Narrator

Superman's two great friends, Batman and Robin, are involved in a strange and baffling mystery. Twice, the famous Batman has disappeared, and now Robin too has disappeared, and Superman believes the youngster was led into an ambush by Batman's impersonator. In his guise of reporter Clark Kent, Superman has concocted a spectacular plan, and as we join him now, he is seeking the cooperation of Perry White, his former editor on the Daily Planet and now mayor of Metropolis.

Kent

I'm sure I know the answer to this Batman mystery now, chief.

White

You do?

Kent

Yes. I'm convinced that the man we thought was Batman, who's been making un-American speeches the last few days, is not Batman at all.

White

Not Batman?

Kent

I mean he's an impersonator. A fake!

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Kent

You see, chief, I'm certain the real Batman has either been killed, or is being held prisoner somewhere, while this phony goes around pretending to be Batman, and falsely drumming up public opinion against aid to Europe.

White

Oh, nonsense. I don't care how clever he is. He couldn't fool Robin.

Kent

Oh?

White

Why those two are closer than two peas in a pod.

Kent

I know, Chief. But still he fooled him. He even fooled me!

White

You? Well, that doesn't prove anything.

Kent

(Knowingly) That's what you think. But, how bout this? Do you think the real Batman would slug Robin, knock him unconscious, then leave him lying on the floor and walk out?

White

Well, I'll admit that's hard to understand.

Kent

And would the real Batman make public speeches saying let the hungry children in Europe starve?

White

No, no, no, no, of course not. No decent person would, or could. But something may have happened to him, Kent. He..well.. He may be sick.

Kent

Phone

White

Hello? Oh, yes, Inspector. Any word of Robin? Nothing, eh.

Kent

Look, Chief, ask him if...

White

Yes, he's here. Just a minute. Henderson wants to talk to you, Kent.

Kent

Oh, okay. Hello, Inspector. Did you find..... Yes, yes, there weren't, huh? Well, that proves it, then!

White

Proves what?

Kent

HANGS UP

White

What are you talking about, Kent?

Kent

Henderson's men checked the real Batman's fingerprints, which they have in their files, with all the prints they could find in the hotel room occupied in Willow Falls last night by the man who calls himself Batman!

White

Yes? Did they check?

Kent

No! That definitely proves this fellow is an imposter, just as I said.

White

Not necessarily. Batman may not have left any fingerprints in the hotel room. The prints may have been someone else's.

Kent

Well, I'll admit the fingerprint test may not be conclusive, but its good enough for me, plus all the other evidence we have. Now, will you back me up in this plan to find Robin and the real Batman, or won't you?

White

Now wait a minute. What plan?

Kent

You remember that recording I found in Batman's study? A recording of a conversation between Batman and a man who called himself Jones?

White

Yes. What about it?

Kent

Well, I'm convinced that Jones is responsible for Batman's disappearance, and I..

White

Why?

Kent

Because Jones had a hold on Batman. I can't tell you what it is except it was a secret Batman didn't want revealed. And I'm sure Jones used his knowledge to make Batman go away with him.

White

Mm hm. Well, that could be. Go on.

Kent

Well, I've heard this Jones' voce before. I can't remember where, but I'm certain he's rather well known. Likely under a different name.

White

So?

Kent

So I want to have duplicates made of the recording and play it over the Daily Planet radio station, and on other stations all over the country. Then I want to offer a big prize, say, ten thousand dollars, to the person who can identify Jones.

White

Ten thousand dollars?!!!!

Kent

I know that's a lot of money, chief, but we need a big prize to get everyone listening. And it'll be well worth it if we find Batman and Robin.

White

Well, that's the wildest notion even you ever came up with, Kent...

Kent

No, chief...look, I

White

But it just might work.

Kent

It will!

White

Also, it will be a terrific news story for the Planet. So go ahead! Hop to it!

Kent

Now you're talking chief! I'll get working on it at once!

Narrator

As Clark Kent hurries to set his plan in motion to identify the mysterious Mr. Jones, the real Batman and Robin, united once more, are prisoners in a small, stout square old building far upstate in the midst of lonely farmland which had once been a prisoner of war barracks in the days of the Revolution. Heavy, rusted leg shackles are fastened around the ankles of the dynamic duo, and forged to stout iron staples in the wall beams, allowing freedom of movement only for a foot or two in each direction.

Robin

Oh, gee, Batman. I sure was stupid not to realize that the guy who was posing as you was a phony. Now I let him lead me into that ambush at the River Hotel like a little lamb going to slaughter.

Batman

Oh, don't blame yourself, Robin. That guy and Mr. Jones are very clever.

Robin

Well, I should have known you wouldn't slug me, though or make un-American speeches or...say!

Batman

What?

Kent

I'll bet that's what Mr. Kent meant.

Batman

Kent?

Robin

Uh huh. He said something fishy going on. That either you were sick in the head or there was another explanation, which he was gonna check. Now I'm sure he guessed the truth.

Batman

Could be. Kent's pretty smart. But I'm afraid he guessed too late.

Robin

Maybe not. I'll bet he and Inspector Henderson will stay on the phony Batman's trail until he leads them right here to us.

Batman

He'll never lead them here.

Robin

Why not? You said the phony's working for Jones, didn't you? So he's pretty sure to show up here sometime.

Batman

Yes, but he's already show up here, Robin, and he wasn't tailed

Robin

No kidding? When?

Batman

A couple of hours ago. While you were still under the chloroform they used on you.