INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 216
Batman lifts himself back into the rear driving position – throttles back – kills all the lights, and the engine.
EXT. FREEWAY – CONTINUOUS 217
The Batmobile drops back, dark … the chopper loses it. The Batmobile cruises across the lanes, a wraith.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 218
Silence, but for the steady whine of the electric motor. Rachel breathes in the sudden quiet. Eyes flickering.
EXT. FREEWAY HEADING OUT OF GOTHAM – CONTINUOUS 219
The Batmobile slices across lanes, a shadow only visible breaking the glare of other cars’ headlights. The cop cars pull forward, driving parallel, an empty lane between them.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 220
Rachel stares at Batman in the intimate quiet. Her eyes are glazing. Her breathing is shallow.
BATMAN
(quiet)
Stay with me.
INT. COP CAR – CONTINUOUS 221
The Cop turns left to look at the other cop car.
COP 3
Where’d he –?
He sees, between his car and the next, a black shape.
THERE HE IS!
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 222
The spotlight hits the car – Batman hits a button – the main engine roars to life – Batman slips into the prone position – hits the boost.
EXT. FREEWAY – CONTINUOUS 223
The Batmobile shoots forward from between the two cop cars.
INT. COP CAR – CONTINUOUS 224
The Batmobile’s jet wash blasts the windscreen, shattering it. The Cop throws his hands in front of his face.
EXT. FREEWAY – CONTINUOUS 225
The cop car spins out of its lane, slamming into the guard rail as the Batmobile races ahead, weaving through traffic.
The Batmobile smashes through barriers … Flies off the rising freeway, down onto the disused frontage road below.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 226
Batman kills the lights, running on night vision. Rachel’s eyes flicker at the eerie green view of ghostly trees, her breathing faster and still more shallow.
BATMAN
Hold on. Just hold on.
Batman yanks the wheel –
EXT. SMALL TURNOFF – CONTINUOUS 227
Whipping the Batmobile right in a hard turn, down a small turnoff … The chopper loses the Batmobile, pursuing cop cars blaze past the turnoff.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 228
Rachel, crying, looks at the monstrous shapes of the trees: flickering, jagged tree shapes spin past dizzyingly.
BATMAN
Rachel? Rachel?!
No reply. Up ahead: a lookout over a river gorge. Batman pushes the Batmobile, speeding towards the lookout. Rachel’s glazed eyes register the danger – she twists, panicked …
EXT. WOODED PATH – CONTINUOUS 229
The Batmobile rockets off the edge of the lookout, over the gorge, flying straight at the face of a waterfall.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 230
Rachel screams as they splash into the face of the waterfall –
INT. CAVERNS – CONTINUOUS 231
– and emerge through the curtain of water into the Batcave.
The Batmobile’s ground-anchors hook a steel cable, spinning an inertia reel bolted to the cave wall, yanking the car to a halt like a jet landing on an aircraft carrier.
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 232
Rachel bounces in her seat. Passed out.
INT. BATCAVE – CONTINUOUS 233
The canopy of the Batmobile hisses open in three complex sections, like insect wings unfolding. Batman lifts Rachel from the cockpit, steps down onto wet shale … carries her into the damp blackness of the caverns.
Cloak billowing in his wake, he heads for the glow of his work table. Gently lays Rachel on the table. Races up the scaffold to his computer station. A container sits there with paperwork from Fox. Batman opens it, removes a vial. He plugs it into a pneumatic syringe, puts the syringe between his teeth – glides off the scaffold, landing beside Rachel. He injects her in the biceps.
Batman steps back, watching Rachel’s breathing slow.
INT. ABANDONED HYDROTHERAPY ROOM – CONTINUOUS 234
Cops photograph evidence, question Inmates. Gordon passes through the room, heading for the large hole, which is surrounded by Hazmat Techs examining it.
GORDON
Did they get any into the mains?
HAZMAT TECH
Oh, yeah.
GORDON
Notify the water board – there’s gotta be a way of isolating the areas –
HAZMAT TECH
You don’t understand – they put it all in the water supply …
The Hazmat Tech bangs one of the barrels – it echoes. Empty.
… they’ve been doing this for weeks – Gotham’s entire water supply is laced with it.
GORDON
Why haven’t we felt any effects?
HAZMAT TECH
It must be a compound that has to be absorbed through the lungs.
INT. BATCAVE – LATER 235
Rachel’s eyes flicker open to the cavernous damp darkness. She sees bats hanging high above. Closes her eyes again.
RACHEL
(under her breath)
Oh. My. God.
BATMAN
(o.s.)
How do you feel?
His voice echoes as if spoken from all shadows at once.
RACHEL
Where are we?
Nothing.
Why did you bring me here?
BATMAN
If I hadn’t … your mind would now be lost. You were poisoned.
Rachel thinks … concentrating … remembering.
RACHEL
I remember … nightmares. This … face, this … mask. (Realizes.) Crane. It was Crane.
Rachel struggles off the table, trying to stand.
I have to tell the police – we’ve got –
She slips – Batman is there, catching her.
BATMAN
Rest. Gordon has Crane.
In his arms, she looks up at him – he lays her gently back onto the table. Retreats into shadow.
RACHEL
Is Sergeant Gordon your friend?
BATMAN
I don’t have the luxury of friends.
Rachel watches this dark shadow hover just outside the light. Fascinated. Pitying. Batman steps into the light. Holding a pneumatic syringe and two vials. Rachel stares at him.
BATMAN
I’m going to give you a sedative. You’ll wake up back at home …
Batman holds up the two vials.
And when you do, get these to Gordon, and Gordon alone. Trust no one.
RACHEL
What are they?
BATMAN
The antidote. One for Gordon to inoculate himself, the other to start mass production.
Batman hands Rachel the vials. She looks at him, curious.
RACHEL
Mass production?
BATMAN
Crane was just a pawn. We need to be ready.
Batman approaches with the syringe. Rachel offers her arm. Batman injects her. Her eyes close. Batman removes his cowl. Wayne stands above the sleeping Rachel. Stares at her for an inexpressibly lonely moment.
INT. STUDY, WAYNE MANOR – EVENING 236
Wayne emerges from the mirror. The noise of a party outside the door. Alfred is there, dinner jacket over his arm. Wayne grabs the shirt – dressing hastily.
ALFRED
When you told me your grand plan to save Gotham, one thing stopped me calling the men in white coats … (Off look.) You said it wasn’t about thrill-seeking.
WAYNE
It’s not.
Alfred points at the television.
ALFRED
(stern)
Well, what do you call that?
Alfred
indicates the television: footage of the chase.
WAYNE
Damn good television.
ALFRED
It’s a miracle no one was injured.
WAYNE
I didn’t have time to observe the highway code, Alfred.
ALFRED
You’re getting lost in this creature of yours.
WAYNE
I’m using this creature to help people like my father did –
ALFRED
For Thomas Wayne, helping others was never about proving anything to anyone. Including himself.
WAYNE
It’s Rachel, Alfred. She was dying.
Alfred reacts.
She’s downstairs, sedated. I need you to take her home.
Alfred nods. Moves towards the bookcase. He stops. Turns.
ALFRED
We both care about Rachel, sir. But what you’re doing has to be beyond that. It can’t be personal. Or you’re just a vigilante.
Wayne looks from Alfred to the door.
wayne
Is Fox still here?
Alfred nods.
We need to send these people away.
ALFRED
Those are Bruce Wayne’s guests out there. You have a name to maintain –
WAYNE
I don’t care about my name.
ALFRED
It’s not just your name, it’s your father’s. And it’s all that’s left of him. Don’t destroy it.
Alfred exits through the bookcase. Wayne watches him go.
INT. MAIN HALL, WAYNE MANOR – CONTINUOUS 237
Hundreds of Guests. Music. Tables groaning with food.
FEMALE GUEST
(o.s.)
There he is!
Guests look up – Wayne wades into the throng, grinning and glad-handing. The band strikes up with ‘Happy Birthday’.
EARLE
(o.s.)
Happy birthday, Bruce.
Wayne turns to Earle.
WAYNE
Mr. Earle, how did the stock offering go?
EARLE
Very well – the price soared.
WAYNE
Who was buying?
EARLE
A variety of funds and brokerages … it’s all a bit technical – the key thing is, our company’s future is secure.
EXT. SIDE ENTRANCE, WAYNE MANOR – CONTINUOUS 238
Alfred gently arranges the unconscious Rachel on the rear seat of the car, frowning as her legs get stuck. He looks up to see a Caterer, cigarette in hand, staring, curious.
ALFRED
(smiles)
Little the worse for wear, I’m afraid.
Alfred yanks Wayne’s golf clubs to one side, Rachel settles.
INT. CELL, ARKHAM ASYLUM – CONTINUOUS 239
Gordon sits opposite Crane, who is handcuffed to a chair.
GORDON
What was the plan, Crane? How were you going to put your toxin into the air?
Crane stares, eyes abstracted. Gordon picks up Crane’s mask.
CRANE
Scarecrow … scarecrow, scarecrow …
GORDON
Who are you working for, Crane?
No response. Gordon sighs. Hands the mask to an Officer.
CRANE
It’s too late … you can’t stop it.
Gordon turns to Crane. Who smiles.
INT. MAIN HALL, WAYNE MANOR – CONTINUOUS 240
Wayne circulates, charming, but distracted … finds Fox.
WAYNE
Thank you for that … item.
FOX
I’m sure you’ll find a use for it.
WAYNE
I already have. How long would it take to manufacture on a large scale?
FOX
Weeks. Why?
Wayne looks at Fox, grave.
WAYNE
Someone’s been planning to disperse it using the water supply.
FOX
The water supply isn’t going to help you disperse an inhalant … unless …
WAYNE
What?
FOX
Unless you have access to a microwave emitter powerful enough to vaporize the water in the mains. The kind of microwave emitter that Wayne Enterprises has recently misplaced.
WAYNE
Misplaced?
FOX
Earle just fired me for asking too many questions about it.
WAYNE
I need you to go back to Wayne Enterprises and start making more of the antidote. I think the police are going to need as much as they can get their hands on.
FOX
My security access has been revoked.
WAYNE
That wouldn’t stop a man like you, would it?
FOX
(smiles)
No, it probably wouldn’t.
Fox heads for the door. Wayne turns, striding across the room. An elderly Society Dame grabs Wayne’s elbow.
SOCIETY DAME
Bruce, there’s somebody here you simply must meet …
WAYNE
Not just now, Mrs. Delane –
She turns Wayne to face an Asian Man in his fifties.
SOCIETY DAME
Now, am I pronouncing it right …?
In the Asian Man’s buttonhole is a double-bloomed blue poppy.
… Mr. Al Ghūl?
The Asian Man nods. Wayne stares at him.
WAYNE
You’re not Rā’s al Ghūl. I watched him die.
The Society Dame laughs nervously, confused.
VOICE
(o.s.)
But is Rā’s al Ghūl immortal …?
Wayne turns. Standing there. Smiling. Ducard.
DUCARD
Are his methods supernatural?
WAYNE
(understanding)
Or cheap parlor tricks to conceal your true identity … Rā’s?
Ducard – the real Rā’s al Ghūl – smiles acknowledgment.
DUCARD / RĀ’S AL GHŪL
Surely a man who spends his nights scrambling over the rooftops of Gotham wouldn’t begrudge me dual identities?
WAYNE
(disgusted)
I saved you from the fire.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
(smiles)
I warned you about compassion, Bruce.
Wayne notices certain Guests staring at him: members of the League of Shadows. Wayne looks at the Guests.
WAYNE
Your quarrel is with me. Let these people go.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
(amused)
You’re welcome to explain the situation to them.
Wayne looks at Rā’s. Grabs a glass from a tray.
WAYNE
Everyone! Everyone!
People turn to Wayne. He raises his glass. Unsteady.
I just want to thank you all for … drinking my booze.
People laugh.
No, really, the thing about being a Wayne is you’re never short of a few freeloaders to fill up your mansion … So here’s to you people …
Wayne downs his drink. People look away, embarrassed. Fredericks takes Wayne by the elbow.
FREDERICKS
That’s enough, Bruce.
Wayne pulls his arm away. People are heading for the doors.
WAYNE
I’m not finished. (Raises glass.) To you false friends … and pathetic suck-ups who smile through your teeth at me … You had your fill, now leave me in peace! Get out. Everybody. Out!
Rā’s watches Wayne, amused. Wayne turns to Fredericks. Who stares at him, disappointed.
FREDERICKS
The apple has fallen very far from the tree, Mr. Wayne.
Wayne watches Fredericks go. Rā’s is at Wayne’s shoulder.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
Amusing. But pointless. None of these people have long to live – your antics at the asylum have forced my hand …
WAYNE
Crane was working for you.
RĀ’S A
L GHŪL
His toxin is derived from the organic compound in our blue poppies. He was able to weaponize it.
WAYNE
He’s not a member of the League of Shadows.
As Guests filter out, a dozen of Rā’s men remain, scattered around the room.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
Of course not. He thought our plan was to hold the city to ransom.
WAYNE
But really you’re going to unleash Crane’s poison on the entire city …
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
Then watch Gotham tear itself apart through fear …
WAYNE
You’re going to destroy millions of lives.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
Only a cynical man would call what these people have ‘lives’, Wayne.
Rā’s steps out of the main hall and into a corridor.
INT. CORRIDOR, WAYNE MANOR – CONTINUOUS 240A
The corridor is long and dark, lined with books and windows. Outside, across the darkened hills: the glow of Gotham.
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
People stacked like boxes. Families sleeping in garbage. Crime. Despair. This is not how man was supposed to live.
Rā’s al Ghūl gestures at the distant glow of Gotham.
The League of Shadows has been a check against human corruption for thousands of years. We sacked Rome. Loaded trade ships with plague rats. Burned London to the ground. Every time a civilization reaches the pinnacle of its decadence, we return to restore the balance.
WAYNE
Gotham isn’t beyond saving. There are good people here, people who –
RĀ’S AL GHŪL
You’re defending a city so corrupt we infiltrated every level of its infrastructure.
INT. CELL, ARKHAM ASYLUM – CONTINUOUS 241
Something drops into Crane’s lap: his burlap mask. He looks up. Two SWATs stand in the doorway.
SWAT 1
Time to play …