Catwoman: Feline Fatale Part 1

CATWOMAN: FELINE FATALE

Original Screenplay by

Jedd Jong Yue

Started: 24/10/08

CATWOMAN, BATMAN and related characters and elements are the property of DC Comics.
This screenplay in itself is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved.
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
EXT. GOTHAM CITY-ESTABLISHING

Fade in- we fly slowly over the towering neo-gothic skyscrapers of Gotham City. Credits appear onscreen as the camera moves. We slowly zoom in on a female figure running across the roofs of the buildings, somersaulting spectacularly from one to another. She is Catwoman. Close up on the character-she is dressed in a black skin-tight faux leather bodysuit with a mask and goggles, smiling gleefully as she jumps from one to another, landing in perfectly-executed rolls.

Finally, she gets to the edge of a building overlooking the Gotham City Museum of Antiquities. The camera shows the façade of the building, a large banner hangs down the façade of the grand stone center wing advertising the display of a priceless statue of the Egyptian cat goddess Bast.

The museum building is much shorter than that of the surrounding skyscrapers. Taking out a grapnel gun, Catwoman shoots a zipline into the roof of the museum. We see the tip of the harpoon embed itself in the concrete of the roof. Using her Cat-o’-nine tails whip as a handle, she slides effortlessly down the zipline and onto the roof.

EXT. GOTHAM CITY MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES ROOF

Close-up on Catwoman’s gloved hand: SNIKT! Retractable blades emerge from the gloves. The claws are forged from titanium and tipped with diamond powder. Catwoman uses the razor sharp claw on her index finger to carve out a large circle on the domed glass roof of the museum, while using a suction pad to hold it in place. She removes the circular plate of glass, squeezing into the hole.

CATWOMAN:
Mrrow. Just right.

INT. GOTHAM CITY MUSEUM OF ANTIQUITIES
   
Catwoman falls into the main foyer of the museum, tumbling through the air and landing catlike on all fours. She smiles, illuminated by the moonlight that floods through the skylight. We see a close-up of a security camera in the corner of the ceiling. Catwoman flings one of her claws at the camera. It is hit and fizzles.

Catwoman walks slowly around the foyer of the museum, as if she owns the place. She enters the Egyptian room of the museum, walking past sarcophagi, statues and other antiquities. Her attention, however, lies with an exhibit at the centre of the room-a statuette of Bast.

INT. EGYPTIAN EXHIBIT HALL-Catwoman’s POV

Catwoman turns on her infra-red vision lenses. We see a lattice of static infra-red detection beams not visible to the naked eye guarding the prized statuette.


INT. EGYPTIAN EXHIBIT HALL

We now see the room in infra-red vision. Catwoman jumps, leaps and squeezes her way through the detection beams, gracefully and with great agility avoiding contact with any. Halfway through however, the beams begin to slowly move, almost tripping her up.

CATWOMAN:

They move…but so do I.

Catwoman’s moves are even more impressive then before. At the same time, she avoids setting off a trap of pressure pads. On the floor are pressure pads. Close-up on her feet- Catwoman never spends more than a second standing on the same pad. She finally slithers under the last of the beams, coming face to face with the statuette.

CATWOMAN:

Mmm…absolutely beautiful.

She takes a moment to savour the beauty of the statue, then using the retractable claws to carve out a circle in the glass display case. More infra-red detection beams encircle the back of the statuette, an alarmed programmed to be set off should the beams not register the shape of the statuette. In the other hand, she readies a crude but precisely-shaped replica of the statue with the words “Bad Kitty” painted in red on it. In a flash, she replaces the statue with the fake. She breathes a sigh of relief. Then, slipping the statue into her bag, she wriggles her way through the lattice of infra-red beams just the way she came. However, just as she is about to cross the last beam, her foot hits it. Alarm bells ring throughout the museum.

CATWOMAN:

Uh-oh, time to play.


Metal grilles begin to fall fast, closing off the exhibit hall. Using her lightning-fast reflexes, Catwoman tumbles towards one of the entrances, sliding below the oncoming grille and just making it. She pulls her bag behind her fractions of second before it closes.

Outside, two overweight, middle-aged guards working the graveyard shift run into the exhibit hall.

GUARD 1:

Freeze!

The guards are clearly out of their league. Catwoman swiftly deals with them using elegant but deadly martial arts moves. More guards swiftly follow, but she has already made a run for the foyer.

On her way out, Catwoman reaches the Chinese exhibit hall and encounters fearsome Rottweiler guard dogs.

INT. CHINESE EXHIBIT HALL

The Chinese exhibit hall is decorated without the use of common Chinese clichés, instead opting for a sleek modern look. Assorted artifacts from various dynasties fill glass display cases- these including daggers, oracle bones and weapons such as spears and swords. The centerpiece is a large ornate dragon carved out of a single piece of jade.

Catwoman reaches into her bag and unwraps juicy steaks laced with catnip.


CATWOMAN:

Fetch!

She throws the steaks at the dogs. Two of the dogs run for the steaks. Shortly after, they are knocked out.

CATWOMAN:

Chasing squirrels in dreamland.

