Arkham Asylum – Respite – Brian Manton

1.

Wide panel.

Over the shoulder shot of an Arkham Asylum orderly, Jason McCallister. He has tight cropped hair, a thick neck and small ears.

In front of him is a small garden area, lit with sunshine. Roses meander through a trellis archway. Small trees are adorned with white blossoms and small birds. A bumble bee studiously surveys the red flowers on a thick green bush. There is a wide array of plants and colours but it is an ordered and well kept garden.

Jason:  This used to be my spot, you know. Every break time, out for a ciggy and pretend that this is all there is.

2.

Large panel.

Reverse shot. We see Jason sitting on a bench. He is wearing his work clothes – pale green overalls with flash on the breast that reads STAFF. Jason’s face is weathered and stress-beaten. He is in his 30’s but could pass for late 40’s. His expression is vacant, as though he is staring through the garden – not seeing it at all. (Note: he is not smoking)

He is dwarfed by the threatening hulk of architecture behind him – Arkham Asylum looms at his back. This is the rear of the institution so we don’t see a main entrance or any signs with the name.

Though the garden was in sunshine, much of the sky above Arkham is overcast, leaving the building mostly in shadow.

Jason:  Try to forget for a minute that Arkam even exists.

Jason:  Inside, you’re part of it.

Jason:  The things they say to you. Sick things.

Jason:  At first you can’t imagine how they even come up with that stuff but after a few years you start to think of sicker things to say back.

Jason:  You don’t say any of it, of course. But it’s there - in your head and you can’t unthink it.

Jason:  This place gets inside you. It follows you home and ruins your dreams.

Jason:  Somehow, out here, I could trick myself into forgetting.

3.

Side view of the bench & garden.

Jason sits there, holding his head in his hands.

In front of him – a vision from his memory (desaturated, to illustrate this) - Two figures stand before him. A female patient in white overalls holds the teeth of an open set of handcuffs to the neck of another orderly, younger than Jason. Mid 20’s, scruffy brown hair. She holds his hair tightly with her other hand and pulls his head back.

Jason:  One of the inmates – not even one of the weird ones – killed young Bill here, right in front of me.

Jason:  It happens. New guy doesn’t follow the procedure to a tee. Happens too much.

Jason:  But that’s all I can see when I sit here now. Can’t see past it.

4.

Close on Jason. Tears well in his eyes.

Jason:  I still come out here.

Jason:  I don’t know why.

Arkham Asylum: The Hunter's House - Niel Jacoby

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Panel 1: Batman stands at the gates of Arkham, futzing with the locks. Nightwing is with him, watching his back in case someone tries something.

Batman: I SWEAR, THE NEXT TIME SOME SHENANIGANS GO DOWN AT ARKHAM ON HALLOWEEN, I WON'T EVEN RESPOND. IF THESE IDIOTS CAN'T RECOGNIZE A SIMPLE PATTERN, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE IN THE PADDED CELLS.

Nightwing: HELL, BRUCE, I DIDN'T KNOW TRICK OR TREATING WITH DAMIEN MEANT SO MUCH TO YOU. SUCH A DEVOTED FATHER.

Batman: DICK, YOU MAKE ONE MORE CRACK AND I-
(LINK)
WE'RE IN.

Panel 2: POV from the door of Arkham. Batman and Nightwing are running through the path up to the main door of the gothic mansion-turned-asylum as turret robots in goofy halloween costumes rise up from the lawn.

SFX: vvvvvvvvRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Batman: HURRY, NIGHTWING, WE MAY GET INSIDE BEFORE THEY START FIRING!

Nightwing: ON IT, BATS!

Panel 3: POV from behind Nightwing and Batman as they enter the asylum, and see that it has been turned into a hall of mirrors.

PA: AH, BATMAN, GOOD TO SEE YOU BROUGHT SOME MORE GAME FOR THE HUNT!

Batman: YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, JOKER!

PA: NO.

Batman: RIDDLER?

PA: NO.

Batman: UH... THE GUY. THE GUY WITH THE TRAPS AND THE... PURPLE?

