‘Nice to meet you, Ms Kyle,’ Bruce offered as she trailed Lex out of the massive office.
‘You too, Mr. Wayne.’
‘Please, call me ‘Bruce’.’
‘Don’t call him ‘Bruce’,’ Lex interjected as they got on the elevator. Ignoring the comment, Bruce smiled solemnly as the doors closed shut, thinking about one beautiful woman, and two criminals terrorizing his city.
‘Why did I start wearing the makeup?’ he asks, applying a liberal amount of red lipstick to an already powered face. ‘It wasn't a conscious decision, that's for sure,’ he reveals, puckering up for the mirror. ‘It didn't start out this way,’ he continues, brushing more strokes onto his already thick foundation. ‘No, when I first started there was no disguise. I was just plain old me: and how boring is that? Me was fine, I guess; but me couldn't do the things I do now. T’was a woman who turned me into what I am: but isn't that usually the case with us men? Chasing around after you pathetic women. I don't want to give the wrong impression: I’m not some sexist, limiting myself solely to such a small demographic. Like the other night, for example…Sure there was a woman involved, but I killed the man! I mean, how could I kill that woman: her sorrow was so amusing to me. They thought they were so safe: I showed them how crazy life can be sometimes. Lying there, face down on the pavement while her boyfriend bled to death beside her, begging for her life, crying over his-it was hysterical! Made me positively giddy! Why did I start talking about those two again? Oh yes, recollecting the woman who inspired all this,’ he gestures grandly with his arms, striking a pose. ‘The woman who inspired this was quite a clown herself. I don't think she even knew how ridiculous she looked walking around in public with that getup! I was doing society a favor wiping that paint off her face! Unfortunately, some of it got on mine. When you get intimate with someone the way we did, it's inevitable some of you is going to rub off on the other person. And when I caught a glimpse of my reflection, I thought how funny I looked with that makeup smeared across my face. So funny, I couldn't help but laugh. Oh, she was a character that one! You see, this is just a release of tension for me; it's nothing personal. Well, I guess with her it was a little personal: but that's only because she looked so silly! So beautifully silly. Whenever I feel like my life is spiraling out of control I just put on a happy face, and laugh all my troubles away…They're calling me ‘The Joker’ in the papers. I get a kick out of the press. It only grew to this level of hysteria once I put a theme to the killings. Before, when I was me, nobody cared what I did. As ‘The Joker’ everyone's talking about me! That's why I added the green hair and eccentric clothing: to really stand out! However, after my latest transgression it's getting harder and harder to go out in full regalia; which is why I'm getting ready now in front of you,’ he confessed to the scared, trembling body in the corner. ‘And don't think I picked you simply because you're a woman, because we already established: I'm not sexist! No,’ he chuckles, ‘I'm an equal-opportunity sadist. Men, women boys, girls: they're all fair game!’ he exclaims, jumping from his seat, twirling towards the frightened female. ‘Which begs the question: what am I going to do with you, sweetheart?’ he said turning more sinister than jovial, squatting down at direct eye level with his captive. He saw the tears roll down her slender cheeks, falling from her chin, which shook from her fearful quivering: and he found it so humorous.
