EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY – NIGHT
A convoy of GCPD vehicles roll along the crowded freeway leading to Blackgate Prison. At the centre is the Armoured Prison Transport Vehicle, flanked by two police cruisers at the front and rear.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT VAN – NIGHT
Inside the van, Umberto, Pino and Calabrese are handcuffed to the floor while Montoya and Lubbock are stationed in the driver's seat. Umberto proceeds to spit on his brother.
UMBERTO
Rat. Father would be ashamed of you.
PINO
Please brother. I was not meant for prison.
Officer Lubbock proceeds to tap on the wire mesh separating the driver's seat and the prisoner's compartment.
LUBBOCK
You wanna upgrade yourself to a cell at Arkham instead? Keep on talking convict.
Pino instantly goes quite. Lubbock grins. He turns to Montoya.
LUBBOCK
Radio Gordon. Give him an update.
She reaches for her radio and presses the call button, but all that can be head is static.
MONTOYA
Something's jamming the signal. I can't get through.
LUBBOCK
Try one of the squad cars.
Montoya attempts to switch to another frequency, but gets the same result.
MONTOYA
I'm getting nothing.
LUBBOCK
What if you-
Lubbock is cut off mid sentence by a sudden jolt from the van.
MONTOYA
What was that? Did we hit something?
She glances in the rear view mirror, trying to locate the source of the problem and finds it.
EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY – NIGHT
Speeding behind them on the motorway is an armoured red Mustang. A grappling hook is attached from its front bumper bar to the back of the transport van so that the attacking vehicle is dragged along the road.
At the wheel of the Mustang sits a figure wearing a hoodie over a Kevlar vest. Over his face is a crimson helmet with two glowing white lenses. He waves back at Montoya.
It's the Red Hood.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT VAN - NIGHT
LUBBOCK
Where did he come from?
UMBERTO
Did you arrange this?
Bishop shakes his head.
EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY – NIGHT
Red Hood flips open the gearstick to reveal a hidden switch. He presses it. A Gatling gun bursts out of his vehicle's engine and begin firing on the Transport Van's position.
INT. PRISON TRANSPORT VAN – NIGHT
Bullet holes start appearing in the sides of the armoured van. Pino, Umberto and Calabrese place their hands over their heads and get down.
MONTOYA
WE UNDER ARE ATTACK! I REPEAT THE CONVOY IS UNDER ATTACK! IF ANYONE CAN HEAR THIS WE NEED AIR SUPPORT!
EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY – NIGHT
The convoy of vehicles is now approaching an overpass when a familiar roar appears in the distance.
MONTOYA
Please let that be what I think it is.
The Batmobile surges over the overpass and onto the road. Nightwing follows close behind on his motorcycle.
Red Hood winds down his window and glances back to see the Batmobile on his tail. We hear him speak for the first time. His voice is distorted as if he is using a modulator just like Batman's.
RED HOOD
3.4 minutes to get to a crime in progress. Just like I remember.
INT. BATMOBILE COCKPIT
On the Batmobile's mini computer, Batman has completed a thermal scan of the attacking vehicle. He opens up the connection to Nightwing.
BATMAN
Nightwing. I need to you to move up and protect the convoy. The driver's mine.
NIGHTWING
Got it. You know you don't have to do the Batman voice when you're talking to me right? This is a secure line.
BATMAN
Maybe not. I'm detecting a communications jammer from the vehicle. Stay alert.
EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY - NIGHT
Red Hood flips a switch on his car's dashboard. The rear of the vehicle opens up to reveal a missile pack. Red Hood targets the Batmobile's position and slams down on the launch button. The missiles go airborne and soar high above the freeway before falling back to earth.
NIGHTWING
Whoa, this guy is loaded.
Batman grips the steering wheel and swerves the Batmobile out of the path of the traffic. There is a series of explosions behind him as the missiles impact the road.
Up ahead, Red Hood checks his rear view mirror to see that the NightCycle is gaining on him. Nightwing tosses a Wing Ding into the Gatling gun. It jams the flow of ammunition and interrupts the gunfire.
RED HOOD
Never trash another man's car.
Nightwing pulls up alongside the Mustang.
NIGHTWING
Pull over!
Red Hood responds by opening the driver's side door in an attempt to knock Nightwing off the motorcycle. Nightwing pulls back to evade it and leaps onto the open door. Using his full body weight he swings the door inwards so that he is hanging on the side of the car. He begins punching Red Hood through the window.