PA: IT'S DEADSHOT! THE ONE WITH THE SCOPE EYE?

Batman: AH.

PA: ANYWAY, THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL BE ABLE T-

Batman: -TO RESCUE THE  STAFF AND INMATES IS TO BEST THE MANY TWISTS AND TRICKS OF MY HAUNTED NOT-SO-FUN-HOUSE.

Panel 4: We see Batman solemnly standing by the doors where he was in panel 3 as Nightwing smirks at him.

PA: ...

Batman: YOU REALLY ARE THAT PREDICTABLE.

Nightwing: AND YOU'RE A BIG OL' HALLOWEEN HUMBUG.

Batman: SHUT UP.

Arkham Asylum - 'Twas - R.A. Wonsowski

Layout:

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Panel 1 - long shot of Arkham Asylum through the iron gates at night.

CAPTION:  'Twas the night before All Saints'

And all through the Asylum

Something amiss with the crazies,

Across genus and phylum.

Panel 2 - JONATHAN CRANE reaching through the bars of his cell door.  He is screaming as if his life depends upon it.

CAPTION:  The Scarecrow was screaming 

As he clawed at the bars.

Panel 3 - POISON IVY is smashing her flower pots and seedlings in mason jars with a broken chair leg in her cell.  In the corner, we see the discarded chair minus a leg.

CAPTION: Dear Pamela Isley

Killed her plants in their jars.

Panel 4 - HARVEY DENT sitting on the concrete floor of his cell, naked and drooling as he rolls a pair of bone-coloured dice, blankly staring at nothing.

CAPTION:  Two-Face, now coin-less,

Fumbled dice on the floor.

Panel 5 - JOKER cowers in a corner, sitting in a fetal ball on the naked mattress of his bunk, tears falling from his eyes.

CAPTION:  And the Joker...well, let's say

He's not laughing anymore.

Panel 6 - a dark dungeon-like basement.  Bloody writing in a spiral written on the floor, mostly runic, except one bit that reads "yarva".

CAPTION:  All because some madman

Etched signs in the cellar...

Panel 7 - same as Panel 6, except from the darkness we see the red glowing eyes and Cheshire grin of a familiar DEMON...

CAPTION:  And let Hallowe'en turn into
A terror tale for the teller.

(...and here's the rest...) 

You see, a recent addition
To the list of Arkham's guests
Was a vicar, and a descendent
Of the mad Herbert West.

Through priestly conviction
And the patience of a saint
He made his way to the basement,
And using his blood for paint,
Inscribed incantations
In spirals and curves
While he jibbered in Latin
And gestured in swerves.

But what to his wondering eyes should appear?
A caped 8-foot Demon who grinned back with a leer.
His yellow carapace skin so oily and wan,
He knew in a moment, he summoned Etrigan.

"Pater West," the Demon canted
"What is it you want?
I have a human cage
To torment and taunt."

The priest wanted revenge upon the Gotham congregation.
Their children were vanishing, and Gordon's investigation
Led them to a loose floorboard or two in the pews,
Revealing Father West's collection of little shoes.
"Police feet are beating, like a poor drummer drumming.
Etrigan, you must stop the GCPD from coming!"

The Demon tut-tutted, and strategized a plan,
Then said to this very un-Christian-like man:
"I'll do as you ask, but understand, there's a fee.
So don't get too attached to your humanity..."

Up the stairs, through the madhouse, he bounded the floors,
Unlocked all the locks and threw open the doors,
He bound up his favourites in dark admiration,
Calling them by their villainous appellations:
"Now Joker, now Riddler, now Ivy and Two-Face!
Now Penguin, now Grundy, now Firefly and Clayface!
Dash every cop head against every brick wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away ALL!!!"

His coursers, they flew like bats from a cavern.
They burnt down a precinct, killed two in a tavern.
They overturned cruisers and set them on fire,
Bane strangled a bike cop with his spare tube and tire.
And Etrigan just watched from atop Arkham's roof.
If you've wondered if Gotham's insane, here's your proof!

