A contrite but humorous Christian Bale called into an L.A. radio station on Friday to apologize for his expletive-laced tirade on the set of “Terminator Salvation” that has circulated all week on audio tape form, and the actor also gave his version of what happened that July day when the outburst was recorded.   

“I know I have a potty mouth, everybody knows that now,” Bale told radio station KROQ. “But I understand this is live so please don’t worry, I will behave.”

And Bale apologized, pleading with listeners to not write off the new “Terminator” movie because of the outburst.

“I was out of order beyond belief, I was way out of order, I acted like a punk, I regret that and there is nobody that has heard that tape that is hit harder by it than me,” Bale said, as KROQ radio personality Lisa May cooed in sympathy.

Bale’s recording was posted on Monday by celebrity Web site TMZ.com, and it has inspired a cottage industry of audio mixes, including a mashup of the Bale outburst and an on-set tirade from conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly.

But details on exactly what happened that day in July have been more scarce than the remixes. Bale offered his version of it all in his call to KROQ.

Bale said that he was playing a scene where his character, John Connor, confronts his mother’s insanity, and that he was trying to convey a bit of his own character’s insanity. Then, Bale turned on the film’s director of photography Shane Hurlbut, accusing him of interrupting the scene and ruining it.

“I took it way too far and I completely mixed up fact and fiction, I’m half John Connor, I’m half Christian there,” Bale said.

But have no fear, Bale and Hurlbut have completely made up, Bale said. In fact, the two saw each other just two weeks ago.

“I absolutely believe in Shane’s capability, he’s done a wonderful job on that movie,” Bale said.

That could put to rest the most memorable line from Bale’s outburst, his raging Hollywoodspeak pledge that he and Hurlbut were “done, professionally.”  

Bale’s on-set tirade came the same month that he was questioned by police in London after his mother and sister alleged that he assaulted them at a hotel. Authorities declined to file charges.

Last month at a sneak preview for “Terminator Salvation,” which opens on May 22, director McG praised Bale’s dedication to the role of John Connor, who is central to the pop mythology surrounding the “Terminator” franchise. For a film set in the aftermath of nuclear war, maybe an on-set explosion strangely fits the theme.