Original subtitles

(rustling whoosh)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(shattering)

(pinging whoosh)

(tires screech)

(clacking)

Three of a kind, let's do this.

That's it? Three guys?

Two guys on the roof. Every guy gets a share.

Five shares is plenty. Six shares.

Don't forget the guy who planned the job.

He thinks he can sit it out and still take a slice.

I know why they call him the Joker.

So, why do they call him the Joker?

I heard he wears make-up.

Makeup?

Yeah, to scare people-- you know, war paint.

(automatic gunfire)

(woman screams)

All right, everybody, hands up, heads down!

(clamoring) I said hands up, heads down!

Let's go, pal, I'm making a withdrawal here. MAN: Please!

I said hands up! (yelps) No!

Here comes the silent alarm. (beeping)

And there it goes.

ROBBER: Heads down!

All right, tootsie, you're taking a dive with me.

(woman screams) Down! I said stay down there!

Don't hurt me!

That's funny, it didn't dial out to 9-1-1.

It was trying to reach a private number.

Is it a problem? No, I'm done here.

(silenced gunshot)

ROBBER: Sit down! Down!

Down! I said stay down there!

Obviously, we don't want you doing anything with your hands

other than holding on for dear life.

(mechanical buzz)

On the ground! Stay on the ground!

Nobody make a move! Nobody! Stay down!

(gunshot, groans)

(electrical crackle, groans)

Hey!

You have any idea who you're stealing from?

You and your friends are dead!

He's out, right?

(shotgun blast) What?!

Where did you learn to count?

They wired this thing up with like 5,000 volts.

What kind of bank does that?

A Mob bank. I guess the Joker's as crazy as they say.

Where's the alarm guy?

Boss told me when the guy was done, I should take him out.

One less share, right?

Funny, he told me something similar.

(chuckles): He what? No! No!

(gunshot)

That's a lot of money. If this Joker guy was so smart,

he'd have had us bring a bigger car. (gun hammer cocks)

I'm betting the Joker told you to kill me

soon as we loaded the cash.

(sighs): No, no, no, no.

I kill the bus driver.

Bus driver?

What bus driver?!

(horn honks)

School's out. Time to go.

Cat's not getting up, is he?

(grunts): That's a lot of money.

What happened to the rest of the guys?

(automatic gunfire)

You think you're smart, huh?

(coughs): The guy that hired yous...

he'll just do the same to you.

Oh, criminals in this town used to believe in things.

Honor, respect.

Look at you.

What do you believe in, huh?

What do you believe in?!

I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...

...stranger.

(chuckles)

(door slams)

(engine starts)

(clatter)

(whooshing)

(moaning)

(children shouting)

(sirens wailing)

REPORTER (on TV): Mr. Mayor, you were elected

in a campaign to clean up the city.

When are you gonna start?

MAYOR: Well, Mike, I believe I already have.

REPORTER: Like this so-called Batman,

we're hearing that he's doing some good,

that criminals are running scared, but I say...

Naw, man. I don't like it tonight.

What are you, superstitious? You got more chance of winning

the Powerball than running into him.

MAYOR: That, that's simply just not true.

I'm told that our men in the Major Crimes Unit

are close to an arrest.

Hey, Wuertz, Mayor says you're closing in on the Batman.

The investigation is ongoing.

MAYOR: The process of cleaning up the streets is a long one.

I pledged in my campaign, uh, to have...

Ever intending to see your wife again, Lieutenant?

I thought you had to go look after your mother, Detective.

Checked her back into the hospital.

I'm sorry.

So he hasn't shown up?

He often doesn't.

But I like reminding everybody that he's out there.

Why wouldn't he come?

Hopefully... because he's busy.

(tires squeal)

That's why we bring dogs.

My little princes.

MAN: Please! Please!

They're crawling in my mouth.

Please, I beg you.

Get them off.

Look what your drugs did to my customers!

Buyer beware.

I told you my compound would take you places.

I never said they'd be places you wanted to go.

My business, repeat customers.

You don't like what I have to offer,

you can buy from someone else.

Assuming Batman left anyone to buy from.

(barking)

My dogs are hungry!

Pity there's only one of you.

(thud, yell)

(gunshot)

What?!

That's not him.

(clamoring, barking)

Loose the dogs!

(barking)

(vicious snarl)

(screaming)

That's more like it.

(shouting)

(bullet casings pinging)

(artillery shot)

(tires squealing, frantic shouts)

(frantic shouts)

(grunting and groaning)

(snarls, groans)

(tires squealing)

(grunting)

♪ ♪

(tires squealing in distance)

Don't let me find you out here again.

We're trying to help you!

I don't need help!

Not my diagnosis!

What gives you the right?

What's the difference

between you and me?

I'm not wearing hockey pads.

(engine roars)

(reporters clamoring) MAN: Everybody, back down!

He can't resist showing us his face.

(indistinct police radio transmissions)

GORDON: What's he hiding under that makeup?

Uh, can we get a minute, people, please?

Him again.

Who are the others?

Another bunch of small-timers.

(counter clicking)

Some of the marked bills I gave you.

My detectives have been making drug buys with them for weeks.

This bank was another drop for the Mob. That makes five.

We've found the bulk of their dirty cash.

Time to move in.

Oh, we'd have to hit all banks simultaneously.

SWAT teams, backup.

What about this Joker guy?

One man or the entire Mob?

He can wait.

When the new DA hears about this,

he'll want in. Do you trust him?

Well, it'd be hard to keep him out.

I hear he's as... stubborn as you are.

(sighs)

(gulls screeching)

(distant train whistle blows)

(door screeching)

(booming thud)

(mechanical hum)

Be nice when Wayne Manor's rebuilt.

You can swap not sleeping in a penthouse

for not sleeping in a mansion.

Whenever you stitch yourself up,

you do make a bloody mess.

Yeah. It makes me learn from my mistakes.

Well, you ought to be pretty knowledgeable by now, then.

My armor-- I'm carrying too much weight.

I need to be, uh, need to be faster.

I'm sure Mr. Fox can oblige.

Did you get mauled by a tiger?

Mm, it was a dog. Huh?

It was a big dog. Ah.

There were... more copycats last night, Alfred, with guns.

Why don't you hire them and take the weekend off?

That wasn't exactly what I had in mind when, uh...

I said I wanted to inspire people.

I know.

But things have improved.

Look at the new District Attorney.

BRUCE: I am, closely.

Need to know if he can be trusted.

Are you interested in his character or his, uh,

social circle?

Who Rachel spends her time with is her business.

I trust you don't have me followed on my day off.

If you ever took one, I might.

Know your limits, Master Wayne.

Batman has no limits.

Well, you do, sir.

Well, can't afford to know them.

And what's gonna happen on the day that you find out?

We all know how much you like to say "I told you so."

On that day, Master Wayne, even I won't want to.

Probably.

(indistinct whispering)

(chair creaking)

(door opens) MAN: Sorry I'm late, folks.

(door shuts)

Where were you?

Worried you'd have to step up?

Harvey, I know these briefs backwards.

Well, then, fair's fair.

Heads, I'll take it. Tails, he's all yours.

Oh, yeah? You wanna flip a coin to see who leads?

It's my father's lucky coin.

As I recall, it got me my first date with you.

Wouldn't leave something like that up to chance.

(slaps coin on wrist) I don't.

I make my own luck.

BAILIFF: All rise.

The Honorable Judge Freel presiding.

I thought the DA

just played golf with the mayor, things like that.

Tee-off's 1:30.

More than enough time to put you away for life, Sally.

With Carmine Falcone in Arkham, someone must have stepped up

to run the so-called Family.

Is that man in this courtroom today?

Could you identify him for us, please?

You win, Counselor.

It was me.

(gallery gasps, murmurs)

I have a sworn statement from you

that this man, Salvatore Maroni,

is the new head of the Falcone crime family.

WITNESS: Maroni? He's a fall guy.

I'm the brains of the organization.

(gallery laughs, gavel bangs) JUDGE: Order!

Permission to treat the witness as hostile?

Granted.

Hostile?! I'll show you hostile!

(gun hammer clicking)

Carbon fiber, 28 caliber, made in China.

If you want to kill a public servant, Mr. Maroni,

I recommend you buy American.

JUDGE: Get him out of here.

But, Your Honor, I'm not done.

(applause and murmuring)

We'll never be able to link the gun to Maroni,

so we won't be able to charge him, but the fact

that they're trying to kill you means we're getting to them.

I'm glad you're so pleased, Rachel.

I'm fine, by the way.

Come on, Harvey. You're Gotham's DA.

You're not getting shot at, you're not doing your job right.

But, you know, if you said you were rattled,

we could take the rest of the day off.

Can't. I dragged the head of the Major Crimes Unit down here.

Oh, Jim Gordon? He's a friend, actually.

Try to be nice.

I hear you got a hell of a right cross.

(sighs)

It's a... it's a shame Sal's going to walk.

Yeah, well, good thing about the Mob

is they keep giving you second chances.

Lightly-irradiated bills.

Fancy stuff for a city cop. Have help?

Uh, we liaise with various agencies...

Save it, Gordon. I wanna meet him.

Official policy is to arrest

the vigilante known as Batman on sight.

Mm-hmm. And what about that floodlight on the top of MCU?

If you got problems with malfunctioning equipment,

I suggest you take them up with Maintenance, Counselor.

I've put every known money launderer in Gotham behind bars,

but the Mob is still getting its money out. (sighs)

I think you and your friend have found the last game in town

and you're trying to hit them where it hurts: their wallets.

It's bold.

You gonna count me in?

In this town, the fewer people know something,

the safer the operation.

Gordon, I don't like that you've got your own special unit,

and I don't like that

it's full of cops I investigated at Internal Affairs.

Well, if I didn't work with cops you'd investigated

while you were making your name at IA, I'd be working alone.

I don't get political points for being an idealist.

I have to do the best I can with what I have.

You want me to back warrants for search and seizure on five banks

without telling me what we're after?

