literature

Getting Tall (A Musical Short)

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Literature Text

Joseph and Alfred work on Nightwing, who has been shot badly. Damian and Sam watch from a distance. Batman is working on the computer. Soon, Joseph comes down from the med-lab, disposing his gloves. He pats Sam and Damian on the shoulder. He heads over to Bruce.

Joseph: He'll pull through.

Batman: I had no doubts.

Joseph: He's not the one I'm worried about.

Batman turns around and glares silently. Joseph doesn't flinch.

Joseph: I know that when the Joker is on the rampage, you tend to be single minded. But tonight, you were so focused on getting him that you got careless and Dick got shot badly.

Batman: He knows the risks.

Joseph: And you know better than to rush into a building where there is a trap.

Batman stands, enraged.

Batman: Don't you dare start with me, Joseph. You barely know anything of field work--

Joseph: I know enough from my roofcrawling days, thank you! I may not have been up to your standards, but at least I would scope out the place. You, Dick, and Damian were supposed to act like a team; instead Dick is now in critical, but stable, condition, Joker got away, and you have nothing to show for it. You don't know what his next step is.

Batman: Right now, all we need to focus on is Joker, even Dick knows that. That is all that matters; once he's back in Arkham, the city will be safe.

Joseph's eyes go wide

Joseph: It's finally happened, you've lost your damn mind.

Batman backhands Joseph, sending him to the floor. Alfred and Sam gasp, Damian barely blinks an eye.

Batman: Don't you dare speak to that way again to me, Joseph.

Joseph: You want to focus on Joker, fine.

Joseph heads to the Batcave's entrance

Joseph: You won't have my help.

He stands on the stairs

Joseph: Seems like every time you need help, you push it aside. Perhaps you deserve to be alone, you $&%*ing lunatic.

Batman: GET OUT!

Joseph does so, though his composure seems to be breaking. Batman goes to sit down, but sees Damian leave.

Batman: Robin.

Damian: I think Kane spoke for us all.

He leaves. Bruce looks at Alfred. Alfred looks disappointed.

Alfred: Your father would be ashamed by that display.

Batman: Alfred, I--

The butler, however, has left. Batman sits down, looking actually guilty and upset. He turns back to the computer, staring at Joker's face.

Sam: *off panel* Batman....

Batman turns back, Sam is standing, tears in his eyes, hands in fists, but being brave. Titus and Barkley flank him.

Sam: Why are you being so mean?

Batman: I need to stop Joker, I can't let myself be distracted by--

Sam: It's your mistake! Apologize to them. Apologize to Dick when he gets up.

Batman: You're too young to understand, Sam.

Sam: All I know is this is not the Batman I look up to.

Batman nearly growls

Batman: Then go find him elsewhere!

Batman turns back to the computer. Sam remains where he is.

Sam: You know, my grandma taught me this song from a musical, it's about becoming a big kid...but I think it might help you.

Batman: Whatever makes you happy, Sam; just don't distract me for long.

Sam clears his throat and sings.

Sam: *singing* Scraping knees, tying shoes,
Starting school, paying dues,
Finding there's no way
We can spend a lifetime playing ball
Part of getting tall.
Learning more, knowing less,
Simple words, tenderness part of getting tall.

Sam approaches Batman

Sam: *singing* Batman, you're not crazy, you're alright.
Everyone wants everyone in sight ...
But knowing you have no one if you try to have them
all
Is part of tying shoes,
Part of starting school,
Part of scraping knees if we should fall
Part of getting tall.

Batman thinks back to when his father got him out of the pit he fell into.

Thomas Wayne: Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can pick ourselves up.

Batman's hands grip the chair's armrests, he is deep in thought. He stands and heads up the stairs

Sam: Batman?

Upstairs, the others turn as Batman enters the living room. Joseph is nursing his jaw with an ice pack.

Alfred: Master Bruce, you said to never wear the--

Batman: I--I need help. Joseph, I am sorry I yelled, and for hitting you. I do need your help to find Joker. I did pick up a sample of a chemical he was using, if you could--

Joseph: Trace it to a manufacturer? On it. *stands to leave* Oh, and Bruce? Thanks. I know it was very hard to ask.

Batman: Let's say your brother can be very persuasive in his way.

Joseph has a small smile as he leaves. Batman turns to Alfred and Damian.

Batman: Alfred, can you look after Dick? Damian, we leave in 10 minutes to look over the crime scene to see if we can find anything else.

Damian: Yes, father.

He leaves, Alfred turns to Batman

Alfred: What did Master Sam do to make you see reason?

Batman: You'd never believe me.

Sam enters the living room

Sam: Alfred, I'm getting a snack and then I'll head to bed.

Alfred: Very good, I or your brother will check on you later.

Sam goes to leave when Batman says....

Batman: Sam, thank you.

Sam: No problem.

Batman leaves. Sam stands in front of a portrait of Bruce and his parents

Sam: *sings* Everyone wants everyone in sight ...
But knowing you have no one if you try to have them
all
Is part of tying shoes,
Part of starting school,
Part of scraping knees if we should fall
Part of getting tall.
When Batman shoves those he cares for so he can concentrate on the Joker, it's a small voice of reason that brings him back.

The song sung in this short is from the musical Nine, which originally starred Raul "Gomez Addams" Julia and was revived with Antonio Banderas in the same role. The song is sung towards the end of the musical to the lead by his nine year old self.

As Sam is close to nine years old when this likely goes down, seems appropriate.

Here is a link to the original song (you will need Spotify, which is free): Cameron Johann – Getting Tall

Maybe I'll do more of these musical shorts in the future

Joseph and Sam Kane belong to me
Batman et al is belong to DC Comics
"Getting Tall" from Nine, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, rights belong to the owners of the music, lyrics, show etc
© 2014 - 2024 Dkalban
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WhiskeySalad's avatar
I'm not going to lie - this is my favorite piece from you so far. Maybe I'm biased, considering I've always enjoyed having drama and 'oh snap' moments in my stories, but I'm pretty sure I speak for all of us when I say it's good to see Bruce acknowledging the consequences his emotional constipation creates. You captured his ruthless, obsessive need for vengeance perfectly, and I myself always found it sickening when I see him pushing his loved ones away for the ones he hates. Though I can't ever imagine him apologizing like this in the comics (again with his broody, emotional constipation), it's rather nice to see him do it here; it gives the reader a feeling of closure (considering the majority of his conflicts with the Batfam tend to go unresolved from what I've seen.

And ugh, don't even get me started with Sam...That song fit very well in this scenario, and I adore that lovable tyke all the more for it!