05x12 - The Beginning...

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Gotham". Aired: September 2014 to April 2019.*
Watch/Buy Amazon  Merchandise

The origin story behind Commissioner James Gordon's rise to prominence in Gotham City in the years before Batman's arrival.
Post Reply

05x12 - The Beginning...

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on Gotham...

We will create a legacy in this city.

Gotham falls... we rise.

Together.

Why don't you understand?

- [GRUNTS]
- You need me!

I'm the answer to your life's question!

All this happened because of me, because people were trying to hurt meand the people I care about.

JONES: With reunification underway and the bridges being rebuilt,it is my honor to bestow upon Captain James Gordonthe title of commissioner.

What do you mean you're leaving?

- Gotham's in good hands.
- Thank you, Bruce.

That you are the only son that I will ever have.

And I could not be more proud.

[SHIP HORN BLOWING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

BRUCE: Alfred...

I'm writing to let you know I'm okay...

and that you won't hear from me for some time.

But I will return...

when I know I'm able to protect the people I love.

When Gotham needs me...

I will return.

♪ ♪

[SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE]

_

GORDON: It began a few weeks ago.

Someone attacking the gangs downtown.

No deaths so far, at least.

Hoods couldn't give a description, but, uh, they did mention a growling.

A growling?

It's a rumor; ignore it.

Oswald Cobblepot gets out of Blackgate tomorrow.

One theory is he's sending someone to put the fear of God into the underworld.

And you choose this moment to hand in your resignation.

I told you that months ago.

That's not the point.

Look, things are unstable. I-Isn't there, uh, uh, some break-in

at a government warehouse that you guys haven't solved yet?

Yeah, 'cause the Feds won't tell us squat.

I'm not looking for excuses!

Look... you mean something to this city.

You can't quit.

Not now.

Because of Wayne Tower.

Bruce Wayne is returning home for the first time in a decade for its opening.

The new Wayne Tower represents hope for Gotham.

So, yeah... I need you.

Mayor James... I told you I would stay until after the Wayne inaugural.

Then I'm done.

If you'll excuse me, I have a fund-raiser I have to get ready for.

Good day, gentlemen.

BULLOCK: Jim.

I've had ten years, Harv.

It's time for someone else to have a chance.

And you wait for Bruce to come back to hang it up?

That's a coincidence?

I'm late. I have to meet Barbara.

Yeah.

The queen of Gotham.

Tell me something.

Why didn't I buy up half of Gotham on the cheap after reunification?

Become a tycoon. Hmm?

Give a kiss to the little one from Uncle Harv.

Will do.

[DOOR OPENS]

GORDON: Hey, slugger.

Daddy!

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Just do it.

Yes, ma'am.

Hi, sweetheart.

So... did you hear from Bruce?

No.

Ten years and not a word.

But I'm assuming he'll be at the gala for Wayne Tower tomorrow.

I want to see the look on his face when I tell him, in three months he won't have the tallest building in Gotham anymore.

Hmm.

Think he'll recognize you with that caterpillar on your top lip?

[CHUCKLES]

Okay, munchkin, I love you. [KISSES]

Don't let her stay up too late.

Ice cream?

Yeah.

[LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Bruce is back.

[CHUCKLES]

Big deal.

I knew him.

Back in the day.

Saved Gotham together.

[GASPS] Oswald's being freed?

Hey!

I've been in here ten years!

Ten years!

I deserve to read the newspaper, you mouth breather!

[CHUCKLES]

Hey! Hey!

Hey!

Do you know who that is?

Jeremiah Valeska.

And yeah...

he's been a vegetable for a decade.

Can't think. Can't feel.

But he is a legend.

And if you're gonna screw with a legend...

...do it properly. [CHUCKLING]

This never gets old. [CHUCKLES]

[ALARM RINGING]

[INMATES SCREAMING]

Hey, buddy, I got something for you.

Hey!

What are you doing?
Where are you taking me?

Come on.

NURSE: Out of the way.

Whoa.

Yup. It was time to admit it.

I was trying something. It didn't work.

You liked it, right?

Totally.

At least now Bruce will recognize you.

Hmm. That's very funny.

I wonder how much he's changed.

Well, it's been ten years. I'd imagine a lot.

Well, we haven't.

I'm still a doctor. You're still a cop.

Mm. Not for long.

Are you having second thoughts about leaving?

Well...

I'm all for it.

But I know how much this job means to you.

And how much the city looks to you. It always has.

Well, that's just it.

I was hoping Gotham would outgrow me.

But it hasn't exactly happened.

No one's stepped forward.

Well, maybe you need to step down to allow someone to step up.

- [SIGHS]
- Jim Gordon.

Clean-shaven man of leisure.

[CHUCKLES]

[CHUCKLES]

Ten years.

I wonder what Bruce will think of Selina.

She's become quite the it girl around town.

[BEEPING]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[GASPS]

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

So they have no idea when Nygma actually escaped?

He wasn't in his cell this morning.

This is where the guard lives.

The one that didn't show for work.

All right. I got it.

Stay here in case something else comes in.

All right.

[CAR HORNS HONKING IN DISTANCE]

GCPD.

No! Okay. Okay...

Shut up! Talk to him.

[GRUNTING]

This is Detective Bullock.

[BREATH TREMBLING]

You understand?

Oh, my God.

You understand what you have to do?

Oh, my God.

I don't have a choice!

- [g*nsh*t]
- [BODY THUDS]

[DOOR OPENS]

What the hell happened, Harvey?

What did Harper say?

I want to hear it from you.

We, uh, tracked down this Arkham guard we thought maybe helped Nygma escape.

I sh*t him.

End of story.

You're confessing... to k*lling an unarmed suspect in cold blood.

That's what happened.

You got to let it go.

Harvey, I don't know if you think you're protecting yourself or someone else, but you need to change your story.

Otherwise you're going to Blackgate.

And you know what happens to cops in Blackgate.

That's what happened.

So let it go.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

All right, first things first.

Whoever here doesn't believe Harvey Bullock is innocent

can leave right now.

Good.

[SIGHS] You think Nygma's behind this?

Maybe. But he's been inside Arkham for ten years.

It's not like he suddenly decided to break out.

He had help.
- ALVAREZ: Penguin gets released today.

You think...?

Yeah. Put a tail on him.

In the meantime, I want every other cop in this city on the hunt for Edward Nygma.

We looked into the dead guard.

He used to be associated with a southside g*ng.

Got an address. An old warehouse.

All right. You and I will hit it.

Rest of you have your orders. Let's go.

[RAT SQUEAKING]

[GASPS]

[PANTING]

[ECHOING]: Hello?!

Anybody?!

Anybody!

"Dear Ed, my old friend.

Half of Gotham thinks you a madman.

The other half has forgotten you.

It's time to remind them who the Riddler is."

"I've given you all you need. Follow the instructions.

Oswald."

[LAUGHING]

Oswald...

what are you planning?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[CLAMORING]

Mr. Cobblepot, what's the first thing you'll do as a free man?

I will lay flowers on the grave of my beloved mother.

And what of Jim Gordon's role in your incarceration?

Will you seek revenge?

The best revenge against Jim Gordon will be a life spent serving the city I love.

What do you say, young man?

How'd you like an exclusive?

- Yeah, sure.
- Yeah.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

Your jacket and hat.

What?

Now!

[LIQUID DRIPPING]

[ECHOING]: GCPD!

GCPD.

This is the place.

HARPER: Good God.

GORDON: Did your lead say anything about this?

About a gangland bloodbath?

No.

What the hell is going on?

GORDON: Someone's covering their tracks.

There was a break-in in a government warehouse last week.

Those crates have U.S. Army markings.

[LOUD CLATTER]

Find the back stairs.

GCPD!

I know you're here.

Show yourself.

DISTORTED VOICE: I am not your enemy.

DISTORTED VOICE: Don't touch the bodies.

Don't move!

Grenade!

♪ ♪

[SIREN CHIRPS OUTSIDE]

b*mb squad said the bodies were rigged with C- .

Whoever that was saved our lives.

Suggesting... that he wasn't the one that k*lled them.

Could be he's hunting the same person we're hunting.

Whoever's really behind all this.

- You thinking he's on our side?
- Yeah, maybe.

That C- has to have been what was stolen from the government warehouse.

Which means most of it's still missing.

Just got a call. Mayor James vanished, and our tail lost Penguin.

Sir, what the hell is going on?

First Nygma, now Penguin.