I can give you the names of the banks.

Well, that's a start.

I'll get you your warrants, but I want your trust.

Oh, you don't have to sell me, Dent.

We all know you're Gotham's white knight.

Yeah, well, I heard they have

a different name for me down at MCU.

I wouldn't know about that.

MAN: In China,

Lau Security Investments stands for dynamic new growth.

A joint Chinese venture

with Wayne Enterprises will be a powerhouse.

Well, Mr. Lau...

I speak for the rest of the board... and Mr. Wayne,

in expressing our own excitement.

(elevator doors open)

Sir, I know that Mr. Wayne is curious about how his trust fund

gets replenished, but, frankly, this is embarrassing.

You worry about the diligence, Mr. Reese.

I'll worry about Bruce Wayne.

It's done. It...

The numbers are solid.

Do them again.

Wouldn't want the trust fund to run out, now would we?

(chuckles)

Another long night?

This joint venture was your idea and the consultants love it.

But I'm not convinced.

Lau's company has grown by eight percent annually like clockwork.

His revenue stream must be off the books.

Maybe even illegal.

Okay. Cancel the deal.

You already knew?

Just needed a closer look at their books.

Anything else you can trouble me for?

I need a new suit.

Yeah. Three buttons is a little '90s, Mr. Wayne.

I'm not talking fashion, Mr. Fox, so much as function.

You want to be able to turn your head.

Sure make backing out of the driveway easier.

I'll see what I can do.

Took me three weeks to get a reservation here.

And I had to tell them I worked for the government.

Really?

The city health inspector's not afraid to pull strings.

BRUCE: Rachel.

Fancy that.

Yeah. Bruce.

Fancy that.

Rachel, Natasha; Natasha, Rachel.

Natasha.

Are you the...

...prima ballerina for the Moscow Ballet.

Wow. Harvey's taking me next week.

Really! So, you're into ballet.

RACHEL: Bruce...

this is Harvey Dent.

The famous Bruce Wayne.

Rachel's told me everything about you.

Well, I certainly hope not.

So, let's put a couple tables together.

I'm not sure that they'll let us.

Oh, they should.

I own the place.

How could you want to raise children in a city like this?

Well, I... I was raised here. I turned out okay.

DENT: Is Wayne Manor in the city limits?

BRUCE (wry laugh): The Palisades? Sure.

You know, as our new DA, you might want to figure out

where you jurisdiction ends.

I'm talking about the kind of city

that idolizes a masked vigilante.

Gotham City is proud

of an ordinary citizen standing up for what's right.

Gotham needs heroes like you-- elected officials--

not a man who thinks he is above the law.

Exactly.

Who appointed the Batman?

We did-- all of us who stood by

and let scum take control of our city.

NATASHA: But this is a democracy, Harvey.

DENT: When their enemies were at the gates,

the Romans would suspend democracy

and appoint one man to protect the city.

And it wasn't considered an honor,

it was considered a public service.

RACHEL: Harvey, the last man that they appointed

to protect the republic was named Caesar,

and he never gave up his power.

Okay, fine.

You either die a hero or you live long enough

to see yourself become the villain.

Look... whoever the Batman is,

he doesn't want to do this

for the rest of his life-- how could he?

Batman is looking for someone to take up his mantle.

NATASHA: Someone like you, Mr. Dent?

Maybe.

If I'm up to it.

What if Harvey Dent is the caped crusader?

Hmm?

If I were sneaking out every night,

someone would have noticed by now.

Well... I'm sold, Dent,

and I'm gonna throw you a fund-raiser.

That's nice of you, Bruce,

but I'm not up for reelection for three years.

No, you don't understand.

One fund-raiser with my pals...

you'll never need another cent.

(detector beeping)

(wand whining)

What the hell is this?

As you're all aware, one of our deposits was stolen--

a relatively small amount-- 68 million.

Who's stupid enough to steal from us?

Two-bit wack job wears a cheap purple suit and makeup.

He's not the problem. He's a nobody.

The problem is our money being tracked by the cops.

Thanks to Mr. Maroni's well-placed sources,

we know that police have indeed identified our banks,

using marked bills,

and are planning to seize your funds today.

And since the enthusiastic new DA

has put all my competitors out of business,

I'm your only option.

MARONI: So what are you proposing?

LAU: Moving all deposits to one secure location.

Not a bank. Where then?

No one can know but me.

If the police were to gain leverage over one of you,

everyone's money would be at stake.

What would stop them getting to you?

I go to Hong Kong-- far from Dent's jurisdiction.

And the Chinese will not extradite one of their own.

MARONI: How soon can you move the money?

LAU: I already have.

For obvious reasons, I couldn't wait for your permission.

Rest assured your money is safe.

(Gordon grunts)

(Joker laughing in distance)

Ah, oh, ee, ee, aha, huh, ooh, hee, ha, aha.

And I thought my jokes were bad.

Give me one reason why I

shouldn't have my boy here pull your head off.

How about a magic trick?

I'm gonna make this pencil disappear.

♪ Dah-da! ♪

It's... it's gone.

Oh, and by the way, the suit-- it wasn't cheap.

You ought to know. You bought it.

CHECHEN: Sit.

I want to hear your position.

Let's wind the clocks back a year.

These cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you.

I mean, what happened?

Did your balls drop off?

Hmm?

You see, a guy like me...

A freak.

Hey...

(mobsters laughing)

A guy like me-- look-- listen--

I know why you choose to have your little (clears throat)

group therapy sessions in broad daylight.

I know why you're afraid to go out at night...

...the Batman.

You see, Batman has shown Gotham your true colors, unfortunately.

Dent, he's just the beginning.

And as for the television's so-called plan,

Batman has no jurisdiction.

He'll find him and make him squeal.

I know the squealers when I see them.

And...

CHECHEN: What do you propose?

It's simple-- we, uh, kill the Batman.

(laughing)

If it's so simple,

why haven't you done it already?

If you're good at something, never do it for free.

How much you want?

Uh... half.

(mobsters laughing)

GAMBOL: You're crazy.

No, I'm not.

No, I'm not.

If we don't deal with this

now, soon...

little Gambol here won't be able

to get a nickel for his grandma.

Enough from the clown!

Dah-dah, dah-dah, dah.

Let's not blow...

this out of proportion.

You think you could steal from us and just walk away?

Yeah. I'm putting the word out:

500 grand for this clown dead.

A million alive,

so I can teach him some manners first.

All right, so, listen, why don't you give me a call

when you want to start taking things a little more seriously.

Here's my card.

Hmm-mm...?

You're a hard man to reach.

Lau's halfway to Hong Kong.

If you'd have asked, I could've taken his passport.

I told you to keep me in the loop.

All that was left in the vaults were marked bills.

They knew we were coming!

As soon as your office got involved...

My office!

You're sitting down there with scum like Wuertz and Ramirez,

and you're talking...

Oh, yeah, Gordon, I almost had your rookie cold

on a racketeering beat.

Don't try and cloud the fact that, clearly,

Maroni's got people in your office, Dent!

We need Lau back...

but the Chinese won't extradite a national

under any circumstances.

If I get him to you, can you get him to talk?

I'll get him to sing.

We're going after the Mob's life savings.

Things will get ugly.

I knew the risk when I took this job, Lieutenant.

How will you get him back in--

He does that.

Our Chinese friends left town

before I could tell them the deal was off.

I'm sure that you've always wanted to go to Hong Kong.

What's wrong with a phone call?

I think Mr. Lau deserves a more personal touch.

FOX: Now, for high-altitude jumps,

you're going to need oxygen and stabilizers.

Well, I must say, compared to your usual requests,

jumping out of an airplane is pretty straightforward.

BRUCE: And what about getting back into the plane?

I'd recommend a good travel agent.

Without it landing.

Now that's more like it, Mr. Wayne.

The CIA had a program back in the '60s

for getting their people out of hot spots called "Skyhook."

We could look into that.

Yeah.

Okay. Now...

(pneumatic hiss)

Hardened Kevlar plates over titanium-dipped tri-weave fibers

for flexibility-- you'll be lighter, faster, more agile.

Perhaps you should read the instructions first.

Yeah.

Now, there is a trade-off:

separation of the plates makes you more vulnerable

to knives and gunfire.

Ah, we wouldn't want to make things too easy now, would we?

How will it hold up against dogs?

We talkin' Rottweilers or Chihuahuas?

Should do fine against cats.

I found one in Arizona.

A very nice man said he could have it

up and running in a week, and he takes cash.

What about a flight crew?

South Korean smugglers.

They run flights into Pyongyang, below radar the whole way.

Did you think of an alibi?

Oh, yes.

(ominous theme playing)

I believe this is your plane, sir.

You look tired, Alfred.

You be all right without me?

If you could tell me the Russian for

"Apply your own bloody suntan lotion."

(engines idling)

Yo, Gambol-- somebody here for you.

They say they've just killed the Joker.

They brought the body.

(plastic crackles)

So... dead, that's 500...

How about alive, hmm?

You want to know how I got these scars?

My father was a drinker and a fiend.

Then, one night, he goes off crazier than usual.

Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself.

He doesn't like that-- not one bit.

So... me watching, he takes the knife to her,

laughing while he does it.

He turns to me... and he says,

"Why so serious?"

He comes at me with the knife.

"Why so serious?"

He sticks the blade in my mouth.

"Let's put a smile on that face."

And...

"Why so serious?"

Now... our operation

is small, but...

there is a lot of potential

for aggressive expansion.

So which of you fine gentlemen

would like to join our team?

Oh. There's only one spot open right now,

so we're gonna have...

tryouts.

(sighs): Make it fast.

(both grunt)

♪ ♪

MAN: Welcome to Hong Kong, Mr. Fox.

Mr. Lau regrets he is unable to greet you in person today.

FOX: I understand.

For security purposes,

I'm gonna have to ask you to check in your mobile.

Of course.

I must apologize for leaving Gotham

in the middle of our negotiations.

