Batman: Masked Souls

From Jalassociatecomics

Welcome! Here we have J's epic fan-fiction screenplay written in the style of most actual movie scripts! Disclaimer: in much the same way as our work with Star Wars, Batman and all related characters and elements are the property of DC Comics. The Warner Brothers logo is the property of Warner Brothers Studios.

To help you read it easier, the script has been broken into parts. Part one is, well, a scroll or two away. Links to the rest are here.

Batman: Masked Souls Part 2
Batman: Masked Souls Part 3
Batman: Masked Souls Part 4
Batman: Masked Souls Part 5
Batman: Masked Souls Part 6
Batman: Masked Souls Part 7

We know it's terribly long, so to convince you to read on further here's a synopsis.

Synopsis

Batman: Masked Souls chronicles how young circus aerialist Dick Grayson came into the care of foster father Bruce Wayne (who secretly is Batman) as well as his first adventures as the Boy Wonder. The personal struggle of Dick Grayson's, as well as the tragic loss of his parents, is one that Batman understands well.

The story's main supervillain is Bane, a highly intelligent convict who posseses the powers of super-strength. He escapes from a high-security prison, destroying the prison and a luxury cruise liner on the way, in order to venture to Gotham to confront the Batman for himself. A mysterious connection between Bane and a twisted biochemist is revealed. Bane is also assisted by the alluring Maria, with whom he became romantically involved while they were in prison together.

Together, they stymie the Gotham Police Department. After a break-in into Wanye Industries Headquarters, during which Robin was nearly killed, everyone knows they have more on their hands than they bargained for. The story's climatic finale, in which Bane ventures to break the Bat in his own headquarters, proves the ultimate test if The Dark Knight and his apprentice will choose to show mercy under the intense circumstances.

They story draws its influences heavily from the comcis and, though not intended, can take place during the continuity of the Batman Begins storyline. Many elements have also been altered, and a new character in the form of Maria is introduced. Expeect plenty of action and what I hope is a sufficeintly gripping storyline. Eschewing the camp and homo-erotic undertones of Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, the relationship between Bruce and Dick is seen as purely foster father-son. Also, Bane finally gets to talk! He is portrayed as more intelligent than the ghastly Batman and Robin incarnation.

Enjoy!

Part 1

Batman: Masked Souls
Screenplay by Jedd Jong Yue
Started: 26/5/07

The Warner Brothers Logo. Atmosphere fades and the surroundings darken to evening.
The camera zooms suddenly into the top right-hand corner of sky surrounding the logo, and moves through the clouds.
Opening Credits fly past.
The camera slows, and we are-

OVER RESEARCH FACILITY

The camera catches up with a mysterious, dark aircraft-the Batwing. The plane’s cloaking device activates, and the plane gradually fades from view. The camera zooms into the invisible craft, and then-

INT. BATWING COCKPIT

Alfred (over Batwing video feed): All set, Master Bruce?

Batman: (nodding slowly) I’ve been wanting to find out what’s going on down there for a very long time.

Cockpit hisses open slowly, and Batman steps out.

Alfred (over Batman’s cowl radio): The photo-electric detection beams should be easy enough to clear.

Batman’s POV: We see the heads-up-display change colour to reveal a thick lattice of slowly-moving lasers.

Batman: (chuckles) Yeah.

The cockpit closes behind him, and Batman is seemingly standing on nothing. He leaps off the plane’s surface. The camera follows Batman as he falls in a seemingly carefree manner with flames faintly trailing from his jetpack, and then cuts to his POV, showing how he winds through the lasers. We see a sharp flash, and suddenly we are-

EXT. HALEY’S CIRCUS-DURING PERFORMANCE

Announcer: (faintly) Please welcome our most prized act, residents of the Haley’s circus for five years now…The Flying Graysons!

The camera cuts to a trapeze high above the ground, showing a trio of aerialists.

Dick Grayson: (laughs) Here we go again, Dad and Mom!

John Grayson: All right, Robin!

His parents smile. They leap off the trapeze together, all at once. Applause is audible in the background, and then the camera suddenly cuts to the POV of a sniper. The aerialists perform another jump. Both adults are in the scope. The sniper fires twice, and hits both parents. They fall slowly, and the camera cuts away before they hit the ground. The audience gasps, and the managers go into frenzy onstage.

Dick: (finishes jump) Dad! Mum! (climbs down from perch on the trapeze)

The sniper packs up and disappears from the circus. Dick stands over his parents’ bodies, distraught. Te audience hurriedly evacuates the circus tent.

INT. OVER RESEARCH FACILITY

Batman (to Alfred, over cowl radio): (checking altitude display) I’ve cleared most of it Alfred, but this is the hard part.

The camera follows Batman down, through the last of the lasers. He nearly sets of one alarm. Batman then deploys a stronger blast from his jetpack, slowing him down. He tumbles and lands on the ceiling of one of the buildings. Suddenly, a searchlight beam washes over the roof.

