The Clayface of Tragedy
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| “The Clayface of Tragedy” | |
|---|---|
| The Batman episode | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 13 |
| Written by | Greg Weisman |
| Directed by | Sam Liu |
| Production no. | 113 |
| Original airdate | May 7, 2005 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Rubberface of Comedy" | "The Cat, the Bat, and the Very Ugly" |
| List of The Batman episodes | |
"The Clayface of Tragedy" is the thirteenth episode of The Batman's first season, as well as being the season finale. It originally aired in North America on May 7, 2005. The episode was a direct continuation of "The Rubberface of Comedy".
Contents |
[edit] Plot Summary
Bennett gets home from the events of the night and gets a steaming shower ready. As he looks in the mirror above the sink, he breaks into a fit of coughing, and he looks up in time to see his face begin to droop and melt. In a panic, he runs out of the bathroom as his entire body begins to melt, slowly transforming into a clay-like substance. He tries to use the phone, but finds that his fingers are two mushy to properly dial. He then runs out into the street, screaming for help, but is greeted with screams as everyone tries to run away from him. He has become a clay monster. Two police officers arrive and try to contain him, at which time Bennett discovers that he can control his composure, transforming the melting clay into a solid fist of immense power. He easily knocks the officers aside, but is blasted down into the sewers when firemen attack him with their high-pressure hose.
Batman, following into the sewers, uses his ultraviolet light to follow the trail of clay, and discovers that it leads up back into the street, leading to the police department, where Chief Rojas is making a speech about his new zero tolerance for freaks.
When Rojas returns to his office, he is attacked by the this new Clayface, but Batman shows up in time to have a small fight in the small office space. Yin and another detective show up, and Rojas orders them to catch the two, who escape out the window onto the rooftop of the next building over. There, the two have a much more intense fight, in which Clayface discovers and uses his new ability to shape his body at complete will, hardening or softening his body or forming simple weapons such as spiked hammers and swords for hands. The police show up on the rooftop, and both Clayface and Batman manage to escape once again. In the process, Batman manages to get a sample of Clayface with his Batarang.
Clayface then returns to his former house, extremely depressed. Then, he realizes the ultimate implication of his newfound powers, takes a photo of himself before the mutation from a wall and learns to shapeshift into his old self-the final and greatest of the trademark Clayface powers. Yin, who just had come at the moment, is shunned away by Ethan, who says he feels beat, and that he needs time to adjust. As Yin leaves, Ethan leaves as well, again taking the form of Clayface.
Later, in the Batcave, Batman analyzes the clay sample, and discovers that it's mutated human DNA. The clay sample then goes missing, before showing up again when attacking Alfred. It lunges at his face, but Batman manages to freeze it and pull it off.
As Rojas is put under police security, Yin begins heading over to his house, but calls Bruce on the way. As they talk about Ethan, they both realize on their own that he may very possibly be Clayface. Meanwhile, Rojas gets kidnapped by Clayface, who slipped past security by disguising himself as Yin. Both Yin and Batman head to the gym where Bennett said he’d meet Bruce, and they find Clayface there, with Rojas plastered to the wall. After a long talk, Yin reveals Clayface’s identity, and Clayface attempts to kill Rojas for suspending him and making his life miserable, especially with the new zero tolerance for freaks order out, marking Bennett as a freak. Batman freezes Clayface’s arm, which is holding Rojas against the wall, with a freezing pellet; Clayface breaks free and makes a run for it while Yin stays to break Rojas out of the ice. Batman and Clayface fight in the showers, and Clayface easily overpowers Batman. Yin enters, and pleads with Ethan's human side to let Batman be. Pleasantly surprised at Yin's change of heart-and saddened over his own downfall-Clayface morphs into Ethan after rendering Batman unconscious; he sheds a tear, from which his body starts reverting into Clayface. Slowly, he slithers away via the sewers.
When Batman awakens, he discovers Yin, sitting across from him in the showers. She has chosen not to take off his mask after realizing that he’s not a criminal. Later, Wayne and Yin have coffee together to discuss Bennett. As they do, they see him in the crowd outside the window, and he makes a small nod before disappearing with the crowd. They both run out in a rush, trying to catch up to Bennett, but realize he's long gone, his new shapeshifting powers allowing him to be anywhere, or anyone, within seconds.
[edit] Characters
- Bruce Wayne/The Batman voiced by Rino Romano
- Alfred Pennyworth voiced by Alastair Duncan
- Joker voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson
- Detective Ethan Bennett/Clayface (First Appearance as Clayface) voiced by Steve Harris
- Detective Ellen Yin voiced by Ming-Na
- Chief Rojas voiced by Jesse Corti
[edit] Other First Appearances
- None
[edit] Quotes
- Yin: (to Batman and Clayface) Alright, freeze!
Clayface: [distorted] Yin! It's me! It's me! - Clayface: [distorted] Batman! Move!
Batman: Sorry, fella, clay not spoken here. - Clayface: (after turning into clay figure) [distorted] Help me! (bumps on his table, knocking his phone, and grabs his phone) Work! It's gotta work! (dialing the phone) Can't! No! Help! Gotta find help! Somebody help me! Help me! Please!
- Clayface (As Batman enters the basketball court, where Clayface has plastered Rojas against a wall): Come on in, Batman. It's time to say our goodbyes to Chief Rojas.
Batman: Let him go!
Clayface: What, you don't approve, Bats? According to Rojas here, we're both on the wrong side of the law.
(Detective Yin enters)
Batman:It's not what he thinks that matters, it's the code you live by. And you don't want to cross a line you can't uncross.
Clayface: Maybe you haven't noticed, Bats, but my line's been crossed for good!
(Clayface forms spikes all over his body)
Yin: Ethan, no!
(Clayface shapeshifts into Ethan)
Clayface/Ethan: It's not cool to reveal secret identities, Yin.
(Ethan shapeshifts into Yin)
Clayface/Yin: Not that it matters...
(Yin shapeshifts into Bruce)
Clayface/Bruce:...when I can be anyone I choose...
(Bruce shapeshifts into Batman)
Clayface/Batman: ..and when I'm no longer sure of what I am...
(Batman shapeshifts into Joker)
Clayface/Joker: ...except a freak!
(Joker bursts into maniacal laughter)
Clayface/Joker: You know what separates the freaks from the normals? Just one rotten day!
(Joker lashes his head just in front of Batman)
Clayface/Joker: Ever had a rotten day, Batman?
(Joker's head returns to the main body, which reverts to Clayface)
Clayface: Thought so.
Batman: Joker's rotten to the core, by choice. A choice that's still yours to make, Detective.
Yin: Turn yourself in, Ethan. We can help you.
Clayface: You don't get it, do you? Joker didn't just melt my skin! He melted...my mind! I'm a freak, inside and out!
(Clayface slides away from Rojas)
Clayface(Completely infuriated): And Chief Rojas here, has zero-tolerance for the likes of me!
(Clayface turns his hand into a crossbow, aims, and fires)
- Clayface: (laughing at Batman after he turns on the shower, attempting to weaken him) Nice try, Bats, but the water pressure in this dump always did stink!
