Batman Noel Motion Comic Script By Mr.

CreepyPasta

Lee Bermejos Batman: Noel Charles Dickons A Christmas Carol

Creative Commons (c)

mrcreepypasta@gmail.com

BATMAN NOEL MOTION COMIC SCRIPT SCENE: 1 - OVER GOTHAM (WE OPEN ON A SNOWY SKY ABOVE GOTHAM CITY.. LIGHT PIANO CHRISTMAS TUNES IN THE BACKGROUND. THE CAMERA BEGINS TO PULL BACK AND DOWN THE NARRATOR SPEAKS REVEALING MORE OF GOTHAM.) MUSIC: POSSIBLE CHOICES OF CHRISTMAS TIME PIANO MUSIC FROM CHARLIE BROWN. FADE TO UKE. BOB (NARRATOR) OKay, you want me to tell you a story?I gotta be honest, Im not so good at it. My dad, boy could he spin a yarn! He could suck you in right from the beginning like any good storyteller... and keep you stuck to your seat, hook, line and sinker. Yup, Dad was probably better at tellin stories than anything else, just ask my mom. First thing, though, you gotta tell me something. Cuz for this story to make sense... for it to mean ANYTHING... you have to BELIEVE in something. Something Very important. SOUND: WUMP. BATMAN LANDS ON THE ROOF TOPS. CRUNCH CRUNCH OF SNOW AS HE RUNS ACROSS THE ROOF. BOB (NARRATOR) You have to believe that people can change. And Im talkin change in a positive way, change for the better... SOUND: BATMAN LEAPS FRMO THE ROOF AND WE HEAR A RUSH OF AIR. MUSIC: THE MUSIC CHANGES FROM UKE TO DARKER PIANO MYUJJI AS WE SEE ALL OF GOTHAM. BOB (NARRATOR) Im talking about the idea that a person can take years of programming and habit and turn em on their ass. That when the deck is stacked against him, he can get the stones to OVERCOME. It might be difficult for you to understand, youre just a kid. In life as people get older, they get set in their ways. Most people never change. Its too scary like staring off the edge of a cliff.. Most people just cant make the leap.

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SCENE: 2 - THE ALLEY (THE BATSIGNAL SHINING IN THE SKY, WE SEE BOB NERVOUSLY WALKING THE STREET WITH A BAG UNDER HIS ARM. THERES A LIGHT CRUNCH OF SNOW UNDER HIS FEET AS HE WALKS. A NEWPAPER FLUTTERS PAST CAMERA, LINGERING ENOUGH TO SEE THE WORDS. "THE JOKER ESCAPES!") BOB (NARRATOR) Some people wanna change.. desperately, but the deck is stacked too high against em. Take Bob for example. If he could, old Bob here would change almost everything about his life. This Bob, hes a stand - up kinda fellow. Trouble is, hes been down on his luck since like forever and has a family to that care of. a sick little boy... His job, well, lets just say it aint exactly the stuff of dreams. A dead-end job in a dead-end town. And his boss!?! dont eve get me started on that guy. The definition of cutthroat. A Cruel abomination of a man who only cared about money... and nothing else. People would whisper his mane... almost afraid to say it out loud. What the hell did he call himself? Its on the tip of my tongue... (BOB HOLDS UP A PIECE OF PAPER. THE JOKER NARRATES IT.) JOKER If youre gonna work for me, dont get caught clowning around! Take this bag to the alley between Washington and 17th. Stop by the Jack in The Box and pick up whats mine. Get this right and you can go home with a SMILE. (light chuckling) BOB (NARRATOR) Anyway, Bob was desperate. The medical bill were stackin up and with the economy in the toilet, gettin work wasnt exactly an option. Even it it meant doin a job he didnt really like for a guy he liked even Less. SOUND: BOB KNOCKS ON THE DOOM AND DROPS THE BAG INTO THE SNOW. BOB (NARRATOR) Man! I cant believe I dont remember this guys name! It was like a sound effect or something. When Dad first told me I just thought he was slurring. SOUND: BATMAN LEAPS FROM BUILDING TO BUILDING WITH A WIND GUST AND A CRUNCH.

(CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) Oh yeah! Thats right! Guys name was Scrooge!! What a name, huh? Anyway, like I said this Scrooge guy didnt care about Anyone. He didnt even want to give Bob Christmas off to spend with his kid. To Scrooge, givin him the day off was like letting him get away with a Crime. SOUND: A GIFT IS THROWN FORM THE DOOR AFTER THE BAG IS SNATCHED UP LANDING WITH A THUNK. BOB (NARRATOR) Lets talk for a second about this Scrooge dude. We all know by now that hes a mean ol bastard, but what we dont know is how Cunning he can be. Ya dont get to be in the position Scrooge was in by being a dummy. It wasnt just that people were scared of him... and believe me they were.. It was that people trusted in him always begin five steps ahead of the game. SOUND: BATMAN LANDS WITH A WUMP! IN FRONT OF BOB. BOB (NARRATOR) One he saw what he wanted, there wasnt much that could stop him. Bob didnt want to argue with the guy, but he had made a promise to his son that they would spend Christmas day together. SOUND: CRUNCHING OF SNOW AS BOB RUNS AWAY. BATMAN THROWS A BATARANG AND BOB IS HIT IN THE LEG. AND FALLS TO THE GROUND. BOB (NARRATOR) Scrooge, however, wouldnt budge about the time off. He had other plans. Christmas was just another day. SOUND: SHUNK AS THE BOX FALLS TO THE GROUND AND MONEY SPILLS OUT. BOB (NARRATOR) Another day, Another Dollar. Sure Bob needed money, nit it wasnt the most important thing in his life. He may have been down on his luck, but ultimately his son was more important to him than anything else. SOUND: BATMAN CRUNCHES IN THE SNOW ABOVE BOB AND GRABS HIM RUFFLY BY THE COLLAR. BOB Please... Dont... I got a k-k-kid!! Dont hurt me!! BATMAN You have one change. Youre going to tell me where he is! You wont lie is you want to walk out of here!

