Batman: The Animated Series

Batman pursues a car-full of thieves to an abandoned storage facility. Inside Batman is blinded by a powerful light and knocked unconscious.

He awakens as Bruce Wayne in Wayne Manor with Alfred serving him breakfast. Bruce is confused as to how he got home and asks about Robin. Alfred doesn't know who he's referring too. Bruce tries to head to the Batcave. When he tries to use the secret entrance behind a clock, it does not open. He asks Alfred, but he doesn't know what Bruce is talking about. Suddenly, Bruce is shocked by the appearance of his father and mother who he thought were long dead. Bruce runs off but is calmed down by his father who follows.

Later, as Bruce prepares to go the office, he asks Alfred about his life. Bruce is told that since his father retired, he has been head of Wayne Enterprises and that he is about to marry Selina Kyle. Bruce goes to the office and is visited by Selina who tries to find out what's wrong. As they talk, the two are shocked to see Batman outside a window swinging through the city. Bruce runs out of the building in pursuit of Batman. Selina runs after him. Batman stops a group of jewel thieves as Selina and Bruce watch on. Batman grapples away and Bruce is simply confused. He asks Selina, but she doesn't know much about Batman. Furthermore, she doesn't recognize the name 'Catwoman'.

Bruce comes to the office of Dr. Leslie Thompson. He tells her that he is questioning his own sanity. Dr. Thompson tells him that he may be delusion. Bruce accepts her analysis and returns home accepting his life. He goes home and happily embraces his father and inviting him and his mother to the opera. He talks to Alfred, but his cheerful mood changes back to confusion when he tries to read a newspaper. All the letters in the newspaper are jumbled. He throws the paper down and begins to page through books. The letters in the books are also jumbled. He grabs his head and sobs in confusion. His parents approach him, but he runs off telling them that they are lies and that everything is a lie. He watches the news which broadcasts a story on Batman. Bruce angrily destroys the television set.

Bruce blames Batman for his condition and vows to find him. He drives off and goes to a hardware store where he buys a rope, some flares, and a grappling hook. Outside the store, the police try to take him back to his parents. Bruce runs off and manages to lose the policemen. Bruce heads into a graveyard and an enormous cathedral. He climbs up to the bell tower. He shouts for Batman and Batman arrives. Bruce and Batman scuffle until Bruce reveals that it is all a dream. He knows because it is impossible to read in a dream: reading is accomplished by the right side of the brain while dreaming happens because of the left side of the brain. As the police gather below, Bruce gets the best of Batman and pulls off his mask revealing the Mad Hatter. The Mad Hatter tells him that it is a dream and that he is just a figment of his imagination. The Mad Hatter tells him that he can't escape the dream.

Bruce, however, believes he knows a way out. He hurls himself off the cathedral and suddenly awakens as Batman in a machine operated by the Mad Hatter. He stops the Mad Hatter's men and confront the Mad Hatter who tells him he made the machine to give Batman whatever he wanted, so that Batman would leave him alone. The Mad Hatter collapses and is later arrested.