Joker Page #19

He looks up in awe at the crystal chandeliers... The shiny,

marble floor beneath his feet. He's never seen anything this

opulent in his entire life.

68 INT. BACK OF THEATER, WAYNE HALL - EVENING 68

JOKER MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE DARK SHADOWS ALONG THE BACK

WALL OF THE AUDITORIUM, looking for Thomas Wayne in the sold-

out black-tie audience--

He catches bits of Chaplin's MODERN TIMES projected on a

screen behind the Gotham Philharmonic playing the silent

movie's score... the Tramp roller skating blindfolded on a

date with the Gamin (Paulette Goddard) in a department store.

He continues moving along the wall from aisle-to-aisle

looking for Thomas Wayne...

The audience laughs as the Tramp skates blindfolded, skirting

along the edge of a balcony with no rail, orchestra playing

the bouncy score. Joker can't find Thomas Wayne in the dark--

71.

He moves to the top of the next aisle, pausing to watch more

of the film. Suddenly somebody bumps into Joker--

He looks up and sees it's one of Thomas Wayne's TWO SECURITY

GUARDS, escorting Thomas Wayne out of the auditorium--

Joker turns and watches them lead him out. Behind Joker on

screen, the Tramp is rescued by the girl before he falls off

the edge, orchestra swelling--

69 INT. LOBBY, WAYNE HALL - CONTINUOUS 69

Joker peeks his head out of the auditorium, sees Thomas Wayne

heading into the men's room, his two security guards waiting

by the door, still hear the orchestra playing the score--

Joker glances back into the auditorium--

Sees a lobby broom and upright dustpan tucked in the back

corner--

70 INT. HALLWAY, MEN'S ROOM - WAYNE HALL - SECONDS LATER 70

Joker's sweeping up the hallway with his head down, hear the

orchestra playing the melancholy "Smile" from the film's

score. He sweeps along to the music like Emmett Kelly's

famous hobo clown... Sweeping around the two security guards'

feet... Annoyed, they move a bit away from the bathroom

door... And don't give Joker a second look as he heads

inside...

71 INT. MEN'S ROOM, WAYNE HALL - CONTINUOUS 71

Joker sweeps his way into the cavernous, black & white tiled

bathroom, ornate gold fixtures. It's empty save for Thomas

Wayne peeing at the far end of a long line of urinals.

Joker takes a deep breath, and walks down the line of urinals

right up next to Thomas Wayne--

He stands there for a beat while Thomas urinates, lobby broom

and upright dustpan in hand--

THOMAS WAYNE:

(glances over; annoyed)

Can I help you, pal?

JOKER:

What? Yeah. No I, I--

72.

THOMAS WAYNE:

(interrupting)

You need to get in here or

something?

Thomas Wayne finishes and zips his fly back up. Joker is not

sure what to say to him, just says--

JOKER:

Dad. It's me.

Beat.

But Thomas Wayne doesn't hear him, he was flushing the

urinal. He walks toward the sink.

THOMAS WAYNE:

Excuse me?

Joker follows after him.

JOKER:

My name is Arthur. I'm Penny's son.

(beat)

I know you didn't know about me,

and I don't want anything from you.

Well... maybe a hug.

And Joker smiles, it's all very emotional for him. Thomas

looks over at him like he's f***ing crazy.

THOMAS WAYNE:

Jesus? You're the guy who came by

my house yesterday.

Joker nods, relieved he finally broke through.

JOKER:

Yes. But they wouldn't let me in,

wouldn't let me see you. So I came

here. I have so many questions.

Thomas Wayne just laughs to himself and turns on the gold

faucets at one of the sinks.

THOMAS WAYNE:

Look pal, I'm not your father.

What's wrong with you?

JOKER:

How do you know?

Thomas Wayne just keeps washing his hands, doesn't even look

over at Joker.

73.

THOMAS WAYNE:

Cause you were adopted. And I never

f***ed your mother. What do you

want from me, money?

JOKER:

No. What? I wasn't adopted.

Thomas starts drying his hands.

THOMAS WAYNE:

She never told you? Your mother

adopted you before she even started

working for us. She was arrested

when you were four years old and

committed to Arkham State Hospital.

She's batshit crazy.

Joker starts to smile, feels a laugh coming on.

JOKER:

No. No, I don't believe that.

Thomas finishes drying his hands. Turns to Joker, his tone

way more serious now.

THOMAS WAYNE:

I don't really give a sh*t what you

believe.

(steps in closer)

But if you ever come to my house

again, if you ever talk to my son

again, if I ever even hear about

you again, I'll--

AND JOKER CRACKS UP LAUGHING, interrupting his threat.

Laughing right in his face--

THOMAS WAYNE:

Are you laughing at me?

Joker's laughing so hard he can't answer.

THOMAS SHOVES JOKER HARD UP AGAINST THE TILED WALL, gripping

his neck with one hand. Joker just cracks up louder, he drops

the dustpan and broom--

THOMAS WAYNE:

(shouting)

You think this is funny?

Thomas Wayne's security guards bang open the door, rushing

into the bathroom when they hear the shouting--

74.

They stop when they see Thomas has Joker jacked up against

the wall.

JOKER:

(tries shaking his head

no; still laughing and

choking)

No, no I have a con--

THOMAS WAYNE:

(interrupting; raising his

voice)

Is this a f***ing joke to you?

AND THOMAS WAYNE PUNCHES JOKER STRAIGHT IN THE FACE with his

free hand, blood spraying from his nose--

72 EXT. WAYNE HALL, FRONT ENTRANCE - PLAZA - NIGHT 72

The two security guards roughly throw Joker out of the hall,

right in front of the drenched crowd of screaming protesters,

TV cameras and photographers now on hand, bulbs flashing--

Joker knowing how to take a fall, plays it up in front of

this audience for all it's worth, tumbling end-over-end out

onto the plaza in the rain--

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