(CONTINUED)

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BOB I...but I .... I d-d-dont... I mean, he neverBATMAN Tell Me!! BOB I just got a note... I never... I mean, I never even met with him, I swear.... Oh Christ.... I swear to God all I was supposed to do was drop off the bag and pick up the money. BATMAN How was he going to contact you!? BOB He was going to send me another note with instructions! Look... please dont... BATMAN you wont be getting another note. Hell find out that you dont have his money and come to collect in Spades! BOB Jesus please just-! BATMAN scum. You never cease to amaze me. Do you have any idea what was in that delivery bag? You should be going to jail tonight. Consider yourself lucky that you make a better piece of live bait that jail bait. BOB (NARRATOR) Bob, bring the good guy that he was considered himself luck for a guy down on his luck. (BOB SCRAMBLES TO HIS FEET.) SOUND: BOB CRUNCHES IN THE SNOW AND, BREATHING HEAVILY RUNS AWAY FROM THE BATMAN. BATMAN LETS HIM GO. BOB CONSTANTLY TO RUN UNTIL THE END OF THE SCENE. BOB (NARRATOR) Long story short, he managed to convince Scrooge to give him the day off. Insurance issues or something. There was one condition, he would have to come to work at the crack of dawn the day after Christmas and be ready to work his ass off. Now, Bob may have had a bit of dumb luck from time to time but Stupid was something he was not. He knew that the miserable old scrooge would make him pat for letting him get away with taking a holiday. See, old Scroogey was vindictive like that. No good deed goes unpunished and all that jazz. Bob was (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) afraid of him, no doubt about that. Was a time he woulda just quit. That was before the Kid, though. He had responsibilities now, stuff you cant just run away from. Seemed like everyone and everything constantly reminded Bob of how limited his options were. the thought followed him like a dog tracking his Scent and the dog was big and Scary. SCENE: 3 - THE JACK IN THE BOX (BATMAN STANDS BEFORE THE DOOR TO THE JACK IN THE BOX. MUSIC PLAYING SHOULD STILL BE THE DARKER PIANO FOR NOW.) BOB (NARRATOR) fear is a funny thing. Some guys can get so scared that they let that fears stop em in their tracks. its like a thick wall keeping them from where they wanna go. SOUND: KE-RASH! BATMAN KICKS IN THE DOOR OF THE TOY SHOP AND WALKS IN. BOB (NARRATOR) Other guys, well, they break through. they let the fear drive em. SOUND: CLICK OF THE FLASHLIGHT SWITCHING ON. MUSIC: FADE FROM PIANO TO JOKERS THEME. BOB (NARRATOR) Scroogey was that kind of fella. Nothin and Noone had ever stopped him. (BATMAN FINDS A NOTE FROM THE JOKER ON A DOLL AND HOLDS IT UP TO READ.) JOKER Another joke goes right over your head! (sigh) Too slow old man! BOB (NARRATOR) He had forgotten what it was like to want. MUSIC: THE JOKER THEME FADES OUTS TO SILENCE.

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SCENE: 4 - BOBS APARTMENT (MUSIC PICKS UP WITH AN UPLIFTING UKE TUNE AS WE MOVE INTO THE APARTMENT TO SEE TIM MAKING A MAKE-SHIFT CHRISTMAS TREE IN A TIN CAN.) BOB (NARRATOR) Now, our buddy Bob was the master of want. He woulda given anything to be the fearless type. He wished he could be a tough guy, someone who took the bull by the horns and all that brass... the kinda man who Makes things happen instead of waitin for them to fall in his lap. Big house, fancy car, you know what Im talkin about. Truth be told, Bob was never much of a winner. He lived in a crappy little ramchackle apartment in a crappier neighborhood. VOICE: TIMM HUMMING A CHRISTMAS TUNE TO HIMSELF. BOB (NARRATOR) Tim had a bum leg. Im not quite sure exactly what was wrong with him, but his health wasnt all that great. He was a big ray of sunshine, though.... a real good kid. The kind of kid that made you... well lets just say it sucks he was so bad off. The Cratchit family, see, werent the type to complain about their position in life. They didnt have much, but what they did have was appreciated. SOUND: THE DOOR FLIES OPEN AND BOB COMES INTO THE SCENE, PANICED. TIM DAD!! BOB (NARRATOR) Love, you know... There was a lof of love there. BOB (OUT OF BREATH) oh jeezuzohgod (huff)... oh jeez.... (huff huff) TIM check it out... I made it myself! I had to take the plant from Mrs. Katrockis porch but it was dyin anyway and she said I should have it, and sides it looks cooler like this, huh, donchathink? see, I made the ornaments outta an old soap can and some pieces pf beer bottles. Plus I had that old army man and I suck some string though his head so he cou-

(CONTINUED)

