Fool Me Twice
Scene: A high-class restaurant. The shot pans around and we see upper class Gothamites dining and having a pleasant time. The scene eventually follows a waiter back into the kitchen, and pans around the kitchen. Eventually, the camera settles behind a familiar looking waitress, and suddenly a man comes from behind and covers her eyes.
Melanie: JACK! What did I tell you about that?!
Jack: Oh, Mel. You know I just can’t help myself. Anyway, I've got the most wonderful news! Emily and I are getting married!
Melanie: Married? I didn’t even know it was that serious!
Jack: It is, it is. We’re going to be very happy.
Melanie: I hope so. You deserve it. So does she. I only wish-
Jack: Mel, he knows you exist. You should just try to talk to him. He might-
Melanie: No. I couldn’t. If he cared, he would’ve tried—
Suddenly there’s a loud crash at the back wall. Ace is standing there, with King and Queen flanking him on either side.
King: Children, I think it’s time we had a family reunion…
Opening Theme
Scene: The Batcave, 2 weeks later.
Terry: I just want you to think about it. She’s been bugging me for weeks to come down here. I keep telling her no, but she just keeps bugging me. Besides, she might be useful, she knows her way around a computer.
Bruce: Enough. The Batcomputer isn’t a toy. Besides, we’ve got too much on our hands to be giving Max a tour like this is some kind of museum.
Terry: Looks around. Right, gotchya. Not a museum.
Bruce: Glares. Suit up. It’s time to go to work. The Gang’s been one step ahead of us with every move they make. We need an edge. Coughs. I think they’re gonna hit the diamond district tonight. So far they’ve already gotten to the golf pro shop, the gardening show, and robbed a blood bank. Coughs.
Terry: Are you ok? You seem to be coug-
Bruce: I’ve had worse. Suit up.
Terry: And you’re sure this isn’t a trap?
Bruce: Smirks. It isn’t if you don’t get trapped.
Cut to aerial shot of Batman flying through the city, zipping in and out and around buildings, finally landing on the roof of one looking down and across the street at a building with a futuristic version of a neon sign, showing a diamond. It appears to be a very expensive place. In the distance we see 5 figures flying toward the building. Batman puts on his invisibility cloak and moves in closer.
King: Exhilarating, isn’t it Ten?
Ten: Smiles. Oh, yes.
Jack: See, it took some convincing, but I knew she’d come around eventually. She knows where her loyalties should lie.
Queen: Oh, it’s so nice to feel like a family again.
King: I know we’ve had our rocky times, but at least we’ve all come to find out what’s important in life.
Suddenly, Ace looks as if he’s been tackled in the chest, and he flies off his card. Batman appears, hovering just above the Royal Flush Gang.
Batman: Are you guys serious? Since when did you all become the Tanner family?
King: BATMAN! It’s about time you showed up! I’ve got a card for you that’s waiting to be dealt.
Batman: Sorry to disappoint you. I just figured I'd give you—AHHHHHHHHH! Batman gets electrocuted from behind by Queen.
Queen: All that time in prison made me forget how verbose he can be.
King: Nothing like the original Batman. That one broke us up for significantly longer. But that was a different Batman, and a different family.
Battarangs fly around and disorient King, Queen, Jack, and Ten, and make them all fly around separately. A bola ties around Jack and he falls to the ground. Batman then jets upward toward Queen. She tries to shock him again, but he dodges and throws a roundhouse kick. She falls off her card, but is caught by King. She touches her scepter to King’s sword, and they both glow with electric energy. They shoot an enormous blast at Batman, and he tries to dodge, but catches his arm in the blast. It phases him, and circuitry shows through his normal black costume. He shoots back electric batarangs from his other arm, which strike the card they are standing on, and in turn electrocutes them. He then turns his attention toward Ten, who has landed and is now standing opposite him. They circle each other.
Batman: I knew it was too good to be true. You didn’t reform, you didn’t change. You’re right back where you started.
Ten: I simply don’t know what you’re talking about.
She charges at him. They trade blows, both blocking and dodging each other’s punches and kicks. Finally, ten lands a strong kick in Batman’s torso, and it throws him against a wall. She tauntingly walks up to him, but he’s prepared and he blasts slightly upward, flips around her, and grabs her right arm and presses her against the wall.
Batman: WHY? Why did you go back? Melanie- Batman grabs her mask and pulls it off her head. It isn’t Melanie. Who are you?
Ace slams Batman away. Cut to King, Queen, and Jack, with Ace moving in to join them, standing on their cards behind Batman.
