PILOT

BATMAN

Written by

Lee Cordner

Season One, Episode One

FADE IN:

EXT. GOTHAM CITY SKYLINE -- NIGHT

The city is covered in mist. Darkened streets play home to

gang members and the homeless. Police sirens sound as the

sounds of the city emerge under the darkness.

VICKI VALE (O.S.)

(Finishing statement)

Henrietta Brockstead, twenty-nine was found

just three hours ago, here in the alleyway

behind the theatre in downtown Gotham.

Police have identified the killer

as known criminal and wanted fugitive, The

Joker. Who is thought to be in hiding.

EXT. THEATRE ALLEYWAY -- CONTINUOUS

Reporters are all over the place. James Gordon, not yet

commissioner watches as Henriettas body is loaded into a

coroners van. He adjusts his glasses and feels the rain

pouring from the sky, putting his hood over his head.

OFF SCREEN: Phone rings...

Gordon takes his phone out of his pocket. He sees the caller

I.D. as Unknown Caller #1 and walks further back into the

alleyway as the phone continues to win.

JAMES GORDON

I told you not to call me when Im

on scene, its dangerous - for the

both of us. You dont know whos watching.

DARK VOICE (O.S.)

Is it him?

JAMES GORDON

Its him alright. Same markings on

the victims body, same sadistic painted

on clown face. Its Joker.

DARK VOICE (O.S.)

Clear your men out, I need to track

him.

Gordon nods to an officer who walks past him.

2.

JAMES GORDON

(Whisper)

Thats a little easier said than done.

DARK VOICE (O.S.)

Figure something out.

Phone goes dead.

JAMES GORDON

God damn it.

Gordon walks over to his chief and taps him on the shoulder.

JAMES GORDON (CONTD)

Just got word from a source down in

the Narrows. Say theyve got Joker

pinned down in a warehouse.

CHIEF WALKER

Youre sure of this?

JAMES GORDON

(Lies)

Never been wrong yet.

CHIEF WALKER

Lets get there then.

The police clear out. Most of the reporters clear out. A few

moments pass and then out of nowhere, a huge shadowy figure

drops down from the sky in front of the moon in the shape of

a giant bat and lands on the ground near the chalk outline.

This is Batman.

Batmans eye slits turn blue suddenly, he starts scanning the

area.

LIGHTNING STRIKES.

A van quickly comes around the corner. Side door slides open

and two masked thugs emerge with assault rifles. A man in a

purple suit steps out of the truck with a sadistic smile on

his clown-like face.

3.

BATMAN

Joker.

The clown reveals himself to be... A dead man, who falls limp

to the ground wearing the same suit Joker wears. The two men

open fire on Batman who quickly leaps behind two large

industrial sized waste bins.

The thugs laugh and continue firing. Batman reaches to his

belt and pulls off two SILVER BATERANGS. He throws both of

them at the thugs, one strikes the thug in the head and the

thug falls to the ground.

The other thug is shocked, Batman uses his batclaw to take

the remaining thug off his feet. The van drives off quickly,

screeching its tires along the asphalt.

BATMAN (CONTD)

Where is he?

Batman removes THUG #1s mask.

THUG #1

Please, we... he said if we didnt

do this hed kill us.

BATMAN

Where is he? Tell Me!

THUG #1

I dont know, please... I.

The Thug is shot in the head, the other thug is then shot in

the head and both of the men lie dead on the ground. Batman

turns around just in time to receive- BULLET TO THE CHEST.

Batman falls back to the ground in a puddle. Unconscious, but

alive.

CLOSE ON: Batman...

SMASH TO BLACK:

SUPER: GOTHAM: THE DARK KNIGHT

SUPER EP: Pilot

4.

FADE IN:

INT. BOARD ROOM -- DAY

CRAWL ACROSS BOTTOM OF SCREEN: Two Months ago...

Bruce Wayne stands ahead of the board of directors holding a

switch in his hand. He clicks the button and the screen

behind him shows flowcharts of Wayne Enterprises stock over

the last 8 years.

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

54% 67% 69% 73% 83% 75% 89% 92%

The board members:

60 year old man with greying hair. DANIEL BRADBERY

39 year old woman with blonde hair. MELISSA PORTER

44 year old man with black hair. ALAN JACKSON

72 year old man with receding grey hair. CHARLES TAYLOR

50 year old woman with black hair. PAULINE ALONSO

28 year old man with blonde hair. DAVID HUTCH

BRUCE WAYNE

...so as you can see, our stock has

nearly doubled in the last eight years

to a point in which the company is worth

over five billion more than it was when

Ronald stepped down in two-thousand and

three.

DANIEL BRADBERY

(Sniggers)

And you want to give fifty million

to the Narrows in order for them to build

homes? Its absurd.

ALAN JACKSON

Not only is the place filled with

mindless junkies hopped up on the latest

must-have, but its a part of the city even

the mayor deems Beyond Redeemable.

BRUCE WAYNE

Look, I know the Narrows has its problems

but who are we to decide how they live?

5.

DAVID HUTCH

Im with them on this, Bruce. Its nuts.

Not only is that place a cesspool of

degenerate lowlifes but its the capitol

of the drug trade and wed be shot for

our wallets if we stepped foot there.

BRUCE WAYNE

We could save countless lives by making

this investment-

DANIEL BRADBERY

We could also shorten ours.

Bruce sighs and sits down.

OFF SCREEN: Knock on the door...

Lucius Fox enters.

LUCIUS FOX

Could I borrow you for a moment, Bruce?

DANIEL BRADBERY

And hows the research department

faring these days Mr Fox?

LUCIUS FOX

Were doing just fine, Daniel.

Bruce gets up and follows Lucius out of the room. They close

the door behind them.

INT. HALLWAY 1-A -- CONTINUOUS

Lucius and Bruce walk to a corner.

BRUCE WAYNE

Its a tough crowd in there.

LUCIUS FOX

Still trying to push the Narrows to

their attention?

BRUCE WAYNE

Theyre not biting.

6.

LUCIUS FOX

I have that thing you wanted.

Lucius hands Bruce a small round box. Bruce opens it,

revealing a small round device. Bruce checks it out.

LUCIUS FOX (CONTD)

Works on the frequency you wanted.

Should have them ready by weeks end.

BRUCE WAYNE

Nice one. Thisll put Globaltechs ear

pieces on the shelf for good. Bluetooth?

LUCIUS FOX

Yep, and it can connect with a mobile

phone from up to two hundred miles.

BRUCE WAYNE

(Smiles)

Thanks, Lucius.

Bruce puts the earpiece in the box and hands it back to

Lucius. He claps him on the shoulder and turns back to the

room.

BRUCE WAYNE (CONTD)

...oh, we still on for Saturday?

LUCIUS FOX

Jennies flying this Friday.

BRUCE WAYNE

Good, Ill see you.

Bruce walks back into the board room. Lucius walks down the

stairs.

INT. BOARD ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

Bruce sees that the men are joking with one another, but they

stop laughing as Bruce enters.

DANIEL BRADBERY

Problems?

