Batman Page #25

ALFRED (V.O.)

(through loudspeaker)

Yes?

KNOX:

Alexander Knox. Gotham Globe.

ALFRED (V.O.)

Mr. Wayne is out for the day.

KNOX:

Actually, I wanted to talk to

Batman. Pass that on to Mr. Wayne,

would you?

KNOX starts cockily off down the driveway -- then STOPS.

Behind him, the iron gates are SLIDING OPEN.

INT. BRUCE'S LIBRARY - TEN MINUTES LATER - DAY

KNOX, agitated, drums his fingers on the edge of a big

leather chair. BRUCE stands across from him.

BRUCE:

I've been expecting to hear from

you.

KNOX:

Well, that's how it is, chum. She

tells me everything.

BRUCE:

What is it you want?

KNOX:

Simple. You know the score. One

column -- and I can bring all this

tumbling down. I can take you off

the streets once and for all.

(a shaky pause)

I want you to hang up the suit. And

I want you to stay away from Vicki.

BRUCE:

I can't do that. Not while the

Joker's still out there.

KNOX:

Then stay away from Vicki. That's

all I want, man. I just want your

word.

BRUCE turns away, evading his gaze. KNOX fumbles in his

jacket for a cigarette.

KNOX (cont.)

See, I don't know how it happened --

she's a smart girl and you are an

extraordinarily screwed-up guy -- but

she's in love with you.

BRUCE:

There's something I don't

understand. If you've got the story,

why haven't you printed it?

KNOX:

Because I --

(beat)

Because she'd never speak to me

again.

KNOX is a bundle of nerves now. No longer cocky, he stubs

out his newly-lit cigarette -- and begins to PLEAD OPENLY.

KNOX (cont.)

Come on, Bruce. Be straight. What

have you got to offer? You gonna

marry her? Batman and Mrs. Batman?

(laughing bitterly)

Gimme a break, huh? Who's gonna be

Best Rodent?

BRUCE sinks into a chair, exhales sharply. He can't even

put up an argument. The two of them sit there, not looking

at each other, as ALFRED appears in the doorway.

BRUCE:

Do you want a drink?

KNOX:

Yeah, a drink. "Civilized." Man-to-

man, right?

BRUCE:

Alfred, bring something for Mr.

Knox. -- I'll have one too.

CUT TO:

EXT. GOTHAM PARK - LATE AFTERNOON

The weekend-long BIRTHDAY GALA is getting underway, and

Gotham Park is mobbed with CELEBRANTS enjoying a FREE

CONCERT. Onstage: FIVE ELVIS IMITATORS, dressed in

everything from black leather to white spangled jumpsuits,

representing the King in progressive stages of

deterioration.

INT. VICKI'S APARTMENT - DUSK

She's on the sofa beside a disconsolate BRUCE.

VICKI:

... So we just pretend none of this

ever happened. We never met. We --

(frightened)

You're going to get yourself killed,

Bruce. You know that, don't you?

BRUCE:

It wouldn't matter much.

VICKI:

I don't understand it. You can do so

much good for people. As Bruce

Wayne.

He sinks back on the sofa, closes his eyes. He's had the

same argument with himself a thousand times.

BRUCE:

Money makes money, Vicki. The

foundation runs itself. -- I'm

extraneous to the process.

VICKI:

You're one man. You can't save

everybody.

BRUCE:

What it I could save a handful?

-- What if I could save one?

VICKI is sick of watching BRUCE torment himself. She stands

up, almost crying now, and ACCUSES HIM DIRECTLY:

VICKI:

Bruce, at the rate you're going, you

can't even save yourself.

BRUCE:

(staring right at her)

Sometimes... I don't know if there's

enough of me left to save.

VICKI is totally drained. She heads for the kitchen.

VICKI:

Oh, God. I've got to have some

coffee or something.

A moment's breather as BRUCE sits on the sofa reflecting.

Then, suddenly, a KNOCK at the door.

VICKI reappears and moves to answer the door. BRUCE -- on

his feet instantly -- grabs her by the shoulder.

BRUCE:

Are you expecting anyone?

She nods no. He goes to the peephole in the door.

BRUCE (cont.)

Who's there?

THROUGH THE PEEPHOLE he sees a DELIVERY BOY.

DELIVERY BOY:

Package tor Miss Vale.

BRUCE:

Set it down by the door. On the

left-hand side.

The DELIVERY BOY sets the package down and wanders off,

tipless, muttering something about "cheap shits." After a

moment's interval, BRUCE opens the door and bends to pick

up the mysterious package.

Another brown-paper parcel... ADDRESSED IN CRAYON.

VICKI:

BRUCE!

He strides past her, handling the parcel gingerly, and sets

it down on the kitchen counter.

VICKI (cont.)

It's just like the last time. He

sent me a present before he --

BRUCE:

Very thoughtful. Don't touch it.

As VICKI watches, he goes into the living-room and finds

his ALLIGATOR ATTACHE CASE. He opens the case, removes a

LAPTOP COMPUTER and a handful of business papers... then

lifts out a false bottom to reveal his UTILITY BELT.

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