TO: BRIAN SMITH, MIKE MARTSEd

FROM: GAIL SIMONE

BATGIRL 13 REVISED
A BLADE OF MEMORY

Note: The structure of this issue is a little different, Ed, with the
big climax in the middle of the issue, and some denounment and
cliffhanger moments following. This first page takes place
immediately after last issue, where Batgirl has been stabbed in
the side. Now she has an insane and deadly woman standing right
in front of her, when she is in danger of possibly bleeding to
death, or even being injured internally.

PAGE ONE:
Ed, this page is a series of snapshots of Batgirl's situation, both
from her perspective and an outside perspective. It's designed to
feel feverish and a little disoriented, as she is adjusting to the
pain and loss of blood. Feel free to play with the shape and
borders of the panels, if you like, anything that indicates
disorientation.
PANEL ONE: The Three Towers Building, first shown in issue ten,
establishing shot, at night, in Gotham.
BATGIRL CAP: Rainbows.

PANEL TWO Batgirl (she is on her hands and knees, but this is a
close up of her head, as she faces downward, eyes closed in pain.
BATGIRL CAP: I might be dying.
BATGIRL CAP: And I'm actually seeing rainbows.

PANEL THREE: Her hand, over the cut in her side, blood is
spattered slightly on her fingers.
BATGIRL CAP: And I'm actually seeing rainbows.
BATGIRL CAP: I'm sure there's a neurological reason for it.
BATGIRL CAP: But I can't think of what it might BE just now.

PANEL FOUR: Knightfall's feet, near Batgirl's head, as Knightfall

paces the floor.

KNIGHTFALL: I won't apologize.

KNIGHTFALL: The tar pits don't apologize to dinosaurs.

PANEL FIVE: KNIGHTFALL's hand, holding the bloody knife,

absent-mindedly.
KNIGHTFALL: Your people have been running Gotham for
years.
KNIGHTFALL: You've let this city choke to death slowly.
BATGIRL CAP: And above me, my target.
PANEL SIX: Knightfall's face, masked, looking down are the
woman on the floor.
BATGIRL CAP: The woman who wants to run Gotham like a
train set.
KNIGHTFALL: YOU LET THIS HAPPEN, BATGIRL.
BATGIRL CAP: The woman who tortures and murders
criminals to set an 'example.'

PAGE TWO:
Full Page panel...Batgirl, on her hands and knees, clearly in pain,
with the wound in her side (she's applying pressure with her free
hand as best she can). Standing to one side facing her is
KNIGHTFALL, who looks down at her, and has knives in both
hands. The same knives as last issue, the same knives used to kill
her parents.
We have to see Knightfall's expensive desk behind her, please.
One of her knives has blood on it, the same one shown on the
previous page.

This should be a very dramatic page, like Batgirl is in SERIOUS

trouble and Knightfall is one deadly opponent, please.
BATGIRL CAP: The woman who just stuck a KNIFE in me.
KNIGHTFALL: YOU LET THIS CITY ROT.

TITLE AND CREDITS

A BLADE OF MEMORY

Gail Simone--Writer
Ed Benes Penciler
?-Inker
Ulises Arreola-Colorist
Dave Sharpe-Letterer

Brian Smith-Editor
Batman created by Bob Kane

PAGE THREE:
PANEL ONE: Knightfall squats down, knives almost carelessly held
loosely in her hands, as she talks to Batgirl.
KNIGHTFALL: ...
KNIGHTFALL: You're younger than I thought.
KNIGHTFALL: Around my age. I didn't expect that.

PANEL TWO: Batgirl looks up at Knightfall, through the corners of

her eyes.
BATGIRL: Who you are.
BATGIRL: I KNOW, Knightfall.
BATGIRL: I know.

PANEL THREE: Knightfall's mask, impassive.

KNIGHTFALL: I'm sure.
KNIGHTFALL: But what difference does that make now,
really?
KNIGHTFALL: Is there anyone you want me to notify?
KNIGHTFALL: Of your death. Do I call anyone?

PANEL FOUR: Batgirl's hand, reaching up towards Knightfall's

mask, a bit weakly.
BATGIRL CAP: Well, that's nice. A considerate murderer.

BATGIRL: Thanks.
BATGIRL: I'm fine.

PANEL FIVE: Knighfall takes Batgirl's hand by the wrist, gently

keeping Batgirl from unmasking her.
KNIGHTFALL: Clearly.
KNIGHTFALL: Don't think you know what's under here just
because you know my NAME.

