FADE IN:
INT: BOXING GYM - RING
The Gym is old school, untouched by modern technology. A
boxing match is in full swing. The place is packed to the
rafters. Camera drones flying around, broadcasting the fight.
BEGIN TITLES
TERRY MCGINNIS has the appearance of a high school jock, and
the athletic ability to match. TERRY gives the vibe of a bad
kid attempting to reform.
TERRY'S stripped down to HIS waist, sweating. Fighting a
heavily augmented OPPONENT - half their body replaced by
cyber augmentations.
TERRY ducks and lands a punch on the OPPONENT's face,
STAGGERING them back into the ropes.
INT: BOXING GYM - TERRY'S CORNER
Switch over to TERRY's corner. There is MAXINE GIBSON, SHE's
exceptionally intelligent and computer smart, similar age to
TERRY, SHE'S sat on the edge of the ring. HER back to the
fight.
MAX's is completely ignoring the fight, watching the whole
thing on her phone - switching through feeds, watching the
donations slowly decrease, CONCERN edged across HER face...
DANA TAN is also in TERRY's corner. Leaning against the
ropes, watching TERRY, willing him to win.
DANA is Terry's girlfriend. SHE has that girl next door look
and is extremely well kept - bit posh. DANA is clearly
keeping TERRY on the straight and narrow.
DANA:
GO ON TERRY!
INT: BOXING GYM - RING
THEY fight one round. TERRY has the upper hand, ducking and
diving. TERRY hits back, knocking OPPONENT back. TERRY lands
punch after punch...
...OPPONENT grabs TERRY, THEY grapple...
A buzzer RINGS out, cutting across the noise of the crowd.
ANNOUNCER:
Back to the corners!
INT: BOXING GYM - TERRY'S CORNER
TERRY moves into HIS corner, leaning against the ropes, TERRY
is relaxed, almost cocky. TERRY knows HE's winning.
DANA ducks under the ropes, leaning close, wiping the sweat
from TERRY's brow.
DANA:
That guy petrifies me. Promise me
you're going to be careful.
TERRY does not answer, just grabs DANA and kisses HER - the
crowd WHOOPS!
TERRY stands, starts to stretch - ready to go.
MAXINE turns looking around, looking for TERRY...
MAXINE:
Terry!
TERRY turns, looking over at MAXINE - confused.
TERRY:
What?!
MAXINE
We're not making any more money on
this Terry!
TERRY looks back at HER, completely missing the point.
MAXINE sighs - frustrated, SHE flips the screen. Showing
TERRY the screen. Pointing at The donations RAPIDLY dropping
down.
MAXINE:
See!
TERRY:
What do you want me to do about
that? I'm doing my best here!
MAXINE:
Finish this... Quickly!
INT: BOXING GYM - RING
The buzzer RINGS. Round 4 starts. TERRY charges out of the
corner - Ready to win.
DANA:
(O.S)
You can do this!
TERRY and OPPONENT circle around each other - looking for
weaknesses. JABBING away at each other...
...OPPONENT CHARGES at TERRY, trying to grab HIM. TERRY DIVES
under HIM...
...TERRY turns, throwing one last punch. Knocking his
OPPONENT to the floor. The crowd ERUPTS, supporting TERRY.
A camera drone drops out of the sky. Floating around the
fight.
CAMERA DRONE:
10!
The crowd falls silent.
CAMERA DRONE:
9!
No movement from the opponent...
CAMERA DRONE:
8!
TERRY lightly kicks his OPPONENT, no movement.
CAMERA DRONE:
7!...6!...5!...4!...3!...2!...1!
The crowd ERUPTS again! TERRY raises his hands in victory.
PARTY MONTAGE - CLUB - LATER
A quick sequence where TERRY, HIS friends and wannabes
celebrate the victory.
- It's packed with partygoers. Everyone's dancing around.
LOUD future-pop MUSIC playing, drowning out all conversation.
- TERRY and DANA mingle through the large crowd. LOUD MUSIC
BOOMING. THEY stop every so often for conversations.
- DANA kisses TERRY on the cheek and weaves through the crowd
to the bar.
- DANA chats to her girlfriends at the bar. LOUD MUSIC
drowning out the conversation.
- DANA and TERRY dance in the middle of the dance floor.
PEOPLE thronging around them. THEY dance, getting physically
closer and closer together...
END OF OPENING TITLES
FADE TO BLACK.
INT: TERRY'S ROOM
It's a small room, almost a cubicle. It has a single bed and
no personal items except an old-school advert for a boxing
gym. A screen is playing the latest news from Daily Gotham,
on mute.
The audio activates...
ON SCREEN:
The NEWSREADER is an CG construct, appearing human, but ever
so slightly artificial.
NEWSREADER:
And now, we would like to bring
your attention to our special for
tonight, streaming across all
devices and platforms.
ON TERRY:
TERRY stirs and slowly wakes. GROANING as the hangover kicks
in...
ON SCREEN:
NEWSREADER:
It has been twenty years since the
Gotham legend known as the Batman
disappeared from our streets, on
the same night that tragically took
Commissioner Gordon from this great
city...
ON TERRY:
TERRY GROANS, sitting up in bed, the bed sheets falling -
revealing the peak physical condition TERRY's in. HE stares
blankly at the screen, too hungover to take it in.
ON SCREEN:
NEWSREADER:
There are some who believe this
Batman, was nothing more than an
urban legend, started by the
police...
ON TERRY:
TERRY sighs...
TERRY:
(Muttering to himself)
We need him more than ever...
TERRY pulls himself out bed - showing off his grey jogging
pants. TERRY stretches. Making HIS way out the room.
INT: MCGINNIS APARTMENT -DAY
The apartment is rather worn out and does not seem to have
any style or personality to it, just filled with generic
furniture. The screen is on, showing the same newsreader.
WARREN MCGINNIS, TERRY's down and almost out father, is in
the kitchenette, getting ready for work. WARREN is packing
items into a rucksack.
ON SCREEN:
NEWSREADER:
As an attempt to seize the
initiative against Gotham's
sprawling underworld... We will be
discussing all these and more
tonight at 8pm here on the Daily
Gotham.
ON WARREN:
WARREN looks up as TERRY enters from his room.
WARREN:
Son, How was the fight last night?
TERRY blanks WARREN and enters the bathroom, closing the
door. We hear the HISS and CLANK of the pipes as the shower
turns on.
WARREN slings the rucksack onto his shoulder and starts to
move towards the door to leave for work.
WARREN:
(Shouting over his
shoulder)
Don't use all the water! Charges
have gone up again!
The shower CLANKS off. The flat goes quiet. In the distance,
the CONSTANT ROAR of the street traffic 35 floors below.
The bathroom door opens. TERRY steps out, TERRY only has a
towel around his waist, HE'S soaking wet, water dripping onto
the floor.
TERRY:
Why do you keep letting them
increase the price? It's been three
times this month.
WARREN turns around, looking at TERRY, disappointed to be
having this same conversation. The third time this month.
WARREN:
Terry, I've told you this before.
Powers gave us this place as part
of the job. We really can't afford
to live anywhere else!
TERRY:
Great, stuck in this hole...
TERRY turns, storming out. SLAMMING HIS bedroom door behind
HIM.
WARREN's left standing in the middle of the apartment.
WARREN:
Terry...
INT: TERRY'S ROOM
TERRY is in the middle of the room, throwing on some clothes.
The front door of the apartment SLAMS shut.
TERRY:
Maybe you and Mum should have
stayed together...
TERRY slides on his iconic brown jacket. TERRY pauses to look
over at the newsreader.
ON SCREEN:
NEWSREADER:
Finally, Billionaire industrialist
and former star of the tabloids,
Bruce Wayne has announced that he
will be donating an additional one
million dollars to the Gotham City
police department in order for it
to combat the every rising crime
rate.
ON TERRY:
TERRY:
Off.
EXT: POWER TOWER - STREET - DAY
It's a street in Lower Gotham - grimy buildings covered in
neon advertising, scratty COMMUTERS rushing around. Rising
above all this, in GLEAMING GLASS is Power Tower.
An self-driving pod - emblazoned with the Wayne-Tech logo,
pulls out of traffic, coasting to an halt outside Power
Tower.
The doors SLIDE open. WARREN steps out, slinging his bag onto
his back. WARREN runs, diving around people - HE's running
late.
WARREN runs into Power Tower.
INT: POWER TOWER - RECEPTION - DAY
It's the corporate reception of the future. Digital walls
displaying 24hrs news. A floor to ceiling projection of DEREK
Powers is the main feature, towering over EVERYONE scurrying
below.
ON SCREEN:
The digital wall is tuned to the Daily Gotham.
NEWSREADER:
Derek Powers, CEO and Founder of
Power Industries...
An image of an smirking DEREK POWERS pops up next to HER.
NEWSREADER:
Has made an offer of $500 a share
to acquire WayneCorp.
ON WARREN:
WARREN DIVES through the doors - walking, almost running,
across the floor.
HE stops at the floor to ceiling security barriers. Leaning
forward as an red beam scans HIS face.
WARREN stands there as the system flicks through the faces of
all the millions of employees of Power Industries...
WARREN impatiently glances down at HIS PHONE, checking the
time. It reads 9.05am - HE's even later now!
WARREN:
Come on!
Finally! It finds him. BEEPING in confirmation. The barrier
CLUNK's open, sliding aside.
INT: POWER TOWER - LIFT LOBBY - DAY
It's a standard corporate lift lobby. Rows and rows of lifts.
WORKERS queuing for lifts, some in suits, others wearing lab
coats.
WARREN walks across, stepping into the waiting lift. The lift
doors HISS shut.
INT: POWER TOWER - LAB - DAY
The lab is on the 50th floor of the Power Industries
megascraper. A medical pod sits in the middle of the lab,
surrounded by towering life support machines- cables run
between the machines and the pod. It's clinical, almost like
an mortuary.
The lift doors HISS open. WARREN steps out into the lab.
Passing VIXX, POWER's walking monstrosity of a bodyguard -
more machine than human.
VIXX is standing guard next to the lift, SURVEYING the room.
WARREN walks across the empty lab, to the medical pod, taking
up his position next to HARRY TULLY, WARREN's spectacled lab
assistant.
HARRY's working on his console, reviewing DEREK's medical
scans.
WARREN leans forward. A red laser scans HIS eye, unlocking
HIS console.
HARRY:
Everything OK?
WARREN sighs...
WARREN:
Just... another argument with Terry
is all.
HARRY
Really? Isn't that all you two do?
WARREN:
To be honest, it certainly seems
that way...
WARREN glances down at HIS console, reading DEREK's charts.
WARREN:
I don't see any change here?
HARRY:
Yeah, The radiation seems to
keeping him steady... for now
anyway...
WARREN:
Probably the best we are going to
get. Let's wake him up.
WARREN taps on his keyboard, activating the wake up process.
WARREN and HARRY turn to watch the pod...
HARRY:
Do you have any idea what actually
happened? How he got infected?
The pod slowly and gradually WHIRS into life.
WARREN:
Honestly... I have no idea what
happened.
The pod turns so that the frozen glass canopy faces WARREN.
HARRY:
But weren't you here in the lab?
It HISSES as the glass canopy slides up and out, Revealing...
A clearly deathly ill man, with thin drawn skin, sunken
cheeks. We can see that his bones have a nuclear green tinge
to them.
This is DEREK POWERS. Imagine a man with the same power and
status as Bruce Wayne, but absolutely no morals.
DEREK carefully steps out of the pod. Weak from the
treatment. HARRY steps forward and wraps a robe around DEREK.
WARREN:
You ready sir?
DEREK:
(Rasping)
Yes... Yes... Just do it...
WARREN pulls open a drawer and takes out an injector gun. HE
loads it with a vial from the nearby rack, containing a green
gas.
DEREK gingerly pulls up the sleeve of the robes.
WARREN places the injector against the arm. HE fires the
liquid into DEREK's arm.
DEREK throws HIS head back, HE starts to convulse, slowly at
first then faster and faster...
WARREN and TULLY calmly watch and study the convulsing -
they've seen this numerous times before.
DEREK's features start to change, HIS face regains its
colour. The cheeks become fuller...
DEREK abruptly stops convulsing. DEREK lowers HIS head. HIS
features are now back to normal, like HE was never ill...
DEREK:
Thank you Warren.
WARREN:
No problem sir.
DEREK sits down, exhausted, and turns to HARRY.
DEREK:
Please tell me you've made some
progress on the cure?
There's silence...
WARREN:
Sir, as I mentioned before...
Blight is incurable, you asked us
to design it...
DEREK EXPLODES in ANGER - getting right into WARREN's face!
DEREK:
YOU designed this! YOU had better
find a cure!
WARREN steps back - scared. DEREK grabs the injection gun,
furiously pointing it at WARREN.
DEREK:
I'm sure if I injected you with
some, you'd find the cure in no
time at all!
HARRY:
Sir, we are trying...
The BEEP BEEP of an incoming call emanates from VIXX's phone.
DEREK:
Well try HARDER!
WARREN:
Yes sir, we will do.
VIXX STOMPS across to DEREK. His metallic footsteps CLANGING
across the floor.
DEREK:
Now... tell me, where are we with
production?
WARREN:
Umm... we are ready to start
production immediately...
HARRY:
As soon as we have the approval
from the Department of Defense, of
course.
DEREK:
That's not going to be a problem. I
already have a buyer, they don't
really care about all this red
tape.
DEREK extends his hand.
DEREK:
Get the production started.
WARREN and HARRY share an concerned glance.
VIXX's one human hand places the phone onto DEREK's extended
hand.
VIXX:
It's Vilmos for you.
DEREK raises the phone to his ear.
DEREK:
Vilmos, Can you please give me one
second?
DEREK pauses, listening. We don't hear the response.
DEREK
Thank you.
(To VIXX)
See them out.
DEREK dismissively points at WARREN and HARRY.
VIXX:
You heard the man, move!
VIXX pushes HARRY towards the lift, HE stumbles to the floor.
WARREN helps him up. Leaning close to HARRY's ear.
WARREN:
(Whispering)
He's gone insane...
INT - POWERS INDUSTRIES - ELEVATOR - DAY
It's a glass elevator, with social media updates running down
the glass. Out of the glass we see Upper Gotham.
WARREN and HARRY are standing in the elevator. Deep in
concerned conversation.
WARREN:
How can we let Blight out into the
black market?!
HARRY:
We just can't. Millions would die..
WARREN:
I think it already is...
Pause for a few beats.
HARRY:
Yeah... I think we can stop this.
WARREN
How?
HARRY:
Not here...
The lift stops. The doors HISS open.
INT: POWER INDUSTRIES - LAB - DAY
DEREK is sat at the console, robe wrapped tight around him.
Watching...
ON SCREEN:
It's the elevator with WARREN and HARRY in it. DEREK's been
watching the entire time...
HARRY steps out the elevator.
HARRY:
(O.S)
Meet me later, at the usual place!
ON DEREK:
DEREK stares at the screen, not turning around, watching
WARREN ride the lift down.
