Gordon steps out. The overhead lights come on. Batman is behind him. The Joker blinks in the harsh white light.

WHAM! The Joker's face hits the table- comes up for air-CRACK! CRACK! To the head. Batman is in front of him. The Joker stares, fascinated. Bleeding.

JOKER: Never start with the head, the victim gets all fuzzy. He can't feel the next-

CRACK! Batman's fist smacks down on the Joker's fingers.

JOKER (calm): See?

Batman: You wanted me. Here I am.

JOKER: I wanted to see what you'd do...and you didn't disappoint. You let 5 people die. Then you let Dent take your place. Even to a guy like me, that's cold.

BATMAN: Where's Dent?

JOKER: Those mob fools want you dead so they can get back to the way things were. But I know the truth: there's no going back. You've changed things. Forever.

BATMAN: Then why do you want to kill me?

The Joker starts laughing. After a moment he's laughing so hard it sounds like sobbing.

JOKER: Kill you? I don't wanna kill you. What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No. No. No! No you- you complete me.

BATMAN: You're garbage who kills for money.
JOKER: Don't talk like one of them, you're not. Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're a freak. Like me. They just need you right now.

He regards Batman with something approaching pity.

JOKER (cont'd): But as soon as they don't they'll cast you out. Like a leper.

The Joker looks into Batman's eyes. Searching.

JOKER: Their morals, their code; it's a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. You'll see- I'll show you. When the chips are down these, uh, civilized people? They'll eat each other. See I'm not a monster, I'm just ahead of the curve.

Batman GRABS the Joker and pulls him upright.

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- NIGHT

One of the Detectives moves for the door. Gordon stops him.

GORDON: He's in control.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- NIGHT

Batman hoists the Joker up by the neck.

BATMAN: Where's Dent?

JOKER: You have these rules, and you think they'll save you.
BATMAN: I have one rule.

JOKER: Then that's the one rule you'll have to break to know the truth.

BATMAN: Which is?

JOKER: The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. And tonight you're gonna break your one rule.

Batman leans in to the Joker.

BATMAN: I'm considering it.

JOKER: There are just minutes left so you're gonna have to play my little game if you want to save...(with relish)...one of them.

BATMAN: Them?

JOKER: For a while I thought you really were Dent. The way you threw yourself after her...

Batman drops the Joker- rips up a bolted-down chair-

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- NIGHT

Gordon moves for the door

INT. OBSERVATION ROOM, MCU -- CONTINUOUS
Batman jams the chair under the doorknob- picks up the Joker andhurls him into the two-way glass. The glass spiders.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL -- NIGHT

The Joker, bleeding from nose and mouth, laughs at Batman.

JOKER: Look at you go! Does Harvey know about you and his little bunny?

The Joker smashes into the wall- slides to the floor. Batman stands over him, a man possessed-

BATMAN: WHERE ARE THEY?

He grabs the Joker, holding him close

JOKER: Killing is making a choice!

Batman punches the Joker across the face. HARD.

BATMAN: WHERE ARE THEY?

The Joker feeds off Batman's anger. Loving it.

JOKER: You choose one life over the other. Your friend, the district attorney, or his blushing bride-to-be.

Batman punches the Joker again. The Joker laughs.

JOKER: You have nothing! Nothing to threaten me with! Nothing to do with all your strength. But don't worry. I'm going to tell you where they are. Both of them. And that's the point. You'll have to choose.

The Batman stares at the Joker...

JOKER: He's at 250 52nd Street. And she's at Avenue X at Cicero.

Batman drops him.