Narrator
-Gotham City is often described as the city that never sleeps, even though most of her fair citizens must spend their nights doing just that!

(Cut to shot of building with sign ARTEMIS FOUNDATION)

-and so it is those who take advantage of the city that never sleeps, are usually those who are engaged in criminal activity!

(We see climbing the side of the building, the shadowy figure of someone. The body of whoever it is, clings like vines to the facade as it stealthily makes its way up. Close-up of a hand forcing open a window.)

(Cut to scene inside a darkened room as we see the shadowy outline of the person who had been climbing the outside of the building enter the room. It is now evident from the shadow this is a shapely, well-endowed woman. We follow her across to the strains of low-key suspenseful music as she opens several file cabinet drawers.)

(Close-up of long fingernails, painted green, rifling through files until finally they pick up one marked: “Experiments in Instant Jungle.” The camera slowly pans around to reveal the face of the woman who has broken into the office. It is a stunningly beautiful woman, with long red-hair, and slightly cruel eyebrows that remain so even when she breaks into a satisfied smile. Her lips are a strange shade of forest green, and she wears a green ivy wreath in her hair. As the camera pulls back we get a better view of her costume, a green, leafy swimsuit-like outfit. This woman is POISON IVY.)

Poison Ivy (impressed)
-Perfect

(We see her carefully closing the file drawer to leave no sign of a break-in, and then she stealthily makes her way back across the room, and out the window. Last scene is of her hand closing the window as she makes her way down.)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(A laboratory room somewhere in an out-of-business garden nursery outside Gotham City. We see Poison Ivy hunched over a microscope, studying samples intently. Behind her are all kinds of plant life, running the width of the entire room. After studying the slides for several minutes, she leans back in her chair and smiles wickedly.)

Poison Ivy
-Well, well, Shandra, Queen of the Jungle. You had the right idea, but you used it for the wrong ends. It’s time your little formula be adapted. . . . properly . . . (Glances behind her shoulder) . . . and without any help from my usual gang of . . . assistants.

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

Narrator
-The next morning, it is a routine day for the Winston Harriet Jewelers of Gotham City . . . but not for long!

(We see Poison Ivy, her red hair streaming down her back, dressed conventionally, entering the established jewelry store. She glances about and then takes a vial from an oversized pocketbook and nonchalantly drops it to the floor. She backs up against the wall adjacent to the front door . . . and waits.)

(Abruptly, the floor is covered in the growth of thick vines which catches all the customers off-guard as well as the attendants and security personnel. Immediately, many of them are screaming in panic as they head for the front door and out into the safety of the street . . . but as the vines and foliage thicken, Poison Ivy just smiles nonchalantly and makes her way forward through the growth, counting the steps to the front display case. As she surmised, the attendants have all fled, and she is able to deftly smash the glass case and help herself to a large number of extravagant diamond and emerald rings lining the front. We watch her empty the case’s contents into her pocketbook before she turns and casually makes her way out through the foliage, and back out into the street where the other panicked customers are gathered, still caught off guard by what has happened. Poison Ivy merely walks away unnoticed in the tumult.)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

Commissioner Gordon (on phone, clearly stunned)
-You must be joking. (Pause) I’m not doubting you, but if that’s really true, the implications are too staggering to consider. (Hangs up and shakes his head in disbelief) Instant Jungle. There’s only one person we know who could do something like that, but she’s supposed to be dead!

Chief O’Hara
-Batman was quite clear: Shandra took her own life!

(Gordon glances at the Batphone.)

Commissioner Gordon
-I hope Batman can give us some insight into what’s happened. . . as well as a solution on how to handle this renewed menace!

(Cut to shot of Wayne Manor)

(Cut to shot of study. Alfred is dusting as he hears the Batphone and goes over to answer it.)

Alfred
-I shall summon him, sir.

(Walks out of study)

(Establishing scene of drawing room shows Bruce and Dick chatting with an exhausted Aunt Harriet)

Aunt Harriet
-Mercy me, after all that traveling, it’s so good to be home again!

Dick
-Aunt Harriet, it’s good to have you back!

Aunt Harriet
-Oh, I know. I’ve missed you, Bruce and Alfred so much. The places I’ve been! I could probably spend hours telling you about them, but I just—

(As she goes on, Alfred enters and whispers in Bruce’s ear.)

