Act I, Scene IX
Rolling titles for Gotham City News. We see Mike Engel in his familiar position as anchorman for the programme.
ENGEL: Good afternoon, Gotham. This city has seen some troubled times in the recent past, but today Gotham gets to celebrate a genuine piece of good news.
The caption to his left shows a picture of Gotham General Hospital. It's a live feed.
ENGEL: Barely eighteen months ago, Gotham General, built on the charitable donations of Thomas Wayne, was destroyed by the madman known as The Joker, who…
He falters for a moment.
ENGEL: …who, uh, whose reign of terror certainly didn't end there, as this newsman can testify. But. The indomitable spirit of Gotham and its citizenry won out, and so too has the endless generosity of its patrons.
We cut to full screen view of the caption beside Engel. A podium and stage has been built and is fully occupied. Rows of chairs lie in front of it.
ENGEL: (V/O) Today, Bruce Wayne, son of Thomas, has the honour of opening the new Gotham General Hospital, rebuilt better than ever thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of the Wayne Charitable Foundation.
Bruce and Lucius Fox sit beside one another on the stage. Mayor Garcia is at the podium making a speech.
BRUCE: It drags a little in the turbo. I'm just asking, can you look at it.
FOX: And I'm telling you, Bruce. No. I can't.
BRUCE: Et tu, Lucius? You've been talking to Alfred, by any chance?
FOX: Shut up and take the applause, Mister Wayne. You're doing a good thing and the people of Gotham owe you a debt.
BRUCE: Gotham needs more than dollars for new hospitals. (checks his watch, takes in the hospital behind him in all its glory) Looks good though doesn't it? Shame it's empty.
A roar. The Tumbler suddenly appears, thundering alongside the press conference. It screeches to a halt and opens its side hatch, depositing a body on the grass. It's the gunman from the raid the night before. He has a bow on his head.
Bruce coughs. Lucius tries to keep a poker face, and succeeds, if only just. The police present at the press conference immediately scatter to their vehicles as the Tumbler screeches off. When it's gone and the police cars have receded into the distance and the chaos and hubbub show no signs of dying down, Mayor Garcia is forced to call for quiet.
GARCIA: Alright folks, show's over…well. I'm supposed to hand over to our man of the moment, Bruce Wayne, but our unscheduled surprise guest has prompted me to address something that will be hitting the news feeds across the world right around now.
Bruce perks up at this. He looks at Garcia, curious as to what the man could be referring to. As he does so, he seems to sense someone's eyes on him from the crowd.
His eyes settle on the front row. Lois and Clark are there. Clark is regarding him coolly. Bruce returns the stare. There is a moment between them when the rest of the world seems to fade slightly, and then we snap back to reality and Mayor Garcia's voice comes back into focus.
GARCIA: I have made a public appeal for Superman to come to Gotham City and assist us in the hunt for the fugitive known as Batman.
Lucius' eyebrows arch. Bruce keeps himself composed; only a slight pursing of his lips betrays any sort of reaction.
The rest of the assembled crowd, including many journalists, are not so reserved. Many explode to their feet in a rush to bombard the Mayor with questions. He ignores them all and his eyes come to settle on the couple in the front row.
We cut quickly to the Planet offices. Perry is watching the conference live on television. He's sporting a grin like a Cheshire Cat.
PERRY: Gather round, people. This is history.
We go back to the conference. Lois Lane rises to her feet. Mayor Garcia smiles and inclines his head to acknowledge her presence.
LOIS: Mayor Garcia, Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Is this a political stunt aimed at getting you back into office come re-election?
Garcia almost falls off the podium. Back at the Planet, Perry's smile wilts. Clark cannot keep a grin from tugging up one corner of his mouth. Typical of Lois not to stick to the pre-approved questions…
GARCIA: Absolutely not, Miss Lane. The Batman is a unique criminal and unfortunately has proven to be beyond the capabilities of our own police force to apprehend.
We cut to Gordon watching from his precinct. He bristles visibly, drumming his fingers on his desk in supreme irritation. Back to the conference.
