Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight (Everything Burns)
INT. RUSTED HULK -- CONTINUOUS
They pass into a huge hold. In the middle: A BILLION DOLLARS. The pile is thirty feet high. Standing on top- the Joker. At his feet, bound, is Lau. The Chechen laughs.

CHECHEN
not so crazy as you look.

The Joker jumps from the top, slides down the pile.

THE JOKER
I told you- I'm a man of my word.
(looks around) Where's the Italian?

The Chechen shrugs. Pulls out a cigar. Lights it.

CHECHEN
More for us. What you do with all
your money?

The Joker throws money at Lau.

THE JOKER
You see I'm a guy of simple tastes. I enjoy uhh, dynamite, and gunpowder, and GASOLINE!!!


The Joker's thug starts SPLASHING gasoline onto the money.
The Chechen, FURIOUS, steps forwards. The Joker turns. JABS his gun in the Chechen's face.

THE JOKER
And you know what they have in
common? They're cheap.

CHECHEN
You said you were a man of your word.

The Joker PLUCKS the cigar from the Chechen's lips.

THE JOKER
Oh I am.

The Joker comically blows on the cigar

THE JOKER
I'm only burning my half.

The Joker tosses the cigar at the pile.

The Chechen watches the money catch fire.

THE JOKER
All you care about is money. This
city deserves a better class of criminal, and I'm going to give it to them. Tell your men they work for me now. This is my city.

CHECHEN
They won't work for a freak.

The Joker gets visibly upset

THE JOKER
Why don't we Cut you up in to little pieces and then feed you to your pooches, and then we'll see how loyal a hungry dog REALLY is.

The Joker's men GRAB the Chechen.

THE JOKER
It's not about money. It's about
sending a message...

The Joker watches the towering FLAMES. Lau screams.

THE JOKER
Everything Burns.

The Joker pulls out a phone...