Batman

Batman (1989)

Based on the Character created by Bob Kane.

Script

by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren.

First Fifth draft, October 20, 1986 October 6, 1988.

. . .

The Bat grabs a fistful of Nick’s by the shirt, and with supernatural ease hoists him into the air.

NICK

Don’t kill me… don’t kill me…

When Nick finally opens his eyes he realizes … The Bat is standing on the ledge of the roof—holding him out, at arm’s length, over six stories of nothingness.

The gruesome black apparition speaks, in a rasping whisper: A rasping voice.

BATMAN

I won’t kill you. I want you to do me a favor.

You’re trespassing, Ratbreath.

Nick looks down. Far, far below, cars wink silently past.

He looks up. And sees, in the mirrored lenses where Batman’s eyes should be, the twin reflections of his own stricken face.

NICK

Trespassing? You don’t own the night.

BATMAN (cont.)

Tell your friends. Tell all your friends. I Am the night.

Nick howls. Almost as an afterthought, Batman heaves him roughly back onto the tar-and-gravel surface of the roof. And then—casually, without a moment’s hesitation—steps off the ledge of the roof, into midair.

Trembling, Nick crawls to the ledge and looks over… finding absolutely no trace of the Batman.

Nick is still screaming as we pan up to the bilious yellow globe of Gotham’s moon.

Main Credits Roll: