Harlequinade is an episode of the Warner Bros. animated series Batman: The Animated Series, the 10th and final episode of the second season. First aired on May 23, 1994. Written by Paul Dini and directed by Kevin Altieri.
Plot Summary
Template:Spoiler The Joker steals an enormous bomb from a mob auction, plotting to "Make Gotham one big dent." Not planning to make his operation discrete by any means, he holds the mayor hostage in his home. Batman and Commissioner Gordon, not knowing who else to turn to, plan to offer Harley Quinn amnesty in return for helping them. Batman encounters Harley Quinn at Arkham Asylum, where she reluctantly (albeit suspiciously) accepts his terms. They then crash a mob gambling party, where they are discovered, and Batman is captured. As Robin sneaks in to aid Batman, Harley then sings a dark yet humorous number called "Say that We're Sweethearts Again" to distract the gun-toting party goers.
After they get the info they need, they find Joker at Mayor Hill's and fighting ensues. Harley eventually shows up and incapacitates Batman and Robin, justifying her dealbreak, she said "Nobody said anything about hurting Mr. J." As Harley and Joker exit, Batman points out that Joker didn't leave enough time on the bomb's countdown to save Harley. Seeing Batman's point, she also realizes that there wouldn't be enough time to save everything else they would have left behind (Two Face, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze their pet Hyenas, etc.). She resists Joker, and he flies off without her.
She helps Batman and Robin free just as the Joker makes passes, firing menacingly at them with the plane's mounted Gatling Gun. When Joker loses control of the gun and starts firing at the plane, it crashes into the Mayor's mansion. As Joker stumbles out of the wreckage, Harley Quinn approaches him, gun aimed right at him. She pulls the trigger, and a flag that read "RAT TAT TAT" pops out of the barrel. They then embrace eachother, their nonsensical romance rekindled.
"Say that We're Sweethearts Again"
I never knew that our romance had ended
Until you poisoned my food
And I thought it was a lark
When you kicked me in the park
But now I think it was rude
I never knew that you and I were finished
Until that bottle hit my head
Now I try to be aloof
When you push me off the roof
I feel our romance is dead
It wouldn't have been so bad if you had told me
That someone had taken my place
But no, no you didn't even scold me
You just tried to disfigure my face
You’ll never know how this heart of mine is breaking
It looks so hopeless but then
Life used to be so flaccid
Won’t you please put down that acid
And say that we're sweethearts again
Cast
- Neil Ross as Dealer
Quotes
- Batman: "What do you see in the Joker, anyway?"
- Harley Quinn: "When I was a doctor, all I did was listen to other people's problems. Mr. J was the only guy who listened to me for a change."
(In Arkham)
- Batman: "I need help."
- Harley Quinn: "Well, you've come to the right place! I recommend a lobotomy."
- Robin: What was she before she went bonkers?
- Batman: A clinical psychiatrist.
- Robin: (shrugs) Figures.
Trivia
- Harley Quinn admits in this episode that "I'm not as dumb as I look. I'm not even a real blonde."
- According to Movie Poop Shoot's interview with episode writer Paul Dini, "Say that We're Sweethearts Again" was "actually a comic number from an old MGM musical called "Meet the People." This proved to be true, as it was written by a Dorothy Shay in 1946.
External Links
- "Say that We're Sweethearts Again" - MP3 file of Harley Quinn singing the tune.