(chuckles): This, uh, misunderstanding

with the Gotham Police Force,

I couldn't let such a thing threaten my company.

Of course.

A businessman of your stature will understand, and, uh,

with you here now, we can continue.

Well, I do appreciate your bringing me out here

in such style, Mr. Lau, but I real...

(phone rings)

We do not allow cell phones in here.

Sorry.

Forgot I had it.

No, I really came to tell you that...

our business deal has to be put on hold.

You see, we can't afford to be seen to do business with...

...whatever it is you're accused of being.

I'm sure a businessman of your stature will understand.

(gasping): I think, Mr. Fox,

a simple phone call might have sufficed.

Mr. Wayne didn't want you to think

that he was deliberately wasting your time.

Just accidentally wasting it.

(chuckles): That's very good, Mr. Lau.

"Accidentally."

Very good.

Hey, sir.

(indistinct chatter, pleasant Chinese folk music plays)

There's a better view from the peak tram.

How's the view from LSI Holdings?

Restricted.

Lau is holed up in there good and tight.

What's this? I had R&D work it up.

Sends out a high- frequency pulse,

records a response time-- for mapping an environment.

Sonar. Just like a, uh...

Submarine, Mr. Wayne, like a submarine.

And the other device?

It's in place.

Mr. Wayne?

Good luck.

(mysterious theme plays)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(rapid clicking, whirring)

(clicking)

(whirring, muffled popping)

(steady beeping)

(speaking Mandarin)

(trilling quietly)

(beeping)

Hmm?

(speaks Mandarin)

(speaks Mandarin)

(speaks Mandarin)

♪ ♪

(cocks pistol)

(inhales, exhales)

(wings fluttering)

(fluttering)

(loud grunt)

(grunting)

(siren wailing)

(gunshot)

(man yelling)

(man yelling)

(shouting in Mandarin)

(steady beeping)

(explosion)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

RACHEL: Look, give us the money

and we'll talk about making a deal.

The money is the only reason I'm still alive.

Oh, you mean, when they find out that you've helped us

they're gonna kill you?

Are you threatening my client?

No, I'm just assuming your client's cooperation

with this investigation.

As will everyone.

No?

Okay.

Enjoy your time in County, Mr. Lau.

Wait.

I won't give you the money,

but I will give you my clients, all of them.

You were a glorified accountant.

What could you possibly have on all of them

that we could charge?

I'm good with calculation.

I handled all the investments.

One big pot.

-(switch clicks) -Got it.

One minute.

RICO.

If they pooled their money,

we can charge them all as one criminal conspiracy.

Charge them with what?

In a RICO case, if you can charge

one of the conspirators with a felony, you can...

Charge all of them with it-- that's great.

Mr. Lau.

What kind of details do you have about this communal fund?

Ledgers? Note... Immunity, protection

and a chartered plane back to Hong Kong.

After you testify in open court.

And I'm just curious-- with all your clients locked up,

what's gonna happen with all that money?

Like I said, I'm good with calculation.

He can't go to County.

I'll keep him here in the holding cells.

What is this, Gordon, your fortress?

You trust them over at County?

I don't trust them here.

Lau stays.

Well, I don't know about Mr. Lau's travel arrangements,

but, uh, I'm sure glad he's back.

CHECHEN: Put word out.

We hire the clown.

He was right--

we have to fix real problem:

Batman.

I'm not aware of any participation by the Batman...

Our boy looks good on the tube.

You sure you want to embarrass me

in front of my friends, Lieutenant?

Oh, don't worry-- they're coming, too.

(fork clatters onto plate)

(siren wails)

Have a nice trip; see ya next fall.

JUDGE: 712 counts of extortion.

849 counts of racketeering.

246 counts of fraud.

87 counts of conspiracy murder.

527 counts of obstruction of justice.

How do the defendants plead?

(crowd clamoring)

(bangs gavel) Order in the court!

MAYOR: 549 criminals at once.

How did you convince Surrillo to hear this farce?

She shares my enthusiasm for justice.

After all, she is a judge.

Well, even if you blow enough smoke

to get convictions out of Surrillo,

you're gonna set a new record at appeals

for quickest kick in the ass.

It won't matter.

The head guys make bail, sure,

but the mid-level guys, they can't.

They can't afford to be off the streets

long enough for trial and appeal.

They'll cut deals that include some jail time.

Think of all you could do with 18 months of clean streets.

LOEB: Mr. Mayor, you can't...

Get out. Both of you.

Sit down.

The public likes you.

That's the only reason that this might fly.

But that means it's on you.

They're all gonna come after you now.

And not just the Mob.

Politicians, journalists, cops.

Anyone whose wallet's about to get lighter.

Are you up to it?

You better be.

'Cause they get anything on you,

and those criminals are back on the streets,

followed swiftly by you and me.

(sirens wailing)

(sirens stop)

I think your fund-raiser will be a great success, sir.

And why do you think

I want to hold a party for Harvey Dent?

Well, I assumed it was your usual reason

for socializing beyond myself and the scum

of Gotham's underbelly-- to try to impress Miss Dawes.

Eh, very droll,

but very wrong.

Actually, it's, uh, it's Dent.

REPORTER (on TV): Police released

video footage found concealed on the body.

Sensitive viewers, please be aware--

the image is disturbing.

JOKER: Tell them your name.

BRIAN: Brian... Douglas.

(Joker giggles)

JOKER: Are you the real Batman?

BRIAN: No. No?

No. No. (giggling)

Then why do you dress up like him?

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

'Cause he's a symbol

that we don't have to be afraid of scum like you.

JOKER: Yeah. You do, Brian.

You really do!

Huh? Yeah!

Oh, shush, shush, shush, shush, shush.

So you think Batman's made Gotham

a better place?

Yeah. Hmm?

Look at me.

(roaring): Look at me!

You see, this is how crazy Batman's made Gotham.

You want order in Gotham.

Batman must take off his mask

and turn himself in.

Oh, and every day he doesn't, people will die.

(panting)

Starting tonight.

I'm a man of my word.

(cackling)

(Brian yells)

(chamber music playing)

(indistinct chatter, laughing)

Harvey Dent, scourge of the underworld,

scared stiff by the trust fund brigade.

I'll be back. Rachel...

A little liquid courage, Mr. Dent?

Thank you.

Alfred, right? That's right, sir.

Yeah. Rachel talks about you all the time.

Y-You've known her her whole life.

Oh, not yet, sir.

(chuckles)

Any psychotic ex-boyfriends I should be aware of?

Oh, you have no idea.

(helicopter whirring)

BRUCE: I'm sorry that I'm late.

I'm glad to see that you all got started without me.

Now, where... is Harvey?

Where... Harvey Dent,

the man of the hour.

And where's Rachel Dawes?

She is my oldest friend. Come here.

You know, when Rachel first told me that

she was dating Harvey Dent, I had one thing to say:

"The guy from those god-awful campaign commercials?"

"I believe in Harvey Dent"?

Yeah, nice slogan, Harvey.

But it caught Rachel's attention.

And then I started

to pay attention to Harvey...

and all that he's been doing as our new DA.

And you know what?

I believe in Harvey Dent.

I believe that on his watch Gotham can feel

a little safer,

a little more optimistic.

Look at this face.

This is the face of Gotham's bright future.

To Harvey Dent-- let's hear it for him.

MAN: Harvey!

Harvey may not know you well enough to understand

when you're making fun of him, but I do.

No, I meant every word.

You know that day

that you once told me about when Gotham would no longer

need Batman?

It's coming. Bruce.

You can't ask me to wait for that.

It's happening now.

Harvey is that hero.

He locked up half of the city's criminals,

and he did it without wearing a mask.

Gotham needs a hero with a face.

DENT: You can throw a party, Wayne,

I'll give you that.

Thanks again.

You mind if I borrow Rachel?

RAMIREZ: Lieutenant,

that Joker card pinned to the body?

Forensics found three sets of DNA.

Any matches? All three.

The DNA belongs to Judge Surrillo,

Harvey Dent and Commissioner Loeb.

The Joker's telling us who he's targeting.

Get a unit over to Surrillo's house.

Tell Wuertz to find Dent.

Get them both into protective custody.

Where's the commissioner? City Hall.

Seal the building-- no one in or out

till I get there. Got it.

(suspenseful theme plays)

LOEB: Gordon,

what are you up to?

We're secure.

I want a floor-by-floor search of the entire building.

Sorry, sir, we believe the Joker's made

a threat against your life.

These are dangerous people, Judge.

Yeah, but you're not giving me an awful lot of information.

Even we don't know where you're going.

It's a s... Take the envelope, get in, open it.

It'll tell you where you're headed.

(Rachel sighs)

You cannot leave me alone with these people.

The whole Mob's after you

and you're worried about these guys?

Yeah, compared to this,

the Mob doesn't scare me.

Gordon, you're unlikely

to discover this for yourself,

so, uh, take my word.

The police commissioner

earns a lot of threats.

I found the, uh, appropriate response to these situations

a long time ago.

Them gunning for you makes you see things clearly.

Yeah, I bet.

Yeah, it makes you think

about things you couldn't stand losing,

about who you want to spend the rest of your life with.

That's a pretty big commitment.

Well, not if the Mob has their way.

You got to explain to my wife...

why I'm late for dinner, Lieutenant.

Sir, the Joker card had traces of your DNA on it.

Don't do that.

All right.

Let's be serious, then.

Okay.

What's your answer?

(sighs)

I don't have an answer.

How'd they get my DNA?

Somebody with access

to your office or your house must have lifted a tissue

or a glass with-- Wait, wait!

Well, I guess no answer is a no.

Harvey.

It's someone else, isn't it?

Harvey.

Just tell me it's not Wayne.

The guy is a complete--

(Dent grunts)

What are you doing?

(Loeb grunts and gags) Oh, shit!

(grunting and coughing)

GORDON: Get a medic!

They've come for him.

We made it.

Stay hidden.

(gunshot)

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

(clattering)

We are... tonight's entertainment.

(grunts)

I only have one question.

Where is Harvey Dent?

(coughs)

(gasps)

You know where Harvey is?

Do you know who he is?

Hands up, pretty boy.

(grunting)

Do you know where I can find Harvey?

I need to talk to him about something.

Just something little, huh?

No.

What's going on out there?

Wayne.

(beeps)

Oh, thank God, you've got a panic room.

MAN: Hey, wait!

Oh, you gotta be kidding me.

You know, I'll settle for his loved ones.

We're not intimidated by thugs.

You know...

(banging on table)

...you remind me of my father.

I hated my father.

RACHEL: Okay, stop.

Well, hello, beautiful.

You must be

Harvey's squeeze.

Hmm?

And you are beautiful.

Oh, you look nervous.

Is it the scars?

You want to know how I got 'em?

Come here.

Hey...

Look at me.

So, I had a wife-- she was beautiful

like you--

who tells me I worry too much,

who tells me I ought to smile more,

who gambles and gets in deep with the sharks.

Hey.

One day they carve her face,

and we have no money for surgeries.

She can't take it.

I just want to see her smile again.

Hmm?

I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars.

So... I stick a razor in my mouth

and do this... to myself.

And you know what?

She can't stand the sight of me.

She leaves.

Now I see the funny side.

Now I'm always smiling.

(Joker grunts, laughs)

Got a little fight in you.

I like that.

BATMAN: Then you're going to love me.

(grunting)

(yelling)

(grunting)

(Batman yells, Joker grunts)

(panting)

(grunting and panting)

Drop the gun.

Oh, sure.

You just take off your little mask,

and show us all who you really are.

Hmm?

(Joker laughs, fires gun)

Let her go.

Very poor choice of words.

(laughs)

(Rachel screaming)

(screaming continues)

(both grunt, Rachel panting)

Are you all right?

(sighs)

Let's not do that again.

Is Harvey okay?

He's safe.

Thank you.

Jim, it's over.

Yeah, well, as long as they don't get to Lau,

we've cut off their funds.

But the prosecution's over.

Nobody's standing up in front of a judge

while judges and police commissioners

are getting blown away.

What about Dent?

He's got any sense, Dent's halfway to Mexico.

DENT: So where do you keep your trash?

You're due in court.

Need you alive long enough to get you on the record.

You can't protect me.

You can't even protect yourselves.

You refuse to cooperate, you're not coming back here,

you go to County.

How long do you calculate you'll last in there?

Targeting me won't get their money back.

I knew the Mob wouldn't go down

without a fight, but this is different.

They've crossed a line.

You crossed the line first, sir.

You squeezed them,

you hammered them to the point of desperation,

and in their desperation,

they turned to a man they didn't fully understand.

Well, criminals aren't complicated, Alfred.

We just need to figure out what he's after.

With respect, Master Wayne,

perhaps this is a man you don't fully understand either.

A long time ago, I was in Burma,

and my friends and I were working

for the local government.

They were trying to buy the loyalty

of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones,

but their caravans

were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit,

so we went looking for the stones,

but in six months,

we never met anyone who traded with him.

One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby

the size of a tangerine.

The bandit had been throwing them away.

So why steal them?

Well, because he thought it was good sport,

because some men

aren't looking for anything logical

like money.

They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with.

Some men just want to watch the world burn.

(indistinct mix of many voices and conversations)

WOMAN: Your name, sir? Please state...

JOKER: Eighth and Orchard. You'll find Harvey Dent there.

(grunts)

BATMAN: Check the names.

Richard Dent.

Patrick Harvey.

Harvey Dent.

I need ten minutes with the scene

before your men contaminate it.

Us contaminate it? It's because of you

these guys are dead in the fir...

Hey, Detective!

Give us a minute, guys.

That's brick underneath.

Going to take ballistics off a shattered bullet?

No.

Fingerprints.

Whatever you're going to do, do it fast.

'Cause we found his next target.

He's put it in tomorrow's paper.

(whirring)

I'm not sure you made it loud enough, sir.

(computer chirps)

What can I do for you, Mr. Reese?

Uh...

you wanted me to do the diligence

on the LSI Holdings deal again?

Well, I found some irregularities.

Their CEO is in police custody.

No, not with their numbers,

with yours.

Applied Sciences.

Whole division of Wayne Enterprises

just... disappeared overnight.

I went down to the archives and...

I started pulling some old files.

Don't tell me you didn't recognize your baby out there

pancaking cop cars on the evening news.

Now, you got the entire R & D department

burning through cash, claiming, uh,

i-it's related to cell phones for the Army?

What are you building for him now?

A... rocket ship?

I want... $10 million

a year for the rest of my life.

(sighs)

Let me get this straight.

You think that your client--

one of the wealthiest, most powerful men

in the world-- is secretly a vigilante

who spends his nights beating criminals

to a pulp with his bare hands...

and your plan

is to blackmail this person?

Good luck.

(sighs quietly)

S-- wh--

You keep that.

FOX: This is your original scan.

Here it is reengineered.

And there's the thumbprint he left

when he pushed the round in the clip.

I'll get you a copy.

Mr. Wayne, did you reassign R & D?

Yeah.

Government telecommunications project.

I wasn't aware we had any government contracts.

Lucius, I'm playing this one pretty close to the chest.

Fair enough.

(bagpipes playing in distance)

REPORTER: With no word from the Batman

even as they mourn Commissioner Loeb,

these cops have to be wondering if the Joker will make good

on his threat in the Obituary Column

of the Gotham Times to kill the mayor.

(typing)

BRUCE: I've checked all the databases.

There are four possibles.

Cross-reference the addresses.

Look for, uh, Parkside,

overlooking the parade.

I got one!

Melvin White, 1502 Randolph Apartments.

Aggravated assault, moved to Arkham twice.

(engine revving)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(horse sputters)

What do you got on the roof?

We're tight, but frankly,

there's a lot of windows up here.

MAYOR: Commissioner Loeb dedicated his life to law enforcement

and to the protection of his community.

I remember when I-I first took office and I asked him

if he wanted to stay on as Commissioner and...

(distant): he said he would,

provided I kept my politics out of his office.

Clearly he was not a man who minced words,

nor should he have been.

A number of policies that he enacted as Commissioner

were unpopular--

policies that flooded my office

with angry calls and letters...

(Mayor continues indistinctly in distance)

(gasping): Who is that?

What happened?

They took our guns...

and our, and our uniforms.

(panting)

MAYOR: ...men of action do.

(ticking)

And as we recognize the sacrifice of this man,

we must remember that vigilance is the price of safety.

OFFICER: Stand by.

Honor guard.

Attent-ion.

Port arms.

Ready!

Aim!

Fire! (gunshots)

Ready... aim...

(timer dings)

(gunfire)

Ready!

Aim!

(Gordon grunts, gun fires)

(screaming and shouting)

(two gunshots)

Stay down, don't move!

Mr. Mayor. Get him out of here. Come on, let's go.

(gunfire)

I'll see you later.

Why are you going back?

(shouting)

(sirens wailing)

(gunfire, screaming)

Get out of here.

(panting)

Tell me what you know about the Joker.

(giggles)

(chuckles)

(gunshot, screaming)

(sirens wailing)

(engine starts, revs)

(gasps)

(sobbing): No.

I'm sorry, Barbara.

Jimmy, go, go play with your sister.

Go ahead, honey.

STEPHENS: If there's anything we can do...

Oh, God.

...anything you need, we're here for you.

(Barbara sobs)

(sobbing louder) STEPHENS: Shh...

BARBARA: Are you out there?

Are you?

You brought this craziness on us!

You did!

You brought this on us!

Oh, my God!

Switch it off, he ain't coming.

He doesn't want to talk to us.

God help whoever he does want to talk to.

(dance music blaring) Can't we go someplace quieter?

We can't hear each other talk!

What makes you think I want to hear you talk?

What?!

(grunts)

(music blaring)

(woman screams)

(grunting)

(music blaring, panicked shouting)

(grunting)

(glass shattering)

(grunting)

(music blaring)

(intercom chimes) Yeah?

MAN (over intercom): It's second.

Okay. Harvey, where are you?

DENT: Where are you?

I'm where you should be-- at Major Crimes.

I'm trying to deal with all of this mess.

And can I get the fingerprint analysis?

DENT: Rachel, Rachel, listen to me.

You're not safe there.

Oh, this Gordon's unit; it's okay.

DENT: Gordon's gone Rachel. He vouched for these men.

DENT: And he's gone.

The Joker's named you next.

Oh, God, is there someone,

is there anyone in this town we can trust?

Bruce.

We can trust Bruce Wayne.

DENT: No, Rachel, come on. I know you're his friend--

Harvey, trust me.

Bruce's penthouse is now the safest place in the city.

Then you go straight there.

You don't tell anybody where you're going,

and I'll find you there.

I love you.

(grunts)

I want the Joker.

From one professional to another--

if you're trying to scare somebody, pick a better spot.

From this height, the fall wouldn't kill me.

I'm counting on it.

(grunts, screaming)

(sharp crack)

(cape flutters)

(Maroni gasping in pain)

Where is he?!

I don't know wh... where he is. He found us.

He must have friends.

Friends? Have you met this guy?

Someone knows where he is!

Nobody's gonna tell you nothing.

They're wise to your act.

You got rules.

The Joker-- he's got no rules.

Nobody's going to cross him for you.

If you want this guy, you got one way.

But you already know what that is.

Just take off that mask; let him come find you.

(growls)

Or you can let a couple more people get killed

while you make up your mind.

You want to play games?

(gunshot echoes)

How's that feel?

(whispers): You wouldn't.

(echoing): I wouldn't!

You don't think I will? Uh-uh.

You don't think I will?

Mm-mm.

(panting)

No. (whimpers)

No, I wouldn't.

That's why I'm not going to leave it up to me.

Heads...

you get to keep your head.

Tails...

not so lucky.

So, you want to tell me about the Joker?

(chuckles nervously)

(coin clinks)

Let's go again. I don't know anything!

