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Çäåñü âû ìîæåòå íàéòè ïðîäîëæåíèå ñöåíàðèÿ ê ôèëüìó: Áýòìåí íàâñåãäà/ Batman Forever.

Áýòìåí íàâñåãäà/ Batman Forever

CHASE A girl cannot live by psychoses alone.

BATMAN It's the car, right? Chicks love the car.

CHASE What is it about the wrong kind of man? In grade school it was guys with earrings. College, motorcycles and leather jackets.

Chase is right up against him. She runs her fingers along the outline of Batman's mask.

CHASE Now black rubber.

BATMAN Try a fireman. Less to take off.

CHASE I don't mind the work. Pity I can't see behind the mask.

Batman stills her hand.

BATMAN We all wear masks.

CHASE My life's an open book. You read?

BATMAN I'm not the kind of guy who blends in at a family picnic.

CHASE We could give it a try. I'll bring the wine, you bring the scarred psyche.

BATMAN You are direct, aren't you?

CHASE You like strong women. I've done my homework. Or do I need skin-tight vinyl and a whip?

Their bodies are close.

BATMAN I haven't had much luck with women...

CHASE Maybe you just haven't met the right woman...

Their mouths are close. Suddenly Commissioner Gordon, trench-coat over pajamas, rushes onto the roof.

GORDON I saw the beacon. What's going on?

BATMAN Nothing... False alarm.

251 Batman shoots a Batarang into the night and dives from 251 the building.

CHASE Are you sure?

252 EXT. SEEDY PART OF TOWN - DAY 252

SIRENS WHINE as two cruisers fly down a pot-holed street.

253 ANGLE ON - A bridge structure. 253

254 INT. TWO-FACE'S HIDEOUT - DAY 254

The room is dark. POLICE SIRENS FADE as a trap door opens in the floor. Two-Face emerges.

TWO-FACE Ever have one of those days where you just want to kill someone?

VOICE IN THE DARK Riddle me this. (Riddle #3)

REVERSE ANGLE

A mysterious silhouette stands in the dark.

Two-Face draws his gun.

VOICE IN THE DARK The answer is, your enemy.

TWO-FACE Who are you?

VOICE IN THE DARK You can just call me... The Riddler.

The figure steps out of shadow. A new costume, lime green, covered with question marks, an emerald eye mask, derby and cane. An exact replica of the Guesser's outfit.

TWO-FACE How'd you find us?

RIDDLER You _are_ Two-Face, you would need to face both rivers, both uptown and downtown simultaneously. Only one spot in Gotham serves these bi- zonal, bi-coastal needs...

TWO-FACE Congratulations. You get to die on the dean's list.

Two-Face trains his gun, COCKS the trigger.

RIDDLER Has anyone ever told you have a serious impulse control problem? (looking around) You know, I simply love what you've done with this place. Heavy Metal with just a touch of House and Garden.

He crosses to Leatherland.

RIDDLER It's so dark and Gothic and disgustingly decadent...

He moves to Laceland.

RIDDLER Yet so bright and chipper and conservative! (to "bad" side) It's so you. ("good" side) And yet so _you_! (touching his suit) Very few people are both a summer _and_ a winter. But you pull it off nicely.

TWO-FACE A man with a death wish.

RIDDLER Harvey. You need me. Since you've gotten out of Arkham, you've managed, what? To bungle stealing a safe? Wreck a statue? And, correct me if I'm wrong here, but weren't you outsmarted by an acned acrobat at the circus?

TWO-FACE Let's see if you bleed green.

Two-Face COCKS back the hammer.

RIDDLER Alright, counselor. Go ahead. Fire away. But before you do, let me ask you one question. Is it really me you want to kill?

The Riddler knits his thumbs together, waves his hands over one of the exposed light bulbs that illuminate the room, making a shadow on the wall. The shadow of a bat.

RIDDLER Do you know about hate, my dual visaged friend? Slow, burning hate that keeps you sleepless until late in the night, that wakes you before dawn. Do you know that kind of hate? I do. (circling Harvey) Kill him? Seems like a good enough idea. But have you thought it through? A few bullets, a quick spray of blood, a fast, thrilling rush, and then what? Wet hands and post-coital depression. Is it really enough? (up close) Why not ruin him first? Expose his frailty. And then, when he is at his weakest, crush him in your hand.

255 Riddler gestures to the front of the room, where Leather 255 and Lace, on their respective sides, are fixed to their TV's via the green beam of the box.

He tosses a receiver electrode to Two-Face.

RIDDLER ...Take a hit.

Two-Face looks at the electrode curiously.

RIDDLER (taps his forehead) Up, up, up.

A beat. Then, gun still trained on the Riddler, Two-Face holds the receiver to his skull. He's blasted with a dose of Leather and Lace's neural energy.

TWO-FACE Holy shit.

RIDDLER So not everyone can be a poet. Still, I respect the sentiment.

Riddler waves his hand in front of the girls' eyes. No response. Definitely zoned.

RIDDLER (to the girls) This is your brain on the box. (off Harvey) This is your brain on their brain.

He plants an electrode on his own forehead.

RIDDLER This is my brain on your brain on their brain. Does anybody else feel like a fried egg?

The Riddler grabs Two-Face's receiver.

TWO-FACE No. Wait...

RIDDLER Addictive isn't it? Just Say No. Until I say yes. A little fringe benefit of working with me. Now here's the concept, counselor. Crime. My I.Q., your AK-47. You help me gather production capital so I can produce enough of these (pulling a Box from his vest) to create an empire that will eclipse Bruce Wayne's forever. And, in return I will help you solve the greatest riddle of all. Who is Batman?

Two-Face eyes The Riddler, interest dawning in his eyes.

TWO-FACE You are a very strange person. You speak as if we are old friends, which we are not. You barge in here unarmed when it is clearly suicidal to do so. Still, an intriguing proposition. (pulling his coin) Heads: we take your offer.

He rests the barrel on The Riddler's temple.

TWO-FACE Tails: we blow your _goddamned head off_!

256 FOLLOW THE COIN 256

as Two-Face FLIPS it high in the air... SPINNING...

257 INT. JEWELRY EXCHANGE 257

Thugs grab handfuls of gems as a Guard presses the ALARM BUTTON. LOONY TOONS and MERRIE MELODIES THEMES play as Riddler's animated face fills the surveillance screens.

WIDER

The Riddler and Two-Face stand over a palette of black jeweler's felt. Littered with bright, sparkling diamonds.

The Riddler slips on a monocle, lifts a stone.

Two-Face grabs the entire palette, pours the diamonds into a loot bag, heads towards another counter.

258 INT. BATMOBILE - MOVING 258

WINDSCREEN - CLOSE. A flashing message: Crime In Progress.

259 An ever changing tactical map shows Batman's narrowing 259 proximity to the crime site.

260 EXT. STREET 260

The Batmobile rushes to a halt. Batman leaps out, SMASHES through a door into...

261 INT. BEAUTY SALON 261

...Girls LAUGH and flirt. Even behind his mask, Batman fumes. Obviously misled.

262 INT. WAYNE MANOR - BRUCE'S BEDROOM - DAY 262

Bruce sits watching the news.

ANCHOR ...working with Two-Face, Gotham's new criminal mastermind is calling himself The Riddler. Twenty million in diamonds were stolen yesterday with no sign of Batman.

263 SCREEN - CLOSE. Changes. Edward stands on the Claw Island. 263 A small abandoned island in Gotham Harbor.

ANCHOR In other news, entrepreneur Edward Nygma has signed a lease for Claw Island. Nygma says he plans to break ground on an electronics plant....

264 EXT. ARMORED TRUCK BASE 264

Armored trucks sit open on the street. Two-toned thugs carry out bags of loot.

Two-Face and the Riddler stand before four guards, each sentry held captive by a two-toned crony.

TWO-FACE Close your fist. Reach back.

Two-Face swings, clocks the guard on the chin. CRACK. Out like a light.

TWO-FACE Get it?

Riddler nods tentatively. Manages a weak fist. Throws a feeble punch. The Guard looks barely startled.

TWO-FACE Riddler. You punch like a girl. Put some heart into it.

Two-Face hauls off, hits the third Guard. Out he goes.

RIDDLER Okay. Okay. I got it.

He leans way back, tries again. Barely a glancing blow.

TWO-FACE My God.

He walks away, shaking his head, disgusted. The Riddler turns back to the guard. Ready for another try.

265 INT. WAYNE MANOR - HALLWAY 265

266 NEWSPAPER - CLOSE. RIDDLER & TWO-FACE TERRORIZE GOTHAM. 266

PULL BACK TO REVEAL

Alfred, newspaper in hand, finds Dick trying to open the door which leads to the Bat Cave.

ALFRED May I help you, Master Grayson?

DICK How come this is the only locked door around this museum? What's back there?

ALFRED Master Wayne's dead wives.

Dick grins. Alfred watches him go, a wry smile on his face. The coast now clear, he disappears into the secret doorway.

267 WIDER 267

Dick stands hidden in an alcove, watching.

268 EXT. CLAW ISLAND - DAY 268

Tremendous construction in progress.

269 INT. CLAW ISLAND 269

Silhouettes of robot arms manufacture the Box.

Edward watches on, giving Two-Face a quick hit from a glowing electrode, then snatches back the receiver.

Harvey eyes the electrode with an addict's hungry eyes.

270 EXT. GOTHAM LOADING DOCK 270

Two-Face and Thugs steal priceless paintings while the Guards sit bound and gagged in their booth.

Riddler stares up at a freshly spray-painted (RIDDLE #4) on the boat's hull.

271 INT. WAYNE MANOR - LAUNDRY ROOM 271

Dick stands watching TV while he washes and dries his clothes using martial arts techniques.

272 VONDELLE (ON SCREEN) 272 Has Batman lost his touch? We've become a city of sissies crying Batman, Batman, Batman at the first sign of trouble.

