Batman: Avenger
Episode 101: Pilot a.k.a.
Awakening
Written by Jared Williams
VERY ELSEWORLD
Synopsis:
When Bruce Wayne, former vigilante goes ballistic and begins killing would-be
civilians, the present day Gotham Police Department calls in Dick Grayson,
Batman’s former apprentice, to help them track him down.
Fade through black:
Int – The Batcave
Batman and Bruce Wayne’s former base of operation. It’s clearly no longer in
use. The camera pans across several angles of this massive
dwelling, taking stops at the old Batmobile, the suit rack and the computer.
The image finally falls upon a silhouette of Bruce Wayne as he kneels in front
of a single Bat suit resting along side the cave in a glass case. Next to it
are the suits of Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl.
The
image tightens on Bruce Wayne, inter-cut with flashes of his psyche;
Flash
One – A laughing child runs through the park. He’s excited about what he sees
waiting for him. The angle moves to reveal the lower half of a man in a suit
kneeling down. His face is not seen.
Flash
Two – Batman slugs a fist into a criminal, knocking him to the ground. He picks
him up and holds him against the wall, and then tosses him aside into a mail
bin. The criminal falls limp as Batman turns away.
Back on the image of Bruce Wayne. The angle tightens on him.
Flash
Three – The laughing child runs faster now. The man with his arms open in an
embrace is seen to his chin this time as he kneels into frame.
Flash
Four – Bruce Wayne’s parents are shot in an alleyway by a criminal silhouetted
in the shadows. The gun shots are seen reflecting off of Young Bruce’s eyes.
The blurred bodies fall to the ground.
Flash
Five – Inside of a big-top circus, Two Face, a former villain of Batman’s,
gives the go ahead to kill another family. This time it’s the family of Dick
Grayson, the boy who would grow up to become Robin, and later Nightwing.
Back on Bruce Wayne. The angle tightens even
further.
Flash
Six – Dick Grayson’s family falls from the trapeze wire to the ground. The
image of the bodies falling once again reflects off of Bruce Wayne’s eyes as he
sits helpless in the crowd.
Flash
Seven – Dick Grayson, son of the two dead parents, looks up toward the camera.
Flash
Eight – Bruce sees Batman grow angry at the frightened kid and lift him up to
the wall, choking him. Bruce runs up, trying to stop Batman but is backhanded
into a desk, knocking over tons of material.
Quick
cut of Bruce looking up now, but still silhouetted.
Flash
Nine – Gotham city rests in the night sky. Suddenly the bat-signal, twisted and
cruel now, hangs in the moon’s light. Two giant hands, Batman’s hands, fly in
toward Gotham, as if grabbing the entire city itself. Batman’s head comes into
view as he starts grinning with two rows of jagged, maniacal teeth.
Flash
Ten – The young Bruce Wayne runs through the park once more. He finally meets
up with his savior, who kneels down completely, revealing himself to be Joker.
Joker simply smiles at the boy as he hugs him, and then looks at the camera and
starts laughing.
Back on Bruce Wayne in the Batcave. He gets up, bringing his
face into the light. He’s in his fifties now, almost sixty, but still quite
formidable looking. He starts laughing in the same fashion the joker laughed,
and then grabs for his bat suit, rushing off out of frame.
Cut to:
Opening
Titles – Introduce the characters of Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Jacob Reynolds,
and Catherine Dent. Credit the Writers, Producers, and Creator… Me.
Cut to:
Black
– The white words “One Year Later” appear on the screen.
Fade to:
Ext
– Alleyway
A
third police car rolls onto the scene, flashing its red and blue lights over a
twisted looking bat-insignia splashed on the wall in blood. Two detectives,
Jacob Reynolds (An experienced detective in his early thirties) and Catherine
Dent are already on the scene, surrounded by several other deputies. Out of the
third car climbs a crime scene investigator, Sylis
Griffin (A man slightly younger than Jacob).
He approaches the other two detectives eagerly.
Silys
Is it another one?
Jacob
Yeah,
brutal this time.
Jacob
looks over to the end of the alleyway. The camera cuts to follow his gesture,
revealing briefly a dead body resting in the red and blue light. Blood is
covering the walls around him, and the words “Welcome to Gotham” are scribed on
the brick with it. The body itself is beaten almost beyond recognition.
Sylis
Christ, the sick ones in
this city…
Jacob
Time was we didn’t have to
worry about that.
Sylis
Time was it wasn’t our
vigilante doing the killing. Got an ID on the victim?
Jacob
looks over to Catherine Dent, a young detective obviously new to the game. She
looks surprised at first and then reaches into her pocket with an “O” face.
Catherine
Oh! Yeah… uhm…
[She pulls out an ID in a
baggie found on the victim]
Mary Jenson. Age twenty-six.
Jacob
Get on finding more
information about her, right?
Catherine
Right.
Catherine
leaves. Silys and Jacob stay behind, watching her as
she goes.
Sylis
She’s a little ditzy, eh?
Jacob
She’s still got time to
learn. We’ve all been there, right?
Sylis looks at Catherine as she leaves. The angle
tightens on her rear before returning to Sylis as he
looks back at Jacob.
Sylis
What? Yeah… yeah, I wouldn’t
mind bein’ there.
The
angle widens, resting on a rooftop above the alleyway. A silhouette of Batman
perches, contrasting against the purple of the night sky. He watches the
detectives for several seconds and then darts off into the distance.
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
In
the early morning of the city, a golden hue rests over its buildings; one in
particular is more imposing than the rest. It towers above them all as if the
only adult in a group of kids. This building is the Wayne Enterprises
headquarters. Through the cuts of these buildings a news broadcast is heard.
female Reporter (Voice)
This makes the fourth victim
in a matter of months. Police offer little advice as to the whereabouts of the
former avenger and protector, but advise caution and
are imposing an eleven p.m. curfew for all minors.
Cut to:
Int – Wayne Enterprises
Wayne’s
Office
Bruce
Wayne’s hand comes into frame, clicking a remote and shutting off the
television in front of him. The camera pans upward to reveal
his face; cold and intimidating. He sits in the quiet for several
moments before his door buzzer sounds.
Bruce
[His chair and back to the
door]
Come.
A
large man, Bruce’s right-hand man by appearance, enters. This is Thomas Q.
Bruce raises an eyebrow without turning to face him.
Bruce
Thomas. The woman is dead.
The police have no idea where Batman ran to.
Thomas
Yes, I heard.
Bruce
spins around in his chair to face Thomas and puts his palms on his desk. He
looks pleased.
Bruce
It’s good to know he never
lost his edge, eh?
Thomas
Smirks. Bruce gets up out of his chair, now looking serious.
Bruce
I so very wish I could
articulate what it feels like. I wish I could describe to you the satisfaction
that comes with taking the life of another. I can’t describe it. It’s not
power. It isn’t dominance. It isn’t anything perverted. It’s simply there, like
an addiction; the next one always more satisfying than the last. I wish I could
describe that to the world.
His emotions seem very unstable.
Bruce
But it’s all been petty
crime! Chaos, the kind of chaos you only get from true crime needs true
criminals.
[Bruce walks over to the
giant window overlooking the city]
Batman himself can not undo
what he unjustly thought he had the right to.
Thomas
Sir?
Bruce
[Turning to Thomas]
Leave this place. I will
contact you tomorrow.
Thomas
Yes, sir. Do you mind me
asking why?
Bruce
[Looking back at his desk]
I need to think.
Thomas
nods and turns to leave. Bruce watches him go.
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham Police Department
Tighten
on the building as a steady flow of traffic of police cars and vans comes in
and out of the Department building. The sky is in its early afternoon phase.
Cut to:
Int – Gotham Police Department
The
interior of the police department borders on being too crowded as a duo
of police officers lead a prostitute, struggling to get free, into the cage in
the center of the room. The cage is already bursting with criminals already
picked up, from gang bangers to petty thieves. The prostitute looks nervous
inside.
The
angle tightens on Jacob Reynolds as he makes his way through the detective’s
desks. He finally lands on Catherine as she works at a computer.
Jacob
Any news
on the victim, Dent?
Catherine
[Looking up, slightly
startled]
What? Yeah, it turns out she
had just moved here, all the way from Detroit to work at a local elementary
school. Uhm… no family.
Jacob
Right,
someone that’d just disappear.
Catherine
Any leads?
Jacob
Well, Detective Griffin said
he found traces of vinyl fibers and black leather. As of yet none of the perp’s DNA.
Catherine
Batman’s M/O, huh?
Jacob
Looks like it. Let me know
if you find anything useful, huh?
Detective
Reynolds turns to leave. Catherine Dent turns to follow him, slightly nervous.
She suddenly moves back to turn off the computer terminal, and then proceeds to
follow him.
