Rogues

Rogues Part 3: Penguin

PART 3: THE PENGUIN EXT. CAR CHASE Four goons in a getaway car loaded with illegal arms and ammunition speed away from where the deal went down. A shadowy figure runs along the rooftops in hot pursuit. A black cat crosses the street and the car swerves to miss it, but rolls from the momentum. All goons are dead save one who manages to escape the wrecked vehicle. He rises as that same black figure jumps in front of him. He draws but a bullwhip cracks against his hand and drops the pistol. He stands paralyzed with fear as the figure approaches. The figure is a beautiful young woman in a feline costume, ears and all. She leans in close and scratches the goon's face with her razor-sharp claws and runs off. The goon, in a panic, checks the back seat and the goods are nowhere to be seen. CUT TO: INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - OFFICE Penguin sits behind his desk with a BUSINESSMAN opposite him. PENGUIN You see, sir, our cashflow has been a bit tight lately, but rest assured- Lead Foot Louie enters, out of breath, face bleeding. LOUIE Penguin! (gasps) Penguin! We got a situation. PENGUIN If you please, sir, I'm in the middle of a meeting. BUSINESSMAN Actually, I would very much like to hear what this is all about. PENGUIN As you wish. (to Louie) What happened? Do you have the shipment? LOUIE No, boss. We got busted. Some freak with claws took all the goods. I barely got out alive! PENGUIN How fortunate for you. Did you manage to identify this- (using flipper-quotes) -clawed freak? LOUIE Naw, she wore a mask. It did kinda look like a cat though. Penguin screams and knocks a small lamp off his desk. PENGUIN Wraaaugh! God damn you Catwoman! BUSINESSMAN You know who he's talking about? PENGUIN Of course! She's been the thorn in my side for the past three months; stealing income, killing my men, vandalizing my warehouses. And now confiscating my merchandise! Oh yes, I know who she is. BUSINESSMAN Well that would explain your recent, shortcomings. Naturally I will have to inform the board PENGUIN No no no, please don't. Just give me a few weeks to get this situation under control. BUSINESSMAN One week, Oswald. They're not all that impressed with you. Good day, sir. The businessman exits. Louie and Penguin are alone. PENGUIN Now, go clean yourself up and get back out there! I want her head! LOUIE Sure thing boss. Louie exits. Penguin swivels in his chair and looks out the rear window. PENGUIN What is this city coming to? FADE TO BLACK. FADE IN: INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - OFFICE - LATER Penguin and Croc conclude their meeting. PENGUIN Oh Croc! Perhaps it would be best if you used the back door. I would hate for your, appearance, to cause another disturbance. KILLER CROC Sure. Would hate ta have ma mug ruin yer party again. Croc exits through the back, chuckling to himself. Penguin slumps back in his chair and sighs, exhausted from the two unexpected visits. He rises and looks at the smashed lamp. He picks it up and tosses it into the garbage. On his way back he picks up the morning newspaper on his desk. The telephone rings and Penguin nearly jumps out of his chair. PENGUIN Hello? Oh yes, good morning. You what? You promised me one week! Don't give me that, the board will get its money. I've got an important job lined up. How can I be sure? Something different is happening in this city, I can feel it. And when things change, opportunities arise. Penguin places a newspaper with Two-Face's mugshot on the front page down on his desk. The headline reads "Harvey Dent Released Today". A sub-headline reads "Killer Croc at Large?" With an image of Croc's empty cell. PENGUIN Fine. By Thursday. Got it. Penguin hangs up the phone and sits back in his chair. PENGUIN This city. Catwomen, politicians turned psychopaths, vengeful cannibalistic crocodile people, and now these... Owls. Let's hope old Harvey can come through for me. This could finally get the Wayne board off my ass. Penguin places a call. PENGUIN Hey, Louie! You