Batman Forever

Screenplay by Akiva Goldsman

Lee Batchler

Janet Scott Batchler

Produced by Tim Burton

Peter MacGregor-Scott

Directed by Joel Schumacher

Cast List:

Val Kilmer Batman / Bruce Wayne

Tommy Lee Jones Two-Face / D.A. Harvey Dent

Chris O'Donnell Robin / Dick Grayson

Jim Carrey Riddler / Edward Nygma

Nicole Kidman Dr. Chase Meridian

Pat Hingle Commisioner Gordon

Drew Barrymore Sugar

Debi Mazar Spice

Ed Begley Jr. Fred Stickley

Michael Gough Alfred

EXT. ARKHAM ASYLUM – NIGHT

A castle of shadow. (OVER) RAIN, HOWLING evil wind.

Sudden lightning CRACKS, illuminates the aged structure, the hanging metal sign.

INT. ASYLUM CORRIDORS – NIGHT

DR. BURTON, the Chief Psychiatrist moves down the old hallway, face tense. He steps through a doorway into...

INT. MAXIMUM SECURITY – NIGHT

Security cells. Criminal maniacs sealed behind protective casings.

A GUARD stands before a heavy door.

GUARD

Hell of a night, huh Doc?

BURTON

Hell's in here.

Hydraulics HISS. The cell door unseals.

INT. SECURE ISOLATION CELL

Small. Walls, ceiling, floor, padded. A single window casts the room in pallid moonlight.

A figure sits in shadow, bound by the wraps and ties of a straight jacket, gaze fixed out the window.

Lightning flashes, brightening the room. THUNDER CRACKS.

DR. BURTON

Mr. Dent...

No answer. Burton steps closer.

DR. BURTON

Counselor...

Still nothing. Another step.

DR. BURTON

Harvey...

Burton reaches towards the figure.

DR. BURTON

Harvey are you alright...

Burton touches his shoulder. Lightning flashes as...

THE BODY WHIPS around. An orderly, gagged, sits bound to the chair with bedsheets.

The sheets around the chair have been rigged. Now they yank him up so he spins frantically from the ceiling fan.

Lightning flashes again, illuminating a madman's scrawled writing on the wall.

WRITING – CLOSE

"The Bat Must Die!"

THUNDER.

EXT. GOTHAM CITY SKYLINE – SUNSET – FALL

Gothic towers of granite and glass shimmer golden in the late day sun.

MOVE IN towards the city as an executive helicopter.

CROSSES FRAME. Through the window BRUCE WAYNE, still handsome but a few lines starting to show, sits watching a seatback video screen.

CONTINUE in over Gotham Harbor towards the skyline as a NEWSCASTER talks.

NEWSCASTER (OVER)

... And in Gotham City, ex-District Attorney Harvey Dent escaped from Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane.

CLOSER on a single building, its power generated by a small but mighty dam below. A glowing sign reads Wayne Enterprises.

NEWSCASTER (OVER)

Dent, once Gotham's leading contender for Mayor, was horribly scarred during an indictment hearing over a year ago.

HOLD on a single window. MOVE IN.

INT. BRUCE WAYNE'S OFFICE

Elegant. Oak. A wall monitor runs the same newscast.

INSERT SCREEN

Dent questions a crime boss on the stand. A thug throws a vial of acid toward Harvey, searing half his face.

NEWSCASTER (OVER)

Dent, whose left-brain was damaged during the assault, launched a grizzly crime spree before being captured by The Batman. He is extremely dangerous. Repeat...

WIDER

Bruce Wayne ENTERS, his Armani suit the only thing fresh about him, followed by a sudden stream of EXECUTIVES, SECRETARIES, ASSISTANTS and GOTHAM SOCIETY MATRONS.

EXECUTIVE

The solar generator tests are back.

BRUCE

Uh... great, could you wait a second...

ASSISTANT

The Mayor's office called again –

SOCIETY MATRON

Who are you asking to the circus –

SECRETARY

Five minutes to your inspection –

BRUCE

Stop!

Everybody freezes.

BRUCE

Okay, I want you all to just stand here for fifteen seconds, okay? Fifteen, everybody got it?

Folks nod.

BRUCE

Good. Nobody move, now.

And with that, Bruce turns and walks out.

