Sword of Azrael Pt. 1 (Gotham Eternal)

Episode 4 of the first season of Gotham Eternal. After the death of his father, recent college graduate Jean-Paul Valley Jr. (Dacre Montgomery) investigates the causes of his death. During his investigations, he discovers a secret conspiracy through the Order of St. Dumas, and discovers his true familial lines.

Cast

 * Dacre Montgomery as Jean-Paul Valley Jr.
 * Jackson Dollinger as young Jean-Paul Valley Jr
 * James Frain as Jean-Paul Valley Sr.
 * Christopher Lambert as Carleton LeHah
 * Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne/Batman
 * Chris Dance as Alfred Pennyworth
 * Nick Robinson as Dick Grayson/Robin
 * Scott Eastwood as Nomoz

Story
In a dark basement lit by torches, 6 men in purple hooded tunics walked down the hallways, with one man in a white hooded tunic and a red cross across the front. They walk towards the door, and inside is a giant pool surrounded by candles and maidens towards the front. The man in the white hooded tunic sheds his cloth: he’s revealed to be Jean-Paul Valley Jr. He gets inside of the pool, only wearing pants. A maiden in a nun like uniform gets in the water with him.

Maiden

Are you ready for this? Once I pull you from the water, your system programming will be finished and you will reach your true destiny as our Azrael.

Jean-Paul

I’m.. I am ready. I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready for anything else in my life. This is my purpose.

Maiden

Then may the Lord bless you, Jean-Paul Valley.

The Maiden dips Jean-Paul into the water like a baptism, and holds him under there. His eyes are shut for a few seconds, then they spring open.

*TITLE SEQUENCE*

Four months beforehand, Jean-Paul Valley Jr. wakes up in his apartment building, due bills on his nightstand. He heads to the kitchen to make himself cereal. He notices the time, he’s late.

Jean-Paul

Shit

He showers, gets ready for school, walks out of the door, gets on the bus.

Bus Driver

$1.00 please.

Jean-Paul pays the dollar, and heads to the back where he takes a quick nap. His dreams are the usual, flashes of crosses, knights, fire. But he hears his father’s voice.

Jean-Paul Sr.

Jean.. Jean…

This wakes him up in a jolt, and he begins to panic and look around, strangers on the bus look at him oddly.

Jean-Paul

Sorry, I- sorry.

The bus stops at Gotham State University, and Jean-Paul gets out. He walks among the thousands of other students at the University, and gets to his history class. He sits with the other students.

Professor

Mr. Valley, late once again.

Jean-Paul

Yeah, sorry, it’s just the bus

Professor

I didn’t ask for a backstory, Mr. Valley. Now as I was saying, the Knights Templar fought were prominent contributors during the crusades

Jean-Paul begins to have a migraine at the mention of the name, he grabs his head and groans

Jean-Paul

Grah…

Professor

Mr. Valley? Do you need to be excused?

Jean-Paul

No, I’m sorry really, it’s just a bad headache

Professor

Well if you can’t keep it down I’ll have to ask you to leave, you’ve been enough of a nuisance today as it is.

The professor continues with his lecture, and Jean-Paul continues to fight through the migraine. The rest of his day is a blur, random movement through a random crowd.

Girl

Jean? Jean-Paul?

Jean-Paul

Summer? Hey, what’s up

Summer

Hey, are you alright? You don’t look too good

Jean-Paul

Yeah I’m fine, just had a little migraine in history is all. You know how Professor Smith is

Summer

He’s such an asshole! He doesn’t care at all!

Jean-Paul

Yeah, wish I could just- I don’t know. Never mind.

Summer

You sure you’re alright Jean?

Jean-Paul

Peachy, I just need to get home. I’ll talk to you later, okay?

Summer

Alright, just take care.

Jean-Paul leaves the campus, his mind still groggy. He enters the bus and heads home. The bus drops him off at his stop, and it’s a short walk back. He hears voices in his head as he stumbles back to his apartment.

Unknown Voice

You will lead us to our salvation.

Unknown Voice

The chosen saviour.

