Christopher Nolan - Inception - The Shooting Script

Hey!

They TURN — he DARTS back into the stairwell — RACES down the stairs — the Security Men follow — they start SHOOTING, and we—

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EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — DAY

Eames SKIS down within sight of the hospital complex. He reaches into his pack and lets off a FLARE.

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—

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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—

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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—

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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.

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.

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?

EXT. CLIFF FACE BEHIND COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

Saito is using a hammer to tap in a belay.

SAITO

Go ahead.

And we—

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INT./EXT. VAN ON RAINY RAISED BRIDGE — DAY

Yusuf looks at the Security Man in the S.U.V., gives him the finger and hits the GAS — RACING BACKWARDS at the barrier… and we—

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INT. HOTEL STAIRWAY — NIGHT

Arthur RUNS UP the stairs, gun in hand — rounds a corner and — IMPOSSIBLY — arrives behind the Security Man, who looks at him, CONFUSED, then looks down to realize he is now at the edge of a dangerous drop — Arthur shrugs.

ARTHUR

Paradox.

Arthur PUSHES him over the edge — he falls — Arthur races up to the fourth floor — throws open the door — and we—

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INT./EXT. VAN ON RAINY RAISED BRIDGE — DAY

In SLOW MOTION — the van SMASHES THROUGH THE CONCRETE BARRIER — and we—

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INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR — NIGHT

Arthur is SPRINTING down the corridor when a TREMENDOUS CRASH sends him FLYING into the air — and we—

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EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — DAY

A MASSIVE RUMBLE prompts Cobb to look across the valley—

EXT. FOREST, SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — CONTINUOUS

Eames shoots out of the trees, then FALLS to the snow as he sees a great CRACKING up ahead— the SLOPE IS FALLING AWAY IN AN AVALANCHE—

EXT. CLIFF FACE BEHIND COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

Saito hears the RUMBLE above them. He looks down, Fischer is below, near the bottom of the sheer face—

SAITO

Look out!

Saito CUTS the rope — they FALL — HIT the icy face and SLIDE down the slope, clearing the path of the avalanche — and we—

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INT./EXT. VAN — DAY

In EXTREME SLOW MOTION, the van emerges from the concrete balustrade and starts FALLING — and we—

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INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR — NIGHT

Arthur is still FLYING through the corridor, NOT LANDING — GRAVITY HAS DISAPPEARED… he scrambles for a handhold, GRABBING a sconce — and we—

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EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — DAY

Cobb watches the avalanche cloud slide past the complex.

ARIADNE

What was that?

COBB

The kick.

EAMES (OVER RADIO)

Cobb? Did we miss it?

COBB

Yeah, we missed it.

EXT. FOREST, SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — CONTINUOUS

Eames is lying on the snow.

EAMES

What the hell do we do now?

COBB (OVER RADIO)

Finish the job before the next kick.

EAMES

What next kick?

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS — CONTINUOUS

Cobb looks at Ariadne as he talks into the radio.

COBB

When the van hits the water. I figure Arthur’s got a couple minutes and we’ve got about twenty.

Cobb and Ariadne MOVE towards the base of the complex.

EXT. HOSPITAL COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

Saito and Fischer RUN around the base of the building. They find a large EXHAUST PORT. Lay a charge on the GRILL. They blow the charge. Climb into the open vent.

INT./EXT. VAN — DAY

In EXTREME SLOW MOTION, the van seems SUSPENDED IN MID-AIR

TEN STORIES ABOVE THE RIVER… and we—

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INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR — NIGHT

In ZERO GRAVITY, Arthur pulls himself to the door of 491,

opens it. He looks at the charges planted on the ceiling.

ARTHUR

How the hell do I drop you?

He PULLS the charges from the ceiling. Hurrying. And we—

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INT. DUCT SYSTEM, HOSPITAL COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

Saito and Fischer hurry through the duct system. Saito is falling behind, coughing up blood.

EXT. UPPER TERRACE, HOSPITAL COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

Cobb GRABS a Security Guard from behind, strangling him unconscious. He beckons to Ariadne, covering her as she runs towards him. They enter the base of the south tower.

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

A guard is manning the tower. Cobb and Ariadne enter — Cobb SHOOTS the guard and moves to the window.