Batman:Knightfall
by
Josh Ivanoff
First Draft
OPEN TO--
EXTERIOR--BLACKGATE PRISON COMPLEX--RAINY NIGHT
Search lights straif the dark sky.
The prison complex looks more like a gothic castle than
a prison. It's towers break through the clouds.
PULL IN-- Prison guards tour the grounds with attack dogs
and carrying semi-automatic rifles.
PULL IN-- Guards seem to be given a wide berth to one
section of wall.
There is one barred window that is like a blackhole in
the brick wall.
PULL IN-- through the window.
Darkness envelops the jail cell.
The search light beams through the window.
The light crawls across the cobblestone floor.
The light quickly glides over the dark naked figure of
Bane.
The light goes past him then disappears.
Bane is curled into a ball in the corner.
There is the sound of footsteps on cobblestone coming
from down the hallway.
Bane , now cloaked in darkness, ignores the sound.
A figure, the head guard Vincent Garbo, ducks into view
on the other side of the bars.
Bane sits unmoved.
GARBO (V.O)
Bane.
Bane turns his hidden face to the guard.
Garbo takes something out of his pocket.
GARBO
I have something from our
mutual friend.
Garbo holds the object up and we can see what it is for
the first time. He holds up a syringe full of green liquid.
Bane's eyes go wide.
Garbo starts to hand it Bane.
He pulls it back before Bane can grab it leaving Bane
grasping air.
Garbo smiles.
GARBO
I want the where abouts to
Poison Ivy's stash.
Bane puts his hand out palm up.
GARBO
No info no drugs.
Garbo starts to get pissed.
GARBO
I don't want to be a guard
for the rest of my life!
Bane squeezes his open hand to a fist.
BANE
AFTER.
Garbo gives in and hands it to Bane.
Bane takes a moment to admire the cylinder.
He squeezes a little of the preciouse fluid out of the
six inch needle.
Bane closes his fist tight around the syringe.
Bane quickly but painfully jabs the needle into his
heart.
Garbo falls back a little at this sight.
Bane says nothing injecting the serum.
He pulls out the needle and falls to the ground.
Garbo stands looking down at the giant.
GARBO
Shit.
Banes body is still on the wet cobblestone floor.
Garbo's eyes go wide as--
--a ripple of pumped up muscle moves down Banes body.
Bane begins to stir.
Garbo reaches down for his gun.
Bane pushes himself off the floor and slowly stands up.
Garbo is shocked at the now massive Bane.
GARBO
(frightened)
The..info.
Bane reaches and grabs the bars.
Garbo grabs his gun in his holster.
The gun is stuck and won't budge.
Bane with a grunt rips the bars out of the wall.
The alarm bells immediatly go off.
Garbo trips over his own feet falling towards the back
wall.
Bane drops the bars onto the floor.
Garbo rips the gun from the holster--
--and raises it up towards Bane.
Bane grabs Garbo's gun hand and squezzes it.
There is a popping sound as cartlidge and bones snap.
GARBO
AAAGH!
Garbo drops the gun.
Bane lets go and Garbo drops to his knees cradling his
gun hand.
Bane stands over him like a giant.
BANE
Small men like you find
power in money.
With one hand Bane lifts him off the floor by his neck.
BANE
I find my power--
Garbo struggles to free himself.
Bane smiles, the darkness hiding all but his teeth and
eyes.
There is a loud cracking sound.
BANE
--in BREAKING small men.
Garbo falls to the ground like a bag of potatoes.
Bane turns to face the red lit hallway out.
Most men would run but Bane just strolls down the corridor.
OPENING CREDITS--
FADE IN--
GOTHAM CITY--EAST RIVER--WAREHOUSE DISTRICT--NIGHT
EXTERIOR--Lowen's Fish Warehouse
PSYCHO (V.O.)
It's all a matter of consequence
that brings us here.
PULL IN-- Through a broken window.
Dark grey of shadows.
PSYCHO (IN DARKNESS)
You a common piece of Gotham street
trash--
PULL CLOSER--
BLACK SHADOWS
PSYCHO (IN DARKNESS)
--and me the number one killer this
side of Metropolis--
(beat)
-- or soon I will be.
CLOSE UP--A match lights.
The light shines in Psycho's face, a wirery man of 30. His face is beautiful and hides his evil intension.
He smiles.
PSYCHO
Shall we get on with it.
In front of him on the floor is a red haired girl of twenty.
Psycho lights a candle.
He pulls out a long curved blade.