7.

BRUCE WAYNE

No. Everythings fine.

MELISSA PORTER

So what youre saying is, we could

help the homeless by investing fifty-

million into developing the Narrows?

BRUCE WAYNE

Precisely, its worth a shot.

CHARLES TAYLOR

Im sorry Bruce, but this is not

going to work. The Narrows is beyond

help and even if we threw in one-hundred

million we still couldnt save it. It was

a nice thought, but one that wasnt thought

out enough.

BRUCE WAYNE

My father planned this, before he died.

He said if we could help one person, we

could help thousands. Youre willing to

let everything he worked go for nothing?

You wont even give it a shot?

DAVID HUTCH

Your father was blind, Bruce. He didnt

know what he was planning, heck, he didnt

even share those files he had been working

on, kept them locked away in some vault

somewhere. Weve made our call.

BRUCE WAYNE

If it werent for my father, this place

wouldnt exist. He poured his life into

this company, and then some. So dont sit

there, on that huge salary of yours and say

that the people of the Narrows dont deserve

a chance at living a normal life.

DAVID HUTCH

What does my salary have to do with

anything?

Bruce sniggers.

8.

BRUCE WAYNE

How much do you make in one fiscal year?

Four million? Im asking for fifty million

dollars, so we can give the people in the

Narrows a chance. Its not much, especially

when you look at how much weve made in the

past eight years.

PAULINE ALONSO

Lets vote on the development of the

Narrows.

(Beat)

Those for.

Pauline and Melissa raise their hands.

PAULINE ALONSO (CONTD)

Those against.

The four men raise their hands.

PAULINE ALONSO (CONTD)

Motion defeated. Im sorry Bruce.

Bruce sits down and sighs, annoyed.

The men pick up their things, three of them leave but David

stays behind. The women leave.

DAVID HUTCH

Sorry, buddy. But I guess the board has

spoken, maybe next time, huh?

David winks and smiles, sarcastically as he approaches the

door. Bruce laughs. David turns back.

DAVID HUTCH (CONTD)

Whats so funny?

BRUCE WAYNE

You and your goddamn moral high ground.

You think youre better than everyone

else, but youre just a little weasel

whose time here is running out.

Bruce stands up, David looks angry.

9.

DAVID HUTCH

(Smiles)

Youre wrong.

BRUCE WAYNE

Am I?

DAVID HUTCH

I dont think Im better than everyone

else, I know I am.

David leaves. Bruce stands there for a few moments.

OFF SCREEN: Sirens sound...

Bruce sees the rain outside, it hits the glass. He takes his

coat off the coat rack and walks out of the office.

FADE TO:

EXT. WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- DAY

Rain pours from the sky. Alfred Pennyworth is stands by a

black car with an umbrella over him. Bruce runs out of the

building with a briefcase over his head.

ALFRED

Master Wayne.

BRUCE WAYNE

Alfred.

Bruce gets into the car, Alfred gets into the car.

INT. CAR -- CONTINUOUS

Alfred rolls down the window as he sits in the drivers seat.

Bruce pours out some whiskey into a glass.

ALFRED

Where to Master Wayne?

BRUCE WAYNE

Take us home, Alfred. Ive some things

I need to take care of.

10.

EXT. WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- CONTINUOUS

People walk by the building with raincoats and umbrellas. The

black car turns the corner and drives down the street.

CUT TO:

INT. WAREHOUSE -- NIGHT

A crimson red car with paint splatters all over it drives

into the warehouse where goons and thugs are partying. Fires

in barrels, women dancing on poles. The place is a mess.

Door opens on car, a dark pair of purple clown shoes step

onto the ground and a shadowed man appears.

He takes off his purple hat, revealing dark green hair and a

clown face. The Joker.

A thug walks over to Joker, he hands him a piece of paper.

JOKER THUG

We got her, sir. Just as you asked.

Joker takes the paper from him, and walks to a side room.

INT. SIDE ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

Joker opens the door and steps inside. He places his hat on a

grimy old mattress and walks over to a woman, who is cuffed

to a chair with a blindfold over her eyes and a gag in her

mouth.

He takes the gag out and removes the blindfold, but before he

can remove the blindfold fully the JOKER THUG walks in.

JOKER THUG

Sir, we-

Joker shoots the thug whose blood splatters against the

wooden door to the sounds of cheering. The body is dragged

out of the room, and the blindfold is removed as the door is

closed.

EMMA WILSON (43) a tired woman with brown hair and green eyes

looks up in fear at Joker, who smiles away.

11.

EMMA WILSON

Who... Where am I?

Joker pulls out a Swiss army knife, she cringes. He then

pulls out the corkscrew and opens a bottle of expensive wine

with dried blood on the glass. He pours out two glasses of

wine, then reveals the knife.

He runs the knife down her left arm, and then cuts through

the plastic cuff and hands her the wine glass. He takes a

wine glass up and takes a sip.

THE JOKER

Ugh... thats... yuck.

Joker puts the glass back on the table, the rim is covered in

his dark red lipstick.

EMMA WILSON

What do you want with me?

THE JOKER

I want to play a game...

EMMA WILSON

What game?

THE JOKER

Do you know how I got these scars?

Emma is terrified.

Joker quickly zooms back over to her, he looks her in the

eyes. Hes quite a wacky character, very strange. Scars in a

crescent shape like a smile up his cheeks.

EMMA WILSON

Please! Dont!

THE JOKER

Why so serious?!

Joker gets close to her face, seemingly smelling her. He

sniffs her hair.

Joker laughs.

12.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

What oh what is that pleasant smell?

Joker sniffs her hair again.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Violet, with a hint of strawberry.

(Sniffs)

Youre not very... loquacious.

EMMA WILSON

What do you want with me?

THE JOKER

Err... Well, I wanted to meet you.

EMMA WILSON

Why?

THE JOKER

Why, why, why... wine, wine, wine.

You remind me of my mother. Shes the

one who gave me these scars, said I

didnt smile enough. Ha! Now whos

smiling?

EMMA WILSON

What do you want?!

THE JOKER

(Laughs)

Youre going to help me.

EMMA WILSON

Why would I help you? Youre sick!

THE JOKER

No... Im healthy, but my mind is - well -

unhinged. I need something from you, you

want to get out of this mess. Im sure we

can come to an arrangement. No?

EMMA WILSON

What do you want?

Joker smiles.

13.

THE JOKER

Your help to get into the bank vault so

I can steal - no - borrow a security box

with some very, secret documents enclosed.

(Sincere)

Ill bring it right back.

Joker starts bobbing his head. He checks his watch.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Times running out. Michael will be

getting out of scouts soon, might want

to be there when he does. Tick-Toc goes

the clock... Tick-Toc.

EMMA WILSON

Okay!

THE JOKER

Good. But dont go to the police, Im

not too fond of them and their loud sirens.

EMMA WILSON

I wont. But please, dont hurt my son.

THE JOKER

(Smiles)

What makes you think I would?

(Laughs)

Now... we dance.

