From: (No Email available)

Date: 2004-09-08 00:33:07

Comment:

120.
EXT. GOTHAM -- CONTINUOUS
Batman STREAKS DOWN, CUTTING through the STEAM GEYSERS
shooting up in the train's wake... the train SPEEDS through
a station- Batman BANKS SHARPLY around the building...
INT. CONTROL ROOM, WATER BOARD -- CONTINUOUS
The Technician stares at the map: BLINKING LIGHTS reach CLOSER
AND CLOSER to Wayne Tower...
SECOND TECHNICIAN
Pressure's building at the hub-
TECHNICIAN
Open all the run-off valves!
SECOND TECHNICIAN
They're already blown!
The Technician, worried, looks at a PRESSURE GAUGE: the NEEDLE
is moving steadily HIGHER, towards the RED ZONE...
EXT. MONORAIL TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
The track ahead passes into an office building- Batman noses
down- trying to get down onto the train before it reaches
the building... Batman gets OVER the back of the train-it's
at the mouth of the tunnel- he COLLAPSES his cloak- DROPS
onto the train just as it BLASTS into the building-
INT. TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
Ra's hears a THUMP. He nods at his Ninjas. They move into
the rear car, COCKING machine guns...
EXT. TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
Batman lies on the roof- the train SPEEDS through the CANYONS
of downtown Gotham... BULLETS tear through the roof, several
HIT BATMAN- JOLTING him loose, spinning his SIDEWAYSINT.
TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
The ninjas see a SHADOW FALL FROM THE ROOF. One of them
sticks his head up to check: nothing but fresh bullet holes.
At the Ninjas' feet, UNNOTICED, a GRAPPLING HOOK sticks
through the FLOOR of the train-
EXT. SURFACE STREETS BELOW THE MONORAIL -- CONTINUOUS
A small CROWD outside a store watch news on stacked T.V.'s.
The train STREAKS overhead. People look up, SHOCKED to see-
Batman HANGING FROM THE TRAIN BY HIS GRAPPLING CABLE, FLYING
ALONG, 15 feet in the air, dodging STOPLIGHTS and AWNINGS...
121.
The Train crosses over a busy intersection- Batman FLIES
over CARS, between tall TRUCKS... behind him, in the train's
wake, manhole covers EXPLODE, fire hydrants BURST...
Batman STRUGGLES to fasten his grappling gun into his utility
belt, but he's being TOSSED too violently...
Up ahead: more of Ra's Al Ghul's Ninjas ride in a truck,
preceding the train, guarding the monorail supports.
EXT. STREET BELOW THE MONORAIL -- CONTINUOUS
In the truck, a Ninja puts a rocket-propelled grenade launcher
on his shoulder, sighting Batman- the others aim their guns.
A CURVE in the truck sends Batman SWINGING UP into the glass
facade of a building, SMASHING ALONG THROUGH forty feet of
plate glass... he clears the glass, looks ahead- sees the
truck in his path, WEAPONS TRAINED ON HIM...
The machine guns open up- the TRIGGER of the RPG is SQUEEZEDBLAM-
with a SHUDDER the truck is KNOCKED SIDEWAYS by a
SPEEDING unmarked sedan- the grenade MISFIRES into the cab...
GORDON is at the wheel of the unmarked sedan- he DUCKS DOWNthe
truck EXPLODES... Batman FLIES THROUGH THE FLAMES...
On the other side, the track DEAD ENDS at another tunnel...
Gordon looks up in time to see Batman LATCH the grappling
gun into his belt- SHOOT UP, SKIRTING the lip of the tunnel...
INT. TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
Batman JUMPS into the rear car- FIRES his grappling gun at a
Ninja's leg, YANKS him DOWN...
Ra's glances back from the front car, but can't see clearly.
Batman DOWNS a Ninja with an ELBOW to the head. LEAPS for
the door between cars- a Ninja in the front car LOCKS it-
SMASH- Ra's TURNS to see Batman at the rear door, glass
falling from the window, hands around the Ninja's THROAT...
RA'S AL GHUL
You!
Batman DROPS the Ninja. LEADS UP out of sight.
INT. CONTROL ROOM, WATER BOARD -- CONTINUOUS
ALARMS: The technician watches the blinking lights move CLOSE
to the HUB... the pressure gauge needle tips into the RED-
122.
FIRST TECHNICIAN
Everybody out! Out of the building!!
SECOND TECHNICIAN
But-
FIRST TECHNICIAN
We're sitting on the hub- she's gonna
blow and blow big, understand?
EXT. MONORAIL TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
Batman moves forward along the roof, cloak FLAPPING madly
behind. Wayne Tower visible up ahead, the train STREAKING
DIZZYINGLY through the tight CANYONS of Gotham...
Ra's Al Ghul climbs up onto the roof at the front of the
train. Standing tall before Gotham, long coat blowing around
his legs. He marvels at Batman.
RA'S AL GHUL
You took my advice about theatricality
a bit literally, don't you think?
