(The Joker JABS)his gun in the Chechen's face. The Chechen's bodyguards
REACT. The Joker's men DRAW on them.

THE JOKER
And you know what they have in
common? They're cheap.

CHECHEN
You said you were a man of your word.
The Joker PLUCKS the cigar from the Chechen's lips.

THE JOKER
I am.
The Joker tosses the cigar at the pile.

THE JOKER
I'm only burning my half.



101.




The Chechen watches the money catch fire.

THE JOKER
All you care about is money. This
city deserves a better class of
criminal, and I'm going to give it to
them. This is my town now. Tell
your men they work for me.
The Joker crouches down to the Chechen's dogs. They GROWL.

CHECHEN
They won't work for a freak.
The Joker takes out a knife. Tosses it to his man.

THE JOKER
Cut him up and offer him to his
little Princes. Let's show him just
how loyal a hungry dog is.
The Joker's men GRAB the Chechen.

THE JOKER
It's not about money. It's about
sending a message...
The Joker watches the towering FLAMES. Lau screams.

THE JOKER
Everything. Burns.
The Joker pulls out a phone...

INT. TELEVISION STUDIO -- DAY

Reese has a confident air. Engel is taking calls.

CALLER 1 (O.S.)
I wanna how much they're gonna pay
you to say who Batman really is.

REESE
That's simply not why I'm doing this.

ENGEL
Caller, you're on the air.

CALLER 2 (O.S.)
Harvey dent didn't want us to give in
to this maniac- you think you know
better than him?

ENGEL
Guy's got a point- Dent didn't want
Batman to give himself up, is this
the right thing to do?



102.





REESE
If we could talk to Dent now he might
feel differently-

ENGEL
And we wish him a speedy recovery.
God knows we need him, now. Let's
take another call-

OLD LADY (O.S.)
Mr.Reese, what's more valuable: one
life, or a hundred?

REESE
I guess it would depend on the life.

OLD LADY (O.S.)
OK. Let's say it's your life. Is it
worth more than the lives of several
hundred others?

REESE
Of course not.

OLD LADY (O.S.)
I'm glad you feel that way. Because
I've put a bomb in one of the city's
hospitals. It's going off in sixty
minutes unless someone kills you.

ENGEL
Who is this?

OLD (O.S.)
Just a concerned citizen-
(drops pitch to the

JOKER'S VOICE)
-and regular guy...

INT. MAJOR CRIMES UNIT, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon and his men are gearing up to take down the Joker. A
Detective turns up the TV in the bullpen-

THE JOKER (O.S.)
I had a vision. Of a world without
Batman. The mob ground out a little
profit and the police tried to shut
them down, one block at a time...
and it was so... boring. I've had a
change of heart. I don't want
Mr.Reese spoiling everything, but why
should I have all the fun? Let's
give someone else a chance...
Reese looks around, twitching. Sweating.



103.





THE JOKER (O.S.)
If Coleman Reese isn't dead in sixty
minutes, then I blow up a hospital.
Of course, you could always kill
yourself, Mr.Reese. But that would
be the noble thing to do. And you're
a lawyer.
The line rings off. Engel is speechless.
Gordon turns to the uniform COPS.

GORDON
Call in every officer- tell them to
head to their nearest hospital and
start evac and search. Call the
transit authority, school board,
prisons- get every available bus down
to a hospital- the priority is Gotham
General- wheel everybody out of that
place right now- my hunch is that's
where the bomb is.

DETECTIVE MURPHY
Why?

GORDON
That's where Harvey Dent is.
The Uniforms SPRINT off. Gordon turns to his Detectives.

UNIFORMED COP
Where are we going, sir?
On screen: Reese is a deer in the headlights.

GORDON
To get Reese.

INT. WAYNE PENTHOUSE -- DAY

Wayne and Alfred move to the elevator.

WAYNE
I need you plugged in, checking
Gordon's men and their families.

ALFRED
Looking for?

WAYNE
Hospital admissions.

ALFRED
Will you be taking the batpod, sir?



104.





WAYNE
In the middle of the day? Not very
subtle, Alfred.

ALFRED
The Lamborghini then.
(watches Wayne go)
Much more subtle.

EXT. GOTHAM STREETS -- DAY

Wayne's Lamborghini TEARS through downtown.

INT. HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

CHAOS. PATIENTS and STAFF running around. COPS and TRAFFIC
WARDENS try to manage the evacuation. The COPS stationed
outside Dent's room, look around, unsure-

NURSE
Sir, are you going to help?!
Two Cops move to help wheel gurneys around the corner.

INT. LOBBY, TELEVISION STUDIO -- DAY

Gordon and his men escort Reese out of the elevator- Engel
follows with a camera crew. As they approach the glass doors
Gordon looks out at an angry crowd.

ENGEL
Commissioner?! You really think
someone would try to-
Gordon SPOTS an OLD MAN raising a PISTOL- Gordon THROWS Reese
to the ground as SHOTS SHATTER the laminated glass of the
lobby. The Crowd SURGES in all directions-

GORDON
Get the cars around back!
Gordon hauls Reese to the stairwell.

