Original subtitles

Mercy!

Make way, boys! Comin' through!

Hey Commish, how about a picture?

We're still waitin' on the coroner, but cause of death seems pretty obvious.

Who's the victim?

Small time second-story man working his way up to cat burglar apparently.

Looks like he was in the middle of a job when someone decided to stake his claim.

Well, did that thief take something particularly valuable?

We're waiting on a list from the museum director.

Not to imply that some crimes are more important than others,

but it's a quarter to five in the morning. Why am I out of bed, detective?

Because of this.

That's the ticket, baby!

Front page all the way.

Damn it.

I don't know about you, dear viewer,

some in Gotham call the so-called “Batman” a hero.

But I ask you, does a hero commit murder?

Or sign his name in his victim's blood?

Mothers, has the Batman made your children safer?

Or do his exploits inspire nightmares that cause them to wake up screaming?

Who appointed this anonymous vigilante

judge, jury, and executioner of Gotham's private citizens?

Who will his “justice” condemn next?

And where is the police department?

Bruce. Bruce?

Hello? Paging Mr. Wayne.

- Hm? - Contracts?

Signatures? You're the one who pushed all this into one meeting.

Of course, sorry. She just...

She's just doing her job, keeping your eyes on her.

But it's just fluff.

Or does Commissioner Gordon have an assassin in his little black book?

Also, the Batman is not an assassin.

You don't agree with her about him?

The guy saved my life once, so no, I don't.

If there's one thing I know, it's how to spot a friend.

The truth is, today, I don't care about anything

that doesn't get these contracts out the door.

Did your tax dollars pay for Rupert Thorne,

and his poor, innocent little boy, Matthew, to disappear?

No one's seen them since the trial. Curiouser and curiouser.

Goodnight, Gotham. Sweet dreams.

And cut. That's a wrap.

- Great show, Hattie. - Someone bring me a drink!

I said a drink!

Ever since that pinko took us off the gold standard,

the whole country's gone to pot!

One Manhattan, straight up.

I've owned the Batman beat for weeks!

How am I getting scooped by the Gotham Gazette?

We're an evening program.

Can't beat the morning paper when a story breaks overnight.

No excuses. I want solutions!

With the papers flogging the Batman, the people will want feel good stories.

Give them that, and they'll flock to you.

The people are mindless sheep who want what I tell them to want.

And what I want is the Batman on my show!

Track him down, and get him in here!

What about Commissioner Gordon?

Put Gordon in the hot seat.

Force him to explain why his Keystone Kops can't track down a man in a bat costume.

Not bad. Make it happen!

Your wish is my command.

You bet your ass it is!

Last night, I sent you on a retrieval mission.

Instead, you commit murder. Explain yourselves!

We couldn't risk that burglar taking the artifacts you sent us for!

Show me.

We found them. Just as you said we would.

- Plus more treasure for our lord. - You have done well.

But these? Silverware and baubles?

These are not worthy of Barbatos!

It was the best there was.

I... see.

It is a sign.

Barbatos placed that man in your path because he requires a new treasure.

He needs blood to fuel his rise!

You are certain? His time is near?

All the wealth you have given him,

all you own and what the city has tithed...

When he rises, it will be returned to you ten-fold!

While fire rains down from his mighty wings upon the unbelievers,

you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams!

Do not falter my children.

Only the worthy will see his glorious rise!

All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos!

Any progress on our cat burglar?

Multiple assailants, no traceable weapon.

Looks like the poor bastard got beat, then stabbed.

Was that Hattie Tetch's producer?

My office, detective.

I'm gonna be a guest on Hattie's Tea Party tomorrow night.

Sir, it'll be a hit job! Who put you up to this? The mayor?

No, Ms. Landry approached me directly. And I agreed it was a good idea.

For you to publicly defend the Batman?

Hattie can say what she likes about the Batman.

Or me for that matter.

But I won't let her go after the GCPD.

If we're going to build this into a department to be proud of,

officers on the street have to see the top brass have their backs.

- Don't worry, I've survived worse. - You're sure about that?

As you were, detective.

I'm sure Hattie would prefer to have you on... if you want my slot.

Whoever drew a bat in that man's blood, it wasn't me.

I know. Not your style.

Plus to my knowledge, you don't kill people. Yet.

Even more to the point,

the coroner confirms our victim was assaulted

by at least three different individuals.

You...

always work alone.

Help! Help!

All hail Barbatos!

Peace, avatar!

We seek your blood, not your death!

A final sacrifice to Barbatos.

It will bring his glorious rise, so the worthy may...

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I take it you will be confronting these assailants

to make your feelings on the matter clear.

I would be now if I knew where to find them.

Hmm... When you say they vanished,

was that figuratively or literally?

These were humans, not ghosts. Some kind of cult.

Or the occult.

If only we knew an expert in such things...

Run along...

I have business to take care of.

I'll be there soon.

I assume you are here about the dead thief and the bloody bat symbol.

What do you know about Barbatos?

Barbatos?

I need a drink.

Barbatos is a demon bat god,

who slumbers beneath Gotham City

until his followers sacrifice sufficient treasure to summon him.

At which point he will rise, destroy the unbelievers,

and reward his followers with wealth beyond their wildest dreams.

How do I stop him?

