We saved this city from certain damnation, but will we receive any thanks for our loyalty, for our selfless bravery? Of course not!
I don't want their thanks or their respect. You know what I felt, standing shoulder to shoulder with those people out there? Nothing. I feel absolutely nothing for those drab, boring people. That was me, once. Minimum wage at a thankless job at the GCPD. "Yes, sir." "No, sir." "Thank you so much, sir." Picking up scraps from my master's floor. Shy, awkward, pathetic Ed. Common criminals. Never again! I've shown this city who I truly am once before, and I'll do it again! They will bow to the Riddler, and they won't get up until I permit them to!
You're right. Our accomplishments erased. Our brilliant minds underrated. If they had let me run this city the way I wanted to, it would not be in ruins now. I had the men, the money, the guns...
Gordon took them. Why? Because he still sees you as Fish Mooney's umbrella boy, and he always will. I only came back to help him save the city so I could take it myself!
We would be strong together. No one could stop us.
Let's make a pact, here and now. We will take what we want from who we want, and we will suffer no fools.
Please, we're brothers. A hug.
[they embrace, and draw knives on each other, but cannot bring themselves to strike]
[Cobblepot has Gordon at gunpoint]
Remember when we stood here, Jim, all those years ago? Don Falcone wanted you to shoot me, you refused? Don't you wish now that you had done it?
Everyone will know you did this.
Let them! We both know that this has been a long time coming. Our story is over, old friend.
You want to kill me, fine. But there's no need to attack the Wayne Tower.
[pause] What are you talking about?
Breaking Nygma out of Arkham, attacking the gangs... what do you think, you can attack Wayne Tower and no one's going to 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 lock me up like an animal! This begins and ends with you and me!
Oh, Ecco, my sweet Ecco... There will never be another one like you.
[Jeremiah shoots her. She coughs up blood, still grinning happily, then drops dead.]
But then, I suppose there are other fish in the sea.
[Jeremiah has Gordon's daughter Barbara suspended by a rope at Ace Chemicals]
[As Gordon approaches, gun drawn] 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. It still burns, even now- oooh! [he suddenly lets the rope slide a little, causing Barbara to drop closer to one of the chemical vats]
[To Barbara] 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?
[pretends to look around] ...Is there a "Jeremiah" here?
Umm, I don't know. Call me...Jack! Mm, no, no, that's not right. Joseph! John, J... I don't know. I just... I feel something new, crawling from the primordial ooze that was me. Something... beautiful. [grins]
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. Ah-ta-ta. [he lets Barbara slide a bit further]
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? [pause] Feels like this.
[He lets go of the rope, causing Barbara to fall.]
[He grabs the rope and catches her, but Jeremiah draws a knife and stabs him in the shoulder, causing him to scream in pain]
[cackling] Disappointing as tonight was, I will say it is fun carving up "Fillet au Commissioner!"
[as he raises the knife again, a projectile suddenly knocks it out of his hand]
[draws a gun] Who's there? Whattaya want? Show yourself! Show yourself!
[He suddenly sees a dark figure approaching]
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. Say something.
There was no other way, Selina. I had to go.
I don't know. But I'll never leave Gotham again. Return the diamond.
[She turns around; he has vanished]
I did not spend 10 years in Blackgate Prison to give control of my city to a man dressed like a bat!
[They free themselves from their handcuffs and jump out the back of the paddy wagon.]
We have to find out who he is and show him that this is our city!
[They stop when they look up and see Batman leaping across rooftops, instantly terrified.]