Joker runs over to the radio and puts on a classic station,

he then runs back to her, cuts the other plastic cuff and

pulls her to her feet. She unwillingly dances with him, her

feet drag across the ground as Joker hums the music with a

great big smile on his face.

CUT TO:

INT. WAYNES STUDY -- NIGHT

Bruce is sitting at his desk in the study. Bookshelves filled

with books all around him. Hes on the computer.

Bruce takes a sip of coffee from a mug and puts it back on a

coaster, coffee drips onto the pine desk, he doesnt notice.

14.

Bruce checks the files on his computer, he comes across one

named Advancements. He double clicks, but a message pops up

on screen reading Please enter password.

Bruce sits back in his chair and wonders.

The screen shows a username & password box.

USERNAME: Thomas Wayne

PASSWORD:

Bruce thinks about what the password might be.

Bruce enters BRUCE and it says Invalid password, please

try again. Bruce takes another sip of coffee and looks

around the room for clues. He sees a portrait of his younger

self (8 yrs old) along with his parents.

Bruce enters MARTHA. But it says Invalid password, please

try again. Bruce sighs with annoyance. He doesnt know the

password.

BRUCE WAYNE

What exactly are you hiding?

OFF SCREEN: Tray is dropped...

Bruce walks over to the double doors and opens them.

Revealing Alfred cleaning up the mess hes just made.

ALFRED

Forgive me sir, my hands arent as

stable as they used to be.

INT. UPPER HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS

BRUCE WAYNE

You do too much, let me get this.

ALFRED

I am your butler sir, its my job.

BRUCE WAYNE

Youve been looking after me for twenty

years, youve done enough. You should

take some time off, go visit the family.

15.

ALFRED

And then who would look after you?

Alfred smiles as Bruce picks up the mess.

ALFRED (CONTD)

I must say, you seem awfully distracted.

Something on your mind, sir?

BRUCE WAYNE

A locked file on the computer. Mustve

come over when I switched out the drives

from the old one a few years back. Didnt

realise what was on there until now.

ALFRED

(Realises)

Your fathers secret project.

BRUCE WAYNE

What do you know about it?

ALFRED

Not much, though he did spend a lot

of time in the aquarium.

BRUCE WAYNE

We dont have any fish.

ALFRED

Thats what I said, but he kept going

down there. Taking boxes, supplies.

Bruce smiles.

FADE TO:

INT. AQUARIUM -- MOMENTS LATER

Bruce enters the aquarium. Theres a large tank, but no fish.

The boxes Alfred was talking about are nowhere to be seen.

But theres a statue of Thomas Wayne on the western wall.

Bruce reads the statue engraving.

16.

BRUCE WAYNE

(Reading)

Thomas Wayne, for all of your hard work

and dedication. Jack Richards.

(Beat)

The Mayor?

Bruce runs his hand over a circular cut in the bronze, its

shaped like a key could be fit into it. Bruce then reaches

into the top of his shirt and pulls out a necklace with the

exact same design as the keyhole.

He takes the necklace off, places the emblem into the keyhole

and turns it clockwise.

OFF SCREEN: Cracking, screeching...

Bruce steps back as the statue slowly goes into the ground.

It reveals a doorway which cracks and splinters wood,

revealing a darkly lit cobwebbed passage. Theres a bronze

torch on a holder on the wall, Bruce takes it.

INT. DARK PASSAGEWAY -- MOMENTS LATER

Bruces torch lights up the passageway as he walks down the

stairs. Metal stairs. He continues until he comes to a right

turn, he turns right and continues down the passage.

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- MOMENTS LATER

Bruce enters the laboratory his father kept. As he steps

through a metal archway the place literally comes alive with

lights, everything powers on. Half a dozen monitors all wired

up to a single computer.

WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

Welcome Thomas.

Bruce is shocked, he doesnt know what hes seeing.

Theres a large canvas over some sort of vehicle. He pulls it

back, revealing a half-finished TANK. No cover, just the

chassis and wheels, its quite extravagant. Similar to a car,

yet modelled after a tank.

Bruce looks around further.

17.

WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

According to my data, it has been twenty

two years, five months, fourteen days and

sixteen hours since you last entered the

lab. Is everything all right?

BRUCE WAYNE

My fathers dead.

WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

Bruce, is that you?

BRUCE WAYNE

Yes, and who are you?

WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

I am an artificial intelligence system

engineered to catalogue your fathers

research. Created for calibrations.

BRUCE WAYNE

What did he call you?

Silence for a moment and then...

WOMANS VOICE (O.S.)

Callie.

BRUCE WAYNE

What is this place, Callie?

CALLIE (O.S.)

This is your fathers laboratory, here

he designed many things. Most of which

you will not understand.

BRUCE WAYNE

(Points at car)

Whats that?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Its is a specialized UPV.

BRUCE WAYNE

An urban pacification vehicle. Whats

it for exactly?

18.

CALLIE (O.S.)

It was being designed for the mayor of

Gotham City to assist the police with

containing incidents. It is an unmanned

vehicle, it runs off an advanced CPU module

and adapts over time.

BRUCE WAYNE

My father designed it?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Yes, and the armour.

BRUCE WAYNE

Armour?

A large silver cylinder appears out of the ground. It opens

to reveal the BATSUIT prototype. No symbol, no bat ears on

the mask. Its black, with a rod hooked onto the black

utility belt and several crescent shaped boomerangs.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Your father designed it. It was originally

intended to be the riot uniform for police.

But it was never finished. Its light, yet

bulletproof. Thick rubber over light titanium.

BRUCE WAYNE

Is this why he got killed?

CALLIE (O.S.)

I am unable to say, I was not informed.

BRUCE WAYNE

Of course not. Bring up the specifications

on the suit, the tank and... everything.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Not a problem.

The screens start showing dozens upon dozens of folders,

files, specifications, everything Thomas was working on.

Bruce opens up a wooden crate, revealing the BATHOOK. He

takes it out, and it wraps itself around his wrist

automatically and fits to size.

19.

Bruce aims the hook to a higher point, he shoots the hook and

it attaches itself to a girder, Bruce presses the red button

on the side and the hook detaches itself and returns to his

wrist.

BRUCE WAYNE

Cool.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Loading complete, all files now located

on desktop. May I suggest one?

Bruce puts the BATHOOK back into the crate and turns to the

screens.

BRUCE WAYNE

Go ahead.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Very well, sir.

Callie selects Detective Insight and the file opens,

showing a revolving mask where two blue eye slits sit.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Please equip the mask.

Bruce takes the mask from the cylinder, he puts it on. He can

see normally until- blue visors come down and he can then see

DNA from his father all around the room.

BRUCE WAYNE

Whoa.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Your father was quite proud of this. He

suggested that it could be used by crime

scene investigators to uncover DNA that

could lead the police to apprehending the

suspect. Some specifications must be made

though, so it may focus on the specific

DNA of the one responsible.

Bruce takes the mask off.

He walks up to the monitors.

20.

BRUCE WAYNE

What else is there?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Take a seat.

Bruce sits down as Callie begins to show him everything on

the monitors. He smiles.

