11BEAUTY AND THE BATMAN

NARRATOR:
Once upon a time, in a faraway land,
a young prince lived in a shining castle.
Although he had everything his heart
desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish,
and unkind. But then, one winter's night, his parents, the king and queen, were murdered by an assassin. The prince was devastated and shut himself in the castle, which was soon separated from society. Years later, a vigilante appeared in the village. Dark as the night itself, he was the Batman. The Batman apprehended and even destroyed criminals of the village, until the villagers decided he was going to far and drove him out. It is said that the Batman still returns at night, secretly bringing criminals to justice. But where is the Batman. Who is the Batman...?

(Fade up on the home of Tohru. She exits the front door and begins her walk into town.)

TOHRU:
Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day, like the one before
Little town, full of little people Waking up to say...

TOWNSFOLK 1:
Bonjour!

TOWNSFOLK 2:
Bonjour!

TOWNSFOLK 3:
Bonjour!

TOWNSFOLK 4:
Bonjour!

TOWNSFOLK 5:
Bonjour!

TOHRU:
There goes the baker with his tray like
always. The same old bread and rolls to sell. Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town...

BAKER:
Good morning, Tohru!

(TOHRU jumps over to the bakery)

TOHRU:Oh! Morning, sir.

BAKER:
Where are you off to?

TOHRU:
The bookshop! I just finished a story about a donkey and an ogre and now I...

BAKER:
(Ignoring her) That's nice...Marie, the
baguettes! Hurry up!

TOWNSFOLK:
Look there she goes, that girl is strange no question. Dazed and distracted, all day through.

WOMAN 1: Never part of any crowd

BARBER:
Cause her head's up on some cloud

TOWNSFOLK:
No denying she's a funny girl, Tohru.

(Tohru jumps on the back of a wagon and rides through town)

DRIVER:
Bonjour!

WOMAN 2:
Good day!

DRIVER:
How is your family?

WOMAN 3:
Bonjour!

MERCHANT:
Good day!

WOMAN 3:
How is your wife?

WOMAN 4:
I need six eggs!

MAN 1:
That's too expensive!

TOHRU:There must be more than this provincial life!

(Tohru enters the bookshop)

BOOKSELLER:
Ah, Tohru!

TOHRU:
Good morning, sir. I've come to return the book I borrowed.

BOOKSELLER:
(Putting the book back on the shelf)
Finished already?

TOHRU: Yeah. I’m a quick reader! Do you have anything new?

BOOKSELLER:
(laughing) Not since yesterday.

TOHRU:
(on ladder of bookshelf) That's all right. I'll borrow... this one.

BOOKSELLER:
That one? But you've read it twice!

TOHRU:
Well it's my favorite! Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!

BOOKSELLER:
(handing her the book) Well, if you like
it all that much,it's yours to keep!

TOHRU:
But sir!

BOOKSELLER:
I insist!

TOHRU:
Well thank you. Thank you very much!
(leaves bookshop)

MEN:
Look there she goes, she’s so peculiar! I wonder where she’s headed to.

WOMEN:
With a dreamy far-off look!

MEN:
And her nose stuck in a book!

ALL:
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Tohru!

(TOHRU sits on the edge of a fountain, singing to the sheep and the washing woman in the background, who leaves)

(Geese flying overhead, one is shot and plummets to the ground. The accountant Jack Napier runs over, holds out the bag, and misses catching the prize. He returns to Gary Oak.)

JACK: You didn't miss a shot, Gary! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!

GARY: I know.

JACK:
Huh. No beast alive stands a chance against you...and no girl for that matter!

GARY:
It's true, Jack, and I've got my sights set on that one! (pointing to Tohru)

JACK:
The inventor's daughter?

GARY:
She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry.

JACK:
But she's–

GARY:
The most beautiful girl in town.

JACK:
I know that, but...

GARY:
And that makes her the best. And don't I deserve the best?

JACK:
Well of course, I mean you do, but I mean..

GARY:
Right from the moment when I met her, saw her. I say she’s gorgeous, that I do!
Here in town there's only she who’s as downright sexy as me
So I'm making plans to marry that Tohru!

GARY’S CHEERLEADERS:
Gary, Gary, he’s our man! If he can’t do it, no-one can!

(Tohru walks easily through the crowd of people in the town, Gary struggles to catch up to her)

TOHRU:
There must be more than this provincial life!

GARY
Just watch I'm going to make Tohru my wife!

(Townsfolk gather around Gary, and eventually surround him)

ALL:
Look there she goes a girl who's strange but special. She certainly is no Mary Sue!
But it's a pity and a sin that she doesn't quite fit in!

GROUP 1:
But she really is a funny girl

GROUP 2:
A beauty but a funny girl

ALL:
She really is a funny girl! Tohru!

GARY:
Hello, Tohru.

TOHRU:
Oh, hi, Gary!

(Gary grabs the book from Tohru)

TOHRU: Gary,may I have my book, please?

GARY:
How can you read this? Princes...magic spells...none of these things exist in real life!

TOHRU: I know, but that’s what makes it a fantasy!

GARY: You know, t's about time you got your head out of fantasies and paid attention to real
things...like me! The whole town's talking about it.

TOHRU: They are? Oh dear...I must have missed it...

GARY:(Putting his hand around her shoulders) Hey, babe. Whaddya say you
and me take a walk over to the tavern and have a look at my hunting trophies.

TOHRU: Um...Maybe some other time.

CHEERLEADER 1:
What's wrong with her?

CHEERLEADER 2:She's crazy!

CHEERLEADER 3:
He's gorgeous!

TOHRU: I’m sorry, Gary, but. I can't. I have to get home and help my father.

JACK: Ha ha ha, that crazy old loon, he need all
the help he can get!

(Gary and Jack laugh insanely)

TOHRU: Don't talk about my father that way!

GARY: Yeah, don't talk about her father that way!

(He conks Jack on the head.)

TOHRU:
My father's not crazy! He's a genius!

(Explosion in background. Gary and Jack continue laughing. Tohru rushes home and descends into the basement.)

TOHRU: Papa?

WHITNEY:
How on earth did that happen? Dagnabbit!

(He pulls the barrel off his waist, along with his pants.)

TOHRU: Are you all right, Papa?

WHITNEY:I'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk!

TOHRU:
You always say that.

WHITNEY:
I mean it, this time. I'll never get this boneheaded contraption to work.

TOHRU:
Yes, you will. And you'll win first prize at the fair tomorrow

WHITNEY: Hmmmph!

TOHRU:...and become a world famous inventor!

WHITNEY:
You really believe that?

TOHRU:
I always have.

WHITNEY:
Well, what are we waiting for. I'll have this thing fixed in no time. So, did you have a good
time in town today?