You can't.

He doesn't exist.

Barbatos is an urban myth. Pops up every few decades or so.

I was just attacked by cultists who called me his avatar.

You thought a cult devoted to an evil bat god

wasn't going to weave you into their mythology?

That's adorable.

This isn't about you.

People like to believe in things.

God, government, capitalism.

Why not Barbatos?

It's so cliché, it'd be funny...

except...

What?

When treasure doesn't do the job,

the cult decides raising Barbatos requires human sacrifice.

And these cultists have already killed at least once.

Sounds like something their avatar should put a stop to. Doesn't it?

Eh?

So, just before we go live...

Don't you dare touch him with your paints!

The Commissioner's rugged features need no enhancement.

Good evening, Hattie. You're in early tonight.

How are you, Commissioner?

Do you need water? Juice? Something stronger?

Never touch the stuff before an enemy engagement.

Enemy?

Well, this is just a friendly conversation.

It'll be fun! Make yourself comfortable.

Dala will bring you to set in two shakes of a lamb's tail. Ta!

The avatar's blood calls to its master.

Barbatos is pleased.

What is the matter, my child?

I've followed you for years.

Then tonight, I met the avatar and...

He's not even a believer!

Why would Barbatos choose him?

Hush.

- Have you shared this with the others? - Not yet.

But my doubts grow.

We've all given so much.

Why does Barbatos not come?

Your faith is that shaken.

Forgive me.

Then meet our dark lord now.

And may your sacrifice speed his path.

Any other questions before your date with destiny?

Just the interview will be enough, I think.

Good. Humor makes you seem more approachable.

Just don't try to upstage Hattie.

- I'm sure that's not possible. - What is this?

Take your hands off me!

- Unhand me! - Stay back!

Police! Don't move!

- Let me go! - Drop the knife.

Good. Now very slowly...

Sorry, boss.

You're coming with us.

Attention all units, attention all units.

Kidnapping at Monoscope Pictures.

Commissioner Gordon and Hattie Tetch are missing.

A suspect resembling the Batman was spotted driving away from the scene.

All units be on the alert for any sign of the Batman.

While the police waste their time looking for the Batman,

the cultists are gonna murder Gordon and Tetch.

I have to find them.

Unfortunately, there's very little data.

Perhaps if we examine locations of historic significance to the cult.

No. If this cult thinks I'm their avatar,

they're focused on the present, not the past.

Midnite said they sacrifice treasure to Barbatos.

The museum was their first murder. Maybe it wasn't their first robbery.

I've taken the liberty of compiling data on the city's recent unsolved crimes.

Perhaps there's a common link.

I'll investigate those locations. Radio me if you find something.

You all right?

Not my first scrap, Gordon.

East Gotham, born and raised.

Ungrateful tramp!

You're fired.

You've spent years treating me like dirt,

and I never knew why.

Until I met the monk.

He showed me my suffering was all part of Barbatos' plan.

You suffer because you're a dirty...

What's this about? Ransom?

Hardly. Barbatos will provide the worthy with everything they need.

You're going to kill us.

Blood of an ally, blood of an enemy.

You'll be the final sacrifices needed to summon our lord.

What do you have, Pennyworth?

Based on my triangulations, I've deduced

the most likely lair for those zealots is St. Bartholomew's Church.

- Good job, Pennyworth. - Thank you, sir.

Godspeed.

All hail Barbatos! All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos!

Quiet. No one here cares what you have to say.

Soon, she will be silent forever, my love.

Would you care to do the honors?

All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos!

All hail...

The avatar has fallen! Strike him down, my children!

Behind you!

No one screws with Hattie Tetch and gets away with it!

Time for us to go our separate ways, avatar.

My followers could've killed you in the park.

I won't be so generous if we meet again.

Turn back now.

The only thing you will find in these tunnels

is your death.

I warned you not to chase me.

Hands up, please.

I should thank you.

Convincing people to sacrifice all their worldly goods to a bat cult

got a lot easier when you came on the scene.

It was almost enough to make me believe in Barbatos myself.

I never wanted to get you involved. Directly.

Alas, cultists tend to get a bit zealous.

I take it as a compliment.

I figured you'd kill them easily when I sent them to collect your blood.

- Why didn't you? - I'm no killer.

Ah.

Well, unfortunately for you, I am.

No!

You know, I have a pretty sweet deal going with this bat cult.

I could cut you in.

Why am I not surprised?

Montoya, let headquarters know we won't need to track down

the ringleader after all.

Where's my former producer? I want to fire her again!

Blasphemer!

Have you come to show us the way, avatar?

Will you bring Barbatos' terrible glory?

No!

All hail Barbatos! All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos.

All hail Barbatos!

All hail Barbatos.

Suffice to say, last night was quite the adventure.

And I don't mind admitting I wouldn't be here to tell you all the tale

if not for one man...

Commissioner James Gordon.

I can't take all the credit. You held your own.

And of course the Batman's arrival was key.

The Batman inspired that lunatic and his followers

to kidnap us in the first place!

Sadly, the world is full of weak-minded, passive people,

like my former producer,

who are easy prey for charismatic charlatans.

Not like you, dear viewer.

You're far too intelligent to fall for someone like that.

Goodnight, Gotham.

Sweet dreams.