GARCIA: A unique problem requires a unique solution. Superman, we hope, can be that solution.
LOIS: Isn't it true that until the alleged murders of several police offers during the Joker killings, Batman was single-handedly responsible for a 46% drop in all recorded crime rate across Gotham?
Bruce Wayne sits forward in his chair. He regards Lois keenly.
LOIS: Isn't it also true that during this period, the Gotham city police operated an unofficial policy of co-operation with him, leading to an overall crime rate lower than Metropolis' during the same period?
Now it's Clark's turn to bristle. He glances up at Lois, wounded.
GARCIA: Miss Lane, whatever…relationship…may have existed between GCPD and the vigilante during that period - never condoned by City Hall - ended the moment he began abusing the power he was gathering to himself and becoming judge, jury and executioner on the very officers sworn to protect this city. We've seen the…resources he has, the toys at his disposal. We cannot permit ourselves to be subject to the whims of someone with that kind of power.
BRUCE: (murmurs) Unless he flies around in a cape and tights and rescues kittens.
Clark's eyes flit to Bruce.
GARCIA: Now (glaring at Lois) I think I've taken up enough time. We await Superman's response to our appeal. Time to welcome the man of the hour-
Lois sits down. She glances to her companion, a question in her expression. Clark kisses her then, briefly, on the lips, to her surprise.
CLARK: I love you.
Not waiting for a reply, Clark half-stands and makes his way from the row, apologising to those others sitting around him, who ignore him, pleading with Mayor Garcia not to exit the stage, but he does so anyway, making way for-
GARCIA: -Mister Bruce Wayne!
Muted applause. The crowd are patently still abuzz from the Batman vs. Superman revelation of just a few moments ago and the lustre of a billionaire bragging about his philanthropy suddenly doesn't seem so newsworthy - in fact, more than a few of the assembled throng are already leaking away, following the example supposedly being set by Clark. Bruce doesn't miss this snub and is sporting a wry smile as he takes up the podium from the Mayor.
BRUCE: Well. Ladies and gentlemen, talk about a hard act to follow. Now I know how the guy who had to come after Moses' Mt Sinai proclamation felt.
A ripple of laughter, more polite than heartfelt. Lois smiles up at Bruce; she genuinely seems to have appreciated the humour. He spares an instant to focus his gaze on her in return and tip her a microscopic wink.
BRUCE: Can I just add on a personal note that, speaking as someone whose Charitable Foundation has long campaigned for more equitable treatment for the vulnerable from city officials, I'm delighted to see Mayor Garcia finally offering a high profile job opportunity like this to a Migrant Worker.
Another ripple of laughter, stronger this time.
BRUCE: But, uh, if I can talk for a moment about the Gotham General-
And at that moment, he loses the audience completely. Hands shoot up into the air. Eyes are shielded for a better view. Shouts of recognition and excitement ring out.
And a pair of red boots lands on the platform beside him.
Bruce Wayne and Superman regard each other. In the foreground, the assembled press forget all about their designated seats and simply rush the podium, microphones and cameras thrust into the fray. The scrum almost envelopes Lois but despite her small frame she's seen enough media frenzies to hold her own, and simply hangs back to watch.
Superman extends a hand.
SUPERMAN: Bruce Wayne. Your Charitable Foundation does some amazing work. It's good to finally meet you.
Bruce looks at the hand proffered. He steps forward and shakes it.
BRUCE: Likewise.
The handshake ends. Bruce's hand drops to his side. It flexes experimentally. Only Lucius seems to notice. The media shout a thousand questions all at once to Superman, all along similar lines - are you going to go after the Batman???
Mayor Garcia waves for quiet from the assembled press. He has barged past Bruce to get to Superman and now stands beside him as the cameras roll and the flashes go off like a million tiny popping explosions of light.
GARCIA: Will you help us? Will you help Gotham? Will you bring the Batman to justice?
There is silence. Everyone's eyes are on Superman - Lois, Bruce, Lucius, and via television, the eyes of Perry White, of Alfred, of Commissioner Gordon, of Jason…
…and sitting in an apartment penthouse, of Lex Luthor. He watches proceedings with rapt fascination.