CUT TO:

INT. GOTHAM POLICE STATION LOBBY -- NIGHT

Telephones are ringing, cops are all over the place doing all

kinds of things.

James Jim Gordon walks down a row of tables towards police

commissioner/chief Brian Walkers office. He opens the door

and walks in.

INT. COMMISSIONER WALKERS OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon takes a seat and picks up a file. Walker is sitting in

his revolving office chair staring out of the window

squeezing a stress ball.

His office is neat and tidy, filing cabinets on the western

wall, his framed accomplishments on the western wall. A U.S.

flagpole (Short version) sitting near the window with a U.S.

flag billowing in the breeze from the open window.

SOUNDS OF THE CITY. SIRENS. HORNS BEEPING.

JAMES GORDON

What is this?

CHIEF WALKER

Threats, specifically to you and your

immediate family.

JAMES GORDON

From who?

CHIEF WALKER

The man with the smile. The Joker.

21.

JAMES GORDON

I have to get my wife and daughter-

CHIEF WALKER

Theres no need, a units over at your

place now. Theyre safe, Barb is

doing her homework, James is playing

that videogame of his and Barbara is

cooking dinner. Meat loaf, I was told.

JAMES GORDON

Youre sure?

CHIEF WALKER

Theres really no need to panic, Jim.

James looks over the threats. Most of them are written in bad

handwriting but some of them are NEWSPAPER WORD CUTOUTS.

ONE THREAT READS: Boom Goes The Detective!

JAMES GORDON

Any news on Emma Wilson yet?

CHIEF WALKER

Were combing the city with a fine-tooth

comb, yet weve picked up nothing. Its

times like this I wish - Never mind.

Walker walks over to the counter, he pours out two glasses of

whiskey and sits one down near Gordon, who sneers at it.

Walker takes a sip, and sits back in his chair.

CHIEF WALKER (CONTD)

Thats not the real reason I called you

in here. But understand that when Joker

makes a threat, he usually goes through

with it. As I understand, youre responsible

for finding the Wayne boy all those years

ago. True?

JAMES GORDON

Yes. He was clutching onto his mother.

Took five officers to peel him away.

Walker nods and grunts.

22.

JAMES GORDON (CONTD)

So why did you call me in here?

CHIEF WALKER

Ever heard of Jack Napier?

Gordon shakes his head. Walker pushes a file over, it shows

Jack Napier before he became Joker. Black hair, frowning with

no smile. Around the age of 21. Hes now 43.

CHIEF WALKER (CONTD)

His partner Joe Chill was recently

apprehended in the Narrows after we

received a call from Jack Napier himself.

JAMES GORDON

So - what?

CHIEF WALKER

The call came from a warehouse in the

lower part of downtown Gotham last night.

When we got there we found sufficient

evidence that links Chill to the murder

of Thomas and Martha Wayne.

(Beat)

And this.

Walker slides over a green handkerchief, Gordon opens it,

revealing a smiley face painted on in Jokers colours.

JAMES GORDON

Joker?

CHIEF WALKER

It seems as though Joker wasnt always

a screwed up freak. He was once a petty

lowlife thug who robbed people in dark

alleyways and left their children alive

so they could live knowing they couldnt

do anything. We believe Bruce Wayne, the

son of Thomas and Martha, knows who Joker

is. We want you to bring him in.

JAMES GORDON

Youre kidding right?

23.

CHIEF WALKER

No. If Wayne can identify Napier as Joker

then we have all the evidence we need in

order to send him away, for a long time.

JAMES GORDON

Not only is it morally wrong, but its

sadistic. That man went through years

of therapy to overcome what he saw, we

cant do that to him.

CHIEF WALKER

The boy is scarred, no doubt. But we

need him to help us.

JAMES GORDON

And you want me to do it because he

trusts me?

CHIEF WALKER

Precisely.

James sighs and nods hesitantly. Walker smiles.

Gordon walks out of the office.

FADE TO:

EXT. WAYNE MANOR -- DAY

A blue car drives up to Wayne Manor. It parks, James Gordon

steps out of the car and adjusts his glasses and coat before

walking up the steps and ringing the doorbell.

Alfred opens the door.

ALFRED

Detective Gordon, a pleasure as always.

JAMES GORDON

Is Bruce in?

ALFRED

Hes rather tied up at the moment.

Hes been working on his project all

night, perhaps another time?

24.

JAMES GORDON

Its rather important, could you get

him? I need to speak with him.

ALFRED

Ill see if hes available.

James walks into Wayne Manor.

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- CONTINUOUS

OFF SCREEN: Bang!

Bruce picks himself up off the ground as he staggers

backwards into the wall. He shakes the cobwebs out of his

head. On the floor, sits the a gun which is smoking. Theres

burnt plastic all over the place, and the wall has a burn

mark on it from where something blew up.

CALLIE (O.S.)

...as I said, theres some alterations

that need to be made to the blast radius.

BRUCE WAYNE

(Coughs)

Ill remember that.

Bruce picks up the gun on the ground, its got quite a small

barrel. He places it on the counter and next to it sits a box

with 11 rounded Hockey-Puck like bullets. Sticky Grenades.

OFF SCREEN: Knocking...

ALFRED (O.S.)

Master Bruce? Are you in there?

BRUCE WAYNE

What is it Alfred!?

ALFRED (O.S.)

Detective Gordon is here to see you.

He says its important.

BRUCE WAYNE

Ill be right up.

25.

Bruce dusts himself off. Turns to Callie.

BRUCE WAYNE (CONTD)

How do I look?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Just like your father.

BRUCE WAYNE

Is that good or bad?

INT. WAYNE MANOR LOBBY -- MOMENTS LATER

Gordon is sitting on one of the lobby couchs with a file in

his hand. Alfred comes along with a tray with two mugs on it

and a kettle. He pours out a cup of coffee, and then dips the

spoon into the sugar bowl.

ALFRED

It was two sugars, wasnt it?

JAMES GORDON

Yes, thanks.

Bruce walks out of the aquarium. He heads straight for Gordon

who stands up, the two shake hands respectfully.

BRUCE WAYNE

Its good to see you again, Jim.

JAMES GORDON

Pleasures all mine, Bruce.

BRUCE WAYNE

Alfred said it was important?

JAMES GORDON

(Discreet)

Yes err - could we go somewhere private?

BRUCE WAYNE

You know I keep no secrets from, Alfred,

just say it.

JAMES GORDON

Very well.

26.

Bruce and Gordon sit down. Gordon opens the file and shows

Bruce a picture of Jack Napier.

Bruce takes the picture and looks at it convincingly with

anger in his eyes.

BRUCE WAYNE

What the hell is this?

JAMES GORDON

His name is Jack Napier, he was a lowlife

thug. His partner turned up in the Narrows

two nights ago, one by the name of Joe

Chill, who was present the night of your

parents murder. We believe hes still about,

going under another name. An alias.

BRUCE WAYNE

Why are you showing me this?

JAMES GORDON

Was he there when your parents died?

