The Dark Knight Page #4

ALFRED:

Mr. Wayne is as determined to

ignore important things as trivial

ones.

MALE VOICE (O.S.)

Don't take it personally, Miranda.

They turn to see a man in his fifties. Daggett.

DAGGETT:

Everyone knows Wayne's holed up in

there with eight-inch nails, peeing

into Mason jars. (To Alfred.) Good

of you to let me on the grounds.

ALFRED:

The Dent Act is about all Gotham.

Even you, Mr. Daggett. Miss Tate,

always a pleasure.

Alfred turns and walks off. Daggett smiles, glib.

13.

DAGGETT:

Why waste your time talking to the

man who threw away your investment

on some save-the-world vanity

project? He can't help you get your

money back. But I can.

MIRANDA:

I could try explaining that a

save-the-world project, vain or

not, is worth investing in,

whatever the return. I could try,

Mr. Daggett, but you understand

only money and the power you think

it buys, so why waste my time,

indeed?

She walks away. Daggett watches her go.

INT. DRAWING ROOM, EAST WING, WAYNE MANOR - CONTINUOUS

Close on the dinner tray. We hear a labored step approach.

Bruce Wayne appears, leaning on a cane. Gaunt. Grey temples.

He lifts the lid of his dinner, then freezes, hearing

something. He slowly limps into the next room...

INT. SITTING ROOM, EAST WING, WAYNE MANOR, CONTINUOUS

The Maid looks at framed photographs of Rachel, Thomas and

Martha Wayne. Some are half-burned. She notices an archery

target, arrows stuck in it. She reaches out. WHAM! An arrow

sticks into the target - the Maid spins around, flustered.

Wayne, at the other end of the long room, lowers a composite

bow. Picks up his cane.

MAID:

I'm, I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Wayne.

It is Mr. Wayne, isn't it?

Wayne nods, gently. Limps towards her.

MAID:

Although you don't have the long

nails... (Nervous laugh.) Or facial

scars...

She trails off, embarrassed. Coy. She seems very young.

WAYNE:

Is that what they say about me?

14.

MAID:

It's just that...nobody sees you...

Wayne approaches slowly. He nods at her pearl necklace.

WAYNE:

That's a beautiful necklace.

Reminds me of the one that belonged

to my mother. It can't be the same

one - her pearls are in this safe -

He reaches out with his cane to press open a panel on the

bureau, revealing a safe door...

- which the manufacturer clearly

explained is uncrackable.

...which swings open with an awkward creak.

MAID:

Oops. No one told me it was

uncrackable.

The Maid suddenly seems more confident. Older.

WAYNE:

I'm afraid I can't let you take

those.

She smiles at him. Moves towards him.

MAID:

Look, you wouldn't hit a woman any

more than I would beat up a

cripple.

She kicks his cane from under him, smashes him down.

Of course, sometimes exceptions

have to be made.

The Maid vaults onto the bureau and up to a high window.

Goodnight, Mr. Wayne.

She flips backwards through the window. Wayne smiles, then

rocks forward on his good leg and rises with athletic grace.

He looks at the safe, notices something. Powder...

EXT. DRIVE, WAYNE MANOR - CONTINUOUS

Moving toward the line of town cars, the Maid pulls off her

white apron, cuffs and collar, leaving a black dress and

pearls. A Valet hurries to open a car door for her - she

slips into a town car...beside the Congressman.

15.

MAID:

Can I have a ride?

The Congressman, a little tipsy, looks at her hungrily.

CONGRESSMAN:

You read my mind.

INT. EAST WING, WAYNE MANOR - LATER

Alfred enters, to find Wayne kneeling at the safe.

ALFRED:

Miss Tate was asking to see you

again.

WAYNE:

She's very persistent.

ALFRED:

And quite lovely, in case you were

wondering.

WAYNE:

I wasn't.

ALFRED:

What are you doing?

WAYNE:

Examining print dust. We've been

robbed.

ALFRED:

And this is your idea of raising

the alarm?

WAYNE:

(SHRUGS)

She took the pearls. Tracking

device and all.

ALFRED:

She?

WAYNE:

One of the maids, perhaps you

should stop letting them in this

side of the house.

16.

ALFRED:

Perhaps you should learn to make

your own bed, then. Why are you

dusting for prints?

WAYNE:

I'm not. She was.

EXT. ROOFTOP, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT - CONTINUOUS

Gordon brings a stack of files against the air duct, settles

to read. Next to him is a rusty, broken searchlight.

YOUNG VOICE (O.S.)

Sir?

A young Cop is standing there. This is Blake.

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