¶ Batman
(male narrator) Afternoon in Gotham Central Park.
Noble sanctuary of nature
in the midst of the teeming metropolis.
Tranquility, peace, quiet.
The deceptive quiet of the jungle
where a criminal beast is about to spring.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
[rumbling]
[woman screaming]
[eerie music]
(female #1) 'Now, hear this. Now, hear this.'
'It is written in the stars that on this day'
'shall the great King of the Nile rise up from the tomb.'
'And he shall claim his kingdom of Gotham City.'
'And all who oppose him shall be smitten dead.'
"A giant sphinx
"uttering demented threats in Gotham Central Park
in a woman's voice!"
Sure'n it could be harmless, sir.
Uh, how so, Chief O'Hara?
There was a piece in the paper this morning.
The Gotham City Museum is unveiling a new exhibit
of Egyptian antiques this very day.
Of course and this could be just a publicity stunt.
Yes, sir.
Is there no limit
to the brazen effrontery of the press agent?
I'll put paid to their stunts.
- 'Yes?' - Uh, Bonnie.
Get me my good friend, millionaire Bruce Wayne.
I expect he'll be at his stately residence, Wayne Manor.
Well, time to leave for the museum, one and all.
Mercy, yes. Let's not be late, Bruce.
There isn't anything I enjoy more than a nice, fresh exhibit
of Egyptian antiquities.
[Alfred clears throat]
What is it, Alfred?
The telephone, madam.
Police Commissioner Gordon
wishes to speak with Mr. Wayne.
- With me, Alfred? - Uh, yes, sir.
He was most distinct. With Mr. Bruce Wayne.
Excuse me, Aunt Harriet.
Bruce Wayne speaking.
Oh, um, sorry to bother you, Bruce, but you're on
the board of trustees of the Gotham Museum, aren't you?
Certainly, I'm treasurer, in fact.
'Well, you've gone too far, Bruce.'
This sphinx which has reared itself at the park
this terrifying publicity stunt--
This what?
You mean...it isn't a publicity stunt?
My dear commissioner, I think you've taken leave of your wits.
Goodbye.
Imagine...the idea of the Gotham Museum
pulling a publicity stunt.
- So, if it's not a stunt.. - Precisely, Chief O'Hara.
This phenomenon takes on new dimensions.
Strange and sinister dimensions.
In fact, there is only one man alive who can take its measure.
[beeping]
I'll summon him, sir.
[snaps fingers]
Bruce, come on. What on Earth is the matter with you two?
I don't know, Aunt Harriet. It's just that..
- A sphinx he said. - Gosh, Bruce.
- That means what it could mean. - We'll know soon enough.
Excuse me, sir.
Something in red, Alfred?
Precisely, sir.
Great heavens. How forgetful of me.
This new volume by a Professor Red
on ancient Egyptian cat worship cults.
I'd promised the museum committee I'd look through it.
Come on, Dick.
Bruce.
Those antiquities have waited
thousands of years for us, Aunt Harriet
they'll wait a little longer.
Mercy alive. Such an impetuous pair.
There should be some way to harness such energy.
Yes, commissioner.
'A strange and terrible threat to Gotham City.'
An ultimatum from the remote past.
We're on our way.
Holy hieroglyphics!
This might mean a battle royal.
Not the first, Dick, not the last.
To the Bat-poles.
[theme music]
¶ Batman
[dramatic music]
[whooshing]
[theme music]
[tires screeching]
There's no doubt at all..
...we're faced with that arch criminal, King Tut.
Gosh! And everyone thought he died in that warehouse fire.
We were mistaken it seems.
He's risen like a phoenix from the ashes to..
Just what was his threat, commissioner?
Grandiose, Batman.
He claimed Gotham City for his own.
In a greedy female voice.
So...our mad pharaoh has found himself a Nefertiti.
Some hapless female entrapped in a life of crime!
The situation is grim, Batman.
We've cordoned off the park
but panic will soon raise its ugly head.
We could call out the National Guard.
Have them blast that pigging sphinx with their artillery.
No, Chief O'Hara. No.
- No? - No.
If that were our objective
I could do it with the Batmobile's Bat-beam.
Batman's right.
King Tut may be a super-crook, but he's a sick man too.
Precisely, Robin.
Let's not forget..
...that he was once an eminent professor at Yale University.
Then he was struck on the head during a student riot
'and awoke with a strange double delusion'
that Gotham City is the reincarnation of ancient Thebes
and he himself, the pharaoh known to history as King Tut.