273 INT. GOTHAM OPERA - NIGHT 273

The Barber of Seville is in full swing. As the bejewelled audience watches, the translation is being spelled out for them on a large electronic screen over the stage.

274 BACKSTAGE 274

Green gloved hands attach a Box to the translator.

275 AUDIENCE 275

The familiar green beam of The Box transfixes the audience and the performers. Two-Face and his Thugs take the balcony in protective green sunglasses, strip folks of their cash and jewels.

276 The Riddler stands on stage. 276

RIDDLER I just love a captive audience.

He picks up the ARIA A-CAPELLA, races through the stunned orchestra, collecting valuables.

As he goes, he moves the mouths of his victims, turning the robbery into an opera of his own.

RIDDLER (singing) Oh, but all I want is to take all your jewels oh oh. (moving a woman's mouth) No, oh you villain don't take my jewels, oh no. (singing back) I will. (a man's mouth) No you won't. (singing) I will. (another man) No you won't.

277 Still SINGING, he leaps back onto the stage where Harvey 277 and his Thugs arrive, bags full of loot. Riddler plays tiny hidden buttons in his cane, directing Batman.

TWO-FACE Where are you sending Batboy this time?

RIDDLER Here. Get a good seat.

278 OUT THE WINDOW 278

The Batmobile makes a quick stop before the opera house.

279 Riddler, Two-Face and Thugs disappear just as...

BATMAN

drops to the Stage from the ceiling. He looks around at the stunned audience.

He spots a small box with a question mark on it sitting center stage. Lifts the top. Within, a pair of plastic hands applaud him.

280 THE TRANSLATOR - CLOSE. Vaporizes, the beam snapping off. 280

281 THE AUDIENCE 281

startled by Batman's sudden appearance on stage, starts LAUGHING. Until someone notices her tiara is missing. A SCREAM. The first of many.

282 EXT. GOTHAM TIMES BUILDING - NIGHT 282

Electronic headlines circles- BAT FLOPS AT OPERA. RIDDLER AND TWO-FACE STEAL MILLIONS.

283 EXT. NYGMATECH HEADQUARTERS - CLAW ISLAND - DAY 283

Finally complete. In the b.g. a giant corporate sign reading NYGMATECH is raised by cranes.

Edward Nygma, dressed like Bruce Wayne to the smallest detail, stands on a podium, giving a press conference.

Scores of APPLAUDING Employees and Media watch on. The Gotham Society Matrons COO.

EDWARD (OVER) Why sit back when you can be part of the show?

284 QUICK CUTS OF NEWSPAPERS 284

EDWARD (OVER) ...Nygmatech brings the joy 3-D entertainment into your own home.

285 CUTS OF MAGAZINES all proclaiming Edward as the new King 285 of Electronics in Gotham City.

EDWARD Ladies and gentlemen. Let me tell you my vision for the future. "The Box" in every home in America. And one day, the world.

286 EXT. GOTHAM CITY - MONTAGE 286

A tenement, where a poor family scrapes together their savings on a newspaper ad for "The Box"....

287 An electronics store, where Alfred, at the head of a long 287 line, hands over a check to receive "The Box"...

288 A resplendent household where husband, wife, and kids 288 each watch individual TV's connected to their own Boxes.

289 INT. NYGMATECH - RIDDLER'S CONTROL ROOM 289

Riddler sits atop a tremendous electronic throne, facing a wall bank of TV monitors all running newsreel footage of folks using "The Box". From overhead, a giant diode delivers massive pulses of glowing neural energy.

290 RIDDLER'S HEAD - CLOSE. His brain is growing. 290

291 EXT. ELECTRONIC STORES 291

Crowds of people line up. Some stores say "SOLD OUT" others "YES, WE HAVE `THE BOX'."

292 INT. BATCAVE 292

Bruce stands over the Batcomputer.

BRUCE Riddler and Two-Face are tweaking the data before the computer pulls it off the emergency bands.

Alfred stands in his lab area, trying to disassemble "The Box". He gets the lid off.

293 BOX - CLOSE. The circuitry inside automatically vaporizes. 293

294 INT. NYGMATECH - EDWARD'S CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT 294

Leather and Lace sit with the Riddler and Two-Face as the two villains pass an electrode between them.

TWO-FACE Sure, E = MC squared. Until you factor in more than three dimensions. Then... Damn. Hit us again.

RIDDLER Haven't you had enough? Don't Think And Drive.

Harvey waves his revolver in Riddler's face.

RIDDLER Be my guest.

Two-Face and Leather and Lace take another hit of the glowing neural energy. Smiles.

TWO-FACE Our Paleolithic yearnings are best expressed in a pre-linguistic- (off the befuddled girls) Sorry. Just thinking out loud.

Harvey leans back, buzzed, the electrode slipping from his hand. Leather grabs for it. Not fast enough. Riddler snatches it away.

RIDDLER (to Leather) Not until you do that thing I like. (taking a hit) On se tue pour des mesnonges. J'ai gache ma vie... (off the electrode) Woah. Harsh toke.

TWO-FACE Don't bogart that 'trode.

He tosses Harv the electrode over Lace's ill-timed grab. Harvey takes a hit.

TWO-FACE (epiphanous) Oh my God. Jim Morrison was right.

RIDDLER About what?

TWO-FACE Everything.

RIDDLER & TWO-FACE (simultaneous) ...Yeah.

295 INT. WAYNE MANOR - DAY 295

TV - CLOSE.

Vondelle stands before the familiar panel of experts.

AIMS This Box is nothing more than an electronic narcotic.

ROYCE Thousands more Gothamites each day are tuning out by tuning in to its holographic fantasies.

AIMS It's turning citizens into zombies...

VONDELLE Gripe, gripe, gripe. Isn't this what they said about TV? I think "The Box" is the future. What's your opinion? I want to know...

296 FAVOR Alfred as he shuts off the set, moves into the 296 297 hallway and the locked door to the Batcave. 297

ALFRED (calling out) Master Dick?

High above, Dick appears on the third floor landing.

DICK Up here, Al.

ALFRED Just checking, young sir.

DICK (to himself) Four seconds from...

Below, Alfred opens the door.

DICK Now!

Alfred disappears inside and the door begins to close.

Dick leaps the bannister, grabs the chandelier, swings to a large tapestry, slides down and into the passageway as the door SLAMS shut.

298 INT. SECRET HALL 298

Unable to stop, Dick barrels through a dark doorway, tumbles down the long stairway onto

299 THE BATCAVE FLOOR 299

Alfred stands in his lab area. The two stare at each other in utter disbelief.

300 INT. CHASE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 300

Big. Open. A life still in boxes. The door opens, producing Bruce and Chase.

BRUCE The style of the letters I'm getting matches those found at the crime sites. Why would The Riddler be sending me riddles? (looking around) Who's your decorator? U-Haul?

CHASE Sorry. I haven't even had time to unpack. Instant coffee okay?

Chase disappears into the kitchen as Bruce takes off his coat. She reappears with a small box. Hands it to Bruce.

BRUCE What's this?

Bruce opens the box. Within, a dream doll.

CHASE Call it clinical intuition. I thought your dreams might need changing.

Bruce looks at Chase. He stares out the window a beat, deciding. As he speaks now his words are halting, self disclosure difficult for him.

BRUCE My parents were murdered. In front of me. I was just a kid.

Chase nods. She knows.

BRUCE A lot of what happened is jagged. Pieces missing. I can't really remember. I just get flashes. Usually in my dreams. I'd kind of gotten used to them. At least accepted them....

CHASE And now....

BRUCE They've changed. The dreams, I mean. There's a new element I don't understand. A book. Black. Covered in leather....

(OVER) The kettle begins to WHISTLE.

CHASE Damn. I'll be right back.

Bruce is agitated, starts to looking around. At her desk he finds a virtual shrine to Batman. Pictures. Newsphotos. Articles.

CHASE (OVER) Find anything interesting?

BRUCE Why do I feel like the other man, here?

CHASE Come on, Bruce. This is what I do for a living.

BRUCE I'd say this goes a little beyond taking your work home.

CHASE What do you want me to say? That I'm not attracted to him?

301 She hits a button and on screen newsfootage rolls of 301 Batman fighting Catwoman.

302 CHASE 302 (mesmerized) Look at the abuse he's taking. He's not just fighting criminals. He's punishing himself.

Chase hits a button, freezing on Batman's face.

CHASE It's as if he's paying some great penance. What crime could he have committed to deserve a life sentence of such agony?

Bruce hits a key, blanking the screen.

BRUCE Maybe he just had a lousy childhood, is that it Doc?

Chase grabs his hand as it comes away from the keyboard.

CHASE Why do you do that?

BRUCE What?

CHASE Throw up that ridiculous superficial mask. If you're jealous...

BRUCE I'm not-

CHASE You want me close but you won't let me near. What's the terrible, dark secret you're protecting everyone from?

In the mirror they are half in shadow, half in light.

CHASE In a sense we are all two people. The side we show in daylight. And that side we keep in shadow.

BRUCE Rage. Anger. Passion. Pain.

He pulls her to him. Their faces are close. A breath apart. Suddenly his watch begins to BEEP.

303/04 Bruce turns over his wrist. Depresses a stud on 303/04 his watch. The face turns into a screen.

ALFRED Sorry to bother you, sir. I have some rather distressing news about Master Dick.

BRUCE Is he all right?

ALFRED I'm afraid Master Dick has... gone traveling.

BRUCE He ran away?

ALFRED Actually, he took the car.

BRUCE He boosted the Jag? (relieved) Is that all?

ALFRED Not the Jaguar. The _other_ car.

BRUCE The _Rolls_?

ALFRED _No_, sir. _The_ _other_ _car_!

A beat. Then Bruce closes his eyes.

