Batman Page #11

DOCTOR (cont.)

I'm sure that with proper recon--

recon-- reconstructive surgery --

A DOOR SLAMS. JACK is gone. The grateful DOCTOR breathes a

sigh of relief and steadies himself on an operating table.

EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - OVERHEAD ANGLE - NIGHT

From a point high above we see JACK emerging into the

alley, pulling on a hat, wrapping a muffler about his head.

We can't see his face. But we can't forget his LAUGH.

CUT TO:

INT. BRUCE WAYNE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

VICKI nestled peacefully under the covers. Beside her is

BRUCE:
hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.

It's almost as though BRUCE is not used to sleeping at

night. He doesn't know what to do with himself.

He looks at VICKI. She's terribly lovely. But despite all

that, we can't shake the feeling that BRUCE... would really

rather be somewhere else.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

LOUD MUSIC. KIDS in punk regalia stand outside a rock club

as JACK stalks past. The wind knocks his hat off.

KID:

Nice hair, dude!

JACK ignores them as he bends to retrieve his hat. Then he

gazes up at the steel-and-glass facade of a SKYSCRAPER --

and strides deliberately across the street.

INT. GRISSOM'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT

The spectacular Gotham skyline, seen through the plate-

glass window of GRISSOM's conference room. The doors to the

private elevator hiss open and JACK wanders in. He plops in

the big plush swivel chair behind GRISSOM's desk.

GRISSOM (O.S.)

That you, sugar bumps?

GRISSOM waddles in unsuspectingly from the adjoining room.

He's fresh out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his

impressive girth. He's using a smaller towel to dry his

hair, and so it's a moment before he sees the bundled-up

figure at his desk.

GRISSOM (cont.)

Who the hell are you?

JACK:

It's me. "Sugar Bumps."

GRISSOM:

(recognizing his voice)

Jack?

(advancing cautiously)

Thank God. I can't believe it's you.

I heard you'd been --

JACK:

(standing up)

Is that what you "heard"?

JACK gestures him over to the empty chair. GRISSOM doesn't

move until he sees the GUN pointed at his belly.

JACK (cont.)

YOU SET ME UP!

(beat)

Over a girl. You must be insane!

GRISSOM surreptitiously reaches for a desk drawer.

JACK (cont.)

Keep your hands on the desk.

GRISSOM:

Sooner or later you would've tried

to take me, Jack. You may get me

now, but your life won't be worth a

dime.

JACK:

I've died once already. It wasn't so

bad. -- In fact I recommend it.

GRISSOM is beginning to panic now. It's obvious that JACK

is utterly, hopelessly deranged.

GRISSOM:

Jack, listen -- we'll cut a deal --

JACK:

JACK? JACK? DO I LOOK LIKE A JACK??

And now, for the first time, he flings away the hat. RIPS

THE MUFFLER from his face. And -- as GRISSOM gasps in shock

-- STANDS REVEALED in his full horrendous glory.

His flesh is bleached bone-white. His hair is a luminous

seaweed-green. And his cheeks are torn and puckered from

the bullet wound, TWISTING HIS MOUTH INTO A HIDEOUS,

PERPETUAL HARLEQUIN'S GRIN.

JACK (cont.)

I'm not a Jack any more.

(pause; cackling)

You made me a Joker!

THE CACKLE BUILDS INTO FURIOUS, HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER.

GRISSOM, revulsed, terrified, pushes himself away from the

desk, back toward the window which overlooks the city.

GRISSOM:

Jack -- I'm warning you. WIPE THAT

LUNATIC GRIN OFF YOUR FACE.

JACK:

HA! That's the best part. I CAN'T!!

And with that JACK pulls the trigger. And fires. And fires

again until the CLIP IS EMPTY.

EXT. GRISSOM'S BUILDING - NIGHT

We TILT UP the chrome-and-glass facade of the skyscraper,

arriving finally at the TOP FLOOR: a PLATE GLASS WINDOW

spiderwebbed with cracks where Jack's bullets hit.

INT. GRISSOM'S PENTHOUSE - THAT MOMENT - NIGHT

The room is still dark. JACK -- or, as we'll know him from

this moment on, THE JOKER -- sits in GRISSOM's swivel

chair, staring out at the moon-drenched skyline.

JOKER:

What a view. Our little city. It

always brings a smile to my face.

He reaches for a nearby glass of liquor and glances down at

GRISSOM -- who lies dead on the floor, the towel still

wrapped around him. THE JOKER laughs softly to himself.

JOKER (cont.)

Guess it's my little city now.

Wonder what it'll look like when I

get done with it.

(pause)

I bet it'll be something real fine.

Real fine and pretty.

DISSOLVE T0:

INT. BRUCE WAYNE'S BEDROOM - MORNING

The sun is just up, and VICKI finds herself alone in bed. A

SOFT, OFF-KEY BARITONE VOICE drifts out of the adjacent

bathroom:
BRUCE in the shower, singing "Honeysuckle Rose."

She breaks into a huge smile and climbs out of bed. Somehow

she's wound up wearing BRUCE's ribbed formal shirt.

INT. BATHROOM - A MOMENT LATER - MORNING

BRUCE in his opulent deco shower stall, still SINGING to

himself. VICKI sneaks up behind him, opens the door. He

instantly STOPS SINGING -- as if he's been hit by a brick.

VICKI:

I didn't mean to scare you. I just

had to come in here and see it that

was really you singing.

She smiles, teasing him. He doesn't respond. He acts as if

she's caught him doing something shameful -- exposed him.

VICKI (cont.)

(singing)

"Don't buy sugar -- you just have to

touch my cup." Come on. "You're my

sugar --"

(no response from BRUCE)

Bruce, you are such a case.

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