Joker Page #7

Nicer part of Gotham. Joker follows Sophie from a distance,

watches as she walks into Gotham First National Bank.

Sees her say hello to the guard. This is where she works.

Joker just watches and waits.

31 INT. GOTHAM FIRST NATIONAL - LATER 31

A large, mid-level bank. Sophie is one of THREE BANK TELLERS

working behind the plexiglass windows.

Joker pulls the hood back off his head, takes a deep breath

before he walks up to her window. She is looking down,

counting her drawer.

Takes another deep breath. Then--

JOKER:

Hello. I'd like to open an account.

She looks up.

SOPHIE:

(surprised)

Hey, what are you doing up here?

26.

JOKER:

Oh, hi. That's weird.

(pausing to see if he's

gonna laugh; he's good)

I didn't know you worked at a bank.

SOPHIE:

Pretty glamorous, right?

Not getting the sarcasm, Joker nods. Looks around.

JOKER:

Very glamorous. Look at this place.

She laughs.

He stands there awkwardly for a moment looking around to see

what she's laughing about.

Realizes she thought he was making a joke.

Beat.

JOKER:

I'm a comedian. I do stand-up

comedy.

SOPHIE:

Really? I had no idea.

JOKER:

Yeah. You know, I'm always making

funny observations. Always on the

look out for my next bit-- so it

makes sense.

SOPHIE:

Right. Anyway, is there something I

could help you with?

Beat.

JOKER:

I said hi to my mom.

SOPHIE:

Excuse me?

JOKER:

Last week. You said to say hi to my

mom. I did. Made her day.

They are interrupted by the BRANCH MANAGER (50's), white,

heavy-set, who has come up behind Sophie--

27.

BRANCH MANAGER:

Everything okay here?

He puts his heavy hand on Sophie's shoulder. She practically

shudders from his touch.

SOPHIE:

Everything is fine Mr. Slotnick.

Now he leans down and whispers something in her ear-- Joker

just watches through the glass.

SOPHIE:

(shakes her head; to her

manager)

No. He's not. He's interested in

opening an account.

BRANCH MANAGER:

(to Joker)

Great. You just need to fill out a

form. They are back there-- against

the wall.

As the manager talks, Sophie makes wide eyes at Joker, like

"I almost got in trouble."

JOKER:

(covering; trying to act

cool)

Okay. Thank you, sir. And thank you

as well, Miss.

Joker walks back to the wall by the forms.

He fumbles around for a minute, clearly not there to open an

account. He begins filling out a form. Then--

JOKER:

(shouts out, to no one in

particular)

YOU KNOW WHAT?! I FORGOT MY ID!

I'LL BE BACK. THANK YOU.

He walks out of the bank. Head in the clouds.

32 INT. GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB, CHINATOWN - NIGHT 32

Joker sitting in the middle of a dark, crowded comedy club.

People on dates. Groups of friends. All here to watch the

stand-up. He sits at a small table by himself, watching the

act on stage.

28.

The comic on stage is killing it. The whole room is laughing

and applauding. Everyone except Joker.

He's watching. Studying. Diligently jotting down notes in his

notebook.

33 EXT. GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB, STREET - CHINATOWN - NIGHT 33

People are piling out of the club, onto the narrow street,

jumble of lit-up signs, most glowing yellow or red. Joker

walks out alone, carrying his notebook. He sees a FLYER taped

to the entrance of the club.

CLOSE ON THE FLYER, "Open mic night. Thursdays. 10pm."

He rips the flyer off the wall.

34 INT. HA-HA'S TALENT BOOKING, LOCKER ROOM - DAY 34

Joker is working on his "Mr. Jingles" clown look, using the

small mirror in his locker. Behind him a couple of other

clowns are eating their lunch at a small table, not paying

Joker any attention.

Joker pauses half-finished, and stares at himself for a beat.

He starts to examine the two small scars on the corners of

his mouth, we really notice how they form a smile. Joker

hooks the corners of his mouth down with his index fingers,

turning his smile into a frown--

He lets go and his smile returns.

Does it again, up and down, up and down, his face a living

comedy/tragedy mask.

And then he pulls his fingers wider, stretching his smile

into a grotesque parody, pulling his mouth so wide tears come

to his eyes--

AND WE HEAR JOKER SINGING "If You're Happy and You Know It"

at his next gig.

JOKER (PRE-LAP)

(singing)

--if you're happy and you know it

and you really want to show it, if

you're happy and you know it clap

your hands.

29.

35 INT. GOTHAM GENERAL - CHILDREN'S WARD - EVENING 35

Joker is performing for a ward full of sick children, wearing

an oversized white lab coat over his "Mr. Jingles" clown

costume. A few nurses and doctors watch as well.

His white clown face, mouth outlined in black and filled in

with red, his green wig frizzy and worn out. Joker plays a

UKULELE along with the song.

JOKER:

If you're happy and you know it,

stomp your feet.

Joker and the kids stomp and sing along.

JOKER:

If you're happy and you know it,

stomp your feet.

(stomp, stomp)

If you're happy and you know it and

you really want to show it, if

you're happy and you know it stomp

your feet.

As the song winds down, the KIDS and NURSES clap.

Joker takes an exaggerated and ridiculous bow--

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