305 EXT. ARKHAM SQUARE - NIGHT 204

Gotham night life. Neon, traffic, sleaze.

The Batmobile cruises into the center of the strip.

A group of flashy low riders pull in front of the Batmobile. They hydraulic up and down competitively.

The Batmobile wipers sweep the windshield. The bat-foil opens and closes. Finally the car hydraulics higher and faster, but a bit wildly, the driver barely in control.

306 The low riders, put to shame, PEEL OUT. (OVER) A SCREAM 306 cuts the night. A GIRL runs for her life, chased by SIX GANG MEMBERS into a dark alley.

The Batmobile TEARS after her.

307 EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT 307

The Thugs have the Girl surrounded, push her back and forth between them like a rag doll.

The Batmobile SCREECHES into the alley. The door slides open. From the smoking hatchway emerges...Dick.

Needless to say, this get the Thugs' attention. They let go of the girl.

THUG Who the hell are you?

DICK (low, ominous) I'm Batman. (looking down) Damn, did I forget to dress again?

The Thugs close. One rushes Dick while another swings a chain at his head. Mistake.

DICK Chains. You don't seem like the type.

Dick's hand shoots out fast, grabbing the chain. He open palms the Thug in the chin, whips the chain into the gut of the other villain.

DICK The Caped Crusader strikes again. Sans cape, of course.

Two more rush him.

DICK Another victory for the Dark Knight.

Dick goes up with a flying front kick, knocking one down, fells another on the return with a spinning back fist.

DICK (off the unconscious goons) Dark nighty-night.

Dick stares at the remaining thug. Smiles.

DICK Is your will up to date?

The last Thug takes a look at Dick, turns and races away.

DICK I could definitely get behind this super hero gig.

Dick nods to the awestruck Girl.

DICK Ma'am.

He starts towards the car.

GIRL Wait.

She moves close.

GIRL You forgot the part where you kiss the girl.

DICK (grinning) Right.

He leans in, happy to oblige when suddenly...

(OVER) SCREAMS AND SHOUTS as the Thug who got away comes racing back into the alley, followed by maybe thirty new gang members, all wielding bats and chains.

DICK Uh-oh.

He pulls the girl behind him, readies for war.

308 A DARK FIGURE 308

flies out of the night.

Batman, on a wire, swings into the group, sending them scattering in all directions. The bad guys race off.

309 THE BATMOBILE 309

REVS UP, races to Batman.

310 Batman lifts Dick by his collar, drops him into the 310 passenger seat. Hops into the other side.

GIRL (shouting) Don't you want my number?

She watches as the Batmobile speeds away into the night.

311 INT. BATCAVE - NIGHT - LATER 311

Bruce and Dick argue.

DICK I need to be part of this.

BRUCE Absolutely not.

DICK Me and my brother Chris were putting money aside so our folks could retire. Dad's knee was going. Chris was engaged, you know that? Two-Face took...everything. Now I can pay him back.

BRUCE What I do isn't about revenge.

Dick glances at a framed headline. The Wayne murders.

DICK Right, slick. Whatever you say.

Bruce grabs him. Hard.

BRUCE This isn't a game.

Dick pushes him off. Harder.

DICK Back off, man.

BRUCE You don't understand. It's an addiction. You fight night after night, trying to fill the emptiness. But the pain's back in the morning. And somewhere along the way it stops being a choice. (a beat) I want better for you.

DICK Save the sermons about how great you want my life to be, okay, Bruce? If it weren't for Batman my parents wouldn't be dead. You don't get it, do you? This is all your fault.

Dick storms out. Bruce stares after him with tired eyes.

312 EXT. RITZ GOTHAM HOTEL - NIGHT 312

At the marble entrance, the red carpet is rolled out for a pull-out-the-stops party. Over the door, a banner proclaims "Nygmatech -- Imagine the Future."

At the curb folks dressed in over-the-top runway fashions, pour from luxury cars, hand off keys to a battalion of scurrying valets.

Next car up -- Bruce Wayne's Rolls, driven by Alfred. A valet helps Chase out. She looks stunning.

Bruce leans over Alfred before stepping out of the car.

BRUCE Too much wealth. Too fast. Half of Gotham zombied-out. A technology that self destructs. He's protecting more than industrial secrets, Alfred.

ALFRED I shall be near at hand. Should you need me. And sir, I know it's difficult but try and have a good time.

313 INT. RITZ GOTHAM ROOF - NIGHT 313

Over the top golden glitz. A kind of Versailles meets punk meets couture. And in the middle, Edward, dressed as Louis XIV.

The room is packed with people sipping exotic cocktails, munching hors d'oeuvres. Conversation BUZZ is high.

Into this zoo walk Bruce and Chase.

As brightly-lighted stations throughout the room, showy displays announce "THE NEW BOX". Pretty, barely-clad showgirls invite partygoers step into various green columns of light.

314 Bruce scans the room as he and Chase pause by the first 314 display, where a Socialite steps into a column of energy. She GASPS with delight as she finds herself suddenly dazzling in diamonds from head to toe.

315 They pass the next column where a CHUBBY PROFESSOR, sword 315 in hand, fights off a knight on horseback.

316 They pass the next display where a BALD GUY steps into a 316 beam. Suddenly, he is in a classic stoner's pad circa 1967. And, best of all, he has long flowing hair.

Chase looks amused, Bruce suspicious.

CHASE If I didn't know better, I'd say you were sulking.

BRUCE Keep me off the couch, Doc. Your fees are a little rich for me.

CHASE Touchy, touchy.

BRUCE (not biting) So how goes your `scholarly' pursuit of Batman?

CHASE Oh God, Bruce. You're still jealous.

BRUCE (flaring) Spare me the diagnosis, okay? You're being ridiculous. I can't be jealous of Batman. (to himself) Can I?

317 ACROSS THE ROOM 317

Edward stands flanked by Gotham's Society Matrons as PRESS, including Vondelle Millions, SNAP photos and hurl questions.

NEWSCASTER You're outselling Wayne Enterprises. Any comments?

EDWARD Actually, I'm outselling Wayne Tech two to one...

JOURNALIST The Times has named you Gotham's bachelor of the year. What do you have to say about that?

EDWARD You might want to ask Bruce Wayne. (calling) Bruce, old man!

318 Edward crosses the room to greet Chase and Bruce. All 318 stand now, surrounded by press and partygoers.

EDWARD So glad you could come.

BRUCE What? Oh, Edward. Hi. Congratulations. Great party-

EDWARD The press were just wondering what it feels like to be outsold, outclassed, and generally outdone in every way... (noticing Chase) And what light through yonder window breaks? `Tis the east. And you are...

CHASE (charmed) Chase?

EDWARD Of course you are. And what a grand pursuit you must be. (to Bruce) What do you think of my new invention?

BRUCE What? Oh, it's very impressive.

EDWARD Gracious even in defeat. How vaguely disappointing. When all this could have been ours together.

Edward stills a passing waiter and his tray of champagne. Crystal flutes for all. He toasts Chase.

EDWARD No grape could be more intoxicating than you, my dear. But we make due. To your charms. (clinking hers) Skol.

BRUCE (raising his) Nostrovia.

EDWARD (pausing) La'chiem.

BRUCE (casual) Slanta.

EDWARD Rinka.

BRUCE Banzai.

CHASE I'm drinking.

And she does.

EDWARD I notice you've sub-divided your B coupons. Feeling a little light on principle?

BRUCE Actually, I like to divest just before a major re-capitalization.

EDWARD

I wouldn't race to the bank. Old regimes crumble every day. Life is a cycle. Remember Yeats; turn, turn the widening gyre. The Falconer cannot hear the Falcon...

BRUCE (finishing the poem) And the beast slouches towards Bethelem.

CHASE Excuse me, boys. I'd hate to stop this testosterone flood on my account-

EDWARD Quite right. Shall we dance?

And with that, Edward draws Chase onto to dance floor.

319 As Chase and Edward dance in the b.g. Bruce walks over to 319 one of the displays. Examines a control station for the green beam. Tries to pry open a circuit panel.

SHOWGIRL (OVER) Naughty, naughty.

She slaps his hand playfully. Bruce smiles an apology. Looks around. No other choice. He steps into a beam.

320 EDWARD twirls Chase, watches Bruce enter the beam. He 320 smiles.

321 BRUCE - POV. Colorful planets soar all around him. Suddenly 321 the beam flashes. There, racing towards him, a giant Bat.

322 BACK TO SCENE 322

All beams wink out as GUN FIRE bursts across the room.

TWO-FACE and his Thugs stand at every entrance.

BRUCE backs away, slips towards a service door.

TWO-FACE Alright, folks, this is an old- fashioned, low-tech stick-up. We're interested in the basics: jewelry, cash, watches, high-end cellular phones. Hand 'em over nice and easy and no one gets hurt.

Two-Face's Thugs charge the room. The crowd SCREAMS.

323 EXT. RITZ GOTHAM ALLEY - NIGHT 323

Bruce hand-slides down fire-escapes, hits the alley running.

324 EXT. ALLEY 324

Bruce ducks into the Rolls.

BRUCE Emergency, Alfred.

325 INT. ROLLS 325

A secret panel in the back opens. A Batsuit.

326 INT. PARTY 326

The Thugs circulate quickly, yanking jewels from ears and necks, grabbing wallets and purses, filling sacks.

Ed pushes his way against the crowd, through Two-Face's ring of personal guards and right up to Two-Face's face.

EDWARD You're ruining my big party. Are you insane? Actually, considering your dual persona, let's just forget the question.

TWO-FACE We're sick of waiting for you to deliver The Bat, Riddle boy. You promised us Batman.

EDWARD Patience, oh bifurcated one.

TWO-FACE Screw patience. We want him dead. (looking around) An nothing brings out The Bat like a little mayhem and murder.

