Batman: Caped Crusader (2024) s01e04 Episode Script

Asking the question
on everyone's mind these days.
What do you think about the Batman?
That guy who beat up the cops?
I don't like him, not one bit.
My sister and me,
we think he might be a vampire.
Well, I say this Batman's
got a lot of moxie.
About time someone gave
these cops a licking.
I'm frightened. That's what I think.
I won't go out after dark now.
This whole city's gone to hell
in a handbasket.
Well, he's breaking the law, ain't he?
So they ought to catch that freak
and lock him up.
And now, he's even attacking our brave police.
Well, I say this will not stand.
The people elected me
to make this a better city, a safer city,
a city of law and order.
So today,
I'm announcing a special taskforce
to catch this Batman character
and bring him to justice.
This man is not a hero. He's a criminal.
And his time in Gotham is up.
[reporters] Mr. Mayor! Mr. Mayor!
Hope you were listening, Gordon.
This bat's your problem now.
And you'd better not screw it up.
Okay, okay. One at a time, fellas.
[melancholy music playing]
[theme music playing]
[Bullock]
You gotta be kidding me, Commish.
Me and Flass put away more crooks
than the rest of that squad combined.
It should be us running this taskforce.
You and your partner
are the reason for all this.
I got Boss Thorne
taking over the Narrows,
but I have to waste our resources
chasing a shadow
because you got your picture in the paper.
Sorry, Bullock.
You're not getting rewarded for that.
But her? You really think the men
are going to take orders from that
I expect my men
to obey the chain of command.
Even, you. Now, stop complaining.
You've already made us late
for the briefing.
And I won't say it's going to be easy,
but catching criminals is what we do.
So this one dresses up like Dracula.
So what?
Still a criminal,
and we're going to take him down.
What do we know about this Batman?
Chandler?
He's mostly been seen between ten at night
and four in the morning.
Usually driving that hot rod of his
100 miles an hour.
And he's been spotted
in the East End more than anywhere else.
Yeah, he's been beating
the tar out of muggers
and dope peddlers out there
the last few weeks.
I still can't believe Gordon
put her in charge.
Just bide your time.
I'll figure something.
Okay. What else do we know?
Well, we know he's not scared
of the police.
Corrigan's right. The Bat put half a dozen
officers in the hospital last month.
- Not including Flass and Bullock.
- [laughter]
Yeah, real funny, but I still don't see
a plan here, Montoya.
So how are you gonna
actually catch this guy?
Well, we're gonna trap him,
and we're going to start
by casting a wide net.
[screams, grunts]
Better have something in that purse,
sister, or this is getting ugly fast.
[tense music playing]
Geez! Take it easy, Driver.
Sorry, Romy.
I was trying to make it look real.
Well, maybe avoid
the trash cans next time.
[sighs] So, what, we wait ten minutes
and do it again?
[Driver] Hm yeah.
Keep away from me, you!
You're only making it worse
on yourself, old man.
Help! Somebody help me!
Oh, God! Please! No!
He's going to kill me! Somebody help!
No! No, wait! Please!
Listen. Listen, guys.
I just need a few more days, please.
That ain't up to us, pal.
Guess we gotta carve you up now.
No, wait! Don't! No!
[grunts, screams]
[shouting]
Hey, you can't leave us like this!
This is command, status update.
Command, this is Decoy One.
Negative so far.
- Decoy Two, also negative.
- Decoy Three, we got bupkis.
Decoy Four, status?
Command, he was here,
but we didn't see him, exactly.
And, uh, I think we need a fire truck.
Damn it. We should have had men
on the rooftops, too.
- He would've spotted them.
- Yeah, he's sharp.
But I figure he'd respond to screaming,
no matter what.
- So, what do we do next, boss?
- Tomorrow night, we up the stakes.
[radio dispatcher] Calling all cars.
High speed pursuit in progress.
Getaway car on Fifth Avenue,
three blocks from Robinson Bridge.
- Repeat, all units respond.
- [laughs]
Well, hot diggity.
[dramatic music playing]
[engine revs]
- [siren wailing]
- This is car 51. We've got him. Go!
No more blanks, boys!
Switch to live ammo!
[tires screeching]
[gasps]
[tires screeching]
[sirens wailing]
That's it. Pen him in. We got him.
[officers] Move! Go!
No! Look out!
Damn it! We had him!
Well, I think it's a shame.
A shame that our current mayor
wants to waste taxpayer money
on such an obvious political stunt.
But worse, it turns out
his special taskforce
isn't even up to their special task.
It's an embarrassment.
This is why I'm running
against Mayor Jessop,
because Gotham needs to be strong again
and safe and proud.
And with Harvey Dent as your mayor,
you will be.
- [yawns]
- [phone rings]
- Gordon.
- [Jessop yelling] The freakin' front page?
