My BATMAN Script

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Hey guys.

 

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting my script for a filmed version of BATMAN. I'm thinking of doing one installment a night, whenever I'm bored. Feel free to comment. Keep in mind that this is a first draft, so most of the dialouge will be improved when I re-write the damn thing:

 

 

The Batman

By William McGuire

 

 

 

(The credits play over a dream sequence. We should see flashes of the film The Mark of Zorro especially a black mask and a swish of black cape. We see a shot of the film playing out across the face of an 8-year-old boy. We then see the Wayne family: Thomas, Martha, and Bruce exit the theater. We next see them confronted by the mugger. He goes for the pearls, Thomas Wayne tries to intercede, and is shot. Martha screams and is shot. The mugger drops his gun and runs. Bruce Wayne kneels in his parents’ blood and we see his face change from shock, to anger, to emotionless-ness. We cut to an eye. Bruce Wayne’s eye, to be more exact. Wayne is on a commercial airplane flying into Gotham City. We hear the captain of the plane on the PA.)

 

P.A. VOICE:

“We’re beginning our descent into Gotham, please prepare your personal effects and have your passports ready.”

 

BRUCE WAYNE (Voice-over in BATMAN’S gruff voice. All interior monologues will be done in Batman’s voice; all dialogue marked Bruce Wayne will be done in the more foppish "Bruce" voice. )

“Gotham City; it hasn’t changed in twelve years… Still the cesspool it’s always been, but that will change... Because I will MAKE it change. Mother, Father, I’m coming home.”

 

(Cut to a news broadcast of GNN News. The appearance of the anchors makes no difference. One should be male, one female. The male anchor will be designated “Tom” the female anchor, “Sandra”)

 

TOM:

“In other news: The case against accused racketeer Carmine Falcone was dropped yesterday after the reversal of a key witness’ testimony to the Grand Jury. No reason for the reversal was given. Sandra…”

 

SANDRA:

“Just a few months after their successful indictment of former Commissioner Gillian Loeb, DA Harvey Dent and Commissioner James Gordon have once again been forced to abandon the case against Falcone under mysterious circumstances. Com. Gordon had this to say:”

 

(Cut to Gordon on the steps of the Gotham Courthouse. He is surrounded by press microphones and a media frenzy. DA Harvey Dent is at his side.)

 

COM. GORDON (Disgusted):

“It is apparent to me now that no matter what District Attorney Harvey Dent and I try to do to save this city, it refuses to save itself. I would also like to point out that your local Gotham police departments will continue to do everything in their power to end the corruption in this city. We have no need for help from the FBI or the state, which has been rumored. Everything is well in hand. No further questions please.”

 

(Cut to the interview on a small television in a modest living room. The living room should be adorned with pop culture curios from comedies. This is the home of JACK and SAMANTHA NAPIER. Jack should be tall, very thin, and have severe features. They live in poverty but are happy.)

 

JACK (Jokingly):

“Get a load of this noise. The guy thinks he can find the crooked cops and he can’t even keep his tie straight!”

 

SAMANTHA:

(Rolls eyes) “So Jack… How did it go at open mike night?”

 

(Jack shoots her a dirty look and she immediately knows she’s said something she shouldn’t.)

 

“I’m sorry Jack. Listen… I don’t care if you’re a comedian or you work at the factory. You’re still my husband. You’re a good man. (Jack calms down and begins to smile.)”

 

JACK:

“You don’t get it. I’m not doing this for you or me. I just don’t want our baby girl growing up in this. I KNOW I can make people laugh. I just…I don’t know… I guess I need better jokes.”

 

SAMANTHA:

“What time do you need to get up tomorrow?”

 

JACK (Becomes Agitated):

“Oh… don’t worry. I’ll set the clock. I have to get up early and see some people tomorrow.”

 

SAMANTHA:

“Alright. I love you Jack.”

 

JACK:

“I love you too.”

 

(As soon as Samantha is out of sight Jack unleashes a rage which has been building for the entire conversation. He violently rips up his joke-book and punches the wall before calming and beginning to chuckle.)

[Guest raptor]

Interesting stuff going on here. So it's obvious you're taking a "Year: One" slant on things, which is my hop for the next Bat-movie. I know how difficult it is to try and write a script, as I wrote a little of an X2 script once upon a time...

 

So yeah, this is basically all flattery, but I just want to keep you going on this, since I think it could be a fun experiment.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Honestly, this script could be the ultimate Batman movie. It contains the seeds for Two-Face, Riddler, and Black Mask to become villains later on. It also has Carmine Falcone who I see becoming a recurring villain. It intro's Selina Kyle as well.

[Guest raptor]

Very ambitious, to say the least. It'll be interesting to see if you can work all that into a feasible movie.

 

And Black Mask seems interesting... not to familiar with him, but I think that a new Batman movie should go back to Joker or give the world someone new.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

All those villains won't be appearing so much as making cameos.

 

Edward Nygma will be a police psychiatrist, whose treatment will lead to him becoming a public menace.

 

Harvey Dent will be a major player and he will become more unstable as the film goes on.

 

Selina will don the Catsuit in this film.

 

Roman Psoinis will be competing with Bruce Wayne in a corperate setting

[Guest Tony149]

Not bad. Having co-wrote a Batman fan script (a "what if" sequel called BATMAN TRIUMPHANT--picks up after B & R only without neon and nipples) before, I can say from experience, it isn't easy.

[Guest red_file]

I've never really understood the fanfic impulse. I mean, when I invest the time and energy into writing something, I like to know that it's mine and that I'm free to do with it whatever I want. Whenever I read really good fanfic -- and there is some really good fanfic out there -- I always wonder what these writers could've done with something of their own.

 

I'm not knocking what you're doing (indeed, I'm sure we've all done something similar), just saying that I'd be more interested in something original. But, whatever.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Tony, you cowrote Batman Triumphant? Holy crap, I loved that script.

 

Zsa, I'll read yours in a minute.

 

I've got a part of a Year One script I was doodling around with somewhere, I might try and post it here.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Because you demanded it, Part Two!

 

(CUT TO: Wayne Manor. The Manor should be monstrous and reflect an old wealthy lineage. A black limousine slowly drives toward the iron gates.)

 

BRUCE WAYNE (Voice-over)

“A fortune to develop my tools, a cave under the manor to be my haven, a confidant trained in combat medicine. All of them gifts from you to me Father. I promise I won’t squander them. The plan is forming.”

 

(The gates open and the limo enters. Standing in silence at the door of the manor is ALFRED PENNYWORTH, Bruce’s butler, and to this point, only confidant. Bruce doesn’t wait for the driver to open his door. He exits with a driven look on his face. He walks briskly to the door leaving the chauffeur to take his bags to the door. Bruce and Alfred talk as they walk from the courtyard into the Manor itself.)

 

ALFRED PENNYWORTH:

“Welcome home, Sir. It’s good to see…”

 

BRUCE WAYNE:

“I trust my instructions have been followed.”

 

ALFRED:

“To the letter, Sir. The computer equipment has been moved to the study until a suitable place in the caves underneath the Manor can be found for it. The library has been… restocked to your specifications. Some clothes matching your description have been… procured from various second-hand stores. I believe there’s a charming suit coat in there that is just perfect for a day on the golf course.”

 

BRUCE (With a sly grin.):

“Good to see somethings never change Alfred. It’s good to be home.”

 

ALFRED:

“It’s good to have you back, Sir.”

 

(CUT TO: Gotham Central Police Department, Commissioner Gordon’s office. There should be a lot of activity outside as Det. Harvey Bullock is bringing in some generic scum. Also there should be an office in sight that reads: “EDWARD NYGMA: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGIST.” Gordon is on the phone with his niece BARBARA GORDON. She should be about 17 and redheaded. She is at the apartment they share.)

 

GORDON:

“I know Barbara, but tomorrow is my night off, and…”

 

(We can imagine the other side of the conversation as Gordon winces and then makes a face as if he is deeply sorry.)

 

GORDON:

“I know it’s been tough for you Babs, but you have be patient with…”

 

(HARVEY DENT enters the office. He is excited, almost giddy.)

DENT:

“Jim! We just…”

 

(Gordon shushes him.)

 

GORDON:

“Barbara I have to go, Harvey just…”

 

(She hung up.)

 

DENT:

“I’m sorry Jim. I didn’t mean for…”

 

GORDON:

“That’s alright Harvey. Babs understands it’s just…she was…very close to her parents. (Returns to the matter at hand) What do you want?”