BRUCE WAYNE

They didnt die they were killed in

cold blood by a man with a gun. I told

you, twenty years ago, that it was dark.

I gave you a description, but I cant be

sure.

JAMES GORDON

I know this must be hard, but try to

focus. Is this man the one who killed

them?

Bruce looks at the picture unwillingly. He gazes upon Napier,

piercing a hole through the picture with his gaze. He wants

to kill him. But he shakes his head.

BRUCE WAYNE

It was dark, I cant be sure.

JAMES GORDON

Im sorry I brought this to your attention

but know that were looking for Napier. We

will find him, you have my word.

27.

BRUCE WAYNE

Hes still out there? You havent caught

him yet? Why are you here if you havent

caught him?

JAMES GORDON

(Sighs, reveals)

Hes not exactly the type of man you can

apprehend easily. He surrounds himself

with hired help, help that sometimes ends

up in the river with a bullet hole in

their head.

BRUCE WAYNE

You mean the Joker?

Gordon nods and takes the picture back from Bruce. He puts it

back into the folder and stands up.

JAMES GORDON

Well get him, you have my word.

BRUCE WAYNE

All this time, and you didnt even know?

How could you not know?

JAMES GORDON

We had no record of Jack Napier before.

His body was recovered twenty years

ago, the night of your parents death,

or so we thought. Turns out, Napiers

alive.

BRUCE WAYNE

Do you have any leads?

JAMES GORDON

Were looking into it.

BRUCE WAYNE

(Clears throat)

Well let me know, be careful, Gordon.

JAMES GORDON

And you, Bruce.

28.

Gordon leaves Wayne Manor. Alfred looks on, shocked.

ALFRED

Are you okay sir?

BRUCE WAYNE

(Lying)

Im fine, Alfred.

FADE TO:

EXT. GOTHAM BANK -- DAY

A van pulls up beside Gotham Bank, Emma Wilson steps out of

the drivers side looking extremely normal, yet shivering.

Joker gets close to her ear, no ones about.

THE JOKER

Remember, anyone realises, you go boom!

EMMA WILSON

Okay.

Joker gets back into the van. Emma walks to the bank. Two

more men in business suits follow her in, big beefy men.

INT. GOTHAM BANK -- CONTINUOUS

Emma walks up to the front desk. An African-American woman is

standing behind the desk, lets call her Amber.

AMBER

And where have you been? Ive been

waiting for two hours to go home.

EMMA WILSON

Sorry, I got caught up in traffic.

AMBER

(To Two men)

And who are they?

EMMA WILSON

Associates of Charles Taylor, here to

make a withdrawal.

29.

AMBER

Do you have the password?

The two men look at one another. Emma cringes, four more men

are scattered around the bank. They all pull out guns, so do

the two men.

THUG #1

Put your hands up!

Thugs start shooting wildly into the air. The guards try to

call for backup but are shot, one is shot and gets carried

through a window into an office. The thugs spread out through

the bank as-

JOKER ENTERS!

He quickly walks up to Emma and laughs as he looks at Amber.

THE JOKER

Well that didnt go according to plan.

EMMA WILSON

Please I-

Joker pulls out the detonator, Amber drops behind the desk.

Joker looks at two of his men, they nod back to him.

THE JOKER

Lets go for a walk on the rich side.

Joker and Emma walk towards the vault.

INT. VAULT -- CONTINUOUS

The vault guard has his gun out and hes aiming as- BLAM! A

shot through the wood hits him in the chest and he falls to

the ground, dead.

Joker and Emma enter.

THE JOKER

Now which one is Charles?

Emma cringes, she knows shes going to die.

30.

Joker holds the trigger to the bomb under her shirt close to

her face, then grabs her hand and puts the detonator in it.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Dont drop the stick, or youll be - well

- rearranged.

Joker walks around the vault, prancing and laughing like a

crazy person. He looks at the lockbox reading 3455 and

smiles. He places a smiley face on blue-tack with wires and

such attached to it, he then steps back and pulls out a long

detonator device with a flower on the top.

He smiles.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Fire in the hole!

Joker presses the button. The lockbox explodes open, Joker

runs over to it and pulls out a small metal box. He opens it,

revealing a small piece of seemingly worthless paper.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Aw, how cute.

He walks back over to Emma and shakes the paper in front of

her face. He then hits presses the BIG RED BUTTON on the

detonator in her hand and it begins counting down from 1:00.

EMMA WILSON

Oh god!

THE JOKER

Id love to stay, but you seem to have

your hands full. Adios senorita !

Joker leaves, laughing hysterically.

INT. GOTHAM BANK -- CONTINUOUS

Joker runs through the crowd, leaps onto the reception desk.

THE JOKER

Leeches and Germs, I bid you farewell.

May you have a pleasant day, and remember

Never trust a man just because he smiles.

31.

Joker laughs and leaps from the desk onto the ground and runs

for the door. He leaves the bank, along with his men.

EXT. GOTHAM -- CONTINUOUS

The van drives off as everyone enters. Then THE ALARM SOUNDS.

But the van turns around the corner and drives off.

INT. VAULT -- CONTINUOUS

Emma drops to her knees crying, the timer HITS ZERO! And the

bomb detonates, but it doesnt kill her. Instead, green gas

billows out from under her shirt, and the Jokers recorded

laugh sounds.

Emma laughs. Its laughing gas.

CUT TO:

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- AFTERNOON

Bruce is sitting in the chair looking at the monitor as he

browses the internet for Jack Napier. It comes up with 1

result.

Bruce clicks it open and the site shows Napiers parents,

laid out on slabs in the mortuary with painted on clown faces

with big smiles.

HEADLINE READS: Husband and Wife found dead in home.

Bruce reads through the story.

Bruce then types in Joker and the results flare up into the

thousands. He sees Joker: A Laughing Matter as the top

result. He clicks it, and the page opens to show the Bank

heist from earlier in the day.

BRUCE WAYNE

Callie, turn on the news.

CALLIE (O.S.)

As you wish.

The six monitors form one giant screen. Bruce can see that

reporter, Jack Ryder, is on scene for Gotham 5.

32.

JACK RYDER

...everyone in the bank at the time were

placed in an impossible situation.

According to my sources, six well-armed and

well-organised men entered the bank at noon

with employee Emma Wilson, who was recently

reported missing. They say moments after

these men entered, another man walked in.

The Joker, as he likes to be known, strapped

a bomb to Emmas chest and walked into the

vault. But it wasnt money he was after,

instead he made off with a small piece of

paper locked away in Charles Taylors

security box. Witnesses say they saw Joker

and his men flee the scene in a white van

heading towards Gotham Bridge into the

Narrows.

Bruce stands up. He walks over to the cylinder with the suit

in, he looks at it and then looks at the monitors. Which

return to normal desktop.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Your neural patterns suggest that youre

planning on doing something out of character.

BRUCE WAYNE

I think its time we field tested this.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Many adjustments must be made before

proper testing can commence. It is not

a good idea.

BRUCE WAYNE

Come on. Itll be fun.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Are you sure about this?