[sighs]
This man is to be pitied.
Pitied, Batman? Ha!
How can one pity a criminal who threatens
our entire citizenry with death?
Pitied, commissioner. Tempered with caution.
Our first aim is to thwart his criminal plans.
What could it be?
A mad dream to make subjects of us all.
(Chief O'Hara) 'But why tip us off?'
Why warn us that he's trying to make a comeback?
Maybe this sphinx will give us a clue.
Robin's right. And we don't have a moment to lose.
Let's take a close look at that inscrutable lady.
Be careful, Batman. Be careful.
Meanwhile, in the palace of King Tut
bizarre remnant of last year's Gotham City Exposition
Chief O'Hara's question is echoed
inside the moldering Great Hall.
I don't get it.
If you're gonna move in on somebody's territory
why tip him off?
How should I know? I'm only the Grand Vizier.
Why don't you ask His Royal Highness?
[fanfare]
You may rise.
Loyal subjects, we are pleased to inform you
that Phase 1 of our royal master plan has succeeded
as prophesied.
Hey, that's great, boss.
I mean, Your Royal Highness.
Phase 2 will now be put into being.
- Are there any questions? - I got one.
You may speak, Royal Scrivener.
Like why? I mean why keep that hunka rock in the park
and tip off the suckers what we're gonna do?
You're a twit.
'It's merely a sovereign subterfuge'
to exterminate a winged rodent once and for all..
...Batman!
He should be biting at the bait at about now.
Oh, boy!
All hail to King Tut.
Great thorn of Thebes.
Nemesis of the Nile.
Thank you, Grand Vizier. Thank you.
It was delightfully spoken.
However, just in the off chance that the Dynamic Duo
should elude our snick-snack snare
battle stations for the royal barque
will land our sinister sphinx upon.
What do you make of it, Batman?
A rather good imitation of the Fourth Dynasty sphinx of Giza.
[eerie music]
Holy hurricane. What's that?
I think it means the sphinx
is going to make another pronouncement.
(female #1) 'Now, hear this.'
'Whosoever transgresses upon the sacred sphinx'
'shall be smitten down by Anubis.'
'The jackal God, Guardian of the Cemeteries.'
'And that goes double for Batman.'
- Challenge? - So be it.
Up we go.
[dramatic music]
(Robin) 'What do you think, Batman?'
Could it be full of King Tut's henchmen?
If it is, there must be a secret entrance somewhere.
Look here.
This must be it.
Don't touch that handle, Robin.
We don't know what we're up against yet.
You're right. The sphinx could be booby trapped.
Let's play it safe.
[intense music]
Holy whiskers! That was a close shave!
There's no longer any doubt, Robin.
Brilliant, warped mind of King Tut is bent on murdering.
[music continues]
Signal from Nefertiti.
Indeed.
What does Great Ra, God of the Sun have to inform us?
Dynamic Duo escaped.
[spits]
Curses of Amenhotep!
Your pharaoh speaks.
Slaves and Helot swordsmen
prepare for action.
What's our next move, Batman?
- Destroy this crooked sphinx? - No, I don't think so, Robin.
It's better to leave it here under police observation so..
Robin.
Look, over there.
[dramatic music]
Holy masquerade!
It's an odd getup for a walk in the park.
Odd indeed.
It's a costume of the Fourteenth Dynasty.
Kind Tut's dynasty.
Wow! Let's get her!
Halt, you deluded creature.
We've got you. Escape is impossible.
[explosion]
Holy asp! A trick Egyptian snake.
Look out, Robin!
[theme music]
[swords clanking]
Quick! Let's hot-foot it after 'em.
No, Robin, wait.
I think that's exactly what they want.
- Why? - An old game.
To draw us away from their real target.
Of course. The Egyptian exhibit at the museum.
Right. The museum.
Where Bruce Wayne will deal them a small surprise.
A short while later at the Gotham City Museum..
You'll know it's the twin emblems of the two lands.
The large carnelian cobra here
which is representative of Upper Egypt
and the vulture, which is the cult sign of Lower Egypt
and carved from lapis lazuli.
- Mr. Wayne. - Yes.
- What's the value of the crown? - I don't really know.
Except that as a rare and historic art treasure
it's undoubtedly priceless.
Please inform your readers that it's well-guarded at all times.
