|
Batman: Reborn (Part 8)
By Carnotaur3
INT. HIDEOUT – DARK
DELUDION paces back in forth, holding the chemical flask.
DELUDION
Why? Why do I work with you people?!
Twenty CRONIES sit on the floor, watching him go ballistic.
DELUDION (cont’d)
Tinsil, find a way to get through to them!
TINSIL, calm and collective, gets up with a kind of soldier emotionless face.
TINSIL
Alright, listen to the boss. Batman can’t survive, he has to be dead! Killed! Dismembered! There will be no more screw ups! Do you hear me?
The orgy of CRONIES nod.
CRONIES
Yes, sir!
DELUDION
Thank you, Tinsil, you were a big help.
DELUDION takes out a silencer and fires it straight between TINSIL’S eyes. His lifeless body it’s the wooden floor, leaving the rest of the CRONIES shocked.
DELUDION
(Pointing to Tinsil)
This is you if you don’t get the job done.
The CRONIES get up from the floor and wait for the commands.
On CRONIE stands up.
CRONIE
Sir, if you have a plan, tell us.
DELUDION’S eyebrows lift up.
DELUDION
Batman is Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is a regular human being. Like regular human beings, they have mates, relationships with the opposite sex. In this case, Bruce has a girlfriend.
DELUDION chuckles under his breath.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOTHAM CITY HALL – CLOUDY DAY
COMMISSIONER GORDON stands up on the podium, and puts up his hand, trying not to get blinded by the lights flashing from the cameras.
NEWS REPORTERS are clogged together, each one pushing the other.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
It is reasonable to believe that we alone, can’t fight this evil force. With the assistance of a reborn Batman, and our finest scientist, we will come up with a way to find a cure for this disorder and dangerous gift Deludion has.
As if it was coming from loud speakers, DELUDION’S voice echoes in the air.
DELUDION
Batman! Batman! Why do you trust a caped freak?
COMMISSIONER GORDON
He does good which is more than I can say for you.
DELUDION laughs dryly.
DELUDION
I can do good. I can do a lot of good.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
I’d like to see you try, Deludion.
DELUDION appears in the middle of the reporters up ahead from the podium. The reporters step back.
DELUDION
I was born – a baby. Like everyone else. My parents loved me more than anything in the world. I was a nice – sweet – lovable kid.
He walks forward to the podium.
DELUDION (cont’d)
Then, one day, going off to a party, my parents went head on into a truck. The metal twisted around and inside my mom and dad. The – police – couldn’t get them out. I was called to come quick, while they were still living. When I got there, I watched them slowly die. They tried to say “I love you”, but the blood in their air passages chocked them. I was a young boy. I grew up the rest of my life, unloved by a foster parent. I had no friends, no real family to call my own.
EVERYONE was indeed sad, but they knew that he was trying to justify his reasons.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
Turn yourself in, lad, and the others. Make it easier on yourself.
DELUDION with a tear in his eye, put out his wrists, exposed outward towards the policemen. One officer comes up and hooks on the cuffs and shows him toward the cruiser at the street corner.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
Deludion, where are the others?
DELUDION
An old shack, about two blocks that way.
(Points down the street)
It’s the only one there.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROOFTOP – DAY
BATMAN’S cape drapes down on the graveled rooftop of a nearby building. He looks down to see DELUDION being pushed into the POLICE CRUISER.
BATMAN
Too easy – way too easy.
CUT TO:
EXT. SHACK – DAY
A large van breaks and stops in front of the supposed HIDEOUT. SWAT team moves in, quickly and seeming affective.
CUT TO:
INT. SHACK – DIM
As the swat team enters the building, they break up into other segments, few going down stairs, and another few going up the stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE CRUISER – DAY
The police OFFICER driving the vehicle turns around toward DELUDION.
OFFICER
So, the infamous Deludion is finally in custody.
DELUDION doesn’t look at him, but stairs outside, looking at the shack down the street.
OFFICER (cont’d)
If it wasn’t for everyone around, I’d make sure to kick your ass to death.