(sobbing): I don't!

You're not playing the odds, friend.

Let's do it again.

(coin clinks)

You'd leave a man's life to chance?

Not exactly.

His name's Schiff, Thomas.

He's a paranoid schizophrenic, former patient in Arkham.

The kind of mind the Joker attracts.

What do you expect to learn from him?

The Joker killed Gordon.

He's going to kill Rachel.

You're the symbol of hope I can never be.

Your stand against organized crime is

the first legitimate ray of light in Gotham in decades.

If anyone saw this, everything would be undone.

All the criminals you pulled off the streets would be released

and Jim Gordon will have died for nothing.

You're going to hold a press conference

tomorrow morning. Why?

No one else will die because of me.

Gotham's in your hands now.

You can't.

You can't give in.

(echoing): You can't give in!

Harvey called.

He said Batman's gonna turn himself in.

I have no choice.

You honestly think that's going to keep

the Joker from killing people?

Maybe not, but I have enough blood on my hands.

And I've seen now

what I would have to become to stop men like him.

You once told me that,

if the day came when I was finished,

that we'd be together.

Bruce, don't make me your one hope for a normal life.

Did you mean it?

Yes.

(gentle theme plays)

Bruce...

If you turn yourself in,

they're not gonna let us be together.

ALFRED: Logs as well? Everything.

Anything that could lead back to Lucius or Rachel.

(door creaks)

People are dying, Alfred.

What would you have me do?

Endure, Master Wayne.

Take it.

They'll hate you for it.

But that's the point of the Batman.

He can be the outcast.

He can make the choice that no one else can make.

The right choice.

Ah, today I found out what Batman can't do.

He can't endure this.

Today you get to say "I told you so."

Today, I...

I don't want to.

(quietly): But I did bloody tell you.

(chuckles softly)

I suppose they're going to lock me up as well--

as your accomplice.

Accomplice?

I'm going to tell them the whole thing was your idea.

(indistinct chatter)

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.

I've called this press conference for two reasons.

Firstly, to assure the citizens of Gotham

that everything that can be done

over the Joker killings is being done.

Secondly, because the Batman has offered to turn himself in.

But first, let's consider the situation.

Should we give in to this terrorist's demands?

Do we really think that he's going to...

You'd rather protect an outlaw vigilante

than the lives of citizens?

The Batman is an outlaw...

but that's not why we're demanding he turn himself in;

we're doing it because we're scared.

We've been happy to let the Batman

clean up our streets for us until now.

MAN: Things are worse than ever!

(exclamations of agreement)

Yes, they are.

But the night is darkest just before the dawn.

And I promise you,

the dawn is coming.

One day, the Batman will have to answer

for the laws he's broken;

but to us, not to this madman.

-No more dead cops! -Yeah!

He should turn himself in!

Give us the Batman!

Where is he?

(clamoring)

So be it. Take the Batman into custody.

(murmuring)

I am the Batman.

(exclamations of disbelief)

(murmuring)

MAN: Is this some kind of joke?

Alfred...

why is he letting Harvey do this?

He went down to the press conference.

I know, and he just stood by.

Perhaps both Bruce and Mr. Dent

believe that Batman stands for something more important

than the whims of a terrorist, Miss Dawes.

Even if everyone hates him for it.

That's the sacrifice he's making.

He's not being a hero.

He's being something more.

Yeah, you're absolutely right.

Letting Harvey take the fall for this is not heroic at all.

You know him better than anyone.

I do.

Will you give this to him for me?

When the time is right?

How will I know?

It's not sealed.

Good-bye, Alfred.

Good-bye, Rachel.

(door opens)

I'm sorry. I didn't have time to talk this through with you.

What are you doing?

They're transferring me to central holding.

This is the Joker's chance, and when he attacks,

the Batman will take him down.

Listen to me, this is too dangerous.

We get this guy to County, he's their problem.

The streets will be cleared along your route.

So let's go. The convoys stop for no reason!

I hope you got some moves, pal.

He's using you as bait.

He doesn't even know if he can get the Joker.

RACHEL: He's failed so far.

How do you know what he's thinking?

I just-- I do.

Anyway, Harvey, this isn't just about you.

What about all of the people who are depending on you

to clean the city up, and to do it honorably and...

Harvey...

tell everyone the truth.

Heads, I go through with it.

(coin clinks)

This is your life;

you can't leave something like that to chance.

I'm not.

(engine starts)

You make your own luck.

(truck driving away)

(helicopter whirring)

(suspenseful theme plays)

(truck horn blaring)

Hey, you wait like everybody else, pal.

(gun cocks, shot echoes)

What the hell is that?

Obstruction ahead! Obstruction ahead!

Damn it! All units divert down onto Lower Fifth.

I repeat, exit down, exit down!

Lower Fifth?

We'll be like turkeys on Thanksgiving down there.

(engines rumbling)

(tires screeching)

Jesus. Come on, get us out of here. Let's go.

Listen, we need backup.

(over radio): We got company.

We got trouble, guys.

Lock and load!

(tires screech, glass shatters, officer yells)

(engine roaring, car horn honking)

What the hell was that?

(door screeches)

These things are built for that, right?

OFFICER: He's going to need

something a lot bigger to get through this.

What is that?

What is that, a bazooka?

I didn't sign up for this!

(explosion echoes)

(whirring)

(engine racing)

Look out.

Look out!

Hmm...

(high-pitched whirring)

Come on, let's go!

(whirring)

(flames whoosh)

(alarms beeping)

(tires screeching)

(loud thud)

(clattering)

Harvey, Harvey, Harvey Dent.

Oh, excuse me. I want to drive.

(hissing)

FEMALE COMPUTER VOICE: Scanning all systems.

-Scanning all systems. -(rapid beeping)

(humming nonchalantly)

(tires screech)

We got to get topside; we need air support, now!

(clangs)

I like this job. I like it.

COMPUTER VOICE: Damage catastrophic.

Eject sequence initiated.

(clattering)

(tires skidding)

(high-pitched whirring)

COMPUTER: Good-bye.

(engine humming)

We're on point, ready to give them some of their own medicine.

That's what I'm talking about-- air cav.

(shattering)

(engine humming, mirrors shattering)

Okay, rack 'em up.

(over radio): Rack 'em up. Rack 'em up. Rack 'em up.

(cables whipping)

(blades whirring)

(high-pitched humming)

(sputtering)

(booming)

(high-pitched humming)

That's not good.

Okay, that's not good!

(maniacal laughter)

(high-pitched humming)

(chuckling)

(horns honking)

Now there's a Batman.

Ooh, you want to play? Come on.

Come on.

(high-pitched humming)

(cables whipping)

He missed!

(metal groaning)

(clattering)

(tires screech)

You can't stop here! We're like sitting ducks!

(groans)

(grunts)

(high-pitched humming)

(muttering): Come on, come on, come on.

Come on. Come on. I want you to do it.

I want you to do it. Come on!

Come on.

(high-pitched humming)

Come on, come on. I want you to do it.

I want you to do it. Come on, hit me.

Come on, hit me. Come on, hit me!

(yelling)

Hit me!

(sucks teeth)

(cocks gun)

(humming)

(zaps, yells)

(cackling)

(gibbering)

(spits)

Come on.

(growls)

Could you please just give me a minute?

(grunts)

(pants)

We got you, you son of a bitch.

Gordon?

You do like to play things pretty close to the chest.

We got him, Harvey.

(reporters shouting)

Mr. Dent, how does it feel to be the biggest hero in Gotham?

No, I'm no hero.

Gotham's finest, they're the heroes.

But you and your office have been working

with the Batman all along.

No, but I trusted him to do the right thing.

Which was? Saving my ass.

All right, people, that's enough!

Let him be! Let him be!

Thank you, Detective.

Got a date with a pretty upset girlfriend.

I figured, Counselor.

(reporters continue shouting questions)

(men clamoring)

Stand away! All of you!

I don't want anything for his Mob lawyer to use,

you understand?!

Back from the dead?

I, uh, I couldn't risk my family's safety.

What do we got?

Nothing.

No matches on prints,

DNA, dental.

Clothing is custom, no labels.

Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint.

No name.

No other alias.

Go home, Gordon.

That clown will keep till morning.

Go get some rest; you're going to need it.

Tomorrow you take the big job.

And you don't have any say in the matter.

Commissioner Gordon!

(applause)

(speaks indistinctly)

(gasps)

I'm sorry. I couldn't risk your safety.

(sobs)

(grunts)

MURPHY: Look at those ugly bastards.

I don't feel good. You're a cop killer.

You're lucky to be feeling anything below the neck.

Please! Step away from the bars!

My insides hurt! (panting)

(whispering): Did Batman save you, Daddy?

Actually, this time...

I saved him.

(phone rings)

Has he said anything yet?

Evening,

Commissioner.

Harvey Dent never made it home.

Of course not.

What have you done with him?

Me?

I was right here.

Who did you leave him with?

Hmm?

Your people?

Assuming, of course, that they are still your people

and not Maroni's.

Does it depress you, Commissioner,

to know...

just how alone you really are?

Does it make you feel responsible

for Harvey Dent's current predicament?

Where is he?

What's the time?

What difference does that make?

Well, depending on the time,

he may be in one spot or several.

If we're gonna play games...

Mm.

(handcuffs clicking)

...I'm gonna need a cup of coffee.

Ah.

The good cop, bad cop routine?

(clicks tongue)

Not exactly.

(lock buzzes)

(door closes)

Oh!

(groans)

Never start with the head.

The victim gets all fuzzy.

He can't feel the next...

See?

You wanted me.

Here I am.

JOKER (over speaker): I wanted to see what you'd do.

And you didn't disappoint.

You let five people die.

Then you let Dent take your place.

Even to a guy like me, that's cold.

Where's Dent?

Those Mob fools want you gone

so they can get back to the way things were.

But I know the truth.

There's no going back.

You've changed things.

Forever.

Then why do you want to kill me?