 

DENT:

“Bullock collared an “associate” of Falcone’s snorting coke at a local bar. They have been interrogating him for the last fifteen minutes. None of it will be admissible in court but…”

 

GORDON:

“Let me guess, he let something slip he shouldn’t have.”

 

DENT:

“In a stupor he mentioned the Doyle Playing Card Factory twice. He ALSO mentioned there would be an inside man on the job. We ran everyone who works there full time through the computer for rap sheets, it’ll take a couple days. Now it’s possible that a job’s being planned there. If we stake the place out and something DOES happen then we’d have Falcone in a very awkward position.”

 

GORDON:

“I’ll stake out the place personally. Tell Bullock he’ll be on special assignment for the next week with me. And I want those files on my desk TOMMOROW!”

 

(CUT TO: Wayne Manor. In a dark study of Wayne Manor Bruce Wayne sits cross-legged in silence.)

 

BRUCE WAYNE (Voice-over):

“Father… I cannot wait anymore. I’ve given you twelve years of my life already, and I’ll gladly give the rest but… I don’t want to wait anymore. Some thing is wrong, I can feel it inside me. I can’t think, I can’t fight, and I don’t know what’s wrong.”

 

(Bruce walks over to a small cabinet and takes out the gun that killed his parents. He loads it, sits down, and stares at it.)

BRUCE WAYNE:

“Father, I’ve trusted my life to you. If I find out now… that it was all in vain (cocks hammer) I couldn’t live with myself. So I need to know Father…what must I do?”

 

(At that moment a menacing form crashes through the window. At first Bruce is startled and even frightened, but then he sees it perched above his father’s portrait. It is a bat.)

 

BRUCE WAYNE (Smiling):

“Yes father…

 

BATMAN:

…I shall become a bat.”

 

BRUCE WAYNE:

“Alfred!”

 

(Alfred opens the door.)

 

ALFRED:

“Yes sir?”

 

BATMAN:

“Let’s go shopping.”

 

Alfred:

“Yes sir.”

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Not bad. Having co-wrote a Batman fan script (a "what if" sequel called BATMAN TRIUMPHANT--picks up after B & R only without neon and nipples) before, I can say from experience, it isn't easy.

Tony, I'd LOVE to read it. If it was written in the style of the Burton films which I loved then send me a copy!

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Zsasz, that's some good stuff. Keep going. I especially like the fact that you kept the Killing Joke origin intact. I used one closer to the movie in my script, since I've heard that Moore wouldn't let his origin be filmed or something. But, really good stuff. Keep going.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Thanks for the encouragement, matt.

 

The plot will have elements of TKJ, but isn't limited to it.

 

I also thought there was siginifcant boost in quality from the first post to the second one. And I still think the scene where Bruce is ready to kill himself is better than anything we've seen in live-action Batman films thus far.

[Guest Tony149]

Tony, you cowrote Batman Triumphant? Holy crap, I loved that script.

Yup. Although I give total credit to my co-writer, Dave. There were three guys writing some part of the script (me, Dave, and a guy by the name of Rob), but Dave was like the editor. I would write something, send it to him, and he would tweak whatever I wrote. The only downside to that project...I wasn't able to have as much fun as I should of, because I was--and still am--working with the OAOAST (located at the bottom of the forum) so I had to juggle both which caused the OAOAST to have two of its worst shows (at least IMO as I wasn't happy with how it came off).

 

MrZsasz, I'll PM you the script (gotta get the link to the website the script is located at). Just so you know, TRIUMPHANT is one of the sequels we did. Dave is writing two more sequels which takes the franchise back to its darker roots. TRIUMPHANT picks up after B & R, but as the script goes on, Batman becomes more darker.

[Guest raptor]

I'm starting to really dig this script. I think that the mood is just about right, and I'm glad you gave Batman the kind of attitude that I don't think has been captured on the screen yet.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

THE BATMAN

 

PART 3

 

 

(CUT TO: CARMINE FALCONE’S boardroom. Seated in front of the stately desk is JACK NAPIER. He is visibly nervous. Falcone swivels in his chair to face Napier. He is smiling as if he knows he easily he will be able to convince Jack..)

 

JACK:

“I’ve been thinking about your offer, and even though it’s very generous…”

 

CARMINE:

“Let me guess…you don’t want to betray your employers.”

