Coming Soon...

[The Guard]

FADE IN:

An aerial view of GOTHAM CITY.

Sirens echo from the streets below.

FADE TO:

INT. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GOTHAM

About 20 civilians are panicking, screaming. Some claw at the walls. Others are curled into balls. A strange red gas is seeping into the bank from vents on the ceiling.

FADE TO:

EXT. WAYNE MANOR

On a huge lawn, Bruce, Dick and Barbara are lounging around. Alfred watches as Dick lines up a croquet shot.

Bruce looks up. His grip tightens on his croquet mallet.

Dick, Barbara and Alfred look up.

The Bat-Signal floats on the clouds above Gotham, which can
be seen in the distance. Bruce turns and starts for the manor.
Dick and Barbara follow.

CUT TO:

INT. BATMAN'S COSTUME VAULT

A cape whips open, revealing a black chestplate with a raised silver Bat-Emblem.

CUT TO:

INT. ROBIN'S COSTUME VAULT

A cape whips open, revealing a crimson chestplate with a raised gold "R" on a black oval field.

CUT TO:

INT. BATGIRL'S COSTUME VAULT

A cape whips open, revealing a black breastplate with a raised Bat-Emblem.

CUT TO:

INT. BATMAN'S ARMORY

A black gloved hand grabs a Batarang.

INT. ROBIN'S ARMORY

A black gloved hand grabs a silver R-shaped Batarang.

CUT TO:

INT. BATGIRL'S COSTUME VAULT

A black gloved hand grabs a small silver Batarang.

CUT TO:

INT. BATMOBILE ACCESS TUNNEL

A long sleek black roadster with a Bat-Emblem on the front rockets through a darkened access tunnel, spewing flame from twin exhaust ports.

FADE TO:

INT. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GOTHAM

Batman, Robin and Batgirl face down several thugs. The thugs approach. The three heroes strike fighting poses.

CUT TO:

INT. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GOTHAM

A man in tattered brown clothing and a garish sackcloth mask jerks his arm up toward Batgirl. Red gas shoots out of his sleeve in a stream. Batgirl gasps and steps backward.

ANGLE ON:

The man.

THE SCARECROW (Harsh, Muffled Whisper)
Enjoy your worst fears. I know I will.

CUT TO:

Robin lies dead on a street, a dark stain oozing from a hole in his armor.

CUT TO:

INT. FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GOTHAM

Batgirl has collapsed to her knees. Her hands have gone to her cowl and she is clutching her head.

BATGIRL (Shrieking)
No! NOOO!!!

Robin rushes over to her and kneels.

ROBIN
Batgirl?

Batgirl recoils.

ROBIN
Barbara?

FADE TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman and Robin are standing face to face in front of The Batcomputer.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
Your identities could have been compromised.

ROBIN
Barbara was screaming! What was I supposed to do? Knock her out?

FADE TO:

INT. ALLEY

Batman grabs a thug and slams him into a wall. Then he continues into the darkness.

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman and Robin are standing face to face in front of The Batcomputer.

BATMAN
This is no game. It's life and death. The lives of others depend on us.

FADE TO:

THE ROOF OF GOTHAM POLICE HEADQUATERS

Commissioner Gordon looks out over Gotham.

GORDON (Voiceover)
What's going on?

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman looks at The Batcomputer, where a digital breakdown of a chemical compound is spinning onscreen.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
I don't know.

CUT TO:

INT. MANSION

Batman and Gordon are standing over a sheet-covered form. A fat cop in a brown trenchcoat stands behind them, a cigar dangling from his mouth.

FAT COP
I guess The World's Greatest Detective isn't as smart as he thinks.

CUT TO:

A ROOFTOP

A tall, thin figure in tattered clothing stands on the roof, looking out over Gotham.

THE SCARECROW
Feel that Gotham? Smell it? FEAR...

The figure laughs. His laugh echoes...

CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT

Batman appears to be talking to no one.

BATMAN
What's this about?

THE SCARECROW (Mechanical sounding)
What it's ALWAYS about, Batman. Revenge.

