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BATMAN: IN COLD BLOOD

SCREEN STORY BY:

JEDD JONG YUE with

ALASDAIR CHI

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY BY:

JEDD JONG YUE

STARTED: 15/6/10

COMPLETED: 27/7/10

Contact at: jeddjong@hotmail.com

BATMAN and related characters and elements are the property of DC Comics. This screenplay in itself is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.

1

EXT. HALEY’S CIRCUS – NIGHT – ESTABLISHING

Standing in an empty field is Haley’s Circus, an old-fashioned big top covered in red and white pinstripes. Spotlights shine upwards at the big top and floodlights cover the adjacent parking lot. A large banner over the entrance reads “Gotham Welcomes Haley’s Circus”.

INT. HALEY’s CIRCUS – NIGHT

The crowd is silent. In the center of the ring is a nasty-looking contraption: a gigantic industrial buzz-saw is being lowered above a struggling man bound to a table. The man is masked and tries to break out of his handcuffs. The buzz saw slices the man in two. A shred of his shirt gets caught in the buzz saw. Once the buzz saw stops, beautiful assistants arrive to divide the table in two, showing that the man has really been cut in half. However, his hands and feet are still moving. The two halves and the contraption are wheeled away. The audience applauds.

RINGMASTER:

Ladies and Gentleman, the incredible Death Man!

INT. HALEY’s CIRCUS – VIP BOX

BRUCE WAYNE is seated in a VIP box with JULIE MADISON, his beautiful blonde companion. Dressed in a semi-formal dinner jacket and long black necktie, Wayne appears unimpressed.

BRUCE WAYNE:

You do know how that’s done, don’t you?

JULIE MADISON:

Bruce, shh.

INT. HALEY’s CIRCUS - RING

RINGMASTER:

And now, introducing the most daring family in the world: the Flying Graysons!

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RINGMASTER: (cont.)

Residents of the Haley’s Circus for five years now,

performing astounding aerial acrobatics-without the safety of a net!

INT. HALEY’s CIRCUS –TRAPEZE PLATFORM

The Flying Graysons prepare for their act. The youngest, DickGrayson, a boy of about 14, powders his hands with chalk.

DICK GRAYSON:

Here we go!

JOHN GRAYSON:

Remember to smile Dick!

MARY GRAYSON:

Let’s fly, my little Robin!

They leap off the trapeze one after the other, perform several somersaults and catch the trapeze at the other end at different times. Applause is audible in the background. The Graysons then perform another trick.

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS - SPECTATOR’S STANDS

The silhouette of an audience member is visible. He is holding what looks like a lighter. He flips open the cap and pushes down hard on a button.

A close-up of the wires which hold the aerialists up.

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS – TRAPEZE PLATFORM

Two small but powerful squibs explode. The high-tensile support cables that hold up the aerialists snap loudly, filaments unwinding. John and Mary Grayson, having just performed a catch, are suddenly taken aback as they begin to fall. Safe on the platform, Dick Grayson is shocked and

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reaches out his arm to his falling parents though he knows he cannot save them.

DICK GRAYSON:

No! Mum! Dad!

MARY GRAYSON:

Robin!

Dick looks on in horror as his parents continue to fall. He looks away at the last moment, right before they hit the ground. Dick fights back tears and quickly climbs down rungs on the support column, returning to the ring floor.

The managers go into a frenzy as the Ringmaster hurries onstage.

RINGMASTER:

Ladies and gentlemen, please do not panic! We have the situation completely under control! Please stay in your seats!

Despite the instruction, many spectators throw down their popcorn and rush to the exit.

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS – VIP BOX

Bruce Wayne looks on in shock as Julie Madison begins to break down, sobbing.

JULIE MADISON:

They just...they just fell! That boy, their son...what’s...

BRUCE WAYNE:

It’s okay Julie, I’m sure it was just an accident...I’ll take care Of it...

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JULIE MADISON:

You?! You’ll take care of it?! Just because you’re some billionaire doesn’t mean you can...

BRUCE WAYNE:

Julie, please calm down...I’ll be right back...

Bruce gets up and leaves, running down to the ring.

JULIE MADISON:

They just died and you’re going to leave me here?!

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS – RING

Police have now gathered around the ring. Crime scene investigators are all over the scene, snapping photographs, placing evidence markers and gathering evidence. Bruce Wayne elbows through the crowd.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Excuse me please...coming through...

Bruce reaches the scene. John and Mary Grayson have been covered with sheets. Wayne has been witness to many crime scenes in the past, but somehow this one affects him deeply. Bruce approaches a police officer.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Excuse me officer, I’m Bruce...

OFFICER:

...Wayne. I know. We’re kinda busy now so...

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BRUCE WAYNE:

Is Commissioner Gordon here?

OFFICER:

No, but Montoya is.

BRUCE WAYNE: Yes, I know her.

OFFICER:

Over there, with the kid.

Bruce walks over to Officer Renee Montoya, who is talking to Dick Grayson.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Montoya, could I have a moment?

RENEE MONTOYA:

Go ahead Mr Wayne.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Thanks Officer.

Bruce Wayne walks to a corner and talks to Montoya

BRUCE WAYNE:

It must be very difficult for the boy. I would know.

RENEE MONTOYA:

That’s true.

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BRUCE WAYNE:

I think I may be able to help.

RENEE MONTOYA:

Don’t mind me asking, how?

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’ll need to speak with the Commissioner first.

RENEE MONTOYA:

Well, you still haven’t answered my question.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Question, right. Well, when my parents were killed, I had Alfred.

Who does this boy have?

RENEE MONTOYA:

As far as we know, nobody. As circus performers, The Graysons were travellers, nomads.

BRUCE WAYNE:

That’s where I may be able to help.

EXT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - NIGHT

The Iceberg Lounge is in an upmarket part of Gotham City. The exterior is dressed like an old-fashioned Hollywood cinema with a marquee that reads “Iceberg Lounge” There is a neon sign of a cartoon penguin and the words “Iceberg Lounge”. There is a line of patrons waiting to enter and a burly bouncer guarding the entrance. A man in a trench coat is ushered through.

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INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - NIGHT

The Iceberg Lounge is as swanky as a nightspot can get. Heavily themed, the colour scheme is white and light blue. In the centre of the lounge is an ornamental lagoon with iceberg-like structures and real seals and penguins. Hostesses in bustiers, bowties and fishnet stockings serve drinks to the patrons.

The man in the trench coat makes his way to a door marked “authorised personnel only”. A security guard in shades blocks the way.

TRENCHCOAT MAN:

I’m here to see Mr Cobblepot.

GUARD:

You Zucco?

The man nods.

GUARD:

He’s expecting you. Right this way.

ZUCCO:

Thanks.

Zucco enters and makes his way up the stairs. Two hostesses usher him through ornate double doors.

INT. PENGUIN’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Zucco enters the office of criminal businessman OSWALD COBBLEPOT, THE PENGUUIN. The office has all the trappings one could ask for. To one side of the office is a rack stocked with dozens of umbrellas. There is a swivelling chair behind a large oak desk. A hostess is seated on it, holding a plate of sushi and sashimi.

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The swivelling chair rotates to face Zucco. Seated in it is Oswald, a diminutive, portly man dressed in coat and tails and a top hat. There is a silver monocle in his right eye. He seems to have come straight out of a period film. The hostess pops a piece of sushi into The Penguin’s mouth. The Penguin finishes the morsel and dabs at his mouth with a handkerchief.

PENGUIN:

Thank you Holly, that was delicious. Ah, Tony. How nice of you to drop by. Is it done?

ZUCCO:

Yeah boss.

Zucco puts the detonator on the table. The Penguin passes it back to him.

PENGUIN:

No no no, keep the little trinket. A souvenir, eh?

ZUCCO:

You don’t want any of this to lead back to you.

PENGUIN:

Of course not, I’m a legitimate businessman now. Please Tony, take a seat. Hand Rachel your coat.

ZUCCO:

Er, thanks.

A hostess helps Zucco out of his coat.

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PENGUIN:

Everything go smoothly?

ZUCCO:

Without a hitch. Took out the Flying Graysons, just as you said.

PENGUIN:

Only the parents?

ZUCCO:

Yes, I waited till the kid was safe.

PENGUIN:

You’ll see I’m not that heartless.

He turns to the hostess seated on his table and strokes her cheek with a gloved hand. She tries her hardest to mask her disgust.

PENGUIN:

Isn’t that right, Holly?

ZUCCO:

Tell me, boss.

PENGUIN: Yes?

ZUCCO:

Does anyone call you “Penguin” to your face?

The Penguin laughs. Zucco shifts in his chair, awkward.

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PENGUIN:

Well, it’s a title I dislike, but one that I guess I have grown to accept. still, it would be best not to tempt me.

isn’t that right, Rachel?

Rachel turns around to leave. Zucco catches a glimpse of her severely scarred back.

PENGUIN:

Now, you’ve wasted enough of my time.

ZUCCO:

Aren’t you forgetting one more thing?

The Penguin scowls, reaches for a stack of $100 dollar bills and passes it to Zucco. Zucco smiles for the first time during their meeting.

ZUCCO:

Thanks boss.

PENGUIN:

Yeah, knock yourself out.

Zucco exits and the Penguin eats a slice of sashimi.

PENGUIN:

Mmm, yellowtail.

INT. BRUCE WAYNE’S CAR

ALFRED PENNYWORTH, Bruce Wayne’s loyal valet, is dressed in a chauffer’s uniform at the wheel of a Bentley Flying Spur. Julie Madison, visibly upset, is seated in the back with Bruce Wayne.

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BRUCE WAYNE:

You’ve had a rough night, Julie.

JULIE MADISON:

It was supposed to have been fun.

EXT. OUTSIDE JULIE’S APARTMENT

Alfred gets out and opens the passenger door. Bruce helps Julie out of the car.

JULIE MADISON:

Thank you Alfred.

ALFRED:

Always a pleasure, Ms Madison.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Goodnight and take care, Julie.

Julie nods and enters the apartment building. Bruce and Alfred return to the car.

ALFRED:

What now, Sir?

BRUCE WAYNE:

The case, Alfred.

Alfred nods and pulls out an attaché case. He passes it back to Bruce who places it on his lap and clicks it open. In it are the components of the Batsuit, neatly folded. Alfred smiles.

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EXT. ABANDONED OFFICE BUILDING – NIGHT

The Bentley pulls up outside the building. It is tall, imposing and features neo-gothic architecture. However, it has long fallen into disrepair. Bruce Wayne exits the car holding the case and goes into the building. The camera slowly pans up the building, following a lift on the inside and when it reaches the rooftop, Batman is perched on a gargoyle, cape fluttering in the wind. He takes a moment, and then leaps. The cape stiffens into a glider, and Batman flies away.