Bruce (bolting up from chair)
-Aunt Harriet, it would give Dick and me great pleasure to hear you recap every part of your round-the-world cruise, but I think if Alfred would help you upstairs for some much-needed rest, you’ll be in better shape to tell us all about it. Alfred?

Alfred
-Of course, Master Bruce. Mrs. Cooper, would you accompany me upstairs?

(As he helps Aunt Harriet up, Bruce goes into the study with Dick following. He wastes no time picking up the Batphone.)

Bruce
-Yes, Commissioner?

Commissioner Gordon
-Batman, a most disconcerting problem is upon us again. A supply of Instant Jungle was used earlier this morning at Winston Harriet jewelers.

(Bruce’s expression darkens at this news.)

Bruce
-We’ll be right there, Commissioner.

(Hangs up and activates the Shakespeare bust)

Dick
-What is it, Bruce?

Bruce
-I . . . hesitate to say it, Dick. I can only hope it doesn’t mean what it might suggest. To the Batpoles.

(They turn and dash toward them. Final shot of the bookcase closing)

(Spinning scene signals start of opening credits)

(Opening Credits Animated Sequence)

(Stock sequence of Batman and Robin sliding down Batpoles into Batcave, and dashing over to Batmobile)

(Commissioner Gordon’s office)

Commissioner Gordon
-Instant Jungle set off in Gotham City suggests only one person, Batman: Diana Artemis, alias Shandra, Queen of the Jungle, whom you gave us your personal assurance, was dead.

Batman (trying to show no signs of unease)
-I seriously doubt Shandra could have resurrected herself from a deliberate suicide, Commissioner . . . however, she, you will recall, did attract a number of supporters to her misguided scheme to turn Gotham City into an endless jungle. It is more logical to suppose the perpetrator of this crime was one of those followers.

Chief O’Hara
-That does make more sense, Commissioner.

Batman
-Add to that, the fact the target of this Instant Jungle attack was a place an ordinary criminal would be prone to strike (voice picks up as a new idea dawns on him) . . . and in the confusion, make off with some very valuable merchandise! Commissioner, have you been able to determine if anything was taken from Winston Harriet while all this was happening?

Commissioner Gordon
-They . . . didn’t have time to check. I don’t imagine they’ll know for certain until they can clear out all the foliage that sprouted inside the building.

Batman
-I suspect they will find a good deal of the inventory will be missing. That will have been our perpetrator’s motive, which should sweep away any lingering doubt concerning Shandra. One thing she was not, was a common criminal interested in stealing material possessions. We need to think more of someone who *is* a common criminal. Someone like . . .

Chief O’Hara
-Begorra, of course! Poison Ivy, that should have been obvious!

Batman
-Precisely, Chief O’Hara! That nefarious naturalist, whom we first would have suspected of creating this Instant Jungle formula, but for her being in prison at the time . . . but I do recall reading that she was paroled last month.

Commissioner Gordon (nods)
-True, Batman. She didn’t get as long a sentence as we’d hoped, because it turned out the most serious crime she could be convicted of was bringing a Christmas tree back to life! Since she kept herself a model prisoner, there was no choice but to have her paroled.

Robin
-Even though she openly admitted killing two men? Jason Woodrue and Marc LeGrand?

Commissioner Gordon
-Unfortunately, that detail couldn’t be admitted at her trial. There was never any direct evidence tying her to those crimes, and, of course, she naturally denied she ever mentioned any such thing to you on the witness stand. So, therefore, the Parole Board couldn’t consider it, either.

Batman
-We can’t fault the parole system, Commissioner . . . especially since we can’t yet confirm that she is responsible for this incident.

Robin
-What should we do then, Batman?

Batman
-It might be prudent to check with the Artemis Foundation to see if anything untoward has happened there recently. Let’s proceed there immediately!

(They dash out.)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Poison Ivy’s lab. She is in her full costume, emptying her pocketbook full of jewels on to the lab table. She adoringly picks one up and admires its brilliance.)

Poison Ivy
-This is what a brilliant invention like Instant Jungle should be used for . . . to commit the perfect crime, with environmental beauty being just a secondary consideration. (She sets it down.)

Veronica Vassar
-Just like we told you!

(Camera catches the smile fading from Ivy’s face. She slowly turns around and sees standing before her, her henchwomen from her last two criminal campaigns: Veronica Vassar, Nancy Radcliffe and Betsy Barnard.)

Veronica Vassar
-We kept the sample from the Gotham Plaza site preserved all this time, because we knew you’d find it useful!