DEREK:
Vixx, take care of this for me.
EXT: LINSEED RESIDENTIAL BLOCK: DAY.
The block is the embodiment of slum housing, completely run
down. 100 stories high. It's three towers, connected by a
sprawling network of bridges.
TERRY steps out of the apartment, bopping along to the
BLARING music from his earphones.
TERRY strolls along the open walkway. In the distance, we can
see Midtown Gotham. Two cities that have been built on top of
one another, one rich... one poor.
TERRY makes his way to the end of the walkway and steps into
the crowded lift.
INT: LINSEED RESIDENTIAL BLOCK: LIFT. DONE
The lift is massive, about 100 people standing in it. We have
augmented humans, normals and all classes of workers all
crammed together.
TERRY slides into the lift. squeezing in the front row of the
lift. The lift doors BANG shut, inches from TERRY's face.
With a CLANK, the lift starts to drop down to the ground,
SHUDDERING as it goes.
TERRY starts tapping the rhythm of the music out against the
lift door.
EXT: LINSEED RESIDENTIAL BLOCK - DAY
The lift is on the outside of the block. We can see Lower
Gotham around it. Made up of similar residential blocks, all
built by Powers Technologies. Lit up in neon.
The lift shoots down, going faster and faster.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET: DAY
It's a mix of old and new buildings. Skyscrapers covered in
advertising screens rise into the sky, blocking off sunlight.
The street is teeming with commuters.
DANA's casually leaning against the wall next to the lift,
waiting for TERRY. HER head in HER phone - not paying
attention to the COMMUTERS RUSHING past.
The lift softly lowers itself into the cradle, bouncing off
the springs. The doors HISS open. The crowd pours out into
the street.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET: DAY - CONTINUOUS
TERRY weaves through the crowd to the front, HE's done this
hundreds of times before. TERRY turns and walks off up the
street. TERRY's music is still BLARING.
TERRY walks straight past DANA, completely oblivious.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET: DAY - MOMENTS LATER
DANA looks up. SHE see's TERRY disappearing in the distance.
DANA sighs then RUNS after Terry. Sliding through the crowd
to catch up with TERRY...
...SHE reaches TERRY and plucks out one of TERRY's earpods.
The MUSIC SUDDENLY STOPS.
TERRY turns around, confused, until HE sees DANA then a
loving smile comes across his face,
TERRY leans forward and gives DANA a quick kiss.
TERRY:
Hey! Thought we were meeting at
your place?
DANA:
Yeah... But work called and stuck
me on early shift. How's your head?
TERRY:
Oh God... I can't remember anything
from yesterday.
DANA:
You are terrible.
TERRY smiles.
TERRY
That's why you love me though.
DANA smiles back, kissing TERRY.
DANA
Can we grab some food? I need to be
at the Lounge in 30.
TERRY wraps HIS arm across HER shoulders.
TERRY:
Come on.
TERRY and DANA start to walk up the street. TERRY leaves his
arm on DANA's shoulders. DANA's hand reaches up and embraces
it.
DANA:
I heard an interesting story at the
fight yesterday.
TERRY:
Oh yeah?
DANA:
About Commissioner Gordon.
TERRY:
Isn't that the current one?
DANA:
Yeah, but did Warren ever tell you
about what happened to the old
Commissioner Gordon?
TERRY:
Didn't he get murdered?
DANA:
Yep,apparently on the same night...
their home was attacked by the
Joker. He was kidnapped and Barbara
shot.
TERRY and DANA reach the end of the street, and turn left
into...
EXT: GOTHAM ALLEY - DAY
It is linked to the street we are just on. Its filled with
rubbish, rats and some junkies.
TERRY and DANA make their way down the alley.
DANA:
It put her in a wheelchair...
Behind them, a beaten up car speeds down the alley. It's
engine getting LOUDER and LOUDER as it approaches.
TERRY:
God... That's just...
TERRY and DANA stop outside the entrance to the Iceberg
Lounge. Its facade bears a close resemblance to a broadway
theatre. With the name emblazoned across in ice blue.
The beaten up CAR ROARS towards them. TERRY turns, attracted
by the noise and sees it. It's on a collision course with
DANA.
TERRY suddenly grabs DANA and pulls her into a hug. The car
SPEEDS past just centimeters from her.
TERRY turns, watching the car.
EXT: GOTHAM ALLEY - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
The CAR SCREECHES to a halt, haphazardly across the alley,
blocking it.
Doors of the CAR swing open. Thugs wearing clown masks and
dirty suits clamber out. These are JOKERZ, criminals inspired
by the Joker.
TERRY:
Oi! What do you think you're doing?
!
One of the JOKERZ turns towards TERRY, reaching into THEIR
pocket.
JOKERZ 1:
Who do you think you're talking to,
man?
TERRY:
Some wannabe Joker...
JOKERZ 1 shoves TERRY to the ground. Pulling out a REVOLVER
and points it at TERRY.
JOKERZ 1:
Get out of here!
TERRY very slowly gets to HIS feet, raising HIS hands.
JOKERZ 1:
Go on, get...
DANA grabs TERRY arms, pulling HIM backwards - up the alley.
HOLDING on with both hands, digging in, DRAGGING him away.
JOKERZ 1 watches... keeping the revolver trained on them as
they walk away.
JOKERZ 1
That's it man... walk away...
EXT: JOKERZ CAR - DAY.
JOKERZ 2 wonders around the car and yanks opens the trunk,
revealing tatty open boxes filled with small bags containing
various amounts of a green powder - all with a scrawled V on
them. This is Venom.
EXT: GOTHAM ALLEY - DAY DONE
TERRY stops, turns - watching, yearning to step in.
DANA pulls at him, begging HIM not to...
DANA:
Terry, Please let's go!
EXT: JOKERZ CAR - DAY.
JOKERZ3 raises THEIR phone to THEIR lips, holding it like a
microphone.
JOKERZ 3:
(Voice coming out of the
car speakers)
Citizens of Gotham, round up!
EXT: GOTHAM ALLEY - DAY
Every JUNKIE in the alley slowly stands and shuffles towards
the car. Almost zombie like...
TERRY stops, watching the JUNKIES stumble THEIR way towards
the JOKERZ.
DANA:
Terry, please don't get involved...
TERRY:
Dana...I have to...
DANA:
Why?!
TERRY pulls himself away from DANA and slowly starts to walk
towards the JOKERZ.
TERRY:
They just get away with it! No one
does anything!...
DANA watches TERRY walk away...
DANA:
(Shouting after him)
They are going to kill you!
EXT: JOKERZ CAR - DAY.
JOKERZ 3 turns, watching TERRY approach...
JOKERZ 3:
(Through the cars speakers)
Guys, look at this, the no-fun boy
came back!
JOKERZ 1 looks up, pointing his revolver at TERRY.
JOKERZ 1:
Stop!
TERRY stops... just inches from the barrel of the gun...
TERRY:
What now?
JOKERZ 1:
Now you do want your nice lady
friend said...
JOKERZ 1 jabs TERRY with the barrel of the revolver.
JOKERZ 1:
And walk away... Or...
JOKERZ 1 aims the revolver at DANA...
JOKERZ 1
I can just blow her away.
TERRY's fists ball up - anger flares...
JOKERZ 1
I mean, you clearly don't listen to
her anyway.
TERRY DIVES for the revolver. THEY GRABBLE over it. TERRY
struggling to pull it away...
...HE SMACKS JOKERZ 1 across the face. JOKERZ1 stumbles back,
hitting the pavement hard, dropping the gun.
TERRY grabs the gun,turns - THROWING it away.
DANA:
(O.S)
Look out!
EXT: JOKERZ CAR - DAY
JOKERZ 1 launches THEMSELVES at TERRY...
TERRY turns at the last minute, JOKERZ 1 punches TERRY across
the face, knocking HIM back...
...TERRY leaps at JOKERZ 1, pinning THEM against the car.
PUNCHING over and over...
...JOKERZ 1 struggles, fighting to break free, throwing
feeble punches...
...JOKERZ 1 stops struggling...
...TERRY lets go, JOKERZ 1 crashes to the ground...
TERRY turns back, looking for DANA.
EXT: GOTHAM ALLEY - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
TERRY turns, seeing the rest of the JOKERZ sprawled across
the alley.
TERRY sighs - weary, raising HIS fists.
The JOKERZ charge!
INT: BOXING GYM -DAY
The same club where TERRY had his fight. It's covered in the
remains of the fight, with bottles and general rubbish strewn
everywhere.
MAX is lounging in the middle of the ring, working away on
HER tablet - working out the profit from the fight.
The door to the Gym swings open, SMACKING the wall behind it.
TERRY limb's in. BRUISED and BATTERED from the fight with the
Jokerz.
MAX JUMPS at the NOISE, looking up - seeing TERRY. SHE runs
across to HIM, concerned at the state of HIM.
MAXINE:
Terry, what happened to you?
TERRY STUMBLES - grabbing MAX. SHE holds on, lowering TERRY
into the nearest chair.
TERRY:
Got into a fight with some
Jokerz...
MAX leaves TERRY, RUNNING across to the ring. SHE reaches
under - pulling out the FIRST AID KIT.
MAX turns back, moving across to TERRY.
MAXINE:
Guessing police had to stop in
again...
MAX sits next to TERRY, the first aid kit on HER lap.
TERRY:
Actually the bouncers from the
Iceberg helped out...
MAX starts to search through the first aid kit - looking for
plasters and antibiotics.
MAXINE:
I'm going to have to tell Dana...
There's no way I can keep patching
you up!
MAX pulls out two spray cans. One a plaster, the other a
antibiotic. MAX sets them aside.
MAXINE:
Right, lean forward.
TERRY leans, showing MAX the cuts on HIS face. MAX gets to
work. Spraying the antibiotic spray across the cuts.
TERRY:
She was there...
MAXINE
She's OK?
TERRY GRIMACES in pain.
TERRY:
Yeah... She's fine... Pissed at me
though...
MAX stops spraying and switches over to the plaster spray.
MAXINE
Not surprised... You need to look
after yourself, otherwise you might
lose her...
MAX sprays the plaster across the wound. It's a foam which
slowly hardens across the cut as MAX sprays it.
MAXINE:
Terry, I keep saying this... but
this is not your fight.
TERRY:
Max... Come on... You've seen the
world outside, we can't sit by and
do nothing... It's getting worse
and worse out there.
MAX angrily throws the cans back into the first aid kit. They
CLANG as they hit the kit. MAX SLAMS the box shut with a loud
SNAP - clearly not the first time TERRY's done this.
MAXINE:
The police can sort this city.
They've done it before!
TERRY:
Yeah...twenty years ago. Ever since
that night when HE disappeared, its
been getting worse.
MAXINE:
What do you mean by HE?... You
don't seriously believe in the
Batman, do you?
TERRY:
Something must have different back
then. Dad said that people could
walk the street and feel safe.
Something needs to happen now...
MAXINE:
You know that's just a legend, even
if it wasn't, he's not coming back.
TERRY:
Yeah well.. Something needs to
happen to this city. It's gone to
hell...
INT: NOONAN'S BAR: NIGHT
It's a classic dive bar. With lit up neon posters being the
only source of light. The bar's full of PEOPLE having a good
time - LOUD MUSIC, the LOW MURMUR of conversation.
WARREN is sat on a stool at the bar, halfway through after
work drinks. One empty beer infront of him. WARREN's drinking
his next one, he's about halfway through.
The door to the bar slides open. WARREN turns towards it,
looking through the crowd for...
HARRY walks in. WARREN stands and sticks his hand up above
the crowd - grabbing HARRY's attention.
HARRY sees it and weaves through the crowd.
INT: NOONAN'S BAR: - MOMENTS LATER
HARRY slides onto the stool next to WARREN.
HARRY:
Glad you could make it.
WARREN:
Yeah, we needed to talk about
today...
The robotic barkeep TRUNDLES over, hereafter known as
ROBOKEEP. ROBOKEEP's has an almost MR Gutsy appearance.
ROBOKEEP:
(Has a stereotypical posh
British voice)
Drink Sir?
HARRY:
Bud please Alfred.
ROBOKEEP:
Yes Sir.
One of ROBOKEEP's arms reaches under the counter, pulls out a
beer. Another arm swings round and opens the bottle.
ROBOKEEP slides it in-front of HARRY.
HARRY leans close to WARREN, making sure that no one can
overhear.
HARRY:
Powers gave you restricted file
access right?
WARREN leans in...
WARREN:
Yeah, for Blight's DNA sequence
why?
HARRY:
So you must have access to Bane and
the Venom files as well?
WARREN
Again... Why?
HARRY
I think the only way to stop Powers
is to expose all of it...
WARREN:
What about us? Do you want to
expose us as well?!
HARRY:
Calm down... Look, Blight's meant
to be for the D.O.D right. If we go
to them then I think they should
protect us.
WARREN:
What about MY family. What do you
think Power's will do to them?!
HARRY sighs...
HARRY:
I know, but do you have any better
ideas?
WARREN stares into HIS glass - thinking. HE downs the drink.
Standing.
WARREN:
No...no... Really can't say that I
do.
WARREN pulls on HIS coat.
WARREN
I'll get the files, then we can
talk...
WARREN heads out, weaving through the crowd to the exit.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - NIGHT
It's raining heavily. Puddles have formed everywhere. The
puddles reflect back the lights and advertising billboards.
PEOPLE are bustling about, making their way home.
WARREN dashes along - dodging puddles, heading towards the
monorail station at the end of the street.
Behind WARREN, an heavy set MAN steps out of the shadows.
Wearing a black trenchcoat with a hood covering his face. No
way to tell who it is.
The MAN follows WARREN... Rapidly getting closer and closer,
shoving ANYONE in HIS way aside. PEOPLE hit the floor, turn,
stare, point.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
The MAN shoves SOMEONE. SOMEONE falls against the MAN.
Pulling the hood down. REVEALING that it's VIXX stalking
WARREN.
VIXX THROWS THEM to the ground. Looking around for WARREN.
VIXX'S augmented arm TRANSFORMS into a MINIGUN...
Vixx see's WARREN. Raises the minigun. Pointing it at WARREN.
The barrel starts to SPIN... Getting LOUDER and LOUDER!
WARREN glances behind, looking for the source of the noise...
HE sees VIXX - PANICS, turning. Running for HIS life!
HE shoves anyone in HIS way, trying to get through the crowd
- heading for the nearest exit.
VIXX does not move. Keeping WARREN in the sights.
The minigun FIRES, mowing PEOPLE down - collapsing onto the
floor.
WARREN's hit - multiple times. WARREN writhes and collapses
to the ground, face down.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - NIGHT - LATER
The firing has stopped. All around PEOPLE are lying on the
floor. Slowly bleeding out...
We hear a POLICE SIREN getting closer and closer.
VIXX slowly walks to WARREN's body. The minigun transforming
as HE walks - stepping over bodies.
VIXX kicks it, waiting to see if WARREN moves. WARREN lays
there - lifeless.