INT. LAMBORGHINI -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne SLOWS past the chaos outside the television station.

WAYNE
I saw O'Brien and Richards...

INT. BAT-BUNKER -- CONTINUOUS

Alfred types at the computer station.

ALFRED
Nothing on them. No immediate family
members admitted to a Gotham
hospital.



105.





INT. STAIRWELL, TELEVISION STUDIO -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon pulls the shaken Reese down the stairs...

REESE
(shaken)
They're trying to kill me.
...and into a police VAN...

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon throws Reese in the back. Smiles.

GORDON
Well, maybe Batman will save you.
The van PEELS out. Heads onto the streets.

EXT. HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

Cops load patients onto BUSES. A TV van pulls up, Engel and
his Cameraman jump out. One of Dent's guards, POLK, looks
into a SCHOOL BUS. Turns to the Cop loading it.

POLK
Okay, don't put anyone else on.
(gets on radio)
Davis, I got space, bring him out.
(no answer)
Davis?
Polk heads back towards the hospital, against the flow.

INT. LAMBORGHINI -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne trails the police van from a distance.

WAYNE
I saw Burns and Zachary... and a
patrolman I don't know.

ALFRED
Burns is clean... Zachary...

WAYNE
There's at least one I don't know-
send the information to Gordon-

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon's phone BEEPS. He looks at a text: WATCH OUT. COPS

WITH RELATIVES IN GOTHAM HOSPITALS- BURKE, RAMIREZ, TILL...

INT. DENT'S HOSPITAL ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

Polk enters the room. No Davis. Just a REDHEADED NURSE,
back towards him, reading Dent's chart.



106.





POLK
Ma'am, we're going to have to move
him, now.
(nothing)
Ma'am?
The Redhead TURNS- it is the Joker, silenced pistol in hand.
He FIRES.

EXT. GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

The Lamborghini zips around a car to get closer to the van.

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon is reading his phone: ERIKSON, BERG. Gordon looks up
sharply. Considers the uniformed cop nervously fingering his
shotgun.

GORDON
Berg, isn't it?
The young cop, BERG, looks up. Sweating.

BERG
Commissioner?

GORDON
You okay, son?
Berg nods. Looks at his watch.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM -- DAY

The Joker draws closer to Dent's bed. Dent STRAINS at the
leather cuffs binding him to the bed.

THE JOKER
I don't want there to be any hard
feelings between us, Harvey.
The Joker loosens Dent's restraints.

THE JOKER
When you and Rachel were being
abducted I was sitting in Gordon's
cage. I didn't rig those charges-

DENT
Your men. Your plan.

THE JOKER
Do I really look like a guy with a
plan, Harvey? I don't have a
plan...The mob has plans, the cops
have plans. You know what I am,
Harvey?



107.




Dent's hand is TREMBLING.

THE JOKER
I'm a dog chasing cars... I wouldn't
know what to do with one if I caught
it. I just do things. I'm just the
wrench in the gears. I hate plans.
Yours, theirs, everyone's. Maroni
has plans. Gordon has plans.
Schemers trying to control their
worlds. I'm not a schemer, I show
the schemers how pathetic their
attempts to control things really
are. So when I say that you and your
girlfriend was nothing personal, you
know I'm telling the truth...
Hands him the pistol. Dent holds it to the Joker's head.

EXT. INTERSECTION, GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne ROARS past a line of traffic to settle in a few cars
back from the police van, sitting at a red light.

INT. LAMBORGHINI -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne studies the intersection- spots a PICKUP jostling for
position on the cross street.

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon watches Berg, mentally tracing the trajectory of his
shotgun barrel as Berg fiddles with his gun. Gordon starts
trying to subtly unholster his own weapon.

GORDON
I'm gonna need your weapon, son.
Berg looks at Gordon.

BERG
What?

INT. LAMBORGHINI -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne watches the driver of the pickup staring intently at
the police van. Lining it up.

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Reese looks from Berg to Gordon. Berg looks at Gordon,
trembling, the barrel of his gun inching lower in the car.

BERG
Why? Because my wife's in hospital?

GORDON
Yeah. That would be why.



108.





INT. DENT'S HOSPITAL ROOM -- CONTINUOUS

The Joker leans in, pressing his head to the gun's barrel.

THE JOKER
It's the schemers who put you where
you are. You were a schemer. You
had plans. Look where it got you. I
just did what I do best- I took your
plan, and I turned it on itself.
Look what I've done to this city with
a few drums of gas and a couple of
bullets. Nobody panics when the
expected people get killed. Nobody
panics when things go according to
plan, even if the plan is horrifying.
If I tell the press that tomorrow a
gangbanger will get shot, or a
truckload of soldiers will be blown
up, nobody panics. Because it's all
part of the plan. But when I say
that one little old mayor will die,
everybody loses their minds!
Introduce a little anarchy, you upset
the established order and everything
becomes chaos. I'm an agent of
chaos. And you know the thing about
chaos, Harvey?
Dent looks into the Joker's eyes. Finding meaning.

THE JOKER
It's fair.
Dent looks down at the coin in his hands. Turns it over,
feels it's comforting weight. Shows the Joker the good side.

DENT
You live.
He turns the coin over. The flip side is deeply SCARRED.

DENT
You die.
The Joker looks at the coin. Looks at Dent, admiringly.

THE JOKER
Now you're talking.
Dent FLICKS the coin into the air. Catches it. Looks.

EXT. INTERSECTION, GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

The light turns GREEN. The police van pulls into the
intersection- the pickup GUNS IT, RACING AT IT...



109.





INT. LAMBORGHINI -- CONTINUOUS

Wayne FLOORS it, YANKS the wheel to pull up onto the sidewalk-

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

Berg licks his lips, nervous.

BERG
Mr.Reese?

EXT. INTERSECTION, GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

The pickup BARRELS at the van, FULL TILT- at the last second
Wayne's Lamborghini SLIPS alongside the van- the pickup

SMASHES INTO THE LAMBORGHINI-

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS

As the van JOLTS with the impact Gordon LEAPS forward,
PUSHING UP Berg's shotgun barrel, which FIRES into the roof-
Gordon SMASHES Berg on the head with his sidearm.

EXT. INTERSECTION, GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon's men pull the pickup driver from his cab- Gordon
crouches down to the Lamborghini wreck to help pull Wayne
from the car. Gordon recognizes him as he pulls him free.

GORDON
You okay, Mr.Wayne?
Wayne looks at him, woozy. Sits on the curb.

WAYNE
Call me Bruce. I think so.

GORDON
That was a brave thing, you did.

WAYNE
Trying to catch the light?

GORDON
You weren't protecting the van?
Wayne turns- sees the police van as if for the first time.
Reese steps down, dazed.

WAYNE
Why? Who's in it?
Reese locks eyes with Wayne. Nods. Gordon sizes up Bruce
Wayne and his crushed sports car.

GORDON
You don't watch a whole lot of news,
do you, Mr.Wayne?



110.





WAYNE
(shrugs)
It can get a little intense. Think I
should go to hospital?

GORDON
Not today, I wouldn't.

INT. CORRIDOR, HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

The Joker walks calmly through the mostly deserted building.
As he walks he pulls a DETONATOR from his pocket. Strolling
along he PUSHES THE BUTTON... STAGGERED EXPLOSIONS BURST INTO
THE CORRIDOR BEHIND HIM LIKE DEMOLITION BLASTS... the Joker
just walks out the door...

EXT. HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

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

Gordon hears the EXPLOSION.

GORDON
Gotham general...
(grabs his phone)
Did you get Dent out?

COP (O.S.)
I think so-

EXT. HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

The Cop cowers as DEBRIS and SMOKE BLAST across the street-

INT. SCHOOL BUS -- CONTINUOUS

The Joker gets onto the bus. Nods at his man at the wheel.

EXT. HOSPITAL -- CONTINUOUS

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

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...



111.




Detective Wuertz, at a booth looks up at the TV, bored.

BARTENDER
Shouldn't you be out there, you know,
doing something?

WUERTZ
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-



112.





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

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 50 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.

GORDON
Keep looking. Keep it to yourself.

INT. FOX'S OFFICE WAYNE INDUSTRIES -- DAY

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

Fox watches two security men force the door. He enters
alone.

INT. LAB, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT -- DAY

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
Beautiful. Isn't it?



113.




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..?



114.





EXT. SITUATION TENT AT GOTHAM GENERAL -- CONTINUOUS

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

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-

THE JOKER
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

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.

BATMAN
If he talks within range of any phone
in the city, you'll be able to
triangulate his position.
Lucius 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-



115.





FOX
But consider this my resignation.
Batman turns. Fox looks at him, serious.

FOX
As long as this machine is at Wayne
Industries, I won't be.

EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- DUSK

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

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 and
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.

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

At the ferry terminal, National Guardsman watch over the
THIRTY THOUSAND jostling, scared people waiting to board the
two MASSIVE FERRIES to Seven Sisters. Grumbles turn to YELLS
as 800 PRISONERS are loaded onto a ferry by shotgun-toting

CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.



116.





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

Maroni climbs into the back of a limo.

INT. LIMO -- DUSK

Maroni settles back into his seat. The car pulls away.

MARONI
Don't stop for lights, cops, nothing.

DENT
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.



117.





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.

DENT
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

The Limo SWERVES off of the bridge, SOARS out over the canal,
and PANCAKES into the RETAINING WALL.

EXT. FERRY TERMINAL -- DUSK

CIVILIANS CRAM their way onto 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

The FIRST MATE looks out the window, at the second ferry. It
is DEAD in the WATER. He turns to the PILOT [PRISON FERRY].

FIRST MATE
They've lost their engines.



118.





PILOT [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.

PILOT [PRISON FERRY]
Get down to the engine room.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

The First Mate skirts around the PRISONERS and CORRECTIONS

OFFICERS...

INT. ACCESS CORRIDOR, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

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

The Pilot [Prison Ferry] is holding the small present. His
radio CRACKLES.

PILOT [PASSENGER FERRY] (O.S.)
Same thing over here- enough diesel
to blow us sky high. And a present.

