¶ Batman
(male narrator) We have already seen..
...chaos on the stock exchange.
Extortion.
This gentle Minstrel is a threat?
You bet.
How to trace him?
Perhaps by this ingenious bird.
Affirmative.
How to gain entry?
But it's a trap.
Batman prepares for another trap.
Not a trap door.
And a rotating spit.
Rare, medium, well-done.
While the musical monster supplies his accompaniment.
Can the dynamic duo survive this?
Are they and their goose to be permanently cooked?
Hang on and find out..
...in just one sizzling minute.
[theme music]
¶ Batman
¶ Batman Batman Batman
¶ Na na na na na na na na na ¶
¶ Batman
[diabolical laughter]
[laughing]
¶ Batman and Robin rotate and revolve ¶
¶ As the heat mounts you'll lose all resolve ¶
¶ In a few minutes we will be prepared ¶
¶ To leave you here cooking and exit this lair ¶
- I've about had it, Batman. - I know.
Try to hang on, old chum.
[explosion]
- What's that? - It sounded like an explosion.
Well, let's find out.
Pieces of bat-bombs I planted.
That'll cause the distraction I needed.
If we could just shake this turnspit pole.
Looks like we've been bombed, boss.
Obviously divisionary tactics.
Let's get back down to quarters.
Our barbecue chef will be right back.
Let's surprise him.
Minstrel, they're gone!
[explosion]
Holy fireworks!
Look.
¶ A wandering Minstrel I
¶ Now's the time to wander
¶ To give me time to ponder
¶ For my men have gotten their lumps ¶
¶ I don't indulge in fister cuffs ¶
¶ Or vulgar brawling
¶ I hear far places calling
¶ I'll come back when I hold all the trumps ¶
I have yet to admit defeat, Robin
but I do find him somewhat frustrating.
At least we've captured his headquarters.
His headquarters, but certainly not his broadcasting studio
nor his henchmen, apparently.
- Let's go after them. - No, Robin.
Why bother with riff-raff?
It's the Minstrel we want.
He may have taken some of the wind out of my sails
with that murderous barbecue.
Some..
...but not all.
Hello.
I'm Octavia.
Your purse.
I didn't mean that.
I mean, I surrender.
That's hardly necessary.
Just from looking at you I'm sure your presence here
is innocent.
Appearances are deceiving, Batman.
Appearances perhaps, instinct seldom.
That's nice.
You're nice.
I think I might like it better being on your side.
It's always a satisfactory feeling
knowing that you're on the side of right, Octavia.
I wasn't talking about right.
I know.
Are you taking me in?
Where?
Why?
Thank you, Batman.
Perhaps some other time.
Some other place.
I hope so.
Then goodbye for now.
You're letting her go?
Well, I admit she's gorgeous, Batman, but what does she have
that all the other gorgeous creatures didn't?
Well, Robin, for one thing, she has a tracking device
which I just placed in her handbag.
But Batman found the heterodyning counter oscillator
that was planted by the Minstrel.
We're not after bugs.
We're after the Minstrel himself.
And he walked out of the stock exchange building
as free as a bird.
What are you trying to say?
That we haven't heard from the Caped Crusader
since last night.
The Minstrel's been on the air
with another of his warnings.
He also warned Batman.
Or could it be some kind of a signal?
Have you the temerity to imply that Batman
was perhaps working together with the Minstrel?
I don't want to imply it
but, Mother Machree, commissioner
what do we really know about Batman and Robin?
Two masked figures, two voices on the telephone.
Whence did they come?
Whither do they go?
Whence or whither be dashed, O'Hara.
Isn't it enough to know that they're saviors of Gotham City?
Ah, and helped out from time to time
from a department of which I am the chief, may I add.
You may not.
As a matter of fact, I have a darn good mind to..
[intercom buzzing]
Yes, Batman?
I would've called you sooner, commissioner
but I had nothing tangible to report.
I still don't.
As a matter of fact, we were a little concerned.
Rightly so. Minstrel is tricky and cunning.
But I would like to assure you now that Robin and I won't rest
until he's safely behind bars for good.
'And would you pass that on'
'to your stalwart co-fighter and crime chief O'Hara?'
Yes, indeed, Batman.
[chuckles]
Now, Chief O'Hara?
It's hard for a proud man like me self to..
...ask forgiveness and to admit mistakes
but, Commissioner Gordon, I was foolish and wrong.
And I'm sorry.
Spoken like the upstanding gentlemen
and officer of the law that all Gotham City has come to love
and admire, Chief O'Hara.
But..
...to defame the dynamic duo, even by implication
is both unjust and reprehensible.
They are the guardian angels of this city.
Those two masked figures.
Those two voices on the telephone.
What do you think the boss is gonna do now?
I don't know. He's pretty angry.
He sure hates to lose.
[footsteps]
What happened? Didn't Batman take you to jail?
No, of course not.
As a matter of fact, he was very considerate.
(Octavia) 'Very nice.'
(Minstrel) 'I'm sure.'
(Octavia) 'But he was. He's quite a gentleman.'
- Think you got it? - Pretty close.
Shall we send up the bat-drone plane again?
That won't be necessary, Robin.
(Octavia) 'Minstrel, you don't really have to be so drastic.'
Batman's reasonable. Maybe you could make a deal with him?
A deal? Me, make a deal with that paragon of poverty?
That righteous reformer..
That enemy of enterprise..
That thorn in my flesh.
Never.
Anyhow, he wouldn't do it.
What gave you that idea, anyhow?
You must've had a very cozy little chat with Batman.
Or should I say warm, intimate?
He was a perfect gentleman, I tell you.
I see what you meant when you said she was special.
What did you say?
[sonic humming]
I said he was a perfect gentleman.
Ha!
That's what your perfect gentleman was doing
when he was being so considerate.
Bugging your purse.
Why, that spy!
(Octavia) 'That sly fink.'
That does it.
Listen to me, Batman
we got to Plan High C.
Oh, no, boss. Not Plan High C.
What if it gets out of control?
Yeah, it could bring the whole world down around us.
World?
Holy cosmos!
That's a big order, Robin.
Who cares? So what? It's their world.
Hear me again, Batman
you thought you were being so very clever, didn't you?
Bugging the lady's purse
to track down the location of this studio.
Well, better than finding my studio
I suggest you might want details of my Plan High C.
Just join some of your broker friends
'in the conference room of the stock exchange building'
'in exactly 30 minutes. I wouldn't be late.'
Have Commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara, Mr. Cortland there too.
I'm sure they'll find it most interesting.
Over and out.
I'm sorry to bother you, sir, it's Mrs. Cooper.
She was quite concerned when you were away last night.
I trust you supplied her with a plausible excuse, Alfred.
I did my best, sir.
But could you tell me perhaps when you will be home?
We have a brief stop to make first.
- We're trying to prevent-- - The end of the world.
End of the world?
[theme music]
[classical music]
Is it time yet?
Close.
One minute 45 seconds.
What do you think he'll do, Batman?
I wish I could guess.
Maybe we should have gone along with him from the first.
You mean, give in to blackmail? That's ruin.
What is it if we don't?
You suppose he's bluffing?
I wouldn't count on it.
[rumbling]
- What's that? - What's what?
- I don't know, but.. - Look.
[dramatic music]
And the chandelier.
The whole room, begorrah.
[rumbling continues]
It's an earthquake.
What's happening, Batman?
Nothing is shaking. It's not an earthquake.
It's the Minstrel.
It stopped.
But how could it have happened, Batman?
How did the Minstrel do it?
I don't know how he did it.
I do know what he did.
He must've determined the exact frequency
of this building.
Using the ventilating shafts
as resident chambers
he generated a corresponding frequency.
I see. The same way a singer can shatter a crystal glass
by hitting his resident note.
- Right, Batman? - Right.
Precisely, Robin.
It's called sympathetic vibration.
Of course, that would be a high note.
His must've been subsonic.
'Impossible for the human ear to detect. Too low.'
Then if he hadn't stopped
the building would've shaken itself apart.
Right.
But that means he could--
Batman! Everybody!
He's on the air.
Well, gentlemen, how did you like the sample?
And now, this message.
- He's so suave. - Hmm.
I am the Minstrel and a mastermind.
I'm a modern genius crook.
In electronics I cannot be surpassed.
And that's why your building shook.
To my terms you must agree
or vibration, consternation, desolation
throughout the nation.
'Accept my terms or there will be irreversible calamity.'
'You have until nightfall'
'to prevent a frightful downfall.'
Here are the terms.
One.
The certified checks made out as you were instructed yesterday
will be turned over to Commissioner Gordon.
'Two. Commissioner Gordon will deliver them to my men'
'when I so request.'
'Three. Announcement of your agreement to this'
'will me made on this channel at 6 o'clock sharp.'
Or the stock exchange becomes a pile of rubble.
And there is nothing Batman can do to stop it.
Remember, 6 o'clock sharp.
- We've got to do it. - We can't do it.
Are you mad? He means it.
A quarter of a million dollars a week.
Is there any alternative, Batman?
There just may be, commissioner.
It's not true, gentlemen
that your building will inevitably be disintegrated.
For no matter what exotic and brilliant devices
Minstrel has installed
he cannot operate without power.
Holy kilowatts! Of course!
Cut off the power!
How simple.
'Not so simple, commissioner.'
To locate all the circuits in this building
and connect them to one master switch in the allotted time.
But it can be done.
Then at the first sign of vibration
you just throw the switch? Marvelous.
What if he does something else? We can't risk it.
If you knuckle under to this extortionist now
do you think he'll stop at a quarter a million per week?
- He may demand anything. - That's it, Robin.
Gentlemen, even at the risk of seeing this entire neighborhood
'collapse under your feet'
would you spend the rest of your lives in the shadow?
Living in subservience to those rascally ruthless tyrant.
Go ahead, Batman, we'll stand fast.
Good. I'll need your building engineer
and your entire electrical crew.
You have them, Batman.
We'll assemble here just before 6 o'clock
along with our board of governors.
More here than I'd expected.
Blind faith in Batman, I guess.
Well, the way I see it if Batman can't help us
there's no hope anyhow.
Oh. Oh, there he is now.
- Everything set? - I think so.
- Is that the open line? - That's it.
Good. This is Batman.
Are the switches ready?
Ready, Batman.
Good. Standby.
- We made it. - In the nick of time.
Light the candles.
Do you think he might change his mind?
No chance.
Time.
Throw the switches.
Right.
Wait.
What's that?
Look at the chandelier.
[intense music]
- Turn it off. - I can't.
He's broadcasting the power.
Here he is.
Do I have your attention?
Batman, your world will tumble down.
Just wait and see.
'Your city will disintegrate. It matters not to me.'
Batman and Robin's strength will not avail
no matter what they do.
They're bound to fail.
'They can't evade my sonic beam.'
'And they'll become a vapor trail'
which should be evident to the most obtuse by now I think.
However there's still time to change your minds, gentlemen
though not much.
If you wish my protection, simply say so.
I'll get the word.
But I'm warning you
do not delay.
[rumbling]
- He's got us. - Batman has obviously failed.
- We've got to do it. - Alright, we give up.
You've got a deal, Minstrel.
Well, at least we're still alive
in spite of that devious drivel.
But for what? To knuckle under to the scoundrel all our lives?
Fortunately, that won't be necessary.
- What? - That is correct.
For, as it happens, gentlemen
we have located..
...Minstrel.
Just a minute!
That's the Minstrel?
That nice-looking young man.
But how can he be here in this room
and on TV at the same time?
- It was a pre-recording. - This is ridiculous.
- We knew he'd be here. - To signal cut off.
Why would he destroy a ten-million dollar building
belonging to people he wanted to extort money from?
(Robin) 'He went through with everything--'
But I'm not the Minstrel!
Alright, Batman, you asked for it.
Bass, treble! All the rest of you!
- It won't work, Minstrel. - Hmm.
We're wearing our particle bat-accelerator units.
(Batman) 'To create an anti-charge, and deflect your static bolts.'
So, there's no way out, Minstrel.
Alright, Chief O'Hara, you can take him away.
And this time, Minstrel, no song, please.
I don't think he'll be doing any singing in public
for a long, long time.
Come along, you.
Good evening.
Late this evening
that melodic master of crime
who earlier came within a tremble
of subjugating all of Gotham City
is now on his way to the city jail.
Thanks once again to our savior Batman.
You may be interested to know that bail has been denied.
However, before he is incarcerated
we have been granted this exclusive interview.
Oh, look. They've arrested that charming man.
Tell me, Minstrel Man..
Due to the fact that you have been defeated by the dynamic duo
despite your electronic genius
do you have any plans in your future for crime?
Why, yes. As a matter of fact, I have.
¶ Wait till the jailbreak, Batman ¶
¶ You've not seen the last of me ¶
¶ I'll clobber you and, Robin, wait and see ¶
¶ You'll vibrate both together
¶ I'll shake off your heads
¶ Oh, just you wait till the jailbreak, Batman ¶
¶ You'll be dead
Uh, thank you very much, Mr. Minstrel Man.
And ladies.. ladies and gentlemen
that concludes our program for the night.
[softly] Take him out. Out.
Surely a man with such a voice can't be all bad.
Perhaps he could learn to make an honest living
when he comes out of prison.
If only someone would help.
Commissioner Gordon is a friend of yours, isn't he?
Why, yes, he is, Aunt Harriet, in a way.
And even though Minstrel might sneer at such a suggestion
I will bring it to the commissioner's attention.
(Batman) 'Who knows, it just might work.'
Next week, another battle royal with King Tut.
[theme music]
¶ Batman
¶ Batman Batman Batman
¶ Na na na na na na na
¶ Batman