VIXX pulls up his hood. A veil drops down over his face,
TRANSFORMING VIXX's facial features as it does so. HE is now
completely unrecognisable, looking like someone else.
VIXX turns and walks away. Straight past a POLICE CAR which
has just SCREECHED to a halt a few metres away.
INT: BOXING GYM.
It has still not been cleaned or tidied up. Covered in
remnants from the fight the night before.
TERRY and NELSON are in the ring - in casual clothes. TERRY's
face is still bruised and battered. NELSON's pristeen, got a
perfect appearance - clearly a rich snob. HE's TERRY'S arch
nemesis in their group of friends.
THEY are sparring, circling each other, looking for a moment
to strike.
MAX casually watches from TERRY's corner.
NELSON:
You know what Terry?
MAX's phone RINGS out, SHE pulls it out of HER pocket. Heads
off to a quiet corner, away from the fight.
TERRY:
I'm sure you're going to to tell
me...
NELSON throws a sloppy punch at TERRY. TERRY ducks under the
swing.
NELSON:
Why is Dana with you? Of all
people, she picks someone who can't
afford their own home...
TERRY moves back, putting some space between them.
NELSON attempts to hit TERRY. TERRY easily avoids it -
getting angrier and angrier.
NELSON
I mean, she must know that you're
going to spend your whole life
paying off your debt to Powers.
TERRY snaps! HE's had enough - throwing PUNCH after PUNCH at
NELSON...
NELSON blocks them, one after the after. SMACKING TERRY
across the face.
TERRY stumbles back.
NELSON:
Don't be surprised if she got a
better offer...
TERRY SUDDENLY turns and throws a heavy punch into NELSON's
gut. NELSON steps back, folded over.
TERRY punches NELSON to the ground.
NELSON cowers as TERRY stands over him - fists raised, ready
to beat NELSON to a pulp.
TERRY:
Don't ever talk about her like that
ever again!
NELSON
OK OK, Jesus!
INT: BOXING GYM - MOMENTS LATER
MAXINE runs over, still on the phone.
MAXINE:
(Panicked)
TERRY!
TERRY turns, leaving NELSON on the floor - not bothering to
help HIM up.
TERRY:
What?!
MAXINE holds out the phone.
MAXINE:
(Concerned)
You need to take this... It's about
Warren.
TERRY ducks under the robes - making his way to MAX.
TERRY:
What happened?
MAXINE:
Terry... Please just speak to your
mother.
TERRY takes the phone from HER - confused about what's going
on.
TERRY:
Mum, What's wrong?
MARY:
(V.O)
Terry... It's Warren... He's...
been shot.
EXT: GOTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT PRECINCT - NIGHT
The precinct is an old roughed up brownstone building.
Heavily reinforced, ready for a riot.
TERRY CHARGES up the stairs, DIVING through the double doors
into...
INT: GPD PRECINCT: RECEPTION
It's an dank, grimy reception area. Maybe a map of Gotham
covering one wall, armed guards scattered about?It's busy - A
QUEUE has formed leading up to the RECEPTIONIST. PEOPLE
bustle about.
TERRY CHARGES in, RUNNING straight over to the RECEPTIONIST.
Cutting in-front of the queue.
QUEUE PERSON:
HEY!
RECEPTIONIST:
(To Terry)
You know... We do have a queue.
RECEPTIONIST points at the queue.
TERRY:
Where's Mary?!
RECEPTIONIST:
Mary? Who?... I'm going to need
more than that.
TERRY:
Fine! Mary McGinnis.
RECEPTIONIST
Ahh... Take the door over there.
RECEPTIONIST points to a door.
INT: GPD PRECINCT: FAMILY ROOM
It's made up like a lounge, There's also the standard police
paraphernalia covering the walls.
MARY MCGINNIS, TERRY's astronomer mother is sat on the sofa.
One arm wrapped around MATT McGinnis, TERRY's shy, nerdy
child brother. MARY is dressed affluently.
THEY are all in their own world - in shock.
The door CREAKS opens. TERRY walks in.
TERRY:
Mum...
MARY snaps out - wrapping TERRY into an long caring hug. MARY
break's - starting to CRY.
TERRY:
Can't believe it...
TERRY pulls himself out of the hug, passing MARY an tissue.
MARY wipes HER tears...
MARY:
Did they tell you if he's OK?
TERRY:
No... They just sent me in here?
INT: GPD PRECINCT: FAMILY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The door CREAKS open. Commissioner BARBARA GORDON steps in.
She is the daughter of the late, great Commissioner Jim
Gordon. Early 50's, leaning on a walking stick, with her
dad's old revolver in a side holster.
BARBARA looks around, focusing in MARY. BARBARA limps over to
her.
BARBARA:
Mary?
MARY:
Yes...
BARBARA
I have an officer outside the door.
Do you mind if he looks after Matt
while we talk?
TERRY kneels down next to MATT.
TERRY
Matt, how about you go play cops
and robbers with the man outside.
I'm sure he'll let you be Batman...
BARBARA grimaces at the mention of BATMAN...
MATT:
What about Dad?
MARY crouches next to MATT.
MARY:
Go on, I promise you'll be safe.
TERRY takes his hand and walks MATT over to the door. TERRY
opens it.
INT: GPD PRECINCT: CORRIDOR
On the other side is a PLAIN-CLOTHED OFFICER - hand
outstretched.
TERRY:
(O.S)
Go on...
MATT walks through the door, taking the OFFICER's hand. THEY
lead MATT away.
INT: GPD PRECINCT: FAMILY ROOM
TERRY closes the door behind HIM. BARBARA limps over to one
of the armchairs and sit down.
BARBARA
Now... I'm afraid...
MARY:
(Interrupting)
What hospital is Warren at? How is
he?!
BARBARA pauses - gathering HER thoughts.
BARBARA:
There's no easy way to say this...
TERRY
Is he?
BARBARA
I'm sorry, he's injuries were too
severe for him to recover from...
He didn't make it.
MARY chokes up, on the verge of tears. TERRY wraps HIS arm
around HER in comfort.
MARY buries her head in TERRY's arm, and slowly starts to CRY
- Tears wracking HER body.
No one speaks, just the sound of the faint bustle of the
precinct, intermixed with MARY's tears.
TERRY
Do you have any idea who did it?
BARBARA:
No, not yet... Looking at the
footage, I believe it was a
targeted attack. Did he have anyone
who would want to cause him harm?
TERRY
No...Dad didn't have enemies
though. He was a scientist.
BARBARA:
No one at all?
TERRY nods, keeping one arm wrapped around MARY.
BARBARA:
Do you mind just taking a quick
look at the footage, just to see if
anything stands out? It would
really help us.
MARY pulls herself away from TERRY. HER eyes red and puffy.
MARY:
OK.
TERRY turns to MARY, concerned.
TERRY:
(whispering)
You sure?
MARY
(not whispering, resolute)
Yes... I'm sure.
BARBARA reaches into HER jacket pocket and takes out HER
smartphone. BARBARA unfolds the screen.
BARBARA
Just see if you can recognise
anyone, or if anything stands out.
BARBARA presses play.
ON SCREEN:
VIXX slowly walks to WARREN's body. The minigun transforming
as HE walks - stepping over bodies.
VIXX kicks it, waiting to see if WARREN moves. WARREN lays
there - lifeless.
VIXX turns and walks away. HIS transformed face on show.
ON BARBARA:
BARBARA
Do you recognise him?
TERRY shakes his head.
MARY
No... But is that who you think did
it?
BARBARA
Just a person of interest at the
moment...
BARBARA folds HER phone back up, sliding it back into HER
pocket.
BARBARA:
Just a few more questions if you
don't mind?
MARY wipes HER eyes.
MARY:
If you think it will help...
BARBARA:
When was the last time you spoke?
MARY:
...Not since the divorce. He was
just so wrapped up in work...
TERRY:
Yeah... always long hours in the
office, I only ever saw him for a
few minutes on the morning... We
always argued...
TERRY breaks, starting to CRY.
TERRY:
Dad always tried to do the right
thing, I can't think of anyone who
would want to hurt him.
EXT: GOTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT PRECINCT - DAY.
It's now morning. The've been in the station all night. There
are a few OFFICERS just arriving the first shift of the day,
mingling around outside.
MARY steps out, SHE's holding onto MATT's hand. HE's been
crying. TERRY follows a few steps behind - deep in thought.
THEY head down the steps, into the street.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - DAY
DANA runs across, cutting through the crowd. SHE grabs TERRY,
pulling HIM into a close embrace.
TERRY:
How did you..?
DANA:
Max told me what happened.
TERRY steps out of the hug - head down - broken...
TERRY:
I don't think they will find who
did it.
DANA:
Lets just worry about you right
now...
TERRY:
It just didn't seem like that they
had anything to go on...
DANA lets go of TERRY and takes his hand - leading HIM
towards the monorail station. MARY and MATT are a little
ahead, making their slow, sombre way towards it.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - DAY - FURTHER UP THE STREET
MARY and MATT walk slowly towards the monorail station. MARY
tightly holding onto MATT'S hand - not letting go.
MATT
Dad always said that everything
works out well in the end.
MARY lifts MATT up. MARY looks at him lovingly.
MARY:
It will... I promise.
EXT: APARO PARK GRAVEYARD - DAY
It's a small community park. A small group of mourners
gathered around the open grave, all wearing black, sombre
suits/dresses. Including MARY, MATT, DANA and TERRY.
A PRIEST is standing at the head of the grave - blessing the
grave.
PRIEST:
And now, I would like to ask any
members of the family to speak, if
they wish.
TERRY awkwardly coughs.
TERRY:
Can I say something?
PRIEST:
Please do.
The PRIEST steps back..
TERRY carefully lets go of MARY and nervously steps forward.
TERRY keeps hold of DANA'S hand, almost for dear life.
TERRY:
Just wanted to say...Dad wasn't a
superhero. But...He was a good man
just the same... Even after he and
Mom got divorced.
MARY starts to CRY - small SOBS.
TERRY:
he always tried to do the right
thing. My brother and I were always
provided for, alway helping when I
got in trouble... He tried to teach
me right from wrong. Would have too
if I'd ever listen to him.
The casket slowly starts to lower into the grave.
TERRY:
(His voice chokes)
Going to miss you Dad.
INT: APARO PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: DAY
Warren's wake has already started, with mourners standing
around the hall. The room is filled with the low MURMUR of
polite conversation.
TERRY enters - working the room. Making HIS way round to
MARY. SHE'S just standing at the back of the room, looking
over the crowd.
MARY:
Warren would have been proud of
what you said.
TERRY:
I hope so.
TERRY turns and looks over the crowd, Looking for anyone that
actually knew HIS Dad.
TERRY
Who came in the end?
MARY
I think most of Warren's work
friends. That's about it though.
TERRY
Yeah... Dad was never good at
making friends.
TERRY and MARY stare across the crowd, both thinking about
WARREN. THEY stay like this for a beat or two.
TERRY glances up, looking at the holograms of WARREN's life
projected across the room.
ON HOLOGRAM:
A young WARREN holding a baby TERRY - making NOISES to keep
BABY TERRY entertained.
BABY TERRY GIGGLES.
ON TERRY:
A small WOEFUL smile creeps across TERRY'S face.
Suddenly TERRY's phone BUZZES, breaking the mournful silence.
TERRY fishes it out of HIS jacket. GLANCING down at the
message. It's from DANA, reads 'Terry, getting harassed by
some jerk. Can you come rescue me?'
TERRY
Mum, hope you don't mind, but Dana
wants some help.
MARY
Go on, it's fine.
INT: APARO PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: BAR - DAY
It's a classic community bar, a wraparound wooden bar,
surrounded by cheap plastic bar stools. Large TV screens
overhang the bar. Sports BLARING out.
DANA is standing at the bar - in conversation with DEREK
POWERS. SHE's feigning interest. Behind the BARTENDER is busy
making up some drinks.
DEREK:
So... I really can't imagine Warren
spending time with a young thing
like you.
DANA physically RECOILS away from HIM.
DANA:
Yeah... well... I'm just here for
Terry.
DEREK:
Ah... Terry, such a shame losing
your father at that age.
TERRY enters, walking across the bar. Kissing DANA on the
cheek. TERRY turns back to face DEREK.
TERRY:
So who's your new friend?
TERRY extends HIS hand. DEREK shakes it - HARD.
DEREK:
Derek Powers.
TERRY:
Ah... Dad's boss.
DEREK:
Yes... We're going to miss your
father terribly.
TERRY:
Thank you.
TERRY wraps HIS arm around DANA - protecting her.
DEREK:
Now, tell me... Do you need
anything?
TERRY:
I don't accept gifts from
strangers... dad's advice.
DEREK leans forward - leering.
DEREK:
Who's the stranger? Besides your
dad's not around anymore.
TERRY looks down - upset. DANA comforts HIM.
DEREK:
Be smart Terry.
DANA:
We'll pass. Thanks.
DEREK puts HIS hands up - surrendering. Stands to leave.
DEREK:
Just trying to help...
DEREK walks towards the exit.
DEREK:
it's a horrible world out there
after all...
INT: APARO PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: BAR - MOMENTS LATER
DANA:
God, he was a jerk.
TERRY sits on the stool next to DANA. Facing HER.
TERRY:
Yeah, you don't know the half of
it.
DANA:
What do you mean?
Behind them, SASHA BORDEAUX enters. She has the appearance
and characteristics of an US Marine, muscular and short
cropped black hair. SHE's wearing a black business suit.
TERRY:
Power's reclaimed the flat.
DANA:
Reclaimed, what do you mean?
SASHA makes her way over to the bar. SHE leans against it,
TAPPING her business card against the bar, watching DANA and
TERRY.
TERRY:
It was part of Dad's job...
Terry holds back a SOB.
TERRY:
As 'he's no longer around', we no
longer have it.
DANA wraps her arms round HIM, pulling HIM tight.
DANA:
That's horrible!
SASHA turns, facing DANA and TERRY.
SASHA:
Terry McGinnis?
TERRY turns and looks at HER - HIS eyes RED. HE has no idea
who this person is...
TERRY
(Confused)
Sorry, Do I know you?
SASHA stands and walks over to TERRY.
SASHA
No... No... Sasha Bordeaux, I'm
from the Wayne Foundation.
SASHA holds out her card.
TERRY
OK... What do you want?
SASHA:
We heard about your situation... We
have an outreach program, for
victims of crime that require
financial assistance.
TERRY
So...
SASHA:
We would like help you get your
life back on track, that's all.
SASHA places her card on the bar.
SASHA
Ten minutes of your time...Just
have a think about it.
SASHA stands and walks out. TERRY turns back to DANA.
DANA:
You should go Terry.
TERRY:
I don't need some rich guy's help.
DANA:
In your situation, I'd take any
help I could get...
INT: POWER'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
Darkness, impossible to see.
The door HISSES open. DEREK POWERS folds HIMSELF into the
car. Looking across at the passenger seat.
DEREK:
Glad that you could join me.
Sitting opposite DEREK is...