DELUDION watches as the shack explodes in flames.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - DAY
The blast knocks the vehicle onto its side. The OFFICER falls into the passenger side window, stuck.
CUT TO:
INT. POLICE CRUISER – DAY
DELUDION’S feet move forward, going straight into the cage like bars and locking around the OFFICER’S neck.
DELUDION
So you wanted to kick my ass?
DELUDION twists his neck until it snaps.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – DAY
DELUDION crawls out from the driver’s side and leaps onto the street. Several people are running past him, towards the building on fire.
DELUDION
Never trust an enemy… no matter how convincing!
BATMAN falls from a nearby building and lands in front of DELUDION. In quick reaction, the villain throws fire at him, but BATMAN dodges it like he’d anticipated it, and flings his BATMAN BOOMERANG into the air.
It glides and directly hit’s DELUDION’S hand, blood drops to the asphalt and sizzles. The BOOMERANG comes back to its master.
BATMAN
Go to hell.
DELUDION
Let’s not judge, we’ll leave God for that.
BATMAN
I hate to be the burden of bad news, but I’m His angel of death!
BATMAN summersaults in the air and comes down to DELUDION’S open face, knocking him down.
DELUDION
What happened to our deal, Bruce? I decided that you were giving up on that, so I decided to get my 15 seconds of fame and respect. It didn’t work so I got my back up plan in mode.
BATMAN
You’re a coward, Tod. I suggest you give it up. No matter how much strength you think you have, you will go down sometime.
DELUDION
I’m prepared to live my numbered life to the fullest!
DELUDION throws himself back up and is balanced on two feet. BATMAN sucker punches him, but he takes it. DELUDION, then, takes BATMAN by the shoulders and pushes him into a vehicle. BATMAN slides off the hood.
CUT TO:
INT. CAB – DAY
A CAB driver sees the mayhem and is about to turn around when the door is opened and suddenly tears off its hinges, sailing on the top of another car.
The CAB driver is finally pulled out too, unsuspectingly.
DELUDION is now in the driver’s seat.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET – DAY
The CAB speeds and swerves, missing cars left from right.
BATMAN jumps up, pulls out his grapple again and attaches it with one clean swipe to the bumper of the CAB and also a light pole. The CAB stops instantaneously, the wheels still spinning and puffing up smoke from the asphalt.
Screeching from the tires commences as BATMAN runs to the CAB. He leaps onto the hood, getting ready to break the glass windshield with his fist, but the bumper breaks off and the VEHICLE jolts forward, almost knocking BATMAN off his feat.
He holds onto the sides with both hands. DELUDION, inside the CAB, swerves the vehicle to the left, but BATMAN still hangs on.
DELUDION decides to go ahead and get rid of the rodent for good and drives head on to a brick building. BATMAN looks back, puzzled if he should believe the masterful mind would do it or not, if he’s just playing chicken.
He sees he will, so BATMAN shoots his grapple once again, this time, it latches onto a concrete window sill and BATMAN scales up the building, just as the CAB hits the bricks.
DELUDION jumps out and shakes his head.
DELUDION
Stupid Bat!
CUT TO:
INT. WAYNE MANOR DEN – DIM
A fire crackles in the fireplace where we see BRUCE WAYNE comfortably relaxing with JENNIFER on the sofa; their bodies sprawled up next to each other.
In the background, the radio is heard.
ANNOUNCER
And new tonight, Deludion escapes again, Batman trying too hard to take him down, but the guy was just too strong. The Cronies have so far taken over many streets. Gotham Police Department is calling for more reinforcements and recruits. Tonight though has been quiet and although everything seems to have calmed down, police are still on the look out for these common thugs to strike again.
In other news, a truck load of sleeping and deadly gas was discovered missing -
BRUCE WAYNE frowns.
JENNIFER
I know, but this city’s seen worse days.
BRUCE
Yep.
JENNIFER
Are you ok? Are you not up for tonight’s dinner?
BRUCE
I just have a little headache, that’s all. It’s nothing too serious.
JENNIFER
You know what always helped my headaches?