EDWARD Oh well, in that case. As long as you were going to rob me, you could have at least let me in on the caper. We could have _organized_ this, _planned it_, pre-sold the movie rights.

(OVER) the CRASH of breaking glass.

327 BATMAN 327

flies in through a window, kicking a row of Thugs down before he lets go his rope and lands on the floor.

EDWARD Harv, babe, I gotta be honest. Your entrance was good. His was better. What's the difference? Showmanship.

Two-Face shoves Edward away, looking for a clean shot. He FIRES a couple of times, but only destroys an ice sculpture and some liquor bottles. More SCREAMS.

328 One huge Thug charges Batman. Batman heaves him overhead, 328 throws him, CRASHING, into a display of stacked Boxes.

VONDELLE (OVER) Batman, Batman, Batman help!

A Thug has a gun to his throat. Batman kicks the weapon out of his hand.

VONDELLE Batman. You're my _God_!!!

329 Another Thug has Chase to a wall, hand around her pearls. 329

BATMAN (OVER) Excuse me.

He head-butts the Thug. The guy goes down.

Chase leans up and kisses him, hard and hot on the mouth. The chemistry here is undeniable.

CHASE Call me.

Batman spins, goes for another group of Thugs.

(OVER) POLICE SIRENS.

TWO-FACE Okay boys. Phase two.

And with that, he and his Thugs race for the elevator. The doors close.

330 (OVER) CHEERS erupt for Batman as he races onto the 330 balcony -- and jumps!

331 BATMAN'S - POV - AERIAL 331

Harvey and Thugs disappear past Under Construction signs, down the stairs of an as yet completed subway station.

332 EXT. RITZ GOTHAM - NIGHT 332

PARTY GUESTS - POV. Gripping the edges of his cape, Batman glides 60 floors down the skyscraper towards the street.

333 Batman plummets into the construction sight. 333

334 INT. DESERTED SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS) 334

Gothic. Deserted. Under construction. Batman hits the platform.

BATMAN - POV. Shadows race down the dark tunnel ahead.

He pursues.

335 TUNNEL 335

Harvey and Thugs, racing away.

THUG Bat's right behind us.

TWO-FACE Excellent.

336 INT. ABANDONED STATION - VENTILATION SHAFT 336

A wide spiral staircase of scaffolding hugs the walls of a tremendous ventilation shaft.

The Thugs race down the steps, knocking out bits of scaffolding as they go, sending entire chunks of already traversed staircase plummeting past them.

PAN UP

Batman arrives on a wide platform of scaffolding at the top of the staircase. His cape whips up around him as if from some low infernal wind.

337 BATMAN - POV. Down the fragmenting staircase, at the bottom 337 of the shaft, a tremendous fan spins, chewing chunks of falling scaffolding and plaster, spitting plumes of dust.

338 TWO-FACE 338

stands at the bottom of the well. He grabs a rack of scaffolding and wrenches the old aluminum supports away.

339 THE PLATFORM 339

where Batman is standing gives way, planks falling, sending Batman tumbling towards the deadly blades below.

340 BATMAN - POV. The giant whirling blades, coming up fast. 340

341 BATMAN falls, stairways and laughing Thugs whipping past. 341 His hand shoots out and grabs

A THUG

by the jacket, wrenching the fabric over the goon's head, jerking him hard into the railing like a human anchor.

Batman climbs the struggling Thug like a ladder, leaps onto the staircase, CRACKS the Thug's head on the rail, then races down the stairs.

342 BOTTOM OF THE SHAFT 342

The remaining Thugs disappear through a dark doorway. Batman runs past the BEATING fan blades into...

343 INT. ABANDONED TUNNEL 343

Dark. Steep and sloping. The Thugs are running dead ahead. Without stopping they begin grabbing pieces of debris, flip them under their feet, begin riding down the descending tunnel like snow-boarders.

Batman races after them.

344 THE SNOWBOARDERS 344

really are good. They ride the rails. The low gas pipes. Even bank the curving sides of the tunnel.

345 A THUG - CLOSE. Looks back to see Batman closing. Mistake. 345

WHIP PAN

as he is clotheslined by a low hanging danger sign. He flies off the snowboard backwards. Out cold.

Batman races past him.

346 The end of the tunnel slopes so drastically the dark maw 346 at the end seems more a pit than a door.

347 The boarders circle and one by one, drop through like 347 bits of filth down a drain.

348 Batman drops into the darkness landing on a small ledge. 348 Beyond a precipitous drop he turns to face...

349 INT. ABANDONED SUBWAY STATION 349

Years ago this cavernous space glistened with immense Gothic statuary, elaborate tile mosaics, tremendous decorative arches and spectacular cathedral ceilings.

No more.

Now the giant space, from floor to ceiling is a frozen maelstrom of twisting cast iron trusses, broken steam pipes, fragmented scaffolding and hanging cables.

350 Down these man-made slopes and obstacles ride the 350 snowboarding Thugs. Cruising pipes. Jumping curved faces of statues. Jacking from scaffold to truss.

351 Batman whips a pair of nun-chucks from his belt over a 351 hanging metal rail, using the chain as a pulley, shoots down a curving rail into the mad dance of twisting steel.

352 A THUG 352

FIRES at him from his whizzing board as it careens along an adjacent piece of scaffolding.

353 BATMAN angles towards him, picking up speed. 353

354 THE THUG banks off some statuary. Takes a few more SHOTS. 354

355 BATMAN shoots around the curve, jumps from one rail to 355 the next, catches the villain in the face with his boot, and sends him flying.

356 ANOTHER THUG shoots past over head. 356

357 BATMAN flips onto another pipe, is closing fast, chasing 357 the Thug towards a loop that banks towards the blackness of an abandoned tunnel.

He is closing on the Thug. Closer. Closer.

358 Suddenly the Thug, hops to a truss, the rail Batman is on 358 whipping him around a curve that banks into the mouth of the tunnel. (OVER) GUNSHOTS.

359 TWO-FACE 359

stands in the shadows, FIRING his machine pistol, blowing a hole in the curving rail directly in front of Batman.

360 The RAIL breaks. 360

Batman flies off directly into the dark tunnel.

361 BATMAN - POV. A rushing darkness. He SMASHES into a wall. 361

362 INT. MOUTH OF TUNNEL 362

Two-Face stands staring into the dark with his Thugs. He grabs an aging valve wheel set into the crumbling wall.

TWO-FACE Nothing worse than a bad case of gas.

He begins to turn the CREAKING wheel.

363 INT. INNER TUNNEL 363

A long forgotten pipe by Batman begins to HISS a thick purple gas.

364 INT. MOUTH OF TUNNEL 364

Two-Face swings a grenade launcher before him. Takes a step back. Aims into the tunnel.

TWO-FACE Lights. Camera. Action.

As his Thugs scramble for cover, Two-Face FIRES. The grenade flies into the tunnel, SLAMMING into the gas main. AN EXPLOSION.

Suddenly a tremendous secondary EXPLOSION. Debris falls everywhere as the gas ignites, the mouth of the tunnel suddenly brightening into a flaming white fireball.

365 INT. TUNNEL 365

The huge fireball rushes towards Batman. Batman wraps himself in his cape.

366 HAND - CLOSE. As he reaches to his utility belt. Presses a 366 stud there.

367 His cape begins to run and flow like water morphing into 367 a protective sphere just as...

368 A tremendous fireball ROARS races down the tunnel 368 engulfing Batman in a world of flame.

369 INT. MOUTH OF TUNNEL 369

Two-Face stands staring into the inferno.

Billowing smoke, residual flame and falling debris everywhere. No Batman. A moment of dead quiet.

TWO-FACE Finally.

Then Two-Face's smirk vanishes.

THUG It can't be.

370 REVERSE ANGLE 370

A shape rises, phoenix-like, out of the flames. The figure moves forward.

371 BATMAN - CLOSE. As his cape parts over his face. 371

WIDER

He lifts his arms, the cape splitting down the center, reverting to it's original form, arms going wide to familiar wings.

The Bat heads towards Two-Face and his men.

372 TWO-FACE - CLOSE. Consumed with rage. 372

He grabs a section of the wall's support scaffolding and begins to wrench it free with crazed fury.

TWO-FACE Why won't you just die?!

In a final rage of maniacal fury, Harvey wrenches the scaffolding free. It's ancient supports gone...

373 THE CEILING 373

begins to crack and fall, debris pouring in at an ever more furious pace.

BATMAN is suddenly doused in a rain of rock and sand.

374 THE TUNNEL 374

between Harvey and Batman is obstructed by tons of falling metal and plaster and sand. TWO-FACE stands as the ceiling falls all around him.

375 BATMAN is driven down by a storm of wreckage. 375

376 TWO-FACE can barely contain his joy. Plaster and rubble 376 fall ever more furiously.

377 BATMAN stumbles as the ground beneath him suddenly gives, 377 sucking him into a quickly filling pit of sand and tile.

He reaches for his utility belt but its too late.

378 BATMAN is nearly buried, sand coming up over his mouth, 378 his eyes, until finally he is gone.

379 TWO-FACE stands watching, eyes full of childish delight. 379

The floor in front of him begins to give way, running with deep cracks.

TWO-FACE Boys, let's go have us a party. (turning) Anybody else feel like donuts?

Harvey and his men head away, up out of the tunnels.

380 THE SAND PIT - CLOSE. Still. No motion. 380

A gloved hand breaks the surface, clutching a Batarang. A weak flip of the wrist.

The Batarang hist the sand.

The hand goes limp. A beat. Another. Suddenly...

A GREEN GLOVED HAND - CLOSE. Grabs Batman's hand.

WIDER

Dick hangs on a wire above Batman in an aerialist's maneuver. He secures his grip and pulls.

DICK - CLOSE. Straining.

Suddenly, Batman's face breaks the sand.

Dick uses the leverage of his body on the rope to pull harder. Batman begins to rise. Free.