Keep it simple.

Imagine all that C- .

What's the biggest target in Gotham right now?

Double security for tonight's event.

I have to talk to Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth.

Hello, old friend.

- Oswald...
- One more word, and I will put a b*llet in you here and now.

Drive.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Oswald...

Don't talk!

Turn around!

Remember when we stood here, Jim, all those years ago?

Don Falcone wanted you to sh**t me. You refused.

Now don't you wish you had done it?

Everyone will know you did this.

[LAUGHS QUIETLY]

Let them!

We both know that this has been a long time coming.

Our story is... over, old friend.

You want to k*ll me, fine.

But there's no need to att*ck the Wayne gala.

What are you talking about?

Breaking Nygma out of Arkham.

The att*cks on the gangs.

What do you think, you're gonna be able to destroy Wayne Tower and no one's gonna notice?

I don't know what you're talking about.

You and I stood shoulder to shoulder on those barricades, ready to die for this city.

Six months later, you locked me up like an animal!

This begins and ends with you and me!

You're telling the truth.

Goodbye, Jim.

- [COCKS p*stol]
- Turn around!

You know, you made a mistake bringing me out to this pier.

Don't talk!

Or maybe you just have a short memory.

[GASPING]

[SCREAMING]

♪ Blood-filled ♪

- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- ♪ Jewel of life ♪

So, this is Bruce's new Gotham.

I like the old one.

Selina?

How wonderful to see you again.

It's been far, far too long.

Where is he?

Well, I-I'm afraid travels abroad haven't increased

Master Bruce's respect for punctuality, Miss Kyle.

I came here to tell him to stop spying on me.

I don't understand.

I was out the other night and I felt someone watching me.

I know it was Bruce.

Oh, I see, right, well, that makes perfect sense.

So you come here tonight dressed to the nines to tell him that you want nothing more to do with him.

Is that the kind of gist of it?

He left, Alfred.

Everything we went through, and one day he's just gone.

He doesn't get to come back after ten years and act like nothing's happened.

On this, we absolutely agree.

I do, however, feel it might be something that you want to tell him yourself.

He needs to stay away.

♪ Diamond veins ♪

♪ Running through me... ♪

Nygma?

BARBARA: Well, look at you.

I think Bruce is gonna regret being gone all these years.

Follow me.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

NYGMA: Credit to Bruce.

He did not skimp on the caterers.

Hungry?

[MUFFLED]: Uh-uh.

- [CHUCKLES]
- [TV PLAYING INDISTINCTLY]

Your loss.

Not long now.

NEWSWOMAN: Bruce Wayne's first public appearance in nearly a decade.

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

Lucius.

Lee.

Heard about Harvey...
How is he? How's Jim?

I don't know.

I was hoping he would be here.

Ah. [CLEARS THROAT] Ladies and gentlemen.

Uh, my name is Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth.

And I'd very much like to welcome you on behalf of Wayne Enterprises and Bruce Wayne to the, uh, future... of Gotham.

[ON TV]: As you know, ten years ago, the battle...

Oh, come on.

Where is that brat?

BARBARA: Hello, Ed.

Barbara Kean.

In red.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, no.

Please tell me you are not here to stop me.

Barbara...

Do you even remember how amazing you used to be?

Honey, I'm still amazing.

- [CHUCKLES]
- I just made a choice.

You made a choice.

Some of us don't get to make choices.

I'm The Riddler.

And tonight Gotham will remember that.

By blowing up this ding-dong?

Didn't you do that already?

It's a callback.

I was waiting for Bruce to begin his speech.

You know, come out, present a riddle.

Only Bruce doesn't seem to want to show.

So I think I'm gonna have to imp...

[MUFFLED GRUNTING]

[SIGHS]

BARBARA: Sorry, Ed.

Not tonight.

Wayne Enterprises will devote itself to making this future a reality.

[DOORS BANG OPEN]

- Lee.
- [ALFRED CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

THOMPKINS: Jim.

I'm fine. Evacuate the building.

- Get these people out of here.
- JAMES: Help!

Gordon!

Help! Gordon!

- Gordon, help!
- [CROWD SCREAMING]

This lunatic.

He kidnapped me again.

He tried to blow me up. Again!

But we stopped him.

You're welcome.

Take care of the mayor, please.