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS BIG TOP – NIGHT

The circus ring is now a full-blown crime scene. Police officers and crime scene investigators are all over the floor. In the middle of it all is a figure in a trench coat and glasses – police Commissioner JIM GORDON. Wearing surgical gloves, he is fiddling with something in a plastic evidence bag. The Commissioner wanders into a corner. He spots a rope hanging from the dark rafters and tugs on it. Batman descends down the rope.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Now it’s a whole other kind of circus.

BATMAN:

Indeed.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

I’m surprised you weren’t here earlier.

BATMAN:

Maybe I was, and you don’t know it.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

One thing about you is you have to one-up everybody.

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BATMAN:

Is that the explosive device?

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Yeah. What’s left of it anyway.

BATMAN:

Those wires are high-tensile steel.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

They were all them Flying Graysons had.

BATMAN:

I’ve seen these before.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Know who makes them?

BATMAN:

No. But for starters, this was activated via radio frequency.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

So someone in the audience must’ve activated it.

BATMAN:

Compile a list of all the audience Members tonight. You can pull names attached to

credit card bookings.

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COMMISSIONER GORDON:

What about those who bought tickets at the door?

BATMAN:

The sweepstakes coupons. Win a car.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Right.

INT. GOTHCORP LABS - NIGHT

Scientist Dr VICTOR FRIES is working alone in his laboratory. A beautiful woman lies on a gurney in a coma, hooked up to a life support system. Dr Fries walks over to the woman, bends down and kisses her lightly on the forehead.

VICTOR FRIES:

Soon, Nora. Soon.

Victor heads over to a computer terminal. On the monitor is a diagram of a diseased red blood cell. It is labelled “Wood-Moldoff Syndrome – affected Red Blood Cell”. Fries presses “play” on a computer simulation. A counter at the bottom of the screen shows the number of days, and in accelerated fashion the red blood cell on the screen begins to disintegrate. Fries stops the simulation before the cell breaks down altogether. He glances over to his wife, then back at the screen. He takes off his spectacles and wipes his brow.

VICTOR FRIES:

If I could retard or at least slow down the process...

Victor absently picks up a canister on his desk, marked “Creon”.

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VICTOR FRIES:

A supercoolant...of course.

Victor types a few figures into a program and comes up with the final sum “$340 564.00”. He sighs again. It is too much money. He crunches the numbers again but achieves the same final amount. Fries sighs. He reaches into his pocket and takes out his wallet. In the wallet is a name card that reads “Oswald Cobblepot”.

VICTOR FRIES:

One way or another, I will see this through Nora. For you. For us.

EXT. GOTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT HQ – DAY

Bruce Wayne, in a tan suit, exits his Bentley and proceeds into the police headquarters.

INT. GOTHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT HQ – COMMISSIONER GORDON’S OFFICE - DAY

Bruce Wayne walks into Commissioner Gordon’s office.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Thanks for agreeing to meet me, Commissioner.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Not at all Bruce, you’re a friend, and it’s my job to help out when I can.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I was there that night, at the circus. I saw Dick Grayson’s parents die. I know what it’s like to lose someone before your very eyes. I’ve been giving it some thought, and I’d like to take Dick Grayson in. As a ward.

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COMMISSIONER GORDON:

So the swinging bachelor wants to become a Daddy?

BRUCE WAYNE:

He’s a kindred spirit, that’s all.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

I suppose. It’s been a very busy two days for the boy. He’s been holding out at the police dorms.

BRUCE WAYNE:

When can he be taken home?

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Once all the papers are signed and the foster parent database is sorted

out, we’re good to go.

BRUCE WAYNE:

That’s great.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

However, do prepare to deal with a lot of media attention, especially

since you’re that high up the social ladder. They’ll want to get the scoop on why you’ve adopted an orphaned aerialist. there’ll be lots of nasty rumours flying around, not to mention the unearthing of your past.

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BRUCE WAYNE:

Don’t worry Commissioner, I’ve handled worse. Much worse.

COMMISSIONER GORDON:

Oh, there’s also the funeral arrangements. Nobody is handling that at the moment.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’ll take care of it.

EXT. WAYNE MANOR GROUNDS – DAY

The funeral of John and Mary is being held. A Catholic priest presides. It is a cloudy day and chairs have been set up on the Wayne Manor lawn. Dressed in a black suit and tie, Bruce Wayne stands at the back, accompanying a solemn Dick Grayson. They stand together, quiet. Suddenly, Dick begins to break down. Bruce gives him a reassuring hug.

DICK GRAYSON:

I miss them so much, Mr Wayne.

BRUCE WAYNE:

It’s okay Dick, I know how you feel.

DICK GRAYSON:

Can we go inside? Please?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Sure, let’s go.

INT. WAYNE MANOR MAIN HALL – DAY

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BRUCE WAYNE:

Alfred has put your things in your room. Wanna check it out?

DICK GRAYSON:

Er...yeah, this is a lot to take in.

Bruce and Dick ascend the grand staircase. Alfred is at the top of the stairs, ready to greet them.

ALFRED:

Ready to see your room, Master Richard? Master Bruce has taken great pride

In preparing it.

DICK GRAYSON:

Sure Mr Alfred.

ALFRED:

Oh, just “Alfred” will do, Master Richard.

DICK GRAYSON:

How about “Uncle Alfred”?

ALFRED:

It’s a new one, but it does have a ring to it.

BRUCE WAYNE:

“Uncle Alfred” it is, then.

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INT. DICK GRAYSON’S ROOM – DAY

Dick Grayson’s room is a cosy but spacious private area, fashioned in much the same way as most of the stately manor. The main differences are several posters of pop bands and recent movies, as well as colourful bed sheets.

DICK GRAYSON:

Wow, this is really cool! I never really Got my own room, travelling with the circus- Not that I minded anyway.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’m glad you like it Dick. Alfred, we Could show him around the garage later. I heard you like motorcycles.

DICK GRAYSON:

That’d be great, but I need to take a short break.

ALFRED:

Later, then.

INT. WAYNE MANOR GARAGE – DAY

The subterranean garage and workshop is cavernous and impressive, housing a large number of automobiles.

BRUCE WAYNE:

How do you like it?

DICK GRAYSON:

Wow...how many are there?

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ALFRED:

42, when I last checked.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Cars are one of my...hobbies. I get To drive around prototypes nobody will get to buy in the market.

INT. WAYNE MANOR HALLWAY – DAY

Dick Grayson is back in his room. Alfred and Bruce are walking.

ALFRED:

Pardon me sir, but have you Considered the...unique consequences

of adopting a child that would affect someone such as yourself?

BRUCE WAYNE:

He will have to know sooner or later.

ALFRED:

But is that up to you to decide?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Until then, I will need your assistance and discretion more than ever.

sALFRED:

Very well, Master Bruce.

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EXT. GOTHAM HARBOUR - NIGHT

Victor Fries walks up to a luxury yacht berthed at Gotham Harbour. The Yacht is named “Yellowtail”. He proceeds into the yacht as two guards look on.

INT. YELLOWTAIL – NIGHT

Victor Fries looks uneasy surrounded by the plush furnishings of the luxury yacht. A guard guides him into the Penguin’s stateroom.

INT. YELLOWTAIL – PENGUIN’S STATEROOM – NIGHT

The Penguin’s stateroom looks somewhat like his office at the Iceberg Lounge, except smaller and with a bed to one side. The Penguin is again seated at an oak desk. He is smoking a cigarillo in a long cigarette holder. He takes a long drag.

PENGUIN:

Ah, the eminent scientist Dr Victor Fries. How nice of you to visit. Please, take a seat!

Victor Fries nods and sits down.

VICTOR FRIES:

Thanks for agreeing to meet me, Mr Cobblepot.

PENGUIN:

As a matter of fact, I feel indebted to you, Victor.

VICTOR FRIES:

How so?

PENGUIN:

Well, I love my sushi and sashimi.

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VICTOR FRIES:

Uh-huh...

PENGUIN:

Ever since those Japanese fishermen Have started using Creon as a supercoolant,

Their fish has been as fresh as ever.

VICTOR FRIES:

I’m...glad you can tell the difference.

PENGUIN:

As such, I’d be happy to oblige any favour you will ask of me. I am after all, a legitimate businessman.

VICTOR FRIES:

I will need to borrow $340 000.

PENGUIN:

Now, what would a scientist want with that much moolah?

The Penguin takes another long drag.

VICTOR FRIES:

It’s research money.

PENGUIN:

And Gothcorp doesn’t fund your research?

VICTOR FRIES:

You see, my wife is dying.

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PENGUIN:

Now this is getting interesting.

VICTOR FRIES:

It’s not interesting, Cobblepot. It’s tragic. It’s a very rare blood disease and I need time and money to engineer a cure.

PENGUIN:

Time, I cannot give you. But money, I have In excess and will willingly supply.

VICTOR FRIES:

Just like that? No strings attached?

PENGUIN:

No strings attached.

The Penguin takes out a cheque from his chequebook and signs it, making it out to “Dr Victor Fries”. He politely hands the cheque over to Victor.

VICTOR FRIES:

Thank you Mr Cobblepot. How can I repay you?

PENGUIN:

I trust you’ll come up with the money sooner or later. If not, I’m sure we’ll

think of...something.

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INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

The Batcave is a natural cave under Wayne Manor which has been modified and outfitted as a base of operations for Batman. Bruce Wayne, in full Batman attire except for the cowl, is seated in front of a large bank of computers, known collectively as the “Batcomputer”. On the main monitor of the Batcomputer is a slowly-rotating 3D diagram of the explosive device. Alfred comes walking in carrying a tray of soup.

ALFRED:

Minestrone, sir?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Perhaps later, Alfred.

Alfred looks closely at the image on the screen.

ALFRED:

The device that killed young Master Richard’s parents?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Yes. It’s a small remotely-triggered explosive device.

Bruce brings up a video player and begins playing a video simulation. The explosive device detonates, and causes the high-tensile wire to unravel and snap.

ALFRED:

Oh my.

BRUCE WAYNE:

These are manufactured via a shell company, it is almost impossible

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BRUCE WAYNE (CONT.):

...to track the actual source.

ALFRED:

Almost.BRUCE WAYNE:

Yes. I’ve traced it back to this character.

A newspaper photograph of Oswald Cobblepot at the opening of the Iceberg Lounge appears on the monitor.