The two face each other. Hands still clasped.

381 INT. BATCAVE - LATER 381

Bruce sits in his robe being bandaged by Alfred. Dick is pacing.

BRUCE What the hell did you think you were doing?

DICK You have a real gratitude problem. You know that, Bruce? I need a name. Batboy? The Dark Earl? What's a good side kick name?

BRUCE How about Richard Grayson, college student?

DICK ...I missed Two-Face by a heartbeat. When we catch him, you gotta let me kill him!

BRUCE We don't kill. Killing is what damns you. It-. What am I talking about? This conversation is over. You're going away to school.

DICK I saved your life. You owe me. So either you let me be your partner or I'm going after Harvey on my own.

And with that Dick turns and storms out of the Batcave.

BRUCE It's starting all over again, Alfred. Another boy lost to rage. And it's my fault. If Harvey hadn't come gunning for me at the circus...His family...

Bruce glances at Gotham Times, of Headline- "Bat More Harm Than Good?"

BRUCE Maybe they're right.

ALFRED Which `they' might that be, sir?

BRUCE Jack Napier's dead. My parents are avenged. The Wayne Foundation contributes a small fortune to police and crime prevention programs.

Bruce touches a cowl resting on the control panel.

BRUCE Why do I keep doing this?

ALFRED Why, indeed?

BRUCE Could I let Batman go? For Dick. For me. Could I leave the shadows? Have a life. Friends. Family...

ALFRED Dr. Meridian...

Bruce touches his lips, the spot Chase kissed Batman.

BRUCE (pained) She's the first woman in a long time that's... No. She's the first woman ever. And she loves Batman. Not Bruce Wayne. If I let go of Batman I'll lose her.

ALFRED Perhaps. Perhaps not. Why not ask the lady?

BRUCE How? As Batman, knowing she wants me? Or as Bruce Wayne and hope...?

Bruce reaches to the phone. Hits an autodial key. (OVER) TONES as the phone begins to dial.

PHONE (CHASE) Hello?..Hello?..Who is this?

He disconnects the phone.

BRUCE Who am I Alfred? I don't think I know anymore.

382 INT. CHASE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 382

Dark. Moonlight through curtains. Night SOUNDS.

Chase lays asleep in bed. A shadow crosses her face. She stirs.

REVERSE ANGLE

At the french doors to her bedroom stands a familiar silhouette. Batman.

Chase rises, moves across the room, the pale light catching her white nightgown. She pulls the doors wide.

Chase faces him, bodies close. She reaches up, touches his mask. Kisses him. His cape WHIPS around her.

THE KISS - CLOSE. Passionate. Sustained. Chase pulls away.

CHASE I'm sorry. (sorry) I can't believe it. I've imagined this moment since I first saw you. (touching his glove) Your hands. (touching his mask) Your face. (touching his chest) Your body.

She turns, walks across the room.

CHASE And now I have you and.... (shaking her head) Guess a girl has to grow up sometime.

She comes back to him, touches his cheek.

CHASE I've met someone. He's not...you. But... I hope you can understand.

He sees now that over her desk, her Batman's memorabilia has been replaced by photos and files on Bruce Wayne.

BATMAN - CLOSE. Smiles.

Then he's over the balcony and gone, a shadow on the wing in the dead of night.

383 INT. CLAW ISLAND CONTROL CENTER - DAY 383

On his throne, in his sphere, electronically getting more brilliant every second, Edward fills all his screens with Chase's image from the party.

HIS BRAIN - CLOSE. Rivulets of neural energy ripple and dance as his brain grows under his magenta hair.

Suddenly Two-Face gets him by the throat.

TWO-FACE You know, Ed, we woke up this morning, we just knew we were gonna kill something. The Bat got away. Looks like it's gonna be you.

Two-Face draws his gun with his free hand. Trains it on Riddler's head. By the look in his eyes, he's serious.

TWO-FACE Why do we need you? You only come between us. We can be the smartest person in Gotham City. We want the empire for ourselves. Time's up, laughing boy.

RIDDLER Kill me? Well, alright. Go ahead. Take the empire. All yours. (grabbing his own head) Hell, Harv, old pals. I'll kill me for you.

Riddler grabs his hair, starts SLAMMING his own head into the desk-top.

RIDDLER Too...bad...about...Batman.

Harvey grabs his head. Stops him.

TWO-FACE What about Batman?

Riddler smooths his hair.

RIDDLER What if you could know a man's mind? Would you not then own that man?

Riddler hits a switch. Suddenly his screens fill with the image of Bruce stepping into the simulation at the party.

RIDDLER A few dozen extra IQ points and my little invention learned a new trick. It does more than drain your brain. It makes a map of your mind.

The screens change, now showing a turning schematic of a brain, alive with neural lightning.

RIDDLER Would you like to see what my old friend Bruce has in his head.

384 Riddler hits a switch. Another image pulls free from the 384 schematic brain. A trapped bat. Fierce. Monstrous. The very picture of imagined evil, made live. Bruce's nightmare.

RIDDLER Riddle me this, what kind of man has bats on the brain?

Two-Face stares at him.

RIDDLER Go ahead. You can say it.

TWO-FACE You're a genius.

The tow begin to LAUGH.

385 CLOSE ON BAT 385

It's a fake one on top of a pole.

386 CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL 386

Group of YOUNG KIDS in Halloween costumes running through GOTHAM CEMETERY - DUSK

Two gravestones alone on a hill under a tree.

The kids pass Bruce who is visiting his family's graves.

KIDS Happy Halloween.

BRUCE Happy Halloween.

Bruce lays two roses on Thomas and Martha Wayne's graves.

BATMAN ...Tonight it ends.

387 DICK (OVER) 387 What the hell do you mean, it ends?

WIDER

INT. BATCAVE

Bruce and Dick are in mid-conversation.

BRUCE From this day on, Batman is no more.

Bruce hits a switch. The machines in the cave go dark.

DICK You can't-.

BRUCE Dick, let go. Revenge will eat you alive. Trust me. I know.

DICK But what about all the good we can do? There are monsters out there. Gotham needs us.

BRUCE And when you finally get Two-Face?

Dick looks away.

BRUCE Exactly. And once you'd killed him you'd be lost. Like me. (off the cave) All this has to be a choice. Otherwise...it's a curse.

DICK Bruce, you can't.

BRUCE Chase is coming for dinner. Why don't you join us.

And with that, Bruce turns, heads up into the house. Dick stands all alone in the still, dark cave.

(OVER) A doorbell RINGS.

388 EXT. WAYNE MANOR 388

Alfred opens the doors to the Trick or Treaters we saw earlier. Hands out bags of candy.

389 EXT. WAYNE MANOR - ACCESS ROAD 389

A mysterious van sits parked on the gravel byway.

390 INT. VAN 390

Two-Face, Riddler, and men sit watching the manor.

391 RIDDLER - POV. A taxi pulls up. Chase emerges as the Trick 391 or Treaters leave.

392 RIDDLER 392 And today not even my birthday.

Two-Face couldn't care less about Chase. He tosses his 393 coin. HOLD ON the spinning faces as (OVER) we hear... 393

TWO-FACE Bruce, Batman. Bruce, Batman.

394 INT. COSTUME VAULT, BATCAVE - NIGHT 394

Opens with a HISS. Dick passes the Batman costumes until he comes to a standing figure different from the rest.

His Robin costume. He packs to leave forever.

395 EXT. WAYNE ESTATE 395

Dick rides his motorcycle through the protective hologram of the trees, heading away into the dark night.

396 INT. WAYNE MANOR - DINING ALCOVE - NIGHT 396

Intensely romantic. Filled with live roses, Alfred leaves having served an intimate candlelight dinner to Bruce and Chase.

BRUCE There's something I want to talk with you about. It's...Well, we.. I...

CHASE Okay, tiger, take it slow. You going to give me your pin or something?

Bruce LAUGHS. He's obviously having trouble.

CHASE Let me go first, okay? I think I've found something. About your dreams. I pulled the files on your parents' murders. There was a missing diary, Bruce. Alfred told the police your father always kept it on his desk. But the day after the murders, it was gone. Maybe that's the book you're-

But Bruce isn't listening. He's pressing his eyes. Hard.

397 BRUCE - POV. A series of images. The coffins. The book. The 397 run through the stormy night. The fall. The bat.

398 CHASE 398 What is it? What's wrong?

BRUCE Flashes. Images. Of that night.

CHASE Your memories are repressed. They're trying to break through. Relax. Try to remember-.

BRUCE I don't want to remember!

CHASE Stop fighting.

A long beat. Then Bruce Wayne surrenders, leans back. Closes his eyes. Remembers.

BRUCE My parents are laid out in the library. Their skin smells like talcum powder. I'm so small. My father's diary is on his desk like always. I'm opening the book. Reading. I'm running out into the storm. The book is in my hands. I can't hear my screams over the rain. I'm falling...

CHASE What does it say? What hurts so much, Bruce? What does the book say?

BRUCE I don't-.

CHASE You do know. Try.

Bruce opens his eyes. Clear. He remembers.

BRUCE The last entry read, Bruce insists on seeing a movie tonight. (a beat) Bruce insists. I made them go out. I made them take me to the movie. To that theater... (finally) It was my fault. I killed them.

CHASE Oh God, Bruce, you were a child. You weren't responsible.

BRUCE (to himself) ...Not the bat?

CHASE What?

BRUCE I always thought it was the bat that scared me that night that changed my life. But it wasn't. The real fear was hiding underneath: what I read in the journal, that my parents' deaths were my fault. That's what I couldn't remember. That's the crime I've been paying for all these years.

CHASE What are you talking about?

BRUCE Chase. There's something I need to tell you--

(OVER) The doorbell RINGS.

399 FRONT DOOR 399

Alfred peers out to a sea of Halloween Masks.