CUT TO:

Batman dives out a window. His hand whips out and he sends a Batgrapple lancing upward.

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman and Robin are walking along.

BATMAN
I found some kind of chemical residue on the fabric. That could be what affected Barbara.

FADE TO:

INT. BEDROOM

Barbara is sleeping. Alfred sits beside her.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
When Barbara wakes up...tell her not to bother suiting up.

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman is walking toward The Batmobile. Robin looks mad.

ROBIN
We're a team.

Batman turns toward him.

CUT TO:

BATMAN
Yes. And on this team, I call the shots.

ROBIN
Your House, Your Rules, huh?

CUT TO:

The Batmobile speeds along the streets, in pursuit of something.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
You don't like it? You're free to leave.

FADE TO:

INT. KITCHEN

Dick and Barbara are sitting at a table, silent.

DICK
What am I gonna do, Barbara?

Barbara smiles and puts her hand over his.

BARBARA
You'll think of something.

FADE TO:

THE ROOFTOP

Batman and Robin are looking out over Gotham.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
We've been over this. Over, and over, and over.

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

Batman and Robin are almost chest-to-chest.

ROBIN
I made a decision. Someone could have gotten hurt. That's what this is about, right? Protecting people?

Batman is silent.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY

Batman races down the hall.

ROBIN (VOICEOVER)
Once in a while...heroes get to break the rules.

CUT TO:

INT. BATCAVE

CLOSE ON:

Batman's face. He scowls.

BATMAN
Not on this team.

PAN AROUND

Robin scowls.

CUT TO:

Commissioner Gordon is chained to a steel pole. A red gas begans to seep towards him. He screams into his gag.

BATMAN (VOICEOVER)
Imagine. All of Gotham. Scared to death.

CUT TO:

INT. WAYNE ENTERPRISES

Bruce walks down a corridor, scowling.

FEMALE VOICE (VOICEOVER)
You don't need a shrink, Bruce. You need a friend.

CUT TO:

INT. WAYNE MANOR-STUDY

Bruce looks up at Alfred, a sudden realization on his face.

BRUCE
Not just a friend...

Alfred nods.

CUT TO:

PAN OVER Gotham.

THE SCARECROW (VOICEOVER)
I can't wait....

CUT TO:

Batman swings through the air on what appears to be a steel cable. He detaches the Batgrapple and drops to a roof below, snapping his cape down.

CUT TO:

INT. AUDITORIUM

Batman blocks a wild kick from The Scarecrow. The Scarecrow whirls and comes back with a blade. Batman steps back as the blade is swung in a wide arc, just missing his chest armor.

CUT TO:

THE EXPRESSWAY

The Batmobile careens along, out of control.

CUT TO:

INT. BATMOBILE

Batman looks grim. Sweat runs down his face from inside his cowl.

BATMAN
Eject.

CUT TO:

THE EXPRESSWAY

The Batmobile's cockpit BLOWS OFF and Batman is CATAPAULTED INTO THE AIR. He spreads his cape like giant wings as The Batmobile slams into the side of a building below.

FADE TO BLACK

A dark chuckling begins.

FADE IN:

INT. ALLEY

Batman stands in the darkness. He whirls. He looks like he's seen a ghost.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN

INT. WAYNE MANOR

Bruce sits in an armchair, shaking. He looks up.

BRUCE (Whispering)
It's the gas...it has to be.

Alfred shakes his head.

ALFRED
I'm afraid not, sir.

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY

An enraged Batman stalks down a dark hall. He WHIPS his cape back and SNAPS open a Batarang.

BATMAN
CRANE!!!

FADE TO BLACK

A Bat-Emblem rises into view. Shining blue letters appear, then fade

GEORGE CLOONEY

CHRIS O'DONNEL

STEVE BUSCEMI

BATMAN TRIUMPHANT

NOVEMBER 2002

[Bobby Boy 101]

hmmmm...sounds pretty cool

but who's gonna be Babs?

[The Guard]

Keeping the current cast. I know, the world hates Alicia Silverstone. But we did manage to sneak the phrase "red hair" into the script. So it's not all bad.