Original subtitles

Afternoon in Gotham Central Park...

noble sanctuary of nature in the midst of the teeming metropolis.

Tranquility, peace, quiet.

The deceptive quiet of the jungle where a criminal beast is to about to spring.

Now, hear this.

Now, hear this.

It is written in the stars that on this day shall the great king of the Nile...

rise up from the tomb.

And he shall claim his kingdom of Gotham City.

And all who oppose him shall be smitten dead.

"Giant Sphinx."

"Uttering demented threats in Gotham Central Park in a woman's voice"?

Sure, and it could be harmless, sir.

Uh, how so, Chief O'Hara?

There was a piece in the paper this morning.

The Gotham City museum is unveiling a new exhibit...

of Egyptian antiques this very day.

Of course.

- And this could be just a publicity stunt. - Yes, sir.

Is there no limit to the brazen effrontery of the press agent?

I'll put paid to their stunts.

Yes?

Bonnie, get me my good friend, millionaire Bruce Wayne.

I expect he'll be at his stately residence, Wayne Manor.

Well, time to leave for the museum, one and all.

Mercy, yes.

Let's not be late, Bruce.

There isn't anything I enjoy more than a nice fresh exhibit...

- of Egyptian antiquities. - Ahem.

- What is it, Alfred? - The telephone, madam.

Police Commissioner Gordon wishes to speak with, uh, Mr. Wayne.

- With me, Alfred? - Yes, sir.

He was most distinct, "With Mr. Bruce Wayne."

Excuse me, Aunt Harriet.

Bruce Wayne speaking.

Oh, uh, sorry to bother you, Bruce.

But you're on the board of trustees of the Gotham Museum, aren't you?

Certainly. I'm treasurer, in fact.

Well, you've gone too far, Bruce.

This Sphinx which has reared itself at the park, this terrifying publicity stunt, it...

This what?

You mean it isn't a publicity stunt?

My dear commissioner, I think you've taken leave of your wits.

Goodbye.

Imagine, the idea of the Gotham museum pulling a publicity stunt.

- So if it's not a stunt... - Precisely, Chief O'Hara.

This phenomenon takes on new dimensions, strange and sinister dimensions.

In fact, there's only one man alive who can take its measure.

I'll summon him, sir.

Bruce, come on.

What on Earth's the matter with you two?

I don't know, Aunt Harriet. It's just that... A Sphinx, he said.

Gosh, Bruce, if that means what it could mean...

- We'll know soon enough. - Excuse me, sir.

Something in red, Alfred?

Precisely, sir.

Great heavens, how forgetful of me.

This new volume by Professor Red on ancient Egyptian cat worship cults.

I'd promised the museum committee I'd look through it.

- Come on, Dick. - Bruce.

Those antiquities have waited thousands of years for us, Aunt Harriet.

They'll wait a little longer.

Mercy alive, such an impetuous pair.

There should be some way to harness such energy.

Yes, commissioner?

A strange and terrible threat to Gotham City.

An ultimatum from the remote past.

We're on our way.

Holy hieroglyphics, this might mean a battle royale.

Not the first, Dick, nor the last.

To the Batpoles.

There's no doubt at all.

We're faced with that arch criminal King Tut.

Gosh. And everyone thought he died in that warehouse fire.

We were mistaken it seems.

He's risen like a phoenix from the ashes to...

Just what was his threat, commissioner?

Grandiose, Batman.

He claimed Gotham City for his own.

In a greedy female voice.

So our mad pharaoh has found himself a Nefertiti.

Some hapless female entrapped in a life of crime.

The situation is grim, Batman.

We've cordoned off the park but I fear panic will soon rear its ugly head.

We could call out the National Guard.

Have them blast that pagan Sphinx with their artillery.

No, Chief O'Hara. No.

- No? - No.

If that were our objective, I could do it more simply with the Batmobile's Batbeam.

Batman is right. King Tut may be a super crook but he's a sick man too.

Precisely, Robin.