SUPERMAN: I will.
The crowd cheer. Lois does not. Bruce brings his hands together and applauds. Lucius simply looks worried, as does Alfred. Commissioner Gordon closes his eyes. Jason White switches off the TV in disgust.
And Lex…Lex Luthor smiles.
And that's when the window of his penthouse apartment is smashed in. Shielding his eyes from the flying glass, by the time Lex lowers them the Eradicator stands before him.
LUTHOR: Well. It's about time.
Act I, Scene X
The new Fortress. The Eradicator swoops inside, unceremoniously depositing Lex Luthor on the surface. Lex dusts himself off.
LUTHOR: Next time remind me to go business class. But speaking of upgrades…
He turns around to take in his surroundings, awestruck.
LUTHOR: …new place?
ZOD: New master.
The voice comes from behind Luthor. He spins. Zod emerges from behind an array of Kryptonian crystalline formations arranged on a central raised platform, almost where you'd expect a throne to be located in the midst of the surrounding structure.
ZOD: I am Zod.
LUTHOR: (dubiously)Zod. Okay. And let me guess-
He is thrown to his knees in sudden pain. A beam of light projected from the Eradicator's fingertips is the cause. Luthor gasps in agony.
Zod motions to the Eradicator, who is still hovering above proceedings like some sort of vengeful angel. The beam of energy stops.
ZOD: Let me tell you something, Luthor. On Krypton I was a general. I commanded armies. I should have commanded the entire planet. I have seen this miserable world of yours, your pathetic technologies. It makes my skin crawl to even have to consort with one of your number. So I refuse to tolerate insolence. You are not 'allowed to guess'. You will be instructed, and if you perform well, you may be rewarded. That is it. That is all.
During this speech we watch Luthor's face and especially his eyes. They burn with repressed anger. As much as Zod proclaims himself unused to being spoken to in an offhand fashion, we get the impression that no-one speaks to Lex Luthor like this.
ZOD: Do you understand?
LUTHOR: Absolutely. (pause)General.
ZOD: I seek the destruction of Kal-El. The one your world calls Superman. My servant (he gestures to the Eradicator) informs me that you may be of use in this. Is he correct? Or shall I have you killed?
LUTHOR: I've tried.
ZOD: Why? Why, if all he does on this world is assist those in need? If he is held in such esteem by your species?
LUTHOR: My reasons are my own, General.
ERADICATOR: Answer him.
He raises a finger. Luthor gets the message.
LUTHOR: He was a threat to me. I sought to remove it. But I don't understand - if you are Kryptonian, why do you need my help? Between the two of you-
ZOD: The power he possesses comes from the solar radiation of your star. He has had more than thirty years to store that energy. I have been here much less than that. However-
He gestures to the Eradicator, who closes his eyes. Immediately the Fortress rumbles and from the floor rise two four-sided crystal booths, each big enough to accommodate one person.
ZOD: The chambers you see here transfer the yellow sun energy that powers his abilities. If I can force Kal-El into this (he gestures to the left booth), I shall remove his powers and take them for my own. And enable myself to rule this planet.
LUTHOR: Ah. Well, I've discovered to my own cost that brute force can't accomplish the job. Superman is all but invulnerable.
ZOD: (lazily) Did I bring you here to tell me things I already know? Eradicator, it seems this one is to be of no use to me. Dispose of him.
LUTHOR: Wait!
Zod raises a hand to stay the Eradicator's execution of his kill command. He regards Luthor as a scientist would examine a lab rat.
LUTHOR: I can bring him here. I can get him into that booth.
ZOD: You? You can arrange this?
LUTHOR: Not alone.
Act I, Scene XI
Lois is unpacking a box in an apartment. Jason tramps past her, giving her daggers. She opens her mouth to speak to him. He ignores her and places his Xbox Live headset on his head, entering a chat with someone called 'MetroKnight'.
