Chapter 2: Bruce Wayne is Still Alive
(9 years later…)
Date: UNKNOWN
Time: UNKNOWN
Year: 2012
Location: Wayne Manor, Gardens
It is the year 2012. In the gardens of Wayne Manor, the Commissioner: Jim Gordon, is reading from A Tale of Two Cities.
"'I see a beautiful city... and a brilliant people...rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life...peaceful...useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts...and in the hearts of their descendants...generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do...than I have ever done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to...than I have ever known.'" Gordon said.
Sadly, Gordon closes the book and looking down at Bruce Wayne's grave. He looks up at the figure standing across from him… Gordon with John Blake, Lucius Fox, & Alfred Pennyworth, he tears streaming & sobs. Lucius places a gentle hand on Alfred's shoulder, then leaves.
Gordon, Blake, and Lucius follow. Alfred, alone with the Wayne family, turns to the grave beside Bruce's, the grave of Thomas and Martha Wayne…
"I'm so sorry. I failed you. You trusted me...and I failed you." Alfred said, sadly.
As Alfred's shoulders begin to shake with sobs. Gordon nods at Lucius. Blake is at Gordon's side.
"Can l change your mind...about quitting the force?" Gordon asked.
"You know what you said about structures becoming shackles? You were right, and I can't take it. The injustice. I mean, no one's ever gonna know who saved an entire city." Blake said.
"They know." Gordon said.
Bake turns his head to Gordon.
"It was the Batman." Gordon said, as he turned and got in his car.
(Later at Plaza, Downtown Gotham…)
Gordon, on a platform with dignitaries, watches a statue being unveiled. The curtain parts: Batman, immortalized in granite. We move in on the stone face…
"Mr. Wayne's will was not amended to reflect his more modest estate." Lawyer V.O. said.
(Meanwhile at the lawyer's office…)
The voice belongs to Wayne's lawyer, addressing a small group.
"Nonetheless, there are considerable assets to dispose of. The contents of the house are to be sold to settle the estate's accounts…" Lawyer said.
He glances up to see someone slip into the room. Blake walked and turned to everyone.
(Later at the Wayne Manor, day…)
Movers carefully bring artworks and furniture out of the house, watched by a solitary figure. The old man was standing…
"...and the remainder is left in its entirety to Alfred J. Pennyworth." Lawyer V.O. said.
Alfred looked at Wayne Manor…
(Later at the lawyer's office…)
The lawyer talks to everyone.
"The house and grounds are left to the city of Gotham, on condition that…they never be demolished, altered, or otherwise interfered with…" Lawyer said.
Blake shifts. Out of place. The Lawyer continues.
"...and that they shall be used for one purpose, and one purpose only:" Lawyer V.O. said.
(Later at Wayne Manor…)
Different movers carry bunk beds into the huge house.
A school bus pulls up. Father Reilly shepherds children towards the house. The children look up at the house, wide-eyed.
(Later at the lawyer's office…)
Blake looked down and up at the lawyer.
"The housing and care of the city's at-risk and orphaned children." Lawyer said.
As Blake turned his head and smiled slightly…
(Later at Wayne Manor…)
Father Reilly and children walked and entered the house.
A sing reads:
MARTHA AND THOMAS WAYNE HOME FOR CHILDREN
"My clerk can help with the smaller correspondences and instructions." Lawyer V.O. said.
"Blake, John." Blake V.O. replied.
(Later at the lawyer's office…)
Blake approaches the Clerk checks list.
"Nothing here." Clerk said.
"Uh, try my legal name." Blake replied.
Blake realizes, offers her his driving license. The Clerk glances at the license.
The Clerk reaches down behind the desk, sorting through various items, and hands him a sports bag.
"You should use your full name. l like that name. Robin." Clerk replied.
"Thanks." Blake replied, as he took it, curious and smiled, embarrassed, turned and walked away.
"Why worry about the stabilization software?" Scientist 1 V.O. asked in concern.
(Later at Applied Sciences…)
The scientist 1 with the scientist 2 are examining the controls in the cockpit.
"This entire autopilot system's completely obsolete." Scientist 1 replied.
Lucius stands in front of the second camouflage rotor.
"Please, l just need to know what l could've done to fix it." Lucius replied.
"But, Mr. Fox, it's already been fixed. Software patch. Six months ago." Scientist 2 replied.
Lucius walked slowly…
"Check the ID on the patch." Lucius replied.
Scientist 2 types some more keys. Looks surprised…
"Bruce Wayne." Scientist 2 replied.
Lucius turns away from the rotor, an idea starting to form…
(Later at the lawyer's office…)
The lawyer talked to the Clerk.
"Any news on the missing item?" Lawyer asked in concern.
"Not yet." Clerk replied.
"They better leave no stone unturned. We can't leave a string of pearls on the manifest as lost." Lawyer replied, as he turned and walked away.
(At Woods…)
Blake sits in his car looking at a GPS device, puzzled. Beside him, the sports bag, open. In it is a piece of paper with coordinates, on top of some climbing rope and shackles. Blake gets out of the car with the bag. Follows the GPS into the trees.
(Later at Cafe Florence…)
Alfred, paper under his arm, heads to his usual table. He sits.
(Later at Woods…)
Blake finds a large waterfall... He checks his GPS, confused. Stares at the waterfall. Reaches for the climbing gear…
(Later at GCPD, night…)
Gordon steps onto the roof with his pile of arrest reports…
(Later at the Cave…)
Moving in on the waterfall from inside... Blake bursts through, landing painfully on the shale inside. He gets to his feet, moving cautiously into the cave…
(Later at Cafe Florence…)
Alfred reads the paper, the man butler gives Alfred, as he sips his drink, he glances up at a couple at the next table. Strangers. Alfred looks back down...
(Later at the Cave…)
Blake lights his torch...then ducks, crouching, as thousands of screeching creatures descend. BATS…
(Later at GCPD…)
Gordon bangs his files against the air duct, straightening them. He stops. See something. The searchlight...fixed. As Gordon runs his fingers across a brand new, steel Bat symbol to the Bat-Signal but had not been lit up since Harvey Dent's death, not even for Batman… He looks up into the night…
(Later at the Cave…)
Blake lifted his head, feeling the bats all around him and he looked… It was the Batcave. Blake walked on the water.
(Later at Cafe Florence…)
Alfred folds his paper. Pulls out his money, then stops, seeing...across the tables, a familiar couple…
As Alfred smiles and nods…
A man by the name of Bruce Wayne, smiles at Alfred, who nods. He is still alive!
Gladly, Bruce turns back to the pretty brunette in pearls. He is with a woman by the name of Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Alfred smiles, pays his bill and content, stood up and walked away.
(Later at Batcave…)
Blake rises, and is swallowed by the darkness of their wings and we…
To Be Continued…