Act
I
[1] OPENING TITLE CARD, “THE BATMAN”. We look out over a city.
GOTHAM CITY. On the streets of GOTHAM, a family of three is walking on the
streets, THOMAS WAYNE, MARTHA WAYNE, and BRUCE
WAYNE no older than eleven. As they walk, they are blocked by a
shadowy figure (JOKER) in a purple suit. THOMAS and MARTHA gasp.
Joker:
Excuse me. My card.
The shadowy figure drops a joker playing card in front of THOMAS
and MARTHA.
Thomas:
No!
JOKER laughs as he puts a gun up in their faces. MARTHA screams.
BRUCE looks on scared as could be. Dark, laughing still going on. Two shots are
heard. Laughing fades.
[2] BRUCE WAYNE’S BEDROOM. BRUCE, much older, now in his
twenty-one, wakes up. A bad dream. BRUCE sits up in bed and rubs his eyes.
ALFRED walks in with a breakfast tray.
Alfred:
Bad dream, sir?
Bruce:
None of your business Alfred.
Alfred:
Uh huh. Just like your secret enterprise is none of my business.
How was last night?
Bruce:
Crooks don’t know what hit ‘em.
Alfred:
What was it this time?
Bruce:
Drugs. Then a bank robbery.
Alfred:
I read all about it in the paper.
ALFRED hands BRUCE the morning paper.
Bruce:
(Reading) “The Batman Strikes Again”
ALFRED is getting BRUCE’s breakfast ready. A muffin has one lit
candle on top.
Alfred:
You know tonight will be the Batman’s 1st year anniversary.
ALFRED gives BRUCE the lunch tray.
Alfred:
Well make a wish sir.
BRUCE blows out the candle. ALFRED takes it away. BRUCE just
looks at his breakfast.
Alfred:
Is something wrong Master Bruce?
Bruce:
This night is also the night twenty years ago Thomas and Martha
Wayne were murdered.
Alfred:
Is that what your dream was about, sir?
BRUCE looks up.
Bruce:
How’d you-?
Alfred:
You have the same look in your eye that you did every morning
after that night. Would it help to talk about it?
Bruce:
(Shakes his head) No.
Alfred:
Well, get your breakfast eaten, you have an appointment with
science manager, Dr. Kirk Langstrom at Wayne Enterprises.
BRUCE nods and starts eating as ALFRED leaves.
[3] THE RED GANG’S HIDEOUT. The gang members are arguing.
Bill:
Cut it out kid, there’s no way we’re going against the boss.
Kid:
Have you guys never heard of The Batman? He took down our drug
ring in three nights!
The Red
Hood:(O.S.)
So? We could just start up another ring. There are other rings
we could start.
THE RED HOOD walks up to them.
Bill:
Oh, it’s you.
The Red
Hood:
Well, it looks like some people are unhappy for what we do.
Kid:
I’m not unhappy, just afraid of The Batman.
The Red
Hood:
That’s what he wants you to think. Do you wanna know why I wear
a mask? Because of this.
THE RED HOOD lifts his hood out of audiences view. Gang members
can’t stand it. THE RED HOOD puts his hood back on.
The Red
Hood:
I was in an incident with fire. Right over there.
Points to a corner at the hideout.
The Red
Hood:
Someone put kerosene all over my face, and gasoline all over the
drapes that were hanging in the window. He burned the drapes right next to my
face.
Leans in KID’s face.
The Red
Hood:
(Hushed)The same will happen to you, if you’re smart. Got it?
KID nods. THE RED HOOD walks away from KID and to the middle of
the room.
The Red
Hood:
Tonight, we will show Batman something special. Very special.
Get moving! Before Maroni beats us to the punch.
[4] WAYNE ENTERPRISES, SCIENCE MANAGER, DR. KIRK LANGSTORM’S
OFFICE. DR. LANGSTORM shows BRUCE a blue liquid in a test tube. BRUCE is
there seated on the other side of the desk. DR. KIRK LANGSTORM is a middle aged
man with grey hair on his goatee.
Langstorm:
This is a new experiment we conducted. It has the power to knock
someone out like chloroform, but it also gives them memory loss. Here take a
look.
BRUCE takes the bottle and looks it
over.
Bruce:
Very nice Mr. Langstorm-.
Langstorm:
Kirk, Mr. Wayne.
Bruce:
Alright, Kirk. What do you call it?
Langstorm:
Memiothorplatain. I guess being a millionaire you wouldn’t want
to know how it was made.
Bruce:
No.
Langstorm:
We’ve been working on another big experiment for the last 4 ½
months. It is the most extraordinary formula in the history of Wayne
Enterprises.
Bruce:
Well, I don’t know Mr. Langstorm-.
Langstorm:
Kirk.
Bruce:
Kirk, what exactly does it do?
Langstorm:
It’s still in the experimental stage, but we’re almost ready.
Bruce:
I would love to see how it works.
Langstorm:
Our first huge experiment is tomorrow. 10:00 A.M. sharp.
BRUCE gets up to shake DR. KIRK LANGSTORM’S hand.
Bruce:
See you then.
BRUCE leaves the room.
[5] GOTHAM TOWER. 6:00 PM. Sundown. Two members of the Red Hood
gang sneak in from the shadows.
Gang Member
1:
What if Batman does come?
Gang Member
2:
Bats never come during the day. Hurry!
They move through the shadows up to the back door. GANG MEMBER 2
starts using a lock pick in the door, while GANG MEMBER 1 stands guard,
nervously.
Gang Member
1:
He’s the most fearsome thing I’ve ever heard of. I heard once he
can actually fly, like a bat!
Batman is dangling upside down on his grappling line.
Batman:
That’s an interesting rumor. Too bad you won’t be here too long
to see if it’s true.
The GANG MEMBERS quake in fear. As Batman has a little fistfight
with them, obviously won by Batman. Batman takes GANG MEMBER 1 and asks him
some questions.
Gang Member
1:(Fear)
Please-please don’t hurt me! Please!
Batman:
I won’t, as long as you answer a few questions. Who do you work
for?
Gang Member
1:
He calls himself The Red Hood-.
Batman:
Why?
Gang Member
1:
Because he wears a red hood.
Batman:
Why?
Gang Member
1:
His face is burned.
Batman:
Where is he?
Gang Member
1:
Oh, no. Please don’t let me tell you that! He’ll kill me!
Batman:
Would you keep a secret from me?
GANG MEMBER 1 looks into BATMAN’s bloodshot eyes.
Gang Member
1:
Washington Bank.
Batman:
You’re lying that place was shut down years ago.
Gang Member
1:
It’s our hideout. He is only there every night from 11-12:00 at
night.
Batman:
Thanks.
Police sirens are heard from a distance.
Batman:
And I’m sorry too.
BATMAN knocks out GANG MEMBER 1, ties him up, and writes a note.
The Police arrive. DETECTIVE HARVEY BULLOCK is leading the way.
Detective
Bullock:
The Batman! (Picks up megaphone and speaks into it) BATMAN! STOP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!
BATMAN looks back, smiles then shoots his grappling hook up in
the air, then “flies up” revealing the tied GANG MEMBERS. DETECTIVE BULLOCK
turns to his men who are just staring.
Detective
Bullock:
What are you men just standing around for? Go get him!
Some men go after him. DETECTIVE BULLOCK walks up to the tied up
GANG MEMBERS. He sees a note in the shape of a bat. He reads it aloud.
Detective
Bullock:
“I saw these men at the drug party last night. They were trying
to break into this building for the safe. Yours truly, BATMAN.”
COMMISSIONER GORDON walks up. It startles DETECTIVE BULLOCK.
Commissioner
Gordon:
What’s the problem Detective Bullock?
Detective
Bullock:
The Batman was robbing the bank.
COMMISIONER GORDON takes the note from DETECTIVE BULLOCK.
Commissioner
Gordon:
(After reading the note) That’s not what this note says.
Detective
Bullock:
Anyone who wears a mask and tights can lie. These were probably
his goons. The creeps always leave their goons at the scene of the crime.
Commissioner
Gordon:
Alright men, take these men to the jail. Dent will take care of
him later. (Turns to Bullock) And don’t take credit for this.
COMMISIONER walks back to his police car. DETECTIVE BULLOCK
stands there can’t believe GORDON for not thinking BATMAN’s a criminal.
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