Surf’s Up! Joker’s Under! was the Joker’s first appearance in the third season.
Although this was the first meeting of Batgirl and the Clown Prince of Crime, there certainly wasn’t much of a confrontation between them. In this story, Batman and Robin, but not Batgirl, were put into a deathtrap. In fact, Batgirl didn’t have much to do in this episode, although we did see more of Barbara Gordon than usual (in more ways than one! ;>)
I have obtained the final draft of the script by Charles Hoffman, dated September 29, 1967. The balance of this Omake will point out several differences between this script and the episode as broadcast. Finally, I’ll point out a surprising bit of trivia.
The first item to notice is the script names two additional Joker henchmen, Soup and Kelp. They were probably cut for budgetary reasons, to be replaced by two nameless goons in the concluding Batfight. Wipeout is not given a closing credit and it sounds to me as if his lines were dubbed. Joel Eisner’s The Official Batman Batbook, however, lists Ron Burke as the actor playing the part. Johnny Green and the Green Men do not appear in the script, but provide a couple of musical interludes during the TV broadcast.
The first page of the script makes clear something I never noticed, but the more observant of you may have:
ANGLE ON BARBARA
in fetching swimwear, sitting in the shade of her surfboard up-ended in the sand. (emphasis added)
Our favorite librarian surfs! (or at least owns a board!)
Sivi Aberg, who played Mimi in the second season Chandell story, returns to Batman. Later in the teaser, Skip Parker, in answer to Barbara’s question (“Who was that?”) says, “Some chick who’s been hanging around the beach. I think her name’s Undine.” On TV Skip continues to say to Babs, “See you later,” but in the script Barbara has the next line.
SKIP
(grins)
Like a bikini.
BRUCE
(advises)
Before you’re wiped out, let’s
be sure the Joker’s washed up.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
As long as it’s only sand fleas,
Duke.
CHIEF O’HARA
(puzzled)
My pig in the snow?
COMMISSIONER GORDON
(measured sotto)
Up-end your surfboard in the sand,
Chief O’Hara.
CHIEF O’HARA
What about you? You haven’t even
got a pig!
COMMISSIONER GORDON
You’re the strong, virile, athletic
type, Duke. I’ll handle the beach,
you handle the breakers.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
Okay, honey. Two lemon fruices.
(sotto to Chief O’Hara)
Lemonade.
(then, to Undine)
Where’s Hot Dog today?
UNDINE
He had to see a man about a - - ding.
(extends paper cups)
Here you are. On the house.
A few points about the scene in the Batcave. First, in the script Batman refers to “bare” feet, but in the broadcast episode Adam West seems to delight in saying, “naked feet.”
Next, as shown, this is the last time we see Alfred in the story. As you will see, that is definitely not the case in the script. Maybe it was decided to keep Alfred and the Joker apart for awhile; maybe Alan Napier was unavailable for some reason; or maybe it was decided for budgetary or other reasons to forgo Alfred in the rest of this episode.
Anyway, after the Batmobile roars out of the Batcave, the script has Alfred declare, for a second time:
RIPTIDE
Name the famous surfing
beaches again, Joker.
WIPEOUT
They’re so purty.
JOKER
(leaps off table)
Avalanche, Makaha, Picnic Tables,
Banzai Pipeline . . .
Batman lost a couple of lines just before the commercial, after Robin comments on the deathtrap with, “Holy human surfboards!”
BATMAN
(to Robin)
Warden Chrichton (sic) told me the
Joker was working on something
of the sort, while in durance
vile. The warden thought it
was harmless.
BATMAN
She’s probably at the library.
I’ll drop you off.
(indicates)
The Batmobile’s in the rear
alley. I’ll be right out
ROBIN
Gotcha, Batman! Alfred and
Dick Grayson will try to be
real helpful hodads!
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
ANGLE WITH Barbara and Skip, at librarians’ counter. Skip is still dressed as a surfer.
SKIP
How? I’ve even forgotten how
to swim!