He draws his sword from his cane. Batman LUNGES at Ra's,
who SWINGS his sword at him- Batman PARRIES with his gauntlet,
SPARKS striking off the metal scallops.
The train SHOOTS through a building, the airflow WHUMPING
down on the duelists...
Ra's SWINGS his cane- Batman TRAPS it in his scallop- TWISTS
his arm- sends the cane SPINNING away.
RA'S AL GHUL (CONT'D)
Familiar...
Ra's THRUSTS his sword at Batman's chest, Batman DODGES left,
dangerously close to the EDGE. He DUCKS at Ra's, who KNEES
him sideways, SWINGING him at the FRONT EDGE of the train...
Batman REGAINS FOOTING- Ra's STRIKES DOWN at his head...
Batman CROSSES HIS ARMS, CATCHING THE SWORD in the scallops
of BOTH gauntlets, HOLDING FAST...
RA'S AL GHUL (CONT'D)
Don't you have anything new?
BATMAN
How about this?
Batman YANKS his ARMS in OPPOSITE directions, BREAKING RA'S
AL GHUL'S SWORD IN TWO.
Ra's STUMBLES back, loses footing, SLIPS onto the roof,
SLIDING back toward the rear...
123.
Batman looks ahead to Wayne Tower approaching...
INT. CONTROL ROOM, WATER BOARD, WAYNE TOWER -- CONTINUOUS
The first technician watches the pressure gauge needle slide
up through the red. He CLOSES HIS EYES.
EXT. TRAIN -- CONTINUOUS
Batman leans over the front of train- FIRES his GRAPPLING
GUN into the front GUIDE WHEELS- which JAM, SPARKING,
GRINDING... cable SPOOLS out of the grappling gun... the
train SHUDDERS...
RA'S AL GHUL
(climbing to his feet)
What're you doing?!!
Batman THROWS the grappling gun at the SPARKING guide wheel...
BATMAN
What's necessary.
The guide wheel HITS the grappling gun- BUMPS OFF ITS TRACK...
Ra's DIVES onto Batman- SMASHES him against the roof- the
train LURCHES, SCRAPING against the concrete guiderails...
Batman ROLLS Ra's onto the bottom- but Ra's is CHOKING Batman,
THUMBS PUSHED DEEP INTO THE FLESH ABOVE BATMAN'S NECKPIECE...
Batman STRUGGLES uselessly against Ra's Al Ghul IRON GRIP...
RA'S AL GHUL
Are you afraid?!!
Ra's looks up at Batman's DYING eyes... Batman's hands STOP
PUSHING against Ra's...
BATMAN
(choked)
Yes..
...and slip down his cloak to the activating pockets-
BATMAN (CONT'D)
...but not of you.
The cloak goes RIGID- CATCHES THE WIND- like pulling a rip
cord- Batman YANKED from Ra's Al Ghul's hands, INTO THE AIR...
Ra's SCREAMS as he rides the train OFF THE MONORAIL...
CRASHING DOWN INTO WAYNE PLAZA- DIGGING THROUGH THE CONCRETEMETAL
SHREDDING, MARBLE SHATTERING, DUST CLOUDS FLYING, PARKED
CARS EXPLODING...
124.
The Train has disintegrated into burning rubble just short
of the entrance to Wayne Station...
INT. CONTROL ROOM, WATER BOARD, WAYNE TOWER -- CONTINUOUS
The Technician opens one eye. Then the other. And starts
breathing again.
EXT. WAYNE PLAZA -- CONTINUOUS
Massive fiery destruction. And above it all-
Batman SOARS in a high bank, riding the thermals, staring
down at Ra's Al Ghul's funeral pyre...
And we-
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WAYNE PLAZA -- MORNING, DAYS LATER
Construction CREWS clear the RUBBLE, Lucius Fox, in hard
hat, supervises. Earle approaches, livid. Fox spots him.
FOX
This is a hard hat area.
EARLE
What are you doing here, Fox? I
seem to remember firing you.
FOX
Might be something to do with my new
job as head of Wayne Industries.
(off look)
Didn't you get the memo?
Earle stares at Fox, hard.
EARLE
Whose authority?
Fox points at Wayne's Rolls Royce idling nearby. Earle
strides towards it. Fox quietly smiles, turns to his work.
INT. ROLLS -- CONTINUOUS
Earle is BANGING on the window. Wayne rolls it down.
EARLE
You think you have authority to decide
who runs this company, Bruce?
WAYNE
It is my company.
125.
EARLE
Not anymore. Wayne Industries went
public a week ago-
WAYNE
And I bought most of the shares. A
controlling interest, in fact.
(off look)
Through various charitable
foundations, trusts and so forth...
Alfred is smiling in the front seat.
WAYNE (CONT'D)
Look, it's all a bit technical, but
the important thing is.... my
company's future is secure.
Earle is speechless. Wayne smiles. The Rolls pulls away.