(laughing)

I don't, I don't want to kill you.

What would I do without you?

Go back to ripping off Mob dealers?

No, no.

No.

No, you, you complete me.

You're garbage who kills for money.

Don't talk like one of them; you're not.

Even if you'd like to be.

To them, you're just a freak,

like me.

They need you right now...

but when they don't, they'll cast you out

like a leper.

You see, their morals,

their code,

it's a bad joke,

dropped at the first sign of trouble.

They're only as good as the world allows them to be.

I'll show you.

When the chips are down,

these, uh, these civilized people,

they'll eat each other.

See, I'm not a monster.

I'm just ahead of the curve.

Where is Dent?

You have all these rules,

and you think they'll save you.

It's in control.

I have one rule.

Oh, then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth.

Which is?

The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules.

And tonight, you're gonna break your one rule.

I'm considering it.

Oh, there's only minutes left,

so you're gonna have to play my little game

if you want to save one of them.

Them?

You know, for a while there, I thought you really were Dent.

The way you threw yourself after her.

(chuckles)

(laughing)

Look at you go.

(cracks neck)

Does Harvey know

about you and his little bunny?

Where are they?! Killing is making a choice.

Where are they?!

Choose between one life

or the other:

your friend

the District Attorney or his blushing bride-to-be.

(laughing)

You have nothing,

nothing to threaten me with.

Nothing to do with all your strength.

Don't worry, I'm gonna tell you where they are,

both of them.

And that's the point.

You'll have to choose.

He's at

250 52nd Street.

And she's, uh, on Avenue X at Cicero.

Which one you going after?

Rachel.

GORDON: We're getting Dent!

250 52nd Street!

RACHEL (over speakerphone): Hello?

Can anybody hear me?

Hello?!

Rachel?

Harvey!

Oh, Harvey, thank God!

Are you okay? I'm all right.

I'm in a, I'm in a warehouse.

They got me wired to these oil drums.

I am, too.

Harvey.

I want my phone call.

I want it. I want it.

I want my phone call.

That's nice.

How many of your friends have I killed?

I'm a 20-year man,

and I know the difference between punks

who need a little lesson in manners

and the freaks like you who would just enjoy it.

And you killed six of my friends.

(mouthing): Six?

Please.

My insides hurt.

I don't really care.

Back away.

The boss said he'd make the voices go away.

He said he'd go inside and replace them with bright lights.

(laughing)

Like Christmas.

You're out of your mind, pal. Back off.

Medic right away

in the holding tank!

Come on, get the door open!

You guys back off!

Listen, we don't have a lot of time.

He told me that only one of us was gonna make it,

and that they were gonna let our friends choose.

Okay, Rachel.

It's gonna be fine.

It's gonna be all right.

They're coming for you.

Okay, listen to me, I'll help you.

Just talk me, talk me through what's going on with you.

Can you find something, anything sharp?

I'm trying.

What's...

Shit.

Harvey?

(grunting)

Harvey, what's happening?

(groans)

(sirens blaring)

All available units, converge at 250 52nd Street!

Do you want to know...

why I use a knife?

Guns are too quick.

You can't savor all the...

little emotions.

Y-You see,

in their last moments,

people show you who they really are.

So, in a way, I knew your friends

better than you ever did.

Would you like to know which of them were cowards?

What's that?

Geez.

He's got some kind of a... contusion.

I know you're gonna enjoy this.

(cracks neck)

I'm gonna have to try and enjoy it even more.

OFFICER: Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Put it down! I got him! I got him!

Take it easy! Put it down!

Drop the weapon now!

It's my own damn fault! Just shoot him!

Let him go now!

Drop it! Drop it on the floor now!

Drop the weapon! What? Sorry?

What do you want?!

I just want my phone call.

RACHEL (over speakerphone): What-what-what's happening?

Just talk to me,

just for one second.

All right.

(gasping)

(keypad beeping) Ow.

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

(beeping)

Is that a ph-phone?

Mount the curb!

(tires screeching)

Harvey, just in case,

I want to tell you something, okay?

Don't think like that, Rachel.

They're coming for you.

I know they are, but I don't want them to.

(sirens blaring)

I don't want to live without you,

and I do have an answer for you.

And my answer is yes.

No!

No! No!

Not me!

Why are you coming for me?!

No!

Rachel! Rachel!

Harvey.

No! Rachel!

Okay.

Rachel!

Rachel!

No! No!

Harvey, it's okay.

It's all right.

Listen, somewhere...

No, Commissioner!

Rachel! No!

(screaming)

(jingling keys)

Hello there.

(indistinct radio chatter)

(officers shouting in distance)

SERGEANT: Back at the MCU, the Joker's gone.

With Lau?

The Joker planned to be caught.

He wanted me to lock him up in the MCU.

(siren blaring, tires screeching)

(low, ominous theme playing)

RACHEL: "Dear Bruce,

"I need to be honest and clear.

"I'm going to marry Harvey Dent.

"I love him,

"and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.

"When I told you that if Gotham

"no longer needed Batman we could be together,

"I meant it.

"But now I'm sure the day won't come

"when you no longer need Batman.

"I hope it does.

"And if it does,

"I will be there.

But as your friend."

I'm sorry, Harvey.

RACHEL: "I'm sorry to let you down.

"If you lose your faith in me,

"please keep your faith in people.

Love, now and always, Rachel."

I've prepared a little breakfast.

Very well then.

Alfred.

Yes, Master Wayne?

Did I bring this on her?

I was meant to inspire good,

not madness, not death.

You have inspired good,

but you spat in the faces of Gotham's criminals.

Didn't you think there might be some casualties?

Things were always gonna get worse before they got better.

But Rachel, Alfred.

Rachel believed

in what you stood for.

What we stand for.

Gotham needs you.

No, Gotham needs its true hero.

And I let that murdering psychopath

blow him half to hell.

Which is why, for now...

they're gonna have to make do with you.

She was gonna wait for me, Alfred.

Dent doesn't know.

He can never know.

What's that?

It can wait.

That bandit

in the forest in Burma,

did you catch him?

Yes.

How?

We burned the forest down.

(gasps)

(groans)

(grunts softly)

He's a credible source, an M and A lawyer

from a prestigious consultancy.

And he says he's waited as long as he can

for the Batman to do the right thing.

And now he's taking matters into his own hands.

We'll be live at 5:00 with the true identity of the Batman.

I'm...

I'm sorry about Rachel.

The doctor says you're in agonizing pain,

but you won't accept medication.

That you're refusing to accept skin grafts.

Remember that name

you all had for me

when I was at Internal Affairs?

What was it, Gordon?

Uh, Harvey, I...

Say it.

Say it!

(sighs)

Two-face.

H-Harvey Two-face.

Why should I hide

who I am?

I-I know you tried to warn me.

I'm sorry.

Wuertz picked you up.

Was he working for them?

Do you know who picked up Rachel?

Harvey, I need to know

which of my men I can trust.

Why would you listen to me now?

I'm sorry, Harvey.

No.

No, you're not.

Not yet.

MARONI: This craziness,

it's too much.

You should've thought about that

before you let the clown out of the box.

You want him?

I can tell you where he'll be this afternoon.

Not so crazy as you look.

I told you,

I'm a man of my word.

Where is the Italian?

All tactical units will converge on the location in 20 minutes.

I want auxiliary units to cover all possible getaway routes.

Please, Joker man,

what you do with all your money?

You see, I'm a guy of simple taste.

I enjoy, uh, dynamite

and gunpowder...

...and gasoline.

What the...

Ah-d-d-duh.

And you know the thing that they have in common?

They're cheap.

ENGEL: I want to know how much

they're paying you to say who Batman really is.

GORDON: This is our chance.

I want Lau alive.

The Joker, either way.

Hey, Jim, get a load of this.

ENGEL (on TV): Let's take the next caller.

Harvey Dent didn't want to give in to this maniac.

Do you think you know better than him?

REESE (over TV): I think that if we could talk to Dent today,

he may feel differently. Um...

ENGEL: And we wish him a speedy recovery.

'Cause God knows, we need him now.

Said you were a man of your word.

Oh, I am.

(blowing)

I'm only burning my half.

(dogs barking in distance)

All you care about is money.

This town deserves a better class of criminal.

And I'm gonna give it to them.

Tell your men they work for me now.

This is my city.

They won't work for a freak.

Freak.

Why don't we cut you up into little pieces

and feed you to your pooches? Hmm?

And then we'll see

how loyal a hungry dog really is.

(grunting)

It's not about money.

It's about sending a message.

(dialing)

Everything burns.

(dogs barking in distance)

Who is this?

JOKER (over TV): I had a vision of a world without Batman:

the Mob ground out a little profit,

and the police tried to shut them down

one block at a time.

And it was so... boring.

I've had a change of heart.

I don't want Mr. Reese spoiling everything,

but why should I have all the fun?

Let's give someone else a chance.

If Coleman Reese

isn't dead in 60 minutes,

then I blow up a hospital.

I want you to call in every officer.

Yes, sir. Tell them to head

to their nearest hospital and start evac and search.

Call the transit authority, school board, prisons.

Get every available bus down to a hospital.

The priority is Gotham General.

Wheel everybody out of that place right now.

You, you and you, you come with me.

Where are we going, sir?

To get Reese.

I need you plugged in,

checking Gordon's men and their families.

Looking for?

Hospital admissions.

Will you be wanting the Bat-pod, sir?

Middle of the day, Alfred?

Not very subtle.

The Lamborghini, then.

Much more subtle.

(crowd clamoring)

Excuse me. Let me through.

Excuse me. Okay.

Sir,

could you help, please?

I'm gonna find a bus for him.

Sir. Commissioner. Do you really think

an ordinary citizen would try to kill this man?

(clamoring)

Sir.

Commissioner!

(people screaming)

Get the cars around the back!

Go. Keep rolling, Sam.

(police car horn honking)

I see O'Brien and Richards.

No immediate family member admitted to a Gotham Hospital.

REESE: They're trying to kill me.

