Christopher Nolan - Inception - The Shooting Script

A RUMBLE BUILDS as Fischer approaches the bed, overcome with emotion. His Father sees him. Starts trying to speak. Fischer leans in…

FATHER

(hoarse whisper)

I… was… dis… dis…

FISCHER

I know, Dad. You were disappointed that I couldn’t be you.

The dying man SHAKES HIS HEAD with surprising energy.

FATHER

(whisper)

I was disappointed… that you tried.

Fischer hears this. And we—

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT — NIGHT

The elevator car is ROCKETED along its track by the explosion—

INT. ELEVATOR — CONTINUOUS

Arthur is SMASHED against the floor of the car next to the sleepers who SHUDDER with the force of ACCELERATION — and we—

CUT TO:

INT. ANTECHAMBER — DAY

Eames WATCHES Fischer—

EAMES

(to himself)

Come on, come on…

INT. STRONGROOM — DAY

The Father collapses back onto the pillow. Fischer starts to weep. His Father reaches out a trembling hand but when Fischer tries to hold IT, he SHAKES his son’s hand away…

He is reaching for the SAFE next to his bed. His fingers fumble at the keypad, he can’t open it. His son pushes 5, 2, 8, 4, 9, 1 into the keypad. Opens it. Inside the safe is the WILL. And beside it is a HOMEMADE PINWHEEL, clearly made by a child. By Fischer. He takes it out, MARVELING at it. He turns to his father, but his father is dead.

Eames, watching from the door, HITS THE DETONATOR—

EXT. HOSPITAL COMPLEX — CONTINUOUS

A line of EXPLOSIONS RIPS ALONG THE LOWER WALL… the ENTIRE BUILDING STARTS TO SLIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN—

EXT. PENTHOUSE (LIMBO) — DAY

A FIERCE WIND starts HOWLING through the house as the sky outside DARKENS. Cobb shields Mal against the blast — looks up at Ariadne, who HOLDS the railing, FIGHTING the wind—

COBB

That’s the kick — you have to go!

ARIADNE

You’re coming!

COBB

No, I’m not. I’m staying here to find Saito.

(turns to Mal)

And to say goodbye.

Ariadne loosens her grip on the railing…

ARIADNE

Don’t lose yourself. Find Saito. And bring him back.

COBB

I will.

Ariadne lets the wind pull her off the edge — FALLING — and we—

INT. ANTECHAMBER — CONTINUOUS

Ariadne DROPS as the FLOOR COLLAPSES — her eyes SNAP OPEN—

EXT. PENTHOUSE (LIMBO) — DAY

Cobb holds Mal in his arms. The wind DIES…

MAL

We’d be together forever. You promised me.

COBB

I know. But we can’t. And I’m sorry.

MAL

You remember when you asked me to marry you? You said you dreamt that we’d grow old together.

COBB

And we did…

Mal looks at Cobb… thinking. Remembering.

INSERT CUT: TWO ELDERLY PEOPLE (MAL AND COBB) WALK THROUGH LIMBO… ACROSS A WASTELAND… TWO ELDERLY HANDS CLUTCH EACH OTHER AS THEY LIE DOWN ON THE RAILROAD TRACK…

COBB

I miss you more than I can bear… but we had our time together. And now I have to let go…

She nods, weakly. Cobb holds Mal as her eyes close… DYING… and we—

INT. STRONGROOM — CONTINUOUS

Fischer and his Father’s body DROP AWAY—

INT. ELEVATOR — NIGHT

Ariadne DROPS inside the ROCKETING ELEVATOR, and as it SMASHES INTO THE TOP OF THE SHAFT Ariadne SMASHES into—

INT./EXT. VAN INTO RIVER — DAY

THE WATER, THE VAN CRUNCHING WITH THE IMPACT — WATER CRASHING THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOWS FLOODING THE INTERIOR…

Fischer’s EYES OPEN, PANICKING — he UNBUCKLES HIMSELF, pushes out of the broken window — STOPS, goes back to UNBUCKLE Browning and DRAG him out.

