Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World (2015) - full transcript

THAT'S THE DAD.

THIS IS HIS CHUBBY SON.

THIS IS--

Man: BUT HE'S NOT BATKID.

Y-YEAH, HE IS.

HE'S BATKID?

UH-HUH.

OH.

OR, ACTUALLY, HE'S BATBOY,
BECAUSE HE'S ALMOST SIX.

OKAY.

LIKE ME.



OKAY.

LIKE ME.

DO YOU KNOW THE SECRET OF HIM?
HE...

Patricia:
I THINK THE SECRET IS...

MILES WANTS TO BE
A SUPERHERO!

YES.

Boy: HE ALREADY
IS A SUPERHERO.

YES.

Boy: HE ALREADY
IS A SUPERHERO.

♪ I ♪

♪ I WISH I COULD... ♪

Reporter: WELL, THIS MAY BE
THE FEEL-GOOD STORY

AT LEAST OF THE YEAR.

A BOY'S WISH ABOUT TO COME TRUE
RIGHT HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.



Reporter #2: A YOUNG LEUKEMIA
PATIENT IS BEING GIVEN A CHANCE

TO LIVE OUT HIS DREAM
TO BE A SUPERHERO.

Reporter #3:
TODAY PARTS OF SAN FRANCISCO

ARE BEING TRANSFORMED
INTO GOTHAM CITY

SO THAT FIVE-YEAR-OLD MILES
CAN BE BATMAN FOR A DAY.

Reporter #4:
THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS...

Reporter #5: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
ARE IN ON THIS.

Reporter #6:
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE...

Reporter #7: --WHILE HE CAPTURES
SOME NOTORIOUS VILLAINS.

Reporter #6:
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE...

Reporter #7: --WHILE HE CAPTURES
SOME NOTORIOUS VILLAINS.

Reporter #8: AND THE SCALE OF
THIS PRODUCTION IS UNBELIEVABLE.

Reporter #9: IT'S HUGE.

Reporter #8: AND THE SCALE OF
THIS PRODUCTION IS UNBELIEVABLE.

Reporter #9: IT'S HUGE.

Reporter #10: IT'S REMARKABLE.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

USING THE HASHTAG SFBatKid
TO EXPERIENCE IT IN REAL TIME.

Reporter #11:
MILLIONS ALL OVER THE BAY AREA

FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE AND
SAFE WITH BATKID ON THE DUTY.

[ GROWLS ]

♪ WE CAN BE HEROES ♪

♪ JUST FOR ONE DAY ♪

♪ WE CAN BE HEROES ♪

♪ JUST FOR ONE DAY ♪

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Woman:
WHAT'S THEIR MISSION TODAY?

FINDING THE RIDDLER
AND THE BAD GUYS.

WOO-HOO!

♪ WE CAN BE HEROES ♪

♪ JUST FOR ONE DAY ♪

I'M BATMAN.

I AM BATMAN.
BYE!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

♪ I CAN REMEMBER ♪

♪ STANDING ♪

♪ STANDING, BY THE WALL ♪

♪ AND THE GUNS
SHOT ABOVE OUR HEADS ♪

♪ WE CAN BE ♪

WHAT ARE THEY DANCING
AROUND FOR?

[ LAUGHS ]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THEY'RE DANCING FOR YOU.

♪ WE CAN BE HEROES ♪

[ CROWD CHANTING "BATKID" ]

Man: SO WAS THIS
WHAT YOU GUYS EXPECTED?

MM-HM.

NO.

NO. NO.

SO LET ME EXPLAIN
HOW THIS HAPPENED.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE I CAN,
ACTUALLY, BUT HERE GOES.

Natalie: MILES, WHEN HE WAS
ABOUT EIGHTEEN MONTHS,

NINETEEN MONTHS OLD, HE CAME
INTO BED WITH NICK AND I,

AND IT WAS
ON A SUNDAY MORNING.

AND WE HAD NOTICED
THERE WAS A LITTLE LUMP,

LIKE, RIGHT NEAR HIS JAW.

AND IT WASN'T PALPABLE.

IT JUST WAS KINDA HARD,

AND SO WE WERE LIKE,
"THAT'S REALLY WEIRD."

AND WE TOOK HIM
TO AN URGENT CARE,

AN IMMEDIATE CARE,
IN KLAMATH FALLS THAT DAY.

AND THEY SAID, "OH,
HE HAS AN EAR INFECTION."

WHICH WE WERE LIKE,
"THAT'S REALLY WEIRD.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY RELATE
TO THIS.

HE'S NOT COMPLAINING
OF EAR PAIN."

HE STARTED ANTIBIOTICS

AND THEN WE FOLLOWED UP
WITH HIS DOCTOR THE NEXT WEEK.

I'M A NURSE, AND I WAS ACTUALLY

WORKING FOR THE DOCTOR,
FOR MILES'S DOCTOR.

AND I HAD NICK BRING MILES UP,
AND THEY DID THE BLOOD WORK.

AND THEN THEY LEFT, 'CAUSE HE
WAS KIND OF FUSSY AND TIRED.

WHEN DR. BRITCH CAME OUT,
I KNEW. I SAW HER FACE.

[ PHONE RINGS ]

Nick: NATALIE CALLED ME
IN JUST ABSOLUTELY IN HYSTERICS

[ PHONE RINGS ]

Nick: NATALIE CALLED ME
IN JUST ABSOLUTELY IN HYSTERICS

JUST SCREAMING, CRYING.

AND SHE TRIED
TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG.

I HAD NO IDEA
WHAT SHE WAS SAYING.

"OKAY, YOU GOTTA STOP
AND SLOW DOWN,

'CAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND
A WORD YOU JUST SAID,"

AND...AND SAID,
"MILES HAS LEUKEMIA.

WE NEED TO PACK, AND THEN WE
GOTTA BE ON A PLANE AT SEVEN."

AND I THINK
IT WAS ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK.

WELL, HE HAD AN IV PUT IN,
AND WE WERE ON AN AIR FLIGHT,

PANDA FLIGHT, TO PORTLAND.

AT THAT TIME,
HE WAS A REAL DADDY'S BOY

AND SO I HAD TO FLY WITH HIM,

AND NATALIE'S TERRIFIED
OF FLYING.

AND HE WASN'T GONNA BE
ON A GURNEY BY HIMSELF,

AND SO
I WAS STRAPPED TO THE GURNEY.

HE WAS STRAPPED TO ME,
ON TOP OF IT.

SO WE GOT UP THERE,
AND NATALIE AND HER MOM

DROVE UP THERE THAT NIGHT.
THEY DROVE ALL NIGHT.

Natalie: THEN WE WERE
IN PORTLAND FOR THREE WEEKS.

AND THE FIRST WEEK
WE WERE INPATIENT,

AND THEN THE THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

WE WERE AT RONALD McDONALD
HOUSE.

WHEN HE WAS IN PORTLAND,

HE HAD BONE MARROW BIOPSIES
AND LUMBAR PUNCTURES,

AND THEN, UH, DAILY CHEMO.

AND THEN, UM, HE HAD
A BLOOD TRANSFUSION.

Nick: WE HAD TO KEEP HIM AWAY
FROM A LOT OF CROWDS, YOU KNOW,

WITH THE WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Natalie: SO AFTER THAT,
HE WENT EVERY THREE MONTHS,

HAVING A LUMBAR PUNCTURE, BUT
EVERY MONTH HE WOULD GET CHEMO.

WHEN MILES WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED,
WITHIN THAT FIRST COUPLE WEEKS,

WE MET UP WITH A SOCIAL WORKER,

AND-AND THEY TOLD US THAT
HE QUALIFIED FOR MAKE-A-WISH.

Patricia: IT'S FOR CHILDREN

WITH LIFE-THREATENING
MEDICAL CONDITIONS.

EIGHTY PERCENT OF THEM GO ON
TO LIVE INTO ADULTHOOD.

THEY GET TO PICK WHATEVER
WOULD MAKE THEM THE HAPPIEST.

Nick:
AND BEING EIGHTEEN MONTHS OLD,

WE SAID, "NO,
WE DON'T WANNA DO IT NOW.

LET'S HOLD OFF AND WAIT TILL
HE FINDS SOMETHING HE LIKES

AND GO WITH IT."

IT WAS THE LAST YEAR
OF TREATMENT FOR HIM

THAT WE ASKED ABOUT IT AGAIN,
AND, UH, SHE SAID,

"YEAH,
WE'LL PUT IN THE REQUEST."

WE'D MET THE COUPLE THAT DID
OUR INTERVIEW FOR MAKE-A-WISH

AT NATALIE'S PARENTS' HOUSE
IN YREKA.

Natalie: THE WIFE DID PAPERWORK
WITH NICK AND I,

AND THE HUSBAND JUST TOOK MILES
ASIDE AND HE DREW PICTURES...

Nick: ...AND TRIED TO GET
AN IDEA OF WHAT HE LIKES.

AND HE CAME BACK
AFTER ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR

AND SAID MILES WISHED
TO BE BATMAN.

HE SAID, "I WANNA BE THE REAL
BATMAN," WAS HIS EXACT WISH.

WASN'T, YOU KNOW,
"I WANNA ACT LIKE BATMAN.

I WANT A BATMAN SUIT."
IT WAS "I WANT TO BE BATMAN."

Natalie: I-WE WERE
JUST REALLY WONDERING

HOW THAT WAS GONNA WORK OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]

HOW ARE YOU GONNA BE
THE REAL BATMAN?

HOW DO YOU DO THAT, YOU KNOW?
WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO THINK.

Patricia: OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR
LINDA WENT POPPING IN MY OFFICE,

AND SHE SAYS, "I HAVE
A SUPERHERO WISH FOR YOU."

SO I WAS LIKE, "I'LL TAKE THAT!"
SO I TOOK THE FILE,

AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT
MEANT FOR HIM TO BE BATMAN.

YOU KNOW,
WHAT KIND OF CHILD HE WAS,

WHAT KIND OF WISH THIS MIGHT BE,

AND JUST REALLY GET A SENSE
OF THE FAMILY AND HIM.

Natalie: WE LIVE IN TULELAKE,
CALIFORNIA.

IT'S RIGHT ON
THE CALIFORNIA-OREGON BORDER.

QUIET, QUAINT SMALL TOWN,
NOT MUCH GOING ON.

REALLY TIGHT-NICHE COMMUNITY.
VERY NICE PLACE TO LIVE.

NICK AND I ACTUALLY
WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER,

ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR HIGH.

AND WE DATED IN JUNIOR HIGH.

"DATED," RIGHT?
THAT'S NOT REAL.

Nick:
I GREW UP RIGHT HERE ON A FARM.

I'M THE FOURTH-GENERATION
FARMER IN THIS AREA.

WE HAVE HAY AND GRAIN NOW.

IT WAS HARD 'CAUSE HE WAS
DIAGNOSED IN APRIL

AND THAT'S WHEN WE START
REALLY GETTING BUSY PLANTING.

AND AT THAT TIME WE WERE
JUST GETTING OUR FARM

KINDA ON THE GROUND.

FRESHLY MARRIED,
DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY,

AND THE WHOLE TOWN,
LIKE, CAME TOGETHER.

OTHER GUYS HAD THEIR CREW SENT
OUT HERE TO PUT UP PIPE FOR US.

ALL THE OTHER FARMERS CHIPPED
IN. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I'M CUTTING THE GROUND.

AND SO ONE NIGHT,
THE OLD ADAM WEST "BATMANS"

WERE ON NICKELODEON, I THINK,
AT THAT TIME,

AND SO, LIKE THEY WERE JUST
WATCHING "BATMAN."

HE JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

AND SO FOR WEEKS THERE,
EVERY NIGHT WE'D WATCH "BATMAN."

AND SO THAT WAS HIS INTRODUCTION
TO SUPERHEROES.

Man: WHY DO YOU LIKE BATMAN
SO MUCH?

BECAUSE HE'S
MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO.

Nick: I THINK IT'S BECAUSE
BATMAN'S JUST A REGULAR GUY.

I MEAN,
HE DOESN'T HAVE A SUPERPOWER.

HE'S GOT GADGETS AND MONEY.

HE'S ALWAYS LIKED
ALL SUPERHEROES AND STUFF,

BUT HE ALWAYS KINDA COMES
BACK TO BATMAN,

BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS HIS
FIRST, YOU KNOW, LIKE,

FIRST LOVE-TYPE THING.

ONE OF HIS DOCTORS,
I THINK, TOLD US

THAT WITH THIS DISEASE,

THEY JUST BECOME LIKE A FIGHTER,
YOU KNOW.

THEY HAVE TO BE.
THEY FIGHT FOR LIFE AND STUFF.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BATMAN
SEES THE BAD GUYS?

Miles: HE FIGHTS.

Nick:
AND SO I THINK HE SEES

THE GOOD VERSUS EVIL BATTLE
IN SUPERHEROES

AND JUST RELATES TO IT.

Natalie: HE HAD TO TAKE STEROIDS
EVERY MONTH FOR FIVE DAYS,

AND THAT WAS WHAT TOOK
THE MOST TOLL ON HIM,

'CAUSE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
THE WAY HE FELT,

AND IT MADE HIM REALLY MOODY,
AND HUNGRY, AND TIRED.

AND HE'D HAVE NIGHTMARES.

Nick:
AND IT'S NOT JUST MILES.

I THINK IT'S ALL KIDS
THAT HAVE A DISEASE

OR, YOU KNOW, AN ILLNESS
LIKE THAT,

THEY GET MORE COMPASSION
AND THEY WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND SUPERHEROES, IN GENERAL,
ARE HELPING PEOPLE.

WELL, THE FIRST THING

HE EVER HAD OF BATMAN
WAS A PAIR OF PAJAMAS.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN
INTO DRESSING UP.

THAT'S BEEN SINCE DAY ONE.

LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS, HIS FIRST
FOUR YEARS OF LIFE, IT WAS LIKE,

"I WANT CLOTHES AND PAJAMAS,"

WHICH-- WHAT KID SAYS THAT,
YOU KNOW?

HE WANTS COSTUMES TO DRESS UP.

I THINK HE JUST LIKES
TO PUT ON THE COSTUME

AND BECOME
WHOEVER THAT PERSON IS.

HE USED TO CALL HIMSELF
THE CHANGER BOY.

"I'M A CHANGER BOY!"

AND HE WOULD JUST CHANGE
ALL THE TI--

HE COULD WEAR COSTUMES
TO THE HOSPITAL.

HIS DOCTORS AND EVERYONE,
THEY WERE LIKE,

"OH, WHAT SUPERHERO
ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?"

WHEN WE'RE GOING ABOUT, UH,
DOING A WISH, IT IS WHIMSICAL.

AND IT'S ABOUT USING YOUR
IMAGINATION AND THINKING ABOUT

WHAT WOULD WOW THAT CHILD
AND GIVE THEM AN EXPERIENCE

THAT GIVES THEM

A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR
CHILDHOOD BACK

THAT'S BEEN ROBBED.

YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES,
AND SAY, "WHAT WOULD BE GREAT?"

[ CHILDREN SHOUT ]

Miles: THAT'S FUN!

Patricia: THE WISH FAMILY ASKED
FOR HIS WISH

TO BE IN NOVEMBER

BECAUSE IT WAS GONNA BE
AFTER HIS TREATMENT.

IT WAS GONNA BE
AFTER HIS SURGERY

TO HAVE HIS PORT REMOVED.

SO IT WOULD BE
AFTER HIS HARVEST SEASON.

SO NOVEMBER MADE GOOD SENSE,

AND HE'D HAVE MORE ENERGY NOT
IN THE MIDDLE OF CHEMOTHERAPY.

IT GAVE HIM SOMETHING
TO LOOK FORWARD TO

IN SOME OF HIS DARKER DAYS.

WHAT WE BEGAN PLAYING WITH

IS TO DO S--
MAYBE AN EPISODE, YOU KNOW,

AND HAVE HIM HAVE THESE CAPERS.

SO I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
TO HAVE A FULL-SIZE,

A-A GROWN-UP BATMAN, AND HE
WOULD BE THE KIND OF MINI-ME.

UH, SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS A
PERFECT, UH, FIT FOR HIS WISH,

SO THAT HE WOULD HAVE A BUDDY.

AND THEN I REACHED OUT TO
EJ AND ASKED HIM TO BE BATMAN.