Batman: (softly) Damn! (rolls under conveniently nearby water tank)

Batman takes the moment to tune into the radio frequency of the security in the facility.

Security officer (over Batman’s cowl radio): “We have reports of an unidentified object, most likely a person making an entry into the compound via airdrop. We have traced a clear heat signature, but can find no trace of the drop vehicle. We advise that you…”

Batman switches off the radio and moves quickly and quietly to the roof access, remotely jamming the security camera at its entrance. Halfway down the stairs, Batman encounters three security personnel.

Security Man 1: We got him! (begins shooting)

Batman ducks and instinctively reaches into his utility belt for a batarang.

Security Man 2: Come on! (fires repeatedly at Batman’s hand)

Batman lets go of the Batarang in shock and winces slightly.

Security Man 3: Heh heh, wish you stayed with Mommy eh?

Batman immediately produces two large batarangs which he uses to duel with his attackers, wielding them dangerously. The security men are in shock, since they know nothing about martial arts.

Security Man 1: Whoa! Take it easy, man!

Batman calmly twirls both weapons, displaying effortless skill. A few more shots ricochet off the walls of the stairwell as Batman fights his way down.

Security Man 2: (over radio) Backup, backup!

Batman slices Security Man 2’s gun clean in half with the sharp edge of the Batarang, then knocks him out with the blunt side, all in the same move, as the other two begin to panic. The Dark Knight then puts his batarangs away, instead producing the smaller ones he planned to use initially. Throwing them, he knocks out both escaping personnel.

Batman: (to self) The first fight is always the least spectacular.

Alfred: (over cowl radio) I must say sir that your entrance did make up for it.

Batman: (Chuckles) routine enough, by my standards.

INT. BATCAVE

Alfred: (to Batman, looking at his POV through Batcomputer screen) All in a night’s work, Master Bruce?

Batman: Yeah…

We see the scene from Batman’s POV, through the computer screen. Batman walks over to the unconscious security men, gently fishing a PDA out from Security Man 1’s pocket. Batman inspects it carefully, turning it over in his hand.

Batman: (reading off sticker label) “Lacidemoib Biomedical…” never heard of it. Sounds like it’s a company computer.

Batman switches the PDA on.

PDA’s electronic voice: Welcome, Nolan. Please enter your password.

Alfred: These types usually carry the passwords on them…not like it matters much anyway.

INT. RESEARCH FACILITY

Batman scans the security man for any documents, performing a quick search of his uniform. Nothing. Then, Batman flips over the guard’s nametag. The numerals “228626” are scrawled in pen on the back.

Batman: Thought so too, Alfred.

He punches in the code and begins interfacing. Soon, we see a map of the facility on the screen. Something catches Batman’s attention.

Batman: (reading off map) “Holding Area”? What if… what if all this fuss has to do with this “holding area”? (Voice trailing off)

Batman races to the “holding area” specified in the map, breathing heavily. GPS built into the map marks his location in the vicinity.

Alfred: (over cowl radio) Slower sir, they might track you down.

Batman: I think they might already have.

The camera turns to reveal guards chasing Batman out of the building, shooting wildly and with guard dogs by their sides. Batman deploys canisters of gas behind him, choking the pursuers. Determination is visible behind the one-way lenses of his cowl, partly masked by the noxious fog. One guard dog escapes the fog, clawing at Batman and barking fiercely. Batman fights off the dog with his bare hands after a tense struggle and continues running.

EXT. HOLDING AREA

The camera pans a bleak, mechanical space, which has the appearance of an abandoned biomedical research facility. Rows of large, metallic cabinets line the sides of the room. Faint blinking lights are the only sign that the area is somehow still in use. The camera follows Batman as he enters the room, still running. Batman slows down, now that he is alone, and pants. Silence. However, this silence is broken by a faint whimpering, which seems to be coming from behind the stark cabinets.

Batman: (to Alfred, over cowl radio) (slowly, but in a nervous manner) Did you catch that?

Alfred: (over cowl radio) The microphone is sensitive enough, sir. I suggest you see what’s behind those cabinets.

Batman: (walks over to controls slowly) (running through possibilities) It could be some morbid experiment…cloning perhaps…animal mutations…

Batman stands over the set of controls which allow him access to the cabinet. He stops and ponders what he should do next.

Batman: (slowly, unsteadily) I’ve had bad, bad experiences with concealed cabinets before, Alfred…

His train of thought is interrupted by a barrage of machine-gun fire. A figure in a lab coat enters the holding area, with a small army of guards behind him. His nametag notes him as a certain “Dr. Woodrue”.

Batman: (looking for right words) Surprised?

Dr. Woodrue: Frankly, Demon Bat, it is no surprise. How the company suddenly shut down, how I disappeared from the wonderful biomedical scene…that was the surprise. I had expected you to visit a lot earlier, frankly. I know you want to find out what’s in there, what has been keeping money coming in.

Dr. Woodrue produces an odd-looking weapon.

