Chapter 1 |
Chapter 2 |
Chapter 3 |
Chapter 4 |
Chapter 5 |
Chapter 6 |
Chapter 7 |
Chapter 8 |
Chapter 9 |
Chapter 10 |
Chapter 11
The Adventures of Superman
Batman's Great Mystery
Chapter 3 of 11 - February 5, 1948
Narrator
Just twelve days ago the famous Batman wakened Robin, his young companion, from sleep, and told him:
Batman
I'm going away, Robin. I can't tell you where or why. I hope to be back within a week. But if I'm not, well, you may never see me again.
Music
Narrator
Then, when twelve days passed and Batman did not return, a very worried Robin appealed for aid to Clark Kent, who as we know is Superman. Searching for a clue in Batman's study Kent discovers a recently made recording of a conversation between Batman and a mysterious Mr. Jones. A man who had somehow learned that Batman was really a wealthy young man named Bruce Wayne, and who threatened, that unless Batman accompanied him to an unnamed destination, he would reveal his secret to the world.
A desperate search failed to uncover any trace of Batman or the mysterious Mr. Jones. But early that evening, Police Inspector Henderson phoned Kent and Robin and told them to go to the Metropolis Auditorium. There before a huge crowd, a tall figure wearing a skin tight costume, cape, bat-like hood and mask, walked out on the stage to address the gathering.
And now a word from our sponsor:
.
Robin
PEOPLE SOUNDS, MOVEMENT, MURMURING
Look, Mr. Kent, it's Batman!
Kent
It certainly looks like him, Dick.
Robin
It is him, or else I - I'm dreaming!
Kent
You're not dreaming, son!
Robin
But how could he be here, safe and sound, while letting us think he might be dead?
Kent
I don't know.
Robin
Oh, there's something screwy going on.
Kent
Must be! Can't imagine Batman addressing a selfish, bigoted crowd like this!</FONT
Batman
Ladies and gentlemen...
Kent
He's starting his speech. Listen...
Batman
It's a great pleasure and privilege to address this splendid organization.
Robin
That's Batman alright.
Batman
I am wholeheartedly in sympathy with your views, and I am convinced that the future of our great country rests in your hands, and in the hands of those others all over the United States who think the way you do.
MURMURS OF PEOPLE
Robin
Did you hear that, Mr. Kent? He's with this mob!
Kent
Yes! I can't believe it, Dick!
Robin
Why, If Batman told me once he told me a hundred times that this bunch were selfish bigots. He said they were a menace to our country!
Kent
They are! I can't understand this!
Robin
I think...
Kent
Wait, Dick, let's hear this.
![]()
Batman
...in this country, want us to send our hard-earned food, clothing, seed and agricultural equipment to the nations of Europe. 'Share what we have with the unfortunate,' they say. Well, I say, don't do anything of the kind. Let others take care of themselves.
PEOPLE MURMURING
Robin
Holy smokes, Mr. Kent, I must be dreaming!
Kent
No, you're not, Dick!
Robin
Batman always said the only decent and humane thing to do was to help the starving people in Europe.
Kent
I know. He went to Washington with me a few months ago to say the same thing. I can't understand why... Wait, listen...
Batman
Why should we give our bread, and cotton and steel machinery to somebody else? I ask you, why? If the Europeans want the necessities and luxuries of life, let them make them themselves!
Robin
How can he say that when he knows their farms and factories and homes have been destroyed in the war, and all they're asking is our help in getting on their feet again?
Kent
I think I'm beginning to see what's behind this, Dick!
Robin
Yeah, what?!
Kent
Tell you later. Listen.
Batman
Finally...we have our own troubles to worry about, so let's not talk about Europe's too. They got into a mess without our help, now let them get out of it, without our help.
CHEERS
Robin
Jeepers. My ears must be playing tricks on me, Mr. Kent! I can't believe Batman would ever say such rotten, selfish things.
Kent
Neither can I!
Batman
The less we have to do with foreigners the better, so let 'em stew in their own juice. And now in closing, ladies and gentlemen, let me urge you again to refuse to aid Europe. We work hard for what we have, so let's not give it away to a lot of foreigners. I thank you.
CHEERS
MUSIC
And now, a word from our sponsor.
Robin
Batman spoke like a selfish bigot and a rabble rouser, Mr. Kent!
Kent
Like one of the worst kind, Dick.! The meeting's over. Come on.
Robin
I can't believe it! He..he just the same as said let those poor people over there starve.
Kent
That' what he said. But I've known Batman for years and I know he hates narrow bigots and despots like this Un-American as much as you and I and all decent Americans hate them!
Robin
Then why did he say all those awful things?
Kent
My hunch is he was forced to do this.
Robin
Forced?
Kent
Uh huh.
Robin
What makes you think so?
Kent
Remember that recording we found in Batman's study?
Robin
Oh, you mean that fellow Jones he..
