The Batman (2022)

Paul Dano: The Riddler

Photos 

Quotes 

• The Riddler : If you are justice, please do not lie / What is the price for your blind eye?

• The Riddler : [message]  From your secret friend / Who? Haven't a clue / Let's play a game / Just me and you.

• The Riddler : You're a part of this, too.

  Batman : How am I a part of this?

  The Riddler : You'll see.

• [Inside Arkham, Nashton is distraught that Batman has foiled his plans. Someone in a nearby cell speaks to him] 

  Unseen Arkham Prisoner : Isn't that just terrible? Them raining on your parade like that? What is it they say? One day you're on top, the next you're a clown. Well, let me tell you, there are worse things to be.

  The Riddler : Who are you?

  Unseen Arkham Prisoner : Well, that's the question, isn't it? Riddle me this - the less of them you have, the more one is worth.

  The Riddler : [whispers]  A friend.

  [the obscured criminal begins laughing unsettlingly, only a bit at first, then slowly more maniacal, and Riddler joins in, their laughs echoing the quiet hallways of Arkham Asylum] 

• The Riddler : It can be cruel, poetic or blind. But when its denied, it's your violence you may find.

  Batman : Justice. The answer's justice.

• The Riddler : What's black and blue and dead all over? You.

• [repeated line] 

  The Riddler : Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayne...

• The Riddler : You came.

  Batman : Who are you?

  The Riddler : Me? Nobody. I'm just an instrument, here to unmask the truth about this cesspool we call a city.

  Batman : Unmask?

  The Riddler : Yes! Let's do this together okay? You're part of this too.

  Batman : How am I a part of this?

  The Riddler : You'll see.

• Batman : You think you'll be remembered? You're a pathetic psychopath, begging for attention.

  The Riddler : No.

  Batman : You're gonna die alone in Arkham.

  The Riddler : No. No, no, no!

  Batman : A nobody!

  The Riddler : NO! AHHHHH! This is not how this was supposed to go! Ahhhhh! I had it all planned out! We were gonna be safe here. We could watch the whole thing together.

  Batman : Watch what?

  The Riddler : Everything! It was all there. You mean you didn't figure it out? Oh, you're really not as smart as I thought you were. I guess I gave you too much credit.

• The Riddler : You know, I was there that day. The day the great Thomas Wayne announced he was running for mayor, made all those promises. Well, a week later he was dead, and everybody just forgot about us. All they could talk about was poor Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne, the orphan. Orphan. Living in some tower over the park isn't being an orphan. Looking down on everyone, with all that money. Don't you tell me. Do you know what being an orphan is? It's 30 kids to a room. 12 years old and already a drophead, numbing the pain. You wake up screaming with rats chewing your fingers. And every winter, one of the babies die because it's so cold. But, oh, no. Let's talk about the billionaire with the lying, dead daddy, because at least the money makes it go down easy.

• Batman : We didn't do anything together.

  The Riddler : We did. What did we just do? I asked you to bring him in the light, and you did. We're such a good team.

  Batman : We're not a team.

  The Riddler : I never could have gotten him out of there. I-I'm not physical. My strength is up here.

  [indicating his brain] 

  The Riddler : I mean, I... I had all the pieces, I had the answers. But I didn't know how to make them listen. You gave me that.

  Batman : I gave you nothing.

  The Riddler : You showed me what was possible. You showed me all it takes is fear and a little focused violence. You inspired me.

  Batman : You're out of your goddamn mind.

• The Riddler : Hey, guys. Uh, thanks for all the comments, and, uh, a special thanks to everyone for the tips on detonators.

  Officer Martinez : Detonators?

  The Riddler : I just want to say this will be my last post for a little while, and, uh... what this community has meant to me these weeks, these months, let's just say none of us... is alone anymore. Okay?

  Batman : Jesus.

  The Riddler : Tomorrow's Election Day. And Bella Reál will win. She promised real change. But we know the truth, don't we? You've seen Gotham's true face now. Together, we've unmasked it. Its corruption, its perversion masquerading under the guise of renewal. But unmasking is not enough. The day of judgment is finally upon us. And now it is time for retribution. I've parked seven vans all along the city seawall. And on the big night, they will go boom. When the vans blow, the flooding will happen so fast, evacuation will not be an option. Those who are not washed away will race through the streets in terror.

  Batman : Call Gordon.

