BATMAN DEFIANT
By
Jonathan Nolan
FIRST DRAFT: December 21, 2005
BLACK. A low KEENING which becomes SCREECHING that BUILDS
and BUILDS until-
RED flickers through black as the screen BURSTS into life:
Clouds of REELING BATS silhouetted against a blood red sky,
bolting away from camera, MASSING in the sky... FORMING a
density the shape of an enormous BAT-LIKE SYMBOL.
More BATS mass, swamping the symbol, DARKENING the screen to-
BLACK. Distant commotion of cars running their engines and
muffled voices slowly builds until we see a YOUNG BOY. The
young boy is BRUCE WAYNE, aged 9, being escorted to a waiting
police car by a young JIM GORDON and we are -
EXT. WAYNE MANOR - FRONT DRIVEWAY - MORNING
YOUNG BRUCE looks back over his shoulder, tense and worried,
yet unaware of what is really going on, as ALFRED, Waynes
Butler, comes bolting out of the front door.
ALFRED
What is the meaning of this, Jim?!
You know that Thomas Wayne declared
me as the Guardian of Master Wayne.
GORDON
If it was up to me...
Gordon gets cut off in mid-sentence by an Obese Man in his
early thirties. He has pitch black hair, uneven stubble and
has a unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth - He is
DETECTIVE HARVEY BULLOCK.
BULLOCK
Look, Jeeves...
ALFRED
(angrily)
Its Alfred.
BULLOCK
Whatever. Just cause Thomas Wayne
declared that you be the Guardian
to his son in his will, doesnt
make it legal. In order to prevent
Bruce from becoming a ward of the
state, you have to fill out
a *beep* load of legal paperwork that
says so. Itll probably take days,
weeks, months, hell, maybe even years
to even get all of this finalized.
Bullock opens the door to the waiting car. Gordon puts Bruce
inside, slamming the door shut.
BULLOCK (CONTD)
Like I said, just cause the poor
kids father wrote in his own
handwriting that he wanted you to
take care of his flesh and blood,
dont mean that you can take Brucie
over without the proper legal
authority. Im sorry it has to be
this way, but it is the law. And I
swore to uphold it. Once again, Im
sorry.
Bullock taps on the door of the car. The car drives off taking
Bruce with it. Alfred looks on as Bruce exits his view.
BULLOCK (CONTD)
(to Gordon)
Ready?
Gordon nods and starts his car.
BULLOCK (CONTD)
Dont worry yourself too much, Alfred.
Brucell be okay. Hes going to be
housed in Gotham Orphanage. Good one.
Hell be there until this whole thing
clears up.
(Hands Alfred his card)
Heres my card. If you have any
questions just call. Ill talk to you
later.
Bullock gets in the passenger side of Gordons car and they
drive off.
Alfred looks at the card
ALFREDS P.O.V - CARD
We focus in on the name DETECTIVE HARVEY BULLOCK, GPD
CUT TO:
INT. GORDONS CAR - MOVING - MORNING
Gordon and Bullock sit in the car. They share a rather long
silence.
BULLOCK
Whats on your mind, Jimbo?
GORDON
Did you have to be so damn ignorant?
BULLOCK
Ignorant? At what, the kid?
GORDON
You didnt have to send Jenkins
to retrieve Bruce like some damn
lost dog...
BULLOCK
Hey! HEY!
(pulls out his lighter; beat)
You a man of the law, Jimbo?
GORDON
What kind of question is that? Yeah.
Why?
BULLOCK
Look at me. Im thirty-five-years old,
but I look like a god damned middle
aged bastard on suicide watch. I knew
that this is what my life was going to
be like the moment I raised my right
hand and took the oath of the GPD.
I dont take pleasure in any of this
bull *beep* Especially what happened
today.
(Bullock rolls down the window)
But the law is the law. And nobody, I
dont care if youre the Mayor, the
President, or God himself, nobody,
is above the law. Nobody. Everybody
has to abide by it. Even the dead rich
folk who want things their own way.
GORDON
Hey, why dont you have some respect!
You know how rough the poor kids had
it. The past two years have been hell
on him.
BULLOCK
(lights his cigarette)
Well...
(exhales smoke)
... welcome to the great city of
Gotham, Jim. Life aint fair here.
Thats were we come in.
Gordon looks on in disgust at the stern, yet laid back nature
of Bullock.
Beat.
BULLOCK
Im thirsty. Take me to Finnigans.
GORDON
Im going back to headquarters.
BULLOCK
What the hell for?
GORDON
A new partner.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOTHAM ORPHANAGE - FRONT DOOR - MORNING
The gargantuan front doors open and out walks a BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
in an elegant red dress. She has platinum blond hair and greets
the awaiting POLICE OFFICERS with a smile. She is DR. LESLIE
THOMPKINS, age 40, but looking as if shes 30.
LESLIE
(looking around)
Wheres Bruce?
The Police Officers move out of the way of the car.
POLICE OFFICER #1
I dont think he wants to come out.
POLICE OFFICER #2
Hes been like this ever since we took
him. We figured we might as well just
let him sit it out for a while. But,
knowing what hes been through...
We tried to talk to him but he wouldnt
even part his lips.
We see the police car at the curb. Bruce sits inside, stoic
and not wanting to get out.
LESLIE
(gestures at the car door)
May I?
POLICE OFFICER #1
Go ahead. Good luck.
Leslie opens the door of the car.
CUT TO:
INT. CAR - BACKSEAT - CONTINUOUS
Bruce sits staring towards the front. He doesnt even acknowledge
Leslie entering. Leslie slams the door.
LESLIE
Hello, my name is Leslie Thompkins.
Leslie extends her hand out to Bruce. He doesnt shake it. He
doesnt even move.
LESLIE (CONTD)
I think I know who your are.
Leslie rests her elbow on the backseat and rests her arm on her
palm. She sits staring at him.
LESLIE (CONTD)
Do you want to hear a story?
Bruce keeps staring. He doesnt acknowledge.
Leslie sits up.
LESLIE (CONTD)
Once upon a time, there was a boy. But
he wasnt just an ordinary boy, he was
the prince of the Kingdom. One day, he
was playing in the nearby woods of the
castle. He was having so much fun that
he lost track of time and place. As
night fell, the prince realized that he
was lost. He had no sense of direction
or any idea of where to go. It was a
terrifying ordeal for this young Prince.
But in the end it only made him stronger.
Determined to get back home, the Prince
traced his steps. Along his journey he
faced and defeated great evil that stood
in the path to his kingdom. By the time
the boy found his way home, he had become
a man. And all that he held dear to him
as a child was gone. His father had passed.
His mother had passed. He had no siblings.
The Young Prince found himself all alone.
The once vibrant and beautiful kingdom had
fallen into disarray. The well being of
the kingdom rested with the Young Prince.
Knowing that he was the Prince to
the kingdom, he returned to his castle,
only this time, not as the young lost prince,
but as the mature man -- the new King of
his kingdom. The man that was that lost
Prince had now become the King, not due
to simple lineage, but due to his undeniable
strength and will -- a strength and will
so powerful that helped guide this man home.
He left his kingdom as a young, scared Prince,
but returned a King.
Bruces eyes well up with tears. He wipes his tears away and
faces Leslie. Leslie gives him a reassuring and gentle smile.
Bruce smiles back.
LESLIE (CONTD)
So, lets start over again, shall we?
Leslie extends her hand towards Bruce.
LESLIE (CONTD)
Hello, my name is Leslie Thompkins.
BRUCE
(shakes her hand)
Hello, my name is Bruce Wayne, the
Prince of Gotham.
Leslie smiles at Bruce and lets out a laugh. Bruce the same
to her.
Bruce and Leslie get out of the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. GOTHAM ORPHANAGE - CONTINUOUS
We see the Police Officers squat in front of Bruce and reassure
Bruce that everything is going to be okay.
We hear the voice iver of a man, in his early thirties. A strong
booming voice as we continue to watch the Police talk to Leslie.
MAN (V.O.)
I still remember it as if it was
yesterday. The loneliness and guilt
that I felt after my parents murder
was still evident. When I came here
I was... lost. But a light showed me
the way.
Young Bruce enters the orphanage.
MAN (V.O., CONTD)
That light was none other than
Leslie Thompkins.
We hear APPLAUSE as we see -
EXT. GOTHAM OPRHANAGE - MORNING - CURRENT TIME
Leslie Thompkins, now age 60 stands proud on a podium next to
the man, Bruce Wayne, age 30, who stands behind a speakers
podium on a constructed platform in front of Gotham Orphanage.
Leslie nods her head at the approval of the crowd and the
tremendous applause. She starts to blush.
Leslie looks at Bruce. She cant help but smile. Bruce smiles
back. Bruce lets his hand go from the side of the speaking
podium and starts to clap.
Behind Bruce sits a row of guests. They are: RACHEL DAWES,
LUCIOUS FOX, MAYOR HAMILTON HILL, and a young, well dressed
and handsome man by the name of HARVEY DENT. They all stand
and clap for Leslie.
A CROWD of people stand, one by one, each giving a standing
ovation to Leslie. They are seated in a closed off section of
the street in front of Gotham Orphanage. We see security guards
monitor the traffic on the adjacent streets and make sure that
the ceremony that is going on occurs without problems.
The applause subdues and Bruce continues.
BRUCE
Leslie has been the light that has
helped so many of us. Its time that
we help her. Its time that we help
to continue to do the selfless acts
of kindness that she does on a daily
basis, helping to make her one of
Gothams true gems.
(beat)
The bureaucracy of this city ignored
Park Row for far too long. For
nineteen long years, this part of
Gotham sat derelict and decaying.
And with the remnants of the depression
fresh and unrelenting, shortly after
I left this very orphanage, it closed down.
What was once a safe haven for those
neglected by society was gone. But no
more! Today, Gothamites...
(looks at Leslie)
Leslie...
(looks to the audience)
I am proud to announce that the massive
renovation of this once decaying part of
town has begun. And with it brings new
hope to those who cannot help themselves.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
Bruce grabs a string that leads to a banner that covers a sign
directly above the doors of the orphanage.
Bruce pulls the string, allowing the cover to come down. The
letters reveal...
BRUCE (CONTD)
The Leslie Thompkins Orphanage!
The audience sees those very words inscribed above the entrance
doors. They stand and cheer and clap. Leslie lets out a tear.
Bruce looks on in affection.
CUT TO:
INT. LESLIE THOMPKINS ORPHANAGE - OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Bruce sits with a glass of champagne on the lush leather sofa
of Leslies office. Leslie sits next to him.
LESLIE
Bruce...
BRUCE
(cuts her off)
Ah, ah, ah! No more thanks, Leslie.
Bruce stares at the floor. Leslie stares at him.
LESLIE
Bruce, I am so proud of the man that
you have become. Your parents would be
proud of you.
BRUCE
Ive heard that before. But it means
a lot, especially coming from you.
Since you knew my parents...
Bruce smiles and places the glass of champagne on the coffee
table.
BRUCE (CONTD)
Leslie?
LESLIE
Yes, Bruce?
BRUCE
Can you... can you tell me about my
mom? I mean, what was she like?
LESLIE
Well, your mom was like me, a social
worker. She helped the poor and
disenfranchised of Gotham. Living in a
city with a population larger than
some states, Gotham can be quite cruel
towards those that need a helping hand.
And that is where your mom came in. She
would use your familys fortune to help
break ground on homeless shelters,
drug rehab clinics, orphanages, low-income
housing, scolarships... she cared so
much for those that she didnt even
know. She was like a sister to me.
(beat)
So next week is the big tenement ceremony?
BRUCE
Yes it is, the Martha Wayne Housing Society.
It will house three-hundred low-income
families. More importantly, it will revamp
Park Row and bring back the business.
Which reminds me...
(looks at wris****ch)
I have to go. Sorry, Leslie. I have to
prepare for a big, um, business meeting
tomorrow. Its one of those fancy
presentations, you know. Sorry, I have to...
LESLIE
Oh, dont worry, Bruce. Well talk later.
BRUCE
No problem.
Bruce kisses Leslie on the forehead.
BRUCE (CONTD)
Thank you.
LESLIE
No. Thank you! Ill see you later, Bruce.
BRUCE
Take care.
Bruce exits from her office.
CUT TO:
