the batman #4 - the ice lounge

THE ICE LOUNGE

“THE BATMAN”

Written by

Lee Cordner

Season One, Episode Four

Copyright © 2012

FADE IN:

INT. ICE LOUNGE VIP AREA -- NIGHT

Gunshots all around. Thugs fire upon the VIP area. Two

baterangs are shown in a gloved hand, they are thrown

towards the thugs.

A Thug is hit by the baterang, the other baterang hits the

light sending sparks flying, the room is in darkness.

Thug stands still, shivering, frightened. He is soon taken

off his feet. Thugs fire wildly, at anything they cannot

see, each one is taken down, five in total completely

useless in taking down the intruder.

PENGUIN (O.S.)

I don’t care if ‘e’s here or

not, get out there and shoot

the bastard. ‘e’s destroying my

hotel!

TWO EYE SLITS light up bright blue. It’s Batman, he’s here

and he’s pissed off. His outfit torn, blood dripping from

his lip, his cape slit and torn and jagged, he’s been

through hell.

Penguin emerges from the MANAGER’S OFFICE. Gun in hand,

with two armed thugs carrying machineguns.

Penguin looks around, his pointed nose, his short and

stubby appearance in a black suit with a pink tie is quite

menacing. His left eye an 8-ball, his right one searching

the room for Batman.

PENGUIN (O.S.) (cont’d)

I know you’re ‘ere Bats, show

yourself so we may ‘ave a nice

little discussion.

Shadow crawls along the wall. Penguin smirks, lights up

cigar.


Fine, ‘ave it your way then!

Thug is thrown through the VIP booth railing. The other is

launched through a window, a grappling hook catches his leg

as he dangles out of the window 80 stories above the

ground.

2.

Penguin backs up, his finger on the trigger as a large

menacing shadow approaches him-

He shoots and we-

CUT TO BLACK:

SUPER: THE BATMAN

FADE TO:

SUPER: THE ICE LOUNGE

INT. BATCAVE -- DAY

The Batmobile is scratched and its hood is up. Bruce, still

in his Batman gear without his mask on is at the desk, he

pushes (angrily) all of the equipment off the desk and

yells angrily.

ALFRED

There was nothing you could have

done, sir.

BRUCE WAYNE

I could have tried, Alfred!

The goddamn Joker killed him

in front of his own father. I was

too late.

ALFRED

It’s not your fault. The Joker is

a loose cannon, no one could have

predicted he would do what he did.

BRUCE WAYNE

I need to find him.

ALFRED

Give it some time, sir.

BRUCE WAYNE

No. He got away with killing my

parents, I’m not going to let him

slip away again. I’m killing the

bastard, tonight.

Bruce approaches the Batmobile.

3.

ALFRED

Sir, you’re hurt, he’s gone, just

wait, please.

BRUCE WAYNE

I’ll find him.

ALFRED

How?

BRUCE WAYNE

Cobblepot.

Bruce puts on the mask, gets into the Batmobile and drives

off. Alfred is worried, he turns to Callie.

ALFRED

Is there any way you can bring him

back?

CALLIE

He disabled my functions outside of

the laboratory, I cannot intervene.

CUT TO:

INT. ICE LOUNGE, MANAGER’S OFFICE -- NIGHT

Penguin is sitting at his desk, lightning strikes outside.

He’s looking at some files, a widescreen TV behind him, a

cigar resting in an ashtray.

Phone rings... Penguin answers.

PENGUIN

Yeah, what?

(Beat)

Look, if you are gonna speak then

speak, I don’t ‘ave time for games.

(Beat)

Oh, it’s you. You ‘ave a nerve

calling me, ‘e could be watchin’.

(Beat)

I saw it on the news, boy’s still

warm in the mortuary, father won’t

leave ‘is side. Quite poetic.

(Beat)

What?

4.

Penguin stands up, approaches window, moves the blinds out

of the way and looks out.

PENGUIN (cont’d)

I’m not scared. I have fifty men

in this hotel, he won’t stand a

chance.

(Beat)

He won’t come ‘ere, ‘e’s not an

idiot.

(Beat)

I knew workin’ for you would be a

pain in my ass.

OFF SCREEN: Laughter, cackling...

Penguin takes the phone away from his ear, shakes his head

and slams it down. He approaches the door, opens it.

Two bodyguards are standing there, hired thugs.

THUG #1

Problem, boss?

PENGUIN

The clown called, said that the

Batman is on ‘is way ‘ear. I want

all of you ready, do you hear me?

THUG #2

Of course we hear you, boss. We’re

right here.

PENGUIN

Not the time for jokes you moron!

Penguin slaps Thug #2 around the head. Thug #1 looks on.