Red Hood grabs hold of the wheel and veers off to the right so that the armoured Mustang collides with one of the squad cars. Nightwing is forced to leap onto the roof of the police cruiser to avoid being crushed between the vehicles. Red Hood moves back into his lane.
Meanwhile the Batmobile has managed to catch up to the Convoy. It pulls up to the armoured Mustang and begins ramming it from behind. The Transport van, Red Hood's vehicle and the Batmobile are now linked together in a row.
INT. BATMOBILE COCKPIT
Batman sets the Batmobile's systems to autopilot. The car's doors swing open and he climbs out onto the roof of the moving vehicle.
EXT. GOTHAM HIGHWAY - NIGHT
Batman leaps across the gap between cars, lands on the hood of the armoured Mustang and peeps down at the windshield. There is a pause as he and the Red Hood lock eyes for the first time.
Red Hood begins frantically rummaging around in the glove box for his pistol. The Dark Knight immediately begins punching at the windscreen. The glass shatters after a few hits and he wraps a hand around Red Hood's throat.
RED HOOD
ACCKKK-Last night you were trying to put these three away, now you're here trying to save them. Make up your damn mind Batman!
Red Hood reaches a hand for a switch on the dashboard. The entire roof of the armoured Mustang detaches and flies away taking Batman with it. The Dark Knight quickly deploys his cape in midair as if it were a wingsuit. He steadies himself and begins gliding back towards the convoy.
As this is happening, Nightwing is attempting to work his way back up to Red Hood's Mustang. He leaps across the roof of the police cruiser onto another passing car. He continues bouncing acrobatically from vehicle to vehicle.
Red Hood stands up and clambers out of what remains of his vehicle. He produces a small Semtex explosive and tosses it at the Transport van's doors in front of him.
Seconds later the doors blow wide open and Red Hood hurls himself inside the Transport van.
PINO
You've come to free us!
RED HOOD
Yes. I have.
Red Hood proceeds to fire a bullet into Pino's skull. Blood splatters on the interior of the van.
Nightwing has just managed to leap back on board the armoured Mustang when he sees it happen.
NIGHTWING
NO!
Red Hood turns and does the same to Umberto and Calabrese. As he is momentarily distracted, Batman glides his way into the van and kicks Red Hood backwards.
RED HOOD
Heh, looks like you weren't fast enough to save them Batman. Then again wouldn't be your first time.
Batman growls and launches into an all out attack. Red Hood throws his fists up to block his strikes. Batman breaks through his defence and slams him against the wall of the van.
But before the Dark Knight can go any further, he hears a clicking sound. Red Hood has a gun right under his neck.
RED HOOD
Like the new suit, but you really should do something about the exposed mouth-hole. I mean what's to stop anyone with a gun from doing this?
Nightwing flips his way inside the van and knocks Red Hood back.
NIGHTWING
Me.
Unwilling to contend with both heroes at once, Red Hood rushes past them and flips onto the roof of the van. Above him a Police Helicopter has arrived on the scene. It shines a spotlight down on the van's position.
Red Hood draws a knife from his pocket. Batman and Nightwing climb up to the roof of the van and continue the fight. They attack him in tandem, managing to knock him back to the front of the van.
BATMAN
You've got nowhere else to run. There's no way out of this.
RED HOOD
Then I'll make one.
Red Hood removes a grappling gun and fires it at the chopper's underbelly. He accelerates up to its level and wraps his legs around the bottom railing to support himself.
As he hangs upside down, he removes a pair of dual pistols from his pocket and begins firing down on the van. Batman wraps his bulletproof cape around him, shielding himself and Nightwing from the gunfire.
NIGHTWING
Jeez. How many pockets does this guy have?
BATMAN
I'm going after him. Lock onto my tracker and follow me.
Batman pulls out his own grapnel and hooks it onto the chopper. He hits the ascend button and reels himself up after Red Hood.
Nightwing calls his NightCycle up alongside the van and leaps back down onto the motorcycle. He takes the next exit and begins chasing after the chopper.
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
Red Hood clambers up inside the chopper and opens the door. The pilot is terrified by his sudden appearance. Red Hood aims a gun at him.
RED HOOD
Good evening. I'll be your co-pilot for tonight. First stop for tonight is literally anywhere but here.
The pilot grips the joystick and takes the chopper away from the highway. Red Hood turns back to see if he is being pursued and spots Batman hanging from his grappling hook.
RED HOOD
You just don't know how to quit do you?
Red Hood reaches over to the joystick and attempts to shake Batman off. The Helicopter veers towards a nearby office building. Batman swivels sideways to prevent himself from being slammed through a window. He hits ascend on his grapnel and hauls himself up to the chopper's altitude.
