“BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE BAT”
“BATMAN BEGINS PART 2”
Screenplay
By
Michael Snyder
Based on Characters Created
By
Bob Kane
SECOND DRAFT
June 22, 2005
INT.AN APARTMENT WINDOW-NIGHT
Two people, one man and one woman are watching a
THREE STOOGES RE-RUN.
Woman
(Laughs)
Man
They don’t make comedy like they used to…!
The door-bell goes off and the man rises form his seat.
Man
I’ll get it honey!
The man opens the door and a shadowy thin figure
stands in his doorway.
Man
Sorry guys (Laughs), how can I help you?
A knife is stabbed straight into his face! The
woman looks over her shoulder.
Woman
Hurry up STAN! You’re missing a classic!
She gets up from her seat, and starts towards the
door.
Woman
Who is it anyway?
As she nears the door she sees his body missing
and a JOKER card nailed to the door.
Woman
STAN!?!
She turns back around and calls nine-one-one.
Woman
Hello! Yes my husband seems to be missing, no…there’s this JOKER card nailed to the door…thank you.
She starts crying hysterically.
Voice
It’s quite funny how one can go from laughter to tears. (laughs)
The woman turns around and shock fills her face! She screams in terror! THE JOKERS’ laugh is heard.
EXT. OPENING CREDITS-BLACK SCREEN
I’d PERSONALLY prefer if the music from the original
Batman movie was played here, as I feel that that score is almost
perfectly made for The Dark Knight. The Danny Elfman score.
FADE IN FROM CREDITS
EXT. SKYLINE-NIGHT
Gotham City. The skyline view of this city makes
it seems innocent. The moon is bright and a
familiar figure is seen walking on a rooftop,
it’s BATMAN! He stands on top of the roof, like a
true savior. The moon is suddenly filled with the
insignia of THE BAT! Batman turns and walks
away.
EXT. OUTSIDE OF BULDING-NIGHT
Police cars are surrounding a building, looks like
an apartment. A police man gives his team the
signal to move in and others follow.
INT.INSIDE APRATMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
A white police man and black police man are
crowding an apartment door, one on both sides.
SWAT team members are waiting down the hall,
shotguns ready. Lt.Gordon is also in view. The
black cop gives the white cop a head nod, and they
busts through the door. The police officers enter
the room, and find a dead body, female, lying on
the living room floor, smiling. The SWAT team
members go into the other rooms in the building,
searching for anything else.
Gordon enters, and kneels down by the body. Zero
in one her hand; she has a Joker card and a note.
Gordon has a surprised look on his face; he
carefully takes both items, and walks over to
Police chief Loeb.
Jim Gordon
Look at THIS
Chief Loeb
WHAT!?!? This Joker freak has left cards with the last SIX VICTIMS!
Jim Gordon
No, not the card…THE NOTE
ZERO-IN on note, it has “BUBBLE LETTER” drawings of DEATH on the side of it. It states:
Victim number seven, I believe.
Looks like I’m really on a roll!!
Maybe good ole Bat-Boy will stop me…
Since the “OH SO GREAT GOTHAM POLICE FORCE” can’t
With Love,
THE JOKER
P.S: Tell Batsy I said hi
Jim Gordon looks at the chief with grief in his
eyes.
Chief Loeb
Ok, use the Bat-Signal… (Sigh)
Gordon
I already did, before we came…
Chief Loeb
WHAT? I told you that without my recognition that...FREAK should never be called upon to do OUR work!
Voice
I prefer NOT to be called a freak!
The two police officers turn around and to their
surprise batman is standing right behind them
Jim Gordon
BATMAN! Glad you could make it!
Batman
Thank-You Mr. Gordon, and chief, it’s always a pleasure!
Jim Gordon
(Chuckles) You remember that guy I told you about, that left the Joker Cards?
Batman
Yes…
Jim Gordon
Well…
Chief Loeb
(Interrupting) Well that FREAK... (Pauses, looks at Batman)Has killed seven innocent people…we would like you to…
Jim Gordon
(Interrupting) We need you, to look into it, OH and he left this note…
Gordon hands the note to Batman, Batman briefly
looks it over then throws it across the room.
Chief Loeb
HEY! That’s evidence!
The chief walks across the room and Gordon watches
him.
