Christopher Nolan - Inception - The Shooting Script

SAITO

Maurice Fischer just died in Sydney.

COBB

When’s the funeral?

SAITO

Thursday. In Los Angeles.

COBB

Robert’ll accompany the body Tuesday at the outside. We have to move.

Cobb gets up. Ariadne comes over to him.

ARIADNE

(low)

I’m coming with you.

COBB

No. I promised Miles.

ARIADNE

The team needs someone in there who understands what you’re struggling with. If you don’t want it to be me then you need to show Arthur what I just saw.

Cobb looks at Ariadne. Turns to Saito.

COBB

We need one more seat on the plane.

INT. DEPARTURE GATE, SYDNEY — DAY

Saito stands looking out the window at a 747. Cobb arrives beside him. They watch a COFFIN being loaded.

COBB

If I get on this plane and you haven’t taken care of things… when we land I go to jail for the rest of my life.

SAITO

Complete the job en route, I make one phone call from the plane… you will have no trouble clearing immigration.

INT. FIRST CLASS CABIN, 747 — CONTINUOUS

The luxurious cabin has only ten seats. Cobb finds his- sees Ariadne in the seat behind his. They do not acknowledge each other. Behind her is Arthur, looking out the window. Eames enters, STUFFS his bag into the overhead bin, BLOCKING the passenger behind: ROBERT FISCHER, standing there, patient, bag in hand, wearing black.

EAMES

Oh, sorry.

Eames SQUEEZES up against his seat to let Fischer BRUSH PAST. Fischer moves to his seat, directly in front of Cobb. Eames TOSSES Cobb a PASSPORT. Cobb flips it open: Fischer’s. Pockets it. Yusuf and Saito enter, take their seats.

EXT. RUNWAY — MOMENTS LATER

The 747 HURTLES down the runway.

INT. FIRST CLASS CABIN, 747 — MOMENTS LATER

Cobb looks down at his hand: a TINY VIAL taped to the center of his palm. He removes the cap. The seatbelt sign goes dark. Cobb unbuckles, stands.

COBB

Excuse me?

Fischer looks up.

FISCHER

Yes?

COBB

I think this is yours…

Cobb holds up the open passport, comparing the picture to Fischer. Fischer’s hand goes to his pocket. Cobb hands Fischer the passport.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Would you gentlemen care for a drink?

FISCHER

Water.

COBB

Same.

Fischer gives Cobb a thin smile. Holds up his passport.

FISCHER

Well, thank you.

COBB

No problem. Look, I couldn’t help noticing your name. You’re not related to Maurice Fischer?

Fischer takes a beat. But Cobb seems harmless.

FISCHER

Actually, he was my father.

COBB

I’m very sorry for your loss. He was an inspiring figure.

The Flight Attendant brings their drinks — Cobb takes them.

COBB

Thanks.

As he turns to Fischer he LOWERS his right hand… a CLEAR LIQUID DROPS into Fischer’s water as Cobb hands it to him.

COBB

To Maurice Fischer.

(they drink)

I’ll leave you in peace.

Fischer grants him a smile.

EXT. 747 — LATER

The great plane SOARS through a burning cloudscape.

INT. FIRST CLASS CABIN, 747 — MOMENTS LATER

Cobb reaches into the overhead for a blanket — lets it fall onto Fischer’s head- Fischer doesn’t flinch. ASLEEP. Cobb SIGNALS the others. The First Flight Attendant unlocks a CUPBOARD in the galley, then leaves, closing the curtain. Arthur moves into the galley and pulls out a MECHANISM CASE.

Cobb and Arthur open the mechanism — uncoil the tubes — feed them around the window side of each of the seats. Arthur rolls up Fischer’s cuff — PUSHES the needle cap into Fischer’s wrist. Arthur pulls Fischer’s cuff down and hides the tubes behind the armrest of Fischer’s seat.

Arthur runs the next tube to Ariadne. Cobb puts the case on Yusuf’s lap. Yusuf checks the TIMERS, tapping the syringes. The others recline their seats. Yusuf HITS A BUTTON- closes the case- places it at his feet. He settles back, and we—

CUT TO:

INT. SEDAN — DAY

Cobb DRIVES. Saito and Arthur are in the back. Rain BEATS down. Cobb pulls over—

EXT. NEW YORK STREETS — CONTINUOUS

Yusuf stands on the corner, silver briefcase in hand, collar turned up against the rain. He reaches for the door.