SHALL WE DO IT?

Man: WE SHOULD DO IT.
WHOA.

SHE SENT EMAILS SAYING,

"THERE'S A LITTLE GUY WHOSE WISH
IS TO LEARN TO BE BATMAN.

YOU KNOW, CRIME-FIGHTING,
ACROBATICS, YOU KNOW,

WHATEVER BATMAN DOES,
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO DO."

Patricia:
WHEN I SENT THE EMAIL TO HIM,

HIS WIFE, SUE, SAW IT FIRST.

AND HE GOES, "I DON'T HAVE
A CHOICE IN THIS, DO I?"

AND SHE SAID, "NOPE."
[ LAUGHS ]

EJ: HECK, YES.
LET'S DO IT. GIVE ME THE SUIT.

Patricia: HE'S A FORMER
STUNT DOUBLE AND ACROBAT.

HE'S AN INVENTOR.
HE CREATES GADGETS.

HE DOES EVERYTHING.

Patricia: AND HE'S JUST SO GREAT
WITH KIDS.

TEN YEARS AGO,

EJ AND I WORKED TOGETHER
ON A WISH.

EJ: IT WAS AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD
LEUKEMIA PATIENT

NAMED BEN, WHOSE WISH WAS
TO MAKE A VIDEO GAME

WHERE THE PLAYER FIGHTS CANCER

SO THAT HE COULD SEND IT BACK
TO THE FRIENDS OF HIS

WHO WERE STILL STUCK
IN TREATMENT.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL IDEA.

I APPROACHED SOME
OF THE VIDEO GAME COMPANIES

AND WAS LAUGHED AT,
AND SAID, YOU KNOW,

"I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT.

WE'RE TALKING A MILLION
DOLLARS OF VALUE.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
A YEAR OR TWO,

AND YOU'RE-YOU'RE OUT
OF YOUR LEAGUE THIS TIME."

I WAS SO IMPRESSED
WITH WHAT BEN WANTED TO DO,

THAT THERE'S NOTHING
TO TAKE BUT TIME.

Patricia: FOR SEVEN MONTHS, UM,
EJ WORKED WITH BEN EVERY WEEK

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE,
WHEN BEN WAS GROUNDED,

UH, FOR NOT DOING HIS HOMEWORK

BUT CREATED, UM,
THIS GREAT VIDEO GAME

THAT'S BEEN DOWNLOADED OVER
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND TIMES.

THIS IS THE MOST FULFILLING
PROJECT I'VE WORKED ON.

HE BROUGHT IN GAME IDEAS

THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE
COME UP WITH.

HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IN SOMETHING
CALLED A PORT ONE DAY, IN A JAR,

WHICH IS A DEVICE THAT THEY
IMPLANTED INSIDE HIM.

AND HE SAID, "THIS IS HOW
THE PLAYER GETS INTO THE GAME."

Patricia: BOTH OF THEM ARE
RECOGNIZED BY THE DALAI LAMA

FOR THEIR UNSELFISH ACTS.

I KNEW THAT
IT'D BE MAGIC WITH HIM.

AND THEN IT WAS, "LET'S DECIDE
WHERE IT'S GONNA BE,"

AND I PRESENTED SEVERAL OPTIONS
OF DOING SOMETHING

IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF TULELAKE
OR SOMETHING NEAR THEM.

I FIGURED IT WOULD PROBABLY
BE, YOU KNOW, IN A PARK.

KIND OF A FAMILY, AND MAYBE
SOME FRIENDS OF HIS,

AND, YOU KNOW,
PUT ON A BATMAN SUIT

AND DO SOME STUNTS
AND ACROBATICS.

MAYBE HAVE SOME MATS THERE
AND A LITTLE TRAMPOLINE.

WE DIDN'T WANNA DO IT HERE

'CAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE
TO GO SOMEWHERE,

BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN
ON MANY FAMILY VACATIONS.

OR I HAD THIS BOLD STATEMENT,
WHICH I MAKE,

THAT I WAS GONNA TURN
SAN FRANCISCO INTO GOTHAM CITY

AND THAT'S THE ONE
THAT RESONATED

AND SOUNDED MOST TRUE
AND NEAR HIS REAL WISH.

SO IT JUST MADE MORE SENSE
TO GO TO THE CITY.

Patricia: SO I HAD THIS VISION

THAT THERE WAS GONNA BE
A BREAKING NEWS STORY.

Daetz: I THOUGHT, "SURE!
THAT'D BE AWESOME.

THAT'D BE SO MUCH FUN."

I CAN SEE, "BREAKING NEWS:
BATMAN IS NEEDED IN THE CITY."

Patricia: I KNEW I WANTED
TO INVOLVE THE POLICE CHIEF.

AND THEY SAID, "HEY,
THIS LITTLE GUY LOVES COPS,

AND HE WANTS TO BE BATMAN
FOR A DAY.

DO YOU THINK WE COULD DO IT?"

Patricia:
RESCUING A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS.

Sue:
WHILE THE CATWOMAN OUTFIT

WOULD HAVE BEEN FABULOUS

I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK
THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM
TO KIND OF BE THE HERO

AND RESCUE ME
WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.

I'D HEARD THAT THEY WERE GONNA
SHUT DOWN A CITY BLOCK

AND RESCUE SOMEONE
OFF A CABLE CAR.

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL,
THAT...THAT'S NEAT."

Patricia: WHEN YOU HAVE A WISH
LIKE THIS,

IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOME SORT
OF BIG ENDING.

AND I THOUGHT,
WHAT BETTER BIG ENDING

THAN TO HAVE THE MAYOR PRESENT
THE KEY TO THE CITY?

Mayor Lee:
I GREW UP READING THE COMICS.

I'VE WATCHED EVERY BATMAN MOVIE
THAT WAS EVER MADE,

AND, UH, OF COURSE, WATCHED
THE TELEVISION SERIES GOING UP.

Patricia: AND I REMEMBER
SUGGESTING THAT.

BEING SO BOLD, GOING, "CAN
HE HAVE A KEY TO THE CITY?"

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME
CRITERIA FOR THAT.

YEAH, OF COURSE.
LET'S-LET'S DO SOMETHING,

AND WE'LL KEEP IT VERY SIMPLE.

KINDA WHY I'M GOOD FOR IT,
I JUST KINDA GO.

I ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

I'M ASSUMING BY NOW THAT PEOPLE
THAT ARE GONNA BE WATCHING THIS

HAVE MET PATRICIA WILSON BEFORE.

Fajardo: SMALL OR BIG,
YOU DON'T SAY NO TO PATRICIA.

Suhr:
THE ANSWER'S ALWAYS YES.

IT'S VERY HARD
TO SAY NO TO PATRICIA.

Clovicko: SHE IS A BIG THINKER

AND SHE ALLOWS YOU TO NOT
ONLY THINK IN THE SAME WAY,

BUT ALSO CHALLENGES YOU
TO DO SO.

Patricia:
I REMEMBER GOING TO LUNCH

WITH ONE OF OUR FORMER BOARD
MEMBERS WHO HAD A CRAZY CAR.

I TEXTED HIM ONE DAY AND SAID,

"WHAT KIND OF CAR
LOOKS LIKE THE BATMOBILE?"

AND HE SAID, "MINE."
AND I SAID, "RIGHT ANSWER."

[ LAUGHS ]

AND EVERYONE SAID YES
ON THIS PROJECT.

THEY NOT ONLY SAID YES, THEY
SAID, "HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?"

I HAVE TWO BOYS.
I SEE THEM IN HIM.

MY-MY OLDER SON GOT WRAPPED UP
IN THIS THING, TOO.

Patricia: I THINK EVERYBODY
REMEMBERS BEING A KID

AND WANTING TO BE A SUPERHERO.

SO IT STRIKES A CHORD.

WELL, I WANTED ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS
AT EACH CAPER

TO MAKE SURE HE WAS SAFE,
AND IT WAS FRIENDLY,

AND PEOPLE CHEERING HIM ON, SO
HE'D FEEL LIKE THAT SUPERHERO.

TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE
SOUNDS LIKE A CROWD.

I THINK THE MOST WE'VE HAD
FOR A PUBLIC WISH?

WE HAD A CHILD WHO WANTED
TO BE KASSAUNDRA,

TO BE A FAMOUS SINGER.

I THINK THE MOST, MAYBE
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY PEOPLE

TO FILL THE BALLROOM.

IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF MY THOUGHT
THAT WE WOULD HAVE.

SO OUR GOAL WAS TO HAVE

TWO HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS THERE
TO CHEER,

AND-AND THEN HE'LL FEEL GREAT.

I ASKED FOR TWO MOTORCYCLE COPS

FOR POLICE ESCORTS
FOR THE BATMOBILES

AND TWO PARKING SPOTS.

EJ: WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHO THE VILLAINS ARE.

THE JOKER IS TOO CREEPY
FOR A FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

HE'S TOO CREEPY FOR,
YOU KNOW, GROWN-UPS.

YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO THINK
THROUGH WHO, YOU KNOW,

WHO OF OUR FRIENDS WOULD MAKE
A GOOD SUPERVILLAIN.

AND THAT NIGHT, SUE AND I WERE
ON OUR WAY TO A BARBECUE

AT MIKE'S PLACE.

AND SUE,
WHO IS MY LOVELY MUSE.

IN OUR RELATIONSHIP,

ONE OF HER JOBS
IS SHE HAS THE GENIUS IDEAS.

AND SO SHE, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
SAID, "MIKE."

AND I LOOKED AT HER.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT,

AND SHE SAID, "PENGUIN."

I WAS LIKE [GASPS]

I WORK HERE AT LUCASFILM,

AND, UM, I'VE BEEN
A SOFTWARE ENGINEER HERE

FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

I MET EJ HERE AT INDUSTRIAL
LIGHT AND MAGIC,

AND WE'RE SORT OF WEIRD
SOFTWARE PEOPLE,

LIKE AS YOU CAN SEE FROM
THE--THE BACKDROP HERE.

THIS IS NOT
WHAT YOU USUALLY SEE

IN A SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
COMPANY.

UM, OF COURSE WE MAKE-
WE MAKE FILMS HERE.

EJ: WE WENT OVER TO HIS PLACE
AND GOT TO THE BARBECUE.

SAID HI, GRABBED A BURGER,
AND THEN SAID,

"OKAY, ARE YOU IN TOWN
ON NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH?"

SO I JUST KIND OF PULL OUT
MY PHONE, I'M LIKE, UH...

EJ: IF SO, THEN SAY YES
TO WHAT I'M ABOUT TO ASK.

I SAID, "OH, YEAH, LOOKS OPEN.
YOU KNOW, UH, SURE."

'CAUSE I FIGURED, IT'S ERIC,

AND SO IT'S GONNA BE
SOMETHING CRAZY.

HE'S GONNA BE UP TO SOMETHING
TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.

OF COURSE IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING,

AND I'M GONNA WANNA BE
A PART OF IT.

AND SO, YEAH, I JUST SAID YES,

AND THEN ASKED
WHAT I'D AGREED TO.

AND HE SAID, "WELL, I NEED YOU
TO PUT ON A-A KIND OF A-

PUT ON A COSTUME AND GET CHASED
AROUND BY A KID FOR A WHILE.

UM, IT'S JUST SOMETHING SMALL,
YOU KNOW, NOTHIN' BIG."

IT-IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR
ADULT SENSIBILITIES ABOUT YOU

WHEN HE'S INVOLVED.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WORKING
ON SOFTWARE, YOU GO,

"OH, WE WANNA LIMIT THE FEATURES
WE HAVE IN THIS SOFTWARE

BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH
TIME, AND THERE'S THE SCHEDULE.

BUT WOULDN'T IT BE COOL IF IT
DID THIS AND THIS AND THIS? YES!

I'M GONNA STAY EXTRA
TO DO THAT."

AND YOU DO, AND IT ENDS UP
BEING GREAT

'CAUSE THEN YOU START THINKING,
"OH, AND."

I STARTED WATCHING YouTubes

OF ALL THE OTHER
SUPERHERO MAKE-A-WISHES

THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE U.S.

EJ: AND THAT'S THE ENTHUSIASM
THAT IT TAKES

TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING.

IF I MAKE THE KID CRY,
I FAILED MISERABLY.

EJ: THE PROJECT CHANGED
WHEN WE ADDED MIKE.

HIS ENERGY SEEPED INTO IT.

SO WE HAD A FEW MEETINGS.
WE HAD PLANNING MEETINGS.

AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE,
LIKE, A PHONE OR A TABLET

THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THE VIDEO
ON AT EACH ADVENTURE,

BEFORE WE WENT OFF
TO THE NEXT THING

SO THAT MILES COULD SEE
THE POLICE CHIEF.

HOLY BATWINGS,
BATMAN AND BATKID!

EJ:
IF I PULL OUT A PHONE

TO SEE THE POLICE CHIEF'S
MESSAGE,

IN MILES'S EYES,
I GO FROM BEING BATMAN

TO BEING A GROWN-UP
ON A PHONE.

I THINK--I THINK WE SHOULD TRY
INSTEAD OF A PHONE

PROJECTING IT, LIKE BATMAN.

I HAD DONE A PROJECT OF MY OWN
A COUPLE OF YEARS PRIOR

THAT INVOLVED
A WEARABLE PROJECTOR.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A WAY MORE
KIND OF BATMAN-ISH THING TO DO.

Suhr:
GOTHAM CITY NEEDS YOU, BATMAN.

Patricia: I PLANNED IT INITIALLY
JUST BY MYSELF.

IT'S LIKE I THROW EVERYTHING UP
IN THE AIR AND GO,

"NOW-NOW YOU HAVE TO DO
THE DETAILS."

SO THEN TERESA AND JEN
GOT INVOLVED

AND REALLY BEGAN
PUTTING THE SPECIFICS,

AND THE FEW OTHER PIECES
THAT WE NEEDED.

MAKE-A-WISH.
THIS IS TERESA.

Clovicko: I PLAN THE LOGISTICS
OF THE WISHES.

BASICALLY
COORDINATING WISHES.

SOMETIMES, THAT MEANS
TRAVEL COORDINATING.

SOMETIMES,
THAT MEANS COORDINATING

WISHES TO BE LIKE MILES.

AT FIRST, WE JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW,

A-A-A LITTLE GUY.

KIND OF LIKE A PORTION
OF THE DAY.

DEFINITELY NOT AN ABNORMAL WISH

THAT WOULD-THAT WOULD ENTAIL
SO MUCH PLANNING.

Patricia: SO THE PLAN IS THIS:

WE'RE GONNA START WITH MILES
IN HIS HOTEL ROOM.

HIS MOM'S GONNA POP IN A DVD.

IT'S GONNA HAVE
A BREAKING NEWS STORY

FEATURING THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

AND HE'S GONNA BE ASKING
FOR HIS HELP.

THEN BATMAN WILL KNOCK
ON THE DOOR.

AND THIS WILL BE
THE FIRST TIME HE SEES BATMAN.

SO IT SHOULD BE GREAT.

BATMAN WILL HAND HIM HIS COSTUME
AND ASK HIM TO REPORT TO DUTY.

THEN THEY GO DOWN
TO THE LOADING DOCK,

WHICH IS REALLY THE BATCAVE,

AND THEY'RE GONNA GET
INTO THE BATMOBILE,

AND WILL EXIT UNION SQUARE
IN DRAMATIC FLAIR,

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE
AND EXCITEMENT.

AND THEN THEY HEAD TO THE CORNER
OF HYDE AND GREEN,

WHERE OUR DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

WILL BE TIED
TO THE CABLE CAR TRACKS.

MILES WILL DEFUSE THE BOMB,
AND RESCUE HER JUST IN TIME

TO GET ANOTHER MESSAGE
FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE,

TELLING HIM THE RIDDLER
IS ROBBING A BANK,

AND HE NEEDS HIS HELP.

THEY'LL GET BACK
IN THE BATMOBILE,

AND RACE TO THE CLOTHING STORE
WINGTIP

WHICH IS REALLY
THE OLD BANK OF ITALY BUILDING.

THEY'LL CATCH THE RIDDLER RIGHT
IN THE ACT, AND SAVE THE DAY.

THEN THEY'LL GET ANOTHER MESSAGE
FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE,

SAYING, "GREAT JOB,"
AND LUNCH IS ON HIM.