Sooner or later, though, the fun comes to an end,
Whether Gordon's boys in blue, or his other long-eared friend.
The night went from evil, to bad, to untoward,
And honestly, Etrigan began to get bored.
So wiggling a finger up into his nose,
The Demon went back to the priest and his woes.

But I heard him exclaim as he dragged West out of sight:

"Happy Hell-owe'en to you all,

I'm taking the vicar for a bite...."

Arkham Asylum – Trick or treat – Shaun Richens.

PAGE ONE – 5 PANELS.

1.1

We look upon a group of young kids, all around 10 years old. They are all dressed up as their favorite superheroes for Halloween.

We have a SUPERMAN (Henry) the tallest of the group, BATMAN (Tommy the shortest and slightly chubby of the group), GREEN ARROW (Karl) who stands licking the end of one of his sticky ended toy arrows, and a WONDER WOMAN (Mary). The costumes all look home made.

BATMAN kid has his masked pulled up and resting on top of his head.

The kids stand on a street corner; they each carry a little plastic pumpkin bucket with a handle that is full of candy.

The night is bright and clear, a full moon hangs in the sky and dozens of stars twinkle.

SUPERMAN KID:

Ha! I knew you’d be too chicken.

SUPERMAN KID:

You shoulda been Aquaman. No way are you’re cool enough to be Batman.

1.2

Close up on BATMAN kid, Tommy. He has gone red in the face and looks like he is holding back some tears, but he’s holding it together to try and look tough in front of Mary and Karl.

BATMAN KID:

Shut up Henry. I am too cool enough to be Batman.

BATMAN KID:

I’m not scared to go up there.

1.3

Close up on SUPERMAN kid. He has a huge grin on his face; really pleased his little ruse has worked. He looks smug as he pushes his greased hair curl off of his forehead.

SUPERMAN KID:

Prove it. Go up and see if the gates open.

1.4

A shot of Batman kid, he has puffed up his chest and pulled down his mask, he is stood in front of Green arrow kid and Wonder Woman kid who look on wide eyed.

BATMAN KID:

Fine!

WONDER WOMAN KID:

Tommy you don’t have to.

1.5

Looking from behind the group of kids, Batman Kid is walking away from them, his cape blowing in the wind. In the distance we can see the large iron fence that runs all around Arkham Asylum, the Asylum itself looms large on the horizon.

BATMAN KID:

I do. And Don’t call me Tommy.

BATMAN KID:

I’m Batman.

Arkham Asylum – Batman of the Asylum: Minders, Keepers – MK Stangeland Jr.

(If you remember my script from our BATMAN week last year – or take a moment to go back and read it - you’ll get a sense about what’s going on here.)

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: We are in ADMINISTRATOR DR. JAMES GORDON’s (ADMINISTRATOR GORDON) office inside of ARKHAM ASYLUM. GORDON is sitting behind his desk.

Also present are DR. HARLEEN QUINZEL (DR. QUINZEL), who is sitting in one of the two chairs opposite ADMINISTRATOR GORDON’s desk, and DR. BARBARA GORDON (DR. GORDON), who is standing. DR. QUINZEL has a couple of files sitting on her lap.

DR. GORDON: Administrator, I must state my objections to you allowing Mr. Hood to be admitted here.

ADMINISTRATOR GORDON: Barbra…

DR. GORDON (1): Dad, please.

DR. GORDON (2): We’re both on duty right now, so if we could please keep it professional?

Panel 2: Panel is set from behind ADMINISTRATOR GORDON as the conversation continues.

ADMINISTRATOR GORDON: My apologies, Doctor Gordon.

DR. GORDON (1): Thank you. As I was saying, the man is an incredibly dangerous psychopath.

DR. GORDON (2): Arkham is not a proper facility for treating him.

DR. QUINZEL: Excuse me, Dr. Gordon, but Mr. Hood is not the dangerous killer he once was.

Panel 3: DR. QUINZEL looks through a file – if enough of the files exterior can be seen, the name ‘JACK HOOD’ should be listed on it somewhere.

