Batman

Chapter 7 The Birth of Scarecrow III

[Flask turns to see Falcone's limousine. Falcone's window is rolled down. Flask walks up to him.]

Flask: It keeps these guys on their toes.
Falcone: Yeah, well one of these days someone's gonna get the wrong idea and put one in your head.

[Flask laughs.]

Falcone: What took ya?
Flask: My partner held me up. He's such a boy scout.

[Falcone's face becomes hard.]

Falcone: I don't like boy scouts. What's his name?
Flask: Gordon, James Gordon.
Falcone: Is he a problem?
Flask (Waving his hand): Nah, he may be a boy scout, but he doesn't rat anyone out.

[Falcone calms down.]

Falcone: Good.
Flask: Seems like your bringing in a bigger shipment than usual.
Falcone: Some friends of mine wanted me to help smuggle in a weapon.
Flask: What kind of weapon?
Falcone: Ignorance is bliss, my friend. Don't concern yourself with trivial things. These scary types are not to be trifled with.

[Scene cuts back to the thugs.]

Thug 1: So what do we do with this crate?
Thug 2 (Looking away): Boss says to leave it. Somebody will be here to...
Thug 1: Arghhh!

[Thug 2 looks back. Thug 1 is gone.]

Thug 2: Artie?

[Batman swoops down and grabs Thug 2.]

Thug 2: Arghhh!

[Scene cuts to Falcone and Flask, hearing the screams.]

Falcone: What was that?
Flask: I don't know. I'll check it out.

(Batman suddenly smashes his hand through the sky light and picks up Falcone.)

Falcone: Who are you?
Batman: I'm the Batman.

(Cut to Flask returning as other police arrive and Falcone is hanging from a beam, supported by a steel ingrained twine a still red-headed, but now wearing glasses, Gordon emerges.)

Gordon: Well, well. Someone's been playing a hero.

[Flask is at a loss for words.]

Gordon: I think we need to call this in.

[Flask becomes nervous.]

Flask: Yeah, I think that might be good.

[Scene cuts to GCPD, Crime Scene Investigation, etc. at the docks. They cart the metal crate away.]

Bullock: What'cha suppose is in there, Jim?
Gordon: I don't know, we'll find out at the precinct.

[Scene cuts to Arkham as Ethan interrogates Crane. Crane is in a straight jacket.]

Ethan: What were you pouring into the water, Crane?
Crane (To himself): Scarecrow. Scarecrow.
Ethan: What was it, Crane!

[Crane looks at Ethan and smiles.]

Crane: Oh, it's too late. You can't stop it now. They're coming...coming to destroy you all.
Ethan: Who?
Crane (To himself): Scarecrow. Scarecrow.

[Ethan shakes his head, frustrated. Cut to the Batcave as Batman returns and goes into the Manor as Bruce.)

Bruce: Hey Alfred, how have things been?
Talia: Hello Beloved.
Bruce: What are you doing here?
Talia: Can't lovers visit?
Bruce: You drugged me and tried to make me your father's successor when I was in Tibet.
Ra's Al Ghul: When we found you Detective, you were lost. A boy seeking vengeance. By taking you in and training you, I made you what you are. You should stand by Talia and my side as we destroy this cesspool of a city.
Bruce: Crane talked, Ra's.
Ra's: I'm well aware of that Detective. I'm also aware from several men who reported to me that you took my advice about theatrics a bit... Literally.
Bruce: Where's Alfred?

(Talia pulls out a dazed Alfred.)

Alfred: I'm guessing this is the chap who taught you the more... Unique of your studies.
Bruce: He and Talia approached me in Tibet and offered me a chance to teach me how to strike fear into criminals. They also wanted me to destroy Gotham since they figured it was a lost cause of a city. I refused. Gotham isn't beyond saving.
Ra's: Still as naive as ever, eh Detective. Just like Amanda when she disappeared.
Bruce: What do you know about her?
Ra's: That her daughter will either be the world's greatest hope against a great evil, or the world's undoing, but I'm getting about eleven years ahead of myself.

[Talia goes to Bruce's side and takes his arm.]

Talia: Please, my love.

[Bruce shakes her arm and backs away.]

Bruce: I will not destroy my home. (Looks at Ra's.) Whatever you're planning I will stop it.
Ra's: Thanks to you and Gotham's Police Department, you almost succeeded. However, I had a contingency plan just in case this happened.

[Ra's and Bruce stare at each other for a short time.]

Bruce: How are you going to disperse Crane's poison into the air?
Ra's: With a weapon your company built. First, we need to get it from the police.
Bruce: I can't let you do that.

Ra's: It's already taken care of. You and your friends defend a city so corrupt; we've infiltrated every level of its infrastructure.

(Cut to the police department as a cop knocks another one out, and he grabs the machine with several others.)

Ra's: Stand by me, Detective.
Bruce: I'm standing where I belong. Between you and the people of Gotham.
Ra's: Alright.

(Ra's whacks Bruce in the head with his cane and leaves.)

Ra's: You're welcome to try and stop us, but you will of course fail.

(Cut to Arkham as a guard appears and hands Crane his mask as well as a hood to go with it with scarecrow gloves.)

Guard: Some additions.
Crane: Thanks.

(Cut to the Arkham inmates escaping as Scarecrow walks out. He now looks like the Scarecrow in Arkham Asylum with an undone straight jacket.)

Scarecrow: This will be a night to remember.