LITTLE VOICE Trick or Treat?

Alfred grabs his candy bags as he opens the door to...

400 The Riddler, Two-Face and the Thugs. 400

RIDDLER Trick.

He CRACKS Alfred on the head with his cane. Down he goes.

TWO-FACE (to his thugs) Get the girl.

401 INT. DINING ALCOVE 401

(OVER) A COMMOTION.

BRUCE What the hell?

Thugs appear at both doorways.

Bruce moves fast as he grabs a silver serving tray, flips it into one of the screaming Thugs' faces, swings the platter into the other's head. Two down.

Bruce grabs Chase's hand and they're out the door, racing fast, several more henchmen in close pursuit.

402 MEANWHILE 402

The Riddler uses the scanner in the head of his cane to locate and open the secret door to the Batcave.

403 INT. HALLWAY 403

Bruce and Chase race towards the stairway. Bruce pulls standing display suits of armor to the floor as he goes, blocking the Thugs' way.

404 INT. BAT CAVE 404

Riddler has found heaven. From his pouch he produces tiny green bombs shaped like bats. He winds one up, its head SCREECHING with each twist of the neck, lets it fly.

RIDDLER What's that I hear?

405 Like a tiny bat, the first bomb flies into the video 405 wall. A tremendous EXPLOSION.

406 RIDDLER 406 Why it must be the fat lady getting ready to sing.

407 The next bat-bomb flaps into the costume vault. BLOWS 407 408 it completely. The crime lab EXPLODES next. 408

409 The Riddler winds a bunch of bat-bombs now, lets them 409 fly. The tiny green bats sail high forming a giant question mark in mid-air before plummeting suddenly in formation down into the cockpit of the Batmobile.

410 RIDDLER 410 (Jack's favorite line) Gonna have a hot time in the old town tonight. (a beat) Who used to say that? Somebody always used to say that.

411 The car EXPLODES. 411

412 INT. WAYNE MANOR - GRAND STAIRCASE 412

Bruce and Chase flee up the giant staircase, the Thugs a step behind. One two-toned bad-guy leaps forward, gets a fistful of Chase's dress. She goes down. Looks like she's done for. At the last moment, Chase gives a mighty kick and the Thug topples backwards, down the stairs.

Bruce is holding off a couple more, closing near the top step. He spins, a powerful roundhouse clocking one in the head, sending him backwards down the stairs.

BRUCE Go!

Chase moves behind him, up to the landing, turns to see Bruce fell another with a spinning back kick, a third with a flying back-fist.

Bruce and Chase race to the top of the stairs.

413 TWO-FACE stands on the floor below. Just the moment he's been waiting for.

TWO-FACE See ya.

He SHOOTS. The bullet grazes Bruce's head. He falls down the grand staircase.

CHASE SCREAMS as Thugs grab her.

BRUCE hits the floor. Hard. No movement. None at all.

TWO-FACE Bruce, you sure know how to throw a party.

Two-Face stands over the prostrate form. Draws his gun. SLAMS in a new clip of ammo.

RIDDLER (OVER) Sheath your weapon my impetuous cohort.

414 Riddler has appeared from the Batcave. 414

TWO-FACE We want to dust him. We truly want to dust him bad.

RIDDLER Oh yes, and certainly _WE_ will!

Riddler walks over to the unconscious Wayne. Kneels. Looks at him, tender, like a lover. Caresses his face.

RIDDLER My poor sweet hero.

He stands, kicks him hard in the rib cage. Bones CRACK.

RIDDLER We'll kill him alright. But first... (calling) Boys.

With that, the Thugs drag out a freshly bound Chase.

CHASE Bruce!

Riddler drops an envelope (RIDDLE #4) on Bruce.

RIDDLER ...We're going to make him suffer.

415 INT. BATCAVE 415

Sputtering. Burning.

416 THE COSTUME VAULT 416

BATSUIT - CLOSE. Surrounded by licking flames, the Bat emblem begins to melt.

DISSOLVE TO

417 BRUCE'S EYE - CLOSE 417

418 ZOOM IN 418

as we fall again into a dark hole, the Monarch Bat flying straight at the CAMERA, his red eye filling the SCREEN.

DISSOLVE TO

419 BRUCE'S EYE - CLOSE 419

WIDER

420 INT. BRUCE'S BEDROOM - MORNING 420

Bruce is in bed, head bandaged. Alfred is walking a doctor to the door.

DOCTOR The injuries are relatively minor. The shot did cause a concussion. Watch for headaches. Memory lapses. Odd behavior. I'll check back in a few days.

Alfred ushers him out, returns to Bruce's bedside.

ALFRED How are you feeling, young man?

BRUCE Not that young. It's been a long time since you've called me that.

ALFRED Old habits die hard. Are you alright?

BRUCE As well as can be expected, I guess. Give me the bad news.

ALFRED Dick has run away. They have taken Dr. Meridian. And I'm afraid they found the cave, sir. It's been destroyed.

Bruce looks up at Alfred, eyes narrow, puzzled.

BRUCE The case? What cave?

421 EXT. POLICE HEADQUARTERS ROOFTOP 421

The Batsignal lights the sky. Gordon paces.

GORDON Where is he?

A concerned DEPUTY emerges onto the roof.

DEPUTY The Mayor's called again. (off the signal) He's not going to show. Maybe he's hurt sir. Maybe he's--.

GORDON No! (not so sure) ...No.

422 INT. BATCAVE 422

Or what's left of it. Melted ruin and rubble. Bruce stands with a worried Alfred, surveying the landscape.

BRUCE (disbelieving) I'm Batman? I remember my life as Bruce Wayne. (looking around) But all this. It's like the life of a stranger.

ALFRED Perhaps the fall...

BRUCE There's one other thing. I feel..

ALFRED What?

BRUCE ...Afraid.

ALFRED Bruce. Son. Listen to me. You are a kind man. A strong man. But in truth you are not the most sane man.

BRUCE ...A bat.

ALFRED What?

BRUCE I remember a bat. A monster. A demon. Chasing me. (child's terror) Oh my God, Alfred.

ALFRED No demons, son. (touching his head) Your monsters are here. Until you fact that, I fear you will spend your life fleeing them.

423 INT. RIDDLER'S CONTROL ROOM 423

Riddler sits on his throne, absorbing pulses of neural energy, his head growing.

RIDDLER It's happy time Gotham. Have you hugged your little boxes today? (singing) I'm in heaven. I'm in heaven with a girl like you.

424 WIDER 424

Chase has been chained to the floor of his throne.

CHASE Batman will come for me.

RIDDLER (singing) Someday my bat will come. Some day my bat will come. (suddenly lethal) I'm counting on it.

He puts his face close to Chase's.

CHASE You're frying your brain.

RIDDLER Nap time gorgeous.

The Riddler draws a hypo filled with green liquid. He plunges it into her neck as she passes out.

425 INT. BATCAVE 425

Bruce stands before a dark, rocky mouth. Through this passage, the cave as it once was, sweating granite, a shifting world of shadow.

Bruce steps inside.

426 INT. INNER BATCAVE 426

FAVOR BRUCE as he walks deeper into the darkness. The walls around him undulate, as if covered in water.

427 WALLS - CLOSER. The movement isn't water at all. It's the 427 restless shrugging of bats. Thousands of bats.

428 Bruce presses on. Sweat beads on his face. 428

Ahead, a diffusion of moonlight illuminates a curving rock chamber, bats here too bringing the walls to life.

Bruce moves into the moonlight. Looks up.

429 BRUCE - POV. A narrow chute. The fall he took as a child. 429

He kneels, there on the floor, worn by years of weather, a single book. A diary.

Bruce kneels, touches the leather cover, fingers lingering for a moment on his father's embossment, before he turns yellowed pages to the last entry. Painfully, by moonlight, he reads.

BRUCE (OVER) (dreaded confirmation) Bruce insists on seeing a movie tonight...

He pauses, gathers himself. He continues.

BRUCE (OVER) But Martha and I have our hearts set on Zorro, so Bruce's cartoon will have to wait until next week.

Bruce stares at the book in disbelief. Then he looks up at the moonlight, tears streaming down his face.

BRUCE ...Not my fault. It wasn't my fault.

430 Suddenly, in the darkness ahead, a dark shape moves, head 430 rising, slits opening to reveal two blood red eyes.

The giant monarch bat spreads its wings, huge, as it rises, suddenly airborne, rushing toward him.

431 BRUCE - CLOSE. And terrified. He turns to run. The bat's 431 flapping wings BEAT like drums, closing fast.

Bruce holds his ground. Resolved. He turns and faces the monster, SCREECHING towards him, glistening fangs barely inches from his face.

Something remarkable happens. The bat holds its position, stares into Bruce's eyes, wings spreading wide.

A beat. Then Bruce raises his arms, a living mirror. The two stand facing each other, man and bat. In the moon- light on the wall, their shadows begin to blend, to merge, becoming one _SHIMMERING WHITE LIGHT!_

432 INT. BATCAVE 432

The mouth of the inner cave. A sudden SCREAMING DIN as a storm of bats explode into the cave, a shooting column of life and there, from within, steps a man.

433 REVERSE ANGLE 433

ALFRED stands at the entrance.

ALFRED Master, Bruce?

BRUCE ...Batman, Alfred. I'm Batman.

434 EXT. NIGHT SKY 434

The Batsignal shines. Suddenly the air above the familiar circle begins to shimmer and glow, becoming...

A giant green question mark. The Batsignal itself is now just the small period at the symbol's bottom.

435 INT. BATCAVE - NIGHT 435

Bruce stands at the ruined control platform. Riddles are spread before him. Including the most recent.

BRUCE All the answers are numbers.

ALFRED But 1, 3, 1, 8, & 5. What do they mean?

BRUCE What do maniacs always want?

ALFRED Recognition, of course.