Kent
Yes. Look, Batman just went into a dressing room. Here's our chance to find out. Come on!
MUSIC
DOOR OPENS
Kent
There he is, Dick.
Robin
(happily) Batman! Hey, Batman!
Batman
Oh, hello, Dick. How are you, Kent?
Kent
All right, Batman, but...
Robin
Where've you been? Why did you tell me I might never see you again? Why havn't I....
Batman
Whoah, wait a minute, Dick, it's a long story and I..I can't go into it now, because I've got another speaking engagement in Willow Falls.
Robin
But.. gee whiz...
Kent
Look, Batman, we three are all alone now, so you can drop the pose and talk straight. We heard your speech tonight and now we want to know...
Batman
Oh, you did, eh? How'd you like it?
Robin
Thought it smelled!
Batman
Really? I thought it was quite good.
Kent
Oh, cut that out, Batman! We know why you made that filthy un-American speech tonight. You see, we found that recording!
Batman
(Blankly) Recording? What recording, Kent?
Robin
The one you meant us to find, of course! The one you made the night you left of the conversation between you and that fellow Jones.
Batman
(Blankly) Oh. (Quickly) Oh, oh, that.
Robin
We heard him say he knew you were Bruce Wayne, and if you didn't go away with him he'd tell the whole world. That's why you made that speech tonight, wasn't it, Batman? Because Jones threatened to tell everyone you were Bruce Wayne, if you didn't go along with him. Isn't that right?
Batman
Well, I...
Kent
I'm surprised you went along with him no matter what it meant to you, Batman. You have a great deal of influence and prestige, you know, and a lot of people will believe your lies just because you say them!
Robin
That's right
Batman
(Hard voice) But they weren't lies.
Kent/Robin
What?
Batman
I told the truth.
Robin
You must be out of your head!
Kent
Now, listen, Batman, either this fellow Jones has succeeded in so scaring you that you've turned into a coward, or else....
Batman
Now wait! Get this straight, I'm neither a coward nor out of my mind, Kent. Now as I said before I've got another speaking engagement, so I'll have to ask you two to leave.
Kent
Oh, no you don't. You're not going to brush me off that easily, Batman. We've been friends for years, and I'm gonna find...
Robin
Wait a minute, Mr. Kent. Let me talk to him alone.
Kent
But look!
Robin
I know him better than you. Will you wait outside for me, please, in your car?
Batman
Look, I'm in a hurry, Dick, I told you...
Robin
I don't care, Pappy! You and I are gonna have a little pow wow, right now. Go on, please, Mr. Kent.
Kent
Well, All right, Dick, I'll wait for you in my car.
VOICE FADES, FOOR CLOSES LEAVES
Robin
All right, now, we're alone, just you and me, Batman and Robin, so start talking!
And now a word from our sponsor:
Narrator
Alone in a dressing room in the Metropolis Auditorium, Dick Grayson, who is really Robin, appeals to his tall, costumed companion.
Robin
We've never had any secrets from each other, Batman, so come on, tell me about this trouble you're in.
Batman
I'm not in any trouble, Dick.
Robin
Don't give me that! You wouldn't just disappear for almost two weeks and let me worry myself sick, and then make a rotten, un-American speech like...like some dirty rabble rouser unless you..
Batman
Watch your tongue, you brat!
Robin
Huh? What did you call me?
Batman
I called you a brat! Now get this through your head. I meant what I said in my speech tonight. I. well, I've been seeing things differently of late.
Robin
Holy smokes, Mr. Kent must be right. Either you're yellow or your nuts!
Batman
I warned you, Robin! Watch your tongue.
Robin
You watch yours! You never talked to me this way before and you're not gonna start now!
Batman
Skip it. I've got another speaking engagement so I've got to go.
Robin
Wait! Please, don't go until we've had this out!
Batman
Take your hands off me!
Robin
Please, Batman, you've got to listen to me. You've got to...
Batman
I said, let go.
SOUND OF PUNCH
Robin
Oh...
SOUND OF BODY FALLING
Batman
That'll hold you, you little punk.
DOOR OPENS
Jerry
Time to go, Bat...., hey, what happened to the kid?
Batman
He got tough and I had to take a poke at him, that's all. Let's go, Jerry.
Jerry
Say, he looks as if he's hurt pretty bad. His head's cut.
Batman
So what? He banged it against the radiator when he went down. He'll be okay. Come on, let's go.
Narrator
Without a backward glance at the fallen Robin, who lies huddled on the floor unconscious, the tall figure in the famous Batman costume strides from the dressing room with the man he calls Jerry. How can this brutal scene have taken place between Batman and Robin, inseparable as brothers?
WHAT CAN IT POSSIBLY MEAN? The mystery deepens even more tomorrow, fellows and girls, when more amazing things happen, and Superman decides it is time for him to go into action! So be sure to tune in tomorrow, same time, same station, for Chapter 4 of Batman's Great Mystery on the Adventures of Superman.
|