 

JACK:

“No, I have no problem showing your boys where the safe with the payroll is. I mean I need the money, and I hate those bastards. It’s just…”

 

CARMINE:

“You don’t want to get caught.”

 

JACK:

“Exactly.”

CARMINE (Smiling like a cat with a canary):

“Don’t worry, not only will you be working with one of our top crews. But we have a…system with our inside men.”

 

JACK:

“Really?”

 

CARMINE:

“Yeah, see everytime we have one, we give him a red hood… mask thing. After a while, the legend about “The Red Hood” got so famous, no cop in the world would have the balls to touch you. You’re a fucking spook story.”

 

JACK:

“Wow…I guess it’s settled. It’ll be a pleasure doing business with you.”

 

CARMINE:

“Oh I don’t doubt that at all.”

 

(Jack is escorted out.)

 

CARMINE:

“It’ll be MY pleasure.”

 

(Snaps on the intercom.)

 

CARMINE:

“Milos, tell Ms. Kyle she can come in. Oh and cancel my appointments for the next six hours.”

 

MILOS:

“Yes sir.”

 

(Door opens and SELINA KYLE enters dressed in dominatrix gear.)

 

SELINA:

“Meeeeeow.”

 

(CUT TO: JAMES GORDON in his apartment. Drunk and holding a picture of his wife. He’s been crying.)

 

GORDON:

“Took the night off…be with Barbara. I don’t why, I don’t know why I even try. (Gives a little chuckle at the rhyme.) This city…it’s just Hell. I can’t tame…”

 

(BARBARA enters as Gordon totally breaks down.)

 

BARBARA:

“C’mon Uncle Jim, it’s time for bed.”

 

GORDON:

“Do it…myself.”

 

(Slips and falls. He finally accepts Barbara’s help.)

 

GORDON:

“I’m so sorry, Babs. I’m so sorry.”

 

BARBARA:

“It’s okay, I forgive you.”

 

(Gordon falls in bed.)

 

GORDON (Slurring):

“I love you Babs. Some way to spend… a day off, eh?”

 

BARBARA (Fights back tears.):

“I love you too, Uncle Jim. Sleep now.”

 

(CUT TO: Wayne Manor. In the study where Bruce accepted his calling he now stares at the uniform in front of him. The Batsuit should look like Neal Adam’s interpretation. We see him slowly put on each article until he comes to the cowl. He stares at it, and as he does he replays the training he has gone through and the tragedies he suffered that brought him to this point. He closes his eyes, takes the cowl and slips it over his head. When he opens his eyes again they are the eyes of a warrior. He has been transformed, he is no longer Bruce Wayne at last he has become… BATMAN. He exits the room and Alfred stares in utter shock at him. It is important to note that Bruce and Batman act, walk, talk, and think as two different people.)

 

ALFRED:

“My…God.”

 

BATMAN:

“I’m taking the Maserati. I’ll be back before dawn. Don’t wait up.”

 

ALFRED (With the care and pride of a Father to his son.):

“What you are about to do you have trained for twelve years to do. I will not persuade you to abandon it, but I beseech you… be careful.”

 

 

(CUT TO: Kane Jewelers. A team of four generic hoods is breaking the displays and ransacking the place. Through the storefront window BATMAN somersaults in an explosion of night and glass. He slowly rises to his feet, and the thugs practically wet themselves.)

 

BRUCE WAYNE (voice-over):

“I don’t know what I became that night.”

 

BATMAN:

“Surrender or suffer. I don’t care which.”

 

(The first thug starts for his gun and Batman gives him a hay-maker that sends him back into the wall.)

 

BRUCE (V.O.):

“I became my fear, and was better for it.”

 

(Batman throws two Batarangs and disarms two of the hoods. He then kicks the fourth in the groin and throws him into his comrades.)

 

BRUCE (V.O):

“I…Batman that is, tied them up, and left a little…calling card for the GCPD.”

 

(CUT TO Detectives already on the scene as HARVEY BULLOCK arrives. Bullock is considered a god among the police force. He gets out of his car an analyzes the situation. In complete darkness except for the streetlight itself, the four criminals are being cut down from their perch.)

 

STREET COP:

“Det. Bullock! Come over here!”

 

BULLOCK:

“What’s up?”

