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Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

2000 film by Curt Geda

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is a 2000 film, a spinoff of the animated series Batman Beyond.

Directed by Curt Geda. Written by Paul Dini.
Good guys still wear black

Batman (Terry McGinnis)

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  • [to the Jokerz] It's a school night, boys and girls. I'm gonna have to call your folks.
  • [after the Jokerz's vehicle crashes] That ain’t coming out of my allowance.
  • I hate to say it, but I think your little Robin's turned into a bitter old crow.
  • [to Ace] Good Batdog.

The Joker

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  • Ah, brave new world, that has such yutzes in it.
  • You know, kids, a lot has changed while your old uncle Joker's been away: new Gotham, new rules, even a new Batman; but now I'm tanned, I'm rested, and I'm ready to give this old town a wedgie again.
  • Hello Gotham, Joker's back in town. [laughs]
  • [meeting the new Batman] Ah, the new boy: ears are too long and I miss the cape but not too shabby, not too shabby at all; Woof.
  • [to Bruce] Oh no, your old eyes do not deceive you, Brucie; after all, who'd know me better than you?
  • [to Bruce] Don't get up, Bruce, it's just an old friend come by to say hello. Hello, Batman. [laughing]
  • This is one of Uncle Sam's orbiting defense satellites: Hyperion-class, laser armed, handy little gadget for shooting down unfriendly missiles or giving someone a world-class hotfoot. [simulation of the satellite firing down on Gotham] Think of it as urban tagging on a grand scale reminding all and sundry that this is Joker territory; you're welcome to try and stop us but, [chuckles] I'm not taking bets on that happening anytime soon, toodle.
  • Aren't you the nasty tattletale, ratting me out before I have my fun? [prepares to fire the satellite laser] Papa spank.
  • [preparing to fire the satellite laser] So where should I make Ground Zero, Gotham General, where our hero's dear little Dana is recuperating, or here, in the happy garden of Mrs. Mary McGinnis? I always think it adds resonance to a hero's mission to have some defining element of tragedy in his background, don't you? Ah, but the one and only kickoff point must be stately Wayne Manor: gone in a flash before Brucie can hobble to safety or mount a rescue, don't worry though; I'll be hitting those other spots soon enough.
  • [after shocking Ace] End of the line, Snoopy.
  • Adios, Brucie; I guess I should salute you as a worthy adversary and all that but the truth is, I really did hate your guts. [blows raspberry]

Timothy Drake

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  • [working on a communications array, not looking up] You might as well show yourself. I heard you coming a mile away. [Batman decloaks] I'm no Boy Wonder anymore, but that old training never goes away, even at my age.
  • Me and the others gave everything, but it just wasn't enough for the old man. I used to think, if I went on long enough, someday he'd retire and I'd... ah, the heck with it. Capes, costumes, bad guys - it was kid's stuff! Bruce probably did me a favor. By the end, I was so sick of it I never wanted to see that stupid Robin suit again...! [turns around; Batman is gone] Some things never change.
  • I owe you big time. Bruce couldn't have chosen anyone better to put on the mask.

Bruce Wayne

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  • Terry. I've been thinking about something you once told me. And you were wrong. It's not Batman that makes you worthwhile; it's the other way around. Never tell yourself anything different.
  • [After hitting a target with a batarang] Still got it.

Dee-Dee Twins

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[both] On the double!
Dee-Dee (1): Well, if it isn't old mister Wayne.
Dee-Dee (2): So debonair.
Dee-Dee (1): So dapper.
Dee-Dee (2): (knees him) So decrepit.
Dee-Dee (1): Oh.
Dee-Dee (2): Joy.

