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 5 of 11 - February 9, 1948
Narrator
After disappearing mysteriously for almost two weeks, the famous Batman apparently reappeared in the Metropolitan Auditorium, and delivered a rabble rousing un-American speech. Then confronted by Robin, his young companion, Batman struck the bewildered youngster, knocking him out. A short time later, Robin, having been brought home by Superman, received a telephone call apparently from Batman, who told him to come alone to a shady hotel on the waterfront, where he would explain his strange actions, and when Robin arrived there, he walked into an ambush. Meanwhile, unaware of this development Superman, disguised as reporter Clark Kent, was at the Opera House in Willow Falls thirty miles away, where Batman was delivering another speech. As he left the stage and walked into the wings, followed by the applause of the crowd, Kent stepped forward to meet him:
Kent
Batman
Just a minute, Batman!
Kent! What are you doing...
Kent
I want to talk to you.
Batman
Yeah? What about?
Kent
About Robin, and other things.
Batman
Look, I haven't time to discuss this.
Kent
You're to take time. You and Robin are as close as brothers. You practically brought him up!
Batman
Well, what are you getting at?
Kent
A few hours ago at the Metropolis Auditorium you struck him and knocked him out.
Batman
So what? Little punk asked for it.
Kent
That's not like you, Batman. You never slugged Robin before, or talked like this about him. What's more you never made rabble-rousing, un-American speeches before. Something very fishy going on and I intend to find out what it is.
Batman
Look, Kent, I don't intend to stand here and argue with you. I told you I'm expecting some phone calls at my hotel. Good night.
Kent
No you don't Batman. You're going to stay right here until we straighten this out.
Batman
Take your hands off me, Kent, or...
Kent
Or what? Will you try to slug me too?
Batman
Ye-es, I might forget myself and do just that.
.
Kent
That wouldn't be smart, would it, considering who I am?
Batman
If you think I'm afraid of you just because you're a reporter for a big newspaper you're crazy.
Kent
Well, I didn't mean that, because I'm a reporter.
Batman
What did you mean, then?
Kent
Don't you know?
Batman
No. I don't know what you're talking about and I don't care. I'm going to the Willow Falls Hotel.
Kent
Wait a minute!
Music
Narrator
Steel fingers locked on the Bat-like costume of the man's arm, Kent holds him fast, and there's a strange expression in his eyes as he gazes into the masked face before him. Then he hears his own voice, the voice of Superman, talking to him.
Kent
Batman is the only man in the world who knows that I, Superman, am Clark Kent. But this man doesn't know it.
Batman
Say, what's the matter with you?
Kent
So, I was right!
Batman
What do you mean? Take your hands off me, Kent!
Kent
First I thought you were acting this way because you were afraid of Jones, the man who said he knew Batman's real identity. But now I think I've got this situation figured out.
Batman
You amuse me, Kent. Keep on talking.
.
.
Kent
Later. Go on to your hotel. I'll be seeing you again, very soon.
Music
It's dark enough in this alley, so out of these clothes. I need Inspector Henderson's help in a hurry. I can get back to Metropolis in two shakes as SUPERMAN. THERE WE ARE. ALL SET NOW. UP AND AWAY!
FLYING and music
Kent
I tell you , Inspector, I know what I'm talking about. Either Batman is mentally ill - Jones may have done something to him to effect his mind - or else that man in the costume is not Batman!
Henderson
Not Batman? Why that's ridiculous, Kent!
Kent
I know it sounds fantastic, Inspector, because this fellow certainly looks and talks exactly like Batman. But..well...I put him to a test.
Henderson
Yeah? What kind of a test?
Kent
There's a certain secret which only Batman and I know.
Henderson
Yeah?
Kent
That masked man doesn't know it!
Henderson
Hmm. What is the secret?
Kent
I can't tell you, but take my word for it, Inspector, the real Batman couldn't possibly forget it! That is, unless he was mentally ill.
Henderson
I see.
Kent
Henderson
,
Kent ,
.
Henderson
Look, you have a record of Batman's fingerprints, haven't you?
Certainly, certainly.
Fine. Now, this guy who says he's Batman is staying at the Willow Falls Hotel tonight. That's only thirty miles away. So why don't you find some excuse for walking in on him and picking up a sample of his fingerprints. Then you can check them with the prints in your file.
Well, I suppose I could do that.
Kent
Do it, Inspector! If the prints match we'll know he's the real Batman, but he's mentally sick. And if they don't match...