[laughing]
Now, ladies and gentlemen
in deference to the press here
which has deadlines to meet I'm sure
I propose now to offer to you the pieces de resistance
the mummified remains of..
Hmm.
All we know about this particular gentleman
is that he was a king in the Fourteenth Dynasty
and reigned in 1500 BC.
Now, if my arithmetic is correct
that would mean that he's been dead approximately
thirty five hundred years.
And I believe it's safe to state that
this particular pharaoh fellow will not rise again.
[dramatic music]
[thud]
It's alive. The sphinx prophecy was right.
The king has risen again.
Is there a doctor in the house?
It is impossible, isn't it, Bruce?
It's fantastic! Incredible.
The preservation techniques. What a man he must've been!
- The imagination boggles. - 'The ambulance is here.'
Make way for the stretcher bearers.
I'll leave you to restore order here.
I think I should go along to the hospital.
Mr. Wayne, what happened? Is he still alive?
- What about the prophecy now? - No comment.
[groaning]
Hey, he's coming to.
I rather expected he would. He may want to tell us something.
- What do you think he's saying? - Shh. Shh.
- Maybe this will help. - Shh.
[Bruce gagging]
All hail Your Majesty.
Phase 2 has worked perfectly.
Naturally, it was foreseen in the scrolls.
To the palace with this...Helot.
Your whim is our command, O Majesty.
[chuckles]
[dramatic music]
[humming]
Nefertiti, you abandoned wench.
How many times must I tell you
queens consume nectar and ambrosia, not hot dogs?
So I get hungry.
Living on nothing but figs and dates and pomegranates.
- You want a bite? - Dah! Unclean.
I must proclaim my reincarnation
to the faithful.
Give me the telephone.
Osman Abu, switcher of messages
your pharaoh speaks.
(man on phone) 'What is your desire, great pharaoh?'
Connect me to the voice box of the sphinx
in Gotham Central Park, please.
'It shall be done, great pharaoh.'
[mumbles]
Instruct the royal charioteer to my palace with haste.
[blows horn]
Home, toots, and step on it.
[engine revving]
[crowd chattering]
[flute music]
[eerie music]
(Nefertiti) '"Now, hear this. Now, hear this.'
"As it was written in the stars so it has come to pass.
"The great King of the Nile has risen from the sands of time
"to reclaim his lost kingdom.
'The next voice you will hear will be King Tut himself."'
[clears throat]
Loyal subjects and Helots
this is your king.
'As our first royal act, we have perpetrated'
'the abduction of your millionaire philanthropist'
'Bruce Wayne.'
'He will be held prisoner until our royal demands are met.'
These demands will be made known to you
by our inscrutable sphinx at a later date.
'In the meantime, the police are warned not to interfere'
'and this includes the Dynamic Duo'
'and pass my words on or [indistinct] my reach.'
Remember, Batman
Bruce Wayne's life is in your hand.
[dramatic music]
I wonder how much he's gonna ask of Bruce Wayne?
I hear he's a rich millionaire.
You know, Harry, that Tut's a kook
but he's got brains.
I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't wind up
with the keenest gang since old Moe got the hot squad.
[laughing]
[beeping]
Robin speaking.
Uh, put Batman on, Boy Wonder.
It's a crisis.
Bruce Wayne has just been kidnapped.
Bruce Wayne kidnapped? How? When?
Only minutes ago.
The King Tut resurrection was just an elaborate smokescreen
to conceal his real crime. Let me speak to Batman.
Commissioner, I don't know where he is.
As soon as you hear from him, there's not much time.
Bruce Wayne is one of our most prominent millionaires.
So I've heard.
This arch-abductor may ask a king's ransom for him.
We've got to move fast.
I...I can't understand where Batman could be?
Neither can I. Goodbye, commissioner.
You've heard the calamitous news, Master Robin?
- Yes. Does Aunt Harriet know? - On the 3 o'clock news.
I'm afraid she's badly shaken.
And I must admit, it's left me a bit shaken too.
Is there nothing to be done?
Don't lose heart, Alfred.
Batman is, well, Batman!
He'll get a message to us somehow.
[dramatic music]
[tires screeching]
[music continues]
Holy cliffhanger!
Bruce Wayne hurtling toward an awesome abyss!
What will be his fate?
How can he possibly be saved this time?
Be in front of your
Bat-sets tomorrow night.
Same time.
Same channel.
One hint
the most horrendous is yet to come.
[crash]
[theme music]
¶ Batman