- Yes, Mr. Mayor. I saw the paper.
- So what are you doing about it?
- Sir, we're doing every
- Because I thought I was very clear
that catching this masked freak
is your top priority!
Yes, and it's got our full attention.
I have everyone out on the street.
I want good headlines, Gordon! Wasn't that
the whole point of you in that job?
- Good press!
- Sir, we'll catch him. I just
- [line disconnects]
- [sighs]
[groans]
[radio dispatcher] Car Four.
All clear on 10th and Market.
No sign of target.
Don't move! Halt!
Stop, damn you!
[suspenseful music playing]
[panting]
[Montoya] Wait. He was here?
Right in the damn conference room!
I've got the mayor breathing down our necks,
and this guy's making us look like idiots.
We need more time.
The mayor can't expect miracles.
Well, he does. He made that very clear.
Look, I'm trying to change this place.
Root out the bent cops and the graft.
But I have to stick around
to make that happen.
He's threatening your job?
Not in so many words,
but I can read between the lines.
We need to catch this Batman and fast,
or I'm getting transferred out
to Marshall Island,
and you go back to being treated
like the office coffee girl.
It hasn't even been a week.
We can do this. I just
No. He's too smart for these tactics.
[sighs] Renee, it's not working.
We need to try something else.
Okay, so he's too smart.
Maybe we can use that,
get inside his head.
[Dr. Quinzel] Well for starters,
he's kind of a shy boy, isn't he?
The hit and run tactics, the mask.
You've got to wonder,
what else is he hiding under that thing?
Besides obvious issues with authority
and maybe a fetish or two.
My old college professor, Dr. Crane,
would say
This Dr. Quinzel's interesting.
Where did you find her?
Your daughter. They're friends.
She's one of Barbara's expert witnesses.
- Ah. Of course she is.
- Yeah.
Barb introduced us at our Christmas party,
and, uh, we kept in touch.
So, why all this animosity for the police?
Where does that come from?
Well, frankly,
I think the police are just in his way.
His real targets are the criminals.
He's punishing them.
That's why he's out there
night after night.
That's his compulsion.
Hey, all this head shrink mumbo-jumbo
might mean something to you, doc,
but can you just please tell us
how to catch this guy?
Sure.
Batman seems to have a thing
for all these costumed creeps
that keep popping up, right?
Maybe they remind him of himself.
Who knows?
In any case, that's how you catch him.
By using different bait.
You need a weirdo.
- Bingo.
- Huh? Hey, wait up.
[officers chatter]
[Flass] So, who do we got in holding?
Let's see here
Drunk and disorderly, no.
Car thief, no.
Grievous bodily harm. Oh, here we go.
This is our man.
Hey, Flass. You sure about this?
You heard the lady doctor.
This is what gets to the Bat.
Guys with weird names and bad habits.
Okay, let's go, Firefly.
It's time to take a ride.
Actually, it's Firebug.
Firebug, right.
Better grab his outfit from Evidence too.
That's one of my clients.
- What are you doing with him?
- None of your beeswax.
We got orders to take him
to Arkham Asylum, Miss Gordon.
- For a psych exam, I believe it was.
- I wasn't notified.
Probably just an oversight,
you know, red tape.
- Anyway
- Well, be careful with that one.
He's more dangerous than he looks.
- Yeah, that's what we hear.
- [car starts]
You know,
Barbie's actually meeting me here.
We're going to Gino's.
Oh, you got a table at Gino's?
You must know somebody.
Honestly,
I know too many somebodies, Commissioner.
- Would you like to join us, Renee?
- I would, but I'm on the clock.
- Maybe another time?
- I'm going to hold you to that.
Oh, here she is.
Dad, I think you have a problem.
Did you give Bullock and Flass orders
to transfer a prisoner?
No. What prisoner?
Can't you feel it?
All of those people out there
longing for the flames,
for the truth of the fire to show
Hey, Firefly, shut it.
No one gives a crap.
It's Firebug.
You know, I tell you, Flass, I'd hate
to be a little guy like that in lockup.
You'd need a real scary rep
if you want to survive in there.
Yeah. A couple of arsons and
a homemade costume ain't gonna cut it.
Did you see his suit?
It's like long underwear,
but on the outside,
and these big bug-eyed goggles.
That uniform is fireproof.
[chuckles] Yeah, I saw that.
Hey, you put it in the trunk, right?
Yeah, it's back there
with his fuel tank dingus.
Wait. Is the lock on that trunk
still busted?
Dang it, you're right.
I keep forgetting to get that fixed.
So you mean anyone
could get into that trunk,
and run off with Firebug's special suit?
Yeah, I guess. Ooh! You hear that?
Sounds like engine trouble.
[Bullock] What do you think? Radiator?
[Flass] No, no,
it sounded like the fan belt.
