Part 2 of my Brave and the Bold Spec Script

ACT I

INT. BATCAVE - NIGHT

THE BATMOBILE PULLS INTO THE BATCAVE AND STOPS WITH A SCREECH. THE ROOF OPENS AND BATMAN LEAPS OUT.

PLASTIC MAN STRETCHES OUT OF THE CAR, MOUTH AGAPE AS HE STARES AT THE MASSIVE CAVE, TWISTING HIS NECK A FULL 360 DEGREES, THEN SPINNING BACK AGAIN.

PLASTIC MAN
Wow. Nice digs. Who’s your realtor?

BATMAN WALKS DOWN THE HALL.

PLASTIC MAN FOLLOWS CLOSE BEHIND AND IS RUBBERNECKING (LITERALLY) TO SEE ALL THE SIGHTS AROUND HIM. HE LOOKS AT THE GADGETS, COSTUMES AND TROPHIES SCATTERED AROUND THE CAVE.

BATMAN
A few days ago...

BATMAN REALIZES PLASTIC MAN ISN’T PAYING ATTENTION. HE LOUDLY CLEARS HIS THROAT.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
Ahem!

PLASTIC MAN STOPS LOOKING AROUND AND PAYS ATTENTION TO WHAT BATMAN IS SAYING.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
A few days ago I noticed that there was a unified increase in crime activity across the city. Nothing meta-human related. Just ordinary street criminals. But they were organized and packing serious hardware.

PLASTIC MAN
So why is the all mighty and spooky Batman interested in a bunch of street criminals? Shouldn't local cops be worrying about it? What?

PLASTIC MAN GROWS A PAIR OF ANTENNAE AND HIS EYES BUG OUT AS HIS HEAD INFLATES TO THE SHAPE OF A LIGHT-BULB.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
No alien invasions this week?---

PLASTIC MAN CHANGES INTO A GORILLA.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
Gorilla Grodd away on holiday? You might be going a little bananas in this cave.

PLASTIC MAN CHANGES INTO A GIANT BANANA.

BATMAN
I think there might be more to it.

BATMAN PRESSES A BUTTON ON THE BATCOMPUTER.

VIDEO PLAYS ON THE COMPUTER OF GANGSTERS SHOOTING FUTURISTIC RAY GUNS AT A JEWELRY STORE.

BATMAN PRESSES ANOTHER BUTTON ON THE BATCOMPUTER AND THE VIDEO STOPS.

AN IMAGE OF THE FUTURISTIC RAY GUN APPEARS ON THE SCREEN.

BATMAN (CONT’D)

Some new type of weaponry all the crooks had in common. Far more advanced than what your average street thug carries.

PLASTIC MAN CHANGES BACK TO NORMAL.

PLASTIC MAN
Seems like a little problem to me.

BATMAN
Little problems end up turning into big problems.

BATMAN TAKES A STEP TOWARDS PLASTIC MAN AND GETS RIGHT IN HIS FACE, NOSE TO NOSE.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
And I don’t like big problems.

PLASTIC MAN LEANS BACK, A FRIGHTENED LOOK ON HIS FACE.

BATMAN SITS DOWN AT THE COMPUTER AND BEGINS TO TYPE.


PLASTIC MAN STANDS BEHIND HIM, LOOKING OVER BATMAN’S SHOULDER

PLASTIC MAN
So why do you need me? Other than for my sparkling wit and dashing good looks.

PLASTIC MAN PUFFS OUT A MUSCULAR CHEST AND SHAPES HIS JAW TO BE MORE SQUARE AND MUSCULAR. HE DOES SEVERAL MUSCLE MAN POSES, STRETCHING AND FLEXING LIKE A BODY BUILDER.

BATMAN STARES AT PLASTIC MAN. HIS EYES NARROW.

PLASTIC MAN GULPS AND REVERTS BACK TO NORMAL.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)

Sorry.

