DrunkenHouse

As a new summer is upon us, I can’t help but remind myself that I do not have a movie to look forward to as much as I did a year ago when The Dark Knight was on the horizon. I had been waiting for its release ever since I’d seen Batman Begins in theatres on the day of its release in the summer of ‘05. Until TDK, I had never waited for a movie’s release for such a long period of time (yes, I know, I’m a Bat-nerd, I’ve accepted this). And, as of now, it appears that the next Batman flick won’t be set for release until around summer of 2012, so I have a lot of thinking and speculating to do all over again until then, as do millions of Bat-fans around the globe. So, fellow Bat-nerds, with that being said, I now present to you my personal vision of what I would do for the next Bat-flick (if only Chris Nolan were to read this lol, jk). Enjoy, and please lend me your opinion(s).

We pick up around a year-ish of where TDK left off. Harvey Dent, Gotham’s hope for a bright future, is now dead (yes, he is dead, the script itself even says so. Things could change though, who knows). The Joker is locked up in Arkham (assumably). The mob has been horribly crippled if not practically destroyed. Bruce Wayne’s childhood love Rachel Dawes is gone as well. Wayne Manor’s construction is complete, which also means that DUN DUN DUUUUN the Batcave is now in full swing. Batman is doing all he can to clean the streets of crime through fear and force. Both Gotham and Bruce Wayne’s worlds are in their dreariest of times. Thus, the scene is set for yet another dark adventure. And here we go!

Early on, a new childhood friend of Bruce Wayne’s is introduced: a vice president of a cosmetics company known as Janus Cosmetics who goes by the name of Roman Sionis. Roman, like Bruce, was born into a family of elite status. His parents though, do not care as much about their son as they do their social status, and his poor relationship w/ his parents is revealed early on. When around Bruce, Roman is almost like a mirror to Bruce. But, away from Bruce, he shows a much more darker, and potentially diabolical side. Roman’s parents were never fans of Bruce’s parents, yet still associated w/ them for image purposes. This angers Roman, because he dislikes the hypocrisy his parents practice, and sees them as glorified public “mask-wearers”. Roman announces to his friend Bruce that he has recently become engaged to his high school sweetheart/secretary and extends an invitation to Bruce to be the best man in the wedding, which Bruce is more than happy to accept.

In the mean time, Batman is preoccupied with an emerging series of jewel thefts that’ve been occurring at an alarming rate during the Gotham nights all of a sudden. They appear to be the work of a cat-burglar. Batman is determined to figure out who it is that is pulling off these seemingly impossible robberies and begins monitoring Gotham’s major jewel stores, as well as the museum, which is home to one of the most valuable diamonds in the world. Batman is sure this diamond is going to be targeted and keeps an extra close eye on it. Later on, one night during his monitoring, he sees a very quick and agile figure attempting to break into a jewelry store that is partially owned by Wayne enterprises. He quickly confronts this thief, only to find himself in the middle of the most difficult hand-to-hand fight he’s been involved in during his short time as the Batman. The fight eventually pauses, and Batman the thief tell him who he is and why they were trying to break into the jewelry store. We find out this character is a woman (by

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her voice) and upon closer inspection, we notice that her costume closely resembles that of a cat-like figure. She assures that the gems and money are not for her own personal finances, they are for the city. She also expresses anger towards Bruce Wayne for doing nothing w/ his money to better the city that he’s a part of and that she will do it for him by any means necessary. She then quickly runs off into the night. Batman is left silenced and almost jaw-dropped. He realizes that she’s right, he really has not done w/ his money what he’s been trying to do w/ his physicality. An awakening of sorts. Batman is also shocked that this robber is a costumed woman villainess, all he can do is watch as she sprints and flips into the night in acrobatic fashion. He is left confused and curious, wanting to learn as much as he possibly can about this person.

The time has come for Sionis to inform his parents of his recent engagement. He’s been hesitant because he absolutely does not know how they’re going to respond, although he deep down knows it’ll be negatively. He was right. His parents want the engagement, and the relationship, to end immediately. Such a mediocre marriage was unacceptable to them; Roman’s feelings mean nothing. This drives Roman to his breaking point. Later that evening, Roman sets the family mansion ablaze, killing both of his parents. What he did not know, was that his fiaance arrived just in time to see him commit this otrocious act. A confrontation between the two ensues, and she tells Roman she never wants to see him again and that she will make sure that he never does. She then speeds off. When Roman arrives at her apartment, he finds that she’s skipped town, and that he really will never see the love of his life ever again. This only pushes him over the edge even more. Bruce, upon hearing about Roman’s family “tragedy”, offers his condolances. When he brings up Roman’s love, Roman says without emotion that they ran into complications, and that they are no more. This sparks suspiciousness inside Bruce and makes him want to know more about the fire at the Sionis mansion. Roman then tells Bruce to leave because he’s now going to be very busy running Janus Cosmetics since the company is now his.