Chief Loeb
(While walking across the room to get note)
Listen up Bat-FREAK…this is my city a-n…
As the chief looks back towards Gordon, Batman is
gone!
Chief Loeb
Where did he go?
Jim Gordon
To do OUR work... (Smiles)
A loud roar is heard, THE BATMOBILE, Gordon’s face
lights up and he smiles.
EXT.WAYNE MANOR-NIGHT
Bruce Wayne is having a BIG party, with classical music
playing and a large amount of fancy dressed people. Bruce is
talking with a tall black man. A man dressed in a grey suit
walks over to Bruce.
Man
Mr. Wayne…Mr. Wayne
Bruce Wayne (To black man)
Hold on one second Charlie…yes, what is it?
Man (Extends Hand)
Robert Kane, of “The Gotham News”, I was just wandering what you think about this BAT-MAN?
Bruce(Shakes Hand)
Oh…Kane, I like your work, well personally I believe that the guy has mental problems, but I could be wrong.
Robert
Yeah, I guess anyone who dresses up like a bat, MUST be Looney!
Bruce
On the other hand, he does do great work; I mean he is cleaning up the streets of Gotham!
Robert
Right, Right…
Bruce
Now if you’ll excuse me, I must get going…got to mingle… (Smiles)
(Robert Kane, the character, is a tribute to BOB KANE the
creator of BATMAN) Bruce Wayne goes over and talks to other
people, Kane walks over to Alfred and asks for some champagne.
INT.THE JOKERS HIDEOUT-NIGHT
The room is large and has a stage at the far side of it,
chairs and Benches face the stage, and the curtain is down.
Behind the curtain, THE JOKER is sitting at a large wooden
table with paper all over it, he picks up a newspaper article
which states: BATMAN: FRIEND OR FOE.
The Joker
THE BATMAN, eh? (Laughs)What kind of FREAK runs around dressed like a BAT? (Laughs)ROGER!! Come here…
A tall fat man dressed in all green enters the room.
Roger
Yes, sir?
The Joker
Get me my Batman file…
Roger
Right away, sir…
The fat man stumbles out of the room awkwardly and then
returns with a yellow binder. The Joker opens it and places
the newspaper clipping into it.
The Joker
(Makes a stupid noise) Batsy, Batsy…who are you? (Laughs)
EXT.A HOUSE-NIGHT
A purple and green van is outside of a house, and two men get
out of the car wearing purple clown shoes and clothes with
green faces. They go to the mans door and ring the doorbell…a
friendly man answers the door.
Man
How can I help you?
One of the two men stab the man in the heart, then the other
nails a joker card to his head. A security guard is watching
this he radios in to his base.
Security Guard
This is Scott, Professor Wiley was just stabbed in the heart by two men, and they’re now fleeing the seen, in a green van! Send back up NOW!
The two men flee the seen, speeding away in their van, and as
they drive away the BAT-SIGNAL is seen in the sky. The
security guard walks over to the body and sees the JOKER card
nailed to Mr.Wileys head.
Voice
The Joker…
The security guard turns around and sees Batman standing
right there with him.
Scott
Oh Batman…I’m glad to see you here…
Batman
What’s this mans name?
Scott
Professor Jake Wiley…he teaches at the Gotham University. (Looks down at the body) Yeah he was a really nice guy…
Scott looks back at Batman and Batman is gone.
INT. WAYNE MANOR-DAY
The MANOR is rebuilt, as Bruce had said, brick for brick.
From the outside it is as beautiful and large as it was
before it got destroyed.
INT.WAYNE MANOR (INSIDE)-DAY
Alfred is walking towards Bruce’s bedroom, he stops and
checks his watch… he sighs and rolls his eyes.
Alfred
3:00 in the afternoon and still sleeping
He knocks on the door.
Alfred
Master Bruce…
He knocks again.
Alfred
Master Bruce…are you okay?
He opens the door, and enters the room franticly, as he
enters the room he notices that the bed is made and Bruce
is no-where to be found. Alfred gets a confused look on
his face and then a hand grabs him by the face and pulls
him backwards. As Alfred elbows and squirms he is let go
of, and he notices that it was Bruce Wayne the whole time!
Alfred
Master Bruce, you had me scared to death!
Bruce
(Smiles) Good, but what would you have done if it hadn’t been me?
