Batman: Caped Crusader (2024) s01e06 Episode Script

[suspenseful music playing]
[woman] Man, just look at this place.
I remember when these factories
were open 'round the clock.
My pops used to work
in that one right there. Made paperclips.
Then that fire hit a few years back,
and fwoosh!
- What, you need paperclips?
- [scoffs] No.
We had a government worth a damn.
We'd rebuild, pump some life back in.
But instead, we get to keep the slums
and all the tra
Hey, you see that?
[woman] Yeah.
Is that a horse?
- [both gasp]
- [tires screech]
[horse snorts]
[eerie laughter]
Stand and deliver.
[both grunting]
[tires screeching]
[soft grunt]
[gasping]
- [gasps]
- The road is no place for a lady.
- [gasping]
- You should run along home, dear.
[soft gasp]
[whinnies]
[echoing laughter]
[theme music playing]
[Lucius] The treasury bonds
have performed well,
but I think we want
to start transitioning to stocks,
which can be volatile,
but will be worth it.
All in all, your portfolio
is up 20 percent over last year,
which is rather robust,
if I do say so myself.
Are you listening to me?
Portfolio's up. I'm still rich.
You're too marvelous for words.
Yes, yes, and yes.
So, what do you make
of these so-called ghost robberies?
Obviously, some lunatic in a costume.
- What does a ghost need money for?
- It's a good point.
What about you, Pennyworth?
You think ghosts are haunting Gotham City?
A city like this? I've no doubt.
"There are more things
in heaven and earth, Horatio."
- Didn't you have an uncle?
- Indeed.
Uncle Nigel was convinced
he'd seen the spirit of his late wife
wandering the moors outside of Axbridge.
[chuckles] Right. Looking for the dog.
- "Patches"
- [both] "Patches, where are you?"
[both laugh]
I'm not sure which is stranger,
Pennyworth believing in ghosts
or that you two are so chummy.
Well, I was raised
to treat the staff like people, Bruce.
You might want to give it a try sometime.
Hey, remember that property up the coast
you were considering for Wayne Gardens,
but you wanted something closer
to the city?
- Sure.
- I bought it.
- You didn't.
- Sure as hell did, son.
Going to build some single family units,
some low income housing,
a school, public park.
Anyway, I'm finalizing
the deal later this week.
Well, that sounds great.
Congratulations, Lucius.
Thanks. You know, I could cut you in.
You have more than enough just sitting
in that discretionary account
you won't let me near.
Don't worry about that account.
Think of it as my petty cash fund.
Hm. I probably don't want to know
what you use that money for, do I?
Trust me, you really don't.
[Harvey] "Harvey Dent is just doing what
Mommy and Daddy taught him to do.
Buy whatever he wants. So now he's trying
to buy the election, too."
The press will just print anything
Mayor Jessop says now?
You were supposed to get ahead of this.
We tried, but Jessop's
got the papers in his pocket,
and they're happy to run pictures
of you with your well-heeled friends.
Two unions have already withdrawn
their endorsements and that's just today.
Okay. Sure, we've lost some support
among the working class,
but maybe we can fix it.
Do some kind of press event
to show you're a man of the people.
Fine. Set it up. I'm late for lunch.
To the club, Henry.
I asked Henry to take
a walk around the block.
Hope you don't mind.
What can I do for you, Mr. Thorne?
It's more what I can do for you, Dent.
You're slipping in the polls,
and I'm here to help any way I can.
I thought you were backing Mayor Jessop.
Sometimes you want
to bet on red and black.
Then no matter what,
you come out a winner.
And I always play to win.
Which is exactly why I'm running.
To save this city from the kind
of corruption you and Jessop
Yeah, I get it. You've got morals.
But you can't save anyone unless you win.
Hell, you're the DA.
You should know all about compromise.
Way I hear it,
you pretty much wrote the book.
- What are you?
- [chuckles] That's fine, Dent.
Morality is usually
on a sliding scale for most men.
Well, you know where to find me
if you wanna get back in the game.
[Batman] Something odd.
Truck that was robbed last night was
carrying collections from a charity event.
What makes that peculiar?
There were five other armored trucks
in the city last night,
all with more money.
Why would the thief pick the west side
charity's truck over others?
Our thief took the same risk,
but for less reward.
Maybe I shouldn't focus
on what's being stolen,
but who it's being stolen from.