  Officer Martinez : Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

  The Riddler : As breaking news hits higher ground in Gotham Square Garden, celebrations will turn to panic as the venue becomes the city's shelter of last resort. And that's where all of you come in.

  [looking at the video's comments, Batman sees mentions of rifles and calibers] 

  The Riddler : Now, when the time arrives, I will already be unmasked. The pigs will have me in their custody, but that's okay. Because then it will be your turn. You'll be there, waiting. It's time for the lies to finally end. False promises of renewal? CHANGE? We'll give them real, real change now. We've spent our lives in this wretched place, SUFFERING! Wondering, "Why us?" Now they will spend their last moments wondering, "Why them?"

• The Riddler : Since your justice is so select, please tell us which vermin you're paid to protect.

  District Attorney Gil Colson : Which vermin?

  Batman : The rat. The informant you all protect from the Salvatore Maroni case.

  District Attorney Gil Colson : How do you know about that?

  Batman : What's his name?

  The Riddler : Twenty seconds.

  District Attorney Gil Colson : No.

  Batman : He's gonna kill you.

  District Attorney Gil Colson : I'm a dead man either way. You're talking to a dead man, okay? If I go out this way, it's just me. But if I give over that name, I have family, people I love. He'll kill them, too.

  Batman : Who will?

  District Attorney Gil Colson : People are watching.

  Batman : What people?

  District Attorney Gil Colson : It's so much bigger than you could ever imagine. It's the whole system!

  The Riddler : Five! Four!

  District Attorney Gil Colson : Oh, God, have mercy on me.

  The Riddler : Three! Goodbye!

  [the bomb timer hits zero and detonates] 

• The Riddler : Your mask is amazing. I wish you could've seen me in mine. Ain't it funny? All everyone wants to do is unmask you, but they're missing the point. You and I both know I'm looking at the real you right now. My mask allowed me to be myself completely. No shame, no limits.

  Batman : Why did you write me?

  The Riddler : What do you mean?

  Batman : All those cards.

  The Riddler : I told you, we've been doing this together. You're a part of this.

• The Riddler : I told you I'd see you in hell.

  Batman : What do you want from me?

  The Riddler : Want? If only you knew how long I've been waiting for this day. For this moment. I've been invisible my whole life. I guess I won't be anymore, will I? They'll remember me now. They'll remember both of us.

• The Riddler : [communicating with Batman through an online chat room]  Did you find him?

  Batman : El Rata Alada?

  The Riddler : Yes.

  Batman : Maybe. Is a penguin a rat with wings?

  The Riddler : Interesting. You're missing the big picture.

  James Gordon : What the hell does that mean? Is he or isn't he?

  The Riddler : I need to show you more for you to understand. My next victim is the biggest piece of the puzzle yet.

  Batman : Victim? Dead?

  The Riddler : He will be soon. Here's a clue to where you can find him...

  James Gordon : [reading along]  "I grew up from a seed, tough as a weed. But in a mansion, in a slum, I'll never know where I come from. Do you know what I am?" Any idea?

  Batman : Yeah. It's an orphan.

  [typing to Riddler] 

  Batman : An orphan?

  The Riddler : Good bye.

  Batman : [the chat closes]  A mansion in a slum. He's talking about the old orphanage.

  James Gordon : The one that burned down?

  Batman : It was part of the Wayne estate. They donated it after they built the tower.

• Officer Martinez : Police! Hands up!

  James Gordon : He said put your goddamn hands up, you son of a bitch.

  Edward Nashton : [raising his hands in surrender and turning around]  I just ordered a slice of pumpkin pie.

• The Riddler : Say hello to my followers. We're live. They're here to watch our little trial. At the moment, the man across from you, Mr. Colson, is dead. But wait a minute...

  District Attorney Gil Colson : Jesus, can we get somebody out here? This psycho's gonna kill me!

  The Riddler : SHUT UP! YOU DESERVE TO DIE AFTER WHAT YOU DID! YOU HEAR ME?

  District Attorney Gil Colson : Okay.

  The Riddler : I'm giving you a chance. No one ever gave me a chance. Now, ever since I was a child, I've always loved little puzzles. For me, they are a retreat from the horrors of our world. Maybe they can bring some comfort to you, too, Mr. Colson.

  District Attorney Gil Colson : You want me to do puzzles?

  The Riddler : Three riddles in two minutes. You give me the answers, and I'll give you the code for the lock.