Jack: That is my fiancé. And I’ll thank you to not lay a hand on her. Darling, it’s time to go.
Ten mounts her card and flies away with the rest of the gang. Cut over to Batman, a lot more damaged and a lot more circuitry showing than before. He tries to get up and follow, but he’s too damaged and weak.
Scene: The Batcave. Bruce is repairing the batsuit, Terry is sitting at the computer console, a map of Gotham City on the monitor. All of the sudden, “LOCATION NOT FOUND” appears over the map.
Terry: It’s no use. I can't find her. She’s quit her job and gone into hiding. How can we even be sure she’s even still in Gotham?
Monitor switches over to a blue screen and the words “INCOMING CALL” flash.
Terry: That’s gotta be Max. I wonder if she’s made any progress. Terry presses a few buttons and Max’s face appears on a small screen to Terry’s left.
Max: No luck, Terry. I can't hack the satellites. My computer just isn’t powerful enough.
Bruce: Reluctantly Ours are. Coughs Terry, go pick her up.
Max: YESSS!
Terry: She won’t exactly fit on my bike.
Bruce: Take the limo, then.
Cut to the limo. Terry is driving, Max is in the passenger seat.
Max: So it’s really over with Dana, huh?
Terry: Yeah. I’m a little relieved, actually. I’ll miss her and all, but it was really just too much stress trying to keep this whole life from her. It’s safer for her anyway.
Max: Yeah. But you were such a cute couple...
Terry: Shoots her a look. Drop it, Max.
Cut to Batcave, later. Max is sitting at the computer console where Terry was. Bruce is standing over her shoulder, watching her like a hawk. Random images of young females flash across the screen. Finally, a picture of Melanie Walker appears and holds. Max punches a few keys, and the map of Gotham appears with a red dot flashing.
Max: I found her. A security camera last took a picture of her just today at the docks.
Terry: To Bruce Told ya she could do it. Sees Bruce glaring again Time to go to work, right?
Bruce: Right.
Max: Oooh! Can I stay? I'd love to be able to check out the system a little more.
Terry: Max, I don’t think-
Bruce: She can stay. Cough I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have someone like Max familiar with our systems.
Cut to Batman flying around the dock area, as seen through Batman’s eyes. We see the words “Thermal Scan Engaged” in his view. Eventually, he sees a human form curled into a ball sitting in a storage building. Cut to normal Third person view, Batman lands in front of the door and walks in. He searches around boxes and various other obstacles for Melanie. He finds her, with her back to him. She doesn’t hear him coming, she only sees his shadow overtake her. She turns, startled.
Melanie: Batman! What are you doing here?
Batman: I came to talk.
Melanie: I didn’t do anything, if that’s what you're thinking.
Batman: I know, I trust you.
Melanie: Trust?! You don’t trust me. You probably just want my help or something. You can't trust me…
Batman: Gently I trust you.
Melanie: Oh yeah? Prove it.
Batman looks thoughtful, and then takes off his mask.
Batman: Does this prove it?
Melanie: Taken aback. Terry…?
Batman: Yeah, it’s me. Now, can we talk.
Melanie: I thought… I mean, I thought that you thought… Yeah. Lets talk.
Batman puts his mask back on.
Batman: I need information about your family. How do you…they, operate? Where might they strike next?
Melanie: I can give you a few ideas, but unless you can think like them on your feet, you’re sunk.
Batman: What do you suggest?
Melanie: Looks Batman up and down. Who’s your tailor?
Cut to Batcave. Melanie is standing in a chamber with all sorts of lasers running over her body. Max is standing there watching her, and Terry is in the back talking with Bruce over an intercom. Bruce’s parts are only spoken, not seen.
Terry: I'm telling you, we need her. She’s the only one who can keep up with the gang. They’re too unpredictable these days. And besides, I trust her.
Bruce: With your life?
Terry: ………
Bruce: Just be careful. And don’t let her get too close. Cough I DON’T want her finding out more than she has to. And Terry, don’t forget the blindfold on the way out.
Terry: I know, I know.
The lasers stop, and the chamber opens up. Max goes over and reviews some statistics on the batcomputer.
Terry: I gotta fly. Presses a button and disconnects the link.
Max: It looks like we’re done.
Melanie: Well that was painless.
Terry: Suit up. Lets go for a test run.