INT. SEDAN — CONTINUOUS

Yusuf clambers into the back, brushing rain from his face.

ARTHUR

(indicates rain)

Couldn’t you have peed before you went under?

YUSUF

Sorry.

The front door OPENS and Eames climbs in, soaked.

EAMES

Bit too much free champagne before takeoff, Yusuf?

YUSUF

Ha bloody ha.

COBB

At least we know he’ll be looking for a cab in this.

INT./EXT. SEDAN ON RAINY NEW YORK STREETS — CONTINUOUS

Cobb pulls out into the heavy traffic. He weaves around several cars before lining up behind a YELLOW CAB.

COBB

Brace yourselves.

Cobb hits the gas — REAR ENDS the cab with a CRUNCH. The CABDRIVER gets out, fuming. Heads to Cobb’s window—

CABDRIVER

Hey, asshole! Why don’t you try driving without your thumb up—

He sees the SILENCED PISTOL Cobb is holding at his belly.

COBB

Walk away.

The Cabdriver backs off. Arthur climbs into the cab. Both cars pull away.

INT./EXT. CAB ON RAINY NEW YORK STREETS — CONTINUOUS

Arthur SLOWS in front of the TRAIN STATION, peering at the pedes pedestrians. He SPOTS Fischer, lights the cab’s sign.

Fischer FLAGS him down. Fischer JUMPS into the back, brushing rain from his shoulders.

FISCHER

Third and Market. Snappy.

Eames JUMPS in from the other side.

FISCHER

What’re you doing?

EAMES

Sorry, I thought it was free. Maybe we could share.

FISCHER

Maybe not.

Saito gets into the front passenger seat. Pointing a gun.

FISCHER

Great.

Arthur pulls away. Fischer pulls out his wallet and tosses it at Eames.

FISCHER

(contemptuous)

There’s 500 dollars in there. And the wallet’s worth more than that. For that you ought to at least drop me at my stop.

Eames smiles at this.

EAMES

I’m afraid—

A SHOT SHATTERS the window by Eames’s head — another SHOT IMPACTS by Saito—

EAMES

Get us out of here!

Arthur hits the gas, but a BLACK S.U.V. SKIDS sideways in front, BLOCKING the path—

A BLOCK BEHIND — Cobb is at a light. ARIADNE is getting in the front. Cobb has HEARD the GUNFIRE—

COBB

Come on!—

Cobb looks ahead to the AMBUSH, hits the gas — the sedan ROCKETS forwards… but BAM — A FREIGHT TRAIN CLIPS THE FRONT OF THE SEDAN, SHOVING IT SIDEWAYS AS AN ENDLESS TRAIN BARRELS PAST, A WALL BETWEEN COBB AND THE AMBUSH—

A SECOND S.U.V. is behind the cab — PLAIN CLOTHES SECURITY MEN advance through the traffic, weapons trained on the cab.

Bullets RIP into the cab as Eames throws himself on top of Fischer, PULLING a SACK over his head—

Inside the sedan, Ariadne watches the train passing—

ARIADNE

This wasn’t in the design—

Cobb BACKS UP, SPINS around, heading for the tail of the train—

A Security Man emerges from the front S.U.V. carrying an AUTOMATIC RIFLE — he steps towards the cab through the rain, raises his weapon and BLASTS THE CAB’S WINDSCREEN—

Cobb clears the end of the train, and SKIDS across the tracks—

Arthur CROUCHES down — PUSHES the accelerator with his HAND — YANKS the wheel — FLYING BLIND. The cab NAILS the Security Man, CRUNCHING into the front S.U.V.—

Cobb SMASHES his car into the rear S.U.V., creating a GAP—

Arthur YANKS the transmission and REVERSES- SCRAPING through the gap- Security Men DIVE out of the way- Arthur throws a ragged J-turn to head down a SIDE STREET- Cobb follows in the other car. Rain whips across Arthur’s face as he BREATHES—