WAYNE
We wouldn’t want things getting too easy, would we? (Picks up suit.) How will it hold up against dogs?
Fox looks at him quizzically.
FOX
You talking chihuahuas or rottweilers?
Wayne smiles.
It should do fine against cats.
INT. BAT-BUNKER – DAY 58
Wayne examines a parachute harness. Alfred unfolds a diagram of a navy cargo plane with a giant ‘V’ mounted on the front.
ALFRED
I found one. In Arizona. Very nice man says it will take him a week to get it running. And he takes cash. What about a flight crew?
WAYNE
South Korean smugglers. They run flights into Pyongyang, below radar the whole way. Did you think of an alibi?
Alfred looks quite pleased with himself.
ALFRED
Oh, yes.
EXT. BALLET – NIGHT 59
Rachel and Dent arrive to find the box office shuttered. A sign: PERFORMANCE CANCELED. A newspaper story is taped to the glass. Over a picture of Bruce Wayne on a yacht: LOVE BOAT – BILLIONAIRE ABSCONDS WITH ENTIRE MOSCOW BALLET.
EXT. DECK, WAYNE’S YACHT, THE CARIBBEAN – DAY 60
Alfred picks his way over twelve sunbathing Ballerinas.
Wayne looks up from a newspaper. Alfred points to a sea-plane gently touching down across the bay.
ALFRED
I believe your plane is here.
WAYNE
You look tired, Alfred. Will you be alright without me?
A Ballerina rolls over – waves the suntan lotion at Alfred.
ALFRED
If you can tell me the Russian for ‘Apply your own bloody suntan lotion’.
Wayne tosses a large, waterproof kitbag into the water and jumps in after it. Begins swimming over to the sea-plane.
INT. POOL HALL – NIGHT 61
Gambol racks up. A Bodyguard steps into the room.
BODYGUARD
Somebody here for you.
Gambol looks to the back – three rough customers are waiting.
BODYGUARD
They say they’ve killed the Joker. They’ve come for the reward.
GAMBOL
They bring proof?
BODYGUARD
They say they’ve brought the body.
The bodyguards flop a body wrapped in garbage bags onto the table. The Bounty-hunters wait in the corner. Gambol pulls back one of the garbage bags, revealing the Joker’s bloodied face. Gambol spits. Turns to face the Bounty-hunters.
GAMBOL
So. Dead you get five hundred –
Behind Gambol, the Joker sits up – thrusts knives into the Bodyguards’ chests. Gambol spins to see a crazy grin on the Joker’s spit-dribbled face.
THE JOKER
How about alive?
The Joker gets a switchblade in Gambol’s mouth – sharp metal pulling the cheek taut. The Bounty-hunters subdue the remaining Bodyguards.
THE JOKER
Wanna know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker and a fiend. He’d beat Mommy right in front of me. One night he goes off crazier than usual, Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn’t like that. Not. One. Bit.
The Joker tugs Gambol’s cheek with the blade.
So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. Turns to me and says ‘Why so serious?’ Comes at me with the knife – ‘Why so serious?’ Sticks the blade in my mouth – ‘Let’s put a smile on that face’ and …
The Joker looks up at the ashen faces of the remaining Bodyguards. Smiles.
Why so serious?
The Joker flicks his wrist. The Bodyguards flinch as Gambol goes down. The Joker turns to them.
Now, our organization is small, but we’ve got a lot of potential for aggressive expansion … so which of you fine gentlemen would like to join our team?
The three Bodyguards all nod. The Joker snaps a pool cue.
Only one slot open right now – so we’re going to have try-outs.
The Joker drops the broken cue in the middle of the men.
Make it fast.
The men stare at each other. Then at the jagged pool cue.
EXT. PENINSULA HOTEL, HONG KONG – DAY 62
A helicopter touches down on one of the hotel’s twin helipads. Two LSI VPs approach, heads ducked. Fox gets out – they shake hands, shouting over the engine.
VP
Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Fox! Mr. Lau regrets he is unable to meet you in person. But with his current legal difficulties …!
FOX
I understand!
INT. LOBBY, LSI HOLDINGS – DAY 63
The VPs usher Fox towards security.
VP
I’m afraid for security reasons I have to ask for your mobile phone.
Fox hands his phone to a Security Guard, who puts the phone in a box underneath his station.
INT. LSI HOLDINGS – DAY 64
Fox and Lau eat lunch in a dining room overlooking the city.
LAU
I must apologize for leaving Gotham in the middle of our negotiations. This misunderstanding with the Gotham police force … I couldn’t let such a thing threaten my company. A businessman of your stature will understand. But with you here … we can continue.
FOX
Well, it was good of you to bring me out here in such style, Mr. Lau. But I’ve actually come …
A cell phone rings. Fox pulls out a second, identical, phone. Fox presses the off switch and places the phone by his plate.
LAU
We do not allow cell phones in –
FOX
Sorry. Forgot I had it. So, I’ve come to explain why we’re going to have to put our deal on hold …
Lau stares at Fox. Clearly furious. Fox smiles.
We can’t afford to be seen to do business with … well, whatever it is you’re accused of being. A businessman of your stature will understand.
Lau gets up. Silent. Fox retrieves his phone. Stands.
LAU
(cold)
I think, Mr. Fox, that a simple phone call might have sufficed.
FOX
Well, I do love Chinese food. And Mr. Wayne didn’t want you to think we’d been deliberately wasting your time.
LAU
Just accidentally wasting it.
FOX
(laughs)
That’s very good – ‘accidentally’. Very good. I’ll be sure and tell Mr. Wayne that he was wrong about you not having a sense of humor.
INT. LOBBY, LSI HOLDINGS – DAY 65
Fox walks back through security. Nods at the VP, who bows, offering Fox his cell phone. Fox shakes his head, holds up the identical phone. The VP smiles, nods, puts the phone back into the tray with several others.
INT. HOLD, C-130 CARGO HAULER – DAWN 66
Two Smugglers steal glances at Wayne, crouched at the rear in balaclava and flight suit. The Co-pilot signals Wayne, who pulls on his oxygen mask and stands up. The rear of the plane opens. Wayne steps to the edge, then jumps.
EXT. SKIES ABOVE HONG KONG – DAWN 67
Moving across the water towards Hong Kong Harbor …
A tiny figure drops into frame, plummeting towards the water – speeding past the highest floors of skyscrapers, seconds from impact. Wayne pulls the chute – drops into the water …
EXT. BENEATH FREEWAY, HONG KONG HARBOR – DAY 68
Wayne pulls himself out of the water, dragging up his pack.
EXT. CENTRAL ESCALATORS – DAY 69
Wayne stops halfway up the crowded commuter escalator. He takes a camera and lines up a shot like any tourist.
FOX
(o.s.)
There’s a better view from the peak tram.
Wayne turns to find Fox standing there, street map out.
WAYNE
How’s the view from LSI Holdings?
FOX
Restricted. Lau’s holed up in there good and tight. Here …
WAYNE
What’s this?
FOX
I had R and D work it up – it sends out high frequencies and records the response time to map an environment.
WAYNE
(smiles)
Sonar. Just like a b—
FOX
Submarine. Like a submarine.
WAYNE
And the other device?
FOX
In place.
Wayne nods, moves away.
Mr. Wayne?
Wayne turns.
Good luck.
EXT. HONG KONG – NIGHT 70
Moving towards the tallest building in the glittering skyline to find Wayne, crouched on the roof. The blades of his gauntlets click into place. He dons the helmet-like cowl. His ‘cape’ is in the form of a hard-faceted pack.
He stands, pulls two black boxes from his belt, clicks them together and unfolds them into a rifle-like device. Batman scopes a second, lower building. Adjusts a setting and fires – four times …
Four small sticky bombs slap onto the glass of the lower building. They have visible timers which are counting down.
INT. LOBBY, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 71
Fox’s cell phone glows in the box under the Security Guard’s desk. Characters race across the screen.
Then the monitor flickers off, the lights dim and all of the security doors in the front of the building open at once.
The Guard grabs his radio – calls for help …
EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 72
Batman launches into the glittering night, dropping from the tall tower. His pack bursts open, becoming his Bat-wings. He glides down to the lower building, streaking around it, banking hard to line up with a window in the rear …
INT. LAU’S OFFICE, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 73
Lau is talking on the phone, staring at a profit projection on a flat screen monitor. Suddenly the room goes dark.
EXT. LSI HOLDINGS – CONTINUOUS 74
As Batman hurtles towards the glass he collapses his wings, wrapping his cape around himself and cannonballing through the glass.
INT. LAU’S OFFICE SUITE, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 75
Rolling across the floor in a flurry of broken glass …
INT. LAU’S OFFICE, TOP FLOOR, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 76
Lau pulls out a handgun.
INT. HALLWAY, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 77
Lau steps into the hallway. His Bodyguards are waiting for him, carrying flashlights.
LAU
(in Chinese)
Where the hell are the cops?
BODYGUARD
(in Chinese)
Coming.
LAU
(in Chinese)
What the hell am I paying them for?
They head for the stairwell.
EXT. LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 78
A small army of Hong Kong police led by a Hong Kong Detective descends on the building.
INT. MEZZANINE LEVEL, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 79
Lau and his men make their way out onto the mezzanine.
Across the room, something makes a crashing sound. Lau’s men fan out, trying to cover the room with their flashlights.
Suddenly, one of the flashlights goes dark. Then another.
Someone screams.
Lau fires. Then fires again. The muzzle flash from his weapon strobes the room.
