FADE IN:
EXT. GOTHAM CITY -- NIGHT
The night. it can be a frightening time. From afar, the tall, garish buildings of Gotham make the city look surreal and hellish. The night, and Gotham city; they do not go well together. All around the city can be heard the sounds that permeate from the darkness: breaking glass, screams, sirens, gunshots...pain. The city reeks of it. It can be felt everywhere. there are glimpses. A mugger beating an old man. A rape just off the street. A cop giving money for drugs. The city oozes with pain at the injustice and the horror. Tramps, hookers and gangs are present everywhere.
We focus on one area; a concentration of people, about 20, who are gathered around a pair of large garage doors that are surrounded by a series of labyrinthine alleys. They aren't residents of the street, they just own it. This is gang territory, just one of many. We see the faceless hoods silently socializing with one another, the same way one might greet each other at church. But this could never be mistaken for a religious gathering, at least not one involving the church. But if there is one thing that stands out among all of this, it's Johnny. late 20's, smiling, dressed like a typical hoodlum stereotype. But that's not what is making him stand out. It's the fact that he's the only one with "chaperons." Two large men are behind him at all times, and they are not smiling.
JOHNNY
So, ugh, nice night, huh?
One of the men pushes him hard on the back.
CHAPERONE 1
Quite.
JOHNNY
Right, sorry.
He's clearly unsettled by these men. He isn't lost on the fact the everyone present has been looking at him since he arrived with his "chaperons". Some of them point and make jokes about him. Johnny pretends he doesn't notice. He looks at his watch.
JOHNNY
Um, do you guys know when Mr. Evens is gonna get here?
But Evens has arrived.
EVENS (O.S.)
You know you really should be quite when you're told to be.
JOHNNY
(surprised)
Donny! Hay what kept ya man? Thought maybe you forgot about my big night.
"Donny" is not sharing his easygoing attitude. He seems to be the only one here who is above small talk.
EVENS
I didn't forgot, just had some business to take care of.
JOHNNY
So that means we can get down to MY business?
Evens smiles like the devil.
EVENS
Sure. Stay here.
It's obvious by the way he's talking that the order wasn't meant just for Johnny. The "chaperons" nod behind him.
Evens goes out to the middle of the gathering, gaining everyone's attention.
EVENS
ALRIGHT, EVERYONE LISTEN UP!
Everyone is now quite and paying attention to the obvious leader.
EVENS
Now, as everyone here probably knows, the purpose of this meeting tonight is to initiate a new member into our Brotherhood.
Some people nod there heads. Other's don't seem to really care.
EVENS
Johnny, come on up here.
This startles Johnny, as he didn't expect the initiation to go so quickly. But he quickly recovers and walks on up next to Evens. Nobody's seems impressed.
EVENS
Now as is tradition, the person being initiated must have a sponsor, who also must be present for the initiation. This man's sponsor was Joe Walice, a long time member.
Johnny, for the first time looks around, noticing that his sponsor isn't among the group. Now he's visibly worried.
EVENS
(to the crowd and also to Johnny)
But as you can see, he isn't here. I met with him earlier today. I had learned of something that was very disappointing. I brought Joe with me tonight. Let's bring him up here.
He indicates to some men who walk into the shadows to get something. They come back to the crowd shortly carrying a large bag on their shoulders. Anyone who wasn't paying attention, is now.
EVENS
I am sad to say that Joe had done something quite inappropriate.
The men place the bag at Evens's feet.
EVENS
He betrayed us.
The bag is unwrapped, and the mutilated body of Joe Walice is revealed. It's obvious from his injuries and the permanent look of agony on what is left if the man's face that he suffered greatly before dying. Johnny freaks out.
JOHNNY
OH SHIT!
He tries to back off from the body, but he's quickly grabbed by the men who brought the body and is mercilessly beaten to the ground. Everyone who was quite is now shouting. Various people ask what the hell's going in. Pandemonium nearly erupts.
A gunshot. Everyone shut's up. Evens tries to talk again, his Colt .45 still pointing in the air.
EVENS
You see, brothers , Our boy Johnny here's a cop.
Everyone goes from looking at Evens to looking at the beaten Johnny. He's busted.
JOHNNY
Look man, I don't know what it is you think you know, but it's not true! Me and Joe was friends. Wha.. What the fuck did ya do to him?!
Evens steps up to him, showing some anger for the first time.
EVENS
Oh that's rich. "What did "I" do to him?" What the FUCK did YOU do to him?!
He points to the body.
EVENS
(to everyone)
You see, Joe sold us out, cooperated with the cops, vouched for this piece of shit cockroach. This man has attempted to infiltrate the Brotherhood.
(to Johnny)
Still Innocent?
Johnny's broken.
JOHNNY
Look, mister Evens..
EVENS
(interrupting)
What happened to Donny?