EXT. ELEVATED ROADWAY, DOWTOWN GOTHAM -- CONTINUOUS

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

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
P.A. 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.



119.





INT. LAB, WAYNE ENTERPRISES -- NIGHT

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

Batman looks out, across the entire city skyline.

BATMAN
Do you have a location on the Joker?

FOX
It's west...
Batman FIRES UP the bat-pod- his cape SHRINKS 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

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-



120.





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
10 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

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.



121.





DENT
Live to fight another day, officer.
Dent CRACKS her on the head with his gun.

INT. BRIDGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Pilot [Prison Ferry] tries the radio. It's DEAD.

PILOT [PRISON 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

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

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 [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

Gordon looks out at the ferries. His phone rings.

BATMAN
I have the Joker's location-



122.





EXT. GOTHAM STREETS -- CONTINUOUS

Batman ROARS along on the bat-pod.

BATMAN
Prewitt building. Assemble on the
building opposite.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

The National Guard Commander is holding the remote. Several
passengers take a step towards him. He PULLS his weapon.

NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER
Stay back.
A BUSINESSMAN clutching his briefcase speaks up.

BUSINESSMAN
Who are you to decide? We ought to
talk it over, at least.
Other passengers agree. A MOTHER with two KIDS speaks up.

MOTHER
We don't all have to die. Why should
my babies die? Those men had their
chance-

NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER
We're not talking about this...

PASSENGER 1
They're talking over the same exact
thing on the other boat.

PASSENGER 2
If they're even bothering to talk.
Let's put it to a vote.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

As the Prisoners grow angrier, a CORRECTIONS OFFICER FIRES
his shotgun into the air. The Prisoners back off. Slightly.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

A GUARDSMAN on this boat passes around a hat. People drop
CHITS into it. Passengers filling out chits eye each other.
People on their phones say goodbye to loved ones.
The Pilot [Passenger Ferry] looks out across the water to the
other Ferry. Looks up at the clock. Ten to midnight...
STARES down at his blank chit.



123.





EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- NIGHT

Gordon and his SWAT team leaders set up SNIPER and SCOPE
positions on the balustrade.

INT. GARAGE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

A SWAT stands beside the empty school bus.

SWAT
We've found our missing bus.

EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon looks at the SWAT LEADER.

GORDON
Then we have a hostage situation.
They look across at the large windows of the Prewitt
Building. The Joker's men, in crude, homemade CLOWN MASKS
are clearly visible, automatic weapons in hand.

SWAT SNIPER
I got hostages!
They look through his scope. Crouched deeper in the room,
PATIENTS, DOCTORS, and NURSES, huddled.

GORDON
It's a shooting gallery. Why'd he
choose a spot with such big windows?

BATMAN
He likes the view.
Batman gestures towards the view of the ferries.

SWAT LEADER
We have clear shots on five clowns.
Snipers take them out, smash the
windows- a team rappels in, a team
moves in by the stairwells. 2 or 3
or three casualties, max.

GORDON
(barely hesitates)
Let's do it.

BATMAN
It's not that simple. With the
Joker, it never is.

GORDON
What's simple, is that every second
we don't take him, those people on
the ferries get closer to blowing
each other up!



124.





BATMAN
That won't happen.

GORDON
Then he'll blow them both up!
There's no time- we have to go in now-

BATMAN
There's always a catch with him-

GORDON
That's why we can't wait- we can't
play his games-
Batman turns.

BATMAN
I need five minutes. Alone-

GORDON
No. There's no time. We have clear
shots.
Gordon pulls his gun. Batman turns back. The SWATS watch.

GORDON
Dent's in there with them. We have
to save Dent! I have to save Dent!
(to SWAT Leader)
Get ready-
Batman LEAPS from the building, OPENS his cape- SOARS across
the gulf between the two buildings- Gordon puts his weapon
away. Curses softly. Turns to the SWAT leader.

GORDON
Two minutes. Then you breach.

EXT. PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman LANDS against the glass two floors below-

BATMAN
Fox. I need picture.

INT. LAB, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT -- CONTINUOUS

Fox hits some keys-

FOX
You've got p.o.v. on alpha channel,
omni on beta-



125.





EXT. PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

SMOKED GLASS EYEPIECES slip down over Batman's eye holes.
Batman's SONAR P.O.V.: the layers of the building dissolve,
levels of TRANSPARENCY PULSING rhythmically... Batman can see
the people inside the building...

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- NIGHT

The Joker is standing by the window, looking out at his
handiwork. The Chechen's DOGS start BARKING. He SMILES.

EXT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman reaches into his utility belt, SPRAYS PLASTIC onto the
glass- lets it harden- PUNCHES the window-which BREAKS
QUIETLY as the pieces stick to the laminate- he slips inside-

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman's eyes glow white as he uses his sonar to look THROUGH
the corner: AN ARMED CLOWN IS LEANING AGAINST THE CORNER...

EXT. ROOFTOP, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

A six man SWAT team prepares to rappel from the roof.

INT. STAIRWELL, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

A SWAT team moves up the stairs.

EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon's phone rings.

