THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
THE BATMAN
screenplay by
Andrew Turner and Vertrell Hart
FIRST DRAFT
JANUARY 2017
© ANDREW TURNER & VERTRELL HART
FADE IN
EXT. GOTHAM CITY SKYLINE - NIGHT
Gotham. Just as we remember it. A dark and gritty nightmare. High above the city, one thing becomes apparent.
Something happened here.
EXT. FALCONE SHIPPING YARD - NIGHT
Outside a large industrial warehouse, an exchange is about to take place. A group of armed men are awaiting the arrival of their buyer. Among them are Umberto Maroni and his younger brother Pino.
UMBERTO
C'mon Pino, lets get this merchandise to the Calabrese. don't be a coward. Soon we'll be running the mob.
PINO
You're still trying to capitalize from father's deathbed aren't you?
His brother nods. Pino sighs.
PINO
Lets just get this done before the Bat shows up.
Umberto gestures for his men to carry the packaged goods to the truck owned by Bishop Calabrese, another son to a lesser known royal crime mob family from Bludhaven. Bishop himself steps out to meet them.
BISHOP
It's good to see a surviving mob family. Between the freaks and the Bat there hasn't been any space for gentlemen like us to do business.
UMBERTO
We shall have our rise with the Joker and his whore out of sight. Arkham is doing their part to keep the freaks off the streets of Gotham. This whole city will be our monopoly.
Suddenly the floodlights above them are struck by a small projectile, sending the area into darkness. The armed men from both crime families begin aiming their guns into the air.
UMBERTO
What's going on! Who turned the floodlights off?
High above the ground, Batman sits perched atop one of the giant cranes using his sonar to map out the environment. His cowl lenses project a three dimensional map of the area as well as eleven possible approaches to take down the thugs.
BISHOP
Keep your eyes peeled boys. We've got a bat to hunt.
Umberto draws a small hand held pistol while his younger brother whimpers in fear.
PINO
How are we supposed to stop him? It's Batman!
Batman stealthily positions himself directly above the men. He dives off the edge of the crane and glides down. The second the Dark Knight touches the ground, he is already in combat.
As the crime lords attempt to make their escape, they hear a noise above the sound of the gunfire. The roaring of a loud engine. They turn to see a bright headlight speeding towards them from the other end of the shipping yard.
A helmeted figure riding a sleek militarized motorcycle comes riding into the fray. Once he's close enough, he vaults backwards onto a stack of crates. The motorcycle collides with two thugs, catching them in the chest and pinning them down.
PINO
There's two of them now!
The rider stands up to his full height and tosses his motorcycle helmet aside. He's clad in a kevlar suit, with a domino mask to conceal his identity. The blue bird shaped emblem on his chest catches the moonlight, reflecting it back at the thug's eyes.
Batman pauses momentarily and glances over at the rider. He recognizes him instantly. It's someone that he never expected to see again. Standing before him is none other than his first sidekick.
UMBERTO
ROBIN! IT'S ROBIN!
PINO
YOU SAID ROBIN WAS DEAD!
NIGHTWING
It's Nightwing now.
He backflips off one of the crates and lands right next to Batman. The two instinctively go back to back, A maneuver that they have practiced countless times.
NIGHTWING
Hey boss. Long time no see.
BATMAN
Take them down first. Talk after.
BISHOP
KILL THEM BOTH!
Batman reaches into his utility belt and produces a pair of twin batarangs. He hurls them at the thugs causing them to drop their weapons.
Batman then lunges forward and re-engages the men. The closest thug removes a pocketknife from his vest and goes to take a swing it at the Dark Knight. Batman backhands the thug before flipping him over his head and onto one of his comrades.
Another goon behind Batman throws himself forward, but the Dark Knight has already predicted his movement and reacted to it. He parries his strike and counters with one of his own.
Umberto raises his pistol to fire, but his finger can't bring itself to pull the trigger. Batman approaches him, a towering man of intimidation and fear. He places his hand around the pistol and simply pulls it from his fingers. He then proceeds to headbutt him.
At the same time Nightwing produces two escrima sticks from his back. A burst of electricity crackles from each end. He waves them at the thugs playfully before launching himself into a kick.
He sends the first thug flying and begins working his way through them, zapping with his sticks. A single touch causes them to drop the floor with 15 thousand volts running through them.
The goons behind him train their weapons on his position. Nightwing's response is to toss one of his sticks against the wall. It ricochets off the surface and begins bouncing from thug to thug knocking them down.