PENGUIN (cont’d)

I want that night crawler’s head on

a bloody pike, if he steps foot in

this hotel I want him dead. Got it?

THUG #1

How does Joker know he’s coming?

PENGUIN

He’s Batman, he knows I know Joker.

5.

EXT. ALLEYWAY -- NIGHT

Batmobile is parked in darkness. Batman is outside, in the

rain, looking up at the hotel “The Ice Lounge”, the

skyscraper that illuminates the city.

Batman uses the batclaw to hook himself onto one of the

ventilation shafts, he zips up to it, uses a screwdriver to

loosen the screws and climbs inside.

The Woman in Pink watches as Batman vanishes into the

shaft, her eyes glisten blue, blue orbs float into the air

and she disappears from sight.

INT. VENTILATION SHAFT -- NIGHT

Batman makes his way through the ventilation system. He

reaches an opening, climbs through into-

INT. LOBBY -- NIGHT

Two Thugs are standing at the reception desk. A woman is at

the desk, intimidated. Batman takes cover behind a wall,

listening in on the conversation.

THUG #3

So, lady, interested?

RECEPTIONIST

Drop dead, asshole.

THUG #4

She told you, Jack.

THUG #3

Bitch, do you know who I am?

Thug #3 grabs the woman, hoists her over the desk, slams

her into the wall and intimidates her by choking her as

Thug #4 laughs.

THUG #3 (cont’d)

I’m not the sort of person you want

to mess around with.

RECEPTIONIST

Please.

6.

Baterang cuts into Thug #3’s arm, Batman comes out, punches

him in the face. Thug #4 takes out a knife, slices at

Batman who dodges and throws Thug #4 head first into the

desk, causing wood to splinter.

Thug #3 swings wildly, missing Batman who grabs him by the

arm, breaks it with a wicked elbow to the forearm and then

shoves Thug #3 into the wall, grabbing him by the throat.

THUG #3

You son of a bitch I’ll gut you!

BATMAN

Where’s Cobblepot?

THUG #3

You think you intimidate me? I’m not

one of Joker’s men, I’m a Penguin man.

BATMAN

I couldn’t care less who you are.

Where is Cobblepot?

Receptionist looks on, afraid, holding her throat.

BATMAN (cont’d)

TELL ME WHERE HE IS!

THUG #3

I’m not telling you a damn thing

you psycho.

Batman grabs Thug #3’s gun, dropping Thug #3 and pointing

the gun at Thug #3’s head. Finger on the trigger.

THUG #3 (cont’d)

You would never pull the trigger.

Batman shoots the wall behind the thug, who puts up his

hands.

BATMAN

Don’t tempt me.

THUG #3

Alright, man, he’s on the 80th floor,

but it’s suicide. You’ll never reach

him alive. He already knows you’re here.

7.

BATMAN

Good.

Batman pistol whips the thug. Turns to the woman, drops the

gun. He looks at her, she seems scared of him.

BATMAN (cont’d)

You should get out of here.

She leaves. Batman locks the front doors.

OFF SCREEN: Clapping...

Batman turns around. Walks to the stairs.

INT. MANAGER’S OFFICE -- NIGHT

Penguin is watching the monitors, clapping.

PENGUIN

He really is something.

INT. EIGHTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman takes cover behind a short wall. Thugs are shooting

wildly. Batman takes out two sticky baterangs, arms them to

detonate. He throws them.

Thugs run out of the way, Baterangs stick into the wall and

explode. Shards of wood and pieces of brick fly everywhere

as Batman tosses a smoke grenade and runs through the smoke

towards three Thugs.

He disarms one, throwing him into the wall. Disarms

another, knees him in the stomach and throws him through a

door.

The next one backs up towards a window, Batman comes

hurtling through the smoke, tackling the man through the

window outside.

EXT. EIGHTH FLOOR BALCONY -- NIGHT

Thug gets up, knife in hand, slashes at Batman who dodges

but his costume gets slashed. Batman grabs the Thug, slams

his head into the metal railing and turns to the window as-

Another Thug starts shooting from inside the building.

8.

Batman leaps off the balcony, grabbing his batclaw and

zipping up to the ninth floor. Kicking through the window-

INT. NINTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman crashes through the window, rolling through onto his

feet as thugs shoot at him from across the room. Three

Thugs run down the stairs with guns in hand, one runs up

the stairs.

Batman’s eye slits light up, he can see through the walls,

orange signatures showing where the Thugs are.

He takes the Batrod from his sheath, hits the button and it

start sparking. He runs out from behind cover, throwing a

baterang which splits into five baterangs that disarm five

Thugs.

Batman smashes a Thug into a vase, he then dodges another

as the Thug swings a baseball bat. Batman hits him with the

Batrod, electrocuting him and knocking him out.

