The Joker
God damn it... [throws the gun away] Well, what are you waiting for? Kick the hell out of me, and get your standing ovation! [brief silence; Batman does nothing] Come on!
Batman
No. Not this time. I don't want to hurt you. I don't want either of us to end up killing the other. But we're running out of alternatives. Perhaps it all hinges on tonight. I don't know what it was that bent your life out of shape, but maybe, I've been there, too. Maybe we could work together. I could rehabilitate you. You don't need to be alone. We don't have to kill each other. [holds out his hand] Let me help you.
The Joker
I'm sorry, but... no. No. It's far too late for that. [turns away from Batman...then begins to chuckle as the rain begins to fall] You know, it's funny. This reminds me of a joke. See, there were two guys locked in a lunatic asylum and one night... one night, they decided they didn't like that anymore. They decided to escape. So, they made it up to the roof and there, just across this narrow gap, they see rooftops stretching across town, stretching to FREEDOM. Now, the first guy, he jumps right across, no problem. But his friend, oh-ho, no way, he's afraid of falling. So, the first guy, he has an idea. He says, "Hey! I got this flashlight with me. I'll shine it across the gap between the buildings and you can walk across the beam and join me." But the second guy says, "What do you think I am, crazy? You'll just turn it off when I'm halfway across!" [begins to laugh] Oh, excuse me... [continues laughing; after a moment, Batman slowly smiles and joins him for the laugh]
[Batman and Joker just stand there laughing their heads off, as the camera begins a slow, deliberate pan down to a puddle near the two’s feet, Joker abruptly stops laughing and falls completely silent. Batman, however, does not stop. The screen slowly fades to pitch black, but Batman's unsettling laughter rings out, gradually fading away into the silence as the credits begin to roll.]