Well, maybe Batman can save you.

(clamoring)

Davis, I got space.

Bring him out.

Davis!

I saw Burns and Zachary.

ALFRED (over speakerphone): Nothing on them.

And a patrolman I don't know.

REESE: Okay, so what now?

What do we do now? Where are we going?

Send the information to Gordon.

(cell phone ringing)

(beep)

Get out of here.

Davis!

Ma'am, we're gonna have to move him now.

GORDON: It's Berg, isn't it?

Commissioner.

You okay, son?

♪ Kadink, kadink, kadink, kadink ♪

♪ La-di-da-di- da-di-dum ♪

(grunting)

Hi.

You know...

I don't want there to be any hard feelings

between us, Harvey.

When you and, uh...

Rachel!

...Rachel

were being abducted,

I was sitting in Gordon's cage.

I-I-I didn't rig those charges.

Your men, your plan.

Do I really look like a guy with a plan?

You know what I am?

I'm a dog chasing cars.

I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it.

You know? I just do things.

The Mob has plans.

The cops have plans.

Gordon's got plans.

You know, they're schemers.

Schemers trying to control their little worlds.

I'm not a schemer.

I try to show the schemers how

pathetic...

their attempts to control things really are.

So,

when I say-- uh, come here--

when I say

that you and your girlfriend was nothing personal,

you know that I'm telling the truth.

I'm gonna need your weapon.

What?

Why? Because my wife's in the hospital?

Yeah, that'd be why.

It's the schemers

that put you where you are.

You were a schemer,

you had plans, and, uh,

look where that got you.

(engine revving)

RADIO ANNOUNCER: Police, of course, are taking

every possible precaution and urging everyone not to take

matters into their own hands.

I just did what I do best.

I took your little plan, and I turned it on itself.

Look what I did to this city

with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets.

Hmm?

You know what, you know what I noticed?

Nobody panics when things

go according to plan.

Even if the plan is horrifying.

If tomorrow I tell the press that, like,

a gangbanger will get shot

or a truckload of soldiers will be blowing up,

nobody panics,

because it's all part of the plan.

But when I say that one

little, old mayor will die,

well, then, everyone loses their minds!

Introduce a little anarchy...

upset the established order,

and everything becomes chaos.

I'm an agent of chaos.

Oh, and you know the thing about chaos?

It's fair.

You live.

Mm-hmm.

You die.

Oh, now we're talking.

Mr. Reese...

(engine revving, tires screeching)

(tires screeching)

That's Mr. Wayne, isn't it?

That was a very brave thing you did.

Trying to catch the light?

Well, y-you weren't protecting the van?

Why? Who's in it?

BRUCE: Don't you think I should

go to the hospital?

You don't watch a whole lot of news,

do you, Mr. Wayne?

(imitates explosion)

(people screaming)

(explosions)

(clicking)

(explosion thunders)

(metal groaning)

(loud rumbling)

Southeast.

It's Gotham General.

Did you clear the building?

OFFICER: Yeah!

(sirens in distance)

GORDON: Well, you must know how many were inside.

You have patient lists, roll calls.

Sir, sir, right now we're showing

50 people missing-- one bus.

All these other buses are heading off to other hospitals.

My guess is we missed one.

Yeah? Well, what's your guess about where Harvey Dent is?

Keep looking and keep it to yourself.

Anybody asks, we got him out.

Get the Mayor's Office on the line.

We're gonna need the National Guard.

REPORTER (on TV): ...people are still missing,

including GCN's own Mike Engel.

I'm now being told

that we're cutting to a video GCN has just received.

I'm Mike Engel for Gotham Tonight.

"What does it take

"to make you people want to join in?

"You failed to kill the lawyer.

I've got to get you off the bench and into the game."

JOKER (on TV): Bench. Game.

(Joker laughing)

ENGEL (on TV): "Come nightfall,

this city is mine." JOKER: Mine.

"And anyone left here plays by my rules."

JOKER (on TV): Rules.

WOMAN: Mr. Fox?

Security is showing a break-in at the R and D department.

"If you don't want to be in the game,

JOKER: Get out now. get out now."

(murmuring)

"But the bridge-and-tunnel crowd are sure in for a surprise.

Ha-ha, ha-ha."

(Joker laughing)

(beeping)

(sirens in distance)

(dogs barking)

REPORTER: Gotham PD has shut down Sweet Jesus.

the bridges and tunnels across the area...

BARTENDER: Shouldn't you be out there,

you know, doing something?

It's my day off.

I got to take a leak.

Keep an eye out for me, will you?

(door creaking)

Now what? You need someone to shake it for you?

Hello.

Dent.

Jesus.

I-I thought you was dead.

Half.

Who picked up Rachel, Wuertz?

It must have been Maroni's men.

Shut up!

Are you telling me

that you're gonna protect the other traitor in Gordon's unit?

I don't know! He never told me!

Listen, Dent, I-I swear to God, I didn't know

what they were gonna do to you.

Mm-hmm.

That's funny.

'Cause I don't know

what's gonna happen to you either.

(gunshot)

Beautiful, isn't it?

Beautiful.

Unethical.

Dangerous.

You've turned every cell phone in Gotham into a microphone.

And a high frequency generator/receiver.

You took my sonar concept

and applied it to every phone in the city.

With half the city feeding you sonar,

you can image all of Gotham.

This is wrong.

I've got to find this man, Lucius.

At what cost?

The database is null-key encrypted.

It can only be accessed by one person.

This is too much power for one person.

That's why I gave it to you.

Only you can use it.

Spying on 30 million people

isn't part of my job description.

This is an audio sample.

If he talks within range of any phone in the city,

you can triangulate his position.

I'll help you this one time.

But consider this my resignation.

As long as this machine is at Wayne Enterprises,

I won't be.

When you're finished,

type in your name.

(sirens in distance)

GORDON (voice-over): Well, my officers are going over

every inch of the tunnels and bridges,

but with the Joker's threat,

they're not an option.

And land routes east?

Backed up for hours.

Which leaves the ferries with 30,000 ready to board.

Plus, I want to use the ferries so I can

get some of those prisoners off the island.

The men you and Dent put away?

Those aren't people I'm worried about.

You should be.

Whatever the Joker's planning,

it's a good bet that Harvey's prisoners might be involved.

I want to get them out of here.

So where is Harvey?

We haven't found him.

(sighs): Oh, geez.

How long can you keep this quiet?

Don't stop for lights, cops, nothing.

Going to join your wife?

You love her?

Yes.

You ever imagine what it would be like

to listen to her die?

Look, take it up with the Joker.

He killed your woman.

He made you... like this.

The Joker's just a mad dog.

I want whoever let him off the leash.

I took care of Wuertz.

But who was your other man inside Gordon's unit?

Who picked up Rachel?

Must have been someone she trusted.

Look, if I tell you,

you'll let me go?

Can't hurt your chances.

It was Ramirez.

(cocks gun)

But you said...

I said it couldn't hurt your chances.

(flips coin)

You're a lucky man.

(flips coin)

But he's not.

Who?

Your driver.

(gunshot)

(clamoring)

Hey, man, that ain't right!

We should be on that boat!

You want to ride across with them?

Be my guest.

(ominous theme playing)

(engine powering down)

Sir, they've stopped their engines.

Right, get on the radio.

Tell them we'll come back and pick them up

once we dump the scumbags.

Liberty, this is Spirit. Come in.

(radio crackles) Li...

What the heck was that?

(alarm sounding)

(murmuring)

CAPTAIN: Liberty, come in, please.

This is Spirit. Come in.

(overlapping radio chatter)

Fox...

there's something going on

on the ferries.

Get down to the engine room now.

MAN: Hey, buddy, what's happening?

Captain, I got a hundred barrels down there,

rigged to blow. And this.

CAPTAIN: Oh, my God.

FIRST MATE: Looks like some kind of detonator.

CAPTAIN: Why would they give us

the detonator to our own bomb?

(beep)

JOKER (over speaker): Tonight, you're all gonna be

a part of a social experiment.

(garbled, overlapping chatter)

(typing)

JOKER (over speaker): Through the magic

of diesel fuel and ammonium nitrate,

I'm ready right now to blow you all sky high.

Liberty, come in. Over.

It's dead.

JOKER (over speaker): Anyone attempts

to get off their boat, you all die.

LUCIUS (over speaker): I'm zeroing in.

JOKER (over speaker): Each of you has a remote

to blow up the other boat.

Voice is on the ferry, but it's not the source.

(garbled, overlapping chatter)

(beeping) FOX: West.

(cell phone ringing)

Gordon.

BATMAN: I have the Joker's location.

Prewitt Building.

Assemble on the building opposite.

At midnight, I blow you all up.

JOKER (over speaker): If, however, one of you

presses the button, I'll let that boat live.

So, who's it gonna be?

Harvey Dent's most wanted scumbag collection

or the sweet and innocent civilians?

You choose.

Oh.

And you might want to decide quickly,

because the people on the other boat

may not be quite so noble.

(feedback, clicks off)

(murmuring)

(clamoring)

Stay back. Well, now,

wh-who are you to decide?

Uh, we ought to talk this over, at least.

(passengers murmuring) WOMAN: We don't all have to die.

Those men had their chance.

We are not going to talk about this.

Why aren't we talking about it?

They're talking over the same exact thing on the other boat.

Let's put it to a vote.

(murmurs of agreement) Yes!

(clamoring)

(gunshot) Stand down!

(phone ringing)

Hello.

RAMIREZ: Barbara, it's Anna Ramirez.

Jim needs you to pack up and put the kids in the car right away.

But the units outside...

Those cops can't be trusted.

Jim needs you away from them as soon as possible.

I'll call them off for ten minutes,

and you'll have to move fast.

BARBARA: But w-where am I supposed to take them?

250 52nd Street.

Leave as soon as the patrol car pulls out.

Okay.

She believe you?

It's 'cause she trusts you.

Just like Rachel did.

I didn't know what they...

You didn't know what they were gonna do.

