"BATMAN" (1989)

Gotham City. The City of Tomorrow: stark angles

creeping shadows, dense, crowded, as if hell had erupted

through the sidewalks. A dangling fat moon shine overhead,

PUSHERS wave to HOOKERS. STREET HUSTLERS slap high-fives

with three-card monte dealers. They all seem to each other... with one conspicuous exception:

A TOURIST FAMILY, MOM, DAD, AND LITTLE JIMMY, mar warily down the main drag. Just out of a show.

respectable theatre crowd has thinned out, and no playbills in hand..-- they're on Gotham's meanest MOM

For God's sake, Harold, can we please just get a taxi??

5s

know

ch

But the W —- street.

Three cabs streak past and disappear. Jimmy reads map.

Nearby, STREET TYPES are beginning to snicker.

TWO COPS lean on their patrol car outside an all-

souvlaki stand, sipping coffee and chatting with HOOKER.

The HOOKER smiles at Jimmy. Jimmy smiles back. yanks him off down the street and.glowers at Dad.

i JIMMY

* DAD T hnow where we are!

night a

Mom

Deserted street lined with stripped- down cars. Family marches into the! darkness.

I | VOICE . Hey, mister.’ Gimme a dollar? A DERELICT -- nineteen or twenty, acne-scarred -~ his ratty T-shirt -- "I LOVE GOTHAM CITY" -- family moves on,

pretending not to hear.

| DERELICT |

Mister. How about it. One dollar? ° (standing up )

Are you deaf? -- Do you speak

English??

TOURISTS cross street.

|

DERELICT doesn't follow. my

Their pace quickens. A SHADOWY FIGURE in the alleyway. A GLOVED HAND slams a GUN across Dad's neck.

He crumples. Mom grabs Jimmy and backs up against a brick wall, too terrified to scream. The DERELICT races across the street to join his confederate, the STREET PUNK, who's already searching for Dad's wallet.

Mom's ready to snap ~- STREET PUNK trains his gun on

Jimmy. .

ran ' STREET PUNK . , Do the| kid a: favor, lady. Don't scream. ; . TEARS stream down her face. She stifles a scream and clutches Jimmy. ‘He's paralyzed with fear. |

The two PUNKS CHUCKLE and RACE AWAY.

Mom's self-control disintegrates -- she begins to SCREAM before moving to-unconscious Dad. SCREAM ECHOES.

A darkly ornate Gothic] anomaly: old City Cathedral, once prand, long since boarded up. me

STONE GARGOYLES - gaze down from their’ Shadowy rooftops.

Mom's SCREAM (uninterrupted from the previous scene) ECHOES up. And one of; the GARGOYLES MOVES.

Six, stories up. |

The PUNKS -- NICK and EDDIE -- hunker down on the tar- and-gravel roof, sizing up their take.

A chill wind BLOWS as Nick counts cash. There's a distant, metallic: CLANG; EDDIE hears it and tenses up.

EDDIE vs Let's beat it, man. I don't like it up here.

big loss. EDDIE No, man, That ain't what I heard at all. (beat) '

I heard the BAT got him.

ae NICK The BAT?! Gimme a break, will you, Eddie?

ANOTHER SOUND. Now even Nick can’t ignore the slight tingle at the base of his spine...

ad

a

| | | CONTINUED: (2): ! At the opposite corner of the roof, some fifteen yards away... at the end of a! iline, a STRANGE BLACK SILHOUETTE

i | |

is: dropping Slowly, implacably, INTO FRAME.

‘EDDIE You shouldn'ta turnt the gun on .that kid, man: You shouldn'ta --

NICK

You want your cut of this money or don't you? Now'shut up! Shut ° up -- -

1 |

| BOTH PUNKS FREEZE_ at the sudden, inexplicable sound of BOOTS CRUNCHING ON GRAVEL. They turn slowly. Their JAWS DROP.

At the edge of the roof, bathed in moonlight, is a BLACK APPARITION.

Eddie freezes, a choked GURGLE in his throat. The BLACK FIGURE advances and spreads its arms, slowly, majes- tically. GREAT SHADOWY WINGS flap in the wind. |

On its chest is THE EMBLEM OF A BAT, in an oval yellow field, glowing like a target in the. darkness.

Nick drops to the! gravel, grabs the GUN, and FIRES TWICE. TWO CLEAN HITS. The strange black figure is knocked | bodily to the roof. | ‘NICK ! -- I'm gettin} outta here.

| 1 He bends to retrieve his loot. Eddie lets out AN ODD, PRE-VERBAL SQUEAL...

_.. and Nick sees THE HUMAN BAT, BACK ON ITS FEET, NIGHT- MARISH, UNDEAD, MOVING SLOWLY AND INEVITABLY CLOSER. —

Panic. Stolen money flutters out of Nick’ s hands. He SCUTTLES FRANTICALLY across the roof. The BLACK SPECTRE is blocking his path to/the fire escape. Trapped like a

rat, Nick FIRES WILDLY. | | | | . Eddie's face is pale. ' The BAT treads calmly past. A LEG snakes out. A BLACK BOOT catches Eddie high on the chest -- LIFTS HIM CLEANLY OFF HIS FEET -- AND SENDS HIM FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. Eddie: slams into a brick chimney and

S lumps uncon: ScLous .

THE BAT DOFSN'T EVEN BREAK HIS STRIDE: Nick CHARGES past the black wraith, toward the Lire escape, 7

l

- (CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88. 5.0. CONTINUED: (3) | g

| . 5 A GLOVED HAND slices through the air, and Nick pitches. forward, his legs ensnared in a tangle of WIRES. SCREAM- ING, he drags himself across the gravel roof, the BAT. at his heels... ‘til there's no place left to go. Nick cowers on the edge. : Nick keeps SHOOTING. Eyes closed. Hammer falls on an cmpey chamber, but Nick still pulls the trigger. He * |

BAT grabs Nick by the shirt, HOISTS HIM into the air.

" NICK oo Don't kill me... don't kill me... a Nick opens his eyes... ithe BAT is standing on the ledge’ - of the roof -- HOLDING HIM OUT, at arm’s length, over siz

Stories of nothingness. A. rasping VOICE. : t |

- BATMAN me You're |trespassing, Ratbreath. '

, Nick looks down. | Far, far below, CARS wink silently past. He looks up. And sees, in the mirrored lenses where Batman's eyes should be, the twin reflections of his own

stricken face. 4 | eft ReD SEE - NICK Fa Trespassing? | You don't own the rr ae night. ' | 2B

: | BATMAN ' | Tell your friends. Tell all your friends. J AM the night. | 7 Nick HOWLS. Batman heaves him roughly back onto the tar-. and-gravel surface of the roof. And then -- casually, .. ° without a moment's hesitation -- steps off the ledge, ..> into midair. ! wl Trembling, Nick crawls to the ledge and looks over... finding ABSOLUTELY NO TRACE of the Batman. . 0 OF

ay

feed

Nick is still SCREAMING as we PAN UP TO Gotham's moon. MAIN CREDITS ROLL: . a a

BATMAN

A VICTORY POSTER fills one wall: "CONGRATULATIONS! A. = .

NEW GOTHAM ClTY! “MARVEY DENT - DISTRICT ATTORNEY."

i

, \ : i |

(CONTINUED) |

i

MAYOR BORG, hysterical: and self-certain introduces the

new District Attorney,: HARVEY DENT -- a young, determined lawyer.

I | MAYOR BORG Across this nation, the words "Gotham City] are synonymous with crime.: Our streets are overrun, and our police officials have been helpless. AS Mayor I promised you that I would; root out the source * of corruption at the root! Boss Ca 4ssom! Our new District Attorney Harvey Dent will carry’ out that promise. I promise.

APPLAUSE. DENT stands to speak. We SEE a SINGLE EMPTY PLACE SETTING at | the end of the table -- and an engraved placecard which bears the name “BRUCE WAYNE.” i ; ; ~ DG ! DENT I'm aman of few words. But those words will count. And so will our actions. I have talked today to Police Commissioner Gordon.

ANGLE ON JAMES W. GORDON

t

Gotham's police commissioner, a distinguished gent in his late fifties. |

' DENT , He is targeting businesses suspected of fronting for the syndicate in this city. ‘Within 3 | one week we'|ll knock down their an i doors and shed the light'of the ~ ! law or that nest of vipers. |

A woman's apartment, sparsely furnished but tasteless. Modern chairs and coffee table in front of a TV set. High- fashion magazine |picture blow-ups all modeled by the same girl on walls.

| ; : In the foreground: a/MAN'S HAND, long, elegant, and manicured, manipulates a DECK OF CARDS, doing a one- handed shuffle with extraordinary finesse. “ The TV news has: pighlights of HARVEY DENT'S victory speech.

an

Together we can make this city

safe for decent people --

THE HAND sets the deck on a table, turns up FOUR JACKS off the top. This most unusual deck sports a .22 calibre BULLET HOLE straight through the middle.

JACK NAPIER is right-hand man and chief enforcer to BOSS CARL GRISSOM.

He is tough, vain, takes great pride in his appearance, and is not reconciled to no longer being twenty-one. Velvet Death. ALICIA HUNT -- CARL GRISSOM's woman -- glides over in her negligee. Jack has his feet on the table, resting on a copy of Yogue on the cover of which is a picture of Alicia. She lifts his feet and rescues the magazine. She is young, very beautiful, and as

narcissistic as Jack. She's the model pictured on the walls.

Alicia knots Jack's loose tie playfully about his neck.

Jack's eye darts back and forth between the TV and his

own reflection in a nearby vanity. Not interested in her.

Jack remotes OFF the TV.

The scene of the earlier mugging is now ABUZZ with police cars, an ambulance, a forensics van.

Eddie goes past on a stretcher, catatonic. Watching him are a POLICE MEDIC and a porcine cop, LT. ECKHARDT, who jots on a notepad.

‘- ECKHARDT . No, let me guess. A gigantic, menacing, Supernatural form... in

the shape of a bat.

At the mouth of the alley is ALEXANDER KNOX,°30, a crime reporter for the Gotham Globe.

(MORE )

(CONT LNUED)

ANY

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Two uniformed PATROLMEN drag a brain-fried Nick past. NICK A bat, I tell you, a GIANT bat! He wanted me to do him a favor...!

Knox smirks. Eckhardt and the Medic trade disgusted looks.

; KNOX Lieutenant. Lotsa punks in town're scared stiff! They say he drinks

blood. They say he can't be killed.

rd Eckhardt turns away in annoyance.

Eckhardt emerges onto the side street -- and spies a _ STRETCH LIMO IDLING nearby. Leaning on the hood, waving hi, is the dandyish Jack NAPIER. Jack's odd driver BOB HAWKINS polishes the door handle.

Jack swappers up and tosses Eckhardt a sandwich bag.

+ + 6 HH

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 10.

9 CONTINUED:

JACK

I brought you a little snack, Eckhardt.

Eckhardt looks at the sandwich inside. It's full of 100 DOLLAR BILLS. The cop throws a nervous glance back in KNOX's diréction and stuffs it quickly in his coat.

\ Eckhardt bristles.

Suddenly, Jack grabs Eckhardt by the lapels of his topcoat.

JACK

Eckhardt... your problems are our problems.

ECKHARDT Po (knocking his hands away ) I answer to Grissom, not to psychos.

You got no future, Jack. You're an A-1 nut boy and Grissom knows it.

Jack claps a hand on Eckhardt's face and shoves him full- force into a wall. Stunned, Eckhardt turns bright red and grabs Jack by the coat collar and whips out his gun.

Jack calmly takes his hand from Eckhardt's face as the latter brings the pun up.

fo (CONTINUED)

%

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 ll. CONTINUED: (2)

Hard-hatted Dent and Gordon follow Mayor across the construction-filled square. Preparations are being made for a gigantic public event. Banner goes up saying “200TH ANNIVERSARY OF GOTHAM CITY FESTIVAL."

MAYOR ° I don't care how much in debt this festival is. I want @ parade, hot dogs, balloons, the whole schmeer. We're gonna celebrate this 200th anniversary proudly. And PUBLICLY.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 12.

CONTINUED: 10 GORDON I think ao lot of people might stay away, Mayor. They're scared. MAYOR They won't be scared when you've . got Grissom in that courthouse. I * promised that, right? * Gordon nods as Mayor marches across the square.

Gotham's leading tabloid daily. KNOX RUSHES IN, spots BOB THE CARTOONIST at his drafting table, with several amused REPORTERS looking on. REPORTER Well, well. Count Dracula! You seen Bigfoot lately? ANOTHER REPORTER * They BURIED your story on the * Batman. * REPORTER * They bury garbage. * KNOX This is the Pulitzer prize zone, boys! You wait! . * BOB Oh, Knox -- I got something for you. BOB holds up a drawing of a HUMAN BAT, with an awful, fanged rodent's face, wearing a business suit. The cap- tion reads: "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN?" The REPORTERS crack up. Knox, who's used to the ribbing, mumbles. KNOX . Very nice, boys. <A little more gore on the fangs. (under his breath) . What a dick... “ He moves on.

Knox approaches but stops in his tracks. . *

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 13.

CONTINUED: 12

Propped up on the desk are a PAIR OF EXCEPTIONAL LEGS. Knox stares. He takes her in -- The most beautiful woman he's ever seen is attached to the legs. Leaning back in Knox's swivel chair, reading the Globe. Her face obscured by a big outrageous HAT. He ENTERS.

. KNOX Hel-lo, legs.

The hat tips back. WVICKI VALE, her face framed by a shock of bright red hair, flashes a dazzling smile.

He looks at the oversized CAMERA BAG with decals all over it. Monogrammed "V.V." She stands and shakes hands.

Her attitude is strong, hip, professional.

see... Yogue, Cosmo... I've seen your stuff. Listen, you didn't come here to ask me to pose nude, because you're going to need a long liens.

She pulls out a sheet 6f COMBAT PHOTOS -- exploding Jeeps, burning huts, bodies in piles. A bloody revolution.

Knox is impressed but he's also smitten:

( CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 14.

CONTINUED: (2) 12

phe indicates his desk which is littered with doodles of

VICKI

A picture of a guy in a bat suit catching criminals?

(her hand sweeping

a headline) BATMAN SWEEPS CRIME FROM GOTHAM. My pictures. Your words. This is Pulitzer prize material.

you're the only one who believes me. I need something tangible. Gordon's got a file on this but I can't get him on the phone.

A sly look crosses Vicki's face.

Sulking,, he doesn't notice Vicki reaching into her camera bag. He doesn't see the small white INVITATION until she DANGLES IT right in front of his nose.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 CONTINUED: (3)

She flutters her great big eyelashes and shakes her head

no.

; KNOX Yes. Will you marry me?

She LAUGHS. He offers her his arn.

A HUGE PLATE GLASS WINDOW on the best view in Gotham,

CARL GRISSOM, criminal kingpin, is 50, utterly without —

charm.

His LIEUTENANTS ~-- bloodless white-collar types as well as a few outright GOONS -- are sprawled nearby in easy

chairs. Grissom waves a copy of the Globe -- with HARVEY

DENT staring out from page one.

Jack slouches in an easy chair doing his one-handed

shuffle.

+

CONTINUED: 13

Jack's hand FREEZES over his lucky deck. Nervously, he turns a card off the top., It's not a jack; it's a Joker

-- a Joker with a neat, round, .22 calibre HOLE through its face,

At this exact moment, METAL DOORS slide back -- and ALICIA HUNT steps out of Grissom's private elevator with an armful of SHOPPING BAGS.