- Maybe we need to get a tow truck.
- Ah, we don't want to do that. The
All right.
He isn't completely dense after all.
[air hissing]
Okay. Make it look good.
Oh, no. Hey, Flass, I can't
Just do it.
[grunts]
Again.
- [punch lands]
- [grunting]
- Flass? You okay?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.
All right, here's what happened.
Tire went flat, you got out to look at it.
Somehow, Firebug got the better of me.
Little bastard's stronger than he looks.
And then he ran for it. Got it?
You think this is going to work?
Some costumed freak burning down
the Eastside Flats?
You really think
this will draw out the Bat?
If it doesn't,
then we'll try something else.
[children laughing, shouting]
[grunting, laughing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[children chattering]
[chatter, laughter continues]
Yes. Here we go.
[gas hissing]
[music continues]
[tires screeching]
[music continues]
This is just like Flass and Bullock,
doing whatever they think
they can get away with.
Well, not this time. Damn it!
Where are they?
[Batman] There's nothing on
the police band about the Eastside Flats?
[Alfred] No, not at this
Oh, hang on.
There's just been a report
of a man in a mask
setting fire to one of the tenements.
[indistinct shouting]
[woman] Someone call the fire department!
Please, help!
This is Detective Flass.
I need everyone with a badge
to the Eastside Flats.
We got a building on fire,
an escaped prisoner, and the Batman.
I repeat, the Bat is on the scene.
Get here fast, people. Double time!
[horn honking]
Eastside Flats was on my old beat.
A fire there will be hell on earth.
Last thing those people need is Flass and
Bullock turning it into a war zone too.
This is Commissioner Gordon.
No one makes a move until I get there.
Is that understood?
Okay, we're going to split up in there.
We're looking for the Bat,
and the maniac who started this fire.
Orders are to shoot on sight.
All right, boys,
let's go show these freaks what for.
[boy panting]
[Batman] Stop.
[grunting]
Come on. I'm O'Brian from the Gazette.
You gotta let me through.
I don't gotta do nothing, pal.
[Gordon] Everyone, listen up!
We need to move the civilians back.
This whole place could go up
like a tinderbox at any moment.
Where are Flass and Bullock?
They took an armored squad in
a few minutes ago, sir.
- No one else goes in. Is that clear?
- Yes, sir.
What are you doing? You just said
I won't have good cops dying in there
because of those two.
Come on. There's another way.
[coughing]
Shelly says the Bat was spotted
on the fifth floor. Let's move.
Hang on. Look, there!
- Damn. I was sure I
- Come on. [coughs]
He ain't here.
[loud creaking]
[man] Help! Help! Please!
Come on, children. Stay close to Mother.
[gunfire]
[grunting]
Oh!
That way. Go!
Take Mike and Jim
Well, holy crap.
- Can you stand?
- I think. [coughs]
Yeah. [coughs]
Where are Flass and Bullock?
I don't know. [coughs] We split up.
[Corrigan] Commissioner, we saw Batman.
He's moving towards the top floors.
You need to get them out, Renee.
- And look for more on the way down.
- But
That's an order. Go.
Okay. Come on, you two.
[eerie child choir vocalizing]
[hissing, clicking]
[Flass] Well, your lawyer was right.
You are more dangerous than you look.
Yes, but I used all my fuel now,
so I guess I give up.
He'll talk. About his escape.
[gunshots]
- [crashing]
- [crowd gasping]
[woman] Oh, my God!
[Gordon] Don't move!
There's another one inside.
- [sobbing]
- [coughs]
It's okay, son. I got you.
- I can take him down outside.
- No. Those men will shoot at you.
They might not see the kids.
Come on. I know these buildings.
This used to be my beat.
- It goes to the laundry room.
- What's at the bottom?
- I guess we'll find out.
- Guess we will.
It's safe.
Okay. Come on, kids. What are you
All right, everyone stay close.
Oh, thank God.
I thought you were still in there.
I found a shortcut.
Hey, Commish, you see the Batman in there?
Heard he was chasing that Firebug guy.
No, I didn't.
[Gordon] Let me be clear.
I know exactly what you did.
You put fellow officers and innocent
civilians in harm's way on purpose,
and I'm gonna have your badges for this.
[laughs]
There something funny here, Bullock?
Guess you didn't see the papers.
[phone rings]
Gordon, it's Mayor Jessop.
Think it's time we made some changes
to this taskforce.
These two hero cops from the papers,
Flass and Bullock,
I want them in charge from now on.
But listen, I saw you did some good
out there too, Jim. Saved some kids.
So we're going to keep you around for now.
Just make sure my guys have whatever
they need and stay out of their way.
- Understand me?
- Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor.
Let me take a wild guess.
Was that about us?
It's okay, kiddo. I'm not licked yet.
[theme music playing]