GORDON
Hello? Barbara, calm down-

DENT (O.S.)
Hello, Jim.

GORDON
Harvey? What the hell's going on?

DENT (O.S.)
You're about to know what my
suffering is really like...
Gordon looks across at the Prewitt penthouse...

GORDON (O.S.)
Where are you? Where's my family?!

DENT
Where my family died.
Click. Gordon looks at the SWAT leader. Pale.



126.





SWAT LEADER
Red Team. Go!
Gordon moves to the door off the roof.

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman GRABS the Armed Clown, drops him, silently. He goes
to disarm him- THE WEAPON IS DUCT-TAPED TO THE CLOWN'S HANDS.
Batman RIPS off the clown mask:
STARING, FRIGHTENED EYES- MOUTH DUCT-TAPED SHUT... it's

ENGEL.
Batman looks up: Four more clowns line the windows, weapons
duct-taped to their hands. On SONAR: he looks into where the
hostages are crouched... the "PATIENTS" and "DOCTORS" are
carrying weapons- these are the Joker's men... Above them
SWATS RAPPEL FROM THE ROOFTOP. ~In the stairwells, two more
teams prepping.

BATMAN
Don't. Move.
Engel nods, terrified.

EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The SWATS line up the clowns in their sights...

INT. STAIRWELL, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The SWAT team arrives at the penthouse fire exit. They
spread CHARGES across the inner wall-

EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The SWAT Leader checks his watch.

SWAT LEADER
Go! Go! Go!
A SWAT Sniper zeroes in on a clown- the clown DISAPPEARS- the
Sniper looks up, confused-

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman yanks the clown along the floor using his grapple gun-
the clown takes down the two next to him- Batman leaps for
the nearest two as SHOTS SHATTER the glass-

EXT. PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The SWATS rappel down the building- SWING in through the
broken windows-



127.





INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The "hostages" reel from the BLAST- The SWATS SWOOP in-
aiming weapons at the clowns, throwing PERCUSSION GRENADES-
Batman takes out the SWATS with fists and BATARANGS-
The last SWAT aims at BATMAN- behind him a "DOCTOR" raises a
shotgun... behind the "Doctor" Batman can see through the
wall at SWATS preparing to breach... Batman VAULTS over the
SWAT into a two-foot kick into the "Doctor's" chest-

INT. STAIRWELL, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The Swats BLAST OUT THE WALL- the team leader steps up to the
hole... the BAT-GRAPPLE FIRES out-lodging in his kevlar
vest... he is YANKED, SCREAMING, through the door. The rest
of his team look at each other. Steel themselves. Move in
through the hole...

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

As the SWATS race in they find Engel, terrified, next to a
pile of unconscious "hostages", and their team leader, one
end of an absailing rope tied around his waist. Batman is on
them, weaving KICKING, PUNCHING, and, with one hand, clipping
carabinners looped to the absailing rope onto their webbing
of vests.
Batman steps back- picks up the team leader- SWAT weapons aim
at him- he hurls the Team Leader out the window... the SWATS
watch him go... the rope pays out... one by one they are
YANKED out of the window...

EXT. ROOFTOP OVERLOOKING PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

A SNIPER watches through his scope as the six man SWAT team
soars out of the window and drops. The line snaps taut and
they hang, like a mountaineering team in crisis. Batman,
crouched in the broken window, secures the line.

SNIPER
What the hell's he doing?
Batman looks right at the sniper- Raises his grapple gun-
BAM. The bat grapple smashes into the Sniper's scope- the
rifle is YANKED out of his hands.

INT. PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

Batman races past a dazed Engel...

ENGEL
(pathetic)
Thanks.
...into the main office. The Joker is there.



128.





THE JOKER
You came. I'm touched.

BATMAN
Where's the detonator?
The Dogs LEAP at Batman- SMASH him to the ground...

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Pilot [Passenger Ferry] finishes counting the votes.
Reads the verdict.

PILOT [PASSENGER FERRY]
The tally is 196 votes against.
(looks down)
And 340 votes for.
The passengers avoid eye contact with each other.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Corrections Officers are in a phalanx in the corner,
facing off against hundreds of menacing Prisoners.

PRISONER 1
Do you wanna die!
The Warden and his men look at each other. At the clock.

INT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- NIGHT

Batman WRESTLES with the Rotweilers- a blinding mass of
Batman, black fur and bared teeth-
The Joker POPS a switchblade. Moves in to the mass- Batman
KICKS OFF the last of the dogs- the Joker JABS his knife into
Batman's RIBS-

THE JOKER
All the old familiar places.
Batman recoils in pain. The Joker BUTTS him- KNEES him-
ENERGY explodes from his lean frame- he KICKS the injured
Batman back towards the glass...

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Pilot [Passenger Ferry] looks at the remote in his hands.

PILOT [PASSENGER FERRY]
I voted for it. Same as most of you.
Doesn't seem right that we should all
die...
Someone calls out from the back.



129.





PASSENGER 3
So do it!

PILOT [PASSENGER FERRY]
I didn't say I'd do it. Don't
forget. We're still here. Which
means they haven't killed us, yet,
either.
He sets the remote down on a bench in the front of the
lounge. The other passengers and guardsmen stare at it...