SO THEY'LL GO TO LUNCH
AT BURGER BAR,

OVERLOOKING UNION SQUARE.

AND JUST AS THEY ARE FINISHING
THEIR LUNCH,

THEY'LL GET ANOTHER BREAKING
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF,

SAYING THAT THE PENGUIN'S
UP TO NO GOOD.

HE'S KIDNAPPED LOU SEAL,
THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS MASCOT.

THEN HE'LL LOOK OUT ON UNION
SQUARE, SEE A FLASH MOB,

AND THEN SEE THE PENGUIN
COMING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT

WITH LOU SEAL TIED UP
IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

IT'LL BE A CONVERTIBLE.

AND THEY'LL BEGIN THE CHASE
AFTER HIM,

WHERE THEY'LL GO TO AT&T PARK.

THEY'LL CATCH PENGUIN,
FREE LOU SEAL, SAVE THE CITY.

CHIEF WILL SEND
ONE LAST MESSAGE--

WE'RE PUTTING IT
ON THE JUMBOTRON.

--CONGRATULATING BATKID

AND TELLING HIM TO COME
DOWN TO CITY HALL,

WHERE THE MAYOR HAS
A SPECIAL PRESENTATION

AND WILL GIVE HIM
THE KEY TO THE CITY.

THIS IS SUCH A FUN IDEA.

AND IT'S A HUGE IDEA!

AND HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED
TO MAKE IT WORK?

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

IF HE CAN CLOSE THEM.

THE PENGUIN IS ACTUALLY CALLING
ON THE LINE.

Jutan: WE'D GONE TO AT&T PARK
A COUPLE OF TIMES--

EJ AND I--
TO SCOPE OUT THE AREA.

AND I'D ASSUMED,
GETTING THERE,

THAT PATRICIA OR AT&T PARK
WOULD SAY, "OKAY,

SO WE WANT YOU TO DO THIS
AND THEN GO OVER HERE,

AND THEN LEAD MILES THIS WAY."

AND, WE WERE JUST KINDA THERE
TO CHAT ABOUT IT.

SORT OF ALLOWED EJ AND I
TO KIND OF FALL BACK

TO OUR COLLABORATIVE NATURE,

AND SAY, "OH, YOU KNOW WHAT,
THIS IS REALLY COOL.

LIKE, WE COULD START HERE
ON THE FAKE STREETCAR

AND BATMAN AND BATKID CAN
CHASE PENGUIN THROUGH HERE,

AND THEN MAYBE
I'LL JUMP OUT HERE

AND RING THE BELL
WITH MY UMBRELLA."

THERE'S THIS BIG GUST OF WIND

AS EJ'S CAPE JUST STARTS
FLAPPIN' IN THE WIND.

I WAS LIKE, "OH!
LOOKS SO CINEMATIC."

SO I WHIP OUT MY iPHONE.

CERTAINLY GOTTA TAKE THAT PHOTO
FOR MYSELF.

MESSAGE IT TO MY MOM
AFTER I LEAVE.

SAY, "THIS IS WHY I'M NOT
AT WORK TODAY."

ONCE WE HAD DONE A REHEARSAL,

WE SENT AN EMAIL
TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

TO INDICATE HOW MANY PEOPLE
WE WANTED AT EACH LOCATION.

MAYBE LIKE TWENTY PEOPLE HERE.

AND THEN,
TWO HUNDRED AT THE END.

IT WAS THE WHOLE LAYOUT
FOR THE DAY,

SO THAT WAS PICKED UP
BY ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS,

WHO SAID, "THIS IS,
LIKE, THE COOLEST WISH EVER"

AND CUT AND PASTE THAT, AND
PUT IN TO HIS FACEBOOK STATUS.

Jutan: I KNEW THAT SPENDING
TOO MUCH TIME ON FACEBOOK

WOULD FINALLY PAY OFF.

AND ONE OF THE TOOLS
IN MY TOOLBOX

IS CONSTANTLY BLABBING
EVERYWHERE ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING.

MY MOM WOULD SAY,
"DON'T SHOW OFF."

AND, UH, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
YOU COULD SAY,

LEADING BY EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW.

UM, I ASSUMED THAT MAKE-A-WISH
COULD USE A LOT MORE VOLUNTEERS,

AND BY TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT IT
AND BEING VERY OPEN

ABOUT HOW FUN THIS IS,
AND HOW EXCITING IT IS

AND HOW GREAT IT IS
TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING

THAT I MIGHT INSPIRE
SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE PART.

YEAH, I-I'VE HEARD THE THEORY

IS THAT THAT STARTED THE BALL
ROLLING, WHICH IS CRAZY.

Patricia: WE SAW IT BLOGGED AND
THOUGHT, "OH, LOOK AT THAT."

UM, THEN I STARTED
SEEING IT IN TWITTER,

AND PEOPLE POSTING IT
TO MY OWN FACEBOOK PAGE, LIKE:

"DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?"

LIKE, YE-- YEAH, I KNOW
ABOUT IT. THIS IS MY WISH.

AND IT JUST, IT, YOU KNOW,
LIKE WILDFIRE.

AND IT JUST, HUGE, JUST,
LIKE, IT EXPLODED.

Suhr: WE DO STUFF WITH
MAKE-A-WISH ALL THE TIME.

THIS WAS GONNA BE NO DIFFERENT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT'S IN A BLOG ON ONE DAY,

WHICH BECOMES ANOTHER DAY,

WHICH BECOMES A PHONE CALL
FROM THE EAST COAST,

WHICH BECOMES A PHONE CALL
FROM NORWAY,

WHICH BECOMES A RADIO CALL
FROM AUSTRALIA,

WHICH HAS A T-SHIRT CAMPAIGN,

AND EVERYBODY WONDERING,
"WHAT CAN I DO?"

Mayor Lee: THE CHIEF WAS SAYING,
"UH, MAYOR? I-I THINK

SOMETHING IS GROWING HERE
WITH THIS-WITH THIS

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION,
WITH, UH, MILES."

Pomponi:
I WAS ON REDDIT ONE NIGHT.

THERE WAS A LITTLE BLURB ABOUT
SAN FRANCISCO BECOMING GOTHAM

FOR A DAY FOR THIS LITTLE BOY
WHO, UM, HAD CANCER.

AND SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
JUST REALLY STRUCK A NERVE.

AND I REACHED OUT TO THEM,
AND JUST SAID, "YOU KNOW,

WE ARE A SAN FRANCISCO-BASED
SOCIAL MEDIA AGENCY,

IF YOU DON'T HAVE
A SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN,

WE'D LOVE TO PUT ONE TOGETHER
FOR YOU."

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AFTER THAT,

WE PRESENTED THEM WITH THE
SOCIAL MEDIA PLAN FOR #SFBatKid

OUR GOAL, ACTUALLY, WAS TO GET
THE LOCAL COMMUNITY EXCITED

AND TO SHOW UP
AND SUPPORT MILES.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THERE WAS A CROWD AROUND HIM

JUST CHEERING HIM ON.

WE HAVE A NETWORK OF SIXTY FIVE
HUNDRED WOMEN INFLUENCERS

WHO BLOG, WHO ARE ON INSTAGRAM,
ON TWITTER, ON FACEBOOK,

PINTEREST, AND, REALLY
ANY SOCIAL CHANNEL

WHERE WOMEN ARE INFLUENTIAL.

Patricia: I'M TALKING
TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,

AND THEY'RE ASKING ME HOW MANY
PEOPLE I THINK ARE COMING,

AND I SAID, "I HAVE NO IDEA."

LIKE, HOW DO I GET A SENSE?

I PUT UP AN RSVP FORM
ON OUR WEBSITE,

AND WE STARTED TWEETING
AND PUTTING ON FACEBOOK STATUS,

ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RSVP

SO WE'D HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MANY
PEOPLE WERE COMING.

WE WERE ADDING, MAYBE,
A THOUSAND PEOPLE OVERNIGHT,

AND FIFTEEN HUNDRED OR SO RSVPS
HAPPENING EVERY NIGHT.

Suhr: AND THEN,
KIND OF THE NEXT PIECE WAS,

THEY SAID THAT THEY GOT

SEVEN THOUSAND RESERVATIONS
FOR LUNCH AT THE BURGER BAR,

WHICH WAS IN THE ARTICLE
AS PART OF THE ITINERARY.

AND-AND THAT WAS A GAME CHANGER.

WE KNEW, UH, WE HAD A TIGER
BY THE TAIL.

Mayor Lee: THERE WERE
PREDICTIONS THAT WE'D HAVE

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE
AT CITY HALL.

MAKE-A-WISH, THIS IS JEN.

Jennifer: I'M USUALLY TRYING
TO PITCH STORIES

AND COME UP WITH A LOCAL ANGLE
FOR A LOCAL PAPER

OR PLAY UP ONE ASPECT
OF THE WISH THAT MIGHT, I THINK,

APPEAL TO THE PRESS.

UM, AND IN THIS CASE.

YEAH, WE HADN'T EVEN REALLY DONE
A PRESS RELEASE FOR THIS WISH.

Cooper: THERE WAS A LOT
OF FERVOR ONLINE.

A LOT OF COMMENTS.

PEOPLE REALLY STARTED, LIKE,
TALKING ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING'S BIG
IN THE NEWSROOM

WHEN THE JOURNALISTS

ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER
ABOUT IT.

LIKE, THEIR WATER-COOLER TALK
IS ABOUT THE NEWS STORY.

MY FRIENDS STARTED POSTING IT
ON FACEBOOK,

AND ONE OF THEM
MESSAGED ME AND SAID,

"SO IS GOTHAM CITY'S 'CHRONICLE'

GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
ABOUT THIS?"

AND I THOUGHT, "YES!
WE DEFINITELY SHOULD."

Taylor: IT'S INTERESTING
BEING A JOURNALIST.

ON THE ONE HAND,
YOU HAVE THIS DESIRE

TO COVER THINGS
IN A VERY NEUTRAL WAY,

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,

YOU REALLY WANNA USE
YOUR MEGAPHONE FOR GOOD.

UM, THIS WAS DEFINITELY A CASE
OF THE LATTER.

I WROTE A STORY ABOUT IT.

THE HEADLINE WAS SEVEN THOUSAND
STRANGERS COMING TOGETHER

TO MAKE, YOU KNOW,
ONE KID'S WISH COME TRUE.

BY THE NEXT DAY, I HAD TO CHANGE
THAT HEADLINE

TO TEN THOUSAND STRANGERS.

THAT STORY, I THINK, GOT SHARED
ABOUT FORTY THOUSAND TIMES.

Cooper: AT SOME POINT, WE HAD

A HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX REQUESTS
FOR INTERVIEWS,

AND THEY BECAME MORE
AND MORE EXCITED,

AND MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE.

Jennifer: INSTEAD OF US, KIND
OF, YEAH, CHASING THEM DOWN,

IT WAS THEM
TRYING TO CHASE US DOWN.

Patricia: SHE WALKED IN
AND SHUT MY DOOR ONE DAY,

AND I SAID,
"OH, DEAR GOD, NOW WHAT?"

AND SHE SAID, "THERE'S TV
CAMERAS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE LOBBY.

THEY WON'T LEAVE
UNTIL YOU COME DOWN."

CNN CALLING MY HOME.

Woman: PATRICIA WILSON
IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF THE SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER
OF MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION.

SO, PATRICIA,
YOU ASKED VOLUNTEERS

TO HELP MILES' WISH
COME TRUE.

GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT
THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN LIKE.

Patricia: YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE

THE RESPONSE
THAT WE'RE GETTING.

AND IT WARMS MY HEART HOW
COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE ARE.

AND THE CALLS COMING
FROM ALL OVER.

THE STORY'S BIG IN NORWAY
RIGHT NOW, APPARENTLY.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE FLYING IN
FOR THIS,

TO EXPERIENCE THIS,
SO IT IS...

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. PEOPLE ARE
FLYING INTO SAN FRANCISCO?

YES.

♪ THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING ♪

I WAS ON TWITTER SITTING
AT MY DESK IN THE MORNING.

I WAS A FEW BLOCKS FROM MY HOME
AND I HEARD AN NPR REPORT.

Van Auken:
WE HEARD ON THE RADIO

THAT THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT WANTING VOLUNTEERS

TO COME TO SAN FRANCISCO
FOR A FLASH MOB.

WHEN I SAW THAT FACE, I'M LIKE,
"I WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT."

IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS A BIG
MAGNET PULLING ME.

SO I BOOKED THE TICKET,
LIKE THAT NEXT DAY.

SO ABOUT FORTY MINUTES LATER,
WE HAD PURCHASED OUR TICKETS.

Van Auken:
WE'RE BOTH RETIRED.

WE JUST HAD TO FIND
SOMEBODY TO STAY WITH THE DOGS.

Patricia: THE NEXT WAVE
OF JUST SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE

WHO PHYSICALLY WANTED
TO COME TO SAN FRANCISCO,

IT WAS SCARY.
W-W-WHY ARE THEY COMING?

THINKING ABOUT
THAT MANY PEOPLE IN ONE SPOT,

AND THAT I'M TRYING
TO ORCHESTRATE AN EVENT.

WILL IT MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS?
WILL EVERYONE BE SAFE?

Suhr: WE ONLY HAVE
WHAT WE HAVE ON A GIVEN DAY,

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A BIG CITY

AND WE HAVE A LOT
OF POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ANOMALY,

YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONTINGENCY
PLAN THAT'S SCALABLE,

BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE COME.

AND IN THIS INSTANCE

WE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

IS THIS REALLY WHAT MILES
AND HIS FAMILY WOULD WANT?

IS IT RIGHT FOR THE FAMILY?

Natalie: WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT
IT. WE WENT TO IDAHO.

OUT OF CELL PHONE SERVICE.

OUR PHONES JUST STARTED
BLOWING UP ON THE WAY HOME.

NICK'S AUNT CALLED AND SAID
THAT THERE WAS A ARTICLE

IN THE "HUFFINGTON" NEWSPAPER
DOWN IN SAN FRANCISCO,

AND..."HUFFINGTON POST,"
I THINK IT IS?

WHERE DID I GO FOR A WEEK? YOU
KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S...

THE WORLD'S UPSIDE DOWN.

WHAT DID WE-WHAT DID WE GET
OURSELVES INTO?

Natalie: AND I STARTED GETTING
EMAILS FROM PATRICIA.

"WELL, THERE'S GONNA BE
ELEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE THERE."

AND WE'RE LIKE, "WHAT?"

WE WERE JUST ALL-JUST KIND
OF TERRIFIED, LIKE...

AND THEN LIKE, THE NEXT WEEK,

"OH, WELL, ACTUALLY
THIRTEEN THOUSAND."

ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP,
AND OUR SON IS SO SHY.

Natalie: HE'S NOT USED TO BEING
AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE,

'CAUSE HE'S NOT--
I MEAN, HE GOES TO SCHOOL,

BUT, IF SOMEONE WERE TO ASK HIM
TO DO SOMETHING

IN FRONT OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE,
HE-HE GETS EMBARRASSED.

Nick: THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE ARE COMING

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE
REALLY DISAPPOINTED,

'CAUSE HE'S GONNA SEE THAT
AND BOLT.

Natalie: PATRICIA'S LIKE,
"OH, WE'LL JUST WING IT.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHIN' HAPPENS,

THEN WE'LL JUST KINDA PLAY OFF
OF IT. AND IT'LL BE FINE."

SO SHE JUST KINDA NIPPED THAT
RIGHT IN THE BUNS.

TWO WEEKS OUT WAS JUST PANIC.

IT WAS OUT OF CONTROL.
NO ONE WAS SLEEPING.

I JUST SOBBED ON MY BIKE RIDE
TO WORK EVERY DAY.

Patricia: SHEER ADRENALINE
IS W-HOW WE SURVIVED.

Pomponi: WE NORMALLY
TAKE THREE WEEKS

TO PLAN AND BUILD UP TO PROGRAMS

THAT ARE GONNA START
KIND OF, THREE WEEKS LATER.

WE STARTED JUST
ASSIGNING PEOPLE.

LIKE, "YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF
THE GIFTS THAT ARE COMING IN."

"YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF FIELDING
REQUESTS FOR MORE BATMOBILES."

I-I THINK AT THE END
OF THE DAY,

FOURTEEN CARS, INCLUDING
LAMBORGHINI OFFERING CARS.

AND I WAS LIKE,
"WE'RE SET. WE'RE ALL GOOD."

IT WAS UNNERVING TO THINK
THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE COMING

AND-AND THAT WE WERE GONNA BE
UNDER A MICROSCOPE.

Jutan:
IT WAS NOT LOST ON ME AT ALL

THAT THEY WERE ENTRUSTING US
WITH SOMETHING HUGELY IMPORTANT.

IT JUST SEEMED OBVIOUS THAT
SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD SEE THIS.

AND THEN, PEOPLE WOULD THEN
WANNA VOLUNTEER MORE.

AND THAT MORE KIDS
WOULD BE REFERRED.

AND THEY COULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE WISHES.

EJ: IT'S LIKE WE'RE ORGANIZING
A STAGE PRODUCTION

THAT'S HUGE,

WHERE THE LEAD CHARACTER
DOESN'T KNOW HE'S IN IT,

HAS NEVER BEEN TO A REHEARSAL
AND IS FIVE.

RIGHT.
SO WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

THERE WAS A LOT
TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

WELL, HIS STORY HAS GONE VIRAL

WITH FOLKS FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD CHEERING HIM ON.

Jennifer:
A WEEK BEFORE THE WISH,

WHEN WE REALIZED THAT
WE WERE OUT OF OUR LEAGUE,

IN TERMS OF MEDIA

AND THE DEMANDS
OF THE SOCIALLY VIRAL STORY,

HOW FORTUNATE WERE WE

THAT WE JUST HAD
A NEW BOARD MEMBER JOIN

THAT WAS THE, YOU KNOW,

TOP CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
PERSON AT APPLE?

Cotton:
I'VE DONE BIG EVENTS.

AND I'VE DONE PR. AND I'VE DONE
FOR NONPROFIT

AND MANY DIFFERENT STARTUPS
AND MANY DIFFERENT COMPANIES

AND SO I'M USED TO THAT.

I-I ALSO MANAGE CRISIS
COMMUNICATIONS, AND SO--

NOT THAT IT WAS A CRISIS.
IT WAS CERTAINLY A BIT OF CHAOS.

AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO SAID,
"I'M GONNA PUT A--

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MY TEAM
FOR THE WEEK."

AND SO, OF COURSE, WE ALL WANTED
TO BURST INTO TEARS

WE WERE SO RELIEVED.

SOMEWHERE IN THERE,
TWITTER CALLED ME.

I THINK I FOUND IT ON TWITTER.

AND I SWEAR I STARTED TEARING UP
AFTER READING MILES'S STORY.

IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT
TO PATRICIA.

"OH, I WORK FOR TWITTER, SO I
WORK IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SPACE.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO
ON MY OWN TO SUPPORT THIS DAY

AND TO USE THE SKILLS
THAT I HAVE?"

WHICH IS BASICALLY A PASSION
FOR-FOR TWEETING

AND-AND AND CREATING CONTENT IN
A HUNDRED AND FORTY CHARACTERS.

UM, AND SHE STOPPED ME
RIGHT THERE, AND SHE SAID,

"WE DON'T DO A GREAT JOB
AT TWITTER."

UM, "WHY DON'T YOU TAKE OVER

THE AT-SFWISH TWITTER HANDLE
FOR THE DAY?

RIDE ON THE CARAVAN
AND JUST DOCUMENT THE DAY

AND PUSH OUT UPDATES
ON TWITTER?"

I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN IDEA

THAT I WANTED TO TWEET A WISH
IN REAL-TIME.

AND THIS WISH WOULD
REALLY LEND ITSELF TO IT

BECAUSE I HAD ALL THE VIDEO
IN THE CAN ALREADY.

SO THAT PEOPLE COULD SEE IT
IN REAL-TIME

AS MILES WAS SEEING IT.

IT SOUNDS GREAT.
SIGN ME UP.

AND I THOUGHT THAT IF I DID IT
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA,

FEWER PEOPLE WOULD FEEL THE NEED

TO PHYSICALLY COME
TO SAN FRANCISCO.

AND THAT WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CITY.

De Jesus: I TOLD MY TEAM, YOU'RE
ALL TAKING THE AFTERNOON OFF

ON THAT DAY,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO CITY HALL.

AND YOU'RE GOING
TO SUPPORT THIS KID.

I MEAN ADAM WEST CALLED.

HANS ZIMMER,
THE COMPOSER, CALLED.

HI, MILES. I THOUGHT I'LL WRITE
A LITTLE TRACK FOR YOU.

HERE WE GO.

WE'D BEEN WORKING ON AND OFF
ON OUR BATMAN TRILOGY

FOR ABOUT NINE YEARS
BY THIS POINT.

HOW DID I GET TO BATMAN?

BECAUSE I WAS A FAN AS A KID.

WHY IT RESONATED WITH ME
PERSONALLY

WAS BECAUSE HERE WAS A KID
WHO SAW BEYOND THE CONFINES

OF WHATEVER THE POSSIBILITIES
WAS.

HERE WAS A KID WHO HAD A DREAM,
AND HE WAS GOING,

"OKAY, I WANT TO HAVE
THIS DREAM HAPPEN."

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT,

"IF HE WANTS TO GO
AND CREATE THIS WORLD,

WE SHOULD GO
AND SUPPORT THIS WORLD."

THE PART YOU GUYS ARE MISSING
IS YOU'RE MISSING THE SCORE.

SO LET ME JUST-- LET ME JUST GO
AND FILL IN THE GAP HERE.

I FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO TO.

JUST SHOOT IT ON AN iPHONE AS
OPPOSED TO DO A BIG PRODUCTION.

THE WHOLE THING WAS ABOUT,
YOU KNOW,

"HEY, LET'S JUST GET TOGETHER
AND JUST LET'S DO THIS.

LET'S JUST JAM." IN A WEIRD WAY,
WHAT MILES DID, OF COURSE,

BY SAYING "I WANT THIS.
I-I WANT TO BE THIS"

HE GOT A WHOLE CITY
TO SORT OF JAM,

AND THAT'S A-
THAT'S A VERY NATURAL THING

THAT HAPPENS TO MUSICIANS.

AND I THOUGHT, "YEAH, IF YOU
POINT YOUR BAT-CALL SIGNAL

UP INTO THE SKY, I'LL BE THERE."

AND THERE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN
PERSONALIZED BAT-CALL.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

WE'D LAUGH AND SAY, "WHO'S GONNA
CALL NEXT? WHAT, THE PRESIDENT?"

Natalie: WE DIDN'T TELL HIM
ANYTHING ABOUT THE WISH.

ALL WE TOLD HIM WAS THAT, WE'RE
GONNA GO TO SAN FRANCISCO

AND YOU MIGHT BE GETTING
A NEW COSTUME.

'CAUSE THAT'S THE MAIN THING.

WHEN HE WANTS TO DRESS UP
OR DO SOMETHING,

IT'S, LIKE, IT'S ALL
ABOUT THE COSTUME.

AND IF IT'S NOT PERFECT,
THEN IT'S A BIG ISSUE.

THE BATKID ARMOR WAS ACTUALLY
BUILT BY A DAD

FOR HIS OWN KID.

John: YOU TAKE A STEP
INSIDE OF IT LIKE THAT.

James: WE MADE A HALLOWEEN
COSTUME IN OUR FRONT YARD.

IT TOOK A VERY LONG TIME
TO MAKE IT.

MY DAD, UM, WENT ON FACEBOOK.

John: MY FRIEND TARA
POSTED A LINK

TO THE UPCOMING BATKID THING,

AND WE REALLY GOT MOVED
BY THE STORY.

I-I ASKED JAMES IF WE COULD
JUST LET HIM BORROW IT.

AND I KIND OF EXPLAIN CANCER
AND WHAT IT DOES

AND, UM, HE KINDA JUST SAID, AT
THAT POINT, THAT HE CAN KEEP IT.

I'M JUST HAPPY
THAT MILES HAS IT NOW.

Patricia: THE ADULT COSTUME
WAS A BIT TRICKIER.

EJ: WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
THE COSTUMES,

AND WE JUST COULDN'T FIGURE OUT

HOW TO GET
A GOOD-LOOKING COSTUME.

I SAID, "WELL, IT'S OKAY. PEOPLE
AREN'T GONNA BE LOOKIN' AT ME.

THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKIN'
AT MILES."

AND SUE SAID,
"HE'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT YOU."

AND I WENT, "OH. YEAH,
WE GOTTA FIX THE COSTUME."

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD FRIENDS
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO OPERA.

AND THEY SAID, "PROJECT
SOUNDS REALLY FUN.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO,
LET ME KNOW."

AND SO WE DID.

Verdosci: SO WHAT I NEXT DID
WAS DID SOME RESEARCH.

UM, NOT THAT I HAD TO DO
TOO MUCH, BECAUSE,

UH, I OWN EVERY BATMAN ARKHAM
VIDEO GAME EVER CREATED.

UH, AND I-AND I GREW UP
ON THE ADAM WEST SHOW.

SO IT WAS REALLY FUN
TO SORT OF DO THE RESEARCH

AS FAR AS WHAT THEIR LOOK WAS
IN THE SIXTIES,

VERSUS WHAT THEIR LOOK WAS
IN THE NINETIES,

VERSUS WHAT
THEIR MODERN LOOK WAS.

THE BATMAN COSTUME ITSELF

IS-IS A LITTLE MORE
THE MODERN VERSION.

HE PURCHASED THE COSTUME.
THE DELUXE, EXPENSIVE VERSION.

AND IT NEEDED A LOTTA WORK.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WHAT WE REALLY ENDED UP USING

WAS THE HOOD, THE BREASTPLATE,
AND THE GAUNTLETS.

THE, SORT OF, BREASTPLATE WAS
A MOLDED LATEX BREASTPLATE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SORT OF
MOLDED IN,

"THIS WILL FIT
THIS SIZE TO THIS SIZE."

AND SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS IT
JUST-IT WAS A LITTLE OVERSIZED.

IT HAD THESE MOLDED PECTORALS
THAT WERE COLLAPSING.

PADDED IT OUT.
WE ALTERED IT.

WE MADE IT FIT HIM PERFECTLY.
THE PENGUIN WAS EASY.

"I'M GONNA BRING OUT
A SET OF MONOCLES."

HE'S LIKE, "NOW DON'T LOSE THIS

'CAUSE THE OPERA HOUSE
DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONOCLES."

I MEAN, THE PENGUIN
IS IN AN OPERA COSTUME.

SO I WAS LIKE, "OKAY.
I THINK I LIKE THIS ONE.

AND I WAS TRYING TO GET IT IN
AND IT KEPT POPPING OUT."

Verdosci:
THE PENGUIN'S IN A TAIL SUIT,

WITH GRAY-STRIPED TROUSERS
AND SPATS.

I'VE PROBABLY GOT THREE HUNDRED
OF THOSE DOWNSTAIRS.

Jutan: THIS CRAZY TUXEDO

THAT SOMEBODY'S WORN
ON SOME "CARMINA BURANA" THING

OR SOMETHING.

[ OPERA MUSIC PLAYING ]

THE RIDDLER WAS
A LOT TRICKIER.

I HAD STEERED THEM
IN THE DIRECTION

OF A REALLY CRAZY
LIME GREEN SATIN SUIT

THAT WE COULD BUY.

AND MY THEORY WAS,

"OH, WE'LL JUST PRINT
THE QUESTION MARKS ON IT.

IT'LL BE SO FAST."

WELL, THAT HOUR OF PRINTING
QUESTION MARKS

TURNED INTO TWO DAYS.

THEY HAD SOME MASSIVE OPERA SHOW
I THINK, THE WEEK OF.

AND SO THEY WERE SUPER BUSY.

Verdosci:
WE WERE OPENING AND PERFORMING

THREE TO FOUR DIFFERENT
PRODUCTIONS.

BECAUSE WE PERFORM IN REP,

IT'S A DIFFERENT PRODUCTION
EACH NIGHT.

EJ:
DURING THEIR BUSIEST SEASON

THEY PULLED ALL-NIGHTERS
TO GET OUR STUFF TOGETHER.

Verdosci: THOSE OF US
THAT WORKED ON THIS

DID THIS ON OUR OWN TIME,
AFTER WORK, IN THE EVENINGS.

THERE WAS NO WAY WE WERE NOT
GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

I ALMOST
PUT MORE EFFORT INTO IT

BECAUSE IT WAS GONNA BE SUCH
A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR MILES.

WHEN YOU'RE WORKING
WITH EMOTION AS WELL,

IT KIND OF TAKES OVER

AND YOU REALIZE HOW PERFECT
YOU WANT EVERYTHING TO BE.

AND HONESTLY, MY EXPECTATION
WAS, "GREAT. DONE.

MOVING ON TO THE REP.

UH, I'LL PROBABLY NEVER
EVEN HEAR ABOUT THIS."

EJ: SO TWO DAYS BEFORE THE
EVENT, I BROKE THE PROJECTOR.

THE PROJECTOR,
WHICH IS, YOU KNOW,

THE SHOOT-THE-MESSAGES-
FROM-MY-ARM-OUT-ONTO-THE-WALL.

THE LITTLE COMPUTER
THAT RUNS THE THING

JUST STOPPED WORKING.

LIKE, STOPPED WORKING
IRRECOVERABLY.

MILES WILL NEVER KNOW
THAT IT WAS MISSING, RIGHT?

WE'LL HAVE A PHONE AND WE'LL SEE
THE POLICE CHIEF'S MESSAGE.

AND MY WHOLE LIFE, I WILL KNOW
THAT I COULD'VE MADE IT BETTER.

I PLACED A NEW ORDER.

ON A WHIM, I SENT AN EMAIL
LATE AT NIGHT TO THE COMPANY

THAT MAKES THE LITTLE COMPUTER
I HAD FRIED.

"WE'RE DOING THIS BATMAN PROJECT
FOR MAKE-A-WISH.

AND IF YOU COULD SHIP IT
NEXT DAY,

THAT'D BE GREAT."

AND IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK.

THE CEO OF GUMSTIX, THE COMPANY
THAT MAKES THIS LITTLE COMPUTER

CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY
AND HE SAID:

"I'M HAVING ONE
COURIERED OUT TO YOU TODAY.

I THINK THE PROJECT
SOUNDS GREAT.

IT SOUNDS REALLY COOL. HERE.

TAKE THIS ONE AND SEE
IF YOU CAN MAKE IT WORK."

TESTING, TEST.
TESTING. TESTING.

Man: SO, WHAT-WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO?

GONNA BE BATMAN.

Daetz: I MET HIM, ACTUALLY,
THE NIGHT BEFORE

AND I DID AN INTERVIEW
JUST AS A PREVIEW STORY

TO AIR ON OUR AIR
SO PEOPLE COULD SEE

WHAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING
THE NEXT DAY.

Daetz: YOUR WISH
WAS TO BE BATMAN?

YEAH.

WHY DO YOU LIKE BATMAN
SO MUCH?

BECAUSE HE'S
MY FAVORITE SUPERHERO.

Daetz: VERY QUIET, VERY-- KIND
OF SHY. YOU KNOW, TALKS TO DAD.

Nick: HI, MILES.

HI, MIL-- DAD.

ARE YOU ON
YOUR MAKE-A-WISH TRIP?

YEAH.

COOL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

UH...GO EAT DINNER.

THAT'S WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO?

UH-HUH.

THAT'S WHAT
YOU WANT TO DO?

UH-HUH.

THREE O'CLOCK
IN THE AFTERNOON.

AW.

WHAT ABOUT CLAYTON?

YOGURT.

LOOK HOW PRETTY
MOMMY LOOKS. MOMMY.

Clovicko: YOU WANNA SHOW
EVERYBODY ELSE

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE?

THIS IS JUST SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT--

Natalie: WOW.

WHOA.

ARE YOU GONNA READ IT ALL
TO US, BUDDY?

THAT WAS JUST--

Natalie: WHAT DO YOU HAVE,
MILES?

BATMAN?

OH, I THINK CLAYTON
LIKES YOUR BATMAN.

BATMAN?

OH, I THINK CLAYTON
LIKES YOUR BATMAN.

CLAYTON, WHAT DO YOU GOT?

BA-BA.

Man: HOW'S THINGS
IN SAN FRANCISCO SO FAR?

Nick: HECTIC.

