Alfred dreads the prospect of that day ever arriving. Bruce has skirted awfully close to it on many occasions. Alfred has seen him turn cruel and lose hope, declaring two decades of work worthless. Desperate measures are easier to adopt when no light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.

He recognizes complete honesty when he hears it. He replies in kind. "He doesn't show his love in a conventional manner and he's never been, nor will he ever be, perfect. But he does care. As do I. I've lost one son and been fortunate enough to have him returned. I doubt I would be so lucky a second time."