The Sionis fire, though, is still not the primary focus of Bruce’s time and investigating. He has become borderline obsessed w/ this mysterious masked woman. He can find nothing on her, she’s almost as ghostly as he himself is. Whenever he is out at night, he is always keeping an eye out just so he can confront her and dig deeper. One evening he gets that chance. Batman has come across a mob drug drop in an abandoned warehouse. Just as he’s about to make sure it doesn’t happen, she pops out of nowhere and attacks one of the main men in the operation. She holds him in front of her, pulls a gun, and demands the money be handed over. Batman now acts. One by one he tactically takes out the mob enforcers. Catwoman throws aside the hostage, and just as she’s about to snatch the money and run, Batman tackles her and does not allow her to get away this time. He demands to know what she is doing. She gives in, and tells Batman that she’s been stealing all of these jewels and money in order to better & improve life for the poor in Gotham. She tells Batman that he was her inspiration to begin doing so and that his actions showed her that she could use her fighting training for good. Batman loosens his grip, and she then says that she used to be a champion acrobat, but harsh times in Gotham brought her to a training facility, which then led her to a Gotham underground fighting ring. She had given it up for some time because she did not want violence in her life anymore, but once Batman began his “crusade” against crime, she now realized what she was capable of doing. She wanted to battle the mob and help out the less fortunate in the city as much as possible. She also had a sister and brother-in-law to look after, so she did not want things to get too deep. Before she disappears off into the night, she asks Batman to just stay out of her way because he and she are both one in the same. This poses quite the dilemma to Bruce, because he knows that she is only right to an extent. She wants to better the city through robbery and guns, yet he wants to better the city through intimidation, fear, and non-fatal means. This leaves Batman with a very difficult decision.

After his 2nd run-in w/ this Catwoman, Bruce begins investigating to see if she was telling the truth. Was she really putting all of this stolen riches into the community to better it? Upon research, it turns out she was 100% truthful. She was anonymously leaving money at fund-raisers, rec centers, etc. She was bettering the city in a way Bruce did not agree with, but didn’t have the heart to necessarily put an end to. She was even attempting to steal his own money, yet couldn’t get that upset towards it She was doing w/ his money he ultimately had forgotten. This again makes him see that she was correct when she said that Wayne does nothing to financially assist the community. Being Batman was beginning to make him forget his roots and his

parents’ legacy, and she had just reminded him of that. This draws him even closer to her.

Bruce, at work, is now preparing for a meeting that Roman had requested. Recently, a new line of waterproof make-up that was being sold by Janus was making headlines for all of the wrong reasons. This line was rushed & sloppily released by the troubled/disturbed Sionis without the adequate testing it should’ve had. The make-up ended up being toxic when applied and mixed w/ other cosmetics, leading to the disfigurement of hundreds of women. Roman’s company was tanking, and he needed Bruce’s help for the 1st time in his life. This was very hard for Roman to accept, which Bruce had somewhat realized. Bruce also knew that Roman had at least something to do w/ the death of his parents and did not see Roman as someone who was fit to run the company anymore. So, Bruce says he will help-out the company only if the it is to be under the control of Wayne Enterprises from here on out. Sionis, now a broken & empty man, has nothing. His mind is now completely lost as well. Later that day, he wanders over to the ruins of his family’s mansion and begins carving a mask out of a piece of charred wood from his parents bedroom (Symbolizing himself as now a mask-wearer like they were). When Batman shows up to question these goings on, Sionis sets the place ablaze again in order to get away. Except this time, he is now about to be trapped. The only way out is a burning window frame which he sprints and dives through, but the extreme heat has caused damage to his face that was bearing the carved mask. Once he’s far enough away, he looks at his reflection in a puddle and discovers his face has been disfigured. This drives him yet even more insane, and now revenge-driven, thus Black Mask is born.

Black Mask is now determined to get back at the people he feels have made him become what he now is. He plans to target both Bruce Wayne and Batman. If he cannot have his company, then he shall take over Gotham much like the mob had. First, Mask uses his remaining fortune to buy out the rest of the mob’s power and resources, now making him untouchable while also him the true sole king of Gotham’s underworld. He now believes that there is no way that Batman can ever take him down. He also

has the resources to hurt Bruce Wayne. Mask strikes fear and sends messages to all those who will attempt to get in his way by wiping out gangs throughout Gotham, and wiping the scarring make-up onto the faces of the people he kills (much like Joker w/ his cut smile ritual). His first order of action is to kidnap Lucius Fox, knowing that Fox is both financially important and emotionally/personally important (Fox & Thomas Wayne were very close friends). Bruce sees no other suspect in this crime but Sionis and is determined to track him down. Suddenly he’s hit with a hunch/inspiration: if Catwoman was going after the Wayne finances, maybe she was also going after the Sionis finances to accomplish what she had set out to. Upon looking into it, this had consistently been the case in the most recent robberies. Suddenly, Bruce now needed Catwoman in order to save Fox and possibly bring down Black Mask.

