Batman

Chapter 8 Rhas a Ghul

[Scene cuts to Ethan and a few officers running through the asylum.]

Ethan (To Officer): Gone?
Officer: Yep, all of them.

Ethan: Oh no.

(Cut to the edge of the island as Ra's arrives with Talia as Scarecrow pulls up the device.)

Scarecrow: Soon, the minds of the Gothamites will break like glass.
Ra's: Let's prepare.

(Ra's and Talia put gas masks on as Scarecrow makes sure his is secure.)

Ra's: Gentlemen, time to spread the word, and the word is... Panic.

(Ra's turns on the machine as gas comes out just as Batman arrives and hands Ethan the antidote.)

Batman: I'd appreciate if you wouldn't tell people you've actually seen me.
Ethan: Um... Okay... What... What is this stuff?
Batman: Crane's fear gas. The syringe has the antidote. Inject yourself with it, now.

(Ethan does so.)

Batman: Also, it gets worse. They're going to use the machine to vaporize the water at the main sewer junction using the monorail.
Ethan: Covering Gotham in this poison.
Batman: I'll stop the mad man behind this.
Ethan: What can I do?
Batman: Take my car.

(Batman tosses him the keys to the Batmobile.)

Ethan: Cool.
Batman: Destroy the monorail bridge. That can be rebuilt later. Let's go.

Ethan: Got it!

[Scene cuts to the monorail stopping over the narrows. Two ninjas open the doors and throw down a bunch of chains. Scarecrow and Talia attach the chains to the Microwave Emitter. Batman appears. Scarecrow is the first to notice.]

Scarecrow: Poor little Bat. Too late to save the narrows...and soon too late to save your precious city!

[Batman ignores him.]

Batman: It's over, Ra's.
Ra's: For you and the police, maybe. My fate, however, lies with the rest of Gotham. Now, if you'll excuse me I have a city to destroy. (To Scarecrow) Crane.
Scarecrow: Now, let's see if you...

[Batman smacks him away. He's about to attack Ra's when Talia steps in from of him, with her sword in hand. Ra's takes this opportunity to grapple up to the Monorail. Scene cuts to Ethan getting into the Batmobile.]

Ethan (Into his radio): This is Bennet, Prepare to lower the bridge.

[Scene cuts to The monorail pulling away. Batman and Talia stare at each other. Neither of them wanting to hurt the other.]

Talia: Please, Bruce. It doesn't have to be like this.
Batman: Talia, for God's sake, he's going to kill everyone in the city!
Talia: He believes it's for the best.
Batman: And what do you believe?
Talia: It's not my place to say.
Batman: Yes, it is. You've always had a choice. Do you really want it to be this way, Talia? Do you "truly" want us to be enemies?
Talia (Closing her eyes): No...

[Talia lowers her sword. Batman walks past her and shoots his grapple at the monorail. Talia doesn't try to stop him. She stares on and walks off. Cut to inside the monorail as Batman arrives.)

Batman: Hello Ra's.

[Ra's face hardens.]

Ra's: You will never learn!

[Ra's pulls the sword out of his cane and swings at Batman, who is barely able to avoid it. Scene cuts to the narrows as the bridge lowers. The moment it stops the Batmobile bolts out of the narrows.]

Officer: What the...?

[Scene cuts inside the Batmobile as Ethan struggles with the controls.]

Ethan: Wow, this is complex.

(Cut to Batman and Ra's fighting as Batman manages to break the blade with a Batarang, and he then tosses another Batarang at the controls until Ra's grabs him.)

Ra's: You cannot stop me or this train!
Batman: Who said anything about stopping the train?

[Scene cuts to Ethan arriving at Wayne Tower and uses the Batmobile's side cannons to destroy the monorail tracks. Scene cuts to Ra's, looking out the window.]

Ra's: What?

[Batman elbows him in the face.]

Batman: Never learned to mind your surroundings!

Ra's: Are you going to kill me, Detective?
Batman: I'm not going to kill you, but I don't have to save you.

(Batman jumps out of the train as Ra's closes his eyes and the monorail crashes. Ethan gets out of the Batmobile when it suddenly drives off.)

Ethan: Cool.

(Cut to Wayne Manor as Bruce is reading when Rachel arrives.)

Bruce: Hey Rachel.

Rachel: Hello, Bruce. Word around town is that Batman saved the city from total destruction.
Bruce: Is that right?
Rachel: I...I have something I need to tell you.

[Bruce puts his book down and looks at her.]

Bruce: What is it?

[Rachel quickly looks away, too painful to say it to his face.]

Rachel: The day you disappeared was hard on all us, especially me. I hoped, prayed, that you would return safe someday so that I may finally be able to tell you how I felt and when you finally came back I was so overjoyed, (Turning around) but...

[Rachel turns around just in time to see Bruce kiss her. At first she's surprised, but then reciprocates. She warps her arms around his head, while he runs his hand through her hair. A few minutes pass before the two part lips. Rachel looks down, even more depressed.]

Rachel: But then I found out about your mask.
Bruce (Shaking his head): Batman is just a symbol, Rachel.

[Rachel caresses his face.]

Rachel: No, this. This is your mask. Your true face is the one criminal's now fear. The man I loved...the one who disappeared never came back.
Bruce: Rach...

[Rachel puts a finger on his lip, silencing him.]

Rachel: Perhaps, someday, when Gotham no longer needs Batman. The man I once knew will return. Until then...

[Rachel kisses him one more time.]

Rachel: I'll be waiting.

[Rachel quickly walks out. Bruce doesn't go after her.]

Bruce: Well, that gives me some incentive to cleaning up Gotham. Now, to finish Plan Number 2.

(Cut to Wayne Enterprises as Earle arrives.)

Earle: Alright everyone, let's-

(He sees Lucius there with the others as he's already talking.)

Lucius: Sorry. I wanted to get a head start on things.
Earle: What are you doing here, Lucius? I seem to remember firing you.
Lucius: You did. I got a new job. Yours.
Earle: On who's authority?

[Bruce walks in the room.]

Bruce: Mine.
Earle: What makes you think you're running this company?
Bruce: Well the fact that I'm the owner.
Earle: What are you talking about? The company went public a week ago.
Bruce: And I bought most of the shares...

[Earle's face darkens.]

Bruce: Through various charities and agencies. Look, it's all a bit technical. The important thing to me, right now, is the safety and stability of my company. (Look at Lucius) Right, Mr. Fox?
Lucius: Right you are, Mr. Wayne.
Bruce: Excellent. Have a good weekend everyone.

[Bruce walks out. Cut to that night as several thugs are about to enter a grocery store when a shadow wraps them up in a long wire. One of them runs off, but the shadow jumps on top of him a mile from the store.)

Thug: How'd you do that?
Batman: I'm The Batman.