Here’s part three my script for ‘Batman - Legacies’, a fan fiction comic book that is the Batman vs Joker 'endgame’, their final confrontation after nearly 30 years of being adversaries.
*None of the artwork below (except for the title image) belongs to me...
PAGE NINE
PANEL ONE
A wide panel showing the Joker from the waist-up, holding the revolver to his head, which is tilted to one side like an inquisitive dog. His tongue hangs out of his mouth.
JOKER - There’s not an alternative, I’m afraid.
You’ve got to kill me.
It’s the only viable solution.
Kill me. Undo the very fabric of your legacy and cement mine.
PANEL TWO
A full shot of Batman. Determined, resolute.
BATMAN - No.
PANEL THREE
A close shot of Joker holding the butt of the revolver in his fingers (similar to how he held the bullets before loading them into the weapon).
JOKER - Look, I’m going to make it easy for you.
I know you don’t approve of firearms, but why can’t you live a little?
PANEL FOUR The revolver is bouncing on the floor of the empty pool as Joker drops it down to Batman.
JOKER - Go against the grain, rip up the rulebook.
PANEL FIVE
The revolver has slid to a stop at Batman’s feet.
JOKER - Put a nice big exit wound in my skull.
PANEL SIX
Joker is reaching into his coat, one side of his mouth raised in a grin.
JOKER - Here’s an extra incentive.
PANEL SEVEN
Joker reveals a detonator with a key protruding from the side of it. It is the size of a large matchbox, wrapped in layers of tape with a rubber-coated antenna coming from the top of it. He holds it up high – proud of it.
JOKER - You now have five minutes to end my life.
PANEL SIX
Joker is reaching into his coat, one side of his mouth raised in a grin.
JOKER - Kill me and save the itty-bitty children.
Or don’t, and this whole place blows SKY HIGH.
The death of these kids will be on your head.
You really are a monster!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
PANEL SEVEN
A small flash panel showing a close up of Batman’s face (looking down across his mask).
BATMAN - Why should I believe you? I’ll kill you and then these innocent children will still be slaughtered. You don’t make deals - you’ve never given me a get-out clause.
PAGE TEN
PANEL ONE
A similar shot to the previous (on page nine) but now focusing on Batman’s mouth as he talks.
BATMAN - You forget everything we’ve been through.
I know you better than you know yourself.
PANEL TWO
A shot from behind the Joker, who is raising his hands (in triumph?). Again, Batman appears small in the direct background.
JOKER - HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA!
If only I had a nickel for every time you’ve said that to me.
I’d probably have enough to pay for real therapy.
PANEL THREE
The next two panels show Joker and Batman from the side, looking as if they are facing each other (the panels are split with a diagonal line).
JOKER - I’m afraid you’re in no position to negotiate, Bats.
And the clock is ticking.
TICK-TOCK-TICK-TOCK.
PANEL FOUR
The follow on from the previous panel. The split looks as if Joker and Batman are talking directly to each other, despite the height difference of the characters (with Joker standing on the pool edge).
BATMAN - You’re a desperate man and you crave attention.
You need it like you need oxygen.
PANEL FIVE
A narrow panel showing Batman from the waist up. His hands are in front of him, gesturing a pointing and accusing finger at the Joker.
BATMAN - There’s no way you’d be willing to die like this.
Not without seeing tomorrow’s newspaper headlines.
PANEL SIX
Batman is using his open palms to ‘paint a picture’ for the Joker.
BATMAN - ‘CHILD KILLER JOKER CAUGHT.’
PANEL SEVEN
A close shot of Joker, one hand covering his mouth (feigning shock – mocking Batman).
JOKER - Oh Bruce, that’s where you’re wrong.
I am willing to die.
I’m ready to die.
PANEL EIGHT
Joker has moved to sit on the edge of the pool with his legs crossed, further taunting Batman by addressing him in the guise of a child who is telling a fairytale. His tone is patronising.
JOKER - Those newspaper headlines are part of it, but they’re just the beginning.
I don’t need to be alive to see them.
Whatever the outcome of today, they’ll still all be writing about me.
But being dead, you see, will make sure that they’re writing about me forever.
PAGE ELEVEN
PANEL ONE
This page is split into 3 equally sized panels, all split by various diagonal lines. The first panel focuses on Batman, his fists clenched down by his sides.
BATMAN - It’s somewhat of an empty legacy, isn’t it?
It won’t have the durability you expect it to, I can guarantee that.
JOKER - You misunderstand human nature, Bruce.
The people of Gotham are infatuated with grief.
It’s what gets them up in the morning.
PANEL TWO
This panel shows the kidnapped children from above, their feet clearly tied together at the front and their hands tied around their backs.
JOKER - They’re weak and they love it that way.
BATMAN - I refuse to agree with that.
The only thing your rampage has done is bring the people of Gotham together in a way I have never seen before.
BATMAN - This terrible circumstance will only be remembered for their courage.
PANEL THREE
This panel focuses on the Joker, his appearance almost mirroring that of Batman (from the first panel). Joker looks stern.
BATMAN - You’ve murdered innocent children, but instead of causing the chaos and panic that you wanted to, you’ve united this city.
It doesn’t matter if they’re a teacher, lawyer, bank clerk, petty thief, mob enforcer or thug for hire, they want you dead because you killed kids – that’s the bottom line.
BATMAN - That’s not a legacy, that’s human nature.
Something you have no idea about.
PAGE TWELVE
PANEL ONE
A view from above showing one of Batman’s small, unmanned drones, hovering above the concrete ground as it looks for explosives around the building. This shot takes place away from the pool, in a basement area of the swimming baths.
PANEL TWO
The drone is again shown, this time from the front. It is 3-4 feet from the ground, hovering.
PANEL THREE
The drone comes to a stop at a concrete column, C4 strapped to it with layers of clear plastic. A small robotic arm with a metallic cylinder on the end of it is coming out of the side of a panel on the drone.
PANEL FOUR
The metallic cylinder is spraying a coolant onto the C4, freezing it and causing it to malfunction.
PANEL FIVE
This panel shows a close up of the frozen C4, the previous red light on the explosives now off.
PANEL SIX
Batman listens as he receives a message from Oracle [Barbara Gordon] who is providing support to him from the Bat Cave.
ORACLE - The drones have managed to disarm all C4 in the building, Bruce.
PANEL SEVEN
A wide panel of Joker continuing to rant, holding out the detonator in his hand as if it is an actually weapon. He is again smiling widely.
JOKER - You really think you know anything about them?
People are goddam maniacs.
They have more in common with me than they ever will with you.
Sure, you’ve entertained me no end.
But you’re a bore.
PANEL EIGHT
Batman is watching Joker, planning his next move. This shot is from behind Batman’s head. Joker’s legs and feet can be seen in the direct background.
JOKER - Too disciplined for your own good.
I’m exciting.
I’m unpredictable.
PANEL NINE A closer shot of Joker, who has now bent down at the edge of the empty pool. He is climbing down to the same level as Batman, one hand supporting his body as he does so.
JOKER - And this is my love letter to Gotham. Something to discredit Batman lore, take you down with me and make every struggle you’ve gone through in the last thirty years irrelevant.
To be continued... Check back soon for part four!
Ben Errington
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