Joker Page #4

JOKER:

(playful)

Everybody who? Who do you talk to?

MOM:

Well everybody on the news.

JOKER:

Stop it. He's not even gonna run.

Why would Thomas Wayne want to be

mayor? He can do more good as a

businessman.

MOM:

Because he cares about this city.

And everyone in it-- that's why I

can't believe he hasn't written me

back.

13.

JOKER:

He will. Now eat some dinner.

He feeds her a bite of the food.

JOKER:

How you feeling today?

MOM:

I don't know. It always hits me

worse at night, you notice that?

He shakes his head.

JOKER:

(teasing)

Maybe it's the moon. Maybe you're a

werewolf?

HE HOWLS SOFTLY like a wolf. She laughs.

MOM:

It's not funny.

Joker watches her as he cuts up some more of her food.

MOM:

Anyway, I wrote a new letter today.

A better one. I want you to hand

deliver it to him.

JOKER:

What? Why?

MOM:

Cause maybe the mailman is throwing

them away. We should have tipped

him at Christmas time.

JOKER:

Who tips their mailman?

MOM:

Some people do. Rich people do.

Joker sighs, resigned.

JOKER:

Okay. I can try his office.

Tomorrow.

14.

MOM:

Thank you.

(she pats the bed)

Come sit. It's almost on.

Joker gets into bed with her.

CLOSE ON TELEVISION, intro to "LIVE WITH MURRAY FRANKLIN!",

and we HEAR THE ANNOUNCER over clips of comedy bits, stars

and Murray Franklin himself--

ANNOUNCER (ON TV)

It's Live with Murray Franklin!

Tonight Murray welcomes, Sandra

Winger, comedian Skip Byron and the

piano stylings of Yeldon & Chantel!

As always, Don Ellis and his Jazz

Orchestra. And now, without any

further ado-- Murray Franklin!

Joker and his mom watch from bed, this is a ritual of theirs.

10 INT. LIVING ROOM, MOM'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 10

Late night. Joker's mom is dead asleep. Joker is alone in the

living room, which doubles as his bedroom. He can't ever

sleep. He opens his worn notebook. Flips to a page titled

"Jokes" and starts writing--

CLOSE ON WORDS, as he slowly writes: "The worst part about

having a mental illness is..."

ANGLE ON JOKER, pausing, thinking it over for a moment. Then

he laughs to himself when he comes up with something.

CLOSE ON WORDS, coming faster now, "...that people still

expect you to behave as if you don't."

CUT TO:

11 EXT. WAYNE TOWER, STREET - MIDTOWN - MORNING 11

Joker's looking up at the intimidating steel and glass tower,

he looks so small, holding his mom's letter in his hand.

Bustle of professionals coming in and out of the company's

corporate headquarters, Joker looks out of place.

He heads inside through the giant glass doors.

15.

12 INT. RECEPTION, WAYNE ENTERPRISES - 25TH FLOOR - MORNING 12

Joker steps off an elevator and walks up to the white marble

reception desk as if he belongs there--

JOKER:

Hello. I have a personal letter for

Mr. Thomas Wayne.

RECEPTIONIST:

Okay. You can leave it with me.

JOKER:

It's kind of important. I need to

make sure he gets it himself.

RECEPTIONIST:

Oh, in that case, I'll buzz you

right in.

Joker goes to enter--

RECEPTIONIST:

I'm kidding. Leave it here.

He laughs along with her, even though she's not laughing.

JOKER:

Oh. Right-- well, my mom used to

work for the Wayne family-- for 12

years. She was their housekeeper.

A couple other business people are now waiting behind Joker,

there for meetings.

RECEPTIONIST:

That's great. But you can leave it

with me or you can leave with the

letter. Those are your options. Now

please step aside.

JOKER:

Mr. Wayne knows her. Can you maybe

at least call back to him? Tell him

that I'm here.

RECEPTIONIST:

Thomas Wayne is away on business.

Joker is getting frustrated.

JOKER:

Okay. Well, can I have your name?

So I know who I left it with.

16.

Now Joker sees a GROUP OF MEN walking behind the glass that

separates the reception area from the back offices. Amongst

the group, he catches a glimpse of THOMAS WAYNE (60's), deep

tan, hair dyed so black it's almost blue.

JOKER:

Wait. He's right there.

(goes up to the glass,

shouts)

Mr. Wayne! Mr. Wayne.

He starts banging on the glass... but the group keeps moving.

Not noticing him.

RECEPTIONIST:

Sir. Please stop. Sir!!

Joker keeps banging on the glass.

13 EXT. WAYNE TOWER, FRONT ENTRANCE - MORNING 13

The glass doors swing open and Joker is forcibly thrown onto

the street. TWO LARGE SECURITY GUARDS stand over him.

He is still holding the letter.

He makes as if he's going to leave peacefully, then at the

last minute, TAKES ANOTHER RUN AT THE DOOR--

The two guards stiff arm him.

CUT TO:

14 INT. HA-HA'S TALENT BOOKING, LOCKER ROOM - DAY 14

The cramped locker room of a small talent booking agency.

This is where Joker works. They "rent out" talent for parties

and events. Clowns, magicians, male strippers.

Joker takes off his shirt, grimaces in pain as he moves. His

body's bruised from the beating he took chasing after his

sign.

Rate this script:3.9 / 8 votes