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]