Legend of the Batman
—SMOKE—
FADE IN:
EXT. GOTHAM MEMORIAL – DAY
A soft and quiet morning, the auburn sun rising over the cityscape in the distance, people walking their dogs and staying in shape themselves. Tinge of fog in the grass surrounding the piazza.
CUT TO:
EXT. CITY HALL – DAY
FALCONE sits upon a bench looking at the pigeons assembling before him. A subtle smile on his face.
Another man enters, taking a seat beside the Italian – a Roman, MARONI then begins to feed shredded bread to the birds. A few seconds of silence passes.
FALCONE
Mi piaceva moltissimo uccelli quando ero un bambino, ancora.
(I used to really like birds when I was a child, still do.)
They are great survivors. (English)
MARONI
Ho un po 'come I pipistrelle, vecchio amico.
(I rather like bats, old friend.)
FALCONE
Parlando di che.
(Speaking of which.)
You got a Bat doing your dirty job now?
MARONI
(Chuckles)
I don't know what you're talking about, amico. I have my own problems with the cazzo. This Bat is becoming a real problem, for everyone.
FALCONE
(GROANS)
Yes I heard about the unfortunate confiscation of your merchandise.
MARONI
Eight million bucks worth of weapons, twelve men in hospital under intensive care and two dead so none of them can say a thing.
(Annoyed Chuckle)
That's fucking six weeks down the drain. Porca miseria!
And yourself? I hear you yourself had seen this creature.
FALCONE
It's no creature, signore. Just some cazzo in a costume. I've got my hands full. I don't need another fucking prick to have to worry about.
MARONI
(Chuckles)
Another? You talkin 'bout that new guy at GCPD? He will upset the system, of that I am sure. And we were getting along so well (Sarcastic).
(Sniggers)
I don't believe that we have ever had an alliance since the Russians but I fear it will have to.
Falcone stares at the birds.
FALCONE
Loeb has Gordon in the mines. We have leverage. No, the real problem is the Bat, you're right. I don't know what drives him but he is costing us much. He is upsetting the order of things here and needs to be reminded.
MARONI
Capito.
The two stare out in silence at the rising sun. Falcone fiddles with his wedding ring.
MARONI
Ever wonder what would have happened had we taken Paul's advice, Gotham and Star City.
FALCONE
It was a suggestion, Salvatore, not an order.
Sal stands up.
FALCONE
I think my life would have been rather dull if you'd left for Star City. Say what you like about the pain we've inflicted on each other, amico – but you need me, and I you. I'll speak with Gill, get rid of the novizio. Arrivederci, mio amico.
With that Falcone nods to his countryman and walks away to the right away from City Hall.
CUT TO:
INT. GCPD MAIN OFFICE – DAY
A rough sketch of a bat creature pinned to a wall. JIM GORDON stares at it for a few seconds then to a photo of him and his wife at Washington D.C.
On his desk is a new portfolio titled Major Crimes Unit/Vigilante Task Force. He takes it and walks to –
BOARDROOM
A room filled with police officers (All new comers) waiting around and talking to each other. A whiteboard at the front with MAJOR CRIMES UNIT written on it, Gordon stands on the left, another woman stands on the right.
GORDON
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. Settle down, guys.
They all become quiet and attentive.
GORDON
Alright, welcome to the MCU, you've been chosen because your specialties are tailored for specific detective work. I am Lieutenant James Gordon and this here is Detective Sarah Essen.
Gordon gestures to the woman on the left.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Now you might be thinking that this whole situation is just a ruse because no one gives a shit about you and the truth is...you maybe right. But make no mistake that this doesn't give you permission to slack off. We're going after the night time vigilante known as the Batman.
Other cops like DE CARLO, LEWINSKI, CARRIGAN and BULLOCK circle the room to look in.
FLASS is seated in the centre of the room, looking bruised, left arm in a cast, battered and needing crutches.