 

STREET COP:

“We found those four guys tied to this lamppost. Power went out shortly before we found them. They keep babbling about a giant…”

 

BULLOCK:

“What’s that smell? Smells like…paint.”

 

STREET COP:

“We don’t know yet.”

 

(Bullock walks over to his car, turns it to face the Jewelry Shop, and puts on the headlights. Painted on the entire front of the store is a giant Bat-Silhouette in yellow paint. Everyone is stunned, the crooks scream like children.)

 

BULLOCK:

“What the…”

 

CROOK #1:

“I TOLD YOU! It was a giant man. A giant Bat! It was a…Bat-Man!”

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

I like what I'm reading, Zsasz, I really do. Nothing more to add, really, just some encouragement I suppose. Keep it coming.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

THE BATMAN

Part 4

 

(CUT TO: Wayne Manor. Bruce is seated at the breakfast table explaining the nights events to Alfred.)

 

BRUCE:

"I don't know Alfred...it was like being posessed by a demon. Almost as if I were only a trigger for some inner demon. I didn't have to remember my my training, I BECAME my training. I can't explain it."

 

ALFRED:

"Yes well... my only concerns are on your well-being. By the way, have you thought to give a name to this new demonic persona whom who have discovered?"

 

BRUCE:

"I think that one is out of my..our hands."

 

(BRUCE produces a newspaper with the headline "MYSTERIOUS CREATURE PLAGUES UNDERWORLD: WHO IS THIS BAT-MAN?")

 

ALFRED:

"Bat-man, eh? Sounds... vaudevillian."

 

BRUCE:

"I'm glad you approve."

 

(CUT TO: Police HQ. Gordon is briefing the "Vigilante Task Force" on the bat-Man problem.)

 

GORDON: "Reports are coming in of a mysterious "bat-like" vigilante. He has commited thirty-nine counts of assualt and apprehended over seventy felons in two weeks."

 

COP #1: "Sir! Has he killed?"

 

GORDON: "Not yet. He seems to favor non-leathal weaponry. Boomerangs, darts, and shurikens."

 

COP #2: "What should we do?"

 

GORDON: "We're going to have perimeters all over the city and traps set for him in the East End. make no mistake about it- we are going to hunt this "dark knight" !"

 

(CUT TO: Nighttime, Doyle's Playing Card Factory. An innocous looking man drops a small package in the mail deposit box. He walks briskly away. A few seconds pass and suddenly the entire entrance EXPLODES in a ball of flame. The team of theives enter along with Jack Napier wearing the Red Hood. Two cover the entrances and shoot the squad car that rushes up full of holes, the rest follow Jack into the room where the payroll safe is.)

 

(CUT TO: The Batman sees the explosion. He uses the Bat-Scope to see the thugs enter. He Bat-grapples over.)

 

(CUT TO: Gotham PD. A file is slapped down on Gordon's desk. He sits up startled. HARVEY BULLOCK is standing looking pleased.)

 

BULLOCK:

"We got our inside man. Jack Napier; he's done time twice in Blackgate for domestic abuse and petty theft, he's also done time in Arkham Asylum for undetermined severe mental issues, but he was released at the request of his wife. He's nearly bankrupt too, so it'd be no trouble convincing him to help rob the place."

 

GORDON:

"Get in touch with his..."

 

BULLOCK:

"Already did. She said he was out for the night."

 

(DETECTIVE RENEE MONTOYA enters.)

 

MONTOYA:

"Commish, there's been a break-in at Doyle's Playing Card Factory."

 

GORDON:

"Let's go."

 

MONTOYA:

"There's more sir...The Batman has been sighted on the scene."

 

GORDON:

"I see. Get the SWAT team."

 

BULLOCK:

"Yes sir."

 

(CUT TO: The thugs get through the safe and begin packing the money into duffell bags.)

 

JACK NAPIER:

"Alright...so when do we divide it up?"

 

THUG #1:

"We?"

 

JACK:

"Well...um...yeah."

 

THUG #2:

"I'm afraid you don't quite get it. We can't have evidence of the crime laying around. The police will need a scapegoat. Why not give them the mythic "Red Hood"?

 

JACK:

"You must be joking!"

 

THUG #2:

"I never joke. (Pulls out gun. Jack runs like hell.) GET HIM!"