HARRY TULLY, handcuffed. VIXX nestling an handgun into
HARRY's gut.
EXT: MEGALIFT - DAY.
It's an vertical subway car, SCREECHING up the side of an
skyscraper.
INT: MEGALIFT - DAY
Imagine a cross between an subway car and an elevator,
holding a hundred PEOPLE. The elevator has narrow windows, we
can barely see the outside world.
TERRY is sat by one of the windows, in the corner of the
Megalift. TERRY is pressed up against the narrow window.
Watching the city fly past.
MEGALIFT ANNOUNCER:
(V.O)
Next stop, Wayne Interchange.
TERRY stirs, stands and makes his way over to the glass
elevator doors.
INT: MEGALIFT - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
TERRY leans against the doors - looking out over Upper
Gotham. It's made up of massive megascrapers. Connected by
sleek walkways, almost like the High Line (NYC).
The view suddenly vanishes as the megalift enters the
interchange, revealing...
INT: WAYNE INTERCHANGE - DAY
A massive lift lobby, steel megalift tubes lined up across
the centre. It's like a major train station, with departure
boards and shops lining the walls.
TERRY steps out of the lift. HE weaves through the heavy
crowd of commuters, following the signs for the Wayne
Foundation.
INT: WAYNE FOUNDATION - RECEPTION - DAY
It's your standard trillion dollar company reception - sleek,
luxurious and hi-tech. The reception desk runs the length of
the foyer, manned by two RECEPTIONISTS.
TERRY walks across the marble floor to the reception desk.
HE's looking around, in awe. His footsteps ECHOING LOUDLY -
looking completely out of place, as if a street urchin had
just walked into a palace.
TERRY
Hello?
One of the RECEPTIONISTS looks up. Their entire lower jaw has
been replaced with an augmented jaw. TERRY is completely
unfazed. It's an everyday occurrence.
RECEPTIONIST
Ah, Mr McGinnis. You can head
straight up.
TERRY
How did you...?
RECEPTIONIST
Oh, Mr Wayne's slightly paranoid.
He's built facial recognition into
every camera in the building.
TERRY:
Why? What's he got to hide?
The RECEPTIONIST points towards the waiting open lift.
RECEPTIONIST
You can ask him yourself.
INT: WAYNE PENTHOUSE: PRIVATE LIFT - DAY
It's an exterior lift, showing Upper Gotham as it swoops up
to the Penthouse. Completely SILENT.
TERRY's standing in the lift, watching the world fly past.
ANNOUNCER:
(V.O)
Arriving at Penthouse.
The doors SWISH open. Into...
INT: WAYNE PENTHOUSE: ENTRY HALL - DAY
The entry hall occupies the two floors of the penthouse.
Sunlight streams through the glass ceiling. A grand glass
staircase snakes upwards from the centre of the hall.
TERRY steps out the lift, looking around - taking it all in.
TERRY
(Muttering)
So this is how the 1% life...
The two great oak doors, emblazoned with the Wayne family
crest, swing open together.
SASHA steps out, wearing military body armour on-top of an
sleek urban combat suit. A TASER is strapped to her leg.
SASHA:
Mr McGinnis, this way please.
SASHA gestures into the lounge.
TERRY turns and looks SASHA over, confused.
TERRY:
What's with the getup?
INT: WAYNE PENTHOUSE: LOUNGE - DAY
It's a palace to capitalism, with floor to ceiling windows,
modern and sleek furnishings. Antiques from Wayne Manor are
scattered throughout. There's a grandfather clock against the
far wall...
TERRY enters from the hall, SASHA a few steps ahead.
SASHA:
My job is to keep Mr Wayne alive.
TERRY
Didn't realise he needed a live in
bodyguard...
SASHA
Oh... He's always been good at
making enemies...
SASHA steps aside to shut the double doors, revealing BRUCE
WAYNE sat on the armchair facing the door. He's been WATCHING
TERRY as HE entered.
BRUCE is in his late 60's. Grizzled hair but still in as peak
physical condition as possible, just starting to show his
age. HE has the aura, style and movement of an ex-soldier.
BRUCE:
Terry, take a seat.
BRUCE gestures at the seat opposite him.
TERRY
Thank you...
TERRY sits, NERVOUSLY squirming.
INT: WAYNE PENTHOUSE: LOUNGE - MOMENTS LATER
SASHA shuts the double doors shut behind TERRY. SHE stands
guard in front of the doors. A hand resting on the TASER.
BRUCE:
Terry... do you know why you're
here?
TERRY:
Umm... Not really, Sasha mentioned
something about you helping me out?
There's a pause as BRUCE studies TERRY. TERRY squirms - still
nervous.
TERRY:
To be honest... I really don't see
how some money can help.
BRUCE:
That's a valid point. As much you
want it to, money can't solve every
problem.
TERRY:
OK... so how exactly you going to
help me out then?
BRUCE
All in good time. First... Just the
one question.
TERRY:
OK...
BRUCE:
What made you do this?
The windows tint, DARKENING the room. A hologram FLASHES into
the middle of the room, between TERRY and BRUCE, showing the
street fight between TERRY and the JOKERZ.
ON HOLOGRAM:
TERRY DIVES for the revolver. THEY GRABBLE over it. TERRY
struggling to pull it away...
...HE SMACKS JOKERZ 1 across the face. JOKERZ1 stumbles back,
hitting the pavement hard, dropping the gun.
TERRY grabs the gun,turns - THROWING it away.
ON TERRY:
TERRY
How have you seen that?
BRUCE
Money does have it's advantages...
So tell me Terry, why?
TERRY leans forward, deep in thought. It's a few seconds
before HE speaks...
TERRY
It was just, they were dealing
Venom, on the street, so openly. I
just felt that...
BRUCE stands and walks over to the grandfather clock. TERRY
watching.
BRUCE:
You had to do something about it. I
believe that you've felt like that
for a while. Have you not?
TERRY
So what? Nothing changes in this
city.
BRUCE reaches up to the clock face. HE sets the time on the
clock face to 10.47pm. The time HIS parents died.
BRUCE
It will, you can change it.
TERRY:
How?
A mechanism behind the grandfather clock CLICKS, BRUCE steps
back as the grandfather clock CREAKS open, revealing a narrow
secret passage behind it.
BRUCE
Follow me and you'll find out.
TERRY stands, SLOWLY...CAUTIOUSLY making his way towards
BRUCE.
TERRY
(Muttering)
This is crazy...
INT: SECRET PASSAGEWAY
The passageway is in darkness.
BRUCE makes HIS way along to the switch, halfway down the
passage. PULLING the switch down, it CLUNKS into place.
TERRY following, cautious... keeping HIS distance.
LIGHT'S flicker on, one after the other. Illuminating the
passageway.
The walls are made out of concrete. It has the look and feel
of a maintenance corridor. There's thick layer of dust
covering every surface.
BRUCE:
Terry, This way.
BRUCE steps into the elevator. TERRY CAREFULLY follows.
Leaving quite a bit of space between HIMSELF and BRUCE.
BRUCE leans across TERRY. HE presses the down button.
TERRY:
Bruce, One wrong move and I'm
running.
The metal lift doors close.
INT: BATCAVE: STAIRCASE CORRIDOR
Darkness. Unable to see anything.
The elevator PINGS, it's doors SWISH open. The noise ECHOING
down the corridor.
BRUCE steps out. Lights automatically switch on. Illuminating
the corridor.
It is an old subway station staircase, not well maintained.
The tiles covered in years of dirt and dust.
BRUCE makes his way down the stairs, keeping close to the
hand rail. TERRY follows at a safe distance. Always keeping
an eye on BRUCE.
INT: BATCAVE: ENTRANCE
At the bottom of the stairs is a floor to ceiling, heavy duty
security gate. Darkness beyond the gate.
BRUCE pulls out a key, placing it in the lock.
TERRY:
What's that? A key?
BRUCE
Terry... Sometimes the old ways are
the best.
HE unlocks the gate, pushing it open.
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
Black, nothing visible.
BRUCE steps out, followed by TERRY. Lights automatically
switch on. Illuminating the area.
It is a standard subway concourse, but abandoned before it
was finished - it was meant to be a major interchange, like
Canary Wharf or World Trade Center.
TERRY:
What is this place?
BRUCE walks briskly down the concourse, towards the line of
glass display case. TERRY slowly follows behind, looking
around - taking it all in, confused.
BRUCE:
Ah... This was meant to be part of
the Old Gotham subway extension,
but City Hall never got the funds
they needed to continue...They had
to stop construction during the
2018 shutdown.
BRUCE stops in-front of the middle display case. Waiting for
TERRY. .
TERRY slowly, walks down the concourse, utterly mind blown...
HE glances along one wall, looking over the trophy cases and
then the laboratory against the other wall.
BRUCE:
So me and Alfred turned this into
our forward operating base.
TERRY reaches the case that BRUCE is standing next to...
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE - CONTINUOUS
TERRY turns to look into the case TERRY'S face DROPS in
abject surprise...
It contains a Batsuit - A sleek armoured suit, no arm spikes
or cape, it has an exoskeleton layered into it. The suit's
hanging there - waiting to be worn...
TERRY:
You were...
BRUCE:
The Batman... As the Gotham Gazette
put it.
TERRY turns to look at BRUCE - slowly taking it in.
TERRY
(Dumbfounded)
But you were...
BRUCE
(Amused)
A billionaire, playboy
philamperist?
TERRY:
Well...Yeah...
BRUCE:
Ah...That whole life was only a
disguise.
BRUCE GESTURES around HIM.
BRUCE
This is me, and this is what I want
you to be.
TERRY looks around, THINKING, taking it all in...
BRUCE:
But I should warn you, I can be a
difficult taskmaster. I accept
nothing short of excellence in all
who work for me.
TERRY turns back to the suit - looking it over.
TERRY:
I can handle it, but one condition.
BRUCE:
Yes?
TERRY:
We get justice for Dad.
BRUCE nods, agreeing.
BRUCE:
Mr. McGinnis. Let's get started.
EXT: GOTHAM CITY AIRPORT RUNWAY - DAY - WINTER
We can tell that it's been a few months since the above. Snow
has now set in, it's a freezing cold Gotham winter. There's
planes taxiing and taking off.
A sleek supersonic JET BOOMS as it appears through the
clouds. IT cuts through the clouds and we can see all of
Gotham lit up below.
The JET flies down, as it gets closer, the airport reveals
itself. We can see that the airport is built on an artificial
island just off Cape Carmine.
The JET taxis to a halt. A SLEEK chrome luxury car WHIRRS to
a halt next to the plane.
The airstairs lower... Revealing VILMOS EGANS, waiting at the
top. VILMO's is a general in the Kaznian army, and with the
arrogant swagger to match.
A rear passenger door of the car HISSES open, revealing the
OPULENT interior.
VILMO'S walks down and CLAMBERS into the back of the car. The
door HISSES shut.
INT: POWER'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
The interior is complete luxury. Imagine a future Rolls
Royce.
DEREK POWERS is sat in the back of the car, reviewing news on
his tablet. VILMO'S SLIDES into the seat opposite DEREK.
The car pulls away, with an ELECTRICAL WHIR.
DEREK looks up, and places the tablet next to him. We see
that the article he was reading began with 'It's been five
months since the targeted killing of Warren McGinnis. GCPD
still have...'
DEREK:
Vilmos, How's the civil war?
VILMOS:
We are losing, as you know.
DEREK:
Don't worry, that will change by
the end of the week.
VILMOS
I hope so, for your sake.
DEREK leans forward, responding to the threat.
DEREK
And for yours...
EXT: GOTHAM BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Imagine Queensboro bridge, covered in solar panels.
The bridge is full of traffic, POWER's car weaves through the
traffic.
It turns off at the exit marked 'Kane Building'
INT: POWER'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
VILMOS and DEREK are still deep in discussion, VILMOS is
staring out of the window, at the city passing by.
VILMOS
Why do people live in this cesspit?
DEREK
Gotham's a great testing ground,
you can get away with anything...
No one seems to care.
VILMOS turns and faces DEREK.
VILMOS:
Such as running a multi-trillion
dollar company while supplying
Venom to drug lords?
There's a pause as DEREK and VILMOS have a stare off. DEREK
trying to work out how he knows...
DEREK
I'm guessing you found Bane?
VILMOS
Only after you'd literally drained
the blood out of him.
DEREK turns and stares out of the window. Watching the city
go by.
DEREK
Wait until you see what we cooked
up thanks to his sacrifice.
EXT: GOTHAM STREET - NIGHT
DEREK's car WHIRS down the street. Past the alley where the
Iceberg Lounge is located.
WE see TERRY and DANA make their way down the street. Dressed
up for a night on the town.
CUT TO:
EXT: ICEBERG LOUNGE - NIGHT.
Loud music BLARES. The frontage is covered in floor to
ceiling screens, FLASHING, showing images of the people
dancing, having a good time. There's two BOUNCERS either side
of the double doors, both with handguns in a leg holster.
It's ABUZZ with people, all on a night out. It's clearly the
trendy place to go for a night out.
TERRY and DANA appear at the end of the alley. THEY walk down
the alley, towards the lengthy LOUD queue into the Lounge.
DANA:
Terry, you know, this is the first
time I've actually seen you since
you started working for Bruce
Wayne.
TERRY:
Dana, I know... I'm sorry, Bruce
works all-hours and I need to be
ther...
DANA
Terry, it's just a job... we must
be more important than that.
TERRY and DANA reach the end of the queue. THEY take their
place.
TERRY
Believe me... we are, it's just...
TERRY's phone RINGS, interrupting the conversation. The
caller ID states Bruce Wayne.
DANA looks down, TUTS loudly.
DANA
Terry, don't you dare answer that!
TERRY pauses, looking down at the phone. HE glances back up
at DANA, struggling...
TERRY SUDDENLY answers the phone.
TERRY:
Yes?
TERRY turns to DANA, mouths 'sorry'. DANA has a face of
thunder, absolutely FUMING.
BRUCE
Terry, get over here, we've got a
lead.
TERRY
(Sighing)
OK... I'm on my way...
BRUCE
Stay where you are. Sasha's coming
to you.
BRUCE hangs up. TERRY slowly turns back to DANA.
DANA:
WELL?
TERRY
...I'm really sorry...
Behind TERRY, a classic Rolls Royce cruises to a stop. DANA
looks over TERRY's shoulder at it. We can see that it's being
driven by SASHA.
DANA
(frustrated)
Just go, this is clearly more
important to you.
TERRY's shoulders slump. TERRY turns and walks over to the
car. DANA watches in the background...
TERRY opens the car door. TERRY pauses, turns back to look at
DANA.
TERRY
Dana, I'll make this up to you... I
promise.
TERRY ducks into the car.
DANA
You better...
INT: BRUCE'S CAR - MOMENTS LATER
It's a classic, luxury, well kept Rolls Royce.
TERRY slides into the backseat. SLAMMING the door.
SASHA:
Trouble in paradise?
TERRY:
Just drive, will you?
