Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995): Season 1, Episode 29 - The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne - full transcript

A sinister doctor uses his mind reading machine to learn Batman's secret identity and attempts to auction it.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

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Hand it over, Judge Vargas.

The doctor said a trade.

Then let's trade.

We had a deal.

Numbers.

Crunch it.

Twenty grand short, Snap.

The price just went up another 100 thou.

Please, I can't pay that much.



Nah, you'll pay.

You make a mistake. You always pay.

My sentiments exactly.

(GROANS)

Judge Vargas!

Judge Vargas!

Stop!

(ENGINE STARTS)

Help.

(GASPS)

(AMBULANCE DOORS CLOSES)

(ENGINE STARTS)

Thank heavens she's not badly hurt.

But they don't know
when she'll regain consciousness.



I've known Maria Vargas for 20 years.
The best judge on the circuit.

It can't be blackmail.

There was something on that videotape
she didn't want anyone to see.

I had dinner with her a week ago.

She was just back from vacation.

Looked so relaxed.

(PHONE RINGING)

WOMAN'. Commissioner, that limo's plate
is registered

to the Yucca Springs Resort corporation.

Yucca Springs
is where Maria took her vacation.

Some sort of executive
relaxation program.

That's one of Roland Daggett's
subsidiary companies.

What are you going to...

Do I look stressed out to you?

You? Get outta town.

Exactly. I think I need a vacation.

Now that you've enrolled
in the stress management program

Judge Vargas took,
may I ask what your next step is, sir?

That's up to Dr. Hugo Strange.

I think he's the same doctor
Judge Vargas mentioned.

My first session with him
is in 15 minutes.

In that case, perhaps I should lay out
your evening clothes.

Are you sure
this will help me relax, Doc?

But of course.

My radiopathic monitoring device
is infallible.

It works by lowering your defenses.

What defenses might those be?

The defenses we create to hide the truth
from ourselves and others.

For when we do this, we create stress.

Is it not so?

Some secrets are worth keeping.

If you feel so, there must be
considerable stress in your life.

So, we should start
with your childhood, yes?

I don't have much to say
about my childhood.

Is there some past tragedy
you did not wish to acknowledge?

(BRUCE GROANS)

(GUN FIRING)

STRANGE:
Perhaps, the loss of your parents?

Were they taken from you by violence?

What happened
to my parents is no secret.

But no one knows that you feel
it was your fault. Yes?

I was only a child.

There was nothing I could do.

But you wanted to do something.

You were filled with anger.

You desired what?

A need filled you.

All-consuming. All-controlling.

What was it, Mr. Wayne?

What was it?

I wanted...

Yes?

Revenge!

Your relaxation therapy doesn't seem to
be working too well on me, Dr. Strange.

The first session is ofttimes traumatic.

We will continue tomorrow, yes?

I'll have to think about it.
Good day, Doc.

And good day to you,

Batman.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

(JOKER LAUGHING OVER RECORDING)

Boy, did you get a wrong number.

Leave your message
at the sound of the shriek.

No, please, don't!

(SCREAMING)

STRANGE:
I am speaking, I trust, to the Joker?

Your number was not easy to find.

This is Dr. Hugo Strange.

I am arranging an auction for an item,
I believe you will find most enticing.

Master Bruce, Dr. Strange
has just left the grounds.

Good.

This is my chance
to get a closer look at his machine.

I've got bad feelings about it, Alfred.

Judge Vargas.

Let us begin with your childhood.

VARGAS'. I'd rather not, Doctor.

STRANGE:
Hiding secrets can lead to stress.

What secrets are you hiding?

Let me guess.

You liked to play with matches?

- Yes ?
- Yes.

I mean, no. No.

Playing with matches,
my parents told me it was wrong.

(GASPS) I didn't mean to!
It was an accident!

STRANGE:
So, you were the one responsible

for the great Gotham Dock fire
30 years ago?

All this guilt
you have carried inside you.

Do you not feel better now?

It can see thoughts.

(SNIFFS) Ah...

Sunshine. Clean air.

(COUGHING)

I hate it.

This Dr. Strange
better have a good reason

for dragging us out
to the middle of nowhere.

Have you no poetry
in your soul my dichotomous friend?

There is a certain stark beauty
to this environment.

It's too brown.

I prefer green, as in money.

You have a point.

Hey, what's in this one?

