The Dark Knight
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COMPO
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Here is the improved version. Enjoy.
THE DARK KNIGHT
BLACK. A low KEENING turns to SCREECHING and BUILDS and BUILDS until-
RED flickers through the black as the screen BURSTS to life:
A CLOUD OF REELING BATS is silhouetted against a blood, red sky, BOLTING across camera and MASSING in the sky... FORMING a density in the shape of an enormous BAT-LIKE SYMBOL.
More bats mass, SWAMPING the symbol, DARKENING the screen to-
BLACK. A DARK FLUTTERING echoes through the black accompanied by POLICE SIRENS coming closer as-
A WHITE LIGHT shines through the black. The MOON shines through DARK, TURBULENT CLOUDS and we PAN DOWN to-
EXT. THE NARROWS-EDGE OF A BUILDING -- NIGHT
A DARK FIGURE crouches at the EDGE OF THE BUILDING almost GARGOYLE-LIKE in its positioning. Its long CLOAK billows in the wind.
It’s THE BATMAN!
Batman crouches at the edge of the building looking down on THE NARROWS: a WALLED CITY sat on GOTHAM RIVER. It is ABUZZ with Police sirens, SCREAMS OF TERROR. The ABANDONED ARKHAM ASYLUM sits in the middle of the island.
The SOUND OF A HELICOPTER’S PROPELLERS echo above him. Batman looks up to see POLICE HELICOPTER coming towards him shining a SPOTLIGHT down on the streets.
HELICOPTER’S P.O.V.
The helicopter shines its spotlight at where Batman is. But-
BATMAN IS GONE.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE NARROWS-STREET -- MOMENTS LATER
Two YOUTHS run across the rundown street filled with BROKEN DOWN or ABANDONED CARS. One gets a CROWBAR out. The other grins taking it and JIMMY-OPENS the car door. It opens. The first youth climbs into the FRONT SEAT the other keeps watch.
INT. FRONT SEAT OF CAR -- CONTINUOUS
The youth starts pull the WIRES out carefully from under the CAR RADIO. He looks back at the other youth. He looks scared and edgy.
YOUTH#1: Dude, what’s got you all scared all of a sudden?
YOUTH#2: Nothin’ man. (He looks around jumpy) Listen, just hurry up will yah.
The youth turns and continues to unhook the wires.
EXT. CAR -- SAME TIME
The youth turns around looking edgy and jumpy. He spins around keeping watch.
The, suddenly something GRABS. A BLACK HAND wrapped around his mouth. His MUFFLED SCREAMS don’t grab his friend’s attention.
INT. FRONT OF CAR -- SAME TIME
The youth unhooks the last wire. He smiles victoriously. He takes radio out.
YOUTH#1: I got it! Come on; let’s get out of here before anyone sees us.
He climbs out of the car.
EXT. STREET -- CONTINUOUS
The youth climbs out of the car. He screams in horror as he sees Batman standing there, his cloak billowing over him and his hand around the youth’s neck, holding him in the air. His feet dance in the air.
BATMAN: You’re friend here is losing oxygen. I suggest you put that back where you found it.
The youth nods putting the radio back. Batman drops the other youth. They cower away from Batman. He glares at them.
BATMAN: Now, go home and don’t let me catch you again. (He moves towards them) OR ELSE!
They nod turning and scurrying away.
CUT TO:
THE DARK KNIGHT
BLACK. A low KEENING turns to SCREECHING and BUILDS and BUILDS until-
RED flickers through the black as the screen BURSTS to life:
A CLOUD OF REELING BATS is silhouetted against a blood, red sky, BOLTING across camera and MASSING in the sky... FORMING a density in the shape of an enormous BAT-LIKE SYMBOL.
More bats mass, SWAMPING the symbol, DARKENING the screen to-
BLACK. A DARK FLUTTERING echoes through the black accompanied by POLICE SIRENS coming closer as-
A WHITE LIGHT shines through the black. The MOON shines through DARK, TURBULENT CLOUDS and we PAN DOWN to-
EXT. THE NARROWS-EDGE OF A BUILDING -- NIGHT
A DARK FIGURE crouches at the EDGE OF THE BUILDING almost GARGOYLE-LIKE in its positioning. Its long CLOAK billows in the wind.
It’s THE BATMAN!
Batman crouches at the edge of the building looking down on THE NARROWS: a WALLED CITY sat on GOTHAM RIVER. It is ABUZZ with Police sirens, SCREAMS OF TERROR. The ABANDONED ARKHAM ASYLUM sits in the middle of the island.
The SOUND OF A HELICOPTER’S PROPELLERS echo above him. Batman looks up to see POLICE HELICOPTER coming towards him shining a SPOTLIGHT down on the streets.
HELICOPTER’S P.O.V.
The helicopter shines its spotlight at where Batman is. But-
BATMAN IS GONE.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE NARROWS-STREET -- MOMENTS LATER
Two YOUTHS run across the rundown street filled with BROKEN DOWN or ABANDONED CARS. One gets a CROWBAR out. The other grins taking it and JIMMY-OPENS the car door. It opens. The first youth climbs into the FRONT SEAT the other keeps watch.
INT. FRONT SEAT OF CAR -- CONTINUOUS
The youth starts pull the WIRES out carefully from under the CAR RADIO. He looks back at the other youth. He looks scared and edgy.
YOUTH#1: Dude, what’s got you all scared all of a sudden?
YOUTH#2: Nothin’ man. (He looks around jumpy) Listen, just hurry up will yah.
The youth turns and continues to unhook the wires.
EXT. CAR -- SAME TIME
The youth turns around looking edgy and jumpy. He spins around keeping watch.
The, suddenly something GRABS. A BLACK HAND wrapped around his mouth. His MUFFLED SCREAMS don’t grab his friend’s attention.
INT. FRONT OF CAR -- SAME TIME
The youth unhooks the last wire. He smiles victoriously. He takes radio out.
YOUTH#1: I got it! Come on; let’s get out of here before anyone sees us.
He climbs out of the car.
EXT. STREET -- CONTINUOUS
The youth climbs out of the car. He screams in horror as he sees Batman standing there, his cloak billowing over him and his hand around the youth’s neck, holding him in the air. His feet dance in the air.
BATMAN: You’re friend here is losing oxygen. I suggest you put that back where you found it.
The youth nods putting the radio back. Batman drops the other youth. They cower away from Batman. He glares at them.
BATMAN: Now, go home and don’t let me catch you again. (He moves towards them) OR ELSE!
They nod turning and scurrying away.
CUT TO:
COMPO
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EXT. THE NARROWS-ATM MACHINE -- NIGHT
A MASKED MAN crashes open an ATM MACHINE with a HAMMER. He takes out the WAD OF MONEY inside. He stuffs it inside a bag.
A long SHADOW creeps over him. His eyes widen in horror. He turns around to-
SLAM!! – A BLACK HAND grabs his face slamming his head against the ATM Machine.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY -- NIGHT
Two INMATES FROM ARKHAM wearing RED JUMPSUITS beat a HOBO up. The Hobo guards himself from their SLUGGISH and PSYCHOTIC SWIPES.
Suddenly, a SHARD OF METAL stabs one of them in the back. It’s in the SHAPE OF A BAT. The inmate screams in pain.
Batman jumps out of the shadows grabbing the BATARANG and ripping it out of his back hitting him in the back of the head. He falls to the ground.
The other inmate holds a KNIFE up and goes to stab Batman. He moves out of the way, TWISTING his arm and pushing him down off balance.
BANG!!
He KICKS him in the head. The inmate falls to the floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. CORNER OF STREET -- NIGHT
A HOOKER stands at the CORNER OF A STREET. A SQUAD CAR stops in front of it. The hooker walks over to the car. A BEAT COP sits in the front seat.
BEAT COP: Hey, hop girl. We’ll have some fun.
The hooker smiles. She walks around the car and get in.
INT. FRONT SEAT OF CAR -- NIGHT
She sits down in her low-cut top and miniskirt looking at the Beat Cop seductively.
HOOKER: (Seductively) what do you want?
BEAT COP: Whatever you’re offerin’.
They smile.
BANG!! - A BLACK FIGURE drops on the BONNET OF THE CAR.
SMASH!! – A BLACK FIST SMASHES THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN, grabbing the cop pulling him out to-
EXT. BONNET OF THE CAR -- NIGHT
Batman pulls the terrified cop towards him. His BLACK EYES bearing down on him.
BATMAN: Fun’s over, Officer!
He HEADBUTTS him, knocking him out. He turns to the terrified hooker.
BATMAN: I’ll be right back. (To the Cop) After we talk.
He looks up to the sky flying up into the air. The BATSIGNAL hanging in the clouds over him. The Hooker watches shaken as he disappears.
A MASKED MAN crashes open an ATM MACHINE with a HAMMER. He takes out the WAD OF MONEY inside. He stuffs it inside a bag.
A long SHADOW creeps over him. His eyes widen in horror. He turns around to-
SLAM!! – A BLACK HAND grabs his face slamming his head against the ATM Machine.
CUT TO:
EXT. BACK ALLEY -- NIGHT
Two INMATES FROM ARKHAM wearing RED JUMPSUITS beat a HOBO up. The Hobo guards himself from their SLUGGISH and PSYCHOTIC SWIPES.
Suddenly, a SHARD OF METAL stabs one of them in the back. It’s in the SHAPE OF A BAT. The inmate screams in pain.
Batman jumps out of the shadows grabbing the BATARANG and ripping it out of his back hitting him in the back of the head. He falls to the ground.
The other inmate holds a KNIFE up and goes to stab Batman. He moves out of the way, TWISTING his arm and pushing him down off balance.
BANG!!
He KICKS him in the head. The inmate falls to the floor.
CUT TO:
EXT. CORNER OF STREET -- NIGHT
A HOOKER stands at the CORNER OF A STREET. A SQUAD CAR stops in front of it. The hooker walks over to the car. A BEAT COP sits in the front seat.
BEAT COP: Hey, hop girl. We’ll have some fun.
The hooker smiles. She walks around the car and get in.
INT. FRONT SEAT OF CAR -- NIGHT
She sits down in her low-cut top and miniskirt looking at the Beat Cop seductively.
HOOKER: (Seductively) what do you want?
BEAT COP: Whatever you’re offerin’.
They smile.
BANG!! - A BLACK FIGURE drops on the BONNET OF THE CAR.
SMASH!! – A BLACK FIST SMASHES THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN, grabbing the cop pulling him out to-
EXT. BONNET OF THE CAR -- NIGHT
Batman pulls the terrified cop towards him. His BLACK EYES bearing down on him.
BATMAN: Fun’s over, Officer!
He HEADBUTTS him, knocking him out. He turns to the terrified hooker.
BATMAN: I’ll be right back. (To the Cop) After we talk.
He looks up to the sky flying up into the air. The BATSIGNAL hanging in the clouds over him. The Hooker watches shaken as he disappears.
COMPO
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INT. BUILDING-BASEMENT -- NIGHT
LIEUTENANT JIM GORDON stands in the middle of a PIT OF DEAD BODIES all with the same GROTESQUE SMILE. Other OFFICERS stand around with his including DETECTIVE FLASS. A FORESNIC OFFICER walks over to him.
GORDON: What happened to them?
FORESIC OFFICER: Honestly... I have no idea. They don’t have any bullet holes on them stab marks anything.
GORDON: What if they were poisoned?
FORENSIC OFFICER: Checked. Came out negative. I have no idea how they’ve died, but, they all seem to have had a major brain hem rage.
Gordon nods. The Forensic officer walks away.
FLASS: This never would have happened in the old days. Not since that Bat came. Now, everything has gone to the dogs.
Gordon bends down and looks at the bodies.
FLASS [CONT’D]: You should get wise and dump the Bat. He’ll get you in trouble in the end. You think the Commissioner likes you bringing him into police business...
Gordon looks at the bodies scowling.
FLASS [CONT’D]: The other officers are starting to get worried now that you don’t play by the rules. They seem to think that you think you’re better than us.
GORDON: Rules? Your rules are what are turning Gotham into what it is now.
Flass chuckles.
FLASS: It’s that kind of attitude Jimmy, which will land you in hot water. And no masked vigilante will be there to help you.
He turns and walks away. Going up the stairs shouting back at Gordon.
FLASS [CONT’]: You got a kid on the way! Start thinking about your family, Jim!
Gordon scowls. He gets up. He growls angrily punching the wall. A LOW, RAPSY VOICE appears from the darkness.
VOICE [O.S]: Flass still giving you trouble.
Gordon turns around to see Batman standing there.
GORDON: I can handle him. I called you an hour ago and you didn’t show.
BATMAN: I was busy.
Gordon looks at him taken aback. He scowls.
GORDON: We had a report someone heard some commotion from this place a couple of hours ago. When we got here I found this.
He indicates to the bodies. Batman walks over to them. He bends down taking out a FORENSIC KIT.
BATMAN: He was dragged.
Gordon looks at him confused.
GORDON: Yeah, we know our forensic team searched their bodies top to-
BATMAN: No. Just this one.
Gordon walks over to him shocked.
GORDON: How can you tell?
Batman taps the DEAD MAN’S SHOE.
BATMAN: The sole of the shoe. The back of it has been worn down. The worn part is warm so he was dragged on carpet.
He lifts the shoe. He studies it silently.
BATMAN [CONT’D]: (To Gordon) He wasn’t even in the building.
GORDON: What?
BATMAN: These white marks show he was dragged on concrete. The side walk. He must have gotten in the way of the killer when he was entering the building. The killer killed him silent so not to draw attention. (He looks at the sole of the shoe again) And dragged him as little as a foot to the building and then took him down to the basement with the others.
GORDON: But, if he was the only one to be dragged then. How are did they get down here?
Batman stands up looking around the basement. He opens a fridge and then, examines wall and knocks on it.
BATMAN: What noise did the person hear?
Gordon shrugs.
GORDON: She said it sounded like a siren.
BATMAN: They came down here at their own free will. He set off the fire alarm and the people came down here.
GORDON: Why didn’t they go outside?
BATMAN: The door is made of reinforced steel no smoke could get through there. They probably, used this in case there was a fire. It’s an old air-raid shelter. These girders are sturdy to hold any type of impact.
GORDON: So, he led them down here and killed them?
BATMAN: If he ever was down here.
GORDON: You thinking he gassed them.
BATMAN: Was the door locked when you came down here?
GORDON: Yeah, but-
It hits him.
GORDON [CONT’D]: He locked them in and gassed them.
BATMAN: It’d be easier than killing fifty people with a gun.
He bends down to one of them. He takes out a SYRINGE. He sticks it in her taking a BLOOD SAMPLE. He places it back into his forensic kit placing it in his belt.
They both stand there in a moment of absolute silence.
GORDON: Falcone’s trial is tomorrow.
BATMAN: I know.
GORDON: Will I see you?
BATMAN: No.
GORDON: But, you’ll be there?
BATMAN: Yes.
Gordon takes off his GLASSES and wipes them.
GORDON: Falcone’s still holding onto the insanity plea. His Lawyers are adamant that he is still under Crane’s toxins.
BATMAN: He wasn’t given the antidote.
Gordon looks at his glasses checking for anything he missed.
GORDON: Of course. But, what better way for Falcone to get off than for him to have people think he’s insane. No one could touch him not even you. He’d be even more untouchable than he already is.
He puts his glasses back on. BATMAN IS GONE. He shakes his head smiling both amused and peeved.
GORDON [CONT’D]: I hate it when he does that.
CUT TO:
LIEUTENANT JIM GORDON stands in the middle of a PIT OF DEAD BODIES all with the same GROTESQUE SMILE. Other OFFICERS stand around with his including DETECTIVE FLASS. A FORESNIC OFFICER walks over to him.
GORDON: What happened to them?
FORESIC OFFICER: Honestly... I have no idea. They don’t have any bullet holes on them stab marks anything.
GORDON: What if they were poisoned?
FORENSIC OFFICER: Checked. Came out negative. I have no idea how they’ve died, but, they all seem to have had a major brain hem rage.
Gordon nods. The Forensic officer walks away.
FLASS: This never would have happened in the old days. Not since that Bat came. Now, everything has gone to the dogs.
Gordon bends down and looks at the bodies.
FLASS [CONT’D]: You should get wise and dump the Bat. He’ll get you in trouble in the end. You think the Commissioner likes you bringing him into police business...
Gordon looks at the bodies scowling.
FLASS [CONT’D]: The other officers are starting to get worried now that you don’t play by the rules. They seem to think that you think you’re better than us.
GORDON: Rules? Your rules are what are turning Gotham into what it is now.
Flass chuckles.
FLASS: It’s that kind of attitude Jimmy, which will land you in hot water. And no masked vigilante will be there to help you.
He turns and walks away. Going up the stairs shouting back at Gordon.
FLASS [CONT’]: You got a kid on the way! Start thinking about your family, Jim!
Gordon scowls. He gets up. He growls angrily punching the wall. A LOW, RAPSY VOICE appears from the darkness.
VOICE [O.S]: Flass still giving you trouble.
Gordon turns around to see Batman standing there.
GORDON: I can handle him. I called you an hour ago and you didn’t show.
BATMAN: I was busy.
Gordon looks at him taken aback. He scowls.
GORDON: We had a report someone heard some commotion from this place a couple of hours ago. When we got here I found this.
He indicates to the bodies. Batman walks over to them. He bends down taking out a FORENSIC KIT.
BATMAN: He was dragged.
Gordon looks at him confused.
GORDON: Yeah, we know our forensic team searched their bodies top to-
BATMAN: No. Just this one.
Gordon walks over to him shocked.
GORDON: How can you tell?
Batman taps the DEAD MAN’S SHOE.
BATMAN: The sole of the shoe. The back of it has been worn down. The worn part is warm so he was dragged on carpet.
He lifts the shoe. He studies it silently.
BATMAN [CONT’D]: (To Gordon) He wasn’t even in the building.
GORDON: What?
BATMAN: These white marks show he was dragged on concrete. The side walk. He must have gotten in the way of the killer when he was entering the building. The killer killed him silent so not to draw attention. (He looks at the sole of the shoe again) And dragged him as little as a foot to the building and then took him down to the basement with the others.
GORDON: But, if he was the only one to be dragged then. How are did they get down here?
Batman stands up looking around the basement. He opens a fridge and then, examines wall and knocks on it.
BATMAN: What noise did the person hear?
Gordon shrugs.
GORDON: She said it sounded like a siren.
BATMAN: They came down here at their own free will. He set off the fire alarm and the people came down here.
GORDON: Why didn’t they go outside?
BATMAN: The door is made of reinforced steel no smoke could get through there. They probably, used this in case there was a fire. It’s an old air-raid shelter. These girders are sturdy to hold any type of impact.
GORDON: So, he led them down here and killed them?
BATMAN: If he ever was down here.
GORDON: You thinking he gassed them.
BATMAN: Was the door locked when you came down here?
GORDON: Yeah, but-
It hits him.
GORDON [CONT’D]: He locked them in and gassed them.
BATMAN: It’d be easier than killing fifty people with a gun.
He bends down to one of them. He takes out a SYRINGE. He sticks it in her taking a BLOOD SAMPLE. He places it back into his forensic kit placing it in his belt.
They both stand there in a moment of absolute silence.
GORDON: Falcone’s trial is tomorrow.
BATMAN: I know.
GORDON: Will I see you?
BATMAN: No.
GORDON: But, you’ll be there?
BATMAN: Yes.
Gordon takes off his GLASSES and wipes them.
GORDON: Falcone’s still holding onto the insanity plea. His Lawyers are adamant that he is still under Crane’s toxins.
BATMAN: He wasn’t given the antidote.
Gordon looks at his glasses checking for anything he missed.
GORDON: Of course. But, what better way for Falcone to get off than for him to have people think he’s insane. No one could touch him not even you. He’d be even more untouchable than he already is.
He puts his glasses back on. BATMAN IS GONE. He shakes his head smiling both amused and peeved.
GORDON [CONT’D]: I hate it when he does that.
CUT TO:
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