EPISODE NUMBER: 33, Production Code 307

PLOT SUMMARY:

Batman is at the zoo investigating the disappearance of a rare black leopard and Batgirl shows up. Batgirl suspects Catwoman but the Batman notices it wasn’t’ a solo job. He notes the only other leopard arrives in Gotham the next day, as part of an “animal extravaganza.” At the extravaganza, Catwoman breaks in as batman and Batgirl look on.

The Bats confront Catwoman, who claims she’s innocent from in the first theft but plans to steal the second one. A fight breaks out and she frees the wrestling gorillas as a distraction – Batman gases them while Batgirl confronts Catwoman. After a brief fight the villainess ties up Batgirl and escapes while Batman recages the gorillas. Catwoman escapes with the leopard but the Joker confronts her outside and her goons gas her unconscious. Later Batman finds a strand of green hair confirming his suspicions.

At a deserted fun house, Joker reveals to the captive Catwoman that he’s stealing the leopards for Killgore Steed, a millionaire who likes to hunt rare animals. The Joker reveals a set of giant novelty chattering teeth and lowers her into them.

Batman and Batgirl arrive and use the Batmobile to ram the teeth and. Batman takes on Punch & Judy while Batgirl frees Catwoman, and the Joker makes his escape in a van. Catwoman wants to rescue the cats but Batman plans to take her into custody…until Catwoman reveals she’s the only one who knows where the Joker is going. Batman reluctantly agrees, over Batgirl’s objections.

Catwoman vows she believes animals belong in the wilderness, much to Batgirl’s surprise, while Joker meets with Killgore who demonstrates his giant maze for hunting rare animals. He gives Steed the leopards and in return he gives the Joker rare albino hyenas for his personal pets. The Joker takes out Steed’s goons and gases the millionaire with Joker venom. Then he spots the Batboat on the proximity alarm and prepares a reception for them.

Batman, Catwoman, and Batgirl are quickly captured and dropped into the maze. The Joker warns that they must navigate the maze without their equipment or he’ll kill the leopards. They agree and turn their equipment over to him and he unleashes a giant poisonous spider into the maze, then cuts the three of them off. Batman dodges an advancing spike-wall and then they start to make their way through the maze.

The walls are too slippery to climb, and Batman confronts one of the Joker goons, armed with an acid gun. He sets off a spike trap and narrowly makes it to safety, then takes off the pursuing goon and knocks his acid gun into a puddle of its own acid. Batman fights the two goons, while Batgirl confronts the giant spider. Catwoman runs into the Joker and his hyenas but she manages to calm them down as they ignore the Joker’s kill command, and the Joker attacks her.

Batman uses the spikes to take out Punch & Judy and finds the tracking device they’re using. Batgirl tosses the spider into another part of the maze as Batman catches up to her, and they head for Catwoman. Joker has her on the ropes when the other two arrive and while the hyenas look on, laughing. He escapes back toward the manor while Batman goes in pursuit. The Joker tries to use Batman’s utility belt, which is keyed to the Caped Crusader’s bio-patterns. Batman knocks him out, while Catwoman and Batgirl free the leopards, and Catwoman imprisons her so she can make her escape…with the leopards. Catwoman heads for the boat but the leopards refuse to go with her across the boat. Batman shows up and she’s forced to leave the cats and make her escape. He goes back to free Batgirl, who is unhappy Catwoman fooled her. Batman reassures her that her instincts were good and that he’ll be keeping her on as Batgirl.

WRITTEN BY: Joseph Kuhr

DIRECTED BY: Christopher Berkeley

CAST:
Rino Romano (Bruce Wayne / Batman)
Danielle Judovits (Barbara Gordon / Batgirl)
Gina Gershon (Catwoman)
Charles Napier (Killgore Steed)
Kevin Michael Richardson (the Joker)

QUOTES:
Joker: "What kind of crazy canines are you?" Catwoman: "Sorry to burst your balloon, Joker, but hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Oh, and by the way, they're laughing at you!"

INTERESTING NOTES:
- When Joker is staring down Catwoman, Batgirl and Batman, he throws Batgirl's iron Batarang at the trio. When it flies over everyone's heads, it is one of Batman's black Batarangs with the silver edge.

SCREEN GRABS: