Dated Death |
Narrator |
Just twelve days ago the famous Batman wakened Robin, his young companion, from sleep, and told him: |
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Batman |
I'm going away, Robin. I can't tell you where or why. I hope to be back within a week. But if I'm not, well, you may never see me again. |
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Music |
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President Harry S Truman 
Poster to promote the Marshall Plan
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Narrator |
Then, when twelve days passed and Batman did not return, a very worried Robin appealed for aid to Clark Kent, who as we know is Superman. Searching for a clue in Batman's study Kent discovers a recently made recording of a conversation between Batman and a mysterious Mr. Jones. A man who had somehow learned that Batman was really a wealthy young man named Bruce Wayne, and who threatened, that unless Batman accompanied him to an unnamed destination, he would reveal his secret to the world.
A desperate search failed to uncover any trace of Batman or the mysterious Mr. Jones. But early that evening, Police Inspector Henderson phoned Kent and Robin and told them to go to the Metropolis Auditorium. There before a huge crowd, a tall figure wearing a skin tight costume, cape, bat-like hood and mask, walked out on the stage to address the gathering.
And now a word from our sponsor:
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.Robin |
PEOPLE SOUNDS, MOVEMENT, MURMURING
Look, Mr. Kent, it's Batman!
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Kent |
It certainly looks like him, Dick.
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Robin |
It is him, or else I - I'm dreaming!
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Kent |
You're not dreaming, son!
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Robin |
But how could he be here, safe and sound, while letting us think he might be dead?
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Kent |
I don't know.
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Robin |
Oh, there's something screwy going on.
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Kent |
Must be! Can't imagine Batman addressing a selfish, bigoted crowd like this! |
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Batman |
Ladies and gentlemen...
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Kent |
He's starting his speech. Listen...
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Batman |
It's a great pleasure and privilege to address this splendid organization.
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Robin |
That's Batman alright.
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Batman |
I am wholeheartedly in sympathy with your views, and I am convinced that the future of our great country rests in your hands, and in the hands of those others all over the United States who think the way you do.
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MURMURS OF PEOPLE |
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Robin |
Did you hear that, Mr. Kent? He's with this mob!
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Kent |
Yes! I can't believe it, Dick!
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Robin |
Why, If Batman told me once he told me a hundred times that this bunch were selfish bigots. He said they were a menace to our country!
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Kent |
They are! I can't understand this!
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Robin |
I think...
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Kent |
Wait, Dick, let's hear this.
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West Germany is to get aid from the Marshall Plan |
Batman |
...in this country, want us to send our hard-earned food, clothing, seed and agricultural equipment to the nations of Europe. 'Share what we have with the unfortunate,' they say. Well, I say, don't do anything of the kind. Let others take care of themselves.
PEOPLE MURMURING
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Robin |
Holy smokes, Mr. Kent, I must be dreaming!
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Kent |
No, you're not, Dick!
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Robin |
Batman always said the only decent and humane thing to do was to help the starving people in Europe.
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Kent |
I know. He went to Washington with me a few months ago to say the same thing. I can't understand why... Wait, listen...
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Batman |
Why should we give our bread, and cotton and steel machinery to somebody else? I ask you, why? If the Europeans want the necessities and luxuries of life, let them make them themselves!
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Robin |
How can he say that when he knows their farms and factories and homes have been destroyed in the war, and all they're asking is our help in getting on their feet again?
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Kent |
I think I'm beginning to see what's behind this, Dick!
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Robin |
Yeah, what?!
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Kent |
Tell you later. Listen.
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Josef Stalin opposes the Marshall Plan |
Batman |
Finally...we have our own troubles to worry about, so let's not talk about Europe's too. They got into a mess without our help, now let them get out of it, without our help.
CHEERS
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Robin |
Jeepers. My ears must be playing tricks on me, Mr. Kent! I can't believe Batman would ever say such rotten, selfish things.
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Kent |
Neither can I!
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England |
Batman |
The less we have to do with foreigners the better, so let 'em stew in their own juice. And now in closing, ladies and gentlemen, let me urge you again to refuse to aid Europe. We work hard for what we have, so let's not give it away to a lot of foreigners. I thank you.
CHEERS |
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MUSIC |
And now, a word from our sponsor.
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Robin |
Batman spoke like a selfish bigot and a rabble rouser, Mr. Kent!
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Kent |
Like one of the worst kind, Dick.! The meeting's over. Come on.
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Robin |
I can't believe it! He..he just the same as said let those poor people over there starve.
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France |
Kent |
That' what he said. But I've known Batman for years and I know he hates narrow bigots and despots like this Un-American as much as you and I and all decent Americans hate them!
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Robin |
Then why did he say all those awful things?
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Kent |
My hunch is he was forced to do this.
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Robin |
Forced? |
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Kent |
Uh huh.
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Robin |
What makes you think so?
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Icleland |
Kent |
Remember that recording we found in Batman's study?
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Robin |
Oh, you mean that fellow Jones he..
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Italy |
Kent |
Yes. Look, Batman just went into a dressing room. Here's our chance to find out. Come on!
MUSIC
DOOR OPENS |
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Kent |
There he is, Dick.
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Robin |
(happily) Batman! Hey, Batman!
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Luxembourg |
Batman |
Oh, hello, Dick. How are you, Kent?