PANEL SIX: Knightfall stands up, as Batgirl's hand falls down,

almost limply.
KNIGHTFALL: You don't want to look into MY eyes, Batgirl.

PAGE FOUR:
Ed, I THINK this page is going to be awesome, think of the
struggle of Batgirl as she has to slowly RAISE herself to her feet in
this mostly silent page.

PANEL ONE: Knightfall, turned away and a short distance from

Batgirl and her desk, as she speaks into a small phone/walkie
talkie device.
KNIGHTFALL: Bonebreaker. She's gone. Come collect her.
KNIGHTFALL: Bonebreaker? Come in, please.

PANEL TWO: The corner of the surface of Knightfall's desk,

gleaming and metallic, or classic oak and glass, however you
have chosen to draw it, Ed.
KNIGHTFALL (off-panel): Sally? Come IN, please.

PANELTHREE: Exact same panel, but suddenly, Batgirl's bloody

HAND has reached up to grab the table surface, palm flat.
PANEL FOUR: Batgirl's face, determined, eyes towards Knightfall
(who is off-panel), as she painfully begins to raise herself up.
PANEL FIVE: Batgirl, unsteadily, raises herself to her feet, leaning
heavily on the desk, her legs a bit shaky. We see she's left a
bloody handprint on the desk where her hand was a moment
before.

PANEL SIX: Knightfall turns, unaware that Batgirl has righted

herself.
BATGIRL (off-panel): Knightfall?
KNIGHTFALL: ...?

PAGE FIVE:
PANEL ONE: Batgirl throws an incredible haymaker, using her
reserves of strength, knocking Knightfall POWERFULLY down to
one bent knee. This is a big, cathartic panel. A bit of blood from
Batgirl's fist is on Knightfall's mask.
BATGIRL: I wasn't done TALKING yet.

PANEL TWO: Batgirl KICKS, with the sole of one foot, across the
front of the kneeling Knightfall's head, turning her head in brutal
pain.
KNIGHTFALL: GUH.

PANEL THREE: Batgirl, over Knightfall, who is on the floor, raised

up on one elbow. Batgirl's fists are clenched, her bloody glove
showing. Her teeth are gritted, her determination is clear.
BATGIRL: Oh, I'm sorry.
BATGIRL: Was there someone you wanted me to NOTIFY?
BATGIRL: Can I CALL someone for you?

PAGE SIX:
PANEL ONE: Batgirl's face, sweating from the effort.
BATGIRL CAP: I'm bluffing. Mostly.
BATGIRL CAP: I've got some in the tank still. A little bit,
maybe. Hopefully.
BATGIRL CAP: But she's still fresh and dangerous.

PANEL TWO: Batgirl throws herself at the prone Knightfall,

landing with an elbow smash right to the masked woman, clearly
trying to do a knockout blow in this bloody fight.
BATGIRL CAP: So be FAST, Batgirl.
BATGIRL CAP: Be mean and be FAST.
KNIGHTFALL: Gkk.

PANEL THREE: Batgirl is on top of Knightfall, holding her by the

wrists. Knightfall's hands both have the knives still in them.
BATGIRL CAP: Okay.
BATGIRL CAP: I could have possibly had a PLAN, I guess.
KNIGHTFALL: Get OFF me.
PANEL FOUR: Knightfall's hand, with a knife, breaks free to slice
at Batgirl's face, who is BARELY able to move her head back in
time, and a chunk of hair from one side is chopped in mid-air by
the flashing blades.
KNIGHTFALL: Don't TOUCH me.

KNIGHTFALL: Get OFF!

PANEL FIVE: A security monitor, showing panel four, from a
higher angle. James Jr's hand is spread on the monitor's glass, his
fingers just barely touching the form of his sister. The security
monitor next to the one showing Batgirl is showing Batwoman and
McKenna as they fight the Disgraced downstairs. It's important
that we see that battle is still fighting, please.

PANEL SIX: Reverse view, James Jr. watching the scene,

impassively.
JAMES: I can almost touch you.
JAMES: Batgirl.

PAGE SEVEN:
PANEL ONE: Knightfall stands, knives at the ready, facing Batgirl,
who is just clenching her fists right now.
BATGIRL: I notice your creepy little bodyguards aren't
answering your
calls, Knightfall.
BATGIRL: I bet MY friends had something to do with that,
what do you
think?
KNIGHTFALL: Okay.
KNIGHTFALL: You want to see behind the mask, Batgirl?
KNIGHTALL: So be it.

PANEL TWO: Small panel, Knightfall reaching up to undo her

mask.
PANEL THREE: Same pose, with her mask off (she still has her
hood on).
It's Cherise Carnes, but her eyes are dark, and angry. Her hair is a
little wild.
KNIGHTFALL: You know who my father was.
KNIGHTFALL: Kenneth Carnes, the real estate baron.
Gotham's last kingmaker.
KNIGHTFALL: We were practically royalty.
PANEL FOUR: Flashback, a handsome man, her father, a
businessman at his desk, the same desk we have seen in this
office in this issue, that Batgirl just got blood on.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "I'm not naive. My father built everything
he had with
bribes and muscle. No one became a judge in

Gotham without his sayso, and

they ALL owed him.

KNIGHTFALL CAP: "But he was my father."

PANEL FIVE: A young, high school age Cherise at a karate
competition, wearing a black belt, and fighting a larger boy her
own age, and smiling. Flashback.
on

KNIGHTFALL: "And I wanted him to be proud. I never gave up

anything.

KNIGHTFALL: "He was all I cared about. I didn't care about

boys--who
could compete with my dad?"

PANEL SIX: Again, a young Cherise at a carnival, a young man her

own age has his arm around her, on a date. She's holding a red
balloon.
KNIGHTFALL: "I did find someone, Trevor.
KNIGHTFALL: "The first boy who didn't care about my
family's money,
he said. He said it would only bring me
unhappiness."

PAGE NINE:
PANEL ONE: Flashback, red panel. The same boy from the last
panel is behind teenage Cherise...holding a knife at her throat.
Her eyes are wide with terror.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "He was right.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "He showed up one night with knives.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "He made me call my family down. Made
me use his
duct tape to bind them, my parents and my little
brother."

PANEL TWO: Her eyes, wide in terror, in close-up, still a flashback

to that awful night.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "Made me watch him take their skin.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "It took three hours. Said he did it for the
LULZ."

PANEL THREE: Cherise, present day, facing Batgirl.

BATGIRL: If that's true, Cherise, why didn't you bring it up at
the trial?
KNIGHTFALL: Because I had a revelation, Batgirl. Sitting in
my family's
blood. A baptism.

PANEL FOUR: Cherise's face, in flashback, a bit of blood spattered

on her. She is smiling, her mind is broken.

KNIGHTFALL CAP: "I could never make dear Trevor face what
he had
done, if he were in prison.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: "Never make him comprehend.

PANEL FIVE: Batgirl's face, skeptical, but concerned...she knows

where this is headed.
BATGIRL: What did you do, Knightfall?
BATGIRL: Where is Trevor NOW?

PANEL SIX: Knightfall points off-panel, with her knife, casually.

KNIGHTFALL: Oh, you met him once already.

PAGE TEN:
PANEL ONE: The cells that Knightfall keeps, specifically, the one
with the shambling wreck of a man in it, that's been there since
issue ten. He looks rough, he's been tortured every day for
months, he is completely broken as a human being, dirty, wearing
rags. His cell has a small food bowl in one corner and a small jug
of water. A bucket is in another corner, all he has for a bathroom.
KNIGHTFALL: He's been my guest, these past few months.
KNIGHTFALL: Wave to the nice lady, Trevor.
BATGIRL CAP: Dear god.
PANEL TWO: Batgirl, her face showing an expression of horror as
Knightfall faces her.
BATGIRL: Wait.
BATGIRL: Are you telling me...you INTENTIONALLY...
KNIGHTFALL: YES.
KNIGHTFALL: I went to Arkham, not to rehabiliate.
PANEL THREE: A panel of Cherise, in her Arkham pajamas, in
flashback, surrounded by maniacs and murderers.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: I went there to LEARN.

PANEL FOUR: Knightfall's face, intense, remembering.

KNIGHTFALL CAP: Every killer, every sadist.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: I LEARNED the craft of MADNESS.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: And do you know what ELSE I learned,
Batgirl?

PANEL FIVE: Knighfall gestures to the outside through and

expansive window in the great opulent office. We see the lights of
the Gotham skyline at night.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: Arkham isn't behind a walled fortress
anymore.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: It's spilled OUT.
KNIGHTFALL CAP: It's out THERE.

PAGE ELEVEN:
PANEL ONE: She turns again to face Batgirl, her face in shadow in
front of the window.
KNIGHTFALL: And when I had learned all I needed? When I'd
RESHAPED myself?
KNIGHTFALL: I used my FATHER's methods, every bit of graft
and blackmail...ever crooked judge, every witness willing to
recant for MONEY.

