April 19, 1989. Almost 12 PM.
Approaching his home, Bruce didn't even glance at the surrounding spring scenery. Not that he was paying much attention to the road ahead anyway—there were hardly any other cars on that stretch.
Pulling up to the gates, Bruce first looked at the garage, already thinking about how he'd fit the BMW he was currently driving inside. But in the garage, he spotted a car—a black Maybach. Most rich folks can't remember every car in their collection without checking, but Bruce knew all of them by heart, and he knew there was no black Maybach in his collection, only a dark blue one.
Bruce didn't think much of it—he knew whose car it was—so he simply stopped at the gates, got out, locked the car behind him, and walked toward the manor entrance. Before opening the door, he adjusted his jacket slightly.
Stepping inside, barely crossing the threshold, a shout of "SURPRISE!!!" hit Bruce in the face. Bruce, though he'd more or less expected this, still made a show of genuine surprise.
Standing before him in the hall was only Julia; in the background, Alfred was setting the table.
The thing is, today, April 19th, the number in Bruce's age ticks up by one, from 25 to 26.
Bruce Wayne, feigning slight annoyance: "Alfred, did you forget to close the door?"
Julia Madison: "You forgot you were having guests today, so the door needs to stay open." Though her tone carried a hint of gentle scolding, Julia then wraps her arms around Bruce's neck and gives him a light kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday."
Bruce Wayne: "Thanks. You know, I kind of forgot about it myself—what with all the management, financing, and other nonsense."
Julia Madison: "Well, no turning back now." Julia takes a small bag from the coat rack, obviously containing gifts. "Now, brace yourself." First, she pulls out a decently sized bottle of white wine and hands it to Bruce.
Bruce Wayne, examining the bottle: "Good lord. Alfred was right about needing to expand the wine cellar."
Alfred Pennyworth: "I told you so, Master Bruce! If you'd just listen to my advice once in a while, life would be a breeze!" Bruce didn't even look up at Alfred.
Julia Madison: "It's from Dad. He's been aging it in his basement for forty years."
Bruce Wayne: "I'll hope you didn't steal it, and that your dad really does respect me that much."
Julia Madison: "Don't you dare doubt it. Okay, now my turn." The next gift Julia pulls from her bag is a signed VHS tape, which she hands to Bruce. "Raging Bull. Signed by Scorsese."
Bruce Wayne: "My god. I'm almost afraid to ask where you got this."
Julia Madison: "Dad won it at an auction once. He's not a fan of those kinds of movies, so it was just gathering dust on his shelf."
Bruce Wayne: "A crime for something like this to collect dust."
Julia Madison: "I doubt he even ever played it." After this, Julia reaches into the bag again. "And that's not all." Julia hands Bruce a medium-sized bouquet of roses.
Bruce Wayne, accepting the bouquet: "Roses, too. Also from Mr. Madison, I presume?"
Julia Madison: "Nope."
Bruce Wayne: "Don't tell me you picked them from my rose garden?"
Julia Madison: "You don't have a rose garden—you even forgot that."
Bruce Wayne: "Exactly why I don't have one—so my own flowers don't get given back to me. *light sigh* Alright, I won't doubt you either anymore. Thank you." Bruce hugs Julia.
Alfred Pennyworth, taking all the gifts from Bruce's hands: "May I?" Without waiting for an answer, Alfred takes the bottle, the tape, and the bouquet, and places them in their rightful spots.
A little later, Bruce and Julia were sitting at the table in the center of the hall. Though there wasn't an excessive amount of food on the table—there were only two of them after all—in terms of quality and presentation, it could rival only the finest hors d'oeuvres from the most lavish social events.
Julia Madison: "I don't buy that you didn't invite a whole crowd and throw a massive party."Bruce Wayne: "At least at home, I want to be away from that rabble. I'm not a fan of those big gatherings anyway."
Julia Madison: "Strange to hear that from someone whose name is written in big letters on the tallest building in Gotham."
Bruce Wayne: "First off, it's not my name, it's my family's name. Not the same thing."
Alfred Pennyworth, interjecting: "And second, Master Bruce is trying his hardest not to be like his father. He was constantly throwing parties—the life of every party."
Julia Madison: "I don't doubt it, Mr. Pennyworth."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Please, Miss Julia—just Alfred."
Bruce Wayne: "You forgot to add that Father never let parties get out of hand. Besides, we've already discussed that the post-return honeymoon phase wouldn't last long. Next birthday, we'll be celebrating surrounded by people from all over the city and beyond."
Alfred felt like saying, "No, Master Bruce, that's not what you told me," but instead simply said, "I have no doubt."
A bit later, when the food on the table was almost gone.
Bruce Wayne: "Alfred, come on, bring out the bottle."
Julia Madison: "You want to open it right now?"
Bruce Wayne: "What's the point of a gift if you don't give it a chance on the very day?"
As Alfred briefly excused himself to get the bottle Julia had given them.
Julia Madison: "Listen, sorry Dad couldn't make it. He had some meeting or something this afternoon."
Bruce Wayne: "No problem, I'll see him in a couple of days anyway. I'm more surprised you came so early."
Julia Madison: "I just called Mr. Pennyworth and asked when you'd be out, and decided to come surprise you."
Bruce Wayne: "Well, you succeeded."
Julia Madison: "Oh, don't flatter yourself. You knew I'd be here the moment you saw my car."
Bruce Wayne: "Either way, I'm glad at least one of the Madisons came today. And even more glad it was the Madison I value most." He said as a slight blush appeared on Julia's cheeks.
Alfred Pennyworth, coming back with a bottle of wine: "Well, lady and gentleman, be ready." Opening the bottle of white wine, Alfred pours into two glasses on the table.
Bruce Wayne: "You're this cheered up right now. Peeing yourself with joy that finally more than two glasses will be in the wash today?"
Alfred Pennyworth: "Why should I be happy to clean one more extra glass? Unless it was put into a good use."
The next two hours Bruce and Julia spent watching Raging Bull, drinking wine, and finishing off the last of the food. When the movie was about halfway through the final third, Bruce, hearing strange sounds from Julia's direction, realized she'd fallen asleep right there on his sofa.
Alfred Pennyworth, clearing the last plates: "Seems the film wasn't to her taste."
Bruce Wayne: "Understandable. I prefer Scorsese's Taxi Driver myself. Though maybe that's just because it was the last movie I saw before leaving."
Alfred Pennyworth: "I don't remember it much, but it's sure closer to what we got around us. But I do remember you as a little tyke being crazy about that Zorro movie. The one with Alain Delon."
Bruce Wayne: "That's in the past, Alfred. Everything in the past is always the foundation for the future."
Alfred Pennyworth: "Here we go."
Bruce Wayne: "I mean that time is like a tower. Every present moment, we build the foundation, which over time becomes the past. And when the present turns into the past, and the past starts seeing the present as the future, that foundation sinks deep underground. Over time, it becomes an illusion of the past—something that once was, and no longer matters in the present. For some, that foundation sinks faster, for others, slower—but the outcome is always the same."
Alfred Pennyworth: "I didn't understand a word of that, but I'll take it under advisement."
Bruce Wayne: "And no need to understand for you. This isn't a recruitment pitch, so consider it thinking out loud."
Alfred Pennyworth: "From time to time, I get the feeling you don't even really believe in your own philosophy."
Bruce Wayne: "Philosophy is the search for meaning where none was intended. I'm not searching for meaning—I'm articulating the one that was already given to me. It's not the same thing."