Alicia's gaze meets Jack's nervously as she vanishes

through a side door. The eye contact is not lost on Grissom.

Grissom's CRONIES FILE OUT. Jack, troubled, lingers

behind. He looks miserable and obviously doesn't want to go.

. JACK Carl, can't we send somebody else? The fumes in that place...

Now don't forget your lucky deck. Jack, resigned, pockets the deck and leaves. GRISSOM (wolfish prin) My friend, your luck is just

about to change.

Alicia APPEARS an the doorway, modeling her new purelwases.

CONTINUED: (2)

The ballroom is outfitted with roulette wheels for a CASINO NIGHT. Gotham's POWER ELITE eagerly throw cash

into Mayor's festival kitty. Small banner "SAVE THE FESTIVAL!"

ANOTHER ANGLE - HANDSOME YOUNG BRUCE WAYNE

enters from the kitchen. He's a rich, smart guy with a thousand things on his mind. But when you think he’s not

paying attention -- you're dead wrong. He doesn't miss a thing.

A WAITER hands him something to sign. He signs and the waiter EXITS. Left with the pen, he isn't sure what to do with it. He looks around and finally decides to put it in a flowerpot. Just then ALFRED, THE BUTLER, 60s mannered but with sense of humor, APPEARS and takes it from him. Alfred smiles as Bruce continues through the | foyer past --

In his cheap suit, stands Knox -- staring inquisitively up at the ceiling.

Alfred appears with a tray of champagne glasses. He, too, looks up at the ceiling.

. KNOX You know if you cut your bath in half, you'd have my whole apurtment.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 18. CONTINUED: 15

Knox takes a drink and Alfred MOVES ON. ANOTHER ANGLE

Alfred stoops to pick up some glasses, the octher glasses on his tray slide. He's caught a bit. Vicki catches the glasses.. Vicki smiles.

A small bond has been formed. Alfred CONTINUES on his way. As an afterthought Vicki calls after him. Stops. Bruce has been watching. Vieki turns to him.

VICKT

Vicki WALKS AWAY. Bruce watches her, very intrigued. ANGLE ON GORDON 16

At craps table, blowing into his fist, he rolls dice. Snake eyes. He passes the dice as Knox and Vicki PUSH UP.

KNOX

Commissioner Gordon, Mrs. Gordon. How nice you look tonight.

(to Gordon) Have you heard this crazy rumor that you have opened a file on the Batman? That's not true is it?

Knox puts his hands up bchind his head and wigeles his fingers -- like little bat ears. Gordon GROANS.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 19.

CONTINUED: 16

would find him -- we would arrest him --

Dent ambles up, claps a hand on Gordon's shoulder.

AN OFFICER motions to Gordon, who FOLLOWS HIM into

another room. Vicki nods at Knox as they slip away to FOLLOW THEM.

ANGLE ON BRUCE

He watches them. Especially the beauteous Vicki.

A NEON SIGN reads: "ACE CHEMICAL. THE FUTURE IS NOW." From the SIGN we PAN TO a METAL SLUICE GATE -- dumping TONS of CHURNING TOXIC SLUDGE into Gotham's East River.

A PLAIN VAN pulls up. Jack and GOONS get out.

ANOTHER ANGLE 18

The SECURITY GUARD in a booth at the entrance to the lot.

One of Jack's BOYS crecps up and takes the GUARD out. Jack and Goons sneak in.

Knox and Vicki ENTER looking for Gordon. No luck. Knox Bocs porple-eyed at the armory.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 20.

CONTINUED: 19

On the wall hang EXOTIC WEAPONS. Every arcane implement

of death the human mind has ever devised. Knox lets out a low whistle.

Bruce ENTERS and stands just behind them. Vicki sees him, but having seen him earlier, regards him casually, like another partygoer. Bruce listens with interest.

They like him for his big charity balls.

Knox turns. Bruce is trying to remember, but is really watching Vicki.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 21.

I read (present tense) your work. I like it.

Bruce flips a polite smile at Knox then switches smoothly .

to VICKI, who is amused at being had by Bruce. She Sticks out her hand.

-.. You sure?

extraordinary eye.

Bruce is charming. Knox's territorial instincts arouse.

love to shoot it sometime.

A WINE STEWARD ENTERS. Vicki and Knox exchange glances.

that be allripht?

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Yes... Will you be staying in Gotham for a while?

vicki I'd like to. I'm intrigued by Alex's giant bat story.

A RICH COUPLE waves at Bruce as they EXIT. He politely waves to them. Then he looks after them like he can't

remember who they are. Then he does remember. Then back to Vicki.

‘a Alfred appears in the doorway behind then.

He turns back to Vicki. Alfred persists.

Vicki smiles. A connection has been made. They both know it.

VICKT

Sure.

eo (CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 CONTINUED: (4)

Bruce turns to go. edge of the table. Alfred calls to him.

, BRUCE

Oh yes... thanks. Oh, Alfred, they need more wine in the front and Someone named Mrs. Daly wanted a copy of the menu. Oh, and, Alfred. Give Mr. Knox a grant.

He winks at Knox. And goes the OTHER way out of the roon. him briskly OUT OF THE ROOM.

Knox is stung and Vicki transfixed, ,

(jealous) Helllo? Vicki?

Sorry, I was -- He's comp-lic-ated.

Ld

VICKI

Mn.

And indeed, the two of them are standing before an enormous WALL MIRROR, eight feet wide, running from floor to ceiling.

Setting his glass too close to the

Alfred fluidly sweeps up Bruce's glass and follows

the room... if a small, silent, state-of-the-art SURVEIL-.

LANCE CAMERA.

BATMAN - Kev. 10/10/88 24,

CLOSEUP - VIDEO MONITOR 21 showing KNOX and VICKI in the library. The screen we're watching is only one in a whole vast bank of video mon- itors -~ a control center showing everything that happens in the house. The background is blurry, indistinct... but we seem to be in the midst of a vast, dark CAVE.

On another screen, GUESTS move backward with exaggerated speed, as a videotape REWINDS. At the panel, Bruce Wayne

hits a button -- and watches COMMISSIONER GORDON talking to a uniformed PATROLMAN. |

cleaning out Axis Chemicals. * GORDON (V.0O.) Good Lord, if we could put our hands on him we'd . * (obviously agitated) Why wasn't I told about this? Who's in charge of the -- PATROLMAN (V.0.) ; Eckhardt, sir. * GORDON (V.0.) Oh my God... ; te And suddenly Gordon is grabbing for his coat. The monitor GOES BLACK. Bruce is somehow different. More relaxed. * He stands up. He gathers himself. Focuses inwardly in * a way that empowers hin. "e w

UNMARKED POLICE CARS are pulling into the lot. Eckhardt circulates among his ARMED SWAT TEAM, handing out Xeroxed copies of a MUG SHEET: Jack NAPIER, front and profile. ECKHARDT Shoot to kill.

SPARKS FLY. <A SAFECRACKER, in welder’s mask, trains a blowtorch on the office safe. Behind him, Jack's HOODS are at work on the filing, cabinets. Jack stands watch- _ Lies, opepiiantiny, Chreupgh the fumes. He holds ow gilk handkerchief over his nose and meutin.

CONTINUED: 23 The SAFECRACKER kills his blowtorch and opens the metal door of the safe, giving Jack a good look inside: SAFECRACKER Empty. JACK shakes his head: they've been set up. A SIREN blares outside. JACK We've been ratted out here, boys.

Jack and his HOODS duck out of the office, two stories

above the refinery floor, onto a network of ladders and CATWALKS.

A COP, stationed behind a bank of machinery, shouts out:

One of the HOODS OPENS FIRE. Half of his colleagues dive back into the office, looking for a rear exit. The others take off across the CATWALKS.

COPS SHOOT BACK as the HOODS scatter. The COPS' bullets puncture ducts and pipes from which gas and unpleasant looking liquid begins to leak. 2

All at once, a CORRUGATED STEEL DOOR rises -- and COM- MISSIONER GORDON MARCHES IN with a squadron of UNIFORMED COPS. He grabs a startled Eckhardt by the shoulder:

I WANT HIM TAKEN ALIVE. I REPEAT -- ANY MAN WHO OPENS FIRE ON JACK NAVLER WILL ANSWER TO ME!

Eckhardt SLEEPS AWAY UNTO CKHE PLANT. Gurdon cealizes he's pone vateb follows with pun diawi.

ANGLE ON JACK

Down on the floor, racing, THROWING SWITCHES -- anything to create a diversion. GIGANTIC MACHINES ROAR to life. OVERHEAD CHEMICAL TANKS rotate into place above giant basins and spew out their contents. COPS on Jack's tail. He SHOOTS at them AND RUNS. ANGLE ON CATWALKS

HOODS 3 and 4 scuttle across the elevated walkways, FIRING at the POLICE and PUNCTURING more DUCTS, PIPES, and CONTAINERS, thereby releasing more CHEMICALS. Their HEADS TURN at the sound of a sudden CLANG --

-- as BATMAN drops onto the catwalk from above. For a moment, they pape. Then HOOD 4 takes off running; HOOD 3 turns and LEVELS HIS GUN at Batman --

~- who goes to his belt for a miniature SPEAR GUN and FIRES at HOOD 3... planting a BARBED HOOK in the HOOD'’S ~~ JACKET, SPINNING HIM AROUND. HOOD 3 drops his gun, slips,

and -- with a terrible shriek -- TOPPLES OVER THE RAILING,

The hook in his jacket jerks him up short... leaving him to DANGLE thirty feet above the factory floor!

ANGLE ON COMMISSIONER GORDON 28

His gaze whips upward from the dangling hood to the figure on the catwalk. As he's just realized... there is a bat. Pa GORDON Oh my God!!

Jack looking for an exit. Behind him, a STEEL DOOR begins to rise -- more COPS. He picks up the axe and runs to bottom of iron stairs to huge steel containers with DANGER! HIGHLY TOXIC written on them under SKULL AND CROSSBONES. He swings the axe releasing a river of wild-colored poisons.

ANGLE ON COPS ; 30

At the bottom of the stairs, they KETREAT hastily, bump- ing into each other, as POLSONS FLOOD toward ‘them. Jack on other side of the chemical moat, throws away the axe and climbs the stairs.

LNT, FACTORY FLOOR - A MOMENT LATER 31 A RIVER OF CHEMICALS courses out into the main refinery. COPS SLIP AND SLIDE on the wet surface of the factory

floor CASPING on ACID FUMES.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 27.

METAL STAIRS LEADING TO CATWALK 32

Jack climbs metal stairs. Above him, vats of CHURNING CHEMICAL SLUDGE -- and SLUICE GATES opening on the East River. It's the waste dump.

UP ON THE CATWALK, Batman slips into the shadows and watches Jack approach.

Jack reaches the catwalk. Located above the center of

it is a glass paneled WINDOW, propped open by a support- ing rod. Beyond this is a forty foot drop to the swirl- ing black currents of the-East River... and freedom. To reach the window, Jack will be exposed to police bullets. He makes a dash for it, and has begun to climb up to it on the catwalk railings, when BATMAN HURTLES IN and puts him in a wrestling hold. Jack struggles for a moment, then registers what's hit him and freaks out.

Bob's got a gun pointed AT COMMISSIONER GORDON'S HEAD.

A tense moment passes.

Eckhardt appears on floor. Looks up at Jack. CATWALK - A MOMENT LATER 34

Batman releases Jack and stands clear. Jack straightens his clothes and fixes his hair. .

Nice outfit.

' GOON Jack, let's get out of here.

Jack spics .38 AUTOMATIC abandoned on the catwalk.

ANGLE ON FACTORY FLOOR 35

Eckhardt uses this moment to sneak away.

A voice breaks the tension:

JACK

Eckhardt!! Think about the future.

ALL EYES TURN to Jack standing poised with the .38 in his

fist. He FIRES. Eckhardt FALLS DEAD. Jack turns gun to Gordon.

Batman moves. Jack spins on Batman.

Their eyes meet for a second.

TIGHT ON BATMAN

-- &@ queStioning look on his face. A spark. TIGHT ON JACK

-- a small smile plays on his lips.

ON TRIGGER

-~- He FIRES POINT BLANK at Batman. ON BATMAN

-- he swings his heavy cape. The BULLET RICOCHETS DIRECTLY BACK AT JACK.

AN UNGODLY HOWL OF PAIN echoes out from the catwalk

above. Jack reels and staggers, CLUTCHING AT HIS CHEEKS. BLOOD GUSHES from between his fingers.

JACK NAPTER HAS BEEN SHOT THROUGH THE FACE.

He stagpers into the catwalk railing and topples over, just managing to grab hold of the lowest rung. Directly beneath him is a catch basin full of BUBBLING TOXIC WASTE.

ON CATWALK - THAT MOMENT 36 Batman leaps and tries to grab Jack's hand. Jack drops but catches himself on a pipe. He's slipping.

Batman reaches, gets a poor grip. He stares, perplexed, 1 . - 1 - at the stricken expression in Jack's eycs.

ON CATWALK - SAME MOMENT 37

Jack is sliding out of Batman's grasp. A long BEAT -- Jack looks up at him in terror and SLIPS AWAY to plunge the TWO STORIES DOWN into the CATCH BASIN of BUBBLING, TOXIC WASTE, SCREAMING ALL THE WAY.

ANGLE ON FACTORY FLOOR ~- MOMENT LATER 38

COPS level their guns on Batman. A couple of them appear at either end of the catwalk, effectively blocking his escape. He takes in the situation, HANDS ON HIS BELT.

Batman raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. As the COPS advance from both ends of the catwalk -- he flicks two tiny capsules at the nearby wall.

A BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT. Colors burst in a wild pyro- technic display. COPS stumble backwards, momentarily

dazzled, as a THICK WALL OF BLACK SMOKE conceals Batman from view.

A tiny grappling hook rockets out of the dense curling cloud and catches on the edge of a window in the roof.

The COPS are FIRING WILDLY into the smoke. But the BLACK MAJESTIC FIGURE OF THE Batman whips upward, DISAPPEARING into the shadowy heights, safely out of range.

CoP Who is this guy?

I don't know and until we find out, keep a lid on it.

A BLACK SHADOW scurriecs across the roof. From the il- luminated sipn with its neon ace, WE PAN DOWN PAST the

chemical sluice TO a SECOND ACE... a card from Jack's . lucky deek, prerced by a neat, round bullet hole, bobbing on the oily surface of the foul, pulluted viver.

(CONTINUED )

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 30.

CONTINUED: 39 Gradually, OTHER CARDS from the deck swirl past: a nine.

A deuce. A queen. And finally, a Joker -- SHOT CLEANLY THROUGH THE FACE.

A BONE-WHITE HAND BREAKS THE SURFACE as we --

SHOCK CUT TO: ©

A BANNER HEADLINE on the late edition of the Globe:

"BATMAN FOILS ROBBERY. JACK NAPIER DEAD. WHO IS MASKED VIGILANTE?"

Behind the newspaper, feet propped up on his desk, is a jubilant Knox. He's on the horn to Gordon.

He holds a tape recorder up to phone. Listens. A LOUD CLICK as Gordon hangs up on him.

Vicki BUSTLES IN with sheaf of photographs. Starts to hang them on wall. Making a photomontage of the city. Cartoonist sticks head in door, tapes drawing of Batman with arm on Knox's shoulder. GUY EXITS. Knox hangs up.

Knox comes around. She points to her montage map.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 31.

restaurant with mirrors, by HIMSELF!

She plants a kiss on his forehead.

Vicki smiles and EXITS. Knox looks pole-axed.

Bruce and Vicki GALLOP UP on horseback. They dismount; Bruce grooms his horse. Vicki watches.

Bruce, without missing a beat, puts the curry comb up on a rail and turns to her.

(CONTINUED) -—

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 32.

Vicki is caught in her own sexual trap.

you?

Bruce smiles and walks past her up to the main house, Vicki smiles. *

A broad patio behind the manor, looking out on the es- tate. Bruce and Vicki ARRIVE from the stables. Alfred

APPEARS with a bottle of champagne, smiles discreetly at

Vicki, then DISAPPEARS. Bruce POPS the cork unhandily.

Alfred starts to walk away. Bruce thinks.

BRUCE

Oh, yeah, right. Yes. Alfred EXITS.

Pouring, he tries, unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/12/88 33.

honest with you, I bore myself silly, tell me about you.

(as she smiles) Go on.

VICKI

i'd been floating around for a while, doing fashion. It was alright... I don't know. Things change.

(searching for an

explanation) How old are you?

skirts, but... things... You know? BRUCE

I'm not sure, VICKI

Well... I just picked up and left. BRUCE

What cid you see?

BATMAN ~ Rev. 10/10/88

34 * CONTINUED: (2) 42 VICKI (sigh, BEAT) A lot'a hotels. A little terror. A little love once in a blue moon. BRUCE . (pondering it) A little terror. A little love. VICKI (softly) It's out there. I was never in the right place I guess. Bruce looks around at his opulent estate, falls SILENT. VICKI You're a little elusive, Mr. Wayne. I feel like there's a lot going on in there. BRUCE a Oh... not really. VICKI Come on, say what you're thinking. BRUCE I was just thinking how beautiful you looked on that horse... and that... it's kinda nice to have someone here who notices.sthings. She finds herself irrevocably drawn in. VICKI (mischievous; offer- ing her hand) See... I do have an extraordinary eye. BRUCE (taking her hand) Two.

A vast, darkened entry hall, framed by long semicircular stairways on either side. Bruce and Vicki”“enter; she's giddy. VICKL

I feel like I’m in Paris in the ‘30s. Is this fair? I'm half drunk and you're not cven -- (CONTINUED) ~

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 35. CONTINUED: 43

Vicky smiles. They stare into each other's eyes for a moment, on the verge of kissing.

He's struggling with something. She touches him.

He steps towards her and they begin a kiss which turns

into a passionate embrace. A FLASH OF LIGHTNING trans- ports us to:

Broken windows, graffiti on the walls: a waterfront rathole.

TIGHT ON a face swathed in bandages. The patient sits erect in a wooden chair, surrounded by the grimy para- phernalia of an unlicensed gangland doctor.

The DOCTOR, a nervous little ferret, steps up with a pair of scissors. ,

He begins to snip away. As the bandages come off, we get:

JACK NAPIER'S POV 46

The last strands of gauze peel back. The DOCTOR stands there, looking at his handiwork. His mouth falls open. His eyes bug out. He GASPS.

The DOCTOR just stands there staring AT CAMERA, stock- still, apparently transfixed by the sight of Jack's face.

ANGLE ON DOCTOR > a

He clears his throat, reaches apprebensively for a hand mirror, and passes it OUT OF FRAME to Jack.

—

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 36.

CONTINUED: 47

We hear a GASP and SOB. Two beats. Then, the sound of

GLASS SHATTERING as the mirror drops to the floor. ‘The DOCTOR gulps hard.

Jack begins to LAUGH. The DOCTOR turns uneasily away, gestures apologetically at his seedy equipment.

DOCTOR

-- You see what I had to work with here --

More laughter. The trembling DOCTOR covers hia face with one hand, whining now, not daring to look at Jack.

A DOOR SLAMS. Jack is gone. The grateful DOCTOR breathes a sigh of relief and steadies himself on an operating table as Jack's AWFUL LAUGH ECHOES in the hall outside.

Vicki is asleep. CAMERA PANS TO Bruce lying next to her. He's silently looking at the cascade of her hair on the pillow. He watches her face, perplexed. Grandfather CLOCK CLANGS. He checks his watch, stands up and looks out window. He's constrained. He stretches impatiently.

ON CLOCK FACE

TIME HAS PASSED. PAN TO VICKI -- sleeping. A RHYTHMIC SOUND. She stirs, half-wakes. CAMERA PANS to see Bruce, upside~down, SLIGHTLY SWAYING in inversion boots. .°

The private elevator HISSES open. JACK steps out, bundled up in a trenchcoat, muffler, and slouch hat -- his face concealed from view. He plops in the big plush swivel chair behind Grissom's desk.

+ Ht

+

Grissom WADDLES IN fresh out of the shower, a towel wrapped around him. Using a smaller towel to dry his em hair, it's a moment before he sees the bundled-up figure ( at his desk. GRISSOM Who the hell are you? JACK It's me. "Sugar Bumps." GRISSOM Jack? (advancing cautiously} Thank God you're alive. I heard you'd been... JACK Fried. Is that what you heard? * Jack stands and gestures him over to the empty chair. Grissom moves when he sees the gun pointing at his belly. JACK YOU SET ME UP! ‘ (beat) Over a girl. You must be insane! ‘< | Grissom surreptitiously reaches for a desk drawer. JACK * Don't bother. ¥ GRISSOM Your life won't be worth spit, ¥ JACK I been dead once already. It's ¥ very liberating -- You have to

think of it as therapy.

Juck? Jack's dead, my friend. You can call me Joker.

He Clings away the hat. KIPS THE MUFFLER from his face.

And -- as Grissom pasps in shock ~- stands revealed in his full horrendous plory.

CONTINUED: (2) 49

His flesh is bleached bone-white. His hair is a luminous Seaweed-preen. And his cheeks are torn and puckered from

the bullet wound, TWISTING HIS MOUTH INTO A HIDEOUS, PERPETUAL HARLEQUIN'S GRIN.

Jack begins to GIGGLE, building to hysterical LAUGHTER. Grissom makes a lunge towdrds his desk drawer. Jack FIRES. AND FIRES AGAIN UNTIL THE CLIP IS EMPTY.

We TILT UP the facade of the skyscraper, arriving finally

at the TOP FLOOR: a PLATE GLASS WINDOW spiderwebbed with cracks where Jack's bullets hit.

Darkness. JACK -- or, as we'll know him from this moment on, The JOKER -- sits in Grissom's swivel chair and surveys the moon-drenched city.

As he swivels in the chair he notices a copy of the Globe {now blood-splattered) lying on Grissom's desk. The head- line catches his eye. WINGED FREAK TERRORIZES GOTHAM'S GANGLAND. He picks up the paper and starts HUMMING.

JOKER

Watch it, Batman. Wait'll they pet a load of me.

Bruce is asleep, his legs over the back of a chaise lounge. Vicki is dressing. Alert. * VICKI Bruce. I'm late, but I've a

proposition. Bruce sits up wearily.

Ld

bid

bd

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

CONTINUED: 52 VICKI (CONT'D) At my apartment. I1'11 show you some of my photos. Will you come? He's stretching. A hesitation flashes in his eyes. . BRUCE Sure. Oh.no... I -- I can't make it. Vicki stops brushing her“hair. Checks out his vibes. ¢ VICKI Oh. Is anything wrong? BRUCE No -- I -- I've got a real important meeting. VICKI Well... later in the day? “" BRUCE No... I... I've got to leave town for a few days. Vicki wonders, but continues. VICKI Well... when you get back. Bruce thinks. No answer. Not wanting too much vulner- ability herself, she lightens it up. VICKI Hey, I've got to get moving. See you. She pecks him on the cheek and breezes by him. BRUCE Yeah. I'11 see you. DOOR SHUTS. Bruce thinks. IN HALLWAY - ON ALFRED 53

Alfred shows her out the door. ALFRED

So nice to see you again, Miss Vale.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 40.

CONTINUED: 53

But she noticed. And it hurt a little. Bruce was lying.

Alicia, with an armload of dress bags, ENTERS -- and is startled by a VOICE FROM BEHIND.

i JOKER (0.S.) oney!

She pivots. Her eyes widen. She SHRIEKS.

Sitting cross-legged in an easy chair is The Joker. He's in a smoking jacket and slippers, reading the paper, a dry martini at his side.

JOKER

You wouldn't belicye what happened to me today.

Alicia faints. ,

GANGLORDS stare at Joker at the head of the table.

JOKER (0.S.)

So that's how it is, gentlemen.

Until Grissom resurfaces... I'm

the acting President. And I say

we Start with this Anniversary

festival and run this city into

the ground. Joker's dressed in a big slouch hat. His FACE is layered with flesh-toned makeup, and his HAIR's been rinsed black. But he can't conceal his ghoulish SMILE. VINNIE RICORSO

is the smartest of the bunch. He doesn't believe Joker for a minute.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

CONTINUED: 55 ROTELLT How come you're wearing that stupid smirk? JOKER Because life's been good to me. CARMINE ROTELLI, an exceptionally oily mobster, speaks up:

JOKER ~ Yeah.

ROTELLI stands up and extends a hand. Joker shakes. A JOY BUZZER's concealed in Joker's paim.

40,000 VOLTS course through ROTELLI’s body. He drops back into his seat a blackened husk, SMOKE pouring out from his sleeves and shirt collar.

A SQUAD OF ARMED THUGS BURSTS INTO THE ROOM. These THUGS have all been specially selected and” distinctively STYLED

by the JOKER. (NOTE: these are the first of Joker's | ereations

thing in bis world. ) BOB's now Joker's number two man, staying close to him.

The Joker begins to LAUGH at his own joke.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 42. CONTINUED: (2) 55

He begins to LAUGH again, removes his hat and mops sweat

from his brow, exposing a patch of CHALK-WHITE FLESH -- to the bewilderment of the ONLOOKERS.

Gangsters are ESCORTED OUT by the Joker's thugs. Joker grabs a copy of the Globe. . JOKER Bob, I want you to take a camera and follow this reporter Knox. Find out what he knows about

Batman. You got to learn to USE people, Bob.

BOB EXITS, leaving the JOKER alone with the charred corpse of ROTELLI. The Joker ADDRESSES THE BODY.

Vicki looks through filing cabinets. She's intense. ;

Over her shoulder a FILE APPEARS with BRUCE WAYNE on it. Knox has it.

She grabs it and looks through the very thin file.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 43.

CONTINUED: 36

; VICKI Where does it say that, Knox?

” There's nothing in this file but social puffery. No photos, no history. Nothing. That's strange. Where's he get his money? What's he do all day? Who is he?

She tosses the file on the floor angrily. EKITS.

Vicki in car a block from the Manor. She looks through her telephoto lens. After a few BEATS -- Bruce Wayne emerges from the gates, walking. He's dressed incognito.

He carries a package. ; Vicki FOLLOWS him. | . oO ,

CAMERA FOLLOWS ACTION THROUGH: | oye

As Bruce walks through the city. He puts on sunglasses and seems interested in not being seen. co Vicki follows along, at a distance.

44,

The neighborhood is now bad. Few people are around. Bruce ENTERS a blind alley.

Vicki steals up to! ‘corner to see what he's doing.

Bruce looks at the : trash- ‘scattered alley. He looks up

at the sky, then down at. a corner. He kicks away a Coke can, cleans off a Spot.

ON VICKI “ | - puzzled she raises her camera.

ON BRUCE

He unwraps the package.

Vicki strains to see what he's holding.

Bruce moves a bit and reveals TWO LONG - STEMMED ROSES.

Vicki raises camera and SOFTLY CLICKS the SHUTTER. ON BRUCE

.He kneels and places the roses as if at a shrine. He

holds his hand on his eyes for a BEAT.

Vicki looks and CLICKS again. What is he doing?

‘

ON BRUCE

He stands and kicks the ‘can back out toward the street. He heads out the alley. Where's Vicki? When he passes by where she was. She's gone.

Bruce walks down Broad Street which leads into the City Square.

CAMERA LINGERS -- Vicki, follows at a distance.

ON BRUCE

"

| As he enters the City Square.

A PAINTED STREET MIME walks alongs ide him, feeling his way alony an imapinary wall. He is not very good at it, and in spite of his heavy makeup you can tell that he's rather uply.

A COMMOTION catches Bruce's ecyc. He steps back to the edge of the ypathered crowd.

, 45,

RICORSO -+ the CRIMELORD from the boardroom -- emerges flanked by a LAWYER and a pair of BODYGUARDS. They're met by a proup of REPORTERS. Including Knox.

ON VICKI

She peers:around. Looking for Bruce. Can't see him.

;RICORSO Mr. Grissom asked me, as a personal favor, to take over the operation of his businesses until he returned.

“KNOX Jeezez, that's a pretty big gift. You must have!been VERY close. Did you.do a little time together as children? Ricorso sneers. OTHERS] LAUGH. | | KNOX I smell fresh’ ink, guys. I'm sure you can prove! all this? Why am I asking? Of course you can. ANGLE ON VICKI ; 64 Getting closer. ANGLE ON BRUCE. | Something catches his eye. a | HIS POV - A HALF/A DOZEN STREET MIMES

converging on the scene. Something's very wrong. (These

are Joker's men. } Vicki ARRIVES next to Knox. ANGLE ON BOB

taking photos of Knox and Vicki from edge of the crowd.

ON LAWYER - TICUT

( CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: 64

VOICE (0.8.) It's legitimate! I saw him. I * was THERE!

Crowd parts as a LARGE MIME steps up to Ricorso.

Ricorso . * frowns.

own blood. And he did it with this pen!

Mime pulls out a ridiculously long quill pen. Ricorso gapes in puzzlement at him.

Joker HURLS the sharp-tipped pen right into Ricorso's throat. Ricorso falls, clutching his throat.

Someone SCREAMS, reporters SCATTER as MIMES FIRE MACHINE GUNS IN THE AIR.

Vicki dives behind a parked car. She looks back to see Bruce, standing frozen, rooted to the ground. He's watching, transfixed.

Mayhem prevails.

ANGLE ON BRUCE

BRUCE is still frozen to the spot and exposed to the "mimes."

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 47. CONTINUED: (2) 64

He totally ignores her and BEGINS TO WALK. At first slowly, then faster, right toward the Joker.

He LAUGHS at the DIN and walks as if immortal through the mayhem. (He never sees Bruce.)

ON BRUCE ” 66

He's walking the same way, still at a distance from Joker. But his recognition of him is growing.

ON JOKER 67

He reaches his car. DRIVER rushes to get him out of there.

oy

Bruce now gets close enough to see Joker's face through the window. Joker's car SPEEDS AWAY past him.

Other cars containing other mimes SPEED AWAY, too. A SILENCE DESCENDS. Only the SOUNDS OF CRYING and ebbing fear. .

Bruce stands looking after Joker. , mo Suddenly Vicki is there.

No answer. He hardly seems to notice she is there.

Bruce turns to her. Sweat pouring down his face. Looks right into her eyes. She looks at him and sees the signs of deep trauma in his eyes.

He turns and DISAPPEARS into the crowd.

CUT TO: — INSERT - TELEVISION SCREEN . 7 we «68 A TV CREW broadcasting live from the massacre site.

(CONTINUED) ©

roll the wheels, I've got my blood

‘up!

x x

%

The Scientists look at each other and RUSH into action,

Joker BANGS OPEN THE DOOK TO:

A dank, windowless room in the bowels of Axis Chemical, *

Joker is HUMMING, insanely.

THE CAMERA TRAVELS PAST collages of photographs; each *

photograph cut from scenes of war.

The CAMERA CONTINUES DOWN a stack of folders. On one * document are the initials C.I.A. On the front of the

folder can be read “DDID NERVE GAS -- RESULTS OF

PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTATION" and stamped across it, “DISCONTINUED 1977." Finally, we see the photos of dead soldiers, lips drawn back in chemical-induced grimaces.

Joker looks them over. TIGHT ON PHOTOS Joker shuffles through. Stops on Knox.

ON A PHOTO OF VICKI WITH KNOX

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

TIGHT ON JOKER

He's licking his lips. Looking Vicki up and down,

The JOKER, excitedly HUMMING AWAY begins to cut Vicki's

picture out of the others. Leaving a border around her.

He then fills in border with crayons.

JOKER

She's gonna trade up! Damn! It's hard to stay inside the lines!

Joker pastes Vicki's picture onto a board,

o THE CAMERA PULLS BACK to reveal that the JOKER is sur- rounded, wall to wall, by a collage of pictures of war and destruction. The huge collage forms a birds-eye- view map of Gothana.

Alfred uses a feather duster. BRUCE ENTERS, obviously distraught and exhausted. Very concerned, Alfred takes

his coat and hands Bruce a hot towel. Bruce wipes his .

hands.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

CONTINUED: 72 BRUCE Why don't you marry her, Alfred? ALFRED That's not exactly what I had in mind, sir. BRUCE I can’t go on with that, Alfred. (as Alfred nods ) Napier's alive. He's running Grissom's men. I gotta find out everything the police have on hin. ALFRED Yes, sir. BRUCE She's good isn't she? Bruce smiles. Alfred smiles sadly, too.

Puzzled, Vicki looks through her photos of Bruce and his flowers. ws é. | ON SEVERAL PHOTOS . o a of Bruce along his puzzling route. net TILT UP: Vicki dials Knox. ° VICKI Allie. I want you to check something for me. Okay? Find out - what's so special about the alley at Pearl and Phillips Streets. ‘Bye. She hangs up. Looks at photos. ~ VICKI Loutea dt What's up with you, Mr. Wayne? — Lowe. "

PHONE RINGS. SHE PICKS IT UP.

TONY (V.0.) -

Vicki, this is Tony. We have a wee lhe

session scheduled and the client INSISTS that you shoot it.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 52.

/’:

CONTINUED: rr ky

TONY (V.0.) “ea

The client says he has information about Batman.

Vicki puzzles. Chews her lip.

5 VICKI Batman? When's the session?

She hangs up and thinks.

ROWS OF MAKEUP in startling profusion: mascara, blusher, eyeliner, lipstick. BEAUTIFUL MODELS giggle into their makeup mirrors as VICKI wanders past.

In a corner of the studio, TONY, a gaunt, tubercular British art director, is dressing a swimsuit layout with two SUPERMODELS. They all AD LIB GREETINGS to Vicki.

TONY = Oe a

Come on, girls, magic Vicki ‘ds. we "be Bh

here. Shine it. Think of the 2 PB o | money. That's it. og

Vicki pets out her camera.

TONY on Never met him. All I know is aa he pays cash. , ie

Mr. Kerr? What's his first name?

. “TONY Joseph, Joe Kerr. ye t ; ae - A look of fear comes over Vicki's face. ' a

; (CONTINUED) |

CONTINUED: om Qe

As Vicki looks on, the SUPERMODELS freeze in place simultaneously, a strange, STRICKEN LOOK on their faces,

Suddenly the girls are LAUGHING -- but the laughter is unnatural, involuntary. Vicki, sensing that something is terribly wrong, lays a hand on Tony's arn.

The MODELS, now wearing HUGE SMILES, go into VIOLENT SPASMS.

The SUPERMODELS PITCH TO THE FLOOR, shuddering convul- Sively, their LIPS drawn back in FRIGHTFUL, FROZEN, CHEMICAL-WARFARE-TYPE GRINS. Vicki GASPS.

The “ACTION NEWS" set, with anchors BECKY NARITA and . a PETER McELROY. a ‘ _. BECKY - a : Bete The fashion world was stunned -..-°- Torey oes today by the sudden deaths of models Candy Walker and Amanda Keeler. Cause of death has been attributed to a violent allergic reaction, although authorities have not ruled out the possibility of drug use. Peter? PETER ees and plans continue for the city's 200th birthday as Mayor Borg announced the unveiling of a Cg ee statue of John T. Gotham, Gotham‘ 8 So founder -- cn

A TECHNICIAN'S HAND passes a “slip of Paper INTO FRAME. Pon, PETER - ee This just in. Three mysterious te,

deaths at a beauty parlor in -- Oe one,

OFF to the left, BECKY beping to LAUGH. PETER FROWNS.

CONTINUED: 75

BEcKY!! eyes widen)

An 0.S. CRASH. PETER jumps out of his seat, mouth agape in horror.

BECKY HAS GONE INTO CONVULSIONS. CAMERA WHIPS RIGHT AND LEFT as she jerks out of ,jher seat and TOTTERS UNCONTROL- LABLY across the set, LAUGHING INSANELY.

TECHNICIANS rush the sound stage in a frenzy. BECKY spins like a dervish and LURCHES BACKWARD over the news

desk in a death spasm, giving us a quick look at the prisly Joker's grin etched on her now-lifeless face.

Suddenly, CRACKLING VIDEO STATIC wipes out the screen. A moment later, we're looking at:

SPLITSCREEN CLOSEUP - THE SUPERMODELS ; 76 Their gorgeous faces sprout BIG, ANIMATED-CARTOON GRINS

as a BOUNCY TUNE -- “Put on a Happy Face” -- comes up underneath.

MUSIC CONTINUES as a deranged pitchman -- The Joker --

pushes his shopping cart down the aisle. He waves merrily in time to the music.

TECHNICIANS swarm the booth. The studio feed has been JAMMED. Every monitor shows the Joker's PROMO.

CLOSEUP - THE JOKER 79 He thrusts a brightly-colored packuge AT the CAMERA.

CONTINUED: 79

JOKER

-.. new improved Joker brand. With my secret sauce... SMYLEX!

(a sweep of the hand) Let's go to our blind taste test.

TIGHT CN ANONYMOUS MAN

GAGGED AND BLINDFOLDED, tied to his chair, squirming,

Struggling. On the table before him is a package label-

led "BRAND X." A SUPERIMPOSED TITLE reads: "NOT AN ACTOR."

ANGLE WIDENS to include a BLINDFOLDED CORPSE, limp in his chair, GRINNING HORRIFICALLY.

JOKER

-+» I get a GRIN -- AGAIN AND AGAIN! !

A YOUNG MAN watching TV as he dresses for a date. He's got an aerosol deodorant poised under one arm. He looks down at the can, suddenly uncertain. Could it be...?

INSERT ~ TV SCREEN - THE JOKER 81

Lounging beside a full-sized photo of a Jokerized SWIM- SUIT MODEL -- with GREEN HAIR and CHALK-WHITE FLESH.

A FAMILY in their kitchen, eyeing a 12-inch portable as

MOM serves dinner. They dig in automatically, ‘then

FREEZE with their forks in midair.

DELIVERY TRUCKS, bearing colorful manufacturers’ logos, drive throuph the city bringing tainted products to

market.

x ob

CONTINUED; B83 JOKER (V.0.) I know what you're saying. Where can I buy these fine new items? bad -- Well, that's the deal, folks, * chances are... you've bought ‘em already!!!

Bruce tired, is glued to the tube. Onscreen, the Joker . *

leers -- gives the camera--a BIG JUICY WINK. JOKER (V.O.) So if you did... remember, put on *

a happy face!!

Joker Brand. We're changing the face of -- Gooootham!:

MUSIC UP. VIDEO SNOW fills the screen as the jammed

transmission ends. Alfred ENTERS, adds something to the * folder in front of Bruce. Bruce reads. * BRUCE Assault with deadly weapon age 15. Nice guy. * (continues looking) Psychological testing -- high intelligence, unstable, aptitudes science, chemistry and --,art. Chemistry? ON BRUCE He looks at a photo of Napier. BRUCE Let's go shopping, Alfred. : SERIES OF SHOTS 85

-- The Gotham Globe cartwheeling INTO FRAME:

-- An ANCHORWOMAN on the evening news. Her complexion is curiously sallow. BLACK BAGS show under her eyes.

a7.

85 CONTINUED: &5 ANCHORWOMAN -.+. 8ix new deaths, with no clues e as to the Joker's deadly weapon.

-~- An ANCHORMAN with a BIG UGLY ZIT on his nose:

' . ANCHORMAN

-~- and what is the pattern?

Foods, alcohol, or beauty and hygiene products. Cologne, mouthwash, undetarm deodorant -- ?

-~ The original ANCHORWOMAN, whose look is now 100 percent natural. Her hair is frizzy. Her eyebrows are miss-

ing altogether. Every wrinkle on her face is plainly visible.

The Mayor is distraught. Dent is on the phone. | MAYOR We're having this festival if I have to carry a shotgun and get people there myself. ° Dent hangs up. MAYOR Do you hear the words coming out of my mouth, Dent? The festival is ON. You find out what this madman is poisoning us with and fast. DO I make myself CLEAR? Mayor catches a glimpse of himself in mirror. Checks to see that HIS mouth isn't grimacing. DENT We're working on it. BGA INT. AKMORY - DAY B6A Alfred oils a blow pun. Bruce ENTERS.

bt

B6A

A bone white hand pats a white cheek. The Joker's rinsed his hair black and is applying makeup. He's done it

before, many times. He's getting ready for a date. A drugged voice intrudes,

As he looks up at the mirror, we get a quick glimpse of

Alicia, her face is covered by a shiny white porcelain doll's mask.

A few PATRONS are viewing paintings in a square, open atrium, enclosed on all four sides b¥ a BALCONY. One story up, overlooking the atrium, there's a TEA ROOM -- an airy, fern-filled dining room popular with tourists.

Vicki enters with her camera bag and portfolio -- ready for a confrontation with Bruce. VICKI I'm Vicki Vale -- I had a message

to meet Bruce Wayne here.

Vicki sippiny, on a gin and tonic, checks her watch. A WAITER brings ber a small parcel, wrapped in brown paper,

bearing a simple word: URGENT.

(CONTINUED }

DEAR V. VALE, PUT THIS ON RIGHT Now.

Vicki opens the box to find a MINIATURE GAS MASK.

A Strange HISSING NOISE. A few feet away, PURPLE SMOKE billows from air~conditioning vent.

TRAYS OF FOOD CRASH TO THE FLOOR as WAITERS pass out. ART LOVERS drop forks, go face down in their pasta salad.

Vicki hurriedly fits the gas mask over her nose and mouth. Within seconds, she's the only one conscious in the room.

™

PURPLE SMOKE plumes up as we TILT DOWN toward the floor of the atrium. PATRONS lie sprawled on the floor, twisted at odd angles, out cold.

The doors BURST OPEN and IN WALKS Joker, looking dapper in his street makeup and BIG PURPLE POP ARTIST'S HAT.

He is surrounded by his entourage of UGLY GOONS. One is carrying a huge GHETTO BLASTER which is thumping out MUSIC, others ure toting bottles df champagne and glasses, and all have cans of aerosol paint sticking out of their pockets. This is a moving nonstop party. The Joker

wanders past the artwork examining it with an apprecia-~ tive eye.

JOKER

Okay, everybody, let's broaden our Ininds.

Stepping over collapsed PATRONS, he stops at “BLUE BOY" and holds up a PEARL-HANDLED CANE to get a better perspective. Then he pulls a THIN, SHARP SWORD from the

head of the cane and carves a BIG JOKER SMILE in the cunvas.

Manet's barmaid, a Degas ballerina -- all get the Zorro treatment. Behind him, his UGLY CRONIES go to work, spraying paint on every canvas The Joker has missed.

He cocks an eyebrow at Edvard Munch's "THE SCREAM."

Vicki at her table, still wearing the pas mask, scared

as hell. The Joker saunters over and pulls up a chair.

He is flanked by TWO UGLY HENCHMEN, one carrying a pair

of CANDLESTICKS, the other, the GHETTO BLASTER.

As Vicki, terrified, removes the gas mask, The Joker Signals to the two UGLY GOONS who swiftly place the GHETTO BLASTER and CANDLESTICKS on the table and EXIT.

The Joker reaches for his lighter and switches on the GHETTO BLASTER which produces romantic MUSIC. A LONG

JET OF FLAME shoots out of the lighter as he lights the candles.

The Joker moves his chair a little closer to Vicki.

He leafs through. Magazine covers of celebrities, heads of state and cxotic vistas.

The COMBAT PHOTOS from Corto Maltese.

pt

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 61.

Vicki is squirming, but she doesn't care to argue with

en him, JOKER (with deep sincerity; into Vicki's eyes) Let me. tell you what I've got in mind, Sweetie. I was in the bathtub one day, when I realized why I was destined for greatness. You know how concerned most people are about appearances. This is pretty, that is not. (shakes head) Well, that's all over for me. In crime the passions ripen fully. Now I DO what others only DREAM . of. I do art, ‘til somebody DIES. See??? (bigger, insane) I'm the world's first fully functioning homicidal artist!!!

JOKER ‘ ; 7 I want my face on the one-dollar au, bill! ve

VICKI fe {leaning away) ° Se Good goal. JI take it you ‘re eS joking.

As quickly as he has flared into rage The Joker calms down again.

Lock, we mustn't mistake ourselves | oar for regular people. We'xe ARTISTS, or

For instance, let me challenge you with a little piece I did. Bob, Alicia.

He oozes twisted charm, He's coming on to her.) “0400-5

oo (CONTINUED)~ |

. es

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 62. CONTINUED: (2) 92

VOICE (0.S.) Jack?

ALICIA WANDERS IN, drugged, wraithlike. She's still wear- ing the porcelain DOLL'S MASK we saw earlier.

Vicki can't take her eyes off this strange figure.

Show the lady why you wear the mask, so

Alicia sits down numbly and begins to undo the mask.

We're looking at Alicia's profile as the mask comes off.. The side that's turned to us is indeed beautiful. But the side we can't see... SENDS Vicki RIGHT OVER THE EDGE.

Vicki lurches out of her seat, knocking it over, HER FACE: FROZEN IN HORROR.

JOKER pO (modestly) on I'm no Picasso. You LIKE IT?

Vicki tips a chair in his path. Horrified, she tries to placate him. a

( CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 63.

A little song... a little dance...

and Batman's head upon a lance. Tell me what you know about...

He makes a flapping with his hands indicating Batman,

flower.

There's @ BRIGHT PURPLE BOUTONNIERE in his lapel. He.

holds it up for Vicki's inspection as he moves menacingly, closer. .

VICKI tye NO! ; re The JOKER squeezes a concealed BULB. A JET OF CLEAR , LIQUID spurts out of the FLOWER, NARROWLY MISSING VICKL. +.

She GASPS, BUMPS INTO A TABLE. ACRID BLACK SMOKE rises from the floor where the clear liquid hit. Acid.

Vicki backs into a WAITER'S CART. Her hand closes around ° a pitcher. She FLINGS IT at the JOKER'S HEAD -- DOUSING . HIS FACE WITH WATER.

His hands go up and he doubles over, SHRIEKING, MAKEUP running through his fingers and onto his suit.