Catherine
Detective
Reynolds?
Jacob
Yes, Catherine?
Catherine
[Smiling]
Jacob. I was reading back on
the old files. Uhm, it said that a construction
worker on the south side, a uhh…
Catherine
looks at a file. Jacob only stands there, humoring her.
Catherine
Dick Grayson… stepped forward and claimed to
be Nightwing, one of Batman’s sidekicks, right?
Jacob
[He turns to continue
walking. Catherine follows]
Yeah, the police made a deal
with him and he helped us crack a case on your estranged uncle.
Catherine
You… you know about that?
Jacob
Everybody knows, sweetheart.
Don’t worry about it.
Catherine
Right, well… I was wondering
if someone had tried talking to him, or getting his assistance on this new
Batman thing.
Jacob
Ha, you can try if you want.
You’d only be the third.
Catherine
The third?
Jacob
Byron and Simms have both
already given it a shot. The guy doesn’t like to talk.
Catherine
Well I thought I might stop
by his place on my way home or something, when I was finished here.
Jacob
Go ahead and go; I don’t
need you here. Might as well get paid for it…
Catherine
stops. Jacob continues walking.
Catherine
[Suddenly thinking]
…Thanks! I’ll do my best!
Jacob
raises his hand a bit in acknowledgement as he walks away. Catherine smiles
back before turning away. In the background, the prostitute yells out as a
large man pushes her against the cage wall. Several officers rush up to the cage
immediately.
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
In
mid-afternoon, the camera pans across several angles of the south side of
Gotham City. This place is much more lower-middle class, but still respectable.
The music begins to have an eerie feel to it.
Cut to:
Ext
– Dick Grayson’s house
In
a large neighborhood filled with cheap houses and bad roads, Catherine’s 1992
Ford Thunderbird pulls into frame, stopping in front of Dick Grayson’s house.
She turns off her radio, playing “Overkill” by Benjamin Gate.
A
single, large, tan van rests in the driveway, weeds rising from the cracks in
the concrete. Catherine gets out of her car, looks around anxiously, and then
approaches the doorway.
She
rings the doorbell and hears it through the house. She looks around at the run
down house as she hears footsteps approaching inside.
Suddenly
the screen door swings open from the inside. The main door unlocks and opens,
revealing Samantha Grayson, Dick’s wife. Her daughter, Sarah, is standing at
her side. Samantha looks suspicious.
Samantha
Hello?
Catherine
Hi, Mrs.
Grayson.
I’m Detective Dent. I’d like to know if I can ask your husband a few questions.
Samantha
Oh, this is about that
Batman thing.
Catherine
Yes ma’am.
Samantha
[Relieved]
Oh, okay. Well he probably
won’t talk, but I’ll go get him anyway.
Catherine
Thank you,
ma’am.
Samantha
and Sarah leave Catherine standing in the front door. She once again looks
around anxiously. A dog can be heard barking in the background. Samantha can be
heard talking to Dick, who answers back angrily. The noise grows, still
distorted, until Dick finally agrees to the door. Catherine looks like she
wants to leave, but Dick Grayson finally appears at the door, aged in his early
thirties. He’s got a very short, black hair cut, a barber cut and still looks
in excellent shape. He’s wearing a button-up flannel and khakis.
Catherine
Mr. Grayson?
Dick
Yeah, Samantha tells me
you’ve got a few questions for me?
Catherine
Yes, as you probably know
another woman was…
Dick
Well I don’t answer
questions. Sorry.
[He turns to leave.]
Catherine
Yes, I heard. But I was
hoping, maybe it’d be different this time?
Dick
[Turning back]
What?
Catherine
Uhh... buy you a drink?
Dick
raises his eyebrows in surprise/elation.
Cut to:
Ext
– Bar
Push
in on a mid-sized bar on the south side of the city. It’s evening now.
Catherine’s thunderbird is seen in the parking lot along with a multitude of
other cars.
Cut to:
Int – Bar
Catherine
and Dick sit at the bar, smiling now. Both of them have already had a couple
drinks. Behind them a fierce game of pool is going on, couples are flirting,
and girls are being picked up. Catherine starts laughing.
Catherine
So why
this place?
Seems like a drive…
Dick
True… but I mean… quality
over convenience.
Catherine
[Smiling]
Okay. I can understand that.
Dick
Just seems… right. That’s
why we do everything we do, wouldn’t you say?
