Batman: The Killing Joke Page #3

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Have to be there.

Tell Gordon I need to talk...

To him.

(PANTING)

(GRUNTS)

(EXHALES)

(PHONE RINGING)

- Hello?

- GORDON:
Barbara, it's Dad.

Oh, hi, Dad, how's your day?

Not over yet, unfortunately.

I'm sorry, honey,

but I won't be able to make it tonight.

- Something's come up.

- Are you all right?

I'm fine, there's nothing

for you to worry about.

A friend asked me for a favor.

A friend?

Yes, honey, that friend.

(TIRES SCREECH)

You mind telling me what this is about?

(SCRAPING)

GORDON:
Listen to me.

He's been in custody for two years.

If we can prove what we found today...

BATMAN:
He'll confess.

GORDON:
He's insane.

It's a mistake to think

you know what he'll do.

I'm not here

because of what was found today.

(KEYS JANGLING)

I'm here because I need to be.

Hello, I want to talk.

I've been thinking lately

about you, you and me.

About how this is going to end.

About who will end up killing who.

Perhaps, you'll kill me,

perhaps I'll kill you,

perhaps sooner, perhaps later,

you know that, don't you?

I just, I need to know,

for when that time comes,

that I'd made a genuine attempt

to talk things over,

to try and avert the inevitable,

just once.

Listen to me, this is life and death,

mine or yours.

Our relationship, it's fatal.

I don't want your murder on my...

(GASPS) Hey, wait a minute.

I've got rights.

You ain't allowed to touch me!

Where is he?

Do you realize what you've set free?

What it's capable of?

Do you have any idea?

Where is he?

- Dear God, open that door!

- IMPOSTOR:
(WHIMPERING) Get off of me!

What do you think you're doing?

You know the laws

about mistreating inmates.

If you harm one hair on his head...

Now, you stinking little stain!

I'm going to ask you politely,

one last time.

Where is he?

CARNY OWNER:
Ah, there you are.

So, had enough time

to look over the property?

It's what you're looking for?

Well, it's garish, ugly

and smells like piss.

Can't quite make out

whether it's bums or rats, but it's piss.

I'm a connoisseur

when it comes to eau de toilette.

As for the rides,

any innocent little child

getting on one could be maimed or worse.

So you don't like it?

Don't like it?

I'm crazy for it! (CHUCKLES)

Okay, okay, that's great.

So the price, with what you've

mentioned, we can negotiate.

No need to, sure your price is steep,

but as I look around,

all I can see is I'll be making a killing.

And money? Not a problem.

Not anymore.

How'd it go? Did they like your act?

Well, they, uh...

They said they might call me.

I got nervous and blew a punch line.

Oh.

What do you mean, "Oh"?

I didn't mean anything.

Yes, you did,

the way you said "oh" like that.

Jesus, all I said was...

You said, "Oh."

As in, "Oh, so you didn't get the job?"

As in, "Oh, I should've known?"

As in, "Oh, so how are we going

to feed our baby?"

You think I'm not worried about that?

You think it's all a big joke to me?

I have to go up on stage

and nobody laughs.

And you think I don't care.

You think, you think... (CRYING)

Oh, God! Oh, God! I'm sorry!

I don't mean to take this out on you.

You're suffering enough,

being married to a loser.

- Honey, that's not...

- Yes, it is true.

I can't support you.

Oh, Jeannie.

Shh. It'll be okay.

The baby won't be here

for another three months.

Mrs. Berkis will let us slide

on the rent a little longer,

she feels sorry for me.

She hates me.

She comes out in the hallway to scowl

at me every time I take the stairs.

That smell like cat litter and old people.

I've just got to get you out of here

before the baby comes.

All I need is enough money

to get us set up in a decent neighborhood.

For crying out loud,

there are girls on the street

who earn that in a weekend

without having to tell a single joke

or blow a punch line.

(LAUGHS)

Come here and stop worrying about us.

I love you, job or no job.

You're good in the sack

and you make me laugh.

CARNY OWNER:
Let me tell you something.

You ain't going to regret

buying this place.

It ain't as bad as it looks.

I hope you're wrong about that.

Come on, a little spit and polish,

you'll have yourself

one hell of a carnival.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, you are so right,

and thanks to your smooth salesmanship

and your silver tongue,

I'm completely sold.

Let's shake on it.

Sure, sure, it's my privilege.

Yes, yes, it is.

Who are they?

Spit and Polish, my attorneys.

They persuaded your partner

to sign over the deed about an hour ago.

The property's already mine.

I can see that you're happy about that.

Now, I must dash.

There's equipment to rent,

plus workers to hire,

and of course,

I need to secure my main attraction.

Uh, do feel free to stick around.

Your refreshments, Master Bruce.

Well, then, sir,

do you need my further assistance

or should I just go away?

That'll be fine.

Trying to figure out

what he intends to do.

It's almost impossible.

Excuse me if I find that comforting, sir.

I don't know him, Alfred.

All these years and I don't know who he is

any more than he knows who I am.

Are you sure of that?

What do you mean?

I mean don't underestimate him.

I don't and neither should he

underestimate me.

You can't save everyone, sir.

He drives me.

How can two people hate so much

without knowing each other?

I hate this. Whenever we jail him, I pray,

"Please, God, just keep him there."

And then when he escapes, it's,

"Please don't let him

do something too awful this time."

I hate it.

Dad, just once, could you leave

your work at the office and relax?

I made you some cocoa.

Thanks, but tonight

I could use something a little stiffer.

You know, I found that

Catwoman scrapbook you couldn't.

It was behind the wardrobe.

You really ought to let me work

out a filing system for you,

something like we use at the library.

GORDON:
Mmm-hmm.

Oh, look.

You've got paste squidging out,

don't get it on your pants.

Barbara, I swear,

you're fussier than your mother was.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

That must be Colleen. She's early.

We're going to work out.

You'll have to entertain her

while I get ready.

(CHUCKLES) Look at this one.

First time they met.

He was just robbing banks then. Remember?

What I remember is you describing

his white face and green hair.

I was just a kid,

scared the hell out of me.

GORDON:
I thought you'd be interested.

Yeah, well, I had some

really interesting nightmares.

(GUNSHOT)

(INAUDIBLE)

Barbara!

(GROANING)

JOKER:
I wouldn't worry yet,

if I were you.

It's just a psychological manifestation,

common among librarians.

She thinks she's a coffee table edition,

though I can't say much

for this volume's condition.

I mean there's a hole in the jacket

and the spine appears to be damaged.

You scum, I'll...

(GROANS)

Will you?

Refreshing to hear, not by the book.

Speaking of which, this one won't be

walking off the shelf anytime soon.

In fact, the idea

of her walking anywhere seems remote.

But then, that's always

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