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
The cave is now all lit up. At the far end, we can see a
computer desk, surrounded by floor to ceiling screens. They
are showing camera feeds and constantly updating web-chats.
BRUCE is sat at the desk, working his way through WARREN's
chat logs.
TERRY walks down the stairs.
TERRY:
You know that Dana hates me now
right?
BRUCE does not look up, or turnaround.
BRUCE
Unfortunately, you'll need to get
used to that.
TERRY makes his way over to BRUCE.
BRUCE:
I only had one who cared that
much...
TERRY:
That's slightly depressing.
BRUCE
Outside of the suit anyway...
TERRY'S reached BRUCE. TERRY stands next to BRUCE, looking
over the screens...
TERRY:
What's all that?
BRUCE looks up at the screens.
BRUCE:
Oh... All of the security apparatus
of this city; gunshot sensors,
facial recognition cameras,
internet searches...Feed into these
servers.
BRUCE looks down at the web-chat.
BRUCE:
I call it Brother Eye.
TERRY:
What about privacy?
BRUCE:
If you are not doing anything
wrong, why should you worry? Now
did you want to find what happened
to Warren?
TERRY
Of course.
BRUCE taps a key and Warren's chat messages pop up on one of
the screens.
BRUCE:
Now, whos Harry Tully?
TERRY
Dad's work best friend, why?
BRUCE:
Tully convinced Warren to steal
some files for him, A project
called Blight?
TERRY leans closer, reading the conversation.
TERRY
What's that?
BRUCE
They didn't say... Just that it's
stored offline at Powers
industries.
TERRY turns to BRUCE.
TERRY
So, what's the play?
BRUCE stands, and starts to SLOWLY walk towards the escalator
down to the platforms.
TERRY watches him.
BRUCE:
Come on..You are going to pay
Powers a visit.
TERRY starts to follow BRUCE.
TERRY:
Sorry to disappoint, but I don't
think he's going to talk to me...
BRUCE:
No, not dressed like that.
TERRY stops, confused...
BRUCE
This is what all the trainings been
for...
TERRY:
You mean?
BRUCE turns, nodding at the bat-suit.
BRUCE
Suit up.
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE - MOMENTS LATER
TERRY presses his hand against the glass cabinet holding the
batsuit. A red ring appears on the glass, reading his
fingerprints.
The ring turns green. The cabinet HISSES open. The Batsuit
slides forward. The front CLANGS open from head to toe,
revealing that its one sleek suit of armour. No separate
pieces.
TERRY turns and steps into the suit. It CLANGS shut around
HIM. We hear an ELECTRICAL WHIRL as the suit powers on. The
suit runs through its start up procedure; Spikes SLIDE in and
out of the arms, Leg armour FLEXES...
TERRY:
This is epic!
BRUCE smirks, ever so slightly.
BRUCE:
Oh, There's more, come downstairs.
INT: BATCAVE: PLATFORM LEVEL
This is the platforms of the station, underneath the
concourse. There are no tracks. The whole area has been
turned into a maintenance and garage bay.
BRUCE steps off the escalator. Followed by batsuited TERRY.
TERRY'S holding the helmet in his hand.
TERRY looks around, impressed.
TERRY:
Oh... Wow...You really took over a
whole subway station...
BRUCE stops in the middle of platform. Waiting...
TERRY slowly turns and sees...
The Bat-Jet. Imagine an armoured, armed stealth fighter jet.
Matte black with dark grey trim.
TERRY:
You had a jet?!
BRUCE:
It's yours now. Get in.
TERRY approaches the jet. The canopy slides open as he
approaches. The slats on the side of the fuselage fold out,
into a ladder.
BRUCE
Brother Eye will have control, for
now anyway.
TERRY climbs up the ladder and clambers into the cockpit.
TERRY puts on the helmet. The panels of the helmet CLANK
together, forming the iconic helmet.
The EYEs of the HELMET activate, GLOWING BRIGHT WHITE light
SHINES out.
The canopy slides back and CLICKS shut. VTOL jets activate,
We can see the heat haze below the jet...
The Bat-Jet lifts of the ground and hovers for a few
seconds...
THEN it ROARS up the TUNNEL.
INT: BATCAVE: SUBWAY TUNNEL
It's your standard subway tunnel... There's occasionally
lights illustrating it's unfinished nature.
The Bat-Jet ROARS along the tunnel.
CUT TO:
EXT: GOTHAM ABANDONED TRAIN YARD - NIGHT
It's a large empty, destitute train yard, overlooking Gotham
Bay. Filled with broken up/broken down trains. At one end is
the entrance to the subway tunnel.
The Bat-Jet ROARS out of the subway tunnel. Wings EXPAND from
the side of the Bat-Jet as it flies UP over Gotham.
INT: BAT-JET: COCKPIT - NIGHT
The front of the cockpit is made up of an holographic Heads
Up Display, projecting the various instruments onto the
canopy.
TERRY/BATMAN watches the various displays.
BRUCE
Good hunting!
The HUD SUDDENLY goes DARK. The canopy CLICKS and slides
back.
The ejector seat FIRES,THROWING BATMAN up into the murky
Gotham night sky.
EXT: GOTHAM: NIGHT SKY
BATMAN free-falls... PLUMMETING towards the white lights of
Upper Gotham below.
The skyscrapers RAPIDLY come into view. We can see Power
Tower just off in the middle distance. The logo GLARING like
a green beacon.
BATMAN extends his arms,revealing the wings. They expand bat-
like, catching the air... The red wings contrast against the
night sky.
BATMAN glides down through the clouds, passing between two
cargo drones. Getting ever closer to Power Tower.
INT: POWER TOWER: SERVER FARM - NIGHT
The whole floor is filled with lines of servers. All HUMMING
away, Lights flicker on the servers. Cable's hang from the
ceiling. It's like the beating heart of the company.
The door at the far end BEEPS and then HISSES open. A
SECURITY GUARD in an Powers branded exoskeleton armour steps
through, one hand casually placed on his handgun. It's just
another day at the office for him.
SECURITY GUARD starts to make his way towards the windows.
SECURITY GUARD:
(Speaking into his throat
mike)
What did you send me down here for?
CAPTAIN:
There's some kind of structural
issue over on the north side.
SECURITY GUARD continues towards the north windows.
SECURITY GUARD
What ya mean, structural issue?
CAPTAIN
We don't know... That's why we sent
you...
SECURITY GUARD reaches the north windows, he starts to look
round...
SECURITY GUARD
Is the AC working? I'm freez...
SECURITY GUARD suddenly stops mid sentence, he's seen it... A
frozen patch of glass, broken... glass shards scattered
across the carpet.
SECURITY GUARD
What the hell?
SECURITY GUARD crouches next to the windows. Inspecting the
frozen glass.
CAPTAIN
What is it?
SECURITY GUARD turns, looking out the window.
SECURITY GUARD
Err... The window is frozen?
Suddenly the reflection of BATMAN's white eyes stare back at
SECURITY GUARD. BATMAN's behind him!
SECURITY GUARD JUMPS, starts to turn. BATMAN SMACKS his HEAD
against the window. CRACKING it. SECURITY GUARD slumps to the
floor, unconscious.
BATMAN turns, facing the servers.
BRUCE:
Now... Just jack into the nearest
server. I'll do the rest from here.
BATMAN walks over to the nearest server. BATMAN slides open
the glass door and pulls a server blade out.
BATMAN disconnects a small silver disk from his wrist, places
it on the blade. The disk flashes red for a few seconds then
turns green.
BRUCE:
I'm in... It's going to take some
time to copy the files across.
A blue loading bar appears round the outside of the ring.
Moving extremely slowly...
BATMAN:
Where's Powers?
BRUCE
Hmm... He's just walked into a
meeting.
BATMAN turns back towards the frozen window, reaching behind
him. An armour panel slides back, revealing the grappling
gun. BATMAN takes it.
BATMAN
Let me guess, everything arranged
through these servers?
BRUCE
Well.. It is the hyper-connected
age after all, everything you need
at the touch of a button.
INT: POWER TOWER: CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
It's the main board room of the company, One side of the room
is floor to ceiling windows, we can see Gotham in all its
neon, scummy glory.
DEREK is sat at the head of the glass conference table.
VILMOS at the other end. VIXX standing guard by the door.
DEREK is in full salesman mode.
DEREK:
We distilled Bane down to this. The
ultimate in biological warfare. A
fast acting virus which completely
penetrates all living cells... We
call it Blight.
VILMOS
How exactly is this virus going to
end my war?
DEREK:
Just watch this.
DEREK presses his finger on the touchscreen built into his
chair. Steel shutters SLIDE down over the windows, one after
the other.
The room darkens. Holographic projectors fire up. Throwing
multiple light streams onto the glass table. They form an
holographic representation of a plant, in a glass case.
A green gas is pumped into the case. The plant RAPIDLY
DISINTEGRATES into a dead shriveled mess. It only took a few
seconds.
VILMOS
Impressive, but we are not looking
to destroy their food supplies, we
want a more final solution.
DEREK
Just keep watching.
The hologram morphs into an chained up animal. Again we see
the green gas released, slowly enveloping the animal.
We hear the animal COLLAPSE.
EXT: POWER TOWER: CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
BATMAN is clinging against the side of the building. Claws
deployed from his gloves, hooking him in place. The palms
placed flat against the window.
A grappling line hanging taut from above, connected to the
belt.
The wiring across the palm IS PULSING RED. We can see sound-
waves moving along the wrist touchscreen.
DEREK
(He sounds slightly distant
as we are listening in
through the gloves.)
That was actually our very first
animal test. I hope that disperses
any lingering doubt?
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
BRUCE is sat at the computer, watching the screens.
On one screen we can see the progress of the upload, about
halfway through. The other screens show TERRY'S POV and the
conversation being recorded.
BRUCE
Don't get any closer, I'm recording
it all from here. Just stay out of
sight and get out of there as soon
as the upload has finished.
Understood?
BATMAN
Copy that.
INT: POWER TOWER: CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
The meeting between VILMOS and DEREK is still in full swing.
VILMOS
And humans? You've tested it on
them, too?
DEREK:
Yes...Vixx here was fortunate
enough to locate a volunteer.
DEREK rotates his finger across the touchscreen. The
projectors load up a series of 2D images.
DEREK
This is what he looked like the
next day.
The first is of HARRY TULLY, topless, strapped to a gurney.
His bones have an slightly green tinge to them. Eyes
bloodshot.
DEREK
This is what he looked like the
next day.
DEREK swipes across to the next picture.
TULLY now has thin drawn skin, sunken cheeks. We can see that
his bones have a nuclear green tinge to them.
DEREK
And this is an hour after that,
unfortunately we lost him.
DEREK swipes across to the next picture.
VILMOS:
Such a shame.
TULLY is pretty much an skelton now, hardly any skin left.
Green bones sticking through.
VILMOS
There is no cure?
DEREK presses down on the touch screen. The projectors cut
out, the steel shutters SLIDE up. The room lightens up.
DEREK:
Only extreme heat or radiation.
That's obviously not an option in
your country.
VILMOS stands to leave. DEREK watches from his seat.
DEREK:
One final point, consider what a
few canisters of this gas could do
for you.
VILMOS pauses, deep in thought.
DEREK
You could end that civil war in two
days, with no casualties... On your
side of course.
VILMOS looks up.
VILMOS:
When can you deliver?
DEREK grins - Success!, He's made the sale!
DEREK
We are loading the canisters as we
speak. They leave tonight on hover
transport.
VILMOS makes his way over to the door. DEREK stands.
DEREK:
I'll be personally supervising the
shipment.
The door HISSES open. VILMOS turns.
VILMOS:
Excellent, I look forward to seeing
this on the field.
VILMOS steps out, VIXX moves to take up position outside the
door.
DEREK:
Vixx!
VIXX turns, we now see that DEREK is standing by the window,
eyes focused on the Hover Docks in the distance.
DEREK:
Tell me, How's the McGinnis family?
VIXX:
Don't worry about that lot. Their
too in shock to be pointing
fingers.
DEREK:
Good, and GCPD?
VIXX:
Still looking for someone who
doesn't exist...
DEREK
Good... You know how important this
deal is to me.
DEREK turns to face VIXX.
DEREK:
It's going to open the entire
eastern block for us. You had
better make sure nothing ruins
that!
EXT: POWER TOWER: CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
BATMAN is still clinging to the outside of the building.
Listening in.
VIXX:
I took care of Warren, didn't I?
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry... Do not do anything rash.
We need to regroup.
BATMAN:
No... We don't.
BATMAN swings back on the grappling line.
BATMAN throws a small clear vial through the air...
BRUCE
Terry, Not now! We need...
The vial hits the window, smashes. COVERING it with a clear
liquid. The window INSTANTLY FREEZES.
BATMAN swings forward on the grappling line, heading straight
towards the frozen FIRST.
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - NIGHT
It's a standard corporate corridor, completely souless, no
personality. Meeting rooms branching off.
BATMAN SMASHES through the window, GLASS shards FLY down the
corridor.
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
GUARDS come RUNNING towards the noise. THEY line the
corridor, rifles pointed at BATMAN.
GUARD 1:
Hands up Now!
BATMAN stands. Raises his hands.
BATMAN:
Where's Vixx?
GUARD 2:
Why the hell would we tell you
that?
Almost KNIFE like SPIKES deploy from the arms of the suit.
One after the other...
We wait a few beats. The GUARDS, confident, they believe they
have the upper hand. After all, its three against one..
GUARD 2:
Kill him, dump the body.
They OPEN FIRE, GUNFIRE ECHOING down the corridor. Bullet
casings BOUNCE off the floor.
The FIRING stops... Everyone pauses... The GUARDS now very
unsure, we can't see why...
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
BATMAN's just stands there... the suit now pockmarked by
bullet hits... He's bulletproof...
BATMAN:
My turn...
BATMAN dives forward. SERVOS WHIRRING...
SMASHING into a GUARD, knocking him to the ground...
Another GUARD charges at BATMAN, throwing him to the floor. A
knife in his hand. He goes to stab...
...BATMAN catches the knife in his arm blades. SNAPPING the
blade off. They scramble on the floor. BATMAN mostly keeping
the upper hand...
Batman's style is fast, efficient, almost like a street
fight, going for pressure points with some heavy swings...
BATMAN KICKS the GUARD off... The GUARD staggers back...
TOWARDS the broken WINDOW...
...BATMAN throws a BATARANG, It SWISHES through the AIR,
IMPALING itself into the GUARDS thigh...
The BATARANG SPARKS, sending electricity coursing through the
GUARD.
INT: POWER TOWER: LIFT
DEREK POWERS and VIXX are riding the lift up to the
quadcopter on the roof.
SUDDENLY KLAXONS BLARE out of the lift speakers...
The lift SHUDDERS to a halt.
DEREK:
What the...?
VIXX places his finger to his ear. Activating his audio link.
VIXX
Its Vixx, what's going on?
VIXX listens for a beat.
VIXX:
Batman?!
DEREK glances over at VIXX. Confused...
CAPTAIN
(V.O)
Or some guy dressed like him, we're
cutting him off.