Unknown Voice

The Order of St Dumas will rise once again.

Jean-Paul

What?

Suddenly, Jean-Paul passes out in his apartment complex, and his neighbours see and call 911. He is taken to a hospital in an ambulance. He wakes up in a hospital bed, IVs hooked to his skin.

Jean-Paul

Where.. Where am I?

Nurse

Relax son! You’re in the hospital, you just passed out.

Jean-Paul

What? Passed out? When did all this.. Oh.

Nurse

Mhm. You took quite the nap and we performed a full check up on you. Nothing seems to be wrong, the doc thinks that maybe you’ve overexerted yourself or something like that.

Jean-Paul

Well I was having migraines earlier today

Nurse

You are to be the angel of death, no mere mortal withstanding your presence.

Jean-Paul

What? What did you just say?

Nurse

I said we can get you some fluids and keep you for the next 36 hours, just to make sure you’re fine

Jean-Paul

No I, no. No I’m leaving.

Nurse

Sir, I wouldn’t do that!

Jean-Paul rips the IVs from his skin and walks out to the entrance

Nurse

Sir! Sir!

He hails for a taxi and gets going.

Meanwhile, a man in white knight’s armour with a red cross across the top and a mask over his face bursts open a door to a Gotham Penthouse, facing an older man in a suit drinking whiskey.

Knight

LeHah!

LeHah

Jean. The mighty Azrael. What could this possibly be about?

Azrael

Do not play coy with me you petty, small man. You know exactly what I’m here for, you know what you’ve done.

LeHah

If you’re going to burst into my home and accuse me, at least have the balls to tell me what you’re accusing me of.

Azrael

DAMN YOU!

LeHah

So be it then.

LeHah brings out his pistol.

Azrael

Know that men call you liar. Know that men call you betrayer! Know that men call you defiler! Therefore it is the duty of the angel Azrael to bring you punishment- punishment of death by fiery sword!

Azrael brings out his fire sword, and aims it against LeHah.

Azrael

Are you man enough to put down the gun, LeHah? Are you afraid to lose to me in a battle of metals and wits?

LeHah

Heh. Still a manipulative little bastard aren’t ya?

LeHah puts the gun down and picks up a sword from under his desk. Swords clash in the Gotham Penthouse. The two continue to counter each other, perfect matches, until Azrael is able to slash LeHah across the eye. Lehah stumbles backwards and falls, Azrael moves in for the final blow.

Azrael

You were the best of us, LeHah. You were.

LeHah

I.. I still am.

LeHah is able to get up and stab him in the stomach, a fatal blow.

Azrael

GRHHH.. You won’t.. I’ll warn him.. You won’t get to him..

LeHah

How so? It will be far too late in the afterlife.

LeHah kicks him outside of the penthouse window, and Azrael falls into a garbage bin.

LeHah

Farewell, mister angel.

Dying, Azraek crawls out of the can and rips off his mask: it’s revealed to be Jean-Paul Valley Sr.: the current Azrael. He crawls over to his son’s apartment. He makes it to the entrance before he passes out from blood loss and neighbours call the police.

At Jean’s apartment, Jean-Paul notices flashing police lights and ambulances, knowing he has no immediate family or friends he doesn’t pay too much attention, but still glances at the chaos. He sees a man in white knight’s armor, with a red cross across the top. He closes in to the man to notice him without his mask, and it’s his father.

Jean-Paul

Dad? Oh my God- Dad?

Jean-Paul Sr.

Son..

Ambulance

Is this your father?

Jean-Paul

Yes! Oh God, what’s going on!

Ambulance

He arrived at your doorstep with multiple stab wounds, we’re taking him to the nearest hospital

Jean-Paul

Dad! Dad!

He gets closer to the dying man

Jean-Paul Sr

Lehah.. Lehah…

Jean-Paul

What? Dad

Jean-Paul Sr

I’ve failed you.. Oh God I’ve failed.. I’m so sorry.. Son, I’m sorry..

Jean-Paul

Dad! It’s going to be fine dad! Talk to me! Talk to me..!