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BOB (PANICED) Tim, Dammit- Not right now, okay!? (SIGH) ahhhh.... Geez.... hey... awww hey buddy, Im sorry. Didnt mean to snap at ya like that. Just a helluva day, thats all. Come on over and show me that you got there. TIM (SLIGHTLY SADENED BUT PICKING UP THORUGH THE CONVERSATION) Its not a thing. Its our christmas tree, dad. BOB yeah... sure, I knew that. Thats what I meant. TIM see, I found all this stuff out by the dumpster. I was trying to make it look like those orni-ment you see in the stores on fifth. I thought it would be cool to draw the superman emblem on the army man cuz he just didnt seem very christmassy and superman is more like Santa... you know, with the red colors and all... I also thought it would be cool to have a Batman thingie on there too, cuz Bobbie Mills has a Batman decoration on his tree thatsBOB Noe, Why the Hell would you want Batman on a Christmas Tree!? I mean Batman isnt exactly christmassy either, ya know. I mean he can be scary... dressed all in black... TIM But I thought Batman was one of the good guys. Bobbie Mills says he only hurts people that done somethin bad. BOB (CALMING DOWN) I mean... I guess... Maybe things aint always that black and white. Sometimes even good people do Bad things... BOB (NARRATOR) A lot of love in the Cratchit house, but not a lot of anything else.

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SCENE: 5 - WAYNE MANOR (WE SEE THE EXTERIOR OF WAYNE MANOR. THE MUSIC GOES FROM THE PLAYFUL UKE INTO THE DARKER PIANO MUSIC AGAIN AS WE MOVE INTO THE HOUSE. DOWN THE SCREECHING BAT FILLED HALL AND INTO THE BATCAVE.) BOB (NARRATOR) This Scrooge guy, on the other hand, he had Big house, fancy cars, POWER... the guy had than he knew what to do with. His place was damp. As dingy, dim and empty as his heart, say. He liked it that way. See ol Scroogey good with people. He preferred solitude. everything. more money dark and some might wasnt very

SOUND: BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) WITH A COUGH. SIGNS OF AN ONSET COLD. BOB (NARRATOR) He spent most of his life completely obsessed with his work. There wasnt time for anyone else. Other people just seemed to be a nuisance. ALFRED Eggnog, sir?... May I hazard a guess and say youve caught something of a cold running around outside in the freezing night, or would this just be too absurd an assumption? BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) Im not sick, Alfred. Its just the change in temperature and the humidity of the cave... ALFRED ah yes, most certainly. It is after all impossible for the "dark knight" to get the sniffles...(taking notice of Batmans computer monitor) Master Wayne... youre disregard for the privacy of others aside, may I ask...? BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) This one is going to lead me to the joker. Small fish, but sometimes its all you need to catch a bigger one. ALFRED small fish indeed... this one has a child. Do you honestly intend to put at risk aBATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) They all have children, Alfred. The father is just another criminal degenerate. Bag man for the Joker, and not a very good one at that. Just left the money behind and ran. Cowardly, lot of them. (cough, cough) ... The (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) (contd) clown isnt the type to let lost money go without coming back to settle his debts. ALFRED and just what do you intend to do? Wait for the madman to make a housecall?! BATMAN (BRUCE WAYNE) Its the most promising lead Ive got. In this war, Alfred, there are risks you must be willing to take. (cough, cough) I take the same risk every time I let someone like this go. I take the risk that he will raise his child to be exactly like him. I take the risk that in ten years, his boy will be walking the streets with colors and a gun in his belt. I risk the future, which they risk only the present. (cough, cough cough!) ALFRED I know only too well, master Bruce. Lest you forget, there was another boy whose future was risked on my watch. SOUND: SWITCHES ARE CLICKED OFF AS ALFRED WALKS UP THE STAIRS AND OUT OF THE BATCAVE. ALFRED Ill take the liberty of bringing down some cold medication with your diner. SOUND: BATMAN REPLIES WITH A COUGH. BOB (NARRATOR) Yup, work was all that mattered to Scrooge. His anger and loss had consumed him to the point where human contact was nearly impossible. I say loss because his life hadnt always been like this. He hadnt always been alone. Once he had been a different man. He had shared his passion for worm with a partner. He and his, partner. They made a good team. He was a younger man then. Life still seemed like it was full of hope. Hope for the future. Hope for change. Anything seemed possible. Things that would appear ridiculous to ol Scroogey now were just roads yet to be taken, yet to be explored and conquered. but that was then and this is now. Now his partner was long gone. Dead and buried for years, just like Scrooges youthful optimism. That younger man had been replaced by something harder and darker. Something unforgiving and unmerciful. On this particular night, though old Scroogry had a visitor. Now, some people say that this thing he saw was a spirit of some sort. Others thing it was just a figment of his imagination. Maybe even a little bit of his (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) conscience playing tricks on his mind. I aint one to believe in all that superstitious mumbo jumbo. I like to thinking that what he was in the dark loneliness of that night was a visions. and this vision looked a helluva lot like his dead partner. a ghost from his past with a message for the future. He had come to deliver a warning that is Scrooge continued to live his life as an angry, vengeful and spiteful man there would be a PRICE. Every mans gotta pay up one day. Stand up and be counted for what hes done in life. That bad things you do become heavy weights... SOUND: BATMAN COUGHS BOB (NARRATOR) Scrooge had to change before it was too late. SCENE: 6 - THE GCPD BUILDING (JIM GORDAN WAIT FOR BATMAN ON THE SNOW COVERED ROOF OF THE GCPD BUILDING. WITH THE BAT SIGNAL ON. JIM SMOKES A CIGARETTE.) MUSIC: LIGHTER UKE CAN GO HERE AGAIN. BOB (NARRATOR) I know I know hang in there. I told you there would be some stuff that was hard to swallow. Take it how ya want. The point is that whatever Scrooge saw gave him one more warning before disappearing. That night he would have three other visitors, ghosts, spirits, visions... whatever you wanna call them. Point is, Scrooge didnt know who they were or what they would be only that apparently they would show him things that would change his life forever. JIM GORDON I was gonna give you another two minutes before heading home. So cold I cant even light this thing... BATMAN Any new leads from the toxicology reports of the latest victims? JIM GORDON none that we havent already explored in the past. See for yourself if you want. Got something else that might interest you, though. Anonymous tip. a certain Cat burglar is supposedly knocking off sprangs auction house tonight... SOUND: BATMAN COUGHS