Why, just what the doctor ordered.
(LAUGHS)

Good heavens.

Master Bruce.

You must get out immediately.

Almost through, Alfred.

Has Strange come back?

It's much worse than that, sir.

(STRAINING)

Hey, bucko, I'd be a little more careful
with the luggage if I were you.

Otherwise, you might lose your tip.

Not to mention your head.

Yes, sir, Mr. Joker, sir.

It's so hard to find good help
these days.

How true. How true.

The Joker, Two-Face and the Penguin
have just arrived

with large quantities of cash.

So, that's it. Strange isn't planning
to blackmail me.

He's going to auction my tape.

Tape, sir?

I'll explain later. Keep me informed.

(GASPS)

You are Bruce Wayne's butler,
are you not?

- Yes.
- Most excellent.

(GASPS)

Remove him.

It took me years to build that device.

But no matter.

You were, perhaps, looking for this?

Your butler told us you would be here.

It took a dose of sodium pentothal
to persuade him to talk.

He is quite loyal to you.

You are a valuable commodity,
Bruce Wayne.

Or should I say

"Batman"?

Take him away.

Oh, Master Bruce, I'm so sorry.

This is all my fault.

Nonsense, Alfred.

Believe it or not, this is working out
just as I planned.

How reassuring.

First, I would like to thank you
for coming all this way--

Get to the point!

(c LEARS THROAT)

Very well. I have here

incontestable proof
of Batman's secret identity.

Now, gentlemen,

how much am I bid?

Does Dr. Strange truly have proof
of your identity, sir?

I'm afraid so.

Five hundred thousand.

(SCOFFS) Chicken feed.
I'll bid a million.

Two million!

I have two million. Do I hear three?

Hold it, hold it, hold it.

Get out of my face, clown.

Which one?

Gentlemen, it behooves us
not to fight amongst ourselves.

Well put, sardine breath.

I think we should pool
our resources on this.

Fifity-one million,
two hundred forty thousand,

six hundred and eighty-five dollars

and

fifty-three cents.

STRANGE: Sold.

And now I give you
Batman's secret identity.

And after the show,
you shall meet its star.

Focus, focus! Focus!

It's a perfect plan.

With this machine,

I can imagine Batman to be
anyone I choose.

And these fools
will pay a fortune for it.

- Wait! It's not the right tape!
-(WEAPON FIRES)

Fellow miscreants, we've been had.

I'm gonna use your head
for a bowling ball, Strange.

Get him!

I should have known better than
to deal with the likes of you.

I spoke to Master Dick, sir,
as you requested.

Excellent, Alfred.

To the airport.

Bailing out
of the resort business, Hugo?

Joker, I swear, it was the wrong tape.

You're telling me.

Come on, Hugo, time to fly
the unfriendly skies.

(LAUGHING MANIACALLY)

-(MUFFLED YELLING)
- JOKER: Why, Hugo.

Why didn't you tell us
about your fear of flying?

Joker, please! I was set up!

Bruce Wayne is Batman!

That's absurd. I know Bruce Wayne.

If he's Batman, I'm the King Of England.

And people say I'm crazy.

Say, is it hot in here
or is it just me?

Haw, open that door
so we can get a breeze.

Good idea.

No!

Remember, it's not the fall,

it's the sudden stop!

(CREAKING)

Man, things haven't been the same
since deregulation.

(JOKER LAUGHING)

(GROANS)

What a rush.

BATMAN: Stay where you are.

You may notice, my masked friend,
that we have the guns.

Ah, well,

Arkham is nice this time of year.

Maria told me everything when
she woke up in the hospital.

The dock fire was an accident.

She had nothing to fear from the truth.

But you do, Batman.

Soon, the whole world will know
that you are really Bruce Wayne.

You created that tape in the theater
by imagining me saying those lies.

But the tape of your thoughts
is the truth.

I know your secret.

What secret is that?

No, it is impossible.

Strange, I knew from the start
your machine could read minds.

That's why I asked Bruce Wayne
to help me expose you.

And I was glad to do it.

Maria Vargas is a friend of mine.

Let's go. You'll have lots of time
to think about it in prison.

Not bad, huh?

Maybe I'll shuck this crime fighting gig
and try Hollywood.

Wish you weren't so tall though.

Walking in these leg extension braces
is a pain.

Where to now, Master Bruce?

Home, Alfred.

I've had enough vacation
to last me a long time.

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

English - SDH