Least there she’s got someone round the clock. Unlike your wife. (Looks at Bat-Signal.) He hasn’t shown?
Gordon gets up. Looks into the sky at the Bat-Signal.
GORDON
Often doesn’t. But I like reminding everybody that he’s out there.
RAMIREZ
Why wouldn’t he come?
GORDON
Hopefully … because he’s busy.
EXT. PARKING GARAGE – NIGHT 24
Two black SUVs pull on to the top floor. A large man emerges – the Chechen. A Bodyguard points at the sky. The Chechen peers up at the Bat-signal. Shrugs.
CHECHEN
(in Russian)
That’s why we bring dogs.
Bodyguard 2 opens the back door. Three enormous rottweilers emerge, growling. The Chechen crouches, kissing the dogs.
My little princes … (To Bodyguards.) The Batman’s invisible to you fools … but my little princes … they can find human meat in complete darkness.
The Chechen moves to the second SUV, reaches in and drags out a skinny, wild-eyed Junkie by his hair.
JUNKIE
(babbling)
No! No get ’em off me! Off me!
The Chechen drags the Junkie towards a battered white van.
The van’s rear doors open … Two armed Thugs emerge, carrying barrels, a third hovers in the dark interior.
CHECHEN
(accented English)
Look! Look what your drugs did to my customers!
VOICE
(o.s.)
Buyer beware …
The figure emerges: Scarecrow. Wearing his mask.
SCARECROW
I told your man my compound would take you places. I never said they’d be places you wanted to go.
CHECHEN
My business is repeat customers.
SCARECROW
If you don’t like what I have to offer, buy from someone else. Assuming Batman left anyone else to buy from.
The Chechen frowns. The dogs start barking.
BODYGUARD
(nervous)
He’s here.
A burly Thug at the periphery is suddenly sucked into the darkness. In his place a shadow straightens, revealing pointed Bat-ears against the glittering skyline.
CHECHEN
Come on, son-of-a-bitch – my dogs are hungry, pity there’s only one of you …
A Bodyguard to the side disappears with a scream, and a second Bat-shadow appears.
The Chechen looks taken aback. Three more Bat-shadows appear. Even the dogs stop growling.
Boom! A hole appears in the SUV next to the Chechen. The first Bat-shadow steps into the light carrying a shotgun.
Chaos as men scatter and the rooftop erupts in gunfire. The Chechen turns as he hears one of his men scream.
Loose the dogs!
A Bodyguard releases the dogs. They race, salivating, into the darkness …
The dogs race towards a Bat-shadow. The first dog leaps, gets its jaws around the Bat-shadow’s throat …
Scarecrow ducks behind the van, holes punched in the side by shotgun blasts right behind him. He starts to climb into the driver’s seat …
The muzzle of a shotgun is pressed to the back of his head – a Bat-shadow is behind him. He sprays him with fear toxin, and the Bat-shadow collapses to the ground, screaming. The Chechen, cowering from gunfire, looks down at him.
SCARECROW
Not the real thing.
CHECHEN
How you know?
SCARECROW
We’re old friends.
A huge black shape slams down on to a row of parked cars. The Batmobile.
SCARECROW
That’s more like it.
The Chechen’s men blast away at the front of the car: the bullets spark off its monstrous surface harmlessly …
INT. BATMOBILE – CONTINUOUS 25
The cockpit is empty. One of the screens reads ‘Loiter’.
The shooting stops. The screen switches to ‘Intimidate’.
EXT. PARKING GARAGE – CONTINUOUS 26
The men stare at the Batmobile for a quiet moment … Boom!
The Batmobile cannons blast cars all around the men.
A Bat-shadow lines up his shotgun on a running bodyguard – clunk. A black gauntlet grasps the barrel and bends it upwards with a howl of tortured steel. The Bat-shadow looks into the face of the Batman. The real Batman.