BATMAN
I need someone to go undercover. Someone who can appear to look like a criminal and be able to slip away quickly if he were found out. A shapeshifter would be best suited for that.

PLASTIC MAN
You don't exactly have a shortage of shapeshifters in the Justice League. Martian Manhunter, Elongated Man. Why not ask one of them? Even the Question is pretty good at make up and disguises. I’m sure he can set you up with some guy-liner. A nice bit of rouge for those cheeks.

BATMAN TYPES SOME MORE ON THE COMPUTER. A MAN'S PICTURE APPEARS ON THE SCREEN. HE IS A RUGGED MAN WITH A MOUSTACHE AND SULLEN FEATURES. NEXT TO THE PICTURE IS THE NAME EEL O'BRIEN.
PLASTIC MAN LOOKS AT THE SCREEN STUNNED.

BATMAN TURNS IN HIS CHAIR TO FACE HIM.

BATMAN
We also need someone with a criminal record who can gain the trust of these crooks. One of their own. That’s something the Justice League doesn’t have. Sounds like a perfect job for Eel O’Brien.

PLASTIC MAN POINTS AT THE SCREEN. HE TURNS HIS FACE TOWARDS BATMAN.

PLASTIC MAN
How did you find out who I used to be?

BATMAN
You're kidding, right?

BATMAN GIVES THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF A GRIN.
PLASTIC MAN LOSES THE STUNNED LOOK ON HIS FACE.

PLASTIC MAN
Oh right.

PLASTIC MAN CHANGES INTO A MOCK VERSION OF BATMAN HIDING BEHIND HIS CAPE.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
(in a husky voice)
The Dark Knight knows all.

BATMAN GETS UP FROM HIS CHAIR.

PLASTIC MAN TURNS BACK TO NORMAL.

BATMAN

The League doesn't feel like this is a priority mission. I do. If there was anyone else I could choose for this assignment I would choose them but there isn't. So what's it going to be?

PLASTIC MAN TURNS AWAY FROM BATMAN AND STARES PENSIVELY AT THE FACE ON THE SCREEN.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - GOTHAM CITY - NIGHT

A METAL DOOR WITH A SMALLER SLIDING DOOR ON IT FOR A PEEPHOLE.
A HAND KNOCKS AGAINST THE DOOR.


THE PEEPHOLE OPENS AND A PAIR OF EYES CAN BE SEEN THROUGH IT.

GUARD (O.S.)
Who is it?

PLASTIC MAN (O.S.)
Name's EEL O'BRIEN. I'm here for the meeting.

THE PEEPHOLE CLOSES AND THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN WITH A CREEK.

INT. WARHOUSE-GOTHAM CITY-NIGHT

THE DOOR OPENS AND WE SEE EEL O'BRIEN (aka Plastic Man). HIS NORMAL COSTUME HAS BEEN SHAPED INTO A NICE SUIT. HE IS WEARING A RED THREE PIECE SUIT WITH A BLACK TIE AND A YELLOW VEST. PLASTIC MAN'S NORMAL GOGGLES HAVE BEEN SHRUNKEN TO RESEMBLE SUNGLASSES. HIS FACE APPEARS A

S IT DID IN THE PICTURE ON THE COMPUTER IN THE BATCAVE. HE PASSES THE GUARD AND WALKS INTO THE WAREHOUSE, SLIGHTLY NERVOUS.

THE GUARD EYES HIM FOR A FEW SECONDS BUT THEN GOES BACK TO WATCHING THE DOOR.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL LETS OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF AND WALKS AWAY FROM THE DOOR.

PLASTIC MAN
(Whispers)
So far, so good.

EEL WALKS IN A LITTLE FURTHER AND SEES THAT THE WAREHOUSE IS FULL OF CRIMINALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN VARIED MANNERS OF DRESS TO REFLECT THEIR CULTURAL BACKGROUND.