Cut to Gotham skyline. Focus on Terry, jetting around. From the side we see a female figure riding a card. Focus on her, starting at the feet. Her right side is red, left side black. Move up to her waistline, and she has a Batman-ish belt, red on the black side, black on the red side. She has a heart over her chest, again inversed colors. Her head continues the theme, with white eyes. Very reminiscent of the original Ten costume, but with a Batman color scheme. She rides a black card with a red heart on it.
Batman: Yelling over to her So, what do you think?
Heart: Yelling back It’s great! You and Max did a great job! It’s just like I wanted.
Batman: Glides up to meet her It’s better than you wanted. Natural strength enhancers, synapse connectors, dual card launchers, and cutting edge computer technology that feeds directly back to the cave. Just like mine.
Heart: Well aren’t we a pair… Lets see if I remember how to do this-- Race ya to the end of this street.
Batman: You’re on!
Batman’s jets fire and he shoots forward, just as Heart’s card picks up a burst of speed. They fly forward, looping and spinning and doing all kinds of challenging, impressive tricks. At one point, Batman flies at Heart, but she loops upward, falls off her card, summer-salts in the air, and lands on her card again. Fade out.
Scene: The Royal Flush Gang’s swanky hotel/apartment. Similar in elegance and style to the suite seen in “Dead Man’s Hand,” but not the same one. Still has a large front room, with a royal air about it. Initial shot shows King and Queen out on the balcony, talking, Jack and Emily sitting on a couch, excitedly discussing something, and Ace standing in the background, as if he is in a power saving mode: his shoulders are hunched forward and his head has also fallen forward. All are in civilian clothes, except for Ace. The shot moves forward to King and Queen and we begin to hear their conversation.
King: Darling, I only meant that-
Queen: Don’t call me that! I’m still not used to this situation. After what happened the last time, I’d think you’d be a little more careful of what you say around me.
King: Anna, I love you. I’ve always loved you. We were having hard times, and I made a mistake. I thought you understood that.
Queen: I did… I do. It’s just…its Melanie. It sickens me to think that she never wants to see any of us again. The way she ran from us at the restaurant just breaks my heart. Queen becomes increasingly emotional. I love Emily, I do. I think she and Jack are perfect for each other. And I think she’ll make a wonderful Queen someday. I just thought… I hoped…my, our, daughter would continue the family tradition. She buries her face in King’s chest. Oh, Edward! Lifts face. We almost came apart! I thought Jack had written us off, too. And we almost lost poor Uncle James after that last fight with Batman. If it hadn’t been for those American doctors and engineers, we would have lost him again.
King: None of that matters anymore, darling. We’re a family again. As perfect as a royal flush. Better, stronger then before. If Melanie wants to pretend we don’t exist, than good riddance. Now, we need to get ready for our next job. Just a little something to remind Gotham, and Batman, that we DO still exist. And something to help us get back on our feet is some added incentive. King grins. It’s time to show this city what a real family can do.
Scene: The Batcave. The Batmobile pulls in, with Batman driving and Heart standing in the back, blindfolded. They get out, and Batman removes the blindfold. They both take off their masks.
Melanie: I thought you said you trusted me.
Terry: I do. But there are…others… that need a little convincing first.
Melanie: Others? How many people work in this little organization?
Terry: Just me and my partner.
Melanie: And Max.
Terry: Max doesn’t work with us. She was just…helping out.
Melanie: Could’ve fooled me. Lets get to work. Show me everything you’ve got on my… on the gang.
Terry: Mel, you have to stop thinking of them as-
Melanie: I know, I know. I’m trying.
Terry: Ok, here are the spots that the gang has struck since their return 2 weeks ago. Terry punches something up on the big screen, a map. Red dots indicating the spots they’ve hit appear. Also, the days and times. A list appears next to the map. Wait! If I take away all of the area around it, and in the middle, leaving only the streets connecting the four spots… Punches keys and the above happens. And trace a line… Again, a few keys and it happens. There. It forms a crown… almost.
Melanie: Almost.
Terry: Right. Which means that to finish the picture, they’d have to hit… THERE! Another red dot appears, and the computer automatically zooms in on it to show exactly where it is. The Gotham Casino. It fits.
Melanie: It’s a bluff.
Terry: A what?
Melanie: A bluff. They knew you’d find this, knew you’d think of the casino. That’s not where they’ll hit.
Terry: How do you know?
Melanie: I know. I used to discuss tactics with my father before I left the gang. He’s bluffing, trying to get you to watch the casino while they hit somewhere else. Besides, a casino is too high profile. Too much security. Too much of a risk. And they don’t like those kinds of odds.
Terry: So where do you suggest?