JASON: Hey, Azzie. Yeah, it's true. Gotham. Dunno. However long this Batman thing goes on for, they want my Mom and Clark here. Well, yeah, missing school will be kinda cool I guess. (laughs) Yeah. Maybe I will get to meet him, that'd be pretty sweet…
Lois is about to say something when her doorbell rings. She goes to her apartment door, trying to find somewhere to put down the boxes she's carrying, which features her Pulitzer balanced precariously on top, but can't find anywhere and ends up carrying them to the door.
LOIS: Who is it?
VOICE: I'm here from Wayne Enterprises, Miss Lane. I rang…?
LOIS: Oh yeah, sure, yeah…
She manages to get the door open, the boxes obscuring her view of who's actually coming through the door.
VOICE: Oh here, let me help you with those…
A pair of hands takes the pile of boxes from her and sets them down deftly on a nearby table. The visitor turns-
LOIS: Oh-!
BRUCE: Problem?
LOIS: No, um, not at all, I er…I just, when I spoke on the phone with, um, the Wayne Enterprises person and he said they were sending someone over I didn't expect it to be, you know, the guy who runs the entire company…
BRUCE: Well technically that'd be Mr Lucius Fox. He does all the, you know, (pulls an 'ugh' face) the actual work. But I heard you wanted an interview with someone to discuss the work of the Charitable Foundation. I thought I was best placed, since (he grins, embarrassed) you know, it is kinda my Foundation and all. Oh, how rude of me, we haven't been properly…you know…
He steps forward and offers his hand.
BRUCE: Bruce Wayne. Good to meet you.
She shakes his hand.
LOIS: Lois Lane.
BRUCE: Oh please, Miss Lane, you're every bit as famous as I am, and more deservedly so may I say. I've been a fan of your scoops for - oh my God, is this the actual…?
He's spotted the Pulitzer and approaches it reverentially, stretching out a hand but sending her a questioning look as she does so. Somewhat bemused, she nods and he lifts the prize to inspect it.
BRUCE: Why The World Doesn't Need A Superman.
LOIS: You're familiar…?
BRUCE: You kidding? I loved it. Even if, uh, you did undergo a little bit of a change of heart some time after…
Lois flushes red; we all know the reason for her change of heart, after all. Bruce simply chooses not to comment.
BRUCE: And who's this gaming whizzkid?
LOIS: Oh, this is my son, Jason. Jason, this is Bruce Wayne. (warningly)Say hello, honey.
JASON: (without looking up from his superhero game) Hey.
Bruce kneels on his hunches beside where Jason's sitting on the sofa as he plays the game. He studies the screen as the avatar storms inside a building and begins leaping from platform to platform, zeroing in on bad guys.
BRUCE: So. Nightstalker 2: Deadeye's Revenge?
Jason's head rotates to look at him for the first time.
JASON: (surprised)Uh. Yeah. You know it?
BRUCE: I should. Wayne Enterprises developed the AI that programs the enemies. (to Lois)We developed it for military simulators. (to Jason) You know I was the lead play tester on this game?
JASON: No shit!
LOIS: JASON!
JASON: Sorry, um. No way. Seriously?
BRUCE: (laughing) Yep.
JASON: So how do I defeat the boss on this level? He always gets me.
BRUCE: Ah, see your problem here is, you're playing the game all wrong.
As he talks, we cut away to an exterior shot of Superman streaking through the Gotham skyline. He lands on the roof of a building, walks to the access door, opens it, and in a blur of motion is down the interior stairwell until he emerges at the door to Lois' new Gotham apartment. By this stage he has somehow gotten back into his Clark Kent civvies once more. The apartment door is still open and voices trickle outward as Clark walks inside.
BRUCE: (V/O) …just because you have all these powers in your power meter, doesn't mean the best approach is to go in all gung-ho, lasers blazing. By the time you get to Dead-Eye at the level's end, you're too drained to tackle him.
Clark walks into the apartment and closes the door. He sees Lois who greets him with a smile, a little wave. He frowns quizzically at her regarding the voices. She gestures with a nod of the head towards the sofa and the two people there.