VIXX
(To Derek)
There's some idiot running around,
dressed as Batman...
DEREK turns to the lift keypad. DEREK types in his personal
code. The lift doors SWISH open.
DEREK:
Deal with it, make sure it does not
stop the shipment.
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
BATMAN grabs the gun from the nearest GUARD... Headbutting
them... The GUARD stumbles back...
...Servo's WHIR as BATMAN turns, THROWS the gun through the
nearest exterior window. The window SMASHES. Sending glass
shards everywhere...
...BATMAN lands a heavy punch on another GUARD. Knocking them
into the lift lobby...
...BATMAN LAUNCHES a batarang at the GUARD...
INT: POWER TOWER: LIFT - CONTINUOUS
The lift PINGS, the doors start to slide open...
VIXX is standing in the lift. VIXX sees the batarang fly
past...
...It HITS the GUARD square in the CHEST. It EXPLODES.
THROWING the GUARD against the wall.
...VIXX activates his minigun. It slides into place with a
CLICK.
VIXX steps out of the lift, ready for anything.
INT: POWER TOWER: LIFT LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
It would have been a standard corporate lift lobby. Now it's
carnage, the remains of the brutal fight between BATMAN and
the guards strewn across the lobby.
VIXX looks around, taking it all in.
VIXX:
What happened?
BATMAN:
(From behind VIXX)
I did...
VIXX turns, raising the minigun...
... And sees BATMAN standing in the doorway...
VIXX:
You know, I thought the Batman was
dead, killed in some alley...
BATMAN:
Sorry to disappoint you.
...VIXX fires his minigun...
...BATMAN dives forward...GRABBING VIXX'S arm. THEY
STRUGGLE...
BRUCE:
Terry, be careful, that gun will
rip straight through the suit...
And you along with it!
...BATMAN slowly pushes the arm up towards the CEILING,
IT keeps FIRING. SLAMMING bullet after bullet into the
ceiling...
...VIXX lands a punch on the cowl. Knocking BATMAN back...
...They fight, VIXX keeping the upper hand, but it's close.
POUNDING away on BATMAN, heavy hits, wearing BATMAN down...
BRUCE:
Terry! Move! Get out of there!
VIXX:
You're pretty strong for some scrut
who thinks he's Batman!
...VIXX lands another hit on the cowl. Then another, and
other, denting it everytime...
...BATMAN blocks the next one, Servos WHIR as BATMAN Swings
VIXX into the wall...
...VIXX kicks BATMAN off him...
...VIXX swings at BATMAN, misses. BATMAN GRABS VIXX, lifts
him high.
TERRY:
I AM BATMAN!
BATMAN drops VIXX onto his knee with a horrific CRACK.
VIXX collapses to the floor in an heap. Eyes shut.
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
BRUCE is sat at the computer, watching the screens.
On one screen we can see the progress that the upload has
reached 100%. The other screens show TERRY'S POV and, the
traffic cams and the internal cams in POWER TOWER.
BROTHER EYE flags up the feed from the POWER TOWER rooftop
camera, bringing it to the forefront of a screen.
BRUCE leans forward, reviewing the screen. We see an GCPD
transport slowly come in to land on the roof. Landing
vertically on jet thrust.
An fully armed SWAT team swarm out of the transport, followed
by Commissioner BARBARA Gordon. She's wearing full body
armour under the trench coat.
BRUCE:
Terry, GCPD are about to storm the
building. You need to retreat! Now!
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
BATMAN throws VIXX down the corridor. Towards the broken
window at the end. VIXX tries to stand, collapses to the
floor.
BATMAN:
Nearly done here.
BATMAN reaches down and grabs VIXX by the throat,lifts VIXX
into the air. HE leans close to VIXX. The white eye lights
blinding VIXX. VIXX flinches.
BATMAN:
Why did you kill Warren?
VIXX does not answer, just staring at BATMAN... Almost daring
him to do his worst...
BATMAN takes out a batarang, places it against VIXX's gun
arm. Sending electricity shooting through VIXX.
VIXX goes into a fit, shaking in BATMAN's grip.
BATMAN
Tell me!
VIXX:
OK... Derek... He...
INT: POWER TOWER: LIFT LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
A lift PINGS and then the door slides open...
The SWAT team charge out, weapons drawn - ready for anything.
Closely followed by BARBARA, Jim Gordon's revolver drawn...
The SWAT team cover the entrance to the corridor, SWAT on the
corners, BARBARA at the back...
THEY swing out into the corridor...
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
The SWAT team stop. Weapons pointing down the corridor at
BATMAN.
BARBARA:
GCPD! Drop him!
BATMAN drops VIXX, VIXX crumbles to the floor...
BARBARA
Good... Now on your knees and hands
behind your head!
BATMAN stands there... Not turning around...
BARBARA
Get on your knees!
BATMAN steps off the ledge. free falling towards the ground.
EXT: POWER TOWER - NIGHT
BATMAN plunges ten floors. BATMAN lifts his arms, deploying
the wings.
They catch the air, BATMAN glides down.
INT: POWER TOWER: CORRIDOR - MOMENTS LATER
BARBARA's standing at the broken window, her coat swaying in
the wind. SHE'S FUMING - wanting to settle the score,
watching BATMAN gliding between the buildings of Old Gotham.
A young, trendy, plainclothes detective - the complete
antithesis to BARBARA steps up. Stopping a safe distance from
the window. This is JENNIFER NASHTON. BARBARA's protege and
the Riddler's granddaughter.
JENNIFER leans forward, watching BATMAN vanish behind a
building.
JENNIFER:
So he's back?
BARBARA
Yes... We need to know why.
BARBARA turns to leave, walking away.
BARBARA
I want every sighting, every
rumour, reported directly to me!
JENNIFER:
(Disbelieving)
You want us to hunt the Batman?
INT: BATCAVE: PLATFORM LEVEL
The Bat-jet ROARS into shot. It rotates so the nose of the
jet is facing the subway tunnel. The VTOL jets activate,
lowering the jet down onto the tracks.
The cockpit slides back and the ladder deploys from the
fuselage.
BATMAN is sat in the cockpit. HE reaches around to the back
of the helmet. Presses in a panel. The eye-lights flicker and
die, then The helmet CLANKS apart...
...TERRY pulls it off, dropping it into the footwell. We can
see that he's slightly bruised and battered.
HE places HIS head in HIS arms, attempting to come to terms
with what just happened... HE's now Batman, the iconic hero.
TERRY
(Taking a deep breath)
What has just happened to my life?
TERRY stays like this for a beat, contemplating...
...Suddenly there's an EXPLOSION of LOUD ARGUING from
upstairs. We can't really hear what's being said.
TERRY looks up, TAKEN ABACK.
TERRY
What the hell?!
TERRY clambers out of the jet, reaching in and grabbing the
helmet out of the footwell. TERRY slowly and cautiously
approaches the escalator up to the upper concourse.
TERRY makes his way up, into...
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE - MOMENTS LATER
BARBARA and BRUCE are standing in the middle batcave, having
a BLAZING argument. BARBARA pacing. Bruce looking into the
cabinets with Robins and Batgirls suits in them. The suits
are not as advanced as Terry's - more modern day than future
warfare.
BARBARA:
Bruce! Why now?!
BRUCE turns to respond, opens his mouth...
BARBARA
You know what... Just tell me, who
is out there in that suit?!
TERRY slips into the room, HE catches BRUCE's eye.
BRUCE:
You know that I'm not going to do
that... Barbara, this city is
falling apart, every year more
people die. The Mafia get richer...
Tell me, how much have I given GCPD
to try and fight this?
TERRY watches on, astounded at seeing the Police Commissioner
in a shouting match with BRUCE.
BARBARA
That is not the point. You are not
the law!
BRUCE
You made that perfectly clear
twenty years ago... But you are,
and you have failed this city.
BARBARA
How is one man going to save the
city?!
BRUCE
That's what you never understood...
TERRY steps forward...
TERRY:
(Interrupting)
It's not about one man, its a
symbol. Something to be feared...
or to inspire hope.
BARBARA turns, SHE is amazed to see TERRY there.
BARBARA
What are you doi...
BARBARA takes in the bat-suit...
...SHE turns back to BRUCE.
BARBARA:
Is this who you have out there?! A
kid who's just lost his father?
He's barely older than I was...
BRUCE:
He has more invested in this than
you ever did.
BARBARA:
Why?... because you didn't get his
father killed?
BRUCE winces, looking down in shame.
BRUCE:
That's not what I meant...
BARBARA glances back to Terry. HER hand reaches for the cuffs
on her belt...
BARBARA
I should arrest him for torture...
...TERRY's hand reaches down to the utility belt, HE looks
over to BRUCE for confirmation...
BRUCE looks up, THREATENING but CALM...
BRUCE
Barbara, if you do that, Gotham
will know how Jim closed all those
cases... They will reopen them...
BRUCE turns to face BARBARA.
BRUCE
Just imagine the impact that would
do to his legacy...
BARBARA slaps Bruce. TERRY watches on ASTOUNDED...
BARBARA:
How dare you threaten me? After
everything we went through?
BRUCE stands there, gathering his thoughts. HE shakes his
head, this conversation is over, HE's had enough.
BRUCE turns away, walking back towards the desk.
BRUCE
Sasha, see her out.
SASHA appears out of the shadows, SHE places her hand on
BARBARA's back, roughly guiding her towards the exit.
BARBARA FURIOUSLY SHAKES her off.
BARBARA
Get off me, I know the way out.
INT: BATCAVE: PLATFORM LEVEL - STAIRS
BARBARA STORMS up the stairs, halfway up she stops, turns
back. Wanting the last word...
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE - CONTINUOUS
Below the new Bat-Family are watching BARBARA leave. SASHA at
the foot of the stairs. TERRY standing over so slightly in-
front of BRUCE, like an protective son.
BARBARA stands halfway down the stairs, looking down upon
them.
BARBARA:
BRUCE, if anything happens to
Terry... I'll personally make sure
that you end up in Arkham with
everyone else you put away.
BARBARA storms out...
TERRY turns, wanting to speak to BRUCE.
BRUCE is now at the display cabinets, staring deeply into
them... This is the first time that we have seen them in
great detail - The Robin suit has clearly been repeatedly
smashed with an heavy object.
TERRY:
What was that all about?
BRUCE'S eyes settle on the long revolver on the floor of the
display case.
BRUCE:
Lets just say... This time round,
there will be no partners.
SASHA:
He needs to know Bruce...
TERRY:
Know what?
BRUCE closes HIS eyes, placing HIS head against the glass...
BRUCE:
Barbara, she blames me for what
happened to her father...
TERRY sits at the desk, leans forward - watching BRUCE. BRUCE
does not turn - staring deep into the case.
TERRY
OK... What did happen?
BRUCE
She was in the wrong place at the
wrong time.
FLASHBACK TO:
MONTAGE:
EXT: GOTHAM - GORDON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
It's a modern day suburban street, rows upon rows of the same
houses. Through the rows of houses we can just about see
Gotham docks.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
They didn't want her, they wanted
Jim...
A beaten up saloon car pulls up outside the house in the
middle of the street. The doors of the car swing open. A
group of MEN step out.
THEY walk up the drive of the house. The post box reads
'Gordon'. We can only see the back of the MEN. One seems to
be wearing an hawaiian shirt and fedora.
TERRY:
(V.O)
Who?
MAN in hawaiian shirt reaches out and RINGS the doorbell.
INT: GORDON'S HOUSE -HALLWAY - NIGHT.
Imagine the perfect family home, family pictures on the wall.
The doorbell RINGS out.
A younger BARBARA GORDON steps into the hallway. BARBARA
reaches out and opens the front door...
SASHA:
(V.O)
Joker...
The JOKER is standing in the doorway, he's the MAN in the
hawaiian shirt - shocking white face, bright red lips,
emerald green hair slicked back. It's the clown prince of
crime that we know and love...
JOKER cracks a massive smile.. Fires his long-barreled
revolver...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
He crippled her... Taking her
father...
...BARBARA's knocked back from the gunshot, falling heavily
onto the the floor...
EXT: GOTHAM - AMUSEMENT MILE - NIGHT
It's an abandoned theme park. We're in the Main Street
section of the park - where the shops and restaurants were
located. Now trashed, graffitied - generally derelict.
A red sports-motorbike ROARS to up the derelict street. It
skids to a halt...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
I told Jason not to engage...
ROBIN (JASON) climbs off the bike. Placing his green helmet
on the handlebars.
ROBIN's suit is very lightweight, more stab proof than
bulletproof, red torso, black underlayer. Black cape
BILLOWING in the wind.
ROBIN looks around, reaching for his staff...
BRUCE
(V.O)
To wait for me, he was impulsive,
wanted to prove himself...
On every building, GOONS appear on the rooftops -All wearing
CLOWN masks...
...The GOONs point assault rifles, light machine guns
straight down at ROBIN...
... ROBIN slowly raises his hands into the air...
INT: GOTHAM - AMUSEMENT MILE - THEATRE
The theatre is trashed - completely destroyed, chairs pulled
up, paint peeling from the walls.
ROBIN's chained to a chair, in the middle of the theatre.
Chained up next to him is Commissioner Jim Gordon. BOTH are
heavily BRUISED and BATTERED...
...JOKER stalks between them, CROWBAR in hand...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
When I found them... they had been
repeatedly beaten... over and
over...
JOKER stops in front of ROBIN, JOKER lines up the crowbar -
as if he's lining up a golf shot, closing one eye...
BRUCE
(V.O)
Jason was gone by the time that I'd
got there...
JOKER swings the crowbar straight towards ROBINS face.
INT: GOTHAM - AMUSEMENT MILE - PIER- LATER
The pier is rotting, almost falling into the water.
JIM's chained to a crane - hands first, dangling out over the
's STRUGGLING, trying to get free...
BRUCE
(V.O)
He waited for me...
JOKER's at the base of the crane, casually leaning against
it, playing with a knife...
JOKER turns, see's BATMAN standing at the end of the pier.
BATMAN's suit is not as advanced as the one TERRY is using -
a dark grey one-piece, dark blue cowl and cape.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
... Wanted me to see...
JOKER casually waves at BATMAN...
...JOKER slashes the rope. PLUNGING JIM into the river...
... BATMAN runs towards the river, going to dive in after
JIM.
...A GUNSHOT RINGS out. Hitting BATMAN in the chest...
...JOKER fires again. Missing. BATMAN dives at JOKER,
knocking the revolver onto the floor...
...JOKER fights back, attacking again and again with the
knife, BATMAN ducking and diving out of the way...
TERRY:
(V.O)
Why?
...BATMAN keeps trying to get the edge of the pier, JOKER
coming back at him with the knife, BATMAN's fighting gets
more and more DESPERATE, HE's bleeding out, panicking about
JIM...
...BATMAN dives forward, tackling JOKER to the ground. THEY
grapple, DESPERATELY fighting...
...BATMAN clambers to his knees. The revolver in his hand.
