In the snow fortress, the team fights through Fischer’s heavily armed subconscious projections to reach a vault that holds the key to planting the idea. As the timer runs down, they race against both the projections and the collapsing dream.

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS – DAY

CUT TO:

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...

(CONTINUED)

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 tree 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, uncertain.

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.

(CONTINUED)