Melanie goes to the console, brings up the large map again. A red dot appears South of the middle dot. She then draws the picture just like Terry did, and it forms a Heart. The computer again zooms in on the area surrounding the last point.
Melanie: The Stacked Deck Club. Computer brings up a schematic of the club. They’re closed tonight. Security is all automated. Something I could have bypassed back then. This place would have to have an account large enough to be able to store all the credits they would get on a nightly basis, with the mainframe located… here. Computer centers around spot in the middle of an upper level floor. That’s where they’re going to be. Tonight.
Terry: Why tonight?
Melanie: They’re getting nervous, they’ve been sitting around for a few days. They can't wait for this job. Plus, they figure you’ll be watching the casino.
Terry: Max, tell…my partner… our plans. Tell him to watch the casino, just in case. Keep me updated if there’s anything unusual.
Max: Terry, can I talk to ya for a minute? Terry walks over to her. Your “partner” has been asleep upstairs for a couple hours. He seemed to be coughing a lot, then he took some medicine, stopped coughing, and went to sleep. I’ll tell ya what, I’ll monitor the casino for you. We don’t want to disturb the old man.
Terry: You sure you’re up to this, Max?
Max: Sure I'm sure. Go play superhero.
Cut to the inside of the Batmobile. Heart is once again blindfolded. They blast out of the Batcave and into the open air. After a few moments, Terry reaches to take the blindfold off.
Cut to the Batmobile landing on top of a roof several buildings away from The Stacked Deck. The camera pans over to the club, and we see that it is designed like a deck of cards that has been cut about 5/6 of the way up and slightly skewed. Switch to first person, through Heart’s eyes, and we once again see a thermal scan engaged. There are four figures standing around while the fifth figure crouches near some sort of electronic component. Switch back to third person.
Heart: They’re here. I’ve got a plan, but we need to work fast. You go in and stall them for as long as you can.
Batman: Wait, tell me your plan.
Heart: There’s no time. Switch back to first person view. Shows the crouching figure beginning to stand. They’re almost done, we need to stop them……..Trust me.
Batman: Ok. Lets go.
Batman jumps and spreads his wings, Heart mounts her card and flies along side him. Batman runs into an already opened door and down a staircase. Heart stays on the roof. Follow Batman down the stairs. He hits his invisibility cloak and bursts through an already opened door into a large room. The new Ten is finishing up, and lowering the console back into the floor. She holds an electronic device in her hand. We see the invisible-outlined form of Batman fly by and grab it out of her hand, land, and reappear.
Batman: Somehow I doubt this is a vid game.
Ten: No, Batman, that’s just the bait. She presses a button on her inner forearm, and the device sends an enormous electrical shock into Batman’s body, and then explodes. Ace rushes to Batman and starts beating him to a pulp. Batman is immobile and has no choice but to take it. King and Queen stand there laughing.
Batman: Softly, almost to himself. Heart? Heart, can you hear me? I need help…
There is no reply. Batman looks betrayed and defeated. Ace continues to pound him.
King: What’s the matter, Batman? Dealing from the bottom of the deck? Run out of chips? Don’t have a good hand? Laughs more.
Suddenly a barrage of small cards fills the room, knocking into the gang and variously exploding and electrocuting and causing a general chaos. Heart appears triumphantly in the middle of the room, floating near the ceiling. She lowers herself, still shooting the cards from the tops of her wrists rapidly.
Heart: Sorry dear, couldn’t risk tipping our hand too soon, could we? Flies over to Batman, and hands him a small circular device. Whispers: Put this on your belt, quick. He does, and as she stands up, we notice the same device on her belt.
Ten: And just who might you be?
Heart: I should ask you the same question. Nice costume, by the way.
Heart presses the small device on her belt. Suddenly, the security system in the building activates and the Royal Flush Gang is held in place by various force fields and beams and such. Batman and Heart seem unaffected.
Heart: I fed the security codes into our costumes. We can walk in and out of their security without a second thought. You, on the other hand, are trapped until the police get here. Which should be any minute now. Outside we see the familiar look of police lights circling the building. Terry works his way to standing, and Heart mounts her card again. They move toward the window. Heart looks back, a look of saddened resolution in her face. Goodbye. They both fly out the window, right as the GCPD rushes into the room, guns drawn. Fade.
Scene: The Batcave. Terry looks extraordinarily beaten, even out of the Batsuit. Melanie is back in her normal clothes. She looks depressed. Terry limps over to her.
Terry: You did the right thing. I'm proud of you.
Melanie: I know. I just wish it didn’t hurt so much.
