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[[Image:Seeyouindecemberside.jpg|thumb|400px|center|Image from HeathHeathens.com]]
 
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Latest revision as of 14:30, 24 April 2012

March/April 2007

A user on an acting gig site Showfax, Inc [1] finds a project in Chicago called Rory's First Kiss which is looking for actors. Casting sides, which are usually bits of dialogue taken from the movie's script, could be accessed via the site for $1 each.

Chicago

Category: Features

Project: RORY'S FIRST KISS

Casting Director: JOHN PAPSIDERA

Since Rory's First Kiss is the known working title for The Dark Knight, it was assumed that the casting sides were pieces of the script that were leaked, similar to the way the Batman Begins script was leaked before the movie opened.

WARNING: THE CASTING SIDES CONTAIN SCENES AND PLOT ELEMENTS THAT DO APPEAR IN THE DARK KNIGHT. DO NOT READ THEM IF YOU WISH TO WATCH THE FILM SPOILER-FREE.

Larger shares

Grumpy1.jpg
Grumpy2.jpg
EXT. BANK - DAY


MASK-WEARING THUGS prepare to break into a bank


GRUMPY

Four of a kind. Let's do this.


Chuckles checks his automatic weapon.


CHUCKLES

Four guys? That's it?


GRUMPY

There's two on the roof. Every guy is an extra share. Six shares is plenty.


CHUCKLES

Seven shares. Don't forget the guy who planned the job.


GRUMPY

Yeah? He thinks he can sit it out and still take a slice - he's out of his mind.


CHUCKLES

You gonna tell him that?


Grumpy flashes a gun.


GRUMPY

Right after I put two in his heart.


CHUCKLES

If you can find his heart. Some say he ain't even human.


GRUMPY

You mean the chicken shits who believe in ghosts. That you?


CHUCKLES

Hey, guys harder than the both of us are afraid of him...


GRUMPY

Look, you wanna hang back and tell scary stories, be my guest. Just means a larger share for me.


CHUCKLES

You know what? You're onto something.


GRUMPY

What?


Chuckles aims his weapon at Grumpy.


CHUCKLES

Less guys. Larger shares.

It's rude to stare

Manager1.jpg

INT. BANK - DAY


The MASK-WEARING THUG stuffs cash into his bag as the wounded BANK MANAGER watches him.


BANK MANAGER

You have any idea who you're stealing from? You and your friends are dead.


The thug isn't bothered


BANK MANAGER (CONT'D)

You idiot. What makes you think the guy who hired you

isn't going to kill you, too?


The Thug STOPS. Crouches over him. In the distance: SIRENS.


GENTLE VOICE

Call it a hunch.


The man PULLS off his MASK. The Bank Manager GASPS, horrified at the face staring back at him.


GENTLE VOICE (CONT'D)

It's rude to stare.


The bank manager summons his nerve, gritting his teeth.


BANK MANAGER

What are you? You freak. Criminals in this town used to believe in things. Honor. Respect.

What do you believe in, huh? What do you bel-


BANG...the THUG puts a bullet into the MANAGER's head.

What're you, superstitious?

Dealer.jpg
EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- CONTINUOUS


A DEALER and a BUYER are in the middle of a transaction.


DEALER

I want eighty for the bag.


BUYER

Eighty? It was sixty last week.


DEALER

Inflation. Ain't it a bitch.


The Buyer digs in his pocket. The Signal appears in the air. The Dealer spots it and steps back.


DEALER (CONT'D)

No, man. I don't like it tonight.


BUYER

What're you, superstitious? You got more chance of winning the powerball than running into him...


He's here

Junkie.jpg

EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS -- NIGHT


The MOBSTER'S BODYGUARD moves to the second SUV, reaches in and drags out a skinny, wild-eyed JUNKIE by his hair.


JUNKIE (babbling)

No! No, get 'em off me! Off me!


BODYGUARD

Shut up.


JUNKIE

They're all over me! They're crawling in my mouth.


BODYGUARD

Who sold you the stash?


JUNKIE

They're going to eat my insides! PLEASE!


The Bodyguard whips out a gun.


BODYGUARD

Come closer. I'm gonna unscrew your brain.


DOGS START BARKING. The Bodyguard looks around, scared.


BODYGUARD (CONT'D)

(nervous) He's here.

It's an inside joke

Copthug.jpg

INT. BASEMENT -- NIGHT


A blindfolded THUG is handcuffed to a chair in the basement. A COP circles him.