(CONTINUED)

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JIM GORDON ... you know... Christmas eve auction house... big haul. BATMAN (COUGHING INTERMITTENTLY) Cant your men handle this? Ive got too much on my plate tonight without getting caught up in "cat and mouse" with her... (cough cough) or have you forgotten the homicidal maniac still on the loose out there?! JIM GORDON She claims to have some information that might be useful. and you know she only talks to you. Figure its worth checking out. BATMAN Waste of time (cough cough cough) Shes only interested in playing games (cough) JIM GORDON You should really get that cough checked out. Sound like its deep... but Hey, Im not doctor. SCENE: 7 - SPRANGS AUCTIONS HOUSE (ONCE AGAIN WE GET A LOOK AT THE STREETS OF GOTHAM AT NIGHT. BATMAN SITS HIGH ABVE THE CITY, WATCHING THE HOUSE FOR ACTIVITY.) BOB (NARRATOR) Scrooge thought about the vision he had the entire evening. He couldnt get it out of his head. He must have been crazy, he thought. It had all just been his imagination playing tricks on him or something... right? I mean when youre alone in the dark the slightest noise or flicker of shadow across a wall can take strange shapes. Entire conversations with yourself discussions you could swear were in your head, can echo through the halls of an empty house... Yes, his mind had just gotten away from him for a bit. The holidays... nostalgia. Humbug! It would he a night like every other, he thought to himself... Christmas Eve or not. SOUND: BATMAN COUGHS BOB (NARRATOR) Nonetheless, rest did not come easy that night for the mean ol bugger. His mind drifted... thoughts of the past... unfinished business. SOUND:A LOUD CLOCK TOWER STRIKE (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) The clock struck one... MUSIC: START UP WITH ACTIONY MUSIC FOR CATWOMANS ENTRANCE. BOB (NARRATOR) And just like that, his first visitor of the night appeared at his bedside. It was a beautiful Girl. "How the hell did she get past the alarm system?" he thought... A hot chick can get away with Anything.. CATWOMAN I could hear you breathing up there. Getting Old, or is it just the frosty night air? BATMAN Selina, Im not in the mood... (cough) CATWOMAN But Baby, Im on this Earth to put you in the mood. Come on... the only reason I get out of bed everyday is you. I went shopping. Dont you want to see what I got?... Ill show you mine if you show me yours.. BATMAN I will not play games with you tonight! You told Gordon you had information regarding the Joker! Where is he!? CATWOMAN Now Thats more like it. Oh honey, how else am I gonna get you to come out and play? A girl these days has to bend the truth a bit to get what she wants.. especially when her man spends all his time thinking about... someone else. BATMAN Waste of time (cough cough) Shouldve known Gordon was a fool... CATWOMAN Wait! Where are you going? I mean dont you need to like.. arrest me or something!? BATMAN If someone dies tonight, Im holding you responsible. Ill make sure you go away for a long time. (cough cough cough) CATWOMAN Listen to yourself! What happened to you? Was a time when nothing would have stopped you fom catching me. Nothing. You would have persued me to the end.... No matter what was thrown at you. We used to play, (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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CATWOMAN (contd) rememebr? It used to be different. You used to be different. BATMAN It was never for fun. (cough )sick people like you think this is some sort ofCATWOMAN Sick people like me!?! SOUND: WHIP CRACK CATWOMAN How DARE you...! You think Im like those other clowns who run around who run around trying to best you, trying to make a fool out of you?! SOUND: KICK BATMAN (COUGH COUGH) CATWOMAN Im NOTHING like those ghouls. Im so much more. SOUND: SCRATCH! BATMAN (GROWL OF PAIN FROM THE SCRATCH) Thats IT!! (cough cough cough) CATWOMAN Wow... maybe you are getting old. I didnt mean toBATMAN Selina, the only thing getting old is this game! SOUND: CRUCHING OF SNOW AS BATMAN CHASES AFTER CATWOMAN OVER THE ROOF TOPS. MUSIC: THE SERIOUS TONE PICKS UP TO UKE ONCE AGAIN AS BATMAN RELIVES THE RUSH OF THE GAME IN THE PAST. BOB (NARRATOR) There was something about this girl... something familiar. She reminded him of the man he used to be. Sweeping him out into the night, she showed him people and placed hed pushed out of his mind long ago. It was like... smelling cotton candy or something and remembering what it was like to ride the Ferris wheel at the country fair when you were a kid. Remembering you heart pounding before that first kiss... His early (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) life seemed so full of Vigor full of accomplishment and triumph. He bit into life with a hunger, a need to be the best man he could be... With it came a rush of emotions he had long since forgotten. These memories there feelings.. had he really been this person?! Had he had approached life so differently then? Had he been so different? SOUND: CATWOMAN GRABS A LEDGE TO PULL HERSELF UP AND THERES A SMALL CRACK BOB (NARRATOR) You and naive, maybe. Thats what the old geezer thought now. SOUND: BATMAN GRABS THE SAME LEDGE AND IT CRACKS AND BREAKS. BOB (NARRATOR) Life isnt really that colorful... not so full of infinite possibility, he told himself. For Scroogey, life was Black and White. All business. There was success.... and failure SOUND: FLASH BACK A THE SCUFFLE IN THE ALLEY. A WOMAN SCREAM. 2 GUN SHOTS AND BATMAN HITS THE GROUND IN ANOTHER ALLEY. BOB (NARRATOR) with that thought, the first visitor left the old geezer with his past... to think good and hard about his present. BATMAN (COUGH COUGH COUGH!) ugggghhhh... SCENE: 8 - THE ALLEY (BATMAN CRAWLS TO HIS FEET, COUGHING) BATMAN (COUGH COUGH COUGH) SUPERMAN Need a hand? Looks like you could use one. SOUND: WIND GUSTS AS SUPERMAN FLIES DOWN, HAND EXTENDED TO HELP BATMAN TO HIS FEET. BOB (NARRATOR) The night was far from over, though. See Scrooge was still expecting two other visitors. The second was Big. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) Larger than life... literally. He dressed colorfully, too. Kinda ridiculous, Scrooge though. It was the eyes that were the most troubling... too deep and kind for a man with such an impressive physical presence. BATMAN Im.. (cough) ... fine. Up past your betime, arent you? (cough cough) SUPERMAN From the look of you, that makes two of us. SOUND: XRAY VISION SFX SUPERMAN Its too cold to be out in your condition. Nasty cough youve got there. I heard you hacking all the way from Metropolis. Looks like pneumonia, or possibly something more serious... BATMAN heh.. (cough cough cough) I love the way you talk about that like you know what it means to have it. You Kryptonians get sick so often, right? Leave the medical advice to the professional. Isnt there someone to save somewhere in the world tonight? SUPERMAN yeah... you. cmon. Dont be a pain about this. Just let me give you a lift to your car. BOB (NARRATOR) His hands were large and looked powerful... like they could crush Scrooges frail body like a walnut shell. But there was something familiar... an odd warmth both from outside and withing the giant of a man. BATMAN ... one condition... Ive got to make a stop first. SCENE: 9 - OUTSIDE BOBS APARTMENT (BATMAN AND SUPERMAN STAND OUTSIDE OF BOBS APARTMENT LOOKING IN. THE WIN ID STILL BLOWING TO THE POINT WHERE THEIR CAPES FLOW. INSIDE, BOB AND TIM ARE HAVING A CHRISTMAS EVE TOGETHER.) BOB (NARRATOR) Once again the old bugger flew out into the night with what could have been some sort of "apparition" and wondered if he was going crazy. See, this was all still too much like a dream to Scrooge. If it was a dream, (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) though, then why did the heat he felt emanating from the big, colorful fellow seem so real? SUPERMAN why are we here? BOB (NARRATOR) Scrooge had never believed in ghosts, spirits, or anything of the like. He had never considered himself to be a superstitious guy. BATMAN Im just checking on some bait. Wanted to see if (cough cough) the fish are biting. SUPERMAN Isnt it bad form for a hunter to use parents or children as bait? BATMAN Justice comes at a price. This one is going to help me reel in the Clown. He works for him.... (cough) and sooner or later his employer is going to come to collect. Just a matter of time... and Ill have him. BOB (NARRATOR) no, his feet had always been planted firmly on the ground. Superstitious was a weakness of other guys. A weakness he could not afford. Scrooges Mine didnt want to believe any of this. He knew that emotions couldnt be trusted. Despite being a bit shaken up by the memory of his past, he didnt want to love sight of the person hed become. Hed fought hard to get where he was in life. SUPERMAN If the father is involved, he could go to prison or worse. He could.. BATMAN Then we only decrease the surplus criminal population. SUPERMAN ... What are you going to do about the boy? BATMAN Im going to scare him. Scare him so badly he doesnt dare follow in his fathers footsteps. BOB (NARRATOR) The present Scrooge was not weak... but the big colorful fellow wasnt about to give up.

