In this tense therapy session, Dr. Harleen Quinzel attempts to evaluate the Joker, who evades serious discussion by joking and claiming his crimes are artistic critiques of capitalism, with Batman as a puppet of the elite. He mocks her clinical detachment and hints at a mutual attraction, but she maintains professional distance. Meanwhile, Harleen's personal life unravels: her father is dying from a tumor likely caused by chemical exposure at his former job, Tri-State. She calls the company and her aunt for help, but both refuse—the company denies liability, and her aunt cites past grievances. Harleen vents about her financial desperation and the pressure of dealing with the Joker’s manipulative behavior. Back in the session, the Joker probes her vulnerabilities, guessing she is in a troubled relationship and accusing her of hiding her true self. He contrasts himself with other criminals, claiming his acts are unique performances. The scene cuts to her father's hospital room, where he reminisces about happier times, but his condition worsens. Harleen is torn between her demanding work and her father's urgent need for surgery, which she cannot afford. The Joker’s insight into her struggles blurs the line between patient and doctor, setting the stage for a dangerous psychological entanglement.
Are you done?
Let's start with your past.
When did you first use the name's Bob but I think you scared him off.
No?
Really?
You made him cry.
He gets so many rules and I have such a hard time with fools, you know, always did.
I tried to explain this about but I just couldn't couldn't get a word in edgewise.
I asked the question to shut your pie hole.
Wipe that shit eating grew off her throat or not.
It was just hot.
I tried to get what he wanted.
What did he want?
Only, I suppose my inner world and he pulled my dad's, I guess he didn't like what he found and that's all that's all.
What about you cracked?
So they sent this is younger model.
This is pretty remote.
Baba, second Bobby Baba, Wawa, I'm dr.
Quinzel.
Are you wearing makeup doctor?
Did you did you put that on Just for little me.
Are you going to plumb my depths dr.
Quinzel, you think, You know, no not today.
And what are you doing here?
I'm just here to listen.
When I don't want to talk, I'm thinking you will though.
Thank you, dr.
Quinzel much.
More than Bob, much, more fun.
Glad to hear it, that no of clinical distance in your voice, professional Detachment.
Absolutely intoxicating, that's not well, nothing more than To defuse the tension in the room right now but you see doctor your little evasions are just logs on the bonfire of your seduction.
Oh, You're seducing me right now.
I do have that effect on people.
Should I be feeling some kind of heat or something?
It comes in many forms.
Maybe we could talk about what brought you to Arkham.
What brought me your crimes, it says here.
You blew up a bank, a tracking Hub and insurance agency and Toy Factory.
You know, know you're denying that.
You know, I did all that.
Yeah, there was wonderful but to answer your question.
No I question what brought me to Arkham, what brought me to our come up with a large rubber puppet and not sure, you know, An action figure accessories, sold separately, of course, the car, the little toys, pull the strings.
He sort of growls, come on Doctor.
You've seen the news gasps, dr.
Quinzel yes.
Yes Batman, he brought me here late at night clutched in his warm embrace.
You described him as a puppet.
How would you describe it?
Is it dancing marionette, the eager brainless defender of business.
As usual.
His strings pulled by the Geppetto's of Gotham Wayne and his cronies that's what I was trying to show with your bombs.
I was merely.
I lighting the wonderful circle of life here in Gotham, huh?
From the little kitties choo-choo trains to the old folks, wheezing away their insurance checks.
It's the Wayne industrial complex is there at every stop.
Billy pocketing their take and they call me the crew. and, How does the costume fit into all this, hmm, decode the pants to make up in that back?
By the way, I feel so won't flush.
Don't you say you're making a big statement about?
But I don't know capitalism.
But all anybody sees is, you can I say doctor?
I'm an Entertainer.
Oh okay.
Entertainment on what?
Tell that a joke.
Angel.
Well, that's kind of you're saying, right?
You need to tell you what, if that's a problem?
I don't know.
I don't know.
Just I might just need a little house.
Sure.
Okay.
What is the difference between a cop and a milk carton?
I don't know why.
The cops they have one has missing.
No, the cop doesn't even necessarily
Hey, you didn't even touch her lunch.