(like the Wicked Witch

of the West dissolving) NO! NO! I'M MELTING! i'm 7 on MELTING! OH GOD! I'M MELTING! - ee HELP ME! , oe

(CONTINUED) | °

CONTINUED: (4) 92 Vicki is appalled. She moves towards him. Her instinct, in spite of everything, is to help him in his suffering.

As she gets close to him and extends a hand, he leaps up abruptly, taking his hands from his "melting" face, ex- posing the HIDEOUS RAVAGED MESS beneath the makeup.

He advances on Vicki.

And then -- Suddenly -- A SKYLIGHT SHATTERS. A CAPED SHADOW drops to the floor of the tea-room. And all at once, The Joker finds himself face to face with Batman!

On BATMAN's wrist is a STEEL GAUNTLET. He aims it at

THE JOKER. The Joker stiffens, thinking he's about to

be shot. THE BATMAN then fires the gauntlet, the barrel of which splits in two before sending two metal spikes on. wires in opposite directions, either side of The Joker.

The metal spikes embed themselves in walls on both sides of the atrium, creating an escape wire for THE BATMAN. In the wink of an eye he grabs Vicki and plunges over the balcony, leaving The Joker stunned with amazement.

The JOKER'S UGLY GOONS can only gape in awe as Batman and

Vicki swoop past -- Swinging across the floor and STRAIGHT THROUGH AN ARCHED DOORWAY labelled “EXIT.”

THE GOONS charge off.

A SIGN on a black metal stand -- "CLOSED FOR THE DAY" -- HURTLES through the plass doors. Batman and Vicki

HUSTLE THROUGH; he points her to a side alleys Batman

lobs a SMOKE PELLET into the doorway of the Fluegelheim.

CONTINUED: 94

Vicki suddenly feels quite stupid. Because -- while

there are many cars parked along the side alley -- there is only one BATMOBLLE.

The BATMOBILE is sleek, futuristic, and... well, inde-

scribable. Vicki climbs in and is dazzled by a stunning array of electronic gadgetry.

-As he sprints down the alley, a COMPUTER DISPLAY on the

dashboard registers his unique voiceprint.

A tinny, synthesized VOICE repeats the command:

The engines are REVVING UP as BATMAN vaults in.

JOKER'S GOONS stumble hacking, coughing, blinded by smoke. They scatter as the BATMOBILE barrels out of the alley.

Choking GOONS climb into their van and two cars.

The BATMOBILE disappears round a corner in a cloud of dust.

PEDESTRIANS scatter as the Joker's two goon cars swerve hard left and barrel through a crowded intersection.

BATMOBILE approaches intersection at high speed. The right-side indicator bepins to flash. It scems incredible that at this velocity Batman should think it possible to make a right-angle turn. As the BATMOBILE draws level with the corner a spike with a wire attached to it

rockets out of the side of the vehicle and embeds itself

in awall. This enables the BATMOBILE to turn the corner without slowing down or spinning off across the inter- section. Having completed the turn, the wire separates

trom the car which continues without losing speed.

ONLOOKERS gawk as the sleck supercar rips up the pavement.

Into a blind alley. Batmobile doesn't slow down. Bat-

mobile SPINS ON ITS AXIS 180 DEGREES and goes back where it came from.

Batmobile moving up on an empty block -- a night construc- tion team. A huge piece of heavy machinery backs up

Slowly and inexorably, blocking the intersection.

Batman GUNS THE ENGINE. Swerves left. Tries to glide past. And hits the brakes -- stopping inches short of a head-on collision with a lamppost!

He jumps out of the car. No chance to get through. ON- LOOKERS and CONSTRUCTION WORKERS cluster around them; the JOKER'S VAN is two blocks back and coming up fast.

The BATMOBILE'S computerized VOICE replies:

With a series of ‘CLANGS, CHROME-STEEL PLATES slide into place -- across the cockpit, over the tires -- leaving

the BATMOBILE an inert, impenetrable BLOCK OF BLACK METAL.

Batman and Vicki vault over construction debris.’

Three police cars, bubbles blazing, overtake the Joker's

vin and bear down on the abandoned Latmobile. The

Joker's van does a U-turn and rumbles sedately off.

Bathhin and Vieki sipesapy past storefvunts ocd cundy Stands, dodping asteoished PEDEGTREANS.

FOUR GOONS with GUNS. They spot Batman and Vicki coming off the side street. The DRIVER shouts into a radio:

Batman smiles and rushes back to pick up Vicki from behind a parked car. The GOONS DRIVE BY AGAIN. Batman and Vicki RUN into a BLIND ALLEY. .

They watch the Goons glide past the mouth of the alley. Batman looks up five stories, sees a catwalk.

He's doing some quick mental calculations when the CAR reappears -- backing up -- blocking their only ‘avenue

of escape. Galvanized, Batman unfurls a rope, HEAVES A BATARANG UPWARD, and prabs Vicki roughly about the waist.

CONTINUED: 106

BULLETS zing past as Batman and Vicki WHIP UPWARD like fish on a line. One story; two stories; and then...

They slow. They STOP. They DANGLE IN MIDAIR as the Joker's GOONS advance. Batman wrigeles, twists. Vicki SCREAMS.

Her additional weight is too much for the ree] mechanisn. They're stranded two stories up -- SITTING DUCKS.

He's detached the reel from his own waist and hitched it around Vicki's belt. He LETS GO.

Vicki rockets upward at blinding speed, SHRIEKING all the way. Batman, his cape billowing, PLUMMETS DOWNWARD.

Vicki SLAMS up into the catwalk and bobs on the line as Batman lands with a loud CRASH, overturning a row of garbage cans. The GOONS are on him in a flash, Batman manages to slam two GOONS into a wall, but before he can get to his feet, GOON III slams a lead pipe into the back of his skull.

THUGS circle around him. The LEAD THUG holds his col- leagues back, draws his gun, and fires TWO SHOTS, point- blank, at the yellow-and-black INSIGNIA on Batman's

chest. The body jerks; they edge closer -- and stop. GOON I ° .-. No blocd. GOON II Jesus. Who is it? Check his wallet. GOON IIT

Wait a minute.

GOON III screws up his courage and crouches beside the body. He examines THE Batman's TUNIC.

: GOON IV What is that?

o~

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 69.

VICKI has pulled herself up onto a roof. Down below, the THUGS are removing Batman's cowl. But at this height --

and this angle -- she can't see his face. She reaches for her CAMERA BAG.

GOON ‘I Get out of the way, I can’t see him.

And at that very instant... A FLASH GUN EXPLODES OVERHEAD. Startled, the thugs look up.

ON VICKI 109

A chunk of ledge chips off mere inches from her head as the GOONS OPEN FIRE. She ducks back behind the overhang,

holds the camera out over the ledge, and KEEPS ON FLASHING using her telephoto lense. .

ape

ON THE THUGS "120 No sight of Vicki. They begin to relax a little.

GOON II ° Did you hit her?

They turn their guns on Bruce. Ready to FIRE.

A GLOVED HAND snakes out, GRABS GOON I BY THE COATTALL .. and yanks him DIRECTLY INTO THE LINE OF FIRE. GOON IT has PULLED THE TRIGGER TWICE before he knows what's - happened. °

In one fluid motion Bruce HEAVES GOON I's lifeless body THROUGH THE AIR, knocking GOON II backward over a garbage can. GOON II falls and CRACKS HIS HEAD on the nearest. wall, ‘ .

GOON III takes a rabbit punch to the throat. On the way down he catches a STEEL-TOED BOOT in the gut.

Four seconds after all this began, batman is alone in the alleyway with GOON TV.

(CON'TINUED)

CONTINUED: 110

GOON IV has his gun out, but he's shaking too much to

pull the trigger. Batman smiles. GOON IV SCREAMS and RUNS FOR HIS LIFE.

Through all this, Vicki's camera has been poised on the ledge, snapping away. Batman looks up.

She peeks down at the alley, Limp goons everywhere. And, in addition, Batman sees her.

ANGLE - ON VICKI

She thinks fast. She may have a clean photo of Batman's face. She removes the roll, drops it down her blouse, and ESCAPES across the roof.

Batman sees her disappear. He looks around, spots the BATMOBILE two blocks away. The car is still there, the chrome-steel shields intact. But DOZENS OF COPS and CURIOSITY-SEEKERS are SWARMING ALL OVER the fearsome machine. Batman snorts in frustration.

Just then, A GIANT THREE-TON CATERPILLAR WINCH rumbles up the street toward the Batmobile. He's about to get towed.

He takes a RADIO TRANSMITTER from his utility belt: es

TWO COPS are crawling along the hood of the car. From within they hear the tinny computerized voice:

The steel plates begin to retract.

CONTINUED: 113

The stunned COPS gaze into the Batmobile's cockpit -- then TUMBLE OFF THE HOOD as the turbine engines KOAR TO LIFE and THE BATMOBILE BEGINS TO MOVE.

COPS AND ONLOOKERS quickly clear a path. They stand there stunned as the futuristic auto PICKS UP SPEED and advances toward the end of the block. The LEFT TURN SIGNAL flashes dutifully. And the BATMOBILE VANISHES AROUND THE CORNER.

PANDEMONIUM BREAKS LOOSE as the COPS bolt for their cars.

CuT To: VICKI 114

running across rooftops, with much fear. She shiinmies down a ladder, only one roof to go to get to the street and freedom. She hears SIRENS.

SIRENS WAIL. PASSERSBY STARE SLACKJAWED at the driverless BATMOBILE as it tears down the street, passing, darting,

dodging buses and CUTTING OFF TAXIS -- all with a squad of COP CARS in hot pursuit.

her pace, tossing a nervous glance over her shoulder

every couple of steps. °

Then suddenly she walks smack into Batman.

You weigh a little more than 108.

SIRENS APPROACH. Batman takes her gently by the shoulders. .

No replys.

72,

Street level. Batman emerges pulling Vicki.

Batman sees the BATMOBILE rounding the corner. With Vicki

in front of him, he STEPS DIRECTLY INTO THE PATH OF THE ONRUSHING HEADLIGHTS.

BATMAN

STOP!

BRAKES SQUEAL. The BATMOBILE stops one yard short of Batman and Vicki. A moment later Batman is AT THE WHEEL.

SIRENS BUILD. LIGHTS FLASH. THE COP CARS are now visible behind them. Batman floors the pedal; the Bat- mobile's powerful AFTERBURNERS kick in; and the hapless

cops KILL THEIR SIRENS as BATMAN zooms off into the night at 140 mph.

Batman drives down a deserted stretch of road lined by ancient tall pines. Vicki tries to see out. Batman pushes a button and changes the polarization of the glass. She can't see out. He's stoic.

Vicki studies Batman's face. He flicks a switch on lights behind his head which dazzle Vicki, making it impossible for her to see him.

Vicki frowns, looks through the windshield, and SEES --

much to her horror -- an enormous SHEER CLIFF WALL LOOMING DEAD AHEAD.

Wide-eyed, she looks at Batman. Still smiling, he HITS

THE GAS -- SPEEDING UP. She lets out a SCREAM. ANGLE ON CLIFF WALL 121 Suddenty the cliff wakl VANISHES ALPOGRETHEN -- revealing,

noite place, the GCAPENG MOUTH OF AN UNDERGROUND CAVERN.

Batmebri le 28S through. A moment dater, the CLIPF WALL, ee owhvetp ac qeetdituy, mere tho a ML ok PROJECTION -- wanks back into exisbenee, showing no trace of the cavern.

%

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 73.

Another world -- a vast, dank world of perpetual night, unchanged by the centuries.

STALACTITES hang from walls. Cramped, craggy passageways spiral off maze-like, descending into darkness.

And then -- an incongruous sight: vast banks of blinking computers. A fully-equipped machine shop. A state-of- the-art crime lab. This is THE BATCAVE.

Batman climbs out of the car.* He keeps his distance from Vicki. She steps from the Batmobile a little shaky.

DAPPLED POOLS OF LIGHT create an almost operatic stage for Batman and Vicki to alternately hide and reveal themselves

in. Vicki steps carefully into the light. Trying to see Batman better.

Vicki stops just over the edge of a DEEP BLACK PIT. She kicks a pebble over. Long seconds pass; no sound. She looks up. Suspended over the bottomless pit are a pair of Bymnast's rings. She backs away.

SUDDENLY Vicki's HEAD jerks up abruptly. In the dim recesses overhead, BATS ARE SCREAMING. She shivers.

Batman pats the cage of a WOUNDED BAT, its wing is splinted.

Vicki steps away, repulsed.

Batman is rustling papers. She can't sce what he's doing. She begins to examine a row of bat-suits hanging nearby.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 74. CONTINUED: 122

While he seems pleased at Vicki's fascination with his lair, he nevertheless remains guarded. Vicki moves toward Batman, intent on getting a close leok at him.

Batman, realizing what Vicki is trying to do, moves away from her into shadow.

BATMAN

You're going to do something for me.

Vicki again begins to approach Batman. Keeping in shadow, he moves behind a lab table. On the table, amid the beakers and test tubes, are dozens of TAINTED PRODUCTS: makeup, deodorant, etc. Nearby, a COMPUTER PRINTER begins to CHATTER; Vicki watches information scrolling across the main monitor.

Batman turns but keeps his face out of the light.

No answer. Batmun steps away.

( CONTINUED )

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 75.

CONTINUED: (2) 122

He hands her a thick envelope. She looks it over cautiously.

. VICKI I may have some trouble with that. A lot of people think you and the Joker work together,

%

This is a new idea to Batman. He pauses for a moment.

Vicki stares at him. She's suddenly chilled.

She looks around, Where is he? NO SOUND. Suddenly he igs near. She backs up.

(CONTINUED)~

id

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 76.

CONTINUED: (3)

She looks down, She has backed up nearly to the gaping hole.

Batman suddenly steps very close to her. She holds her hand to her breast.

Batman SWIRLS his cape up over her.

He embraces her. She stops.

And as she closes her eyes -- he produces an AMPULE of

KNOCKOUT GAS which he breaks under her nose. She slumps.

THE ROOM SPINS. SOUND OF BATS WINGS.

DISSOLVE TO: .

Vicki AWAKENS. She feels her face. Was it a dream?

She steps shakily to the mirror. Touches her lips. What happened? Did he -- make love to her? Then she touchea

her breast. NO FILM,

PHONE RINGS.

. KNOK Vicki? Are you all right? You want me to come over there?

(CONTINUED) ’

Ve

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

She reaches OUT OF FRAME and brings the envelope Batman gave her up to the phone. ( VICKI Allie, can you still make the evening edition if I bring something to you? KNOX Just barely. Is it hot? VICKI Yeah it’s hot. KNOX * How hot? ‘She hangs up. VICKI Very hot. ~

The early edition of the Globe carries the banner headline: WAR OF THE FREAKS JOKER AND BATMAN CLASH AT FLUGELHEIM. A DELIVERY TRUCK cruises past, dumping a bundle of APTER- NCON EDITIONS on the sidewalk. "WAR GF THE FREAKS" has been relegated to the lower right-hand corner of the page -- supplanted by more pressing news. BATMAN CRACKS JOKER'S POISON CODE Citizens told to avoid the following products:

The “ACTION NEWS" set, with anchor PETER McELROY. oe PETER : Avoid the following combinations: : * ‘deodorants with baby-powder, hair spray, and Odor-eaters. Safe * products are flying in as Gotham * City goes on a forced fast. And all of Gotham is wondering what to make of Batman. Friend or Foe? *

Joker SCREAMS ut the top of his lungs.