BRUCE
Bunch of pills?
JENNIFER
No, silly. It was a wet, warm cloth on my forehead.
JENNIFER walks into the kitchen behind the sofa.
BRUCE
You know you don’t have to both.
JENNIFER (V.O.)
Well, I do want to go to that dinner tonight.
We hear JENNIFER turning on the faucet.
BRUCE
Oh, please, save the zoos fundraiser?
JENNIFER (V.O.)
They’re not that bad.
BRUCE
Only the speeches they have during the dinner.
JENNIFER walks back in, this time, wet and warm cloth in hand.
JENNIFER
I still like their food
She sits back down and leans forward, pushing BRUCE down into the sofa. She gently places the cloth onto his forehead.
JENNIFER (cont’d)
And it’s always good to keep a good profile on your self, especially when you are the girlfriend of one of the richest people in America.
Her voice is soothing to listen to.
BRUCE
Jen…
JENNIFER
(Caressing his head)
Yeah?
BRUCE
(Soft voice)
You’re so beautiful.
They gently kiss on the lips.
BRUCE (cont’d)
I don’t know what I would do without you. I truly don’t know.
JENNIFER
Let’s not think about that right now.
They kiss more passionately this time, lips locked longer.
FADE TO:
EXT. BALL ROOM – BRIGHT
A giant chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the beautifully decorated ball room. Several people sitting at tables applaud at the person on stage.
As he rambles on, BRUCE, JENNIFER, and CARL watch, anxiously waiting for him to shut up.
CARL
(Whispering)
I almost hate to be rude, but, where’s our food?
BRUCE and JENNIFER give off a light chuckle.
BRUCE
I told you Jen.
JENNIFER
I don’t care what you said, I’m starving too.
CARL
I’m going to the restroom, nobody eat anything from my plate when it arrives.
They chuckle again.
BRUCE
We’ll try to think twice.
CARL gets up and maneuvers his way to the restroom. BRUCE smiles and turns to JENNIFER.
JENNIFER
What?
BRUCE gulps and looks around. Then, he looks back at JENNIFER.
BRUCE
Jennifer… things are getting really bad, in Gotham. I mean, really bad.
JENNIFER
I know.
BRUCE
No, you don’t. They ARE worse than ever. It’s because of a secret, a secret that has been kept for many years. It’s my secret.
JENNIFER
I don’t understand.
BRUCE
I know. I know you won’t. Before it gets worse, I want you to know, that I want you. I want you to stay by my side, for my whole life. I want you to marry me.
JENNIFER’S eyes tear up.
JENNIFER
Bruce…
BRUCE
I know I don’t have a ring to give you.
JENNIFER
Bruce, you’re all I want. I don’t want a ring. I honestly don’t care for them.
BRUCE
I love you, Jennifer.
JENNIFER
I just want to know – what is your secret?
BRUCE, stunned that she has asked it again, looks down at the table cloth and shakes his head, putting his hands over his mouth and eyes.
JENNIFER (cont’d)
I love you too, Bruce, but I can’t have a husband that keeps secrets from me.
He gets up from the dinner table and BRUCE runs to her.
BRUCE
NO! JENNIFER!
Obviously, they are making a scene; people looking back, watching their every move.
JENNIFER almost reaches the door, where two security guards are at when BOOM!
An identical burst of fire, such as a BACKDRAFT, rolls from the two doors, knocking the two guards onto the floor, burning to death.
JENNIFER stands stunned by the spectacle. DELUDION appears from out of the smoke, smirking at JENNIFER.
He comes forward just as she is turning to run and grabs her collar. He then, keeps walking, holding her up by that neck piece of her shirt. She screams.
BRUCE watches in horror as he sees his enemy coming to him, his girlfriend in his hand.
DELUDION
Bruce, I don’t think you’ve introduced me to your lovely lady.
BRUCE
Let her go!
DELUDION takes JENNIFER onto the middle table in the middle of the room. He stands on it.
DELUDION
No, Bruce, I think I want to have fun with her!
He takes her into his arms. He kind of moves her hands around, humming a tune.