Ambulance

We need to get moving! Son, if you’re coming along you need to come now

Jean-Paul enters the back of the ambulance with his father in the back, and they head to the hospital.

The scene switches to Jean-Paul sitting outside of the hospital room in the waiting room. A doctor comes outside to give him news, the audience can’t hear what they’re saying. Jean breaks down crying, it’s presumed his father has died.

The scene switches to a rainy funeral, Jean Paul stands outside with an umbrella watching as the preacher gives his word as his father is buried. After the funeral is over, Jean-Paul stands over the casket still, and LeHah approaches him.

LeHah

I knew him well.

Jean-Paul stands still.

LeHah

He wasn’t much for words either.

Jean-Paul

Who are you.

LeHah

My name is Carleton LeHah. I work with the.. organization that he was with. The Order of St Dumas.

Jean-Paul

You mean like the Knights? The Knights Templar?

LeHah

A subdivision, if you will. An extension that branches into Gotham.

Jean-Paul

What does that have to do with my father?

LeHah

What has he told you?

Jean-Paul

I haven’t seen him in 12 years, he left after my mother died. I hardly knew the man. More than I thought I hardly knew him apparently.

LeHah

Your father was the.. the carrier of justice of the order. The bringer of righteous vengeance and punishment, the angel of death, the Azrael.

Jean-Paul

So what was he a hit man? An assassin?

LeHah

Well in Laymen’s terms.

Jean-Paul

Oh I see. You want me to get in the family business right? This is just a recruitment right here is that it?

LeHah

I would never push you into something that you felt that you didn’t want to do. I just thought you’d want some context as to what your father fought for and what we fight for. Here.

LeHah pulls out a card.

LeHah

Take my card. Call me if you’re anymore curious, we can talk. Nice meeting you kid.

LeHah walks away, and enters a Limo. Jean-Paul watches as he drives off.

During the night, LeHah sits in his penthouse drinking whiskey and taking down records. Unbeknownst to him, Batman lurks in the shadows.

Batman

Witness report: A fallen angel landed in the garbage can just outside. He crawled to a nearby apartment.

LeHah

The Batman! Huh, it’s about time.

Batman

Why did you kill him LeHah?

LeHah

I am sick and tired of men bursting into my home and accusing me of things.

Batman

WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?

Batman grabs LeHah over the desk by the shirt.

LeHah

Mourning your former mentor, Batman? Or are you just curious?

Batman stares at LeHah, then throws him on the floor.

LeHah

(Cough), careful! I’m but an old man.

Batman

What. Did. You. Do.

LeHah

You’re good at masking your surprise, but not good enough Bruce.

Batman is shocked, then gets angrier. He picks LeHah right back up.

Batman

Who’s giving you this information?

LeHah

I’ve known it for years. You’re on the news all the time, I’ve only memorized your moves from your days training with the order.

Batman

I never liked you.

LeHah

The feeling’s mutual.

Batman

Still, you were a loyal member to the Order. Why kill him? Why?

LeHah

I have no idea what you’re talking about. And if you don’t get off my property before now, I will leak very sensitive information that you may or may not want to be out there. Depends on what you do.

Batman

Or I can kill you right here. Just as you did Azrael

LeHah

Who says the Batman isn’t a fun guy! We both know that’s not in you.

The Batman stares at him, and then throws him across the room.

Batman

This isn’t finished LeHah. Not by a longshot.

The Batman breaks out the window and glides away.

LeHah

That damned glass again.

Hours later, Jean-Paul stares at the card in his hand given to him by LeHah. He gets a knock on the door. Jean-Paul approaches the door and opens it to Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson).

Robin

Hey. Can we come in?

Jean-Paul

Uh… Sure

Robin

Thanks.

The dynamic duo walk by Jean-Paul and sit down on the chairs opposite to his couch. Jean sits down with them, hiding the card in his pocket.

Jean-Paul

So, what’s up?

Batman

We’re investigating the circumstances regarding your father’s death.. I’m sorry.

Jean-Paul

It’s um.. Thank you. But you need to both be here for this? I mean don’t get me wrong I appreciate the company, it's just a little… it seems excessive.