The Bat-shadow stumbles backwards in terror, leaving the bent shotgun in Batman’s hand. Batman opens his hand, revealing a pneumatic mangle hidden in his palm.
Batman bears down on the dogs mauling another Bat-shadow, draws his grappling gun and shoots his grapple into the fake Batman’s leg and rips him from the dogs, one dog hanging on as Batman pulls the unconscious man away … the Chechen runs down the ramp towards the exit …
As Batman kicks the dog off the fake Batman, the Chechen gets into his SUV, another dog locks its jaws around Batman’s forearm, ripping, tearing. Batman swings the dog over his head, smashes it against the ground – its jaws open …
Batman rises, an engine races behind him, He can’t turn in time – blam! He’s slammed sideways by the speeding van.
INT. VAN – CONTINUOUS 27
Scarecrow, driving, nods at him and hits the gas … Batman raises his hand, revealing his jointed mangle and pistons. The mangle straightens and rotates from his palm to the knife edge of his opened hand …
Batman chops straight through the windshield – pulls his hand out and chops again. The mangle gets stuck – Scarecrow steers towards a column …
EXT. PARKING GARAGE – CONTINUOUS 28
Batman can’t free himself. He turns a dial on his forearm piston – explosive bolts blow, freeing his gauntlet from the mangle. He rolls free of the van as it scrapes the column and barrels down the circular exit ramp.
Batman rises. A phony Batman lying on the ground watches as Batman climbs up to the edge of the ten-storey corkscrew ramp and stands there, waiting for something.
After a moment he jumps … and falls … ten storeys …
He’s about to hit the exit ramp – the van appears – his cape pops open – he slams into the roof, crushing the cab.
EXT. ROOFTOP, PARKING GARAGE – MOMENTS LATER 29
The Chechen’s men are lined up against the wall, bound with zip-ties. So are the fake Batmen. Batman dumps Scarecrow next to the three ‘Batmen’, rips his mask off.
‘BATMAN’
We’re trying to help you!
BATMAN
I don’t need help.
SCARECROW
(o.s.)
Not my diagnosis.
Batman silences Scarecrow with his boot. Turns to ‘Batman’.
BATMAN
Don’t let me find you out here again.
Batman moves towards the Batmobile.
‘BATMAN’
You need us! There’s only one of you – it’s war out here!
Batman gets into the Batmobile.
‘BATMAN’
What gives you the right?! What’s the difference between you and me?!
As the canopy hisses shut –
BATMAN
I’m not wearing hockey pads.
The ‘Batman’ looks down at his makeshift costume as the Batmobile roars past.
EXT. BANK – NIGHT 30
Lieutenant Gordon ducks the barrage of shouted questions from the press and picks his way into the lobby of the bank.
INT. LOBBY, BANK – NIGHT 31
Forensic specialists work the room. Ramirez hands Gordon prints – indicates the surveillance cameras.
RAMIREZ
He can’t resist showing us his face.
Gordon looks at the grainy blow-up of the Joker’s face: sweating clown make-up plastered thick around the mouth.
GORDON
Put this out, by morning we can put a big top over central holding and sell tickets. What’s he hiding under that make-up?
Gordon approaches a Forensic P
hotographer shooting Grumpy’s body. Gordon crouches to look at his clown mask. Batman steps from the shadows. Gordon nods at Ramirez.
RAMIREZ
Give us a minute, please, people!
The Forensics team and Ramirez leave. Gordon hands Batman the blow-up of the Joker.
BATMAN
Him again. Who are the others?
GORDON
Another bunch of small-timers.
Batman pulls a device from his belt – moves to the bundles of cash scattered near the clown’s body. The device pings. Batman picks up a bundle. Hands it to Gordon.
BATMAN
Some of the marked bills I gave you.
GORDON
My detectives have been making drug buys with them for weeks. This bank was another drop for the mob. That makes five banks – we’ve found the bulk of their dirty cash.
BATMAN
Time to move in.
Gordon waves the photo.