COP

The Mob used to dump bodies here. They wouldn't be found for months. Maybe years.

So tell me, where can I find your boss?


The THUG laughs.


COP (CONT'D)

What's so funny?


THUG

It's an inside joke.


COP

Let me in on the laugh.


THUG

There's no need to find him because... he's gonna find you.


The Cop rips off the Thug's blindfold.


COP

You want to play games?!


The Cop pulls his gun and fires a shot over the Thug's head. He then shoves a gun up against the Thug's head with real malice.


THUG

(rattled)

You wouldn't...


COP

I have. Starting with the knee caps.


The Cop shoots the Thug in the knee.

THUG

(sobbing)

I don't know anything.


COP

You giggle, you poke fun...


THUG

I'm sorry - I'm sorry...


The Cop shoots the other knee cap. The Thug SCREAMS.


This scene has been reworked drastically in the final film.

The Cop =

Harvey Dent


Thug =

Former Arkham inmate Thomas Schiff

You need us

Vigilante.jpg
EXT. ROOFTOP, PARKING GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER


THE AVENGER grabs the VIGILANTE and RIPS his mask off.


VIGILANTE

We're trying to help you!


AVENGER

I don't need help.


VIGILANTE

Then stay out of my way!


The AVENGER gets right up to the vigilante's face


AVENGER

Don't let me find you out here again.


The AVENGER walks to the edge of the building.


VIGILANTE (CONT'D)

You need us! There's only one of you - It's a war out there!


The AVENGER ignores the VIGILANTE, infuriating him.


VIGILANTE (CONT'D)

What gives you the right?!

What's the difference between you and me?!


Avenger =

Batman


Vigilante =

Brian Douglass


Let's cut to the chase

Evans.jpg

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM


Lau sits next to his sleazy lawyer, EVANS. The Prosecutor walks in.


PROSECUTOR

Give us the money and we'll deal.


EVANS

Deal first. Then maybe we'll talk about the money.


Prosecutor leans forward, speaking softly, clearly.


PROSECUTOR

As soon as they hear you got pinched, they're going to kill you.


EVANS

Are you threatening my client?


PROSECUTOR

No, I'm just assuming your client's cooperation with this investigation.

As will everyone. So let's cut to the chase.


Lau whispers into Evans' ear. Evans nods.


EVANS

He won't give you the money. But he'll give you his clients. All of them.


PROSECUTOR

That's pretty brave. I'm surprised.


EVANS

As you said, let's cut to the chase. But only if he gets to keep the money and is granted immunity. Deal?


Prosecutor =

Rachel Dawes

For the sake of time

Salizar1.jpg
Salizar2.jpg

JUDGE SALIZAR listens to both the PROSECUTION and the DEFENSE ATTORNEY in his chambers.


DEFENSE ATTORNEY

Your honor, sitting my client next to the rest of these defendants will unjustly incriminate him.


JUDGE SALIZAR

This is an arraignment hearing. You want him to stand trial on his own, pled him not guilty. But take a number because the docket's about to get full.


DEFENSE ATTORNEY

That's not my point. Charges are being levied here that will automatically depict my client as being part of a conspiracy. He's only been accused of fraud.


JUDGE SALIZAR

How backwards is this town when only being accused of fraud makes you out to be [a] saint? This isn't my concern today, though. My concern today is making sure the judicial process moves forward in a prompt and precise manner, which is why your client will sit wherever he is sat. Court will begin in fifteen minutes. See you inside, gentlemen.




JUDGE SALIZAR reads the list of charges.


JUDGE SALIZAR (CONT'D)

...If I read through this list of charges we'd be here all the [sic] night. So for the sake of time lets [sic] just say multiple counts racketeering, extortion, fraud, and conspiracy to commit murder. Whatever laws we have instituted, you gentlemen have been accused here of violating. So...


Judge Salizar turns the page. Finds a THREATENING NOTE. He glances at it, curious, puts it to one side.


JUDGE SALIZAR (CONT'D)

...how do the defendants plead?

Judge Salizar = Judge Surrillo

The threatening note is a

Joker card, later used by the Joker to mark his future targets.

I don't wanna hear you talk

Mistress.jpg

INT. NIGHTCLUB -- NIGHT


Strobe lights. Pounding music. Maroni is in a booth at the side with his MISTRESS. His bodyguards are around the table.