ALFRED:

“Character” is exactly the word I’d use.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Oswald Cobblepot. Owner of the Iceberg Lounge and responsible

for some very shady business dealings. once you owe him money, you can never escape.

ALFRED:

No strings attached.

BRUCE WAYNE:

That’s what they always say. The problem is, Oswald is incredibly good at covering his tracks, and his influence stretches beyond the law.

ALFRED:

With an appearance like that, he must Have some kind of nickname.

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BRUCE WAYNE:

He does. “The Penguin”.

ALFRED:

How...appropriate.

INT. DICK GRAYSON’S ROOM – NIGHT

Dick Grayson is poring over newspaper articles. We get a glimpse of the headlines: “TRAGEDY AT HALEY’S CIRCUS”, “AERIALISTS KILLED”, “ACCIDENT?” and so on. He stops at an old photograph of the Flying Graysons together: John and Mary beaming proudly with Dick in the centre, also smiling. Dick sighs.

DICK GRAYSON:

I have to go back there.

Dick takes a jacket from his closet, puts it on and leaves his room.

INT. WAYNE MANOR GARAGE – NIGHT

DICK GRAYSON:

42 cars...I need a bike...

Dick runs over to the section of the sprawling garage where Bruce’s motorcycles are stored. He hesitates.

DICK GRAYSON:

I need to know.

Dick finds a motorcycle that suits his fancy. He grabs a helmet from a nearby maintenance rack, concealing his identity. He revs the bike and drives out. The garage door opens automatically.

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INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

A pop up alert appears on the Batcomputer monitor.

BRUCE WAYNE:

What’s this?

He clicks on the pop-up alert. It shows a video of Dick driving the motorcycle out of the garage.

ALFRED:

Ah, there’s our gracious guest. Now Where would he be heading?

BRUCE WAYNE:

I think I have a pretty good idea.

Bruce Wayne whips on his cowl, his transformation into Batman complete. He rises from the chair, the cape pulled along behind him.

EXT. HALEY’S CICRUS – NIGHT

Zucco, in a cheap business suit, is walking towards the Big Top. He is talking on his cell phone.

ZUCCO:

Alright boss, I’ll get it done. I’ll just erase the documents from the computer

and that’s it. And the hard copies. Fine, fine.

Zucco hangs up.

ZUCCO:

The things I do for the useless fat idiot.

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EXT. HALEY’s CIRCUS – NIGHT

Just after Zucco walks on, Dick arrives. He parks the bike in a discreet spot and dismounts. He races to the entrance of the big top and hides. Two policemen are guarding the entrance. Zucco walks up to them; Dick observes all this from his hiding spot.

POLICEMAN 1:

I’m sorry sir, this area has been sealedoff. I’m afraid I can’t let you in.

ZUCCO:

I understand, I heard about the tragic incident. You see, I’m on the board of directors of

Circus of the Skies, of which Haley’s Circus is part of.

POLICEMAN 2:

You’ll have to check with...

ZUCCO:

Yes, I spoke to Commissioner Gordon myself yesterday.

POLICEMAN 1:

We’ll need to see a written...

ZUCCO:

Please gentleman, I’m a very busy person and I just need to retrieve

some files from the computer.

POLICEMAN 2:

Hold on one second.

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He speaks into his walkie-talkie.

POLICEMAN 2:

Uhh, someone wants to enter the crime scene, please...

All of a sudden, Zucco takes out his pistol and strikes one policeman in the back of the head, bashing the other against him. Both lose consciousness instantly.

ZUCCO:

Idiot cops.

Dick Grayson, hiding in his corner, gasps.

Zucco heads into the big top. Waiting several seconds, Dick Grayson follows him.

EXT. HALEY’S CIRCUS OFFICE

The offices are housed in what was once a shipping container. Zucco tries the handle on the door. It’s locked. He opens it with a key. The door swings open feebly. Zucco steps in.

INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS OFFICE

Zucco heads for the filing cabinet and opens each drawer. They are empty, having been cleared by the police. In the last drawer, he opens the false bottom. There is one file left. Zucco takes it out and smiles.

ZUCCO:

Idiot cops.

ZUCCO goes over to the computer, turns it on and logs in. He inserts a flash drive into the USB port, which overrides the security settings. He gets to the file he wants and smiles. He presses delete on the keyboard.

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Holding the hard copy in his hand, Zucco takes out a lighter and ignites it. He begins to burn the file when Dick Grayson storms in.

DICK GRAYSON:

Stop there!

ZUCCO:

Hey, take it easy kid...aren’t you The Grayson boy?

DICK GRAYSON:

What if I am?

ZUCCO:

Nothing. ‘Cept I’m gonna have to ice you, too.

DICK GRAYSON:

“Too”?

ZUCCO:

Piece together the puzzle yet, kid?

Furious, Dick kicks the lighter out of Zucco’s hand. It lands on the computer, burning through the plastic casing. A spark ignites in the computer and flames materialize. The fire is fuelled by the wooden desk. It begins to consume the office. Zucco panics and pulls out his gun. Dick braces Zucco’s arm. He is surprisingly strong for his age. The gun goes off and a bullet ricochets off the corrugated metal. All the while the flames lick up at them. Dick kicks Zucco in the shin. Zucco winces and lets go of the gun. Dick pushes Zucco against a wall, glowing red from the fire. Zucco yells as the heat burns through the back of his suit. In a rage, Zucco kicks Dick, frees himself from his jacket and runs out of the burning office. Dick picks up the gun and follows suit.

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INT. HALEY’S CIRCUS BIG TOP – NIGHT

Zucco runs into the big top, perspiring heavily. Dick Grayson is not far behind. Zucco is tripped up by a stray wire on the floor of the circus ring. Before he can pick himself up, Dick steps on Zucco’s back with one foot and holds the gun with both hands, pointing it at the back of Zucco’s head.

ZUCCO:

You won’t do it punk.

BATMAN (O.S.):

No he won’t.

Zucco is stunned and frightened. He can’t manage anything. Dick, a little taken aback, takes his foot off Zucco’s back, still clutching the gun.

BATMAN:

Killing him won’t bring your Parents back, Dick.

DICK GRAYSON:

An eye for an eye.

BATMAN:

Makes the whole world blind.

Dick tightens his grip on the firearm.

BATMAN:

You’ll have achieved nothing and lost everything.

Dick hands Batman the gun.

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BATMAN:

Thank you.

Police sirens are audible outside. Batman cuffs Zucco with a pair of handcuffs from his utility belt.

BATMAN:

Dick, come with me.

Dick follows Batman out of the big top. Batman presses a button on his utility belt and the headlights of the Batmobile come on.

DICK GRAYSON:

I took a bike...

Batman points a remote control at the bike and it returns home to Wayne Manor, without a driver. Dick’s eyes widen. Batman points to the Batmobile.

BATMAN:

Get in.

INT. BATMOBILE – NIGHT

Dick and Batman are on their way back to the Batcave.

DICK GRAYSON:

Am I in any sort of trouble?

BATMAN:

No, but you would be had you killed him.

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DICK GRAYSON:

Anyway, I stay at Wayne Manor now.

BATMAN:

I know where that is.

Dick shifts uncomfortably in the passenger’s seat of the Batmobile. Batman is silent.

DICK GRAYSON:

Who are you anyway?

Batman turns and looks at Dick Grayson. He removes his cowl. Dick gasps.

DICK GRAYSON:

It’s you! Why didn’t you tell me?!

BATMAN:

I was waiting for the right time. I guess now, you’re ready to know.

DICK GRAYSON:

Why did you adopt me if you have such a big secret to keep? Didn’t

You think I would disrupt your work?

BATMAN:

We’re very alike. You may haveheard about what happened to my

parents. I had Alfred, but you have nobody. I thought I could

give you the guidance you needed,to prevent revenge from twisting

you into a monster. A monster like me.

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DICK GRAYSON:

You’re not a monster.

BATMAN:

Gotham is overrun with monsters.All it needs is one on the other

side to balance things up.The Batmobile veers off the road and onto a concealed route, driving through the forest surrounding Gotham’s outskirts and headed for a solid stone wall.

DICK GRAYSON:

Look out!

The stone wall lifts up to reveal a short tunnel. The Batmobile drives through it and the wall lowers back down. The Batmobile has arrived in the Batcave.

INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

The Batmobile comes to a stop. The doors automatically open. Batman steps out, followed by Dick.

DICK GRAYSON:

Whoa.

BATMAN:

This is where I work from: an underground cavern beneath Wayne Manor outfitted with everything I need to help me.

ALFRED:

I see you like our little hideout.

35

DICK GRAYSON:

Alfred! You’re in on this too?

ALFRED:

You could say part of it was my idea.

Dick gives Batman and unexpected hug.

DICK GRAYSON:

Thanks for everything, Mr Wayne.

BATMAN:

Go get some rest. Alfred will take you upstairs.

ALFRED:

Follow me, Master Richard.

Dick follows Alfred into the elevator. Batman sits down at the Batcomputer. A ghost of a smile breaks across his face.

INT. GOTHCORP LABS – NIGHT

Victor, in a lab coat and wearing protective goggles, prepares Nora for cryogenic preservation. He goes over to a futuristic preservation chamber and opens it. White mist appears from inside. Victor carries Nora’s limp body and carefully places it inside in the chamber. After one last look, he closes it and it hermetically seals. Fries goes over to the computer controls, which show the amounts of the various substances in the cryogenic mix, chief of which is Creon. A Plexiglas window in the chamber allows us to see Nora’s face. It disappears behind a white mist. A few seconds later, the process is complete. Fries heaves a sigh of relief and gets up from his chair.

36

VICTOR FRIES:

One step closer, Nora. One step.

Victor kisses the window of the chamber, and then leaves his lab for a coffee break.

INT. GOTHCORP CORRIDOR – NIGHT

Victor Fries walks to a vending machine. He puts in a few coins and selects hot coffee with milk and sugar. The machine dispenses his drink, and Fries collects it. He takes a sip and smiles. Holding the drink, he returns to his lab.

INT. GOTHCORP LABS – NIGHT

Fries re-enters his lab and sees two men tampering with Nora’s chamber.

VICTOR FRIES:

You two! What do you think you’re doing?

The two men are slightly taken aback. They spin around and draw their weapons.

VICTOR FRIES:

Don’t shoot! You’ll damage the equipment!

THUG 1:

Exactly what the boss sent us to do.

Realisation dawns on Fries.

VICTOR FRIES:

Cobblepot.

One of the thugs disconnects Nora’s chamber from the wall while another holds Fries at gunpoint.

