Batman

Chapter 5 The Birth of Scarecrow I

Crane: All right, follow me.

[Scene cuts to the ground floor of Arkham as Talia and Crane enter a secret room. Dozens of inmates, wearing surgical masks, are making a liquid substance]

Crane: Your father's contributions have been very useful in my research. As you can see we're ahead of schedule, we can go anytime.

[Talia shakes her head.]

Talia: Not until the package gets here. Falcone says the ships been delayed by a day.

[Crane shakes his head.]

Crane: I'd like to add Falcone to my little collection upstairs.
Talia: You know he thinks you are his best defense if we double cross him.

Crane: Heh. Getting on top must not agree with him if it makes him that stupid.

(He plays with a burlap sack.)

Talia: Where'd you get that?
Crane: Bought it.
Talia: ... O... Kay...

Crane: I re-engineered it so it can double as both a gas mask and as a way of intimidation, would you like to see?
Talia: I wish I could, but I have to get back.

[A young woman walks up to Crane.]

Woman: Doctor, may I have a word?
Crane (Turning to her): Of course, Ms. Isley, just one...

[Crane looks back to see that Talia is gone.]

Crane: Everybody's gotta be doing something I guess.

(Cut to the Mansion as Bruce shows Rachel the Cave, which now almost looks perfectly like it did in the first episode of The Batman, except without the bat symbols.)

Rachel: Wow, how'd you get all this stuff?
Alfred: Oh dear.
Bruce: Yeah, she knew.
Alfred: You may want to work on that, Master Bruce.
Bruce: Right and I've got an idea.

(Cut to the armor chest as Bruce spray paints a bat on it.)

Rachel: Why a bat?
Bruce: I've been fascinated by them since I fell in here when I was eight.
Rachel: Wait a second, this is-
Bruce: Yup.

Rachel: Wow.

Bruce: You better get home. I'm going to be out all night.
Rachel: Why?
Bruce: During a test run of this stuff, I heard Falcone talk about a drug deposit at the Narrows. Go tell Ethan to go there, but don't tell him about me yet. Just say, a friend tipped you off.
Rachel: Um... Okay.

(Rachel goes off. Cut to Batman pulling on the clawed gloves with three spikes added to the side, and he pulls on a mask with bat-like ears that only exposes his mouth and chin. He then turns to Alfred.)

Alfred: My... God...

[Scene cuts to the narrows, the poorest area in Gotham, as Batman looks at a vacant condo. Using his night vision goggles Batman can see empty containers.]

Batman (Mentally): Looks like someone beat me here.

[Scene cuts to Batman entering the apartment, through a window. Suddenly, there's a noise. Batman quickly ducks into the shadows. Crane and a few thugs enter the apartment. Crane is wearing his mask.]

Scarecrow (Static voice): No evidence what so ever.
Thug 1: Yes, sir.

[Thug 1 begins pouring gasoline all over the apartment.]

Thug 2: Boss, what about the other occupants? If we burn this place down, won't it kill everyone in the building?
Scarecrow: It's necessary sacrifice, Mr. Elliot.
Batman (O.S): I don't think it's necessary.

[Batman swoops in and takes down both the thugs. Scarecrow waits for him to finish before addressing him.]

Scarecrow: And who might you be?
Batman: I'm Batman.

[Scarecrow starts to laugh.]

Scarecrow: So, you're the one who stopped Falcone's guys from killing the assistant DA. (Tilts his head) You have a thing for her?

[Batman tries to punch Scarecrow, who catches his fist. Batman's eyes widen.]

Scarecrow: Impressive strength...

[Scarecrow tries to punch Batman, who catches his fist by the wrist.]

Scarecrow: Outstanding reflexes...

[Scarecrow shoots gas out of both his wrists. Batman pushes Scarecrow away, breathing in some of the toxin.]

Scarecrow: Not a quick mind, though.

[Batman starts hallucinating.]

Scarecrow (Echoing): Aw, is the little Bat having a breakdown?

[Scarecrow punches him in the face. Batman falls to the floor. Scarecrow grabs a gas can and begins covering Batman in it.]

Scarecrow (Echoing): Allow me to treat you.

[Scarecrow starts kicking him. Batman starts swinging his arms around in the air hysterically.]

Batman: MOM! DAD!
Scarecrow (Echoing): Oh, a traumatic childhood experience? This would explain a lot!

[Scarecrow punches Batman again and then lights a match.]

Scarecrow (Echoing): Allow me to help you bore those images out, Batman.

[Scarecrow throws the lighter on the floor, engulfing him with flames. The entire apartment begins to blaze. Scarecrow quickly runs out. Scene cuts outside as Scarecrow enters his car and drives off just as the police and emergency vehicles arrive. Batman jumps out as he gasps.)

Thomas (OS): Why do we fall Bruce?
Batman (weakly): Alfred...

[Scene cuts to Batman ducking into a nearby ally, where no one will find him.]

Batman: (Weakly) Alfred...help...m...me!

[Scene flashes to Bruce remembering his parents' murder. Scene cuts back to the present as Bruce awakens to find himself in the back seat of a car.]

Bruce: Al... Alfred... Uh...
Thomas (OS): Why do we fall Bruce?

(Cut to Batman standing in Bruce's place on the night his parents died.)

Batman: So we can learn to pick ourselves up . . .

(Cut to the morning as Bruce wakes up.)

Bruce: Oh, that didn't feel good.

Alfred: I expect it wouldn't have, Master Bruce.

[Bruce looks over and see's Alfred sitting next to him.]

Bruce: How long was I out?
Alfred: A day.

Bruce: Man. Crane drugged me with something. Some kind of toxin that makes one experience fear.
Lucius: Well that sounds like something to be investigating.
Bruce (smirking): You think?

Alfred: I called Mr. Fox after your condition started getting worse.
Lucius: Long story short I synthesized an antidote and I think you're going to be fine.
Bruce: Can you make more?
Lucius: You planning on gassing yourself again?
Bruce: Well, you know how it is: you're out partying and someone's passing around a weaponized fear toxin.

[Lucius smiles.]

Lucius: I'll see what I can do.

Bruce: Thanks. What day is it by the way?
Alfred: October 27. Your birthday.
Bruce: Oh. Well, I guess I'll invite Rachel and Ethan over this afternoon with Lucius. I guess I'll have to invite Earle, right?
Alfred: Sir, when was the last time you saw Earle at one of your father's birthday parties?
Bruce: Good point. Something small will be just the thing for me.
Alfred: Alright, and happy birthday, sir.