Dialogue

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Chucko: Batman showed up and we had to ditch, but we were able to save this: the console's memory board. [Chucko slides the board to Joker, who is sitting across the table. Joker catches it.] I know it's not much, but-
The Joker: It's not much? It's nothing. [smashes the memory board] Losers, all of you, a disgrace to the name Joker, why in my day...
Bonk: In your day?! Ever since you conned your way into this gang it's been "in your day" this, "in your day" that.
Chucko: [uneasily] Bonk.
Bonk: Your day is over, old man, even if you are who you say you are; and personally, I think you're a fake.
The Joker: Ah, brave new world, that has such yutzes in it.
Bonk: He's got us running around, ripping out a lot of geek junk, but no cash! He won't tell us what his plan is, even if he has one! I want out!
The Joker: [Amused, the Joker pulls out a gun.] If you insist... [the other Jokerz gasp]
Bonk: [scared] Hey, man, take it easy! I-I was, I was just kidding!
[The Joker fires, but a flag with the word BANG! pops out of the end of the gun.]
The Joker: So was I! [The Joker chuckles and waves the gun, then shoots him with laughing gas] Oops! No I wasn't! That's also how we did it in my day. (Bonk laughing) You know, kids, a lot has changed since your old Uncle Joker's been away: new Gotham, new rules, even a new Batman. But now I'm tanned, I'm rested, and I'm ready to give this town a wedgie again!
Chucko: Great, Boss!
The Joker: Ghoul, m'boy, we're gonna need a new systems scanner; who's got one that they'd be willing to donate?
Ghoul: Checking... What we're after is cutting edge. It's the only other place we can find one.
The Joker: [Reading off a list.] Hmmm... Nope. Nuh-uh. Nope. [Finally finding a candidate.] Ah!
Ghoul: What? There? Security's gonna be tight.
The Joker: Oh, yes! But think of the fun!
Terry: So... The Joker, huh? Must be spry for a guy who's like... mid-eighties? Any theories on that? Clone? Robot? Suspended animation after being frozen in a block of ice?
Bruce: Shut up and drive.
Terry: Yes, sir.
[Terry and Dana are dancing, while Terry is falling asleep, Dana tries to keep him awake by talking...it doesn't work, so...]
Dana: Terry, my head's on fire.
Terry: [takes the hand of another girl, his eyes are closed] You look good.
Dana: [angry] MCGINNIS!!
[Other girl giggles and walks away]
Terry: Sorry, babe. Guess the day was longer than I thought.
Terry McGinnis: It's funny. I know about all your other major enemies, but you never mention him. He was the biggest, wasn't he?
Bruce Wayne: It wasn't a popularity contest. He was a psychopath. A monster.
Terry McGinnis: So how is it possible he could still be around after all this time?
Bruce Wayne: It's not possible. He died years ago.
Terry McGinnis: You're sure?
Bruce Wayne: [shortly] I was there.
[Bruce gets up starts walking away. There's a beat of silence]
Terry [softly]: You killed him... didn't you? [Bruce stops and hangs his head, but still doesn't look at him] He was gonna do something so terrible that you had no other choice. That was it, wasn't it?
Bruce Wayne: It can't be.
The Joker: Oh no. Your old eyes do not deceive you, Brucie! After all, [whispers] who'd know me better than you?
Terry McGinnis: Joker smashed up the cases,
Terry McGinnis/Batman: Where's the Joker?
Timothy Drake: Joker?
Terry McGinnis/Batman: Drop the act, I know you are working for him.
Timothy Drake: No, Joker's gone, I don't know where he is really.
Bruce Wayne: The suit's sensors aren't picking up any pulse fluctuations, he's telling the truth.
Timothy Drake: I don't do this anymore, I have a home and family, I gave this up years ago; kids' stuff, that's all it was.
Terry McGinnis/Batman: He may be telling the truth but he's still wacked.
Timothy Drake: Fun and games, Boy wonder playing the hero, fighting the bad guys and no one ever gets...(then suddenly realizes) Oh God, (puts his hand on his head) I did it, I didn't mean to; tried so hard to forget, but I can still hear his scream, still see his frozen smile. Every night the dreams get stronger, he's there when I sleep: whispering, laughing, telling me that I'm as bad as he is, we're both the same.
Terry McGinnis/Batman: I'm calling an ambulance.
The Joker (as Timothy Drake): No, I'm alright, forgive me, Terry, old nasty memories twisting inside me like bad oysters; nothing really, I'm perfectly fine now.
Terry McGinnis/Batman: How do you know my name?
The Joker (as Timothy Drake): There's nothing about you I don't know, Batfake.
[The Joker (in control of Timothy's body) throws the steel ball he's holding, which turns into an electric claw and grabs Terry by the arm, Terry collapses to the ground, immobilized.]
Bruce Wayne: Terry!
The Joker (as Timothy Drake): Have a timeout, kid, can't let you spoil the party too soon; and Bruce, I'm sure you've got your monkey-boy wired somehow. That's just peachy, cause I want you to see every minute of this; it's a doozy.
[Laughs as Timothy, holding his head, and after a while, reveals his true form and when he does so, he laughs as himself]
Bruce Wayne: My God.
The Joker (as himself): [Takes off the lab coat, showing the purple tights underneath] Ooh, I never get tired of that.
Terry McGinnis/Batman: Drake, you're the Joker?
