Johnston - Catwoman & Batman

       Scene: Bruce Wayne sitting at a conference table across from Max Shreck, the business mogul of Gotham. In walks the newly sultry, Selina Kyle. She instantaneously catches the attention of Mr. Wayne, in the sort of “love at first sight” typical romantic movie way. To Bruce, Selina seems like the kind of woman he would enjoy taking home, the new Vicky Vale. What he doesn’t know is that she is no Vicky Vale and that his life is about to become much, much more complicated. What Bruce also doesn’t know is that this isn’t his first encounter with the lovely Ms. Kyle. During the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree, the cult of crazed clowns descends on Gotham, leaving destruction in their path. One of the members tries to attack the “pre-attempted-murder” version of Selina just as Batman arrives. Of course, Batman saves the damsel in distress and they both continue on with their merry lives. Wrong. This is only the beginning of their multifarious relationship.
       The next time they meet is at Batman and Catwoman, just as Catwoman blows up Shreck’s office. Batman seems intrigued with Catwoman, just as Bruce was with Selina. He follows her up to the roof of a building where they commence their first fight. At first Batman doesn’t fight back and seems to be perplexed by Catwoman. It isn’t until she almost pushes him of the edge of the building that he begins to retaliate. Even then, he stops when she asks him how he could possibly hit a woman. He walks over to her thinking she is actually hurt, this makes him vulnerable, which Catwoman uses to her advantage as she proceeds to kick him in the stomach. The fight continues until Batman has Catwoman dangling over the edge. He pulls her up and she starts to use her womanly charm to trick Batman into thinking that she is thanking him for saving her. That is, until she digs her claws into his side. Batman shoves her of the side of the building where she lands in a dump truck filled with kitty litter. Thus, begins the hate-hate relationship between Batman and Catwoman.
       The next time the pair is seen together as Selina and Bruce is at Bruce’s house. This relationship is a stark contrast to the Batman and Catwoman one. Unlike in the Batman and Catwoman relationship, the two have genuine desire for the other. The scene starts out as the normal first date until both decide to cut it short when the other almost reveals their wounds from the fight as Batman and Catwoman. As the desire between Selina and Bruce strengthens, so does the hatred between Catwoman and Batman. The relationship becomes most complex when the two find out who the other truly is. They don’t know whether to follow the path of the Selina-Bruce relationship or the path of the Catwoman-Batman relationship. Throughout the film Selina makes Bruce vulnerable, which is ultimately destructive. From their first encounter as Batman and Catwoman, to their last interaction when Bruce decides to take of his mask in attempt to save Selina.