Get that thing off of him.

Excuse me.

There were four crates of C- .

Where are the rest?

That's all he gave me.

- He said Penguin broke him out.
- No.

It wasn't Penguin. Get him out of there.

What?

Hey! Get off me.

Penguin not's just the patsy.

He's not even the real thr*at.

Which means there must be...

♪ ♪

GORDON: If this b*mb goes off and Wayne Tower falls, it'll take out other buildings.

A lot of people are gonna die.

You all need to leave right now.

So you can stay? Absolutely not.

It's too late.

We'd never get far enough away.

Ms. Kean is right; this stops right here.

So how do we defuse it?

We'd have to sever the connectors to the detonator, but the bomber must have hidden it.

The wires go up inside the model.

It must be in one of the buildings.

I tracked down a g*ng today...

They had b*mb-making materials, pictures of buildings.

One in particular:

Gotham Clock Tower.

[ALARM RINGING]


Let's go.

In here.

[GRUNTS]

Wait, wait, wait.

[BEEPING]

Wait. This particular detonator has a gyroscope.

Which means someone will have to hold it up and steady while you detach the wires from below.

I have doctor's hands, I can do it.

Fine. Lucius.

LUCIUS: All right, the trigger connection should be different than the others.

THOMPKINS: Okay, I see two green wires.

I'm gonna cut this one.

♪ ♪

[BEEPING]

- [SIGHS]
- [BARBARA SIGHS]

- The other one. The other one.
- The other one.

- The other one.
- Yes, the other one.

[SIGHS]

Never doubted you for a minute.

Strange.

We designed a new clock tower, but this is the old one.

That's the answer.

Who's behind all this, but... but it's not possible.

HARPER: Sir.

Sir, Nygma's vanished.

There's more.

Mayor James ordered Bullock sent to Blackgate.

He's about to be moved.

[SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE]

GORDON: Stop! Stop!

The person who framed you, the one behind Nygma's breakout, is it who I think it is?
Has he been faking it?

Jim, do not say his name!

Is it Jeremiah Valeska?

- [GRUNTS]
- Harvey.

- Check him for a wire!
- What?

Under his shirt. Check for a wire.

BULLOCK: Oh, God, it's too late.

He's miked.

Jim, you don't know what he'll do.

I-I don't know about this.

How much is it again?

ORDERLY: Ten bucks is a body punch. $ , you get the face.

Stabbing him is a C-note.

Huh.

[GRUNTING]

Bad news, boss.

Our cover's blownskies.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[CACKLES]

[GASPS]

[CAR HORNS HONKING IN DISTANCE]

[GRUNTS]

OSWALD: Edward Nygma.

It is very good to see you.

Oswald... I thought you weren't behind this.

I'm not.

But I thought you might need some help, and... what else are friends for?

[CHUCKLES]

You look well.

You, too.

A little thicker in the middle.

[CHUCKLES]

Damn, it's good to see you, Oswald.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Wh-What was that? What was that?

[SCREAMS]

[CRASH]

[HORN HONKING]

What the hell was that?!

[COUGHS]

[WHOOSHING]

[BOTH SCREAMING]

[SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE]

Alfred, when Bruce came to me the day he got back and told me what he was planning, I didn't hesitate.

I believe in what he's doing, but he's going to need some help.

Has he thought about telling Gordon?

Lucius, my old friend, whoever Bruce decides to take on this journey with him,

it's his decision.

Our role... is to serve.

[OSWALD AND NYGMA STRAINING]

Down!

- Get me down!
- Aah!

Something happened tonight, didn't it?

Why won't you tell me?

Because everything worked out okay, didn't it?

So why are we at your old club?

Because Mommy just needs to get something.

♪ I ♪

♪ Now, I don't hardly... ♪

Wait here, okay?

♪ But I think I could love her ♪

Turn around.

♪ Crimson and clover ♪

Turn around.

I won't ask again.

Surprise.

[GRUNTING]

Easy.

It's just a surprise party.

For you, Barbara Kean, queen of Gotham, business titan. How exciting.

But there was another you, I...

I seem to recall.

Wasn't there?

Then again, there was, uh, another me, too.

Oh, so hard holding on to what's real. It's...

[GRUNTS] It's enough to drive you mad.

[CHUCKLES]

[GRUNTING]

No!

