Chapter 319: The First 30 Minutes (Part 3)

Inside the Grand Civic Auditorium, the audience gasped and applauded when Catwoman shattered Batman's car window with a kick. At this moment, Sherry Lansing, who had come to support the showing tonight, glanced at her watch subconsciously.

7:16 PM.

The film started at 7:00 PM, and a stunning five-minute prologue quickly drew the audience into the storyline.

Now, 15 minutes into the opening, just as the audience had relaxed a bit after the previous drama, Catwoman's powerful strike instantly recaptured everyone's scattered attention.

Film producers always emphasize controlling the pacing of the story during the development of a movie project. However, it's easier said than done, and few creators can achieve this perfection. At this moment, Sherry Lansing was almost certain that Simon's "Batman" had reached a textbook level in terms of pacing.

As Sherry Lansing pondered, the plot on the screen shifted back to Roman Sionis's mansion.

The 'Angel' cream safety report documents stolen from the safe, and a terrified and furious Roman Sionis destroyed everything in his study, forcing the party to end early.

From his first appearance, Willem Dafoe perfectly portrayed Roman Sionis's dangerously unstable demeanor.

The party scene hinted at the 'Angel' cream's safety issues, JANUS Corporation's financial troubles, and the board's pressure on Roman Sionis, all pushing the villain towards a breakdown. Many in the audience began to wonder how 'Black Mask' would descend into villainy.

Outside the Sionis mansion, "Gotham Times" reporters John Oldport and Vicki Vale, unsuccessful in uncovering the party's mishap and chased away by bodyguards, decided to leave. As they were about to drive off, Vicki Vale discovered the document Catwoman left in her purse.

The scene shifts again.

At Wayne Manor, Alfred examines the shattered car window before entering a secret door and taking an elevator down to the Batcave. He sees Bruce Wayne busy at the console and says, "Master Wayne, I'll have the car sent for repairs tomorrow."

Bruce Wayne finishes his last sketches, scans a portrait of Selina Kyle into the computer, and finally explains to Alfred, who is obviously waiting for an explanation, "This woman."

As the portrait is inputted, data streams flash across several computer screens.

Using computers to match information, a method that would become commonplace in movies years later, dazzled the audience with its futuristic feel.

Such technology was still rare in personal computers at the time, and most ordinary people in North America were unfamiliar with PCs. However, after the initial surprise, the audience rationalized that Batman, being Gotham's wealthiest, could afford the resources for this information.

On the big screen, Alfred looks at the photo of Selina on the computer screen and advises, "Master Wayne, remember to be gentle with women."

"Bruce Wayne replies, "Alfred, she's a criminal."

Saying this, he presses a button on the console, and the Batsuit slowly rises from the water beside him.

"As long as it keeps the master of Wayne Manor focused, who cares," Alfred mumbles, watching Wayne approach the Batsuit, and cautions, "Master Wayne, are you going out 'adventuring' tonight?"

"Sal Maroni didn't succeed in shipping out last night; he'll try again. Those weapons are too dangerous; many could die if they get out."

The scene changes to dawn.

At a smoky, police-blockaded wharf, a short, stout man, Sal Maroni, surrounded by his men, looks towards the distance. Suddenly, he throws his cigar down and roars, "I want to kill him, kill that bat."

One of Maroni's better-dressed henchmen, seeing his boss's rage, cautiously approaches and says, "Boss, Victor said he doesn't want the shipment anymore and wants a refund."

Maroni points towards the wharf, "The money's there; what am I supposed to refund him with?"

The henchman keeps silent.

Maroni gradually calms down, unintentionally noticing the 'Angel' cream billboard nearby.

Noticing his boss's gaze, the henchman whispers, "We've been keeping an eye on those two arsonists you hired for Sionis."

Maroni quickly hatches a plan and whispers instructions to his man.

The scene switches again.

At the "Gotham Times" newsroom, reporters Vicki Vale and John Oldport, who accidentally received the 'Angel' cream report, start a secret investigation. Their secretive behavior piques a colleague's curiosity. Unable to get answers, the colleague sneaks a look at Vicki Vale's notes while they're in a meeting with the editor.

Learning the secret, the colleague uses a payphone after work to call Roman Sionis.

Inside the Sionis mansion, the recently burglarized study remains in disarray.

Roman Sionis, after promising benefits to the "Gotham Times" reporter over the phone, hangs up and immediately darkens, staring at a blurry photo from surveillance, particularly fixated on one of Selina Kyle with Bruce Wayne, muttering bitterly, "Bruce Wayne, Wayne Enterprises, JANUS is mine, nobody can take it from me, nobody!"

In the original "Batman" comics, Roman Sionis takes over JANUS Corporation after killing his parents. Due to poor management, the company declines and is eventually taken over by Wayne Enterprises. Sionis's descent into villainy and hatred for Bruce Wayne becomes apparent, even to those unfamiliar with the comics.

