The Dark Knight

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Full text of "The Dark Knight Script By Jonathan Nolan And Christopher Nolan"

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THE DARK KNIGHT by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer * Batman created by Bob Kane THE DARK KNIGHT BURNING. Massive flames. A dark shape emerges- The BAT SYMBOL. Growing. Filling the screen with BLACKNESS. CUT TO: DAYLIGHT. Moving over the towers of downtown Gotham... Closing in on an office building... On a large window... Which SHATTERS to reveal- INT. OFFICE, HIGH RISE — DAY A man in a CLOWN MASK holding a SMOKING SILENCED PISTOL ejects a shell casing. This is DOPEY. He turns to a second man, HAPPY, also in clown mask, who steps forward with a CABLE LAUNCHER, aims at a lower roof across the street and FIRES a cable across. Dopey secures the line to an I-beam line- CLAMP on- sends a KIT BAG out then steps OUT the window. . . EXT. HIGH-RISE — DAY ...into space. The men SLIDE across the DIZZYING DROP... landing on the lower roof across the street. EXT. DOWNTOWN GOTHAM — DAY A MAN on the corner, back to us, holding a CLOWN MASK. An SUV pulls up. The man gets in, puts on his mask. Inside the car- two other men wearing CLOWN MASKS. GRUMPY Three of a kind . Let 1 s do this . One of the Clowns looks up from loading his automatic weapon . CHUCKLES That's it? Three guys? GRUMPY There's two on the roof. Every guy is an extra share. Five shares is plenty. CHUCKLES Six shares. Don't forget the guy who planned the job. GRUMPY Yeah? He thinks he can sit it out and still take a slice then I get why they call him the Joker. Grumpy cocks his weapon. Bozo pulls the car over in front of the GOTHAM PIRST NATIONAL BANK. EXT. ROOFTOP, BANK — CONTINUOUS Dopey PRIES open an access panel- HAPPY Why do they call him the Joker? DOPEY I heard he wears make-up. HAPPY Make-up? Dopey pulls out thick bundles of blue CAT 5 cables. DOPEY Yeah. To scare people. War paint. EXT. BANK — CONTINUOUS Grumpy, Chuckles and Bozo get out of the car and march into the bank CARRYING ASSAULT RIFLES - INT. BANK — DAY The Security Guard looks up- Grumpy FIRES into the ceiling. Customers SCREAM. Chuckles CRACKS the Security Guard. As Grumpy and Bozo round up the hostages, one of the TELLERS presses a button mounted beneath her window- a SILENT ALARM. EXT. ROOFTOP — DAY Dopey watches the alarm PING his handheld. DOPEY Here comes the silent alarm. (touches a button) And there it goes. That's funny. It didn't diai out to 911- it was trying to reach a private number. Behind him. Happy RAISES his silenced HANDGUN. HAPPY Is it a problem? DOPEY No, no. I'm done here. Happy SHOOTS . Dopey SLUMPS . Happy picks up his bag and FORCES OPEN the roof access door... INT. STAIRWELL, BANK — DAY ...and speeds down the stairs, to the basement. He SLAMS open the door. . . INT. VAULT ROOM, BANK — DAY ...and comes face to face with a huge VAULT. INT. LOBBY, BANK — DAY Bozo and Grumpy move down the line of hostages- Bozo hands each Hostage OBJECTS from a bag. A GRENADE. Grumpy follows, PULLING THE PINS. GRUMPY Obviously, we don't want you doing anything with your hands other than holding on for dear life. BLAM. Chuckles is BLOWN OFF HIS FEET- Grumpy and Bozo DIVE for cover- the Bank Manager steps out of his office, SHOTGUN in hand. Hostages SCRAMBLE, CLINGING their grenades . . . INT. VAULT ROOM, BANK — DAY Happy CLAMPS a DRILL to the vault- the bit SPINS- SLIDES into the metal door- a BOLT of ELECTRICITY RIPS THROUGH THE DRILL, THROWING HAPPY TO THE FLOOR- INT. LOBBY, BANK — DAY Grumpy and Bozo cower as the Bank Manager FIRES again. GRUMPY He's got three left? Bozo raises TWO fingers. Grumpy squeezes off a SHOT. The Bank Manager FIRES. FIRES again. Grumpy looks at Bozo, who nods. Grumpy JUMPS UP. The Bank Manager FIRES- Grumpy GRUNTS as buckshot CLIPS his shoulder. FALLS. The Bank Manager moves in for the kill, FUMBLING for new shells. Bozo STANDS- SHOOTS him. Bozo picks up the shotgun. Grumpy checks his wound- it's superficial. He struggles to his feet. GRUMPY (CONT'D) Where 'd you learn to count?! Bozo's mask stares him down. Grumpy heads for the stairs in the back. Bozo starts loading fresh shells into the shotgun. BANK MANAGER You have any idea who you ' re stealing from? You and your friends are dead . Bozo looks down at him. Says nothing. INT. VAULT ROOM, BANK — DAY Happy at the vault door, barefoot, turning the tumblers with hands stuffed into his SNEAKERS. Grumpy walks in. HAPPY They wired this thing up with 5,000 volts. What kind of bank does that? GRUMPY A mob bank. Guess the Joker's as crazy as they say. Happy shrugs. Grips the WHEEL BOLT and SPINS it. GRUMPY {CONT'D) Where ' s the alarm guy? HAPPY Boss told me when the guy was done I should take him out. One less share . GRUMPY Funny, he told me something similar. . . Happy FREEZES. The wheel SPINS to a STOP- the vault DOOR CLUNKS OPEN- Happy GRABS for his weapon- SPINS to see Grumpy SHOOT. Grumpy steps over Happy into the vault... INT. VAULT, BANK — DAY ...which is filled with an eight-foot MOUNTAIN OF CASH. INT. LOBBY, BANK — DAY Grumpy walks into the lobby, straining under several DUFFELS filled with cash. He DUMPS them. Looks at Bozo. LAUGHS . GRUMPY C'mon, there's a lot to carry... INT. LOBBY, BANK — DAY Bozo walks back into the lobby with two more DUFFELS. Sets them down on an ENORMOUS PILE. Grumpy looks at it. GRUMPY If this guy was so smart he would have had us bring a bigger car. Grumpy JABS his pistol in Bozo's back. Takes hiB weapon. GRUMPY (CONT'D) I'm betting the Joker told you to kill me soon as we loaded the cash. BOZO (shakes head) No. I kill the bus driver. GRUMPY Bus driver? What bus- Bozo steps backwards. SMASH. Hostages SCREAM as the TAIL END OF A YELLOW SCHOOL BUS ROCKETS through the front of the bank, SLAMMING Grumpy into the teller's window. Bozo picks up Grumpy's weapon. Another clown OPENS the rear door of the bus. Bozo SHOOTS him. Then loads the bags onto the bus. The wounded Bank Manager watches him. In the distance: SIRENS. BANK MANAGER Think you're smart, huh? Well, the guy who hired you's just do the same to you . . . Bozo slowly shakes his head. BANK MANAGER (CONT'D) Sure he will. Criminals in this town used to believe in things... Bozo turns back to the Bank Manager. Crouches over him. BANK MANAGER (CONT'D) Honor. Respect. What do you believe, huh? What do you bel- Joker slides a GRENADE into the man's mouth. A PURPLE THREAD is knotted around the pin. THE JOKER I believe that what doesn't kill you . . . Bozo PULLS off his MASK. The Bank Manager GASPS. In the reflections of the glasB DEBRIS behind the Bank Manager we see GLIMPSES of a SCARRED MOUTH and CLOWN MAKEUP. THE JOKER. THE JOKER (CONT'D) ...simply makes you stranger. The Bank Manager's eyes go wide. The Joker rises, strolls towards the bus, the purple thread attached to the grenade pin UNRAVELLING FROM THE PURPLE LINING of his jacket as he walks. The Joker climbs into the bus, SHUTS the rear door, TRAPPING THE PURPLE THREAD... EXT. SCHOOL, GOTHAM — DAY Kids pour out, heading onto a long line of school buses. INT. BANK — CONTINUOUS As the bus pulls out, the purple thread PULLS THE PIN- hostages scream and scurry away from the Bank Manager, who shakes with fear as, with a FIZZ, the grenade does not explode, but SPEWS RED SMOKE. EXT. BANK — DAY The School Bus pulls free of the Bank wall and pulls out onto the street, SLIDING INTO THE LINE OF IDENTICAL BUSES HEADING PAST THE BANK. The buses trundle past COP CARS racing up the street... and we- CUT TO EXT. MOVING OVER GOTHAM — NIGHT From the top of a brick building a SHAFT OF LIGHT comes on. EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS — CONTINUOUS A PATROLMAN looks up at the BAT-SIGNAL. Smiles. A DEALER standing beside a car spots the signal. Steps back. DEALER No, man. I don't like it tonight. BUYER What 're you, superstitious? You got more chance of winning the powerball than running into him . . . INT. MAJOR CRIMES UNIT, GOTHAM CENTRAL — NIGHT DETECTIVE RAMIREZ, female, rookie detective, 30's, makes coffee, watching a news show on the television. ON SCREEN: The host , MIKE ENGEL , lays into the MAYOR. ENGEL Mr Mayor , you were elected on a campaign to clean up the city . . . when are you going to start? MAYOR Well , Mike- ENGEL Like this Bo-called Batman- a lot of people say he 's doing some good , ENGEL that criminals are running scared.., but I gay NO. What kind of hero needs to wear a mask? You don 't let vigilantes run around breaki ng the law . . . where does i t end? Yet , we hear rumors that instead of trying to arrest him the cops are using him to do their dirty work. MAYOR I'm told our men in the Major Crimes Unit are close to an arrest. RAMIREZ Hey, Wuertz- the Mayor says you're closing in on the Batman. WUERTZ lookB up, listless. Crumples up a paper. WUERTZ The investigation is ongoing. He throws the paper at the trash. It rebounds off a board headed 'BATMAN: SUSPECTS.' Lined with pictures: Abraham Lincoln. Elvis. The Abominable Snowman. EXT. ROOFTOP, MAJOR CRIMES UNIT — NIGHT Ramirez comes out onto the roof. LIEUTENANT GORDON sits by a SEARCHLIGHT. She hands Gordon a cup of coffee. RAMIREZ Ever intending to see your wife again. Lieutenant? GORDON I thought you had to go look after your mother, detective. RAMIREZ They checked her back into hospital. GORDON I ' m sorry . RAMIREZ (making light) Least there she ' s got someone round the clock. Unlike your wife. (looks at bat- signal) He hasn ' t shown? Gordon gets up. Looks into the sky at the bat-signal. GORDON Often doesn't. But I like reminding everybody that he ' s out there . RAMIREZ Why wouldn't he come? GORDON Hopefully... Because he's busy. EXT. PARKING GARAGE — NIGHT Two black SUV's pull onto the top floor. A large man emerges- the CHECHEN. A BODYGUARD points at the sky. The Chechen peers up at the BAT-SIGNAL. Shrugs. CHECHEN (IN RUSSIAN) That' 8 why we bring dogs. BODYGUARD 2 opens the back door- three enormous ROTWEILERS emerge, GROWLING. The Chechen crouches, KISSING the dogs. CHECHEN (IN RUSSIAN) (CONT'D) My little princes . . . (to bodyguards) The Batman's invisible to you fools . . . but my little princes . . . they can find human meat in complete darkness. The Chechen moves to the second SUV, reaches in and DRAGS out a skinny, wild-eyed JUNKIE by his hair. JUNKIE (babbling) No I No get 'em off mel Off mel The Chechen drags the Junkie towards a battered white van. The van's REAR DOORS OPEN... two armed THUGS emerge, carrying BARRELS... a third hovers in the dark interior. CHECHEN (ACCENTED ENGLISH) Lookl Look what your drugs did to my customers 1 VOICE (O.S.) Buyer beware ... The figure emerges: SCARECROW. Wearing his mask. SCARECROW I told your man my compound would take you places. I never said they'd be places you wanted to go. CHECHEN My business is repeat customers. SCARECROW If you don't like what I have to offer , buy from someone else. SCARECROW Assuming Batman left anyone else to buy from. The Chechen frowns. THE DOGS START BARKING. BODYGUARD (nervous) He's here. A BURLY thug at the periphery is suddenly SUCKED into the darkness. In his place a shadow straightens, revealing POINTED BAT-EARS against the glittering skyline. CHECHEN Come on, sonof bitch- my dogs are hungry, pity there's only one of you . . . A BODYGUARD to the side DISAPPEARS with a scream, and a SECOND BAT-SHADOW appears. The Chechen looks taken aback. Three more BAT-SHADOWS appear... even the dogs stop growling. BOOM! a hole appears in the SUV next to the Chechen. The first bat-shadow steps into the light carrying a SHOTGUN. CHAOS as men scatter and the The Chechen turns as he hears rooftop erupts in GUNFIRE, one of his men SCREAM. CHECHEN (CONT'D) Loose the dogsi A ISodyguaird releases the DOGS- they RACE, SALIVATING, into tne darkness ... The Dogs RACE towards a Bat-Shadow- the first dog LEAPS gets its JAWS around the Bat-Shadow's throat... Scarecrow ducks behind the van- holes PUNCHED in the side by shotgun blasts right behind him. He starts to climb into the driver's seat- The muzzle of a shotgun is pressed to the back of his head- a bat-shadow is behind him- he SPRAYS him with FEAR TOXIN- the bat-shadow collapses to the ground, SCREAMING. The Cechnyan, cowering from gunfire, looks down at him. SCARECROW Not the real thing. CHECHEN How you know? SCARECROW We're old friends. A HUGE BLACK SHAPE SLAMS down onto a row of parked cars The BATMOBILE. SCARECROW (CONT'D) That's more like it. The Chechen's