And he himself has run it –
DAGGETT
Into the ground, sir. Anybody disagree? Check the value of your shares this morning. Gambling on crazy futures didn’t just lose Mr. Wayne his seat, it’s lost us all a lot of money. He needs to leave.
FOX
I’m afraid he has a point, Mr. Wayne.
WAYNE
I understand. Ladies and gentlemen.
Wayne glances at Miranda who nods at him. Wayne leaves.
DAGGETT
Let’s get down to business.
FOX
Right away.
INT. LOBBY, WAYNE ENTERPRISES – CONTINUOUS 109
Wayne exits the building. There is an angry mob of Shareholders and a pack of hungry Reporters.
REPORTER
Wayne, how’s it feel to be one of the people?!
COMPANY VALET
I’m sorry, sir, they had paperwork –
Wayne looks over to see his Lamborghini being towed.
BLAKE
(o.s.)
Looks like you need a lift.
Wayne turns to see Blake standing by his patrol car. Nods.
INT. DAGGETT’S PENTHOUSE – DAY 110
Daggett bursts in, furious. Stryver tries to placate him.
DAGGETT
How the hell did Miranda Tate get the inside track on the Wayne board?! Was she meeting with Wayne? Was she sleeping with Wayne?
STRYVER
Not that we know of –
DAGGETT
Clearly you don’t ‘know of’ everything, do you?! Where’s Bane?!
STRYVER
We told him it was urgent –
DAGGETT
Then where is the masked –
BANE
(o.s.)
Speak of the devil …
Daggett turns. Bane is already there.
BANE
… and he shall appear.
DAGGETT
What the hell’s going on?
BANE
The plan is proceeding as expected.
DAGGETT
You see me running Wayne Enterprises?! (Moves towards Bane.) Your stock exchange hit didn’t work, friend. And now you’ve got my construction crews working all hours around the city? How exactly is that supposed to help my company absorb Wayne’s?
BANE
(to Stryver)
Leave us.
DAGGETT
You stay right there! I’m in charge!
Bane places a gentle hand on Daggett’s shoulder.
BANE
Do you feel in charge?
Daggett is taken aback. Stryver leaves.
DAGGETT
I’ve paid you a small fortune –
BANE
And that gives you power over me?
Daggett considers the heavy hand on his shoulder. Nervous.
DAGGETT
What is this?
BANE
Your money and infrastructure have been important. Till now.
DAGGETT
What are you?
BANE
Gotham’s reckoning. Come to end the borrowed time you’ve all been living on…
Bane gently takes the terrified Daggett’s head in his hands …
DAGGETT
You are true evil …
BANE
I am necessary evil.
Stryver, on the steps outside the living room, flinches.
SCENE OMITTED 111
INT./EXT. CRUISER ON GOTHAM STREETS – MOMENTS LATER 112
Wayne stares out the window. Blake glances across.
BLAKE
When you began … why the mask?
WAYNE
To protect the people closest to me.
BLAKE
You were a loner with no family.
WAYNE
There are always people you care about. You just don’t realize how much until they’re gone. (Collects himself.) The idea was to be a symbol. Batman could be anybody, that was the point.
BLAKE
It was damn good to see him back.
WAYNE
Not everybody agrees.
BLAKE
They’ll figure it out in the end.
WAYNE
Got anything on Bane’s whereabouts?
BLAKE
Yeah, I got five hundred pages of tunnel records and a flashlight. I could use some help.
WAYNE
(thinks)
You know what? Drop me in Old Town …
EXT. SELINA’S BUILDING, OLD TOWN, GOTHAM – DAY 113
Blake drops Wayne off.
WAYNE
Don’t wait. I’ll get a cab.
BLAKE
You got money?
WAYNE
(smiles, sheepish)
Actually, no.
Blake hands him some bills, watches him cross the street. The radio squawks. Blake reacts – drives off.
INT. SELINA’S APARTMENT – MOMENTS LATER 114
Selina is packing a bag. She hears voices in the stairwell.
JEN
(o.s.)
I told you, money first.
WAYNE
(o.s.)
I don’t think so.
INT. STAIRWELL OUTSIDE SELINA’S APARTMENT – CONTINUOUS 115
Selina finds Wayne standing there with Jen.
SELINA
He’s not a mark.
Jen looks at Selina. At Wayne.
SELINA
And he doesn’t have a cent to his name, anyway.
INT. SELINA’S APARTMENT – MOMENTS LATER 116
Wayne looks at the cramped space. Selina shifts, embarrassed.
SELINA
Yeah, it’s not much. (Smiles.) But it’s more than you’ve got right now.
WAYNE
Actually, they’re letting me keep the house.
SELINA
(shakes head)
The rich don’t even go broke same as the rest of us, huh?
WAYNE
(spots her bag)
Vacation?
SELINA
Let’s just say that I’ve incurred the wrath of some people less susceptible to my charms than you.
WAYNE
My powerful friend hopes to change your mind about leaving.
SELINA
And how would he do that?
WAYNE
By giving you what you want.
SELINA
It doesn’t exist.
WAYNE
He says it does. He wants to meet. Tonight.
SELINA
Why?
WAYNE
He needs to find Bane. He thinks you’d know how.
SELINA
Tell him I’ll think about it.
Wayne nods, starts to leave.
SELINA
Mr. Wayne? I’m sorry they took all your money.
WAYNE
No, you’re not.
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – DAY 117
Blake moves through the hospital corridor, looking for –
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – CONTINUOUS 118
Blake enters. Gordon is sitting up in bed, talking to Foley.
FOLEY
Can we help you, officer?
BLAKE
John Daggett’s body was found in a dumpster an hour ago. I thought you might like to know.
GORDON
Why?
BLAKE
Because Daggett’s name is all over the permits I pulled to map the tunnels under Gotham.
Blake hands Gordon a stack of files. Foley glares at Blake.
BLAKE
MTA maintenance, sewer construction …
GORDON
(to Foley)
Where did you get to with the tunnel searches?
FOLEY
(to Blake)
Remind me to tell the detail to keep hotheads out. (To Gordon.) We’ve had teams down there, but it’s a huge network –
GORDON
Get more men, work a grid. I want him f
ound.
FOLEY
Yeah, yeah – the masked man. We’re on it.
Gordon eyes the files hungrily – glances up at Blake.
GORDON
This is good work. Lose the uniform – you’re working for me now. We could use some hotter heads around here.
BLAKE
This could just be a coincidence.
GORDON
You’re a detective now, son, you’re not allowed to believe in coincidence any more.
Blake tries to conceal his excitement from Foley.
EXT. WAYNE MANOR – EVENING (END OF DAY) 119
Wayne, covering his head with a newspaper, hurries up the driveway in the rain. Steps into the alcove. Hits the bell.
MIRANDA
(o.s.)
Nobody’s answering.
Wayne turns to find Miranda there.
WAYNE
No. I’m on my own, now.
MIRANDA
Do you have keys?
Wayne looks a little helpless all of a sudden.
WAYNE
I’ve never needed them …
She takes his hand.
MIRANDA
Let’s find a window.
INT. GREAT ROOM, WAYNE MANOR – CONTINUOUS (END OF DAY) 120
They force the French windows – enter, brushing off the rain.
MIRANDA
Fox worked the board like you’ve never seen – I’m in, Daggett’s out and he’s not happy.
Wayne sets down the newspaper: FROM BILLIONAIRE TO BUM.
WAYNE
Hope you didn’t like me for my money.
Miranda kicks off her shoes. Glances at the paper.
MIRANDA
Suffering builds character.
Then at a photo of Wayne’s parents.
MIRANDA
I’ll take care of your parents’ legacy, Bruce.
Miranda picks up a photo of Rachel.
MIRANDA
Who’s this?
Wayne looks at her. Can’t find words …
MIRANDA
Where’s Alfred?
WAYNE
He left. Taking everything.
Miranda puts the photo down. Kisses him. Passionately. Then again. He kisses back. Suddenly the lights go out.
MIRANDA
What’s that?
WAYNE
(sheepish)
I think my power’s been shut off.
INT. SAME – LATER (NIGHT) 121
Wayne watches as Miranda tends to a roaring fire.
WAYNE
You’re pretty good at that.
MIRANDA
When I was a child we had almost nothing. But on the nights when we had a fire, we felt very rich indeed.
She returns to him, pulling a blanket around both of them.
WAYNE
I assumed your family was wealthy.
MIRANDA
Not always. Not when I was young.
He traces a scar on her shoulder.
MIRANDA
An old mistake.
WAYNE
I’ve made a few myself.
She turns to him, tracing the scars across his chest.
MIRANDA
More than a few … (Smiles.) We could leave. Tonight. Take my plane. Go anywhere we wanted.
WAYNE
Someday, perhaps. Not tonight.
She pulls him close. He kisses her. They fold into each other, the warm heart at the center of a vast, cold room.
INT. GREAT ROOM, WAYNE MANOR – NIGHT 122
Miranda is sleeping, wrapped in the blanket. Wayne studies her for a moment, then slips out …
INT. BATCAVE – MOMENTS LATER 123
Wayne moves to the Batsuit. Picks up the cowl.
EXT. SKIES ABOVE GOTHAM – NIGHT 124
The Bat roars towards downtown. Batman kills the lights and main engines – the Bat quietly autorotates into the canyons.
INT. MTA TUNNEL – LATER 125
Catwoman on a wall, watching trains go by. She senses …
CATWOMAN
Don’t be shy.
… Batman is there.
CATWOMAN
Wayne says you can get me the ‘Clean Slate’.
BATMAN
That depends.
CATWOMAN
On what?
BATMAN
On what you want it for. I acquired it to keep it out of the wrong hands.
CATWOMAN
Still don’t trust me, huh? How can we change that?
