ARKHAM ASYLUM - simplyscripts.com · The Batman. Frank So you want to stump him. 6 Riddler In a sense. Frank What’s the riddle? Riddler What do you break by saying just one word?

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ARKHAM ASYLUM

“RIDDLE ME THIS..”

Written By MICHAEL CORNELL

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Ext. Arkahm-Night.

A taxi pulls up to the front gates of Arkham Asylum.Someone steps out. Frank Vernon looks up at the gates asthey open and the taxi pulls away.

FrankWhat am I doing?

What a great jobthis is going to be.

Frank walks toward this menacing structure.

FrankThis better pay good.

Frank reaches the door and enters.

Int. Arkham-continuous.

A receptionist walks up to Frank.

ReceptionistYou must be Mr.

Vernon. We’ve beenwaiting. You’re thespecialist?

FrankYeah, kind of.I have worked with

the mentally disturbedbut I’m not apsychologist. But Iknow the field well.

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Frank(continuous)And the school I

worked for said Ishould come here.

ReceptionistYes, and to start you

off you’ll be workingwith(reaches forclipboard) Patient122583. But let megive you a small tour.

Int. Arkham halls

The receptionist walks Frank through the halls. Frank now knows he’s in hell.

Frank looks through a window of a door they pass by. That reads: MESS HALL. Frank turns away from the door with a pall look on his face.

FrankCan we end this tour

before it gets started.

CUT TO:

Int. Arkham cell blocks.

Frank walks down a long hallway riddled with cells.He reads the clipboard. And stops at cell 122583.

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FrankOkay my first crazy

is.. EdwardNygma.(motions guard toopen door)

The door opens and Frank steps in and the doorcloses behind him. He looks around the room to seecrossword puzzles all over the place. And thingswritten on the walls. And he sees Nygma sitting,writing under the ONE light. Frank pulls up achair.

FrankMr. Nygma sir. I’m

Frank Vernon.

NygmaNot a doctor?

FrankNo, no I’m not.But I’m here to help

you Mr.-

Nygma(cutting Frank off)I’d prefer if you

called me Riddler.

FrankOkay,..Riddler Let’s

just talk so I can seewhat’s going on withyou.

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RiddlerAlright then, what do

you want to know?

FrankWhat are you writing?

RiddlerTake a guess.

FrankRiddles right?

RiddlerYes, such a bright

fellow.

FrankWhat kind of riddles?

RiddlerThe kind he won’t

solve.

FrankWho?

RiddlerThe Batman.

FrankSo you want to stump

him.

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RiddlerIn a sense.

FrankWhat’s the riddle?

RiddlerWhat do you break by

saying just one word?

Frank(thinks for aminute) Silence.

RiddlerCorrect.

FrankA little easy for

someone named Riddler.

RiddlerExactly. That’s the

real riddle isn’t it.Why would the Riddlerleave such a easy riddlebehind for The Batman tofind?

Frankbut will you get a

chance to use it? I meanyou’re in here.

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RiddlerI’ve been in here lots

of times. We all haveand you’ll come to knowthat.

FrankGot anymore?

RiddlerWhat’s to much for one,

enough for two, butnothing at all forthree?

Frank(thinks aboutit) Secrets.

RiddlerYou’re very good.

FrankWhat do men want least

on their hands?

Riddlerhandcuffs.

FrankJust testing.

Riddlerwhat were you testing?

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FrankYour patience with me.

RiddlerGood, I was just

testing.

Frankhow about a walk. Stop

get some grub?

RiddlerFine.

Int. Arkham mess hall.

Riddler and Frank sit down with trays. No one else isaround except a big guard standing nearby. Frank looksat his food and gets a little green.

RiddlerWhat’s wrong, we eat

it, why can’t you?

Frank(scoops some“food” in his mouth)What is this stuff?

Riddler(smiles)Now that’s a riddle

even I can’t solve.

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FrankWhat do you do around

here when you’re not inyour cell.

RiddlerEat, sit in the so-

called lounge area andwatch television.

FrankAlright then,Who is in

the cell...next to you?

RiddlerWhy do you want to know

that?

FrankI wanted to change the

subject because I feltyou were getting alittle annoyed with me.

RiddlerAt least you

understand. The rest ofthese idiots neverunderstand why I ask somany questions.

FrankBecause you like to.

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Frank(continuous)questions intrigue you

because you gainknowledge and joy fromgetting an answer. Butwith riddles...I’m stilla little blurry on thatsubject. Hopefully bythe end of this talk Iwill come to know theanswer.

RiddlerYes maybe you will.

FrankSo what is your

obsession with TheBatman?