EXT. GROUNDS, SMOKING RUINS OF WAYNE MANOR -- DAY
WORKERS sift through the smoking ruins, supervised by Alfred.
INT. ORANGERY -- CONTINUOUS
Soot-stained glass crunches underfoot as Rachel picks her
way through the smoking remnants of the greenhouse.
EXT. DISUSED KITCHEN GARDEN -- CONTINUOUS
Rachel finds Wayne hammering a board across the disused well.
He looks up at her. She approaches. He turns to the well.
WAYNE
Do you remember the day I fell?
RACHEL
Of course.
Wayne looks down at the black gap yet to be covered.
WAYNE
As I lay there, I knew... I could
sense it...
RACHEL
What?
WAYNE
That things would never be the same.
RACHEL
What did you find down there?
Wayne picks up another board.
126.
WAYNE
Childhood's end.
Wayne places the board over over the gap. Closing the well.
EXT. SMOKING RUINS OF WAYNE MANOR -- MOMENTS LATER
Wayne walks Rachel past the ruins.
RACHEL
The day you left Gotham... the day
Chill was murdered... I said terrible
things.
WAYNE
True things. You made me see that
justice is about more than my own
pain and anger.
RACHEL
Well, you proved me wrong.
WAYNE
About what?
RACHEL
Your father would be proud of you.
Just as I am.
Wayne looks at her, emotion rising. He takes Rachel in his
arms and they kiss, passionately... desperately.
They break, Wayne looks into Rachel's eyes, hopeful. But
she gently shakes her head.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
(soft)
Between Batman and Bruce Wayne,
there's no room for me.
WAYNE
Rachel, this life I chose... I can
give it up.
Rachel reaches up to his face with her hand.
RACHEL
You didn't choose the life, Bruce.
It was thrust upon you, the way
greatness often is. You've given
this city hope- now she's depending
on you. We all are.
Wayne looks at her. Aching. He nods.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
Good-bye, Bruce.
127.
She walks away. Stops. Turns. Points at the ruins.
RACHEL (CONT'D)
What will you do?
Wayne looks at her. Glorious purpose in his eyes.
WAYNE
I'm going to rebuild it just the way
it was. Brick for brick.
Rachel nods. Walks off. Wayne stares after her. Alone...
But Alfred is at Wayne's shoulder. Watching his gaze.
ALFRED
Just the way it was, sir?
Wayne turns to Alfred.
WAYNE
Yes, why?
They stroll, side by side, towards the smoking ruins.
ALFRED
I thought we might take the
opportunity of making some
improvements to the foundation.
WAYNE
In the south east corner?
ALFRED
Precisely, sir.
DISSOLVE TO:
The irregular SHADOW of a BAT SYMBOL cast up onto turbulent
clouds... and we are-
EXT. ROOF, POLICE STATION -- NIGHT
Gordon sips coffee from a styrofoam cup. Beside him- an
upturned spotlight with a METAL STENCIL bolted to it.
A dark FLUTTERING, and Batman is standing the other side of
the spotlight. He reaches out, taps the stencil.
BATMAN
Nice.
GORDON
(crushing his cup)
Couldn't find any mob bosses to strap
to the light.
128.
Gordon kills the searchlight. The two men stand opposite
each other in the dark.
BATMAN
Well, Sergeant?
GORDON
It's Lieutenant, now. Commissioner
Loeb had to promote me. And he had
to disband the task force hunting
you. Amazing what saving a city can
do for your image.
BATMAN
Then things are better.
GORDON
(nods)
You've started something- bent cops
running scared, hope on the streets...
Gordon leaves his sentence hanging between them.
BATMAN
But?
GORDON
But there's a lot of weirdness out
there right now... the Narrows is
lost... we still haven't picked up
Crane or half the inmates of Arkham
that he freed...
BATMAN
We will. Gotham will return to
normal.
GORDON
Will it? What about escalation?
BATMAN
Escalation?
GORDON
We start carrying semiautomatics,
they buy automatics... we start
wearing kevlar, they buy armorpiercing
rounds...
BATMAN
And?
Gordon leans closer to Batman. Points at him.
GORDON
And... you're wearing a mask and
jumping off rooftops...
129.
Gordon fishes in his pocket.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Take this guy...
He pulls out a clear plastic evidence bag.
GORDON (CONT'D)
...armed robbery, double homicide...
Inside the clear plastic bag is a PLAYING CARD.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Got a taste for theatrics, like you...
Gordon hands Batman the bag.
GORDON (CONT'D)
Leaves a calling card.
Batman turns the card over.
It is a JOKER.
BATMAN
I'll look into it.
He steps up onto the balustrade. Gordon looks at him.
GORDON
I never said thank you.
Batman looks out at the lights of Gotham. Cloak billowing
around him.
BATMAN
And you'll never have to.
Batman DROPS from the rooftop, GLIDING on the night wind.
Gordon smiles. He can't help it.
FADE OUT.
CREDITS.
END.