(Author's note: This episode is a long one. The longest I've written for this series. I could've broken it up into multiple parts, but nah. This episode is special. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Please be sure to leave me a review on this story. I thrive on the comments.)
Arkham Interviews with Professor Crane
Episode 11
The Night of Hallows Eve
Opening Scene:
(We open to the exterior of Arkham Asylum. It's the night of Halloween. The Asylum and its front gates have been decorated accordingly. Jack-O'-Lanterns can be seen all over the building, outside the doors, in the windows and on the grounds. A scarecrow has been erected in front of the Asylum's main entrance. The City of Gotham can be seen in the background on this cloudy night while the waxing crescent moon is seen peeking out from behind the clouds. We cut to a low angle shot of the halls of Arkham as the shoes of Jonathan Crane pass by the camera. His white lab coat billows behind him as he moves quickly to one of the interview rooms. In one hand is his briefcase. The other holds a patient file marked "Ivy." Jonathan's face is set in determination. As he reaches the intended interview room, Jonathan readies himself for what awaits him on the other side. He opens the door. There waiting for him is Pamela Isley. She sits with her arms folded, clearly upset. Perhaps at the late hour of their meeting. Or perhaps she's uncomfortable with him after their last meeting ended on a poor note, maybe she regrets it. In either case Jonathan doesn't seem to mind nor care as he throws down the patient file, places his briefcase on the table and opens it up so only he can see what's inside before beginning the interview.)
Jonathan: Patient interview #15. Dr. Jonathan Crane conducting the interview. Ms. Isley. I was hoping to continue our discussion from last time. I chose to have our meeting a little later in the day so that work wouldn't interfere with your mood this time.
(Pamela notices the distance that Jonathan has put between them and becomes agitated and responds in kind.)
Pamela: If I recall, Dr. Crane, there was a little more to it than just me being frustrated with work.
Jonathan: Yes, I'm aware. You said that I myself and the other Arkham staff don't trust you. I can't imagine why given your track record of… (Jonathan grabs her file and starts thumbing through it) being a self-described "Eco-terrorist," the people you have killed in your pursuit to protect nature on top of the other crimes you've committed against people, companies and other organizations, the fact that you're a patient of Arkham Asylum and the thing that concerns me personally is the trail of previous doctors who have had some sort ill fate befall them in one form or another. I personally need reassurances that something similar won't happen to me. So, let's begin, shall we? (Jonathan continues to move forward regardless of if Pamela wants to or not) Let's start at the beginning with Dr. Williamson. He was a good-looking, fit blonde man who, from his records, had no problem with you. Nor you with him. And yet, before he died you were one of the last people he was in contact with. So, tell me, why did Dr. Williamson have to die? How did it happen?
Pamela: You've got some nerve, Jonathan. I told you I wasn't involved with his death. And I wasn't anywhere near him when it happened.
Jonathan: Oh, I know. The security tapes from that night were conveniently covered up by some mysterious foliage and no one saw you or him at the time of his death. But these autopsy photos and report say otherwise. (Jonathan then takes out some polaroids from his briefcase and tosses them towards Ivy. They show a pale young blonde man on an examination table with dark purple veins spidering away from his mouth. While Pamela picks them up and looks at them, Jonathan reads from the autopsy report. She doesn't see him put on a surgical mask over his mouth and nose.) An interesting necrotic affect, isn't it? Apparently, it was caused by some sort of unidentifiable poison that could only be absorbed through the mucus membranes. And he's not the only one to have these unique markings, so how about you try again and tell me, why did Dr. Williamson die?
(With each pass over the photos, Pamela's eyes widen in fear and anger. Her breathing has become more ragged, and she begins to sweat as she looks at the deceased body of Dr. Williamson. Jonathan then slowly reaches into his briefcase as Pamala finally looks up at him.)
Pamela: What is all this?!
Jonathan: … Just the catalyst.
(Jonathan depresses a button in his briefcase and with a "Ffffsssshhh" a cloud of brownish-green vapor expels from the sides of the briefcase. Caught off guard, Pamela gasps, breathing in the fumes. She immediately begins coughing and drops the photos. Jonathan then stands up and makes his way around the table and through the gas cloud towards her. Pamela continues coughing as she turns towards Jonathan and sees someone else emerge from the gas cloud. What she sees is Jonathan's face now bald, flat and featureless, hidden behind a surgeon's mask and thick glasses whose reflection blocks her view of his eyes. All the lights in the room are now extremely bright and have distracting lens flares. Every sound is too loud and echoes in her ears. She gasps and falls out of her chair at the approach of this new figure.)