JOHNNY
Donny, look, I... I have a family. They have nothing to do with this man. they need m..
Evens suddenly slaps Johnny across the face with his gun.
EVENS
I have a family too Johnny boy, and you tried to destroy mine. I think you can figure out what happens now.
He starts to walk away. Johnny's breaking down, on his knees begging as his voice is filling with hysteria.
JOHNNY
PLEASE MAN! This wasn't personal, I'm just doing my job. Don't you fucking punish my daughter for that!
His words fall on deaf ears. Two men pick him up from off the ground and start dragging towards the large garage doors. One of them opens, revealing a dark room with a platform that is brought out for everyone to see. It looks like an autopsy table. Johnny has a pretty good idea what its purpose is.
JOHNNY
Aww fuck man. this... can't you just shoot me in the head or something?
EVENS
Well if you had done more research on us, you would know that the treatment of spies is quite serous. Merely killing you just won't do; an example must be made of you, and of Joe over there.
Johnny looks over at Joe's body; he sees his fate.
As the brotherhood begins to strip Johnny and prepare him for his pain, something is watching them, from above. it begins to make its way to the perimeter where other members have been serving as guards for tonight's activities. It moves silently as it keeps to the shadows. Several of the guards are walking about, very bored, wishing they could see what's going on. As the unknown watcher focuses on one man in particular near a corner from the rooftops, a nearby group of birds takes flight suddenly, alerting the young man to the roof above him, where he sees nothing. As he trains his head back down to eye level, his vision is encompassed by something that he only get's a glimpse before his vision blackens into unconsciousness; very large pointed white eyes, very close to his face. One down. From around the corner of the alley, another guard, sounding equally bored, is heard talking, presumably to the fallen man.
GUARD2
(off screen)
Hay Chaz, you got a light man?
As he turns the corner, he sees his friend Chaz, unconscious, on the ground, alone.
GUARD2
What the!
Before he can finish, something sweeps out from the shadows towards the untimely sentinel, passes him, and he joins his friend on the ground, unconscious as well.
Closer to the ceremonial-like preparation of Jimmy's execution, another man is on his circumvention of the party. He seems to be really into the display of sadism and the brutal breaking of Johnny. As he stop's against the wall to further relish the proceedings, as he is now visibly rubbing his crotch, he suddenly hears something above him. He looks up, and sees a giant lurking form, hanging upside down from a fire escape, only inches from him. The dark figure quickly seizes him, his scream never escaping his throat as darkness overtakes him.
Someone from the crowd looks back to where the "security" is supposed to be, but he sees no one. Seemingly thinking nothing of it, he turns back to the preparation.
Johnny is in pain. Lots of it. He's received the last of his cuts and marks, and his lead rapist has finished with him. After the cheers from his audience has subsided, Evens, now in a ceremonial robe and related garb, takes his place in front of the sacrifice.
EVENS
And now, brothers, it is time.
Everyone screams in sadistic joy. Evens takes a bottle of lighter fluid and sprays it in generous amounts over Johnny's naked flesh, paying special attention to his head and face, as Johnny screams in tormented silence through his gag.
Just as Evens is about to light a match to finish the night's festivities, a loud clap of thunder erupts from the clouds, and it begins to rain.
EVENS
God damn it.
Screaming is heard, coming from the perimeter of the main ally way. Anyone who has a weapon, which is pretty much everyone, brings them to the ready, the screaming having ceased echoing throughout the walls. Evens instructs two men to check it out.
EVENS
Everyone stay cool.
As the men make their way into the narrow ally, a loud sound is heard in the opposite alley, behind the crowd of men. Everyone unloads into the dark alley, over the frantic yelling of Evens.
EVENS
EVERYONE STOP FUCKING SHOOTING!
They do, having emptied their weapons anyway.
EVENS
I said everyone jus
He cuts himself off as he sees the men he just sent to check out the screaming, laying face down on the ground. He seems to briefly give in to fear, but he quickly recovers. He turns his face towards the rainy sky.
EVENS
Ok, olly olly oxen free. Who's the asshole?
(to everyone)
Spread out, watch your backs.
Everyone begins to explore the area. Screaming is once again heard over the thunder and is quickly silenced. The unknown intruder is dropping his victims into a pile, placing restraints on his unconscious prey. Johnny, meanwhile, still strapped to the table, looks up, and sees something. He begins to freak out, screaming once again into his gag.
EVENS
I told you to shut the fuc
As he raises his hand across his chest to strike Johnny, something whirls out of the shadows, imbedding itself in his left hand, which is itself imbedded into his right shoulder.
As everyone who remains looks back to see Even's cry of agony, they follow his face in an effort to determine where the attack came from. They see...something. The dark figure is hiding high above them in the shadows, but they only get a glimpse of him as a lightening bolt crashes. To them, they see a large black creature, looking right back at them. They have seen the enemy, and they are afraid.