Two more Thugs run over, guns in hand, they shoot. Batman

drops a smoke grenade, runs through the smoke and

clotheslines them both.

Another Thug slashes at Batman, Batman dodges and kicks the

Thug through the railing.

Batman turns, gets punches in the face by a Thug as another

grabs him from behind.

A Thug picks up the Batrod, gets an electric shock and

falls to the ground.

Three Thugs left.

Batman is still in the Thug’s grip, he backs himself and

the Thug into the wall, using the leverage to kick the

other Thug in the face.

Batman then turns, head butts the Thug that held him and

turns around, getting kicked in the stomach and rocked

backwards.

Thug grabs Batman around the throat. Batman disorients the

Thug by whacking him on the ears with both hands. Thug

drops Batman, Batman knees him in the face.

9.

CUT TO:

EXT. ROOFTOP -- NIGHT

The crime scene is set up. Gordon is there, consoling his

wife who is wrapped in a towel. Harleen Quinzel is there,

talking with Commissioner Walker.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

Joker’s still out there.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

And I’m telling you to drop it.

Cop runs over, in a hurry.

COP

Sir, we’re getting reports of

gunfire at the Ice Lounge.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Joker?

COP

Batman, sir.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Quinzel, with me.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

What about Gordon?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

It’s best he stay out of this. No

telling what he’ll do.

Harleen and Walker leave with the Cop. Gordon and Barbara

sit on the rooftop, looking at the chalk-drawing of their

son.

CUT TO:

INT. ELEVENTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman throws a Thug into the elevator shaft, grabs him and

dangles him over an eleven-story drop.

Thug yells in fear, almost crying.

10.

THUG

Please, don’t kill me!

BATMAN

Tell me how to get to Penguin.

THUG

I just started here, I don’t know

where he is, I swear!

BATMAN

You expect me to buy that?

THUG

It’s the truth I swear to God!

BATMAN

Then hope he answers your prayers.

Batman drops the Thug who screams as he falls down the

elevator shaft. Batman throws baterang down at him, the

baterang shoots out a claw, it traps Thug’s leg and sticks

to the wall, slamming Thug’s face into elevator doors.

INT. TWELFTH FLOOR STAIRWAY -- NIGHT

Batman is walking up the steps, he stops, staggering

against the wall. A piece of glass jammed in his abdomen,

he pulls it out, blood spurts and he lets out a slight cry

of pain.

CALLIE (O.S.)

Bruce, where are you?

BATMAN

Callie?

CALLIE (O.S.)

Your energy readings are low, your

suit seems to be damaged.

BATMAN

How are you talking to me?

CALLIE (O.S.)

I hacked through the firewall you

put up, Alfred is worried.

11.

BATMAN

You’re a computer, you don’t know what

worried means. Stay out of it.

CALLIE (O.S.)

I am only trying to speak with you,

make you see reason. You do not have

to do this.

BATMAN

I told you, stay the hell out of my

business. I’m fine.

Callie does not respond.

INT. TWELFTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman walks in. Two thugs are waiting for him, guns in

hand. He looks at them, Batrod in hand.

THUG #5

Just give it up, man. You don’t stand

a chance.

BATMAN

Get out of my way.

THUG #5

No. Because if you keep going you

will kill yourself. My kid looks

up to you.

BATMAN

I’m not going to ask you again.

THUG #5

I’m not standing in your way, just

trying to stop you making a mistake.

THUG #6

Man, kill him.

THUG #5

No. I came here tonight to tell Penguin

to shove his job, I’m done.

Thug #5 lays down his gun. Thug #6 goes to shoot him,

Batman throws a baterang at Thug #6’s head.

12.

Thug #5 walks towards Batman. He’s young, early to mid

twenties, had a wedding ring.

BATMAN

Why not shoot me?

THUG #5

Because I’m not a murderer.

BATMAN

Then what are you?

THUG #5

A man with a two-year-old son.

Thug #5 leaves the floor through the doorway. Batman limps

ahead, looking down at Thug #6. He continues.

CUT TO:

INT. POLICE CAR -- NIGHT

Harleen is driving, Walker is in the passenger seat.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

So, let me get this straight. Batman

gets to the rooftop too late, Gordon

loses his son, and now Batman is shooting

up the Ice Lounge?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Yeah.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

Batman doesn’t kill people.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Perhaps people are trying to kill him?

HARLEEN QUINZEL

You think Joker’s there?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

We’ll find out in a minute.

EXT. STREET -- NIGHT

Police car approaches The Ice Lounge, it looks quiet.

13.

INT. FIFTEENTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman walks through the door, no thugs on this level. He

walks through into the lounge area, discarded cigarettes

and ashtrays, bottles of beer strewn all over the floor,

it’s a mess.

Two Thugs approach from behind. One has a baseball bat, he

whacks Batman around the legs with it, Batman falls to his

knees.

Thug #7 smirks, laughing, he grabs Batman by the chin and

punches him in the face. Batman spits blood out.

THUG #7

Bats is human after all.

THUG #8

Let’s kill him.

Thug #7 snatches the baseball bat. Whacks Batman in the

chest, then across the back, Batman falls to his chest on

the ground. Crawling, Thug #7 stands on Batman’s back, RAMS

THE TOP OF THE BASEBALL BAT INTO BATMAN’S KIDNEYS.

Batman cries in pain.

Thug #7 holds out the baseball bat.

THUG #7

Go ahead, have a go.

Thug #8 takes the bat, whacks Batman across the back with

force. Thug #7 turns Batman over, pushes him into the wall.

Thug #8 cracks the baseball bat over Batman’s kneecap.

Batman cries in pain, immense pain.

Thug #8 hoists Batman up, dragging him across the room and

throwing him through one of the room doors.

INT. ROOM 71 -- NIGHT

Batman grabs the railing of the bed. Thug #8 grabs Batman,

throwing him into the wall. Thug #7 walks in, chuckling

menacingly.

Batman is whacked in the chest with the baseball bat.

14.

Batman wheezes, he can hardly breathe.

THUG #8

This is too easy.

THUG #7

Then how about we end it?

Thug #7 pulls out a magnum. Aims it at Batman’s head, pulls

the trigger but his hand is wildly flung and his bullet

strikes Thug #8 in the head, killing him.

THUG #7 (cont’d)

What the-

Thug #7 turns, Woman in Pink. Her eyes light up, she slams

Thug #7 into the wall with a wave of her hand. She then

shoots out two golden lights of energy that stick Thug #7

to the wall.

WOMAN IN PINK

Hush.

She clenches her fist, the Thug falls asleep at her

command.

She looks at Batman, who is battered and beaten, severely

damaged.

WOMAN IN PINK (cont’d)

What have you gotten yourself into?

BATMAN

You.

WOMAN IN PINK

Try not to move, this might sting.

She holds her hand over Bruce’s knee, his kneecap is

healed. She holds her hand over his chest, they’re healed

too.

She then stands up, he does too. He feels hurt still, but

not as much as he was before she arrived.

BATMAN

Who the hell are you and how did you

do that?

15.

WOMAN IN PINK

Listen to me. Turn back, get out of here,

if you keep going you will die. I

might be able to heal a broken knee,

but I can’t cure death. You have to

turn back. I won’t help you again.

BATMAN

Why help me?

WOMAN IN PINK

Because you’re important.

BATMAN

I’m just a man.

WOMAN IN PINK

You’re a symbol, Bruce. Joker will

still be around tomorrow and you are

the only one that can stop him. But

if you proceed with this, you will

die.

BATMAN

What do you know about Joker?

WOMAN IN PINK

I’ve been around long enough to know

that he didn’t kill your parents.

BATMAN

What?

WOMAN IN PINK

Someone else did, and he’s here, Bruce.

If you don’t turn back, he will kill

you too.

BATMAN

What are you talking about?

WOMAN IN PINK

Get out of here, Bruce. I won’t ask

you twice and I won’t come back, if

you keep going, you’ll be on your own.

BATMAN

Wait, who are you?

16.

Woman in Pink is glistening, about to disappear.

WOMAN IN PINK

I’m a friend.

She disappears from sight. Bruce stands there for a moment,

considering his options.

He walks out of the door-

INT. TWENTIETH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Bruce did not turn back, he takes cover behind a wall. Four

armed thugs are standing near the elevator. His eye slits

turn blue, he surveys the area.

There’s a pipe running along the bare wall, a water pipe.

He takes out an explosive charge in the shape of a hockey

puck, loads it into the gun and shoots it.

Puck sticks to the pipe, Thugs look at it. Puck explodes,

sending shards of metal everywhere and water begins to

spill out all over the place.

Thugs are distracted. Batman swoops in, takes one down

silently. Then another, then slams the last two’s heads

together, rendering all of them unconscious.

Two armed thugs walk around the corner, Batman sees them,

quickly ducks into a room as the thugs notice the

unconscious bodies on the ground.


Batman approaches the window, he opens it, climbing outside

onto the balcony. He looks down, police lights flashing. He

looks up, another sixty stories to go before the penthouse.

He shoots his grappling hook up, it latches onto another

balcony some six stories higher and he zips up toward it.

FLASH:

GUNSHOT. BRUCE’S PARENTS FALL DEAD. TWO MEN IN THE

ALLEYWAY. ONE WITH A HAT, 20’S STYLE, LIKE A 1920’S

GENTLEMAN.

FLASH ENDS.

17.

