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Batman: Reborn (Part 1)
By Carnotaur3
BATMAN: REBORN
WRITTEN BY CHASE KUERTZ
STORY BY CHASE KUERTZ
OPEN ON:
Drips of water ring down the rocky surface of a dark cold cave which echoes every sound that moves through the air. A beat of wings from the past returns, telling the audience that something lives on in the cave.
CAMERA PANS:
To reveal the rocky surface suddenly changing over to a dark metal structure. Time looks to have passed with it since cobwebs had now taken it prisoner with a vast array of mold and dust. We suddenly witness the bat suit, hung up nice and neat.
But it too has fallen pray to the past.
FADE IN:
EXT. ALLEY – DARK – NIGHT
The rocky formation of the cave and its surroundings fade away to a dark alley. Just walls of brick surrounding a cracked asphalt path, but there’s someone on the path. A man in a white lab coat and a brown briefcase walks frantically to the end of the alley. But before he gets there we are introduced to a dark figure looming over him with a knife in hand.
DARK FIGURE
Dr. Gordon?
The man in the lab coat is, indeed, DR. FRANCIS GORDON. A little short with a little beard around his chin, the professor quickly tightens his grip around the briefcase.
GORDON
Knowles?
The dark figure takes a leap into the light from the moon so GORDON could see his face.
KNOWLES
Tis I!
GORDON, frustrated with the man’s antics, throws the briefcase at him. KNOWLES catches it with a clean swipe. From the looks of KNOWLES, he’s a forty-ish looking man with thick hair, but his clothing is old and torn.
GORDON
You pull out a knife on me and you’ll be sitting in prison for the rest of your life.
KNOWLES
Now, now, Dr. Gordon, you probably would be too. Nobody likes a well known college professor stealing money from charities to fund his own research – do they? Never forget why your hear with this thing.
GORDON
I’ve worked on it for years. Now, my life’s work is in the hand of a criminal.
KNOWLES
Rich criminal, mind you. After I gladly take this chemical from you and turn it in to the mindless scientists, I’ll be forgetting your trespasses as you have forgiven mine. By the way, exactly what were you trying to accomplish with this stuff?
GORDON sighs.
GORDON
It’s a new kind of chemical that builds your brain up, gives you better results for knowledge.
KNOWLES
Has it been fully tested?
GORDON
Well, not exactly.
KNOWLES
Well, then, I guess I’ll be taking my chances.
KNOWLES fiddles with the bag, trying to pry it open with his hands.
KNOWLES (cont’d)
If only you didn’t put some kind of lock on this thing.
GORDON
Must be stuck. Let me help you with that.
GORDON stands beside him, trying to figure out the bag itself by examining it.
KNOWLES
Well, hurry it up now, ain’t got all night to sit here and contemplate how to open a stupid ass bag.
FROM THE CORNER of the alley, another man, this one wearing a police officer uniform, shines a light on both of the gentlemen.
They both freeze in fear.
OFFICER
Hey, what are you two doing down there?
TERRIFIED, the two men high-tail it down the alley and break into a nearby shoe shop.
CUT TO:
INT. SHOES GALORE SHOP – DARK
KNOWLES accidentally falls onto a rack of shoes, watching them as he hits the ground drop to the floor like leaves from a tree. GORDON looks back, seeing his precious briefcase toppled over on a pile of Dockers.
KNOWLES is out cold, but GORDON finds a better way of handling the situation. He takes the bag and quickly goes behind the shoe counter. He, then, stuffs it under a drawer, securing it from being seen and runs out the front door of the building before a cop can see him.
FADE TO:
INT. BRUCE’S BEDROOM – MORNING
A voice that we’ve remembered so much enters our ears with a soothing relaxed note.
ALFRED
Master Bruce. Master Bruce, wake up, sir.
It’s good ole’ ALFRED, welcoming BRUCE WAYNE’S sleepy eyes to the brisk morning of a new day.
BRUCE
Alfred?
ALFRED
Your meeting is at 8:35. You best be going.
BRUCE
What time is it?
ALFRED
7:29.
BRUCE sits up on the side of the bed, rubbing his head.
BRUCE
Thank you, Alfred.
ALFRED walks out of the room.
ALFRED
Welcome, sir.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO – DAY
BRUCE WAYNE sits in his limo, looking at the new day which has come to him. The trees are nicely green, city not looking to smoggy, and the streets are rid of filth from the earlier days of newspapers and trash that used to blow around.
ALFRED, driving the limo, looks into the rear mirror noticing a troubling look on BRUCE’S face.
ALFRED
Something troubling you, Master Bruce?
BRUCE
Not this time, Alfred. Why?
ALFRED
Because you seem to look lonely, that’s not the case is it?