BRUCE Precisely. So this number is probably some kind of calling card.

Bruce stares at the numbers. Adds them: 18. Squares them: 1916425. No luck. Starts again, separating them: 13/18/5.

BRUCE Letters in the alphabet.

ALFRED Of course. 13 is M....MRE.

BRUCE How about, MR. E.

ALFRED Mystery.

BRUCE And another name for Mystery?

ALFRED Enigma.

BRUCE Exactly. Mr. E. Mister Edward Nygma.

436 INT. STONE STAIRCASE 436

Bruce leads Alfred through a secret stairway.

BRUCE Good thing Mr. E. didn't know about the cave under the cave.

437 INT. SUBTERRANEAN CAVE 437

Dark, jagged, surrounded by water. Here, the Batwing and Batboat are stored.

ALFRED What now sir?

BRUCE Claw Island. Nygma's headquarters. I'm sure that's where they're keeping Chase. (realizing) Are all the Batsuits destroyed?

ALFRED All except the prototype with the sonar modifications you so disapprove of. But it hasn't yet been tested.

BRUCE Tonight's a good night.

438 CLOSE ON - Batman's fist being shoved into a new gauntlet. 438

439 CLOSE ON - Batman's new boot snapping shut. 439

440 CLOSE ON - the improved Utility Belt buckling on firmly. 440

441 CLOSE ON - the new cowl sliding down over Batman's head. 441

442 PULL BACK TO REVEAL 442

The Batman - a darker enemy to fear.

BATMAN What do you suggest, Alfred. By see or by air?

DICK (OVER) Why not both?

A figure steps out of the shadows. Dick.

The cape is now black, yellow on the inside only. A red armored vest compliments green tights with knee armor, a utility belt and flexible black boots.

BATMAN Dick... Where did you get that suit?

ALFRED I...um..took the liberty, sir.

DICK I thought you could use a friend.

Bruce stares at him a beat.

BATMAN Not a friend.

He extends his hand.

BATMAN A partner.

The Dynamic Duo clasp hands.

443 EXT. WAYNE MANOR - TENNIS COURT - NIGHT 443

Fast clouds. Bowing trees.

Suddenly, the entire tennis court slides away.

The Batwing rises into the night sky.

444 EXT. STORM DRAIN 444

The Batboat hits the water.

445 EXT. ROOFTOP OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT 445

Commissioner Gordon and his deputy, standing vigil under the false moon of the Batsignal.

GORDON (finally) He's not coming. Shut it down.

The Deputy reaches for the power switch. Suddenly, a ROAR cuts the night.

446 ANGLE UP TO 446

The Batsignal. The ROAR grows louder. Light and shadow dance, for a second it seems the Batsignal itself is flying toward us. Suddenly --

The Batwing bursts _through_ the signal.

447 The dark plane BUZZES Police Headquarters, dipping a wing 447 to Gordon.

448 A triumphant Gordon waves Batman onward. 448

449 INT. COCKPIT 449

Working the controls, Batman is back.

450 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR - NIGHT 450

Still, night waters.

Suddenly, the Batboat, running silent and dark, cuts across the harbor.

451 Dick is at the helm, wearing night-vision goggles. 451

452 DICK'S POV -- INFRA-RED. Claw Island looms ahead. 452

453 SEARCHLIGHTS 453

atop the island headquarters pop on, one by one, flooding the water with light.

454 INT. RIDDLER'S CONTROL CENTER - NIGHT 454

The Riddler and Two-Face stand clutching controls on opposite sides of a holographically generated game of Battleship.

Each is firing tiny blips at the small dot crossing the floating screen.

RIDDLER A-14.

TWO-FACE Miss.

455 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR - NIGHT 455

A mortar EXPLODES aft of the Batboat, shooting a WATER SPOUT high in the sky.

456 INT. RIDDLER'S CONTROL CENTER - NIGHT 456

TWO-FACE B-12.

RIDDLER A miss. And my favorite vitamin, I might add.

457 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR 457

Another EXPLOSION to stern.

Dick is thrown as a third shell hits the Batboat. The craft EXPLODES.

458 INT. NYGMATECH - RECREATION ROOM 458

TWO-FACE A hit.

RIDDLER You sunk my battleship.

459 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR - NIGHT 459

Dick slips a re-breather into his mouth. Dives underwater, starts to swim towards Claw Island.

460 UNDERWATER 460

A SPEAR shoots past leaving a trail of bubbles. Another.

461 A HIDDEN BUNKER 461

issues a stream of armed frogmen.

462 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR - NIGHT 462

The BATWING soars over the water.

463 INT. BATWING COCKPIT 463

INFRA-RED SCREEN - CLOSE

A Dick blip, besieged underwater by frogmen blips.

464 EXT. CLAW ISLAND - NIGHT 464

A laser shoots from the top of the stronghold, neatly 465 severing one of the Batwing's wings. 465

466 EXT. BATWING - GOTHAM HARBOR - NIGHT 466

The Batwing dives straight into the river.

467 INT. COCKPIT 467

BATMAN - POV - THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN. The water comes up fast, a rushing EXPLOSION.

468 EXT. GOTHAM HARBOR - UNDERWATER 468

Dark panels shift, sealing wheel hubs, growing sleek fins as the Batwing morphs now into the Batsub.

469 UNDERWATER 469

Two frogmen hold Dick by arms and legs as several more swim towards him with exposed knives.

470 THE BATSUB 470

BLASTS over an underwater reef.

471 A TORPEDO TUBE - CLOSE. FIRES a dark rocket towards the 471 frogmen at blinding speed.

472 A FROGMAN - CLOSE. Spins. 472

473 FROGMAN'S POV - THROUGH MASK. The torpedo racing towards 473 him unfurls to reveal...Batman.

474 BATMAN'S FIST smashes the glass of the Frogman's mask. 474

475 THE THUG rises in a mass of bubbles. 475

476 DICK uses the distraction and kicks free. Batman and Dick 476 take on the frogmen, hand to hand.

477 EXT. CLAW ISLAND SHORE - NIGHT 477

Batman and Dick break the surface. Dick discards his re- breather. Climbs onto the shore.

DICK Holy rusted metal, Batman.

BATMAN What?

Dick takes a few steps forward, kneels.

DICK (off the rusted floor) The ground. It's metal and its full of holes. You know. Holey.

BATMAN This place was a refueling station for subs during the war...

Just as Batman starts to climb out of the water (OVER) a horrendous CRUNCHING as Dick begins to rise.

478 WIDER 478

The island surface is actually the top of a tremendous metal sphere balanced atop an enormous cylindrical oil tank, rising, now, fast out of the water.

BATMAN Dick.

479 Batman throws a Batarang but it glances off the side of 479 the sphere.

480 WIDER 480

Batman stands staring up at Dick, who stands alone atop the metal sphere now near five stories high.

No way up. Batman spots a rusting access panel in the giant support cylinder. He RIPS it off and climbs inside.

481 EXT. DOME 481

Dick stands looking down at the ocean.

TWO-FACE (OVER) The Bat or the Bird. We couldn't decide who got to kill who. (a beat) Or is it whom?

Dick spins. Two-Face has emerged from a hatch atop the dome. He stands smiling at Dick, a knife in his hands.

TWO-FACE We flipped for it. We got you.

Two-Face's leap is savage, catching Dick by the throat.

482 WIDER 482

The two slide down the sloping edge of the dome, their descent stopped by a narrow, rusting metal lip.

Two-Face SMASHES Dick's head into the side of the dome. Once. Twice. Three times.

TWO-FACE What's wrong, circus-boy? No mommy and daddy to save you?

Two-Face raises his blade over the dazed Dick. Brings it down fast.

Dick rolls clear, the blade wedging into the rusted metal surface. All the time Dick needs. He back-flips erect, kicks Two-Face hard in the head.

DICK For my mother.

A flying front kick to the chin.

DICK For my father.

A spinning back kick knocking him to his knees.

DICK For Chris.

Dick hauls off and smashes him in the face.

DICK For me.

The punch sends Two-Face rolling down the side of the dome, fingers raking sloping steel, finding no purchase.

483 At the last second, Two-Face grabs a small metal dimple 483 on the belly of the dome's curve, hanging on for dear life, feet kicking wildly over the abyss.

TWO-FACE The scales are tipped. The blindfold torn from the lady's eyes. Justice will be served.

The rusting metal bulge starts to tear and break.

TWO-FACE You're a man after my own heart, son.

The metal breaks free.

TWO-FACE (grinning) See you in hell.

Two-Face's hands tear through the rust. He falls.

484 DICK'S HAND grabs him.

WIDER

Dick hoists him to safety.

DICK No. I'd rather see you in jail.

TWO-FACE The Bat's taught you well. Noble.

Two-Face spins, a gun suddenly in his hand, pressing now into the flesh between Dick's eyes.

TWO-FACE A mistake. But definitely noble.

Two-Face COCKS the trigger.

485 INT. CYLINDER 485

Immense. Empty. Just the CRASHING surf and rocks below. Batman looks up. The ceiling is...

486 A GIANT STEEL GRATE flush with the sides of the cylinder. 486 Batman loads a Batarang into his launcher. FIRES.

487 THE BATARANG flies high, secures purchase on the grate. 487

488 BATMAN attaches the cable to the winch on his belt. 488 Begins rising fast.

489 THE GRATE BOLTS 489

EXPLODE, causing the giant grate to fall towards Batman.

490 BATMAN twirls on the rope so he is rising upside down, 490 his feet racing towards the plummeting grate. He hits a switch on his utility belt-

491 THRUSTERS 491

on his new Batsuit ROCKET him feet first towards the descending grate.

492 IMPACT! The grate flips like a pie pan. Batman lets go of 492 the wire, cutting his thrusters and tumbling in mid-air so his hands now extend before him. He grabs one of the steel girders in the darkness overhead.