MISTRESS

(shouting over music)

Can't we go someplace quieter?! We can't hear each other talk!


MARONI

I don't wanna hear you talk.


MISTRESS

(can't hear)

What?!


MARONI

You know, you are as stupid as you look.


The Mistress smiles.


MISTRESS

Stupid enough to get you to buy me whatever I want.


He didn't do anything wrong

James.jpg

EXT. ROOFTOP -- NIGHT


The FIGURE LEAPS INTO THE NIGHT -


JAMES

Why's he running, Dad?


The Chief stares.

THE CHIEF

Because we have to chase him...


James look from the window to his father, confused.


JAMES

He didn't do anything wrong!


THE CHIEF

It doesn't matter, son.


JAMES

Why, dad? Why?


The Chief =

James Gordon


The Figure =

Batman

I want my phone call

Stephens.jpg

INT. ?


THE PRISONER sits, smiling, content. Stephens guards the door.


THE PRISONER

I want my phone call.


STEPHENS

That's nice.


The Prisoner looks at his hands, which have been cuffed again.


THE PRISONER

How many of your friends have I killed?


STEPHENS

I'm a twenty-year man. I can tell the difference between punks who need a little lesson in manners...

(cracks his knuckles)

And the freaks like you who would just enjoy it.


Stephens folds his arms. Turns away.


STEPHENS (CONT'D)

(quiet)

And you killed six of my friends.


The Prisoner =

The Joker

His smile

Terror1.jpg

INT. VACANT ROOM


Randolph enters: COPS IN UNDERSHIRTS, bound, gagged, blindfolded. Randolph moves to the first man, RIPS the tape from his mouth.


RANDOLPH

What happened?


TERRORIZED COP

(breathing hard)

Took...they took our guns, our uniforms...


RANDOLPH

Who?


TERRORIZED COP

I don't know. I just remember his...


RANDOLPH

His what?


TERRORIZED COP

His smile


Randolph =

Bruce Wayne


My insides hurt

Fatthug.jpg

INT. HOLDING, MCU


A bunch of thugs are herded into a jail cell.


DETECTIVE

Look at these ugly bastards.


One of the men, walks over, clutching at his belly.


FAT THUG

I don't feel good.


DETECTIVE

You're a cop killer. You're lucky to be feeling anything below the neck.


FAT THUG

(agony)

Please. My insides hurt.


DETECTIVE

Step away from the bars.


FAT THUG

The boss said he would make the voices go away. He said he would go inside and replace them with bright lights. Like Christmas.


DETECTIVE

That's great. Please step-


The Fat Thug COLLAPSES. The Detective grabs his radio.


DETECTIVE (CONT'D)

I need a medic in holding.


This is for my wife

Berg1.jpg
Berg2.jpg

INT. POLICE VAN -- CONTINUOUS


The Chief looks up sharply. Considers the uniformed cop nervously fingering his shotgun.


THE CHIEF

Berg, isn't it?


The young cop, BERG, looks up. Sweating.


BERG

Chief?


THE CHIEF

You okay, son?


BERG

I'm good, sir.


The Chief notices Berg eying the Prisoner and gripping his shotgun. The Chief starts to subtly unholster his own weapon.


THE CHIEF

I'm gonna need your weapon, son.


Berg looks at the Chief, trembling, the barrel of his gun inching upwards.


BERG

What?


THE CHIEF

The gun.


BERG

Why? Because my wife's in the hospital?


THE CHIEF

Yeah. That would be why.


Berg takes aim at the Prisoner. Trying to get the nerve.


BERG

I have to...


THE CHIEF

Officer, drop your weapon on the ground. NOW!


BERG

I can't. You know I can't...


THE CHIEF

Do it for your wife, son!


BERG

This IS for my wife. I'm sorry, sir.


The Chief =

James Gordon


The Prisoner =

Coleman Reese, a Wayne Enterprises lawyer/accountant

It's my day off

Bartender.jpg

INT. BAR, GOTHAM HEIGHTS -- DAY


An empty neighborhood dive, the local DRUNK passed out at the bar, BARTENDER watching BREAKING NEWS on the TV.


BARTENDER

Sweet Jesus. D'you see this, Mike? They blew up a mall...


Detective Wuertz, at a booth looks up at the TV, bored.


BARTENDER (CONT'D)

Shouldn't you be out there, you know, doing something?


WUERTZ

It's my day off.


BARTENDER

You're a piece of work, you know that?