Jonathan?: (voice now distorted) Tell me, Poison Ivy. What is it you're so afraid of? Surely not at being discovered, it's not the first time you've killed. What made Dr. Williamson different then, hm? What was it about his death that has filled you with such fear?
(Pamela scrambles away from Jonathan towards the back of the room as he is blocking her way towards the door.)
Pamela: Ge- get away from me! You don't know what you're talking about!
Jonathan?: Then perhaps I should extrapolate. (He begins to predate in front of her) The poison entered in through his mucus membranes or more accurately his lips. From the observations of other bodies with similar symptoms the poison would've acted quickly. It would be no surprise if you had played the temptress and bestowed the kiss of death on him as you have others, so why be afraid of this particular kiss? Unless… (Pamela scurries back into a corner and attempts to cover her ears.) Unless he was the first. The first kiss in your new form. (Jonathan spreads his arms in realization) A form unfamiliar to you whose affects you would've still been learning about. Giving a kiss to the first man who had tried to see beyond your new form and accept you for who you are. You had feelings for him.
Pamela: Stop it!
Jonathan?: A stolen forbidden kiss beneath the Great Oak only for your beloved to begin dying before your very eyes, writhing in pain!
Pamela: STOP IT! (She closes her eyes shut as hard as she can trying to drown him out as visions of Dr. Williamson dying fill her mind)
Jonathan?: At least it was only a kiss. Can you imagine what would've happened if you had tried to make love to him?
(Pamela's eyes fly wide open in terror and she gasps)
Jonathan?: Oh, you hadn't thought of that, had you? Do you think he would have died of a seizure or perhaps he would have begun to liquify from acid right there on the spot?
Pamela: No… (she whispers as tears begin to well up in her eyes)
Jonathan?: I see now. Your fears are laid bare before me, Poison Ivy! (He stands tall in a grand gesture) You're afraid of becoming intimate with another person. Afraid of what your love may do to the people you care about. So, you push them away for fear of hurting them or you simply kill the ones who annoy you. Then you focus on your plants, plants that can't be hurt in the same way.
Pamela: (She closes her eyes and lets the tears flow down.) It's not like that…
Jonathan?: And what of Dr. Crane? Will you do the same to him? How will he exit your life?
(Pamela clenches her fists and stands up. She spreads her feet and squares her shoulders as she glares down her tormenter. With a look of determination and tears streaming down her face she raises her hand, open palm.)
Pamela: I said… (she then slaps Terror Jonathan as hard as she can) It's not like that!
(Jonathan spins away from Pamela and falls to the ground. As soon as she slaps him Pamela's vison begins to clear. The fog has dissipated, the lights and sounds have returned to normal, and Jonathan appears as he always has. She blinks away any remaining effects of the gas and tears in confusion)
Jonathan: Ha ha ha ha. Brilliant. (Jonathan gets up from off the floor) Brilliant! Finally! A breakthrough! (He pumps his fists in the air.)
Pamela: Wh- what the hell, Crane? (She wipes the tears from her face) What the hell did you do to me?
Jonathan: My apologies, Ms. Isley. (Jonathan fixes his glasses and removes his mask ignoring the throbbing slap mark on his cheek.) This has all been a part of my Fear Therapy.
Pamela: What? (Said indignantly)
Jonathan: Allow me to explain. (He turns the briefcase and shows her a small empty canister affixed to a button and some tubes along the side of the case.) What you have experienced was a chemically induced phobia. A fear toxin, if you will, of my own make. I designed it to cause those who ingest it to experience their worst fears and give them the opportunity to overcome said fears. And may I say, you overcame it spectacularly! Although, you did seem to overcome the effects of the toxin prematurely. Perhaps something about your plant physiology broke down the chemicals more rapidly than a regular human.
Pamela: So, this was, what? An experiment? I was just some guinea pig to you?!
(Jonathan sighs and takes his seat at the table. He turns off the tape recorder, closes the briefcase and laces his hands together in supplication.)