Nightwing continues brawling even as the stick is still in midair and manages to catch it just in time to deliver a high voltage tase to the last goon.
He spots Pino cowering in the corner praying that this will be over soon. Nightwing pulls his fist back ready to knock him out.
PINO
Please don't hurt me!
Nightwing's fist freezes an inch away from his face. Pino opens his eyes surprised that he hasn't been hit yet. As soon as he does, Nightwing clocks him, knocking him out.
NIGHTWING
Hah! Gotcha!
Bishop draws his sub machine gun and aims it at Nightwing.
BISHOP
You got lucky with those guys Bird Boy, but you ain't taking me out!
NIGHTWING
Please, I don't know anyone who'd wanna take your ugly mug out.
Bishop growls and opens fire. Nightwing evades the bullets and flips behind a shipping container. Before Bishop can locate him again, the former Boy Wonder leaps from behind him and strikes him in the face.
NIGHTWING
BATMAN! HEADS UP!
Batman hears him and begins rushing over to them, clearing the distance between them in seconds. Nightwing hurls Bishop into the air as the Dark Knight proceeds to choke slams him back to the ground.
With all the thugs now unconscious around them, there is a moment of silence between the two heroes. Nightwing is the first to speak up.
NIGHTWING
You know even after everything that happened between us, I'd forgotten how much fun it was fighting alongside you. The old dynamic duo back at it again.
Batman turns to face his former ward and gives him the notorious Bat glare.
BATMAN
Answers now Dick. What are you doing back in Gotham?
NIGHTWING
I've been tracking these guys here from Bludhaven. They've been smuggling drugs, weapons, all kinds of criminal paraphernalia. This was a big exchange.
BATMAN
That's not what I wanted to hear. You haven't set foot in Gotham in years. Why come back now?
Nightwing leans up against a shipping container and folds his arms.
NIGHTWING
Fine, you've made me say it. I was worried about you. I heard about what happened in Metropolis. Most of these guys aren't even challenging you now. You've been on a whole new level recently. You sure you're okay.
BATMAN
I'm fine. I had things handled here.
Batman proceeds to curb stomp Bishop as he begins to regain consciousness.
NIGHTWING
Look Bruce. I'm happy you're back to working with others again, but if you're planning on making Superman the next Robin, he ain't gonna fit my old suit.
Batman is nonchalant towards his old partner's banter. Nightwing sighs.
NIGHTWING
Hmm, still gotta work on your sense of humour though.
As he finishes handcuffing the other goons, Batman presses a button on his utility belt. There is a screech as his monstrous car comes sliding around the corner.
BATMAN
Gordon's on his way. Our jobs done here. We should head back to the cave.
NIGHTWING
Good, Figured I'd say hi to Al before I head back to Bludhaven.
Nightwing taps a button on his gauntlet. His upturned Night Cycle stands up and remotely drives over to his position.
NIGHTWING
So we taking your ride or mine?
BATMAN
Both. I'll meet you back there.
As Nightwing clambers back onto his Night Cycle, Batman leaps into the cockpit of his war ready vehicle and activates his com link back to the Batcave.
ALFRED (V.O)
Master Wayne. I trust your nightly venture was successful.
BATMAN
Alfred, we're going to be having a visitor tonight. Prepare a guest room.
ALFRED (V.O)
An unusual request sir. You usually take most of our guests into the master bedroom with you. Who is it staying tonight?
BATMAN
It's Grayson. He's back in Gotham.
ALFRED (V.O)
Master Grayson? You haven't seen him since...
BATMAN
Jason.
ALFRED (V.O)
Well in any case it'll be good to have him around the cave again. You could use some company sir.
Both the Batmobile and the NightCycle pull away from the crime scene as the sound of police sirens fill the air.
Moments later the GCPD are swarming the docks. Commissioner Gordon steps out of his squad car and surveys the scene to find the thugs handcuffed and the trucks still loaded with illegal merchandise. As he goes to light a cigarette, a young rookie detective approaches him from behind.
ROOKIE
You think the Bat did this Commissioner?
GORDON
Of course. Who else?
On a rooftop across the bay, a figure sits aiming his sniper rifle at the crime scene. It is unknown how long he has been there, but through his scope he is able to watch the GCPD seizing the illegal merchandise. His microphone picks up the exchange between Gordon and the detective.
UNKNOWN
See you soon old man.