RiddlerHe solves them to

quickly and to easy. Andit’s just fun to leaveclues behind for him.

FrankWhy is it fun?

RiddlerI like testing him.

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FrankWhat is neither inside

the house, outside thehouse, but no house iscomplete with out it?

RiddlerWindows. Enough with

the kids stuff.

FrankBut giving you the kids

stuff gives me joy. AndI like testing you.

RiddlerI see your point.

FrankI may not be a doctor,

but I’m still clever.

RiddlerWhere did you live

before coming to Gotham?

FrankKeystone City.

RiddlerSo you’re used to the

lighter side of my world.

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FrankI don’t know what you

mean.

RiddlerCrime. We’re psychotics

and have a weird creatureof the night stalking us.So we’re a lot differentthan most cities.

FrankYou don’t think I could

last.

RiddlerI think you could last

but spending your timehere is not going to gowell for your sanity.

FrankYou think I’m going to

go insane?

RiddlerMaybe. But we are very

difficult.

FrankI know it was on your

chart.

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Riddler(smiles)Very funny. But you’re

no Joker.

FrankIs that a good thing, or

a bad thing?

RiddlerNow that’s a riddle.

FrankFunny. But you’re no

Harley Quinn.

RiddlerNice one. If I do say so

myself.

FrankThanks.

RiddlerAnything else you want

to know/

FrankLots.

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RiddlerThan ask away.

FrankWhat do you think of me

right now?

RiddlerYou seem okay. You’re

not trying to convince meabout anything.

FrankI told you I’m not a

doctor.

RiddlerWhat do you think of me

right now?

FrankIntriguing. And a little

crazy and smart.

RiddlerFair judgment.

Frank

What can you holdwithout ever touching orusing your hands?

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RiddlerYour breath.

FrankYou’re never off guard

are you?

RiddlerNever.

FrankHave any family?

RiddlerI rather not answer

that.

FrankDidn’t think you would,

but hey it was worth ashot.

RiddlerDo you have any family?

FrankNo.

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RiddlerLet us hope you stay

sane long enough to haveone....Frank.

FrankYou called me Frank.

Why?

RiddlerWhy not?

FrankNo it’s fine, I just

didn’t expect it.

RiddlerYou should leard to

expect a lot of things inthus place Frank.

FrankHow do they treat you in

here?

RiddlerHow would you expect

them to treat me?

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FrankHorrifically.

RiddlerYour catching on to this

place.

FrankWhy do you commit

crimes?

RiddlerGood question.

FrankAnd what’s your answer.

RiddlerWhat good is a riddle

is everybody knows it?

FrankUseless. What do you

feel like doing whenyou’re in here?

RiddlerGetting away.Or killing myself.

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FrankA little harsh don’t you

think?

RiddlerNot for someplace they

call The Living Hell.

FrankI understand.

RiddlerGood. But remember, you

will learn to hate thisplace even if you canleave. You will learn tofear this place and dreadthis hell hole they throwus into. And you willlearn to trust thisplace.

FrankTrust it?

RiddlerIt’s a sanctuary for us,

It’s protection. Even ifit doesn’t work all thetime.

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FrankProtection from what?

RiddlerFrom him.

FrankThe Bat.

RiddlerYes.

FrankBut don’t you feel his

treatment of you isjustified.

RiddlerIs that what you feel?

FrankI was asking you a

question.

RiddlerWell some back bone

emerges.

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FrankI was asking you a

question.

RiddlerWell if it makes you

feel any better than....Iwon’t answer that.

FrankWhat would be the first

thing you do when you getout of here?

RiddlerSame thing I always do

when I get out of here.

FrankDo something that gets

you thrown right back inhere.

RiddlerYou will come to know

the answer to questionssuch as that one soon,Frank.

FrankWell-

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Riddler(interrupts)Are we almost done?Even though I am

grateful for the companyand getting me out of mycell for a few.

FrankWe’re almost done just a

few more questions.

RiddlerGood.

FrankWhat are you doing

tomorrow?

RiddlerHaving lunch with The

Ventriloquist.

FrankI’ve heard of him.I’ve been wanting to

talk to him too.

RiddlerReally?

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FrankYeah, why?

RiddlerWell just to let you

know, I might be thesanest one in here rightnow. So have fun.

FrankI will. And I’ll keep

that in mind.

RiddlerWant me to introduce you

around?

FrankNo. I’ll learn about

everybody when I talk tothem.

RiddlerOkay, I was just making

sure.

FrankDon’t you find it ironic

that your name is E.Nygma and you likeriddles?