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

A HUGE, TATTOOED PRISONER pushes his way to the front. He
walks towards the Warden, who is sweating, looking at the
remote.

TATTOOED PRISONER
You don't wanna die. But you don't
know how to take a life. Give it to
me.
The Warden looks at the remote. At the clock.

TATTOOED PRISONER
These men will kill you and take it,
anyway. Give it to me, you can tell
people I took it by force... give it
to me and I'll do what you should
have done ten minutes ago.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

Everyone stares at the remote. One minute left. The
Businessman stands. Walks over and picks it up.

BUSINESSMAN
No one wants to get their hands
dirty. Fine. I'll do it. Those men
on that boat made their choices.
They chose to murder and steal. It
makes no sense for us to die, too.
He looks at the other passengers. No one makes eye contact.

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Warden slowly hands him the REMOTE. The Prisoner looks
at it. He looks the Warden in the eye...
Then TOSSES the remote out the window.
Warden, prisoners and officers are stunned.



130.





EXT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- NIGHT

Batman FLIES backwards THROUGH THE WINDOW- glass flying- the
Joker KICKS out a wooden brace holding up the STEEL FRAME-
Batman's arms fly up as it comes crashing down onto his neck-

saved by his protective gauntlets. Batman GRUNTS as the
Joker STEPS onto the steel beam...

THE JOKER
If we don't stop fighting, we're
going to miss the fireworks.

BATMAN
There won't be any fireworks.
Batman STRUGGLES to keep the beam from CRUSHING his neck...

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT

The Businessman stares at the remote in his hands. Finally,
he puts it down. Sits down. Waits to die.
The clock strikes MIDNIGHT.

EXT. PENTHOUSE, PREWITT BUILDING -- NIGHT

Batman indicates the clock... twelve o'clock.

BATMAN
What were you hoping to prove? That
deep down, we're all as ugly as you?
The Joker looks at the clock...

INT. BOTH FERRIES -- CONTINUOUS

The Passengers brace. Look at the clock. Confused...

INT. PREWITT BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS

The smile disappears from the Joker's face.

BATMAN
You're alone.
The Joker CROUCHES down, hovering above Batman's face and
arms. Shows him the remote.

THE JOKER
Can't rely on anyone these days.
The Joker ARMS the remote...

THE JOKER
Have to do everything yourself. I
always have- and it's not always
easy...

(MOR E)



131.
THE JOKE R (cont'd)
(smiles, remembering)
You know how I got these scars?
Batman looks up at him.

BATMAN
No. But I know how you get these-
Batman's SCALLOP BLADES FIRE OUT OF HIS GAUNTLET, nailing the
Joker in the chest and arm- he STAGGERS back- Batman, freed,
leaps forward- KICKS HIM OVER THE EDGE- GRABS the remote-
The Joker GIGGLES as he FALLS, enjoying the ride. Something
SLAMS into his leg, and he JERKS to a stop- BATMAN'S GRAPPLE.
The Joker HOLLERS in pain as Batman HAULS him up.

THE JOKER
Just couldn't let me go, could you?
I guess this is what happens when an
unstoppable force meets an immovable
object. You truly are incorruptible,
aren't you?
Batman secures the Joker UPSIDE DOWN. The Joker is LAUGHING.

THE JOKER
You won't kill me out of some
misplaced sense of self-
righteousness... and I won't kill you
because you're too much fun. We're
going to do this forever.

BATMAN
You'll be in a padded cell, forever.

THE JOKER
Maybe we can share it. They'll need
to double up, the rate this city's
inhabitants are losing their minds...

BATMAN
This city just showed you it's full
of people ready to believe in good.
The Joker looks up at him. A twinkle in his eye.

THE JOKER
Till their spirit breaks completely.
Until they find out what I did with
the best of them. Until they get a
good look at the real Harvey Dent,
and all the heroic things he's done.
(indicates ferry)
Then those criminals will be straight
back onto the streets and Gotham will
understand the true nature of
heroism.
(off look)

(MOR E)



132.
THE JOKE R (cont'd)
You didn't think I'd risk losing the
battle for the soul of Gotham in a
fist fight with you? You've got to
have an ace in the hole. Mine's
Harvey.
Batman hauls the Joker up, nose to nose.

BATMAN
What did you do?

THE JOKER
I took Gotham's white knight. And I
brought him down to my level. It
wasn't hard- madness is like gravity.
All it takes is a little push.
Joker laughs. Batman leaves him to the SWATS.

BATMAN
Lucius. Find Harvey Dent.

EXT. BURNT WAREHOUSE, 52ND STREET -- NIGHT

Gordon gets out of his car, gun drawn. Makes his way into
the blackened wreck of a building...

INT. BURNT WAREHOUSE, 52ND STREET -- NIGHT

Gordon peers into the darkness.

GORDON
Dent?
No reply. Gordon makes his way deeper. Up the stairs.

