EPILOGUE
EXT. GOTHAM STREETS, NIGHT - Close up of Richie's eyes, he opens them wide as though he has just woken from a deep sleep. His face is severely bloody and bruised, to the point one eye is hardly open. He is still lying on the snow.
RICHIE:
GASP!
We see from Richie's view, he is looking into the night sky and a dark figure is standing above him, illuminated up by the fiery
Richie squints, not sure if he is imagining it.
RICHIE:
W-who's there? My Grandpa needs help.
Wide shot of a dark figure dragging Richie's body through the snow and towards a black car.
The figure places Richie in the back seat of the car. Richie is half-unconscious and unsure of what is happening, too weak to struggle.
The car speeds off, leaving Gordon's lifeless body alone in the snow.
INT. CAR, NIGHT – Richie is starting to come-to, and looks to the driver's seat.
RICHIE *MURMERS*:
Wh-where am I? We need to go back and get my grandpa.
We see Richie's view now, looking over the front seat to the driver. It's hard to see his face beneath a fur beanie. We can see the figure is also wearing black leather gloves to drive with.
MAN:
I'm sorry, it was too late for him. You're safe. Save your strength, you're lucky to be alive.
Richie rubs his head with his hand, clearly in a lot of pain but trying to ensure the situation is safe before he relaxes.
RICHIE:
Who are you? Why should I trust you?
MAN:
I'm a friend of your father. I've known him since he was a boy.
The view switches and we can finally see the man in the driver's seat. He is old, late 80s, and very gaunt. He is fancily dressed, with a thin grey moustache that is twisted up on the ends. His face portrays someone who is kind and gentle.
MAN:
My name is Alfred Pennyworth. I have been keeping an eye on you for some time, from our surveillance.
RICHIE:
Why? What do you want with me?
Richie's eyes well up, thinking about how he let down his mother, and now his grandfather is gone too.
RICHIE:
I'm just a pawn.
EXT. GOTHAM OUTSKIRTS, NIGHT – The car is driving along a winding road, we can see the Gotham cityscape in the distance and the glowing orange flames from what was the GCPD building.
ALFRED:
I believe you are the one Gotham has been waiting for. Much more than a pawn... a knight.
INT. CAR, NIGHT – Richie's head drops, his face fills with anger and he clenches his fist.
RICHIE:
I don't want to save this city. I want vengeance.
View from the front windscreen looking out, Alfred is looking back at Richie in the back seat from the mirror. He purses his lips, feeling sorry for his passenger but also knowing he has much to teach.
ALFRED:
I'm afraid you're missing the big picture Master Richie.
Richie agonizingly starts to prop himself up to a sitting position, now curious in what Alfred is saying.
RICHIE:
What do you mean?
ALFRED:
With what I'm about to show you, you may be able to achieve both.
Richie looks out the car window to see where he is.
RICHIE:
Where exactly are you taking me?
EXT. WAYNE MANOR, NIGHT – The car is driving up a long driveway towards a large mansion.
ALFRED:
Your new home. Welcome to Wayne Manor.
CUT TO, FULL-PAGE SPREAD
EXT. GOTHAM CITY ROOFTOP, NIGHT – A new-look Batman is perched on the edge of a rooftop in his full suit. The image is shadowed slightly so it's hard to see his face or costume properly.
We assume this is Richie, years later, having taken on the Batman persona…
However, it could also be the original Batman returned from the grave – signifying either way that the legacy of Batman is far from dead.
TITLE HEADER: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES AGAIN