(CONTINUED)

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SUPERMAN I dont think thats the way to go here, Bruce. I think there might be a better was. Lets go. I need to show you something. SOUND: GUST OF WIND AS SUPERMAN AND BATMAN TAKE TO THE SKIES BOB (NARRATOR) He knew there was still a chance for ol Scroogey to see something he might have stopped looking for long ago. Scrooge scoffed. "This better be something spectacular," he thought to himself with a sneer. SUPERMAN Somethings I realize that spending so much time above the world makes me forget that there are millions of people out there living their lives... decent life. I look down and seeBATMAN You look down on people. SUPERMAN Not in the same way you do. Look at your people. Take a second and look as hard at your lambs as you do your lions. Sometimes I think that helping people, saving people, can be just as easy as showing them your face. The face of someone exactly like them. BATMAN hhhmmff... (cough cough) Showing them your face is easy when a bullet can bounce off it. BOB (NARRATOR) But the things the spirit showed him were so real... downright ordinary. These werent strange visions from the past, but flashes of the present. Everyday life. There were even some familiar faces. SCENE: 10 - OUTSIDE JIM GORDONS APARTMENT (BATMAN AND SUPERMAN FLIES PAST THE APARTMENT AND LAND JUST OUTSIDE THE WINDOW. JIM GORDON AND A POLICE OFFICER ARE TALKING INSIDE.) BATMAN Hold up. (BATMAN AND SUPERMAN LAND OUTSIDE THE WINDOW. BATMAN LISTENS IN.)