Red Hood scans the bottom of the chopper for any sign of the Dark Knight, but he is gone.
RED HOOD
…He's in front of me isn't he?
The window in front of him shatters and Batman reaches out and grabs him.
RED HOOD
Not bad Batman but lets see if you can get out of this.
Red Hood proceeds to fire his gun into the helicopters controls. The chopper begins loosing altitude and Batman is forced to release him. Red Hood leaps clear of the chopper and onto the nearby Construction site.
EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT
Down below, Nightwing pulls up at the foot of the building just in time to see Red Hood make the jump from the chopper. He fires his grappling gun at a girder and ascends the construction site.
EXT. HELICOPTER – NIGHT
Batman climbs around the side of the helicopter and opens the door. He grabs the pilot and grapples out of the way as the chopper spirals towards the ground.
INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE – NIGHT
As Nightwing scales the construction site after Red Hood, he catches sight of the helicopter skidding across a rooftop and exploding into a gigantic fireball. He activates his com-link and attempts to raise his mentor.
NIGHTWING
Batman! Come in!
There is no response. From the upper level, Red Hood looks down on Nightwing.
RED HOOD
Should have gone home to Bludhaven when you had the chance Nightwing.
Nightwing glances up to see his enemy lording over him.
NIGHTWING
I would have but the highway out of Gotham was blocked by some idiot shooting up cop cars. Maybe you've heard something about that.
Red Hood dives off the platform and lands directly in front of Nightwing. They begin trading blows.
RED HOOD
You're still working with Batman even after all this time. He doesn't see us as people.
Red Hood attempts to sweep Nightwing off his feet from below, but the former Boy Wonder avoids the swift kick.
RED HOOD
We're all just toy soldiers that he can throw away once he's finished with us.
Nightwing and Red Hood lock fists and come face to face.
NIGHTWING
I guess that makes you the Red Sheep of the family then.
RED HOOD
You have no idea.
BATMAN
ENOUGH!
Both Nightwing and Red Hood whirl around to see Batman standing before them. He looks furious. Red Hood breaks away from Nightwing and begins running again. The Dynamic Duo resumes the chase.
Red Hood rushes up the scaffolding to the top floor of the construction site with the two heroes in hot pursuit. He reaches the roof and comes to a halt by the ledge. The only place to go now is a 51-story fall.
Red Hood removes a detonator from his pocket and raises it above his head as Batman and Nightwing reach him. His finger hovers over the button.
RED HOOD
Not another step! I push this button and this entire building goes down!
He gestures down to the floor. Spray-painted on the concrete is a red Batman logo. The Dark Knight activates his sonar vision and looks below the concrete to see a mess of explosives on the floor beneath them. He gestures for Nightwing not to move.
BATMAN
He's not lying.
RED HOOD
Got you right where I wanted you. You're not the only who plans for everything Batman. Now you're going to let me walk out of here or you both die.
BATMAN
I can't let you get away. You're a killer.
RED HOOD
So are you. Every single person that dies because of Arkham's revolving door policy is on you. You think just because you've never taken a life for yourself that you're somehow better than them?
NIGHTWING
You're wrong!
RED HOOD
Am I? Look at who you're defending. The criminal scum I killed tonight were dealing to pregnant women and children. You really think they were ever going to be productive members of society? People like them don't get to go to prison.
BATMAN
You can take their place in Blackgate instead.
RED HOOD
Oh I'm not going anywhere old man. I'm just getting started.
Red Hood takes a step backwards off the ledge. Batman and Nightwing rush forward, but by the time they reach the ledge he has disappeared. Batman activates his sonar vision and scans the area, but there is no trace of him.
BATMAN
He's gone.
NIGHTWING
Really? So you can fight an alien that can fly and shoot lasers, but you can't find one guy in a hoodie?
Batman eyes his first son and gives him the Bat glare.
NIGHTWING
You don't have to do the glare every time you disagree with me!
Tim Drake a youthful teenager of Gotham walking home late at night carry a bag of groceries was startled by the roar of the Night-Cycle.
TIM DRAKE
Cool!
Nightwing performance an agile and graceful leap from a scaffolding edge landing onto the cycle. He glances over at Tim whom who is rendered stiff in shock.
NIGHTWING
It's getting late kid. You should be at home its dangerous at these times of the night.
TIM DRAKE
Cool landing I've seen it done before but I cant remember where or when.
NIGHTWING
I doubt it kid.
The Night-Cycle then fires up taking off down the street with the Batmobile not far behind.
TIM DRAKE
No one at school is going to believe this.