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RiddlerNever really thought

about it. And I loveriddles.

Franksorry, didn’t mean to

insult you.

RiddlerYou did not insult me.

It was just a mistake.And do not let it happenagain.

Frank(looks to seeif guard is still there)Alright.

RiddlerAre you afraid?

Frank Wouldn’t you?

RiddlerYes.

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FrankThen don’t get so

annoyed.

RiddlerOkay, Okay, back off.

FrankI wasn’t backing on.

RiddlerThat’s I phrase I’ve

never heard before.

FrankI couldn’t think of

anything else to say.

RiddlerI’ve had that happen

before.

FrankI’m sure you have.

RiddlerWhat is it you do?

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FrankI worked at a certain

kind of school inKeystone where I talkedto the mentally ill andtried to understand them.

RiddlerIs that what you’re

doing now Frank?

FrankYes, but I think I’m

going to have a muchharder time here atArkham.

RiddlerI think you will to

Frankie boy.

FrankFrank, don’t call me

Frankie boy.

RiddlerSorry, just being

friendly.

FrankWe’re not friends.

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RiddlerGood.

FrankHmm...so I think we’re

done here.(motions guardover)

CUT TO:

Int. Arkham cell block.

Frank walks behind the guard, he looks at all thecells. The guard has a gun to Riddler’s back. They reachhis cell. Riddler walks in. Then stops turns around.

RiddlerAlthough broken, they

will always exist andsurround us. We don’tlike being confined inthem and they willoutlive us all. What are“they”?

The guard closes the door.

Frank has a small smile.

FrankNow that’ll take some

thinking. But that’s thebest riddle I’ve heardall day.

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Int. Frank’s office.

Frank walks into his NEW office. He sits, puts his feetup on the desk. Looks around.

Frank V.O.I’ve been thinking about

it. And he was right. Iwould have a difficulttime. The crazies hereare a lot different thanthe ones back inKeystone. I can’tunderstand his mind andhow it works. I defiantlyhave my work cut out forme.

FrankWonder who I have for

tomorrow?

Int. Arkham cell block.

Six guards surround a man who is tied up on a Gurney,shackled and chained wearing a muzzle. Guards are armedvery well for any kind of “situation”. They wheel the maninto a empty cell. They inject him with something toknock him out. Then they unstrap him but leave himchained. They proceed to throw the man on his “new” bed.And then they all get the hell out of there. And closeand lock the door.

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The man is knocked out on the bed. He is scrawny andblonde. Strange marks on his body. We leave the cell tolook at the name on the door. It reads: 055187 VICTORZSASZ.

Two guards walk up and post themselves on either side ofthe door.

Int. Frank’s office.

Frank is dusting off a table in the corner of the roomwith an old rag.

Then the phone rings. He walks over and answers it.

FrankHello, yes, it’s in

the left cabinet.Okay, you see it, isthat all. Okay, byeLenny.(hangs up thephone) Left Keystonetwo days ago and theplace went to hellalready. Oh well,(looks at watch) timeto go home.

Int. Taxi-morning.

Frank is in the back trying ti keep himself awake.Looking at all the buildings and amazingstructures. And looking for something else.

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Frank(to driver)He doesn’t come out

during the day does he?

Driver(looking inrear view mirror) No.(Slides the partitionwindow closed)

FrankOkay then.

The taxi pulls up to Frank’s building. Looks nice,but not the nicest looking place, even by Gothamstandards.

Int. Frank’s apartment.

Frank enters. Throws himself on the couch.

FrankWhat an

interestingnight I justhad.

Frank sits himself up. Reaches in to a bag on thecoffee table. Pulls out a tape recorder and turnsit on.

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Frank(into

recorder) Wellmy first nightat Arkham wasan...educationalone. My firstperson wasEdward NygmaA.K.A. TheRiddler. I don’tknow what tomake of him. Heis very smartbut alsoobsessive. Heenjoyed thetalk. But I didnot-at least tomy knowledge-earned any ofhis trust. Whichwas easy backhome. But willbe harder here.But trust won’tdo much goodanyway. But theway I see it isRiddler’s mindis a riddle init’s self. Somaybe that’s thereal riddle. Butthe only surething is hisobsession withThe Batman. Andso I don’tforget about it:

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Frank(continuous)Although broken,

they will alwaysexist andsurround us. Wedon’t like beingconfined in themand they willoutlive us all.What are“they”?(turns offrecorder) Back inKeystone I neverthought I wouldend up here.Which brings upanother riddler,one of myfavorites: Whatcan’t you seethat is alwaysbefore you?

FADE TO BLACK

Frank V.O.The Future.

END

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