BUSY.

BUSY. BUSY SCHEDULE.

Jennifer:
THE FAMILY WAS ARRIVING IN TOWN

AND THE MEDIA FOUND OUT
ABOUT IT.

Natalie: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
TODAY, MILES?

UM, PLAY.

THERE WAS ONE PARTICULAR STATION

THAT WAS REALLY DESPERATE
TO GET B-ROLL FOOTAGE

OF THE FAMILY.

THE REPORTER SAID,
"DON'T MAKE ME CHASE THEM

AND I'LL SPEND THE NEXT TWO DAYS
TRYING TO FIND THEM."

AND WHEN I HEARD THAT, IT REALLY
SENT CHILLS THROUGH ME.

THIS WAS A LITTLE FAMILY THAT
WAS COMING HERE FOR THEIR WISH,

AND YET THERE WAS THIS POTENTIAL
FOR THEM

TO BE HOUNDED BY THE MEDIA
IN A WAY

THAT WOULD NOT ONLY
SPOIL THE WISH,

BUT WOULD JUST BE AN ABSOLUTELY
SORT OF TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILD.

HEY, I MEAN THAT ONE.

YOU THINK BATMAN LIVES
IN THAT ONE?

YEAH.

AND SO I KNEW THAT WE HAD
TO REALLY BE CAREFUL.

ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO GO
TO THE CIRCUS CENTER

AND DO TRICKS?

CAN DO SOME TRAINING
TONIGHT.

OH, TODAY IS
THE CIRCUS CEN-- CENTER.

NO? IT IS.

ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT,
OR ARE YOU TOO TIRED?

YOU GOTTA GO TRAIN
TO BE BATMAN.

SINCE WE HAVE THIS CIRCUS SCHOOL
IN SAN FRANCISCO

AND IT'S GREAT, I ASKED THEM,

"CAN WE DO HIS BATMAN TRAINING
THE DAY BEFORE THE EVENT?"

THEY SAID, "ABSOLUTELY, YES."

WHAT WE'VE GOT
IS PENGUIN'S OBSTACLE COURSE.

WHAT HE HAS DONE IS
TO RIG THE BALLPARK

SO THAT THE FLOOR IS ELECTRIFIED

AND IF BATMAN AND BATKID
TOUCH THE FLOOR,

THEY'LL GET ELECTRIFIED
FOR SURE.

AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT. SO...

ALL OF THIS BEHIND US IS
GOING TO BE WHAT THE PENGUIN

HAS PUT OUT TO GIVE BATKID
THE CHALLENGE OF HIS LIFE.

SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, IF HE'S
GOING TO GET SUPERHERO TRAINING,

SHOULDN'T MILES BE TRAINING
WITH OTHER SUPERHEROES?"

EJ:
ALL OF THE ACROBATS

WHO NORMALLY TRAIN THERE
ON THURSDAYS

CAME IN DRESSED AS SUPERHEROES.

Kendall: COSTUMES ON HAIGHT, THE
COSTUME SHOP DOWN THE STREET,

UH, VERY GENEROUSLY LOANED US
THE COSTUMES FOR FREE.

EJ: THEY WERE
RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME.

Kendall:
RIGHT AS HE CAME IN THE DOOR,

THE FLASH JUST SORT OF
WALKED BY, YOU KNOW,

VERY CASUALLY INTO THE MAIN GYM.

AND HE STARED
AND HE LOOKED UP AT HIS MOM

AND HE SAID,
"THAT WAS THE FLASH."

HE WAS JUST LIKE,
BESIDE HIMSELF.

Kendall: 'CAUSE WE WANTED HIM
TO JUST SORT OF FEEL LIKE,

WELL, THIS IS
JUST NORMAL, RIGHT?

THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE
REGULAR PEOPLE GET TRAINING

TO BE ABLE TO BE SUPERHEROES.

UM, AND SO WE HAD OTHER PEOPLE

JUST WALKING AROUND
IN REGULAR CLOTHES, RIGHT,

OBVIOUSLY,
DOING THEIR REGULAR TRAINING.

HE WASN'T DRESSED
IN SUPERHERO CLOTHES YET,

EJ WAS NOT
IN SUPERHERO CLOTHES YET,

BUT HE UNDERSTOOD
THAT THIS WAS PART

OF HOW YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN,
IS THAT DREAMS COME TRUE

SOMETIMES
WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK.

EJ: SO WE WERE GONNA TRY
AND TEACH HIM

SOME SUPERHERO MOVES,

TEACH HIM TO FALL,
AND SOME STUNTS.

HE WOULD MAKE THE "HIYAH!"
SOUND AS HE WAS JUMPING DOWN.

I MEAN, HE WAS VERY MUCH INTO
CONNECTING IT WITH THE IDEA

THAT HE WAS FIGHTING CRIME.

EJ: TO KIND OF GET HIM
COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA

OF ACTUALLY BEING BATMAN, WE SET
UP AN OBSTACLE COURSE

AND THEN
EVERYTHING THAT HE LIKED,

WE TRANSPLANTED THE NEXT DAY
TO THE BALLPARK

SO THAT WHEN HE GOT THERE
AND THE PENGUIN IS SCARY

AND THERE'S FIRE
AND THERE'S ALL THIS STUFF,

THE PENGUIN'S EVIL TRAP
IS FAMILIAR.

WHILE WE WERE GIVING HIM
HIS BATMAN ACROBAT LESSON,

HE AND I GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER
WAY BETTER.

WE HADN'T REALLY MET FOR
MORE THAN AN HOUR BEFORE THAT.

DURING THAT EVENT,

I SHOWED HIM THE SECRET
ACROBAT HANDSHAKE.

THERE ACTUALLY IS A SECRET
ACROBAT HANDSHAKE.

YOU KIND OF GRASP FOREARMS
LIKE THAT,

BECAUSE IN FLYING TRAPEZE AND
OTHER ACROBATIC DISCIPLINES,

THAT'S HOW YOU HANG ON
TO SOMEONE WITHOUT LOSING 'EM.

THEY DIDN'T TELL HIM I WAS GOING
TO BE BATMAN THE NEXT DAY.

Kendall: AND BECAUSE HE HAD
SUCH GREAT ENERGY,

AND IT WAS GOING SO WELL, AT
THE END OF THE NIGHT WE THOUGHT,

"WELL,
LET'S SEE IF HE WANTS TO FLY.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A SUPERHERO.
A LOT OF THEM FLY, RIGHT?"

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS
LITTLE KID CLIMBS THAT LADDER

UP TO THAT BOARD...

Natalie:
I JUST DIDN'T LIKE IT

'CAUSE I'M REALLY SCARED
OF HEIGHTS.

I DON'T LIKE FLYING, I DON'T
LIKE THE FERRIS WHEEL.

Kendall: ...TOOK A HOLD
OF THAT WHITE BAR

AND TOOK A SWING
ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Woman: NOW, THAT'S A SUPERHERO,
RIGHT THERE.

Man: ALL RIGHT!

EJ: THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A PRETTY GOOD MAKE-A-WISH DAY.

I KNOW IF-IF NONE OF THE REST
OF IT HAD GONE AS PLANNED,

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS
AT THAT POINT.

Miles: WHAT? WHAT, A-WHAT?

Nick: WHAT DO YOU THINK,
BUD?

GO EAT LUNCH?

Nick: AT NINE O'CLOCK WE WERE
TOLD TO PUT IN THE DVD

OF THE WHOLE NEWSCAST THING.

GO EAT LUNCH.

YOU WANNA GO EAT LUNCH?

GO EAT LUNCH.

YOU WANNA GO EAT LUNCH?

YOU KNOW, NATALIE AND I
ARE SITTIN' THERE

AND WATCHING OUR WATCHES.

OKAY, NOW WE'VE GOT TO PUT IT
ON, AND WE SCREWED UP THE--

ENDED UP TURNING THE TV OFF,
AND LIKE, OH.

Reporter: ABC SEVEN NEWS
STARTS RIGHT NOW

WITH LIVE BREAKING NEWS.

WHOA. MILES.

Natalie: WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT'S THIS? COME HERE.

Natalie: WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT'S THIS? COME HERE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE,
I'M AMA DAETZ.

OH, DID YOU MEET HER
YESTERDAY?

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE,
I'M AMA DAETZ.

OH, DID YOU MEET HER
YESTERDAY?

WE BEGIN THIS MORNING'S
BROADCAST WITH BREAKING NEWS

FROM SAN FRANCISCO'S
HALL OF JUSTICE.

YEAH. HI THERE.

FROM SAN FRANCISCO'S
HALL OF JUSTICE.

YEAH. HI THERE.

POLICE CHIEF GREG SUHR CALLED
AN IMPROMPTU PRESS CONFERENCE

WHERE HE ISSUED
A VERY URGENT MESSAGE

ASKING THAT ANYONE
WITH KNOWLEDGE

OF THE CAPED CRUSADER'S
WHEREABOUTS

TO PLEASE CONTACT

SAN FRANCISCO'S
HALL OF JUSTICE IMMEDIATELY.

GOTHAM CITY NEEDS YOU, BATMAN.

THIS IS POLICE CHIEF GREG SUHR,

ONLY HOPING
YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE.

IT'S CRITICAL THAT YOU CALL ME
RIGHT NOW.

YES.

WE HAVE A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS,

YES.

WE HAVE A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS,

BUT THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING,
BATMAN.

PLEASE, CAPED CRUSADER,
WE NEED YOU.

AND BRING THE BATKID!

Daetz: IN OTHER NEWS,
THE GOVERNOR SAID--

BATKID?

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SHOW UP
IMMEDIATELY ONCE IT WAS OVER,

BUT THERE WAS LIKE
A FIVE-MINUTE DELAY,

AND WE'RE JUST LIKE,
"DOOT DOOT DOO."

Clayton: STOP!

TELL COMMISSIONER GORDON.

Clayton: STOP!

TELL COMMISSIONER GORDON.

COMMISSIONER GORDON?

MM-HM.

YOU GONNA GO TELL HIM?
WELL, HOLD ON.

WE'RE NOT READY
TO GO YET.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK, MILES?

[ YELLING ]
WHAT?

AND THEN FINALLY
SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

GOOD MORNING. THE POLICE CHIEF
SAYS THERE'S TROUBLE.

YOU'D BETTER GET DRESSED.

WHOA.

WE'VE GOT SOME ARMOR FOR YOU

AND THERE'S QUITE
AN ADVENTURE AHEAD.

DID YOU PRACTICE?

YEAH.

DID YOU PRACTICE?

YEAH.

DID YOU PRACTICE SOME
ACROBAT TRAINING YESTERDAY?

YEAH.

GOOD. YOU'LL NEED IT.

AND YOUR ARMOR
IS ON BACKWARDS.

OR "BAT-WARDS,"
AS WE SAY.

Patricia:
AS SOON AS HE SAW THAT

I MEAN, HE JUST STARTED
STRIPPING DOWN.

I GOT BATMAN SOCKS.

YOU DO.

I GOT BATMAN SOCKS.

YOU DO.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

Natalie: YOU WANT TO TAKE
THIS SHIRT OFF?

YOU'RE STARTING
TO LOOK LIKE BATMAN.

AS SOON AS WE PUT IT ALL ON HIM
AND IT FIT.

OH, YOU LOOK GREAT.

YOU KNOW I'M A MOM,
RIGHT? I CAN'T HELP IT.

I LOOK AT IT
AND THE CAPE IS WRINKLED.

WELL, I CAN'T HAVE
A WRINKLED BATMAN,

SO I ASKED THE HYATT
FOR A STEAMER.

AND I'M STEAMING, AND...

IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE
ONCE HE PUT ON THE COSTUME,

IT WAS LIKE, HE JUST DID THIS.

HE'S-HE'S JUST LIKE...

WOW. OH, MY GOD.

I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU.
WHERE IS MILES?

AND I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID,
"WHO ARE YOU?"

AND HE SAID, "BATMAN."
AND SO IT WAS LIKE, "YES!"

THEN THEY DO THE HANDSHAKE.

I SAID, YOU KNOW,
"SECRET ACROBAT HANDSHAKE."

HE DI-DID THAT, AND HE KIND OF
WENT, "WAIT A MINUTE!"

YOU COULD JUST SEE HIS EYES
JUST, LIKE, LIGHT UP,

AND-AND HE CLICKED,
LIKE, "I KNOW YOU."

SO HE JUST FOLLOWED EJ,
AND HE'S GOT HIS STRUT ON AND--

Suhr:
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,

HE WAS A MINIATURE JOHN WAYNE.

I MEAN, HE WALKS LIKE
HE WEIGHS TWO-TWENTY.

Nick: YES! YEAH.

IT'S BATKID!

Nick: NATALIE AND I ARE LOOKING
AT EACH OTHER LIKE,

"WHO IS THIS KID?" YOU KNOW.
HE'S NOT OURS,

'CAUSE OURS WOULD BE LIKE,
"HM-MM."

Patricia:
AS WE'RE BEING ESCORTED
INTO THEIR LOADING DOCK,

WHICH WAS THE BATCAVE, AND I CAN
SEE THIS PICTURE OF BATKID

NEXT TO HIS LITTLE BROTHER
WHO WAS DRESSED AS ROBIN.

AND IT WAS MAKING ME
ALREADY CHOKE UP.

IT WAS REALLY HAPPENING.

[ APPLAUSE ]

[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]

Natalie: THERE GOES MILES...
IN THE BATMOBILE.

I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WELL,
HE NEEDS A CAR SEAT

BECAUSE THERE'S
A LOT OF COPS AROUND,

AND HE NEEDS A CAR SEAT."

AND THEN I JUST MADE
A BIG POINT TO EJ,

LIKE, "JUST PLEASE, YOU KNOW,
LIKE, THIS IS MY SON,

THERE'S ALL THESE PEOPLE, DO NOT
TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF HIM."

HE'S LIKE,
"WELL, YEAH. OF COURSE."

I MEAN, HE'S BATMAN. OF COURSE
HE'D TAKE CARE OF BATKID.

Patricia: I WALK UP OUT OF
THE LOADING DOCK, THE BATCAVE,

AND THAT WAS A MOMENT
OF JUST SHEER...

I-I DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW TO DESCRIBE.

I MEAN, 'CAUSE THEN I HEAR
THE HELICOPTERS OVER,

AND THERE'S
THREE NEWS HELICOPTERS.

AND I SEE THE MASS OF THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

AT A PLACE THAT I DIDN'T THINK
ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO BE.

SO I CAN FEEL LIKE I CAN'T--
THERE'S NO AIR.

I CAN'T BREATHE. AND I LOOK
AT THE AMOUNT OF POLICE

AND THE WHOLE UNION SQUARE
IS SHUT DOWN JUST TO SEE

A LAMBORGHINI
COME OUT OF A GARAGE.

YOU KNOW, WOW.

[ CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING ]

Nick: ALL THESE PEOPLE
AREN'T AT WORK TODAY.

THEY TOOK OFF TO COME WATCH
OUR SON PARADE AROUND TOWN.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE,
"THIS IS INSANE."

THIS IS INSANE.

Natalie: AND THEN
ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS,

YOU KNOW,
ARE, "OH, THIS IS INSANE."

AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, I KNOW.
PLEASE QUIT TELLING ME."

Patricia: THAT WAS THE MOMENT
KIND OF WHERE YOU JUST GO,

"OH, BOY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A LONG DAY.

I JUST HOPE I SURVIVE IT,
AND EVERYONE ELSE DOES, TOO."

THERE'S NO WAY
TO PREPARE YOURSELF

FOR WHIPPING THROUGH
SAN FRANCISCO

WITH A POLICE ESCORT
IN A LAMBORGHINI

FOLLOWING ANOTHER SUPERHERO WITH
PEOPLE LINED UP ON THE SIDEWALKS

IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD CHEERING.

EVERY PERSON WE PASSED
WAS SMILING, WAS HAPPY.

EJ: IT MADE ME
KIND OF DEEP-DOWN HAPPY.

I REALIZED THAT NOBODY
EVER GETS TO DO THIS.

I JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

YEAH. HE'S LIKE,
"I HAVE TO RESCUE HER."

Clovicko: WE HAD JUST REALLY
ASKED FOR THE PARKING

AND FOR ONE STREET
TO BE SHUT DOWN.