EXT. BALCONY 27TH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Bruce lands on the balcony, staggers to the wall.

FLASHBACK:

EXT. NEW LINES THEATRE -- NIGHT

Bruce, a kid, steps out of the backdoor with his parents

Martha and Thomas Wayne. They’re walking.

BRUCE WAYNE

I’m sorry, daddy.

THOMAS WAYNE

About what?

BRUCE WAYNE

That I didn’t like it.

MARTHA WAYNE

You have nothing to feel sorry

about, Bruce. To be honest I think

Chad was a bit overdramatic during

the first act alone.

Thomas laughs.

THOMAS WAYNE

That I can agree on.

Two shadowed thugs emerge from darkness. Both wielding

guns. JACK NAPIER AND... The Hat Man, his face shadowed.

JACK NAPIER

Give me your wallet, rich boy.

Thomas puts up his hands. Bruce looks on frightened, Martha

seems scared too, but remains brave.

THOMAS WAYNE

Okay, take it easy, just put the

gun down and walk away.

JACK NAPIER

Guess you didn’t hear me.

Jack aims his gun at Martha, she’s frozen, terrified.

18.

THOMAS WAYNE

Wait - please! Look, here, take it

and go. Just don’t hurt my family.

Jack takes the wallet from Thomas’ hand. He smirks, opening

it, taking out the money.

JACK NAPIER

Thanks your honour.

THOMAS WAYNE

Now please, just go.

Hat Man pulls the trigger, Thomas falls down dead, Bruce

screams, Martha does too, Hat Man shoots her as Jack looks

on. The Joker, with some humanity.

HAT MAN

Nothing personal, Mr Wayne.

Bruce looks at the Hat Man as Napier takes off running. Hat

Man stands over the bodies with a smoking gun in hand,

Bruce looks at him with fire in his eyes, angry.

HAT MAN (cont’d)

You might come to hate me for what

I did this night, young Bruce. Do

not hesitate to find me when you

are ready.

Hat Man walks away. Bruce cradles his mother in his arms,

unable to bring himself to the reality of what has

happened.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

EXT. BALCONY 27TH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Back to present. Bruce remembers, he remembers everything.

EXT. ICE LOUNGE PARKING LOT -- NIGHT

Walker and Harleen step out from the cop car. A dozen or so

cop cars parked all around the building, cops standing

outside looking up. A SWAT truck pulls up.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Drake, what have you got?

19.

TIM DRAKE (20’s) handsome, a rookie cop with an iron jaw,

wearing police uniform.

TIM DRAKE

What haven’t I got? I’ve got the

hotel receptionist who screamed in

my ear when she ran out of the

building, two old ladies with walking

sticks incapable of remembering their

own names and a homeless guy trying

to beg for money at a crime scene.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

I meant on the Batman.

TIM DRAKE

All of them say the same thing, that

he’s here, in the hotel and he’s

not in a good mood. The receptionist

said he almost killed a guy.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

This is Cobblepot’s place, right?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Yeah, so?

HARLEEN QUINZEL

So, Cobblepot is a crime boss, he

should have been locked up by now.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

He’s stays out of trouble, he’s none

of our concern. Besides, he works for

us.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

What?

TIM DRAKE

You’re working with a frigging crime

boss? You’re supposed to be a cop.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

I am a cop, sometimes I need a little

help catching the bad guys, since he

knows most of them he came in handy.

20.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

Does he know where Joker is?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Can we focus? Batman is in there, by

my count the people of Gotham want

him arrested. He’s a vigilante, he

needs to be stopped. If Cobblepot knows

where Joker is, then we’ll squeeze it

out of him ourselves. We get in there,

find both of them, before one of them

ends up dead.

Walker walks away. Drake and Harleen look on.

TIM DRAKE

Bet you never thought you’d be working

for an asshole like that, huh?

HARLEEN QUINZEL

I’ve seen worse.

TIM DRAKE

I bet. Read your file, detective.

Very nasty business in Chi-town.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

Don’t remind me.

CUT TO:

INT. THIRTY-SIXTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman is walking, clenching his fist, his arm is in pain

and he keeps staggering, unable to keep his balance.

CALLIE

Bruce, are you there?

BATMAN

Callie, long time.

CALLIE

I thought I would give you time to

cool down before I contacted you

again. Your vital signs have

increased, it’s unusual.

21.

BATMAN

Let’s just say I met a girl.

CALLIE

A girl?

BATMAN

I want you to run the discovery

program, initialize a search pattern

for a woman in pink.

CALLIE

Cross-referencing data now, should

be catalogued by the time you return.

Bruce, be careful.

BATMAN

How’s Alfred?

CALLIE

He retreated to his chambers for the

night. Unable to deal with the potential

threat of burying another Wayne. His

words, not mine.

