EXT. HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS 290
The Joker strolls down the steps – windows blow out in series. People dive for cover. Engel piles into a school bus.
The Joker walks across the parking lot, the building collapsing behind him …
EXT. INTERSECTION, GOTHAM STREETS – CONTINUOUS 291
Gordon hears the explosion.
GORDON
Gotham General … (Grabs his phone.) Did you get Dent out?
COP
(o.s.)
I think so –
EXT. HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS 292
The Cop cowers as debris and smoke blast across the street.
INT. SCHOOL BUS – CONTINUOUS 293
The Joker gets on to the bus. Nods at his man at the wheel.
EXT. HOSPITAL – CONTINUOUS 294
All eyes are on the collapsed building. One school bus pulls out from the line of other buses. Heads down the street.
INT. BAR, GOTHAM HEIGHTS – DAY 295
An empty neighborhood dive, the local Drunk passed out at the bar. Bartender watching breaking news on the TV.
BARTENDER
Sweet Jesus. D’you see this, Mike? They blew up a hospital …
Detective Wuertz, at a booth, looks up at the TV, bored.
BARTENDER
Shouldn’t you be out there, you know, doing something?
It’s my day off.
The Bartender shuts the register.
BARTENDER
I gotta take a leak, keep an eye on things, will ya?
The Bartender steps out. The back door opens again.
WUERTZ
What? You need me to shake it for –
He trails off as someone sticks a gun in his face: Harvey Dent. Standing in shadow. He sits.
DENT
Hello.
WUERTZ
Dent, I thought you was … dead …
Dent leans into the light. The left side of his face is hideously burned, cheek gone, blackened teeth and gums.
DENT
Half.
Dent picks up Wuertz’s drink. Takes a sip. Wuertz watches the bare muscles retract as Dent swallows.
DENT
Who picked up Rachel, Wuertz?
WUERTZ
It must’ve been Maroni’s men –
Dent slams the glass back on the table – Wuertz flinches.
DENT
You, of all people, are gonna protect the other traitor in Gordon’s unit?
WUERTZ
I don’t know – he’d never tell me. (Stares at Dent.) I swear to God, I didn’t know what they were gonna do to you –
DENT
Funny, I don’t know what’s going to happen to you, either.
Dent pulls his coin from his pocket. Flips it. Wuertz watches it spin. It lands on the table. Scarred side up. The drunk at the bar stirs at the gunshot.
EXT. GOTHAM GENERAL – DAY 296
Gordon, manic, surveys the scene with a Cop.
GORDON
You must know how many were inside – you’ve got patient lists, roll calls –
COP
Sir! Sir. Take a look at what we’re dealing with. Cops, National Guard – (Gestures at buses.) We’re showing fifty missing – but that building was clear. These buses are heading off to other hospitals – my guess is we missed one.
GORDON
Yeah? What’s your guess about where Harvey Dent is?
The Cop says nothing.
Keep looking. Keep it to yourself.
INT. FOX’S OFFICE, WAYNE ENTERPRISES – DAY 297
Fox is watching the news. His intercom buzzes.
VOICE
(o.s.)
Mr. Fox? Security is showing a break-in at the R and D Department.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – DAY 298
Fox watches two Security Men force the door. He enters alone.
INT. LAB, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – DAY 299
Fox enters the dimly lit room. At one end is an extraordinary array of thousands of tiny monitors. Fox approaches, fascinated, as they quietly display architectural patterns individually and in concert. The images become a map.
BATMAN
(o.s.)
Beautiful. Isn’t it?
Fox nods, staring at the monitors as Batman approaches.
FOX
Beautiful. Unethical. Dangerous. You’ve turned every phone in the city into a microphone …
Lucius presses a key. The babble of a million conversations at once fills the room. Every cell phone in the city.
BATMAN
And high frequency generator/receiver.
FOX
Like the phone I gave you in Hong Kong. You took my sonar concept and applied it to everybody’s phone in the city. With half the city feeding you sonar you can image all of Gotham. (Turns to Batman.) This is wrong.
BATMAN
I’ve got to find this man, Lucius.
FOX
But at what cost?
BATMAN
The database is null-key encrypted. It can only be accessed by one person.
FOX
No one should have that kind of power.
WAYNE
That’s why I gave it to you. Only you can use it.
Lucius looks at Batman. Hard.
FOX
Spying on thirty million people wasn’t in my job description.
Batman points to a TV screen. Fox turns. On screen: the Joker shakes his head above a graphic LATEST THREAT …
THE JOKER
What does it take to make you people want to join in …?
EXT. SITUATION TENT AT GOTHAM GENERAL – CONTINUOUS 300
Gordon watches a screen. Grave.