Did you get up at all from that recliner?
Today, the doctor said, you've got to keep moving.
The treatment doesn't work unless I work the treatment.
Again, I'll make up for tomorrow.
Double every typical everything.
All right, all right, all right, all right.
Promise me, you'll remember me from when I was strong.
Don't talk like that Tri-State, man.
I could carry those barrels all day long.
One on each shoulder, like they were nothing but they weren't nothing.
Whether nobody knows.
Those chemicals are dangerous.
That's a coincidence.
They may do off the minute, you got sick.
No, they were time and a half, paid vacation.
Yeah.
Three days a year.
We had fun.
Remember Fourth of July weekend.
Amusement Mi, you wrote the Tilton world to the You see straight and then fell asleep right in the middle of the fire, Workshop, explosions, going off, left and right.
That you they're curled up in my arms snoring like a lumberjack.
We should go there again after the Athletics, right?
It's going to happen that I'm taking care of.
It can't keep going like this like what what do you sell?
Fraggin working
I can't do my job.
If I cannot hear you, I'm sorry, my dad's asleep.
Well, he used to work at Tri-State and I'm trying to talk to a that he supervisor or he worked at the factory.
On Decatur Street, he had a patch on his jacket, a little flame inside a hexagon, like, industrial Hot Melt, please hold This is going to mr.
Gorton.
Hi.
My name is harleen, quinzel.
I'm calling this harleen quinzel.
If you would know, And he's very sick.
Sorry to hear that, he's got a tumor, the size of God, which off the doctor said, could be caused by the chemicals at your.
Let me stop you there.
So, you know, I've heard the claim show me the study, when show me the study that proves it.
His doctor, same doctor can say anything he wants.
Doesn't change the fact that no.
Eric study has ever conclusively.
Linked are polymers to cancer of any type of this materials.
It was right.
My dad's job description is a hazardous material does that give people cancer?
What?
That's naughty.
It's quinzel, was it?
Look, I'm trying to save you some heartache.
Your dad doesn't have much time.
Don't spend his last days.
Banging your head against a wall.
Hi, it says here your Margaret P.I rat and you're suffering from persistent.
Delusional disorder, persecution, anxiety and compulsive communion.
I'd hardly call it suffering.
Okay, so I just need to run through a few quick question.
Do you have any paper by any chance?
What the newspaper today's I think I do.
Well, let me see it.
If we can just stay with them, Greenwood just a peek and then I'll answer whatever you want.
Okay, yes, there we go.
Batman foils Museum, Heist.
That's you.
Okay, let's see.
The city's number one vigilante concluded as plain.
Bread is great with this top of the governor's IAM of Antiquities, blah, blah, blah blah, blah.
Okay, okay.
You've had a peak now, let's go.
Oh my God, you've got to be kidding.
What?
They don't even mention my name until paragraph six and they spelled it.
To read letters you shit logs.
It's py e.
How do you hate?
Let's just focus.
We were tired working on the Mughal Emerald.
Heist for six months.
I built a 14-1 replica of the Vault so I could run it blindfolded.
I learned to fly a goddamn helicopter for the getaway for Christ's sakes.
Okay.
I'm just gonna put Downs, needs and prove all that work didn't amount to shit.
Next, let's talk about impulse control, maybe composers, come Waltzing, onto the scene.
No Style, no narrative, but everyone's swoons like Milo.
He's what a chemist.
But evil that's supposed to count as a Persona.
This is all great stuff, but the sooner I will get last question.
It's a mask, it's painted black, what I mean could you be more obvious?
Tired emo garbage?
But everyone's already Magpie.
I was trying to do something different.
I undertake a real splash.
Ash, but now I'm competing with 100.
Lunkhead copycats just to have my name.
Misspelled in an article that isn't even about me in a matter what you do, no matter what you do, it only makes Batman more famous like why are we even doing it in the first place?
You know, what do you mean sometimes?
I just feel like But even cool anymore, you know, maybe I'll just go back to grad school.
No, no.
Before that you said, no matter what you do Batman's getting all the attention.
Well, yeah, it's absolutely maddening.
But are you saying that?
That's why I'm with a patient.
My dad tell him.
