COBB
I can get it here. The information’s in the safe− he looked right at it when I mentioned secrets.
Arthur nods. Then spots someone over Cobb’s shoulder.
ARTHUR
What’s she doing here, Cobb?
Cobb turns to see a beautiful woman, elegantly dressed, staring out at the sea. This is MAL. Cobb watches her.
COBB
You just get to your room. I’ll take care of the rest.
ARTHUR
See that you do. We’re here to work.
Arthur brushes past Mal, shaking his head. She nears Cobb. Looks out at the DROP. The WIND WHIPS HER HAIR—
MAL
If I jumped, would I survive?
COBB
With a clean dive, perhaps. Mal, why are you here?
She turns to look at him. Amused.
MAL
I thought you might be missing me…
She smiles. He leans in, mesmerized.
COBB
I am. But I can’t trust you anymore.
She stares up at him, inviting.
MAL
So what?
INT. BEDROOM SUITE, JAPANESE CASTLE — MOMENTS LATER
Mal sips champagne as she studies a painting by Francis Bacon.
MAL
Looks like Arthur’s taste.
Cobb is looking down through the window at the GUARDS patrolling the castle at ground level.
COBB
Actually, Mr. Saito is partial to postwar British painters.
He turns to Mal, donning a pair of black leather gloves.
COBB
Would you sit down?
Mal lowers herself gracefully into a leather wingback chair.
Cobb approaches, pulls out a length of BLACK ROPE and kneels at Mal’s feet. She looks down at him.
MAL
Tell me…
Cobb TIES the rope around the CHAIR LEGS.
MAL
Do the children miss me?
Cobb pauses. He lets his gloved fingers lightly touch Mal’s ankle. He looks up at her.
COBB
You can’t imagine.
Mal looks away, uncomfortable. Cobb gets to his feet, letting out the rope as he moves back to the window.
MAL
What’re you doing?
Cobb tosses the rope out—
COBB
Getting some air.
He tugs on the rope, testing. The weight of the chair, with Mal on it, holds.
COBB
Stay seated. Please.
And with that, he JUMPS. Mal considers the open window.
EXT. JAPANESE CASTLE WALL — CONTINUOUS
Cobb RAPPELS down the wall, darting past windows. He stops at a particular one. Gets out a glass cutter— Suddenly he starts DROPPING—
INT. BEDROOM SUITE, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
The EMPTY CHAIR SLIDES across the floor — WEDGES under the window—
EXT. JAPANESE CASTLE WALL — CONTINUOUS
Cobb JOLTS to a stop 15 ft. lower. He looks up at the bedroom window. Shakes his head. Starts climbing back.
INT. KITCHEN, JAPANESE CASTLE — MOMENTS LATER
Cobb drops silently from the window into the darkened kitchen. He pulls a PISTOL from his belt, screwing a SILENCER onto the barrel as he GLIDES across the room.
INT. HALL, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
Cobb SLIPS through the shadows towards a GUARD stationed at the head of a GRAND STAIRCASE…
The Guard HEARS something — TURNS — PEERS into the shadows…
Cobb FLASHES out of the shadows, silenced pistol up, AIMING— PHHT— head shot— the Guard starts to drop… but Cobb is already there to CATCH him, sliding on his knees and lowering the Guard SILENTLY to the floor.
INT. DINING ROOM, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
Cobb moves to a PAINTING. With practiced hands he removes it from the wall, revealing a SAFE. Cobb spins the dial, pulls it OPEN, GRABS an envelope from within, stuffs it into his waistband, where there is already an IDENTICAL ENVELOPE.
LIGHTS COME ON. Cobb freezes.
SAITO (O.S.)
Turn around.
Cobb turns. At the far end of the room: Saito. Next to him is Mal, gun in hand. She smiles at Cobb.
MAL
The gun, Dom.
Cobb doesn’t move. Mal motions outside — two GUARDS drag Arthur into the room. Mal puts the gun to his head.
MAL
Please.
Cobb slowly places his gun at his end of the long table, then SLIDES it along the polished ebony. It comes to rest HALFWAY down the length or the table.
SAITO
Now the envelope, Mr. Cobb.
Cobb reaches into his waistband, removes ONE of the envelopes, SLIDES it along the table. Steps back, hands raised.
COBB
Did she tell you, or have you known all along?
SAITO
That you’re here to steal from me?
(beat)
Or that we’re actually asleep?
Arthur gives Cobb an I-told-you-so look.
SAITO
I want to know who your employer is.
Mal COCKS the gun at Arthur’s temple.
COBB
No point threatening him in a dream.
MAL
That depends on what you’re threatening. Killing him would just wake him up… but pain? Pain is in the mind…
Mal LOWERS the gun and SHOOTS Arthur in the leg — Arthur drops, SCREAMING — Mal looks at Cobb, cold.
MAL
And, judging by the decor, we’re in your mind, aren’t we, Arthur?
Cobb watches Arthur’s PAIN. Mal aims at Arthur’s other leg…
Cobb SPRINGS for the table, SKIDDING along its polished surface — he GRABS his gun — SHOOTS ARTHUR BETWEEN THE EYES — Arthur DROPS — the room starts to SHUDDER in a MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE− Cobb SPRINGS for the door- Arthur’s eyes stare at the ceiling, DEAD, and we—
CUT TO:
INT. FILTHY BATHROOM — DAY
Arthur’s EYES OPEN as he WAKES IN THE ARMCHAIR — he GRABS at the tubes at his wrist, YANKING them free—
NASH
What’re you doing?! It’s too soon—
FLUID spurts from the tubes as Arthur STRUGGLES with the SILVER CASE on the bathroom floor.
ARTHUR
I know! We have to reconnect the loop before they wake up!
Arthur grabs the case and pushes through the door to the bedroom — following the tubes to where they meet Saito’s wrist — SAITO LIES ON THE BED ASLEEP. Saito STIRS and we—
CUT TO:
INT. JAPANESE CASTLE CORRIDOR — NIGHT
Cobb LURCHES towards the stairs, as all around him the building BUCKS and HEAVES—
INT. DINING ROOM, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
Saito and the Guards PANIC. Mal walks calmly through the destruction, picks up the envelope and turns to Saito.
MAL
He was close. Very close.
EXT. GRAND STAIRCASE, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
Cobb runs up the stairs, pulling out the SECOND ENVELOPE—
INT. DINING ROOM, JAPANESE CASTLE — CONTINUOUS
Saito RIPS open the envelope, pulls out sheets of paper. He looks at Mal, PANICKED. He turns to the Guards—
SAITO
Stop him!
Mal, confused, looks at the sheets of paper: THEY ARE BLANK.