After a brief look at the steak, one continues barreling towards her.

CATWOMAN:

There’s one over-achiever in every crowd.

The dog pounces on Catwoman, frothing at the mouth.

CATWOMAN:

Or maybe he’s just vegetarian.

Catwoman takes a vase from one of the displays and lunges at the guard dog, propelling it into a wall. She then smashes the vase over the dog’s head. She inspects what’s left of the vase.

CATWOMAN:

Ming Dynasty. Oh well.

Catwoman runs to the foyer. She shoots her grapnel gun up at the domed glass roof. The harpooned tip of the grapnel catches the glass and she immediately lifts herself up and out, towards the roof.

GUARD:

Look! Up there!

Guards that have gathered at the base of the foyer shoot towards Catwoman, but to no avail. She has successfully escaped the museum.

EXT. GOTHAM CITY MUSEUM OF ANITIQUITIES ROOF

Catwoman reaches the roof and emerges through the hole she has made earlier. She sees a bullet shatter a panel of glass just next to her.

CATWOMAN:

Me-eow! That was close.


Catwoman glances at the night sky. It is illuminated with the bat-signal.

CATWOMAN:

Oh, kitty litter.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a familiar dark figure swoops in from the night. He lands on the museum roof, wrapping his cape around him, his eyes filled with intensity and weariness. It is the Batman.

BATMAN:

Hand it over, Selina.

CATWOMAN:

Mrrow, don’t you ever say hello? Then again, what am I to expect from you?

Catwoman pulls out her Cat-O’-Nine Tails whip, cracking it menacingly. She cracks the whip in Batman’s direction, hard. It hits him, and he winces slightly.

CATWOMAN:

Why does it always have to be this way?

BATMAN:

If you hand over the statuette, things might be very different.

CATWOMAN:

Men just don’t understand the meaning of “no”.

Catwoman cracks the whip again. This time, it wraps itself around Batman’s gauntlet, which he has held out. Batman yanks hard, pulling the whip from out of Catwoman’s hand. Catwoman gasps.

CATWOMAN:

You really know how to upset a girl, don’t you?

Catwoman strikes an attacking pose. The claws emerge from her hands once more.

CATWOMAN:

Well then, we’ll have to settle this paw to paw.

Catwoman makes the first move. Batman blocks the strike. Batman pulls out two large batarangs from his utility belt, using them to block Catwoman’s attacks.

BATMAN:

I don’t have time for this, Selina.

Catwoman ignores him and continues. She moves with extreme speed and agility, striking gracefully but hard. Batman can hardly keep up but makes up for this in brute strength. They continue brawling. Catwoman scratches the Batsuit, but it barely tears the reinforced nomex-Kevlar-titanium thread armour. Using the blunt side of the large Batarang, Batman delivers a knockout blow to the side of Catwoman’s head.

15 YEARS EARLIER

INT. KYLE HOUSEHOLD

The Kyle family apartment is poorly furnished. Brian Kyle is in a drunken rage. He takes a bottle and smashes it over young Selina Kyle’s head, continuing the shot in which Batman hits Catwoman with the Batarang. Selina’s head is bloodied and bruised. She is on the floor, weeping uncontrollably.

SELINA KYLE:

Stop Papa, stop!

Selina’s mother, Maria Kyle, runs up to shield her daughter from her father.

MARIA KYLE:

Brian!

Brian Kyle strikes his wife on the face, beating her to the ground. The family housecat, an Abyssinian named Muezza, sits in a corner and watches, startled. He stands aggressively over his wife and daughter. Brian continues to abuse his wife. Selina watches with frightened eyes. Brian wipes the sides of his mouth with the back of his hand.  

MARIA KYLE:

Stop it! Don’t let it control you! Think about our children, Brian!

BRIAN KYLE:

Both of you, outta my sight.

Maria walks to her room, while a frightened Selina runs to hers. The cat follows Selina.

INT. SELINA’S ROOM

Selina Kyle shares a room with her younger sister Maggie.

MAGGIE KYLE:

Daddy been beating you again?

Selina nods, sitting down on her bed. The cat leaps into her lap. Selina cradles her pet as it purrs contentedly.

SELINA KYLE:

Don’t worry Maggie. We’ll sort this out soon. Somehow.

The cat suddenly jumps out of Selina’s lap.

SELINA KYLE:

Muezza, where are you going?

MAGGIE KYLE:

Mummy’s in trouble. Muezza always knows.

SELINA KYLE:

Oh no…


INT. KYLE HOUSEHOLD MASTER BEDROOM

Maria walks slowly to the balcony of the bedroom. The wind blows her long, black hair. She closes her eyes, smiling sadly. She holds her hand out, feeling the breeze. As she opens her eyes, tears roll down her cheek. Muezza runs to her feet, purring softly.

MARIA KYLE:

I’m not sure how I can go on with this, Muezza. Brian’s never been the same since he let the drink control him. I don’t know how we can bring up Maggie or Selina…things are bad enough as they are.


She looks down. The street 15 floors below is quiet. Muezza lies at her feet, purring insistently. Maria’s face becomes even sadder than it was before

MARIA KYLE:

I know, but I can’t stay…it’s pointless…

Suddenly, Selina runs into the room.

