Gordon steps out. The overhead lights come on. Batman at the first sign of trouble.
rouble. They're only as good as the
is behind him. The Joker blinks in the harsh white light. world allows them to be. You'll see- I'll show you. When
the chips are down these, uh, civilized people? They'll
WHAM! The Joker's face hits the table- comes up for air- eat each other. See I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of
CRACK! CRACK! To the head. Batman is in front of the curve.
him. The Joker stares, fascinated. Bleeding.
Batman GRABS the Joker and pulls him upright.
JOKER: Never start with the head, the victim gets all
fuzzy. He can't feel the next- INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL --
NIGHT
CRACK! Batman's fist smacks down on the Joker's
fingers. One of the Detectives moves for the door. Gordon stops
him.
JOKER (calm): See?
GORDON: He's in control.
Batman: You wanted me. Here I am.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL
JOKER: I wanted to see what you'd do...and you didn't -- NIGHT
disappoint. You let 5 people die. Then you let Dent take
your place. Even to a guy like me, that's cold. Batman hoists the Joker up by the neck.
BATMAN: Where's Dent? BATMAN: Where's Dent?
JOKER: Those mob fools want you dead so they can get JOKER: You have these rules, and you think they'll save
back to the way things were. But I know the truth: you.
there's no going back. You've changed things. Forever.
BATMAN: I have one rule.
BATMAN: Then why do you want to kill me?
JOKER: Then that's the one rule you'll have to break to
know the truth.
The Joker starts laughing. After a moment he's laughing
so hard it sounds like sobbing.
BATMAN: Which is?
JOKER: Kill you? I don't wanna kill you. What would I do
JOKER: The only sensible way to live in this world is
without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No.
without rules. And tonight you're gonna break your one
No. No! No you- you complete me.
rule.
BATMAN: You're garbage who kills for money.
Batman leans in to the Joker.
JOKER: Don't talk like one of them, you're not. Even if
you'd like to be. To them, you're a freak. Like me. They BATMAN: I'm considering it.
just need you right now.
JOKER: There are just minutes left so you're gonna have
He regards Batman with something approaching pity. to play my little game if you want to save...(with
relish)...one of them.
JOKER (cont'd): But as soon as they don't they'll cast you
out. Like a leper.
The Joker looks into Batman's eyes. Searching.
JOKER: Their morals, their code; it's a bad joke. Dropped
BATMAN: Them?
BATMAN: WHERE ARE THEY?
JOKER: For a while I thought you really were Dent. The
way you threw yourself after her... He grabs the Joker, holding him close
Batman drops the Joker- rips up a bolted-down chair- JOKER: Killing is making a choice!
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- Batman punches the Joker across the face. HARD.
NIGHT
BATMAN: WHERE ARE THEY?
Gordon moves for the door
The Joker feeds off Batman's anger. Loving it.
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU -- CONTINUOUS
JOKER: You choose one life over the other. Your friend,
Batman jams the chair under the doorknob- picks up the
the district attorney, or his blushing bride-to-be.
Joker andhurls him into the two-way glass. The glass
spiders.
Batman punches the Joker again. The Joker laughs.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL
JOKER: You have nothing! Nothing to threaten me with!
-- NIGHT
Nothing to do with all your strength. But don't worry.
I'm going to tell you where they are. Both of them. And
The Joker, bleeding from nose and mouth, laughs at
that's the point. You'll have to choose.
Batman.
The Batman stares at the Joker...
JOKER: Look at you go! Does Harvey know about you
and his little bunny?
JOKER: He's at 250 52nd Street. And she's at Avenue X
at Cicero.
The Joker smashes into the wall- slides to the floor.
Batman stands over him, a man possessed-
Batman drops him.
