COBB
What’re you doing?
ARIADNE
Improvising.
She KICKS Fischer off the roof — AIMS again at Mal—
Fischer DROPS as the sky LIGHTS UP WITH ELECTRICITY — Fischer SCREAMS, then GASPS, no longer falling, and we are—
INT. ANTECHAMBER — DAY
Eames pulls the defibrillator from Fischer’s chest as he COUGHS AWAKE.
EAMES
Get in there — quick!
Fischer looks up at the double doors. STAGGERS to his feet. Fischer pushes open the doors to the STRONGROOM.
INT. STRONGROOM — CONTINUOUS
Fischer walks into the silent white room. At one end of the room is a bed. A figure lies in the bed. His FATHER. Breathing with tremendous difficulty. Dying. And we-
CUT TO:
EXT. PENTHOUSE (LIMBO) — DAY
Ariadne takes aim at Mal—
COBB
No!
Cobb holds Ariadne’s gaze. She lowers the gun. And we—
CUT TO:
Eames GRABS the detonator- then moves to the door of the strongroom…
CUT TO:
INT. ELEVATOR, HOTEL — NIGHT
Arthur HITS THE DETONATOR—
INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT — CONTINUOUS
The CHARGES on the bottom of the elevator EXPLODE, and we move into EXTREME SLOW MOTION as the flames BALLOON—
CUT TO:
INT. STRONGROOM — CONTINUOUS
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