A couple of sniggers from the crowd.
FLASS
Hay, back off this aint funny.
GORDON
Alright, folks, calm down and let him talk, he's a little sensitive at the moment.
FLASS
Fuck off Gordon. Anyway, there I was at the Eastern Docks –
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. WAREHOUSE AT DOCKS – NIGHT
Flass guards some of Falcone's men as they load a truck with newly stolen LexCorp crates. When they get the last of the crates, the lead gangster hands Flass a package of cash.
FLASS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I had gotten an anonymous tip of some arms and ammunitions smuggling. Possibly the Russians trying to make a comeback after Hermes. I was in the process of single-handedly apprehending the felons when it came out of the night sky.
The BATMAN jumps down from the rooftop of the warehouse and landed on a car.
GORDON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Wings thirty feet across. One of the felons I had not yet disarmed produced a gun and opened fire.
The gangster that handed Flass the cash takes out a gun and shoots at the Batman but he dodges it.
FLASS (V.O.) (CONT'D)
The bullets passed through him like smoke. Something grew from his hands...little dark things...paralysed everyone...except me.
Batman produces three Bat shurikens in both hands and throws them at the gangsters.
BACK TO PRESENT:
Flass looks at the crowd with fear in his eyes.
FLASS
It singled me out.
The room starts to erupt in laughter again.
FLASS
I'm telling you, it isn't human!
GORDON
Alright guys, I want quiet.
The room slows to a halt.
Outside, Bullock has a slight grin as he watches.
GORDON
Okay, okay, listen up. Our Bat-vigilante has committed over seventy assaults in the past five to eight weeks. Now during this time we've uncovered patterns.
ESSEN
He operates between the hours of midnight and four AM. Concentrating his efforts in the outer rim but methodically making his way to the Narrows.
GORDON
This Batman is working his way up the crime ladder: from junkie to pusher, to supplier. No one appears safe, not even cops.
CUT TO:
EXT. BOARDROOM
They all leave the room with Gordon and Essen left behind to pack up.
ESSEN
You're not going to go out for coffee. You don't take a break makes the rest of us look bad.
GORDON
Sarah, I'm not exactly in good terms with everyone else. Why should I bother now?
ESSEN
Fair enough. Wait, so where are you going?
GORDON
(Sighs)
What can you tell me about Harvey Dent?
ESSEN
What that young District Attorney from New York? He's rather...well actually he's just like you from what I've heard and seen. Ever since Internal Affairs...well let's just say even I'm self-cautious around the guy. Why?
GORDON
Does he look like the sort that knows how to take down twenty armed men at the same time?
ESSEN
You think he's a suspect? Well until I've seen the Bat up close, jury's out on that one.
FADE TO:
EXT. GOTHAM UNIVERSITY – DAY
Amongst the buzzing of busy students and faculty staff, Howard Branden's son LEO BRANDEN rushes across the foyer to class.
PSYCHOLOGY 101 AUDITORIUM
Leo bursts in, short of breath. His left eye has a slight bruising with a trace of make up to hide it. The class stops to look back at him, his professor, JONATHAN CRANE is at the bottom, in the middle of writing on a blackboard.
CRANE
Ah, Mr Branden nice of you to drop by but I asked you last week not to make it a habit.
LEO
I'm sorry, professor. My alarm's not working.
CRANE
Then perhaps get a watch. A good one tends to last longer.
Leo nods and hurriedly takes a seat. He sighs in relief as he opens his books. All the while, Professor Crane looks on for a couple more seconds, concern playing his face.
Crane begins to write again.
CRANE
So, as we've said, the mind has a very specific power over the...
CUT TO:
After the lecture, as students pack up and make their way out of the concert hall, Crane walks up to Leo who is still seated.
CRANE
Okay, Leo, what's going on? You used to come in five minutes early every day but these past few months I feel you're distracted.
Leo shrugs awkwardly.
Crane points at the jumpy young man's left eye.