TOHRU:
I got a new book. Papa, do you think I'm odd?

WHITNEY:
My daughter? Odd? (Appears from under machine with bizarre goggle contraption on
his head distorting his eyes) Where would you get an idea like that?

TOHRU:
Oh, I don't know. It's just I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really
talk to.

WHITNEY:
What about that Gary Oak? He's a handsome fellow and grandson of my idol, the great and successful inventor Samuel Oak!

TOHRU: Gary’s okay...but he brags too much. I can’t really hang out with him without him boasting about hunting some sort of creature.

WHITNEY: Well, don't you worry, cause this invention's going to be the start of a new life for us. (Comes out from under machine) I think that's done it. Now, let's give it
a try. (MACHINE whirs and chops wood, just as it should)

TOHRU:
It works!

WHITNEY:
It does? It does!

TOHRU:
You did it! You really did it!

WHITNEY:
Hitch up Phillipe, girl. I'm off to the fair!

TOHRU:
Good bye, Papa! Good luck!

WHITNEY:
Good bye, Tohru, and take care while I'm gone!

(Whitney and Phillipe continue on their journey until they become lost in the woods.)

WHITNEY:
We should be there by now. Maybe we missed a turn. I guess I should have taken
a...wait a minute. (Lifts lantern to illuminate sign giving directions to Anaheim and Valencia)
Let’s take the shortcut...

(Phillipe and Whitney continue through the dark until they reach a cliff.)

WHITNEY:
This can't be right. Where have you taken us, Phillipe? We'd better turn around...
and...whoa...Look out!

(A swarm of bats fly out of a tree. Phillipe runs away, leaving Whitney on the edge of the
cliff. Whitney looks up and sees wolves growling at him. Whitney runs away, being chased by the wolves. He stumbles down a hill, and lands at the gate of a dark castle. He grabs the locked gate and tries to shake it open.)

WHITNEY: Help! Is someone there?

(The gate opens, and Whitney runs in. He slams the gate in the faces of the wolves. Leaving his hat on the ground as the rain begins to fall, Whitney runs to the castle and bangs on the door. It creaks open and he enters, cautiously.)

WHITNEY:
Hello? Hello?

(Watching from a dark corner nearby are Robin Hood and Alfred Pennyworth.)

ROBIN HOOD: (Barely whispering) Old fellow must have lost his way in the woods.

ALFRED: (Also whispering) Keep quiet! Maybe he'll go away.

WHITNEY:
Is someone there?

ALFRED: Not a word, Robin Hood. Not one word!

WHITNEY:
I don't mean to intrude, but I've lost my horse and I need a place to stay for the night.

ROBIN HOOD: Oh, come now, Alfred! Have a heart! (Walks over to Whitney.) Of course, you are welcome to stay for the night!

WHITNEY: Oh! Is this your castle? Thank you, sir, thank you...

ROBIN HOOD: You are welcome, good man! Oh, and this isn’t my castle...

ALFRED: Now you’ve done it, Robin Hood! Ugh! I would think that the master would have trained you better...

WHITNEY: Am...Am I not welcome her after all?

ROBIN HOOD: No, no! Don’t listen to Alfred here. He’s just cranky. Comes with old age, as I’m sure you know. Here sit down on this sofa and I’ll light a fire.

WHITNEY:
Thank you.

(Robin Hood lights a fire in the fireplace and Whitney relaxes.)

ALFRED:
All right, this has gone far enough. I'm in charge here, and...(Ms. Judson walks in Fivel, her son.)

MS. JUDSON: How would you like a nice spot of tea, sir? It'll warm you up in no time.

FIVEL: Here you go, sir! (Gives Whitney a cup of tea.)

(The door to the den slams open and a strong gust of wind blows into the room, extinguishing the fire in the fireplace.)

FIVEL: Uh oh!

(Batman enters. He is wearing an all-black bat-like uniform and a flowing dark cape. He looks around in the darkness.)

BATMAN: There's a stranger here.

ROBIN HOOD: Master, allow me to explain. The gentleman was lost in the woods and he was cold and wet...

ALFRED: Stop, stop...I’ll explain...I was against this from the start! I tried to
stop them, but would they listen to me? No, no, no!

BATMAN: Alfred!

(Alfred stops talking. Batman walks over to Whitney.)

BATMAN: Who are you? What are you doing here?

WHITNEY: (Very scared and backing away from the advancing Batman) I was lost in the woods and...

BATMAN: You are not welcome here!

WHITNEY: I'm sorry, I...

BATMAN:
What are you staring at?

WHITNEY:(Cowering) Noth-noth-nothing! (Turns to leave)

BATMAN:
(Racing around and blocking the entrance with surprising speed) So, you've come tostare at The Batman, have you?

WHITNEY:
Please, I meant no harm! I just needed a place to stay .

BATMAN:
I'll give you a place to stay!

WHITNEY: No! NO!

(Batman grabs Whitney by the shirt collar, carries him out of the room and slams the door, plunging the den into darkness. (Fade out.)

(Fade in to Tohru’s cottage, seen from POV of Gary and Jack Napier.)

JACK: Heh! Oh boy! Tohru’s gonna get the surprise of her life! .

GARY: Yes...today will be the day she admits her true feelings for me!

(Gary turns to a crowd behind him.)

GARY: I'd like to thank you all for coming to my wedding. But first, I better go in there
and... propose to the girl! Now, Jack. When Tohru and I come out that door--

JACK: Oh I know, I know! I strike up the band! (He turns and begins
directing the band to play music. Gary slams a baritone over his head.)

GARY: Not yet!

JACK: Sorry!

(Cut to interior of cottage. Tohru is sitting in a chair reading her new book. There is a knock at the door. She puts the book down and walks to the door. She reaches up and pulls down a viewing device. She peeks through and sees fish-eye view of Gary. She opens the door.)

TOHRU:
Gary, what a pleasant...surprise.

GARY: Isn’t it though? I'm just full of surprises. You know, Tohru. There's not a girl in town who wouldn't love to be in your shoes. This is the day your dreams come true.

TOHRU: Excuse me, but how do you know what I dream?

GARY:
Plenty. Here, picture this. A rustic hunting lodge, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and my
little wife, massaging my feet, while the little ones play with the dogs. We'll have six or seven.

TOHRU: Dogs?

GARY: No, Tohru! Strapping boys, like me!

TOHRU: (Now irritated) Imagine that...

GARY:
And do you know who that wife will be? YOU!

TOHRU: Gary...I don’t know what to say?

GARY: (Corners Tohru at the door.) Say you'll marry me.

TOHRU: (Reaching for the doorknob) I'm very sorry, Gary, but I just don't deserve you.