Poison Ivy (Nodding her head, but inside wishing she didn’t have to deal with them right now.)
-Yeah, yeah, you were right . . . but, it wasn’t until I stole the formula from the Artemis Foundation it could finally be put to use. So, I wouldn’t pat yourselves on the back too much.

Nancy Radcliffe
-Come on, Pamela, if it weren’t for us–

Poison Ivy (coldly)
-First off, you never call me by my real name. It’s either ‘Poison Ivy’ or a simple ‘Ivy.’ Second, if it weren’t for the three of you, maybe we never would have ended up in jail in the first place! The reason why I handled the formula theft, and the first successful implementation of this scheme, all by myself, was to remind all of you, your role is always a subsidiary one.

(She calmly pushes aside a small amount of the stolen jewels to one side of the table.)

-That represents the combined total of your cut from the heist, and believe me, it’s more generous than you deserve.

(The three of them sullenly take their portions.)

Betsy Barnard
-Egads, Ivy, you don’t have to be so–

Poison Ivy (even colder)
-So . . . what?

(The three of them are intimidated by her tone and say nothing else.)

-Never forget while a criminal mastermind does need her henchpersons, those henchpersons are meant to stay henchpersons, if they wish to prosper just a teeny bit. That means, if I say I don’t need you for a job, you accept it.....or else you three dim-witted debutantes can go looking for someone else to hitch up with. Of course, knowing all the other master criminals as well as I do from my time in the pen, they wouldn’t be anywhere near as generous with you as I am.

-Now, have we got that matter straightened out?

(There is no response from them. Ivy smiles.)

-Very good. Go take your baubles to French Freddy and he’ll give you enough to keep you shopping all day long at Gotham Mall. I, in the meantime, have more important business to take care of. (Camera zooms in on her and her smile grows more evil.) When I’m done, my status as the undisputed Queen of Crime will be complete!

(Commercial)

Act Two

(The Batmobile is seen riding through the streets of Gotham City.)

Robin
-Your hunch was right, Batman. The file on the Instant Jungle formula was missing from the Artemis Foundation . . . the clear result of a break-in!

Batman
-Performed so expertly, if one hadn’t bothered to inspect the office at close-range, one would never have realized a break-in had taken place. Such a level of stealth can only indicate Poison Ivy is indeed responsible for this criminal act.

Robin
-It must make you relieved to know it isn’t Shandra.

(Batman says nothing, then turns his head toward him with a wry smile.)

Batman
-Diana Artemis is dead, old chum. That means Shandra’s never coming back.

Robin (realizing the double meaning of what Batman says, but knowing he can never confront him directly about it)
-So you tell me.

Batman (changing the subject)
-For now, we return to the Batcave, and consider what we know about Ms. Pamela Isley and her three henchwomen who’ve bedeviled us in the past!

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Barbara Gordon is enjoying lunch with her father in an isolated restaurant booth that allows them to converse freely, albeit in low tones of voice.)

Barbara
-Poison Ivy seems the most likely suspect?

Commissioner Gordon
-Yes. I shouldn’t have instinctively thought Batman could have been wrong about Shandra being dead. He was most emphatic about that.

Barbara
-In a way, I kind of wish it had been Shandra . . . just to get a chance to get even for her putting one over on me. Ivy at least is more . . . predictable.

Commissioner Gordon
-Never presume criminals to be predictable, Barbara . . . especially the ones you’ve been able to best in the past. It only fuels their desire to not be beaten again!

Barbara
-I won’t forget that, Daddy. (Rises) I’ll be going now and do some . . . investigating of my own.

(Commissioner Gordon smiles silently as she departs, never wanting to show any outward concern.)

(Cut to shot of Batman and Robin in Batcave)

Narrator
-Meanwhile, back in the Batcave . . .

(Batman pulls out cards from Bat Computer)

Batman
-Poison Ivy’s operatives, the Ivy League Gang, were all out of Gotham State Penitentiary at the time Shandra unleashed her Instant Jungle upon the city. Therefore, it would have been possible for any one of them to have salvaged a piece of Instant Jungle before the clean-up crews removed all of it from the effected sites.

Robin
-That, though, doesn’t give us much with which to work.

Batman
-If we let our minds think further, then we can piece something together more specific. Now, where might a sample of Instant Jungle be preserved and maintained, in anticipation of presenting it to Poison Ivy once she was released from prison?

Robin
-A university science lab?

Batman
-A reasonable guess, Robin, but . . . not likely. The Ivy League Gang excelled at getting thrown out of school, so it does not stand to reason they would have the wherewithal to get back into school and preserve a sample under those conditions.

Robin (nods)
-Okay. How about . . . a greenhouse?

Batman
-Sound deduction, old chum! but, more specifically, it would follow an abandoned greenhouse would best serve the Ivy League Gang’s purpose! An outright purchase of an active one by any of those disreputable debutantes would have certainly attracted too much attention!

Robin
-Let’s see what the Bat Computer has to say about abandoned greenhouses!

(They go over to the Bat Computer and feed the information. Buzzing sound of computer activity followed by a bell ringing. Robin picks up the index cards and reacts in frustration.)

-Twenty-four abandoned greenhouses in Gotham City and the surrounding suburbs! It could take days to check them all out!

Batman (putting finger to chin in contemplation)
-True, Robin. We must use our deductive minds as criminologists to eliminate the obvious wrong answers without going to them personally, thus saving time in the process. This shall be our night to show our lives as crimefighters require as much mental activity as it does physical!

(Picks up the regular phone)

Robin
-Who are you calling, Batman?

Batman
-The direct line to Alfred, upstairs, Robin. A night of serious mental activity on our part cannot be done on an empty stomach!

Robin (nods)
-Gosh, Batman, you’re right!

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Establishing scene, Gotham Park)

Narrator -And while Batman and Robin rack their brains for an answer to Poison Ivy’s whereabouts, the enchanting environmentalist is, at that very instant, implementing the next phase of her plan!

(It’s an unseasonably warm day as Ivy, dressed in civilian wardrobe, sets up a chair in front of a tree in Gotham Park. She takes note of a section of the park where the grass is withered and not well kept just fifty feet away. She walks over and, from her handbag, pulls out a capsule containing Instant Jungle . . . but this time, it has properties different from the usual sample. She glances about nonchalantly and drops it to the ground, where it breaks. FX shot shows the brown grass starting to turn green as Ivy walks back to the chair beside the tree, where she sits down and takes out a pencil and notepad, to record her observations.)

(The sample is slowly growing larger, and the region becomes more fertile than usual. It’s not big enough to cause a major disruption, but Ivy is expecting this as she continues to take notes.)

(Close shot of a handsome male jogger going up the pathway. He stops as he spots Ivy, sitting in the chair, with her shapely legs crossed and exposed. Immediately, his male ego dictates going up to her and attempting a pick-up.)

Jogger
-Hi, beautiful.

Poison Ivy (looks up, with the faintest smile, but enough to reveal the inner disdain as well)
-Hello.

Jogger
-I don’t often see girls who look like you all alone in the park, especially this time of year.

Poison Ivy
-Oh . . . I just like to come here, now and then. I sort of have a . . . fondness for the things that grow here. (Points over to the spot where she planted the Instant Jungle solution. It is much fuller and lush than before, with some leafy vines clinging to nearby bushes.) As a matter of fact, I was just noticing how beautiful those leaves over there are. It’d really mean a lot to me, if you would go over there and bring me a few of them to study.

Jogger (excited he’s doing this well)
-I’d be glad to! And . . . maybe I could do some other things for you?

Poison Ivy (settles back in her chair and smiles playfully)
-Maybe. We’ll see, after you bring me the leaves.

(The Jogger runs over to where the leafy vines have sprouted and plucks a handful of leaves from them. He wastes no time dashing back to her and presents them.)

Jogger
-Here you go, beautiful.

(Ivy takes them and, with a faint air of exhilaration, presses them against her exposed neckline, reveling in how they feel.)

Poison Ivy
-Mmmm, thank you so much.

Jogger (still eager, as he suddenly scratches his left hand)
-So, what else can I do for you?

(He is suddenly scratching his right hand as well. Abruptly, his excited expression fades as he starts to impulsively scratch every part of his body, and we can see welts erupting on his hands and face.)

-Oh geez, what? . . . That stuff . . . it! Ow, oh God, ow!!!

(He starts running off, screaming as the aggravation and itching is more intense than any sensation he’s ever felt in his life.)

(Ivy crosses her legs, picks up her notepad and lets out an evil laugh.)

Poison Ivy
-A fitting blow to your oversized male ego! (Takes note) But thank you so much for proving that my special modification to Instant Jungle is a total success!

(She rises from the chair)

-And now, Gotham City and all its fabulous wealth will soon be completely mine!