Therefore, Sionis's mistaken belief that Bruce Wayne sent Selina to steal the documents and take over JANUS Corporation feels logical.

At Wayne Manor, in the Batcave.

Alfred brings in a tray with a glass of water and a newspaper for Wayne, busy at the console, suggesting with a smile, "The Elliot family was also burgled last night, Master Wayne. Perhaps it's time to focus on catching Miss Kyle, maybe even as an 'adventure' theme."

Catching a thief would indeed be less risky than facing armed gangs nightly.

And who knows, maybe Wayne could bring home a mistress for the Wayne family.

Alfred, more concerned about Wayne's safety and the family's legacy than justice, knows Wayne understands his concerns. Wayne stops typing and assures, "If there's a chance, I'll catch her, Alfred. But Maroni won't last much longer; I hope to dismantle his gang completely."

At JANUS Corporation headquarters.

Roman Sionis is still dealing with the 'Angel' cream crisis.

In the office, the secretary reports the "Gotham Times" editor's refusal to lunch, when suddenly, Sal Maroni's grey-suited henchman barges in with two thugs, followed by several security guards.

Seeing the thugs brought by the grey suit, Sionis becomes tense and dismisses everyone.

"Do you remember me, Mr. Sionis, Derrick Bassen?" the grey suit introduces himself and sits down opposite a tense Sionis, placing a box on the desk, "Even if you don't remember me, I'm sure you remember Jack and Ben. Three years ago, someone hired them to set a fire that killed a poor, innocent couple."

Sionis, cutting Bassen off, demands, "What do you want?"

Bassen signals the thugs to

 leave, then continues, "I'm here on behalf of Mr. Maroni. You've heard, we've run into some trouble and need money, $20 million."

Sionis stares at Bassen, slowly responding, "I don't have that kind of money."

"That's not my concern," Bassen smiles smugly, seeing Sionis sweat, "Oh, since I'm visiting, the boss sent a gift. I hear you like masks."

Bassen opens the box, revealing a crudely made black mask.

Sionis glances at the mask, shaking his head, "I don't need your gift, and I don't have your money, Mr. Bassen, please leave."

But Bassen, unfazed, toys with the mask, saying, "Originally, I wanted to give you a skull, but your father's coffin wood was so beautiful, we made this mask instead."

Hearing the mask was made from his father's coffin, Sionis's face shows extreme terror. Trying to retreat, he's slower than Bassen, who attempts to fit the mask on Sionis. As the mask touches his face, Sionis freezes, his hand trembling, trying to remove it, but Bassen holds him down.

"Mr. Sionis, I want to see $20 million in three days, or your 'little secret' goes public."

After Bassen leaves, Sionis remains stiff, pressing the mask to his face.

The office soon echoes with Sionis's mechanical muttering, "One in a hundred thousand, $20 million, one in a hundred thousand, $20 million..." showing a complete breakdown into eeriness and madness.

The audience realizes, 'Black Mask' is born.

The muttering fades, and the camera cuts to a cluttered, abandoned warehouse.

Maroni, surrounded by his men, looks towards two figures in the dim light, "Kill that bat, and I'll give you each $1 million."

Before the figures can respond, the muttering grows louder.

"One in a hundred thousand, $20 million, one in a hundred thousand, $20 million..."

The sound approaches, and a figure in a suit and crude black mask enters, muttering like a madman.

Maroni asks, "Who are you?"

Before the masked figure can answer, Bassen rushes to introduce, "Boss, this is Roman Sionis." He roughly pushes Sionis forward, asking, "Roman, did you bring the money?"

Sionis, swaying from Bassen's push but managing to steady himself, says, "Oh, $20 million, of course, there will be $20 million, and one in a hundred thousand too."

Muttering crazily, Sionis notices Maroni's stare, suddenly gestures for silence, approaches, and picks up a pencil from Maroni's table, "Funny coincidence, let me show you a magic trick. Do you know how to make this pencil disappear?"

Everyone watches Sionis, even Maroni, curious about the madman's intentions.

In the auditorium, over 1200 pairs of eyes also focus on the pencil soon stood up.

Only a few who've seen the film beforehand show a trace of fear, but none look away.

Sionis sets the pencil, shows it off like a magician, and drags out, "OK, count to three, one, two, three..."

The wandering camera freezes, and in a flash, Sionis grabs Maroni's head and slams it onto the upright pencil.

Thud—

A muffled sound.

Silence falls instantly!

On the big screen, Maroni's corpulent body lies motionless on the table, and everyone in the warehouse is as if petrified.

In the auditorium, the entire audience inhales sharply. A common pencil, now seen as the most terrifying weapon, pierces a human skull. How painful that must be!

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