Bruce has assumed control of the joypad. He's controlling the avatar now and where Jason had him bouncing off walls and high-kicking enemies through doorways, now the superpowered protagonist is stealthily moving past an entire cadre of bad guys, slipping from shadow to shadow. Moving just like Batman. With a burst of zipline the avatar swings up and into a large open space and boss-type music plays. Bruce hands the joypad back to Jason.
BRUCE: Try old Dead-Eye now. He doesn't stand a chance, trust me.
JASON: Cool. Thanks.
Clark watches the exchange.
BRUCE: No problem.
He stands and turns, and seems taken aback to see Clark, clutching his heart in exaggerated shock.
BRUCE: Whoa…sorry. Got the drop on me, big guy.
CLARK: Mr. Wayne.
BRUCE: (shaking hands)Clark Kent, right? I remember you from the news last year when that crazy 'Clark Kent is Superman' hoax thing was doing the rounds.
CLARK: (ruefully)Yeah. Most people do. That was a fun couple days.
BRUCE: And they call Luthor an evil genius, huh? Is that what passes for a genius in Metropolis? Small wonder Gotham U is more prestigious…
CLARK: Oh really? I didn't realise you were familiar with Bizarro World, Bruce.
BRUCE: (laughing good naturedly) Okay, okay. Can't blame a guy for local pride. Wow. Three of Metropolis' most famous exports in the one day. You know I may never wash this hand again?
CLARK: A billionaire who doesn't wash his hands and who hangs out in this neighbourhood? You're a rare one, Mr. Wayne.
LOIS: Mr. Wayne is here to do the interview about his Charitable Foundation. I thought it was only fair since his speech earlier was interrupted by the whole Superman thing…
BRUCE: Please, both of you, enough with the Mr. Wayne's. It's Bruce. And yes, I would appreciate the chance to get the message of the work we do out there without interruption, if possible. I do assume Superman's not a regular visitor to this apartment?
Lois and Clark laugh uproariously in unison at this most hilariously ludicrously ridiculous joke ever in the history of jokes. Bruce raises an eyebrow at the somewhat exaggerated level of mirth generated at what was a fairly tame gag.
JASON: (to Bruce, still playing) Don't worry, they're always like this.
BRUCE: Good to know.
JASON: Aw, dammit!
His avatar has just finished receiving a thorough pasting at the hands of Dead-Eye. Jason pauses the game in disgust and throws the controller to the side, slumping down dejectedly.
LOIS: Jason, what did I just say about language! Ah, Bruce, shall we begin?
BRUCE: Yeah…one sec.
He scoops up the controller, unpauses the game, and taps out a complicated sequence of buttons on it. A menu pops up on the screen. Bruce grins and gives the controller to Jason.
JASON: What did you do?
BRUCE: Cheat menu. Have fun.
He walks away to a little table, beside the window looking out over Gotham. Lois is already sitting.
BRUCE: (looking around) You know this place is okay, but if you prefer somewhere a little more upmarket, I could make a few calls…
CLARK: On a reporter's salary? No thank you.
BRUCE: Well, actually, if I made the calls, I think you'd find the rent for wherever I was able to arrange veering on this side of free, Clark.
CLARK: Isn't that just another cheat menu, Bruce?
BRUCE: (mildly)You don't approve, Clark?
He sits at the table. Clark looks unsure for a moment about whether to join Bruce and Lois and then seems to shrug and say, what the hell. He sits, so the two men are at opposite ends of the table, with Lois in the middle, her back to the city.
CLARK: I was raised to believe that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right.
BRUCE: You had good parents. You're a lucky man, Clark.
CLARK: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…I know what happened to your-
BRUCE: (waves a hand) Please, Clark. Ancient history. I learned a lot from the way they lived. But I also learned from the way they died. This is a hard world, Clark. An unfair world. Brutal, and unfeeling, and capable of taking away everything you care about for no damned good reason. And to live, to survive, in a world like this, you have to be willing to use every advantage you have.
CLARK: That's a very Gotham City attitude, Bruce.
LOIS: Clark!