Jonathan: Pamela… I'm very sorry for having deceived you today. For causing you undue stress and what I can only assume was pain. It's not just an experiment to me. You're… (he pauses to gather his thoughts) You… remind me of someone. Who was once very dear to me. (He smirks remembering Becky Albright) She would've slapped me just as hard if not harder probably. In a way I share your fear. Of becoming close to someone again only to get hurt or to hurt them. (Pamela takes her seat opposite Jonathan and places her hands in her lap. She is wary, but she listens to what he has to say.) But it doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to stay this way and from what I've seen tonight, you're ready to move on from that fear. And while I have nothing holding me back from moving on, you do. And I don't think that's fair to you.
(Pamela sniffs away her slightly runny nose as Jonathan pulls out some vials from his lab coat.)
Jonathan: With your permission, Pamela, I'd like to take some blood samples from you. My hope is that from further research I might be able to create, not a cure for you, but perhaps a vaccine for others. So that should you choose to be intimate with another your physiology would not be detrimental to them and you could enjoy a long fulfilling relationship.
(Pamela is taken aback at the forethought Jonathan has concerning her. She had assumed he was only using her, but she now perceives that he is being honest and genuinely cares what happens to her.)
Pamela: Jonathan. I… I don't… I mean… (She stares towards Jonathan, unsure of what she wants. Her eyes scan him up and down about three times before resting on his hazel eyes. She stares deep into them. She then realizes she feels something. Something she hasn't felt since… Williamson. She then extends her right arm and rolls the sleeve up past the elbow exposing her veins to Jonathan.) If you think you can do it, then I wouldn't be opposed to it.
(Jonathan smiles softly and begins the process of drawing Pamela's blood. He then cleans the entry wound, bandages her arm and puts away the vials of blood in his briefcase. As he goes to stand up Pamela grabs onto the sleeve of his lab coat. He turns in surprise. She looks like she has something on her mind. He waits patiently for her to speak. A blush begins to dust her cheeks. She opens her mouth to speak)
Asylum Intercom: (a brief jingle plays) Attention Arkham Asylum. This is the Mad Hatter with a very important announcement.
Jonathan & Pamela: (Both look up at the intercom speaker) Jervis?
PA Mad Hatter: Callooh callay, oh frabjous day. Today we are celebrating everyone's happy un-birthday. Come down to the cafeteria for goodies and cake. But only if it's your un-birthday, I'll know if you're a fake. And a special invitation to my dear friend Jonathan Crane. Let's have a bit of fun. Let's play a little game. (Static)
Jonathan: The hell? (He gets up and quickly opens the door) Guard I need you to… (what we then see is all the guards and any inmates outside of their rooms bobbing up and down in asynchronous timing and singing)
Most of Arkham: Happy happy un-birthday, to you. To you. Happy happy un-birthday, to me. To me.
Guard 1: They remembered it's my un-birthday!
Guard 2: Hey! It's my un-birthday too!
Guard 1: It is?!
(The two guards then join the others in singing and dancing as they all make their way towards the cafeteria. Jonathan attempts to gain some control over the situation, but no one seems to pay him any attention. Not even when waving in their face or snapping his fingers or standing in their way. The lights in the Asylum then change to many varying different colors and the un-birthday song plays over the PA system. Jonathan then returns to Pamela)
Jonathan: This is bad. The entire Asylum has gone mad. Well… madder. Pamela, I need you to go to your room and lock the door. I'm going to try and go talk some sense into Jervis.
Pamela: No way! (She stands up out of her chair) I don't know what he thinks he's doing, but Jervis sounds like he's gone off the deep end. I'm not letting you go alone. We might be the only people not under whatever control he has. You're going to need me. (She folds her arms defiantly)
Jonathan: Grrr. Fine! We don't have time to argue about this anyway. Just stay close, okay? I don't want to lose you in the crowd. Let's go.
(Jonathan and Pamela then exit the interview room and follow the throng of party goers to the cafeteria.)
(End Scene)
Scene 2:
(We follow Jonathan and Pamela through the halls of Arkham until they reach the doors to the cafeteria. They pause and look to each other. Jonathan nods and pushes the doors open. Pamela follows behind him. The cafeteria is lit up in many different colors and is decorated for a birthday party with streamers and confetti. Cakes and tea pots adorn the tables and everyone in the room is bobbing up and down. In the center of the room is a makeshift throne made of crates and pallets spray painted wonderful colors. Atop the throne sits Jervis Tetch. He is now dressed fully in a dark suit and top hat cosplay of the Mad Hatter. A saucer and teacup are in his hands. He smiles and splays his arms as Jonathan and Pamela approach him.)
