BATGIRL #22 - DELETED SCENE 2 (of 2)

The second deleted scene - a snapshot of Steph's "miserable" voyage across the pond in coach. Again, in no way was this a make-or-break scene for the story. Just a bit of "street-level" fun as a means for delivering some set-up.

PAGE SEVEN

[NOTE: It’s one of those planes where, back in coach, there’s five seats in the middle of the cabin, an aisle on either side.]

[NOTE: Steph’s look while she’s undercover (as Constance Aberthine) is her idea of “dressing important.”  A dark purple blazer/pencil skirt combo, fake pearls on her neck.  Hair in a professional bun – definitely some kind of v-neck or shirt beneath the blazer.] 

INT. TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT - DAY
PANEL ONE
DEAD ON STEPH, eyeballing the ceiling, head back on a pillow. Headphones (iPod buds) in her ears. 

1. CAPTION: Somewhere over the ATLANTIC.

2. CAPTION (STEPH): So a couple of weeks ago, BRUCE WAYNE went “public” with BATMAN INC. and “admitted” that he had been privately funding Batman.

3. CAPTION (STEPH): Who am I to knock half-truths?  Mom thinks I’m on a last minute Cultural Studies excursion abroad. 

PANEL TWO
Unnerved, Steph lets her eyes drift to the side, toward an O.S. Kid’s voice.

4. HEADPHONES: This “flat” is “dodgy”.

5. CAPTION (STEPH): Batman told me I’d be going to England at some point.  So here I am…

6. KID (OFF-PANEL): Why are you dressed so fancy? 

PANEL THREE
PULL BACK to REVEAL Steph’s mired in the dregs of coach.  Exact middle seat.  People sleeping all around.  Everyone except for the KID next to her (who looks like the little boy from Up).  Steph’s got her palms over her eyes, frustrated.  The Kid’s idly playing with BOOSTER GOLD and CAPTAIN CARROT action figures as he talks to our girl.  Let’s put a sleeping mom next to him.  And a really overweight sleeping dude next to Steph on the other side. Not a comfortable ride, in the least.

7. CAPTION (STEPH): … in COACH.

8. KID: Are you going to a funeral?

9. KID: You’re wearing pearls. My mom wore pearls when she went to a funeral one time.  If you’re not going to a funeral, why are you wearing pearls? 

PANEL FOUR
ACROSS STEPH towards the KID – she’s pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to keep it together.  The Kid’s just being a kid, and she knows it.

10. STEPH: Because that’s what my intercontinental alter ego that I made up a couple of hours ago wears, okay?

11. STEPH: Now if you’ll excuse me – 

PANEL FOUR
BACK ON JUST STEPH as she squints open a dubious eye at the iPod now in her hand.

12. STEPH: “CONSTANCE ABERTHINE” needs some shut-eye.

13. HEADPHONES: I would greatly prefer a “gentleman’s wedge”.

14. CAPTION (STEPH): NOW you’re just screwing with me, Mr. Book-on-Tape.