Joker Page #6

The door limps back open. Ding.

He looks to see if anybody, if Sophie, is coming. He waits.

Hoping.

The door starts to close on him again-- Right before it does,

he stops it with his foot again. Ding.

21 INT. MOM'S APARTMENT, BATHROOM - NIGHT 21

JOKER'S GIVING HIS MOM A BATH, being careful with her as he

shampoos her hair.

MOM:

--so what did he say when you gave

him the letter?

JOKER:

They wouldn't let me see him.

(lying)

But they promised me it would get

to him.

MOM:

It's good they promised. He only

works with the best. We should hear

something soon.

He fills an empty plastic container with some bath water.

JOKER:

Look up.

She tilts her head back and he rinses her hair with the water

from the container...

JOKER:

Why are these letters so important

to you, Ma? What do you think he's

gonna do?

MOM:

He's gonna help us.

JOKER:

Help us how?

22.

MOM:

Get us out of here, take me away

from this place and these-- these

awful people.

JOKER:

You worked for him over 30 years

ago. What makes you think he would

help you?

She looks at him with conviction.

MOM:

Because Thomas Wayne is a good man.

If he knew how I was living, if he

saw this place, it would make him

sick. I can't explain it to you any

better than that.

Joker nods. Annoyed, but not worth the argument. He stands up

to get her a towel.

JOKER:

I don't want you worrying about

money. Everyone's been telling me

they think my stand-up is ready for

the big clubs. It's just a matter

of time before I get a break.

She steps into the towel. He's helping dry her off.

MOM:

Happy, what makes you think you

could do that?

JOKER:

What do you mean?

MOM:

I mean, don't you have to be funny

to be a comedian?

Beat.

22 INT. MOM'S BEDROOM, APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT 22

Joker's mom is out cold in her bedroom, a half-eaten plate of

food is next to her on the bed.

23.

23 INT. LIVING ROOM, MOM'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 23

Joker sits on the couch. The TV is on, but the sound is off.

He holds the .38 SNUB-NOSE REVOLVER Randall gave him in his

hand. He's never held a gun before, looks uncomfortable with

it, the weight of it in his hand...

He points it at the TV, hand trembling a bit... Points it at

the cat... Points it at his head.

Looks closely at the grip. The barrel. The cylinder. Now he

casually pulls the trigger--

BLAMMMMMMM!

He jumps up off the couch. What the f***!? He looks around in

a panic. His hands shaking.

He shot a hole in the wall.

MOM (OS)

(awoken by the shot)

HAPPY!? What was that?

JOKER:

What?!

He quickly turns up the TV volume. REALLY LOUD. Shoves the

still smoking gun under the couch cushions.

MOM (OS)

THAT NOISE! DID YOU HEAR THAT

NOISE?

He's inspecting the hole in the wall. Shouts back over the TV

noise--

JOKER:

I'M WATCHING AN OLD WAR MOVIE.

MOM (OS)

TURN IT DOWN!

He heads for his mother's bedroom.

24 INT. MOM'S BEDROOM, DOORWAY - CONTINUOUS 24

Joker looks in on his mom in her dark bedroom, can make out

the outline of her body sitting up.

MOM:

It's so loud.

24.

JOKER:

I know. The Americans are really

giving it to the Japs.

He walks over to her in the darkness. Kisses her on the

forehead.

JOKER:

(softly)

I'm sorry. I'll turn it down.

25 INT. KITCHEN, MOM'S APARTMENT - LATE NIGHT 25

Joker is writing in his journal. He speaks softly to himself

as he writes...

JOKER:

Why didn't Randall tell me the gun

was loaded? He's my friend. With my

luck, I could have killed someone.

(beat)

I could have killed myself.

CLOSE ON THE LAST LINE, he crosses out "could"...

Writes... "should".

JOKER:

(still to himself)

I should have killed myself.

CLOSE ON JOKER as he crosses out something again...

JOKER:

(louder to himself)

I should kill myself.

Beat.

26 EXT. STREET, LOWER EAST SIDE - MORNING 26

HANDHELD POV, see the run-down building where Joker lives

from across the street.

REVEAL, Joker is watching his own building on the far side of

a parked truck. Red hood pulled up, covering his head. He

waits. Watches.

Now we see Sophie exiting the building with her daughter

GiGi. Sophie's dressed more conservatively than when we

previously met her.

25.

Joker starts following them.

27 EXT. PUBLIC SCHOOL - MORNING 27

Sophie drops GiGi off at school. Joker's still watching.

Following.

28 EXT. ELEVATED SUBWAY PLATFORM - MORNING 28

Sophie waits on the platform. Lights a cigarette.

We see Joker, hidden behind a steel support beam-- watching

her from a distance.

29 INT. SUBWAY (MOVING) - MORNING 29

Joker stands at the window between two subway cars. Just

watching Sophie as she reads a book in the next car.

The train comes to a stop and she exits. Joker exits as well.

30 EXT. STREET, UPPER EAST SIDE - MORNING 30

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