WE LEARNED THEN THAT THE COPS

DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN
ALL THE STREETS.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PARADE ROUTE,
BASICALLY.

AND-AND THEY DID THAT
BECAUSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE COPS KEPT BEING LIKE,
"WE NEED MORE YAMAHAS,"

AND THEY KEPT BRINGING IN MORE
AND MORE OF THEIR MOTORCYCLES.

Suhr: SO ALL THE MOTORCYCLE
OFFICERS ARE CALLING ME, SAYING,

"I'LL COME IN FOR FREE."

AND THE GUYS THAT WERE THERE,
WHEN WE SAID,

"HEY, THERE IS NO OVERTIME"?
"WE'RE GOOD, WE'LL JUST STAY."

THE FEELING ON THE STREET
WAS ELECTRIC.

IT WAS ELECTRIC.

IT WAS LIKE A REALLY NICE,
LOVELY, COMMUNAL FEELING

THAT, LIKE, I'VE NEVER FELT.
IT WAS, LIKE, PALPABLE.

Van Auken: YOU COULD FEEL
THE ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR.

WE ARE TOTALLY HERE
TO SEE BATKID TODAY.

BATKID!

Woman: SAVING OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY
OF SAN FRANCISCO.

BATKID!

Woman: SAVING OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY
OF SAN FRANCISCO.

Man: NO, GOTHAM.

WE WOULDN'T MISS THIS
FOR THE WORLD.

Man #2: WELL, BATKID,
YOU'VE DONE IT TO ME.

I-I'VE COME TO TURN MYSELF IN.

WE NEED MORE
SUPERHEROES.

BATKID!

All: BATKID!

All: BATKID!

Man #3:
NICELY DONE, EVERYONE!

OUR FIRST STOP AT THE CABLE CAR
WAS KIND OF CHAOTIC.

Taylor:
I SEE THEM SITTING IN THE CAR,

I'M LIKE, "OH,
THIS ISN'T SO BAD.

THERE'S A SMALL CROWD
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET."

THEN I REALIZE WE'RE ACTUALLY
TWO OR THREE BLOCKS AWAY

FROM WHERE THE CABLE CAR RESCUE
IS GONNA HAPPEN.

I TOOK A FEW PICTURES OF THAT.

THAT WAS AS CLOSE AS I GOT
TO HIM ALL DAY.

Martel: BATKID HAD BEEN
CALLED OUT TO HELP

WHAT THEY WERE CALLING
A "DAMSEL IN DISTRESS."

THIS YOUNG WOMAN
WAS TIED TO A BOMB.

Sue: I HAVE ADVICE FOR OTHER
DAMSELS --

DON'T TRUST BATMAN
TO BE ON TIME.

SO YOU MIGHT WANNA HEAD
TO THE LADIES' ROOM

EVEN IF THEY TELL YOU HE'S GONNA
BE THERE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES.

I WAS ACTUALLY SITTING
ON A BIT OF AN INCLINE,

AND THE RIDDLER'S BOX WAS EMPTY

SO THERE WAS NOTHING
TO SUPPORT MYSELF WITH.

SO I BASICALLY HAD TO HOLD
MYSELF UP WITH MY QUADS

FOR FORTY-FIVE MINUTES
WHILE I WAITED FOR BATMAN.

ALL THESE REPORTERS
CAME UP AND CAME, LIKE,

ABOUT TWO INCHES FROM MY FACE.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "ARE YOU
SCARED?" AND I SAID,

"WELL, I WASN'T BEFORE,
BUT NOW I'M PRETTY TERRIFIED."

Clovicko: AND THEN THE ONE TURNS
TO ME AND HE WAS LIKE,

"WELL, HOW LONG
IS THIS GOING TO TAKE?"

AND I'M LIKE, "FOUR MINUTES,
ONCE WE START IT.

WHY ARE WE NOT STARTING IT?"

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "WE'RE
KIND OF WAITING ON YOU."

SO THEN I REALIZED I HAD TO
TELL THEM A LOT MORE.

BECAUSE IT WAS
ALL IN MY HEAD.

Martel: WE COULD LITERALLY
SEE THE TRAIN COMING SLOWLY

WITH THE IDEA THAT, IT'S AMAZING
HOW BELIEVABLE THIS BECOMES

WHEN YOU'RE STANDING THERE,

THAT THIS YOUNG WOMAN
WAS GOING TO BE BLOWN UP.

AND, OF COURSE,
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AS WELL.

LOOK!
LET'S GO!

[ APPLAUSE ]

EJ: I WOULD GET A POUNDING
ON MY LEG, AND HE WOULD SAY,

"CAN'T SEE. CAN'T SEE."

HE HAD A LITTLE HOOD
UNDER HIS BATMAN COWL

AND THE LITTLE HOOD
WOULD SLIP FORWARD LIKE THAT.

IT WAS JUST SOMETHING
YOU CAN'T PLAN FOR, RIGHT?

HOW'S THAT? LET'S GO!

YEAH!

Natalie:
I JUST REMEMBER THINKING,

GOSH, THEY HAVE TO BE SO HOT
IN THOSE SUITS. IT'S SO HOT."

LOOK WHAT'S HERE.
THERE'S A DAMSEL UP THERE.

AND SEE THAT? DOES THAT LOOK
FAMILIAR? THE TRAMPOLINE?

I'M GONNA GO.
YOU FOLLOW ME, OKAY?

LET'S GO!

EJ: I LOVED RESCUING SUE.

SHE SO RARELY GETS
INTO ACTUAL TROUBLE.

ARE YOU OKAY, MA'AM?

SHE LOOKED UP AT US

WITH THE "PLEASE HELP ME" LOOK.

WHO COULD HAVE DONE THIS?

AND THAT KICKED IN TO MY CORE.

SHE AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED
FOR THIRTEEN YEARS.

PROBABLY THE RIDDLER.
PULL THE WIRES OUT!

IT MADE ME GO, "OH, WE HAVE TO--
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING."

PULL THEM ALL OUT.
GOOD JOB. PULL IT HARD.

PULL.

[ BELL DINGING ]

AHH!

I THINK WE'VE GOT IT.
NOW TAKE HER MASK OFF.

THANK YOU, BATKID.
THANK YOU.

CAN SOMEONE UNTIE ME?

[ BELL DINGING ]

THERE YOU GO, MA'AM.

LET'S GO.

BATKID! VERY GOOD.

OH, THANK YOU.

EJ:
THE HUG THAT SHE GAVE MILES...

THAT HUG WAS ON MY MAKE-A-WISH
LIST FOR A LONG TIME.

Man:
HEY, BUD!

MAN #5 IN CROWD
KISS HER!

MAN #6 IN CROWD
HEY, BUDDY.

I WAS TWEETING FROM MY PHONE
FROM THE OFFICIAL HANDLE.

I WAS TAKING PICTURES
AND PUSHING OUT TWEETS.

AND THE WAY HE'S WALKING
AND THE WAY HE WAS SO EXCITED,

I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Taylor: AS SOON AS I SAW
THAT ONE INSTAGRAM PHOTO

THAT MAKE-A-WISH TWEETED OUT
THAT JUST SAID "HERE HE COMES,"

WHICH BECAME THE MOST RETWEETED
TWEET OF THE DAY,

IT WENT INTERNATIONAL.

AND MY PHONE BASICALLY
DIED MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY

BECAUSE I WAS GETTING
ALL THESE NOTIFICATIONS.

THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF ENGAGEMENTS

AND INTERACTIONS
WITH THE TWEETS.

Patricia:
THEY BROKE OUR WEBSITE,
AND OUR WEBSITE WENT DOWN.

WE HAD OVER FOURTEEN HUNDRED
HITS PER SECOND.

WE COULDN'T GET A SIGNAL.

CELL SERVICE WAS OUT.
EVERYONE WAS TAKING PICTURES.

De Jesus:
YOU KNOW, I WAS GETTING
TWEET RESPONSES FROM EGYPT,

FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

PRESIDENT OBAMA
RETWEETED ONE OF MY TWEETS

AND BASICALLY MADE MY LIFE.

EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T
MY PERSONAL HANDLE.

Taylor: YOU KNOW WHAT,
AS SOON AS I SAW THAT,

I KNEW THIS WAS
A SOCIAL MEDIA PHENOMENON.

Patricia: EVERY ACTOR WHO HAD
EVER PLAYED BATMAN WAS TWEETING.

Pomponi: THE POSTINGS THAT WERE
FROM, LIKE, ALL OVER THE WORLD,

WITH THE CUTE LITTLE SIGNS
AND KIDS DRESSING UP,

AND, LIKE,
TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN,

AND PEOPLE FROM AUSTRALIA.

Sue: I HAD FRIENDS WHO WERE
TRAVELING IN MOSCOW

WHO WERE TEXTING ME, SAYING,

"I'M SEEING
ALL THESE NEWS REPORTS

AND I THINK THIS IS YOU."

De Jesus:
HASHTAG SFBatKid WAS TRENDING.

IT VERY MUCH WAS
A GLOBALLY VIEWED EVENT.

EVERYONE WAS WATCHING
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND EVERYONE WAS WAITING
FOR THE NEXT TWEET,

WHICH ADDED PRESSURE ON ME

TO TWEET BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WHEN I SHOWED UP TO THE
INTERSECTION AT GREEN STREET,

THERE WERE ABOUT SIX OF US
THERE.

AND SO I HAD MY JACKET
AND MY iPHONE AND MY PURSE

AND I JUST PUT THEM ON
THE CORNER AN-AND I SAT DOWN.

AND THEN ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
STARTED COMING.

AND I'M LIKE, "OKAY...

KISS AWAY THE LEATHER JACKET
AND THE iPHONE AND THE HANDBAG."

BUT AFTER EVERYBODY LEFT,
NOBODY TOUCHED MY STUFF.

IT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS THAT KIND OF DAY.

NORMALLY WHEN YOU
HAVE SUCH A CROWD

AND YOU NEED TO KEEP A STREET
OR KEEP AN AREA

OR KEEP A DIGNITARY SAFE,
IT'S ALL US.

AND IT'S ALL PUSH AND PLEAD AND
PROD, AND PEOPLE ARE MAD AT US.

EVERY SINGLE TIME WE WOULD TELL
THE PEOPLE, "HEY, LOOK,

YOU'RE MAKING
THE LITTLE GUY NERVOUS...

CAN WE JUST GET
A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM?"

REGULAR CITIZENS
WOULD JUST TURN AROUND

AND SAY, "HEY, COME ON,
WE'VE GOT TO HELP OUT"

OR "WE'VE GOT TO BACK UP."

WE WERE LIKE, "WOW, WE-WE'D TAKE
THIS ALL DAY LONG

IF WE COULD GET IT
ANY OTHER DAY."

DON'T PUSH ON THE TAPE.

THERE'S A CALL COMING IN
FROM THE COMMISS--

FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.
HEY, BATKID.

Women: GO BATMAN!

WATCH! READY?

DYNAMIC DUO, I'M AFRAID
YOUR OLD NEMESIS THE RIDDLER

IS IN TOWN
WITH ENOUGH DYNAMITE

TO BLOW THIS CITY'S VAULT
SKY-HIGH.

YOU HAVE GOT TO STOP HIM

BEFORE HE STEALS THE TAXPAYERS'
HARD-EARNED MONEY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO
STOP THE RIDDLER!

Officer:
EVERYONE BACK UP!

BACK TO THE CARS!

THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORST,
AND THEN WE WERE OFF TIME LINE.

I'M LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE
GETTING TO CITY HALL BY TWO."

Taylor: THEN I TRIED TO BEAT
THE RUSH TO THE NEXT PLACE

AFTER WITNESSING
THIS CABLE CAR RESCUE.

AND THERE WERE EVEN MORE CROWDS
AT THE NEXT SCENE

BY THE-THE BANK VAULT.

IT WAS MONTGOMERY AND SANSOME.

IT WAS EXACTLY
WHERE I WAS STANDING

TWO OR THREE YEARS EARLIER
FOR THE WORLD SERIES PARADE.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO!

AND THERE WERE MORE CROWDS
FOR THIS

THAN THERE WERE
FOR THE WORLD SERIES.

[ PEOPLE CHEERING ]

LET'S GO HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

HEY, BATKID.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY?

"SAFE DEPOSIT VAULT."

YOU THINK THAT'S WHERE HE IS?
LET'S GO GET HIM.

Man: GET HIM, MAN.

Woman:
GO GET HIM, MILES!

Woman #2:
GO GET HIM, MILES!

Natalie: WE WENT DOWNSTAIRS
AND INTO THE VAULT.

THAT KINDA SCARED HIM AT FIRST.

AND HE DIDN'T WANNA GO AT FIRST,

BUT THEN EJ KINDA,
"LET'S DO THIS."

EJ: SO HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT
WE'VE BLOCKED THE BACK EXIT.

WHEN HE GOES BEHIND THE BARS,
WE CAN SHUT 'EM, OKAY?

Woman:
NOW WE'RE GONNA WAIT HERE...

LET'S GO GET HIM.

THE KEY TO THE WHOLE DAY WAS EJ.

THEY BECAME FRIENDS THAT NIGHT
BEFORE AT THE CIRCUS CENTER.

THAT, TO ME, MADE HI-- YOU KNOW,
THE SHY KID, COME OUT.

IN HERE, IN THE VAULT.

EJ: THERE WERE JUST ALL OF THESE
LITTLE EXCHANGES BETWEEN US

'CAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY TWO

GOING THROUGH
THE SAME THING AS EACH OTHER.

THERE HE IS.

Riddler: WHERE'D YOU
FLY IN FROM, BATMAN?

AND WHO'S THE BIG GUY?

YOUR CABLE CAR TRICK
DIDN'T WORK.

BUT IT DID.

IN TWELVE SECONDS
I'LL BE GONE

AND YOU'LL TWO
BE TRAPPED IN HERE

IN THIS BANK VAULT
FOREVER.

TWELVE SECONDS,
THAT'S NOT MUCH TIME.

LET'S GET HIM.

DON'T LET HIM GO OUT
THE SECRET BACK WAY.

CLOSE THE GATE.

SHUT THE GATE.
SHUT IT ALL THE WAY.

WAIT!

SHUT IT.

BEHIND BARS
ALREADY, RIDDLER?

THAT'S GOT TO BE
A RECORD.

BATKID!
RIDDLE ME THIS, BATKID!

WHAT FLIES UNDERWATER,
SLY AS A GHOST,

WANTING TO SNATCH
WHAT THIS CITY LOVES MOST?

WHAT FLIES UNDERWATER?

LET ME OUT!

Officer:
EXCUSE ME.

Batkid: NO!

THERE'S- THERE'S A CALL COMING
IN FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.

LET'S TAKE IT
ON THE CEILING.

DYNAMIC DUO, I'M AFRAID
YOUR OLD NEMESIS THE RIDDLER--

HERE WE GO. THE CALLS

SOMETIMES DON'T COME
THROUGH IN THE VAULT.

NICELY DONE, DYNAMIC DUO.
YOU'VE SAVED THE CITY.

I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE
WORKED UP QUITE AN APPETITE.

HEAD ON DOWN TO THE BURGER BAR
AND TELL 'EM,

"LUNCH IS ON
THE CHIEF OF POLICE."

TIME FOR LUNCH!
TAKE HIM AWAY, GUYS.

Riddler: BATKID!

Officer: THANK YOU, BATMAN.
NICE GOING, BATKID.

Riddler: BATKID!

Officer: THANK YOU, BATMAN.
NICE GOING, BATKID.

HOW DARE YOU!?
WIPE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE.

YOU'LL BE SURPRISED.
THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PLAN!

Man: THANK YOU, BATMAN.

BATKID,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Miles: YOU'RE WELCOME!

EJ: WE DID IT.
WE CAUGHT THE RIDDLER.

[ APPLAUSE ]

WHO ARE YOU?

BATMAN.

I'M BATMAN.

HANDSHAKE.

DONE IT AGAIN.

WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

PUT YOUR ARMS UP AND CHEER.

READY?

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

ARE YOU HAVING FUN?

YEAH.

YEAH?

YEAH.

YEAH?

YEAH.
I WAS SO HUNGRY IN THERE.

OH, ME, TOO.
I'M HUNGRY, TOO.

AND THE BANK VAULT
GOT US CAUGHT UP ON TIME,

AND THEN WE HAD
A LEISURELY LUNCH.