(She twists the knob and the door opens (this time outward). Tohru ducks under Gary as
he tumbles out the door and into the mud.)

(The wedding band begins to play. Jack, who is directing the band, looks down and sees Gary’s legs sticking out of the mud, and a pig's head sticking up. Jack cuts off the band, and Gary’s head pops up, with the pig on top of him. He tilts his head, and the pig slides down his back.)

JACK:
So, how'd it go?

GARY: (Picks up Jack by the neck) I'll have Tohru for my wife, make no mistake about
that! (Gary drops Jack into the mud.)

JACK: Hmph! Touch-ee!

(Gary walks off, dejected, and the focus returns to the cottage.)

TOHRU: Can you imagine, he asked me to marry him? Madame Gary Oak! Can't you just see it? Madame Gary Oak, his little wife Not me, thank you very much! I guarantee it I want much more than this provincial life...

I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned

(Phillipe into the open field. Tohru looks at him, disturbed that Whitney is not with him.)

TOHRU: Phillipe! What are you doing here? Where's Papa? Where is he, Phillipe?
What happened? Oh, we have to find him, you have to take me to him!

(Cut to exterior of the castle gate.)

TOHRU:
What is this place?

(Phillipee snorts, then begins to buck as if something is scaring him. Tohru dismounts and comforts him.)

Tohru: Phillipe, please, steady. (She enters the gate and sees Whitney’s hat on the ground.)

(Cut to interior of castle with Alfred and Robin Hood discussing events.)

ALFRED: Couldn't keep quiet, could we? Just had to invite him to stay, didn't we? I know you’re the master’s apprentice, but you need to learn responsibility!

ROBIN HOOD: I was just trying to be hospitable.

(Cut back to door opening and Tohru entering castle.)

TOHRU: Hello? Is anyone here? Hello? Papa? Papa, are you here?

(We follow as Tohru ascends the grand staircase and searches for her father. Cut to kitchen where Ms. Judson and Fivel are.)

FIVEL:
Momma. There's a girl in the castle!

MS. JUDSON:
Now, son, I won't have you making up such
wild stories.

FIVEL:
But really, momma, I saw her.

MS. JUDSON:
Not another word.

SERVANT:
A girl! I saw a girl in the castle!

FIVEL: See, I told ya!

(Cut back to Robin Hood and Alfred bickering)

ALFRED: And while you’re at it, you might want to stop stealing food from the kitchen! The master is supposed to be teaching you to be against thieves, not to be one!

ROBIN HOOD: Steal? Thieves? Those are such naughty words! I merely...borrow! The master’s property is our (and my) property after all.

TOHRU: Papa?

(The two of them turn to look at the new arrival)

ROBIN HOOD:
Did you see that? It's a girl! And by jove, she’s headed toward the dungeons!

(Whitney’s voice echoes from his cells in the dungeons)

WHITNEY: Tohru?

TOHRU: (Rushes up to the cell to find him) Oh,Papa!

WHITNEY:
How did you find me?

TOHRU:
Oh, your hands are like ice. We have to get you out of here.

WHITNEY:
Belle, I want you to leave this place.

TOHRU:
Who's done this to you?

WHITNEY:
No time to explain. You must go...now!

TOHRU:
I won't leave you!

(Suddenly, Batman grabs Tohru's shoulder and whips her around. She drops the torch she was carrying into a puddle and the room is dark except for one beam of light from a skylight.)

BATMAN:
What are you doing here?

WHITNEY:
Run, Tohru, run!

TOHRU:
Who's there? Who are you?

BATMAN:
The master of this castle.

TOHRU:
I've come for my father. Please let him go! Can't you see he's sick?

BATMAN:
Then he shouldn't have trespassed here. Village society is not welcome.

TOHRU: But he could die. Please, I'll do anything!

BATMAN:
There's nothing you can do. By trespassing, he is a criminal in my eyes.

TOHRU:
Oh, there must be some way I can...wait! Take me, instead!

BATMAN:
You! You would take his place?

WHITNEY: Tohru! No! You don't know what you're doing!

TOHRU:
If I did, would you let him go?

BATMAN:
Yes, but you’d have to stay here forever...

(Tohru ponders the situation and realizes she can't see the captor)

TOHRU: Come into the light.

(Batman walks forward, his whole body into the beam of light. Tohru looks, her eyes growing wider until she can stand no more and falls back to Whitney.)

WHITNEY:
No, Belle. I won't let you do this!

(Tohru regains her composure, then steps into the beam of light.)

TOHRU:
You have my word.

BATMAN: Done!

(Batman moves over to unlock the cell, and Tohru collapses to the floor with her head in her hands. We hear the door being unlocked, then Whitney rushes toward Tohru.)

WHITNEY: No, Tohru! Listen to me. I'm old, I've lived my life--
(Batman grabs him and drags him downstairs)

TOHRU: Wait!

WHITNEY: TOHRUUUU!

(Cut to ext. of castle. Batman drags Whitney toward the Batmobile.)

WHITNEY:
No, please spare my daughter!

BATMAN:
She's no longer your concern...criminal.

(Batman throws Whitney into the Batmobile. He takes out a remote and presses a button.)

BATMAN: Take him to the village.

(The Batmobile drives off, with Whitney inside. )

WHITNEY:
Please, let me out, please!

(Cut to Tohru looking out cell window at the Batmobile crossing the bridge over the moat. She begins to cry. Cut to Batman walking up the stairs with Robin Hood at his side.)

ROBIN HOOD: Master?

BATMAN: (angrily) What?

ROBIN HOOD: Since the girl is going to be with us for quite some time, I was thinking that you
might want to offer her a more comfortable room.

BATMAN: ...Yes. She is no criminal like her father, she deserves better.

(Batman enters the cell where Tohru is still crying.)

TOHRU:
You didn't even let me say good bye. I'll never see him again. I didn't get to say good-bye.

BATMAN: (feeling bad) I'll show you to your room.

TOHRU:
(surprised) My room? (Indicating the cell) But I thought--

BATMAN: Do you want a room or not?

TOHRU: I...I would like a room...

BATMAN: Then follow me.

(Batman, Tohru, and Robin Hood walk up the stairs. Batman looks back at Tohru, and sees a tear form at the corner of her eye. A brief flashback shows a young boy with dark hair with a tear forming in his eye as well.)

ROBIN HOOD:
Say something to her.

BATMAN: (To Tohru) I...um...hope you like it here. You are one of my servants now, which means the castle is your home, so you can go anywhere you wish, except the West Wing.

TOHRU:
(looking intrigued)What's in the West Wing?

BATMAN: It’s a forbidden area. That’s all you need to know.

(Cut to Tohru's room, dark. The door opens and light spills in.)