BATMAN

Keep an eye on him.

CALLIE

I already am.

BATMAN

Thanks, Callie. Out.

Batman stops at a wall, he peers around it. At least eight

thugs are standing near the open area, by the pool table.

THUG #9

Do you think Batman is dead by now?

THUG #10

Haven’t heard anything for a while.

THUG #11

He’s not dead.

THUG #10

What makes you say that?

22.

THUG #11

The guy’s a phantom, can’t kill a

phantom.

THUG #10

You honestly believe Batman is a phantom

of the night? Some sort of demon?

THUG #11

We work for a Dwarf.

Thugs laugh, Thug #10 doesn’t see the humour in it.

THUG #10

If Cobblepot heard you speaking like

that he’d have you shot.

THUG #11

And I guess you’d pull the trigger

huh, tough guy?

Thug #10 and #11 start fighting one another. Batman slips

by undetected.

INT. LOBBY -- NIGHT

The window is smashed through, SWAT moves into the lobby.

Two Thugs are still unconscious, Harleen, Walker and Drake

walk into the lobby. It’s quite a mess.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

If Batman’s here he would have headed

up towards the penthouse, just in case

I want two teams on the seventy-eighth and

seventy-ninth floors. Drake, Harleen, you

stick with me.

TIM DRAKE

Let me guess, we’re heading into the

hornet’s nest?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

We take them both, alive.

CUT TO:

INT. SEVENTY-FIFTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

23.

Batman makes his way upstairs, the lights flicker. Doors

bashes through, out steps a large brutish man who grabs

Batman and slams him against the wall.

Batman knees the giant in the balls, then stings him with

the Batrod and knocks him unconscious.

BATMAN

Christ!

Batman looks into the room, there’s a little girl in there,

cowering in fear beneath the bed.


Batman walks in, kneels down beside the bed. Beneath is the

young girl, she’s crying.

BATMAN (cont’d)

Hey, are you alright?

GIRL

Go away.

BATMAN

I’m not going to hurt you.

GIRL

You hurt my daddy.

BATMAN

He’s your father?

Girl doesn’t reply. The giant steps up, walks into the room

holding his head and sees Batman. He’s not a thug, he’s

just a father, a very large one at that.

GIANT

Don’t you hurt her.

BATMAN

How did you know I was outside?

GIANT

I heard you.

BATMAN

Get next door, barricade the door.

24.

GIANT

You’re not going to hurt her?

BATMAN

No.

GIANT

I’m sorry, about the tackle.

BATMAN

Happens all the time.

CUT TO:


Penguin throws the ashtray across the room in anger. He’s

on the phone, talking with someone.

PENGUIN

He’s here and he’s destroying my bloody

hotel you clown, where are the bloody

reinforcements you promised?

INT. JOKER’S HIDEOUT -- NIGHT

Joker is holding the gun in his hand, the gun he killed

James with.

JOKER

They’re already there.

PENGUIN (O.S.)

You what? All I see is flashin’ lights

outside -

JOKER

Bingo!

PENGUIN (O.S.)

You bastard. You deranged freak! You

set me up!

JOKER

Of course I did. Because I know who

you are, Cobblepot. You’re a snitch.

And you’re on your own, 1-2-Batman’s-

coming-for-you-3-4-a-knock-at-the-door.

25.


Penguin is angry as the sounds of Joker’s laughter echoes

through the phone receiver. He slams the phone down, and

throws the phone out of the window in anger.

LIGHTNING STRIKES. THUNDER CLAPS. PENGUIN IS ANGRY AND

SEEMINGLY FOAMING AT THE MOUTH.

INT. NINTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Drake and Harleen look at the carnage Batman has caused.

Unconscious Thugs crawling around, many of them awake, some

arrested on sight and detained.

TIM DRAKE

Christ, who the hell is this guy?

COMMISSIONER WALKER

He’s a vigilante, Drake.

HARLEEN QUINZEL

None of them are dead.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

Keep moving. Batman is coming back

to the precinct with us.

TIM DRAKE

Sir, forgive my intrusion but, if he

can do this to ten armed thugs I don’t

think we’re going to be a problem.

Walker considers, perhaps Drake is right.

CUT TO:

INT. ICE LOUNGE VIP AREA -- NIGHT

Batman is holding a guy, choking him out with his arm

wrapped around the man’s throat. He stands, the thug is

left unconscious.

Batman takes cover near the wall. He looks around the

corner, two thugs armed, standing near the door of the

manager’s office.

Three thugs emerge from a room, carrying guns-

26.

They spot Batman, they open fire.

Gunshots all around. Thugs fire upon the VIP area. Two

baterangs are shown in a gloved hand, they are thrown

towards the thugs.