BRUCE WAYNE

Not really. But lets try it out.

Bruce waits a few moments.

Callie finally replies.

33.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Whats the plan?

BRUCE WAYNE

Field test.

Bruce walks over to the suit, he takes it down and looks at

it.

FADE TO:

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- MINUTES LATER

Bruce is standing there, in the suit. Fully masked, fully

outfitted. Not as Batman though, this isnt the proper

batsuit, no symbols or bat ears. Utility belt on, and the

boomerangs hooked to it.

BRUCE WAYNE

Ill need a mode of transportation. I

cant take the Porsche or anything that

can be traced back to me. Any ideas?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Before your father died, he built a machine

capable of travelling at immense speeds.

BRUCE WAYNE

What?

Two flashing lights come on near the far side of the

laboratory over the bridge. A garage door opens, revealing a

motorcycle, a high-tech motorcycle. A racing motorcycle

coloured jet black with silver lights running up either side.

BRUCE WAYNE (CONTD)

(Impressed)

Nice.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Do be careful, Bruce. Your father had

a few accidents when testing it, said

it was a little too fast for his taste.

BRUCE WAYNE

Nothings too fast, Callie.

34.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Oh, and if you wish to get that out of

here, I suggest taking the scenic route.

Another door opens, water spills through and into the drain.

Its the waterfall outside of Wayne Manor.

EXT. WATERFALL -- CONTINUOUS

The bike comes hurtling through the waterfall and lands on

the dirt road. Cassie is able to speak to Bruce through the

bike itself. The tires turn into dirt-tires with more grip.

CASSIE (O.S.)

If you need anything, just speak.

BRUCE WAYNE

Got it!

The bike hurtles forward and shoots over a dirt ramp and

continues until it reaches the road. Where road tires return

to the tires of the bike and it heads towards Gotham City.

CUT TO:

EXT. WAREHOUSE -- NIGHT

The place is quiet as a blue car rolls up. James Gordon steps

out and cocks his 9mm pistol. He walks into the warehouse.

INT. WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

The place is abandoned, but a fires still burning. On the

stage sits a single chair, and a hand is twirling a Joker

card as the person stares at the wall.

Gordon raises his gun and aims at the chair. He slowly walks

towards it but knocks a spanner to the ground and alerts the

man who starts laughing. Its Joker alright.

THE JOKER

Come to arrest me, Gordon?

JAMES GORDON

The games up, Napier, put your hands

up and get on your knees. I wont ask twice.

35.

THE JOKER

So you found out my little secret and

you decided to come here, with one gun

and no backup. I gave you all the clues,

yet you still remain so stupid.

(Laughs)

You came here alone, but you have the

gun. What do I have? Hmm?

JAMES GORDON

You killed Thomas and Martha Wayne in

front of their son. Youre nothing but

a sadistic bastard, and nothing more.

THE JOKER

(Laughs)

Why so serious?

Joker revolves in the chair, he has a card in one hand and

the piece of paper he stole from the bank vault in the other.

Joker stands up and pulls out a daisy, he throws it to Gordon

who looks at it strangely.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Poor little James, all alone in that

bed of his with no father watching over

him. No guardian, no saviour. Why, you

seem shocked to hear such a thing. How

would I, little old Joker know that your

sons favourite TV show is on...

(Checks watch)

Right now. Makes you think, huh?

JAMES GORDON

If you hurt him I swear to god!

THE JOKER

How can I hurt him? Im right here.

Its the men outside of your apartment

dressed as cops you want to be worried

about. Oh - you didnt know? Yes, well

it would have been wrong of me to let

those other two posers sit out there in

the cold all night.

36.

JAMES GORDON

On your knees!

THE JOKER

(Looks at himself)

In this suit? No way, its filthy down

there. All sorts of - trash. This suit

isnt cheap you know.

Joker walks down the steps from the stage and approaches

Gordon slowly.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

You know, its rude to point a gun at

someone when youve only just met. It

doesnt make for a nice impression.

JAMES GORDON

I wont ask you again.

THE JOKER

Then shoot!

Joker is teasing Gordon, but Gordon wont break.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

No, youre one of those guys who says

things rather than doing them. You

wouldnt want to ruin that heroic

image of yours now, would you? The

hero cop who found the Wayne boy in that

dark and cold alleyway, cradling his

mother in his arms. Its quite - pathetic

really. Youre still pushing papers and

hes a billionaire. Funny how things turn

out huh?

Joker looks at the daisy on the ground, he then takes out a

flower from his top left jacket pocket and shows it to

Gordon, who is still point the gun at him.

Joker squirts Gordon in the eye, it blinds Gordon long enough

for Joker to steal the gun from his hand and KNEE HIM IN THE

FACE.

Gordon lies unconscious on the ground. Joker laughs.

37.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Well that wasnt nearly as fun as Id

hoped. Oh well.

Joker pathetically drags Gordon into the side room. Straining

all of his muscles as he drags the helpless detective away.

CUT TO:

EXT. GOTHAM 1ST STREET -- NIGHT

The motorcycle hurtles down the street, weaving through the

traffic as onlookers watch on from the pavements. A cop on a

bike catches the motorcycle doing 200mph down the busy

street. He looks at the other cop, and shrugs.

EXT. GOTHAM BANK ALLEYWAY -- CONTINUOUS

Motorcycle pulls up in the alleyway. Bruce turns off the

engine and steps off, his outfit is so dark that only the

silver buckle on his utility belt is visible in the darkness.

And his mouth of course.

BRUCE WAYNE

Okay Callie, lets find that trail.

CALLIE (O.S.)

According to the news reporter, the

van is a Toyota, we should be able to

track it if we can get close enough to

locate its tire tracks.

Bruce looks over the street. The place is cordoned off by

cops, barriers all over the place. He cant get close.

BRUCE WAYNE

Might be a bit of a problem. Theres

cops everywhere.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Use the charges.

Bruce picks one of the sticky hockey-puck like charges from

his belt and places it on the wall. He gets back on the bike

but keeps the lights off as he drives down the alleyway and

into the same street where theres a barricade.

38.

Bruce presses the trigger. He sees the explosion. BANG! Cops

run over to the alleyway, all of them. Bruce quickly drives

through the barricade and looks around. Blue visor comes down

again.

BRUCES P.O.V

We see the tire tracks coloured orange. Bruce watches as the

computer inside of his suit tracks the tire tracks around the

corner.

CALLIE (O.S.)

We have a trail. Heading west to the

Narrows. Apartment block, 15 on Summit

Street. Van is registered to a Jason

Milligan.

END OF P.O.V.

Bruce turns the bike around, it screeches and speeds off

following the tracks.

EXT. GOTHAM BRIDGE -- CONTINUOUS

Bike weaves through the traffic, then swerves to avoid a dump

truck and heads into oncoming traffic. Bike weaves and dodges

the traffic, HORNS SOUND as the bike hurtles forward.

EXT. SUMMIT STREET -- MOMENTS LATER

Bike skids to a halt, the apartment block Callie was talking

about is surrounded by thugs. Bruce checks the area. He can

see targets on the top, 3rd and second levels. Along with

three targets outside in the alleyway, two on the porch and

another four standing by the Toyota van.