(Packs up her things and walks out of the Park)

(Commercial)

Act Three

(Establishing shot, Barbara Gordon’s apartment)

(Inside, Barbara, dressed in Batgirl costume but with cowl off, is trying to come up with some answers of her own. She gazes absently over at the birdcage.)

Barbara
-Well, Charlie, it sure isn’t easy to figure where a criminal like Poison Ivy could be hiding! There are at least twelve abandoned greenhouses just in the Gotham City limits.

(She looks back at a map of Gotham City, spread out over the table.)

-Five are within easy walking distance of Winston Harriet Jewelers, which would save Ivy from having to drive . . . but is there anything else in proximity to the region that could serve Ivy’s purposes?

(Close-up shows Gotham Park on the map. Barbara looks up in a burst of recognition.)

-Of course, Gotham Park! Ivy may be a common criminal at the core, but she at least shares Shandra’s instinctive fascination with the natural environment. She wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in close proximity to that area as well. Certainly her henchwomen, the Ivy League Gang, would take that into consideration when they picked a location!

(Looks back down at the map.)

-That narrows down the choices to two. Ned’s Nursery, three blocks west of Gotham Park, or the Bay of Botany, four blocks south. (She rises). Batgirl should be able to check both of them tonight and then get word to Batman and Robin, if Poison Ivy is there.

(She puts on her cowl and adjusts it in place. She then walks through her bedroom and makes her way through the door to her Batgirl headquarters. Stock footage of her operating the secret iris door that leads to the Batgirlcycle elevator, followed by stock footage of her exiting on the Batgirlcycle into the Gotham City streets.)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Establishing shot of abandoned greenhouse exterior)

Narrator
-Meanwhile, in the abandoned greenhouse of the out-of-business Bay of Botany company . . .

(Lab interior. Poison Ivy has emerged, now back in her traditional leafy costume and headband wreath. She stretches herself, feeling good to be back in more comfortable attire.)

(From the other side of the lab room, Veronica, Betsy and Nancy emerge, all stylishly dressed, holding shopping bags and boxes. Ivy smiles disdainfully and puts her hands on her hips.)

Poison Ivy
-Well, well, well. Looks like the three of you satisfied your Mall-mania urge.

Nancy Radcliffe
-French Freddy was generous with our take . . . which is more than we can say of you, Ivy!

(Ivy rolls her eyes and gazes upward briefly.)

Poison Ivy
-Girls, girls, girls, you are so impulsive. You never take the time to think things through and maximize your potential, which is why you’ll never rise to the level of criminal mastermind to which I belong. (Smirks) Don’t try to dispute the point, because if you didn’t know it was true, you wouldn’t have waited for me to get out of jail to see how Instant Jungle could be used!

(The three of them trade glances, their expressions revealing they know what Ivy said was true.)

-But cheer up, debutantes! It’s only a matter of time before you’ll have your pick of the merchandise of every store in Gotham City, without having to spend so much as a cent of any share from a jewel heist you think isn’t big enough. Now that I’ve seen what specially modified Instant Jungle is really capable of doing, it gives me the opportunity to make Gotham City my ultimate possession. It’s resources and material goods will be all mine to enjoy for my own pleasure, and in an environment more suitable to my tastes.

(She walks over to the lab table.)

-All I need now is the means to deliver it, in its most potent form. Once I have that, nothing can stop me, least of all any costumed twits! (She sits down at the lab table and looks back at them.) Pack your purchases away and get ready for some serious work . . . tonight!

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Shot of Batgirlcycle riding through Gotham City streets)

Narrator
-Batgirl, meanwhile, has checked Ned’s Nursery and found nothing. Now, she rides along the Park periphery toward her next destination, the Bay Of Botany!

(A police car and ambulance, line the edge of the Park. Batgirl slows down and pulls to a stop, where Police Officer Hogan is standing, directing away passers-by.)

Batgirl
-Something wrong, officer?

Officer Hogan
-Oh, hi, Batgirl. Nothing serious, it seems. It’s just there are some real nasty cases of people suffering from poison ivy, so we’ve had to close off this side of the Park.

Batgirl
-Poison ivy? How serious?

Officer Hogan
-Well, according to the paramedics, it’s pretty bad. It’s almost as if the victims had been immersed in a whole tub of the stuff. In addition, no one can figure out why it would crop up in that one particular part of the park, especially in the last week of December.

Batgirl
-I . . . see. Officer, could you do me a favor? Please tell Commissioner Gordon I’m checking a lead at the abandoned Bay of Botany greenhouse near here. If, for some reason, he doesn’t hear from me in the next couple of hours, he’ll then know where I should be.

Officer Hogan (adjusts cap and nods)
-Sure, Batgirl, my pleasure!

(Batgirl roars off on Batgirlcycle)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Cut back to the Batcave. Batman and Robin are intently at work at table, a tray of sandwiches nearby.)

Robin
-Well, we’ve realistically eliminated six abandoned greenhouses from consideration. That leaves us with eighteen.

Batman
-We mustn’t slacken in our effort, Robin. The only way to measure our success for this evening will be if we reduce the number to a level that can be done in just one day of investigating tomorrow. (Looks up and smiles) Are you still up the challenge, old chum?

Robin
-I never back down from a challenge, Batman! (Grabs a sandwich and bites) Let’s press on!

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Batgirlcycle pulls up in front of abandoned greenhouse. She gets off and stealthily makes her way to the front. Looking up, she notices a bright light coming from one of the windows. She puts her hands on hips with a satisfied air.)

Batgirl
-Looks as though I’ve found your hideout, Miss Pamela Isley!

(With a confident demeanor, she makes her way inside.)

(Cut to shot of the lab. Ivy is still hunched over the work table, when Veronica, now appropriately costumed, bursts into the room.)

Veronica Vassar
-Ivy, we’ve got trouble! Batgirl’s arrived and just entered the complex.

(Poison Ivy turns around and stares at her disdainfully.)

Poison Ivy
-So? If she’s here, then it’s your job to take care of her. Get to it!

(Veronica turns and dashes out, while Ivy shakes her head in disgust at how limited the minds are of her gang.)

(Cut to Batgirl making her way through the darkened entrance area of the nursery. She takes her steps slowly and methodically, knowing she must be on her guard against the sudden emergence of Ivy’s gang, or of a trap being sprung on her. The entrance area is dark and foreboding, with second level balconies lining the opening area from which anyone could spring. Ahead is a set of stairs, leading up to the second level. Tentatively, she makes her way toward the stairs, always taking quick glances to her left and right as she keeps moving.)

(When she reaches the third step, it emits a loud scraping sound from her boot against the dusty surface. A rustling sound causes her to dart around and look back, but she sees nothing. Haltingly, she proceeds up, taking two more steps before she hears the rustling sound again. She turns back just as the lights go on, illuminating the entrance area completely. Standing at the bottom of the steps are Nancy and Veronica, both in costume and with determined expressions of revenge for their last encounter. Batgirl looks ahead and sees before her the equally determined expression of Betsy staring at her and taking a position at the top of the stairs.)

Betsy Barnard
-You’re trapped, Batgirl! You’ve got no place to go but straight to Hell!

Batgirl (keeping her poise while keeping an eye on all the girls)
-The three of you were no great challenge to me the last time we squared off at America’s Mall at the Crystal Castle!

Veronica Vassar (taking a step toward her)
-Ancient history, you costumed crumb!

Nancy Radcliffe
-Damned straight! We’ve improved since then!

Batgirl (summoning all her inner strength)
-Let’s see you put that theory to the test!

(Batgirl springs into the air, her arms outstretched as she seemingly flies toward Nancy and Veronica at the bottom step. The Batman movie fight music underscores the action as Batgirl crashes into both of Ivy’s henchgirls, knocking them to the ground.

Behind them, Betsy is hurriedly making her way down the steps to join in the fray.

Batgirl gets to her feet first and delivers a kick to Veronica before the brunette can get up. The heroine then turns her attention behind her to a charging Betsy.

Betsy lunges at Batgirl with her right arm, but Batgirl grabs her arm in mid-swing and then manages to flip her over so that she crashes to the floor at the base of the stairs.

Nancy, however, is on her feet by this point and pounds her fists into the square of Batgirl’s back.

This causes the Dominoed Daredoll to collapse to her knees on the stairs.)

Nancy Radcliffe
-She’s about ready to go! Hurry!

(Batgirl whirls around, still in a seated position on the stairs. She sees the three members of the Ivy League Gang now charging toward her, their arms extended and ready to apply fierce blows. . Batgirl vaults to her feet, then grabs the railing and hurls herself over, gracefully landing on the floor at the side of the stairwell. The three henchgirls abruptly reverse position and start heading back down the stairs. Batgirl ducks in the recessed position under the stairs.)