THE JOKER
You failed to kill the lawyer … I’ve got to get you off the bench and into the game. So, here it is …
INT. BAR, DOWNTOWN – CONTINUOUS 301
The bar, packed with business people watches the TV. Silent.
THE JOKER
Come nightfall, this city is mine, and anyone left here plays by my rules. If you don’t want to be in the game, get out now.
Bar Patrons start moving … The Joker reaches for the camera.
But the bridge-and-tunnel crowd are in for a surprise.
Cut to static. The Bar Patrons look around, confused.
INT. LAB, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – CONTINUOUS 302
Fox turns from the TV to look at Batman.
BATMAN
Trust me.
Fox stares at Batman.
BATMAN
This is the audio sample.
He plugs a USB dongle into the console. A sample of the Joker’s voice from the call-in news program plays.
If he talks within range of any phone in the city, you’ll be able to triangulate his position.
Fox toggles a menu. The city is an open book – people working, eating, sleeping. Lucius shakes his head.
BATMAN
When you’ve finished, type your name to switch it off.
FOX
I’ll help you this one time …
Lucius sits at the console. Batman moves off.
But consider this my resignation.
Batman turns. Fox looks at him, serious.
As long as this machine is at Wayne Enterprises, I won’t be.
EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS – DUSK 303
Gothamites pour out of the city, on foot and by car … The bridges and tunnels are deserted, but for bomb-squad search teams.
INT. CITY HALL – CONTINUOUS 304
Gordon briefs the Mayor.
GORDON
My officers are going over every inch of the tunnels and bridges, but with the Joker’s threat they’re not an option.
MAYOR
Land routes East?
GORDON
Backed up for hours. Which leaves the ferries with thirty thousand waiting to board. Plus, corrections are at capacity, so I want to use a ferry to take some prisoners off the island.
&n
bsp; MAYOR
The men you and Dent put away? Those aren’t people I’m worried about.
GORDON
You should be – they’re the people you least want to be stuck with in an emergency. Whatever the Joker’s planning, it’s a good bet that Harvey’s prisoners might be involved. I want ’em out of here.
EXT. FERRY TERMINAL – DUSK 305
At the ferry terminal, National Guardsmen watch over the thirty thousand jostling, scared people waiting to board the two massive ferries to Seven Sisters. Grumbles turn to yells as eight hundred Prisoners are loaded onto a ferry by shotgun-toting Corrections Officers.
CIVILIAN
That ain’t right! We should be on that boat.
NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
You want to ride across with them, be my guest.
EXT. BROWNSTONE – DUSK 306
Maroni climbs into the back of a limo.
INT. LIMO – DUSK 307
Maroni settles back into his seat. The car pulls away.
MARONI
Don’t stop for lights, cops, nothing.
DENT
(o.s.)
Going to join your wife?
Maroni starts. Someone is in here with him. Harvey Dent – Two-Face – leans forward, clutching a pistol.
DENT
You love her?
MARONI
Yes.
DENT
Can you imagine what it would be like to listen to her die?
MARONI
Take it up with the Joker. He killed your woman. Made you … like this …
DENT
The Joker’s just a mad dog. I want whoever let him off the leash.
Maroni looks at Dent. Worried.
DENT
I took care of Wuertz, but who was your other man inside Gordon’s unit? Who picked up Rachel? It must’ve been someone she trusted.
MARONI
If I tell you, will you let me go?
DENT
It can’t hurt your chances.
MARONI
It was Ramirez.
Pulls out his coin. Dent cocks the pistol …
MARONI
But you said –
DENT
I said it couldn’t hurt your chances.
Dent flips it. Looks: good side. He shrugs.
Lucky guy.
Maroni looks confused. Dent flips the coin again. Looks down at the coin. Shakes his head.
DENT
But he’s not.
MARONI
Who?
Dent smiles. Puts his seat belt on.
DENT
Your driver.
Dent presses the barrel of the revolver behind the shadow of the driver. Maroni lunges, screaming. Dent fires.
EXT. BRIDGE – DUSK 308
The limo swerves off of the bridge, soars out over the canal, and pancakes into the retaining wall.
EXT. FERRY TERMINAL – DUSK 309
Civilians cram their way on to one ferry. Finally, the Commander of the National Guard unit signals to his men to stop boarding and cast off.
The two ferries set off across the river, heading for the lights of the distant shore of the mainland.
INT. BRIDGE, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 310
The First Mate looks out the window, at the second ferry. It is dead in the water. He turns to the Pilot of the Prison Ferry.
FIRST MATE
They’ve lost their engines.
PILOT OF PRISON FERRY
Get on the radio and tell ’em we’ll come back for them once we dump these scumbags –
Suddenly, the control panel flickers and dies.
Get down to the engine room.
INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 311
The First Mate skirts around the Prisoners and Corrections Officers.