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Kent |
All right, Batman, but...
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Robin |
Where've you been? Why did you tell me I might never see you again? Why havn't I....
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Belgium |
Batman |
Whoah, wait a minute, Dick, it's a long story and I..I can't go into it now, because I've got another speaking engagement in Willow Falls.
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Robin |
But.. gee whiz...
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Kent |
Look, Batman, we three are all alone now, so you can drop the pose and talk straight. We heard your speech tonight and now we want to know...
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Batman |
Oh, you did, eh? How'd you like it?
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Robin |
Thought it smelled!
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Batman |
Really? I thought it was quite good.
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Netherlands |
Kent |
Oh, cut that out, Batman! We know why you made that filthy un-American speech tonight. You see, we found that recording!
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Batman |
(Blankly) Recording? What recording, Kent?
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Austria |
Robin |
The one you meant us to find, of course! The one you made the night you left of the conversation between you and that fellow Jones.
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Batman |
(Blankly) Oh. (Quickly) Oh, oh, that.
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Robin |
We heard him say he knew you were Bruce Wayne, and if you didn't go away with him he'd tell the whole world. That's why you made that speech tonight, wasn't it, Batman? Because Jones threatened to tell everyone you were Bruce Wayne, if you didn't go along with him. Isn't that right?
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Batman |
Well, I...
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Denmark |
Kent |
I'm surprised you went along with him no matter what it meant to you, Batman. You have a great deal of influence and prestige, you know, and a lot of people will believe your lies just because you say them!
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Robin |
That's right
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Batman |
(Hard voice) But they weren't lies.
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Kent/Robin |
What?
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Batman |
I told the truth.
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Robin |
You must be out of your head!
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Norway |
Kent |
Now, listen, Batman, either this fellow Jones has succeeded in so scaring you that you've turned into a coward, or else....
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Batman |
Now wait! Get this straight, I'm neither a coward nor out of my mind, Kent. Now as I said before I've got another speaking engagement, so I'll have to ask you two to leave.
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Kent |
Oh, no you don't. You're not going to brush me off that easily, Batman. We've been friends for years, and I'm gonna find...
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Greece |
Robin |
Wait a minute, Mr. Kent. Let me talk to him alone.
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Kent |
But look!
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A 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline Aero Sedan |
Robin |
I know him better than you. Will you wait outside for me, please, in your car?
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Batman |
Look, I'm in a hurry, Dick, I told you...
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Robin |
I don't care, Pappy! You and I are gonna have a little pow wow, right now. Go on, please, Mr. Kent.
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Kent |
Well, All right, Dick, I'll wait for you in my car.
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VOICE FADES, FOOR CLOSES LEAVES |
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Robin |
All right, now, we're alone, just you and me, Batman and Robin, so start talking!
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And now a word from our sponsor:
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Sweden |
Narrator |
Alone in a dressing room in the Metropolis Auditorium, Dick Grayson, who is really Robin, appeals to his tall, costumed companion.
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Robin |
We've never had any secrets from each other, Batman, so come on, tell me about this trouble you're in.
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Batman |
I'm not in any trouble, Dick.
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Robin |
Don't give me that! You wouldn't just disappear for almost two weeks and let me worry myself sick, and then make a rotten, un-American speech like...like some dirty rabble rouser unless you..
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Batman |
Watch your tongue, you brat!
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Robin |
Huh? What did you call me?
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Batman |
I called you a brat! Now get this through your head. I meant what I said in my speech tonight. I. well, I've been seeing things differently of late.
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Robin |
Holy smokes, Mr. Kent must be right. Either you're yellow or your nuts!
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Batman |
I warned you, Robin! Watch your tongue.
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Robin |
You watch yours! You never talked to me this way before and you're not gonna start now!
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Batman |
Skip it. I've got another speaking engagement so I've got to go.
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Robin |
Wait! Please, don't go until we've had this out!
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Batman |
Take your hands off me!
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Robin |
Please, Batman, you've got to listen to me. You've got to...
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Batman |
I said, let go.
SOUND OF PUNCH |
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Robin |
Oh...
SOUND OF BODY FALLING |
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Batman |
That'll hold you, you little punk.
DOOR OPENS |
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Jerry |
Time to go, Bat...., hey, what happened to the kid?
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Batman |
He got tough and I had to take a poke at him, that's all. Let's go, Jerry.
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Jerry |
Say, he looks as if he's hurt pretty bad. His head's cut.
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Batman |
So what? He banged it against the radiator when he went down. He'll be okay. Come on, let's go.
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Kids joined the Supeman Tim Club
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Narrator |
Without a backward glance at the fallen Robin, who lies huddled on the floor unconscious, the tall figure in the famous Batman costume strides from the dressing room with the man he calls Jerry. How can this brutal scene have taken place between Batman and Robin, inseparable as brothers?
WHAT CAN IT POSSIBLY MEAN? The mystery deepens even more tomorrow, fellows and girls, when more amazing things happen, and Superman decides it is time for him to go into action! So be sure to tune in tomorrow, same time, same station, for Chapter 4 of Batman's Great Mystery on the Adventures of Superman.
Superman is a copyrighted feature appearing in Superman DC Comics Magazine, and is brought to you Monday through Friday at this same time.
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