Veronica Vassar
-You can run, but you can’t hide, Batgirl!

(Batgirl hurriedly detaches from her utility belt, first her Batarang, holding it in her right hand, while in her left, she now holds a vial of Batgas. Her ego would prefer beating all three of them with physical force, but she recognizes this is a time where her special weapons should be utilized.)

(She vaults out from under the stairs to the right side, where she sees Veronica standing alone. She hurls her Batarang at the brunette, where it strikes Veronica in the forehead with a loud CLANK! causing the henchgirl to fall to the ground unconscious.

Batgirl then darts back under the stairs to the other side, where she sees Betsy and Nancy starting to turn the other way in response to the loud sound.)

Batgirl (innocently)
-Over here, girls!

(They turn around and she hurls a vial of Batgas at them. It erupts, and they collapse to the ground in a violent, coughing fit. Batgirl hurries around the other side and back up the stairs at lightning-quick speed. When she reaches the second level, she sees a door and dashes toward it, opening and closing it quickly behind her.)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

Narrator
-Meanwhile, back in the Batcave . . .

(Robin rises from the table, and flexes himself, indicating he’s spent a great deal of time seated.)

Robin
-I think we’ve got it narrowed down to the last two possibilities, Batman, the two in close proximity to Gotham Park.

Batman
-I should have considered that factor much sooner! but no matter, tomorrow it gives us just two targets to investigate. If Poison Ivy and her gang have holed up in one of them, we’ll know soon enough.

(The Batphone rings. He bolts up and answers it.)

-Yes, Commissioner?

(Cut to Commissioner Gordon’s office. Alternating cuts follow)

Commissioner Gordon
-Batman, I felt I should pass this bit of news on to you. One of our patrolmen in Gotham Park spoke with Batgirl earlier, and she said she was doing some investigating at the Bay Of Botany greenhouse, several blocks south of Gotham Park. If there was no further word from her, she suggested I take action.

Batman
-How long ago was this, Commissioner?

Commissioner Gordon
-Barely half an hour ago. I perhaps am underestimating her ability, but (tries not to reveal any inner tension, as he is aware of his daughter’s secret identify and knows Batman is unaware of this) . . . prudence, I felt, dictated I inform you. Perhaps you and Robin could check this location out, without my having to unduly send in a full squadron of men.

Batman
-Your concern is noted, Commissioner, and appreciated. Robin and I will check this location ourselves and get back to you immediately via the Batphone if we discover anything. (Hangs up)

Robin
-What’s up, Batman?

Batman
-That marvelous mind of Batgirl’s has been thinking along the same lines as ours, Robin! Already it’s led her to the Bay of Botany greenhouse this evening. We must get down there and see if she’s discovered anything. To the Batmobile!

(They dash over to the Batmobile and enter. Stock footage of the engine roaring to life and the Batmobile puling out)

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(Batgirl walks down a mostly darkened corridor, where, in the distance, she sees a closed door with light streaming out from cracks on the side and the bottom. She comes to the door and braces herself as she savagely kicks the door open.)

(Cut to a reaction shot of Poison Ivy looking up from her lab table. She is completely unfazed.)

Poison Ivy
-Well, well. The Dingbat Debutantes didn’t offer you much of a challenge, did they, Batgirl?

Batgirl (takes only one slow step toward her)
-No they didn’t . . . and neither will you, Poison Ivy.

(Ivy laughs disarmingly)

Poison Ivy
-Oh, Batgirl, Batgirl, ordinarily I’ve got loads of respect for you, just because you’re a resourceful woman who’s made it in a man’s world. You should be bright enough to understand the difference between an underling and a genius.

(She presses a button on the table, and immediately some fumes erupt from the walls on each side of Batgirl. In an instant she is overwhelmed and collapses. Ivy gets up and comes over to her, looking down with a taunting smirk.)

-I knew from the beginning your prowess was capable of getting past the three of them. That’s why I had this rigged, months ago, for just this kind of scenario. (She can hear the sound of footsteps hurrying down the corridor.) Now, Batgirl, the underlings will demonstrate their only real value to me, by putting you in a trap that will lead you to your final fate!

(Spinning Bat symbol to indicate scene change)

(The main greenhouse room. Batgirl is suspended by her wrists above a five foot wide, six foot deep circular tank filled with a clear liquid. Poison Ivy sits off to one side at a control mechanism console. With a nonchalant air the villainess hits the switch that raises Batgirl a foot higher into space. Her legs remain free, dangling limply.)