EEL WALKS OVER TOWARDS SOME BOXES. HE MOVES HIS WRIST NEAR TO HIS MOUTH. WE SEE THAT THERE IS A SMALL MICROPHONE CLIPPED TO HIS CUFF, DISGUISED AS A CUFFLINK.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
(Whispers)
Plas to Bats. Plas to Bats. Do you read me Bats?

EXT. ROOFTOP-GOTHAM CITY-NIGHT

BATMAN IS STANDING ON THE ROOFTOP LOOKING DOWN AT THE WAREHOUSE. HE IS LOOKING AT THE WAREHOUSE THROUGH BINOCULARS. HE PUTS A HAND TO HIS EAR.

BATMAN
Don't call me “Bats”.

INT. WAREHOUSE-GOTHAM CITY-NIGHT

PLASTIC MAN/EEL IS STILL IN HIS HIDING PLACE.

PLASTIC MAN

Sorry. I'm not yet versed in undercover etiquette. I flunked “Radio Codenames” in Hero School. Anyway, I'm inside. Now what do I do?

BATMAN (V.O.) (Through Radio)
Tell me what you see.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL STRETCHES HIS NECK UP ABOVE THE BOXES AND PEEKS OVER THEM. HE TURNS HIS HEAD SEVERAL TIMES SO HE CAN SEE THE WHOLE ROOM. HE UN-STRETCHES HIS NECK BACK DOWN TO HIS BODY AND SPEAKS INTO HIS CUFF.

PLASTIC MAN
There are more than three dozen bad guys here. They all seem to be waiting for something.

BATMAN (V.O.)
(Through Radio)
Then you had better go over and wait with them.

PLASTIC MAN
I was afraid you were gonna say that.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL GOES OVER TO WHERE THE OTHER CRIMINALS ARE.
    

THERE ARE SNACK TABLES AND GAMING TABLES WHERE THE CRIMINALS ARE ALL CONGREGATED AROUND, MINGLING AND SOCIALIZING. THE DULL HUM OF BACKGROUND CONVERSATION ECHOES THROUGH THE WAREHOUSE.

CRIMINAL #1

I usually don’t work Gotham but you have to go where the money is.

CRIMINAL #2
I got a boy in Metropolis who says the crooks have an even tougher time there.

A PORTLY MAN, VINCENT ROSETTI, IS SITTING AT A TABLE DRESSED IN A FINE SUIT. HE NOTICES PLASTIC MAN/EEL IN THE CORNER.

VINCENT
Eel? Eel O'Brien?

PLASTIC MAN/EEL SEES VINCENT AND TRIES TO SLIP AWAY UNNOTICED, BEFORE HE IS SPOTTED.

PLASTIC MAN
(quietly)
Uh-Oh.

BATMAN (V.O.)
(through radio)
Is this going to be a problem?

VINCENT COMES UP AND GIVES PLASTIC MAN/EEL A BIG HUG.
PLASTIC MAN/EEL LOOKS LIKE HE IS BEING SUFFOCATED. HE ALMOST LOOSES HIS DISGUISE BUT REGAINS HIS CONCENTRATION BEFORE ANYONE NOTICES.

VINCENT
Eel O'Brien! I haven't seen you in years! Where the heck have you been for so long?

PLASTIC MAN
Oh, well, you know, I’ve been around. Doing a little of this, a little of that. Crime stuff.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL MAKES A GESTURE WITH HIS FISTS TO EMPHASIZE HIS TOUGH CRIMINAL NATURE. IT COMES ACROSS AS AWKWARD.

VINCENT
Oh come on, you can tell old Vincent. Where ya been all these years?

PLASTIC MAN
Well if you must know, I was in a chemical accident where I was granted amazing super powers and gave up my wicked criminal ways to fight the forces of evil and pursue truth, justice and the American way.

THERE IS A PAUSE. ALL OF THE CRIMINALS IN THE ROOM STARE BLANKLY AT HIM.

VINCENT LETS OUT A HUGE ROAR OF LAUGHTER. ALL THE OTHER CROOKS LAUGH AS WELL.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL SMILES AS HE LOOKS AT THE LAUGHING CROOKS AROUND HIM.