Robin

I’m just here to counter his hardassery. Lighten the mood.

Jean-Paul

Yeah. Seems pretty light.

Batman

How long has it been since you’ve last seen your father prior to his death?

Jean-Paul

Uh well, he left when I was like 12 or 13 years old. A little after my mom died. I’ve been on my own since, this was my first time seeing him since then.

Batman

Did he leave any clues as to why he left? Any reasoning?

Jean-Paul

No, he just up and left I guess.

Batman

I see. What do you know about the Order of St. Dumas?

Jean-Paul

Not uh…. I don’t know what that is.

Batman

Are you sure? Think very carefully.

Jean-Paul

No. I don’t know what that is.

Batman stares at Jean-Paul for an uncomfortable amount of time.

Robin

Batman..

Batman

Sorry. I’m just on edge.

Robin

Well, Jean, we felt that we should tell you. Your father’s body fell into a garbage bin under the penthouse of a man named Carleton LeHah. He crawled over to your apartment

Jean-Paul

Carleton LeHah?

Batman

Do you recognize the name?

Jean-Paul

No. Just wanted to make sure I heard you right.

Batman

Jean, your father was.. He was a very important man to me. This, well it’s personal for me too. I need you let me know all of the information you have, so we can find your father’s killer and bring him to justice.

Jean-Paul

And what’s that?

Batman

Sorry?

Jean-Paul

What is justice to you? Sending his killer to prison for him to thrive and get out in 20 years?

Batman and Robin are silent.

Jean-Paul

I’ve told you everything I know.

Robin

Well then, it was nice speaking with you. Batman.

The two get up and leave the room. Jean-Paul once again looks at his card. He looks at the address on the card.

The next morning, Jean arrives at LeHah’s penthouse and knocks on the door to get in.

LeHah

My boy! Nice to finally see you again, how are you holding up?

Jean-Paul

Why’d you do it?

LeHah

What- what are you talking about?

Jean-Paul

DONT LIE TO ME!

Jean-Paul grabs him by the collar

Jean-Paul

You’re the one who killed him, aren’t you? They found his body outside of your penthouse. That trash can.

LeHah

Sit down boy, let’s talk

Jean-Paul

No. No, enough talking.

LeHah

Yeah? Then what are you here to do?

Jean’s hands tremble as he grabs on to the collar.

LeHah

Kill me? You won’t. Thats not who you are, not yet.

Jean-Paul

Yet? What are you talking about?

LeHah

From a boy, you were conditioned for the Order. Subliminal messaging put inside your head to confirm your loyalty. No matter how you feel, you will submit to the order sooner or later.

Jean-Paul

So I’m supposed to become some killer? Is that what you’re telling me?

LeHah

That is exactly what I’m telling you. Kill me, I only live on through you.

Jean-Paul lets go of LeHah.

Jean-Paul

But why. Why did you do it?

LeHah

Your father strayed away from the System. Became a rogue agent, too dangerous to be left alive. I did what I was made to do, and you know it in your heart that it was the right thing- no the only thing to do.

Jean-Paul

This is.. I can’t believe this

LeHah

Believe it son. It had to happen.

Valley hears voices in his head, urging him to kill LeHah.

Voices

Do it. Kill him. End it. End it. Do it. Kill him.

As LeHah grabs Jean-Paul’s shoulder to comfort him, Jean grabs LeHah by the head and snaps his neck, killing him. He’s out of breath and realizes what he’s done

Jean-Paul

What have I.. what have I done

Voices

Leave.

Jean continues to breathe, then hurries out of the apartment and catches the nearest cab.

Cab Driver

Where we headed?

Jean-Paul

The uh.. the Gotham Airport please..

Jean-Paul drives across a busy road to get to the airport. He walks through a sea of people to buy a one way ticket.

Jean-Paul

One ticket to Switzerland. One way.

He gets his ticket and sits down, waiting for the plane to arrive.

Meanwhile, Bruce and Dick (civilian) are in the Batcave with Alfred. Batman is reviewing the evidence of the case on the computer.