Mad Hatter: Welcome my friends, welcome. Join us for some tea. Please, take part in the festivities.
Pamela: That timing doesn't exactly fit, Jervis.
(Jervis drops the Mad Hatter persona for a moment)
Jervis: Do you realize how hard it is to come up with something on the spot that both rhymes and is in time? It's not so easy so forgive me if I'm a bit off. But no matter. You're here. Join the fun. We have so many treats and games for both guards and inmates alike. (Jervis lifts his teacup from the saucer and takes a sip) Ahh.
Jonathan: What's going on Jervis? How have you done all this?
Jervis: Ooh. An excellent question. (Jervis stirs the tea in his cup with a spoon as he speaks) For whatever reason, I've been the inmate that's been picked on and pushed around recently and I didn't feel like reliving those childhood traumas. So, I introduced a little post hypnotic suggestion into my games. (Jervis puts down the spoon and snaps his fingers. Everyone in the room, sans Jonathan and Pamela, all stop and then stand up in unison. Jervis snaps his fingers again and they all start bobbing up and down in asynchronous timing. Jervis takes another sip of his tea.) And as for some of the others well, I had a special mask made just for them. (He holds up a mask that looks like a character from Alice in Wonderland. Jonathan looks around and sees some people are wearing masks. Jervis flips the mask around and reveals circuity built into the mask.) I should thank you for getting me permission to work in the computer labs, Jonathan. They have so many computer parts just laying around unused. Very easy to make a small hypnotic device out of. (Jervis puts down the mask and takes yet another sip of his tea.) It took some time, but I've done it Jonathan. (He smiles wickedly) Arkham Asylum is now my Wonderland come to life! In my world, everything is nonsense. Nothing is what it is, because everything is what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And I'm in charge of it all.
Jonathan: And where does Warden Sharp fit in to all of this? Where is he?
(Jervis leans back in his chair and casually sips his tea.)
Jervis: Oh, he's around. Somewhere. Depends on what time it is.
Jonathan: What do you mean?
Jervis: Well, depending on what time it is he could be in one place, or in… two places. Hee hee hee hee. You know how the Queen of Hearts is. Always taking people's heads off at the slightest offence.
Jonathan: That's taking it too far, Jervis! Don't add murder to your record.
Mad Hatter: Oh please, Jonathan. Don't look at me with such malice. You two could join me here. Become my Alice.
Pamela: And what if we don't want to, Jervis?
Mad Hatter: I think we both now what happens next, but since you asked. We'll do it the hard way. We'll go with the masks.
(Pamela scratches the back of her head and looks around the room at the other inmates and the guards under Jervis' control.)
Pamela: I don't know. This all seems… pretty weird. (She lowers her hand from her head.) Even for you.
Jonathan: Well, I do know. I'm saying no, Jervis. Let them all go! (He gestures to everyone else in the room.)
(Jervis sighs. He snaps his fingers. All the people immediately near Jonathan and Pamela stand up and turn to face them. They begin making their way towards the two and reach out to grab them. Jonathan and Pamela step back towards each other as they are surrounded. Jonathan looks nervous.)
Pamela: Hold your breath! (Jonathan does as she asks. Pamela then crushes something in her hands and blows on it, creating a cloud of dust immediately around them. The guards and inmates close by start to cough and then fall to the ground. She then grabs Jonathan's arm and runs, leading him out of the cafeteria.) Let's go! (Once outside the cafeteria, Jonathan breaths in as they continue running down the hall.)
Jonathan: What was that?
Pamela: Fungal spores. Not the kind of seed that most of the staff would be looking for. Anyone who breaths them in gets knocked out.
(Jonathan unconsciously grabs her hand and starts running at a similar pace.)
Jonathan: We need to get out of here! Get some help!
Pamela: We can go through the decontamination room to the Botanical Gardens. There shouldn't be anyone there at this time of night.
(Jonathan and Pamela continue running towards their intended exit as the colored lights spin and Jervis' voice can be heard over the intercoms.)
Mad Hatter: Down the rabbit hole Alice falls. Where madness reigns from wall to wall.
(End Scene)
Scene 3:
(Our next scene is outside the back of the Asylum near the botanical gardens, where we see Jonathan and Pamela emerge from the main building. Jonathan locks the door behind them and leans on the wall to catch his breath. It is still night time. He then pulls out his phone and tries to make a call to anyone he can. However, no calls are able to go through and the un-birthday song plays through the speaker instead.)
Jonathan: He's somehow jamming any cell phone reception!
Pamela: Are there any other doctors on staff?
Jonathan: Other than me? (He pauses to think) I think everyone else is on call. And given the cell phone reception, we have no way to contact anyone. (Jonathan falls to his knees and punches the ground) Damn it! Why now? Why is Jervis doing this now? He was so close to being able to leave Arkham.
Pamela: Hey! Focus, Jonathan. Focus. (She grabs him under the arm and gets him on his feet.) We need to get someone here who can stop Jervis. I have an idea. I need to find the compost pile. (Jonathan looks at her in bewilderment.) There should be plenty of pumpkin seeds there that I can use. I need you to find anything you can to light a signal fire, okay?
Jonathan: Signal fire. (Jonathan tries to focus and latches on to the idea.) Signal fire, got it.
(He then breaks away and heads for the nearby shed and Pamela heads for the botanical garden. Time passes and Jonathan brings back a gas can, a bag of leaves and a small hand torch. Pamela returns with a handful of pumpkin seeds and makes her way to the city-facing side of the grounds. Jonathan follows. There she cups the seeds in her hands and whispers to them.)
Pamela: Come on, babies. I need you to grow big for mama.
(She then buries them in the ground, stands up, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. She accesses the power of the Green and holds out her arms. At first nothing happens. Then the ground begins to shake. A large green vine bursts out of the ground and circles around Ivy. Then a second vine. And a third. Then a large green mass begins growing under her feet and rises into the air with her on top of it. The pumpkin swells far beyond its natural size and rises to nearly two stories tall and then ripens into an orange hue. All the while the ground quakes around them. Jonathan circles around the front in awe at Ivy's power, this being the first time he's really seen it. As he reaches the front Jonathan is surprised to see not a jack-o' lantern face, but a large bat shaped hole facing the city. Realization dawns on him and Jonathan begins preparing the signal fire for their makeshift Bat-Signal. The inside of the pumpkin lights up for the city to see from Arkham's lonely island. Ivy rides a large leaf on a vine down the pumpkin. Jonathan holds out a hand for her to hold as she leaps from the leaf to the ground.)
Jonathan: Incredible! Truly remarkable.
Pamela: Thanks. (She says, bashfully tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.) Well, if that little earthquake didn't get Batman's attention this will. (She gestures towards the pumpkin) Now we wait. (She then looks out across Gotham harbor at the nighttime city scape. Jonathan joins her and stares at the city. The breeze blows through their hair, billowing Jonathan's lab coat and the moon illuminates them. For a moment they say nothing to each other. Pamela folds her arms at the chilly autumn air since she still refuses to wear pants whenever she can.) You know, I would have excepted that Calendar-Man would have pulled something like this tonight, but not Jervis. Freeze and I were starting to think of him as a friend. I guess Penguin's threats were just becoming to much for the little guy.
Jonathan: (sigh) This is all my fault. I should have been more observant of Jervis. I suppose I only saw what I wanted to at… hold on! (He turns to face Pamela) Calendar-Man?! That's what he calls himself?!
Pamela: I know, right? His whole schtick is that he commits certain crimes on certain days of the year which usually makes them easy to tie him to. Of course, some days can be really obscure, but one can usually guess it's him.
Jonathan: Wow! I can't imagine having such a lame gimmick.
Pamela: Ugh! His isn't even the worst. You ever heard of Condiment King or Kite-Man?
Jonathan: Kite-Man? Seriously?!
Pamela: Hey! I'll have you know that Chuck Brown is a really nice guy. Even if he sincerely believes that strapping a giant kite to his back is a superpower. Now Condiment King, that guy is a real piece of work.
Jonathan: Hold up. Are you telling me that Kite-Man, the guy whose whole thing is kites, his name is Charlie Brown?!
(Pamela's eyes widen in realization)
Pamela: Ugh, my God. Why did I never notice that before?!