HE's PANICKY, FRANTICALLY points it at the JOKER...
A smile CRACKS across the JOKER's face, He's achieved his
lifelong ambition - Broke the Bat...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
All it takes is one bad day to
reduce the sanest man alive to
lunacy...
MONTAGE ENDS.
END FLASHBACK:
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
BRUCE turns away from the ROBIN suit, to face TERRY. HE's
eyes are red, almost on the verge of tears - visibly shaken.
BRUCE:
I dived in after Gordon, but... I
just couldn't find him.
SASHA places a comforting hand on BRUCE'S shoulder.
BRUCE:
Barbara has never forgiven me for
that...
BRUCE places HIS hand on-top, gently, affectionately giving
it a squeeze.
THEY sit in silence for a good few minutes. BRUCE and TERRY
not looking at one another.
BRUCE
So... Terry, that's what happened,
you sure you still want to do this?
TERRY glances up, MEETING BRUCE's gaze.
TERRY:
Bruce... It's never been about
wanting to do this, this needs to
happen. Gotham needs hope.
BRUCE
My sentiments exactly...
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE - MOMENTS LATER
BROTHER EYE flags up a map of Gotham on a screen, zooming in
on a patch of the Gotham river.
SASHA notices it...
SASHA:
Bruce, what's it found?
The screen flickers as the optical lenses of the satellite
kick in. The screen flickering as the image becomes clearer
and clearer.
BRUCE steps forward, PUSHING TERRY out of the way. BRUCE taps
on the keyboard, bringing up a diagnostic screen.
BRUCE:
Brother Eye was tracking Powers.
TERRY comes over. WATCHING the map as it zooms in again.
There is now a red pulsating dot flying across the river.
TERRY:
To find the shipment?
BRUCE:
Exactly.
BRUCE glances up to the map, watching the dot make its way
across Gotham and then suddenly stops at Gotham hoverdock.
TERRY leans in close to the map, trying to work out where
POWERS has landed.
TERRY
Where's that?
SASHA:
Looks like Gotham hoverdock... Must
be where they are shipping from.
BRUCE
Terry, get airborne. I'll brief you
on the way.
INT: BAT-JET: COCKPIT - NIGHT
TERRY'S in the cockpit, helmet on, visor up. The full HUD is
activated. BATMAN is cycling through the weapons systems.
TERRY:
Did we get any information what
Blight actually is?
BRUCE appears on the HUD.
BRUCE:
Yes, have a look at this.
BRUCE brings up an confidential Powers Industries file. It's
the full Venom genome - each gene labelled. TERRY look across
at it.
TERRY
Venom, that's what those Jokerz
were dealing when...
BRUCE
(Interrupting)
When you beat the hell out of them.
TERRY
They deserved it. You can't walk
down a single street without those
idiots trying to sell it to you.
BRUCE
This Blight has an remarkable
similar genetic to street Venom.
BRUCE brings up the genome of Venom. There's only a few small
genetic variables.
TERRY
So Powers was supplying Venom to
those Jokerz?
BRUCE
By the looks of it... they dealt to
the vagrants, in order for Powers
to study the effects it had on
them...
TERRY
God... I hope Dad wasn't
involved...
A proximity alarm starts BEEPING on the HUD - showing that
they have nearly reached the hoverdock. TERRY looks across at
it.
TERRY:
Coming up on the dock now.
BRUCE:
You have to listen to me when you
are down there. I don't want to
lose you too.
TERRY looks down - ashamed.
TERRY
I know... I'm sorry Bruce...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - NIGHT
We follow a massive CARGO DRONE down through the sky. IT
passes through a cloud, revealing... Gotham Hoverdock.
It's floating way above Gotham city. Imagine an amalgamation
of an aircraft supercarrier and a cargo ship - Two runways,
surrounded by cranes. Underneath rows upon rows of cargo
containers. All kept in the air by four massive rotor
systems.
Drones, of varying sizes, fly in and out. Some land - cranes
swing round, disconnecting the containers, placing them on
lifts. They slide underneath and into a waiting berth.
Our DRONE flies down, towards the hoverdock. Blades HUMMING.
IT swings down, around the control tower...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - NIGHT
It's the main hub of the hoverdock, A central control table
surrounded by consoles and windows. It's alive with activity.
PEOPLE running about, every console manned.
VILMOS is standing at the control table, watching his
shipment being loaded on the overhead monitors.
VILMOS:
How long until that shipment is in
the air?
Behind VILMOS, the double doors SWISH open. DEREK POWERS
steps through, making HIS way to the control table.
DEREK:
Why? Feeling like you've outstayed
your welcome?
VILMOS turns, watching DEREK.
VILMOS:
After the government raided your
office? Of course I am!
DEREK:
Relax, it was only GCPD. I'll make
a call in the morning and it will
all be cleared up. The Mayor owes
me...
VILMOS:
What about this Bat?...
DEREK looks up at the monitors.
DEREK:
I doubt he's the real one.
DEREK looks over at VILMOS. VILMOS is still not convinced.
DEREK:
Even if he does show up, I've
brought some friends along,
shouldn't be a problem.
On cue, the double doors SWISH open and two heavily armoured
- clad in bulky power armour march in, their visors raised.
Each has a insignia on their armour, a black chess piece - a
Knight.
VILMOS and DEREK turn, VILMOS looking them over...
VILMOS:
Can I help y...
DEREK
(Interrupting)
Ah, may I introduce Checkmate,
America's finest private army.
VILMOS extends his hand.
DEREK moves across to introduce the Checkmate soldiers -
SERGEANT CONRAD MACKAY and SERGEANT CONNIE WEBB.
DEREK:
This is Sergeant Conrad Mackay.
VILMOS shakes his hand.
DEREK
And this is Sergeant...
CONNIE:
(Interrupting)
Just Connie, sir.
VILMOS shakes her hand.
VILMOS:
(To Derek)
So these were the friends that you
were referring to?
DEREK:
Yes, they have deployed...
DEREK pauses to think.
CONNIE:
We've deployed two squads on this
rig. More than enough to deal with
some man in...
An ALARM BLARES across the control tower. Straight away,
CONNIE and CONRAD look straight up at the overhead monitors.
DEREK
What the hell's going on?
CONNIE
Looks like we have an intruder.
VILMOS watches the screens. They show the BAT-JET flying
towards the hoverdock...
...Derek turns to CONNIE
DEREK:
Deal with him!
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - WALKWAY - NIGHT
The walkway runs along the edge of the hoverdock, on one side
there is the cargo - rows and rows of containers. The other -
the night sky.
CHECKMATE SOLDIERS run onto the walkway, all carrying multi
tubed missile batteries...
The SOLDIERS crouch down. Look through the targeting
sights...
THEIR reticles focus in on the ever approaching Bat-Jet...
SOLDIER 1:
Target locked!
SOLDIER 2:
FIRE!
...BOOM! MISSILE after MISSILE ROAR out of the tubes, towards
the BAT-JET...
INT: BAT-JET: COCKPIT - NIGHT
BATMAN'S in the pilot seat, flying the jet towards the
hoverdock.
SUDDENLY, the HUD flashes RED...
BROTHER EYE:
(Calm robotic voice)
Incoming missiles.
BATMAN QUICKLY looks across the HUD, at the proximity sensor
- in the centre is the jet, we can see projectiles flying
towards it... RAPIDLY picking up speed.
BATMAN flicks a switch, releasing...
EXT: BAT-JET - NIGHT.
On the underside of the jet, the doors of the bomb bay slide
open...
...Missile after missile drop out of the bay, falling towards
the ground below...
...The thrusters on the missiles ROAR into life, propelling
them towards the incoming projectiles...
...The missiles CLICK and divide into 4 smaller missiles,
each one locking onto an incoming projectile...
EXT: NIGHT SKY - NIGHT
THEY collide together, each Bat-missile flying straight into
an incoming projectile...
...EXPLOSION after EXPLOSION as the MISSILES COLLIDE
TOGETHER...
EXT: BAT-JET - NIGHT.
...The Bat-Jet flies through the explosions... EMERGING
UNSCATHED on the other side...
... THRUSTERS BOOM as it flies towards the Control Tower...
INT: BAT-JET: COCKPIT - NIGHT
BATMAN'S piloting the Bat-jet towards the control tower. The
HUD shows only a few hundred metres to go...
BATMAN:
Take the wheel!
BROTHER EYE:
Autopilot engaged...
The HUD flicks off.
BATMAN reaches up, unlocking the canopy, pulling it back...
... The ROAR of the WIND outside fills the cockpit..
... BATMAN jumps out...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
BATMAN glides down through the night sky, towards the control
tower below, WIND WHIPPING past him...
...Jets on the sole of the boots FIRE, propelling BATMAN
straight towards the control tower...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - NIGHT
EVERYONE is watching the consoles, showing the Bat-Jet swing
away from the Hoverdock.
CONRAD:
Problem solved.
DEREK turns away from the consoles, towards the windows...
DEREK:
Oh no...
CONNIE turns.
CONNIE:
What's goin...
CONNIE looks out the windows. HER EYES WIDE as SHE sees it.
CONNIE:
(Her visor SLAMMING down)
Incoming!
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - MOMENTS LATER
The glass EXPLODES, BATMAN flies through, into CONNIE,
throwing them both across the room - HITTING the rear wall.
CONRAD'S visor SNAPS down, turns to VILMOS and DEREK...
CONRAD:
Get out of here!
...BATMAN slowly, groggily clambers to his feet. HE turns,
sees DEREK running out the door, moves to intercept...
CONRAD swings at BATMAN, knocking HIM back against the wall.
BATMAN throws a punch back, SMACKING into CONRAD'S chest -
doing absolutely no damage...
CONRAD:
You're going to need to try harder
than that...
...BATMAN ducks and dives as CONRAD swings at him - again and
again. CONRAD's fighting is brutal, almost animalike. Each
missed punch SMASHING chucks out of the wall...
...BATMAN punches CONRAD - it's futile, still no damage...
...CONRAD SMASHES BATMAN across the face, PUTTING BATMAN to
the ground, behind CONNIE climbs to her feet.
CONRAD stands over BATMAN, fist raised, about to cave in
BATMANS visor...
...BATMAN'S boot-jets FIRE, launching BATMAN out from under
CONRAD, across to the other side of the control tower...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - CONTINUOUS
BATMAN drops into an combat crouch, watching.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry, listen to me, you are not
going to be able to get through
their armour...
CONNIE opens fire with her back mounted machine gun, SPRAYING
bullets at BATMAN...
BATMAN dives behind an console, bullets SLAM into it, BLOWING
it APART...
...CONNIE advances as BATMAN throws a batarang, it spins
through the air...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Decommission the helmets. I can
take them out from here.
...The batarang EXPLODES over CONNIE'S head, BLOWING APART
the gun, knocking HER down...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - MOMENTS LATER
BATMAN stands, facing CONRAD, the wind BLOWING through the
broken windows behind HIM.
BATMAN raises his hand, making the 'lets fight' gesture...
BATMAN:
Round 2?
CONRAD smirks. HE CHARGES at BATMAN...
BATMAN CHARGES, vaulting over a console...
THEY SMASH into each other,EACH SCRAMBLING for the advantage,
CONRAD hits BATMAN, BATMAN dives down - plunging HIS fist
into the knee joint of CONRAD'S power armour...
...BATMAN pulls out the cables from the joint, CONRAD'S leg
servos SCREAM as they fail. CONRAD COLLAPSES onto one knee -
the power armour no longer supporting itself...
...BATMAN reaches down, YANKING up on CONRAD's helmet. It
slowly CRACKS, SNAPPING... CONRAD struggles, trying to knock
BATMAN off...
...The helmet SNAPS off, just as CONNIE launches BATMAN into
the nearest console, BATMAN SMASHES into it, OBLITERATING it.
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - NIGHT
The Bat-Jet drops down out the sky, thrusters BURNING. It
swings around the control tower, lining up with the broken
windows...
We can see BATMAN fighting with CONRAD and CONNIE...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER -NIGHT
It's a scene of carnage, consoles smashed, cables hanging
down from the ceiling - SPARKING. Outside the broken windows,
the Bat-Jet hovers...
BATMAN'S in the middle of a FIGHT with CONRAD and CONNIE,
BATMAN ducks under CONRAD'S attack, UPPER PUNCHING HIM...
... CONNIE swings a piece of wreckage at BATMAN. HE uses HIS
arm to defend HIMSELF, the spikes BREAKING it in two...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Come on Terry, you can do this!
...BATMAN grabs a piece of the wreckage, SMASHING it across
CONNIE'S helmet. CONNIE staggers back, HER helmet cracked,
HER face just about visible underneath...
...CONRAD tackles BATMAN to the ground, it's an equal fight,
no one keeping the upper hand...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Firing now.
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - CONTINUOUS
BOOM, the Bat-jet fires. The shell WHISTLES through the air,
EXPLODING above THEM. A thick layer of dirty orange gas
rapidly descends over the room.
CONNIE and CONRAD crawl off BATMAN, coughing their guts up...
BATMAN stands, watching THEM crawl around on the floor,
stunned.
BATMAN:
(In Terry's voice)
What was that stuff?
CONNIE stands, trying to get away, SHE makes it a few steps
and then collapses onto the floor, RASPING for breath.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Ah... I learned that from Dr
Jonathan Crane... or as you might
know him...
BATMAN crouches down, next to CONNIE, turning her over.
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - CONNIE'S
HALLUCINATION
CONNIE's is hallucinating. we can barely see the outline of
the control tower. it is all covered in hazy gas clouds.
BATMAN's face looms large over CONNIE. It is pitch black with
burning white eyes. HIS mouth full of vampire teeth.
We see from CONNIE's perspective as BATMAN talks...
BATMAN:
(In Terry's voice)
Scarecrow...
BATMAN leans close to CONNIE's face...
CONNIE WHIMPERS and scurries away from HIM, absolutely
TERRIFIED.
BATMAN watches...
BATMAN:
Are they going to be ok?
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Everyone is going to be absolutely
fine... its heavily diluted and the
effects are only temporary...
INT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CONTROL TOWER - MOMENTS LATER
It's the normal control tower, completely wrecked from the
fight.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry, remember why we're here...
BATMAN slowly stands, surveying the unconscious bodies strewn
across the room.
BATMAN
(In Terry's voice)
What about all these people?
BRUCE:
(V.O)
I'll make sure they get some help,
just get moving. We've got lives on
the line here!
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
On the portrait screens, we can see various angles of the
hoverdock, interspersed with the view from BATMAN's cowl.
BRUCE looks down at the screen in-front of HIM. It contains a
list of contact numbers, BARBARA GORDON in the centre of the
list.
BRUCE'S hand nervously hovers over BARBARA's name.
BRUCE:
Oh... This is going to be
interesting...
BRUCE presses her name. It starts to dial...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CARGO BAY - NIGHT
Imagine the runway of an aircraft carrier, mixed with the
overhead cranes and containers of a dock. There's cargo bots
DRONING around - pulling shipping containers.