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VICTOR FRIES:

What are you doing?

THUG 2:

We’re taking your darling wife to...cold storage.

VICTOR FRIES:

No! You’re not taking Nora anywhere!

THUG 1:

I’m the one with the gun.

Victor splashes the still-hot coffee in the thug’s face. He screams as Victor tries to pry the gun from his hands. The gun goes off and punctures a pipe carrying Creon. A high-pressure jet of the super-coolant sprays out of the hole. The other thug quickly wheels Nora’s chamber away, trying to get out of the lab. Fries shoves Thug 1 against the chamber. He then takes the other thug and pushes his face against the hole in the pipe. He screams in pain as his face is frozen over by the Creon. Thug 1 gets up and pulls Fries away. He kicks Fries in the knee and pushes him into an empty chamber. Before Fries can fight back, the Thug seals the chamber with Fries inside.

VICTOR FRIES:

No!

The thug pushes a lever and the chamber fills with a liquid. The liquid quickly comes up to Fries’ nose. Fries panics. Soon, Fries is completely immersed in the liquid. He tries pushing up with his arms, but the chamber has been sealed. Another liquid is introduced into the mix, this one a light blue. The computer monitor shows the temperature drop drastically. Fries begins to lose consciousness. The last thing he sees is the evil grin on the thug, through the

38

Plexiglas window of the chamber. All that is audible is the “danger: alert” alarm from the computer.

INT. COLD ROOM – NIGHT

The Penguin has both Victor and Nora’s capsules in cold storage in the cold room. Victor is visible through the Plexiglas window in his capsule, unconscious. All of a sudden, he opens his eyes and yells. The scream is muffled by the thick glass.

The Penguin walks in, dressed in a luxurious fur coat.

PENGUIN:

It sure is chilly in here.

VICTOR FRIES:

Get me out!

PENGUIN:

Most certainly.

The Penguin opens the chamber. Most of Fries’ clothing has been frozen until they’ve disintegrated. Fries raises an arm to punch the Penguin in the face, but he stops short.

VICTOR FRIES:

My arm...my skin...what’s happened to me?

Fries’ skin is now a frosty pale bluish-white.

PENGUIN:

I’m not the expert, you tell me.

VICTOR FRIES:

You slimy little bastard...where is Nora?

39

PENGUIN:

I’d watch my language if I were you...

He points to the capsule next to Fries’. Fries sits up and stares at the capsule.

VICTOR FRIES:

Nora!

PENGUIN:

She’s fine, I made sure of it. But If you want her to stay that way, you’ll do everything I say.

VICTOR FRIES:

What in hell do you want?!

PENGUIN:

People in hell want ice water, But I simply want a few things taken care of. Hmm, could you

create, perhaps, a freezing ray gun of some kind? A flamethrower, but ice instead of fire? I’m sure you could.

VICTOR FRIES:

You’re insane. What would you want With something like that?

PENGUIN:

Oh, it will be you using it.

VICTOR FRIES:

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I would never hurt anyone with something I’ve created.

PENGUIN:

Tell that to Sherman, whose face now lies in a million pieces.

VICTOR FRIES:

Those men assaulted me!

PENGUIN:

Under my orders.

VICTOR FRIES:

What kind of monster are you, Cobblepot?

PENGUIN:

On the contrary, it is you who is the monster...Mr Freeze.

VICTOR FRIES:

My name is Dr. Victor Fries!

PENGUIN:

I will call you whatever the hell I want to call you!

VICTOR FRIES:

I can’t go outside like this.

PENGUIN:

That’s what my mother always told me.

41

VICTOR FRIES:

I need to build a...containment suit.

PENGUIN:

And that freeze ray gun, too.

VICTOR FRIES:

I will require a great deal of specialised equipment.

PENGUIN:

Say the word and you’ll get what you need. Just remember you owe everything to me.

VICTOR FRIES:

Give me some time to think...five minutes.

PENGUIN:

You have five seconds. Consider wisely...and quickly too.

Victor scowls.

PENGUIN:

You have a hot temper, for someonewith such a...low core temperature.

Victor rises from the chamber and is about to punch the Penguin when he lowers his fist.

VICTOR FRIES:

Fine. Give me a computer and I’ll make a list.

42

PENGUIN:

Already done, Fries.

INT. WAYNE MANOR GYM – DAY

Dick Grayson is working out with a punching bag in the gym. Alfred has prepared a glass of iced water for him. He takes a break, uses a towel to wipe off the perspiration on his forehead and takes a sip of the water. He then puts it back on the tray.

DICK GRAYSON:

Thanks Uncle Alfred.

ALFRED:

You’re welcome, Master Richard. That’s actually quite impressive. You remind me of when Master Bruce was first training to become the Batman.

DICK GRAYSON:

Do you think I could be like him, Alfred? Do you think I could be Batman one day?

Alfred smiles warmly.

ALFRED:

Taking on the mantle of the Batman is not all it’s made out to be,

but I have every confidence in you, young man.

DICK GRAYSON:

What do you mean, Uncle Alfred?

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ALFRED:

You’ll understand when the time comes.

Bruce Wayne walks in. Alfred is a little taken aback.

ALFRED:

Master Bruce!

BRUCE WAYNE:

How about we let him use the real gym, Alfred?

DICK GRAYSON:

The real gym? You mean this is not the real gym? It’s pretty sweet as

it is.

ALFRED:

Follow me, Master Richard.

INT. BATCAVE CAVELET – DAY

One part of the cave is a training area outfitted with different kinds of gym equipment including barbells, resistance training machines and cardiovascular training equipment, as well as several dummies to practise fighting moves on. To one side is a massive rock climbing wall, cut into the natural rock of the cavern. There are targets down a range, though it is not quite a shooting range. The punching bag is twice the size of the one in the Wayne Manor gym.

DICK GRAYSON:

Nice.

44

ALFRED:

You could say the gym upstairs, much like the Bruce Wayne persona,

is merely a decoy.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Let me try something.

Bruce takes a Batarang from a tray and hands it to Dick.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Dick, throw this and catch it when it comes back at you.

DICK GRAYSON:

Like a boomerang?

ALFRED:

Exactly.

DICK GRAYSON:

Okay, here goes...

Dick throws the Batarang and it flies in an elliptical path, returning to Dick. He catches it between two open palms. Bruce smiles approvingly.

BRUCE WAYNE:

That’s actually not bad!

DICK GRAYSON:

Uh...thanks.

45

BRUCE WAYNE:

Let’s go over to the range.

DICK GRAYSON:

A shooting range?

ALFRED:

Not quite. Master Bruce has an...aversion to guns.

BRUCE WAYNE:

And killing in general.

DICK GRAYSON:

You mean, Batman doesn’t kill?

ALFRED:

Yes, but many of his enemies don’t know that.

They reach the range. Down the range are more dummies. Batman picks up a smaller Batarang and passes it to Dick.

DICK GRAYSON:

I’m assuming I don’t aim for the head.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Let’s try...upper right forearm. If the assailant is armed, this could make him drop his weapon.

46

ALFRED:

This variety is more like a shuriken than a boomerang.

Dick inspects the razor-sharp edge of the throwing weapon.

DICK GRAYSON:

Good to know.

Dick takes a moment to aim the Batarang. He throws it and it embeds itself in the right forearm of the dummy down the range.

ALFRED:

I think he’s about ready, Master Bruce.

DICK GRAYSON:

Ready for what?

BRUCE WAYNE:

To begin your training.

Dick’s eyes widen.

DICK GRAYSON:

Wait...so does this mean I get to be a...sidekick?

BRUCE WAYNE:

To work alongside me, yes. A partner.

ALFRED:

You will see the world for what it is, and little by little, change it.

47

BRUCE WAYNE:

You have skills that, if honed properly, can be put to great use in the field.

DICK GRAYSON:

I get to be Batman’s kid sidekick?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Only when you complete your training.

DICK GRAYSON:

Do I get to come up with a moniker? A name?

ALFRED:

I suppose it’s only fair...Master Bruce chose “Batman” himself.

DICK GRAYSON:

How about “Robin”? It’s a family name.

BRUCE WAYNE:

“Batman and Robin”...sounds like a bad movie.

DICK GRAYSON:

It was the last thing my mother called me...before she died.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’m sorry.

48

ALFRED:

Robin it is, then.

Batman and the newly-minted Robin shake hands as Alfred looks on.

INT. BATCAVE GYM – DAY

Bruce and Dick are sparring in a boxing ring as Alfred looks on, holding towels.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Good, but it’s not always about striking first.

DICK GRAYSON:

Huh?

While Dick is taken off-guard, Bruce throws a punch.

DICK GRAYSON:

Hey!

BRUCE WAYNE:

It’s about striking last.

INT. BATCAVE BATARANG RANGE – DAY

Bruce and Dick are standing at one end of the range, with the dummies at the other. Bruce hands Dick a few of the smaller Batarangs.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Throw them in quick succession. Hit the target at the center.

49

DICK GRAYSON:

Shouldn’t be too hard.

Alfred pushes a button. The dummies begin to move sideways.

ALFRED:

Come again, Master Richard?

Dick scowls. Bruce smiles. Dick flings the Batarangs at the targets, but only one hits the target square in the center. Dick beams, proud of himself. Bruce picks up a Batarang and flings it at the same dummy, hitting the target and dislodging Dick’s Batarang.

DICK GRAYSON:

Hey!

Bruce Wayne shrugs.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Not too bad...for a first time.

INT. BATCAVE STUDY

Dick is sitting at the study doing his homework. Bruce places a large pile of thick books on the table.

DICK GRAYSON:

What am I supposed to do with all this?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Read it.

50

DICK GRAYSON:

All of it?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Yes. All of it.

DICK GRAYSON:

Hoo boy.

INT. BATCAVE CRIME LAB – NIGHT

The crime lab is more sophisticated than that of any police department. It is outfitted with a mass spectrometer, gas chromatograph, portable X-ray, cyanoacrylate fuming chamber and other forensics equipment.

BRUCE WAYNE:

You need to learn how to analyse and derive information from DNA samples.

DICK GRAYSON:

Like from dried blood?

BRUCE WAYNE:

Blood, epithelials, saliva and so on.

Bruce passes Dick an evidence bag containing a used band-aid.

DICK GRAYSON:

Is that thing...used?

BRUCE WAYNE:

How are you going to collect DNA samples from a clean band-aid?

51

DICK GRAYSON:

Ugh, good point.

Bruce teaches Dick how to prepare the band-aid for DNA sampling. Dick runs the sample through the database.