(The two of them laugh and continue to converse in this manner as the camera pans up to the night sky. The clouds and moon shift to indicate the passage of time. Then from off screen the Batwing glides into view and circles over Arkham Asylum. Cut to the Batwing's interior and we see over the shoulder of Batman as he looks down at the giant pumpkin and sees Jonathan and Pamela waving him down. Cut to outside the Batwing as the cockpit opens and Batman jumps out, unfurls his cape and glides down towards the two. The Batwing auto flies back towards the city and Batman lands in front of Jonathan and Pamela. He rises to his full height before speaking.)
Batman: What's the situation, Dr. Crane?
Jonathan: It's Jervis. He's… he's taken hypnotic control of the asylum. Turned it into his own personal Wonderland. He's made vague threats at killing the Warden and is somehow jamming cell phone signals on the island. Ms. Isley and I managed to escape, but we don't know if there are any other would-be victims inside. And... he won't listen to me. Please, Batman. You have to stop Jervis before he seriously hurts someone. Or worse.
(Batman holds two fingers against his ear)
Batman: Did you get all of that? (We do not hear the voice on the other end that he is speaking to) Good. As soon as you can. (He lowers his hand and speaks to Jonathan again.) I'm having someone contact Commissioner Gordon to let him know what's happened. He and the rest of GCPD should be here soon. (Batman looks up at the pumpkin) Very resourceful. I'm impressed. (He turns back to Jonathan and Pamela) I need you two to stay out here where it's safe and make sure that no one, besides me, leaves the asylum. We can't risk any of the other inmates escaping. (Batman pulls out his grapple gun from his belt.) If I'm not back out in an hour tell Gordon to come in after me. (He then points his grapple gun at the roof, fires, and rides the grapple up and over the roof and disappears.)
(End Scene)
Scene 4:
(Our next scene shows the exterior of Arkham Asylum. It is still Halloween night, but the sky has turned a lighter shade of dark navy blue and the stars are starting to disappear at the approach of dawn. We can see several GCPD police cars and Swat vehicles as well as some ambulances as guards and inmates of the Asylum are either being medically treated or are being questioned by the police. We are seeing the after math of Batman's confrontation with Jervis. Cut to Arkham's interior where we can see Jonathan and Pamela making their way through the throng of people towards Batman who is pulling a handcuffed Jervis across the floor towards the Asylum's holding cells for new inmates.)
Mad Hatter: I had you! I had you! Don't you see?! You're mad, you're mad! You're just like me!
(Batman pulls Jervis in front of him as they reach the holding cell and lifts him off the ground so that they are eye level. Jervis' feet dangle off the ground as Batman growls in a deep voice.)
Batman: I'll never be like you, Jervis.
(Batman then pulls open the cell door, tosses Jervis inside and slams the iron door shut behind him. Jervis whimpers as he gets to his feet. Utterly defeated he looks around and notices Jonathan. He grabs at the bars of his cell as he calls out to Jonathan.)
Mad Hatter: Why, Jonathan? It could have been so grand. Why did you go have to go and ruin my master plan?
Jonathan: Jervis, you were threatening to kill people. I couldn't let you do that. (He grabs the bars of the cell) Why did you do this? You were so close to being able to walk out of here a free man. You could have returned to a normal life.
Jervis: Normal? (Jervis let's go of the prison bars.) Normal for who? Them? (He gestures to no one in particular) The normal people that you think you are? Don't pretend to be one of the normies out there, Jonathan. You never have been. Sure, we had our friend group in college, but let's be real. We've. NEVER. Fit in. I simply realized that we shouldn't even try to. (Jervis looks over to Batman and Ivy who are standing a short way off watching them. He points to them.) They know. Your new friends have already broken their constraints. That cowl he wears? That's no mask. That is his true face. (The camera view shifts so that we are inside the cell with Jervis, giving the illusion that Jonathan is the one that's been imprisoned. Jervis then moves away from the door and sits on the lone bed in his cell.) All your life you've lived in a cage, Jonathan. When you're ready… break free.
(The camera slowly zooms out on Jonathan who frowns before walking away. We then cut to the shoreline of Gotham Harbor; Arkham Island can be seen on the horizon. A small makeshift raft lands on the rocky shore as the waves lap at the pebbled beach. A single figure leaps off the raft and throws away the driftwood he's been using as a paddle. At first his back is to us, and we can only determine he is an Arkham inmate by the logo on the back of his orange jumpsuit. Then he turns around, looking back towards Arkham and we see the maniacal grin of the Joker. He cackles madly at his escape in the chaos, and we cut to black.)
(End Episode)