Alfred

Do you believe Mr. Valley knows more than he lets on?

Dick

He definitely does. The question is why he doesn’t want to let us know

Bruce

He’s being pressured, by someone or something.

Dick

LeHah?

Bruce

I doubt it. I bugged the audio in LeHah’s apartment, come hear this.

Batman plays an audio clip of Jean’s interaction at the penthouse with LeHah.

LeHah

-had to happen.

* neck snap sound*

Jean-Paul

What have I… What have I done..

* door opens, closes*

* audio ends*

Dick

He just.. I didn’t know he had it in him

Bruce

He doesn’t. Or he shouldn’t. Before this, they were speaking about something called the order, it had him brainwashed through subliminal messaging. I think this order wanted LeHah dead.

Dick

The Order of St Dumas?

Bruce

Most likely, they were closely associated to the last Azrael. I got to know them during my time training under Azrael, but not nearly enough. No outsider ever truly knows them. This information I’ve uncovered is just the tip of the iceberg.

Alfred

Then it’s imperative you investigate further into this, before those madmen continue their murder spree.

Bruce

We need to find Valley. He’s our only lead.

Dick

I think it’s too late for that, he found our tracker. Trashed it at the Gotham airport.

Bruce

We need to get over there now

Dick

Do we suit up?

Bruce

No, keep on the civilians. We don’t want to raise too much attraction.

Alfred

If I may remind you sir, your board meeting? This is vital for the future of Wayne Industries, and by extension the future of this dreadful cave. Who knows what they’ll suggest without you?

Bruce

.. you’re right. Dick, you know what to do.

Dick

Way ahead of you.

Dick zooms off in a muscle car, headed towards the Airport.

Dick heads to the airport and speaks to the nearest clerk

Dick

Hey, how are you doing

Clerk

Hello sir, what would you like to do today?

Dick whips out a fake, but convincing, FBI badge

Dick

I need to see all records related to a man called Jean-Paul Valley Jr.

Dick is in the backroom with the secretary reviewing records

Secretary

I’m sorry sir.. There’s nothing here with that name

Dick

Double check.

Secretary

We’ve triple checked. We take our security very seriously here. He’s not here.

Dick

Is he going by an alias?

Secretary

I doubt it, he’s not getting through without a valid ID and passport. Especially if it was international.

Meanwhile, Valley is on a plane that’s already in the sky.

Stewardess

Anything to drink?

Jean-Paul

No, thanks.

He goes to sleep, and has a flashback of when he was a kid with his father. His dad walked in his room while he was playing with legos, two little passes in his hand.

Jean-Paul Sr.

Junior

Jean-Paul

Dad?

Jean-Paul Sr.

Hey kiddo, listen take these

Jean-Paul takes the two passes, one is a fake ID with the name Michael Lane and his Jean-Paul’s future face (the main story). The second is a passport with the name Michael Lane. The dates are all up to date with the present timeline in the main story.

Jean-Paul

What are these? Fake IDs?

Jean-Paul Sr.

They’re uh.. They’re tools for the future. You’ll know when to use them, and you’ll know how. For now, keep it with you everywhere.

Jean-Paul

Who’s the guy in the picture?

Jean-Paul Sr.

He’s um.. Well he’ll be familiar in the future. Don’t think about it too much.

Jean-Paul

Okay dad.

Jean-Paul Sr.

Hey Jean?

Jean-Paul

Yeah dad?

Jean-Paul Sr.

These next few months, well they might get a little hectic. I just wanted to let you know, my mother and I love you very much. No matter what

Jean-Paul

What’s going on?

Jean-Paul Sr.

Nothing. Nothing. Just, goodnight.

Jean-Paul

Goodnight Dad.

The flashback ends, and the plane is touching down in Geneva. A cabby with the name Azrael plastered on it signals towards Jean, he gets in the jeep and they drive up the mountains. Jean-Paul gets out of the jeep and he’s greeted by hooded members and a small monkey like beast man.

Monkey Beast Man

Hrrm. About time.

-Episode End-