(CONTINUED)

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OFFICER Cant thank you and the missus enough for having me over tonight. Appreciate it, sir. JIM GORDON Cant have one of my boys freezing his butt off on duty Christmas ever without a little cheer in his belly to keep him warm. sides, seems like a quiet night out there, thank the lord.. OFFICER So far, so good, although we did get some Batman sighting. I still dont know what to make of that fut. I mean I know you trust him an all, but. JIM GORDON Its not an easy relationship to keep, but there isnt exactly a handbook on how to handle certain elements of our city. OFFICER I guess hes a necessary evil. Ever wonder whatll happen if he goes too far? JIM GORDON I wonder about that constantly. BATMAN (COUGH COUGH) JIM GORDON Oh, make no mistake, hes not evil. no, I would say he walks a fine line. Its just that sometimes he steps on the side of that line where you or I might hesitate to tread. Play on the other side enough and you tend to lose sight of the line. His vision can be blurry sometimes, but I like to think Im the prescription he need to see clearly. BOB (NARRATOR) These people that Scrooge knew in his everyday life, these familiar faces, werent as familiar behind closed doors. BATMAN Take me to my car. I need to get back to the cave.. SOUND: GUSTING WIND FROM THIS POINT TO THE END OF BOB (NARRATOR)S MONOLOGUE.

(CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) He always considered himself a pillar of his community. An important man that people respected. It seemed that others didnt necessarily share his opinion. Some still had faith, though along with the time-honored smile of folks who have the amazing ability to look on the bright side of things. Scrooge on the other hand wondered how they always seemed to fill a glass that was constantly empty. How did they manage to keep the faith? The universal hope for change, and change for the better. It had been a long time since Scrooge had felt that kind of hope. He had pretty much resigned himself to the fact that life is a never-ending battle. The darkness of the world had forced him into the shadows, and the only way to combat the monsters was to become one himself. But the second spirit didnt feel the same. He seemed to be a source of infinite hope.. and he radiated that hope with every movement and word. This attitude was so foreign to Scrooge it made him suspicious. See its like this. Sometimes, when you work in the dirt, it gets tough after a while to clean yourself off. You get used to the filth. You even start to feel comfortable in it. BATMAN (COUGH COUGH COUGH!) SUPERMAN Yep you defiantly need to see a doctor. Too bad they dont make body armor for your insides... BOB (NARRATOR) And then you wake up one day and wonder why everyone thinks youre dirty. SUPERMAN Just lots of rest and fluids. In fact, Id consider calling Alfred to come pick you up. You really shouldnt be driBATMAN (COUGH) ...Cars got autopilot. SUPERMAN Goodnight, Bruce. Feel better. BOB (NARRATOR) and just like that, the big fella was Gone.

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SCENE: 11 - THE BATMOBILE (BATMAN WALKS WITH A LIGHT CRUNCH IN THE SNOW. HE PUSHES THE BUTTON TO THE BATMOBILES UNLOCK. THERES AN ELECTRONIC BEEP.) MUSIC: SILENCE SOUND: GIGANTIC EXPLOSION BOB (NARRATOR) things went dark and quiet and Scrooge wasnt sure if he was awake or sleeping. It he WAS still dreaming, maybe the old geezer would wake up to a bright new day. Then he remembered the night wasnt over quite yet... There would be Three visitors... three... JOKER (BUILDING LAUGHTER) MUSIC: JOKERS THEME FADING IN. SOUND: DRAGGING NOISE AS BATMAN IS PULLED BY THE JOKER ACROSS THE SNOW JOKER (LAUGHING ALL THE WHILE OF BOBS MONOLOGUE) BOB (NARRATOR) You ever have that dream where youre falling and it really feels like youre falling and when you wake yourself up, you can still feel the gravity pullin ya down? Ever wonder what happens if you cant wake yourself up? Is that the dream tellin you mind youre dyin for real? See I got a theory about this third visitor. The old man painted the guy out to be the scariest thing you ever laid your eyes on. Black Cloack, face always covered in shadow, blah, blah blah... Now Pop loved to take a bit of creative license with things. He had what Ma liked to call a subjective relationship with the truth. He also LOVED to talk. Hell, he talked so much that all of the characters in his stories blabbered as much as he did... What never sat right with me about this last part of the story was the fact that the last visitor never once spoke a word to Scrooge. Call me cautious, but if it was me, and smoe evil-lookin cat shows up outta nowhere, points his finger at a creepy cemetery and I follow him inside, Id hafta be off my meds. Its like those stupid kids in the horror movies who always open up the closed door to look inside, like theyre NOT expecting some chainsaw-wielding maniac to try and chop em in TWO! No thanks, its gonna take one charming spirit of death (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) with a silver tongue to convince me to follow him to the grave, not some freaky faceless mute. JOKER (LAUGHING LOUDLY AND CRAZILY) BOB (NARRATOR) Thats when I realized there was no third visitor.. some people start hallucinating when theyre about to die. In my book, if youre chasing beautiful women across rooftops and flying around with big colorful men that glow, somethins rotten in Denmark. Lets face it, Scrooge wasnt exactly a spring chicken. Aside from the years, were talking about a guy with some serious anger management and stress issues... Even the heartless can have a heart attack, right? Something... not someone... came knockin that night... SOUND: KICK! BATMAN FALLS INTO A GRAVE BOB (NARRATOR) Old Scroogey was falling in his dream... and he wasnt waking up... SCENE: 12 - THE VISION (A FIERY VISION OF THE FUTURE OF GOTHAM IN BATMANS HEAD. SCREAMING AND FIRE IN THE BACKGROUND.) BOB (NARRATOR) I think everybody wants to believe theyll be remembered after they check out. I also think everybody likes to believe life cant go on without them, but that just aint the truth. No way to stop the future. BATMAN (FUTURE THUG) (ANGRY, GRUMBLY, FULL OF MALICE.) Scum!! You people never cease to amaze me!! SOUND: HIT WITH A BASEBALL BAT. BOB (ARRRGHH!!) Jeezus, no.. I was only... youre gonna kill me!! BOB (NARRATOR) Youre too young to be thinkin about this kinda stuff now, but trust me.. most men want to leave the world a better place than they found it.