DICK GRAYSON:

Hey, isn’t this that singer... How did you...

Bruce smiles conspiratorially and raises a finger to his lips.

INT. BATCAVE CRIME LAB – NIGHT

It is another day (Bruce and Dick are in different clothes) and Bruce puts a handbag and several bags of grocery shopping on the crime lab table.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Scenario. Our victim is mugged outside the grocery store. The muggers take her

purse but leave her bag and the shopping. victim is unconscious in the hospital and

can’t tell you anything about the attackers.

DICK GRAYSON:

Let’s see...

Dick puts on a pair of surgical gloves and goes through the handbag’s contents. He takes out several everyday items, including a small makeup kit, a pack of moist paper towels, a bottle of hand sanitizer and other things. The last item is a pacifier.

52

DICK GRAYSON:

She has a baby.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Go on.

Dick goes through the grocery shopping and pulls out a jar of baby food.

DICK GRAYSON:

That confirms it.

BRUCE WAYNE:

You’re half right.

DICK GRAYSON:

What? Half?

BRUCE WAYNE:

She has another child.

From one of the inner pockets of the handbag, Bruce pulls out a small cartridge for a portable video game player. The cartridge reads “Maze of the Minotaur”.

DICK GRAYSON:

How did I miss that?

BRUCE WAYNE:

You didn’t know what to look for.

INT. BATCAVE GYM – DAY

Both Dick and Bruce are scaling the rock climbing wall. Bruce is a good deal ahead of Dick.

53

BRUCE WAYNE: You’re falling behind, Dick.

DICK GRAYSON:

I’ve had days of training, not years!

ALFRED:

Would you like me to switch on the falling boulders, Sir?

DICK GRAYSON: What?!

BRUCE WAYNE:

Alfred’s just kidding, Dick.

ALFRED:

Master Bruce only spends money on important things. Now, where did I put that first edition of Alice in Wonderland?

BRUCE WAYNE:

I needed that to solve a case, Alfred!

Bruce reaches the top of the wall and rings the bell.

DICK GRAYSON:

Yeah yeah, you win. Again.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Soon, you’ll be able to climb this faster than I ever could.

54

INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

Bruce and Dick stand before a closed door.

DICK GRAYSON:

The forbidden room of doom!

Bruce Wayne keys in a code and the door to the armoury opens.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’ve saved the best for last. In you go.

INT. BATCAVE ARMOURY – NIGHT

The armoury is a small room with several large drawers to one side and an arsenal of specialised gadgets hanging on the wall.

DICK GRAYSON:

Wow. Now this...this is something.

Bruce picks up his utility belt.

BRUCE WAYNE:

This is my utility belt. It’s the second most important thing when I’m out in the field.

DICK GRAYSON:

And the first?

Bruce points to his head. Dick nods. Bruce hands Dick the utility belt.

55

DICK GRAYSON:

It’s actually kinda light.

BRUCE WAYNE:

This is a reinforced military web belt, Modified to suit my purposes. The compartments

are crushproof and removable like so.

Bruce detaches a compartment and opens it. He produces a foldable Batarang.

BRUCE WAYNE:

You’re already familiar with these. Bruce takes a grapnel gun off the rack.

BRUCE WAYNE:

This is a...

DICK GRAYSON:

A grapnel gun!

BRUCE WAYNE:

Yes. Calibrated for 350 pounds, 25 feet of high-tensile cable.

Bruce points to several items on the wall.

BRUCE WAYNE:

De-cel jumpline. Micro digital camera. Medkit-contains epinephrine auto-injectors

and antibiotics. Gas capsules. Infra-red flashlight. Fiber-optic cable. Remote control for the Batmobile.

56

DICK GRAYSON:

Wow, wow and wow.

INT. BATSUIT WARDROBE – NIGHT

Several Batsuits of different designs and functions hang in the large walk-in wardrobe. Alfred, Dick and Bruce are gathered around a table in the centre of the room

BRUCE WAYNE:

Your initial training has been completed.

ALFRED:

We’re very proud of you, Master Richard.

BRUCE WAYNE:

As a reward, we’ve prepared a little surprise for you.

Alfred pulls out an attaché case from under the table.

ALFRED:

Open it, Master Richard.

DICK GRAYSON:

Thanks Uncle Alfred.

Dick opens the case. Inside is the costume Dick will don every night as ROBIN. It is sewn from flexible titanium silk thread. The suit is a muted dark green and red.

DICK GRAYSON:

Oh my god, this is fantastic!

57

BRUCE WAYNE:

Try it on.

INT. WEAPONS DEPOT – NIGHT

Several guards are seated around a metal table in a cold, sparse, gunmetal-grey room. Behind them is a sealed metal door. Two more guards stand in front of the door. The guards at the table are visibly bored and are playing poker and drinking coffee.

GUARD 1:

Okay, shift change.

The guard leaves the door and walks towards the table.

GUARD 2:

Already? Damn. And here I had a full house. Aces full’a Eights.

Guard 2 leaves the table and walks towards the door.

All of a sudden, the far wall freezes over and shatters. A cloud of dust and icy cold mist forms. A large, heavy figure walks through the mist. It is Victor Fries in his containment suit. He has become MR FREEZE. The containment suit is bulky and metallic and insulates him from the outside world. It is topped with something akin to an astronaut’s helmet. Over his mouth is a voice transmitter. Through the glass, we can see Fries wearing red-tinted goggles. He is wielding the ice cannon that the Penguin wanted him to build. It is a large and intimidating weapon, with a tube connecting it to two tanks of Creon on the back of Freeze’s suit. The guards panic and fumble as they reach for their weapons.

MR FREEZE:

Forgive me.

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He turns the weapon on each of the guards. A violent vortex of highly-concentrated liquid Creon spews from the ice cannon. We see a close-up of how the Creon ice cannon works: Once the Creon hits its target, it supercools the ambient moisture, encasing each guard completely in ice. The process is quick, but by no means merciful. The guards’ pained expression are visible behind the ice.

MR FREEZE:

I am only acting under orders.

Freeze gestures for a small army of henchmen to enter. There are at least eight; each identically dressed in heavy winter gear, consisting mainly of a heavy hooded parka. Each henchman wears a large mask that obscures his face. Freeze waves them through the shattered wall. He steps over to the sealed door. There is an electronic keypad next to it. Freeze looks at the keypad for a second. Then he uses the ice cannon to freeze the door over. He kicks it forcefully and it breaks apart, letting him through.

Freeze faces a long corridor, with a large vault door at the end. He steps forward. All of a sudden, nozzles in the ceiling spray a yellow-coloured gas into the corridor. The henchmen do not enter. Freeze turns to them. Then, he freezes over the nozzles with the ice cannon. The henchmen then proceed down the corridor. Freeze leads them forward as they march down the corridor. The mist from the ice cannon reveals a hint of a laser detection beam. Freeze ignores it and proceeds forward. Sirens wail and the corridor is bathed in a red light. Freeze stops a few feet away from the vault door. There is an “invisible” glass wall that if shattered will trigger a lockdown. Freeze presses his hand against the wall. Then, he freezes it over. He touches the frozen glass with one finger, and it shatters. A large metal grate comes down, sealing the corridor with Freeze and the henchmen inside it. The henchmen turn to each other. Freeze proceeds forward.

They finally reach the vault door. Freeze takes a moment to survey it. He then takes the ice cannon and freezes over the hinges. The metal cannot take the low temperature and cracks. He does the same to the lock, and then punches it. It

59

shatters. He carries the vault door and places it to one side. Pneumatic actuators in his containment suit give him superhuman strength.

The mist from the ice cannon clears, and the contents of the vault are revealed. Racks upon racks of futuristic assault rifles fill the vault. To one side are containers of ammunition.

MR FREEZE:

Guns. They make the world go round.

He motions for the henchmen to enter. They place the weapons in large canvas bags, which are in turn placed on carts to be wheeled out of the depot. The metal grate at the entrance of the corridor lifts, and several SWAT policemen run into the corridor, their weapons at the ready.

SWAT 1:

Freeze!

Mr Freeze laughs bitterly before turning the ice cannon on them. One of them screams, but before long the scream is frozen in his throat.

INT. GOTHAM ALLEYWAY – NIGHT

The alleyway is dirty, dank and misty. Several thugs are harassing a young woman.

THUG 1:

Ain’t it past your bedtime, girl?

WOMAN:

Let go of me! Help! Help!

THUG 2:

Save it honey, nobody’s coming

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for you in this part of town.

All of a sudden, Batman swoops down and kicks Thug 2 in the back of the head. A few of the thugs run away, but most hold their ground. Batman turns to the young woman.

BATMAN:

Run. Head for the main street!

The young woman nods and runs off. The thugs engage Batman in a down and dirty fight. They are armed with a variety of makeshift weapons. Batman strikes one thug in the back of the neck using his elbow. Another thug draws a knife, but it barely makes a scratch on Batman’s titanium-thread Batsuit. Batman takes out the thug with a punch to the face.

All are taken care of except one thug. He pulls out a pistol. Batman grapples with him. The gun is inches away from Batman’s face. The thug is as strong as Batman and is the first real challenge he has faced that night. Batman tries to pry the gun from his hand, but it is not working. All of a sudden, the thug cries out in pain.

Embedded in his hand is a Batarang-except the design is altered slightly and is a dark green and red in colour. The cracking of bones is audible as the thug’s knees buckle and he falls to the ground. Standing behind him is Robin, wielding a metal bo staff. Robin strikes a dramatic figure in full costume, completed with a domino mask and a dark yellow cape shorter than Batman’s.

BATMAN:

Good work...Robin.

ROBIN:

No sweat. Now how’s that for the first night of patrol?

61

BATMAN:

Not bad at all...hold on...

Batman presses a finger to his ear.

BATMAN:

Something on the police scanner about an...unusual break-in at the Weapons depot on Finger and Fifth.

ROBIN:

Unusual how?

BATMAN:

We’ll see.

INT. WEAPONS DEPOT – NIGHT

Batman and Robin enter to see everything completely frozen over-including the guards and policemen. Batman turns to one of the policemen at the scene.

ROBIN:

Everything’s...frozen over!

BATMAN:

An astute observation.

Batman inspects the victims.

BATMAN:

There’s a window of 40-70 minutesDuring which you can warm them up-

Before they develop severe tissue damage.

62

ROBIN:

Someone who is flash-frozen or completely encased in ice stands a better chance

of survival than someone partially frozen.

Batman reaches into his utility belt and takes out a small device. He sticks it onto the ice encasing a guard, and activates the device. It emits a heat wave that quickly melts through the ice. The ice also begins to crack, large chunks falling away. The policeman catches the guard after he is thawed out.