BRUCE
Of course, not, Alfred. Why would it? I’ve got Jennifer, what more do I need?
ALFRED
Any more of those dreams? Have you been seeing them again – in your dreams?
BRUCE
No, that was – three weeks ago. I’ve come over that. Dick and Barbara are no longer among my dreams.
ALFRED
There’s a time to mend your feelings.
CUT TO:
EXT. BRUCE ENTERPRISES – FRONT – DAY
The limo drives up to the front of the BRUCE ENTERPRISES building and stops.
CUT TO:
INT. LIMO – DAY
ALFRED calmly looks back towards BRUCE.
ALFRED
Here you are, Master Bruce.
BRUCE
Thank you, Alfred.
BRUCE opens the door of the limo.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOTHAM CITY – DAY
As BRUCE WAYNE closes the door of the limo, we get a full scale look at the new GOTHAM city that deserves to not have the name. It’s more bright than it was dark. PEOPLE are walking the sidewalks, minding their own business. No HUSTLERS. No ROBBERS. Nothing looks to be marked with EVIL.
CUT TO:
INT. SHOES GALORE SHOP - DAY
KYLE LEESON, the manager of SHOE’S GALORE SHOP, pounds his fist on top of the counter and points at the salesman, TOD HOWLING, who’s really frightened by the man’s constant yelling. TOD looks to be in his early 30’s.
LEESON
I told you last night to lock up. What do you do, you go straight home. Now look at this mess.
(Points to the shoes on the ground)
What is that? Look at the mess, Tod. Look at it.
TOD
I did lock up, Mr. Leeson. I know I did. Someone must of broken in.
LEESON
The door is not broken. This was your last chance, Tod, and you blew it. The other day you lost money from the cash register and now this incident. You’re gone, your last day is tomorrow. After that, ‘lock up’ and take your things with you.
TOD
Wait a minute, sir, you can’t just fire me, you have nobody else.
LEESON
I will get somebody else. I’m Leeson, I can do that shit. You are gone tomorrow at 7:00 P.M., you hear me?
TOD shakes his head.
LEESON (cont’d)
Do you hear me?
TOD
You are going to regret this, sir.
LEESON
Regret what?
TOD walks away towards the bathroom in the building.
CUT TO:
INT. BATHROOM – DAY
TOD is crying from the looks of it and he’s not trying to hold anything back. He walks over to the sink and turns the faucet on, letting the water rush over his red face. He’s NERVOUS and HECTIC, but he doesn’t let it completely take over.
He takes a breath and looks at his reddened face in the mirror. His expression is of one where a memory floods back to the brain.
START FLASHBACK:
EXT. PLAYGROUND – BRIGHT DAY
We pan towards the rusty JUNGLE JIM and to several KIDS yelling frantically around a young, pitiful TOD HOWLING. His body is on the ground with the KIDS surrounding him in the form a circle.
He’s terrified and a drizzle of blood is coming from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin.
KIDS
Howling is a freak. Howling is a freak.
They’re all chanting simultaneously at the child that everything seems to go in slow motion.
TOD curls up into a ball trying to protect himself from the kicking of feet into his back.
He screams.
END FLASHBACK:
INT. BATHROOM – DAY
TOD’S sweaty from thinking back to his childhood. He rubs it off with a wash cloth and strides calmly out of the bathroom.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOTHAM CITY HALL – DAY
A new GOTHAM CITY HALL is up, banners posted, streamers hung, and a podium with a microphone on the stairs sitting quite until a handsome looking young man steps forward. It’s MAYER KENT with his superiors and security guards hanging about him as he is delivering his speech.
CAMERA FLASHES sparkle into his eye and reflect off of the podium.
MAYOR KENT
I’m astonished – that in such a beautiful day I will be giving a speech on the good news of today’s crime. There is no crime. There hasn’t been any in over a year in a half. We can certainly thank the last Mayor that came to this city hall even when I was a baby, Mayor Grissom.
APPLAUSE sounds, getting picked up by the microphone and echoes through the loud speakers.
MAYOR KENT
Grissom knew as I did. In order to crack down on crime we must sacrifice more and more police officers. We must recruit more. He did it, and I’m happy to say that I am also following in his footsteps. You might say Gotham City should have a name change after all of this.
(He laughs)
With your continued support we won’t need to worry about crime any longer. We can keep this peace from leaving.
SOME MORE APPLAUDING is heard but before it stops, a REPORTER stands up voicing a question. It’s JENNIFER GOLDSTEIN.
JENNIFER
Mayor Kent, is not true, then, there is a gang out there, named the Cronies?
MAYOR KENT
I will not lie, there is, but they have shown no criminal interactions thus far.
