The Everywhere Man
"The Everywhere Man" |
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"The Everywhere Man" is the fourth episode of The Batman's fourth season. It aired in North America on 4 November, 2006.
Plot synopsis
When evidence from a series of art thefts by the Everywhere Man, a new costumed villain with the power to replicate, implicates Bruce's close friend John Marlowe, Batman believes there must be another explanation. Now, Batman must unmask the identity of the "Everywhere Man" and prove his friend's innocence.
Plot summary
Template:Spoiler At his penthouse apartment, John Marlowe is using the money made from his genius to finance the presentation. His old friend Bruce is talking with the museum curator, Clea, about how the money seems to have gone to John’s head and how he was originally a shy geek. They’re interrupted when a man dressed in orange and white with an E on his featureless mask walks in. Bruce backs out as the intruder goes for the picture, tossing John aside. The Batman arrives and attacks the man, who runs into a broom closet. The Batman and Marlowe go in after him but… he’s disappeared.
Batman is at the Batcave going over the museum plans with Robin when they get a report of a silent alarm at the art museum. They arrive as the same man departs with a painting but when confronted with the two-to-one odds, he runs around a corner and then appears as two different men. Robin and Batman split up to go after them. Batman ropes one but another one hits him, while Robin finds himself equally outnumbered. The two crime fighters chase their opponents into a hallway where there’s a flash of light… and all their opponents have disappeared.
Clea tells the Commissioner that nothing seems to be missing, and Bruce goes over a hair sample, which is a match for John Marlowe. However Marlowe has a perfect alibi since he was present at the first robbery and Batman refuses to rule him out. Bruce goes to visit Marlowe and check out the closet again. Bruce covertly transmits video footage and Alfred reports they’re finding radiation, and Robin reports finding the same radiation at the museum. Bruce wonders why John is acting different and Marlowe snaps at him while Bruce gets footage of Marlowe… with the same radiation.
Later Batman and Robin return to Marlowe’s penthouse apartment and Batman reveals Marlowe has been doing work on quantum theory for the government. There are two radiation hotspots in the building and they split up to investigate them. The Batman finds the masked figure in a lab, a figure who attacks him. He unmasks the man revealing Marlowe, but Marlowe just laughs and another man in the same costume attacks. Batman knocks him down, but the man unmasks to reveal Marlowe. Using a wrist device, Marlowe multiples himself several times over.
Another Marlowe arrives and escorts Batman into the elevator with his four duplicates. They go up to the penthouse level where yet another Marlowe is waiting for him--the seeming original, who introduces himself as the Everywhere Man. Other Everywhere Men are searching the building for Robin, who is hiding in the vents. They also talk about making sure a prisoner is secured. Marlowe explains he has created a Quantex generator that charges his body’s quantum particles and creates energy duplicates. He can also recall them at will from a distance, explaining how the other ones have disappeared. Marlowe can also duplicate other objects, including copies of the art which he left behind as he stole the originals.
Robin finds the room where the prisoner is hidden, and knocks out a group of Everywhere Men guarding it. Robin breaks in and finds… Marlowe. Batman has come to a similar conclusion, based on the quantum radiation on the “original” he’s confronting (actually the first copy). Copy #1 gained free will and decided to do what was “necessary” to achieve it. Another Everywhere Men are more interested in copying the world and Batman notes each duplicate is darker then the original. Copy #1 disbands the one confronting him and boasts that he kept Marlowe as part of his collection. Batman realizes the original Marlowe is in the building and uses a smoke grenade to make his escape. Copy #1 alerts the others who create ever more multiples to search the entire building. Hundreds of them fill the building as Robin hides with the original Marlowe.
Copy #1 sends his Everywhere Men to the atrium where they’ve spotted Batman. He confronts dozens of them using all the weaponry in his utility belt but they soon begin to overwhelm him. Robin attacks copy #1 but he creates another small army and Robin reveals he’s wearing the prototype Quantex unit to create an army of his own. The two armies crash into each other. Copy #1 spots the original and reveals that the prototype was prone to overload and the duplicates disappear after a sold contact. The other Robins start to disappear while Batman and the original Robin continue to fight. Two other duplicates take the original Marlowe prisoner while Batman runs out of weapon.