The Joker: [does a slight chuckle] That flabby oaf doesn't realize I'm using him as a timeshare, beneath this puckish exterior lies the mind of a genius years ahead of my time. In the weeks young Robin was under my tutelage, I used him as the subject of my greatest experiment: utilizing cutting-edge genetics technology, which I had pinched here and there, I encoded my DNA on a microchip and set it into BirdBoy's BirdBrain, [points to a dot on the back of his neck] here; everything that was me has been'a sleeping all comfy and cozy inside Tim Drake's subconscious. At first I had to limit the time I spent in Drake's body; he's not aware of what I do, chalking up lingering memories to bad dreams. If his family misses him, I simply call wifey and tell her, [Imitating Drake's voice] "I'm working late, honey." [Goes back to his own voice] The changes come at will now and soon I'll be strong enough to live in this body permanently; Mr. J's on the rebound, baby, my comeback party's gonna set the whole town on fire.
The Joker: [after targeting Wayne Manor] Adios, Brucie. I suppose I should salute you as a worthy adversary and all that, but the truth is I really did hate your guts. [blows a raspberry at Bruce, then turns to Terry] How about you, kid? Any last words for the old Bat-fart? [referring to Bruce] ["Bat-fart" becomes "Bat-coot" in the edited version]
Batman: Yeah. Sic 'im!
[Ace arrives on cue and attacks the Joker]
The Joker: [notices the satellite laser is heading for the abandoned candy factory] Oh, good! The beam's headed here! Now I'll have to start all over again. Thanks for wrecking everything, kid. [Turns to leave] See ya 'round.
Batman: Hold it! [Grabs Joker's wrist]
The Joker: Oh wise up, junior, GAME'S OVER!
Batman: I'm taking you in!
The Joker: [laughing] Right! [punches Batman several times and throws him onto table, which breaks under his weight] You're out of your league, McGinnis. I know every trick the original Batman and Robin knew at their peak.
Batman: Maybe. But you don't know a thing about me.
The Joker: YOU?! What's to know?! You're a punk! A rank amateur! A costumed errand boy taking orders from a senile old man. Still, if it's a whupping you're a-wantin'...
[He rolls up his sleeves, and Terry runs to the door]
The Joker: That's right. Better run and save yourself... it's about your speed. [Terry closes the door, then breaks the switch to prevent escape]
Batman: Let's dance, bozo.
[As they fight, Joker gets the upper hand]
Batman: [To Bruce, through comlink] He's tough. Any suggestions, boss?
Bruce Wayne: Joker's vain and likes to talk. He'll try to distract you, but don't listen. Block it out and power on through.
Batman: Wait. I like to talk too.
[They fight, and Terry knees the Joker in the gut]
The Joker: What're you doing?!
Batman: Fighting dirty.
The Joker: The REAL Batman would never-- [Terry pushes the knee in further]
Batman: Told you, ya didn't know me.
The Joker: Funny guy...
Batman: Can't say the same for you. [shoves the Joker so that his gut hits a table]
The Joker: Impudent brat. Who do you think you're talking to?
Batman: Not a comedian, I'll tell you that.
The Joker: [draws a laser pistol] Shut your mouth! [fires at Batman]
Batman: [retreats into the rafters] The real Batman never talked to you much, did he? That's probably why you were so fixated on him. [tosses a batarang, knocking the gun out of Joker's hand]
The Joker: Don't play psychoanalyst with me, boy!
Batman: Oh, I don't need a degree to figure you out. [hits the lights with a batarang, turning them off] The real reason you kept coming back was you never got a laugh out of the old man.
The Joker: I'm not hearing this...
Batman: Get a clue, clowny! He's got no sense of humor! He wouldn't know a good joke if it bit him in the cape. Not that you ever had a good joke.
The Joker: [really getting angry] Shut up... Shut up!
Batman: I mean, joy buzzers, squirting flowers? Lame! Where's the "A" material? Make a face, drop your pants, something!
The Joker: Show yourself!
Batman: You make me laugh. But only 'cause I think you're kinda pathetic. [mimics the Joker's laugh]
The Joker: Stop that!
Batman: So you fell in a tank of acid, got your skin bleached and decided to become a supervillain. What, you couldn't get work as a rodeo clown? [laughs mockingly]
The Joker: [grabs some grenades] Don't you dare laugh at me!...
Batman: [laughs harder] Why? I thought the Joker always wanted to make Batman laugh!
The Joker: [throwing grenades] YOU'RE NOT BATMAN!!
The Joker: [as he takes off Batman's mask and strangles him, he laughs] C'mon, McGinnis! Laugh it up now, you miserable little punk! LAUGH! [in a sing-song tone] I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
Terry: Ha... ha. [jabs joybuzzer into the back of the Joker's neck, As the Joker screams in pain frying the microchip and destroying the Joker forever, before Terry puts his mask back on]
Police Woman: Delia and Deidre Dennis, your grandmother's paid your bail. You're released to her custody, pending your trial.
Grandma Harley Quinn: You rotten little scamps! I struggle to make a good home for you and this is the thanks I get! (She whacks the Dee Dee twins with a cane) Break a Grandmother's heart, I hope they throw the book at you!