can forget that Catwoman job for now. I got something bigger for you to do. Remember Harvey Dent? Yeah, yeah Two-Face. He's on the outside and I just sent him on a little job for us. Penguin hangs up the phone and paces around the office. PENGUIN Okay, so Two-Face is gonna rob 2 banks for me, which should pay off those buzzards. But, if I know the board cash alone won't be enough. They'll expect an act of goodwill. Something to prove to them that I'm legitimate. Something extravagant. Something like a ball. Penguin snaps his fingers. PENGUIN That's the ticket! A ball. For all of Gotham's wealthiest and most influential. Perfect! Penguin waddles back over to his desk and makes another call. PENGUIN Hello? Is this Wayne Industries? Yes, my name is Oswald Cobblepot. I would like to extend an invitation to the board. Let it be known that I will be hosting an exclusive masquerade ball at the Iceberg Lounge for all W. I. shareholders. Penguin hangs up, grabs a pen and writes up a guest list, checking with the Wayne Industries directory on his desktop. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - ENTERANCE - EVENING The iceberg lounge is extravagantly decorated for tonight's event. Red carpet and velvet rope included. A black stretch limousine rolls up and Bruce Wayne exits along with two women so beautiful they must be supermodels. Bruce stumbles drunkenly out as paparazzi document his embarrassment. CUT TO: INT. ICEBERG LOUNGE - BALLROOM - EVENING The ballroom is completely decked out in crystal and gold fixtures. Well-off Gothamites gather round as Penguin steps up to the main stage and grabs the microphone. PENGUIN Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This extravagant display of monetary prosperity has been made possible by all you fine individuals. For many years Wayne Industries has been a crucial business partner with my little operation here, and for that I throw you this ball as a token of my gratitude. Now please, enjoy yourselves. Penguin turns to the band. PENGUIN Maestro, play something that'll make 'em shake their tail-feathers! The band strikes up a lively tune and Penguin dismounts the stage. The party continues. A group of three BUSINESSMEN and a BUSINESSWOMAN cluster around Penguin for a chat. They are all wearing owl masks. BUSINESSWOMAN This is quite a party Oswald. You should be very proud of yourself. BUSINESSMAN #1 Oh yes, very successful. PENGUIN Why thank you. And who might you be? BUSINESSMAN #2 We represent the Wayne board, and we are most displeased with your- He checks his notepad. BUSINESSMAN #2 -"economic slump," is that correct? PENGUIN Y-yes sir. But I assure you everything will be taken care of. I have some men right now collecting what I owe you. BUSINESSWOMAN And what about the Catwoman? PENGUIN Under control. Once I have the money I will send a squad after her. BUSINESSMAN #1 I hope so, Cobblepot. This better work, or we're pulling your partnership. PENGUIN You need not worry. I have my best men on this job. BUSINESSMAN #2 Good, because if it doesn't- PENGUIN Please, please enjoy yourselves. This is a party for trust and goodwill. You will have your money soon enough. Penguin shoos them back into the crowd and sighs. He loosens his bowtie and heads into his office. He shakily pours himself a scotch and chugs it down. PENGUIN Ugh, I never should've gotten involved with this shit. It's going to send me to an early grave. He pours himself another drink but drops it as a crash echoes from the ballroom. Penguin runs back into the ballroom to see what's going on. Frighten patrons flee in all directions, scrambling to find an exit. KILLER CROC Penguin! Yer gonna pay fer wha'cha did ta me! PENGUIN Waylon! You have to believe me, I had no idea this would happen to you! KILLER CROC Lies! All that comes outta yer mouth is lies! Croc tries to grab penguin but a smoke bomb obscures his vision. Smoke billows up and Penguin escapes to his office and watches the fight through his windows. As the smoke clears Croc is back to normal size, hog