[ WP ] You are the butler to an eccentric billionaire playboy vigilante . However , there are no supervillains . They were all you , trying to make your master feel better about himself .

FADE IN: 
 
 INT. WAYNE MANNER - NIGHT 
 
 *A man in his late sixties is seated in a large, comfortable armchair. This is ALFRED PENNYWORTH, a butler. He thumbs through a few pages of a book, then glances up when he hears the soft noise of a nearby grandfather clock swinging open. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** Productive night, Master Bruce? 
 
 *From out of the shadows behind the clock, a tall man in his early thirties walks into view. This is BRUCE WAYNE. * 
 
 **BRUCE: ** The Joker was up to his old tricks. 
 **ALFRED: ** No doubt. I've never found that wretched clown's antics the least bit funny. I trust you wiped the smile off his face? 
 **BRUCE: ** He's on his way back to Arkham, where he belongs. 
 
 *Alfred looks ready to respond, but is interrupted by the distant sound of a doorbell. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** Expecting guests, Master Bruce? 
 
 *Bruce looks in the direction of the front door. * 
 
 **BRUCE: ** No. 
 **ALFRED: ** I shall see what they want, sir. 
 
 *After placing a bookmark in his tome, Alfred rises from his chair and approaches the front door. He opens it to find LUCIUS FOX, the CEO of Wayne Enterprises. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** Master Fox? What are you doing here at this ungodly hour? 
 **LUCIUS: ** Alfred. Is, uh... is Bruce around? 
 **ALFRED: ** As it happens, he just returned from one of his... excursions. 
 **LUCIUS: ** That's what I'm here to discuss. 
 **ALFRED: ** Oh, dear. 
 
 *Alfred gestures for Lucius to come inside. Lucius nods and enters the house. Alfred looks around to make sure Bruce is out of earshot. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** ( *CONT'D* ) Has something happened? 
 **LUCIUS: ** We had a financial review today, and there was over $ 175 million unaccounted for. 
 **ALFRED: ** I think we... 
 **LUCIUS: ** ( *Interrupting* ) We both know where it went. I ca n't keep covering for this, Alfred. 
 **ALFRED: ** What are you saying? 
 
 *Lucius sighs and paces slowly around the foyer. * 
 
 **LUCIUS: ** It's... it's a terrible thing to lose one's parents, especially at such a young age. Even so, this little charade has to stop sometime. 
 **ALFRED: ** `` Charade,'' sir? 
 **LUCIUS: ** Come on, Alfred. 
 
 *Alfred looks ready to protest, but he sighs and slumps his shoulders. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** Yes, fine. Damn it all. 
 **LUCIUS: ** The gadgets and gizmos, I can account for. Hell, Bruce is practically a highly paid product tester. *Your* expenses, though... all of the actors you hire and the stuff with which you outfit them... that's harder to justify. 
 **ALFRED: ** He needs to believe he's making a difference. 
 **LUCIUS: ** By fighting clowns? Cats? *Penguins? * How do you come up with these `` villains,'' Alfred? 
 **ALFRED: ** To be quite honest, Master Fox, I simply pick a random page of the encyclopedia. 
 **LUCIUS: ** `` Mister Freeze?'' 
 **ALFRED: ** Ah, yes, that was the day the refrigerator broke down. 
 
 *The two men stand in silence for a moment. * 
 
 **LUCIUS: ** Look... he can keep the car, the motorcycle... he can even keep the jet. Just... 
 **ALFRED: ** No more adversaries. 
 **LUCIUS: ** Not on the Wayne Enterprises unofficial payroll, at any rate. 
 **ALFRED: ** I understand, sir. 
 
 *Lucius nods and exits the house. * 
 
 **LUCIUS: ** Take care of yourself, old friend. 
 
 *Alfred nods and shuts the door. He then walks to a standing closet at the side of the foyer. He opens it, pushes aside some coats, then presses a button at the back. The closet slides to the side, revealing a staircase leading downward. * 
 
 **ALFRED: ** ( *To himself* ) Well, then. I suppose it's time for The Batman to meet his final opponent. 
 
 FADE TO BLACK.