—_ o (CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

CONTINUED: 126 JOKER I have given a name to my pain and it is BAT MAN!!! Joker BLASTS the TV with a riot GUN! OTHER GOONS stare. Joker charges for the factory. JOKER Bob, you got to possess strength to inflict greater’pain! We got a Bat to kill. And I want to clean my claws!!

Bruce looks at assortment of maps. He looks tired. Alfred brings in some coffee. ALFRED (starting to EXIT) a Sir, Miss Vale called again. [I don't know what you intend to do about her. But I think your present course of action may just strengthen her resolve. She's quite tenacious. - BRUCE See. ' (thinking) ae I know, Alfred. . Alfred heads for the door. He stops and pulls himself: . tall.

A KNOCK at the door -- Vicki opens it and Bruce is Standing there smiling, a flower in his hand, a shoulder bag on his shoulder, Vicki is very surprised. She eo recovers. Still cool. VICKI Well, if it isn’t the invisible . man, . BRUCE Boa You saw through me. Hands her the flower. She looks at it warmly. VICKTI weet ot Te Be Come in. wee

(CONTINUED) - "07°

Solari.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 79.

CONTINUED: 128

Bruce ENTERS. She looks at flower like it could squirt

something on her. Bruce smiles. A BEAT of nervous Silence.

you.

VICKI

You lied to me about leaving town. You won't return my phone calls. Then I saw you march through bullets like you were trying to commit suicide.

VICKI Cote Affect you? You were a totally rer different person.

Bruce stands and looks out the window. Torn. . BRUCE

Look, Vicki. There's something you should know...°

eee.

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR interrupts him. Vicki lingers and | then goes to the door. . ot 7 Peering through the peephole, she sees a DELIVERY BOY. — . . pee “abs cn (CONTINUED) ™.4.3-°

a

CONTINUED: (2) 128

DELIVERY BOY -hands package in, she signs and shuts door. Vicki examines the mysterious package. It's another brown-paper parcel... ADDRESSED IN CRAYON.

Bruce looks at the parcel. Grabbing his shoulder bag, he takes package to the kitchen,

She shuts the door. Leaving Bruce alone in kitchen.

Bruce opens his bag and lifts out a false bottom to

reveal his UTILITY BELT. He removes a tiny ULTRASOUND SCANNER from the UTILITY BELT -- rather like a stetho-

scope, with a sonar display where the earpieces should be -- and runs it over the package. >

Vicki moves next to the door and listens.

Bruce takes a‘small gas mask from his belt, puts it on, then SLITS THE WRAPPING with a steak knife. Nothing happens. .

She KNOCKS. He JUMPS. He's tense. bruce carefully pulls back the flaps. SUDDENLY the tup ol the package BURSTS OPEN.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 81.

Vicki JUMPS at the NOISE.

No answer,

She grabs for the door and PUSHES THROUGH.

Bruce stares at the package. No utility belt in sight.

ON BOX

~~ A GLOVED HAND on a SPRING, holding a BUNCH OF DEAD FLOWERS, has erupted through the top of the package and wobbles about. There is a large EMBOSSED CARD in the flowers. Bruce lifts out the card and she reads it.

Bruce nods her out of there. Vicki heads for the living room, but before she can get through the kitchen door, the Joker, BOB and ONE OTHER GOON BURST THROUGH THE DOOR.

The Joker sees Bruce and stops in his tracks. JOKER io Well, Ms. Vale, another rooster in the henhouse?

The Joker pulls a gun and moves toward Bruce. He traces the outline of Bruce's cheek with the gun.

(CONTINUED).

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Bruce is alarmned. A memory fragment clicks.

JOKER’ I ask that question of all my prey before I send a draft through

their domes, I just like the sound of it.

BOB CHUCKLES. Bruce is torn, should he fight? Should he ‘reveal his identity? Suddenly he realizes... hi j

j Littl j i j i ou 13] The Joker has yet to notice, Bruce backs slowly against the counter, shielding the belt from view.

JOKER

Vicki, don't let my happy-go-lucky appearance fool you. I'm really very upset. ,

(getting angrier) You were dining with me! Talking a art, I was a man who was getting ‘eo somewhere with a beautiful woman. And then ALL OF A SUDDEN, without a word of apology, you take off with that SIDESHOW PHONY.

He moves closer to her.

reels backward, he contrives to knock the UTILITY BELT off the counter, by sweeping his AKM acros3 1t-

Bruce sprawls in a heap in the corner.

_*

BATMAN ~- Rev. 10/10/88 83.

CONTINUED: (2) 133

IN A FLASH -- Joker points his gun at Bruce and pulls the trigger. A tiny flag -- "BANG!" -- pops out of the

muzzle, prompting GREAT HILARITY all around. Joker HOWLS! Bruce sweats.

The Joker levels the GUN at Bruce again and FIRES. This) time a real bullet. Bruce is thrown back against the’... wall as the bullet hits him. .

-

Joker EXITS. So

84,

Goons force Vicki into a van. Joker heads for it, too.

ca JOKER

\ Gotham Square, lickety split.

Bruce is coming around. He checks his side, no blocd. He then looks at his shoulder bag, it has a hole in it. He takes out the utility belt. It has a bullet embedded in it. Bruce struggles up, straps on the UTILITY BELT, dials a Number on its dipital pad. Red lights scan and then beep. Bruce RUNS INTO THE BEDROOM.

He rummages around for something in her closet. Finds a black something and EXITS. .

Bruce sprints across the hallway and up a stairway.

Bruce bursts onto the roof just in time to see VAN pull

‘a out into the traffic.

He pulls the black nylon ski cap over his head -- and BOUNDS OFF across the rooftops.

The VAN passes by. PEDESTRIANS staring goggle-eyed at the rooftops. Far above them, a MAN -- oddly garbed in a suit, a tie, a yellow belt and a BLACK SKI MASK -- is gliding across the intersection on a ROPE.

The Joker is being thrown around a bit by the speeding, swerving van. Suddenly he reaches forward and grabs BOB.

Yhe Jeker turns to Vieli, putting his hand om her knee. She tries tu move away frum ham,

(CUNTINUED)

141A CONTINUED:

141A

I'm a little high-strung. Y'know,

I've recently had tragedy in my

life. Day before yesterday,

Alicia hurled herself out of the

window. Couldn't adjust to my new

aesthetic.

He hands her a porcelain mask. It has a crack in it.

JOKER

But you can't make an omelette

without breakin" some eggs!

The Joker's VAN GUNS through a red light, just missing a MOUNTED POLICEMAN standing by his horse. His horse Shies, rears back, turns in a circle. THE POLICEMAN, already in bad shape, struggles with his throat, moving. . slow as molasses. His face contorts into a smile and he shakes his head slowly.

Bruce lands on horse's back. COP turns slowly around, sees Bruce. Bruce looks with alarm at the policeman. € HIS POV - ANOTHER POLICEMAN Staggers down the street, his hands gragping his throat. Joker has done his evil work.

Bruce on horseback, charging past elegant brownstones,

drawing stares from PASSERSBY. On his belt is a FLASHING RED SIGNAL LIGHT.

A YELLOW VW BUG rips up the street at /0 mph.

We can't see the driver. But we do sec, on the seat beside him, a VIDEO DISPLAY with a shifting grid map of the city -- and on it, a FLASHING SIGNAL blinking in perfect syne with the one on Bruce's belt.

Bruce sees the VW bug rounding the corner and streaking toWards liam. He reius in the horse; 2t rears back on its

o~ hind leys; the BUG pulls up.

soot oF

CONTINUED: 146

-- and Alfred hands Bruce a bundle of Batclothes.

Bruce, now nearly fully dressed as Batman, gets back on the horse and RIDES OFF. Alfred looks pained.

The square where the unveiling is taking place, has been

closed to traffic. There are barricades at the entrance Streets.

A temporary stage has been erected around a shrouded

Statue on one side of the square. A SMALL CROWD is . gathered. -

OFF TO ONE SIDE - POLICEMAN

crouches in the grass. TWO PEOPLE try to help him. CLOSER ON POLICEMAN

He struggles to move his head to look up. WE SEE: his face is contorting into a smile.

BACK AT STAGE ° 148

A Junior high school BAND is playing the “Happy Birthday” theme.

The van ENTERS the square and stops. Joker, flanked by armed COONS, gets out, Vicki is pulled along with him.

Joker pushes through the crowd at the bottom of the steps leading up to the stage.

MAYOR

I dedicate the statue of a man who embodies the past, present, and future of our great city.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Mayor pulls a cord and drops the shroud around the statue eo revealing: Not John T. Gotham. But: A GARISH, POLYCHROME STATUE OF THE JOKER wielding two Uzi machine guns like they were six-shooters. Expressionism on acid, JOKER (excited) Start shootin', my sweet. I'm al makin’ history. ° Joker clambers onto the stage. JOKER {apologetically) No autographs. He seizes the mike from terrified Mayor. The Joker holds a small machine gun on him. Under the grin, he's . grinning. “ MAYOR Call the police! JOKER What police? ANGLE ON SEVERAL POLICEMEN lying on grass. . JOKER (supremely confident ) Hi there, fellow Gothamites! As * the NEXT founding father of this fair city, I declare these celebrations well and truly open. He FIRES A BURST into the air, knocking down one corner of the ANNIVERSARY BANNER. Joker LAUGHS MANIACALLY. Suddenly, from nowhere, a BAT BOLO ZINGS through the air. * Its heavy ends wrap symmetrically around the head-of the * statue. A HISSING RISES from the bomb-like bolo ends. _* Vicki leoks up as PEQPLE RUSH away from the stage, PEOPLE * are SCREAMING. * BATMAN - ON TOP BUILDING FIRING the BOLOS from a crossbow sort of weapon. *

( (CONTINUED) |

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 88. CONTINUED: (2) 148

Suddenly a BLAST as both ends of the bolo EXPLODE and knock the head of the statue off. Joker is stunned,

TWO GOONS FIRE AT BATMAN. ON BATMAN

He FIRES two lines into the ground and SWINGS down be- tween them to the stage. BULLETS FLY AROUND HIM. TWO

GOONS attack him and he kicks them both down and heads for Joker.

Joker grabs the Mayor around the neck. Covers him with gun.

Batman circles Joker.

What do you want from this city? JOKER (thinking aloud) I want a new bicycle, I want to visit Florida, I want... ee ON VICKI care

holding up her camera. " a ot

a pte iS . “hye 2 yt eet ‘ 27h Deed das a . = aN

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 a9. * CONTINUED: (3) . 148

Batman takes this occasion to SNAP his finger.

Joker looks at him. Batman materializes a Joker card. Joker looks at it and Batman sucker PUNCHES him in the face as the Mayor rolls away.

Joker rolls backward and zips to his feet. He looks around as GOONS FLEE.

Joker steps back onto the statue platform and AMIDST COLORED SMOKE AND FIREWORKS he DISAPPEARS DOWN into the sewer system.

Batman spins around. The goons SPEED AWAY in the van. Vicki readies her camera to snap Batman.

Whatever you say.

Vicki snaps a photo. Batman looks at her for a beat, a hint of disappointment. POLICE SIRENS. Batman FIRES a line up to the building and ZOOMS UP the line to the foPe He disappears ag Vicki shoots pix.

-

Knox is beside himself, Vicki is thoughtful. ne

... And you didn’t have film in nee your camera? os ad oe This goon handed it to me. I ca

didn't check. Oh, Allie, I'm ohn. really losing it. .

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 90. CONTINUED: . 149

She looks up at him.

VICKI

More good news?

He motions her to a microfilm reader. Knox begins cranking through back-issue newspapers.

Vicki stares at the screen. A BANNER HEADLINE reads:

Beneath it, a PHOTO: Cops kneeling over corpses. Medics with stretchers. And off to one side, a YOUNG BOY -- - BRUCE WAYNE -- his arms wrapped around the waist of a BEAT COP.

BOY stares at the camera -- a mask of UNFORGETTABLE AGONY»: '

Some snap, huh? _ Sa VICKI wwe {true horror) Oh my God... his parents were murdered in that alley. That's why he went there. It was the anniversary of their death.

TIGHT ON YOUNG BRUCE'S FACE

His features recognizable across all the years -- a permanently, indelibly traumatized.

BACK TO SCENE. .

VICKI Co, ae (deep empathy) , re Allie, the look on his face. ae re it's inst like that day with the oT Jekexr in front of City Hall.- a gt

(CONTINUED) |...

CONTINUED: (2)

15]

TECHNICIANS in VIDEO TRUCKS, watching on remote monitors.

INSERT - TELEVISION MONITOR - THAT MOMENT 153

VIDEO NOISE wipes half the image away, leaving a SPLIT SCREEN. On one side is the MAYOR. On the other -- sitting in a director's chair with a big yellow HAPPY FACE behind him -- is THE JOKER. But a very DIFFERENT Joker indeed. Relaxed and very lucid. With his flesh-

colored makeup on he manages to make his grin almost friendly.

JOKER

Joker here. (standing up}

Now you guys have said some pretty mean things. Some of which I admit were true under that fiend Boss Grissom. He was a terrorist and a thief. But on the other hand he was egreat at Bridge. Anyway he's dead and he left me ins charge. Now I CAN be theatrical, maybe even a bit rough -- but there's one thing I'm not. I'm NOT a killer. I'm an artist,

(MORE)

-

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 93.

CONTINUED: 153

He spreads his arms to a torrent of CANNED APPLAUSE.

crowd. I've got plenty so don’t worry about me.

MAYOR

We are not prepared to discuss any deals...

SERIES OF IMAGES OF CITIZENS Ears prick up. They are very interested.

Bruce stares at TV. Shuts it OFF. He takes deep regular breaths. - CLOSER ANGLE

He pulls out a police file.

(CONTINUED _

CONTINUED: 154

ON SOUND TRACK

~~ A MEMORY SOUNDS FROM THE PAST float by -- A SNATCH OF MUSIC. A WOMAN'S LAUGHTER.

ON FILE

Bruce opens a file “POLICE REPORT. UNSOLVED" is written across the cover.

He turns the page and the POLICE PHOTOS FALL OUT. He picks one up.

A WASH OF MEMORY SOUND floods the screen. STREET NOISES. A LITTLE BOY'S VOICE.

ON PHOTO

the shocked-sad face of the little boy that terrible night. MEMORY SOUND WASHES LOUDER. QUICKER FOOTSTEPS. A VOICE. -~

CcuT TO: BRUCE'S MEMORY - EXT. GOTHAM STREET - NIGHT (1963) 155

THOMAS, MARTHA and the young BRUCE WAYNE are running TOWARDS us. Something stops them.

BRUCE'S POV

We see TWO YOUNG HOODLUMS pointing a gun AT us. The HOODLUM with the gun grabs the string of pearls on Martha's neck. Thomas tries to grab the young HOQD's arm. We hear the SOUND OF A SHOT. Thomas falls. Martha SCREAMS. The HOOD FIRES -- Martha falls. The second HOCDLUM runs away.

The HOODLUM points the gun AT the CAMERA. The HOODLUM' S FACE IS IN THE DARK. .

YOUNG BRUCE staring, back. JACK (V.0.) (distorted by time) Tell me, Kid...

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 95.

CONTINUED: 155

The Hood steps into the moonlight.

It is clearly a young Jack Napier.

YOUNG BRUCE'S POV

where we see Jack begin to move slowly away. He LAUGHS as HE LEAVES.