BATMAN: If there's anything you need, ask the other servants and they will attend you. Now, you will join me for dinner tonight...that is not a request!

(Batman and Robin Hood leave and close the door behind them. Tohru runs over to the bed and flings herself onto it, finally breaking down and crying. Fade to tavern in the town.)

GARY: Who does she think she is? That girl has tangled with the wrong man. No one says 'no' to Gary Oak!

JACK: Damn right!

GARY: Dismissed. Rejected. Publicly humiliated. Why, it's more than I can bear.

JACK: (Runs in front of him) More beer?

GARY: (Turns chair away) What for? Nothing helps. I’ve failed.

JACK: Who, you? Never. Gary, you've got to pull yourself together.

Gosh it disturbs me to see you, Gary
Looking so down in the dumps
Every guy here'd love to be you, Gary
Even when taking your lumps

There's no man in town as admired as you
You're everyone's favorite guy
Everyone's awed and inspired by you And it's not very hard to see why!

No one's slick as Gary, No one's quick as Gary. No one's nearly as cool and as sick as Gary. For there's no man in town half
as manly. Perfect, a pure paragon! You can ask any Tom, Dick, or Stanley
And they'll tell you who's team they'd prefer to be on!

OLD CRONIES:
No one's been like Gary, a king-pin like Gary.

JACK: No one's got the winning attitude like Gary.

GARY:
As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating!

OLD CRONIES:
My, what a guy that Gary!

ALL:
No one fights like Gary, lights the night like Gary

WRESTLER:
In a wrestling match, nobody bites like Gary

CHEERLEADERS:
For there's no one who’s a better hunter

GARY
As you see I've got bullets to spare!

OLD CRONIES:
No one hits like Gary, matches wits like Gary!

LEFOU:
In a spitting match, nobody spits like Gary!

GARY:
I'm especially good at expectorating! ALL:
Ten points for the great Gary!

GARY:
When I was a lad I ate four dozen eggs
Every morning to help me get large!
And now that I'm grown, I eat five dozen eggs. So I'm roughly the size of a barge!

ALL:
No one shoots like Gary, makes those beauts like Gary!

JACK: No one’s the grandson of Professor Oak but Gary!

GARY:
I use antlers in all of my decorating!

ALL:
My what a guy! GARY!

(Whitney bursts in frantically)

WHITNEY:
Help! Someone help me! Please! Please, I need your help! He's got her. He's got her locked in the dungeon.

JACK: Who?

WHITNEY:
Tohru! We must go. Not a minute to lose!

GARY:
Whoa! Slow down, old man. Who's got Tohru locked in a dungeon?

WHITNEY: THE BATMAN!

(Everyone begins to laugh.)

CRONY 1: Is it the vigilante?

WHITNEY: Yes!

CRONY 2: The one with the dark flowing cape?

WHITNEY: Yes!

CRONY 3: The one who disappeared years ago?

WHITNEY: Yes, yes! Will you help me?

GARY: All right, old man. We'll help you out.

WHITNEY: You will? Oh thank you, thank you!

(The cronies pick up Whitney and help him out by throwing him through the door.)

CRONY 1:
Crazy old Whitney! He's always good for a laugh!

GARY:
(Very pensive) Crazy old Whitney, hmm? Crazy old Whitney, hmmm?
Oh, Jack, I'm afraid I've been thinking.

JACK: A dangerous pastime...

GARY:
(finishing line) I know,
But that wacky old coot’s Tohru’s father
And his sanity's only so-so
Now the wheels in my head have been turning
Since I looked at that loony old man
See I promised myself I'd be married to Tohru, And right now I'm evolving a plan!

(Gary begins to whisper to Jack)

GARY:
If I...(whisper)

JACK:
Yes?

GARY:
Then I...(whisper)

JACK:
No, would she?

GARY:
(whispering)...GUESS!

JACK:
Now I get it!

BOTH:
Let's go!

(They begin a waltz around the floor as they sing)

BOTH:
No one plots like Gary, takes cheap shots like Gary

JACK:
Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gary!

ALL:
So his marriage we’ll soon all be celebrating!
My what a guy, GARY!

(Camera zooms out through window to snow covered square, empty except for Whitney)

WHITNEY: Will no one help me?

(Fade back to the bedroom of the castle where Tohru is
still crying. There is a 'clink clink clink' at the door. She gets up and walks over to open the door. Ms. Judson enters with Fivel and their entourage.)

MS. JUDSON: I thought you might like a cup of tea.

TOHRU: Thank you. (She picks up the cup, and drinks the tea.)

MS. JUDSON:
(To Tohru) That was a very brave thing you did, my dear.

FIVEL: We all think so.

TOHRU: But I've lost my father, my dreams, my home...

MS. JUDSON: Cheer up, child. It'll turn out all right in the end.

(The two of them leave the room and Alfred enters.)

ALFRED: Ahem, ahem, ahem. Dinner...is served.

(Cut to the table. Batman, Tohru, Alfred, Robin Hood, Ms. Judson, and Fivel are all sitting down and eating.)

ROBIN HOOD: So back in your village...what was life like?

(Alfred shoves Robin Hood in the arm.)

ALFRED: I don’t believe that’s the best subject to talk about!

TOHRU: No, no, it’s all right. My village...it was very beautiful. But life was the same day in and day out. Nothing ever changed...

ROBIN HOOD: Heh! Sounds like here!

BATMAN: I’m choosing to ignore that...

TOHRU: And there was this guy, Gary Oak, who always hit on me...

BATMAN: Gary Oak...? Any relation to Professor Samuel Oak?

TOHRU: He’s his grandson!

ALFRED: My heavens!

MS. JUDSON: That’s quite interesting. Knowing the grandson of Professor Oak!

FIVEL: Who’s Professor Oak?

MS. JUDSON: He was a great scientist and inventor. He contributed much to the world.

ROBIN HOOD: And to us! The Batmobile, the Utility Belt, the gadgets and gizmos...all of them were invented by Samuel...

BATMAN: (furiously) ROBIN HOOD!

(Robin Hood stops talking and looks guilty.)

TOHRU: The Batmobile was the car that took my father back home...Professor Oak invented it?

BATMAN: Enough on this subject! Let’s move on to something else.

FIVEL: But I’m interested! I never knew that your inventions were made by...

BATMAN: I said ENOUGH!

(Fivel is scared by Batman’s anger and runs off, crying. Ms. Judson runs after him.)

TOHRU: You didn’t have to be so mean! I’m leaving!

(Tohru runs off after Fivel and Ms. Judson.)

ALFRED: Well...that went well...

(Cut to int of Batman's lair. Batman enters, knocking over and destroying things in his path.)

BATMAN: What’s so mean about trying to protect my secrets...the secrets of my life! They are for no one to know...for no one to ever find out...