CALLIE (O.S.)

I recommend a sneaky approach.

Blue visor comes down, he sees that the men have guns

coloured in red. He marks the men with guns. As he does that

he sees another man on the top floor, tied to a chair. He can

SEE THROUGH WALLS. Bruce turns the bike off and readies

himself.

Bruce nods.

39.

EXT. APARTMENT BLOCK -- MOMENTS LATER

Bruce is in the shadows. One man turns to him away from the

others, Bruce grabs him by the head and twists him around

quickly to the ground, hitting him in the side of the head

rendering him unconscious.

Two guards are talking near a ruined couch. Bruce sneaks

behind the couch and listens in on their conversation.

THUG #1

The Jokers lost it, man.

THUG #2

Youre telling me, the guys lost his

marbles. Thats if he had any to begin

with.

THUG #1

Probably lost them when he got those

cuts on his face, his father was a brutal

son of a bitch. Cutting him like that.

No wonder hes twisted.

THUG #2

He told me it was his dentist who did

it to him. So he could show those pearly

whites of his more.

THUG #1

Man, I dont know. He probably got them

doing a card trick, guy belongs in the

circus.

Bruce grabs both men with his hands and yanks them over the

couch. One breaks loose and pulls out a knife, he slashes at

Bruce who kicks the knife from his hand and then cracks him

over the head with the BATROD. He then smothers the other guy

until he falls unconscious.

BRUCE WAYNE

This things pretty handy.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Youre using it wrong, twist the handle.

40.

Bruce twists the handle. The metal rod begins to spark with

electricity. Bruce smiles.

BRUCE WAYNE

Nice.

Two guys from the van walk around the corner and see nothing.

THUG #3

Where the hell did they go? The boss

will go mad if we lose the clerk.

THUG #4

Hes already mad.

THUG #3

Well - madder, then.

The two guys see a body on the ground. They run over to

investigate. One kneels down, Bruce pops up from behind the

couch and uses the BATROD charge on the other guy, who falls

limp and flailing to the ground.

The other guy stands up. Bruce puts his hand over the guys

mouth and sweeps his legs out from under him before using the

BATROD on the guys neck, knocking him out.

Bruce takes out one of the Hockey-Puck like charges and

throws it onto the shed in the back garden. He then detonates

the charge.

The four remaining guys, two with guns, run around the

corner. Passing Bruce along the way.

They stop and scratch their heads.

THUG #5

What the hell was that?

THUG #6

Mustve been a-

Bruce comes in, smacks THUG #6 with the BATROD. Then disarms

the other two guys with a swift kick to the hands before HEAD

BUTTING THUG #5 in the nose, and knocking THUG #7 out cold

before kicking THUG #8 in the face and knocking out THUG #5.

41.

Bruce looks around, a trail of destruction in his wake.

INT. THIRD FLOOR -- MOMENTS LATER

JOKER GOON is standing there with a gun in the corner of the

room as a man, KEVIN MICHAELS, is tied to the chair with only

a pair of boxer shorts on.

OFF SCREEN: Punching, fighting sounds...

Door breaks through. JOKER GOON screams as a WINGED FIGURE

emerges through and grabs him by the throat, pinning him

against the wall.

Kevin looks on, astonished.

BRUCE WAYNE

Wheres Joker!?

JOKER GOON

Who are you supposed to be!?

BRUCE WAYNE

(Intimidating)

Answer the question!

JOKER GOON

415 south side pier, a warehouse.

BRUCE WAYNE

You better not be lying to me.

JOKER GOON

Im not, I swear.

CALLIE (O.S.)

His vitals are unstable, I suggest that

hes lying.

JOKER GOON

Who the hells that, your mother?

BRUCE WAYNE

Tell me where he is!

Bruce squeezes tightly.

42.

JOKER GOON

(Can hardly breathe)

437 North side pier, warehouse 5.

Bruce waits for a moment.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Abandoned warehouse, once a chemical

plant used by Alliance Pharmaceuticals.

JOKER GOON

Are you going to let me go?

BRUCE WAYNE

No.

Bruce forcefully pushes JOKER GOON against the wall, his head

hits the wall and Joker Goon falls unconscious to the ground.

Bruce turns to Kevin Michaels, who is gagged.

Bruce takes the gag off Kevin and cuts the ropes to his legs.

He then cuts the rope to his left wrist.

KEVIN MICHAELS

Oh thank you! I cant thank you enough!

Oh my god I couldve died! I could have

died! You saved me! Thank you! Thank you!

Bruce puts the gag back in Kevins mouth to shut him up.

BRUCE WAYNE

Sshh.

KEVIN MICHAELS

(Gagged)

Who are you?

Bruce walks to the door, but turns back.

BRUCE WAYNE

Forget me, I was never here.

Bruce leaves Kevin, who unties his remaining strap.

Kevin runs to the window a few seconds later.

43.

Kevin watches as the motorcycle zooms down the road, nearly

hitting a car which pulls out of a drive.

FADE TO:

INT. WAREHOUSE -- NIGHT

Gordon is strapped to a chair. He begins to wake up, he looks

down to the ground to see a palette of paint, with all

colours on and a large brush.

Joker is standing in the corner.

Gordon tries to free himself, but is unable to.

THE JOKER

Usually its the cop who uses the cuffs

to apprehend the suspect, but Im not

one for recurring fashions. I like to

spice things up a bit!

Joker turns around, revealing that hes now wearing an

artists hat.

He walks over to Gordon and SITS ON THE AIR as he looks at

Gordons eyes.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Youre not very sociable are you?

JAMES GORDON

Let me out of this!

THE JOKER

Ooh wee. Youre an angry bird. Now, I

lost my train of thought - err - oh yes.

You should lighten up a bit, get into the

spirit of things. Get creative, be a better

father to your son, take him to the park

once in a while and get him away from that

dreadful videogame world of his. When I

was young, we didnt have videogames, no,

we had to create our own fun. Some of us

wanted to be astronauts, girls wanted to be

fairy princesses with sparkly star wands.

I was - different.

44.

JAMES GORDON

I couldnt care less.

THE JOKER

Oh but you see, thats where youre wrong.

Because what I wanted to be was something

I could never have, they could all aspire

to be astronauts and princesses, maybe both

but I could never be - normal. If it werent

for my miserable father I could have been a

better person. But no, he always blamed me

for what happened, all the time and you know

what? It changed me. So I took a brush, and

painted myself a smiley face. But even that

wasnt good enough.

Joker sits on Gordons lap and pulls out a knife. Its

stained with blood.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

This blood, is mine. You see, when my

father said I didnt smile enough I took

it upon myself to brighten his day. So I

took this knife, and carved through my

cheeks. After that he could never look

at me again without seeing a smile.

JAMES GORDON

Youre sick!

THE JOKER

Not right now, but thanks for asking.

JAMES GORDON

Dont try and blame this on your parents,

you do this for fun. Youre a sadistic

and twisted murderer whose only joy in

life is to see others suffer.

(Beat)

Thats why you killed Thomas and Martha

in front of their nine year old son all

those years ago. So he could suffer.

THE JOKER

Why youve hurt my feelings.

45.

Joker pulls out a handkerchief and pretends to dry his eyes.

He then blows his nose on the same handkerchief and sticks it

into Gordons jacket pocket.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

(Pulls out paper)

I got what I wanted.

Joker looks at the paper and shows Gordon for a brief second.

JAMES GORDON

What is that?

THE JOKER

Why cant you read?

(Laughs)

Its a name, more importantly, its a

password. A password for a file locked

away on a computer, a file that holds

valuable information to me.

JAMES GORDON

Why tell me?

THE JOKER

Because youre not going to be here to

stop me.

(Beat)

Or is this the part where someone swoops

in and saves the day?

Joker puts his hand to his ear and pretends to listen for

something. He cant hear anything, theres complete silence.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

You know, for a hero cop youve got lousy

friends. No ones coming to save you, and

- oh - say cheese!

Joker aims his gun at Gordon, he presses the trigger but a

flag emerges from the barrel. Gordon opens his eyes, and the

Joker looks at the gun with a smile on his face.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Hmm. Well that wasnt nearly as dramatic

as Id hoped.

46.

Joker reaches into his jacket, he pulls out another gun.

Identical to the one in his hand and he drops the fake gun,

and uses his empty hand to gently hit himself on the

forehead.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

Wrong gun. Now I feel like an idiot.

So lets try this again, take two.

Joker presses the trigger again, this time a bullet does come

out but not before JOKER IS TACKLED TO THE GROUND BY BRUCE.

Bruce grabs the gun from Jokers hand but Joker stabs Bruce

in the stomach. It pierces the rubber armour, Bruce cringes

in pain as Joker stands up and kicks him in the chest.

THE JOKER (CONTD)

That was rude!

Joker tries to stab Bruce in the neck, but Bruce counters and

pushes the blade away from his throat. Joker pushes down,

Bruce pushes up. The two are locked. Gordon looks on,

shocked.

Bruce knees Joker in the stomach and throws him off himself,

Bruce picks himself up, clutching his stomach and he punches

Joker in the nose. Joker staggers backwards, Bruce then hits

him in the chest and again in the face. Joker slashes wildly

and misses.

Bruce knees Joker in the stomach and grabs him, he then

forces him through the wall and the two spill out onto the

main floor of the warehouse.

INT. MAIN FLOOR -- CONTINUOUS

Bruce throws Joker into some barrels and knocks gasoline all

over the place. Joker gets back to his feet as Bruce grabs

him once again, but Joker uses a tire iron to smack Bruce in

the left shoulder. Bruce staggers backwards.

Joker grabs a bike wheel from the ground and throws it at

Bruce who rolls out of the way and gets to his feet.

Joker grabs the tire iron once more and swings for Bruce who

parries it with his gauntlet. Bruce pulls out the BATROD.

47.

Bruce twists the handle, the BATROD becomes live. Joker and

Bruce come into a clash (Like swords) and stare at one

another. Joker feels the gasoline under his feet. He smiles,

kicks Bruce in the stomach and Bruce flies backwards into

some empty barrels.

Joker takes out a box of matches, he smiles as he lights one.

THE JOKER

Hate to break up the party, but Ive got

to dash. As Ive said before, its time

to go boom!

Joker drops a lit match on the trail of gasoline and quickly

runs out of the warehouse. Leaving Bruce standing behind a

line of fire.

CALLIE (O.S.)

The flames will reach the gasoline barrels

in approximately thirty eight seconds.

Bruce runs back into the room.

INT. WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

Bruce unties Gordon very quickly, they approach the door but

the flames are too high.

Bruce sees a window, the two head for it. Bruce breaks the

window and looks down. Theres quite a drop.

BRUCE WAYNE

Hold onto me!

Gordon holds on. Bruce pulls the BATHOOK out and leans out of

the window. He shoots it up and it connects to the roof.

Bruce and Gordon get onto the windowsill and Gordon looks

down.

JAMES GORDON

Are you sure about this?

BRUCE WAYNE

Not really.

48.

Bruce leaps out of the window as Gordon holds on.

EXT. WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

BOOM! Warehouse EXPLODES in a fantastic blaze of fire.

FADE TO:

EXT. WAREHOUSE -- DAWN

A dozen bats screech by as the sun begins to rise over

Gotham. Gordon is sitting on a log, coughing.

BRUCE WAYNE

How are you feeling?

JAMES GORDON

Ive been better.

Bruce gets onto his motorcycle. He puts the key in and Gordon

walks over.

JAMES GORDON (CONTD)

Who are you?

BRUCE WAYNE

Im a friend.

Bruce turns the engine on.

JAMES GORDON

Youve got to have a name.

BRUCE WAYNE

Im just a friend.

He then drives away, leaving Gordon standing there, alone.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- DAY

Bruce is sitting on the chair, the suit is inside of the

cylinder once more.

Hes watching the news, he sees that everything is normal.

49.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Bruce, its ready.

Bruce nods and walks over to the laser box and looks inside.

He smiles and pulls out a small object.

BRUCE WAYNE

Its better than we thought it would be.

Bruce holds in his hands a BATERANG. The first of its kind.

In the shape of a bat.

He then walks over to the cylinder and looks at the suit.

BRUCE WAYNE (CONTD)

Hey Callie!

CALLIE (O.S.)

Yes, Bruce?

BRUCE WAYNE

Do you think we could put this on the

suit?

CALLIE (O.S.)

You mean, like a symbol?

BRUCE WAYNE

Yeah.

CALLIE (O.S.)

It might take a while, but it should not

be a problem.

Bruce remembers why he created the BATERANG.

FLASHBACK:

INT. BRUCES ROOM -- 26 YEARS AGO NIGHT

Thomas Wayne sits on Bruces bed. BRUCE IS 5 YRS OLD.

THOMAS WAYNE

The bat is not something you should fear,

Bruce. A bat is like a symbol, it represents

what a certain thing should be.

50.

BRUCE WAYNE

But theyre scary.

THOMAS WAYNE

Fear is one of their many assets. But

fear is something you can overcome. They

are more scared of you than you are of

them.

BRUCE WAYNE

Theyll never hurt me?

THOMAS WAYNE

They know their place, and that is the

lesson. In order to overcome fear, you

must first embrace it.

BRUCE WAYNE

And thats what they do?

THOMAS WAYNE

Yes. Thats what they do, and in time

you will do the same.

END OF FLASHBACK.

INT. THOMAS LABORATORY -- PRESENT

Bruce puts the baterang on the counter and watches as CALLIE

creates even more inside of the laser box using scrap metal.

The news channel continues rolling. A strange woman in pink

appears on the screen for no more than two seconds. She looks

directly ahead at CAMERA. As if shes watching Bruce.

Bruce then turns the news off and starts typing things in on

the computer.

FADE TO BLACK:

ROLL CREDITS