Joker:
Knock knock.
Murray Franklin:
Who's there? [audience laughs]
Joker:
It's the police, ma'am. Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead! [laughs; audience gasps; musician in band goes "wah-wah" on trombone]
Dr. Sally:
[unsettled] Oh no, no, no! No, you cannot joke about that!
Murray Franklin:
[tense and somewhat spooked] Yeah, that's not funny, Arthur. That's not the kind of humor we do on this show.
Joker:
Okay... Yeah, you know what? I-I’m sor-I'm sorry. I know. It's just, you know, it's been a rough few weeks, Murray. Ever since I...killed those three Wall Street guys.
[the crowd murmurs nervously and some of them even gasp]
Murray Franklin:
[confused, but trying to stay in character] Okay, I'm waiting for the punchline.
Joker:
There is no punchline. It's not a joke.
[the crowd gasps]
Murray Franklin:
[a bit concerned and edgy] You're serious, aren't you? You're telling us you killed those three young men on the subway?
Joker:
Mm-hmm.
Murray Franklin:
And...why should we believe you?
Joker:
I’ve got nothing left to lose. Nothing can hurt me anymore. My life is nothing but a comedy.
Murray Franklin:
So let me get this straight. You think that killing those guys is funny?
Joker:
I do. And I'm tired of pretending it's not. Comedy is subjective, Murray. Isn't that what they say? All of you, the system that knows so much, you decide what's right or wrong. The same way that you decide what's [points to himself] funny or [gestures over to Murray] not!
Audience Member:
[angry and annoyed] Get him off!
Murray Franklin:
[now genuinely disturbed] O-Okay, I-I think...I-I might understand it. You...did this to start a movement? To become a-a symbol?
Joker:
C'mon, Mur-ray. Do I look like the kind of clown that could start a movement? I killed those guys because they were awful. Everybody is awful these days. It's enough to make anyone crazy.
Murray Franklin:
Alright. So that's it then, you're crazy. That's your defense for killing three young men?
Joker:
[smugly] No. They couldn't carry a tune to save their lives. [the crowd boos and jeers; Joker/Arthur grows frustrated] Ugh, why is everybody so upset about these guys? If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you'd walk right over me! I pass you every day, and you don't notice me! But these guys... What, because Thomas Wayne went and cried about them on TV?!
Murray Franklin:
You have a problem with Thomas Wayne?
Joker:
Yes, I do! Have you seen what it's like out there, Mur-ray? Do you ever actually leave the studio? Everybody just yells, shouts, and screams at each other. Nobody’s civil anymore! Nobody thinks what it's like to be the other guy. You think men like Thomas Wayne ever think what it's like to be someone like me?! To be somebody but themselves?! They don't. They think we'll all just sit there and take it like good little boys! That we won't werewolf and go wild!!
Murray Franklin:
[trying to stay composed] You finished? I mean, there’s so much self-pity, Arthur. You sound like you're making excuses for killing those young men. Not everybody, and I'll tell you this, not everyone is awful.
Joker:
[coldly and quietly] You're awful, Murray.
Murray Franklin:
Me? I'm awful? Oh, yeah, how am I awful?
Joker:
Playing my video. Inviting me on the show. You just wanted to make fun of me. You're just like the rest of 'em.
Murray Franklin:
[offended] You don't know the first thing about me, pal. Look what happened because of what you did. What it led to. There are riots out there. Two policemen are in critical condition...[Joker/Arthur laughs]...and you're laughing. You're laughing. Someone was killed today because of what you did.
Joker:
[giggling] I know. How about another joke, Mur-ray?
Murray Franklin:
No, I think we’ve had enough of your jokes.
Joker:
What do you get...
Murray Franklin:
I don't think so.
Joker:
...When you cross...
Murray Franklin:
I think we're done with your jokes, that's it.
Joker:
...A mentally-ill loner with a SOCIETY that ABANDONS HIM AND TREATS HIM LIKE TRASH?!
Murray Franklin:
Call the police, Gene!
Joker:
I'll tell you what you get!
Murray Franklin:
Call the police!
Joker:
YOU GET WHAT YOU FUCKING DESERVE!!! [pulls out his gun and shoots Murray in the head, instantly killing him. The crowd is heard screaming in fear and seen running away]