Henderson
Oh, but it all seems ridiculous, Kent..
Kent
I know, but...
Henderson
How could a phony, clever as he may be, do such a perfect job of impersonation that could fool even Robin?
Kent
I don't know. I've heard that everyone in the world is supposed to have a double somewhere.
Henderson
Yeah, I've heard that too, but you can't..
Kent
Now this fellow could look enough like Batman naturally, not to need much fixing, and he could be trained to imitate his voice and manners and so forth...
Henderson
But who would go to all that trouble, and why?
Kent
Fanatics! And we're dealing with a bunch of Isolationist fanatics here. Fanatics will go to any amount of trouble to gain there selfish ends. And then there's another thing.
Henderson
What's that?
Kent
Br...Batman is a very rich man. If he were out of the way an impersonator could make off with a fortune.
Henderson
Uh huh. Now that makes sense. Now maybe you've got something, Kent.
Kent
You'll go through with the fingerprint test, Inspector?
Henderson
Well, I can only do it on one condition, Kent.
Kent
What's that?
Henderson
That somebody closely connected with Batman, in this case Robin, makes an official complaint, including a statement of his belief that the real Batman has met with foul play, and is now being impersonated.
Kent
Okay, Robin will do that! Come on, Inspector, we'll go out to his house right now.
Music
Where's Robin, Alfred?
Alfred
(Cockney British, old). I don't know, Mr. Kent, sir.
Kent
What?
Alfred
He left about an hour ago, after receiving a phone call. In a jolly hurry he was, too.
Kent
I don't like that.
Henderson
Where did he go, Alfred?
Alfred
All he would tell me, Inspector, is that he was going to meet a man at the waterfront, somewhere.
Kent
On the waterfront?!
Alfred
Yes, sir, and the way he was gaily chirping, and singing, I'm rather sure it was Batman who called him.
Henderson
Batman!
Kent
Did he say that?
Alfred
No, sir, he wouldn't say, sir. But when I asked him if it was Batman he was going to meet he simply winked and said, 'Musn't talk, Alfred.' But everything's all right again now.'
Kent
That's funny. Batman is supposed to be in Willow Falls.
Alfred
Willow Falls, sir?
Kent
Yes!
Henderson
Say, that's right, Kent. Why should he tell Robin to meet him on the waterfront?
Kent
He wouldn't. Unless...
Henderson
Unless what?
Kent
Unless he is a phony as I suspect. Look, Inspector, you better get your men to the waterfront to look for Robin.
Henderson
Right
Kent
I'm going back up to Willow Falls to shake the truth out of that fellow who calls himself Batman. So long.
Music
Narrator
Kent
Racing outside the house, Kent pauses beside a dark hedge and quickly resumes his true identity as Superman.
UP, UP AND AWAY!
FLYING
Narrator
Then the man of steel leaps high into the starry sky and streaks northward, bound for Willow falls and a shocking surprise.
Music
After streaking to Willow Falls, Superman has secretly resumed his disguise of Clark Kent, mild-mannered and bespectacled reporter, and as we join him now he is speaking to the clerk of the Willow Falls Hotel.
Kent
What room is Batman in, please?
Clerk
Batman is not here, sir. He checked out.
Kent
Checked out? When?
Clerk
Oh, about a half hour ago, I'd say.
Kent
Where did he go, do you know?
Clerk
No sir, I don't know. As a matter of fact I did ask him. You see, I wasn't able to hear him speak tonight, and since I'm off duty tomorrow I was hoping I might hear him, if he was speaking somewhere nearby.
Kent
Well, what did he say?
Clerk
He said he'd been called away on important business, and I..well, he wouldn't be making any more speeches for a while.
Kent
Hmm. Did he leave a forwarding address?
Clerk
No, sir, no sir, he didn't.
Narrator
Dismayed, Clark Kent who is Superman stands in the small hotel lobby and feels utterly helpless as the true state of affairs becomes crystal clear in his mind.
Kent
Of course, I might have known this would happen. He is a phony. Now he's got rid of Robin and gone into hiding. Now what do I do. How can I find them?
Narrator
Is Superman right in believing that the man who reappeared in Metropolis yesterday is not the real Batman, but a clever and villainous impersonator? If so, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE REAL BATMAN, AND TO ROBIN? WE'LL LEARN THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS in TOMORROW'S spine tingling episode, fellows and girls. So be sure to listen. tune in same time, same station, for Chapter 6 of Batman's Great Mystery on the adventures of Superman.
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