BROWNING
These people are going to kill us if we don’t give them the combination.
FISCHER
They won’t, they’ll try to ransom us—
BROWNING
I heard them — they’re going to lock us in and run the can into the river.
FISCHER
What is in the safe?
BROWNING
Something for you. Maurice always said it was his most previous gift… a will.
FISCHER
Maurice’s will is with Port and Dunn.
BROWNING
It’s an alternate. It supersedes the other only if you want it to.
FISCHER
What does it say?
BROWNING
It splits all the component businesses of Fischer Morrow into individual companies, transferring ownership to the boards of those companies…
FISCHER
Leaving me nothing?
BROWNING
A basic living. Nothing more. The entire empire would cease to exist.
FISCHER
Destroy my own inheritance? Why would he suggest such a thing?
BROWNING
I don’t know, Robert.
Cobb OPENS the door. Arthur is behind him.
COBB
Come to your senses?
FISCHER
Let us go. I don’t know the combination. Not consciously.
Cobb considers this. Opens his phone. Pulls out his gun.
COBB
Let’s try instinctively. I have someone standing in your father’s office ready to tap in a combination.
He holds the phone to Fischer’s mouth.
COBB (CONT’D)
First six numbers that come into your head. Right now.
FISCHER
I have no idea—
Cobb SWINGS the gun onto Browning—
COBB
RIGHT NOW!
FISCHER
Five, two, eight… four, nine, one.
Cobb lowers his weapon. Listens to the phone. Shakes his head. Shuts the phone.
COBB
You’ll have to do better. Bag ’em.
Arthur puts SACKS over their heads.
INT. WAREHOUSE — CONTINUOUS
Cobb and Arthur drag Fischer and Browning to the van—
FISCHER
We’re worth much more to you alive…
Arthur places Fischer on the back seat — uses a DROPPER to drop LIQUID onto Fischer’s mask — his head SLUMPS FORWARDS. “Browning” yanks the sack from his head- it is now EAMES.
EAMES
(excited)
His relationship with his father’s much worse that we thought.
ARTHUR
That helps us?
Arthur pulls a SNIPER RIFLE from a case by the van.
COBB
The stronger the issues, the more powerful the catharsis.
Cobb motions for Yusuf to follow his upstairs.
ARTHUR
But how do you reconcile them if they’re that estranged?
EAMES
I’m working on that.
Arthur lines up a shot through the window—
ARTHUR
Well, work fast — Fischer’s projections are closing in quick, we need to break out of here before we’re totally boxed in…
Arthur SHOOTS two snipers. Cobb and Yusuf gently load Saito into the van. He groans. Ariadne straps him in, checks his bandages. Arthur can’t get the last sniper — he’s too hidden behind a wall—
EAMES
Shouldn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, Arthur—
Eames lines up a shot with a grenade launcher. Fires — the sniper EXPLODES into the air— Arthur looks at Eames.
EAMES (CONT’D)
Shall we?
They climb into the van—
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.
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—
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?
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.