I will call him after
Hey kid.
What the hell were you thinking?
I tripped.
I thought we agreed.
We do not.
Leave the apartment.
It's an emergency.
I know.
Well, emergency we run a toasty.
Perfect.
God, your face.
Does it hurt when he left work for this?
How did it go today?
You talk to the clan has dr.
Ramos in you.
Where's your chart?
You're being extra.
Careful around that guy, right?
Patient.
Jay, I've got bigger problems.
I thought you said it was the most dangerous.
Yeah, that's what.
Thanks to you.
He's just a peacock in Wolf's clothing.
Nothing, I haven't dealt with before.
Don't get too comfortable.
Still got the taser pain.
Right?
Dad.
Even mr.
Quinzel, hey dr.
Robbins, oh harleen.
Hi, doctor, I'm glad you're here.
You know, I could chew but you're just follow me out to the nurse's station for a sec.
I've is, I've got a minor billing question.
Hmm.
Nothing to worry about, I'll be right back.
Okay, Dad, I know where to find me?
The tumor is putting tremendous pressure on, okay?
And it's growing faster than we predicted what we need to act quickly, how quickly a week at most, okay, okay, just just, let's do it.
Let's just schedule the operation right, right.
Stop.
As soon as we have that initial payment, I'll get the money please.
Can we?
I'm just, I'm afraid, it's Hospital, policy can't conduct any procedure.
Yes.
Hi, Aunt Rose, it's Helene.
Oh, surprise Howleen.
So um my dad.
He's not doing so great.
Aunt Rose.
He's done his cancer is spreading.
Oh, that's what it does, it spreads and I was wondering if and the treatment he needs is it's really expensive.
And I don't quite have enough saved up yet and he's running out of time.
I would ask one of his relatives, but, you know, he doesn't have any holidays, it's not wise to Make some money with family causes resentment.
It would just be a one-time thing and I would pay it right back.
It's urgent.
Aunt, Rose.
That's the thing.
A, he can't wait the procedure act so much like your mother right now what gasps one-time thing.
Oh, I'll pay you back.
This is nothing like how she was a gifted Storyteller ever.
Since we were little, your own poet, turn on our bedroom light, I would be so scared of it.
She'd stop spinning the most fantastic Tales to calm me down.
I believe.
That's why she became so pharmaceutically inclined.
Later on lies.
The real world.
Never measured up to the one in higher, ed and Russ, I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't extremely important.
It was always terribly important when she asked to always some life or death threat, Aunt Rose, he will die if he doesn't have this procedure, Please.
I gave your mother everything she asked for every time she asked, I gave into her desperate, pleas year, after year, rent groceries, car loans, it all would write up a nose in Iran between October.
This is my everyone must live with our choices choice.
It's the only way to learn from our mistake.
This is not a mistake.
This is my dad's life.
Well, certainly wish I could help you all do but I've done more than enough for your family.
Well, my dad's basically dying and I can't even cover a fraction of the operation not to mention that I'm probably getting fired unless I play along with grunfeld, batshit rubric.
And meanwhile, I got to deal with this Joker.
Oh excuse me.
Patient Jay and his egomaniacal pervy delusion.
So yeah.
So yeah.
My face might look a little, what was it?
You said weird.
Yeah.
Is that a problem?
No, I just
started.
What we've started?
What was it huh?
Domestic Discord.
A little trouble with your bow.
What's his name?
Wait, let me guess.
Let me guess.
Let me guess are wholesome.
Girl like you?
He must be pichette know Kent Trevor is Trevor is this fool.
Trevor is still your precious minutes together.
How has he mistreats you this time?
Is he cheating on you no longer thrusting with intensity.
He used to stop.
Isn't that what you wanted?
I'll free-flowing conversation and unfiltered glimpse into my brooding to test Within I just think we should try to be honest with each other.
I agree.
So what are you ready to be honest with me about what you're really committing to this whole doctor/patient routine, huh?
Fine, you want me to spell it out while you hide behind your clipboard.
I'm talking about us.
Doing me.
We weren't looking for it, but it sure found us.
Call it infatuation.
Call it raw animal attraction.
Call it Elmo.
But isn't it a relief to finally admit?
But we're both feeling.
I haven't admitted anything.
So you admit, there is something to admit patients, me, what you're feeling is natural, a common byproduct of the therapeutic setting, but We'll never make progress if we don't focus on the matter at hand.
What is an ant?
You your mental state?
The moral implications of your crimes.
Okay, fine.
Who are you, dr.
Quinzel.
I hope you've got a little patient.
Let's discuss my crimes.
Why the air quotes Prime's are what these other poor fools to crock amygdala?
Yeah, sweet guy actually but he loses his temper strips down to His undies and wept.
Smashes up a poke bar.
That's a crime but you're different.
Why?
Thank you, dr.
Quinzel, I am different.
Yes.
Let me guess you create spectacles and performance effect that I like that is it important to you to feel different from an 81.
He's a child from all of them.
These are patients your piercy's, please.
No, I don't have a lump me in with those half-wits an opportunist.
Mmmm Christ, I mean, that a jewel.
Heist bank robbery, could anything be more boring
What what what do you say?
That's it.
What do you want me to?
What are you just another Trevor?
All talk no action.
I've seen plenty even fucked with you but those days are over.
What are you?
What are you?
What are you doing?
What's going on here?
Tell me what you think is going on here.
I'm actually okay,
sound mine, a Spotify.
Original audio series was produced by realm in association with blue ribbon, content and Spotify Studios.
Written directed and executive produced by Eli, Horowitz, starring, Christina, Ricci, Billy magnussen.
Justin, Hartley, and Amy Sedaris, written, and produced
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
Dr. Quinzel interviews the Joker in Arkham, who uses humor and manipulation to deflect questions about his crimes and his obsession with Batman.
The Joker describes his bombings as performances criticizing Gotham's capitalist system, particularly the Wayne industrial complex.
Harleen Quinzel struggles with her father's terminal cancer, caused by chemical exposure at Tri-State, and faces financial and bureaucratic obstacles to his treatment.
Her aunt Rose refuses to help, citing past familial issues, leaving Harleen desperate and overwhelmed.
The Joker accuses Harleen of hiding her personal struggles and suggests a romantic connection, while she insists on professional boundaries.
Harleen's father recalls better times, but his health declines rapidly, and the hospital demands payment before surgery.
Summary:
In this tense therapy session, Dr. Harleen Quinzel attempts to evaluate the Joker, who evades serious discussion by joking and claiming his crimes are artistic critiques of capitalism, with Batman as a puppet of the elite. He mocks her clinical detachment and hints at a mutual attraction, but she maintains professional distance.
Meanwhile, Harleen's personal life unravels: her father is dying from a tumor likely caused by chemical exposure at his former job, Tri-State. She calls the company and her aunt for help, but both refuse—the company denies liability, and her aunt cites past grievances. Harleen vents about her financial desperation and the pressure of dealing with the Joker’s manipulative behavior.
Back in the session, the Joker probes her vulnerabilities, guessing she is in a troubled relationship and accusing her of hiding her true self. He contrasts himself with other criminals, claiming his acts are unique performances. The scene cuts to her father's hospital room, where he reminisces about happier times, but his condition worsens.
Harleen is torn between her demanding work and her father's urgent need for surgery, which she cannot afford. The Joker’s insight into her struggles blurs the line between patient and doctor, setting the stage for a dangerous psychological entanglement.
FAQs
The Joker sees his bombings and heists as artistic acts meant to expose the 'Wayne industrial complex' and capitalist exploitation, rather than mere criminality.
He is furious and frustrated, noting that his elaborate plan and helicopter training were overshadowed, and his name was misspelled in the article, making him feel invisible.
It's a bureaucratic protocol at Arkham Asylum that Dr. Quinzel must follow, likely a rigid assessment system that adds to her professional stress.
Rose holds a grudge from past financial disputes with Harleen's mother, whom she accuses of repeatedly asking for money without repayment.
He accuses her of hiding attraction, mocks her clinical distance, and invents a romantic subtext between them to exploit her emotional vulnerability.
He dismisses them as 'half-wits' and 'copycats,' feeling his own unique, artistic crimes are undermined by their lack of style and narrative.
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