"Lock-Up" is the seventeenth episode of the second season of Batman: The Animated Series, and the eighty-second overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Fox Kids in the United States on November 19, 1994. It features the one and only appearance of Lyle Bolton, aka Lock-Up.
Synopsis[]
Batman & Robin, having captured the Scarecrow, return him to the gates of Arkham Asylum. Scarecrow is shaking with terror, and begs them to let him go, saying he only escaped to get away from..."him". Lyle Bolton, Arkham's imposing new chief of security, appears at the entrance and takes hold of Scarecrow, telling him that he'll be the only escapee from Arkham on his watch. Bolton apologizes to the heroes for Scarecrow's escape and makes an ominous vow that he won't let them, or the people of Gotham down again. Robin is impressed by Bolton's dedication, but Batman detects something sinister beneath Bolton's professional demeanor.
Bruce Wayne makes inquiries, and Dr. Bartholomew convenes a review hearing, attended by Bruce, Commissioner Gordon, and Mayor Hill. It was the Wayne Foundation that endowed the new post at Arkham and suggested Bolton as "the perfect man for the job", but Bruce now says he has some misgivings.
During the hearing, Bolton is all civility and earnestness stating "If anyone's got a problem with my methods please tell me." but as Dr. Bartholomew questions Scarecrow, Harley Quinn, and Ventriloquist, it becomes clear that Bolton has intimidated them into remaining silent about what they really have to say about him. When Bruce recommends that Bolton's contract be extended for another eighteen months, the inmates panic and finally begin screaming that Bolton has been verbally assaulting them and physically abusing them behind the walls of the asylum.
Bolton loses control and bellows that the inmates are scum who should be beaten to death. It takes several large orderlies and a timely kicked-over chair from Bruce to restrain Bolton while the villains tremble in fear. Shocked, Dr. Bartholomew immediately fires Bolton, who says that he's been wrong: The real problem isn't the inmates, but the "soft-hearted" police, "pandering" doctors, and "gutless" bureaucrats who refuse to recognize them for the scum they are. Swearing revenge, Bolton is dragged out.
Later, in his home, Bolton watches an unflattering news report on him by Summer Gleeson, and includes the "liberal" media in his list of targets.
Six months later, just after Bruce and Gleeson have had an interview over dinner, Gleeson is abducted by getting locked inside her own car and placed inside an armored police car, manned by Bolton, now wearing a costume and calling himself "Lock-Up". Bruce confronts Lock-Up as Batman. Lock-Up declares that, together, he and Batman will make Gotham safe: Batman will catch the crooks, and Lock-Up will make sure they never see the light of day again. Batman refuses to accept Lock-Up's brand of "justice", and the two fight, but Lock-Up makes a getaway.
One by one, other city officials go missing. Detective Bullock uses the Bat Signal to contact Batman and inform him that both Gordon and Bartholomew are missing. Anticipating that Mayor Hill will be next, Batman has Bullock set up security at Hill's mansion, but even with this and Batman & Robin's presence, Lock-Up throws a smoke bomb into the mansion, takes Hill, and incapacitates the Batmobile. However, Lock-Up leaves a cargo locker behind with a serial number on it. Batman deduces that it is the registration number of a decommissioned naval vessel moored out at sea, that was used as a temporary prison while Stonegate Penitentiary was being built. Bolton was its chief of security.
Batman & Robin make their way out to the ship, where Lock-Up has imprisoned Gleeson, Gordon, Bartholomew, and Hill, and booby-trapped with automated deathtraps. Robin makes his way to the holding cells where the hostages are kept, while Batman fights Lock-Up. Their fight accidentally triggers the ship's propulsion system, driving the ship onto a reef and causing it to upend. As the ship takes on water, Robin frees the hostages and gets them to safety.
Batman and Lock-Up fight each over directly above the ship's upturned propellers, but after they both plunge into the water, Batman manages to gain the upper hand and subdue Lock-Up.
To catcalls and jeers from the other inmates, Bolton is ushered into his own cell at Arkham. Bolton, however, is satisfied, since he now believes that he will truly be able to keep an eye on all the other inmates, taking his revenge for costing him his old job.
Cast[]
- Kevin Conroy as Batman
- Loren Lester as Robin
- Robert Costanzo as Detective Bullock
- Bob Hastings as Commissioner Gordon
- Lloyd Bochner as Mayor Hamilton Hill
- Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
- Richard Dysart as Dr. Bartholomew
- George Dzundza as Ventriloquist / Scarface
- Henry Polic II as Scarecrow
- Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn
- Bruce Weitz as Lock-Up
Gallery[]
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