You're the second cop to say that to me.

What exactly did you think they were gonna do?

They got me early on.

My mother's hospital bills and...

Don't!

-(flips coin) -I'm sorry.

Live to fight another day, Officer.

(sirens in distance)

We found the missing hospital bus.

Then we have a hostage situation.

It's a shooting gallery.

Why would he choose a spot with such big windows?

We have clear shots

on five clowns.

Snipers take them out, smash the windows,

a team rappels in.

Team moves in by the stairwells.

Two, three casualties max.

Let's do it. BATMAN: It's not that simple.

With the Joker, it never is.

What's simple is that every second we don't take him,

those people on the ferries get closer to blowing each other up.

That won't happen.

Then he'll blow both of them up!

We don't have time for paper ballots.

I want everybody

to put their votes on this piece of paper.

If anyone's got pens,

pass it along.

Thank you. Anybody else? Coming through.

Anybody else? Thank you.

NATIONAL GUARDSMAN: We need to get these votes in quickly.

(clamoring)

(shouting) What are you waiting for?

Just push the button! Come on, blow it up, man!

I need five minutes alone.

No! There's no time!

We have clear shots!

Dent is in there with them!

We have to save Dent!

I have to save Dent! Get ready!

Two minutes, then we breach.

(screaming)

Fox, I need picture.

(cell phone ringing)

Hello.

BARBARA: Jim, we're in trouble!

(garbled, overlapping chatter)

Okay, you got

(over earpiece): P.O.V. on alpha,

omni on beta.

Looks like clowns and hostages on two floors.

There's a SWAT team on the stairwell.

FOX (over earpiece): There's another SWAT team on the roof.

Line's clear.

Barbara, calm down.

BARBARA: He has the kids!

DENT: Hello, Jim.

Harvey?

Where's my family?

DENT: Where my family died.

(click, dial tone)

(beep)

SWAT LEADER (over radio): Blue team, acquire the target.

Entry team, set your charge.

(muffled grunting)

BATMAN: Fox, the SWATs are targeting the wrong people.

The clowns are the hostages.

Red team, go!

Red team, go!

SWAT LEADER (over radio): Entry team, blow and go!

Don't move.

SWAT LEADER (over radio): Take the shot.

(gunfire)

FOX (over earpiece): Those SWATs are coming in hot.

Clowns, put down your guns! (muffled grunting)

OFFICER: Drop your weapons! On the ground now!

Doctors, get down! Clear the line of fire!

Drop your weapon!

(screaming)

(grunting)

(dogs barking)

(automatic gunfire)

Freeze! Stand down! (muffled grunting)

or you will be...

FOX (over earpiece): Look up.

See those bad guys on the floor above?

They're waiting to ambush the SWAT team

coming up the elevator.

60 seconds.

(beeping)

LIBERTY PILOT: The tally is 140 against,

396 for.

(clamoring)

So go ahead. Do it!

We're still here.

And that means

they haven't killed us yet, either.

Go, go, go! Blue team, cover!

(shouting, muffled grunting)

Uh-oh.

FOX (over earpiece): Trouble on the floor above.

(muffled grunting)

Get down! Get down on the ground now!

(beep)

(shouting)

Freeze!

Stop or we will shoot!

We will shoot you! Drop the officer!

Release the officer right now! Let him go!

On your knees!

HELICOPTER PILOT: We got him.

He's out of the game.

Keep your hands in the air!

Step away from the edge!

(screaming)

(screaming)

Hold... (screaming)

Stay down! Don't move!

SWAT LEADER (over radio): Be advised,

clowns are hostages,

doctors are targets!

(dogs snarling, barking)

Ah, you made it.

I'm so thrilled.

Where's the detonator?

Go get him!

(dogs barking)

(shouting)

Don't move!

(grunting)

(grunts)

You don't want to die,

but you don't know how to take a life.

Give it to me.

(whispering): These men will kill you and take it anyway.

No one wants to get their hands dirty.

Fine. I'll do it.

Those men on that boat?

They made their choices.

They chose to murder and steal.

It doesn't make any sense for us to have to die, too.

(Batman grunts) All the old familiar places.

(grunts)

(electrical crackling)

Stand by.

(electrical crackling)

(Joker yells)

OFFICER: Red Team, floor secure!

Hostages are safe!

Give it to me.

You can tell them

I took it by force.

Give it to me,

and I'll do what you should've did ten minutes ago.

(Batman grunts)

We really should stop this fighting,

otherwise we'll miss the fireworks.

There won't be any fireworks.

And here we go.

(suspenseful theme playing)

BATMAN: What were you trying to prove?

That, deep down, everyone's as ugly as you?

(grunts)

You're alone.

Can't rely on anyone these days.

You got to do everything yourself.

Don't we?

That's okay. I came prepared.

It's a funny world we live in.

Speaking of which, you know how I got these scars?

No.

But I know how you got these.

(grunts, stammers)

(cackling)

(cable whips)

(grunts)

(grunting)

(grunts)

(groans)

Oh, you.

You just couldn't let me go, could you?

This is what happens

when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

(pants)

You truly are incorruptible, aren't you?

Huh?

You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense

of self-righteousness,

and I won't kill you

because you're just too much fun.

(chuckles)

I think you and I are destined to do this forever.

You'll be in a padded cell forever.

Maybe we could share one.

You know, they'll be doubling up

the rate this city's inhabitants are losing their minds.

This city just showed you

that it's full of people ready to believe in good.

Until their spirit breaks completely.

Until they get a good look

at the real Harvey Dent, huh?

And all the heroic things he's done.

(chuckles)

You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle

for Gotham's soul in a fistfight with you?

No.

You need an ace in the hole.

Mine's Harvey.

What did you do?

I took Gotham's white knight,

and I brought him down to our level.

It wasn't hard.

See, madness, as you know,

is like gravity.

All it takes is a little push.

(cackling)

(cackling)

(maniacal laughter)

(echoes): Dent!

(grunts)

(gasps, sobs)

DENT: This is where they brought her, Gordon,

after your men handed her over.

This is where she died.

I know, I was here...

trying to save her.

But you didn't.

I couldn't.

Yes, you could've. If you had listened to me.

If you stood up against corruption,

instead of doing your deal with the devil.

I was trying to fight the Mob!

You wouldn't dare try to justify yourself

if you knew what I'd lost.

Have you ever had to talk to the person you love most,

tell them it's gonna be all right,

when you know it's not?

Well...

you're about to know what that feels like, Gordon.

Then, you can look me in the eye

and tell me you're sorry.

You're not going to hurt my family.

No.

Just the person you love most.

(James sobs)

So, is it your wife?

Put the gun down, Harvey.

Harvey, put down the gun.

Please, put... Please, Harvey.

Please.

Oh, goddamn it!

Will you stop pointing that gun at my family?!

BARBARA (sobbing): No!

We have a winner.

(sobbing): Oh, Jim, stop him!

Don't let him! Harvey...

Harvey!

(Barbara sobbing)

I'm sorry!

For everything!

Please don't hurt my son.

(whispers): Please.

(James whimpering)

(dogs barking in distance)

(barking, indistinct shouting)

You brought your cops?

All they know is there's a situation.

They... They don't know who or what.

They're just creating a perimeter.

You think I want to escape from this?

There is no escape from this.

BATMAN: You don't wanna hurt the boy, Harvey.

It's not about what I want.

It's about what's fair!

You thought we could be decent men

in an indecent time!

(panting)

But you were wrong.

The world is cruel.

And the only morality in a cruel world...

is chance.

Unbiased...

unprejudiced...

fair.

His son's got the same chance she had.

Fifty-fifty.

What happened to Rachel wasn't chance.

We decided to act.

We three.

DENT: Then why was it me

who was the only one who lost everything?

(panting)

It wasn't.

The Joker chose me!

Because you were the best of us.

He wanted to prove

that even someone as good

as you could fall.

And he was right.

You're the one pointing the gun, Harvey.

So, point it at the people responsible.

Fair enough.

You first.

(coin clinks)

(sobs quietly)

(whimpers)

My turn.

(coin clinks)

Harvey, you're right.

Rachel's death was my fault.

Pl... pl-please, don't punish the boy.

Please, punish me.

I'm about to.

Tell your boy he's going to be all right, Gordon.

Lie...

like I lied.

It's going to be all right, son.

(coin clinks)

(Batman growls)

(screaming)

(grunts)

(boards clattering)

(Barbara sobbing)

JAMES: Dad?

Daddy, is he okay?

(panting)

(Batman groans)

(panting)

(grunts)

Thank you.

You don't have to thank me.

Yes, I do.

The Joker won.

Harvey's prosecution, everything he fought for...

undone.

Whatever chance you gave us at fixing our city

dies with Harvey's reputation.

We bet it all on him.

The Joker took the best of us and tore him down.

People will lose hope.

They won't.

They must never know what he did.

Five dead?

Two of them cops?

You can't sweep that...

No. No...

But the Joker cannot win.

Gotham needs its true hero.

No.

You either die a hero,

or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

I can do those things

because I'm not a hero, not like Dent.

I killed those people.

That's what I can be.

No, no, you can't, you're not.

I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be.

Call it in.

...a hero.

Not the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed.

Nothing less than a knight...

shining.

GORDON: They'll hunt you.

BATMAN: You'll hunt me.

You'll condemn me,

set the dogs on me.

Because that's what needs to happen.

Because sometimes...

truth isn't good enough.

Sometimes people deserve more.

Sometimes people deserve

to have their faith rewarded.

JAMES: Batman!

Batman!

Why is he running, Dad?

Because we have to chase him.

Okay, we're going in! Go, go!

Move!

(dogs barking)

He didn't do anything wrong.

(barking)

Because he's the hero Gotham deserves,

but not the one it needs right now.

So we'll hunt him...

...because he can take it.

(barking)

Because he's not a hero.

He's a silent guardian,

a watchful protector.

A dark knight.

(dramatic, rhythmic theme music playing)

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(music ends)