CLOSE ON Bruce's tortured face -- his eyes snap open. He is breathing heavily and pouring with sweat.

Bruce starts. He turns to see Vicki standing there. Alfred is near the door, having let her in.

Alfred EXITS. Vicki pours herself a drink. She's a little nervous.

Bruce gathers himself and shuts the police folders.

the Joker came? What was it?

aft

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 96, CONTINUED: 156

Bruce looks away.

He looks straight into her heart.

Vicki looks startled. My God... he loves her. The dilemma fills in the space between them.

You said you got to a place where you just had to live with the way you were. Well that's this place.

world. I've just got to know if

we're gonna try to love each other.

Bruce stops and looks at her. Vicki at him. He can't commit.

Bruce prepares for a final confrontation with the Joker.

—

15?

CONTINUED: 157

The gloves. The boots. The cape. And finally, the.

black bat-emblem, framed in yellow, FILLING the SCREEN. *

A big yellow moon. The wheels of a truck.

TILT UP TO -- sign AXIS CHEMICAL WORKS. Huge steel gates

CLOSE.

Opposite the gate, the headlights of the BATMOBILE come on. Its ENGINES ROAR, shooting clouds from multiple exhausts. Front fender extends as vehicle ROARS down the street.

GOON GUARD jumps for his life as the BATMOBILE, head- lights blazing, SMASHES through gates, coming to rest in front of the steel doors of main building.

Flaps on the wings of the BATMOBILE open as the GATE GUARD FIRES his pistol at the car.

Rocket launchers emerge through the open flaps. Guard's bullets BOUNCE off BATMOBILE's bodywork.

The ROCKETS IGNITE AND BLAST OFF to demolish the shuttered steel doors. Gate guard RUNS OFF.

The rocket launchers retract. BATMOBILE moves through hole in doors.

Goons inside take cover as BATMOBILE cruises through the shattered doors and stops. They OPEN FIRE with

MACHINE GUNS. One or two of the bullets CRASH through * the WINDSHIELD. %

Batmobile slowly shields itself. Hunkering down like an iron butterfly. *

ON GOONS 161

they peer at it. FIRE WILDLY to no effect.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 98.

From within the cockpit we see: under the facia, a . monitor, flashing a countdown. 12.11.10. We ZOOM INTO ‘a the monitor as the numbers flick from 10 to 9.

the MONITOR beneath the facia of the BATMOBILE as it reads DETONATE.

The Axis Chemical PLANT EXPLODES like a ball of fire.

Debris and dust fall to earth. The building is devas- tated. Flattened. Nothing could have lived through the blast. A BEAT. SILENCE. Suddenly from within the burned rubble ~- A RUMBLE.

Something stirs, lifts, moves up and then out, slowly, the Batmobile pulls itself out of the debris.

(67. ~=-EXT. AXIS CHEMICAL - NIGHT 167

BATMOBILE drives up to the gate. From out of the dark- ness Batman steps and pats it on the fender. It CHUGS.

168 SOUND OF CHOPPER -- bright search lights flash on Batman.168 BULLETS FLY all around him. He jumps behind steel gate.

A CHOPPER ROARS up from behind a building. LOUDSPEAKER . BLASTS.

ANOTHER ANGLE - CLOSE ON JOKER from the open side door of a chopper. He's delighted. ..

‘et

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 39.

CONTINUED: 169 JOKER I'm going to the festival. You really ought to show up. I'm gonna kill a thousand people an hour until you do. LAUGHTER as the chopper banks sharply and FLIES OFF over the river toward the searchlights of the festival.

A lone WATCHMAN reads in a chair. The LIGHTS WINK OUT.

-- and a THUG clubs him from behind. A SMALL ARMY OF . CRIMINAL SHOCK TROOPS ENTERS. Lights relight.

SEARCHLIGHTS, mounted on trucks with portable generators. Behind the trucks: gaudy PARADE FLOATS -- and enormous deflated BALLOONS, hanging limply from rafters.

Joker's men inflate BALLOONS. STEEL DOORS rise; the BEACON TRUCKS RUMBLE out onto the street. Joker STEPS

' INTO the warehouse.

The main street, Broad Avenue, leading into the central Square. Groups of CAUTIOUS PEDESTRIANS. AMPLIFIED ROCK

MUSIC as a truck with searchlights rounds a corner onto Broad Avenue.

Searchlights play up the street and onto the buildings. A beam illuminates A GIGANTIC BALLOON WITH A HUGE

CARTOON FACE looking round the corner before entering the Avenue.

This balloon is moored to a parade float. More trucks with searchlights, floats and giant balloons FOLLOW. Cartoon characters and historical figures. Banners — proclaim; HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOTHAM CITY. "

BYSTANDERS are amazed.

Suddenly THE AIR IS FILLED with thousands of ddllar bills.

From the face of the leading balloon (a huge, grotesque, clown smiling phoulishly and dressed in white Pierrot frills) we TILT DOWN THROUCH the swirling dollars. ..

(CONTINUED) |

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 100. CONTINUED: 171

Here, on a float, surrounded by armed GOONS, sitting on a giant throne, is the Joker.

Bob hands the Joker bundles of dollar bills. Joker

pitches the bills, with a grand gesture, up into the

wind from a giant fan. People grab for the greenbacks

as they fill the air.

WIDER

Like a demonic D.J. the Joker is LIP-SYNCHING TO WHAT- EVER SONG is BLARING OUT over the SPEAKERS.

PEOPLE flock in from the side streets. Soon the whole area is packed with CITIZENS scrambling for dollar bills.

Vicki's taking photographs of the hysterical CITIZENS. JOKER (V.0.) (amplified)

Welcome, everyone. Enjoy yourselves. Open those hungry wallets!

He LAUGHS.

A HORN BLARES. Vicki glances nervously around and is relieved to see Knox lean out of his car.

VICKI scrambles into the car.

KNOX You think Batman will show for this?

Knox DRIVES OFF to join the parade.

The city on its island, DARK except for the search-lights lining Broad Avenue. .

All at once, a STREAKING BLACK SHADOW ENTERS FRAME...

THE BATWING! A phenomenal ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT, swift and sleek, it slices through the night, carrying its pilot on a final mission of mercy -- and vengeance.

ANGLE ON BATMAN 177

In the cockpit, Batman, his jaw set, shifts the joystick and banks the BATWING.

The BATWING banks away FROM the CAMERA and dives towards the blacked-out city.

MAYHEM continues with dollar bills still flying about and crowds of PEOPLE still chasing them, fighting and looting.

We see Knox's car join the back of the parade.

“INT. KNOX'S CAR - THAT MOMENT 180

Vicki is taking pictures of everything in sight. But she's clearly looking for Batman. e

Where we see that one of the floats has mounted the side- walk, crashed into a lamp standard and come to-a halt. The Goons on board are fighting off the crowds of people who are chasing the dollar bills which have lodged on the float.

Knox pulls over tu the side of the Avenue while Vicki

continues takioy pirectures.

102,

CONTINUED: 182

Vicki opens the car door and begins to climb out to get better shots.

. KNOX A girl could pet hurt in a place like this.

+

Vicki leans against Knox's car and looks up to see a giant balloon of a grotesque UNDERDOG bouncing against

the side of a building. (This is the balloon which is attached to the crashed float.)

Vicki whips out her telephoto lens, and is adjusting the

zoom when she does a double take, looks through the lens again -~-- and sees.

VICKI'S POV OF UNDERDOG THROUGH LONG LENS ~ THAT 184 MOMENT

WE SEE, fixed to the underside of the balloon, a number of metal cylinders. One of them, damaged by hitting the side of the building, is beginning TO LEAK A VILE-LOOKING GREEN GAS. The heavy gas drops groundward.

F CUT TO: -

GOONS also spot leak and don gas masks. The green gas arrives at strect level.

Two unfortunate CITIZENS begin to choke, their faces

paralyzed into rictus grins. One of them appears to drop dead.

Forty yards away, Vicki panics.

VICKI ; Those balloons are full of Smnylex * pas! He's going to kill everybody! ve

Knox tries to drap Vicki back into the car.”

At that moment we hear, through the parade music, the SOUND OF THE BATWING overhead. Vicki looks up.

VICKI'S POV OF BATWING - THAT MOMENT

The BATWING, lower than before, swoops between the skyscrapers.

CLOSE SHOT OF BATWING COCKPIT - THAT MOMENT

Batman,

at the controls, looks at Broad Avenue below.

VICKI

We've got to cut those balloons leose. I th

We've got to warn him.

ink I saw Batman.

Knox drags Vicki into car and SLAMS the door.

Don't move.

He JUMPS OUT.

Knox thinks for a moment before coming to a decision.

KNOX

Allie...

He runs round to the trunk, opens it and returns with a

tool box.

cheap anti-dust mask.

Knox puts

hand,

He takes out a pair of metal cutters and a

VICKT

What are you doing?

Stay here! thing.

Allie, pleas

he races

on the mask.

towards

With the metal cutters in his the crashed float.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 104,

Nobody is paying attention to the few people affected by the gas. Knox LEAPS ONTO the crashed float. Before the

Goons have even noticed that he's there, he's cut through one of UNDERDOG's moorings.

ANGLE ON UNDERDOG

as one, now free, corner of the balloon floats up between buildings.

A Goon FIRES at Knox. Knox’‘ducks, but then is hit.

Knox's CAR SCREECHES UP. Vicki flings open the door,

grabs Knox by the collar, and DRIVES AWAY, dragging Knox with her.

The Goons SHOOT after them. Holes appear in Knox's car and most of the WINDOWS are SHOT OUT, but the car makes

it round a corner and off Broad Avenue before the ENGINE CUTS OUT.

Vicki drags Knox into a SHELTERED DOORWAY next to Gotham Cathedral.

Blood flows down Knox's face from a minor head wound. He

looks at her.

ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT 192

Batman looks up ahead taqwards avenue.

”

The light from the constantly shifting searchlights:,, beams up from deep canyon of high buildings.

We sce Joker's giant balloon procession bobbing eerily.

The Batwing slips past the Cathedral tower and begins’ ‘its. descent clown Broad Avenue. a

+ +

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 “105.

From behind the Cathedral, the Batwing levels out for ite first pass over the parade.

BATMAN'S POV OF PASS OVER BALLOONS - MOMENTS LATER 197 Batwing ZOOMS low above the tops of the balloons. * Searchlights flash into the cockpit. The buildings of

Broad Avenue RACE PAST as the BATMAN sees the LUMINOUS * GREEN GAS leaking from one of the tanks. w

The Joker still graciously dispensing dollar bills.

LAUGHING. Suddenly he hears the BATWING, looks up. He ~ * waves and leaps up and down with excitement.

Ah wing-ed battle flies through the Lote, *

Might and finds me READY! ste * The Joker LAUGHS CRAZILY. ; ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT . 7 199

td Batman puts the BATWING onto its side, looks down on Joker. ANGLE ON JOKER ~ MOMENTS LATER 200. The Joker throws the last handful of dollar bills into, the fan. ’ a JOKER ae (to Bob) Vo ea!

Bob, mask! . ae ANGLE ON MAN IN CROWD

os . Vitel Looking at his money. The green comes off on. his panda

MAN oo. What is this stuff? - 7 ern

TIGHT ON MONEY

"(conriMé) =

Se HL,

203 -

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

BACK TO SCENE woe

(CHORUS OF ANGER) : This stuff is fake!

The Joker LAUGHS HYSTERICALLY.

said, when you got to go, go with a - a SMILE!

2 oe

Joker takes a remote control device from under his

throne, points it up at the balloons and presses a - trigger.

ANGLE ON GIANT BALLOON - THAT MOMENT "202

The hanging tanks begin to release gas into the balloons — in response to the Joker's switch. The balloon swells.".-

ANGLE ON JOKER - MOMENT LATER | ; ae aa #203";

: een Bob gives a gas mask to Joker and puts one on himself. ce The Joker SCREAMS WITH LAUGHTER and puts his gas mask" one 7 The CROWD PANICS AND TRIES DESPERATELY TO ESCAPE. .:

* 204

The BALLOON SKIN stretches and CREAKS. A bulge develops’ ~ * along one of the seams. Lot ae

ANGLE ON BALLOON - THAT MOMENT -

ANGLE ON CROWDS IN BROAD AVENUE ~- THAT MOMENT

ANGLE ON JOKER - THAT MOMENT te Joker LAUGHS behind his gas mask. Re

aren . DIVES TO REMOVE THE BALLOONS. BATWING dives .into’ oe Avenue. It levels out at 30 feet and ZOOMS ° overhead <i oy ier Goons on trucks and people standing in the ‘Avenue’ ‘dock facet eo he rahe ae coal

Batman throws a switch on the control panel. -.,; SBS "ee . an ye 4 : ‘

“W jee om

ANGLE ON FRONT OF MOVING BATWING - THAT MOMENT 209

From under the front of cockpit a cable catcher/cutter Slides out to protrude in front of the Batwing.

THE CAMERA TILTS DOWN to show the underside of the Batwing. We now see the cable catcher/cutter open like

scissors and lock into facing slots on either side of the catamaran-rtype fuselage.

AERIAL SHOT - BATMAN'S FORWARD POV

AS HE SWOOPS UNDER BALLOONS. The Batwing ZOOMS beneath balloons. The ropes securing the balloons to the floats are coming AT us fast, . ANGLE ON CABLE CATCHER/CUTTER - MOMENTS LATER 211 The cable catcher/cutter is picking up, cutting and hold- ing balloon ropes at a fast rate, ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT 212 Batman struggies with the joystick to control the now less stable Batwing. He looks down and smiles. ANGLE ON JOKER - THAT MOMENT 213 The Joker whips off gas mask and looks up in dismay. JOKER My balloons! Those are my balloons! P ANGLE ON BATMAN - MOMENT LATER 214 Batman reacts to something directly ahead of him. AERIAL SHOT - BATMAN'S POV - THAT MOMENT 215

He's heading straight for the Cathedral tower. He lifts the nose of the Batwing, ENGINE SCREAMING in protest. Batman banks the aircraft to the right and misses the Cathedral, by inches.

ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT 216

Forced against the side of the cockpit by the "G" forces. His face is distorted.

AERIAL SHOT - GOTHAM CITY SKYLINE - MOMENTS LATER 217 The Batwing climbs, pulling giant balloons in its wake. ANGLE ON CABLE CATCHER/CUTTER - THAT MOMENT 218

The cutting blades) slice ropes, releasing, the balloons.

rr

AERIAL SHOT - GOTHAM CITY SKYLINE - MOMENTS LATER 219

Balloons float free into the sky as the Batwing turns and dives back towards the city.

Joker climbs down to now-deserted Broad Avenue. Goons are still hovering around. The Joker looks up. JOKER (apoplectic) HE STOLE MY BALLOONS! ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT 221 Batman, grim-faced, looks down from the cockpit.

He waves his fists and SCREAMS. JOKER WHY DIDN'T SOMEBODY TELL ME HE HAD ONE OF THOSE THINGS?! -- JOKER SHOOTS BOB. Other Goons look fearful, fall silent. JOKER Wage war you BASTARDS! * The Goons quake. Joker hears WHINE of the BATWING. * AERIAL SHOT - BATWING - THAT MOMENT o 223 CHANGES DIRECTION. The Batwing flies past, loops, and returns in the direction from which it came. ANGLE ON WING OF BATWING - MOMENT LATER 224 Flaps open on the fuselage and wing of the Batwing. A laser gun, gatling, missiles and spotlight emerge.