INT. SECOND FLOOR, BURNT WAREHOUSE -- NIGHT

Gordon spots Barbara and their two children huddled together.
He moves towards them- Barbara is shaking her head-
WHAM! Dent cracks Gordon over the head with his gun. Dent
disarms Gordon, rolls him over. He turns to look at the
ENORMOUS hole in the floor. From this side, in the
moonlight, Dent looks completely normal.

DENT
This is where they brought her,
Gordon. After your people handed her
over. This is where they bound her.
This is where she suffered. This is
where she died.

GORDON
I know. I was here. Trying to save
her.
Dent TURNS, revealing his dark side.



133.





DENT
But you didn't, did you?

GORDON
I couldn't.

DENT
Yes, you could.

DENT
If you'd listened to me- if you'd
stood up against corruption instead
of doing your deal with the devil.

GORDON
I was trying to fight the mob-
Dent MOVES towards Gordon.

DENT
You wouldn't dare try to justify
yourself if you knew what I'd lost.
Have you ever had to talk to the
person you love most, wondering if
you're about to listen to them die?
You ever had to lie to that person?
Tell them it's going to be all right,
when you know it's not? Well, you're
about to find out what that feels
like. Then you'll be able to look me
in the eye and tell me you're sorry.
Dent turns- steps over to Barbara- puts the gun to her temple-

GORDON
Harvey. Put the gun down. You're
not going to hurt my family.

DENT
No, just the person you need most.
(cocks gun)
So is it your wife?

GORDON
Put the gun down.
Dent moves the gun to point at Gordon's little girl.

GORDON
Please, Harvey...
Dent moves to James Gordon. Brushes the hair out of the
boy's eyes with the muzzle. Gordon SNAPS.

GORDON
Goddamit. Stop pointing that gun at
my family, Dent.



134.





DENT
We have a winner.
Dent pulls the boy away from his mother.

BARBARA
No! Jim stop him! Don't let him!
Dent walks James past Gordon to the edge of the burnt floor.
He touches the raw wood at the edge of the floor.

GORDON
I'm sorry, Harvey. For everything.
But, please. Please don't hurt him.

SIRENS.

EXT. BURNT WAREHOUSE, 52ND STREET -- CONTINUOUS

Cop cars descend on the warehouse.

INT. SECOND FLOOR, BURNT WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

Dent looks at Gordon, FURIOUS.

DENT
You brought your cops?

GORDON
All they know is there's a situation.
They don't know who, or what.
They're just creating a perimeter.

DENT
You think I want to escape?! There's
no escape from this-
Dent indicates his face. His suffering.

GORDON
No one needs to escape, because no
one's done anything wrong. And
nobody has to.
Dent chuckles. A macabre sight.

DENT
I've done plenty wrong, Gordon. Just
not quite enough. Yet.
Dent squeezes the gun a little tighter against the little
boy's neck. The boy WHIMPERS.

BATMAN
You don't want to hurt the boy, Dent.
Dent turns. Batman steps from the shadows.



135.





DENT
It's not about what I want. It's
about what's fair.
(to Gordon and Batman)
You thought we could be decent men in
an indecent world. You thought we
could lead by example. You thought
the rules could be bent but not
break... you were wrong. The world
is cruel.
(shows his coin)
And the only morality in a cruel
world is chance. Unbiased.
Unprejudiced. Fair.

BATMAN
Nothing fair ever came out of the
barrel of a gun, Dent.

DENT
(shows the coin)
His boy's got the same chance she
had. Fifty-fifty.
Batman steps closer, desperate, trying to reach Dent.

BATMAN
What happened to Rachel wasn't
chance. We decided to act. We
three. We knew the risks and we
acted as one. We are all responsible
for the consequences.
Dent looks at Batman. Pleading.

DENT
Then why was it only me who lost
everything?
Batman looks into Dent's eyes. Emotional.

BATMAN
It wasn't.

DENT
(furious)
The Joker chose me!

BATMAN
Because you were the best of us. He
wanted to prove that even someone as
good as you could fall.

DENT
(bitter)
And he was right.



136.





BATMAN
But your fooling yourself if you
think you're letting chance decide.
You're the one pointing the gun,
Harvey. So point it at the people
who were responsible. We all acted
as one. Gordon. Me. And you.
Dent is listening, the wheels in his deranged mind turning.

DENT
Fair enough.
Dent eases his grip on the boy.

DENT
You first.
He points the gun at Batman. FLIPS the coin. TAILS. He
SHOOTS. Batman COLLAPSES to the ground, clutching his gut.

DENT
My turn.
He points the gun at his own head. FLIPS the coin. HEADS.
He looks a little disappointed.
Finally, he points the gun back at Gordon's son.

DENT
Your turn, Gordon.

GORDON
You're right, Harvey. Rachel's death
was my fault. But punish me-

DENT
I'm about to. Tell your son it's
going to be all right, Gordon. Lie.
Like I lied.
Gordon looks up. Pained. Locks eyes with his son.

GORDON
It's going to be all right, son.
Dent FLIPS the coin. High. Dent's eyes FOLLOW the coin up-
Batman HURLS himself at Dent and the boy.
All three of them VANISH over the edge. A TERRIBLE CRASH-
then silence, but for the sound of DENT'S COIN, SPINNING on
the floor at the edge of the hole.
Gordon, horrified, RUNS to the edge- peers down-
Dent lies at the bottom of the hole, his neck broken. DEAD.
The coin stops spinning, GOOD SIDE UP.



