Batman Page #29

DENT:

We'll send a team into Ace the

moment the warrant comes through.

BRUCE:

He'll be ready when you do. Remember

what happened at the apartment.

DENT:

All right, Bruce, what do you

suggest?

BRUCE:

I suggest a nice big bomb.

DENT:

Good. A bomb. On a blind tip from

Bruce Wayne. -- We do have laws.

BRUCE:

Then for God's sake, Harvey, cancel

the anniversary celebration.

DENT:

We've told him we'll deal. What

could he possibly have to gain by --

BRUCE:

Do you still think the Joker cares

about money??

DENT:

I don't know. I'm just a D.A. I

don't have access to all your

expert sources.

Mexican standoff. BRUCE stalks off fuming. DENT hangs back

a moment, then turns down the hall.

EXT. WAYNE MANOR - ESTABLISHING - DAY

The ornate, wrought-iron GATE which opens on the long

driveway snaking up toward Wayne Manor. It's bolted shut.

INT. WAYNE MANOR - DAY

A glass-enclosed room which houses an enormous HEATED

INDOOR SWIMMING POOL. DICK GRAYSON does a couple of laps,

then climbs out and towels himself off.

He looks out at the estate: tennis courts, a riding stable

in the distance. He's not happy. All this opulence could

drive a guy stark staring nuts in short order.

INT. GUEST BEDROOM - DAY

An OPEN SUITCASE on the bed. DICK fingers a gold ashtray

bearing the figure of Winged Victory -- then shrugs and

tosses it into the suitcase on top of his gymnast's

costume. When he looks up he sees BRUCE in the doorway

behind him.

DICK:

... Your butler wouldn't gimme a ride

so I figured I'd hoof it.

BRUCE:

Sorry. I can't let you leave.

DICK:

You can't keep me here, man. That's

kidnapping.

BRUCE:

If I let you leave, you'll do the

same thing again. You'll go after

the Joker... and you'll wind up dead.

(turning to go)

DICK:

Hey, man. Look at you. You're

rich. You got everything you want.

How do you know what's in my mind?

BRUCE turns to face him. The little hellion's eyes are

filled with raw, burning hatred. BRUCE knows the feeling.

BRUCE:

I don't care what's in your mind.

You're staying.

BRUCE reaches for a key in his pocket. Without warning, the

kid RUSHES him, throwing a rock-solid punch. With blinding

speed, BRUCE sidesteps him, parries the blow, and winds up

spinning DICK around -- INTO A WALL.

DICK is stunned, but he has to laugh. This rich boy has a

move or two. BRUCE stands there, silently challenging him.

A second later, the kid is airborne -- upping the ante with

a scissor-kick aimed squarely at BRUCE's gut. In a blur of

motion BRUCE checks the kick, swings an arm into DICK's

chest, and sends the boy sprawling flat on his back.

INT. WAYNE MANOR - KITCHEN - THAT MOMENT

ALFRED, in his apron, fixing a tray of snacks. He looks up

curiously at the ceiling. From the sound of it, a battle

royal is shaping up in the guest bedroom.

INT. GUEST BEDROOM - THAT MOMENT

DICK'S BODY -- head down, feet up -- flies through the air.

He SMASHES INTO a closet door and slumps to the carpet.

Shaken now, and sweating profusely, he looks up at BRUCE...

who stands calmly over him, adjusting his necktie.

A long, tense moment passes between them. Then:

DICK:

... You're him.

No reply from BRUCE. Their gazes lock. And suddenly...

ALFRED (V.O.)

FREEZE!

DICK and BRUCE look around. The puny, mustachioed butler

stands in the doorway, feet spread in a Dirty Harry stance,

a .44 MAGNUM trained on DICK.

BRUCE:

It's all right, Alfred. Everything's

under control.

ALFRED:

... Very good, sir.

ALFRED relaxes, musters his dignity, and turns to go.

CUT TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - AFTERNOON

CANNED APPLAUSE as THE JOKER marches out onto a makeshift

STAGE to give his QUARTERLY REPORT to the stockholders.

JOKER:

Thankya, thankya. Ladies and germs,

I'm here to tell you... we have had

one helluva quarter.

He waves a pointer at three SALES CHARTS on portable

easels.

JOKER (cont.)

Panic's up. Terror's up. And fear --

fear's gone straight through the

roof. You guys should be proud --

'cause I couldn'ta done it without

each and every one of you!

MORE CANNED APPLAUSE. The JOKER takes a bow.

JOKER (cont.)

I feel it's time to expand the

Joker line. I was askin' myself,

what are the products that every

consumer wants most? And that's when

it hit me:
the water you drink, and

the air you breathe! Huh? Bingo!

(strutting across stage)

Now, some of you have your eye on

the profit margin. You're thinkin':

this boy's too ambitious. You

don't approve. In fact, some of you

have been talking about turning me

in to the cops. Or knocking me off.

He pauses. GLARES OUT at the audience. NO RESPONSE.

JOKER (cont.)

But that's okay. I understand. Not

everyone shares my eye for beauty.

And just to show there's no hard

feelings, I'm throwin' a little

shindig tonight -- and you're all

invited!

THE CANNED APPLAUSE goes right off the meter.

JOKER (cont.)

How 'bout it? IS EVERYBODY HAPPY??

REVERSE ANGLE - THE AUDIENCE

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