ARKHAM
AAdR
Act 1
Scene 1
INT. MILLS WAREHOUSE –MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT-
Former Assistant District Attorney JOHN FIELDS wakes up in the middle of the night from a long sleep. He is dressed in an orange jumpsuit. He is confused, because when he went to sleep the night before he was in a prison cell. JOHN looks around and finally notices that he is tied up to a circular object. He begins to scream for help until a shadowed figure comes out of the darkness and into the light.
TWO-FACE
Hello JOHN.
Action
JOHN sees his former boss, former D. A. HARVEY DENT, whom he had permanently scarred a year before. Right now, HARVEY’S acid wounds are more healed, with patches of skin beginning to pop up on his burnt half. These blotches, however, give the appearance of being blueish grey. Also on his burnt half is a bulging eyeball and missing skin on his cheek, showing his teeth.
JOHN FIELDS
Where am I?
TWO-FACE
You are about to be flipped for your fate to be decided, literally. The thing you are on is a giant coin, almost exactly resembling ours. Underneath you are a pot of boiling acid. The only way to escape is by answering a riddle, our friend THE RIDDLER has made up. Well JOHN, are you ready for the test?
Action
The giant mechanical coin JOHN is tied too begins to flip repeatedly.
TWO-FACE
You have one minute: what is it no man wants to have, but no man wants too lose?
JOHN FIELDS
HARVEY, let me out!
TWO-FACE
Our name isn’t HARVEY, JOHN, now answer the damn question. You have less than sixty seconds.
Action
JOHN takes a second to think, then figures out the answer.
JOHN FIELDS
A lawsuit! Now let me out!
Action
The coin stops flipping; TWO-FACE walks towards JOHN, and takes out his coin and his coin.
JOHN
You said…
TWO-FACE
We said that the answer would stop the machine.
Action
TWO-FACE flips the coin, and it lands on tails. TWO-FACE shoots JOHN in the head.
TWO-FACE
But the coin decides all fates in the end.
Scene 2
INT. WAYNE MANOR –NIGHT-
BRUCE WAYNE is asleep after another night of fighting crime. He is sweating, and tossing and turning.
Scene 3
INT. A FUNERAL HOME –BRUCE’S DREAM-
We go down a long hall of coffins and at the end is one special one, placed directly at the end. Inside each of the coffins a corpse comes out, wailing and moaning. It almost sounds like their blaming BRUCE for their deaths’, but their wailing is not able to be understood. At the end of the hallway a new corpse comes out of the coffin, this one is of JASON TODD, in his ROBIN costume. At first his appearance is normal, then blood starts to drench his body and he screams.
Scene 4
INT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –BRUCE’S DREAM-
We reappear to the warehouse when the JOKER is beating JASON to death with a crowbar. We close on an extreme close up on JOKER’S face after he is done beating up. A voice-over of a PRIEST starts playing.
PRIEST
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Action
As the PRIEST is says that line the warehouse blows up. A voice over of the JOKER’S laugh closes the scene and BRUCE wakes up back in his bed room.
Scene 5
INT. BATCAVE –NOON-
BRUCE is inside the batcave, doing pull ups. ALFRED comes down and interrupts him.
ALFRED
Sir, MASTER GRAYSON just called, letting us know that he on his way here.
BRUCE
Really, DICK is coming? What for?
ALFRED
Your birthday, sir.
Action
BRUCE stops doing pull ups and jumps down.
BRUCE
It’s my birthday tonight? I must have forgotten.
ALFRED
Well I hope you haven’t forgotten about your party sir and the hundreds of people that you have invited.
Action
BRUCE walks to put on a shirt.
BRUCE
What time is my party at?
ALFRED
It starts at eight o clock sir.
BRUCE
Can’t make it.
ALFRED
And why not?
BRUCE
You know why not, ALFRED.
Action
BRUCE’s face turns grim.
ALFRED
MASTER WAYNE, you have been searching for the JOKER for about three months now, how do you know he hasn’t left Gotham already.
BRUCE
I have to believe he hasn’t.
ALFRED
Well not tonight! Sir, for the first time in months you are going to spend your night celebrating life, not avenging death!
Action
ALFRED turns to leave the batcave, until a sulking BRUCE interrupts him.
BRUCE
Did he grow on you, ALFRED?
ALFRED
Indeed he did, sir. JASON, while troubled, did leave a lasting impression on me, but not as big as you.
Scene 6
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM –DAY-
TWO-FACE and RIDDLER are talking in a closed room. There is beeping in the background. RIDDLER cannot be seen, as he is covered by darkness.
RIDDLER
Do you guys think that everything is ready?
TWO-FACE
Yes, we do. Tonight vengeance will begin.
RIDDLER
How are you going to draw the BATMAN tonight?
TWO-FACE
We think it is time to play our ace in the hole.
Action
As he says this, TWO-FACE flips a joker playing card.
Scene 7
INT. WAYNE MANOR –AFTERNOON-
BRUCE WAYNE’S birthday party is going on in the Wayne Manor Dining Hall. There are about one hundred people in that room. BRUCE and DICK GRAYSON are talking.
BRUCE
So, where has NIGHTWING settled?
DICK
New York City, he has a large loft near Central Park, thanks to a gift from BATMAN.
BRUCE
Oh really, that’s nice.
DICK
Yes it is, great for one night stands who don’t see the secret vault in the wall holding his armor.
BRUCE
So it looks as though NIGHTWING won’t be joining BATMAN tonight.
DICK
Oh BRUCE, I wouldn’t underestimate his other secrets.
Action
VICKI VALE, a stunning beautiful reporter for the Gotham Gazette, approaches BRUCE. She has a hunters look in her beautiful blue eyes.
VICKI VALE
Excuse me, but how has the sexiest man in Gotham not hit on me?
Action
BRUCE looks at VALE, while DICK leaves them to be alone.
BRUCE
Well isn’t it my job to hit on you, Miss.?
VICKI
VALE, VICKI VALE, of the Gotham Gazette. And I saw that you were preoccupied with a younger fellow to look at me.
BRUCE
He’s an old friend.
VICKI
Of course he is, MISTER WAYNE.
BRUCE
Oh, please, call me BRUCE.
VICKI
Of course, so happy birthday BRUCE.
BRUCE
Well thank you MISS VALE. May we go upstairs so I can unwrap my present?
VICKI
Oh, I’d bet that you’d like that. However, I have to say no. Tomorrow I’m flying to Metropolis.
BRUCE
Eh, flying; really?
VICKI
What, are you afraid of flying?
BRUCE
No, I just don’t believe a man can fly.
VICKI
Well, when I see one, then will you go on a plane?
BRUCE
Perhaps.
Action
VICKI gives BRUCE her number, and then leaves him. Just as BRUCE is about to have fun for the first time in months an explosion occurs. People are thrown back. And up come the JOKER, rising up on an elevator-like machine. People are injured, but nobody dies.
JOKER
I wasn’t invited, but hey; what’s a party without a clown!
Action
BRUCE quietly leaves through a small exit into the batcave, while the JOKER gets off his elevator, laughing.
JOKER
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am here to bring a smile to your dildo-ridden asses! Now for my performance I shall require an assistant! How about you sir!
Action
JOKER grabs an older gentleman by the hand, and the old man is electrocuted to death, by the JOKER’S joy buzzer. JOKER laughs some more.
JOKER
Oh, damn. I forgot to turn off my toy! Won’t make that mistake again. Now come on people, I need a volunteer! Please, I don’t bite I just kill! And if you’re lucky I will kill you quickly. Maybe you need some inspiration.
Action
JOKER takes out his revolver and starts pointing it around the ballroom.
JOKER
Where’s the birthday brat? BRUCE! BRUCE WAYNE! Where are you buddy?
DICK
Hey man, what the hell are you trying to do right now.
JOKER
Who’s business is it of yours?
DICK
BRUCE is my business, now tell me what you want with him clown.
Action
JOKER walks towards DICK. BATMAN quietly pops out of another secret entrance, unknown to the other people.
JOKER
You’re DICK GRAYSON, the birthday brats brat? Well I apparently killed your step brother JASON, might as well kill the whole damn family.
BATMAN
Not on my watch.
Action
BATMAN punches JOKER in the throat, while the henchmen back off.
JOKER
Oh, you. I killed your son too, haven’t I, BATBRAIN? Let’s see if you’re that easy to kill!
Action
JOKER quickly tries to get up and punch BATMAN in the chest, but his hurts his knuckles on impact. BATMAN remains unhurt. He then throws a batarang at the giant glass window, where the batmobile is parked. He then grabs JOKER, and knocks him out.
Scene 8
EXT. RUBBLE OF THE WAREHOUSE WHERE JASON WAS KILLED –NIGHT-
BATMAN has tied JOKER to a chair on the rubble where the warehouse once stood, where BATMAN found JASON TODD dead. JOKER wakes up.
JOKER
Okay, I’m up; you can send me to jail now!
Action
BATMAN punches JOKER in the face.
BATMAN
Sorry JOKER, but I’m here for justice.
JOKER
What, you finally have the balls to kill, BATSY?
Action
BATMAN punches JOKER in the chin, then again in the throat, and finally in the stomach. He finishes by smashing JOKER’S right hand with his elbow. JOKER does nothing but laugh throughout the torture.
BATMAN
I have some unfinished business with you.
JOKER
Oh, are you still sore about me killing your boy? By the way, why wasn’t that in the paper? What kind of skeleton is in your closet, BATS?
Action
BATMAN slaps JOKER on the face. JOKER spits out blood, and then continues to laugh.
JOKER
You know BATMAN; you should go back to the training room. I mean, with your newer enemies, like me, there have been more casualty’s on your head.
BATMAN
Today I will avenge those who have died because of you right now.
JOKER
And what about those who you lost not because of me? How about HARVEY DENT, who mysteriously disappeared? You’re telling me you haven’t searched for him?
BATMAN
You know where HARVEY is?
JOKER
Ah yes, the moment at hand. Where is HARVEY DENT? But how will I tell?
Action
BATMAN places down an item that begins to flash and beep.
BATMAN
You have seven minutes before the cops come.
Action
BATMAN picks up the JOKER by the jacket.
BATMAN
Now, where is he?
Scene 9
INT. TWO FACE’S HIDEOUT –NIGHT-
BATMAN goes into the hideout, which is located over the river near ARKHAM ASYLUM. BATMAN is under the impression that this is JOKER’S hideout.
BATMAN
HARVEY! HARVEY! It’s okay, I’m here to save you.
Action
TWO-FACE walks out of the dark.
TWO-FACE
I hope you can save me too.
Action
BATMAN turns around and is surprised to see TWO-FACE’S new grotesque look.
BATMAN
HARVEY?
TWO-FACE
That is not our name.
BATMAN
What happened to you HARVEY?
TWO-FACE
We learned that justice is better served without a judge deciding ones fate. Now allow us to introduce our unknown guest!
Action
TWO-FACE pulls a cord, reveling a dying RIDDLER, who is in a hospital bed, connected to machines.
TWO-FACE
Almost brings a tear to our eyes. He has cancer.
RIDDLER
The cops have just locked him in Arkham.
TWO-FACE
Good; now unfortunately we can’t allow you to interrupt our plan to bring justice onto those who have wronged us.
Action
BATMAN is shot in the head with a high caliber bullet. The bullet doesn’t kill him, but the force is enough to knock him out cold. TWO-FACE comes up to him and inspects his mask. He flips his coin and it lands on heads.
TWO-FACE
Not today.