DEREK - brandishing a handgun, SPRINTS across the cargo bay,
DIVING around CARGO BOTs in HIS way, trying to get away...
Running towards the cargo drone in the centre of the bay.
VILMOS follows DEREK across the cargo bay, albeit more
controlled - with military precision.
Behind a BAT - shaped shadow lands on the crane overhead...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CARGO DRONE -NIGHT
The drone is sat in the middle of the cargo bay, it's massive
about the size of an C-130 transport. The loading ramp is
down. Checkmate SOLDIERS are scattered around.
A CARGO BOT trundles past as DEREK runs across to the DOCK
WORKER wearing an VR headset. THEIR hands moving through the
air as THEY supervise the loading of the drone.
DEREK:
Is it on there?!
No response from the DOCK WORKER, they are in their own
little world...
DEREK RIPS off the VR helmet, STICKING the gun in DOCK
WORKERS FACE.
DEREK:
I SAID, IS IT READY?!
DEREK's finger TIGHTENS on the trigger...
DOCK WORKER:
Yes! Yes! Everything's on there!
DEREK SHOVES the DOCK WORKER to the floor, turning back to
the CARGO DRONE.
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CARGO DRONE - CONTINUOUS
...Behind, BATMAN drops down, wings ENVELOPING the nearest
SOLDIER, BATMAN dives from SOLDIER to SOLDIER - taking them
out.
Gunfire RINGING out as the SOLDIERS attempt and fail to fight
back - THEY get destroyed by BATMAN.
BATMAN lands on the ramp - facing DEREK. BATMAN does not move
as DEREK slowly raises the handgun and points it at BATMAN.
It's a standoff...
BATMAN:
YOU KILLED MY FATHER!
Wait a beat...
...A crane SWOOPS down, GRABBING BATMAN in its claw. CRUSHING
HIM. Armour plates CRACK, SNAP.
DEREK stands there, watching BATMAN struggle...
DEREK:
Do you have ANY idea how little
that narrows it down?
DEREK ducks into the DRONE, the ramp HISSING as it closes
behind HIM. It CLICKS into place. The DRONES jets BURST into
life. Pushing the DRONE up, into the night sky...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CRANE - MOMENTS LATER
The crane lifts BATMAN into the air - the HOVERDOCK visible
below.
It tightens, CRACKING armour plates...
...BATMAN struggles, an arm servo POPS as HE tries to wrenche
HIS arm free...
BATMAN looks down - rapidly searching for the person
controlling the crane...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
It's the same landing pad where the CARGO DRONE took off
from.
VILMOS is wearing the VR headset - using the crane to CRUSH
BATMAN...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CRANE - MOMENTS LATER
BATMAN STRUGGLES - PULLING HIS arm free, LAUNCHING a
batarang...
The BATARANG FLIES through the air, WINGING down towards...
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
...The BATARANG SMACKS into VILMOS - ELECTROCUTING HIM,
shorting out the VR headset. VILMOS collapses to the ground,
CONVULSING.
EXT: GOTHAM HOVERDOCK - CRANE - MOMENTS LATER
The CLAW SNAPS open, DROPPING BATMAN...
...BATMAN PLUNGES towards the ground...
...The WINGS expand, catching the wind - pushing BATMAN up
into the air. The boot-jets FIRE - propelling HIM through the
night sky, towards the CARGO DRONE.
EXT: GOTHAM: NIGHT SKY
BATMAN flies through the night sky, heading straight towards
the DRONE.
Two GCPD helicopters TEAR past, flying towards the hoverdock.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Just focus on Powers, Barbara's
dealing with the rest.
BATMAN
What do you think I'm doing?!
BATMAN sweeps the wings back - streamlining, gaining on the
DRONE...
EXT: CARGO DRONE - NIGHT
The DRONE is ROARING through the night sky, heading out into
the ocean...
BATMAN's above the DRONE, keeping pace with it, we can hear
the ROAR of the wind WHIPPING past...
... The boot-jets cut out, the wings swing forward - catching
the air, pushing BATMAN rapidly down towards the DRONE...
... CLAWS extend from the fingertips, BATMAN GRABS hold of
the DRONE, PULLING HIMSELF towards it, until HE's flat on the
fuselage. HOLDING HIMSELF in-place with the claws.
BATMAN pauses, catching HIS breath. HE glances around for an
entry point...
BATMAN:
I can't see a way in...
INT: BATCAVE - MAIN CONCOURSE.
Not much has changed since last time we were here. There's
still the view from the cowl up on the screen.
BRUCE studies the schematics of the DRONE, looking for an
entry point. HE leans forward, slowly zooming in on a point
just above the rear ramp.
BRUCE:
(To himself)
Found you.
(To BATMAN)
Terry, there is an access point
above the ramp. Jack in there. I'll
get you in.
EXT: CARGO DRONE - NIGHT
BATMAN is tucked up against the hull of the CARGO DRONE. Wind
WHIPPING past. Below are the ROARING waters of the Gotham
River.
HE SLOWLY, CAREFULLY clambers down the drone. DIGGING in with
the claws each time...
...SUDDENLY BATMAN slips - maybe the claws detach, HE SLIDES
down the DRONE, SCRAPING the claws across it as HE heads
full-pelt towards the edge - about to fly off the DRONE!
... HE goes over the edge...The CLAWS DIG IN... SLAMMING
BATMAN hard into the side of the DRONE. Right next to the
rear ramp...
...BATMAN hangs on for dear life...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Come on Terry, climb up!
...BATMAN slowly CLAWS back up onto the DRONE fuselage...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Nearly there Terry, the access
point should be just above you now.
BATMAN glances up, seeing the illuminated access point.
BATMAN:
Yeah, I've got it.
BATMAN reaches up. Securing HIMSELF. HE disconnects a small
silver disk from HIS wrist, placing it on the access point.
BRUCE
Opening it now!
A KLAXON BLARES. The rear ramp starts to CLANG OPEN. Wind
WHISTLING into the drone.
BRUCE:
Get in there and finish this.
INT: CARGO DRONE - HOLD - NIGHT
It's full of crates of glass containers, rows and rows of
them. All containing a green gas - Blight. The rear ramp is
wide open. Wind WHISTLING into the hold - causing the
containers to CHING against each other.
BATMAN swings into the hold, an grappling line attaching HIM
to the fuselage outside. HE lands on the ramp - unclipping
the grappling line.
BATMAN SLOWLY, CAUTIOUSLY makes his way further into the
hold, looking out for DEREK. Behind the ramp starts to
ascend...
The intercom CLICKS on...
DEREK:
(out of the intercom)
Well, well... It's just you and me,
Terry.
BATMAN pauses - how did DEREK know that?!
DEREK:
(V.O)
Ah, You gave yourself away...Warren
always spoke about you, never once
a positive word...
BATMAN clicks off the voice modulator...
TERRY:
(Shouting)
Shut up!
DEREK
(V.O)
Why, does the truth hurt? Careful,
you don't want to end up in prison
again... Warren never recovered
from that...
TERRY cautiously walks forward, looking for any sign of
Powers. Hands balled into fists, ready to beat the hell out
of Powers...
DEREK
(V.O)
Strangely, he was very positive
about our human experiments...
Never once questioning how many
people died... actually I'm certain
it was his idea...
TERRY:
SHOW YOURSELF!
DEREK:
(From behind Terry)
As you wish...
TERRY turns towards the voice...
INT: CARGO DRONE - HOLD - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
DEREK is standing there,facing TERRY. DEREK's fully
transformed into BLIGHT. Eyes bloodshot, veins pulsating
green. Broken needles protruding from his arms.
The gun POINTED at TERRY's head...
TERRY:
What have you done?
BRUCE:
(V.O)
My god, he's on Blight...
...BLIGHT opens FIRE on TERRY...
...TERRY jumps, avoiding the gunshots. BOOT-JET's fire -
PROPELLING TERRY over BLIGHT. TERRY claws BLIGHT on the way
past, GASHING him across the face...
... TERRY lands, starts to turn to face BLIGHT...
...BLIGHT PISTOL-WHIPS TERRY across the face, FLINGING him
across the hold, into the opposite wall...
...TERRY SMASHES against the wall, SLIDING down it.
Electrical SPARKS flying...
TERRY slumps onto the floor, head down, dazed. BLIGHT
advances on TERRY.
BLIGHT:
Terry, be proud of your father.
Blight's going to change the course
of history.
BLIGHT GRABS TERRY, lifting HIM into the air. TERRY squirms,
trying to break free - failing. TERRY's hand reaching down to
the belt...
BLIGHT:
Be sure to thank him for me.
BLIGHT squeezes TERRY TIGHTER and TIGHTER. The Bat-Suit
CRACKING, the armour SNAPPING...
TERRY manages to pull a batarang free. HE PRESSES down on it.
a BEEPING starts coming from it.
TERRY:
(Gasping for air)
Thank him yourself!
The BEEPING gets LOUDER and LOUDER...
BLIGHT
What?
An EXPLOSION RIPS through TERRY and BLIGHT, THROWING THEM
across the hold. SHREDDING the batsuit - FLINGING shards of
armour across the hold.
SHARDS knick the fuel-line - fuel spurts out...
INT: CARGO DRONE - HOLD - NIGHT
The explosion has destroyed the cargo hold, SPARKs fly,
cables hang from the ceiling.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry!
TERRY slowly staggers to his feet. The batsuit is TRASHED -
armour panels missing, half the helmet smashed.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry! Talk to me!
TERRY glances down at the remains of the suit...
TERRY:
I think I broke the suit...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Doesn't matter Terry. I'm just glad
you survived.
TERRY:
Yeah...
TERRY looks around - for BLIGHT.
TERRY:
Where's Powers?
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Terry, you're in no state to
fight... Just get that drone turned
around and come home.
TERRY focuses in on the door to the cockpit.
INT: CARGO DRONE - COCKPIT - MOMENTS LATER
It's not much of a cockpit. A few screens scattered around a
tiny windowless cell. A keyboard and a joystick seem be the
only control method - downright unimpressive.
The door SWISHES open and TERRY staggers in, holding onto
whatever HE can to support himself.
TERRY:
Bruce, what do I need to do?
TERRY staggers over to the console, LEANING against it.
BRUCE:
(V.O)
Just grab the stick and SLOWLY pull
to the right. The drone will take
care of the rest.
TERRY grabs the stick, pulling to the right.
EXT: CARGO DRONE - NIGHT
The DRONE is ROARING through the night sky.
SLOWLY, but SURELY it starts to turn, until we can the neon
lights of GOTHAM in the distance.
INT: CARGO DRONE - COCKPIT
TERRY types on the keyboard, setting a course for GCPD
headquarters.
TERRY:
Right, course set.
BRUCE:
Good, now just get home Terry.
The barrel of an handgun is placed against TERRY's exposed
head...
...a CUT UP, BLEEDING BLIGHT is standing BEHIND TERRY.
Gripping the handgun. BLIGHT's finger on the trigger...
BLIGHT
You almost did it Terry...
TERRY raises his hands...
BLIGHT:
That's it... now turn around.
TERRY slowly turns, hands raised...
...BLIGHT cocks the gun...
Suddenly TERRY LASHES out. KICKING OUT BLIGHT's leg. BLIGHT
CRASHES to HIS knees...
...A GUNSHOT RINGS out...
... The bullet FLIES past TERRY's head - barely missing it.
SMASHING into the controls...
... The controls SPARK, error messages FLASH up on screen...
...TERRY and BLIGHT are fighting, beating the hell out of
each, TERRY on the defensive, BLOCKING BLIGHT'S attacks...
BLIGHT rips TERRY's chest plate off...
...TERRY tackles BLIGHT to the ground, POUNDING AWAY at HIM.
EXT: CARGO DRONE - NIGHT
The drone drops out of the sky - like a stone, spiraling
straight towards the river.
INT: CARGO DRONE - COCKPIT
The drone is PLUMMETING down. Everything not nailed down
FLIES into the air, including TERRY and BLIGHT...
BRUCE:
(V.O)
One thousand metres until impact
Terry!
The boot-jets FIRE - PROPELLING TERRY up. HE soars up,
towards the ramp - now at the top of the drone.
Debris HURLS down - boxes of Blight, pallets FLY past. TERRY
ducks, dives underneath them. Aiming straight for the closed
ramp - Not slowing down! Picking up speed!
TERRY:
BRUCE! OPEN HER UP!
BRUCE
(V.O)
Opening now!
The ramp slowly CLANGS open - extending out, revealing the
night sky above.
TERRY looks behind him, one last time...
... We can see BLIGHT down at the bottom of the drone,
trapped under all the crates that fell to the bottom...
...BLIGHT extends his hand, BEGGING TERRY to save HIM...
BRUCE:
You can't leave him here. He's
going to...
TERRY looks back, up at the exit...
TERRY:
(interrupting)
Not everyone's worth saving.
TERRY boosts out of the drone, leaving BLIGHT below...
EXT: CARGO DRONE - NIGHT
The drone is CAREERING down towards the river - completely
out of control.
TERRY arcs up above the drone, deploying the wings - they
catch the air like a parachute. The boot-jets sputter and cut
out.
HE glides down towards the river, turning to watch as the
drone SMASHES into the river, breaking apart into a million
pieces.
INT: DANA'S APARTMENT BUILDING - CORRIDOR
It's an luxurious apartment building - plump carpets, wood
panelling along the walls. Complete opposite to where TERRY
lived.
The lift door PINGS and slides open. TERRY steps out -
freshly healing cuts over HIS face, holding some red roses.
TERRY makes HIS way down the corridor, glancing up at the
softly illuminated apartment numbers. Looking for DANA's
apartment.
HE stops in front of apartment 1940, takes a deep breath -
for confidence, then RINGS the doorbell.
TERRY waits for a few seconds, nervous...
The door CLICKs, sliding open - revealing DANA, standing in
the doorway, behind HER PARENTS crane their necks, wondering
what's going on.
DANA steps out into the corridor, pushing TERRY back - out of
the PARENTS DISAPPROVING GAZE.
DANA:
Terry, where you have been? I've
been calling you for the last two
days?
TERRY:
Yeah I know, I'm really sorry, it's
just this Wayne internship. I have
to be there when he needs me.
DANA:
Terry, what about us? I used to be
able to rely on you...
There's an awkward silence as TERRY stares down. Thinking
about what to say.
TERRY:
I promise you, you can.
DANA takes the flowers, smelling them.
DANA:
I hope so.
INT: BATCAVE: MAIN CONCOURSE
BRUCE is sat at the desk. Working away. The screens are alive
with scrolling data, graphics and diagnostic tests.
SASHA enters, carrying a silver tea set on a tray. SHE places
it on the desk, leaning forward, looking at what's on screen
- it's an rotating 3D model of a Bat-suit.
SASHA:
I'm guessing Terry's going to be
back?
BRUCE takes a sip of tea.
BRUCE:
Of course he will, He's already
made me change the suit.
BRUCE taps a key, swinging the 3D model round... showing of
the red bat - logo emblazoned across the front of it.
FADE TO BLACK.
END CREDITS