بخش 08

Can I help you, pal?

I don’t know what to say.

Do you want an autograph or something?

No.

My name is Arthur.

Penny Fleck is my mother.

Jesus.

You’re the guy that came to my house yesterday.

Yes.

I’m sorry I just showed up.

But my mother told me everything, and I had to talk to you.

Look, pal, I’m not your father.

What’s wrong with you?

Look at us.

I think you are.

Well, that’s impossible because you’re adopted, and I never slept with your mother.

I wasn’t adopted.

What do you want from me?

Money?

No, I don’t.

I wasn’t adopted.

Jesus. She never told you?

Told me what?

Your mother adopted you while she was working for us.

That’s not true.

Why are you saying that?

Then she was arrested and committed to Arkham State Hospital, when you were just a little boy.

Why are you saying this?

I don’t need you to tell me lies.

I know it seems strange.

I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.

I don’t know why everyone is so rude.

I don’t know why you are.

I don’t want anything from you.

Maybe a little bit of warmth, maybe a hug, Dad!

How about just a little bit of fucking decency?

What is it with you people?

You say that stuff about my mother.

She’s crazy.

She’s.

You think this is funny?

Dad, it’s me. Come on.

Touch my son again, I’ll fucking kill you.

Hello, Mr. Fleck. This is Detective Garrity.

We met the other night at Gotham General.

My partner and I had a few more questions for you.

We stopped by your apartment today, but you weren’t home.

Please give me a call when you get this message.

Again, Detective Garrity, and my number is 212. 99.

This message is for Arthur Fleck.

My name is Shirley Woods.

I work on The Murray Franklin Show.

I don’t know if you’re aware, but Murray played a clip of your standup on the show recently, and we have gotten an amazing response from our viewers.

Murray asked me to give you a call and see if you’re.

Who is this?

Oh, hi, this is Shirley Woods.

I’m the show Booker from Live with Murray Franklin.

Is this Arthur?

Yes.

Hi, Arthur.

Well, as I was saying, we’ve gotten a lot of calls about your clip.

Amazing responses.

And Murray asked if I would reach out to you to see if you would come on as his guest.

Murray wants me on The Murray Franklin Show?

Yeah. Isn’t that great?

He’d love to talk to you, maybe do some of your act?

That sound good to you?

Yeah, that sounds great.

Can we set up a date right now?

Are you available next Thursday?

Hey.

Man, I’m sorry about that, my man.

All records 10 years or older, they store in the basement, and you’re talking about something 30 years ago, so.

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

How does someone wind up in here?

Have they all, all the people committed crimes?

Well, yeah, some have.

You know, some are just crazy.

Pose dangers to themselves and others.

Some just got nowhere else to go.

Don’t know what to do, you know?

Yeah. I hear you, brother.

Sometimes, I don’t know what to do.

Last time, I ended up taking it out on some people.

I thought it was gonna bother me, but it really hasn’t.

What’s that?

I fucked up and did some bad shit.

You know what I’m talking about, it’s so hard to just try and be happy all the time.

Hey, listen, man.

I’m just an administrative assistant.

Like a clerk, you know.

All I do is file paperwork.

I don’t know what to tell you.

But you should see somebody.

You know, they got programs, city services, stuff like that.

Oh, yeah.

They cut all those.

All right, here it is. Fleck.

Penny Fleck. Let’s see.

Diagnosed by Dr. Benjamin Stoner.

Oh. The patient suffers from delusional psychosis and narcissistic personality disorder.

Was found guilty of endangering the welfare of her own child.

What?

You said she’s your mother.

I’m sorry, man. Like I said, I can’t release these records, you know, without proper forms.

I could get in trouble.

Look, if you want to bring your mom in here to sign, that’ll be much easier, but I can’t let this go without her signature, okay?

I’m sorry.

No, man! Shit!

Come on, man. Give it.

Hey! Hey!