Catherine
Yeah, I suppose so. Is that
why you came forward?
Dick
Yeah. It’s selfish more than
anything else. Up came a problem with a guy named Harvey Dent, and I knew I
could help…
Catherine
[Looking down at her glass]
Oh…
Dick
Anyway, I knew telling them
was the only way they’d listen to me, but I managed to put everyone I know in
danger. Selfish.
Catherine
Well, I don’t think so. I
mean, you managed to put a bad guy behind bars, right?
Dick
If you
wanna call that enough reason.
Catherine
Well maybe you can help me
by telling me what you know about Batman? Would that do anything for you? This
guilt you seem to harbor?
Dick
[Taking a drink of scotch]
How many times have I tried
to come forward with that one?
Catherine
You have?
Dick
Well yeah. I knew. I knew
after the first one it was him.
Catherine
How?
Dick
Moving from foster home to
foster home; the guy was the closet thing I had to a father. You pick up on
things.
Catherine
So why didn’t you say
anything?
Dick
I told you, the guy was like
a father.
Catherine
[Suddenly]
All I need is a name.
Dick
looks at her, takes a drink and sits back in his chair. He quietly considers
her request, looking down at his glass.
Catherine
Will you help me?
Dick
I’ll tell you what, Miss
Dent. I like you. I think you cut out the BS that comes with most cops.
Catherine
So?
Dick
So, you let me stick around
with you, until we catch him, and I’ll let you bring him in. But
I’ve gotta be the one to strap the cuffs on.
Catherine
What if someone dies between
now and then?
Dick
No one else is gonna die.
Not after tonight.
Catherine
And a
name?
Dick
[Making up an excuse]
…No. No,
that I’ll keep for myself. Sorry, I just don’t want some squad trying to
handle him without me there.
[He smiles and finishes his
drink.]
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
A
speed shot of the sun going down. The image lands on the Wayne Enterprises
sky-scraper.
Cut to:
Int – Wayne’s Office
Wayne
slams a shot glass down on his desk. He looks up at the door and presses a
button on his desk. A buzz beyond the door sounds.
Bruce
Thomas?
Thomas’s Voice
Yes?
Bruce
Would you come in here?
Thomas’s Voice
Yes, Boss.
Thomas
enters the room through the massive main doors. Bruce looks to him with his
arms behind his back.
Thomas
Sir?
Bruce
An army, Thomas… an army of
criminals…
Thomas
Pardon,
sir?
Bruce
How many criminals did Batman put away? How
many could Bruce Wayne utilize? To continue repairing the damage Batman did…
Thomas
Yes sir.
Bruce
But how,
correct?
For that, you should not worry.
[Wayne smiles]
I have a plan.
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
The
angle follows Catherine’s Thunderbird as it travels along in the night. There
are few other cars on the road. It gets off of the highway, merging onto a
state road.
Cut to:
Int – Thunderbird
Catherine
drives unsure of Dick’s proposition as he guides her. He sits in the passenger
seat, his seatbelt securely fastened.
Dick
You’re gonna wanna take a
left up here.
Catherine
Dick, I don’t wanna sound
like I don’t… trust you…
Dick
Trust me. I know his
circles.
Catherine
just nods to herself and turns left.
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
Catherine’s
car pulls onto a much smaller road. The camera pans across to follow it,
panning completely across a silhouette of Batman as he sits perched on the roof.
He gets up and jumps to the next roof, and looks down at them.
Batman
jumps to the next roof, and turns to jump to another. Before he does, he sees
Catherine’s Thunderbird pull into the even smaller road parallel to his next
jumping path. He looks down at them.
The
camera tightens on Batman’s silhouetted face. His white eyes tighten on the car
as he looks up angered.
Batman
Following me...
Batman
scurries off quietly out of frame. The image tightens on Catherine’s
Thunderbird.
Cut to:
Int – Thunderbird
Dick
and Catherine sit, looking up at the rooftops as best they can through the
windows. Neither of them sees anything, and Catherine begins to grow anxious.
Catherine
[Turning to Dick]
Are you sure he still
travels the same pattern?
Dick
[Turning to her]
Don’t worry. You couldn’t
get that guy to break a pattern to…
Suddenly
Batman swoops down onto the roof of the car and jams his fist into the driver’s
seat window, tugging at the wheel in an effort to crash it. Catherine screams.
Dick
Batman!
Catherine
struggles to keep control of the wheel. Dick looks over to her and spots her
gun along her belt. He reaches down and takes it out, pointing it at the roof.
He begins shooting.
Cut to:
Ext
– Thunderbird
Batman
dodges the bullets flying at him from inside the car. He continues trying to
pull the wheel out of Catherine’s grip. Finally he gives it one massive jolt
and the car goes spinning off of the road, heading toward a grassy walkway.
Moments
before the car hits a tree, Batman dives off. Catherine takes control of the
wheel and attempts to save the car, but only spins it around so that the car
slams into the tree on the rear-driver’s side.
Dick
Grayson wastes no time in jumping out of the car. He spots Batman trying to
jump onto a building’s fire escape and empties the revolver at him. Batman
hangs off of the edge of the fire escape to avoid the shots. The revolver
clicks empty and Dick tosses it aside, running after Batman.
Catherine,
slightly dazed, climbs out of the car. She spots her pistol and picks it up;
looking for the extra ammo she keeps inside of her jacket. She begins trying to
reload as she takes for the building. She pauses as she spots Dick Grayson
scaling the fire escape faster than Batman; faster than she thought any human
could.
Batman
makes it to the top of the fire escape and leaps onto the roof, sprinting away.
Dick is already caught up with him, pulling himself on to the top of the
building. He starts running after Batman, breathing hard.
Back
on Catherine; she struggles to get up onto the first ladder of the fire escape,
putting her first foot up and then reconsidering before pushing herself
forward.
Back on Dick as he chases Batman over the rooftops. Batman jumps from one apartment
building to the next, and Dick follows, breathing even harder.
Dick
Bruce!
Batman
reaches down to his belt and brings up three batarangs,
tossing them at Dick without breaking his stride. Dick’s eyes widen as he
dodges the first by veering right, and then the other two by going into a roll.
He gets back up to his feet and jumps to the third building, grabbing a loose
pipe along the wall as he does. He tosses it at Batman, and it hits him in the
back. Batman falls to his knees.
Catherine
once again tries to get up onto the fire escape, hesitating before finally
pushing herself up onto it.
Dick
dives into the stricken Batman, growling at him. Batman spins Dick onto his
back, locking his waist in his legs. Dick grunts and manages to slug Batman in
the face. Blood flies from his mouth.
Dick
Give it up, Bruce!
Dick
gets on top of Batman and begins choking him. Batman reaches down to his
utility belt and grabs for a small metal wire with a steel ball on the end. He
flips it around Dick’s neck, wrapping it around and finally clocking him in the
head. Dick gives an “Augh” and falls to the ground.
Batman flips around and begins to choke him with the wire.
Batman
You’d better learn to stay
outta the business of others.
The
angle tightens on Dick as he gets his hands through the wire, trying to pull it
off of his neck. He can hardly get a breath through as his face begins to grow
redder. He struggles to kick Batman, failing to do any damage. Batman smiles.
Catherine
emerges at the top of the first fire escape. She looks across to Batman and
Dick struggling, aiming her revolver as she nears the opposite edge of the
first building. Batman looks at her.
Catherine
Hey!
Batman
looks down at Dick, obviously incapacitated at this point, his eyes only barely
open.
Catherine
Let ‘im
go!
Batman
looks at her, then back to Dick before releasing the wire. He rushes toward the
opposite edge of the building and dives off. Catherine backs up and jumps the
first roof gap to the second building.
The
camera cuts to a few moments later when she arrives at the incapacitated Dick.
She checks on him, kneeling down.
Catherine
Dick!
Dick
[Coughing]
…Bruh...
Batman…
Catherine
gets up and rushes to the side of the building. She looks over the edge, aiming
her gun. She sees nothing. She grimaces and moves back over to Dick. She helps
him up to a sitting position.
Dick
I’m all right.
[Coughing]
I’ll be all right…
Cut to:
Ext
– Gotham City
Wide
shot of the city for mood. It’s dark and quiet. Not a creature is stirring, not
even a mouse.
Cut to:
Ext
– Police Department
Morning
Catherine’s
damaged car is towed into the parking lot of the police station. The flow of
police cars is just as frequent as always.
Cut to:
Int – Commissioner Winter's Office
Commissioner Jonathan Winter; the young-gun with
something to prove after he replaced the dying Jim Gordon. His career will be short,
as he is destined to be replaced by Jim Gordon’s daughter. He stands at his
desk very disappointed with the way things ended up the night before.
