Batman and the Joker in Tim Burton's adaptation from 1989 EXT. CENTRAL SQUARE (GOTHAM CITY) - DAY

Transcription

1 Batman and the Joker in Tim Burton's adaptation from 1989 EXT. CENTRAL SQUARE (GOTHAM CITY) - DAY The square where the unveiling is taking place, has been closed to traffic. There are barricades at the entrance streets. A temporary stage has been erected around a shrouded statue on one side of the square. A SMALL CROWD is gathered. OFF TO ONE SIDE - POLICEMAN crouches in the grass. TWO PEOPLE try to help him. CLOSER ON POLICEMAN He struggles to move his head to look up. WE SEE: his face is contorting into a smile. BACK AT STAGE A Junior high school BAND is playing the "Happy Birthday" theme. (gushing) Happy birthday, Gotham City! You know every city has a father and no one could have been a better father than John T. Gotham. The van ENTERS the square and stops. Joker, flanked by armed GOONS, gets out, Vicki is pulled along with him. Joker pushes through the crowd at the bottom of the steps leading up to the stage. I dedicate the statue of a man who embodies the past, present, and future of our great city. Mayor pulls a cord and drops the shroud around the statue revealing: Not John T. Gotham. But: A GARISH, POLYCHROME STATUE OF THE wielding two Uzi machine guns like they were six-shooters. Expressionism on acid. (excited) Start shootin', my sweet. I'm makin' history. Joker clambers onto the stage. (apologetically) No autographs.

2 He seizes the mike from terrified Mayor. The Joker holds a small machine gun on him. Under the grin, he's grinning. Call the police! What police? ANGLE ON SEVERAL POLICEMEN lying on grass. (supremely confident) Hi there, fellow Gothamites! As the NEXT founding father of this fair city, I declare these celebrations well and truly open. He FIRES A BURST into the air, knocking down one corner of the ANNIVERSARY BANNER. Joker LAUGHS MANIACALLY. Suddenly, from nowhere, a BAT BOLO ZINGS through the air. Its heavy ends wrap symmetrically around the head of the statue. A HISSING RISES from the bomb-like bolo ends. Vicki looks up as PEOPLE RUSH away from the stage, PEOPLE are SCREAMING. - ON TOP BUILDING FIRING the BOLOS from a crossbow sort of weapon. Suddenly a BLAST as both ends of the bob EXPLODE and knock the head of the statue off. Joker is stunned. My very face destroyed! TWO GOONS FIRE AT. ON He FIRES two lines into the ground and SWINGS down between them to the stage. BULLETS FLY AROUND HIM. TWO GOONS attack him and he kicks them both down and heads for Joker. Joker grabs the Mayor around the neck. Covers him with gun. DAMN! I got a good one for you, Batman. What's red and bloody and has no brains? Batman circles Joker. I didn't know Bats came out in the daytime.

3 ON VICKI Just when murderous clowns leave the circus. Let him go. Aw, can't I keep him? I'll feed him. What do you want from this city? (thinking aloud) I want a new bicycle, I want to visit Florida, I want... holding up her camera. VICKI Let me get this, Joker. He turns to her and poses. She FLASHES. Batman takes this occasion to SNAP his finger. Joker! Joker looks at him. Batman materializes a Joker card. Joker looks at it and Batman sucker PUNCHES him in the face as the Mayor rolls away. Joker rolls backward and zips to his feet. He looks around as GOONS FLEE. The odds are even. So I'm a leavin'. You got your toys -- I got mine. Joker steps back onto the statue platform and AMIDST COLORED SMOKE AND FIREWORKS he DISAPPEARS DOWN into the sewer system. INT. BELLTOWER STAIRCASE - ANGLE ON - THAT MOMENT Batman, beneath the trapdoor, can hear the Joker pacing. INT. BELFRY - THAT MOMENT The Joker, hearing something beneath the trapdoor, begins to move the second bell over it. However, his curiosity gets the better of him and he lifts the trap a fraction of an inch. He opens the trap fully, no Batman. I must have belled the bat!

4 Joker LAUGHS then stops and looks around slowly. There ain't any more of you up here, are there? -- Daddy or Momma bat? The Joker LAUGHS, CRAZILY. (O.S.) My parents are dead. But you remember that, don't you, Jack? Joker turns quickly to see Batman standing with cape unfurled. A rappeling line hangs from his belt and out onto the parapet. A small pulley on the belt. The Joker CACKLES. You climbed up the outside with a rope! (LAUGHTER) You little monkey! God, look at you. You're a mess. (laughs) They're gonna be real mad at the costume shop when they see what you did to their suit. Batman steps toward him. Joker steps back into the half-dark. (wicked smile) Yeah, and they asked me to bring your face back to the shop for some work. Even if I have to tear it off. You maniac, it was you who dropped me in the tanks. You made me. I made you. And you made me. What is this? I say you made me and you have to say I made you? How childish can you get? You're insane. (the voice of doom) Are we going to kill each other, Jack? (O.S.) (slightly nervous) Jack? Jack's out, I'm running his body while he's gone. Well, when you see him -- tell him

5 I'm gonna kick his ass! Batman steps in Joker's direction. From out of the darkness Joker swings a huge BELL which SMASHES INTO. He is knocked over backwards out onto the parapet, he nearly falls over the edge.