Night after night, Batman systematically seeks out anyone who is associated w/ Black Mask or knows anything about him. His detective skills are in full force at the same time that his intimidation is beginning to peak, and it proves invaluable. The Batman legend is now realizing its potential. While Batman is quietly bringing down Black Mask one-by-one, Catwoman is beginning to make her mark financially. Mask now realizes that his companies are getting hit more and more and decides that it has to end. He knows it’s been Catwoman, word of her has spread like wildfire throughout the underworld. Mask decides he needs to make an example out of Catwoman to show everyone what crossing him will cause. He plans to provoke her into confronting him. He begins to damage/destroy every establishment she rejuvenated and to cripple every organization she has assisted. This means any school or rec center or after school center is safe, it’s all fair game. Mask also starts a drug ring in the area that Catwoman has tried to help the most.

Black Mask’s attack on Bruce Wayne is also in full swing. He’s been torturing Fox in order to gain knowledge on the most personal aspect(s) of Bruce’s life. Insiders of Mask’s at Wayne Enterprises have also come across some very interesting evidence that suggests that Batman either works for Bruce Wayne or is quite possibly Wayne himself. To test this theory, he has Alfred kidnapped. Black Mask figures that if the closest person in Bruce’s life, the only “family” member he has, is taken, then Batman will be sure to follow and bring himself so that Mask can get revenge personally. Bruce, upon discovering Alfred’s “disappearance”, is now a broken man. His symbol for fighting crime has brought crime to his home and business and has now taken the most important person in his life.

Batman, now enraged, goes on his way to the building that he believes is where Black Mask is hiding Fox & Alfred. He had come to this conclusion before Alfred’s disappearance due to his interrogation of Mask’s insiders/henchmen. The hideout was believed to be one of the Janus Cosmetics wearhouses that Wayne had closed down shortly after taking control of the company (symbolic to Black Mask using what Bruce has done to get back at him). Batman enters the warehouse after tactically taking down a large group of Mask’s men. We see Alfred and Fox in a the middle of the warehouse and Mask behind them wielding two pistols aimed at their backs. A conversation between the two ensues, w/ Mask calling Batman “Bruce” throughout. He then tells Batman that if he does not take off the mask that he will shoot either Alfred or Fox. And if he fails again, he will shoot the other.

Batman tries to negotiate but Mask does not bend, he only repeats the demand again and again. Mask grows increasingly impatient, points the gun at Fox, and pulls the trigger. As Fox falls to the side, we see Catwoman standing there w/ gun in hand, and Black Mask falls to the floor. Batman rushes to Fox’s side, only to see that he was hit through his right shoulder due to Black Mask being shot first and thus off-target. Upon discovering that Fox will be ok, Batman confronts Catwoman, telling her that  he cannot justify or condone her murdering anyone, no matter what pain/agony he had put people through. Catwoman does not apologize, she explains what Mask had done and all of the work that was undone. Here again in this conversation we see the two different psychologies meet again - complimenting and/or contradicting each other. As Batman tries to apprehend her, she points the gun at him because she has to help the city in her way and she can’t go to jail. Right before she leaves, she says “I’m sorry, but until again…goodbye..Bruce”. We fade out.

The reason I want the movie to end in that fashion is because it leaves the door wide open for the next movie. It also could mean the pursuing of Bruce Wayne by Selina Kyle. Or Bruce attempting to discover Catwoman’s identity on his own and attempting to confront her about his identity since she’s an active member of Gotham’s underworld. If anyone finds out she knows, which could already be the case, then her capture could risk Batman’s identity be revealed. I choose Black Mask for this movie because he is one of the darker, more tragic, and personal villains in the Batman realm. Black Mask was introduced in August 1985, making him a very new villain, which is partly why he’s very unknown. He also has never been in a movie and only made one appearance in the animated shows. He is also a villain who is practically a mirror image of Bruce. At the same time he is Bruce’s opposite. It’s a very interesting comparison. Same w/ Batman and Catwoman. They are out to achieve the same goal in bettering Gotham, but Catwoman’s methods go against everything Batman stands for and has been trying to establish. Of course, there are some plot holes, I know. I couldn’t complete the full script but a lot is assumed. For example, I didn’t mention the romantic interactions/aspects of the Batman-Catwoman relationship because those are left to be assumed and can really be added anywhere, it’s a given. But in this, I see a very personal battle for Bruce/Batman, unlike one we’ve ever seen before. Batman also has some major moral dillemas to deal w/ and confront. In this, I also see Batman’s legend/character evolve fully and practically meet its potential. Who he is finally comes into fruition.

So, in conclusion, this is a vague story that I feel would make for a great story. I’ve been a long Batman fan but have not heard of Black Mask until about a year ago. I feel he would be a very good adversary because of the opposites and similaries he and Batman/Bruce Wayne share. Also, Black Mask is very effective w/ guns and is very strong in hand-to-hand combat. Catwoman makes for an obvious choice since Rachel is gone and a new romantic interest needs to be introduced (and we all know the history Batman & Catwoman share..). Another thing I would like to mention is the theme. In Begins, the theme was “fear”. In TDK, the theme was “escalation”. In B3 (I’d probably call it Gotham Knight btw), I would have to say the themse is “love” or something along those lines, something personal. As the character evolves, so do the complications, and I hope that these two villains share the big screen together to show this. So long fellow Bat-nerds! See ya in 2012.