The Levels of the Dream Realm

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8. "Impossible. Dreams within dreams... it's too unstable."

By now, we're getting into some deep, troubling waters of limbo. Before you become too immersed, let's remember what's going on up above. Work your way down.

THE FIRST EXTRACTION:

REALITY: A train in Japan.

Monitor: Japanese teenager.

Sleepers: Saito, Cobb, Arthur, Nash.


LEVEL ONE: Saito's apartment, somewhere inside a Middle Eastern city. People are rioting outside. Possibly populated by Nash.

Monitor: Nash.

Architect: Nash.

Dreamer: Arthur.

Subject: Saito.

Sleeper: Cobb.

Kick: The riot breaks into the apartment and grabs everyone. No sedative.


LEVEL TWO: Saito's castle, "subject to post-war British painters. Designed by Arthur. Populated by Saito.

Monitor: None.

Architect: Arthur.

Sleeper: None.

Subject: Saito.

Kick: Cobb is pushed into a basin of water in Level One, thus flooding the entire second level.

Cobb Projection: Mal herself; injures Arthur to sabotage the level's stability.

Saito Defense: Armed Asian guards.


THE INCEPTION JOB:

REALITY: A flight from Sydney to L.A.

Monitor: Flight attendant.

Sleepers: Cobb, Arthur, Eames, Ariadne, Saito, Fisher Jr.


LEVEL ONE: Rainy city (due to Yusef's needing to urinate on the airplane.)

Monitor/Dreamer: Yusef, driving the van.

Architect: Ariadne.

Kick: The van breaks through the bridge barrier, hits the water (alternate kick).

Cobb Projection: Freight train which hit him and Mal.

Fischer Defense: Armed shooters with cars and motorcycles.


LEVEL TWO: Enclosed hotel.

Monitor/Dreamer: Arthur.

Architect: Ariadne.

Kick: Arthur designs an alternate kick to send the elevator flying down the shaft.

Cobb Projection: His children in the lobby; breaking wine glass from reality.

Fischer Defense: Men in suits with handguns.


LEVEL THREE: Snow fortress, complete with a safe room hospital.

Monitor/Dreamer: Eames.

Architect: Ariadne. (Uses her knowledge to get Saito and Fischer through an alternate air duct system.)

Kick: Avalanche (from the van's initial fall), Eames' explosives which topple the fortress. (Fischer awakened by defibrillator.)

Cobb Projection: Mal herself; shoots Fischer and takes him to limbo.

Fischer Defense: Entire army of snow patrol, equipped with snowmobiles and automatic weapons.


LIMBO: The decaying city; Saito's castle.

Architect: None. Previous builder was Cobb and Mal.

Kick: Ariadne jumps from the building, then kicks Fischer from it. Possible Saito shoots himself and Cobb, as Cobb obviously awakes first.

Cobb Projection: Deeper projection of Mal, brief shot of children.

Saito Defense: Asian guards.