Detectives Jacob Reynolds and Catherine Dent stand in front of the desk.
Winter
And what did you plan to
accomplish by having a civilian tag along?
Catherine
I thought he’d know the best
way to track the criminal…
Winter
He was nearly killed, can
you think of the lawsuits we’d face if that masked freak had finished the job?!
Catherine
But we found him. We found the
Batman. Isn’t that more than we’ve…
Winter
I don’t need explanations
from a rookie.
Jacob
Sir?
Winter
What is it, detective?
Jacob
She’s right, sir. In one
night this guy managed to track and find the Batman; more than we’ve been able
to do during this entire investigation.
Winter
And no one bothered to try
it before?
Jacob
No one managed to get him
out of his house before. You wanna finish this investigation? You’ll let the
guy help… and you’ll let him help her.
[He gestures to Catherine.]
Winter
turns his back to the group as he considers the situation to himself. He reaches
a decision and turns to face her.
Winter
All right, if it’ll bring
the bat in. But have him sign a waver first.
Catherine
[Relieved]
Thank you.
Winter
Yeah. Now get back to it.
Jacob
Yes, sir.
Catherine
and Jacob nod in thanks and then turn to leave, Jacob leading Catherine. Winter
yells to have the last word.
Winter
But if anything happens it’s
your ass!
Cut to:
Int – The Grayson Home
Dick
Grayson sits on his bed as his wife checks his neck. Samantha looks worried and
finally hugs her husband, breaking down. He looks calmed at her touch.
Dick
It’s nothing, really, I’ll
be all right.
Samantha
She said she was just gonna
ask some questions. I was worried when it took so long, and the hospital
called…
Dick
I’m okay.
Samantha
[Almost crying]
I’m glad. It’s more than I
thought I could handle.
Those
words sink into Dick hard, as shown by his expression. His wife starts to kiss
him, and he pulls her away, looking at her face.
Dick
Samantha.
Samantha
[Worried]
What?
Dick
I have to go again.
Samantha
[Tearing up]
Why?
Dick
It’s not over. I have to
bring him in. You know I have to.
Samantha
nods and rests her head on her husband’s shoulder, crying. He holds her, trying
to console her.
Dick
Come on now, I’ll come home.
I promise I’ll come home.
Suddenly
a cell phone on the night table rings. Dick moves one hand away from his wife
to pick it up. He answers it.
Dick
Hello?
Bruce’s voice
Arkham,
midnight.
Just you and the girl.
The
line closes with a hum. Dick’s eyes close in frustration as he sets down the
phone. He goes back to holding his wife.
Samantha
Who was it?
Dick
Nobody,
sweetheart.
[He kisses her forehead]
Nobody…
Cut to:
Int – Wayne’s Office
Bruce
places his phone back down on the hook, and then turns to look out the window,
watching the cars travel back and forth on the road.
Bruce
That boy will not interfere
with my agenda…
Fade to:
Int – Grayson Home
It’s
night time now. The remnant of supper rests in the kitchen as it has for some
time. The camera pans around to the living room as Mr. and Mrs. Grayson sit
waiting across from each other. The only sound in the room is that of the
pendulum clock.
Suddenly
the doorbell rings. Dick Grayson stands.
Dick
It’s time
There
are several close up shots as Dick arms himself with his own gun strapped to a
belt and places a black, cloth overcoat over his body he then proceeds to the
door. His overcoat, simple as it is, appears almost as a cape, affectively
creating a pseudo-hero costume.
Grayson
heads to the door where he is greeted by Detectives Reynolds and Dent. They
look eager to see him.
Cut to:
Ext
– Driveway
A
single police car is waiting in the driveway. Save the officer escort, only the
two detectives and Grayson make up the team. Grayson looks over to the two.
Jacob
Mr. Grayson. I’m detective
Jacob Reynolds. I believe you already know Detective Dent, yeah?
Dick
Yeah, listen… I got a call
from our guy.
Jacob
You did?
Dick
Yeah. He told me he only
wants me and her to go.
Jacob
Go where?
Dick
Arkham.
Cut to:
Ext
– Arkham Asylum
The
warehouse of criminals rests at the top of a menacing hill. Batman himself
succeeded in placing the most insane of his villains in this sanctuary of sin.
The very sight of this building is threatening.