 

(Jack manages to exit the office and runs across the scaffold on the upper level. We can see the machinery underneath the level he is standing on. As the thugs come out of the office they line up a shot on Jack until BATMAN busts through the skylight above them. The thugs are scared stiff. He lands on top of one; breaking his hip. He then picks up the other one and grins.)

 

(CUT TO: Crooks inside the office.)

 

THUG #2: "What's taking those morons so long?"

 

(The second thug from outside is thrown through the window on the office. Batman dives in. He kips up and side-kicks the thug nearest. He collapses. He then spins around and delievers a roundhouse right to another thug. He disposes of the final one with a choke. Suddenly The Batman stops and presses his fingers to the ear on his cowl. the bat-Transmitter is recieving the police band.)

 

POLICE RADIO: "Suspect from Doyle break-in heading downtown in stolen (static)... Stopping at Wayne Chemical. Procede with caution."

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Okay that part is done now.

[Guest HellSpawn]

Good reading.

 

Just be sure to add at the beginning...

 

With acknowledgment to the works of

Frank Miller

Alan Moore

Bob Kane

Jeph Loeb

 

etc.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Good reading.

 

Just be sure to add at the beginning...

 

With acknowledgment to the works of

Frank Miller

Alan Moore

Bob Kane

Jeph Loeb

 

etc.

Actually the acknoledgements will read:

 

Bob Kane

Bill Finger

Frank Miller

Dennis O'Neil

Jeph Loeb

and "Joker's Origin" from

Alan Moore

 

 

The rest of the plot will NOT be from Killing Joke but will be from "Images" written by Denny O'Neil and mixed with some Catwoman and Falcone.

 

 

Not trying to correct you, just trying to tell you guys where the plot is going without spiling it.

[Guest Lethargic]

Well, I got my own script as well much like everybody else. Mine is a Superman vs Batman story called The Last Laugh. I'm not gonna act like it's all that great because I don't. Hell, the last line in the script is "Credits roll as some crappy pop rock song from the soundtrack plays. Everybody leaves the theater, goes home, gets on the computer and talks about how much this movie just sucked."

 

This whole thing was written in 2 weeks basically. I didn't spend a lot of time on it because like somebody else said, it's just fan fiction. I should spend more time on my original crap. So I did around 2/3rds of this in a week, got sick of doing it and quit. A few months later I went back and finished it in about another week. After I corrected what mistakes I found and then quit. I do think that with a couple more drafts to fix and polish some things (it's pretty dialogue heavy for one thing) it could be pretty good but I don't feel the need to put in the time and effort for that. Basically I only wrote this because I dreamed the opening scene and then the next scene dreamt the ending. In my dream I had no idea who the characters were I had the dream about. I just kept thinking about this thing I dreamt and wanted to do something with it and I ended up writing this crap for it. So basically I wrote this whole script to do two good scenes, one at the start and one at the end, and the rest was all just bullshit to get from point A to point B. I used a lot of scenes from the comics, mostly Killing Joke and DKR, of course. Because basically, this thing was off the top of my head. I did no plotting. I had no idea what I was going to write or how I was actually going to get from A to B when I sat down to write it, it just a kind of free flowing thing. A writing jam session. haha Anyway, you can check it out at the link below if you want.

 

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/lethargic/bvss.txt

 

I haven't checked out Zsasz's thing yet. I don't wanna read it broken up so I'll wait till it's all finished.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

The script is on hiatus till Angle-mania. I'm in the middle of extensive re-writes to the second half and I want it to kick ass the first time it's posted.

[Guest Bruiser Chong]

I've never really understood the fanfic impulse.  I mean, when I invest the time and energy into writing something, I like to know that it's mine and that I'm free to do with it whatever I want.  Whenever I read really good fanfic -- and there is some really good fanfic out there -- I always wonder what these writers could've done with something of their own.

 

I'm not knocking what you're doing (indeed, I'm sure we've all done something similar), just saying that I'd be more interested in something original.  But, whatever.

I think it more has something to do with just writing about something you really are passionate about. For a creative writing class I have, I'm doing a lot of spoofs and parodies just because it's fun stuff. I just finished up an E! True Hollywood Story spoof with the Trix Rabbit as the focal character. Sure it's always easier to play off something that already exists but in order for it to be done well, it does take a lot of skill and hard work.