Joker Page #29

Joker's not listening to Murray. He's mesmerized by all the

lights shining on him... all the eyes on him... he doesn't

answer Murray.

Nervous laughter from the audience.

105.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(tries again)

Can you tell us why you're dressed

like this?

AND JOKER STARTS TO LAUGH. Not embarrassed of it anymore. He

goes with it. Giving in to it, enjoying the laughter.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(can't help but smile at

Joker's laughing)

Okay. But I'm not sure how any of

this is funny. A lot of those

protesters are going with this

look. City seems to be full of

clowns these days.

JOKER:

(just nods, still

laughing)

Yeah. Isn't it great?

Joker just keeps cracking up. Audience still isn't sure what

to make of him. There's some awkward laughter.

110 INT. DIRECTOR'S BOOTH, STUDIO 4B - CONTINUOUS 110

Nobody's laughing in the booth.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

(looks to the director)

This guy's got nothing.

DIRECTOR:

(hits the producer's talk

button; into the mic)

Gene, what the hell? You wanna kill

this?

111 INT. TALK SHOW SET, STAGE - CONTINUOUS 111

Murray glances over at his producer Gene Ufland, who's

sitting off-camera on a director's chair by a monitor. Gene

shrugs at him.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(smiles; trying to save

the interview)

So when we talked earlier, you

mentioned that you aren't

political. That this look isn't a

political statement.

106.

JOKER:

(between laughs)

That's right. I'm not political,

Murray. I'm, I'm, I'm just trying

to make people laugh.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(beat; smiles)

How's that goin' for ya? Have you

been working on any new material?

Do you want to tell us a joke?

The audience claps, egging Joker on to tell a joke.

Joker looks over at Murray -- his laughing fit finally

subsiding -- and reaches into his jacket pocket and--

Pulls out his worn notebook, catching his breath. Looks

through it to find a new joke.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

You brought a joke book?

The audience laughs. Joker smiles, opens the page to Bruce

Wayne's photo, pauses for a moment then turns the page. Finds

a joke--

JOKER:

(reading)

Okay. Here's one. Knock knock.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

Oh god, a knock-knock joke? And you

need to read it?

JOKER:

(nods, reads it again)

I want to get it right. Knock

knock.

Murray makes a face like, "Okay, I'll go along with this."

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

Who's there?

JOKER:

(looks up from his

notebook)

It's the police, ma'am. Your son

has been hit by a drunk driver.

He's dead.

Beat.

107.

112 INT. DIRECTOR'S BOOTH, STUDIO 4B - CONTINUOUS 112

The associate producer tries not to laugh, but she can't help

it. The director looks over at her like she's lost her mind.

DIRECTOR:

(shakes his head)

Okay, ready Camera Two. Take Two.

Ready Three. Three.

ON THE MONITORS, some of the audience cracks up. Joker smiles

at the response. Murray Franklin shakes his head, smirking at

the joke despite himself.

MURRAY FRANKLIN (ON MONITORS)

So, Arthur, you told me backstage

that your--

Joker leans over interrupting Murray, whispers something to

him.

113 INT. TALK SHOW SET, STAGE - STUDIO 4B - CONTINUOUS 113

Murray nods as Joker whispers.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(bemused smile;

patronizing)

Right. Sorry. I mean Joker-- you

told me backstage that your

mother's a big fan of the show,

that she never misses it.

Joker puts the notebook back in his pocket. Crosses his legs,

starting to get a bit more comfortable.

JOKER:

That's right, Murray. But she's

dead now.

The audience laughs.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(goes along with the

"joke")

Hold on. Your mother's dead?

JOKER:

Yeah. She is.

Murray's not sure if this is part of his act.

108.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

Okay. What about your father? Does

he watch the show?

Laughter from the crowd.

JOKER:

I don't know who my father is,

Murray. Turns out I was adopted and

sexually assaulted by my mother's

boyfriend.

A few in the audience groan. A couple even laugh. Still think

it's just Joker's edgy, off-kilter sense of humor.

Don Ellis plays "wha-wha-wha-whuuuuh" on his trumpet from the

band stand.

DR. SALLY FRIEDMAN

Ahhhh! No, no,-- You can not joke

about that.

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(shakes his head;

irritated)

Yeah, that's not funny, that's not

the kind of humor we do on this

show.

Murray glances over at Gene in the wings. He gives him the

"wrap it up" sign.

JOKER:

(just keeps going, on a

roll)

Sorry. It's been a rough few

months, Murray. I mean, after my

mother died, the police came to

question me at her funeral. Who

does that?

MURRAY FRANKLIN:

(too easy)

Oh really? Were you a suspect?

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