EXT. LSI HOLDINGS, HONG KONG – NIGHT 80
Cops swarm into the building. A lobby Security Guard directs the Hong Kong Detective where to go …
INT. OFFICE, LSI HOLDINGS – NIGHT 81
Lau locks the door. Reloads. The door is kicked open. Lau fires. No one is there.
Lau stares, finger restless on the trigger. From his right – a noise. He turns and fires.
In the muzzle flash: Batman, bearing down on him like a demon.
Lau fires, and fires again as Batman tackles him. Batman pulls out a small pack, straps it onto Lau.
The counter on the sticky bombs hits 0.
The Hong Kong Detective and the Cops burst into the room – the wall and ceiling behind Batman and Lau explode – revealing the dawn sky above Hong Kong.
The Detective looks around as he hears a low rumble …
Batman jerks the ripcord on Lau’s pack. Cops cower as a weather balloon explodes out of the pack, unreeling high-test nylon. The Cops cock their weapons.
Lau looks up. Bemused. The weather balloon is two hundred feet up, swaying gently. The rumble builds …
Suddenly, a massive C-130 roars over. The large ‘V’ on the front of the plane snags the line – Lau and Batman are yanked through the hole in the ceiling.
Lau screams as he and Batman soar up into the dawn sky …
The Detective looks up. Batman and Lau are gone.
INT. GORDON’S OFFICE, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL – DAY 82
Gordon is looking through case files. Ramirez walks in.
RAMIREZ
You’re gonna want to see this.
EXT. MCU – DAY 83
Gordon follows Ramirez through a crowd of excited cops. On the ground, trussed like a chicken – Lau. A sign taped to his chest: ‘Please deliver to Lieutenant Gordon.’
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL – DAY 84
Lau sits next to his sleazy lawyer, Evans. Rachel walks in.
RACHEL
Give us the money and we’ll deal.
LAU
The money is the only reason I’m still alive.
Rachel leans forward, speaking softly. Clearly.
RACHEL
You mean when they hear that you’ve helped us they’re going to kill you?
EVANS
Are you threatening my client?
RACHEL
No, I’m just assuming your client’s cooperation with this investigation. As will everyone. (Moves to the door.) Enjoy your stay in County, Mr. Lau.
LAU
Wait.
Rachel stops.
LAU
I won’t give you the money, but I’ll give you my clients. All of them.
RACHEL
You were a glorified accountant – what could you have on all of them that we could charge?
LAU
I’m good with calculation – I handled all their investments. One big pot.
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL – DAY 85
Dent hits a buzzer. Turns to Gordon.
DENT
I’ve got it. RICO. If their money was pooled we can charge all of them as one criminal conspiracy.
GORDON
Charge them with what?
Rachel enters.
DENT
In a RICO case if we can charge any of the conspirators with a felony –
RACHEL
We can charge all of them with it.
Dent nods at Rachel, excited.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL – DAY 86
Rachel comes back in.
RACHEL
Mr. Lau, do you have details of this communal fund? Ledgers, notebooks …?
LAU
(smiles)
Immunity, protection and a chartered plane back to Hong Kong.
RACHEL
Once you’ve testified in open court. So with your clients locked up, what happens to all that money?
LAU
Like I said – I’m good with calculation.
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL – CONTINUOUS 87
Dent and Gordon watch Lau.
GORDON
He can’t go to County. I’ll keep him here in the holding cells.
DENT
What is this, Gordon, your fortress?
GORDON
You trust them over at County?
DENT
I don’t trust them here.
GORDON
Lau stays.
DE
NT
It’s your call, Lieutenant. Be right.
GORDON
I am, Counselor.
EXT. CITY HALL – DAY 88
Dent stands in front of a small crowd of reporters.
REPORTER
The Chinese government claim their international rights have been broken.
DENT
I don’t know about Mr. Lau’s travel arrangements …
INT. RESTAURANT – CONTINUOUS 89
Dent’s press conference plays on a TV in the corner.
DENT
(grins)
… but I’m sure glad he’s back.
Maroni and the Chechen are watching the TV.
CHECHEN
I put word out. We hire the clown. (Off look.) He was right. We have to fix real problem. Batman.
Maroni shakes his head. Spots Gordon walking over dangling a pair of handcuffs. Nods at the TV.
GORDON
Our boy looks good on the tube.
MARONI
You sure you want to embarrass me in front of my friends, Lieutenant?
GORDON
Don’t worry, they’re coming, too.
Gordon points out the window to a prison bus.
EXT. VARIOUS DOWNTOWN AND OUTLYING LOCATIONS – DAY 90
Prison buses in every neighborhood. Cops load them with criminals. Stephens puts Crime Boss in a prison bus.
INT. COURTROOM A, GOTHAM MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE – DAY 91
Judge Surrillo reads the list of charges.
JUDGE SURRILLO
THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY: The Complete Screenplays with Storyboards Page 17