A Thug is hit by the baterang, the other baterang hits the

light sending sparks flying, the room is in darkness.

Thug stands still, shivering, frightened. He is soon taken

off his feet. Thugs fire wildly, at anything they cannot

see, each one is taken down, five in total completely

useless in taking down the intruder.

PENGUIN (O.S.)

I don’t care if ‘e’s here or

not, get out there and shoot

the bastard. ‘e’s destroying my

hotel!

TWO EYE SLITS light up bright blue. It’s Batman, he’s here

and he’s pissed off. His outfit torn, blood dripping from

his lip, his cape slit and torn and jagged, he’s been

through hell.

Penguin emerges from the MANAGER’S OFFICE. Gun in hand,

with two armed thugs carrying machineguns.

Penguin looks around, his pointed nose, his short and

stubby appearance in a black suit with a pink tie is quite

menacing. His left eye an 8-ball, his right one searching

the room for Batman.


I know you’re ‘ere Bats, show

yourself so we may ‘ave a nice

little discussion.

Shadow crawls along the wall. Penguin smirks, lights up

cigar.


Fine, ‘ave it your way then!

Thug is thrown through the VIP booth railing. The other is

launched through a window, a grappling hook catches his leg

as he dangles out of the window 80 stories above the

ground.

27.

Penguin backs up, his finger on the trigger as a large

menacing shadow approaches him. Penguin shoots, misses,

Batman tackles him through the door into-


Batman is whacked with Penguin’s cane, he falls to the

ground. Penguin struggles for the gun, he grabs it and

points the gun at Batman who swats it away as it GOES OFF.

SHOOTING THE LIQUOR CABINET.

Alcohol spills out, glass splinters. Batman grabs Penguin,

forces him against the wall. Penguin head butts Batman in

the face, rocking him back.

Penguin goes for the gun, Batman grabs him, suplexes him

through the table and picks him up, pinning him to the

wall.

Penguin spits in Batman’s face, Batman reacts with a punch

to the stomach, winding Penguin.

BATMAN

Where is Joker!

PENGUIN

What? Aren’t you gonna ask nicely?

Batman drags Penguin over to the window, slams him into it,

glass cracks and falls, the 80-floor drop below is

menacing.

BATMAN

TELL ME WHERE HE IS!

PENGUIN

That’s it, get that anger out.

Batman yells angrily, punching the wall, indenting his fist

in the wallpaper.

PENGUIN (cont’d)

All of that anger, bad childhood?

Batman scowls, angrily, grabbing the gun from the ground

and placing it to Penguin’s head. His finger on the

trigger, anger in his facial expression.

28.

PENGUIN (cont’d)

Go on, pull the trigger.

BATMAN

Don’t tempt me.

PENGUIN

(Chuckles)

Have you got the balls? Because I’m

not tellin’ you anythin’. You want

to know where Joker is? Tough luck.

BATMAN

Have it your way.

Batman pulls the trigger, gun clicks, empty. He throws the

gun out of the window, then looks at Penguin who seems as

if he’s just crapped himself.

PENGUIN

Alright, alright. I’ll tell ya where

‘e is. He’s in the Narrows, said

somethin’ about visiting a doctor,

some guy called Victor.

BATMAN

You’re lying.

PENGUIN

Like I didn’t know the gun was

empty. You’re a fool, a stupid

masked fool.

Batman smirks, he grabs an UMBRELLA, shoves it into

Penguin’s chest and pushes him out of the window. Penguin

is dangling 80-floors above thin air. Batman is holding his

leg.

Penguin yells out, frightened.

PENGUIN (cont’d)

Pull me up! Pull me up!

BATMAN

Tell me where Joker is and I will

pull you back in, if you don’t you

better hope you can pull off a Mary

Poppins.

29.

PENGUIN

Alright! He’s in a warehouse downtown,

said he wants to find Victor Fries.

BATMAN

What warehouse?

PENGUIN

I don’t know, some old chemical place.

BATMAN

If you’re lying, I’ll be back.

PENGUIN

I’m not, I swear to God I’m not!

Batman pulls Penguin back inside. Penguin holds onto the

umbrella, as if it’s a pillow, and shakes rapidly.

Batman walks to the door. He turns back to Penguin.

BATMAN

I was told there was a man here that

killed Thomas and Martha Wayne, is

that true?

PENGUIN

Why do you care?

BATMAN

Is he here?

PENGUIN

He’s probably sitting in a cosy office

somewhere sipping brandy.

BATMAN

You know him?

PENGUIN

I report to him.

BATMAN

Give me a name.

PENGUIN

Walker.

30.

BATMAN

The Commissioner?

PENGUIN

Let me guess, Joker told ya that

I knew?

BATMAN

Yeah, he did.

Batman leaves, at least Penguin doesn’t know who he is.

INT. SEVENTY-NINTH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Walker orders his SWAT team to stay put. Drake and Harleen

follow him on.

INT. EIGHTIETH FLOOR -- NIGHT

Batman opens the window, clutching his ribs in pain. He

looks down to the alleyway where the Batmobile is parked,

and hears the footsteps downstairs.

Walker appears on the landing, Batman looks at him, Walker

aims his gun, Batman drops out of the window and Walker

runs over.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

I want cops in that alleyway, the

Batman is escaping!

EXT. ALLEYWAY HIGH -- NIGHT

Batman glides down towards the Batmobile.


Cobblepot is terrified, Drake and Harleen aim their guns at

him. He watches on, shaking.

INT. BATMOBILE -- NIGHT

Batman puts the car into gear, drives off into the night

with absolutely no one any-the-wiser of his presence.

FADE TO:

INT. THE BATCAVE -- NIGHT

31.

Bruce is sitting on his chair. Watching the news.

VICKI VALE (O.S.)

After the riots that took Gotham by storm

last night, the police have issued a

statement concerning the safety of our

streets. They have said, that the Joker,

the man responsible for the riot, is still

on the loose and that this is still a

dangerous time for all of us here in Gotham.

Detective James Gordon, is in mourning today

after the death of his son at the hands of

the Joker...

Bruce mutes the volume. He sighs and puts his hand to his

head as Alfred enters the room. He puts his hand on Bruce’s

shoulder.

ALFRED

I know it’s hard to believe, sir-

BRUCE WAYNE

He killed my parents, Alfred. The

police commissioner killed my parents.

ALFRED

He’ll get what’s coming to him.

BRUCE WAYNE

Yeah, both of them will.

Alfred knows Bruce means it. Bruce then looks at the news a

little more. A picture of James Gordon, the son of his

friend that he could not save.

BRUCE WAYNE

I couldn’t save him, Alfred.

ALFRED

You did what you could, but sadly it was

not enough. You can’t blame yourself.

BRUCE WAYNE

I can’t do this anymore, Gordon’s son

is dead because of me.

ALFRED

This is why you must sir.

Bruce looks at Alfred and listens.

That man has done unspeakable things. He

needs to be brought to justice and you are

the only one, who can do it. Gotham needs

you, they need Batman.

Bruce looks at the Batsuit, he sighs.

32.

BRUCE WAYNE

Has Gordon called?

ALFRED

Yes.

BRUCE WAYNE

When is it?

ALFRED

Tuesday, at three o’clock.

BRUCE WAYNE

Thanks, Alfred.

Bruce leaves the Batcave.

EXT. GRAVEYARD -- DAY

Bruce attends the funeral. People gathered, wearing black.

Commissioner Walker in attendance, Bruce sends a dirty look

his way.

People walk away in the rain, in slow-motion. Gordon is

consoled for the loss of his son by Walker, who then walks

towards Bruce.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

It’s been a hard day for him.

BRUCE WAYNE

I know what it’s like to bury family.

And know that the one responsible is

still out there, pretending to be

something he’s not.

COMMISSIONER WALKER

We will find Napier, you have my word,

young Bruce.

Walker walks away, as he does he puts on the hat he was

wearing the night he killed Bruce’s parents. Bruce wants to

kill him, he wants to severely hurt him, but refrains.

Bruce approaches Gordon.

BRUCE WAYNE

Hey Jim.

GORDON

Bruce, thanks for coming.

BRUCE WAYNE

I’m sorry, Jim. I’m so sorry.

33.

GORDON

I’ve been hearing a lot of that lately.

BRUCE WAYNE

How’s Barbara?

GORDON

She took Barb back to the car,

neither of them have said a word

since - since, since Joker-

(Whimpers)

He took my boy away.

Gordon stands over his son’s grave, Bruce stands next to

him as the sun begins to set.

INT. BRUCE’S BEDROOM -- DAY

Bruce sits on his bed and looks at a picture of his mother

and father smiling. He’s only a baby in the picture.

BRUCE WAYNE

What do I do?

Bruce continues to look at the picture. He rubs his

forehead. Bruce turns to the wall, where he sees a picture

of Joker in the newspaper clippings he’s been collecting

lately.

Bruce walks to the wall. He stares at the Joker’s picture.

BRUCE WAYNE (cont’d)

(Convicted)

I will find you.

He then looks down at Walker’s picture, the smiling Walker

being given the key to the city, the new commissioner in

the newspaper clipping shaking the hand of the President.

Bruce looks down, angered and full of rage. He pins the

clipping next to Joker’s picture.

CLOSE ON: Joker and Walker’s pictures

FADE TO BLACK:

RUN CREDITS

the batman #4 - the ice lounge

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