EPISODE NUMBERS: 25-26, Production Code 8727

PLOT SUMMARIES:

The Joker Trumps an Ace:
The Clown Prince Of Crime, The Joker, returns to commit what appear to be senseless crimes: first he raids a fur salon, where he steals a hairpin from one of the rich patrons, then he pilfers one of the holes from a golf course. The Dynamic Duo, au naturel, are called in to investigate, arriving at Gordon's office just as an inflatable jack-in-the-box sent in by The Homicidal Harlequin is delivered. The Batman deduces that The Joker plans to steal the solid gold golf clubs belonging to the visiting Maharajah of Nimpah and immediately rushes down by Batmobile to the golf course to thwart the villain. Just as The Maharajah hits the golf ball into the hole he's playing, a cloud of colored gas spews from it, knocking everyone unconscious. (As it's revealed, The Joker stole this hole; he used the stolen hairpin as a trigger, and it was struck by the golfball and activated the sleeping gas smokebomb cleverly hidden inside the hole.)

The Joker's henchmen then sees fit to kidnap the Maharajah (with a forklift, as the Nimpahnese monarch weighs over 350 lbs.!) and spirit him away by van. The Caped Crusader and The Boy Wonder immediately gives pursuit in The Batmobile, but, just as they gain on them, the van, which is covered by folding mirrors which allow it to blend totally into the background, quickly vanishes! Later, Batman and Robin trace The Joker to his GHQ at the abandoned Katz, Katz & Katz Company Oil Refinery, where they are captured and locked inside an enormous chimney. As if this isn't enough, deadly gas starts to pour in!

Batman Sets the Pace:
The Dynamic Duo press their backs together for support and climb up the wall to the opening above, as it is the only escape. The Joker and company hit the road just as The Dynamic Duo emerge from the chimney. Back in The Batcave The Dynamic Duo analyzes the traces of gas used for the kidnap left inside the hole as the golf course and discovers that gas can be obtained only at The Ferguson Novelty And Magician's Supply Company. Visiting the novelty company in their everyday identities as Bruce Wayne and Richard Grayson, they discover that it's actually doubled for a hideout for The Joker and that The Maharajah of Nimpah is being held there. They switch back to Batman and Robin garb and, that night, The Darknight Detectives pay a surprise visit to the company, where they subdue four of The Joker's lackies, but, unfortunately, The Harlequin Of Homicidal Humor himself eludes them, along with The Maharajah.

Later, The Joker calls Commissioner Gordon, has him put Batman on the line, and demands $500,000 to ransom The Maharajah. He also requests that The Batman make the arrangements, be present when The Maharajah cashes the check, and endorse the check in his name at The Gotham City State Bank the next morning...knowing full well that The Caped Crusader's reputation would be irreparably damaged as a result. Morning dawns, and when The Maharajah arrives to collect the money, The Caped Crusader thrashes him and his men, and reveals that he and The Joker were one and the same from the very start. Noticing The Nimpahnese government never protested their Maharajah's kidnapping, The Batman called The Palace Of Nimpah and discovered to his relief that the true Maharajah of Nimpah had actually been away on a hunting trip in the Nimpah mountains all along. Later, Bruce is contacted by Batphone by Commissioner Gordon who tells him that he is rumored to leave for California to run for governor! Bruce (as Batman) puts Gordon's mind at ease by dispensing such rumors.

WRITTEN BY: Francis Cockrell, Marian Cockrell

DIRECTED BY: Richard C. Sarafian

CAST:
Cesar Romero (The Joker)
Byron Keith (Mayor Lindseed)
Jane Wald (Jill)
Dan Seymour (Maharajah)
Tol Avery (Mr. Prescott Belmont)
Angela Greene (Mrs. Belmont)
Norman Alden (Lookout)
Johnny Seven (Henchman #2)
Bebe Louie (Girl Clerk)

INTERESTING NOTES:
- The character of Mayor Lindseed is obviously a takeoff on former United States Congressman and New York City mayor John Lindsay.

- Some great ideas are borrowed from a Joker comic book story in Batman #53.