Cut to:
Int – Arkham
A
single guard makes his way down the main corridor of the Arkham’s
Worst wing. In this wing rest the most famous villains, all roughly ten years
older since they were last seen, including Poison Ivy, Victor Fries, Harley
Quinn, Killer Croc, Clayface, Lock-Up, The Riddler, and Two Face. Younger, new criminals also litter
this hall including Firestarter, Pulse Pounder, and Tsunami.
The
single guard whistles as a silhouette of Batman rushes by. The guard hears a
rattle after Batman escapes into the shadows and looks up. He sees only an open
window, and looks at it strangely. He turns around, straight into Batman.
Batman grabs the guards entire face with his massive
hands and tosses him to the ground, instantly knocking him out.
Batman
smiles and looks down the corridor of his captives.
Cut to:
Ext
– Street
The
police car speeds toward Arkham Asylum much faster
than it should. It almost goes on two wheels as it makes a sharp turn.
Cut to:
Int – Police Car
Catherine
and Dick sit in the back of the car as it speeds forward. Jacob sits in the
front, gesturing the police officer to drive faster. He brings his cell phone
from his ear in frustration.
Jacob
[Turning to Catherine and
Dick through the gate]
Augh! Well that’s a bust. No
answer from Arkham.
Cut to:
Int – Arkham
Reveal
on the front entryway of Arkham. The two front guards
lie dead at the desk. The camera cuts to several random corridors where the
other guards lie equally dead. A man’s scream is heard in the distance.
Cut to:
Int – Arkham’s Worst Wing
Batman
drops another guard after he breaks his neck, letting him crash on the ground.
Batman shakes his gloves of the deed and then looks around the prisoner cells.
He looks at Poison Ivy. She cowers in the back of her room, curling up at him
as he smiles at her.
He
turns to face Victor Fries’s cell. Victor, though not
huddling in the back of his cell, can not bring himself to look Batman in the
eye. It’s the same way with all of the prisoners as he makes his way to the
center of the corridor. He grabs a chair with the body of a security guard
lying in front of it and brings it under him. He jumps up on it and smiles.
Batman
Listen up, my soldiers!
Listen to your commander!
The
prisoners begin to look up at Batman as he smiles down at them. They seem almost
eager to please him.
Criminal
[In background]
Commander?! By what
right...
Batman
I put you here, only I can
free you! Silence!
A
silence falls over the corridor
Batman
Who of you would wish to be
free? Who of you wish to kill again?! Your chance is here - if you want it.
The
prisoners all begin standing against their cell walls, eager to listen to
Batman’s proposal. Victor Fries is the first to speak for them.
Victor Fries
What is this, Bat? Another game of yours? You've got us where we belong.
Batman
Pretend you haven’t been
watching the news if you must... I know now, as you know that crime is
the only truth. I unjustly spent my life locking you away... but now your
chance to prove yourself is here.
Two-Face
What are you planning?
Batman
The days of petty crime;
criminal against criminal are over. There is a new truth. Working together we
will dominate much stronger than we ever could apart, and a single savior is
prepared to shelter us if we unite.
Victor Fries
A
"savior?" Who is he? What's this mob he's got planned?
Batman
…Bruce Wayne.
A
commotion starts among the prisoners in disbelief. Batman pulls out a small
monitor screen and holds it up.
Batman
I kid you not, see for
yourself.
Batman
flips the monitor on. An image of Bruce Wayne appears on the screen. Batman
holds it out to of the prisoners as Wayne talks.
Bruce
[On the monitor]
My ever-able crew… I’ll be
brief. I have money; I have power. Our power is unlimited if you’ll
stand with me. I already have contacts on the street. They’ll find you, so
don’t worry about contacting me. Remember, I only offer this chance once. Let’s
take Gotham for all we can. Let’s take what it owes us.
Batman
flips the monitor off. The prisoners begin to cheer with excitement. Killer
Croc yells through the commotion.
Croc
[Standing up in excitement]
Enough of this, Batman! Let
us out of here! We’re prepared!
Batman
smiles and steps down from his ladder. He paces over to a large lever on the
wall and turns toward the corridor before pulling it.
Batman
Let’s raise hell!
Batman
pulls the lever down. An alarm goes off as all of the cells spring open. The
criminals begin to poor out past Batman. He slams on another button next to the
lever and a large steel door leading to the outside world slides open. The
prisoner’s cheer as they sprint outside. Batman laughs.
Suddenly
Dick Grayson and Catherine Dent emerge on the other side of the corridor,
taking shots at Batman. They miss as Batman darts into another corridor.
Dick
The prisoners! Go!