SELINA KYLE:

Mama, what’s wrong?

MARIA KYLE:

Nothing, Selina.

SELINA KYLE:

Are you sure Mama?

MARIA KYLE:

Yes, Selina. Now go back to your room, okay?

Selina turns and walks away hesitantly. Maria looks over the balcony. Selina turns back, startled to see her mother not at the balcony.

SELINA KYLE:

Mama? Mama!

Selina runs to the balcony and looks over the edge. We see only her anguished face.

SELINA KYLE:

Oh Mama…

Selina begins to sob. She collapses on the balcony floor, crying. Muezza snuggles up to her, trying to comfort Selina, but to no avail.

Brian Kyle staggers into the room, still holding a bottle.


BRIAN KYLE:

Maria? Maria?!

He runs to the balcony, looking over the edge just as his daughter did. His face softens, and he begins to tear.

BRIAN KYLE:

Maria… I didn’t mean it… I didn’t mean anything…

Brian kneels on the floor, gently touching Selina’s cheek. Selina looks sad and frightened all at once.

BRIAN KYLE:

You look so much like your mother…I can’t take it.

He stands up, a mixture of sadness, frustration and anger in his eyes.

BRIAN KYLE:

Go.

Selina looks up at her father uncertainly. Both are distraught and do not know how to deal with it.

BRIAN KYLE:

GO!

He smashes the bottle on the floor in anger. Selina runs out of the room. Her father collapses on the balcony floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

INT. SELINA’S BEDROOM

It is late at night, moonlight floods into the bedroom. Selina lies on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. The sounds of her father’s sobbing waft into the room. Her thoughts drift to the memories she shared with her mother.

FLASHBACK

INT. PET STORE

Selina runs into the pet store, laughing.

SELINA KYLE:

Hurry up Mama!

Maria Kyle follows her into the store, shaking her head. Selina sees a Persian cat in the shop window.

SELINA KYLE:

Mummy, can I have this one?

MARIA KYLE:

Oh, I don’t know if we can afford it, Selina…

Maria desperately looks around the pet shop.

MARIA KYLE:

We should have gone to a shelter…

She sees an Abyssinian kitten in another window.

MARIA KYLE:

How about this one?

Selina looks into the eyes of the Abyssinian. Her face softens a little, but she tries not to show it.

SELINA KYLE:

I don’t know… I still like that one.

MARIA KYLE:

But look at it!

The Abyssinian purrs. Selina can’t help but feel drawn to the kitten. She pouts slightly.

SELINA KYLE:

Oh, okay.

EXT. OUTSIDE PET SHOP

Selina holds the Abyssinian kitten in a basket.

SELINA KYLE:

What do we call it, Mama? Tom? Isis?

Maria chuckles.


MARIA KYLE:

How are you going to name it if you don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl?

SELINA KYLE:

So is it a boy or a girl?

MARIA KYLE:

It’s a girl.


SELINA KYLE:

But how do you know?

Maria Kyle:

Err…the shop-owner says so. Hmm…what about Muezza?

SELINA KYLE:

Muezza? That’s a funny name for a cat.

MARIA KYLE:

Well, legend has it that Muezza was the cat of the prophet Muhammad. The most famous story about Muezza recounts how the call to prayer was given, and as Muhammad went to put on one of his robes, he found his cat sleeping on one of the sleeves, and instead of disturbing the cat he cut off the sleeve and let him sleep.

SELINA KYLE:

That’s a wonderful story…okay then. Muezza it is!

Muezza purrs in agreement.

INT. GYMNASTICS SCHOOL

Selina gets onto the beam, finding her balance. She then somersaults across it and lands perfectly. She smiles triumphantly. At this moment, her mother walks into the gym. Selina glances in her mother’s direction and waves. She then gets onto the mat, tumbling across it and finishing perfectly once again.


GYMNASTICS COACH:

Very good Kyle, you’re getting better and better. You’re dismissed.

SELINA KYLE:

Thanks coach.

She picks up her equipment bag and walks towards her mother.


MARIA KYLE:

That was amazing, Selina! I’m so proud of you. Just keep at it, and one day you’ll be jumping across rooftops like a cat.

Selina smiles.

BACK TO 15 YEARS EARLIER


INT. KYLE HOUSEHOLD LIVING ROOM

Brian Kyle is still in his chair, sobbing as he drinks.

BRIAN KYLE:

Maria… I’m so sorry…

Brian takes another swig from a bottle of whiskey. Empty liquor bottles fill the table.

INT. SELINA’S BEDROOM

Selina is still awake. She begins to tear as she recalls her time with her mother. Muezza enters the room, purring softly. She leaps onto Selina’s bed and snuggles next to her.

SELINA KYLE:

You’re awake too…I thought cats sleep 18 hours a day. I don’t understand anything anymore. Why does this have to happen to Mama and Papa? Sometimes I envy you, you worry about nothing.

Muezza mews reassuringly.

SELINA KYLE:

At least you understand.

She closes her eyes at last.