Everyone starts shooting in a blind fury, but as the figure swiftly raises what looks like wings, he is gone with another lightening bolt. Everyone's extremely panicked now, including the unshakable Mr. Evens. People are continuing to spread apart from one another. Everyone is pointing there guns randomly, their fear starting to over take them as they again here a series of interrupted screams coming from the darkness. Their standing numbers are dwindling.
There are 15 men around the large garage doors now, Johnny having been seemingly forgotten. Even's momentarily gets his wits back as he yells at everyone remaining to help him to get the sharp object out from his bleeding shoulder and hand. As a men starts to help Evens, lightening strikes again, and it reveals The Batman, standing inside the still open garage door, right in front of Evens. No one see's him, except Evens, who is the only one facing the garage doors. He finally gives in to his fear. The man helping him notice's.
GANG MEMBER
Are you ok man?
He turn to looks, and The Batman attacks. Before he can draw his gun, two objects fly out from the Batman's hand, one glancing off Evens, and the other hitting him, right in the face, knocking him out cold.
The rest of the remaining members are now looking, and they all pause from what they see. They see a being slowing emerging out from the darkness, like a living shadow. Several quick lightening bolts briefly gives them the full view of The Batman. Everyone is briefly paralyzed as their enemy blinks slightly with its large white eyes, as sharp teeth are bared.
GANG MEMBER 2
Oh shit.
In a panic, everyone brings up their guns, taking aim to fire. But The Batman quickly jumps over their heads, throwing out two small balls in midair, that explode into a think fog of smoke that briefly blinds the men. The already subdued visibility now turns into shadows as men stumble about, some making it out of the thick cloud. As the men regain their bearings, attempting to locate their target, they are attacked. The onslaught is savage as The Batman moves like lightening, never staying in the same place as his prey fire their weapons in a blind panic. Horrific screams are heard as the sounds of breaking bones and cartilage resounds throughout the area. Almost everyone is taken down brutally within moments, with The Batman seemingly everywhere at once as he strikes. Soon only the occasional sounds of moans of pain are heard by the few men who are conscious. Now only two of the gang members remain standing, including the groggy Evens. He tries to make a break for it, with the other, a large hulk of a man seemingly the only one who can stand against the continuingattackingThe Batman. With even his advanced street fighting talent, he is only mere moments away from defeat as he is beaten to a pulp. He is on his knees know, his face a mask of agony. The Batman briefly turns to see Evens running away, whose arm is still attached to his shoulder. He quickly backhands his opponent in the face without looking, blood exploding from the man's nose as he finally falls to the ground, his punishment for trying to attack while The Batman was seemingly distracted. One left.
Even's is almost home free, he's near the main streets, when as he is in mid-step, another sharp object is imbedded into his foot, which is in turn imbedded into the asphalt. He screams in pain as he collapses to the ground, cradling his impaled foot. As he examines the strange, almost bat-like shape of his impediment, he sees the shadow of The Batman rise along the ally wall.
When he turns to face the shadow's maker, he is quickly seized by the throat, the sharp object is removed from his foot, and he is slammed against the wall, his now blurry vision trying to comprehend what he is seeing. The Batman looks like pure darkness, perhaps from the depths of hell itself. What captures Even's attention the most in his hazy state, are the eyes. They nearly encompass his whole upper face, and they are pure white, nothing can be seen behind them; he doesn't want to see as he shakes his head as much as he can while his throat is held firmly. The Batman slowly brings his face up close. Evens wets his pants.
THE BATMAN
(gravely)
Leave the streets. Forever.
Evens nods like an idiot.
The Batman yanks the Batarang still imbedded in Evens shoulder out, and drops him. He turns and walks back toward the still bound Johnny, seemingly floating along the ground as his cape hides his legs. As The Batman walks, Even's goes to grab a hidden revolver from under his robe. As he is about to take aim, The Batman throws another Batarang over his shoulder, and Evens can only watch it head straight into his face before he slumps the ground, unconscious.
Johnny is scared shitless. Even though he has been spared from the Brotherhood, he isn't so sure about what IT will do to him. As he cowers on the table, The Batman briefly runs his wing-like cape over Johnny, and as He passes by, the man's bonds are undone.
As Johnny is trying to keep himself together as he removes himself from the table, all he can see is his still moving savior. He watches as their is suddenly a bizarre noise, and he witnesses the Batman aloft from the ground, seemingly flying towards a nearby skyscraper. Johnny is frozen stiff in silence, even as the police arrive.
EXT. SKYSCRAPER -- NIGHT
As The Batman swings up to a ledge on the tall building, mingling among the gargoyles, he presses the retraction button to disengage the grappling-hook from the cement. He looks back at the ally he just left, another person saved. More monsters taken off the streets. He seems almost serene. He slowly turns to view the city abroad, eventually casting His gaze on the Gotham River, and remembers.