GORDON
What about this Joker guy?
BATMAN
One man or the entire mob? He can wait.
GORDON
We’ll have to hit all banks simultaneously – SWAT teams, backup.
Gordon holds up the bundle of banknotes.
When the new DA gets wind of this, he’ll want in.
BATMAN
Do you trust him?
GORDON
Be hard to keep him out.
Gordon bags the cash.
I hear he’s as stubborn as you.
But Batman is already gone.
INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE – MORNING 32
Alfred walks past soaring downtown views as he carries a breakfast tray through the vast, empty penthouse. He stops, looking at a still-made bed. Alfred sighs, turns.
EXT. RAIL YARDS – MORNING 33
Alfred gets out of the Rolls carrying a Thermos. He walks towards a railway bridge, stops at a freight container sitting, lopsided, on blocks. Alfred unlocks the rusty padlock and chain. Steps inside.
INT. FREIGHT CONTAINER – CONTINUOUS 34
Alfred fumbles in the dark – bangs his elbow. A hiss as the floor lowers … Alfred sinks down into …
INT. BAT-BUNKER – CONTINUOUS 35
The container floor lowers on a giant piston. Alfred steps off into a large, low-ceilinged concrete chamber. The Batmobile sits in the middle. Machines – 3D printers, power tools – dot the high-tech space. At one end, Wayne sits at a bank of monitors watching CCTV footage of the bank robbery.
ALFRED
Be nice when Wayne Manor’s rebuilt and you can swap not sleeping in a penthouse for not sleeping in a mansion.
Alfred places a cup of coffee in front of Wayne, who is stitching up a cut on his arm.
ALFRED
(takes needle)
When you stitch yourself up you make a bloody mess.
WAYNE
But I learn from my mistakes.
ALFRED
You ought to be pretty knowledgeable by now, then.
WAYNE
My armor … I’m carrying too much weight – I need to be faster.
ALFRED
I’m sure Mr. Fox can oblige. (Looks at wound.) Did you get mauled by a tiger?
WAYNE
A dog. (Off look.) A big dog. There were more copycats last night, Alfred. With guns.
ALFRED
Perhaps you could hire some of them and take weekends off.
WAYNE
This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to inspire people.
ALFRED
I know. But things are improving. Look at the new District Attorney …
Wayne indicates a monitor: a handsome man in a suit.
WAYNE
I am. Closely. I need to know if he can be trusted.
Alfred looks at other images – the DA at a meeting. Campaigning. Helping someone out of a cab: Rachel.
ALFRED
Are you interested in his character … or his social circle?
WAYNE
Who Rachel spends her time with is her business.
ALFRED
Well, I trust you’re not following me on my day off.
WAYNE
If you ever took one, I might.
Alfred bites the thread. Examines his stitches. Looks at the scars criss-crossing Wayne’s shoulders.
ALFRED
Know your limits, Master Wayne.
WAYNE
Batman has no limits.
ALFRED
Well, you do, sir.
WAYNE
I can’t afford to know them.
ALFRED
And what happens the day you find out?
WAYNE
We all know how much you like to say, ‘I told you so’.
ALFRED
That day, Master Wayne, even I won’t want to. Probably.
INT. COURTROOM, SUPERIOR COURT – DAY 36
Harvey Dent bursts into the courtroom. Assistant DA Rachel Dawes looks up, annoyed.
DENT
Sorry I’m late, folks.
Rachel leans in to Dent, speaking under her breath.
RACHEL
Where were you?
DENT
Worried you’d have to step up?
RACHEL
I know the briefs backwards.
Dent pulls a large silver dollar out of his pocket. Grins.
DENT
Well, then, fair’s fair: heads, I’ll take it. Tails, he’s all yours.
Dent flips. Shows it to Rachel – heads.
RACHEL
You’re flipping coins to see who leads?
DENT
My father’s lucky coin. As I recall, it got me my first date with you.