Batman: If that gets anywhere near my DNA…

Dr. Woodrue: …So you are smarter than you seem…

Batman ducks, activates the controls and flings a Batarang at the weapon as fast as he can. The cabinet doors open, and at the same time the fluorescent green substance within the weapon’s cartridges leaps up at Dr. Woodrue. Meanwhile, the guards raise their weapons, aiming them at Batman yet unsure whether or not to fire.
Dr. Woodrue: Ahhh!

The substance fuses into Dr. Woodrue’s body, leaves begin sprouting and his skin turns to hard wood, in a slow, excruciating process. However, that is not where Batman’s attention lies. He turns to the now open cabinets, but the camera does not yet follow his gaze.

Batman: (slowly) Alfred…

The camera pans, still keeping the suspense, to reveal children packed tightly into the cramped space of the metallic cabinets. Some are sleeping, while most look on in frightened silence. Realisation dawns on Batman.

Batman: It’s a child trafficking…

The guards open fire viciously, interrupting Batman’s realisation. Fueled by anger at the situation, Batman charges in, taking them out with whatever skill he can muster. He scatters multiple flashbang and smoke grenades on the floor, casting all the guards into confusion as he continues his rampage. Some of them pull masks to their faces in time, and continue firing. By now, most of the children are deeply frightened and confused by the smoke and the gunfire. The camera moves around Batman as he continues to take out the guards, ripping off their masks. The last of the smoke dies down, and the camera reveals an army of unconscious guards, a writhing Dr. Woodrue and Batman standing in the middle of it all. Batman walks to the children in the cabinet, by the wall.

Batman: (Touches one child’s hand) It’s going to be okay.

Batman keys in a number into his wrist pad, making a phone call.

INT. GORDON’S OFFICE

The telephone rings in Gordon’s office. The camera zooms in to reveal this is not Gordon’s personal telephone, evident from the stark Bat-symbol, sleek, futuristic design and lack of interface. The phone continues beeping.

Commissioner Gordon: (to himself) He doesn’t use that line often…

Commissioner Gordon: (picks up phone) Hello?

Batman: (over phone) (in a slightly shaky voice) This is important.

Commissioner Gordon: It always is with you, anyway. So why didn’t you just drop by like you always…

Batman: GORDON! It’s a child trafficking ring.

Commissioner Gordon: (sits up) What?

INT. HOLDING AREA

Batman: Whatever Dr. Woodrue’s being hiding…you told me to look into it. Now I know what’s going on, and it’s not pretty…

The camera turns to Dr. Woodrue, his grotesque transformation now complete.

…then again neither is he.

Commissioner Gordon: (over cowl phone) What do you want the PD to do?

Batman: Storm the compound, and get the children out of there. (Turns to anguished face of child) Immediately.

Commissioner Gordon: (over cowl phone) Storm the facility? We need a warrant for that!

INT. GORDON’S OFFICE

The screen on the telephone suddenly flickers to life with a video image. The children appear onscreen.

Batman: (voice in background of video) This is your bloody warrant. I’ll meet you at the entrance.

The screen zaps off and Batman’s voice is cut

EXT. ENTRANCE OF RESEARCH FACILITY

Armoured vehicles crash through the electronic fence, the shock bouncing harmlessly off the plating. They are followed by a group of squad cars, and a few large police busses. Gordon steps out of an armoured vehicle and walks towards Batman. Batman: I guessed I could trust you.

Gordon: I’ve always trusted you. Heck, three quarters of my own police department don’t, but I do.

Policemen rush into the facility in the background.

Gordon: We’ll clear the area, arrest anybody else and take away key personnel for interrogation.

Batman: I doubt Dr. Woodrue’s in the mood.

Gordon: I figured. He’s going straight to Arkham.

Batman: It’s not just his mood…I won’t spoil the surprise for your officers.

Gordon: (shrugs) I’m no stranger to bizarre, since you came on the scene. Anyway, we’ll get the kids into the busses, and settle their situation soon enough. We’ll try and return them to their parents, or the original adoption agencies, whichever. My guess is that Woodrue was tricking potential foster parents, rich ones, into thinking that his was a legit adoption agency, then charging them way extra. These kids were most likely snatched from unsuspecting parents, or poached from other agencies.

Batman: Or even worse, child experimentation for his projects.

Gordon: (shudders) Don’t want to consider that!

Batman: (reaches into utility belt) Here’s something I…retrieved from one of the guards. The map will tell you where the children are. It’s marked “holding area”.

Batman passes Gordon the PDA.

Gordon: It’s been abrupt, as always, but…

Batman: (smiles slightly)…Thanks?

Gordon: Yeah. You go get some rest.

A loud whoosh is audible, and the Batwing, hovering above the facility all the while, quickly descends into view, landing in the facility.

Gordon: Whoa!

Batman: I’m on my way.

Batman gets into the vehicle, which slowly disappears into the night.

Gordon: I gotta get me one of those.