Flashback

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A significant portion of the movie is dedicated to the final battle between the original Batman and Joker; quotes from this segment are separated here.

Commissioner Barbara Gordon: [beginning the flashback] I thought talking about it would get easier over time, but some hurts never go away. Dick Grayson - Nightwing - had left to establish himself in another city. There were three of us then: Bruce, myself, and Robin... Tim Drake. [Robin is seen gliding over Gotham's rooftops] Robin was out alone that night when he came upon a woman in trouble.
Woman: Help! Help! Somebody, please help!
Robin: Hero time! [grapples down to the ground and knocks out two thugs] That evens things up a little.
[The "woman in trouble" is soon revealed to be Harley Quinn...]
Harley Quinn: Not really, bird-boy! [knocks Robin out with her mallet, as the Joker enters the scene]
The Joker: [chuckles] A bird in the hand...
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: [narrating, as Batman and Batgirl search for Robin] We soon realized Tim was missing. Night after night, we scoured the city, running down every lead, pressing every underworld connection... but no one had seen any sign of Robin. For three agonizing weeks, there was nothing. Then, one night, we were sent an invitation...
[Batman and Batgirl arrive on a rooftop, seeing a jack-in-the-box. Batman opens it with a batarang, but the "jack" triggers a grenade, exploding the box. In the remains, Batman picks up a straitjacket, realizing where Robin is...]
Batman: Arkham.
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: [narrating] The asylum had been moved to a newer high-security building. The old building had been partially demolished, and hung open like a rotting wound.
The Joker: You know, Bats, we've been doing this little runaround of ours for years. It's been loads of laughs, but sad fact is, none of us are getting any younger.
Harley Quinn: That old clock's a'tickin'!
The Joker: Quite right, poo. And Harley and I thought it was time to start a family. Add a "Joker Junior" to our merry brood.
Harley Quinn: But rather than go through all the joys of childbirth, [makes disgusted face] we decided to adopt.
The Joker: We couldn't do it legally, but then we remembered that you always have a few spare kids lying around — so we borrowed one.
[Joker and Harley open the curtain, revealing a shadowed figure strapped to a table.]
Batman: No...
Batgirl: My God!
The Joker: He needed a little molding, of course; what kid doesn't? But, in time, we came to love him as our own. Say hello, J.J.!:
[Robin appears from the shadows, mutilated to look like the Joker and laughing mindlessly]
Harley Quinn: Sweetie, get mommy's bazooka!
Batgirl: How could you help Joker do it, Harley?
Harley Quinn: Okay, so he roughed the kid up a little. But I'll make it right.
Batgirl: Yeah, you're Mother of the Freakin' Year! :[In the edited cut, "freakin'" was replaced with "stinkin'"]
The Joker: What's the matter, Batman? No witty comeback? No threat? Then I'll provide the narration... [the screen flickers to life, showing "Our Family Memories"] I'll begin with how I peeled back the layers of the boy's mind. [In the edited version, he says, "I'll begin with how I affected young Robin's makeover."] Oh, he bravely tried to fight it at first. You would've been proud to see him so strong - but all too soon, the serums and the shocks took their toll... and the dear lad began to share such secrets with me. [In the edited cut, "the serums and the shocks took their toll... and" was cut] Secrets that are mine alone to know... Bruce. It's true, Batsy! I know everything. And kinda like the kid who peeks at his Christmas presents, I must admit, it's sadly anti-climactic. Behind all the sturm and batarang, you're just a little boy in a playsuit, crying for mommy and daddy! It'd be funny if it weren't so pathetic. [pause] Oh, what the heck, I'll laugh anyway! HA HA HA HA HA HAA!
The Joker: If you don't like the movie, I've got slides.
Batman: I'll break you in two...
The Joker: Oh, Batman, if you had the guts for that kind of fun, you'd have done it years ago. I on the other hand... [The Joker produces a knife from his sleeve, cuts Batman across the chest and stabs it in above his knee, or in the edited cut, he just punches him; in either case, he jumps down to the wounded Batman] You've lost, Batman. Robin is mine. The last sound you'll hear will be our laughter.
[Director's Cut version]
The Joker: [tosses the bang flag spear gun to Tim] Here you go, sonny boy! [Tim grabs the gun] Make daddy proud: deliver the punchline.
[Tim aims the gun at Batman, then pulls the trigger and a "Bang!" flag pops up harmlessly]
Batman: Tim...
[Tim pauses a bit, still laughing]
The Joker: DO IT!
[Tim laughs for a bit, but slowly breaks out of the brainwashing effect, then turns around and fires the gun at the Joker instead, where the flag spear pierces his heart, and he gets flown and knocked into giant building blocks]
The Joker: [dying] That's not funny... that's not...
[The Joker gets choked up in blood, then falls to the floor, dead; As Barbara runs in, Tim's insane laughter quickly becomes uncontrollable sobbing and he falls to his knees]
[Edited version]
The Joker: [tosses laughing gas gun to Tim] Here you go, sonny boy! [Tim grabs the gun] Make him one of us!
[Tim aims the gun at Batman, He lowers the gun, then throws it away Bruce smiles but the Joker snarls. Tim still laughing tackles the Joker into the next room with tanks of water near electrical wiring, where he crashes into one and tries going after Tim but slips and turns on the electrical wiring; scene cuts to far away from the room, where the Joker's horrific death scream is heard, As Barbara runs in, Tim's insane laughter quickly becomes uncontrollable sobbing and he falls to his knees]
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: [ends the flashback] We buried the Joker deep beneath Arkham. The only other person who knew what happened that night was my father, the first Commissioner Gordon. He promised to keep our secret. [In the edited version, the line, "We buried the Joker deep beneath Arkham," was removed before the next line "The only other person who knew what happened that night was my father, the first Commissioner Gordon. And for Robin's sake, he kept that night a secret."] With his last act of cruelty, the Joker tainted us all with compromise and deception. [turns to Terry] I suppose he had the last laugh after all.
Terry McGinnis: I'm assuming his girlfriend bought it, too. [Edited version: "And since you saw Harley fall into the pit..."]
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: We never found her body, but I doubt she'd be starting trouble now.
Terry McGinnis: And Tim?
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: We had a trusted friend, Dr. Leslie Thompkins. It took her a year, but she was able to help Tim back to sanity. ["Back to himself" in the edited version] Still, things were never really the same. Bruce forbade Tim to be Robin again; he blamed himself for what happened and swore he'd never endanger another young partner. Tim left us soon after that, determined to make it on his own.
Terry McGinnis: Did they ever patch things up?
Commissioner Barbara Gordon: Tim tried once or twice, but you know Bruce. I check up on Tim now and then. He's a top-level communications engineer, married, couple kids. Not too bad, all things considered.
Terry McGinnis: He deserved a happy ending... but he still has the most likely connection to that night.