He rolls the girl over to see him.
CLOSE UP-- Barbara Pennyworth with dyed red hair. Her face is bruised and her clothes are tattered. Ropes are tied tight around her hands and feet. A gag covers her mouth.
Psycho straddles her.
He raises the knife.
There is a loud CRACKING sound as glass breaks behind him.
He spins around wincing to see through the darkness.
A sly smile cracks the Psycho's lips.
PSYCHO
Ah, a better victim has arrived.
Psycho stands up .
Barbara squints looking up at the would be killer.
She brings her bound legs up and--
-- kicks Psycho in the back knocking him into some crates.
Psycho pushes himself away from the crates.
He turns to face Barbara.
PSYCHO
Feisty one aren't you. Don't worry
I'll kill you next.
The candle blows out.
PSYCHO
HUH !
Everything is dark reduced to shadows and moving shapes.
A caped figure moves into frame. BATMAN.
Batman kicks Psycho in the chest sending him reeling.
Psycho collapses to the ground the wind knocked out of him.
He coughs and spits.
The Bat stands over him.
BATMAN
I'm bringing you in.
Psycho stands and slashes at Batman.
Batman slaps the knife out of Psycho's hand.
The madman turns and runs.
Batman turns and looks back at Barbara.
BATMAN
Robin, untie Barbara. I'll
get Psycho.
Robin emerges from the shadows.
ROBIN
He's heading towards the roof.
Batman disappears in the shadows.
Robin leans down and ungags Barbara.
ROBIN
I love the red hair.
BARBARA
Shut up and untie me, bird boy.
Robin winks.
ROBIN
You sure?
CUT TO--
A door on the street light lit roof slams open. Psycho emerges out of breath.
He continues to run to the edge of the roof.
A batarang whips around his legs as he runs.
Psycho falls to the roofs gravel surface.
He tries to crawl to the roofs edge. His fingers dig into the gravel as he tries to pull himself forward.
BATMAN
You need help, John.
Baman stands over him.
Psycho continues to crawl.
Batty grabs the madman and raises him in the air and stands him up.
Psycho looks defeated looking down at the ground.
BATMAN
Arkham is waiting for your return.
A smile crosses the madman's lips.
With his free hands he whips out two thin long blades.
He slices in an X across Batman's chest.
Batman steps back in shock.
PSYCHO
Batman does bleed.
Batman's eyes go cold.
He slams a fist into Psycho sending him toppling backwards.
Psycho's feet scitter on the edge of the roof.
He starts to fall--
-- a black gloved hand grabs Psycho's shirt.
Batman holds Psycho over the edge.
Psycho drops the knives and grabs Batman's arm to hold on.
PSYCHO
Don't kill me. I'm a sick man.
I've killed thirteen people.
Batman thinks about it.
BATMAN
Batman doesn't kill, not even
someone like you.
Batman tosses Psycho back onto the roof.
The madman slams into the gravel with a THUMP.
He looks over towards the Batman and gives a quick smile before passing out.
There's a clapping coming from the doorway.
ROBIN
That was beautiful. As many times
I see it it still brings a tear to
my eye.
Batman humphs at him.
BATMAN
So will intense pain.
(beat)
Barbara okay?
Robin nods.
ROBIN
She's a little banged up but okay.
How are you ?
Batman looks down at his cuts.
BATMAN
I'll live.
ROBIN
Of course, what was I thinking?
SMASH CUT TO--
The red and blue lights light up the outside of the warehouse.
Four police officers escort Psycho to a Paddywagon.
Commisioner Gordon stands arms crossed smoking a cigar and watching them haul off Psycho.
GORDON
He's insane.
The shadows away from the lights behind Gordon move slightly.
BATMAN
A lot of people would say I was
just as insane.
Gordon shakes his head.
GORDON
I don't think so.
(beat)
Besides in the end isn't what you
think of yourself the only thing that
matters?
BATMAN
In most cases.
The paddywagon speeds off.
GORDON
Maybe this time Arkham will keep
him in.
Something slides past Gordon's foot.
He looks down and sees a package wrapped in black with a yellow ribbon.
He reaches down and picks it up.
Gordon unwraps the package.
He removes a pipe.
BATMAN
This won't smell as bad as that
cigar.
Gordon examines the carved pipe.
GORDON
Thanks.
BATMAN
Happy birthday, James.
Gordon turns around and Batman is gone.
GORDON
He always does that.
CUT TO--
Dark city streets of Gotham.
Bane , covered in a trenchcoat and wearing a wide brimmed hat, walks past some hookers into the a cheap hotel.
INTERIOR
Bane walks past a group of drunks in the lobby to the front desk.
A weaselly looking man in his forties stands behind the table reading a comic book.
Bane stands before the man, but the weasel doesn't notice.
Annoyed, Bane slams his fist into the counter top.
The man looks down at Bane's fists--
-- dug into the now splinterd counter.
WEASEL
Um..Can I ... *gulp*..help you?
Bane ,his face obscured in the shadow from his hat, stares coldly at the clerk.
BANE
I have a room.
Weasel turns and grabs a book.
He flips through it.
He stops on a page and examines it.
WEASEL
What's the...name?
BANE
Manson.
The clerk looks closer trying to read the hand writting.
WEASEL
Manson. Manson?
(beat)
Yeah, room three-sixteen.
Weasel grabs a key from under the counter--
--and puts it in the large hand of Bane.
Bane closes his hand as the clerk pulls his away quikly as not to be crushed by the mammoth paw.
WEASEL
Anything I can get you.
Bane starts to walk up the stairs, which creak from the stress of his weight.
BANE
Peace.
INTERIOR-- ROOM #316
From inside the dark room we hear the door unlock.
It slowly opens to show the dark outline of Bane in the doorway.
He walks in shutting the door behind him.
He walks to the window of his room and opens the curtains to view the city.
BANE
You're out there somewhere.
A reflection of a blinking red light catches his attention in the glass.
He turns to see--
-- a laptop computer sitting on the coffee table.
He sits on the bed facing it and opens the laptop.
A window in the center blinks on.
The window holds the view of a dark man sitting on a throne of stone.
The figure shifts in his seat--
--Surprising Bane a little.
FIGURE
(thick mediteranean accent)
Greetings, Mr. Bane, I hope your
escape went okay.
BANE
Who are you?
The man shifts again his purple cloak falling around him.
FIGURE
We have never met. But I'm the
man that purchased you before
your assisted escape.
BANE
(ANGRILY)
No one owns me.
FIGURE
No man is to be owned I agree,
but you owe me.
(beat)
I set you free.
BANE
What is your price for my freedom.
The dark figure leans forward.
His face still obscurred by darkness but a smile shows through the darkness.
FIGURE
I need you to destroy the Batman.
CUT TO--
INTERIOR BATCAVE
Bruce Wayne walks out of the changing chamber in black jeans and no shirt.
His body is showing little signs of age but scars that will never truly
heal, bullet wounds, knife wounds, dragging scars, cover parts of his chest, his back and arms.
The x on his chest is the newest wound and still bleeds even as he dabs it with a white towel.
Alfred stands waiting for him outside the chamber.
He holds out a black towel.
ALFRED
Please, Master Bruce, You know
how hard it is to get blood stains
out of a white towel.
(beat)
Use the black towels.
Bruce looks guilty and hands the white towel to Alfred.
He takes the black towel and puts that against his wound.
BRUCE
Sorry.
Alfred notices the depth of the wound.
ALFRED
My word! That's a nasty cut.
Dick Grayson sits by a large black table chowing down on a burger.
Barbara bandaged and cleaned up picks at her burger.
BRUCE
Merely a flesh wound.
Bruce sits down next to Dick.
ALFRED
I'll get the first aid kit.
Bruce looks over at Barbara.
BRUCE
You okay.
Barbara looks embarressed with the question.
BARBARA
I screwed up.
BRUCE
Yes, you did.
(beat)
You should have stopped him before
he could tie you up. The man is insane.
You can't predict what he can do.
Barbara can't make eye contact.
BARB
I'm sorry.
BRUCE
Don't be sorry, be smart.
He reaches across the table and puts his hand over hers.
BRUCE
I won't be around forever to
save you. You and Dick must
be able to take care of yourselves.
She nods a reply.
He smiles a kind smile.
Alfred returns with some bandages and a sewing kit on a silver tray.
ALFRED
You, young lady, must gets some sleep.
Tommorrow is your last day with us and
you have some packing to do.
BARBARA
How am I suppose to go to MSU
with this shiner?
Dick smiles a sly smile.
DICK
Tell your friends they should
see the other guy.
She shoots him a look.
CUT TO--
A small run down bar on the east side.
It is past closing but the bar is still inhabited by a few patrons and the barkeep.
The booth in the back is the only real sign of life. Three men sit around the table sipping their drinks. One black man in his late forties, Bird. A tall hispanic with jet black hair and a scarred face,