EXT. RIVER — CONTINUOUS

Fischer breaks the surface with Browning, who COUGHS and GASPS. He starts PULLING for the near bank, struggling through the rain-impacted water—

INT. VAN, UNDERWATER — CONTINUOUS

Ariadne, Arthur and Yusuf wait calmly underwater. They are sharing TWO REGULATORS pulled from beneath the front seat. Arthur turns to Saito. There is blood in the water around Saito’s belly — his eyes are LIFELESS — Arthur feels for a pulse… turns to Cobb, whose eyes are lifeless… Ariadne GRABS Arthur’s elbow, pulling him away…

EXT. RIVERBANK — MOMENTS LATER

Fischer turns Browning/Eames over. They lie there, exhausted.

BROWNING

I’m sorry, Robert.

Fischer stares at the rain on the water.

FISCHER

The will means that Dad wanted me to be my own man, not live for him.

(turns to Browning) )

And I’m going to, Uncle Peter.

Browning nods. Wipes the rain from his face. In the puddle beside them, the reflection is not Browning, but Eames.

EXT. UNDERNEATH BRIDGE IN THE RAIN — MOMENTS LATER

Arthur sits on the riverbank, breathing heavily.

ARTHUR

What happened?

ARIADNE

Cobb stayed.

ARTHUR

With Mal?

ARIADNE

No. To find Saito.

Arthur looks out at the water below the bridge.

ARTHUR

He’ll be lost…

ARIADNE

No. He’ll be alright.

And we—

CUT TO:

EXT. DAWN. CRASHING SURF.

The waves TOSS a BEARDED MAN onto wet sand.

As the Japanese Security Guard turns him onto his back, we realize that this is Cobb — OLDER. WEARY. TRAVELLED…

INT. DINING ROOM, CASTLE — DAY

Cobb WOLFS his food. The Elderly Japanese Man (Saito, 90 years old) watches him.

SAITO

So… have you come to kill me?

Cobb does not look up.

SAITO

I’ve been waiting for someone to come for me…

COBB

Someone from your half-remembered dream…?

Saito peers at Cobb.

SAITO

Cobb? Not possible — he and I were young men together. And I am an old man…

COBB

Filled with regret?

Saito REMEMBERS, nods…

SAITO

Waiting to die alone, yes.

Cobb is STARING at something on the table.

COBB

I came back for you… I came to remind you of what you once knew…

Cobb gestures at the table. Saito follows his gaze down to the polished surface of the table…

COBB

That this world is not real.

The top IS STILL SPINNING PERFECTLY, AS IF IT WILL NEVER TOPPLE. Saito looks at the top. Then back to Cobb.

SAITO

You came to convince me to honor our arrangement?

COBB

Yes. And to take a leap of faith.

As Saito-san listens to Cobb, he looks at the GUN on the table between them…

COBB

Come back and we’ll be young men together again.

The elderly Saito looks at Cobb. Nods. And we—

CUT TO:

INT. FIRST CLASS CABIN, 747 — DAY

Ariadne watches Cobb. His eyes are closed.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT (O.S.)

Hot towel, sir?

His EYES FLICKER OPEN. He takes the towel with a nod. Ariadne smiles. Relieved.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

We’ll be landing in Los Angeles in about twenty minutes. Do you need immigration forms?

Cobb nods. Takes a landing card. Looks around the cabin.

Saito is WATCHING him. Serious. Haunted. Holding Cobb’s gaze, SAITO PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS. Cobb nods thanks…

INT. ARRIVALS, LAX — LATER

Cobb steps forwards to the IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL. Hands him his passport. Nervous. The Official takes a beat, looks Cobb up and down, then WHUMP! — the passport is stamped. As Cobb takes it back, he spots Ariadne at the next counter. She nods at him. He nods back. Then moves off…

As Cobb passes through baggage claim, he exchanges subtle greetings with Eames and Yusuf.

Arthur smiles broadly at Cobb. Cobb brushes past Fischer, who glances back at him as if thinking maybe he should know him, then moves on…

As Cobb emerges into the crowded arrivals hall, he spots Professor Miles, waving at him…

INT. KITCHEN, COBB AND MAL’S HOUSE — DAY

Cobb enters with Miles. Drops his bags. Moves to the table, looking out at the overgrown garden. He reaches into his pocket, takes out his pewter spinning top, lowers it to the table and SPINS IT — a CHILD’S SHOUT makes him look up—