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Backstage - Batman Adventures #15
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[PLEASE NOTE:
THE FOLLOWING IS COPYRIGHT 2004 - JASON HALL AND ANY AND ALL
PHYSICAL, ELECTRONIC, OR ANY OTHER REPRODUCTION OF ANY KIND IS
PROHIBITED. CHARACTERS ARE COPYRIGHT DC COMICS, INC.]
"Best Served Cold"
A BATMAN ADVENTURES story by Jason Hall
The story begins with a TV news report (which plays out in parts
over the three "mini-scenes" described further below).
Gothcorp's patents were sold out from under Wayne Enterprises to
the newly founded Powers Technology. Due to a hidden clause in
Gothcorp's initial take-over, former Gothcorp CEO Ferris Boyle,
recently released from prison, earned a reported 7 million
dollars on the deal, which was spearheaded by Dr. Francis
D'Anjou -- head of the "Immortality Project". Not only was that
project's research included in the deal, but also that of the
infamous Victor Fries, aka "Mr. Freeze" -- which ironically
enough includes Freeze himself, as the accident that transformed
him was a result of an experiment originally owned by Gothcorp.
Victor Fries's whereabouts are currently unknown. Ferris Boyle
(from "Heart of Ice") is watching the news report and
entertaining a lady friend in his penthouse -- that is, until a
small mechanical spider-like robot sneaks in and freezes him to
death (with Freeze-type technology). Cut to Blackgate prison,
where Grant Walker (last seen in B:GA #5) is being kept in the
hospital wing, his body being slowly destroyed from his
systemically damaged DNA (the same thing that ultimately made
Mr. Freeze a head in a jar). Another mechanical spider
infiltrates the facility, freezing Walker solid then shattering
him to pieces. Cut to the home of Francis and Nora D'Anjou.
Francis is getting ready for bed when one of the mechanical
spiders enters his bedroom and freezes him. However, Nora (who
has discovered Francis was hiding letters from Victor to her) is
planning on leaving her husband, pretending she's heading to the
lab for some late night work. She comes back into the house
because her car won't start for some reason -- and finds the
frozen form of her husband in time to save his life. Cut to the
two at the hospital, where Nora confronts Francis about his
selling Victor's patents -- but Francis tells her that he did it
for the both of them, for their marriage. He doesn't want their
lives to have anything to do with Victor Fries. It's obvious
Freeze was behind his attempted murder, and the murders of Boyle
and Walker -- finally getting his revenge. Nora doesn't believe
Victor would do this. Francis tells her that she shouldn't be
fooled by any false sincerity Freeze may display. He pleads with
her to see Victor for what he really is -- a monster.
At the Batcave, Dick is asking Barbara out on a date, and she's
attempting to make up an excuse to turn him down when the call
comes in from Batman about the murders. Batgirl and Nightwing
meet up with Batman and Gordon on the roof of police
headquarters to discuss the situation. Francis has been placed
in protective custody, but Nora left the hospital and her
whereabouts are unknown. The conclusion is drawn that Mr. Freeze
is finally exacting revenge on his enemies, perhaps even
kidnapping Nora. However, we then see that Nora (unawares to the
"Bat-gang") is paying a visit to the Gotham Orphanage -- meeting
Koonak (the young Eskimo who lived with Freeze in "Sub-Zero").
He recognizes her from when Freeze had her in suspended
animation. She has the letter Victor sent her (at the end of
B:GA #51), which is postmarked from somewhere in the Arctic
circle -- and she asks Koonak where Victor would be. She refuses
to believe he's behind these recent murders. But Koonak tells
her that while Freeze took care of him, he's still crazy -- he's
witnessed it firsthand. However, Nora is determined to find him.
Using the Batcomputer, Nightwing taps into Gotham International
Airport's security cameras and discovers Nora buying a ticket to
the Arctic Circle. She hasn't been abducted after all. Batman
plays a risky hunch and decides to let her go, thinking she'll
lead them to Freeze himself. He and Batgirl will take the Batjet
and follow. Nightwing says that perhaps he should go as well,
but Batman tells him that he and Batgirl can handle it. He wants
Nightwing to inform Francis that they're going after Nora and
then to start looking into the murders. If Freeze were actually
behind them, why would he leave Gotham without contacting Nora?
As Batman and Batgirl depart, it's obvious that Nightwing is
more than a little jealous.
At the offices of Powers Technology, CEO Warren Powers (new
character -- father to Derek Powers from "Batman Beyond")
receives a phone call informing him that Nora is on her way to
find Freeze in the Arctic -- and the call is from Francis
D'Anjou!
The Arctic circle: Nora finds Freeze and they have the heartfelt
reunion fans have been wanting for years. Nora tells him about
the murders, which Freeze denies having any part of. And Nora
believes him -- because she loves him. Victor begins to do his
usual spiel about being frozen to emotion and not expecting her
to have any feelings for the physical monstrosity he's become.
Nora tells him that he always did talk too much and then kisses
him passionately -- finally thawing his cold heart that's been
frozen for so long.
Nightwing investigates the Freeze attacks/murders at the D'Anjou
residence. He discovers that the starter had been disconnected
on Nora's car. In the basement lab, he finds similar tech to
that of the mechanical spiders, as well as the unopened letters
from Freeze that Francis had been hiding from Nora. Suddenly,
he's attacked by one of the mechanical spiders, but manages to
defeat it -- and begins to piece together who was really behind
the murders. "Talk about your jealous husband..."
