EPISODE NUMBERS: 45, Production Code 406

PLOT SUMMARY:

It’s five minutes to midnight and Commissioner Gordon and his men get a call from the villain Black Mask, demanding payment. He warns that last night’s explosion of a shock-wave generator should have convinced them. Black Mask prepares to activate a new explosion but Batman arrives, disables his laptop computer, and takes the villain down, while Batgirl and Robin dispose of the Masks’ henchmen.

Batman warns Commissioner Gordon that the bomb is still out there, but only Black Mask has the detonation codes. Batman prepares to find the bombs and sends Robin and Batgirl to protect the escort. They follow from the rooftops while discussing the fact that they get the grunt duties, then watch police HQ.

Gordon interrogates Black Mask about the location of the shock-wave generator while Batman searches a warehouse where the Black Mask’s thugs ambush him. They quickly take him down using tasers and stunrods and he wakes up in a cage. Nearby the Black Mask’s thugs are preparing a fake police van while the main henchman, Number 1, boasts that Black Mask will soon be free.

Black Mask’s men arrive and pump gas into the building, knocking out Gordon and his men. Batgirl quickly notices them going down and gets masks on herself and Robin. They use the ventilators to clear the building of gas then go after Black mask, who take him down and lock him in a cell. However, Black Mask’s men arrive and lay siege to the building.

Batgirl takes Robin downstairs to close the emergency security gates and Robin holds off the first wave of attackers while Batgirl goes to look for the gate control. She finds the right switch but manages to start cutting off Robin. She holds the gate open long enough fro Robin to get clear with the men on the other side. Number 1 is unimpressed by their interference and tells his men to find another way in.

The police are still unconscious and the duo tries to contact Batman, whose utility belt has been taken away. They prepare to send an all-precinct distress call but Black Mask’s men have come in through the elevator shafts. Batgirl goes up the shaft to sever the elevator cable while Robin attacks the other ones. They drive them off but others are burning their way through the shields.

Batgirl and Robin make a barricade while Number 1 drives a van through the security gates, making an opening. Black Mask is still unimpressed and even Robin’s confidence is shaken, and Batgirl admits she gets scared sometimes as well. The men burst in and take them down with tasers, then relieve them of their utility belts and lock them in a cell. The shock-wave generator is in the van outside, ready for Black Mask to activate.

Batman remote-activates the electric charge in his utility belt, stunning his prisoners. He gets free while Batgirl uses a device in her boot heel to get free. They figure out Black Mask is escaping by helicopter from the rooftop and head up there. Black Mask disposes of Number 1 for his failure and appoints a new man, but Robin and Batgirl arrive and dispose of the thugs. They follow Black Mask up the helicopter ladder where they struggle and catch up to him in the cabin. Black Mask reveals that he’s armed the bomb and the timer counts down to 0… but nothing happens. They get back to police HQ to find Batman has disarmed the shock-wave generator. He congratulates them on doing the “grunt work”… then asks who wants to wash the Batmobile.

WRITTEN BY: Alexx Van Dyne

DIRECTED BY: Matt Youngberg

CAST:
Rino Romano (Bruce Wayne / Batman)
Evan Sabara (Dick Grayson / Robin)
Danielle Judovits (Barbara Gordon / Batgirl) Mitch Pileggi (Commissioner Gordon) James Remar (Black Mask)
Jim Wise (Detective)
Diedrich Bader (Number 1)

QUOTES:
Black Mask: The Batman was the only road block to my freedom.
Robin: Yeah? What are we then?
Black Mask: Speed bumps.

Batman: I want you two on the police escort.
Robin: Escort? Does that involve helping Gordon pin a corsage on Black Mask?

INTERESTING NOTES:
- Black Mask makes his first on-screen appearance in a DC animated series.

- In the end credits, Danielle Judovits is listed as the voice of Alfred, not Batgirl/Barbara Gordon.

SCREEN GRABS:

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