dramadramaduck | [accidental video]

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE - EVENING A frenzy of trading on the packed floor... Two Traders sit on a shoeshine stand in the lobby.

TRADER 2: You can’t short the stock because Bruce Wayne goes to a party -

TRADER 1: Wayne coming back is change. Change is either good or bad.

TRADER 2: On what basis?

TRADER 1: I flipped a coin.

Near the front entrance: a Food Delivery Guy is standing there negotiating with a Trader.

TRADER 3: No. Rye. I told ’em rye.

Trader 3 spots bad news on a screen.

TRADER 3: Alright, I’ll take it.

He thrusts Food Guy a tip and grabs the bag, distracted...

At the rear secure entrance: a Motorcycle Courier enters, wearing his helmet - a Female Security Guard gets in his face.

FEMALE SECURITY GUARD: Rookie! Lose the helmet! (Points at a camera.) We need faces for cameras.

In the rest room: a Janitor mops the floor, shifting out of the way of two Traders who rush in to pee.

At the shoeshine stand, Trader 1 waves a bill down at the man shining his shoes without a glance. Shoeshine Man takes the bill, then, as the Traders step off, he reaches into a gym bag and checks an automatic weapon. He clicks the slide home, then hoists the gym bag and heads for the trading floor.

In the rest room: the Janitor reaches into his bucket and pulls out a machine pistol in a Ziploc bag.

Near the front entrance: Food Guy pulls an automatic pistol. Shoeshine Man moves onto the floor, pulls out his weapon.

Under the Courier’s helmet - a mask. Bane. He grabs the Female Security Guard and throws her into her colleagues, lashing out in four directions with rapidfire lethality.

Shoeshine Man fires into the large trading screens. The floor erupts into a different frenzy - traders hit the deck, screaming. Bane moves onto the floor...

TRADER 1: This is a stock exchange, there’s no money you can steal -

He dries up as Bane stops. Turns to him...

BANE: Really? Then why are you people here?

Bane grabs Trader 1 by the throat and drags him across the floor to an online automated trades terminal... He puts the man’s ID card onto the print reader.

Shoeshine man pulls out a USB drive with an antenna - plugs it into the computer - figures race across the screen...

EXT. STOCK EXCHANGE - CONTINUOUS

Police vehicles screech into the narrow street. Foley and the SWAT Commander, Allen, approach The Market Security Chief walks up, frantic.

SECURITY CHIEF: You’ve gotta get in there!

FOLEY: This is a hostage situation -

SECURITY CHIEF: It’s a robbery! They’ve got direct access to the online trading desk.

FOLEY: I’m not risking my men for your money -

Construction vehicles are blocking the narrow street. Blake argues with a burly Construction Worker.

BLAKE Move it, now! We’ve got a situation.

Cut to: Market Security Chief arguing with Foley.

SECURITY CHIEF: It’s not our money, it’s everyone’s!

ALLEN: Really? Mine’s in my mattress.

SECURITY CHIEF: If you don’t shut these guys down, the stuffing in that mattress might be worth a whole lot less, pal.

FOLEY: Cut the fiber line - shut down the cell tower. That’ll slow them down.-

INT. STOCK EXCHANGE - CONTINUOUS

Shoeshine Man looks up from the laptop.

SHOESHINE MAN: They cut the fiber. Cell’s working.

BANE: For now.

Cut to: Blake arguing with Construction Worker.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER: Where can I move it?

BLAKE: That way!

Blake points - but SWAT vehicles pile in, blocking.

BLAKE: Alright, just stay in your vehicle.

Cut to: inside the stock exchange.

BANE: How much longer does the program need?

SHOESHINE MAN: Eight minutes.

BANE: Time to go mobile.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[it is still freaking weird to see Arthur and Eames lookalikes okay? okay.]

What the hell are you trying to do?

Taking over the stock exchange, of course.

Why?

To exchange stocks.

I somehow really doubt that.

Feel free to disbelieve me, if you so choose.

Right. I'm sure the police where you are will have fun doing that as well.

They have already failed to capture me. They were distracted from their chase.

And you think they'll just give up looking for you?

I think that they will soon have greater concerns.

...like what?

Edited 2013-03-01 16:59 (UTC)

It shall be clear soon enough.

Villainous and cryptic. Fantastic.

You'll manage somehow.

I usually do, yes.

[Have a heavily encrypted message containing... nothing. Absolutely nothing. Isn't that curious?]

[He doesn't respond for a minute. He knows. He can tell who it is. And he pause.

Because he isn't able to see her often, with plans the way they are, and to see her here -- ]

Talia.

[The video snaps on. She is pleased. This is a complication that can turn sideways on them at any moment. She's gathered that much already despite how briefly she's been a member of the community. Still it is rare they get the chance to see each other. If she must be here at least she can take some pleasure in it so long as she at least tries to take every precaution.]

Hello, my friend. I see you weren't exaggerating about its interest in our work.

[Of course he wasn't, but if they're dropping pretenses she intends to speak with him as if they haven't been apart for a while.]

[It's almost impossible to tell, but he smiles at the sight of her. The only sign is the slight crinkle of the corner of his eyes, and the pleased tone to his voice. It's been too long, and even if it means Talia will deal with this place's insanities, he is glad to see her.]

No, I'm afraid I was not. This place has a very curious eye. I suppose it makes sense it would turn to you as well.

It wants another side of the story. [Amusing since her role must be boring to follow by comparison. Miranda Tate's days for the moment consisted of meetings, chasing Wayne, and the occasional party.]

Let it watch. It won't change anything. We are getting something in return for our troubles.

[It's not a meeting in person, but this will do for now.]

No, of course not. Petty interferences will do nothing to alter our plans.

[He pauses. He is glad to see her, to have her there, interferences be damned. Seeing is her is a welcome distraction.]

How are you, Talia?

Better. Today has been a great success in more ways than I expected. [Their plans have been significantly advanced and here they are enjoying an unexpected award. Really what more could she ask for? ~~No one answer that.~~]

And you?

I am glad to hear of it. It is gratifying, seeing your plans so close to fruition.

I am well. Our raid on the stock exchange went even better than it was planned, thanks to the Batman.

It has been a long time coming, my friend. You should feel proud. It is your work that's keeping everything on track while I deal with Wayne.

He has been full of surprises lately. I wish I could take credit for pushing him out of bed, but that has more to do with you and the 'Cat.' He can't resist anything he perceives to be as unusual as himself.

I am proud. I am proud of how well our plans are going, and how close we are to implementing them. I am eager to see them come to fruition.

He needed a problem to solve. He is a man desperate to solve what he thinks plagues this city, even if he only ever treats its symptoms.

As am I. It is time he sees that even the most well crafted lies cannot pacify these people forever.

They are every bit as corrupt and unjust as they were when my father was here.

Soon. It is not very long until he will be brought to the Pit, and learn true despair.

A place like Gotham does not change easily. Not when it has been so corrupt and so decayed for as many years as it has. There's no hope for it.

None at all. [She couldn't sound happier about that.] They'll both finally get what they deserve.

I hope he likes our home.

As do I. I can only imagine how well a man of privilege will handle himself once he is left in the Pit.

As well as any man watching helplessly as what he's built falls apart.

You are right, of course.

It shall be fascinating to watch unfold.

[accidental video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[locked]

[locked] 1/2

[locked] 2/2

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]

[locked]