(CONTINUED)

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BATMAN (FUTURE THUG) Then Ill only be decreasing the surplus criminal population! BOB NOOO.. PLEASE!! I got a kid! BATMAN (FUTURE THUG) Justice Comes at a price!! MUSIC: DROP TO SILENCE SOUND: SOUND OF THE BASEBALL BAT HITTING BOB REPEATEDLY. (CUT TO BLACK) BOB (NARRATOR) They wanna feel like theyve made a difference. Been somebody. Everybody wants to be a Cadillac. No one wants to be an old junker. MUSIC: BREAK BACK INTO THE BATTLE DARKER MUSIC SOUND: FIRE BURING IN THE BACKGROUND AND CROWDS YELLING AND SCREAMING. THE SOUND OF PUNCHES AND SLICING IN THE BACKGROUND. BOB (NARRATOR) All Scrooges life he had probably thought he was a Caddy. great paint job, powerful engine, smooth ride. I think when all was said and done, when it came down to the zero hour, ol Scroogey know that he would be remembered as the junker... you know, the one that used to break down on you all the time. Youd never forget what a pain in the neck it was. People dont remember that car when it was brand spankin new. They just remember having to jump-start it everyday. Scrooge had lived his life as a man who could turn on you at any moment... leave you stranded or hurt. Hed been the type of man that people only Feared. feared that hed break down on em again. SOUND: SLICE! SCENE: 13 - THE COURT ROOM (STILL IN THE FUTURE, JIM GORDON IS ON TRIAL) JURY MEMBER We the Jury find the defendant guilt of aiding and abetting a known criminal, obstruction of justice... harboring a known fugitive, malfeasance in office and accessory...

(CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) I think as those clammy hands pushed down on Scroogeys chest, he thought about the future for the first time and realized the only legacy he would leave behind was pain. JUDGE I hereby sentence you to a term no less than 30 years to be served in Gotham state penitentiary withough the possibility of parole! SOUND: GAVEL HIT! BOB (NARRATOR) Anyone who had ever tried to get close to him was punished for it.. why should they care if he bit the dust? Why would it make any difference to them at all, if they made no difference to him to the end? He would die and his big, expensive house full of stuff would be empty and cold. AUCTIONEER Here we have this fine painting by sir Montgumery Witkin, 1874, titled "Summer in Venice." valued at $70,000. We start the bidding at $40,000. Do we have $40,000? Yes, wonderful, How about 42,000? Yes $42,000 from the lovely lady in the first row. $45,000? BOB (NARRATOR) No friends left to care that he was gone. No one to miss him or mourn him. SCENE: 14 - THE CEMETERY (THE GRAVE ALONE THAT READS "HE DIED BORING PREDICTABLE AND NO ONE LOVED HIM") JOKER (NARRATING THE GRAVESTONE) He died boring predictable and no one loved him BOB (NARRATOR) They say youre born alone and you die alone. Even if thats true, would you want it to be? SOUND:BATMAN PUNCH HIS WAY OUT OF THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE GRAVE. PULL HIMSELF OUT. BOB (NARRATOR) If you had the chance to change.. to get it RIGHT. .. you would fight for it? Sometimes it takes dyin... to teach a fella how ta live.

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SCENE: 16 - THE JOKER IN BOBS APARTMENT (WE PULL INTO BOBS COOZEY APARTMENT AGAIN. BOB AND TIM ARE IN BED, SLEEPING.) BOB (NARRATOR) In Scrooges case, it took a real doozie of a night to make him realize this. You can call it a near-death experience. I call it a Wake-up call. His clock was tickin, and it he was gonna get the message he would need to listen up QUICK! SOUND: KNOCK KNOCK TIM Santa? That you!? BOB (NARRATOR) See, with some guys all you need is to whisper in their ear. Other guys, and old Scroogey was defiantly one of the other guys... they need to be hit upside the head with a baseball bat. That night Scrooge got it and got it good. JOKER Ho, Ho, Ho...! SOUND: SLAM. THE JOKER PUSHED THE DOOR THE REST OF THE WAY OPEN. JOKER I know, I know.. you were expecting the big guy in Red. If its all the same, thought I have a bag of presents too. Whadasay, big guy? wanna know what I got here for you and your old man? BOB (TALKING TO HIMSELF AROUND THE CORNER) I cant I cant o jeezuz I cant, o christ.... JOKER Lets see.... Ooooooh this is a good one! ever play Clue? I love that game! heh, Colonel Mustard.. Whatta name!! So, what say we play a little... TIM DADDY!?! JOKER Yeah, get your old man out here. He should play, too. (chuckle) He knows all about mysteries! I want him to solve the mystery of my missing moolah. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: SOUND: BOB BREATHING HEAVY, FIGHTING WITH HIMSELF