DELUDION (cont’d)
Doesn’t she look good dancing – with me?
BRUCE
Take me, Deludion, take me!
DELUDION
Then, the fun and games would be over.
DELUDION takes out a pistol and pushes JENNIFER down by her head. He points at the top of her head.
BRUCE screams.
BRUCE
No, don’t!
DELUDION
Then I think you know what you need to do.
BRUCE
What is it?
DELUDION
You mean - Gotham – all of Gotham – doesn’t know who you really are?
BRUCE stares, his eyes tearing up. DELUDION clicks the gun. But no bullet hits her. Everyone in the ball room screams.
DELUDION (cont’d)
I’m loosing my patients.
BRUCE
No! Please!
DELUDION
Yes! What is your secret, Bruce? Who are you?
JENNIFER cries, her tears hitting the white table cloth.
BRUCE
I love you, Jennifer!
DELUDION waits, something is about to come out of BRUCE’S mouth.
EVERYONE in the ball room looks forward at him.
BEAT.
BRUCE (cont’d)
(Whispering)
I’m Batman.
DELUDION
How about for those in the back that can’t hear!
BRUCE
I’M BATMAN!
He falls to the ground, sweating.
DELUDION
Thank you, kindly, Bruce Wayne, you’ve been a real good role model these past few days. And your reward is now being given.
DELUDION fires two shots, point blank, range into JENNIFER’S head. The white table cloth now is red with her blood, and she falls over dead.
BRUCE
(Shrilled yell)
NO! DAMN IT! JENNIFER! NO! JENNIFER!
EVERYONE screams out in terror as they watch DELUDION throw a rope over the chandelier and climb up on it. Then, he climbs up the chain of the chandelier… he then reaches the glass window top and busts through.
BRUCE crawls to his lifeless girlfriend. He holds her into his arms, rocking her back and forth.
The PEOPLE watch BRUCE WAYNE, vulnerable, depressed, and in despair, as we cries out upward.
BRUCE
NO! HOW COULD YOU!
He calms down more, but he’s still grieving uncontrollably.
CARL steps forward from the circle of PEOPLE.
CARL
Bruce… I…
BRUCE sets JENNIFER’S head down very gently on the table. He walks in front of the people, then he pushes them out of the way. Now he’s running full speed out of the ball room door.
CARL (cont’d)
Oh, my God!
Suddenly, through the vents, a yellow colored gas seeps through. Everyone panics.
CUT TO:
EXT. DARK FOREST – STORMY
Lightning strikes a tree as BRUCE speeds through the dark forest, pushing back branches and anything in his way.
BRUCE (V.O.)
I ran as fast as I could. I was going no where. I was trying to escape the fears, the anxieties. I was trying escape my life. Everything felt somewhat familiar. I felt like I felt when my parents were died. Alone. I was alone – again.
BRUCE steps into loose soil and the ground caves in, his body falling into darkness.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE – DARK
Opening his eyes, BRUCE WAYNE’S blurred vision becomes clearer, seeing the rocky formations around him.
He gets up slowly, trying to analyze what happened when –
BATMAN (O.S.)
(Whispering)
Bruce.
BRUCE looks around.
BRUCE
What? Who are you? What are you?
BATMAN (O.S.)
I’m your destiny; your gift.
BRUCE
I want nothing of you.
BATMAN (O.S.)
I am what you are. I am apart of you!
BRUCE
No, you are what keeps me from living a normal life.
BATMAN (O.S.)
Bruce, you have forgotten who you are, your place in this world. And most importantly, you have forgotten that fate has called upon you.
BRUCE looks forward seeing a SLOLWY MOVING GIANT BAT coming to him.
BATMAN (O.S.) (cont’d)
I am you! You have forgotten me. You are the savior of crime. You are destined for even great things than before.
BRUCE’S eyes twinkle. He looks up with HOPE for the first time ever.
BATMAN (O.S.) (cont’d)
You are BATMAN!
8/6/2003 2:58:54 AM
Comment on this fan fiction!
|
|
|