493 Batman hangs, watching the now dislodged grate fall to 493 the watery depth below. A beat. He hoists himself onto a steel platform to face...

494 INT. RIDDLER'S CONTROL ROOM 494

The Riddler sits across the room in his throne, a huge antenna shooting up into the night sky behind him through a round hole in the dome. A large ring of Green Neon encircles him, feeding him more and more brain power.

RIDDLER Welcome to my parlor said the Riddler to the Bat. How's tricks?

BATMAN No more tricks, Edward. Release Chase and Dick. This is between you and me.

Two-Face steps from behind The Riddler.

TWO-FACE And me and me.

BATMAN (off the antenna) ...Of course. The Box does more than enhance neural energy. You've been sucking Gotham's brainwaves.

RIDDLER And now it's new. Improved. Better than ever.

495 SCREENS - CLOSE - Endless schematics of flickering brains. 495

496 BATMAN 496 ...The jolt I felt in the beam at your party. (getting it) You've devised a way to map the human brain. To read men's minds.

RIDDLER Oh, Bruce, you are clever. How fitting that numbers lead you to me. For numbers will crown me king. My Box will sit on countless TV's around the globe, mapping brains, giving me credit card numbers. Bank codes. Safe combinations. Numbers of infidelities. Of crimes. Of lies told. No secret is safe from my watchful electronic eye. I will rule the planet. For if knowledge is power then tremble world, Edward Nygma has become a God. (to Harvey) Was that over the top? I can never tell... (to Batman) By the way, B-man, I got _your_ number.

497 SCREENS - CLOSE form a towering picture of Batman. 497

498 OTHER SCREENS - CLOSE form a towering picture of Bruce. 498

499 The images collide, forming a half Bruce, half Batman. 499

RIDDLER I've seen your mind. Yours is the greatest Riddle of all. Can Bruce Wayne and Batman ever truly coexist? Stop me if I'm wrong here.

Batman remains stoic, but The Riddler is right on.

RIDDLER So let's help you decide, once and for all, who you really are. Behind Curtain #1...

A curtain rises: Chase in a cylinder, bound unconscious.

RIDDLER The captivating Dr. Chase Meridian. Love of Bruce Wayne's life. Behind curtain #2...

Another curtain reveals: Dick in similar peril.

RIDDLER Batman's one and only partner. (a beat) Below, my personal favorite...

500 TRAP DOORS 500

beneath Chase and Dick open wide. ANGLE DOWN to the jagged rocks and crashing surf below.

RIDDLER A watery grave!

501 A BUTTON - CLOSE. Shaped like a glowing green skull. 501

502 RIDDLER 502 A simple touch and five seconds later these two day players are so much gull feed on the rocks below. Not enough time to save them both. So who will it be? Bruce's love? Batman's partner? You decide. Is this fun or what?

BATMAN Edward, you've become a monster.

RIDDLER You flatter me. No monster. Just The Riddler, and here's yours. What is without taste or sound, all around, but can't be found? On your mark, get set...

The Riddler reaches for the button. Batman steps forward.

503 ANGLE from the water below. 503

The floor between where Batman stands and the Riddler's throne platform is translucent. A hologram masking a tremendous gap. Batman is about to step into an abyss.

504 Batman stops short. Looks up at Riddler. 504

BATMAN Death. (louder) Death. Without taste, sound and all around us. (getting it) Because there is no way for me to save them or myself. This is one giant death trap.

RIDDLER Excellent. See. Who says a guy in a rubber suit can't be smart? Well, it's been grand. Sorry you all have to die now.

Riddler touches the skull button. (OVER) A SCREECH.

Batman looks up.

505 HIGH ABOVE the Riddler's antenna a giant monarch bat 505 glides across the night.

506 THE BAT - CLOSE. 506

507 BATMAN - CLOSE. No fear. A moment of communion. 507

BATMAN Wait. I have a riddle for you.

RIDDLER For _me_? Really? Tell me.

BATMAN I see without seeing. To me, darkness is as clear as daylight. What am I?

RIDDLER Oh please. You're blind as a bat.

BATMAN Exactly!

Batman SLAMS his Utility Belt, releasing a high energy Batarang which he hurls at the Riddler's huge antenna.

508 THE BATARANG 508

SMASHES into the Riddler's antenna. A tremendous EXPLOSION of sparks as the transceiver short circuits.

RIDDLER No!

The room goes pitch black.

509 RIDDLER'S FINGER - CLOSE. Hits the skull button. 509

510 DICK AND CHASE 510

drop, plummet through space.

511 BATMAN - CLOSE. Two metal lids SHUT over Batman's eyes. 511

512 BATMAN'S POV - INSIDE THE MASK 512

Small sonar screens on the back of Batman's eyepieces reveal the phantom floor and the wild criss-cross of interconnected steel beams and the crashing ocean below.

513 BATMAN 513

throws another Batarang, which lassos a beam overhead, swings forward, grabbing a falling Chase as he passes, depositing her on a steel platform.

514 BATMAN - POV (SONAR SCREENS). Dick drops to certain death. 514

515 BATMAN 515

dives towards the sea below as he whips another Batarang 516 around a passing girder. He catches Dick just above the 516 rocks precisely as the Batrope pulls taught, using the bat-winch to shoot them back up to the platform.

517 BATMAN - POV (SONAR SCREENS) 517

As he rests Dick on the platform beside Chase. Suddenly his world flares a blinding white.

518 TWO-FACE 518

stands on the platform before him, a halogen light strapped around his head, blinding Batman's sensors.

Two-Face brandishes his gun.

TWO-FACE All those heroics for nothing. No more riddles, no more curtains one and two. Just plain old curtains.

He COCKS the trigger.

BATMAN Haven't you forgotten something, Harvey? You're always of two minds about everything....

The handsome side of Harvey's face turns toward them.

TWO-FACE Oh. Emotion is so often the enemy of justice. Thank you, Bruce.

He takes out his famous coin and flips it. Batman starts to reach for his Utility Belt, to out-smart Two-Face. But as the coin flies high up in the air, it comes down just a hair too far away.

TWO-FACE No!

519 As Two-Face reaches out to catch it, he loses his balance 519 and falls to the rocks and angry sea below.

BATMAN Help Chase. I'll be back.

CHASE (groggy) Did Two-Face call him Bruce?

DICK Of course not.

520 Batman starts scaling girders, pulls himself back into... 520

521 INT. RIDDLER'S CONTROL ROOM 521

The lights are still down but the antenna's functioning again, the Riddler in his throne, absorbing pulses of neural energy. Too much. his entire head seems to distort, fluctuating in size and wavering.

RIDDLER Why can't I kill you? Now there's a riddle? (more juice) Not smart enough. Find a way. (more juice) Too many questions. (more juice) Why you and not me? (more juice) Why me? (more juice) Why??!!

Batman SLAMS the power switch, the throne going dark.

EDWARD - CLOSE. Knees drawn to his chest. Pathetic. WHIMPERING. Mad.

Batman looks down, his eyes sad, compassionate.

BATMAN Poor, Edward. I had to save them both. You see, I am Bruce Wayne and Batman. Not because I have to be. Now because I choose to be.

Batman reaches out to Edward. Ed jerks in fear, looks up.

522 EDWARD'S POV - Coming towards him, not Batman, but a 522 hideous demonic giant bat.

523 EDWARD - CLOSE. SCREAMS 523

524 EXT. ARKHAM ASYLUM - NIGHT 524

Another stormy night.

525 INT. MAXIMUM SECURITY WING 525

Dr. Burton walks the corridor with Chase.

DR. BURTON Edward Nygma has been screaming for hours that he knows the true identity of Batman.

They reach Edward's cell.

526 THEIR POV -- INT. PADDED CELL 526

Lit only by the moon. Chase speaks through the small barred set into the heavy door.

CHASE Edward...

EDWARD Who is it?

CHASE It's Dr. Meridian. Chase. Do you remember me?

EDWARD (O.S.) How could I forget?

CHASE Dr. Burton tells me you know who Batman is.

EDWARD (O.S.) (giggle, giggle) Yesssssss. I know!

Chase and Burton look at each other, on edge.

CHASE Who is The Batman, Edward?

EDWARD (O.S.) Can't tell if you don't say please.

CHASE You're right, Edward. I didn't mean to be impolite. Please.

No response. Just GIGGLES.

CHASE Edward, please. Who is Batman?

A beat. Suddenly a huge silhouette of a bat appears on the padded wall. Into it leaps Edward, the sleeves of his straightjacket madly flapping like the wings of a bat.

EDWARD I AM BATMAAAAAAANN!!!

527 EXT. ARKHAM ASYLUM - NIGHT 527

Chase comes down the front steps to find Alfred waiting with the Rolls, holding the rear door open.

CHASE Alfred?

ALFRED Mr. Wayne sent me to pick you up.

528 INT. ROLLS - MOVING 528

Alfred drives out the front gates of Arkham Asylum.

CHASE Where's Bruce?

ALFRED He asked me to convey his deepest apologies, Dr. Meridian. But he wanted me to give you this.

Alfred hands her a small wicker figure. The dream doll.

ALFRED He said to thank you. And to tell you he no longer needs it.

She notices the Batsignal in the night sky.

CHASE Does it ever end Alfred?

ALFRED No, Miss. Not in this lifetime.

Chase looks out the car window. In the distance, the shape of the bat shimmers against the clouds.

529 ZOOM INTO 529

The Batsignal, filling the screen.

PAN DOWN

530 EXT. TOP OF SKYSCRAPER - NIGHT 530

Batman stands on the edge of the gargoyled building, a lone silhouette keeping vigil over the city.

Then another figure steps up into frame, taking his place behind Batman. Their capes billow in the city wind.

Now there are two guardians of the night: Batman and Robin. Beware!

FINAL FADE TO BLACK.

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