Joker Page #21

Joker just nods.

CLERK:

(closes the file)

I'm sorry, I can't. Like I said, I

can't release this without the

proper forms. I could get in

trouble.

(closes the file; beat)

Besides, it's pretty bad.

CLOSE ON JOKER, he shakes his head and smiles to himself.

JOKER:

I can handle bad. I've been on a

pretty bad run myself.

The clerk puts the file down on his desk--

CLERK:

I can't help you. If you want these

records you have to get your mom to

sign a patient disclosure form. I

can have someone mail you one.

Joker just sits there, thinking it all over for a moment.

Then snatches the file off the clerk's desk--

The clerk grabs it as well.

They play tug-of-war with the file, it's awkward and goes on

way too long. Finally, Joker shoves the guy hard and pulls

the file away--

79.

He takes off running out of the office with it. The clerk

watches for a beat, but does nothing.

78 INT. HALLWAY, ARKHAM STATE HOSPITAL - MORNING 78

Joker running down the hallway, files in his hands. Frantic.

Unaware he is not being chased.

Turns a corner and runs down another long hallway.

Gets to a stairwell door and runs in.

79 INT. STAIRWELL, ARKHAM STATE HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS 79

Bounding down the steps. He stops at a landing below. Looks

up, sees no one is chasing after him--

ANGLE ON JOKER, catching his breath. He opens the file,

flipping through the records, finds the page the clerk was

reading. As he reads it over for himself, he HEARS his mother

being interviewed for her psychiatric assessment, over 30

years ago.

MOM (VO)

He's not adopted-- he's Thomas

Wayne's son. I work for him, I told

you, I clean his house. He's always

smiling at me.

CUT TO:

80 INT. EMERGENCY INTERVIEW ROOM, ARKHAM STATE HOSPITAL - DAY 80

(FLASHBACK)

Penny Fleck (late 20's) is sitting across the table from DR.

BENJAMIN STONER (50's), in a dreary small interview room,

windows covered with security screens. Penny takes a drag off

a cigarette, her face is beaten to sh*t, nose battered, lip

busted up.

Dr. Stoner is going over Penny's thick file, the same file

Joker's holding in his hands.

DR. STONER

We went over this, Penny. You

adopted him. We have all the

paperwork right here.

Penny doesn't say anything, just smiles like she's in on a

big secret. And exhales smoke.

80.

Dr. Stoner keeps going through the file, pulls out black &

white forensic photographs of three-year-old Joker's body--

DR. STONER

You also stood by as one of your

boyfriends repeatedly abused your

adopted son. And battered you.

Penny looks at Dr. Stoner like he's crazy.

MOM:

He didn't do anything to me. Or to

my boy. Can I go now, I don't like

hospitals.

Dr. Stoner lays out the photographs in front of Penny--

Penny keeps smoking her cigarette, glances down at the

photos, we catch glimpses of various bruises on parts of

Joker's body... A filthy crib... A rope tied to the

radiator...

CUT BACK TO:

Joker looking over the same black & white photographs, still

HEARS his mother--

MOM (V0)

I never heard him crying. Not once.

He's always been such a happy

little boy.

DR. STONER (VO)

Penny, your son was found tied to a

radiator in your filthy apartment,

malnourished, with multiple bruises

across his body and severe trauma

to his head.

Joker looks up from the file when he hears/reads this, turns

and looks at Penny's reaction-- HE'S NOW IN THE INTERVIEW

ROOM WITH THEM, living what he's reading on the page.

He sees his mother lean forward in her chair, glaring at Dr.

Stoner--

MOM:

That's not true. My apartment

wasn't filthy. I keep a clean

house.

Joker just stares at his mother.

Dr. Stoner looks at Penny, not sure how to respond to that.

81.

DR. STONER

(beat)

And what do you have to say about

your son?

ANGLE ON PENNY, thinking it over, taking a drag off her

cigarette.

MOM:

I'm just glad I got to know him.

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