(A vision of the past blurs through Batman’s mind...The murder of his parents, before his very eyes. He puts his head in his hands as in a depressed state. Fade in to ext of Tohru’s room. Door creaks open. Tohru silently emerges. We see her feet go by. Robin Hood is watching.)

CHEF:
I work and I slave all day, and for what? A culinary masterpiece gone to waste.

ALFRED:
Oh, stop your grousing. It's been a long night for all of us.

(Tohru enters, and Alfred walks over to her)

ALFRED: Splendid to see you out and about, my lady.
(Robin Hood enters.)

ROBIN HOOD: If there is anything we can do for you...

TOHRU: I am a little hungry.

ROBIN HOOD: Right this way, my lady!

ALFRED: Well...er...keep it down! If Master Bruce finds out about this...

ROBIN HOOD:
Of course, of course. But what is dinner without a little music?

ALFRED: MUSIC!

(Cut to dining room, where Tohru is seated at the end of a long table.)

ROBIN HOOD: It is with deepest pleasure and greatest pride that I welcome you tonight. And now, we invite you to relax. Let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents...your dinner.

Be our guest, be our guest
Put our service to the test,
tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
and we provide the rest!

Soup du jour, hot hors d'oeuvres
Why we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!

They can sing, they can dance
better than anything in France! And a dinner here is never second best!
Go on unfold your menu,
take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest, be our guest, be our guest!

Beef ragout, cheese souffle,
Pie and pudding en flambe!
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!

You're alone and you're scared, But the banquet's all prepared!No one's gloomy or complaining,
While the flatware's entertaining!

Come on and lift your glass,
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest, be our guest,
be our guest!

(Robin Hood and Alfred are suddenly positioned on a stage. Robin Hood leans on Alfred.)

ROBIN HOOD:
Life is so unnerving, For a servant who's not serving!
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon

ALFRED:
Get off!

ROBIN HOOD:
Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly, those good old days are gone.

(Alfred groans.)

ROBIN HOOD:
I wish that the master could find crime to fight faster so that we could exercise
get a chance to use our skills!

(Alfred tries to get off the stage, he trips and falls into the gelatin mold.)

Most days just lay around the castle,
Flabby fat and lazy
You walked in, and oops-a-daisey!

(Robin Hood jumps on a spoon in the gelatin, which catapults Alfred out of the mold.)

ALL:
She's our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request!
It's ten years since we had anybody here And we're obsessed!
With your meal, with your ease,
Yes indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going--

ROBIN HOOD:
Course, by course
One by one
Til you shout ‘Enough, I'm done!’
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you you'll prop your feet up,
But till then, let us eat up
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Be our guest! Please Be our guest!

TOHRU:
Bravo! That was wonderful!

ALFRED: Thank you, thank you, my lady.. Yes, good show, wasn't it everyone. Oh, my goodness, will you look at the time. Now, it's off to bed, off to bed!

TOHRU:
Oh, I couldn't possibly go to bed now.
It's my first time in an enchanted castle.

ALFRED:
Enchanted? This castle isn’t enchanted!

TOHRU: But there’s secrets and surprises everywhere, and I consider that enchanted!

ROBIN HOOD: Would you like a tour?

ALFRED: Wait a second, wait a second. I'm not sure that's such a good idea.

TOHRU: I'm sure you know everything there is to know about the castle.

ALFRED: (flattered) Well, actually, ah yes, I do!

(Fade to the three of them walking down a hall.)

ALFRED:
As you can see, the pseudo facade was stripped away to reveal a minimalist rococo
design. Note the unusual inverted vaulted ceilings. This is yet another example of
the neo-classic baroque period, and as I always say, if it's not baroque, don't fix
it! Ha ha ha. Now then, where was I?

(Tohru stares at a dark staircase.)

TOHRU:
What's up there?

ALFRED:
Where? Up there? Nothing. Absolutely nothing of interest at all in the West Wing. Dusty, dull, very boring.

TOHRU:
Oh, so that's the West Wing.

ROBIN HOOD:
(To Alfred) Nice going!

TOHRU:
I wonder what he's hiding up there.

ROBIN HOOD:
Hiding? The master is hiding nothing!

TOHRU:
Then it wouldn't be forbidden.

ALFRED:
Perhaps you would like to see something else. The gardens, or the library perhaps?

TOHRU:
You have a library?

ALFRED: Oh yes! Indeed!

ROBIN HOOD: With books!

ALFRED: Gads of books!

ROBIN HOOD: Mountains of books!

ALFRED: Forests of books!

ROBIN HOOD: Swamps of books!

ALFRED: More books than you'll ever be able to read in a lifetime! Books on every subject
ever studied, by every author who ever set pen to paper...

(The two of them march off as they are distracted by their own talking. Tohru walks up the stairs and enters Batman’s lair. It is dark and dusty. A portrait of King Thomas Wayne hangs on a wall. Bats fly from a corner. Tohru ducks and they fly over her head and out the window. She then sees three hologram projectors on a table, as well as a hand-mirror. She plays the first hologram projector. A young boy in royal clothing is projected.)

YOUNG BRUCE: As of today, I severe the link between this castle and society. With the passing of my parents (voice chokes)...the rule of the Waynes comes to an end.

(The projection stops. Tohru plays the second hologram projector. The young boy is now a young man, around 20 years old. He is engaged in a sword fight with a blind man, Rezo the Red Priest. He swings with all his might but Rezo blocks each one.)

REZO: Useless. You swing with your rage...your emotion. You don’t swing with your mind. Tell me, what do you wish to accomplish with it all?

BRUCE: (between swings) I...want...to...fight...criminals! To...avenge...my...parents!

REZO: Ah, I see. But be forewarned...a path such as this is frowned upon by society. They do not understand, and once you start your mission, you will see that. They will hate and fear you, and they will drive you away. Work outside of society...in secret. Fight not for society but for yourself...and for your parents...

(Bruce swings one last time, but whether the swing hits or misses again is unknown, for the projector stops at that point. Tohru is about to play the third when Batman grabs her by the shoulder and turns her around.)

BATMAN (enraged): Why did you come here?

TOHRU: (Backing away, scared) I'm sorry.

BATMAN: I warned you never to come here! (Begins to thrash at the furniture)

TOHRU:(Pleading, but still scared) Please, stop! No!

BATMAN: (Screaming) Get out! GET OUT!

(Tohru turns and flees the room. She reaches the stairway and grabs her cloak. She rushes down the stairs, wrapping the cloak around her and bursting past a confused Robin Hood and Alfred.)

ROBIN HOOD:
Wh- Where are you going?

TOHRU: Promise or no promise, I can't stay here another minute!

ALFRED:
Oh no, wait, please wait!