VINCENT
Ha ha! Oh man, Eel, you always were a kidder.

VINCENT SLAPS HIM ON THE BACK AND LEADS HIM OVER TO HIS TABLE.

THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER THUGS DRESSED AND LOOKING SIMILAR TO VINCENT AT THE TABLE.

VINCENT (CONT’D)
I'd like to introduce you guys to one of the greatest darn guys I've ever known. Eel O'Brien. This guy was one of the most annoying kids back at the orphanage. Making funny faces at the nuns. He’s a laugh riot, am I right?

PLASTIC MAN
Not a lot has changed since then.

VINCENT LAUGHS AND SLAPS PLASTIC MAN/EEL ON THE BACK AGAIN. THE TWO MINGLE AMONGST THE VARIOUS CROOKS AND LOWLIFES IN ATTENDANCE.

EXT. ROOFTOP-WAREHOUSE-GOTHAM CITY-NIGHT

BATMAN LANDS ON THE ROOFTOP AND HEADS OVER TOWARDS A ROW OF WINDOWS. HE KNEELS NEXT TO THEM AND LOOKS TO THE SCENE IN THE WAREHOUSE BELOW.

INT. WAREHOUSE-GOTHAM CITY-NIGHT


THE CRIMINALS ARE EXAMINING LARGE CRATES OF WEAPONS. INSIDE THE CRATES ARE VARIOUS HIGH TECH LOOKING RIFLES AND PISTOLS. VINCENT LIFTS A HEAVY RIFLE OUT OF A BOX AS PLASTIC MAN/EEL WATCHES.

VINCENT
Hey Eel, get a load of this baby. You could really do some damage with one of these, eh?

PLASTIC MAN/EEL TAKES THE GUN FROM VINCENT. A SINISTER SMILE COMES ACROSS HIS FACE.

PLASTIC MAN
Yeah, this is a nice piece of hardware. You could knock over a whole bank all by yourself with one of these. 

EXT. ROOF - WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

BATMAN LOOKS DOWN ON THE SCENE THROUGH A SKY LIGHT. HE PUTS HIS HAND TO HIS EAR TO ACTIVATE HIS COMMUNICATOR.

BATMAN
Don’t get too chummy with these crooks. Remember what your job here is.

A LARGE SHADOWED FIGURE CREEPS IN THE DARKNESS BEHIND BATMAN.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
Find out who is leading this little get together and then get out of there.

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

PLASTIC MAN PUTS DOWN THE GUN AND TURNS TO VINCENT.

PLASTIC MAN
So, when we meeting the boss man? I’d sure like to get some of these guns and get a crime spree going.

VINCENT
He should be here any second. He’s one of them super types. Likes to make an entrance.

EXT. ROOF - WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

BATMAN SENSES MOVEMENT BEHIND HIM AND TURNS HIS HEAD. A FIST FROM AN UNSEEN ASSAILANT IN THE SHADOWS KNOCKS HIM FORWARD AND HE DOUBLES OVER IN PAIN.

BATMAN
Ugh!


ANOTHER PUNCH HITS BATMAN IN THE STOMACH.

BATMAN 
Huagh!

BATMAN STUMBLES, DISCOMBOBULATED FROM THE PUNCH, TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM HIS STILL UNSEEN ASSAILANT.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
(painful moaning)
Uhh.


A FINAL UPPERCUT PUNCH SENDS BATMAN SAILING THROUGH THE AIR
AND CRASHING THROUGH THE SKY LIGHT OF THE WAREHOUSE.

INT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

A LOUD CRASH AND GLASS FALLS TO THE FLOOR OF THE WAREHOUSE.
BATMAN’S UNCONSCIOUS BODY FALLS TO THE FLOOR OF THE WAREHOUSE, SURROUNDED BY BROKEN GLASS.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL SEES BATMAN HIT THE GROUND.