137.




Gordon's son swings into view, HANGING from Batman, who is
holding onto a JOIST with all his strength...
Gordon reaches down to GRAB his son- HAULS him up...
Batman FALLS..., dropping and dropping, SMASHING THROUGH
protruding WOOD and PIPES... He lands HARD near Dent.

EXT. BURNT WAREHOUSE, 52ND STREET -- CONTINUOUS

The cops prepare to STORM the front door.

INT. BURNT WAREHOUSE, 52ND STREET -- CONTINUOUS

Gordon races down the stairs. Rushes over to Batman.

JAMES
Dad, is he okay?
Gordon crouches at Batman's side. The Batman GRASPS Gordon's
arm. STAGGERS to his feet.

GORDON
Thank-you.

BATMAN
You don't have to-

GORDON
Yes, I do.
Gordon and Batman stare down at Dent's body. Grave.

GORDON
The Joker won.
Gordon stares down at SCARRED SIDE of Harvey Dent.

GORDON
Harvey's prosecution, everything he
fought for, everything Rachel died
for. Undone. Whatever chance Gotham
had of fixing itself... whatever
chance you gave us of fixing our
city... dies with Harvey's
reputation. We bet it all on him.
The Joker took the best of us and
tore him down. People will lose all
hope.

BATMAN
No. They won't.
(looks at Gordon)
They can never know what he did.



138.





GORDON
(incredulous)
Five dead? Two of them cops? We
can't sweep that under-

BATMAN
No. But the Joker cannot win.
Batman crouches to Dent's body.

BATMAN
Gotham needs its true hero.
Gently, he turns Dent's head so the good side of his face is
up. Gordon looks from Dent's face to Batman. Understanding.

GORDON
You? You can't-

BATMAN
Yes, I can.
Batman stands. Faces Gordon.

BATMAN
You either die a hero or live long
enough to see yourself become the
villain. I can do those things
because I'm not a hero, like Dent. I
killed those people. That's what I
can be.

GORDON
(angry)
No, you can't! You're not!
Batman hands Gordon his police radio.

BATMAN
I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be.

INSERT CUT: GORDON STANDS AT A PODIUM AT DENT'S FUNERAL.

BEHIND HIM IS A LARGE PHOTOGRAPH OF DENT SMILING.

GORDON
...a hero. Not the hero we deserved-
the hero we needed. Nothing less
than a knight. Shining...

GORDON (V.O.)
They'll hunt you.

BATMAN (V.O.)
You'll hunt me.



139.





INSERT CUT: GORDON, ON THE ROOF OF GOTHAM CENTRAL, AXE IN

HAND, WATCHED BY AN ASSORTMENT OF COPS AND REPORTERS...

BATMAN (V.O.)(CONT'D)
You'll condemn me, set the dogs on
me...

GORDON TAKES THE AXE TO THE BAT SYMBOL- SPARKING, SMASHING...

BATMAN (V.O.)(CONT'D)
...because it's what needs to happen.

INSERT CUT: ALFRED HOLDS THE LETTER FROM RACHEL. THINKING.

BATMAN (V.O.)(CONT'D)
Because sometimes the truth isn't
good enough...

INSERT CUT: ALFRED BURNS THE ENVELOPE FROM RACHEL.

BATMAN (V.O.) (CONT'D)
...sometimes, people deserve more.

INSERT CUT: LUCIUS FOX TYPES HIS NAME INTO THE SONAR MACHINE.

INSERT CUT: FOX HITS THE "X". THE MACHINE FLASHES RED "SELF-

DESTRUCT WARNINGS". THEN DIES. FOX SMILES TO HIMSELF.
Batman hurries off. LIMPING into the shadows.

JAMES
Batman?!
James RUNS down the stairs to join father-

JAMES (CONT'D)
Why's he running, Dad?!
Gordon stares after Batman.

GORDON
Because we have to chase him...

EXT. WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

As Cops race into the buildings the DOGS get the scent and
pull away from the doorway, following the SHADOW into the
stacks of shipping containers...

INT. WAREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

James looks at his father, confused.

JAMES
He didn't do anything wrong!
Gordon stares after the Batman. The sound of the dogs
becoming louder and more ferocious.



140.





JAMES (CONT'D)
Why, dad? Why?!

GORDON
Because...

EXT. DOCKSIDE ROOFTOPS -- CONTINUOUS

The Batman LURCHES between shipping containers. STUMBLING.
BLEEDING. He makes it to the bat-pod...

GORDON (V.O.)
...he's the hero Gotham deserves...
but not the one it needs right now.
So we'll hunt him, because he can
take it. Because he's not our
hero...
The bat-pod streaks through Gotham's underground streets, the
Batman's cape fluttering behind. A wraith...

GORDON (V.O.)
...he's a silent guardian, a watchful
protector... a dark knight.
The Batman races up a ramp into a blinding light-

CUT TO BLACK.

CREDITS.

END.