(Tohru runs outside and mounts Phillipe. She begins to ride through the forest, but Phillipe comes to a stop. She looks up and sees the wolves. She gasps, then pulls the reins and begins to flee. They chase her and eventually knock her off Phillipe. She looks up and sees a wolf about to jump on top of her. It leaps and is caught in mid-air by Batman. He throws the wolf away, then stands behind them and Tohru. They lunge at each other. Batman uses martial arts moves against the wolves. They attack him as he attacks them, ripping through his costume. Soon he manages to pull a tablet from his utility belt. He throws it and it causes a smokescreen. The wolves howl in fear and run. Batman collapses. Tohru runs to his side.)

(Fade to int of den, with Tohru soaking a rag in hot water and putting it on Batman’s wounds.)

BATMAN: If you hadn't run away, this wouldn't have happened!

TOHRU: Well if you hadn't frightened me, I wouldn't have run away!

BATMAN: Well you shouldn't have been in the West Wing!

TOHRU: Well you should learn to control your temper!

(Batman raises his hand to bring out another point, but finds he has none, so he
bows his head down again. Tohru turns to him.)

TOHRU (tenderly): By the way, thank you, for saving my life.

(Batman looks surprised.)

BATMAN:
(Also very tenderly) You're welcome.

(Fade to Gary’s tavern, which is empty except for Gary, Jack, and Dr. Hugo Strange, who are all sitting at a table.)

STRANGE: I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night, but they said you'd
make it worth my while.
(Gary pulls out a sack of gold and tosses
it in front of him.)

GARY: It's like this. I've got my heart set on marrying Tohru, but she needs a little persuasion.

JACK: (butting in) Turned him down flat! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

(Gary slams a beer mug on his head.)

GARY: Everyone knows her father's a lunatic. He was in here tonight raving about the Batman living in a castle...

STRANGE: Whitney is harmless.

GARY: The point is, Tohru would do anything to keep him from being locked up.

JACK: (indicating Gary) Yeah, even marry him!

(Gary gives him another threatening look, and he ducks back under the mug.)

STRANGE: So you want me to throw her father in the
asylum unless she agrees to marry you? Oh, that is despicable. Heh heh heh...I love it!

(Cut to int of Tohru’s cottage. Whitney is packing to leave.)

WHITNEY:
If no one will help me, then I'll go back alone. I don't care what it takes. I'll find that castle and somehow I'll get her out of there.

(Whitney leaves on his journey. Seconds later, Gary and Jack arrive.)

GARY: Tohru! Whitney!

JACK: Oh, well, I guess it's not gonna work after all.

(Gary grabs him by the neck and walks outside.)

GARY:
They have to come back sometime, and when they do, we'll be ready for them. Don’t move from this spot until Tohru and her father come home. (Leaves.)

JACK: But, but... aww, damn!
(He pounds the side of the house and a pile of snow falls on his head.)
(Fade to ext of castle. Batman is on the balcony watching Tohru rest in the snow outside.)

BATMAN: I've never felt this way about anyone before...I want to do something
for her. But what?

ALFRED: Well, master Bruce, there’s the usual things--flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep...

ROBIN HOOD: No no. It has to be something very special. Something that sparks her
inter--wait a minute...of course!

(Cut to Batman and Tohru entering a room. It is a gigantic library filled with books.)

TOHRU: I can't believe it. I've never seen so many books in all my life!

BATMAN: You...you like it?

TOHRU: It's wonderful.

BATMAN: Then it's yours.

TOHRU: Oh, thank you so much. (Hugs Batman)

(Cut to the bathroom. Batman is there with Robin Hood. Batman takes off everything except for his mask.)

ROBIN HOOD: Tonight is the night!

BATMAN: (hesitantly) I'm not sure I can do this.

ROBIN HOOD: You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold, daring...how you always are when you face down criminals!

(Batman begins getting dressed in a royal robe.)

ROBIN HOOD: There will be music. Romantic candlelight, provided myself, and when the time is right, you confess your love.

BATMAN: (Inspired) Yes, I -- I con--No, I can't.

ROBIN HOOD:
You care for the girl, don't you?

BATMAN:
Of course I do! I love her as I have never loved anyone since...since my parents.

ROBIN HOOD:
Well then you must tell her.

(Cut to grand staircase, where Tohru descends from the West Wing side in a glittering gold ball gown. She reaches the landing and looks up at Batman, who is standing at the top
of the stairs in his mask and royal robes. He descends and meets Tohru at the landing. Arm in arm, they descend the last section of stairs and continue on their way to dinner.)

ROBIN HOOD: Isn’t it wonderful? The master finally has someone to truly love!

ALFRED: Perhaps if he takes this further, he’ll do what is best for her...and stop being Batman.

(Miss Judson begins to sing)

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends unexpectedly.

Just a little change
Put them hand in hand
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared, beauty and the batman.

(Tohru and Batman dance in the ballroom.)

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before, ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time Tune as old as song Bittersweet and strange,
Finding you can change,
learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Rising over the land
Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme, beauty and the batman.

Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme, beauty and the batman.
(Batman and Tohru have adjourned to the balcony under a starry night. Tohru stares into space.)

BATMAN:
What is it?

TOHRU: (Looks at him desperately) If only I could see my father again.. I miss him so much.

BATMAN: There is a way...

(The pair adjourn to Batman’s lair, where Batman hands Tohru the mirror.)

BATMAN: This mirror was invented by Professor Oak himself. It will show you anything,
anything you wish to see.

TOHRU:(Hesitantly) I'd like to see my father, please.

(The mirror shines into life, and reveals Whitney fallen in
the woods, coughing and lost. Tohru is shocked. Batman looks at her with concern.)

TOHRU: Papa. Oh, no. He's sick, he may be dying. And he's all alone.

(Batman turns and is deep in thought.)

BATMAN: Then...then you must go to him.

TOHRU: What did you say?

BATMAN: I release you. You are no longer my servant.

TOHRU: You mean...I’m free?

BATMAN: Yes.

Tohru:
Oh, thank you! Hold on, Papa. I'm on my way.

(Tohru turns to leave, then turns back and pushes the mirror back to Batman.)

BATMAN: Take it with you, so you'll always have a way to look back, and remember me.

TOHRU: Thank you for understanding how much he needs me.

(Tohru leaves and Alfred enters.)

ALFRED: Well, Master Bruce, I must say everything
is going just peachy. I knew you had it in you.

BATMAN:
(Very sad) I let her go.

ALFRED:
You what? How could you do that?

BATMAN: I had to.

ALFRED: Yes, but why?

BATMAN: Because, I love her.

(Cut to Tohru, who finds Whitney lying face down in a snowbank. They return
home, where Jack is still waiting, disguised as a snowman. They enter the house.)