Poison Ivy (mockingly)
-Oh, Batgirl? Batgirl? Time to wake up!

(Slowly, Batgirl comes to and opens her eyes. She immediately feels the strain on her arms and looks down, jerking herself about, but unable to get free.)

Batgirl
-What . . . what are you doing?

Poison Ivy (chuckles)
-Oh . . . I’m just teaching you a simple lesson, Batgirl: Those who get too close to poison ivy will inevitably develop one very nasty itch. You, my caped crimefighting friend, are about to develop the nastiest itch possible.

Batgirl (struggles about, but to no avail)
-A fiend like you who fancies herself a champion for women, disgraces the very idea of women’s rights!

(Ivy reacts with bemusement)

Poison Ivy
-I never considered myself a champion for women’s rights, Batgirl. Oh, sure, I have a total loathing for the male ego in all its forms, which is why the only male companionship I’d ever want to have in life must be a mindless automaton with no will of his own . . . but as far as making this a world for the total dominance of women . . . . Sorry, I prefer to leave that to the idiotic idealists of the criminal realm like Nutty Nora. I couldn’t care less, one way or the other, just so long as my needs are met.

(She rises from the control panel and smiles wryly.)

-And speaking of idiotic idealists.....is it true Diana Artemis bested you in a one-on-one match?

Batgirl (deciding not to struggle any longer)
-She got lucky when I tripped. It was even up until then.

Poison Ivy (Nods with an edge of sarcasm)
-Sure, sure, sure, Batgirl, whatever you say. Now there was a criminal I could respect, because she had a very intense love of the natural environment. Her weakness was she loved the environment for its own sake, and just wanted to use criminal means to achieve a goody-two shoes objective of destroying civilization in the form of doing humanity a favor. Now that’s my definition of a pathetic waste. I love all things natural, too, and would gladly spend the rest of my days surrounded by Nature in its purest form . . . but I have to be surrounded as well by all the material pleasures the civilized world has to offer, or else it can get very boring from my standpoint. So, that’s why the first opportunity I could get to use Instant Jungle for a more appropriate purpose was something I wasn’t about to pass up.

(She moves back to the control mechanism.)

-Unfortunately for you, Batgirl, you’re not going to care about my ultimate scheme. Oh, you won’t be dead, but you won’t care at all, because of the aggravation you’re about to go through.

(Batgirl reacts by looking down at the tank.)

-Below you is a clear liquid solution. From your present altitude, it resembles ordinary water. It, though, is nothing of the kind. What you see beneath you is the purest extract of urushiol there is. It’s secreted from poison ivy plants and ordinarily used by chemists for laboratory study, to see if new scientific insights can be gained.

(She smiles wickedly)

-But I use it for a far different purpose, Batgirl. You see, thanks to the natural immunity I have against all forms of plant toxins, I can experience the total, rapturous joy of immersing my body completely in that clear, sticky oil. Urushiol has the same effect on me as an application of perfumed bath oil might have on an ordinary woman. So, I keep these tanks filled with a supply, for whenever the mood strikes me.

(Her tone grows more grave and malevolent)

-But for you Batgirl . . . when your body is immersed in that tank, the agony you’ll soon feel will be more intense than anything you could ever imagine. After the urushiol soaks through your costume, it will take about ten minutes for it to become attached to your skin. The resulting rash will cover you from head to toe. In addition, when you’re totally immersed, you won’t be able to keep the oil from filling your nostrils. That indescribable itch will not only be on every part of your body, it will be inside you as well. Since this is just going to be a gentle dip, you won’t lose consciousness. You’re going to aware of every sensation. I’m quite sure it will eventually drive you totally, totally MAD!

Batgirl (thrashes about futilely again, the shackles in her wrists digging in more deeply)
-You’re evil! Totally evil!

Poison Ivy (smiles)
-Why, thank you! That’s the nicest thing anyone could ever say to me.

(She sits down at the control mechanism again)

-This is a moment to savor slowly, as I do when I immerse myself. A gentle, slow dip with the foot......and then, that overwhelming desire to just take a full plunge in. That’s what you’ll be experiencing, Batgirl, so prepare yourself!

(Poison Ivy activates the switch. Slowly, Batgirl begins to drop toward the tank. Her boot tips are just six feet above the surface of the clear liquid.)

(Cut back to Poison Ivy at the controls, smiling and chuckling like a giddy schoolgirl)

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