BATMAN
Start by taking me to Bane.
CATWOMAN
(shrugs)
You asked.
Catwoman jumps down. Batman follows. Catwoman leads him down into a service tunnel …
INT. SERVICE TUNNEL – CONTINUOUS 126
Catwoman speaks over her shoulder as she walks.
CATWOMAN
From here, Bane’s men patrol the tunnels … and they are not your average brawlers.
BATMAN
Neither am I.
Catwoman swings into a –
INT. SEWER TUNNEL – CONTINUOUS 127
A Mercenary patrols. Catwoman comes up behind.
CATWOMAN
He’s behind you.
MERCENARY
(spins)
Who?
Batman hangs upside down behind him.
BATMAN
(o.s.)
Me.
Darkness smashes onto the Mercenary. Gunfire in the tunnel. Catwoman races along, pursued by a Mercenary. He is yanked off his feet by darkness – he screams …
Batman picks off more and more Mercenaries. Screams echo … Batman follows Catwoman through the dark tunnel.
CATWOMAN
Just a little further.
A grate slams down, separating them – the lights come on. He is deep inside.
INT. BANE’S LAIR, SEWERS – CONTINUOUS 128
Mercenaries look down on him from above. Catwoman turns.
CATWOMAN
I had to find a way to stop them trying to kill me.
BATMAN
You’ve made a serious mistake.
BANE
(o.s.)
Not as serious as yours, I fear.
Batman turns. Bane emerges from behind the waterfalls.
BATMAN
Bane.
BANE
Let’s not stand on ceremony here, Mr. Wayne.
Catwoman hears the name. Less sure of what she’s done. Batman moves at Bane – strikes powerful blows – Bane catches his fist.
BANE
Peace has cost you your strength. Victory has defeated you.
Bane smashes Batman back – kicks him off the catwalk – Batman drops, uses his cape to land. Bane climbs down a chain – his men watch in disciplined silence – Batman hurls flashbangs at Bane, who doesn’t flinch.
BANE
Theatricality and deception are powerful agents … to the uninitiated.
Batman lashes out at Bane – Bane counters – they separate.
BANE
But we are the initiated, aren’t we, Bruce? The League of Shadows. And you betrayed us …
BATMAN
Us? You were excommunicated. From a gang of psychopaths.
BANE
Now I am the League of Shadows, here to fulfill Rā’s al Ghūl’s destiny …
Batman hurls himself at Bane, throwing him into the waterfall, where he smashes his fists and gauntlets into Bane’s mask again and again, water cascading over them.
Bane is not moving, just taking the blows. Batman pauses. Bane’s arms shoot out, smashing Batman aside – Bane rises …
BANE
You fight like a younger man. Nothing held back. No reserves. Admirable. But mistaken.
Batman hits a switch on his belt – the lights go out – Bane turns slowly, addressing all the shadows at once.
BANE
You think darkness is your ally. But you merely adopted the dark. I was born in it. Formed by it …
BANE
I didn’t see light until I was already a man. And by then it was nothing to me but blinding …
Bane lunges backwards into the darkness – Batman’s throat in his grasp.
BANE
The shadows betray you, because they belong to me …
Bane smashes him into the ground, pounding, pounding, pounding the hard cowl with his bare fists until it cracks.
Bane rises from Batman, gestures to the ceiling of the chamber – explosive charges have been drilled into holes …
BANE
I will show you where I’ve made my home while preparing to bring justice. Then … I will break you.
A Mercenary tosses Bane a detonator – Batman watches through cracked cowl – Bane hits the detonator – explosions burst over his head as the ceiling crumbles revealing:
Applied Sciences – Bane has dropped the bottom out of Fox’s weapons store … a camouflage Tumbler rests in the rubble.
BATMAN
No …
BANE
Your precious armory. Gratefully accepted. We will need it.
INT. APPLIED SCIENCES – CONTINUOUS 129
Mercenaries race through the stacks of equipment …
INT. BANE’S LAIR, SEWERS – CONTINUOUS 130
Batman climbs to his feet, swaying. Bane approaches.
BANE
I wondered which would break first – your spirit …
Batman swings at him – misses – Bane grabs him, lifts him high.
… or your body.
Bane brings Batman down onto his knee, breaking his back with a horrific crack.
In the shadows, Catwoman looks on. Shocked. Bane crouches to pull the broken cowl off the broken Wayne. Mercenaries lift Wayne’s limp body and carry him off … Bane stares into the hollow eyes of his trophy …
Catwoman slinks back into the shadows, and we –
Fade to black.
Fade in:
EXT. WAYNE MANOR – DAY 131
Blake’s cruiser pulls up. He noses up to windows. Nothing.
EXT. SELINA’S BUILDING, OLD TOWN, GOTHAM – DAY 132
Blake sits in his cruiser. Selina exits, wide-brimmed hat, bags. Blake recognizes her. She hails a cab.
THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY: The Complete Screenplays with Storyboards Page 32