JACK:
Oh, they're back! Now to go tell Gary...(Leaves)

(Cut to black. POV of Whitney as his eyes open. He sees Tohru.)

WHITNEY: Tohru?

TOHRU: It's all right, Papa. I'm home.

WHITNEY: I thought I'd never see you again.

TOHRU: I missed you so much.

WHITNEY: But...The Batman!. How did you escape?

TOHRU: I didn't escape, Papa. He let me go.

WHITNEY: That horrible vigilante?

TOHRU: But he's different, now. He's changed somehow...

(There is sound coming from Tohru’s pack. The flap opens and Fivel rolls out of it.)

FIVEL: Hi!

TOHRU: Oh, a stowaway.

WHITNEY: Why, hello there, little fella. Didn't think I'd ever see you again.

(Fivel turns to Tohru with a look of question on his face.)

FIVEL: Tohru, why'd you go away? Don't you like us anymore?

TOHRU:
Oh, Fivel. Of course I do. It's just that...

(There is a knocking at the door. Tohru opens it and Hugo Strange stands on the porch.)

TOHRU:
May I help you?

STRANGE:
I've come to collect your father.
(He steps aside to show the Arkham Asylum wagon behind him.)

TOHRU:
My father?

STRANGE:
Don't worry, mademoiselle. We'll take good care of him.

TOHRU:
My father's not crazy.

JACK: (Emerging from the crowd) He was raving like a lunatic. We all heard him, didn't we!

BYSTANDERS: Yeah!

(Whitney comes out of the house, looking afraid.)

JACK: Ah, Whitney. Tell us again, old man, just how scary was The Batman?

WHITNEY: (Struggling) Well, he was...terrifying...I couldn’t speak...(Crowd laughs)

JACK: Well, you don't get much crazier than that.

WHITNEY: It's true, I tell you! The Batman still exists, he’s alive and living in a castle!

JACK: Whitney, Whitney, Whitney. I pity you. You obviously over-worked yourself and messed up in the inventing process...and you finally snapped. It only took one bad day to turn you into a full-fledged lunatic, didn’t it? Just one...bad...day...

STRANGE: Take him away!

(Asylum workers grab Whitney.)

WHITNEY: Let go of me!

TOHRU: (To Strange.) No, you can't do this!
(Strange shakes her off and walks away.)

GARY: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor Tohru. It's a shame about your father.

TOHRU:
You know he's not crazy, Gary..

GARY: I might be able to clear up this little misunderstanding, if...

TOHRU: If what?

GARY:If you marry me. One little word and he’s free..

TOHRU: Never!

GARY: Wrong word. (Walks away.)

WHITNEY (Being thrown into the wagon): Help!

(Tohru runs into her house and comes back out with the mirror. She faces the crowd.) TOHRU: My father's not crazy and I can prove it! (to mirror) Show me The Batman!

(Mirror again shines, then produces the image of the Batman standing on the balcony of his castle as thunder claps behind him. The crowd oohs and aahs at the image.)

WOMAN: Eeeeeek! The Batman lives!

TOHRU: No, no, he’s changed! He’s not the reckless vigilante he once was! He's my friend!

GARY:
If I didn't know better, I'd think you had feelings for this freak.

TOHRU: He's no freak, Gary. You are!

GARY :She's as crazy as the old man.
(He grabs the mirror from her hand.)
The Batman will want revenge on the village! He'll come after us in the night! We're not safe 'til his head is mounted on my wall! I say we kill The Batman!

(MOB cheers him and repeats the words 'kill him'.)

MAN 1:
We're not safe until he's dead,

MAN 2:
He'll come stalking us at night!

WOMAN 1:
Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous delight!

MAN 3:
He'll wreak havoc on our village
If we let him wander free

GARY:
So it's time to take some action, boys
It's time to follow me!

(Gary throws a torch into a haystack, creating an instant bonfire. He begins to prance around it, warning of the dangers of the horrible Batman.)

Through the mist, through the woods
Through the darkness and the shadows
It's a nightmare but
it's one exciting ride.
Say a prayer, then we're there At the drawbridge of a castle,
And there's something
truly terrible inside.
It's a The Batman The psychopathic vigilante
Flowing cape
hiding, ready for the kill
Hear him roar, see him foam,But we're not coming home,
'Til he's dead, good and dead,
Kill The Batman!

TOHRU: (Interjecting) No, I won't let you do this.

GARY: If you're not with us, you're against us. Bring the old man!

WHITNEY: Get your hands off me!

(Gary throws both of them into the wagon and bolts the door.)

GARY: We can't have them running off to warn The Batman of our coming!

TOHRU: Let us out!

Gary:(To the crowd) We'll rid the village of The Batman forever this time. Who's with me?

(A chorus of "I am"s comes from the CROWD)

MOB: Light your torch, mount your horse!

GARY: Screw your courage to the sticking place

MOB:
We're counting on Gary to lead the way!
Through a mist, to a wood, Where within a haunted castle,
Something's lurking that you don't see every day!
It's a man
dressed all up in a bat suit
We won't rest
'Til he's good and deceased!
Sally forth, tally ho, Grab your sword, grab your bow Praise the Lord and here we go!

GARY:
We'll lay siege to his castle and bring back his head!

(Cut to int of wagon, where Tohru is prying at the window with a stick.)

TOHRU: I have to warn The Batman. This is all my fault. Oh, Papa. What are we going to do?

WHITNEY: (Comforting her) Now, now. We'll think of something.

(We see Fivel looking in through the window. He turns around, thinking, and then he sees Whitney's contraption with the axe on the end of it.)

MOB:
We don't like, what we don't
Understand, it frankly scares us And this monster is a force to be reckoned with
Bring your guns, bring your knives,Save your children and your wives,
We'll save our village and our lives,
We'll kill The Batman!

(At the castle...)

ALFRED: I knew it, I knew it was foolish to get our hopes up.

ROBIN HOOD: Maybe it would have been better if she had never come at all.

(Sounds of voices come outside. The servants all look.)

ROBIN HOOD: Oh my God! Invaders!

ALFRED: An angry mob, like from 10 years ago!

MISS JUDSON: (Seeing Gary) And they have the mirror!

ALFRED: (Issuing orders) Warn the master. If it's a fight they want, we'll be ready for them.

GARY:
Take whatever booty you can find, but remember, The Batman is mine!

(Cut to stairway, where servants are marching down to do battle with the mob.)

SERVANTS:
Hearts ablaze, banners high!
We go marching into battle,
Unafraid, although the
danger is quite vast.

MOB:
Raise the flag, sing the song
Here we come, we're fifty strong
And fifty angry villagers can't be wrong,
Let's kill The Batman!