Terry: It’s never easy to lose family. Believe me, I know.
They embrace. Max runs down the stairs as fast as possible, shouting.
Max: TERRY! TERRY! Come quick! It’s Bruce, I think we need to get him to a hospital! He said to bring Melanie.
Terry looks shocked and confused for a moment, almost unable to move. Then he snaps back into action, and the three run upstairs, Terry in the lead, followed by Max, with Melanie taking up the rear.
Melanie: Quietly Bruce… Wayne? He must be…
Cut to hospital room. Terry, Max, Melanie, Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake, and Dick Grayson are standing around, all looking concerned. Bruce lays there, asleep. A doctor walks in.
Doctor: Are any of you family?
Terry: I am. I mean, I’ve taken care of his affairs for the last few years.
Dick: The four of us. We’re all his family.
Doctor: Gesturing to Max and Melanie And them?
Terry: They’re friends.
Doctor: Well, I guess I might as well come right out and say it, then. Bruce has a form of lung disease, similar to Black Lung disease, the kind coal miners used to get. Was he an avid cave explorer in his youth?
Barbara: You could say that.
Doctor: Unfortunately, he must have had this for many years. If we had caught it Ten years ago, he might have had a chance. Now… well, he’s pretty far gone. I’ll be surprised if he makes it through the night. I'm sorry.
Terry: Bruce…
Doctor: It’s not painful, really. We have him on something for the little pain he was in. He should just go peacefully, in his sleep. I can wake him up for a few minutes so you can all have some time with him.
Barbara: Thank you, doctor.
Doctor presses a button on a monitor console nearby. Bruce awakens, as if he gently woke up from a dream. The doctor leaves the room.
This is seen from Bruce’s perspective. He looks around, and settles momentarily on all of the faces surrounding him. First Barbara, then Dick, then Terry, then Max, then Melanie, then Tim. Switch back to third person.
Bruce: I don’t have much time, do I? Barbara shakes head, looks a little misty eyed. Barbara, you’ve been a great friend to me over the years, and you’ve honored the Gordon name more than I could have hoped. Dick, you were like the son I never had, and then became like a brother to me. Tim, I’ve watched you grow into an honorable man, despite every reason not to. I’m proud of you all. A moment passes. Would you all mind if I could have a moment alone with Terry? They all nod knowingly and exit the room. Terry, I want you to give up being Batman.
Terry: Bruce, I can’t. This city needs me, like this city needed you.
Bruce: It’s too dangerous. Besides, I’m going to tell Dick to have the cave demolished. I can’t risk having anything exposed if the mansion gets sold.
Terry: You know, I know someone who could use a place to live. Someone who already knows my… our secret. Opens the door, beckons, and Melanie walks in. She’s proven herself to me. I trust her with my life.
Bruce: Melanie, come here. She walks hesitantly toward his bed. Sit down. She sits on the edge of his bed, still hesitantly. You’ve proven yourself to me, too. If Terry chooses to continue as Batman, I trust you to watch his back. To be his partner.
Max edges her way into the room.
Bruce: Max, be their eyes and ears. They need someone to know what they don’t, to do what they can't, to be where they aren’t. They need you, their Oracle.
Max: Their Oracle… I can do that. I’d be honored. She gets a little misty eyed, too.
Bruce: I’m counting on you three to protect my city. And to protect each other.
Terry: We will.
The other three walk back in. They all take various positions around the room. Barbara takes Melanie’s place on the bed and takes Bruce’s hand. He falls asleep again.
Cut to a funeral, in a cemetery. It is dusk. During the following, a sad version of the original Batman theme plays. The six from the hospital room are there, including Terry’s family, Tim’s wife, Barbara’s husband D.A. Sam Young, Lucious Fox, Renee Montoya, Harvey Bullock, Jason Blood, Selena Kyle, and two mysterious people named Kal and Diana, among many other people. It is the end of the funeral, and everyone clears out, except for Terry, Melanie, and Max. They move in close to his tombstone, which reads “Bruce Wayne: Beloved father figure.” Terry squeezes Melanie’s hand, then puts his other arm around Max. They walk away slowly. The music becomes reborn into a triumphant version of the Batman theme, and it fades into the Batcave once more, and it shows Max, with glasses, running all sorts of numbers and codes and pictures and various other impressive looking Batcomputer activities, looking very busy, Ace curled up to the side. It cuts to Heart, flying on her card in the Gotham Skyline. She flies past Batman, who jets past her. The camera follows Batman for a few moments as the music finishes up, and fade to black.
End