I DIDN'T EVEN TRY
TO GO TO UNION SQUARE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

ALL RIGHT, BATKID.
ARE WE READY?

WHOA.
PUT YOUR HOOD UP.

AH, I CAN'T SEE.
CAN'T SEE.

OKAY, I'LL GUIDE YOU.
I PROMISE.

EJ: I'M GONNA PICK YOU UP.
READY?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO!

Man: HEY, BATMAN, RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE.

LET'S RUN. RUN. LET'S GO!

HEY, RIGHT HERE.

THIS WAY.

GO IN RIGHT BEHIND US.

HELLO, EVERYONE.
YOU CAN WAVE, TOO. YAY!

HAVE YOU WORKED UP AN APPETITE?

YEAH.
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

Miles:
I KICKED THE RIDDLER'S BUTT.

YOU HAVE SAVED THE DAY.

Miles:
I KICKED THE RIDDLER'S BUTT.

YOU HAVE SAVED THE DAY.

YOU KICKED THE RIDDLER'S BUTT?
AW, THAT'S MY BATMAN.

LOOK AT ALL THOSE PEOPLE.
WOW!

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
SO MANY PEOPLE?

UH-UH.

Cotton:
WHEN YOU LOOKED DOWN

AND YOU SAW THIS SEA OF PEOPLE
IN THE CARS,

IN THE MOTOR BRIGADE, IT--

LIKE, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT
FOR PRESIDENTIAL VISITS.

PUT YOUR RIGHT ARM WAY UP
IN THE AIR. RIGHT ARM.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

AH, THEY ALL WAVED!

Patricia: WHEN YOU WATCH
WHOLE CONSTRUCTION CREWS

LEAVE THEIR CONSTRUCTION SITE
TO COME DOWN AND WAVE.

AND IT WAS LIKE ONE-A THOSE

REALLY CHEESY HALLMARK SHOWS
ON TV

WHERE YOU GO, "THAT WOULD
NEVER HAPPEN!" BUT IT DID.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WHAT ARE THEY DANCING
AROUND FOR?

[ LAUGHS ]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THEY'RE DANCING FOR YOU.

[ DANIEL MARTIN MOORE'S
"TO MAKE IT TRUE" PLAYS ]

EJ: ONCE IN A WHILE
HE WOULD LOOK AT ME AND SAY,

"WE CAUGHT THE RIDDLER!"

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH OF THAT--

I DON'T KNOW W- WHERE REAL
AND NOT REAL

WAS, THERE, BUT HE WAS
SO EXCITED.

♪♪

Clovicko: BY THE TIME
THAT WE ARRIVED FOR LUNCH,

THE BIG CARAVAN, LOU SEAL WAS
SUPPOSED TO ALREADY BE HIDING

UNDERNEATH THE PARKING LOT
FOR HIS BIG KIDNAP.

Jutan: HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
THERE FOR ABOUT HALF AN HOUR

AND WE WERE GONNA HAVE A CHAT
AND TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF--

THE STAGING AND THE CAR
AND--

Clovicko:
I CALLED OUR STAFF MEMBER

THAT WAS COORDINATING THAT

AND SHE'S LIKE, "YEAH,
A LITTLE HICCUP."

THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HAD
DIDN'T WORK OUT.

AND I HAD TO CALL AN UBER TAXI

TO BRING LOU SEAL
TO UNION SQUARE.

Aziz: I GOT THE BEEP.
I ACCEPTED THE BEEP.

IT WAS A LITTLE
WEIRD AT FIRST.

I'M LIKE, "WHAT IS THIS GUY
DOIN' COMIN' IN TO MY CAR?"

Jutan: BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE
HAD CLOSED THE ENTIRE CITY DOWN,

LOU SEAL WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

Aziz: SO MANY PEOPLE.
TRAFFIC STOPPED.

Jutan: IT'S THIS GUY
IN A MASSIVE SEAL COSTUME,

LIKE, STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

ANOTHER COP GOES,
"WELL WHERE ARE THEY?"

AND THEY HAD TO SEND
A POLICE ESCORT TO GO GET 'EM.

Aziz:
IT WAS EXCITING, YOU KNOW?

GOING THROUGH ALL THIS TRAFFIC
WITHOUT NO STOPS.

AN UBER TAXI
PARTED THE CROWDS...

CAME IN TO UNION SQUARE.

I'M, LIKE, LOOKIN' AT THE CLOCK.
I'M LIKE, MAN, WE GOTTA...

Clovicko: LOU SEAL
WILLINGLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR,

WAVED AT ALL THE FANS,

WALKED UNDER THE PARKING GARAGE
INTO HIS CAPTURE.

Jutan: THANKFULLY THE PEOPLE
OF SAN FRANCISCO

WERE KIND ENOUGH

TO, UH, YOU KNOW, SORT OF
SUSPEND THEIR DISBELIEF

FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND HE'S GOT HIS COSTUME ON
ALREADY,

SO I STILL DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.

HE'S LIKE,
"HEY, HOW'S IT GOING'?

UH, I'M LOU SEAL."
HIS COSTUME'S LARGE,

SO...IS HE GONNA GO IN THE
FRONT? IS GONNA GO ON THE BACK?

WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HOW HE WAS
GONNA FIT IN THE CAR, EVEN.

AND WE'RE LITERALLY DRIVING OUT
IN TWO MINUTES.

WITH EVERY NEWS AGENCY
IN THE WORLD ABOUT TO FILM US.

SO WE GOT HIM IN THE FRONT
AND ME IN THE BACK,

KINDA KNEELING ON THE REALLY
EXPENSIVE LEATHER SEAT.

Clovicko: ONE OF THE GUYS,

WHO WAS HELPING
FROM OUR NATIONAL OFFICE,

TURNED TO ME AND HE WAS LIKE,
"WE'RE ON TIME."

AND I WAS LIKE,
"WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE ARE NOT MENTIONING THAT."

Natalie: HE ATE SOME FOOD
AND THEN WAS LIKE, "OKAY,

I THINK I'M DONE SAVING PEOPLE
FOR THE DAY."

AND WE'RE LIKE, "WELL, I THINK
YOU HAVE MORE WORK TO DO."

AND HE'S JUST LIKE,
"NO, I'M TIRED."

EJ:
THIS WHOLE DAY IS FOR HIM.

AND IF HE CALLS IT AT LUNCHTIME,
IT'S OVER AT LUNCHTIME.

Nick: MILES HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
NAPPER. HE SAID, "DAD, I'M-I'M--

DON'T THINK I WANNA DO THIS
ANYMORE."

DID YOU HAVE A GOOD LUNCH?

YES.

YEAH.

DO YOU LIKE THE GIANTS?

YEAH.

DO YOU KNOW
WHO THEIR MASCOT IS?

WHAT?

DO YOU KNOW
WHO THEIR MASCOT IS?

WHAT?

THEIR MASCOT IS A SEAL.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT?

WHAT FLIES UNDERWATER?

Natalie: THERE WE GO.

A..?

BIRD.

A PENGUIN.
PENGUINS CAN SWIM.

THEY CAN FLY UNDERWATER.
LOOK!

THERE'S A BANNER.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?

WHAT?

THE PENGUIN HAS LOU SEAL.
LOOK.

IT'S THE GIANTS' MASCOT,
LOU SEAL AND THE PENGUIN.

THEY'RE POINTING.
OH, MY GOODNESS.

EJ: AND THEN AS SOON
AS HE LOOKED OUT

AND HE SAW THE PENGUIN
WITH LOU SEAL,

HE STARTED TO REV UP.

[ CROWD CHANTING "BATKID" ]

BATKID?

[ CHANTING CONTINUES ]

I THINK THERE'S A CALL COMING IN
FROM THE POLICE CHIEF.

Suhr: HOLY BATWINGS,
BATMAN AND BATKID.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I HAVE TO INTERRUPT

THAT WELL-EARNED LUNCH.

WORD ON THE STREET IS:
PENGUIN'S UP TO SOMETHIN' FISHY.

HE'S HEADED DOWN TO AT&T
TO KIDNAP...

CAN YA BELIEVE IT, LOU SEAL.

YA GOTTA GET THERE.
YA GOTTA STOP HIM.

FOR THE GIANTS AND THEIR FANS,
YA JUST CAN'T LET IT HAPPEN.

[ CROWD CHANTING "BATKID" ]

EJ:
AND HIS DAD CAME OVER AND SAID,

"WHAT IF I RIDE IN THE BATMOBILE
WITH YOU."

OH, OKAY. AND THAT WAS--
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S- THAT'S IT.

HE HIT ME ON THE ARM
AND SAID, "WE HAVE TO GO!"

THE THING IS, MILES, YA KNOW,
HE BATTLED LEUKEMIA,

AND WHEN YOU'RE TIRED,
YOU CAN'T STOP.

NO.

OH, NO! OH, NO!

LET'S GO THIS WAY.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE,
RIGHT HERE.

WE'LL CATCH UP WITH HIM.

Penguin:
BATKID, IT'S ON, BABY!

Natalie: HE'S LIKE, "WELL,
DO YOU WANNA GO WITH HIM?"

I'M LIKE, "NICK, I DON'T CARE
ABOUT RIDING IN A LAMBORGHINI.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO,
SO YOU JUST GO."

Nick: SO I GOT A RIDE IN THE
BATMOBILE WHICH IS PRETTY NEAT,

BUT, UH, NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR
THREE PEOPLE IN ONE OF THOSE.

WE CREATED
THE PENGUIN TWITTER HANDLE,

AND THEN SCRIPTED ALL OF HIS
TWEETS THAT WERE TAUNTING MILES

AND TAUNTING THE CITY
OF SAN FRANCISCO.

AND IT WAS A WAY
TO GET INFORMATION OUT

IN A CUTE, CREATIVE WAY.

Penguin:
GOTHAM WILL BE MINE!

BATKID WILL NEVER STOP ME!

[ CROWD BOOING ]

PENGUIN! PENGUIN!

Kyle:
AND WE SHOW UP AND THERE'S,
LIKE,

JUST A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
WALKING ON THE SIDEWALKS.

AND IT'S-- IT WAS--
IT SEEMED BIGGER

THAN EVEN, YOU KNOW,
THE BASEBALL GAMES

THAT HAPPEN HERE
ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Fajardo: THERE WERE THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE GATES

JUST TRYING TO GET
A GLIMPSE OF THE CAR

OR HIM KIND OF RUNNING
INTO THE BALLPARK.

LUCKILY THERE WAS A LOT
OF EXTRA POLICE AND SECURITY

AND EVERYTHING ELSE

KIND OF ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF THE BALLPARK

TO HELP MANAGE
THE CROWDS OUT THERE.

WE'RE GOING IN.
THERE'S A GATE OVER HERE.

LOOK! LOOK.

Man:
BATKID! SAVE LOU SEAL!

DO YOU SEE HIM?

OH, NO! IT'S BATKID!
OH, NO!

OKAY, LET'S GO.

Kyle: THIS KID WAS WALKING
UP THESE STAIRS.

I PICTURED IT AS, LIKE, THIS KID
ABOUT TO DEFEAT SOMETHING

THAT HE'D BEEN AILED WITH.

THE PAIN THAT HIS FAMILY HAD
TO GO THROUGH.

WALKING UP THE STAIRS
AND FACING HIS DEMON.

AND FIGHTING HIM UNTIL THE END.

WE'RE ALMOST THERE!
YOU GOT IT!

OH, NO! OH, NO!

OH, WE GOT YOU.

OH, NO! OH, NO!

OH, WE GOT YOU.

OH, I'M IN TROUBLE NOW!

LET'S GET HIM!

HE'S GOING INTO THE CABLE CAR.
WE'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE.

OH, YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!

OH, NO, IT'S BATKID!

I HOPE YOU LIKE TRAPS!

LOOK OUT!

I HOPE YOU LIKE TRAPS!

LOOK OUT!

LET'S GO!

YOU'VE DONE THIS!

BATKID, OVER HERE!

READY? GOOD JOB!

OKAY. I GOT YA.

ALL RIGHT!
LET'S GO GET HIM!

LET'S SEE.

CAN YOU SEE?
IF WE GO UP HERE,

WE CAN SLIDE DOWN
AND WE'LL CATCH HIM.

LET'S GO UP THERE
AND SLIDE DOWN AND CATCH HIM.

Penguin:
YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME, BATKID!

ALL RIGHT?

OH, IT'S BATKID!

NO!
IT'S BATKID AND BATMAN!

OH, NO! OH, NO!

YOU FOUND MY LAIR!

EJ: WE FOUND HIM!

NO!

I'LL UNTIE LOU SEAL!
YOU CHASE THE PENGUIN!

CHASE HIM!
GO GET HIM!

GO CHASE HIM!

COME GET ME
IF YOU CAN, BATKID!

OKAY. OH. THAT'S OKAY.
YOU WANNA UNTIE LOU SEAL?

DO YOU WANNA UNTIE?
ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN RESCUE.

AND, YOU!

Penguin:
BATMAN, NO! NO!

NO! NO.

YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!

YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!
AH, COME ON!

NEED HELP?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

GOOD JOB, MILES.
GOOD JOB, BATKID!

Penguin:
YOU FOILED MY PLAN, BATKID.

EJ: GOOD JOB!

YOU FOILED MY PLAN!

VERY BRAVE!

YOU FOILED MY PLAN!

VERY BRAVE!

OH, NO!

NO! NO!

HERE WE GO, PENGUIN.
LET'S GO.

NO!

NO!

IT IS OVER!

NO!

IT IS OVER!

I'VE GOT HIM.

BATKID!

I'VE GOT HIM.

BATKID!

THANK YOU, RAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME, BATMAN.

BATMAN!

LET'S HEAD DOWN
TO THE BASEBALL FIELD.

Suhr: WOW.
UNBELIEVABLE.

WE DID IT.

AND I SALUTE YOU, DYNAMIC DUO.

THE CITY OF GOTHAM SOLUTES YOU.

AND TO PROVE IT, YOU NEED
TO HEAD ON OVER TO CITY HALL.

WHERE THE MAYOR OF GOTHAM AWAITS
YOU WITH THE KEY TO THE CITY

AND A WELL-DESERVED
HERO'S WELCOME.

HERE'S LOOKIN' AT YOU,
DYNAMIC DUO:

SF'S FINEST.

WHOO! THAT WAS THE HEAD
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

EJ: IT HIT ME PRETTY HARD
A FEW TIMES DURING THE DAY.

YOU KNOW, I GET CHOKED UP

BUT I HAVE A SUPERHERO MASK ON
SO NOBODY CAN TELL.

YOU HAVIN' FUN?

MM-HM.

YOU HAVIN' FUN?

MM-HM.

YEAH? WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE
PART OF THE DAY?

UH. CATCHING THE RIDDLER.

CATCHING THE RIDDLER
WAS YOUR FAVORITE?

UH-HUH.

CATCHING THE RIDDLER
WAS YOUR FAVORITE?

UH-HUH.

De Jesus: WELL, WE WERE
ON THE BUS AND THERE WAS A MAN

AND HE BASICALLY TAPS ME
ON THE SHOULDER, AND HE'S LIKE,

"OBAMA JUST REPLIED
TO YOUR TWEET!"

AND THE ENTIRE BUS STARTED, YOU
KNOW, CHEERING AND APPLAUDING.

AND I LOOKED AT MY PHONE AND
I WAS SHAKING BECAUSE I SAW,

YOU KNOW, "BARACK OBAMA, UH,
REPLIED TO YOUR TWEET."

WAY TO GO, MILES.
WAY TO SAVE GOTHAM.

De Jesus: SEE, I THINK I TOOK
LIKE THREE SCREEN SHOTS

JUST TO BE SURE, YOU KNOW,
ON YOUR PHONE

SO THAT I HAD IT FOR PROOF.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

CAN I GET A HIGH FIVE?!

YEAH! GREAT DAY!

Natalie: THAT WAS PROBABLY THE
MOST NERVE-RACKING PART FOR ME.

WE LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN
AND SO YOU HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW,

THESE SCARY THINGS
THAT HAPPEN AT THESE BIG EVENTS.

BUT THAT WAS NOT.
I MEAN, EVERYONE WAS SO HAPPY.

Clovicko: I HAD TWO FRIENDS
THAT WERE THERE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME
THEY SAID

THAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN THERE
WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE,

AND PEOPLE WERE NICE
TO EACH OTHER.

IT WAS LIKE THE BEST THING
I'VE EVER PARTICIPATED IN.

Man: I WANTED TO BE BATMAN WHEN
I WAS LITTLE, TOO. THAT'S RIGHT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Mayor Lee: FELLOW CITIZENS
OF GOTHAM CITY!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WELCOME TO GOTHAM CITY HALL.

IT WAS A FANTASY FOR ME
TO BE UP THERE SAYING

I'M, FOR AN HOUR,
THE MAYOR OF GOTHAM CITY.

I WANNA THANK THE BATKID
FOR SAVING OUR CITY!

LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT.
LOOK TO THE MAYOR.

WHAT WOULD WE DO
WITHOUT YOU?!

THE STREETS OF OUR CITY
ARE SAFER BECAUSE OF YOU.

IT IS MY PLEASURE, TODAY,
TO PRESENT TO YOU

THE KEY TO GOTHAM CITY
BY THE BAY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

WOW. LOOK TO THE RIGHT.

Suhr: AND MILES THOUGHT
IT WAS CHOCOLATE.

HE WAS TOLD, "YOU'RE GETTIN'
A CHOCOLATE KEY TO THE CITY."

SO THAT'S WHY, IF YOU
LOOK AT 'IM, HE'S TOTALLY,

LIKE, "WHAT'S UP WITH THIS, MAN?

I MEAN, I GOT TOLD
I WAS GETTIN' HOOKED UP

WITH TWO POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE."

THE MASTER OF CHOCOLATE
MANUFACTURING, TCHO CHOCOLATES,

MADE A SPECIAL KEY FOR YOU
AND YOUR BROTHER.

LATER ON, YOU'LL GET TO MUNCH
ON THAT KEY ALL YOU WANT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

THEY DECIDED TO GIVE US
AN ADVANCED COPY

OF TOMORROW'S NEWSPAPER.

"GOTHAM CITY CHRONICLE,"
"BATKID SAVES THE CITY!"

NORMALLY, AS CHIEF OF POLICE,
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF FLASH MOBS.

BUT IN THIS INSTANCE

THIS IS ABOUT AS COOL
AS I EVER SEEN.

Patricia: NOW FOR THE MOST
IMPORTANT PART. AND LISTEN UP.

MILES FINISHED HIS CHEMOTHERAPY
IN JUNE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
OUR SUPERHERO IS IN REMISSION

AND, TODAY, I THINK WE GAVE HIM

A LITTLE BIT
OF HIS CHILDHOOD BACK!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ CROWD CHANTING "BATKID" ]

IT'S...IT'S H--
ARE THERE WORDS?

I DON'T THINK--

NO.

I DON'T THINK--

NO.

SO MUCH BIGGER THAN I COULD
HAVE EVER IMAGINED.

SO MUCH MORE LOVE.

EJ: AFTERWARD,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

WE GOT TOGETHER
FOR A LITTLE AFTER-PARTY.

AND THEN MILES
AND HIS FAMILY SHOWED UP.

BY THAT TIME, I HAD ACTUALLY
PULLED THE MASK OFF.

AND I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW,

THAT HE SEES
THAT THE COACH IS BATMAN.

SO I JUST SAID, UH,
"I BET NO ONE WOULD SUSPECT

THAT THE ACROBAT COACH
IS ACTUALLY..."

AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE RIGHT!"

AND, UH, HE EVEN TOLD ME
ONE TIME

THAT-THAT BRUCE WAYNE IS
FOR THE MOVIES. EJ'S BATMAN.

IT'S LIKE PATRICIA'S CITY.
SHE LIVES IN GOTHAM CITY.

Woman:
HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

YEAH.
THAT'S WHEN I BECAME BATKID.

WAS IT FUN?

YEP!

EJ: FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
WHATEVER HAPPENS,

THERE WILL BE GOOD STUFF,
THERE WILL BE BAD STUFF,

WE WILL HAVE THAT DAY.

THE NEXT MORNING, WE WOKE UP
IN KIND OF A WEIRD DREAM,

JUST TOTALLY RELAXED.

AT SOME POINT DURING THE DAY
WE LOOKED AT OUR EMAIL.

I HAD SEVENTY-ONE HUNDRED AND
EIGHTY-NINE UNREAD MESSAGES.

AND IT WAS OVERFLOWING.

Patrick:
I HAD VOICE MAILS OF PEOPLE

WHO WOULD JUST BREAK DOWN
AND CRY.

I WANT TO JUST THANK THEM ALL.
IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT?

WE GOT FAN MAIL FROM FRANCE.
WE GOT FAN MAIL FROM CHINA.

Nick: I MEAN, WE GOT POSTCARDS
FROM OVERSEAS JAPAN, GERMANY,

U.K., STUFF FROM ALL OVER.

WE GOT A LOT OF STUFF FROM
AKRON, OHIO,

LIKE SCHOOL CLASSES THAT COLORED
PICTURES AND DREW PICTURES.

Natalie: THERE WAS A CLASS,
I THINK IT WAS FROM TENNESSEE

AND THEY WROTE
A COMIC BOOK ABOUT MILES.

Clovicko: SOMEBODY JUST SENT,

LIKE, "BATKID CARE
OF CITY HALL."

AND SAN FRANCISCO'S SO AWESOME
THAT THEY GOT US THE MAIL.

Patricia:
ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS REVEALED

THAT THEY STILL HAD MEDICAL
EXPENSES THAT WEREN'T COVERED.

A COUPLE OF FOLKS DONATED

TO COVER THE FAMILY'S
MEDICAL EXPENSES.

THE WISH MOM SAID,
"WELL, I HAVE TO TALK TO NICK.

I'M NOT SURE WE CAN ACCEPT IT."

AND I SAID, "WELL, TOO BAD

BECAUSE IT'S BEING GIVEN
OUT OF LOVE."

I WISH EVERY PARENT
DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

Mayor Lee: WELL, WHEN IT GREW
FROM WHAT WE THOUGHT

WERE A VERY SIMPLE COUPLE
OF EVENTS

TO OVER FIVE DIFFERENT EVENTS

WITH A MAIN STAGE
AT CIVIC CENTER

AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
COMING DOWN...

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS
A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT

WHICH THE CITY PAID OUT
OF THEIR CONVENTION FUND

BECAUSE IT WAS FEATURING
SAN FRANCISCO,

SO THEY THOUGHT IT WAS MONEY
WELL SPENT

TO FOCUS ON SAN FRANCISCO.

I HEARD ONE OF THE NEWSCASTERS

SAY IT WAS THE BEST MONEY
SAN FRANCISCO EVER SPENT.

BUT SOME PEOPLE USED THAT
TO SAY,

"WELL, I DON'T THINK THE CITY
SHOULD'VE FUNDED THAT."

WE WERE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE
TO HAVE JOHN AND MARCIA GOLDMAN

OF THE GOLDMAN FOUNDATION
STEP UP.

AND THEY SAID THEY WERE SO MOVED
THAT THEY DONATED

ONE-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
TO COVER ALL OF THE COSTS.

Patricia:
THAT DISCUSSION'S OFF THE TABLE.

THERE'S JUST NOTHING NEGATIVE
YOU CAN SAY NOW.

Jutan: WE HEARD
SOME CRAZY STATISTIC

LIKE TWO BILLION PEOPLE,
UH, POTENTIALLY SAW THIS.

Mayor Lee:
I TOOK A TRIP TO CHINA,

AND PEOPLE IN CHINA
CAME UP TO ME,

SPEAKING IN MANDARIN,
"I LOVE THAT BATKID.

I WISH WE WOULD HAVE THAT
KIND OF EVENT IN OUR CITY."

Patricia: I TALKED
TO A COLLEAGUE OF MINE

WHO SAID VOLUNTEERISM IS UP,
THAT PEOPLE ARE CITING BATKID

AS A REASON TO GET INVOLVED
IN THEIR COMMUNITY

AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Jutan: I DO REMEMBER THE NEXT
MONDAY, I TOOK A BUS TO WORK.

I GOT ON THE BUS
AND EVERYONE WAS SMILING.

THERE WAS SOMETHING POSITIVE
IN THE AIR.

THE BUS DRIVER WAS,
"HOW'S IT GOIN'? HOW ARE YA?"

PEOPLE SEEMED TO BE
JUST...KINDER THAT DAY.

Clovicko: IT'S AMAZING
THE CAPACITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE

THAT I DON'T THINK
WE GIVE OURSELVES

OR WE GIVE
ONE ANOTHER SOMETIMES.

AND A FIVE-YEAR-OLD
RESTORED HUMANITY.

Jutan: IT'S KIND OF ODD, ALMOST,
THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN MORE.

Natalie: SO FRIDAY AT SCHOOL
HE GOT IN TROUBLE

BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO LITTLE
BOYS THAT WERE FIGHTING,

AND MILES WAS STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM

WHILE THEY WERE SWINGING.

AND MILES ENDED UP
GETTING KICKED,

BUT HE WAS TRYING
TO RESOLVE THEIR ISSUE.

AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "SON, YOU
HAVE TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS."

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEN HE WAS SAD
'CAUSE HE GOT IN TROUBLE

'CAUSE HE WAS GETTING
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

HE WANTS EVERYONE TO GET ALONG.

FOR THOSE THREE YEARS, YOU'RE
RETRAINING HIS BLOOD CELLS,

AND YOU'RE GIVING HIM
MEDICINE,

AND SO YOU'RE KEEPING THINGS
AT BAY.

AND THEN IT'S LIKE YOU STOP,

AND YOU'RE LIKE,
"WELL, WHAT IF?"

I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING ANYMORE.

LIKE, I SHOULD BE
DOING SOMETHING.

"WHEN I'M FEELING LOVED,

I FEEL WARM AND SAFE
AND PROTECTED."

Nick: FOR THE MOST PART,
IT'S BACK TO NORMAL, YOU KNOW.

AT SCHOOL IS--
EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM AS BATKID.

IT WAS AT THE PERFECT AGE
THAT THIS WISH HAPPENED.

IF HE WOULD'VE BEEN OLDER,

I THINK IT WOULD'VE GONE
A LOT MORE TO HIS HEAD.

UH, THAT'S WHY WE WERE KINDA,
AFTER THE BASEBALL,

WHEN HE THREW OUT THE FIRST
PITCH, WE WERE KINDA LIKE,

LET'S KINDA STOP IT

SO IT DOESN'T...
HE DOESN'T GET CONCEITED,

AND WE DON'T-WE DON'T WANT THAT
AT ALL.

HE HAS THE BATKID SUIT STILL.
HE DOESN'T WEAR IT

UNLESS HE'S DOING SOMETHING
WITH EJ.

REMEMBER WHAT TO DO
IF THE HOOD COMES DOWN
OVER YOUR EYES?

YOU JUST GO, "CAN'T SEE.
CAN'T SEE."

IT'S LIKE HAVING
A NEW LITTLE BROTHER.

LIKE THAT?

WHO ARE YOU?

BATMAN!

I MEAN HE'LL WEAR A PIECE
HERE AND THERE

WHEN HE'S PLAYIN' DRESS-UP,

BUT LIKE THE WHOLE THING
TOGETHER IS FOR WORK.

AND IF THERE'S NO WORK
TO BE DONE,

HE'S NOT PUTTING IT ON.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Natalie:
AND OBVIOUSLY HE HAD FUN,

BUT I DON'T THINK
HE REALLY GOT IT.

WHAT ARE THEY DANCING
AROUND FOR?

[ LAUGHS ]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
THEY'RE DANCING FOR YOU.

I MEAN, HE SAW
ALL THE PEOPLE AND STUFF,

BUT HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY IT IMPACTED THEM SO MUCH

AND WHY IT
MADE EVERYONE SO HAPPY.

Taylor: I THINK THAT
WE-WE ALL LIKE TO PLAY,

AND WE ALL FORGET HOW TO PLAY.

AND WE-WE DESPERATELY NEED IT.

EJ: WHEN KIDS ARE KIDS, THERE'S
A TIME DURING EVERY SINGLE DAY

THAT THEY RUN ABSOLUTELY
AS FAST AS THEY CAN.

AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE A GROWN-UP,

AT SOME POINT
YOU STOP DOING THAT.

WITH THE BATKID DAY,

THERE WERE SO MANY REASONS
NOT TO DO IT.

GOOD NEWS IS, HE DIDN'T
HAVE THE GROWN-UP PART OF HIM

THAT SAID YOU COULDN'T DO
SOMETHING.

Zimmer: LISTEN TO A LITTLE BOY.
LISTEN TO SOMEBODY DREAMING.

LISTEN TO SOMEBODY
HAVING A PREPOSTEROUS PLAN.

IN A FUNNY WAY, I MEAN,
THAT'S HOW I LIVE MY LIFE.

EVERYBODY WANTED ME
TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT

OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IF YOU'RE A MUSICIAN,
EVERYBODY TELLS YOU DON'T DO IT.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

AND MILES WAS SAYING
THE SAME THINGS.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS SAYING,

"BUT WHY ARE YOU GUYS TELLING ME
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE?"

Man: SO WAS THIS
WHAT YOU GUYS EXPECTED?

MM-HM.

NO.

NO.

DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME

WAS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE HOLDING
UP SIGNS SAYING,

"SAVE US, BATKID"

AND I TH-I TH-I LOOKED AT THOSE
SIGNS AND I THOUGHT,

"YOU MEAN THAT LITERALLY."

IN HELPING HIM
TO LIVE THIS DREAM,

WE WERE SAVING OURSELVES.

WE WERE SAVING SOMETHING
ROTTEN ABOUT OUR GROWN-UP SOULS.

AND WE WERE REMEMBERING
SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.

WE WONDER WHY WE'RE NOT
HAPPY A LOT OF THE TIME,

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE FORGET
THIS SORT OF THING.

UM, BUT HERE WAS AN EVENT
THAT FORCED US TO REMEMBER.

♪ THIS IS THE YEAR
THAT YOU DREAM ABOUT ♪

♪ WHEN IT ALL COMES OUT ♪

♪ AND WE ARE DONE ♪

♪ PICTURE THE FACES
IN A ROUNDABOUT ♪

♪ CAN YOU TAKE IT?
OH, NO, NO, NO ♪

♪ IT'S IN OUR HANDS ♪

♪ WE MAKE OUR OWN PLANS ♪

♪ YOU FALL NOW,
FACE IT, I WILL TOO ♪

♪ IT'S UP TO YOU
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN ♪

♪ TO SEE IT THROUGH ♪

♪ JUST BOW YOUR HEAD
AND I WILL TOO ♪

♪ WE TRAVELED STARRY-EYED
UP TO THE EDGE ♪

♪ AND THEN YOU TURNED ♪

♪ AND LEFT ME THERE FOR DEAD ♪

♪ AND LATER
WHEN I WON YOU OVER AGAIN ♪

♪ OH, I BURNED YOU BACK
IN THE END ♪

♪ IT'S IN OUR HANDS ♪

♪ WE MAKE OUR OWN PLANS ♪

♪ YOU FALL NOW,
MAYBE I WILL TOO ♪

♪ IT'S UP TO YOU
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN ♪

♪ TO SEE IT THROUGH ♪

♪ JUST BOW YOUR HEAD
AND I WILL TOO ♪

♪ OH, I'LL KEEP A CANDLE LIT
FOR YOU! ♪

♪ BA BA BA BA ♪

♪ BA BA BA ♪

♪ BA DA DA ♪

♪ SO IT IS WRITTEN,
YOU WERE GOOD TO ME ♪

♪ AND TO YOUR FAMILY,
WHO WILL I BE? ♪

♪ AND SHOULD WE EVER
GET IT BACK AGAIN ♪

♪ CAN WE MAKE IT UP HERE,
MY FRIEND? ♪

♪ IT'S IN OUR HANDS ♪

♪ IF THIS IS GOODBYE ♪

♪ YOU GO YOUR WAY
AND I WILL TOO ♪

♪ IT'S UP TO YOU ♪

♪ TO SAY I'M SORRY ♪

♪ AND THEN I LOVE YOU ♪

♪ JUST BOW YOUR HEAD,
LITTLE DARLING ♪

♪ COME ON,
YOUR GIRL IS CALLING ♪

♪ JUST BOW YOUR HEAD
AND I WILL TOO ♪