Batman clears trigger safety mechanisms and presses switches to arm the rockets and laser. He sets the missile sights. AERIAL SHOT OF BATWING - THAT MOMENT . 226 The Batwiny, with all its weapons primed, descends.

Goons plance at each other and beyin to run away.

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

109, CONTINUED: ay) aa The Joker stares at the retreating Goons in disbelief.:. JOKER fo, It's just cookin’ good, you SCHMOES! What's going ON? *

Deserted by. Goons, he looks up at Batwing. Batwing's spotlights come on as it speeds towards him. Joker

LAUGHS, steps into the middle of the Avenue, and opens his arms.

JOKER

Come to me you gruesome son of a *

bitch!!! . *

Vicki arrives just in time to see the action.

Batman, cool and collected, looks down ahead of him. AERIAL SHOT - BATMAN'S POV - THAT MOMENT . " * 230 Abandoned floats and trucks litter the road and side-| “ot walks. The searchlights blaze but ‘Ro longer move..- OE

Batman pulls the mobile missile sights to his eyes. « .: BATMAN'S POV THROUGH MISSILE SIGHT - THAT MOMENT . —. 232 After a couple of "telescopic” enlargements, Batman zeros the sights on the Joker, who is standing, arms _ : outstretched, in the middle of the Avenue. . eo

Batman OPENS UP with everything, and we see the GATLING, “f * MISSILES and LASER EXPLODE INTO ACTION. =. stint ysp™

A rocket, bullets,” “and ‘the ‘laser beam SMASH into” “the ge hes h street, all around the Joker. He leaps, LAUGHING; -into’: Pt the air and, miraculously, avoids being hit. yo

ANGLE ON BATWING - MOMENT LATER

The Batwing levels in for the kill, LASER, all BLASTING away.. a wo

ANGLE ON JOKER - THAT MOMENT

The Joker snecrs and starts to draw a pun from his belt. But he goes on drawing it. On and on. Finally, he bran- dishes the entire weapon. It's a very long barrel. The Joker takes aim. The GUN GOES OFF WITH A GREAT EXPLOSION and a tongue of flame. The recoil throws the Joker backwards.

The cockpit begins to fill with smoke, blinding Batman. The ENGINES COUGH AND CUT OUT.

Vicki sces the Batwing's in trouble. She runs after it.

Everything is vibrating, the joystick comes loose in Batman's hands. Smoke fills the cockpit.

The Joker, clutching his smoking pistol, ducks down as the stricken Batwing careens over his head. He dances a victory jig. ANGLE ON BATWING - THAT MOMENT 241 The Batwing belly-flops onto the street and bounces, spewing black smoke and debris. P It bounces again and begins to cartwheel.

Batman blows the perspex canopy off the cockpit, releas- ing some of the smoke. Flames shoot from the control panel. The Batwing rolls over, throwing Batman around. BATMAN'S POY - THAT MOMENT 243 The Cathedral spins as the Batwing hurtles towards it.

BATWING SMASHES into Cathedral steps and stops. COMPLETE SLLENCE. Then Joker's LAUGH ECHOES down Broad Avenue.

lll. ANGLE ON JOKER - THAT MOMENT 245

Joker's doubled up with laughter. Tears down his cheeks.

But forming around him is AN ANGRY CROWD. He looks up at it and LAUGHS even harder.

ANGLE ON BATMAN - THAT MOMENT 246

Batman, dazed and hurt, is trying, with difficulty, to

free himself from the smouldering, twisted wreckage of the cockpit.

ANGLE ON JOKER AND CROWD - THAT MOMENT 247

The crowd is pressing in on Joker. Gordon ARRIVES with SMALL POLICE FORCE. Joker pulls out another GUN and

FIRES in the air. He backs off quickly down the street.

Joker ARRIVES to see wreckage. No movement inside.

Suddenly the BATWING EXPLODES. Knocking Joker head over heels. i

Joker stands up, looking at burning wreckage and sees distant crowd coming toward him.

"EXT. CATHEDRAL STEPS - MOMENT LATER 249

The Joker scurries up to the top of the steps.

e

The Joker takes a walkie-talkie from his pocket.

VOICE (V.0.) (over radio) Roger, boss.

He looks up towards the absurdly high tower.

The Joker ENTERS the Cathedral.

Vicki comes upon wreckage. Suddenly Batman lifts up from the smoking metal. e's shaken and his cape 1s torn and

caupht . { CONTINUED)

112,

Suddenly -- framed in the arched doorway -- A RAGGED BLACK GHOST.

Batman closes the Cathedral door. He pulls a heavy bar

over the door. He stops and listens. He shuffles for- ward, falls down a step, and crashes against the rear pew, knocking it over. The pew falls and all the pews go down like dominoes, making a LOT OF NOISE.

Before the front pew has fallen, thesJoker darts out from behind it and runs, LAUGHING, into the belltower.

Batman sets off in painful pursuit.

Batman reaches the bottom of the stairs leading up the belltower and collapses against the bannisters. Above him he can hear the Joker's RECEDING FOOTSTEPS on the CREAKING, rotting STAIRS. . Batman sets his jaw, takes a couple of deep, painful breaths, and hauls himself up the wooden stairs.

COMMISSIONER GORDON with a few POLICEMEN rush to Cathedral «coer.

eo 260

We see the JOKER's feet climbing the stairs, faster and

. faster, as he races up the spiral staircase.

Lower down the stairs we see Batman climbing, slower and

Slower -- somehow he keeps going.

LATER

The Joker, slightly out of breath, comes bounding up toward the CAMERA, grinning and chuckling, heading for the belltower itself, where the bells are housed.

Batman, too, moves up toward the CAMERA, but very slowly. He looks dreadful. He turns a corner and looks up.

The Joker reaches the top of the stairs and a wooden

ceiling. There is a trapdoor set in the ceiling directly above the stairs.

' The Joker, hearing something from below, leans over the

handrail, looks down the stairwell and listens.

We see the staircase spiralling down*’into the gloom and hear the sound of COMMISSIONER GORDON and his POLICE

SQUAD as they ENTER the belltower and begin to climb the stairs.

The Joker opens the trapdoor and climbs into the moonlit belfry.

Joker EMERGES through the trapdoor into the belfry. Tall louvred "windows" on each side designed to protect the bells but let out sound. Openings in each wall lead out onto a parapet which runs all the way round the tower.

In the middle of the belfry a giant bell sits rusting on its rocker-beds. Two other, smaller, rocker-beds are empty. The bells from these are sitting on the floor beside the trapdoor.

to o~ ho

CONTINUED: 262 The Joker casually squirts one of the holding pins on the bell with his acid flower, it begins to burn as he walks forward and looks at his watch nonchalantly. The BELL behind him BREAKS, SMASHING down from the tower.

LATER

Batman flattens himself against the wall as the bell

plummets past bringing pieces of staircase with it. Batman nearly falls with the bell.

As the SOUND OF BREAKING STAIRCASE gets CLOSER GORDON and the POLICE run down the stairs. They are quickly fol-

lowed by the bell and a mass of broken, rotten, dusty timber.

LATER “

Batman claws up stairs and collapses just under the closed trapdoor of the belfry. He tries to open the trapdoor but doesn't have the strength.

Joker paces, impatiently waiting for his rescue heli- copter, Glances at his watch.

Batman, beneath the trapdoor, can hear the Joker pacing.

The Joker, hearing something beneath the trapdoor, begins to move the second bell over it. However, his curiosity gets the better of him and he lifts the trap a fraction of an inch. He opens the trap fully, no Batman.

Joker LAUGHS then stops and looks around slowly.

bat? The Joker LAUGIIS, CRAZLLY.

( CONTINUED)

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Ce

CONTINUED: 268

Joker turns quickly to see Batman standing with cape un- furled. A rappelling line hangs from his belt and out

onto the parapet. A small pulley on the belt. The Joker CACKLES.

(laughs )

They're gonna be real mad at the costume shop when they see what you did to their suit.

Batman steps toward him. Joker steps back into the half-dark.

some work. Even if I have to tear it off.

Are we going to kill each other, . ;

Jack? | JOKER (0.S.) 7 Dee (slightly nervous) _ fF ; Jack? Jack's out, I'm running his ve

body while he's gone. | a Ta Te sais

| (CONTINUED) =~”

268A

268B

268C

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 LLO,

CONTINUED: (2) 268

Batman steps in Joker's direction. From out of the dark- ness Joker swings a huge BELL which SMASHES INTO BATMAN.

He is knocked over backwards out onto the parapet, he nearly falls over the edge.

BATMAN'S POV OF GROUND ZERO - NIGHT 268A

A frightening view thirty .stories down toward death.

Batman catches himself just before he topples over.

Joker creeps around alone. Not sure if Batman fell. He hides, flattened up against an archway inside the belfry.

.

SOUND OF CHOPPER in distance. Joker hears it.

SUDDENLY, Batman appears behind Joker's shoulder. “He”.

jerks an arm around Joker's neck, pinning him against. | archway.

Joker jumps off the ground. He tries to get away. Batman wraps his other arm around and, "click," hand- cuffs himself to the Joker.

no Po aad

Joker struggles. He twists and turns the handcuffs. but”

can't shift them. He can hardly move. cn flower from his coat) Coons That was dumb. Now I’m going to “ we fee a - have to operate. . . Tg Joker SQUIRTS acid on the handcuffs. . omroee

conrENUE ie . a? “east je nhs '

coe ye ae ane vom

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 117.

268C CONTINUED: ~268C

Batman slips his arms back around Joker, pulling him into the open. They stand tethered face-to-face. Joker hits

Batman hard, Batman returns the blow, Joker hits again, ‘- and Batman returns.

The Joker gives a tremendous tug and the SIZZLING HAND- CUFFS BREAK. He runs to the wooden louvers,

Joker breaks a 2 by 4 from the wooden framework of belfry and SMASHES Batman with it.

Batman goes down. Joker hits him again. HELICOPTER AP- PROACHES and dangles ladder over parapet. Joker STEPS OUT onto parapet. He grabs for the dangling ladder.

Batman looks up from where he has fallen.

HIS POV

UP INTO belfry where there are thousands of Bats stirring. ON BATMAN “*

He activates a sonar device on his belt. A SHRILL WHINE lifts into the air. :

Helicopter HOVERS at the side of the belltower. Joker” . steps up onto the wall between two GARGOYLES and puts his foot onto one of the rungs of the ladder. He looks up as he hears UNEARTHLY SCREAMING FROM BELFRY.

Suddenly the AIR IS FULL OF BATS, diving and flapping _. all over the place. The NOISE from Batman's belt CLIMBS . IN PITCH. As it does so the bats fly faster. They swarm above Joker in an ever thickening black cloud. . oo

ay

The swarm of bats sweeps out and engulfs him. He SCREAMS, tries to beat them off.

ON BATS ; a 7: . Suddenly Batman steps through the cloud.

He grabs Joker. Pulling him off the ladder. Batman =" ~ lifts him bodily up off the ground by front of his coat. He pushes him back against 4 Gargoyle.

| a (continue

ceo tgeht

% %

+e te

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 118.

CONTINUED: 271

Joker struggles and the Gargoyle crumbles and Joker . Slips backward. Joker knows he's a dead man, and he

smiles, He grabs for Batman's cowl and grips it as he falls.

+t ow

Both of them tumble down into the endless darkness. *

Two bodies fall in pas de deux. Joker SCREAMS. SOUND OF WIND RUSHING BY.

CAMERA FALLS DOWNWARD. Lights float lazily up AT us from the onrushing street below.

BATMAN FIRES a hook and a line back up at the roof. ON HOOK

It lands on roof and skitters along looking for a crevice to hook on.

ON JOKER

He stares back at Batman as he drifts away. JOKER'S LAUGHING ALL THE WAY DOWN.

+ %

He spreads his cape, slowing down a bit.

ON GARGOYLE

Hook skitters to it and seizes on its grimacing jaws. *

ON JOKER (SLOW MOTION) ; 275

He plummets to earth CRASHING ON CATHEDRAL STEPS. * LAUGHTER STOPS! .

Coming to the end of a long tether from the top of the tower. He bounces a bit and hangs upSide-down. Like a bat. <A SCREAM fills the air.

We're looking DOWN.AT the Joker, whose body lies splayed and broken on the steps. We DRIFT DOWNWARD, CLOSER, until his FACE FILLS THE SCREEN, his chilling grin still intact. ve The Joker's expression is almost childlike, as he stares aimlessly at the stars. A FLASHBULB POPS -- REVERSE ANGLE 278 to see Vicki Vale, taking the photo of the year. She looks down at him and shakes her head. A SHOUT FROM ELSEWHERE wakes her up.

VOICE Batman's fallen to the ground. ; Over there.

Vicki spins around. Looks in that direction and follows the voice.

People run toward the place where Batman has fallen.

CLOSER

We see the figure of Batman completely covered with his cape, face-down in the courtyard. A CIRCLE OF PEOPLE, press, and police surround him. Commissioner Gordon © steps into the circle.

VOICE Turn him over, now we'll see who this guy is. Gordon approaches the body. Vicki RUSHES UP. Looks down at the cape-covered body. Looking at her camera, conflicted, she raises it to take her prize photo.

”

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 120. CONTINUED: 279

TIGHT ON FACE

-- it's not Bruce Wayne, it's a groggy Alexander Knox (in his own clothes).

ON VICKI

-- she flashes a picture and brings down her camera. A smile plays across her face.

ON KNOX ‘* -- he blinks his eyes at the light.

Through a crowd, A MAN walks into a side street. He

turns around. It's Bruce Wayne. He's got his utility belt over his shoulder. He DISAPPEARS into the darkness.

It's majestic. WIND RUSTLES through the trees. DENT (V.0.) All right members of the press,

Commissioner Gordon and I hate a few announcements to make.

A large group of press gathers outside the courthouse to hear Dent, Mayor and Gordon sum up the events.

ALL HEADS turn to see blushing Knox. He grins and touches the bandage on his head.

’

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

sworn off coffee, they're all back on duty.

More LAUGHTER -- Vicki steps up next to Allie.

Unexpectedly Vicki kisses Allie on the lips, long and , Sweet. He is stunned.

Vicki is already down the street. a : KNOX ( What about the Pulitzer prize?

She WALKS AWAY. Allie steps out into the street. SHOUTS.

(MORE)

ee (CONTINUED)

re

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88 12.

shadow on the heart of the city. Call me. —

eM et OF

ON PRESS

-- they are quiet, .

+

ON GORDON

~~ he steps to a searchlight and flips it on. ;

On the side of the old cathedral, the BATSIGNAL - the

yellow moon, a black-caped man, the melancholy icon calling for help in the dark night of Gotham City.

FOOTSTEPS down the street. As they get closer WE SEE

it's Vicki. She passes by an old building. SOMETHING RUNS INTO her. She looks down to see TWO LITTLE BOYS dressed in homemade Batman costumes.

They TAKE OFF past her. She looks after them smiling.

A SOUND somewhere in the darkness above. She turns to . look.

BACKLIT, Batman, silently looking down at her. " *

She gazes up at him. A limousine is suddenly next to * her. She looks in. It's Alfred.

ff . order, Ma'am. ,

‘- 286

BATMAN - Rev. 10/10/88

Vicki smiles, GETS IN BACK.

Vicki settles in. Champagne and crystal set in back-

seat. Alfred DRIVES OFF.

Batman watches, dances across a rooftop. BACKGROUND.

BATSIGNAL IN

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