tied, with a syringe sticking out of his neck. Penguin dials 911. PENGUIN Hello? Yes this is Oswald Cobblepot calling from the Iceberg Lounge. I just had a break-in from Killer Croc. He's currently unconscious but please hurry. The three owl-masked businesspeople enter his office. PENGUIN He's very dangerous. Penguin hangs up the phone. BUSINESSWOMAN We are very disappointed Oswald. This grotesque display of violence has shaken the board's confidence in your abilities. It's going to cost you extra. PENGUIN How much? BUSINESSMAN #1 Twenty thousand. PENGUIN Fine. You'll have it. BUSINESSMAN #2 A pleasure, Mr. Cobblepot. All exit, leaving Penguin alone. The telephone rings. PENGUIN Hello? Oh Harvey, please give me some good news. That's good. Gemini Sisters Banquet Hall. Two o'clock. I need this money Harvey, every cent. You don't know how important this deal is. Goodbye. Hangs up the phone. PENGUIN This better work. CUT TO: INT. GEMINI SISTERS BANQUET HALL - LOBBY The table explodes! Penguin is flung back several feet and a firefight breaks out. Penguin escapes and waddles off to Two-Face's armored truck. CUT TO: ICEBERG LOUNGE - BACK ENTERANCE. The truck pulls up to the curb and Penguin steps out. He opens the back and sees that there is no money in the truck. He finds scratch marks on the door and realizes that Catwoman has stolen from him again. Penguin screams in rage. FADE TO BLACK. CUT TO: EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT Penguin is alone, calling out to Catwoman. PENGUIN Selina! I know you're out there! We need to talk! A bullwhip cracks over Penguin's flipper. He drops his umbrella. CATWOMAN perches above him. CATWOMAN You have some nerve coming up here Ozzy. PENGUIN Look, there's no reason why we can't act civilized around each other. Even if you are bleeding me dry. CATWOMAN So that's what this is about. I suppose it was too much to hope for a social visit. PENGUIN Look you slinky seductress. I don't have much time so I'm gonna have to ask for the money back. CATWOMAN Ha! Ha ha ha ha! You think you can waddle up here to my turf and ask for your money back? No. That's not how this works. I steal from you, you get upset, lose your business, and then you stop shipping underage girls into Gotham. PENGUIN The trafficking ring is only a small piece of the greater scheme. If you cooperate and return my money, I can assure you that operation will be ceased. CATWOMAN With what? Your word? PENGUIN On my word as a businessman. CATWOMAN Not enough. Penguin goes for his umbrella. PENGUIN Why you- Catwoman whips his hand again and it falls. CATWOMAN Oh no Pengy. I'm gonna need something more from you. PENGUIN What? A couple hundred yards of string? CATWOMAN More like a couple hundred shares. PENGUIN Fine, deal. Now give me back the money. CATWOMAN Oh, about that. I don't have it anymore. Busting trafficking rings isn't cheap. A girl has to look her best. PENGUIN That does it! I tried to be reasonable. We made a deal. But now I'm coming for you Selina, with everything I have. Penguin picks up his umbrella. It turns into a helicopter and he flies off into the night. CUT TO: INT. ARKHAM ASYLUM - RIDDLER'S CELL - MORNING Riddler scribbles some strange code on the little room available on his walls in neon green marker. A GUARD approaches the cell and opens it. GUARD You have a visitor. RIDDLER Really? To whom do I owe the pleasure? GUARD Cobblepot. RIDDLER Well it's about time. The guard escorts Riddler into the visitor center where he sits behind glass with a telephone on each side. Penguin sits opposite him. RIDDLER Good morning, Oswald. A little late, aren't you? PENGUIN What do you mean late? RIDDLER Well I heard you've been having a bit of a Cat-tastrophy lately, and since I am the most brilliant at setting traps I figured it was only a matter of time before- PENGUIN Shut up Nygma. Or I'll find someone else. You do want the job, don't you? RIDDLER If it means getting away from these simpletons, then yes. PENGUIN In that case, Edward, you just made parol. END OF PART 3