JENNIFER
Why couldn’t they be planning on something big?
MAYOR KENT
As I’ve said before, crime is going to try to happen, it’s whether it succeeds in doing so is the question on everybody’s mind. If the Cronies are going to do something, it will take a hell of a lot of planning to get passed our police department.
JENNIFER
What about Batman, do you think he will return?
MAYOR KENT smiles while taking a step from the podium and looking at JENNIFER and the numerous reporters.
MAYOR KENT
Batman did once do some good, but he is not the number one reason we are what we are today. As far as I know, Batman’s dead. We won’t need him anymore. He’s done a lot more bad than good to this city. Next Question?
JENNIFER lets other reporters yell their questions and backs up to avoid getting crushed by the crowd.
BRUCE stops her.
JENNIFER
Oh-
He laughs.
JENNIFER (cont’d)
Don’t scare me like that!
BRUCE
Sorry.
JENNIFER
Can you believe that jerk up there?
BRUCE
Ah, yes, the mayor. Younger means more stupid.
JENNIFER
No, he’s just more high on himself.
BRUCE
What did you ask him?
JENNIFER
Questions about the Cronies – crimes – Batman.
BRUCE
You asked about Batman – what – got something for bats now?
JENNIFER
No, I just think he’s still hanging around.
BRUCE
He might be dead.
JENNIFER
Your opinion.
Half of the reporters jump up as they see JENNIFER talking with BRUCE WAYNE.
RANDOM REPORTER
IT’S BRUCE WAYNE!
They gather around BRUCE and JENNIFER.
BRUCE
Sorry about, just wanted to see you.
JENNIFER
I think it’s kind of fun.
They gently kiss on the lips and smile as cameras flash.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHOES GALORE SHOP – DAY
TOD picks up a magazine from the rack in front of the counter and looks at the front cover. It’s a picture of BRUCE WAYNE in his office. The caption says “WAYNE RICHER THAN EVER . . . AND PROUD OF IT”
TOD
Bruce Wayne – he seems like a nice guy to me.
CHARLIE, TOD’S assistant, takes the magazine in his hands and tosses it across the shop.
CHARLIE
Looks like a prick.
TOD
Just because he’s rich you think that?
CHARLIE
I don’t think, I know. Most of these rich folks are.
TOD
Charlie, come on, you said most. He could be one of the few.
CHARLIE
I stand by my statement.
CHARLIE walks to the back room of the shop and enters. TOD creeps back to the magazine on the floor and picks it up.
TOD
(To himself)
Something about you, Bruce, that makes me feel like we are one in the same.
TOD takes his finger and circle’s it around BRUCE’S head.
A ring from the shop’s DOOR enters TOD’S ears, he turns around facing a PUNK in a ski mask.
PUNK
Oh, don’t move!
The PUNK lifts up a gun to his face.
PUNK (cont’d)
Take me to the register, pal!
TOD, frightened but still capable of action, walks behind the counter and opens the register.
TOD
There, take all you need.
PUNK
Don’t look at me while I’m getting it out.
TOD
Why?
PUNK
Do you want the reason to hit you in the head?
(Points the gun at his forehead)
Well, do you?
TOD
No – I’m sorry.
The PUNK proceeds to squander the money from the cash register.
A COCKING sound from a rifle is heard and the PUNK turns around to face CHARLIE, getting ready to shoot at him.
TOD (cont’d)
NO!
The PUNK open fires into the CHARLIE’S chest and CHARLIE returns the favor right into his stomach.
They BOTH seem to fall to the ground almost simultaneously.
TOD stares at the blank expressions on their faces. They were dead. He is the only one left alive. He leaps to CHARLIE and checks his pulse. Yep, DEAD.
TOD
Charlie – why?
TOD wipes a tear from his eye.
START FLASHBACK:
EXT. ALLEY – DARK – NIGHT
A PUNK from his memory stabs a TEEN TOD in the stomach. Bleeding, TOD falls to the ground. The PUNK steals his wallet, others watch not helping him. The PUNK runs down the street and out of view.
END FLASHBACK:
TOD opens one of the wooden drawers under the counter and searches through the stuff. Windex was on his mind, or some kind of poison. He sees a something big stuffed in the back and grabs for it, opening it up, and taking the container out of the briefcase.
A glass container, about five inches in tall, is in his hand.
TOD
Here we go!
TOD is totally lost it; he pops the containers top off and gulps it down. TOD waits.
BEAT.
Finally, his eyes start to bulge, his muscles quiver, and now he goes into convulsions on the floor, moaning and grunting.
A fan-fic by CARNOTAUR 3. Please comment and wait for the next part to arrive.
5/30/2003 5:47:19 PM
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