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Numerous Gotham socialites, including Bruce Wayne, enjoy the services of a new, luxurious health spa. Unbeknownst to any of them, the spa's proprietress Minerva is actually a professional criminal; her signature scalp-massage uses a machine that can covertly mind-read patrons, and extract any inform

Quote1 I strongly suspect she extracted the combination to this vault from Bruce Wayne's brain via her Eggplant Jelly Vitamin Scalp Massage. Quote2
Batman


Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires is an episode of season 3 of Batman. It premiered on March 14, 1968.

Synopsis for "Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires"

Numerous Gotham socialites, including Bruce Wayne, enjoy the services of a new, luxurious health spa. Unbeknownst to any of them, the spa's proprietress Minerva is actually a professional criminal; her signature scalp-massage uses a machine that can covertly mind-read patrons, and extract any information she needs to raid their homes for cash and valuables.

When his watch goes missing at the spa, and Minerva insists on her signature massage during the return trip, Bruce finally grows suspicious enough to investigate. Soon after, the spa is paid a visit by Batman and Robin, but Minerva easily routs the duo and locks them inside an oversized pressure-cooker. While Batman and Robin struggle against the lethal temperatures, Minerva uses the secrets she had gleaned from Bruce's mind to loot the Wayne Foundation.

Eventually, Batman and Robin escape the spa and form a new plan with Alfred and Barbara: Barbara will inform Lord Easystreet, an important client of Minerva's, that a book he has been looking for has arrived and he should come to the library straight away, thus ensuring Easystreet fails to keep his appointment at the spa. Alfred, who is EasyStreet's lookalike, can then impersonate Easystreet and infiltrate the spa without raising suspicion. The plan is soon revealed by Minerva's mind-reading machine, but nevertheless occupies Minerva long enough for Batman, Robin, and Batgirl to subdue her henchmen and expose the whole operation.

A panicking Minerva flees, only to be intercepted by the police, who have already detained her fence and obtained a confession. At this, Minerva finally surrenders, promising to make Gotham State Prison "the most elegant spa".

The episode, and the show by extension, ends on a bittersweet note with Robin asking Batman for Batgirl's whereabouts. "Who knows, Robin?" asks Batman. "Whoever knows?"

Appearing in "Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

  • Minerva (First full appearance)
    • Adonis (Single appearance)
    • Aphrodite (Single appearance)
    • Apollo (Single appearance)
    • Atlas (Single appearance)
  • Freddy the Fence

Other Characters:

Locations:

Items:

  • Batcomputer
  • Batman's Utility Belt
    • Steam-Neutralizing Bat-Pellets (Single appearance)
    • Three-Seconds-Flat Bat-Vault Combination Unscrambler (Single appearance)
  • Batphone
  • Deepest Secret Extractor (Single appearance)
  • Persimmon Pressurizer (Single appearance)

Vehicles:



Notes

  • The final episode of Batman, in both filming and airing sequence. Both Adam West and Burt Ward would reprise their roles in subsequent productions such as The New Adventures of Batman, though few of their co-stars would.
  • Describing this installment to Jeff Rovin in his autobiography Back To The Batcave, Adam West lamented, "This was it: the end of the line. One of our weaker shows, and a sad way to go-go."

Trivia

  • Series producers William Dozier and Howie Horwitz cameo as two of Minerva's millionaire patrons, even poking fun at their own reputations for stinginess.
  • Many elements of this episode were borrowed in the episode "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne" from Batman: The Animated Series; namely, the idea of a villain operating within a false spa and stealing rich people's secrets using a machine.


See Also

Recommended Media

  • None.


Links and References

  • None.

Footnotes

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