INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
[JOKER stands in the shadowy center of the warehouse, one flickering overhead light barely illuminating his pale, painted face. He's smirking, his eyes dark with glee. A corpse lies behind him, face painted like a grotesque smile.]
JOKER: (chuckling) WSP, James. I think it's your last day on Earth, mister. Hehe... Let's make it unforgettable.
[James arrives at the scene late. He pushes through the caution tape, staring down at the painted corpse. Lisa and Sofia are nearby, visibly shaken.]
JAMES: If Lucas were here… I guess it'd be easier.
SOFIA: Yeah, that kinda makes sense. He'd already be breaking the guy's legs by now.
JAMES: Lisa still isn't okay. She's been through hell. This guy? He's playing with us. With me.
[Sofia kneels next to the corpse. She examines the thick cream smeared across the victim's face.]
SOFIA: Same cream as the last one. You were right. It's a rare chemical compound. Designed to cause rapid tissue decay... and leave a permanent smile.
JAMES: He's making art out of his victims. And I think he wants an audience.
[INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT]
[James, standing near the operations board, addresses a group of officers.]
JAMES: We've got no pattern, no solid lead. But he's escalating. So here's what we're gonna do—we divide forces. Search every known dump site, theater, old warehouse in this sector. Keep your radios hot.
[A young officer rushes into the room.]
OFFICER: Sir! We found another corpse. He left a message again.
JAMES: Location?
OFFICER: West tunnels. Near the river. But… the signal cut off. He screamed something before the radio died.
[James's eyes narrow.]
JAMES: He's baiting us. Move out. Now.
[INT. WEST TUNNELS – LATER THAT NIGHT]
[James crouches low behind a concrete pillar. Rainwater drips from above. A faint laugh echoes through the tunnels. A clown-like figure—JOKER—walks forward slowly, dragging a blood-stained cane.]
JOKER: (laughing wildly) Ahhhh! Finally! The great James! I heard you're quite the interesting one. Y'know, Martin spoke very highly of you...
JAMES: (alert) Martin? What do you know about him?
JOKER: (smirking) Doesn't matter now. You're here. I'm here. The world is our canvas, James.
JAMES: You want attention. You want chaos. But you're just a coward with face paint.
JOKER: (grinning) Hahaha! You think you can beat me? Let's paint the walls red together!
[The JOKER lunges with a hidden blade. James dodges narrowly, counters with a punch. The two fight hand-to-hand. Blood is drawn. The Joker manages to stab James once in the side, but James stays calm.]
JAMES: You thought that would scare me?
[James elbows the Joker and slams him into a wall. He looks at him, breathing heavily.]
JAMES: The police already have your two helpers. You're the last act.
JOKER: (spitting blood) Kill me then. Go on. Embrace it, James. I know what's inside you. That shapeless monster...
[James picks up the Joker's dropped revolver. He stares at him.]
JAMES: Yeah... inside me, there is a monster. But at least mine knows when to shoot.
[BANG. The Joker falls. Dead.]
[Suddenly, a second attacker appears behind James—a drunk man with a knife. James twists, dodges, and smashes the man's face into a wall. The man collapses.]
JAMES: Two brain-dead freaks in one night. Lucky me.
[James collapses to the ground, holding his side. Blood seeps through his shirt. Sirens wail in the background as police rush in.]
OFFICER 1: Sir! Are you alright?!
JAMES: (wincing) Just a stab wound. Nothing new. It's over.
[Sofia runs up, kneels next to him.]
SOFIA: You did it. It's really over.
JAMES: (staring into space) Evil... good... they both have to kill to create peace. That's what this world demands now. And I guess... I'm starting to sound like the old man.
[CUT TO BLACK]
TEXT OVER BLACK: "To be continued…"