men BLAST away at the front of the car: the bullets SPARK off its monstrous surface harmlessly. . . INT. BATMOBILE — CONTINUOUS The cockpit is EMPTY. One of the screens reads "LOITER". The shooting STOPS. The screen switches to "INTIMIDATE" EXT. PARKING GARAGE — CONTINUOUS The men STARE at the Batmobile for a quiet moment . . . The Batmobile CANNONS blast cars all around the men- BOOMi A bat-shadow lines up his shotgun on a running bodyguard- CLUNK- a BLACK GAUNTLET grasps the barrel and BENDS it upwards with a HOWL of tortured steel- the bat-shadow looks into the face of the Batman. The REAL BATMAN. The Bat-shadow STUMBLES BACKWARDS in terror, leaving the bent shotgun in Batman's hand. Batman OPENS his hand, revealing a PNEUMATIC MANGLE hidden in his palm- Batraan bears down on the dogs mauling another bat-shadow- DRAWS his GRAPPLING GUN and SHOOTS his grapple into the fake Batman's leg and RIPS him from the dogs, one dog HANGING ON as Batman pulls the unconscious man away. . . the Chechen RUNS down the ramp towards the exit... As Batman KICKS the dog off the fake Batman- the Chechen gets into his SUV- another dog LOCKS ITS JAWS around Batman's forearm, RIPPING, TEARING- Batman SWINGS THE DOG OVER HIS HEAD- SMASHES it against the ground- its jaws OPEN... Batman rises, an engine RACES behind him- he can't turn in time- BLAM- he's SLAMMED sideways by the speeding van. INT. VAN — CONTINUOUS Scarecrow, driving, NODS at him and hits the gas... Batman raises his hand, revealing his jointed mangle and pistons. The mangle STRAIGHTENS and ROTATES from his palm to the knife edge of his opened hand. . . Batman CHOPS straight through the windshield- pulls his hand out and CHOPS again- the mangle gets STUCK- Scarecrow steers towards a column... EXT. PARKING GARAGE — CONTINUOUS Batman can't free himself- he turns a dial on his forearm piston- EXPLOSIVE BOLTS blow, freeing his gauntlet from the mangle- he ROLLS free of the van as it SCRAPES the column and barrels down the circular exit ramp. Batman rises. A phony batman lying on the ground watches as Batman climbs up to the edge of the ten-story corkscrew ramp and stands there, waiting for something. After a moment he JUMPS... and falls... ten stories... He s about to hit the exit ramp- the van appears- his cape POPS OPEN- he SLAMS into the roof, CRUSHING the cab. EXT. ROOFTOP, PARKING GARAGE — MOMENTS LATER The Chechen s men are lined up against the wall, bound with zip-ties. So are the fake batmen. Batman DUMPS Scarecrow next to the three '•Batmen", rips his mask off. "BATMAN" We're trying to help you I BATMAN I don't need help. SCARECROW (O.S.) Not my diagnosis. Batman silences Scarecrow with his boot. Turns to "Batman" BATMAN Don't let me find you out here again. Batman moves towards the Batmobile. "BATMAN" You need us 1 There ' s only one of you- it '8 war out here! Batman gets into the Batmobile. "BATMAN" (CONT'D) What gives you the right? I What's the difference between you and me?! As the Canopy hisses shut- BATMAN I'm not wearing hockey pads. The Batman" looks down at his makeshift costume as the Batmobile ROARS past. EXT. BANK — NIGHT LIEUTENANT GORDON ducks the barrage of SHOUTED QUESTIONS from press and picks his way into the lobby of the bank. INT. LOBBY, BANK — NIGHT FORENSIC SPECIALISTS work the room. Ramirez hands Gordon PRINTS- indicates the surveillance cameras. RAMIREZ He can't resist showing us his face. Gordon looks at the grainy blow-up of THE JOKER'S FACE: sweating clown makeup plastered thick around the mouth. GORDON Put this out, by morning we can put a big top over central holding and sell tickets . What 1 s he hiding under that makeup? Gordon approaches a FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHER shooting Grumpy' body. Gordon crouches to look at his clown mask. Batman steps from the shadows. Gordon nods at Ramirez. RAMIREZ Give us a minute, please, people 1 The Forensic team and Ramirez leave. Gordon hands Batman the blow-up of the Joker. BATMAN Him again. Who are the others? GORDON Another bunch of small timers . Batman pulls a DEVICE from his belt- moves to the bundles of cash scattered near the clown's body. The device PINGS Batman picks up a BUNDLE. Hands it to Gordon. BATMAN Some of the marked bills I gave you. GORDON My detectives have been making drug buys with them for weeks . This bank was another drop for the mob. That makes five banks- we've found the bulk of their dirty cash. BATMAN Time to move in. Gordon waves the photo. GORDON What about this Joker guy? BATMAN One man or the entire mob? He can wait. GORDON We'll have to hit all banks simultaneously. SWAT teams, backup . Gordon holds up the bundle of banknotes. GORDON (CONT'D) When the new DA gets wind of this, he'll want in. BATMAN Do you trust him? GORDON Be hard to keep him out. Gordon bags the cash. GORDON (CONT'D) I hear he's as stubborn as you. But Batman is already gone. INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — MORNING Alfred walks past soaring downtown views as he carries a breakfast tray through the vast, empty penthouse. He stops, looking at a still-made bed. Alfred sighs, turns. EXT. RAIL YARDS — MORNING Alfred gets out of the Rolls carrying a thermos. He walks towards a RAILWAY BRIDGE, stops at a FREIGHT CONTAINER sitting, lopsided, on blocks. Alfred unlocks the RUSTY PADLOCK AND CHAIN. Steps inside. INT. FREIGHT CONTAINER — CONTINUOUS Alfred FUMBLES in the dark- bangs his elbow- A HISS as the FLOOR LOWERS... Alfred sinks down into... INT. BAT-BUNKER — CONTINUOUS The container floor lowers on a giant PISTON. Alfred stepB Off into a large, LOW-CEILINGED CONCRETE CHAMBER. The Batmobile sits in the middle. Machines- 3d printers, power tools- dot the high-tech space. At one end, Wayne sits at a bank of monitors watching CCTV footage of the bank robbery . ALFRED Be nice when Wayne Manor ' s rebuilt and you can swap not sleeping in a penthouse for not sleeping in a mansion. Alfred places a cup of coffee in front of Wayne, who is STITCHING up a cut on his arm. ALFRED (CONT'D) (takes needle) When you stitch yourself up you make a bloody mess. WAYNE But I learn about my mistakes. ALFRED You ought to be pretty knowledgeable by now, then. WAYNE My armor... I'm carrying too much weight- I need to be faster. ALFRED I'm sure Mr. Fox can oblige. (looks at wound) Did you get mauled by a tiger? WAYNE A dog. (off look) A big dog. There were more copycats last night, Alfred. With guns. ALFRED Perhaps you could hire some of them and take weekends off. WAYNE . This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to inspire people. ALFRED X know. But things are improving. Look at the new District Attorney . . . Wayne indicates a monitor: a handsome MAN in a suit. WAYNE I am. Closely. X need to know if he can be trusted. Campaigning^ lefpfng — out oi\ "bt RACHEL^ ALFRED Are you interested in his 4 Ui x n 1 n •"»* wi- rircle? WAYNE Who Rachel spends her time with is her business. ALFRED Well/ I trust you're not following me on my day off. WAYNE If you ever took one, I might. Alfred bites the thread, the SCARS criss-crossing Examines hiB stitches. Wayne 1 b shoulders . ALFRED Know your limits. Master Wayne. WAYNE Batman haB no limits. ALFRED Well, you do, sir. WAYNE I can't afford to know them. Looks ALFRED And what happens the day you find out? WAYNE We all know how much you like to say 'I told you so' . ALFRED That day. Master Wayne, even I won't want to. Probably. INT. COURTROOM, SUPERIOR COURT DAY HARVEY DENT burBts into the courtroom. Assistant D.A. RACHEL DAWES, look up, ANNOYED. DENT Sorry I'm late, folks. Rachel leans in to Dent, speaking under her breath. RACHEL Where were you? DENT Worried you'd have to step up? RACHEL I know the briefs backwards. Dent pulls a large silver dollar out of his pocket. Grins DENT Well, then, fair's fair: heads. I'll take it. Tails, he's all yours . Dent FLIPS. Shows it to Rachel- heads. RACHEL You're flipping coins to see who leads? DENT My father's lucky coin. As I recall, it got me my first date with you. RACHEL I'm serious, Harvey, you don't leave things like this to chance. DENT I don't. (sincere) I make my own luck. Dent looks across at the defendant- SAL MARONI. MARONI I thought the DA just played golf with the Mayor, things like that. DENT Tee-off's 1:30. More than enough time to put you away for life, Sally. The BAILIFFS lead a THIN MAN into the witness box. ROSSI INT. COURTROOM, SUPERIOR COURT — DAY Rossi takes a SIP of water. Dent works the room. DENT With Carmine Falcone in Arkham, someone must ' ve stepped up to run the so-called family. (Rossi nods) Is this man in the courtroom today? (Rossi nods again) Could you identify him for us, please? Dent turns to Maroni, who is poker-faced. Dent Bmiles. ROSSI You win, counselor. It was me. Dent's smile disappears. He turns back to Rossi. DENT I've got a sworn statement from you that this man, Salvatore Maroni, is the new head of the Falcone crime family. ROSSI I'm the Maroni? He's a fall guy. brains of the organization. LAUGHS from the gallery. Dent turns to the JUDGE DENT permission to treat the witness as hostile? Hostile? ROSSI I'll show you hostile. Rossi JUMPS UP, P° in ^* s G ™ e a ^S£ R ! the e gun S ™Ls r01 " D^ta^L™* the £5- ^S-esl with a RIGHT CROSS- unloads the GUN and sets xt front of Maroni. DENT Ceramic 28 caliber. Made in China. If you want to kill a public servant , Mr. Maroni, I recommend you buy American. Everyone STARES, The Bailiffs are open-mouthed, as Dent adjusts his tie wrestling Rossi from the box- DENT (CONT'D) But , your honor , I'm not done . . . INT. LOBBY, DENT'S OFFICE, DA'S — DAY Rachel, excited, leads Dent through the lobby. RACHEL We'll never link the gun to Maroni, so we can't charge him, but I'll tell you one thing- the fact they tried to kill you means we're getting to them. DENT Glad you're so pleased, Rachel. I'm fine by the way. Rachel turns to Dent. Smooths his lapels. RACHEL Harvey, you're Gotham's D.A.- if you're not getting shot at, you're not doing your job. (smiles) 'Course if you said you were rattled we could take the rest of the day. . . DENT Can't. I dragged the head of the Major Crimes Unit down here. RACHEL Jim Gordon? He's a friend- try to be nice. INT. DENT'S OFFICE -- DAY Gordon stands as Dent enters. The two men shake. GORDON Word is you've got a hell of a right cross . Shame Sal ' s going to walk. DENT Well, good thing about the mob is they keep giving you second chances. Dent picks up a bundle of bills from the heist. DENT (CONT'D) Lightly irradiated bills. Fancy stuff for a city cop. Have help? GORDON We liaise with various agencies- DENT Save it, Gordon. I want to meet him. GORDON Official policy is to arrest the vigilante known as Batman on sight. DENT And that flood light on top of M.C.U.? GORDON If you have any concerns about . . . malfunctioning equipment ... take them up with maintenance , counselor. Dent tosses the bills back onto his desk. Annoyed DENT I ' ve put every known money launderer in Gotham behind bars . But the mob is still getting its money out. I think you and your "friend" have found the last game in town and you're trying to hit 'em where it hurtBj their wallets. Bold. You gonna count me in? GORDON In this town, the fewer people know something/ the safer the operation. DENT Gordon/ I don't like that you've got your own special unit, and I don't like that it's full of cops I investigated at internal affairs. GORDON If I didn't work with cops you'd investigated while you were making your name at I. A.- I'd be working alone. I don't get political points for being an idealist- T have to do the best I can with what I have. Dent looks at Gordon. Considering how to proceed DENT You want me to back warrants for search and seizure on five banks without telling me who we're after? GORDON I can give you the names of the banks . DENT well, that's a start. I'll get you your warrants . But I want your trust. GORDON (rises) You don't have to sell me. Dent. We all know you're Gotham's white knight. DENT (grins) I hear they've got a different nickname for me down at M.C.U.. Gordon smiles . INT. BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES — DAY LUCIUS FOX, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and the board listen to LAU, 40s, CEO of L.S.I. Holdings. LAU In China L.S.I. Holdings stands for dynamic new growth. A joint Chinese venture with Wayne Enterprises will be a powerhouse. FOX Well, Mr.Lau, I speak for the rest of the board, and Mr. Wayne, in expressing our own excitement... The Chinese look to the head of the table: Wayne, ASLEEP. INT. HALLWAY, WAYNE ENTERPRISES — DAY Fox shows Lau to the elevator. He's joined by, REESE, 30s, an ambitious M and A consultant lawyer. LAU It's OK, Mr. Fox. Everyone knows who really runs Wayne Enterprises. FOX We ' 11 be in touch as soon as our people have wrapped up the diligence. The elevator doors close. Reese frowns. REESE Sir, I know Mr. Wayne's curious how his trust fund gets replenished but frankly. . . it's embarrassing. Fox heads for hiB office, Reese in tow. FOX You worry about the diligence, Mr. Reese . I'll worry about Bruce Wayne . REESE It's done- the numbers are solid. FOX (smiles) Do it again. Wouldn't want the trust fund to run out, would we? INT. BOARDROOM, WAYNE ENTERPRISES — CONTINUOUS Wayne is standing by the window. FOX (O.S.) Another long night? (Wayne smiles) This joint venture was your idea, and the consultants love it, but I'm not convinced. L.S.I.'s grown 8 percent annually, like clockwork. They must have a revenue stream that's off the books. Maybe even illegal. WAYNE OK. Cancel the deal. FOX ( looks at Wayne ) You already knew. WAYNE I needed a closer look at their books . Fox looks at Wayne. Wry. FOX Anything else you can trouble me for? WAYNE I need a new suit. FOX {looks him over) Three buttons is a little nineties. WAYNE I'm not talking about fashion, Mr. Fox, so much as function. Wayne pulls some diagrams. Fox looks them over. FOX You want to be able to turn your head? WAYNE Sure make backing out of the driveway easier. FOX I'll see what I can do. INT. RESTAURANT — NIGHT Rachel and Dent at a table. Dent looks a little intimidated by the surroundings. DENT It took three weeks to get a reservation and I had to tell them I worked for the government. RACHEL Really? DENT This city health inspector's not afraid to pull strings. Rachel smiles. Then, over Dent's shoulder, she sees Wayne enter, accompanied by a beautiful woman. What? DENT (CONT'D) WAYNE Rachel 1 Fancy that . RACHEL Yes , Bruce. Fancy that. WAYNE Rachel/ Natascha. Natascha, Rachel . NATASCHA (Russian accent) Hello. DENT The famous Bruce Wayne . Rachel ' s told me everything about you. WAYNE I certainly hope not. RACHEL Bruce, this is Harvey Dent. WAYNE Let ' s put a couple tables together . DENT I don't know if they'll let ub- WAYNE They should l I own the place. RACHEL For how long? About three weeks? WAYNE How'd you know? RACHEL Natascha, aren't you...? WAYNE Prima ballerina for the Moscow Ballet. RACHEL Harvey's taking me next week. WAYNE You're into ballet, Harvey? RACHEL No. He knows I am. An extra table arrives. INT. SAME — LATER They finish up dinner. NATASCHA No, come on- how could you want to raise children in a city like this? WAYNE I was raised here . I turned out OK. DENT Is Wayne Manor in the city limits? Rachel gives Dent a withering look. WAYNE The Palisades? Sure. You know, as our new D.A. you might want to figure out where your jurisdiction ends. NATASCHA I'm talking about the kind of city that idolizes a masked vigilante . . . DENT Gotham's proud of an ordinary man standing up for what ' s right . NATASCHA Gotham needs heroes like you- elected officials, not a man who thinks he's above the law. WAYNE Exactly. Who appointed the Batman? DENT We did. All of us who stood by and let scum take control of our city. Wayne watches Dent. Sees his passion. NATASCHA But this is a democracy, Harvey. DENT When their enemies were at the gate, the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to protect the city. It wasn't considered an honor. It was considered public service. RACHEL And the last man they asked to protect the republic was named Caesar. He never gave up that power . DENT Well, I guess you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Look, whoever the Batman is, he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life doing thiB. How could he? Batman's looking for someone to take up his mantle. NATASCHA Someone like you, Mr. Dent? DENT Maybe. If I'm up to it. Natascha reaches up and covers the top half of Dent's face. NATASCHA But what if Harvey Dent is the caped crusader? DENT If I were sneaking out every night someone would've noticed by now. Dent takes Rachel's hand. Rachel glances at Wayne. Awkward . WAYNE well, you've sold me, Dent. I m gonna throw you a fundraiser. DENT That's nice of you, Bruce, but I'm not up for reelection for three years. That stuff won't start for- WAYNE I don't think you understand. One fundraiser with my pals, you'll never need another cent. EXT. BACK ALLEY, HOTEL, DOWNTOWN — DAY A line of high-end AUTOS dispenses well dressed GANGSTERS. INT. KITCHEN, HOTEL — DAY The Chechen walks through a METAL DETECTOR manned by two CHINESE. A lean, African-American man, 50 's, is bexng wanded. This is GAMBOL. He nods at the Chechen, wary. INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, HOTEL — CONTINUOUS Gotham's most notorious GANGSTERS. BURLY CHINESE enter, carrying a TV. the end of the table. A door opens, and two They set it down on CRIME BOSS The hell is this...? The screen flickers to life: Lau. The room ERUPTS. LAU (ON T.V.) Gentlemen, please. As you're all aware , one of our deposits was stolen. A relatively small amount: 68 million. CHECHEN Who's stupid enough steal from us? LAU I'm told the man who arranged the heist calls himself Joker. CHECHEN Who the hell is that? MARONI Two-bit whack-job wears a cheap purple suit and make-up. He's not the problem- he's a nobody. (looks at Lau) The problem is our money being tracked by the cops. Murmurs of surprise. LAU Thanks to Mr.Maroni 'a well-placed sources we know that police have indeed identified our banks using marked bills and are planning to seize your funds today- Everyone starts SHOUTING at once. EXT. VARIOUS DOWNTOWN BANKS — CONTINUOUS Gordon sits in a SWAT van outBide a bank. Stephens is outside another. Ramirez a third... SWAT teams CHECK WEAPONS and prepare move . . . INT. SOCIAL CLUB, DOWNTOWN — CONTINUOUS Lau waits for the noise to subside. CHECHEN You promised safe, clean money launder - LAU With the investigation ongoing, none of you can risk hanging on to your own proceeds . And since the enthusiastic new D.A. has put all my competitors out of business, I'm your only option. MARONI So what are you proposing? LAU Moving all deposits to one secure location. Not a bank. GAMBOL Where, then? LAU Obviously, no one can know but me. If the police were to gain leverage over one of you everyone ' s money would be at Btake. CHECHEN What stops them getting to you? LAU As the money is moved I go to Hong Kong. Far from Dent's jurisdiction. And the Chinese will not extradite one of their own. From the back of the room comes LAUGHTER. It grows and grows, until it fills the room. All eyes turn: The Joker. Sweaty clown makeup obscuring the AWFUL SCARS which widen his mouth into a PERMANENT, GHOULISH SMILE. THE JOKER I thought I told bad jokes. GAMBOL Give me one reason I shouldn't have my boy here pull your head off. The Joker pulls out a freshly sharpened pencil. THE JOKER How about a magic trick? The Joker SLAMS the pencil into the table, leaving it UPRIGHT . THE JOKER (CONT'D) I'll make this pencil disappear. Gambol nods. His BODYGUARD MOVES at the Joker- who SIDESTEPS- GRIPS his head- SLAMS it, FACE DOWN, onto the table . . . The Bodyguard goes LIMP and slides off of the table. The PENCIL is gone. MAGIC. The Joker BOWS. Grins at Gambol. THE JOKER (CONT'D) And by the way, the suit wasn't cheap. You should know. You bought it. Gambol STANDS, furious. The Chechen stops him. CHECHEN Sit. I wanna hear proposition. The Joker nods his thanks. Rises. THE JOKER A year ago these cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you. What happened? Did your balls drop off? See, a guy like me- GAMBOL A freak. Laughs . Which the Joker tries to ignore . THE JOKER A guy like me . . . I know why you ' re holding your little group therapy session in broad daylight. I know why you're afraid to go out at night. Batman. He's shown Gotham your true colors. And Dent's just the beginning. (indicates Lau) And as for his so-called plan- Batman has no jurisdiction. He'll find him and make him squeal. (smiles at Lau) I can tell the squealers every time. CHECHEN What you propose? THE JOKER It's simple. Kill the Batman. Jeers. Laughter. MARONI If it's so easy why haven't you done it already? THE JOKER Like my mother used to tell me- if you're good at something, never do it for free. CHECHEN How much you want? THE JOKER Half. Laughter. The Joker shrugs. Rises. THE JOKER (CONT'D) You don't deal with this now, soon Gambol won't even be able to get a nickel for his grandma- GAMBOL Enough from the clown. Gambol gets up, MOVING at the Joker, who casually opens his coat, revealing EXPLOSIVES wired to his chest. Gambol stops . THE JOKER Let's not blow this out of all proportion . Gambol stares at the Joker. Hard. GAMBOL You think you can steal from us and just walk away? I'm putting the word out- 5 hundred grand for this clown dead. A million alive, so I get to teach him some manners, first. The Joker shrugs. Turns to the assembled. THE JOKER Let me know when you change your minds . The Joker strolls out. Maroni turns to Lau. MARONI How soon can you move the money? EXT. VARIOUS BANKS DOWNTOWN CONTINUOUS Gordon hurries up the steps to a bank. SWAT teams rush the various banks. LAU (O.S.) I already have. . . EXT. UNDERPASS, GOTHAM — CONTINUOUS A CHINESE MAN finishes loading a TRACTOR TRAILER with cash boxes. The truck pulls out into a CONVOY. INT. BANK VAULT — CONTINUOUS Gordon stands in an almost empty bank vault. Furious. LAC7 (O.S.) For obvious reasons I couldn 't wait for your permission . . . INT. SOCIAL CLUB, DOWNTOWN — CONTINUOUS The shot of Lau on the TV widens . . . LAU Rest assured, your money is safe. He is already on his private jet. IN THE SKY: THE BAT SIGNAL. EXT. ROOF, POLICE STATION — NIGHT Batman emerges from the shadows . The man next to the glowing spotlight turns s DENT . DENT You're a hard man to reach. Gordon BURSTS onto the rooftop, weapon drawn. Sees Dent. DENT (CONT'D) Lau ' s halfway to Hong Kong- if you'd asked, I could have taken his passport- I told you to keep me in the loop. GORDON Yeah? All that was left in the vaults were the marked bills- they knew we were coming 1 As soon as your office got involved, there's a leak- DENT My office? 1 You're sitting down here with Bcum like Wuertz and Ramirez. . . (off look) Oh, yeah, Gordon- I almost had your rookie cold on a racketeering beef. GORDON Don't try to cloud the fact that clearly Maroni's got people in your office. Dent. Dent turns to Batman. DENT We need Lau back, but the Chinese won ' t extradite a national under any circumstances. BATMAN If I get him to you, can you get him to talk? DENT I'll get him to sing. GORDON We're going after the mob's life savings. Things will get ugly. DENT I knew the risks when I took this job, lieutenant. Same as you. (turns to Batman) How will you get him back, anyway? Batman is gone. Dent looks around, startled, smirks . GORDON He does that. Gordon INT. FOX'S OFFICE , WAYNE INDUSTRIES — DAY Fox gets up from behind his desk. FOX Our Chinese friend left town before I could tell him the deal is off. WAYNE I'm sure you've always wanted to go to Hong Kong. Fox opens the door to a private elevator. INT. PRIVATE ELEVATOR — CONTINUOUS Fox turns a key. FOX What's wrong with a phone call? WAYNE I think Mr.Lau deserves a more personal touch. INT. APPLIED SCIENCES DIVISION — CONTINUOUS Fox leads Wayne off the elevator and into the vast space. FOX For high altitude jumps, you need oxygen and stabilizers. I must say- compared to your usual requests, jumping out of an airplane is pretty straightforward. Lucius stops at a cabinet, pulls open a drawer and hauls out an oxygen tank and ribbed rubber hosing. WAYNE How about getting back into the plane? FOX I can recommend a good travel agent . WAYNE Without it landing. FOX That's more like it, Mr. Wayne. He shuts the drawer. Moves off, thinking. FOX (CONT'D) I don't think I have anything here. The CIA had a program in the 1 60s for getting their people out of hot spots. Called Sky Hook. Now- Fox opens a cabinet to reveal COMPONENTS OF A NEW BAT-SUIT. ARMORED PLATING secured to mesh. Wayne lifts an arm. FOX (CONT'D) Hardened kevlar plates on a titanium-dipped fiber tri-weave for flexibility. . . Wayne examines DOUBLE BLADE SCALLOPS on the gauntlet... FOX (CONT'D) You'll be lighter, faster, more agile. . . Wayne flinches as the BLADES FIRE, SPINNING LIKE THROWING STARS, NARROWLY MISSING his ear, embedding themselves in a filing cabinet. Fox looks at him. FOX (CONT'D) Perhaps you should read the instructions, first. WAYNE Sorry. Fox picks up the chest, demonstrating its flexibility. FOX Now, there's a trade-off... the spread of the plates gives you weak spots. You'll be more vulnerable to gunfire and knives. WAYNE We wouldn't want things getting too easy, would we? (picks up suit) How will it hold up against dogs? Fox looks at him quizzically. FOX You talking chihuahuas or rotweilers? (Wayne smiles) It should do fine against cats. I NT. BAT-BUNKER — DAY Wayne examines a parachute harness. Alfred unfolds a diagram of a NAVY CARGO PLANE with a giant "V" mounted on the front. ALFRED I found one. In Arizona. Very nice man says it will take him a week to get it running. And he takes cash. What about a flight crew? WAYNE South Korean smugglers. They run flights into Pyongyang, below radar the whole way. Did you think of an alibi? Alfred looks quite pleased with himself. ALFRED Oh , yes . EXT. BALLET — NIGHT Rachel and Dent arrive to find the box office SHUTTERED. A sign : 1 PERFORMANCE CANCELED.' A newspaper story is taped to the glass. Over a picture of BRUCE WAYNE ON A YACHT: LOVE BOAT - Billionaire absconds with entire Moscow ballet . EXT. DECK, WAYNE'S YACHT, THE CARIBBEAN — DAY Alfred, picks his way over twelve SUNBATHING BALLERINAS. Wayne looks up from a newspaper. Alfred points to a SEA- PLANE gently touching down across the bay. ALFRED I believe your plane is here. WAYNE You look tired, Alfred. Will you be all right without me? A Ballerina rolls over- waveB the suntan lotion at Alfred. ALFRED If you can tell me the Russian for 'apply your own bloody suntan lotion . 1 Wayne tosses a large, waterproof kit bag into the water and JUMPS in after it. Begins swimming over to the sea-plane. INT. POOL HALL — NIGHT Gambol racks up. A bodyguard steps into the room. BODYGUARD Somebody here for you. Gambol looks to the back- three rough customers are waiting. BODYGUARD (CONT'D) They say they've killed the Joker. They've come for the reward. GAMBOL They bring proof? BODYGUARD They say they've brought the body. The bodyguards FLOP a BODY wrapped in garbage bags onto the table. The BOUNTY HUNTERS wait in the corner. Gambol pulls back one of the garbage bags, revealing the Joker's bloodied face. Gambol spits. Turns to face the bounty hunters . GAMBOL So. Dead you get five hundred- Behind Gambol, the Joker SITS UP- THRUSTS knives into the bodyguards' chests. Gambol spins to see a crazy grin on the Joker's spit-dribbled face- THE JOKER How about alive? The Joker gets a switchblade in Gambol's mouth- SHARP METAL PULLING THE CHEEK TAUT. The Bounty Hunters subdue the remaining bodyguards. THE JOKER (CONT'D) Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker and a fiend. He'd beat mommy right in front of me. One night he goes off crazier than usual, mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not. One. Bit. The Joker TUGS Gambols cheek with the blade. THE JOKER (CONT'D) So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. Turns to me and says 'why so serious ? 1 Comes at me with the knife- 'why so serious?' StickB the blade in my mouth- 'Let's put a smile on that face 1 and... The Joker looks up at the ASHEN FACES of the remaining Body Guards . Smiles . THE JOKER (CONT'D) Why so serious? The Joker FLICKS his wrist- the Body Guards flinch as Gambol goes down. The Joker turns to them. THE JOKER (CONT'D) Now, our organization is small, but we've got a lot of potential for aggressive expansion... so which of you fine gentlemen would like to join our team? The three bodyguards all nod. The Joker SNAPS a pool cue. THE JOKER (CONT'D) Only one slot open right now- so we're going to have try-outs. The Joker drops the broken cue in the middle of the men. THE JOKER (CONT'D) Make it fast. The men stare at each other. Then at the jagged pool cue. EXT. PENINSULA HOTEL, HONG KONG — DAY A HELICOPTER touches down on one of the hotel's twin helipads. Two L.S.I. VPs approach, heads ducked. Fox gets ou- t- they shake hands, shouting over the engine- VP Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Fox! Mr.Lau regrets he is unable to meet you in person. But with his current legal difficulties...! FOX I understand! INT. LOBBY, L.S.I. HOLDINGS — DAY The VPs usher Fox towards security. VP I'm afraid for security reasons I have to ask for your mobile phone. Lucius hands his phone to a SECURITY GUARD, who puts the phone in a box underneath his station. INT. L . S . I . HOLDINGS — DAY Fox and Lau eat lunch in a dining room overlooking the city. LAU I must apologize for leaving Gotham in the middle of our negotiations. This misunderstanding with the Gotham police force... I couldn't let such a thing threaten my company. A businessman of your stature will understand. But with you here... we can continue. FOX Well, it was good of you to bring me out here in such style, Mr.Lau. But I 've actually come. . . A CELL PHONE rings. Fox pulls out a second, identical, phone. Fox presses the off switch and places the phone by hiB plate. LAU We do not allow cell phones in- FOX Sorry . Forgot I had it . So , I've come to explain why we're going to have to put our deal on hold . . . Lau stares at Fox. Clearly furious. Fox smiles FOX (CONT'D) We can ' t afford to be seen to do business with... well, whatever it is you're accused of being. A businessman of your stature will understand. Lau gets up. Silent. Fox retrieves his phone. LAU (cold) I think, Mr. Fox, that a simple phone call might have sufficed. FOX Well, I do love Chinese food. And Mr. Wayne didn't want you to think we'd been deliberately wasting your time. LAU Just accidentally wasting it. FOX (laughs) That's very good- "accidentally". Very good. I'll be sure and tell Mr. Wayne that he was wrong about you not having a sense of humor. Stands . INT. LOBBY, L . S . I . HOLDINGS — DAY Lucius walks back through security. Nods at the VP, who bows, offering Lucius his cell phone. Lucius shakes his head, holds up the IDENTICAL PHONE. The VP smiles, nods, puts the phone back into the tray with several others. INT. HOLD, C-130 CARGO HAULER DAWN Two SMUGGLERS steal glances at Wayne, crouched at the rear m balaclava and flight suit. The COPILOT signals Wayne, who pulls on his oxygen mask and stands up. The rear of the plane OPENS. Wayne Bteps to the edge, then JUMPS. EXT. SKIES ABOVE HONG KONG — DAWN Moving across the water towards Hong Kong harbor... A tiny figure DROPS into frame, PLUMMETING towards the water- SPEEDING past the highest floors of skyscrapers, seconds from impact. Wayne PULLS the chute- DROPS into the water. . . EXT. BENEATH FREEWAY, HONG KONG HARBOR — DAY Wayne pulls himself out of the water, dragging up his pack. EXT. CENTRAL ESCALATORS — DAY Wayne stops halfway up the crowded commuter escalator. He takes a camera and lines up a shot like any tourist. FOX (O.S.) There's a better view from the peak tram. Wayne turns to find Fox standing there, street map out. WAYNE How's the view from L. S. I. Holdings? FOX Restricted. Lau's holed up in there good and tight . Here . . . Fox shows Wayne the phone. The display: a 3-d map of Lau's office suite. Wayne takes the phone, impressed. WAYNE What's this? FOX I had R and D work it up- it sends out high frequencies and records the response time to map an environment . WAYNE (smiles) Sonar. Just like a b- FOX Submarine. Like a submarine. WAYNE And the other device? FOX In place. Wayne nods, moves away. FOX ( CONT 1 D) Mr .Wayne? (Wayne turns) Good luck. EXT. HONG KONG — NIGHT Moving towards the tallest building in the glittering skyline to find Wayne, crouched on the roof. The blades of his gauntletB CLICK into place. He dons the helmet-like cowl. His "cape" is in the form of a hard faceted PACK. He stands- pulls two black boxes from his belt, CLICKS them together and UNFOLDS them into a RIFLE-LIKE DEVICE. Batman SCOPES a second, lower building. Adjust a setting and FIRES- four times... Four small STICKY BOMBS SLAP onto the glass of the lower building . They have visible timers which are COUNTING DOWN. INT. LOBBY, L.S. I. HOLDINGS — NIGHT Lucius' cell phone GLOWS in the box under the Security Guard's desk. CHARACTERS race across the screen. Then the monitor FLICKERS off, the lights DIM and all of the security doors in the front of the building OPEN at once. The Guard grabs his radio- CALLS FOR HELP . . . EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING L.S. I. HOLDINGS Batman LAUNCHES into the glittering night, DROPPING from the tall tower... his pack BURSTS OPEN, becoming his BAT WlNGS-he GLIDES down to the lower building, STREAKING around it, BANKING HARD to line up with a window in the rear. . . INT. LAU'S OFFICE, L.S. I. HOLDINGS -- NIGHT Lau is talking on the phone, staring at a profit projection on a flat screen monitor. Suddenly the room goes dark. EXT. L.S. I. HOLDINGS — CONTINUOUS As Batman HURTLES towards the glass he COLLAPSES his wings, WRAPPING his cape around himself and CANNONBALLING THROUGH THE GLASS- INT. LAU'S OFFICE SUITE, L.S. I. HOLDINGS — NIGHT -ROLLING across the floor in a flurry of broken glass... INT. LAU'S OFFICE, TOP FLOOR, L.S. I .HOLDINGS — NIGHT Lau pulls out a HANDGUN. INT. HALLWAY, L . S . I . HOLDINGS — NIGHT Lau steps into the hallway. His BODYGUARDS are waiting for him, carrying FLASHLIGHTS. LAU (IN CHINESE) Where the hell are the cops? BODYGUARD (IN CHINESE) Coming . LAU (IN CHINESE) What the hell am I paying them for? They head for the stairwell. EXT. L . S . I . HOLDINGS — NIGHT A small ARMY of Hong Kong police lead by a HONG KONG DETECTIVE descends on the building. INT. MEZZANINE LEVEL, L . S . I . HOLDINGS — NIGHT Lau and his men make their way out onto the mezzanine. Across the room, something makes a CRASHING SOUND. Lau's men fan out, trying to cover the room with their flashlights . Suddenly, one of the flashlights goes DARK. Then another. Someone SCREAMS. Lau FIRES. Then FIRES again. The muzzle flash from his weapon STROBES the room. EXT. L.S. I. HOLDINGS, HONG KONG — NIGHT Cops SWARM into the building. A LOBBY SECURITY GUARD directs the Hong Kong Detective where to go... INT. OFFICE, L.S. I. HOLDINGS — NIGHT Lau LOCKS the door. RELOADS. The door is KICKED open. Lau FIRES. No one is there. Lau stares, finger restless on the trigger. From his right- a NOISE. He turns and FIRES. In the muzzle FLASH: Batman, bearing down on him like a demon. Lau FIRES, and FIRES again as Batman TACKLES him. Batman pulls out a SMALL PACK- STRAPS it onto Lau- The COUNTER on the sticky bombs hits 0- The Hong Kong Detective and the Cops BURST into the room- the WALL AND CEILING BEHIND BATMAN AND LAU EXPLODES- revealing the dawn sky above Hong Kong. The Detective looks around as he hears a LOW RUMBLE... Batman JERKS the RIPCORD on Lau's pack. Cops cower as a WEATHER BALLOON EXPLODES out of the pack, unreeling high- test nylon. The Cops cock their weapons. Lau looks up. Bemused. The weather balloon is two hundred feet up, swaying gently. The RUMBLE BUILDS... Suddenly, a MASSIVE C-130 ROARS over. The large V on the front of the plane SNAGS the line- Lau and BATMAN are YANKED THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE CEILING- Lau SCREAMS as he and Batman SOAR UP INTO THE DAWN SKY... The Detective looks up. Batman and Lau are gone. INT. GORDON'S OFFICE, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL DAY Gordon is looking through case files. Ramirez walks in. RAMIREZ You're gonna want to see this. EXT. MCU — DAY Gordon follows Ramirez through a CROWD of excited cops. On the ground, trussed like a chicken- Lau. A sign taped to his chest: 'Please deliver to Lieutenant Gordon.' INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL — DAY Lau sits next to his sleazy lawyer, EVANS. Rachel walks in. RACHEL Give us the money and we'll deal. LAU The money is the only reason I'm still alive. Rachel leans forward, speaking softly. Clearly. RACHEL You mean when they hear that you've helped us they're going to kill you? EVANS Are you threatening my client? RACHEL No, I'm just assuming your client's cooperation with this investigation. As will everyone. (moves to the door) Enjoy your stay in County, Mr. Lau. LAU Wait. (Rachel stops) I won't give you the money, but I ' 11 give you my clients . All of them. RACHEL You were a glorified accountant- what could you have on all of them that we could charge? LAU I'm good with calculation- I handled all their investments. One big pot. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL — DAY Dent hitB a buzzer. Turns to Gordon. DENT I've got it. RICO. If their money was pooled we can charge all of them as one criminal conspiracy. GORDON Charge them with what? Rachel enters. DENT In a RICO case if we can charge any ■ of the conspirators with a felony- RACHEL We can charge all of them with it. Dent nods at Rachel, excited. INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL — DAY Rachel comes back in. RACHEL Mr.Lau, do you have details of this communal fund? Ledgers , notebooks . . . ? LAU ( smiles ) Immunity, protection and a chartered plane back to Hong Kong. RACHEL Once you've testified in open court. So with your clients locked up, what happens to all that money? LAU Like I said- I'm good with calculation. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL — CONTINUOUS Dent and Gordon watch Lau. GORDON He can't go to County. I'll keep him here in the holding cells. DENT What is this Gordon, your fortress? GORDON You trust them over at County? DENT I don't trust them here. GORDON Lau stays. DENT It's your call, Lieutenant. Be right. GORDON I am, counselor. EXT. CITY HALL — DAY Dent stands in front of a small crowd of reporters. REPORTER The Chinese government claim their international rights have been broken . DENT I don ' t know about Mr . Lau ' s travel arrangements . . . INT. RESTAURANT — CONTINUOUS Dent's press conference plays on a TV in the corner. DENT ( grins ) ...but I'm sure glad he's back. Maroni and the Chechen are watching the TV. CHECHEN I put word out. We hire the clown. (off look) He was right. We have to fix real problem. B atman . Maroni shakes his head. Spots Gordon walking over dangling a pair of handcuffs. Nods at the TV. GORDON Our boy looks good on the tube. MARONI You sure you want to embarrass me in front of my friends. Lieutenant? GORDON Don't worry, they're coming, too. Gordon points out the window to a PRISON BUS. EXT. VARIOUS DOWNTOWN AND OUTLYING LOCATIONS — DAY Prison buses in every neighborhood. COPS load them with CRIMINALS. Stephens puts Crime Boss in a prison bus. INT. COURTROOM A, GOTHAM MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE — DAY JUDGE SURRILLO reads the list of charges . JUDGE SURRILLO — 849 counts racketeering, 246 counts fraud, 87 counts conspiracy murder . . . Judge Surrillo turns the page. A PLAYING CARD sits there. A Joker. He glances at it, curious, puts it to one side. JUDGE SURRILLO (CONT'D) ...how do the defendants plead? An ARMY Of DEFENSE LAWYERS jostle YELLING A L L AT ONCE. STENOGRAPHER looks up, helpless. INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE — DAY The MAYOR, COMMISSIONER LOEB, and Gordon look up as Dent enters. MAYOR DENT! What was that circus?! DENT I asked Gordon to make some arrests . LOEB (looks at report) Five hundred and- GORDON Forty-nine, sir. Gordon nods at Dent, approving. Dent grins back. MAYOR 549 criminals at once?! How did you convince Surrillo to hear this farce? DENT She shares my enthusiasm for justice. After all, she is a judge. MAYOR Even if you blow enough smoke to get convictions out of Surrillo, you'll set a new record at appeals for quickest kick in the ass. DENT It won't matter. The head guys make bail, sure... but the mid- level guy 3 , they can't, and they can't afford to be off the streets long enough for trial and appeal. They'll cut deals that include some jail time. Think of all you could do with 18 months of clean streets. The Mayor waves Gordon and Loeb out. MAYOR The public likes you. Dent. That's the only reason this might fly. But that means It's on you . They're all coming after you, now. Not just the mob... politicians, journalists, cops- anyone whose wallet's about to get lighter. Are you up to it? (Dent smiles) You better be. They get anything on you. . . those criminals will be back on the streets . . . The Mayor turns to look out of the window. Quiet. MAYOR (CONT'D) Followed swiftly by you and me- BANGl A DARK SHAPE CRACKS THE GLASS in front of the Mayor's nose. Dent rushes to the window, looks out... EXT. CITY HALL — CONTINUOUS PEDESTRIANS look up, someone SCREAMS, someone POINTS- five stories up... SWINGING from a FLAGPOLE... BATMAN. HANGING BY HIS NECK. DEAD. His mouth roughly painted in a DEMONIC CLOWN SMILE. EXT. CITY HALL — MOMENTS LATER "Batman" is lowered from the flagpole. The same fake Batman we saw earlier. Pinned to his chest by a KNIFE, a PLAYING CARD. A Joker. Gordon moves closer to the body. The card has writing on it: WILL THE REAL BATMAN PLEASE STAND UP? INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — DAY Wayne comes into the living room, excited. Alfred is supervising party arrangements. WAYNE How's it going? ALFRED I think your fundraiser will be a great success, sir. WAYNE And why do you think I wanted to hold a party for Harvey Dent? ALFRED I assumed it was your usual reason for socialising beyond myself and the scum of Gotham's underbelly: to try and impress Miss Dawes. WAYNE Very droll. But very wrong. Actually it's Dent. You see- Wayne trails off as he spots something on the television: the Batman HANGING a a from a NEWS CAMERA , framed by a graphic that reads 'BATMAN DEAD?'. Image cuts to Engel in the studio . ENGEL (V.O.) . . .Police released video footage found concealed on the body. Sensitive viewers be aware: it is disturbing. The image cuts to a BLINDFOLDED MAN , wearing a makeshift Batman costume- face bruised and bloody. In some kind of bright , fluorescent-lit room. VOICE (O.S.) Tell them your name. MAN {weak) Brian Douglas. VOICE (O.S. ) Are you the real Batman? MAN No. VOICE (O.S.) Why do you dress up like him? MAN He's a symbol... that we don't have to be afraid of scorn like you. . . VOICE (O.S. ) But you do, Brian . You really do. You think the Batman ' s helped Gotham? Brian nods uncertainly. . . VOICE (CONT'D) Look at me. ( Brian looks down) LOOK AT ME l Brian looks up- the camera swings into the face of the Joker, in CHALK-WHITE makeup, RED SMEAR of lipstick on his SCARS . THE JOKER This is how crazy Batman's made Gotham. You want order in Gotham? Batman has to go. So. . . { leans in) Batman must take off his mask, and turn himself in. Every day he doesn 't . . . people will die. Starting tonight. I'm a man of my word. The tape cuts to STATIC. Wayne turns to Alfred. Silent. INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — EVENING Dent and Rachel get off the lift. Dent stands in awe of the penthouse and its guests. RACHEL Now I've seen it all: Harvey Dent, scourge of the underworld, scared stiff by the trust fund brigade. Rachel spots someone and darts off- DENT Rachel- ALFRED (O.S. ) A little liquid courage , Mr. Dent? Dent turns to see Alfred with drinks on a silver tray. DENT Thanks. Alfred, right? ALFRED Yes, sir. DENT Rachel talks about you all the time. You've known her her whole life? ALFRED Not yet, sir. DENT ( smiles , surveys crowd) Any psychotic ex-boyfriends I should be aware of? ALFRED Oh, you have no idea. Alfred leaves Dent standing there, puzzled. The crowd REACTS as a LOUD ROAR drowns conversation... Dent looks out- EXT. HELIPAD, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — CONTINUOUS Wayne's CHOPPER touches down. He spills out with a clutch of SUPERMODELS... INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — CONTINUOUS Wayne and the supermodels come out of the helipad elevator- WAYNE Sorry, I'm late- glad you started without me! Where's Rachel?! Rachel cringes slightly. Wayne spots her. WAYNE (CONT'D) Rachel Dawes- my oldest friend. When she told me she was dating Harvey Dent, I had one thing to say... the guy from those god- awful campaign commercials? Laughter. Dent shifts, embarrassed. WAYNE (CONT'D) 'I Believe in Harvey Dent.' Nice slogan, Harvey. Certainly caught Rachel's attention. But then I started paying attention to Harvey, and all he 1 s been doing as our new D.A., and you know what? X believe in Harvey Dent. On his watch, Gotham can feel a little safer. A little more optimistic. So get out your checkbooks and let's make sure that he stays right where all of Gotham wants him... (raises his glass) All except Gotham's criminals, of course. To the face of Gotham's bright future- Harvey Dent. Dent smiles accepting the toast. INT. CORRIDOR, MCU — EVENING Ramirez catches up to Gordon, holding paperwork. RAMIREZ That Joker card pinned to the body? Forensics found three sets of D.N.A. . GORDON Any matches? RAMIREZ All three. Gordon STOPS. Turns to face her. RAMIREZ (CONT'D) The D.N.A. belongs to Judge Surrillo, Harvey Dent and Commissioner Loeb. GORDON The Joker ' s telling us who he ' s targeting- get a unit to Surrillo's house, tell Wuertz to find Dent- get them both into protective custody. Where's the Commissioner? RAMIREZ City hall. GORDON Seal the building. No one in or out till I get there. EXT. DECK, WAYNE'S PENTHOUSE — EVENING Wayne walks out to the edge of the balcony and looks over Gotham. Hears someone behind him- Rachel. RACHEL Harvey may not know you well enough to understand when you're making fun of him. But I do. WAYNE (shakes his head) I meant every word. Wayne moves closer to Rachel. Takes her arm. WAYNE (CONT'D) The day you once told me about, the day when Gotham no longer needs Batman. It's coming. Rachel lookB at Wayne. Conflicted. He moves closer. RACHEL You can't ask me to wait for that. Wayne takes Rachel's arms, looking at her, excited. WAYNE It's happening now- Harvey is that hero . He locked up half the city ' s criminals, and he did it without wearing a mask. Gotham needs a hero with a face. DENT ( 0 . S . ) You can throw a party, Wayne, I'll give you that. Thanks again. Mind if I borrow Rachel? Rachel glances back at Wayne as she moves to Dent. Wayne watches them head inside. EXT. STREET, GOTHAM HEIGHTS — EVENING Two MEN in suits knock at a Brownstone. The door is opened by Judge Surrillo. The two Men hold up BADGES. EXT. CITY HALL — EVENING Gordon enters through a tight police presence at the doors. INT. POLICE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE — EVENING Gordon enters to find Loeb, flanked by armed cops. COMMISSIONER LOEB Gordon, what are you playing at? Gordon checks the window. Turns to his men. GORDON We're secure. I want a floor-by- floor search of the entire building. (turns to Loeb) I'm sorry, sir. We believe the Joker has made a threat against your life. LOEB Gordon, you're unlikely to discover this for yourself, so take my word- the Police Commissioner earns a lot of threats — Loeb pulls a bottle of whisky and a tumbler from a drawer. LOEB (CONT'D) I found the appropriate response to these situations a long time ago... EXT. STREET, GOTHAM HEIGHTS -- EVENING The second man is waiting by the Judge's car. SURRILLO Gordon wants me to go right now? MAN 1 These are dangerous people. Judge. Even we don't know where you're going . He hands Surrillo a sealed envelope. Opens the car door. MAN 2 Get in, then open the envelope. It'll tell you where you're headed. Surrillo climbs in. Watches them drive away. She opens the envelope- pulls out a sheet of paper. One word on it 'UP' . Surrillo 's car EXPLODES, heaving the car upwards on a FIREBALL. A PASSERBY is thrown to the ground. After a moment, BURNING DEBRIS flutters down on him. PLAYING CARDS. JOKERS . INT. POLICE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE — CONTINUOUS Loeb pours himself a glass of whisky. LOEB You get to explain to my wife why I'm late for dinner. Lieutenant. GORDON Sir, the Joker card had a trace of your D.N.A. on it- A bang at the door. Gordon pulls his weapon, then opens it. STEPHENS Just the normal number of bad guys in the building- and they're all city employees. Here's a list. LOEB How'd they get my D.N.A. ? Gordon looks at Stephens ' s list . GORDON Somebody with access to your house or office muBt've lifted a tissue or a glass. . . Gordon, realizing/ spins around- GORDON Wait- But Loeb is already CHOKING- desk- the spilled whiskey is GORDON Get a medic l Loeb COLLAPSES. OMITTED; : 104 ( CONT ' D ) he DROPS his tumbler onto the SMOKING, eating into the wood. (CONT'D) OMITTED INT. KITCHEN, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — EVENING Dent pulls Rachel into the kitchen, away from the crowd DENT You cannot leave me on my own with these people. RACHEL The whole mob's after you and you're worried about these guys? DENT Compared to this , the mob doesn ' t scare me. Although/ I will say; them gunning for you makes you see things clearly. RACHEL Oh, yeah? DENT Yeah. It makes you think about what you couldn't stand losing. And who you want to spend the rest of your life with... Rachel looks at Dent. Smiles. RACHEL The rest of your life, huh? That's a pretty big commitment. DENT Not if the mob has their way. RACHEL Don ' t . DENT Okay. Let's be serious. What's your answer? Rachel looks at him. RACHEL X don't have an answer. INT. LIVING ROOM, PENTHOUSE — NIGHT Half the guests are on their cell phones. An ASSISTANT DA turns to his COLLEAGUE. ASSISTANT DA Surrillo and Loeb? There is a KNOCK at the front door. Alfred °P en s ^ it find Detective Wuertz, who holds up his badge. Alfred beckons him in- there is a SHOTGUN at the back of his head held by- The Joker- purple suit, make up. With friend* . J o£er SMASHES Wuertz over the head- steps over him, RACKING shotgun. THE JOKER Good evening . We ' re the entertainment . INT. KITCHEN, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — NIGHT Rachel is looking at Dent. Torn. DENT I guess no answer isn't "no". RACHEL I'm sorry, Harvey. I just... DENT It's someone else, isn't it? Wayne is moving up behind him. Fast- DENT (CONT'D) Just tell me it's not Wayne. The guy ' s a complete- Rachel's eyes go wide as Wayne puts Dent in a SLEEPER HOLD- RACHEL What are you doing? I Dent SLUMPS, unconscious in Wayne's arms. WAYNE They've come for him. From the main room- A SHOTGUN BLAST followed by SCREAMS. Wayne stuffs Dent in a closet- puts a mop through the handles. Rushes past Rachel- WAYNE (CONT'D) Stay hidden. INT. LIVING ROOM, WAYNE'S PENTHOUSE — NIGHT The Joker and his THUGS pour into the room, weapons raised. INT. HALLWAY, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — NIGHT A THUG appears in front of Wayne, toting a shotgun. THUG Hands up, pretty boy. Wayne FLIPS the shotgun around in the man's hands- uses it as a fulcrum to SNAP his forearm- SMASHES him in the jaw with the stock without breaking step, field stripping the shotgun and tossing the pieces in different directions. INT. LIVING ROOM, WAYNE'S PENTHOUSE — NIGHT The Joker moves through the terrified guests. Smiling. THE JOKER I only have one question: where is Harvey Dent? (silence) I'll settle for his loved ones... A distinguished Gentleman steps into the Joker's path. GENTLEMAN We're not intimidated by thugs. The Joker stops. Stares at the man. SMILES AFFECTIONATELY . THE JOKER You know, you remind me of my father. (GRABS him) I hated my father. The Joker has his blade in the Gentleman's mouth. RACHEL (O.S.) Stopl The Joker drops the Gentleman. Turns to Rachel. THE JOKER Hello, beautiful. You must be Harvey's squeeze. (runB his knife across her cheek) And you are beautiful. You look nervous- it's the scars isn't it? Wanna know how I got them? I had a wife, beautiful like you. Who tells me I worry too much. Who says I need to smile more. Who gambles. And gets in deep with the sharks. One day they carve her face, and we've got no money for surgeries. She can't take it. (presses knife into her cheek) I just want to see her smile again. I just want her to know I don't care about the scars . So I put a razor in my mouth and do this to myself . . . And you know what? (startB laughing) She can't stand the sight of me... (or crying) She leavesl See, now I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling. INT. MASTER BEDROOM, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — NIGHT Wayne walks in. A COUPLE are hastily putting themselves back together, alerted by the noise. MALE GUEST What's going on out there, Wayne? Wayne doesn't answer. He walks into a closet and pulls at a FALSE WALL. Wayne steps into the safe room. FEMALE GUEST Thank god- you've got a panic room. The door SLAMS shut and seals with a HISS. MALE GUEST Wait 1 You can ' t- FEMALE GUEST You've got to be kidding me. INT. LIVING ROOM, WAYNE'S PENTHOUSE — NIGHT The Joker raises his knife from Rachel's cheek. She SLUGS him. He smiles. THE JOKER A little fight in you. I like that. BATMAN (O.S.) Then you're going to love me. The Joker turns. Batman catches him with a BLOW, spins him down and DISARMS him- the Joker's men jump him- Batman takes them out two at a time- DISARMING thugs- BREAKING forearms- the Joker CLICKS a BLADE from the toe of his shoe and KICKS- JABBING BETWEEN THE PLATES OF ARMOR covering Batman's ribcage- Batman HURLS the Joker across the room. One of the Joker's men LUNGES- Batman lays him out cold. The Joker has another knife pressed to Rachel's neck. BATMAN (CONT'D) Drop the knife. THE JOKER Sure. Just take off your mask and show us all who you are . . . Rachel shakes her head at Batman. The Joker raises his shotgun to the side and BLOWS OUT the pane of glass next to him. The Joker dangles Rachel out the window. BATMAN Let her go. THE JOKER ( laughs ) Very poor choice of words . . . He lets her DROP- Rachel falls onto a SLOPING GLASS ROOF- sliding towards the edge Batman DIVES after her- OMITTED EXT. BUILDING — NIGHT They DROP- Batman FIRES his grapple, SNAGGING Rachel's ankle- activates one wing of his cape- They SPIN and SLOW- Batman envelopes Rachel- they SLAM into the hood of a passing taxi. INT. TAXI — CONTINUOUS The DRIVER SCREAMS as Batman and Rachel hit the roof- ROLL down the windshield- onto the pavement. Alive. INT. CAR — CONTINUOUS The Joker looks back as his car SPEEDS away. He's breathing hard, EXHILARATED. He touches the blood running down his sweaty white makeup. SMACKS the back of the driver ' s seat- DRIVER What do we do about Dent? THE JOKER I ' m a man of my word . EXT. TAXI CONTINUOUS Rachel opens her eyes. BATMAN Are you alright? RACHEL Let's not do that again, okay? (looks around) Is Harvey-? BATMAN He's safe. Rachel lies back, breathing. Looks up at Batman. RACHEL Thank you. INT. MAJOR CRIMES UNIT, GOTHAM CENTRAL — DAY STEPHENS is talking to Gordon, subdued. STEPHENS Jim, it's over. GORDON As long as they don't get to Lau, we've cut off their funds. STEPHENS But the prosecution's over. STEPHENS (CONT'D) No-one ' s standing up in front of a Judge while judges and police commissioners are getting blown away. GORDON What about Dent? STEPHENS If he's got any sense. Dent's halfway to Mexico by now. The door BURSTS OPEN. Dent. Fire in his eyes. DENT So where do you keep your trash? Gordon looks at Dent. Impressed. INT. SPECIAL HOLDING AREA, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL — DAY Lau looks up as Dent walks in, holding a bullet proof vest. DENT You're due in court- I need you alive long enough to get you on the record. LAU No way. You can't protect me- you can't even protect yourselves. Dent THROWS the heavy vest at Lau. DENT Refuse to cooperate on the stand- you won't be coming back here- you 1 11 go to county . How long do you calculate you'll last in there? INT. BAT-BUNKER -- DAY Wayne sits at his video screens- they all play the Joker's video with different IMAGE TREATMENTS and SOUND TUNINGS. Wayne turns to Alfred. Indicates the screens. WAYNE Targeting me won't get their money back. I knew the mob wouldn't go down without a fight, but this is different. They've crossed a line. ALFRED You crossed it first, sir. You've hammered them, squeezed them to the point of desperation. And now, in their desperation they've turned to a man they don't fully understand. Wayne gets up from his monitors, raises the bat-cabinet. WAYNE Criminals aren't complicated, Alfred. We just have to figure out what he ' s after . ALFRED Respectfully, Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man you don't fully understand , either . ALFRED (CONT'D) (looks at Wayne) I was in Burma. A long time ago. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders, bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. We were asked to take care of the problem, so we started looking for the stones. But after six months, we couldn't find anyone who had traded with him. WAYNE What were you missing? ALFRED One day X found a child playing with a ruby as big as a tangerine, (shrugs) The bandit had been throwing the stones away. WAYNE So why was he stealing them? ALFRED Because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money... they can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. ( grave ) Some men just want to watch the world burn. Wayne stares at Alfred. Reaches for the bat-suit. EXT. SKYLINE OF GOTHAM — DAWN MOVING over the city we hear myriad RADIO CALLS going out over the ether. CLOSE IN on a lonely figure on top of a skyscraper. The Batman. Listening with his million dollar earpieces. From the babble, ONE VOICE EMERGES. DISPATCH (O.S.) Four name , sir. Please state - VOICE (O.S.) 8th at orchard. You'll find Harvey Dent there. EXT. 8TH STREET AT ORCHARD — DAWN An UNMARKED and a SQUAD CAR screech to a halt. Gordon and Ramirez get out, lead two UNIFORMS into the building. INT. APARTMENT, EIGHT AVE. — CONTINUOUS The door SMASHES OPEN, Gordon- gun drawn- takes in the scene. TWO DEAD MEN sitting at the kitchen table. They each have a HAND OF CARDS, as if in the middle of a game. ALL JOKERS. Gordon and Ramirez STARE at the CRUDE LEERS carved into their faces. Their DRIVERS LICENSES are pinned to their chests. VOICE (O.S.) Check the names. GORDON (O.S.) (checks licenses) Patrick Harvey. Richard Dent . . . RAMIREZ Harvey Dent . BATMAN I need ten minutes with the scene before your men contaminate it. RAMIREZ Us contaminate it? It's because of you that these guys are dead in the first place- GORDON Ramirez . She stands down. Batman moves past the bodies to the wall. Finds an embedded stray bullet. He pulls a SAWING DEVICE from his belt- THRUSTS it into the wall and starts cutting around the bullet. GORDON (CONT'D) That's brick- you're gonna try and take ballistics off a shattered bullet? BATMAN No. Fingerprints. Ramirez looks at Gordon. Is he serious? Gordon point s- GORDON Whatever you're gonna do, do it fast, 'cos we know hiB next target. . . Batman looks- a campaign posters RE-ELECT MAYOR GARCIA. The Mayor's image has a MANIC CLOWN'S GRIN and "HA, HA, HA". INT. FOX'S OFFICE, WAYNE ENTERPRISES — DAY Fox is at his desk. Reese enters. FOX What can I do for you, Mr. Reese? REESE You asked me to do the diligence on the L.S. I. Holdings deal again. I found irregularities. FOX Their CEO is in police custody. REESE Not with their numbers. With yours . A whole division of Wayne Industries disappeared, overnight. So I went down to the archives and started pulling old files. He pulls out a folded blueprint. Slides it across the desk. REESE (CONT'D) My kids love the Batman. I thought he was pretty cool, too. Out there, kicking some ass. Fox picks up the piece of paper. Unfolds it. It's an old BLUEPRINT. The image is unmistakable* THE TUMBLER. REESE (CONT'D) Changes things when you know it's just a rich kid playing dress up. Reese points to the approval box in the corner of the page. REESE (CONT'D) Your project. Don't tell me you didn ' t recognize your baby pancaking cop cars on the evening news. Now you're getting sloppy. Applied Sciences was a small, dead department- who'd notice? But now you've got the entire R and D department burning cash, claiming it's related to cell phones for the , army. What are you building him now? A rocket ship? REESE (CONT'D) I want ten million a year. For the rest of my life. Fox looks at him. Even. Folds up the blueprint. FOX Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands . . . (deadpan) And now your plan is to blackmail this person? Reese stares at Fox. Who smiles. And slides the blueprint across the desk. FOX (CONT'D) Good luck. Reese looks at it. Then at Fox. Swallows. Slides it back. XNT. BAT-BUNKER — DAY Wayne hands Alfred a RIFLE BULLET scribed with a GRID. He slots it into a clip, then loads it into a COMPUTER CONTROLLED GATTLING GUN. He puts on ear protectors. Hits a button. The rifle WHIRS to life- dollying sideways, BLASTING BULLETS into a series of identical BRICK WALL SAMPLES. ALFRED I ' m not sure you made it loud enough, sir. As the wall samples still smoke, Wayne steps up, carrying the sample from the crime scene. Comparing itB spread to the new samples, he selects two and carries them to an X- RAY SCANNER. The machine gives the samples a 3-axis scan- HI-RES 3-D IMAGES of the bullet fragment arrays come up on the screen. . . INT. APPLIED SCIENCES DIVISION — DAY The same image of the bullet fragment on a screen. Fox hits a key and the computer 'reassembles' the bullets according to the identifying grid on each fragment. FOX Here's your original scan — A bullet fragment array pops on screen. FOX (CONT'D) Here's it reverse-engineered — Fox hits a button and the unmarked bullet fragments are reassembled. Wayne spins the roughly-shaped bullet puzzle- WAYNE And here's a thumb print. Fox looks at the screen, impressed. Thinks. FOX I'll make you a copy. (troubled) Mr. Wayne, did you reassign R and D? WAYNE Yes . Government telecommunications project. FOX I wasn't aware we had any new government contracts . Can you- WAYNE Lucius. I'm playing this one pretty close to the chest. FOX Fair enough . Fox looks at Wayne as he leaves. Uneasy. I NT. BAT-BUNKER — CONTINUOUS — INTERCUT Wayne examines the fingerprint- ALFRED I'll run it through all the databases and came up with for possibles . Wayne gets up to let Alfred sit WAYNE Cross reference the addresses... WAYNE (CONT'D) Look for Parks ide and around. Wayne opens a HYDRAULIC DOOR, revealing a gleaming MV AUGUSTA BRUTALE. As he moves the bike onto the lift.. ALFRED Got one. Melvin White, aggravated assault, moved to Arkham twice- 1502 Randolph Apartments, just off State- WAYNE Overlooking the parade. Wayne and the bike rise on the lift. EXT. PARKS IDE AVENUE — DAY The avenue has been blocked off. Onlookers line the sidewalks. POLICE march past in dress uniform. Engel does a stand-up on the sidewalk. ENGEL With no word from the Batman- even as they mourn Commissioner Loeb, these cops have to be wondering if the Joker is going to make good on his threat to kill the Mayor today . . . On the buildings above, POLICE SNIPERS scan the crowd. Gordon keys his radio- GORDON How's it looking up top? POLICE SNIPER We're tight. But frankly... there's a lot of windows up here. Gordon looks up at the myriad buildings overlooking the podium. EXT. GOTHAM STREETS — CONTINUOUS Wayne maneuvers the Ducati through the traffic. He pulls up near a parade barricade- dismounts and slips into an alley. INT. TENEMENT — CONTINUOUS Some of the building's hard-luck TENANTS eye Wayne as he counts doors down the hallway. He finds 1502... EXT. PARKSIDE AVENUE — LATER A SEA OF POLICE fillB the Avenue. In the center, three grieving families and an HONOR GUARD. The Mayor at the podium. Gordon behind. Dent is seated with Rachel. THE MAYOR ...and as we recognize the sacrifice of these officers, we must remember that vigilance is the price of safety. INT. TENEMENT — CONTINUOUS Wayne enters: EIGHT MEN IN UNDERSHIRTS, bound, gagged, blindfolded. A SNIPER SCOPE on a tripod at the window. Wayne moves to the first man, RIPS the tape from his mouth. MAN (breathing hard) Took . . . they took our guns , our uniforms . . . EXT. PARKSIDE AVENUE — CONTINUOUS Gordon scans the crowd. The Mayor wraps up- the Honor Guard steps forward, raises weapons... EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PARKSIDE — CONTINUOUS A POLICE SNIPER scans the windows of the tenement . . . INT. TENEMENT — CONTINUOUS Wayne RACES to the window, looks through the SCOPE to see: EXT. STATE STREET — CONTINUOUS THE HONOR GUARD TURN THEIR WEAPONS ON THE MAYOR. One SMILES, flesh-colored makeup over his scars. THE JOKER. Gordon LEAPS FORWARD- they FIRE- GORDON TAKES SHOTS TO THE BACK as he SLAMS the Mayor to the ground- EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PARKSIDE — CONTINUOUS The Police Sniper SPOTS Wayne at the window- SHOOTS- INT. TENEMENT — CONTINUOUS Wayne DUCKS as SHOTS erupt around the window- EXT. PARKSIDE — CONTINUOUS PANDEMONIUM erupts -One of the honor guard is TAGGED IN THE LEG- GOES DOWN. The others MELT into the CHAOS. On the podium, Stephens rolls Gordon over... he is not moving . EXT. SIDE STREET OFF PARKSIDE — MOMENTS LATER CHAOS. Dent approaches an ambulance sitting in the alley. Two cops jump out and run over to their commander. Dent steps up into the back. INT. AMBULANCE — CONTINUOUS The Joker's thug sits there. Handcuffed. A PARAMEDIC bandages his leg. Cops run past, barking orders. DENT Tell me what you know about the Joker . The Joker's thug looks at Dent. Smirks. Dent looks down. Exasperated. Looks back up at the Joker's Thug. Spots something- moves closer- the man's uniform... his name tag . . . OFFICER RACHEL DAWES. Dent, breathing hard, looks around: the paramedic jumps out, rushing to help a FALLEN OFFICER. Dent spies the keys in the ignition. Jumps into the driver's seat... EXT. GORDON'S HOUSE — DUSK Barbara Gordon stands in the doorway, scared. Stephens and a UNIFORMED OFFICER stand in front of her. STEPHENS I'm sorry, Barbara. JameB Gordon pushes past his mother to look at Stephens. Barbara tries to push him back inside. BARBARA Jimmy, go play with your sister... James stays just inside the door. STEPHENS I ' m sorry . Barbara stares at Stephens. Then looks past him. BARBARA Are you out there?! Are you?! James spots something- Batman, perched in the shadows. BARBARA (CONT'D) You brought this on us 1 This craziness I You didJ You brought this. . . 1 She collapses into Stephens's arms. Batman hangs his head. EXT. ROOF, MCU — NIGHT Detectives from MCU stand around the lit bat-signal. STEPHENS Switch it off- he ain't coming. STEPHENS He doesn't want to talk to us. God help whoever he does want to talk to- INT. NIGHTCLUB — NIGHT Strobe lights. Pounding music. Maroni is in a booth at the side with his MISTRESS. His bodyguards are around the table. MISTRESS (shouting over music) Can't we go someplace quieter! We can't hear each other talk! MARONI I don't wanna hear you talk. MISTRESS (can't hear) What? 1 One of Maroni ' s Bodyguards DROPS- Maroni looks over- in the strobe lights- Batman SAVAGES his bodyguards- people RUN, TERRIFIED. Maroni starts to get out of his seat- Batman LANDS like a panther on the table in front of him- INT . MCU — NIGHT Rachel moves through the chaotic bullpen at MCU- EYEWITNESSES , civilian and cop are being questioned. Rachel ' s phone rings . RACHEL Harvey, where are you? I INTERCUT with Dent in an INDISTINCT interior Betting. DENT Where are you? RACHEL Where you should be- at Major Crimes trying to sort through all the- DENT Rachel, listen to me. You're not safe there. RACHEL This is Gordon's unit, Harvey- DENT Gordon ' s gone , Rachel . RACHEL He vouched for these men- DENT And he 1 s gone . The Joker 1 s named you next. Rachel looks around the bullpen. Eyeing the detectives. DENT (CONT'D) Rachel, I can't let anything happen to you. I love you too much. DENT Is there someone, anyone in this city we can trust? RACHEL Bruce. We can trust Bruce Wayne. DENT Rachel, I know he's your friend but- RACHEL Trust me, Harvey, Bruce's penthouse is now the safest place in the city. DENT Okay. Go straight there. Don't tell anyone where you're going. I ' 11 find you there . Wider shows us we are- INT. BASEMENT, CONDEMNED BUILDING — CONTINUOUS DENT I love you. Dent hangs up the phone. TAPED to a chair in front of Dent- the Joker's Thug, blindfolded. Dent RIPS off the blindfold. . . EXT. FIRE ESCAPE — NIGHT Maroni opens his eyes . Batman is holding him by the collar. BATMAN I want the Joker. MARONI (looks down) From one professional to another-if you're trying to scare someone, pick a better spot. From this height the fall wouldn't kill me. BATMAN I ' m counting on it . Batman lets go. Maroni FALLS. And SCREAMS. EXT. SIDEWALK — NIGHT Maroni NAILS the pavement. CLUTCHES at his leg, which is badly broken. Batman FLIES down, landing over him- hauls him up. Maroni HOLLERS in pain. BATMAN Where is he? MARONI I don't know, he found us- BATMAN He must have friends. MARONI Friends? You met this guy? BATMAN Someone knows where he is. Maroni looks up at Batman. Sneering. MARONI No one's gonna tell you anything- they're wise to your act- you got rules... the Joker, he's got no rules. No one 1 b gonna cross him for you. You want this guy, you got one way. And you already know what that is. Just take off that mask and let him come find you. Batman DROPS Maroni. MARONI (CONT'D) Or you want to let a couple more people get killed while you make up your mind? INT. BASEMENT, CONDEMNED BUILDING — NIGHT Dent shows the Joker's Thug a GUN. Bullets. Loads the gun. SHOVES it in his face- DENT You wanna play games? Dent PUSHES the gun against the thug ' s head with REAL MALICE. Pulls it away and FIRES. The Thug FLINCHES. Dent puts the gun barrel against the thug ' s temple- JOKER'S THUG (rattled) You wouldn ' t . . . And pulls his lucky coin out of his pocket. DENT No. I wouldn't. That's why I'm not going to leave it up to me. (shows him coin) Heads- you get to keep your head. Tails... not so lucky. So, you want to tell me about the Joker? The Thug, scared, says nothing. Dent FLICKS the coin into the air . SLAPS it onto the back of his gun hand ( aiming with wrist horizontal). Dent shows him the coin. Heads. The Thug exhales, SHAKING. DENT (CONT'D) Go again? JOKER'S THUG ( sobbing) I don't know anything! DENT You're not playing the odds, friend. Dent tosses the coin again. This time IT DOESN'T LAND. Dent looks up. Batman is there. BATMAN You'd leave a man's life to chance? DENT Not exactly. BATMAN His name's Schiff, Thomas. He's a paranoid schizophrenic, a former patient at Arkham. The kind of mind the Joker attracts. Batman moves away from Schiff. BATMAN (CONT'D) What do expect to learn from him? Dent is shivering with frustration. DENT The Joker killed Gordon- and, and Loeb. He's going to kill Rachel ... BATMAN You're the symbol of hope that I could never be. Your stand against organized crime is the first legitimate ray of light in Gotham for decades. If anyone saw this, everything would be undone- all the criminals you got off the streets would be released. And Jim Gordon will have died for nothing. Batman hands Dent his lucky coin. BATMAN (CONT'D) You're going to call a press conference. Tomorrow morning. DENT Why? BATMAN No one else will die because of me. Gotham is in your hands, now. DENT You can'tl You can't give ini But Batman is gone. INT. BEDROOM, WAYNE PENTHOUSE — NIGHT Rachel watches Gotham through the window. Wayne enters. RACHEL Harvey called. He says Batman is going to turn himself in. WAYNE I have no choice. RACHEL You honestly think it's going to stop the Joker from killing? WAYNE Perhaps not. But I've got enough blood on my hands. I've seen, now, what I would have to become to stop men like him. Rachel looks at Wayne. She cannot help him. WAYNE (CONT'D) You once told me that if the day came when I was finished . . . Wayne moves towards her. WAYNE (CONT'D) We'd be together. RACHEL Bruce, don't make me your one hope for a normal life- Wayne takes her in his arms. WAYNE But did you mean it? RACHEL Yes. They kiss. Then separate. She looks sadly into his eyes. RACHEL (CONT'D) But they won't let us be together after you turn yourself in. Wayne nods. Leaves. She watches him go. INT. BAT-BUNKER — DAWN Alfred shovels DOCUMENTS into an incinerator- blueprints, designs, files. He pauses, looking down at a book. ALFRED Even the logs? WAYNE Anything that could lead back to Lucius or Rachel. Alfred tosses the book onto the fire. STARES at Wayne. WAYNE (CONT'D) People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do? Alfred looks into Wayne's eyes with a fearsome gaze. ALFRED Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman... he can be the outcast. He can make the choice no one else can face. The right choice. Wayne shakes his head. WAYNE Today I ' ve found out what Batman can't do. He can't endure this. WAYNE (rueful smile) Today you get to say 'I told you so' . ALFRED Today, I don't want to. (beat) Although I did bloody tell you. Wayne sinks the Bat-suit, Alfred closes the incinerator. They head for the lift. ALFRED (CONT'D) I suppose they'll lock me up as well. Your accomplice. WAYNE Accomplice? I'm going to tell them the whole thing was your idea. They power down, leaving the Bat-bunker in darkness. OMITTED INT. PRESS ROOM, SUPERIOR COURT — DAY A capacity crowd of REPORTERS, COPS, and PUBLIC. Dent is at the podium. Wayne sits in the crowd. DENT Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming. I've called this press conference for two reasons. Firstly, to assure the citizens of Gotham that everything that can be done over the Joker killing is being done. Secondly, because the Batman has offered to turn himself in- The crowd REACTS- HECKLER So where is he? J DENT But first. Let's consider the situation: should we give in to this terrorist's demands? Do we really think that- REPORTER You'd rather protect an outlaw vigilante than the lives of citizens?! The crowd noisily assents. Dent calmly motions quiet. DENT The Batman is an outlaw. . . INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — CONTINUOUS Rachel is watching the press conference on TV. DENT (O.S.) But that'B not why we're demanding he turn himself in. We're doing it because we're scared . We've been happy to let Batman clean up our streets for us until now - INT. PRESS ROOM, SUPERIOR COURT — CONTINUOUS HECKLER Things are worse than ever l Wayne looks at the Heckler. At the angry crowd. Dent leans over the podium. Impassioned. DENT Yes . They are. But the night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming. (the crowd quiets) One day, the Batman will have to airswY^fm- - the^rsws— h-g^"g-brokerr- • but to us, not to this madman. The crowd seems moved by his words, then, a CHANT- COP HECKLER NO MORE DEAD COPS 1 ! Appreciative noise. REPORTER WHERE IS THE BATMAN? People take up the chant. Dent has lost them. He knows it. DENT So be it. (turns to officers) Take the Batman into custody. At this, a HUSH DESCENDS. Wayne is sitting towards the back. Hungry eyes scan the room. Wayne Btarts to rise... DENT OFFERS HIS OWN WRISTS TO THE OFFICERS- DENT (CONT'D) I am the Batman. A beat. Wayne stares. I NT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — CONTINUOUS Rachel STARES as Dent is arrested on TV. Appalled. INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE — DAY Rachel comes up to Alfred. Upset. RACHEL Why is he letting Harvey do this, Alfred? ALFRED I don't know. He went down to the press conference- RACHEL And just stood by?l ALFRED Perhaps both Bruce and Mr. Dent believe that Batman stands for something more important than a terrorist's whims, Miss Dawes, even if everyone hates him for it. That's the sacrifice he's making- to not be a hero. To be something more . RACHEL Well, you're right about one thing- letting Harvey take the fall ia not heroic. Rachel holds out an ENVELOPE . RACHEL (CONT'D) You know Bruce best, Alfred... give it to him when the time is right . ALFRED How will I know? RACHEL It's not sealed. Alfred takes the envelope. Rachel gives him a kiss RACHEL (CONT'D) Goodbye, Alfred. ALFRED Goodbye , Rachel . INT. CELL, MCU — EVENING A Detective unlocks the cell and lets Rachel inside DENT I'm sorry, I didn't have time to talk this through with you. RACHEL Don't offer yourself as bait, Harvey . DENT They're transferring me to central holding. This is the Joker's chance, and when he attacks. Batman will take him down. RACHEL No. This is too dangerous - The Detective knocks. Dent rises. EXT COURTYARD MCU EVENING Detectives stare at Dent as he is led, shackled, to the waiting CONVOY. Stephens begins CLAPPING- a handful join in, but most remain silent. Rachel follows him to the back of an armored vehicle. RACHEL He's using you as bait- but he doesn't know if he can get the Joker- he's failed so far. DENT How do you know what he's thinking? RACHEL (beat) I just do, okay? Harvey, this isn't just about you, what about all the people counting on you to turn this city around? Tell everyone the truth - Dent kisses her. Pulls out his LUCKY COIN- DENT Heads I go through with it. RACHEL This is your life... you don't leave something like this to chance. . . Dent tosses it at her- Rachel catches it. Looks. HeadB. DENT (sincere) I ' m not . She turns it over: IT IS DOUBLE -HEADED. She looks up- the DOORS CLOSE on his smile. She shakes her head. Torn. RACHEL You make your own luck. As SWATS file into the back of the support vehicles- ACTING COMISSIONER We get this guy to County and he's their problem. The streets along your route will be cleared. The convoy stops FOR NO REASON . . . INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS A Swat with a shotgun climbs into the cab. Pulls on his mask. Looks over at the DRIVER, who's already wearing his. SHOTGUN SWAT Hope you ' ve got some moves . EXT. TENTH AVENUE, DOWNTOWN — CONTINUOUS The convoy ROCKETS past a roadblock. INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS The Swats are staring at Dent, fascinated. He smiles. EXT. INTERSECTION — CONTINUOUS An Officer holding up traffic. A TRUCK pulls up. OFFICER You wait like everybody else, pal. A SHOTGUN BLAST sends the Officer flying. A second blast illuminates the shooter's faces the Joker. INT. LEAD PATROL CAR, CONVOY — CONTINUOUS The SWAT behind the wheel of the lead black-and-white slows as he sees something burning in the intersection ahead. EXT. AVENUE — CONTINUOUS Overhead, a police HELICOPTER checks the route, hovering above a burning FIRE TRUCK, BLOCKING the road. INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS The Driver is all business. The radio CRACKLES. RADIO All units, be advised. All units will exit down Cheviot west and proceed north on lower 5th avenue. SHOTGUN SWAT Lower 5th? We'll be like ducks in a barrel down there . EXT. SURFACE STREETS — CONTINUOUS The convoy disappears down the exit ramp. EXT. LOWER FIFTH AVENUE — NIGHT The convoy rolls through the subterranean streets . A GARBAGE TRUCK pulls up behind and casually SWIPES the rear vehicles of the convoy off the road. . . INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS SHOTGUN SWAT Get us out of here I The Driver NAILS the gas- EXT. LOWER FIFTH — CONTINUOUS The Garbage Truck pushes hard on the armored car, ramming its rear bumper, FORCING it forward. OMITTED INT. ARMORED CAR -- NIGHT The Driver watches the Truck fill his rear view. Shotgun Swat pickB up the radio. SHOTGUN SWAT We've got company back here- EXT. LOWER FIFTH AVENUE — NIGHT A SECOND TRUCK SMASHES into the SWAT van at the head of the convoy, SMASHING it through the concrete barriers and INTO THE RIVER. The truck is branded "LAUGHTER" but and "S" has been spayed at the front to make "SLAUGHTER" with "HA, HA, HA" all over the side... The Joker ' s Truck DODGES between the support columns and into the oncoming lane- pulls alongside the armored car. The Driver looks over. The cargo door on the truck slides open. Inside, the Joker, holding a machine gun. The armored car LOCKS up its brakes, but the garbage truck pushes it forward as the Joker fires- BULLETS slamming into the side of the vehicle- INT . REAR CABIN, ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS Dent is calm as the SWATS FLINCH from the bullet indentations- INT. UP FRONT , ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS Shotgun SWAT STARES at the Joker. INT. REAR TRAILER OF TRUCK — NIGHT The Joker drops his machine gun and picks up and RPG. He stops- SEES something up ahead, racing towards the second truck- the BATMOBILE. The Joker stares, fascinated, as- EXT. LOWER FIFTH — CONTINUOUS -THE BATMOBILE PLOWS STRAIGHT INTO THE SECOND TRUCK- the low-profile car sending the truck UP INTO THE CONCRETE CEILING- the Batmobile carries on through, as the TRUCK DISINTEGRATES . INT. TRUCK — NIGHT The Joker looks back to the batmobile, amused. JOKER'S THUG Is that him-? THE JOKER Anyone could be driving that thing- stay on Dent. The Joker lines up his RPG and prepares to fire- INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS Shotgun SWAT 1 s eyes go wide at the Joker ' s weapon- the Driver JAMS the brakes- OMITTED EXT. LOWER FIFTH — CONTINUOUS The Armored Car CRASHES BACK against the Garbage Truck, BRAKING, SCRAPING, SLOWING just enough- the RPG SLAMS into the SQUAD CAR in front of them and EXPLODES- the armored car BURSTS through the fireball and continues . OMITTED EXT. LOWER FIFTH CONTINUOUS The Batmobile SPINS around to rejoin the pursuit. INT. JOKER'S TRUCK — NIGHT The Joker turns his men to RELOAD his RPG- THE JOKER Do me up- Turns back- levels his RPG out the window. Aims. INT. BATMOBILE — NIGHT Batman watches as the Joker prepares to fire. Several rows of cars separate them. He toggles the afterburner. INT. PASSENGER CAR — NIGHT Two small children in the back of the car watch as the Batmobile ROCKETS overhead. EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — NIGHT The Joker steadies the RPG and FIRES- the Batmobile CRASHES down into the open space between the two vehicles- taking the hit from the RPG which EXPLODES- The rear of the Batmobile EXPLODES- SPINNING the FLAMING car- INT . ARMORED CAR — NIGHT SWATS react to the EXPLOSION. Dent is calm. INT. CAB OF JOKER'S TRUCK — CONTINUOUS The Driver takes a DEBRIS HIT to the head- INT . TRUCK — CONTINUOUS The Joker CACKLES with delight as he is THROWN AROUND the rear of the trailer- INT. BATMOBILE — CONTINUOUS Batman WRESTLES the pod controls, SPINNING on the GYRO- EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS The Batmobile flips over to come to rest in a smoking heap- the front end intact, rear wheels scattered across the roadway. A small crowd gathers. OMITTED EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS The Joker JUMPS down from the truck, still giggling like a kid- looks back at the Batmobile ' s destruction- THE JOKER Whoever he was... he ain't now. The Joker YANKS his dead driver out of the cab, JUMPS over him to take the wheel and pull back onto the roadway. EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS The armored car pulls ahead, the Joker's truck in hot pursuit . INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS Shotgun SWAT glances in the rear view mirror, slaps the dash- SHOTGUN SWAT Let ' s get topside- we need that air support 1 EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS The armored car PULLS onto a RAMP, heading up. The Joker's Truck follows. EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS People stare at the smoking wreck, inching closer... INT. BATMOBILE — CONTINUOUS Batman adjusts his position. Hits a button- BATMOBILE VOICE Damage catastrophic. Initiate eject and self-destruct. Arm guards GRAB Batman ' s forearms as EXPLOSIVE BOLTS FIRE all around the pod... BATMOBILE VOICE ( 0 . S . ) ( CONT ' D ) Goodbye. EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — CONTINUOUS The crowd JUMPS- PANELS of the front of the car BLOW OUT- The crowd stares, OPEN-MOUTHED, as Batman EMERGES, HOISTED UP AND OUT of the flaming car by the FRONT POD- LEVERING OVER the FRONT WHEEL... the pod PUSHES the OTHER WHEEL IN FRONT to form a type of MOTORCYCLE- The BAT-POD SHOOTS FORWARD, bursting free as the Batmobile DETONATES, DYING in a MASSIVE FIREBALL... Batman's cape SUCKS TOGETHER, forming a TIGHT PACK on his shoulders, clear of the CHURNING REAR TIRE of the bat-pod... EXT. PARKSIDE — CONTINUOUS The armored car races down the street- the CHOPPER dips low. PILOT (O.S.) We're back on point- and ready to give some of their own medic ine- INT. POLICE CHOPPER — CONTINUOUS A Cop pulls out an ASSAULT RIFLE. COCKS it- INT. CAB OF JOKER'S TRUCK — CONTINUOUS The Joker FIGHTS with the truck's gearbox, turns to his Thug- THE JOKER Tee 'em up . The Thug GRABS his radio. EXT. FIRE ESCAPE — CONTINUOUS A Joker Thug in clown mask loads up the cable gun seen in the bank heist. EXT. SECOND FIRE ESCAPE — CONTINUOUS Another thug loads his own cable gun... INT. PASSENGER CAR, LOWER LEVEL STREET — NIGHT A motorist stares through his rear-view mirror, transfixed, as the bat-pod TEARS past. He YELPS as the bat-pod SMASHES the wing mirror from his car. EXT. LOWER LEVEL STREET — NIGHT Batman accelerates, oblivious to the STACCATO of CLEAVED wing mirrors as the bat-pod RAZORS through traffic- CROSSES a BUSY INTERSECTION- The bat-pod CUTS off the crowded lower level street, ROARING over into the PARKING LANES- Batman squeezes his triggers- BLASTING at PARKED CARS, BLOWING them out of the way, literally CANNONING A PATH for the pod. . . OMITTED EXT. TRAIN STATION — CONTINUOUS The Bat-Pod CANNONS through the glass doors and RACES through the station/mall- COMMUTERS screaming and diving out of the way- The Bat-Pod races up the stairs and onto the upper street- EXT. PARKS IDE — CONTINUOUS The Joker's Thugs FIRE THE CABLES ACROSS THE STREET AT SEVENTH FLOOR LEVEL. . . they pull TAUT as the Chopper approaches, unawares... the Chopper CATCHES on the cables, GOING DOWN in a FIERY BALL that BARRELS along the street towards the armored car . . . INT. ARMORED CAR — CONTINUOUS The Driver steers around the flaming wreckage as the Shotgun SWAT SHUTS HIS EYES- EXT. NARROW ALLEY — CONTINUOUS The Bat-pod TEARS down a narrow alley blocked with DUMPSTERS- CANNONS the dumpsters to make a path- INT. OMITTED INT. CAB OF JOKER'S TRUCK — NIGHT The Joker hands the wheel to his man- takes, a submachine gun- Boss? THUG The Joker looks ahead to see the Bat-pod emerge from the alley in a cloud of fire, SKIDDING SIDEWAYS IMPOSSIBLY- it RACES TOWARDS THEM- THE JOKER Guess it was him.