BRUCE: No Lois, Clark is right. It is. And I'm proud of it. Gotham and its people have been through some tough years. The depression. The Mob. Corruption. Even sheltered little rich kids like me have had that reach out and touch them. Comfortable middle-class people tend not to rob and murder couples in dark alleys.
CLARK: So that violent past, that climate of ear, is something to be envied?
BRUCE: Of course not. But fear can be overcome, and make you stronger. And that's why I created the Charitable Foundation - because I firmly believe in the power of Gotham's citizenry to pull themselves up and close the gap on…well, why deny it, close the gap on places like Metropolis. Maybe even overtake them.
CLARK: You don't like Metropolis, Bruce?
BRUCE: I like it fine. It shines in the sunlight, it's pretty and it has some of the most famous institutions in the world. People flock from all over the world to live there. No-one flocks to Gotham. Most people born here stay right here, and a lot of them die here. Maybe that says something too. Anyway, enough about me. How are you finding Gotham, Clark? Done any sightseeing?
CLARK: Not really. We're here to cover the Batman story…
BRUCE: (makes a face) Oh. Well I can only hope that resolves itself soon. This whole sorry affair has dragged on so long, it's damaging the reputation of the entire city.
CLARK: I'm sure it won't take long.
BRUCE: Really? You're that confident of Superman's abilities?
LOIS: You don't sound sure yourself.
BRUCE: Well he seemed a nice enough guy earlier, don't get me wrong. Grip was a little weaker than I expected-
Lois bites her lip and tries not to look amused, pointedly not looking at Clark.
BRUCE: -but he's not exactly a bounty hunter par excellence is he?
CLARK: Meaning?
BRUCE: Hmm. Lex Luthor?
Clark's eyes flash, but there's no denying the truth of that one…
CLARK: Granted. But the Batman-
He's interrupted by the chirruping of Bruce's PDA. Bruce removes it from his jacket, grimacing apologetically to Lois & Clark. He scans the message, frowns and sighs, standing up abruptly.
BRUCE: My sincere apologies. Trouble in la-la-land corporate land requires my immediate, although bored, presence. Miss Lane I promise I will complete this interview. Shall we reconvene for tomorrow?
LOIS: Sure.
BRUCE: How goes it, champ?
JASON: Final level!
BRUCE: Attaboy.
He puts on his jacket. Lois & Clark have walked to the door to see him out. Clark has opened it for him. Bruce nods and then hesitates and stops.
BRUCE: Tell you what. I can't pass on this opportunity to sell my city to the Planet's best writers. I'll call you tomorrow and you can be my guest for the day.
CLARK: I don't think we can-
LOIS: We'd love to.
CLARK: But the story-
LOIS: If anything happens and we need to go, I'm sure Bruce will understand.
BRUCE: You bet I will. Until tomorrow, then. Nice to have met you both. And Clark - c'mon, before I go. Admit it. It must have been fun, everyone thinking you were a superhero.
CLARK: It had its moments.
BRUCE: I knew it.
He kisses Lois on the cheek, before shaking Clark's hand. There is a faint crack and we see Bruce's eyebrow twitch minutely.
He exit's the apartment and immediately makes a call as he enters the elevator. We see the PDA message - SHIPMENT. PIER 22. MIDNIGHT.
BRUCE: Alfred? Bring the car. No. Not the Lamborghini.
Back inside the apartment, Clark sits beside Jason on the sofa and watches him play the game, his expression a little troubled.
CLARK: Which one did you use?
JASON: Which what?
CLARK: Cheat. Unlimited lives? Infinite energy?
JASON: Oh. None of them.
CLARK: (surprised) But I thought-
JASON: Yeah, well, it's weird. I know it's there if I need it, but I tried again and beat it on my own. Guess I just needed to relax a little.
Clark absorbs this.
LOIS: Good advice…
She's whispering in Clark's ear. He turns his head to look at her. Jason makes a face.
LOIS: Gonna help me unpack, hero?
CLARK: Yes ma'am…
Jason watches them go. He rolls his eyes, and grabs his headset before turning it up to full volume.