BATMAN:

Immerse him in warm water and revive him.

Batman hands the policeman the device.

BATMAN:

Use this on the others.

The policeman nods. Batman uses a dropper to collect some of the water from the ice he has just melted and places it in a tiny specimen bottle. Robin looks on.

BATMAN:

We’ll analyze this later.

INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

Batman and Robin are seated at the Batcomputer, both still in their outfits but without the cowl/mask. On the main monitor of the Batcomputer is security camera footage of Freeze’s entrance. Freeze breaks through the wall and uses the ice cannon on the guards. The security camera fizzes out before Freeze reaches the door. The footage then restarts. Batman pauses the footage, zooms in on Freeze’s face and increases the resolution. The angle is adequate but not ideal. It is the only good image of Freeze anyone has.

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ROBIN:

That is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen.

BATMAN:

Believe me, there’s a lot more that’s worse than this. In this line of work, the bizarre becomes the everyday.

ROBIN:

Run that through face recognition?

BATMAN:

Doing so as we speak.

A face recognition software tracks the contours and features of Freeze’s face behind the helmet, and compares it with a database of face shots. The software finally matches it to the face of Dr Victor Fries, stating there is a “99.35% match”.

ROBIN:

Dr. Victor Fries...

BATMAN:

He was in the papers about a week ago...

A newspaper article appears on the screen with the headline “SCIENTIST DISAPPEARS”, accompanied by a photograph of Fries.

ROBIN:

And guess what this guy’s specialization is.

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BATMAN:

Cryogenics and cryonics.

Batman pulls up another window which shows a molecular model.

BATMAN:

This is the analysis of the waterFrom the ice encasing the guards.

It is comprised mainly of a supercoolant Called Creon.

ROBIN:

A Victor Fries invention?

BATMAN:

He won the Gotham Innovation Award for inventing it.

ROBIN:

So this scientist guy...weaponises a supercoolant and uses it in a ray gun? Why?

BATMAN:

He’s not doing this on his own accord.

ROBIN:

So we’re going to hunt this Guy down and ask him who He’s working for?

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BATMAN:

We have to investigate further. Starting with Gothcorp labs.

ROBIN:

If we know what Fries was workingon last, we’ll know who’s actually

behind this.

INT. PENGUIN’S OFFICE – NIGHT

The Penguin is seated behind the oak desk in his office and eating sushi off a gold platter while being tended to by the hostesses. The door to his office opens and a white mist enters the room. Mr Freeze steps in from behind the white mist, wielding the ice cannon. He points it at the Penguin. The Penguin is a little taken aback. Then he turns the cannon on the plate of sushi.

MR FREEZE:

The Creon...keeps it fresh.

PENGUIN:

Ah, Fries. Do you have the...

Freeze raises a hand, then uses the hand to wave through a henchman. He is holding one of the stolen assault rifles. The henchman hands the gun to the Penguin. The Penguin turns the rifle on Freeze.

PENGUIN:

Freeze!

He then bursts into laughter. Mr Freeze is emotionless.

PENGUIN:

It was just a joke, Freeze. Why must

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PENGUIN (CONT.):

You always be so...cold?

MR FREEZE:

You made me that way.

PENGUIN:

Now now, let’s not hold grudges, It’s bad for your system. Speaking of your system...

The Penguin shows Freeze a remote control.

PENGUIN:

Do you know what this is?

MR FREEZE:

No.

PENGUIN:

Would you like to see what it does?

MR FREEZE:

I...

The Penguin disallows Freeze to finish and pushes the button anyway. Once he does, Freeze drops the ice cannon, gasps for air and begins to crumble to the ground. The Penguin has turned off his life support. The Penguin smiles and pushes the button again. The suit is turned back on.

PENGUIN:

Try anything funny again, and bye bye life support.

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MR FREEZE:

What have you...I’m not some dog on a leash, Cobblepot!

PENGUIN:

Think of it more as a...a falcon and the falconer.

INT. GOTHCORP LABS – NIGHT

Batman and Robin are investigating the disappearance of Victor Fries in his lab. The lab is mostly empty. Batman draws Robin’s attention to marks on the floor.

BATMAN:

Something heavy was wheeled out of here.

Using a laser measuring device, Batman calculates the distance between the two parallel marks.

BATMAN:

Check the storeroom.

Batman and Robin go to a door in the corner of the lab and open it. There is a metallic cart with wheels on the bottom. Batman measures the distance between the two wheels. It is the same as the distance between the marks on the floor. There is a partially disassembled cryogenic preservation chamber leaning against the wall.

ROBIN:

That thing, is that some kind of preservation capsule?

BATMAN:

They wheeled one of those out of here.

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ROBIN:

Two of those.

BATMAN:

What?

Robin smiles, happy that he has spotted something Batman missed. Robin leads Batman back into the main room of the lab. Robin sprays something from an aerosol can onto the floor. It causes traces of another set of identical tracks to show up.

ROBIN:

They only managed to clean up one set of tracks.

BATMAN:

Nice work.

ROBIN:

So Victor Fries was in one containment chamber. Who was in the other?

Batman pulls out a handheld computer from his utility belt, switches it on and shows Robin a bio page of Fries.

ROBIN:

He’s married...any info on the wife?

Batman taps the screen of the handheld computer.

BATMAN:

Her medical records.

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ROBIN:

Wood-Moldoff Syndrome...a kind of haemolytic anaemia. An incurable blood disease.

BATMAN:

Victor Fries put her in cryo-stasisTo sustain her while he looked for

a cure...

ROBIN:

He’d need money.

BATMAN:

And he must’ve borrowed it from the wrong guy.

INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT

Batman and Robin are seated at the Batcomputer. Batman turns to Robin.

BATMAN:

There’s something about your parents’ murder that you need to know. I think now is the time to tell you.

ROBIN:

What? My parents...I thought that guy killed them! The Zucco guy!

BATMAN:

Zucco merely carried out the act. He was acting under orders.

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ROBIN:

What!? From who?

Alfred enters.

ALFRED:

Master Richard, Master Bruce is merely trying to provide closure, not fuel

your adolescent rage.

ROBIN:

My parents were murdered, Alfred.

ALFRED:

And so were Master Bruce’s.

Robin falls silent.

BATMAN:

And now I will tell you whoordered the death of your parents.

Batman pulls up a photograph of the Penguin. A ghost of a smile appears on Robin’s face.

ROBIN:

This is the guy? He looks like... a penguin.

ALFRED:

You wouldn’t be the first to say that... or the last.

BATMAN:

Don’t let appearances deceive you.

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He’s a ruthless and highly dangerous criminal...

ALFRED:

Who’s more than a little eccentric.

ROBIN:

Are we going to get him?

BATMAN:

I’m going to take care of this one myself.

ROBIN:

You’re scared that I’ll lose control. I’ve proven myself; I can handle it.

BATMAN: Alright. I’ll need cover.

ROBIN:

Are we going to crash in through the windows or something?

BATMAN:

I’m going in undercover, in disguise.

ROBIN:

Where are you going anyway?

BATMAN:

To buy some guns.

EXT. COLD OCEAN BAR – DUSK

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The Cold Ocean Bar is located in a seedy, smoky part of town. A taxi pulls up and a man exits. This is MATCHES MALONE, really Bruce Wayne in disguise. Bruce is unrecognisable in a matted sandy blonde wig, sunglasses, a moustache and a cheap light blue suit with a striped tie. A burly bouncer lets Matches through.

INT. COLD OCEAN BAR – DUSK

Matches enters and heads straight for a door at the back. It is guarded by a security man in a dark suit.

SECURITY MAN:

Name?

Matches speaks in a nasal New Jersey accent.

MATCHES MALONE:

Malone.

SECURITY MAN:

Invite?

Matches fishes in his breast pocket and pulls out an invitation card. The Security Man inspects it and waves Matches through. Matches nods his thanks and enters. Behind the door is a flight of stairs. Matches descends the stairs and arrives in the basement.

INT. COLD OCEAN BAR BASEMENT – DUSK

The basement of the Cold Ocean Bar has been set up as a makeshift auction house. Rows of plastic chairs face a small platform. Several guests at the auction have already taken their seats. Some are mingling at the back and sipping cocktails. Matches takes his seat. A bell rings and everyone sits down. The auction has begun.

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The Penguin arrives onstage.

PENGUIN:

Thank you all for taking precious time out of your schedules to be here this evening. I promise you, the winner at least, that it will be well worth it.

The Penguin motions to two henchmen who bring a glass case covered by a cloth onstage. The Penguin dramatically pulls back the cloth to reveal what is inside the case: one of the stolen assault rifles. Murmurs are audible from the crowd gathered.

PENGUIN:

I give you the Kane 650E Heavy Assault Rifle. The winner of this auction will receive a cache of 20 of these weapons,

enough to arm a private security detail... or start a war in an already-volatile

third-world country-you reap the spoils, of course. May I commence at $30 000?

Someone raises his hand to bid.

PENGUIN:

Do I hear $31 000?

Matches raises his hand.

PENGUIN:

$32 000 then.

More people bid, but each time someone offers a new price, Matches outbids it. The price increases by $1000 each time. The other bidders begin to notice Matches, who shrugs and continues bidding. The Penguin grows concerned. He motions

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for one of his henchmen to come onstage and whispers into his ear.

PENGUIN:

Who is this guy? He’s ruining everything! Did I even invite him?

HENCHMAN:

You did, boss. He’s Matches Malone, medium-level enforcer.

PENGUIN:

What does a small-timer like him want with all these guns?

HENCHMAN:

Maybe he’s bidding for his boss?

PENGUIN:

And who’s that?

The henchman whispers the name. It is inaudible.

PENGUIN:

Oh. Keep an eye on him anyway.

HENCHMAN:

You got it, boss.

Matches continues to attempt to outbid his rivals. The henchman watches him closely. The other bidders begin to get frustrated and restless. Penguin stops the auction and signals for some guards to take Matches away. The guards proceed towards Matches, who looks worried.

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MATCHES MALONE:

I’m just bidding, I can pay up I swear!

All of a sudden, the room fills with a noxious smoke. The bidders are taken aback and begin to choke. The Penguin looks alarmed and quickly exits to the back. Meanwhile, his henchmen choke and fall unconscious. Matches fishes into his pocket and takes out a small cigar-shaped rebreather, breathing from it and keeping his eyes shut. The smoke fills the room, and Matches disappears.