Alfred
Well then I would’ve used this…
He pulls a small revolver out of his pocket.
Bruce
ALFRED!?!?
Alfred raises it towards Bruce’s head and pulls the
trigger a small flag which states BANG! On it fly’s out
of the barrel. Bruce jumps back.
Alfred
(Laughs) Well, well, well master Bruce looks like your ninja skills have failed you again (laughs)
Bruce
That wasn’t funny Alfred… (Laughs)
Bruce puts his arm around Alfred’s shoulder and they walk
down the long hallway.
EXT. WAYNE MANOR (DINING ROOM)-DAY
Bruce Wayne is sipping a coffee and reading a news-paper
while Alfred brings him a bowl of soup.
Alfred
Have a good night, Master Bruce?
Bruce
Well, I got some good leads that will hopefully point me in the direction of The Joker.
Alfred
How is the paper, any publicity shots…? (Smiles)
Bruce
No just a story on me … on Batman (starts reading):
It seems that our “Caped Crusader” is the polices’
Last choice to find the elusive Joker. “We’ve decided to let that Bat-FREAK…Assist us on our quest to find this Joker Lunatic”, says Police Chief Loeb.
(Stops reading)What a prick.
(Continues):
Well it seems that this “Creature of The Night” is Gorham’s Savior; he’s known as Batman…The Dark Knight.
Alfred
The Dark Knight, sir?
Bruce
The Dark Knight…hmmmm it’s interesting
Alfred
(Chuckles) Yes I guess it does have a certain ring to it, sir.
INT.A FINE DINING RESTURANT-NIGHT
Bruce Wayne and Rachel are sitting in a very nice restaurant
eating desert. Bruce is wearing a blue suit with a white tie,
and Rachel is wearing a black dress.
Bruce
You look beautiful tonight…
Rachel
Thank you and I think you look much better in this suit then you do your other… (smiles)
Bruce
(laughs) You always could make me laugh, Rachel!
Rachel takes a bite of her ice cream.
Bruce
How’s your ice cream?
Rachel
Oh it’s very good, thank you
Rachel
You remember that time when we were kids, and we were running around your house…playing hide and go seek…and you hid in the garden behind the tallest plant, and it took me four hours to find you? (Smiling)
Bruce
Yes…
Rachel
Well, when I couldn’t find you, I was really scared…I thought maybe you had hurt yourself…I (pauses) I never want to feel that again.
Bruce
Rachel…
Rachel
(interrupting) I know that you feel that what you do is right and that you MUST do it…but…
Bruce
Rachel…don’t worry about me
Rachel
But I DO worry about you Bruce…
Bruce gets up and walks outside…leaving money on the table,
Rachel follows him out…and sees him standing by the street, she
puts her arm around his shoulder. His watch beeps…
Bruce
Oh…I have to go
Rachel
DAMN IT BRUCE, WAKE UP…
Bruce
What are you talking about Rachel?
Rachel
YOU can’t save this city…
Bruce
Then I’ll die trying
Bruce gives Rachel the key’s to his car.
Bruce
Here, you can take my car…
Bruce runs over to the street and takes a taxi.
EXT.GOTHAM PARK-NIGHT
Batman is sitting in a tree watching a young boy, too young to
be out this late wander around Gotham Park. The boy looks
frightened, as he looks for someone to help him. A man dressed
in dirty clothes, homeless, grabs the young boy, and Batman
immediately jumps out of the tree, wings expanded, and addresses
the criminal.
Batman
Leave the boy alone
Boy
HELP!
Man
HOLY SHIT!!!THE-BAT! Don’t hurt me, man!
The man drops the kid, and takes off running in the other
direction. The boy stands in front of Batman.
Batman
What’s your name?
Boy
Dick Grayson…hey… your Batman…
Batman
Yes, Dick, your right…what are you doing out here by yourself?
Dick
Well, my family and I just moved here, and I snuck out to come to the park.
Batman
Why do you like the park?
Dick
I read that Robins were all over this park…their my favorite bird…
Batman
Well…you best be getting home, come here and hold on tight.
Dick Grayson (FUTURE ROBIN) walks up to Batman and holds on to
him tightly, Batman uses his Bat-Grapple to fly to the nearest
roof top.
Batman
Where do you live?