Int. /ext. Van on rainy streets near bridge - day

 

The van SETTLES with a thump. Yusuf BREATHES hard. Then

SMILES as he realizes he is in one piece. A RINGING BELL up

ahead makes him look up to the bridge, where the barriers are

starting to come down. Yusuf checks his watch-

 

YUSUF

Bugger.

 

Yusuf hits the gas, heading for the bridge. An S.U.V. lines

up behind him, trying to catch up before the van crosses the

barrier onto the bridge-

 

The van JUST MAKES IT- the S.U.V. behind RIPS its read axle

off, SCRAPING to a halt on the rising section. The Security

Man inside starts FIRING on the van...

 

INT. HOTEL STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS

 

Arthur RACES down the steps- OPENS the door to the fourth

floor- spots SECURITY MEN outside room 491.

 

ARTHUR

Hey!

 

They TURN- he DARTS back into the stairwell- RACES down the

stairs- the Security Men follow- they start SHOOTING, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - DAY

 

Eames SKIS down within sight of the hospital complex. He

reaches into his pack and lets off a FLARE.

116.

 

EXT. HOSPITAL COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Security Men on the ramparts spot the flare and send PATROLS

out on skis and SNOWMOBILES to investigate.

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Eames watches them close in, then launches himself down the

mountain, STREAKING across the icy slope, and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT./EXT. VAN ON RAINY RISING BRIDGE - DAY

 

Yusuf PULLS FORWARD, looking over his shoulder to line up a

BACKWARDS RUN at the edge. He DUCKS as vicious FIRE from the

S.U.V. HAMMERS the vehicle. He looks at his watch. The SECOND

HAND TICKING SLOWLY...

 

YUSUF

Sod it. I hope your ready.

 

He grabs an MP3 player and reaches into the back to place

HEADPHONES on sleeping Arthur's head. As he does so, he

notices Saito's bandage BLEEDING THROUGH. Yusuf hits PLAY-

Edith Piaf's "Non, je ne regrette rien" starts up and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

INT. HOTEL STAIRWELL - NIGHT

 

Arthur STOPS, hearing something- MASSIVE LOW-END MUSICAL

TONES- he looks up PANICKED-

 

ARTHUR

No, Yusuf. Too soon!

 

SHOTS slam into the stairs around him and we-

 

CUT TO:

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - DAY

 

Cobb and Ariadne make their way down towards the complex.

 

EAMES (OVER RADIO)

Cobb? Are you hearing that?

 

Cobb listens. The wind sounds unusually LOW.

 

EXT. FOREST, SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Eames is hidden at the base of some trees, whispering as a

patrol passes beneath his position.

117.

 

EAMES

I noticed it twenty minutes ago-at

first I thought it was just wind...

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb is listening intently. The "wind" changes pitch.

 

COBB

No, it's music. Dammit.

 

EAMES (OVER RADIO)

What do we do?

 

COBB

We move fast. Saito, did you copy?

 

EXT. MOUNTAINS, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COMPLEX - CONTINUOUS

 

Saito and Fischer CLIMB down a CLIFF FACE above the complex-

 

SAITO

We're going as fast as we can.

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Ariadne looks at Cobb, concerned.

 

ARIADNE

How long do we have?

 

COBB

Yusuf's about ten seconds from the

jump, which gives Arthur about

three minutes, which gives us about-

 

ARIADNE

Sixty minutes.

 

COBB

The route you gave them, can they

do it in under an hour?

 

ARIADNE

I don't think so. They've still got

to climb down to the middle

terrace.

 

COBB

They need a new route-a direct

route.

 

ARIADNE

The building's designed as a

labyrinth.

118.

 

COBB

There must be access routes that

cut through the maze.

(into radio)

Eames?

 

EXT. FOREST, SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Eames cannot answer- he SLALOMS through the forest, Sub-

security in hot pursuit, bullets smashing into the trunks...

 

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS - CONTINUOUS

 

Cobb turns to Ariadne.

 

COBB

Did Eames add any features?

 

ARIADNE

Yes.

 

COBB

What did he add?

 

Ariadne looks at Cobb.

 

ARIADNE

I shouldn't tell you. If Mal-

 

COBB

There's no time-what did he add?

 

ARIADNE

Utility closets, trap doors...

 

COBB

What about service features? Did he

add any large pipes or-

 

ARIADNE

Ducts. He added an air duct system-

it doesn't follow the maze. They

can use it to go straight from the

outer walls to the upper tower.

 

COBB

Explain it to them.

 

ARIADNE

(into radio)

Saito?