INT. ACCESS CORRIDOR, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 312
The First Mate opens the door to the engine room. Stops.
Hundreds of barrels of diesel fuel. And a small, wrapped present, topped with a bow.
INT. BRIDGE, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 313
The Pilot of the Prison Ferry is holding the small present. His radio crackles.
PILOT OF COMMUTER FERRY
(o.s.)
Same thing over here – enough diesel to blow us sky high. And a present.
EXT. ELEVATED ROADWAY, DOWNTOWN GOTHAM – CONTINUOUS 314
Batman sits on the Bat-Pod, cape blowing. Listening.
BATMAN
Fox? There’s something going on on the ferries …
INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY – NIGHT 315
As cold, scared families watch, the National Guard Commander unwraps that ferry’s present. Inside, he finds a crude remote detonator.
NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER
Why would they give us the detonator to our own bomb?
Up in the wiring at the ceiling, a cell phone taped in to the PA rings and answers.
THE JOKER
(o.s.)
Tonight, you’re all going to be part of a social experiment.
On both ferries: Civilians, Prisoners, Crew and National Guardsmen all listen as the Joker’s voice rings out.
INT. LAB, WAYNE ENTERPRISES – NIGHT 316
Lucius Fox looks up as the console chimes.
FOX
I’m zeroing in.
THE JOKER
(o.s.)
Through the magic of diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate, I’m ready right now to blow you all sky high. Anyone attempts to get off their boat, you all die …
FOX
His voice is on the ferry, but that’s not the source …
EXT. ROOFTOPS ABOVE GOTHAM – NIGHT 317
Batman looks out, across the entire city skyline.
BATMAN
Do you have a location on the Joker?
FOX
(o.s.)
It’s west …
Batman fires up the Bat-Pod – his cape shrinking into its pack form as he peels out, roaring into the night.
THE JOKER
(o.s.)
But we’re going to make things a little more interesting than that. Tonight, we’re going to learn a little bit about ourselves …
INT. GORDON HOME – CONTINUOUS 318
Barbara Gordon answers the phone.
RAMIREZ
(o.s.)
Barbara, it’s Anna Ramirez –
BARBARA
Hi, Anna –
RAMIREZ
(o.s.)
Listen carefully, there’s no time. Jim needs you to pack up and get the kids in the car right away.
BARBARA
But the units outside –
RAMIREZ
(o.s.)
Barbara, those cops can’t be trusted. Jim needs you away from them as soon as possible. I’ll call them off for ten minutes, you’ll have to move fast –
BARBARA
But where –
RAMIREZ
(o.s.)
I’m going to give you an address – Jim will meet you there …
EXT. MCU – CONTINUOUS 319
Ramirez is holding the phone.
RAMIREZ
250, 52nd Street. Leave as soon as the patrol car pulls out.
Dent is holding a gun at Ramirez’s head. She hangs up.
DENT
She believe you?
Ramirez nods.
DENT
She trusts you. Just like Rachel did.
RAMIREZ
I didn’t know –
DENT
‘What they were gonna do’? You’re the second cop to say that to me. What, exactly, did you think they were going to do?
RAMIREZ
I’m sorry – they got me early on. My mother’s medical bills and my –
DENT
Don’t!
Dent flips his coin.
RAMIREZ
I took a little from them – once they’ve got you, they keep you. I’m sorry.
Dent looks at his coin. Good side.
DENT
Live to fight another day, officer.
Dent cracks her on the head with his gun.
INT. BRIDGE, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 320
The Pilot of the Prisoner Ferry tries the radio. It’s dead.
PILOT OF PRISONER FERRY
He killed the radio.
THE JOKER
(o.s.)
There’s no need for all of you to die. That would be a waste. So I’ve left you both a little present.
EXT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING – NIGHT 321
The Joker stares out over the harbor, at the ferries. Talking into a cell phone. Holding a detonator, with two buttons.
THE JOKER
Each of you has a remote to blow up the other boat.
INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY – NIGHT 322
The Prisoners and Corrections Officers listen. Appalled.
THE JOKER
(o.s.)
At midnight, I blow you all up. If, however, one of you presses the button, I’ll let that boat live. You choose. So who’s it going to be – Harvey Dent’s most wanted scumbag collection … or the sweet innocent civilians? (Beat.) Oh, and you might want to decide quickly, because the people on the other boat may not be quite so noble.
The Joker hangs up. The Pilot of the Prisoner Ferry looks down at the remote in his hands. Prisoners begin yelling and pushing. The Warden takes the remote from the Pilot – cocks his shotgun. His men level their weapons at the crowd.
EXT. FERRY TERMINAL – CONTINUOUS 323
Gordon looks out at the ferries. His phone rings.
BATMAN
THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY: The Complete Screenplays with Storyboards Page 24