BATMAN: A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
ACT 3
AAdR
Scene 1
INT. BAT CAVE –NIGHT-
BRUCE WAYNE is inside the bat cave, getting stitches for the stab wound previously inflicted by KILLER CROC. With him are ALFRED and JASON TODD. JASON is on the bat-computer, looking up fingerprints on the card the JOKER had left.
JASON
There are prints on the card, but none that match up with any of the known criminals in the police database.
BRUCE
So, it’s a new guy, but he obviously isn’t from an innocent past. Define your search to present unsolved crimes in Gotham. Ow! Damn you ALFRED!
Action
ALFRED just pulled another stitch through the blade wound. He smiled.
ALFRED
It is just my two sense sir, but perhaps you should start carrying a sword for these old fashioned sorts of guys.
BRUCE
Swords lead to death. BATMAN doesn’t kill. And neither does ROBIN.
Action
BRUCE is referring to the earlier event, when JASON claimed that a man simply slipped and fell to his death. JASON’s face turns grim.
JASON
I told you what happened.
BRUCE
I know you did JASON. Did anything come up on your search?
JASON
Yeah, one thing; this JOKER guy apparently got away with a murder not even a week ago. The guy was named…
Action
JASON clicks on the file to see who the JOKER had killed days earlier. When he sees the result, he jumps.
JASON
…my father; WILLIS TODD.
Action
BRUCE stands up, and looks at JASON, who is stunned by this information.
BRUCE
Now, JASON, I know how you must feel…
JASON
JOKER killed my father.
Action
JASON says this with a steady voice, then when BRUCE tries to speak up again, his voice turns into a scream.
JASON
JOKER killed my father! My only family! I kill him!
BRUCE
JASON, don’t do anything rash.
JASON
Shut up BRUCE, shut up! Your parents weren’t killed by a maniac! I know that “you must know how I feel” but you don’t! I’m not going to give up the opportunity to avenge my dad, like you did.
Action
JASON leaves, goes outside to have a smoke. BRUCE is feeling guilty and disappointed in himself for not finding out the truth himself.
Scene 2
INT. KILLER CROC’S QURTERS –NIGHT-
KILLER CROC is in his chambers, recovering from his earlier fight with BATMAN. Then CROC gets an email on his computer.
JOKER
South Gotham Garage lets finish this. No guards; make sure you get that right GATOR.
Action
KILLER CROC growls and then smashes the chair in front of him.
Scene 3
INT. SOUTH GOTHAM GARAGE –NIGHT-
KILLER CROC walks into the parking garage, gun in hand. The parking garage is abandoned, and the walls are covered with graffiti. KILLER CROC can’t find the JOKER anywhere, so he screams.
KILLER CROC
Where the [frick] are you!
Action
A voice pops up on the garages intercom. It is the JOKER’S voice.
JOKER
Calm down CROC; were here on peace terms. I noticed your fight with the BATMAN the other night, and if it wasn’t for that little diversion made by ROBIN, you would have succeeded in killing him. Understand?
KILLER CROC
What is your offer, CLOWN?
JOKER
You want the BAT dead? I want to have fun! You get what you want, I get what I want! Catching my drift yet?
KILLER CROC
What’s your plan?
JOKER
Easy; two situations, both of equal magnitude and destruction; both equal the same amount of loss. However, far away from each other at the time they are taking place. BATMAN and ROBIN can’t stop us both, at least not together.
Action
JOKER walks into the light, so that KILLER CROC can see him; CROC lowers his gun.
JOKER
Do you accept?
Action
JOKER holds out his hand so that CROC can shake it. But before he shakes it, he turns over JOKER’S hand, to see a joy buzzer. CROC looks at JOKER.
JOKER
You have your weapon, I brought mine.
Action
Regardless of that event, KILLER CROC shakes JOKER’S hand.
Scene 4
INT. WAYNE MANOR –THE NEXT NIGHT-
BRUCE WAYNE is watching T.V. when breaking news report by JACK RYDER.
JACK RYDER
Breaking news Gothamites; crime lord WAYLON JONES is holding hostage the crew of the famous Gotham ferry, the S. S. WONDER. Total the infamous crime lord has over 20 people held. And if that isn’t enough, a new figure in crime is holding hostage the Full House Card and Casino Warehouse. This terrifying figure has never shown his face in person, but security camera footage has leaked an image of the criminal.
Action
A grainy picture of the JOKER is shown on the T.V.; BRUCE WAYNE sits up, in deep concentration.
JACK RYDER
These new criminals are considered extremely dangerous, and the police are outside the places where the hostages are being held. No word yet on if the BATMAN is going to intervene, so right now we should be praying for him, and of course the BOY WONDER.
Action
BRUCE WAYNE quickly shuts off the T.V. and gets up. He then shouts.
BRUCE WAYNE
JASON!!!
Scene 5
EXT. GOTHAM STREETS –NIGHT-
JASON TODD is on his motorcycle, driving at great speeds to the ware house where the JOKER is holding people hostage. BATMAN contacts ROBIN on his communicator.
BATMAN
JASON! Don’t do this.
ROBIN
I have to BATMAN! He killed my father! I have to stop him.
BATMAN
Don’t kill him; it won’t solve any problems.
ROBIN
End transition.
Scene 6
INT. S. S. WONDER –NIGHT-
All the people being held hostage are in a corner of the ferry, while KILLER CROC is guarding them with a machete in one hand, and a gun in the other.
KILLER CROC
Shut up! Stop your damn crying; you’re not dead yet!
Action
BATMAN crashes into the ferry.
BATMAN
Nobody is going to die today WAYLON!
Action
KILLER CROC puts down his gun, and holds up his recently sharpened machete.
KILLER CROC
You are!
Scene 7
INT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –NIGHT-
JOKER is holding about 15 people hostage inside his building, with another 4 henchmen. The people are scared and crying.
JOKER
Calm down people, laugh! It’s the end of your lives!
Action
JOKER pulls out a revolver, and picks up one of the hostages; a man with brown hair. He points it at the man’s nose.
JOKER
Laugh for God’s sake! Laugh!
Action
ROBIN comes in, and pulls the JOKER off of the man. He then goes in to repeatedly kick him in the face.
ROBIN
Why don’t you cry, you [frick]er!
Scene 8
INT. S. S. WONDER –NIGHT-
BATMAN and KILLER CROC are fighting; KILLER CROC has his machete, and BATMAN has his gauntlets. CROC is aiming to kill, continuously attacking various points in BATMAN’s armor. KILLER CROC slashes BATMAN’S leg, and then drives the blade into the same spot he did before during his fight with BATMAN. KILLER CROC corners BATMAN about to kill him.
Scene 9
INT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –NIGHT-
ROBIN attacks JOKER continuously, and viciously. ROBIN is using a chair leg to attack him. ROBIN has JOKER cornered.
ROBIN
That was for my father! And this is for me!
Scene 10
INT. S. S. WONDER –NIGHT-
Right when KILLER CROC is about to kill BATMAN, BATMAN ducks and CROCK instead hits a table with his machete. BATMAN then punches CROC in the jaw, and breaks his arm, defeating him.
Scene 11
INT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –NIGHT-
Right when ROBIN is about to kill the JOKER, two of JOKER’S henchmen grabs ROBIN, and the other two start beating him. JOKER then gets up and grabs a crowbar. He then pistol whips ROBIN.
JOKER
You have been a very naughty boy. It looks as though UNCLE JOKER will have to teach you a lesson. And let me warn you…
Action
JOKER hits ROBIN over the head with his crowbar.
JOKER
…this will hurt you a lot more than it hurts me!
Action
JOKER starts beating ROBIN with the crowbar, laughing while he viciously beats him. He does this for several minutes, until a woman stands up to him.
SHEILA HAYWOOD
Hey, he is just a kid, let off of him!
Action
JOKER starts considering the woman, then stands up and walks over to her. JOKER then hits the woman in the face with the crowbar. And laughs some more.
JOKER
You dumb bitch want to save the hero? Die with him!
Action
JOKER cue’s to his henchmen, then they shoot all the hostages.
JOKER
Now gentlemen, lets raise the roof, shall we!
Action
The JOKER’s henchmen pull out a crate containing 12 sticks of TNT. JOKER then ties up the SHEILA HAYWOOD, and leaves the unconscious ROBIN on the floor.
JOKER
You know darling, if you weren’t such a bitch, then maybe I would rape you; but unfortunately your attitude makes my boner shrink!
Action
SHEILA spits on JOKER, who then slaps her.
JOKER
You have five minutes left of life, please feel free to panic!
Action
JOKER and his henchmen escape, while ROBIN begins to stir.
Scene 12
INT. BATMOBILE –NIGHT-
BATMAN is driving home when he gets a message from ROBIN.
ROBIN
Help! Please BATMAN, hurry!
BATMAN
ROBIN! What’s wrong?
Action
He waits, but doesn’t get a response.
BATMAN
ROBIN! ROBIN! JASON! Please, answer!
Action
BATMAN turns around, and steps on the gas pedal, hurrying to save JASON.
Scene 13
INT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –NIGHT-
ROBIN steadily gets up, pulls out a shuriken and cuts the ropes holding SHEILA. He then immediately falls. SHEILA pulls him up, and helps him to the door.
SHEILA
Come on kid, you got this. We’re almost to the door.
Action
SHEILA pulls ROBIN to the door, and tries to pull the door open, but it won’t open.
SHEILA
Oh shit.
ROBIN
What’s wrong?
SHEILA
The door is locked!
Scene 14
EXT. FULL HOUSE CARDS AND CASINO WAREHOUSE –NIGHT-
BATMAN arrives at the warehouse right when the bomb’s time runs out. He is protected from the blast by the batmobile’s shields.
BATMAN
JASON! NO!
Action
BATMAN runs out of the batmobile, into the ruins of the once standing warehouse. He stumbles upon the dead body of SHEILA HAYWOOD, and panic’s. He then runs towards around trying to find JASON’S body. Underneath a lot of debris, BATMAN finds JASON’S body, bloody and mauled by injuries. BATMAN cries while holding up JASON’S body.
BATMAN
Oh JASON, so cold, so bloody. So dead; poor JASON TODD; rest in peace.
Scene 15
EXT. OUTSIDE THE WAREHOUSE –DAWN-
COMMISSIONER GORDON is outside of the once standing Full House Cards and Casino Warehouse. OFFICER KENT approaches him.
COMMISIONER GORDON
Have you been able to identify any of the deceased?
OFFICER KENT
Only two; Dr. SHEILA HAYWOOD of Gotham University; and…
Action
OFFICER KENT pauses because of shock.
COMMISIONER GORDON
Well? Spit it out.
OFFICER KENT
BRUCE WAYNE’S young ward, JASON TODD.
Action
At that moment, a gurney takes out a dead JASON TODD, who is inside his regular street clothes, still covered in blood. At that moment, a limo pulls up and BRUCE WAYNE runs out, in his pajamas, to the gurney. He cries over JASON’S dead body.
BRUCE
No! No, don’t let this be true, please God, don’t let this be true!
Scene 16
EXT. GOTHAM FUNERAL HOME –NOON-
BRUCE WAYNE, ALFRED, COMMISIONER GORDON, OFFICER KENT, and a few others attend JASON TODD’S funeral. He is being buried next to BRUCE’S parents. After the burial, COMMISIONER GORDON approaches BRUCE.
GORDON
Are you sure there’s no more information you can give as to why JASON was inside the warehouse?
BRUCE
No, JASON just said he was going to the mall on his bike. He never came back, or called after that.
GORDON
Well, the night wasn’t a complete waste; we arrested WAYLON JONES, who will spend the rest of his life in Arkham.
BRUCE
And what about this new guy the clown?
GORDON
For all intents and purposes he will be known as the JOKER, until his real name is known.
BRUCE
Ok, well, please keep me posted.
GORDON
I will be sure to do that Mr. Wayne.
Action
GORDON leaves BRUCE, who is there starring at JASON TODD’S grave stone. The movie closes with a tear sinking down BRUCE’S cheek.
Scene 17 (after-credits)
INT. BLACKGATE PENITENTURY –NIGHT-
RIDDLER is sitting in his prison cell; a small beard has started to grow on his face. He is staring at a wall while carving a question mark into the cell wall. He does this until an explosion blows up his cell wall. An unknown figure appears through the wall.
TWO-FACE
You are now questioning yourself, ironically MR. NASHTON; let us help you find yourself.
STAY READING FOR BATMAN: ARKHAM!!!