Joker Page #10

JOKER:

Hi. Do you like to laugh?

Water dripping, white grease paint running off his face--

JOKER:

Remember how I told you that I'm a

stand-up comedian?

(again)

Hi. How are you?

Beat.

41 INT. APARTMENT BUILDING, LOBBY - LATER 41

Joker enters his building with great urgency. No time for the

elevator, he takes the stairs. Two at a time.

He races up the stairwell.

42 INT. HALLWAY, APARTMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 42

When he gets to his floor, instead of making a left toward

his apartment-- He makes a right, toward Sophie's. He stops

at her door. Out of breath.

Knocks.

He hears footsteps. Quickly pulls the folded-up flyer out of

his pocket.

The peephole in the door goes dark and then light again. He

hears locks unlocking. Sophie opens the door halfway--

Joker looks down at his feet--

JOKER:

Hi. Do you like to laugh?

SOPHIE:

What?

JOKER:

(continuing without taking

a breath)

Remember the other day when I told

you about my stand-up comedy. Well,

I'm doing a set next Thursday and

I'm inviting a bunch of my friends

and I was wondering if maybe you

wanted to come and check it out.

38.

He reaches out to give Sophie the flyer, she opens the door

wider-- He notices her face, sees her eyes are red.

JOKER:

Were you crying? Why are you

crying?

Beat.

SOPHIE:

I had a bad day.

JOKER:

I'm sorry. I, I didn't--

SOPHIE:

It's okay. How would you know.

JOKER:

What happened?

SOPHIE:

I got fired. From the bank.

Joker takes a deep breath and smiles without realizing it,

hoping he doesn't start to laugh.

JOKER:

What for?

SOPHIE:

Because,-- I don't know. It doesn't

f***ing matter. I don't know what

I'm gonna do.

And she starts crying again. Joker doesn't move. Just stands

in the doorway awkward.

JOKER:

(finally)

Okay. Well, all the info is right

there on the flyer.

He starts to walk away, then turns back to her--

JOKER:

You know they say laughter is the

best medicine.

Sophie wipes her eyes and manages a smile.

SOPHIE:

Is that what they say?

39.

Joker just nods yes and walks back toward his mother's

apartment.

43 INT. DEPT. OF HEALTH, OFFICE - MORNING 43

JOKER SITS ACROSS from the same Social Worker from the

opening scene. Same depressing office.

She stares at him for a beat, clearly annoyed.

SOCIAL WORKER:

We spoke about this last time,

Arthur. You're supposed to bring

your journal with you.

JOKER:

Well I didn't think you were going

to read it.

SOCIAL WORKER:

You said it didn't bother you.

JOKER:

I lied. Everything bothers me.

SOCIAL WORKER:

What about it bothered you?

JOKER:

It's personal. It's my private

thoughts. Plus it contains original

comedy material that I don't feel

comfortable handing over to you.

She looks at him and shakes her head. Not in the mood to deal

with this.

SOCIAL WORKER:

Arthur, I have some bad news for

you.

He looks up, intrigued.

SOCIAL WORKER:

They've cut our funding. We're

closing down our offices next week.

He looks around, just noticing some MOVING BOXES stacked

against the wall.

JOKER:

So where will we be meeting?

40.

SOCIAL WORKER:

We won't be. The city's cut funding

across the board. Social services

is part of that.

Joker nods, not hating the idea.

JOKER:

Okay.

SOCIAL WORKER:

They don't give a sh*t about people

like you, Arthur. You don't have a

voice and they don't really care

what happens to you or to us for

that matter.

He sits there for a moment. And then it dawns on him--

JOKER:

How am I gonna get my medication?

Beat.

44 INT. MOM'S APARTMENT, KITCHEN - MORNING 44

CLOSE ON A COUPLE OF PILLS, as they get crushed up.

CLOSE ON THE RESIDUE, as it's sprinkled on top of a bowl of

oatmeal.

MOM (OS)

Happy! Come in here. Thomas Wayne

is on TV.

Joker takes a couple of pills for himself. Looks inside. Not

many left. He looks over at the orange cat sitting on the

counter, purring loudly, watching him.

MOM (OS)

Quick! Come.

45 INT. MOM'S BEDROOM, APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 45

Joker walks in carrying her breakfast. She waves him over to

her bed.

MOM:

They're interviewing him about

those horrible murders on the

subway last week.

41.

JOKER:

Why are they talking to him?

His mother shushes him. Joker sits on the end of the bed next

to her. It's one of those "Good Morning, Gotham" shows.

THOMAS WAYNE (ON TV)

--as you know, Jerry, all three of

them worked at Wayne Investments,

and they were the best of the best.

Solid young men.

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