Catherine
takes off through the corridor toward the sliding door. Dick darts off into the
second corridor behind Batman.
Catherine
emerges on the other side of the door, looking out as the prisoner’s scatter
into the woods. Most of them are already gone. She couldn’t catch any of them
if she wanted to, yet raises her gun at one single prisoner running slower than
the rest.
Catherine
Stop or I shoot!
The
prisoner turns around to face her, revealing himself as Two Face, Harvey Dent.
Catherine freezes in her tracks and fails to shoot him as he turns and runs
off. She lowers her weapon and sighs in frustration with herself.
Cut to:
Int – Arkham Corridor
Dick
paces down the dark corridor, watching his back for Batman. Suddenly Batman
swings into his side from the shadows, knocking Dick to the ground. He sits up
and shoots his pistol several times. Batman dives to the ground. Dick gets back
up to his feet and tries to take another shot, but Batman tackles him. Dick’s
gun is finally knocked out of his hand. Dick slugs Batman in the face, causing
him to fall to the side.
Dick
tries to crawl back to his gun, still incapacitated by the first hit he took in
the side. Inches away, Batman jumps back onto his back with the metal wire,
wrapping it around Dick’s neck. Dick begins choking. He tries reaching for the
wire, failing to pull it away from his neck.
Batman
Huh? Now what? Give up,
birdie…
Tighten
on Dick Grayson. He suddenly focuses his attention on the pistol. He struggles
to reach it, much to Batman’s surprise. Dick gets his hand around the gun and
points it back at Batman. He fires it off, sending several bullets into
Batman’s midsection.
Batman
falls back, dying. Dick coughs hard, throwing up as he tears the wire off of
his neck. He moves around to Batman, whose coughing up blood. He sighs. Batman
falls dead, much to Dick’s surprise. He simply didn’t expect it to happen like
this.
Dick
reaches for his mask and pulls it off, revealing Batman to be Thomas Q. Dick’s
eyes widen in shock and he stumbles backward.
Dick
[Mumbling to himself]
…What?
Catherine
comes into the scene, jogging down the corridor.
Catherine
Dick?
Dick
[Scratchy voice]
Down here!
Catherine
emerges into the light, looking at Dick with relief, and then down at
Batman/Thomas Q. She looks confused.
Catherine
Is… that’s not our boy.
Dick
Nope… the
prisoners?
Catherine
shakes her head, afraid Dick will be disappointed in her. He just starts
laughing at the poor ending.
Catherine
What is it?
Dick
Should’ve expected this from
him is all.
Dick
leans against the wall of the corridor. Catherine moves over to join him,
leaning against the wall.
Catherine
Well don’t worry, we’ll get
him.
Dick
Yeah…
[He raises his eyebrow in
sarcasm.]
Sure that boss of yours is
gonna keep lettin’ me tag along.
Fade to:
Ext
– Arkham
Morning
The
last of the security guards are still being led out on stretchers. The angle
tightens on Wayland as he looks over the mess. Thomas is led out past him,
still in the batsuit. Catherine and Jacob approach
him.
Winter
I don’t get it. I thought
Batman was the one doing all the killing.
Catherine
He is.
Winter
Then who’s that?
Catherine
Imposter,
apparently.
A decoy. It’s likely it was him the whole time, we
just didn’t know it.
Winter
Yeah, well you keep that boy
of yours on a short leash, you hear? Do your best to get a real name out
of him. Soon.
Catherine
I will. In the meantime, this is just beginning. Batman will be back…
[She looks out into the
woods]
…In force this time.
Winter
How do you know?
Cut to:
Dick
Grayson paces outside of his front door. He pulls the small monitor device out
of his overcoat pocket and switches it on once more. He watches it in fear.
Bruce’s image appears.
Bruce
[On the monitor]
Remember, I only offer this
chance once. Let’s take Gotham for all we can. Let’s take what it owes us.
Dick
turns the monitor device and places it back in his overcoat pocket. He sits
down on the stairs to his porch and starts breaking down, letting the tears
finally fall.
Fade to black.
[The End]
End
Credits – “Overkill” Preformed by the Benjamin Gate plays again.
Batman: Avenger
Episode 101: Pilot
a.k.a. Awakening
Written by Jared Williams
Started: July 5th,
4 PM
Finished: July 6th,
4 AM
Batman and all related
characters are property of DC Comics and Time Warner.
All other characters are
property of Jared Williams.