Thread by @HannahGraceLong

THE BATMAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE: A THREAD 1/

Shinbone, TX. 1890.

Psychopathic anarchist Liberty Valance has inspired a crime surge. His one opponent? An anonymous vigilante: The Batman.

Our story opens with a robbery, where Liberty encounters someone he doesn't expect...2/

Shinbone's new D.A., Ransom Stoddard. 3/

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6/ Unfortunately, the Shinbone police force leaves somewhat to be desired.

7/ (I know this is pretty granular dialogue to pull, but they basically have this exact conversation and it maps so nicely onto it so--)

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10/ A romantic rivalry between the strait-laced D.A. and the powerful but lawless local rancher, Tom Doniphon, threatens their alliance, but Doniphon ultimately throws in with Shinbone's white knight.

11/ Unfortunately, this happy scene is interrupted when Valance makes an appearance with his gang of thugs, inconsistently claiming to have no agenda while making demands. (See, the Joker really is an ideologue, geddit)

12/ Tom's views of justice are simple. They're about to get a lot more complicated.

13/ Liberty goes too far.

14/ After Liberty kills the local newspaper editor, Lucius Peabody, Tom attempts to talk Ranse down.

15/ It doesn't work.

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17/ Meanwhile, Liberty is playing with a coin and philosophizing.

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19/ It's all over, but Ransom Stoddard isn't satisfied, convinced he can never be happy knowing he's broken his one rule.

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21/ The noble lie begins to take form.

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23/

24/ ...and we cut, twenty years later. Tom's narration merges into Ransom Stoddard's voice.

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26/ We return to Sheriff Gordon.

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/fin

BONUS: Set photos of young Tom Doniphon and Deputy Gordon on the set of BATMAN BEGINS (and Hallie, who was recast for the sequel)