BARBARA LEE [SCREAMS]: Mom!

Cute.

[PANTING]

She has your eyes.

For now.

No, put me down.

[WHIMPERS] I... think she... nicked me, Daddy.

I...

Oh, boy.

Oh, dear me.

My sweet Ecco, no longer my echo.

There will never be one like you.

Really?

[CHUCKLES]

But I suppose there are other fish in the sea.

Let me...

- down.
- [PANTING]

Mom! Hush, little Barbaras, don't say a word.

Now we're going to play a...

- little game.
- [PANTING]

By now, James Gordon should have made it to your apartment.

When he gets here, I want you to deliver a message. Okay?

[EXHALES, SNIFFLES]

Okay?

[GIGGLES]

Okay?

[DOOR OPENS]

GORDON: Barbara.

I'll call an ambulance.

Barbara.

Barbara.

He took her!

That lunatic took her!

He said you have to come, and if you don't come, he's gonna k*ll her.

Where?

The place where he was born again.

He means Ace Chemicals.

You promise me.

I'll bring her back.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

JEREMIAH: Come along, Commissioner.

We're waiting.

The party's raging, but it's well past the princess's bedtime.

It's funny, being back here.

I can still feel my flesh sizzle as it melted away.

Burns even now.

Ooh. Oh.

[SCREAMS]

I'm here.

Everything's gonna be fine.

You think so?

Personally, I'd say things are about as far away from fine as they could possibly be, Barbara Lee.

What do I know? I did just spend the last ten years in the funny farm. [GIGGLES]

What do you want, Jeremiah?

Is there a Jeremiah here?

So what do I call you?

Uh...

I don't know.

Call me... Jack.

Mm, no, no, no, that's not right.

J-Joseph. John. Jay.

I-I don't know. I just...

I feel something new crawling from the primordial ooze that was me.

Something... beautiful.

How long have you been pretending to be brain-dead?

How long have you been pretending?

That's a joke. I know you're not pretending.

That's far enough, James.

[CLUCKS]

GORDON: But you still haven't told me.

Why?

Why keep pretending?

I was waiting for him to come home.

We're bound together, he and I.

It's the one thing I knew for certain, the one thing

I knew was true.

And then he just... abandoned us.

Do you know how it feels to have the one, the only thing you love ripped away from you?

It feels like this.

- No!
- [SCREAMS]

[LAUGHS]

- [GRUNTS]
- [SHOUTS]

[LAUGHS]

Disappointing as tonight was,

I will say, it is fun carving up Filet-O-Commissioner. [GIGGLING]

[CLANG]

Who's there?!

What do you want?!

Show yourself!

Show yourself!

[WHOOSHING]

You.

[JEREMIAH LAUGHING]

[LAUGHING]

♪ ♪

It's okay. It's all right.

I got you, okay?

So, he comes out of nowhere, saves you and Barbara Lee, and just disappears?

Yeah.

So, the dude's on our side?

I think so.

Hey, this old thing.

I thought we, uh, mothballed this after reunification.

I had 'em dig it out for old times' sake.

I sent a note to Wayne Manor.

I thought Bruce might want to be here when we light it.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Master Bruce sends his profound apologies.

He's otherwise engaged.

He's been busy a lot since he came back.

Yes, indeed.

And I hear that you're retiring.

I may stick around a while yet.

♪ ♪

You're there, aren't you?

Do you have any idea what you did...

...just leaving?

You were all I had.

And I know you wanted to protect me.

But I didn't want to be protected.

I wanted you.

Say something.

[QUIETLY]: Say something.

There was no other way, Selina.

I had to go.

So what happens now?

I don't know.

But I'll never leave Gotham again.

Return the diamond.

[WHOOSHING]

Like hell.

"Gotham is mine." That's what he said.

I was there, Oswald.

I did not spend ten years in Blackgate to give my city to a man dressed like a bat!

Yes!

[GRUNTS] Go!

We have to find out who he is and show him that this is our city!

Agreed.

[GASPS]

Tomorrow?

Tomorrow.

Yet in the darkness, there will be light.

That's what you promised Master Bruce all those years ago in the alley.

You saved him.

Gave him hope.

Holy Mother.

♪ ♪

Who is he?

A friend.

♪ ♪
Post Reply