BARBARA
(smiles)
I’ll meet you at the beach, and
give you some beginner’s lessons.
But I have to drop by my apartment
on the way.
SKIP
I’ll come with you.
BARBARA
(negative)
I’ll have to dream up a story to
get out of here early. And if it
includes a surfer in baggies, I
may be looking for another job.
Get going, Skip. Before we’re
both thrown out.
SARAH
(looks after Skip)
I don’t mind, Barbara. Your
splitting headache’s a very
attractive young man.
INT. SECRET BATGIRL ROOM - DAY
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
EXT. BATGIRL’S ALLEY ENTRANCE THROUGH BRICK WALL - DAY (STOCK)
STRAIGHT CUT TO:
EXT. BATMOBILE IN TRANSIT - DAY (STOCK) with Batman alone at wheel.
EXT. DICK AND ALFRED IN DICK’S TOP-DOWN CAR - DAY (PROCESS)
DICK
Thanks to my Driver’s Training
Course at school, Alfred.
DICK
Narrabean and Collaroy? Who
are they?
ALFRED
Beaches, Master Dick. In the
land down under. Which, as a
Yeoman in the Royal Navy, I
sometimes body-surfed in my
youth. Oh, the stories I could
tell . . . !
INT. THE HANG FIVE SURFERS’ HANGOUT - DAY
COMMISSIONER GORDON
What kind of surfing slang is that,
Duke?
JOKER
Gladly, my dear!
DICK
(extends it)
Of course, Batman!
ALFRED
It always makes surfing that
much easier, sir. Good luck!
Then Batman has a speech just before the dialogue heard on TV:
DICK
And Batman’s trying a nose pull-
out!
SKIP
It’s the wrong style for a wave
like that.
DICK
(surprised)
Are you starting to remember?
SKIP
Remember what?
DICK
Your surfing technique! I thought
it was all transferred to the
Joker!
SKIP
(very curious)
Who told you that?
DICK
I know Robin, the Boy Wonder.
He’ll be here later.
SKIP
(beat)
Yes, I guess I - - am starting
to remember.
Even caped and cowled, and on his surfboard, it is obvious this annoys him.
DICK
(toward surfing
action)
Looks like Batman knows that.
giving everything he has to winning the contest.
ANGLE WITH COMMISSIONER GORDON AND CHIEF O’HARA ON BEACH
where Chief O’Hara now gapes toward surf as Commissioner Gordon’s attention has been attracted to the trash can.
COMMISSIONER GORDON
(ignores this)
Something is pounding in this
trash can!
Suddenly their musical number terminates, as:
Completely under control now, he glides beachward on a diminishing wave.
EXT. JOKER ON SURFBOARD - DAY (PROCESS)
His exhultation (sic) gives way to concern as he hits the slow water and starts wobbling on his board.
RESUME - FULL ACTION ON BEACH
FAVORING Dick and Skip, Skip turning to Undine and stooges angrily.
PICKING UP Batman and Joker, their ride over, carrying their surfboards as they start up the beach.
JOKER
(very annoyed)
Who was?
BATMAN
Skip Parker! Or his perfidious
proxy! And to win a surfing
championship, or anything else
worthwhile, it can’t be done by
shabby tricks!
Instead of “Cowabunga! Begorra,” ending this version, here is how the script to Surf’s Up! Joker’s Under! concludes:
from which Bruce and Dick ENTER
DICK
Well, he borrowed my surfboard . . .
beginning an exhilerating (sic) ride down a wave in a most professional manner.
Finally, take a look at the Wikipedia Article on the World Surfing Championships.
Notice there is no World Surfing Champion listed for 1967.
You don't suppose . . .
| Year | Champion | Site |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Midget Farrelly | Manley - Sidney, Australia |
| 1965 | Felipe Pomar | Lima, Peru |
| 1966 | Nat Young | Ocean Beach - San Diego |
| 1967 | Batman | Gotham Point - Gotham City |
| 1968 | Fred Hemmings | Rincon, Puerto Rico |