(Cut to int of Batman's lair, where Miss Judson is briefing him.)

MISS JUDSON: Pardon me, master.

BATMAN: Leave me in peace.

MISS JUDSON: But sir, the castle is under attack!

MOB:
Kill The Batman! Kill The Batman!

(The sevants have tried to block off the door, but it is being bashed in by the mob.)

ALFRED: It isn’t working!

ROBIN HOOD: Wait! Oodalolly, I’ve got it!

MOB:
Kill the Batman! Kill the Batman!

(Cut to Batman’s lair)

MISS JUDSON: Are you certain of this, master?

BATMAN: It doesn't matter now. Just let them come. This time...I will not flee from them.

MOB: KILL THE BATMAN! KILL THE BATMAN! KILL THE BATMAN!

(The mob succeeds in breaking in, and finds a grand entrance shrouded in darkness. They tiptoe in, and Robin Hood appears from out of the shadows.)

ROBIN HOOD: Now!

(All the servants spring out of the shadows and attack their enemies. Cut back the village, where Fivel has readied the invention.)

FIVEL: Yes! Here we go!

(Whitney looks out from the wagon window and sees the advancing axe.)

WHITNEY:
What the devil? Tohru, look out!

(The invention crashes into the door, and a red cloud of smoke poofs out of the wagon. Tohru and Whitney emerge from the wreckage to find Fivel swinging on a loose spring.)

FIVEL:
You guys gotta try this thing.

(Cut back to the castle where the attack continues. Meanwhile, Gary and Jack have broken off from the mob and escape into the hallway. Finally, the invaders are chased out and the servants celebrate their victory.)

ALFRED:
And stay out!

Cut to Gary and Jack, who find Batman’s lair. Gary raises his crossbow and takes aim. Batman looks up at him, then looks back down in sadness again. Gary releases the arrow and it strikes Batman in the shoulder. He screams in pain and stands. Gary rushes him and they fly out the window onto the balcony, where it has begun to rain. Jack hurries after them and watches.)

JACK:
Ha ha ha ha ha!

(Gary corners Batman on the edge of the roof, where there are statues all around and barrels stacked on top of one another sit in a corner.)

GARY: Get up! Get up! What's the matter, Bats? Ha ha ha...Too weak and fragile to fight back?

(Batman looks down ignoring him. Gary walks into the foreground and breaks off a piece of the roof. He is about to smash it on Batman's head when Tohru's voice drifts up. She is on the bridge and is yelling to Gary, telling him to stop.)

TOHRU: NO!

BATMAN:(Hearing her voice, which gives him new life) Tohru...

TOHRU: Gary, don’t!

(Gary swings down at Batman, but he catches the weapon in his hand. Batman rises up and looks at Gary with a look of pure fury on his face. Gary’s face reflects fear for a moment. But then he straightens up and the two of them proceed through a fight on the rooftop. Finally, Batman runs to the barrels that were stacked up and rolls them at Gary. Gary is trips and stumbles out of the way. The barrels fall of the roof, breaking on the cliff rocks. Labels on the barrels are revealed to say “TOXIC WASTE” and as the barrels break, the waste pours into the lake below, turning it green and hazardous. Batman uses the distraction and takes a hiding place among the gargoyles in the darkness.)

GARY: Come on out and fight, coward! Were you in love with her, Batman? Did you honestly think she'd want a nobody like you when she had someone like me, the great Gary Oak?
(Batman has been provoked enough. He emerges and they fight again.)

GARY: It's over, Batman! Tohru is MINE!

(Batman is now furious and picks up Gary by the neck and holds him out over the edge of the roof. The fear returns to Gary’s face.)

GARY: Put me down. Put me down! Please, don't hurt me! I'll do anything! ANYTHING!

(Batman glares at Gary’s face. A ghostly vision of Professor Oak’s face flashes before his eyes. The anger slowly melts off his face, and the look of compassion returns. He pulls Gary back onto the roof.)

BATMAN: Get out...

(He shoves Gary to the ground. Gary falls unconscious. Above, Tohru comes out on a balcony.)

TOHRU: Batman!

BATMAN: Tohru...

(Batman climbs the tower until he reaches the balcony. He hangs over the side.)

BATMAN: You came back...

(Batman and Tohru stare passionately at each other, but the moment is interrupted when Jack appears behind Batman and stabs him in the back. Batman roars in pain, and Tohru is helpless.
Jack pulls the knife out and swings back for another shot. Batman starts to fall, and his arms knock Jack off balance. Tohru reaches forward and pulls Batman back, while Jack falls off the roof, screaming, and lands with a splash in the toxic waste lake. Tohru helps the injured vigilante up onto the balcony, where he lies down on the floor. The servants come rushing out, but stay out of sight.)

BATMAN(weakly): You came back.

TOHRU: Of course I came back. I couldn't let them...Oh this is all my fault. If only I'd
gotten here sooner.

BATMAN: Maybe it's better this way.

TOHRU: Don't talk like that. You'll be all right. We're together now. Everything's going to be fine. You'll see.

(Batman smiles and weakly lifts off his mask and reveals the face of Bruce Wayne.)

BRUCE:At least I got to see you one... last...time...

(Bruce puts his hand to her cheek. He holds it there for a second, then drops it. His head falls back, and his eyes close. Tohru can't believe this has happened.)

TOHRU: (Crying) No, no! Please! Please! Please don't leave me! I love you!

(She puts her lips to his and kisses him.)

(Fades out and fades into the castle ballroom, all lit up. A huge crowd has gathered, among them are all the servants, Whitney, Gary, the Bookseller, and Jim Gordon, leader of the village.)

WHITNEY: It’s an honor to see you here, Sir Gordon. Thank you so much for judging my invention as the best of the fair.

GORDON: You’re quite welcome, Whitney. Well, today is the day that is long overdue. The day we gain an ally to justice for our village...and our world.

(Cuts to Alfred and Robin Hood.)

ALFRED:
Well, Robin Hood, old friend. Shall we let bygones be bygones?

ROBIN HOOD: Of course, Alfred! I told you she would win his heart!

ALFRED: I beg your pardon, old friend, but I believe I told you.

ROBIN HOOD: No you didn't. I told you.

ALFRED: You most certainly did not, you pompous, overexposed thief!

ROBIN HOOD: En garde, you overgrown pocket watch!

(Cut to the stairway. Everyone is quiet as The Batman and Tohru descend the staircase.)

BATMAN: Greetings, Sir Gordon.

GORDON: Greetings, Batman. Today you officially become a vigilante of society.

(Tohru smiles at Batman and he smile back.)

CHORUS:
Certain as the sun
Rising over the land
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Batman

Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Batman!

(Fade out. The end.)