Joker Page #3

Not wanting to attract any more attention to himself, he

pulls up his red hood, and uses his threadbare scarf to cover

his mouth, trying to muffle the laughter.

He looks out at the city passing him by.

5 EXT. LOWER EAST SIDE, STREETS - GOTHAM - EVENING 5

The bus pulls away, sun almost gone.

Joker heads slowly down the litter-covered streets. Garbage

is piled along the sidewalks, the air thick with smog creates

a haze over everything.

The streets are crowded with the poor, the elderly and

disenfranchised. Women with children in busted strollers.

Homeless people sleeping on subway grates. Stray dogs. His is

one of the few white faces.

Joker makes his way into a run-down drug store, behind him

two drunks fight on the corner, beating the sh*t out of each

other. Joker, and nobody else for that matter, pays them any

attention.

No one here gives a sh*t.

9.

6 INT. LOBBY, APARTMENT BUILDING - EVENING 6

A shabby lobby in a building that was once probably pretty

nice, but now it's a dump.

Joker checks his mailbox. He's holding a small white

(prescription) bag in his hand.

The mailbox is empty.

7 INT. ELEVATOR, APARTMENT BUILDING - CONTINUOUS 7

Joker steps onto the wheezing elevator, harsh fluorescent

lights, graffiti on the walls. As the door closes, he hears--

SOPHIE (OS)

Wait!!

He puts his foot out with some panache to stop the closing

door-- He's a romantic at heart. Ding.

And SOPHIE DUMOND (late 20's), tired eyes, hands filled with

grocery bags, steps onto the elevator with GIGI, her 5-year-

old daughter.

SOPHIE:

Thank you.

(realizing)

Of course it's you,-- everyone else

in this building is just so f***ing

rude.

Joker nods "thanks." Holds his breath, hoping he doesn't

start to laugh.

Floors dinging as the elevator rises.

Joker sees GiGi licking the dirty smudged elevator handrail

behind her mom.

SOPHIE:

How's your mom doing?

He takes a deep breath, he's uncomfortable talking to her,

holds up the white prescription bag.

JOKER:

It's day to day. I'm doing

everything I can to get her back on

her feet.

(re:
pharmacy bag)

Picked up her medicine. Gonna make

her some dinner.

10.

SOPHIE:

(smiles; being polite)

She's lucky she has you--

Joker smiles thanks, can't help but glance at GiGi licking

the rail.

Sophie finally notices. She wants to grab her but can't with

her hands full. Tries to kick her away--

SOPHIE:

Jesus. Don't do that, GiGi! How

many times have I told you that?

(to Joker)

This building is so awful, isn't

it?

Joker just nods... he doesn't know what to say, but clearly

wants to continue this conversation with Sophie.

The doors open. They all step off.

SOPHIE:

Okay. Well, tell your mom I said

hello.

And Sophie and GiGi walk down the hall-- the opposite way of

Joker. He just stands there for a beat. Heart beating fast.

JOKER:

(calls out after her)

Hey Sophie--

She turns around.

JOKER:

I'll tell my mom you said hello.

She smiles as in "yeah, that's what I said."

8 INT. MOM'S APARTMENT, FRONT DOOR - EVENING 8

Old apartment, worn carpet. Nothing's new inside but it's

fairly neat and well-kept.

Joker closes the door behind him, leans his back against it

and swoons. Hears a deep purring sound. He looks down and

sees an OLD ORANGE CAT, rubbing up against his leg.

Then--

11.

MOM (OS)

(shattering the moment,

calls out)

Happy?! Did you check the mail

before you came up?

JOKER:

Yes, Ma. Nothing. No letter.

MOM (OS)

You sure you looked? Sometimes I

don't know where your head is.

Joker glances back down and sees the cat is gone.

JOKER:

Yes I'm sure. And my head's right

here. I'm gonna make you some

dinner, okay?

QUICK CUTS:

JOKER TEARS OPEN THE PRESCRIPTION BAG... A FLURRY OF PILL

BOTTLES TUMBLE OUT ONTO THE COUNTER.

SEE HIS NAME, "ARTHUR FLECK" ON THE ORANGE PILL BOTTLES, AND

GLIMPSE THE GENERIC DRUG NAMES, TEMAZEPAM... PERPHENAZINE...

AHENELZINE... AMITRIPTYLINE... BENZEDRINE... DIAZEPAM...

MEPROBAMATE...

TAKES OUT ONE PILL FROM EACH THE TEMAZEPAM AND MEPROBAMATE

BOTTLES.

TWO PILLS BEING CRUSHED UP TO POWDER.

SPRINKLES THE POWDER ON TOP OF A TV DINNER.

SWALLOWS A HANDFUL OF PILLS FROM THE OTHER BOTTLES.

LOOKS DOWN AND SMILES AT THE ORANGE CAT LOOKING UP AT HIM

FROM THE COUNTER.

9 INT. MOM'S BEDROOM, APARTMENT - NIGHT 9

Joker brings the food to his mother, PENNY (70's), lying in

her bed. The TV is on, playing the local news.

Joker sets the food down in front of his mother. He covers

the pain from his beating the best he can-- His mother

doesn't seem to notice anyway.

MOM:

He must not be getting my letters.

12.

Joker sits down on a chair next to the bed.

JOKER:

He's a busy man.

MOM:

Too busy for me? I worked for that

family for 12 years. He always had

a smile for me. Least he could do

is write back.

JOKER:

Ma, eat. You need to eat.

MOM:

You need to eat. Look how skinny

you are.

Before Joker can say anything, his mother points to the news

on the TV--

MOM:

All day long it's more bad news.

That's all there is.

JOKER:

Maybe you shouldn't watch so much

television.

MOM:

(ignoring)

He's the only hope for Gotham.

He'll make a great mayor. Everybody

says so.

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