CRANE
Does that have something to do with what's going on?
Leo is fearful. He fidgets with his pens as he stores them in his bag.
LEO
Please sir, can we just forget about it.
CRANE
Is it your dad?
Leo remains silent but his eyes start to tear up.
LEO
He's...he's...
CRANE
Its okay, Leo, you can tell me. Maybe I could help?
LEO
No, sir, please. You can't tell anyone. My dad's a cop and if he finds out I've told someone –
CRANE
I get it, Leo. But please, just tell me, maybe I've got some advice? I mean I am a teacher after all.
LEO
My dad's always wanted a son, you know. He had two daughters but he's always wanted a son that he could watch become a world famous Football player. Maybe play for the Seattle Seahawks.
CRANE
And you don't want that?
Leo shakes his head.
LEO
No I don't. But My dad...he's a tough guy, stubborn. He aint the quiet type. He's always like that. He bullies me, my sisters, my mom...I HATE HIM!
There was more silence. Crane looks at him sympathetically.
LEO
I quit the GCU Wildcats. I told him and he was pissed and he hit us, he hit mom...he...
Crane then spots the top of a scar on his shoulder. He gestures this. In fact, he sees blood seeping through the shirt.
LEO
It's nothing.
CRANE
It's your father. I know, Leo. I know what your father is capable of. He used to torture me when I was a kid. You need to tell the proper authorities, a D.A maybe.
LEO
No, just...don't worry, dad goes to the Red Light District, probably gone to fuck around. I think I'm in the clear 'till Saturday.
CRANE
A band aid on a bullet wound, young one. Very well, I will bear your problems, Mr Branden.
LEO
Thank you, sir.
FADE OUT:
...
FADE IN:
EXT. RED LIGHT DISTRICT – NIGHT
A bustling city celebrating its seedy night life and the heavy rain does nothing to dim it. Prostitutes and their pimps, Mob bosses and gangsters, populate the streets.
HOWARD BRANDEN walks out of the shadows with a young boy (13) in tow.
BOY
Please sir, I swear I don't know where Clayton is, Detective Flass drove him out. Last I saw him was seven days ago.
BRANDEN
I don't give a fuck, boy. He owed me money, he sorta put you down as his emergency contact. So I need cash and you'll have to pay it until Clayton comes back.
BOY
But that aint –
Branden throws the boy into a puddle of water in the middle of the road.
BOY
Please, sir. I don't have any –
Branden proceeds to drown the boy in the water. Everyone stops to watch as the boy struggles in his hands. After four minutes the struggling stops. The boy is dead.
BRANDEN
Huh, my daughters could last longer than you.
He looks around him, sees the eyes on his deed.
BRANDEN
Okay, you all know the drill, turn around and go about your business.
He begins to walk down the streets to a dark side of town.
Meanwhile, just behind him, cloaked in a tattered hoodie, a man marches discreetly but naught without purpose.
Branden stops at an apartment. A procurer greets him at the front counter, MARCO is his name.
MARCO
What would it be, the usual?
BRANDEN
No, someone younger today, Marco. I'm feeling like a bit of reliving old memories.
CUT TO:
INT. SINGLE ROOM – NIGHT
Branden sits on a bed, smiling as a girl (13) provocatively swaying her hips as she approaches him. His smile widens.
Outside, peering from the balcony window, a dark figure draped in a black hoodie, rain pouring over him. Smoke surrounds him like vines.
CUT BLACK:
...
Author's Note:
I must apologise for such a late entry. Personal issues have been laid against me but I do hope that I can continue my rendition of the DC Universe.
For this chapter, I was trying out a new format. Screenwriting was a small fascination on my part and I wondered and greatly desired to pen a script that might be blacklisted for production, that would be awesome. Frankly though I have only the writing part down, the rest of filmmaking seems lost on me.
Alas I had an interesting time writing this but excuse me for its crudeness.