BRUCE

(to himself)

I gotta give myself a raise...

INT. WAYNE ENTERPRISES – ELECTRONICS DIVISION – TWILIGHT

Endless work-spaces stretching into infinity.

Bruce, a Junior Exec ENTOURAGE trailing, tours an assembly line where robotic arms weld laser tools.

FRED STICKLEY, a fuss-budget plant manager, leads.

STICKLEY

Your weekly inspections are a departmental highlight.

BRUCE

Really?

(a warm smile)

You all need to get out more.

CRANE UP

High over the factory floor, across acres of assembly lines and work stations.

ANGLE DOWN ON:

INT. EDWARD NYGMA'S WORK STATION (CONTINUOUS)

A clutter of computer parts. Paperwork everywhere. Rubik's cubes, games, dozens of puzzle books all boasting the green suited caricature of "The Guesser".

MONITOR –CLOSE

A crossword puzzle.

Features reflect over the acrostic. The two images resolve into one; the face itself is a puzzle.

REVERSE ANGLE

EDWARD NYGMA, awkward, brilliant and feverishly anxious stares up at the screen, TALKING to himself.

EDWARD

We'll probably go to the house for dinner. Yes. Yes. Maybe he'll throw a little party in my honor.

Suddenly Edward BANGS his head against the desktop. Hard. A brief window on the inner Edward, all insecurity and self loathing.

EDWARD

Idiot! Should have rented a tuxedo.

(suddenly calm)

Relax. I'm sure Wayne manor has extra. After all, we're almost the same size.

The opposing wall is a shrine to Bruce Wayne: Newspaper headlines, a GQ cover, magazine photos.

Approaching COMMOTION.

EDWARD

Oh my God. It's him.

INT. WAYNE ENTERPRISES – BREAK AREA

Workers greet the boss. Bruce is friendly, welcoming, Edward appears on the edge of the group.

Stickley spots Edward. A cloud crosses his face.

STICKLEY

Well, Mr. Wayne, on to R&D?

Stickley rests his hand on Wayne's elbow. Begins to steer him away. Not in time.

Edward steps forward. A man so uncomfortable, his very skin seems to be a costume. He marches right up to Wayne, takes his hand, fawning, the burning eyes of a sycophant.

BRUCE

Mr...?

EDWARD

Bruce Wayne. In the flesh.

BRUCE

(easy going)

Um...I'm pretty sure I'm Bruce Wayne. And you are?

EDWARD

Nygma. Edward Nygma. You hired me. Personally. Just like I tell everyone.

(sotto voce)

Well, we've never actually met, but your name was on the hire slip.

He still hasn't let go of Bruce's hand.

BRUCE

I'm gonna need that hand back, Ed.

EDWARD

What? Ah yes. Of course. I'm sorry. It's just that...you're my idol.

(off Stickley)

And some people have been trying to keep us apart.

BRUCE

Mr. Nygma, you'll forgive me for being rude. But what exactly is on your mind?

EDWARD

Precisely. What's on all our minds? Brainwaves. The future of Wayne Enterprises is Brainwaves! It's hard to imagine anyone more awkward. The effect is painful. Folks stare, mouths wide.

STICKLEY

(sotto voce)

I really do apologize, Mr. Wayne. His project was terminated this morning...

EDWARD

(ignoring Stickley)

Let me ask you something, Bruce. What is man's greatest tool?

A few of the WOMEN SNICKER. For a second, Edward's face twitches, a crack in the facade.

EDWARD

Man's greatest tool is... The mind.

Edward gestures to his cubicle. A rat's nest cluttered with components of his Rube Goldberg-like invention.

EDWARD

Voila. While holographically enhancing any TV picture, my invention connects directly to the viewer's brain, puts the audience inside the show. Think of the entertainment problems we can solve.

STICKLEY

I can think of a couple problems that need solving right here.

A few more folks CHUCKLE. Edward looks around. Another ripple of anxiety, another quick recovery.

EDWARD

Why be brutalized by an uncaring world? My RES Box will give Joe Q Public a realm where he is king.

(sultry)

Not that someone like you would need it. Someone so intelligent. Witty. Charming. But for the lonely, the...

STICKLEY

Paranoid? The psychotic?

EDWARD

(didn't miss it)

... The Box can change their lives.

(looking around)

Our stock coupons will spike.

Edward turns, actually CLAPS Stickley on the back.

EDWARD

Hell. Might even bring old Stickley here a few extra bucks. Huh, Fred?

STICKLEY

Fred?

Bruce takes off his glasses, rubs his eyes in vague disbelief, cleans the lenses.

EDWARD

Wayne Enterprises will spearhead an entertainment revolution.

Edward removes his glasses, cleans them in exactly the same manner as Bruce.

EDWARD

I just need a bit of additional funding. For human trials. Let me show you...

Bruce seems about to speak when suddenly -

THE BATSIGNAL

Beams bright against the night clouds over Gotham City.

BRUCE

(time to move)

Maybe some other time...

EDWARD

I want you to know, we'll be full partners in this, Bruce.

(waxing rhapsodic)

What talks we'll have, late into the night. Now, I'm not used to business travel, so go easy on me. As for recognition, I'm sure after a time I'll get used to it.

(a beat)

Look at us. Two of a kind.

Edward is suddenly aware of dozens of co-workers all around him, SNICKERING and WHISPERING.

EDWARD

Bruce...?

Bruce's eyes dart again toward the Batsignal.

BRUCE

Call my secretary, she'll set something up.

(turning)

Factory looks great, folks. Keep up the good work.

EDWARD

(desperate)

Wait. You can't go.

BRUCE

We'll talk some other –

EDWARD

(sudden rage)

No. Don't leave me! My invention! I need you!

Edward has grabbed Bruce's arm. The room goes dead quiet. Bruce's eyes narrow. Then he dislodges gently.

BRUCE

I'm sorry, Edward. Just feels a bit like mind manipulation. It raises too many question marks.

Bruce heads off.

STICKLEY

Alright everyone, back to work.

(to Edward)

We'll discuss this later.

Edward stares after Bruce.

EDWARD

You were supposed to understand.

HOLD on this tiny man, all alone in the labyrinthine work-place, eyes darkening now with growing obsession.

EDWARD

I'll make you understand.

INT. BRUCE WAYNE'S PRIVATE OFFICE

Bruce ENTERS.

BRUCE

Lock.

THE DOOR – CLOSE

LOCKS. Bruce falls into a leather chair.

BRUCE

Capsule.

Suddenly the chair seat drops, fast, sliding into a transport capsule.

INT. TRANSPORT TUNNEL

The capsule shoots through the underground tunnel, lights WHIPPING past at near super-sonic speed.

INT. CAPSULE

Speed and time readouts appear on the windscreen beside the craggy face of ALFRED PENNYWORTH.

BRUCE

Alfred...

ALFRED

I saw the signal, is. All is ready.

INT. BAT CAVE – COSTUME VAULT

Alfred watches the capsule arrive.

QUICK CUTS

Of glove, boot, and cape being donned.

INT. BATCAVE

FOLLOW Batman's feet as he steps up to the Batmobile.

ALFRED

I suppose I couldn't convince you to take along a sandwich.

Batman jumps into the Batmobile.

BRUCE

(to Alfred)

I'll get drive-thru.

(to the car)

Go...

The car shoots a whitish-blue light from under it's belly. Hub Caps and detailing glow as The Batmobile zooms out of the cave.

INT. CAVE ACCESS TUBE

The car SHOOTS through a series of underground arches.

The car picks up speed, the blue-white fusion drive going blue, then purple, then red. The single bat wing splits into two as the car becomes a stealth bullet.

EXT. WAYNE ESTATE – NIGHT

The dark car WHIPS through a holograph of trees that masks the entrance to the Batcave, SCREECHING onto...

EXT. FOREST ROADS – NIGHT

The car speeds towards Gotham.

ANGLE OUTSIDE THE WINDOW ON

The Batsignal, cutting the darkness.

PULL BACK TO REVEAL:

INT. SECOND BANK OF GOTHAM – 22ND FLOOR – NIGHT

A worried THUG peers at the Batsignal out the skyscraper window. Across a narrow abyss stands a skyscraper under construction, all girders and scaffolding.

In foreground, a spinning silver dollar flips up into frame, blocking out the Batsignal.

THUG #1

Bat should show any minute, Face.

A HAND catches the coin, flips it again.

WIDER