Back at the Arctic circle: Victor tells Nora that he's done some
terrible things and he doesn't expect her to forgive him for
that. But before she can answer, Freeze's robotic body is
suddenly frozen in place, just as a Powers Technology helicopter
arrives -- armed to the teeth with machine guns and missiles.
Freeze disconnects his head from his body and Nora runs from the
pursuing helicopter with the head in her arms -- the helicopter
opening fire with its guns! Nora is hit in the shoulder and
Freeze's head flies from her arms -- a blood-rage taking him
over at seeing his beloved Nora hurt...possibly dead. He
activates a remote signal from the base of his helmet and a new
powerful Mr. Freeze body bursts from the ground (the suit could
be a cross between his present-day armor and what he had in
"Batman Beyond"). Freeze attacks the helicopter, freezing its
rotor blades as it falls to the ground. But before he can
deliver the fatal blow, the Batjet arrives on the scene,
shooting a net around Freeze. Batman swings down and he and
Freeze do battle -- Freeze must answer for his crimes. As they
fight, Freeze says to Batman, "I know you must understand loss,
Batman. I refuse to believe a man would devote his life to
fighting crime as you do simply due to an over-zealous sense of
justice. You've lost someone. Someone important. So did I. But
now I've got her back and nothing will stop that. Just think,
Batman -- what would you do if you could have your loved one
back? Anything, right?" Before Batman can answer, he is
interrupted by a message from Nightwing, who reports that Freeze
is not responsible for the murders. It was Francis D'Anjou who
set it all up, including having himself attacked -- so he rigged
Nora's car so it wouldn't start, insuring that she'd find him in
time to save him. Before Batman can say anything to Freeze, the
downed helicopter fires a missile at Freeze, blowing his suit
apart and creating an avalanche. Nora (whom Batgirl has helped)
screams, "Victor! No!" But it's too late. Batman stands looking
at the pieces of Freeze's destroyed suit -- silent -- his fist
clenched at his side.
Later, in the Batcave, Barbara confronts Dick (continuing their
dating conversation from earlier), telling him that he had his
chance with her awhile back, but he decided not to take
advantage of it -- and now it's too late. She just didn't want
him to go on thinking that there was still a possibility of
anything more than friendship between them. Besides, who has
time for a relationship with the nights already spent fighting
crime? Barbara then goes off to practice sparring with Bruce, as
Dick watches. Alfred asks if anything is the matter, and Dick
replies that it's nothing. He just feels a bit...cold.
Nora meets with Francis in Blackgate Prison. He tells her that
he'd always suspected she was still in love with Victor, but he
just couldn't put up with it anymore. She was the only one who
didn't see Victor for the insane murderer he was. He had to make
her realize the truth. He tells her that he did it because he
loves her. She says perhaps he has more in common with Victor
that he realizes. Except that Francis was still alive and Victor
was now dead. She tells Francis goodbye and leaves -- and once
outside, with a tear in her eye, she whispers, "Victor..."
We cut to Powers Technology, where the helicopter pilot is
reporting to Warren Powers that they have successfully retrieved
their property from the site of the avalanche. Powers is
pleased, saying that it might come in handy some day. The
secrets of immortality are locked inside that head. Then we see
Freeze's head being placed in cold storage. Just before the door
closes shut, we see Freeze say, "Nora..." -- then the door
closes.
THE END
*******
I'm glad I had the opportunity to share that with you all. Of
course, keep in mind that since it's my original plot (and
wasn't really used as is), that there would have been minor
adjustments/tweaks/changes to it if I had gone to full script
(like whether or not Francis meant to kill Walker and Boyle, or
even if I'd be able to have people die in the story) -- that's
pretty much a normal part of the process, at least for me. The
initial change from this longer version was due to editorial
decisions, which you can read more details about it
here.
Take care! -- Jason H.
The following was submitted after the script above
My original story for B:GA #51 that I had originally come up
with right after the first airing of "Heart of Ice" (back when I
was first starting college, I think). At that time, it seemed
Nora was dead, so my original idea was that the story starts
relatively soon after that episode. Freeze is still in his cell
at Arkham and sees, miraculously, Nora standing outside his
window calling to him! At first, he thinks he's going nuts, but
when it happens again, he manages to break free from Arkham and
has a teary reunion with her. She explains that she woke up in a
hospital (or something like that) and doesn't remember what
happened. Victor surmises she must have been pulled out of the
accident (which, of course, if what really ended up happening
later on the show). Then the story plays out basically the same
with her getting his help on developing the compound for a
mysterious benefactor. They learn it's Daggett (I think that
scene took place in his office and there was something about him
taking over Ferris Boyle's Gothcorp company, though I can't
remember for certain), Nora goes nuts, changes to Clayface and
attacks Daggett. Freeze flips at being duped (an even worse
dupe, as Nora is actually dead -- so his hopes were REALLY up)
and attacks them both, and Batman shows up on the scene.
Obviously, there was probably more, but those are the basics I
can remember. Then they brought Nora back, and over ten years
later, I got to do a version of my original idea I had as a fan
of the show in the actual comic based on the series! A nice turn
of events! :^)
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Oh, yeah... I forgot the most important part of that original
idea I had for the story I did in B:GA #51 -- at the end, Freeze
dies! And the last image we see is of him in the warm clouds (or
something) seeing Nora, who's hand is held out waiting for him,
he puts his hand in hers and we get a VO that's a repeat of the
"someplace where a warm hand waits for mine" line from "Heart of
Ice"
-- The End. |
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