Robin swoops down into the room, taking out a few of the still-awake bidders with Batarangs. The Penguin reappears onstage wearing a gas mask. He smashes the case and pulls out the assault rifle. He is unfamiliar with the weapon and struggles to load it, but once he does, he turns it on Robin and fires. The gun is extremely powerful but is easy to control and very accurate. Robin disappears behind the remaining smoke and Penguin momentarily loses him, unable to gun down the young crime-fighter.

A flash of heavy black fabric appears. Penguin fires at it. The bullets rip through the fabric, which is revealed to be Batman’s cape. Batman suddenly appears behind the Penguin, but the Penguin turns around just in time. Batman and Penguin grapple, as the assault rifle unleashes a torrent of bullets through the ceiling. The bullets rip through the floor of the bar above, alarming customers and the bartender, who quickly exit.

The Penguin elbows Batman in the jaw. Batman momentarily releases his grip on the Penguin who steps backwards and falls through a trapdoor. The trapdoor closes. He has escaped. Robin runs onto the stage.

ROBIN:

Where’s the Penguin? Did you get him?

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BATMAN:

He...got away.

ROBIN:

You never let anyone get away! You were afraid I’d get to him!

BATMAN:

Listen, you were supposed to wait for the signal. You attacked early!

ROBIN:

I was trying to help you! You were going to be attacked! The Penguin almost killed me with that Kane gun!

BATMAN:

We can still get him. I think I know where he went.

EXT. GOTHAM HARBOUR – NIGHT

The Yellowtail is docked at Gotham Harbour. A limousine pulls up near the yacht. The Penguin hurries out and climbs into the yacht, yelling at a henchman as he does so

PENGUIN:

Tell the captain or driver or whatever to raise anchor now! Once the Penguin and his men enter the yacht, the boarding ramp folds up and the anchor is reeled in. The yacht begins to leave the harbour.

EXT. GOTHAM HARBOUR – NIGHT

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Some distance away from the Yellowtail yacht, something begins to rise out of the murky greenish harbour water. A sleek, matte-black craft punches through the surface. This is the Batboat, Batman’s main means of transportation on and under the water.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

Batman is at the controls of the Batboat, with Robin seated behind him.

ROBIN:

Now that was cool, almost cooler than the car. Almost.

Batman pushes a button of the dashboard. The windscreen then becomes a heads-up display, showing coordinates and other annotated information. The display highlights the Yellowtail.

BATMAN:

That is Cobblepot’s yacht.

ROBIN:

It’s moving out; he knows we’re after him.

INT. YELLOWTAIL – NIGHT

The Penguin storms out of his stateroom.

PENGUIN:

I can’t stay on this boat, he’ll find me! Him and that idiot kid sidekick! Get me... backup. And I’m using the sub.

The Penguin’s henchman, who is walking alongside him, speaks into a walkie-talkie

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HENCHMAN:

Ready the sub.

INT. SUBMERSIBLE BAY– NIGHT

The Penguin enters the submersible bay, a small room with a tiny one-man submersible painted black and white suspended over a miniature moon pool. The submersible is lowered into the water, and the Penguin is helped inside. Once the Penguin has sealed himself into the submersible, it is dropped into the water.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

A blip appears on the heads-up display, showing a smaller object originating from the Yellowtail yacht.

ROBIN:

They jettisoned something.

BATMAN:

Penguin’s personal escape sub. We’re going to submerge.

Batman flips a switch on the dashboard and the ballast tanks fill with water. The Batboat disappears back below the surface.

EXT. GOTHAM HARBOUR – UNDERWATER – NIGHT

The water is as murky below as seen from the surface. Visibility is dangerously low. The Batboat’s headlights activate, the xenon beams penetrating the brackish ocean.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

Robin looks out the windscreen as Batman adjusts the controls.

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ROBIN:

Actually, I can’t see a thing.

BATMAN:

Visibility is terrible, but we haveBATMAN (CONT.):

...sonar to see for us.

ROBIN:

Just like a bat.

BATMAN:

Exactly.

Batman locks on to the Penguin’s sub, which is barely visible and a good distance in front of the Batboat.

BATMAN:

Locking on...

ROBIN:

Fire one!

Batman flips up a cap on the joystick that steers the Batboat and pushes down on the button.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

Two missiles exit from concealed launchers. The missiles leave a stream of bubbles in their wake.

EXT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE - NIGHT

The Penguin steers his submersible to narrowly avoid the missiles.

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INT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE – NIGHT

PENGUIN:

One thing about penguins... they can seem ungainly on land, but underwater...another story!

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

Missed!

BATMAN:

Not...exactly.

EXT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE – NIGHT

The two missiles collide into each other some distance in front of the Penguin’s submersible. There is a small explosion, and a wave emanates from the destroyed missiles. The wave hits the Penguin’s submersible. All of a sudden, the engines stall.

INT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE – NIGHT

The dashboard and interior lights in the submersible go dark.

PENGUIN: What?!

EXT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE – NIGHT

Crippled, the submersible floats dead in the water.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

Was that like...an EMP or something?

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BATMAN:

Yes, with a three metre radius so we’re not affected.

Batman speaks into a radio handset.

BATMAN:

Gotham Coast Guard?

COAST GUARD OFFICER (OVER RADIO):

Yes, this is the Gotham Coast Guard.

BATMAN:

There’s something for you to pick up. I’m sending the coordinates.

Batman puts down the radio.

BATMAN:

We’re done. Let’s head up.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

The ballast tanks empty and the Batboat heads for the surface, breaking through the water line. The Batboat speeds away, winding in-between the various ships docked at the harbour, all of a sudden, a figure standing in the middle of the ocean appears.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

Who’s that?!

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BATMAN:

What floats on water?

ROBIN:

Uhhh...styrofoam? Oil? Rubber duckies?

BATMAN:

Ice.

EXT. GOTHAM HARBOUR – NIGHT

Mr Freeze is standing on a small platform made of ice, floating in the middle of the harbour waters. He raises his ice cannon and creates a solid wall of ice in front of him.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

The wall of ice is visible through the windscreen and the boat is fast approaching it.

ROBIN:

Stop! You’ll hit it!

Instead, Batman pushes the Batboat faster.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

The Batboat crashes at full speed through the wall of ice. However, Mr Freeze is nowhere to be found.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

Huh? Where’d he go?

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

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Mr Freeze is on the back of the Batboat. He struggles to climb onto the roof above the boat’s cockpit. He aims the ice cannon down and freezes over the top of the roof to weaken it. Then, he tries to smash through with his fist.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

The knocking is audible.

ROBIN:

Uh...someone’s a-knocking.

BATMAN:

Brace yourself.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

Batman launches the boat out of the water. It does a spin in the air, during which Mr Freeze falls off. The Batboat then lands back in the water, creating a large splash.

INT. BATBOAT - NIGHT

ROBIN:

Let’s...let’s not do that again.

BATMAN:

We’ve dropped him, but we haven’t lost him.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

A pillar of ice about ten feet high shoots up from the water, with Mr Freeze standing atop it. Looking down, he aims the ice cannon at the Batboat, but the watercraft avoids the ice cannon rays.

Finally, Freeze hit his target. The Batboat is quickly encased in and surrounded by ice, unable to move forward on its own.

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MR FREEZE:

My quarrel is not with you, Batman.

Mr Freeze creates a ramp with the ice cannon which he walks down. Then, he freezes the water in front of him to create a path back to land, walking briskly and creating more of the path as he walks.

INT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

He got us! He actually got us!

BATMAN:

Brace yourself.

ROBIN:

What?! Again?!

Batman pulls up a lever on the floor next to him.

EXT. BATBOAT – NIGHT

The cockpit ejects out of the Batboat chassis, leaving the rest of the boat frozen in the water. The cockpit flies twenty or so feet into the air, and then lands in the water some distance away from the chassis as floats form around the base.

INT. EJECTED BATBOAT COCKPIT – NIGHT

ROBIN:

Let’s not do that one again either.

The windscreen is caked in a thick layer of ice.

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BATMAN:

This won’t do.

He presses another button and the windscreen jettisons, falling into the water. What’s left resembles a small speedboat.

ROBIN:

How about what’s left of the Batboat? Won’t they trace it back to you?

Batman does not reply. Instead he presses a button on the dashboard and sets off a sizeable explosion, engulfing the empty chassis in white flames that melt away the ice and destroy the shell of the Batboat.

ROBIN:

I didn’t mean blow it up.

BATMAN:

In this line of work, one must learn to... sacrifice.

ROBIN:

And one must have lots of money, too.

BATMAN:

It helps.

Batman steers the ejected Batboat cockpit back to the docks. On their way, they pass a coast guard boat with a large crane attached to the back. Hanging from the crane and floating on the surface of the water is Penguin’s submersible, which has just been retrieved. Batman pulls up next to the coast guard boat.

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BATMAN:

Open the hatch.

COAST GUARD OFFICER:

We’re on it.

A diver who is already in the water climbs onto the submersible and opens the hatch.

INT. PENGUIN’S SUBMERSIBLE – NIGHT

The submersible is empty apart from the frogman staring into it.

DIVER:

It’s empty!

ROBIN:

He’s escaped! Where would he be now?!

BATMAN:

The last place he thinks we’ll look. (Turns to Coast Guard officer) Thanks.

INT. PENGUIN’S OFFICE – NIGHT

The Penguin sits nervously behind the desk in his office, soaking wet and dabbing at his forehead with a towel. He tries to reassure himself.

PENGUIN:

This is the last place they’ll look.

Several bodyguards, a few more than usual, stand guarding the Penguin. They all nod in agreement.

EXT. ROOFTOP – NIGHT

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Batman and Robin are perched on a rooftop opposite the Iceberg Lounge, surveying the lounge using two pairs of long-range binoculars.

ROBIN:

So we crash in through the skylight?BATMAN:

No. We need a subtler approach for this one.

ROBIN:

Subtler?

EXT. ICEBERG LOUNGE ENTRANCE – NIGHT

Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson have joined the queue to enter the nightclub. It is not too long, and it is soon their turn. They are stopped by a burly bouncer.

BOUNCER:

I’m sorry, no entry.

BRUCE WAYNE:

I’m afraid you misunderstand, I’m Bruce Wayne!

BOUNCER:

I know who you are Mr Wayne, but I’m afraid there’s no entry for children under 18.

DICK GRAYSON:

But I want to see the seals!

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BRUCE WAYNE:

And the penguins.

DICK GRAYSON:

And the penguins!

BRUCE WAYNE:

Anyway, isn’t this the Iceberg Lounge AND Restaurant?

BOUNCER:

Uh...uh...

BRUCE WAYNE:

What sort of business invests so much in an arctic-themed restaurant and doesn’t open it to kids?

The bouncer opens his palm. Dick looks at Bruce pleadingly.

BRUCE WAYNE:

Okay, okay.

He hurriedly pulls out several twenty dollar notes and stuffs them into the bouncers open hand. The bouncer smiles.

BOUNCER:

Right this way.

INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE – NIGHT

Bruce and Dick enter the Iceberg Lounge. Dick takes in the lush kitsch of the lounge’s decor.

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DICK GRAYSON:

Wow, this really is something.

BRUCE WAYNE:

What it really is is a front for half the criminal activity in Gotham.

DICK GRAYSON:

Shh! Not so loud.

Bruce Wayne produces a handheld computer and casually taps at it, as if showing Dick a new game. On the screen are the schematics of the Iceberg Lounge. He taps at it with a stylus.

BRUCE WAYNE:

These are the schematics for the Iceberg Lounge. The lounge and restaurant

Takes up two storeys. Now the Penguin Will be in his panic room, which will be

Attached to his office...here.

INT. PENGUIN’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Batman and Robin burst through the door. They are met with four guards in suits, wielding handguns. After some trouble and a few discharged shots, they dispatch the goons. The chair is turned around, its back facing them. Batman cautions for Robin to wait, but Robin runs behind the desk and spins the chair around. As expected, it is empty.

ROBIN:

He’s not here! And there doesn’t appear to be any panic room attached to this office.

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BATMAN:

Schematics are often altered to conceal sensitive or secret rooms.

Batman looks around the room, tapping at the walls. They all sound solid. All of a sudden, the Penguin’s chair slides back, alarming Robin. The Penguin pops out of the revealed secret compartment. He is wielding one of his trick umbrellas.

ROBIN:

An umbrella? Seriously?

PENGUIN:

Don’t mock me, boy.

The Penguin pushes a button of the wooden handle, and a sharp medium-length blade emerges from the tip of the umbrella. Penguin begins to dodge and parry, as if the umbrella were an epee. Robin retrieves a short stick hanging from his utility belt. It extends into his bo staff. Batman joins the fight, trying to protect Robin.

The scuffle continues across and out of the office, and into the lift.

INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE PRIVATE LIFT – NIGHT

Elevator music plays in the lift, which is large enough for a three-way fight to take place, as Batman, Robin and the Penguin continue to melee.

INT. PRIVATE LIFT LOBBY – NIGHT

Batman, Robin and the Penguin exit the lift and continue fighting through the lift lobby. The Penguin exchanges his umbrella for another one hanging in the lobby. Batman throws a pellet against the wall as he and Robin run out of the lobby while the Penguin retrieves the other umbrella. The

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pellet releases thick smoke. The Penguin opens the umbrella, shielding himself and pushing through the smoke.

INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE – NIGHT

The Penguin chases Batman and Robin into the main restaurant area of the establishment. The patrons panic and some begin to rush for the exit. The Penguin aims the umbrella at Batman and Robin.

PENGUIN:

I was saving this one for an occasion Just like this!

The umbrella is actually a modified automatic rifle/machine gun. He aims the weapon and fires away at Batman and Robin, who dodge the shots. Bullet holes appear in the walls and pillars of the restaurant.

PENGUIN: It’s not like I can’t pay for that kind of damage.

The Penguin runs down to catch up with Batman and Robin. Penguin continues to shoot as he closes in on them, alarming the seals and penguins in the ornamental lagoon in the middle of the lounge.

Batman flings several batarangs in quick succession at the Penguin, but the Penguin opens his umbrella and the batarangs bounce harmlessly off its surface. The Penguin continues to shoot. The bullets puncture the fibreglass “iceberg” in the centre of the ornamental pool and cause the animals further panic.

ROBIN:

He’s going to kill one of those seals!

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BATMAN:

He’s in enough trouble as it is, even if he doesn’t.

One of the Penguin’s bullets punctures the rim of the pool. Water gushes out of the hole. This takes the Dynamic Duo by surprise. The Penguin walks up to Batman and Robin. Batman tries to rush to Robin’s aid but the Penguin gets to the Boy Wonder first.

PENGUIN:

Can’t a man make a decent living in this town without killing a child?

ROBIN:

Screw you, asshole.

PENGUIN:

Well, just look how you’ve raised this boy, Batman.

BATMAN:

I raised him to stand up to...

All of a sudden the lagoon begins to bubble. A cold mist emerges from the water. The animals appear confused. A platform of ice about seven feet tall shoots up from the water, the penguins and seals narrowly dodging it. Atop the platform is Mr Freeze. Freeze forms a ramp just as he did in the ocean earlier and walks down it.

MR FREEZE:

To stand up to evil.

PENGUIN:

Ah very good, here comes the muscle.

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ROBIN:

He’s a scientist.

The Penguin ignores Robin.

PENGUIN:

Now Freeze, help me take care of...business.

MR FREEZE:

As you wish.

Freeze turns the ice cannon on the Penguin. The Penguin slowly reaches into his coat pocket and retrieves the remote control. He waves it mockingly in the air. Mr Freeze does not waver.

MR FREEZE:

You cannot threaten me.

PENGUIN:

Of course I can. I threaten the whole city every day!

BATMAN:

Dr Fries, please...

MR FREEZE:

As I told you earlier, my quarrel is not with you. Keep out of my affairs.

BATMAN:

Dr Fries, I would advise you not to take things...

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Freeze turns the ice cannon on Batman and flash-freezes him.

MR FREEZE:

I am finished with taking advice.

ROBIN:

Hold on one second, you do did not just do that!

MR FREEZE:

If I must, I will.

Mr Freeze flash-freezes Robin as well. The dynamic duo are now nothing but ice statues.

MR FREEZE:

Back to you. What happened to being an upstanding businessman?

PENGUIN:

Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter how you make the money,

all that matters is if you make it!

MR FREEZE:

You would kill someone’s wife? Someone’s parents? Someone’s child?

PENGUIN:

Yes. I would!

MR FREEZE:

You are more a monster than I will ever become.

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PENGUIN:

Sure, I may have eccentric tastes. But ultimately, I am a practical man. Take for example the circus that came

to town. If they’d just paid me a token sum, they would not have a pair of dead aerialists on their hands. Though I admit, it may have been a mistake to let the kid live. Somebody crosses me, I take care of it.

Like I will do with you now, Victor.

The Penguin jams down on the button. Everyone is stunned for a moment. However, nothing happens. Freeze smiles behind the helmet. The Penguin looks confused and jabs at the button several more times. He now looks frustrated. The Penguin opens the back of the remote control, revealing that the batteries have been removed.

PENGUIN:

You...

The Penguin is flash-frozen mid-sentence.

MR FREEZE:

A child could have just as easily removed those batteries. I will now destroy your world, as you have destroyed mine.

Mr Freeze stands for a moment, the Penguin, Batman and Robin frozen around him. He then turns the ice cannon on various fixtures in the lounge, freezing them solid and then smashing them to smithereens. Chairs, tables, paintings hanging on the walls, they all fall victim. Finally, Freeze turns his attention to the ornate chandelier hanging above the lagoon. He freezes it over and it falls, crushing the fibreglass iceberg and sending the animals swimming to the edges of the pool.

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MR FREEZE:

Everything is incomplete without the falling chandelier.

All is silent for a moment. Suddenly, a crack is audible. Mr Freeze spins round to see Batman struggling to escape from the ice. Inexplicably, the ice falls off in chunks, freeing Batman from the encasement. Mr Freeze watches as Batman breaks Robin out of his own block of ice.

MR FREEZE:

Impossible. Nobody can free himself Without assistance!

ROBIN:

The man is crazy prepared. Brr.

Batman dispenses four pills from a capsule on his utility belt, passing two the Robin and taking two himself.

BATMAN:

To ward off tissue damage.

MR FREEZE:

Impressive. I now feel compelled to apologise for doing that.

ROBIN:

No sweat, Dr Fries.

MR FREEZE:

However, there is one man who, on the contrary, owes me an apology.

Freeze turns to Penguin, still encased in ice.

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BATMAN:

Let me bring him in, Fries.

MR FREEZE:

No.

BATMAN:

Killing Cobblepot will not cure your wife’s disease.

MR FREEZE:

Who said anything about killing him? I will keep him in this state for my amusement, just as I was his.

ROBIN:

I’m sorry man, but that’s not how justice works.

MR FREEZE:

I will not let a boy lecture me about justice.

BATMAN:

This boy is in every position to do so.

MR FREEZE:

You will not deny me my...

BATMAN:

Your revenge?

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ROBIN:

Please, not this again.

Mr Freeze raises the ice cannon and points it at Batman.

MR FREEZE:

You will not be able to recover so quickly the second time in ten minutes.

BATMAN:

You didn’t design it to kill.

MR FREEZE:

No. I was not a killer.

ROBIN:

Was?

MR FREEZE:

However, I have learnt that sometimes it is the only way people will listen.

ROBIN:

That’s a slippery slope, man.

Freeze turns the cannon onto Robin.

ROBIN:

Holy...

MR FREEZE:

Be. Quiet.

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Freeze slowly presses in on the trigger. All of a sudden, Batman throws a batarang straight at Freeze’s helmet. It embeds itself in the Plexiglas. Freeze is visibly taken aback. A small red diode on the batarang blinks three times. A small explosion follows, knocking Freeze out. He falls backwards onto the floor.

BATMAN:

Threaten me, but never threaten...him.

Robin is silent.

Batman touches his finger to his ear. We hear a slightly distorted voice on this other side.

VOICE:

Commissioner Gordon speaking.

BATMAN:

Commissioner, the Iceberg Lounge. Now.

INT. ARKHAM ASYLUM – NIGHT

The Penguin, soaking wet and shivering, is shown being escorted to his cell by two guards in full SWAT uniform.

INT. ARKHAM ASYLUM – FREEZE’S CELL

Mr Freeze is seen sitting on his bunk in a specially-conditioned low-temperature cell. His face is covered in scars from the exploding glass helmet, which have been treated.

MR FREEZE:

Now, Batman, my quarrel is with you.

EXT. ROOFTOP FACING ARKHAM ISLAND

We pull out across Gotham Bay. Batman and Robin are perched atop a rooftop with a clear view to Arkham Island. The Bat-

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signal comes on, casting the iconic silhouette onto the clouds. Batman looks up, taking a moment to look at it. He then launches his grapnel gun at another building some way across. Robin does the same. Batman leaps first, swinging off into the night, followed by Robin.

-END-

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