"So Mr. Zucco, this is a wonderful place but let's get down to it. Show me this famed BAT cave!" As the Senior Grayson speaks with a surprising exuberance, Alfred and Dick casually walk down the stairs to rejoin father with son.
"Mr. Grayson, your young boy, returned!" exclaims the butler with Dick trailing behind him. Mr. Grayson's face fixates on his son as he begins to approach him. The familiar scene prompts Alfred to stand between the boy and his now upset father.
"Were you inquiring about the grounds OTHER famous tenants, Mr. Grayson?" asks Alfred, looking for a way to change the mood of the moment. As if snapped out of a trance, Mr. Grayson stops in his tracks to address the stoic butler.
"Yes Mr. Pennyworth. This estate is very fitting as a permanent home for Haly's Circus, but I will be remiss if we didn't discuss this cave. Can we see it?" The boyish wonder in John's face as he speaks does not change the dreariness that befalls Alfred as he thinks back to that cave.
"Do we really need to see that place John? I think our troupe has enough acts as is." ponders Mary as she returns from looking over the main kitchen. Dick moves over to intercept her, standing close as if her presence were a shield from his father.
"Mary, you've heard the stories of this batcave and the famous bat man of Gotham. Everywhere we go it never fails. At least one kid mentions it. People have travelled from across the world to visit these caves. To witness these bats and their master."
Mr. Zucco walks over to Alfred as the young couple take their conversation deeper into the foyer. "Give them the story Pennyworth. This may be the clincher to the deal. Bring us home!"
"I must warn you Mr. Grayson, the former master of this home had a very precise nature in which he controlled those bats. Since his, untimely demise, we have had the cave blocked off so as not to disturb them. If you do plan to reopen this to the public, I would consider upgrading the encasements throughout the caves."
"All well and good Mr. Pennyworth. Now please, can we have a look?"
Alfred leads everyone outside on a short walk through the gallery towards the cave entrance that has now been over taken by nature. Alfred attempts to pull away the thick vines covering the door and is quickly aided by John, who has already grown impatient. Standing a ways behind, Mary and Dick talk amongst themselves as Mr. Zucco takes a call from his office.
"So what can you tell me about Thomas, Mr. Pennyworth. Him and his famous Bat- Man gimmick?" As Alfred pulls one of the last vines out of the way he lets out a heavy sigh before facing John.
"A world reknown doctor and philanthropist. A neighborhood revitalizer and the man will always be most remembered for making a flock of bats swirl in the air. It's unbelievable!" Alfred speaks with a tinge of annoyance that John picks up on immediately.
"No, no. I apologize. I know all too well the many accomplishments of Thomas Wayne, Mr. Pennyworth. But in my line of work, making children smile and leave in awe is what we aim for. And Thomas, with his Bat-Man thing did just that. It amazes me that the man had time for all that he did!"
"It costs him dearly Mr. Grayson." Alfred turns his attention back toward Mary and Dick, who are giggling amongst themselves from some conversation lost on everyone else. John follows his gaze and for a moment, lets the butler's words sink in.
"Yes. I guess ambition does come with the highest of costs. Whatever happened to - ." Alfred turns towards the now exposed door to the cave and unlocks it. With purpose, he cuts off Mr. Grayson's sentence to usher everyone into the dark cave. Dick does his best to coerce his mother into joining, her apprehension ignored by John who heads in first.
"Master Wayne, or as he liked to be called once down in these caves, The Bat-man, first discovered these bats when he was a young boy. As he inherited his fortune, one of his first purchases was this entire estate to ensure that these bats were not harmed." John and Dick walk cautiously through the pathways that once held thousands of people. The younger Grayson presses his face on the clear glass that walled off one side of the passage, trying his best to see anything behind it.
"So, where are the bats?" asks Dick, inquisitively looking back at Alfred. The butler shuffles around in his pocket and pulls out a small device the size of a mobile phone.
"What made the Bat-man famous was his precise control of the bats within this cave. Using a frequency inaudible to us, he was able to communicate with the bats, and he used that to do wonderful things for his audiences. Watch."
Alfred points the device at the glass and presses a series of buttons. For a moment, nothing occurs until a low rumble is picked up by Mary.
"What… what is that sound? It's getting louder!" In a flash, an entire area of the glass becomes covered with the leathery wings of bats. Dick and John jump back as a loud 'thud' reverberates through the cave as the bats perch themselves onto the glass. The instant appearance causes the two male Graysons to smile uncontrolably at the sight. Mary, on the other hand had enough.
"My gosh, people paid to see this? I will wait for you two outside!" As Mary retraces her steps out of the cave, Alfred takes a moment to clarify her words.
"Actually, Mr. Wayne never charged a dime for this. This simple attraction was open to the public by appointment, and in most cases he arranged for the transportation for those tourists to Gotham to come and visit. Servicing people was truly one of his passions."
Both Graysons remained in awe at the sheer number of bats that have now covered the plexiglass. Alfred is joined by Mr. Zucco, who cannot help to contain his excitement at the possible sale of the estate.
"Keep it up Pennyworth, we will both be swimming in cash with this sale. I know you are just itching to leave this place. Can't be easy being tied to a place with as many bad memories as this home, right?" Alfred ignores the comment as he walks towards the glass to meet with John.
"Shall we go now Mr. Grayson, I would like to let these creatures return to their rest. Plus, there is so much more to the estate than this." John turns to Dick and puts his hand on the boys head. He rubs it gently as he pulls his son closer.
"What do you say Dick, Should we take the plunge on this place? Your mom doesn't like -."
"She'll come around dad, you know she will. Once we set this place up and she gets back up in the air, she will love this place. Plus, I think we all need a break from all of the travelling. Let's do it!" Dick looks up at his father, and John returns a smile at the teenaged reflection of himself. With that remark, he turns towards Alfred with an air of confidence about him.
"Ok Mr. Pennyworth, show us the rest of this place. But I think the decision has already been made! What kind of father would I be if I turned away from the wishes of my boy!" says Mr. Grayson. Mr. Zucco wastes no time in ushering John and Dick out of the cave to ensure that their every need is met to secure the deal.
Alfred watches as the two Graysons walk out of the cave together, a bit of his dreariness beginning to fade. As if the audience were still there, Alfred speaks to himself as the bats flock away from the glass.
"A poor father Mr. Grayson. Not listening to your son would make you a poor one."