Batman Page #6

CUT TO:

EXT. ACE CHEMICAL CO. ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

A NEON SIGN reads: "ACE CHEMICAL. FOR A MODERN TOMORROW."

From the SIGN we pan over to a METAL SLUICE GATE -- dumping

TONS of CHURNING TOXIC SLUDGE into Gotham's East River.

INT. VAN - THAT MOMENT - NIGHT

TIGHT ON the rear-view mirror. JACK NAPIER is meticulously

applying BLACK CAMOUFLAGE PAINT to his face. He could be

getting ready for a date.

The van is parked outside a chain-link fence which

surrounds the Ace Chemical complex.

JACK'S POV - THROUGH WINDSHIELD

The SECURITY GUARD in a glass booth at the entrance to the

parking lot. ONE OF JACK'S BOYS creeps up behind the booth

and takes the GUARD out.

INT. VAN - ON JACK

He turns the key in the ignition, shifts into first.

CUT TO:

INT. WAYNE MANOR - NIGHT

KNOX and VICKI are taking an unauthorized tour of BRUCE's

house, wandering through rooms decorated in wildly

divergent motifs, eyeing an astounding collection of

artworks and antiques from every corner of the world.

KNOX:

My question is, where does one man

get all this junk.

VICKI:

All over the world. They say he

spends most of the year overseas --

until recently, anyway.

KNOX:

Holy sh*t...

KNOX goes goggle-eyed as they enter the LIBRARY.

INT. BRUCE WAYNE'S LIBRARY - NIGHT

KNOX (cont.)

... We found the arsenal.

One wall is lined to the ceiling with leather-bound

volumes. On the other walls hang EXOTIC WEAPONS. Halberds.

Maces. Blowguns. Bolas. Thugee ropes and samurai swords...

every arcane implement of death the human mind has ever

devised. KNOX lets out a low whistle.

KNOX (cont.)

This guy has just gotten

interesting. What else do you know?

VICKI:

Just what I've heard. Rich.

Reclusive. Old money and lots of it.

KNOX:

Likes to kill?

VICKI:

(smiling)

Women find him magnetic.

KNOX:

I bet they like him for his big

charity balls.

VICKI:

That, and the sweet smell of two

hundred million bucks.

KNOX:

Well, you know me. The more they've

got, the less they're worth.

(scanning the room)

This guy must be the most worthless

man in America.

Just then, A VOICE FROM BEHIND intrudes.

BRUCE WAYNE:

You disappoint me. Why not the

world?

KNOX turns. We get our first good look at the smiling face

of BRUCE WAYNE:
32, tall, athletic, impeccably mannered...

and intensely handsome.

KNOX:

I assume in my usual charming manner

I've just insulted the host.

(extending a hand)

Alexander Knox.

BRUCE:

Bruce Wayne. -- I've read your work.

I quite like it.

KNOX:

Great. Give me a grant.

BRUCE:

I might consider it if you introduce

me to Miss Vale.

KNOX blinks at VICKI. BRUCE already seems to know who she

is. KNOX shrugs and forges bravely ahead:

KNOX:

"This is Miss Vale." -- That felt

redundant.

BRUCE:

(to VICKI)

You're just back from Corto Maltese.

I saw your combat photos. Quite a

departure for you.

VICKI:

That's intriguing. They haven't been

published yet.

BRUCE smiles and ignores the implied question.

BRUCE:

... You have an extraordinary eye.

He's laying on the charm now. KNOX, his territorial

instincts aroused, pipes up:

KNOX:

Some people think she has two.

VICKI shoots KNOX a sidelong glance:

VICKI:

Don't mind my friend. He's a little

nervous tonight.

KNOX, chastened, calls off the dogs and sizes up his

competition. BRUCE is charming, all right, but there's

something formal, maybe even calculating about it -- he

could be reading his clever remarks off cue cards. It's

almost as though he's an actor doing a brilliant imitation

of charm.

This is a man who thinks three moves ahead. KNOX doesn't

like him. But VICKI -- who's used to seeing male charm

turned on and off, at will -- doesn't seem to mind at all:

VICKI (cont.)

This is an amazing house. I'd love

to shoot it sometime.

BRUCE:

I don't... seek publicity. -- Will

you be staying in Gotham for a

while?

VICKI:

As far as I know.

BRUCE:

Good. Then with any luck we'll run

into each other.

Suddenly ALFRED, the butler, appears in the doorway behind

them. He clears his throat. BRUCE turns.

ALFRED:

Excuse me, sir. Commissioner Gordon

was compelled to leave -- very

unexpectedly. He asked me to convey

his regrets.

BRUCE:

Thank you, Alfred.

(to VICKI)

I hope you'll excuse me. It was a

great pleasure meeting you.

(to KNOX)

And you.

Without bothering to shake hands BRUCE does a sharp 180 and

strides hurriedly out of the room.

KNOX:

I know the rich are different, but

that guy is real different.

VICKI, staring off after BRUCE, doesn't seem to hear him.

KNOX (cont.)

Hello? Vicki?

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