RACHEL
I’m serious, Harvey, you don’t leave things like this to chance.
DENT
I don’t. (Sincere.) I make my own luck.
Dent looks across at the defendant – Sal Maroni.
MARONI
I thought the DA just played golf with the Mayor, things like that.
DENT
Tee-off’s 1:30. More than enough time to put you away for life, Sally.
The Bailiffs lead a thin man into the witness box: Rossi.
INT. COURTROOM, SUPERIOR COURT – DAY 37
Rossi takes a sip of water. Dent works the room.
DENT
With Carmine Falcone in Arkham, someone must’ve stepped up to run the so-called family.
Rossi nods.
Is this man in the courtroom today?
Rossi nods again.
Could you identify him for us, please?
Dent turns to Maroni, who is poker-faced. Dent smiles.
ROSSI
You win, Counselor. It was me.
Dent’s smile disappears. He turns back to Rossi.
DENT
I’ve got a sworn statement from you that this man, Salvatore Maroni, is the new head of the Falcone crime family.
ROSSI
Maroni? He’s a fall guy. I’m the brains of the organization.
Laughs from the gallery. Dent turns to the Judge.
DENT
Permission to treat the witness as hostile?
ROSSI
Hostile? I’ll show you hostile.
Rossi jumps up, points a gun at Dent’s face. Screams from the gallery. Rossi pulls the trigger – the gun misfires with a pop. Dent steps forward, grabs the gun, decks Rossi with a right cross, unloads the gun and sets it down in front of Maroni.
DENT
Ceramic 28 caliber. Made in China. If you want to kill a public servant, Mr. Maroni, I recommend you buy American.
Everyone stares, open-mouthed, as Dent adjusts his tie. The Bailiffs are wrestling Rossi from the box.
DENT
But, your honor, I’m not done …
INT. LOBBY, DENT’S OFFICE, DA’S – DAY 38
Rachel, excited, leads Dent through the lobby.
RACHEL
We’ll never link the gun to Maroni,
so we can’t charge him, but I’ll tell you one thing – the fact they tried to kill you means we’re getting to them.
DENT
Glad you’re so pleased, Rachel. I’m fine, by the way.
Rachel turns to Dent. Smooths his lapels.
RACHEL
Harvey, you’re Gotham’s DA – if you’re not getting shot at, you’re not doing your job. (Smiles.) Course if you said you were rattled we could take the rest of the day …
DENT
Can’t. I dragged the head of the Major Crimes Unit down here.
RACHEL
Jim Gordon? He’s a friend – try to be nice.
INT. DENT’S OFFICE – DAY 39
Gordon stands as Dent enters. The two men shake.
GORDON
Word is you’ve got a hell of a right cross. Shame Sal’s going to walk.
DENT
Well, good thing about the mob is they keep giving you second chances.
Dent picks up a bundle of bills from the heist.
Lightly irradiated bills. Fancy stuff for a city cop. Have help?
GORDON
We liaise with various agencies –
DENT
Save it, Gordon. I want to meet him.
GORDON
Official policy is to arrest the vigilante known as Batman on sight.
DENT
And that floodlight on top of MCU?
GORDON
If you have any concerns about – malfunctioning equipment … take them up with maintenance, Counselor.
Dent tosses the bills back onto his desk. Annoyed.
DENT
I’ve put every known money launderer in Gotham behind bars. But the mob is still getting its money out. I think you and your ‘friend’ have found the last game in town and you’re trying to hit ’em where it hurts: their wallets. Bold. You gonna count me in?
GORDON
In this town, the fewer people know something, the safer the operation.
DENT
Gordon, I don’t like that you’ve got your own special unit, and I don’t like that it’s full of cops I investigated at Internal Affairs.
GORDON
If I didn’t work with cops you’d investigated while you were making your name at IA, I’d be working alone. I don’t get political points for being an idealist – I have to do the best I can with what I have.
THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY: The Complete Screenplays with Storyboards Page 15