Time Out of Joint
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| Batman: The Animated Series episode | |
|---|---|
| |
| "Time Out of Joint" | |
| Airdate: | October 8, 1994 |
| Production Number: | 73 |
| Airdate Order: | 85 |
| Teleplay by: | Steve Perry |
| Story by: | Alan Burnett |
| Directed by: | Dan Riba |
| Episode images (5) | |
"Time Out of Joint" is the fifth episode of the third season of Batman: The Animated Series. It originally aired on October 8, 1994.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Bruce and Dick sit through an auction featuring an antique clock from the reign of Louis XVI. Meanwhile, Temple Fugate, the Clock King, walks up to the building. Amazingly, he disappears after pushing a device on his leg. He enters into the building and the clock disappears as soon as it's sold. Outside, the Clock King holds the clock and is pleased with the trial run, he then throws the clock into the trash and heads out into the night.
Later, Batman and Robin watch a security tape with Commissioner Gordon. Watching it in slow motion they see that a hand appears behind the clock just before it disappears. This rules out the possibility of there being an invisible man and helps to confirm for them that it's the Clock King behind the heist. Batman warns Gordon to watch the Mayor and the duo heads out into the night.
Elsewhere, a scientist, Dr. Wakati, checks on his tests with devices that alter time. One device has slowed down the decent of an iron ball to the point where it falls at a rate of one tenth of a millimeter per week. Another device accelerates growth of plant so that it grows from a seed and dies within seconds. Just then the Clock King, disguised as Harold, the Wakati's butler enters and talks to him about the device. Wakati's has plans for the device but is worried that people may not yet be ready to make proper use of his discovery.
That night, the Clock King takes the time device and heads out to meet Mayor Hill.
Hill isn't worried about Fugate thinking that he's well protected by a police task force. However, the Clock King turns on his device and everything seems to be frozen in time. He makes his way up to the Mayor's office and slowly knocks on the door. The knocks come so quickly it sounds like machine gun fire. The clock King starts to hassle the mayor preventing him from calling for help or escaping. However, Batman and Robin jump in and try to stop him. Unfortunately, they are no match for the Clock King's device and are unable to catch him and only manage to drive him off.
While escaping down the stairs, Fugate trips over a woman who had fallen on the stairs earlier and breaks the device. The police now notice him and try to stop him but before they can get him Fugate manages to get the device to work again. Escaping from both Batman and the police, the Clock King finds the Batmobile and gets an idea.
Back in the Mayor's Office Batman and Robin look at the broken pieces of Fugate's device. Batman believes that Fugate didn't make the device and is determined to find out who did. Fugate returns to the house of the scientist and find that Wakati's is in his room. Fugate reveals that he's been using the device and has plans for the doctor.
Meanwhile, Batman and Robin determine where the Clock King may have gone and that he's using Dr. Wakati's technology. They make their way up towards Wakati's home but a time device planted on their car activates and traps them in a bubble of slow time. Cars start passing them as streaks, hours start passing like minutes and according to Batman if they are hit by one of the cars they'll trigger an atomic explosion. Finding the time device Batman destroys it with a grapple gun and the team escapes the trap. They then calculate they were trapped for 48 hours making it imperative that they hurry.
Thinking that he's free from his enemies intervening Fugate goes to the new Courthouse opening where the Mayor is to celebrate its opening by pounding a hammer onto a podium. Activating his device Fugate attaches a bomb to the podium and steps back.
Batman and Robin make their way to Dr. Wakati's house and find that he's been trapped in slow time by his own device. They free him and discover that Fugate plans to kill the Mayor at the new courthouse. However, the dedication will take place in just two minutes. Unfortunately, there is no phone or reception for cell phones and radios in the area. Batman grabs up one of the time devices and tells the doctor to teach them how to use it. Using the time devices Batman and Robin speed down the road.
Meanwhile, the courthouse dedication continues with Fugate watching. Wanting to savor the moment, he activates his time device but Batman and Robin arrive. Unfortunately, they are too late to stop the triggering of the bomb. Batman grabs the bomb and uses his time device to slow down the explosion and rushes it into the river. While his mentor takes care of the bomb, Robin goes after Fugate who he easily captures.
Later, Dr. Wakati says that people are not ready for his invention and won't share it. Fugate is taken to jail.
[edit] Continuity
- Temple Fugate continues his vendetta against Hamilton Hill, first shown in "The Clock King".
- Batman rules out the possibility of "another invisible man", likely a reference to Lloyd Ventrix, who first and last appeared in "See No Evil".
[edit] Background Information
[edit] Production Inconsistencies
- Dr Wakati is credited Dr Wataki. Robin himself mispronounces the name in that way and Batman has to correct him.
- In the episode "The Clock King" Temple Fugate was able to hold his own against Batman. This time he was caught by Robin, a less skilled fighter.
- While the changes in the flow of time in this episode are mostly remarkably consistent with the principles of general relativity (Batman's assessment that a car impacting the frozen Batmobile would result in a catastrophic nuclear explosion is accurate), there is an inconsistency when the Batmobile is frozen. From Batman and Robin's perspective, the Batmobile shouldn't stop advancing, but it should continue at a normal speed (while the other cars would, as seen in the episode, seem accelerated to streaks of light). The Batmobile would only seem immobile from an outside perspective.
[edit] Trivia
- Robin mentions he is "faster than a speeding bullet".
- Near the end of the episode, Batman speeds away at enormous speed with a bomb exploding in his arms; this trick would later be repeated by the Flash in the Justice League episode "Wild Cards".
[edit] Cast
[edit] Quotes
Auctioneer: Who will start the bidding at $400,000? |
Robin: You really think our guy will show up? |
Clock King: And who's life are you ruining now? A poor pensioner? A malnourished orphan, perhaps? |
Robin: Whoa! Faster than a speeding bullet! |
[edit] External links
- Episode Review on World's Finest: [1]
| Previously produced episode: "Harlequinade" | Episodes of Batman: The Animated Series | Next produced episode: "Catwalk" |
| Previously aired episode: "Baby Doll" | Next aired episode: "Harley's Holiday" |