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BOB (NARRATOR) It wasnt just a new perspective on things. it was a second chance. A chance to make things right. to be the good guy once. JOKER HA!! cmon out, Bobby! This game sucks with just two people. What do you want, kiddo? Maybe Ill give the little guy here the led pipe!! He can be Miss Scarlet! BOB YAARRGGHH!! Dont you Touch my son! JOKER oooohohoohooo cmon, Bobby-boy, you know theres no baseball bat in clue! SOUND: WHOOSH! SWING OF THE BAT AND A MISS. JOKER Play Fair! SOUND: WET CRACK AS THE JOKER HITS BOB IN THE FACE WITH A WRENCH. JOKER How are ever going to solve the mystery of my missing money if youre missing half your face? TIM stop, mister please!! BOB (NARRATOR) When my old man told me this story, he said that Scroogey finally grew a conscience. He didnt want the people around him to suffer because of mistakes hed made in his life. I like to think there were larger forces at work though. SOUND: CLICK AS THE REVOLVER IN THE JOKERS HAND IS COCKED. JOKER Question: Who killed Bob? BOB Puh... please... I panicked.. The buh, buh.... Batman was there... I... I... JOKER I win!! I killed Bob in the kitchen with the revolver!! (maniacal laugh)

(CONTINUED)

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BOB NO! PLEASE... NO!! MUSIC: DROP TO SILENCE SOUND: THE JOKER CONTINUES TO LAUGH BEHIND THE MONOLOGUE BOB (NARRATOR) I believe a man can change. But change is such a powerful thing, such a big idea that I gotta believe theres more to it than just making a choice. See, outside forces have to come into play. something Elemental. It wasnt just the fear of dyin it was the Hope he could have a better death. You gotta make the leap, take the chance that youll fail, but do down tryin anyway. After a lifetime of Hurting and Bullying people... making people afraid of him... ol Scrooge had the chance to make sure that when he finally did check out... when all was said and done... SOUND: KE-RASH! BATMAN COMES FLYING INTO THE ROOM THROUGH TE WINDOW. THUD HE KICK THE JOKER IN THE CHEST JOKER OOOOF! (starts to still weakly laugh) SOUND: THE GUN CLATTERS TO THE FLOOR. BOB (NARRATOR) when all was said and done... people would remember that he had had the chance to die the Villain... but went out a Hero BOB You wanna threaten me!? You wanna threaten my son? Now whos the clown huh?! Now who wants to play games? JOKER Oooo, Bobby boy! Thats the way to do it... BOB Why dont I show you how to play!? SOUND: CLICK AGAIN FROM THE GUN COCKING. (IM WELL AWARE THIS DOESNT MAKE SENSE BUT IT WORKS FOR RADIO) JOKER Cmon, show me BOB I will... I.... I....

(CONTINUED)

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JOKER Yeah, Let er Rip!! BATMAN No!! You are Not a Criminal. Show your son the kind of man you are. BOB (NARRATOR) The kinda man they could respect without fear. Someone they could believe in. Trouble is, realizing this stuffs only the first step. If you wanna walk the walk. BATMAN Show him what a Hero is. SOUND: CLICK. BOB PUTS THE GUN DOWN AND DISARMS THE HAMMER. THE SOUND OF POLICE SIRENS STARTS BUILDING. JOKER Booooring! Neither of you know how to have a good time... SCENE: 17 - THE EPILOUGE (THIS IS ACTUALLY A MONTAGE OF SCENES. THE JOKER BEING PUT INTO POLICE CRUISERS. BATMAN ASLEEP BEFORE HIS MONITORS GETTING A MUCH DESERVED REST.BOB GETTING A TREE AND BEING HIRED BY WAYNE ENTERPRISES. JIM GORDON PATTING HIS MEN ON THE SHOULDER. TIM HAPPILY PLAYING SUPERMAN WITH A BLANKET TIED AROUND HIS NECK.) SOUND: SIRENS FADE UP AND OUT AS THE JOKER IS PUT INTO THE POLICE CAR. BOB (NARRATOR) Well you know how the rest of it goes. Old Scroogey was lucky to wake up that next morning and he knew it. He felt like hes just gotten outta the joint after a long stint. Like a free man... there were people to see and things to do... promises to be made and kept.. and like an old con, he wanted to do it all on the first day. SOUND: KNOCK KNOCK BOB (NARRATOR) The first person on the list was Bob. He figured it was only right. After all, he had always treated the poor guy like dirt. Today, though, he figured it was high time to pay him back. A raise benefits, PTO 401k the works. Scrooge made the round that day. Old friends, business associates, pretty much anyone whose life hed (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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BOB (NARRATOR) (contd) previously made miserable. He wanted to show em... be the guy who could set things straight, the guy they could Depend on. Most of em were shocked at this new Scrooge they were seein. Like I told you at the beginning change aint easy to believe in. But I guess its easier to swallow than Three ghosts. The old man said he liked the story so much because it had a happy ending. He said in real life happy endings are like unicorns.. I asked him if he believed it was true or if he thought i was just some yarn someone made up to get their kids to fall asleep. He told me it didnt really matter if it was true, it was what the story Meant that was so important.... I dunno, kiddo ... what do you think? Whats the moral of the story?. MUSIC: FADE OUT AGAIN TO PIANO CHRISTMASTIME MUSIC. (END)