PANEL TWO: She smiles, chillingly.

KNIGHTFALL: And I walked out of that dark place a free
woman.
KNIGHTFALL: My murdered father's daughter.
KNIGHTFALL: Gotham's only PRINCESS.

PANEL THREE: Batgirl's face...absorbing this awful story.

KNIGHTFALL: And I will rule the city and fix what civilization
CAN'T.
BATGIRL CAP: She...she's disconnected.
PANEL FOUR: Batgirl walks to the cells.
BATGIRL CAP: But I can sure as hell save SOMEONE.
BATGIRL CAP: I can USE her.
KNIGHTFALL: What are you doing?
BATGIRL: You know what I'm doing. I'm leaving.

BATGIRL: And I'm taking Ricky, the kid you mutilated for
stealing CARS.

PANEL FIVE: Batgirl's face, determined, as she turns to face

Knightfall.
BATGIRL CAP: She wants to cause pain so bad
THINKING
anymore.

she isn't

BATGIRL: And one other thing, just so we're clear.

BATGIRL CAP: I can't save her.

PANEL SIX: Batgirl jerks a thumb to gesture at Trevor, the sad

tortured wretch behind her.
BATGIRL CAP: But I can USE her.
BATGIRL: I'm taking TREVOR, also.

PAGE TWELVE-THIRTEEN:
Two page spread, combat, Ed, feel free to go energetic and wild
with the panel arrangement, but I see it as the big panel, panel
one, taking up the top two thirds of both pages.
PANEL ONE: Big panel, Knightfall THROWING herself at Batgirl,
pushing Batgirl hard against the cell doors. It's a big, sexy,
powerful and brutal panel.
KNIGHTFALL:

NOOOOOO!

PANEL TWO: Knightfall SLAMS her fist against the wound where
she hit Batgirl previously.
BATGIRL CAP: Oh.
BATGIRL CAP: URK.

PANEL THREE: Batgirl's face, her eyes squeezed shut, water

appearing at the corners of both eyes from the agony.
BATGIRL CAP: I can't...
BATGIRL CAP: Can't let her do that AGAIN.
KNIGHTFALL: He hasn't PAID.
KNIGHTFALL: He hasn't NEARLY paid.

PANEL FOUR: Knightfall, her fists doubled, throws both fists up

against Batgirl's chin from below, rocking Batgirl's head back
against the bars.
BATGIRL CAP: I'm not...
PANEL FIVE: Knightfall BACKHANDS Batgirl.
BATGIRL CAP: I'm not gonna MAKE it.
PANEL SIX: Batgirl dodges a vicious punch, causing Knightfall's
hand to pass by her head and actually enter the cell behind her
through the bars.
BATGIRL CAP: Rainbows again.
BATGIRL CAP: But the colors are DARK this time.

PAGE FOURTEEN:
PANEL ONE: An arm, Ricky's arm, grabs Knightfall's wrist through
the bars...her face is surprised, in shock. We don't see Ricky's face
yet. Batgirl is still reeling, she isn't quite following what's
happening.
KNIGHTFALL: What?
PANEL TWO: Ricky, the car thief from previous issues, has
grabbed Knightfall's hand and wrist and forearm, and pulled them
through the bars into his cage. He is yelling at Batgirl, delightedly.
BATGIRL: Ricky?
RICKY: I GOT her. I GOT HER.
RICKY: Go on and KICK HER ASS, GIRL!

PANEL THREE: Batgirl smiles, lifting her bloody fist.

BATGIRL CAP: Well.
BATGIRL CAP: It's not exactly LADYLIKE.

PANEL FOUR: Batgirl SLAMS her fist into Knightfall's midsection,

bending Knightfall over.
BATGIRL CAP: But what the hell, right?
KNIGHTFALL: kuhk

PANEL FIVE: Batgirl brings her knee up to Knightfall's face as the

young woman is bent forward...Batgirl brings both fists down on
the top of the woman's head, hitting her from above and below. If

possible here, we may see a bit of Batgirl's blood on her side, and
on her cape, from her wound. Again, not gory or gross...just to
show that these women have been through a LOT.

PANEL SIX: Batgirl holds Cherise's head up by the hair, turning the
woman's face up to look at her.
BATGIRL: Remember this, Cherise.
BATGIRL: You don't know what's behind MY eyes, EITHER.

PAGE FIFTEEN:
PANEL ONE: Big panel, Batgirl punches Knightfall in an uppercut
that takes her feet right out from under her. The force of it is
enough to make Batgirl herself loose her footing a little bit, but
it's absolutely devastating to Knightfall, we see the impact simply
ROCK her head back.
She's beaten, she's knocked down like a giant redwood tree, Ricky
has let go, so she really is sent flying.
KNIGHTFALL: glck

PANEL TWO: Batgirl slumps against the bars, Ricky reaches to

hold her up.
RICKY: You won. You beat her.
RICKY: You don't look so good.
BATGIRL: Really?
BATGIRL: I was just about to say...

PANEL THREE: She smiles, touching the young man's forehead

with her own through the bars, he's smiling too.
BATGIRL: ....you look kinda like a HERO right now.

PANEL FOUR: Knightfall, on her knees...the fight temporarily

knocked out of her. She's not getting up, her bell's been rung for a
moment.
KNIGHTFALL: think you.

KNIGHTFALL: Think you've won?

KNIGHTFALL: What now?

PANEL FIVE: She looks up, smiling, her nose and mouth bleeding
a little bit.
KNIGHTFALL: I OWN the judges. I OWN the cops.
KNIGHTFALL: You think I'll go to JAIL? To ARKHAM?
BATGIRL CAP: It's true.
BATGIRL CAP: She can buy TEN acquittals, I know it.
MCKENNA (off-panel): No, Cherise. We know we can't arrest
you.

PAGE SIXTEEN:
PANEL ONE: McKenna, still in her SWAT gear, and
Batwoman...neither wearing their gask masks now, are at the
door of the office. Batwoman stands, arms crossed, while
McKenna holds a shotgun. At their feet are the three DISGRACED
(Katharsis, Bleak Michael, and Bonecrusher, all unconscious).
MCKENNA: But we're not going to let you take our city,
EITHER.
BATGIRL CAP: Oh, fine. NOW the cavalry arrives.
BATWOMAN: You okay, Batgirl?
PANEL TWO: Batgirl, one arm around Ricky, helping support each
other. Knightfall starts yelling at her.
BATGIRL: Never better.
BATGIRL: But a HOSPITAL might be in immediate order.
KNIGHTFALL: This isn't done. This is not FINISHED.
KNIGHTFALL: I'll build an ARMY.

PANEL THREE: We see Batwoman helping Trevor out of the cell.

Batgirl faces Knightfall, who is rising to her feet.
BATGIRL: Good. Send them my way, Cherise.
KNIGHTFALL: You don't KNOW. You don't know what I HAVE.
KNIGHTFALL: I have security cameras EVERYWHERE.

PANEL FOUR: Knightfall, screaming at the Batgirl as she walks

away, Batwoman and MCKENNA each helping one of Knightfall's

prisoners to stand.
KNIGHTFALL: I own the SERVERS and the DATABASES.
KNIGHTFALL: I will TEAR GOTHAM APART.
PANEL FIVE: Batgirl pauses.

PANEL SIX: Then she turns her head around to throw her last
word to her new foe.
BATGIRL: Then I'll learn to beat those, TOO.
BATGIRL: We'll talk SOON, Cherise Carnes.

PAGE SEVENTEEN:
PANEL ONE: Barbara, in her bathroom, in her nightclothes, which
is a big man's t-shirt and slippers...the door is open. She's looking
in the mirror, holding up the shirt where a fresh bandage is
wrapped over her side where she was wounded.
CAPTION: FOUR HOURS LATER
BARBARA CAP: Exhausted. NEVER been so tired.
BARBARA CAP: Fortunately, Detective McKenna 'knew a guy.'
BARBARA CAP: The stitches weren't pretty, but the news
wasn't too
bad...liver laceration, grade three hepatic incision.
It'll clot itself out.
ALYSIA (off-panel): Let me guess, another doorknob, right?
BARBARA: Something like that.
PANEL TWO: Barbara turns to see her roomie and friend, who is
still wearing the outfit she wears to her bartending gig, standing
in the bathroom doorway. Alysia is holding the Siamese cat that
James, Junior bought her.
ALYSIA: I hope you know what you're doing, Gordon.
ALYSIA: Meet our new boykitty roomie, Alaska. Not allergic, I
hope?
BARBARA: Oh, MAN. He's GORGEOUS..
BARBARA CAP: He is.
BARBARA CAP: Almost makes me forget that Knightfall is still
OUT there.