PLASTIC MAN
(quietly)
Oh no.


ALL THE GANGSTERS CIRCLE AROUND BATMAN’S BODY. THERE ARE
MUTTERINGS AND WHISPERS THROUGH THE CROWD.

GANGSTER #2
Holy hell, that’s the Batman!


THE SHADOWED FIGURE DIVES DOWN FROM THE CEILING. UPON STANDING UP IT IS REVEALED THAT THE FIGURE IS BANE.

BANE
Welcome my friends.

BANE KICKS BATMAN’S BODY.

BANE (CONT’D)

I hope you like the entertainment.

BANE LIFTS THE UNCONSCIOUS BATMAN UP IN THE AIR WITH ONE HAND, GRIPPING HIM TIGHT AROUND THE NECK SO THAT HE JUST HANGS LIFELESS IN THE AIR.

THE GANGSTERS ALL CHEER.


BANE DROPS BATMAN BACK ON THE GROUND WITH A THUD.

PLASTIC MAN/EEL LOOKS AT AN UNCONSCIOUS BATMAN ON THE GROUND AT BANE’S FEET.

PLASTIC MAN
(quietly)
We’re in big trouble.

END ACT I 

Part 1 of my Brave and the Bold Spec Script

Okay, so a while back I put up my spec script I did for an episode of Young Justice (a show that was sadly cancelled too soon). Never wanting to waste anything I write (which most is just sitting on my computer), I thought I would do the same with a spec script I wrote for the show Batman: The Brave and the Bold. If you're not familiar with the show, basically every episode sees Batman teaming up with a different DC Comics super hero. While the previous incarnation of Batman (Batman: The Animated Series) was dark and gritty, this incarnation decided to take a slightly lighter touch with the Caped Crusader. Something more in the style of the 1960s live action Batman series. This allows Batman to team up with a bunch of more wacky characters and have characters like Bat-Mite (a 5th dimensional imp who is an uber Batman fan) show up.
Specifically I decided to write a script where I teamed up Batman with one of my favorite heroes, Plastic Man. Originally I conceived of this team up when on an episode of Justice League Unlimited it was mentioned that Plastic Man was part of that canon. I instantly wanted to team the characters up. Sadly that show was cancelled before I finished the script and so I left it on the shelf only partially written. It wasn't until the incarnation of Batman simply called The Batman introduced members of the Justice League to its cast that I dusted the script off and rewrote it again. Again, The Batman went off the air before the script was finished. Finally Batman: Brave and the Bold debuted on Cartoon Network and I finally finished this script which seems tailor made for this particular incarnation of The Dark Knight. And while I never got the chance to show it to anyone who  produced that show, I figured why not use the ole blog to share another one of my attempts to play in the DC sandbox.

COLD OPEN

FADE IN:

INT. SALOON-NIGHT

A SMOKY BAR ROOM. DEGENERATE LOOKING PEOPLE DRINK AND PLAY POOL TRYING HARD TO KEEP TO THEMSELVES.

TWO THUGS ARE SITTING AT A RED TABLE WITH YELLOW STRIPES GOING DOWN THE CENTER OF IT (LIKE PLASTIC MAN’S COSTUME), EACH WITH A GLASS OF BROWN FOAMY LIQUID IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE THUG ON THE RIGHT IS FIDDLING WITH A KNIFE, PICKING DIRT FROM UNDER HIS FINGERS WITH IT.

THE THUG ON THE LEFT TAKES A SIP FROM HIS BEVERAGE. HE WIPES HIS MOUTH WITH HIS SLEEVE AS HE BANGS HIS GLASS ON THE TABLE.

THUG #1
Okay, so here's the deal. This armored car is going to be loaded with cash. Only a few guards will be riding with it. It’ll be easy pickings.

A PAIR OF GOGGLED EYES AND AN EAR STRETCHES FROM THE SIDE OF THE TABLE OUT OF VIEW FROM THE THUGS, LOOKING AND LISTENING AS EACH OF THE THUGS SPEAKS.

THUG #2
When's the deal gonna go down?

THUG #1 TAKES ANOTHER SIP FROM HIS DRINK. HE LOWERS HIS GLASS.

ONE OF THE EARS THAT FORMED FROM THE TABLE DODGES OUT OF THE WAY OF THE GLASS.

THUG #1
Tonight. You, me and three other guys are gonna split the score.

THUG #2 SMILES AND RAISES THE KNIFE HE HAS BEEN FIDDLING
WITH, GRIPPING THE HANDLE TIGHT.

THUG #2
Sounds good to me.

THE EYES AND EAR DISAPPEAR AND MELT BACK INTO THE TABLE AS IF THEY HAD NEVER BEEN THERE AT ALL.

THUG #2 PUTS THE KNIFE IN THE TABLE TOP, EXPECTING IT TO STICK INTO THE WOOD.

RATHER THAN THE KNIFE STICKING IN THE TABLE, THE TABLE STRETCHES AND GIVES UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE THUG’S ARM. A LOUD YELP OF PAIN CAN BE HEARD COMING FROM THE TABLE.

PLASTIC MAN
Hey! Watch it!

THE TWO THUGS QUICKLY BACK AWAY FROM THE TABLE.

THUG #1
What the..?

THE TABLE STRETCHES AND FOLDS UNTIL IT TAKES THE FORM OF A PERSON, PLASTIC MAN. HE LOOKS ANNOYED, RUBBING HIS SIDE WHERE HE WAS STABBED. THERE IS NO WOUND BUT HE ACTS LIKE THERE IS, AS IF HE HAD BEEN STUNG BY A BEE.

PLASTIC MAN
That really hurt. You guys need to be gentler on the furniture. Other people use these tables to.

THE TWO THUGS, ALONG WITH EVERY ONE ELSE IN THE BAR, LOOK STUNNED. THEY BOTH BRANDISH WEAPONS.

THE REST OF THE BAR PATRONS RUN OUT OF THE BAR.

THUG #2
It's Rubber Man. Shoot him!


THE TWO THUGS SHOOT THEIR GUNS AT PLASTIC MAN.
PLASTIC MAN STRETCHES LIKE AN S OUT OF THE WAY OF THEIR BULLETS.

PLASTIC MAN
That's PLASTIC Man. Don't you guys watch cartoons? I need to get a better agent.

THE THUGS RUN OUT OF BULLETS. THEY CHARGE AT PLASTIC MAN.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
Time for new game.

PLASTIC MAN CURLS INTO A BALL AND BOUNCES OFF OF THE FLOOR AND AGAINST THUG #1.

THUG #1
Ugh!

PLASTIC MAN

One point!

HE THEN RICOCHETS OFF THE WALL AND HITS THUG #2.

THUG #2
Agh!

PLASTIC MAN

Two points!

BOTH THUGS DROP TO THE FLOOR, COMPLETELY UNCONSCIOUS.
PLASTIC MAN CHANGES BACK INTO HIMSELF. HE WALKS OVER TO THE TWO THUGS. WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS HIPS HE STANDS OVER THE TWO THUGS AND TRIUMPHANTLY LOOKS AT THE HORIZON.

PLASTIC MAN (CONT’D)
And once again, the day is saved, thanks to...

BATMAN (O.S.)
Plastic man…

PLASTIC MAN STRETCHES HIS NECK SO HE IS LOOKING BEHIND HIM TOWARDS THE DOOR.

BATMAN STANDS IN THE DOORWAY TO THE BAR.

BATMAN (CONT’D)
We need to talk.

PLASTIC MAN’S JAW FALLS TO THE FLOOR AS HIS EYES BULGE OUT OF HIS SKULL AT HUMOROUS PROPORTIONS.
BATMAN’S EYES NARROW AS HE LOOKS AT PLASTIC MAN.

END COLD OPEN