DR. QUINZEL (1): If you bothered to read Mr. Jack Hood’s file – as you suggest you have – you would know full well that while his grip on reality is still lacking, his treatment has come a long way.

DR. QUINZEL (2): May I remind you that a state-certified panel of experts have asserted that he currently feels a great deal of remorse for his past crimes, a far step removed from his original state as a ‘dangerous psychopath’.

Panel 4: DR. QUINZEL point as DR. GORDON with the file as she talks in the direction of ADMINISTRATOR GORDON.

DR. QUINZEL (1): That Arkham Asylum was nominated as the facility at which Mr. Hood should continue his treatment should speak very highly of it.

ADMINISTRATOR GORDON: I recognize as much.

DR. QUINZEL (2): However, if Dr. Gordon wishes to bring up a concern about my patient, might I remind her of one of your own.

Panel 5: DR. QUINZEL opens a second file. If the exterior can be seen, this one should read ‘BRUCE WAYNE’.

DR. QUINZEL (1): Mr. Bruce Wayne.

DR. QUINZEL (2): Though, if I’m not mistaken, he’s more commonly referred to as ‘The Batman of Arkham Asylum’ at this point.

DR. QUINZEL (3): If I’m further not mistaken, he portrays his delusions upon everyone present at this facility.

DR. QUINZEL (4): And the way he does so has led to concerns that should Mr. Wayne and Mr. Hood interact in any fashion, the results could be…

DR. QUINZEL (5): …devastating.

(END PAGE)

Arkham Asylum - The Joke's On You - Simon McDonald

There is on-going construction work at Arkham Asylum. Its inmates have been moved to various other facilities - The Riddler is secured behind bars in Stryker's Island, Clayface is being housed at Iron Heights Penitentiary. Scenes occurring at Arkham Asylum should feature background work detailing these renovations; piled rubble, machinery, and dozens of workers in dust-stained overalls and yellow hard hats looking busy. 

PANEL ONE
Inside Arkham Ayslum's subterranean wing - reserved for its most dangerous inmates we focus on an open cell door. It's THE JOKER'S cell. There are several workers standing outside it, visibly reluctant to set foot inside.

CAPTION (1)

I have always had the capacity for evil.

 

CAPTION (2)

I suppose we all do, to some degree.

 

PANEL TWO

Inside THE JOKER'S cell stands a lone construction worker. Non-descript, nobody we've ever seen before. His hands are clasped behind his back. He's examining the walls - covered with diagrams and scribbled text - with obvious reverence.

 

 

CAPTION (1)

Most folks don't have the balls to commit to their demons.

 

CAPTION (2)

Even more simply don't have the intellect for it.

 

CAPTION (3)

I sure didn't.

 

PANEL THREE

Tight on our protagonist. He is squinting now, deciphering the coded scrawl.

 

CAPTION (1)

So the day I decoded The Joker's scrawl - -  

 

CAPTION (2)

- - me, a nobody! - -

 

CAPTION (3)

- - that was no longer a concern.

 

PANEL FOUR

A smile has spread across his face. He's done it - he's seen through the crazy and made sense of it.

 

CAPTION

He'd done my thinking for me, the Clown Prince of Crime.

 

PANEL FIVE

In another place, location unknown (for the time being). It's suitably dark and decrepit. THE JOKER is cackling to himself, evil grin plastered on his face.

 

THE JOKER

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

CAPTION

How was I to know I'd played right into his hands?

Arkham Asylum - Arkham Horror Story - Ben Rosenthal

1.  A woman, Amanda Mandris (new character) stands at a corner inside Arkham Asylum.  She is dressed in a white lab coat, with sensible casual clothes underneath it.  To her side, cowering behind her is an attractive, jock-type male (Benny Thompson - new character).  He is scared.  Amanda, while also scared is thinking logical about the situation.

BENNY
What's going on?  How did this happen?

AMANDA
We're in Arkham Asylum.  The place that has held at some point almost every super villain on the planet.


2.  Reverse angle - A large hall.  It shows bodies on the floor while others try to flee.  The inside is contorted, as if the walls themselves are moving.