WUERTZ

I mind my own. You should do the same.


The Bartender shuts the register.


BARTENDER

I gotta take a leak, keep an eye on things, will ya?


Look at me

INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT


BRIAN, wearing a makeshift AVENGER costume - face bruised and bloody - is tied to a chair in some kind of bright, fluorescent lit room.


VOICE (O.S.)

Tell them your name.


BRIAN

(weak)

Brian Douglas.


VOICE (O.S.)

Are you the real Avenger?


BRIAN

No


VOICE (O.S.)

Why do you want to be like him?


BRIAN

He's a symbol...that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you...


VOICE (O.S.)

But you do, Brian. You really do. You think he's helped this city?


BRIAN nods uncertainly...


VOICE (CONT'D)

Look at me.

(Brian looks down)

LOOK AT ME!


Brian looks up, horrified.


Voice =

The Joker

Welcome to Hong Kong

EXT. PENINSULA HOTEL, CHINA - DAY


A HELICOPTER touches down on one of the hotel's twin helipads. A L.F.I. Vice President approaches, head ducked. Faulkner gets out - they shake hands, shouting over the engine-


LFI VP

Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Faulkner, how was the trip?


FAULKNER

Thank you, fine.


LFI VP

Mr. Lau regrets he is unable to meet you in person. But with his current legal difficulties...!


FAULKNER

I understand!


The LFI VP ushers Faulkner towards security


LFI VP

I'm afraid for security reasons I have to ask for your mobile phone.


Faulkner hands his phone to a security guard, who puts the phone in a box underneath his station


LFI VP (CONT'D)

Follow me, please.


Faulkner =

Lucius Fox

It was me

INT. COURTROOM, SUPERIOR COURT -- DAY


Rossi takes a SIP of water. The PROSECUTOR approaches.


PROSECUTOR

With Carmine Falcone in Arkham, someone must've stepped up to run the so-called family

(Rossi nods)

Is this man in the courtroom today? (Rossi nods again)

Could you identify him for us, please?


The Prosecutor turns to the defendant, smiles.


ROSSI

You win, counselor. It was me.


The Prosecutor's smile disappears. He turns back to Rossi.


PROSECUTOR

Say again?


ROSSI

I'll say it how many times you want. I'm the guy.


PROSECUTOR

Mr. Rossi, I'm confused...


ROSSI

Must be dumb then, huh?


PROSECUTOR

Need the court remind you that you are under oath?


ROSSI

Nope. I'm good.


PROSECUTOR

I've got a sworn statement from you that this man, Salvatore Maroni, is the new head of the Falcone crime family.


ROSSI

Maroni? He's a fall guy. I'm the brains of the organization.


LAUGHS from the gallery. The PROSECUTOR turns to the JUDGE.


PROSECUTOR

Permission to treat the witness as hostile?


ROSSI

Hostile? I'll show you hostile.


Prosecutor =

Harvey Dent

I think you're underestimating the situation

Swat.jpg

INT. GARAGE -- CONTINUOUS


A SWAT stands beside the empty school bus.


SWAT LEADER

We've found our missing bus. It's a hostage situation, sir.


The Chief looks at the building where the hostages are being held.

THE CHIEF

No, it's a shooting gallery. Why'd he choose a spot with such big windows?


SWAT LEADER

We have clear shots on five subjects. Snipers take them out, smash the windows - a team rappels in, a team moves in by the stairwells. 2 or 3 casualties, max.


THE CHIEF

I think you're underestimating the situation, Sergeant.


SWAT LEADER

Maybe. But we either take 'em now, or they dig in and things get complicated.


THE CHIEF

Complicated?


SWAT LEADER

Deadly, sir. Very.


The Chief nods.


THE CHIEF

Tell your men good luck.


SWAT LEADER

Red team, you're up. We're going in in sixty seconds.


The Chief =

James Gordon

God knows we need him

Engel.jpg

INT. RADIO STATION


The Mayor has a pained smile. MIKE ENGEL is taking calls.


CALLER (O.S.)

... hell, you got half the army on the streets - I wanna know when you're gonna catch the sonofa-


ENGEL

Okay. The guy's got a point - what can you say to people about their safety when this maniac's running around free?


MAYOR

The National Guard is here to reassure everyone that law and order is not under threat in this city. The Chief has assured me that -


ENGEL

And how's Randolph doing? We're hearing a lot of different stuff-


MAYOR

Mike, please, don't fuel people's paranoia. Randolph's alive, and looking forward to getting back to the job.


ENGEL

Wish him a speedy recovery. God knows we need him. Let's take another call - you're on the air.


"Randolph" =

Harvey Dent

It'll get better

Natascha.jpg

INT. DINING ROOM, DENT HOUSE -- EVENING


KENNEDY, accompanied by a beautiful woman holding a bottle of champagne, joins GANNON and CONNIE for dinner.


NATASCHA

You have a lovely home.


GANNON

Thank you. Not much of a place to raise kids, though.


NATASCHA

Well, how could you want to raise children in a city like this?


GANNON

It'll get better. Soon.


NATASCHA

I meant, the kind of city that idolizes a masked vigilante...


GANNON

Shouldn't we be proud of an ordinary citizen standing up for what's right?


NATASCHA

Yes, but the society needs people like you - elected officials, not a man who thinks he is above the law.


GANNON

When people just stand by and watch the scum take over - the law is already a secondary consideration.


NATASCHA

But this is democracy, is it not? You cannot be advocating a secret police? In America?


GANNON

A kingdom under siege always selects one man to protect his people. It is his duty. His honor. And when he's victorious, power is passed onto a successor who will take up his mantle.


NATASCHA

Someone like you? Or... could it be that you are this secret, honorable knight who is desperate to save his land and lay down his arms?


Kennedy =

Bruce Wayne


Gannon =

Harvey Dent


Connie =

Rachel Dawes

Do you want to die?

Warden.jpg

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, PRISONER FERRY -- NIGHT


A HUGE TATTOOED PRISONER pushes his way to the front. he walks towards the Warden, who is sweating, looking at the trigger.


WARDEN

Stand down.


TATTOOED PRISONER

Do you wanna die?!


WARDEN

I...


TATTOOED PRISONER

You don't wanna die. But you don't know how to take a life. Give it to me.


The Warden looks at the trigger. At the clock.


TATTOOED PRISONER (CONT'D)

These men will kill you and take it, anyway. Give it to me, you can tell people I took it by force... give it to me and I'll do what you should have done ten minutes ago.

Let's put it to a vote

Businessman.jpg

INT. PASSENGER LOUNGE, COMMUTER FERRY -- NIGHT


The National Guard Commander is holding the remote. Several passengers take a step towards him. He PULLS his weapon.


NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER

Stay back.


A BUSINESSMAN, clutching his briefcase, speaks up.


BUSINESSMAN

Who are you to decide? We ought to talk it over, at least.


Other passengers agree. A MOTHER with two KIDS speaks up.


MOTHER

We don't all have to die. Why should my babies die? Those men had their chance!


NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER

We're not talking about this...


MOTHER

They're talking over the same exact thing on the other boat.


BUSINESSMAN

If they're even bothering to talk. Let's put it to a vote.


NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER

I'd vote for it. Same as most of you. Doesn't seem right that we should all die...


MOTHER

So do it!


NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDER

I didn't say I'd do it. Don't forget. We're still here. Which means they haven't done us in, yet, either.


Everyone stares at the trigger. The Businessman stands. Walks over. Thumbs it.


BUSINESSMAN

No one wants to get their hands dirty. Fine. I'll do it. Those men on the boat made their choices. They chose to murder and steal. It makes no sense for us to die, too.


He looks at the other passengers. No one makes eye contact.

Authenticity

A fan who spoke with The Dark Knight screenwriter Jonah Nolan at the NYC IMAX prologue screening confirmed that the sides were written to be leaked on purpose. Thus, their authenticity can be questioned. However, some of the dialogue in the sides proved to be very similar to what was shown in the IMAX prologue and Whysoserious.com/Myhero, and the name Brian Douglass has appeared as an ardent Batman supporter in one of the ARG websites. From screenings of the final theatrical cut, all of the scenes depicted in the casting sides do appear in the film.

See you in December

On April 1, 2007, the casting sides on Showfax, Inc were taken down and replaced with a reformat, along with a new casting side. Its authenticity was immediately questioned since it was April Fool's Day, and the formatting was drastically different from the originals. There was a hidden message in the new one - by taking the first letter in each line, "See you in December" was spelled out. This were thought to be an elaborate April Fool's joke not involving The Dark Knight's viral marketing, until the same message turned up at Ibelieveinharveydenttoo.com

Image from HeathHeathens.com