Beware the Batman

Right on time.

Sure about that?

Who's there? Show yourself.

Two shots left, make them count.

You missed.

Forget re-loading.

Okay. You got me.

No knife. Best bet is the backup piece.

How did you...

Huh?

You said the backup gun was my best bet.

I lied.

What's that they say? Oh, yeah, "Beware of the Batman."

Funny. I don't see nothing to beware of.

That better be it for this evening's surprises.

Please! Help! Somebody!

I say, Mister Toad, what a wonderful night for a stag hunt.

I couldn't agree more, Professor Pyg.

I am Simon Stagg.

Do you have any idea how powerful I am in this city?

Now, I'm warning you...

Excellent shot, boss, right in the gizzard.

Oh, my, that doesn't sound good.

Have you had your cholesterol checked recently?

Must watch the red meat.

Why are you doing this to me?

Because of what you've done to our kind.

- Your kind? - Yes. Animal kind.

Now, hold still.

Are we through?

I didn't hurt you, did I? Alfred?

I'm quite fine. Thank you for asking, Bruce.

Tell me that was not the real Van Gogh.

A copy. The real painting is safely locked away.

I'll have your room in the hallway cleaned by this afternoon.

Good.

- What's wrong? - It took you five moves to subdue me.

It should have taken you three.

Your reaction to me at the foot of your bed was sloppy at best.

If I hadn't purposely...

Do we need to do this now?

My job is to protect you.

I can't do that if you won't let me. You're not alone in this.

We've had this conversation.

Your job is to protect Bruce Wayne, not Batman.

Are they not the same?

No.

The A.R.G.U.S. club again.

How many membership offers have I turned down?

I've lost count. Now, can we get back to the subject of your safety?

I know you want to be out in the field, Alfred, but it's not going to happen.

Leave your past in the past.

M.I.6. was a long time ago, and I have no desire to re-live my service.

Good, because Batman works alone.

Gotham's not a nice place. People get killed.

Even ex-spies like you.

Your job is to protect Bruce Wayne.

As long as you're only doing that, I know you're safe.

What is this?

It appears to have occurred sometime last night.

Perhaps if you hadn't slept most of the day?

Then again, bats are nocturnal creatures.

Gotham Police are still baffled by the kidnapping of billionaire Simon Stagg.

So far, there's been no ransom demand,

only a video clip posted online from the self-styled "eco terrorists."

Hello there. Say, "Hello," Mister Toad.

Hello there.

We want you all to know what an honor it is to be in your fair city.

And we'd like to share with you something special.

Beautiful, isn't he?

Poor Simon Stagg. Sure likes to brag.

And covet his billions all day.

But he's not the last with stolen keys to the past

- who learn in the jungle... - Everyone pays.

Welcome to the hunt, Gotham City.

What do we know about them?

Not much. The papers said, they called

themselves Professor Pyg and Mister Toad.

How Wind in the Willows of them.

The nursery rhyme was interesting.

A modified Little Jack Horner.

Itself based on a land deal gone sour between Henry VIII and Thomas Warner.

Bribery, I believe.

A man like Simon Stagg

would undoubtedly be involved in land deals as well.

And knowing Stagg, some undoubtedly shady.

Stagg is being punished, hunted. Why? And who's next?

I need his financial records.

Encrypted. Hacking the system would take hours.

The ransom video.

There. More than one plaque. More than one name.

The next victim's... not enough to make out.

Patience, Alfred.

Michael Holt.

Another of Gotham's wealthiest industrialists.

I need to get to Holt before Pyg and Toad.

Pyg and Toad's rhyme mentioned, "Keys to the past."

The key is likely in Stagg's financials.

Stay here and see if you can crack the encryption while I'm gone.

Where are you? We need to meet.

Hello? Gotham Police.

My name is Michael Holt, and I am being attacked by...

Mister Toad, if you would do the honor.

My pleasure.

- Boss! It's the Bat guy. - It's Batman, Toad.

Remember, respect our enemies.

We're free, Toad! Now!

I want to do that again!

He's gone.

Forget the bat. We can always kill him later.

Besides, still one more stop before the night is through.