Let's not forget that he was once an eminent professor at Yale University.

That he was struck on the head during a student riot...

and awoke with a strange double delusion...

that Gotham City is the reincarnation of ancient Thebes...

and he himself, the pharaoh known to history as King Tut.

This man is to be pitied.

Pitied, Batman? Ha.

How can one pity a criminal who threatens our entire citizenry with death?

Pitied, commissioner, tempered with caution.

Our first aim is to thwart his criminal plans.

What could it be?

A mad dream to make subjects of us all.

But why tip us off?

Why warn us that he's trying to make a comeback?

Maybe the Sphinx will give us a clue.

Robin's right.

And we don't have a moment to lose.

Let's take a close look at that inscrutable lady.

Be careful, Batman. Be careful.

Meanwhile, in the palace of King Tut...

bizarre remnants of last year's Gotham City exposition.

Chief O'Hara's question is echoed inside the moldering great hall.

I don't get it.

If you're gonna move in on somebody's territory, why tip him off?

How should I know? I'm only the Grand Vizier.

Why don't you ask his royal highness?

You may rise.

Loyal subjects...

we are pleased to inform you that phase one of our royal master plan...

has succeeded as prophesied.

Hey, that's great, boss.

I mean, your royal highness.

Phase two will now be put into being.

- Are there any questions? - I got one.

You may speak, Royal Scrivener.

Like why?

Why put that hunk of rock in the park...

and tip off what we're gonna do?

You're a twit.

It's merely a sovereign subterfuge...

to exterminate a winged rodent once and for all, Batman.

He should be biting at the bait about now.

Oh, boy.

All hail to King Tut.

Great lord of Thebes, nemesis of the Nile.

Thank you, Grand Vizier, thank you.

It was delightfully spoken.

However, just on the off chance...

that the dynamic duo should elude our snick-snack-snare...

battle stations.

To the royal barque.

We'll lend our sinister Sphinx support.

What do you make of it, Batman?

A rather good imitation of the fourth dynasty Sphinx of Giza.

Holy hurricane, what's that?

I think it means the Sphinx is going to make another pronouncement.

Now, hear this.

Now, hear this.

Whosoever transgresses upon the Sacred Sphinx...

shall be smitten down by Anubis, the jackal god, guardian of the cemeteries...

and that goes double for Batman.

- Challenge? - So be it. Up we go.

What do you think, Batman?

Could it be full of King Tut's henchmen?

If it is, there must be a secret entrance somewhere.

Look here.

- This must be it. - Don't touch that handle, Robin.

- We don't know what we're up against yet. - You're right.

The Sphinx could be booby trapped.

Let's play it safe.

Holy whiskers!

That was a close shave.

There's no longer any doubt, Robin.

The brilliant, warped mind of King Tut is bent on murder.

Signal from Nefertiti.

Indeed.

What does great Ra, god of the sun, have to inform us?

- Dynamic duo escaped. - Pfft.

Curses of Amenhotep!

Your pharaoh speaks.

Slaves and helot swordsmen, prepare for action.

What's our next move, Batman? Destroy this crooked Sphinx?

No. I don't think so, Robin.

It's better to leave it here under police observation so they...

Robin, look over there.

Holy masquerade.

That's a pretty odd getup for a walk in the park.

Odd indeed.

It's a costume of the 14th dynasty.

King Tut's dynasty.

Wow, let's get her.

Halt, you deluded creature.

We've got you. Escape is impossible.

Holy asp! A trick Egyptian snake.

Look out, Robin.

- Quick. Let's hotfoot it after them. - No, Robin. Wait.

- I think that's exactly what they want. - Why?

An old game to draw us away from the real target.

Of course.

- The Egyptian exhibit at the museum. - Right.

The museum where Bruce Wayne will deal them a small surprise.

A short while later at the Gotham City museum.

You will note the twin emblems of the two lands.

The large carnelian cobra here...

which is representative of Upper Egypt...

and the vulture, which is the cult sign of Lower Egypt and carved from lapis lazuli.

- Mr. Wayne? - Yes?

What is the value of the crown?

I don't really know except that as a rare and historic art treasure...

it's undoubtedly priceless.

Oh, you might inform your readers that it's very well-guarded at all times.

Now, ladies and gentlemen...

in deference to the press here which has deadlines to meet...

I'm sure, I propose now to offer to you the piece de resistance...

the mummified remains of...

All we know about this particular gentleman...

is that he was a king in the 14th dynasty and reigned in 1500 B.C.

Now, if my arithmetic is correct...

that would mean that he's been dead approximately 3500 years.

And I believe it's safe to state...

that this particular pharaoh fellow will not rise again.

It's alive. The Sphinx's prophecy was right.

The king has risen again.

Is there a doctor in the house?

It is impossible. Isn't it, Bruce?

It's fantastic, incredible.

The preservation techniques, what a man he must have been.

The imagination boggles.

The ambulance is here.

Make way for the stretcher bearers.

I'll leave you to restore order here.

I think I should go along to the hospital.

Mr. Wayne, what happened? Is he still alive?

What about the prophecy now?

No comment.

Hey, he's coming to.

I rather expected he would. He may wanna tell us something.

- What do you think he's saying? - Shh. Shh.

- Maybe this will help. - Shh.

All hail your majesty.

Phase two has worked perfectly.

Naturally.

It was foreseen in the scrolls.

To the palace with this helot.

- Your whim is our command, oh, Majesty. - Heh, heh.

Nefertiti, you abandoned wench.

How many times must I tell you, queens consume nectar and ambrosia.

Not hot dogs.

So I get hungry.

Living on nothing but figs and dates and pomegranate.

- You wanna bite? - Aah! Unclean.

I must proclaim my reincarnation to the faithful.

Give me the telephone.

Osmond Abu, switcher of messages, your pharaoh speaks.

What is your desire, great pharaoh?

Connect me to the voice box of the Sphinx in Gotham Central Park, please.

It shall be done, great pharaoh.

Instruct the royal charioteer, to my palace with haste.

Home, toots, and step on it.

Now, hear this. Now, hear this.

As it was written in the stars, so it has come to pass.

The great king of the Nile has risen from the sands of time...

to reclaim his lost kingdom.

The next voice you will hear will be King Tut himself.

Loyal subjects and helots, this is your king.

As our first royal act, we have perpetrated the abduction...

of your millionaire philanthropist, Bruce Wayne.

He will be held prisoner until our royal demands are met.

These demands will be made known to you by our inscrutable Sphinx at a later date.

In the meantime, the police are warned not to interfere...

and this includes the dynamic duo.

And pass my words on, all ye within my reach.

Remember, Batman...

Bruce Wayne's life is in your hand.

I wonder how much he's gonna ask for Bruce Wayne.

I hear he's a rich millionaire.

You know, Harry, that Tut's a kook but he's got brains.

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't wind up with the keenest gang...

- since old Moe got the hot squad. - Heh, heh.

Robin speaking.

Uh, put Batman on, boy wonder.

It's a crisis.

Bruce Wayne has just been kidnapped.

Bruce Wayne kidnapped? How? When?

Only minutes ago.

The King Tut resurrection was just an elaborate smokescreen...

to conceal his crime. Let me speak to Batman.

Oh, I wish I could, but I don't know where he is.

Soon as you hear from him, there's not a minute to be lost.

Bruce Wayne is one of our most prominent millionaires.

- So I've heard. - This abductor may ask a king's ransom.

We've got to move fast.

I can't understand where Batman could be.

Neither can I. Goodbye, commissioner.

You've heard the calamitous news, master Robin?

- Yes. Does Aunt Harriet know? - On the 3 o'clock news.

I'm afraid she's badly shaken and I must admit, it's left me a bit shaken too.

Is there nothing to be done?

Don't lose heart, Alfred.

Batman is, well, Batman.

He'll get a message to us somehow.