[Harvey] Just as Gotham rails
form the arteries of a great city,
the people who ride it are its lifeblood.
The mother who lives
in the east end but works downtown,
the factory workers on the late shift,
all form the beating heart of Gotham.
When I'm mayor, I'll see to it
that our trains are cleaner,
- cheaper and safer than they've ever been.
- Huh?
[suspenseful music playing]
- [gasps]
- [all exclaiming]
Now that I have your attention,
allow me to relieve you of your valuables.
Billfolds, coin purses, pocket watches,
in the saddle bags, if you please.
Here, take this.
And leave these people alone.
Oh, no, sir.
I wouldn't dream of taking a hay penny
from a man of your station.
But I'll take everything this one has.
- Farewell, gentlemen.
- [horse whinnies]
- [man] What happened?
- [chattering]
[suspenseful music playing]
[horse whinnies]
[engine revving]
[music continues]
Hyah!
[man grunts]
- [horn honking]
- [tires screech]
[horse whinnies]
[tires screech]
[Alfred] I realize it's unlikely, but perhaps
we should consider the possibility that
"The world is big enough for us.
No ghosts need apply."
Ah, yes. "But when you
have eliminated the impossible,
whatever remains, however improbable,
must be the truth."
He's my favorite author as well, sir.
So, what is it that remains here?
One, this ghost only targets
the underprivileged.
Two, from his appearance,
he's obsessed with the 18th century.
And three
I need answers I can't get here.
[thunder rumbles]
[ominous music]
Welcome to Heritage Hill, Mr. Fox.
- I'm Russell Craddock.
- Please, call me Lucius.
The grounds are impressive.
They are. Or, well, they used to be.
- That cemetery I saw on my way in
- The family plot.
This property has been in the family
since they were pilgrims.
I hope you'll be able to preserve it.
- I think we can work that out.
- Thank you.
I really hate to have to sell this place.
But, you know, taxes will send a man
to the poor house.
Let's get in out of the rain.
I'll give you a tour of the old girl
before we get to putting signatures
on dotted lines.
[thunder crashes]
[woman] Why, is that young Bruce Wayne?
- Not so young anymore.
- It's good to see you, Wilma.
I can still remember
all those long afternoons,
you in here with your mother.
You were always so interested
in knights and quests.
I see not much has changed.
Can I help you with something?
I'm trying to find out
who this coat of arms belongs to.
But it's not in any of these books.
Oh, no, it wouldn't be.
That's the Craddock coat of arms.
They were one of Gotham's
founding families.
But the name was struck
from the official histories
because of James Craddock's actions
during the Revolution.
James, Gentleman Jim Craddock,
was a wealthy aristocrat
and staunch loyalist.
But he was also a gambler
who squandered much
of his family's fortune
and nearly lost their estate
on Heritage Hill.
Since he was born of nobility,
Craddock believed wealth was his right,
and he blamed democracy
for his misfortunes.
When he fell far enough,
he became a highwayman.
But James Craddock was no Robin Hood.
The opposite, in fact.
He stole from the poor to give to himself.
When they finally caught him,
he was hanged at the old town gallows.
You've been a big help, Wilma. Thank you.
I never got to tell you how sorry I was
for what happened.
Oh, I appreciate that.
Is Lucius in? This is Bruce Wayne.
[woman] I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne,
but he's not.
Mr. Fox is finalizing
the details of a land acquisition.
- At Heritage Hill?
- Why, yes. How did you?
Just let him know I called, please.
Heritage Hill, Pennyworth.
Don't spare the horses.
Thrashing them now, sir.
[thunder crashes]
A few more John Hancocks,
and we're all done here.
Who's that?
One of my great, great, great uncles.
He had the house built on land granted
to him by the King of England.
But later, he became some kind
of criminal or a traitor.
He ruined the family name for centuries.
[rumbling]
[dramatic music playing]
Call me traitor?
Ungrateful wretch!
You betray everything we stood for!
Heritage Hill is the Craddock legacy,
and you would sell it to rabble like this!
Watch who you're calling names,
you son of a
Very well.
You die first, then.
- James Craddock.
- You know me.
I know who you're pretending to be.
[grunting]
[Batman groans]
Both of you, get out of here.
So you know, I'm tearing down
this house first thing.
Please do!
[music continues]
[grunting]
[grunting]
[moaning]
You fight like a well-bred man,
so I give you leave.
But I'll not be so forgiving, sir,
should our paths cross a third time.
[ominous music]
[reporters clamoring]
Did you really just stand there
and let Gotham citizens get robbed?
[clamoring continues]
[car door closes]
Remind me to fire Gorman.
[Batman] This water can't be over
108 degrees or it'll cause nerve damage.
I've treated every injury you've ever had.
From scraped knees to gunshot wounds.
I know what I'm doing.
Hmm. For the sake of argument, let's
say our gentleman ghost is just that.
A ghost. If it's true, how do I stop him?
I believe there's someone here in Gotham
who might be able to answer that question.
I'd say we're closed, but you
don't seem the sort who'd care.
If you're Linton Midnite,
I need your help. I'm hunting
The gentleman ghost,
formerly known as James Craddock.
And you don't know how to catch a ghost.
Before today,
I didn't believe they existed.
I appreciate a man willing
to broaden his horizons.
Why would a ghost be stealing money?
What could he need it for?
Every shade is different, but they're
all echoes of their former selves.
Some are tethered
to where they lived or died.
Others are doomed to repeat
in death what they did in life.
You want to be rid of Craddock?
This book contains the rite of passage
from this world to the next.
You'll need two things.
The original deed to Heritage Hill.
Craddock believes he still
has a claim in Gotham.
So you need to burn that claim.
- And the other thing?
- The blood of a nobleman.
Old ghosts, old magic.
It wants what it wants.
And this one wants blood.
This magic, it will fight back.
Even if you think you can handle it,
it will find weaknesses
you didn't know you had.
A boon for a boon.
I gave you what you needed.
In exchange,
you return this to me when it's done.
[Batman] What's it for?
You'll know.
[suspenseful music playing]
It was in the historical archives,
just as I suspected.
Good to see those lock picks I got you for
your 12th birthday are coming in handy.
No one will miss a 400-year-old deed.
But getting this was the easy part.
Where do I find a nobleman in Gotham City?
Actually, sir, the Pennyworth line
traces back to the Duke of Devonshire.
- You never told me that.
- Frankly, sir, you never asked.
The ritual could be dangerous.
You should know by now, Master Bruce,
that I don't frighten easily.
"With the first blade and the last,
we sever your ties to this plane.
With the first breath and the last,
we speak you on your way.
With the first wound and the last,
we consecrate your going with blood."
We consecrate your going with blood.
[Craddock echoes] No!
[grunts]
It must hurt you
to see the Gotham of today, Craddock.
This vile city.
[grunts]
There was a time when
the lower classes knew their place.
A better time.
When the few ruled the many, you mean.
You say that with such distaste.
Don't tell me,
"all men are created equal," yes?
What utter rubbish.
Goodbye, Craddock. Go back to hell.
No! No, no! Ahh!
[screaming]
[shrieking]
Well, thank heaven.
[wind howling]
[groans]
[wind gusts]
[Craddock] So close, guttersnipe.
And yet, so far.
This old man is trying to fight me
to keep his secrets safe.
One precious secret in particular
that he's protecting
- like a candle in a storm.
- [Batman grunts]
Perhaps it's something
he doesn't want you to know. Hm?
Aren't you just dying
to find out what it is?
[normal voice] Please!
Kill me before he makes me kill you.
No. Never.
[grunts]
[Craddock] You ought to have done
as the old boy asked.
Too late now! [laughs]
[screaming]
No.
[groaning softly]
Master Bruce.
You fool. What the hell were you thinking?
If you
I can't do this job without you.
Yes, Master Bruce.
I know.
[groans]
I'm looking forward to a long bath, sir.
Stay here.
- A boon for a boon.
- You're welcome.
Well, hello there, Jim.
Been a long time.
[Craddock] My God! No!
You can't leave me with this man!
Please! I beg you! I'll do anything!
But don't leave me! Please!
What will you do with him?
You probably don't want to know that.
No, I probably don't.
[Midnite] Nice doing business with you.
[Gorman] Mr. Dent,
after the incident on the train,
you dropped another 15 points
behind Jessop in the polls.
And your biggest donors
have rescinded their campaign pledges.
The war chest is empty.
- Damn it!
- [crashing]
Leave it! Just get out.
- I need to think.
- Of course, Mr. Dent.
[dialing phone]
Thorne, it's Dent.
Let's talk.
[show theme music playing]