AMANDA
Psychopaths, mystics and who knows what else have all come here to have their madness treated and assessed.


3.  View of the outside of Arkham.  It is alive, moving and and changing.  'Fingers' made of tree roots grab and stab at some villains as they run from the horrifying site.

AMANDA
It was only a matter of time before all that power and madness manifested in other ways.

Arkham Asylum - No Escape - J.D. Coughlan

Panel 1: Establishing shot of Arkham Asylum, looking as ominous as ever.

BRIGGS (CAP): "Tell me about Arkham Asylum."

Panel 2: POV from across an interview table. Harley Quinn sits on the other side, wearing a straightjacket. Her hair is in pigtails and she has crudely tried to recreate her mask with make-up. She cocks her head, as if talking casually.

HARLEY: This is the last place I expected to fall in love. I mean, it doesn't seem like the kinda place where love is found, ya know?

CAPTION: Dr. Harleen Quinzel.

CAPTION: "Harley Quinn."

CAPTION: Former psychology intern, Arkham Asylum.

Panel 3: Same POV. This time, Jonathan Crane sits in the chair, also straightjacketed. He has a bag over his head as a makeshift Scarecrow mask. He stares coldly out the eyeholes.

CRANE: There is fear at first though. Always fear. But the longer you stay, the less you fear.

CAPTION: Dr. Jonathan Crane.

CAPTION: "The Scarecrow."

CAPTION: Former staff psychiatrist, Arkham Asylum.

Panel 4: Same POV, this time it's Lyle Bolton, the C-list villain Lock-Up. He wears a straightjacket too, but with heavy restraints as well. He has an intense look on his face.

BOLTON: Y'see, Doc, all that stuff about Arkham's "revolving door" isn't quite true. We keep getting out, sure, but we keep coming back, don't we?

CAPTION: Lyle Bolton.

CAPTION: "Lock-Up."

CAPTION: Former Chief of Security, Arkham Asylum.

Panel 5: Same POV, this time Hugo Strange in the straightjacket. He has a wicked grin.

STRANGE: Arkham Asylum eats away at your identity, Doctor, until there is nothing of yourself left. Until you cannot live outside these walls. Until you are Arkham.

CAPTION: Professor Hugo Strange.

CAPTION: Former Head of Psychology, Arkham Asylum.

Panel 6: Same POV, now Jeremiah Arkham. Again, in a straightjacket. He has drawn a black skull on his face and is laughing maniacally.

ARKHAM: My great-great-uncle knew it when he had this place built! Even he was swallowed up by the madness within!

ARKHAM: You see, Doctor, no one really escapes the asylum...

CAPTION: Dr. Jeremiah Arkham.

CAPTION: "Black Mask."

CAPTION: Former Administrator, Arkham Asylum.

Panel 7: Reverse POV. Dr. Briggs, a young psychiatrist who has been conducting these interviews. He looks extremely nervous.

ARKHAM (O.P.): Not even the staff!

CAPTION: Dr. Simon Briggs.

CAPTION: Staff psychiatrist, Arkham Asylum.

CAPTION: 27 days sane and counting...

END OF PAGE

Why Arkham Asylum?

In a dark, dark city there stands a dark, dark house. And in this dark, dark house, there are dark, dark souls. Even a city as polluted by evil as Gotham must have somewhere to contain the worst of it.

That would be Arkham Asylum. The rug under which Gotham's criminally insane are swept, until it's bursting at the seams with wicked madness, so that the very bricks and paint themselves become infected by it.

There is evil in Arkham. Not just the inmates. The asylum itself seems to emanate evil, but also attract it. Like a great maw, sucking in the vile and the cruel for sustenance before regurgitating much worse things back into the world for later consumption. A perpetual motion machine of madness.

Arkham Asylum was born of madness, and madness is what keeps it alive. Almost as if it were a living, breathing thing, allowing its prisoners to escape again and again to justify its own existence. But that's the kind of thinking reserved for horror stories. Arkham isn't like the haunted houses of such tales.

Its monsters are quite real.