad idea.

 

COBB

Arthur, the second we approach

Fischer in that hotel, they're

gonna mow us down-we run with Mr.

Charles like on the Stein job.

 

EAMES

So you've done it before?

 

ARTHUR

Sure. But it didn't work. The

subject realized he was dreaming

and his subconscious tore us to

pieces.

 

Eames takes this in.

 

EAMES

You learned a lot, though. Right?

 

COBB

(to Eames)

I'll need a decoy.

 

EAMES

No problem. How about a pretty

young lady I've used before?

 

COBB

Fine-

 

Cobb looks back: a second S.U.V. pulls out, tailing them.

 

COBB (CONT'D)

(to Yusuf)

I know you've got to stay ahead of

them, but drive with kid gloves,

okay? The world down there is going

to be very unstable-

98.

 

ARTHUR

And don't make the jump too soon-

that kick is our only way back, we

have to be ready to catch it-

 

YUSUF

I'll use the music to let you know

when it's coming, but the rest is

up to you.

 

Arthur puts the mechanism onto the front seat.

 

YUSUF (CONT'D)

Everyone ready?

 

Nods all round.

 

YUSUF (CONT'D)

Sweet dreams-

 

Yusuf hits a button and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY BAR - SUNSET

 

Fischer nurses a drink. Staring at the ice cracking.

 

BLONDE (O.S.)

Am I boring you?

 

Fischer looks up. A beautiful BLONDE is next to him.

 

BLONDE (CONT'D)

I was telling you my story. I guess

it wasn't to your liking.

 

FISCHER

I have a lot on my mind.

 

Fischer looks around the bar. There are several STERN-LOOKING

CHARACTERS paying him too much attention.

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

 

Arthur and Ariadne sit at a table across the lobby. They spot

Cobb moving across the lobby towards Fischer.

 

ARTHUR

And there goes Mr. Charles.

 

ARIADNE

Who or what, exactly, is Mr.

Charles?

99.

 

ARTHUR

It's a gambit designed to turn

Fischer against his own

subconscious.

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY BAR - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb approaches the bar, watched closely by Fischer's Sub-

security.

 

COBB

Mr. Fishcer! Good to see you again.

Rod Green, Marketing.

(to Blonde)

And you must be...

 

BLONDE

Leaving.

 

She presses against Fischer as she slides off her stool and

deposits a cocktail napkin in front of him.

 

BLONDE (CONT'D)

In case you get bored.

 

Cobb watches her walk away. The Sub-security FOLLOWS her.

 

COBB

I think you just got blown off...

unless her phone number really does

have only six digits.

 

Fischer glances at the napkin: "528-491."

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

 

Arthur watches the Sub-security follow the Blonde.

 

ARIADNE

And why don't you approve?

 

ARTHUR

Because it involves telling the

mark that he's dreaming. Which

involves attracting a lot of

attention to us.

 

ARIADNE

Didn't Cobb say never to do that?

 

ARTHUR

You must've noticed by now how much

time Cobb spends doing things he

says never to do.

100.

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY BAR - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb turns to Fischer.

 

COBB

Strange way to make friends.

(off look)

Lifting your wallet, I mean.

 

Fischer pats his pocket. Empty. He looks to the lobby where

he sees the Sub-security trailing the Blonde.

 

FISCHER

Goddamn it. The wallet alone's

worth-

 

COBB

Five hundred bucks. I know. Don't

worry, my guys are on it.

 

FISCHER

Who did you say you were?

 

Fischer looks at him, curious. Cobb plows on, confident-

 

COBB

I said I was Rod Green from

Marketing-but I'm not. My name is

Mr. Charles. I might seem familiar

to you. I'm in charge of your

security here.

 

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

 

The Blonde hurries up to Saito, emerging from the elevator-

 

BLONDE

Mr. Saito, can I have a minute?

 

She pushes him back into the elevator, closing the door as

the Sub-security approaches...

 

INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS

 

The Blonde fondles Saito's lapels, getting close.

 

SAITO

I'm sorry, but...

 

Saito glances over her shoulder to see, in the tunnel of

infinite reflections created by the elevator's opposing

mirrors, three reflections in, THE BLONDE IS EAMES. He winks.

 

SAITO (CONT'D)

(pushing him away)

Very amusing, Mr. Eames.

101.

 

EAMES

You look a bit perkier.

 

A SHUDDER ripples through the elevator.

 

SAITO

Turbulence on the plane.

 

EAMES

Feels closer. That's Yusuf's

driving.

 

And we-

 

CUT TO: