EXT: ATLANTIC OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF SIERRA LEONE-NIGHT
Shipping boat sits out in the massive ocean.
INT: SHIP’S HULL
A dozen armed men stir in the dim light. A desk sits near a wall with ROMAN SIONIS’ feet propped on it. At the opposite end of the hull a door swings open allowing the deck’s light to seep in. Sionis sits up in his chair as a man wearing a trench coat enters. The trench coat man slowly walks toward Sionis’ desk passing the armed men.
Sionis stands: “Floyd Lawton, do you have something for me?”
Lawton: “Depends, do you have something for me?”
Sionis nods and one of the men holds up a briefcase. Lawton takes notice and tosses a cloth sack onto Sionis’ desk. Sionis turns the sack upside down spilling diamonds.
Sionis: “Did you have any problems?”
Sionis holds a diamond up inspecting it with a magnifying glass.
Lawton: “Some of the locals attempted a resistance but they quickly changed their minds.”
While looking through the magnifying glass Sionis’ black face gains an angry expression. He violently throws the diamond on his desk.
Sionis: “Are you trying to play me by bringing fake diamonds?!”
Lawton’s face is stone: “That’s what you’ll get when you pay with fake money.”
Sionis: “You’ve played your last game Lawton!”
The armed men cock their guns stepping closer to Lawton. Before any of them take another step Lawton raises his arms revealing wrist guns and mows down the entire room. In fear for his life, Sionis tosses several duffle bags, filled with money, on the desk.
Sionis: “Here! Take it all! It’s three times our original deal!”
Lawton walks over to the desk putting his wrist gun at Sionis’ head: “I don’t want your money Roman.”
Lawton’s wrist gun goes off.
EXT: WAYNE ENTERPRISE-DAY
INT: BOARD ROOM
Board members and contractors sit at the large conference table with BRUCE WAYNE and LUCIOUS FOX. They sit to the attention of a nervous consultant MR. RUSSEL giving a presentation.
Russell: “After losing the Ricon and Chandler deal we’re looking at a 39% drop bringing us into the negative on Wall Street. We’ve hit stagnate waters and early reports believe we will continue to fall.(pause) To put it simply Wayne Enterprise is no longer a big player in the game.”
Board member 1: What about the international market?”
Russell: “We are even less relevant. With the unstable economy everyone is staying in house. It’s a dead zone.”
Board member 2: “Are we seeing the finals days of Wayne Enterprise? Possibly a merger?”
Fox quickly spins his chair around facing the table
Fox: “People we are getting ahead of ourselves. Wayne Enterprise has been a global giant for decades. We will wait the storm out and return to prominence as always. I’m not going to sit around and wait for Armageddon. If anyone feels different you are free to leave.”
EXT: WAYNE ENTERPRISE FRONT STEPS
Wayne and Fox walk down to the stone steps leading to the busy street.
Wayne: “That went well.”
Fox: “People see a little smoke and assume the whole forest is in flames. We went through the same doubts with your father.”
Wayne: “Maybe so but my father and I shared a slightly different passion in life.”
Fox: “True but that’s where I come in.”
Alfred drives up in front of the two men
Wayne: “Need a ride?”
Fox: “No thanks, I’ve got my own.”
Fox gestures to a black Rolls Royce Phantom parked in front of Alfred
Wayne smiles: “I must pay well.”
Fox smiles back: “That you do Mr. Wayne.”
The two men enter their cars and drive off.
INT: WAYNE’S CAR
Alfred: “I presume your meeting went well Master Bruce?”
Wayne: “Going well is a very loose term these days.”
Alfred: “On a lighter note Ms. Madison is on the line for you.”
Wayne picks up the phone
Wayne: “Hello beautiful”
Madison (over the phone): “How was your meeting?”
Wayne: “It had a beginning, middle, and end.”
Madison (over the phone): “Oh one of those?”
Wayne: “One of those.”
Madison (over the phone): “Well it turns out my sister won’t be coming to Gotham after all. How about a night out?”
Wayne: “Sounds good….”
Before Wayne can finish that sentence a semi-truck runs a red light ramming into Fox’s car. Alfred slams on the breaks.
Wayne: “Was that Fox?! Hey I’ve got to let you go.”
Wayne drops the phone and quickly exits his car sprinting to the Fox’s crumpled car. He finds Fox covered in broken glass with blood dripping from his head. Wayne’s eye catches a steady stream of gasoline leaking onto the pavement. Wayne begins to panic shaking his unconscious friend.
Wayne: “Fox! Wake up!”
Suddenly a loud explosion engulfs the car into flames knocking Wayne back. The raging fire leaves Wayne helpless as once again he is unable to save the lives of the people closest to him.
EXT: GRAVESIDE - DAY
A large gathering of people, dressed in black, pay their respects to the deceased icon. A beautiful forest of flowers covers the wooden casket. Bruce stands, beside Julie Madison and Alfred, with a heavy heart as Fox’s eulogy is read.
EXT: ARKHAM ASYLUM-NIGHT
INT: HUGO STRANGE’S OFFICE
Sitting on Strange’s desk are files upon files. Names on the files include Joker, Waylon Jones (Killer Croc), Harley Quinn, Harvey Dent, Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze), Edward Nigma, and Jonathan Crane. Strange studies each one, taking notes, along with replaying interview tapes over and over again.
EXT: WAYNE MANOR-DAY
INT: BATCAVE
Wayne sits at the massive computer watching a well respected economic strategist, OSWALD COBBLEPOT, perform an interview on “60 Minutes” with Bob Simon. Cobblepot does not appear as short rounded man but a more realistic businessman Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Simon: “Mr. Cobblepot you are renowned as the single most influential man on Wall Street when it comes to predicting the winners and losers. With that, many people consider you a prodigy. What do you say to those statements?”
Cobblepot flattered by the remarks: “I’ve never considered myself a prodigy or even an expert. I simply enjoy the ends and outs of economics. I constantly soak up every fabric of information I come across. With that knowledge I make predictions based solely on the best interest of that company. The name of the game is making money and people make the choices that bring in a revenue stream.”
Simon: “I’m sure you have seen the recent decline in Wayne Enterprise. What do you believe has caused the fall of such a giant?”
Cobblepot surprised at the bluntness of the question: “Wow you really are putting me on the spot. To answer your question I believe time is responsible. This world is evolving at an unprecedented pace that no one can realistically keep up with. Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne, and Luscious Fox did an outstanding job creating the empire but eventually new blood with new ideas are needed.”
Simon: “When you say “new blood” are you referring to yourself?”
Cobblepot laughs: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Simon: “Seriously if Bruce Wayne walked through that door with a job do you take it?”
Cobblepot pauses for a moment considering the questions: “Let’s just say I would listen.”
Wayne pauses the tape on Cobblepot’s face. He leans back in his chair pondering the notion of Bob Simon’s question.
EXT: GOTHAM ROOFTOP-NIGHT
Batman sits perched on the head of a gargoyle statue panning the skyline. The sound of police sirens fill the air. In a brief moment Batman sours from the building top into the night.
EXT: GOTHAM SHIPPING DOCKS
A single hanger is surrounded by police cars and cops collecting evidence. COMMISIONER JIM GORDON stands inside the hanger panning over the dead bodies. Forensics teams take photographs of the brutal act.
Batman: “How many?”
The sudden voice startles Gordon.
Gordon: “I hate when you do that.”
Gordon gives the forensic team a look: “Take 5”
The hanger clears leaving Batman and Gordon alone
Gordon: “Fourteen, but this one over here will really surprise you.”
The two walk over to a body lying next to a smashed chair. The body is wearing a green suit.
Batman: “Nigma”
Gordon: “He solved his last riddle.”
Batman: “Any idea who did this?”
Gordon: “I was hoping you could tell us. So far no prints have shown up. No eye witness, nothing.
Batman examines Nigma’s dead body for clues. He then takes a final glance at the other bodies.
Batman: “Let me know what you find.”
Gordon: “Always do”
EXT: WAYNE ENTERPRISE-DAY
INT: BRUCE WAYNE’S OFFICE
Wayne sits at his desk deep in thought. Contemplating the next move for Wayne Enterprise along with the mystery of who was finally able to knock off the Riddler. Mr. Russell’s knock on door pulls Wayne back to reality.
Russell: “You wanted to see me?”
Wayne: “Yes, come in and shut the door behind you.”
Russell enters the office, closing the door behind, and takes a seat.
Wayne: “I’ve been thinking about where we go from here. Have you heard of Oswald Cobblepot?”
Russell immediately recognizes the name: “The new hot shot who brought Wall Street to its knees?”
Wayne: “That’s the one.”
Russell: “You would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t. He’s been on the cover of every newspaper and magazine for the past 6 months. Are you wanting to bring him on board?”
Wayne: “I want to meet this guy first. See what he’s all about.”
Russell: “He’s about making money. Taking yesterday’s trash and turning it to gold. You believe Cobblepot can do the same for us?”
Wayne stands from his chair and walks over to a large window viewing Gotham’s vast skyscrapers.
Wayne: “This Company has been through a lot with its recent decline and Fox now gone. He was the backbone of Wayne Enterprise, never settling for anything less. It’s time for a new mind with new ideas. Wayne Enterprise still has so much to offer this city and world.
Wayne turns back toward Russell
Wayne: “And I believe this man can continue that purpose.”
EXT: GOTHAM POLICE STATION-DAY
INT: HOMOCIDE DIVISION
The overweight cynical Detective HARVEY BULLOCK sits at his clutter filled desk reviewing photographs of the homicide involving the Riddler. One by one Bullock flips through the pictures taking notice that each victim died from a single gunshot wound.
Detective JAMIE HARPER, the newest member of Gotham’s police force, comes over to Bullock’s desk.
Harper: “You wanted to see me?”
Bullock not taking his eyes off the photos
Bullock: “Take a seat.”
Harper sits curiously waiting for Bullocks request.
Bullock: “Did you get your hands on the ballistics report?”
Harper scrambles in the folder, she his holding, retrieving the report.
Harper: “I did. Each victim was murdered by the same gun….”
Bullock interrupting: “You mean the same model.”
Harper: “No the same gun shot each man. Every firearm leaves its own signature on the bullet casings’ primer. Every recovered casing had the same signature.”
Bullock’s face, no longer buried in photos, is completely locked on Harper.
Bullock: “You’re telling me a single man was able to knock off one of the most elusive criminals in Gotham?”
Harper: “Looks that way.”
Bullock: “Does Gordon know?”
Harper: “He needs to.”
INT: GORDON’S OFFICE
Gordon sits at his desk reviewing the ballistics file Harper had previously given to Bullock. After several moments Gordon tosses the file on his desk.
Gordon: “No wonder we didn’t find any prints. It was just one man. Who in the world is capable of this?”
Bullock and Harper sit across from the Commissioner’s desk
Bullock: “Considering the common link with each victim receiving a single fatal gunshot wound. I’d say someone with highly advanced training with a firearm.”
Gordon: “The good news is they gave us one less criminal to worry about but by performing a 14 body homicide they also jumped to the top of the most wanted list.”
Gordon stands from his chair and repositions himself on the desk’s front corner.
Harper: “Could it be rival gangs or someone new trying to make a name?”
Gordon: “We’ve had gang wars before but nothing of this magnitude. Edward Nigma was a heavy hitter. He wouldn’t fall to some rank amateur.”
Bullock: “You don’t think….”
Gordon: “Don’t even finish that Bullock. I’m not making him public enemy one just yet.”
Bullock: “Whether you’re ready to or not you know the Batman is bound to snap. Who else could pull off a stunt like this?”
Gordon leans down into Bullock’s face with an angered scowl.
Gordon: “Bullock I do not have time for your personal vendettas on this case. Your job is to collect evidence and present a case off that evidence, nothing more.”
Bullock returns with an equally angered scowl
Bullock: “Understood”
EXT: ARKHAM ASYLUM-NIGHT
INT: STRANGE’S RESEARCH LAB
The eerie lab showcases dim lighting and surgical steal instruments aligned across gray walls. Amongst the large shelves are boxes upon boxes of research notes while newspaper clippings of various Batman headlines clutter the walls. A large window fills the center of a wall with a distant view of Gotham’s city lights. Strange works at a table and from the shadow emerges Floyd Lawton (Deadshot).
Strange: “Deadshot, are you ready for another night on the town?”
Deadshot: “Give me a name.”
Strange hands Deadshot a Joker card
Strange: “Basement of the Quarter building in the Narrows. Watch yourself he’s got a sense of humor.”
Deadshot takes the card from Strange exiting the lab