Batman points out that the other Everywhere Men are disposable when Copy #1 doesn’t need them any more. The Everywhere Men start fighting among each other to be the one to survive, while some support their “creator.” The original Marlowe points out that even he can’t know which ones to trust, and he’s forced to recall all of the duplicates. Batman and Robin confront Marlowe and point out that he can’t win. The original takes advances of his copy’s distraction, grabs the Quantex generator unit, and recalls the last copy.
Later Marlow donates all of his art and apologizes to Bruce, who is okay with it. Clea shows up and is willing to accept him despite his lack of confidence, while Bruce leaves them to it. Template:Spoiler-end
Characters
- The Batman/Bruce Wayne voiced by Rino Romano
- Robin/Dick Grayson voiced by Evan Sabara
- Alfred Pennyworth voiced by Alastair Duncan
- Clea voiced by Allison Mack
- John Marlowe/The Everywhere Man voiced by Brandon Routh
Trivia
- Batgirl/Barbara Gordon is absent in this episode.
- This episode marks the first time that Batman has run out of gadgets in his utility belt that are used for combative purposes.
- Robin's prototype Quantex creates duplicates that are similar to the "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" (aka "Shadow Clone Jutsu") from Naruto. Like "Shadow Clones," they dissipate when receiving a hard impact.
- Allison Mack, who voices Clea the museum curator, also plays the part of Chloe Sullivan in Smallville, based on the DC Universe. The character is even modeled after Mack.
- John dresses very similar to Jimmy Olsen, Superman's pal, on Superman: TAS (brown jacket and trousers, dark-colored shirt, red hair). At the end of the episode, Clea and John come closer to each other and on Smallville, Chloe and Jimmy are currently lovers.
- This episode marks the first time the current actor of the Superman movie and the current actor of a live action Superman TV series with Brandon Routh from Superman Returns and Allison Mack from Smallville (TV series).
Quotes
- Marlowe Clone # 1: (to Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man) Now, step aside, Marlowe, or I'll make your face resemble to that painting.
Clea: John, please don't be foolish.
Marlowe Clone # 1: You should have listened to the lady, Johnny. - Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: Welcome, Batman. We've been waiting for you. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm the Everywhere Man.
- Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: (to Batman explaining his powers) It was the Quantium field research, of course. It lead the creation of the Quantex. With it, I can charge my body's particles.
Fake Marlowe # 2: And replicate another me.
Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: My energy duplicates can spread at will, but with the Quantex, I can also recall them. (Fake Marlowe # 2 disappears) - Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: (to Batman explaining why he turned on the real John Marlowe) Very good, Batman. I was copy no. 1. Sometimes, it takes an upgrade to take things right. Johnny made me a brilliant scientist, but he's also a fool. He kept me around his lab partner but keeping duplicate long enough and you know what do you get: (presses a button) free will. Johnny and I both love our art collection but he wasn't willing to do what is necessary to add to it.
- Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: Well, if it isn't old Johnny boy. I knew I should have eliminated you. I always was too sentimetal.
John Marlowe: True. You even save the Quantex prototype. That's going to be a downfall.
Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: There's a reason a prototype is only a prototype. Sometimes, it gets an upgrade to get things right.
Robin: That's not right.
John Marlowe: The unit's overloaded.
Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: Oh, it's worst than that, Johnny. Your duplicates are unstable. One solid punch and poof. - Fake Marlowe/Everywhere: You haven't won yet, Batman.
Robin: Two against one? Piece of cake.
Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: I'll create another army of Everywhere Men.
Batman: With the same result.
Fake Marlowe/Everywhere Man: Then, I recall and start over as many times as I have to. Eventually, you fall.
John Marlowe: Will you please shut up? [presses the button of the Quantex that the clone disappears] I thought I could help people everywhere. But all I am is Nowhere Man.
See also
References
Not available yet