Cast

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Batman
  Creators     Bob Kane · Bill Finger  
  Characters     Anarky · Batgirl · Barbara Gordon · Dick Grayson · The Joker  
  Live‑action television     Batman · Legends of the Superheroes · Birds of Prey · Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt · Gotham · The Penguin  
  Live-action  
  serials and films   		  Batman (1943) · Batman and Robin · Batman (1966)  
  1989 film series     Batman (1989) · Batman Returns · Batman Forever · Batman & Robin  
  The Dark Knight Trilogy     Batman Begins · The Dark Knight · The Dark Knight Rises  
  DC Extended Universe     Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice  
  Batman Epic Crime Saga     The Batman (2022)  
  Animated television     The Adventures of Batman · The Batman/Superman Hour · The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour · The New Adventures of Batman · Batman: The Animated Series · The  
  New Batman Adventures · Batman Beyond · The Batman · Batman: The Brave and the Bold · Beware the Batman  
  Animated films     Featuring Batman     Mask of the Phantasm · SubZero · Return of the Joker · Mystery of the Batwoman · The Batman vs. Dracula · Under the Red Hood · Year One ·  
  The Dark Knight Returns · DC Super Heroes Unite · Son of Batman · Assault on Arkham · Batman vs. Robin · Batman: Bad Blood · The Killing Joke · The Lego Batman Movie · Gotham by Gaslight · Death in the Family  
  With other heroes     Justice League: The New Frontier · Superman/Batman: Public Enemies · Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths · Superman/Batman:
  Apocalypse · Justice League: Doom · Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox · JLA Adventures: Trapped in Time · Justice League: War · The
  Lego Movie · Justice League: Throne of Atlantis · Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts · Justice League: Gods and Monsters · Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem  
  Animated shorts     Chase Me · Gotham Knight  
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